Mommin' It Up!

October 13, 2014October 13, 2014

The Work-at-Home Mom Uniform & My Fall Fashion Faves

This post is sponsored by Savings.com

So as I mentioned a few weeks ago, I am not a part-time but full-fledged work-at-home mom. The new site I’m editing hasn’t launched yet, but it will super-soon and I’ve been working super hard (along with a lot of other cool peeps). One of the joys of working from home is that I don’t have to “dress up” – but that doesn’t mean I don’t look good. I stay casual, comfortable, and very fashionable all day with my very favorite clothing brand – can you guess – of course you can – Lands’ End!

I have to confess, fall is my FAVORITE season, and the fabulous weather and gorgeous colors have a lot to do with that. The fact that long-sleeve tees, scarves, and boots come into play in the fall also has a lot to do with that. So this fall I’ve pretty much got a stylish comfy work-at-home mom uniform: a Lands’ End cotton modal tee, jeans, and scarf. And now that it’s cool enough, BOOTS! Here’s my new favorites: the kids and Bobby just happened to get me all of these fave uniform things for my birthday (except boots):

lands end 1 — It’s hard to tell, but this shirt is not red but the most delicious deep orange. I love it!

Sadly, no one was home to take my pics so I couldn’t get a good shot of my jeans. But they’re these Fit 1 Low Rise Slim Leg Jeans, and they’re amazing!

They’re also featured here in Lands’ End’s fab fashion magazine, Apostrophe. (As is my birthday scarf!)

I love everything about this page – navy and silver is a great dressy alternative to black.

Another look I adore from the fall Apostrophe magazine is this “on the clock” work outfit:

This denim pencil skirt is so dark it’s super-dressy! But it would be great for a casual outfit, too. I adore this. I want to order the whole ensemble and wear it for a week solid! And carry that handbag every day for the rest of my life.

A more cozy fall item I’m dying for (Mom, this is what you can get me for Christmas) is this Women’s Drifter Texture Sweater. I WANT it! Isn’t the pattern so fun?

(Clearly this sweater also makes the wearer VERY happy. Once again, I need it.)

Are you now jonesing to add some Lands’ End fall goodness to your wardrobe? (My work-at-home uniform DEF needs THAT SWEATER!) Well good news, TODAY ONLY you can get 25% off your whole order at Lands’ End! Just use promo code COOL and PIN 1652 – plus, orders of $50 or more ship free with this deal! I loves me a coupon code! Get crackin’ because the 25% off ends tonight at midnight CST.

Have you checked out Apostrophe and the Lands’ End fall line yet? You guys know it’s about all I wear…what are your favorite pieces?

October 10, 2014October 9, 2014

My ALDI #LiveGfree Favorites

ALDI is the sponsor of this post. All opinions are my own.

I have absolutely loved trying out all the ALDI LiveGfree gluten free items since they first debuted in May. I can’t tell you what a difference they have made in my life (and Jonah’s). I know that sounds a little cray-cray, but you guys – affordable, deeelicious gluten free products? YAY! I can have foods that I love and can AFFORD! Say what!? It’s the absolute best. So, this past Sunday when the ALDI ad dislplayed a bunch of new LiveGFree products, I ran right out within a couple hours and bought them ALL. If you follow me on Instagram, I am sure you saw my exuberant pics! Here’s a taste:

My cart:

I seriously bought ALL THE THINGS!

And here, including all the new things I just got, are a few of my must-have favorites from the ALDI LiveGfree line. I’m going to feature a few and then list a few more at the bottom, lest this post be 5,000 words long. Cause I could go on indefinitely!

LiveGfree Gluten Free Cocoa Loco Baked Chewy Bars and Double Chocolate Brownie Soft Baked Cookies

These two treats are my favorite snack for me (the bars) and favorite reward treat for Jonah (the cookies). They are both super-delicious! They are all natural – no artificial ANYTHING – and are about half the price of the name brand I used to buy Jonah before these came out. They are also free of the major allergens including dairy! If you are gluten AND dairy free, you gotta get these. I love to throw one of the bars in my purse (I love the other two flavors also, which I mentioned in this post) for a GF snack on the go. I use the cookies for Jonah as a reward after he does a great job in our speech therapy times together. He loves them!

