Month: October 2018

Mom’s Law

Mom’s Law

by Engineered Mama ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Ever heard of Murphy’s Law?  Well, Murphy has nothing on moms.  Mom’s Law is rather complex and actually applies to both moms and dads… Mom’s Law can get the best of any who is fortunate enough to be able to hang around tiny people for any extended period of time.  Refer to the following:

Mom’s Law

  1. If someone poops, everyone will poop. You will be cleaning up poop all day. Fact.
  2. When one thing finishes, everything finishes. The wash is finished so you need to move the wash to the dryer and put a new load in, but the baby is crying and needs to be fed and the oldest is yelling for you to wipe him in the bathroom while the chiweenie is standing at the back door wagging his tail frantically because he’s about to take a leak right there on the floor as the doorbell rings for the package that you have to sign for or they’ll take it with them and it will be lost in the abyss that is the United States Postal Service.
  3. Swamped at work? One of your kids will definitely be sick when work is busier than it has ever been. Sorry, work… my sick child can’t wait… you can 😉
  4. Huge outbreak of Hand, Foot, and Mouth, strep, and possibly the plague going around and someone on your child’s soccer team just “gets over it” and returns to soccer? The coach will make them “practice high fives”. No, I’m not kidding. You can’t make this stuff up…
  5. Run out of coffee? Don’t worry. Your normally cool, calm, and collected children will suddenly find the urge to bounce off the walls and pull out toys faster than your mom arms can carry the massive loads back to their places of origin.
  6. If you set your alarm for 6:15 am, the baby will decide 5:30 am is a great time for breakfast.
  7. When you get up to make said breakfast bottle, the baby will once again be sleeping by the time you get the bottle to his room.
  8. After you’ve confirmed the baby is actually asleep, put the bottle in the fridge, and hop in the shower, the baby will start crying for his bottle again after your hair is full of shampoo.
  9. If the baby takes a nap, you’ll always have just enough time to make your house or yourself presentable… never both.

There is one thing Mom’s Law has that Murphy should be jealous of: kids that melt your heart no matter what kind of wrench is thrown in your plans!

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Tory Burch and Kendra Scott on the Cheap. No… Really.

Tory Burch and Kendra Scott on the Cheap. No… Really.

by Engineered Mama ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Ugh!  Poshmark.  Staaaaaaaahhhhhhhp.  Look what you’ve done to me!  I promised myself I wouldn’t purchase anything, but my word.  I’ve never seen so many pretty things at such prices in my life.  It’s a struggle, guys.

I have wanted a pair of Tory Burch flats for… forever.  I’m a ballet flat kind of girl.  They’re my go-to nearly every day.  Now, I have to preface this post with the fact that I never spend more than $20 (and that’s steep for me…) on a pair of flats.  Ever.  EVER.  No, seriously, I won’t do it.  Why?  Prepare to be grossed out-I was blessed with hyperhydrosis (fancy name for your feet sweat like you regularly walk on coals… not flattering… thanks a lot, dad!).  So, guess what happens to all of my adorable little ballet flats?  They become filled with puddles.  Yep-disgusting.  After a season of flats I throw those babies out and feel no shame.

I somehow became rather addicted to my cognac colored pair.  They go with black, white, navy, you name it… can’t go wrong!  They dress up, they dress down, they always look classy with whatever they are paired with.  Thanks, Target… you rock for carrying them for years!  And yes… I do now have them in nearly every color they manufacture…

Alright… now that you have the weird background of my ballet flat obsession, here’s where a used shoe Purchase comes in.  When I began my Poshmark closet, I made a pact with myself.  I said, “Self, I will NOT purchase any used clothing.  If I find a GREAT (and I mean this has to be the deal of the century) deal on an item that is new with tags, I will THINK about making a purchase”.

Now, I have had my eye on Tory Burch flats for years, but would never dare pay $250 for  a pair.  Are you kidding?  They would be filled with a puddle in 30 seconds and I would cry because I practically gave my first born to pay for those shoes.  No, sir.  I eyed several pairs of NWT (new with tags) pairs of Tory Burch flats on Poshmark and even countered an offer, but no dice.  I stopped checking out the listings for a few days and out of the blue the former Roomie shoots me a text: “What do you think about these shoes on Poshmark?”.  Well, they’re used.  That was my thought.  Used shoes?  Then I took a look at them.  Sam Edelmans.  They looked BRAND NEW.  For $38.  Hmmm… you know, not everyone creates puddles while standing.  There just may be something to this.  I shot her a text back and said I don’t do used shoes, but they’re in amazing shape and you’ve wanted those shoes for a long time… buy the shoes.

