Living Simply

In the months since Nora was born, I’ve received a crazy number of emails asking what items I would suggest for soon-to-be-moms looking to stay clutter-free and stick to a tight budget. While I definitely don’t have ALL the answers; after almost 5 months, I can at least share the items we regularly used for the newborn/infant stage.

All week long, I’ve been sharing my “must-have” items for infants.

Monday = Nursery Items

Tuesday = Baby Gear

Wednesday = Food, Medicine, Toiletries

Thursday = Clothing

Friday = Items for the New Mom

Saturday = Recap, a few more tips, and a FREE Printable! 

I’m sure there are tons of different opinions on what you do and don’t need; so I just want to stress that these are the things that worked for me. They might not work for everyone!

My Must-Have Items for the New Mom

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Don’t forget yourself! There are a few things I’m SO glad I had on hand before I brought Nora home from the hospital.

SOFT ROBE and SLIPPERS

Not only do I love my soft robe and slippers for mid-night feedings, but I swear Nora recognizes my robe and just loves feeling it with her tiny fingers. Also, as you can imagine, there are many days (especially in the beginning) when I was perfectly content to stay in my PJ’s all day long, so it was nice to have a really comfy robe and slippers to lounge around in.

NURSING TANK

I have 5 of these and I wear them every day and every night – literally. They are super comfortable and look great with almost anything I’m wearing. I’ve tried several different brands, and can definitely say that the GlamourMom tanks are by far my favorite (a bit more expensive, but worth it for me).

SPILL-PROOF WATER BOTTLE

I’m thirsty all the time (which I’m told is normal for nursing moms) so I’m always carting my water bottle with me everywhere… and I’m usually carting Nora around in the other arm, so spill-proof is essential for me! I also love that I only need one hand for the water bottle I use.

NURSING PADS

If you nurse, you’ll want these! I got great deals on the disposable kind (several boxes for free) but you can also purchase reusable ones and then put them in the wash.

SMART PHONE or E-READER

I use my phone to check emails, browse the web and even read books while I’m up with Nora in the middle of the night. While I suppose it isn’t a necessity… it is one thing I would highly recommend to new moms. And during the day, it’s convenient that I can do almost anything I need to with one-hand!

CAMERA and/or VIDEO CAMERA

I just use my phone to take pictures and videos — but if you don’t have a phone you can use, you’ll definitely want a digital camera (no, you don’t need a fancy DSLR) to capture all those moments that really DO go by so quickly.

EXTEA HELP!

As you’ve probably realized by reading many of my previous posts… motherhood is REALLY hard, so if possible, try to have some sort of support system in place for after you bring your baby home. Have a schedule for friends, relatives, neighbors, coworkers, etc. who want to help by bringing a meal, watching your baby for a couple hours, or even staying the night.

Seriously, LET THEM HELP!! {And this is coming from a totally type-A, Do-It-Yourself mom!}

I know that I always err on the side of minimalism, but honestly, with a new baby, you don’t want tons of extra stuff in your life. I found that as a new mom, I really didn’t need much… and besides a few pain relievers, I can’t think of anything else to add to this list!

What were/are your must-have items for a new mom?

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3 comments →

In the months since Nora was born, I’ve received a crazy number of emails asking what items I would suggest for soon-to-be-moms looking to stay clutter-free and stick to a tight budget. While I definitely don’t have ALL the answers; after almost 5 months, I can at least share the items we regularly used for the newborn/infant stage.

All week long, I’ll be sharing my “must-have” items for infants.

Monday = Nursery Items

Tuesday = Baby Gear

Wednesday = Food, Medicine, Toiletries

Thursday = Clothing

Friday = Items for the New Mom

Saturday = Recap, a few more tips, and a FREE Printable! 

I’m sure there are tons of different opinions on what you do and don’t need; so I just want to stress that these are the things that worked for us. They might not work for everyone!

My Must-Have Clothing Items for Newborns and Infants

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If this is your first baby — I would suggest not registering for any clothes because you will get so many clothes gifts — see all Nora’s cute clothes in her Nursery Closet!

