Tag: Blogging

Top Favorite Summer Activities For You And The Kids!

~ quirkymoms486 ~ 20 Comments

I love summer! The sunshine and being outside all day truly does the body good.

The kids are out of school, and I FINALLY took some vacation time to enjoy these long summer days, and these warm summer nights. But what are you going to do with your vacation?

I love when we all go camping as a family. We have done a trip to St. Ignace to visit Mackinac Island, Port Austin to kayak around Turnip Rock, we even took a trip to our most favorite spot, Great Wolf Lodge in Ohio!

Summer Time is the best time to make lasting memories with your family. Some of my most favorite memories as a kid would be camping with my mom and my siblings, or showing animals at the local 4-H fair.

I wanted to share with you all some of my families favorite summer activities!

Swimming

We love to swim! We are surrounded by so many beautiful bodies of water, and we are so fortunate to live just miles from Lake Huron. We love a good beach day. Just us on our “secret” beach and some snacks. It’s like heaven on earth!

Camping

We love to camp! Just last weekend for Father’s Day, we decided to pitch the tent in the back yard. We love going to different camp grounds here in MI too! Michigan is so beautiful and there is so much to explore, camping can be a good low cost way to travel and see your home state. Our favorite part would probably be the s’mores though!

Which leads me to our next favorite activity…

Campfires

We probably have a fire going in our little pit 3-5 times per week. We don’t always have s’mores at the campfire, and maybe we’re just burning up some sticks after we picked up the yard, but we’ve made some great memories around the fire. We like to play little games like “Would you Rather?” or “Never have I Ever” while we sit around the fire. It’s such a good way to bond with our girls!

Slime Making

Our girls are little chemists, I’m telling you! Slime is the messiest, grossest, and hardest thing to clean, but the girls LOVE it! I need to buy stock in Elmers glue, and food dye. LOL! We are constantly making it, and most recently the girls found “Slime Baff”. Yes, you read that right. It’s a slime bath, and they can’t get enough of it!

Games

I went to Five Below, and picked up some fun outdoor activities! We got Velcro ball, a new basketball, a giant checker board, and a frisbee game. It’s not super expensive, but it keeps them occupied. We even made our own paper airplanes, and had a little race. Dad won of course!

Summer comes and goes so fast, so we really try to make the best of it. It’s hard during the week since both my husband and I work out of the home, but what ever time we do have with them, we make it count!

What are some of your favorite activities you do with your kids? Or if you don’t have kids, what do you enjoy doing?

5 Ways To Be More Present With Your Children.

~ quirkymoms486 ~ 45 Comments

I don’t want my children to view me from behind.

I say that because I think one of the hardest things about being a working mom is having to walk away to go to work.

My son is at the age where meltdowns have started and you could find me wiping tears from my eyes the other day when I had to leave for work and he cried and held his little chunky arms out for me.

Don’t get me wrong, working and being a mom is bittersweet. In one way it’s an outlet when you just need something for yourself and human interaction but on the other end it’s one of the hardest things because you feel like you aren’t present enough.

My son is 11-months-old so he is SO close to taking those first few steps and through this whole first year that was my worst fear, not being present for all those big milestones.

In this crazy life and these even crazier times I think that’s the one thing all of us moms struggle with, being present as much as we can. And I don’t mean just being in the same room. I mean in the moment, doing whatever silly things our kids are doing and just really being there!

We have work, we have laundry overflowing, a house to clean and everything else in the world to do but I am learning all those things are important, yes. But being with your children, making little memories takes the win!

So here are five great ways to be present for your kids.

Family Day/Outing.

My son is still little but I still love having a family day! I know in this pandemic it’s hard to get out and about but really, staying at home counts too! Get some burgers and hotdogs, start the grill. Turn on the sprinkler/splashpad. Have a pool day. Start a bonfire and indulge in tons of smore’s. Set up a projector in the backyard for a movie night. Go for a walk or to the park. Have a game night. Summertime is the easiest way to have family day’s so make the most of it!

Put Your Phone Away.

