Kristen Ireland
Kristen lives in Ottawa Hills, OH, with her husband (Carl), two babies under two, (Graham and Maren), and a Frenchie (CeCe). Originally from Detroit, MI, she came to Toledo by way of Chicago, IL. She teaches high school science full time, as well as being a Beautycounter consultant and Toledo Moms contributor. For fun, she enjoys spending time with family, dining out, & traveling (as much as one can these days with two tiny humans in tow!). Illness in her family, “unexplained infertility,” and the responsibility of being a mama have evoked awareness of the ingredients in everyday products & foods, and their impact on human health. Kristen is passionate about making her world a little safer, one clean swap at a time. You can follow her clean swap suggestions @SwapToSafer and shop #betterbeauty products from Beautycounter at www.beautycounter.com/kristenireland
Top Hacks for High End Home Design on a Low End Budget
Airy, modern, impeccable spaces abound on HGTV, Pinterest, and social media influencer accounts. They look, well, dreamy. Like a dream most of us couldn't afford. But I'm going to let you in on a...
When Danger Lives Next Door
The House Search
I moved to Ohio in the spring of 2016. My husband (fiance at the time) and I considered many factors when choosing a neighborhood to start our married life and, hopefully, a...
Swap to Safer – Testing Your Home For Harmful Substances
Everyone wants to create a happy and healthy home for their family. What everyone doesn't know, however, is that many odorless and invisible substances may be causing harm to your family, without your knowledge...
The Half-Life of Mom
Someone in one of my mom groups recently posted a question that was thought-provoking: "How would you describe yourself before and after having kids?" This really hit me, as it is something I haven't...
10 Tips for Traveling with Toddlers
When I was younger, single, kidless, and making enough money to have some disposable income, I traveled. I had wanderlust and couldn’t wait to explore a new city/state/country. I had status with an airline...
If I Could Give You The Gift of Innocence
If I could give you any gift in the world, sweet boy, it would be your innocence.
You came into the world over 3 weeks early, so small and frail. At a petite 6lbs even,...
Women In Science
When I tell people I am a teacher, particularly that I teach high schoolers, I usually get met with responses of "You are so brave!" Then, when I tell them I teach science, I...
Big Boys (and Girls) CAN Cry
BIG E M O T I O N S
My son has big emotions. BIG E M O T I O N S. And he’s not afraid to unleash them. This is, of course, a...
How to Handle Holiday Birthdays
Everyone wants to feel special on their birthday - the one day of the year where YOU are the focus for celebration! But what happens when your (or child's, friend's, etc.) birthday falls close...
National Recycling Day
National Recycling Day is November 15.
Though there are many historical examples of recycling that date back long, long ago, National Recycling Day (American Recycles Day) was first established in 1997. According to the EPA,...