Five Fun Facts on Friday

I've skipped a few days of writing this week because my husband just launched his first blog, Alamo City Living. I'm so excited for him because this blog is a little bit of everything Mr. Idol related: real estate, life, photography and film. All of that to say I've been pretty involved with helping him by mapping out some posts and doing some research for him so hopefully I can give some more attention to my blog next week.

As I mentioned last week, without further a duo....Mother's Day Special Edition: unique gift ideas coming from children. 

1. Breakfast in Bed

Even my kids, ages 4, 2, and 10 months old, can help do something like this. Well, probably not the itty bitty one but the other two are definitely old enough to help crack some eggs and set the table with adult supervision. Give them some aprons, have them pick out some flowers, and a card and it's a special treat for mom. I thought this was a cute idea too!

2. Mother’s Day Time Capsule

This looks like a fun and creative idea! If you don't do this for Mother's Day it's a great idea for a birthday gift!

3. Mini Film

I absolutely love that my husband is a creative genius! I think something like the film below would be a great Mother's Day gift! I know he used the application iMovie to make this but if you  are like me and know nothing about how that works it may seem like a lofty task. This isn't really a gift coming straight from the hands of little ones but they could definitely play a huge part to make the film. Videography is one of my hubby's passions but if you can't afford to hire someone like him try researching these apps out and see if they help the non-techy person in you! 

4. Mother's Day Gift Jar

This is a thoughtful one. Cut strips of paper and ask the kids what they like about mommy. Jot each one down, fold it up, and put it all in a pretty little jar that they could even decorate. Simple and perfect!

5. Photo Bookmarks

These are also a cute idea! Click here for the easy steps and final product. 

Happy Friday!

Ask the How and the Why

Too often we ask the "how" without the "why."

I recently started reading a leadership book on church growth. I'm not a pastor or on staff at a church but the subject of leadership intrigues me. I'm a leader. I lead my home daily. The little people who follow me may not have a choice in the matter but I do lead them.

The introduction of the book grasped my attention because this principal of asking the "how" with the "why" can be applied to our daily lives.

I have a four year old and she asks an insane amount of questions. If I'm honest there are moments where I want to close the conversation as rapidly as possible so my answers are short and sweet sprinkled in with a few uh huhs. But this thought of giving her a reason, giving her a why is important because it continues to generate curiosity and understanding. I'm doing her an injustice when I cut the conversation short.

On the other spectrum it had me thinking too about how I ask other moms questions about parenting or blogging or whatever the subject may be. There is power in asking why we do the things we do not just how we do them. Knowing the why empowers us for growth. What's the principal behind the policy? Have we focused more on methods instead of motives? Actions rather than attitudes?

Don't fear the why. 

A Significant Reminder

"Everybody you meet is fighting some kind of battle."

A precious mother of seven children said that to a group of mothers the other day. I was in that group and it was a necessary reminder. 

Being a parent no matter how many children you have is not only a blessing it can also be a challenging task. The moment that little bundle of joy is put into your arms no instruction manual accompanies him or her. I think in those moments we are so giddy and happy and beyond excited but once the honeymoon phase passes we wonder what are we to do next. 

Parenting is challenging because it comes with no particular formula. Parents are different. Children are different. Thankfully there are great resources like books, the Internet, our parents, friends, and counselors but ultimately it's up to each one of us to walk this out. 

So the next time you see another mom at the grocery store with a cart full of crying children say something kind. You've been in the trenches of motherhood extend grace, say a prayer, or put your hand on her shoulder and tell her to hang in there.

Five Fun Facts on Friday

With Mother’s Day being next month I thought I’d do my part by doing some research on what would be a thoughtful gift to give that special mom in your life.

