5 Ways to Make the Holidays Less Stressful

The holidays really are stressful (and enjoyable) for most people. Family get-togethers, grocery shopping, side dish preparing, gift wrapping, holiday parties, Christmas card mailing...it's all so fun, but it's also such a busy time of year. How can we make this stressful time more exciting?

1. Decorate early - Most people get annoyed when Christmas decorations start making their way into stores before Halloween actually arrives, but getting your holiday decor up while the weather is still nice or a before Thanksgiving could actually relieve some stress. You and your family may also have more available time 
2. Meal Plan - If you plan out your holiday meal and those surrounding it by making a detailed shopping list and menu, it could really help take the guess work out of meal prep for you, and those you're feeding.
3. Make an ongoing gift idea list as ideas come to you or are discussed - Since most of us carry cell phones, use a notepad or word app on your phone to start taking down holiday gift ideas that you think of or get talked about by your family and friends. It's so neat to get great ideas throughout the day, but it can be so frustrating if you forget the ideas before you have a chance to purchase them.
4. Christmas shop early and online - Sure, you might be able to get great deals on Black Friday, but there are some pretty great deals leading up to Black Friday and even more on Cyber Monday, the best part is you can get some shopping done from the comfort of your own home!
5. Try to schedule your holiday events early to make the most of your free time for all things holiday - Call family and friends ahead of time to see where you need to be throughout your holiday to make the most of the time you have off from work. Prioritize your time to be the most efficient. 

Happy Living & God's Blessings!

J.M.

We're Having a Baby!

After months of trying and symptom spotting, we finally got our BFP (Big Fat Positive)! That's right, we're pregnant ladies and gentleman! Woohoo! Of course it happened just like everyone said it would, as soon as we (I) stopped worrying and stressing about it. The reality is, I had gotten so heartbroken so many times and after just hosting our first family party at our new house when everyone thought we were going to announce a pregnancy, I got so angry at my body that I stopped caring about it. Sure we kept trying, but I completely removed the stress and baby talk from the whole equation. 

I had just joined a gym in hopes of getting in better shape and I was doing my smoothie regiment like I planned when I noticed that I was reeeeally hungry and thirsty every few hours. I decided to test, assuming it would be negative because every test I had ever taken was negative, so why should this be any different, but lone behold it immediately blared a pink positive! I was shocked! I burst into tears out of complete and utter shock! Is this really happening? What do I do now? I need to tell Andrew! Wait...I want to tell him in a cute way...but I need to tell someone right this instant! I need to call Ashley (my best friend)! Thank goodness she was on a different time zone and didn't answer or else Andrew wouldn't have been the first person to find out!

Monday 11/17/2014
It was soooo hard keeping this amazing news to myself all day at work and all throughout a basketball game that Andrew coached. Finally when we got home, I let him unwind and I secretly hid my camera set to video mode looking at where he would be sitting. I finally got the courage to walk over and lay down the baby bib I bought months ago that said "I watch Indiana Basketball with my Daddy" with a homemade tag pinned to it that said "Baby Montgomery Due July, 2015". Now if you know me, I'm a planner, and I've wanted to start buying on sale baby clothes for a while now, so when my husband first saw the bib, he responded "Why?", which I later found out meant, "Why did you buy something for a baby we don't have" (This is all caught on camera mind you). Of course I;m less than pleased with his initial reaction so I say something along the lines of "Why? What do you mean Why? You Know Why!" And then you could see he understood, he said, "Are you pregnant?" and I said yes ad he stood up and hugged me and kissed me. While it wasn't as magical as I had hoped, it was still a great memory that we have recorded, and after watching it together after the moment had passed, we both decided to never show it to anyone..because we were both in sweat pants and I had 8 chins and...well...it looked awful! haha!

Tuesday 11/18/2014
I could hardly make it through my workday because I was so excited to tell our parents and it was so difficult to talk to my mom and not tell her! We were going to wait until heading back to Chicago for Thanksgiving next week to tell my family but I couldn't wait that long and felt that it wasn't fair they be the last to find out since they live the farthest away so we chose to Skype them. I played it off that I was sad and missed them a lot so that they wouldn't get suspicious and then with Mom, Dad and my brother on camera, we held up a sign that said "The best parents get promoted to grandparents. eta July, 2015". At first they had no idea what to do or say, and then my mom said "Are you trying to tell us something?" so I replied, "what are we trying to tell you?" and she said "are you expecting?!" and we smiled and said yes! With tears in their eyes and smiles on their faces they rejoiced with us! We briefly chatted and then said goodbye because we were going to go visit Andrew's mom and step-dad to tell them the news! 

