This post is sponsored by Lexington Law Firm. You’ve inserted the chip or swiped the plastic. That dreaded moment is now in your face–the beep of denial, rejection, and embarrassment. Your card is denied, so you try another one, and another. The realization that you’ve run out of credit can be terrifying, overwhelming, and seemingly…
Easy Cake Decorating to Make Any Occasion Magical
In front of me sits a blank white cake and enough rainbow candies to fill an Olympic size ball pit. The white frosting glaring back at me is like a blank canvas demanding a paint brush. I’ve never decorated a cake before, so this could go down the road of magical or take a flying…
12 Things I Didn’t Know Would Affect My Credit Score
This post was sponsored by Lexington Law Firm. The world of credit can be a confusing place. The native language of finance might sound familiar, but little seems to make sense for so many. Logic applies only sometimes and the rest is often a mystery. Thankfully, friendly guides are available–if you know where to look–to…
Slow Cooker Sweet Potatoes with Maple Pecan Topping Recipe
This post is sponsored by Mirum, but opinions expressed are my own. For frequent heartburn sufferers, we know foods don’t need to be spicy to cause discomfort. The effects of heartburn and acid reflux can cause dread for a majority of foods and the pills needed to find relief. Anything that has to be swallowed,…
Upcycling Projects to Turn Your Home Décor Into a Brand New Style
Let’s face it, tastes change. While you may have loved one style a few years ago, you may have moved on. Instead of rushing out and hitting your favorite home décor store, why not try to upcycle those old home décor items into something new? Whether you break out the spray paint or get creative…
2 Years of Migraine Relief Thanks to the Daith Piercing – Now What?
Eight hundred and twenty seven days with no pain or tension, clear vision, and total freedom. I ate without worry, slept peacefully, and even the weather changes were no match for my daith piercing. The migraine relief was complete. My doctors seemed impressed and even told some of their other patients about my success. So,…
How To Establish Credit for Teens
This post was sponsored by Lexington Law Firm. Learning how to establish credit can be done at any age, but it’s far more valuable to start the process early in life. Parents, this post is for you. Teens, read on, then arrange a family meeting to implement the strategies you learn. Schools covering K-12, generally,…
Sneaky Cheeseburger Recipe with Moon Cheese – $1500 Colossal Giveaway
Earlier this year, I attended the Sweets & Snacks Expo with a lovely group of fellow bloggers. While perusing the vast aisles, loaded with booth after booth of candies, snacks, and innovative foods, we landed in the Moon Cheese booth. We excitedly sampled each flavor, discussed the progress of the product with the creators, and…
How to Build Credit as a Single Mom on a Budget
This post was sponsored by Lexington Law Firm. In a perfect world, we’d all be taught how to build credit at an early age so we can be prepared for the future. For many of us, that’s not the case and, through a series of financial missteps, we end up requiring credit repair before the…
RoWrite – The Smartest Writing Pad for Back to School
According to a recent study published in the journal, Psychological Science, using pen and paper, not laptops, to take notes boosts memory and the ability to retain and understand concepts. There is just something about writing what you’re hearing, reading, or thinking that seems to reinforce the subject in your mind. Now that we’re firmly…
I Died Once, and My Son Saved Me
It felt like waking up from an unplanned nap–confusing, unsure of the day or time, yet I remember the moment with total clarity. My eyelids lifted, revealing the emergency room privacy curtain on either side but open towards the front of the makeshift cloth room. The stabbing pain with my first coherent breath and seeing…
PANDAS Movie Narrated by Kristen Bell
Warner Bros. recently had us giggling in the theater for Teen Titans GO! To the Movies, and now they’re bringing us back for more feels with the new PANDAS movie, narrated by Kristen Bell. We’ll have one week, August 17th through the 24th, to catch this film in IMAX theaters, and you can enter below…
The Average Credit Score for Americans in their 20s and Why It Needs Attention
