5 am PEACEFUL MOM HOUR – Motivation for SAHM

It’s funny how I now get excited to think of a whole hour to myself. A whole sixty minutes. Now that my son is a year, that is kind of rare… except at 5 am.

Click here to watch my 5 am Peaceful Morning Routine for SAHM!

I started getting up at 5 am for a whole year while I was exclusively breast pumping. If you would like to check out my blog post and video about my exclusively pumping tips and journey, CLICK HERE!

It was hard to get use to and at times I thought it was very unfair compared to my sleeping husband and son. But I grew to love it. It made me feel good having a whole hour to myself.

I didn’t have to worry about what my son was picking up, or if his diaper smelled bad.

I could do whatever I wanted UNINTERRUPTED!

****Affiliated Links **** -Disclosure- Please keep in mind that some of the links in this post are affiliated links and if you go through them to make a purchase I will earn a commission. Keep in mind that I link these companies and their products because of their quality and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases.

So I would start my morning by hooking up to pump. I would snuggle under a blanket and watch WHATEVER I WANTED!

After I got done, I would drink some coffee. Almost every morning I am surprised by a note my husband would leave for me on my coffee cup. It’s a fun tradition we have started about leaving sweet notes for each other.

Next, I would eat me something quick, I found this egg muffin recipe I love!

I am sure you can find the exact measurements on Pinterest. You can ask my husband, I am not an exact measurement type of gal. 😉

So crack a dozen eggs, throw them in a mixing bowl, add some milk, add some cheese, I love adding these soy bacon bits. MIX MIX MIX

Cook for 20 minutes at 350 degrees

Now you have a quick breakfast to last all week!

Oh I also love adding this everything spice to my egg muffin! Click here!

Sometimes my mom hour is cut short due to having to work.

But if I do have a whole hour, here are some special things I like to do:

Shower! I love being able to not feel rushed. I can take my time and pamper. Click the video above to see more of my favorite shower products!

-This scalp scrubber is so nice! It adds a nice salon touch to my shower. I bought it off amazon – click here!

2. Light a candle! During the summer, I have really enjoyed the ‘Fresh Cut Lilacs’ from Bath and Body Works.

3. Read. I enjoy reading something to inspire me to be healthy during the day. I enjoy the book, “Eat Pretty Every Day.” This book contains something to read every day about living a more healthy ,beautiful from the inside out, life.

4. Youtube. Sometimes I just binge watch all the videos I need to catch up on.

5. TLC for my nails. I’m not sure if its from having to wash bottles so much or what. But my nails have taking a beating. I love the Sally Hansen Manicure Complete Care Polish. Just one application and it made my nails look so much healthier and smooth!

6. Open the windows and enjoy the sunrise!

I debated showing a scene in my video about my mom hour.

I normally straighten the living room every night but the night before I was too tired. We had recently gotten a new TV and the TV box was still in the room and Milo’s toys were all over the floor.

I decided to show the clip anyway. I wanted you to be able to see what my actual real life mom hour looked like that morning.

It wasn’t perfect and that’s okay. I decided to spend that hour resting, and loving on myself instead of going on a crazy cleaning spree.

I had a wonderful peaceful mom hour while sitting in an uncleaned living room. 😉

I hope this helps give you some mom inspiration to take some time for yourself.

~Gracefully Fashionable Britt

July 22, 2020July 22, 2020

Motivating Mommy Plan with Me for SAHM – check list & block schedules

Even from a young age planners have always been one of my favorite things. I was that girl in elementary school always filling out her calendar and assignments everyday. While most kids lost their agenda’s, I never did.

Fast forward twenty years and planners are still one of my favorites. I have loved the brand Day Designer for 5 years now. It’s the first planner I got as a married women and I have not left the brand since.

I recently just bought there 2020-2021 planner. I have tried to find a link to share my planner with you. I can not find it online. My best advice is to go to your local target and check there planner aisle. You can watch my video below to see more detail with what it looks like. I hope to make a video & blog post soon to review my newest 2020-2021 planner.

Life with a baby completely changed my planner schedule. Newborn to six months really wasn’t much of a change. But with a nine month old, I had to figure out something to help save my never ending to do list.

