Meaningful activities with your children!

I've had this post ready to go for a while now but I just haven't found the time to finish it! 

Towards the end of the last school year, I prayed and prayed about staying home and if that would be the right option for our family. God answered that prayer in many amazing ways and I couldn't be anymore happier with my decision. I had to give up a ton for this to happen so I knew I wanted this new "job" to be a blessing in his eyes for my family and my husband. This is also a temporary "job" until my youngest heads into school (God willing) so I want every day to be as meaningful as I can make it for my family. 

With all of that being said...those expectations bring PRESSURE! Pressure to make sure I'm not only giving it everything I have "holding down the fort" but also making sure I'm being the best mom that my 2 babies at home with me need AND then add the 3:00 time of picking up the oldest and making sure her needs are met! PRESSURE! :)

At times I felt like I found myself taking too long to prepare dinner, spending too much time cleaning up the house and unpacking, etc and not enough time was spent focusing on creating meaningful activities for the babes. I'm not talking about spending the entire day doing fancy arts and crafts and going on elaborate trips to museums :) but just making sure I am providing precious time with them and balancing the two between house-wife and momma!  

I love having a "plan"---as a previous teacher I never went about a single day without a "plan" for the day and that has carried on with me being at home. That plan can often change and head into another direction and I'm completely okay with that but I find myself so much more productive if I have an idea of what the day will look like. 

I created this schedule a while back and I wanted to share it with you! Most of the time the days get rearranged with another day based on weather, play-dates or strictly something comes up, but I love to have something to fall back on or to be able to plan ahead--Sometimes the day also ends up not happening at all and that's okay too! 

Most of these activities are nothing fancy and hardly cost a single thing! I also created a small theme for each day so I can share that with them. 

If you are a teacher, a stay-at-home mom, or a full time working mom, this can still be used for the weekends, the afternoon or the summer time! 

I also try to throw in a little bit of pre-school for Maddyn but I don't do it every single day---just as we need it or if it fits into our day. Being flexible is the key word for me!! 

We had an absolute PERFECT day here in Texas last week that our "Nature Day" got completely swapped with a different day---it was beautiful and most of the day was spent outside! 

I laugh at how our plans don't always go as planned and that's the beauty of being a mom! 

We ran outside one day and had a picnic---love those because it's super easy clean-up! 

My 16 month old had other plans on this day--- to grab his sisters juice box and cheese and fling dirt onto her plate :)---so inside we went! 

Here he gobbled up his lunch and had no distractions....

Sweet angel girl, wanted to continue her picnic so I opened up the kitchen window and we talked back and forth while Ty ate his lunch. (I promise she's not a mile away as she looks in the picture!ha!)

On another particular day we spent a few minutes learning the letter 'C' OUTSIDE while we played and played! (Note: That's supposed to be a car, not a truck!) 

And my Cam did her sweet writing as usual! 

I hope you are able to use this little schedule or at least gain a few ideas from it...it makes my weeks easier and hopefully yours too! 

Crepes oh my!

Hello! I wanted to share the recipe with you that I posted on Instagram the yesterday. 

I had intended on surprising the kids with this for dinner but instead, 

Dustin loved the idea so we all had this for dinner! I paired it with some eggs and it made 

a great combo. 

When you live fairly far from a grocery store that would actually sell crepes :)---you look online and find your own recipe. A friend had also given me this amazing whipped cream topping that is so delicious. 

I tweaked the recipe a bit by mixing all of my wet ingredients first and also adding a little sugar to it. 

You could also dust it with powdered sugar when you are finished but we were out. :( 

Crepes:
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 eggs
1/3 cup of sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup water
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter, melted

1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together all wet ingredients. Then add in the flour, salt and sugar.
2. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each crepe. Tilt the pan with a circular motion so that the batter coats the surface evenly.
Note: I used a small enough skillet so I could make sure these were even and rounded.
3. Cook the crepe for about 2 minutes, until the bottom is light brown. Loosen with a spatula, turn and cook the other side. Serve hot.
Note: mine did not take 2 minutes, more like 45 seconds and when you flip, the other side took even less to cook---probably because they are so thin!

