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).
Streamlining Family Routines: A Mom’s Guide to Utilizing Alexa
I personally sum up parenting tips into two common phrases:
“It takes a village” and “Work smarter, not harder.”
Previously I shared some common mom hacks that I use. Since then, we have added one artificially intelligent...
A Parent’s Ode to the Cardboard Box
Imagine your family has been forced indoors (think snow day or hot summer day). Your child walks up to you while you’re focused on an important task. They exclaim, “I’m bored!” with a backdrop...
Celebrate Your Gals on Galentine’s Day
Do you celebrate Galentine’s Day? Maybe you have no idea what it is.
The concept for the made-up holiday came from popular NBC TV show ‘Parks and Recreation.’ It was created by the character Leslie...
30+ Things to Do When It’s Too Cold to Go Outside
The days are getting shorter, the air is colder, and your kids might start to get more restless without the outdoors as a place for them to expound some energy.
Whether it’s too cold to...
25 Non-Candy Halloween Treats
I love Halloween! When we moved into our first home we had no kids yet, but I dressed as Columbia from Rocky Horror Picture Show and anxiously awaited the arrival of hundreds of princesses...
Dinner on the Go—Options for Busy Families
I distinctly remember one night sitting in the waiting room of my daughter’s dance studio. I was pregnant with my second and exhausted after a long day of work. I snuck out to grab...
Why We Read Banned Books, and You Should Too
We have been reading to our children since the day they came into our world. The importance of reading to your children evolves as they grow, but the basic reason is the same: To...
Family Guide to the Iowa State Fair
I’m an Iowa native who has been going to the Iowa State Fair since the cotton candy was as big as me (EVIDENCE presented). I even competed in the Bill Riley State Fair Talent...
Why You Should Take Your Kids to Pride Activities in Des Moines
June is Pride Month, which is an annual celebration of the LGBTQ+ community. Whether you identify as LGBTQ+ yourself or are an ally, taking your children to Pride Month activities can be an enriching...
Day Trip to the Amana Colonies
Have you ever been to the Amana Colonies in Eastern Iowa? At less than 2 hours from Des Moines, it's a great destination for a day trip.
My family has taken many day trips to...