The Messy Mommies had a busy weekend. Meg and I loved celebrating Thanksgiving on Thursday! We are grateful for the time we had with our family and friends to savor a wonderful meal, but most importantly enjoy the time with everyone! We also got to meet Sadie West of Posh West Boutique in Shorewood, Illinois. She is the energetic, creative owner of Posh West! She welcomed the Messy Mommies into her store and allowed us to host my first cookbook signing of Together on Sunday! Be sure to check out Posh West Boutique for your Cyber Monday shopping! We had a great time and loved seeing family and friends (old and new!). We also did a little Black Friday Shopping (against my wishes)! 

Don't get me wrong, I do love to shop, just not on Black Friday.  While I was in high school and college, I worked in retail to earn extra money for school. Because of working late nights, weekends and extra long hours during the holidays in retail, I now have no desire to go out shopping on Black Friday. However, having a tween who has been counting down the days until Black Friday, I had to change my tune. She has been saving her babysitting money and making lists of places to shop and items to look for in anticipation of Black Friday! She woke up early on Friday, got dressed and pulled her hair up into a pony tail ready to head to the shopping mall (Woodfield of all places, and yes, I drove her there!)

Living in Chicago surrounded by great shopping, the last place I wanted to be on Friday was in a mall. Of course wanting to spend the day with Eleanora, I too got up early and got ready to head to the mall.  While I was happy to check out what some of the national retail stores had to offer this holiday season, I am trying to shop local and look for unique items that may excite my gift recipients.    

For those of you who skipped the hubbub of being out with black Friday shoppers, but are ready to check out what Cyber Monday deals may be available, ​I want to highlight another amazing mom, Jennifer Bennett and her female founded online shop, Rey to Z,  https://reytoz.com.

A friend of mine recently shared the Rey to Z website just in time to order gifts for the holidays! You'll find fun gift ideas for babies, tweens and adults!  Rey to Z is a female founded, mama owned company in Chicago! These initial caps are awesome and perfect for our Cyber Monday Hair! If someone on your gift list would love a Letter Baseball Cap, use this discount code  BLACKFRIYAY for 20% off your order.  The hats are super cute, high quality and can be personalized!  Check out Jennifer's darling pictures on her Instagram at @reytoz Happy shopping!

The Messy Mommies are gearing up for the holidays! We are so excited to share some special ideas for holiday inspiration! This holiday season we will highlight local businesses and strong women in our communities who work tirelessly (and sometimes what seems effortlessly) throughout the year to bring beauty, kindness, health, and happiness to our world. These wonderful women have pursued their passions spreading cheer along the way. 

To kick off our holiday blogging and our 1st Day of Christmas, we want to highlight the inspiring Sadie West, business owner of Posh West Boutique located in Shorewood, Illinois. Posh is a special boutique offering stylish women's clothing and accessories. Just this past June, Posh went from being an online only shopping experience to this wonderful storefront location at 852 Sharp Drive in Shorewood.

Sadie is definitely a woman who has pursued her passion! Through hard work and loving dedication to her family, she has created a wonderful shopping experience within her community. Sadie is the mom of now teenage twin boys Jaden and Kale. Jaden has an immune deficiency called CVID which requires him to have monthly infusions to boost his immune system. Kale has an autism diagnosis which has a lot of underlying medical diagnoses fueling it. This family owned business allows Sadie to be home with her boys, to make sure their needs are being met by scheduling doctor/therapy/infusion appointments, etc. and to teach Jaden and Kale the skills needed to be more independent in their lives. 
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If you can't make it out to the store, have no fear, you can shop online to tackle your holiday shopping list! Check out Posh West Boutique  at https://poshwestboutique.com​. Holly's cookbook is also available at  https://www.blurb.com/b/9645370-together. ​

Thank you for helping us celebrate Sadie and her big heart! We love how she is supporting her family, our community, and is providing a posh place for us to shop! 

Wishing you all a happy Thanksgiving! We look forward to seeing you at Posh on Sunday, December 1st for snacks, sips, and shopping!

