As a busy mom of 5 little people, dinner time is not always my favorite part of the day. Getting something put together that everyone will like and is at least somewhat healthy is not always an easy task. A couple weeks ago I shared a little peek of Joe + I throwing together a favorite quick dinner. I could not believe the amount of requests we had to share the recipe! We actually got the recipe from our friends when we lived in Kentucky and we have loved it ever since. Besides being delicious, this layered enchiladas recipe takes about 10 minutes to put together, making it a favorite quick dinner in our house!
: LAYERED CHICKEN ENCHILADAS
– INGREDIENTS –
8 flour tortillas
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 10 oz can of red enchilada sauce
6 chicken breasts (cooked and shredded)
8 oz grated Monterey Jack Cheese
8 oz grated cheddar cheese
– INSTRUCTIONS –
Mix your cooked/shredded chicken breast + cream of chicken soup in a medium mixing bowl. Grease a 9×13 pan. Tear your tortillas into small pieces and layer on the bottom of your pan. Next, add a layer of the chicken mixture on top of the tortillas. Follow that with a layer of both cheeses. Then add a small layer of the enchilada sauce. Repeat the steps, layering tortillas, chicken mix, cheese, and enchilada sauce. With a 9×13 pan you will have 2-3 layers.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes. I serve it with sour cream, lettuce, guac, tortilla chips and salsa! Your people will love it!!
Whenever I get together with my girlfriends or my mom + sisters, one of my favorite things to chat about is their current favorite things! Whether it is a new outfit, yummy recipe, or even just an everyday mom hack type product, I love hearing fun new things people are loving! And since I love it, I thought it would be fun to start sharing my favorites more often with you here! So to start us off, today I’ve rounded up my 6 favorites from February to share with you!
: IMMUNE
One of my first favorites from February is from Modere. You may have seen over on my stories that my favorite liquid collagen just came out with a new product called IMMUNE. First of all, it tastes amazing like acai + grape. It is packed full of elderberry, zinc, and 13 phytonutrient rich superfoods to boost your immune system and support respiratory + cardiovascular health. Basically a little miracle in a bottle for sick season that tastes amazing! Use code KAILEE to save.
: AMAZON COVER UP
My second of my favorites from February is this cover up. I ordered this super last minute for our trip to Florida and have been obsessed ever since. It is so cute, and I love that it feels a little more elevated than your typical swim cover up. I totally feel like you can add some fun strappy sandals and wear it to lunch in the warm weather. Comes in a few different colors too.
: LULU FANNY PACK
Third in line for favorites from February is definitely this fanny. I have had this fanny for years and loved it so much. It has replaced any kind of purse or wallet for me when I am on the go because it is so convenient and holds just the right amount. I just grabbed another color for spring because I’ve honestly been using it daily. It adds a fun pop to your outfit, and is so functional too. These make the best gifts too!
: MIXHERS
Another of my favorites from February is Mixhers. These little drink mixes have been on repeat for both Hunter and I. Their main product “hertime” was created to support your cycle. It helps lessen symptoms like cramps, energy, and mood. Hunter takes that one and swears by it. I have had a hysterectomy so that one isn’t so much applicable, but the HerGreens and HerPower have been AMAZING! HerGreens is basically the yummy way to get in all your greens for the day! HerPower is a non-stimulant energy supplement that supports your stamina, concentration, brain health, and focus. Plus no caffeine crash! Use code KAILEEWRIGHT to save!
These jeans are for sure a favorite too! I have worn these jeans non-stop because they are just that good! They are so comfy and have the perfect amount of distressing without being too much. I love that I was able to dress them up for date night with some heels but I can pair them with sneakers for a baseball game! They run tts.
: WHITE CHICKEN CHILI SOUP
When it comes to recipes, my favorite right now is for sure this White Chicken Chili. If you missed this recipe last week, you need it in your life! I could literally eat it for lunch and dinner for a straight week and never get sick of it! It is so quick to throw together and your kids will love it too!
. . .
That sums up my favorite 6 from February! I would love to hear what things you are crushing on right now!
