Mommiedom: general

Showing posts with label general. Show all posts

Monday, August 14, 2017

Ten Things I Can't Live Without...

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Just ten things that I can't live without might be a hard list to have. Okay the basics, I can't live without my family but I am not sticking them on my list. My ten things are my favorite things that I think make my day to day life go easier. I have included links and reasons why I do love these things. This isn't a ranking either because that would make it even harder to do.

10. The instant Pot

I have been raving about this cooking device for over a year. I purchased it last year on Prime day and use it at east once a week and sometimes twice a week. I use it for soups, desserts, and meals. The hubby jokes that I cook most everything in it.

My favorite and easiest is the 4 minute potato salad.

Just peel and dice up your potatoes, toss in the instant pot with 2-3 eggs and about a cup of water, and high pressure for 4 minutes. Drain the potatoes and eggs to make your desired type of potato salad than. We like mustard in our house.

So super easy and it is so nice during the summer time when I don't have to heat up the oven to cook roasts or meatloaf.

9. MAMBI's Happy Planner (all sizes)

Yep I have become one of those people with multiple planners. I have three yes three MAMBI Happy Planners and I love each one for each of their uses.

I have the classic which I use for planning and keeping schedules. Each line is dedicated to a family member and yes I decorate. I have a mini for journaling and recently just got the Big one that is for Memory Planning which is the new line. I usually take Sunday's to plan and keep up with my memories for the week. This takes about an hour but I remember the good and the bad of our lives.

8. Meal Planning

Did you see my post here about meal planning. I would crumble if I didn't meal plan. See above that my nature is planning. I like to know what I am doing for the week and plan accordingly. We are busy people between work, school, and sports. So having a plan is something I need to have or you will find me in a weird state.

7. Cameras

I am a camera nut and have them sitting around the house so I can snap away. My iPhone is wonderful for that and their are so many great apps to edit pictures. I love the shoe line from Adobe and another favorite is XXX.

I also have a Zip printer to print up photos for my planner and scrapbooking.

I also have the Snap Camera as well to have in my pocket for fun selfies.

6. Music

I don't really watch a lot of tv but I love to listen to music so my little Echo dot comes in handy for listening. I LOVE this little thing so much and it is used every single day for music, information, alarms and even as a intercom between everyone in the house.

Lately my hubby likes to ask it to give compliments and Chuck Norris facts because you know Chuck Norris's tears cure cancer but Chuck has never cried.

Have to say seeing Chuck Norris in person this past summer was a highlight. He was charming and full of great stories.

5. My Label Maker

Where was this all my life. I label everything and honestly there isn't a day that goes by that I don't use it. I actually have two of them, one for home and one for the office. I love using my label maker with clear label tape and than sticking it over Washi tape for a decorative look. I use it in my planner, scrapbooking, the kids stuff and the pantry. It make it so much easier for everyone to find things. I pull that bad boy out for about everything.

4. The Cricut Machine

I know there is a ton of debate between the Cricut and the Silhouette machines. I lean toward Cricut because I had the original one which was okay. I used it on occasion but once I got the new Cricut, I was hooked. I do everything with it and there are times I use it each and every day to do something. Lately I make HTV shirts because my hubby likes unique and funny shirts. The nerdier the better for him. I also love that I can print and cut with it so I can make my stickers for my planner. I pretty much have used this machine for everything and anything.

3. Books

I love to read and am always have book with in arms reach. I love that I can carry a book or two or three with me at any given time because of my phone. If I am waiting on something, I pull out my phone and read. I love how reading g helps take a person to far off places and opens the imagination. I am currently rereading Seveneves and Ready Player One. These are two of my favorite all time books. I love that I can share with my kids books to. My daughter read The Giver recently and is hooked.

2. Anything nerdy

I know I could live with out it but being Nerdy is just part of me. I reference nerdy things, I drink out of nerdy coffee cups and wear nerdy shirts. Note that my hubby also likes nerdy shirts.

1. Myself

Yes the one thing that drives me up the wall but is pretty awesome is myself. I love how I am and the things that I like to do. I know for some my things might be odd but I love when I throw a Dr. Who reference into something and people get it. Being one with oneself is the best thing we can't live with out.

