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About Me
I am a wife to the man of my dreams! We've been married for nearly three years now and I couldn't imagine my life without him in it! I am also a mom to a seven month old daughter who I absolutely adore! I love the Lord with all my heart...without Him in my life I would not be where I am today! I am enjoying the balancing act of being a stay at home mom and wife and, together with my husband, am enjoying our wonderfully blessed life!!
Motivation For Moms
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Great Gift Idea
Posted by jennasue
Scott has this obsession with electronics and cars. He loves buying anything and everything to do with one of these two topics. He's always throwing out ideas that I have to jot down for future birthdays and Christmas gifts. For instance, ever since we bought our new vehicle, he has really been wanting to get some led tail lights or Euro Tail lights for it, I can't remember which one it is. He has talked a lot about the LED lights because he feels they are a great way to improve the appearance of the vehicle without spending a lot of money....now that I've thought about it, I believe these are the ones he's referred to most. This is something that he's been wanting to do for quite some time now...I'm definitely making a mental note as it would make a great birthday present, don't you think!?! He's be SO surprised!! Labels: Family
Ahhh...To Have a Vacation....
Posted by jennasue
Maybe it's the winter weather, or maybe it's just the need to relax for a few days...but I have really been wanting to plan a small family vacation for quite some time now. I'm not talking anything extreme, just a nice long weekend away from work to simply relax! Doesn't that sound nice?! This winter weather is a big reason for it, as the negative temperatures and blowing snow are wearing out their welcome here in the midwest. In talking with Scott, we thought it would be fun to go visit Las Vegas sometime soon! I have been there, but he hasn't. We were looking into many of the different Las Vegas hotels and we're just not sure where would be the best place to stay. There are so many there with such wonderful accommodations to offer their guests. With a little more research and some planning, this may be a vacation we end up taking before we know it! I get pretty excited just thinking about enjoy the beautiful warm weather.
Changes Since Having Kaelyn
Posted by jennasue
After Kaelyn was born many people were encouraging us to look into increasing the term life insurance policy, or life insurance, that we already had. Changing our benefits was one of the first things on our "to do" list. It's such an important thing to do, to make sure that all three of us are taken care of. I had never really thought about it before, but life insurance is such a cheap way to protect your family. It literally cost next to nothing a day, and gives everyone involved peace of mind. It's not really something I would have thought about if it weren't for people around us encouraging us to look further into it. I hope other young parents out there have wise people encouraging them to do the same.
The Salary of a Stay-at-home-mom
Posted by jennasue
I was recently reading an article about a very interesting topic that I hadn't put much thought into since becoming a stay at home mom. The article covered the question pertaining to What is a Mom worth? I've written before about the joy being a stay home mom brings. It sit the greatest job in the whole world, and one I am honored and privileged to have. There are many sacrifices made to be a stay at home mom, but it is all SO worth it!! Labels: Internet, Making Money, Motherhood
A stay at home mom, and working mom, wears many hats. They are "teachers", "van drivers", "housekeepers", "cooks", "counselors", "nurses", and so much more! The list goes on and on. The article I was reading said that a projected salary for a stay at home mom would be well over 100,000 dollars a year!! They work every day of the week, and are "on call" every hour of the day! I thought it was interesting to read this and completely agree. A stay at home mom, and working mom for that matter, takes on a lot, balancing so many different "jobs"...and is well deserving of a wage like this or even greater!!
This was an interesting article with a focus on motherhood I had never really thought about before. I found it very interesting and wanted to be sure to share it with others!
Life Insurance For Children
Posted by jennasue
Before Scott and I had Kaelyn we never really thought about having Life Insurance for our children. It wasn't until recently that we began thinking about more seriously. His step-mom recently became involved in the insurance business, and has shared her knowledge of the different life insurance policies available and why they're so important to have. Scott and I already have life insurance for ourselves, but it sounds like his dad and step mom are planning on getting all of the grandchildren their own policies before the age of 5. It's interesting how life changes after you have children and you begin thinking about things like this much more seriously!
