Then when you add the everyday struggles of breastfeeding to it… you’ll start thinking you’re crazy for wanting to head down this journey. But rest assured mama, you can do this!

Keep reading and I’ll be sharing my top breastfeeding tips for new moms. (I am not a medical professional – just a mom who has breastfed 4 babies. Please seek a lactation consult or doctor if you have any issues or questions.)

Breastfeeding Tip #1: Follow your baby’s lead

The best thing you can do in those first weeks is follow your baby’s lead. While you’re still establishing your supply, it’s very important we listen to little babe.

One of the biggest reasons for mother’s getting frustrated and giving up is that they aren’t following baby’s lead and have the wrong expectations.

Feed on demand

Keep your eyes off that clock! Your baby will tell you when they’re hungry and want to nurse. They’ll start showing hunger cues like smacking their lips, sucking their hands, or even start rooting around looking for your breast.

Feeding on demand is very important for a number of reasons, including:

• It helps establish supply
• Your supply will come in sooner
• Helps baby regain weight faster
• Can potentially avoid jaundice

I’ve also shared some easy things to do while breastfeeding and some of my new mom must-haves which include a fun breastfeeding pillow. You are going to need a nursing pillow if you are going to..

Embrace comfort nursing

At some point you might think “they’re nursing a lot, are they even getting enough”, and the answer is yes. How often they nurse is a very poor indication of supply.

What they’re doing is often referred to as comfort nursing. This is when they are not trying to eat or pull milk from the breast, but rather suckling to get comfort. It helps them relax and adjust to their new world that exists outside the womb.

We will cover this more later, but it is very important to embrace it and not be tempted to introduce pacifiers or bottles right away. The more they nurse, the better your supply will be for them.

This now leads me to my next point…

Breastfeeding Tip #2: Try not to stress about milk supply

It’s natural to stress about milk supply and I’m certain every new mom does it, but do your best on feeding your baby and don’t stress too much if you can help it!

Stress level affects low milk supply

Milk supply is deeply affected by your stress or anxiety level and the more you stress, the less you can end up producing (source). There will be a number of things in life that stress is out, but when it becomes too much… it can affect breastfeeding.

When we stress, it releases a hormone that can inhibit supply, change the makeup of our milk, and even make letdowns more difficult.

The best thing you can do is relax, trust your body, and work on managing your stress level.

It’s okay if breastfeeding doesn’t work out!

If you’re stressing because you’re terrified you won’t be able to breastfeed, relax! Most women will be able to breastfeed assuming they have the proper support. But if you end up not being able to for whatever reason? That’s okay.

At the end of the day, the most important part is that your baby is fed and happy. (And that mama is free of extreme amounts of stress!)

And it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. You can totally supplement and still nurse your baby. Getting that precious breast milk is important but having a full, happy baby and mama is what matters most!

Breastfeeding Tip #3: Be patient while learning to breastfeed

There is this incorrect expectation that breastfeeding is supposed to be perfect from day 1. But the truth is – you’ll need to be patient while you learn to do this.

Breastfeeding is a learning process for both mom and baby. The single most important thing is to focus on having your baby on your breast for the first 6 weeks.

Don’t pump too soon

If you can help it… don’t rush into pumping. While it can help with relief if you become engorged, it can cause some serious supply issues too. You can end up overproducing and struggling to lower it. 

There are circumstances in which this can’t be avoided, but try if possible.

Avoid introducing bottles or pacifiers

One of the more important tips here is to avoid other nipples for the first 6 weeks. Pacifiers and bottles can cause problems if your baby experiences nipple confusion. 

If you’re not familiar with this term, Medela defines nipple confusion as, “when a breastfeeding baby is having trouble latching and breastfeeding effectively after being fed with a bottle.”

The different types of nipples can make baby very confused and struggle to latch onto the breast in the correct way while they’re in the middle of learning to master this new skill. It’s important that you hold off and maybe even avoid the introduction of these other items.

Speaking of latch, this leads me to my final breastfeeding tip…

Breastfeeding Tip #4: Check your baby’s latch

As I’ve previously mentioned, breastfeeding is a huge learning process – baby included. They might struggle with latching so it’s important that you check and help when needed.

Help them get a deep latch

The deeper the latch, the easier time they will have breastfeeding. If their latch is shallow, they will not be able to adequately pull milk from your breast (which can lead mom to think they have low supply and end up quitting breastfeeding).

So how do you help them get a deep latch? 

