Things I Learned While Trying to be a Blogger Mom

So I have these big ideas of inspiring at least someone, and possibly getting pinned a few times like all those amazing Pinterest Queens. Then I remembered things like...I don't even provide a Pinterest link on my blog. Oops. But no matter who reads, there is just something that feels at least a little nice about organizing my daily happenings into nice little tidbits on a pretty pink background. Some days I just feel like I have it all figured out.

While I know I am a chaotic mess, here are some of the organized thoughts I've actually been able to put together about blogging.

1. You should probably invest in a camera.

Note the dirty mirror and clothes in the corner :(

Ok, if you are "serious" about blogging, it's a little disheartening to compare your fuzzy-ish iPhone pictures to some other mom's snapshot of a perfectly lit little project in a 3000megapixel quality picture. I'm thinking maybe a Christmas gift from my parents....I can let them know it's for pictures of  Sophie! ;)


2. You will feel cheesy and pretentious as you blog away at Starbucks.
I don't know if this is just me, but when I find a time that I can curl up (ok, sit in a slightly uncomfortable chair that was miraculously not occupied by a teenager and her entourage) at a Starbucks and create a blog, I feel SO awkward. I feel like anyone that walks by is going to see and be like "What is this girl doing? Blogging? But SHE isn't dressed cute." I mean, where do all these bloggers GO dressed in stilettos everyday, anyway?

3. I RUSH through my projects and they come out (kind of) crappy.

Not too shabby. But I took this pic on my STOVE. BEFORE wiping it down. 

Ok, I know that in a perfect world, I would have a HUGE amount of time to use metallic markers to update an entire wall. And my toddler? She'd be completely occupied by an amazing and engaging activity that increases her fine motor skills. In reality? I have Sophia flinging green beans around as Dora the Explorer screams at her to "SAY MAP!" while I frantically glue crayons to a frame  for a teacher gift. Of course, I didn't realize how much glue and crayons I'd use (yes, more than 64) and I resorted to using puffy paint as glue and a few of Sophia's not-so-sharp crayons down at the bottom. Sorry Ms. Prado, hope you still like the gift!

4. My house is what it is. 
As  I look around at other blogs, I see amazing decor (DIY of course) and healthy recipes. All kept together with strict lists and "easy" cleaning regimens. Then there is my house. I have no dishwasher, not even one linen closet, and somewhere between furniture I bought with the best intentions, you'll find back packs and lesson plans covered in Sophia's apple sauce that she thought would be fun to throw. I was going to clean it as soon as it happened, but Sophia started pulling the dog around by his tail....See, I have priorities! I swear!

Most importantly, I think I've learned that I need to just do things the best I can. If I DO happen to find things that help me to make my life easier or more productive, I promise to share. ;)

Thanks for being so understanding y'all. :D
Jennifer

Stressed and Striped

Oh my gosh I've had no time to write. I've been a little bit of a procrastinator lately, and I SHOULD be doing homework right now but I need a break, haha. So about 2 weeks ago, I threw an outfit together that actually got a lot of compliments. Luckily I took a picture of it. Please excuse my dirty mirror (thanks, Sophia!). I promise I've cleaned it since taking this picture :)

Necklace: Walmart ($7)

Top: JcPenney ($12)

Pants: Walmart ($13)

Flats: H&M ($12) 

My pants are actually not cropped, but they're really long on me so I folded them under. Being short makes everything fit me awkward! UGH!

Other than fashion, I've been trying to come up with a plan to get my house a bit more organized because I'm behind on laundry and just dyyyying from clutter. So next post, HOPEFULLY I'll talk a little bit about some tips for keeping the house clean without falling far behind. 

Is it spring break yet?!

DELICIOUS Crock Pot Chicken Parmesan

Can you tell I've been busy? I have had ZERO time to write and no internet at home :(
But speaking of being busy, last Thursday I felt like supermom: I had dinner going and everyone out of the house within 30 minutes. Woo!!!
What did I make? Crockpot Chicken Parmesan. It was DELICIOUS. And we had left overs for two days. Thank God I love pasta.

Here is what you need:
-Boneless/skinless chicken breast tenders
- Italian style bread crumbs
- Parmesan cheese (graded or shredded, it's up to you)
- Mozzarella cheese
- Spaghetti sauce
- Pasta

Here's the steps:
- Put chicken, 1 1/2 cups of breadcrumbs, and 1/2 cups of parmesan cheese in a ziplock and SHAKE it up. Honestly, I just eye-balled this stuff, so use as much or little as you want.
- Put the chicken into the crock pot
- Pour a jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce on top

Cook on low for 8-10 hours. I cooked mine for about 9 because I went to class and then to the store. It's really up to you. If you do it too long, the chicken kind of falls apart but for this meal, that's fine. :)

Once you're home and ready to eat, put water on to boil for pasta.
As the pasta is cooking, put as much parmesan and mozzarella cheese on top of the chicken and sauce. By the time your pasta is ready, you're cheese will be nice and melted. Put your chicken and sauce over the pasta and eat. :)

Sophia LOVED this. I didn't take a picture, but I'm sure you get the concept! :)

ENJOY

Time Management That is REASONABLE!

