All posts by Anne Younger

Anne is a 30-something full-time SAHM mom of 5 ranging from 3 to 17 and grandma of 1 who resides in Ashwaubenon (Green Bay) Wisconsin. She started blogging in 2008 as a way to regain her sanity. She enjoys coffee, chocolate, cheeseburgers and vodka along with spending time with her husband and kids.

Slouchy Bags 101: How to Rock This Trendy Style

Handbags are an essential accessory to add to any outfit and slouchy bags are a fun, and trendy style to incorporate in your own way!

Main image courtesy of Fashionista

No outfit is complete without the essential handbag to top it all off. Whether it completes the outfit by being a fun, bright color, or even if it helps to showcase a casual or sophisticated look, handbags can do a lot for an outfit.They can even show off your personality depending on the style of it.

There are many types of styles of handbags to choose from, but one that has been popular for years is slouchy bags. Usually bigger shoulder bags with a prominent slouch in the middle, these are great bags to hold all of your essentials, including your cell phone, keys, wallet, makeup, and more while pulling together any look you create.

Slouchy bags are in and it’s important to know how to style them with some of the most rocking trends of 2023!

Where to Buy a Slouchy Shoulder Bag

Finding the perfect slouchy bag is your first step to snagging the perfect accessory to complete any look!

Slouchy bags are in and they are great to incorporate to any look for any season, or with any style. Image courtesy of FEED.

Since slouchy bags are in style and have been for many years, there are many places where you can find the perfect one to add to your collection of handbags. They are great bags that can be used for many years because they can hold all of your essentials, but knowing where you can find the best one for you is crucial.

Shopbop

Online retailers are the best place to look for the slouchy handbag of your dreams and one of the best places to check out is Shopbop. This online retailer is perfect if you’re someone who loves to shop for high-end fashion brands, and you can find some of the best ones here for a great, affordable price. Slouchy bags are also a section on Shopbop where you can look through what different brands offer, the prices, and find the perfect one for you.

Poshmark

If you are someone who is looking to sell their own slightly worn handbags to purchase your very own slouchy bag, then Poshmark is a great place to look. Poshmark allows people to buy, sell, or do both to find their own clothing, shoes, accessories, and handbags that fit their style. Poshmark has a wide selection of slouchy bags that people are selling for a great discounted price, and from many different brands too. 

Ebay

Another great online retailer that you don’t want to miss out on when it comes to finding your very own slouchy bag is Ebay. This popular online retailer is known to sell anything and everything and you can bid on merchandise you want, or just buy it outright. Many people sell their secondhand high-end fashion clothing, accessories, handbags, and even shoes here and you can look through their slouchy bag section to find your new favorite one.

How to Style a Slouchy Bag

Get to know the basics of styling a slouchy bag to be a trendsetter no matter where you go!

Styling a slouchy bag is easier than it may seem and you can pair the bag with many types of colors, patterns, and styles of clothing that are trending. Image courtesy of Sseko Designs

Learning how to create your own style that expresses you and your interests is important, and slouchy bags are a great way to do so. Coming in many different designs, sizes, shapes, colors, and patterns, slouchy bags are a great everyday bag that you can wear with almost anything, but learning how to really style them is essential.

Style With Straight Jeans

There is something about a pair of straight jeans that seem to look good on everyone that wears them, thanks to their flattering cut and the simple silhouette. Slouchy bags scream relaxation and straight jeans do the same with their easy and comfortable fit, no matter what kind of errands you’re doing or who you’re meeting.

Wear an Oversized Trench Coat

One of the best fall and even winter looks is wearing a trench coat, or a jacket that goes past the knees. Not only does this create a fashion statement unlike no other, but they are fashionable and can keep you warm from head to toe. Trench coats provide protection with their oversized look, and slouchy bags can do the same by holding and keeping all your belongings in one place. 

Button Up Shirts, Please

If you’re wanting to achieve a crisp and fresh look, the best way to do so is with a button-up shirt. These types of shirts look clean and are usually made out of a comfortable linen fabric that is great to incorporate with a slouchy bag to create a chic and stylish outfit that demands attention. 

Boots Are Essential For Any Fall Look

They always say that no fall is complete without your favorite pair of boots and a pumpkin spice latte, and they are essential when pairing them with a slouchy bag. Booties are extremely popular and have been the trends for the last few years. Paired with your straight jeans and button-up shirt, you’ll have a complete fall look for the upcoming cooler season. 

