Archive for September, 2016

Fall/Winter 2106 Fashion Capsule Wardrobe

Friday, September 30th, 2016

October means it is time for another capsule wardrobe and I’m excited to reveal my capsule wardrobe to you today. If you have been contemplating a capsule wardrobe, I would love to encourage you to give a try this fall. For me, fall and winter are the easier of the planning seasons. Plus, who doesn’t love cozy sweaters and warm layering?

The number of items has shifted, but only to make room for the two seasons. Pieces will be switched around as the weather gets cooler and requires heavier layers. I allow myself flexibility and also love to request a few key pieces as holiday gifts to keep the wardrobe fresh.

I decided to start a SEPARATE Instagram account for my capsule since it feels like two separate audiences. This account is only about fashion & the capsule. You can follow me here (@momadvicecapsule) or if you just want the general usual odds & ends, you can follow me here (@momadvice). I hope that makes sense!

Let’s talk about this 2016 fall & winter capsule wardrobe.

First, What is a Fashion Capsule & Why Should You Do One?

A capsule wardrobe is a collection of clothing which is designed using only interchangeable items, in order to maximize the number of outfits which can be created. The aim is to have an outfit suitable for any occasion without owning excessive items of clothing. This is usually achieved by buying what are considered to be “key” or “staple” items in coordinating colors.

The reason I think capsule wardrobes are worth exploring is that you realize when you have LESS in your closet you can do MORE with what you have. My closet used to be bursting at the seams with clothes and, what I like to call, one-trick-pony apparel. I felt put together after tearing up my room and trying to build outfits in the process, but it took me so long to get ready in the mornings and I never felt like I had a truly seamless style. Narrowing my wardrobe down to 33 items as outlined in Project 333 was just what I needed to make mornings less stressful and finding a real rhythm to getting dressed for the day. It’s been a beautiful shift in my life and I don’t think I could ever go back to the old ways of bursting closets and pointless purchases.

(check out how I’m styling my pieces this year over here and here!)

I tend to be a pretty colorful person so you will find color mixed in with basics in my wardrobe. Monochromatic isn’t my thing, but can be yours if you are trying to simplify your wardrobe. Many people begin their capsule experience very monochromatic and then find they are comfortable branching out into color after figuring out how to make everything work together.

What Trends Did You Embrace For Fall/Winter?

The past couple of years my color scheme has leaned more into the red, white, & blue that feels very nautical and timeless to me. This year I wanted to warm things up so I am selecting a few pieces in wine, rose, mustard yellow, & navy. These colors are folded into my basic neutral scheme (gray, black, cream) for the year.

I love how these colors can be mixed and matched together.

I also love the pink hues since I love a more feminine touch to my wardrobe.

Get some inspiration for creating and styling your capsule by following my Capsule Pinterest Board!

Why My Capsule Shouldn’t Be YOUR Capsule

I show you my capsule mainly as some sort of accountability, but not necessarily for you to copy it. My style is probably not your style and that is okay. Your capsule can look nothing like my capsule. Your body shape could be different from mine and none of these cuts of clothing or ideas will work for you. When creating your capsule, create it around what you feel most confident in.

I suggest peeking in your closet and selecting what makes you feel beautiful and start your planning around those pieces.

That’s been the best place to start for me.

Do Accessories Count in the Capsule?

One question I get asked is if I count accessories and shoes as my items. I do not, but feel free to do that if you like. For me a scarf, belt, or great jewelry really do add to the enjoyment and experience of my wardrobe. I am, however, more selective about the accessories I am choosing and really making sure that they are worth the space in my drawers and the money that is spent.

What Are the Rules for a Capsule Wardrobe?

Here are my modified Project 333 rules or you can go to Courtney’s website to read more about the official guidelines!

Below is my fall/winter 2016 capsule wardrobe.

Fall/Winter 2016 Capsule Wardrobe

1. Chambray Shirt (similar or similar)

2. Relaxed Cozy T-Shirt in gray (exact)

3. Striped T-Shirt (exact or similar)

4. Tunic in black (similar or similar)

5. Relaxed Cozy T-Shirt in oatmeal (exact)

6. Flannel Shirt (similar or similar)

7. Mustard Cardigan (exact or similar)

8. Burgundy Cardigan (exact or similar)

9. Black Cardigan (exact or similar)

10. Black Utility Vest (exact or similar)

11. Denim Vest (similar or similar)

12. Denim Jacket (similar or similar)

13. Green Poncho (fun option)

14. Blanket Cape (exact)

15. Navy & White Striped Blazer (similar or similar)

16. Jersey Knit Cardigan in Rose (similar)

17. Cowl Neck Sweatshirt (similar or similar)

18. White Lace Tank (similar or similar)

19. Burgundy Swing Tank (similar or similar)

20. Pintucked Blouse in Black (exact or similar)

21. Pintucked Blouse in Blush (exact or similar)

22. Floral Print Top (exact or similar)

23. Poncho Sweater (exact)

24. Burgundy Sweater T (stitch fix)

25. Sweater Dress (thredup or similar)

26. Burgundy Tassel Boho Shift (exact)

27. Sleeveless Pintuck Swing Dress (exact)

28. Khaki Skirt (similar or similar)

29. Black Faux Leather Skirt (similar or similar)

30. Burgundy Tunic Top (thredup or similar)

31. Striped Jersey Dress (exact)

32. Blue & White Striped Shift (explore options here)

33. Wrap Dress in Gray (exact)

34. Fox Sweater (gifted from this incredible lady!)

35. Black Jeans (stitch fix)

36. The Essential Pant (exact)

37. 7 Jeans (thredup)

38. Rose Jeans (thredup or similar)

Although I don’t include shoes as part of my capsule, I do get asked about them A LOT. I have a wide foot and I only seek comfortable shoes. If I am showing them to you, I guarantee comfort for you. Here are the shoes that I am loving this fall.