I was feeling like I was failing. I was only getting a couple things marked off my to-do list while adding more things every day.

I stumbled across this Over Achievers Creed.

While I was constantly thinking of everything that needed to get done, I was forgetting the most important.

Keeping my nine month old ALIVE and HAPPY.

I know that sounds kind of silly. But I seriously started writing that in my planner. Keeping him alive and happy was taking up a good portion of my day AND it should. That is my main job – a mother.

Once I came to grips with that, I realized I was actually getting a lot done EVERY day.

If you want to watch my video mommy plan with me – click here!

So two things I started to change with my agenda:

Write down normal chores.

My super long to-do list was never getting done, and it was making me feel unaccomplished. I then decided to start writing down things I was actually doing.

-Getting me dressed,

-Getting Milo dressed ( putting clothes on a 9 month old is not a two minute task 😉 )

-Unloading the dishwasher (once again with a baby, not always a simple task 😉 )

-Feed Milo

-Go for a walk

-Make a phone call

-HAVE SOME REST TIME!

Once I saw what all I was doing, it made me see I wasn’t being a failure. I was recognizing that those small tasks I was doing every day are a part of my routine now. That routine takes time which should be scheduled into my day.

I also want to mention real quick, how important it is to rest. I like almost every momma that reads this, constantly deal with the question – “He’s asleep – Do I try to clean the house, do work for my job, shower, eat, have some me time…”

Being a mom is a 24 hour job that even includes night shifts some times. So schedule your rest! It will make you feel so much better checking that one off the list! And check out my blog post – If you love Jesus, take a nap!

2. Block Schedules!

I found a YouTuber named Jordon Page, who runs the YouTube channel and blog called, “Fun, Cheap or Free.” She has 8 kids and has several videos on how she schedules her day. She introduced me to block schedules

Block schedules are blocking off a certain time for certain tasks.

For examples, here is my 4 block schedule of time:

9 am – 12 pm – wake up, get ready, empty dishwasher, do a load of laundry, play with Milo, do some work during his nap, maybe run an errand.

12 pm- 2 pm– I plan nothing during this time other than lunch, breast pumping, and getting Milo to hopefully go down for his second nap.

-I have several blog post on my breast pumping journey if you are interested. Click here to read all my tips and journey as an exclusively pumping breast feeding momma

3 pm -5 pm– play with Milo, exercise, devotional time, REST!

7 pm -9 pm – Supper time, family time, maybe do a task while my husband can watch Milo, bath time, bed time.

I don’t always accomplish everything on my list. So whatever I don’t accomplish, I just roll it over to the next day.

When it’s Friday and I didn’t accomplish everything, I decide if it is worth doing that on the weekend. I often have another list of things I want to accomplish on the weekend. I try not to put too much pressure on myself.

Whatever doesn’t get done there is always another week.

Do the best you can and be content with what you got done!

Once again check out my video where I explain a little more about my day. CLICK HERE!

I hope this was helpful to motivate mommies to see that even the small things we do every day count.

~ Gracefully Fashionable Britt

July 17, 2020July 17, 2020

DIML with One Year Old – SCHEDULE & FAVS

I almost started crying last night as I was putting Milo to sleep. He had turned one and I was looking back at pictures. I saw my first selfie with him when he was just over a week old. He was snuggle up to me after breastfeeding. He couldn’t talk or walk, just a little bitty new born.

Now he babbles all day and won’t stay still. I’m so excited to see him grow, but heart broken by the fact of coming to the realization of the newborn stage really doesn’t last long….

A heartbroken happy excited momma I am I guess. 😉

So where to begin:

His First Birthday

Due to covid, we had a family gathering at my husband’s parent’s house. It did not go so well. Milo possibly was still getting over his one year old shots, teething, and little did I know but it was the beginning of another clingy/separation anxiety phase. This to shall pass right?!

Anyway – He cried when I put him in his highchair to eat his cake, which he did not want to touch, and he cried when being held or looked at by certain people. I did enjoy the momma and son day we had prior to the birthday party.

I do have to share this adorable picture I found off Pinterest and was actually able to pull off! Yay!