We got to Rick & Julie's house and sat down briefly before handing them a card that said the same note we showed my parents, "The best parents get promoted to Papas and Mimis. eta July, 2015". Julie gasped and started tearing up before passing the note to Rick and he smiled really big! They were so excited! We talked about it the rest of our time with them and then proceeded to tell some of Andrew's siblings. We called Megan and told her the news by calling her Aunt Megan and she screamed in excitement! Sydney and Kelsey came home from basketball practice and saw the elephant Rick and Julie had been saving for this moment and started giggling and squealing! We called Ryan at work and he was excited and said he was proud of us! Next we stopped at Andrew's dad and step-mom's house to share the news. We gave them the same card that said "The best parents get promoted to grandparents. eta July, 2015" and they stood up and hugged us! The whole experience was so amazing!

Wednesday 11/19/2014
We worked all day and had dinner and class at church before we were able to tell Andrew's Nana & Papaw. We stopped by their house fairly late and chatted for a bit before Andrew passed them the bib and said "Look what Jenny gave me!" Nana started tearing up and handed it to Papaw and he said how excited he was.

Thursday 11/20/2014
We stopped by Andrew's Grandma & Grandpa's house after he got done coaching practice and we chatted for a bit before Andrew passed them the bib and said "Look what Jenny gave me!" Grandma started tearing up too and handed it to Grandpa to look at. He kept saying how proud and excited he was!

Friday 11/21/2014
Today we've been married 1 year and 2 months, which seems like much less time than it actually feels. We're going to tell Rick's parents tonight and then other family members will tell our extended family over Thanksgiving, since we won't be in town to share the news.

This is such an exciting, new chapter in our lives. I'm trying to remember to soak up every moment of it and enjoy it. I had gotten some ideas from Pinterest, a while back, of things I wanted to do throughout our pregnancy:

1. Put on Cocoa butter everyday!
2. Journal our experiences
3. Start learning about parenting and what having a baby is all about
4. Reviewing our finances so we can save money and cut costs
5. Writing letters to the baby every few weeks
6. Weekly chalkboard sign 

How Far Along: 5 weeks today (Although it may be off, we'll find out at the doctor on December 2nd).

Size of Baby: About the size of an orange seed.

Symptoms: Hungry every 2-3 hours, thirsty, especially at night, cold throughout the day, night sweats, cramping, bloating, extreme excitement!

Maternity Clothes: Browsed online and ended up buying a few tops from Target and Kohls - definitely bought white and black belly bands to help fight the tight pants, they seem to working and they add a bit of extra support which is nice.

Stretch Marks: None yet but I've been trying to remember to use Palmer's Cocoa Butter after my shower in the mornings and before I go to bed at night.

Sleep: I've been sleeping okay. I'm super hot at night and have been experiencing night sweats and slowly getting more and more exhausted and needing naps which affect how I sleep at night. 

Best Moment of the Week: There were so many amazing moments this week: I found out we were pregnant Monday morning, told Andrew Monday night, told parents and siblings Tuesday night, and we told best friends and grandparents Wednesday, Thursday and Friday night! This whole experience has been so magical! 

Movement: None yet.

Food Cravings: Cheese, string cheese, cottage cheese, mmmm.
Foods That are Not My Friend: hot dogs, I usually love them, but I had the worst heartburn after eating one the other night.

Anything Making You Queasy or Sick: Nothing yet, thank goodness!
Gender: We don't know yet, but everyone thinks it will be a boy!

Belly Button In or Out: In

Wedding Ring on or Off: On (I've been so cold all day everyday that I should be able to keep it on for a while, but it was a bit snug to take off even before we got pregnant!

What I Miss: I miss being able to drink wine or a beer with friends and family - I gave it up when we started trying to have a baby and drank maybe two or three times in the 4 months that we were TTC.

