After starting the third trimester of my pregnancy, I noticed something had changed for me. I was no longer worried about all of the what-ifs, I was no longer hyper-focused and over analyzing every little ache and pain, and I was able to actually accept that everything is ok. It took me a long time [...]
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21 Tips and Tricks for Taking Toddlers to the Beach
I recently took the kids on a spontaneous trip to the beach to kill some time while AJ played in a golf tournament. Luckily we are only a half hour from one of our favorite beaches and we love taking the kids out for a few hours whenever we can. Living in Northern California, you [...]
Activity: Toddler Dino Dig
My parents have been in the process of remodeling their backyard and the kids have had a lot of fun exploring and helping with all the demo. They have an old planter box under their office window that they plan on turning into a patio area. To keep the kids entertained and away from all [...]
Toddler Schedule Breakdown
A few days ago, a girlfriend and I were talking about how we entertain our busy toddlers all day long as SAHMs. The mom guilt was hitting us with its full force. Neither one of us thought we were doing enough and we were hoping to get some new inspiration from each other for how [...]
Activities I Use to Entertain My Toddlers as a SAHM
Being a SAHM is exhausting. And trying to find ways to constantly keep these toddlers entertained and occupied instead of destroying the house or watching Daniel Tiger all day long is tough! I was recently talking with a friend who has decided to stay at home with her kids instead of going back to work. [...]
10 Ideas for Backyard Fun for Toddlers
The warm weather has been a welcomed change over the past few weeks and we've found ourselves outside in the backyard more often than not! While thinking of different ways to entertain the kids outside, I came up with this list. It's been a huge hit among our friends who are looking for ways to [...]
Relocating with Toddlers
We recently sold our house and moved in with my in-laws (read more about that here). Fortunately, my in-laws have the extra space for our little family to move in for a few weeks while we look for our forever home. And even better, they have been a huge help with helping us get the [...]
Toys We Love: Toddler Scavenger Hunt Cards
While looking for some fun games to add to the kid's Easter Baskets this year, I stumbled upon this set of Toddler Scavenger Hunt Cards. I figured why not throw them in the basket and worst case scenario the kids forget about them and they live happily ever after in the bottom of the stroller. [...]
Poolside Outfits I’m Loving
With the warm weather taking over this week, we spent the majority of our afternoons floating around the pool and exploring the backyard. The kids love the pool. All they need is some sunscreen, hats, some floaties, and they're good to go! I, on the other hand, need something that has comfort, support, and coverage [...]
Earth Day Sensory Bin
Happy Earth Day! We decided to put together a fun sensory bin to celebrate Earth Day today. It was probably one of the easiest sensory bins so far! The kids and I spent some time outside earlier and did some exploring in their grandparents backyard. They have one of the most beautiful yards I've ever [...]
Rainbow Rice
Earth Day is tomorrow and to celebrate we'll be putting together a fun Earth Day themed sensory bin! Before I get all the info for the bin put together (we are mid-move so bare with me in these next few weeks), I thought I'd post the recipe for the Rainbow Rice that we are going [...]
Kid’s Movie Night
We recently sold our house and moved into my in-laws while we look for our forever home. The kids have had a pretty rough time adjusting to our new "normal". To help make them feel a little more comfortable and give them a little break from the chaos of relocating, we decided to treat them [...]
Mother’s Day Gift Guides
Mother's Day is coming up so with the help of my Grandma and Mom, I've rounded up some of the best gifts for any Mom you are celebrating this year! For Grandma Inspire Me Bracelet (use code EMBRACETHECHAOS for 20% off)Grandma Photo Frame Mother's Day Card Slippers & Robe From Kindred Bravely Anything with pictures [...]
Under the Sea Sensory Bin
For some reason our kids LOVE whales. Whenever we see any body of water they immediately start searching for whales and Oliver is convinced there is one living in the river where we live. So to play off their love of whales I decided to put together an "Under the Sea" themed sensory bin! Here's [...]
One Dress, Five Ways
I had so much fun rounding up my favorite maternity looks from March, I figured why not grab one of my favorite dresses and breakdown the few ways I wear it the most! This dress was a random purchase that ended up becoming one of my favorite pieces both during and after pregnancy. Every woman [...]
