Currently Obsessing Over.

I have a thing for tradition – especially the kind that requires a little road trip towards a weekend away. Add family & friends to the mix and now you’re destined for some great moments. For me, a quick but relaxing trip to New Hampshire is a big summer highlight. Here’s an instagram from last summer. Now, we were just hitting the road and had yet to experience any true vacation fun – but there were lakeside snuggles and swimming right around the corner. Major kid bliss. 

Here’s a few things I do for a super easy weekend away:

Cook Less. If you are only gone for a few days, take the weekend off from extensive planning, shopping and cooking. Instead, pack healthy snacks, to-go meals, or festive outings to keep everyone active and nourished.  

Pack light. Don’t stress about packing earrings for every look. Pack the basics – things that are easy to mix & match and can go the distance. Allow yourself a weekend to be fashion free. The goal,: look good without the fuss.  

Adventure: Rent a boat, kayak or simply take a mini hike to the other side of the beach. The more I try activities with the kids, the more I discover just how much fun it is to be a mom. Don’t leave the fun stuff for the other parent – kick off your summer heels and get in the game. Oh, and the kids think it’s really cool too.

We’re currently counting down to our weekend away. We’ll be sure to post pics on IG @dennyfrench.

- Denell

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The dilemma strikes –  what to get a BFF who seems to have everything?! You probably know the feeling, and can most likely relate. In this case, I’m talking about Heather {also part of the MoPa team} who is celebrating a birthday this week. Yay – Heather!

Outside of the typical bottle of wine, let’s see how creative we can get. To tackle the task, I quickly run through some of her favorite things. This is a great exercise actually – it’s fun to see how well you know the people most important to you. One thing that came to mind: jewelry! Heather has a fierce collection, and she even crafts pieces now and again. We’re a crafty circle. This past year, we’ve attended our share of Stella & Dot parties, and this lovely little twig pendant always speaks to me. Let’s give it whirl.

Lovely Little Twig.

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Birthday Love.

Here at MoPa, we love birthdays and we love parties. So, there’s nothing sweeter than a birthday party.

Today Aubrey is two and this past weekend we celebrated with a playful ice cream party. We had so much fun making sundaes, ice cream floats, and prettying up some ice cream sandwiches. But, the best part was that it was all done on a budget.

 I start planning for birthday parties about 6 months prior to party day. Having a theme in place so far in advance allows me to keep an eye out for killer deals and post season sales. For this party in particular, I hit up Target’s Valentine’s Day section the day after V-Day and got the banners, ice cream cups, paper straws, topping bowls, and all of the goodie bag treats at 50% off. Finding all of these stylish party components were a total score for me and getting them 50% off kept the hubby happy.

So, if you want to throw a fun {and pretty} party without breaking the bank, simply start planning ahead and you’ll start saving.

Happy party planning!

-Jessica