Switch up Your Thanksgiving Meat

If you are like my family you may be tired of having turkey every Thanksgiving. Not only is it exhausting to cook a turkey but it gets old. Say you buy a turkey it is freaking expensive. Every year my family starts and ends the Thanksgiving season complaining about cooking or eating turkey. Don’t get me wrong we eat turkey every week but on Thanksgiving it is getting old. Join my family in the decision to have a Turkey free Thanksgiving. You may ask now Deb, what are we supposed to eat now? Girl, I got you! I found some amazing recipes that are fun and different; but will leave your Thanksgiving guest extremely happy.



I have included a huge variety of recipes and meat. I got nitty gritty about including all types of meats. I also choose recipes that fit the fall menu pallet. I do not want to rock your boat and have you pair weird flavors with your Thanksgiving sides. Even if you still want turkey I encourage you to make one of these as well and see how many people at your Thanksgiving choose the alternative meat or both. It is a season of change in American, let’s change up the Turkey tradition.

1.       Maple Walnut Crusted Salmon: This is the recipe I am making this Thanksgiving. It has great fall ingredients and will wow your guests. Recipe Here!

2.       Dutch Oven Pot Roast: This is a simple and easy solution for your Thanksgiving. It also takes you back to the original Thanksgiving since they would have cooked in Dutch Ovens. Recipe Here!

3.       Venison Meatloaf: I love eating dear meat. Not to mention if you have a hunter in the family I am going to bet you have some deer meat sitting in your deep freeze right now. Congrats you are saving money this Thanksgiving. Your welcome! Recipe Here!

4.       Deep Fried Quail: This may be hard to come by. You could have some quail if your husband’s hunts or maybe your local health food store of butcher shop can sell you some quail. But deep fried quail is one of the most amazing things I have ever eaten. Recipe Here!

5.       Tomatillo Elk Verde Stew: You may be thinking I am crazy by all the exotic meat but do not worry chicken is next. Just stop and think about it what is more Native American & Immigrant Settlers than a hearty Elk Stew. Recipe Here!

6.       One Pan Apple Cider Chicken Skillet: This is for anyone who does not want to venture far away from the traditional turkey. You can sub it for Chicken with a good apple cider spin on it. Recipe Here!

7.       Fall Burgers: Thank you Rachel Ray! Yes, sometimes we just want a good old burger for Thanksgiving. Here are some fun fall burger recipes to do just that. Recipe Here!

I truly hope this has helped you. You and your family are going to enjoy this fun change. Be sure to let me know what you are cooking for your meat this Thanksgiving by tagging me on Instagram @fit_chick_missdeborah



Happy Thanksgiving!

The Medela Pump in Style Vs The Freemie Breast Pump

If you stumbled upon this you are probably lost in the decision of which breast pump to buy. It is a hard one. I took the advice of my sister the first time and it turned out very well. My sister always researched these kind of things. I got lost in all the recommendations. It was extremely hard to choose. The second time around I went with a new one I had been eye balling in the second year of breastfeeding my son and pumping at work. I mean why not I had my first one which still worked well. If all went wrong I had nothing to lose. I wanted to share with you my two experiences and a comparison chart.

My first experience was with the Medela pump. I was not able to get my son to latch at the hospital due to poor instructions and a very sleepy little boy. I was send home to pump and bottle feed him as well as supplement with formula. I was pumping often. The Medela was the perfect pump strength wise for this. It helped me get my supply up without successfully nursing. I used it after every attempted feed for the first few weeks and then as needed for the next two years. It did get old holding the pumps. I got very good at propping them up awkwardly on my legs so I could play on my phone or eat. They helped me be able to go to work and still breastfeed David. All in all the Medela pump was great.

My second experience was with the Freemie pump. My daughter was a breastfeeding champ from the start. I used the pump at first to help with my oversupply and release pressure. Then later on I pumped two to three times a week to have a supply if I wanted to go out or in case I get sick. The pump is amazing if you have a toddler. While using the freemie pump you can continue being productive. It is extremely important to boil the parts before use and follow the instructions. I had a little panic attack because my pump stopped working when really I should have just read the instructions. All in all the Freemie is perfect for someone who has a good letdown that can easily pump and for someone who wants to multitask. 

