A Simply Frugal Home

Finding the ME in MOMMY

2012-01-17T14:57:00.000-08:00

When you are expecting and thinking about the day you will become a MOM your mind is usually far from wondering about all the little things that make you who you are. Some of you are working women, others are crafters, some may be sports enthusiasts, or possibly travelers. And even though you know that this wonderful bundle is about to change your world; noone can quite explain how much.
In the beginning you seem to go through the motions and before you know it your baby is crawling; then walking. All this while you have either stopped working because, "how could you begin to send that sweet baby off to childcare" or you are worrying while you work because, "you are missing everything".
Suddenly all of those things that were priorities have shifted and now this sweet baby is at the forefront. That morning run will wait until tomorrow because you need that extra hour of sleep, your new book can wait because who can read when you can't sit down for more than a minute, and date night, what's that?

Congratulations you are a MOM!

For some that little bit of information will be like birth control and for others it will ease their mind because someone else understands.

I won't lie... being a MOM is tough sometimes... but is it worth it? ABSOLUTELY!

Here are a few things I have learned about being a MOM:

1) Finding time to yourself when your kids are little is not easy- TRUST your husband and leave the kid(s) with him long enough to take a sanity break. Some nights this may be nothing more than a hot bath all alone,a walk on a quiet road, or a coffee date with a friend. Remember that just because he doesn't do things the same way doesn't mean it's wrong.
2) Sometimes no matter what your baby will not be happy- babies CRY and need to do so at times to relieve stress. Trying to always carry them and coddle them does not make them happier- it makes you feel like you are doing something, but also exhaust you more.
3) Preparing dinner will be a chore- hot stoves, opening refrigerators, and sharp utensils don't exactly scream "child friendly". Realizing that it's okay if you don't have a fabulous meal each night will make it easier... follow the K.I.S.S. rule (keep it simple stupid). cereal for breakfast thrills a little kid.
4) Along with dinner... you are not a short order cook- do not fall prey to the poor pitiful starving kid at your table who will not eat his peas, trust me with a little perseverance on your part and a couple nights of going to bed still a little hungry... he will begin to be less picky about what goes in his mouth. You will also become more aware of the healthy foods that he eats well and learn to camoflauge others.
5) Even though you are a mom your husband still needs to be your number one- MEN are needy and that need has to be met or you will face new and other challenging problems in your life. Remember GOD created us from man because he needed a companion!
6) kids don't need everything- a want is not need and the earlier your kids learn that the better they will be... we are not good at saying no as a society. Your POCKETBOOK will thank you for saying no and so will your spouse.
7) Let's talk house- it doesn't have to be perfect! Trying to keep it perfect will stress you out and make you miss out on many joys. Now I am not promoting a dirty house here... your house still needs to be clean- just realize that the little imperfections (scuff on floor, pencil marks, dirty dishes, toys in Living Room) come with the territory of having childen. One day they will no longer be little and you can return to your perfectly clean house; especially if you teach them from the beginning how to help you accomplish certain area of it. Remember every kid will one day have their own home that they have to know how to care for- teach them.
8) You have to make time for GOD- I can't put it more plainly than to say that everything above is harder when GOD is not in your life. Start today making him a priority...start with 10-15 minutes each day and see what a difference it makes.

I PROMISE... in a few short years you will begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel and will realize that you are the ME at the end of MOM! When that time comes your kids may still be a top priority but you will know better how to include the others as well.

2012 Goals

2012-01-05T17:16:00.000-08:00

Wow, it's hard to believe that a new year is already here. I think the saying is true that the days pass faster when you are older (if middle age counts). With that in mind I plan to make the most of 2012 that I possibly can. Like most people I am tired of looking back at past years, months, and days and feeling like I didn't use my time in the best possible way.
So to make it short and sweet... here are a few of my Goals for 2012:
SPIRITUAL-

do a chronological study of my Bible. I will be using blueletterbible.org to help me accomplish this.
devote each morning to the Lord- I will be waking up early to make sure I get in some much needed time with him each day.
pray for the Lord to place a mentor in my life- I feel this is something we all need- someone to keep us accountable to what the Lord is calling us to do.
Read books to help me keep my focus on the Lord, my husband, and my kids
Pray for the Lord to lead me to an area of ministry where I can actively serve others.

FAMILY-

plan one family activity each month outside of the normal routine (visit a museum, go to movie,take a field trip, etc.)
set down as a family for short devotionals 5 times each week.
schedule a date night once a month for the Hubby and I
plan individual kid dates each month (out for ice cream,bike ride, etc)
take a vacation
invite another family over once a month to just hangout and fellowship
eat homemade, unprocessed foods no less than 75% of the time. hopefully more!

FINANCIAL-

use cash for purchases
pay off debt (just a little to go)
begin saving 3-6 months of expenses
fund 401k at max
put $ aside for christmas 2012
pay the kids allowances for chores and teach them how to use it wisely

PERSONAL-

read 2 or more books each month
complete the JOY Dare
walk 3 miles- at least 3 times each week
limit TV time
limit internet time
get involved in Church or Small group activities
send cards to people more (birthdays, encouragement, etc.)
cut down caffeine intake
get Healthy (yes I have some weight I would like to drop, but more importantly I want to be fit and active- we already eat a healthier diet)

There are other things that will be goals for the year, but this is the gist of it. I hope 2012 finds you searching to do more with the time God has blessed you with!