You’ll want to follow these steps to get a nice deep latch for your baby:

• Hold onto your breast with one hand and baby’s back with the other and bring baby close enough that they can easily reach the nipple
• Tickle their upper lip with your nipple until they open up their mouth nice and wide (do not allow them to latch on until the mouth is wide enough)
• Latch the baby onto your breast and make sure they have a wide latch wrapped around your nipple.

Breastfeeding is also easier when you have found a proper position. Did you know there are 6 different positions you can try? I’d suggest trying them all until you find one that makes both you and your babe comfortable.

Keep an eye out for ties

If you still struggle with latching and feeding your baby, see if you can spot any ties! Lip and tongue ties can make breastfeeding incredibly difficult since they can’t move their lips and tongue around properly.

Do not try and make the diagnosis yourself, however. If you have a suspicion, contact your local lactation consultant who is trained in spotting ties. If babe does have a tie, it’s best to have it corrected as soon as possible.

Breastfeeding Tip #5: Drink Plenty of Water

One of the easiest things to do that will help with nursing is to drink plenty of water! You have to remember that in order for their to be liquid for the baby to drink (breast milk) there has to be liquid in your body to supply it. Drinking enough water is super important!

How much water to drink

I saw online once that you need to drink 1/2 ounce for every pound you weigh. So if you weight 150 pounds you need to drink 75 ounces of water a day.

Drink enough to stay hydrated. If you are feeling thirsty – you may already be dehydrated. These drinks will help keep you hydrated

• infused water
• passion fruit lemonade
• Starbucks copycat pink drink
• aqua fresca

Breastfeeding Tip #6: Eat the Right Food

As a nursing mom you also need to make sure you are eating enough of the right foods. The general rule is to eat 500 additional calories per day to help with milk production.

On top of eating an iron rich diet you could also try some lactation recipes to help with your supply. Some of my favorite lactation recipes are:

• no bake lactation bites
• monster lactation cookies
• no bake lactation cookies
• cookie dough lactation bites

It should be noted that lactation recipes can be made with or without brewers yeast – if you are sensitive to that. I’ve found that lactation recipes with brewers yeast are a great way to increase supply but that it’s only temporary. Follow the tips above for long term breastfeeding success!

Conclusion

I hope these top 6 breastfeeding tips help you as a new mom. The best thing you can do is follow your baby’s lead, try not to stress, be patient, and check on your baby’s latch.

Following your baby’s lead by feeding on demand and comfort nursing will make a world of difference. This is key in establishing your supply in those first few weeks.

As stressful as breastfeeding is, the best thing you can do is try your best not to stress. It can affect your supply and milk so trust your body and know it’s okay if it doesn’t work out!

Remember this is a learning process so be patient. Allow time for you and your baby to get the hang of things and don’t introduce bottles or pump too soon.

Work together to get a deep latch, try different breastfeeding positions, and get checked for ties if needed.

Above all else… keep going! Breastfeeding is hard at first, but you’ll be a pro before you know it. Have you tried any of these breastfeeding tips? Let me know if they helped you out in anyway by commenting below.

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First, let me start with a disclaimer – I am not a breastfeeding expert. FAR from it. I am just a mama who has breastfeed all 3 of her babes. Is it easy? NOPE. Will you miss it when it’s over? YUP.

Breastfeeding is this complex, weird, beautiful, painful, crazy adventure that none of us mamas know about until we dive in.

I’m here to just share a few things that I do while breastfeeding (or pumping). Because let’s be real – it’s not always fun and it can get boring.

Things to do while breastfeeding

Here are a few things I try to grab before I start breastfeeding:

• cell phone
• a puzzle book
• books/magazine
• laptop/tablet
• children’s books
• water

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This post is sponsored by GreenTech Environmental pureAir 1500. All opinions are my own.

Do you or a family member suffer from seasonal allergies? I personally do not, but my husband and both of my older kids do. They get the itchy eyes, watery nose, sneezing and fatigue. I hate to see them so miserable so I’ve learned some ways to help ease their pains.

Quick disclaimer – I am not a doctor or a medical professional, just a mom trying to help her kiddos. These natural remedies do not require medicine but consult a doctor before you start any new routine.

1. Local honey – This is by far my favorite natural remedy for my family. Local honey helps increase your body’s immune system to natural allergens around you. The closer to home you can find the honey, the better results you will have.

I suggest taking a tablespoon of honey a day to help boost your immune system and relief those allergies.

We like to keep this lemon, honey and ginger syrup on hand as well. It’s great for allergies and cough/cold season.

