Being a MORE Productive Mom

As a mom, it is easy to feel like you are about to lose your sanity, as your toddler dumps out all the toys in the toy basket for the fifth time this morning.  You didn't get to finish your cup of coffee that you reheated for the third time today.  You forgot to pay that one bill that you have yet to put on auto pay. You haven't brushed your teeth yet because you just forgot.  I have learned in my three years of being a mom, that there are certain things that I can do to keep myself and my family from going crazy.  I hope these are helpful to you!

Me Time

For me, I MUST have this at some point during the day. Either during nap time or before bed (if I have to stay up an hour after everyone is asleep, i do.)  I NEED time in the quiet, by myself to do important things, like watch Netflix. Moving on.

Ask for Help

Don't be stubborn or shy.  If someone offers help, TAKE IT! If you need help, ASK! Whether it's your mom, husband or a friend, ask! Even if it's just that someone watch your kids for an hour, so you can wash your hair and shave your legs. Do it!

Have a Routine ... ish

I am not a scheduler, however, I usually write out a general plan for the day, week or month. This way I can stay organized, almost always never forget anything and plan activities to keep us busy. I don't know what I would do without my planner!  But, let's be honest, we can have super unplanned lazy days too! Yay! SAHM life!

Get out!!!

This one took me a while to fully realize its potential.  Getting out of the house daily, even if it's just to go to the grocery store, is HUGE! It breaks up the day, get's the kid's energy out and *BONUS* you can come home to a clean house!  This is seriously a game changer!

Give Grace

You will not be perfect and you probably won't get everything done. But, that's so not a big deal! There is always tomorrow! The house will always get messy again and the laundry never ends, even if you have a laundry schedule.  Don't sweat the small stuff. Enjoy your time with your kids! In the end you won't remember the day you didn't make it to storytime at the library. You will remember the smiles on your kids faces as they drip ice cream all over their new Christmas outfits.

third day hair and leftover for dinner

lulewbelle

i'm back!!!

Today I am sharing some traveling tips with you all! I am currently 8 months pregnant with my second kid and thought my tips might be a little helpful for any other mamas traveling this holiday season!  Traveling during the holidays can get a little crazy, add a kid and a big belly to that and it can be a bit of a challenge! In this video I share a few simple tips to make your traveling a little easier!

Getting from the car to the check-in counter can be a challenge as well. Especially when your driver is getting scolded by drop-off security! Having four-wheel roller bags, well strapped carry-ons, a backpack or fanny pack and a stroller will make unloading and checking in a breeze.  Plus, you'll feel like a mom BOSS walking in without any need for help.

I hope these tips will help to ease the stress of traveling with kids! What are your favorite travel tips and hacks?

coffee and a prego belly,

lulewbelle

mama diary: enjoying the little things

I have noticed so many changes in my son in the past six weeks.  His face has changed so much and he is really starting to look like himself, if that makes any sense at all. His eyes are bigger and wider.  He is moving his arms and legs so much, almost standing with help.  He is "talking" all the time and smiling.  He also has new creases in his arms and legs from gaining weight... hallelujah!  

I have noticed how quickly time goes by.  My advice to new mamas is to soak up every bit of your beautiful little one and look for those small changes that make life so exciting!

chubby cheeks and leg creases,

lulewbelle

new mama diary: one month old

This month has flown by.  I cannot believe it has been a whole month since  our little man made us a family.  We have already reached so many milestones exciting moments.  

outgrew outfits..check!  smiled..check! lifted and turned head..check! 

moving in circles on tummy..check! took a bottle..check!  quiet bath..check!

I am looking forward to everything to come, but I realized how much has changed already.  Soon enough he will be scooting, crawling, standing, walking, talking...

All I know is my son can take as long as he wants to grow up right now and no one is allowed to rush him.

one happy mommy

lulewbelle

new mama diary: the first 10 days

*I obviously wrote this post a few weeks ago...*

It has been just ten days since our little one was born.  During the first few days in the hospital, I was under a sort of shock or disbelief that we finally had our son with us after 41 long weeks of waiting.  I could not believe that I was finally a mom! We were given this blessing, this amazing new life that would change our lives forever!  I imagine I will be under this shock for a while.  I am definitely a different and better kind of happy than ever before.

