Currently {3/27/2021}

Time and place: 8:53pm  and I am in the dining room, typing up this post.

  
Eating: Just had some white cheddar popcorn

Drinking: A big glass of water (always)

Watching: Gilmore Girls

 

Reading:  When We Believed Mermaids

Loving: the warmer weather.

Working: I just started designing a meal planner. I cannot wait to see how it turns out! I'm so excited for this new project. I am also working on a weekly planner insert that I am excited about and a note pad that I have been wanting to design for a while now. 

Listening to: my husband play the guitar.

Buying: Groceries for the rest of the month and stocking up on certain items that are needed. 

Planning: I have most of my posts planned for April already. I just have to write and schedule them. I am working on setting up some deadlines for my meal planner. I am also working with my husband on designing a new website. I am also working on some planner inserts. This should keep me busy for a while!

Wondering: can I pull it off? How will I pull it off?

Feeling: tired, but happy, always.

What are you currently up to?

 

4 Tips To Healthy Sleep

As I get older, I realize that sleep is important but HEALTHY good sleep is even more important. I am sharing 4 tips to healthy sleep in hopes that we can all learn a bit more about how to get those hours that will actually make us feel great the next day and not dread that annoying alarm clock!

4 Tips To Healthy Sleep

No technology: I am awful about this. Andrew and I fall asleep with the TV on more often than we should. But I notice the nights we turn it off we both sleep better. Not to mention when I can’t fall asleep I of course go to my phone and see what’s going on, on Snapchat or Instagram. Why? Because I’m human. But guys it’s soooo bad to look at the lights of computers, TV’s, and phones right before bed. Try no technology for an hour or so before you are ready to sleep. Instead…

Journal/Read: I usually read a few chapters in my current book (right now I am reading When We Believed in Mermaids) and then write about my day (how it went, what happened throughout the day, etc) in my journal. This is something that I make time for every night because it does help me sleep better. 

Keep it cool: I don’t know about you guys but I can not sleep well when I am warm! I have to be a little cool especially on my face or I wake up all night. Waking up constantly is not getting healthy sleep. So we keep our house cool while we sleep. I would rather layer on blankets than be sweaty!

Make a to do list for the next day: A major cause of anxiety at night and not being able to sleep is worrying. Worrying about what you have to do the next day, things that need to be done etc. Making a to do list and planning out your day releases you of those worries. You have your list and you are ready! You can get healthy sleep.

Sleep is more than just a number of hours. You can get 8 hours of sleep but if it isn’t healthy sleep it’s worthless. I hope my 5 tips to healthy sleep make your night routine and sleep a lot better!

Self Care Ideas For Spring

It’s getting warmer (sort of) and that means spring time is near yay! I wanted to share a few spring self-care ideas since it’s getting warmer, and your options are expanding for fun things to do!

Spring Self Care Ideas 

 1. Get Outside: I am so so so glad that the weather is warming up! The last few weeks it’s been cold and rainy and we haven’t had much outside time since December! We love spending time outside and I notice that even taking the girls outside improves my mood just getting sun in my face and fresh air.

2. Get Your Skin In Order: So winter can do some severe damage to skin, kind of like summer can. Now that spring is rolling around it’s time to shed the winter damage and get ready for spring. Two products that have REALLY been helping me are the Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser and the Aveeno Daily Mpistureizer with SPF 15. I have been using these two products for YEARS!  They are perfect to use daily. Using these two together will for sure get your skin ready for spring and summer!

3. Do an outdoor workout class: If your area offers these types of classes, this is great for self care. If your area does not offer an outdoor class, in this pandemic era just take your workout to your backyard. 

4. Get New Bedding: Get yourself some pretty spring bedding! It will encourage you to get in bed earlier and get a good nights sleep!

5. Grow/Buy Flowers: Why wait for someone else to buy you flowers? If you have the outdoor space try your hand at growing some if not then buy yourself some pretty spring blooms! It will brighten up your space and your day!

What is something you do for spring self-care?

 

How To Create a Successful Routine

Throughout the years I have created so many routines in my home to help things run smoothly. Today I thought I would share some tips for creating any routine and I will share what our mornings look like during this time of distance learning and quarantine.

