I’m struggling with the fact that I have a preschooler.
Where did the time go?
You were just a little rolly polly baby asleep in my arms yesterday, I swear.
Time is such a thief.
Even at a young age, you try to give your child all the tools they will need to succeed in any new adventure in life.
When the time comes to use the tools though, it’s both exciting and scary.
I feel like a tiny part of your innosence will be chipped away as we enter school age, even if it is preschool.
Yet, I want you to flourish and meet new friends and learn all you can at the same time.
Bring me home all the fun crafts you do each day to display, I hope I see a big smile at the end of each day and hear nothing but re-telling of fun things that happened while you were at school.
I know drop off’s will be hard and pick up’s will be exciting and it’s all apart of growing up for both you and me.
I swear, being a mom is the biggest emotional rollercoaster there is.
But just know mama’s, your baby will be fine.
I’m here to convince both you and myself.
Trust the teacher’s.
Trust that you raised a brave, smart and fun little one who will be nothing but great and kind.
And know it’s ok to cry, just hold it in until after drop off as to not scare them.
Know that they are ready, they have all the tool’s you’ve given them.
I know the hardest part will be getting yourself ready though.
I know how hard it is to let them grow, and even harder to let them go just a tiny bit.
Let’s get through the first week of preschool together mama’s!
We’ve got this and know as always, we are in this together.
Oh my goodness, I have found theeee best football season dish to make!
If I didn’t love sliders already because Hawaiian rolls are life, I love them even more after making this recipe.
BIG MAC SLIDER’S!
Yes, I said it. Big Mac sliders and they are absolutely delicious. I cannot wait to make this for all the big football games we watch as the Fall season is upon us.
Let’s talk ingredients
Ingredients:
• 3/4 lb ground beef
• 1 medium yellow onion, chopped and divided
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 6 slices American or sharp cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup iceberg lettuce , shredded
• 1/4 cup pickles , sliced
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• Hawaiian rolls
You could also add sesame seeds to the top to make it a true Big Mac type slider but this particular day I did not have any on hand.
The true star of this show though is the sauce. Definitely chefs kiss. It did not make it soggy at all either which was a relief.
Sauce:
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons relish
• 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Now let’s assemble.
Instructions:
• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• In a large pan on medium-heat, add the ground beef, half of the diced onion, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Cook until the beef is no longer pink and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes.
• Cut the rolls in half lengthwise.
• In a bowl, combine the mayo, relish, mustard, ketchup, onion powder and garlic powder and mix. Spread half of the sauce on the bottom layer of the rolls.
• Top with the cooked beef, sliced cheese, lettuce, and pickles. Drizzle the remaining sauce on top and place the top half of bread rolls on the sliders.
• Brush the melted butter on top of the sliders.
• Bake the sliders for 10 minutes or until the cheese has melted.
• Cut the sliders into 12 individual slices.
Seriously I can’t wait to make these again! They were delicious and will definitely be a party favorite.
Let me know if you’ve tried these! And if you do try this recipe share with me how it turned out 🙂
You want to know what I think one of the biggest blessings in life are? Mom friends.
Even more specific, mom friends and coffee dates!
Seriously, it’s so nice to have someone to talk to who knows what you are going through, or at least has been there before. Everything just seems a bit more manageable when you have someone there that is deep in the trenches of motherhood just like you.
Sporting those messy buns, dark circles and weird stained clothes because for some reason, I don’t know about you but I find a weird stain from my kids yucky fingers on something I am wearing almost daily? Hope I’m not alone in that one.
Anyways, you just feel less alone! And let’s be honest here, motherhood can be extremely lonely.
A walk to a cute coffee shop, sunshine and some chit chat with a friend though? Could cure the soul I swear, even with kiddo’s tagging along.
Marissa and I did just that yesterday, she was kid free but I instantly squashed that when my little’s had to make the trip with us to an adorable coffee shop in our town, The Electric Coffee!
It’s such a cute spot with a fun seating area to chat, work or read a good book!
I just feel like I can take a deep breath when I get myself ready for the day, get outside in the sunshine and have an iced coffee in my hand. It sounds so cliché’ I know but in my life it really is the little things that make me the happiest.
So let’s talk about 5 ways to make yourself get out of the house and call up your mom friend because who says kids are the only ones who get to have play dates!?
Go for a walk.
One of the easiest ways to both enjoy your kids and friends is defiantly taking a walk. Find a trail to get some exercise. Walk your downtown area. Grab the bikes or rollerblades to make it extra fun for the kids.
Visit your favorite coffee shop.
Coffee dates are the best, chatting over coffee is one of my favorite things to do. It’s so relaxing and it is a great way to meet up with your friends and catch up.
Wine tasting.
Something I love as much as coffee? Wine! Wine nights are so fun and if you enjoy wine, I feel like wine tasting is the perfect moms night out!
Workout together.
