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By Brigette Danielle




Hey y'all!

Let me dust the cobwebs off the blog really quick... brb. lol

Seriously... I have been lacking on writing posts for far too long so I apologize if this post is kinda all over the place. I'm kinda rusty with organizing my thoughts like this. Anyway, it's great to be back (hopefully).

 A lot has been going on recently and I honestly don't want to bore you with the details. So to make a dreadfully long story short, here goes!

I'm doing well. That's it, end of story. :)


Now onto the reason you clicked this post.. you want to know how to find the joy of homemaking! Recently, I was headed to visit one of my dear friends so we could do some planning for the kids room at our church when it hit me... the thought of just being thankful! Do you ever have those moments when you just look around at your life or when your in a place of peace and you just go "wow, I am so thankful"?  Well that short 25 minute drive to her house was plenty of time for it to just hit me like a ton of bricks. Not only was I thankful, but I was just happy. 

Being a homemaker can be rough. There are moments when I just can't get my body to function, moments where I write down everything but I still have NO CLUE what is going on, and moments where I just want to scream and cry because absolutely nothing is going my way ( yes, I'm a control freak). Even though those moments are normal and experienced by just about every woman, I always end up feeling awful because I let myself lose sight of the joy. I take moments that could be positive and I turn them into a complaint. Now, I'm not saying that you can't have a moment where you just need to vent, you should! But it is important to try and find the joy in those moments as a home maker.

As always, I have to state my disclaimer lol. I am not an expert nor am I trying to be. I just want to share my thoughts and experiences with y'all with the hopes of being helpful, even if it's just a tad.

As a homemaker, being happy and hopeful is a vital piece of the puzzle that will make being a homemaker easier. 



So exactly how does one find the joy of homemaking? Well, the first thing that comes to mind is asking God for help. We can't do it all alone even if we feel like we can. Most of the time, at least for me, I need God's strength to assist me with tasks that I know I struggle with. Instead of trying to carry the weight of the world, asking God to help you will not only lighten the load, but it will also allow you to take advantage of opportunities to grow through it.

Next, you can find the joy in homemaking by changing your perspective. There are moments when I feel like I am going to lose it, but seeing my friends with young children, multiple children, quiet children and spirited children always helps to change my perspective. One of my friends has 4 children under the age of 6... every time I see her with them, I am inspired by her strength and ability to continue to serve others and still lend an ear or give advice when it's needed the most. Another friend of mine has 3 boys, and seeing how patient she is with them is reassuring to me that I can be patient as well. I am blessed to have many friends that inspire me and allow me to see my life from a different perspective. Being able to see your life from a different perspective, will give you so much hope!



Another way to remain happy and hopeful is to see the plus side when doing daily chores. For me, I struggled A LOT in the beginning. The thought of constantly doing laundry (even if they wear it for 5 minutes and then toss it with the dirty ones) was something that I dreaded. It was a vicious cycle. It wasn't until I moved into a hotel and didn't have an in house laundry room that I started to appreciate it more and find the plus side. I still don't care for folding and putting away because come on.. who does lol. But I found the plus side to it. When I fold the clean clothes, I take a sniff of them and I revel in the cleanliness of them. Smelling the Tide and Downy fragrances give me so much joy because I know that my hard work is giving my family clean clothes to wear.



Another way to remain happy and hopeful is to take pride in what you accomplish as a homemaker. For years, I would look at my life as a giant "To Do List" and put myself down if I didn't check every box. Now, even though I still make to do lists, I don't rate my day on how many I marked off but how well I executed each one I completed. Taking a step back and giving yourself props to a job well done may seem a little self centered to some, but when that's your job and you are killing it... take pride in it! Taking pride in what you do and accomplish will only boost your mood and increase your joy in homemaking.



Lastly, another way to find joy in homemaking is by surrounding yourself with other positive, happy homemakers! Y'all know the scripture lol.. "iron sharpens iron", its TRUE! Being around people you love that are happy, positive, encouraging, truthful and willing to listen, not only bring you peace, they bring you joy, happiness and hope! 

To some, being a homemaker means sitting around, drinking wine and eating chocolate (if only).... but in reality, it's much, much more. It's a job that at times go unappreciated, disregarded and flat out ignored. But, if you can ask God for strength, look at things from a different perspective, find the plus side, take pride in what you accomplish and surround yourself with other happy homemakers, you will be able to find the joy of homemaking and be able to remain happy and hopeful.

Are you a homemaker? What gives you joy or hope when taking care of your family? Let me know in the comments below!







