 I try to be as healthy as possible at all times. This recipe isn't exactly that, but it's the perfect way to pack lots of veggies into your kiddo's without them really noticing. So, if you've hopped off the meat eating train for a bit, but still don't mind dairy, this veggie lasagna recipe I've concocted is going to rock your world. You might be thinking, "Ewe!", because honestly, at first, I did too, but then I made it, I ate it, and I'm never turning back. I've been subbing vegetables everywhere that I would normally put meat, and come to find out, everything still tastes almost exactly the same, so meat isn't all it's cracked up to be as far as making the flavor of a dish. I get anxiety making lasagna in big dishes because I know it will go to waste and I hate throwing food away, so this portion size is perfect to feed a family of 4-5 for one evening (we actually fed 6-7 people with it) and still have leftovers for lunch the next day. If you'd like to make this dish in a standard 13x9 pan, just double the recipe.  What you'll need: -8x8 pan -7 strips of lasagna noodles (if you can find whole grain or whole wheat noodles, you'll make this lasagna healthier.) -1 handful frozen broccoli -1 handful frozen green beans -1 handful frozen, crinkle cut carrots (or sliced carrots) -1 15 oz. ricotta cheese (you'll use about half) -1 8 oz. bag of mozzarella cheese -1 24 oz. jar of marinara sauce (I use Newman's Own because they are an ethical company & donate 100% of their profits to charity). (You can use whatever vegetables you want. When my kids won't be sharing with me, I'm going to try some green pepper and onion next time.) Below is what your first layer will look like:  Pre-heat your oven at 375 degrees. Apply a thin layer of marinara to the bottom of an 8X8 pan so noodles don't stick. Boil your noodles for about 10-12 minutes (add salt or oil to prevent sticking). Stir occasionally. While your noodles are boiling, put all your veggies in a pot & steam them. (I use frozen vegetables because they preserve nutrients). This takes place of the time you'd normally prep meat for a meat lasagna. Once noodles are done, drain them. Let them cool enough to touch and layer 3 rows of noodles in your pan. One end of your noodles will lap over your pan - don't cut them off. Let them hang over. Apply a layer of ricotta over top of the noodles, then a layer of shredded mozzarella, then a layer of your steamed veggies. Apply another layer of noodles over top of your veggies, but let the noodle ends drape off the opposite side of your pan than the bottom layer, then repeat layering your marinara, ricotta, mozzarella, and veggies. Fold over your noodles that lapped and apply your 7th noodle straight down the middle that is uncovered and apply a generous layer of marinara and mozzarella cheese. Bake on 375 degrees for 30-35 minutes. Make sure your cheese is fully melted. Let stand for 5 minutes & serve. Your final product will look like this:  Have you tried this recipe? Tell us what you thought of it in the comments below! Find more recipes HERE.
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 Whether you are a stay at home mom or a work at home mom, I'm sure you've already heard a time or 20 how lucky you are to be able to stay at home all day and that you must basically do like, nothing, right? Like, you couldn't possibly do as much as all those mom's that have to go to work everyday. I. Don't. Think. So. You see, I've been both, and let me tell you, being the working mom was easier. Maybe it wasn't as rewarding, necessarily, but it was easier. I could go to work and focus on the task at hand while someone else cared for my child. That's not a knock to the working mom, either. It's honestly just what my experience was. Now, though it may be more difficult, I wouldn't trade being a work at home mom for anything, but imagine my surprise when I received these text messages from my significant other with quite the colorful choice of words (hehe)! Good ole auto correct corrected my "nothing" to boring, so I attempted to fix it just for you (haha), but you get the drift. Before you get too mad at my dude - he was uber stressed at that particular moment, and none of us are perfect, so let's forgive him and move on.
But just to clear things up for everyone that loves to be up in my business: I am how everyone's laundry gets done, I am how people have towels to dry off with when they get out of the shower,  I'm the one who wipes people's pee off the toilet seat, I'm the one who picks up various articles of clothing on a daily basis and gets them to the laundry room, I am the one who puts food on the table (and not your run of the mill mac n' cheese or frozen pizza - I make healthy shit for my family), like my, "Make you poop Chili", Veggie Pot Pie (like chicken, but better, and vegan friendly), and my Baked Spaghetti (where I hide garlic, peppers, and other healthy stuff that the kids don't know about) which you can find in my recipes section sometime next week.
