Diamonds in the Rough : January 2015

Monday, January 26, 2015

Come Join The Party & BE ENCOURAGED!!! It's Mom 2 Mom Link Up Time!

The Mom 2 Mom Encouragement Link Up Party

Mom 2 Mom Encourage brush border blank new

Welcome everyone to another week at the party!!!
We are so glad you are here. We hope you will join us each Monday at 9am EST to link-up, hop around, encourage others, and be encouraged.

The Mom 2 Mom Monday Link-Up is built on the foundation of 1 Thessalonians 5:11

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)"

This is a place you can come to offer encouragement to other moms as well as be encouraged.

Your Hosts:

Sarah from My Joy-Filled Life {Facebook} {Pinterest} {Twitter} {Google+} {Instagram} {Bloglovin'}

Jenn from The Purposeful Mom {Facebook} {Pinterest} {Google+} {Bloglovin'}

Tauna from Proverbial Homemaker {Facebook} {Pinterest} {Twitter} {Google+} {Bloglovin'}

Rachael from Diamonds in the Rough {Pinterest} {Twitter} {Google+} {Instagram} {Bloglovin'}

You are welcome to link up AS MANY of your own posts that would offer encouragement, tips, wisdom, or advice to other moms.

Some suggested post topics are:

Homemaking, Motherhood, Meal Planning, Recipes, Christian Faith, Encouraging Words, Homeschooling/Education, Financial Stewardship, Health & Wellness, Hospitality, Marriage, Discipline, Ministry, Pregnancy & Childbirth, Time Management, Organization, Crafts & Activities for Kids.......

Each week we will be featuring the most clicked on post and each of our 3 favorites from the previous week. We will also be sharing the featured posts on our social media outlets.

Most Popular From Last Week

Meal Planning For The Homeschool Family

And some of my personal favs from last week...

9 Mason Jar Dessert Recipes

Hearty Winter Beef Stew

Coconut & Honey Lip Scrub

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Cookies

& did you miss these posts from the blog?

& please be sure to check over at Proverbial Homemaker, The Purposeful Mom, and My Joy Filled Life to see if you were featured there!

Don't want to miss a Mom 2 Mom Monday Link-Up?

Sign up below to get an email reminder every Monday morning when the link-up is live (don't worry, we won't send you any other kinds of emails - this sign up is exclusively for the Mom 2 Mom Monday Link-Up).

Subscribe for Mom 2 Mom Link-Up Reminders

Friday, January 23, 2015

Mamas, Finding JOY In Your Calling

Mamas, Finding JOY In Your Calling

It isn't always easy to be a mother.

Rewarding, yes.
Fulfilling, you betcha.

Tiring & tough at times...another resounding yes!

The title is not without it's challenges & unique day to day sacrifices.

You're supposed to be:

-the taxi driver

-the CEO of the home

-the planner/organizer

-the peace maker

-the boo boo kisser

-the teacher & helper

-the cook

-on call 24/7

Did I mention the role of 'you have to automatically know where everything is in this house'???
I got that one too ;)

Of course Dad should play a part as well.

Good marriages make parenting a team effort.

We love our spouse's for that :)

But I have a question for you today: have you found JOY along your journey??

Today, I want to share FIVE tips that have helped me stay 'sane' as a Mama.

They've helped me to stay grounded & learn to enjoy (most of!) the adventure.

To help promote JOY in my heart as a parent.

Even in the most difficult of seasons parenting, we can truly (deep down) know that our calling is a blessing. That we are making a difference.

Most importantly, we can learn to see each one of our children as the wonderful gifts of God that they truly are.

Regardless of how they might 'act' at times..

Five Tips To Find JOY In Your Calling

Realize It IS Only A Season

Being a mother doesn't end when they leave the nest of course, however there is a short season where you will be required to give that total care package I mentioned. I am truly, truly thankful for the mothers that have stopped & reminded me to enjoy this season while they are still young. They will grow up so fast, and one day I want to remember all the lovely adventures we shared together.

Remind Yourself You're Investing In Something HUGE. The next generation.

Some days I feel SO frazzled from having to remind a child (or 2, or 3!) that their behaviour needs to change, and all I can do is look at the clock & begin the bedtime countdown in my head! (anybody been there??)
However, the bigger picture & reality of our lives, is that our children ARE the next generation. They are it.
No matter how many other activities or callings we are investing in, they will live on to share our family's legacy. Our heritage.
This alone keeps me on my knees most days for my children & our future.

