10 Ways to Lift Your Mood

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Every now and then life going to come at you with bad days, bad moods, and bad memories that threaten to tie weights around ankles and sink you faster than the Titanic.

For this reason I like to keep my trusty notebook, that is filled of things to do in any given situation. So with that, I give you.....

10 Ways to Lift Your Mood

1. Have a dance party

2. Grab a favorite beverage from your local cafe or coffee shop

3. Buy yourself some flowers

4. Grab your favorite take out or pint of ice cream

5. Take a nap

6. Do some yoga

7. Meditate

8. Cook or bake something

9. Watch a funny movie

10. Cry it out sometimes you just need to

Hopefully, one or a combination of a few these will lift your spirits and put you in a better mood.  If not, then hang in there, things will get better. I swear.  

10 Daily Sanity Saving Habits for Moms

Hi Lovelies and welcome back to the blog. Tonight's post is all about daily sanity saving habits for moms. Now, some of these I took directly from my mom and some I figured out on my own. Either way all these habits are helpful in saving a mom's sanity.

So, let me share,

10 Daily Sanity Saving Habits for Moms


1. Have quiet time. For me, this is about an hour before my kids wake up. I sit and work on my bible study, answer emails, or just sit and enjoy the quiet.

2. Prepare the night before. What part of the morning is the most stressful for you? Take that one thing you dread and do a little prep for it the night before. Lay out the kids clothes, shower, prepare breakfast, do baths, or just preset the coffee pot. 

3. Do one load of laundry every day. This really helps in keeping "Mount Washmore" at bay. Just remember to fold and put away. Let's be honest, sometimes I forget that step. Don't we all?

4. Clean as you go. Giving yourself plenty of grace, clean up as you go. If you make dinner, wash those dishes right then. If you see a million crumbs under the high chair, grab a broom and do a two-second sweep.

5. Play with your kids. Slow down and enjoy your little people. Offer to play a game or build blocks. Do something that you know will bring a smile to their face.

6. Do one large chore. Knock out one of the bigger chores everyday. Clean a bathroom, vacuum the floors, organize a drawer,..etc.

7. Have kid clean up time. Instead of the house being a tornado throughout the entire day, choose a couple times a day for them to clean up their messes. A good schedule might be everyday before lunch and then again before bedtime.

8. Meal plan. Save yourself the stress of picking meals every few hours and plan them out. Not only will this be a time saver but a money saver as well.

9. Be thankful. There is always something to be thankful for. Let gratitude drive your attitude and actions throughout your day.

10. Have a regular bedtime for your kids. Kids love routine, even if they fight it sometimes. Make your routine as lengthy and as fun as you want, but get the munchkins to bed so you can recoup and have some quality time to yourself or with your spouse in the evenings.

What is an essential daily habit for you?

Happy Homemaker Monday {3/26/2018}

Good morning Friends, hope everyone had a great weekend.

Spring break is over and another birthday has come and gone (A turned 8 on Friday). We spent the weekend going to the museum and playing at the park. Everyone is finally healthy except for me. I know have a very bad sinus infection. Hopefully I will start feeling better once I get my medicine later today.

Anyways, let's get on with Happy Homemaker Monday! Shall we?

Breakfast time....what is on the plate this morning

This morning's breakfast was cereal and toast

Right now I am

Sitting at the dining room table typing up this post.

The weather outside

There's rain (some severe weather) in the forecast and the temps are getting warmer.

 

Looking around the house

The living room still needs be picked up and the kitchen needs to be cleaned. The rest of the house is clean. I have two loads of laundry that need to be folded and put away and one load left to put in the dryer.

On today's to do list

Laundry- fold all of the laundry that I washed over the weekend.
Cleaning- general tidying of the house needs to be done.
Cooking- baking muffins for snacks this week, and then I need to finish my weekly food prep and I need to start prepping food for A's birthday party.
Meal planning- I still need to set up my meal plan calendar for April.
Planning- I need to update my planners and my bullet journal.

Currently reading

I'm still reading Cruel Doubt.

On the TV today

Right now I am watching some shows on Hulu before our free trial expires. I'm watching Beverly Hills 90210, Full House, Boy Meets World.