We got tons and tons of clothes as gifts (even though I didn’t register for any of it), but since my mom and I had basically found everything we needed at garage sales, I exchanged most of the clothes for bigger sizes. So now I’m practically set with clothes through 24 months!

With that said, here are a few of the must-have clothing items for newborn infants.

WHITE ONESIES (5-7 for each size)

Since Nora was born in November, we put a short-sleeve white onesie on under all her sleepers and outfits for extra warmth. I don’t think you’d need more than 5 of each size unless you don’t do laundry very often.

I also used plain white onesies to take her “monthly photos” and then just added the month number via my photo editing program!

SLEEPERS and SLEEP SACKS (5-7 of each size)

Nora basically lived in sleepers and/or sleep-sacks for the first 3 months of her life… because they were SO easy and comfortable. You might think that you’ll want to get your babies all dressed up every day… but I’m pretty sure you won’t! You’ll just want them to be comfortable!

Oh, and I’d suggest sleepers with zippers not snaps (so much easier!)

SOCKS / SLIPPERS  (3-6 pairs of each size)

Babies don’t have smelly feet, so Nora would often wear the same pair of socks for 2 or 3 days. We have a few really tiny soft pairs that we just rotated until laundry day. I did learn quite quickly that it’s a good idea to take off the socks before changing her diaper so she didn’t kick them in her poop!

Nora had 2 pairs of slippers that she basically wore ALL the time. They helped to keep her socks on and her feet toasty warm. She doesn’t wear them much anymore, but she practically lived in them for the first 3 months of her life!

I also want to note that I absolutely LOVE the socks that look like Mary Jane shoes (yes, they make these socks for boys too!) They are so comfy and practical, but look a little nicer than just plain socks all the time! Plus, babies don’t wear shoes for a while.

HATS and ACCESSORIES

Nora didn’t keep her hats on for very long, but they sure were nice when she was a tiny baby — especially since she was born in late November.

And if you have a girl — you will no-doubt get lots and lots of super cute accessories! While these aren’t completely necessary, they are really fun and I’m glad we received a handful of headbands and bows.

CUTE OUTFITS (7-10 of each size — but you will get SO much more!)

We didn’t get out of the house much when Nora was a tiny newborn so we never really needed to get “dressed up”. She had a couple cute outfits that she wore when we actually left the house, but otherwise I just kept her in her sleepers.

As she’s getting older, we wear more and more “normal” clothing… but as I mentioned before, you will most likely get so much of this as gifts. I still haven’t purchased anything for Nora (besides what we got at garage sales last summer) and we definitely do not have a shortage of cute clothes for her .

My advice is to save your money for 12-24 month clothes that they’ll actually wear for more than a few weeks — but that’s coming from a very frugal gal who doesn’t like to go shopping!

HOLIDAY/EVENT OUTFITS

Nora was born 2 days before Thanksgiving and a month before Christmas — so while we kind of missed the cute “Baby’s 1st Thanksgiving” outfits (we were still in the hospital), we did get one “Baby’s 1st Christmas” shirt, hat and socks. It was really cute, and since we had SO many holiday parties to attend, she got to wear it several times!

We also made sure we had a baptism dress ready for her — we just used the one I wore as a baby… but that’s still something to think about for your baby

What were/are your must-have newborn/infant clothing items?

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9 comments →

In the months since Nora was born, I’ve received a crazy number of emails asking what items I would suggest for soon-to-be-moms looking to stay clutter-free and stick to a tight budget. While I definitely don’t have ALL the answers; after almost 5 months, I can at least share the items we regularly used for the newborn/infant stage.

All week long, I’ll be sharing my “must-have” items for infants.

Monday = Nursery Items

Tuesday = Baby Gear

Wednesday = Food, Medicine, Toiletries

Thursday = Clothing

Friday = Items for the New Mom

Saturday = Recap, a few more tips, and a FREE Printable! 

I’m sure there are tons of different opinions on what you do and don’t need; so I just want to stress that these are the things that worked for us. They might not work for everyone!

My Must-Have Food, Medicine, and Toiletries for Infants

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PUMP

I chose to nurse Nora and I wanted to have a pump so I could stock-pile my milk. I purchased the Medela breast pump with TONS of accessories for only $75 from a friend, and then I used these sanitizing bags to clean everything really well.

