How I Became a Baby Name Consultant (& What I’d Do Differently)

As a little girl, before I ever new that “name consultant” was a real job title, I’d spend hours on Yahoo! Answers in the baby name forum giving my two cents on the monikers expecting parents should choose. I’d reference SSA.gov data and what names were being used on Disney channel and Nick at Night to justify my reasoning. I also accredit this hobby with learning to type quickly. I had an hour a day on the computer, I needed to be as efficient as possible. I’m sure at the time, these parents had no clue they were talking to a… View Post

My St. Bernard’s Favorite Things (That Make Life Easier)

As cliche as it sounds, my dog means the world to me, and I don’t think a day has passed where I haven’t worried that I’m not doing enough for her. Our dogs’ entire life experience is dependent on the love and opportunities we give them, and I’m always striving to make sure Maisie feels loved, mentally stimulated, and secure in knowing that her needs will be met and exceeded.  She is three and a half now, and through a lot of trial and error, my husband and I have done a pretty good job figuring out how to make… View Post

35 Practical Wedding Registry Ideas for Couples Who Live Together

This post has been updated and republished since it’s original publication date. When you’re planning your wedding, it’s custom to create a wedding registry. Many guests like to bring the couple gifts to celebrate their new beginnings, though it’s absolutely not required, and those guests are usually going to ask where you’re registered. Garrett and I considered not creating a registry. By the time our wedding rolls around, we’ll have lived together for over two years and if I’m being honest, most of the time it feels like we have everything we need. Ultimately we decided to create one based… View Post

How I Manage My Painful Endometriosis Without Birth Control

This post was originally published on September 18th, 2018 and updated with new information, links, and anecdotes in February 2021. This post details my own experience and should not be taken as medical advice. I’ve talked a lot about my struggles with mental health in the past, but I’m less vocal about one of the root causes: endometriosis. I’ve been living with endometriosis since I was twelve years old, though it took nearly a decade of condescending, dismissing remarks from doctors to get a diagnosis. The first time I complained to a doctor about the pain that came along with… View Post

How to Find Home Decor at the Thrift Store

It’s no secret that I love thrifting. Going to the thrift store is Garrett and I’s favorite date night, my best de-stresser, and how I buy 90% of the things that I own. Ever since I moved into my new house, I’ve had a mission to decorate using thrifted finds. When I moved, Garrett and I already had home decor staples like couches, chairs, and a coffee table. We just needed to get the little decor pieces that make a house feel like a home. Over the past 3 months, here are the pieces we’ve found for our living room. Finding… View Post