(Sorry, I couldn’t help myself)

Yep! That would be me. A 37-year-old woman who thought for sure by now I’d have my shit together, but if anything, I feel less accomplished now than I did 10 years ago before I had my children.

Ack! Don’t get me wrong. My greatest accomplishments will always be my beautiful boys. I always dreamed of being a mom. I wouldn’t take it for granted for all the money in the world. In so very many ways, they are the only source of constant joy in my life.

(The boys at the VGKvsNSH game. While the Knights lost, my Knights had the time of their lives – mostly…)

What I mean is I had no idea that I’d want more while at the same time have NO IDEA what that means or how to achieve it. Just an internal discomfort that tells me something is missing.

I started this blog 9 years ago in an effort to keep my long-distance family and deployed husband informed on what our lives were like. I never dreamed it would turn into a source of income for my family. The problem is the more my blog grew, the less genuine I began to feel. Suddenly what brought me immense joy was just another deadline stacking up in my incredibly messy life.

So I ghosted you.

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(Squirrel moment… if you haven’t watched YOU on Netflix yet… do it!! Penn Badgley is SOOO creepy in it. To the point where I fear he’s forever going to be typecast as the go-to creeper dude.)

I was afraid to share how terrible I was feeling internally. I didn’t know how to write my story, my life without it sounding too real, too fake, too braggart, to whiny. I was so worried what everyone else would be thinking that it consumed me and took the joy away from writing.

Now, don’t get it wrong – that is really just skimming the surface on what was going on behind the blog, behind the mask I put on for everyone around me, and behind the weight of hiding my sadness from anyone who would look too closely.

My anxiety was a key player in all of this, even before I knew what I was feeling was anxiety. Oh, and since I have now mentioned both in this post – My name is Emily and I have anxiety and depression.

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(PS If you have been hiding these illnesses from others – saying it aloud to yourself can lift a huge weight.)*

I’ve struggled w depression & anxiety for 10 yrs. None harder than the past 2. Hope finally came when I started sharing w the fam & friends I hid it from for years. Today, after following #BeIlLetsTalk I’ve decided to open up online too. I’m not alone. You aren’t either.

— Emily Knight (@OurKnightLife) January 31, 2019

Which brings me to the title of this post. Don’t call it a comeback… I don’t know that it is yet. However, my desire to write is burning a little whole inside me. In fact, my phone is full of notes on article ideas and blog posts.

Let’s just hope my comeback doesn’t go the way of “Insert any cliché 90s celebrity here”.

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*Real Life Disclosure

I am not a doctor, specialist, mentalist, or anything other than a woman, mom, wife, sister, and friend living with mental illness. It’s okay to not be okay. It’s also okay to ask for help. If you or anyone you know needs help please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255 – this is available 24 hours a day. You can also go to their website and chat online any time of day. https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

Don’t Call It A Comeback – I’ve Been Here For Years. #GuessWhosBack
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Paper Trax are a paper based race track which attach to your walls for hours of fun! The Paper Trax are completely recyclable and attach harmlessly to your walls using 3M Command Strips. The Trax come in a box of 10 track sections PLUS the box they come in can be made into an extra track! The tracks were very easy to put together. There are instructions printed on EACH piece of track! A couple simple folds, insert tabs into slots,  and push the tabs in. Hannah (3 years old) was able to help me even!

Additionally, these are not just boring printed paper. The Speedway Super Track is shown and it has words printed on the wall, race cars printed on the side, and best of all tire tracks on the road surface! The tracks have a lip so the cars will stay on the tracks on the walls. They all have tapered ends on the track to overlap nicely with the next piece, while not slowing down the cars.  The box also includes all of the 3M Command Strips necessary to attach the tracks to the walls. (Note: please test so you don’t remove paint etc!) I was able to easily attach and even move a couple of the tracks. You can’t see the 3M Command Strips! There is a lip on the track which goes against the wall – so that all those colored matchbox cars don’t scratch up the wall!

The Paper Trax can be configured in many different ways to incorporate jumps or crashes! My kids are a little on the shorter side so we didn’t go too crazy with our track design, however I am planning on buying some new 3M Command Strips in a couple months and updating the configuration! The kids loved racing their cars from both ends and seeing if they could crash! The loved having ‘jumps’ in the track and cracked up if a car didn’t make the jump! This is definitely and activity that they will play for longer than 5 minutes. I seriously appreciate that!

