How To Take Instagram Pictures Like A Pro When You’re Not

Hey hey, friends. A lot of you have reached out asking how I make my pictures all look the same and ask if they are professionally done. The answer is no! I do have an awesome photographer friend who I plan on working with in the near future, but for now, I’m my own photographer. Well, sometimes my husband or 8-year-old son are the photogs but for the most part – it’s just me.

So let’s get to it.

First things first, your cell phone takes amazing pictures! You do not need a fancy pants camera. We had one and I sold it because it’s easier to take pics on my phone and I always have my phone with me. I have the iPhone X, but even my old 6 worked fine.

Let’s talk about lighting. When taking pictures inside you want to make sure all the lights are on. Natural light looks best, so if you get a lot of sunlight coming inside don’t worry about turning the lights on. I take all my pictures during the day. I don’t like the way pictures turn out at night or with the flash on.

If I’m taking a “selfie” type of photo or one within close range of an object, I like to use Portrait mode. It looks cleaner and more focused on what you’re taking a picture of. When taking a picture, in general, you also want to tap the screen to adjust the focus and exposure.

Now, this is my favorite tip: You’re likely not going to get a shot you like on the first take, so take tons of pictures. Photo burst like crazy! Then you’ll have options and are more likely to find ones you like. During the bursts, move around, try different poses, facial expressions, etc. Trust me!

When I’m at home or out by myself, how do I take the pictures? I have a portable tripod! It’s super lightweight, comes in a carrying case and sets up in seconds. It also comes with a remote and an adjustable base to create perfect angles. This is the one I use.

If you want studio lighting, perfect selfie light, or light for video recording – you’ll want to go with this Halo light. It’s AH-MAZING. Lightweight and also comes with a carrying case and remote. Perfect to take to events or take pictures at night. They have mini ones for selfies that clamp right on to your phone too. I mean – brilliant.

Photo taken at night with my Halo light. Perfect for headshots.

Okay, so we’ve finished talking about taking photos. That was easy, right?

What do I do with them after I take them? As a blogger, I have to take pretty pictures that are visually appealing or no one will take the time to read my work. Same goes for social media. Your Instagram page is your highlight reel, it better look nice. Save your “real life” stuff for your stories. For my highlight reel, I want everything to have the same theme as far as edits go. This makes the page pretty to look at and streamlined.

Once the pictures are done, I open up my Lightroom App. It’s a free mobile photo editing app that you must have. I’ll wait while you download it.

Okay, once you open your Lightroom App you’ll see all the recent photos you took (if they don’t autoload you can add them to an album in Lr). This is where you’ll want to do your edits. You can pay for upgrades for different features, but I don’t think that’s necessary for these purposes. Label the album what you want to keep it organized.

Then you’ll look for a photo preset you like. A preset is a pre-determined position all (or some) of the of sliders in Lightroom, meaning the “edits” are already done. In other words, you can edit a photo to your liking, and then save that exact combination of slider positions for future use on another image. Get it? Good. I like clean “minimal” presets that I can adjust a little for some variety. You can see what I mean on some of my photos.

Where do I find photo Lightroom presets? You can Google and find some popular bloggers and photographers use. Those are typically more expensive and can be difficult to install if you’re not super “tech-y”. I’d consider myself somewhat tech savvy and some of these higher-end preset download instructions were WAY over my head. They run anywhere from $20-$70.

If you want something easier to use and less expensive, check out Etsy. There’s great presets on there for $10 or less. Each store that sells them has its own download instructions, but I found them to be pretty easy. You download the photo with the preset already in place then save it to your Lightroom App. Once you save it in there in its own folder – you click on the ellipses (or the three dots) on the top right of the preset photo and you’ll see a menu pop up. You’ll click “copy settings” then go to the photo you took in your other album, click on the ellipses on that photo then click “paste settings”. You’ll see the settings from the preset automatically edit your photo to look like the preset photo. If you want to make adjustments you can use the edit bars in Lightroom to do so.

Example of a preset photo

I like having a few presets that look along the same theme to switch it up a bit.

To summarize: Buy a tripod. Capture moments special to you. Load those photos into Lightroom. Buy a preset you like. Copy the preset on to your photo. Save it back to your camera roll and post away! You can follow me on IG for inspo at hollydays_chicago.