Tassel Booties

Black & White Sneakers (I add one of these inserts to line them since they are a bit thinner)

New Balance 574

Velvet Hush Puppies Ballet Flat

Leopard Print Hush Puppies Ballet Flat

Tall Camel Boots (similar mine are from thredup!)

Moccasins (similar mine are from stitch fix)

Nude Booties (so many styles over here)

Browse My Capsules & Wardrobe Planning Advice

One Piece, Many Ways

Fashion Capsule Shopping on a Budget

Planning the Fall 2016 Capsule Wardrobe

Fall 2014 Capsule Wardrobe

Winter 2014 Capsule Wardrobe

Fall 2015 Capsule Wardrobe

Spring 2015 Capsule Wardrobe

Summer 2015 Capsule Wardrobe

Fall/Winter 2016 Capsule Wardrobe

Spring/Summer 2016 Capsule Wardrobe

Creating the Perfect Capsule Wardrobe (that really works!)

How to Shop Secondhand For Your Capsule Wardrobe

Make Money Organizing Your Closet

25 Best Wardrobe Planning Printables

Coupons That Might Help If You Are Making a Capsule Too

Get $10 for your first thredUP purchase (this is my favorite online consignment resource)

Stitch Fix can be a fun resource for shopping for smart basic wardrobe pieces if a stylist might benefit you!

Don’t forget to clean out your closet! Here is what I am getting rid of this time. Off to thredup it goes for credit for the next capsule- so proud!! Here is a list of resources to help you make money while organizing this corner! Happy wardrobe planning!

*this post contains affiliate links. I only recommend what I love!

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Tags: Best Pieces for a Capsule Wardrobe, Fall 2016 Capsule Wardrobe, Fall Capsule Wardrobe Shopping, how to do a project 333, How to Plan a Capsule Wardrobe, Project 333, Winter 2016 Capsule Wardrobe
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It’s the 3 Little Things: Meetups, GF Pizza, & Bluetoothing

Friday, September 30th, 2016

Happy Fri-yay! This was such a fun week because it was full of fun diversions from my usual mom duties. I just got home from one of the coolest little road trip adventures ever. My longtime reader, Carie, messaged me to share that Emily St. John Mandel was coming to her town and wanted to know if I would come out for the author meetup, to hang out in her town, and meet her family.

Say what?

Yes, please!

I’m not sure if I have ever shared this, but this has been the year of truth telling on here, hasn’t it? I struggle with anxiety and one of my biggest anxiety triggers is driving. Honestly, if I could have a driver cart me around, I would. In fact, my friends lovingly call me, “Daisy,” and generously pick my anxiety-ridden behind up when we go out. So when Carie asked me to come to her town, I consulted a map and saw she was four hours away, BUT it looked like a pretty straight shot. I just knew, in my heart, I would be so sad if I did not do this even though it was entirely out of my comfort zone.

I share this because I know many of you struggle with anxiety too. Maybe you are cool driving, but maybe it is something else. I felt very brave doing this simple thing that I struggle with daily.

How did it go?

Do you remember the scene in Divergent, when they throw them into a fear simulator? I remember it involved birds (another trigger for me- hahaha!). Well, that fear simulator happened on the road as the heavens opened up, the construction narrowed the road into a tiny pathway, and a UPS truck was swinging its backend into my lane.

And I survived.

I was sweaty and needed a shot of something, but I survived.

And I was really proud.

The best part though is that I got to meet someone who has read this site for years and loved books as much as me (and neither of us was crazy which we were both concerned about. I mean, meeting your internet friends can be a little SCARY!) Meeting Emily St. John Mandel was the icing on the cake for this week as she graciously shared about the story behind Station Eleven with all of us.

I didn’t let something like my anxiety hold me back and I made a beautiful real-life friendship with someone who has supported my family for years. How cool is that?

The other incredible escape was spending the weekend in Chicago with some of my dearest girlfriends. My friend, Nancy, moved to Nebraska and I miss this woman every single day. When I headed out that way for some medical testing, we stayed with her family and it made a really tough time into a mini-vacation. She is just good people.

We got to see Lake Street Dive in concert and it was, truly, one of the best shows I have ever seen. We danced the night away at the rooftop bar and got hounded by annoying guys which was annoying, but also proved, WE STILL GOT IT. I got to eat great food and laughed in that rare away that only comes through with your truest friends. I could ride on that high for a good month!

Here is a great Lake Street Dive playlist for you to kick of your weekend! PS- Follow me on Spotify for some killer playlists! You will never hear the same song twice again!

