Welcome to Smelling Sunflowers
I am a mom. A single mom. A single stay-at-home mom.
I am passionate about saving money in a myriad of ways.
Saving money has helped my daughter and I to make it through some extra lean times.
I also like finding ways to make extra money online and offline.
I want to share with you my tips and tricks to save money and make more money.
I am also passionate about helping other moms navigate the journey we call motherhood.
To give advice. To give tips. To share stories so you know you’re not alone.
I want to help you be the best mom you can be and not only survive but thrive in the crazy fun that is mom life!
10 Ways to Live a Less Stressful Life
Stress is a major problem for many people. You might be worried about a hectic, stressful job, a chaotic home life, bills to worry about,…
10 Wonderful Benefits of Breastfeeding a Baby
Okay, Mama. So you are trying to decide if breastfeeding is the best option for you, your baby, and your situation. One thing that can…
11 Amazing Benefits of Being a Stay-At-Home Mom
Many moms have always dreamed of staying at home with their babies. While for other moms, it is something they fall into for whatever reason.…
11 Types of Breastfeeding Positions
You would think that breastfeeding would be easy to master since it is a natural, biological process, and all. And for some women it is.…
21 Tips to Soothe a Crying Baby
It was at 2 am. I could hear Baby Girl (not my daughter’s real name, in case you were worried) crying through the baby monitor.…
27 Cheapest Foods to Buy When You Are Broke
When you have no money, grocery shopping becomes a terrifying and overwhelming experience. There can be so much food to sort through on the shelves.…
3 Ways to Combat Loneliness as a Stay-At-Home Mom
When you are making the decision to become a stay-at-home mom, other people will give you unsolicited advice and their opinions on the topic. They…
4 Reasons to Never Give Up on Your Dreams
“Never, never, never give up.” – Winston Churchill I am a positive person by nature. At least I try to be. One who is not…
55 One-Sentence Pep Talks to Give Yourself When Self-Doubt Sets In
We all have moments of self-doubt. And sometimes in those moments it can be hard to know what to say to yourself. So, I came…
6 Steps to Being Your Best Self
I don’t know about you. But as a busy mom, there are days that I just try to make it through because that is literally…
6 Tips for Surviving Mediation
When you are going through a divorce, there are many decisions that need to be made. If you are getting divorced, then chances are that…
6 Tips to Get Your Baby Sleeping Through the Night
The first few weeks and months of your baby’s life can be difficult. Not only is it a whole new world with a brand new…
7 Powerful Benefits of Believing in Yourself
Believing in yourself is so important. But, sometimes it can be a struggle to believe in yourself. Maybe you struggle with your self-worth or maybe…
7 Ways to Increase Your Motivation
Motivation. It’s why you get out of bed in the morning. It dictates the choices made throughout your day. When motivation is lacking then getting…
8 Ways to Stop Impulse Buying
Everyone falls victim to some kind of impulse buying. In the past for me, it has happened the most at the grocery store. When I’m…
9 Common Breastfeeding Concerns
There seems to be this belief that breastfeeding should be easy and have no difficulties. That your baby will magically latch the first time and…
9 Ways to Create an Emergency Fund
No matter who you are it is important to have an emergency fund. An emergency fund helps you with just that, an emergency. Whether your…
A Comprehensive Guide to Swaddling a Newborn
I remember when I saw my daughter for the first time. She was wheeled into my hospital room in a bassinet all swaddled up. She…
A DoorDash Review From a Dasher
Gone are the days where the only side hustle you could do is to have a part-time job. Now there are so many options when…
A Master List of Budget Categories
Creating a budget helps set you up for financial success. You know where your money is going and how much you can save for your…
All About Affiliate Marketing – A Beginner’s Guide
If you have been researching ways to make money online, then you have probably stumbled upon a lot of information as well as terms that…
An Honest Wealthy Affiliate Review – A Mom’s Perspective
In this post, I want to give you an honest Wealthy Affiliate review. I want to show you how Wealthy Affiliate (WA) can help you…
Are Self-Confidence and Self-Esteem the Same Thing?
These two terms get used interchangeably, referring to how you feel about yourself and your abilities, but in fact, they are not the same thing.…
Are You Self-Sabotaging Your Grocery Budget?
