Stay at Home Moms Should Invest in Themselves too!

As a stay at home mom I often find that I'm exhausted trying to do my best for everyone else, I am constantly trying to help my son, and take care of our home to help my husband have a good experience when he is home. Those are very taxing things, and sometimes you can lose yourself in all that devotion to another person. It is very important to then turn some attention to yourself! Whether this is teaching yourself some new skills, or taking time to read a book for you, it's very good for your mental health to set that time apart. Just focus and invest in yourself every now and then! It can be so stress-relieving I have found!

During my first trimester of this pregnancy, I wasn't really in the mood to do much. But being pregnant gets really emotional and just sitting felt like I was wasting time - see the conflict? My poor husband has had to deal with a wife who cries because she doesn't get anything done, who is at the same time too tired to get off the couch very much. Whew, I'm fun when I'm pregnant!

So I decided to pick up some crafts that I always wanted to try, or to get better at. I started knitting, crocheting, painting, cross stitching, and coming up with things to sew (haven't started those seriously, yet, but the plans are forming!).

I've done a small amount of knitting in the past, and less crocheting. But I like both. Honestly, they fascinate me - who came up with how to make a single strand of yarn do such beautiful things? If this is a skill you have wanted to try, or thought about trying I highly suggest either one! They are fun, and do not take a ton of equipment. They also are very rewarding - there are a ton of beginner's things out there! Like these crochet flowers I made for our wreath!
          
There are many tutorials out there as well, and you can find some very cool things to make! These are also crafts that travel easily!

If you don't want to make little flowers, you can knit or crochet blankets, scarves, and hats with varying levels of difficulty! Work your way up to harder things!

My cross stitching actually has a story. My sister-in-law made a beautiful counted cross stitch for my little Logan as a birth announcement! It is really adorable, and she spent a long time on it! She recently had her first baby too, though, and has said she won't have time to make ones for future kids (which I totally understand, newborns are such a handful). Well I love the birth announcement so much I want one for our baby coming in September. So I set out to find one to make. Instead I found some iron-on patterns, and the fabric (called Aida cloth) for much cheaper than a premade set, and set out to make a birth announcement for my baby number two. It will be a super simple cross stitch, but I'm excited for it!

So I was in the process of looking at craft stores and find myself in Michael's. Now I never took a painting class in high school, I spent my time in a jewelry class and then pottery. Things I definitely don't regret, but I have always thought painting seemed fun. I don't consider myself artsy, though and so I'm very intimidated by it. Plus it is a little more expensive of a hobby, but in Michael's I find the canvases on sale. Turns out they often have some pretty great sales. But I decide it's good enough for me to give painting a try.

And then I get home all set with some canvas and paints (acrylics for me!), and even a small plastic palatte! I already had some brushes. I look up some tips because I want to be all professional about it, and everyone says an easel is pretty much a must! So I found out how to make one out of a cardboard box! We always have diaper boxes going out of here, and so it was very handy! So I think it cost me $20, but I've experimented with painting acrylics!


What I like about painting is you don't have to follow what others do, you can experiment and try things for yourself. I like trying to recreate pictures, but then make them my own as well. I made a love bird painting for my bedroom (so romantic, right?), a fourth of July painting, and a nursery rhyme for the kid's room! It's fun and stress relieving to see them turn out!

I hope you can tell that I am not an expert on any of these skills, but I'm having fun trying! And I hope to inspire some of you to release some pressures of the day and start a new hobby, find something you can enjoy and take some time to invest in yourself! You deserve it!

How to make a wrinkle releasing spray

We all hate to have wrinkled clothing, right? I spend most of my days in t-shirts, so I have little concern with a few wrinkles, but my husband works in an office and wears button down shirts everyday just about. He has always been a well-dressed man, something that I was drawn to when we were dating is his consistent use of polos and shirts that just look really nice on him! Going into the office everyday he likes to look his best! So you can imagine the struggle he has with a wife who hates trying to get the ironing board out, and iron all of his nice button down shirts. On the same hand though, she has a hard time getting them out of the dryer and hung before they start wrinkling.

