Tag: Lifestyle Blog

AD; Photowall Decor & More!

~ quirkymoms486 ~ 18 Comments

AD- This is an advertise in collaboration with Photowall Sweden with a free product. All opinions are our own.

One of my favorite things is new decor pieces. I get so excited to add a new piece to my home.

Homemaking and keeping a tidy cute home is something I strive for and I have been slowly remodeling and freshening our spaces so when @photowall_sweden reached out to me about their products I was so excited!

I picked up this new beautiful hallway table that I am in love with and I was searching for a great piece that would go along the back of it.

Photowall has so many unique pieces and canvas photo’s are defiantly one of my favorite things to decorate with.

I picked this unique world map that I think the colors went perfect with everything. It wasn’t too bright or too dull and it went so well with this space.

I even have enough room for all my fall touches now that we are getting into the Holiday seasons.

It shipped quickly and came packaged very nicely.

You do have to assemble the mounting yourself but they have a very easy video tutorial to help you with each step.

I am not handy and I was surprised how easy it was to follow.

I love how everything turned out and I definitely want to purchase more from them!

Plus who else is so excited for seasonal decor!?

Stop back soon for a Fall home tour!

Be sure to check out Photowall and all they have to offer.

They have given us an awesome code of 25% off their site! Use code quirkyworkinmoms25

Don’t Wish Away The Years.

~ quirkymoms486 ~ 10 Comments

I look at this little face, these little cheeks and these little hands and I wish that I could stop time.

The years go by so fast.

All these little stages of growth, I feel like sometimes we wish them away and it breaks my heart.

We wish the pregnancy stage away because the heartburn, the aches, the discomfort is a lot sometimes.

We wish the baby stage away because we just want some sleep and to be left alone at times.

We wish the toddler stage away because we just want some peace and no screaming or crying or things thrown at us.

Before you know it, they are starting school and that peace and quiet you experience when they aren’t around doesn’t seem so nice anymore.

And then they are off to high school and it’s sports and school dances and dating and those tantrums and all that noise? Well you miss it because they are always gone.

Let’s stop wishing away the stages of these sweet little ones.

Instead let’s embrace it. Again with my this years motto, embrace the chaos.

Live in the moment and just let all the craziness of this thing called parenting wash over you because it’s nothing but wonderful chaos.

As parents we are all tired, all stressed and all need to give ourselves more grace and alone time. I so get it.

Just don’t wish away what will only end up being memories once these little ones grow up.

We will want it all back.

You’re Going To Make It.

~ quirkymoms486 ~ 10 Comments

I know it’s hard sometimes.

The lives we live and the things we go through.

It doesn’t seem fair, and a lot of times it isn’t.

You try so hard to be positive, to think of the good that might come out of these situations that you find yourself in.

But sometimes you just can’t and I’m here to tell you that it’s ok.

It’s ok to feel sad and to feel defeated.

It’s ok to feel like your whole world is crumbling around you.

It’s ok to cry.

It’s ok to scream out in frustration.

It’s ok to just completely lose your shit.

It’s ok.

But once the crying, the screaming and the tears are all dried up.

You need to pick yourself up again.

This part is so, so important.

You need to remind yourself that these feelings, this place you are at in life isn’t going to last forever.

Things will get better.

There will be times of happiness where you forget why in the world you were ever feeling so defeated in the first place.

Things will start to make sense again and the sunshine will start to come out.

So whenever you feel like you just can’t do it.

No matter how hard it gets.

I want you to know that…

You’re going to make it.

Kitchen Remodel- Floors and Countertops Are In!

~ quirkymoms486 ~ 14 Comments

Living in a renovation is not fun, even if it is just our kitchen. You have so many things scattered everywhere and I like order so it’s super hard for me!

Everything is coming together so beautifully though and I can’t wait to show you. First that went in were the countertops and new sink. We chose quartz countertops because they were honestly the only ones that went with the look I was trying to go for.

Bonus though? SOOO easy to clean! Holy cow are they easy to clean. I am still trying to find a cleaner that doesn’t leave streaks though so if you know of one, please let me know in the comments! It’s number 1 on my list to buy so I would appreciate it.

It’s hard to tell in the pictures but they have a gray detail going all across the countertops to tie in the cabinets and I love it. Looks so good.

Once the countertops and sink were in, our flooring ended up going in next since the backsplash was the easiest to get done.

