Tryon Palace Tour

I have always been a fan of historic sights, especially colonial-era time periods. One of my favorite trips as a kid was to Williamsburg, VA. So I was very excited to visit and tour Tryon Palace in New Bern, NC. Tryon Palace was formerly known as the Governor’s Palace from 1770 to 1775 before the North Carolina capital was moved to Raleigh.

In April 1791, George Washington stayed two nights in New Bern and attended a ball at Tryon Palace. The 8th Governor of NC (the last Governor to be inaugurated at Tryon Palace) had the state capital moved to Raleigh, NC, in 1794.

In 1798, a fire that started in the cellar of Tryon Palace burned the main house to the ground. It was rebuilt in the 1950s based on the original plans, keeping it a historical landmark.

Tryon Palace now features the main house, kitchen, office, horse stables, cellar, and 16 acres of beautiful gardens and landscapes. There are also four other historical houses and buildings near the Palace.

Tryon Palace is located at 529 South Front Street, New Bern, NC 28562. You can learn more about Tryon Palace, its seasonal events, tickets, hours, etc., on its website here.

Quick facts:

• Capital for 2 governments
• 18 galleries & exhibits
• 250 years of history (to explore)
• Dixon House, Stanly House, Hay House & New Bern Academy Museum, other historic houses to explore near the Palace
• More than 16 acres of gardens & landscapes
• Yearly/seasonal events such as Christmas candlelit celebration
• Named after William Tryon, who was the Governor of NC from 1765-1771
• The Palace overlooks the Neuse River right along the water and is gorgeous

Begin at the North Carolina History Center (529 S. Front St.) in New Bern, NC. Purchase tickets, find maps & info, view an orientation film, visit gallery exhibits, and begin the Tryon Palace tour. There is also a museum store and food at Lawson’s Cafe.

You can tour the interior palace, cellar, kitchen office, stables, and outer grounds with 16 acres of gardens. Tours of the palace and kitchen office are guided, but the outdoors is self-guided.

Note:

Photos are allowed with no flash.

Tryon Palace

Dixon House

Tryon Palace is full of history and is just gorgeous! I want to go again myself. If you’re in Eastern North Carolina, you should stop by. You won’t regret visiting this historic gem!

Newborn Must-Haves

Just like with pregnancy and postpartum, newborn life comes with many changes. Because each baby is different, it can be unpredictable. No matter if it’s your first baby or 6th, the newborn phase can still be a bit of a learning curve each time.

You might have one baby who loves to be swaddled and another who hates it. You might have one baby who likes to be in a baby wrap and another who prefers just a baby carrier. Each baby has their own preferences and favorite things. It takes a bit of trial and error to figure out what works for each baby.

For example, my first two babies loved their baby swing. I figured it was a staple, and all babies love it. My third baby hates it and screams whenever he’s put in it. But we did find another baby seat with vibration that he likes.

So while these are some essentials I have come to rely on with newborns, sometimes you just never know what they’re going to like. You may have to get creative and play around to figure out what works best for you and your baby.

Once you find what works for you, run with it! I try to keep it basic and minimal with my tips to help you along on your journey. So without further ado, here are my personal top essential must-haves for newborns.

Changing & Cleaning

If there is one thing everyone knows babies need, it's diapers, etc. There are some more items that often are overlooked until they’re needed that you’ll want to make sure to have on hand. Here are my newborn must-haves for changing and cleaning:

• Diapers/Wipes
• Diaper rash cream
• Bath/Baby wash
• Gripe water
• Snot sucker
• Baby oil
• Baby lotion
• Grooming kit (Baby brush/comb, nail clippers, thermometer, medicine dropper, etc.)

Clothes & Accessories

Babies outgrow clothes so fast in these early days; I suggest finding what works for you and Baby. Stick with those things as opposed to buying everything. For example, I typically only dress my babies in sleepers for at least the first month (sometimes longer), so I buy mostly those instead of all the onesie/ multiple piece items. Here are my essential must-haves for newborn clothes and accessories:

• Pacifier
• Baby sleepers
• Burp cloths
• Hat
• Blankets
• Swaddle wraps/blankets

Equipment

You will need quite a bit of equipment for your new little one. While each baby is different in what seats they may or may not like, you really don’t need to get one of everything. My best advice is to go with the essentials while they are newborns and slowly add the bigger toys/chairs/seats as needed as they get older. Here are my equipment must-haves:

• Boppy pillow
• Swing
• Pack n Play/Bassinet
• Carrier/Baby wrap
• Car seat
• Stroller
• Breast pump/bottles
• Baby bathtub

For more newborn items you may want/need for your hospital stay, check out Hospital Bag Must-Haves, and for postpartum essentials for mom during the 4th trimester, check out Postpartum Must-Haves.