XOXO, Holly and Meg ​

We love fall and Halloween in our house and we were all in this year! We hit four packed pumpkin patches, an apple orchard, two Halloween parties, hit trunk or treat, and trick or treated on Halloween in a snow storm and again the next day in our neighborhood! October was epic! Sophia and Stella had a blast with their family and friends. I did too, but I am exhausted! 

And, now it is November and Thanksgiving and Christmas are everywhere! I absolutely love the holidays but I'm not ready yet to be all in! Parent teacher conferences are barreling down, work is hectic, and the girls are already talking about Christmas lists! I need a recharge and some serious laughter! Thank goodness Cat & Nat will be at the Rialto in Joliet on Sunday! I am so excited and cannot wait to see these inspiring and hilarious gals in person.

I'm so excited for the show and have to give a huge shout out to my awesome friend Colette for going with me! You are always up for an adventure and so appreciate you! We are also meeting up with our fellow Messy Mommy and amazing friend Kimmie and her sisters which will be so fun!

For all the #momtruth gals coming to the Rialto for the incredible Cat & Nat show here are a few tips!
Parking: use the parking deck on Ottawa Street, right across from the Rialto. If you park in the open lot directly across from the Rialto be sure to pay at the box - they give parking tickets!
Drinks: If you come early you can go to Harrah's Casino to gamble and for drinks! If you are looking for a cocktail and great Italian food, go to Juliet's Tavern which is just a few blocks from the Rialto. If a pint and great bar food is more your style, head over to Chicago Street Pub which is across the street and a few stores down from the Rialto. 

The Rialto is a gorgeous, iconic theater and I know you all will love seeing Cat & Nat in this cool setting! 

Cat & Nat, thanks for making us laugh and helping us realize it is all going to be ok! And, in fact, better than ok, with you gals and the #momtruths community it will all be amazing. Travel safe Can & Nat and see you soon in Joliet! 

xoxo, Meg 



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We love fall! From pumpkin patches to fall fests to date nights and parent teacher conferences, we all are busy running around with our families and friends! We love drinking pumpkin spice lattes, decorating for Halloween with the kids, and eating apple cider donuts. What we don't love is trying to figure out what to wear to all the fun fall events. So, we asked our fantastic friend and stylist, Sandhya Nair to curate four fun fall fashion looks for the Messy Mommies! 

1. Parent Teacher Conferences
Now, since the kids are back in school, it doesn’t mean that moms grab a pumpkin spice latte and their favorite novel to sit back and enjoy. Moms are busy shuttling kids to school, sports and activities. And, it’s almost  time for the parent-teacher conferences that we been anticipating. So, this look that I have put together will make you stylish and help show you take the parent-teacher conferences seriously. A turtleneck strip top with mauve pants and a plaid jacket is the number one look this fall. To complete the look, pair it with black pointy loafers and a taupe handbag.

2. Fall Festivals and School Fundraisers  
Scarecrows, pumpkin painting, storytelling, beekeeping demos, and hayrides… yes, I’m talking about fall festivals! Why wear something super casual? You are there to have fun with your family and friends, then take a few minutes to look your best. You may also be attending the fall school fundraisers and this look is perfect for both events. This second fall look is curated with a turtleneck and a sleek pleated skirt with an army green jacket. The style statements to this look are ankle boots and a white handbag. 

3. Date Night
Fall can be busy with school, activities, and sports for the kids. But, we need to make time for our spouses and close friends. How can we forget about a date night at the movies? This third fall look is to “hit the lights, sit back and relax.” You don’t have to compromise your look thinking that you are going to spend your time in the dark. Here’s what you should wear this fall to movie, a floral dress with a denim jacket and accessorize with a small bright shoulder bag. To add a fall spice to the look, wear your best pair of boots.

4. Fall Brunch
The final and the best fall look is the brunch look. Yes, it’s time to hang out with girlfriends and sip that apple cider sangria with some shrimp and grits. This is where you show off those fall colors. This look is curated with a grey statement sweater and beautiful bright floral skirt, accessorized with a bright red handbag and pair of soft red loafers. So rock these four looks this season which have been specially curated for all the beautiful, super moms out there.

