deals

BLACK FRIDAY DEALS

November 28, 2019 by Rachel Leave a Comment

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you’re having a wonderful time and enjoying the company of your family and friends. I planned on simply sharing these deals on social media today, but it turns out everything is down! That’s right — it’s a Thanksgiving crisis! Instagram and Facebook are DOWN. But I’m still here to share these deals with you.

As a heads up, most of these are affiliate links. I do make a small commission if you decide to purchase something. That being said, everything I make on this goes right back into my blog.

Amazon deals

The Amazon Echo Dot is on sale for $22 (regular price is $49.99).

The Instant Pot Smart WiFi 8-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Saute, Yogurt Maker, Cake Maker, and Warmer|6 Quart|13 One-Touch Programs for $89.99 (regular price $149.99).

The Echo Show 5 is on sale for $49.99 (regular price is $89.99).

B. Toys – One Two Squeeze Baby Blocks on sale for $11.99 (regular price $14.99) — these are a favorite with all of the littles I know.

edx Education Step-a-Logs – Balance Beam for Kids is on sale for $29.66 (regular price $49.50)

Green Toys Submarine – BPA, Phthalate Free is on sale for $7.06 (regular price is $14.99). My kids have LOVED this toy (both in the tub and out).

Fire HD 8 Kids Edition Tablet, 8″ HD Display, 32 GB, Yellow Kid-Proof Case is on sale for $79.99 (regular price is $129.99). This gift is PERFECT for little littles! And it includes a year of Amazon FreeTime Unlimited.

Prepping for Company with Big Lots — Tips + Tricks

October 14, 2019 by Rachel 50 Comments

Oh, hi, October! And hellooooo, Fall! In our house, this season is very exciting because it’s the start of all things fun. This also means that it’s the start of all things busy. Am I right?!

Personally, I try to prep for the upcoming holidays as much as possible now so that I have less to do later. At crunch time — you know, just before company is coming over — I don’t want to be worrying about things that could have been taken care of.

Lucky for me, this year we’re starting with a blank slate. When we moved into our forever home last year, it was a week before Christmas. I threw the tree up and that was that. So this year I’m excited to decorate on our (literally) blank walls.

Here’s how I’m prepping for the holidays now.

A blank slate doesn’t have to mean spending a ton of money. I’ve turned to Big Lots to get all of our holiday dining, decor, and baking goods without breaking the bank!

The Perfect Holiday Tablescape

I chose a neutral setting that allows me to easily use the same table settings for both Thanksgiving and Christmas (and every little party in between). The chargers, plates, and table runner were all super affordable and incredibly on-trend.

Food Prep Essentials

As I mentioned earlier, I try to make as much food ahead of time as possible. Big Lots has all of the items I need to make my favorite cookies, breads, and bars. They carry all of my favorite baking mixes and other staples like sugar, flour, and vanilla extract so I can make big batches and freeze them. Pro-tip: Wrap the loaves and cookies in plastic before putting them into freezer bags!

The day before hosting, I’ll take my baked goods out of the freezer and put them into these adorable takeaway containers for my guests. That way no one leaves empty-handed!

I can’t wait to host friends and family this Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Setting The Bar

There’s so much merriment surrounding the holidays that I want every person that steps into our home to be welcome to celebrate. Part of my hosting-prep includes setting the bar. I want all things cocktail-related to be ready for guests because no one wants to have to run out last minute for sugar or garnish!

Big Lots has everything I need to have a fantastic array of beverage and cocktail options — and the barware to serve them in!

Whatever you do, don’t wait! Get that holiday prepping done now so that you can enjoy these moments with your loved ones later.

Tell me — what is your best way to prepare for having company?

The Kimpton Schofield Hotel Cleveland + Jeni’s Ice Cream // A Match Made In Staycation Heaven

July 22, 2019 by Rachel 13 Comments

I’ve been dreaming of one thing for the last 7 years. And last night that dream became a reality. I had my first every staycation, completely alone!

Sunday afternoon I headed up to Downtown Cleveland to stay at the Kimpton Schofield Hotel to celebrate two things — freedom and National Ice Cream Day!

The Kimpton Schofield Hotel, located directly in the heart of the action on Euclide Avenue, just launched a partnership with local (and now national!) ice cream icon, Jeni’s Ice Cream! And personally, I am HERE FOR IT.

My Mom-Staycation began the moment valet took my keys. At that moment “mom” was off the clock! Moments after unpacking in my room, room service arrived with two pints of Jeni’s Ice Cream and an ice-cold bottle of Prosecco.

A few sips of prosecco and a few spoonfuls of Jeni’s Honey Vanilla Bean were just the welcome I needed. I breathed a collective sigh of relief from all of the motherhood stressors of the last 7 years. It’s amazing how taking time for self-care can change your entire mood, am I right?!

After enjoying my welcome amenities, I stood in awe of the city views from my room windows. Across the street was the iconic Downtown Heinen’s, located in the historic Cleveland Trust Rotunda Building. It was breathtaking to see my favorite city from this angle.

