Welcome to Hot Chocolate & Holding Close, a personal growth blog about wellness, relationships, parenting, pets, home maintenance, and writing.
Recent Blog Posts
5 Fall Self-Care Tips
With the fall comes the shorter days. And shorter days tend to mean that some may start to struggle more with their mental health. This is why ensuring that you get in time for yourself is important. Here are some tips for simple fall self-care ideas. Benefits of...
Create an Anxiety Toolkit
Anxiety can sometimes get out of hand where you feel like you can’t manage it. If you’re like me, when this happens, you also forget all the tools you may have learned to help with your anxiety. A creative way to handle these situations is to create an anxiety...
14 Daddy Daughter Date Ideas
Getting time alone for self-care activities can be difficult for moms. Here are some ideas for daddy daughter date ideas to keep your kiddo entertained so you can get some time in for yourself. Daddy Daughter Date Ideas for Your Husband and Your Toddler 1. Movie Have...
14 Mommy Daughter Date Ideas
Spending one on one time with your child has a slew of benefits. Sometimes doing the same old thing can get to be a bit boring. Check out these mommy daughter date ideas to do something extra special with your daughter. Mommy Daughter Date Ideas for You and Your...
What is Life Insurance and Why Do I Need It?
One of the things that is important to consider when you have a family is to get life insurance. You might wonder, what is life insurance and why do I need it? The main reason you want life insurance is so that if something happens to you, your family can be paid...
Things to Discuss with Your Spouse Before Having a Baby
The decision to try having a baby with your spouse is life-changing. Even if you know for sure that you want children, there are still many things to discuss with your spouse before having a baby. Bringing a child into a family brings not only joy but also increases...
15 Fun Fall Date Ideas
Fall is one of my favorite seasons. The air is crisper, the scents get better, and the leaves turn more beautiful. Here are some fun fall date ideas that take advantage of the beautiful weather and changing colors. List of Fall Date Ideas 1. Go on a Hike Head out on a...
13 Fun Fall Family Activities
Fall weather is more enjoyable to get out and do things with your family. Here are some fun fall family activities to do with your family this season. Fall Family Activities 1. Head to a Farm I didn’t realize until I had a toddler that there were farms you could...
How to Set Financial Goals You Can Achieve
Perhaps you’re feeling stuck in a rut when it comes to your finances. You may not know where to go or where to start. Read on to learn more about how to set personal financial goals you can stick to. Vision Cast Your Future This step can be kind of fun. Picture your...
20 Questions to Ask When Choosing a Daycare
Picking out a daycare is an important task for a new parent (or any parent switching daycares). Make the most of your daycare tour with these key questions to ask when choosing a daycare. Some daycares may even offer a parent handbook that might answer some of these...