Mom. Wife. Busy Life.

Category: Tips & Tricks

Five Reasons You Need to Make Rest a Priority

When your to-do list gets long and your responsibilities begin to pile up, one of the first things that often gets shoved off of your plate is rest. You wake up early, you stay up late, and you try to cram tasks and efficiency into every corner of your day. While being efficient and making good use of your time is a great way to get things done, it only helps so much. As counter-productive as it sounds, you also need rest if you want to get caught up. Here are five reasons you need to make rest a priority no matter how busy you are.

1. It Increases Your Productivity

Our bodies aren’t meant to be in “go” mode from sun up to sun down. Both our brains and our bodies need periodic breaks to recharge. While this downtime can seem like wasted time, resting actually improves our productivity, allowing us to get more down than we would have otherwise!

2. It Improves Your Memory

Our brains process our learning and information when we sleep, clearing out the information we don’t need to remember and storing the information that we do. When we go too long without sleeping or if we try to work on too little sleep, our memory suffers as a result. Taking a nap after studying is actually a great way to improve your ability to recall what you’ve learned.

Related: Ways to Pamper Yourself as a Busy Mom

3. It Improves Your Mood

Your toddler isn’t the only one who gets cranky when he’s overtired. Moms get cranky when they are tired too. Try to do too much and work too hard without a break, and it won’t be long until you are snapping at your family or until you are just generally unpleasant to be around. Take a quick nap when needed, and your day will go much smoother, allowing you to get more done.

4. It Improves Your Abilities

Whether you are driving, writing, sewing, cleaning, paying bills or reading, it is difficult to do a good job when you are overly tired. Try to push too hard for too long, and the quality of your work will inevitably suffer, both in terms of efficiency and in terms of quality. If you notice that you’re having difficult producing your best work and you think tiredness may be to blame, a quick nap may be just what you need.

5. It Improves Your Health

Lastly, sleep is absolutely essential for health. According to WebMD, not getting enough sleep has been linked to heart disease, diabetes and obesity. A lack of sleep can even increase your chances of coming down with a cold or the flu, both of which can drastically reduce your ability to be productive. Save your health and your time by getting the rest you need now.

Related: How to Deal With Being Sick as a Mom

Resting doesn’t mean that you have to set everything aside and sleep for three hours. Instead, it can mean a 10-15 minute power nap or walk outside in the fresh air. Even something as simple as taking your lunch break to actually eat lunch instead of to work at your desk can make a big difference.

Do you get enough rest? How can you make rest more of a priority in your busy schedule?

March 1, 2019
How to Teach Kids About Money

How to Teach Kids About Money

My girls are starting to show interest with money at a young age. They see me finding ways to save money and cut costs on a regular basis. My oldest daughter will be entering third grade soon and I feel that she is ready to learn about money. My youngest likes to do what her sister does and this is a great time to get both children involved. As a parent, I need to do the best I can to guide my children to make smart money decisions and choices to last a lifetime.

My girls earn money completing chores and they also receive money for birthdays and holidays. Because they receive their own money and will receive money on occasion for years to come, it’s a great idea to have a plan in place for their own money. The Money Savvy Piggy Banks (pictured at the top of this post) allow my girls to place money in four different areas: save, spend, donate, and invest. This piggy bank provides a fun way to teach about money!

My girls each have a wallet of their own (pictured above) that they are allowed to take when we go shopping. We take the money from the “Spend” area of the piggy bank and place it in their wallets and they are allowed to buy something that they want from the store – usually around $5 or less. During our last shopping trip, my girls each picked out a little craft item to work on at home. When we arrived at the register, the girls gave the cashier the money for their item and received change along with their receipts. I like to have the girls involved in the entire buying process from start to finish.