Reluctantly, I opened my Poshmark app to take a look at new Tory Burch shoe listings.  There. They. Were.  “Used” Tory Burch flats in my beloved cognac color.  $100.  I thought “uh huh… bet those things look like they’ve been through WWIII”.  I took a look through the photos.  These things looked brand spanking new.  Ughhhh… ok.  I “liked” them.  A few hours after liking that pair I received an offer:  $75 with free shipping.  After selling a few pairs of jeans I’ll never fit in again, I have around $15 credit on Poshmark that I was considering just withdrawing for cash, but if I were to apply it to this purchase, these shoes would be about $60 even.  Not. Bad.  Alright, I don’t even know if these things will fit!  I decided to look at some reviews.  Most people complained that they’re snug and said to size up AT LEAST half a size.  I asked the seller what her opinion was.  She suggested looking at other reviews, but from her experience they fit very true to size.  Dang.  I give in.  Shoes ordered.  Anddddddd I wait.

The shoes shipped very quickly, were packaged with such care, and were absolutely perfect.  These shoes looked like they had been worn no more than once.  Indoors.  Such minimal wear on the sole, no scratches or visible wear on the leather, and so adorable.  Now, to see if they fit.  The moment of truth, y’all.  I put some no-show socks on so I don’t ruin the poor things within 5 seconds of trying them on with my puddle producing feet.

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Well, I do believe the reviews were correct.  They are snug.  After having babies my feet grew and never quite returned to their size 8 status.  They’re now more like an 8 1/2 almost 9 most days, so overall these aren’t too far off from true to size.  However, since they haven’t been broken in I’ll have to say, they just may be the most uncomfortable shoes I’ve ever worn. They darn near bruised my poor feet the first day I wore them. They are so stiff from not being broken in I think me and the Torys will need to spend some quality time while I’m home and wear them with some very thick socks to do some leather stretching. BUT… would it even matter if they were so small I couldn’t walk?  Nope.  They’re too darn cute!

After wearing them more they’ve stretched a significant amount.  I also don’t wear no-show socks with them any longer because I believe that may have been exacerbating the problem.  Exacerbating?  Did I just use that word?  I need a nap, guys…  I did, however, invest in a pair of Gekks.

What are Gekks you ask?  The most amazing no show socks EVER.  They are seriously life changing for flats, heels, and loafers.  I found them from a Facebook ad (don’t judge… I know you’re judging) and they were a little pricey, but with my sweaty feet problem I’m always willing to give options a try.  I have to say, they live up to the hype.  They have made my shoes so much more comfortable and I don’t feel like I’m completely ruining every pair of shoes I own.

gekks

After being so used to my cheap Target flats I have to say these flats are VERY well made.  The leather is beautiful, the Tory Burch medallions add such a great touch of style without standing out too much, and they’ll go with literally anything. These were a great purchase at an even greater price.

So, of course after I found these I HAD to keep looking at Tory Burch shoes.  Well, I also found an adorable pair of Tory Burch wedges I had to have.  I got them for $40 and I know these have never been worn.  The soles are pristine and the canvas isn’t stretched or discolored in the slightest.

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You know, if you have great shoes, you then need other awesome accessories.  It’s kind of like “If you give a mouse a cookie” or “If you give a moose a muffin”.  Don’t pretend you don’t know those books… by the way, Amazon Prime Video has an “If you give a mouse a cookie” series, guys and it’s adorable.  Play it for your kids!  Ok… I digress.

Tory Burch earrings and a Kendra Scott necklace completed my collection nicely.  I have wanted a Kendra Scott necklace for a long time, but never really wanted to pay the (according to me) high price for something so simple.  They never go on sale, so I figured I was out of luck.  Until Poshmark!  I scored an Elisa necklace for $30.

When I started Poshmark I promised myself I wouldn’t purchase anything, let alone used shoes.  Well, I broke my promise.  Poshmark, you’ve made me a believer!

Llamas are the New Unicorns, Cacti are the New Floral

Llamas are the New Unicorns, Cacti are the New Floral

by Engineered Mama ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Man… times have changed.  I remember when unicorns were the “it” animal… or mythical creature… or whatever unicorns are.  They’re so fluffy I could DIE!  Anyway, it seems there is a new “it” animal to love: llamas.  I’m really not mad about it. In fact, the kid in me wants this backpack.   Like, really, really wants this backpack.  Who wouldn’t?  Those little llamas are just too cute.

llama backpack

And cacti?  When did this become a thing?  I mean, I know it’s been a thing for a while now, but when did we make the transition from floral and flower everything to cacti?  I have to say I definitely don’t hate it, though.  I remember online shopping for our oldest at Old Navy (because who has time to actually walk into the store???) last year in search of some cute shirts for church and coming across a coral button-up shirt with tiny little cacti and a denim skinny tie.