This post was sponsored by Lexington Law Firm. While researching the average credit score for Americans in their 20s, several notable facts were often presented. Perhaps not surprisingly, on average, younger consumers have lower credit scores. The average for Generation Z and trailing millennials is around 632–which is considered “poor credit.” This reality is somewhat…
The Cutest and Derpiest Animals of Bearizona
Located just 30 minutes from our lovely home for the week in Flagstaff, Bearizona offers a day full of laughs, education, and adventure. We’ve experienced our fair share of zoos, but this one offers a unique experience–you get to drive through the animal habitats! During our drive, we had a black bear saunter right up…
Muscle Building Foods – Scrumptious Cinnamon Roll Pancakes
The vast world of nutrition and nutrition science can be difficult to navigate. Do you count calories? Omit carbs? How do you track macro- and micronutrients to make sure you’re getting all you need? If you’re working out, are you eating enough muscle building foods? Even after earning my degree in nutrition science, I still…
Teen Titans GO To The Movies Screening
We cohosted our first movie screening! Jen and I own every bit our brand, A Magical Mess. We are run by stress, anxiety, and a superhuman load of genetic mental mayhem. It’s far easier for me to handle social stressors than it is for her, but we were both thrilled to have the opportunity to…
Finding the Best Hotel Near Grand Canyon for an Unforgettable Family Vacation
Pinterest has a way of making bucket list vacations seem easily within reach. It just takes proper planning, right? I found myself repinning dozens of photographs containing bright blue water, rippling between red sandstone walls, with bikini-clad girls whimsically wading in the magical river while letting cascading waterfalls wash over their bodies. Eager to sign…
How Your Credit Score Can Affect Apartment Shopping
This post was sponsored by Lexington Law Firm. Growing up doesn’t come with instructions. While, we learn a lot from school, our parents, and peers, I don’t know anyone who has come up with a true recipe for success. One area that is lacking serious guidance–especially in adolescence–is managing and building your credit score. The…
High Protein Recipes – Delightful Peach Raspberry Pancakes
Having several delicious, high protein recipes at your disposal makes morning meals a far more successful piece of your daily meal plan. I’ve found that even kids love these creations. Every time my kids have their friends sleep over, they often want pancakes to start the day. It’s a fun tradition, but I was getting…
The Best Midsize SUV for Family Road Trips – 2019 Kia Sorento
After spending some quality time in the 2019 Kia Sorento with friends, family, and a few Kia representatives in Colorado, I began to think about vision and mission statements. I once had to write one of each for an assignment in college and, admittedly, I did not take it seriously. While driving through the scenic…
Bodybuilding Breakfast – Luscious Apple Cinnamon Protein Pancakes
The smell of apples and cinnamon flood my mind with warm and happy memories of Nana’s house on the river. She had access to acres of apple trees and was always coming up with something scrumptious in her kitchen. When deciding on a new variation of our best tasting protein pancakes, I knew this familiar…
My Daughter is Learning How to Play Drums and So Much More
There are individuals and companies that stand apart from the field–their stories always go beyond the common narrative of their industry or profession. The best of them create community and culture around their passions. For Guitar Center, the community of music, musicians, and musicianship is exemplified in their approach to instrument sales, customer service, and…
The Big 6 Job Interview Questions You’ll Want to Prepare for in Advance
This post was sponsored by Lexington Law Firm. The job market for desirable, well-paid positions is very competitive. You need to give yourself the best chance of landing that dream gig, but you may have only one chance to impress your potential employer. For that reason, it’s important to be prepared–perhaps, even over prepared. While…
High Protein Breakfast – Yummy Snickerdoodle Protein Pancakes
Whether you’re a bodybuilder needing extra protein or just trying to get enough of this macronutrient each day, this high protein breakfast is a delicious way to reach your nutritional goals. These pancakes are not keto-friendly, but they do offer a good balance of macros. We’ve developed several protein pancake recipes offering flavors for every…