I am OBSESSED with our floors. I can’t wait until we can get them all throughout the living room because I just love them. They are sturdy and look stunning. We went with a hardwood vinyl type of flooring and you honestly couldn’t even tell the difference.

I love the contrast of the dark to light. The dark floors with the light walls and cabinets and counter area, it went really good together so I am glad we chose a darker color.

We are so close to the finish line and I can’t wait to share with you all the final project all done and looking fabulous!

Thanks for staying on this journey with me, be sure to check out the previous links to see what everything looked like before.

Kitchen Remodel Inspiration

Kitchen Remodel- Painting is Finished.

Our Favorite Michigan Vacation!

~ quirkymoms486 ~ 20 Comments

We kicked off summer with an INCREDIBLE vacation to Port Austin, MI. It is our favorite spot to camp, and we go back as often as we can.

We tent camp, and I could write a whole blog on camping with kids and a dog. It’s a lot of work, but the work is totally worth the reward!

I wanted to talk about this awesome small town at the tip of Michigan’s thumb! This is the second family trip we’ve taken, and we plan to go back again as a yearly tradition.

We always camp at a Michigan state park, Port Crescent State Park. It is called that because the park is on a crescent shaped bay right before the Saginaw bay.

The water is shallow and crystal clear and super sandy for many yards out. It is perfect for kids or young swimmers. The sand bar was insane this year. It actually started at the shore which is something I have never experienced at a Michigan beach.

The sunsets are INCREDIBLE. I live on the east side of MI, so we get stunning sunrises, so experiencing sunsets is my favorite part about the trip.

It’s also a pet friendly park, so we were about to take Addie with us! She REALLY enjoyed digging in the sand with the girls. She loved exploring all things!

There is plenty of hiking and fishing you can do as well at the park. There’s also a nice playground and two bathrooms with showers if needed!

We kayaked one year to a very famous rock structure, Turnip Rock! That trip was so much fun. We rented kayaks from Port Austin Kayak. We rented them for the four hour time. It took roughly two hours to get to the rock structure. It was totally worth it. My phone died just before we got to the structure, so I borrowed an image from Huron County Park’s website.

There is also Caseville up there too! That is home of the “Cheesburger Festival”. Yes it is a festival dedicated to cheeseburgers. Such a fun little town.

We loved traveling so far and are planning another trip in August! Do you have any recommendations in or near MI?! Let me know!

We’re glad to be back! See you next week.

How To Tell If You’re Ready For Another Baby.

~ quirkymoms486 ~ 24 Comments

Something I always knew I wanted, more than one child.

But when you have your first, you get so caught up in it all, it’s hard to tell when you might be ready for another one.

I always assumed I would want my children closer to three years apart. When you first bring home a newborn all those fantasies about having another child so soon kind of go up in flames with your exhaustion and tears.

But then they grow up and they get cute and their own personality and they start to get a little bit more independent and the thoughts start creeping in…

I could totally do that all over again, am I ready!?

I think I first knew I was ready to have another child when the thought of seeing those two pink lines on a pregnancy test didn’t make me want to run for the hills.

So if you haven’t guessed by now.. we are expecting our second child!

My son is turning 2 in July so he will be about 2 1/2 when this new little bundle is born.

I remember having so much anxiety at first thinking of having two children…now don’t get me wrong I still have anxiety but there was a time when I was like…how would I even be able to do it?

You get so worried about how another baby will impact your marriage, your wallet, your home life and it’s scary. I know we have all felt it.

But a few things have changed since those first anxiety filled thoughts on having a second child and I thought I would share them with you today, because that’s what we are here for always! Being honest and sharing our thoughts.

When my husband and I started talking about it.

I knew for sure when my husband started bringing up a second child as well. Once he is on board with something it’s usually a go! It makes me feel so much better knowing we both were ready again and have my partner on board with tackling two kiddos together!

When the thought of being pregnant didn’t scare me anymore.

I remember being so nervous one day when I missed my period when my son was just turning 1. My anxiety was going crazy, and when I got that negative test I was happy. Fast forward, almost a year later and when my period would be off when I would see that one line, I felt disappointment. At that point, I knew I was at least ready to try again.

You’re ready for your baby, not to be the baby anymore.

I struggle with this still. I’m so attached to my little man and sometimes it makes me sad knowing he won’t be my only baby anymore. Don’t feel guilty thinking that. But realize your heart will grow instantly with your new little ones arrival.