Paper Trax also have a Dino edition & a Corner Track pack if you are using in a room and want to go around a corner! If you have kids or grandkids who LOVE race cars – this needs to be on their Christmas list! This product has moved to the top of my toy list for these kids!

Where do your kids race cars in your house?

I was provided this product for this review and affiliate links are used in this post. However, all opinions are my own. As mothers, we wouldn’t share a product for your family we don’t use for our own. 

Did you know that Costco hosts a Mom Hour? As a mom of two I love shopping at Costco to help stock up on everything we need, and some things I didn’t know I needed but turn out to find their way into our cart. Buying in bulk is a great way to save for our family, and keep from having to run to the store all the time for things we use everyday! Did you know that they are hosting a “Mom Hour” just for us Moms… (Well, actually anyone is welcome at this event – Moms, Dads, Moms to be, Grandparents, Siblings/Kids, etc!)

The Costco Mom Hour 2016 will take place on Friday, November 4, 2016, at 9:00 a.m. Come to enjoy breakfast, swag, samples, and giveaways. (Yes! Giveaways!!)  

Now you might be thinking…  isn’t 9:00 a.m. is earlier than Costco usually opens? Well you’d be right? This event is just for local moms – head to Costco Friday morning and beat the crowds and shop at this exclusive event! Just don’t forget to CLICK HERE to see if your city is participating in this event!

One of the things I love to buy is the  Premier Protein is available at Costco.  Their shakes come in chocolate or vanilla and are perfect for busy moms like me and you!  Confession – I used to skip meals all the time. I’d forget and then remember when it wasn’t something I could remedy. I’d end up Hangry and waiting until my next meal. This doesnt’ work. It’s so important to fuel our body, but sometimes it’s challenging to find time to do so.  Keeping Premier Protein hormone free skakes in my fridge for a grab-and-go protein packed is the perfect solution. Here are some of the reasons why I love it!

• 30 grams of protein, including all of the essential amino acids.
• 24 vitamins and minerals.
• An excellent source of calcium.
• Just 160 calories.
• Low in fat and only one gram of sugar.

That’s a lot to love right? If you have extra time in the morning or at lunch and want to “shake things up” a bit more, check out this delicious Berry Chocolate Shake! It’s SO good, and so easy to make!

Chocolate Berry Shake

DO NOT MISS the @Costco Mom Hour 2016 on 11/4 #PremierProtein #FitFluential #Costco
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What do you love stocking up at Costco with? I’d love to hear your favorites – let me know in the comments below!

This is the same Essentials carrier that was released last year but now there are many print options! This is the Boardwalk print in the Original and comes in at $89.99. For the last year the essentials has been my go-to carrier for errands. It packs down very small and is easy to put either of my kids up. listened to all the feedback from customers on the Essentials and they not only added new prints – but they added an option for an All Seasons Essentials! It has a zip down panel just like the All Seasons.

This photo from the top left going clockwise shows: The Original Anchors Away, Original Lily Pond, All Seasons Fall in Fern, All Seasons Boardwalk.

The mesh is the same great mesh which is in the COMPLETE carrier to keep your baby cool on those hot summer days. The Essentials still has the spacious front pocket, perfect fit adjusters, a large cotton hood to cover sleeping baby, and 4 wearing positions. (Infant with the insert – Now available, Front, Back and Hip).

(baby in photo courtesy of Traci @ Diaper Bag Confessions)

One of the things I really love about is their hard work to develop something which is well designed, easy to use, and will last. The infant insert for the Essentials comes in at $24.99 and is perfect supporting the smaller babies. It offers neck support and proper hip positioning. Additionally, once baby has good neck control, you can use just the pillow until they can fit the seat on the Essentials. The pillow can be purchased separately for $11.99.

All-in-all the is one of my top choices for our daily errands and even better in some beautiful prints and a cooler All Seasons version!

Tell me – Which print do you like the best? 

I am a LILLEbaby ambassador and this post contains affiliate links. However, all opinions are my own. As mothers we wouldn’t share a product for your family we don’t use for our own. #LILLElove.

