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Hey there Amelia

The other day on Instagram and on Facebook, I bragged about my husband. He truly is an amazing man and I totally lucked out with him, no doubt. 

But, I so often feel good men, good husbands, good fathers are the unsung heroes of our society. Too often as I scroll through my Facebook feed and especially in mommy groups, husbands and boyfriends are berated a lot. And unfortunately, some of it sounds warranted as some of these so-called "men" sound terrible (but this is a one-sided narrative, of course). 

How sad is the future that awaits our young men, our little boys, when they are treated so less than, so unneeded, and unwanted, so stupid in our society today, yea even criminal and evil, when we all know that's just not true. 

Good men are the foundation we need in our society, men who show, stand up, and fight for the right. Men who value family and love and fidelity. Men who support women and provide for them and treat them like the blessings they are. 

I know, you probably weren't expecting to read this in your inbox today, but it's just been on my mind. 

Just because these types of men seem so rare today (though they are more common than you think), doesn't mean good men don't exist, or that all men are jerks or stupid. Don't believe the media, and certainly don't treat the men and boys in your life as less important as the women of this world. We all have our place and importance. And good men are a huge support to ALL people. 

We need more good men. 

What are you going to do to encourage the men and boys around you to be better, to reach their full awesomeness? 

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT.....

January is coming to an end, so in case you missed it, here are some of the new stuff on What's up Fagans? this month!

How to Descale and Clean a Coffee Maker Without Vinegar

10 Preschool Subscription Boxes Sure to Delight and Entice

Catch that Poo! Diaper Sizing Chart by Age and Weight

29 Leap Year Activities and Resources Just for Kids

29 Ideas to Celebrate Leap Year Day for Adults and Kids

5 Reasons Parental Involvement Is Essential in Child Development

Why To-Do List are Overrated and What List You Need Instead

Have a blessed rest of your week!

Sincerely,

Katelyn Fagan

Hey there Amelia!

I have been working behind-the-scenes with a designer to create a new website design for What's up Fagans?! It finally went live today!! YEAH BUDDY! 

I'd love for you to pop over and check it out (and tell me about any bugs or weird things or things you'd like to be better - I already have a list of some tweaks I want/need to do) but also I want you to notice that I have created a few email challenges! 

These email challenges are a great way to improve or learn more about a particular topic from yours truly. They will be daily emails for a 5 days to 14 days (depending on the email series) where I will share a new tip and new assignment for you to improve your life or home. 

Please click on those boxes on my website and sign up for one (or more) of them! I have six featured on my homepage and at the bottom of some posts. 

They are:

1.  7 Days to a Better Mother Challenge (for those who want to tackle their own feelings toward motherhood head-on)
2. 5 Ways to Help Afford Babies (for those who are pregnant and worried about finances)
3. Mom's Favorite Pregnancy Guide (packed full of my best pregnancy and baby tips)
4. Secrets to Keeping a House Clean (or at least clean enough)
5. How to get the Family Cleaning (for those who struggle with getting spouse/kids to do their fair share)
6. 14-Day Deep Cleaning Challenge (for those who are ready to tackle too-often overlooked cleaning projects around their home)

I'm still tweaking these email challenges/forms as I also work to switch email service providers (I know, this is over some of your heads), so let me know if you don't get emails right away after you sign up for them, and so on. It's best if you add my email address (katelyn@whatsupfagans.com) to your email address book so it shouldn't go to spam. 

CHECK OUT MY NEW WEBSITE & CHALLENGES

Also, is there a topic you'd like me to create an email challenge about? Is there something you'd wish I'd share more of my wisdom or insights about with you? Let me know! I will be looking to expand my email series AND products related to them this year. 

In other news... my family has decided to do a TV Fast this Month! 

We are turning off the TV from Sunday-Friday 4pm for all of February, and then only giving ourselves 4 hours total family TV time over Friday evening and Saturday, with a bonus hour for family video games. This essentially means we can watch a family movie on Friday night and Saturday night, and my husband and kids can enjoy playing Mario together on the Nintendo Switch Saturday morning. 

But, we're doing ZERO TV during the week, and that even includes educational videos for school and workout videos for me (because we're not doing Youtube either). 

We had gotten so used to spending our evenings in front of the TV, that we felt like we were lack some creativity and personal growth around here, stuck in a rut. 

We've discussed how we could even get rid of our cell phones too, because I know I'm addicted to checking it throughout the day and evening, but as of now, my husband and I are still using our phones. The kids don't use the iPads we have much, but may for doing some online math practice still. 

We have found ourselves going to the library more, the park a few times, and reading or listening to more books. I have now read/listened to five books so far this year, just finishing"Unglued" and "The Tattooist of Auschwitz" and I am about halfway through "Everyday Millionaires." (Yes, I read a wife variety of genres!)

I encourage you to try to take a break from TV if you also feel like you are getting too stuck on it. 

Our family didn't even watch the Super Bowl (not that we would normally - we don't watch sports like ever unless at a friend's party) this past Sunday with its controversial half-time show. We don't have cable(pretty much haven't our entire marriage), but have Amazon Prime, Disney+, and love us some Youtube. 

Which, speaking of Youtube, you should definitely subscribe to my channel!! I have the goal of uploading a new video every week and already have the first 20+ video footage shot, just have to edit it all! 

I will be posting a new cleaning video today, and last week posted an old review of Trunk Club. More cleaning, unboxing, and travel videos will be posted to my channel. So, subscribe and tell your friends to do the same (I really want to hit 1000 subscribers soon). 

And the only new post up on the blog right now is actually a really old post I updated for you, all about why it's great to have twins as your first pregnancy, even though it's also hard. :) 

Thanks for reading this and being part of the What's up Fagans? community! You are really important to me Amelia and I want to make sure I always give you great content and information. 

Have a blessed wonderful week!

Sincerely,

Katelyn Fagan

Hey there?Amelia,

People I meet often ask me "How do you do it?!" How do I run a home, school the kids, run a business, carry large twins to full-term, etc??

I don''t usually have a good answer for them.?

I mean, sure, we have routines in place.?We structure our day, but we are also so very go-with-the-flow and chill type people. We don''t over schedule our life. And we do what has to be done because it has to be done. The reality is we just do it.?

We don''t really have a choice to NOT get up and do what we gotta do. I mean... We can do nothing but that usually backfires. ?? And plenty of nights we just eat cereal for dinner or order pizza instead of cooking. We probably watch too much TV too.?

We aren''t perfect over here or A+ rockstar Christian?parents in every regard (or maybe even any regard). We just do our best to love our kids, teach them some stuff, and trust that what we do will be enough as we work with God to direct us on how to do this parenting and homeschooling and marriage and life stuff.

Chances are you are doing the same with one or two or however many kids you have and/or whatever life situation you are dealing with. I am not inherently a better mom or person because I have seven kids or choose to homeschool. We are both doing what we got to do. And chances are you are actually doing one heck of an amazing job?Amelia.

So, my secret to do it all is just living each day with intention, making lists, and doing my best. And when I fail (which totally happens), I try do better the next day, or as soon as I can.?

To help you "do it all" I have some organization posts and time management posts to share with you! No matter what stage of life you are in, having things in their proper place can totally help you succeed more and fail less. I always hope to help you pick yourself back up and be better. :)?

Tips for Doing More

• Why To-Do Lists are Overrated and What List You Need Instead
• How to Develop a Family Mission Statement
• 11 Daily Habits that Keep Your House Clean with Kids
• FREE Editable Chore Chart List Printable for Adults {Download}

Organization Tips

• Homeschool Room Tour &?How to Personalize Homeschool Bins (NEW POST!!)
• How to Organize a Bathroom Linen Closet
• How to Organize Your Spice Cabinet
• How to Organize Your Deep Freezer
• How to Store Baby Clothes Short and Long-Term
• How to Digitize Old Photos, Journals and More
• 5 Smart Organization Tips for the Home
• How to Organize a Small Homeschool Room
• Best Place to Donate Clothes (That Don''t Resell)

I hope you have a happy and safe rest of your summer (if it hasn''t ended with the school year beginning already)! Hopefully next week I''ll have truly exciting news to share with you! ?????????

God bless!!

Katelyn Fagan

Hello again?Amelia!

I have been sharing a little of my experiences with my OBGYNs this twin pregnancy online, and, well, I''m still not super happy with how things are. Given my experience with multiple doctors over the last 11 years, I figured it was time I wrote up a post about what pregnant women WISH happened at their prenatal appointments (but don''t always get).?

Every woman is different in what they want from their doctors and their births, but I wrote this article in the hopes of helping?women take control of their prenatal care, not settling for?sub-par care, because we and our babies all deserve the best care available to us.?

Also, if you are taking a summer road trip, please be sure to read my post on summer road trip safety tips for families!?I don''t think we''re heading out anywhere, though we keep talking (dreaming may be a better word for it) about where we want to go as we are so ready to leave this house, responsibilities, schooling, and all of it for a while (which may be why?I was so excited just to take my kids to the playground yesterday).?

If you have a little toddler artist around your home, you may need my latest cleaning tutorial as well - How to get permanent marker off of wood!?You can read the post or head to Youtube to watch the video of the tutorial.?

I hope you are doing well and staying healthy!?

We are busy homeschooling, working, and being bored! We''re trying to get out a little bit more (cases are still low in New York and we are in Phase 4 of reopening right now). We are all spending too much time in front of the TV and being inside (or even outside) this house. Kids are all a little short with each other and not always that nice lately. I think we''ve all just had too much time being together over the last four months. So, we''re trying to take some breaks now from schooling and work and add some more play, outdoors, and friends into our lives again. We need it so much, especially as my husband has been struggling with depression lately.?

I hope you are getting what you need and want. If not, hold on.?

We still can''t do everything we''d like (movie theaters and our library?are still closed, and our church still hasn''t resumed in-person meetings). And if you are feeling low, or anxious, please talk to someone and get help. We are living in a crappy time, and there is a TON of uncertainties still ahead as places reopen and cases spike and as we approach a brand new school year. We''re all stuck a little between a rock and a hard place.?

I''m here for you. But, more importantly, God is always here for you too.?

Thanks for being here. God bless.?

Sincerely,?

Katelyn Fagan

Hey there?Amelia,?

Can I ask you what you are most looking forward to as lockdown restrictions lighten up in your area??

Is it seeing your grandkids, parents, friends? Is it returning to work? Is it seeing people and giving hugs? Is it being able to go the hair salon or do something fun outside your home??

There is no right or wrong answer!?

We have all been affected by this coronavirus quarantine differently. For some, it hasn''t really been a big deal. For others, it has been devastating.?

As we live in New York state, our reality is that it is going to take a long time still for things to open all the way back up in our specific part of the state. We live in the Mid-Hudson region, right north of New York City, and have had something like 9000+ cases and 254 deaths in our specific county. Being so close to the city (and plenty of people in our area commute to the city for work), our four phases to reopen will likely take a while to fully happen. We''re talking middle of June at the earliest for restaurants to open, and the end of the June, at the earliest, for arts, education, and recreation to open. There''s a whole list of criteria our governor has issued must be met to open anything, and for the next phase to re-open.?

Basically... it means summer isn''t happening for us and we still have a long time yet to not have much to do, and it''s totally bumming us out.?

So.... I''m trying to come up with alternative plans for our summer break. We intend to keep doing some homeschooling over the summer (which we normally do), but want to add other types of learning and projects if possible.

Right now this means I want to get ALL the outdoor gifts I can for my kids?because I want them outside as much as possible, even if it''s in our own backyard.?

It means we are looking into learning how to make simple baby quilts for our twins babies on the way, as we just got a sewing machine and are eager to learn and use it.?

It means we are going to have our kids work on some typing curriculum (TBD which one) so they can develop better computer skills.?

I?am also looking into Outschool classes for the kids as a substitute for summer camps and other programs. The kids all expressed interest in acting classes or drama, so I will be researching what they offer. I?like that Outschool offers?LIVE classes with peers and a teacher in real-time, rather than pre-recorded lessons and is relatively affordable.?

And I''m hoping that our neighbors may let us go swimming in their pools some this summer, and that our kids will eventually get to play together again.?

If you are also beginning to stress over the summer cooped up at home with the kids (still), here are some other helpful ideas of stuff to do:

• Science Expeditions Subscription?FREE first month of any 6 or 12 month subscription with code FIRSTMONTH
• Highlights Magazines for just $3.33/issue!
• Kids Cook Real Food - 14-Day Trial + 2 Months Access for just $19 + Give Away a Free Membership to someone in need!?

Also, shopDisney is selling pre-orders of 4-packs of Disney?reusable cloth face masks?which will help you feel more confident going out with the kids as things do reopen.?

I hope you''ll be able to enjoy summer yet! In the meantime... stay healthy. Stay happy. God bless you and yours!

And please, let me know how you are doing, and what helps and resources you are looking for to help you through this time!

Sincerely,?

Katelyn Fagan

Amelia,?

Maybe I shouldn''t be this happy and chill right now... But, I''ll take it when it comes. Maybe it''s because we''ve been in lockdown mode for nearly a month now that we''ve finally settled into our new life and new routine.?

But, I''m feeling pretty good this week. Optimistic even.?

I''m optimistic because I know in whom I hope.?

There is a?worldwide fast this coming Good Friday, April 10, 2020, where millions around the world will fast, uniting in prayer and pleading for healing throughout the world, that the present pandemic may be controlled, caregivers protected, the economy strengthened, and life normalized. God is so much bigger than this virus and this will all seem but a small moment. I fully believe the?end of this pandemic will come soon. Please join me in fasting and prayer on Good Friday for the same thing.

If you need help getting through your fast, or knowing alternative things to fast from, check out this post.

If you need a church to worship with this coming Sunday, you are welcome to join my local congregation''s online Zoom church?service at 1pm EST! Details in the flyer below:

If you need some last minute Easter ideas, check out these fun and meaningful family Easter tradition ideas and be sure to make your own Easter bunny cake.?

And if you want learn more about Jesus, His Atonement, and how you can Hear Him, read this post.

New What''s up Fagans??Posts This Week

• Prop and Backdrop Ideas for Your Gender Reveal Photo Booth
• Gender Reveal Dresses You''ll Love Wearing to Your Party
• Best Ways to Listen to Audiobooks for Moms in 2020 (My secret for reading 30 books last year!)
• 14 Real Ways to Get Motivated to Clean When Overwhelmed By Mess

*I have our gender anatomy ultrasound coming up this Monday to find out the gender of our twins, so gender reveals are fresh on my mind. I intend to share the news on the blog soon after that!

Special Deal for Your This Week

1. Bluprint Free Unlimited Access extended until 4/16!! Our twin girls just turned 10 and we gave them a sewing machine (half for myself though) so we are going to watch some basic intro sewing classes together to figure out how to use it for free!?If you want help making a face mask (as we are now asked to wear them when we go out) they have some tutorials for you here!

2.?Invest in Your Faith Mini Bundle - Only $7!?This contains 9 Christian resources to help you dig deeper in your relationship with God.?

3. The Self-Care Mini Bundle - Only $11.97! These 10 resources will help you de-stress, recharge, and treat yourself, something never more needed than right now!?

4. Become an InstaCart Shopper! If you are looking to get out of the house, legally, and get a job, look into becoming an InstaCart personal shopper!

5. Cricut''s Easter Flash Sale with 40% off materials, accessories, Maker Machines, and EasyPress machines! We''ve loved using and creating with our Cricut! Available through April 14.?

May you have a wonderful Easter weekend, have hope and optimism, and enjoy the time you''ve been given.?

Sincerely,?

Katelyn Fagan

Hey there?Amelia,

I really wanted to apologize for my email yesterday, especially the email subject line.?

Look, I always want you to open my emails, but I also don''t want you to cry over a subject line or email in your inbox either, especially not one from me! I understand many have lost their mothers and my email was insensitive to you who have. I am sorry, and ask you to forgive me. I should have given more thought to that before sending. I wrote it too quickly and wasn''t thinking properly.?

To make up for it, in a small, small way, I am sharing the gender of our babies today on the blog via a new post (that also highlights how I''ve been using and liking our new?Cricut machine)! The post shows you the cute gender reveal scratch-off cards we made to send to our family out of state! I would love for you to read it and share in our joy!

I also want to remind you of all the available freebies I have for you, as one of my valued subscribers! You can?see and download them ALL in my Google Drive folder. If you want to edit something there, like the household cleaning checklist, just make a copy of it (under File), and then you can edit it however you please.?

Lastly, if you are a blogger, want to be a blogger, or want to learn more about monetizing a blog you already have, my friend Katie Clark and I are running a 20% off EVERYTHING SALE when you use code 20OFF?on our Best Blog Courses, including a brand new affiliate marketing challenge that will begin Monday. But, there''s also other introductory and beginning courses there, as well as a new SEO course! Everything is already priced pretty affordably, but we want to make it more so during this time so we can help more people be successful online.?

Thanks for understanding and forgiving my blunder from yesterday. Please enjoy the baby announcement, free stuff I?have for you, and 20% off my blogging products and courses, as a small way to make up for it.?

Stay healthy, happy, and hopeful. God bless!

Katelyn Fagan

Hey there?Amelia,

Have you ever felt the pull to give to others??

I swear giving is?addictive this time of year when everyone is giving and asking you to give -- give of your time, talents, energy, money, food, clothes, goods, and so on. We start having FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) about giving!?

I like to think this pull is a very good thing. A Christ-Like thing.

We are participating in our church''s Giving Tree this year?(giving presents to local individuals/families who we''ve identified as needing extra help) even though we are having a smaller Christmas ourselves this year. We still have an abundance (something we do NOT take for granted after our several years of being receivers of gifts rather than givers)?and know we need to give of our abundance, no matter how little it may have to be this year.

Have you ever participated in a Giving Tree or Secret Santa or other anonymous gifting during the holiday season? Are you doing so this year?

Today I have a new post (I know! It''s been awhile!) with 6 fun and affordable secret Santa gift ideas for kids, should you be gifting to a child secretly too!?Please check it out and share or comment what you are gifting this year.?

I also encourage you to check out the following posts about giving during the holidays:

• 12 Days of Christmas Anonymous Gift Ideas for a Family
• How to do Anonymous Gifting to Help Feed the Hungry (and info on #LightTheWorld)

• 6 People You Forget to Thank All Year and Gifts They''ll Appreciate
• Family Service Ideas
• Why and How to Do a Random Acts of Kindness Advent Calendar

There are ALWAYS people out there who need help, at all times of year. If you didn''t donate during Giving Tuesday (I was able to raise $80 for charity:water on Giving Tuesday thanks to friends and others), please consider where and how you can give.?

And if you are unfortunately unable to give monetarily (been there!!), think of simple everyday ways you can serve. It is often through service that we forget our own problems and appreciate the little we still do have. And if you really could use help yourself, please contact local churches or organizations and request to be added to their Giving Trees or request food, clothing, or whatever else you realize you need.?

May God bless you abundantly,

Katelyn Fagan

Hey there?Amelia,

Remember how last week I was saying I felt SO good and hopeful??

Well, I had some disappointments this week, starting with my doctor''s office calling me Monday morning to reschedule our long-awaited?gender and anatomy ultrasound a few hours before it was supposed to happen, after I had woken up super early and worked all morning on the perfect gender reveal surprise idea for the kids.?

Talk about a letdown!

Then on Tuesday, Amazon let me and all their millions of affiliate partners that they are going to drop our commission rates pretty drastically, starting next week, which means far less earnings for me (and just about every blogger I know)?in the near future.?

Strike two!

But, I tell you what...?

Sunday,?Easter, was such a beautiful and wonderful day. Last week was truly great. I enjoyed this Easter holiday with my family?so much and they were a balm to my soul, and I felt the Spirit of God so strongly as I reflected on His gifts to me and all mankind.

My friends on Facebook reminded me (after I shared my disappointment)?that though these things stink, there is always a better plan, God''s plan, and that we can use these disappointments for our good. I replied that yup, you gotta appreciate the highs (last week) because the lows (this week) always come. ?

After a nap Monday afternoon, I already began feeling better and less disappointed about the ultrasound being pushed back. I?am fully aware, that in the grand scheme of things, it wasn''t a big deal to reschedule this appointment. But, it didn''t mean I wasn''t sad and angry about it being moved.?I promise it''s okay to grieve and be disappointed and be sad for a while... just as long as you don''t stay there forever. ??

This weird epidemic time we are all living through is a time of highs and of lows. It''s so important you recognize and truly appreciate the highs when they come, as they may be brief, to help you better weather the dark lows.?

Tomorrow is a new day, and a new beginning. Mourn and be frustrated today, but then try again tomorrow to see the good you do have. ??

One of the super fun things we did last week was recreated works of art as a family! We ended up recreating 8 different paintings, using ourselves and props and things around our house to recreate them. It was SO much fun!!?You need to check them out and learn how you can do it with your family! I''d love to know which one we did was your favorite, and I''d love for you to share this idea with your friends!

On Saturday, I spent the afternoon cleaning my entire kitchen with Bar Keepers Friend, filming the whole process! You can see my whole Youtube video here! Going along with that video is a new post talking about Kitchen Cleaning Checklists! Be sure to check out my blog post, and then download your own checklists here for free!

This Monday we played another game from my childhood (like the Flour Game). I shared how to play "Murder in the Dark"?on my Instagram feed! It''s really simple, but fun, especially after dark!

If you are in need of some extra money, be sure to review my older post with 12 legit ways to get money fast. You can also check out my post on legit ways to score free samples in the mail.