Later, I dined at the incredible on-site restaurant, Parkers Downtown. Yes, I had a solo reservation; and, no, I had no qualms about it.

To start, I ordered a glass of their dryest red. To some, dining alone (or, heck!, even having a glass of wine alone) in a restaurant would be intimidating. But for the first time in a while, I was able to enjoy my dining experience. No kids, no extra chatter, just quiet.

Everything on the menu sounded incredible and I definitely ordered more than I could possibly eat by myself! I ordered the artisan cheese board, loaded fries (with goat cheese and bacon), and the Korean Fried Chicken Sandwith (with kimchi and aioli on a brioche bun). Y’all! It was INCREDIBLE. All of it! I tried my best to dine as slowly as possible (a small luxury for those of us with kids), but I am guessing I only lasted about 20 minutes before throwing in the towel and bringing the rest back to my room as leftovers.

Nonetheless, my experience was perfection. The service was so thoughtful, the meal was beyond delicious, and everything was overall exceptional. I look forward to trying out their brunch and happy hour in the future.

My post-dinner excursion included a walk down Euclid Avenue and a loop down East 4th before heading back to my room to revisit those Jeni’s Ice Cream pints! Honestly, as nice as it was to be ‘away’ from everyone and everything, my room at the Kimpton Schofield was so relaxing and inviting with its cozy bed and original artwork, I didn’t want to leave!

SO many thanks to the Kimpton Schofield team for hosting me for an amazing staycation!

What’s your favorite

staycation activity?

Bonefish Grill — 3-Course Date Night for Two!

April 1, 2019 by Rachel 10 Comments

Chad and I are rapidly approaching our 7th wedding anniversary. It’s hard to believe that nearly seven years have passed. And in the last seven years, we’ve only had a handful of evenings completely to ourselves. In fact, the last time we actually relaxed at a dinner out was probably two years ago.

Last week Mimi was in town to watch all three kids, so we were able to sneak out for a proper date night at Bonefish Grill. Chad and I were greeted by the friendliest staff at the North Canton location and promptly seated.

We were really excited to try Bonefish Grill’s O M G (Ocean Mixed Grill) 3-course dinner for two! Here’s what’s included in this special offer:

Course 1 // Bang Bang Shrimp

Course 2 // House or Caesar Salad

Course 3 // Potatoes Au Gratin, Seasonal Vegetables, and Jasmine Rice

Course 4 // Caribbean Cobia, Shrimp & Scallop Skewer, Atlantic Salmon and the Local Catch

All four courses for 49.00 with a bonus of select bottles of wine for $25.

I have to admit something, I’ve never had Bang Bang Shrimp before (I know, I know — pure craziness!). Well, friends, I am in love. I could eat Bang Bang Shrimp all day, every day!

You certainly can’t beat the cost of $49 for three courses for two people. It was more than enough food, for sure.

Recommended Add-Ons //

I highly recommend pairing your meal with a bottle of their $25 wines. With options of reds, whites, and rosé, there’s something for everyone!

I also cannot say enough about the Crispy Brussel Sprouts! They were flavored perfectly with the bacon and mayo. So, so, delicious!

And then we were greeted with dessert! First, it was the Molten Lava Carrot Cake (holy smokes — warm and gooey cream cheese in the middle!) followed by the Crème Brûlée

Not only was the food delicious and the service spectacular, but we were actually able to sit and enjoy one another’s company without the distraction of children talking at us for a change.

Hurry up and get a sitter because this special is only good through April 30th! Find your closest Bonefish Grill location here and be sure to sign up to become a Bonefish Insider!

What’s your favorite menu item

from Bonefish Grill?

Disclaimer: I was given a gift card to cover the cost of our meal in exchange for this post.
As always, all opinions herein are my own.

Tips for Maintaining Financial Flexibility with Cash In and Cash Out Services

November 23, 2018 by Rachel 14 Comments

Thank you PayPal and Walmart for sponsoring this post. Introducing PayPal cash in and cash out money services, the financial services alternative which allows you to manage your PayPal account and cash flow needs on your own terms!

Confession: For as long as I can remember, I’ve had an unhealthy relationship with money. I’ve always felt like it not only determined my worth as a person but that my struggles with it defined me. Over the years I’ve taken steps to redefine my relationship with money. I’ve turned to using a cash system because the cash in and cash out method is the one way I am truly able to hold myself accountable.

Fortunately, PayPal has recently made it even easier to access my cash when I need it. PayPal cash in and cash out services at Walmart means that I no longer have to wait for my money. I no longer have to rely on someone else to manage my finances — I can take back control. Guys, this is such a game-changer.

If you have a PayPal account, you’re able to access the funds quickly and easily by loading and withdrawing funds at all US locations of Walmart. That means no more inconvenience and high fees! Your money, your way! PayPal Cash Mastercard customers can make online purchases and pay bills simply and access their PayPal balance at ATMs and the Walmart service desk for just $3 per service.

