Thank you to Google Home for sponsoring today’s post! As always, thank YOU for supporting the brands that support this blog!

I used to be a very, very organized person. Hyper-organized. Everything was labeled, my binders in school were organization perfection, and I couldn’t make a purchase without writing it down in my check register. I don’t know where that girl went but she is LONG GONE. And has been ever since I had kids. It’s felt nearly impossible to get her back, but I do miss that version of me! She was a little less stressed, a little more confident, and had more of her ‘wish together. I’m usually a pen to paper kind of gal when it comes to reminders and creating lists, but I’ve even been poor about that lately. I forget to actually cross off those lists OR I leave the lists home! We were recently sent the new Google Home product, and I was eager to try it in hopes of having it help me feel somewhat put together again.  Today I’m sharing with you how Google Home is currently helping me keep mom life on track and #winning!

It makes my grocery list and won’t leave it on the counter at home. Seriously, I’m NOTORIOUS for this. I walk into the store, reach into my purse, and realize I left the grocery list on the counter back at the house. I then proceed to actually buy maybe ONE thing off my list and forget the rest until I get home. Sound familiar? Someone tell me it’s not just me! With Google Home, I can ask it to add things to my shopping list as I run low or out of them, and it’s available on my phone for when I’m at the store. No more making two (or three…true story) trips to the store!

It helps me stay on top of my calendar without me needing to check my phone. Between deadlines, working my weekend job, appointments for the kids, and everything else going on in between, our calendar is usually slam packed and I’m accidentally double booking myself. In fact, that’s another thing I’m notorious for. 

It helps me be a less horrible cook. True story! I can ask it simple questions like “how many cups are in a quart?” or anything alike and it will give me an exact answer. I didn’t get the cooking gene from my Italian family, so I could use all the help I can get. 

DANCE PARTIES. This might not be the most serious thing Google Home can do, but I think it’s the most important. Momming is really hard, guys. There are many times I feel like I have nothing left to give by the end of the day, and I’m so over the whining/crying/fussing. I started implementing dance parties with Landon a while ago because he LOVES to get his groove on (clearly taking after his former dancer mother). Whenever the kids are fussy, I play our favorite Pandora stations and encourage them to dance around and shake out their fussiness. It not only helps them, but me too. It’s a little endorphins release and just a few minutes of fun exercise. If you follow me on Snapchat (laurmcbrideblog) you know this is a daily occurrence. 😉 Our moods usually change for the better after a little dance party!

Google Home has additional capabilities too, including controlling your lights and thermostats with compatible devices! We don’t have these set up yet, but you bet I told my electrician husband (helloooooo, what’s the deal there?!) to get on it. I don’t know about you, but anything that might make my life even the slightest bit more organized is better than NOT being organized. 

Our absolute favorite use for our Google Home is definitely for music. My husband and I often fight over Mariah Carey Holiday music and Sia  (yes, my husband is a Sia fan, HAHA), but the kids just love coming into the kitchen and dancing. I was really impressed just how much punch that little device could pack. It’s nice having some Christmas music playing in the background during meal-time, and its small size doesn’t impede counter space!

Google Home has made this mom slightly less of a hot mess and a little more organized!

What do you think? Is this going on your Christmas list this year??? I give you permission to leave this page open for your significant other as a hint! 😉

(Photos by Alicia Ann Photographers)