Leslie Bartula
Leslie graduated from the University of Notre Dame where she met her husband, Matt. After living in Chicago (and its suburbs) for 10 years, they relocated to DFW and have lived in Richardson since 2016. She is a stay-at-home mama to three boys (May 2014, February 2016, and October 2021), one girl (July 2018), and a crazy pup. She spends her free time running, reading, cooking, gardening, and adding projects to their home improvement list. You can catch her with a cup of coffee in her hands (or being reheated in her microwave) all day long. Follow along on Instagram @villa_villebartula.
The “Best” Dad :: Which Dad Type Is Yours?
Reflecting on the many amazing dads I know, most of them fall into one (or more!) of these categories.
10 Must-Packs for Your Next Vacation Rental
Having stayed in vacation rentals several times in the last few years with my kid, I discovered some surprisingly helpful items.
Plan an Easy Easter Brunch
A lot of this can be done ahead of time to make your Easter morning even easier!
Toddler-Friendly Diaper Bag Roundup
I'm currently on the hunt for a smaller diaper bag that I love just as much but won't have me knocking into things all the time.
Enjoy a Kid-Friendly Mardi Gras
Just because we live in Dallas doesn't mean we have to miss out on Mardi Gras fun! These simple, at-home activities will get the good times rollin'!
5 Benefits of Participating in Team Sports in Early Elementary
In addition to the obvious benefits of exercise and teamwork, my husband and I discovered five additional benefits of participating in team sports in early elementary school.
10 Ideas to Start Reading More
Over the last few years, I've managed to fit a lot more reading into my life, even with new babies, all the kid activities, and trying to maintain our home. Here are my best tips!
Eat Like a Hobbit for Hobbit Day (September 22)
This month marks 85 years since The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien was first published. The Hobbit is one of my husband’s favorite books and has become a favorite with my 8- and 6-year-olds as...
Easy Meal Planning for Back-to-School With Pioneer + A $250 “Day in Dallas” GIVEAWAY
We fully embraced the laid-back summer at my house this year. The kids stayed up late and slept in late (mostly), we had many pajama days, and I took a long break from meal...
My Favorite Book Club: Reading With My Son
I’ve always been a big reader, and as an adult I’ve been part of a book club in some form or another for the last 15 years. I love talking about books with other...
10 Kid-Friendly Coffee Shops in Dallas
My ability to parent well (or not-so-well sometimes) is fueled by a heavy dose of caffeine. I make a pretty good cup of coffee at home (see my recipes for homemade coffee creamers post),...
Neighborhood Favorites: Why We Love East Richardson
This summer will mark six years of living in DFW. We moved here from Chicago and really didn’t know much about the metroplex or the best places to live. Based on recommendations from a...