Kneedles & Life

August 2, 2020

how to make the most of your mornings as a mom

I write this to you at 10:33 on a Saturday morning. I have about 20-30 minutes before my daughter wakes up, and I feel like I’ve had a fairly productive morning, especially for a Saturday. I am a mom and do not work a conventional job so I have the blessing of staying home with my daughter, but I won’t lie, those nap times are super special and important. I am a wife, homemaker, blogger/influencer, and small business owner on top of being a stay-at-home mom. Since having my daughter, it is a daily challenge to get things done, but being her mom is my first priority and everything else gets done around caring for her.

If you’re anything like me, mornings are your most productive time of the day. I know that if I don’t do certain things in the morning (like cleaning) they won’t happen at all. But the time feels like it FLIES by too quickly every. single. day. Something that helps me is having the same routine. Every day we wake up at the same time, eat breakfast at the same time, play, nap, etc.

In this post I will walk you through MY morning routine. The things I get done are sometimes different but the general flow is the same. I hope it helps you organize your mornings too!

July 21, 2020

Toddler Food Ideas

Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, peas and hummus.

Ever get bored feeding your toddler the same food every day, but can’t think of fresh ideas? There’s so many options out there but sometimes my mind just goes blank. I asked my mom friends on Instagram what their kiddos have been eating and loving lately and put them all together in a list! I loosely organized them by food groups so it’s easier to sort through and find what you’re looking for.

Hope this helps you and your littles find some new favorites! If you have ideas that aren’t on the list make sure to leave a comment below!

July 14, 2020

my top 5 favorite youtube workout channels that are totally free

Anyone else love a good home workout? I don’t like to get ready and drive to a gym only to have people watch me awkwardly workout LOL, and I also don’t want to pay an arm and a leg for a class or trainer. If you’re on a budget but don’t want to sacrifice your health, I’m sharing my favorite YouTube accounts that offer awesome, doable at-home workouts and classes for FREE.

I have used all of these at various points of my life and highly recommend them. Some also have paid content but there’s plenty of free videos to last you forever.

These are in no particular order – enjoy!

July 10, 2020

easy peasy squeeze pouch recipes

Hey moms (or dads too)! This one is for YOU. Do you have a picky eater? Want to sneak a few more veggies into your kids diet? Need a snack on the go? My daughter will eat most of what I give her, but sometimes it’s hard to get enough variety in her diet, especially with veggies. We spent 2 weeks “introducing” carrots before she would swallow one, but I mixed carrots with applesauce one time and she sucked it down.

I want to emphasize that these pouches are a great supplement to what your child is already eating. They are not a meal, and I am not advocating that they should be the only way you feed your child fruits and veggies. 😉 Phew, glad we got that out of the way.

Just a heads up – this post is for parents who don’t really follow recipes and “just eyeball it” like me. You won’t find any measurements or special prep with these recipes! Just simple, quick, throw it together combinations for the busy parent who still wants to make sure what they feed their kid is healthy and clean.

June 23, 2020

I used Furls Crochet hooks for a month and here’s what I think

A little over a month ago I received three crochet hooks from Furls Crochet. Up until now, I have only used the thin metal hooks you can buy at most craft stores. I have not used anything ergonomic, squishy, or wooden. I had been wanting to try something new for awhile, so I reached out to Furls and they generously sent me a few hooks to try in exchange for my honest review! I used them for awhile before sitting down to write this post, so I could give you a genuine opinion of them. These thoughts are my own and not persuaded by Furls Crochet or anyone else. I truly want to help you decide if these hooks might be a good fit for you!

THIS WEEK is a great time to try Furls Crochet because the whole site is 25% off in celebration of their birthday! Just use the code FURLSDAY25 at checkout to take 25% off your whole order. 🙂

Disclaimer: this post contains affiliate links. This means if you purchase through one of my links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my blog in this way!