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Hey y'all!
It's officially Fall and you know what that means! Pumpkins, leaves, apples, hayrides, scarecrows and of course cozy sweaters and crisp air! However, one thing that is equally as "Fall related" is... a Fall Bucket List!  
Fall bucket lists are a great list to have for many different reasons. 1. You can have a guide for all things Fall to help you plan for the best time of the year! 2. You can make sure to hit all your local favorites that have Fall themed events, Fall goodies and of course, more memories that will last forever. 3. PUMPKINS! I don't know about you, but for me, seeing all those pumpkins make me feel HAPPY lol. I could go on and on about why you should have a Fall Bucket list.. but, to save you time and get you to the the real reason why you are here.. you were looking for a bucket list for your family! 
I do want to make note that this bucket list is family friendly and can also be done sans kiddos! Also, as I have stated in the past, my family and I do not observe Halloween so this list will strictly focus on things to do in the Fall excluding Halloween ( but still just as fun!).
So, With that being said, check out this Fall bucket list!
 Fall Bucket List

1. Go to a pumpkin patch
2. Go to an Apple Orchard
3.Drink a Pumpkin Spice Latte
4. Roast marshmallows ( Trader Joe's has vegan/kosher ones!)
5. Sit by a fire
6. Open the windows on a rainy day
7. Go to the Farmer's Market
8. Take a walk in the early morning
9. Bake a Pie
10. Make caramel apples
11. Drink apple cider
12. Eat apple donuts
13. Take a hayride
14. Go to a Football game ( GO COWBOYS)
15. Host a football game party
16. Go on a Fall leaf scavenger hunt
17. Make S'mores
18. Make pumpkin bread
19. DIY a scarecrow
20. Pick acorns
21. Have a Friendsgiving
22. Decorate a Fall wreath
23. Take a quick family getaway
24. Toast pumpkin seeds
25. Take a family bike ride
26. Visit a corn maze
27. Make applesauce
28. Volunteer at a local charity
29. Stargaze 
30. Take Fall family photos
31. Host a dinner party
32. Host Thanksgiving dinner
33. Check out Fall themed books from the library
34. Make Thanksgiving themed decor.
35. Decorate your porch with pumpkins
36. Visit a farm
37. Sit outside and cozy up with a blanket
38. Read a book by the fire or outside
39.Make leaf art
40. Visit a local Fall festival
41. Make homemade popcorn
42. Jump in the leaves
43. Have a picnic
44. Play Football
45. Have a movie marathon
46. Build a fort
47. Visit the drive in theater
48. Visit a flea market
49. Tailgate with friends
50. Have a family "sleepover" in the front room.
So, there you have it! My 2019 Fall bucket list! Make sure you Pin this post and print it out so you and your family can have the ultimate Fall bucket list!
Have you already done some of these? Did I miss any? What are your favorite Fall activities? LEt me know in the comments below :)!



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Hey y'all!

After years and years of preparation, I thought I would be able to handle the day my step daughter turned 13! Turns out... all those talks we had, pep talks I gave myself and all the blogs I read about what happens when your child becomes a teen have severely failed me!

Don't get me wrong...

A lot of the blogs, books and articles I read offered some sound, reasonable advice that I could learn from and try to incorporate into the future.. but what they didn't prepare me for was the feeling of fear and hopelessness that eventually cloud my mind.

We all know turning 13 is a major milestone in a kids life and it can definitely be equally as challenging. They are still technically a kid but tip toeing around the block to adulthood. Yes, they have a lot of growing and learning to do still, but they have begun the process of outgrowing their innocence.


At 13, they are in middle school and let's face it... they are exposed to more "grown up" things than one would hope at that age. And that's ok. It presents opportunities to talk, engage and understand your child as they stagger through this awkward time in their life.

What's not ok is the things they are leaving behind or forgetting.

At 13, the kisses begin to go away and the thought of any form of parental affection towards them in public makes them cringe. The sweet look of pure joy when you lift them up or tickle them becomes a sigh of " MOM" or "DAD".


But all of that will easily be comforted with a simple " I love you". TBH.. kids telling you that they love you definitely helps with a lot of hardships lol.

So, as always.. this post is dedicated to my birthday baby, Phoenix!

My sweet P is so talented, kind, funny, beautiful and truly a gift. Every moment with her brings a sense of completeness and joy within our family. Phe is a great big sister that continues to teach, encourage and love her siblings!