If you are looking for a homemade cleaner, be sure to check out my post about how to make your own dishwasher detergents! I intend to make more posts like this for additional household cleaners, so be sure to keep reading these emails to see when I post the next one!

May you have plenty of great moments this week so that you can remember them when you start feeling low.?

God bless!?

Sincerely,?

Katelyn Fagan

P.S. If you are interested in attending virtual church with me again this week, let me know so I can get you the information to join us again at 1pm EST on Sunday!?

Hello?Amelia,

I have been pondering a LOT lately, about my life, my business, my kids, our future, homeschooling, finances, all of it. SO many thoughts about stuff.?

One of the big things I?am pondering is what I can do to best serve you, my email subscriber, my follower, my friend.?

I want to serve you in more meaningful ways. I want to be a better resource and help, and feel so scattered in what I write about sometimes, and, thanks to recent Google changes over the last 6 months, honestly so lost.?

I know many of my subscribers are grandparents. Some of you live in countries far away, overseas. I know some of you are well-past the little kid stage, but many of you do have young kids in your life or are even pregnant for the very?first time.?

I like to think though you all are interested in the same things still, and why you hang around my email list.?

You all want?tips for taking better care of your home (through cleaning, organizing, etc) and tips for being better moms and grandmoms.?

You want to raise great, smart, kind, hardworking kids/grandkids.?

You want to?have order and peace in your life.?

You want to help others, do good, and have more time for the things that matter most to you.?

You want strong relationships with your spouses and your kids and friends.?

You want to be happy, content, and fulfilled.?

I like to think I can help you with all of those things in at least small ways, though I never, ever feel like I know the most on any of those subjects, because there are some truly amazing and inspiring people out there, and I understand we are all different people with different perspectives and life experiences.?

So.... This is where my favor comes in.?

I want to create a product (or two?) in the next three-ish months before I have my twin babies, but I am not sure what product(s) the majority of you actually want/need.?

To help me spend my limited work time wisely and prudently, I''d like to know what you''d like to see me create.?

Please fill out this SUPER SHORT survey and let me know!!

I appreciate it and you so much!?

Sincerely and God Bless,?

Katelyn Fagan

Well, guess what?Amelia....

Our family is expanding!! We''re expecting again!?

I am 12 weeks along now, and we finally had our first ultrasound on Friday, the 21st of February. My due date is now September 3!?

But, when they started the ultrasound we got a surprise...

We are having TWINS!!! AGAIN!!

????????

????

There were two little babies swimming around in there.?

We will be going from five children to seven children. We''ll start our family with twins and (most likely) end our family with twins!?

How crazy is that?!?

God certainly has a sense of humor, and must trust us, as imperfect as we are!!

We don''t know for sure if they are fraternal or identical, though they are in separate sacks. We won''t know the gender for another 2 months either.?

We also need to sell our 8-seater suburban and upgrade to a bigger vehicle.?

And lots of other logistical things to figure out.?

What''s crazy about it, is that we''ve been joking, and talking about "what if it''s twins again" for the last few weeks as we anxiously awaited that first ultrasound. Our one 9-year-old daughter even started saying in her prayers "Please the babies in mommy''s tummy." We started joking about that reality with dumb twin name combo ideas, trying to talk about that reality so it wouldn''t be true, or something like that.?

I even started going deep into the archives on my blog (so back to 2008-2010) and updating some of those old twin posts and resharing them.?

We had a lot of fun calling and telling family and friends yesterday and today about our exciting news, so I?wanted to make sure you heard the news too?Amelia.?

I have felt grosser this 1st trimester than I have with my other pregnancies (though still didn''t throw up or anything), and tired. But, I''ve been feeling better more often the last week or so. Yeah!?

I obviously have a lot of fears and worries and concerns about carrying twins again... The first time around I was 21 years old and skinny and healthy. It''s now 10 years later and I never lost the 25ish pounds after my last baby, and I''m not as active as I used to be. Plus, my last baby was 11lbs, so uhhhh, I don''t want two giant twins babies in my belly!! YIKES! My last pregnancy generally was harder than the ones before it, so to carry twins worries me with the pain and swelling sure to come.?

Now.... what does this mean for the blog...?

Well, chances are I''m going to share a lot more pregnancy, breastfeeding, twins, birth, and baby posts in the next year or two.?

However, I still have plans to continue sharing great cleaning tutorials, tips for the family, and more. It will not be all babies all the time. I know many are well past that stage of life and aren''t interested in that content.?

If you WANT to learn more about all things babies, big families, and homeschooling, you definitely need to follow me on Instagram where I''ll be sharing the personal side of things there about our life (and we''re talking about a vlog... but I dunno. Seems like a big commitment! Let me know if you even like vlogs - and follow me on Youtube if you haven''t yet!).?

(Also, please share my Instagram and Youtube with your friends who may enjoy such things!!)

I sincerely thank you for being one of my awesome subscribers and being part of the Fagan family. We thank you for your emails, clicks, follows, shares, comments, purchases, and love. You are so great!?

Thank you and God bless!?

Katelyn Fagan

Hey?Amelia,

I have something really fabulous to share with you today!!?

An amazing blogger and influencer I follow, Jordan Page over at FunFreeorCheap.com, is offering an amazing deal right now that I really want you to know about, because it''s FREE. Like, no credit card information required, FREE.?

Jordan just announced that for the month of May, you can have FREE access to BOTH her Budget Boot Camp and Productivity Boot Camp.

I don''t personally know Jordan, but I?have some blogging friends who do, and she really is pretty amazing. I?follow her on Instagram now and love her feed and stories as she just had boy/girl twins, and has 8 kids total! Plus, she runs her online empire still! As I''m expecting my own set of boy/girl twins soon (making it 7 kids total for us), I love seeing how she does everything, especially as I also work from home running a website. She''s seriously a big inspiration to me and thousands of others.?

I haven''t taken either of her bootcamps before, but I am signing up myself, because I could use help with both my budget and my productivity.?

I had to let you know about this, as I know many are worried about their finances right now, and I am not an expert on these things. I?like to think I''m fairly productive, but I''m hoping to pick up some additional tips and resources there too.?

Enjoy and hope you are well.?

God bless,?

Katelyn?Fagan

Hello?Amelia

I am so excited to tell you about this all-new fitness program I just began called THE MOMMY TUMMY FIX.

I actually bought this program last December, even before I was pregnant with my twins, as I knew I''d need it. I have known for years that I have diastasis recti (split ab muscles that create the "mom pooch" that makes you still look pregnant when you aren''t), and I have tried a different program to help me heal it, but it just didn''t stick all that well. But, this program is different.?

It is one of?the most complete, all-inclusive, comprehensive packages available to address all the key issues of toning and tightening your stomach. This means it doesn''t?JUST focus on core exercises, but also your eating and your activity as well.?

The thing that I love about this program is it includes all those areas. You not only get a 6-phase progression of post-pregnancy core workouts, you get a healthy dinner menu plan, a cardio guide, a daily "mommy tummy" checklist, video demonstrations, and so much more!

Plus, it comes with an accountability group on Facebook, as we all know that once you make changes, you need to do them consistently, over time, to see the best results.

Jared, the creator of the program who''s used it with 100s of women including his own wife,?gave me a special promo code for What''s up Fagans fans?to get $30 off this program! Simply enter "MOMMY30" in the "promo code" box to save $30 on your program!

I started it officially on Tuesday of this week, the day after I got the all-clear from my doctor at my 6-week postpartum checkup,?and have tried to get all those checks on my daily checklist.

One of my favorite things is that there is NOT a strict calorie or diet guide. It just asks that you keep track of your food in an app of your choosing, don''t drink soda, stop eating after 9pm, don''t eat refined sugar for 6 days a week (you get one "cheat" day a week), eat 5 servings of fruits/veggies a day,?and drink 8 cups of water a day. As I am nursing twins, it''s important to me that I can eat the calories I need, without feeling like a failure that I''m not hitting some assigned calorie guide.?

I''m really liking this program so far and really want to commit to it and see the results I get after 6-8 weeks, which is kinda why I hope you''ll join me in it, as an additional accountability partner.?

You don''t need to be a new mom to join me either. If you deal with the mom pouch, no matter how old your kids are, you can benefit from this program. You can learn more and see before/after results from real people HERE and why fixing your core is SO important in the first place.

Sincerely,?

Katelyn Fagan

PS - DON''T FORGET - Get $30 off "THE MOMMY TUMMY FIX" when you?use the code "MOMMY30" at checkout!

Hey Amelia,

It''s a crazy time in the history of our world, right? Worldwide epidemic causing governments to shut down everything and anything that has gatherings over 125 people, or 100 people, or even 25 or 50 people. It''s madness!?

I have a lot of mixed feelings about things.?

Sometimes I''m fine, as my daily life is pretty normal, well, minus my husband being home all the time, and having church at home.?

Other times I''m angry. Angry that we would let some virus and our government force away our liberty and rights and freedoms.?

Other times I''m overwhelmed thinking about how this negatively affects SO MANY PEOPLE. Some people have literally just lost all of their income (for example, people who clean houses for a living), and many are missing out on once in a lifetime opportunities and events, like my niece who is in her Senior year of high school. So long prom, graduation, final exams, last performances for music, last competitions in sports...?

And I hear from friends who already have bad anxiety or depression who are suffering from an even greater mental health load as they are now trapped inside their homes, with their children,?worried about EVERYTHING.?

It''s overwhelming. And I''m sorry for you and your family.?

Please know I am here for you?Amelia if you need to vent out your frustrations about what is going on. It''s not fun for any of us, but I firmly believe we NEED each other right now. We need friends and community, even if it''s virtually.?

With that said.... here''s what I have as additional resources for you this week (please refer to my last several emails for other great resources).?

Resources for Hunkering Down

1. Carnivore Club

If your grocery stores are running out of meat, consider trying out Carnivore Club. They deliver premium artisan cured meats to your door every month. They have a special promo going on right now too where you can get a Free Snack Box with your first order?when you subscribe to Classic or Snack Box. Just use?code:?FREESNACK.?

2. Trunk Club

If you need new clothes for yourself or your husband, now is a great time to try out Trunk Club. They partner with Nordstrom to send you a large box of brand new clothes that you''ll hopefully like, as you work hand-in-hand with a stylist, and can preview the clothes before they ship, and so on.?

You can read my Trunk Club review here.?

Right now you can?take $50 off your first Trunk Club purchase, which?includes the typical $25 styling fee! Try it out here.

3. Outdoor Toys

I have at least two friends who just purchased trampolines because they know they are confined to their own houses and backyards, with their kids. It''s smart to help the kids release some of that pent up energy!?If you are looking for some outdoor toys to entertain the kids, check out my post of best outdoor equipment for kids.

4. Homeschool Schedules

While many public schools seem to have sent home Chromebooks, or are teaching virtually, or other things, some parents haven''t received a lot from their school districts. If you want to see some sample homeschool schedules for various ages, I have three posts (looking to add one for Preschool, 3rd, and 4th soon) that can help you!

• Sample Kindergarten Homeschool Schedule
• Sample 1st Grade Schedule
• Sample 2nd Grade Schedule

5. Board Games

I love board games. They are a great way to spend some quality family time! I''m so glad I bought a ton of games for our Christmas this past year! We just played Pandemic with our kids for the first time and actually beat it. ha ha. Anyway, check out my?list of some educational board games(gameschooling is a thing actually).?

6. Spring Cleaning

I told you about this on Monday, but am hosting an on-going weekly spring cleaning bingo challenge and giveaway! If you haven''t printed off your card, be sure to do so and to get a bingo and send it to me by Sunday evening! You can read all the details about cleaning bingo and how it works in my new post!

If you want to know how to get the kids helping in the cleaning process, I talked about that with my friend Hilary in her Pulling Curls Podcast! You can read/listen to it here.?

If there are specific things you are looking for more resources on right now? I may not personally have them, but I?have a lot of smart friends, bloggers, and resources available to me, so I may be able to help get you what you need or want most right now.?

Stay healthy, stay HAPPY, and God bless you and yours right now.?

Sincerely,

Katelyn Fagan

Hey there?Amelia,

Did you know Mother''s Day is in like 18 days? It''s on Sunday, May 10.?

Many of us cannot be with our mothers right now.?

I know I can''t be with mine, and none of her local family is allowed to visit either, and it''s not good for her mental state at all.?

Every time I call her on the phone, she has forgotten more, and seems more neurotic, and talks about escaping from her nursing home (she''s recovering from a bad fall which broke her hip and shoulder and required surgery to fix). My dad misses her and wants to figure out how to bring her home, but she still isn''t walking yet, and I have no idea how he''d properly care for her on her own.?

But, it all breaks my heart.?

My mother was not a perfect or overly affectionate or involved mother. I wouldn''t say we have a close mother-daughter relationship at all. But, my mother did leave me a legacy of faith for which I will always be grateful.?

And I know that being a mother is what I was meant to be. Sure, I am and do a lot of other great things too, but nothing will bring me the same honor as being a mother who loves and cherishes her children.?

So, even though I was young and unsure when we decided to become parents for the first time, and it took some adjusting to appreciate my new, I have fully embraced this title of mom in the decade since. With five children already and another set of twins on the way, I really do enjoy this motherhood thing, even when my children drive me crazy. ???? Because they also open my heart to love and understanding and fun and laughter and goodness. Children really are a blessing from God.?

So, how is your?mom? Or other older relatives? Have you called and checked in on them lately? And how are you doing yourself as a mom? Are you hanging in there??

Even though we still have over two weeks until Mother''s Day, I wanted to dedicate this emails to moms everywhere, especially you young moms like me who are in the trenches of day-in and day-out mothering right now. I got you. I understand. Here are some good articles just for you:

1. You are NOT a bad mom... here''s why
2. Here''s the type of mom break you''ve really needed
3. 5 Ways to Be Happier as a Stay at Home Mom
4. The Secret to Being a Happy Mother
5. 7 Parenting Traps We Fall Into as Moms and How to Avoid Them
6. Inspirational Quotes about Motherhood from Real Mothers Like You

Also, if you are looking for unique gift ideas for your mom, be sure to look through the amazing collection of subscription boxes on Cratejoy that she might love! Many are on sale too. If you know someone who is expecting, then be sure to check out my recommended list of gifts for pregnant women!

I hope you have a lovely rest of the week and can keep your spirits up. I am still holding onto hope that things are going to get better, and sooner rather than later.?

And I should be back with an official gender reveal announcement for you soon. :) We found out our twins'' genders?yesterday evening!?

Take care and God bless,?

Katelyn Fagan

Hey there Amelia,

This past Friday, the president of my church hosted a special broadcast?(watch it - it''s short and so good) discussing the healing power of gratitude. The unique thing about the president of our church is that he is 96 years old and was a cardiovascular surgeon who helped develop the first heart-lung machines to be used in open heart surgeries. He is both a man of science and a man of faith. He proposes that one remedy to find joy in these hard times is gratitude.?

He encouraged all of us to turn our social media channels in our own gratitude journals, sharing with #GiveThanks. Because of this, my Facebook feed has blown up with such wonderful things. People who don''t usually post, are now posting daily. Friends are sharing various struggles and trials they have gone through but found some good to come from those hard experiences, things I?never knew about them. I am seeing wonderful pictures and memories. It''s been such an outpouring of love on the internet, and it has been so good to see.?

Times are hard right now. I encourage you to try to find something, anything, to be glad to have. Chances are you more blessed than you realize. And share those things, big or small, online with #GiveThanks.?

As my children are not on social media, we made a Christmas Thanksgiving tree out of some construction paper. Every day after dinner, we each write something new and different on paper ornaments we then glue onto our tree! I love it so much (you can see it on my Instagram).?

If you want additional ways to express and display your gratitude for Thanksgiving Day,?see this post.?

We will be having Thanksgiving just our family this year, which kinda bums me out, as I love Thanksgiving (and parties). I am the direct descendant of Richard Warren (Warren is my maiden name)?who came over on the Mayflower so Thanksgiving is in my blood! It''s also?just the best holiday - food, family, friends, games, and football! I wish you a very happy Thanksgiving!?

Sincerely,?

Katelyn Fagan

P.S. If you are shopping for Christmas, be sure to hit up my post with SO MANY great resources for Christmas - countdown traditions, craft ideas, stockings, cards, gifts, and keeping Christ in Christmas!?

Hey there?Amelia,?

I appreciate all the feedback from the survey I?sent you!! It''s super helpful to see what you all are interested in and I loved many of the notes and comments I received! You are the best!?

In case you were curious, and wanted to see the results, here they are:

I began outlining some laundry products for you all, though now I doubt the time frame I have to get everything done, so I will do my best to help you all out!?

But, for some of these other products, they will likely have to wait, unfortunately. BUT, I do have some resources for you to help you do some of these other things!?

FOR THE ADULTS:

If you still need to get your budget or your productivity into shape, Budget Bootcamp and Productivity Boot Camp are 30% off with code TAKE30 until June 12!?

You can also look into the Master Your Money Super Bundle and the Work at Home Super Bundle which are both available until Friday June 12.?

FATHER''S DAY:

With Father''s Day coming up, you may want to take advantage of some of these sales and gift ideas:

• AncestryDNA is only $59 + tax/shipping
• AncestryHealth? will be on sale for $99* plus tax and shipping. *Not available in NY, NJ, and RI.
• Ancestry? Gift Memberships are 20% off
• The most unique & tasty gift for Father''s Day -?The Jerky Bouquet from Carnivore Club!
• 15% off on all gifts + FREE priority shipping upgrade with code FORDAD at Minted.com?
• Man-Centric Subscription Boxes for Him (many on sale!)
• Gifts for Christian Men from Dayspring
• 30+ Practical Gifts for Practical Men
• Adventure Gifts for Him
• 6 Best Places for Online Styling for Men

FOR PARENTS & GRANDPARENTS:

If you are looking to homeschool, and want some encouragement and direction, you should check out the 30 Days of Praying for My Homeschool Prayer Challenge!?

Then be sure to check out my two new posts and deals

• Diaper Review: Pros, Cons, and Costs of Top Brands in 2020
• The Best and Worst Things About Being Pregnant with Twins & Singletons
• Shop $4 to $8 and Up Doorbusters + Suit Up with 50% Off Swim at OshKosh B''gosh! Valid 6/9 - 6/30
• Shop Highlights Summer Learning Packs and get FREE shipping with code SHIP2020.

SUMMER CAMPS:

The?Summer Camp at Home series?is super affordable, and done at your own pace and time. You can even get the?Space-theme week for free to try it out and see if this is something you''d enjoy doing with your kids.

If your kids are into cooking, then you''ll definitely want to look into the Kids Cook Real Food DIY Summer Camp where you''ll teach your kids over 30 basic cooking skills in 8 days! It''s designed for kids ages 2-19, features all healthy food, and?it''s FREE to attend! It runs June 17-24 but registration begins now. Sign up here.

You can also still register for Cratejoy''s Summer Camp that begins June 22-26! You''re kids will get 5 exclusive activity kits with all the materials they need to complete them.

A note to my readers:

As I''m sure you are all aware, there is a lot going on in the United States in regards to race relations, specifically towards black individuals. As a Christian, viewing and treating a person of color as less than in any way shape or form is completely against what I believe and practice.?

We work hard in our home?to teach our children not to be color blind, but to see and appreciate our beautiful differences, treating all who are different than ourselves with love, kindness, respect, service, and honor. To do this, we expose our children to stories of black individuals past and present through books and movies, directly talk about racism and slavery, and interact with all people kindly.?

I firmly believe racism begins in the home, so I am doing my small part to help my children be better than many today in terms of their attitudes towards black individuals.?

I invite you to join me in being actively engaged in supporting black individuals in fighting for their equal and fair treatment, as well as loving them more fully, no matter what your skin color, religion, disability, or upbringing.?

If you are a person of color, please keep sharing your stories. Please keep informing myself and my family what is appropriate and what is not, what is helpful, and what is not.?

Sincerely,?

Katelyn Fagan

Okay Amelia,?

I was totally inspired by my blogging buddy and decluttering pro Emily of Happy Organized Life and her Declutter bingo and associated giveaway challenge, that I?decided I would do my own, for you, but for cleaning!!

I''ve never done this before, but I really hope it''ll help you out and be fun for all.

I know so many of us are struggling being stuck at home, with more and more things closing down all the time, or severely limiting the hours they are open. It''s not fun. I totally am there with you.?

As we''re stuck at home, I wanted to help you guys CLEAN and ORGANIZE your home! While I already have a lot of great cleaning tutorials on my blog, a cleaning ebook (use CLEANIT for $2 off), a couple email challenge sequences, including a 14-day deep cleaning challenge, I thought I''d take it up a notch to really get you excited about being home and cleaning.?

So, I created the Cleaning Bingo Challenge!?

Each week I will send out a new cleaning bingo card. You have all week to get as many bingos as you can by completing the cleaning challenges on the card (and there are blank spaces for your own projects). Every bingo you get is an entry into the giveaway. You can enter the giveaway officially one of three ways (as outlined in my blog post today).?

Prizes are some of my favorite cleaning supplies sent to you, a copy of my ebook, and a $5 Amazon Gift Card.?

Read all about it here!!

Also, I am on a Podcast!!?

My bestie Hilary of PullingCurls.com and the Pulling Curls Podcast interviewed me to discuss getting kids to clean.?