2. Apple cider vinegar – Some people swear by apple cider vinegar and incorporate it daily into their diets. ACV is known to help reduce mucous build up and clean the lymphatic system.

You can take one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar a day to aid in allergy relief. You can take it straight or dilute it in water.

3. Essential oils – We started using essential oils in our house a few years ago and haven’t looked back. Our favorite combination is lemon, lavender and peppermint which is known to help reduce allergy symptoms. You can either create a seasonal allergy roller blend and apply the combo topically, or you can diffuse the blend in a diffuser.

You can also create your own DIY hand sanitizer to help reduce germs during peak cold season as well.

4. Steam – Steam is great because when inhaled it helps open up nasal passages. You take turn the shower on really hot and stand outside and inhale the steam or you can make a steam pot. If you do a steam pot, drape a towel over the pot and inhale the warm steam. BE CAREFUL as both are very hot and can burn you.

For maximum relief, add in a homemade shower melt with eucalyptus oil to your steam routine. Some people also swear by the Neti Pot as well.

5. Probiotics and diet – Did you know that 70-80% of your immune system is located in your digestive tract? Crazy, right?! An easy way to help with allergies is to take a probiotic that aids in guy health by providing good bacteria to help fight infections.

You can go even further by eliminating foods that create mucus in the body. Some of these mucus producing foods include:

• red meat
• milk products
• eggs
• bread
• pasta

Try subbing in natural foods that help reduce mucus in the body such as cucumbers, ginger, carrots and apples.

6. Use an air purifier – A good air purifier will help reduce allergens and pollen in your house which are the main cause of allergy symptoms. We have the GreenTech Environmental pureAir 1500 in our living room and love it!

It’s a small but mighty air purifier that pulls toxins out of the air in homes or offices up to 1500 square feet. We recently moved into our house and received the pureAir 1500 around the same time. There was a funk to the house since the previous owners had a variety of pets. After a few days the old animal smell was gone! I love that it helps reduce odors as well as purifies the air for my family.

If you have a smaller space or your floor plan is closed off or you just want to clean one room, try the pureAir 50. It cleans the air just like the 1500 but is best for small spaces. Or near cat boxes. Or in your stinky boys room.

For more information on GreenTech Enviromental’s allergy reducing products, check out their website. They even have a purifier for your fridge and gym bag!

What natural ways do you use to help reduce your seasonal allergies?

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You may have heard someone talking about the “purple drink” or maybe you’ve seen the “pink drink” on Instagram.

Have you wondered how to get one?  It all seems so secretive.

Not anymore, now it’s simple! The key to getting these off menu items is knowing what to tell your barista when you order them.

Here are 7 secret Starbucks off menu items for you to try out! (And since I LOVE diy coffee drinks, I’m sharing how to make them at home as well!)

1. The Pink Drink

The pink drink has dominated Instagram as a popular summer drink and so pretty, too.

To order the pink drink, simply ask for a Strawberry Acai Refresher.

Ask the barista to make it with Coconut milk (instead of water) and add a few scoops of strawberries, blackberries, or both for extra yum!

You can also make the pink drink at home with a few common ingredients! I break down how to make this copycat coffee drink at home on the cheap.

Want a lower calorie version? Try the KETO PINK DRINK! It comes in at 4 carbs for the whole thing.

2. The Purple Drink

Just after the pink drink, the purple drink also gained instant popularity.

The purple drink is actually Passion Iced Tea made with Soymilk, vanilla syrup, and scoops of blackberries.

Try to have it with Coconut milk if you want a lighter lavender shade.

Don’t worry – you can make this drink at home too! If you have passion tea on hand, you are half way there. Check out how to make the purple drink at home!

3. The Green Drink

Colored drinks are sought after and the green drink, not quite as pretty as its counterparts, is not just your ordinary iced green tea latte.

To order the green drink, ask for an iced black tea made with coconut milk then, add some matcha powder. Matcha powder turns the drink a vibrant green and the coconut milk tones it down a bit.

A few more colors and you’ll have a rainbow of drinks to try at the coffee shop or make at home! This one is easy to make at home as well once you have matcha powder, green tea and coconut milk on hand. Here is an easy recipe on how to make the green drink at home.

4.  Raspberry Caramel Macchiato

If you’re a fan of colored delicious drinks, this one is another charmer. I would never think to put the two flavors together, but they work so well!

Simply order a regular Caramel Macchiato and ask for raspberry syrup instead of vanilla.