This is 13:

1.What excites you most about turning 13?
 Nothing really

2. What is your favorite school subject?
Math

3. What is your favorite color(s)?
pink + burgundy

4. What is your favorite food?
chicken + macaroni

5. What is your favorite book?
I don't have a fave book

6. Who is your favorite artist?
Ariana Grande, WDW and @etcetera.art

7. Who inspires you to be great?
@etcetera.art, my grandma

8. If you could do one thing forever, what would it be?
 Nothing

9. Who is your favorite teacher?
Ms. Kempfe or Mr. Derrington,

10. What are you afraid of?
Any bug larger than a gnat + the dark + dying + deep vast large bodies of water.

11. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Someplace in Africa, Japan or France

12. What is your favorite song(s)?
so am i + i still do + idontwannabeyouanymore

13. What do you love the most about yourself?
my talents, my hair, and my intellect 



So, there it is.. the beginning of a new chapter. I am officially a stepmom to a full on TEEN. I'm literally tearing up as I write this lol.

Phe, daddy and I love you so much! You will always be our baby no matter how old you get or how many mistakes you make. You make us proud in so many ways that it would take more than a post like this to list them. We love your confidence, smile, your drive, your ability to teach and guide those around you. Keep being Phe and never loose sight of what's real. fake or yourself!
Happy 13th birthday my love!

Want to see how much Phe has changed since 12? Check it out here.





 




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Hey y'all!
Fall is basically here ( hello PSL Day!) and I am here for it! Especially the trendy fall colors of 2019. 
If you have been checking the major fashion outlets, stores, street styles and of course influencers.. you will see some of the hottest colors that will be gracing the runways and streets this Fall/Winter.
Two of those colors I absolutely love, Butterscotch Yellow and Cool Pinks!
I have always liked yellow and pink, I used them in everything! It wasn't until I got older that I realized there were more to just basic yellow and pink and they were equally as pretty! Which is why majority of the stuff I own is blush toned lol.
Anyway.... 
The first trendy fall color for 2019 is Butterscotch Yellow. This shade of yellow is deep and rich. Unlike yellow, butterscotch yellow has a subtle hint of gold and is closer to the cool end of the color spectrum. For this look, I paired a butterscotch yellow skirt from Ross, a navy and white pinstripe shirt also from ross, and my favorite granny sweater I found at some estate sale! I also paired it with tan Kenneth Cole heels and felt hat from Old Navy.




Next is Cool Pink/Crab Apple! Ok, like I mentioned earlier, I love blush tones so this color was a no brainer! Unlike warm/hot pink, cool pinks are darker, softer and also closer to the cool end of the color spectrum. For this look, I paired a crabapple colored skirt from Ross, a knit sweater from Dress Barn and velvet mules from Target.









OTHER TRENDING COLORS!
Like I said there are a few trendy colors this Fall/ Winter season and Butterscotch and Cool Pinks are two of them! Some of the other colors include:
Red Chile Pepper-
Mauve/ Lavender-
Summer Fig-
Tiger Orange-
Bluestone-
Sugar Almond-
Eden-
Rutabaga and more!
Want a full list of all the trendy colors for Fall? Check out this awesome post from Glowsly.com!
What  do you think of these trendy Fall/Winter colors for 2019?! Which one is a must have for you? Let me know in the comments below!



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Hey y'all!

As the new school year starts to approach, I have begun planning, sorting, over thinking and doing everything possible to "feel productive"... meaning I have been pinning away ideas for this years lessons! Thankfully, we are able to homeschool with Youtube and it has been a great supplement!

I am pretty shocked as this is going to be our 4th year homeschooling! Thailand is starting her 6th grade year, Baltimore his 3rd and Italy is in 1st! Talk about a whirlwind! Back in 2016, I was literally in tears as the subject of homeschooling resurfaced. Mostly because the school Thailand was in at the time was absolutely AMAZING! All the teachers, students and the environment was like a dream. I was so sad to not only take her out but also move out of state, which was also a contributing factor as to why we started!

However.. here we are! To be honest, during the end of year 2 I found myself in love with it! I love the freedom it provided, the fact that my kids could control some of what they learned and that Thai could have the 1 on 1 time she needed with her work! It really became a part of our lives and we wouldn't want it any other way!

Want to know what curriculum we used? Check out our homeschool curriculum: Pre-K - 4th here!


Now, on to the reason you are reading this, you want to know the best youtube channels for homeschooling! Homeschooling is not just workbooks, lesson plans and extra curriculars. Like PS, the teacher gets sick from time to time and they need to phone a sub... in a HS case, the sub is YouTube! So, to make your search a little easier, I have compiled a list of our favorite YouTube channels for homeschooling!