With the kids home for a few weeks now, for a lot of families, you know the house is going to be way more messy, as you all live, work, school, and play in it 24/7. It''s time to make sure everyone is doing their part in cleaning up the house!

Head over to her blog post and read more about how to get kids helping and listen to the podcast episode!!

I?hope you all are staying healthy, positive, and getting through this weird, temporary, isolation we are all dealing with. God bless you and yours. Seriously.?

Katelyn Fagan

Hey Amelia,

I managed to squeeze in the time to write?up the birth story of our fraternal twins born on August 31!?

In the post I answer the question of if twins run in my family and go over the struggles I faced getting the doctors I desired so I could have the vaginal birth I desired, as I am still considered a VBAC even after 10 years and three previous vaginal deliveries. I also talk about my son''s 6-day NICU stay (thank you for the prayers on his behalf - he is home!) and how our family is adjusting to newborn twins at home. Go give it a read!

Don''t forget to check out my post about baby bathing supplies and enter the #LoveWithBabyMagic Giveaway that''s mention in that post too (and print the coupon).?

If you are planning ahead for Christmas and love advent calendars for your kids, the new 2020 LEGO Advent calendar is still $10 off (lowest price you''ll find it this year) on Amazon! You can pick one (or more) up?through my link here. Which, if you love advent calendars, be sure to check out this post where I?list out several different advent calendar for kids ideas!!

I am doing pretty well after giving birth two weeks ago, and trying to get as much sleep as possible. I hope you are well and enjoying the cooler fall weather. If you are being affected by the crazy fires out West or the hurricanes in the South, I pray for your safety and well-being! I also pray for all of you sending kids back to school or trying to manage e-learning from home while doing your own thing too. It''s not an easy time we are all facing!! May God bless you and yours.?

Sincerely,?

Katelyn Fagan

You know Amelia they say that sometimes in life you just gotta take a leap of faith...?

Like, taking that leap to have another kid... (and then ending up with two in there!)

Or taking a leap to ask someone to marry you...?

Or taking a leap to quit your job and start your own business.

In case you didn''t realize it.... this Saturday is LEAP DAY!!?

Leap day only happens once every four years. And this year it''s on a Saturday, which means there are few excuses for not making it a fantastic leap-filled day!?

Take advantage of the extra day!?

To help you get some ideas on what to do to make this extra day really count, check out these two posts:

1. 29+ Leap Day Ideas for Adults and Kids
2. 29+ Leap Day Activities Just for Kids

And I know it''s a little early, but I updated this old post about how to make a bunny cake for Easter! It''s one of those family traditions I brought into our relationship and we''ve done almost every single year! You can see all our cute bunny cakes from years past too, as well as a few alternative methods for make bunny cakes. Trust me, they are far from Pinterest-perfect, but I''m all about traditions here and memories, rather than perfection!

To help you kill those nasty viruses and sicknesses in your home, I?have two cleaning posts to share with you (which is timely as I am currently fighting a head cold - yuck!)

1. How to Disinfect Your Bathroom
2. How to Easily Clean Your Shower Heads (with a new video!)

Lastly, two things:

1.)? I wanted to say thank you again to all the amazing congratulations emails I have received! You all are so sweet to congratulate us on our recent news of a twin pregnancy! We''re super excited.?

2.) If you are a praying person, I''d love prayers for my mother Penny Warren. She fell on Monday on the ice (she''s in Wisconsin) and broke her shoulder and her hip and had hip surgery Tuesday morning. She already wasn''t in great health (early Alzheimer''s, type II diabetes, eye issues, daily back pain from sprained/broken vertebrae, and so on). It''s hard not being able to be there and help, but my dad and several siblings and lots of friends are nearby to help.

Thanks for everything. Have a great, healthy, happy week. God bless!

Sincerely,?

Katelyn Fagan

Hey Amelia,

I have something really fabulous to share with you today!!

An amazing blogger and influencer I follow, Jordan Page over at FunFreeorCheap.com, is offering an amazing deal right now that I really want you to know about.

Jordan just announced that you can have save 30% off one or?BOTH her Budget Boot Camp and Productivity Boot Camp. Just use code EARLYBF. Sale ends tonight 11/10/2020!

I don''t personally know Jordan, but I have some blogging friends who do, and she really is pretty amazing. I follow her on Instagram and love her feed and stories, especially?as she also has baby?boy/girl twins, and 8 kids total! Plus, she runs her online empire still! I love seeing how she does everything, especially as I also work from home running a website with a big family. She''s seriously a big inspiration to me and thousands of others.

I haven''t completed either of her bootcamps yet, but I so need her help with both my budget and my productivity!!

I had to let you know about this, as I know so many are worried about their finances right now (we are), and I am not an expert on these things. I like to think I''m fairly productive, but I''m hoping to pick up some additional tips and resources for that aspect of my life?too.

Enjoy and hope you are well! I will have a new update for you all tomorrow!?

Sincerely,?
Katelyn Fagan

P.S. This sale ends tonight, Tuesday, November 10, at 11:59 PST! Get the deal here before it''s gone!

Hey Amelia,?

I am gonna make this quick, but a few days ago I mentioned some deals going on with Bluprint.?

After that email went out,?they emailed me and told me about an awesome new promotion! From March 26 to April 9, you can?watch over 1,300 creative education classes ranging from sewing, cooking, family crafts, and more for FREE. They are not even going to ask for your credit card when you register, and no coupon code is needed!! Check it out here.

If you have no idea what this is:?Bluprint is an NBCUniversal online creative learning platform that provides ways for the entire family to nourish their creativity from home, offering rich learning experiences for all ages. With Bluprint?you can stream thousands of creative education classes from knitting, sewing, baking, drawing, family crafts and much more, taught by the world's leading experts. Bluprint is your one-stop destination for classes, patterns and project ideas for all skill levels.

During this 14 day event, Bluprint will provide free access to their full slate of content; including more than 1300 classes and series and hundreds of step by step project tutorials and patterns making this the perfect time to learn a new craft or hobby.?

This is awesome if you are looking for something creative for your children to do, something fun for yourself to do, to help you improve hobbies you already have, or try something new caused your bored ??. You could totally take a class with a friend, and share your progress together (virtually, of course), and have a way to connect with someone outside your home (and in too). It could help you find your next creative outlet or creative project too.

You can sign up for the FREE Unlimited Access to the Creative Care Package until April 9 here (and preview classes they have). Have fun creating!!?

Sincerely,?

Katelyn Fagan

P.S. It''s okay if you are not into crafts! I am just trying to help us spend this time at home more purposefully! If you don''t like this type of email, please just ignore. I''m sure I''ll have something of more relevance to you soon. But, if it IS relevant, be sure to share my email/link with friends!?

Hello Amelia,?

I had someone unsubscribe to my email list yesterday. And they were nice enough to email me and tell me why.?Here is their message:

I was unaware I talked too much about having friends and a support system. But, regardless, it left me with two questions:

1. Do you feel like you have friends and a support system?
   
2. Does hearing about others having friends or support make you feel bad??

I asked this on my Facebook page (feel free to add your comments) and in my Instagram stories (feel free to message me there instead) as well.

Because, honestly, I think it''s a VERY common thing today to feel lonely.?The last four months have only compounded how lonely some of us feel or realize we already were, as we were forced to stay inside our homes, not allowed to visit with family, and removed from church, work, and other social gatherings.?

It makes me sad to think this person, who could be much like you, is this lonely, that simply hearing of others not being as lonely means you can''t stand to follow them.?

I have siblings in the military and my husband now works with plenty of military personnel, so we understand that many military people face this reality all the time.?

My husband and I have also been far away from family, and uprooted our family to move across the country a few times, where we knew absolutely no one. We just hit our one year in New York mark?this week!

And it''s hard making acquaintances, let alone REAL friends. Different times and seasons of our lives also make it harder.?

When we first moved to Indianapolis, I felt very alone as a new mom of twins, with no car during the day, and very little money. I didn''t have a way to get out and meet many people, nor have the means to hang out like many others wanted to, getting together for appetizer hour or movies (cause I didn''t have extra in the budget for those things).?

If you feel lonely as a stay-at-home mom (or really, just lonely, period), I wrote this post a long time ago just for you - please read it!

But, my husband and I decided long ago that we could be lonely, or we could do something about it.?

We could choose to let our poorness, our small apartment, our big family, our lack of toys, our sometimes social awkwardness, or any number of things prevent us from putting ourselves out there and at least trying to make friends; or we could invite people into our home and into our lives anyway.?

We work REALLY hard to reach out to others and make friends. We made it a goal for a long time to invite someone/family over from church once a month, and someone/family outside our church sphere over once a month.?

In the last year, we hosted a party for my husband''s co-workers, at the start of the new school year. I put together a book club for people from church and otherwise that I?knew. I invited people over for a Church Primary activity, and a homeschool hangout (these were all well before March).?

We drop off treats to people''s homes, and sign-up for meal trains for people who just had babies, or just had surgery or something. We made it a point to talk to our neighbors, and wave at them as they go by, and friend them on Facebook, and ask for their help.?

And my husband often thinks he''s socially awkward and that no one likes him, and he''s the reason we don''t "have friends."?

We all battle with loneliness, sometimes even in the middle of a party.?

I like to think these emails I write and send you help you feel less lonely.?

But, what a blessing it is that I get to have my own community of followers via email, blog, Instagram, Facebook, and so on, who support me. I hope that I am also supporting you in some small way, even when we are not physically neighbors, because I so appreciate all your emails, prayers, thoughts, shares, and comments.

The last several months have been hard on all of us. I hope you will find support or a friend or some sort of acquaintance (or better appreciate the ones you do have). Sometimes you don''t need to be "that close" in order to still connect and receive help when needed. There are all types of relationships we need in life. It still takes a village to raise a person (from childhood to adulthood).?

Be happy friend,?

God bless,?

Katelyn Fagan

Hey there?Amelia!

Today is Veteran''s Day!?I have been blessed with multiple siblings, brother-in-laws, my father, grandfather, multiple cousins, and loads of friends who serve or who have served in the US Military. My brother Tyler, one of my role models in life, wrote a post several years ago (and 3 kids ago) about?the heroes you are forgetting to thank on Veteran''s Day which is worth a read today. And if you don''t know the difference between Memorial Day, Veteran''s Day, and Armed Forces Day, read this post. And thank you to any of you who have served in the military!

Every November, for the last several years, I do a daily gratitude challenge, where every day I share something I am thankful for. This year I''m using some prompts a friend of mine created and it''s been really good to think outside of the box a little bit. I''m sharing daily gratitude images and thoughts over on my Instagram page (so follow me there) and sometimes cross-posting them to my Facebook Page (follow me there too!). If you want to participate, below is the image with the daily prompts. It''s never to late to jump in on the #Gratefulin2020 challenge. This year has been quite the year, so identifying 30 things to be grateful for is so good for the soul.?

If you want more ways to practice gratitude, head to this post with 8 gratitude activities and games (which are all perfect for Thanksgiving) and check out this old post of mine about how we work to instill gratitude in our kids.?

SUPER HOT DEALS

If you want some super cute Christmas clothes for your kids?or the grandkids, my friend Diane (who I met while we lived in Indianapolis years ago) is offering my readers 10% off her handmade, warm, Christmas-themed outfits for babies and toddlers. She''s also selling Christmas PJs! She is a growing small business owner and mom of six! Head to this Facebook post to see my adorable baby twins in the Christmas outfits she made and learn how to place your order! Mention FAGAN10 for the 10% off! Pre-sales end this week so be sure to place the order soon.

Jane.com is offering site-wide Free Shipping today only! They have some super cute clothes, accessories, face masks, shoes, kid & baby stuff, jewelry, home goods, and MORE for big discounts and markdowns everyday! Many items would make for excellent holiday gifts.?

OldNavy.com has a pack of 3 long-sleeve graphic tees for toddler boys for just $6! That''s only $2 a shirt! They look to be selling fast! Super cute designs too.?

Holiday Baking Challenge is on sale for just $19!?My oldest girls?have been so into baking lately and most of what they are asking for Christmas is baking supplies! This Holiday Baking Challenge from Kids Cook Real Food will teach foundational baking skills, engage the brain in the science of baking, encourage healthy exchanges in recipes, and reward you for sharing your creations with PRIZES!?

Motherhood Maternity sitewide sales! Plus get $50 off $100+ orders plus free shipping?with code BFSNEAK!?

Fisher-Price Nativity Set is still on sale for $25 on Amazon!

The Anker eufy RoboVa 25C is also still on sale at Walmart.com for only $99!

AncestryDNA is on sale for just $59 and Family History Gift Subscriptions are 20% off too! (see my AncestryDNA review)

Please let me know what types of things you are looking for deals on too so I can better serve you! Totally no pressure to buy anything by the way. If you are in the market for such things, I just want to help you save on those things - that''s it. I''m trying to find items and sales for things I?personally want/use/like, so let me know what you also want/use/like!?

Have a fabulous week and God bless!!?

Sincerely,?

Katelyn Fagan?

Hey there Amelia,

I am so excited that this passion project of mine is now live!?

I am one of 22 women who have contributed our wisdom to a collaborative book all about Vaginal Births After Cesareans called "Baby Got VBAC."

If you had a C-section birth, and want to learn about the possibilities of having a vaginal birth the next time (even if you''ve already had more than one C-section), I highly recommend this book! It''s totally the book I wish was around when I was preparing for my first VBAC.?

Learn where you can get the digital copy on sale, where we are donating all the proceeds of the book, and more here.

Thank you so much for your support Amelia of my book! I am thrilled to be?a published author, and on a topic I?am so passionate about, having had 4 vaginal births of my own?after my C-section 10 years ago!?

God bless,?

Katelyn Fagan

P.S. This book will only be sold at this price for a limited time (and a physical copy released in Jan), so be sure to pick it up today!

Okay Amelia,?

Just about every mom I know is on a crazy emotional roller coaster right now.?

One day, she''s owning this work-from-home homeschooling isolation thing and has got it going. The next day she is screaming at the kids, locking herself in her closet to cry, and downing some chocolate.

One day her kids are cool with being home... the next day they refuse to do anything and want to go somewhere, anywhere, and see their friends.?

One day she''s making a healthy dinner, and the next she''s throwing cereal at the kids for dinner instead because she''s struggling to time manage work, multiple kids schooling, herself, the house, and all of it.

I see friends complaining about not sleeping well at night, about panic attacks, about bursting into tears when reality finally catches up with them.?

I see friends loving and hating having their kids and spouses home as they deal with the reality of?managing the multiple?public school schedules at home, their spouse''s and their own?work schedule, and cramped quarters.

This is hard, hard, hard.?

Add in the fact that my husband received bad news yesterday - he didn''t get a job he applied for and that we really, really wanted and?prayed hard he would get - and we''re feeling all the feels right now.

Chances are you are too.?

So today, my message to you and to me is to pray, because God is a fabulous source of peace, direction, and hope. Nothing in our world right now is peaceful, clear, or all that hopeful. But, God is. I?know that as we pray and go to God for answers and sureties, we can find them.?

May you find hope in Christ at this time and hear Him speak peace and comfort to your troubled soul.?

As you do so, I have some additional resources and helps for you, like always.?

Self-Development Ideas

I had some people suggest I share ideas about crafts and things you can do at home to work on hobbies or talents, or otherwise improve yourself, now that you do have this forced time in one location. The problem of course is that I''m not all that crafty, BUT I did just receive some Cricut products (for an upcoming blog post - so full details about my use and experience will be coming).?

Here are some cool things I found for you, if you are looking to develop hobbies, create, or learn right now.?

• 450 FREE Ivy League Courses you can take online for free
• Develop all sorts of hobbies with Bluprint! For the rest of March you can?get ANY class for $10 with code CREATE10 or take 50% off ALL classes, no code required.?
• 11 Monthly Arts & Crafts Boxes to Help Kids''?Creativity
• 12 Monthly STEM Boxes for Kids
• Top Baking Kits and Cooking Subscription Boxes

Making & Saving Money

Many of us are looking to cut costs or earn more money as we face uncertain financial times. I know I just got my tax bill ??, and am unsure what this blogging thing will do in 2020 for me, nor how having a twin pregnancy will affect my work.?

You may be out of work, or looking to stretch those dollars, too. While I actually have a LOT of advice on this, and there is a lot of advice out there on the internet regarding finances and frugal living, here are just a few quick things for you:

• Rakuten (formerly Ebates). Because you have to do all of your shopping online, be sure to sign up for Rakuten and use it before you go shopping at whatever retailer online. I have personally used them for YEARS now and love how easy it is to save extra money just by using them before you shop.?If you are new to Rakuten, you can use my link, and then you''ll get a $10 bonus when you shop through them and make a $25 purchase somewhere.?
• Survey Sites. I have an old post with 10 survey sites that pay cash. Once upon a time, I?used to take a lot of surveys in my spare time, collecting up that little extra bit of money. As you are stuck at home, maybe try completing a few surveys as you watch a TV show or something.?
• VIPKid. This is a work-from-home job teaching English to Chinese students, that pay up to $22/hr. You can learn more about VIPKid here.
• Walmart Grocery Pickup accepts EBT! You can learn more about it in my new post.?

Spring Cleaning

• I created a new Cleaning Bingo Board for this week (download it here) and am still offering prizes for those who show me they got a bingo. You can see full details on that in my post.?
• And be sure to check out my post with?18 cleaning games for kids that make chores fun... or at least funner.?
• Pick up some awesome?non-toxic odor removers from Enviroklenz and use code FAGANS15 to save 15% off your order. They even have some odor-removing hand soap still available!?

Home Boredom Busters?

• Play the Flour Game! This is a classic game from my childhood and it''s sure to be SUPER memorable!
• Classic Toys Kids Actually Play with for Years
• Classic Old-Fashioned Backyard Games

I have a lot more to share, but that''ll be it for now. I hope you have a great week, have a good cry if needed, and say some prayers for peace and comfort to be yours during this strange and unnatural time we are living in. I''m hear for you. Let me know what resources you are looking for, or what you think I should share more about, and I''ll do my best to help.

Sincerely,?

Katelyn Fagan

Hey Amelia,?

When we were getting ready to do our gender reveal for our twin pregnancy, I made sure we filmed our process, including how we made the gender reveal poppers, our emotions before heading to the ultrasound where my husband wouldn''t be allowed in and we couldn''t video during it, our reactions and our kids'' reactions to the news of the genders of our twins.?

I would love for you to watch our twin gender reveal on our Youtube channel!! While you are there, be sure to subscribe to our channel too. :)?

I also just posted a video review of Oh Baby Boxes, a pregnancy subscription box.?But, if you prefer text, I also wrote up a review of Oh Baby Boxes on the blog.?

I have a few more subscription box reviews coming your way (Ecocentric Mom, Bump Boxes, and Club SciKidz) soon too.?

I know many of you are well past the baby stage, so I will get some other good cleaning content your way soon.?

Don''t forget you can always sign up for my FREE deep cleaning email challenge, my email series about the secrets to a clean house, or my series on how to get your family helping in the cleaning!

Here are are great offers I found this week too that?you should know about:

1. Sign up the Productivity Bootcamp?for FREE (ends 5/31 - normally $149)
2. Learn at Home with KiwiCo - 10% off all orders, 20% off $75+ orders with code STOCKUP
3. Get a 30-Day FREE Trial of ABCMouse.com
4. Try out Outschool for fun, safe, social online learning for kids as low as $5/class (many are free if you qualify for financial assistance!)
5. Sign up for the FREE Budget Bootcamp (ends 5/31 - normally $149)
6. Sign up for Rakuten and get $10 back on your first online purchase over $25.

I hope you are having a good week. We are enjoying more green on the trees and warmer weather here in New York. We also finally got our government stimulus check (which will go toward a new, bigger vehicle and this year''s taxes). It''s also finals week, so my husband is almost done teaching, for a little while at least! Our 2yo has used the potty a few times this week too which is promising, but we aren''t holding our breath there. ???

God bless you and yours. And, let me know if you''d like to attend Zoom church with us this week! My husband will be speaking. ??

Sincerely,?

Katelyn Fagan

Happy weekend Amelia!

I have seen post after post (after post) about the Coronavirus. I''m gonna just assume you know what that is, and move on to talk more about it and the FREAK out that is happening.?

People are stock-piling hand sanitizer, water, toilet paper, and soap like tomorrow may never come! It''s weird. It''s freaky. But, the more we see others doing it, the more we think we need to too. FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) is in full gear right now along with legit fear and worry.

If you are wanting to learn more about it, from different aspects, I have some smart blogging friends who have written excellent articles about it, that you may find very beneficial to read:

• Understanding the Impact of the Coronavirus on the Economy - from Family Finance Mom
• What Parents Need to Know about the Coronavirus - from The Soccer Mom Blog
• What Pregnant and Nursing Moms Need to Know About the Coronavirus - from Pulling Curls (L&D nurse of 20 years)

But, the best thing to do is what we all try to do to stay healthy in the winter and flu seasons:

• Wash Hands thoroughly with soap and water
• Avoid touching your face, nose, mouth, eyes (SO HARD!)
• Use hand sanitizer when out in public and after touching people or things others have touched
• Eat healthy foods
• Take extra vitamin C along with other good daily vitamins
• Stay away from public spaces and places if possible

See my full post on How to Prepare for Cold and Flu Season & Prevent Viruses from Ravaging Your Family!