This is the biggest thing I am working on right now. Keeping my volume on incase of emergency but just setting it aside for the day. The last thing I want is my son to view me from behind a screen. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram can all wait until nap time or bedtime. I know how much of a struggle it is though, I am having a hard time staying away from my phone as well. Which makes me want to even more though, because it’s so sad how much these phones have taken over!

Find Fun House Chores Your Kids Will Help With.

I remember growing up, I used to love to help my nana clean up her house. I don’t know if it was because I was involved and felt like I was helping out but to this day I still enjoy cleaning! So find things your kids want to help you with around the house, even if it’s simple. You may be surprised at what they end up enjoying and helping with when given a chance!

Make Sure Your Ears Are Open.

I think one thing children want the most is for adults to listen to them. Like for us, communication is so important. Kids love to babble on about everything. Even our baby babbles, they love you to listen to them. To focus on them. Just listening is an easy way to be present with your children. Learn about their day, what they are thinking, even if it’s just for 10 minutes.

It also opens up that area of being able to know what is going on, especially with your teens. It gives you a chance to ask questions, and to just be involved. Listening is such a crucial thing when being a parent.

Self-Care.

You’ve probably seen a lot about self-care floating around lately. Have you ever had those days or weeks where your frustration takes over and you just can’t be there for anyone because you don’t even have time to be there for yourself? Yeah, me too! So that is why self-care plays such a huge role in parenting. To be able to be fully present with your children, to take care of them and do fun things with them you need to first take care of yourself.

Have a cup of coffee and turn your show on for an hour. Take a bubble bath. Read a book you’ve heard so many good things about. Buy a new outfit. Take a walk.

Self-care doesn’t have to be hard, and it really helps you focus back on what’s important, yourself and your family and not focus on the negative.

There are so many ways to be present with your kids. I am going to try my hardest to use all these tips and really make the most out of this Summer with my bub!

Giving our full attention to our children when we are home or spending a day with them should be easy, not hard!

Do you use any of these tips to be more present with your children?

If you have any other tips, please share them with us!

Why You Need To Fight For Your Marriage.

~ quirkymoms486 ~ 30 Comments

It’s the end of the day.

My perfectly styled hair at some point in the day has been replaced by a messy bun.

My coffee energy has run out a long, long, longgg time ago.

My eyes are tired and as soon as I walk in the door and the baby see’s me, he will cry for me.

So I have to rush to change my clothes, rush to take the work day off of me.

I normally work later than my husband so I quickly grab my son with usually no more than a little hi to the man I promised to love forever.

I am exhausted, I have a baby to tend to, a decent meal to put on the table, and night time routines to get to.

And at the end of all that? All I can usually think of is how good my glass of white wine is going to taste when I get a chance to myself.

But I need to stop and take a breath.

I really need to learn how to do this, because the man sitting on the other side of the couch with a beer in his hand?

He’s had a long day too.

He’s came home from work and has had to quickly change and quickly wash the work day off of him so he can grab our son.

He’s had to quickly get some things done, quickly eat dinner and help with night time routines.

We are a team.

And you know what?

He deserves so much more than a quick hi when I get home and a couch buddy to wind-down with at night.

You always think your romance will never die. That even when you have kids you promise you will still have date nights and time to be alone together.

It’s so hard.

It’s hard to be a wife, and a husband, and a parent and an employee.

Life is just hard.

But you have to make it work. You have to fight for the communication, for the little bit of time when you are alone, for the date nights even if it’s one at home in front of the TV.

It’s easy to get lost in the chaos of everyday life. To think you just always have to go-go-go to feel worthy.

But you don’t, not always at least.

So next time I come home from work, tired and just thinking of that glass of wine waiting for me while I put my feet up on the couch…and maybe even rub them on my husband even though he hates it… 😉

I’m going to make sure I come home and quickly change my clothes, quickly take the work day off of me.

But slowly kiss my husband hello. Slowly take my son from him with a smile made just for my man.

Because he deserves it and you know what? I deserve it too.

And you need to fight for your marriage, even when there’s not a thing wrong with it.