Hello all!
I've been running around like crazy because we decided to adopt a doggy! I just HAD to share this little guy's cuteness with y'all!

This is Jet, aka Jet Set, Jetjet, Jetty...lol He's a 4 year old Schnauzer/Dachshund blend. Let me tell you he is a SWEETY. :) And being house/crate trained, neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped doesn't hurt either. Him and Sophia are getting along GREAT so far too. 

Remember: Don't shop, adopt!!!

Ok, so onto time management. This is something I am actually NOT that great at. I pride myself on being the most responsible in our house, but that's a win by default as I have a 1 1/2 old and a husband with terrible memory... :)

This last year of school has been PRETTY intense, and working and having a family on top of that has made it IMPERATIVE that I learn great time management. Here are a few tips that have really helped in our household. 

1. Be reasonable and honest. 

I was this really weird kid that used to write out a daily schedule for my life. Like, wake up to bed, with scheduled TV time and all. Don't judge me. Of course I never followed that, it was NOT reasonable. Now, I simply make a list of everything I hope to accomplish in a day, and let it fall into place. 

2. Have calendars available anywhere.

I can't use a phone calendar. I NEED to have something physical. I have a planner where I write EVERYTHING, including Erik's important dates (did I mention his bad memory (: ?).  I keep a calendar on the fridge, and a general schedule/meal plan on a little dry erase board. I have my planner color coded so I know what events are most important, personal, school, etc...

3. Have a buddy system. 

My classmates and I have a sort of posse. We have each others numbers, and a group on Facebook just to be sure we are always on the same page with due dates and instructions. Erik is obviously my buddy system at home, along with my mom who watches Sophia on Tuesdays. Even at work, try to have someone that you can rely on to make sure that you have the right schedule etc...and you do the same for them. If you have a group together, at least one of you will have your crap together at some point! 

4. Prep as much as possible ahead of time.

Before we go to bed, we have all three of our outfits ready, our school/work/lunch stuff packed up, and the house at least somewhat presentable. This means that on average, all of us are up and ready to go in less than an hour every morning - often even 30 minutes. Do ANYTHING you can before bed that way you aren't running around like crazy in the morning.

5. ALLOW for downtime.

Yes, I should be doing homework, laundry, and cleaning right now. Instead, Jet and I are laying around on the couch and enjoying our leisure day. Everyone deserves a little down time, and it will make you feel better about doing work later. That said, I always feel my best when I have most of my things done at least so that they aren't weighing on my mind...Does anyone else have a constant to-do list running through their mind...? 

These tips have worked for me, along with a little creativity and dedication. Break between classes? Do that homework assignment so you don't have to do it at night or on the weekend! Spare time at home? Throw in a load of laundry to be put away once you are done for the night!

Make use of your 24 hours! :)

Jennifer

Spring in January

Anyone that lives in Texas knows we can experience all four seasons in one day. Lately, our mornings have been pretty chilly but later in the day it gets GORGEOUS. So here I am, two hours early for class and I'm sitting outside loving this weather. Today I wanted to wear something that wasn't too "spring-ish" but wouldn't get too hot with the rising temperatures. I feel really comfortable in what I have on, which is obviously important for these days when I'm at two different campuses across town.

Jacket: Charlotte Russe ( here )

Shirt: H & M ( here )

Jeans: Forever21 (These are my favorite jeans, and they're $8!!!) ( here )

Booties: Love Culture ( similar here ) 

I really should have taken more time to accessorize, but I have to get all of us out of the house by 8:30 and I woke up at 8:05 so.... :)

My view as I write this!

So there you have my outfit for today... Stop by again because the next time I'll be writing a few tips on TIME MANAGEMENT (like not writing blogs when you have last minute reading to do!)

Jennifer

Rainy and Cozy

Today was one of our "teacher dress" days for class. I know my previous post showed a couple of outfits that could have been worn, but it was cold and rainy here so I wanted to be comfortable and warm. This is what I put together, and I really liked it. I've had most this outfit for over a year so I don't really remember the prices, but I'll let you know where I found everything, as most of these items don't really go "out" of style and should be easy to find!

Sweater: Old Navy ( Similar here )

Scarf: Payless ( Similar here )

Pants: Melrose ( Similar here )

Boots: Rack Room Shoes ( here )

Watch: New York and Co (Similar here )

This whole outfit was thrown together really quickly, and my pants are just as comfortable as leggings. I loved it. Sophia and I had fun this afternoon together and I didn't even have to change into pi's as soon as I got home! :) 

Daddy snuck a pic and forgot to turn off the flash :)

Till next time!

