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One Top Knot Mama

a lifestyle blog about motherhood, fashion & shopping

You are here: Home / Archives for lifestyle

Valentine’s Day 2025 Gift Guide: Top Picks for Every Budget

January 13, 2025

It's hard to believe Valentine's Day is just around the corner! Stores are filling up with the cutest decor and gifts and I couldn't wait to share my favorites with you! Here are some trending gift ideas for every budget this Valentine's Day, in no particular order. Le Creuset ® Heart Dish Cooking for two at home for Valentine's Day? Perfect for lasagna, cornbread or chocolate cake for two, ...

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5 Ways to Recharge after the Busy Holiday Season

January 13, 2025

5 ways to recharge after the busy holiday season

Hey there, mama! 🌟 Happy New Year! The holiday season has finally ended, kids are back to school, so now it's time to focus on you. Recharging after the festive season is essential to regain your energy and embrace the new year with enthusiasm. I don't know about you but after all the family gatherings, school events, music programs, Christmas parties and gift shopping, I am mentally drained. I ...

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Easy and Stress-Free Elf on the Shelf Ideas

November 21, 2024

easy elf on the shelf ideas for busy moms

Ah, Elf on the Shelf—the tiny scout sent to monitor behavior, spread Christmas cheer, and give parents a nightly panic attack when they realize, at 11 PM, they forgot to move the elf. If you’re a mom juggling a million holiday to-dos, this little rascal can feel like one more thing on your plate. But fear not! This Elf on the Shelf Calendar is here to save your sanity with easy, fun, and creative ...

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Easy Ways for Busy Moms to Make an Extra $2,000 Before Christmas!

November 15, 2024

easy ways for busy moms to earn $2000 before Christmas blog post image for onetopknotmama.com

Christmas is around the corner, and if you’re anything like me, you’re looking at that holiday budget thinking, “How can I make a little magic happen without breaking the bank?” Between gifts, holiday dinners, and all the seasonal “extras,” it can add up faster than you can say “credit card statement.” But don’t worry, mama—I’ve got you! I’ve put together a list of super doable, time-flexible ...

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How to Start a 7 Day Gentle Workout Plan for Moms with Chronic Illness

August 28, 2024

Starting a new workout routine can be pretty intimidating, especially when you’re dealing with a chronic illness or something like CIDP (Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy). But guess what? You can still build strength and improve your fitness without overdoing it! In this post, we’ll dive into a gentle, 7-day resistance training plan designed to help you ease into exercise while ...

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Best Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe Your Family Will Love

July 19, 2024

classic sweet potato casserole

Hey there, fellow food enthusiasts and busy moms! 🌟 Are you ready to wow your family at the next dinner or holiday gathering? Well, get ready to introduce them to the ultimate comfort food: sweet potato casserole! This dish is a delightful blend of creamy, sweet potatoes topped with a crunchy, brown sugar streusel that will make everyone's taste buds dance with joy. Whether you're looking ...

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How to Survive a Summer Vacation with Your In-Laws

July 10, 2024

how to survive a summer vacation with your in-laws blog post image for onetopknotmama.com

A GUIDE TO KEEP YOUR SANITY Ah, summer vacations! The season of sun, fun, and—oh yes—family time. If the thought of spending your precious days off with your in-laws makes you break out in hives, you're not alone. (I happen to LOVE my in-laws, but if you're not in the same boat, keep reading!) With a little preparation and a touch of humor, you can turn what might seem like a daunting ordeal ...

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The Ultimate Summer Fun Activity Book for Kids

June 20, 2024

SAY GOODBYE TO BOREDOM AND HELLO TO THE BEST SUMMER EVER! Alright, mamas. It's the end of June. The kids have been out of school for a few weeks at this point. How many times have your kids already said they are bored? Like a hundred? Yeah, I thought so. We can try to limit screen time and make them read and do chores and play all the things, but with it being so incredibly hot outside, it's ...