I hope this was helpful. If you have any of your own tips and tricks, please share them in the comment section.

LIFE HACK: SEVEN WAYS TO CUT YOUR MONTHLY EXPENSES

As a kid, all we want to do is grow up and live the life we dream about. Little did we know that it is harder than we think. Getting a degree and then a job is hard, but what is harder is to know that you live for once and you earn for yourself but you still realize the fact that you have to spend your money wisely. See some reviews here.

When I first started earning and saw the bills I questioned so much about why do we even live as we do, a house in the woods can b a better option than this one but we are costumed to the modern world now and to earn, eat and repeat with occasional fun is the answer to our questions.

Now what the question arises is, how to have a balance in our finances? Meaning, how to be financially responsible? Following are the seven ways in which you could reduce your monthly expenses.

  • ELIMINATE UNNECESSARY PAYMENTS

Our life is busy, almost robotic but does that mean that we should impose some unnecessary payments on ourselves? Why pay for the mobile data you are not using? Why pay for the Wi-Fi that was plugged in even when you were not in the house and many more. Below is the list of things we spend on unnecessarily.

  • Checking for credit score
  • Buying new just to avoid used goods
  • Television cable
  • Cell phone data
  • Landline
  • Late Fees
  • Extra warranties
  • Bottled water   

 

  • USE TRANSPORTATION WISELY

We love to have a car and driving it to work or school but keep in mind the expenses you have to bear just to keep this luxury and think of all the money you will be saving in

  • UNUSED MEMBERSHIP? A BIG NO.

Almost every one of us has a gym or club membership that we have never used, but it costs us a fortune. This is a major expense, it seems huge, and it is huge. Nobody likes throwing money down the drain but, nobody wants to take out some time and go talk to the administration about canceling the registration.

  • ERADICATE HARMFUL HABITS

Habits like smoking and drinking are extremely bad for our health and can leave us in a hospital bed easily. Keeping the cost of the hospital bills aside, accumulate the annual amount you put in to buy these things, and you will know what am I talking about. Sure, have an occasional drink, have the fun you deserve but know to live in the balance.

  • EAT AT HOME

Eating outside is the new trend but please do not follow it for your own sake. Eating at your house and cooking your meal helps to reduce your cost of food to 50% and that is huge and again, eating outside is not very good for your health.

  • GARDENING MAY PROVE TO BE BETTER THAN YOU THINK

Gardening can prove to be good as a hobby. It could bring color to your eyes, enhance beauty to your house and can grow some fresh ingredients for your food. Planting some herbs, mints, and pepper can save you a good amount of money.

  • BE GOOD TO YOURSELF

I know life is hard already and with all these precautions it could be even harder, but please be good on yourself. Set yourself some monthly allowance and use it at the end of the month to keep you motivated to stick to your budget.

Moving Soon? Here’s What You Need To Do…..

Are you moving? Having trouble prioritizing your preparation process? Here are some great tips to prepare you for setting up in your new home. Happy moving! 

Moving can be a very exciting but stressful time. From deciding which items to keep or get rid of, to making sure all of your utilities are set up on time – it can be easy to overlook important things. Today, I will be sharing a few tips to help make the moving process a little less overwhelming.

Sort Through Your Belongings

One of the first things you should do when preparing for your big move is to determine which items you will take with you to your new place and which items you to get rid of. Any prized possessions or items that have sentimental value should be taken with you, whereas any items that are old or worn out should be sold, donated or thrown out. If you’re having trouble deciding if you should keep or get rid of an item, think of the last time you used it. If you can’t remember the last time you used an item or it’s been years, chances are you don’t really need it. Here is a great article on items that you should get rid of before you move.

 

Buying/Replacing Items

Since you’ll have a new space to fill and will also be getting rid of items, you’ll have to buy new items to replace the old and fill up your new space. Instead of having to worry about moving these new items (especially bigger pieces like furniture and appliances) into your new home, try to purchase items from companies who will ship your new items right to your front door. Companies like Wayfair will ship furniture, home décor, and kitchen appliances right to your new home. If you’re replacing your mattress, Casper will also ship your mattress directly to your front door.