You have blacked out labor from the first time.

Sounds weird I know but so true! It’s not fresh in your mind anymore. For me, of course I remember everything about my labor but the pain is definitely blacked out. Which makes the thought of another child way less traumatizing!

You want another baby.

Of course this is the most important reason to be ready! You want another bundle of joy and the thought of it makes you so excited! Of course we will always be nervous but the excitement wins out in feelings and that’s what matters most.

We are so excited for this new journey of bringing another little one into our lives. And I am beyond excited to see my little man as a big brother!

Thank you as always for reading!

Top 5 Tips To Become an Organized Mom.

~ quirkymoms486 ~ 29 Comments

As a mom I feel like one of the biggest struggles is staying organized.

It’s a huge goal but it rarely happens, am I right?

I know in my family, I’m the one being asked what time everything is at or what day and where is this and where is that?

It’s a tough job to stay organized!! I definitely struggle on the daily no matter how hard I try. I’ll be good for maybe a week and then I slack again.

So I came up with a list for myself to help me with the areas I struggle with most in hopes that it will stick in the long run. Plus I hope sharing it will help you as well.

So let’s get started on my 5 tips to becoming more of an organized mom ☺️

1. Clean out your purse.

If there’s one thing that makes me feel like a bad ass mom, it’s a clean and organized purse and diaper bag! Throw out those random receipts, old snacks that have found their way to the bottom. Go through your wallet and organize those cards and coins. It is such a relief when your purse is organized and it’s a great start!

2. Keep a planner.

Do I have a planner? Yes. Is it halfway filled out? Also, yes. It starts out so promising but I never keep it up! A planner can be a savior in the organizing department and I’m going to try my best to stick to it! Maybe putting it on display will help my hubby not to ask a million daily questions on activities…maybe 😉

3. Use storage bins/Storage furniture.

Now this I am wonderful at! Storage bins and furniture that is used to storage is my go to! I have an ottoman that stores so many toys and I love it. I always have cute decor bins all around that hold toys and other things as well. They not only help to stay organized but it helps your house stay more picked up!

4. Meal plan.

My downfall. I am a terrible meal planner and my biggest goal is to be a great one! If I am a better meal planner I can then avoid the “what do you want for dinner?” “I don’t know, what do you want?” Argument that happens a lot. Planning dinner ahead and having a cute meal calendar is my goal! So let’s achieve it together!

5. A solid routine.

Let’s face it, it all comes down to routines! When you have a solid morning and night time routine your whole life is just so much smoother. Is it easy? No? Is it worth it? HECK YES! I strive to perfect a morning and night time routine and it’s a struggle but it’s a priority that needs to be made as we navigate through this mom life.

As I work on these organization tips, my goal is for it to help me be a better, a more calm and happy mom.

They all help make our everyday lives easier and therefore we have more time for the fun things!

What do you struggle with the most?

Let’s help each other out! Moms supporting moms it’s my favorite.

As always, thanks for reading and have a great week!

Another week…

~ quirkymoms486 ~ 14 Comments

Does time get away from anyone else or is it just me?!

I just thought I would share a little life update since I’ve been so MIA!

We lucked out tonight, and softball was canceled due to weather. Michigan got snow last night, and if our bodies haven’t reacted enough to spring, we get to go through it again!

I am starting a new job with a huge corporation this week! I have been a dispensing optician for the past (almost) 9 years, and I truly have loved every moment of it!

The first office I started at was awesome! The doctor and his wife were some of my favorite people. What is that saying though? People don’t quit a job, they quit the management? Yeah, that’s what I did. The manager was not the nicest person. In fact the 7.5 years I was there, we had 25 employees come and go. Some lasted a year some not even a day… it was so sad because I had truly gained so much from that office.

The last office I worked at was amazing all around. Such good people! One of the docs though… I’ll just stop there. 😂 I just knew that it wasn’t going to be a good fit for me in the long run, so I’m taking a turn with a corporation from HOME! No more going to an office!

There is SO much to learn though. I am on the computer 100% of my day. Not really a bad thing, but there is no face to face interaction. Although during a global pandemic, I’m not mad about it.

SPORTS! My daughters are in sports! I had mentioned softball earlier, that is what my oldest daughter is playing. My youngest is playing soccer! I know nothing about softball, however I played soccer as a kid and really enjoyed it, SOOO I volunteered to coach! I’m not sure what I was thinking when I did that!