MILK STORAGE BAGS

If you’re going to pump, you’ll need to store your milk somehow. I use these and am very happy with them so far.

BOTTLES

Even if you’re nursing, you’ll probably still want a few bottles just in case you’re gone or need a break. There are tons of different types out there, so again, I would try to borrow a few until you figure out what ones your baby likes.

We use Avent bottles — but that’s just because my mom found a huge bag of them for $3 at a garage sale!

BOTTLE CLEANING BRUSH

Also, if you’re going to use bottles, I’d suggest getting a bottle cleaning brush — it makes life SO much easier!

PLASTIC BIB

My sister-in-law told me about these Baby Bjorn plastic bibs… and even though Nora isn’t eating a ton of real food yet, I would definitely consider this bib a “must have” for babies. It wipes clean in a matter of seconds and will grow with your baby through the toddler years.

PORTABLE HIGH CHAIR

I wanted an inexpensive, space-saving high chair; so I was thrilled when I found this Regalo Portable High Chair for only $18!

FORMULA

Obviously, if you’re not planning to nurse, you’ll need to stock up on formula. I don’t know much about the different types of formula, but I do know that some babies prefer different types of formula so you may want to have a variety on hand. I also know that the different brands of formula offer freebies for new moms, so you might want to look into that.

DIAPERS & WIPES

No matter what type of diapers you decide to use, you’ll most definitely want to have a good stock-pile before the baby arrives. You will use more than you think and you really don’t want to run out

DIAPER RASH CREAM

We use the big tubs of Boudreaux’s Butt Paste and boy does it work wonders!

BABY LOTION

We put lotion on Nora every night before bed. We also use that time to give her a mini massage. I think it helps her relax at the end of the day.

BABY WASH — obviously a necessity for bath time!

NASAL ASPIRATOR — we use this daily!

GAS DROPS — another item we use daily.

VAPORIZER – we almost didn’t buy one of these, but I’m so glad we did, as it really helped when Nora’s nose was all stuffed up a couple weeks ago.

INFANT PAIN RELIEVER – this will come in handy for those 2-month shots.

What were/are your must-have infant food, medicine, and toiletry items?

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15 comments →

I’ve always had mixed emotions about cleaning and re-using sponges… because they honestly kind of gross me out!

However, since I’m always looking for ways to save a little cash (and help the environment) I figured I should try reusing them… but only if I felt like I could really clean and sanitize them.

So I did a little research, and came up with three simple ways to clean and sanitize the different sponges you might have around your house.

1. Wash them with your laundry.

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Throw your sponges in with your other towels and rags and wash with hot water (and a little bleach). They might be kind of hard when you take them out — especially if you dry them in the drier — but they should be clean.

Just a note, if you’re planning to wash loofas, you might want to put them in a mesh garment bag first so they don’t catch on anything else you’re washing.

2. Clean them in the dishwasher.

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This is the method I use most often, just because I think about it when I’m in the middle of loading up the dishwasher. However, I did learn the hard way that if you want to wash one of those scrubbers with an attached soap dispenser, you need to remove the soap dispenser first

Oh, and in case you’re wondering, here’s a huge list other items you can wash in your dishwasher!

3. Sanitize them in the microwave.

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Get your sponge or loofa wet and then microwave on high for 2 minutes. You obviously can’t do this with any sponge that contains metal (like our bottle brush cleaner) but it’s a really quick way to sanitize other sponges.

Also, after the sponge is sanitized, there will be quite a bit of steam and moisture in your microwave… which provides the perfect opportunity to remove some of that stuck-on gunk and debris!

Of course, it’s still easier just to use a new sponge… and eventually, you’ll have to replace your sponges as they can’t be washed indefinitely. But at least you know you CAN clean them!

Do you clean your sponges or just throw them out?

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11 comments →

In the months since Nora was born, I’ve received a crazy number of emails asking what items I would suggest for soon-to-be-moms looking to stay clutter-free and stick to a tight budget. While I definitely don’t have ALL the answers; after almost 5 months, I can at least share the items we regularly used for the newborn/infant stage.

All week long, I’ll be sharing my “must-have” items for infants.

