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Logan Can

A Lifestyle Blog about Marriage, Parenting, Fashion and Fitness

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How to Throw an Awesome Birthday Party on a Budget

October 22, 2015

Last weekend, we celebrated Ryan’s big 30th birthday! A birthday party was a given because this was a big one. Ryan didn’t want a huge production, he just wanted a few of our closest friends to come over to cookout and watch football. Priorities. We are on a tight budget right now because we are saving money for a new house and trying to pay off our cars. I needed to plan a fun party that everyone would enjoy while also being budget friendly. Here’s how I did it:

Birthday_Party



What to Think About When Planning Your Party:

Choose a theme – for Ryan’s party, I mixed fall decor with 30th birthday decor. A lot of the decor I found in stores was girly, so I didn’t implement much. Our house was already decorated for fall, so this themed saved us a ton of money and time. I purchased balloons, a cheap banner and confetti and it turned out cute!

Focus on the Guests – You ultimately want to make your guests happy and ensure they have a good time. Invite people who are fun and don’t bring down the mood and make sure to keep the night moving along smoothly. For example, if there is a lull, it may be time to serve food, sing “Happy Birthday,” etc.

Plan Activities for the Kids – If you are panning on having kids over, you definitely need to have some activity for them so they won’t get bored and can be entertained while the parents visit. For us, this was easy. Our house is already set up for kids and the weather was so nice outside, so we let them slide, play golf, play with chalk, bubbles, etc.

Party Budget Tips:

Save Money on Invites – This day in time, there is no reason so waste tons of money on invitations. If this is a laid back party, invite them via email or Facebook! I do not recommend this method for weddings, obviously, but when you are just getting a few friends together, there is no reason to spend all that money on an invitation that will end up in the trash in a couple of days.

DIY Decor – I have a lot of fall decor throughout the house that I made myself to save money, however, I didn’t have time to get too crafty with 30th birthday decor this past week. Instead, I went to Party City and found a very affordable banner, confetti and balloons that I spent less that $50 on. If you have time to make decor yourself, you can probably make it for a little bit cheaper.

Shop at Dollar Tree for Napkins, Plates, Forks, etc.

Make Your Own Cake – I normally make our cakes, but I did not make Ryan’s this year. I wanted it to look good, so I ordered a cake from Publix and it was delicious and so cute! He is a 30-year-old man, so he didn’t want anything too cutesy, but I thought they did a great job incorporating fall and birthday! Best of all? It was only $23! Not bad at all!

Cook the Food Yourself and Scratch the Caterer – Again, there is no need to hire a caterer or purchase prepared food for a party! It can be very expensive. We kept it very simple and grilled hamburgers and hotdogs with chips and salsa. It was a hit with the parents and the kids loved it, too!

Use the Ibotta app to earn money back on the groceries you buy. This is something Ryan and I have been doing for about a month now and it has saved us about $10 so far. We haven’t used it every time we have shopped, but it will definitely add up over a year’s time. Don’t forget to also use coupons! Doing both of these together will save you a lot on groceries.

Happy_Birthday

After it was all said and done, we threw a fun little party for around 20 people for under $125! Not bad at all!

Do you have any party planning or saving tips?

Leave a Comment / Filed In: Family and Parenting
Tagged: Birthday, Family, Frugal Living

5 Ways to Help Your Child Be Independent

October 5, 2015

This post is sponsored by Huggies but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

My son is almost 2 years old. It is so hard to believe. Time truly does fly when you’re raising kids. This whole parenting thing does not get any easier, either. He is running around all over the place and has more energy than I can keep up with most days. My daughter has also started rolling all over. She is still a month or two away from crawling, but she doesn’t let that stop her from getting to where she needs to be. In a few more months, I am going to be exhausted chasing after these two.