How to Create a Successful Morning Routine 

 

(1) Look for inspiration. But do not copy. 

There are so many ideas online that you can use to help you form the perfect routine, and while taking those ideas is great, and honestly why people share them in the first place, you will also want to be sure you aren't copying a routine that will not work for your family. Take ideas and inspirations o help you form your own routine that will work best for your family.

(2) Write it out and don't make it too complicated.

I do best when brainstorming on paper, so I write things out. I take the tasks that I would like to complete within a routine, and the timing of when I typically am trying to plan, and then pair them up to help make the most of my time. Creating a routine that is unachievable will do no good. Keep you expectations in check, and be sure you are setting yourself up for success.

(3) Try it out before committing.

Not everything is going to work on the first attempt. Try out a nre routine before getting your kids involved and if you know it will not work, tweak it before committing  your family to it.

(4) It takes time. 

A new habit isn't going to stick on the first day. A new routine will take some time to get used to. Stick to it and make adjustments as needed.

Remember: it takes 21 days of hard work to set a new habit and 90 days for it to become a lifestyle change.


(5) Give yourself some grace.

If your new routine just is not working, don't continue just because you feel like you have to. Stop and re-evaluate the situation. Also do not think you have to have a routine if it's not needed. 

Morning Routine for Moms

7:00am- Wake up kids, breakfast, get dressed

8:00am- Distance leaning starts (A), reading with C, work on her letters and numbers.

9:00am- My cleaning routine starts. Start laundry, clean the kitchen, make beds, vacuum and mop floors

11:00am- Distance learning ends for A and it's quite time for A and C until lunch.

Now, this is just an example and not every day is the same. Remember to give yourself some grace an just be patient.

 This post was originally published in 2020 and has been updated for 2021

March 2021 Goals

 

  March 2021 Goals:

1. Read one book (about to start See Me by Nicholas Sparks).

2. Drink 100oz of water daily.

3. Start using my habit tracker in my bullet journal every day.

4. Eat more fruits and veggies (I have been lagging on this and I really need to fix it).

5. Walk 6 days a week and strength train 3x per week.

6. Have at least two at home date nights with the Husband. 

7. Organize the girls' bedrooms (purge old toys and outgrown clothes).

What are some of your March goals? 

Happy Homemaker Monday {3/1/2021}

Good evening everyone and welcome back to my blog. 

I hope every everyone had a wonderful weekend and are ready for the week ahead. 

It's 9pm and I am just now sitting down to write this post. Today, I have finished 3 loads of laundry ( the last is hanging to dry), cleaned the kitchen for the last time tonight (who loves a clean kitchen at night?), and I have finally picked up the living from a hard day of virtual learning. I just hope my week will be as productive as this day has been.

Happy Monday and have a wonderful and productive week!

Happy Homemaker Monday

 The weather outside is:

Dark and cold right now. This week is supposed to be in the 50s and 60s with chances of rain later in the week.

What we had for dinner tonight (instead of the breakfast plate):

Chicken Alfredo

As I look out my window:

It's dark and the sky is clear with thousands of twinkling stars in the night sky.

As I look around the house:

The living room needs to be picked up and then kitchen needs to be straighten.

What I'm wearing today:

A pink t-shirt and gray pants

Currently reading:

When We Believed in Mermaids

On the TV this week:

Right now I am watching The Masked Dancer, Call Me Kat, shows on Hulu and Netflx (I'm watching Cobra Kai again)

On the Menu this week: (I'm still figuring out the meal plan for this week)

Monday- Chicken Alfredo

Tuesday- Chicken with potatoes and green beans (slow cooker)

Wednesday- Potato soup with rolls

Thursday-

Friday-

Saturday-

Sunday-

Inspirational quotes: 

 

10 Things You Never Know About the Month of February

Since we are towards the end of February I thought it would be fun to share some interesting facts about the month. So, let's get to it:

Ten Things You Never Knew About the Month of February

1. February is named after the purification ritual Februa, which was a sort of early Roman spring cleaning festival.

2. In Old English, February was called Solmonath (Mud month) or Kale-monath (Kale or cabbage month).

3. February frequently occurs in lists of the most commonly misspelt words in the English language.

4. The Americans have trouble with the word February too – in 2016, a press release from the White House consistently spelt it as Feburary

5. Much Ado About Nothing is the only Shakespeare play that mentions February.

6. Before Julius Caesar’s calendar reform of 45BC, February was the only month with an even number of days. All the rest had 29 or 31.