On the menu this week

Monday- BBQ chicken sandwiches, fries
Tuesday- Mississippi chicken, rice pilaf, homemade bread
Wednesday- Beans and cornbread
Thursday- Creamy chicken and noodles and homemade bread
Friday- Pizza and breadsticks
Saturday- Mexican cornbread

Sunday- Easter dinner (turkey breast, dressing, homemade bread, veggies, cheesecake

If I have a few minutes to myself I will

Work in one of my planners or my bullet journal

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key verses

7 Ways to Stay Productive

Now that we are a couple of months into the new year I have been thinking alot about productivity. I feel there are days where I am superproductive and then there are days that I am not. Does anyone else feel like this? When I get on these productivity kicks I just want to accomplish all the things. Other days I feel like I accomplish NOTHING. In this post I will be sharing the tips that I use for productivity when I really need a kick in the pants. Here are 7 ways to stay productive that will really help you!

Seven Ways to Stay Productive

Set a schedule. If you are someone who is unproductive then a schedule is a great tool for you to use. I try to schedule every single day to ensure that I am as productive as possible. 

Have a to do list. I always have three or four to do lists that I work from every day. I have a general to do list, a household chores to do list, and a blog to do list and a things for the girls. This is super helpful in scheduling my day.

Keep expectations realistic. Always prioritize the most important task to the least important task  and keep your expectations realistic.

Don't over commit. This goes with the one above. You cannot overcommit.  This is something that I am always doing. Be realistic. If you have a deadline and you feel that you just can't make it, then ask for a little wiggle room. I would rather take the change of something being late than it not being done correctly.

Take breaks. I try to take several 10 minute breaks throughout my day. I read a few pages of the current book that I am reading, fold laundry, and I even play with girls.

Find a great work space. Everyone has a different idea of what this needs to be.  I can pretty much work anywhere, just give me a table and a comfortable chair and I am happy.

Remove clutter. Having a clutter free workspace is very important. It keeps you productive and it is also less stressful.

What are some ideas that you would add to this list?

5 Things I Do at Night to Set Up My Mornings for Success

I am a creature of habit. I could easily eat the same thing for lunch every day (a tuna salad sandwich, Doritos, and grapes) and I would be completely satisfied.  In addition to being a creature of habit, I can get completely overwhelmed at the length of my to do list. Because of these two characteristics, I tend to rely on my routines. My routines tend to make me feel safe and they give me a sense of security. They also help me know what to do next so that I do not get overwhelmed. The routines that I follow are: my morning routine, my afternoon routine, and evening routine. I also have my Sunday routine or my GYST day routine.

However, my evening routine is the most important routine that I follow every night. Without my evening routine my mornings would be chaotic. Without my evening routine I would be lost and behind all day long.

So, here are........

5 Things I Do at Night to Set Up My Morning for Success

Clean the Kitchen. There is nothing that makes me feel behind in the morning than walking into a dirty kitchen.  Just taking a few minutes in the evening to do the dishes, clean the counters, and sweep the floor can make a world of difference in my attitude and my productivity.  I try to clean up right after supper each night and empty the drainer before I go to bed (I don't have a dishwasher).

Plan your day. This is an important one for me. I plan my day the night before so I don't forget an appointment or an activity that one of the kids has to go to. I even plan the most mundane things like laundry, brushing teeth every morning and every night.


Declutter the living spaces. I cannot go to bed with a messy house, it causes too much stress for me.  It's the one habit from my childhood that I cannot break.  I take 30 minutes to declutter the living room, the kids bedrooms, and to do a quick swipe in both bathrooms. It's alot less stressful (at least for me) to wake to a clean house then to wake up to a messy one. Am I right?


Read. I try to take the last hour or so before bed to read a chapter in the book that I am currently reading. This helps me to relax and actually helps me sleep better at night.


Go to bed early. Finally, I try to go to bed early every night. There are times that this just does not happen, but most nights I am in bed by 930pm.

What things do you do at night to have a successful morning. I would live to hear in the comments below!

Happy Homemaker Monday {3/19/2018}

Good afternoon Friends, hope everyone had a great weekend.

Spring break is this week and we are trying to decide what we will be doing. Right now, I have one who is just now getting over bronchitis, one who is just getting sick, and a husband is sick as well. So far, I'm still healthy and I'm crossing my fingers that it stays that way.