Do that and you’ll experience a completely different taste! You can also try this drink as an iced caramel macchiato with raspberry or even as a frappuccino!

5. Mermaid Frappuccino

Enough with the colored drinks, now let’s get to the mythical characters.

For this one, get a Vanilla Bean Frappuccino, add freeze-dried whole blackberries, top with whipped cream and additional drizzle or matcha powder.

After that, line the cup with green mixed drizzle. You can probably ask the barista for a mermaid frappuccino and they will know what you are talking about. It has become a very popular drink recently!

6. Cinnamon Dolce Smoothie

Craving for a smoothie? The Cinnamon Dolce Smoothie is definitely a great choice!

You can get it by ordering a Chocolate smoothie and asking for Cinnamon Dolce syrup. Add 3 scoops of vanilla bean and you’re good to go!

This is very similar to a horchata frappuccino and a cinnamon dolce latte. If you have homemade cinnamon dolce syrup on hand, this secret menu drink is super easy to make at home!

7. Passion Coldbuster Tea

Last but definitely not the least on our list is the Passion Coldbuster Tea. If you’re sick and you need some TLC, this tea is definitely worth every penny.

Simply order a Venti tea with a bag of Passion Tango tea and one bag of Emperor’s cloud and mist.

Get a half steamed lemonade and half boiling water. Add a bit of honey and you’ve got yourself a drink to make you feel better.  It’s said to help with sore throat and sinus issues.

DIY coffee drinks

There you have it! The next time you head to Starbucks, you’ll have a whole new arsenal of drinks to try. And since I love DIY coffee drinks that you can make at home, check out these other great Starbucks copycats:

Iced white chocolate mocha

Iced chai latte

Pumpkin spice latte

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Did you know that coffee beans are usually stored when they’re green? They’re stored this way in order to maintain freshness and quality prior to roasting. It’s the roasting that brings out the aroma and taste you love. It’s funny to think of coffee beans starting out green but its the roasting that turns them into delicious golden brown nuggets of love.

Roasting uses high temperatures in order to bring about the chemical changes necessary to produce the desired taste when brewed. Roasts can be divided into four main categories. These are light, medium, medium-dark and dark.

A bit of trivia you may not realize is that it’s the light roasts that actually have a higher concentration of caffeine than the darker ones. Crazy, huh? I always thought that the darker roasts had more caffeine for some reason. Turns out, the lighter the roast of the beans, the more caffeine.

This guide to common coffee roasts will give you a basic understanding of each category and the types of coffee in each. I’ll also share some recipes that you can make with each roast!

Light Roasts:

This type of roast usually yields a milder, more subtle flavor. The outer surface is dry due to the fact that the roasting process is not long enough to break the bean down. Sometimes the flavor can be a bit sour, and such beans will be used in less expensive coffee blends. Common names for lightly roasted coffees include Cinnamon, Light, Half City and New England.

Some DIY coffee recipes that go great with light roast coffee are:

• White chocolate mocha recipe
• Vanilla latte
• Eggnog latte
• Homemade flavored coffee

Medium Roasts:

A bit stronger in flavor with a medium brown color, these roasts yield a bean that also has a dry surface. A bright, crisp and fully developed flavor is offered by medium roasts. A favorite of many U.S. coffee drinkers, you’ll find American roast in this category. Breakfast, Regular, City and Medium also fall into this group.

Recipes to try with medium roast coffee are:

• Iced cinnamon dolce latte
• Pumpkin spiced iced coffee
• Starbucks peppermint mocha
• White chocolate vanilla latte

Medium-Dark Roasts:

These roasts have a slightly oily surface and dark in color. They have a rich body and a sweet taste. You’ll find Full City, Continental, Viennese and Light Espresso among medium-dark roasts.

You may want to try these recipes with a medium-dark roast coffee:

• Spiced cold brew coffee
• Gingerbread latte
• Iced caramel macchiato
• Chestnut praline latte

Dark Roasts:

The final roast category is generally bittersweet in flavor with a black, shiny appearance. Low in acidity, these roasts have a broad variety from dark all the way to charred, losing acidity as darkness increases. Common names are French, Italian, Neapolitan and Spanish.

Try these coffee recipes using dark roast:

• Cold brew coffee
• S’mores frappuccino
• Pumpkin spice latte
• Iced white chocolate mocha

If you’re an experienced coffee drinker, you may know which roast is your preference. But for those that haven’t explored the world of coffee, it may be difficult to find a roast you enjoy. My suggestion is to go to a store that allows you to buy by the pound and try a few different varieties. You don’t have to buy a full pound of each, but enough to make a pot or two of coffee to taste.