I wanted to compare and contrast for you the Medela and Freemie breast pump. I never exclusively pumped, but I did pump while at work or simply to have a supply if I needed to go out. I used the Medela pump for over 2 years. I have been using the Freemie for 7 weeks now. Both are amazing pumps but they have very different pros and cons. No pump is perfect for everyone. In order to help guide you in your purchase I want to give you my honest opinion on both pumps.



How is the Noise Level?

Medela: It can be super loud and at times for me it made slurping noises. This is not a pump to use in public unless you want everyone to know what you are doing.

Freemie: The Freemie pump is extremely quiet. If you were in a room with white noise or soft music playing you would not be able to hear it.



Is it comfortable to use?

Medela: It does not hurt at all to use and the settings are extremely customizable. It is a pain however to always hold them on or if you are good find an awkward way to sit where they balance on your legs or a pillow. Yes you can get a special bra or holder for them but that seems like a pain.

Freemie: It is slightly awkward to wear looks wise being that your breast size would have double by putting them on. It does feel super comfortable and is a gentle suction but effective. I do suggest you get a comfortable stretchy bra like this one.




How easy is it to use?

Medela: It’s easy to turn on and adjust the settings. But you are super limited as to what you can do while pumping. You can basically only watch TV.

Freemie: It is super easy. You do not have to stop what you are doing to use it. You just put it in your bra and keep going. You would not want to bend over but you can drive, work at a desk, vacuum, or walk. It is hard to get all the milk out, the pour option does leave behind about 5 big drops of milk.



How easy is it to wash?

Medela: It can be a pain. The little yellow piece always got stuck for me if I did not immediately wash it. I had to use pliers to get it off a few times. Other than that the other pieces are easy to clean and assemble.

Freemie: It is extremely easy to clean. It was a bit hard to put together the first time, but now that I have done it, it is easy. My husband will not try to put it together though it is a little intimidating with all the odd pieces.

I would like to end with who I think each pump would be good for. The Medela is great for a first time mom. You have no clue if making milk will be easy or hard for you and the Medela is a very strong pump and super adjustable. You can find replacement parts at your local Walmart or Target as well which makes it convenient. The Freemie is amazing for a veteran mom. If you have pumped before and know you have a strong enough let down that a gentle pump will work; get this one. It truly does make life easier. Freedom while pumping has changed the work load amount I can do. Most importantly momma I want to encourage you on your breastfeeding journey. As a mom who breastfed for 2.5 years with my first and am on week 7 with my second, it will not be easy but let me tell you it is worth it. It is worth it on a bonding level for you and baby, health level for baby, hormonal health for you, and weight loss help for you too. I am proud of you choosing to do this for you and your baby; you got this!

Top 10 Books for a 3 Year Old Boy

In honor of David's third Birthday this month I thought it would be fun to do a couple posts of gift ideas for three year old boys. My friend Amber put together a list of Usborne Books that she thinks would be perfect for three year old boys. I hope you enjoy learning about the books and share this with your friends who have three year old boys.

Here is the a little bit about the book expert and my Friend Amber:

My name is Amber Rieger and I am a consultant with Usborne Books and More. Last year my friend signed up, and though I had never heard of the books before, I was immediately hooked. I had a party and fell completely in love and ended up signing up myself. The rewards from my party were so impressive!  Deborah has asked me to write a post about book recommendations for her 3 year old son David. She wanted me to focus specifically on educational books. We have so many amazing options, that it was hard to narrow it down!!! 

I did my best to highlight some of our best series but also add in a little fun learning as well! 

Here are the books I chose: 

All You Need To Know Before You Start School 

This book provides a great overview of all the things a child needs to know before they start school! It includes things like counting and the alphabet. All are presented in a fun way by following around a set of five friends as they begin their schooling.

