Stay at home mom.

It can mean so many different things to different people.

Some think it's an excuse for moms to be lazy slobs. (Furthest from the truth)

Some think it's the only option because one didn't go to college. (When little do they know most of us have degrees ranging from associates to masters.)

Some think that being a sahm only consists of playing with adorable kids and babies all day...

What many people fail to realize is that for every family being a stay at home parent (in my case I am speaking of mothers) will look different. Their reasonings behind choosing to be a sahm will be different too.

As for me and my house we found that it was the best way for our children to be brought up. For them to feel safe, secure, loved, and be taught from a young age about Jesus.
Obviously there are working moms, part time working moms, work at home moms, and sahms. All which have their own level of stress.
I am considered a part time work at home mom if you want to get technical. I have the honor to bring up two little boys who love jesus and have energy for days in a single moment. I get to live out my childhood dream of being a mommy. However motherhood isn't quite how I imaged. Let's be honest, adulthood isn't quite like I imaged as a 14 yr old girl dreaming of her adult life and what it would be like.
I am blessed beyond measure. I am thankful for this beautiful messy life I was given to live out. However being thankful and blessed doesn't disregard that life isn't sometimes hard.
Some think or say how can you possibly be so busy? You're a sahm. Well.... let me tell you a glimpse into my typical day... I'll use today as an example.

Wake up 7am sometimes 6am.
Make coffee
Get the kids drinks
Get kids food
Pack snacks for hubby bring him his coffee
Clean up the food my kids have destructed and barely eaten.
Go to sit and drink my own coffee... one child is thirsty again.
Get child drink
Other needs a diaper change
Now thirsty child has to use the potty... which means he needs help wiping...
Now both are clean
Go to drink coffee...
Sits down and now kids are fighting over something.. correct children
Sits down to drink coffee. It's now cold.
Reheats coffee
Unloads dish washer
Drinks half of it and finally gets to read a little bit of my bible and devotionals.
It's now 9am.
Kids are hungry again... makes snacks
Puts a load of laundry in dryer from night before.
Bathe one child
Bathe the other
Cuts their hair
Gets them dressed and gets them more drinks.
It's now 10am.
Throws a load of laundry of sheets in the washer.
I myself need to get ready for the day.
10:10am finds children's shoes

1030am finally gets shoes on children
Makes to go sippies.
Loads up the truck...
11am. Heading to port orange to run errends.
Makes a return, gets kids food because gosh darn it they're hungry again and it's now lunch time. 12pm.
Children barely eat food..
Runs errends at Sam's club gets drinks for the business. (Mind you they're heavy cases of water and Gatorade so it's a workout!)
Makes a return at the mall and gets mother a mothersday gift. (While babywearing since malachi fell asleep)
Gets home... it's now 230pm
Lays sleeping malachi in bed holding my breath hoping he stays asleep. He did praise Jesus.
Gets Emmanuel situated
3pm Sits down to rest.. and types this..

And now on the to do list is for the rest of the day... 

load dishwasher
Cook dinner
Clean up the tiny legos malachi dumped all over the living room this morning.
Switches loads of laundry and folds them. Put new sheets on beds.
Clean dishes from dinner
Fight with children to eat....

Serves hubby dinner

Eats dinner myself
Fight with them to go to sleep....
9pm kids asleep 930pm I'll likely crash.

That's just a day in my house. Yesterday was even crazier x5. If you read this you must really love me to care enough. 🤣🙌😂

To all the moms out there. Whether you work outside, inside, part time, full time, or "stay at home".... here's to you! Being a mom is HARD work. Mentally mostly. Physically its tiering too. I know I wouldn't trade it for anything. Some choose to be sahms.
Some want to be.
Some wish to be. Some hate the idea. Some do it because it is what makes the most sense for your family. Whether it be financially or emotionally.

Being a sahm is more then just sitting on the couch all day watching netflix.

We have to teach our children right from wrong. Socialize our children.
Teach our kids preschool things. Potty train them.
We raise tiny humans and we care for the home.
My new favorite term is that I'm a home maker.  Not a stay at home mom.
I make our house a home. I create a welcoming environment for my hard working husband to come home to. I meal plan, meal prep, grocery shop, clean, teach, love, learn, and am constantly growing and changing. I am a hard working mother, wife, and home maker.

I am blessed.

You are blessed.

Take a minute to stop and pause. Think of ALL that you do. Next time someone says something negative to you about being a sahm or you simply wonder if your doing enough for the family as a SAHM.... 