Utah weather is still in it’s hormonal can’t decide what season it is stage of the year. We got a hint of springlike weather and then we are right back to icy wind and snow. I don’t know about you, but when it is freezing outside I just want to eat nice warm comfort food. Which brings me to today’s recipe. This White Chicken Chili is one our favorites in the cold weather! Not only is it super delicious, but you can throw it together so fast AND it makes the best leftovers!
FAMILY FAVORITE WHITE CHICKEN CHILI
– INGREDIENTS –
1 10 ounce can green enchilada sauce (mild)
2 15.5 ounce cans white great northern beans, drained + rinsed
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 1/2 cups frozen corn or 1 can drained corn
2 cans (4 ounces) diced fire roasted green chiles (mild) undrained
3/4 teaspoon paprika
1 tablespoon ground chili powder
1 tablespoon ground cumin
salt + pepper
2 cups chicken stock or chicken broth
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese or cottage cheese for more protein
Get a rotisserie chicken from the store. Pull out all the good chicken and throw everything into a pot. Simmer all ingredients for 20 to 30 minutes and you’re done!!
Using an Instant Pot:
Cook chicken breasts until done. Once it is done, shred the chicken, and dump remaining ingredients on top of chicken and change setting to slow cook for 30 minutes. Leave on warm until you are ready. Top with whatever toppings you like and enjoy!
Using a Crock Pot:
Put chicken in the bottom of your crock pot and top with remaining ingredients except for the cream cheese. Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6-8 hours. Remove chicken, shred, and add back to crockpot. Stir in room temp cream cheese. Once it is melted serve with your favorite toppings and enjoy!
Hey Guys! Hunter here with another Teen Takeover! So I’ve been super into books lately (I’m sure you’ve seen over on my mom’s Instagram) and basically reading whenever I get some spare time! The last couple have beens so good, I can’t put them down! When I asked what you guys wanted me to cover here, I actually got a lot of requests for my favorite books, so I thought it would be fun to do a roundup of my favorite recent reads, as well as books I have on my “to read” list!
Before I share, I feel like I should say, I promise I’m not like a creepy murder planning person! I just really love mystery suspense books! So keep that in mind when you check out my favorites! Haha!
: THE LIST
Ok the first one I read this year is called The List. It is about this school where every year at homecoming a list is posted all over school that has the prettiest girl and the ugliest girl. It kind of highlights 8 different girls that are on “the list” and how whether you are on the good side or bad side, the price you pay, how it affects them badly, and what they do to get rid of it.
: WE WERE LIARS
Another one I have to tell you about is We Were Liars. It was so good I read it in like 24 hours! Ha! It is kind of a mystery that has you hooked right from the beginning. It’s about a really rich family that spends all their summers on a private island. One of the summers the main character has a head injury and can’t remember what happens. The book goes through her finding out all the crazy things that happened and why relationships and things around her have changed.
: ONE OF US IS LYING + ONE OF US IS NEXT
Oh my gosh, One of Us Is Lying + One of Us Is Next had me hooked so fast!! It is about a group of high school kids that are all suspects in another high school kids murder. They all have secrets they don’t want to get out and it switches from different characters narrating as they solve the mystery. I wanted the sequel so bad I had it shipped to our vacation rental in Florida!!!
Ok these are the next 4 in my books to be read list! As you can already see from the title and covers, they are also in the same suspense/mystery category which I’m so excited about! I linked them all above if you are interested!
But my biggest question is WHAT BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS DO YOU HAVE FOR ME?! I am always wanting new ideas so please share them here or over in the comments on today’s Instagram Post! And if you ever need to shop my updated list of favorites you can do that here.
Are we still building our new home?? As of now YES! I’ve had a lot of messages and comments asking what is going on since we have been pretty radio silent about it since our post back in March sharing our excitement on the lot. The main reason for the silence is just because there is not a lot of exciting things to share right now. We are neck deep in all of the behind the scenes. Planning, engineering, and bidding just doesn’t feel as fun to share! BUT today I have a big build update for you so here we go!
: THE TIMING + STRESS LEVEL
First off if you have ever built a custom home, tell me all your stress control remedies! Wow is it a lot! Our current home is custom, but the stress level was nowhere near the same. I think it is because we kind of knew it wasn’t our forever home. There weren’t as many must have boxes to check. We also built from a distance (which did add its own style of stress) but it was just so different. With insane pricing and all the lack of product in the construction industry right now, this has been so wild.