Oversized Knit Sweaters Are a Must

When we think of comfort, most people think of a comfy sweater that you love to wear once the seasons start to change and even into the cooler months. Slouchy bags go great with your favorite oversized knit sweater no matter the size, color, or fabric. Since slouchy bags provide a baggy feel, they correspond well with an oversized sweater to provide the perfect comfy look for all-day wear

How to Organize a Slouchy Bag

Organization is key to ensure that all of your necessities won’t get stuck at the bottom of your slouchy bag!

Slouchy bags are the most essential bag for everyday wear, but organization is key to make sure you don’t lose your belongings at the bottom of your bag. Image courtesy of Von Holzhausen

Being organized is an essential part of everyday life and it’s important to know how to stay this way, even if it’s doing something as simple as organizing your slouchy bag. From getting an organizer for your bag, or even learning how to utilize the pockets in your bags, there are many ways to learn the best ways to organize your slouchy bag.

Utilize the Outside Pocket For the Essentials

If you have a slouchy bag that has an outside pocket, there are a few different things to use in this spot to keep all of your essentials in one place. This pocket is great for your keys, a keyring to hold all of your rewards cards, chapstick or your favorite lipstick, and easy access to your cell phone at all times.

How to Use the One Large Inside Pocket

Large inside pockets are great to store a bunch of different essential items that you may need, or ones that you may want to keep hidden. This could mainly be a great pocket to keep all of your feminine hygiene products in one place, or it could be the place to hold your makeup if you take a lot of it on-the-go for easy application and storage.

Utilize a Purse Organizer

One of the many hidden gems when it comes to organizing your purse is to invest in a purse organizer. These fit right inside of your purse and contain many compartments and pockets to hold all of the essential items that you need with you on a daily basis. The main thing to consider with one is consistency and teaching yourself to keep the same products, or items in one place so you can get the most out of your purse organizer.

How to Get the Creases Out of a Slouchy Bag

While this may not be an organization tip, it’s one to consider to keep your bag looking in tip top shape at all times. You can actually iron your bag by placing a towel over top of it with low heat and going over the spots where the creases are. Steam is not necessary, but if you feel that your bag needs some extra care, turn it on. Once you remove the towel, you’ll be able to see the creases gone and your bag looking brand new!

Slouchy bags are in and they can create a fashion statement no matter how you dress them up or down. Consider getting your very own slouchy bag and follow some of our fashion tips to have heads turning the next time you use this important accessory. 

Simple Tips for Starting Your Child’s College Fund

Saving for college can be one of the most daunting tasks a parent embarks on. Not only do you have to consider the ever-rising tuition costs, but you also must prepare yourself for making financial decisions that will benefit your child’s future. Fortunately, there are some simple steps that can help to start setting up a solid college fund while keeping in mind how best to maximize what resources are available. Read on to discover strategies and tips about saving for college so your child can reach their educational dreams!

1. Start As Early As Possible

The earlier you start saving for college, the more time your money has to grow through interest and other investments. Starting as early as possible will help ensure that you have enough set aside to cover tuition when it is time for your child to go to school.

2. Consider Tax Advantages

Many states offer 529 plans that allow parents to save money for college and enjoy tax benefits. These plans offer a variety of investment options, and some even provide matching funds from the state.

3. Systemize Savings

Setting up an automatic deposit into your child’s college fund can help you stay on track with saving goals. You can also set up a college savings account with your bank and make regular contributions to it.

4. Utilize Free Money

Don’t forget that scholarships, grants, and work-study programs are available for those who qualify. Researching possible sources of aid can be time-consuming, but the extra effort could save you money in the long run.

5. Keep Track of What You Spend

It’s important to stay on top of how much you are spending on big expenses like medical procedures at The Bunion Cure at Northwest Surgery Center to keep track of where your money is going. Keep track of any money you spend for college expenses so that you can adjust your budget accordingly when necessary.

With a little bit of planning and effort, you can start saving for college and build a fund that will help secure your child’s future. By taking advantage of tax benefits and utilizing free money sources, you can maximize the amount of money saved for tuition costs. Starting early and systemizing your savings will also help you stay on track with setting up a solid college fund. With the right strategies in place, you can ensure that your child will have the financing they need to pursue their educational dreams.  Good luck!