Family Vacation
Posted by jennasue
My parents recently went on a cruise and had a wonderful time!! I have never been on a cruise, and they keep telling me that it's something Scott and I should do one day. Now, having a baby, it's hard to know when the next time will be that we take a vacation. Probably once she gets a bit older I imagine. My parents were talking about how fun it would be for us all (my brothers and I with our spouses and my parents) to go on a cruise together in the future. I have heard that caribbean cruises are a lot of fun, so who knows...maybe that's what we'll decide to do. I must admit, the idea of going on a vacation with my family would be terrific!! We'd all have such a wonderful time. Hopefully that's something we will be able to do down the road. I look forward to it. Labels: Family, Motherhood, Travel
Great TV Show For Moms
Posted by jennasue
Does anyone else watch the show Jon and Kate Plus 8? It's a show that my husband and I began watching last season, and one that we really enjoy every Monday at 8:00. Now, being a mother besides, it's fun and interesting to see how a mother manages to take care of and raise 8 children. From what I can tell, she does a very good job. It seems that her organization is what keeps her family running fairly smoothly, and what keeps her sane. I keep telling Scott that having one baby is hard enough. I mean, can you imagine having 6 at one time and trying to know what they want and need when they're that little?!! Wow! I'm sure there are some things that get more difficult as they get older, and some things that get a little easier...I definitely give her credit though! Wow...she and her husband have their hands full. Labels: Children, Motherhood, Parenting
Food Labels
Posted by jennasue
As I sat at the table this morning eating my cereal, I found myself reading the Food Label on the side of the box. Do you ever do this? I do this once in a while to read the nutrition facts of the cereal I'm eating, but mostly because the box is often very boring and not worth reading or looking at. I got to thinking, I wonder where a large company would go to find more interesting labels to put on their products?! Today, as I was doing some work online, I actually got the answer to my random question. There is a company online, Label World, that creates labels for large businesses and a variety of different products. I found it to be quite interesting and wanted to share it with those who have ever wondered this or those who just enjoy learning something new like me. Labels: Health
Plastic Baby Bottles Contain Toxic Chemical....Is Your Baby At Risk?
Posted by jennasue
It seems that these days we must research everything before using it, especially when it comes to the products that we use with our precious little ones. Up until now I have only breastfed my little girl...no bottles at all. I know at some point I may have the need for a bottle though, so today I began researching to find the best brand and kind to use. As I did some digging online, it came to my attention that there are some very interesting studies being done on the safety, or lack there of, when it comes to 95% of the plastic baby bottles that people use. Are you curious as to what I might be referring to?
It's been found that many popular brands of plastic baby bottles leak BPA when heated. This is a toxic chemical that is used to make the plastic. Everything I have read links BPA to things like obesity, certain cancers, diabetes and more. This is a chemical that is not healthy for any of us, but especially infants and children. There are many people switching from plastic bottles to glass bottles....a choice I'm strongly considering and one I urge you to think about as well.
Mini-Vacation
Posted by jennasue
It's been such a long time since we got away and went on a little vacation of any kind. Scott and I are seriously considering going somewhere like Branson, Missouri...even if it's just for a long weekend sometime soon. We've never been there, but heard that it's a great place to visit....and to be honest, anything would be great, especially for Scott who has been working so hard lately at work. It would be fun to take Kaelyn there as well.
As with any other trip we've ever taken, I like to go online and research the city a little bit to see what there might be to do there, etc. Researching Branson I found that there's so much. It's a very nice place. The site I was on showed everything about the city, even the Branson real estate. It was very informative on everything dealing with the city, including things for tourists. From what I found, I think this will be a very nice place to visit and a wonderful mini-vacation for us to take as a family. It will actually be Kaelyn's first "official" vacation. I'm excited!!
My Wedding Ring Story
Posted by jennasue
As many women probably know, it's easy to swell a little bit when you're pregnant, especially in your fingers. I had this problem when I was pregnant with Kaelyn...and by the end of my pregnancy I could not even wear my wedding rings. I was really bummed about this, because I felt funny not wearing them...I had worn them every day since we got married. After I had Kaelyn and had lost all of my pregnancy weight, I thought I could wear my ring again...I missed it so much! So, a few weeks later, I put it on and it felt great to be wearing it again! However, it didn't feel so great the next morning when I woke up and couldn't get it off!! Yep, that's right...it was stuck on my finger. As you can imagine, I was panicking. I didn't know what we were going to do. We called a jeweler and asked them, and after trying everything in the book we went in and had to have it cut off.:( Thankfully it will be repairable in the future and she shared some very useful information that I'd pass on to other moms out there. She said that when a women is breastfeeding she can still retain water even if she doesn't feel like she is. This is what was happening to my fingers recently, causing my ring to get stuck and ultimately removed. Labels: Family
Being the sweet husband that he is, Scott knew that I was really missing wearing a ring on that finger. It just felt so bare without it. Not long ago he said, "Let's just go look and see if we can find something that you can wear until you're able to wear your wedding ring again". Aside from wanting something on my finger again, I am also a girl who LOVES jewelry, so needless to say, it didn't take much convincing to get me to go and look. An hour after shopping around, we ended up getting a gorgeous anniversary ring and band. It looks like a wedding set which is great. That is now what I wear on my wedding finger which I love. He's the greatest!! He's always been great when it comes to jewelry. He's bought me a fancy gold bangle, earrings and more. He's always so thoughtful.