Don't Go It Alone: Inviting Friends & Family To Be Your Allies.

I have to remind myself of this one all the time. It's not going to work very well if I try to do it all alone. We need one another Mamas. We need our church support, our family, our healthy friendships.
Of course some of us are missing pieces from a 'normal' support network, but we can all reach out to people around us. If we are prayerful & using wisdom, we can find like-minded souls who will help us to keep on keeping on when the job gets downright tough.

Fill Up Your Spiritual Tank.

Who better knows our needs than our Heavenly Father? Who knows our children's unique strengths & weaknesses better than He does?
I am all for reading great parenting books, and getting advice from those who've already 'been there & done that', but the reality is that at the end of the day the buck falls on you & only YOU! Spouses included of course.
I take what advice I can where appropriate, but most days I am asking the Father for wisdom & guidance along my parenting journey.

Everything In Balance.

We need our relaxation time. We need to have our time with our spouse. We need to spend one-on-one time with each child. We need to get our spiritual nourishment. We need this. We need that....everything has to be in balance & moderation.
I've had seasons where I've worked myself so hard that I ended up getting sick & close to burn-out. Other seasons I've been convicted I need to stay more diligent on certain tasks. Sometimes I have plenty of 'girlfriend' time, other times I've had to remind myself to stay in touch with the outside world.

I think if we remind ourselves regularly of what/who needs to be a part of our lives, it is a matter of scheduling those aspects in. Ask yourself what is vital & then balance those things out.

Those five tips have helped me to stay balanced.

To experience JOY in my ever-growing journey as a Mama.

Vote for me @ Top Mommy Blogs - Mom Blog Directory

What about you?

What helps you to stay grounded as a Mama? What helps to promote JOY in your heart?

I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments section.

Related Posts On The Blog

Monday, January 19, 2015

So Much Encouragement In One Place: Mom 2 Mom Style!!!

The Mom 2 Mom Encouragement Link Up Party

Welcome everyone to another week at the party!!!
We are so glad you are here. We hope you will join us each Monday at 9am EST to link-up, hop around, encourage others, and be encouraged.

The Mom 2 Mom Monday Link-Up is built on the foundation of 1 Thessalonians 5:11

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)"

This is a place you can come to offer encouragement to other moms as well as be encouraged.

Your Hosts:

Sarah from My Joy-Filled Life {Facebook} {Pinterest} {Twitter} {Google+} {Instagram} {Bloglovin'}

Jenn from The Purposeful Mom {Facebook} {Pinterest} {Google+} {Bloglovin'}

Tauna from Proverbial Homemaker {Facebook} {Pinterest} {Twitter} {Google+} {Bloglovin'}

Rachael from Diamonds in the Rough {Pinterest} {Twitter} {Google+} {Instagram} {Bloglovin'}

You are welcome to link up AS MANY of your own posts that would offer encouragement, tips, wisdom, or advice to other moms.

Some suggested post topics are:

Each week we will be featuring the most clicked on post and each of our 3 favorites from the previous week. We will also be sharing the featured posts on our social media outlets.

Most Popular From Last Week

And some of my personal favs from last week...

20 Slow Cooker Dinners with 6 Ingredients or Less via thefrugalfoodiemama.com #crockpot #weeknightdinners

20 Slow Cooker Dinners With Six Or Less Ingredients

One Bowl Flourless Chocolate Cake

Want to get your life organized? Check out my Daily To-Do Planning Sheet! Easily keep track of your To-Do list, your water intake, and appointments for the day!

Getting Organized & FREE Printable

What Happens When You Know A Curriculum Isn`t Working

& did you miss this post from the blog?

& please be sure to check over at Proverbial Homemaker, The Purposeful Mom, and My Joy Filled Life to see if you were featured there!

Don't want to miss a Mom 2 Mom Monday Link-Up?

Subscribe for Mom 2 Mom Link-Up Reminders

***A few things you should know before linking up:

Please link up to a specific post on your blog, not your blog's main page.
By linking up your post(s), you are giving the hosts of Mom 2 Mom Monday Link-Up permission to use your graphics in the featured posts and on social media outlets.
Visit other bloggers - visit at least 3 other links at the party.
A link back is not required, but appreciated. Go ahead and grab a button too, especially if you were featured.
The hosts would be blessed if you followed them.
They would also be blessed if you would spread the word about the Mom 2 Mom Monday Link-Up.

