caseymanser
Casey is an Iowa captive by way of Alabama. She lives in Urbandale with her first responder husband Derek, black lab Dakota, and human daughters Avery (2018) and Nellie (2021). She loves being a mom and is navigating her journey with her own version of what motherhood looks like including shamelessly singing “Baby Shark” on command and eating Oreos during nap time so she doesn’t have to share. Casey works part time in the non-profit field supporting families that are grieving the loss of a child. In her “free time” Casey enjoys baking, specializing in boxed brownies and pre-made cookie dough. She also enjoys reading historical fiction books and watching Netflix. Her preferred forms of communication include sarcasm, emojis and gifs.
My 40-Day Social Media Fast
Social media dominates our world. No doubt you have heard or maybe experienced some of its adverse impacts. While it can serve a good, useful purpose there are hundreds of scholarly articles about the...
Why I Found Out My Baby’s Gender Before Birth This Time
When you’re pregnant there are a few questions you can often expect people to ask; ‘Is this your first?’ When are you due?’ and almost inevitably, ‘Is it a girl or a boy?’
Today with...
Things I am Doing Differently my Second Pregnancy
Right from the start, my second pregnancy has been very different from my first, from my physical symptoms to my emotional perspective. And while my first pregnancy was great and so special for various...
The Literary Classic I Can’t Wait to Share with my Half Pint
Like many moms, after I brought my daughter home from the hospital I often thought of all those special things we would share together in our mother-daughter relationship. This included things such as shopping...
Potty Training: An Honest Review
I was prepared. I had read the blogs and followed the Pinterest boards. I was going to potty train my 2.5-year-old in a weekend.
I had everything ready; the miniature potty, the potty seat, the...
My Toddler Needs Me
The other day I realized my toddler needs me. This may seem obvious, but I don’t mean she needs me in the sense of needing someone to make her food, change her diaper, or...
I Don’t Have the Same Political Views as my Spouse, and That’s OK!
My husband and I were married in the summer of 2016. That Fall, we experienced our first presidential election as a married couple. If you recall, it was a big one.
Despite still being in...
The Iowa SIDS Foundation: Founded by Families, for Families
October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month. During this month the unique grief bereaved parents experience is recognized. In October, we come together to demonstrate support to the many families who have suffered...
Our Journey to Becoming Debt Free
Today we live in a culture where having debt is considered to be the norm. Sometimes it’s even seen as a right of passage or the entrance into adulthood. You accumulate student loans, credit...
Real Life Laundry Tips
There are few things in life that are certain. These include death, taxes, and laundry. Yup, that’s right. The literally never-ending task of washing clothes, drying them, folding them, ironing, and putting them away.
It...