Have you ever asked yourself if you are truly using your car seat properly? I know I have, and as a blogger I get a lot of car seat questions from my readers. That is why I have teamed with Chicco to bring you some Frequently Asked Questions and answers to those questions! Most of these are questions I get as a blogger who writes about baby/kid gear and products on a regular basis. But before I launch into those, I wanted to share a bit about why car seat safety became a passion of mine.After the birth of my first child like many first time parents, I was a bit overwhelmed when it came to all the information/advice that people were sharing with me.  I was worried all the time that I would do something horribly wrong. Thankfully, I didn’t and my sweet boy is now 7 years old and still teaching me new things every day, but that isn’t to say I didn’t make my fair share of mistakes!

After the birth of my first child like many first time parents, I was a bit overwhelmed when it came to all the information/advice that people were sharing with me.  I was worried all the time that I would do something horribly wrong. Thankfully, I didn’t and my sweet boy is now 7 years old and still teaching me new things every day, but that isn’t to say I didn’t make my fair share of mistakes!

Some of the mistakes I regretted the most were ones that came to Car Seat Safety. They were innocent mistakes, once I learned to do better, we did, and it wasn’t until after I shared my stories of what I did wrong when it came to car seat safety that I learned I wasn’t alone in making those mistakes.

Over  the past 7 years, I have really dedicated myself to learning and understanding as much about car seat safety as I can. In fact, I am actually considering becoming a Car Seat & Passenger Safety Technician.  As I mentioned previously, I often get asked about car seats. In fact (and I can’t make this up) my friend actually just texted me to see which car seat she should get next for her 7-year-old who has outgrown his current seat!!

Chicco kindly answered several of the most commonly asked Car Seat Safety questions I’ve gotten or heard from friends and family. Check them out below, and then enter to win a Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat!

Car Seat Safety Q&A

1. When can I use my child’s convertible car seat in a forward-facing mode?
   1. Keep your child rear-facing in their car seat until at least 2 years old. Are your kid’s feet touching the seat back? Do they look a little cramped? That’s okay. Kids are a lot more flexible than adults. Kids need to stay rear-facing for as long as possible to protect their head and neck in the event of a crash. Kids do not need to be turned forward-facing until they reach the maximum height or weight of the car seat. Kids are fragile, and they are best-protected rear-facing, even if that means they have a little less leg room.

2. How do I know if a car seat will fit my vehicle?
   1. Before purchasing a car seat, test it! Most retailers will let you test a car seat in your vehicle before purchasing. You can also look for car seats with features that make installation simple, like bubble level indicators and multiple recline angles.

3. Where is the safest place to install a car seat in my vehicle?
   1. In most instances, the middle rear seat is the safest place for your car seat. However, there are multiple factors to consider; the most important being a seat location that allows you to install your car seat easily and correctly every time.

4. Does my car seat need to be replaced if it’s been involved in a car accident?
   1. Yes, you must replace your car seat if it has been involved in a vehicle crash, even if you can’t see visible damage. A damaged car seat may not protect your child in a future accident.

5. Can children wear coats and blankets under the snaps or over?
   1. Don’t buckle your child into a car seat with bulky clothing, blankets or add-on products like a car seat bunting. The added padding can interfere with the harness fit and crash performance of the seat. A good trick is to buckle your child in without his or her jacket and then put it back on backward over the harness.

6. Can you put the car seat in a shopping cart?
   1. While it seems convenient, infant car seats are not designed to be secured to the top of shopping carts. Because the car seat is not properly attached, one bump could cause your infant car seat along with baby to topple off the top of the cart, or the weight from the car seat could cause the cart to tip over. We recommend you put the car seat in the basket of the cart or use a carrier when shopping.

7. How do I know if the straps are too loose or too tight?
   1. To check the harness straps on your child’s car seat for tightness, you should pinch the harness material at the top of the shoulders. The harness should be tight and secure without digging into your child. Tip: You may need to move the shoulder pads out of the way so you can get an accurate check.

Do you have any other questions? Let me know if the comments below and I will follow up with you to get the best and correct answer!

GIVEAWAY!

Enter to win a Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat (retail value – $199!).

Reasons to LOVE the Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat

1. Easy to install with seat belt or latch
2. Compatible with many top-rated strollers
3. FAA Cetified for air travel
4. Fits infants 4-30lbs and 30″
5. Excellent safety ratings

Giveaway is open to US residents only. Please use the below rafflecopter form to enter!
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Here are 3 reasons why Las Vegas Chuck Cheese’s restaurants are a great place to take your children throughout the year!

