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Why I Filed for Bankruptcy at 25, and What I Learned

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Aflac, to share my personal experience with insurance and medical debt. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

Can you afford a medical emergency?… The average cost of a heart attack and the care needed to recover is $65,427, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services. A broken leg costs around $10,000. Some cancer medications can cost upwards of $10,000 per month. Add those up, and it’s no surprise that medical debt is the leading cause of bankruptcy is this country. I know from experience that even with insurance, the bills add up quickly, and can become overwhelming. Because it’s not even just the medical bills – it’s also the money you lose if you aren’t able to work for awhile. Many people believe that if they have health insurance, they’ll be ok if a health crisis hits – but do you have a real idea of what out of pocket costs will be if someone in your family gets sick or injured? I didn’t. And that’s what led to me filing for bankruptcy at the young age of just 25.

How to avoid medical debt [Read more…]

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How to Make Your DIY Dreams an Affordable Reality

Do you DIY?… We moved into our house about 2 years ago, and it needed a bit of work. First came the property… It’s got some amazingly good stuff, like a HUMONGO-size 4 bay shop, in ground pool, and big field out back. But it had a lot of amazingly bad stuff too – like no irrigation to water that field, a lot of overgrown weeds and brush, and that pool had to be drained, scrubbed, and refilled again after not being used for years. {There were salamanders living in it… Lol.} But now that we’ve got it under control out there – the veggie garden is planted, flowers are blooming, and things are coming along nicely – it’s been time to tackle the inside of the house. We’re about halfway through a Master Bedroom remodel, planning to redo the Master Bath too, will be fixing up the laundry room, AND a crazy-fun redecorating project for Abby’s new playroom. But, I’m on a budget, and am always looking for creative inspiration to help make my DIY dreams an affordable reality…

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What Do You Need in a Summer Diaper Bag?

I participated in a campaign for Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Wet Ones, to share my favorite summer diaper bag must haves. I received product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating….

Spring has sprung, and summer is coming up just around the corner. Around here, the warmer weather brings a ton of changes! We’re getting ready to open the pool {I’m in Central Washington, and it’s already 90 degrees – woah, right?} – and we’re out of the house so much more often, running around to visit the park, outdoor festivals, camping, and other fun stuff in the sunshine. Which means having a well-stocked diaper bag filled with great essentials is super important at this time of year.

Diaper bag must haves for spring and summer [Read more…]

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Laundry Room Mini-Makeover: 5 Tips to Get You Organized

Do you guys remember my super messy laundry room that I showed you last week? {You know, the one that’s not even a real “room” – just a little alcove section in the hall…} Well, with the help of a couple of smart little gadgets, and some amazingly sturdy Banker’s Boxes in a pretty print, I have tackled the mess, and now have a space that’s more useful, and much nicer to look at! Check it out….

How to store your mops and brooms [Read more…]

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Do You Hate Wasting Cleaning Products?

Ok ladies, you know that I’m a frugal mom, right? {Did the fact that I write a whole column on Frugal Living help to give it away?} I’m also all about keeping life as uncomplicated as possible, by finding the best products and services that help simplify the chaos of my busy life. I call them “Smart Solutions for Busy Moms” – things that save money, save time, and save your sanity. You know, so you have more time and money to devote to the awesome things in life. Which is what we all long for, right?

Best cleaning products
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My Messy Laundry Room Makeover

What does spring mean to you? For me, it means that I’m planting seeds for my spring garden, getting serious about weight loss since summer is approaching fast, and stocking up on great products to do a major spring cleaning extravaganza around this place. Spring really motivates me to get organized again – I mean heck, in winter, it’s so dark and dreary you don’t even really see those monster dust bunnies hiding in the corners… But once the sunshine of spring arrives, it’s hard to ignore the mess. And… We’ve been working on some MAJOR remodeling and DIY projects lately, so we’ve DEFINITELY got a lot of extra mess {watch for a big post soon!} – but between the major craziness of all that, I’m also working on those little “trouble spots” that we’ve ignored for far too long. Check out one of the worst offenders…

Laundry Room Makeover [Read more…]

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Quick Fixes for Busy Moms

Are you a busy mom in need of some quick fixes? …. Hahahahaha. That’s a funny question, am I right? I mean, who ISN’T a busy mom? Whether you are a stay at home, work at home, or work away from home mom – we’re all being pulled in a million directions each day, and it can be hard to keep up. I know that I struggle to stay organized and on track with the chaos of a toddler and a home business – keeping stress at bay is a must, but it’s tough. Which is why the theme behind this whole site is “Smart Solutions for Busy Moms” – finding those clever ideas that help simplify our lives so we have time for the important stuff. I recently hosted a little get together with a few of my fave momma friends, to talk about quick fixes we use to keep life running smoothly. Check ’em out:

manicure touch ups with markers [Read more…]

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