Ah, friends, I’m sorry to have missed our meeting last month. I’m going to blame it on all things summer. As we’ve said many times here, summer mom-ing is not for the faint of heart! But kids are now back in school, and it’s time for back to YOU, moms! For Carrie and me, that means lots and lots of reading, and we’re here to check in with you with our first book club of the fall–welcome to our Cutting Teeth book club!First things first, let me say this was perhaps the most challenging book I’ve ever read for this book club (with the exception of Bitter Orange, which I absolutely despised)....…Ah, friends, I’m sorry to have missed our meeting last month. I’m going to blame it on all things summer. As we’ve said many times here, summer mom-ing is not for the faint of heart! But kids are now back in school, and it’s time for back to YOU, moms! For Carrie and me, that means lots and lots of reading, and we’re here to check in with you with our first book club of the fall–welcome to our Cutting Teeth book club!First things first, let me say this was perhaps the most challenging book I’ve ever read for this book club (with the exception of Bitter Orange, which I absolutely despised)....WW…

This post was sponsored by Responsival so I can fill you in on obtaining life insurance with no medical exam and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.As soon as my husband and I moved across Pennsylvania and bought our first home, we signed up for life insurance and have never looked back! One of the smartest decisions we’ve ever made, and never more so than when we started having children…but why? Why do parents need to get life insurance? Why is it so important?​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​So many bits of life are uncertain and ever-changing, so adding security to your gig makes so...…This post was sponsored by Responsival so I can fill you in on obtaining life insurance with no medical exam and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.As soon as my husband and I moved across Pennsylvania and bought our first home, we signed up for life insurance and have never looked back! One of the smartest decisions we’ve ever made, and never more so than when we started having children…but why? Why do parents need to get life insurance? Why is it so important?​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​So many bits of life are uncertain and ever-changing, so adding security to your gig makes so...WW…

By submitting your email address you agree to receive emails from The Mom of the Year.  You can change your mind at any time by clicking the unsubscribe at the bottom of the emails or by contacting me at meredith@themomoftheyear.net For more information about our privacy practices visit our website.By submitting your email address you agree to receive emails from The Mom of the Year.  You can change your mind at any time by clicking the unsubscribe at the bottom of the emails or by contacting me at meredith@themomoftheyear.net For more information about our privacy practices...…By submitting your email address you agree to receive emails from The Mom of the Year.  You can change your mind at any time by clicking the unsubscribe at the bottom of the emails or by contacting me at meredith@themomoftheyear.net For more information about our privacy practices visit our website.By submitting your email address you agree to receive emails from The Mom of the Year.  You can change your mind at any time by clicking the unsubscribe at the bottom of the emails or by contacting me at meredith@themomoftheyear.net For more information about our privacy practices...WW…

It never fails that when I see a mom pour her soul into a post on the internet (or just hint that it’s hard), the comments section gets “lit” with opinions. Perhaps the mom is just looking for solidarity, venting, or just having an off day, people. Calm down.It doesn’t matter really though. The much smarter people of the interwebs have OPINIONS, I tell you. Like a lot of them.And sadly, they are usually from other women (who are obviously doing it better than you) or single white men who don’t have kids. Ahem.“At least you have kids”“Other women would kill to have what you have.”“You knew...…It never fails that when I see a mom pour her soul into a post on the internet (or just hint that it’s hard), the comments section gets “lit” with opinions. Perhaps the mom is just looking for solidarity, venting, or just having an off day, people. Calm down.It doesn’t matter really though. The much smarter people of the interwebs have OPINIONS, I tell you. Like a lot of them.And sadly, they are usually from other women (who are obviously doing it better than you) or single white men who don’t have kids. Ahem.“At least you have kids”“Other women would kill to have what you have.”“You knew...WW…

I hope this post will inspire you to be more supportive of those that struggle with mental illness, or to inspire you to take steps in your own life to get help if you are struggling. This is a post I shared on Facebook, where hundreds of commenters felt inspired to share their own story and send me private messages thanking me. Click the share button to help spread awareness, and stop the stigma of mental illness.***I prepped myself for a few weeks. I knew what I had to do as I made the appointment with my doctor. I had been in therapy for almost a year. It was helping, but it wasn’t. I...…I hope this post will inspire you to be more supportive of those that struggle with mental illness, or to inspire you to take steps in your own life to get help if you are struggling. This is a post I shared on Facebook, where hundreds of commenters felt inspired to share their own story and send me private messages thanking me. Click the share button to help spread awareness, and stop the stigma of mental illness.***I prepped myself for a few weeks. I knew what I had to do as I made the appointment with my doctor. I had been in therapy for almost a year. It was helping, but it wasn’t. I...WW…