Here are a few other things that are making me happy this week!

A Decent Gluten-Free Pizza Crust Mix

Now that three of us are gluten-free, I have had to figure out some new options for some of our weeknight favorites. When it was just me, I loved the ease of the Udi’s Gluten-Free Crusts, but that doesn’t make sense with three people eating this way anymore. I read a ton of reviews on gluten-free pizza crusts and this Bob’s Red Mill Pizza Crust Mix had great reviews and was surprisingly affordable.

We had pizza last weekend and this crust was REALLY good and came together REALLY easily. It is sticky, but you just use a little plastic, between your crust and hands, to help shape it. The edge is crisp and the slices were fluffy and not as dense as I have come to expect with gluten-free pizza. It made a huge pizza that fed all 4 of us with 3 slices leftover!

If you have any other recommendations for great pizza crust mixes to try, please let me know! I’d love to hear what your favorite is!

Bluetooth In My Old Ride

I have a car without bluetooth (feel sad for me, a poor white woman!), but I wanted to listen to my podcasts, audiobooks, and music in my car from my phone. My husband said I could get a bluetooth adapter for less than $20 and I found this Mpow Bluetooth Receiver and had it shipped to me before I left for this week’s road trip.

It comes with an auxiliary cable that I can plug in and pair with my phone to stream all of the content I want to listen to while I am running around. I also discovered that it can be paired in your house to make other things that you have also bluetooth-enabled. Want to watch a show on your phone with your regular headphones? You can plug it directly into this and not have to connect with your phone. Want to make use of some old speakers you have laying around to create a killer sound system? Plug this into the computer speakers and you can listen to Spotify from your phone.

The battery life is pretty incredible (approximately ten hours) and the sound was really good. Phone calls weren’t awesome (Siri is like, “I DON’T UNDERSTAND YOU, AMY. DO YOU EVEN KNOW ENGLISH, AMY. WHY ARE YOU CRYING, AMY?”) but it was really good for squeezing a great book on my trip and rocking it out to some tunes.

Who says you can’t teach an old car new tricks?

This Old Woman Is Starting a Club

The most meaningful connections I’ve made as a mom were through my mom’s group. They all still remain my dearest friends today. It seems though that once our kids are done being little, that the support isn’t there anymore. Almost all discussions I have with people with kids in school all day are asking how to make friends now, searching for others to help navigate the new waters with older child, and how they can get involved in meaningful volunteer work.

This socially awkward woman is starting a local Michiana Old Mom Club because small talk & Facebook aren’t enough to sustain a mom socially. There will be 3 meetups a month.

Coffee Talk- A daytime chat centered around a discussion related to parenting older children (how to manage cell phones, tween fun, teenage angst, preparing financially for college, etc..) Each person brings an article that they read that they think is helpful and their own experience to the table. No judgement.

MNO- One outing a month where we get to know Michiana- try a new restaurant, see a great local band, have a wine/whine night, see a flick, etc..

Charity- We do one thing for charity each month. Busy months might be throwing change in a pot for something, slower months could be spent doing REAL things for our community.

That’s what I’m bringing to the table because I miss connecting in real ways with people. Kickoff will be Wed. Oct 5 at 7PM at Barnes & Noble (in UP Mall) & then the after-party is at Bar Louie. I’d love for you to join me for a drink and to introduce yourself. Although I’m awkward, I’m a good connector of people, and I’d love to fill that empty spot that I see so many of us have!

Join the group HERE!

Completing: I painted pumpkins this week and it was such an easy & gratifying 5-minute project.

Reading: I am closing in on the final pages of this book and it is BEAUTIFUL. I have learned so much about an event in history that I did not even know about. I am hoping to reach out to the author to get our Sundays With Writers series going again.

Listening: To this audiobook (still loving my headphones– it’s a game changer for audiobook lovers) in anticipation of our book club meeting tomorrow!

Sharing: If you aren’t part of the MomAdvice Book Club, you are missing out on some incredible Kindle deals!

Here are your incredible book deals for today (even if you aren’t in the club!):

IS THIS TOMORROW?, $1.99

HEAT & LIGHT, $1.99

A CERTAIN AGE, $1.99

ISLE OF PALMS, $1.99

THE 19TH WIFE, $1.99

THE BEST PUNCTUATION BOOK, PERIOD, $1.99

CROW LAKE, $1.99

ROSE IN A STORM, $1.99

BIG SUR, $1.99

THE LULLABY OF POLISH GIRLS, $.99

THE MERMAID CHAIR, $1.99

HOOD, $1.99

THE ACCIDENTAL TOURIST, $1.99

TRAIL OF BROKEN DREAMS, $2

NEVER KISS A RAKE, $1.99

Laughing: Pretty sure my husband is singing along to this one. Are you #teampumpkinspice too?

Happy Friday, friends!

*this post may contain affiliate links- I only recommend what I love though. Check out past editions of It’s the 3 Little Things!

Tags: Bluetooth for Old Cars, Bobs Gluten Free Pizza Crust Mix Review, Emily St John Mandel, Michiana Old Mom Club, MPow Bluetooth Adapter Review
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Amy’s Notebook 09.28.16

Wednesday, September 28th, 2016

source: foodie crush

Ultimate Italian Salad Platter idea– what a great way to share a meal with friends without cooking.

