Ways to reduce stress this Holiday season...

I absolutely LOVE the holiday season! Christmas has always been, for me, the most wonderful time of the year (did you see what I did there lol). However, since I have been married and especially since I have had children, the holidays have became A LOT more stressful. They basically make me feel like this....

So to help with the holiday blunder, I have complied a few tips to help us get through the next 3 weeks.

1. Prepare! I could not stress this enough (get it..stress...ok I'm done with the corny jokes) but seriously, preparation is everything! Even though it's probably a little late to start this now, one thing that my husband and I did this year that has helped us tremendously is we put our kids Christmas gifts in layaway! I'm not sure about bigger toy stores but I know K-Mart and Wal-Mart both have layaway. We went right after Halloween and picked out Christmas gifts for both kiddos and we've been paying on them little by little. The first plus was we didn't have to fight the "Christmas crowd" when we were shopping and the second, most obvious, plus is we didn't have to spend a chunk of money at one time. We will definitely be doing this every year!

One way we are preparing for all of the Christmas festivities is by using a planner. I use a planner religiously anyways so it was second nature for me to use it to plan all of our Christmas outings/functions ect. By writing everything down in my planner I can easily keep up with everything we have coming up and it keeps us all more organized and helps us to not over-book ourselves.

2. Just say NO! This is something that I have a very hard time doing but I am trying to do more. Let's be honest, do we really have to attend every single Christmas party on the block or drag our kids all over creation just to try and create the perfect Christmas memories for them?! Don't get me wrong, that's all well and good but I know that I have more memorable childhood memories of my dad and I sitting in our living room floor watching "A Christmas Story" and eating oranges rather than us traveling hundreds of miles to go see Christmas lights or standing in line for 3 hours just so I could get my picture with Santa. Don't get me wrong, I'm not downing those things at all, my point is we don't have to do it all! Wonderful memories can be made at home just being with each other! Those are the times that I truly cherish!

Take full advantage of free time! Instead of feeling obligated to attend every single holiday festivity, stay home, get in your pj's, watch Christmas movies and eat cookies! I mean, who wouldn't want that?!

3. Reduce your spending! Ok I know I am walking on egg shells with this one but it's just the truth! Sorry not sorry! It is mind boggling to me the amount of money we spend for Christmas. To think that some people will get themselves in debt just to buy Christmas gifts completely blows my mind. What has happened to the TRUE meaning of Christmas. I could probably preach on this subject but for your sake I won't ha! Instead of breaking your bank try these instead:

• Don't buy for every single person. Only buy for your close loved ones (kids, spouse, parents)
• Try homemade gifts-I LOVE getting homemade gifts from my friends & family. Homemade jams, salsa, lotions, scrubs...the possibilities are endless! 
• Set yourself a budget per person-make it a rule that you are only going to spend $10 on each family member. That narrows down your gift choices plus ensures that you won't break the bank.
• Instead of gifts, spend money on experiences-instead of buying material things, make a family date for your whole family to go ice skating. Making memories will last a lot longer than a shirt from TJ Maxx, promise! :) 
• Buy something for your home-this year instead of my husband and I getting each other random gifts we are buying ourselves a new mattress! It will be something that we will keep for years and it's something that we really NEED (in a seriously bad way)! 

It's sad to think that a holiday that is suppose to be so meaningful has become nothing more than a commercialized money pit which at the end of the day causes you to be so stressed out that you find yourself dreading the holiday's rather than enjoying them. Let's pull back the reigns and get this under control. Don't fall into the Christmas trap. Rest, relax, and enjoy this truly wonderful time of the year! Merry Christmas Ya'll! :) 

Minimalism Journey Cont...

As the journey to a more simplified life continues I have some ups and downs...

I am not that much farther along in my process since my last post and video. Life has been so hectic here lately I honestly have not had time to purge the way I would like. Between showers, birthday parties, weddings, and fall festivities my weekends have been jam packed for two full months now! Not to mention The Matt Franklin Band is getting a mini Christmas Tour together for our surrounding churches (more on that later). Needless to say I haven't had the time.

