Busy Mom Solution

10 Tips for Potty Training Success – Seriously.

Ten Tips You Need for Potty Training Success is sponsored by Pull-Ups®.

Most of you know about the struggles Abby and I have had with potty training. If not – long story short. {Like I can ever say anything short, ha. :)} But – we had a great start at a little before 2 years-old. Then she started having seizures. Her meds had horrible side effects. I didn’t want to introduce anything else into life. You know? But, she got better, we moved forward, and I was uh-MAY-zingly lucky to get to partner with Pull-Ups, who I was already totally relying on for the best products. {I really mean that, total fave.} Working with them gave me the opportunity to learn SO much about the science behind potty training, the best practices, and – the most important part – making it FUN. For moms, dads, AND kiddos. And, how darn cute are their products, right?

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Posted by Meagan Paullin on September 6, 2014 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution | 1 Comment

Kitchen Makeover: Organization Tips on a Budget

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Duck Brand. All opinions are 100% mine.

We’ve lived in this house for about 3 years now. But just finally closed on the sale and made it official a couple months ago. {Yayayayayaya!} So, I’m starting to work on some projects I’d kind of put off for awhile, and get this place whipped into shape. We entertain a lot, so the big projects are the kitchen and living room. The kitchen is right off the patio where the pool is – so it’s the most “seen” room when people visit, since that sliding glass door is our usual entrance – I figured it’s the first place to start.

The kitchen has got good “bones,” if you know what I mean – nice cabinets and appliances, a great kitchen island, and awesome tile. Everything is very neutral colored, so I decided to decorate based on my favorite thing in the kitchen – my red KitchenAid mixer. I’m working on a couple of pieces of wall art, and have some shopping to do – but first job is organizing cupboards and drawers.

First step was emptying out drawers. Next step? This super pretty Duck® Brand shelf liner. It’s not an adhesive liner, so you don’t have to worry about a mess or any damage when you want to remove it or change styles. It’s machine washable, which is really cool. And even though it’s not adhesive – it still “sticks” when you put it down. Like, just stays in place really well.

There are like a million styles and designs – check ’em out here: Duck Brand’s Shelf Liner. You just measure, cut, and place in the drawer or on a shelf. And you know what’s crazy? The patterns match up awesomely – this is two pieces of shelf liner next to each other. You can barely see the difference in the pattern – and I did NOT try at all to match them. Cool, right?

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Posted by Meagan Paullin on July 10, 2014 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution | 3 Comments

How to Organize Your Pool Supplies

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Rubbermaid, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #FastTrack http://my-disclosur.es/RgFrEH….

“Hi. My name is Meagan, and I have an organizational problem.” – It’s true. But I guess I should say I have a couple of organizational problems. As in – I have some pretty hard core OCD when it comes to how I like things to be arranged and sorted and displayed, which can annoy the people who live with me. I also have the problem that over the past 4 years, my home has been like a game of musical chairs – My mom moved in, bringing her dogs. Then my brother remodeled my basement and moved in with the kids. Then I found out I was pregnant. Then my Mister moved in – and WE got a dog. And then I had a baby. And then we moved and bought a new house. Then my brother moved out the next year. My mom only stays here part time now. My Mister’s oldest daughter moved in. Then out, to go to college. Then his middle daughter moved in. And we got another dog. Craziness, right? With all of the moving and swapping rooms and storing people’s stuff and on and on – the house is not the temple of color-coded organization that I would like. {To say the least, lol.} But, this is the year of getting things caught up!