 

Packing

Now that you’ve determined what items you will be keeping and what items you’ll be getting rid of, it’s time to begin packing! Try to create a system to organize your items. Don’t take the easy route and just throw your things into random boxes. Remember that everything has to be unpacked and put away too. Sort items by room and put them into their respective boxes that way you can unpack each room one at a time. Don’t forget to label your boxes! This will make things easier when you unpack and help keep track of items you may be looking for.  Still overwhelmed? You can hire people to do all the packing for you. Check out rates in your area. The money might be worth it – if it saves your sanity! 

 

Schedule Serice/Utility Appointments

Lastly, before you move in to your new home make sure that all of your service/utility appointments are scheduled. Some services like cable and internet schedule their appointments months out, so make sure to call ahead of time to ensure that your services are ready in time for your big move. Don’t forget to switch over your power and water to your new place as well! 

Lastly, don’t forget to forward your address with the post office. You don’t want to have to hunt down packages or mail once you move.

After all this – you’re all packed and ready to move! Congratulations! Enjoy your new place, make memories and have fun personalizing your new space!

What are your tips for a smooth move?

What You Can Do This Earth Day & Everyday To Protect Mother Earth

Earth Day is around the corner and each year my family tries to incorporate a new practice to do our part in protecting Mother Earth.

In recent years, we have made a lot of easy changes around the house and with new technology and findings there are plenty more we can do! If you’re just starting out or have a goal to lessen your carbon footprint – here’s some ideas to help you out along the way.

Curb the addiction

So many of us have becoming addicted to stuff. Do we really need all those shoes, clothes, collectables, toys – the list could go on for ever…..

As a female who loves fashion, I love to buy clothes. But, I also love trends which means once the trend is over all those clothes I spent a fortune on end up in bags for donation. Did you know that the average American throws away 85% of their clothes each year? That is 65 lbs of textiles/person heading to landfills and a total of 14.3 million tons of textile waste in landfills each and every year. YIKES! We can do better than this.

I know how important and great it feels to stay trendy and fashionable, but we also know the huge impact we can make as consumers by supporting companies that offer a green alternative. A few trendy pieces are fine, but try to buy classic pieces you can pair with many other items to keep them feeling new.

When you do shop, you can also take advantage of websites like, Swap.com, the largest online thrift and consignment shop, which has all your favorite brands (such as ZARA, American Apparel, J.Crew, NIKE, DKNY, BCBG and many more) that are available at up to 95% off retail prices on Swap.com. Sounds like a win-win to me! They also carry toys and games. Parents, what a dream is this?! Kids play with toys for like a mili-second and are over them.

Because I am participating in their Earth Day campaign, they’ve graciously given me some swap credit AND have offered a discount code to all of you! I bought my toddler and my 6 year old an entire summer wardrobe for under $100! Use discount code 25SPRING  at Swap.com for up to 25%, some exclusions apply. Discount applied to purchases at check-out. Expires 5/31/2017.

Shopping secondhand not only saves you money, but helps sustain our earth and keep clothes of landfills. So, let’s swap instead of shop!

 

Go Meat Free 

I know, I know, people love their meat.

BUT, the meteoric rise of meat consumption globally over the last 50 years is no coincidence. As the socioeconomic status of communities has risen and the transportation of meat has become easier, more and more people have started eating large quantities of meat. In fact, over the last 10 years alone, total global meat consumption has grown by 20%.

All this extra meat comes at an extreme cost to our planet. The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that the meat industry generates nearly one-fifth of the man-made greenhouse gas emissions that are accelerating climate change worldwide – more than the entire transportation sector.

To make matters worse, producing meat also requires a huge amount of water. An estimated 1,800 to 2,500 gallons of water go into a single pound of beef. By comparison, soy tofu produced in California requires only 220 gallons of water per pound.

Imagine how much carbon and resources we could save if we ate less meat. Even just eating meat one less day a year would make a difference.