Thanks to Sandhya for curating the four fun fall fashion looks for the Messy Mommies! We love your inspiration and insights into fall trends! We can't wait to hit the town this fall with our family and friends and try out your styling tips! 

Please check out Sandhya's work and design style on Instagram at @fbmom2 and @aiynaatelier. Please contact Sandhya for personal styling and customize design clothing via Instagram. 

​Thanks Sandhya! And, we'll see you all at the pumpkin patch!

Meg

​This is the time of year when many of us are finally settling into the routines that are sometimes missing during summer.  My 7th grade daughter is back to dancing, playing volleyball and doing homework. With her back in school, I too am focused on doing things that were put aside during our summer fun.  

My first self-published cookbook is ready and available for purchase at https://www.blurb.com/b/9645370-together!  With fall slowly approaching, many of you may find yourselves at a welcome back to school potluck, tailgating, or hosting a "farewell to summer" party. Whether you are with a crowd or simply trying to decide what to have for dinner, I think you will find something to enjoy in my cookbook, TOGETHER: Recipes to Bring Family and Friends to the Table.   I launched my book today on blurb.com. Be one of the first to purchase the book and let me know what you think! 

​Check out the recipe below for a sneak peak of some of the delicious food ideas you will find in
​Together: Recipes to Bring Family and Friends to the Table
https://www.blurb.com/b/9645370-together​

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​While sitting in the school car pick-up line yesterday, I was scrolling through Instagram and was so excited when I saw the awesome news that a #IMOMSOHARD show will be coming to ABC! These hilarious moms, Kristin Hensley and Jen Smedley get me and thousands of other moms! It was so fitting that I saw the news in the car pick-up line!
 
Kristin and Jen’s #IMOMSOHARD YouTube videos are so funny and spot on about the joys and challenges of being a mom. I absolutely loved their so funny and insight New York Time’s bestselling #IMOMSOHARD book. After crazy days with my high energy seven year-old twins, Sophia and Stella I would grab a glass of wine and unwind with laughter as I flipped through their honest, funny stories. 

​I’ve been in that crazy mode of packing everything into the end of summer with the girls and all the back-to-school chaos. I have this mental list of “when the girls are back in school I’m going too…” and watching the #IMOMSOHARD Live, an Amazon Original is on my list! I follow Kristin and Jen’s Instagram Stories and posts and they’ve been hinting that they have been working really hard and something magical was about to happen.

#IMOMSOHARD, Believe and Magic Will Happen
Kristin and Jen shared their big ABC news and the announcement in Variety in their Instagram post and it was so cool to see how their hard work and belief in humor and friendship has turned out in such a magical way. Walt Disney said, “Get a good idea and stay with it. Dog it, and work at it until it’s done right.” I couldn’t help but smile as I knew Walt Disney would be thrilled that Kristin and Jen didn’t give up when their previous pilot wasn’t picked up. They kept at it, kept touring, kept making videos, kept writing, and kept making us laugh and feel connected. 
 
Back to my "girls are back in school" list, I’m trying to start running again. So hard. I searched for a #IMOMSOHARD podcast and just listened to an interview with Jill Devine from Two Kids and A Career and Kristin and Jen as I ran. So funny, so real, and so encouraging. I loved how they discussed having a mom wolf pack, helping each other, and reaching out to others. There was also this funny moment when someone opened a door and was trying to have a side conversation during the podcast and they laughed at how life is always full of messy interruptions. I immediately cracked up as a few weeks ago I had to do an insurance conference call when the girls were home. I had fully bribed them with YouTube and snacks and shared that I just needed them to be quiet for 20 minutes while I did my call. The minute I said hello it was loud and chaos and I ended up doing the call in the kitchen panty where the girls also tried to come in.
 
I love the humor of Kristin and Jen but also love that they are humble and grateful. On the podcast they talked about juggling kids and travel. They shared that they believe it is really good for their sons and daughters to see them take this thing that was a complete surprise and do well with it and run with it. It is important for them to show their kids how they are committing to something that matters to them. They even took their kids on stage at a recent show so the kids could see the audience and how they are inspiring other moms. This is awesome. They also love late night cheese plates, I do too!

