Shopping Apps We Can’t Live Without

Being a new parent quickly will up your household budget. I never understood coupon clipping until now. Because my purse is big enough, i’m so grateful for new apps that help me clip digitally. Here’s a breakdown of apps we use on a monthly basis:

Honey - a chrome extension that automatically finds coupon codes before you make a purchase. I love that honey lets me know how many coupons have been found. Even using amazon, it will tell me if the current product is the lowest price from all sellers available.

eBates - a chrome extension and coupon app. My mother in law swears by ebates. It gives you cash back from certain retailers. They also automatically apply coupon codes when purchasing online. Keep in mind ebates rewards and coupons cannot be combined with other offers. I guess that’s why i have only received $2.50 to date. 

RetailmeNot - a website and app that lists coupons and coupon code offerings for various retailers. Though retailmenot, may not instantly apply codes at checkout, their coupon codes tend to work best as they are updated in real time. The site shows how many people the code last worked for and when. 

Shopular - I LOVE shopular. This app has instant notifications as you enter a retail store. Many times i have been in a store and used the app. The search functionality is easy to use and doesn’t hold much space on your phone. 

Hope these small tips help. And no, we were NOT paid for these mentions. We wish, lol. 

- Chanel Rae 

Our Favorite Pregnancy Apps

When Toyz (my nickname for Latoya) and I were pregnant we used many apps to keep track of our growing belly. Before becoming pregnant we never truly understood why pregnancies are counted by weeks. We soon learned that every week was a different experience. 

Apps we loved “What to Expect,” “The Bump,” and “BabyBump Pregnancy." These apps helped us predict our new symptoms, helped us estimate what stage of development our babies were in, and gave us something to look forward to each week. 

Though these were the apps we used, keep in mind they were used almost three years ago. Be sure to check out the App Store on your own and try as many as your heart desires as their may be new options we aren’t aware of. 

- Chanel Rae

Keeping Spice and Everything Nice

Are you a parent who can’t even remember when was the last time you had a romantic/exotic night with your spouse or significant other? Or even remember when you said something sexy or sweet?

Isn’t it amazing how little person controls a big part of the romance department or (lack there of) in a relationship?

For the parents who co-sleep with their kids - well you might as well be celibate.

But there is hope! There are a few things adults can do to keep the romance alive. First thing, always make time for a date night, meaning nooooo baby. Find a reliable sitter, someone who is capable of holding things down while you get your groove back. Yes, I know for many moms its a guilt trip going out and leaving baby, butttt get over it. You must have your “me time” as often as your schedule permits or you’ll go crazy. Trust me.

Whatever your “me time” is...movies, paint and sips, the club, bowling, Go karts, brunch, day party, the gym or just plain ol’ drinking at home, just make it all about you. And go for it, have daytime sex, it makes you feel spontaneous ;) (although you probably had to schedule that in) but who cares.

Although babies and kids are way cuter than your significant other, remember to kiss your adult baby too, give them hugs and an occasional butt spank doesn’t hurt either. To be a parent is to be an all rounder. Make it happen. Keep romance alive.

-Latoya

Getting Pregnant: NOT as Easy as 1...2...3

So here you are...a point in your life where things are in place and you are ready to commit to being a parent. BUT it’s been weeks, months, even years and nothing has happened. Ughhh...you’ve spent your entire life trying NOT to get pregnant now it’s not the easiest to conceive. You think to yourself is something wrong with me? Something wrong with my partner? You get doctors involved and start your research. Trust and believe you are NOT alone. Many personal stories shared amongst friends and family members prove that they as well have had to put in a little extra “work” to get the results they wanted. 

May seem unfair right? If you are experiencing these times right now, it seems as if everyone else on social media or in your social circle just hold hands and become pregnant... don’t fret. Remember that everyone’s journey is different. We don’t know everyone’s struggle or what they overcame to get to this point in their lives.

What are some struggles you deal with towards the journey of pregnancy?

- @ToyStarr