How I Get Paid to Blog

I bet that title gotcha curious.

I have been reading blogs with titles like this for awhile now. And I've been trying to do all the things they say to do: find my niche, have a large presence on social media, network with other bloggers, have Pinterest-worthy images, add affiliate links, write good content.

Whew. Sounds exhausting, right? It is. And I can't keep up anymore.

Meaningful Resolutions

Yeah, yeah. I know. Resolutions. Most of the time they are just empty words or thoughts that people never follow through on...or break after 2 months. Do we all need to choose to take better care of ourselves? Yes. Or stop an annoying habit? Sure. But do we really look at the year ahead of us and think about how we can better ourselves or our families? Probably not as intentionally as we should. 

I love the idea of 'starting fresh' with the new year. And since I am a goal oriented type of person, this resolution thing is right up my alley.

In 2014 my New Year's resolution was to say 'yes' to my family and 'no' to busyness. This was such an important resolution to me and it benefited my family so much. As I reflect on 2014, I feel like I stayed true to this goal about 90% of the time. And can I just say, that we are genuinely a happier, calmer family unit (most of the time!). So I plan to continue this healthy habit in the upcoming year. 

As I think about 2015, I've made another intentional goal. My resolution in 2015 is to make it count. This will most likely be my last full calendar year to be a stay at home mama. I want to make the most of these chaotic exhausting wonderful days. 

I wanted to be a stay at home mom since before Brad and I were even married. I would cry because I was so passionate about it and I honestly never thought I would be able to have this desire of my heart. It has been a leap of faith, but God's hand has been all over this time in our lives. For those of you who know our story (from career changes, to change in schools, and infertility struggles) you can testify to the power of God's timing and His plans. And if you don't know our story, let's go grab some coffee and I will brag about my Savior's faithfulness and goodness despite my faithlessness and evilness. 

So in 2015, I am going to make it count. I am going to embrace the messiness and chaos. I am going to savor the spontaneity and creativity. I am going to smile through the tantrums and complaints about dinner (smile is probably the wrong word...I should say 'refrain from yelling'). I am going to worry less about my to-do list and more about the little moments that I will never get back. I am going to make it count. Will you?

Happy New Year!!

Blog Beginnings: March Madness

Picture it. It was a glorious Saturday in March. Not too hot. Not too cold. Not a cloud in the sky, but yet, a slight breeze. The hubs and I decided to take the children to one of our favorite parks. They played for over an hour. Straight. He and I got to have an actual conversation in the middle of the day without interruptions. Without interruptions. This is a big deal people. Big.

We talked about lots of things but one thing was of particular importance. What was I going to do with myself now that our oldest was going to Kindergarten that fall (where’s my box of tissues, anyway?) and our youngest was off to pre-school 2 days a week? Well, I spilled my inner most desires to him. I wanted to organize things for people. Oh and I maybe wanted to start a blog. Because, ya know, why not? I love to organize. It just comes naturally to me. It makes me feel like I’ve accomplished something tangible. And sometimes I have a lot to say in my little brain…and it usually all comes spilling out to my hubby at once. So I figured, why not blog about it instead of say it?

Well, the next day we got iced in...because we live in Texas and that’s what happens. The ice stayed around for a couple of days and they canceled school so the hubby got to stay home and play with us. About the middle of the day I received a text from my sweet local friend checking on us to see how we were managing being cooped up in the house because, let’s face it, you can’t really go out and play in the ice. Sigh. I told her all was well because luckily, my hubby was there to help…and let me catch a mid-day nap!

Our text convo went a little something like this:

Me: We’re good. Brad is here…thankfully! What about you?

Her: Good but my hubby had to work.

Me: No! Say it isn’t so! Bummer!

Her: Yes, I’m a little worried about what I’m going to do this summer to keep all 3 littles entertained by myself.

Me: That’s one of the awesome things about being married to a teacher….Not the best paycheck, but I get lots of help in the summer!

Her: I think you could earn a little extra pocket change if people hired you to organize for them and then you could blog about it

Ok. Stop. Is anyone else totally freaked out a little here?!? Remember my glorious park “date” with my hubby not even 2 days earlier?!?

I had not told anyone else about my crazy ideas. Not a soul.

And hold the phone. Did she just combine my 2 separate ideas into 1 great idea? I quickly began to tell my friend all about it! She agreed to be in prayer with us about the details and was super excited that the Lord used her to confirm His plans for me.  

So here we are. I may be the only person ever reading this. But I love that the Father’s hand is all over this blog. Even if it’s just for me to document our crazy, but wonderful little lives. He has so clearly put this idea on my heart and I am excited to see where He takes me!

Simple Mama

Hi! I’m Michelle. Welcome to my blog! I’m a thirty-something stay-at-home mama to 2 (mostly) sweet babies and the wife of an energetic, can’t-go-anywhere-in-public-without-running-into-someone-he-knows Elementary PE Teacher. Since it takes an act of Congress to get a family photo without the help of a professional photographer (and all the mamas said “Amen!”), here are some candid pics of my crazies…I mean lovelies.

This is me and the hubs, Brad...on our 10 year

anniversary date night...like 2 years ago.

Pathetic, I know. But until my 5 year old learns

how to use a camera, this is the latest and greatest

candid picture we have together (thanks to our

babysitter that night!)

I heart this hottie!

Here is Channing.

She loves to work on anything artistic.

She also loves to catch bugs...while wearing

a princess dress. She is "serious" like her mama,

but she has such a compassionate heart

and I adore her!

And this is Little Man Chaz.
This kid LOVES Star Wars
and Angry Birds. Like really LOVES it!
Don't let that smile fool ya...he is super ornery!
But he is also super tender-hearted and he makes me glad
to be a Boy Mom!

Our home is usually filled with some level of controlled chaos. (Yeah, that controlling part would be because of me!) I’m a perfectionist who loves organizing and having a plan. And for goodness sake, let’s all try to stick to the plan! But I can honestly say that the Lord has begun a work in my heart in the direction of contentedness, spontaneity, and simplicity…which can be hard for a Type A personality like me. So here I am…learning to keep things simple in the midst of all the chaos. I’m the Simple Mama. 


To learn the story behind The Simple Mama blog click here.