Ways_to_Help_Your_Child_Be_Independent

As I raise my babies, I am trying to keep in mind the importance of their independence. While it is so scary to think about, I know that the only way they will learn is through experience. I want them to feel confident enough to be independent people, try new things and be responsible adults one day. Teaching them early on is a great way to ensure their independence in the future. Obviously, they are still very young so they are still limited, but here are a few tips on how to help your child be independent :

Huggies

1. Create a Safe Environment – childproof your house so that you and your baby can be confident in their exploration.

2. Be okay with Leaving Them Every Now and Then – this is the one I struggle with the most. I love my babies and I hate missing out on their lives. I love and need breaks often, but I have a hard time saying goodbye too much. In my mind, I feel bad pushing my kids off on someone else, but I’m learning that that’s not the way other’s see it. My trying to be responsible for my kids can result in Ryan and I not getting very much time away from them and that can be just as harmful for them as it is to our relationship. It’s healthy to be away from them sometimes. The tough part is learning to balance that time. Some parents send their kids off too much and others (me) have a hard time sending them away at all.

3. Set Them Up for Success – Choosing the right diaper for your baby once they start to really move around is key. For Hampton, that choice was easy. Huggies Little Movers have been an excellent choice for him because they move with him. I feel like it is a diaper that really keeps up with him.

4. Teach Your Child- Teaching your child right from wrong and what is and isn’t acceptable is so important. Teaching them will help them learn their boundaries and will help guide them in the right direction and give them a firm foundation to making wise decisions.

5. Let Your Child Help You – I love to let Hampton “help” me with laundry. He is totally infatuated with the dryer, so I always let him help me put the wet clothes into the dryer and push the big “start” button. He loves it and he is learning a great life skill.

Baby

Share photos of your baby on social media and use hashtag #SetBabyFree for a chance to be featured on the Huggies website!

How do you teach your child independence? Have you tried Huggies Little Movers?

Leave a Comment / Filed In: Baby Can, Family and Parenting
Tagged: Mommy Diaries, Parenting Tips

How to Spend More Time With Your Family During the Busy School Year

September 29, 2015

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group®, Birds Eye®, and Farm Rich® but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #FullnRichFlavor  http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

Now that kids are back to school and heading back to soccer practice or dance classes, it is difficult to schedule that quality family time that is so important. Growing up, dinner time was our family time. A lot of that has changed in today’s culture because everyone is so busy and constantly on the go. No one takes the time to sit down every night for dinner anymore. My husband and I are trying to establish dinner time as our family time at a young age for our children. I want them to grow up knowing that dinner time is sacred. It is a time when we come together as a family to pray, enjoy a wonderful meal and discuss our lives with one another.

Easy-Dinner-Recipes


During the busy back-to-school time, it can be difficult to get into a routine of making dinner and still having time to spend with your family. Cooking a full meal takes a lot of time and energy. Why waste all of that time and effort when you can opt in for an easy dinner recipe that is still just as delicious and doesn’t sacrifice nutrition or flavorful taste?

healthy-dinner-recipes

Growing up in the south, BBQ was something we did every time our church came together for a big meal, or our entire family got together to celebrate an occasion. BBQ was what everyone wanted. I love that I can carry on this southern tradition with Farm Rich® Smokehouse BBQ Pulled Pork. It is so easy to make and really quick. When paired with Birds Eye Flavor Full Vegetables, it is the perfect meal. While shopping at Walmart the other day, I grabbed these products because I was running short on time and desperate for a quick and easy dinner. It is really important to me that our meals not just taste good, but be healthy as well. That is exactly what these products offered me. I saw the Birds Eye Teriyaki Broccoli and was immediately intrigued. My son and my husband are not broccoli fans, so I thought that the Teriyaki flavor would get them to eat their vegetables, and it was a success! I guess kids and husbands will eat anything when it is smothered in Teriyaki sauce!

easy-flavorful-dinner-recipes

Here are some ideas for spending more time with your family during the busy school year:

– Save time on dinner by using quick and healthy dinner recipes from Farm Rich® Smokehouse and Birds Eye!

– Lay the kid’s clothes out for the entire week on Sunday.