We bought the lot at the beginning of last year. I know that seems so slow moving, but I went into this with a very optimistic outlook. If something is supposed to take 4 weeks, I automatically plan for 8! Haha. That way in my head we are never too far behind schedule!
We are currently on hold while we wait for the results of a soils test. It will tell us how to engineer all the concrete walls required. Once we get that information from the structural engineer, we will make the decision on how to move forward. Yes you read that right. There is still kind of an “if” we move forward with this lot. Let’s just say, prior to the soil test, there was a number thrown out for the cost of all the walls we will need, and it was higher than our land. Cue instant want to throw up moment. Wondering if it is going to be worth it to build on this lot, and invest so much before we even start the house.
So we are just slowly moving forward and really just trying to put our trust in God that we will be where we are supposed to be and know what choices to make.
If all goes according to plan and we can make this work with the retaining walls, our hope is to be through the city and able to break ground by the middle of April or early May.
: THE DESIGN
We started the design process with the incredible Elizabeth, and I cannot tell you how much she has been my saving grace. There is no way I could keep this job going and build this custom home. I don’t know how people do it with out help! She has taken so much stress off of me and just knows my vision and handles all the details. It is definitely a pricey commitment to make, but the services and peace of mind she gives is worth every single penny!
As we go through the designing (my favorite part) I have been sharing some sneak peeks over on Instagram and have loved getting your feedback. My style is very unique so of course I’ve got a lot of shocked messages, but I love sharing! It has also been so nice to rely on you guys for help in searching out good subcontractors as well! Your willingness to help me get a great price/service has been amazing and I’m so glad I have you with me along for this ride!
Right now we are finishing up the design on the craft room, as well as the living + dining room. We have already finished the bathrooms, kitchen, laundry, master, and mudroom! It might sound crazy to already be designing rooms when we haven’t even broke ground, but with all the delays and crazy lead times, we want to be on top of what we can control!
: HOW THE KIDS ARE FEELING
As many of you read and saw on Instagram, our kids were less than thrilled about the idea of moving. A couple of them may have even threatened to move in with friends so they didn’t have to. To help with the moving process and feelings, we have decided not to sell our current home until at least after Christmas. With how long the build process takes, it just made more sense to hang on to our roots and keep them comfortable a little longer. Hunter is thrilled to be able to stay with her high school team longer! The other kids are happy to not leave friends so soon. Of course they all still have their good days and bad days about it, but we are hoping this will give them more time to mentally prepare + process it all.
Honestly the moving life has kind of been our norm with medical school, residency, etc. so they have done this before. That probably both helps and hurts because they know what is coming. I think it is good to prepare them for real life and that change is hard.
Is there anything better than escaping the cold winter for sunshine with your family?! It is quickly turning into a requirement for me to survive winter and I’m not mad about it! Earlier this month we took our escape for us in Florida called Bonita Springs and absolutely loved it!! It is the perfect quiet side of typical vacation Florida, with a nice slow pace and plenty of beach + sunshine! I always love to hear people’s must eats, see, and do on their vacations, so I put together a little Bonita Springs travel guide for you here!
Long story short, but our original vacation plans completely fell through at the last minute. In a panic, I reached out to my friend Nicole (of the hilarious Johnson Files) who lived in Florida for a few years, to see if by some miracle she had any way we could book a last minute stay there. She reached out to a friend with an airbnb who just happened to have a last minute cancellation exactly when we needed it! It was basically the luckiest blessing ever and instantly took so much trip stress away!!
The house itself was a little smaller and older than it seemed in pictures, but the location quickly made up for that! It backed up to “the bayou” which was the ultimate paddle boarding spot we quickly fell in love with. And on the flip side, directly across the street from the house was beach access! We felt like we got the best of both worlds, but saved a ton by not being right on the beach side. It was so nice to be able to wake up and let the big kids go out and paddle board before we started our day, or for Joe and I to be able to go out in the evenings together without being far from the kids.
While we loved that Bonita Springs was so laid back and slow paced, there was still plenty to see and do both there and nearby. Here are some of the things we did and loved!