I am the one who drops off and picks up from school, I am the one who makes sure there are groceries in the house,  I am the one who makes sure kids have gifts for birthday parties and that they get there, I am almost always the one who gets the children to their sporting activities, I clean up the house at least 3 times a day ( after the toddler destroys it in the morning, after he destroys it in the afternoon, and one final time before I go to bed.) Then, some where in between all that, I have to find time to run my business so I can pay a car payment, pay for cell phones, put lunch money in bank accounts, pay for insurance, Netflix, Internet, vehicle repairs ($2,500 was my most recent) & maintenance, clothing (even thought I shop mostly second hand or support other small shop's) and provide somewhat of a tiny cushion in the bank in case one of us is ever out of work or falls ill. Below is an example of a typical "I do nothing" type of day (haha!).  I run an Instagram account, Facebook business account & group, Pinterest account, Tumblr account, & Twitter account for my Etsy shop and my company website, LivAndCo.com , where I design and manufacture adorable clothing and accessories for your babies and children and occasionally come up with some fab adult tee's as well. I would challenge anyone that has a problem to walk a day in my shoes. You'll die after my morning workout, I promise ;) (visit my Facebook page Live Better With Liv . It's my hobby page.), but me, that's just my warm up for getting prepared to rockstar through my day.  While my significant other (who does work his tail off to help support our brood) gets to come home as his break on a weekly basis, I do not have that luxury. Weekends mean virtually nothing to me. I'm still rocking the mom boss gig 24/7/365, and if I'm lucky, I may get a tiny vacation or 2 a year (but even then I bring my work with me because I can't afford to take off and I also cannot afford the mental stress of getting backed up on orders). I have ZERO margin for error. When an emergency comes up, it throws everything off whack, because I literally chew up every moment of my day MOVING and getting stuff done. So to all the mom bosses - those that are stay at home mom's, work at home mom's, or mom's that hold down that 9-5 and still come home to bathe the kids and put dinner on the table, but get told you must not do much - this one is for you! I have to go now because I really don't even have enough time to write this post (haha). No really, I have to go give my son a bath...
 We get it - shopping for little boy's isn't as easy as shopping for little girl's, and it's often not as fun! Not to mention, scouring the internet for hours in search of a fabulous birthday shirt for your boy's special day can be overwhelming! So, we went ahead and did the leg work for you and found you some of the best birthday boy shirts on the internet!  This crown boy's birthday shirt went viral on Pinterest. In fact, this whole ensemble is just the cutest, many times when people purchase it they recreate this look! What's even better - it is available in all ages {see the "two" below}! Grab yours HERE.   We love the simplicity of this Birth Day Dude tee + it can be used for any age, and we're guessing everyone else does, too. It is an Etsy best-seller, it ships free in the United States, and it's in 19 people's carts right now! Get yours HERE.  Has turning two years old ever looked so cute? We don't think so! There really isn't a better 2nd birthday shirt to celebrate your little guy turning two years old than this personalized 2 Little Man mustache shirt! It is so hard to find cute, customized boy shirts, but then we stumbled upon this little gem! This one is also available for all ages {see 1st birthday below}. Grab yours HERE.   The "Time Flies" theme has become really popular over the years, because it's SO true. This little airplane Time Flies 1st Birthday outfit is simply adorable. Check it out HERE.  Take me out to the ballgame! Over here obsessing over this TWO baseball themed raglan! Personalize your child's name on the back! Shop it HERE.  What better way to say, "I'm two!" than with a shirt that not only holds up 2 finger's to say so, but also coincidentally is the peace symbol! Not only is this available on this amazing raglan, but it is also available on solid color tee's as well. Grab the raglan HERE.  The perfect 1st birthday outfit for a farmers daughter or son! I mean, you don't have to be a farmer's daughter or son, but is this not the cutest?! Ages 1-6 can be made. Personalize yours HERE.  The Wild One theme is super popular, so we wanted to give you a few options, here's another fave. Get it HERE.  This Wild One personalized birthday shirt combines all the trendiest themes to make one perfect birthday shirt. Wild One + buffalo plaid + personalized= must have. Check this adorable shirt out HERE.  Here's another cutie where any age can be done. This is perfect for all of your construction themed birthday parties. Get it HERE.  Rawr! Another trending birthday theme: dinosaurs! Personalize this awesome boys 1st birthday shirt HERE.  This sweet little woodland theme is a timeless classic. Who couldn't love this? Personalize this shirt in all ages from 1-6 HERE.  This soccer 1st birthday shirt is perfect for your little kicker! Age 2 is also available HERE. How old is your little guy turning and what theme are you going with? Tell us in the comments below! Not in the market for a birthday shirt quite yet? Pin to Pinterest and share to Facebook for later! Head HERE to shop the most unique, handmade boys t shirt apparel. Love what you see in this blog post? Subscribe to our emails to make sure you never miss a post HERE. Full disclosure: We blog about an array of topics from recipes and our favorite products to small business advice and tutorials. We may receive a small commission from links in our posts to keep this blog running, however, we do not represent any companies or products that we do not absolutely love and stand by 110% because that's not how we roll. The opinions expressed are our own. Our blog is for informational purposes only and any information found on this site is not substitute for professional advice. Visit Liv & Co. to shop our baby and toddler apparel and accessories and Blue November for our adult collection of apparel and accessories. Follow on social media: Blue November Facebook Liv & Co. Facebook Blue November Instagram Liv & Co. Instagram Liv & Co. Pinterest Liv & Co. Twitter Subscribe to our YouTube Channel HERE. Are you a small shop supporter? Join us on Facebook in our MADE in the Midwest and I Own A Small Business Facebook groups to shop from small businesses all over the country!    Set your incline to 5.0. You're going to do 1 minute sprints at 6.0 miles per hour 10 times (1 mile). in between you will start at 10 pushups after your first sprint, 9 push ups after your second sprint, 8 push ups after your third sprint, 7 push ups after your fourth sprint, 6 push ups after your fifth sprint, 5 push ups after your sixth sprint, 4 push ups after your seventh sprint, 3 push ups after your eighth sprint, 2 push ups after your ninth sprint, and 1 push up after your tenth sprint. Want to shop our women's tees and fitness apparel? Click HERE. It's almost Memorial Day Weekend! To me, that is the beginning of Summer. For some, school is already out, and for others- it's right around the corner. Summer time is such an awesome time of year. Full of pool parties, barbecues, vacations, relaxation + so much more. We rounded up some of our favorite items for Summer this year! These products will help make your Summer more enjoyable + fun!  Sunscreen: http://www.supergoop.com/shop/day-to-day-tote/ . This Supergoop! suncreen is our favorite for summer. It's fun to put on, lightweight, and lasts a long time! We love this little carrying case they sell! Perfect for traveling!