Look at your list. Then ask yourself are you contributing to your family? The answer is HECK yes you are. 

You are making your house a home. You are setting the thermostat to your home. What's the temperture of your home?

Is it welcoming and peaceful?
Is it welcoming and a little crazy? Usually mine lol.
Or is it high stress and high tempers. I've been there all too many times. Take some time out for yourself. YOUR not selfish to need a break. You do contribute to your home. You do make a difference. Think of all that wouldn't get done if you didn't do it.

That alone should show you that what your doing matters.
I love all the mamas out there who are good moms. 💓💗💓👊🤜💪 we are stronger together.

Today is the day!

Hey all you ladies and momma's out there! Today I started working out again again lol. I was sick for almost a month with a cold cough flu and have Almost kicked it. I miss exercising and still have goals to be healthier and lose this baby weight!

Let's start the new off right!!! Start speaking positivity in your life. You love to workout! You love mondays! You love to eat healthy. Speak these words until you start believing them.

Make today count!

It's been a while...post pregnancy

Hey guys! It's been a while since I last posted. Well I had my son and he is 4 months old on Sunday. He was born on Easter April 20, 2014 Sunday at 12:22pm delivered by C-Section weighing 9.7 lbs and 22 inches. I gained 50 lbs and lost 20 the week after. I have 30 lbs to lose and a journey a head of me.

It's been a while since I last Posted. Update on the Life of Mary

It's been about a year since I last updated this blog, a lot has happened in the last year so here is just the highlights.

I lost 13 lbs and gained muscle while losing inches by August 2013, I was doing fantastic with my eating and exercising. Then come to find out Sept. 2nd, I was pregnant with my first child. Of course as most woman know, with pregnancy comes nausea/morning sickness/fatigue and more. So I stopped working out because I was sick and tired all the time. I was putting on just the right amount of weight for pregnancy until January 2014, I think because of all the holiday foods and chocolates I ate a bit out of control with pregnancy sweet tooth cravings. I should've put on between 3-5lbs for the month of January and I put on 10. That's when it hit me how easy it is to put on weight when your not working out in anyway and eating junk foods. I started walking ½ a mile a day, then eventually got up to 1 mile a day. I wasn't walking quickly but I was moving. I work at a desk job and by the time I get home I cook dinner, eat it, and pass out a sleep. So exercising wasn't my priority. I did well walking daily for about 2-3 weeks, then I got in the third trimester and all of sudden hit extreme heart burn and acid reflux. I did everything the Dr. told me to do, ate small meals through out the day rather than large ones 3 times a day, I walked daily for approx. 20 minutes, I sat up propped pillows under me at night, and even took Zantac before bed, but nothing seemed to work. I don't eat spicy foods or drink alcohol. So I literally was at a stage in pregnancy when you feel like crud and there is nothing to be done.. When you don't feel well you get depressed and when I get emotionally distraught I eat. I eat whatever I want because I just don't care.  I stopped walking because the fatigue only increases as the baby is growing. So I have put on all the weight I should've put-on during my entire pregnancy. I have put on 40lbs. I am not thrilled about it but it is what it is. I can not start dieting or doing some crazy exercise program like I used to, I have to wait until my baby boy arrives in 8 weeks or so. I still have two months (the time where baby Mic Emmanuel Smith will be putting on weight) and I know I should expect another 6-10lbs of just baby weight, water weight,  etc. And thats not even including whatever weight I'm gaining from doing nothing. I can't cut out what I'm eating when all I am eating is normal and healthy foods and portions. It's mainly because I can't work out like I use to. 

With all this said, I will be updating as baby Mickey is growing, when he comes, and how determined I am going to be after he is born. I finally got the size I wanted before I got pregnant which I am so thankful I did otherwise I would've been twice my size now. I know I may not get back to that perfect size I want to, and I know I must love my body after my baby is born. But I will love it by treating it with healthy food, rest, and exercise. I can and will do ALL things through Jesus Christ who gives me Strength. -Philipians 4:13

If the devil can't make you sin, he will make you busy!

If the Devil can't make you sin, he will make you busy.

When we get caught up in the business of life it is easy to get your priorities all disorganized.

 It's way too easy to say yes to too many commitments and people. Sometimes the best answer is No. I'm learning that as of right now that it's better to say no to something than to say yes and try to jam it into your busy life. It's not about the quantity of things you do but the quality of time you spend with people and do in your work. Quality always is better then quantity. 