Speaking of entertaining, who wants to join my Crappy Dinner Party?

Great tips for freezing and thawing food.

I hate cilantro– why do you exist?

I never knew why Honeycrisp apples are so expensive until I read this.

Take a peek at the co-founder of Anthro’s house– Um, yes please!

This navy bean, bacon, & spinach soup looks like another pressure cooker winner!

Speaking of soup, this looks like a big bowl of autumn!

I’m reading this right now and I already know it is going to be a 5-star rating from me. It’s exquisite!

Yeah, so I’m thinking about soup a lot and this one looks good too! #obsessed

Advice for choosing and hanging art in your home. I wish I would have had this advice when we were first hanging our pieces.

Excited about the next Big Library Read– are you in?

Love this Penguin classics poster!

source: inspired by charm

Homemade pumpkin spice creamer for your coffee. YUM!

Spicy red curry cauliflower “wings” sound like a great game day appetizer.

5 things anyone with food allergies should have on their phone– I need to add these to mine.

These booties are my favorite ever. I danced the night away at a Chicago rooftop bar and my feet didn’t hurt a bit. Holla!

The best foundations at different price points– might need to revisit this for fall!

Sheet Pan Bruschetta is on next week’s meal plan.

source: a beautiful mess

What an adorably easy wooden planter.

Hamburger Helper glammed up. I admit it, I loved this stuff!

I am listening to this on audiobook because I get to meet the author tonight- woohoo!!! Pinch me please.

These are some great tips to help reduce your dining out budget.

I always love touring her home.

I’m sure you can guess my political side (if you are on the same side, you’ll enjoy this! ), but I always appreciate good documentation on both sides. Here is the presidential debate with fact checking. It really helped to read the entire transcript and the facts. Who knows? Maybe you might change your mind…

I hope you enjoyed our notebook, a collection of gathered links to DIY crafts, food projects, thrifty ways to spruce up your home, and thoughtful reads. Nothing brings me more joy than to highlight other fabulous bloggers. Follow me on Pinterest for daily inspiration! Please note, there are affiliate links that do help support our site- thank you! xoxo

Tags: Crafts, Decorating, DIY, Food & Recipes
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It’s the 3 Little Things: Mag Fix, 60 Second Manis, & Epic Docs

Friday, September 23rd, 2016

Some of you city kids might not find picking up your grocery orders by shopping online a big deal, but this girl is OVER THE MOON to not have to step into the grocery store this week. Thank you, Martin’s To Go!

We have had to make some diet modifications with our kiddos this week (pretend I’m using my Oprah voice for this part, “YOU get to be gluten-free, YOU get to be gluten-free, YOU get to be gluten-free…You ALL get to be gluten-free!!”) and I am trying out new products like gluten-free pizza crust mixes and bread mixes to accommodate everyone. It was nice to get to research reviews online and make smart choices and then add them to my online grocery cart.

Then on a MAGICAL day (now you can pretend like I’m reading a story in the movie, ELF…) I pulled up to a VIP parking spot, called a MAGICAL woman on my phone and said, “I HAVE ARRIVED, ROLL OUT MY RED CARPET”, and she MAGICALLY put all my groceries in my car for me, without me stepping into the store.

It was GLORIOUS.

She did not MAGICALLY let me order my boxed wine online though so then I had to hightail it over the liquor store like some COMMONER and pick it up.

What a quick and shocking fall from VIP that was.

Once they add that though?

Perfection.

Here are 3 other things that made me happy this week…

Magnesium Relief

I had my doctor’s appointment last week, with a specialist for EDS, and we talked a lot about ways I could manage some of my joint aches and pains. I am trying to wean myself off medications (per her recommendations) and she suggested one of the best things I could do was not only take magnesium orally (I take this one), but to also consider topical uses of magnesium through epsom salt baths and Magnesium Oil.

The heck?

Yeah, I actually had never heard of magnesium oil before. After reading a million reviews and reading up on it, I got the Art Naturals Magnesium Oil and started using it as soon as it arrived. This stuff is amazing! It works INCREDIBLY well for joint pain, but it also says that it helps a ton for people with migraines too. I don’t suffer from migraines, but I know many of you do and wanted to mention that.

There is 100 mg elemental magnesium per 1 ml (approximately 8 sprays) in this oil. Since I was recommended to double my current magnesium intake, this is helping me achieve that without taking more supplements.

I spray it on all my achy joints and it has helped me to skip my pain medications this week because it helps so much! If you have migraines, you just spray your temples to help with your pain management, usually easing pain within just a couple of hours. It has helped so much I actually stopped taking my second dose of pain relievers without a great deal of discomfort in the evening.

It does leave a bit of a residue, but not too bad for this white, white woman. I’ve also found it stings a bit so not a good thing to spray shortly after shaving! I’m planning to mix up a lotion she recommended soon (I’ll share that recipe later!), but in the meantime this is an effortless way to increase my magnesium.