This last Sunday, I asked my girls to take $1 from the "Donate" section of the piggy bank and place it in the plate at church. This was difficult at first for my oldest daughter. She didn't want to give away her money, but I made sure to talk to her about the importance of giving and she quickly agreed that giving her money was the right thing to do. One thing I've witnessed during this process of saving money is that my oldest daughter is very picky with her own money when she gets the chance to buy something. This shows me that she truly wants to spend it on items that she really wants and loves and doesn't just spend it to be spending money. She chooses what she wants carefully and selectively and this is exactly where I want her to be! My children are still young and I have a lot to teach them about money. I believe that managing money is important and I want to make sure my kids learn money skills to last a lifetime. With the brand new school year approaching, I feel confident that we will make wise money decisions during the year and teach important money skills along the way.
How to Teach Kids About Money
1. Be the example. If they see you spending money on things, they may be more willing to spend their money, too. If you save your money and talk about saving your money, your child will pick up on that and may choose to save their money vs. spending it. Talk about why you are saving your money (to pay off debts, to save for your future, their college, or even to give to others!) 2. Give your child/children a special place to keep their money. Kids love crafts. Allow your children to make piggy banks out of empty containers or boxes. If you don't want to go the crafty route, you can purchase a piggy bank as a gift for them to get them excited about saving money. I recommend the Money Savvy Pig since it has compartments for saving, spending, donating, and investing. 3. Give your child special jobs to earn money. Kids love to help! They also love to earn money! Teach them that through hard work, they can earn some money. It doesn't have to be a lot of money. Even $5 a week seems like a lot to young children. I know that some parents do not like to offer allowances, but it's up to the parents. We do like to give an allowance and we like to give our children their own money to save and spend. 4. Allow your child to complete the purchasing process. By this, I mean that when you go shopping, let your child pick out what they need, place it in the cart, and even pay for it with their own money at the register. My girls love receiving change back from the cashier after making purchases. 5. Be patient with your children and communicate with them. Especially when it comes to saving. Some children will want to spend their money right away and buy things that we consider "junk." Talk to your children throughout each purchase to make sure that when they are spending their money, they are being smart about what they are buying. Every now and then it's okay to buy toys, etc., but we don't want to teach them habits of buying stuff they don't need just because they have money. How do you teach your kids about finances and saving money?

March 1, 2019
Should You Have Your Child’s Birthday Party at Home or Away?

Should You Have Your Child’s Birthday Party at Home or Away?

When my daughter was little, I thought I would be smart and save money by having her birthday parties at home.

Just think of all of the money I could save (and the crafts I could do!) by making things myself!

How to Plan a Toddler Birthday Party

Birthday Party Ideas for Teenagers

Unfortunately, it wasn’t long before I realized that not only are at-home birthday parties a ton of work, but they aren’t always any cheaper, especially if you love to get crafty.

The next time your child’s birthday rolls around, you’re going to have an important decision to make: “Should I have the party at home or should I rent out a place?” Here are a few questions to help you make the best decision for you.

Do We Have the Space?

The first question you’ll need to ask yourself is if having a party at home is even a possibility logistically.

If you have your heart set on throwing a big party but you live in a tiny apartment with no yard, an at-home party may not be practical.

Your other options are to have the party at a kids’ activities place, to rent out a room somewhere or even to ask your friends and family members if you could have the party at their house.

How Much Do Other Venues Cost?

Next, you will want to compare the costs of each place.

Can you afford the venue you want? Can you have the number of kids you want without it getting too expensive? Tally up not only the costs of the party, but also any decorations and extras.

Then, compare that cost to the cost of having it at home. This can be tricky, since there is always more to buy, but do your best to think of everything you will need. Be realistic.

Can I Keep an At-Home Party Simple?

Today’s birthday parties aren’t like kids’ parties in the past, where you could just set out cupcakes and juice and call it a day.

Will your family expect you to throw an elaborate function, or will they be content with a small get-together?

Your level of craftiness and desire to “keep up with the Joneses” can make a huge difference.

Which Would Be Easiest for Everyone?

Of course, cheapest isn’t always best.

Sometimes it is worth it to pay a little more for your peace of mind.

Do you have time to organize an entire party, cook all the foods and clean your house? If not, having your party at another location may be worth the extra expense.

Alternately, do you have time to set up an off-site party? If not, keeping it simple at home might be best.

Which Would My Child Enjoy More?

Last, but certainly not least, you’ll want to consider what your child prefers.

While you will need to stick to your budget, if your child has his or her heart set on one place or another, you’ll obviously want to do your best not to disappoint!

Do you have birthday parties for your children every year? Do you host them at home or do you seek out a different venue?

February 13, 2019
5 Office Essentials for Work-At-Home Moms

I work from home seven days a week. Having an organized work space is very important for me. Without organization and order, I would not be as productive as I would need to be. As a work-at-home mom, I enjoy having a home office that works for me. I try to keep my office as clutter free as possible and keep only the basic office necessities that help me to do my job at home in my home office.

If you are a work-at-home mom, you may find the following items important for you as well! The items below are the items I use most often when working from home. Most of these items can go with you if you are an on-the-go mom!

5 Office Essentials for Work-At-Home Moms

1. Planner

I live by my planner. Without it, I would forget important due dates for certain blog campaigns and other important events and activities. Having a planner that fits in your purse is perfect because you can keep it in your home office and take it with you wherever you go.