Here are some other ways I effectively manage my cash:

1. Track it. — I keep my receipts from every transaction and manually track it in a small notebook. This way I’m seeing what is coming in and what is going out in black and white, which just makes it all that more real.

It’s an easy way to see where my money actually goes. The money spent on groceries, personal items, clothes, gas, etc. — it’s all right there for me to see.

2. Prioritize. — When it comes to finances, not everything is black and white. Money is time and time is money, but we all have different priorities for where we draw the line. For me, there are certain things that are just worth the money, such as paying someone to mow our lawn so that I have more time to work and spend time with my kids. Sure, it may be seen as an unnecessary expense to some, but I’ve chosen to make work and my children a priority over other things.

If you’re not certain where exactly your ‘line’ is, write it out. Where will you make financial concessions over things you value more? For some, it’s that cup of coffee on the way to work. For others perhaps it’s that takeout for your family. Once you know what is negotiable and what is not, you can work to cut unnecessary expenses out.

3. Be a savvy shopper. — I’ll let you in on a little secret: I never pay full price. No, I’m not even very good at couponing, but I do shop sales and clearance. Because of this perspective on shopping, I’ve had to learn what is truly a necessary purchase and what is not. If my children need new clothes, I’ll shop around and find a sale.

Have I missed out on some super cute outfits because of it? I sure have! But in the grand scheme of things, is that one outfit worth the price? Absolutely not.

Once you adjust your mindset to shopping for items on sale or clearance, it changes the way you look at your spending. The few occasions where I have just had to buy full price have been painful (usually for expenses that are a surprise). But if I’m watching my cash flow the rest of the time, this truly isn’t a problem. That doesn’t mean I like it. Ha!

4. Keep your cash on hand. — Like I said at the beginning, having my cash in my hands has been a game-changer for my financial freedom. Learn more about PayPal’s cash in and cash out services here and take back control of your finances.

What are some of the ways

you keep

financial flexibility?

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Finding Our Back-to-School Groove with Big Lots

September 25, 2018 by Rachel 18 Comments

This blog post is written in partnership with and sponsored by Big Lots. As always all opinions herein are my own.

It’s hard to believe that we’re nearly a month into our new normal. Ari, almost 6-year old, began kindergarten in the middle of August. Prior to his start, I saw memes all over Facebook about how excited parents were for the back-to-school season to start. But frankly, I was terrified. Don’t get me wrong — I was excited for him to begin this new stage of life, but I was also anxious about adding yet another transition period to our crazy life with a newborn. I certainly expected our days to be easier with one less child at home, but days with a newborn and 2-year-old are never easy.

I realized quickly that adjustments to my routine needed to occur. I needed to maximize my time by sticking to a solid schedule and doing lots of prep work.

Here’s what has kept us on track with our back-to-school transition:

1. Planning out our time with a clear, well-visible, family calendar.

I started using a big wall calendar over the Summer in an effort to plan out our month. Each type of activity and commitment has a different color so I can check our schedule at a quick glance. Meetings, athletics, and parties all go on the calendar. I’ve stuck to this for the first month of school as well. Sure, digital calendars are great, but sometimes I want to see everything displayed for all of us.

2. Prioritizing our time.

The major way I maximize my time spent preparing for each school day is by shopping at Big Lots. Big Lots has literally everything I need to help make our week run as smoothly as possible.

The newly remodeled stores make it easy for me to find everything I need — from a new coffee pot (Mama needs her caffeine, ya’ll!), to an electric skillet for easy dinners, to everything we need for our after-school snack fix — Big Lots has it all. I’m even able to tackle dinner with grocery items in their refrigerated section and grab the rest of my dry ingredients from the shelves.

What’s even better is that the Big Lots Big Rewards program helps us to get the most bang for our buck — with discounts, specials, and coupons after every three visits!

The items I’ve picked up have helped tremendously with this transition. Ari has a dedicated space where he can work on homework while I can see him from the kitchen. He’s able to grab his school work off of the bookshelf (purchased at Big Lots), throw on his Bluetooth headphones (also picked up at Big Lots!), and get down to business.

It’s truly helped us both to stay on task. I’m able to easily transition from helping him with his homework to making sure I don’t burn the dinner I’m cooking in the Bella Electric Skillet.

3. Organizing our home.

I’ll admit that the last couple of years I have been less organized than I’d prefer. I just really don’t have the luxury of being disorganized any longer. There are important school papers that I need to have on-hand and other documents for PTA, Girls on the Run, and work. It’s just a lot.

I picked up this beautiful metal rolling cart from Big Lots and I was able to file important paperwork for school in one drawer and work in another drawer. And I’ll never lose my keys again (which seriously used to happen every single day) with this new mail and key holder.

Honestly, staying organized has reduced my stress levels, which automatically makes things easier for everyone in my family. I’m no longer searching for ‘lost’ items when we should be leaving for school.

As long as we stick to our schedule, stay organized, and keep shopping at Big Lots for all of our needs, I think we’ll all succeed this school year!

What’s your favorite way to shop at Big Lots for back-to-school?