For instance, if over the course of a year you:

  • Ate one less burger a week, it would be the equivalent of taking your car off the road for 320 miles.
  • Skip meat and cheese one day a week with your family, it would be the equivalent of taking your car off the road for five weeks – or reducing everyone’s daily showers by 3 minutes.
  • Skip steak once a week with your family, it would be the equivalent of taking your car off the road for nearly three months.
  • And if the entire U.S. did not eat meat or cheese for just one day a week, it would be the equivalent of not driving 91 billion miles – or taking 7.6 million cars off the road.

As you can see, the impact of not eating meat can really add up. Join us in pledging to not eat meat once a week. If you already don’t eat meat once a week, why not try two days a week or three! You could even begin a full vegetarian diet if you’re up for it. Every little bit helps.

Source: Earthday.org

At Home Action

There are small changes at home you can make that make a big impact.

First, make sure you’re turning out the lights when not needed. We only use the light of the room we are in and whenever we leave the house we make sure all are turned off. You can also switch out your light bulbs for more energy efficient ones.

Turn off the water when brushing your teeth and take quicker showers. If I can take a 5 minute shower where I have to shave and wash my long hair – anyone can do it!

Make sure you’re recycling. In today’s world, it’s easy to do with all the services and special bins. Once you get in the habit it’s not trouble at all.

Eliminate plastics. Use a refillable water pitcher for filtered water or attach one to your sink. Use glass or stainless steel containers for food storage – they arehealthier for you anyway!

 

Be The Example

Teach your children the importance of taking care of our planet and being mindful of waste. Share your best practices with friends and family. Donate to environmental groups, they need our help!If we all take even a little bit of action – it makes a huge impact!

What will you do to participate in #EarthDay 2017?

 

The Dos and Don’ts of Spending Your Tax Refund – Guest Post

Thank you to our friends over at Earnest for sharing these tips. We all need a little advice on how to spend the extra cash responsibly.

We all know what April means….Tax Day. While filing your taxes can be a hassle, especially if you end up having to pay additional taxes, some people look forward to receiving a tax refund. If you’re one of those people, you may be planning to spend your refund on that pair of shoes you’ve been eyeing or that designer handbag you’ve been drooling over for months. Before you go out and buy all of the items on your wish list, you should consider using your refund to help you get ahead financially.

We all know how easy it can be to spend our tax refund in ways that are less than optimal. The most important thing to do to utilize your refund in the best way is to develop a plan for how to spend your refund. This will prevent you from spending money on things that you don’t really need. The next thing you should do is look at your savings. Do you have an emergency fund? If not, consider putting a portion of your refund into an emergency fund savings account.

Your tax refund can be used in several other ways to help you out financially in the long run. One of these ways is to pay off some of your high interest debts, such as credit cards or student loans. You can lower these high interest debts even more by refinancing them. Companies like Earnest can help you save even more money by lowering your interest rates and monthly payments by refinancing your student loans.

Now that you have a smart plan for your tax refund check, set aside a small amount to treat yourself with. Let’s face it, you work hard and you deserve it! Keep in mind that you should not treat your refund check like a bonus or spend your entire refund frivolously.

Check out the guide below to learn about more tips on how to better utilize your tax refund.

Spring Is Awakening – Thanks To The Honest Company

Spring is in the air folks and The Honest Company has us prepared with their newly launched diaper line- and let me tell you, they couldn’t be cuter! Check out these adorable exclusive images below, courtesy of them!

What I love about Honest diapers is that they are simply pure! They are made without chlorine processing, chemical bleaches, latex, lotions, fragrances, phthalates, optical brighteners, organotins (MBT, DBT, TBT), or most common allergens. The diapers are ultra-soft plant-based (PLA) on both the inner and outer layers — gentle on your baby’s bottom! Not to mention, they contain naturally derived odor blockers with a super-absorbent core- keeping your baby feeling fresh!

Aside from the diapers having the Honestly Free Guarantee, their spring prints are absolutely delightful! Take a look of these precious babes, below:

Can’t live without these diapers anymore? I don’t blame you! Go ahead and shop the Spring 2017 diaper line by visiting The Honest Company! To add even more excitement, Honest also offers a diaper and wipe bundle! With the bundle option, you can mix and match the adorable designs, save over 20% and have reoccurring monthly shipments – pretty cool, am I right?!

Leave it to The Honest Company to mix comfort and style – getting us excited for Spring! Which ones your favorite?!

