As I plan for a new week of meals, I realized this may be a new concept or routine for families. We love having our weeks mapped out when it comes to food. Not only does it makes things easier, but it helps us to stay on track with maintaining balanced eating. I thought I would share 10 tips that work for us!

1. Plan around your schedule. If certain nights or weeks are busier than others, plan according to that. Don’t allow it to become another added stress!
2. Keep a list of meals your family loves and continue to add to it as you try new things. You can rotate through the list and not have to think on those weeks that are already overwhelming. We like to keep ours on a google doc along with the recipe.
3. Write out everything you need for the week and stick to your list (this helps with budgeting and temptations).
4.  Cook 1 crock pot, freezer, casserole, or instapot meal a week to allow a night or two of NO cooking!
5. Use a meat in multiple ways! We will cook a huge batch of grilled chicken, pulled pork, ground beef, sausage, etc and then use it different ways throughout the week (salads, bowls, enchiladas, meat/veggie/carb….). You can be as creative as you want to be!
6. Try to add in a vegetable with every meal! If you make a heavier dish, you can eat a smaller serving and load up on the veggie.
7. Prep as much as you can beforehand (espeically if the nights are busy). If you want to cook everything on a certain day, go for it! If you prefer to do throughout the week, perfect. Do what works best for you.
8. Have your breakfast, lunch and snacks packed the night before (if applicable). Rushing around the morning of makes things stressful and overwhelming. Set yourself up so the guesswork is taken out.
9. If you are sticking to a budget, plan meals that use similar ingredients for the week.
10. Try 1 new meal every couple of weeks to keep things interesting. Pinterest and Youtube have great ideas that you can try and then tweak. You may find something to add to your list of favorites!

 

Our instagram of meal inspiration: https://www.instagram.com/bridwell_wellness/?hl=en

 

I was recently asked how I decided to stay home with our little, and it got me thinking about this past year. I will preface this by saying I know not every woman wants to stay home with their children OR is financially able to do so if they wanted to.  We are all on a different journey, and have to do what’s best for our own families and personal situations. I am extremely thankful I had the choice, but I think a few things contributed to being able to make it.

Throughout my pregnancy, I actually was set on working. I toured day cares and thought I would continue my career while adding a baby to the mix. Boy, did God have other plans! My husband and I both had moms in the home, so the idea of me staying home was nothing out of the ordinary and had been a topic of conversation on numerous occasions.

Once our son actually arrived my world was ROCKED. Everything I thought I wanted completely shifted, and my husband and I had some big decisions to make. Going back to work after maternity leave was a huge blessing. It solidified what I had been feeling and helped me gain more perspective. I knew leaving my career and going down to one income would be a hard adjustment and a BIG change. I was feeling every emotion possible, but I couldn’t shake what God was placing on my heart.

Thoughts that kept running through my head on a loop…

• You never know until you try….give it at least a year
• The scariest choices have the biggest reward
• Nothing is permanent
• You can always go back to a full-time job
• You can always replenish money
• Time will always pass….you will never be able to get it back

With those thoughts circling my mind, I knew what choice was best for our family, and I am thankful my husband 100% supported it.

As I mentioned earlier, I do believe a few things contributed to being able to make the decision a little easier, and I wanted to touch on those briefly.

1. We were smart when purchasing our home. We purchased as if we were on 1 income in case I wanted to stay home in the future and were firm in the amount we wanted to spend.
2. We lived in a 1 bedroom apartment for two years to SAVE…and bond:)
3. We treated (still do) our savings like a bill and had a set amount each month
4. We invested (still do) and also treated that like a monthly bill
5. We worked (still do) with a financial adviser to constantly create goals and a plan

Finances aside, it is hard from all ends. Major props to ALL the Mommas out there doing their thing! YOU are truly AMAZING!

Stay tuned for more thoughts on the SAHM life…

 

 

     This year was a big year for our family. Not only did we have our first child, but I left my full-time teaching job to stay home with our son. Talk about an adjustment! I knew going in to it I needed something for myself that separated my day of full time mom mode. Teaching has always been a passion of mine and a part of me, so when I heard about doing it online I was intrigued.  I have now been online teaching for nearly 6 months and wanted to share my thoughts and first impressions. 

Pros:

• Complete control of schedule (no minimum hour requirements)
• Home
• Hours (when little is sleeping)
• Short, easy to follow lessons (25 minutes)
• Very little “prep” work (if any)
• Good pay
• 1:1 classes
• Can open up short notice classes for extra pay (less than 24 hour booking)
• Anyone with a bachelor’s degree can do it
• Training/workshops readily available
• Various levels (allows you to teach in your “sweet” spot if you choose)
• Teacher portal and app which houses everything and keeps it all in one place

Cons:

• Internet connections or problems (your end or student)
• Hours (some may not like working mornings or evenings)
• Bookings or classes can fluctuate
• May take a little time to “build” schedule or gain regulars
• Taxes are not taken out (independent contractor)
• Set up costs (classroom background, a few props, headset…)

     Overall, I have had a GREAT experience. I love working with kids, and think it is incredible I get to connect with them across the world through a screen. It took me about a month or so to get “regulars” and now I am consistently booked with my typical students. I work anywhere from 5am-8am (or 9am with time change) depending on the day or week and always take 1-2 days off.

     I appreciate the shorter lessons and think the content is spot on. I honestly enjoy earlier mornings and am so grateful I can work a couple of hours before my child even wakes up. Creating my own schedule is probably the biggest thing working part-time. I absolutely love that I can work when I want and how much I want with the consistency and stability. I am excited to continue this journey and am thankful for the experience!

 

If you are curious or interested in possibly teaching online, please contact me. I would be happy to help in any way possible, or answer any questions you may have. You do not have to be a teacher or have teaching experience.

Email: jaclynwhitmore@gmail.com

Referral Link: https://t.vipkid.com.cn/mkt/landing/personal?referralToken=2972b9100a573cc7317fc388848c8ae7&refereeId=11318927

Referral Code: JACLY0018