Gift Guide For Guys

Guys are tough... it seems that they usually buy what they want or need on their own or it's really expensive, especially if your shopping for a guy like my husband. So, any time he gives me a little nugget, I'm writing it down so I can build a Christmas list for him. 

Now, you should know that I grew up in a family of girls.  Boys didn't really come along until we were married so what I've learned about gifting to guys I've learned from my husband and brother-in-laws.

Hitch Pin. No matter if it's 1 or 5, they'll be appreciated.  Go for multiple sizes.  I gift these to my farmer customers sometimes and since my husband knows that I have them in my truck, he's always looking for one.

Underwear.  Not just any underwear but Duluth Training Company Buck Naked underwear.  They're spending and guys are picking about underwear.  They also talk about underwear more than girls.  Weird.

Electric Fly Swatter.  This is just for fun.  My husband is going to get one of these.  He's always killing flies because we live on a farm and one of the boys at any given time will leave the door open.

Wallet.  Guys need a new wallet or an upgrade from time-to-time.  This one is great for carrying in their front pocket.

Tie Down Straps.  Someone asks for these every year in our family.  They are a necessity.

The Great American Burger Book. I've gifted this a few times for birthdays.  It's just a fun, out-of-the-ordinary gift.

Stocking Hat. No guy will turn down a stocking hat.  Not to mention, we're likely the one that will be wearing it.

Jack Daniels Beef Rub.  My husband and I discovered this in our cupboard one day and it is DELICIOUS, especially on ribeye steaks.  They also make a pork rub and poultry rub.

Gift Guide for Kids

Kids...they are the fun part of Christmas and since having my own kids my love for this holiday (besides Jesus of course) has been rekindled! I love how they find excitement in EVERY part of Christmas and gifts are the BEST surprises.  

Here is my round up of gifts for kids.  Primarily geared toward ages 3-6 since that's the age range of my two oldest boys.  Most of these gift ideas can work for boys or girls and are very hands-on to spark creativity, use up their energy and keep them busy long enough for us mama's to get stuff done...dishes, laundry, go to the bathroom alone... 

Not to mention we don't need any more toy tractors!

Classic Legos. I love the classic legos, actually I love the sets too but I'm only up for putting them together once and not having to go through the 50 page instruction book every time a piece falls off. At least with classic legos kids can build whatever they want without specialized pieces.

Kinetic Sand. My boys LOVE this sand. Just get a big, deep roasting pan to contain the sand and add a few construction toys and all of a sudden you've got an hour to yourself.

Sensory Kit.  These look so fun! (I secretly want one for myself)  They have play-doh and a whole host of little toys for their little imaginations to create with!  They have both boy and girl kits and mini kits.

Bouncy Bull.  If you've followed me for any amount of time on Instagram you've seen my boys ride these bouncy bulls.  They are a perfect winter toy that burns up energy.  They also have a bouncy horse and Lil' Buckers for kids under 3. 

LCD writing tablet.  These are really inexpensive and perfect for the car and church, or really anywhere that you need a quiet activity for your kids. 

Sequence for kids.  A friend recommend this game to me and it's so fun to play with the boys.  It's easy enough for Hank (he's 3) and still fun for Colton (he's 5). 

Spot It Jr. Another game.  It's pretty fun -- easy enough for kids and challenging enough for me to play with them.  Plus there are a lot of different versions of the game you can play.

Walkie Talkies.  They work inside, outside and fit so many "pretend" scenarios from hunting to policeman to hide and seek. 

Gift Guide For Gals

It snowed last night so now it feels appropriate to talk about Christmas gift guides.  I'll kick off the week with ideas for gals (we're the easiest to shop for, right?!) and then I'll post a gift guide for guys and kids this week too!

As I was putting together this gift guide the people that went through my mind were friends, sisters, teachers.  I opted for reasonably-priced gifts because a great gift doesn't have to cost a lot of money!! Plus, I'd put all of these things on my Christmas list (wink, wink sisters... husband - if he read my blog...kids - if they could read...)

All of the items are linked below!!

Jewelry Box. My favorite interior design rule is hide your clutter inside pretty things. I think this cute, functional jewelry box could do the trick!

Pajamas. These look so comfy.

Makeup Bag. I found this bag from Southern Farm Co. and fell in love with it.  Pack a lip gloss or nail polish in there and you've got the perfect teacher or bff gift!  Plus the saying cracks me up because it's so true.

Personalized Bracelets. These are from my Etsy shop - 'Apple Avenue Artifacts.' They are an easy, personalized gift for moms, teachers, sisters, friends... you name it! And, you don't have to go with names, you can pick any word you want.

FARM Tee. Graphic tees are totally in style now.  Think of your farm-girl (or non farm-girl) friends!

Daily Devotional. I need to start (and commit) to a daily devotional.  I think there is some power behind it and this one has been recommended a few times.

Earrings. Nickle and Suede earrings are my FAVORITE! They are light-weight leather earrings that make you feel glam and go with anything! They have a few different styles and each month they have a new earring of the month for a discounted price.

Solid Perfume + Lip Conditioner.  Give this pair a try.  Perfume can be a personal, yet fun gift and no one is going to turn down a tinted lip balm.  There are four perfume scents to pick from and two lip conditioners.  They are ideal for any gals in your life that are travelers.

TGIF: November 1

Happy Friday everyone! 