I hope that these tips come in handy for you and help to better prepare you for life with a newborn. All of us mothers have been where you are. Just know you are not alone! If you have any suggestions for other must-haves that I didn’t list, please comment below and let me know.

Staying Cozy with Chrissy’s Custom Socks

This blog post was sponsored by Chrissy’s Custom Socks. All opinions are my own.

As a blogger, you can work from anywhere. And as a stay-at-home mom, my blogging is usually done in the comfort of my own home/at my house. So for me, comfort is key when writing. With it being winter, you can usually find me in some comfy leggings, a sweater, and my new knee-high blogger socks from Chrissy’s Custom Socks.

I love personalized items. There is something so special about making a unique piece that is meaningful to you. I’ve been professionally blogging for almost four years now. These socks are so special to me because they represent a big part of my life and something I love that makes me me.

Chrissy’s Custom Socks makes the whole personalizing aspect so smooth. It is easy online ordering! There are options for everyone: women, men, and kids. There are knee-high and thigh-high socks. Many different styles and color options. Thinner and thicker sock types. Simply find what pair you like best and input your personalization choices.

Once you place your order, you will receive a digital proof for final approval within 24 hours. Upon approval, your socks go into production and are assigned an estimated delivery date. There is a 1-2 week production time. Production time does not include shipping. Allow 3-5 business days for delivery.

The socks themselves are warm and cozy. I love the tighter feel of the socks so they stay firmly in place on my leg and don’t fall down or bunch up. They feel sturdy and thick, like they will last quite a while. Which is a plus! No one wants socks with holes in them right away.

Not only are they comfy, but they are also made in the USA. Another huge bonus in my book. If you love personalized items, want to stay cozy, need a new pair of socks, are looking for a thoughtful gift for someone else, or just looking to support a small US-based business–then give Chrissy’s Costume Socks a try!

The blogger socks I’m sporting are the Custom Sports Socks. How would you personalize your socks? Let me know in the comments below!

Baby Names Inspired by Love

Finding the right name for your baby can be a challenge. There are so many options out there. Are you a fan of Valentine’s Day? Do you love love? If so, I have just the thing for you! I have compiled a list of about 25 names (for both genders) inspired by love for all my Valentine’s Day lovers. You might find the perfect name for your little one.

Amore

An Italian word for love.

Amy

Means beloved in French.

Archer

Cupid, the Valentine’s Day love symbol, has a bow and arrow.

Beau

A synonym for sweetheart.

Candy

A typical Valentine’s Day gift/treat.

Cara

Means beloved in Latin.

Connelly

Means loved in Irish.

David

Means beloved in Hebrew.

Desiree

Means desired in French.

Esme

Means loved in French.

Hart

Pronounced like heart.

Juliet

From Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

Kalina

Means love and affection from Bulgarian origin.

Lennon

Means lover in Irish.

Love

Self-explanatory.

Mabel

Means lovable in English.

Paris

The city of love in France.

Primrose

One option I’ve seen for the February flower.

Romeo

From Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

Rose

A typical gift for Valentine’s Day is a dozen roses.

Ruby

Red is the color of love.

Scarlett

Red is the color of love.

Teddy

A typical gift for Valentine’s Day is teddy bears.

Valentina

A variation of Valentine’s.

Violet

One option I’ve seen for the February flower.

I hope these names give you some inspiration while picking out the perfect name for your baby. I love names with special meaning, and if you love Valentine’s, these are great options to consider.

If you are still looking for other options, check out these lists: Baby Names Inspired by the East Coast, Baby Names Inspired by the West Coast, Baby Names Inspired by Flowers, Baby Names Inspired by the Sea, Baby Names Inspired by Christmas, Baby Names Inspired by Summer, and Baby Names Inspired by the Fall.