Budget Friendly!

Did you know for about the same price as you would pay for your whole family to eat at a drive-thru or fast food restaurant you can enjoy a sit-down meal AND at least an hour or more of fun & games?

All of the Las Vegas Chuck E. Cheese’s have free entry and affordable meal and gaming plans for the whole family! Plus they just switched over to the Play Pass which means no more lost tokens and worrying about playing all your tokens before you leave.

For less than $10 each my boys both played for over an hour and they both had points left on their play passes to use on our next visit! Don’t forget to check out the Chuck E. Cheese’s website to print out coupons on deals for food and play!

Safety First!

As a parent, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate Chuck E. Cheese’s Kid Check Program! I know that my kids aren’t going to be able to leave on their own or with a stranger. I like that can see them at all points in Chuck E. Cheese’s from the centrally located tables.

I love that if I needed to hang out at our table and guard their tickets I could still have eyes on them as they play no matter where they are in the restaurant. Plus with the free WiFi that they now have, I can get work down while my children play if I needed to. That is a WIN WIN for everyone!

New Menu Choices

Have you seen the new menu at Chuck E. Cheese’s? It’s not just pizza! Guests can choose many menu options including pizza (which is delicious), wings, wraps, sandwiches, and the garden fresh salad bar! They even have gluten-free options to choose from!

I personally LOVE the salad bar. It’s all you can eat and has a lot of fresh toppings to choose from. Everyone can get exactly what they want and at a price everyone can agree on.

These 3 reasons are just a few, I really could add many more… Coupons/deals, new games, and exciting birthday parties just to name a few, but you should just check it out for yourself!

Giveaway!!

I’ve partnered with Chuck E. Cheese’s to bring you and your family an awesome local Las Vegas giveaway!! One winner will be getting 1 Guest Pass (1 Large Pizza, 4 soft drinks, 30 tokens) + 1000 tickets to spend a fun afternoon or evening at any Las Vegas area Chuck E. Cheese!

To Enter:

• Leave me a comment sharing your favorite experience at a local Chuck E. Cheese’s restaurant.
• To get a second entry please click and share the tweet below, and leave a comment with your tweet URL.

Enter to #Win 1 Family Guest Pass + 1000 Tickets to any #LasVegas @ChuckECheeses ends 10/21
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(If you don’t have twitter you can share on any social media and leave your URL. Please make sure your share is public so I can see it. – Entries will be checked.)

Good Luck!

Winner will be notified via email on 10/22. Must respond in 48 hours or a new winner will be selected.

Be sure you are following Chuck E. Cheese’s!

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Chuck E. Cheese’s. The opinions and text are all mine.

This bag is was included in The Baby Cubby’s Diaper Bag Buying Guide and it’s easy to see why! It’s not only stylish, it’s also super functional! The Baby Cubby’s diaper bag buying guide is set up to make sure you find the perfect diaper bag for your parenting needs!!

The Baby Cubby sent me this bag to review, and I have to say I was really happy with it! It has 8 pockets on the outside alone! 4 big ones (2 in front and 2 in back), 2 bottle pockets on the sides, and 2 small zippered pockets for items you can’t afford to lose! Plus it’s got another 4 pockets on the inside!

All those pockets help to keep me super organized which is something as a busy mom that I really appreciate! And there is enough space in the main compartment to fit a lot of stuff! When I was using cloth diapers I would have really appreciated all that extra room. Since the boys aren’t in diapers anymore it’s perfect for snacks, sunscreen, extra clothes, or if I wanted to I could even put my laptop in there!!

The JJ Cole Satchel Diaper Bag comes with a changing pad, messenger strap in case you need to be hands free, and stroller clips to attach it to your stroller or grocery cart! I like that the messenger strap is removable (I just tuck it in a pocket on the inside) because I love the rolled handles – they fit super comfortably on my shoulders or in the crook of my arm.

So you think with all those amazing features and extra items that come included this diaper bag would have a big price tag, but guess what? The JJ Cole Satchel Diaper bag actually comes in at a very affordable $69.95!

Easy to see why @thebabycubby put the @JJCole satchel on it’s #diaperbag buying guide!
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Overall I’d give this bag an A with my only con being that it isn’t machine washable. It does spot clean really nicely though, so I kept it at an A. You could easily gift this to any fashionable mama on your baby shower list and not worry that it would be returned!

