Hey y'all!  It's almost a new DECADE! How does that make you feel?! I'm kinda freaking out.  Man, Let me just say this.. I know I talked about posting more but clearly I had my word cut out for me. Ever since Late September/early October my life has gotten so busy that I barely have had time to wash my hair lol. J/K. But in all seriousness, 2019 has been a roller coaster ride to say the least. It has taken me up and down and sideways backwards.. splashed me with water and everything else all the roller coasters in the world have to offer. However, through all of that, it has been nothing short of thrilling. So, if you are new here or haven't checked in over here lately, here's what's been happening! 1. I was featured in a MAGAZINE! This was by far one of my biggest accomplishments this year. I still can't get over the fact that I was chosen to do a feature for Voyage Dallas Magazine. If you haven't had the chance to see it, go ahead and give it a read HERE! 2. I went semi viral on Pinterest! Who knew one little post could drive so much traffic?! A blog post that I shared on Pinterest gained me almost 26,000 views (on just that one). As a result of that one being so successful, a few other posts have gained over 24,000 page views each. I seriously still can't believe it. I have reached over 1.05 million Pinners ( in 6 months) and pins that each have been viewed/saved/clicked well into hundreds of thousands. Pinterest.. I love you!  3. I went viral on Facebook. One of my campaigns that was shared on Facebook featuring Elephant Learning has reached over 2.6 million views (and counting). This one is probably the biggest shock. As you may or may not know, I'm not a video person... I tried the YouTube thing.. not for me. IDK why YouTube is so hard for me to get into.  I have always dreamed of having my own talk show, but something about me being on YouTube just seems weird lol. Anyway, that video took off in a matter of days and it has been a highlight of my 2019. 4. We moved.. again! I am so tired of moving y'all lol. During the summer, my family and I left to KC for a few months. Things were not working the way we hoped in Dallas along with some family matters that we felt uneasy about. At the time, it seemed like moving back would help kill two birds with one stone.. well it killed one bird but caused a bunch of onlookers lol. So, we moved back (this time for good). Ever since we have been back, things have been going great and peace has settled into our lives. 5. I landed a dream job. While in Kansas City, a company I had written for offered me a position on the team! I have been officially writing and working in the digital marketing arena for a few months now and I couldn't be happier. I have learned so much from the owners and team members. I have found a new confidence in my voice and fallen in love all over again for writing and marketing. 6. I have a teen. Quick cue the violins! Yes, my sweet P turned 13 this year and it has been.. a journey? I knew all the sad parts were coming ie not calling/texting but the every day moments are getting larger and larger and it sucks to not be a part of it. On the other hand, I love how she is becoming a young woman and the confidence she is embracing. I love that she is becoming her own person. The many talks we have had about the kids in her class, the boys, her dreams, likes & dislikes... they all hold a special place in my heart and no matter how old she gets.. she will always be my little girl. 7. I have MUMS. This is another huge highlight in my year! If you follow me on Facebook then you should probably be sick of me talking about it lol. During the Feast this year, my dear friend TOTALLY SURPRISED me with a huge MUM. I laughed, I cried and I could barely comprehend what was happening. Even as I type this I am smiling ear to ear! Then, when we arrived back home after the Feast, my SIL surprised me with a mum kit! I have wanted a mum ever since 2008 when I walked into a local Kroger in Arlington, TX lol. Now, I finally have TWO.

My mum kit more pictures below.

Edited to add:
8. I was featured on Target's website! This was one of the most shocking things. I cleared my search history and cache recently so I had to manually type sites into my browser. Well, last night (Dec 30th) I typed my site in so I could check to make sure everything looked good and to copy a link I had shared. My curiosity got the better of me so I began see what all popped up when you typed my name in. I go to page 2 of Google and there I am! On Target's site! This was definitely cherry on top of all of my other accomplishments! 

Like I said, 2019 was an eventful year. I decided not to list any of the bad things that happened this year, not because I want you to think my life is as sweet as pie, but because when I reflect on things.. I only want to see the good. Remembering bad times can easily take your joy away and as some that has struggled with maintaining  joy my whole life, I don't want to welcome the bad back in. All of these moments/highlights have definitely made my 2019 one to remember. I have so many more that I want to list, but my hands are freezing right now (Starbucks is always cold lol) and this list would end up being a decade long. So, as we go into a new chapter of our lives, I want to say thank you! Thank you for reading, following a long and supporting me through out all of this.  To my husband, thank you for the countless hours of hard work you do for us. You are an incredible man and if I had an ounce of your strength, I would be the strongest woman in the world. I love you! To my kids, I love the way you always try to make me laugh, your hugs, cold feet and zillions of kisses. I love y'all to the moon and back infinity x infinity. How was your year? Let me know in the comments below!

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!

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! 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 :)!

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!



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.



 

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!

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!