Thursday, April 23, 2015

A much needed vacation

See you on the flip side....





Until next time...

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

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Motherhood is the most rewardingly stressful job in the world. As mothers, we spend most of our day in blissful chaos. We are responsible for shaping our children into the best they can be. That is a responsibility that we should never take lightly. We need to embrace this job that God has given us. These tips can help you be the mom your children need. 



How To Be The Mom Your Children Need


  • Pray for them daily
  • Ask them what they want from you. 
  • Have a Hide-a-way day. (Stay in your pajamas all day and just have some indoor fun)
  • Spend time individually with each of your children
  • Do devotionals together
  • Let them play in the mud
  • Encourage them
  • Show them that people make mistakes (that's why pencils have erasers)
  • Make time for them
  • Put them in groups that will grow their relationship with God
  • Say "I Love You" daily or 2 x a day or 3 (you see where I'm going here?)
  • Show them how to have a servants heart. 
  • Go on vacations together
  • Discipline them separately from their siblings
  • Teach them to love unconditionally
  • Make a home that they want to come back to.


I hope these can inspire you to make your children's lives full of fun, love, acceptance and most importantly The Lord. 


Until next time....



Saturday, April 18, 2015

How do you make the memories last?



We had a blast today! It got muddy but the kids had the time of their lives. 


Today made me think about how so many times I get caught up in the craziness of life and forget to stop and enjoy the memories. 


I want to start taking the time to relish in the small moments that mean the most to my sweet kiddies! 





How do you make memories with your kids? I would love to hear some fun ideas since summer is coming up. 


Until next time...



Thursday, April 16, 2015

Date your spouse



Remember when you first started dating your spouse? That feeling of excitement and fireworks? Why can't you still have it? 


Let's face it, life gets in the way sometimes. But, there is still no excuse to stop dating your spouse. Whether you have been married 1 year or 50 years. 


Below are a few cheap and last minute dates ideas that The Hubs and I have come up with. 

  1. Go for a walk somewhere new. 
  2. Rent or buy a new movie and watch it at home (they have $5 movies at Wal-Mart)
  3. Get in the car and go get lost
  4. Go tour a open house (never done this but have always wanted to, and pretend you have British voices)
  5. Run an errand together (seriously just the 2 of you it will be fun)
  6. Go bowling
  7. Go the local farmer's market 
  8. Go to Medieval times (2 people get in for the price of one on your birthday)
  9. Go to your local roof top restaurant and play some pool (we did this last night)
  10. Go to the drive-in
  11. Go on a motorcycle ride to some historical sites
  12. Let your hubby pick the date (might be a fun adventure)
What ever it is that you do, the time together is the best part. Do what you love and have some fun!


Until next time....



Monday, April 13, 2015

A Week Of Memories


This past week was a whirl of excitement. 




My 2nd daughter Sophie turned 7 (WOW how did that happen already?)




Then she lost 3 teeth...in 2 days time! 




We had her birthday party on Sunday. 




I am a tired mommy but, it was worth every minute when at the end of the night, Sophie looks at me and says "You're the best mommy ever!". I would say that is a win!


Until next time...




Sunday, April 12, 2015

New Season of Motherhood - Part Five

Join me as I start the new season of motherhood! A 5 part series that examines how we, as mothers, can begin to find ourselves, AGAIN!


Part Five - Hold on to your faith


Now I don't want to offend anyone but, my faith is something that grounds me. That is why as I go through my journey in this world I know that my God will always walk me through it. 

That is why through your own journey holding on to your faith is essential. You will keep a sense of peace. When everything is changing around you, your God will be there to hold you still and walk with you on your path. 


So as I wrap up this series remember. Let go of perfection, enjoy the moment, choose joy, reclaim your hobby and hold on to your faith. I pray that all of you find my series helpful.



Until next time...



Saturday, April 11, 2015

News: Changes ahead



I am super excited about how well my little blog is doing! I want to send a quick THANK YOU to all my readers. 



I also wanted to let you know that I will be making a lot of changes to the website very soon and over the course of the next few months. Stay tuned to see the great things God has put in front of me.



Join me Monday as we conclude our "New Season of Motherhood" journey.


Until Next Time...




Friday, April 10, 2015

A New Season of Motherhood - Part Four

Join me as I start the new season of motherhood! A 5 part series that examines how we, as mothers, can begin to find ourselves, AGAIN!