Being a new mom, though incredible, can be very challenging.  Even though I've only had 10 days of it, I thought I'd jot down my thoughts as I start this new adventure with my little mister.

Breastfeeding:

One word...OUCH!  Don't get me wrong.  Nursing my son is the coolest thing ever.  It's kinda like our bonding time. When he looks up at me, as if to make sure I'm really his mommy, I melt.  I love this time with my kid, but I cannot wait for my breast pump to get here so I can take a break every once in a while.  Plus daddy really wants a chance to feed our little man.  Nursing every 1-3 hours can only result in sore, cracked and sensitive nipples tmi?, absolutely no fun.  But I am so happy to know my son is getting everything he needs just from my milk.

Sleep:

I'm not getting much of it, but I am getting used to the hours.  I'm probably awake as much at night as I am during the day.  "Sleep when the baby sleeps" is a true statement.  I am hoping that by the end of this week I will be able to sleep a little less during the day and be more productive.

Pictures:

I have taken so many pictures that my phone is working slower than normal.  Ooops!!!  I need to start printing pictures or saving them somewhere beside my phone in case it breaks.  Everything we do is a first, so pictures are a must!

Beauty:

Completely on the back burner.  It is a special day if my hair stays down for more than 5 minutes or I remember to put deodorant on.  I'd like to start waking up earlier and actually getting ready with clothes and a little bit of makeup.  I shaved my legs last night and I already feel so much better. :)

We will see what new things will happen in the next week or so.

completely content mommy

lulewbelle

so SO busy

I have been so busy, getting a job, prepping for school and now starting school.  All I want to do when I get home is unwind and sleep.

Here are a couple favorite "unwinding youtube videos" I have been loving lately.

Lennon and Maisy

These young ladies are great! They remind me of me and my sisters when we were young.  Always singing and harmonizing.  This cover also made me love this song ALOT!

I love it so much that I wanted to hear the original...

which was not my style...

but then i found this video...

 SNL

I was cracking up watching this video.   So hilarious!

Hope these videos help you unwind like they help me!

tired feet and busy mind,

lulewbelle

st. louis - grand rapids - chicago

It has been a long while since my last post.  It's been a busy month: moving from arizona to missouri, settling into my in-laws home, job searching in a new city, family visit in michigan, family reunion in chicago, job interviews and my quarter of a century birthday!

I have shown pictures from our move and now it's time for the many pictures from my last few weeks. Some of the pictures are out of the order that the challenge requires, but oh well!

day 17: technology
my oma's (grandma) sweet setup at my aunty's house. she loves her netflix (dvd's and computer)
day 18: your shoes
locals. can't do any better - thank you mom!
day 19: something orange
my headband i made for a 70's party and the toy story sheets i slept on during my visit in michigan
day 20: bokeh
(say what? i had to look this one up)
focused on my beautiful cousin playing guitar and singing 
everything else blurred out.
sorry aunty!

What I did in Michigan:

-I went blueberry picking with my aunty and had some delicious berries for the rest of my time in Michigan.  Yummy!!!  

-I also noticed a rite aid that had a closing sale! 50% off EVERYTHING! 

I was so ridiculously excited!  

-Found my mom's banana bread recipe from the old church cook book.

-Did I mention I took the bus for the first time EVER to get to these cities?...what an adventure!

-I also tried a chewing gum that my cousin brought back from his trip to Thailand. It was tasty!

day 21: faceless portrait

thanks to my phone and a foggy mirror

Our trip to Grand Haven, MI

day 23: sunflare

hmmm...forgot this one. but this tank top was so awesome i had to take a picture of it.

we also stopped for some ice cream on our way out!

day 24: animal

Grand Haven was a cute waterfront town.  on almost every corner, there were these dogs, each decorated differently than the last.  

we had a lot of fun driving and walking around looking at all of them.