Thanks for stopping by!

# general

Sunday, July 30, 2017

The Meaning of Mommiedom

Becky 12:00 AM 0 Comments

Let's be honest that finding a catchy title for your blog is hard. I thought long and hard with the name for mine and one day it hit me- Mommiedom.

Why because as a Mom we...

1. Rule our little kingdom of mini people.

2. We sometimes have to rule with an iron fist while sometimes a gentle touch.

3. Sometimes we feel like the evil queen and sometimes we feel like Snow and Cindy as we clean and clean.

For me it is all about finding the fun, laughter and sometimes the brutal honesty of what it is like to be a Mom in this day and age.

People think I got it all together and most times, I am failing but I try to look decent while doing it.

I yell to much, my kids eat more junk they I would like, I am more jugdy than I should be and I know my kids ARE far from perfect.

There are lots of things I would like to change but there are lots of things that work for us.

I give it my all and a lot of the time the return is very little which is being a Mom!

I wish sometimes it was totally different and than their are times I love it and won't change it for the world!

That's what my Mommiedom is all about!

# general

Wednesday, July 26, 2017

15 Facts About Me!

Becky 7:21 AM 0 Comments

To be honest I really don't like to blog about myself but I am trying to blog more and there are some good ideas out there for recommendations on what to blog. There is a list of 30 days of me for blogging, so I figured that was a good springboard for when I want to add content but don't always have an idea of what I want to add.

So today's post is all about me and 15 facts you may or may not know about me. Hopefully you will learn a little more about me and my crazy life.

Here is a recent picture of me and what I actually look like (I like the Bitmoij slightly better).

1. I was born and raised in Wisconsin. I lived there until 2003 when my hubby got a job in Houston.

2. I meet my hubby in 1999 in college (or as my Mom likes say in a bar). We had a ton of mutual friends and always had misconnections until we went out for Halloween. So Halloween is always special for us.

3. I have two kids. One girl O who is 11 and about to start middle school and than one boy, Lumpy, who is going into second and is 7. I don't feel old enough to have these two kids.

4. I was born the same year Elvis died. My said she was very pregnant and very sad when she heard it.

5. I have one younger brother who has 2 kids. Both the kids look a lot like mine so when all four are together, I look like I have a bunch of kids. My 7 year old and 6 year old niece look like they could be twins and actually have been called out that way.

6. My hubby and I own a start up company called Windhover Labs. He writes the software and I do the accounting and HR. Never thought we would be self employed. I grew up with parents that were self employed.

7. Hubby is 4 years older than me.

8. I worked for many years in government in The Wisconsin State Assembly.

9. Changed careers and worked for many years on the International Space Station program until I became a stay at home mom (best job to date - the SAHM one).

10. I got to drive the moon rover around NASA once. Hubby won an award and we picked that. Coolest day ever!

11. I once got to go to NASA prom which is a huge awards ceremony because my awesome hubby got nominated.

12. I love sci-fi and read more end of the world books than I should.

13. I love to craft. There isn't a craft I haven't tried but I mainly do paper crafts and love to make t-shirts.

14. I am not a animal lover but I have a little dog who has stolen my heart. My Minion is my constant buddy. Everyone has that one pet that they bond with and he is it.

15. I love to cook and rarely have an oops but when I do it is epic.

So 15 things about me. Some are interesting and some are boring. Some might surprise you and some might be how you know me.

Thanks for stopping by!

# general

Monday, June 26, 2017

What's Been Up with Me!

Becky 12:00 AM 0 Comments

I have been saying for months that I need to get back to blogging but life has gotten so much in the way lately. Between the kids’ sports, school, and the new business, it has flown by. I am surprised I sit here today at the tail end of June when it just felt like it was January.

Let’s catch up everyone with what has been happening the last few months. The kids were both in sports. The girl played softball and the boy was in baseball. The girl’s season ended at the end of April (we had to much going on to continue with the all-stars this year which was a first). The boy on the other hand went to nearly the end of May because his team was doing so well. They finished second in their division. It was a wild ride and we spent many nights at the ball park. I loved it and made some great friends along the way. Can’t wait till fall ball to start so we can be back out there.

