How to Make Stay at Home Mom Life More Productive

I had to learn “how to be a stay at home mom”. It is a life that relies on consistency and schedule whether you like that life or not. That was the only way I found I could get anything done. It is also a job that requires you to think on your feet and go with the flow, regardless of what “has to get done” that day. And it can be a job that is mentally draining. Here are some of my tips on how to make stay at home mom life more productive.




Thumping Thursdays Social Blog Hop + LINKY

Welcome to the 
Thumping Thursdays Blog Hop!
Week #39
Grab our button!!


It's Thursday so it's time to HOP!
We have redesigned the introduction.  What do you think of it?
Leave us a comment and tell us your thoughts.

Rules:
1. Follow your hosts.
Don't forget you can follow GFC via Twitter!

HOSTESSES:
Diana from Nanny to Mommy
Nanny to Mommy


Karina from Mom In The USA
mom in the USA products made in the USA

Please leave a comment if you are a new follower!
 
2. Add the badge somewhere on your blog.

3. Link up your main blog page.
No Giveaways or Specific Posts, please.
Link your Giveaways up HERE

Our hop is open from Thursdays at 12:01am to Wednesday at 11:59pm.
So you can share and link up all week long!

4. Visit at least the two blogs before yours in the link set-up.

5. Share the Hop!

The other cool thing, our hop can be added to your site as well.

6. The Most Important Rule
 
Have Fun!

Happy Hopping!

Thumping Thursday Social Hop, Week #37

My six year wedding anniversary is on Monday and my husband is on vacation next week, so I might be a little disconnected. Thank you so much for hopping by each and every week. I have had so much fun getting to know you all. I have met so many great bloggy buddies at this hop and I am so glad I started it. :)
Okay I'm gushing...
On to the hop!

Want to make sure you get our weekly reminder e-mails?

Please add
diana.n.chastain[at]gmail[dot]com
to your address book. Thanks!

Now on to the rules. I know who likes rules, right?
But I promise you are going to want to follow these rules.

Rules:
1.
Follow
your hosts.
Don't forget you can follow GFC via Twitter! :D

HOSTESSES:
Diana from Nanny to Mommy
Nanny to Mommy


Karina from Mom In The USA
mom in the USA products made in the USA

Please leave a comment if you are a new follower!


Co-Hosts:
Amanda @3lilapples
Aly @Giggles & Grumps

We are scheduling co-hosts now!
Please e-mail us and let us know so we can get you down on the calendar!
diana.n.chastain[at]gmail[dot]com

2.
Add
the badge somewhere on your blog.

Please make sure to add our new badge.
What do you think? I love it!




3.
Link
up your main blog page.
No Giveaways or Specific Posts, please.
Link your Giveaways up HERE

Our hop is open from Thursdays at 12:01am to Wednesday at 11:59pm.
So you can share and link up all week long!

4.
Visit
at least the two blogs before yours in the link set-up.

5.
Share
the Hop!
The other cool thing, our hop can be added to your site as well.

6.
The Most Important Rule
Have Fun!

Happy Hopping! :)

Thumping Thursdays Social Hop, Week #36

Welcome back, everyone!
I have listened to your feedback and have now added BlogLovin and Google+!
My next question is...
Do you want us to bring back the featured read? Please let me know in the comments below.
I am still adding everyone from last week. You have made Thumping Thursdays a very active social hop.
I am so happy that you all enjoy it so much and continue to come back each and every week. :)

BTW do you want to make sure you get our weekly reminder e-mails?

Please add
diana.n.chastain[at]gmail[dot]com
to your address book. Thanks!
If you choose to enter your email in the linky below, please know you will receive a weekly reminder e-mail. BUT you can opt out of this e-mail any time.

Now on to the rules. I know who likes rules, right? But I promise they are easy. ;)

Rules:
1.
Follow
your hosts and any co-hosts.
Don't forget you can follow GFC via Twitter! :D

HOSTS:
Diana from Nanny to Mommy
Nanny to Mommy


Karina from Mom In The USA
mom in the USA products made in the USA

Please leave a comment if you are a new follower!