Bean Bag Fun – A New Game You’re Sure To Love

When I moved to the midwest over a decade ago, I was introduced to a game people take very seriously up here – Cornhole. At first, I didn’t understand how throwing a bean bag through a hole could provide hours of fun – but soon came to love the game and the memories that accompanied it. Maybe this game was popular in the south where I grew up and I never noticed, but up here you couldn’t attend a party or tailgate without it present.

Now, I’ve introduced the game to my kids and they love it too. It’s the summer go-to with friends and pairs nicely with a micro brew (I might add)!

Recently while attending the Chicago Toy & Game Fair convention with my two boys, I met two gentlemen who reinvented the “bags” game with the Bean Bag Bucketz game. My kids couldn’t get enough of this new concept and we had to drag them away from the B3 booth. I was sad to learn the launch of Bean Bags Bucketz wasn’t until after the holidays because I knew this new game would be a parenting win under the tree.

I kept in touch with the product and business development director so we could get our hands on one once they launched and he graciously sent me a prototype of this clever new game. Since then, it’s been a life saver this winter. It’s small enough to play inside and folds down to fit in its own little carrying bag for easy storage. This will also be perfect for our summer picnics, beach outings, and neighborhood block parties, too! We can’t wait!

As an entrepreneur and marketing gal myself, I love to support fellow entrepreneurs chasing their own dreams – especially when I, too, believe in their product/or idea.

The story behind the Bean Bag Bucketz is what family memories are made of. The idea was born at the beach, the Jersey Shore to be exact. While on a sandy vacation, their kids got bored and decided they had enough of the beach.  So B3’s Creator, Anthony, came up with a fun way to entertain his boys. Anthony placed large shells on the end of a stick and had the kids toss small seashells to knock off the bigger shells. Hours later, both dad and the boys agreed – they’ve created a fun and entertaining game!

Addicted from the start, this became their go-to game the rest of the trip. Back at home Anthony couldn’t get their seaside fun out of his head. Working through countless iterations, the concept of Bean Bag Bucketz came to fruition. After connecting with Philipp, his new partner with serious experience in the toy & retail world, the duo came together to develop this great social nonstop on-the-go game. B3/ Bean Bag Bucketz was born.

Here are my own kids enjoying the Bean Bag Bucketz. It’s our Saturday night ritual.

 

 

Interested in learning more? Check out their website.

Or order yours today!

 

Guest Post – FIVE Ways To Celebrate Earth Day With Your Kids

Thank you to Jennifer Willoughby, pediatric dietitian at Cleveland Clinic Children’s for her guest post.

As you probably know, Earth Day is next week (April 22), and it’s the perfect time to not only celebrate our planet, but to also think about how we can do our part to help save water and energy, reduce pollution and protect our animals, trees and plants.  As parents, it is our duty to encourage our kids to show interest in protecting the environment. This year, celebrate with your family by following these eco-friendly (and kid-friendly) tips that benefit your health and the environment!

cool-desktop-wallpaper-hd-cool-wallpapers-hd-wallpapers-hd

Here are 5 ways to celebrate Earth Day with your kids, while also improving their health, according to Jennifer Willoughby, pediatric dietitian at Cleveland Clinic Children’s