Real Mom Talk: Adjusting to Life with 3 Kids

I’ve been wanting to share all about our adjustment to adding our newest baby to the family for a little while now. As things have settled down a bit, I thought now would be a good time.

To be honest, I was a bit worried about how my older kids would adjust to having a new baby in the house. It had only been the two of them for the last four years, after all.

Last time around, my daughter was too young to really know what was going on, but this 3rd pregnancy was different in many ways. And I was also a bit apprehensive about us parents being outnumbered by the kids.

But to my surprise this has been my smoothest and easiest adjustment out of all three kids.

The first time around was a learning curve. Becoming a first-time parent is a big change. Not only are you adjusting to a baby, but you’re also adjusting to a brand new life. I thought I was prepared ahead of time, but there was so much I had to learn and relearn.

The second time around, my firstborn was still so young and needed me for so much; it was rough. Going from one kid to two was another big learning curve for me in figuring out how to balance my time between both kids and discovering the differences in what worked for each.

But this third time…it must be a charm because it has been the easiest transition for me so far. Going from two kids to three, as overwhelming as it sounds, really hasn’t been that hard. Sure, there are still adjustments and a balancing act (like always), but I haven’t found myself stressing about it all.

I’m sure it helps that my older two are a bit older and pretty independent, so I have a little more wiggle room with them needing me. And my recovery has been the quickest this go-around too, both physically and mentally. I am very thankful for that. I know that’s not the case for a lot of women.

I don’t know what is different this go around but something just feels that way.

Maybe it’s because I’m more experienced as a mom. Maybe it’s because it’s been four years since I last had a newborn. Maybe it’s because I’m not stressing about every little thing. Maybe it’s because I’m older and wiser. Maybe it’s just luck. I don’t know, but whatever it is, I am very thankful for this transition.

Everyone has been adjusting well to the new addition and has been very loving and welcoming to him from the beginning. I’m so incredibly blessed and don’t want to ever take it for granted.

I’ve also heard many people say that once you go to three kids, any more after that is a breeze and it’s all the same. So I guess someday we’ll find out if they’re right. I’ll keep you posted. Lol. For now, I’m just going to enjoy every moment and love on these three little blessings every chance I get.

What was your hardest kid adjustment? 0 to 1, 1 to 2, 2 to 3, or beyond? Let me know in the comments below!

Focus: My Word for 2023

Last year my word was “believe”. While in a season of waiting, I still believed I was where I was meant to be. While I didn’t hit all of my goals for the year, I made so much progress and am happy and more content with where I’m at. After 2022, I can say with certainty that I know I’m where I’m meant to be.

When I started thinking about a word for 2023, I kept coming back to one: Focus. As I begin to settle back into a rhythm after welcoming my new baby at the end of 2022, I am determined to focus on what matters most.

Focus

(noun): Close attention or concentration.

Focus on dreams.

This year, I plan to focus on my goals and dreams. To get back on track with my blogging and screenwriting after a break over the last few months. Since welcoming my newest baby, things have been put on the back burner (and rightfully so). I had been in such a good space chasing my dreams prior to my new baby, and now that things are settling down a bit, I want to get back into a good routine with my goals and dreams again.

Focus on family.

I plan to focus on my beautiful growing family and invest time with them. To stay present and go on new adventures together. To enjoy them, make memories, and document all the moments.

Focus on others.

I want to focus not only on myself but on others. To make a difference and help others around me. To encourage and support others. To listen and be there for those who need it.

Focus on the present.

I want to focus on being more present. Enjoying the here and now. Embracing each phase of life as it comes. To not take things for granted. To not wish to be somewhere else. I’m going to work hard to reach my goals while also embracing where God has planted me. Accept where I am now and be present for it.

Focus on the future.

While I want to be present, I also want to keep moving forward and not get stuck in one place with no progress. So I plan to focus on the future. To make plans to better my whole family’s future and life. To work hard every day towards those goals and to make all our dreams a reality.

All about focus.

Focus on what matters to you and make a difference today. Stay strong and keep on focusing. This year, I want to continue focusing in my everyday life. And I want to challenge you to keep the focus too.

Focus more. Focus longer. Focus better.