My 2012 Reading Goals

2012-01-04T20:53:00.000-08:00

    I have spent quite a bit of time over the past few weeks looking back at 2011 and goal setting for 2012. I am not much of a New Years resolution setter because I feel most are never achieved, but I feel God intends for us to always set goals to stay on the correct path he has set before us.(Phillipians 3:13-16)
   As a homeschooling mom; I am constantly looking for ways to encourage my kids to read. I myself am an avid reader and love books (lots of them)! However, to this very day my girls detest reading. I tease my husband that the genetic passed from him because he is not a reader (as in his eyes close before the page turns). My son is just now learning to read and so I pray constantly for him to enjoy books.
   Each day as part of our school assignment I read various stories from history to the kids. On top of that the My Fathers World Curriculum gives a suggested book. Some last days; others go on for weeks. I have enjoyed each book recommended and as the year has gone by the kids have come to love this time as well. We are currently finishing up our reading of "Farmer Boy" and just started "On the Banks of Plum Creek". Both are Little House Books and the kids anxiously listen to hear the next adventure in Laura's or Almanzo's life. I've read the entire series of Little House Books before and love them more with each reading.
   Outside of the reading I do with my kids I have several books going at one time. Sometimes I read to become a better disciple, wife, or mother. Other times I read for shear enjoyment.
   This year I decided to share my list of books with you. These are the books I am going to strive to read over 2012. I may add a few over the year, but this is a great starting point. I hope you see a few books you recognize, some that you are wanting to read your self, and others you've never heard of before. Please join me in making 2012 the "reading year" for your family!

January

Honey for a Child's Heart- if you have children ( or are planning to) this should be the first book you read this year
The Love Dare: day by day- this is a 365 day devotional
Financial Peace Revisited- Dave Ramsey

February

One Thousand Gifts-
Grace for the Good Girl- Letting Go of the Try Hard Life
Grace Based Parenting-

March

Season's of a Mother's Heart-
168 hours- a book on time management because we all get the same # of hours
What Every Wife Wants Her Husband to Know- don't be fooled by the title of this one

April

Dancing with My Father-How God leads Us into a life of Grace and Joy
A Mother's Heart

May

June

What Women Fear- walking in faith that transforms
David: 90 Days With a Heart Like His- Beth Moore

July

August

September

October

November

Total Money Makeover- Dave Ramsey
Large Family Logistics-

December

Calm My Anxious Heart

The Joy of Memories

2011-12-25T17:19:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas everyone!
The last few days have been a whirlwind of activities: making sure all the gifts were secured, planning for family that will be here tomorrow, and then playing secret Santa for our kids last night. I'm sure you can relate- only probably with other family activities thrown in.
So as the night was winding down we started to prepare for our Santa arrival: the kids sat out cookies and milk, wrote letters to Santa, we picked up the house for the hundredth time, and plugged the camcorder in to charge (we always record Christmas morning). My husband took a sneak peak at the last recording and decided we all needed to enjoy a little of what he saw. What a joyous way to spend Christmas Eve!
As our little family intently watched some home video the night seemed to wind down peacefully. The kids stopped asking every few minutes when Santa would be here. The hubby and I got a good belly laugh and even witnessed a few humbling moments. We continued to watch well into the night after the kids were in bed. I even finished a 2 hour tape.
Christmas is a great time for making memories and we always want to pull out the camcorder to capture those moments... but how often do we go back and watch those precious memories? My guess is not often enough.
So in our house I think a new tradition at Christmas will not be to just make memories, but to remember past ones as well.

The benefits of FATS and free Coconut Oil

2011-12-21T22:23:00.000-08:00

In the last several years I have learned alot about the benefits of different foods in my diet... one of these is good FATS. Yes, you heard me right... our bodies were intended to consume FAT. I know years of lowfat, no-fat, and fat free marketing has messed with our heads. However, when we consume the right fats our bodies process them correctly and we actually benefit from them. It's simple "Real Fats are Good" and Industrial Fats are Bad"! Below is a breakdown for you:
Real Fats (Traditional)

coconut oil
butter or ghee (from grass fed cows)
extra virgin olive oil
palm oil or shortening
tallow and lard (rendered animal fats) from pastured animals
some cold pressed oil like flax (in small doses)

Industrial Fats

margarine or other non-butter spreads or sprays
processed oils (likely any at the grocery store) ex: canola, sunflower, etc
products made with oils like cool whip or creamer
trans fats, hydrogenated fats, or partially hydrogenated fats (all found in foods)

Saturated (real) fats are not the problem... they are good for your body in a variety of ways. Keeper of the home has a post on it here. Or you can check out these other links. #1, #2.
Check it out for your self... you might be surprised at what you can have that you have been depriving yourself of for years!

Tropical Traditions is a great resource for Coconut oil and Palm oil/shortening. Until Christmas Day they are offering a FREE 32 oz. container of coconut oil with a $16 minimum purchase as a gift to each customer. This is a fantastic deal... for those that buy coconut oil we have all watched it sky rocket in the last year. This would normally cost you $40! As of today the free shipping code (261112) was still working also!

Preparing for Illness

2011-12-19T09:25:00.000-08:00

As Fall comes to an end and Winter draws near I become increasingly aware of the coming illnesses that could creep into my home. With that thought I could run out and purchase a variety of cold remedies from the store shelf or I can choose to care for my family's needs in another way. As my family moves to a more natural lifestyle I am constantly seeking out healthier alternatives. Here are a few tips shared by other bloggers:
Keeper of the Home is one of my favorite bloggers here area few of her selections:
homemade cough and cold syrup
cold kicker remedy
kudzu
boosting immune system
homeopathic solutions
drink your silver
good practice with herbs
here is another post on Keeper of the Home courtesy of Kate Tietje of Modern Alternative Mama with tips for the "sick season"!
Simple Organic has a few more:
5 simple home remedies
save $$$ on your natural remedies cabinet
how to naturally clean a house after illness
garlic poultice
I hope you find a new remedy for your family in the selections above or on your own. We keep a variety of natural tinctures around our home and have found that when paired with an organic whole foods diet we are less likely to become sick or stay sick for very long.