Because at the end of every long day? After the kids are in bed? It’s always going to be just the two of you.

And that’s something worth fighting for.

Let’s Talk about Mom Friends…

~ quirkymoms486 ~ 25 Comments

This is always something I personally have struggled with.

Just think about it, a person that is going through the same thing you are at the moment. It’s 3 AM, and this is the fourth time you’ve been awake with the baby. You just WISH there was someone you could reach out to, someone that would understand the total body exhaustion you feel. Messy bun, yesterday’s makeup running down your cheeks because the tears streamed down your face, wet t-shirt from the spilled milk.

This is something that we STRIVE for. The perfect friend.

I’ve surrounded myself with so many people, it’s hard to say that I have that BEST friend. The person I tell all my secrets to.

For some people it’s your mom or sister. Someone you that has known you from the beginning of your life. Some one that understands every thing that has made you, you.

It could be the friend you met at the Mommy & Baby music class, at the downtown library. Kids who are the same age, and you know they would make a great long time friend to your daughter.

Maybe it’s your husbands coworkers wife. They are the couple who is older and wiser, and will always give you the best advice. Someone who you became friends with their whole family, and know that your village is getting bigger, and stronger.

Your high school best friend, that even though is worlds away, and when her world is completely different, you know she is always just a text or phone call away.

It could be a new friend. An unexpected friend. You know that she would never judge you, and would do anything to keep you and your family safe and happy.

The sister in law that is always there for your children no matter what. Someone you can share all of the best memories together. Watch each other’s kids grow up. Enjoy big life moments, like marriage, child birth, birthday’s and so much more.

And, your person. The person that chose you and you choose over and over. The one you know has seen all your darkest days, but will easily brighten them. The one you will do life with in the bad, and the good.

These are crazy times, and we all need that friend. So when I say “mom” friend, I don’t mean a friend that IS a mom. I mean any friend that you know you would never want to do life without.

These are my true friends. This is what my village is made of.

Love you friends. ❤️

DIY: Our Chicken Coop!

~ quirkymoms486 ~ 1 Comment

Howdy, y’all! I reckon I’m ‘bout to show you my chicken farm!

Hahah, just kidding! I’m having too much fun with my chickens, sometimes I wish I had my own farm.

Fun fact: when I was growing up, my grandpa and great grandpa had a Hereford Farm. I actually showed steers at the 4-H Fair growing up! That was an experience on it’s own. It’s definitely something I wish my kids would be able to participate in if they wanted too.

Anyways, my chickens are now officially HOME! They enjoy their little house so much. It’s not 100% complete, as we are still deciding what we’d like to cover the coop in, and we have to paint it, but other then those cosmetic details it’s DONE!

Have I said on here that my husband is a genius, yet?! I kept showing him all these elaborate, chicken palaces, that were quite expensive, and he just would smile and nod. He knew that no matter what prefab coop I bought, in the end I wouldn’t truly be happy. He asked me what I’d want out of a coop, and he made it happen.

The first thing I wanted was a run that I could walk into to interact with my girls! He made it 8’ tall in the front, and 6’ tall in the back, so no matter where I go, I won’t be bumping my head!

I also wanted a door on the coop, so I would have easy access to the eggs when it’s time for them to start laying. Also, it will make cleaning A LOT easier!

Last thing that was a must was the slanted roof! It is eventually going to have a gutter system that will collect rain water for the birds! It’ll really help so I don’t have to drag the hose over every time I need to give them more water!

The process was actually quite simple. We started out buying just 20 2×4’s, four sheets of plywood, four metal roof panels, and chicken wire. All and all this cost around $250, and honestly is WAY better and more sturdy then any of the prefab models I saw online.

We started out with the bottom frame. We wanted as little waste as possible. The 2×4’s we got were 8’ long, so that’s what the bottom is, 8×8. Then we just worked our way up. With the slanted roof we cut down the back posts to 6’! Don’t worry, those 2’ we cut off, were definitely used!