Searching for Credit Cards
Posted by jennasue
Scott and I were recently discussing our credit cards. I don't know if anyone else has this problem, but going through my purse and his wallet, we found that we have way too many credit cards. It seems that they're just so easy to collect these days. Especially if you love to shop like I do, and they're offering a percent off if you use their credit card. I know, I'm weak when it comes to things like this! We'd really like to get rid of all of our credit cards and just find one that we like. The thing is, there are so many different kinds out there. Some of them have rewards, some are low interest and some are even for certain credit scores...like Average Credit Credit Cards. Labels: Internet
Once we decided that we wanted to search for a good credit card, one that had rewards, we checked out a site that someone had told us about once....CreditCardSearchEngine.com. They make it easy for people looking for credit cards to search for a card, compare them with other similar cards and then apply for the ones we're interested in. We were really impressed with this and were really happy that someone had shared their site with us. We were able to search through the types of cards that we were interested in and it was so quick and easy!
Now, I'm happy to say we are on our way to finding a credit card that suits all of our needs so we can get rid of our pile of cards we never use! It's amazing how they pile up over the years. It will feel so good to cancel them and cut them up!!
Who Does Your Baby Look Like?
Posted by jennasue
Ever since we had Kaelyn we hear so many people tell us who they think she looks like. It seems that my family tends to think she looks a lot like I did as a baby and Scott's family seems to think she looks a lot like him as a baby. When Scott and I look at her we see certain features that remind us of each one of us. We've held baby pictures up to her as I am sure many parents do when they have babies...it's just been such a fun thing to do.
Many people who are not family also like to give their opinions as well. It's fun to hear what people think outside of the family as well. I recently came across a really great tool on the My Heritage website that I thought could give it's "opinion" just for fun. It is called the Look alike Meter. I placed a picture of Scott, Myself and Kaelyn in the meter and based on the faces it detects who the child looks most like. I know this is not a scientific tool by any means, but it was still fun to see what it said as a result. After putting in our pictures I got the following result. I really thought it was neat that this tool came to the conclusion that Kaelyn looks like Scott and I equally!! I guess every body is right when they say that she looks like me and Scott!!
Photo Editing Software
Posted by jennasue
Last night, after Kaelyn went to bed, I finally had some time to sit down and check out my new computer. From what I can tell, it doesn't seem a whole lot different than my other laptop...but my husband tells me that's because I'm not up on all this computer stuff. From what he tells me, it not only will run much more quickly, but it also has a lot of space on it for me to store all of my pictures. Yeah! Labels: Children, Family, Internet, Motherhood
As a mom, I'm sure many others can relate, I take SOO many pictures. Thank goodness for digital cameras! There are so many pictures on our desktop computer, that it's really starting to slow down. From what my hubby has told me, my new laptop should be able to hold all of my pictures without causing it to run slowly or bog down. That's terrific news!! After hearing that, I began searching around looking to see what kind of photo editing software it had. To my surprise, there wasn't much of anything! I was pretty bummed...as I like to do editing with almost every picture I take (the simple things like cropping and taking out red eye). I went searching online and found some very good options for this type of software...and the best part is...they were all free. I downloaded one and from what I can tell so far it seems to have everything I will need. Not only that, but it's easy to use which is great for me since I don't have a lot of time to spend trying to figure out how to use a new program. Hopefully it will end up working out great...that way I don't have to go searching for yet another program.
Wedding Planning
Posted by jennasue
We recently went to get Kaelyn's three month pictures taken (a little late in the month to do it, but we got it done before she turns four months old and that's what's important, right?!). I couldn't believe how well she did. We ordered the prints we wanted, and now are waiting for them to come in...I can't wait! I'm so excited to get them and put them up around the house. I even have started to go through the pictures that I have hung and framed right now and have decided that we may begin to replace some of the many wedding pictures I have out with her pictures. I want to leave some out, but definitely want to start putting more pictures of Kaelyn out as well.
As I was doing this one day, I began thinking about our wedding and how wonderful it was. It was SO perfect....I couldn't have imagined it going any more smoothly. Wedding Planning was fun, but it was definitely stressful, that's for sure! I'm sure many others can relate with that. There were so many details to go over. Thankfully I had my mom there to help me with everything. If she wouldn't have been available to help, I don't know what I would have done. The nice thing, which I wasn't aware of when I got married, is that there are sites out there, like the WeddingChannel.com, which have the tools necessary to help you plan your wedding....and the best part is that it's free! That word "free" is a nice thing to hear when you're dealing with planning a wedding. I had come across this site while I was on the web one day, and they really have a lot to offer. Not only do they have planning tools, but they also have an online wedding registry, vendor guides, and photos. I would recommend this site to anyone planning a wedding. It was a perfect day, but I think a site like this would have cut back on a lot of the stress that we all had over planning such an important day!