A Shared Room for Siblings
I loved being able to have the kids share a bedroom. Not only was it easier on me to keep them together in one space and their toys in a separate room, but they loved being able to fall asleep together every night and being able to hear their little conversations was absolutely adorable. For [...]
Life Update
There are lots of fun things going on for us right now but before I dive into all that, I wanted to say thank you for all of the support and love that I've been receiving for Embrace the Chaos. What started out as a small passion project and outlet for me has turned into [...]
Favorites from Amazon this Week
It's been a long week... and it's only Thursday! I did a little online shopping over the weekend and I am loving all the pieces that have arrived this week! Here's a peak into some of my favorite Amazon finds this week! Knitted Lounge Set I'm actually wearing this as I write this post now! [...]
Books of the Summer
I've always been a big reader. I love to cozy up with a good book and just get lost in the story. I think I can attribute my love of reading to my Grandma. She always has a new book on her table and has always encouraged me to explore all sorts of genres and [...]
March Maternity Style
Last month my belly POPPED! I've officially boxed up the jeans and have broken out the maternity leggings (thanks, Kindred Bravely for creating some amazingly comfy leggings... check out my review on their leggings here). The first couple months of this pregnancy were rough and to be honest, I've had zero interest in most of [...]
Bump-Friendly Amazon Dresses for Under $30
It's no secret that I love Amazon. Between the fast shipping and unlimited options, it's any mom's kryptonite. I'll admit I've spent more than I'd like to admit on clothes and accessories from Amazon over the past year and with a fast growing baby bump, I am so happy that a few of my favorite [...]
Farm Coloring Sheets
Download coloring sheets to entertain your little ones here! BarnyardDownload SheepDownload CowDownload RoosterDownload HorseDownload PigDownload Like, comment, and subscribe for more Embrace the Chaos content!
Toys We Love: Little People Caring for Animals Farm Set
I love all the Little People toys for the kids. They hold up against their rough and rowdy play and they're the perfect size for their little hands! They have so many different toys, people, trucks, animals, vehicles, and more so the kids will never go bored. They are a great way to foster their [...]
Our Favorite Farm Books
We have collected so many books over the past few years, and living in a farming town has influenced a lot of the books we've picked up and been gifted. Our town has a proud history of ranching and farming which is something that has been past down from generation to generation. Local children's stores [...]
Farm Sensory Bin
We are back again with another Sensory Bin! The kids have been really into farm animals the past few weeks. With Oliver on Spring Break I decided to put together a week of farm-themed activities to keep them occupied! This week I'll be adding a few different farm-themed activities to the Blog so stay tuned [...]
A Fun Announcement!
I am so excited to announce that I am officially an affiliate for Kindred Bravely! I have loved this brand since I was first pregnant with Oliver and I am so excited to be able to share their products with all of you! Kindred Bravely is a maternity and postpartum company that puts moms first. [...]
Maternity Brands I’m Loving
There’s no more hiding this growing belly and I’ve loved dressing up the bump through the past few weeks! Over the past couple years I’ve been able to try out tons of different maternity brands and styles that have given me a chance to experiment with different looks while pregnant. I’ve rounded up some of [...]
Easter Egg Hunt Activity Sheet
Does your little one like eye spy or matching games? Oliver really liked searching for the matching eggs in this Easter Egg Hunt matching activity! Download your FREE Activity Sheet here:Download Like, comment, and subscribe below for more Embrace the Chaos content!
Letter From the Easter Bunny
Oliver has hit the age where he's starting to understand the stories around characters like Santa and the Easter Bunny. This year we will be spending Easter up at the lake so we left a note at our house for the Bunny so he'll be able to find us up there. Oliver is so excited [...]
Mommy and Me Inspo
Emmie has finally hit the stage where she actually enjoys picking her own outfits and letting Mommy do her "airrr doooo" every morning and I am loving it! The other day I unknowingly ended up dressing in the same exact outfit as her and by the end of the day it finally hit me that [...]
Carrot Feet Art Project
Oliver has a weird thing about his feet. Anytime we have a sensory bin out he always tries to put his feet in it. When he's outside, he never keeps his shoes on. Puddles? He's splashing around in them barefoot. I'm not entirely sure why he loves it but he does! So when we started [...]
Cotton Ball Easter Bunny
This project is by far one of the cutest things I've ever seen for Easter. I saw a version of it a few years ago when Oliver was a few months old and I wanted to do a little something for AJ and the grandparents to celebrate Oliver's first Easter! With the kids being a [...]