What I am Looking Forward to: My growing belly, meeting out little one, watching Andrew become an amazing dad, seeing our families take on their new roles, so much excitement!

Labor Signs: Way too far from these! whew!

Nursery: Paint has been done for about a month now and we've had a bookshelf ready to go in there but the newest addition was an elephant stuffed animal that Rick & Julie bought and had been saving until we got pregnant! They gave it to us the night we told them and it was such a great memory to make!

Emotions: Feeling pretty good, mostly antsy and excited and a little melancholy. 
Famous People Who Are Also Pregnant: Kate Middleton (aka Princess Catherine Duchess of Cambridge), Blake Lively, Carrie Underwood,Jessica Biel & more!

Happy Living & God's Blessings!

J.M.

Smoothie of the Day

Well Ladies and Gents, it's time for the Smoothie of the Day! Today's smoothie is a recipe I found online that I reworked a bit and I can't take credit for the picture, I snagged it off of Google, but anywho, we're going to call today's smoothie Orange Sunrise. What's in it you ask? Well let's see:

Ingredients

• 4 Apples (Sliced)
• 1 Sweet Potato (Cooked and Peeled)
• 2 large Carrots (washed and the ends trimmed off)
• 2 cans of Mandarin Oranges (with the juice) OR 6 Clementines

What makes this smoothie good for you?