  • Go green…with school lunches.
    Ditch brown and plastic bags. Instead, opt for lunch boxes and alternatives to plastic bags such as disposable unbleached-paper bags or reusable BPA-free plastic containers. And consider filling those containers with some vibrant green vegetables. Also, skip juice boxes and bottled drinks and replace them with reusable water bottles. Don’t forget the eco-friendly napkins!
  • Skip the meat and load up on veggies.
    A study published by The Journal of Pediatrics – and led by Cleveland Clinic Children’s pediatrician Dr. Michael Macknin – discovered that children who eat a plant-based vegan diet can lose weight (if medically necessary), lower their blood pressure and improve their cholesterol in just four weeks. In addition, eating a vegetarian diet protects our soil, conserves water, saves energy and clears the air! Going meat-free once per week can benefit the body and the environment. This Earth Day, plan to cook a delicious, vegetarian meal for your family and don’t forget to involve the kids.Allow them to pick out their favorite veggies at the supermarket or farmer’s market and ask them to help you prepare the meal.
  • Cook with local produce.
    Local produce doesn’t need to be shipped long distance, which promotes energy conservation by reducing usage of fossil fuels and packaging.  Even if you don’t have a backyard vegetable garden, you can still cook with locally grown produce. Not only will cooking with local produce help the environment, but it will also result in healthy meals for the family.
  • Leave the car behind and get the kids moving.
    According to the U.S. Department of Energy, highway vehicles release about 1.5 billion metric tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere each year. Take a family bike ride — or walk! — to one of the day’s destinations, and ask your children if they can think of any other environmentally-friendly modes of transportation. This can be both a fun and active way to spend time with the family and it will also get your children moving. Earth Day is a great time to take the kids outside and allow them to embrace the world around them through exercise. Look for the kind of exercise where your kids are outside, running around, riding a bike, walking to school or playing a sport.
  • Breathe in the fresh air.
    According to the EPA, air pollutants in the home can be 2-5 times higher than outdoor air pollutants. Open your windows and let the fresh spring air in! Fresh air will improve your health, boost your mood and allow your family to appreciate the scents and sounds of nature.

Going “green” may sound like a stretch for some people, but it is worth the effort! Getting your children moving and incorporating plant-based meals into your weekly dinner rotation, even for one day a week, can significantly help improve the environment and the health of your family. Earth Day is the perfect time to give it a try!

Sometimes You Just Have to Jump

My father had a rough childhood to say the least. His family didn’t come from wealth, nor were they ever able to achieve it – monetarily. Like most large families in the 40s and 50s, everyday was a struggle. Even though he did without for most of his formative years, he never let his circumstances dampen his spirit. My father always had big dreams. He dreamed of success, adventure, travel and the like. He also knew from an early age that the only person who can change your life – is you. Armed with this innate wisdom, he left school at age 17 to join the military. When I asked him why he decided to join the Army he jokingly said, “Because I knew I would at least get one meal a day and have a roof over my head”. It was also his only chance to be someone, to become something – so he took it.

His first role in the military was a Paratrooper – because why not jump out of planes for fun? As a Paratrooper you wore shiny boots and a beret, which allowed him to stand out among a crowd of brave men. These wardrobe additions, a larger-than-life ego, some southern charm, and his infinite confidence added on at least a foot to his vertically challenged frame. He was popular among his peers and the ladies. I like to compare him to Tom Cruise in Top Gun; he followed the rules just enough not to get kicked out, but broke them just enough to earn respect.

Scan 7

After a few near death experiences, some parachute malfunctions, being the subject of search and rescue efforts, the threat of being sent to Vietnam and being separated from his family, my father decided to find a new role – on land. Now responsible for little lives, he worked even harder to excel in his career. He sacrificed time with us so he could provide more than he had as a child, which made him a great dad. He pushed himself to the limits – mentally and physically. Anytime someone doubted his abilities, he’d work harder to prove them wrong. Even if he didn’t know what he was doing, he would fake it until he became it. When he accomplished one mission or became an expert in his field, he was on to the next one – never settling.

When I was young he would always encourage me to find my own way, be a problem-solver, and chase my dreams. Even if he wanted to jump in and save me, he’d let me figure things out for myself because he knew in the long run it would make me stronger. If I were ever discouraged he’d remind me that everyone, no matter who they are, puts their pants on one leg at a time. He knew all five of his kids were capable of accomplishing whatever we set out to do – and we have.

hair

He went from a poor kid with a head full of dreams, to achieving many honors in two branches of the military and achieved success in civilian life. He holds a masters degree and attended law school. His expertise was utilized in all areas ranging from the Space Shuttle Training programs to the International Treaty and Anti-Terrorist Prevention programs. He retired after 45 years of service to our country. Now battling cancer, he’s still a fighter. He takes each day with a grain of salt, as he knows life still has a plan and he’s not afraid to see where it takes him.

It’s because of this drive and the faith my parents always had in me, I’ve been fearless in my own endeavors. Ultimately, my dreams have come true because I was never afraid to jump. For that, Dad – I thank you. Happy Father’s Day. Love you.

“Sometimes you just have to jump and life will always find a way to hand you a parachute.”