Even though it's a little rainy going into the weekend, I always welcome Friday's because it's time to just chill. I need it this week, it's been a good, scary and fun week all wrapped into one if you can believe that.

I used to write an every Friday blog post titled High 5 for Friday, it was pretty popular so I thought I'd bring it back but maybe call it Thank Goodness For Friday?? I haven't decided yet, that's just what today feels like.  

Anyhoo... here's the first installment of a (hopefully) regular Friday post that will likely be full of random things from the week.  Give me feedback, we'll see where it goes. :)

one || part of my job in the fall is to hop in combines with customers - I start out with a two-round rule because some guys like having people ride, other's don't and I try to be respectful of that.  Monday I rode with a pretty fun customer - good laughs, good information, good feedback.  They are the kind of guys who make me really enjoy my job. 

two || not quite as cool as number one but took over the majority of my week was a (hopefully) minor health scare with Gabe.  I'm not good at openly sharing tough stuff that happens, it never seems to fit in a conversation well but, he had a febral seizure on Tuesday evening at daycare.  It was scary - probably more scary for our daycare provider.  I sped to daycare, prayed the whole way there, rode in an ambulance with my 8 1/2 month old baby and spent a couple of hours in the ER.  We have some questions yet, and a follow up appointment, but if it was what the doctors say it was we are alright. We will just have to watch fevers VERY closely. 

What I learned is that moms, we can handle tough stuff in the moment for our babies, for our families and for our friends but it's ok to cry your eyes out the next day. 

No need to feel like you need to reach out by leaving a comment or sending a message, just do me a favor and say an extra prayer for the little guy that he doesn't have to experience this again. 

three || I refocused and didn't feel the need to explain it to anyone.  I usually feel that if I change course, I have to explain why to everyone but after Tuesday night in the ER with Gabe, I just did it.  I took the time with my baby and didn't feel the need to answer to anyone. Family is always first.

four || The older my boys get, the more fun Halloween is. They love to dress up - especially Hank! He ran between houses shouting "SUPER CAT SPEED" and had no hesitation saying "trick or treat!" Colton asked me to dress up so, despite my hating to wear costumes, I gave it and found a mask and called myself "Super Mom!"  The boys loved it!

five || I'm doing it - I'm giving one of my entrepreneurial ideas a go!  I signed up to be a Maskcara Artist!  I love the makeup and I love skin care so I decided to take on this business venture.  Hopefully your willing to like my Facebook page and follow along for some skincare and makeup tips.  Click here for my website and here to like my Facebook page.

Have a super weekend... thanks for reading! 

Baby Things

My little Gabe is growing like a weed.  For example, we only spent about a month in 9-month clothes, he's now in 12-month clothes.  The kid is only 8 1/2 months old!!  Of the 3 boys, he's my fastest growing baby in both height and weight.  He also seems to be my quickest learner when it comes to sitting, crawling, standing and all of a sudden starting to take steps along the furniture.  Oh - and Adam caught him crawling up a step last night.

But... he's my baby and perhaps my last chance at having a family member that appreciates my "style" (until he can talk of course) so I have no problem getting him some new stuff here and there.

Here are my favorite baby things (and a couple of things I have continued to love) that I've found online recently.  Yes, online because I live in the middle of nowhere, go nowhere, and Amazon can get here quick!  #momlife #farmlife

SWEAT SUIT. Now that baby Gabe is stretching out I'm loving 2-piece outfits.  I do still throw a onsie under this since it's cold out.

HEADBANDS AND BOWS. I know these are for baby girls.  I've had them in my cart since I was pregnant with Gabe, waiting to see if I was going to have a girl. No shame in being prepared.  Fortunately, I've also had 3 new nieces born this year so I had cute baby girls to gift these to.

WINTER HAT.  Is it just me or are hats the first thing that gets lost?  This one is so cute.

HATCH REST. If you don't have one, add this sound machine to your baby's room or if you're expecting add it to your registry. The easy-listening white noise drowns out so much noise and keeps Gabe sleeping when the big boys are awake.  Plus its a night-light that can be run from your phone.

WINTER JACKET. Remember how I said Gabe is growing.  Well, wouldn't ya know I have all kinds of baby boy jackets but non that are the right size.  I don't put it on him in the car seat but if we need to be outside for something it does the trick.  And, best be prepared here in the upper midwest.

PAJAMAS. You can never have enough of these.

KNEE HIGH SOCKS. Aren't these the cutest! I got them for my sister's little girls. I hope she does pictures.

BABY BOOTIES. Shoes + babies don't play well together, they never seem to stay on. But these are awesome!

BANDANNA BIBS. I love bandanna bibs on babies and these ones are water proof.  I'm telling you from experience (my baby is a soggy one) these ones keep your baby dry!  I haven't tried other brands but I do know that these Parker Baby Bandanna Drool Bibs are the bomb.

9 entrepreneurial gigs I have on my mind

I have this dream of owning my own business - some sort of entrepreneurial gig that starts out as a side-hustle and flourishes into a full-time business.  And, what I'm interested in doing is completely different than my current full-time job (I'm a territory seed corn/soybean sales manager).  Curious what these things are?!

I've narrowed down my list to 9 ideas.

1. Own an Air BnB.
Yep, I'm totally nuts but I think I'd like the decorating and organization of it better than dealing with the potential of messy people.  And, the area that I live in doesn't really have an intriguing reason for people to come and stay.