• Apples - 
• Apples are filled with soluble fiber  (5 grams)
  • This fiber has been shown to reduce intestinal disorders, including diverticulitis, hemorrhoids and possibly some types of cancer
• Helps control insulin levels by releasing sugar slowly into the bloodstream.
• Cleanses and detoxifies, which helps eliminate heavy metals, such as lead and mercury.
• Apple pectin helps reduce cholesterol levels by lowering insulin secretion.In two studies researchers found that eating five apples a week lowered the risk for respiratory diseases like asthma.
• According to Chinese Medicine: Apples strengthen the heart, quench thirst, lubricate the lungs, decrease mucous and increase body fluids.
• Apple cider vinegar can help prevent the formation of kidney stones.
• Studies indicate that eating apples daily can reduce skin diseases.
• According to a Brazilian study, eating an apple before a meal helped women lose 33 percent more weight than those who didn’t.
• An apple has only 50-80 calories and has no fat or sodium.
• Apples are packed with vitamins C, A , and flavonoids and with smaller amounts of phosphorus, iron,  and calcium.
• Apples provide a source of potassium which may promote heart health.
• Sweet Potatoes - 
• They are high in vitamin B6.  Vitamin B6 helps reduce the chemical homocysteine in our bodies. Homocysteine has been linked with degenerative diseases, including heart attacks
• They are a good source of vitamin C.  While most people know that vitamin C is important to help ward off cold and flu viruses, few people are aware that this crucial vitamin plays an important role in bone and tooth formation, digestion, and blood cell formation. It helps accelerate wound healing, produces collagen which helps maintain skin’s youthful elasticity, and is essential to helping us cope with stress. It even appears to help protect our body against toxins that may be linked to cancer
• They contain Vitamin D which is critical for immune system and overall health at this time of year.  Both a vitamin and a hormone, vitamin D is primarily made in our bodies as a result of getting adequate sunlight. You may have heard about seasonal effective disorder (or SAD, as it is also called), which is linked to inadequate sunlight and therefore a vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D plays an important role in our energy levels, moods, and helps to build healthy bones, heart, nerves, skin, and teeth, and it supports the thyroid gland
• Sweet potatoes contain iron. Most people are aware that we need the mineral iron to have adequate energy, but iron plays other important roles in our body, including red and white blood cell production, resistance to stress, proper immune functioning, and the metabolizing of protein, among other things
• Sweet potatoes are a good source of magnesium, which is the relaxation and anti-stress mineral. Magnesium is necessary for healthy artery, blood, bone, heart, muscle, and nerve function, yet experts estimate that approximately 80 percent of the population in North America may be deficient in this important mineral
• They are a source of potassium, one of the important electrolytes that help regulate heartbeat and nerve signals. Like the other electrolytes, potassium performs many essential functions, some of which include relaxing muscle contractions, reducing swelling, and protecting and controlling the activity of the kidneys
• Sweet potatoes are naturally sweet-tasting but their natural sugars are slowly released into the bloodstream, helping to ensure a balanced and regular source of energy, without the blood sugar spikes linked to fatigue and weight gain
• Their rich orange color indicates that they are high in carotenoids like beta carotene and other carotenoids, which is the precursor to vitamin A in your body.  Carotenoids help strengthen our eyesight and boost our immunity to disease, they are powerful antioxidants that help ward off cancer and protect against the effects of aging. Studies at Harvard University of more than 124,000 people showed a 32 percent reduction in risk of lung cancer in people who consumed a variety of carotenoid-rich foods as part of their regular diet. Another study of women who had completed treatment for early stage breast cancer conducted by researchers at Women’s Healthy Eating and Living (WHEL) found that women with the highest blood concentrations of carotenoids had the least likelihood of cancer recurrence
• There are versatile. Try them roasted, puréed, steamed, baked, or grilled. You can add them to soups and stews, or grill and place on top of leafy greens for a delicious salad. I enjoy grilling them with onions and red peppers for amazing sandwich or wrap ingredients.  Puree them and add to smoothies and baked goods.
• Carrots - 
• Improved Vision - Western culture’s  understanding of carrots being “good for the eyes” is one of the few we got right. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, which is converted into vitamin A in the liver. Vitamin A is transformed in the retina, to rhodopsin, a purple pigment necessary for night vision.
• Beta-carotene has also been shown to protect against macular degeneration and senile cataracts. A study found that people who eat the most beta-carotene had 40 percent lower risk of macular degeneration than those who consumed little.
• Cancer Prevention - Studies have shown carrots reduce the risk of lung cancer, breast cancer and colon cancer. Researchers have just discovered falcarinol and falcarindiol which they feel cause the anticancer properties.
• Falcarinol is a natural pesticide produced by the carrot that protects its roots from fungal diseases. Carrots are one of the only common sources of this compound. A study showed 1/3 lower cancer risk by carrot-eating mice.
• Anti-Aging - The high level of beta-carotene acts as an antioxidant to cell damage done to the body through regular metabolism.  It help slows down the aging of cells.
• Healthy Glowing Skin (from the inside) - Vitamin A and antioxidants protects the skin from sun damage. Deficiencies of vitamin A cause dryness to the skin, hair and nails. Vitamin A prevents premature wrinkling, acne, dry skin, pigmentation, blemishes, and uneven skin tone.
• A Powerful Antiseptic - Carrots are known by herbalists to prevent infection. They can be used on cuts – shredded raw or boiled and mashed.
• Beautiful Skin (from the outside) - Carrots are used as an inexpensive and very convenient facial mask.  Just mix grated carrot with a bit of honey. See the full recipe here: carrot face mask. 
• Prevent Heart Disease - Studies show that diets high in carotenoids are associated with a lower risk of heart disease.  Carrots have not only beta-carotene but also alpha-carotene and lutein. The regular consumption of carrots also reduces cholesterol levels because the soluble fibers in carrots bind with bile acids.
• Cleanse the Body - Vitamin A assists the liver in flushing out the toxins from the body. It reduces the bile and fat in the liver. The fibers present in carrots help clean out the colon and hasten waste movement.
• Healthy Teeth and Gums - It’s all in the crunch! Carrots clean your teeth and mouth. They scrape off plaque and food particles just like toothbrushes or toothpaste.  Carrots stimulate gums and  trigger a lot of saliva, which being alkaline, balances out the acid-forming, cavity-forming bacteria.  The minerals in carrots prevent tooth damage.
• Prevent Stroke - From all the above benefits it is no surprise that in a Harvard University study, people who ate more than six carrots a week are less likely to suffer a stroke than those who ate only one carrot a month or less
• Mandarin Oranges - 
• Helps Prevent Cancer - Oranges are rich in citrus limonoids, proven to help fight a number of varieties of cancer including that of the skin, lung, breast, stomach and colon.
• Prevents Kidney Diseases - Drinking orange juice regularly prevents kidney diseases and reduces the risk of kidney stones. Note: drink juice in moderate amounts. The high sugar content of fruit juices can cause tooth decay and the high acid content can wear away enamel if consumed in excess.
• Reduces Risk of Liver Cancer - According to two studies in Japan eating mandarin oranges reduces liver cancer. This may be due in part to vitamin A compounds known as carotenoids.
• Lowers Cholesterol - Since they’re full of soluble fiber, oranges are helpful in lowering cholesterol.
• Boosts Heart Health - Oranges are full of potassium, an electrolyte mineral is responsible for helping the heart function well. When potassium levels get too low, you may develop an abnormal heart rhythm, known as an arrhythmia.
• Lowers Risk of Disease - Oranges are full of vitamin C which protects cells by neutralizing free radicals. Free radicals cause chronic diseases, like cancer and heart disease.
• Fights Against Viral Infections - Studies show that the abundance of polyphenols in oranges protects against viral infections.
• Relieves Constipation - Oranges are full of dietary fiber which stimulates digestive juices and relieves constipation.
• Helps Create Good Vision - Oranges are rich in carotenoid compounds which are converted to vitamin A and help prevent macular degeneration.
• Regulates High Blood Pressure - The flavonoid hesperidin found in oranges helps regulate high blood pressure and the magnesium in oranges helps maintain blood pressure.
• Protects Skin - Oranges are full of beta-carotene is a powerful antioxidant protecting the cells from being damage which also protects the skin from free radicals and prevents the signs of aging.
• Oranges Alkalize the Body - Although oranges are acidic before you digest them, they contain many alkaline minerals that help to balance out the body after they are digested. In this respect, they are similar to lemons which are one of the most alkaline foods available.
• Provides Smart Carbs - Oranges like all fruits have simple sugars in them, but the orange has a glycemic index of 40.  Anything under 55 is considered low. This means as long as you don’t eat a lot of oranges at one time, they won’t spike your blood sugar and cause problems with insulin or weight gain