Stewardship of Yes:

Whatever we say yes to determines the course of our lives. Somethings are good, but we need to say No sometimes to those good things so we can say Yes to the IMPORTANT things. 

When something is good but is out of priority in your life it then becomes bad. 

Ecclesiastics 5:3-5 "Too much activity gives you restless dreams; too many words makes you a fool. When you make a promise to God, don't delay in keeping it, for God takes no pleasure in fools. Keep all the promises you make to him. It is better to say nothing then to make a promise and not keep it." 

This all was what was taught on sunday morning at FWC by Pastor Ray Dubois

You can serve yummy food at your parties for almost 0 calories!

You can serve yummy food at your parties for almost 0 calories! (none of these are my original photos or recipes!)

This is what I did today for spa day with my mom and sisters at my house!

****NOT MY RECIPES****
Strawberry Kiwi Jello Hearts via The Cafe Wellness 2 cups strawberries, pureed/de-stemmed (about 1 16 oz. carton**) 1 cup kiwi, pureed (about 4 kiwis, peeled) ¼ cup coconut water, pulp-free Juice from 1 lime 3 ½ Tbsp. gelatin* thecafewellness.c... ** 16oz = 1lb = 454g

It was a little tart so maybe add some splenda and less kiwi! 

POPSICLES! 

Frozen Mango, Kiwi, Raspberry Pops
Skinnytaste.com
Servings: 4 • Size: 1 pop • Old Points: 1 pts • Points+: 2 pts
Calories: 91.5 • Fat: 0.5 g • Protein: 1.0 g • Carb: 22 g • Fiber: 4 g • Sugar: 11
Sodium: 1.8 mg

Ingredients:

• 9 tbsp water
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 5 oz kiwi, peeled
• 6 oz mango, peeled
• 6 oz fresh raspberries

Make a simple syrup by combining water and sugar in a small pot and bring to a boil;boil for about 4-5 minutes on medium heat. Set aside.


Puree fruit separately in the blender (I used my magic bullet). Set aside in 3 small bowls.

Divide the simple syrup between the fruit purees and mix in.

Equally fill four small 5 oz cups with the kiwi puree and place in the freezer; freezeone hour.

Add mango puree and freeze 20 minutes. Insert sticks and freeze at least 2 hours.Add raspberry puree and freeze overnight.

APPLE CHIPS!

AppleWe don’t need to tell you apples are healthy. (What’s that old saying again? Something about a doctor?) Make them extra autumnal by sprinkling the slices with pumpkin pie spice, or your own mix of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice. We like Bare Fruit’s bake-dried chips. They’re organic with no added sugar, preservatives, or additives, and a single serving has fewer than 30 calories.

DIY: Preheat oven to 200, bake for one hour, flip, and cook for another hour.

KALE CHIPS!

DIY: Preheat oven to 200. Rinse and dry 1 large bunch of kale, then remove the stems and tough center ribs. Rip the kale into large pieces, toss with a little olive oil, then sprinkle with some salt and pepper. Bake until crisp, about 10 to 15 minutes, checking frequently. (They can burn easily!) OR preheat your oven to 375 for like 2-3 minutes!

(I sprayed the pan with smart balance pam and then put the kale on after washing mixed salt pepper and garlic powder in a bowl and sprinkled it on top then put it in the oven! Turned out awesome! Everyone was loving it!) I don't like olive oil personally. 

DAY 21 of my 21 Day Journey!

Day #21

Work out:

Walked briskly 2.30 miles and burned 251 calories in 45 minutes. 

30 Inner thigh leg machine (with 30 lbs weights) 10 with 45 lbs weights. 

40 Outer thigh leg machine (75 lbs weights)

30 crunches

20 leg lunges

20 arm weights

Encouraging Scripture of the Day:

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

 - Matthew 6:33

Quote of the Day:

"Make God's will the focus of your life day by day. If you seek to please Him and Him alone, you'll find yourself satisfied with life." - Kay Arthur 

Goal of the Day:

To not let the hustle and bustle of the day or the week stop me from achieving my health and spiritual needs and goals.

Suggested Reading:

Exodus 15:2

Deuteronomy 6:12, 6:5

Psalm 92:1-2, 16:11

Philippians 4:4

2 Samuel 6:5

Esther 9:22

Nehemiah 12:27

Luke 4:6-8

A 21 Day Journey to a new you, FOOD, FITNESS, and FAITH, For Women.