 A month away seems like eternity to most people but with the hustle and bustle of life who wants a gift that was thrown together last minute? Don’t get me wrong I’m grateful for the flowers, jewelry, etc. but I’m one of those who actually likes a gift that had love and thought put into it so this is a short helpful guide for what I thought would be some neat ideas to get you working towards. Don’t worry mates I’m working on some Mother’s Day Gift Ideas that would come from the little ones! So stay tuned!

I doubt my audience of readership is men but hey you never know! If you are a man and you’re reading this I hope this is helpful to you. If you feel lost, uncreative or no idea where to start maybe you can recruit the help of a sister or aunt or your own mom to help you with the process. Ladies, no shame on forwarding a link of this post to the man in your life as a *hint hint.* I know my husband actually appreciates the “hints” he hates starting with a blank slate. 

I know there are so many creative ideas out there but I thought I’d start with five since it is Five Fun Facts on Friday!

1. For the Sentimental Mom/Wife in Your Life: Kid Portraits 

It may take work and you’ll have to be sneaky but a gift of portraits of your kids may just bring her to tears! I happen to know a great photographer ;) so if you are interested visit his website to schedule your portraits! You can always do a follow up with a family portrait but this would be neat for her to not stress over outfits and hair and just enjoy the byproduct!  

On that same trail….One of the best gifts my husband, the photographer, gave me was a  40 page book of our kids with photos he took throughout the year. I treasure that book! Now at days with everything digital it is so rare you come across a photo album or scrapbook. My hubby used this website and they do a really neat job at a reasonable price.

Front Cover

Inside of the book

I've never used this company but if you are an Instagram junkie this may work for you!

2. For the Foodie Mom/Wife in Your Life: Food Tour 

About four hours will be needed to make this an event she won’t forget! Combine food with the River Walk, History, and Architecture in San Antonio and you’ve got a real win! Visit here for more details. Make the reservation, book a sitter and the two of you can enjoy a great day! 

3. For the Everyday Mom/Wife in Your Life: In Home Spa  

I’ve always wanted to do an all-day Spa where I’m being pampered and relaxed but who wants to spend $500!? I know it won’t be the exact same but trust me she won’t complain if you follow every step below! 

- take the kids somewhere for 3-4 hours 

- set it all up for her so she doesn’t have to do anything but enjoy: buy her bath soaks, lotions, bubble bath, etc. 

- set up candles all throughout the bathroom 

- a touch of rose petals laid out 

- buy her a book she’s been wanting to read in fact you can even go the extra mile and get her one of these sweet little bags 

- you can buy her one of these and she can get a good foot soak in and use it for other days to come

- you can also buy her a nail polish or two with a manicure kit. 

- if she doesn’t have a robe you can even buy her a soft or silky one 

- top of that little adventure with a bottle of wine, a plate with cheese, crackers and fruit and I think you’d be Husband of the Year! 

4. For the Decorator Mom/Wife in Your Life: Canvas Art  

I’m a fan of Erin Condren’s products and her website offers Canvas Art! You can find options here or try Etsy for a one of a kind unique art! 

5. For the Romantic Mom/Wife in Your Life: What I love about you book 

My husband got me one of these one year. Not this exact one but same concept and it was so sweet and thoughtful reading through how he felt about me. Some parts even made me cry! This one is a good start or you can make your own. My husband got mine at a Hallmark store you may be able to find one through there too.

Hallmark's hard cover version

The first page of the book

Alright well hopefully this is a good start for you all! Start dropping the hints now! ;)

Happy Friday!

When Parenting Meets Chaos - Pt. 3: "Making Your Own Emergency Kit"

So you’re stuck in a mess of a situation and a multitude of “I should haves” come blurting out of your mouth. Today is about hopefully keeping you at peace and getting you prepared for the day kid chaos comes knocking at your door.

Today I’ll be walking you through making your own Emergency Kit to keep in your car for those “oops” moments. You don’t want to be stuck in a situation like this one with no means of back up!

