A Gift for Super Dad

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This year I really can’t wait until Father’s Day to give Craig some credit where credit is due. Our world changed pretty quickly this March. One day I was running around doing my normal routine of morning school drop offs and working, the next I was in the hospital fighting cancer. Yep, didn’t see that coming. In a moment of two seconds, Craig leveled up, rose to the occasion and became super dad. So I was so excited when Intel sent me this HP Pavillion touchscreen laptop with a super fast Intel Core i7-6500U processor to surprise him with as an early Father’s Day gift.

Craig has taken over all of my duties at home with Kayla and Blake in addition to working full time. He does drop off, pick up, makes lunches, cooks dinner, takes Blake to swim class and coaches Kayla’s soccer team. I don’t even know how to thank him. There aren’t enough words. But I guess it starts with simply acknowledging the fact that he is literally doing it all. So Craig, THANK YOU! You are amazing and I am so lucky to have you.  [Read more…]

5 Tips to Take the Pain Out of Life Insurance

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Do you need life insurance? Want life insurance that makes sense for your life? I’m talking about ways to find life insurance that is right for you in partnership with Ladder.

Life insurance. We all need it, none of us want to talk about it. Why? Because it’s the worst case scenario. It’s uncomfortable. It feels taboo. And yet, it’s so important that we do. Statistics tell me that if you’re reading this, there is a 90% chance you’re a parent. So, from one parent to another, here are 5 tips to take the pain out of life insurance.

5 tips to take the pain out of life insurance | Ladder Life Insurance| from Hello Splendid www.hellosplendid.com

Yep. Death is expensive, emotionally awful, exhausting for those dealing with it and tricky. So, plan A, never die! Plan B, have life insurance.

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Listening is the first step.

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I keep hearing my friends of color say it over and over again. LISTEN. In an age of knee jerk reactions and remarks, listening is an acquired skill. Hearing is a priceless one.

The voices we can learn the most from are often the ones that have been intentionally muted. Ones we may have to make an effort to seek out. Ones that come from those who don’t look or sound exactly like us. Every once in a while though, an opportunity arises for these muted voices to reach and affect the masses. [Read more…]

Flipp – An App For Modern Mamas

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Want to save more, feel organized and spend less time grocery shopping? I do. I partnered with Flipp to show you how.

Recently I shared my chocolate celebration bark with you. It’s cute, fun to make and even more fun to eat. But you want to know something weird? It was actually fun to shop for. YES. Shopping should be fun. Much like the girls from Beverly Hills, it is one of my greatest skills. Bottom tick the price on that cute J.Crew top I’ve been eyeing? Check. Track down that amazing Mara Hoffman dress I couldn’t stop thinking about? Check. But grocery shopping? Yawn.


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Kindle for Kids + Kate Spade Inspired DIY Kindle Cover

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Curious about the Kindle For Kids? Find out more about Kindle for Kids and Amazon Free Time plus this Kate Spade inspired Kindle Cover. Thanks to Amazon for sponsoring this post. #AmazonKindle #AmazonFreetime

Reading has always been my thing. When I think back to my childhood bedroom there were plenty of toys but the thing I remember most was the wall to wall shelves that were lined with books. Hundreds of books just waiting to be read over and over and I loved nearly all of them. Now as a parent one of my biggest goals is to raise children who love to read. Kids who beg for just one more chapter.

Kate Spade Inspired Kindle Cover | Kindle for Kids | Just One More Chapter DIY Kindle Cover from Hello Splendid www.hellosplendid.com

I’m happy to say that years of reading with Kayla has translated into her becoming one of those kids. Over Thanksgiving break she went through a stack of books. And even though her books are smaller than the 400-700 page ones I tend to get lost in, they sure do add up. Especially when you’re traveling! [Read more…]

Laptops for Dual Language Learners

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Looking for a great laptop for a child in a language immersion school or a dual language learner? I’m talking about some great features in the Lenovo Flex 4. Thanks to Intel for sponsoring this post.

This right here is Kayla’s reaction to hearing that this new Lenovo Flex 4 1480 with an Intel Core i5 processor was JUST for her. Oh and that the flex part was NO joke. Kids are awesome! If you’re like me and you have children around Kayla’s age then finding technology that you can feel good about and suits their tween needs is probably on your to do list this holiday season.

Lenovo Flex 4 | Finding the right laptop for a tween | Laptops for dual language learners from Hello Splendid www.hellosplendid.com

I found myself wanting to give Kayla something more powerful and interactive than the netbooks of Christmas past, but far less expensive than the laptops I work on. A touch screen would be nice too. So many of the educational programs out there are built for touch screens these days. Plus the ability to fold it up and watch a movie on it like a tablet while traveling would be even better, right?

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