I also bought this enormous bag of epsom salts (our poor delivery guy!) and I soak in that with a few drops of this lavender oil in the evenings for another way to get my magnesium in topically. Thank God for that epic bath tray so I can make the most of my bath with a good book.

Did you know that most people are deficient in this?

You can read more about why magnesium is such an important and vital nutrient, even if you don’t suffer from joint pain.

60 Second Manicure

I have ZERO patience when it comes to painting my nails. I actually find pedicures to be excruciating because I can think of a million other ways to spend my time.

Too bad I have hooves for feet or I would never take care of them.

I ran across this Sally Hansen Insta-Dri polish and read on the packaging that it will dry in 60-seconds.

Say what?

I don’t have one minute for this nonsense.

Although this feels like a long time, I thought this felt more manageable than the usual 15.

If you can believe it, this REALLY does dry in that short amount of time. I am recommending this for women that have ADD (like me!) or busy, busy little girls that can’t hold still for nail painting. This works incredibly well and my toes lasted for a week!

O.J.: Made in America

If I was going to make a top 10 of the best documentaries I have ever seen, O.J.: Made in America would be top of the list. You may have thought you knew everything about this case, but this documentary explores so much more than O.J., with a more of a pointed look at race, social class, and being an American hero. I wasn’t sure if we would be able to follow through on a five-part (8 hour!!) series (we have commitment issues with shows), but each night we looked forward to the next chapter of this series and I was genuinely sad when it ended.

I’m awaiting the American Crime series to hit Hulu, but I understand that the O.J. portrayal in that is very, very different from this portrayal. O.J. appears much more calculating and has a true awareness of alignment when it came to who he identified himself with and how it benefitted him. It starts from his childhood and works its way out, helping explain a lot of his behaviors and why he was the way he was.

This was one of the best things I have ever watched on race- I urge you to watch it too. We spent so much time talking about this and rehashing it in the evenings. It was incredibly compelling and made me think a lot differently about the case.

We watched this on Hulu, but you can also watch it through the ESPN site (if you have cable), or through Amazon.

It will be worth every moment of your time.

Completing: I finally finished my beautiful bar cart Craigslist find. I will share more about that restoration process later, but I am enjoying basking in her beauty this week. It’s been a beautiful anchor for our antique painting on this wall.

I will hopefully also have the capsule posted next week. I am in LOVE with this blanket cape I found last week for it.

Reading: Just wrapping up this YA novel this week. I have enjoyed it especially because it was based on this Modern Love essay (one of my favorite columns!)

Watching: Did you catch the premiere of, This is Us? I was like ho-hum, ho-hum, and then the ending was like, “WHAT JUST HAPPENED?” I absolutely loved how they pulled it together and can’t wait for the next one. You can watch on NBC or on Hulu!!

Eating: Instant Pot, you are a glorious invention. This week I tried this recipe for a delicious evening in our backyard!

Laughing: Not Safe For Kids (!!!!), but laughing my tail off at this. Trump supporters might not love this one, but I sure did 😉

Happy Friday, friends!

*this post may contain affiliate links- I only recommend what I love though. Check out past editions of It’s the 3 Little Things!

Tags: Magnesium Oil Review, Martins Groceries to Go Review, OJ Made In America Review, Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Review
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MomAdvice 2106 Book Club Selections

Wednesday, September 21st, 2016

It may be news to you that we have an underground book club lurking in the shadows of Facebook, but we really do! Joining the MomAdvice Book Club is free and a great opportunity to get motivated to read books that you might normally not have picked up on your own.

I wanted to give this year a try to see how successful it was before doing a proper introduction here. I can honestly say that I have read several books this year that I would not have picked up on my own and had some great discussions about these incredible books.

The way I have the club set up is that we have a volunteer hostess each month who makes our selection and leads our discussion. It gives the book club variety to have such different readers leading with very different tastes in books. The discussion is held on the last week of the month and posted in the group with a thread for each question. You can jump in to answer questions at any time throughout that week, interacting with loads of other fellow bookworms.

How fun is that?

This post will be updated with our monthly selections so you can join in at any time with our group! Feel free to join us and let your friends know about the group too.

The more the merrier!

MomAdvice 2016 Book Club Selections

January:

The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende

February:

Tiny Little Thing by Beatriz Williams

March:

Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed

April:

A Dictionary of Mutual Understanding by Jackie Copleton

May:

A Mother’s Reckoning by Sue Klebold

June:

The Two-Family House by Lynda Cohen Loigman

July:

You are a Badass by Jen Sincero

August:

The Girl in the Ice by Robert Bryndza

September:

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

October (discussion coming soon!):

The Invisible Life of Ivan Isaenko by Scott Stambach

November (discussion coming soon!):

Arrowood by Laura McHugh

December: To Be Announced

Join in on the MomAdvice Book Club HERE! Looking for book ideas? Check out our entire Book section of the site! Don’t forget to friend me on GoodReads! xo

*this post may contain affiliate links- I only recommend what I love though.

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Tags: 2016 Book Club Selections, 2016 Online Book Clubs, Best 2016 Book Club Picks, Best Book Club Picks, Facebook Book Club, Free Online Book Clubs, MomAdvice Book Club
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Amy’s Notebook 09.21.16

Wednesday, September 21st, 2016

source: emily henderson

This dining room makeover is so inspiring!