Advice To Give Parents As They Get Older

As your parents get older, the roles start to reverse as they lean on you for more support. With that being said, here is some advice to give your parents as they get older.

We will cover everything from financial advice, to making sure they are still making the most out of their life. When giving advice to your parents it’s important to have a balance between helping them and respecting their boundaries. Therefore, I wrote this blog to share the right advice to give your parents whilst still maintaining boundaries.

Maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle

As parents start to get older, they can get into the habit of lounging around the house and eating what they like due to the amount of extra time they will have. However, it’s essential to maintain a healthy lifestyle which includes watching what you eat and staying active. Doing this will ensure your parents have a better life as they age and can reduce multiple health risks.

Sometimes, it’s up to you to give your parents a nudge in the right direction when it comes to staying healthy and active. A good way to do this is to join them in activities that keep them active.

This could be joining a club such as pilates together and going on a weekly basis, although it’s not the most athletic club it still keeps you active and has great health benefits. If your parents are slightly older, you could meet them once a week for a walk to keep them active without putting too much strain on their bodies.

Create a bucket list

As your parents get older, they will most likely be looking to retire meaning they will have a lot of free time on their hands. Urging them to create a bucket list will help them figure out what they want to do with their time so they don’t get bored.

When getting your parents to create a bucket list, make sure they divide it into two parts. One for short term activities and one for long term activities. For example, each week they could tick something off their short term bucket list whilst saving for a holiday from their long term bucket list.

Having two lists will keep your parents active each week whilst giving them things to look forward to on a long term basis.

Get regular health care checkups

As your parents get older, they will also be at a higher risk of having healthcare problems so encouraging them to go to the doctors for regular checkups will ensure if they have any issues they are spotted early and can be maintained.

It may also be worth talking to them about investing in a private healthcare plan depending on their current health status. Setting up a private health care plan will ensure your parents can get the treatment they need as soon as possible. There are many flexible healthcare plans that cater to most budgets.

Plan for the end of life

Although this is not a discussion you want to have with your parents, end of life planning can save your family thousands when your parents pass. An affordable life insurance policy is a great way to ensure your parents can have the send-off they deserve.

As well as this, it’s also important to talk to your parents about life insurance to ensure your family is financially protected after they pass. There are many life insurance plans out there that offer different types of coverage and pricing so you can help your parents choose the right plan. Be sure to share the differences between whole (accumulative life insurance) and term (instant life insurance) coverage.

This particular task may require you to take a more hands-on approach as end of life planning can be extremely overwhelming. Therefore if your parents are avoiding this subject it may be worth presenting them with some research of your own to help them with the process.

Get your finances in order

As your parents get older, it’s important to remind them to take care of their finances and pay off any debts as soon as possible, especially if they are planning to retire or have retired already.

This may need you to actively get involved and help your parents sort out their finances so they know what their outgoings are and what money they are left with each month. This will ensure they can enjoy the money they have saved over the years and not have any financial burdens hanging over them.

In summary

There are lots of ways that you can help your parents as they get older, but these are my top 5. Following the blog will ensure that you are giving your parents advice whilst avoiding taking control of their life and maintaining boundaries.

The most important advice to give your parents is to plan for further down the line as getting older has its ups and downs. When talking about this, make sure to offer as much help as they need as some tasks such as end of life planning can be daunting and your parents may require extra support.

Baby and You: Simple Fitness Tips for Breastfeeding Moms

Finding out how to work out when you have a new baby to take care of can be one of the toughest challenges that you face as a new mom. There are ways the problem can be hacked, however.

Think of something fun, rather than something challenging

Having to handle demanding baby and work schedules is enough of a challenge. When it comes to your workout, you want to have fun.  When you genuinely have fun, exercise can simply seem easier, and you’ll find yourself skipping far less often. A great way to get some exercise in while nursing a baby is to use a mini elliptical. A mini elliptical allows you to stay seated while still making your body move.

Keep your energy up

Keeping yourself nutritionally well-supplied is a great way to save time when you exercise. You’ll simply be more energetic and get more done. Stocking up on lots of healthy and easy-to-access snacks is one of the best ways to make sure that your body is able to handle the workouts that you have planned . If these are all you have when you feel peckish, you’ll eat them, and you’ll be raring to go.