Jennifer

Building Your "Teacher" Wardrobe

I happen to be at an age where many of us are finishing school (some already have!) and beginning our "adult careers." This means that I'm also at an age where we, as young women, are finding out exactly what we should and shouldn't be wearing to work. I think that many of us younger girls tend to try to wear things a little too short or a little too tight when dressing for work, and I'm trying to make sure to avoid that type of thing.
When I was a supervisor at an after school program, we avoided issues by wearing a (unflattering) uniform. Now that I am doing fieldwork, we get a little more freedom but we still need to look like professionals. We even have to dress professional to some classes - shout out to Block B!
While Erik watched TV tonight and Sophia was asleep, did I work on homework? I consider building my wardrobe as a TYPE of homework, so we'll go with that. :)

Here are a couple of outfits I put together with things I had in my closet already. All of the pieces were very inexpensive. Please excuse my lack of accessories and my messy hair, but I had an itch to post, so here I am.

I think this outfit is a little retro and MAY be more comfortable with a tucked in t-shirt. I'll probably wear it both ways. I'd originally planned on wearing this with nude heels (ok, let's be honest - flats) but they were in the room where Sophia was sleeping and I couldn't risk waking the beast!

White button up - $9 at Walmart

Polka dot skirt - $14.80 at Forever 21

Brown flats - $16 at Target

This outfit was actually more comfortable to wear (maybe because I know how much I need a tan) and I think would be easier to move around in all day. If you're not comfortable in a bright blazer, it's easily paired with a more neutral color of blazer or cardigan. 

Pink blazer - $3 Thrifted 

Polka dot shirt - $8 at DD's Discounts

(it's like a Ross type of store)

Black skinny pants - $12 at Melrose

Black flats - $17 at Payless

(the shoes are DexFlex brand and are VERY comfortable.)

Most of the stores listed have bad quality, not very cute clothes. But every once in a while I get lucky and find a few staples. Did anyone else notice the polka dot theme? I don't know why I always tend to gravitate towards that pattern. 

Hope you found a little inspiration. Send me some ideas of your own!

Jennifer

Cheap-O Date Ideas

January 18th is my 3rd wedding anniversary and the sixth year Erik and I have been a "couple."

Erik and I at prom in 2010

We've been friends since 6th grade, and have gone through MANY up and downs. We've also gone through lots of dates and experiences. One thing that we've learned as a married couple (and as broke college students!) is that our best dates have been the CHEAPEST, which is awesome for us. That said, here are a couple of fun ideas we've been tossing around to celebrate our anniversary.

1. Discover a new neighborhood. 

Erik and I love to just drive or walk around a neighborhood and "house hunt" or find little shops and restaurants that differ from the big chains you see around town. In San Antonio, there are so many places to do that and they're all so different from each other. If you DO live in San Antonio, get some coffee and dessert at Mad Hatter's Tea Room and then take a walk around King William. :) 

2. Have a "show" for the two of you.

Wednesdays Erik and I will watch our two favorite shows and have some snacks or a couple of drinks after Sophia goes to sleep. This one may not appeal to everyone as a "date," but this past year we were full time students with 3 jobs between us and nothing felt better than laying on the couch and laughing at sitcoms. 

3.Do something competitive. 

We can make just about anything a competition. For "fun" competitions, we've done expensive things like theme park games, etc... but we've also set up kiddie pools with bath toys and attempted to shoot the toys out with a BB gun (sorry, Sophia!) - the loser has to clean up the game, etc... The best time for these DIY games are when you're outside having a BBQ and a couple of cold drinks (responsibly! :D) Basically anything that creates friendly competition is doable - get creative!

At our wedding in 2014

 I know many of these may not seem awesome to EVERYONE, but Erik and I are little old people that rarely do the bar thing. Every once in a while these cheap dates can feel carefree and spontaneous! Enjoy!

On a "family date" in Fredericksburg, TX

Jen

Ps. For even MORE fun date ideas, check out my good friend Amber's blog!

Into the Crazy

2015 is marking a lot of adjustments for me and my family. I am pretty much completing my education degree, with student teaching in 2016. I'm NOT working for the first time since I graduated high school. One thing that is a positive is that this will all be a learning process for me. I'll have to budget much more carefully than ever before, as our family income is cut in half. I'll have to manage time really well for my family as my classes grow to be more and more demanding. Most of all, I'll have to find creative ways to make all of the things I love: food, clothes, crafts, and FAMILY work in a strange time of being established and yet not as "stable" as the average family of three.

I hope y'all will continue this journey with me, both teaching me and learning with me as I wrap up my "college student" status. I plan to write about fashion, home decor, family experiences, and cooking - all on a budget! We can all use that at any age or stage, huh?

Bear with me as I get the hang of this! :)


Jen