This just blew my mind.

I love this idea for customizing your appliances.

I have never heard of the minimalist game, but it sounds like a great way to declutter.

Get that pie filling in the freezer for the holidays.

How to remove the bone from chicken thighs tutorial. So easy!

Listening to this book for my local book club while I tackle yard work this week!

5 hair colors in 7 weeks– how fun would that be?

Great ideas for organizing charging cords.

OMG! This birthday party makes me wish my kids were still little so I could throw one. Bring on the B.I.G.!

source: the kitchn

This sheet pan meal is going on my menu plan this week!

The most compelling piece I read this week. My biggest pet peeve is entitlement.

A dorky weekend project for me- yes, I am THAT COOL!

I just bought one of these for my capsule (reveal next week) and it is the cutest piece (can’t believe that price!)

Take the cookie cutter out of your home.

Love this brussels sprouts kitchen hack.

I’d love to give looming a try and this diy cardboard loom means no more excuses!

Tips for styling a coffee table.

I hope you enjoyed our notebook, a collection of gathered links to DIY crafts, food projects, thrifty ways to spruce up your home, and thoughtful reads. Nothing brings me more joy than to highlight other fabulous bloggers. Follow me on Pinterest for daily inspiration! Please note, there are affiliate links that do help support our site- thank you! xoxo

Tags: Amy's Notebook, Crafts, DIY, Food & Recipes, Home & Organization
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How To Make Smoothie Bowls

Monday, September 19th, 2016

This post is sponsored by Mamma Chia. Thank you for supporting the companies that make this site possible!

I am always on the hunt for great post-workout snacks that can keep me fueled throughout the day.

Today I wanted to share with you how to make two delicious smoothie bowls and I am pairing them with a fun new drink from Mamma Chia, called Chia Energy Beverages, that you can now find on Walmart shelves.

Doesn’t that sound like a delicious pairing?

I always struggle with finding new things at the store so, in case you are on the hunt, I wanted to show you where you can find them at Walmart.

These drinks can be found in the produce section at the front of the store.

Our drinks were on full display on the top shelves and come in 4 flavors: Grape Power, Cherry Charge, Blackberry Blast, & Raspberry Razz.

These drinks are the first beverage that combine chia with the energy of guayusa.

For those of us with a coffee addiction (ahem!), these are a great way to get energy for the day without that caffeine crash.

Caffeine crashes are THE WORST.

As you know, I have been struggling with my health and I am really committed to eating better so that I can improve how I feel. The founder of Mamma Chia, Janie Hoffman, was also struggling with many debilitating autoimmune disorders and found a great deal of relief from adding chia into her diet. Her mission was to share that gift with others so that they can experience the health benefits too. I also love that the company donates a portion of their proceeds to support farmers, community groups, & organizations that build healthy, local food systems.

It makes you feel doubly good about your purchase!

Today I thought I would incorporate the power of chia, not only in our drink, but as a topping in a healthy smoothie bowl.

Chia is actually considered a superfood because chia seeds are rich in omega-3’s, fiber, protein, and essential vitamins and minerals.

They also help you to sustain energy levels naturally while helping you stay fuller longer.

Today we are topping our smoothie bowls with chia.

If you haven’t had a smoothie bowl before, you are in for a treat.

I understand that many fancy-schmancy breakfast joints serve these now.

How lucky are you that you can save some money and make these at home for a fraction of the cost?

Let me share two recipes for smoothie bowsl with you and don’t forget to stick around to the bottom of this post for our giveaway with Mamma Chia- yay!

The idea is to make the smoothie thicker (make sure you have a powerful blender for this one) by using less liquid to create a thicker consistency.

The fun part is the layering of delicious additions on top.

On this Chocolate Cherry Bowl, I have topped it with fresh raspberries, toasted coconut, & more chia.

Try any combination of flavors you like though!

Chocolate Cherry Smoothie Bowl

Author: MomAdvice.com

Prep time: 5 mins

Total time: 5 mins

Serves: 1-2 bowls

Smoothie bowls make the perfect snack or breakfast. Top with your favorite oatmeal toppings or try our suggestions for a healthy start to your day.

Ingredients

½ cup frozen banana
1 cup frozen cherries
½ cup almond milk
¼ cup avocado
1/4 plain greek yogurt
1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
Toppings: toasted coconut, berries, chia

Instructions

Combine all smoothie bowl ingredients in your blender and blend until smooth.
Pour into a bowl and top with your favorite toppings

I love berry anything and I loved pairing a Raspberry Smoothie Bowl with the delicious flavor of the Chia Energy Blackberry Blast drink. I still wanted some of the chocolate flavor in this one so I topped it with a chocolate granola, and chia. The vibrant hue from the raspberries in this one make such a pretty bowl, don’t they?

This is certainly a powerful motivator to get my workout done so I can enjoy this snack when I get home.

Raspberry Smoothie Bowl

Author: MomAdvice.com

Prep time: 5 mins

Total time: 5 mins

Serves: 1-2 bowls

Give me all the berries! This Raspberry Smoothie Bowl is packed with berries and can be topped with crunchy granola, chia, and more berries for a fun post-workout treat.

