I have this amazing business consultant. We used to conference at least one to two times a week (or more if needed) when I was building a business, a website and social media accounts. She and her intern helped me with a market analysis, and all the things I needed most. Now, I’m not a baby entrepreneur any more, and I don’t talk to her as much, because I know her time is valuable! She’s still always available, but I’m more independent now. : )

When we last talked, she gave me it to me straight. Keeping all areas of mom help open has been fun, but tough. My largest customer base is college parents. And she gave it to me straight-I need to eliminate the other areas. That means dropping my moms of infants and moms of growing kids. She said she knew the day we met what my focus should be-but I love to say yes to allll the moms! (I remembered how hard it’d been for me as an early mom-and a working mom.)

Do you have a student getting ready for college? Might I suggest less ACT or SAT prep..and more life readiness? I have seven areas I might suggest working on this summer: managing money, laundry, healthy eating, time management, manners, how to study, and safety. ACT gets them in the door, and might help with a scholarship, but lets’s help them successfully adult!

Is your May as busy as mine? We have birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, end-of-year concerts, baby showers, and teacher appreciation to name a few! If I can streamline a few events (or decorate for multiple events), it helps with me with party planning prep time.

If I have more than one event within a few days, I look for ways to plan for both. I find a color scheme that matches both, and sometimes even multiply or replicate the menu (only the guests invited to both events would know…haha)!

I don’t know about you, but I’m already thinking about Valentine’s Day! Pink, red, hearts, love…all my favorites! Here are just a few of my favorite free valentines that you and your child can make together! Your college student may even want to make a few for their friends..and I totally gave my teacher friends some valentines! (Hershey’s hugs and kisses are always welcome!!)

I can spruce up the water while it humidifies my space! Try adding clementine or apple slices, cinnamon sticks, cloves, cranberries, vanilla, or even essential oils you love! Apples, oranges or orange peels, a touch of cinnamon and vanilla are my favorite. If you don’t want it to make you hungry, you can even add coffee beans, sprigs of cedar or pine, mint, or lemon extract (not all together, haha!).

Because January is such a cold, indoor time here in Arkansas, it’s harder for me to schedule a date night for you on my website! I look for inexpensive concerts, local events, and restaurants that offer good deals, or where I can schedule/provide dessert and coffee or drinks. I love to throw in flowers for the ladies and give some guidance for dress..since the events are usually a surprise!

We have a standard lunch that the kids like best, but I like to change it up when I have time! The standby is peanut butter and jelly, a yogurt drink or Capri Sun, bag of chips/popcorn (from the multi-pack bag!), fruit (applesauce if we don’t have any fresh fruit left!) and whatever veggies we have. If I have time, I throw in a couple Hershey’s miniatures, or three Oreo thins in a tiny little 2 oz. cup.

New Year’s Eve has to be the coolest birthday. Everyone is dying to party with you! My mom’s birthday is December 31st, and I know one other sweet mom with a NYE birthday too! This year is a big milestone birthday for my mom, so we plan to party till midnight (or until we all fall asleep, haha!)

Need a crash course to make your own charcuterie board? Here is the accumulation of what I’ve learned!

Meats, cheeses, fruits, veggies, cornichons, nuts, dips, and breads/crackers/pretzels. Here are the details:

This is THE BEST pumpkin bread. It does fall apart when you don’t wait until it cools… so, eat with a fork! Seriously, it’s so BRIGHT! The orange peel is perfection with the ginger, nutmeg, and pecans. Ok, enough, here’s the recipe!

Fall Events in NWA! Hope you get to enjoy one of these events with your friends or family! 🍁🎃

It’s National Chocolate Day, a great day to celebrate chocolate with a super easy marbled cookie bark recipe! Serve as an after school treat today, add to a charcuterie board for Halloween evening, or make double and share with neighbors or teachers. Spread the love!

I get to keep the house dark and romantic (to me), burn alllll the candles I like, and all my big kids come home to keep a fire pit burning out front in the circle drive with their friends and hand out (and eat) candy.

I see the big kids less and less (they just go out and get their own lives..what are they thinking?), so I know how fast it will go. I’m looking back over Facebook memories, and I’m a little sentimental today. I am praying to remember each and every little moment as important. Even the ones I’ve yet to experience. Here’s to the end of summer and intentional time with each of them this year.

I literally hate being in a deadly meal crunch and binge eating chips and dip trying to pick a recipe at the last minute. It is a nightmare. I feel the weight on my shoulders at meal time. I don’t know why (society’s expectations? a southern thing? no idea.) But when my kids’ tummies are rumbling, I have to put a plan together or die trying.

I am so thankful that the thing I feared was not the end of my girl. We know it is most dangerous for those with heart and lung problems . . and diabetes.