2. Become a Maskcara Artist.
I'm really liking this makeup right now.  I'm trying to decide if I can keep up with the consistency of posting videos, pictures, etc... regularly to build an organic following so I can avoid sending out awkward messages to people asking them if I can make-over their face (I hate messages like this).  My biggest road block to this is the fear of being judged.

3. Open a breakfast and lunch joint.
This summer our (very) small town cafe closed and we all miss it.  I think it would be fun to re-open a cafe to revive our (very) small town.  It was a place where everyone sat at a table together and community was built.

I'd have a small breakfast menu - I LOVE making breakfast, and a one-item-per-day lunch menu.  And perhaps, since we raise our own Certified Angus Beef open up one night a month to serve a steak meal - a farm-to-table dinner of sorts.

4. Skincare consultant.
This one is more for a younger version of me - I feel like I'd need to attend some sort of medical school but I think I'd love it.  For now I'll stick to writing blog posts like this one.

5. Interior Stylist.
I used to have a virtual interior styling business as a side-hustle.  It was fun, I might bring it back.
Gabe's Nursery
Boy's Room

6. Boxed Beef Anyone?
My husband and I have talked about this one A LOT and it's likely going to happen in the next couple of years.  We plan to finish out our own calves and offer direct-ship, hormone-free beef cuts.  Everyone wants to know where their food came from these days, to know that it was humanely raised. Plus, it's a way to get healthy, high-quality food on people's dinner tables.

7. Photographer.
I really enjoy photography. I'm not a professional (and taking pictures of people kind of scares me) but I do like to dabble in composition and editing.  I've taken all of my own maternity photos and newborn photos of Hank and Gabe plus I take all of my own Christmas card photos and blog photos.  Hit me up if you need something quick.

8. Speaking.
Yep - I'm totally ok with getting up in front of an audience.  It's been awhile but I'm ready to give it a go again.  My topic would be something around being a woman in agriculture, how to navigate this path without compromising who you are. Ok, so I have a few things I still need to work out around this topic but I do feel I have straight-forward knowledge and experiences to share. So, if you're looking for someone hit me up!

9. Online shop owner.
I actually have an Etsy shop called Apple Avenue Artifacts.  I sell bracelets, graphic tees (more to come soon) and cards. But I think it would be fun to expand beyond handmade items and fill it up with things I love. Check it out if you have a chance! (use code THANKYOU20 for 20% off your order as a thank you from me to you for reading my blog!)

I'm putting these ideas out there as a way to say - I'm going to put plans in place to make something happen.  My personality craves this.  Right now, there are at least 2 of these ideas that I may pursue in the very near future - they just need a little elbow grease to get moving.

I'm curious... if you could choose another job, or create one for yourself, what would it be?

two ingredient drink combinations you need to try

I'm coming to you this Tuesday morning with some really good drink combinations you should try!  They have been shared from time-to-time on my Instagram account but they are so good that they are blog worthy!

Here's one for all you coffee lovers!  Almond Milk + Java Mio. A cup of milk with a squirt of Iced Mocha Java or Iced Vanilla Java Mio is a really good and really inexpensive Starbucks replacement if your an iced coffee fan.  FYI, the only place I've been able to find the Java Mio is at Walmart.

If you're more of a tea type of person try this combination; Tazo Wild Sweet Orange + Vanilla Sweet Drops.  So good but without the caffeine. This combination tastes like an orange dreamsicle or push-pop (do you remember those? Do they still make push-ups because I'd probably buy them...).

In case you need a replacement for your daily soda - give this a try! Coconut flavored LaCroix + Wild Strawberry Crystal Light (this is the Walmart knock-off.)  They make a non-caffeine version of this Crystal Light Flavor too. 
Other good LaCroix + Crystal Light combinations are:
Lemon LaCroix + Grape Crystal Light (tastes like a grape soda)
Lemon LaCroix + Lemon Iced Tea Crystal Light

Needles, Blades & Bristles: How they can improve your complexion

You know what Iowa needs? A really good skincare clinic, and I'm not talking a medical dermatologist.  Nope, I'm referring to a cosmetic skincare clinic.  But since I haven't found one (and if I did, I'm not sure I could afford it) I've had to take my skincare into my own hands.  And you guessed it - my skincare includes needles, blades and bristles! More specifically; shaving my face, dermarolling, and washing my face with a brush.

It wasn't long ago that my skin was dry, kinda scaly, a little red, and wrinkles were showing up (but let's be real about wrinkles; I'm in my mid-30's - there's no stopping them, only slowing them down).  After two people (@radioamy, and Sherry, from Young House Love) sparked my curiosity in a couple of these tools, I did my research and gave them a try and believe-it-or-not these tools worked!   The best part is, none of these things are expensive and they don't require an appointment.

Here's some insight into how these three tools can improve your complexion.

SHAVING YOUR FACE. Sounds totally weird but it's similar to derma-planing.  Shaving your face removes the dead skin that can make your complexion seem dull.  It also removes the "peach fuzz" that can sometimes make your makeup look funky. All-in-all, it helps your skin glow and improves your makeup application.  I use these razor blades every other week.

DERMA-ROLLING also known as microneedling. This seems scarier than shaving your face considering your rolling needles across your face BUT I promise it's not.  What's actually happening is your making little punctures in your skin that are stimulating collagen production and collagen is what gives your face the soft, supple look.  In addition to stimulating collagen production it also helps to reduce acne scars, fine lines and wrinkles, may reduce sun damage and pigmentation, tighten saggy skin and fades stretch marks (calling all moms!!). I use this derma roller 3 nights a week.