Make Your Own Baby Food
Posted by jennasue
The last time Kaelyn had a Drs Appointment, her Pediatrician was talking with me about some of the stages she will go through, specifically that of teething, and the time line of when she will begin eating cereals and baby foods. Over these past couple of months I've been thinking about it a lot, and when it is ready to eat baby foods, I am planning on making it myself. Not only is this economically a smart decision for us, but, more importantly, I feel that it will be healthy and nutritious for her as well. It will take a little extra time, but will be SO worth it in my opinion.
From the information I've found on this subject so far, I've learned many useful tips. It's important to make sure that I have the right equipment, such as a blender for instance. It's also important that pick the best produce and know how to handle and prepare the food correctly. Also, what I've learned is so great about making her baby food is that I can actually freeze it in ice cube trays, which will last for quite a while.
Finding Peace in a "Cluttered Life"
Posted by jennasue
As I've mentioned before, I find it very encouraging and uplifting to spend time with the Lord each day. I began doing some devotions from a book I received at one of my baby showers, Devotions For Moms by Ellen Banks Elwell, a while back. It seems I always find the right devotion to help me understand a situation that I've been facing at the time. God is SOOO good!
Just today I was thinking about how busy life is and how stressful it can be at times. I tend to get a little overwhelmed with the chores at home, taking care of our daughter each day, etc. I even find myself forgetting things and becoming increasingly unorganized. I was brought up to stay positive though, as the tongue is a very powerful thing! So, as I began to feel down on how overwhelmed I feel with the busyness of life lately, I quickly turned to Him! I opened up my devotional, and wouldn't you know I turned to a section on The Cluttered Life. It quickly became apparent to me that Satan would love to try and distract me from all God has for me. He wants to get me down and lose focus on what's really important. He wants nothing more than to rob me of my joy and to have me feel stressed out and overwhelmed....but I will not let that happen! That's when I began praying that the Lord give me peace and guidance. I need to lean on Him and He will give me strength and joy! Thank you Lord!
1 Corinthians 14:33, NKJV
Family Vacations
Posted by jennasue
It's been quite some time since my hubby and I were able to take a vacation. We were just discussing the other night how much fun it will be to take family vacations once Kaelyn is a bit older. There are so many places we'd like to take her...near and far. One of the places that neither Scott nor I have been is Mexico. We have a lot of family who have been able to travel many places in Mexico though and talk very highly of the places they've been.
I've often heard good things about the Karisma Hotels there on the beaches of the Mexican Riviera Maya. I think it would be really fun to go there one day! Probably one of the things that intrigues me most about this destination is the fact that they have a gourmet-inclusive concept there. I love food, so this would be perfect for us!! They also have everything from entertainment to amazing accommodations that would make it a memorable and relaxing vacation for the whole family.
So far we've only discussed the possibility of going here, but with a little more research I think it could definitely be a vacation we decide to go on. It's fun to think about since it's been such a long time since we've gone anywhere that far away from home.
Curiosity of a Child
Posted by jennasue
As I was sitting on my computer today watching my little girl play on her playmat, I began thinking about all the changes I've noticed in her just in the past month. People say that you kids will grow up quickly, but I never knew how literal this comment was until having a child of my own. Kaelyn is only 4 months old, but already I can't believe how quickly the time has gone by! There a few big things that I've noticed in watching her over the past few weeks.... Labels: Children, Motherhood, Parenting
1)She seems much more interested in the food that we're eating. She'll sit there and watch us eat.
2)She has begun to roll over onto her side from her back. Along with that comes the wiggling around in her crib. We'll lay her down one direction at night, and the next morning we'll find her facing completely the other direction. She likes to wiggle around to play with everything in arms reach.
3)She's found her feet. One day she was sitting in her bouncy seat, when all of the sudden I saw the light go on as she moved them and tried to grab them....her curiosity is so cute!
4)Finally, she's begun watching people talk to her. As we talk to her, she moves her lips and sometimes tries to imitate some of the sounds that we make.
I guess over all you could say that much of what I noticed over the past month is an increase in the curiosity that she has for everything going on around her. It's so much fun to watch. Each month I look forward to witnessing more of the things that she begins to do....I wonder what next month will bring?! I can't wait to find out.