2. Cute Journal or Notebook

Every mom needs a cute journal to write their thoughts and ideas in. My job requires that I “think outside of the box” often. I use a special notebook where I jot down any ideas that come to mind when planning out my blog posts. I like to create bubble charts to help me compile my ideas and thoughts as well as to help me organize my posts.

3. Comfortable Office Chair

Every mom deserves a comfortable office chair to sit in while she completes her work in her space! I spend a lot of time in my office chair writing blog posts on a regular basis. Add a colorful chair to your space if you like pops of color in your office.

4. Inspirational Coffee Cup

I love coffee. I enjoy working and sipping on coffee during my morning work hours. I collect inspirational coffee cups and as I’m drinking my coffee in the morning, these inspirational quotes remind me of how I need to live and who I need to be.

5. Decor

Every home office needs pretty decor in my opinion! If you work at home most of the day, you deserve a space that matches your personality. I spend a lot of time in my home office and I want it to look nice and be a place that doesn’t stress me out when I’m in there. I add a nice and simple floral arrangement and a yummy smelling candle. Check out inspirational wall art to add to your home office!

Each home office will be unique according to your own style and personality. I’d love to know what your must-have office essentials are in your home office as a work-at-home mom!

What other office essentials would you add to the list?

February 7, 2019
How to Create a Meal Plan

There are two things that I struggle with as a busy mom, eating right and knowing what to serve my family for dinner each night! Thankfully, I’ve made some changes in my life recently and my husband and I decided to start meal planning. We’ve been meal planning for two weeks now and we are convinced that meal planning is the way to go moving forward. I’ve experimented with making several new recipes over the last two weeks that I would have never made before starting our meal plan! I even pulled out my slow cooker and served two delicious slow cooker meals recently.

The truth is, I was so tired of eating the same thing night after night. We were buying way too much ground beef. The reason for this is that we love to serve food like spaghetti, tacos, chili, and hamburgers. What do they have in common? They all use ground beef! I knew it was time to add other foods including chicken. I also wanted to cut out more meat and add more “meatless meals” to our weekly meal plan.

If you are a busy mom and you are interested in creating a meal plan for your family, here are a few of my own personal tips to share with you.

1. Pick a night to plan your meals for the week.

We like to plan on a Friday and shop for our groceries on the weekend. That way, everything is available and on hand for the upcoming week.

2. Select your meals.

Decide what you are going to make. I like to browse Pinterest for ideas. I try to serve chicken one night, beef one night, pork/sausage one night, and then have one meatless night. We save Friday for leftovers or eating out at a restaurant (or pizza delivery!) I also recommend creating a list of family favorites and picking from that list. It’s easy to forget all of the delicious meal options you can make if it’s not written down.

It’s also a good idea to “shop from your pantry” and come up with as many meals as you can with all of the food and ingredients you still have in your pantry, refrigerator, or freezer. This is a great way to stretch your grocery budget!

3. Write down all of the ingredients.

Read through each recipe and write down all of the ingredients that you’ll need. Browse through your pantry/refrigerator/freezer to see what you already have and scratch those ingredients off the list.

4. Go grocery shopping!

Head to the grocery store and purchase your ingredients for each meal.

5. Decide what days you will make each meal.

Plan out your meals and what days you will have each meal. Post your final meal plan to your refrigerator so that you don’t forget what you are going to make each day.

6. Be patient.

It can take time to get used to meal planning. Be patient and try to stick with it as long as you can! Have fun in the process and know that your time is well spent coming up with delicious meals to feed your family. You can even get the kids involved during the cooking process!

What tips do you have for creating a family meal plan?

January 26, 2019
How to Prepare Your Bathroom for Guests

If you have family or friends visiting soon, it’s important to get your house in tip-top shape. One of the most used places in your home during your guest’s visit is the bathroom. Even though this may be one of the smaller spaces in your home, it’s definitely one of the most important and most used during your guests’ visit. You’ll want your bathroom to be sparkling clean and organized for your guests.

How to Prepare Your Bathroom for Guests

1. Deep Clean Your Guest Bathroom.

Clean your bathroom from top to bottom before adding any extra decor or bathroom accessories. This includes the counter tops, sinks, mirrors, bath tub and shower, toilet, and the floor. Gather your bucket of cleaning supplies, your scrub brushes, and your broom and mop to complete this task. Here are bathroom cleaners that can use to complete this task.