Anyways, let's get on with Happy Homemaker Monday! Shall we?

Breakfast time....what is on the plate this morning

This morning's breakfast was scrambled eggs with sausage and two pieces of toast and some grapes

Right now I am

Sitting at the dining room table typing up this post.

The weather outside

Finally, it's beginning to look like Spring is finally hear.

 

Looking around the house

The living room still needs be picked up and the kitchen needs to be cleaned. The rest of the house is clean. I have two loads of laundry that need to be folded and put away and one load left to put in the dryer.

On today's to do list

Laundry- dry one load and then fold two loads from yesterday
Cleaning- general tidying of the house needs to be done.
Cooking- baking muffins for snacks this week, and then I need to finish my weekly food prep.
Meal planning- I need to set up my meal plan calendar for April

Currently reading

I did not finish reading Under the Dome (too long) and I had to return it the library. So, I found a shorter book and one that I remember reading in high school. 

On the TV today

Right now I am watching some shows on Hulu before our free trial expires. I'm watching Beverly Hills 90210, Full House, Boy Meets World.

On the menu this week

Monday- Leftover from the weekend
Tuesday- BBQ chicken sandwiches, fries, veggie and fruit
Wednesday- Beans and cornbread
Thursday- Creamy ranch chicken, homemade bread, veggie and fruit
Friday- Birthday dinner for A. Pizza and breadsticks
Saturday- Mexican cornbread

Sunday- Beans and cornbread

If I have a few minutes to myself I will

Work in one of my planners or my bullet journal

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key verses

Currently {3/18/2018}

 Time and place: 5:07pm  and I am in the dining room, typing up this post.
 
Eating: Salad and rice taco bowl and some grapes

Drinking: A big glass of water (always)

Watching: Beverly Hills 90210 season #5

Reading: Cruel Doubt

Loving: the warm weather we have been having lately. I hope this means that winter is finally over and that spring is on the way.

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. I am also working on a subscription box that I am excited about.

Listening: to the TV 

Buying: A's birthday presents, clothes for both girls, and some make up for me.

Planning: I have all of my posts planned for March 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 still planning my daughter's birthday party. She wants a Descendants theme, so I am trying to think of some ideas for her cake, the decorations, and some party games.

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

Feeling: tired, but happy, always.

What are you currently up to?

Friday Favorites- Favorite TV Couples

Today for my Friday Favorites post I thought it would be fun to share my favorite TV couples. These couples are listed in no particular order and some you might not agree with and some will really show just how old I really am. So, sit back and relax and enjoy!

Favorite TV Couples

Angela and Jordon- My So Called Life

DJ and Steve- Full House

Joanie and Chachi- Joanie loves Chachi and Happy Days

Luke and Lorelai- Gilmore Girls 

David and Donna- Beverly Hills 90210

Marshall and Lilly- How I Met Your Mother

Jesse and Becky- Full House

 Tony and Angela 

Monica and Chandler- Friends

Brenda and Dylan- Beverly Hills 90210 (Team Brenda, always!)

Kevin and Winnie- Wonder Years

Zack and Kelly- Saved by the Bell

Roseanne and Dan- Roseanne

Sam and Diane- Cheers

Carrie and Mr. Big- Sex in the City

Cory and Topanga- Boy Meets World

Ross and Rachel- Friends 

Who are some of your favorite TV couples?

 

What I'm Loving Wednesday- Book List edition

I have decided that this is the year that I return to my book loving roots. I love reading. It has always been a kind of escape for me.  I mean, who doesn't love to cuddle under a warm blanket on the couch or in your favorite chair and fall into another time and place?

So, I have decided that in the next 5 months I will be reading the books that are on this list.

My Book List

Cruel Doubt- From the #1 bestselling author of Fatal Vision and Blind Faith comes a rivetingr on a harrowing journey into the bizarre housewife and mother whose millionaire husband is savagely murdered in bed beside her, leaving her near death.