– Schedule time for homework and keep it all very organized. Work with your kids on their homework. They will appreciate the help and you will be spending time with them.

– Plan something fun for the entire family on Saturday mornings like going to the farmer’s market together or going to the pumpkin patch this fall.

flavorful-dinner-recipes



If you enjoy saving money and you use Ibotta, you can earn $0.75 on Birds Eye Vegetables and unlock $1.00 off one Farm Rich® Smokehouse product for a limited time while supplies last.


If you haven’t used Ibotta, all you have to do is:
-Download the app available on iOS and Android. 
-Unlock the rebates for both Birds Eye Vegetables and Farm Rich® Smokehouse. 
-Buy the products that you’ve unlocked at major retailers. 
-Verify your purchase by scanning your bar codes and submitting a photo of your receipt!

flavorful-dinners



How do you schedule time to send with your family? Have you tried Farm Rich® Smokehouse and Birds Eye Vegetables?

Leave a Comment / Filed In: Family and Parenting, Recipes
Tagged: Family, food, Pollinate Media, Recipes

Outshine your Playdate Snacks

July 15, 2015

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #OutshineSnacks #CollectiveBias

playdate-snacks




When thinking of snack ideas for our play dates, I like to think of a satisfying treat that both the kids and mothers will enjoy. This week was my turn to bring snacks and so it dawned on me to stop by Walmart and grab some Outshine Bars! My family has been snacking on Nestle Outshine Fruit Bars for over 18 years, and now we are enjoying the new Outshine Simply Yogurt Bars.

outshine
in-store



I love these bars because they are made with simple, honest ingredients that make you feel as good as they taste! I don’t know about you, but I need a snack that is going to satisfy my cravings. I know after a full day of swimming, my son does, too.

pops


After taking the Outsmart your Snack quiz and receiving my $1 off coupon, I realized all the wonderful things Outshine is doing for our communities. I got really excited because I love supporting brands that give back. Outshine provides fresh fruit and vegetables to communities in need through Feeding America. Through July 31st, for every specially marked box of Outshine Simply Yogurt bars purchased, one pound of fresh fruits and veggies will be donated to a local food bank. How awesome is that?

outshine-simply-yogurt-bars
yogurt

My son and his little friends absolutely loved the NEW Outshine Simply Yogurt Bars, and the moms were a big fan as well. They come in strawberry and blueberry flavors. I love them both. It is impossible to choose a favorite. We were pretty popular at our swimming pool play date. My husband still prefers the fruit and fruit and veggie bars and I love to eat the coconut water bars after an afternoon workout! They are so satisfying and the protein in them is the perfect post-workout fuel that my body needs. 


I am all about better for you snacking, and these bars were such a huge hit at our playdate, that I will definitely be bringing them again. 

popsicles



What snacks do you bring to your playdates? What flavor of the NEW Outshine Simply Yogurt Bars would you like to try? 

Leave a Comment / Filed In: Family and Parenting
Tagged: Healthy Snacks, SoFab, Summer, Summer Days

4th of July 2015

July 6, 2015

firework 4th of July

We had a wonderful 4th of July weekend! We celebrated my MIL’s, Mama’s, Cousin’s and Aunt’s birthdays, laid by the pool, went to a parade, enjoyed a ball game, played with sparklers and ate…a lot! It was absolutely the perfect weekend with my awesome family! It made me so excited for our cruise next month! I can’t wait to spend more time with the ones I love!

baby

 

brother

 

firecracker

 

nephew

 

siblings

 

son

How did you celebrate the 4th?

Leave a Comment / Filed In: Family and Parenting
Tagged: 4th of July, America, Family, Weekends

Five on Friday: 4th of July Edition

July 3, 2015

firecracker

It’s been a while since I participated in 5 on Friday, and I felt like it was a great day to do a 4th of July roundup with tomorrow being the 4th and all!