After we had it all framed out, we started working on the actual “barn” part of the coop/run. Cody thought it was a good idea to raise it up, allowing the girls to have a spot under the coop to lay and get out of the sun! We used the two 2’ pieces we cut off and made a nice base for the coop, and then we enclosed it. This is where the nesting boxes will be. A nice quiet place to lay eggs!

Then we added the chicken wire! ALL THE CHICKEN WIRE! I think this was the worst part! It was just tricky making sure it was all straight. The staple gun broke mid way through, so I had to make ANOTHER Lowe’s trip!

The final step was predator proofing the coop! We couldn’t waste all our hard work on our ladies, to have them eaten by a critter. Now, we don’t live in a rural area, but we aren’t in the middle of a city either. We have raccoons and opossums for sure and they will kill the chickens if they get to them, so to combat that, we dug a “trench” a foot wide, and just a few inches deep, and we buried chicken wire. That way critters can’t try and dig under the fence!

We have to add a few finishing touches, and we definitely have to paint, but all in all, I think it turned out great! It was a lot of work, but I love it! That is truly all that matters, right?!

I love doing DIY’s, and you will probably read a lot about my little home projects! Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you next Thursday! (:

Meet My Quarantine Chicks!

~ quirkymoms486 ~ 24 Comments

We were bored in the house, and in the house bored. So we decided to get CHICKENS!!!

I went, alone, to Tractor Supply to get dog food, and I walked out with four chicks! I think Cody just about died when I called him. Oops!

We got two Silver Laced Wyandotte’s, Lacey and Ella (or Kylo Hen as we like to call her), and two Ameracauna chicks, Lucy and Emily. Both breeds are known for being calm, and good overall family farm birds. Unfortunately, one of our Ameracauna’s, Emily, didn’t make it.

Here is one of our babies, Lacey, when they first came home! So tiny and fluffy!

Becoming a chicken owner is definitely something you should think about BEFORE you get them. We really had so much to learn, but over time, and after losing one, we definitely learned a lot!

These babies grow SO FAST!

With in a few weeks they had doubled in size. From a little fluff ball that would fit in the palm of my hand, to an almost full sized bird who wanted to roost on my arm, we knew we needed to get working on our chicken coop! Here is Lacey at 3 weeks old:

She started getting her feathers which meant we could start to lower the temp in the brooder. The brooder is the little bin that they stay in until they are fully feathered.

Not long after they started getting their big bird feathers, did they begin to want to fly. Yes, I said fly. I didn’t realize they could get as much air as they did. We didn’t initially keep a lid on the brooder, because when they’re not feathered, they don’t even attempt to “fly”. Right around 5 weeks is when they were ready to get out and explore!

I went back to work after having these babies for a few weeks, but my flock was about to get bigger! We added three Silkie chicks! They’re names are Piper, Penny and Fancy. Fancy is actually a showgirl Silky, so her neck and her bum is naked.

I could go on and on about their cute little faces, but I would never stop writing.

On my next post, I’m going to show you our next step in “chicken farming”, the coop!

I’ll share more about my other birds in the next post, because my flock just keeps growing!

Here’s one more picture for the road! (;

6 Essentials For All Working Moms

~ quirkymoms486 ~ 16 Comments

I don’t know about you, but my work weeks are pretty hectic! The madness that is trying to get ready in the morning (thank goodness for dry shampoo and concealer). Your actual work day and then coming home, figuring out dinner and trying to find time between bath and bed to actually play with your kids.

I’ll say it though, there are seriously not enough hours in a day!

Just craziness! So I have come up with some essentials I use throughout my work weeks to make them a little more bearable and cuts down a teeny bit of the crazy.

Amazon Prime.

Can I get a high-five for this one? Amazon is a life-saver when you need something fast that you forgot about. Need a last minute gift? Amazon Prime is there for you. Need something super random just because you were scrolling around at 11pm? Amazon Prime is there for you. Defiantly an essential for a busy mom.

A Large Bag Or Purse.

I will admit, my husband got on my case the other day saying I needed to clean out my jungle of a purse. I have a large purse but it holds my life’s needs. I may have a diaper or two in there and some wipes. I may have emergency snacks. A book. A couple water bottles. Honestly, who knows what is in there but the point is, you can go from work to hockey practice with one large bag or purse and be prepared!