And now for the link-up!

Let's encourage one another and build each other up!

An InLinkz Link-up

Thursday, January 15, 2015

10 Steps To Make Our Homes Sparkle: Step By Step De-Cluttering

10 Steps To Make Our Homes Sparkle:

Step By Step De-Cluttering

AND a chance to link up your OWN cleaning posts!!!

Cleaning our homes isn't about having everything 'perfect' and looking pristine all of the time.

We can have a clean home, while having somewhat of a 'lived' in look.

Nor does organizing have to be tedious, stressful or time-consuming.

I'm serious.

We can also be fairly orderly without coming across as a 'neurotic Nancy', or as 'perfectionist Patsy'.

However, I do know that for myself if my home is in total disarray (particularly for long periods of time), then my stress levels go way up.

I've had to develop a system that works for our family.

It's always evolving, but I'm able to feel that I'm getting something done most days.

If I've peaked your interest, you need to keep reading!

So, here are my:

Top 10 Steps To Make Your Home Sparkle!

Start with the end in mind. First of all, you need to know what is realistic in your season of life. If you're like me (five kiddoss & a pooch) then your house is not going to be as clean as when you were living as a single woman. Make a list of your top ten attack areas. If you're having trouble thinking of them (too overwhelmed, perhaps?) then spend a few minutes on Google looking for basic FREE house cleaning printables. There are TONS!

Aim to set aside a short time each week day for an entire month for cleaning. They say it takes 21 days to form a habit, so one month's time will help you to: a) get out of a pit of discouragement, if you're feeling overwhelmed by your home's mess & b) give you a reasonable goal to work towards. This amount of time shouldn't be too long that you get burned out, but long enough to accomplish some dramatic cleaning & purging. (i.e. my suggested place to start is 20-30 minutes per week day, asides from a deeper cleaning once per week that usually takes place on one of the weekend days)

Don't try to attack too much at once. Once you begin cleaning on day 1, when the timer goes off stop what you're doing. Then simply pick up on day two wherever you finished last. That is the pattern you want to establish that first month. Also, try to keep the cleaning slot at the same time each day for consistency (helps with forming the habit). (i.e. so if you clean once per day from Monday to Friday, suggestion is to make Saturday your deeper cleaning day with slightly longer time slot & then Sunday your day of rest from the schedule)

As you clean, it's important to de-clutter & purge. One of the biggest obstacles to keeping our homes clean is TOO MUCH STUFF! So, as you clean keep alongside you three boxes or bags: one for stuff to give away, one for the trash, and one to temporarily hold stuff to relocate somewhere else in the home. Ensure you place those bags/boxes in the appropriate place when you're done.

Have a 'master sorting' area set aside. This is somewhere you don't fully organize until the end of that first month. It could be a garage corner, an extra bedroom, an empty closet or even a corner in your bedroom. This sorting area is where you take the giveaway stuff & extra trash until it can be properly disposed off. Schedule a day to take it where it needs to go at the end of the month, or even every two weeks if it's really piling up. Most importantly, just ensure you don't leave it there as you move forward!

Ensure you have all of your cleaning supplies ready. Cloths, rags, your preferred cleaners (or many things work from around the house as well, such as vinegar, baking soda, borax, lemon juice, etc.), mop, broom & dust pan, vacuum, garbage bags, & boxes (again, for sorting). Optional (depending on your 'attack' areas) --> empty book shelves, bins of various sizes, Tupperware containers of various sizes, wall shelving, shoe racks, etc. Pinterest is a great resource if you want to look at ways to frugally to organize things.

During your cleaning slots, turn off any distractions. Phones, computers, movies, anything that buzzes or will take your attention away from what you're doing. Latest studies I've read are saying we actually can't do everything at once. It's better to focus. The only allowed exception to this rule is: music! Find some fun beats & away you go. (NOTE: for some of us we will always have our children with us, and of course they are NOT a distraction. Enlist older children to help out with their own list. Younger children can do simple things that make them feel like they contributed. Babies can be safely placed in play pens, or perhaps choose to clean during nap/sleep time.)