FACIAL CLEANSING BRUSH. Washing my face with a facial cleansing brush is one of my favorite ways to give my face a deep clean.  Using a cleansing brush a couple of nights each week helps to clean out your pores which helps to reduce the appearance of pores.  No need to spend your money on an electric one, a manual brush like this one will totally do the trick!

Here are the overall benefits I've found after doing these three things regularly:

• My overall complexion has improved - I know this because I get compliments from time to time.
• Makeup application is much easier and foundation looks so much better.
• I wear less makeup - some days are just bronzer, brows, and mascara.
• I have more confidence.

I leave you with a few final skincare tips...

1. ALWAYS wear a daytime lotion with an SPF.  If it doesn't have an SPF leave it at the store unless your foundation has an SPF.

2. Save money on cleansers, spend money on serums and lotions

3. Invest in a good nighttime lotion, serum, or mask.

4. It's going to take 4-6 weeks, on average, to see results

Give these things a try and report back!

What's in my diaper bag

You know that Luv's commercial where they show the mom with her first child and all of the stuff and then the third child where she's handing the baby to a dirty mechanic? That commercial is 100% accurate!  I'm pretty sure that was me with my first son, Colton.  Since then, I have changed so much as a mom and try to be fairly flexible and chill with my kids - except when it comes to behavior and Gabe's bedtime, my sanity relies on those two things. (Always exceptions, right?!)

I wish I would have written a blog post about what I carried in my diaper bag when Colton was a baby vs. what I carry 5 years later with Gabe - I'd bet its less stuff because I've pretty well pared it down to what I need.  Not to mention the less stuff I carry, the less I have to leave behind because that's been known to happen.

So what am I carrying in my diaper bag these days?  Here it is!

Anymore our trips seem to be quick; church, shopping and sometimes a quick day trip to see family. None of which require a lot of stuff - plus our siblings all have kids and well prepared grandparents seem to have what we need on-hand.  I'm not above asking to borrow something (for sure a change from kid 1 to kid 3!)

1. A wet bag - I bought mine on Etsy

2. A bottle pre-filled with the amount of baby water needed to mix a bottle. I use these bottles.

3. Burp rags

4. A toy

5. Baby Tylenol

6. Baby Wipes (even after my kids are out of diapers I will always have wipes on-hand!) 

7. Diapers (of course)

8. A & D Diaper Rash ointment

9. Neutrogena baby sunscreen

10. Change of clothes

11. Essential Oils roller ball for gassy tummies (doTerra DigestZen or Peppermint + doTerra Wild Orange)

12. Disposable Changing pads from Nena + Nene

13. Fruit snacks for the big boys

A couple weeks back Lauren, from Nena + Nene, reached out to me to ask if I'd be interested in trying out the disposable changing pads she designed and let me tell you - these are awesome to have on hand and so much easier than fooling around trying to get a cloth changing pad unfolded (and refolded) and laid out on a dirty bathroom changing table while holding a baby.  These also work really well if you change your baby's diaper on the living room floor like I do. Or if you find yourselves outside a lot with older kids.  I'm thinking they'll work well for outside snack time for the older boys too - can you tell we never know where the day will take us?!  There are 40 in a package so you can stash them anywhere you think you might use them - living room, car, bathroom, changing table...

You can buy these changing pads here!  They are also on my new favorite things page!

Ok... here is a quick "mom hack" for you.  Gabe likes his bottle warmed up (high maintenance baby) so if I know we are going somewhere that I wont be able to warm the bottle in hot water, I pre-warm the water in the bottle, in the microwave - just the water, not the formula.  Then I put it in the insulated bottle holders in the front pocket of my diaper bag.  Ta-da - magic! They don't stay warm all day but if you know your baby is going to need a bottle within the next hour to hour and a half it works pretty slick.

I should mention that my diaper bag is AWESOME!  It's trendy, cute and practical! You can buy it here!

This post was sponsored by Nena + Nena.

How I Use Essential Oils for Self Care

It's official - my husband things I'm nuts. 

I jumped on the Essential Oils wagon and guess what?! I'm a fan!  My sister initially introduced essential oils to me by gifting me a diffuser and On Guard Essential Oil to keep away the crud with a new baby in the house.  It just so happened that I started to really enjoy diffusing oils so I bought a second diffuser through my friend Morgan who is an advocate for doTERRA Essential Oils.  Now I'm using them more topically and internally than I am diffusing them.  Here's how...

IN MY WATER

Every morning I start off with this combo: Lemon + Grapfruit + Peppermint to detox, control cravings and support metabolism. They call this the "weight loss trio."  I like the added flavor in my water so after I have one 15oz water bottle with this combo I stick to either lemon on grapefruit.  The grapefruit definitely helps to control my sugar cravings - I was recently able to resist the monster cookies I made (what is wrong with me?!) and cut way back on popping candy in my mouth from our secret stash (don't judge, you know you have one too!) 

Two things to keep in mind if you add oils to your water; 1. Make sure they are labeled for internal use.  If they have a nutrition label on them you're good-to-go!  2. Use a glass or metal water bottle.  Here is a link to my Sip by Swell water bottle. 