Remember when you were younger and you had that one thing that you just LOVED? Why did you stop doing it? Kids? Work? Life getting the way? 
If you are going to find yourself again, you need to reclaim that hobby. But, this part also includes being able to just get away from it all. For your sanity! Get away from everything that you can and go do what you love. 
For me it is tennis. I played in high school and I loved it. It made me feel energized and happy. But, tennis may not be your thing or you may not know what you hobby will be. I have included below a list of great hobbies to you to try. Heck, make a bucket list and do all the hobbies on the list. But, whatever you do, do it for you!!



  1. Reading - I am always a fan of this one :)
  2. Bike-riding. This is also great for getting back into shape!
  3. Walking/Running. This is a great way to put on some tunes and have a blast
  4. Join a Bible Study group at your church
  5. Scrap-booking. This is a great way to create some keepsakes of the kiddos too!
  6. Garage-saleing. Enough said!
  7. Paint a picture
  8. Volunteering. I have been thinking of doing this myself. Maybe at a children's hospital or a animal shelter
  9. Baking. The family will love this. You will have a line for samples
  10. Playing the piano
  11. Gardening
  12. Photography This is actually something that I love to do as well. I bought a camera at a thrift store and introduced myself to an all new hobby
  13. Illustrating. Or coloring books for adults. (yes they have them and they are awesome)
  14. Handmade crafts to sell. ie; candles, art, wreaths, etc. 
  15. Zumba
  16. Home Decorating. Let's face it, we love to do this!
  17. Cooking. 
  18. Knitting
  19. Yoga
  20. Go back to school, whether just to take one class, or finish a degree.
  21. Thrift Store Shopping. You can find some really great deals
  22. Go antiquing. 
  23. Become a writer/blogger. I truly enjoy doing it. 
  24. Re-finish old furniture. Can help you save money by fixing those old broken pieces you were going to have to replace
  25. Make home-made jam.
  26. Become a bird-watcher. This is actually a really fun activity!
  27. Do puzzles
  28. Teach Sunday School
  29. Sky-diving (this would be a bucket list item for sure)
  30. Needle-work

Until next time....

Katie B

Monday, April 6, 2015

A New Season of Motherhood: Part Three

Join me as I start the new season of motherhood! A 5 part series that examines how we, as mothers, can begin to find ourselves, AGAIN!

Part Three: Choose Joy



What makes you happy? 

Whatever makes you happy is apart of you. That may seem obvious but, as mommies we seem to always put our happiness last. We make sure our hubbies and kiddos are happy first before ourselves. 

In order for us to find ourselves we must choose the things that bring us joy. Do you like to run and clear your thoughts? Do it! Do you like to sit on your back porch and watch the sunrise? Make a cup of coffee and enjoy it! Do you like to watch Netflix? I recommend Gilmore Girls! 

Don't put yourself last anymore. Your family wants to see you happy and joyful! Do a happy dance or break into song when you are doing what you love. I love to cook, so when I am in the kitchen I make it an episode of "So You Think You Can Dance". I'm dancing around and completely embarrassing my kids. But, I'm having fun and the kids see that. Praise yourself when you do something awesome! It will be infectious I promise. Just the other day my oldest, Estella, was learning to braid her hair and when she finally got it you would have though she had won an Oscar!



So my advice for this part is, accept your Oscar and CHOOSE JOY!

Until Next Time...


Katie B


Saturday, April 4, 2015

A New Season of Motherhood - Part Two

Join me as I start the new season of motherhood! A 5 part series that examines how we, as mothers, can begin to find ourselves, AGAIN!

Part Two: Enjoy the Moment



That's it! This is the easiest part of the series. Enjoy the moment! 



Take the time to see what is right in front of you. See each moment as one that will forever be with you. 



Make it fun, inspirational, crazy or simple.



 If your kids are running around screaming, laughing, jumping or rolling in the mud. Enjoy it!


 If you are getting a much needed bubble bath, kid-free shopping trip or morning quiet time. Love it! 



You will never have this moment again. 


Until next time....


Katie B












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Tuesday, March 31, 2015

New Season of Motherhood - Part One

Join me as I start the new season of motherhood! A 5 part series that examines how we, as mothers, can begin to find ourselves, AGAIN!

