Tag: SAHM

Chronicles of a SAHM, Journaling

Spring Break?

Sonja Hollis

As you probably know already, I’m a stay-at-home mom. That means when spring break for the kids rolls around – my mommy duties increase dramatically.  There is no break for me. There are more meals to make, clothes and dishes to wash and my “me” time is eliminated entirely.

I thought that at least this time around would be different.  My son isn’t home and it’s just me, my husband and my five year old daughter.  HOWEVER… on day one of spring break, my daughter complained of an earache.  So, I of course decided to try some home remedies and prayer because I was not trying to sit in anybody’s hospital for nine hours.  I tried the essential oils on cotton I found on Pinterest. I tried the neck massage I found on YouTube. I even tried the steamy bath water. It worked…for one night.  But then, the next morning, my baby girl woke up with her eyes stuck together.  Now mind you, the school had been sending paperwork about children having pink eye in school since September but so far, it hadn’t affected my daughter…that is, until this week – spring break.

So, off to the doctor’s office we went.  Turns out, she had a double ear infection and two pink eyes…(because one just won’t do for a princess.) She couldn’t see or hear me. Poor thing – although, I’m not sure which of us to whom I’m referring.  We received her prescriptions, came home and started to work on her right away.

Today, she’s much better.  Her hearing isn’t back 100% yet, but at least she doesn’t have crusty eyes.  Spring break is almost over and I haven’t gotten much work done nor have I had any time to myself, but my daughter is feeling better. That’s really what matters to me.  It should also be noted that she isn’t in school to pass along the germ that she’d received from that petri dish they call kindergarten either, so maybe the cycle is broken.  Perhaps my daughter saved the school from shutting down entirely due to a pink eye epidemic (my words).  Maybe, just maybe she saved other parents from having to take off work and take their children out of school to care for them for a few days. clipart-superhero-6

My child is a hero.

So I guess it has been a pretty good spring break after all.

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Chronicles of a SAHM, Saving Money

Amazon Wins Again

Sonja Hollis

First things first.  I recently became an Amazon Affiliate because my husband and I buy something from Amazon at least once a week and I figured – I might as well get paid. I don’t really get out much to shop unless it’s for groceries so, I do most of my shopping via Amazon. It’s so much easier to point and click and receive what I ordered in two days than it is to find a parking spot at the local mall.

Anyway,  I was in Target last week looking for t-shirts for my daughter.  They only have miniature bras now for little girls.  My daughter is five so…no.  I opened up my trusty dusty laptop and headed to Amazon.  I was initially going to purchase some Hanes tanks for girls as usual, but then ran across some great reviews for Feathers . 71LHisSYO0L._UX679_.jpg

I had NEVER heard of Feathers camis for girls, but decided to try them.  (Amazon Prime provides a great return policy.) I received them two days later as guaranteed and let me tell you…  They are amazing!  My daughter has a long torso and they fit her to a “t.” (See what I did there?)  I bought the butterfly printed ones and the plain whites.  They are super soft – my daughter calls them “snuggly.”  I’m hooked.  So, if you’re shopping around for little girls camisoles – just check out Feathers.

I’d take a pic of her in her cami – but that’s weird, so no. LOL

 

Chronicles of a SAHM, Lavender Fields Creations, Saving Money

Multiple Streams of Income

Sonja Hollis

For the last few weeks, my goal has been to acquire multiple streams of income.  I’ve already had my Lavender Fields Creations  store up and running for the last four years, which has brought me so much creative (and financial) joy.  To be able to create something that someone else not only likes, but wants to purchase, is incredible. However, I’d like to pay off my school loans within the next couple of years. My one income is not going to make that happen. 0D692A54-578A-464B-A51F-558FDBCB89AC