Ingredients

1/2 cup frozen raspberries
1 frozen banana
1/4 of an avocado
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup almond milk
Toppings: granola, raspberries, blueberries, and chia

Instructions

Place all smoothie ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
Pour into a bowl and top with your favorite toppings.

Today I’m giving away to one lucky winner a $50 prize pack from Mamma Chia that will include one each of the Mamma Chia’s new organic Chia Energy Beverages and some of their other delicious products. Please enter the giveaway in the widget below and I hope this post inspires you to give these new drinks a try!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This post was sponsored by Mamma Chia. Thank you for supporting the companies that make this site possible!

Looking for more breakfast ideas?

Make Ahead Breakfast Sandwiches

Mango Coconut Green Smoothie

Make-Ahead Breakfast Burritos

Make-Ahead Sleepover Breakfast Buffet

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Tags: Chia Recipes, Chocolate Cherry Smoothie Bowl Recipe, How to Make Smoothie Bowls, Mamma Chia, Mamma Chia at Walmart, Raspberry Smoothie Bowl Recipe, Smoothie Bowl Recipes
Posted in Breakfast, Desserts, Kid Eats, My Work, Sides | No Comments »

Amy’s Notebook 09.14.16

Wednesday, September 14th, 2016

source: damn delicious

This recipe might help with my late night Taco Bell cravings.

How to make a week of lunches to save money– I can always use this type of inspiration!

Sweet potato toast? Who comes up with these genius ideas?

Tips to help your daughter cope with mean girls.

Grain-free pumpkin blender cookies are on my planner this week!

We have used this EVERY SINGLE DAY since we got it- I am not kidding. Saving a lot of $$$ on takeout.

Speaking of takeout, I want to make more Chinese take-out at home.

Here is what you can expect from the fall television line-up. Anything you are excited to catch?

Tips for painting exterior doors.

source: almost makes perfect

There is a feast for the eyes in this housewarming party post.

More antipasto platter goals.

I have worn this dress three times this week (no joke!).

So smart to freeze kits for breakfast casseroles.

5 mistakes to avoid when cooking eggs in a pressure cooker. Noted.

McMansion hell is my new guilty pleasure read. I love my small house.

5 funny shows to watch now. Also, this is the first time I have ever heard of traumedy as a genre.

This piece on aging and style really gave me a lot to think about.

I could not put this book down this weekend- REALLY loved it!!

Bookmarking this cute black cat cupcake for Halloween.

How to have a beautiful home with children– lots of great tips and #housegoals.

I hope you enjoyed our notebook, a collection of gathered links to DIY crafts, food projects, thrifty ways to spruce up your home, and thoughtful reads. Nothing brings me more joy than to highlight other fabulous bloggers. Follow me on Pinterest for daily inspiration! Please note, there are affiliate links that do help support our site- thank you! xoxo

Tags: Amy's Notebook, Amy's Notebook, Crafts, Decorating, DIY, Food & Recipes, Recipes
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How to Make Elephant Toothpaste

Tuesday, September 13th, 2016

This post was sponsored by Bayer. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

If we are only doing science with our kids when the science fair rolls around, I feel like we are missing the boat. Every day is an opportunity to teach something about science with our kids through simple routine moments throughout our day. From baking bread to why their bath tub toys float to how swinging at the park really works…that’s all science (and pretty amazing!).

Simple daily activities are a great way to incorporate science into our daily routines and most parents have a desire for that. In fact, in Bayer’s recent back-to-school survey, nearly all (95%) parents surveyed agree that it would be helpful to have tips for turning simple activities into science learning opportunities for their children, which is why Bayer decided to create a program to address this need.

So many of these teaching moments are overlooked in our house so I am excited to partner with Bayer as they work to improve science literacy in kids through their award-winning program, Making Science Make Sense (MSMS). In this program, Bayer creates hands-on lessons to kids to seriously think about science and fostering the seeds of science in our kids even when they are small. It inspired our family to take a science challenge of our own and gave us a TRULY fun moment with our daughter while teaching her a really important science lesson in the process.

I honestly don’t know who was more excited- my daughter or my husband.

Who doesn’t love a crazy chemical reaction?

If you don’t want to take on our experiment, you can tackle so many easy and fun experiments through the MSMS science library exploring topics like what happens when water boils, where the light from sun comes, and why do oil and water not mix. Not only are these fun things to talk through together, they could also definitely round out a homeschool curriculum.

Since we have middle school kids, we have found it takes a lot to wow them so I wanted to create some science fun that they had never seen before. Grab your safety glasses and dive into a fun science experiment with us as we make Elephant Toothpaste and learn a heck of a lot of science in the process.

How to Make Elephant Toothpaste

Supplies Needed:

1 Cookie Sheet

1 Empty 2-liter container

1 Tablespoon of Dry Yeast

3 Tablespoons Warm Water

Small Cup For Mixing

Liquid Dish Soap

1/2 cup 20-volume hydrogen peroxide liquid (20-volume is a 6% solution and not available at drugstores so make sure you get the type we are linking to)

Food Coloring

Rubber Gloves

Funnel

Safety Goggles (we bought these and they fit perfectly)

Directions for Making Elephant Toothpaste

Please note: We advise parents do the pouring of the hydrogen peroxide as it can irritate the skin and eyes.