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Um, add to cart, please!  I thought it was SO different and unique.  Until I saw cacti EVERYTHING nearly a week later.  Oh well… at least I know I’m somewhere in the range of cool.  Maybe.  I also had to have this Kate Spade cactus necklace, because… cactus and Kate Spade, people (yes… Poshmark for $25… SCORE!).

cactus necklace

Uh, totes adorbs.  I know that’s no longer a thing, but I’m using it anyway…

Slow Cooker Creamy Tomato, Basil, and Parmesan Soup

Slow Cooker Creamy Tomato, Basil, and Parmesan Soup

by Engineered Mama ♥ 2 Comments

More fall soup fun!  This is another easy slow cooker soup that pairs with nearly anything or can be served as an entrée.  It’s perfect for a crisp fall day.  This recipe comes from Creme de la Crumb-check out their original recipe here!

Ingredients

  • 2 15-ounce cans diced tomatoes
  • 1 10-ounce can tomato sauce
  • ¼ cup fresh basil, finely chopped
  • 3 tsp minced garlic
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp pepper
  • 1 cup frozen diced onion
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
  • 2 cups shredded parmesan cheese

Roux

  • 3 Tbsp butter
  • ¼ cup flour
  • 1 cup heavy cream OR half & half

Directions

  1. Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, and next 7 ingredients (through broth) to a slow cooker/crockpot. Cover and cook for 2 hours on high or 4-8 hours on low (if you are home, give it a stir every now and then and scrape down the sides).
  2. About 30-40 minutes before serving, thoroughly blend all ingredients in slow cooker using an immersion blender.  Alternately, blend ingredients in blender or food processor and return to crock pot.
  1. Prepare the roux. Begin by melting the butter in a medium sauce pan over medium heat.
  2. Add flour to melted butter and stir until flour clumps up. Slowly whisk in the heavy cream (or half & half) until mixture is thickened and smooth. Add roux and parmesan cheese to crockpot and stir to combine.
  1. Allow to cook another 20-30 minutes until cheese is completely melted. Give it a good stir before serving. Top with additional basil and parmesan cheese if desired.

There you have it-comfort food from scratch!  This is one of my favorite soup recipes because the soup is thick, has a rich flavor, but doesn’t make your stomach feel so heavy you’re miserable.  In the past I have served this soup in bread bowls (frozen Panera bread bowls are my go to-check to see if your local grocery store carries them).  I have also paired this soup with paninis made on the George Foreman grill for an extra bit of crunch.  Any way you choose to serve this soup, it’s sure to be a hit!

Facebook Ads Are Officially Killing My Bank Account

Facebook Ads Are Officially Killing My Bank Account

by Engineered Mama ♥ 6 Comments

I hate to admit it, but Facebook ads seriously suck me in.  Props to you, marketing geniuses.  I have fallen hook, line, and sinker for so many of your ads.  I’ll have to say I haven’t been duped… yet.  I’m sure my time is coming, but for now I’ve been very happy with purchases I’ve made after seeing a Facebook ad… for the most part.  I’ll dish on what products I’ve purchased (some for “free”… you guys, nothing is free… don’t fall for it… just know you’re paying SOMETHING, even if it’s disguised as “shipping”), if they were worth it, and if I’d consider them a worthwhile investment.

Several things I have bought because they were “free”.  We all know they’re not free, but honestly, paying $7.99 “shipping and handling” for a pair of leather baby moccasins is totally fine with me.  They were adorable, we got a lot of use out of them, and they were only $7.99, so that’s a win in my book.  I have also purchased “free” items such as an adorable bar necklace with a mama bear and two baby bears that says “Mama Bear” and a titanium rose gold ring that I paid $13.99 “shipping and handling” for.  Overall, the products have been cute and cheap, so no issues yet!

Some larger purchases I’ve made now (if you can even really consider them “large” purchases), are Force of Nature Cleaning System, Ritual multivitamins (which I also love), Shapermint shapewear (because… babies ruin your body…), and Gekks No Show socks (sweaty feet make it difficult to walk in heels, guys…).

I already shared my thoughts on Force of Nature and Ritual in previous posts (A Force to be Reckoned With and Maybe not a Ritual, But Definitely a Habit), but I’ll tell you how I feel about Shapermint and Gekks.

