When James and I were first trying to conceive, I was a bundle of nerves, crying at every turn, especially when getting pregnant didn’t go how I had (meticulously) planned it. We stopped using contraception and proceeded to “try” for the next year. When about 14 months had passed and I still wasn’t pregnant at … Continue reading IVF – The Second Time Around
Books My 18-Month-Old Loves Right Now
Please note: this post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for supporting Happy Optimizing! Louise’s interest in books went from one to sixty in an instant. Until recently, she had a single book that she insisted … Continue reading Books My 18-Month-Old Loves Right Now
How to Finish the Housework With a Toddler
With an 18-month-old running around, it is harder than ever to finish all the housework to keep our happy home humming. After a few months now of being a stay-at-home mom, I think I finally figured one of the secrets—accepting that there’s always another chore that could be done and choosing to prioritize the list … Continue reading How to Finish the Housework With a Toddler
Quarantining for Christmas
Everyone has their own risk tolerance, just like everyone has their own preferences on how to raise their children or how to prioritize spending within a budget. With COVID-19 cases continuing to increase as we approach the holidays, my family and I are planning ahead to try to have the best of both worlds. We … Continue reading Quarantining for Christmas
Thanksgiving for Three
If someone had asked me at the start of the year what we were going to be doing for the holidays this year, I would have said: “We’re finally going to take Louise on the long trip to see James’ family in the Midwest for Thanksgiving, and we’ll be in Georgia with my family for … Continue reading Thanksgiving for Three
Our Second Road Trip with Baby (Now a Toddler)
Our first trip with the baby was not the complete disaster we expected it to be. It was less than optimal, but I was proud of us for finally hitting the road as a new family with a child. We learned several important lessons about how to road trip more efficiently and more comfortably for … Continue reading Our Second Road Trip with Baby (Now a Toddler)
Using Our Freezer Efficiently Saves Money & Time
We freeze almost everything! Our kitchen refrigerator has a large freezer section, and we also use a stand up deep freezer in our garage. Taking time regularly to prep for our freezer and keep it organized has made weekly menu planning and daily meal cooking a breeze. Bulk buys that make sense As I talked … Continue reading Using Our Freezer Efficiently Saves Money & Time
I Became a Stay-at-Home Mom During COVID-19 Quarantine
My family and I are very fortunate. My husband and I are both college-educated and had the opportunity to start our professional, corporate careers during the post-Great-Recession economic boom. We each spent nearly a decade climbing that ladder before finding out we were expecting our first child. For a number of reasons, I was already … Continue reading I Became a Stay-at-Home Mom During COVID-19 Quarantine
Grocery Shopping Staples for a Well-Stocked Home
With a great pantry (and linen closet and laundry room), grocery shopping any given week is usually a pretty straightforward task -- produce, dairy, some meat, a few freezer goods, a few dry goods. James and I purchase most of our household needs in bulk on a less frequent basis, roughly every four to six … Continue reading Grocery Shopping Staples for a Well-Stocked Home
Our First Road Trip with Baby
I admit it. Our first road trip with Louise was not optimal. But we really learned a lot that should help us travel more easily down the road (ba dum bump). We had Louise mid-2019, and decided that we were staying home the following holiday season to keep our life as simple as possible. So, … Continue reading Our First Road Trip with Baby