Companion Book: All The Words You Need To Know Before School 

Big Book of ABC

A great way to learn the ABC’s. It has beautiful illustrations that are also fun, thus keeping the kids interested as they learn. These are big books - literally - that offer interactive opportunities for learning. All of the Big Series are great, but the ABC’s are a great one to start with. There is also the Big Book of Colors and The Big Book of Numbers, as well as fun topics like Big Book of Animals and Big Book of Dinosaurs. You will love any book in this series!! 

Count to 100 

Gorgeous illustrations pair up with this awesome counting book. It has number patterns, picture patterns, and tons of things to point out and spot along the way.  Make learning counting fun and enjoyable. 

First Math Slide and See: Adding At The Circus

Kids get an introduction to adding with this fun board book that allows them to slide and see the answer to the equations. The picture changes as you slide it over to reveal if they got it correct or not. 

Lift and Look Tractors

Learn about different topics in this fun lift the flap series. The tractor book goes through common things happening on the farm. 

Bonus - there is a cute little hen named Henny to find on every page! 

Lift The Flap Very First Questions & Answers: What Is Poop?

Perfect for kids working on potty training, as it offers a fun way to learn the process. However, it is also a hit with kids who have already mastered that task! What kid isn’t fascinated by this process?! Especially little boys. This one is always a HUGE hit, and a best seller! 

My  Busy Day

A fun and interactive way to help kids learn an orderly day. This book will walk them through a day with tons of opportunities to interact as they go, via numerous flaps. Also has counting and matching activities.  

My Very First Animals Book

A great informational book to teach children about the wonderful world of animals. There are themes on different pages for them to learn about, like the habitats animals live in. Like most of our books, there is tons of things to spot and talk about along the way! 

Peek Inside A Tree 

This book offers tons of fun flaps for the kids to interact with as they read along or are read to. It keeps them interested while they are actually learning as well. The colorful flaps are so well done! Plus our flaps are very durable and stand up to lots of wear and tear. 

1001 Animals To Spot 

This one will provide endless entertainment. While your child counts along and searched to find all of the different animals, there is so many different ways to interact. It provides lots of opportunities to talk through  the things they are searching for or that are going on in the different scenes, which provides extra learning opportunities. 

Young Beginner: Bugs

A great book to help children as they get started reading. These books offer fun educational topics. They have simple sentences making it easier for young kids to understand as well. They are short and sweet. 

There are 10 books in the young beginner currently including topics like flowers, ponds, and dinosaurs.

You can go check all these books out and more right here.

Why I am Choosing a Birth Center

My Top Five Reason I Choose a Birth Center


There are many people that think I am crazy for going to a Birth Center for my maternity care. I get it I really do. I am a little crazy for wanting to feel the pain, paying cash up front even though I may end up going to the hospital, and for leaving behind the “safe way” of giving birth. This was not something I came to lightly. I wanted an un-medicated birth with my first child David. That went out the door when I had to be induced at 37 weeks due to preeclampsia. This time I did tons of research. I listened to the Birth Hour and the Birthful podcast weekly. I read tons of Evidence Based Birth articles, Spinning Babies articles, and blogs from other mothers. I spent hours on Youtube learning and hearing real life stories. During the whole process of learning I became interested in the natural birth process and even considered taking doula classes.



Anyways with all that said I knew that this was the option for me. It aligned with my values and goals as a mother. Even if people think I have a low pain tolerance (my whole family) I can do this. I will show them I am stronger than they ever believed. One thing life has shown me is that I am tough as nails and everything life has thrown me to drag me down I have faced head on with God at my side and come out a winner. Birth will not get me down. I believe God create children as a blessing. Yes child birth may be the most painful experience but it is ended with a flood of hormones and endorphins that fill your body with unconditional joy and peace. I am ready to give birth to Miss Joann Lynn West at a birth center.



Reason One: Breaking Free From the System


If any of you follow me or personally know me you know I do things outside of the norm. I like to be mindful about all I do and research to know my best options. The same goes with what I do for my children. I am one of those crazy moms that has worked out 5 days a week since the start of the second trimester. I also read labels of what I buy for my son. But what changed my mind about the process of birth is learning the history of the medicalized birth. I learned my Memaw was put under during the birth of her children. There was no immediately skin to skin or bonding. You just went under pregnant and woke up with a baby. Then you research a little more and listen to birth stories. I don’t know about you but I am a learner; so with all big decisions I educate myself.