So I filmed a vlog ‘Day in my Life’ not long after he turned one. If you would like to watch it, CLICK HERE!

In this video, I share his schedule & favs.

His Schedule:

7:00- wake up

8:00- breakfast

9:00-12:00- play/nap (In this video, he napped early, probably around 9 am and slept maybe an hour.)

12:00- lunch

3:00- nap (his naps mostly range from forty-five minutes to and hour and thirty minutes.)

4:00-5:00 -snack time ( as soon as he wakes up)

6:30- supper

7:00-9:00- family time/ get ready for bed

9:00-10:00- bed time. (Milo has never went to bed early… I have tried… Guess he’s a night owl.)

Favs:

For his birthday, we got him a toddler chair in the shape of a fox. Click here to see!

We also got him this neat scooter! He can ride on it till he’s old enough to stand up and use it. You can also use it like a small wagon for toys. Click here to see!

Milo loves books, especially books that have 3D pieces he can play with in the book.

If you want to see more favorites- click here to watch the vlog!

What I learned in the first year:

I could probably make a whole blog post on this alone. But I do want to share some things that I still have to preach to myself.

Stop comparing schedules.

I joined multiple Facebooks groups as a new mommy and all mommies like talking about their schedules. I still stress out about this. I have to remind myself -my son is not everyone else’s son. Just like adults, all babies schedules are different. And right when you think you have a schedule figured out, they will probably go through a mental leap, or teething, or growth spurt. Just flow with it. If your child eats and gets at least one good nap, count your blessings. 😉

2. You don’t have to do “cry it out” AND DON’T FEEL BAD IF YOU DON’T.

Once again, while the Facebook groups have been helpful, the “cry it out” method is another favorite topic. I tried “cry it out” one time and I couldn’t do it. It went completely against my maternal nature. There are actual several sources I have found that I believe speak wisely against “cry it out.” Do your research but most importantly follow your momma heart. If you don’t like “cry it out”, you don’t have to do it. If it works for you, great for you!

3. The first year is the slowest but fastest year of your life.

The newborn stage feels like eternity. But looking back now it went so quick. Don’t rush to get your child to roll over, pull up, talk or walk. It will happen. Soak up those sweet baby moments.

So now I have a toddler!

It’s fun, it’s exhausting, it’s never being able to sit down again.

It’s hearing him say mama, giving my kisses, and him putting his arm around me at night.

I stopped exclusively pumping. Here is a link to the video I have already made for that. A blog post should be coming soon!

I hope this was enjoyable to read, and was helpful for any momma’s reading that needed a schedule idea, gift inspiration, or just to relate to another momma going through motherhood.

Happy One Year Milo, Mommy loves you. Xoxo

Gracefully Fashionable Britt

June 16, 2020

As A Mom – Why if I love Jesus… I should take a NAP!

as a mom - if i love Jesus... I should take a nap

Milo, my son, has been fighting his nap since three this afternoon. It is now 4 o’ clock and he still hasn’t fallen asleep.

I didn’t sleep well the night before either. Milo had tossed and turned all night, so momma was running on little steam by 4pm.

I love to-do lists! It makes me feel so accomplished when I can mark everything off at the end of day. This was one of those days nothing was getting accomplished. I had a work certification that needed to be completed. I had laundry still in the washing machine that needed to be moved to the dryer. My bed was unmade, and my floor was not vacuumed.

I was feeling like a complete failure. I was focusing so much on what I hadn’t accomplished rather than looking at my little 11 month old falling asleep FINALLY in my arms.

I was curled up on the couch with him laying on me. I could feel I was getting an exhaustion headache coming on.

Then the normal thoughts flooded into my mind that happen to every parent when your child FINALLY goes to sleep.

Do I move him and risk him waking up?

Enjoy me some rest time snuggling my baby.

Then other thoughts came over me.

I am a Christian wife and mother. That is my “job” I serve in every moment of the day. If I don’t take this nap and get some rest will I be showing a Christ like character to my husband and son?

Here I was worried about failing my work company (which this certification had no due date, it was a completely work- as -you- go -on -your -own -time -certification). I was worried about failing my friends if they saw my house in its current state, and failing my silly worldly standards.

