Red Stick Mom

I love the holidays for many reasons, and getting a chance to host family and friends is definitely high on that list.  Now, while my cooking may not be up to the normal standards of a typical host, I can whip up a few print items that make celebrating a holiday just a little more festive and personal for all involved. I’m no stranger to designing and printing out lots of things that will only get thrown away in a matter of hours, but that’s not the point.  I absolutely love seeing people’s reactions when they realize something is personalized or made just for them. So this year for Thanksgiving, while it may not be my turn to cook the turkey,...

I absolutely love to be outdoors! Whenever I have a free moment sans kids, I like to take advantage of the chance to run off the frustrations I face each day as a single, stay-at-home, homeschooling momma -because there are many. The free time to think, breathe, enjoy peace and quiet, get fresh air and sunshine, as well as get your blood pumping...it just makes you feel good about yourself! I don't think I ever appreciated Baton Rouge until I began running. I lived in Houston as a child (one of the many places I have lived) and have always wanted to get back to a "big city". I associated "downtowns" with high-rise offices and a beautiful skyline. I just couldn't...

6:55 am in red letters on the stove clock. “Kids, let’s go. If we don’t hurry up, we will be late.” Now I see 7:00 am ... keep calm but we gotta get moving. “Bennett, you have enough toys for the 10 min car ride to school. You don’t NEED a bad guy. Buzz, Ninja Turtles, and Jake can all be friends in the car. How about we play nice and don’t bring a bad guy? Oh whatever, just get in the car.” “Avery, I understand you don’t like your shoes. You tell me every morning, but those are part of your uniform. The car is open, go get in your seat and buckle up!!” OK, kids out the door, lights off, coffee in...

In Part 1 of my post, I shared our typical day of being a mom and working full-time.  Now, I wanted to take some time to go into the reasons why I work, my tips for balancing life and work, and my advice for dealing with that "mommy guilt" that we all struggle with one way or another. Top reasons I feel that working full time works best for my family: Money - Life is expensive. Period. No explanation needed. Schooling- I went to college then graduate school to pursue a degree where I could make a difference in this world and I want to use it. Continuing Education and Intellectual Stimulation - I enjoy learning new techniques and procedures that will better...

Momtrepreneur is a catchy little term describing a mom (most often a stay at home mom) who builds a hobby or idea into her own business, therefore becoming an entrepreneur. Momtrepreneur. Has a nice ring to it, no? Here’s my own little momtrepreneur journey (so far) in a nutshell: In 6th grade I kind-of, sort-of learned how to sew. In 2010, my friend gave me her sewing machine she no longer wanted. In 2011, I became a mom and was motivated to improve my sewing skills in order to make cute stuff for my kids. These kids happened to be boys, and I realized there was a lack of adorable baby boy clothes on the market. In 2013, I have...