Take a workout class together! Yoga or Zumba are always fun. Take a hike somewhere you both enjoy walking. Join a gym and plan weekly workouts.
Start a book club.
I love reading and so do a lot of my mom friends! So why not start a book club? You get to do what you love and share your favorite or least favorite parts with your friends.
So make sure to connect and make some time for yourself and your friends. They are so needed to survive this crazy adventure of motherhood.
Most importantly enjoy your favorite cup of coffee at your local coffee shop and chit chat a little, I promise you will feel refreshed! 🙂
A fun fact about me, I am a huge true crime junkie. So why not make it into a blog post?
Also though? I get super scared during scary movies. Like jump out of my seat and eyes are covered scared.
Kind of funny but oh well.
I have been loving podcasts lately, as a busy working mom, they are so easy to turn on while I am cleaning around the house or even during a long drive while the kids nap. Specifically True Crime Podcasts so I am here to share my favorites that I have been listening to lately.
There is just something about a voice that keeps you hooked.
Plus I love that during a lot of True Crime Podcasts they shed light on cases and give families potential to get justice or to even get unsolved cases solved.
Here are my top 3 favorites I have been hooked on.
Crime Junkie
Hosted by Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat, these girls will make you feel like you have met new friends! I love Ashely’s voice and her story telling is phenomenal. They banter back and forth and I love how they exchange their theories to each other. These two girls have a soft spot for the cases they talk about though and I love how they advocate so much for the victims discussed on their podcast. By far my favorite to listen to and if you aren’t already it just might make you a true crime junkie as well. Listen here.
True Crime With Kendall Rae
Hosted by Kendall Rae, the passion she has for the victims she talks about and their families is remarkable. Another thing I love about supporting Kendall’s podcast though is she is always raising money for good causes and she truly connects with her fans. On top of all that goodness though she really knows how to hook you during her podcasts. I first started out watching her Youtube video’s which are amazing as well but I was so happy to hear she brought her stories to the podcast world because now I can bring her along on the go. Listen here.
Crime Weekly
Hosted by Derrick Levasseur and Stephanie Harlowe. So I first decided to listen to Crime Weekly because I absolutely love Stephanie Harlowe! She first created YouTube videos as well and she is awesome. When I heard she was on a Podcast though I was so excited and her and Derrick make a great team! Derrick is a retired police detective and private investigator so it is awesome getting his take on the stories they talk about and he gives great tips!Listen here.
Of course Serial and My Favorite Murder are favorites as well and are just iconic that first started the fame of true crime podcasts, I love finding ones I can really connect with and that tell stories just as well. These three are defiantly worth listening to and I look forward to their new episodes every time!
For a patient person, my patience is thin and you know what? It’s ok.
Do I feel guilty about it? Sure.
Do I wish that every day could just be rainbows and butterflies? Absolutely.
This motherhood journey is not all rainbows and butterflies though, and boy don’t we know it.
The other day both my kids were crying. One because he couldn’t have a snack right before dinner and the other just because her big brother was crying and she thought she needed to as well.
A glass of wine and a bathroom break with the door actually shut and not being opened or pounded on sounded so amazing at that moment.
I feel like sometimes the pressure just builds up for us with every cry or every tantrum and it’s tough to not be bothered.
Throw in a long day at work and I am just exhausted thinking about it.
It’s hard to keep your head up as a mom.
I think sometimes we just feel beat down. Weather it be a rough night of sleep, a bad potty training day, a crying baby you just can’t seem to soothe, a guilty day of work when you just wish you were home, a sick kiddo that has you feeling miserable as well.
The list goes on and on.
It’s all ok though and I really hope you know that when you feel this way, how great of a mom you are.
It’s the toughest job in the world that you show up for every single day. But the reward? It’s the greatest of all time.
Keep your head up, make sure you take the breaks you need.
Take time for yourself, use your tribe of people when you need the help and DO NOT feel guilty about it.
Take a deep breath and know that the guilt will subside and there will be far more better days than bad ones.
Just know that you’re a wonderful mother and we are all in this together.
I think if you asked anyone though, they would all have something different to say about what happiness and success means to them.
For me? Happiness is a slow Saturday morning with my family. Breakfast, coffee with my husband and a morning routine that went as smooth as a babies bottom. Success would be living simply but being able to provide for my family everything they need and be able to give as much as I can to those in need.
Everyday life though, It can defiantly take a toll on how your mind perceives things. One thing I don’t like is negative thoughts! I like a clear, free, happy mindset and it’s defiantly hard to accomplish but it’s one thing I take pride in having.
I try to do little tasks that help get me there and I am even trying to incorporate new ones this year to help keep my mindset positive even more. I am here to share with you 6 ways to help change your daily mindset to be your best self each day.
Positive Morning Routine.
I am starting off with one I am still working on. Mainly I am just not a morning person. I have found though that your morning really does set the tone for the whole day.