**Please note that the website I compiled this information from can be found by clicking one of the blue ingredient links or by clicking here

There you have it folks! This is definitely one of my favorite smoothies, plus it's sweet! You can even add some greens to it and you probably wouldn't notice much!

Happy Living & God's Blessings!

J.M.

Kicking-Off a Cleanse

I have never been good at being or staying healthy because for one reason or another, every excuse in the book has made it's way between me and the lifestyle I want. I have two major problems: I LOVE food, and I am LAZY! I've never liked my body, but I guess most people experience the same thing, and I've spent many spans of time trying to improve, trying to workout, trying to eat better, trying to run more often and trying all sorts of things that have just never been right for me. Here are a few things I've learned on this never-ending journey of trying to get healthy:

Exercise
First things first, you need to find something you love. I have friends who are obsessed with walking and have lost tons of weight, I have friends who have become body builders and can climb ropes all the way up to the ceiling, I have friends who are yogi's, I have friends (mostly relatives) that are runners, my husband plays basketball at least once a week and coaches 6th grade girls basketball so he gets a work out in there too. You HAVE to find something you love. 

Lately, I've been inspired by yogi's. I follow some amazing people on Instgram (shoutout to #beachyogagirl) and I see their amazing forms, techniques, lifestyles, bodies and poses and I want that! But let me tell you, you don't just walk into doing crazy awesome poses..trust me. And that's the most frustrating thing about it. To look good, to really make a change, to hold a handstand or a scorpion pose, it takes time. Did I mention that I'm the least patient person on the entire earth? Well, I am. I always try to skip to the good stuff and end up falling on my head...literally. HA!

After work today, I'm finally going to join a gym. I tried this once in the past and loved it, but my job back then demanded 12+ hour days from em with commuting downtown Chicago and it was way too draining. What I loved about the gym I used to attend though was the classes. I loved going to class and being shown what to do. I tried a few classes and kick boxing was by far my favorite. Not only did I feel the workout, but I looked so cool doing it! This new gym I'm going to join today also offers classes and I plan to attend each morning at 5:30 am, before I go to work (that way when I get busy in the evenings I won't have to miss class). I'm also opting to only pay for a 3 month membership to start off, especially since we're trying to have a baby, I have no idea where I'll be at physically three months from now. Best to start small I guess!