ONE

red-white-and-blue

Last week I shared 4 Things to do on the 4th of July along with a casual outfit idea! I’m definitely going to be casual this weekend because we will be cooking out by the pool! What are you wearing?

TWO

baby

My little Rae girl turned 2 months old this week. It is going by too. fast. Someone please make it slow down! I’m trying to soak up every minute with her and make sure I don’t miss a single moment. I’ve had so much fun planning her 4th of July outfits! It has been a lot of fun dressing a little girl!

THREE

smores-bar

Have you checked out my Patriotic S’mores Bar and recipe for a Caramel Macchiato Spread? It is delish! We will be using some of this same decor for a big 4th of July party at my parent’s house tomorrow! I can’t wait!

FOUR

This weekend is so special because we celebrate my aunt’s, 2 cousin’s and mother’s birthdays along with America! We go all out with tons of delicious food, decor and a pool party! I am so excited to see everyone I can’t hardly stand it! The last time I saw my cousin (who is also one of my closest friends) was the day after baby girl was born! I’m so ready to see her again!

FIVE

I hope you all have a wonderful 4th! What are your plans this weekend?

Linking up here!

Leave a Comment / Filed In: Family and Parenting
Tagged: 4th of July, Family, Five on Friday

Things to Do For Yourself Before Baby

May 26, 2015

Before Baby

Before your sweet little bundle of joy arrives, it is very important to take care of yourself and enjoy some “me time.” You won’t get very much of that after the baby arrives, and even when you do, all you can think about is your baby. It is important to take care of yourself and enjoy a bit of pampering before the big day comes because then it will be all about the baby – for a while.

Here is a list of things to do for yourself before you have your baby:

Manicure/Pedicure

Movie with Friends

Girls Night

Get a Massage

Read a Book

Haircut

Eyebrows Waxed / Spa Day

Deep-clean the house

Go on a date (or 5) with your husband

Relax

Would you add anything to this list?

Leave a Comment / Filed In: Family and Parenting
Tagged: Mommy Diaries, Pregnancy

Spring Cleaning

March 23, 2015

Spring Cleaning Tips

In the spirit of spring, let’s talk about spring cleaning. I am by no means a great housekeeper, but my OCD tendencies tend to take over a good bit of the time. Over the years, I have learned some easy ways to keep my house in decent condition without feeling like I’m cleaning all the time. Here area few examples:

Every night before bed, I pick up everything. That means all of H’s toys, rinse all the dishes and put them in the dishwasher, wipe down the counters, etc. Once it becomes a habit, you will notice it only takes about 10-20 minutes every night and keeps your house looking spiffy!

Also, about every 6 months or so, I go through all of our clothes, shoes, attic boxes, household items, etc. and we clean out as much clutter as possible. The trick is figuring out how to best get rid of all the “stuff.” Here are a few ways we get rid of our clutter and earn a little bit of money in the process. It’s a win-win!

How to Make Money Off Your “Stuff” While Spring Cleaning:

  • Have a yard sale
  • Sell on Ebay/Craigslist
  • Sell to ThredUp through their clean out bag. I talked about it in this post.
  • Donate your items to Goodwill, a Homeless shelter or your local Humane Society.
  • Sell through Facebook groups like online yard sales.
We have done all of these since we got married nearly 4 years ago. It is great because you keep your house cleaned out and organized and you even make back a little bit of money to put in your savings account or to buy yourself a nice treat. 🙂
Need more tips on cleaning? Check out my Simple Cleaning Schedule!
Do you have any tips on keeping your house clean?

Leave a Comment / Filed In: Family and Parenting
Tagged: clean, Spring

Being a Mom: The First Weeks

December 20, 2013

Becoming a mother has been the most amazing and natural experience. It still rocked my world like I assume it does most people. Reading every book in the world will not prepare you for the selflessness it takes to be a mother.I prayed throughout the entire pregnancy for patience and wisdom to raise my child. I would not be making it today without God’s help with both of these things. I’ve actually been shocked with the amount of patience he has blessed me with.

