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I’m Turning 40 and I Need Your Help!
![I’m Turning 40 and I Need Your Help!](https://insteadofthedishes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/40.jpg)
No, it’s not a fundraiser, and I’m not looking for miracle eye cream. In a couple weeks I’ll hit the big 4-0. The top of “The Hill”, the new 30, official middle age, whatever you want to call it. Do I feel 40 years old? Definitely not. At least not most days. But, here I am. Age is just a number, but society says this number, 40, is more significant. So, I’ve been thinking about it … Read entire article »
Featured
Battling Anxiety
![Battling Anxiety](https://insteadofthedishes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Anxiety-150x150.jpg)
About five years ago, I took Yaz birth control for about five months. It caused several health issues, … Read more »
Motherhood is Like a Cruise
![Motherhood is Like a Cruise](https://insteadofthedishes.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/cruise2-150x150.jpg)
Hubby and I were watching a “behind the scenes” type show about the cruise ship industry. They … Read more »
When the Truth is Written All Over Your Face
![When the Truth is Written All Over Your Face](https://insteadofthedishes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/callen_marker-150x150.jpg)
Teaching my children about telling the truth has both surprised and challenged me as a mother. I … Read more »
Popular
Beach Vacation Meal Plan
![Beach Vacation Meal Plan](https://insteadofthedishes.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Beach-Vacation-Meal-Plan-150x150.jpg)
You’ve probably seen the jokes, or perhaps this article from the Onion, about how moms still have … Read more »
Race for the Cure
We’ve been living in Little Rock for nearly a year now, a fact that is made obvious by the repetition of some yearly events in the same setting. At the end of … Read more »
The Procrastinator's Guide to Teacher Gifts
![The Procrastinator's Guide to Teacher Gifts](https://insteadofthedishes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/money-150x150.jpg)
If you're a high-level procrastinator like me, the fact that you have to get a gift for your … Read more »
Latest
Our First National Park
![Our First National Park](https://insteadofthedishes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/oath_taking-150x150.jpg)
We just wrapped up a big trip to 9 national parks in the Rocky Mountain region, but coincidentally, an article I wrote about the FIRST national park my daughter ever visited published this week. If you’re interested, you can hop over to the Hot Springs, Arkansas website and learn about the rather surprising National Park located right in the middle … Read entire article »
A Weatherproof Family Weekend
![A Weatherproof Family Weekend](https://insteadofthedishes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/fast-lanes-2-150x150.jpg)
Looking for an easy weekend getaway this summer? Or, anytime, really? The kids and I spent the weekend in Rogers, Arkansas recently and had a grand time. The first of a series of three articles I am writing about our trip is up on the Visit Rogers website. (Disclosure: I am being paid to write these articles, because, you know, … Read entire article »
School’s Out – Time to Save for College!
![School’s Out – Time to Save for College!](https://insteadofthedishes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/529-150x89.png)
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Vanguard and Missouri’s MOST 529 College Savings Plan. We have had MOST 529 college savings plans for our children since they were born. All opinions expressed herein are my own. I’m excited to be co-hosting a Twitter chat with MOST 529 College Savings Plan next week, complete with prizes! More on that in a minute, but first, I … Read entire article »
UncommonGoods = Uncommonly Good Gifts
![UncommonGoods = Uncommonly Good Gifts](https://insteadofthedishes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/UncommonGoods-Collage-150x150.gif)
This post is sponsored by UncommonGoods. However, I’ve been a big fan of theirs for a few few years now, so you can rest assured that all opinions are genuinely grown in my own brain. March is a big birthday month in my family. My husband, my son, and my nephew will each earn a notch on their trips round the … Read entire article »
Battling Anxiety
![Battling Anxiety](https://insteadofthedishes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Anxiety-150x150.jpg)
About five years ago, I took Yaz birth control for about five months. It caused several health issues, including debilitating anxiety. I still get lots of comments on the blog posts that I wrote about how I dealt with my “Yaz withdrawal.” The majority of the questions I get are about anxiety. This blog post started out as an email response … Read entire article »