I’ve also shared some gifts for coffee drinkers that are great for new to experienced coffee drinkers. I’ve found everything from home roasters to portable brewing mugs. Take a look and find a gift for the coffee lover in your life!

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It’s not surprise that I love all things food related. (And coffee too! Check out my coffee drinkers gift guide!) My favorite spot in my house is my kitchen, I love to try new cooking gadgets and my all time favorite thing to do is cook for family and friends. Do you have someone like that in your life? Then let me share my favorite gifts for foodies with you!

Gifts for Foodies Under $10

Gourmet Gummy Bears – Any foodie on your list will love The World’s Best Gummy Bears.

Food for Thought Crosswords – Foodies will enjoy these 72 tasty puzzles that feature food-related puns and themes ranging from easy to more difficult, so there’s something for every solver to enjoy.

Blank Recipe Journal – Foodies can keep recipe notes for all their favorite “go-to” recipes in one handy book. 

Venezuelan Chocolate Bars – If your foodie loves chocolate, give them one of these Gearharts Fine Chocolates Venezuelan Chocolate Bar-Criolla.

Desert Bloom Honey – Any foodie will love Arizona’s award winning honey.

Gifts for Foodies Under $25

Infused Gourmet Sea Salt  – Foodies will love have fun Exploring these delicious gourmet salts and find your favorites.

Hot Cocoa Makers – Foodies can make a gourmet cup of hot chocolate with toppings–the perfect holiday drink that’s easy to make.

TruffleHunter Truffle Condiment Selection – These delicious Truffle Condiments include truffle honey, salt, and mustard. 

Wooden Spoon Set – Oliva Italiana 7 Pc. Tool Set has amazing versatility with 6 utensils, and has a stunningly simple design aesthetic to be used as a functional piece of kitchen décor.

The Foodie’s Coloring Book – Foodies can rejoice and relax as they color in a variety of food themed images, take the foodie quiz, laugh at the foodie alphabet, and join the adult coloring book craze sweeping the world

Gifts for Foodies Under $50

Express Garlic Roaster – This cool kitchen gadget roasts garlic in just 27 minutes so your favorite foodie can get cooking quickly.

Gourmet Biscotti – Let your foodie indulge in twenty-four gourmet biscotti bedecked with six decadent flavors.

15 Piece Cuisinart Knife Set – Every foodie needs a great set of knives! Superior high carbon stainless steel blades for precision and accuracy make a wonderful foodie gift.

Chef’s Choice Knife Sharpener – Pair the knife set with this knife sharpener so your foodie can keep their knives sharp.

Jerky Kit – Let your foodie make their own jerky with this dehydrator and jerky gun set.

Gifts for Foodies Over $100

Urbio wall planter – These are magnetic plates with cups that are perfect for herbs. Add a plate to your wall and then any size cup you want. Move them around as often as you like! This is a great way to keep fresh herbs nearby.

La Paella Kit with 14-Inch Carbon Steel Pan – A great gift for anyone who loves to cook this paella set includes an authentic Spanish carbon steel paella pan, rice, saffron, smoked paprika, and paella cookbook.

10 pack of Gourmet Popping Corns – Popcorn will never be the same once your foodie tries these 10 different types of popcorn.

Sous Vide Precision Cooker Bluetooth – Sous vide is the newest at home cooking technique. Help your foodie master this cooking style with a bluetooth cooker. 

Back to the Roots Water Garden – Foodies can grow their own microgreens and keep a pet fish at the same time with this water garden.

Complete Cheese Making Kit – This is an all in one kit that includes everything your foodie will need to make their own cheese. 

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Confession time – I am a HUGE Harry Potter fan. A HP nerd, if you will. I read the entire Harry Potter series when I was in high school many years ago. I have seen all the movies and read the newer books. I have taken the taken the sorting house test and am proud to say I am a Gryffindor. I love butterbeer lattes.

Yup. I’m a potterhead. I love all things HP. Do you have someone who loves Harry Potter too? Check out these great Harry Potter gift ideas!

Harry Potter Gifts Under $10

Unofficially Harry Potter Joke Book – My kids would LOVE this HP joke book! They love telling jokes to each other and just laughingggg.

Harry Potter Triwizard Maze Game – Race through the Triwizard maze to get to the finish line, but beware of magical spell cards which could send you back to start. For ages 5 and up.