Buying groceries each month can be costly, especially if you are having a hard time sticking to your budget. There are certain mistakes that you…
Ask Yourself 4 Questions Before Making a Purchase
In an age where you can literally buy something with a touch of a button, it can lead to some poor buying choices. If shopping…
Be Happy with Your Progress
It can be so easy to be hard on yourself and feel bad about your lack of progress. Even if you have had a little…
Birth Control Methods While Breastfeeding
You just had a baby. You are trying to get the hang of this mama thing. You’re running on no sleep. You’re trying to figure…
Can You Get Pregnant When Breastfeeding?
You just had a baby. You’re starting to get the hang of being a mama and breastfeeding your baby. Then a curveball hits. The pregnancy…
Celebrate Your Mistakes
When you make a mistake, big or small, cherish it like it’s the most precious thing in the world. Because in some ways, it is.…
Cons of Being a Stay-At-Home Mom
Being a stay-at-home mom has a lot of benefits. But there are downsides as well to being a stay-at-home mom that should be considered when…
Delivering with DoorDash: An Inside Look from a Dasher
Sometimes you need extra money (or just want extra money). I get it, I’m a mom with a little one. I started “dashing” with DoorDash…
Don’t Forget to Smile
There’s a tendency to get caught up in the tasks of our day, the urgency of what’s coming up, the distractions of being online. And…
Get the Most Out of Life by Asking Yourself 7 Questions
You never know how much time you have left. I don’t mean to sound morbid. But because of the best way to live life is…
How Can I Afford to Be a Stay-At-Home Mom?
You want to be a stay-at-home mom. You know the benefits and you have your own reasons for making the transition from working outside of…
How to Be Comfortable with Discomfort
It is a whole heck of a lot easier to change your life, either big or small changes if you learn to master one skill.…
How to be Happy as a Stay-At-Home Mom
There seems to be this belief in society that because you get to be a stay-at-home mom, everything is perfect and you are always happy.…
How to be Productive When You’re Tired
When you are tired, trying to get anything done becomes an almost insurmountable task and can feel like a chore. It is hard to focus…
How to Beat Stay-At-Home Mom Boredom
Being a stay-at-home mom can be great. But that doesn’t mean it is always sunshine and roses. There are struggles that you encounter. One of…
How to Build a Budget in 4 Easy Steps
So maybe you have been wanting to create a budget because you know how important it is to track your spending, but maybe you haven’t…
How to Change a Diaper Step-by-Step
Changing a diaper for the first time can seem daunting. And don’t be embarrassed if you don’t know how to do it, but you feel…
How to Deal with Breast Engorgement
When you first start breastfeeding, your breasts will produce colostrum. Which is the first milk your baby will ever eat. This is produced in small…
How to Deal with Stay-At-Home Mom Depression
When I first became a stay-at-home mom, I never realized I could be faced with loneliness, boredom, or depression. It wasn’t that I thought that…
How to Deal with the Loss of Your Marriage
My 2nd wedding anniversary should have been a joyous occasion. One filled with happiness, and laughter. A celebration with my best friend. But instead, we…
How to Decrease Your Stress: 17 Ways
Everyone gets stressed, whether it is due to something major in your life like a serious illness or just the little things in life that…
How to Eat a Vegetarian Diet While Breastfeeding
They say you are what you eat. Because what you eat has nutrients that are essential to keeping you alive as well as healthy and…
How to Establish a Self-Care Routine
When you hear the phrase “self-care,” what comes to mind? Maybe it is what the phrase sounds like, caring for oneself. Maybe you think of…
How to Fall in Love With Yourself
It can feel like a feat trying to love yourself. Especially as a mom being pulled in a million different directions. It might not even…
How to Find Recipes Using Ingredients You Already Have
Do you ever look in your pantry, fridge, and/or freezer and wonder what you could possibly make from all the odds and ends in there?…
How to Get Rid of a Diaper Rash
As a mom, you change your baby’s diaper a lot. And that is just in one day. So when you are changing your baby’s diaper…
How to Improve Your Self-Confidence
Imagine this scenario: You feel 100% comfortable in your skin on the surface as well as underneath. You might have moments of self-doubt, but they…
How to Keep Your House Clean as a Stay-At-Home Mom
It doesn’t matter what stage of life your kids are in, keeping the house clean as a mom, especially a stay-at-home mom it is hard.…
How to Keep Your Newborn Safe While Sleeping
When you have a newborn, you want them to sleep soundly, so you can in turn sleep soundly. You also want them to sleep safely.…
How to Make Yourself a Priority