: THE BEACH:
Of course being in Florida, we spent a lot of time at the beach!! We loved how empty and low key the beach was compared to Southern Florida. The only beach we really went to was Barefoot Beach because we were right across the street. Some other great highly recommended ones in the area were Bonita Beach, Lowder Milk Beach, Naples Pier, and Lovers Key.
. . .
: PADDLE BOARDING:
Since we were right on the bayou, we had the perfect spot for paddle boarding. We rented board from ebb n flow and it was so perfect. They brought them right to the house, including life jackets. When we were done we just called them and they came right back and picked everything up. It was so nice to not have to find the place and figure out the space to load them up. I highly recommend them!
: CAPTAIN JACKS
We drove down to the everglades for part of the day to Captain Jacks. You get to go on a fun airboat ride looking for gators and other wildlife. We also all got to see and hold baby gators too which the kids mostly loved! Haha!
. . .
: SMALLEST POST OFFICE IN AMERICA
This was just a fun little picture spot and the kids love being able to say they’ve been to the smallest post office now!
. . .
: WHAT WE ATE
Now let’s talk about food!! I think having good new food recommendations is one of the most important parts to planning a vacation! Nicole totally came through with some amazing recommendations. I wish we had another week to try the rest of them!! Below are the ones we got to, and what we thought!
We also ordered Walmart to be delivered right when we got there and it was such a game changer. It was so nice to have snacks and quick breakfast/lunches to just take out on the beach and not have to spend so much going out every meal.
: MISSION BBQ
The kids were very whiny/skeptical about eating here but we went anyway and are SO glad we did. Every single one of us loved it and wished we had time to go back again!
: VAMPIRE PENGUIN
This was one of the absolute best shaved ice places I have ever been to..and that is coming from someone that has tried all the popular spots in Hawaii. It was so different than your average shaved ice, with more of a shaved ice/ice cream mix. We loved it so much we went 5 times!
: BROOKS BURGERS
Such a yummy burger spot the whole family loved as well! A lot of unique ingredients and delicious milkshakes!
: BONITA BRUNCH
We had breakfast here one day and the kids are all still talking about it and wishing we had one here. The Cinnamon Roll French toast was to die for!!
: COCONUT JACKS
Joe and I did a date night while were there and went to Coconut Jacks. They don’t take reservations, but have it down to a science and while it seemed packed, got us back in 10 minutes. I will say this place is definitely more popular for the experience over the food. You sit out on a dock basically in the middle of the water and the sunset views are amazing. The food was just ok for me.
If you live in Utah, then you know the hype that is all things SWIG cookies!! They are the OG of drink + cookie shops and in my opinion, the very best!!! Their cookies are unique and delicious and once you try them, something you will find yourself craving! While this recipe isn’t 100% guaranteed to be identical, it is about as close as you are going to get and JUST as delicious!!
– COOKIE INGREDIENTS –
1 cup butter (room temperature)
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 1/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons water
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 teaspoon salt
5 1/2 cups flour
– INSTRUCTIONS –
Cream together all of your wet ingredients.
In a separate bowl, combine dry ingredients. Slowly add those to the wet ingredients.
Once your dough is all mixed together, roll it into 2 inch balls (golf ball size) and place on your cookie sheet.
Put ¼ cup sugar in a flat dish. Dip the bottom of a drinking glass into the sugar, and then press that firrmly into the center of your dough ball. If you are doing it correctly, the dough should spill out from under the sides of the glass.
BAKE dough balls at 350 degrees for 8 minutes. The cookies should just barely be browning on the bottom. After baking move cookies to a cooling rack + once cool place in the fridge.
– FROSTING INGREDIENTS –
1/2 cup butter (room temperature)
3/4 cup sour cream
1 2 pound bag powdered sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup milk
food coloring if desired
– INSTRUCTIONS –
Cream together the butter, sour cream, and salt. Slowly add in the powdered sugar and milk. When all ingredients are mixed well, and one drop of food coloring and additional milk if frosting needs to be thinned.
** PRO TIP**
Keep cookies in a sealed container until they are ready to serve + frost them right before serving!