Harry Potter Playing Cards – Regular play cards with a Harry Potter theme, these make a great stocking stuffer.

Funko Harry Potter Mystery Mini – Harry Potter characters have been given the Funko Mystery Mini treatment. Great for collectors.

Harry Potter Ravenclaw Wall Banner – Have a Ravenclaw on your list? They will love this officially licensed Harry Potter Wall Banner featuring the Ravenclaw emblem.

Harry Potter Magical Creatures Coloring Kit – Bring the magical creatures of Harry Potter’s world to colorful life with this collectible kit includes 30 coloring cards and colored pencils.

Harry Potter Gifts Under $20

Harry Potter Fidget Spinner – A fidget spinner that looks like the “Golden Snitch” from Harry Potter with a great color mixture and patterns while spinning.

Hogwarts Scratch Magic Book – My kids love these scratch books. What’s better than a HP scratch book??

Talking Sorting Hat and Sticker Book – Get sorted into House Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, or, yes, Slytherin, with this delightfully magic talking sorting hat, just like in the Harry Potter films.

Maurader’s Map to Hogwarts – Find out all the secret passageways in Hogwarts thanks to this fun book.

Harry Potter Magical Beasts Game – Board game lovers will love this Harry Potter game. Explore the interior of Hogwarts and the grounds as you try to collect elements to capture the beasts

Fantastic Beasts Niffler Plush – Harry Potter fans can cuddle with an authentic recreation as seen in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

Harry Potter and the Fantastic Beasts Minifigs – Harry Potter LEGO fans will love this collection of minifigures.

Harry Potter Gifts Under $50

Harry Potter Silver Plated Earrings – This earring set comes with snitch, HP logo and the deathly hallows.

Harry Potter Official Scarf – Choose a soft scarf from your favorite house: Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Slytherin, or Hufflepuff. 

Harry Potter Wand Kit – A fun set of wands to choose from to make into necklaces or key chains. 

Funko Pop Harry Potter – Harry Potter and Hedwig are great for collectors.

Harry Potter Chess Set – Play chess, Harry Potter style, with this fun chess set.

Harry Potter’s Broomstick – Pretend to play quidditch and other Harry Potter games with a broomstick just like Harry’s.

Harry Potter Illuminating Wand – Wave the wand and the light goes on and wave it again, and it turns off!

Lego Fantastic Beasts Newt’s Case Magical Creatures  – Build a foldable LEGO Fantastic Beasts replica of Newt’s Case of Magical Creatures, with a ladder, nest, shelter and Occamy egg.

Harry Potter Gifts Under $100

The complete Harry Potter series – Get all 7 books in the series! You will not regret this purchase either as a gift or for yourself.

Harry Potter Coding Kit – Build a wand that responds to your movements. Comes with wand parts, PCB with codeable LED, button, batteries, step-by-step book, stickers, poster, and free Kano app.

LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Express Kit – Build a LEGO Hogwarts Express train set, with removable side panel and roof, plus railway bridge and Platform 9¾, then begin your own magical journey.

Niffler Bank – Help your Harry Potter fan save their galleons! Nifflers are attracted to shiny things, which makes them the perfect treasure finders (and keepers).

LEGO Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets Hogwarts Whomping Willow  –  Harry Potter LEGO lovers with love building the incredible magical castle set. The brick-built Whomping Willow features spinning branches, a three-story castle model with a gate, and other accessories like potions wands and other magic LEGO items.

Harry Potter’s Remote Control Wand – Harry Potter fans can use this wand to turn on and off  TVs, Blu-ray players, and speakers. 

The post Harry Potter gift ideas appeared first on mom makes dinner.

For years I have been a fan of James Avery jewelry. Before we were married and had kids, when I was still a youngin’ myself, I was in love with James Avery. I remember just walking into the store to browse with my friends and just staring at all the beautiful jewelry in the cases.

When we got married, our wedding bands were from James Avery. After we had each one of our babies I was gifted a new remembrance ring for them. When I want to celebrate the special people in my life, I buy them James Avery. I always have and always will be a James Avery fanatic.

I want to share with you my favorite James Avery gifts for mom. They have a whole Mother’s Love line that is amazing, but they also have some other great pieces that mom is sure to love. I’ve broken my favorite pieces into categories and shared a little bit on why I love them.

Earrings for mom

Single initial post earrings – Mom will love these tiny little initial post earrings! Pick what the letters for her or let her choose.