1.Homeschool Pop- Homeschool Pop is definitely my go to channel! I love that it covers a wide variety of topics and it even has grade level playlists! Homeschool Pop is channel that has comprehensive and fun videos!


2.Art for Kids Hub- Art for Kids Hub is a great channel to supplement your homeschool art class! They have a wide variety of fun, colorful and easy to follow videos. They are a great choice for your art lover!

3.Free School- Like Homeschool Pop, Free School covers a wide variety of subjects that will fit right into your homeschool curriculum! I really love their Famous Artists for Kids playlist!

4.Free School Early Birds- We haven't used Free School Early Birds yet but after seeing a few videos, I think it's safe to say it is awesome! This channel is meant for Pre-K learners but it has great videos on animals and stories older kids will enjoy as well.

5.KidsHealth.org  (how the body works)- The Kids Health How the Body Works series is my absolute favorite health/science channel! The HTBW videos are around 4-7 minutes and are fun and adventurous! Join Chloe and the Nurb as they travel through the body to show you how it works!

6.Ted-ED- If you have heard of Ted Talks, then Ted- Ed should be on your list as well! Ted-Ed is great for older kids and focuses on history, nature, math and even riddles! Ted-Ed videos will be making their debut in our household this school year!

7.Fun Science Demos - Have a future scientist or one that doesn't want anything to do with it? Fun Science Demos is a fantastic YouTube channel that explores science in a fun, visual way in under 10 minutes!

8. 20 Online (kids workouts)- Need a way to keep active while homeschooling? Check out 20 Online! This Youtube channel has kids 20 minute workout videos! They only have a few videos but these can be rotated daily or a few times a week!

MoveToLearn

9. MovetoLearnMS (Dancing)- Move To Learn has tons of fun videos you and your kids can get moving to! They have simple dances you can learn, learning while moving videos and exercise videos!

10.Crash Course Kids- CC Kids is a cute and entertaining YouTube channel for homeschooling! They cover topics like gravity, properties of matter, life science and more! Have an older kid? Check out the original Crash Course YouTube channel for literature, history and more!

11. National Geographic Kids- Nat Geo Kids is another great YouTube channel for homeschooling! Their videos cover animals from all over the world.. above and below!

12. 5 Minute Crafts KIDS- Some of these crafts on this YouTube channel do require assistance if you have younger kiddos. They cover DIYs, hacks and experiments!

13. Books Read Aloud For Children- We all know just how important reading to your child is so that makes this YouTube channel a definite must have for homeschooling! Books Read Aloud has a variety of books read aloud for your kiddo.. including classics like Goodnight Moon!


There are millions of channels on Youtube and I know there are even more great Youtube channels for homeschooling! What are some of your favorites? Let me know in the comments below!





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Hey y'all!

What's the one thing you and pretty much every woman hates the most about new shoes? That's right... the pinching, the squishing, the aching and every other painful and uncomfortable feeling those beautiful things create!

But what if there was a way to " break them in" before you even stepped foot out the door? What if you could whip out those favorite pair of shoes that your foot maybe got a little to big for ( like me, thanks kids lol). Thanks to this life changing hack, you will be able to stretch your high heels quickly!
This simple hack will not only have you dancing in your new shoes, but dancing in them comfortably. :)

After having Italy, I gained back a lot of my weight and a lot of it went to my feet as well. Ever since then I have struggled with shoes of all types, especially high heels!

Stretching your high heels allows you to relieve some of the discomfort that comes along with new shoes or any tightness that occurs. Not to mention it is super simple as well!


You can literally do this anywhere with only a few items from around the house. All you need to stretch your high heels are two pairs of socks, your pair of high heels and a hair dryer! That's right.. a HAIR DRYER! Super long list I know lol.



There are two ways you can use the socks. One being you can put both pair of socks on your feet and then try to squeeze your feet into your shoes or you can roll each pair into a seperate ball. I prefer to roll them!

The best way to roll them in my opinion is to fold them into 3's with the toes being last. I don't know it it's just my socks, but they seem to have some sort of "cap" that holds them into place.






Next, if you are rolling the socks, take them and stuff them into the front of your high heels. For this tutorial, I am using my newest* heels. The straps across my toes pinch my baby toe and it is completely painful!




Then, taking your hairdryer, heat all the areas that you are wanting to stretch. Make sure you focus on the areas that hurt the most! Heat the areas in increments of about 5 minutes then take out the socks and try them on. If you are satisfied with the comfort then that's it! If they are still a bit snug, add the socks and heat again.




Finally, once you are done stretching your high heels, you will be able to walk in confidence... comfortably!