Happy Valentines Day!! Ah I love this holiday! Nothing better than celebrating LOVE! With love on the mind I thought it would be fun to make today’s post about dating your spouse. It seems like every time I post about Joe and I going on a date, I get messages asking how we make it happen when we have 5 kids and crazy schedules to work with. So today I’m going to share 4 tips that helped us make still dating each other a priority, and will hopefully help you out too!
This may sound kind of like a duh tip. But hear me out. A lot of us are so guilty of letting dating our spouse take the back burner. In our heads we think of it as an “extra” and not something that is a priority. But is is so so important for a healthy relationship and marriage. You need that one on one time to be able to be your best partnership to support and lead your family. By putting it as a priority in your mind, you are way more likely to make it happen.
Now that you’ve got dating as a priority in your mind and not just an extra, get it on the schedule. When you plan out your week and write down all the doctors appointments and meetings you need to be at on specific days, make date night one of those things you schedule too. And treat it just the same. You wouldn’t just cancel a doctors appointment for something minor, so treat dating the same! I try to remember this when it comes to dating our kids too! Schedule it and make the time for it.
Another thing we all seem to get caught up in, is that dating your spouse has to be some huge grand gesture. KEEP IT SIMPLE!!! Every Friday night doesn’t need to be a 5 star dinner and helicopter ride around the city. Date night can be as simple as going out for ice cream together or on a walk around the neighborhood. Anything that gives you time alone together to actually catch up and enjoy each others company. The simplest plans usually end up being our favorites anyway!
:: CONSIDER YOUR SEASON
Last but not least in my tips to dating your spouse is to remember to consider your season. We live in a world where the comparison game is right in front of our face 24/7. It is so easy to hop on Instagram and say “so and so goes on a date every single week”….or “they are going to a fancy dinner and concert”. There is a time and season. If you are in the thick of school or residency, date nights will be more rare, and probably consist more of trips to the grocery store together, or late night netflix binge. If you have a newborn, your date night might include a baby. And that is ok. We all go through different seasons of life with time and budget and it is so important to keep your focus on your lane.
. . .
I hope these little tips help you reassess and make dating your spouse feel more doable. I promise you what you get out of it for your relationship is far and above worth the effort you put in to making it happen. Happy Valentines Day!!
I know I know, it is early February and the temperatures here in Utah are barely making the mid 30’s. So why am I living in fantasy world looking at all things sunshine + swimsuits? Because for a lot of us here in Northern Utah, February is the time to escape the winter and go somewhere with warm sunshine and we are doing just that!! So whether you have a trip planned, or you are getting yourself excited for spring + summer, today I’ve got a fun roundup of my favorite new swimsuits, swimsuits on a budget, and swimsuit accessories for you to check out!
I was actually pleasantly surprised with the good swimsuits I found this time of year!! I am loving all the unique styles, fun patterns, and of course the good bum coverage!! Shop all my favorites in this collage above!
If there is one thing Amazon was a major win on for me last year, it was good swimsuits! I found so many fun new styles in both one pieces and bikinis that I loved, all for under $50! If you are looking to show a few looks that are a little more budget friendly, check out my picks above!
Now that you’ve got the swimsuits picked out, let’s talk accessories! From the best sunscreen and sun hats, to flip flops and sunnies you’ll love, I’ve rounded up all my favorite must have accessories for you here too!
. . .
I hope this roundup gets you prepped for your next getaway or at least as excited for future sunshine as I am!! Where is your favorite place to shop swimsuits?
Every year around this time we get a little tired of Utah winter and are ready for some sun! And that means travel! Whether you head out on a nearby road trip or take a bigger getaway, February seems to be the beginning of all the spring + summer trips to come! With an upcoming trip for us, today I thought I would do a little rewind and share this video with my secret to simplifying packing your kids! I promise these 6 simple packing tips will save you time, money, and sanity within your travel life!!
. . .
Now that you’ve had a chance to check out how we simplify packing and how easy it is, I’ve broken down the 6 tips for you below!
#1 : TRAVEL IN YOUR HEAVIVEST/BULKIEST ITEMS
When it comes to saving room and packing efficiently, this is a make or break. Have your little people wear their biggest, bulkiest items on their body, so those pieces aren’t taking up their whole suitcase. If you are going somewhere cooler, have them wear their jacket, sweatshirt, or cardigan. Jeans take up more space than shorts and leggings, so consider that as well. This way, you aren’t taking up the majority of your space with a coat, but you will still be prepared for weather conditions.