Almond whipped cream:
1 pint of heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup of sugar
2 tsp almond extract (If you don't like a ton of almond flavor just use 1 tsp

And whip! Easiest thing ever
If you have a KitchenAid just attach your whisk looking spoon and whip on level 8 and you will see it start getting thick like whipping cream. If you don't have one just use a whisk and whip it until it thickens. This stuff is amazing and great to use just as a fruit dip!

Lather on some whipped cream and fruit and roll it up like a taco and you are done! 

Be sure to wrap it on the pretty side unlike I did ...looks like I made tortillas :) 

ENJOY!! 

Daddy decided to sit at the bar with Maddy and eat dinner---love that guy! 

Favorite products

And now let's take a break from my little family and talk products! I am always on the lookout for new things to try! I love walking into Sephora or Ulta (alone) :) and seeing what new things I can find. After I first had Maddyn, I discovered the make-up artist, Kandee Johnson...LOVE HER and her tutorials! I remember sitting at the computer taking a "momma break" from being a new mom and getting so much inspiration from her to try new things. All I do is Google her name with an area I'm looking for and I choose one of her suggested items to try. 

With all of that being said, here are a few of my "go to" products!

My first up is Bare Minerals, Concealer in Summer Bisque. This stuff is the best concealer and covers so well. I apply it to any blemishes or sun spots that I have and it stays all day.  It doesn't have that heavy look and is very weightless. It works really well with the combination of powder and blush that I wear.

The absolute BEST hairspray that I have been using forever is Big Sexy Hair. The name pretty much nails my style...I can't stand when my hair is flat! I blame it on my round face.
Dustin's grandma actually introduced this to me! ha!! She obviously had never used it (at least I don't think so) but picked it up for me, and Dustin and I laughed at the name years ago. Thanks Dot, my favorite hairspray...ever.

Lets talk this Soy Renewal Beach Spray! This spray smells like you literally walked off the beach and have just lathered up in some great smelling sunscreen! Best. Smell. Ever!
If you know me, you know that it takes me maybe 30 minutes TOPS to get ready. That's fully dressed from head to toe. The one part I spend the least on is my hair. Being a mom of 3 and having to get them all dressed as well, I just don't have a ton of time to spend on myself and I'm okay with that! That's where this spray comes into place.
 I recently got about 3 1/2 inches cut off due to a baby boy pulling it out, it falling out thanks to pregnancy and it was downright stringy at the ends. This beach spray adds volume and a bit of waves and also controls it so it's smooth.
I wanted to show you a few pictures of what my hair looks like before I fix it and what it looks like after. I hardly ever wash my hair the day of (and just wash it the night before) unless I am going to straighten it AND straightening it only happens maybe 1 every 2 weeks. I know, I know....bum over here :)

Now I haven't a clue how to take these pictures in a "non-huge finger type way" --so just pretend I'm great at this! (oh lordy, the phone cover!) ha!

BEFORE: ~Make-up on, clothes on, jewelry on, and hair about to be "fixed" ---or sprayed!

Next I literally spray some of this beach spray on and then a little hair spray and some teasing and my hair is fixed for the day. I really need to show you a video clip and you would laugh at how quick this process is. 

As you can see it's just a little more calm and fuller and doesn't looked completely like I just slept on wet hair the night before. 

The other day I wanted it a little more wavy, so I sprayed it with the soy spray and gathered it into a bun while I got the kids lunches ready and then took it down. It was way more wavier than this and was cute! 

And then my little shadow found me seconds later so he snuck in...what a great addition he makes! 

AND...began to try to eat the bottle while laughing...Do you realize how much I love this guy!??

I do indeed have some more products that I'm saving up to share with you--I can't wait to share them!

The blog is up and running...AGAIN!

I have had such a love for this blog and I find myself looking back on it for reminders of what my babies used to do, to reminisce on tiny changes that might have happened in our family, all the way to a glimpse into the past and to be able to "somewhat" relive it! I never found the time to scrapbook, so this is my scrapbook that I hold dear to my heart! 

With all of that being said...I thought it would be so much fun to revamp it a bit! Having 3 babies while holding down the fort around here while my husband works hard to provide for us... might sometimes bring struggles, new and innovative ideas, organization, tips and pointers, play ideas, recipes, and even some fun new products that might make a momma feel refreshed! :) So...I would love to share some of my ideas along with weekly baby updates for our family and friends! Feel free to follow our family of 5, as I share with you some weekly updates!

 My favorite beauty products will be up next!!