Family Reunion in Chicago

day 22: hands

me and husband - we missed each other while i was in michigan

day 25: something pink

my sister (in-law) and her man in their pink metallic 70's costumes for the theme party

day 26: close-up

the bottom of a sting ray at the Shedd Aquarium

we had tickets to get in free! - thank you family!!!!

it was a beautiful aquarium.

day 27: from a distance

the chicago skyline from our bus tour with the big 'ol family

I have had a wonderful couple of weeks, but now it's back to the real world.  Looking forward to landing a job in the near future.  

praying for the knowledge to pick the right path,

lulewbelle

transitioning takes forever

We moved in recently with my husband's parents until we can get our own place.  It has been hard to get back in the groove of putting up blogs,
not to mention getting used to living in a tiny house with four grown adults.
But, I have been keeping up with my photo challenge.
So here is the challenge and the past days in pictures.  Plus some extras of my life!

Day 9: someone you love

well, a few someones i love...ichat is bomb

mama, lovey niece and lil sis

Day 10: childhood memory

i have been craving goldfish out of nowhere.

i remember eating goldfish in my mom's classroom while waiting impatiently 

for her to finish her work so we could go home.  i love my mom!

Day 11: something blue

this was the first thing my husband wanted when we moved back to his hometown.

he went to the store and brought back 8 bottles of this juice...yummy!

Day 12: sunset

i was way too lazy to go and find a good spot to see it, 

but this was the view from our front yard through the beautiful trees. :)

Day 13: yourself with 13 things

it's kinda like a "what's in my bag" tag

i used my id for "me" and 13 things from my bag

yes, that is mace along with my favorite lip products!

Day 14: eyes

i realize it is a plural word, but i only did one of mine...oops!

Day 15: silhouette

...of my shaka...in our basement while doing laundry.

Day 16: long exposure

ummm....

i know nothing about long or short exposure so i used a photo 

from the 4th. my husband and i went to the river to watch the fireworks

 in the back of our truck. i love him!

I hope to post a DIY or other funzie soon!

I have enjoyed this challenge, but I need to get back to some other fun stuff to share.

poor photography skills and a big smile

lulewbelle

moving takes WAY too long

The past week or so has been cray-cray!!!

I didn't post a thing and I apologize, but I did keep up with the photography challenge.

Day 4: something green

the movers contract...best decision ever!

Day 5 : from a high angle

looking back from the top of a hill in the ridiculous bumper-to-bumper new mexico traffic

a long hour of bumpin' music and sunflower seeds with the SIL.

Day 6 : from a low angle

my cup of coffee after a long nap/night's sleep in the car

watered down and powdered creamer

Day 7 : fruit

yummy greek yogurt and blueberries for breakfast

Day 8 : a bad habit

i always pick/bite at my nail polish. i don't even know why i still paint them.

Here is my checklist of important things to bring 

when making a long road trip like our 24hr drive:

-loads of water to stay hydrated. bathroom breaks needed

-one-handed snacks to eat and drive

-handy/disinfectant wipes for dirty hands and toilets when needed

-tons of music (we have xm radio which was great, but i still needed my playlist)

-comfy sitting clothes (something stretchy and breathable - comfy bra for sure!)

-sunglasses...i love the big ones

-comfy shoes/shoes you can take off

-gum and toothbrush

-pillows and blankets no matter the season

-coffee!!!

-ibuprofen or tylenol

-chocolate

-fruit to keep you energized, awake and regular :)

-a fun driving mate for conversations 

happy to be done with this long, long trip

lulewbelle

lame clouds lame day

In the valley where I live, there are rarely nice cloudy days.  You know, super fluffy white clouds in a bright blue sky.  Clouds here mostly consist of pollution so all the pictures I took were not cute.  Here is a photo from the news that another person took and it is way cooler than any of mine. 

day 3: clouds
kinda a boring challenge
look at the temperature here at night! yuck!!!

We are still in the process of moving and I need to finish cleaning this apartment.

vacuums and lysol wipes

lulewbelle

packing for a move

Day 2: what i wore today
packing day messy bun

This has been packing week at our place.  We have been loading all our stuff into boxes for our BIG move.  It has been stressful, crazy, sweaty hot, annoying and ridiculously unorganized.  I did not wear anything cute today. No makeup or cuteness here, but I got this picture of my hair for the challenge.  I have been loving the messy bun for this hot, HOT weather.