There is no scientific evidence to show that moderately intense workouts lower lactation quality or quantity. While the body does need a greater level of nutrient supply to keep up quality lactation, the natural appetite boost that goes with nursing always addresses it. The average nursing mother needs an extra 200 calories and a bump between 30% to 50% in their need for folate, protein and vitamin C. Making sure that you supply your body with the nutrition needed can completely take away any anxiety in this area.

Work out before the day gets to you

When you have a new baby waking you up three times through each night for regular feedings, no time of the day is likely to feel right for a good workout. If you put it off until after work, you’ll be too beat. First thing in the morning is when you’re likely to have as much energy as you’ll ever have. Your kids will be sound asleep too. This is when you should get your workout out of the way.

Color outside the box

What if none of these ideas appeal to you? If it feels like you have no time whatsoever to dedicate to a workout each day, it’s time to get innovative.

Runch: If all the time that you have is at lunch at work, no one says you can’t run as you eat. It’s called a runch, and it’s very popular now.

Include your kids in it: If you don’t have a minute that you don’t have to take care of one or another child, it’s okay to work out with them. Plenty of moms carve out family exercise time where everyone is included. Not only is it great together-time, it’s a good way to start your children young on the importance of fitness.

Some mothers don’t make their children work out with them; instead, they work out with their children. When their children need to run off to the playground, they go with them, and do their moves on the park bench, the monkey bars, the jungle gym or anything else that they can find. Lots of mothers jog with jogging strollers. These are great, stable strollers with large wheels that can take the rough-and-tumble of a run in the park.

Find time where there is none: Some mothers get their workout in every minute that they have. A high-intensity workout when you watch over the kids during their meal, through their music class or as you tell your kid a story at bedtime are all possibilities. You don’t necessarily need to curl up next to your kid when you recite a story.

Make a few basic changes: If driving is your choice when it comes to taking your kids to school or otherwise getting everyone around, you could consider a change. What if you could take the bicycle? If you can possibly do that, you’ll have at least a little exercise, and you won’t be spending a great deal extra time.

What’s your guilty pleasure?

The Starbucks latte has long been the icon of small but wasteful guilty pleasures that ruin budgets. There are pleasurable time sinks that everyone indulges in, too. To some it’s a little TV time, and to others, it’s Facebook. Whatever it is, plugging those drains can net you a surprising amount of time for exercise.

Certainly, there is very little time in a busy new mom’s life for exercise. Nevertheless, it’s always possible to be creative. Doing this can get you places.

3 Home Remedies For Mild Tooth Pain

If you ever find yourself experiencing mild tooth pain, one of the first things that you might be inclined to do is call your dentist. However, if you live in an area where appointments for things like dental visits can be very competitive, you might have a hard time getting into a dentist as soon as you’d like. And while you can plan for things like when you’ll get dental implants in Schaumburg, you can’t really plan for when you’ll randomly have some dental pain.

So to help ensure that you’re able to make it until your dental appointment, here are three home remedies for mild tooth pain. 

Rinse With Saltwater

One of the first lines of defense that you should try when you begin to notice some dental pain or a toothache is to rinse your mouth with saltwater. 

Salt water is a natural disinfectant and can help with inflammation. So if the pain that you’re feeling is being caused by some kind of infection that’s starting, using saltwater can help to relieve this pain and keep the infection from getting worse until you’re able to see your dentist. Additionally, if your tooth pain is being caused by something stuck in your teeth or gums, a nice saltwater rinse could help to dislodge that debris and get you feeling better in no time. 

Use Cold Compresses

If you still have pain and inflammation in your teeth or gums, another option is to fight that inflammation directly by using cold compresses. 

Just like with other injuries to your body, using ice or other types of cold compresses can help to reduce inflammation and help with pain. This can help to relieve any swelling that might be occurring and help you reduce some of the pain you might be feeling until you can have a dentist take a look and see what’s really going on. 

Try Green Tea And Honey

On the other hand, if you don’t want to have something too cold against your skin or near your sensitive gums, you can also go with something warmer that can also help with the inflammation. 

Green tea has been known for hundreds of years as something that can help with inflammation. While you can just drink the green tea to get your teeth and mouth soaking in the extracts and the honey that you include, you can also take the tea bag and put it right against the area of your mouth where you’re feeling the pain. And by adding the honey to your tea, in addition to making the tea sweeter, you’re also adding more antimicrobial and antiinflammatory properties, too. 

If you’re looking for some home remedies that you can use for mild tooth pain before you’re able to get in to see the dentist, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you with this.