I would also add that now is a great time to clean your home, sanitizing anything and everything. To help you do that, please check out the following posts:

• How to Disinfect Your Bathroom
• 25 Things to Sanitize with Your Steam Cleaner
• Cleaning Tips and Tricks for Your Entire House

If you are looking for some great natural odor removers, you need to check out?Bisou Natural! They just sent me the Midnight Blue Deluxe Set and I love all the different sizes, how pretty the bags are and how they have zero smell themselves! They use premium activated Moso bamboo charcoal to remove odors (rather than add chemicals to mask the smells in your home). We''ve been using other charcoal bags in our bathrooms already, and I swear they work! You can use code PREMIUM to take 30% off ANY premium set!

Also, if you have preschoolers at home, children between the ages of 2-4 especially, I am giving away an awesome, easy, literature-based?preschool curriculum called Before Five in a Row and More Before Five in a Row on my Instagram profile! You can enter the giveaway?here.

Lastly, thanks for the well wishes and prayers for my mother last week. She had two surgeries (hip and shoulder) but has been moved out of the hospital to a nursing care facility in my hometown. She still seems very disoriented (not sure if it''s still all the drugs or Alzheimer''s showing up more prominently or both) but otherwise healing. Continued prayers are welcomed of course on her behalf.?

I?hope you have a great, safe, and healthy weekend! God bless!

Sincerely,

Katelyn Fagan

Happy April Fool''s Day?Amelia,

March 2020 was such a long month. Not being able to do anything or go anywhere can make that happen. That''s why I found this graphic to capture my feeling about today pretty accurately:

I also really don''t like April Fool''s day, so I''d be cool if it was cancelled. You can?trust me that I?haven''t put any tricks in this email for you today.?

While cases of this virus continue to rise at alarming rates?in my area (New York State), we are still doing very well, in part because of great neighbors (and staying put).?

One neighbor asked if he could pick us up anything from the store as he was headed there, so he picked us up some napkins and syrup. A different neighbor asked if we needed anything and I said we''d just run out of vanilla, so she left her bottle on the porch for us to use.?

It''s really important that during times like this we let other people serve us in whatever way they can. We would have survived without these items for a few more days, but, instead, we let our neighbors feel human, and compassionate, by letting them serve us.?

At a time when there is so much stress and confusion and isolation, letting people serve you, and, of course, serving them back, keeps us connected to each other in deep and powerful ways.?

We made plates of cookies for these neighbors who served us, and I wrote up a little poem that I stuck on the plate:

We wish there wasn''t a virus

As it makes us stay away,

But we hope this treat during crisis

Will brighten your gloomy day!

I am not a poet, but if you bake treats for anyone, feel free to use the poem above?(and make it better). I know some people are leery of giving treats at this time, so if you are, then don''t give any treats away. We all need to do what we feel is best.?

Lastly, I wanted to remind you that if a tiny virus can do this much damage in the world, imagine what mustard seed sized faith can do. ??

What''s New on What''s up Fagans?

I?have three brand new blog posts up this week for you, that I am sure will help many of you!

1. How to Clean a Humidifier
2. Parents: Here''s How to Get Your Kids Excited About All the Right Things
3. 14 Tips for Getting Motivated to Clean When Overwhelmed by Mess

And in case you missed any of my new posts from March, here''s what you might have missed:

1. How to Play the Flour Game
2. How to Use EBT Food Stamps at Walmart Grocery Pickup
3. Sample Homeschool Schedule for Kindergarten
4. Weekly Cleaning Bingo Challenge
5. 4 Reasons Cleaning with Kids Awake Isn''t as Bad as You''d Think

Additional Resources for You Today

1. HOME CHEF GROUPON DEAL

Right now there is an amazing deal on Groupon (that ends tonight) for Home Chef (new households only)!?

You can get One Week of Three Meals for Two people for just $19, Two Weeks of Three Meals for Two People for just $38, or One Week of Three Meals for Four People for $38! This is 68% off normal prices!?

After you complete your taste preferences, and select the meals you want to cook, Home Chef will deliver the ingredients and recipes to your door. The recipes are delicious, well-balanced meals that take about 30 minutes to create.?

This is a great time to try out Home Chef! Get the Groupon deal here.

2. BLUPRINT CREATIVE CARE PACKAGE {FREE ACCESS}

I know I?already emailed about this, but I just wanted to remind you that Bluprint is still offering free access to their more than 1300 classes and series for step by step tutorials, patterns, and DIY projects and learning until April 9! No credit card is required to take classes for free! I checked out the Startup Library: Painting With Acrylic course, and it''s SO very well done!

Sign up for a Bluprint class here.

3. BECOME A DOORDASH DRIVER

Many of you were interested in the VIPKID I mentioned last week, so I found another job idea if you are still looking. While this one will take you out into the wild, it''s a great opportunity right now as more people are staying home and looking for their favorite local fares to be delivered to their doors.?

You can learn more about becoming a DoorDash driver here.

4. ORGANIZED HOME COURSE?SALE

If you need help getting your house organized and simplified, I would check out The Organized Home Course: The realistic way to manage a home, reduce clutter, and clean less. It walks you through different areas of your home and gives you practical (not super Pinterest-y perfected) ways to better manage that issue or area.?

It''s a fabulous course and it''s 30% off right now with code FOOLMENOT. (This is the best sale of the entire year and ends Sunday.)

You can learn more and sign-up for the Organized Home Course here.

5. FAMILY ROUTINE COURSE SALE

If you are looking for a way to automate your mom life, this Family Routines course will help you simplify the many daily tasks confronting you and help you be happier, and your kids too. There are tips for things like dinner time, mornings, cleaning with kids, lunches, family meetings, allowance, toy rotation, kids and church, journaling, and so much more!?

It''s also on that same 30% off sale with code FOOLMENOT!?

Learn more and sign-up for the Family Routines course here.

6. ONLINE PRENATAL CLASS SALE

Many hospitals and clinics have cancelled prenatal, birthing, and pregnancy classes in-person, so this is a great option. Plus, the instructor is super knowledgeable as she''s been an L&D nurse for almost 20 years, is funny, practical, and encouraging. She''s totally the type of nurse you hope you get at the hospital.

If you''re pregnant (or know someone who is), let them know about this sale! You can get the Online Prenatal Class for Couples course for 30% off right now with code FOOLMENOT.

You can learn more and sign-up for the Online Prenatal Class here.

Also, remember to take a couple minutes today to complete your 2020 US Census! Today''s the day you''re supposed to have it in by!

I hope you have a blessed week. God bless you!

Sincerely,

Katelyn Fagan

Hey there?Amelia,

My book club recently did a craft gift exchange. In years past these were in-person and allowed for craft swapping. This year we''ve gone virtual, and gifts were shipped (or dropped off) to intended receivers, allowing for no gift swapping. The person I was to create for is already so creative, as an excellent watercolor artist and quilter, so I was nervous about what to gift her. And of course, despite paying for 2-day shipping with the USPS, my gift didn''t come on time, despite its estimated arrival date being the day before our Zoom book club. She did receive it the next day, and she loved it! Here is what I made with my Cricut for her (be sure to click to show images):

The person who had me paid far too much to ensure that my gift arrived just before our meeting, especially for how large my gift was! She created a large wood stocking holder for my wall, which I love!! With nine people now in our family and no mantle, we didn''t have a place to display all our Christmas stockings together.?But, now we do, as you can see below (make sure to click "display images" on your email):

If you are shopping for a stocking holder, check out my post for different solutions and ideas!?

The two blue stockings you see in the picture above, I actually made myself (with my limited sewing skills) from a used sweater!?You can see that tutorial here!?

If you want a different pattern or style of Christmas stocking to DIY, I?have a post with?27 FREE homemade stocking patterns and tutorials for you to use as inspiration!

With Christmas next week already (say what?!), it''s time to think about those stocking stuffers. We always keep ours basic, mostly adhering to these 8 traditional stocking stuffers, one of which is a Christmas orange! You can read why people put oranges in their stockings here.

But, if you want some additional ideas, here''s my list of practical and traditional stocking stuffer ideas for men (which is helpful, as my husband is so hard to shop for!).?

If you are in the holiday crafting mood as we''ve been, you can also check out my post with nativity ornaments you can make, and this cool geometric Christmas ornament from holiday cards!

I?hope you are staying warm! We just got a ton of snow, which the kids are thrilled about of course. God bless you as you continue to prepare for the holidays (or are celebrating Hannukah currently).?

God bless you!?

Katelyn Fagan

P.S. If you are looking for an easy way to be rewarded for being healthy (tracking those steps, counting those calories) sign up for the free Achievement app!?

Hey there?Amelia,

Did you know Mother''s Day is in like 18 days? It''s on Sunday, May 10.?

Many of us cannot be with our mothers right now.?

I know I can''t be with mine, and none of her local family is allowed to visit either, and it''s not good for her mental state at all.?

Every time I call her on the phone, she has forgotten more, and seems more neurotic, and talks about escaping from her nursing home (she''s recovering from a bad fall which broke her hip and shoulder and required surgery to fix). My dad misses her and wants to figure out how to bring her home, but she still isn''t walking yet, and I have no idea how he''d properly care for her on her own.?

But, it all breaks my heart.?

My mother was not a perfect or overly affectionate or involved mother. I wouldn''t say we have a close mother-daughter relationship at all. But, my mother did leave me a legacy of faith for which I will always be grateful.?

And I know that being a mother is what I was meant to be. Sure, I am and do a lot of other great things too, but nothing will bring me the same honor as being a mother who loves and cherishes her children.?

So, even though I was young and unsure when we decided to become parents for the first time, and it took some adjusting to appreciate my new, I have fully embraced this title of mom in the decade since. With five children already and another set of twins on the way, I really do enjoy this motherhood thing, even when my children drive me crazy. ???? Because they also open my heart to love and understanding and fun and laughter and goodness. Children really are a blessing from God.?

So, how is your?mom? Or other older relatives? Have you called and checked in on them lately? And how are you doing yourself as a mom? Are you hanging in there??

Even though we still have over two weeks until Mother''s Day, I wanted to dedicate this emails to moms everywhere, especially you young moms like me who are in the trenches of day-in and day-out mothering right now. I got you. I understand. Here are some good articles just for you:

1. You are NOT a bad mom... here''s why
2. Here''s the type of mom break you''ve really needed
3. 5 Ways to Be Happier as a Stay at Home Mom
4. The Secret to Being a Happy Mother
5. 7 Parenting Traps We Fall Into as Moms and How to Avoid Them
6. Inspirational Quotes about Motherhood from Real Mothers Like You

Also, if you are looking for unique gift ideas for your mom, be sure to look through the amazing collection of subscription boxes on Cratejoy that she might love! Many are on sale too. If you know someone who is expecting, then be sure to check out my recommended list of gifts for pregnant women!

I hope you have a lovely rest of the week and can keep your spirits up. I am still holding onto hope that things are going to get better, and sooner rather than later.?

And I should be back with an official gender reveal announcement for you soon. :) We found out our twins'' genders?yesterday evening!?

Take care and God bless,?

Katelyn Fagan

Hey there Amelia,

With summer here, I hope life is a little less chaotic, though I know our world is still struggling with this pandemic (at least in certain states in the US). I also know there are a lot of questions about kids returning to school in the fall and what that will look like, especially as some schools actually start up again in the summer months rather than late August or September!?

I hope you aren''t stressing too much about any of that, but are still trying to be healthy and happy. Remember to focus on things within your control and let go (and let God) take care of the rest. Stressing about things you cannot control won''t help you or your family. You got this and you can enjoy the now, despite all the unknowns of the future.?

Trust me. I have plenty of unknowns in my own future! But, I always just make sure to trust in God for guidance, wisdom, and strength. May you do the same.

And as?promised last week, I?have a ton of great new content for you today!?

NEW YOUTUBE VIDEOS

I have 3 new videos for you on my Youtube channel! Please check them out (and like, comment, and subscribe!):

1.?Amazing New Product to Clean the Glass in Your Shower!

2. How to Change the Water Filter on Your Fridge

3.?How to Wash the Newton Baby Crib Mattress (which we love - special $50 off promo code too!)

NEW BLOG POSTS

Going along with video #1 above is my new blog post about cleaning the glass in your shower! I cleaned all 108 glass blocks that make up a wall in my shower and I was seriously so impressed with this cleaning product!

As I prep (nest) for our twins to arrive, we''ve rearranged some bedrooms, and I even began to decorate and hang things on the our new nursery?walls! Please come and see the adorable Boy Girl Twin Nursery Decor Signs I made with my Cricut!

Hand Sanitizer Deal

With this pandemic still around, and hand washing at a sink not always practical, it''s so good to have some handy (especially some that can fit in my purse or diaper bag or car).?I just learned about a great company called Klean + that sells premium natural antiseptic hand sanitizer and I wanted to share it with you in case you''re looking for a good and affordable?option!

Since 2016, Klean + has?made natural and effective hand sanitizers, safe for the entire family. Klean + hand sanitizer is a premium FDA OTC registered hand sanitizer that is crafted in small batches and is gentle enough for daily repetitive use. Klean + kills 99.99% of common germs (and COVID-19)?and each bottle is packed with therapy grade essential oils that deliver therapeutic benefits beyond just an awesome sanitizer. Klean + smells incredible and is convenient enough to carry on your person and is TSA approved.

Use promo code KLEAN10 to take 10% off your order (or 15% off a $200+ order with code KLEAN200). Shop here.

Have a great day and a great week!?

God bless!?

Sincerely,

Katelyn Fagan

Hey there?Amelia,

On Sunday we took the sacrament to an elderly sister in my church congregation. She used to be my co-Sunday School teacher when we were still attending church. We haven''t resumed attending church in-person yet (we''re still doing weekly Zoom meetings - which you can join in on if interested, just let me know).?

It was clear that this sister needed us, needed the sacrament, and needed to know we care and love her.?

She''s very saddened by news of neighbors affected by this virus or the subsequent isolation (she lives in a senior living apartment complex). She''s very alone as her son''s been away from her for the longest he''s ever been away from her. All the sadness and loneliness is hard to handle without friends, without family, without human touch.?

We asked what we could do for her, and she asked for prayers and a hug. I was happy to give her both. We also had homemade cookies for her too.

This virus is not going away. And the consequences of the isolation and the lockdowns are far from over either.?

If you are struggling, please reach out to someone! Ask for a hug. Ask for prayers. Ask for texts or emails or happy pictures (or whatever you need).?

What''s up Fagans? Update

Our family has been getting out the last two weeks, taking a much needed break from homeschooling. We''ve gone to the local playground several times. We''ve gone swimming at a lake with a beach. We walked around a mall, had friends over and went to their home, and played in a park splash pad. We''ve gone to doctors and dentists and grocery runs and walked over the Hudson River.?

Getting fresh air, letting the kids make friends at the park, talking to other adults, getting attention for my enormous "ready to pop" twin belly, floating in water, soaking up vitamin D from the sun, getting exercise, playing games and talking with other adults in-person, have all done wonders for our children and for ourselves.?

But, of course, we still have to take precautions. We still can''t get too close to people in stores and outside. We still have to wear masks when indoors anywhere (and sometimes outdoors). Some venues are still closed, have limited hours, or have limited capacity and options.

Of course, we don''t want to catch this virus, especially as I am pregnant! But, we also really want to live and enjoy our summer before our newest family members arrive. It''s a hard balance!

This breaks means I haven''t been working much on my blog or posting a ton online, so I hope you''ll excuse my absence as of late.?

But, here''s what you need to know:

Baby Registries

If you are pregnant, I highly recommend?creating baby registries. We are most certainly not first-time parents, but there are perks for creating baby registries, even if like no one is going to buy you something off your registry.?

These perks include:

1. free samples, coupons, and gifts
2. completion discounts (15% off items remaining on your list)

Trying out baby-related products before splurging on a big box of the product is always helpful, so I love the registry gift bags.?

But, the big one for us is the completion discount. So, while I do not expect someone to buy us everything we put on our list, getting 15% off the items remaining is a great way to save money on what you still need. For us, that means we can save 15% off on that double stroller we really want that''s super expensive. But, it also means we can save 15% on every day items like nursing supplies, formula, nursery items, diapers, wipes, and more!?

We just went in-store to a buybuyBaby to pick up our registry gift (and test out multiple double strollers to see which one we really wanted). But, I also created an Amazon registry, and a Target registry, and soon I will make a Walmart one.?

Homeschooling

More and more school districts are coming out with their fall schooling plans, and more and more of my parent friends (and teachers) are freaking out about what to do. It''s a complicated mess, and there really isn''t a right answer.?

If you want to homeschool, I have the following advice:

1. Keep it SIMPLE.?
2. Figure out your homeschool preferences and style, then base your curriculum choices off of that.?
3. Give yourself grace and your child too.?
4. Remember, homeschooling doesn''t have to look like regular school, at all.?

In case you are curious, we use the following homeschool curriculum:

• The Good and the Beautiful Language Arts (which you can download the PDFs for the first several years for free!)
• The Good and the Beautiful?Science Units (we''ve done The Human Body, Intro to Energy, Maturation and Sexual Reproduction, Kingdoms and Classifications)
• Saxon Math
• IXL for math supplementing
• History is still undecided for this next year (we had been using The Good and the Beautiful the last two years but I don''t love it)

One thing I also like to do is use things like science subscription boxes (and other educational subscription boxes) for supplementing our learning, as I''m not super smart in the sciences, nor do I always have crafting and other supplies on hand.??

If you have other questions for me, please send them mine way!?We''ve used several other curriculum over the years, and have juggled multiple kids and ages before too. I''ll try to share more in coming weeks.

Cleaning Hacks

As we hurry to prepare our home, our hearts, and our family for these twins, we have been busy cleaning and organizing and prepping our home!?

This past weekend, I pulled out my son''s baby clothes, which haven''t been worn for seven years now! I put them all through the wash, and then pulled out the ones that were still dirty (yellow stains) to see if I could get them looking brighter and whiter.?

I did a little experimenting and found that sunshine is the answer! Spritzing some water on them and letting them dry out in the sun worked on the vast majority of these stained clothes.?

Next up on my cleaning list is figuring out how to wash and clean our pack n'' play which has never been deep cleaned in the 10 years we''ve had it (since our first set of twins). We haven''t used it a ton (mostly when traveling) but it''s gross. Several people recommended a bath soak and drying it out in the sunshine, so I''ll probably be doing that this coming weekend.?

A Very Important Cause

My birthday is this Thursday, July 30! July 30 is also?World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. We will be wearing blue and I?will be sharing information and messages about this campaign as it is a cause I am passionate about. I want to #SaveTheChildren from an exploited existence. What some people do to children is just pure evil and needs to be stopped.?

That''s why I''m asking you to consider donating ANY amount to my birthday fundraiser for Operation Underground Railroad.?

OUR works to rescue children from slavery and dismantle the criminal networks holding them captive through its three-fold mission liberate children, rescue operations, and aftercare services. The organization reports that its rescue teams are comprised of ex-Navy Seals, CIA, and other operatives, and these teams work in conjunction with local police forces and governments to liberate children from sex slavery around the world. OUR also provides survivors with aftercare services which includes safe placement, trauma-informed services, and opportunities for education or vocational training.

PLEASE DONATE HERE!!

I know this email was long, but I?hope you found something helpful to you and your family in it.?

Thank you for your prayers and support!?

God Bless,?

Katelyn?Fagan

Hello again?Amelia!

I have been sharing a little of my experiences with my OBGYNs this twin pregnancy online, and, well, I''m still not super happy with how things are. Given my experience with multiple doctors over the last 11 years, I figured it was time I wrote up a post about what pregnant women WISH happened at their prenatal appointments (but don''t always get).?

Every woman is different in what they want from their doctors and their births, but I wrote this article in the hopes of helping?women take control of their prenatal care, not settling for?sub-par care, because we and our babies all deserve the best care available to us.?

Also, if you are taking a summer road trip, please be sure to read my post on summer road trip safety tips for families!?I don''t think we''re heading out anywhere, though we keep talking (dreaming may be a better word for it) about where we want to go as we are so ready to leave this house, responsibilities, schooling, and all of it for a while (which may be why?I was so excited just to take my kids to the playground yesterday).?

If you have a little toddler artist around your home, you may need my latest cleaning tutorial as well - How to get permanent marker off of wood!?You can read the post or head to Youtube to watch the video of the tutorial.?

I hope you are doing well and staying healthy!?

We are busy homeschooling, working, and being bored! We''re trying to get out a little bit more (cases are still low in New York and we are in Phase 4 of reopening right now). We are all spending too much time in front of the TV and being inside (or even outside) this house. Kids are all a little short with each other and not always that nice lately. I think we''ve all just had too much time being together over the last four months. So, we''re trying to take some breaks now from schooling and work and add some more play, outdoors, and friends into our lives again. We need it so much, especially as my husband has been struggling with depression lately.?

I hope you are getting what you need and want. If not, hold on.?

We still can''t do everything we''d like (movie theaters and our library?are still closed, and our church still hasn''t resumed in-person meetings). And if you are feeling low, or anxious, please talk to someone and get help. We are living in a crappy time, and there is a TON of uncertainties still ahead as places reopen and cases spike and as we approach a brand new school year. We''re all stuck a little between a rock and a hard place.?

I''m here for you. But, more importantly, God is always here for you too.?

Thanks for being here. God bless.?

Sincerely,?

Katelyn Fagan

Well shoot Amelia here we are in a full blown epidemic... everywhere.?

I hope you are not *too* effected by the Coronavirus. While individual counts of infection are generally very low still, the prevention is causing many real changes for many people across the country, from cancelled travel and entertainment?plans, to children being out of school, to you not being able to work.