So I chose to take a nap, with my son snuggled on top of me. I had lots of other things to do but I chose to nap so I would be kind to my husband and son that evening. So I could cook supper with a smile, and giggle with my son at bath time.

I have done it before where I don’t nap. Then surviving the evening is a struggle. I get snappy at my husband and frustrated at my baby.

By me choosing my nap it helps to be a kind and Christ-like mother and wife, which is so much more important than completing my to-do list.

I saw a quote while thinking about this topic. It said, “Your kids don’t want a perfect mom, they want a happy mom.”

I think the quote can work for your husband too, “Your husband doesn’t want a perfect wife, he wants a happy wife.”

I took my nap and woke up to a sleepy baby rubbing his eyes and smiling looking at me from my chest. I woke up to my to-do list still having everything written on it. I woke up to not having a headache. I woke up feeling pretty good.

I’m writing this as I hope it can help you, and I still have to preach this to myself.

Take the nap so you can share Jesus with your family.

Gracefully Fashionable Britt

April 20, 2020

Vera Bradley Turnlock Wallet Review – Perfect for Organized Momma!

Happy Monday! I wanted to share with y’all this review of what has been one of my favorite wallets for years. The Vera Bradley Turnlock wallet is a wallet organization lovers will love! It has tons of card slots and plenty of room for cash and coupons!

If you want to watch my video review of this wallet- CLICK HERE!

I bought this wallet back when I was either in high school or college. It has been one of my favorites ever since. This wallet is in the Vera Bradley print “Safari Sunrise.” It has been my favorite print they have ever done. I have owned two purses in this print as well!

I have had a coach wallet/ wristlet which I also loved… it just didn’t have the organization that my heart needed. So while, I do wish this wallet had a wristlet to add on, it is still super easy to carry or throw in a bag.

So let me share pictures of why I love this wallet!

-I love the print and overall look of this wallet.

-hello card organization! 6 card slots, 2 ID slots, and 2 slide pockets.

– I love how there are two big pockets for cash! We try to use cash for things and having room to divide and carry cash in my wallet makes life easier on me.

-More card slots!!!

-Room to carry some change.

I hope the pictures and video review help give you confidence in your purchase if you decide to buy one of these wallets. They do not make this print anymore. However, there are plenty of new color patterns for this wallet on their website.

You may check out ebay or amazon to see if they offer this print. Every now and then Vera Bradley brings a print back, so maybe in the future they will bring this one back. 😉

Happy Monday!

~Gracefully Fashionable Britt

April 10, 2020

DIML – 9 Month Old – schedule, exclusively pumping, & quarantine!

Hey guys! Happy Friyay! First, I hope everyone reading this is healthy and having a good day at home. I can’t believe my baby is 9 months! I wanted to share with y’all my 9 month old schedule (which is all over the place! LOL), my exclusively pumping journey at 9 months, and what it’s like being with a 9 month old in quarantine. I hope this blog post (AND video included!) can provide some entertainment for you and if you have any questions or tips, please leave them below!

Click here to watch the video!

schedule –

My baby, Milo’s schedule has changed more than ever. I feel like from newborn to 3 months there really wasn’t much of a nap change. The same with 3 to 6 months. But holy cow, 6 to 9 months is a HUGE change.

His naps have been all over the place. One day he only napped in 30 minute increments!

However, as I’m typing this, he’s currently taking his second nap in his crib!! So this phase will pass momma’s, I promise!

My only real tips for this is don’t cling so close to having a schedule. When your baby starts to yawn lay them down or rock them to sleep. That has been working great for me, and he’s kind of started creating a schedule all on his own!

Exclusively Pumping

Never did I think I would become so passionate about this topic. I have made multiple videos about my personal journey, I will leave linked down below.

Click here for my pump journey!

Click here for DIML with 6 month old!

Click here for DIML with 3 month old – Exclusively Pumping!

I currently pump 3 times a day.

5:30 am

1:30 pm

9:00 or 9:30 pm

I am pumping about 27 ounces a day and Milo is eating 20-27 ounces. I do have close to 400 ounces of breast milk frozen in the freezer. He is drinking one of them a day.