Reward yourself when you finish each time slot. It could be something as simple as enjoying your favourite tea for 10 minutes on the couch. Allowing yourself to NOW check your social media accounts. Giving your fav friend a quick call or text. Anything that gives your brain a nice 'feeling' that encourages it to want to do it all over again... the next day :)

Instead of going all over the house haphazardly, attack only ONE ROOM at a time. I find it really rewarding to start in your main living space. As it cleans up you tend to feel good because you see the results each & everyday. Also, you will probably be reaffirmed whenever you have company over (especially if you used to have a total mess in that area!). However, another choice is to pick the room that is bugging you the most. Or lastly, your bedroom is another good option. It's always relaxing to have an orderly sleep area :)

Involve everyone who lives in the home. If you don't let them know what you're doing, you can be sure there'll be a revolt when you start re-organizing & something gets 'lost'. Let your spouse have their input. Allow your mature children/teens to be responsible for their own bedrooms, perhaps with your 'light' input. If you are single & have a room mate then respectfully discuss who will be responsible for what. It also increases the chance that your new cleaning & sorting systems will be followed for the long-term.

Once the one month 'trial' period is over, then implement a flexible weekly schedule. You may find you need more or less time daily, depending on how big your living space is. As well, you know your own personal comfort level for cleanliness in your house, and it is YOUR home! Now, in our home, we've tried: laminated charts, written lists, & winging it with a more 'loose' system. What I've found, that as long as we make some time daily for organizing/cleaning, it helps me to stay somewhat on top of it. Somewhat :)

Now here's your chance to share your tips!

Link up any post that pertains to cleaning, de-cluttering or purging.

An InLinkz Link-up

Monday, January 12, 2015

Starting The Blog Year Off Right: 1st Mom 2 Mom Link Up!!!

Starting The Blog Year Off Right:
1st Mom 2 Mom Link Up

How did your holidays go? I hope you all had a wonderful time celebrating with friends/family.

We had a great time ourselves. Some extra time with our children, & the break from the hustle & bustle of 'life' was refreshing. I am so thankful for that time of rest.

Here's one of our latest family pics. I love the one where our lil one is sticking our her tongue. Soo cute!

Now, as most people do in this season of life, I've set some new goals for myself this year.

This year I am aiming to update my blog at least twice per week. Aiming is a key word :)

And I want to get back to my focus of sharing on: health (recipes, tips, etc.) since I am a Registered Nutritionist, also some parenting inspiration, and of course, our homeschooling adventures.
Of course they'll be other stuff thrown in for good measure, I'm sure.

In keeping with my goals, I've made a really hard decision.
I decided to leave my last link up (although I LOVED it) and move onto a link up that really touched more on what this blog is all about.

I will miss all of my co-hosts from the last link up, but this (I hope) will be a better fit for where I'm at in my life. And in my blog.
So today, here we go...I'm introducing you to:

MY FIRST EVER time participating in the Mom 2 Mom Monday Link-Up!

We are so glad you are here. We hope you will join us each Monday at 9am EST to link-up, hop around, encourage others, and be encouraged.

The Mom 2 Mom Monday Link-Up is built on the foundation of 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)

This is a place you can come to offer encouragement to other moms as well as be encouraged.

Your Hosts:

Sarah from My Joy-Filled Life {Facebook} {Pinterest} {Twitter} {Google+} {Instagram} {Bloglovin'}

Jenn from The Purposeful Mom {Facebook} {Pinterest} {Google+} {Bloglovin'}

Tauna from Proverbial Homemaker {Facebook} {Pinterest} {Twitter} {Google+} {Bloglovin'}

Rachael from Diamonds in the Rough {Pinterest} {Twitter} {Google+} {Instagram} {Bloglovin'}

You are welcome to link up as many of your own posts that would offer encouragement, tips, wisdom, or advice to other moms.

Some suggested post topics are:

Each week we will be featuring the most clicked on post and each of our 3 favorites from the previous week. We will also be sharing the featured posts on our social media outlets.

A few things you should know before linking up:

Please link up to a specific post on your blog, not your blog's main page.
By linking up your post(s), you are giving the hosts of Mom 2 Mom Monday Link-Up permission to use your graphics in the featured posts and on social media outlets.
Visit other bloggers - visit at least 3 other links at the party.
A link back is not required, but appreciated. Go ahead and grab a button too, especially if you were featured.
The hosts would be blessed if you followed them.
They would also be blessed if you would spread the word about the Mom 2 Mom Monday Link-Up.