Here are my TOP 5 TIPS for moving:

1. do NOT wait until two days before moving to rent a truck during the MOST busy moving time of year. trust.

2. drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and do NOT eat doughnuts they will make you sleepy.

3. go through all your things and give away everything you haven't used in at least the past year.

4. remember to show your love to your husband or wife...they are stressed out enough as is.

5. be excited for the changes ahead!  

packing tape and lots of coffee,

lulewbelle

30 day challenge

Yaaaaaay!

I am so excited to say that I am going to take on the 30 day photography challenge.  I noticed another blogger, such life in the tropics, who is also doing this challenge and I thought I'd get in on the action!

Day 1: Self-Portrait
the EXACT way i feel today

I am most definitely not a photographer, but this looks too fun to pass on.  So if you want to get in on the party, please do this with me and comment so I can see your photos too!!!

gettin' in touch with my artsy fartsy side

lulewbelle

blast from the past

   

I was cleaning out my closet the other day, preparing to move and found this card I got from a high school friend.  She gave it to me before I left for college.  We had a great relationship and we always joked around about our big butts and my lack of boobage. So finding this made me laugh all over again  and I thought I'd share my giggles with you!

 almost boobs to can't complain

lulewbelle

DIY : letters on things

Finally got around to it!  If you have read my posts or have gone shopping lately, you would know that letters on things (not sure what you call it) has come back into style and popularity.  I have seen them everywhere.

So here is my DIY...
With a little help from pinterest, this is what I came up with.

letter on a mug:
- using a sharpie, draw letter of choice on a mug (i got mine from the dollar tree)
-bake the mug in the oven for 30 minutes on 350 degrees fahrenheit
-take out an cool...use nail polish to decorate or add color

you can look up the font or style and sketch it with a pencil first or even make a stencil!
just google it!

if you paint the near the bottom of the mug, be sure to keep the bottom rim clean or in might stick to the table.

letters on makeup or dish towels:
-find your favorite towel (i got mine from the dollar tree)
-use fabric paint pens, puffy paint, etc. to add the letter to the bottom center of the towel.

*when using puffy paint, be sure to press the paint into the fabric with a brush or the tip to prevent the paint from cracking or peeling off.

I made these as a gift for a friend and I love the turnout!

I hope you found this helpful! You could add letters to most anything and use any medium to do it!

I might need to try it with bleach, dye, buttons, string, anything!

happy lettering

lulewbelle

Quick Tip : Cleaning Brushes

Thanks to Kandee Johnson, an amazing youtube beauty guru and wonderful person in general, my makeup brushes have never been cleaner and softer.  I don't have the nicest or most expensive brushes, but I do want them to work and feel like they are.  

Here are a couple of quick tips I have learned:

1. mix a little olive oil and Dawn soap to clean your brushes

2. use warm water and ALWAYS keep the brush head pointed downward 

(you don't want water to get up near the glue connecting the brush to the handle)

3. allow your brushes to dry in the correct shape you want them

soft brushes and HUGE hugs,

lulewbelle

lovin' and bummin'

I love to watch and read other people's favorite products and let downs. I totally buy into some commercials and want to go out and get what they are selling.  So when I run out of something and want to try something new.  These types of blogs and videos are very useful!

Here are some of the things that I am lovin' at the moment:

cvs aftersun $3
necessary after 5hrs on the lake with no sunscreen (bad idea)

palmer's cocoa butter swivel stick $2
so amazing for the dry spots on my face and chapped lips = definite lifesaver

benefit pore professional primer (sample size - myglam)
wonderful to keep dry spots under control and my makeup in place!

revlon just bitten lip balm/stain $7
my obsession - minty, moisturizing, and colorful, they work so well and last all day (literally) i like to mix colors too! lovesick and crush

maybelline master precise eyeliner pen $5?
so amahzing when you suck at eyeliner and it stays on forever!

cover girl lipperfection in tempt $6
i love this one! it's such a nice bright summer color that works great for my skin tone and kinda works as a stain too!