I ordered Shapermint shaper shorts and Gekks around the same time and they were both fairly slow to ship.  Well, that’s probably because I’m spoiled with Prime shipping, but hey… they were a little slower to arrive.  Anyways, I received my Shapermint Shaper Shorts first.  I opened them and was pretty excited to try them out, but a little confused by the packaging.  Nowhere on the paperwork did it say “Shapermint”, but it had a rather generic company name and generic packing slip.  Odd to say the least.  Well, they looked exactly like the photos in the listing on their website, so I figured, hey… if they work, whatever the tag says doesn’t matter.  They seemed very soft and that they might not be as prone to roll as other brands that I’ve tried and the short portion seemed to be forgiving enough to not cut into your thighs while wearing them.  I was immediately disappointed when I put them on.  They did nothing.  In fact, they seemed to be the completely wrong size because the “shaper” portion began nearly at my belly button or higher.  So, I figured maybe I could exchange them for the smaller size.  By the way, I did check their sizing chart and for my measurements I ordered the “correct” size.

 

After emailing Shapermint customer service because I couldn’t find any possible way to request a return or exchange, I received an email response in less than 24 hours saying that since mine did not fit they would ship a replacement in a smaller size and to keep the ones I have.  KEEP them?  Really?  Sweeeeeeet.  So, to Poshmark they went.  I was able to sell them in about a week or so for almost what I paid, so I was a happy camper.

Now, about the replacements… not so happy of a camper after receiving them.  Even the smaller size did nothing except make me look worse than before I put them on.  Is it possible for a shaper to make you look LARGER?  Yeah… not cool.  I don’t know that it was necessarily the size, but maybe that they just didn’t have any shaping quality to them whatsoever.  The shorts portion was extremely long and again the shaper portion started at the belly button.  I’m guessing I may just be too darn short for these shapers.  Story of my life… always too short.

Well, I will say that their customer service absolutely rocks.  They didn’t even make me return the pair that didn’t fit and sent a new smaller pair very quickly.  So, two thumbs up for customer service, two thumbs down for their product.

Gekks.  You guys.  These are LIFE CHANGING for someone like me who has puddles in their shoes within five minutes.  I love ballet flats, but I seriously destroy every pair I own because of my sweaty feet.  Well, Gekks have seemingly changed all that.  I haven’t tried them in heels yet, but I bought a pair for flats and heels and I’m sure the pair for heels will work just as well as those designed for flats.

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I am very happy with my Gekks and I say spring for them-they’re totally worth it.  They have sticky heels and bottoms, so they don’t slide and stay in place, but the toe of the “sock” is very stretchy so they fit perfectly.  I don’t even notice they’re in my shoes except that my shoes are instantly more comfortable because of them.  Buy them.  They’re awesome.

So, hats off to you, Facebook ad planters… you win.  What Facebook products have you been suckered into trying?  Let me know in the comments and make me feel better about my purchases 😉

Easy Slow-Cooker Cheesy Potato Soup

Easy Slow-Cooker Cheesy Potato Soup

by Engineered Mama ♥ 8 Comments

You can’t get any easier than this recipe.  You don’t even have to chop potatoes… or onion!  What makes this recipe so great is the leftovers may just taste even better than the first time.  Oh, and it has bacon… who doesn’t like bacon???  I modified Betty Crocker‘s recipe to create this simple set-it-and-forget-it soup recipe.  Check out the original here!

 

Ingredients

  • 1 bag (32 oz) frozen southern-style diced hash brown potatoes, thawed
  • 1/2 cup frozen chopped onion (from 12-oz bag), thawed
  • 1 medium stalk celery, diced (1/2 cup)
  • 1 carton (32-oz) chicken broth
  • 1 cup water
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 bag (8 oz) shredded American-Cheddar cheese blend (2 cups)
  • 1/4 cup crumbled bacon (more or less according to taste)
  • 4 medium green onions, sliced (1/4 cup)

Directions

  1. In slow cooker, mix potatoes, onion, celery, broth and water.

  2. Cover; cook on Low heat setting 6 to 8 hours.
  3. In small bowl, mix flour into milk; stir into potato mixture. Increase heat setting to High. Cover; cook 20 to 30 minutes or until mixture thickens. Stir in cheese until melted. Garnish individual servings with bacon and green onions. Sprinkle with pepper if desired.

This is a recipe I typically make when I don’t know what to make or when I have nothing in the house to put together for a meal.  I don’t typically keep celery on hand, so if I happen to not have any on hand, I simply omit it.  I also don’t typically have an American-Cheddar blend cheese in the fridge, so I use whatever we happen to have.  Colby-Jack and mild Cheddar have been favorites of mine in this recipe.  I also omit green onion if I don’t have it.

Wait for a crisp, fall day and fill up on this one!