The Mommy Store
Posted by jennasue
Recently I got to thinking how nice it would be to go to a site like Amazon and only have the products and categories that I shop in available to me. I thought this would be great, because I often do not have much time while shopping online and can't spend those short periods of time while Kaelyn naps, searching through hundreds of products that I have no interest in buying. I finally came to the conclusion that I would compile the products and categories that I love most into one store, Mommy Must-Haves! Here is where you'll find everything from toys, baby products and children's books, to books on families and products dealing with health. Check it out if you're like me and on the go constantly. It's user-friendly and easy to navigate...two things moms on the go need when it comes to online shopping! Labels: Children, Family, Health, Making Money, Motherhood, Parenting
Investment Decisions
Posted by jennasue
Over the years Scott and I haven't really thought a whole lot about investing. In fact, it wasn't until just recently that we really began discussing this in all seriousness, probably due to the fact that we now have a baby and want to make sure that we're always able to provide for her as much as possible. In talking about the different investment opportunities out there these days, we began considering the Monex Deposit Company. This is a company that I've often heard people talk about, probably because they are America's investment leader when it comes to the gold, silver and other precious metals. They're a treated company having been around for over thirty years, which tells you that the service they offer is well taken. After many long discussions, I think this may be a route we decide to take. Now is definitely the time to invest in silver, due to the silver price, and what easier way to do it than through a company that will send it directly to you or a place of safe storage. I for one am very impressed and am planning on looking into this particular option more in the near future. Labels: Children, Family, Making Money
Words of Advice
Posted by jennasue
One of the biggest pieces of advice that I haven't always been good to follow since having Kaelyn is "make sure to sleep when she sleeps". Kaelyn has been such a wonderful sleeper from the moment we brought her home from the hospital that I haven't had to do that too often. However, today I was absolutely exhausted. Between taking care of her, cleaning the house and having company here some of the day...I really needed a little down time to just relax. Almost four months old now, she is not sleeping during the day nearly as much, so at 12:30 when she laid down for her afternoon nap I decided it would be the perfect time to do the same. Wow, did it help! I woke up refreshed and ready for the rest of my day. It wasn't a long nap, but a much needed one at that. I feel I am a better wife and mother when I am rested and not running on empty. I may have to follow the advice of all of those smart people who told me to sleep when she sleeps more often. Labels: Children, Family, Health, Motherhood
Online Business and Search Engine Marketing
Posted by jennasue
As with many other stay-at-home moms out there, I like to earn a little extra income when I find the time. Usually I do this by finding work online. Recently I have been throwing the idea around about doing some sort of online business. I've done different affiliate programs, but am anxious to get something started on my own. The first thing I would have to do in pursuing this possible venture is to set up a website and bring traffic to it. Researching this exact topic, I came across Apogee Search which is a well-known search engine marketing firm that guarantees it's customers listings in Google, Yahoo, etc. If you're like me and wanting to start up your own business, this is a very important place to start. Utilizing the marketing methods that Apogee takes advantage of will ensure that quality and targeted traffic will be directed to my site. I'm still learning more about them on the Apogee Search Blog and through their site which has a wealth of information on their approach and Dallas SEO, but from what I've found so far, this may just be the route that I take. Labels: Blogging, Internet, Making Money, Motherhood
Four Months Already??!
Posted by jennasue
When Kaelyn was first born I felt like we were going to the Drs all the time. Those monthly visits came and went very quickly. Now, we've had a two month break, and will be heading back for her 4 month visit very soon. I can't believe it's already been 4 months...where has the time gone?!! As I've mentioned in the past...I really enjoy going to these appointments, as it's fun to see how much she's grown and changed since the last visit. Now, having gone two months between visits, it will be even more fun to see the growth that she's made. This, like the two month visit, would usually be the a visit where a vaccination is involved. However, given the stance that my husband and I take on this issue, that will not be part of Kaelyn's appointment. If you'd like to learn more about our position on vaccination safety, you can check out the previous entry I wrote on vaccinations and the debate that many face when making a decision for their own children.
Easy Way to Earn Money From Home
Posted by jennasue
As a stay at home mom, I try and find ways to make a little extra money when I can. Over the past few months I've found that there are MANY money-making opportunities out there, many of which I have tried!! For the time that I have to actually sit down and work, I've found that using my blogs is the best way for me to earn extra income for my family! Adsense works, however it brings in a minimal amount of money, compared to other money making opportunities like PayPerPost for example. Labels: Blogging, Family, Home, Internet, Making Money, Motherhood
What's great about PayPerPost is that you can still stay true to your blog and Get Paid to Blog About the Things You Love!. It's so easy! What I like best is that you can choose the opportunities that interest you...you're never forced to pick a topic that you don't want to discuss or promote. I'm sure many people have heard of PayPerPost, and probably even have tried it. But, if you're one of those that still haven't tried it...I strongly urge you to check it out! You can make hundreds of dollars a month with very little time invested in it. It's truly the PERFECT side job for any stay at home mom, and I'd recommend it to anyone!