Grip

To be 100% transparent, I had to significantly change my grip to use these hooks and it took me time and patience to go slowly and get used to it. I usually hold my hook high up close to the tip, and my right pointer finger does a lot of work helping with the yarn. To fully reap the benefits of an ergonomic hook, I have to grip it lower and also looser, and hold my pointer back from being so extra LOL.

What’s the big deal?

Okay so you might be thinking “why bother going through changing your grip just for a pretty hook?” A few years ago I started experiencing really bad arm pain after I stopped teaching and started crocheting basically all day. The pain got so bad it would wake me up at night, and hurt when I tried to workout. I read a lot online and apparently it’s a common problem. Annoying, right? Who injures their arm crocheting? LOL. I’ve been able to manage it by knitting more but my arm still hurts pretty bad if I crochet for long periods of time.

I can honestly say, once I got used to the grip, Furls hooks do not cause arm pain. I can be using a basic hook, especially in a small size, and my arm will start hurting. I switch to a Furls hook and it’s gone. THIS alone is worth every penny!

Weight

The pattern in this picture is the Summer of ’77 Collection Rainbow Pillow by Poppie Joe and Co.

One of the hooks I received is the Rose Gold and White Odyssey hook you see above. The Odyssey hooks are metal and a bit heavy, but not TOO heavy. They come in a lot of fun colors. They are super smooth and the weight is balanced so it should increase your speed. I already consider myself a pretty fast crocheter so I didn’t see any increase in speed, but I also didn’t see any decrease once I got used to it. I like the pointy tip and since I’m already used to using metal needles, I love this one the most.

The second hook I received is the tan one you see below which is the Streamline hook in the color Camwood. The regular Strealine hooks are the most lightweight and come in three gorgeous colors. This was my first time using a wooden hook but I really like the feel of it and how lightweight it is for an ergonomic hook. These are also the most affordable hook option so if you’re wanting to try Furls for the first time but are on the fence about price, I suggest the Streamlines.

This pattern in this picture is the 1987 Scrunchie pattern by Christina Ann Studios.

The third hook I received is the Streamline Swirl in the color Cafe. I love how the swirl hooks look the most! They are a tiny bit heavier than the regular Streamline because they are made with resin, which results in them being a bit smoother as well. I have my eye on the Cream and Cookies N’ Cream swirl hooks when the size I want is back in stock.

The pattern in this picture is the Arcadia Coaster pattern by me!

Tension

For me personally, the wood Streamline makes my tension looser. I think this is most likely because I am used to metal hooks and I was using cotton yarn, so over time it will tighten up. I saw the same result with the resin Streamline Swirl. The Odyssey hook is metal and matches my tension perfectly!

Cost – is it worth it?

Furls Crochet hooks come in a range of prices depending on the style and color. The Streamline hooks are the most affordable, and then the prices go up a bit with each style. The ease of pain is 100% worth it to me, but having a beautiful tool that is enjoyable to look at and work with is also worth it.

Furls also has a no questions asked return policy. If you for any reason aren’t happy with your hook, they will exchange it, replace it, or give you a full refund within 90 days. They have a LIFETIME refund policy for broken hooks which is amazing. My Odyssey hook came with some blemishes on the white paint and rose gold tip, so they sent me a replacement immediately.

So yeah, I’d say you’re in good hands when you choose to purchase a hook from Furls Crochet!

Really freakin pretty

The pattern in this picture is the Dogwood Dishcloth by me!

Last but not least, we can all agree these hooks are just really gorgeous. I love the minimal, sleek designs and colors. When I crochet with a Furls hook I feel better about what I’m making, and they’re pretty to take pictures with as well. 🙂 There are so many different styles, colors, and tools on the website that I didn’t even cover in this post, so go take a look!

I hope this post was helpful. Because of the range of prices and materials, I think anyone can find a hook that works for them. Let me know if you have any questions about these hooks that I can answer!