 

Scan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s HERE! I’m Officially An Author!

Hi Family, Friends and MG2S Followers,

The day has come! Martinis & Motherhood: Tales of Wonder, Woe & WTF?! has arrived. I’m honored to be apart of this book – and be among such talented writers. When I left my corporate career I loved to follow my aspirations of becoming a writer, I never thought in just two short years I’d be able to add, “Author” to my résumé. It’s pretty surreal. Thank you for all your support and loyalty!

As a “thank you”, I’m doing a GIVEAWAY for a free copy of the book! To enter: comment below or “like” and comment on our Facebook page. If you share the post, you’ll get an additional entry. I’ll announce the winner on Friday. Good luck and I know you’ll love the book as much as I do!

Below you can read all about it and meet the other contributors!

Purchase the book here and read all the great reviews so far: BUY BOOK 

Mbook

Martinis and motherhood go hand in hand, but not in a drown-your-sorrows sort of way. We view the relationship, between mom and martini, sort of like that of child and ice cream sundae. It’s a treat! One that busy moms deserve to indulge in. Martini (or mocktini) sipping is a celebratory, and victorious, act best enjoyed in the company of fellow mom friends. Here, within the pages of Martinis & Motherhood you’ll find heart string yanking stories of wonder, coffee spewing tales of woe, and utterly ridiculous accounts of WTF?!; all written by moms who are a lot like you. Each story is paired with a simple-to-make martini that looks fab and tastes divine, as well as a shareable toast to celebrate some of motherhood’s many toast-worthy moments. After the bums are all wiped and the lunches are made; after the homework is done and the sheets have been changed; after we’ve chauffeured, escorted, worried to the max, our sanity’s been questioned, our legs- still un-waxed; after we’ve kissed it all better, and bid them goodnight; we moms deserve to have something that’s just right. * Insert beautiful martini. We hope that you’ll buy our book and that you’ll see yourself, and your own experiences, in the tales that we share. We believe that great things happen when we open-up to other moms, about our moments of wonder, woe, and WTF?! We are hopeful that our stories help you feel connected to other mothers, a bit more normal within the chaos of everyday life, and less alone on your journey through motherhood.

Martinis & Motherhood – Tales of Wonder, Woe & WTF?!

Tipsy Squirrel Press

First Print Edition: June 2015

Meet the other awesome writers:

Tellers of Wonder
Lynn Morrison nomadmomdiary.com
Angila Peters detachedfromlogic.com
Magnolia Ripkin magnoliaripkin.com
Louise Gleeson latenightplays.com
Jocelyn Pihlaja omightycrisis.com.com
Alison Huff crumbsdown.com
Leigh-Mary Barone Hoffmann happilyeverlaughterblog.com
Shannon Drury theradicalhousewife.com
Patricia Mirchandani raising-humans.com
Lauren Stevens lo-wren.com
Cordelia Newlin de Rojas multilingualmama.com
Sarah Deveau doingallthethings.com

Tellers of Woe
Shannon Day martinisandmotherhood.com
Tara Wilson dontlickthedeck.com
Vicki Lesage vickilesage.com
Abby the Writer littlemissperfect.com
Brooke Takhar missteenussr.com
Kate Parlin shakespearesmom.com
Christina Antus christinaantus.net
Jennifer Baird-Dean thechiofjen.com
Sara Park crcrsmommyblog.com
Tamara Schroeder thattamiam.com
Kristen Hansen Brakeman kristenbrakeman.com
Lori Lu Green LeRoy theinadequateconception.com
Carolyn Mackenzie Global’s Carolyn Mackenzie on FB

Tellers of WTF?!
Susanne Kerns thedustyparachute.com
Sarah Halsall del Rio established1975.com
Lisa Webb canadianexpatmom.com
Jessica D’Andrea Kapp jesskapp.com
Kim McDonald twobugsandablog.com
Lisa Carmody Doiron momologues-soliloquies.com
Olga Mecking europeanmama.com
Holly Rust mothersguidetosanity.com
Kathryn Leehane foxywinepocket.com
Jill Hudkins Robbins rippedjeansandbifocals.com
Kristine Laco mumrevised.com
Andrea Mulder-Slater noreallyandrea.com