Beach hair: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Your-Mothers-Texturizing-8-ounce/dp/B004UL0GTK?th=1 . The beach is perfect for giving you those textured waves. But sometimes we need a little product to enhance the effect. We love this texturizing spray for creating that beachy look! Summer tanks: http://www.livandco.com/store/c8/Women_%2F_Maternity_%2F_Pregnancy_TShirts.html . Our brand new summer tanks are perfect for lounging at the beach or on vacation! They are super comfy + go with everything! Swim Suit: https://www.cupshe.com/products/cupshe-time-slips-away-floral-bikini-set?utm_source=pinterest&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=cyy833-awa&utm_content=awareness&pp=0 . This suit is one of our favorites! We love the tropical look of it paired with the stripes! Even if you don't have any vacations planned, this swim suit will make you feel like you're in paradise! Flamingo pool float: https://www.amazon.com/Original-Giant-Flamingo-Inflatable-Inches/dp/B00TYU97FG . These things are ALL over instagram. And we LOVE it. You have to have a sweet pool float this summer. They are SO much fun. And surprisingly comfy. Instax Mini Camera: https://www.amazon.com/Fujifilm-Instax-Mini-Instant-Pink/dp/B009ZM9R4O . This camera is perfect for your summer getaway! It's a mini polaroid camera that helps you capture your summer memories in such a fun way! Your pictures print out instantly- helping you remember your vacation forever! Pineapple Cup: https://www.nordstromrack.com/shop/product/1642142/ankit-home-pineapple-coffee-tumbler?color=MULTI&crlt.pid=camp.ep46TClky7Nx . Whether you are sipping coffee for an early morning sunrise on the beach, or you prefer an ice cold margarita on the boat, this tumbler is perfect for keeping any drink hot or cold! Towel: https://henryandbros.com/collections/bed-to-beach-towel-blanket/products/bed-to-beach-towel-blanket . A great towel is a must-have for summer. We love this colorful one from Henry and Bros. Goes with everything! Sun Hat : https://www.etsy.com/shop/KindredandKid . Kindred and Kid has tons of different sun hats with adorable phrases! We love this one for summer!
Choosing a theme for your baby's first birthday party can be hard! There are so many different options, and you want the first birthday to be so special. We're going to be sharing some of our favorite first birthday themes with you to help you with your party planning! Today's theme we will be sharing is Lumberjack! What's cuter than buffalo plaid, a woodsy feel, and red & black all over!? What themes are you considering for your little one's first birthday party? Tell us in the comments below!
The buffalo plaid 1st birthday bodysuit is from our Etsy shop. You can purchase it HERE. We have tons of first birthday outfits, but this one fits the lumberjack theme PERFECT.
Other lumberjack themed items & ideas can be found here: Lumberjack cake: http://www.creativemornings.blogspot.com The lumberjack sign pictured is no longer available, but we love this buffalo plaid happy birthday banner and this buffalo plaid one year stat poster. Lumberjack leggings are from Midbest Threads on Etsy HERE. Buffalo plaid lumberjack hat is from Party Decor and Moore on Etsy HERE. The ONE letters in the image aren't available anymore, but we found these HERE and love them more, anyway! High chair banner is from Lil' Crafty Chickadee on Etsy HERE.
Some more great ideas for your Lumberjack themed birthday party: Cupcake liners 
Lumberjack name puzzle
So, this Lumberjack Name Puzzle isn't exactly for a lumberjack birthday party, but we couldn't go without adding it to this list because it'd make a great first birthday gift for a little one having a lumberjack party! 
Buffalo plaid containers
I thought these would be perfect for party favors to give to guests or for setting out on your display table! 
This year Father's Day is on June 18th! Father's Day is such a great time to celebrate the awesome dads in your life! We have tons of great Father's Day outfits for baby + toddler in the shop. Here are a few of our favorites:  Another fun way to celebrate Father's Day (besides dressing baby in an awesome Father's Day outfit) is to make a craft for dad! We've found 6 awesome + easy crafts to do with your kids! Dad is going to LOVE this!  Nuts about You: http://www.happinessishomemade.net/nuts-about-you-photo-frame-gift-idea/ Best Dad By Par: http://www.craftymorning.com/handprint-golfer-fathers-day-card-for-kids-to-make/ Hardest Working Dad: http://www.craftymorning.com/dollar-bill-t-shirt-fathers-day-card/ You Rock Dad Craft: http://katarinaspaperie.com/2016/05/free-printable-rock-dad-coloring-page-diy-rock-frame/ Love You To Pieces: http://www.craftymorning.com/love-pieces-fathers-day-frame-gift/ Daddy’s Grilling Partner: http://gluedtomycraftsblog.com/2016/05/daddys-grilling-partner-keepsake-wfree-printable.html  We hope your Father's Day is perfect! www.livandco.com
 I've been running almost every single day (including during pregnancy) since I was 20 years old.