× Jump to RecipePrint RecipeIf you’re a fan of easy meal ideas, this 4-ingredient slow cooker ravioli recipe is a must-try! Sometimes called “lazy lasagna”, this yummy dish is the ultimate comfort food with all the flavors of lasagna with only 10 minutes of prep time. The entire family is going to love this yummy and hearty meal (and you don’t even have to tell them you let the slow cooker do all the work!).Sometimes you just need an easy dinner win. This super easy 4-ingredient crockpot ravioli lasagna is a great option for when you’ve got a lot going on. It’s one of those...…× Jump to RecipePrint RecipeIf you’re a fan of easy meal ideas, this 4-ingredient slow cooker ravioli recipe is a must-try! Sometimes called “lazy lasagna”, this yummy dish is the ultimate comfort food with all the flavors of lasagna with only 10 minutes of prep time. The entire family is going to love this yummy and hearty meal (and you don’t even have to tell them you let the slow cooker do all the work!).Sometimes you just need an easy dinner win. This super easy 4-ingredient crockpot ravioli lasagna is a great option for when you’ve got a lot going on. It’s one of those...WW…

× Jump to RecipePrint RecipeThis easy, 4-ingredient cream cheese caramel apple dip with toffee is a must try! And this rich and creamy no-bake dessert is ready in 10 minutes. Perfect for a quick dessert, fall snack, or an easy party appetizer!If apples are your favorite part of fall and you’ve been looking for fun apple dessert ideas to showcase your favorite fall fruit, this easy caramel and cream cheese apple dip is for you! Made with 4 ingredients, this quick and easy dessert recipe can be put together in less than 10 minutes.Make this easy caramel apple dip for your next fall...…× Jump to RecipePrint RecipeThis easy, 4-ingredient cream cheese caramel apple dip with toffee is a must try! And this rich and creamy no-bake dessert is ready in 10 minutes. Perfect for a quick dessert, fall snack, or an easy party appetizer!If apples are your favorite part of fall and you’ve been looking for fun apple dessert ideas to showcase your favorite fall fruit, this easy caramel and cream cheese apple dip is for you! Made with 4 ingredients, this quick and easy dessert recipe can be put together in less than 10 minutes.Make this easy caramel apple dip for your next fall...WW…

× Jump to RecipePrint RecipeThis fall white sangria with vodka is packed with fall spice and seasonal fall fruit! A great batch cocktail option for those who prefer white wine.Apples and pears are in-season right now, making them the perfect base for this fall white wine sangria! Add in apple cider and cinnamon sticks and you’ve got yourself fall in a glass. This easy sangria recipe with vodka is a must for your next fall gathering!Prefer a red wine sangria? Or hosting a gathering and want to have multiple pitcher drinks ready to serve? This Fall Red Wine Sangria is the drink for you!Jump...…× Jump to RecipePrint RecipeThis fall white sangria with vodka is packed with fall spice and seasonal fall fruit! A great batch cocktail option for those who prefer white wine.Apples and pears are in-season right now, making them the perfect base for this fall white wine sangria! Add in apple cider and cinnamon sticks and you’ve got yourself fall in a glass. This easy sangria recipe with vodka is a must for your next fall gathering!Prefer a red wine sangria? Or hosting a gathering and want to have multiple pitcher drinks ready to serve? This Fall Red Wine Sangria is the drink for you!Jump...WW…

× Jump to RecipePrint RecipeThis is the ultimate white chicken chili recipe! Made in your slow cooker, this white chicken chili with bacon is comforting, creamy, and packed with flavor. A real winner!I love my slow cooker. There, I said it. It makes my life easy. It’s convenient. And I can make so many delicious things in it, like this white chicken chili recipe. Cozy and satisfying, this white chicken chili is a true comfort food.This recipe was adapted from my friend’s champion chili recipe and is not your average white chicken chili. The secret? Ranch seasoning and bacon!If you love...…× Jump to RecipePrint RecipeThis is the ultimate white chicken chili recipe! Made in your slow cooker, this white chicken chili with bacon is comforting, creamy, and packed with flavor. A real winner!I love my slow cooker. There, I said it. It makes my life easy. It’s convenient. And I can make so many delicious things in it, like this white chicken chili recipe. Cozy and satisfying, this white chicken chili is a true comfort food.This recipe was adapted from my friend’s champion chili recipe and is not your average white chicken chili. The secret? Ranch seasoning and bacon!If you love...WW…

This recipe for Apple Dutch Baby Pancake is easy to make in a cast iron pan, but be ready to eat it as soon as it comes out of the oven. It waits for no one and will fall quickly. That's ok - it tastes just as delicious.Simply put, an apple Dutch baby is a family sized, baked pancake with apples in it. Dutch baby’s are also known as German pancakes and what differentiates them from American style pancakes is not only that they are baked instead of cooked on the stovetop, but also because they have no leavening agent in the ingredients. Instead of using baking powder or baking soda to get...…This recipe for Apple Dutch Baby Pancake is easy to make in a cast iron pan, but be ready to eat it as soon as it comes out of the oven. It waits for no one and will fall quickly. That's ok - it tastes just as delicious.Simply put, an apple Dutch baby is a family sized, baked pancake with apples in it. Dutch baby’s are also known as German pancakes and what differentiates them from American style pancakes is not only that they are baked instead of cooked on the stovetop, but also because they have no leavening agent in the ingredients. Instead of using baking powder or baking soda to get...WW…