2. Remove the clutter.

Do your kids use the extra guest bathroom? It’s a good idea to remove or hide any unnecessary clutter in the guest bathroom. If there are a ton of kid products and bath toys in the bathroom, minimize the clutter or put it away during the remainder of your guest’s visit. We actually remove 100% of our children’s bathroom items and place them in our bathroom during guest visits. This includes their step stools, toothpaste, toothbrushes, bath toys, hair accessories, and other items. Our children use our bathroom while our guests are here to avoid making messes in the guest bathroom.

3. Add clean towels and washcloths.

Make sure there are plenty of clean bath towels and washcloths available for your guests. Include hand towels, too. We like to put out our very best towels while our guests are visiting. If your bathroom is lacking spaces to hang towels to dry, place an over the door hook on the bathroom door to allow more space to hang towels when guests are visiting.

4. Create a special basket of toiletry items.

Many people travel light, especially if they are flying. Your guests may or may not have everything they need when they arrive. Prepare a basket of basic items that include the following: toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash, razor, shaving cream, floss, or lotion. Other items may include cotton balls and cotton swabs, a manicure set, etc. While they may not need to use all of the items, it’s a nice gesture to prepare in case they do need certain items.

5. Have bath products ready for guests.

Add shampoo, conditioner, and soap to the shower or bath area. Other great items to have on hand include body wash, face wash, and a wash cloth. Check out these bath products.

6. Don’t forget the extras!

There are several other essential bathroom ideas that are perfect to add to your guest bathroom to make your guests feel right at home. These items include facial tissues, plenty of toilet paper, hand soap, air freshener, a trash can, hamper, blow dryer, hand mirror, brush, and hairspray.

Tip: Place a basket above the toilet to hold extra rolls of toilet paper. Your guests will appreciate knowing where to find toilet paper as they won’t have to dig around the cabinets and drawers searching for it.

A simple and clear soap dispenser adds a nice touch to any bathroom!

7. Add pretty flowers and a candle to the bathroom.

Flowers can add beauty to your bathroom. Choose fresh or artificial arrangement to add to your bathroom. Keep it simple! One nice floral stem can add the perfect touch. Add a candle to make the space feel warm and inviting.

Preparing your bathroom for your guests will not only help your guests feel more welcome, it also helps cut down the requests your guests have, such as, “Do you have any hairspray? Toothpaste? Toilet paper, etc.?” Everything will be ready to go during their visit. It’s always a good idea to give your guests a short tour of the bathroom area and show them where everything is so that they don’t have to guess where the essentials are.

Do you have any other tips for preparing your bathroom for guests?

December 11, 2018
5 Ways to Stress Less this Holiday Season

During the holiday season, there’s a lot going on and our to-do lists almost seem never-ending. There’s meal planning and preparations, organizing and cleaning the house for guests, holiday parties to attend, gifts to shop for, and life to live while completing all of these tasks. The kids still have to be taken care of in between all of the holiday madness and there’s little time left to focus on ourselves as moms. This season, take a deep breath and follow these tips below to stress less this holiday season.

5 Ways to Stress Less this Holiday Season

1. Schedule a massage.

Dealing with aches, pain, and stress? Schedule a massage. Don’t keep putting this off. You deserve to unwind and refresh this holiday season. There’s so much pressure on moms to get it all done and still feel good at the end of the day. The truth is, we don’t always look or feel our best when we are left feeling frazzled and over-committed during the holiday season.

2. Shop early.

Time is flying by this month and Christmas will be here before we know it. If you haven’t started your holiday shopping, start now! Create your list of people to buy for and start shopping at your local retail stores or online in the comfort of your own home. Try not to wait until the last minute to shop for your loved ones. Plan now and make it a goal to get it done soon.

3. Ask for help.

You can’t do it all. As much as we like to think we are all “Super Moms,” the truth is, we are all human and can only do so much. Eventually, all of the added pressure to do it all can be dangerous to our health. Have the family pitch in to help during the holidays. Kids can help with chores. Don’t be afraid to ask your husband to help lend a hand during this busy time of year.

4. Exercise.

Our busy schedules often leave little time to find time to exercise. Exercise can make a big difference during the holidays. Go out for a walk on a pretty day. If it’s cold out, walk the mall. No need to pay a lot for a gym membership! Exercising may help some of the stress melt away.

5. Learn to say no.

With an already very demanding holiday schedule, people may often ask you to do things that you simply won’t be able to do because you are already committed to various other tasks. Learn to say no. While this is easier said than done, your time and your health is valuable. Leave some time in your schedule for your family and for yourself.

The holiday season doesn’t have to be stressful. Following the tips above may help you feel less frazzled and can help you enjoy the holiday season more.

What tips do you have for a less stressful holiday season?

November 26, 2018