Turquoise ear posts – These have become my every day earrings! They are so delicate and pretty, but easy enough to be wore day to day.

Mother’s love dangle earrings – The Mother’s Love collection includes these beautiful dangle earrings. Grab these and start her own Mother’s Love collection today!

Joy of my heart ear posts – Another fun way to honor mom is with these Joy of my Heart earrings.

Heart strings ear posts – Mom will love these heart string post earrings. They are great to wear everyday or to dress up when she goes out.

Rings for mom

Stack-able remembrance rings – I am so IN LOVE with these stack-able rings! You can add as many as you would like together, the styling possibilities are endless. James Avery also has a great remembrance collection with other great pieces too.

Script initial ring – These are awesome because you can stack them too! You can even mix and match the initial rings with the remembrance rings!

Mother’s Love ring – This is the ring my momma bought me after I had my first baby! Just thinking about it brings back so many memories from when Ryley was born. I love wearing this beautiful ring.

Victorian beaded band – This ring is so dainty and beautiful. Ryon bought me one for our upcoming ten year anniversary! I love how light it is and the beaded detail.

Long Sorrento ring – If you are looking for a bigger ring that can still be worn everyday, this one is it! My best friend in college had one and she wore it every day. It’s big and makes a statement.

Bracelets for mom

Twisted wire cuff bangle – I love how simple yet striking this bangle bracelet is. The details are just awesome.

Petite infinity bracelet – I can tell that this light weight infinity bracelet will be your moms new favorite!

Sorrento hook on bracelet – This beautiful bracelet matches the Sorrento ring mentioned above. It is so pretty and can be dressed up for a night out or worn day to day.

Cascade cuff bracelet – This bracelet is definitely a dress up type of jewelry. It’s perfect for wearing out to dinner or to a girls night out.

Classic charm bracelet – Or you can buy mom a charm bracelet and start adding charms for each holiday! The great thing about James Avery is that they add the charms on themselves and will fix them whenever you need!

Necklaces for mom

Changeable charm holder necklace – If you do want to start buying charms for your mom, get her this necklace! She can change out the charm on it whenever she wants.

Horizon cross necklace – Your mom would be super trendy with this cross necklace. It is very light and perfect for every day wear.

Mother’s Love pendant – Of course I have to recommend the necklace I got my mom last Valentine’s Day! This pendant is huge and such a sweet gift. (Just FYI – the chain is separate.)

Jubilant heart pendant – Another beautiful necklace that mom is sure to love! This heart scroll is one that mom will cherish.

Enamel byzantine necklace – Bring out the big guns with this over the top enamel statement necklace! The beautiful details are sure to make mom smile.

Want more gift ideas for mom? Check out:

The coffee lovers gift guide

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It’s no surprise that I am a huge coffee fan. It all started when I got my first real job after college. I was thrust into the world of corporate America and that world started way too early for this girl. I survived on company provided coffee and snarky humor with my co-workers.

Then I had kids and coffee kept me sane. As much as I loved Starbucks, we were pretty broke our first few years of marriage. I started creating copycat coffee drinks and sharing them here on my site and the rest is history.

Delicious coffee drenched history.

Do you have a coffee lover in your life too? I’ve rounded up some pretty unique gifts for coffee drinkers. They range from under $25 to $100 so you are sure to find something for that special coffee drinking someone.

Under $25
Rosa Vila Caffeine Molecule Necklace– I just love this little caffeine molecule necklace! What a great way to show your love of coffee.

Milk Frother – I love my little milk frother! It’s perfect for making a vanilla latte at home. I got mine at Target but this one is almost identical.

Coffee Joulies – These coffee stones would be perfect in a glass of iced cinnamon dolce latte! Bonus – these are great in other beverages too. 

All Natural Coffee Scrub – I love coffee scrubs and this one looks awesome! Want to try a DIY version? Check out hazelnut coffee lip scrub.

K Cup Carousel – If you are a Keurig user then this carousel is a must! It fits perfectly on the counter and you can see all your different K-cups. 

Reusable K Cup Filters – These reuseable filters are also a must have for any Keurig owner. 
Heat Sensitive Constellation Mug – I love heat sensitive mugs that change when you pour hot coffee in them. This one is of the constellations. 

Coffee Bean Earrings – Another fun way to show your love of coffee!

Cup of Coffee Necklace – How cute is this little necklace?

Coffee Bean Plant – Of course you need a coffee bean plant in your life!