In my defense, it's hard to time the dryer ending at a time that I can immediately put clothes away thanks to our wonderful one year old baby. And being pregnant doesn't make it any easier. Still with all my excuses, I don't feel any better about him having to deal with as many wrinkles on his nice shirts as he does. So I went to pinterest. You can find anything there right? Like a magic wrinkle releasing potion... right?

Turns out, YES!! I found a few simple recipes that all said the same thing, and I'm so excited to share with you that I've tried it, and it totally works! I have before and after pictures of my husbands shirts to share so you know I am not just trying to spin tales.

DIY Wrinkle Releasing Spray

How awesome, right? Are you ready for the recipe?

-fabric softener (I used Downy, because it is what I had)
-water
-spray bottle (Walmart sells the one I used for 98 cents!)

I have a large spray bottle so I put 2 Tablespoons of fabric softener and filled it up with water (32oz). Just shake it up and VOILA! Wonderful and ready to use DIY wrinkle releaser! Just spray your fabric with a mist, and smooth with your hands (it doesn't need to be soaked, just moisten it)!

Before and After

The first few I found showed laying the clothing out flat to spray it, and while that probably works great, it isn't practical for me in my little apartment. I just don't have a space to do that, so I simply hang it on a hanger over the tub, and spray. I then do a quick run of my hand down the shirt to encourage any tough wrinkles out, but then I just let them dry! It does a great job on the shirts I've done!

Before and After

It also gets things smelling nice and fresh - BONUS! I am careful to not do a bunch at a time because I don't want too many fumes, but you can always turn on the fan to help with that (if you do it in the bathroom, like me).

There you have it! An easy, cheap DIY wrinkle releasing spray! I hope it helps you be successful in having an easier laundry experience!

What part of laundry is the hardest for you? What do you do to make it a better experience?

How to know you have a great husband (or husband material)

With Father's Day this weekend I wanted to dedicate a post to my wonderful husband, the father of my children, and to all the great fathers and husbands out there! There are so many reasons that you enrich our lives, and make life easier and you deserve a day to be recognized!

My husband, Nate, and I have been married for a little over two years! It has been the best decision I have made and the most wonderful adventure of my life! We have gone through a lot in those two years! We lived with family, graduated college, moved out to Colorado and started our adult life together! We have one amazing little boy, who is almost a year old, and one little boy on the way! We have gotten through very tight financial times, and lived in very small quarters, but it has always managed to bring us closer to each other! I am so grateful everyday that I get to spend with him, and I am so excited for our future!

We got engaged after dating for four months, and married another four months after that, and many people would think that that was pretty fast! They are right, it was fast, but I didn't like the thought of not spending eternity with this man, and couldn't wait to get started on our journey together! How did I know so quickly that he was the right man to give my heart to? The same way I know it was the right choice - everyday he proves it to me by being an amazing husband, and a lot of these things he started before we were married! Here are some of the ways I know I have the best husband I could ever ask for!

1. He loves me through thick and thin, and shows me it.

Those who have been pregnant know what I mean when I say it is a roller coaster of a ride. One day you are doing great, and the next you are a mess of tears (sometimes a moment later not a whole day) and emotions are all out the door. I was never that emotionally haywire before having kids, I like to think I was level-headed almost always. Nate is always there for me, and even when he feels as knocked back from my emotions as I do, he works through them with me (sometimes this just means hugging me while I cry over nothing) and helps me do better.

Besides the hormonal changes we have gone through a lot of misunderstandings (like everyone in a serious relationship where you put your heart in someone else's care), and he stands by our relationship through it all, loving me and working out whatever is happening.