#2 : LIMIT SHOES TO ONE PAIR
If at all possible, we limit our shoes to 1 pair per child. Shoes are SO bulky and when you times it by 5 little people, it adds up FAST. When I make a list of what to pack, I try to consider all the activities/events during the trip. From there I will pick a pair that is versatile enough to wear for all if possible. Something comfortable that can be dressed up or down (as you’ll see on the video). If you do have to pack an additional pair, try to make it as slim as possible. A helpful tip is to face the bottoms in and wrap an elastic around them to keep from getting your other clothes dirty.
#3 : PICK PIECES YOU CAN MIX AND MATCH
When planning your outfits, always go for pieces that you can mix and match. Grab a pair of leggings that can go with 3 different shirts or one dress that goes with multiple leggings. That way you aren’t packing a completely new outfit for every day, saving on how much you are bringing. For Harper + Hayden, I try to pick one bow that goes with all the outfits too.
#4 : ROLL YOUR CLOTHES BY OUTFIT
Now that you’ve picked out their outfits, comes the most important step. Rollllll their clothes by outfit, including underwear, socks, + accessories. Not only does this save a TON of space compared to folding, it also saves on a huge mess. When morning rolls around, you can have your little people go to the suitcase and grab their outfit for the day without messing up the entire bag, because it is all in one convenient place.
#5 : ORGANIZE USING PACKING CUBES
Now that you’ve got them rolled up, organize using packing cubes. If you are going on a quick trip, you could even just use the packing cubes in one bag for all your kids! They are amazing!!
#6 : ONLY PACK ENOUGH DIAPERS FOR ONE DAY
If you are traveling with a baby, this is huge! Diapers take up SO MUCH SPACE! Don’t waste a whole suitcase on diapers, ESPECIALLY if you are flying. My tip is to just pack enough diapers for the first day. That gets you to your destination and enough time to get settled. Then buy enough to cover you for the rest of the trip while you are there.
I hope these tips and tricks help save you space and sanity as you pack for your next family trip!! I’d love to hear your favorite go-to packing tricks too!
Every time I do a question box over on Instagram, I get some form of question in regards to how I “do it all”. Usually I have a good laugh when I see them, because it is so far from the truth!! If anything it is a reminder to me that Instagram never shows the full picture. And while I like to think I do a decent job, I am far from perfect!! With that in mind, I did make a major mindset change and really lifestyle change over the last year or two to help simplify, that has made all the difference, and I wanted to share that with you today.
About a year or year and a half ago I basically had a melt down. Picture your blockbuster style mid life crisis or mental breakdown and that was me. I felt like everything was piling up and out of my control. It felt like it was all too much, and I just couldn’t do it anymore. I was ready to throw in the towel and give up on anything I didn’t absolutely have to do to function and keep my family afloat. Deep down I knew that wasn’t a place I could stay in mentally, so I called my friend Kristin Andrus.
If you know or follow Kristin, you know she is basically wonder woman. She is a mom of 6, owns Traeger Grills with her husband, and volunteers thousands of hours to serve those around her. She has always been a huge example to me, and I knew she had to have some secret to doing it all and so flawlessly! Her first piece of advice was something that has stuck with me since and something I repeat to myself regularly. It was DO WHAT YOU LOVE, HIRE OUT THE REST.
For me that was such a lightbulb moment though it seems so simple. Society and the world tend to tell us we are allowed to ask for help via a babysitter or nanny. But to me, that is taking away the thing I want to do most out of my “tasks”…be with my family. Why can’t I flip flop it and choose that for me and hire out the errands and other things I despise? So I did just that and made some changes to simplify.
First I hired cleaners. If you know me, you know I function 100 times better in a clean and organized space. So this one was huge for me. We hired cleaners that come just twice a month to help me stay on top of things. Do I still clean all the time? Yes, but this was a way for me to simplify the task. Joe also hired landscape maintenance as well. His time off is so limited, and it felt like we were spending every day off doing yard work. His time was most important.
