My Favorite Things

Shopping Handmade for the Holidays? Find it on Amazon Handmade!

November 20, 2018 by Laura Tucker Leave a Comment

This post was sponsored by Amazon Handmade as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

Is it just me, or does it seem like every time you scratch one thing off of your holiday shopping list, two more things get added? Each year it feels like my list gets a little bit longer and my time to get all of my shopping done gets a little bit shorter. We’re just three days away from Black Friday, and sometimes if feels like a struggle to pick out the perfect gifts for my friends and family in time for all of the major sales to hit. Be that as it may, I’m finally hitting the ground running this week and being intentional about finding a thoughtful gift for each person on my list, and I’ve already begun piling my shopping cart with some really fabulous finds!

…

Simple Friendsgiving Entertaining + DIY Burlap Utensil Holder

November 12, 2018 by Laura Tucker Leave a Comment

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and The Coca-Cola Company. All opinions are mine alone. #GiftACoke #CollectiveBias

I remember the very first time I was introduced to the idea of “Friendsgiving.” During my senior year of college, a sorority sister of mine invited me to a Friendsgiving dinner she was hosting at her house. Without even being entirely sure of what it was, I told her to count me in! When I asked what all a Friendsgiving dinner entailed, she quickly explained that it was a time of fellowship with friends to celebrate the Thanksgiving season before we all parted ways during the break to head back home to visit with our families. Since then, I’ve seen many of those same people that attended keep the tradition alive by hosting a gathering in their homes filled with good food, good fiends and good times!

…

My Top Thanksgiving Hostess Gift Pick: Precious Moments Bountiful Blessings Collection

November 11, 2018 by Laura Tucker Leave a Comment

I received product in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are 100% my own. Affiliate links may be included throughout this post at no cost to you.

Growing up, my mother used to frequent a store in my hometown that sold a hodgepodge of collectibles and gifts. It was one of my very favorite stores to get to go to, as they had a section specifically for children at the back of the store filled with the most wonderful books, stuffed animals and toys that I could look at while my mother shopped around. Sometimes I would venture towards the front of the store where they had beautiful display cases filled with porcelain figurines that I loved to admire. Specifically, I had my eyes set on their collection of Precious Moments characters, and I always loved to scope out which piece of their iconic birthday train I’d be receiving next.

…

Southern Made Simple Turns 3

November 4, 2018 by Laura Tucker 2 Comments

I’d love to tell you my life as a blogger is rainbows and butterflies, but it isn’t.

I’d love to tell you that documenting my life and sharing it with the world is effortless and easy for me, but it isn’t. I’d love to tell you that turning this piece of the Internet into something that works for me and not the other way around has been crazy easy, but it hasn’t. I’d love to tell you that every second of the time I’ve poured into creating Southern Made Simple has paid me in dividends, but I can’t. I’d also love to tell you that I keep a batch of homemade cookies on hand at all times, and that I receive an endless supply of cuddles from my babies all day long as a “stay at home mom,” but I don’t.

…

Stack your Snacks and Collect to Win! + Sweepstakes

October 19, 2018 by Laura Tucker Leave a Comment

This post was sponsored by NABISCO as part of an Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

Stocking up on our favorite snacks is the name of the game in our household. With two little ones in tow, I try to make as few trips to the grocery store as possible, so making sure I have enough snacks to get us by for a while is always my strategy!

…

Meet Tuckerville’s Tiniest Conductor at the Thomas & Friends Super Station

September 29, 2018 by Laura Tucker Leave a Comment

I have been compensated for this post in exchange for my honest review. However, all opinions expressed here are 100% my own. I only promote what I truly love!

It was bright and early on a Saturday morning, and the fog was just beginning to lift as the sun started to peak over the horizon. Tuckerville’s tiniest train conductor was just beginning to emerge from her sleep to get ready for a long day of endless playtime – a job that is well suited for a child with a beautifully wild imagination just like hers.

She lets out a yawn, wipes the sleepy out of her eyes and runs down the hallway to my bedroom to claim her spot between her daddy and I. She nestles into the covers and wiggles her little toes against ours as she gently reminds us that the sun is awake, and therefore everyone in the house should be awake, too.

…

Falling for Buttons Diapers GIVEAWAY!

September 11, 2018 by Laura Tucker Leave a Comment

Who else is getting excited that Fall is right around the corner?! Even though it’s currently 89 degrees outside, I always look forward to this time of year. I can definitely feel a change in the air, and soon the leaves will be shedding their green and transforming the landscape with their beautiful shades of orange and brown!

…

Getting Off the Grid and Getting Outdoors with GameSaver® + GIVEAWAY!

September 6, 2018 by Laura Tucker 1 Comment

This post is sponsored by Everywhere Agency on behalf of FoodSaver®; however, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Have you ever felt stuck in a season of life where it seems like you’re busier than normal.? Time so quickly passes and we get swept away by our own agendas. We get caught in the hustle and bustle of work, parenting, maintaining somewhat of a social life and trying to keep up with the Joneses, all while keeping our eyes glued to a screen in some form or fashion to keep us “entertained.”