As more take seriously the CDC''s call to just stay home and away from large gatherings, I wanted to give you a few more resources to make this waiting period, and perhaps time stuck at home, more bearable and doable.?

1. Grocery Pickup & Delivery

Large masses of people are still hitting up grocery stores... which of course has so many different surfaces for us to all communally touch. ?? Plus, many are out of what you need anyway (well, household supplies anyway).?

If you are doing Walmart Grocery Pickup, here are 11 Things You Need to Know About Walmart Grocery.?Also, if you are also in New York, like me, where the plastic bag ban is now in?effect, you will need to bring your own reusable bags and they''ll put them in bags for you. Otherwise... your food may be rolling around in your trunk.?

If you hate Walmart, or yours doesn''t offer pickup or delivery, you can also look into services like Shipt or Instacart. Plus, Amazon Grocery works with Whole Foods for grocery delivery?options as well. Many other stores like Target and Sam''s Club also offer free delivery for RedCard or Plus Members too.?

If you aren''t a Sam''s Club member, there is a great Groupon deal right now for new Sam''s Club Memberships!! We''ve been Sam''s Club members for about 5 years now and love them.?

2. Fighting Boredom at Home

Right now you can sign your kids up for Kids Cook Real Food online course! Talk about a great way to pass the time stuck at home with the kiddos, use up the food storage, and give your kids the gift of learning how to cook!

If you want a totally fun, challenging, cooperative board game to play with kids (8+) and/or adults, that has to deal with exactly with what our world is dealing with right now, then get Pandemic! My husband and I have played this game a lot, specifically the Pandemic Legacy Season 1 version, and it''s always very challenging to win! It''s very addicting in a good way. We played with another couple and had a blast getting together to play, but it can be played with as few as two people.?

I also posted a new kids subscription box review video on my Youtube channel?for Music Adventure Academy, a fun preschool box for kids! There is a promo code in the description of the video too if you want to sign up! I actually know the person who owns the company from college/my husband and she is fantastic!?

3. Spring Cleaning

If you''re stuck in your home, then spend time working on your home! Take advantage of the forced time at home to clear out clutter, organize a space, scrub the walls, or deep clean your stuff.

My husband has spring break this week, so we''ve cleaned the floors, cleaned out the fridge, and yesterday I cleaned our shower, including ALL the tiny blue tiles and grout. UGH. It took forever. I eventually had some little people (my kids) help me finish it, and it looks so much better (it was gross when we moved in). You can see more of what I cleaned on my Instagram and Instagram Stories.?

To kick off your spring cleaning, I''m offering you a $2 off coupon code for my cleaning ebook "Speed Clean the Deep Clean." Use coupon code CLEANIT.?

I also updated an old post about why I don''t wait until nap time or bedtime to clean my house! I''d love for you to weigh in and tell me if you agree!

Be healthy and happy and God bless,

Katelyn Fagan

Hey?Amelia!

I thank you for being a subscriber and for your love and support over the last 9 months as I waited for our sixth and seventh kids to join our family! You are so wonderful! We welcome our second set of twins on Monday, August 31, a little after 8pm, via vaginal delivery!?

Our daughter Christina Lily Fagan was born first, weighing 8lbs 11oz, followed 6 minutes later by her twin brother Thomas Caleb Fagan, weighing 8lbs 12oz!?

I was totally carrying around over 17 lbs of baby!! ????

You can see pictures of the babes via my Instagram and Facebook page!

I will admit I am pretty darn proud of myself for carrying twins for 38+ weeks and being able to deliver them both vaginally (despite having doctors who still thought I was taking a risk not delivering via C-Section instead as this is technically still considered a VBAC as I had a C-section with my first set of twins 10 years ago).?

Christina and I both came home yesterday September 2, but Thomas is still in the NICU with a pocket of air under his left lung that just needs time to go away. He will likely be there for a few more days still, but will be off all other interventions by tomorrow morning. I would appreciate your prayers on his behalf.???? We are very blessed to only live about 10 minutes away from the hospital so I am able to go by and stay awhile and nurse him, but it''s super sad not to have our whole family together, and for our new twins to not be together since birth.?

It''s giving me a good reason to use my brand new breast pump and practice all my tips for pumping for twins that I wrote about a couple months ago.?

I plan to write up the whole birth story for the blog (because who doesn''t love a good birth story?) but will do so when I find the time and, more importantly, the energy. All of our other kids'' birth stories are on the blog if you want something to read until then!?

• Birth story of my twin daughters (via scheduled C-section) in 2010
• Birth story of my son (first VBAC) in 2013
• Birth story of my daughter (induced VBAC) in 2015
• Birth story of my daughter (who was over 11lbs) in 2018

I also got a brand new blog post up (I agreed to it ahead of time - I swear I''m trying to take time off!) all about what babies actually need for bath time and what bathing products you should register for. There''s also info in the post about a giveaway you can enter and a coupon you can print! Check it out here!

Lastly, two big promotions I want you to know about for September:

1. Use code KEEPCALM to take 20% off any 3-month Bookroo subscription. We love their books and service!!
2. Shop now for 20% OFF at Newtonbaby.com! Valid 9/3 - 9/08. We have two of their crib mattresses now and love them so much as they are 100% breathable and washable! They even offer a 100-night home trial too in case you don''t like it.?

I have so much I want to talk about and share still regarding babies, delivery, postpartum, advocating for yourself, NICU, and all of it. I am going to try to share to Instagram Stories so be sure to follow me there for updates and insights, but know that I''m also super tired and not holding myself to any sort of regular posting right now!?

If you have questions for me about birth, babies, twins, VBAC, postpartum, please still shoot them my way, maybe on IG so I can answer them there easier and quicker as I won''t be getting to my emails regularly right now.?

Again, thanks for being a great support to me over the last several months. I will be back to blogging as soon as life is a little more stable.?

Until then, God bless YOU and your family!

Sincerely,?

Katelyn Fagan

Hey there again?Amelia,

May is over!! I do not know how the months fly by so fast, but fly they do.?

This is your monthly May What''s up Fagans??recap, which has the following sections: New blog posts in May, old WUF content you may find helpful right now,?awesome affiliate deals & promos you don''t want to miss, and what''s been up with the Fagans in May. :)

New What''s up Fagans? Blog Posts in May

1. Oh Baby Boxes Review
2. Ecocentric Mom Box Review
3. Bump Boxes Review
4. Breast Pump for Twins: How to Use them for Breastfeeding Success

What''s up Fagans? Post You May Find Helpful Right Now

If you are moving soon, be sure to read these posts:

• Your Options for Moving Cheaply Across the Country
• 25 Genius Moving Hacks
• 7 Steps to Get Your Rental Deposit Back in Full
• How to Find the Perfect New Apartment

If you are heading out on some family road trips soon, read these:

• How to Take a Long Family Road Trip and Not Go Insane
• What Foods and Drinks to Pack for a Long Family Road Trip
• Great Big List of Audiobooks for the Whole Family
• What to Pack for a Family Vacation

If you need some?summer tips and ideas:

• Why We''re Not Taking the Summer Off of Homeschool
• 35 Unique and Memorable Beach Games for Kids
• What to Pack for a Beach Day with the Kids
• Best Modest Swimsuits for Moms
• 8 Benefits of Going Camping with Your Kids

Awesome Affiliate Deals!!

These are some of the best deals going on right now! With Father''s Day happening soon, travel season near (hopefully), and summer in general, here are some of offers you might be interested in!!

• Cricut Maker Machines Starting at $299! Valid through 5/31 (This is their lowest price EVER)
• Additional 20% Off Toys & Plush at ShopDisney (Ends 5/31)
• 20% off Sitewide at SwimOutlet.com. Use code SUMMER25 (Ends 6/01)
• 50% Off KidPik Girls & Boys Clothes When You Keep an Entire Box + Free Shipping & Free Styling!Use code BEWELL50.
• Save $30 over your first 2 boxes of Blue Apron!
• Try out Noom for FREE for 14-days - a Physchology-Based Approach to Losing Weight
• Sign up for Cratejoy''s Summer Camp Series and Save on Boxes!
• Get Dad the Perfect Subscription Box for Father''s Day!

What''s up with the Fagans? May Edition

In the month of May the Fagan family had the following highlights:

• We sold our 2007 Chevy Suburban via private sale
• We bought a 2019 Nissan NV van!?
• Our daughter Lisa had two cysts removed from her scalp (she''s had several removed in the past - all benign, no worries)
• I had an OBGYN appointment and passed my 1hr Glucose screening test!
• My husband finished teaching the Spring semester block, only to start up a summer teaching block
• We went camping in our yard for Memorial Day
• We walked 4 miles as a family around a nearby lake, and did many other walks in our neighborhood
• I started using TikTok (@whatsupfagans if you want to join & follow along)
• Had the best Mother''s Day of my life
• Did yard work, including filling in some groundhog holes in the yard
• Our 2yo peed in the potty a few times, and also smeared poop all over other things lots more time than that. ???? She has generally kept us busy....?
• Had church at home and via Zoom meetings (again, let me know if you want the code to join!)
• Took meals to two different families who just had babies (my husband''s co-workers)
• Our county in New York finally started Phase 1 of the Re-opening plan May 26

I hope you had a great month of May! It''s been a slight roller coaster for us here, but we are still healthy and for that we are thankful.?

God bless,?

Katelyn Fagan

Hey there Amelia,

I met with a different doctor at my current OB practice today, and let''s just say, he didn''t tell me the things I wanted to hear. At all.?

Now, me and the babies are healthy and just fine, so don''t worry. ?? The babies are even both head down!

But, he was completely unsupportive of my desires to have a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) for these twins, despite having three previous successful VBACs (and of large babies). He was cocky and arrogant and told me that a VBAC was not the first choice option, and made it seem like the other doctors at the practice weren''t as great with twin deliveries as he was?or with twin VBAC deliveries (despite hearing differently from the other doctor I have seen in this practice).?

I left very upset and cried in my car, calling my husband to vent, and then messaging my labor and delivery nurse friend (who runs PullingCurls.com - she''s amazing BTW).?

I also posted about it on Instagram and Facebook.?

Now, I didn''t post about this experience publicly to "throw shade" against this doctor (though I''m not a fan), but because as women, as patients, it''s SO?important that you learn how to advocate for yourself.?

But, I know how hard that can be! There was a lot I did not say to this doctor that I wanted to. I really think it''s a disservice to patients everywhere that no one is allowed to come with you to appointments, as I would have loved to have my husband with me today, fighting for me, and for our desired delivery method. Or maybe he could have told me I?was actually overreacting to what was said (cause who knows - hormones and stuff).?

But, we don''t always get to have a support person with us in life, so we do need to learn to stick up for and voice our true opinions and desires, in any situation, not just medical ones.?

That''s why it''s important to actually know your rights, know the risks, know the odds, and know what you want in the first place! Research, study, ask, pray, fast, get second opinions, look at the options. Don''t settle for things that you aren''t comfortable with or you don''t want. There is almost always another solution, another avenue to pursue.?

I am not saying be cocky and assume you know better than medical professionals (or other professionals), but don''t assume they always know everything either, especially as it pertains to you individually. You know yourself better than anyone else ever will.?

Today, my hope and prayer for you is that you will learn to speak up for yourself more. That you will fight for what is truly important to you and your family. I hope you will research and study issues to make wise decisions.?

When it comes to communication, one of my favorite ways to better communicate with my husband is to do THIS. (New post!)

I just watched this spectacular?true documentary called Mully (free to watch on Amazon Prime) about an amazing, god-fearing man?from Kenya who took a serious leap of faith selling off his extremely successful businesses to follow a call from God to save the orphans of Kenya. His vision for these thousands of children and for Kenya itself are brilliant and remarkable. I highly recommend giving it a watch!!

I just finished listening to "How Will You Measure Your Life" by Clayton M. Christensen. He combines business smarts with parenting smarts, and asks you to consider how you view both in terms of how you will find true value, worth, and meaning to both your work life and your personal life, and how you will measure your success at both! I listened to it on the Scribd app (which you can try out for free for 2 months if you want, though I am less thrilled with the slim offerings lately, using my referral link). It''s not a super long read, but it was good!?

With our area of New York in Phase II of reopening, I am enjoying life a tad more lately. I got my hair cut (by a friend in her backyard), ate outside of two restaurants, and have gone shopping INSIDE several retail stores! It''s crazy how such simple, everyday things feel like such a big deal. The things we will all no longer take for granted! (And yes, we wear masks when inside - everyone does here - and so far new cases are steady or decreasing still! Yeah!)

Be safe?Amelia, be happy, be strong, and be kind.?

God bless,?

Katelyn Fagan

P.S. If you want some summer science learning boxes, check out my post of ones I?recommend for your kids!

Hey?Amelia!

I thank you for being a subscriber and for your love and support over the last 9 months as I waited for our sixth and seventh kids to join our family! You are so wonderful! We welcome our second set of twins on Monday, August 31, a little after 8pm, via vaginal delivery!?

Our daughter Christina Lily Fagan was born first, weighing 8lbs 11oz, followed 6 minutes later by her twin brother Thomas Caleb Fagan, weighing 8lbs 12oz!?

I was totally carrying around over 17 lbs of baby!! ????

You can see pictures of the babes via my Instagram and Facebook page!

I will admit I am pretty darn proud of myself for carrying twins for 38+ weeks and being able to deliver them both vaginally (despite having doctors who still thought I was taking a risk not delivering via C-Section instead as this is technically still considered a VBAC as I had a C-section with my first set of twins 10 years ago).?

Christina and I both came home yesterday September 2, but Thomas is still in the NICU with a pocket of air under his left lung that just needs time to go away. He will likely be there for a few more days still, but will be off all other interventions by tomorrow morning. I would appreciate your prayers on his behalf.???? We are very blessed to only live about 10 minutes away from the hospital so I am able to go by and stay awhile and nurse him, but it''s super sad not to have our whole family together, and for our new twins to not be together since birth.?

It''s giving me a good reason to use my brand new breast pump and practice all my tips for pumping for twins that I wrote about a couple months ago.?

I plan to write up the whole birth story for the blog (because who doesn''t love a good birth story?) but will do so when I find the time and, more importantly, the energy. All of our other kids'' birth stories are on the blog if you want something to read until then!?

• Birth story of my twin daughters (via scheduled C-section) in 2010
• Birth story of my son (first VBAC) in 2013
• Birth story of my daughter (induced VBAC) in 2015
• Birth story of my daughter (who was over 11lbs) in 2018

I also got a brand new blog post up (I agreed to it ahead of time - I swear I''m trying to take time off!) all about what babies actually need for bath time and what bathing products you should register for. There''s also info in the post about a giveaway you can enter and a coupon you can print! Check it out here!

Lastly, two big promotions I want you to know about for September:

1. Use code KEEPCALM to take 20% off any 3-month Bookroo subscription. We love their books and service!!
2. Shop now for 20% OFF at Newtonbaby.com! Valid 9/3 - 9/08. We have two of their crib mattresses now and love them so much as they are 100% breathable and washable! They even offer a 100-night home trial too in case you don''t like it.?

I have so much I want to talk about and share still regarding babies, delivery, postpartum, advocating for yourself, NICU, and all of it. I am going to try to share to Instagram Stories so be sure to follow me there for updates and insights, but know that I''m also super tired and not holding myself to any sort of regular posting right now!?

If you have questions for me about birth, babies, twins, VBAC, postpartum, please still shoot them my way, maybe on IG so I can answer them there easier and quicker as I won''t be getting to my emails regularly right now.?

Again, thanks for being a great support to me over the last several months. I will be back to blogging as soon as life is a little more stable.?

Until then, God bless YOU and your family!

Sincerely,?

Katelyn Fagan

Hey Amelia,?

When we were getting ready to do our gender reveal for our twin pregnancy, I made sure we filmed our process, including how we made the gender reveal poppers, our emotions before heading to the ultrasound where my husband wouldn''t be allowed in and we couldn''t video during it, our reactions and our kids'' reactions to the news of the genders of our twins.?

I would love for you to watch our twin gender reveal on our Youtube channel!! While you are there, be sure to subscribe to our channel too. :)?

I also just posted a video review of Oh Baby Boxes, a pregnancy subscription box.?But, if you prefer text, I also wrote up a review of Oh Baby Boxes on the blog.?

I have a few more subscription box reviews coming your way (Ecocentric Mom, Bump Boxes, and Club SciKidz) soon too.?

I know many of you are well past the baby stage, so I will get some other good cleaning content your way soon.?

Don''t forget you can always sign up for my FREE deep cleaning email challenge, my email series about the secrets to a clean house, or my series on how to get your family helping in the cleaning!

Here are are great offers I found this week too that?you should know about:

1. Sign up the Productivity Bootcamp?for FREE (ends 5/31 - normally $149)
2. Learn at Home with KiwiCo - 10% off all orders, 20% off $75+ orders with code STOCKUP
3. Get a 30-Day FREE Trial of ABCMouse.com
4. Try out Outschool for fun, safe, social online learning for kids as low as $5/class (many are free if you qualify for financial assistance!)
5. Sign up for the FREE Budget Bootcamp (ends 5/31 - normally $149)
6. Sign up for Rakuten and get $10 back on your first online purchase over $25.

I hope you are having a good week. We are enjoying more green on the trees and warmer weather here in New York. We also finally got our government stimulus check (which will go toward a new, bigger vehicle and this year''s taxes). It''s also finals week, so my husband is almost done teaching, for a little while at least! Our 2yo has used the potty a few times this week too which is promising, but we aren''t holding our breath there. ???

God bless you and yours. And, let me know if you''d like to attend Zoom church with us this week! My husband will be speaking. ??

Sincerely,?

Katelyn Fagan

Hey there?Amelia,

If there''s something you should know about me, it''s that I hate spending money and LOVE saving money. I hardly spend money other than on the necessities and have very frugal tastes in clothing and other things. When I do spend money, I love getting the biggest bang I can for my buck, saving as much as possible, which is why I get really excited about this time of year because of all the savings! But, I also hate this time of year because it means spending a lot of money on gifts for my kids and my spouse, but I also want to spoil them because I don''t buy them all that much during the year. (So many feelings!)

So, here''s a bit of how we afford Christmas shopping for a big family and try to maximize our savings while limiting our spending:

1) Make a list of what you''re going to buy.?

This seems pretty simple, but we keep a running list of gift ideas for each person in our family so we know what they want. This means we limit gifting to like one big purchase per child and a handful of small items,?instead of impulse buying because "it''s cute" or "it''s a great deal" as we frequent stores in November and December. Stick to the list and you''ll save money not buying ALL the things.?

2) Use Rakuten.?

If you are not a Rakuten member, or haven''t used it, now is the time! I have been a Rakuten member (formerly called Ebates) since June 2012!?I''ve received over $1500 cash back from them in that time! Anytime I am going to make a purchase online (excepting Amazon who doesn''t offer cash back), I hit up Rakuten first (or use their bookmarklet before I checkout) in order to get money back for my purchase. I use it often for any and all Groupon deals (making them even better deals), Target (though they don''t offer cash back on all categories), when I order contacts or glasses, when I buy kids clothes, buy a domain name from GoDaddy, and more! Use my referral link and you will get $40 bonus cash back when you spend $40 in your first 90 days after signing up! It''s normally only $25 so this is a great time to join if you haven''t already!?

3) Use Rewards Cards

All year my husband and I charge and then automatically pay off our rewards credit cards, earning us hundreds of dollars back! With our American Express Blue Cash Preferred Card, we''ve earned back over $650 this year. The card gives us 6% back on Supermarkets & streaming services, 3% back at Gas Stations, and 1% back on everything else.?That''s a lot of Christmas presents we can buy for free now! Plus, they also offer additional bonus savings offers for shopping and spending certain amounts at different retailers, like you can get $25 back when you spend $250 or more at Best Buy, for example. If you are looking for a good rewards card, I recommend them. You can get $300 back after you spend $3000 in purchases on your new card in the first six months after opening (we easily spend more than that on groceries in six months) with my referral code. Plus you''ll get 0% intro APR for 12 months and $0 intro annual fee. You can apply for one here.

We also use the Sam''s Club MasterCard Cash Back credit card. We use this one for all of our in-club purchases (getting 1% back on those) and then all of our gas and gas station purchases as we get 5% back on those. We also charge any dining and fast food on this card as we get 3% cash back on those purchases. We''ve earned almost $200 cash back from this card (plus the additional cash back we get as Plus Members). If you aren''t a Sam''s Club member, they are running a special Groupon deal to join for just $25 (normally $45) plus get free pizza or for $35 and get pizza, cheesecake, and dinner rolls. We''ve been Sam''s Club members for like 6 years now.?

*If you have a spending problem, or prefer only using cash, or can''t pay off your charges in full every single month, then do NOT apply for a credit card! I do not encourage you to go into consumer debt. Been there, done that, and I advise you to avoid it like you try to avoid COVID-19.?

4) Use Receipt Apps

This is definitely a smaller way we save money for the holidays, but throughout the year I scan our receipts with the following grocery apps in order to save additional money, letting it accumulate all year until I can cash it out during the holiday season for gift cards or cash:

• Fetch Rewards App?(I''ve earned $35 this year)
• iBotta (I''ve earned $15.30 this year - they are offering a FREE Thanksgiving dinner right now too)
• Checkout51?
• Shopkick

Several of these apps let you connect eReceipts too to places like Sam''s Club!?