1. In a clean 2-liter bottle add 8 drops of food coloring. We picked blue to look like toothpaste!

2. Next have an adult add the hydrogen peroxide to the mixture. A funnel really helps with this step!

2. Add one tablespoon of your liquid dish soap to the bottle. Have your child swish the bottle gently.

3. In a separate cup, mix together the dry yeast and warm water. Mix, mix, mix for 30 seconds.

4. Place the funnel on top and then pour the yeast mixture into the bottle.

5. Watch in amazement as this starts foaming and overflowing from the bottle. Be sure to put your gloved hands around the bottle to feel the heat that the bottle is giving off.

Doesn’t that look like toothpaste? We were all amazed at this chemical reaction.

What’s the Science Behind This Elephant Toothpaste?

Each foam bubble is filled with oxygen. The yeast acts as a catalyst to remove the oxygen from the hydrogen peroxide. Since we did this process so fast, it created lots of bubbles quickly.

We also created an Exothermic Reaction which means you created heat with this reaction. How cool is that? We thought that part was almost as amazing as the foam that we created!

She was absolutely miserable.

Clearly.

Science is awful.

Just look at that face!

Just kidding, she was in science heaven in our backyard lab.

Although experiments are grand, I hope the takeaway is that we have the opportunity to share science with our kids every single day. I hope this idea and the many, many ideas from Bayer’s Making Science Make Sense give you lots of chances to talk about science each and every day.

Do you have any tips on how to share science at home with your children? What hurdles do you experience in encouraging STEM learning beyond the classroom? I would love to hear them!

This post was sponsored by Bayer. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

Posted in Early Childhood, Education, Family, Kids Crafts, My Work | No Comments »

The Reading Life of an Entrepreneur

Monday, September 12th, 2016

I am so excited to introduce you to my friend, Todd Greer. Todd is a ferocious reader and an incredibly gifted entrepreneur. I recently reached out to see if he could share some of his favorite books with us and he graciously offered to share his perspective on some of the best reads this year. How lucky are we? I will go ahead and let Todd share with you today about his background and why reading is so important to him.

So, let me get this out there. Reading is my alcohol. It’s my partying. It’s my binge watching. It’s the addiction that I live with daily. I sneak books. I hide my book purchases. I subscribe to multiple book services.

It’s Brokeback Mountain, “I can’t quit you” serious. That is how I feel about books.

So since I have let you in on my little secret now we can chat. I am an entrepreneur. I started a business in Mobile, AL called The Exchange. We are a coworking company, helping our community to “reimagine work.” Before that I was a Non Profit Executive, a Minister, a Team Building Facilitator, a Volleyball Coach, a College Recruiter, a Political Operative, a Communications and Events staffer, a Hardware Store clerk, and a Paperboy.

Yep.

I have done a lot of stuff.

Oh, and I have a PhD.

I like to do stuff, and collect knowledge, and connect people. That’s what I do.

So, when it comes to books, I am the guy that is simultaneously reading four books. No. Not an exaggeration. And I have a pile of other books that I am regularly pining over just waiting to be able to taste and enjoy.

*Right now I am reading “Essentialism” by Greg McKeown (seriously, this is one of those open your eyes reads about how easy it is to hold on to crap you don’t need and say yes to things you really don’t want to do),

“The Aviators” by Winston Groom (Not sure that there is enough here to hold me. We are jumping around a little too much between the different pilots and the storytelling just isn’t drawing me deeper),

“The Pale Horseman” by Bernard Cornwell (ok, if you have watched the series on Netflix you know just how much of a BAD@$$ Uhtred is! This series has me hooked – if you don’t know Bernard Cornwell and you like the Game of Thrones, you need to read his work),

and “Accused” by Lisa Scottoline (I want to like it, but this first book in the series has some seriously played out stereotypes as it is working to develop the characters. Frankly, it’s still a wait and see).

Well, more accurately, I listen to a lot of books (and read a few). Last year, I read 78 books. This year, I already have 50 down.

Seriously, very few people I know read at the rate that I do. Well, except our dear friend at MomAdvice.com (she is only two ahead of me and I think I can catch her. Oh yea, and last year I beat her by ten books – so take that, Amy).

Editor’s Note: Please note that I consider these words to be fightin’ words. I will be regaining top position this year.

Each of us reads (or doesn’t read) for a variety of reasons. Here are mine: to fall asleep, for a short drive (audio), for a long ride (audio or reading), to prep for a presentation, to be current in research or current affairs, to do yardwork, to de-stress, to learn, to get lost.

Much like my music taste, I have an eclectic palette with books. I read mystery, autobiographies, history, historical fiction, religion, social science, business, and fiction. If you can engage me, inform me, amuse me – I will read your work!

In the days and weeks to come, I will actually talk a little more about the actual books. Till then, my bookshelf is calling me!

Thank you, Todd, for sharing with MomAdvice! We look forward to sharing some of Todd’s favorites in a future post!

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Tags: Book Reviews, Book Reviews, Entrepreneur Reading List, Reading, Todd Greer
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