Also, if you can't afford the gym or don't want to dish out the dough, try using a workout DVD or finding a great free YouTube channel with workout videos!

Eating
I've tried eating this and that, I've tried not eating these or those, I've tried not eating, and I wouldn't be writing this post if I didn't try eating everything I wanted to  and still lost weight, so here I am. Remember how I mentioned that I'm lazy? Well something that seems to have been working for me are smoothies. We have a Ninja Blender and it's amazing, my dad has a Vitamix and loves his too, and it's easy to use and clean, if you rinse it right away. I found some smoothie recipes on Pinterest and have found a few that I really like. The best part is it's a lot faster to do the light prep work needed for a smoothie than it is to cook a healthy meal, so this smoothie plan has been working for me so far. (Side note, my husband is so skinny and can eat whatever he wants without gaining weight so I usually make him whatever we have at home if I'm having a smoothie for a meal). You can also follow my Pinterest Boards Yummy and Because I Need To for inspiration and ideas.

Here are some healthy recipes I like - 
Avocado Chicken Salad Sandwhiches
5 Minute Prep Meals
Pumpkin Pie Protein Smoothie
14 Slim-Down Smoothies
No-Bake Energy Bites

***Of course eat your fruits and veggies and some light protein and drink plenty of water. Take a vitamin too if you're able to.

Tracking Your Efforts
My last major health-kick was back in August around my birthday. We had just spent our first summer living in Columbus (okay MY first summer, since Andrew grew up here) and I got into tracking my step count along with pretty much everyone in my husband's family. I asked Andrew for a Fitbit for my birthday and asked if part of my present could be getting one for him too so we could compete with each other and encourage me to keep at it. He agreed to get a fitness band too but ended up getting a Jawbone. Both fitness trackers are good investments and sync with apps on your smartphone and or the computer so you can track your progress in real-time. You can even input the exercising you do if the app doesn't record it, such as weight lifting or yoga, you can track your sleep and see how often you wake up and at what times, and you can input the food you're eating. If you have an Iphone, the Fitbit app comes with a bar code scanner that can scan the bar code on the food you eat and automatically calculate how many calories you have left for the day. If you're like me, and have  smartphone but refuse to buy into the Iphone craze then you can search popular food brands for the food you eat or use the website to input a recipe to pull the calorie count. I believe the Jawbone app comes with a bar code scanner regardless of what smartphone you have.

When To Weigh In
It;s recommended that you weigh in at the same time of day, generally in the mornings, after you've used the restroom, with little to no clothing on, and before you eat or drink anything, to get the most accurate weight. You will notice that your weight may fluctuate slightly every few days depending on what you've recently digested or what you're in the process of digesting. It's best to track your weight either by writing it down or by using a fitness tracker such as the Fitbit or Jawbone.

Find Inspiration
I have spent a ton of time on Pinterest and have found a source of my inspiration there, plus I  am inspired by my sister-in-law Megan, who is a runner and has completed two half marathons, my cousin-in-law Ali Patberg, because she's a phenomenal basketball player who was already in shape but has totally redefined her figure and her game and so many others. Here are some pictures from Pinterest of people that I aspire to become more like. 

Happy Living & God's Blessings!

J.M.

Pins That Got Me Through My 1st Year of Marriage

I am propelled by quotes that inspire me, articles that push me, self-help books that teach me and of course the Bible that nurtures and guides me. At every point in my life I have searched for these things in the elements around me and have found the below resources to be the most helpful in assisting Andrew and I through our first year of wedded bliss.

Prayer(s) & Bible Verses

• 8 Bible Verses about Marriage
• How Can I Make My Prayers Meaningful?
• 10 Tips For A Christ Centered Marriage

Daily To-Do's

• {10 things} That Have Made All the Difference (One of our favorites!)
• Weekly Questions (One of our favorites!)
• Words of Affirmation Every Relationship Needs to Hear
• Being a Godly Wife
• 8 Great Ways to Connect With Your Spouse Today
• 12 Ways to Make Your Love & Marriage Last
• 10 Marriage Tips Every WIFE Needs to Hear
• 100 Ways to Make Your Marriage Rock

Dates

• 121 Things to Do Instead of Spending Money
• Top 20 Stay-At-Home Date Night Ideas

Family & Household Organization

• Printable Family Binder (Our favorite!)