I have honestly loved every step of the process. My pregnancy wasn’t perfect but it was an incredible experience. In fact, I told Ryan that I could not imagine it being my only pregnancy. I would have 4 more if he let me. haha The moment I saw my baby boy, my heart melted. He was exactly how I pictured him. I just knew he would have my brown eyes because brown is a dominant color. I knew he would have his daddy’s nose because that gene is strong in his family. I also knew he would have hair because the ultrasound tech told us he had a head full at our last visit. He was everything I imagined, but so much more.

From the moment we arrived home from the hospital, I was extremely overwhelmed. Not only was I feeling very uncomfortable from the episiotomy, I also walked in to a house FULL of company. I immediately felt like I had to entertain. I probably should have sat down and relaxed, but that is hard for me to do with a house full of people. We ended up having guests until 10:30 that night. I was exhausted, hungry and I lost it. I balled my eyes out to Ryan (bless his heart). The first 4 weeks of Hampton’s life were like this. We literally had company over every day and night for 4 weeks straight. I didn’t think we would ever get back to our normal lives again, but finally we did. Once we started getting out of the house and doing things like taking H to church, shopping or out to eat with my friends, it was amazing the difference that it made. I had a life again!

My mom was also supposed to stay with me for the first week home, but only ended up staying for two nights because of some other things going on at her home. That was tough. I felt really stressed about being alone with him so soon and while I was still trying to heal. It actually worked out well because it forced me to do it and it proved to myself that I could do this whole mom thing and do it pretty well.

I was joking with my dad the other day about how it was only 10 a.m. and I had been pooped on, peed on, spit up on, and sneezed on. He said: “so does this mean you aren’t having anymore?” and I said “absolutely I am!” haha It really has been so natural for me. Falling into this new life and new routine has been a huge adjustment but now that we have done it, I couldn’t imagine my life any other way. It has obviously had its challenges at times, but it has been so wonderful. Those first few weeks were tough with all of the company and lack of sleep, but it was also such a wonderful time. I enjoyed showing off our baby boy to all our friends and family.

If you are about to experience motherhood for the first time, all I have to say is don’t ever think you are prepared, because you aren’t. The only advice I will give you (because everyone has been giving you advice and it’s annoying after a while) is that you need to be prepared to be unprepared. Everything you’ve read will go flying out the window. That schedule you’ve worked out will not work for your baby. That rock n’ play you bought for him to sleep in for the first few weeks? He won’t sleep in it (yes, that happened).

I didn’t expect:

to cry so much during the first week. I cried because I felt fat. I cried because the baby cried. I cried because it was his first Halloween and I couldn’t take him to the Trunk-or-Treat at church. I cried because the Halloween episode of PLL was SO good. I cried because taking a shower was the best thing in the world. I cried over everything.

for breastfeeding to come so naturally. I heard so many horror stories of breast feeding. EVERYONE told me it would hurt, but it didn’t. People told me abouthow their milk supply was too low. Mine wasn’t. People told me how their babies simply wouldn’t latch on and just couldn’t get the hang of it. Mine did it perfectly the first time. I was preparing for the worst, and it has been a wonderful and fairly easy thing. I will say that I was not prepared for how demanding it is. YOU are the only one who can feed him. YOU have to be available 24/7. That part has been tough and very confining.

Your hormones will be all over the place and it will take a little while for them to settle down. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Throw (not all but some) of the advice that people have been so kind to offer out the window and do what works for YOU and your baby. Don’t ever ever ever compare yourself to other moms or your child to other children. Your child is a special gift from God and is his or her unique person. Treat him/her as such. Pray in the mornings, in the shower, in the car, before bed, while your baby is screaming, and when they smile the first time. Pray all the time. Mosty importantly, LOVE your sweet baby and every moment with them because it really does fly by so quickly. Enjoy all of those special moments.

 

12 Comments / Filed In: Family and Parenting
Tagged: Baby Cantrell, Mommy Diaries

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