And those are some ways we save for Christmas! We keep Christmas simple, but we also have several kids to buy for, and buy some great things for ourselves too. We also love to serve and give back during this time of year by buying gifts for others, donating money to organizations, and so on.?

If you have other tips and ideas that you do for your family to save on big expenses through the year, I''d love to hear them!?

Sincerely,?

Katelyn Fagan

Amelia,?

Maybe I shouldn''t be this happy and chill right now... But, I''ll take it when it comes. Maybe it''s because we''ve been in lockdown mode for nearly a month now that we''ve finally settled into our new life and new routine.?

But, I''m feeling pretty good this week. Optimistic even.?

I''m optimistic because I know in whom I hope.?

There is a?worldwide fast this coming Good Friday, April 10, 2020, where millions around the world will fast, uniting in prayer and pleading for healing throughout the world, that the present pandemic may be controlled, caregivers protected, the economy strengthened, and life normalized. God is so much bigger than this virus and this will all seem but a small moment. I fully believe the?end of this pandemic will come soon. Please join me in fasting and prayer on Good Friday for the same thing.

If you need help getting through your fast, or knowing alternative things to fast from, check out this post.

If you need a church to worship with this coming Sunday, you are welcome to join my local congregation''s online Zoom church?service at 1pm EST! Details in the flyer below:

If you need some last minute Easter ideas, check out these fun and meaningful family Easter tradition ideas and be sure to make your own Easter bunny cake.?

And if you want learn more about Jesus, His Atonement, and how you can Hear Him, read this post.

New What''s up Fagans??Posts This Week

• Prop and Backdrop Ideas for Your Gender Reveal Photo Booth
• Gender Reveal Dresses You''ll Love Wearing to Your Party
• Best Ways to Listen to Audiobooks for Moms in 2020 (My secret for reading 30 books last year!)
• 14 Real Ways to Get Motivated to Clean When Overwhelmed By Mess

*I have our gender anatomy ultrasound coming up this Monday to find out the gender of our twins, so gender reveals are fresh on my mind. I intend to share the news on the blog soon after that!

Special Deal for Your This Week

1. Bluprint Free Unlimited Access extended until 4/16!! Our twin girls just turned 10 and we gave them a sewing machine (half for myself though) so we are going to watch some basic intro sewing classes together to figure out how to use it for free!?If you want help making a face mask (as we are now asked to wear them when we go out) they have some tutorials for you here!

2.?Invest in Your Faith Mini Bundle - Only $7!?This contains 9 Christian resources to help you dig deeper in your relationship with God.?

3. The Self-Care Mini Bundle - Only $11.97! These 10 resources will help you de-stress, recharge, and treat yourself, something never more needed than right now!?

4. Become an InstaCart Shopper! If you are looking to get out of the house, legally, and get a job, look into becoming an InstaCart personal shopper!

5. Cricut''s Easter Flash Sale with 40% off materials, accessories, Maker Machines, and EasyPress machines! We''ve loved using and creating with our Cricut! Available through April 14.?

May you have a wonderful Easter weekend, have hope and optimism, and enjoy the time you''ve been given.?

Sincerely,?

Katelyn Fagan

One of the biggest things bumming me out right now?Amelia is that we have like nothing to look forward to all summer long due to everything being shutdown.?

Add in no playgrounds, pools, or summer camps, and it''s pretty depressing, and not just for the kids.?

I love summer and look forward to spending time swimming and going places and doing things. I am not one that likes to sit home all the time, especially not when the weather is finally nice (which may be why we went camping in our yard for Memorial Day, even though I am 25 weeks pregnant with twins).?

I also want to keep the kids entertained, active, learning, and not on the screens, which we have all been spending too much time on, because, again, we don''t have a ton else to do.?

That''s why I wanted to share this awesome Cratejoy Summer camp deal going on!?

For one week Cratejoy is hosting a SummerCamp series, a fully immersive, online summer camp over five days, June 22-26, for kids ages 6-12 years old. Kids will learn more about science, do arts & crafts, learn more about the culinary arts, technology, theater, and music via five different subscription boxes!?

I talk a lot about subscription boxes sometimes, and have tried out several, and they are really fun for the kids, and give parents and kids a needed break from normal routines, but I know they aren''t always that affordable. This is actually a really great way to try out five different and popular boxes just for kids at a steep discount (like $33/box).?

Plus,?if you sign up now, you can get a sixth box full of additional swag and craft supplies?for free!?

But, this isn''t just about trying out boxes for a week, this is also a fun virtual camp.?

Led by the Girl Scouts of Central Texas, there will be FREE morning activities and exercise sessions, plus bonus classes led by experts and the box owners?in the afternoon!?

Your kids get to try out 5 subscription boxes which come with ALL the supplies they need, plus be led in how to do them by someone else, learn a bunch of stuff, try new things, and so on for just $33/day for five days.

Be sure to sign up by June 5th for this for your own kids or your grandkids! It''ll be a great way to kick off the summer.?

I would love to know what you are planning to do this summer, as we look for fun things to do ourselves. Are there other virtual camps you and the kids/grands are doing? Are you traveling? Are things going to be open for you where you live still? What are your plans??

Sincerely and God Bless,?

Katelyn Fagan

P. S. Even if this doesn''t interest you, I appreciate all your love and support still. Many people are looking for something to do this summer. If you wouldn''t mind, you can share more about this on Facebook by sharing my post about it. Thanks!

Hey there Amelia,

My twin babies are now over 5 weeks old and I am coming off my maternity break! I know some have been curious how I am doing and how the babies are, and we are all doing so well!?

*If you missed the birth story, you can read it here.

Actually, I''m feeling pretty amazing and pretty happy! Maybe it''s the colors of Fall and cooler weather, or just that, after seven kids, I''ve finally have figured out how to not let things bother me as much and know how to take care of babies.?

When I was pregnant with these twins, I was so worried about the after, about what life would be like with newborn twins, trying to juggle them and homeschooling, and parenting five other children, and cleaning the home, and trying to run this business, etc.

But, like most things we worry about, it hasn''t lived up to the worry I built up for it.?

The reality is we''ve been prepping for this moment for months and years.?

We''ve been homeschooling for years and right before they were born, so jumping back into homeschooling two weeks ago with 3 week old twins was fine. Sure, there was lots of extra crying and baby holding during school time, but I also had lots of extra hands to help, and kids who can work independently. We have worked through the years to build a family of unity, so despite how they can all pick at each other and fight, they can also spend hours together happily. The house didn''t turn into a disastrous mess as we have had chore systems set up for months/years and it was just a matter of keeping on the kids and the schedule to get them done.?

While our life isn''t perfect all the time, and things fall through the cracks, or things keep getting pushed to the next day, we''re also having a lot of fun together, going on walks in our neighborhood almost every day, throwing around a baseball in the yard, making a fall wreath, baking, and cooing over these cute new babies.?

And now weeks after giving birth, I am feeling so much better physically. I mean, how could I not now that I''m not carrying around SO much weight?! I am focusing on getting as much sleep as possible (which is why I haven''t been keeping up with these newsletter - I''m just going to bed instead) and my babies are sleeping pretty well. They will get up usually 1-2 times a night, with a nice long initial stretch of sleep of about 5-6 hours and then go right back to bed until three hours later (which is then usually when I wake for the day).?

I have also lost like all of the baby weight, which is surprising but also not as I started 10-15lbs heavier than I ever have been before getting pregnant and I kept my weight gain in check during pregnancy (despite eating dessert every day while pregnant ??) and lost a ton of weight just from giving birth! I look forward to getting back into real exercise again and trying to heal my abs.?

Our babies are getting so big. Our son is having some serious male-patterned baldness on top of his head and our daughter is just chunking up everywhere. They are healthy and happy, but also sometimes pretty fussy, as we still work to understand their cues and cries and get them on a good schedule during the day.?

My mother-in-law left right after my son came home from his 6-day stay in the NICU so we''ve been on our own with the day-in and day-out but we''ve had a lot of people from church and from my husband''s work bring us meals which has been such a blessing. We''ve also received a lot of baby items from others too. We are so incredibly blessed!?

My husband has been working almost this entire time, thankfully from home. We were even able to get a new desk for him!! You can read all about this?super affordable adjustable standing desk he just got (we think is awesome and there is a 10% discount code in it for you). With working from home and sitting for long hours, it''s great to spend some of those hours standing rather than sitting!??

As Halloween is coming up this month, here are some helpful posts for you!

1. 23+ Halloween Science Experiments for Preschool & Elementary Students
2. Cheap & Easy DIY Halloween Decorations for Outside and Inside
3. Where to Buy Cheap and Used Halloween Costumes Online
4. 16 Pregnant Halloween Costume Ideas that Embrace the Bump

I have a lot of ideas on things to offer to you all, but as always, lack a lot of time to dedicate to this business in my current season of life. Primarily, I want to create more videos and offering coaching services for you. I want to help you live a happy, balanced, peaceful life with God at the center of it. I am personally working to develop in my prayer life more and bringing my life in harmony with what God desires for me, rather than what I think I''m called to do, and when, and how.?

If you want you consider yourself a "goal-oriented mom" I would love for you to join me in a Facebook group where we can work together to accomplish goals, whatever they may be.?

Have a great October day!?

Sincerely,?

Katelyn Fagan

Hey there Amelia,

I am about three months away now from having my second set of twins, babies number 6 and number 7.?

And it''s crazy thinking about how my life is going to change so much. I?know people tell me I''ve done the twin thing before so it should be easier this time around, but I''m not all that sure that will be true.?

The first set of twins are my oldest (and now 10), and I was a stay-at-home-mom 100% (well, minus some online classes I took). They had ALL of my attention and care and doting all day long for like 3 full years before we had our third child.?

So while they took up a lot of time and energy and tested me in so many ways, I didn''t have to worry about too much else during their babydom.?

But, now I already have five kids, four of whom I do at least some homeschooling with, each day, with the fifth running around causing mayhem whereever she goes.?I also run a blogging business. And take care of a much bigger home, and do way more laundry, and have more to juggle as my husband works full-time. I''m not sure twins will be easier because of all those things!?

So, while I''m super excited to meet these two babes in a few more months, I worry sometimes about how I?will manage.?

But, that''s why I''m thankful at least that I successfully breastfed twins the first time around plus three additional kids! I feel at least confident in that aspect of my new future.?

In fact, I just received a new Medela breast pump I am stoked about as my old breast pump (also a Medela) is, no joke, 20 years old.?

If you are curious my thoughts about pumping and breastfeeding for twins (and single babies),?head over to my new blog post.

I have also been reviewing some pregnancy boxes! If you are expecting, or know someone who is - as they make great gifts -?I would check them all out!?

1. Oh Baby Boxes Review
2. Ecocentric Mom Box Review
3. Bump Boxes Review

I hope you are well and happy. I know emotions can be all over the place right now! Let me know what I can do to better help you!?

Sincerely,?

Katelyn?Fagan

?P.S. If you are on TikTok, come follow me! I just started an account and am sharing home and parenting hacks over there!?

Okay Amelia,?

Just about every mom I know is on a crazy emotional roller coaster right now.?

One day, she''s owning this work-from-home homeschooling isolation thing and has got it going. The next day she is screaming at the kids, locking herself in her closet to cry, and downing some chocolate.

One day her kids are cool with being home... the next day they refuse to do anything and want to go somewhere, anywhere, and see their friends.?

One day she''s making a healthy dinner, and the next she''s throwing cereal at the kids for dinner instead because she''s struggling to time manage work, multiple kids schooling, herself, the house, and all of it.

I see friends complaining about not sleeping well at night, about panic attacks, about bursting into tears when reality finally catches up with them.?

I see friends loving and hating having their kids and spouses home as they deal with the reality of?managing the multiple?public school schedules at home, their spouse''s and their own?work schedule, and cramped quarters.

This is hard, hard, hard.?

Add in the fact that my husband received bad news yesterday - he didn''t get a job he applied for and that we really, really wanted and?prayed hard he would get - and we''re feeling all the feels right now.

Chances are you are too.?

So today, my message to you and to me is to pray, because God is a fabulous source of peace, direction, and hope. Nothing in our world right now is peaceful, clear, or all that hopeful. But, God is. I?know that as we pray and go to God for answers and sureties, we can find them.?

May you find hope in Christ at this time and hear Him speak peace and comfort to your troubled soul.?

As you do so, I have some additional resources and helps for you, like always.?

Self-Development Ideas

I had some people suggest I share ideas about crafts and things you can do at home to work on hobbies or talents, or otherwise improve yourself, now that you do have this forced time in one location. The problem of course is that I''m not all that crafty, BUT I did just receive some Cricut products (for an upcoming blog post - so full details about my use and experience will be coming).?

Here are some cool things I found for you, if you are looking to develop hobbies, create, or learn right now.?

• 450 FREE Ivy League Courses you can take online for free
• Develop all sorts of hobbies with Bluprint! For the rest of March you can?get ANY class for $10 with code CREATE10 or take 50% off ALL classes, no code required.?
• 11 Monthly Arts & Crafts Boxes to Help Kids''?Creativity
• 12 Monthly STEM Boxes for Kids
• Top Baking Kits and Cooking Subscription Boxes

Making & Saving Money

Many of us are looking to cut costs or earn more money as we face uncertain financial times. I know I just got my tax bill ??, and am unsure what this blogging thing will do in 2020 for me, nor how having a twin pregnancy will affect my work.?

You may be out of work, or looking to stretch those dollars, too. While I actually have a LOT of advice on this, and there is a lot of advice out there on the internet regarding finances and frugal living, here are just a few quick things for you:

• Rakuten (formerly Ebates). Because you have to do all of your shopping online, be sure to sign up for Rakuten and use it before you go shopping at whatever retailer online. I have personally used them for YEARS now and love how easy it is to save extra money just by using them before you shop.?If you are new to Rakuten, you can use my link, and then you''ll get a $10 bonus when you shop through them and make a $25 purchase somewhere.?
• Survey Sites. I have an old post with 10 survey sites that pay cash. Once upon a time, I?used to take a lot of surveys in my spare time, collecting up that little extra bit of money. As you are stuck at home, maybe try completing a few surveys as you watch a TV show or something.?
• VIPKid. This is a work-from-home job teaching English to Chinese students, that pay up to $22/hr. You can learn more about VIPKid here.
• Walmart Grocery Pickup accepts EBT! You can learn more about it in my new post.?

Spring Cleaning

• I created a new Cleaning Bingo Board for this week (download it here) and am still offering prizes for those who show me they got a bingo. You can see full details on that in my post.?
• And be sure to check out my post with?18 cleaning games for kids that make chores fun... or at least funner.?
• Pick up some awesome?non-toxic odor removers from Enviroklenz and use code FAGANS15 to save 15% off your order. They even have some odor-removing hand soap still available!?

Home Boredom Busters?

• Play the Flour Game! This is a classic game from my childhood and it''s sure to be SUPER memorable!
• Classic Toys Kids Actually Play with for Years
• Classic Old-Fashioned Backyard Games

I have a lot more to share, but that''ll be it for now. I hope you have a great week, have a good cry if needed, and say some prayers for peace and comfort to be yours during this strange and unnatural time we are living in. I''m hear for you. Let me know what resources you are looking for, or what you think I should share more about, and I''ll do my best to help.

Sincerely,?

Katelyn Fagan

Hey there?Amelia,?

Can I ask you what you are most looking forward to as lockdown restrictions lighten up in your area??

Is it seeing your grandkids, parents, friends? Is it returning to work? Is it seeing people and giving hugs? Is it being able to go the hair salon or do something fun outside your home??

There is no right or wrong answer!?

We have all been affected by this coronavirus quarantine differently. For some, it hasn''t really been a big deal. For others, it has been devastating.?

As we live in New York state, our reality is that it is going to take a long time still for things to open all the way back up in our specific part of the state. We live in the Mid-Hudson region, right north of New York City, and have had something like 9000+ cases and 254 deaths in our specific county. Being so close to the city (and plenty of people in our area commute to the city for work), our four phases to reopen will likely take a while to fully happen. We''re talking middle of June at the earliest for restaurants to open, and the end of the June, at the earliest, for arts, education, and recreation to open. There''s a whole list of criteria our governor has issued must be met to open anything, and for the next phase to re-open.?

Basically... it means summer isn''t happening for us and we still have a long time yet to not have much to do, and it''s totally bumming us out.?

So.... I''m trying to come up with alternative plans for our summer break. We intend to keep doing some homeschooling over the summer (which we normally do), but want to add other types of learning and projects if possible.

Right now this means I want to get ALL the outdoor gifts I can for my kids?because I want them outside as much as possible, even if it''s in our own backyard.?

It means we are looking into learning how to make simple baby quilts for our twins babies on the way, as we just got a sewing machine and are eager to learn and use it.?

It means we are going to have our kids work on some typing curriculum (TBD which one) so they can develop better computer skills.?

I?am also looking into Outschool classes for the kids as a substitute for summer camps and other programs. The kids all expressed interest in acting classes or drama, so I will be researching what they offer. I?like that Outschool offers?LIVE classes with peers and a teacher in real-time, rather than pre-recorded lessons and is relatively affordable.?

And I''m hoping that our neighbors may let us go swimming in their pools some this summer, and that our kids will eventually get to play together again.?

If you are also beginning to stress over the summer cooped up at home with the kids (still), here are some other helpful ideas of stuff to do:

• Science Expeditions Subscription?FREE first month of any 6 or 12 month subscription with code FIRSTMONTH
• Highlights Magazines for just $3.33/issue!
• Kids Cook Real Food - 14-Day Trial + 2 Months Access for just $19 + Give Away a Free Membership to someone in need!?

Also, shopDisney is selling pre-orders of 4-packs of Disney?reusable cloth face masks?which will help you feel more confident going out with the kids as things do reopen.?

I hope you''ll be able to enjoy summer yet! In the meantime... stay healthy. Stay happy. God bless you and yours!

And please, let me know how you are doing, and what helps and resources you are looking for to help you through this time!

Sincerely,?

Katelyn Fagan

Hey Amelia,

I managed to squeeze in the time to write?up the birth story of our fraternal twins born on August 31!?

In the post I answer the question of if twins run in my family and go over the struggles I faced getting the doctors I desired so I could have the vaginal birth I desired, as I am still considered a VBAC even after 10 years and three previous vaginal deliveries. I also talk about my son''s 6-day NICU stay (thank you for the prayers on his behalf - he is home!) and how our family is adjusting to newborn twins at home. Go give it a read!

Don''t forget to check out my post about baby bathing supplies and enter the #LoveWithBabyMagic Giveaway that''s mention in that post too (and print the coupon).?

If you are planning ahead for Christmas and love advent calendars for your kids, the new 2020 LEGO Advent calendar is still $10 off (lowest price you''ll find it this year) on Amazon! You can pick one (or more) up?through my link here. Which, if you love advent calendars, be sure to check out this post where I?list out several different advent calendar for kids ideas!!

I am doing pretty well after giving birth two weeks ago, and trying to get as much sleep as possible. I hope you are well and enjoying the cooler fall weather. If you are being affected by the crazy fires out West or the hurricanes in the South, I pray for your safety and well-being! I also pray for all of you sending kids back to school or trying to manage e-learning from home while doing your own thing too. It''s not an easy time we are all facing!! May God bless you and yours.?

Sincerely,?

Katelyn Fagan

Hey there?Amelia,

Have you ever felt the pull to give to others??

I swear giving is?addictive this time of year when everyone is giving and asking you to give -- give of your time, talents, energy, money, food, clothes, goods, and so on. We start having FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) about giving!?

I like to think this pull is a very good thing. A Christ-Like thing.

We are participating in our church''s Giving Tree this year?(giving presents to local individuals/families who we''ve identified as needing extra help) even though we are having a smaller Christmas ourselves this year. We still have an abundance (something we do NOT take for granted after our several years of being receivers of gifts rather than givers)?and know we need to give of our abundance, no matter how little it may have to be this year.

Have you ever participated in a Giving Tree or Secret Santa or other anonymous gifting during the holiday season? Are you doing so this year?

Today I have a new post (I know! It''s been awhile!) with 6 fun and affordable secret Santa gift ideas for kids, should you be gifting to a child secretly too!?Please check it out and share or comment what you are gifting this year.?

I also encourage you to check out the following posts about giving during the holidays:

• 12 Days of Christmas Anonymous Gift Ideas for a Family
• How to do Anonymous Gifting to Help Feed the Hungry (and info on #LightTheWorld)

• 6 People You Forget to Thank All Year and Gifts They''ll Appreciate
• Family Service Ideas
• Why and How to Do a Random Acts of Kindness Advent Calendar

There are ALWAYS people out there who need help, at all times of year. If you didn''t donate during Giving Tuesday (I was able to raise $80 for charity:water on Giving Tuesday thanks to friends and others), please consider where and how you can give.?

And if you are unfortunately unable to give monetarily (been there!!), think of simple everyday ways you can serve. It is often through service that we forget our own problems and appreciate the little we still do have. And if you really could use help yourself, please contact local churches or organizations and request to be added to their Giving Trees or request food, clothing, or whatever else you realize you need.?

May God bless you abundantly,

Katelyn Fagan

Hey Amelia,?

I?appreciate all the emails I received after some of my previous emails about mothers and mother''s day! I sympathize with those who have a hard time with this holiday, whether you mourn the passing of your mom/grandma or the poor relationship you had/have with your mom, or some other reason. It can be hard!?