LASH GROWTH

I have an obsession with wanting thick, long lashes. I've tried a growth serum which worked ok but I had to remember to put it on before bed and even tried lash extensions that I had removed a week later because they were so uncomfortable.  I came across this idea from My Well Oiled Life on Instagram - add a drop of each to a new bottle of mascara and apply it like you do every day, no extra step.  I can tell a difference in my lashes - they seem a little thicker and don't seem to break off or go missing.  I should also mention that Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara from L'Oreal is Ahhh-Mazing!  Pair these things together and Ta-da - Lashes for days!

HAIR HEALTH

Speaking of hair... I made this leave-in spray for my hair.  My hair tends to get dried out and appear dull and I'm on the path of growing it out.  This spray promotes healthy hair, growth and thickness.  I spray it on my scalp morning and night and then brush through my hair.  My hair has started to look a little shinier and not so dry.  You can find this recipe from My Well Oiled Life also.

FACE SERUM

A friend who I haven't seen in awhile was watching my instagram stories and sent me a message complimenting me on my clear skin.  (Winning!)  I've added this to my daily skin care routine.  It's 15 drops of each oil + a splash of witch hazel and filled with jojoba oil.  I paint my face with it at night after washing and then work it in with my fingers.  Then I top with my Origins Night A Mins moisturizer.  It's definitely helped to reduce redness, tighten my pores and (hopefully) work on my fine lines. 

AFTER SUN SPRAY

This one is a recent addition to my lineup.  My husband and I have started kayaking again and after 2-3 hours on the river, no matter the SPF (I wear SPF50, call me grandma) we still get a little red and our skin feels dried out.  This cooling spray has been awesome! It has for sure cooled down our skin and evens helps it feel moisturized.  You can find this recipe from essentially_joilful on instagram.  

Just so you know, I'm not selling essential oils because I'm terrible at direct sales like this. However I am a fan of doTERRA Essential Oils. If you're interested in trying these look up my friend Morgan on Instagram.  They are fun to play around with and have a quite a few benefits if you're willing to actually use them.  Not to mention, if you live in the middle of nowhere like I do and don't feel like going to the store to buy a "remedy" all of the time, with a small stash of oils you can usually find something that works. 

Here are links to the spray bottles and rollers I use.

Spray Bottles

Rollers

How I get my head in the game to 'solo' parent when my husband is gone

Awhile back on my Instagram stories I was talking about having to handle all the things - kids, farm chores, work, etc... - while my husband was gone for work and I asked if you'd like me to write a blog post about how I get my head in the right place to parent when my husband is gone.  Here is that post.

Let me start off by saying it's hard (I admire all of you that are single moms - you amaze me). I find myself ending each day asking God, and my boys, for a little grace and forgiveness. 

Figuring out how to get my head in the game to handle all of the things that motherhood, working mom and farm wife entails is a work in progress.  It's one that started 5 years ago, after we were newly married and had our first baby in less than a year.  I remember those early days of marriage and motherhood when I'd freak out if my husband wasn't home at the "right time" for no other reason than to be home.  It was hard on him and our relationship.  We fought through it and learned that the number one thing that makes the biggest difference is communication.

Communication.  It's so simple, yet so... dang... hard.  If Adam tells me that he's going to be gone, whether it's for work, late for supper, or doing farm things that are too dangerous for the boys to go with, I'm fine and can keep my act together.  It's when there are surprise instances that start with "oh by the way...I'm not going to be around" that being on my own with the boys becomes a struggle.

I need him to communicate with me when he wont be around so that I can mentally prepare to handle 3 kids on my own.  If I can mentally prepare, I've got my head in the right spot to be a patient mom and can put a game plan together for what our days will look, what we'll eat and if I need to rely on some friends for help. Then comes the part where I offer myself a whole lot of grace ahead of time for things like feeding my kids ridiculously easy, and at times unhealthy meals, my house being a wreck, using the TV as a babysitter, and boys up past their bedtime. And you know what?!  It's completely ok if these things happen because I've learned that in these moments memories are made and this one morning, one day, or one week, wont ruin my kids.

I also try to do something special with my boys while Adam is away.  This might be going out to eat at a restaurant they pick (usually McDonalds or A&W), playing at the park or we load up the big boy's bikes and Gabe's stroller to go for a walk on a local walking path.

The other part of mentally preparing is giving myself some things to look forward to like; not having to put as much effort into making meals (although I probably should), crawling into my bed early and reading a book or tackling a house project or decorating project without any interference or questions. In other words, I take the time to give myself a little re-charge by focusing on me.

As for the day-to-day communication when Adam is around we have a few "rules" that we abide by.  The first is that we have a family supper at 6:30pm.  If he's not going to be around, he has to let me know ahead of time, otherwise he'll be home at 6:30 so I don't need to call to check in on him. If he wont be home by supper time, he's either got to get home before 8:00pm or stay away until after 9:00pm.  8:00-8:30pm is bedtime.  And, on weekends, one or both boys go with Adam on Saturday morning if at all possible.

So if I were to summarize all of my thoughts for you on how to get your head in the right spot to solo parent, here is what they would be:
1. Communicate to avoid surprises
2. Offer yourself a lot of grace
3. Give yourself something to look forward to
4. Create some family "rules"

Lastly, believe me when I tell you are both SuperMom (like Superman, get it?!) and a SUPER-mom!  We're moms, we are meant to do hard things.

Where to use outdoor rugs in your house

Living on a farm, and having boys, we have so much traffic (and dirt) coming in and going out of our house.  It's ridiculous.  As someone who loves to decorate my home, it kills me to not have a beautiful entryway way filled with a gorgeous flat-weave rug, fresh flowers and a few throw pillows.

