Category: mom life

4 signs YOU moms need a break!

White rose

I’ve been a mom for several years now (almost 10 to be exact). I think that makes me somewhat of an expert on burnouts, and bad days. I went over lists and lists of signs when moms need a break. I fit almost every single one, by the way. So I put together this little post to give you some ideas, so you know when you maybe need to take a fiver in the bathroom or go grab a coffee without any distractions or stresses.

So tell me my beauties, do you ever feel like you are no longer interested in things that you used to love?

Maybe, some things you used to do you either have no time to do or you just have no interest in them anymore?

Just a girl and her horse

It might be time to take a look at your schedule, go get your nails done, have a lunch date with a friend you need to catch up with. Whatever you wish you could do, just do it! Getting out of the house without a 4 foot mini-you every now and then is okay. Tell dad you forgot something at the store go grab you a snack and just chill in peace and quiet in the car for a few. Decompress, destress, reset.

Are you feeling overwhelmed? Either at work or at home?

I know this one well, I am a stay at home mom and I have been known to blow a fuse every now and then. I always apologize to those who have been affected by my “mom bomb”, but along the way I learned a few things to cool off before I blow.

First off, breathe. Maybe take a bathroom break and just cry it out for a minute. The moment you get the chance to take a hot bath with some low lighting and lavender bath salts, Do it! Kick your shoes off wherever they land (even though you know you have to pick them up later), draw the water, light the candles and get in. 15 minutes soaking with some smell goods almost always calms my mom bomb. Try it and let me know how it goes.

Are financial struggles getting you down?

Same here! That is a daily issue around here. No matter how hard I try having some kind of savings, by the time I have it where I want it something comes up. I talk about budgeting a lot because lately we’ve been having some financial struggles of our own.

Money tied

Honestly, I’m still stressed about it but after going through the finances, and seeing what ridiculous amounts of money we spend on nonsense is amazing. Being a little cheaper to make life a little easier and still be able to have fun are key. Set a specific amount of money to do or buy something special once a month or every two weeks. Make a night out or a new outfit top of your list for whatever your personal spending part of the budget will allow.

Don’t get to stressed at this subject, adulting is hard but we’re moms so we have to keep it together. I have a couple of posts about how to start a budget and get things in order. I do have to say though the money you will be saving won’t be seen overnight, it may take a month or two to see a difference. If you find something that works for you and your family do it and update me about it.

Feeling a little sick a lot of the time?

Are you feeling sluggish when its time to get out of bed, dreading the alarm, wishing for a magical genie to come do the dishes because your body feels sore? It;s called stress. Stress can make you sick. Physically, it’s just that sometimes we just get so stressed out and so busy taking care of everyone else that we forget to take time to stop and smell the roses (have you smelled any roses lately?).

If your going to check the mail or take out the trash take a couple extra minutes and walk to the corner and back, feel the sun, see the trees, breathe the fresh air. Sun and air are good and necessary to survive, take an extra minute of that home made medicine. It works for me, may not work for you but try to find something outdoors to do. It will help you feel so much better.

So after reading all this, I’m going to need you to chill.

Ice Heart

These things may make us feel horrible. In the end we all have control of our feelings, we just don’t know how to deal with them effectively. I made this for those mamas who just need to know. it’s normal to feel these things, If you don’t feel at least one of these things on a daily basis then you must not be a mom(insert shrug emoji here). Just joking. It happens to everybody.

I hope that this has made some kind of impact on you. Maybe it has helped you understand these things are normal for us moms, or maybe you can see what you have to look forward to if you are a new baby mom.

Please let me know if I missed something important, I always love feedback.

Heart
Love

Penny Saving Mom

Amanda

The summer Australia burned — A Glass Half Full

It will be remembered as the summer Australia burned. The year that – for many Australians – Christmas was cancelled. As I write this, bushfires have been burning out of control across this vast continent for months. Where there are no fires, cities are choked with acrid smoke. Hundreds of homes have been razed and […]

The summer Australia burned — A Glass Half Full

Sharing this post because it caught my attention: This honestly is one of the saddest things I have seen. It hits me hard for some reason, I think that watching my kids faces as we scroll through the pictures of the animals run for their life to them is scary. The raw emotion. Trying to explain that sometimes things happen and we do our best to overcome the sadness and loss, may be one of the hardest things to explain to a child.

I am sad, and praying for all the poor souls that have been lost in the fires in Austrailia.

Stay at home moms should be making how much?!?

Just going to put this out there

Stay at home moms are the most underpaid, over worked people out there. I have been doing some simple research and I just found out I should be making at least 140k a year! WHAT!  I’m okay with not getting paid to raise my kids, but i just want to know how they came up with that. 

Since i’m not getting paid in money lets see how to run the house efficiently so it seems like it.

Even though I don’t get paid to stay at home, I still have to manage the finances that are coming in. With 4 kids that is a big struggle so I am constantly figuring ways to save some pennies here and there. My goal is to be able to buy a house hopefully this year and get out of the dreaded rent race. 

Saving money for the future—not so easy

To do this we have to cut back on a few things, one of them is cutting back on eating out. Fast food seems to be my kryptonite, usually after picking up the kids from school ill head over to a drive-thru and pick something up for the kids to snack before dinner, because god knows hungry kids are grumpy kids.

  Instead of doing that i have started buying bulk fruits and peanut butter, packed with protien and healthy. Although it can get messy it is fun for them and they learn how to do some things on their own (with my supervision, of course). Basically Peanut butter on a plate and some fresh cut apples or bananas. pretty easy, right?

Having bottled water on hand is also key, especially when you are trying to limit sugars. Keep it cold because “it tastes better that way” or so im told by my 8 year old. And if you want to do it extra special make some homemade lemonade, it will be much cheaper than buying the concentrates or powders in the long run.

So in the long run

These things have helped me save at least 50-75 dollars a week. since happy meals run about $5 each, and i can buy apples, bananas, and peanut butter for 3 of my kids for around $5 all together. And the bulk water bottles, you can usually get a big pack of 32-40 bottles for like $3. Or, just buy a water filter for your faucet. It pays for itself pretty quick. 

  • Cut back on Fast foods.
  • Buy Fresh fruits and veggies for snack instead.
  • Bottled or filtered water instead of sugary, or concentrated drinks.

Hope this helps someone,

Amanda

New Year, New You

Now, I am not big on excersize because I love food but if I could (and hopefully I will soon), I would buy something from HERE. But since I’m a broke mama on a budget I will start off with something more simple. You can do this in the comfort of your own home. No gym fees, no people staring and making you uncomfortable about your wild hair and rolls from all those delicious tamales from Christmas.

First off go get you some nice yoga pants…..or sweat pants, or just keep your pj’s on<< these are reasonably priced and pretty stylish. After getting on your comfy pants you’re going to do……NOTHING, absolutely nothing. Because being a mom is hard and you need some time for yourself so grab a bowl of popcorn and binge that new series you’ve been waiting for on Netflix. After all, the kids should be back in school again soon, so binging for a couple hours after school drop off should be allowed, in my opinion.

But dont worry. It’ll all be okay again. Sanity will hopefully return momentarily. Until then, shop some of the lowest priced comfy pants I could find mentioned above and try to resume to some kind of normal (whatever that is!)