Quote for the day!

Free Family Holiday Photos...well sort of!

Omg ya'll its that time of year again! Have you taken your holiday photos yet!? Let me share with you the best trick ever but SSHHHHH it's a secret! So about 6 months ago I ordered this little remote photo taking gizmo off Amazon! People you all NEED one! It was about $15.00 and it has paid for itself 10x over! It is height adjustable which is nice too! We take all our own family photos now. The remote pairs right up to your cell phone and voila! Our model is called a GRANDO and we highly recommend it! In addition to taking our own photos our favorite app hands down for phone editing is Facetune, it's seriously awesome! It's extremely easy to use and allows you to add those great finishing touches to your photos.

I don't know about you but there is nothing WORSE than taking my kids to a professional photographer! It stresses me out to no end.... usually someone is mad because they don't want to go or we are missing a soccer game...this one is hungry this one has to pee and then I always look crazy trying to convince my kids to smile...can I get a big NO THANK YOU!?

We recently took these beautiful family photos with our little collapsible selfie stick with tripod and fancy ring remote! We havent had to charge the remote once btw...the charge has lasted since our first use.

What I do is I casually put outfits aside and then I wait for the perfect day..... I wait for nice weather.... and a morning where we wake up and noone has the sniffles everyone is happy then I go for it. I can't tell you how many times we have had to cancel with photographers because the perfect storm is not aligned!

We also got sick and tired of photographers charging crazy money for family 'mini' sessions because there is nothing 'mini' about the prices! Then if you don't get your 'shot' within your 15 min time frame, oh well! Side note.... you can increase your odds of your kids cooperating by offering rewards to be given after your photos....whatever that may be! It could be a favorite show or favorite ice cream...whatever! Totally worth it!

I applaud and respect talented photographers and they are needed in many situations. Someday when my kids get married I will hire one again and pay them lots of money!

Until my kids are grown....the selfie stick tripod with remote WINS all day and all night and guess what our holiday photo cost us.... ZERO! The best part is if you don't score a photo who cares try again! No pressure! Don't let these precious present moments pass you by! Fire up this amazing contraption! The below summer photo was also taken with our GRANDO friend! This would also work perfectly as well for office photos and any other group photo needs! 😘😊📸

Important note! Before you go full throttle take 1 test picture to test the lighting with your partner or child in it.... if the lighting is good then proceed. If you have bad lighting then move around until you do. When shooting outdoors partial shade like a porch or overhang is always best...you never want direct sunlight. If shooting indoors you always want to station your subjects IN FRONT of a window as that's where the best lighting is...just set up your GRANDO next to the window shooting towards you. You want the sunrays and light bouncing off your face not your back. 😘😘😎😁

Quote for the day...

Thanksgiving Prep Day!

Hi Friends!

I am so sorry I have been away from my blog! Things are very exciting here at Camp Cornell, we are busy little bees! 

I can't wait to keep all of you posted! 

Today we made super fun goodies for Thanksgiving with our left over Halloween candy from our freezer! I made fudge candy brownies! For the brownie mix I just bought two basic boxes of fudge brownie mix at the store and instead of water I substituted with milk which always makes my box brownies taste homemade! Before baking the brownies in the oven I loaded them with Snickers, M&M's, and Baby Ruth candy peices! I took the batch out of the over right before it was fully cooked to keep the brownies nice and moist. I will definitely be able to bribe both my kids to eat their entire Thanksgiving dinner with these goodies! 

Quote for the day!

Pace yourself parents!

DoTerra Essential Oils

Omg!!!!! How much do I LOVE DoTerra Oils! I seriously love them! I am so sad that I was JUST introduced to them! I could go on and on and on but parents get yourself started with DoTerra Oils. What an amazing addition they have been to my household for my entire family! Ahhhhhhh! I could simply never live without them now. I use them for cleaning, cooking, illnesses, and so much more! They are so much safer around kids than gross harsh cleaning chemicals ect! Do your research and jump aboard the essential oils train! You won't regret it! DoTerra is THE BEST!

NO MORE DIAPERS!

Omg Ya'll! How good does it feel to have a household with NO MORE DIAPERS! I simply love everything about parenting, it is my greatest joy but DIAPERS! OMG they stink, literally!

