I’ve partnered with Fidelity & MEFA for this post in support of the U.Fund Dreams Tour. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

My baby will be in the 3^rd grade in the Fall. The THIRD grade people. It’s scary to see how fast she’s growing up and into her own young woman. Just last week she got her very own email address! In my first email to her I asked her to stop growing, to which she responded “I will grow one day. You can’t stop me.” Yep, my heart completely melted. There is so much to plan for now that I often forget to look ahead. My life is very much in the present and doesn’t leave room to consider planning for future events and happenings like college. And while I’d rather my 8 year old stay young and innocent forever – life cannot stop just because I want it too and I have to be smart about planning for her future now. Part of that planning includes saving for college.

You may have seen a colorful tent at some local events throughout Boston and beyond. Within the walls of these U.Fund Dreams tent are opportunities for kids and their family to experience their dreams like never before. This past weekend my daughter and I visited the U.Funds Dreams Tent at the WGBH FunFest in Boston where we walked away with some information on how we can get started with saving for college and our college savings options.

Doesn’t she look excited?! These Dream Tents encourage families to see their children’s dreams come to life through interactive activities, educational information, and a green screen. Yep, like the ones on movie sets! Whether your youngsters dream is to become an architect, astronaut or teacher the dream tent wants kids to dream and dream BIG while realizing the sky is the limit! I want to support my daughter in whatever career she decides to pursue, but one thing is clear. I won’t be able to support her higher education without some savings to get her through.

The great folks over at Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA) know how scary and overwhelming saving for college can be – but want you to know that it’s POSSIBLE…with some planning of course! Below are five tips to get you and your family saving for college:

1. Develop a budget that includes a college savings plan.
2. Use a notebook, spreadsheet, or smart phone app to track personal and household spending for a week to identify areas for savings. Next try tracking your expenses for a month.
3. Save money on lunch. Make a double-batch of dinner & wrap up leftovers to take to work that week.
4. Save for a short-term goal, like a family movie night. Show yourself that savings works, then aim higher.
5. Put some of your tax refund towards college savings.

I know I’ve got some SERIOUS work to do to build up my daughter’s college savings. But I’m happy to say I’ve already started. It’s not A LOT, but it’s started and that’s something! I’m sure a few of the tips many of you have already implemented, but like many of us, just need to be more consistent.

How do you and your family save for college? What tips would you share with other families? For 5 more college saving tips from MEFA be sure to CLICK HERE!

Happy Saving!

Content and/or other value provided by our partner, Target. All opinions are my own.

Love is in the air these days. The cold and dark of winter is finally fading, flowers are blooming and there is happiness in the air. It’s been exciting to share in the joy of friends who are recently engaged, planning a wedding or welcoming in a new addition to their family. I guess you could say love is in the air for me as well, as I’m beginning a journey with someone I hold near and dear to my heart.

The #TargetWedding Registry is pretty phenomenal and is all about celebrating ‘being yourself together’ and with a variety of items you’re sure to find the perfect gift for your loved ones upcoming nuptials…or you’ll find lots of great finds to add to your own registry!

While a wedding for myself is not on the horizon, I’ve thought a bit about my dream wedding, from what I’d wear, the guest list, and all the fun of celebrating such a special time with the person I’d want to spend the rest of my life laughing with and the Target Wedding registry is full of great items I could see being useful in a marriage.

One of the things I look forward to most when I get married is date night. One on one time with my love to relax and unwind – though with an eight year old date night I’m sure wouldn’t always be possible. But I can improvise and I’ve chosen a couple of products from the Target Wedding Registry that would be perfect for date night indoors.

What’s date night without a little something sweet? With the KitchenAid Ultra Power 4.5 Qt Stand Mixer we’d make my famous and super delicious semi-sweet chocolate chip cookies in a breeze, kicking off our date night in.

While we wouldn’t have a waiter to deliver us chilled wine, we’d select a couple bottles of our favorite wines and enjoy them in the beautiful Threshold White Wine Glasses as we began to unwind and enjoy each other’s company.

When the cookies were done we’d cozy for a fun game of Scrabble (by the fire preferably) where’d I’d second guess every word my partner thinks is legit 🙂

Rainy Day Date Night. Yes, I’m looking forward to that!

And because I love Target so much – and love is in the air I’m giving away another Target e-giftcard – this one is for $25 and its super simple to enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The #DayofLight: Bringing Depression Out of the Dark is a movement aimed at bringing awareness to depression. Today those who have struggled with depression share their experiences and resources and stand together.

This is my story:

I can’t remember how old I was, maybe 7, when I witnessed my mother’s depression suffocate her.

I was only able to glance into her room, her brown body still in the bed, before the ambulance came. Though she survived, we never talked about what happened that day, but I knew. As the youngest of four I was often shielded from the dark realities of my single mother’s struggle to survive and her battles with depression. At that young of an age I didn’t understand why she acted the way she did – why she was cold, mean, unable to show me deep affection, why she prioritized her boyfriend over her children. And I realize now that my own battle with depression began through witnessing my mother’s struggle.

I didn’t need a medical provider to tell me that what I was feeling was more than an overwhelming feeling of sadness. I knew that the feelings that were taking over me were much deeper and scarier than just being sad.

Growing up we didn’t discuss feelings. My mother’s goal was to raise strong independent black children. We would grow up and soar and fly without needing help – without showing fear. When we didn’t act accordingly, there were severe consequences. So when these dark feelings grew within me, I acted as I was taught. I hid them, concealed them, kept moving forward with a smile on my face. Because showing any kind of weakness, especially as a black woman was unacceptable.

So I moved forward, on the outside a shining image of a strong single mother, helpful, attentive, outgoing, and happy. I gave all that I had to making other people happy that I had nothing left for myself. When I’d get home and peel off that mask, and looked at myself in the mirror I hated who I saw staring back at me. She was weak. She was fragile. She was suffering. She was fat. She was ugly. She couldn’t do anything right. I mean who would get pregnant at 19 with someone who didn’t even love her? Who would seek out men’s affection because she had never felt real love from her parents? Who would consider self-harm as an answer? Someone weak.

I hid my depression and later my anxiety attacks from everyone. No one knew that I was leading a double life. I couldn’t let the truth escape because I didn’t want to show how vulnerable and scared I was. I didn’t want people to think I was a basket case. I wanted people to believe that I was fine, that everything was just great. That that smile I wore during the day carried on at home. I had to conceal the truth. No one could know that I would sometimes spend weekends in bed crying thinking about death. No one could know that I’d drink myself into a stupor just so I could stop feeling so damn much. No one could know that I didn’t find pleasure in anything anymore. No one could know that I thought I’d be better off not being here.

Read the rest of “Learning to Love Yourself While Battling Depression #DayofLight” over on The Young Mommy Life.