the Professional Mommy

What's that?

You noticed the changes to my blog after coming back to read my latest post after a few months??

Well friends, with the changes I have made recently and the new direction my life has taken, (read my last post here if you haven't yet) I decided that this blog needed to reflect  those changes.

Welcome to my new and improved blog!

Doesn't it look good?

I'm a fan of the chevron background.

Love chevron.

Anyway!

I have taken my knowledge of child development,
     my 15 years of experience working with children,
          my 10 years of direct early childhood teaching experience,
               my degree in early childhood education,
                    my degree in child development,
                         my status as a child development professional and parent-infant specialist,
                              most of all, my love and passion for children,

and I am giving ALL of that to my OWN children.

I am a mommy first.

A professional mommy.

Seven Weeks

Well here I am! 7 weeks into being a full time work-at-home Mommy.

SEVEN WEEKS. 

7 weeks of enjoying my family and watching my children grow.

7 weeks of trusting in God and following His guidance.

7 weeks of being blessed beyond belief! 

Seven weeks is not really a LOT of time. It's less than two months. It's amazing how much has happened in seven weeks. Allow me to share just a few of the things we have been up to....

Left "day job" and started new family-friendly business 

          (shameless plug www.happybabiesonline.com, more on that later!)

Started homeschooling, learned about bugs/apples/health & hygiene, went on family field trips, joined a new local homeschool co-op, volunteered to teach the preschoolers every other Wednesday.

Planned a 1st birthday party for our baby girl. Had a blast celebrating her first year with friends and family, and pink dinosaurs. 

Spent some time creating for Pink Tree (another shameless plug, I know), participated in two outdoor craft shows, fulfilled custom orders through etsy after business picked up, decided to host a local handmade market, planned and currently recruiting vendors- HomeTown Handmade Market coming in December!

Decided to start "selling" Usborne Books again as I want way too many of them for our homeschool so I definitely need to get them at a discount, and share with everyone else how much we love them! (warning: more shameless plugs ahead- seriously check these books out) Currently hosting a book-raiser for children in domestic violence situations staying in emergency shelter, more info here.

I've watched my 4.5 year old daughter learn, and blow my mind with how bright she is (side note: I totally need to step up my game in homeschooling, she is WAY ahead of where I started with her).

I've hung out with my baby and watched her dance, fall in love with Elmo, listened to her very first "words", snuggled with her while she was cutting teeth, rocked her to sleep, and listened to her laugh- she has the best baby laugh I have EVER heard. Love it. 

I've greeted my husband when he gets home from work. Thanks to our wonderful family, we have had a few nights out just the two of us. We've even had a few days together without the girls. 

We've been busy. (Husband says I am busier now than when I had a "day job") 

We've been together.

We've been so very blessed! 

This is just the beginning. God has plans. BIG plans. For our family. For ME.

And you know what? I'm finally listening. 

And it has been amazing. 

Stay Tuned...

Remember that time I started a blog and then abandoned it as soon as life got in the way? Yeah, me either...

I really don't know where the time has gone. The last six months have just been crazy! Constantly moving, not enough hours in the day, too many people needing me... I haven't had the time or energy for the ones who need me and my time the most.

I am making changes. 

Changes to my priorities. Changes to how I spend my time. Changes to how I contribute to my family.

In about four weeks I get to be a full-time mom. I have resigned from my "day job" to put in the time and energy to the MOST important job I will ever have. The job that I was called by God to do. Raise children up in His name. 

I'm going to hang out on the floor with my crawling baby and not worry about what I "should" be doing. Being with my kid is exactly what I should be doing.

I am going to listen to my preschooler's crazy stories and watch her living room performances and not once let my eyes go to my phone to text someone else who needs something from me.

I'm going to ask my husband about HIS day, instead of unloading all of my stress onto him. 

I'm going to keep up with the laundry and not let the dishes pile in the sink.

Maybe.

That all being said anyone who knows me knows I am a dreamer. I have big plans. I am very passionate about these plans. Plans and passions that I am brainstorming into one adventure. 

But for right now I am going to sit still and listen. 

I'm going to enjoy what God has blessed me with.

I'm going to give God control over these passions and "plans" of mine.

I'm going to allow Him to lead me down whatever road I need to travel.

Stay tuned....

52 Week Savings Plan

Have you seen this floating around social media? It was a big "pin" all over pinterest around the new year. It is a week by week savings plan for one year. By putting money in a jar (or savings account) every week and gradually increasing the amounts you can save $1,378 in a year! Sounds good to me!

I don't know about you, but we have the most awful time saving money around here. You know how most couples have a "saver" and a "spender"? Yeah well, we are BOTH spenders. 

and that is NOT good. 

I am getting better. I have hope for us. 

....I also don't want to let Dave Ramsey down!

This week by week savings plan seems simple and feasible for us. I like having the actual jar with the chart on the counter. It serves as a reminder to set money aside for saving and we like the physical evidence of our progress. 

Whether you need to build your emergency fund, pay down debt, OR save for something fun like a family vacation; I think this is a wonderfully easy way to do it! 

Variation: I've seen several people mention doing this backwards. You start with the highest amounts first, that way as you get closer to the holiday season you are putting LESS money into the jar and your budget won't be so tight around Christmas- when budgets are already tight! Doing it this way also increases your motivation as you save more right away and see more immediate results. 

Save more! If you are doing this with a jar on the counter, also toss your spare change in there! Along with any random $1 bills you may have in your wallet at the end of the day. You'll be surprised how just that little bit more will add up in the end!

Print out your own savings chart and start saving NOW!

What are YOU saving for??