Monday = Nursery Items

Tuesday = Baby Gear

Wednesday = Food, Medicine, Toiletries

Thursday = Clothing

Friday = Items for the New Mom

Saturday = Recap, a Few More Tips, and a FREE Printable!

I’m sure there are tons of different opinions on what you do and don’t need; so I just want to stress that these are the things that worked for us. They might not work for everyone!

My Must-Have Baby Gear Items for Infants

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These days, there is practically an unlimited number of items new parents are told we NEED to have for our new babies — and while many of these products might make life a little easier, most of them really aren’t necessities!

Here are some of the items we use regularly.

CAR SEAT & STROLLER

We actually got an amazing deal on 2 car seats, 2 car seat bases, and a double stroller from a friend. And yes, I would recommend purchasing a double stroller right away if you’re planning to have multiple children. We also found a small umbrella stroller for $5 that we can use if we don’t want to lug the double stroller around.

I know there are lots of opinions on purchasing a USED car seat, so I just thought I should mention that you can have used car seats properly inspected by your local fire department to make sure they are safe (which both of ours are). We saved a ridiculous amount of money and have a “back-up” car seat just in case!

PACIFIER

I know there is some debate about using a pacifier, but we used one from the very first day Nora was born and it has saved our sanity time and time again!

BURP CLOTHS

I didn’t register for any burp cloths because Dave’s mom made a bunch for us. We also ended up getting several more from other friends and family members. I would say you want at least 15 burp cloths (I ended up with 40!)

BLANKETS

I didn’t register for any blankets either because I knew people would make them for us. We ended up getting close to 10 blankets — which was MORE than enough. I think you probably only need 3 or 4.

Nora didn’t like to be swaddled, but if you want to swaddle your baby, then you might want a couple swaddle blankets as well.

BOPPY PILLOW

These are pretty pricey if you buy them new, but of course, I found one for $10 on Craigslist (with 2 covers). I love that they are completely washable… and can be used through the entire infant stage. When she was teeny-tiny, we used the Boppy for nursing and to prop her up while laying on the ground. As she got older, we used it to strengthen her neck for “tummy time” and now we’re using it to help her sit up!

BABY CARRIER

There are probably 100 different types of baby carriers out there, but I didn’t BUY any of them. After Nora was born, I borrowed a couple different types to see which one we liked best. So far, we really like the Moby wrap and I was fortunate enough to borrow one from a friend at church. We don’t use it a ton, but it’s still nice to have.

Eventually, we will probably invest in some type of “baby back-pack” that we can use to carry her around when a stroller wouldn’t be convenient.

SWING and/or BOUNCY SEAT

Nora LOVES her swing and bouncy seat… but again, all babies are different. As a newborn, we used the swing all day long, and now that she’s getting a bit older, we’re using the bouncy seat all day long! I really wanted the Baby Bjorn bouncy seat because it’s completely washable and it folds totally flat, but they are super expensive. Thankfully, I found one on Craigslist for a fraction of the price!

Also, I should mention that we borrowed these items from friends before we actually purchased them (via Craigslist). We wanted to make sure Nora would actually use them before spending any money.

CD’s or MUSICAL TOY

Nora really loves flashing lights and music so we try to “stimulate” her by playing baby CD’s and musical toys.

DIAPER BAG

I don’t have a “real” diaper bag, but instead, just use this bag I got from my cousin as a gift.

It seems that different babies prefer different types and amounts of “gear”, so it’s nice to have a few different items on hand… at least for the first few weeks and months.

What were/are your must-have baby gear items?

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11 comments →

Before Nora was born, I shared a few tips for having a baby on a budget and how I managed to get almost everything I needed for less than $300!

And in the months since Nora was born, I’ve received a crazy number of emails asking what items I would suggest for soon-to-be-moms looking to stay clutter-free and stick to a tight budget. While I definitely don’t have ALL the answers; after almost 5 months, I can at least share the items we regularly used for the newborn/infant stage.

So for the rest of the week, I’ll be sharing my “must-have” items for infants.

Monday = Nursery Items

Tuesday = Baby Gear

Wednesday = Food, Medicine, Toiletries

Thursday = Clothing

Friday = Items for the New Mom

Saturday = Recap, a few more tips, and a FREE printable! 