So I've been changing diapers now for 7.5 years. Once my son was done, my daughter was born! My daughter is fully potty trained now and my husband and I recently looked at each other and said 'somethings different'. Things feel easier, less expensive, and cleaner! Its because we don't have to deal with diapers anymore! This was like a huge sort of unexpected parenting award and gift! Its like ok well you have busted your ever loving holy tail for 'x' amount of years and now your going to get a nice hearty reward! Pop the champagne! No more diapers!

Don't get me wrong I would have 10 kids if I could...but diapers...we all know they are terrible.

Happy Dance!

If your household is still in diapers just know you have a very fun and unexpected reward coming eventually!

Quote for the day!

I love this quote! Whether it's parenting, business, marriage, or life in general - hard work is always required! Never give up! Keep going! Go, Go, Go!

Quote for the day! Amen!

What I really think about MLM/Direct Sales companies!

So I was looking around my house last night and it occurred to me why the brick and mortar stores are dwindling fast. I think Amazon played a large role but I think MLM or direct sales has played a large part as well. Everything I acquire these days is from another fellow entrepreneur (and usually fellow parent) who has a MLM either side hustle or full time MLM hustle. Y'all I seriously used to RUN from these annoying people! OMG! Seriously I literally run TOO these people now! I buy all my clothes from either Cabi (love) Lularoe or Walmart....because Walmart is usually my only choice because I go there so much for household stuff! Going to an additional store while I'm out is usually out of the question, thank GOD for the Faded Glory Wal-Mart brand that looks half human (its like a GAP knock off)! The quality of both Cabi and LulaRoe ROCKS, I think the quality of most MLM companies is superior to your now run of the mill low inventory brick and mortar! Moving on I just started ordering my make up from a chronically ill Lyme patient across the country who is a Younique rep, Younique her only means to earn income.I have to buy it anyway so why not help someone in the mean time! I am now IN LOVE with DoTerra essential oils, I haven't been able to put them down since I bought them. As for others...I buy Pampered Chef (and love it) and many more. So am a shop-a-holic?...I likely sound like one but no I'm actually a minimalist and I don't buy anything in access (ok DoTerra maybe) I hate collecting 'stuff'. All the household items I buy, I actually need...clothes, cooking supplies, vitamins, face lotion, meds (DuTerra), make-up (yes make-up is a need lol), and more. I also buy a lot of homemade goods from friends like homemade honey and such. Its like my interest in big brick and mortar stores just isn't there anymore.These fellow Moms just make it so easy at school and kid events! I have to be there anyway.......

Could it be that the pendulum has swung and my fellow parents who side hustle are now the primary way that moms, fellow parents, disabled, the elderly, the super busy....and others now acquire their goods? When did this happen? It slowly happened to me! I also realize that I just either text these people or facebook them when I need an additional item. Crazy right? Thank God for MLM companies! I love them! Seriously never thought in a million, used to hate them. Shipping is always pronto and if I have an issue its the reps headache, not mine! I also skip hours of shopping because my awesome reps just tell me what I need to know and they show me what they think would look cute....or work for me and my family. I sound like a commercial right now but its true! I don't sell for any MLM companies or Direct Sale companies I am just a huge fan as a busy Mom! I actually tried a few times to sell various MLM products and failed every time...I ended up writing a book which has quickly become my 'happily ever after'! Cheers!

Seriously cool FREE kids classes for Nov and Dec! RI and Nationwide

Ok yall! I'm back at it! Camp Cornell is gearing up for some seriously COOL and FREE classes and activities coming up! We can thank our 'big box' chains for providing these to our community! Holla! Check out this robust schedule for Nov and Dec!

First we have Up with Learning! I love the feathered turkey and the chore calendar! These are great!

Next we have Pokémon Hour at Toys R' Us...Wow holy swag esp if you get there early! I know a certain Pokémon crazed little boy and girl who will FREAK OUT over this!

Lastly we have our favorite Home Depot! They never disappoint, we will participate in them ALL! Love the shout out to our military and the adorable holiday items!

It's all FREE people! Have so much FUN!

Cheers friends!