Reusable Tumbler/Bottle.

I carry one constantly! I’ve been trying to keep up on my water intake lately which is it not hard? I find it hard to consume enough water in the day when I really just want to chug coffee or have a nice ice cold coke. Which brings me to why reusable tumblers/bottles are awesome because you can use them for all three! Could probably even splash some wine in there at the end of the night.

By the way, I am typing this without even really looking because my son is going crazy at the moment…

A Good Schedule Or Calendar.

I love a cute calendar planner. I actually like taking a minute at the beginning of each month and filling one out as well. It just keeps things in line and I will actually know what I am doing each week or month. Your phone calendar or a scheduling app works wonders though as well. There are even some apps where you can sinc your schedules with others.

A Good Podcast For Commute Time.

I love Podcasts, they are becoming quite popular lately and there are so many out there! Podcasts are great if you have to commute for work but they are also great for just putting on when you are doing things aroung the house as well. Personally I love True Crime Podcasts! My current obsession is Crime Junkie Podcast.

Snacks.

Oh snacks, last but certainly not least. As a mom we are the snack getters, the snack makers and packers. You know what though? We need snacks too! So I always pack a few of my own favorite snacks in my purse and maybe a snack or two my son likes in there too…either way snacks are defiantly essential!

I hope at least one or two of these are essential for a busy work week for you as well! Weather you are a busy mom or just a busy person in general these can go for anyone.

What are some of your essential work week things that weren’t mentioned above? I’d love to know!

Thanks for reading!

What I Wish Everyone Actually Shared About Becoming A Mom

~ quirkymoms486 ~ 38 Comments

Say goodbye to sleeping in, oh and your sanity? That goes out the window as well. Oh, oh and you will be up to your neck in diapers and spit up like 24/7.

And the cries, oh the cries will be stuck in your head forever. Oh, and teething? Yeah, have fun with that!

Yes, I heard about the sleepless nights, the teething, the horror stories of giving birth. We all have and yes, those things are all true that we are constantly reminded of when pregnant and carrying around a newborn.

Fast forward 10 months in though, and there’s so much I have figured out on my own that I just don’t think is talked about as much as it should be and I’m hoping I am not the only one who has felt these things.

No one ever told me how emotional I would be about every little thing. Hormones or not every milestone, every new thing learned, ever little smile and new tooth. Well let’s just say there are secret flood works every single time. Sure I knew becoming a mom would be nothing but emotions, but I just didn’t know it would be over everything and I mean EVERYTHING.

No one ever told me about the frustration. Your baby wakes up in the middle of the night for the 4th night in a row. Nothing you do eases that teething pain. Every time you set the baby down, the water works start. The frustration is real and I never knew how many times I would need a breather throughout the day. How many times I would have to take deep breaths so I don’t break down. How much of a zombie I would feel like just to get through the day.

No one ever told me about the guilt…Oh the guilt. Mom guilt is the worst thing in the whole entire world and it is so REAL. Every time that frustration comes, every time my baby doesn’t sleep through the night, every time I just want to have time for myself I feel consumed with guilt. Which I now know is such a normal thing, but mom guilt needs to be talked about more because it’s a terrible thing to hold inside!

No one ever told me how much I would need my husband and my tribe. You single moms doing it ALL on your own, hats off to you. Seriously you are the real MVP because I don’t think I could do it. To have someone I can just silently hand little man off to so I can grab a glass of wine at the end of the night is everything. When the frustration becomes too much or I just need alone time with my husband, to have our tribe of family and friends is EVERYTHING.

No one ever told me I would meet someone new. And no, not my baby, I am talking about myself. Sometimes I just feel like a totally different person. My views have changed since becoming a mom, my feelings are more intense. My body has changed, along with so many other parts of me. But it’s ok, I like this vesion of myself and I like the other version too when I get to be baby free for a night or two.