I began my journey looking for a “work from home” job.  I’ve taken numerous assessment tests and applied to just as many jobs – probably more.  I’m currently hired at three different companies doing jobs such as; a resourcer, a proofreader, and data entry clerk.  The only downside to being hired to those positions is that there are so many other people who have also gotten hired for those same positions.  Unless you have seniority at their company, it’s really hard to find regular work.  I told my husband that it’s like playing double dutch with my eyes closed – I never know when it is a good time to jump in.  For one company, I have to sit in a queue and wait for work to be assigned to me.  Then, I have only twenty seconds to approve it or it will be assigned to someone else.  For three days, I sat and waited for eight hours in front of this computer and was never assigned.  Thankfully, I have a large monitor so I was able to use my split screen to  continue doing other work while I waited.  I’m not so sure how that will work out, but I won’t quit.

For another job, I get an email nightly to let me know if work will be available for the next day.  I’m on day three with that and no luck.  I see that there are people whose seniority is definitely a benefit.  I get it.  I just need the opportunity to hone my skills by working and get my seniority.

So until something comes along,  I will continue making jewelry, blogging, and writing my book.  I’m even thinking about a YouTube channel for jewelry making.  In any case, I will keep the faith. God didn’t bring me this far to leave me.

Check out my jewelry store while you’re here.  I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

Chronicles of a SAHM, Journaling, organization

INSPIRED TO ORGANIZE

Sonja Hollis

 

So after watching a friend’s Youtube video, The Winey Budget  I was inspired to get organized.  That notion passed quickly though as I am a creature of chaos

I have purchased notebooks, planners, phone apps – all with the intent on getting organized.  I’ve watched videos, searched Pinterest for ideas and created calendars of every size …to no avail.  I doubt I will ever be as organized as I’d love to be, but until then, I’ll keep trying.

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This is just the right side of my desk!

Last night, my husband gave me a bullet journal that I told him that I had seen on Pinterest. I’ve actually started using it – not because I know what I’m doing, but because I know he will ask me about it later.   My husband is also responsible for setting up my office in my basement.  AND OF COURSE my monitor size is ridiculous – a man set it up! (You should see the TV in the family room!)

Anyway, I’m trying to juggle this thing called stay-at-home mom’ing that people think is such an easy task.  Well, I’ve worked from the time that I was fifteen up until the time that I retired and let’s just say this stay-at-home stuff is way harder. Before I retired, I worked 8-10 hours in a scout car, went home, cooked, ate and went to bed.  Now, I have to schedule one day to myself every month just to decompress from the ridiculousness of my unorganized life. So, I need to get my stuff together.  I mean, I saw it on TV!  Moms cleaning, cooking, doing laundry while wearing high heels and mascara, taking kids to their activities, then coming home and being “wife”… and they did all of this with a smile. What the heck am I doing wrong?

I’m supposed to be retired. Yet, here I am doing all of the abovementioned activities, being a girl scout mom, a dance mom, a swim mom and a small business owner. So yeah, I’m a work in progress. Follow me on my adventure as I get my life in order or die trying. LOL

Chronicles of a SAHM

I Need a Better Hiding Place

Sonja Hollis

Stay-at-Home-Moms (SAHMs) typically look forward to the end of the day, when every one and every thing is quiet. That’s when we go to our hiding place. My hiding place happens to be my bathroom. I can close the door and think, or dream, or beautify, or just sit quietly and meditate.

Recently however, my hiding place has become no longer that. It has been compromised. This is what has been happening lately:

As I’m sitting on my vanity chair, I hear from a distance, “Mommm.” It’s my five year old daughter. She should be sleep, but has decided that finding out my location is a top priority- as I had not received clearance from her to disappear. I know she’s coming, so I sit as still and stay as quiet as I can.

“Mommmm. Dad, where’s mom?” I listen for his response, because of course, he’s got my back – I am he, he is me. We are one. And of course, he knows it’s after her bedtime and he needs to direct her to go back to her room and go to bed. But no. He tells her my exact location. “She’s in the bathroom.”

Snitch.

So, now I hear footsteps coming closer to the door. “Mom, are you in there?”

No response from me…I’m hiding.