Don’t stress out about having to spend a ridiculous amount of money to make this kit. All of the items I listed below I already had in my home, and if you don’t have the items you need visit your local Dollar Store or Target’s $1 bin. You can start a kit with what you do have, leave it in your car, and build on it as you see items on sale or items that can be useful. 

Mom's Car Emergency Kit:

- back pack/reusable bag/duffle bag

- set of clothes for each child (don’t forget to rotate when seasons change)

- undergarments for each child

- extra set of clothes for mom (I threw in an extra shirt but not an entire outfit)

- diapers (if you need them)

- wipes

- 1-2 towels

- hand sanitizer

- roll of paper towels or handful of napkins or both

- tissue

- pair of scissors

- flashlight

- First Aid Kit

- meds (tylenol, benadryl, tums, etc.)

- feminine products

- 1-2 trash bags

- travel size toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, toilet paper, etc.)

I got everything but a flashlight. I'll be searching for one soon!

It all fits just great!

Feel free to add items or take out items. These are just a few ideas to help you get started, and these are items that I would personally like to have in my own kit. If you want to get even more organized and prepared I recommend visiting this website for some great ideas on Emergency Preparedness.

I'd love to hear some of your ideas on what you think needs to go in a Emergency Kit!

"When Parenting Meets Chaos" - Pt. 2: No More Shame, No More Guilt

Yesterday’s blog post described my most recent parent chaos situation I faced. If you somehow missed the drama please be sure to catch up by reading it here. 

Today I want to write about something I think we all face as parents at one point or another, shame and guilt. We are not perfect. Don’t let other parenting blogs or moms fool you and I’m sure each one would agree that they too don’t have it all together. We write because we are passionate about others seeing our mistakes and learning from them and to share a few laughs too. 

I’ve been guilty of keeping my kids from fun because I didn’t want to deal with the aftermath of a mess. I’m a bit OCD and as a planner I like order and when it doesn’t happen I tend to freak out a bit. Well shoot, when will these kids ever get to experiment and have fun? I know. I know. It just wasn’t fair to them and it took my little parenting chaos I described yesterday to make me realize I was inhibiting them from creating fun memories. 

So what’s the core problem? Is it laziness on our part, are we too wrapped up in our own stuff, is it a matter of carving out time? Each of our personalities are different and our schedules and seasons are different so I think this is the first step for us. Figure out what’s the core problem and I think that once we know what that is we can put a plan of action into place to keep us from feeling like failures. 

Today is not about making you feel like a failure or to pour on the guilt if you’ve felt the way I have. Today is about empowering you to think outside the box. It’s about changing the way we think and visualizing an insane amount of memories our children will share with us and with one another. 

So a few practical ideas:

- Carve out time each day for your kids to enjoy some kid to parent time and/or some out of your comfort zone fun. You know your family schedule so you arrange the time but even 30 minutes can be sufficient. 

- Limit your phone use. I love to take pictures of what the kids are doing because it can always turn into a great blog idea or simply serve as memories but once I snap those shots I try to put the phone away and engage with them. 

- Plan, Plan, Plan. If you know your day is filled with laundry, cooking, and all the household chores maybe wake up an hour or two earlier to try to knock some of those things out so you don’t let those tasks over rule the opportunity for some potential fun. 

- Consider "dates" with each one of your kids. Plan it out. Something even as simple as going to the grocery store with one child as oppose to all of them can make that one child feel special. Be creative. My four year old doesn't take naps anymore so while the other two were napping the other day we played her favorite board game and she loved it. It made her feel incredibly special. Not everything needs to be a huge event or cost you money.

- Be prepared for the unexpected. Please note that no matter how prepared you can be plans can still go awry so it’s not always a guarantee but hey it’s better than nothing! Visit tomorrow to catch a glimpse of how to make your own Emergency Kit for the unexpected chaos!