: PERSONAL ASSISTANT
One thing I completely despise is returns, grocery shopping, and just the run around of errands. I’ve done Walmart delivery for years to help avoid most of that, but there are always those last minute items. Instead of hiring someone to watch the babies while I did all of that, I chose what I love (my kids) and hired out the rest. I hired a senior in high school that comes and runs errands for us AND helps run kids to different practices. My kids all love her so much and she feels like part of the family. This was another way to simplify the process.
: WORK TEAM
When I first started out online, I tried to go it all alone. I put all of the weight on myself and started to dislike it pretty quick. I knew things had to change. Just like anything in life there are parts of this job I love and parts I don’t. So again I chose to delegate. I have a “manager/assistant” that is the other half of my brain. She has been with me for 5 years now and keeps me sane. Her primary role is handling all of our contracts, campaigns, brand relationships, scheduling, and basically to simplify what I see and do to keep me on task. Ha! We also have a newsletter + course specialist, my amazing photographer, and a LTK manager. They keep the motor running on everything so that I can make the connections and enjoy the relationships this community brings.
. . .
I’ll say it again and a million times, I am not perfect at this. My goal is to help you simplify motherhood and avoid the overwhelm that creeps in. But you also need to consider your stage of life too. Never in a million years could I have done all of this when we were in school. But know that it is ok to say no to adding more if you feel full. Or taking one of these things and giving yourself grace.
in partnership with JCPenney + ShopStyle Collective
If you read the post I did a couple of weeks ago highlighting my 2022 goals, you saw a big one for me this year is to get better quality sleep!! If you are anything like me, good quality sleep kind of tends to take a back seat. With 5 busy kids, we have jam packed schedules. I often times find myself staying up extra late and waking up early to tackle my to do list. Which results in no sleep. I know that getting good quality sleep makes such a huge difference in my focus, efficiency, and over all attitude, so it has been one of my major goals this year.
I cheated a little on my goals this year and started this one a little prematurely by ordering a few items friends had recommended that make all the difference to them getting in that good quality sleep, and trying out some new habits. I have already noticed such a difference, so of course I had to share them with you too!
: PLAN ON GOING TO BED AN HOUR EARLIER THAN YOU REALLY WANT
As humans, especially women, we tend to overload our schedules and are always adding “just one more thing” to our to do list. One thing that has really worked great for me is to plan on going to bed an hour earlier than my goal. So, if my goal is in bed lights out at 10, I try to plan on having everything done by 9 instead. By doing this, all the extras that come up aren’t pushing me back later than I want to be going to bed, and I am again enforcing that consistency of a bedtime for myself.
: HAVE A SLEEP ROUTINE
Yes, I want you to treat yourself just like you would one of your kids. Give yourself a bedtime routine. Our bodies thrive off of routine and structure. The same goes for bedtime, which is why it works so well for kids. Knowing what to expect and having that same routine trains our brains to slow down and kind of prep themselves for sleep. For me that almost always includes a bath. It helps me relax, slow down, and take time to process the day without interruption.
If you know me, you know I am always freezing from about October-April! And trying to get a good sleep when you are cold + uncomfortable is nearly impossible. So, I set out to solve this problem and got myself a heating pad to sleep with!! It heats up fast and has a 2 hour auto shut off, so you don’t have to worry. You can grab it here from JCPenney!
: USE A SOUND MACHINE
The first up is a sound machine. I always used a sound machine for my kids when they were little. It made transitioning to nana’s house or traveling a breeze because their sleeping conditions didn’t change much. It was one of those things we would never leave the house without. So WHY didn’t I think of this for myself years ago? This one from JCPenney has great sound quality and is super relaxing. I love that it is really minimal too so you can store it in a drawer or pack it easily. It has been such a dream for getting in that zen, relaxed state, and not having sound interruptions!
: DON’T FORGET THE EYE MASK
I have to admit, I have always thought these eye masks were so gimmicky. But I stand corrected. They are incredible! Once I put this on, I know I am guaranteed to have no distractions. It kind of tells my brain, ok I’m ready, time to slow down and relax. I have loved it!
. . .
While I know these tips + tricks won’t work for everyone, they are worth a shot if you are struggling to get in that good quality sleep. And if you are interested in trying out the items I mentioned, you can shop all 3 of them at JCPenney now with quick shipping and pick up options!