Unfortunately, I forgot to snap a before photo so there was really no point in showing an after one! I can't believe I forgot so please forgive me.

Have you ever tried to stretch your high heels? Will you try this? Let me know in the comments below!

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Hey y'all!

Today, I want to talk about something a little different. Marriage and the things I wish I knew before getting married! I usually stay away from the topic of marriage because I personally don't feel like having my marriage showcased for the whole world to see. I feel like somethings are meant to stay private and to me, marriage is one of those things.

However, I DON'T mind sharing some of the things that I have learned in my (almost) 13 years of marriage.

So really quick, a little history lesson about my husband and I! If you don't know us then you may be shocked to learn that we got married at the young, tender ages of 20 and 18. Yes.. 20 and 18!
We met when I was only 16 and we never dated until I was 18. Somewhere in between that time frame, we lost contact and reconnected shortly after my 18th birthday.
A lot of people thought we married each other randomly outta the blue or that we wouldn't last, but we knew where we wanted to go in life and we knew it was no accident that our lives crossed paths again.

God clearly had plans for us that we couldn't see!


While I was wrapped up in the thought of marrying the man of my dreams, there were some things I didn't know... if I had, I definitely would have been a better wife, friend, parent and so on.

So, if you plan on getting married, are newly married or just as seasoned as I am take a look at some of the things I wish I would have known before getting married and hopefully they can help you a well.


1.Marriage is not 50/50- When it comes to marriage, I'm pretty sure someone has always told you that it is 50/50. Well after years of experience lol, I am here to tell you it's not! Marriage is actually 100/100! You have to be willing to commit 100% when you are married. Being present emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually is really only beneficial when you are giving your spouse 100% of you!
Which brings me to my next point...

2.Baggage will always be present- Weather you like it or not, your spouse had a history.. long before y'all met! Depending on how you look at it, baggage can either be a good thing or a bad thing. Thinking about all the issues, people, and experiences your spouse went through before you, has made them who they are... and if you're married, I think it's safe to say you love them! Accepting the baggage will strengthen your bond more than you might think!

3. Your spouse is also your best friend-Yes I know this is obvious, but back when I was 18.. I didn't even think about my husband being my friend. To me a friend was one of my girls I grew up with or someone I would swap pregnancy stories with. I thought the friendship title was only reserved for someone I wasn't married to. Thankfully, I realized sooner than later that my husband was my best friend. We talked about how he made me feel, how the kids made me feel, how other people made me feel, my dreams, my fears, bought me chocolate, watched chick flicks and supplied me with wine when I had a bad day! If that's not a best friend... then I don't know what one is!

4.Your Spouse is more important than your kids- This may be an unpopular one, but I truly feel that your spouse is more important than your kids, meaning that they should come first. Hear me out first! When you and your spouse are happy, getting along and showing what real love looks like, your kids in return will be happy, getting  long and show you real love as well. You and your spouse have to be one in order to parent your kid peacefully and lovingly.

5.It's ok to ask for permission- I'm a firm believer in respect and while some people may view asking your spouse for permission as a form of being " controlling" or "getting in ones business".. I think it shows that you  are considerate. I think when you ask your spouse "is it ok if..", "Can I go with..." or "Do you mind if.." you are reassuring yourself that you are not overbooking yourself, forgetting plans y'all made and showing that you care about them and what makes them comfortable. What if your spouse doesn't like someone that you know because they always bring you down? What if they had something special planned for later? What if y'all planned on finishing a project Sunday afternoon but you forgot and were off at brunch somewhere? I'm sure they would not be the happiest person in the world for a moment. It is OK to ask for permission!

Look, I don't have a perfect marriage and I don't want y'all to think that I am on here trying to be holier than thou. Trust me, I am far from it!
My husband and I have been together for over a decade and while it gets easier, marriage is still a combination of work, compromise and 100% commitment!

How long have you been married?
Do you plan to get married? Let me know in the comments below!






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About me

About Me

Welcome to By Brigette Danielle!

I'm a full time Texas mom, wife,homeschooler, coffee addicted MOMpreneur and Lover of all things beautiful!


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  • ▼  2019 (16)
    • ▼  November (1)
      • The Joy of Homemaking: How to Remain Happy and Hop...
    • ►  September (2)
      • Fall Bucket List: 50 Fun Fall Activities
      • This is 13: Phoenix's Birthday
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      • Fall Color Trends 2019: Butterscotch Yellow + Cool...
      • The Best YouTube Channels For Homeschooling
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      • How to Stretch Your High Heels
      • 5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Getting Married
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