Part One: Giving Up On Perfection

Why do you call me good? Jesus answered. No one is good—except God alone. 
                                                                                                             Mark 10:18


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If you are trying to make a perfect life for your kids you will fail. You can not do it. This was a very hard lesson for me to learn. I wanted a life like in the movies. But, I kept getting let down, so I would work harder at it. Until, I was spiritually awakened one day with a sermon that my pastor preached. He said that perfection was something that only Jesus was able to obtain. We were never going to be perfect, we would fail every time. All we can be is blissfully faithful in the life we have. Perfection does not equal happiness. Strive to make your children live happy lives instead of perfect ones. 


As a mother you have dreams for each one of your children. You want them to succeed at everything they do. You don't want them to be hurt or feel sad for any reason. You are there to protect them and care for them. You want to make their lives perfect. But, I think that some where in the daily mix of life we lose the ability to see that our children's idea of perfect is very different from our's. They don't want to see mommy sad or upset because things are going perfect. They want to see mommy happy, smiling or, in my case, dancing around the house to a Taylor Swift song. We get too busy trying to make it all work that we forget to see that life won't be perfect. Did you spill that bowl of mashed potatoes you were whipping? It's not the end of the world. Did you put all your kids in beautiful church clothes only to have the muddy dog come love on them and leave her mark? Look at it like a great memory the kids will have and not a failure on your part. 



Once you are able to give up on perfection you will be able to see the ability to take time for yourself. Let the hubby watch the kids and go get your nails done. Or go get a latte at Starbucks and take a walk to just think. 

I challenge you to give up on the perfect life and embrace the life you have. You will exhaust yourself trying to make it how you think it should be. Make a life full of happiness and you will find your own brand of perfect!

Join me later this week for Part Two of my series "A New Season of Motherhood" 

Until next time...


Katie B




Sunday, March 29, 2015

A New Season of Motherhood - 5 part series


I am on a soul searching journey! The last few months I have felt crabby and uncomfortable in my own skin. I couldn't really figure out why. I have as you know been dieting. I am now beginning to realize that the food that I was putting in my body was not good for me or my thinking. It feel as though I am finally able to think clearly! 

With that said I have started to realize that I am beginning a new season of life or a new season of motherhood rather. How's that you ask? Well because my children are getting older. For 10 years of my life I have had to be the complete caretaker to my babies. They are all at an age now that I don't have to do everything for them. I am not saying that I will just leave them to do everything for themselves but, I don't have to do it ALL anymore. This was not an easy to grasp for me. As a mother you want to be able to help your children in anyway you can. You want to protect them from everything and make sure that they are completely happy 100% of the time. As they get older you can't do that like you did when they were an infant. 




So I am now starting to focus on myself again. I can honestly say that in the last week I have "fixed" my hair more that I have in, at least, 5 years. I use to wake up in the morning get the kiddos up and ready for school. Then I would just throw my hair up in a ponytail and begin my day with the 2 little ones. I rarely looked at myself in the mirror and never dressed up for the day. Jeans and t-shirts have been my wardrobe for as long as I can remember. I don't know what came over me this week but, I LOVE IT. I woke up curled my hair, put make-up on and dressed up in some "girly" clothes. I felt great! I felt like I was myself again and not hiding behind my insecurities. 

Have any of you gone through a new season of life and realized you weren't really living, just getting through each day?

Join me as I start the new season of motherhood! A 5 part series that examines how we, as mothers, can begin to find ourselves, AGAIN!


Until next time...

Katie B

Thursday, March 19, 2015

The Big "D" Update


Well, I slacked off a little. I'll admit! But, I noticed I was doing it and changed my mind set. That is something I haven't been able to do in a while. If I got into a "funk" I stayed there and was stuck in it. The Hubs and I went to the gym yesterday and he pushed me to do more than I've done in YEARS. I complained about most of it but, afterwards I was REALLY happy that I was able to do all of the workout (and didn't throw up). I am feeling something I haven't felt in a while....My muscles are SO sore! I can barely walk and I sneezed earlier and thought my stomach was going to exploded. HA!!

I am down 8 pounds! I love the number 8!


Has anyone else started a weight loss journey? I would love to hear about how its going! 



Until next time....

Katie B



Thursday, March 5, 2015

Time For The Big "D" part 3

I have lost....3 pounds!! 3! Not one, not two but three!!!



I have been going to the gym everyday. I have been eating better and eating dinner before 6 at night.
I am taking it slow cause let's face it, I am not in shape.

I am not the athletic, muscular tennis player I was in high school.


But, I feel as though I can get close now. I have changed bad habits and started better ones. Isn't that what it's all about?

Until next time...

Katie B