2. He is the best daddy

Can I tell you how happy it makes me to see the love of my husband with our little Logan? They are just the sweetest together. Logan loves his daddy, and says "dada" all the time! There really is a special bond between father and son, and it has been that way since we brought Logan into this world. There are things that is fun only with dad, and every picture is a picture to find "dada" in.

It is a huge blessing to have a daddy that can help my son grow, and learn from. I know that we are so lucky to have him. I couldn't ask for a better father for my children.

3. He allows me to be goofy whenever I need to be

I can be really weird. I have many goofy "quirks" (that's what we will call them). Especially late at night, after a long day. It's nice to have someone who doesn't give you a weird awkward silence, but is goofy right along with you. He really is my best friend, and I know that he is never judging me. That is a very important quality in marriage, being able to express any weirdness (everyone has their own quirks right?) and just laugh about it together. It lightens the mood, and can bring a great spirit to your home and relationship!

4. He works hard for our family

My husband has the difficult task of being the primary bread-winner for our family, and it is a job he takes very seriously and works very hard to do. He works overtime when needed, and works at improving his situation at work. Our family is the center of his concern, and he tries hard to provide such a good life for us!

On top of his career, he helps me around the house. He takes out the garbage and helps me clean in his spare time! There are so many demands on his time that his help just means so much to me.

5. He allows me to relax

There is always more I could be doing, and striving to get done around our house (I'm sure you all understand). Always another project to get done. Sometimes I just get discouraged that I don't get everything done that I thought I should. Nate actively tells me to not worry, to relax and enjoy the time with our son, to work on improving myself. He encourages my random down-time crafts that I start (and finish usually, but not before starting another). I am so grateful for his love, and his understanding to needing some "me" time.

                  

There are so many other reasons that I could bring up about how my husband completes my life, but there are too many! Some are as simple as showing affection through kissing me, and brushing my arm, opening my car doors, carrying the heavy things for me. Some are more personal, and I feel just by being in his presence! Things that aren't easily expressed, and probably for a good reason because it's what makes our relationship so wonderful.

I have to admit I have loved trying to write this post. I love thinking about my husband, my blessings, and my family! Father's Day is great because it can turn us to appreciate our families and our relationships more than we sometimes do. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, and think about the blessings that you have from your father, brothers, and husband!

How to Make Homecooked Meals Easier as a Busy Mom

Dinnertime as a new mom was really difficult, and as a nutrition enthusiast I know how important home cooked meals can be! I was overwhelmed by the responsibility when my precious baby came along! And I know that is only going to be harder, since number two is on the way in September! What really saved my sanity, my need for nutritious meals for my family, and my budget (not to mention something that helps me be able to stay at home with my babies) is our slow cooker.

I tend to have the most energy mid-morning, and the most motivation for that matter. It's best for me to be able to start the slow cooker during morning naptime - or while Logan is in a good mood and fine playing by himself, which mostly happens in the morning time. Then when "witching hour" for my son comes along I already have dinner made and I just have to scoop it out.

It is also great for letting me throw it on warm and wait until I'm able to have a minute to clean it all up after dinner! Really there are so many reasons why the slow cooker has become my bread and butter for dinners. You can prep a whole bunch of meals, throw them in the freezer and then have some really fast slow cooker meals ready for really rushed days! I am not great at that - but I love the recipes that allow for that flexibility! There are a bunch of recipes that don't take any other dishes than the slow cooker and some measuring utensils, which is a huge bonus for me! Clean up from prep is so easy!

I want to share some of our favorite recipes with you, so watch out for those posts!

I have another confession though... I hate cleaning out a slow cooker. Even when you use cooking spray the sides and bottom are usually caked with food. I always had to soak the pot and then find the motivation in the evening to come clean it... Yuck. Not a fan of that at all!