I currently have a count down on my phone for my days left of pumping. I plan on stopping on his birthday – June 19th, 2020!

Quarantine

Quarantine over all isn’t much different for me than normal every day. I am a working at home / stay at home mommy. So our schedule hasn’t changed much.

However, I do miss running errands with him, I’m worried how he will react next time we go to church (since it will be months since his normal church routine), I miss being able to go and visit my family in Tennessee.

Let me stop and take a moment… If you are reading this and currently serving in a job that is helping our community – thank you! Sincerely, thank you!

New things that I have been trying to add to our schedule since being on quarantine are : more Facetime talks with the grandparents, going on a walk, sitting on the porch, going on a drive, moving from room to room more for different activities.

We’d both go stir crazy if we just stayed in the living room. 😉

There are several other things I go over in the video: his favorite toys, cosleeping, and more! Scroll up and watch the video if you want to see more of our quarantine day. Or click here! 😉

I hope this blog post and video can give you some encourage and ideas for dealing with this time we are currently going through.

I am so excited for Milo as he is learning new things. I am also a little worried about the world he is going to grow up in. I guess that’s all a part of being a momma! ;).

Again, I hope you have a happy fri-yay! And thanks again to those serving us in our community!

~Gracefully Fashionable Britt

It’s funny how I now get excited to think of a whole hour to myself. A whole sixty minutes. Now that my son is a year, that is kind of rare… except at 5 am.

So I would start my morning by hooking up to pump. I would snuggle under a blanket and watch WHATEVER I WANTED!

Next, I would eat me something quick, I found this egg muffin recipe I love!

Sometimes my mom hour is cut short due to having to work.

But if I do have a whole hour, here are some special things I like to do:

I debated showing a scene in my video about my mom hour.

I had a wonderful peaceful mom hour while sitting in an uncleaned living room. 😉

Even from a young age planners have always been one of my favorite things. I was that girl in elementary school always filling out her calendar and assignments everyday. While most kids lost their agenda’s, I never did.

Life with a baby completely changed my planner schedule. Newborn to six months really wasn’t much of a change. But with a nine month old, I had to figure out something to help save my never ending to do list.

I stumbled across this Over Achievers Creed.

While I was constantly thinking of everything that needed to get done, I was forgetting the most important.

Keeping my nine month old ALIVE and HAPPY.

Once I came to grips with that, I realized I was actually getting a lot done EVERY day.

So two things I started to change with my agenda:

Write down normal chores.

2. Block Schedules!

I don’t always accomplish everything on my list. So whatever I don’t accomplish, I just roll it over to the next day.

Do the best you can and be content with what you got done!

I hope this was helpful to motivate mommies to see that even the small things we do every day count.

So where to begin:

His First Birthday

In this video, I share his schedule & favs.

His Schedule:

Favs:

What I learned in the first year:

Stop comparing schedules.

2. You don’t have to do “cry it out” AND DON’T FEEL BAD IF YOU DON’T.

3. The first year is the slowest but fastest year of your life.

So now I have a toddler!

Milo, my son, has been fighting his nap since three this afternoon. It is now 4 o’ clock and he still hasn’t fallen asleep.

I was feeling like a complete failure. I was focusing so much on what I hadn’t accomplished rather than looking at my little 11 month old falling asleep FINALLY in my arms.

I am a Christian wife and mother. That is my “job” I serve in every moment of the day. If I don’t take this nap and get some rest will I be showing a Christ like character to my husband and son?

So I chose to take a nap, with my son snuggled on top of me. I had lots of other things to do but I chose to nap so I would be kind to my husband and son that evening. So I could cook supper with a smile, and giggle with my son at bath time.

So let me share pictures of why I love this wallet!

-I love the print and overall look of this wallet.

-hello card organization! 6 card slots, 2 ID slots, and 2 slide pockets.

– I love how there are two big pockets for cash! We try to use cash for things and having room to divide and carry cash in my wallet makes life easier on me.

-More card slots!!!

-Room to carry some change.

schedule –

Exclusively Pumping

Quarantine

There are several other things I go over in the video: his favorite toys, cosleeping, and more! Scroll up and watch the video if you want to see more of our quarantine day. Or click here! 😉