Here are some things that had me bummin':

organix instant recovery mask $8
i was very bummed out with this one.  the scent is amazing, but the product works like a watered-down conditioner you can get for $0.88...
you know the ones at the very bottom shelf at the store.

elf shine eraser $1
i guess these are fine for the price, but when you have oily, shiny spots like me, they just don't cut it.  this may be tmi, but i need to use like 4-5 of these sheets to de-shine my face. it's just too many sheets and too much time for me! i still love the palladio rice paper most!

I hope this has been helpful to you and can save a buck or two!

summer lovin'

lulewbelle

Dedication : ABFF Rachel

I thought I would start a dedication post series.  There are so many wonderful people that are a huge part of my life near and far.  So this dedication series will be little blurbs about these people and what they mean to me!

I will be moving to St. Louis next week and will be leaving my ABFF Rachel. :( 

(ABFF = arizona best friend forever) haha

Road trip to Cali!

Rachel and I became very close, very quickly, mostly out of desperation and survival needs.  She was the only young teacher at the first school I taught at.  With all the stress of the first year, she was a life saver, literally sent from God.  I don't think I would have survived these last two years without her motivation, support and funnies. 

(i had so much support from others too!)

Anyway, Rachel has been such a great friend and we have been through quite a bit together. (a closing school, finding new jobs, changes in bravery, road trips, pedicures, and much more)  Marm! 

Rachel also encouraged me to start this blog! So it seems fit to make this first dedication to her!  She has an adorable blog that you should check out a.s.a.p!

http://lifeinthemmnt.blogspot.com/

I will miss having her around when I move, but thanks to technology we will continue to text crazy stuff, ootd's and all those funzies.  I love you, Rachel!!!

Who is your ABFF? I have been blessed with this wonderful lady and hope you have a Rachel in your life too!

scrambled eggs and toast 

with blackberry marmalade

lulewbelle

spending FREEZE!

I have decided that I need to put myself on a spending freeze.  

We are going to vegas next month to celebrate my mother-in-law's 

birthday (and my birthday!) and I'd like to look good.  

So I spent some time today looking for clothes to wear on our trip.

I feel like now I don't need any more clothes.  

Although I do have my eye on a couple maxi skirts at target and may have to pick them up if they go on sale.  Ooops!

So I have put myself on a spending freeze.  NO MORE CLOTHES OR MAKEUP!

While I was out spending (...boo) I got inspired for a DIY!

 

 

Letters seem to be pretty popular in home furnishing stores and thought I'd give it a try!

Keep an eye out for this DIY!

All the letters of the alphabet

lulewbelle

my week: camera phone

It's FRIDAY!!!

Even though I'm technically on summer vacation, Fridays are always such happy days.

It's the weekend and there is always so much to do. 

 In the mean time I wanted to take a look back at my week, according to my cell phone.

Rachel and I went to target and found these funny card.
Wedding thank yous anyone?

Went to the lake with my hubby for our anniversary.
5 hours on the jet skis and major sunburns to prove it!

Got my glam bag in the mail!
Still totally worth the $.

Husband brought home his GM ring for selling over 100 cars in a year.
Yeah Buddy!

Trying out this new conditioner and loving it!
I hope it lightens my hair as good as it conditions.

Planning to put up a DIY this weekend!

Hope you all had as wonderful a week as I did!

sunburns and a happy heart

lulewbelle

youtube addiction?

Lately, I've realized that because I watch youtube...ALL the time,

I have been saying words and phrases that I hear from different people.  

...bomb diggity, what'sit, honey bear...

I figured that if I am using words and phrases (that i do not normally say) from these lovely people, they must be pretty great! So I thought I'd share some of my favorite channels with you! 

Samantha Schuerman

This lovely mommy/beauty guru is adorable and entertaining to watch!

She does weekly favorites and fudgeroos, good products 
and not-so-great products.

It's Judy's Life

I have been loving these vlogs! This beauty guru and her husband 
film their daily lives and put up daily videos.  It is so fun to watch, 
kinda like reality t.v.

MacBarbie07

This young lady makes wonderful videos on fashion, beauty, DIY and other fun bits.  She has great style and is very successful in her young age.  I love watching her videos for little tips and ideas!

Check out these videos and others on youtube! 

Maybe you'll find them interesting and fun!

Enjoy!

lulewbelle