I'm addicted. I'm 34 now, and let's be real, sometimes the same routines day in and day out get real old (I used to run 3-5 miles a day... everyday...), so I'm compiling my list of treadmill exercises I use to challenge myself and mix things up and I'm bringing them to you just in case your runs start to get boring or you get the urge to want to save your knees, as all of my routines are done on hills/inclines. I have labeled them all beginner/intermediate/expert for your convenience. Disclaimer: I am not a doctor by any means. Consult your physician if you're unsure of any routines or have any health conditions. I do, however, come from a strong background in health, fitness, & nutrition and this is simply my advice.  I've heard it time and time again since Etsy went public, shops that were once super busy had suddenly hit the skids with no hope of revival in site. They've done everything they did in the beginning to ramp up business again and nothing was working. I know because I was one of them. A 6 figure a year shop, suddenly halted. Etsy wanted to give every seller a piece of the pie, regardless of effort, rather than keeping those shops that had put their dues in, where they rightfully deserved to be. People who spent 12-16 hours a day on their shop, studying SEO until their eyes bled, bringing new products to the platform everyday, and social media-ing the hell out of their shops had been stopped dead in their tracks. Instead of being a person to Etsy, like it used to be before they became a publicly traded company, you are now just a hiccup in their algorithm. So, then the question becomes, "How do I fix this and work with the algorithm now that it is working against me?" Have no fear, I have implemented the following strategies and tested these theories to prove their accuracy and they work. #1. Use shop updates. I have no idea what the relevancy is to shop updates. Honestly, I find them quite silly, but the more I update, the more sales come flooding in. Then, I share them to my business Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram accounts tag @Etsy and #Etsy in each post. I would think that shop updates would be photo's of you making your product or new releases you are working on that you haven't listed yet that you want to give people a sneak peak at, but you have to tag a photo from your shop, which leaves you limited on what type of updates you can actually post. Either way- use them. #2. Get your orders out before their ship by date. This may seem like a no - brainer, but to some, it is totally a thing. They ship their item's out way past their ship by date or wait right up to the ship by date to ship their orders. Not only does this hurt your ranking in a major way, Etsy can, and most likely, eventually will, put your shop on suspend should you become a repeat offender of shipping your orders out on or past your stated turnaround time. See, now you are just part of an algorithm, so it doesn't matter if you're a busy shop or not. If your orders ship late and the algorithm picks up on it, you're getting bumped down in relevancy. Even though I have a 1 -2 week turnaround on my personalized birthday outfit sets, I start noticing my shop dip after orders for them were open past a week. Sad to say, since my items are handmade, and it should be understood that they'll take time, the absolute fastest you can get your orders out, the better. It's like Etsy is trying to compete with Amazon and eBay now, except their uniqueness came from the fact that the site is supposed to be all handmade. #3. Respond to your messages within 24 hours, 48 hours - max. I have tested this theory on purpose and by accident. I do not work weekends - I have business hours, just as every other reputable business does. I also have a family, therefore, I do not respond to messages on the weekends and that hasn't proven to be an issue with ranking. During the week, I make sure to respond to messages in 1-2 business days. Being that I like to have a focus on manufacturing my products and getting them out quickly, I tend to put the messages that ask questions that are already answered in my FAQ and my listing descriptions, on the back burner. However, if I let them go too long, I notice a dip in sales. 48 hours seems to be the magic number. #4. Make sure you do not have any listings in your shop that violate copyright or trademark laws. Not just a scare tactic, it's actually true. If you're a shop that is flagged for infringement, you're going to take a hit in ranking. If you get flagged too many times, you'll eventually get shut down. Don't ever make the assumption that you're too small to be found out, either. There are all kinds of trademarks that people wouldn't expect, and with the Silhouette Cameo and Cricut SVG. files on the rise, people have been selling copied designs for some time now and the original owner's are really starting to crack down. Research your designs and products to make sure there isn't anything else out there like it and any sayings you use, run them through the TESS trademark database HERE. And for the love, if you are still using the term "onesies" or selling knockoff Disney products - just STOP. Because of the power of the Internet and Facebook groups, you should probably know by now that those are 2 of the biggest infringements reported on Etsy and if you take your business seriously, you don't need to be selling other's intellectual property anyway. #5. 