Under $50
Aeropress Coffee and Espresso Maker – A compact coffee maker that promises to reduce bitterness in coffee.

Coffee Bean Grinder – We just have a basic bean grinder, but I would love to upgrade to this bigger one!

French Press Coffee Maker – I love the taste of coffee fresh from the French press.

Coffee Pour Over Kit – This is on my Christmas list too. 

Coffee Syrup Gift Pack – If you love making copycat coffee drinks at home then this Torani syrup gift pack is a MUST! It comes in a variety of flavors and makes making your own drinks super easy.

Mini Portable Espresso Machine – This portable espresso machine is going on my Christmas list for sure!

K Cup Variety Sampler – If you are looking for a good gift for a new Keurig owner, this is it! Let them pick their favorite coffee from the sampler pack.

Coffee Tins with Lids – A great way to store your coffee, sugar and tea!

Under $100

Automatic Coffee Bean Roaster – I have been thinking of roasting my own bean since I talked with an old high school friend. He said it was really inexpensive and the taste was phenomenal! 

Ninja Coffee Bar – I have heard so many good things about the Ninja’s coffee bar. It has 5 brew options, a built in milk frother and a glass carafe so you can have a pot of coffee ready in the morning!

Whisky Barrel Aged Coffee Sampler – These just sound amazing!

Keurig Classic – My parents have a Keurig and they love it! I love going over to their house and trying out all their new pods of coffee!

Cold Brew Coffee Maker – This cold brew coffee maker from KitchenAid is pretty neat. If you are nervous about making your own cold brew at home, try this little machine!

The post Gifts for coffee drinkers appeared first on mom makes dinner.

This post is sponsored by Thomas and Friends Super Station at Wal-Mart. All opinions are my own!

The fun thing about having two boys is watching them play. Their little minds are always thinking and I love being able to sit back and watch them things out. Plus, Ryder is getting older and loves to play with older brother. Not that older brother always love to have a 2 year old tagging along, but he is really good with him.

One of the things that both boys LOVE is Thomas the Train. Avery will sit and watch the shows with baby brother and they will both play with trains together for hours. It’s the best!

Do you have a Thomas the train fan in your house? Check out the BEST Thomas the Train toys of the year!

Thomas and Friends Super Station – Hands down, this is the boys favorite Thomas toy of the year! It is a large building that contains the famous Tidmouth Sheds and Brendam Docks. It also has a large Cranky that rotates and can hook trains with a hook attachment. On top of that, the track stretches out to 35 feet long and can hold over 100 different trains.

It comes with Thomas and Percy TrackMaster edition, which means they automatically chug along the track when switched on. A Harold the Helicopter is also included and so is a landing pad that makes sounds.

You can find the Thomas and Friends Super Station at your local Wal-Mart this holiday season!

Thomas the Train Tote-a-Train playbox – With all the trains laying around our house, this tote is perfect for storing them all! It holds 9 trains and also has a mini track inside the case. You can add additional track to the case and play all day!

TrackMaster James – The Super Station comes with Thomas and Percy, so why not add James into the mix? James comes with a trailer and happily chugs along the track once switched on. The TrackMasters only require one AA battery and are easy to change out.

Additional Thomas track – Although the Super station comes with over 35 feet of track, you can always purchase more if needed. The track is easy to put together and you can make dozens of different configurations.

Thomas minis – We LOVE the Thomas minis! They are small versions of the big trains and can be easily connected to each other, front or back. They also come in fun patterns that you won’t see on the larger trains. Although they are mini, they also fit on the Super station track!

Thomas ride on – We were gifted on of these ride on along Thomas trains and Ryder just loves it! He is able to drive it around the yard and store trains underneath the seat. He loves his big choo-choo.

Thomas bath squirters – The Thomas fun doesn’t have to stop just because it’s time to take a bath! This 3 pack of bath squirters are fun to play with in the tub or at the beach or pool.

Thomas pop-up tent – We have had this tent since Avery was little, so over 5 years now. It’s fun to see Ryder pull all of his trains inside and play Thomas in his Thomas tent. He also likes to put blankets and pillows in there and watch Thomas DVD’s from one of the windows.

Thomas mini lantern – Maybe I should get Ryder this mini lantern for Christmas so he can play with this trains, in his tent in the dark!

What Thomas the Train toys are your little ones loving this year?

Want other great gift ideas? Check out:

The ULTIMATE Shopkins gift guide

The BEST KitchenAid attachments

25+ Edible Christmas gift ideas

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