This week's co-hosts are:
Amanda at 3lilapples

We are scheduling co-hosts now!
Please e-mail us and let us know so we can get you down on the calendar!
diana.n.chastain[at]gmail[dot]com

2.
Add
the badge somewhere on your blog.

Please make sure to add our badge.




3.
Link
up your main blog page.
No Giveaways or Specific Posts, please.
Link your Giveaways up HERE

Our hop is open from Thursdays at 12:01am to Wednesday at 11:59pm.
So you can share and link up all week long!

4.
Visit
at least the two blogs before yours in the link set-up.

5.
Share
the Hop!

The other cool thing, our hop can be added to your site as well.

6.
The Most Important Rule
Have Fun!

Happy Hopping! :)

Thumping Thursdays Social Hop, Week #35

Welcome back, everyone! I am so happy to see each and everyone of you hop by each week.
Did you know that the first day of summer is officially tomorrow?
We have already been celebrating the season, how about you?

Swimming Summer 2013

BTW do you want to make sure you get our weekly reminder e-mails?

Please add
diana.n.chastain[at]gmail[dot]com
to your address book. Thanks!
I am no longer requiring for you to enter your e-mail when you sign. If you choose to enter it, please not you will receive a weekly reminder e-mail. BUT you can opt out of this e-mail any time.

Now on to the rules. I know who likes rules, right? But I promise they are easy. ;)

Rules:
1.
Follow
your hosts and any co-hosts.
Don't forget you can follow GFC via Twitter! :D

HOSTS:
Diana from Nanny to Mommy
Nanny to Mommy


Karina from Mom In The USA
mom in the USA products made in the USA

Please leave a comment if you are a new follower!

This week's co-hosts are:
Amanda at 3lilapples

We are scheduling co-hosts now!
Please e-mail us and let us know so we can get you down on the calendar!
diana.n.chastain[at]gmail[dot]com

2.
Add
the badge somewhere on your blog.

Please make sure to add our badge.




3.
Link
up your main blog page.
No Giveaways or Specific Posts, please.
Link your Giveaways up HERE

Our hop is open from Thursdays at 12:01am to Wednesday at 11:59pm.
So you can share and link up all week long!

4.
Visit
at least the two blogs before yours in the link set-up.

5.
Share
the Hop!

The other cool thing, our hop can be added to your site as well.

6.
The Most Important Rule
Have Fun!

Happy Hopping! :)

Thumping Thursdays Blog Hop Week #33 {Now A Social Hop}! :D

So I got some very mixed reviews on whether we should change the hop. I thought about making themes and making it more of a commenting hop, but people didn't seem to like that idea. I've noticed that when their are places to link up other social networks, people tend to follow the rules better. I don't know why. And usually I'm not a by-the-book kind of person, but I feel this way can benefit everyone better.

We had over 130 Happy Hoppers join in the mix last week, so this hop being a success is all thanks to all of you! :D

Want to make sure you get our weekly reminder e-mails?

Please add
diana.n.chastain[at]gmail[dot]com
to your address book. Thanks!

Now on to the rules. I know who likes rules, right? But I promise you are going to want to follow these rules.

Rules:
1.
Follow
your hosts.
Don't forget you can follow GFC via Twitter! :D

HOSTS:
Diana from Nanny to Mommy
Nanny to Mommy


Karina from Mom In The USA
mom in the USA products made in the USA

Please leave a comment if you are a new follower!

We are scheduling co-hosts now!
Please e-mail us and let us know so we can get you down on the calendar!
diana.n.chastain[at]gmail[dot]com

2.
Add
the badge somewhere on your blog.

Please make sure to add our new badge.
What do you think? I love it!




3.
Link
up your main blog page.
No Giveaways or Specific Posts, please.
Link your Giveaways up HERE

Our hop is open from Thursdays at 12:01am to Wednesday at 11:59pm.
So you can share and link up all week long!

4.
Visit
at least the two blogs before yours in the link set-up.

5.
Share
the Hop!

The other cool thing, our hop can be added to your site as well.

6.
The Most Important Rule
Have Fun!

Happy Hopping! :)

Yummy Things to Make with Yogurt

I have compiled a list of my favorite yogurt recipes from Pinterest. Yogurt make for a light snack or can complement a meal. And yogurt is a great way to boost your metabolism! Please enjoy!


