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We are a husband and wife, trying to navigate life, parenthood, and now adding blogging to this crazy mix. Some articles are written by me (Jocelyn), some will be written by my husband (Eric), and some will have a version of the story we would both like to share. Our goal is to share our lives with you while sharing information about parenting, recipes and DIY projects, life and everything in-between.

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Essentials Check List for Baby Number 3

by | May 17, 2026 | Parenthood | 0 Comments

We thought we had life all figured out and embraced the idea of only having two children, so we sold and donated all of our baby items. And then surprise, we are having baby number 3! Embracing Chaos, the Carefree Way With our first baby, we stressed over every...
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When You Think You’ve Closed a Chapter, and Life Throws You a Plot Twist

by | May 17, 2026 | Parenthood | 0 Comments

I thought we were past this stage. Our youngest is 4. Our oldest is 7. We’re out of diapers, out of nap schedules, and away from everything always going in someone's mouth. Now we have school drop-offs, sports, real conversations, and kids who can get their own...
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Raising a Young Child with Anxiety – Signs to Look out for and How to Help

by | February 1, 2026 | Parenthood | 0 Comments

I’m a counselor and still, this surprised me. Even with years of schooling and experience helping students navigate anxiety, it feels very different when it shows up in your own child. The knowledge helps, but it doesn’t shield you from the worry, the heartbreak, or...
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How to Make Road Trips with Kids Enjoyable (Mostly)

by | July 7, 2025 | Life | 0 Comments

From Mom’s Checklist to Dad’s Drive-Time Hacks - A Husband & Wife Take on Family Travel Why We Road Trip We’ve taken a lot of road trips as a family; visiting family, beach trips, Washington D.C, Columbus Zoo, Lake Erie. Some went smoothly others… well, let’s just...
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How to Make Ice Cream at Home

by | June 27, 2025 | Recipes | 0 Comments

With summer in full swing, there’s no better time to experience the joy of making your own homemade ice cream. We have had our ice cream machine for a few years now and we use it all the time! Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned pro, making this cool treat at home...
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Essentials and Tips for a Great Pool Day

by | June 24, 2025 | Parenthood | 0 Comments

The best part about working in education, is no surprise, summers off! I love more than anything getting to spend that time with my kids. One of my kids favorite summer activities is the swimming pool. We are lucky enough to have a community pool that is walking...
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Stress Free, Kid-Powered Meal Planning for Summer

by | June 14, 2025 | Parenthood | 0 Comments

As a school counselor and mom of two, I spend my days during the school year helping other families find calm in the chaos, and when summer hits, I need some of that structure myself! Summer break is a gift, but let’s be real: the long, unstructured days can get...
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Date Night Ideas in Pittsburgh – North Hills

by | June 29, 2024 | Life | 0 Comments

Planning the perfect date night can sometimes feel like a daunting task, especially if you're looking for something unique and memorable. If you find yourself in Pittsburgh's North Hills area (northern suburbs not far from downtown), you're in luck! Just a short drive...
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The Cutest Beach Pudding Dessert for Summer

by | June 26, 2024 | Recipes | 0 Comments

Every summer, my kids and I look on Pinterest for summer themed crafts and activities. One that they thought was really cute were summer themed dirt cups. We put our little spin on it and it turned out so delicious. This Beach Pudding is easy to make, requires only a...
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How to Melt Crayons into Cute Shapes

by | February 11, 2024 | DIY | 0 Comments

When I was scrolling through dinosaur party decorations online, I found the most adorable silicone mold and knew I wanted to use it for something! The mold is normally used for chocolate, but I decided to use it for crayon party favors! Materials Lots of old crayons...
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My Go-to Sugar Cookie Recipe

My Go-to Sugar Cookie Recipe

by | Jul 3, 2022 |

This is my go to sugar cookie recipe for every occasion...seriously, I make these to take everywhere; parties, holidays, dinners! I found a recipe on Pinterest while looking for Peppermint Sugar cookies for Christmas...

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Summer Schedule and Activities for Toddlers

Summer Schedule and Activities for Toddlers

by | Jun 28, 2022 |

This year was different than most, as I was on maternity leave instead of at work Monday-Friday from about 7am-3pm. When I am at work, Graham spends the day at a lovely day care close to where I work. I love that he is on a schedule and is always doing fun activities...

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The Story of How We Met

The Story of How We Met

by | Jun 23, 2022 |

A Jury Summons and the Rest is History It began on May 29, 2012 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at the Allegheny County Courthouse. This was my second time being summoned for jury duty, so I already knew what to expect, or so I thought. I made sure I got there early and...

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Great Games for Game Night – Toddler Edition

Great Games for Game Night – Toddler Edition

by | Jun 9, 2022 |

Simply Secen earns from qualifying purchases. This post contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase after clicking a link, we may receive a commission at no extra cost to you Eric and I have always loved game nights. The Game of Life is our favorite game; the...

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The Best Gift for Father’s Day

The Best Gift for Father’s Day

by | Jun 4, 2022 |

Father's Day is only a few weeks away, and I don't know about anyone else, but I used to dread that day. Not for any logical reason, only because I never knew what to get my dad. The guy who single-handedly raised my sister and me. I always wanted to try and get him...

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