The creator of the Evidence Based Birth Podcast just came out with a book called Babies are Not Pizza; they are born not deliver. It may seem like such a stupid title but it makes perfect sense. I highly recommend reading her book and watching The Business of Being Born to get a better insight on medicalized birth. Now I have nothing wrong with it. I am so thankful and bless I was able to be induced with David and that I did not die from preeclampsia. There were just so many things that could have gone better with the process. Simple things like training nurses how to do pain free cervical checks, allowing me to walk to halls to start labor instead of being stuck in a room, and I had to wait miserably for over 6 hours for my OBYN to come in to break my water because her babysitter broke her arm when the on call OBGYN could have easily done it. I could go on and on but that is in the past. I wanted care providers this time around that were trained in ways to make the process easier on me and not just easier on them.



Reason Two: Personalized and Supportive Care


If you have been following me for a while you know I like to do things as naturally as possible. If I get sick my first step is to try all natural remedies and if those fail or take too long to take affect and I have to work I will take medicine. I will suffer through a headache for hours trying natural remedies before popping a pill. I like to stay away from processed foods as much as I can. I use essential oils and supplement like crazy. Some would call me a crunchy mom. With that being said I wanted a care giver for this pregnancy that would support me in those beliefs. Last time with my OBGYN she supported me 100% but never gave me more ideas and natural remedies for my problems. This time it has been magically different. My midwifes have not only supported me but encouraged me to seek out natural care. They referred me to a Chiropractor, the Spinning Babies website, and natural supplements. This is the level of support I feel all pregnant women should get. They are extremely supportive of all my wishes I have had so far.



Reason Three: Easier Recovery


When having an un-medicated natural delivery your recovery time is significantly less. With a birth center as long as no complications arise you will go home in less than 3 hours after baby is born. I remember with David I was induced and hooked up to monitors and starving with nothing more than ice chips if I got lucky for 48 hours. After that I didn’t get up and walk after labor from pure exhaustion till a day after giving birth. Once I finally got home I could barely get up off the couch alone for a week. It was nearly impossible to move and yet I was expected to take care of a new born while barely functioning. Let just say I ate a ton of crappy frozen food and David and I stayed in bed.

With that being said from all the un-medicated birth stories I have heard recovery was much easier as long as no complications arose. I will be moving throughout labor and shortly after. I also will be able to snack and eat during labor so I will not have to starve like last time. Also when birth has no interventions you have this amazing hormone rush that helps you recover a lot faster. I am so excited to experience birth a whole new way.



Reason Four: Better Breastfeeding Outlook


Now this will have fact mixed with my mother’s intuition so if you are looking for pure facts here this blog post isn’t for you. Sorry sista! With David I was 100% onboard with breastfeeding. I had researched how to do it and was 100% committed to solely breastfeeding him. David was not able to latch good or even be awake enough to nurse. We have NO idea if he got any colostrum. He was extremely lethargic. It is a proven fact that boys born before their due date can be more lethargic. I also think the medications and epidural made him more lethargic as well. At the end of the day my baby was not awake enough to work for his food. Not only that after night one he was diagnosed jaundice and we did not get much skin to skin time. I had to listen to him cry and not be able to comfort him and they forced under the UV lights. They even gave him a pacifier without my consent. It was torture to a mom but pure agony and mental distress for me as a crunchy mom. I pumped and pumped after every feed feeling like my nipples would rip off just to get my milk to come it. He syringe ate my milk, but they said it was not enough. Finally to be released from the hospital we had to feed him a bottle of formula. This killed me.

Once I got home my milk came in but I had a nipple confused baby. All it took was one 15 minutes session with an amazing lactation consultant at WIC to get me nursing my baby. No one at the hospital even the lactation consultant ever offered me a nipple shield and that was all I needed. I felt unsupported in Breastfeeding at the hospital. Yes they showed me what to do and so on but not like they knew what they were doing. Once I met the lady at WIC everything changed. David and I successfully Breastfed almost 2.5 years. I am happy the birth center will not make me put Joann under the UV lights if she is jaundice. They will just suggest going out in the sunshine which is what her body truly needs. I am also happy my midwives are truly educated in breastfeeding and know the tips and tricks if problems do arise. An OBGYN never checks on that.