Mosaic Easter Art Project
Looking for an easy way to entertain your toddler with a festive art project? Here you go! We created our Mosaic East Art this afternoon when we were bored and doing some arts & crafts! I was trying to put together a few Easter themed art projects for the kids this week but today they [...]
Easter Gift Guide For Toddlers
The countdown to Easter is officially on! If you're like me and wait until the last minute to do your shopping then this guide is for you! Keep reading for an easy guide to filling your little one's Easter basket! Just so you know, by shopping through my links I receive a small commission from [...]
Coping with Miscarriage: When the Would-Be Due Date Comes & Goes
The past few days have been hard. There’s no other way to put it. Lots of feelings of sadness, anger, frustration, confusion, and the list just goes on and on. And yesterday, I snapped. I broke down into a pile of emotions and tears on the floor of our bathroom just feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. [...]
Baskets on a Budget
When looking around for some fun things to add to the kids Easter Baskets, I was blown away by how quickly it all added up! I figured since they grow out of things so quickly and tend to play pretty rough and dirty, I didn't want to spend an arm and a leg on basket [...]
Easter Egg Hunt Ideas for Toddlers
Growing up we always spent Easter at a family house down in Aptos with a bunch of my cousins. That week on the beach gave me memories that I love and will cherish for a lifetime. We always had so much fun splashing in the freezing water, climbing the cliffs around the beach, watching for [...]
Top 5 Products for Surviving Hyperemesis
The first trimester is tough. You're exhausted, hormonal, and anxious for everything to come in the next few months. A few lucky moms-to-be make it through the first trimester with little to no morning sickness. But for 3% of moms-to-be, that's just not the case. That 3% of moms battle intense nausea, vomiting, and extreme [...]
Top 5 Products for the First Trimester
I always have a pretty rough first trimester and a lot of other pregnant women I know do too. Between morning sickness, your body beginning to change, and the excitement of everything to come, theres a lot going on! To try and take away a little bit of the stress, here's my list of favorite [...]
Our Favorite Easter Books
With Easter right around the corner, I thought it would be fun to do a little Easter Book Roundup! My kids love books so I always add a book or two in each of their Easter Baskets. I like to have different books out for each holiday so over the past few years, we've accumulated [...]
What do you actually need for baby?
As I take on the role of “mom” for a third time, I like to think I have a little bit of experience about what is really necessary for when you bring home your little one for the first time! When we were expecting Oliver, everyone was so quick to tell me everything we just [...]
Leprechaun Shenanigans
A few days ago we read How to Catch a Leprechaun (find a copy on Amazon here) and Oliver has been on a mission to catch one ever since! So yesterday we sat down and built our very own leprechaun trap (find our DIY Leprechaun Traps here). Oliver was convinced that since we added some [...]
DIY Leprechaun Traps
Oliver has been loving learning all about Leprechauns the past few weeks so naturally we had to make Leprechaun traps! We were inspired by How to Catch a Leprechaun but since the traps in that book are a little advanced for Mom to put together, we opted for an old shoe box and lots of [...]
What They Wore
We are back with another roundup of the kids festive holiday outfits! St. Patrick's Day attire is pretty straight forward. Anything that's green, has a shamrock, rainbow, leprechaun, or says "lucky" is fair game! It's a fun holiday to dress up for whether you're a toddler or a grown-up. Target, Old Navy, Carter's, and Amazon [...]
Sensory Bin Basics
It's no secret that we love Sensory Bins in our house. We tend to use them to entertain the kids more often than not! Sensory Bins have countless benefits for your little one. Promotes tactile and hands on learning. Allowing them an activity where they are free to explore and play on their own gives [...]
Play-Doh Recipe
Play-Doh is a fun and engaging sensory activity for kids. They get to play and explore while working on their gross and fine motor skills and really boosting their creativity and problem solving skills. Its something that we can do with them, but also a great activity for independent play! This recipe is adapted from [...]
10 St. Patrick’s Day Activities For Toddlers
Finger Paint Rainbow I found this adorable activity from @my_busy_kid on Instagram and couldn't resist trying it! All you have to do is draw a black pot, throw some glitter on the top (there's your gold), and let your toddler finger paint a rainbow out of the pot! Find the full activity here. Pot of [...]