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5 Powerful Phrases to Instantly Boost Your Child’s Confidence

June 18, 2024

Hey there, One Top Knot Mamas! Life can get pretty hectic, and sometimes we forget just how much our words can impact our little ones. Today, let's make a conscious effort to sprinkle some extra love and positivity into our kids' lives. Here are five things you can say to your child today to lift them up, boost their confidence and make their day a little brighter. 1. "You make me so ...

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🎨 84 Stunning Free Phone Wallpapers to Download from Canva

June 12, 2024

blog post featured image for onetopknotmama.com - phone wallpapers in images of phones

Are you looking to freshen up your phone’s look with some beautiful wallpapers? You’re in luck! We’ve created 30 unique and stunning wallpapers that you can download for free from Canva. Whether you prefer vibrant patterns, calming landscapes, or motivational quotes, we’ve got something for everyone. 🌟 Why Phone Wallpapers Matter Phone wallpapers are more than just background images; ...

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Epic Laughs Guaranteed: 50 Funny Captions for the Mom Life

June 3, 2024

50 hilarious instagram captions for moms, featured image blog post onetopknotmama.com

Welcome back to the blog! As moms, we know that every day is a mix of chaos, joy, and unexpected surprises. Sometimes, the best way to capture these moments is with a funny Instagram caption. Whether you're sharing a snap of your little one's latest mess or celebrating a rare moment of peace, a clever caption can add that extra touch of humor and relatability. Today, I've rounded up 50 funny mom ...

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75 Heartfelt Ways to Thank Teachers with Gift Messages

May 10, 2024

75 thank you notes for teacher appreciation blog post image for onetopknotmama.com

THANK YOU NOTES FOR TEACHER APPRECIATION Hello, hello! Is it the end of the school year already? Holy cow, it feels like our calendar is jam-packed for the entire month. May feels like December, a lot of mamas have coined the phrase "May-cember." Between sports, music programs, field days, field trips, conferences, meetings, appointments, graduations, excitement that school is almost out, ...

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Meet Jackie

Hello! I'm a wife, mom of 2 boys, coffee and wine lover who lives in the Nashville, TN area. After growing up in Chicago and moving to St. Louis for 6 years, we decided that Music City was our new home! I have a neurological illness, called CIDP, that has turned my life upside down, and I have created this blog to have a little spot on the internet to share with you my life as a busy mama who loves to shop, eat, drink & be merry! So grab a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, and enjoy your time with me here at One Top Knot Mama. Cheers, friend!

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I hate it here. I hate that an ICU nurse, Alex P I hate it here. 

I hate that an ICU nurse, Alex Pretti, was murdered.
A man who saved lives.
Didn’t get saved.

I hate that Renèe Good was murdered.
Another woman gone.
Another family wrecked.
Another name we’re told not to sit with too long.

I hate how fast violence becomes background noise.
I hate the shrugs.
I hate the silence.
I hate how easy it is to keep scrolling.

I hate babies taken from their parents.
I hate sterile rooms filled with screaming.
I hate tiny hands reaching for people who aren’t allowed to stay.

I hate that kids are used as bait.
Walking home.
Backpacks on.
Targeted so their dad can be deported.

I hate that this is called policy.
I hate that this is called order.
I hate that terror has a clipboard.

I hate masked men and guns.
I hate unmarked cars.
I hate zip ties and pepper spray and no names and no badges.
I hate that people are being taken in daylight.
On sidewalks.
In front of neighbors.

I hate that people seeking asylum—doing everything LEGALLY—are being hunted, grabbed, disappeared.
I hate that cruelty is being rebranded as law.
I hate that empathy is mocked.
I hate that outrage is labeled dramatic.

And I hate that all of this is happening while I’m raising kids.

I’m making pancakes.
Flipping them.
Burning a few.
Pretending everything is normal.

I’m packing lunches.
Cutting sandwiches in half.
Checking homework.
Telling my kids the world is safe.