Fatal Vision- the electrifying true story of Dr. Jeffrey MacDonald, the handsome, Princeton-educated physician convicted of savagely slaying his young pregnant wife and two small children, murders he vehemently denies committing. Bestselling author Joe McGinnis chronicles every aspect of this horrifying and intricate crime, and probes the life and psyche of the magnetic, all-American Jeffrey MacDonald, a golden boy who seemed destined to have it all. The result is a penetration to the heart of darkness that enshrouded one of the most complex criminal cases ever to capture the attention of the American public. It is haunting, stunningly suspenseful—a work that no reader will be able to forget.

The Sinner-On a sunny summer afternoon by the lake, Cora Bender stabs a man to death. Why? What would cause this quiet, kind young mother to stab a complete stranger in the throat over and over again, in full view of her family and friends? For the local police, it's an open-and-shut case. Cora quickly confesses and there's no shortage of witnesses, but those questions remain unanswered. Haunted by the case, the police commissioner refuses to close the file and begins his own maverick investigation. So begins the slow unraveling of Cora's past, a harrowing descent into a woman's private hell.

Wonder- August Pullman was born with a facial difference that, up until now, has prevented him from going to a mainstream school. Starting 5th grade at Beecher Prep, he wants nothing more than to be treated as an ordinary kid—but his new classmates can’t get past Auggie’s extraordinary face. WONDER, now a #1 New York Times bestseller and included on the Texas Bluebonnet Award master list, begins from Auggie’s point of view, but soon switches to include his classmates, his sister, her boyfriend, and others. These perspectives converge in a portrait of one community’s struggle with empathy, compassion, and acceptance. 

Isle of the Lost- 
Twenty years ago, all the evil villains were banished from the kingdom of Auradon and made to live in virtual imprisonment on the Isle of the Lost. The island is surrounded by a magical force field that keeps the villains and their descendants safely locked up and away from the mainland. Life on the island is dark and dreary. It is a dirty, decrepit place that's been left to rot and forgotten by the world.

But hidden in the mysterious Forbidden Fortress is a dragon's eye: the key to true darkness and the villains' only hope of escape. Only the cleverest, evilest, nastiest little villain can find it...who will it be?

What's on your book list? Please share in the comments below. I am always looking for new recommendation!

Top 10 Songs from the 80s - My list

Hi Lovelies!

I'm a child of the 80s. I love everything about the 80s, the music, the movies, the clothes...... because of this I decided to do something fun tonight. I did a little bit of research and complied a list of my favorite 80s songs. Now, just a reminder that this is not a complete list, just some of the songs that I liked to listen and one that I made a mixed tape for back on high school.

So, sit back, relax, and take a trip down memory lane with me

1. Billie Jean- Michael Jackson

2. Beat It- Michael Jackson

3. Girls Just Want to Have Fun- Cyndi Lauper

4. With or Without You- U2

5.  Livin' on a Prayer- Bon Jovi

6. Sweet Child O' Mine- Guns N Roses

7.  Eye of the Tiger- Survivor

8.  Jesse's Girl- Rick Springfield

9.  Pour Some Sugar on Me- Def Leppard

10.   When Doves Cry- Prince

What songs would make your top 10 list? Please share in the comments below!

Happy Homemaker Monday (3/5/2018}

Good afternoon Friends, hope everyone had a great weekend.

Ours was fairly quiet. We stayed at home and I cleaned the house and caught up on the laundry.I did a little bit of food prep for the week and I started on my meal plan calendar for this month.

Anyways, let's get on with Happy Homemaker Monday! Shall we?

Breakfast time....what is on the plate this morning

This morning's breakfast was cereal an cinnamon toast

Right now I am

Sitting at the dining room table typing up this post.

The weather outside

I hope these temperatures mean that Spring is on the way.

 

Looking around the house

The living room still needs be picked up and the kitchen needs to be cleaned. The rest of the house is clean. I have two loads of laundry that need to be folded and put away and one load left to put in the dryer.

On today's to do list

Laundry- dry one load and then fold two loads from yesterday
Cleaning- general tidying of the house needs to be done.
Cooking- baking muffins for snacks this week, and then I need to start my weekly food prep.
Meal planning- I need to set up my meal plan calendar for this month

Currently reading

Still reading Under the Dome by Stephen King. I think I'm going to have to check this book out more than a few times. I should finish it in a few weeks. I hope!