7. February is the only month that can pass with no full moon. This will next occur in 2037

8. In the USA, February is National Pet Dental Health month. It is also Hot Breakfast month.

9. The birthstone for February is amethyst. The birth flower is the violet or iris.
 

10. The ancient Greeks believed that amethyst protected the wearer from drunkenness.

Do you know of any interesting facts about the month of February? If so, please share them in the comments below!

A Few of My Favorite Things

Hi Friends and welcome to the blog! I hope everyone is staying safe and warm with all of this crazy weather we have been having lately. In my neck of the woods we have had two winter storms that dumped over a foot of snow and ice over everything. I love the snow, it's so beautiful but I am so over it. I am so ready for Spring to get here. 

Anyways, I just wanted to pop in and share a few of my favorite things with you. These are the things that I am loving right now... so here we go!

1. This 14 minute workout

2. These meal planning tips

3. This simple bullet journal layout.

What some of your favorite things? Please share in the comments below!

10 Things I Want My Daughters To Know

Having girls is a challenge, a real challenge. How do you help to not feel insecure about themselves? How do I make my daughters feel empowered? In order to answer these questions I decided to google "things that I want my daughters to know" and I found this blog post from the Modern Mom blog. It really spoke to me and I wanted to share it here with you.

10 Things I Want my Daughters to Know:

1. It’s OK to feel vulnerable. It happens to everyone, even if they don’t admit it. If you feel bad about something, ask, read, look for help. It doesn’t matter how big or small you think your problem is.

2. Be courageous. Always dare to say and do what you think is right. Never be afraid of speaking your mind. Learn when and how to say “No” and not feel bad about it. Be assertive, not aggressive.

3. Take care of yourself. Exercise and eat healthy – not because you have to be skinny, but because your body is where you live and you want to treat it the best way you can.

4.  Respect yourself. Never tell yourself something that you would not tell your best friend.

5. Never feel bad about something you cannot change. Learn from the experience and move on.

6.  Make your own decisions – before someone else does. Always remember that every decision you make can have a great impact in your life.

7. What you see in magazines and on the Internet is not always real.  Photoshop exists, never forget that!!

8.  Forget about what people think about you. What do YOU think about yourself? That is what really matters.

9. Be grateful, humble and compassionate with others. Be open to others’ opinions. There is always something you can learn.

10. When people tell you “life is tough”, don’t listen to them! Life gives you opportunities to learn; what you make out of it is what makes life beautiful.

What would you add to the list? Please leave your comments below! 

Currently {1/23/2021}

Time and place: 3:56 pm  and I am in the dining room, typing up this post.

  
Eating: Just had some white cheddar popcorn

Drinking: A big glass of water (always)

Watching: Gilmore Girls

 

Reading: Pretend You Don't See Her by Mary Higgins Clark (this is my second book this year).

Loving: Spending time with my family.

Working: I just started designing a meal planner. I cannot wait to see how it turns out! I'm so excited for this new project. I am also working on a weekly planner insert that I am excited about. 

Listening: to the TV  

Buying: Groceries for the rest of the month and stocking up on certain items that are needed. 

Planning: I have most of my posts planned for February already. I just have to write and schedule them. I am working on setting up some deadlines for my meal planner. I am also working with my husband on designing a new website. I am also working on some planner inserts. This should keep me busy for a while!
 

I'm also planning our Superbowl party and my birthday party that both next month.

Wondering: can I pull it off? How will I pull it off?

Feeling: tired, but happy, always.

What are you currently up to?

 

How To Live a Well Designed Life

      Living a well-designed life means leading a life that is intentional and, of course, balanced as well. While the details of this will look different for each of us, there are a few things we can do that will help us lead the very best version of our lives – one that allows us to take time for things that we enjoy, to fully appreciate everything that we have to be thankful for, and of course, to carve out time to spend with those we love.
To continue on your journey of creating a well-designed life, be sure to incorporate these top five strategies!