School was intense especially with the girl who had her three STARR tests (she did great on all) plus it was the end of 5^th grade so lots of big things were happening. I somehow got sucked into facilitating the party and it turned out great with a few small bumps and of course things I would change if I had to do it all over again (there always is). I also had to do the boy’s first grade party which was fun. So, this fall I will have a 6^th grader and 2^nd grader. Time sure flies.

First and Last day of 1st Grade

First and last day of 5th grade

The biggest thing was the new business which I know many people have been curious about. A few years ago, the hubby really really wanted a drone, so for Christmas one year, he convinced me he needed one. He had one in mind because you could write code for it. So, over the next few years of tinkering, he had the idea to apply for a Phase 1 NASA SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) program. So, he applied and we waited pretty much expecting it not to be awarded anything because it is super competitive.

Fast forward a few months and it is now late spring of 2016, we were having our usual morning date at IHOP, talking about how the awards were coming out. We still were joking about not winning and well a few hours later, the hubby’s company was awarded a Phase 1 contract to basically write drone software. So, the rest of 2016 was him working his butt off to complete the Phase 1 portion.

Than the waiting game started to see if Phase 2 was ours and back in March, our startup was awarded that. It has been crazy and basically no slowing down especially for the hubby who works like crazy to make this all work. I help with all the admin like stuff and pick up in areas that need it even though I can't write code. Honestly, I have zero idea how all of it works. Though it is amazing to see his hard work and dedication pay off.

Shortly we will have employees and it will be more than just us who are working on the software system that my hubby has created. It hasn’t been easy and super long hours for the hubby but we think it will be worth it and should level off in August. Kids have been great through it all and are excited to see the things Dad is working on. They benefit sometimes the most because they get to use the toys, I mean tools he has purchased like learning to fly drones.

So that has been what is up with me. I am really hoping to start blogging more. I totally updated the blog with a new layout which I really like. I need to write more in general because all this stuff is always running through my head. I of course have found time to craft and am always adding on to my hobbies. I have a new one that I love to do and it feeds into my nutso organization issues. Thanks for stopping by and listening to my ramblings about this crazy life we have been living.

# general

Monday, September 7, 2015

My Role as SAHM has changed

Becky 12:00 AM 0 Comments

The kids have been in school full time now for two weeks and my role as a Stay at Home Mom has changed quite a bit since they started school. Now I am a Stay at Home Mom to my fur babies which I am pretty sure are out to get me because they both like to sit on the stairs and block the way as I walk down.

So the last two weeks have out us into a new routine because the boy now has to be ready right along with his sister when for the last two years we had about thirty extra minutes before he had to be to school. So now we are all getting up and ready to be out the door any where from 7:30 (if we walk to school) or 7:45 if they are being dropped off in the car.

So I set some rules I guess for getting off to a good start. Everyone needs to make their bed in the morning. The kids are pretty good about it and the hubby is getting better. He gets up last and I am downstairs with the kids, so this has become his job. I have always been a bed maker from little one and I feel the house seems put together when beds are made plus I read that it makes one more productive during the day because you already accomplished something.

I make lunches at night and have them in a bucket int he fridge to be dispensed in the morning before we leave. This helps so much in not having to rush around the kitchen plus it leaves me time to unload and reload the dishwasher and also without fail sweep the floor every morning and I will steam mop it once I am back from drop off.

I feel a clean house just makes one feel better plus it leaves me time to get the other things I need to do get done. I have also found with the new large washer and dryer, I only need to do wash every other day and I have state shaving the kids fold it as an exercise in cooperating with each other. It is still a huge work in progress.

I want to enjoy my day and not feel like I haven't accomplished anything which in all honestly it does happen.

Another thing I have been doing for quite awhile is meal planning which helps when we are rushing off to practice or gymnastics. I also have used the crock pot like a bunch to get meals ready for easy dinner prep.

Yes I may have more time on my hands but I am also finding things to fill that time between running errands, getting things at home in order and volunteering at school. I don't know how the year will go over all but I figure if I get some good habits, they will last through the year.

Thanks for stopping by!