LiveGfree Gluten Free White Bread

I seriously about passed out with excitement when I saw this bread in the ALDI ad last Sunday. Only $3.99 for a loaf! This is a minimum of $1 cheaper than the name brands. I rarely buy bread for Jonah and me because of the expense. We have both learned to live without it. But now we don’t have to! This is GOOD, people. Soft and delicious. So far I’ve had it plain with butter, as toast, and I put it to the TRUE taste of greatness and made a grilled cheese with it.

It was amazing.

ALDI LiveGFree Faves 9 — It was as good as it looks!

LiveGfree Gluten Free Corn Bread Mix

I forgot to save the box, so here’s a lovely official photo of the box. But anyway, it’s DELICIOUS. It’s so moist and just generally amazing. Jonah eats it up, too! I love love love love love love it.

LiveGfree Gluten Free Cracklebread – Original and Sun-Dried Tomato and Oregano

One of the things I miss about going gluten free are crunchy snacks. And ohhh boy does these cracklebreads hit the spot there! They are delicious dipped in hummus or spread with some cream cheese. A wonderful snack. As a matter of fact I would like some right now because they are addictive!! Mmm hold on I’ll be right back…

LiveGfree Gluten Free Wraps

These are delightful. I haven’t had a good wrap for SO LONG…I remedied that situation at lunch today. Divine!

Ok, I won’t go into excruciating detail about any other items, but here is a list of more of my favorites which I consider must-haves also!

LiveGfree Gluten Free Yellow Cake Mix (great for cupcakes!!)
LiveGfree Gluten Free Cheese Ravioli
LiveGfree Gluten Free Chicken Breast Nuggets (for Jonah)
LiveGfree Gluten Free Brownie Mix (so so so GOOOOD!)
LiveGfree Gluten Free Baking Mix (makes delish pancakes!)

So there you have it friends – you have all these WONDERFUL products (along with those I’ve blogged about earlier in this series) available to you at GREAT price at your local ALDI. Go getcha some! And if you have any favorites, tell me what they are below!

October 9, 2014October 8, 2014

No Dudes Allowed

Ok so…Dad, Uncle Paul, Uncle Dan…move along. You don’t wanna read this.

Is it safe? Just us girls? Ok.

You GUYSIMEANGIRLS! I don’t know why I haven’t blogged about this before.

About two years ago, my hormones went CRAY CRAY. My two main symptoms were terrible cystic acne on my forehead (swelling the size of nickels and quarters, girls. I looked alternately like a unicorn or a many-horned monster) and periods where, let’s just say, I often couldn’t leave my house for a couple days.

I am happy to say I have now, for the most part, solved both of these problems. If I were a GOOD blogger, I would insert graphic here with the words “How I solved my hormone problems” or “How to get rid of hormonal acne.”

But we all know I care JUST enough to keep the phone bill paid, so I’m just gonna be a lamb and TELL ya.

I solved the acne problem with a supplement called DIM. It’s all-natural. I think it’s basically like eating 12 heads of broccoli a day. There are lots of different brands, here are two I like: Estroblock PRO and Food Science of Vermont.

(These aren’t even affiliate links, because I am a TOTAL SLACKER!! So refreshing.)

I take it religiously and it works. And I can REALLY TELL if I forget to take it. Whoo-whee.

The way I solved my horrendously heavy periods…was a little more complicated.

I got my uterine lining burned off. It’s WAY MORE awesome than it sounds! Also, it’s a lot more expensive than supplements, but besides my van, it’s the best thing I’ve ever spent multiple thousands of dollars on. Plus, I had it in February, so way to meet that deductible early in the year! I’m not joking. It has improved my life SO much, I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Now, you have to be done having babies if you’re going to go this route, but since I got my tubes tied literally SECONDS after Jonah was born, I was a PRIME CANDIDATE.

And seriously, it worked. I now barely notice my period. Some people never get theirs back. I did, but I’ve gone from keeping the feminine hygiene companies in business to pantyliners only. {Dudes, I REALLY hope you have stopped reading long before this…} It’s AMAZING! I would never be on a feminine hygiene commercial but I’d totally be on a commercial for his procedure, called and ablation. Ablations R Us. Sign me up.

Sadly, I still get hormone headaches and MAYBE A LITTLE MOODY SOMETIMES (maybe), but since these two main problems are solved, I try not to complain too much.

So now you know more than you need to know about my lady business. How’s yours???