When it Rains, It Pours
Posted by jennasue
Have you ever felt like sometimes "when it rains, it pours"? Being a stay at home mom, I find that the budget is often pretty tight. It's definitely so worth it knowing that I get to be home with my little girl...it just means that we need to watch what we spend on at times. Sometimes though, things come along that are out of your control. This happened to our family recently. Between unexpected bills and then our computer crashing on us, it was quite a stressful time as far as money was concerned. I thought that the quality and longevity of the computer we owned would cause it to last us a lot longer than it did. You just never know when something like that could happen. Thankfully we didn't lose too much of our important documents and information, and as always, the Lord always provides. We now have a new computer on its way so that I can continue the work I do online. God is good!! Labels: Children, Faith, Making Money, Motherhood
Starting a Business From Home
Posted by jennasue
Now that I am a stay-at-home-mom, making money from home is something that I've researched and become very interested in learning more about. I've even thought about starting my own business from home. The only problem with that, is that there are so many different opportunities out there....but knowing the real ones from the scams is not an easy task! When I say "own business" I mean something small that I can do on my own. Nothing huge that would require bpm software of any sort. I've come across many different avenues I could take, and have even seriously considered some of them. I guess time will only tell if any of these opportunities are ones that I am willing to try and pursue. Labels: Blogging, Internet, Making Money, Motherhood
The Mom Song
Posted by jennasue
I recently came across a very funny song, the "Mom Song" sung by Anita Renfroe. If you've never heard it, you definitely have to check it out...hilarious! She sings everything a mom says in a 24 hour period over 2 1/2 minutes! Anyone, whether you're a mother or not, will thoroughly enjoy this song... Labels: Motherhood, Parenting
Personalized Children's Books
Posted by jennasue
Having taught young children, and now a mom myself, I certainly realize the importance of reading to kids...even from the time they are just babies. It not only helps them to develop a vocabulary, but also helps in them understand the meaning of words. One of the most important things when it comes to reading to our children is that it needs to be fun and interesting to them. They need to enjoy it if they're going to enjoy learning to read later on in life!! I think one of the most enjoyable ways of reading and encouraging reading is through the Personalized Children's Books from www.iseeme.com. They stories help children build their vocabulary, learn how to spell their names, and so much more by personalizing the story with the child's name!!
I remember my Grandma making books like this for my brothers and I when we were young. It was so "magical" to read a story that involved a child with the exact same name as us. What a neat way to encourage reading and make it fun and meaningful! This is definitely something I'm going to do for my own children!!
Encourage Creativity with CrayolaStore.com
Posted by jennasue
One thing many people may not know about me, is that before I became a mom, I taught preschool!! I have always loved kids, hence the reason I went to college to become a teacher. I think teachers, especially those who work with young children, have such an impact on those children!! They are learning so much at that age, and it's so rewarding to see them learning new things each and everyday. Labels: Children
Now, being a new mom, I can relate to that feeling even more. Seeing my little girl grow and learn things right before my eyes is absolutely amazing!! I wouldn't trade being home with her for anything in the world. One thing that I feel I've taken from my time as a teacher, is my creativity. I want to make sure that while Kaelyn is home with me, she has the opportunity to be creative and experience all kinds of new and wonderful things.
I know when I was teaching, the CrayolaStore.com was a place I visited often. They offer so many things, including, Crayola Activity Pages which are perfect for young children. They offer so many great things for children, that moms and teachers alike, will absolutely adore. The things offered here are those which I plan on using with Kaelyn as she grows a bit older. Take a look for yourself...they truly have so much to offer.
Join CafeMom
Posted by jennasue
As I'm sure is the case for many other moms out there, I enjoy finding different online communities where moms gather. Whether they're sharing their experiences, giving advice, sharing pictures, or are just simply there to meet other moms who have similar things in common...it's something that I find uplifting and encouraging, especially as a new mom. That's why I am so excited to Join CafeMom.com Labels: Children, Internet, Motherhood, Parenting
If you've never heard of CafeMom before, they offer this exact kind of community for moms of all ages!! If you're looking to have fun and meet other moms, this is the place for you!! It's so easy, and absolutely free to join. I'm really happy I decided to join and wanted to share with other moms who are interested in joining as well!
Lessons in Motherhood 4: A Mother's Instinct
Posted by jennasue
A while back I wrote about the things I've researched and learned when it comes to babies and their naptime routine. I had learned so many tips in just the first few months of having Kaelyn and did my best to share them with other mothers who were wondering and going through the same things I was. Now, over 3 weeks later, I am still following those tips and very happy I hung in there!! Kaelyn is on more of a routine, one that she kind of just settled into on her own. I tried to keep things consistent each day...having feed time, wake time, and sleep time throughout the day in that order! At the very first sign of sleepiness, I lay her down in her crib and within 5 minutes she is out! It's a wonderful feeling to be getting into more of a routine...my baby is happier and so am I! I know there are so many different opinions on what's right and what's not when it comes to naptime routines, but I just wanted to share with you the experience that I've had and it's amazing results! I am enjoying the consistency of knowing when she will sleep, eat, play etc. It makes life much easier and more enjoyable!! You can read up on some of the tips and things that I have found useful by visiting a previous post I wrote last month.....Baby Naptime....Useful Tips. Labels: Children, Health, Motherhood, Parenting
With that said, I must say that I am not the type of mother who believes that you must have a strict, written in stone, type of schedule. I believe children need consistency, but think it's important to be flexible at the same time...especially when they're young like my daughter is. Most importantly I have learned that it's important to follow the motherly instinct that we all have. If you follow that, you'll be just fine!!