And I hate that part, too.
Because for so many families, it isn’t.

I don’t know how you hold both things at once.
The sweetness of childhood.
The absolute hell happening around us.

I don’t know how you explain this to kids.
I don’t know how you teach justice when injustice is this loud.
I don’t know how you promise safety when the proof says otherwise.

But I do know this:

I will raise kids who see other people as human.
I will say the names.
I will tell the truth.
I will not look away just because it’s uncomfortable.

And I will keep believing—
that love, practiced loudly,
and humanity, defended fiercely,
is how we survive this.
And how we change it.

Until then, I hate it here.

#ihateithere #fuckice #abolishice #momlifeunfiltered
Five years ago today — January 6, 2021 — I was lay Five years ago today — January 6, 2021 — I was laying in bed with my two little boys, just 4 and 8 years old, and we watched something unfold on TV that I never imagined they’d see in their childhood.

I can still remember the way the room felt.
Heavy. Confusing. Quiet in a way that didn’t feel safe.

They kept asking me questions I didn’t know how to answer — questions no child should have to ask about their own country. And while I tried to be calm and reassuring, inside I felt scared… heartbroken… and honestly, a little shattered.

That day changed something in me as a mom.

It made me realize how fragile things can be.
How quickly “normal” can feel uncertain.
How much our kids absorb — even when we wish they wouldn’t.

Five years later, my boys are older — and so much more aware of the world around them. We’ve had countless conversations about kindness, respect, truth, and what it means to do the right thing when it’s hard.

And even though that day still stings when I think about it… I also carry something else alongside it:

Hope.

Hope in the helpers and the peacemakers.
Hope in raising boys who choose empathy over anger.
Hope in the quiet strength of ordinary people who believe in better.

I can’t erase what we saw.
But I can teach them how to respond to a world that isn’t always gentle — with compassion, courage, and integrity.

Here’s to raising kids who heal what’s broken instead of adding to the damage… who stand for good… and who know that the future is something we hold — and protect — together. 💛
🧀Holiday Whipped Feta Dip - recipe @corrigansister 🧀Holiday Whipped Feta Dip - recipe @corrigansisters 

I've been saving this recipe for something fancy - Sweatpants, wine and a puzzle to ring in 2026! 

Incredible, so easy and tasty!

I used our magic bullet and it turned out better than I thought.

(Recipe link in stories)

#holidayrecipes #whippedfetadip #newyearsevefood #partydip #easyrecipesathome
Day #472 of Elf on the Shelf - Rummage through you Day #472 of Elf on the Shelf - Rummage through your craft bin and something will pop out and give you an idea!

Googly eyes for the win!

#easyelfontheshelfideas #elfontheshelf2025 #funnyelf #lazyelfontheshelf elfontheshelfideas elfontheshelf cleverelf
All is calm....-ish.😜 We're in the home stretch, All is calm....-ish.😜

We're in the home stretch, parents!

I know it feels stressful right now. But your kids make all the hardwork to make the magic worthwhile. Love on them. Enjoy the crazy. Soak in the chaos. Perfection is boring!

#momlife #christmastime #holidayvibes #parenting #parentingtips
Elf on the Shelf ideas: fake bugs in a tub! #elfo Elf on the Shelf ideas: fake bugs in a tub!

#elfontheshelf2025 #elfontheshelf #funnyelf #parentingtips #momlife
🚽🧻Skibidi toilet had to be one of the days for #el 🚽🧻Skibidi toilet had to be one of the days for #elfontheshelf ...dop dop dop yes yes 🤦‍♀️

The boys loved it! (Inside I'm screaming...yes yes)

#parentingtweens #skibiditoilet
Day 9: Taco Tuesday!!! "It's Raining Tacos from ou Day 9: Taco Tuesday!!! "It's Raining Tacos from out of the sky!!" 🎼🎵🌮🌮🌮

#itsrainingtacos #elfontheshelf #elfontheshelf2025
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