​ABC & Disney You Are Awesome
I love that in this digital age there are so many more opportunities to share our messy stories and laugh together. Kristin and Jen have shared their stories one YouTube post, one live show, and one book at a time. I am so excited that ABC and Disney are now bringing their funny, encouraging, and spot on stories to TV. ABC and Disney understand the power of sharing stories to inspire us and bring us together. Thank you to ABC and Disney for believing in these funny gals and supporting their big dreams. We can’t wait to tune in and watch #IMOMSOHARD Kristin and Jen on ABC! 

​Meg

Summer is in full swing and the struggle is real - playing with toys instead of devices. We changed it up this summer and are doing different camps and activities sprinkled throughout the summer instead of a daily camp like in the past. The girls had a blast at horse camp and are having a great time at adventure camp. 

In between camps and activities we are swimming, going to the park, bike riding, cooking, reading, and staying busy. The struggle is real though when it comes to tech versus toys. The girls would watch YouTube, play on their Kindles, or play games on my iPhone all the time if I let them.

CB Insights shared that parents are even now hiring screen counselors to help shift kids off of devices and into physical playing. I wish I could say I simply tell the girls we are going to play with our toys instead of devices and that they would happily go right along. Instead it is a back and forth and me constantly saying we need to take a break from the devices. The struggle is real and the girls can wear me out with their zest for devices. I'm trying to stay tough and decrease our screen time. Once we start playing the girls have a good time and I love seeing their creativity pouring out. 

The other day I once again declared we needed a break from devices and the girls wanted to play with Barbies. I love watching them organize the Barbies into families and groups of friends. They have a great system for loading them up into their camper and cars. The kitchen table quickly became the vacation destination and we set up swimming pools. They set up tons of dogs that had joined in the journey and we had a great time playing. I love hearing them chatter about what the Barbies are doing and seeing Sophia and Stella play together. I also love the Barbie #MoreRoleModels campaign and we have so many cool Barbies doing so many cool jobs! Love how Barbie is helping to inspire my girls!

These summer days are flying by way to quick and the back to school displays are already popping up in stores. I'm going to hold on to summer and playing with my sweet girls. The struggle is real with devices versus toys but I'm going to keep battling and keep trying to play as much as possible.

Since the struggle is real not just for me, but for so many of us, here are some links to articles on some tips for keeping up the good fight on less time on devices and more time playing.

Realistic screen time solutions for kids (and their parents) ​
Feb. 22, 2018 By Vivian Manning-Schaffel
https://www.nbcnews.com/better/health/realistic-screen-time-solutions-kids-their-parents-ncna850056
- We are working hard to practice what we preach and the struggle is real for us too!

These 4 strategies will help you and your kids have a much more peaceful summer.
Calah Alexander | May 09, 2019 
https://aleteia.org/2019/05/09/how-to-limit-screen-time-this-summer-for-your-kids-and-why-you-should/
​- We love the tip on no screens in the morning to help set up a more positive day and not overstimulate the kids right away!

10 Ways to Limit Your Child's Screen Time 
Amy Morin, LCSW Updated July 05, 2019
https://www.verywellfamily.com/tips-for-limiting-electronics-and-screen-time-for-kids-1094870
- We love her tip on creating “technology free zones!”

Thanks for stopping by! Happy summer and have a great time playing with your kids!

​Meg
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Are you going to a 4th of July cook-out, pool party, or evening celebration?! We have an appetizer that is sure to create fireworks of excitement with your friends and family! Messy mommy Holly shared this firework worthy hot dog recipe last Memorial Day and we are sharing it again!

Holly found this great recipe that is perfect to celebrate America! Even if you don’t get around to firing up your grill this weekend, you can still enjoy this hot dog!  Everyone was shocked when Holly showed up with the chili cheese hotdog bread to a family gathering because she often stays on the healthy side when it comes to snacking. It was a huge hit and Holly definitely could have doubled the recipe! 

Happy 4th of July! We hope you have a wonderful weekend celebrating our great country with family and friends! 