5 star feedback. I know that feedback can be out of our control at times. Sometimes our products are just not everyone's cup of tea, and that's o.k. One 1 star feedback rating every so often isn't going to kill your ranking, but several at a time or several over time will. Strive for 5 star feedback. Encourage your buyers to leave feedback. It is against Etsy's terms of use to message people asking for feedback or offering a discount code in exchange for feedback (which is silly to me, because as long as the code is offered to everyone regardless of how many stars are left, I think it should be allowed), but you can put on the back of your business card or postcard that you include in the shipment of your package, a friendly little reminder on how to leave feedback for your shop. #6. Renew your listings. Anything and everything to stay relevant works and that includes renewing your listings. I have almost 300 items in my shop. Obviously, some of them are going to get lost in the pool of baby bodysuits and tee shirts and this should be considered in every product category. Just because you list an item once, doesn't mean it is going to take off, and the longer it sits there stagnant, the more it loses it's position in rank. Renewing the item brings life to it again, in a way. It puts it back in front of more viewers that have yet to see it. If an item sits from the time you list it for 4 months until it expires without being sold one time in between, how do you think anyone else has seen it if you aren't renewing it or advertising it? If you are one of those people that say you shouldn't have to renew your listings or, my personal faves, that you shouldn't have to pay for advertising, A.) It's $0.20 for crying out loud. You can renew 5 listings a day for $1. I hope you have a $1 a day to invest in your business, otherwise, running a business may not be right for you and B.) It takes money to make money. You need to either renew it, revise the listing, take better pictures, or evaluate the product's likability altogether. #7. Avoid having cases opened against your shop. I think we can all agree that we don't want any cases opened against our shops. Things happen and customers don't always come to us first with their issues, which sucks, but it happens. Stay proactive. I am human and have had cases opened against me. The longer a case stays open, the more I notice my shop dipping in relevancy, which can be quite discouraging in cases that you literally cannot do anything about. One time, I had someone open a case against me claiming her baby bodysuit arrived and that it wasn't boy colors. The listing photo was literally a purple and green design. She even included a photo of the bodysuit in her case and it was side by side with my listing photo, looking identical. She never responded to the case and it took some time for it to close. In the event that a case should be opened against your shop, resolve it quickly and professionally. There are my 7 tips to revive your existing Etsy shop or jump start your new one. Did this post help you? Let me know what you think or any tips you've implemented since the new algorithm in the comments below! If you haven't yet opened an Etsy shop yet and you'd like to try it out for free, use my link HERE to get us both 40 free listings. If you need help with your small business, head over to my Small Business Blog Posts where I help you with The Power of Pinterest, How To Come Up With A Name For Your Business That Will Withstand Time and Trends, Why Your Abandoned Carts Aren't Converting To Sales, and so much more. I also offer paid services for small business owners HERE. Whether you are a business or a small business shopper, come join us for some networking in our Facebook group for content creators, Brand Repping / Collabs / Affiliates / Influencers Central  Want to advertise on the right column of this blog where thousands drop in to check out our apparel, crafts, small business tips, and more every single day? Click HERE to purchase space. We have single photo and slideshow ad space for as little as $10!  Disclaimer: We blog about an array of topics from recipes and our favorite products to small business advice and tutorials. We may receive a small commission from links in this post, however, we do not represent any companies or products that we do not absolutely love and stand by 110% because that's not how we roll. The opinions expressed are our own. Our blog is for informational purposes only and any information found on this site is not substitute for professional advice. Love our tees? Follow us on social media everywhere to keep up on the latest Liv & Co. and Blue November new releases, sales, and giveaways! Blue November Facebook Liv & Co. Facebook Blue November Instagram Liv & Co. Instagram Liv & Co. Pinterest Liv & Co. Twitter If you'd like to keep up with our blog posts, you may sign up via the sign up form directly below this paragraph. The sign up form at the bottom of the page is for our Liv & Co. t-shirts & accessories.
Mother's Day is right around the corner. This year it's on May 12! Have you gotten your baby's Mother's Day outfit yet? There is still time! Shop our designs HERE.
We also wanted to share some of our favorite Mother's Day activities! These are some super fun + simple ways to enjoy the holiday together.
Paper Plate Craft: http://nontoygifts.com/paper-plate-mothers-day-craft-kids/
Handprint Bouquet: http://alittlepinchofperfect.com/handprint-and-footprint-flowers-and-vase-craft-for-mothers-day Tissue Paper Flower Pot: http://fromabcstoacts.com/tissue-paper-flower-pot Heart Bouquet Card: http://www.makeandtakes.com/bouquet-hearts-card-valentines-day Handprint Keychain: http://greyhouseharbor.com/diy-handprint-keychain/ Flower Pot with Sticks: https://typicallysimple.com/craft-stick-flower-pots/ 
Our Happy Mother's Day shirt is perfect for both baby and toddler boys and girls to celebrate mom in!
Shop our popular Mother's Day shirt HERE.
Did you try any of these crafts? Tell us how they turned out in the comments below!
Love this post? We often blog about kids crafts and the trendiest children's apparel, accessories, toys and more. Check out the rest of our blog posts HERE and sign up HERE to subscribe to receive email alerts when we post a new blog post. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel HERE.
Disclaimer: We blog about an array of topics from recipes and our favorite products to small business advice and tutorials. We may receive a small commission from links in this post, however, we do not represent any companies or products that we do not absolutely love and stand by 110% because that's not how we roll. The opinions expressed are our own. Our blog is for informational purposes only and any information found on this site is not substitute for professional advice.