Reason Five: Empowerment


One thing I so often hear is how empowering birth can be. I was left after a traumatic birth and a failing first week of breastfeeding feeling depressed and like an ultimate failure as a mother. This is not how it supposed to be mamas. I struggled with having the motivation to clean or do anything more than just make David happy because in my eyes I had failed him in so many ways. Now I know I did not fail but everything in me told me I did. Like I said earlier with a birth that has no too few interventions you get a massive hormone rush postpartum to help your do your job as a mom and feel the right ways. I needed that with David. Call me crazy but in my eyes if you have had an un-medicated natural birth you are a powerful woman in my eyes. You embraced one of the most painful and hard challenge life has to offer. I think that is an incredible rite of passage. Now of course I think nothing less of mothers who had other birth experiences.



At the end of the day I want to have an amazing birth experience and I have done a ton of research into what choices I want to make for the birth of my daughter. Are all the choice the right one? NO! There aren’t perfect answers in birth, it simply hasn’t been studied enough. If you are pregnant or planning on having more children the best thing to do is research. Study all the options. Read books and take courses and be prepared for birth.



Here are some of the resources I used:

• ·         Evidence Based Birth Website and Podcast

• ·         The Birth Hour Podcast

• ·         The Birthful Podcast

• ·         The Business of Being Born

• ·         Spinning Babies Website

• ·         Babies are Not Pizzas By Rebecca Dekker PHD, RN

Easy 3 Step Mom Look

Let’s be 100% honest it is super hard to find the time to get date ready or dressed up for work as a mom. I have found an easy way to look put together without having to spend much time on it. I used to take 30 minutes to an hour to get ready. As a mom you do not have that much time or you have a sweet boy like mine who likes to dig in your make up and ruin it. Either way I like to get my make up on as quick as possible now. It has taken me a while to master a good at home look in a short amount of time but I have found a keeper. I can get my hair and makeup done after my shower in less than 15 minutes.

Step One: Spray your hair with Beach Babe Texturizing Sea Salt Spray and comb through with a Wet Brush. This will help keep your hair straight and looking good. You can get the spray here and the brush here!

Step Two: Use a tinted moisturizer for your face. Right now I am using Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream Sheer Tint. I have started using a tinted moisturizer rather than foundation because it saves you time and looks a little more nature. You can choose your shade and everything with the one I use, go try it out here!

Step Three: For my eyes I use only three products. I use my go to Urban Decay Eye Shadow. I like a sparkling light pink for my eyes. I then put on my mineral based mascara  on; I use whatever Sprouts has in stock. I use a mineral based mascara to keep my eyes from having an allergic reaction to mascara during the day. My eyes are super sensitive to the chemicals in mascara. I then finish the look off with Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder For Face and Body from my lids to brow.

Now if you are anything like me your go to excuse for not getting pretty was no time with being a mom; you 100% cannot use that excuse anymore. I had to look date ready for work and always ended up doing my makeup in the car or at work. Now that I have simplified the process I can easily get ready every morning. I would love to see your results with this makeup routine. Please send me a pic on Instagram, Here. Don’t worry I won’t share it with the world; unless you want me to! 

31 Days of Pregnancy Workouts

Working out while pregnant is so good for you. My experience with it has been amazing. I feel more energized and pain free when I work out and that is huge when pregnant. Of course you should always consult your doctor before working out. Pregnancy workouts are hard to come by. Big towns have prenatal yoga or you can pay for custom workouts from a personal trainer. Your library may have some DVDs; mine did but they were ancient. The best tool I have found for working out while pregnant is BOD. I have been using BOD for over 4 years now and absolutely love it. With this pregnancy I figured out a routine my body liked and a variety to help me not get tired of working out. I have been able to stay consistent on this plan and see huge results.