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​​It seems just days ago we were sitting down to write our resolutions for the New Year! Eleanora and I landed on cutting meat from our diet with the idea that it would be a healthy way to begin 2019. We didn’t have specific reasons for doing this, but we did know we wanted to focus on eating more vegetables and fish. Of course there are many upsides to not eating meat. Did you know that if you stop eating meat you have a positive influence on your carbon footprint? If that is too much to consider, your skin may start to look better, and you may experience a significant drop in cholesterol and blood pressure levels. Of course there are many pros with the decision to stop eating meat, but it isn’t all good news!  
 
While there are many nutritional elements to consider when depleting meat from your diet, one thing Eleanora and I did not consider was the fact that we would not welcome the arrival of summer with our favorite summer meal! She and I share a LOVE of barbecue ribs! As we approach Memorial Day Weekend, otherwise known as the official kick-off to summer, I am reminded of one of my favorite BBQ Rib recipes we typically enjoy over this holiday weekend.   
 
There are few resolutions made on New Year’s day kept this late into the year, but Eleanora and I have been strong! I know we are not going to indulge in these easy to make, fall off the bone, tender BBQ Ribs this Memorial Day Weekend, but we think you should indulge in these for us!  Don’t worry about your cholesterol this weekend – the arrival of summer only happens once a year! Enjoy!

​Holly

Kraft, you get me! Thanks for the sweet Mother's Day Gift! A Mother's Day away with free babysitting! When I heard about the clever Kraft Mother's Day Away gift on the Today Show I had to laugh. Someone working at Kraft realizes that sometimes moms just want a break and a moment away to breath. As I've shared before, Tony and I married later in life and had kids later in life. As I close in on turning 50, my amazing, sweet twins, Sophia and Stella turned 7 in March! I joke about it often but I am constantly tired, LOL! So, Kraft I love that you get me and realize that sometimes you just want one hour away to catch your breath, or even a couple of minutes to go to the bathroom alone! 

Just last night I was making Kraft Mac & Cheese for the girls for dinner while trying to also help them figure out costumes for "jobs" day at school (J day for the ABC school year countdown), pack lunches for school, find change for the baby bottle drive, and remember to wash Stella's soccer uniform for her upcoming game. Late last night I finally had a minute to scroll through Twitter and retweeted Kraft's epic Mother's Day Away gift and it made me smile. I'm hoping for a basket for my bike for Mother's Day and am hoping for a family bike ride on Sunday so I don't think I'll be able to take Kraft up on this joyful babysitting offer but it makes me smile thinking about it. 

In case you can break away for a few minutes of "me" time on Mother's Day here are the details for this great Kraft Mother's Day Away gift!

Step 1: Get yourself a babysitter on Mother’s Day.

Step 2: On Mother’s Day, after you’ve enjoyed a day of 'me-time' and uninterrupted conversation, come back to the Kraft website and submit your receipt and Kraft will cover up to $100 of your babysitter bill.

A few notes from the website:
OFFER ENDS AT 11:59 PM ET ON 5/19/19 OR WHILE FUNDS REMAIN AVAILABLE, WHICHEVER IS SOONER. LIMIT ONE REQUEST PER PERSON, EMAIL, OR HOUSEHOLD ADDRESS. ONLY OPEN TO PARENTS AGED 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER. MAXIMUM $100 BABYSITTING REIMBURSEMENT PER PERSON OR HOUSEHOLD. ALLOW 6 – 8 WEEKS FOR SHIPMENT FOLLOWING VERIFICATION. See full terms and conditions for complete details. Offer good in USA, its territories and military addresses. Void where taxed, restricted or prohibited. Submissions by businesses, clubs or organizations will not be honored or responded to. Kraft Heinz reserves the right to verify identification and request additional proof of service and/or payment of service. Decisions of validity of submission materials are solely at the discretion of Kraft Heinz. Fraudulent submissions could result in federal prosecution under the U.S. Mail Fraud Statutes (18 United States Code, Sections 1341 and 1342). To check the status of your submission, go online to Kraft.rebateresearch.com.

​Thanks again to Kraft for this great Mother's Day Away gift and for cheering on moms! I'm so blessed to be Sophia and Stella's mom and adore my mom! Wishing everyone a Happy Mother's Day!
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