Love our tees? Follow us on social media everywhere to keep up on the latest Liv & Co. and Blue November new releases, sales, and giveaways! Blue November Facebook Liv & Co. Facebook Blue November Instagram Liv & Co. Instagram Liv & Co. Pinterest Liv & Co. Twitter I am totally ALL FOR traditions! I truly think traditions make childhood a bit sweeter. It gives kids (and adults) things to look forward to year after year. I still remember traditions my parents did when I was growing up. Thinking back to them gives me the sweetest memories. With Easter coming up, I wanted to show you some adorable Easter Breakfast Ideas! What a great idea to make a cute breakfast every Easter morning. This would make for such a fun tradition! Here are my favorites!  1. Easter Bunny Waffle by Fork and Beans 2. Easter Egg popsicle by Eats Amazing 3. Egg Fruit Pizza by Sugar Hero! 4. Easter Bunny Pancakes by The Idea Room 5. Easter Bunny Cinnamon Rolls by A Girl and a Glue Gun 6. Easter Fruit Kabobs by Mom Life Must Haves 7. Pancake Peeps by Kara's Party Ideas 8. Scrambled Egg Bunnies by Made it. Ate it. Loved it. I can't wait to try some of these ideas next week! Hope you will try some too! Let us know in the comments below which one is your favorite!  Happy Easter from Liv & Co! Check out our Easter outfit designs: HERE.
Our "Girl" shirt is so popular! It always flies off the shelves. It's the perfect outfit for the girl in your life. Pair it with one of our big bows and leg warmers and you've got yourself the cutest outfit! Here is a closer look at the outfit on Gracie!  If you are looking for something extremely unique for a special toddler or baby girl in your life- this shirt is IT! This shirt pairs great with tutu's and skirts of all colors making it very versatile & easy to pair up with almost anything! Dress is up or dress it down. Everything can be found on www.livandco.com! Be sure to watch the video above to see the outfit in action + subscribe to our YouTube Channel!
  Mother's Day is quickly approaching and the closer it gets, we scramble to figure out the perfect way to honor the glue that holds the family together, Mom. Sure, we can run off and buy a card and some flowers, but speaking as a Mom myself, most of us prefer those thoughtful homemade gifts that come from the heart. What better way to show Mom love on her special day than your little one in this handmade "Happy Mother's Day" shirt with one (or all) of the special crafts I've found for you below!  If you've been searching for the perfect Mother's Day gift for Mom, your answer may be much closer than you think. This sign language "I love you" card from Busy Kids Happy Mom is simply made with your child's hand print, scrap book paper, scissors, and a marker! Check out the full tutorial HERE.  How brilliant is this flower bouquet made with Kleenex?! All you need are the following supplies and this tutorial and boom! You've got a will-not-ever-wilt bouquet of flowers for mom to last a lifetime (instead of a week, like real flowers)!
 This "I Hooked Mommy's Heart" baby fishing bodysuit and toddler t-shirt is another perfect gender neutral tee for your little guy or gal to wish Mommy a happy day all Mother's Day long!  Paint with toilet paper rolls? You read that right! What an excellent craft idea to make mom a Mother's Day gift with none other than her most favorite people in life! All you need are some empty toilet paper rolls, a 10x10 canvas, paint, a photo of your kiddo(s), and this tutorial over at Creative Carmella!  Shut. The. Front. Door with this ridiculous cuteness right here! This Mutha Luvah tee shirt is great for anytime of year, but especially on Mom's Day! It's even available in several other color options! Grab yours HERE. Head to our blog for our latest apparel picks, DIY crafts, and product reviews HERE. Do you like to shop handmade? Are you a handmade shop in the Midwest? Do you just like to shop small businesses? Whatever the case, join us over at MADE in the Midwest on Facebook to shop unique apparel, jewelry, home decor and more from hundreds of small, handmade businesses in the Midwest.  CLICK HERE TO SHOP MORE AWESOME BABY AND TODDLER APPAREL & ACCESSORIES.
 Baby's first year is so exciting and full of amazing milestones and tons of firsts. Because so many special things are happening in such a short period of time, you have to document every moment! Baby's first year goes wayyyyyy too fast. Here are 5 ideas to help you document baby's first year! 1. Monthly bodysuits from Liv & Co! Did you know we sell a bodysuit for every month of baby's first year?! This is such a great way to capture a monthly photo. Dress baby up in the bodysuit of the month, take a few photos, and you'll be able to look back and see the changes baby made each month! Our bodysuits are available in several different designs! 2. Use a Batz Blanket. These blankets are made from an amazing shop owner! You lay your baby on the blanket each month (put baby in a Liv & Co bodysuit!). It's such a fun way to highlight baby's monthly photos! 3. Use a scrapbook! Our favorite baby scrapbook is the MushyBooks modern baby book. This is a baby scrapbook that you will actually enjoy writing in. Their designs are so dreamy and the book will truly be a keepsake for life! 4. Take VIDEO! A lot of time we are so focused on taking photos of our little ones during their first year of life. Photos are amazing, and truly special to look at. But, video brings back memories that photos sometimes can't. We LOVE this video @gracefulmommy did to document her daughter's first year. 5. Use Milestone Baby cards. These cards are so easy and fun! One deck of cards comes with all the milestones of baby's first year including baby's first tooth, first word, crawls for the first time, etc. When baby does something for the first time, you take a photo of them with the card! Such a cute way to remember a special moment!   Tis the season for all things red, white, & blue! We don't need a holiday to be patriotic, but let's face it, when Memorial Day, July 4th, & Labor Day roll around -- it's so much more fun to deck our wardrobes with boughs of stars & stripes, fa-la-la-la-la... Well, you get the point. Here at Liv & Co., we do just that. What's better? We make shopping for your baby and toddler boy patriotic clothes as easy and fun as shopping for your little girl outfits!  From headbands to leg warmers, to (what we're known for), our one of a kind baby bodysuits & children's tee shirts -- we've got your little gal covered from bow to toe!