On the TV today

Right now I am watching some shows on Hulu before our free trial expires. I'm watching Beverly Hills 90210, Full House, Boy Meets World.

On the menu this week

Monday-Free for all
Tuesday- Chicken and dressing with homemade bread and a veggie
Wednesday- Beans and cornbread
Thursday- Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, veggies and fruit
Friday- Pizza and breadsticks
Saturday- Baked potatoes  and salad

Sunday- Beans and cornbread

If I have a few minutes to myself I will

Work in one of my planners or my bullet journal

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key verses

Sunday Scoop {3/4/2018}

 Hi Lovelies! Welcome to Sunday Scoop. 

This week's questions:

1. What is your favorite thing to watch on a girls night?

Romantic comedies

2. What is your favorite thing to watch on your day off?

I love binge watching shows like Friends, How I Met Your Mother, Beverly Hills 90210

3. What is your favorite thing to watch when you’re sick?

Again, romantic comedies, and dramas

4. What is the last movie you saw in the theater?

I think it was The Batman Lego movie

5. What are your top three favorite movies or TV shows?

Friends, Gilmore Girls, How I Met Your Mother

Next weeks questions:

1. How much time do you spend on Social Media a day?…be honest
2. How long were you reading blogs before you started a blog?
3. What is your favorite kind of cupcake?
4. Do you eat fast food? If so whats your favorite?
5. What is the most random thing someone would find in your purse?
6. What is the weirdest TV show you watch?

March 2018 Goals

Happy Happy March! I feel like the year is just FLYING by!

My oldest is celebrating her 8th birthday this month, my youngest is growing like a weed, and hopefully spring will be here before we know it. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to work on my goals for February. We were hit with the flu (my toddler), ear infections (me, oldest, and toddler), and colds (again..me, oldest, and toddler).

So.... I think I will share the same goals for this month that I had for February.

 In March I want to...

I want to read at least two books
Work on Instagram growth
Get my Spring editorial calendar started
Focus more on yoga
Begin mediation every morning before the kids wake up
Continue to up my water intake
Begin a daily bible study (I think I found one)

What are your goals for March?

10 Tips to Being a Happy Stay at Home Mom

I love being a stay at home mom and being able to enjoy raising my children full time. But you have to admit that being a stay at home mom can be taxing on you as a person. Your life seems to revolve around your children and housework, it can feel like you're getting stuck in a rut. To avoid getting stuck in that rut here are......

10 Tips to Being a Happy Stay at Home Mom

1. Wake earlier than your children. This helps you get a start on your day and just sit and enjoy the silence for a while. Get dressed even if you have no where to go. This little bit of alone time goes a long way.

2. Have a schedule or routine for yourself. I fee that if I have a schedule than I feel more productive in mu day. Also, routines are my life saver. They maintain the chaos within my house. I love my routines and I highly recommend setting a few for yourself. 

3. Get up and out of the house. Being stuck inside is the main reason I tend to loose cool. It doesn't have to be anything extreme, just go outside. It will make you feel better. I promise.

4. Let your kids play independently. Letting your children play on their own is a bonus for both of you. It gives your child the independence they crave and it gives you the mental break that you need. 

5. Have a hobby or two. Do something that you enjoy, like knitting, drawing, or even baking. The point is just have fun and relax. Having a hobby is your outlet. 

6. Clean up on the daily. You don't have to have an immaculate house, but when you feel less cluttered you feel better. Research suggests that living in clutter can lead to depression. 

7. Stay connected with your spouse. This plays huge part in your attitude. When things are running smoothly between you and your partner, you feel good. Talk to each other throughout the day, even if it's a text here and there. Make time to spend together every day.

8. Be patient. There will always be some type of challenge in your daily life. Just know that it will pass and trust that everything will be okay.

9. Set aside one-on-one time with each child. Making an effort everyday to spend a little bit  of time with your child one-on-one is great. It's more relaxing trying to talk or play with them by yourselves than it is with everyone trying to butt in.

10. Stop comparing yourself with others. When this stops you will have more peace, Be happy with yourself and your life.

I hope this helps all of you stay at home moms out there. Please leave a comment below to let me know if these tips were helpful or if have a tip for me to include.