XOXO, Kalley

June 19, 2020

the arcadia coaster crochet pattern

Hey friends! I’m back with another FREE crochet pattern and this time it’s coasters! I received some beautiful yarn in the mail from KnitPicks and one was a bulky cotton. Yes, you read that correctly. BULKY COTTON. It’s soft and thick which makes a nice and sturdy coaster. Click here to check out this yarn for yourself. I am using the color Turmeric for this pattern.

June 12, 2020

The Marcie Table Runner Knitting Pattern

The Marcie Table Runner was a design idea I had back in March. I have seen a lot of crocheted table runners but not any patterns for knitters. I knew I wanted something light, lacy, and perfect for any home, vintage or modern.

I named this design after my mom, Marcie, because she is my role model and the reason I started working with yarn in the first place. She’s also pretty and sweet, just like this pattern!

June 8, 2020

Slow Cooker Taco Soup

OK guys, it’s time for the easiest recipe of your life. I actually timed myself, and it took less than 5 minutes to get everything dumped in the slow cooker and ready to go! I love this soup, or as my husband calls “chili,” because it’s loaded with protein and keeps me full for a long time. It’s also easy, customizable and delicious! Win, win, WIN.

It’s perfect on a cold day, but you can eat it anytime. It makes about 5-6 large servings so you can eat the leftovers for lunch as well. It’s great by itself but also as a side with a grilled cheese or quesadilla. My 1 year old loves to eat the beans out of it so it’s a great meal for kids as well. As long as you use mild taco seasoning and salsa, it won’t be spicy.

May 25, 2020

How to Grow Organic and Genuine Instagram Engagement

Hey guys! If you clicked on this post then I assume you are wanting help with growing your Instagram audience in one way or another. I also assume this is not because you are trying to win a popularity contest, but because you know you have something to offer other people, whether that’s a product, or blog posts, or other meaningful content. No one should ever make you feel bad for wanting to grow. Growth is a GOOD thing and it is something I believe we should always strive for. I grew my business Instagram following to 10K in a little less than 3 years, but most of that growth happened in about 6 months, and I will tell you how.

First, you will notice I didn’t title this post “How to Grow Your Instagram Following,” because the numbers, to a certain extent, don’t really matter. It can definitely benefit your business to reach 10K for the swipe up feature in your stories, BUT if you don’t have genuine followers who enjoy your content and WILL swipe up, it doesn’t even matter. When presenting myself to a company for a collaboration, I always mention engagement because I believe that’s what any good company looks for – someone who interacts with their followers and has genuine relationships with them.

You’ll also notice I didn’t title this “How to Beat The Algorithm,” because it’s not about that either. I don’t pretend to understand the algorithm and I don’t get wound up over Instagram’s games. Is it fair that your feed isn’t in chronological order? I don’t know, probably not. But it is what it is and you can choose to complain about it or make do with what you’ve got. Social media is still a wonderful platform and I’m thankful for it!

If I could only give you ONE piece of advice for growing engagement, it would be to BE engaging. But don’t worry, I’m going to unpack exactly what I mean by that and give you some tips! I don’t pretend to be an expert, but I want to share with you what has worked for me in the hopes that it can help you too!

I do want to point out, though, these tips require time. But if you’re committed to your business and passionate about what you do, it won’t be a problem. You can certainly set healthy boundaries for yourself, and you should. So we’ll talk about that too at the end.

Let’s go!

May 22, 2020

Maddie’s First Birthday At Home

Madeline turned ONE on Monday! I can’t believe how quickly this year flew by and that I’m already the mom of a toddler! With the pandemic and everything going on, we decided to safely celebrate her special day at home. We had a sweet visit with her grandparents through our glass door over the weekend and FaceTimed with other family members. I am so thankful for technology right now!

It rained and rained for day but on the morning of her birthday we had a nice window where it was just cloudy and she got to eat her cake outside in the back yard!

Overall, it was a beautiful day together and I’m so excited to see what year two brings!

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