Birth Announcements
Posted by jennasue
Having just had our very first baby, my husband and I have learned so many things over the past few months. Being parents for the first time it's all new to us, and we're learning as we go. You could say that at times things get a little busy and stressful, but as time moves forward each day becomes more and more smooth. I was just talking with him the other night about how now that life has slowed down a bit, I was beginning to feel guilty for not sending out birth announcements for our little girl by now. I had every intention of doing so, but found myself to be so busy with her in the beginning that I never got around to it. Labels: Children, Family, Motherhood, Parenting
I'm the type of person who doesn't like the "same old thing" all the time. Sometimes I feel like all of the baby announcements look the same and are rather boring, so I really wanted to make them by hand or find some that were really unique and cute. I had almost given up hope on doing them completely until I came across Doodlebug Dezigns. I really like the variety of birth announcements that they offer, and it got me thinking that it's not too late to send them out for my little girl. She's three months old, but better late than never, right?! I'm looking forward to creating a custom-designed announcement with her photo to send out to everyone and introduce our little girl to them all!
The Greatest Man In History
Posted by jennasue
Have you ever received a forward in your e-mail, or read something that really touched your heart..a poem perhaps?? Usually when I get forwards I either throw them out before I even read them, or read them quickly and then throw them out. Between caring for my daughter, tending to the chores I have, and working online, I rarely have time to sit down and read through all of the forwards I get each day. However, there was one that I received a while back that really touched my heart.... Labels: Children, Faith, Internet, Motherhood
Baby Photo Contests
Posted by jennasue
Until I had my daughter, I never realized how many sites are out there offering "free baby photo contests". I thought this would be kind of fun to do, seeing how we have lots of pictures taken of our daughter. As I read through some of these sites offering contests of this sort, many of them have different levels of prizes. For instance, a first place winner may win some money and information on talent management/talent experts to get your child in the spotlight of television, ads, or something along those lines. Second place might be money, and third place might be a toy. Out of all the contests I researched, I have to say that those offering just money or bonds were of greatest interest to me. Helping my daughter with college one day with the winnings from a contest like this would be great! However, having her "discovered" by some talent agent is not something I'm interested in. The one thing I can say though, is that I think it's wonderful there are so many great contests out there for people to choose from and participate in. Labels: Children, Making Money
Basement Remodel
Posted by jennasue
As I walked down to our cold and unfinished basement this morning to throw in a load of laundry, I began to realize how much we could do with the space we have down there. This is one downfall to being home every day...I find ways to spend money on the house. We have always talked about finishing the basement, but can't quite decide what to do with it. As I was walking through the open room today, I realized that it would make the perfect family room/play area. I began researching Coaster furniture, just to see how much it would cost, as this is something that both my husband and I really like. To my surprise it was within our price range a very likely candidate for our basement. I'm going to have to run this 'family room' idea past my husband and see what he thinks of it. Maybe if I throw in the idea of getting a big screen television down there...I'm sure that would convince him! :) Labels: Home
Logan, The Sky Angel Cowboy
Posted by jennasue
I'm sure by now many people have seen the following clip in their e-mails or at church. The first time I saw it I couldn't even get through the whole thing without getting teary! What a wise little boy with such an important message to share...the love of our Heavenly Father and all He has done and continues to do for us! I just wanted to share it with others who may not have had the opportunity to see it yet.... Labels: Faith
Exhausting Days as a SAHM
Posted by jennasue
As I'm sure many other stay at home mom's can relate...some days are absolutely exhausting!! Today has been one of those days for me! My morning started off as always...at about 7:30. Kaelyn woke up and we were ready to begin our day. The morning went by quickly and smoothly as always, but when it came to the afternoon...let's just say...I'm happy it's over with. Labels: Health, Home, Motherhood, Parenting
Kaelyn was not interested in taking a nap today. A baby who has not had a nap = cranky, cranky, cranky! As if this wasn't enough work in itself, I also was trying to clean the house and get some work done online. It's just been one of those days...a day when I could have really used energy pills or caffeine of some sort!! I'm completely exhausted and am thrilled at the sound of my husband walking through the door at this very moment...at last, a moment to rest!