1. Know your priorities
What is important to you? What would you consider your top priorities? Your friends and family? Your career? Your goals? While there are a lot of things that might be important to you, identifying your TOP priorities makes it easier to allocate your time and energy. It can also help you determine if you are doing the right things or if you are simply spinning in circles all in the name of busy-ness.
Identify your priorities, and then make sure your day-to-day actions align with them. 
2. Plan each day with intention
To ensure you’re living with intention in 2021, you’ll want to commit to a daily planning practice! Whether you choose to make daily planning a habit as you wrap up the day prior or build it into your morning routine, it’s important to review your schedule, tasks, meals, and more – all with your big picture goals, priorities, and intentions in mind.
Plan out your time, know what you want to get out of each commitment on your schedule, and be realistic with the tasks that you take on. Be sure that you’re filling your time with what’s most important to you!
3. Say yes to healthy habits
Healthy habits are such an important part of leading a well-designed life. While it might be challenging, carving out personal time and taking good care of yourself will set the stage for the other aspects of your life to fall into place. When you take the time to exercise, eat healthy foods, hydrate, get plenty of sleep, and practice self-care – you’ll feel better and you’ll be able to function at your best.
Caring for yourself needs to come first. Creating healthy habits can go a long way in helping you to live your best life!
4. Roll with the unexpected
Often life doesn’t go quite how we originally envision. Rather than stressing over things when they don’t go the way you were hoping, it’s important to recognize that this is completely normal. Things don’t always go as planned!
Learning to roll with the punches and not stress when things don’t go according to plan is a great way to find more balance in your life and more happiness as well.
We are big fans of making a plan and outlining your schedule, but it’s important to acknowledge that sometimes life happens! You get sick, your kids get sick, you may get stuck in traffic, or miss an appointment. Instead of stressing when something like this happens, recognize that things will happen – and that’s okay.
5. Stay positive
Finally, it’s important to remember to stay positive and cultivate gratitude! While this can be a challenge, particularly when things aren’t going well, the good news is that with practice, it can slowly start to become a more natural response.
Being positive can change your mindset, outlook, and your whole way of life. Of course, it’s okay to have moments of sadness or even anger, but remember to come back to the other side and see the positive things that happen in your life. It will help to make for a much smoother ride!

Happy Homemaker Monday {1/18/2021}

 Good evening everyone and welcome back to my blog. 

I hope every everyone had a wonderful weekend and are ready for the week ahead. 

It's 7pm and I am just now sitting down to write this post. Today, I have finished 3 loads of laundry ( the last is hanging to dry), cleaned the kitchen for the last time tonight (who loves a clean kitchen at night?), and I have finally picked up the living from a hard day of playing with the girls. I just hope my week will be as productive as this day has been.

Happy Monday and have a wonderful and productive week!

Happy Homemaker Monday

 The weather outside is:

Dark and cold right now. This week is supposed to be in the 50s and 60s with chances of rain later in the week.

What we had for dinner tonight (instead of the breakfast plate):

I made loaded nachos.

As I look out my window:

It's dark and the sky is clear with thousands of twinkling stars in the night sky.

As I look around the house:

Everything is picked up and tidied for the next morning.

What I'm wearing today:

A pink t-shirt and gray pants

Currently reading:

Practical Magic

On the TV this week:

Right now I am watching The Masked Dancer, Call Me Kat, shows on Hulu and Netflx (I'm watching Cobra Kai again)

On the Menu this week:

Monday- Loaded nachos

Tuesday- Chicken with potatoes and green beans (slow cooker)

Wednesday- Potato soup with rolls

Thursday-

Friday-

Saturday-

Sunday-

Inspirational quotes: 

2021 Goals

First, I want start off by wishing everyone a Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a safe and wonderful New Years. This year we decided to stay home, had some dinner, and played a few games. I cannot believe that it's 2021 and that it's also time to share my yearly goals. I plan to share my January 2021 goals this week.

 

 In 2021 I want to.....

• read at least 50 books
• have a successful year blogging
• set up a fitness plan  and stick to it
• eat healthier
• have at least 2 at home date nights with the Hubby
• work on my meal plan
• open my own merch online shop 

What are some of your goals for 2021?