So instead of that I found Slow Cooker Liners!!! Maybe as big of a lifesaver as the slow cooker itself for me! They are in the aisle with the plastic bags and foil and they are next to the oven bags. Their only draw back is they only come in packs of four... I love them though. You just open one up, and cover the slow cooker with it. Put your food in, and cook like normal. Then you can just lift the bag out at the end. The slow cooker is still clean! It's great! Throw the bag away and the slow cooker is ready to be put away.

I've found Reynold's and Kroger brands, and haven't had any issue with either, never had one rip on me. Just be careful if you are stirring the ingredients directly in the slow cooker.

So that is how I make my life easier and provide delicious meals for my family! What are ways that you have found make it easier on busy days to put dinner on the table??

How I increased my motivation for housework

Wow it has been so long! I feel bad that I got all this desire to work on my Ditching Daycare, and then it went flat for awhile, without any warning! It feels bad, but in the middle of it, I had no way of just picking it all back up. Let me explain!

We found out I'm pregnant and expecting our second baby boy! We knew right about when I was starting this blog, and my Etsy shop. I thought that since my morning sickness wasn't too bad, I'd be able to just get this all up and going! But as many mothers know, the first trimester is not always predictable, and while I wasn't too nauseous, I was WAY tired. All. The. Time. Yuck! Getting on the computer to type was too much. So I thought I would come up with loads of ideas for articles! And I did! Many have been composed in my brain... my pregnant brain, do you see where I'm going? Not the best idea! Pregnancy brain is a real malady.

Now I'm feeling much better, and my motivation is going through the roof! But where do I pick up all the strings? Right here. Explaining how I got more organized in my to do lists for myself!

How I Increased my Motivation for Housework!

During the whole beginning of pregnancy I lost a lot of motivation for housework - mainly laundry. Man, I can be so bad at doing laundry. Not putting it in the machines, but rather putting all the clean laundry away. I'd do a weeks worth of laundry and it would sit in the basket until the next week when I'd finally put it away, wrinkles and all. Not exactly the esteem boosting system.

So I decided I needed to change my tactic. Having laundry checked off my to do list just from putting it through the machines was not enough. Not to mention how little I did the dishwasher... I needed an overhaul of my system! That's when I came across a time management method that I thought I could try, but I modified it to my preferences.

I made a weekly calendar that has pockets for what chores need to be done. They can slide along the pockets for ones that are everyday things. I made a list of my everyday chores (like the dishwasher loading and unloading) and ones I want to do once a week (laundry, vacuuming, menu planning, etc), and then the ones that are monthly as well (budget). I organize what I will get done everyday for the week, and put them in the calendar. I hung this in my kitchen so I can always look at it in the morning. Let me tell you, I don't always get everything done, but it has been a real game changer with laundry and the dishwasher which were my biggest concerns when I started.

I made rules for myself, that are completely personal to you, and you can adopt them if you wish, but it is really what will help you! One rule is that laundry doesn't count as being put through the machines. it only counts after I have folded and put it away. Little things like that keep it being useful.  Also, if you notice, I only have one task on Monday, it's because I know that I go grocery shopping every Monday. So I meal plan, and shop and do the dishwasher, and know that I'll be tired out. Fit this method to your own schedule!

Another thing that has helped me is I break the tasks up into 15-minute time intervals (hence the multiple laundry tags) for most and 30-minute time intervals for planning items (menu planning, budgeting). I set a timer as I start the task, and I stop when it goes off. This way I don't distract myself during the task, and I'm more productive. I put the timer on my phone so if I try to pick it up and look at something else (hello, pinterest!) I see the timer and get back on track. I'm fully aware that I'm highly distractible, and I work with that. Work with where you are, and make this system work for you!

How have you found motivation to do the housework? I'd love to hear!

10 Ways to Make Staying Home Possible

There are many that think that living off one income isn't possible, and in some ways they are right. If you expect to keep all the same habits of a two income family, you probably wouldn't be able to make it on one income. This is especially true if you have cable and high-speed internet, eat out every other day, and don't want to change any of that. Honestly, if you can't live without some of those things then living off one income would be very difficult.

