I don't love deer. That's not a secret. For reasons I will explain in this episode, I think they are dumb and covered in germs and diseases. BUT when one found its way into our backyard and I started to get to know it...let's just say my heart grew three sizes and my deer-grinch-ness melted a bit.

Remember the Mother's Day Questionnaire that my 3-year-old filled out about why she loves me? Remember how it had a lot to do with screen time and something about how I make her do chores and she doesn't like that? Well Father's Day is right around the corner which means she brought home a new questionnaire about why she loves her daddy and so we're going to take a few minutes to compare and contrast it with what she said about me. Spoiler alert (that came as no surprise to me): she seems to really prefer her dad. It's fine, it's all fine. Overall, the results are quite heart warming.

Are you a firm believer that there is only one correct way to install a roll of toilet paper? And that way is with the free end of the roll coming up and over and then hanging down, you know, like they do in fancy hotels and then they fold the ends into a point? Because that's the right way? Until a week ago, that was me. And then I saw a 30 second reel on Instagram that changed me. I can't find the reel now, I'd show it to you if I could, but in this episode I tell you all about it and how it shook my life-long belief of how toilet paper should be installed.

I also tell you how I am spending zero dollars and getting Darren exactly what he wants for Father's Day. (To be fair, part of it is allowing him to spend some dollars so it's not free but it's kind of free to me because I don't have to go out and buy anything.)

Anyone else find it really difficult mentally, emotionally and physically to go from confining your kids in a shopping cart at the store to letting them walk around with you? Same. But you let them do it once with Grandma and they taste that freedom and they never want to get in the seat of a cart again. Luckily Grandma also gave me some ideas for rules that, as long as they follow them, will keep them with you in the grocery store and out of the piles of cans nicely stacked and displayed at the end of the isle (I've never understood why they do that, it's just a huge mess waiting to happen). Take a listen and let me know if these rules work for you too.

Has your instagram feed been overtaken by reels showing how to make delicious ice cream confections using the Ninja Creami? Has a Creami been sitting in your Amazon cart for weeks while you mull over whether or not you should take the plunge? Turns out there are a lot of people in that same boat. Let me either talk you into it or talk you out of it. This episode is my honest opinion of the Creami and why you should or should not buy it.

PS - I do mention certain brands of things that I use/like in this episode but this is not in any way sponsored by anyone. Well, except me, I guess. Enjoy!

Do you feel like, not matter what you do, you are always late? Or at least are always stressing in order to NOT be late? Same. But did I ever admit that was my biggest weakness in a job interview? Heck no! But I'm admitting it to you here and now and sharing two questions that haven't cured my punctuality problem but they have definitely helped with my stress levels surrounding getting out the door on time. Take a listen, try them out, let me know if they work for you too.

I am, by nature, a saver. I like to do things myself and tend to have a "why pay for something I can do" mentality. For clothes, I care more about cut and feel than the name on the tag. That being said, there are some big purchases that I do make and this is a look at how my brain decides if its worth the money or not.

Oh, I also tell you about something that Darren did in my dream last night that made me very angry with him for the first half of the morning. And then, in real life, he had the audacity to tell me it was my fault! ...boys...

Why is dinner one of the hardest things moms do? Planning it, shopping for it, prepping it, trying to get our kids to eat it, cleaning up after it...and then we do it every. single. day. Today I'm letting you know that you're not the only one who feels this struggle. I'm lending you my friends for a few minutes and sharing (anonymously because I neglected to ask them for permission to share this) their dinner fails so you can see that you're in good company. I also share four of my go-to meal ideas that my kids will eat and that I won't be absolutely exhausted after making and feeding them (spoiler alert: one of them is cold cereal).

Ten years is a long time and one can't help but pick up a few things along the way. After some ramblings about how we celebrated by road tripping to Utah with our three kids, yard work and the tediousness of washing your hair, I share some tidbits about things I've learned over the last decade of being a "wifey." The last one has to do with "grown up fun times" but, don't you worry, there are no words you'll have to explain later. It's simply my metaphor for how "fun times" are like a drive-thru. It makes sense, I promise.

As promised, here's a link to the website mentioned in lesson 2:

https://www.finlayson-fife.com/courses