What features do you look for in a diaper bag?

Don’t forget to check out The Baby Cubby for more gear suggestions and all your baby needs!

You can find The Baby Cubby on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

Do you ever get tired of hearing your kids favorite show or movie over and over? I do! A few months ago we got a little tired of the same shows again and again since she only likes to watch a few of the same shows. We have an Amazon Fire TV with the game controller – which conveniently has a headphones jack! So I began my search for something for my kids to use to watch their shows with headphones when we wanted a little more quiet time.

My Review:

• Easy & safe adjustable (no pinching of fingers!)
• Volume limiting (93dB)
• Non-Pinching fold up for storage
• Snag-free cushioning
• Safe release cord jack for when those little cords get pulled!
• LilGadgets SharePort (R) Technology

 

Giveaway

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It’s summer here in Las Vegas and that means we are spending a lot of time outdoors ! Translation: Shorts and bathing suit time! To get my legs ready for those wardrobe changes this year I made a few simple changes to my weekly routine. I have partnered with Schick as a #SchickAmbassador to share two things I do to get summer ready legs!

Two Time-Saving Steps to Get Summer Ready Legs All Year Long! #workout #schickambassador
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Step One! – Workout Your Legs!

One thing I started to do a few months ago was a quick body strength workout right after I wake up and before I get into the shower! My time is precious, so a quick strength workout that only takes 10-15 minutes at the beginning of the day not only helps me save time in my workouts later, but it boost my metabolism, wakes me up, and I get to jump into the shower as soon as I am done!

One of my favorites that helps me tone up my favorite assets (booty and legs) is this quick lower leg workout. I do this one at least 3 mornings a week because when you workout the big muscles of your body (like legs) you get a bigger calorie burn!

You can do this quick body strength leg workout once or up to three times through based on how much time you have in the morning. I do mine right next to my bed after a quick stretch to wake up my muscles!

Step Two – Get them Silky Smooth!

Once I’m done I hop into the shower! Summer ready legs aren’t only made in the gym which is why I love my new 2-in-1 Schick Intuition razor. Since I’ve used up 15 minutes or so of my morning time, I try to keep my shower time short – and that’s why I love this razor!

The Schick Intuition razor puts the shave cream right on the razor! It’s got and ergonomic handle with a soft rubber grip so I have full control over the 4 blades that give me a super close shave. But the best part is with this 2-in-1 razor there is no need to use soap, shave gel, or body wash thanks to the unique skin conditioning solid! This translates into a quicker shower time for me!

Each package contains two refill cartridges, a shower hanger, and a convenient travel cap. The Schick intuition is available in three varieties.

I’m currently using the Schick Intuition Pure Nourishment with the new lavender handle features coconut milk and almond oil infused in the Skin Conditioning Solid to help moisturize dry skin during shaving. My legs have never felt softer! My husband loves it and it’s dermatologist approved!

It’s a simple and fast way to achieve smooth, beautiful legs at home or on vacation. – Dr. Annie Chiu, Schick Partner Dermatologist

Schick Intuition and refills are available at mass, drug, and grocery stores nationwide for a suggested retail price of $13.49. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/SchickIntuition

Insider Tip: I buy my refill blades on Amazon so I can subscribe and save, and never run out of refills!

So what are you waiting for! Try this quick leg workout and pick up a Schick Intuition razor to get your best summer ready legs yet!

Its fragrant notes of melon, soft musks, marigold and gardenia leave me feeling beautiful and confident all day long. Its soft peach color, reminiscent of summer sunlight, and it feel like summer in a bottle so I can escape and relax just a bit each time I catch a hint of it’s scent.

I love that even though I’m not always able to escape and enjoy the summer days I feel like I’m there in spirit with this fragrance. It really is the perfect summer-time compliment to my work days and long summer evenings.

Buy It!

Vera Wang Embrace Marigold and Gardenia is available for purchase in-store and online at Kohl’s (ARV $29.99), but you can win it right here!

Win It!

Enter for chance to win one of ten fragrance kits (ARV $75). This includes all 4 of the following fragrances:

• Green Tea & Pear Blossom
• Rose & Vanilla
• Periwinkle & Iris
• Marigold & Gardenia

Contest closes July 12, 2016 so don’t miss your chance to win! Enter below.
Vera Wang Embrace Fragrance Collections