These are all super easy too!






1. Yogurt Dipped Strawberries; recipe found HERE.
"Love frozen fruit, and I adore yogurt. Put the two together, and you get this yummy snack!"

2. Breakfast Popsicles; recipe found HERE
"These breakfast popsicles are really simple to make but still soooo yummy."

3. Frozen Yogurt Dots via OnGoodThing.
"Oh, and they freeze SUPER FAST! So, if you’re in a hurry for your frozen snack…. pop some dots in the freezer and in less than an hour from now you’ll be enjoying your own delicious creamy treat!"

4. Healthy Waffle Cone Ice Cream; image found HERE

5. Lemon Frozen Yogurt via Anja's Food 4 Thought
"...am in love with this. I even prefer it to ice creams, as I love the tangy flavor that the yogurt brings with it, instead of the pure creaminess that cream or milk in regular ice cream has. A truly refreshing and guilt-free simmer dessert."

6. Mango and Yogurt Ice Pops via Wholesome Cook
"Healthier than their ice cream counterparts they are low in fat and have no added sugar. To spice them up a little, I have added some coconut milk and ground cinnamon."

7. Frozen Yogurt Covered Blueberry Kabobs via One Good Thing by Jillee
"Warning: making Frozen Yogurt Blueberry Kabobs will result in purple finger syndrome, despite repeated licking of fingers during the kabob making process. Don’t panic. A little “Miracle Cleaner” (baking soda and peroxide) takes it right off. :-)"

8. Strawberry Lassi via Ambrosia Baking
"...something that could be prepared really fast, required no heat, and was refreshing."

Kroger offers the delicious yogurts you and your loved ones crave. For those watching their carb intake, CARBmaster is a yogurt lover’s dream. It’s formulated to be lower in carbs, calories and sugar than regular yogurt — and it still tastes great! With decadent flavors like Black Forest Cake and Cinnamon Roll, CARBmaster cultured dairy blends make for a guilt-free dessert any day.

If you’re looking for a tangier treat, try Kroger Greek or New Greek Lite yogurt. They’re a high source of protein (16g per serving!) with no fat and varieties like Blackberry Yumberry and Lemon Crème. And with the Greek Lite packing just 90 calories, you can afford to sample every delicious flavor.


Although I received free product from BzzAgent and Kroger to provide this post, the heart of this post is all my own.



Thumping Thursdays Blog Hop, Week #15

This is the last week of our co-hosts time. They have had an amazing month!
We have all made a ton of new blogging friends and I am so sad to see their time come to an end...

Next week we will have our new co-hosts! And if you are ever interested in co-hosting, remember you can find all the information on that HERE.

This week's Featured Read, who receives all of THESE benefits is...

Typative Mama Cat

Since this is the last week of the month, we are getting social!
So link up your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and other social media channels!

Thanks for hopping by each and every week. This hop would be nothing without all of you!

As a reminder, if you would like to be a Featured Read
just make sure to follow the rules. ;)

Ensure that you get notified!
Please add
diana.n.chastain[at]gmail[dot]com
to your address book. Thanks!

Here's the badge:




Rules:
1.
Follow
your hosts and co-hosts.
Don't forget you can follow GFC via Twitter! :D

HOSTS:
Nanny2Mommy
Photobucket


Mom In The USA


Co-Hosts:
Geek in Glasses
This Life's Beautiful Moments
Eyes On The Source
Please leave a comment if you are a new follower!

2.
Add
the badge somewhere on your blog.

3.
Link
up your main blog page.
No Giveaways or Specific Posts, please.
Our hop is open from Thursdays at 12:01am to Wednesday at 11:59pm.
So you can share and link up all week long!

4.
Visit
at least the two blogs before yours in the link set-up.

5.
Share
the Hop!



The other cool thing, our hop can be added to your site as well.
If you do this, please leave
Nanny2Mommy a comment so we know. ;) *wink*wink*

6.
The Most Important Rule
Have Fun!

Happy Hopping! :)



SweetPea's 2nd Birthday - Tangled Themed




SweetPea's Second Birthday was yesterday. Everything went so much smoother and was less overwhelming than last year. I invited only close family and friends. We provided snacks but not a meal, of course the time was at two, which coordinated with her nap wonderfully. It was actually on her birthday too, which I love.