This post has gone kinda crazy lately – Hacks for storing and organizing your summer pool supplies + use the same idea for all your garage storage needs! Uses @rubbermaid FastTrack system, the coolest storage bins, easy peasy! #swimmingpools #momlife https://t.co/eVylO5Pi0T pic.twitter.com/Iu0flKZZB2

— Meagan Paullin (@SunandSipCups) May 19, 2019

{Update: This was written in 2014, it’s now 2019, and our house is JUST Abby and I, plus the same dog, but two new cats. Calmer, quieter-ish, and more consistently organized. But recently this post has gone bonkers, getting shared all over Pinterest. So, I thought I’d update y’all a little, if you’re new here!}

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Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 19, 2014 Filed Under: Featured Summer, Busy Mom Solution, Tips, Homemaking | No Comments

How to Pack a “Potty Bag” for Potty Training On-The-Go

Thanks to Huggies Clutch ‘n’ Clean* Wipes new stylish baby wipes for sponsoring today’s discussion about how to pack a “potty bag” for potty training while traveling or on-the-go…

Recently I shared some tips on how to potty train when traveling – or just on-the-go during the busy summer months. Abby has got this whole potty training thing down pretty darn good, finally. But long car rides or flights, unfamiliar locations, and changes in routine can throw even the most consistent kids off track. So, even for just a day of running errands or an afternoon at the park for play dates – we pack a “potty bag.” Here are a few of my absolute must-haves {including some new super stylish baby wipes!} for a day on-the-go with a toddler or preschooler – and be sure to add your own suggestions in the comments too.

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Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 12, 2014 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution | 1 Comment

6 Simple Newborn Photography Tips

Newborn photography tips – by Lori Epstein, senior photo editor, National Geographic Kids. This is not a compensated post – as a #NGKidsInsider, I love being able to share cool tips and info from their amazing team with you guys!

As moms, we love taking pics of our family. And some of the most amazing photos are the ones we capture of our babies when they are just brand new little ones, right? There are a million amazingly talented photographers out there that can do professional photo shoots for you, but it’s also awesome to be able to snap those little everyday moments on your own. So, I’m excited to bring you some amazingly smart newborn photography tips from National Geographic’s senior photo editor, Lori Epstein. If you have other tips to share too, leave them in the comments!

6 Simple Newborn Photography Tips
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Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 6, 2014 Filed Under: Family, Busy Mom Solution | No Comments

Looking For a New Way to Sell Your Craft Patterns?

Just so ya know – This post contains affiliate links, which means I will be compensated if you purchase after clicking these links to learn to sell your patterns. But I only share awesome stuff that I use myself and think you’ll love too. And Craftsy.com rocks!

Are you a crafty type? Do you create your own patterns for your knitting, sewing, crocheting or other creative projects? Would you like to earn some money for them? If so, keep reading to learn how to add and sell your patterns on Craftsy. You’ll love it!

Not familiar with Craftsy.com? Well, they’re a super cool way to learn new creative skills – online, on your own time, at your own pace. Things like cake decorating, sewing basics or designer details, paper crafting, knitting or crocheting, photography tips, and so much more. And, in addition to wonderful online courses and craft supplies, Craftsy also has an independent online pattern store that lets anyone upload and sell downloadable e-patterns with no fee. How cool is that, right? [Read more…]

Posted by Meagan Paullin on April 27, 2014 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution, Crafty | No Comments

Are You Throwing Money Away When Shopping Online?

You know that I’m a frugal momma, right? That was one of the reasons that I started this site – to share some of the cool tips and tricks I had learned. Long story short – a month after becoming a new mom, I lost my job, including the other two months of paid maternity leave I was expecting. There was a glitch with unemployment, and it took months before they figured it out and accepted my claim. I was a full-time student, overwhelmed mom of an infant, in a really bad economy. First was panic – then I got resourceful! I started looking at all of the ways I could cut expenses, and took out things like restaurant meals, coffee shop drinks, and vacations. Little by little I learned to coupon, build a frugal pantry, and started to live by the phrase, “Use It Up, Wear It Out, Make It Do, or Do Without.” But cutting expenses isn’t always enough, right?

I also needed to find ways to earn more income, while staying at home with Abby. I shared a lot of my tips here: 10 Ways to Earn Money from Home, which is my most popular post on this site, of all time, ever. And since that post has been so popular, I’m guessing that there are a lot of moms out there like me, trying to bring in extra money to boost a slim budget. Even now that I’ve built my business well, I still follow all of my frugal habits – there’s no reason to throw money away! So, today is the first in a series, showing you some new ways to earn more money right from your own home too. [Read more…]