My husband and I graduated from college just over a year ago - so I don't have a long experience, but I do know what it is like to cut somethings out of our spending in order to let me stay home with our son all day. That has always been our goal though, and we work hard to make that goal a reality.

Here are ten ways we make it possible for me to stay home:

1. Budget
This is probably the most important part. We sat down when we were offered my husband's job out of college. Looking at all the money we would get every month, we decided how much we could spend on rent, how much we could afford for internet and cell phones, and then looked into where we could get the best deals. We determined what things we don't need (and that for us includes cable, and other memberships to websites that we don't need).

It's very important to know what you are going to fall for and even if you wish you didn't - at least once a month I don't feel like cooking and we end up getting take out somewhere. That is something we are aware of, and it's part of our budget. We have student loan payments, and utilities factored in. Along with our ten percent tithing to our church. Everything is factored in and we put everything else that we can into savings. The savings is growing slowly, but on one income I think we are doing great!! We also have all our medical bills that we have had from having our baby to consider as well.

Sticking to the budget is obviously important - it does no good otherwise. If you need to you can write out all the times you spend money and keep track of it that way. We've found that our grocery bill does better if I pay in cash every week, tricks like that help you feel good about sticking to your budget!

2. Meal Planning
Another way that we keep our grocery bill on budget is to have a menu plan every week. This helps us eat better, and not have to come up with dinner every night on the spot. Also it keeps our grocery trips to once a week, where you are able to not have as many impulse buys. I'm pretty good at sticking to my shopping list, but if I send my husband we usually end up with at least one extra item, which if it is only once a week isn't too bad!

Another budget saving tip with meal planning is to plan simple meals (I don't mean convenience meals), ones that are full of nutrients but don't call for twenty ingredients. I've learned to LOVE my slow cooker this past year; there are so many delicious, and very simple meals that I can make with it. I'll post some of the things I have learned later on, and why I love it so much!

3. Fun, Low-cost (or free!) Entertainment
There are some wonderful things to do out there that cost way more than we want to pay in any given month, and while we can save for one of these activities, we often prefer to do free activities together instead. We are lucky to live in a beautiful area (and I know there are plenty of others that live in gorgeous areas too!) and we try to take advantage of that. We go on walks, and hikes. We love outdoor activities like throwing a Frisbee around, playing disc golf, and just being together outside. It works out well that our son also loves the outdoors. We have some games that we enjoy playing inside as well, and those are practically free (except the initial price)! Movies are fun to cuddle during, and it's easier to cuddle at home than in the theater. We just wait a little longer for Redbox to carry the new movies to watch what we want for a fraction of the price.

4. Shop sales and stock up when the price is good
My husband and I have a roast and potatoes and carrots in the slow cooker just about every Sunday, it's something we really enjoy. Meat is not very cheap though. So when London Broil (a delicious cut of beef) went on sale for 3.77/lb the other week, I knew we had to get some, and we ended up stocking up because that is almost half off per pound! Knowing prices for items regularly help you know when you need to stock up. Keeping a price log can help you compare stores and know exactly where you should be buying from.

5. Buy second hand when possible

There are so many things that you can find in thrift stores that are in great shape and a fraction of the new price, but just as good! Things like kitchen utencils, pots and pans, and clothing are great finds. My husband and I always look at Goodwill for furniture we are wanting, sometimes it needs cleaning but we have found some really sturdy wonderful pieces. Another favorite of mine is yard sales, they are great places to find things you want or need without paying retail prices and this helps others in your community out as well.

This also goes for baby products. Things like swings and pack n plays are nice to have but can be pretty expensive. Clothing is a big ticket item, and finding a nice baby thrift store really helps to pay less for those. We are planning on having more kids so we haven't sold anything back, but many children's thrift stores will pay you for your old baby things that are lightly used and in good shape (which is most everything, since they use them for a total of two months sometimes). This can help fund the next stages for your children.