However, before I get started, I want to mention that almost every mom I’ve ever talked to has stressed the fact that EVERY CHILD IS DIFFERENT. So while these might be the must-have items for Nora, your child (and even our future children) might prefer something completely different!

Also, I’m sure there are tons of different opinions on what you do and don’t need; so again, I just want to stress that these are the things that worked for us. They might not work for everyone!

My Must-Have Nursery Items for Infants

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Of course you want your nursery to be a safe, comfortable place for you and your baby — but you most definitely do not have to spend a ton of money to achieve that. You can see the full tour of our simple nursery here, but below is a list of the nursery items I’m glad we had.

CRIB / MATTRESS

We found our crib and mattress on Craigslist and received them as a gift from my parents. Yes, I know that our crib has a drop-down side and those aren’t “legal” to sell in stores anymore; but it’s the exact crib I wanted and Dave and I feel it is safe for Nora.

BEDDING

I purchased 2 white sheets and 2 mattress pads and I actually have them ALL on the bed at the same time. That way, if there is an accident, all I have to do it take the top layer off.

I also purchased 3 of these sheet protectors - and I can’t even tell you how much laundry those have saved me! Nora drools all the time, so instead of washing her sheets, I just wash the sheet protectors. Oh, and I made a quilt for the crib, but that was just for decorative purposes!

CHANGING TABLE / PAD

We purchased a used dresser on Craigslist and secured a changing pad on top (after I painted the dresser). It serves as our changing table and has tons of extra storage for blankets, diapers, clothes, etc.

COMFY CHAIR

We purchased the Poang chair from IKEA because it was cheap and it didn’t take up much room. It’s super comfortable and we actually ended up purchasing two more for our living room!

SHELF and/or SIDE TABLE

We have a small table next to the chair for a lamp and a clock; we also have  a small book case for books, toys, etc. The table is a great place for me to set my water bottle, phone, or Nora’s pipe when I’m feeding her in the middle of the night.

FAN or WHITE NOISE

We found a small $5 fan and use that to make white noise, which seems to help her sleep better and blocks out some of the noise from the rest of our house.

I should also mention that we put a small heater in our nursery too — but that’s just because we turn our heat down to 55 at night

MONITOR 

We sleep with a fan on, so we had to have a monitor in order to hear Nora cry. However, we found this Angel Care monitor on Craigslist for $20 and we love it. If your room is right next to your nursery, you probably don’t even need a monitor.

LAMP / NIGHT LIGHT

We keep a small nightlight on all night long so I don’t have to turn the main light on in the middle of the night. Our nightlight might possibly be the best $2 we spent

ROOM DARKENING SHADES

You don’t necessarily need the exact same kind we have, but you will want some type of heavy curtains or shades that darken the room for nap time.

{you can hardly see our shades… they just blend into the window trim, which is what I wanted}

GARBAGE CAN

We actually just use paper grocery bags with newspaper layered on the bottom. Every few days, we change the bag or sprinkle a little baking soda in to remove odor.

HAMPER

We put a small clothes basket in the bottom of our nursery closet which is right next to our changing table. This works well for quickly “disposing” of her dirty clothes.

Here are a few items we didn’t feel the need to purchase for our nursery:

• Matching furniture — seriously, it’s so expensive, and I just LOVE our mix-n-match nursery!
• Bassinet — we put Nora in her crib from day one
• Video monitor
• Fancy decorations
• Matching sheets/window treatments — I just went with all white
• Diaper Genie – our paper grocery bags work just fine!
• Toy box
• Mobile — I honestly just don’t like how they look

As I mentioned before, our nursery is pretty simple… but it works for us!

What were/are your must-have nursery items for infants?

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19 comments →

UPDATE:

This year’s sale has officially ended. Congrats to those of you who scored this awesome deal!  I’m sure we’ll be back again next year with another great offer!

I’m SO excited to be participating in the 2nd annual Simplify Your Family Life eBook sale this year. Last year’s sale was a huge success and it was such a fantastic “gift” to be able to get all of the amazing eBooks for such a low, LOW price.