But practicality, and reality, took over.

Although, I really did need a rug. It just had to be inexpensive, handle dirt, wear and tear, and be easy to clean.  Then it finally dawned on me that an outdoor rug was the answer!  It handles my kids wet stuff from the snowy winter months and the mud they drag in after a rain in the summer.  When it gets dirty enough, I just take it outside and spray it off with a hose.

Not only was the outdoor rug the answer for my entryway, it was also the answer for our old farmhouse basement.

As our family grew in size, and the piles of toys have accumulated, we fixed up our farmhouse basement as a toy room.  It's a little chilly down there with cement walls and floor, and has a tenancy to get a little damp following a hard rain but all-in-all it works pretty well as a toy room. 

Since the basement can get a little damp, a traditional rug was not the answer for the space.  They hold water and take forever to dry out which leads to a stale smell and potentially mold and mildew.  The perfect solution, again, was an outdoor rug. It was inexpensive (we all know kids have the potential to ruin things) and it drys out quickly since it's made to handle the weather. 

I'm sure you noticed that I have the same rug in my basement and entryway - this was a total fluke. I ordered the 5x7 rug from Target for the basement because I liked the style even though it was too small.  Then the 8x10 came back in stock so naturally I snagged it and moved the 5x7 to our entryway.  The UPS man for sure  had de ja vue.  Target has some pretty stylish outdoor rugs that you can usually find on sale.  Bad news is that the one I have is out of stock but, I did link some of my favorites below.

Oh, and I do actually have an outdoor rug outside!  The boys are often outside playing on it and sometimes we even grab a few books and pillows and find ourselves reading stories on nice summer nights. 

Contrast Edge Outdoor Rug

Mod Desert Outdoor Rug

Mod Fish Outdoor Rug

Worn Stripe Outdoor Rug

The Ledge Shelf + Sophisticated Art Work

Our living room addition has been done for just over a year and I've kind of been a weird-o about decorating the space.  I guess I've learned to take my time to get it to look the way I want it to rather than spend a whole bunch of money to just be moderately happy with how it looks.  However, this ledge shelf about my couch was definitely something I wanted but the thought of putting screws in my new walls kind of freaked me out because if I ever wanted to move the shelf or re-arrange the living room it would mean that I have to fill in big holes and really, who wants to do that?

Here is what the room looked like before the shelf was hung.

And after...

Just before my maternity leave ended and 2 days before Gabe's baptism, I got my ledge shelf.  My husband said, "ok, let's make it" so I showed him the Chris Loves Julia Ledge Shelf tutorial and $30 and 45 minutes later I had my shelf. (Yep - my husband is handsome and handy!) Our only argument was how high above the couch to hang the shelf.  He thinks anything on the wall should darn-near touch the ceiling, I believe it should be "eye-ball" height (or around 60" from the floor to the center of the print.) 

The funny thing was, he assumed I had stuff to put on it. Of course I had things I could put on it but my style has evolved over time and I wanted more grown up and sophisticated artwork instead of all typography and abstract prints.  I wanted the art on this ledge shelf to be interesting yet inexpensive.

Art can be super expensive, especially by the time you frame it, so I faked it.  I purchased digital downloads of art and had them printed locally.  My two favorite places to look for printable art are Juniper Print Shop and Etsy.  For $20 or less per print I got the mix of art that I wanted with multiple ratio files to get the size of prints that I wanted.  I sent my files to a local office center in town and for just under $40 I got 6 pieces of art printed. From there I was able to find a few frames around my house and picked up a couple of poster frames from Target. This way of getting art is seriously so smart and cost-effective!

My boys have had their grubby little fingers on the shelf and art a few times but fortunately they find it un-interesting. Except for the No. 5 print - Colton thinks it's because he's going to be fine and Adam had no idea why I would frame a "5." Well dear, it's because we have 5 people in our family. Sometimes I just shake my head.

Here are the art sources:
Salt Box
Peachy II
No. 5
Rosy Street
A Meditation

12X18 Frame
16X20 Frame

Gabe's Nursery

Nursery is a weird word to me.  It's Gabe's bedroom, it's not like he's going to switch from a "nursery" to a "bedroom" at some point, it's just not possible - we are out of rooms in our house.  But none-the-less, I'm titling this post Gabe's Nursery because that's what people go wild over.  Have you ever thought about that, kinda weird huh?

Now that Gabe is over 3 months old I figured it was an appropriate time to do a little show-and-tell of his room.  Actually, it's because I couldn't get my act together until now to put this post together.  Taking pictures of rooms is a lot of work - lighting needs to be right, I like it to be clean, and preferably not have a sleeping child in the room - or big kids around for that matter.  Well, the stars finally aligned! Ha!

His room is a pretty simple space.  Mostly because it's so small, it's the second smallest room in our house, but it is one of my favorites because it's on the south side of the house  so it gets so much natural light and it has an awesome plank wall that some friends and I built without telling my husband. You can read that post here.

When I was thinking about this room for our new baby I had one vision in mind - an over sized, black and white, long horn cow print and ta-da! I found it.  I think Gabe this cow have become buddies - it's pretty cute. 

The rest of the room was easy from there.  We've had the same basics for all of the boys - crib, dresser/changing table, and chair - and there are very few ways to arrange the furniture.

I also wanted the room to not be too-baby so he could grow with the room and eventually all we'll have to do is take out the crib and rocking chair and add a bed.