“Mom, are you in there?”

“Yes. What do you want?”

“What are you doing?”

“Nothing. What do you want?”

“Are you on the potty?”

“Sure. What do you want?”

“Did you have to boo boo?”

“WHAT DO YOU WANT?”

“Are you mad?”

Face palm. “Omg. What do you want? I’m in the bathroom. I’ll be out in a minute.”

“Can you put on my band-aid?”

“SERIOUSLY? GO ASK YOUR DAD!”

Now, I’m rushing through the shower just so I can place my hands around my husband’s neck. He heard all of this, but didn’t rush to help me (or her for that matter). I love my kids with my entire heart, but I definitely need a new hiding place.

Chronicles of a SAHM, Journaling, organization

SAHM Planning Day 4

Sonja Hollis

Day 4 of my new Journaling Journey and I am still enjoying the process.  I’ve realized that from writing down my goals for the day, that sometimes I set the bar too high.  For example, yesterday I wrote that I would take my daughter to school, work out for an hour, then come home clean for an hour and then go back to pick up my daughter from school, cook dinner, wash dishes, etc.

Ok, so this is what really happened: I dropped her off, I worked out, then I came home and passed out for an hour.  I had to put off cleaning until after my daughter got home and had lunch.  I got it done though – house cleaned from top to bottom and I’d worked out.  I had accomplished what I didn’t think I could do in a relatively short period of time.

Also, the fact that my meals are all planned out, removes the stress of trying to think of something last minute or ordering take out.  I also learned to write on my dry erase board that’s attached to the fridge – a menu for the day. There are no changes either – no additions or deletions.  Stress free. I’m loving it so far.

Chronicles of a SAHM, Journaling, organization, Saving Money

Stay-at-Home-Mom (SAHM) Stuff

Sonja Hollis

So… my husband purchased a “Life & Apples” growth planner and I’ve decided that today would be the day to start logging in my affirmations, tasks and goals for my life.   I actually started brainstorming and writing small notes a week prior so that when I opened my planner, I would be ready…hopefully.

What I soon realized however, is that what I thought were just small, attainable goals actually required many steps to achieve.  For example, under the “Career and Finances” category – I wrote that I wanted to stop using my credit cards as much as I have been in the last three months.  To do that, requires me to cut down on spending.  Therefore, I checked my bank and credit card accounts to see where the bulk of my spending was and it was *insert drum roll* grocery shopping.  Ridiculous!  I used to coupon and check the weekly ads for sales, but I’d stopped that and just started shopping every week all willy nilly. (It doesn’t help that I live within five miles of Target, two Meijer stores, Walmart and Kroger) – so my spending has definitely increased.  I realized that I would have to become more organized with my shopping lists and spending habits.

I started by writing down and numbering every meal that I like to make for the family complete with sides. I wrote down the corresponding numbers to days of the week.

Monday – #1 – Meatballs with gravy, mashed potatoes and green beans.

Tuesday – #5 – Tacos, etc…

Then, I wrote down all the necessary ingredients that I would need for each meal.

On a separate sheet of paper, I began writing down the items that I didn’t have available in my fridge or pantry and I started clipping coupons.  I then went to my Ibotta app and my Checkout 51 app to see what would be eligible for rebates later and wrote that down.    My next step was to go to each store’s website to see what was on sale, clip my rewards and go shopping.  I decided on Meijer for this shopping trip. (I also use the Shopkick app while in the store which is why I can’t shop with my kids – I need to concentrate). It seems like a lot of work but gets easier over time.   I ended up saving over $50 – with an additional $7.50 in eligible rebates!

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At least now I can start the week off with savings!  I knocked off a couple of tasks in pursuit of the goal of cutting down on my spending and that felt great.  I’m also going to look around to find out other ways to save today.

I think this planner is the way to go!  I can look at my goals at the beginning of the week and see much I’ve achieved at the end.  I just have to be consistent…in everything.  Wish me luck!