Huge results while pregnant may seem odd. You aren’t going to see big strong muscles appear or the weight just fall off. You will see an increase of energy, a decrease of pain, and a boost in mood. That goes a long way during pregnancy. With my first pregnancy I was inconsistent with working out and I was stressed out, in pain, and exhausted all the time. With this pregnancy I have more energy, I can manage my pain, and I feel a lot less stressed even though my life is crazy right now.

This also will help you if you plan to give birth vaginally. You use your abs and legs so much. I could not believe how much I hurt after giving birth to David. It was hard to walk, get up out of a chair or couch, and lift anything little. So this time I want to be prepared for what I would like to call the greatest workout in life: giving birth.

I have created a workout game plan. I have included pregnancy workouts as well as some fun workouts. This program will be enjoyable yet a little challenging. It has been created for 31 days but I repeat it over and over for the course of my pregnancy. All of the workouts can be found on Beachbody on Demand. If you would like to gain access to that, get a copy of my calendar PDF, and join my support group; sign up here!

Tips to Staying Healthy at Work

I do not know about you but one of my biggest excuses I struggle with revolve around work. Here are a few of them: work always has snacks, I work too many hours to have time to do a workout, how do I eat healthy at work when everyone goes out to eat or has a frozen meal, I work full time and am a mom no way I have time to be healthy, or I work two or more jobs and have no time left. Let me call you out girlfriend it is all lies. I have conquered each of those excuses and lived through them. True it was not easy but it can be done. A healthy lifestyle is not for the faint of heart it is for those who want more in their life. I want to have energy, good health, and the ability to participate in all the opportunities that come my way. What about you?

I assume since you stumbled upon this blog that you are already interested in how to be healthier at work. All these tips come from things I have done at different jobs I have held for the past 4 years. I have worked a desk job, a management retail job, a receptionist job, a server, and more. So I can attest to the failures and successes in all those areas of work. I want to give you some of the tools you need to be successful at any kind of job.

·         Meal Prep: This is something I have done from day one after failing at being healthy at my first full time job. So let me say it for the people in the back you CANNOT stay healthy with a fulltime job without doing the prep work. For each and every one meal prep looks different. It could be once or twice a week. But you have to make a plan and prepare.

·         Schedule Time to Workout : You have to know exactly when you are going to workout everyday. You cannot just wing it or find time. You need to plan ahead. Do you need to wake up early to get it in or plan a crockpot meal for dinner so when you get home you have the time to do it? Do not leave this up to chance have a plan in place and stick to it.

·         Hydration Plan: This is something I have learned from working in retail and helping my husband. Some jobs you need to pack enough water for your whole day. You need to calculate how many ounces you need a day and make sure to bring over half of that to work each day with you. If you work outside or have an extremely active job bring12-24 ounces more to help refuel you for the above average work you are doing.

·         One Cheat a Week: If you work at a job that has tempting food all the time; cut yourself some slack. Give yourself the grace to indulge in one serving a week in one of the treats. Keep it in mind all week and save it for the best treat.

·         Desk job or Dead jobs: If you are not very active at work or have a job with lots of dead time; make sure you are stretching a lot. I seriously have kept yoga mats at work before. Don’t waste time it is so precious. Wearing an activity monitor and following its prompts are helpful as well. I always make sure to hit my move goal every day. My apple watch is currently set at 350 calories for those of you who are curious.

·         Be That Girl: Yes, people are going to notice you are different than them. They will notice you eat healthy and workout a lot. It is okay girl. At every job I have worked I have been that girl. “Oh Deborah’s healthy I doubt she will eat this.” It is okay because in the end I have inspired at least one person per job to make a change in their own lifestyle. I would count that as a huge win.

You have got this girlfriend! I know you can do amazing things. Being healthy while working full time or multiple jobs can be done; I have done it for the past 4 years and had amazing success. If you need more guidance or help I am here to support you. I host monthly health and fitness accountability groups and would love to give you more information about those and how it can fit into your lifestyle. If that is something you want to do fill out the form below and I will reach out to you within a few days. No matter what you have got this! 