I have to thank Pinterest for this party. I got most all the decoration ideas from there. The cupcake tower, though, I found on Disney.go's website. And it was super easy. And you might remember, I am NOT a cook. And I definitely don't bake! :) But I proudly will say I made the tower and cupcakes all myself.

Decorations:



Tent Effect - The tent effect was created using 2 $1 plastic tablecloths from Dollar General, cutting them in half, and pinning the ends to the ceiling.

The 'flag' banner was created using the Printables found HERE, rubber cementing construction paper to the back, and threading them together with twine.

The balloons were a favorite party decoration. I was unaware that they would make for a great game as well. :)

The Cupcake Tower - 'Our Cake':



The cupcake tower was seriously easy. I was afraid. And only tried to make it the day of. I told my husband that if it didn't work out, he was making a grocery store run for a sheet cake. :)
Here's what you need to make it:
5x5x5 Styrofoam Block
2 wooden skewers
1 white cupcake wrapper (& one brown if you want the added design, I feel it took away from it)
6 Pecan Swirls
1 waffle cone
Candy coatings and purple food coloring
Green icing
Green construction paper
Rubber Cement
Stuff to make cupcakes - I had Betty Crocker's help with this
And here's what you do:
1. Rubber Cement the green construction paper to the styrofoam block. And take the two wooden skewers and stick them in the very tightly together in the top. Make sure you stick them far enough down where they will hold weight but not so far down where they won't hold all the elements of the tower.
2. Place the Pecan Swirls on the skewers. The first top down and then alternating the rest.
3. Place a cupcake in a white wrapper on top.
4. Melt candy coatings according to directions adding drops of the purple food coloring as you go. Thoroughly coat the waffle cone then put a little candy coating on top of the cupcake so when you put the waffle cone on top when they dry they will stick together.
5. Use the green icing to create the green vining around the tower.





And you're done! Easy Peasy, right? Then , if you are better at decorating cup cakes then me, you can make your cupcake look more like flowers. But the concept got across and everyone loved it.




Pinteresting Menu Monday

I am not a great cook. I like to cook as long as someone else cleans and I don't have to help and the food turns out amazing.

Currently, I have only tried ONE pinterest recipe. And it was okay but didn't look as good as the picture and of course wasn't as amazing they said it would be.

But I am trying to make this attempt at being a better housewife. We actually eat at home a lot. And although my couponing make easy fast meals cheap and they are very easy to make, I want to venture out and try new things.

So for my first rendition of on the menu (I'm going to make an assertive effort to make this a weekly list), I am will be focusing on the season. That's right these recipes are all about fall. I have only listed three because let's be realistic, my husband works some nights, I am not Betty Crocker, and I'm also a little lazy lady who likes to call take out.

Feel free below to add your recipes on pinterest that you would like me to attempt to try next week. Who knows, maybe yours will be featured!

Enjoy Your Pregnancy

Funny, scrolling Pinterest, I see all these pregnancy announcement pictures, baby bump through the months, or sex reveal pictures. And other creative ways to announce different things of your pregnancy. I kind of feel like the joy of my pregnancy was robbed from me. Some things were unavoidable and out of anyone's control, some things could have been handled differently. My grandmother passed away, I got into a car accident, my father passed away, my identity was stolen, and my step-mother brought on all this stress over the life insurance money. I didn't have time to think of cute ways to remember my pregnancy, stress was all I had time to think about. I did create this blog. And I am so glad I did. It is the only thing I have to remember that special time. You are only pregnant with your first child once. You are only pregnant for your first time once. I feel like I was robbed.


So my advice? Enjoy it. I know first hand that life completely gets in the way. And it sucks. But try your best to take those pictures, write down those memories, even if they are embarrassing.

 Don't take it for granted. Not everyone is as lucky as you. I feel so blessed that I was able to conceive so quickly. I feel truly blessed that we were able to conceive at all. Although women in my family tend to be very fertile, I had my doubts.

I feel like I am rambling and being very serious for 12 a.m. And maybe that is just the mood I am in today and based on the weird day I had.

Feel free to share your ways that you enjoyed your pregnancy. I promise not to get too jealous. ;)