So no more shame and move over guilt! No mom out there is perfect! Figure out what works for you and your family and go with it. Don't try to follow another mom's schedule or routine. It's great to get ideas but don't fall into the trap of "I'm not good enough" because your life doesn't look like someone else's. That's when the shame and guilt creep in. Hang in there mommy, you're doing just fine!

“When Parenting Meets Chaos” - Part 1: Choosing to Make the Most of a Kid Situation

Today’s post is part of a three part series called, “When Parenting Meets Chaos.” Make sure to visit Tuesday and Wednesday for the following: 

Pt 2 - When Parenting Meets Chaos - “No More Shame, No More Guilt”

Pt 3 - When Parenting Meets Chaos - "How to Make Your Own Emergency Kit"

Chaos frequently happens when you have little ones. The question is are we prepared for those moments that creep up on us? Oh and if you have little ones it is not a matter of “if” it is a matter of “when” because something dramatic will happen when you least expect it.  Last week I was no where near prepared for the adventure that came knocking at my door. 

My husband is part of a tennis league so the kids and I enjoy heading out to cheer on dad. We had never been to this particular tennis court so I wasn’t sure what to expect. When we arrived I was a little relieved to see they had a small bleacher stand, a grassy area that was enclosed for the kids to run around in, and nobody else in our designated court but our family. Perfect. I can let the two older kids run around and sit with the baby and actually enjoy watching this tennis match. About 20 minutes into the match I turned my back to the grassy area and I see the older two running in circles and having a blast. The weather was absolutely gorgeous! A few days ago it was rainy and cold so the kids had been cooped up indoors so it was fun to see them running around and giggling with one another. Until…I caught a glimpse of them jumping into a mud puddle. Oh well, it seemed harmless just their feet were getting dirty and it didn’t seem like too big of a deal. I turned around and continued to watch the match in peace with no kids to yell at for running on the bleachers. Another 10-15 minutes go by and I look over and my kids are drenched in soppy mud! They looked like little piglets rolling around in this mud puddle. And I mean they weren’t just rolling in it, they were swimming in it and then my son dunks his head in the puddle. Dear God what happened in a matter of minutes! 

I typically try to avoid these scenarios especially if I’m not prepared for it but after I took a deep breath and just let it be it was actually quite funny. Their giggling is what got me. They were genuinely having a fantastic time and I wasn’t about to ruin that for them. I just couldn’t. I’ll deal with the after math somehow.  

Watching them play brought back a flood gate of childhood memories of my brother and I. My brother Jonathan and I are only 15 months a part. Growing up he was my best friend, my playmate, and my go-to buddy in times of boredom. That’s how I see Sophia and Jack. I started thinking back to our mini adventures of riding our bikes around the neighbor, making mud pies, and running through the sprinklers. Mom not once, not ever, did she yell at us for being too messy. Guilty. I’m ashamed to say I’ve been guilty of aborting my kids’ fun because I didn’t want to deal with a mess. Ashamed. So ashamed. This little adventure was a good wake up call and reminder that kids are going to be kids. They want to explore. Don’t you remember having adventures of your own as a child? 

There’s a family who lives a few houses down from us and just about every evening I see the little boy’s father playing outside with him. They’re always playing hockey or throwing the ball. That little boy is never going to forget that. He’s going to look back on some pretty special moments and bonding time with his father. I want my kids to look back on their memories and think that about me and my husband. I don’t want their memories of us to be that we were always stationed behind our phones or computers.  

Thankfully when my husband’s tennis match was over he laughed along with the kids and took the opportunity for some photos. He looked over at me and said, “Well look on the bright side I’m sure you’ll get a blog post out of this one.”  

The tennis courts we were at actually had a locker room so I wrangled the two little piglets and gave them a shower. I didn’t have towels on hand but I actually had extra clothes in the van. I dried them up with wads of paper towels and just threw on their clothes I had. We found trash bags and threw their muddy clothes and shoes in it. With pieces of grass and mud still stuck in places we left the establishment with laughter and memories.