Well, this year, Corey from Simple Marriage and Mandi from Life…Your Way have brought together another fantastic list of authors and have somehow managed to offer 38 different eBooks (all on topics of simple living — which I love!) for the ridiculously low price of $29!!

That’s over an 87% discount… and breaks down to about $0.76 per book! 

Talk about a bargin!

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When you purchase the Simplify Your Family Life collection, you get instant access to each of the 38 ebooks listed below — which would be over $375 when purchased separately — all for $29.

But you have to hurry… this offer is only valid for 4 days from 8am ET on April 16 through 8am ET on April 20}

Entrepreneurship & Blogging

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Blogger Behave by Laura @ 10 Million Miles ($4.99)

How to Have Your Cake and Eat It, Too by Mandi @ Life Your Way ($12.00)

Make Money Blogging by Tara @ Feels Like Home ($4.99)

Tap Into Your Unique Creativity and Self Expression Webinar by Lisa @ WellGrounded Life ($39.00)

Tell Your Time by Amy @ Blogging with Amy ($4.99)

Your Blogging Business: Tax Talk & Tips from a Bookkeeper Turned Blogger by Nikki @ Christian Mommy Blogger ($4.99)

Food & Cooking

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Get Lean Recipe for Success by Nisha @ Healthy Mom’s Kitchen ($37.00)

Got Dinner? by Susan @ The Confident Mom ($4.00)

How To Cook For Yourself: A Complete Beginner’s Guide by Rachael @ Kitchen Courses ($35.00)

Plan It, Don’t Panic by Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home ($4.99)

Real Food Basics by Kate @ Modern Alternative Mama ($6.95)

Real Food, Real Easy by Erin @ The Humbled Homemaker ($9.95)

Smart Sweets by Katie @ Kitchen Stewardship ($9.95)

The Everything Beans Book by Katie @ Kitchen Stewardship ($9.95)

Homemaking

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2012 Confident Mom Weekly Household Planner by Susan @ The Confident Mom ($9.00)

Clean Start: Your Guide to Natural Home Cleaning by Michelle @ Open Eye Health ($4.95)

Complete Printables Download Pack by Mandi @ Life Your Way ($7.00)

Food on Your Face for Acne & Oily Skin by Leslie @ Crunchy Betty ($7.99)

From Debtor to Better by Barry @ Debtor to Better ($15.00)

My Buttered Life {Summer + Gift Giving Editions} by Renee @ MadeOn Hard Lotion ($10.00)

Not a DIY Diva by Melissa @ The Inspired Room ($3.99)

One Bite at a Time by Tsh @ Simple Mom ($5.00)

That Works for Me by Kristen @ We Are THAT Family ($8.00)

Marriage & Relationships

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A Simple Marriage by Corey @ Simple Marriage ($4.99)

Buck Naked Marriage by Corey @ Simple Marriage ($2.99)

Entangled by Amy @ Permission to Peruse ($4.99)

The A to Z Guide: 26 Ways in 26 Days to a Happier, Healthier Marriage by The Dating Divas ($9.97)

Minimalism for Families

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101 Ways to Simplify Your Life by Laura @ Journey to a Simple Life ($9.95)

321-Stop by Lori @ Loving Simple Living ($9.97)

Inside Out Simplicity by Joshua @ Becoming Minimalist ($11.99)

Simple Ways to Be More with Less by Courtney @ Be More with Less ($9.97)

The Minimalist Momís Guide to Babyís First Year by Rachel @ The Minimalist Mom ($9.95)

Parenting & Kids

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4 Moms of 35+ Kids Answer Your Parenting Questions by the Moms @ 4 Moms, 35+ Kids ($7.99)

Flourishing Spring by Michele @ Frugal Granola ($5.95)

Mindset for Moms by Jamie @ Steady Mom ($4.99)

Nurturing Creativity by Renee @ FIMBY ($3.00)

Parenting with Positive Guidance by Amanda @ Not Just Cute ($9.00)

Truth in the Tinsel by Amanda @ Impress Your Kids ($6.99)

I have personally read many of these eBooks already, and would highly recommend them all! 

Click here to purchase your collection today!

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UPDATE — This sale has now officially ended.

1 comment →