No one ever told me how much you can love someone. From the moment I saw “pregnant” on my pregnancy test, I instantly fell in love. I never knew how much you could love someone without even know them or seeing them yet. And when you do get the chance to peek at that little face? I can’t even describe it as I’m sure all you moms felt it too. I just never knew how much unconditional love you could give out to this tiny little person you are helping grow. It’s amazing and it needs to be shared more often.

I feel like no book could have prepared me for motherhood, you learn so much on your own because every baby is truly different.

It could never tell me how guilty and sad I would feel every time I have to leave for work or that most of the time I am honestly just winging it. It’s scary not knowing what kind of mother you will be, but just know that you are and will do your best! In the end, they just need our unconditional love and care.

Back to Work!

~ quirkymoms486 ~ 16 Comments

I started back up to work last Monday, and I am TIRED!

We called this blog the Quirky Workin Moms, because that is who we are. We are both moms who work. HARD!

I work for two eye doctors as an optician. I L O V E my job so, so much. However, during this pandemic, I’ve faced many challenges.

I don’t know if you’ve been to an eye doctor recently, but the thing about my profession, is we are in your face ALL. THE. TIME!

I could not do my job, 6 feet away. It’d be impossible. From measuring your glasses, to adjusting them, or training you to put contact lenses is. I’m right there, 6 inches away.

I have found a few things to be useful though during these crazy times, and it’s nothing new. It has given me some piece of mind!

PPE has been a must. I wear a mask majority of the day. If you are in my optical, I have my mask on.

Excessively washing my hands, and using hand sanitizer. My hands are fried. I’m not sure if they will ever recover.

Coming home and putting clothes right in the laundry basket. I don’t want to bring any germs into my house where I could potentially expose my family.

Shoes are kept OUTSIDE! It’s a rule I strictly follow at this point.

It has been difficult getting used to this new “normal”, but I am so grateful to have a job that has opened back up!

I hope everyone stays healthy and safe.

And if you’re essential, THANK YOU!!!

See you all next Thursday!

Need A VERY Last Minute Mother’s Day Gift? How About A DIY!

~ quirkymoms486 ~ 22 Comments

I used to be on top of everything. Birthday? I had a gift two weeks before. I love to be prepared and a planner but since becoming a mom, I totally get it!

Being late, forgetting things, the chaos, it makes so much sense now. I have become the person who feels guilty about getting things last minute. With that though, I have also found the love for DIY gifts!

I love DIY gifts, they are much more sentimental and the effort means a lot.

Are they messy? Yes, especially when you are trying to do one with a squirmy 9 month old.

Are they perfect? Heck no! Most of the time they look like blobs and are going in every direction.

Are they fun? YES! I had so much fun making these with my little one even when he did swipe his painted hand across my arm and got close to my face once.

So for Mother’s Day, I went the crafty way and I love the outcome and can’t wait to keep mine forever.

DIY Mother’s Day Flower Pot

You will need:

  • Glue Gun
  • Cardstock Paper
  • Washable Non-Toxic Kid Paint
  • Decorative Straws
  • Scisors
  • Sharpie

First, the messy part! If you have older kids it won’t be too messy because they can do it on their own but babies and toddlers are messy! Lather up those hands with some paint and get to making lots of handprints! I cut them out as best as I could after they were dry.

Next, I free-hand drew some flower pots and cut them out so they defiantly aren’t perfect.

After that I wrote Happy Mother’s Day on each of them with a sharpie. I also put the year down at the bottom.

Then it’s assemble time! Heat up your hot glue gun and grab your straws. Hot glue your hand prints to your straws so they become the stem of the flower.

Then you will flip your flower pot over and hot glue your flowers to the back of the flower pot.

Once that is done, I hot glued the flower pot and flowers to a pretty piece of cardstock so it can be displayed!

Easy peasy right!? Only takes a day to do and you have a cute homemade Mother’s Day gift!

I can’t wait to hand them out and display my own!

Let me know if you end up making these, or if you did a different DIY for Mother’s Day!

Oh and what is everyone doing? It’s my first Mother’s Day so I am thinking mimosa’s for breakfast! 🙂

Happy Mother’s Day all you mama’s! You rock!