I know this as my mom was finally busted out of the nursing home by my dad and brought back home last week. Only, she''s in a lot of pain, and her memory has taken a nosedive over the past 2-3 months. Also, my mother wasn''t really that great of a mother, nor have I had a particularly close relationship with her in my life.?

But, the good news, whether or not you love and have your mom still or don''t, there are some great savings going on right now, that I wanted you to know about.

So, if you want some last minute gift ideas, or just want to take advantage of savings for yourself, here you go:

1. Get AncestryDNA?for only $59 plus tax and shipping, and AncestryHealth?for $99* plus tax and shipping. *Not available in NY, NJ and RI.
2. Take 25% off a ScentBox gift subscription with code MOTHER25.?
3. Le Creuset''s legendary, best-selling cookware is on sale for 20% off for the first time ever!
4. BloomsyBox is a floral delivery subscription service - why not send flowers to mom on a regular basis? Use BIGGERBLOOMS for 10% off.
5. Take an additional 20% off with code EXTRA20 on "The Final Few" items at?SwimOutlet.com

If you want more gift ideas, check out these posts:

• Practical & thoughtful gifts for pregnant first-time moms
• 13 Pregnancy Box Subscriptions that will pamper the mom
• 16 Practical genealogy gifts for Family History lovers
• Gifts for Cycling Lovers
• Adventure & Experience Gifts for Her
• Clothing Subscription Boxes

I do wish you a Happy Mother''s Day all the same to you and yours. Mothers are important and special. And anyone can "mother" another whether they are biologically related or not.?

Sincerely,

Katelyn Fagan

Hey there Amelia,

I so appreciate the many emails I have received over the last week. You all are so amazingly kind to me. ???? You''ve really encouraged me to keep doing what I?am doing, which is that of being me, of sharing positivism in the world, of being a good mom, of advocating for myself and my family, of being a better friend, and a better person.?

You inspired me to share some pregnant-body positivity on Instagram yesterday, which many women said they really needed to hear and greatly appreciated! You can read my caption and see my pregnant girth at the same time. ???

With summer officially here (yeah ??), we are still homeschooling ?? and my husband and I are still trying to work from home while doing so. Oh, and we''re officially potty training our almost 2.5 year old daughter, and it''s mostly going well! Praise the Lord for that!?

This week I have been working like a mad woman, all in preparation for a Facebook Live interview I had on Thursday afternoon with Jenny Guy of Mediavine (my ad network). I created a free affiliate marketing course, updated a different affiliate marketing course, and prepped for my interview (among a bunch of other smaller things).?

If you are interested in blogging, you can check out my Facebook LIVE interview here (I share a special 10% off promo code good for all of my blogging courses & products in it!!). I think it went pretty well and I thankfully wasn''t nervous (an answer to several prayers there too).

I also got up a new post! If you are pregnant and planning on taking a road trip anytime soon, be sure to read my Tips on Surviving Long Road Trips While Pregnant post!

Next week I will have a new cleaning tutorial for you, a DIY project,?some new videos, and other great stuff!?

I hope you are doing well, staying cool, and enjoying the warm summer weather. May you find good things to celebrate in your everyday life.?

And may you remember that giving more than you receive will only come back to bless you. As you give generously, good things will come your way. I fully believe and trust in that.?

God bless,?

Katelyn Fagan

P.S. Today is the last day to take advantage of The Ultimate Homemaking Bundle!! It''s 97% off and full of great content for so many aspects of your life! Don''t miss out!

Hey there Amelia,

I met with a different doctor at my current OB practice today, and let''s just say, he didn''t tell me the things I wanted to hear. At all.?

Now, me and the babies are healthy and just fine, so don''t worry. ?? The babies are even both head down!

But, he was completely unsupportive of my desires to have a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) for these twins, despite having three previous successful VBACs (and of large babies). He was cocky and arrogant and told me that a VBAC was not the first choice option, and made it seem like the other doctors at the practice weren''t as great with twin deliveries as he was?or with twin VBAC deliveries (despite hearing differently from the other doctor I have seen in this practice).?

I left very upset and cried in my car, calling my husband to vent, and then messaging my labor and delivery nurse friend (who runs PullingCurls.com - she''s amazing BTW).?

I also posted about it on Instagram and Facebook.?

Now, I didn''t post about this experience publicly to "throw shade" against this doctor (though I''m not a fan), but because as women, as patients, it''s SO?important that you learn how to advocate for yourself.?

But, I know how hard that can be! There was a lot I did not say to this doctor that I wanted to. I really think it''s a disservice to patients everywhere that no one is allowed to come with you to appointments, as I would have loved to have my husband with me today, fighting for me, and for our desired delivery method. Or maybe he could have told me I?was actually overreacting to what was said (cause who knows - hormones and stuff).?

But, we don''t always get to have a support person with us in life, so we do need to learn to stick up for and voice our true opinions and desires, in any situation, not just medical ones.?

That''s why it''s important to actually know your rights, know the risks, know the odds, and know what you want in the first place! Research, study, ask, pray, fast, get second opinions, look at the options. Don''t settle for things that you aren''t comfortable with or you don''t want. There is almost always another solution, another avenue to pursue.?

I am not saying be cocky and assume you know better than medical professionals (or other professionals), but don''t assume they always know everything either, especially as it pertains to you individually. You know yourself better than anyone else ever will.?

Today, my hope and prayer for you is that you will learn to speak up for yourself more. That you will fight for what is truly important to you and your family. I hope you will research and study issues to make wise decisions.?

When it comes to communication, one of my favorite ways to better communicate with my husband is to do THIS. (New post!)

I just watched this spectacular?true documentary called Mully (free to watch on Amazon Prime) about an amazing, god-fearing man?from Kenya who took a serious leap of faith selling off his extremely successful businesses to follow a call from God to save the orphans of Kenya. His vision for these thousands of children and for Kenya itself are brilliant and remarkable. I highly recommend giving it a watch!!

I just finished listening to "How Will You Measure Your Life" by Clayton M. Christensen. He combines business smarts with parenting smarts, and asks you to consider how you view both in terms of how you will find true value, worth, and meaning to both your work life and your personal life, and how you will measure your success at both! I listened to it on the Scribd app (which you can try out for free for 2 months if you want, though I am less thrilled with the slim offerings lately, using my referral link). It''s not a super long read, but it was good!?

With our area of New York in Phase II of reopening, I am enjoying life a tad more lately. I got my hair cut (by a friend in her backyard), ate outside of two restaurants, and have gone shopping INSIDE several retail stores! It''s crazy how such simple, everyday things feel like such a big deal. The things we will all no longer take for granted! (And yes, we wear masks when inside - everyone does here - and so far new cases are steady or decreasing still! Yeah!)

Be safe?Amelia, be happy, be strong, and be kind.?

God bless,?

Katelyn Fagan

P.S. If you want some summer science learning boxes, check out my post of ones I?recommend for your kids!

Hey there Amelia,

I have two quick things for you today.?

The first is a new video (watch it on Youtube here) and blog post about how to remove wax from your jeans! I had some birthday candles drip wax on my jeans back in January and found a pretty quick and easy way to get it off! Yeah!?

And second, I would love if you join me and my amazing friend Meghan Rabuse of Family Finance Moms do a LIVE interview on Instagram tomorrow morning, July 8, at 9am EST. She and I are going to talk about how my family overcame poverty through blogging! Not only did it get our family off government assistance, but it also helped support our family as my husband pursued his PhD for 5 years, pay off my student loans, and more.?

If this is a topic you''d love to learn more about, or you just like me and want to ask me questions live, be sure to follow me on Instagram @whatsupfagans and my friend Meghan @familyfinancemom.?

Be sure to hop onto Instagram at 9am and click the LIVE circle button at the top!?Meghan will post it onto her IGTV after the broadcast ends in case you miss it and want to watch it later. Meghan shares awesome financial tips and investing advice simple enough for moms and women to understand. I love following her and am honored to share some of my story with her audience!?

I have some new posts going up later this week I''m excited to share with you all too, and hopefully more videos! Finally getting more time to work and am more organized about somethings around here.?

I hope you are doing well and had a happy 4th of July (if American). We went mini golfing, dined in at a restaurant, and then lit off fireworks with the neighbors late that night! My kids said it was the most fun they''ve had in a long time (which, isn''t surprising given the state of affairs of the last 4 months).?

God bless!?

Katelyn Fagan?

Happy Father''s Day?Amelia!?

Today is a special day because it''s a day we celebrate fathers!?

I know not everyone has a dad, or your dad has since passed, or the father of your children wasn''t a great man, so this day can be anything but "happy."

If this day is hard for you, you can go ahead and close this email and wait for the next one. I''ll understand as I don''t want to cause tears or anger or hate for you today!

But, I love fathers!!??

I hate that fathers today seem to get such a bad rap! My husband sent me an article about how sitcom dads being portrayed as bumbling idiots who are totally inept at parenting, because he knows how I hate that!?

With six brothers, two brother-in-laws, an awesome dad, and an amazing husband, I do not view any of them as bumbling idiots who can''t care for themselves or their own children (or step-children). ??

Men today are doing far more within the home in terms of household chores and parenting duties than they were 50-60 years ago, and I totally see that with my male family members, no matter how macho they may be (many are/were in the military or are blue collar workers). They change diapers, cook dinner, vacuum, go to the grocery store, read bedtime stories, and comfort crying children, among many other parental and home duties.

I believe dads are extremely important. Perhaps more than ever as we see a rise in fatherless homes and the negative consequences that come from that.?But, dads are needed because they aren''t moms, and they provide different things to their children.

Now, I know some dads are dead-beats, or abusive, or alcoholics, or adulterers. But, that''s not how a dad is supposed to be. You do not deserve that from your father (or spouse), and he will be held accountable before God for being such.?

But, I really, really want you to know, in case you don''t believe it, that there ARE good men out there. That good men still exist and many of them are doing amazing things within their homes and often at their careers.?

And today we celebrate these good men.?

The men who stayed, who got sober, who loved their wives and children fiercely and would never cheat on or beat them, who defend the home, who work hard to provide, who lead in righteousness, who show up. These men are often the quiet, unsung heroes of our society and I am sure glad that we get to talk directly about them today! These men need our praise and our love and devotion. We need to recognize them today and everyday! They do not receive enough attention!

Posts to Read Today:

To better inspire your feelings toward fathers, I encourage you to read these inspirational Father''s Day quotes from real families.?

If you want to know my husband''s words and feelings about fatherhood,?you can read those here.

If you want to know what type of a dad I had, you can read about him here.

If you want to know why I think my husband is amazing, you can read about that here.

Here are some additional posts for you:

• How to Support Your Husband Going Back to School
• How to RESPECT Your Husband
• 10 Tips for Protecting Your Marriage from Divorce
• 15 Fun Ways to Give Words of Affirmation to Him

Thank you to all the great dads out there. May you be spoiled today for all the hard work you do all the time. Happy Father''s Day dads!

God bless,

Katelyn Fagan

Hello Amelia,?

I had someone unsubscribe to my email list yesterday. And they were nice enough to email me and tell me why.?Here is their message:

I was unaware I talked too much about having friends and a support system. But, regardless, it left me with two questions:

1. Do you feel like you have friends and a support system?
   
2. Does hearing about others having friends or support make you feel bad??

I asked this on my Facebook page (feel free to add your comments) and in my Instagram stories (feel free to message me there instead) as well.

Because, honestly, I think it''s a VERY common thing today to feel lonely.?The last four months have only compounded how lonely some of us feel or realize we already were, as we were forced to stay inside our homes, not allowed to visit with family, and removed from church, work, and other social gatherings.?

It makes me sad to think this person, who could be much like you, is this lonely, that simply hearing of others not being as lonely means you can''t stand to follow them.?

I have siblings in the military and my husband now works with plenty of military personnel, so we understand that many military people face this reality all the time.?

My husband and I have also been far away from family, and uprooted our family to move across the country a few times, where we knew absolutely no one. We just hit our one year in New York mark?this week!

And it''s hard making acquaintances, let alone REAL friends. Different times and seasons of our lives also make it harder.?

When we first moved to Indianapolis, I felt very alone as a new mom of twins, with no car during the day, and very little money. I didn''t have a way to get out and meet many people, nor have the means to hang out like many others wanted to, getting together for appetizer hour or movies (cause I didn''t have extra in the budget for those things).?

If you feel lonely as a stay-at-home mom (or really, just lonely, period), I wrote this post a long time ago just for you - please read it!

But, my husband and I decided long ago that we could be lonely, or we could do something about it.?

We could choose to let our poorness, our small apartment, our big family, our lack of toys, our sometimes social awkwardness, or any number of things prevent us from putting ourselves out there and at least trying to make friends; or we could invite people into our home and into our lives anyway.?

We work REALLY hard to reach out to others and make friends. We made it a goal for a long time to invite someone/family over from church once a month, and someone/family outside our church sphere over once a month.?

In the last year, we hosted a party for my husband''s co-workers, at the start of the new school year. I put together a book club for people from church and otherwise that I?knew. I invited people over for a Church Primary activity, and a homeschool hangout (these were all well before March).?

We drop off treats to people''s homes, and sign-up for meal trains for people who just had babies, or just had surgery or something. We made it a point to talk to our neighbors, and wave at them as they go by, and friend them on Facebook, and ask for their help.?

And my husband often thinks he''s socially awkward and that no one likes him, and he''s the reason we don''t "have friends."?

We all battle with loneliness, sometimes even in the middle of a party.?

I like to think these emails I write and send you help you feel less lonely.?

But, what a blessing it is that I get to have my own community of followers via email, blog, Instagram, Facebook, and so on, who support me. I hope that I am also supporting you in some small way, even when we are not physically neighbors, because I so appreciate all your emails, prayers, thoughts, shares, and comments.

The last several months have been hard on all of us. I hope you will find support or a friend or some sort of acquaintance (or better appreciate the ones you do have). Sometimes you don''t need to be "that close" in order to still connect and receive help when needed. There are all types of relationships we need in life. It still takes a village to raise a person (from childhood to adulthood).?

Be happy friend,?

God bless,?

Katelyn Fagan

Hey there Amelia,

Right now it''s crazy out there, and this is especially true if you are expecting a baby.?

You have to brave the health centers for your monthly or weekly appointments, praying you won''t get sick with anything when you do.?

If you are delivering soon, some hospitals are trying to restrict if you can have anyone with you at all during labor and delivery, regardless if your support person shows symptoms or not, which adds to your birth concerns.

You worry about what the hospital will be like when it does come to delivery and if you and your baby will be safe from the virus.?

And that''s on top of all the normal pregnancy worries, like is my baby kicking enough in there, is my blood pressure getting too high, when will I?have to drink that super sugary drink, and will I have the birth I want?

If you are pregnant right now, like I am with twins, it''s an extra stressful time and these pregnancy hormones are not making it any easier, am I right??

If your hospital birthing class was recently canceled or postponed or you are looking for a good and affordable alternative, I wanted to let you know about my girl Hilary''s awesome Online Prenatal Class for Couples!?

Hilary has been an L&D nurse for almost 20 years and is sharing her knowledge online with as many people as possible through her course. She''s totally honest, practical, hopeful, and funny, making this class so easy to get through, and as fast or as slow as you want to take it. Each lesson contains bite-sized information, with questions for you to ask yourself and your partner.?

She''s running her April Fool''s Day sale right now which is her best sale of the year, so all of her classes and courses are a whopping 30% off! Use promo code FOOLMENOT for 30% off this course making it only $69.30 (down from $99)!?

If you want other options, she has just the Prenatal class as a book, and she has a deluxe prenatal class option which includes the course plus access to Hilary in a Facebook group so you can ask all your questions to a real L&D nurse before/after delivery, plus the ebook, plus a helpful email series to go along with it all. You can take that 30% off any of the options!

And if you want a sampler, she even has a free beginning prenatal class you can check out too.??

If you are not expecting right now, feel free to pass along this awesome sale and information by forwarding this email to your pregnant friend, sister, daughter, or whoever you know that IS pregnant!?I''m sure they''ll appreciate knowing about it!?

May you have a safe and healthy pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum period, and not to be too stressed with all that is going on around you right now.?

Sincerely,?

Katelyn Fagan

Hey there Amelia,

I have been so grateful for all the amazing emails you all have sent me over the last few days in response to my (probably too many) emails! Your words are so encouraging to keep going and doing what I am doing! You rock!!?

I know that my list of subscribers?come from different places and backgrounds and I do my best to help as many as I can, and be a positive place of encouragement and helpful resources!?

And that''s why I am emailing yet again today, because today the annual Ultimate Homemaking Bundle went live! It''s the perfect resource for just about everyone as it touches on so many aspects of life - your home, your family, and yourself!?

?? This?bundle of digital products has:

• planners?
• cleaning tips?
• decluttering packs?
• workouts
• recipes
• bible studies
• marriage helps?
• printable organizing sheets
• homeschooling helps
• kids activities
• journals
• and more!

Oh, and plus right now there are?some fun early bird bonus you get with the bundle if you pick this up in the next day or two.

???? Find out all about the ultimate homemaking bundle now!

God Bless,?
Katelyn Fagan

TL;DR:?The Ultimate Homemaking Bundle?is live today! If you want to get some printables and resources together to help you jump into the upcoming months, this is your chance to get some great ones for 97% off! It''s only on sale this week. It''s the most popular bundle they''ve got and sells tens of thousands every year,?it''s that good.

I will likely send out another email reminding you to act before this sale closes, but I don''t intend to email you more than that about this! If it''s for you, great! If not, maybe next time.?

You know Amelia they say that sometimes in life you just gotta take a leap of faith...?

Like, taking that leap to have another kid... (and then ending up with two in there!)

Or taking a leap to ask someone to marry you...?

Or taking a leap to quit your job and start your own business.

In case you didn''t realize it.... this Saturday is LEAP DAY!!?

Leap day only happens once every four years. And this year it''s on a Saturday, which means there are few excuses for not making it a fantastic leap-filled day!?

Take advantage of the extra day!?

To help you get some ideas on what to do to make this extra day really count, check out these two posts:

1. 29+ Leap Day Ideas for Adults and Kids
2. 29+ Leap Day Activities Just for Kids

And I know it''s a little early, but I updated this old post about how to make a bunny cake for Easter! It''s one of those family traditions I brought into our relationship and we''ve done almost every single year! You can see all our cute bunny cakes from years past too, as well as a few alternative methods for make bunny cakes. Trust me, they are far from Pinterest-perfect, but I''m all about traditions here and memories, rather than perfection!

To help you kill those nasty viruses and sicknesses in your home, I?have two cleaning posts to share with you (which is timely as I am currently fighting a head cold - yuck!)

1. How to Disinfect Your Bathroom
2. How to Easily Clean Your Shower Heads (with a new video!)

Lastly, two things:

1.)? I wanted to say thank you again to all the amazing congratulations emails I have received! You all are so sweet to congratulate us on our recent news of a twin pregnancy! We''re super excited.?

2.) If you are a praying person, I''d love prayers for my mother Penny Warren. She fell on Monday on the ice (she''s in Wisconsin) and broke her shoulder and her hip and had hip surgery Tuesday morning. She already wasn''t in great health (early Alzheimer''s, type II diabetes, eye issues, daily back pain from sprained/broken vertebrae, and so on). It''s hard not being able to be there and help, but my dad and several siblings and lots of friends are nearby to help.

Thanks for everything. Have a great, healthy, happy week. God bless!

Sincerely,?

Katelyn Fagan

Happy April Fool''s Day?Amelia,

March 2020 was such a long month. Not being able to do anything or go anywhere can make that happen. That''s why I found this graphic to capture my feeling about today pretty accurately:

I also really don''t like April Fool''s day, so I''d be cool if it was cancelled. You can?trust me that I?haven''t put any tricks in this email for you today.?

While cases of this virus continue to rise at alarming rates?in my area (New York State), we are still doing very well, in part because of great neighbors (and staying put).?

One neighbor asked if he could pick us up anything from the store as he was headed there, so he picked us up some napkins and syrup. A different neighbor asked if we needed anything and I said we''d just run out of vanilla, so she left her bottle on the porch for us to use.?

It''s really important that during times like this we let other people serve us in whatever way they can. We would have survived without these items for a few more days, but, instead, we let our neighbors feel human, and compassionate, by letting them serve us.?

At a time when there is so much stress and confusion and isolation, letting people serve you, and, of course, serving them back, keeps us connected to each other in deep and powerful ways.?

We made plates of cookies for these neighbors who served us, and I wrote up a little poem that I stuck on the plate:

We wish there wasn''t a virus

As it makes us stay away,

But we hope this treat during crisis

Will brighten your gloomy day!

I am not a poet, but if you bake treats for anyone, feel free to use the poem above?(and make it better). I know some people are leery of giving treats at this time, so if you are, then don''t give any treats away. We all need to do what we feel is best.?

Lastly, I wanted to remind you that if a tiny virus can do this much damage in the world, imagine what mustard seed sized faith can do. ??

What''s New on What''s up Fagans?

I?have three brand new blog posts up this week for you, that I am sure will help many of you!

1. How to Clean a Humidifier
2. Parents: Here''s How to Get Your Kids Excited About All the Right Things
3. 14 Tips for Getting Motivated to Clean When Overwhelmed by Mess

And in case you missed any of my new posts from March, here''s what you might have missed:

1. How to Play the Flour Game
2. How to Use EBT Food Stamps at Walmart Grocery Pickup
3. Sample Homeschool Schedule for Kindergarten
4. Weekly Cleaning Bingo Challenge
5. 4 Reasons Cleaning with Kids Awake Isn''t as Bad as You''d Think

Additional Resources for You Today

1. HOME CHEF GROUPON DEAL

Right now there is an amazing deal on Groupon (that ends tonight) for Home Chef (new households only)!?