6. Make from Scratch When you can

My husband loves pizza, but it can be pricey all the time. So I often times make us pizza. It's cheaper, and I think it is yummy! One part that helps it really be less expensive is I have a great pizza dough recipe that costs hardly anything to make, but it is delicious dough. This is a way that we still have what we like, but don't spend all the money on it.

7. Learn ways to be energy efficient in your home

Keeping the temperatures relatively low in the winter and a little warm in the summer can help your utilities bill be lower all year long. In the winter it isn't necessary to be able to wear a t-shirt and shorts inside. And if you want a sweater in the summer you're probably setting your thermostat too low. I grew up in a cold area and I have a hard time with our heat in the summer (and that is saying the 90s not 100s). But I know that when I see my bill I won't be happy if I know I could've gone with a few degrees warmer temperature inside. Having a programmable thermostat helps us turn the temperature down every night and conserve on heating during the day. We just throw an extra blanket on and save on that energy.

Doing loads in the dishwasher that will be effective and perhaps not just filled to the brink with every last dish is important in using water conservatively. There are a lot of other tips out there - unplugging appliances that aren't in use, and using natural light if you can instead of lights. We recently switched to LED lightbulbs that run at a much lower Watt with a very bright output of light!

8. Do Without

There are many things that we do without, but don't really notice that we are. Things like Cable and the ultra-high speed internet. We don't get take-out food every week, and we try our best to not buy a lot of new things. However, we don't go without great food, a nice place to live, and cell phones. We just know what we are ok cutting out of the budget.

9. Buy Generic Brands

Name brand items are not always any different from the generic, and I hardly ever buy them. There are a few exceptions, but if I can save even 50 cents on an item that I buy often and I can't tell the difference between the Kroger and the name brand (or whatever generic you have), then I do that. It all adds up over time. If I added up the small amount I save on the generic of Onion Soup Mix over all the times I have bought it, I would have saved quite a bit of money right there.

10. It has to be your highest goal

If you don't really care about staying home very much, then these steps can't make it worth it. They could make you very unhappy and perhaps jealous of someone who can go out and buy the latest technology the day it comes out instead of saving up for it. If it isn't what will make your life better and happier than it isn't worth all the sacrifice. However, if you miss your child during the day, and want to spend more time with them, and that is your biggest most important goal, then all the sacrifices won't matter. You won't feel like you have lost anything.

My life is full and I am living the way that makes me truly happy. I love that the goal of staying home has been something that my husband and I both strive for. He works hard for our family, and I try and do my part by working hard in the home to raise our son, and nurture our family.

What are your stories of staying home, and ways you have made it work? Or are you working towards that step? I'd love to hear your stories!

Ditching Daycare Launch

This is an exciting post for me! I get to tell about my hopes, and plans for this upcoming time in my life! Where do I even begin with all these crazy thoughts going through my head? No where but the inspiration for the title "Ditching Daycare."

It is pretty simple if you just say that it is my attempt to make some money from home and avoid sending my now seven month old son into a daycare. In reality, I guess that's exactly it, but there is more behind it in my head. Ditching Daycare is my way of focusing my time while I'm home with my wonderful son. It is my way to channel creative energy, and hopefully find some new skills and share life experiences with my readers. That is the truly exciting part for me!

Being a stay at home mom is very rewarding when I look at my little bundle of crazyness - right now he is shaking a bottle and babbling at it on the ground. However, I struggle with motivation on days when he didn't let me sleep the night before, and then at the end of those days I sit back and regret not getting more done with myself. To do lists become my best friend on those days, and top on my to do list is to try out some new things this year!

My Etsy shop DitchingDaycare is another way to try and channel all the things I try and do. The coasters and other crafts that I have been making are fun and exciting to me, and I hope others find them exciting as well!

I hope that I can touch lives, learn new things, and help others enjoy life as well! Whether that means we all ditch daycare together, or not.