how to keep a clean house and your sanity

I got up this morning and took a quick shower before getting the kids up. After my kids woke up, I got them dressed and made breakfast. Then I had to make a few phone calls and pay a few bills. Shortly after that, the bug guy came to spray our house. Then it was time for lunch and naps. This all took place between 9-1. I still have to pick up the house, clean up after lunch and breakfast, prepare for dinner, etc. Sometimes it can be really hard for me to find time to get actual cleaning done in my house. I used to pick one day a week and do it all at once but that never worked out and it left me so stressed out and super tired. 

My husband told me that I should just pick one or two things to complete each day so each week the house gets cleaned but I'm not loosing my mind in the process. He can be so smart sometimes!! So I immediately went to the office to begin writing out a schedule! I also wrote up a morning routine that I do before I do anything else. I know there are other moms out there that feel the same pressure I do. I mean who doesn't love a clean house but finding the time can be tough. I decided to share my schedule with all of you! Feel free to print it off and stick it on your fridge! I didn't list my morning routine on there because that is totally optional but I will share it for those who want to use it. Remember you don't have to stick to my plan exactly. Everyone's life is so different. You can use mine as a starting point and you can adjust it your own schedule. 

Here is my morning routine:

~Wake up

~Take shower or Wash face/Brush teeth

~Make bed

~Dishes

Before bed, we set the kitchen timer for 15 minutes and pick up the house until the buzzer goes off. I also sweep the kitchen every day but that only takes 5 minutes tops and definitely needs doing each day!!! My little girl is a messy, messy eater!! 

My Stress Free Weekly Cleaning Schedule

I really hope this cleaning schedule takes away the stress of keeping a clean house! Thanks for stopping by today!

Until next time,

Brianna

Pin Project: Week 1

Guess what?! It's time for my first pin project. Drum roll please... Lip Balm!! I pinned this about a year ago when I found out I was going to have a little girl! I figured how cute would this be to do together one day when she is older, right? My sister saw my pin and sounded so excited about trying this lip gloss too! She already bought all the supplies and showed up at my house on her day off ready to try it out! 

I'm a little obsessed with lip gloss and chapstick! I use it all the time and you will find tubes of it all over my house. I never actually thought about making some for myself. I assumed it must be pretty complex. When I looked over the list of ingredients for this homemade lip gloss, I was impressed. Everything was natural and most of it was already in my kitchen!! I love anything organic. It is so refreshing to know and trust the ingredients in products we use and in foods we eat. 

Alright, so the process is super easy and super quick. Anyone can do this project in less than an hour. All you have to do is add the ingredients in a bowl, microwave, pour, and then wait. That's it, seriously, that's it!! It is that easy. 

These would make great party favors or stocking stuffers for Christmas! Here is the recipe if you would like to give it a shot.

LipGloss

-10 capsules of Vitamin E (use a needle to get the oil out)

-3/4 cup Coconut Oil

-3 tbsp beeswax

-a few drops of whatever candy flavoring that you want (we used cherry, peppermint, and sweet mint)

You will also need:

-lip gloss containers (Amazon) 

-printable labels (optional) 

Microwave the contents into a bowl until it is completely liquefied. Spoon the liquid into the lip gloss containers. You have to do this part quickly because the mixture hardens pretty fast. Once the containers are filled, place them in the fridge for a few hours to fully harden. While the gloss hardens, this would be the perfect time to make the labels and apply them. This step is totally optional! I got my printable stickers from Home Depot for $7! I believe there are 250 in the pack so you get plenty for your money. 

I had a lot of fun making this with my sister. It was something so different and it was pretty cool knowing that we made our own lip gloss! I hope you have a blast making some too! I am now excited to add this pin into my Pin It and Did It board on Pinterest! Look out for some more pin projects to come!

