Thursday, October 26, 2017

Organize Your Life with Baby Wipes Containers



If you buy baby wipes, you undoubtedly end up with a dozen reusable wipes containers haphazardly stacked and frequently knocked over by mischievous little hands. They seem like they'd be super useful, but you only keep wipes in so many places. So what purpose can you give these wipes containers? Here are a few ideas to clear the clutter and simplify your life with stuff you already have.

  1. Backup Clothes: Although my kids are 2 and 4, occasionally leaks, spills, and accidents happen. I like to be prepared, but I hate clutter in the car.


  2. Art supplies: So many supplies. Glue, markers, crayons, special paper only markers, stickers, construction paper, special paper booklets. Wrangle that chaos with wipes containers. Organize the supplies by type, slap a cute label on it, and voila- less mess! When your kid wants to color/paint/etc, just grab the needed box and leave the rest behind.


  3. Blessing Box: Sometimes a mama needs some uplifting. Especially early days with a newborn can be isolating and exhausting. When I have an expecting friend, or a drive to donate to moms in need, I make a blessing box. I put in a letter full of kind words, and then strips of paper with Bible verses, jokes, funny parenting truths, and just encouragement on them. When a mom is feeling down, she can go to the box, pull out a slip of paper, and feel encouraged. This could work for kids with reading abilities too!
  4. Snack Wrangler: My bag used to be a sea of dead goldfish and headless animal crackers. Not anymore! I keep all of their snack cups in a wipes container. It keeps all the snacks in one place, so they're easy to find, and it contains the mess without adding to the weight of my bag.


  5. Travel Medicine Case: We recently went on a 12-hour each way road trip. With changing temperatures and climates, I didn't know if we would have any allergies or small illnesses. So I packed a variety of medicines, from allergy medicine to cold medicine to daily medicines to vitamins, and arranged it all in a wipes container. I put it on top in the suitcase, so I could easily get to it at any point. It made last minute stopping for the night more convenient, and my kids were totally uninterested in it because it looks like a wipes container. I could stash it out of their reach, and they didn't try to climb to get to it.


What's your favorite use for reusable wipes containers?



Wednesday, October 25, 2017

New Dollywood Insiders Post

Hey, friends! Did you know I'm also writing over on the Dollywood Insider's page? My first post is up, and you can read it here. I love all the positive ways Dollywood impacts my community- read the post to find out how! You can even participate, by running or walking in the Light the Way 5K this November. You'll get to enjoy the glorious Christmas lights at Dollywood, get some exercise in, and benefit the local community. Check it out! I hope you like it!

Thursday, October 19, 2017

Baking the Semi-Homemade Way

Hey, friends! You can check out my latest post with the Knoxville Mom's Blog here. Learn how to bake with your kids- without the time-suck and huge mess!


Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Feeling like Fall at Dollywood


Y'all, it is hot in Tennessee. Our August was cool and mild, but September and so far October have been hot, humid, and muggy. Ugh. Not cool for fall (pun intended). It's been hard to get in the autumnal spirit when I'm still wearing shorts and tank tops. Thankfully Dollywood invited the Insiders out for a day at the park to try out the Harvest Festival fun.

We drove in from a different direction, and had a generally leisurely attitude about the day. It was nice to go in without rushing and just enjoy the experience of the drive and the Harvest Festival.


The park is all dressed up and looking beautiful. Hay bales, pumpkins, and fall colors are in full bloom. The temperature may have been in the high 80s, but we still felt fall in the air at Dollywood.







The fall accents compliment the typical Dollywood experience that includes delicious food, fun rides, and plenty of memory making moments. The combined effects of no college game, fall break, and higher temperatures meant the crowds were out in full force. But we still had a blast with the kids riding their favorite rides.






The Great Pumpkin LumiNights are glowing after dark, with fun fall and Halloween decorations placed throughout the park. Bats with pumpkin heads fly high overhead, while intricately carved pumpkins populate the landscape. There's such beauty to be seen.






With Halloween around the corner, there are plenty of spooky-but-not-scary decorations for a less frightful way to celebrate the season. With rides and buildings lit up in red, purple, and green, the thrill of Halloween and the exciting rides at Dollywood combine for a delightful experience.








 The Great Pumpkin LumiNights experience also includes a fun glow maze for kids. It isn't really a maze- there's one entrance and one exit and only one path in between, but the black lights, bright colors, and glow in the dark paint make for a grand adventure for little ones.





 Special shows are currently taking place at Dollywood's Harvest Festival, including the Southern Gospel Jubilee performances. The Pumpkin Boogie Dance Party is fun for all ages each evening. Seasonal food includes the Pumpkin Cupcakes (my personal favorite this season- they're just the right amount of pumpkin!), warm apple cider, Candy Corn Kettle Corn, Caramel Apple Sundae, Candied Apple Slices, and Candy Apple Cider. It's all delicious and the perfect way to make your sweet day at Dollywood's Harvest Festival even sweeter.

What else makes your day sweeter? Saving $5 per ticket! Buy your tickets online here, and enter the code DWInsiders5 when you check out. You'll print your tickets at home and take them to the park with you. This offer isn't available at the gate, so make sure to buy your tickets in advance and save! Then come back and share your favorite Dollywood Harvest Festival memories in the comments!