Our gender neutral designs make it easy to dress your little guy too. From our "Liberty" bodysuit to our "Born in the USA" tee shirt, you can dress and accessorize all of your children, of all ages, at our one stop shop.
  Some new things are happening at Liv & Co.! In addition to our 200+ other designs, these adorable tie-dye shirts are coming in all different colors and patterns! These Tie-Dye shirts are unique! No 2 are exactly alike- but they are all amazing! We won't be doing any custom orders on these. When we release them, that is all we will have. So if you love what you see, purchase quick! What a unique baby shower gift or birthday gift for a little free spirit gypsy boy or girl! Shop our Tie Dye Collection here⬇ http://www.livandco.com/store/c41/Tie_Dye_Shirts_and_Baby_Bodysuits.html FREE U.S SHIPPING📫. ❎Photo + design ©Liv & Co.™❎ #LivAndCompany #LivAndCo  To celebrate the amazing release of our Tie-Dye shirts and bodysuits, we wanted to share some awesome Tie-Dye egg ideas! These egg crafts are perfect to do with kids of all ages- just in time for Easter!  Find the links to each Tie Dye egg idea below: 1. No mess egg decorating for kids by A Little Pinch of Perfect. 2. How to Tie Dye Easter Eggs by Ehow 3. Kool-Aid Tie Dye by Kraft 4. Tie Dye Easter Eggs by One Little Project  We are so excited to show you some of our girly outfits! We love the look of red and white together, especially for a little princess! Click the image to shop.
One of our newest items is our Little Sis bodysuit with the red ruffle neckline! We think it adds that special touch that onesies sometimes need!  You still have time to order our Little Miss Luck outfit! This outfit is available as a bodysuit or a shirt! We also sell the adorable leg warmers as well as the headbands.
To purchase---》 CLICK HERE. The headband can be found HERE. And the leg warmers are HERE. As always, we offer FREE U.S SHIPPING📫.  Do you have an awesome sister or sister-in-law in your life? Is she the best Aunt or Auntie to your little one? We make lots of adorable Aunt T-shirts for your baby or toddler. These are guaranteed to make Auntie's day! :)
These T-Shirts and bodysuits also make great pregnancy announcements too! Buy a onesie for a soon-to-be Aunt to open up! She will be so surprised! We can personalize any Aunt shirt to say Auntie (or another Aunt name you use). Just be sure to mention the personalization when you check out! And, don't worry- we offer Uncle shirts as well! Shop our Aunt and Uncle T-shirt section: HERE.  Easter is right around the corner! At Liv & Co, we have you covered on all of your apparel and accessory needs. This whole outfit can be found on our website!
Personalized Bunny Shirt Gold Metallic Floppy Bow Headband Leg Warmers Did you know? We offer FREE SHIPPING to the US! Grab all the essentials to the perfect Easter outfit today! Shop now at: www.livandco.com! St. Patrick's Day is coming up soon! This is always a fun holiday to celebrate with kids because there are tons of craft ideas and ways to celebrate! At Liv & Co, we make tons of adorable St. Patty's Day shirts- we know you'll love them! Here are a few of our favorites.    Our designs are cute, modern, and trendy! We can't wait to see your little ones rocking our green gear! Make sure to follow us on Instagram (@livandcompany), and tag us if you share any photos! We've also found a few St. Patrick's Day crafts that you might want to try with your little one! What a fun way to celebrate!  The crafts shown above were found on various blogs! You can find links to tutorials below:
Paper Plate Rainbow: www.anightowlblog.com/2015/02/paper-plate-rainbow-kids-craft.html/ Handprint Rainbow: https://www.plaidonline.com/blog/post/2014/03/07/Six-simple-St-patricks-day-crafts?crlt.pid=camp.dKODcKKGtkOh Love Handprint: http://www.craftymorning.com/handprint-shamrock-st-patricks-day-canvas/ And of course, you can find the adorable St. Patrick's Day outfits on www.livandco.com!  When beginning a small business, we all know the must - do's. The legal stuff, the tax stuff, etc. Being completely prepared to start an online business (or any other business, for that matter) is an area most small business owners lack knowledge in. We tend to jump in feet first and use a 'learn as you go' approach. Today, I'm going to outline 4 things you NEED to do before opening your shop or upon opening your shop that most don't normally think to do right away.  1.) Start an email list. This is completely essential to your business for so many reasons. I was already 10,000 sales in before I realized this (fail). If you are using a selling platform like Etsy or eBay, chances are strong, with all of the trademark and copyright hype going on right now, that your shop will more than likely be closed down at one time or another, and if that happens, you'll want backup. (To view a list of commonly used words/phrases/designs that are actually trademarked/copyrighted, view my post HERE.) Even if that doesn't happen, you will utilize your email list to stay in touch with customers that are interested in your product with a monthly newsletter, discount codes, sales, and more. I use Aweber for my email list and they've been amazing. They even let you try it free for 30 days. Etsy and many other website hosts allow a sign up form to be integrated into their site so your customers may opt in to your email list.  2.) Have your own website. No matter what, you will want your own domain name, at the very least. I recommend having your own website on top of any other platforms you're using to sell on so you always have somewhere to turn if things go sour. You can re-route your domain name to your Etsy shop or any other selling platform. I use Weebly because it is kind of fool - proof, very user friendly, and inexpensive, but there are several other options out there for you if you don't have a lot of start up funds to go big with a web designer right out of the gate. Your domain name is the link you want to advertise everywhere; your business cards, networking with others, etc. This way, if you were to ever be shut down or restricted on a selling platform, you will have advertised your domain name to your customers, so you can start your own shop with that domain name or re-route it to another platform if you have to move. Etsy advertises for Etsy. If your SEO is on par and your photo's rock (if you need help with your photos, see my tutorial HERE), you should have no problem being found on Etsy organically through their search. Etsy also advertises for you with Google. You need to focus on advertising YOU and YOUR business. If you are interested in opening at Etsy shop, but haven't done so and would like to try it out for free, use my link HERE and you and I both receive 40 free listings.  