We have had some health problems here too! No COVID, at least that’s what the tests say, but I’m not sure what to believe or not to believe anymore. My girls are still having issues that may or may not be related to whatever “virus” they did have, BUT they are overall healthy and were just praying the heal quickly!

Oh, and I dyed my hair pink! I love having fun with my hair, and this just seemed right!

That is my life update! Lots going on daily, but that is pretty much the just of it!

We want to thank you all for your support! This week actually marks one year of blogging for us! We enjoy every post we do, and every connection we make with each and every one of you! Keep reading, stay healthy and stay safe. ❤️

Kitchen Remodel- Painting is Finished!

~ quirkymoms486 ~ 21 Comments

Kitchen painting is finished!

What a difference paint makes you guys! So crazy how open it can make a smaller kitchen look.

If you haven’t noticed we have been absent on here for a couple weeks!

Life has been so busy with renovations around our house and then Marissa’s girls are starting sports. A break was much needed but we are excited to be back and to bring on all the content!

Any-who, back to kitchen updates. If you haven’t read my Kitchen Remodel Inspiration post make sure you do because I am pretty sure I nailed it on the cabinet colors!

So we went with a gray finish for the cabinets and then white walls and a gray accent wall.

The painters did such a great job and I am so excited to see everything come together!

Here’s some before and afters for you all

Those are the before pictures, our house was a lot of tans and warm colors for the kitchen and back entry way but here is what it looks like after the paint!

What do you guys think!? Such a transformation already right?

We have the counter tops ordered but those take about 4-5 weeks so in between waiting for that our flooring will be installed.

Next post it will look completely different again I’m sure and I am so excited about it!!

Stay tuned for more 🙂

6 Rookie Mistakes New Moms Make.

~ quirkymoms486 ~ 41 Comments

Becoming a mom was the best/scariest experience! Being a first time mom myself I know just how scary it can be not knowing anything.

I’m here to give you a few tips today on the mistakes I’ve made as a new mom in hopes it will help all you other mamas out there!

Moms supporting moms is my favorite thing!

Believing everything you hear.

I can’t even tell you how much advice you will get while you are pregnant or a brand new mom.

Some of it is fantastic but then there’s the horror stories and the snarky comments.

Trust me when I say, you just can’t believe everything you hear. Every parent has a different experience with parenthood. Every birth is different.

Most of your anxiety comes from listening to others and your own mind so relax mama, you’ll be fine!

Not napping while the baby naps.

I was notorious for this. I felt like I needed to get EVERYTHING done while the baby napped but you don’t.

You really, really don’t!

Take that nap, or just take time for yourself when your baby naps. It’s so important and you will appreciate it in the long run!

Comparing your baby or yourself to others.

Just don’t do it. Nothing good will come of it. Each baby goes at its own pace and that’s perfectly fine. Just because your friends baby is walking at 8 months, doesn’t mean your baby won’t be up and running around soon!

So many women I know were having babies when I had my son and I felt myself comparing and it was the worst thing I could ever do.

Just because one mom looks like a superhero by getting everything done, doesn’t mean she’s not exhausted and feeling as defeated as you are at times.

Don’t compare!

Ignoring your spouse.

I feel like the easiest thing as a new mom is to get wrapped up in the baby, it’s just the most natural reaction to motherhood.

But don’t get so wrapped up that you ignore your spouse, the one who helped create this beautiful tiny human. Yess they might seem annoying because they get out of the house daily or get to sleep more but they are feeling overwhelmed too so lean on each other.

Communicate and be kind to each other.

Take time for yourself.

Even if it’s just an hour at your favorite store or 30 minutes reading a book. Or even a nice long hot shower.

Do it.

Take time for yourself as much as you can to recharge, to clear your mind, to breath.

You’ll be a better mom, you’ll feel better and you just need to do it.

Ask for help.

As much as you want to, you can’t do everything. It’s impossible.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Having a support system will be the best thing for you and your family.

Whether it’s meals being dropped off or maybe just an extra hand with laundry or dishes. The best thing I ever learned as a first time mom is definitely not to be afraid to ask for help when you need it!

I hope this helped you out mamas! And if you are a seasoned mom please feel free to leave advice in the comments below!

Always love hearing others experiences since everyone’s is always so different ❤️