For my family, the month of August was a total whirlwind! My husband and I welcomed our second child into the world in late July, and we’ve been having to learn all over again just how hard it is to adjust to a severely disrupted sleep schedule, balancing a toddler’s needs with a newborn’s needs and keeping a grip on our sanity all at the same time. Don’t get me wrong – it’s been a joy! But my husband and I are both ready for a day of rest.

Sometimes, it’s important to disconnect from things so that we can reconnect with things that are important to us. Making time in our busy schedules to breathe and enjoy the beauty of the world around us can do wonders for mental clarity, and that’s why my family is making it a point to get off the grid and get back into nature during National Hunting and Fishing day – taking place on September 22nd this year.

I feel pretty darn lucky to have married into a family of outdoor enthusiasts. During this time of year, my family begins making their annual preparations for deer season to open up, and out come all of the bows, rifles and ammo to be sighted in and tested in anticipation of a bountiful harvest.

Speaking of bountiful harvest, check out my beautiful mother-in-law and her handsome buck she killed a few seasons back! She has always loved getting outdoors and suiting up in her camouflage to scope out a beautiful buck or doe to bring home to her family. Not only is she handy with a rifle, but she also assists with cleaning the kill – and she cooks a mean venison roast!

My husband and I are counting down the days until National Hunting and Fishing Day, where we plan to fully disconnect from the distractions in life and spend time with our family preparing our gear for opening day coming up very soon. We’ll finish sighting in our rifles, sharpening our broadheads and get in a little target practice. Come opening day, we’ll be diving into the woods and breathing in the fresh air while we scope out a deer – and we couldn’t be more excited!

One tool we simply cannot live without during deer season is our GameSaver® Outdoorsman Vacuum Sealing System and GameSaver® Heat Seal Bags and Rolls to help us preserve the meat that we harvest so that we can enjoy it all year long.

This particular system is perfect for a beginner due to it’s ease of use. The bags are made of a durable, multi-layered material that is puncture resistant and blocks out oxygen and moisture, so any meat or produce that is sealed lasts up to 5x longer compared to ordinary storage methods! The Outdoorsman has an extra wide sealing strip and can power through 40 consecutive seals at a time. It’s been a HUGE helping hand as far as keeping our meat fresh for our family all year long, and helps our family save a ton of money each year by preventing freezer burn on our favorite foods!

Discount Alert!

Amazon will be running a special promotion on GameSaver® products throughout the month of September. Plus, The Outdoorsman and the GameSaver® 28 gallon bags and GameSaver® 11″ expandable heat rolls (2 pack) will be 20% off from September 9th – September 16th!

Sweepstakes Alert!

Looking for a little adventure? Gamesaver® is offering outdoor fans a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have their own off-the-grid adventure with a trip to Alaska! (Plus, a super awesome GameSaver® Vacuum Sealing system of their own!) The sweepstakes is currently taking place and runs from August 25th – September 22nd. Entering is super easy to do! Just enter here for your chance to win!

Giveaway!

One lucky buck (or doe) can get in on the action now and enter to win an Outsdoorsman of their own! I’m hosting a giveaway for one right now on my Instagram page, so hop on over and get your entries in! Giveaway ends September 20th, 2018 at 11:59pm CST

Will you be going off the grid on September 22nd to celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day? Do you hunt and/or fish for wild game? How could the GameSaver® Outdoorsman enhance your outdoor adventures? Leave a comment below and share the love!

The Perfect Summer Side Dish: Broccoli & Cheddar Stuffed Tomatoes + GIVEAWAY!

August 7, 2018 by Laura Tucker 13 Comments

This post was sponsored by Green Giant as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

Throughout the entire second and third trimester of my pregnancy, my body constantly craved the juicy goodness of fresh, homegrown tomatoes. Unfortunately, my husband and I were not able to plant a garden like we normally do each year so we could grow our own tomatoes, but we were very fortunate that my mother and several other friends in our community had bountiful crops of tomatoes and other fresh produce that they were more than willing to share with us!…

Back To School Snack Stock-Up + DIY No-Sew Ice Pack Cover Tutorial

August 6, 2018 by Laura Tucker Leave a Comment

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #StockUpBTS #CollectiveBias

Isn’t it crazy how fast the summer always seems to fly by? It seems like one day children are celebrating at their end of the school year parties, and the next day they’re headed straight back! To be honest, though, I do get a little bit giddy when I see stores putting out all of the colorful school supplies and bins filled with awesome deals on all the back to school essentials! I’ve always been one to stock up when I see a good deal, and aside from all of the great deals on crayons and pencils, I’m ALL about those awesome grocery deals on snacks to keep our pantry stocked!

…