3.) Start accounts on all forms of social media. So, once you've picked out your business name (if you need help with selecting a business name, see my post HERE about choosing a business name that withstands time and trends) and you are sure about it, you need to start your social media accounts. Don't delay this or think that you'll just start once you get busy. You want to start your social media interaction from the get go to drive traffic as quickly as possible. I mean, all the social media. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, & Pinterest. Those are my top 5. Instagram rocks because you can link your Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr accounts to it and share every Instagram post to all of those accounts simultaneously, making managing your social media almost effortless when you're starting out. The down side to Instagram is that they've become like Facebook. Rather than having an organic feed they have an algorithm driven feed and it's hard to be found when you're a newbie. Thank goodness for hash tags. To find out 11 hash tags Etsy sellers should be using on Instagram see my post HERE. You can follow me on Instagram HERE. Pinterest is an amazing tool for small businesses because of group boards. If you aren't familiar with group boards, check out my post HERE about the power of Pinterest, how group boards work, and a link to my 2 small business group boards. Follow me on Pinterest HERE. Facebook is not even a question. You have to have it. I have a Facebook group, a Facebook business page, and I belong to hundreds of Buy/Sell/Trade groups that allow small business advertising. You can advertise for free on Facebook and Facebook's paid marketing ads are like no other. There isn't another social media platform out there that can even come close to comparing to Facebook Ads. Follow me on Facebook HERE. I use Tumblr simply because I can link it to my Instagram and I can pin my posts. I just let it run itself. Sometimes, the key to Tumblr isn't the amount of followers, but using the right hash tags. I often notice that Wanelo users often save my Tumblr photo's. Follow me on Tumblr HERE. Twitter is a little trickier when it comes to business, but no doubt- it's important. If you have the time to dedicate to Twitter it can be extremely lucrative. Twitter is more of a live feed type of social media. I've noticed you've got to post several times throughout the day to gain traction with interaction and if this is the platform you choose to go heavy on, be prepared to do so. I just began a new Twitter account for my business. You can follow me HERE.  4.) Have 2 businesses (or more). I know what you're thinking; "TWO businesses? It's hard enough with one!" This is why: When one business is down, you have the other to focus on. Any business can fall on hard times at any point in time and yes, every small business owner should know how to revive their business or give it a boost, but for the times that you simply cannot help it, you have another business to drive. They say the key to being financially secure and independent is having multiple streams of income, this is why. It doesn't have to be random, though. For instance, someone that makes headbands could also have a headband supply shop and become a wholesale supplier. The same with fabric. If you sew, a good second business would be becoming a fabric supplier. Was this post helpful? Feel free to share your small business tips below. How did you get started? What do you wish you would have known when you first started your small business? Join us on Facebook in our "MADE in the Midwest" group HERE.   Join us on Facebook in our "I Own A Small Business" group HERE. Shop Liv & Co. HERE for our latest tee shirt styles and accessories for boys and girls of all ages.
Disclaimer: We blog about an array of topics from recipes and our favorite products to small business advice and tutorials. We may receive a small commission from links in this post, however, we do not represent any companies or products that we do not absolutely love and stand by 110% because that's not how we roll. The opinions expressed are our own. Our blog is for informational purposes only and any information found on this site is not substitute for professional advice. Love our tees? Follow us on social media everywhere to keep up on the latest Liv & Co. and Blue November new releases, sales, and giveaways! Blue November Facebook Liv & Co. Facebook Blue November Instagram Liv & Co. Instagram Liv & Co. Pinterest Liv & Co. Twitter If you'd like to keep up with our blog posts, you may sign up via the sign up form directly below this paragraph. The sign up form at the bottom of the page is for our Liv & Co. t-shirts & accessories.  Our Valentine's Day & St. Patrick's Day tee shirts & accessories are must- haves for the holiday season! #LivAndCo
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AuthorProud Mom of 3 beautiful children. Creator, investor, designer, & owner of The Marketplace by Liv & Co., High Tidy, High Tide R & R, The Matriarchy Matters, Hitched, Liv & Co. Photography, Selfies By The Sea and the Everything Panama City Beach, FL Facebook group. 
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