Here are some more pictures + the source list is below.

Source List
Crib
Rocking Chair
Dresser
Changing Pad Cover
Mirror
Sound Machine
Stool
Galvanized Letter
Clothes Basket (similar)
Long horn cow print (sort of similar) look in stores at Hobby Lobby

36 things about me on my 36th birthday

Today I celebrate number 36! Only 4 years until 40...yikes.  In some ways I feel like I've done and accomplished a lot and in other ways I feel like I should be in a completely different place but only God knows what's in store.  If you'd have asked me 10 years ago and I would have never imagined being a mom to 3 boys, living in Iowa, farming on our own and selling seed corn. I would have likely guessed I'd be a mom to girls, working as a manager in a corporate office and farming with my parents.

Anyhoo... in honor of my 36th birthday, for the fun of it, I thought I'd share 36 things that you may or may not know about me.

1. I grew up on a farm in Minnesota
2. My parents still farm.
3. I have two younger sisters
4. I have a younger brother who passed away after his second birthday
5. My husband and I started a first generation farm in Iowa - purebred angus cows, corn, soybeans and chickens
6. I'm a mom to 3 boys #boymom
7. I graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Ag Education - never taught
8. While I was in college, I was a member of a sorority
9. ...and the University of Minnesota Homecoming Queen
10. Speaking of "royalty" my two sisters and I were all crowned "1st princess" in our hometown pageant
11. My favorite TV show is Parenthood. A close second is Queer Eye.
12. I bought my 1st house in 2008 in New Ulm, MN and completely re-decorated it. 
13. I lived in Cincinnati, Ohio for 1 year
14. I met my husband at a sales conference for the company we were working for.
15. His company bought my company and now we work for the same company again.
16. I rode in an elevator with the lead singer of Metallica - with no clue who he was
17. I'm convinced I hung out with the mob one time in Miami, FL
18. I was in the same room with President George Bush while I was in FFA
19. I am a huge Eric Church fan
20. I ran for Miss Minnesota USA (it was every stereotype you can think of)
21. I've never broken a bone
22. I am concerned that I am not likeable or relatable
23. It's totally ok if I never get sent or gifted flowers - I'm not a fan
24. I'd choose the mountains instead of the ocean
25. I'd love to own my own business.  Not sure what that would be, maybe interior styling
26. I also have an interest in opening a breakfast/lunch cafe in our super small town
27. My high school job was working on a dairy farm
28. I rarely take naps - just not my thing
29. I would describe my style a casual.  I love dressing up jeans, t-shirts and sweatshirts
30. I've never smoked
31. I'm a consistent user of Beachbody on Demand workouts - totally worth the subscription
32. I grew up without air conditioning
33. ... or cable
34. I played guitar in elementary school and middle school
35. The first (and last) gun I shot was in my late 20's
36. I'm a pretty good cook

My Daily Habits (that keep me sane)

A week or so ago I met a new friend for coffee - it was so fun getting to know each other! During our conversation I remember her saying to me something along the lines of "you really have it all together, you're an inspiration." I was taken back by the really nice compliment.  In fact, I didn't know how to respond so I just said thank you followed up by "sometimes I have to fake it."

Both things are true.  I do have it together -  most of the time and I fake it - some of the time. Fake it till you make it, right?!

That whole conversation got me thinking about my daily habits that I believe help me to "have it together" most of the time.

Before Gabe was born I started to focus on turning some daily activities that made me feel pulled together and organized into habits.  After Gabe was born I kept up with these habits and they've made a difference in how I feel and how my family's day is positively affected.  I think it's also important for my kids to see their mom be able to take of herself, her home and her family (with help from my husband of course) so they can have a solid influence for adulting someday.  

I know that what I just stated could be controversial given the blog or Facebook post that's been floating around about society's expectations of a mom.  I want you to know that I have never felt that way.  I believe it's because my mom, and my husband's mom, set a good example for both of us growing up which were: control what you can control, take care of your family, take care of yourself, be a good person.  (Enough of that rant, that's like a whole other blog post.)

Anyway... back to my daily habits.

Here is the list of my daily habits.  Keep in mind that this is not a routine because these are not scheduled habits, I do my best to fit these things in at some point during the day.  A routine would imply that these need to happen at certain time or they don't get done.  Make sense?

Habit 1 - Get up before 6:00am.  Sometimes it's 5:59 but it's before 6:00am.  I need a head start on the boys or chaos become inevitable.

Habit 2 - Get ready for the day.  That means shower, do my makeup and do my hair.  I may hang out in workout clothes around home but if the rest of me is ready, I can throw on a pair of jeans and be out the door pretty quickly.

Habit 3 - Eat Breakfast. If I make myself breakfast I know that I've at least got one good meal in until supper time.

Habit 4 - Read the First 5 app. This is a good way to start the day - spending some time with God. Sometimes it's the way I end my day.  Either way, I'm spending time being grateful, thankful, and asking for help.

Habit 5 - Exercise. This is usually 4-5 days a week.  The Beachbody on Demand app has been a great time.  Tabata workouts are also quick, easy and beneficial.

Habit 6 - Do Dishes. I always do dishes, and clean up the kitchen, after supper.  I feel so much more at peace if I know that I'm waking up to a clean kitchen.

Habit 7 - Play. Each day I try to take some time to play or spend time with my kids.  I don't do this enough so it's a habit that is in progress.