Request more info for my Accountability Groups

A Working Mom’s Guide to Investing in Your Kids

I must say I have it in my heart to be a stay at home mom. I want to be invested in my child’s life. I want to train him up in the way he should go and enjoy every moment with him. Unfortunately, right now in my life I am a working mom. I work 5-7 days a week and 43 hours or more. I am always on call and I struggle with feeling like a good and present mom. People at work even ask me, “Do you ever get a day off?” or “You never get to spend time with you kid do you?” As if it were my choice. I do not want to work this much or have a 45 minute commute but it is where I am right now in life. I know I am not the only mom who feels this way. Can I get a sis to say you are right here with me?

My goal is to make each and every day and hour I get with him count. My goal is to consistently take care of my son in these areas: Outside time, Cooking time, Bible time, Learning time, Reading time, Play time, and Craft time. Those are the areas I want to cover each week and if I get lucky we can do them multiple times but if not that’s okay. So I encourage you to make a list of the specials “times” you want to create with your kids. Just like working on a marriage you will have to plan and set aside time to fit this into your busy life. But trust me it is 100% worth it.

I want to share with you how I am accomplishing each of those “times” and what we are doing. I am a list maker and planner; there is NO way I can have good times with David without planning them. So I plan fun things every week. Now let’s go through each of these “times” and get your brain turning.

·         Outside Time: I hope you already have something set up in the backyard for you and your kiddo to play with. We have a slide, water table, and lots of toys. I love to make it more fun though all I truly have to do is turn the water hose on to a trickle and he could not be happier. If you want to take it a step further freeze some toys in ice and get out the hammer to break it open. Or if you do not have a backyard you can always go to the park. David loves the park and asks to go almost every day. We also go on walks and take David out in his Bicycle.

·         Cooking Time: Even at the age of 2.5 David already wants to help in the kitchen and it is my responsibility to fuel that passion inside of him. Every morning I let him stir the waffles. I also let him help clean the dishes which he loves to do. If I am cooking over the stove or with extremely hands on recipes I set up a play kitchen for him and give him real pots and pans. My next goal is to find a recipe a week to cook with David. I can do brownies or homemade playdough but I want to get him involved. Now if your child hates cooking don’t force it; I do this because David is always asking to help cook.

·         Bible Time: Every week we listen to the Kids Bible Stories Podcast by Jessica White. It is an easy way to sneak in Bible time while coloring or eating breakfast. It is best freebie out there for kids Bible studies. We also listen to Steve Green’s Hide Them in My Heart CD. We read Bible stories and have prayer time too.

·         Learning Time: It has always been my heart to be a homeschool mom. So on my weekday off David and I do a little school. We have been working through the ABC’s. I create for him crafts and coloring pages to do about the letter of the day. We then go to the library in search of books with that letter. It becomes a whole day of repeating a letter over and over as well as pointing it out to him whenever we come across it. David loves this time the best.

·         Reading Time: As I just mentioned on my day off we try to go to the library. I let David pick out half of his own books. He loves getting involved. We read almost every day and it is some of the best cuddle time I get with him.

·         Play Time: This I will admit is hard for me being the mom of a boy. I never grew up around many boys and the one neighbor I grew up with well he played playhouse and beauty shop with us so I did not have to learn how boys played. It drives me crazy to always hit the cars against each other and have big crashes but that is what my son loves. One of these areas will be hard for you to do and that is when you give a love gift to your child. Boy play time for me is a love gift.

·         Craft Time: This goes hand in hand with the learning crafts but we do it more often than once a week. We play playdough almost every day while I am packing our lunches or folding clothes. I help him color or cut paper when he asks. We also from time to time go play with chalk, paint, or stickers. Crafting helps kids learn really good motor skills and creativity. 

I want to encourage you mom to mom you are doing a good job. I will admit we can always improve and always be better. I hope you were able to read this as an encouragement and that it was an inspiration to get your brain spinning with ideas. I want to empower my fellow working moms that you can still make as big of an impact as a stay at home mom with your kids. You just have to work a little harder and be 100% intentional about it. I am not saying it will be easy but it is totally worth it. David is starting to point out the letter A after our lesson. I heard him praying in his car seat just last week mentioning everyone’s names. I see David all the time trying to read himself a book. It is moments like this when I know that all the effort I pour into him is worth it.