New Window Coverings
Posted by jennasue
As I was sitting on my computer the other day, with the sun glaring off of the screen, I realized that I really need to invest in some nice roller shades for the three windows that are in our office where I do much of my online work. Having shades that could be conveniently pulled down when I'm working in there during the day, would be absolutely wonderful!! I have tried thinking of another position that I could put my desk so the sunlight didn't interfere with my work, but anyway I look at it....having three windows means that the glaring sunlight is inevitable. My solution...buy some shades as soon as possible!! That's my number one priority this weekend. Weekends are my main time to get things done, because that's when Scott's home and can watch Kaelyn while I'm out. So...that means...a shopping I will go... Labels: Home
Busy, Busy, Busy
Posted by jennasue
This week my parent's dog has been thrown into the mix of my "balancing act of motherhood". Zoe is a Bichon Frise. For anyone who knows anything about these dogs, they are very kind and easy to care for. She's a real sweetheart, and makes for great company!! When my parents are away Scott and I get to dogsit. I absolutely love it!! I wouldn't dogsit just any dog though, Zoe is definitely an exception since she's so good...she's like part of the family!! I always call her our adopted dog! My mom was a little worried that it would be a bit much for me, having Kaelyn to care for too now. I told her not to worry about it and assured her that all would go great! So far things are going very well. Having Zoe here has been great! However, it definitely has given me a new perspective on what it would be like to have two children to care for. She's like having another child running around. Let's just say that between Kaelyn and Zoe, I am on the go all day long! That's ok though...it makes my days just fly by! Labels: Children, Family, Home, Motherhood
Save Money On Utility Usage
Posted by jennasue
The weather here in the midwest gets very cold during the winter time. My husband and I were just discussing this as we looked at our most recent utility bill. Yikes! It's amazing how much the cost goes up when we're using our heat so often. With the days shorter and the temperatures colder, it's inevitable that utility usage will go up during these months...probably for most people in the country?! Labels: Home
I know there are some people who contact a debt consolidation company to get things figured out, but I didn't want to do that if we didn't have to. I feel that we manage our money very well. We have a monthly budget that we stick to which really helps keep everything running smoothly. This is more difficult to do in winter however, with a utility bill that you can never count on being the same from month to month. Being the type of person who wants to save money where I can, especially as a stay at home mom who doesn't work outside of the home, I began doing some research on ways to save money with our utilities during these bitter winter months, and actually found some very useful tips in an article on Keeping Warm in the Winter.
With some planning, I found that it is actually quite simple to remain warm, and not spend beyond our budget. We can try to set our thermostat back a few degrees while we are at home, and back 5 more degrees when we are not at home. This can help to save a large amount of money each month. We can also close off those rooms that we do not use by shutting the doors and closing the vents. This is something we've started to do in our basement, as it is not used very often. It really seems to be helping a lot. In our house we also have a fireplace which is great in the winter. However, we always make sure that we close the vent and the door so our warm air doesn't escape. This is HUGE and is a huge cost saver. There are many other ways to save on your utility bill, without spending money as well as low cost ideas...but these are just a few of the ways that we've started saving on our utility bill. It's amazing how just a few changes can really make a difference and help us stick to our budget.
Homemade Taco Recipe
Posted by jennasue
There are a lot of great recipes that I grew up with...one of these that I just had to share is a homemade taco recipe that I ABSOLUTELY love!! Do you ever get tired of the store bought taco shells?! I know I do...that's why this recipe is GREAT! It calls for some ingredients like crisco which wouldn't be something you'd want to cook with all the time...but every once in a while it makes for a really yummy meal that the whole family will enjoy!
To make the taco shells you need to do the following:
Take a box of Hot Roll Mix and mix it like says on the box. Don't add the yeast in it, just throw that part out. Roll out into a circle on a floured cloth. Fold over and drop into hot grease (three sticks of crisco). Boil and turn mid way through.
To make the meat mixture you just brown up 2 pounds of hamburger, adding in a pealed and grated potato. Then drain the grease and add taco seasoning.
Serve with: taco sauce, cheese lettuce and anything else you like to eat on your tacos. Enjoy!!
Christian Homeschooling
Posted by jennasue
As I'm sure many other mothers out there can relate...once you have children of your own you start thinking about a lot of things in a way you never had before. Recently my husband and I started discussing our daughter going to school someday and how quickly that time will come. Isn't it amazing how fast time goes by?! This conversation really got me thinking about homeschooling. I've known people who have chosen this path, and as a teacher and a new mother...it's something I'm very interested in learning more about!! Labels: Children, Family, Motherhood, Parenting
As I began my search for information, I came across The Grace Academy, which is a fully accredited school. From what I understand, this is a school based completely online. It offers everything a parent would need to begin homeschooling; all materials are provided! Going through The Grace Academy allows parents to teach their children the things that they feel are important. For me that would be the emphasis on the Bible and the Christian base this program offers!! It's great to have an online school like this that not only makes it possible for children to learn at their own pace in a safe environment, but also offers the support for both parents and students through the live chat, e-mail and phone services that are available.
I am just beginning my search on this topic, and so far am very impressed with all of the benefits of Homeschooling through The Grace Academy!! They offer everything I would need to homeschool my children. I found their site to be particularly helpful as it's really user-friendly and has a wealth of information about their school and the things they offer.