Create a relaxing morning routine that helps bring positivity to those early wake up’s. Make your favorite breakfast, sip your coffee slowly. Plan out your day.
Or even make this into your evening routine if you need to.
Do A Weekly Or Daily Brain Dump.
These help so much. Get out your favorite notebook and write down all your thoughts or things you need to do or want to do. Sometimes my mind gets so boggled with ideas and I love putting pen to paper and jotting them all down.
It does not have to be pretty, it’s just a way to help you get things off your mind and put into perspective what you want to accomplish. I love brain dumps.
Get Outside.
Need to clear your mind? I always say the best way to do it is to get outside. Fresh air is just so good for you.
I love a long walk to help alleviate stress or negative thoughts.
I love getting outside and playing with my kids, it feels freeing for myself and for them I am sure. Fresh air is a wonderful cure of a mindset that needs some clearing.
Less Is More.
Another work in progress for me is decluttering. I never realized what a toll clutter can take on you.
It creates so much stress, always having to pick up things or move things or organize things. It takes up so much time and energy.
I am going through one room in the house whenever I get the chance and it has felt so freeing creating a less is more atmosphere in my home.
Find A Hobby You Enjoy.
This is a big one. I love hobby’s. They are such an outlet to a more positive mind.
Find something you enjoy doing and use it as a way to be happy.
I love reading, writing and doing fun DIY crafts with my kids. They make me happy and I always feel better after finishing a good book, writing up a storm or making something fun with my kids.
Find something you love.
Erase The Negativity.
Remove negative things from your life. It may be hard sometimes but it’s worth it.
Listen to positive Podcasts, life yourself up with encouraging words.
Give yourself the strength to end the negativity and bring only positive into your life.
I think this is something we could all work on as human beings in general.
Your mindset is so important and I hope this has helped you find something to help make you happy!
If you have your own ways to stay positive and keep the joy flowing in your life please share them below with us all!
Do you ever remember the rejection you felt when you were younger and someone didn’t want to play with you or sit with you or even just talk to you?
It was the worst getting your feelings hurt or feeling left out at recess or not having a partner for a fun activity.
I think about that way more often now that I have children.
I wish someone would have told me to make sure you play with them whenever you are asked. That advice is actually worth getting.
When I’m busy and feel like I have so much to do and a little voice comes up behind me and says “mommy, will you play with me?”
A far too usual reply ends up being “in a minute, let me just finish this really quick”
Sometimes do you even look behind you at the little face so eagerly waiting for you to be done when you are busy with your tasks? I’ll be honest, not always.
I feel like we think because they are so little, they won’t understand. But trust me, they do.
A bad day or a sad day could easily be cured by simply sitting down on the floor with your children.
Let them take the wheel, trust me their imaginations are enough to sweep you up into their worlds.
Sit on the ground and be present.
Let them bring you things, let them dance around you and zoom across the living room.
The laundry can wait to be folded and put away.
The dishes can stay dirty for a little while longer.
The floors don’t need to be swept right this minute.
The housework never goes anywhere, but these little moments with your children do.
Give them your attention.
Let them make you laugh and be silly.
You need it just as much as they need it.
My favorite is when my son tells me he had the best day ever with me when all we did was play for a little while or went out and about as a family.
So the next time you hear that little voice come up behind you asking you to play or to talk or to sit with them.
I’ll be honest with you all, I’ve never been the best at achieving my New Years goals. it all sounds so great while planning it out on paper but then life just keeps happening and sometimes it’s easy to get away from them.
This year though, I am determined to stick to my goals. Stick to my guns and knock them out one by one.
My goals for this year, each one I tried to pick out that would just better my life and my families life in general. To focus on what I really want to accomplish.
Here is a list of my goals for the New Year.
Be more intentional
Save money
Finish updating our house
Blog more
Get the kids outside, even in the winter months
Declutter the each space in our house
Have a more minimalist house
Limit my screen time
Carve out more time for date nights and friends
Become a morning person
Work on my fitness
We have so much updating to our house to finish and I hope to do that this year so we can be happy with it. With updating though, I also want to become as minimal as possible. It’s a tough thing to do but I feel like that and organization will bring my stress level down a ton when at home.
A long with that, my family is my biggest goal. Get the kids outside more and to experience more. Date my husband more. Become a morning person so I have some time for myself before work and the chaos of the day to reflect on my goals and make sure they happen.
Less screen time and get my body moving instead. Work on my fitness and my health, physically and mentally.
I tried to choose things that all tie in together with each other so they are easier to accomplish for me.
I am just hoping this New Year brings everyone happiness, health and a whole lot of love. We all need it and I think after the last 3 years we all deserve it.
I hope we can all get back to the simple things in life that matter the most to us all.
What are your New Year goals? I would love to hear them! Share them in the comments and let’s help each other achieve our goals!
Quirky Workin' Mom's 