Habit 8 - Pick up the House. Either after the kids go to bed, or first thing in the morning, my husband and I pick up the main floor of our house. Again, it brings peace to our household and I think it teaches our boys how to respect our home and in turn, their future homes.

Here's what I want you to know... I have bad days too, where the chaos becomes too much.  In fact, I had a really bad day earlier this week.

The other thing I want you to know is that if you feel like your life is chaos and you don't have it together, create a few habits for yourself.  Having it together, most of the time, is possible as long as you decide what that looks like for you.  Research tells us that we can form new habits in like 17-21 days.  Give it a go - you got this!

My Favorite Tinted Lip Balms

I really want to like lipstick, like REALLY want to like it, but I don't.  I can never find the right color, sometimes it feels tacky, and I feel like a goof putting it on needless to say re-applying it. Let's just say I'm not one to excuse myself to the bathroom after a meal just to come back to the table with a fresh coat of lipstick.  I feel awkward.  But I do really want to like lipstick.

But lip balm - that's where it's at! I love it and have no hesitation re-applying it anywhere and everywhere!  Here are my three favorites and a snapshot of how they look on me. They are Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm in 'Red Dalia', Covergirl Oh Sugar! in 'Jelly', and Sugar fresh in 'Petal'. Keep in mind that lip colors, while the same color in the tube, look a little different on everyone because our natural lip colors are all a little different.

BURT'S BEES - RED DALIA
I love this one because first of all it looks like a chapstick (win!) and feels like chapstick (also win!). The color is deep and muted and doesn't come with a whole lot of shine. You can buy it here.

COVERGIRL Oh Sugar! - Jelly

I discovered the Oh Sugar tinted lip balms on a whim a year or two ago and became a huge fan.  It's like lipstick but feels like lip balm.  It makes my lips feel soft and offers a great pop of color.  Besides this color, I also like 01 Cupcake for a sheer gloss.  The downfall is that it looks like a tube of lipstick so I'm not a public re-applier (is that a word?! and I think I just figured out what I don't love lipstick??) This line of tinted lip balms must not have been too popular because they are hard to find.  Looks like Amazon has this color available or check Walgreens! 

(PS, you can get 6% cash back at Walgreens if you sign up for Ebates.)

SUGAR FRESH - PETAL

This one is my favorite of the lineup, also the most expensive (probably why it's my favorite).  This tinted lip balm adds the most natural looking tint to my lips and feels like silk plus it's got sunscreen in it - SPF 15. I've been on the hunt for a rosy pink and this is color was it!  You can buy it here.

If you can't tell, I stay pretty close to the same neutral-looking color pallet.  While these colors work well for me, keep in mind that lipsticks and lip balms look different on nearly everyone because of the natural color of our lips.  Use these colors as a starting point and then work your way up or down the color lineup until you find one you like!

How to Meal Plan for a Whole Month

I'll kick this off by saying I like grocery shopping and I like cooking for my family (feeding them is a different story. I'll just say kids are tough sometimes!)

Now that you all question my level of sanity I'll get on with how I meal plan for a whole month and give you the high points of why I plan out a month at a time.

I first did this on a whim, right before Gabe was born because I knew I wasn't likely going to be taking my newborn out of the house for a couple weeks and I was getting a little bored waiting around for baby Gabe to make his appearance.  Oh - and my husband said I should try it (but this is my blog and my story so let's pretend that this was all me!  Kidding, kidding.)  Regardless of whose idea it was (thanks Adam, you do know what you're talking about sometimes) it worked really well!  It saved time, money and my sanity as well as reduced food waste.  All wins!

Here's how it works:

First, I use this Go-To Meal Ideas form from Emily Ley.
Next, I list out 20 meals for the month and note where to find the recipe.
Then I build my grocery list.
Finally, I go grocery shopping.
All that's left to do is pick a meal from the list on the fridge and make it!

The interesting thing about grocery shopping is that I can spend the same amount of money if I plan for a week of meals as I do for a month of meals.  Does anyone else experience that?!  Needless to say, planning for a month rather than a week is definitely a money saver!

Tips for success:

1. Cook meals with similar ingredients within 5 days to reduce food waste.
2. Store what you can in the freezer until you use it, things like bread and cheese.  If you don't use it all (specialty breads that work for one meal) put it back in the freezer.
3. Make meals with fresh ingredients within the first week.
    I still stop at the grocery store regularly to pick up additional fresh ingredients, milk and things I forgot.
4. Substitute frozen fruit and vegetables when you can to save a few dollars.

In the end I plan about 20 meals to pick from.  I cook breakfast and one planned meal a day for my family, even on weekends.  Saturdays I cook lunch since church is at 6:30pm - we do something quick, like buttered noodles, for supper for the boys. Sundays we plan an evening meal.  Sunday lunches are usually leftovers or sandwiches.  For side dishes, I just list out the possibilities and pair them with a meal - no shame is making the same side dish twice in a month.  Then of course there are pizza nights, date nights and other days we eat leftovers.

I should also note that we stock our freezer beef, pork and whole chickens so the only protein I purchase from the grocery store is pork chops (I buy a loin and have the meat counter cut it when they are on sale - $1.49/lb is a good sale in Iowa), bacon, lunch meat, and frozen chicken breasts. In the summer we have a garden so we freeze green beans and carrots.

I'll post my monthly meal plans to my Facebook page so make sure to follow me there to download my list of monthly meals!  You can also download my April Meal Plan here.