Niki Smith
Niki is an Iowa native who now lives with her husband Ryan, daughter Riley, and son Merritt in Johnston. She is passionate about paid leave for working parents, thrifting, and Beyonce. Niki is the Marketing Campaign Manager at Homesteaders Life Company in West Des Moines. She is also owner of Bee Thrifty, which consigns designer clothing for clients on Poshmark. Niki is a two-time graduate of Drake University with a bachelor’s in journalism (2008) and a Master’s in Communication Leadership (2015).
I Love Snail Mail
I am a Snail Mail queen. I have pen pals I have been maintaining (even if just loosely) for years. I love to send beautiful cards, with carefully selected stamps, and personalized return labels.
Consider...
Tips for Fishing in Iowa with Your Family
Admit it – you’ve purchased that Barbie and/or Snoopy fishing pole for your kiddo and it’s still sitting in the garage and has never touched the water.
It’s time to dust off your fishing hooks...
13 Family TV Shows to Enjoy Together
Our year at home during this pandemic has forced us all to be creative in our family activities. Like many of you, we have explored crafts, board games, and maybe even a Fancy Friday.
After...
My Experience Renting a Private Movie Theatre
One of my personal top frustrations in 2020 was when the Wonder Woman 84 premiere date was pushed back TWICE. I had dates set on my calendar, an outfit ordered, and a very excited...
Hitting the Pandemic Wall
The past month, I have seen multiple articles from psychologists and mental health experts explaining that we have hit a pandemic wall. Paired with those articles, I have seen my friends and fellow moms...
New Hobbies for Busy Moms
When the world started their long stays at home in March 2020, stories about the great things people made or discovered while in quarantine emerged. Isaac Newton spent 18 months quarantining during the bubonic...
My Year of Thrifting for the Family
This year, I attempted to thrift my family’s entire wardrobe (whoa boy what great timing with a global pandemic). I definitely cheated a few times. Sometimes, our kiddos need a very specific outfit for...
Being Comfortable In My Mom Bod
Mom bods. We all see things in our bodies that are forever changed because of our children. I have stretch marks, a c-section scar, and a few extra pounds that I have accepted will...
Best Mom Hacks in 2020
The mom tribe is strong, and we use one another to share tips and tricks. We’ve had a lifetime to perfect our everyday mom hacks, but 2020 has thrown us some extra challenges. I...
Tips For A Stress-Free Toy Purge
It’s an all too familiar situation. Your child just had a birthday and you’re silently weeping to yourself buried under a mountain of toys.
Ok, that might be a bit over-dramatic (but maybe not). This...