Budgeting & Meal Planning

• Plan To Eat
• $30 per week grocery budget
• 29 Freezer Crock Pot Meals for Under $135
• Financial Peace University - Home Kit (Our favorite!)

It is never too early or too late to work on your marriage. Through God's help, prayer, guidance, forgiveness and love, you and your spouse can get through anything! 

Happy Living & God's Blessings!

J.M.

Finishing Fall With Thankfulness

I LOVE the holidays; the way the weather gets chilly and crisp, prompting school to start back up, which turns into autumn and when Halloween candy comes out and pumpkins are propped on porches, then it gets even chillier as we move full-speed toward Thanksgiving, pumpkin pie, turkey and stuffing, first snow falls take us into Christmas caroling, wrapping paper and sitting in wool socks by the fireplace drinking hot chocolate and eating candy canes and then finishing off the old year by kissing the one you love and welcoming in the new. I love it all. Besides my overly cliche notions of what the holidays should be like, I completely agree that this season should be about many different things.

I thought I would use this blog post as a place to talk about my favorite fall and holiday recipes, favorite traditions I'm excited to start this year (being the first in a house) or traditions I hope to start once we have children! 


Giving - Life should be about giving, but since we're not perfect people, we tend to focus on giving a little bit extra around the holidays, whether we give our time, food to a food pantry, stand in the cold and ring a bell for the Salvation Army or donate money to a great cause, there truly is a way everyone can pitch in somewhere.

Baking - Whether you're hosting the big family Thanksgiving dinner, baking for a neighbor or you're attending a party, it's always nice to share something delicious. Here are some of my favorite fall recipes.

• Crock-Pot Thick & Creamy Hot Chocolate
• Skinny Caramel Apple Dip
• Paleo Apple Crisp
• Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bread and Muffins
• Carmel Apple Puppy Chow
• Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup
• Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
• Cauliflower Mac and Cheese Casserole Recipe

Decorating - Even if you're not having your whole extended family at your house, it's fun to decorate your home for autumn and to remind your kids that it's the season to be extra thankful.

Bible Verses - Everyday should be rooted in faith in our Lord. When we have children, I plan to read Bible verses every holiday to show the importance of God in our everyday lives. Psalm 100:4 is one of my favorites for this season.

Prayer - Giving thanks means so many things, but giving thanks to our Lord should be the most important. Sit down with your children and pray. Pray together, teach them how to pray alone, show your kids what being grateful is all about. Pinterest is a great resource to find easy prayers for kids.

What are you doing to Finish Fall with Thankfulness?

Happy Living & God's Blessings!

J.M.

A+ Gift Ideas for Male Teachers - From the Mouth of a Male Teacher's Wife

The holidays are upon us, especially since Halloween has come and gone, so what better way to thank your child's teacher than by giving them a little gift? While this is such a thoughtful idea, most of the cute and pinteresting gifts are for female teachers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics website, 2012 stats show that 18.6% of elementary and middle school teachers and 42.7% of high school teachers are male. So what do you give to a male teacher? Here are some ideas (that are male teacher-wife approved!):

1. Dry Erase Markers - these are a good gift because most schools do not pay for fun colored dry erase markers and some male teachers may not purchase or think so purchase fun colors! 

2. Gift Cards - Not just any gift cards, but try Starbucks, Best Buy, Walmart, Target, book stores, movie theaters, restaurants (plus these help teacher's have a reason to take a night off, get out of the classroom and enjoy a friend or a date night with their wife)

3. Christmas Ornaments - Finding an ornament for the teacher's favorite sport or just one that recognizes their profession is a nice touch and a way for the teacher to remember your student or the kind gesture every holiday season

4. Baked Goods - Men, LOVE food. Any if there is enough food, they may even bring some home for their wives (wink wink) but a nice plate of baked good or food is really the way to a man's heart and to show your appreciation. 

5. Desk or wall calendars - an inspirational sit about for a teacher's desk can help brighten their day on a regular basis and remind them to stay positive because they're devoting their lives to educating America's youth.

Do you have other great gift ideas for male teachers? Share below!

Happy Living & God's Blessings!

J.M.