Super cute kids stationery is a fun and simple way to encourage kids to write notes or keep up with pen pals. This post is sponsored by Iscream. All opinions are my own. 

If your kids are anything like mine, they love getting stuff in the mail. There’s something so fun about having a surprise show up in your mailbox just for you. The anticipation of opening it up and seeing who it’s from and what’s inside can lead to birthday present level excitement. Hell, I love getting mail that doesn’t fall under the umbrella of bills I don’t want to think about or junk I don’t want to waste my time opening.

So why don’t we do more of it?!

Why don’t we send more mail that will brighten someone else’s day? It’s not at all the same as sending a quick text. I mean, it’s nice to let someone know you’re thinking of them with an emoji-filled sentence or two. But it’s so much nicer to get a handwritten note saying the same thing.

Can we challenge ourselves to write more letters and get our kids in on it too?

More than twenty years later, I’m still learning about how the death of my father at an early age has shaped me. For one, it has made me intent on raising strong, independent daughters.

We watched our tiny, not quite graceful ballerinas twirl around the dance floor while dramatically mouthing the words to a Moana song. Their faces were strong and determined, as if they were heroic wayfarers dancing across the sea. In my head, I also sang along and was pretty sure all of the other moms watching through the glass were too. “This song is going to be stuck in my head for days,” I grumbled, not nearly as broken up about it as I sounded.

We laughed, launching into a conversation about all of the kids’ movie soundtracks we know by heart. The subject of Frozen, one of my favorites for so many reasons came up and another mom was lukewarm. “I don’t know,” she said. “I have a hard time with Frozen. I’m all for girl power but, to me, it’s not a real fairy tale because there’s no prince. Maybe I’m a traditionalist, but I want my daughter to believe in true love.”

I had an immediate visceral reaction, but stayed quiet, nodding as she explained her point of view. I respected her opinion and the place it was coming from, but I completely disagreed. Finding no words to explain why, I remained silent. All I knew was that I felt very strongly about the fact that I did not want handsome princes shoved down my daughters’ throats.

I’ve always considered myself a swoony romantic. I grew up on a steady diet of romantic comedies, weddings always make me cry, and love stories make me feel warm and fuzzy and electric inside.

So why did the idea that every princess needs a prince make me want to scream?

Hey girl. Treat Yo Self is a series that focuses on inexpensive indulgences that make you feel good without feeling guilty. Because when momma’s not happy, nobody is happy. Today, we’re diving into beauty and skincare and exploring the awesomeness of jade rollers. We talk about the benefits of jade rollers, the myths, and why you should add one to your skincare routine.

A couple of months ago my friend Ashley and I were coworking when we ordered jade rollers on a whim… like you do. They’ve been all over Instagram and looked so cool and luxurious—like a tool for the fanciest and most relaxed of ladies. On the verge of major burn out mode, I wanted to be that lady! So when we found the things on Amazon for under $10, it seemed like a no-brainer.

Insta ladies and articles online were claiming that jade rollers do everything from depuffing your face to boosting circulation and helping your skin absorb creams and serums. Not all of the claims turn out to be 100% true, but honestly, it doesn’t matter. I am obsessed!

Graduation season is upon us! If you’re planning a party for your graduate—whether they’re in preschool or college—you need to check out this list of four graduation party must-haves. These simple tips will ensure that you throw the best. party. ever.

This post was sponsored by Basic Invite. All opinions are my own.

You’re standing in the party supply store, bleary-eyed and drawing a complete blank. You know you have a graduation party to plan, but you can’t for the life of you figure out what you need. Your mind just keeps circling back to the same question: How did my baby get so big?!

It doesn’t matter if they’re five or twenty-five. Graduations will always be a big deal and they’ll always send mommas into a tailspin of wondering how the hell we got here so fast.

But you still have to plan the party! So. To help keep you on track, I put together a list of four graduation party must-haves (minus all the food) that just so happen to work for just about any party you’re going to throw.

I rounded up 10 books that make great gifts for new moms (or even dads), whether you’re looking to make them laugh, feel all warm and fuzzy, or calm their nerves with some bestselling advice. 

When I gave birth to my first daughter, I was completely terrified. I had no idea what to expect. I mean, I knew I would give birth and that it would be somewhat painful and that there would be a tiny person that I had to take care of and teach how to be a good human at the end of it all. That stuff was scary enough on its own, but what about all of the unknowns?!

I grabbed all of the books I could get my hands on and, with a highlighter and notebook at my side (in true nerd fashion), dove right in.

In a lot of ways, it helped me. It let me get a better understanding of the things I could learn about (baby gear, changes to expect in my body, etc), which made things slightly less overwhelming. I just wish that instead of only reading practical books full of tips and facts, I also read from parents in the thick of it. Parents laughing at the absurdity of it all would have helped to take the edge off. Parents writing about their uncertainty would have made me feel less alone.

I try to keep all of this in mind when I talk to new or soon-to-be moms. There are so many things they might need reassurance about. Books come in handy for that and make great gifts for new moms.

That said, try to think a little bit about what they might need reassurance about. Has she been worrying about how she’ll get baby to sleep? Is she so nervous that she’s taking everything too seriously? Does she have that deer in the headlights look that seems to say what the hell did I get myself into?! These are all things to keep in mind before gifting a momma-to-be a book (which, by the way, you should totally pair with a gift to pamper her, like this homemade body butter).

To help you out, I found ten books that get rave reviews and broke them into categories.