Have a great day,

Brianna

The Pinterest Project

Um..Hi my name is Brianna and I am addicted to Pinterest. 
Seriously, I am addicted in the worst way. Whether I am waiting for an appointment or taking a moment for myself, I am browsing page after page of pins on Pinterest. It is full of amazing ideas on there that make me say to myself, "Now why didn't I think of that?!" I have acquired so many boards filled with so many pins. I just keep pinning and pinning but not doing any of it!! I started to think about all the time I spend on Pinterest and how little I actually take from it. I realized that if I don't do what I pin than I am probably just wasting a whole lot of time. So I decided to start what I am going to call "The Pinterest Project." Each week I am going to find one pin to complete and share with you. It might be a recipe, a DIY project, or an organizational idea. I am pretty excited about it and that excitement is what gave me the idea for a Pinterest Christmas, which allows me to actually complete pins I have pinned, make personalized gifts for family, and save a little money. I plan on sharing more about that a little later on so keep an eye out! For now, I have to decide which pin I will choose to be the first of my project series. There are so many to choose from!! 

Until next time,
brianna

my favorite ways to unwind

Okay, so I know that I can't be the only one who is wishing summer would never end. Summer ending only means one dreadful thing, school is back in session. I have been enrolled in college since January of 2010. I was going for my associates in social science which should have taken two years to complete. Well, life threw a few curve balls my way and that is not how it played out. Little did I know that shortly after enrolling, I would soon be a wife and a mother of two kids. Needless to say, being a wife and raising two kids makes going to school full time pretty difficult. I have been taking a few classes here and there and I am proud to say that I am finally going to be able to graduate this December. If you could see me now, you would get the honor of witnessing my happy dance!! Even though I am happy I get to finally graduate, I still have to actually make it through this last semester without loosing my sanity. Normal days for me consist of taking care of my kids, daily chores, constantly picking up the same messes, play time with my kids, making three meals, grocery shopping, and spending time with the husband. When I add schoolwork into the mix, things begin to become kinda unstable. It can sometimes feel like too much and I start to feel anxious. In order to keep the stress at bay, I have found a few things that really help me unwind. Today, I would like to share them with you so that maybe one or all of them can help you in times of stress. 

#1. Stay Organized.
With everything I have going on in the day, it is important for me to stay organized so things don't get out of control. I am taking online courses which are great for being a stay-at-home mom, but they are also tricky because I can completely forget about it. The best thing for me is to write up a schedule before bed each night. I jot down any assignments that are due and what needs doing in the house. I also set reminders on my phone so that I can actually stick to the schedule and never miss an assignment. 

#2. Bubble Bath
After the kids go to bed, I light some candles and draw myself a warm bath. There is something about it that is so relaxing. It allows me to clear my head and focus better. The warm steam is soothing, the aroma is refreshing, and the water is cleansing. Not to mention, it makes for the best night of sleep.

#3. Awesome Playlist
Music is such a big part of my life. I listen to it while I clean, while I read, while I'm driving, and pretty much while I am doing everything else. A good playlist can make any task much more fun. Music also helps me calm down if I am starting to feel overwhelmed. My favorite thing to do is to turn the music up really loud and just dance. Dancing gives me a whole lot of energy instantly and puts me in such a good mood. And when I am happy, I'm not stressed :)

#4. Exercise
Exercising is good for SO many things. One thing in particular that it helps relieve is stress levels. Taking time out of the day to exercise helps me to feel good about myself. It makes me feel a little more confident about taking on the day. Some of the best exercises for stress relief are yoga and running or walking. Taking it outside will work even better plus it is more fun to change things up a bit!

#5. Positive Thinking
This one might sound a little cliche but for me it really can work. I have to sometimes take a step back and remind myself that it is okay to not be perfect. It is okay to leave the house a little messy for a day. It is okay to eat peanut butter and jelly for dinner two nights in a row. Admitting to myself that I can't do it all and no one is expecting me to really helps me to calm down. Maybe writing a little positive message to yourself on the bathroom mirror might be useful. For me, Philippians 4:13 (I can do all things through Him who strengthens me) gets repeated many times throughout my day. 

So those are a few of my go-to stress relievers and I can guarantee that I will be using one or all of them throughout this semester. If school is just starting for you as well, I wish you the best of luck and I hope that it is a stress free year! However you choose to handle stress, always remember that you can do whatever you set your mind to! I can finish this semester, I can finish this semester, I CAN finish this semester! :)

Have a blessed and stress free day!
Brianna