You can get One Week of Three Meals for Two people for just $19, Two Weeks of Three Meals for Two People for just $38, or One Week of Three Meals for Four People for $38! This is 68% off normal prices!?

After you complete your taste preferences, and select the meals you want to cook, Home Chef will deliver the ingredients and recipes to your door. The recipes are delicious, well-balanced meals that take about 30 minutes to create.?

This is a great time to try out Home Chef! Get the Groupon deal here.

2. BLUPRINT CREATIVE CARE PACKAGE {FREE ACCESS}

I know I?already emailed about this, but I just wanted to remind you that Bluprint is still offering free access to their more than 1300 classes and series for step by step tutorials, patterns, and DIY projects and learning until April 9! No credit card is required to take classes for free! I checked out the Startup Library: Painting With Acrylic course, and it''s SO very well done!

Sign up for a Bluprint class here.

3. BECOME A DOORDASH DRIVER

Many of you were interested in the VIPKID I mentioned last week, so I found another job idea if you are still looking. While this one will take you out into the wild, it''s a great opportunity right now as more people are staying home and looking for their favorite local fares to be delivered to their doors.?

You can learn more about becoming a DoorDash driver here.

4. ORGANIZED HOME COURSE?SALE

If you need help getting your house organized and simplified, I would check out The Organized Home Course: The realistic way to manage a home, reduce clutter, and clean less. It walks you through different areas of your home and gives you practical (not super Pinterest-y perfected) ways to better manage that issue or area.?

It''s a fabulous course and it''s 30% off right now with code FOOLMENOT. (This is the best sale of the entire year and ends Sunday.)

You can learn more and sign-up for the Organized Home Course here.

5. FAMILY ROUTINE COURSE SALE

If you are looking for a way to automate your mom life, this Family Routines course will help you simplify the many daily tasks confronting you and help you be happier, and your kids too. There are tips for things like dinner time, mornings, cleaning with kids, lunches, family meetings, allowance, toy rotation, kids and church, journaling, and so much more!?

It''s also on that same 30% off sale with code FOOLMENOT!?

Learn more and sign-up for the Family Routines course here.

6. ONLINE PRENATAL CLASS SALE

Many hospitals and clinics have cancelled prenatal, birthing, and pregnancy classes in-person, so this is a great option. Plus, the instructor is super knowledgeable as she''s been an L&D nurse for almost 20 years, is funny, practical, and encouraging. She''s totally the type of nurse you hope you get at the hospital.

If you''re pregnant (or know someone who is), let them know about this sale! You can get the Online Prenatal Class for Couples course for 30% off right now with code FOOLMENOT.

You can learn more and sign-up for the Online Prenatal Class here.

Also, remember to take a couple minutes today to complete your 2020 US Census! Today''s the day you''re supposed to have it in by!

I hope you have a blessed week. God bless you!

Sincerely,

Katelyn Fagan

Hey there?Amelia,

If you are now planning (or were always planning) on doing something at home with your preschooler (ages 2.5-5) this next year, can I highly recommend you pick up Busy Toddler''s Playing Preschool curriculum??

I know the amazing woman, Susie, who runs Busy Toddler, and her ideas on early childhood development are spot on with mine. Kids need to PLAY in the early years and can easily learn through play! And she shows you how!

Her curriculum doesn''t involve a lot of fancy things, just some regular craft, kid, and art supplies, nor does it take up a lot of your day (that is unless your child gets totally into it, but otherwise around 45 minutes). It has 190 days (or 38-weeks) of hands-on learning broken down into 19 thematic units.?

I am going to use it with my daughter who is turning 5 next week. She''s not ready for a full kindergarten program as she still can''t identify her letters and numbers (but can write several letters). I figure my 2.5yo might enjoy a lot of the activities too!

Right now, you can save 25% off Playing Preschool Year 1, Playing Preschool Year 2, or the Bundle Pack of both years (which already saves you $10). Use code HOME25 to save 25%!

Sincerely,?

Katelyn?Fagan

Hello?Amelia,

My official due date for my twin pregnancy is less than 30 days away now. ???????

As you can imagine, we''ve been incredibly busy around here preparing our house for the major change that is about to happen.?

We also started homeschool back up after a needed 3-week summer break (which was spectacular and included mine and my 5yo daughter''s birthday) in part because we are re-quarantining ourselves as we approach the birth and arrival of these babies, as we don''t want catch the coronavirus (and so my MIL who is coming to help then won''t get it either).

Add in doctor''s appointments, a hurricane (which thankfully didn''t take out our power but for three short flashes?but did for MANY in our area for days), cleaning baby clothes, pack n'' plays, strollers, car seats, carpets, and walls, as well as?assembling bookcases and organizing school and baby rooms, and we have been incredibly busy! Oh, plus I virtually attended the BabyBoom online conference two days last week too!

I''ve also?been incredibly pregnant this whole time too, which slows me down, causes pain, and makes me super tired (and often grouchy too - sorry family)!?

I apologize that my emails, blog posts, and information?has taken a backseat during this time, but I hope you can see why! I have a whole list of great things I want to share with you and write about, but always lack the time (and lately energy) to get it out to you!?

Here are some great resources for you that you may be interested in, based on different topics. Enjoy!

PREGNANCY RESOURCES

I have a brand new post for you today!! This one is all about tips for supporting your pregnant belly! With my big belly, I have learned that proper support goes a long way in helping you have a more comfortable pregnancy!

As my doctor(s) keep worrying about my ability to birth these twins vaginally (despite three previous VBACs and tested pelvis and two head-down twins), I rely on my?information on big babies and VBAC success stories?to keep me advocating for the birth I desire.

I am going through my essential checklist for preparing house for baby and making sure we got everything cleaned, organized, and prepped. And I am going over my list of 15 Must-Have Baby Items for surviving life with newborns.?

HOME CLEANING/ORGANIZING HELPS

One of the big projects we''ve undertaken is buying and assembling bookcases for our kids'' rooms.?

Previous to these bookcases, our kids toys were stashed in multiple various bins and tubs and containers, or simply didn''t even have a proper home, so they just stayed where they lied. When toys don''t have a designated place, it means the rooms are always kinda a mess.?

I looked into a lot of different toy room storage options, and ultimately found?THESE BOOKCASES and love them!! We got three - two for my son and daughter''s room and one for our nursery. They are super affordable (just over $100 each)?and hold a TON of stuff. We got rid of all the extra bins and storage things from their rooms too and it''s so awesome that everything now has a place!?

Lately, I''ve been cleaning all things baby - baby clothes, pack n'' play, car seats, strollers, bibs, etc. And I''ve been removing marks from walls and other surfaces and such and shampooing carpets.

I still have?a ton of great tips for cleaning various rooms and whatnot in your house that you can search through as well!

And if you want help being more organized and productive, use code 7DAYCHALLENGE for 20% off the Productivity Boot Camp!

HOMESCHOOL SUPPORT & RESOURCES

I will be sharing my latest organization for our homeschool room in the next week or two, but if you are looking for some easy, simple tips for organizing a school room (especially in a small space) check out my homeschool room organization ideas.?

We are using Saxon Math now (which you can get on ChristianBook.com along with other Homeschool Curriculum on sale) and started using Nicole the Math Lady along with it. She teaches the instruction portion of the lesson with fun and easy to understand videos. The kids like her and the program. I need to be able to outsource at least some of our school day, so this seems like a perfect fit. Plus, the membership is good for the whole family (3 kids using it) and not per child. If you are using Saxon Math, you can try out Nicole the Math Lady for free for a week and see how you and the kids like it.?

We are still using The Good and the Beautiful for language arts and science units. They are even offering the first several years of LA as FREE PDFs!! We always get the printed books, but they are super overloaded with orders so some things are backed up, so the free PDFs are a great place to start.?

I won the first year of Let''s Go Geography and we will be using that with all the kids as we study different places around the world. I''ll be adding on more to their lessons, like videos and books, but also the history of the various locations, creating a sort of DIY history and social studies for this year.?

And if you want a basic structure or idea of homeschool schedules, here are my sample schedules for kindergarten, first grade, and second grade. You can also check out my 10 tips for homeschooling older kids with toddlers and preschoolers at home too.

If you have a preschooler you''ll be teaching at home, look into these preschool subscription boxes!

Lastly, if your child is going to be in classes (at least part of the time) I really like these masks from SchoolMaskPack! They are well-designed, well-thought-out, adjustable, come in a variety of designs, and I think pretty affordable too. Plus,?a donation will be made to an organization of your choice - No Kid Hungry, Heart of America, or Donors Choose - for every purchase.

That was a lot, but I hope that helped you!!?

And here''s a little positive message for you today. ??

One of the positive affirmations I?keep saying to myself on days that I''m in a lot of pain (from pregnancy) or feel overwhelmed or saddened by events going on in the world or in my home, is "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:13)?

I truly believe it, too.?

I can carry these babies as long as needed, with Christ. I can figure out how to school these kids, through Christ. I can somehow manage seven kids with Christ. I can do it. And you can too when you know in whom you trust and can look for support and uplift, even in our darkest moments.?

If you need some positive scriptures to get you through life, please consider grabbing my 12 Positive Scripture Printable Bundle! Use code ICANDOIT to get 50% off the printables and my cleaning ebook too. Code will expire 08/31/2020.?

You got this!?

Sincerely,?

Katelyn Fagan

Hey there?Amelia,

If you are now planning (or were always planning) on doing something at home with your preschooler (ages 2.5-5) this next year, can I highly recommend you pick up Busy Toddler''s Playing Preschool curriculum??

I know the amazing woman, Susie, who runs Busy Toddler, and her ideas on early childhood development are spot on with mine. Kids need to PLAY in the early years and can easily learn through play! And she shows you how!

Her curriculum doesn''t involve a lot of fancy things, just some regular craft, kid, and art supplies, nor does it take up a lot of your day (that is unless your child gets totally into it, but otherwise around 45 minutes). It has 190 days (or 38-weeks) of hands-on learning broken down into 19 thematic units.?

I am going to use it with my daughter who is turning 5 next week. She''s not ready for a full kindergarten program as she still can''t identify her letters and numbers (but can write several letters). I figure my 2.5yo might enjoy a lot of the activities too!

Right now, you can save 25% off Playing Preschool Year 1, Playing Preschool Year 2, or the Bundle Pack of both years (which already saves you $10). Use code HOME25 to save 25%!

Sincerely,?

Katelyn?Fagan

Hey there Amelia,

Right now it''s crazy out there, and this is especially true if you are expecting a baby.?

You have to brave the health centers for your monthly or weekly appointments, praying you won''t get sick with anything when you do.?

If you are delivering soon, some hospitals are trying to restrict if you can have anyone with you at all during labor and delivery, regardless if your support person shows symptoms or not, which adds to your birth concerns.

You worry about what the hospital will be like when it does come to delivery and if you and your baby will be safe from the virus.?

And that''s on top of all the normal pregnancy worries, like is my baby kicking enough in there, is my blood pressure getting too high, when will I?have to drink that super sugary drink, and will I have the birth I want?

If you are pregnant right now, like I am with twins, it''s an extra stressful time and these pregnancy hormones are not making it any easier, am I right??

If your hospital birthing class was recently canceled or postponed or you are looking for a good and affordable alternative, I wanted to let you know about my girl Hilary''s awesome Online Prenatal Class for Couples!?

Hilary has been an L&D nurse for almost 20 years and is sharing her knowledge online with as many people as possible through her course. She''s totally honest, practical, hopeful, and funny, making this class so easy to get through, and as fast or as slow as you want to take it. Each lesson contains bite-sized information, with questions for you to ask yourself and your partner.?

She''s running her April Fool''s Day sale right now which is her best sale of the year, so all of her classes and courses are a whopping 30% off! Use promo code FOOLMENOT for 30% off this course making it only $69.30 (down from $99)!?

If you want other options, she has just the Prenatal class as a book, and she has a deluxe prenatal class option which includes the course plus access to Hilary in a Facebook group so you can ask all your questions to a real L&D nurse before/after delivery, plus the ebook, plus a helpful email series to go along with it all. You can take that 30% off any of the options!

And if you want a sampler, she even has a free beginning prenatal class you can check out too.??

If you are not expecting right now, feel free to pass along this awesome sale and information by forwarding this email to your pregnant friend, sister, daughter, or whoever you know that IS pregnant!?I''m sure they''ll appreciate knowing about it!?

May you have a safe and healthy pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum period, and not to be too stressed with all that is going on around you right now.?

Sincerely,?

Katelyn Fagan

Hey there again?Amelia,

May is over!! I do not know how the months fly by so fast, but fly they do.?

This is your monthly May What''s up Fagans??recap, which has the following sections: New blog posts in May, old WUF content you may find helpful right now,?awesome affiliate deals & promos you don''t want to miss, and what''s been up with the Fagans in May. :)

New What''s up Fagans? Blog Posts in May

1. Oh Baby Boxes Review
2. Ecocentric Mom Box Review
3. Bump Boxes Review
4. Breast Pump for Twins: How to Use them for Breastfeeding Success

What''s up Fagans? Post You May Find Helpful Right Now

If you are moving soon, be sure to read these posts:

• Your Options for Moving Cheaply Across the Country
• 25 Genius Moving Hacks
• 7 Steps to Get Your Rental Deposit Back in Full
• How to Find the Perfect New Apartment

If you are heading out on some family road trips soon, read these:

• How to Take a Long Family Road Trip and Not Go Insane
• What Foods and Drinks to Pack for a Long Family Road Trip
• Great Big List of Audiobooks for the Whole Family
• What to Pack for a Family Vacation

If you need some?summer tips and ideas:

• Why We''re Not Taking the Summer Off of Homeschool
• 35 Unique and Memorable Beach Games for Kids
• What to Pack for a Beach Day with the Kids
• Best Modest Swimsuits for Moms
• 8 Benefits of Going Camping with Your Kids

Awesome Affiliate Deals!!

These are some of the best deals going on right now! With Father''s Day happening soon, travel season near (hopefully), and summer in general, here are some of offers you might be interested in!!

• Cricut Maker Machines Starting at $299! Valid through 5/31 (This is their lowest price EVER)
• Additional 20% Off Toys & Plush at ShopDisney (Ends 5/31)
• 20% off Sitewide at SwimOutlet.com. Use code SUMMER25 (Ends 6/01)
• 50% Off KidPik Girls & Boys Clothes When You Keep an Entire Box + Free Shipping & Free Styling!Use code BEWELL50.
• Save $30 over your first 2 boxes of Blue Apron!
• Try out Noom for FREE for 14-days - a Physchology-Based Approach to Losing Weight
• Sign up for Cratejoy''s Summer Camp Series and Save on Boxes!
• Get Dad the Perfect Subscription Box for Father''s Day!

What''s up with the Fagans? May Edition

In the month of May the Fagan family had the following highlights:

• We sold our 2007 Chevy Suburban via private sale
• We bought a 2019 Nissan NV van!?
• Our daughter Lisa had two cysts removed from her scalp (she''s had several removed in the past - all benign, no worries)
• I had an OBGYN appointment and passed my 1hr Glucose screening test!
• My husband finished teaching the Spring semester block, only to start up a summer teaching block
• We went camping in our yard for Memorial Day
• We walked 4 miles as a family around a nearby lake, and did many other walks in our neighborhood
• I started using TikTok (@whatsupfagans if you want to join & follow along)
• Had the best Mother''s Day of my life
• Did yard work, including filling in some groundhog holes in the yard
• Our 2yo peed in the potty a few times, and also smeared poop all over other things lots more time than that. ???? She has generally kept us busy....?
• Had church at home and via Zoom meetings (again, let me know if you want the code to join!)
• Took meals to two different families who just had babies (my husband''s co-workers)
• Our county in New York finally started Phase 1 of the Re-opening plan May 26

I hope you had a great month of May! It''s been a slight roller coaster for us here, but we are still healthy and for that we are thankful.?

God bless,?

Katelyn Fagan

Hello again Amelia,

2020 is coming to a close and it''s time to ring in the new year with a good makeover!?

You should know that I am not referring to the makeup and haircut variety of makeovers. I am not really into that sort of thing.?

No, the makeovers I mean are the makeovers of your life! The makeover of your?finances, health, homeschool, spiritual life, home, marriage, motherhood, and schedule! I mean real transformations, real makeovers that help you not just on the surface but deep down to your soul so you can?achieve your deepest desires.?

I personally LOVE goals and planning and trying to be the best version of myself and hope you?want the same for you.

While I have not completely finalized my goals for 2021 yet, I have started. I am trying to make a few goals for all aspects of my life with specific goals for my marriage (like weekly date nights), finances (finally sticking to a budget and paying off some debts), spiritual life (gonna do way better at personal prayer), and health (lose 10 lbs, heal my diastasis recti, get more sleep, drink more water, etc).?

If you have areas of your life you are looking to really focus on, or if you are looking to improve your overall well-being, great!?

I have something to help you have a fabulous new year:

The Makeover Your Life Summit!!

This is an amazing online summit that offers 8 amazing tracks to help you reach your goals?Amelia!?

The summit has 45 speakers presenting over 90 workshops! You''ll get lifetime access to all the workshops, a vibrant Facebook community group, a digital swag bag packed with free resources (worth hundreds of dollars), and chances to win free stuff too!?

Oh, and did I mention that *I* am presenting two of those workshops?! Cause I am!!

I am presenting?Shifting into Motherhood - How to Change Your Mental Gears and Start Loving the Journey in the Makeover Your Motherhood track!?

This workshop focuses on 5 mental gears moms can shift that will transform how they view motherhood. We can''t control our circumstances, our spouse, or our children, but we can change our perception of them, and of ourselves, so we can truly love our role as a mother. Moms will walk away inspired, full of mind-shifting ideas so they can be a calmer, happier, and more content mom!

I would love for you to watch it and benefit from my message!

I am also presenting?Parenting When Poor: How to Rise above the Hurdles When Living Paycheck to Paycheck in the Makeover Your Finances track.?

This workshop is all about overcoming the struggles?to make ends meet when striving to raise amazing kids. It is hard and brings with it its own set of unique challenges. Discover how you can conquer your feelings of overwhelm, discontent, and shame, develop better patience and trust in the Lord even in the midst of your trials, learn some doable money-saving tips, download a free Budget worksheet, and more from a woman who lived in poverty for years with her young family and managed to escape.

Starting today, December 30, you can register for either track for just $9.97 each or you can upgrade to an All-Access Pass for $29.97 that will allow you to view all sessions from all 8 tracks!?

These are early bird prices, which end January 3, when the price will increase to $14.97 for individual tracks and $39.97 for the All-Access pass.

The Makeover Your Life Summit will officially begin on January 4, 2020.?

I really hope you''ll join me in watching and participating in this amazing summit!?

I am personally looking forward to learning from others things like how to do a spending fast, gathering ideas for?at-home date night ideas, getting tips on tightening the grocery budget, and making the most of my prayer life!

You might be more interested in other sessions, but that''s the beauty of this conference! There is something for all of us to benefit from!?

Snag early-bird pricing here!

Sincerely,

Katelyn Fagan

Hey there?Amelia,

My book club recently did a craft gift exchange. In years past these were in-person and allowed for craft swapping. This year we''ve gone virtual, and gifts were shipped (or dropped off) to intended receivers, allowing for no gift swapping. The person I was to create for is already so creative, as an excellent watercolor artist and quilter, so I was nervous about what to gift her. And of course, despite paying for 2-day shipping with the USPS, my gift didn''t come on time, despite its estimated arrival date being the day before our Zoom book club. She did receive it the next day, and she loved it! Here is what I made with my Cricut for her (be sure to click to show images):

The person who had me paid far too much to ensure that my gift arrived just before our meeting, especially for how large my gift was! She created a large wood stocking holder for my wall, which I love!! With nine people now in our family and no mantle, we didn''t have a place to display all our Christmas stockings together.?But, now we do, as you can see below (make sure to click "display images" on your email):

If you are shopping for a stocking holder, check out my post for different solutions and ideas!?

The two blue stockings you see in the picture above, I actually made myself (with my limited sewing skills) from a used sweater!?You can see that tutorial here!?

If you want a different pattern or style of Christmas stocking to DIY, I?have a post with?27 FREE homemade stocking patterns and tutorials for you to use as inspiration!

With Christmas next week already (say what?!), it''s time to think about those stocking stuffers. We always keep ours basic, mostly adhering to these 8 traditional stocking stuffers, one of which is a Christmas orange! You can read why people put oranges in their stockings here.

But, if you want some additional ideas, here''s my list of practical and traditional stocking stuffer ideas for men (which is helpful, as my husband is so hard to shop for!).?

If you are in the holiday crafting mood as we''ve been, you can also check out my post with nativity ornaments you can make, and this cool geometric Christmas ornament from holiday cards!

I?hope you are staying warm! We just got a ton of snow, which the kids are thrilled about of course. God bless you as you continue to prepare for the holidays (or are celebrating Hannukah currently).?

God bless you!?

Katelyn Fagan

P.S. If you are looking for an easy way to be rewarded for being healthy (tracking those steps, counting those calories) sign up for the free Achievement app!?