Something that is important to me as a mom is helping my girls cultivate their creativity. I want their little minds to be open to new ideas and possibilities. I want them to grow up knowing that they don't have to do things the way they have always been done. I hope to help them get that mindset by exposing them to a variety of art supplies and letting them create whatever their hearts desire. Here are some ways that I allow them to get creative by:

-Picking out their own outfit. This is one of the first ways Sawyer showed her independence. She not so quietly told me that she didn't want to wear what I picked out for her. Since that day she has been proudly wearing clashing patterns/colors, but she is loving it. This is a safe way for her to figure out what she likes and express her independence. The Girls with Glasses Show posted a video on this subject called #ToddlerStylist, check it out!

-Picking out an art project they want to do. I found this great book called The Artful Parent on clearance at Hobby Lobby for like $5! It has a lot of great tips about getting your kids into art. I let Sawyer look through it and pick out a project she wants to do. (FYI: This does not happen everyday, I’m not Super Mom!)

-Picking out an art supply. The dollar bins at Target and Michael's are great for this, and also the Dollar Tree. 

-Lastly, I let them see me create. Kids learn from example and I found that when I am enjoying myself, they want to be a part of it too. 

How do you get creative with your kids?

My Favorite Mom Resources

I think that we can all agree that while motherhood has many joyous moments, it mostly has a lot of hard moments. Sometimes we need encouragement on our motherhood journey that can make us laugh or help us to grow. I wanted to share some of my favorite mom resources that help me do just that!

Podcasts:

-Mom Struggling Well: this episode on Anxiety was really encouraging.

-Inspired to Action:  this episode on remaining curious in our walk with God really had me reflecting, which is something I love to do.

YouTube Channels:

-Whats Up Moms: Seriously, I love this channel!! The moms are hilarious and there are tons of great tips, recipes, and hacks for mom life. I love this episode on homemade playdoh, this one on the best brussel sprouts recipe, and this arts and crafts hack, plus this funny Taylor Swift parody!

-Girls with Glasses: I mainly love their parody videos, "I'm not Fancy" is my fave.

Books: 

Walking with God in the Season of Motherhood: This book helped me see purpose in everything I do as a mom and showed me places in scripture that helped me grow.

I hope these resources can be something that brightens your day! What helps you laugh or encourages you as a mom?

(Check out your local HomeGoods store for this "cool" mug..see what I did there?)

Having Fun in Marriage

It's no secret that when you have kids, life is busy. Especially when they are tiny. They have never ending needs, as in you need to eat, again?! With all the needs and demands of little people, it’s easy to forget about your spouse. My husband and I were on a date about a month ago. We were asking each other the 5 questions, and I started crying. I was sad because I realized that we don’t do anything fun together anymore. We got bogged down in a routine of waking up early, taking care of the kids, going to work, running errands, watching tv…etc. Even our date nights got to be a routine: go out to eat, watch tv or a movie. After I said this, my husband agreed and suggested we go away to the beach for the night. (Which just happens to be my favorite place in the world!) He called up his mom and had the girls stay with her for the night. It was only 24 hours, but we got to talk without interruptions, eat good food and just refocus on each other.  It was lovely. 

In the hustle and bustle of life, it’s easy to forget why you love each other and what brought you together in the first place! Don’t lose the fun, fight for it. Call up the grandparents, get a babysitter, start a babysitting co-op with another couple. Make it a priority, it’s worth it. If you’re not really sure where to start when it comes to having fun because sleep deprivation has deadened your brain, start with how you met your spouse. What brought you together? What things did you enjoy doing together when you were dating or before you had kids? Once you remember, set a date to do it! 

 Have you ever realized that the fun was gone in your marriage? What did you do to bring it back? 

This little guy was following us on our walk!