What I have done, has proven true to the fact that I've had to clean less and is easier to maintain. By purging a lot of my dishware and silverware, I still have to wash dishes (aka: put them in the dishwasher), but one load usually washes them all! I've also had less towels to fold and put away which has made laundry less time consuming. We've also started using our towels more than once so now I'm only doing about one load per week of towels, wash clothes and dish rags. Woo hoo!

We've also started purging some of our larger furniture (I'm sure my Facebook friends can clearly see this). A couple pieces that we've decided to sell has been a bit of a challenge because I was more attached that I thought. I really had to stop and evaluate the situation and ask myself "Is this serving a specific purpose in my home?" or "Will this really make a difference is this piece is gone?" All of those answers ended up being NO so they had to go! As expected our home already looks more spacious and airy just from selling a few pieces of furniture.

Like I said, the journey continues. It's no where near finished but I'm already feeling the positive effects from minimizing our possessions!

My Minimalism Journey...

A concept that I have tossed around in my mind for awhile now, but I've finally decided to take the plunge...MINIMALISM!! May sound a little crazy but I'm excited to see how it simplifies my life! The most important things in life are not material things. I'm looking to increase my time spent with family, friends, and most importantly The Lord and decrease my time spent cleaning, organizing and laundry! With a world FILLED with distractions my goal is to streamline and focus my time and energy on the important things in life!

DISCLAIMER: Please excuse my no make-up, messy haired, self! It was a long day of cleaning.

Not sure why this video cuts off at the end, probably YouTube's way of telling me I was rambling. HA! 

This Season of Life...

Just as we have different seasons in the natural, I believe we also have different seasons of life. We may go through droughts but then finally the rain comes and we are refreshed and renewed again. Lately I have been walking through a season of life that, to my knowledge, I have never walked through before. I know that I am walking through this for a reason and that my heavenly father is teaching me as he walks with me through this season. This season is 'learning to stand still'.

Standing still is something that is hard for many of us to do in today's society. There are so many distractions that try and take our focus off of what it's suppose to be on. We can stand still in many different ways. Whether it's a decision that needs to be made, or just taking time to stop, breathe, and enjoy the present moment. I am learning how to stand still in every area of my life this season.

I am learning how to stand still in the spiritual. I often find myself getting so worked up and overwhelmed by the struggles of life. I guess you could say I am a 'worry wart' ha! I always stress about the smallest things. But lately the Lord keeps reminding me to stop, breathe and stand still. Whether it's through reading his word or through prayer he keeps reminding me that 'he's got this'. He knows exactly what I am going through and struggling with and even though sometimes I feel like he's a thousand miles away, he reminds me that he's been right by my side the whole time. I can just feel his freedom just from typing this blog post! So in my current battle, I am standing still and letting HIM fight for me.

I'm also learning to stand still in the natural. The other day I was sitting on the couch replying to emails while my 3 year old daughter played with my 6 month old son. She looked at me and said 'Mommy come play with us', my response was 'hold on a second I'm busy right now'. Well that second turned into 15 or 20 minutes. She then came over, put her tiny little hand in front of my phone screen and said 'Mommy, put your phone up and come play with us!' First of all I was shocked my three year old just correct me, then I was so disappointed in myself for ignoring them. That's exactly what I was doing...ignoring them! So needless to say I put my phone away and played with my babies!

We can get so sidetracked and distracted sometimes that we don't even realize we're distracted! With smart phones, technology, television, work, hobbies, other obligations, it's easy to get distracted from the things that really matter. Jesus teaches us not to lay up worldly treasures but to lay up our treasures in heaven and that where our treasure is, our heart will be there also. That day my heart was in my cell phone. I quickly learned that day that I am only given a short amount of time on this earth. It's my job and calling to make the most of it. Which is not Facebooking, Tweeting, Instagramming, