The Not Too Shabby Mom

Today our son probably took his first nap ever without his beloved binky. Truthfully, it's been a long time coming. He had become that kid that you would have to ask to take it out of his mouth so you could have a conversation. He is 2 and a half (I want to cry as I type that) and we let him hang onto it this long because we were nervous about the transition to him having a baby brother, didn't want to take away something as he was feeling a little like his world had changed. Somewhere in the past 6 months binky or "Bink" took on a life-like persona. Kolt would talk about it like it was a pet or best friend. We didn't really do anything to discourage him. My sisters and I all had binkies growing up, although I think only 1 of us had trouble letting it go.  It seemed as if my husband and I had missed the window of opportunity to get rid of the binkies, while Kolt didn't seem so interested in it. I spent last night reading other blogs I had pinned on Pinterest ...

Today I wanted to share a recipe that my family really enjoys and I make probably once a month.  I started making this after a former co-worker introduced me to it many years ago. Shout out to Beth - who I recently was able to reconnect with on Facebook, gotta love social media :) Beth brought it for a work potluck. It became part of my meal rotation because I love easy slow cooker meals and especially Mexican food! Taco soup is perfect for weekends as it makes plenty of leftovers if serving just 2-3 people.  We like to make on game days as everyone can serve themselves whenever they want throughout the game.     I highly recommend using slow cooker liners if you have never done so before. I purchase at Kroger and they are affordable and a huge time saver with clean up.  As long as the bag doesn't get punctured during serving you can just wash your slow cooker lid and just place the rest of it back in your cabinet with a qui...

I have been obsessively cleaning, cleaning like I am moving out of this house cleaning. I don't know if it is prolonged nesting, really thorough Spring cleaning, the fact that it's February and flu season and I don't want to take my little guys out and about and am pretty much confined to home. My goal is to have cleaned and organized  every cabinet, drawer and closet by my family's large garage sale this Spring. I like mentally picturing a map of our nearly 2,200 square ft house with all these checkmarks all over. When people think being at home all day is boring, I think to myself I could never be bored here. I have a laundry list of DIY projects that could keep me busy for an eternity. I know I have said it before, but things got a little out of control around here or at least out of my comfort zone between coping with 2 miscarriages and getting pregnant with my first son and when I left my job to be a Stay at Home Mom a year and a half later.  Don't get me wron...

I love to highlight game changing products! It is no secret I LOVE organizing, like something could be clinically wrong with me.  I can't get enough of Pinterest because of this, shopping at The Container Store and Ikea (yes please!). There used to be a show on TV called The Amanda's, about a group of professional organizers from Alabama that went into homes and organized problem spaces.  I would have worked for them if they were local.  (Do yourself a favor and follow them on Instagram @theamandasorganizing) If you want to follow my Organization Porn (it's a real thing) Pin with me on Pinterest "Organize It" Pinterest board Anyway, in January I joined this fabulous company, Initials, Inc. as an Independent Creative Partner. ( https://www.myinitials-inc.com/kaceyk ) I love their products, the affordability, quality and their free personalization.  I have a great kit full of products, but today my first order came with items I chose, with my pre...