Being a mom is busy. (Although I think that statement is really an understatement. ) Because really there is so much to do. To take…
How to Organize Your Stockpile
So, you have a food stockpile or are currently working on one. But you aren’t sure how to organize it. You want it to look…
How to Pack for a Move with a Baby
You are needing to move and you have a baby. Having a baby with you while packing can make it difficult. But it is definitely…
How to Practice Stillness
In our culture, stillness is regarded as a negative thing. It seems to be thought of as inaction. And if you are being still, then…
How to Prevent Diaper Leaks and Blowouts
No one wants a leaking diaper or a full-blown blowout. Not only does it usually happen at the most inconvenient times and possibly when you…
How to Pursue Your Dreams in the Face of Doubters
What do you do when you have a dream, but everyone around you (including family and friends) keep telling you to be more realistic and…
How to Save Money as a Stay-At-Home Mom
Maybe you are wanting to be a stay-at-home mom and you haven’t taken the plunge yet or maybe you already are a stay-at-home mom. Either…
How to Save Money When You are Broke
You want to save money, but there just isn’t a lot of it to go around for the time being. You pretty much have no…
How to Savor Life
Savoring is usually applied to eating good food: take a single square of dark chocolate and put it in your mouth, but don’t chew and…
How to Shop Grocery Store Sales
Before you even start shopping for sales at grocery stores, you need to know good deals when you find them. I have Celiac’s Disease and…
How to Show Up Even When You are Not Feeling it
There are days when you are just not feeling it. It’s not that you are exhausted or tired. (Although being productive when you are tired…
How to Stay Motivated Even on Your Worst Days
There are days when you are bursting with motivation. You just get up in the morning, go throughout your day doing what needs to be…
How to Stock a Pantry from Scratch on a Budget
There are various reasons why you might need to stock a pantry from scratch on a budget. You might be just starting out on your…
How to Stockpile Food
Having an extra supply of food on hand is important in case of an emergency. But it can also save you money and extend the…
How to Stop the Food Waste Insanity
Food waste is a big problem. In the U.S. alone, nearly 40% of the food supply is wasted every year. (1) Which holy cow is…
How to Swaddle a Newborn: A Step-by-Step Guide
One of the ways to keep your newborn happy is by keeping them swaddled. Trying to get the perfect swaddle can be difficult. I remember…
How to Tackle the Big Things that You Have Been Avoiding
What big task, project, chore, or conversation have you been avoiding facing? It’s one of the biggest problems in many people’s lives — procrastination is…
How to Throw a Budget Birthday Party for a One Year Old
When my daughter turned one, I was on a tight budget. But I had dreamed of having the iconic 1-year-old birthday party for her (maybe…
How to Use the DoorDash Dasher App
Delivering with DoorDash has been a great way for me to provide extra income for my family. When you become a “Dasher,” you use a…
I Have Two Savings Accounts
There is no hard and fast rule dictating how many savings accounts that you must have. But you might find that as your needs change,…
I Tried Chirp Audiobooks and am Now Hooked
I love books. I always have. I learned how to read when I was only 3 years old and I have never stopped reading, until…
Listening in the Silence
We are often afraid of silence because it can feel idle, boring, unproductive, and scary. And can have a certain empty quality to it. Plus…
Living in an R.V. with a Baby – 2 Important Tips
Recreational vehicles (R.V.’s) have all sorts of hazards and obstacles in them that can be potentially dangerous for the safety and the well-being of a…
Oops! I Shopped Hungry and it Wasn’t Pretty
Real talk alert coming to straight at you. I sometimes struggle between wanting to keep things real and show my mistakes and doing the opposite…
Shopping Hungry? Here’s How to Do it Safely for Your Wallet
Have you ever gone to the grocery store hungry? It’s okay. You can raise your hand or nod your head yes if you have. I…
Shopping is Not Free Entertainment
I have a confession to make. I used to love shopping. To an excessive degree. To a point where it almost became an addiction. I…
Sorting Out Your Feelings After a Divorce
I never expected that a divorce would take my emotions on a roller-coaster ride to the extent that it has. I have had highs and…
Take Time to Clear Things Out
There is a simple universal truth. If things can accumulate they will. Email piles up. And if you have more than one email. Yikes. I…
The 30-Day Rule
Maybe you have been struggling with impulse shopping. Or shopping has become entertainment for you. Or you just want another way to save money. And…
The Beginner’s Guide to Personal Development
I struggle with self-confidence and self-image issues. I have perfectionistic tendencies, a procrastinating streak, and tend to get over-stressed. I battle with managing my time,…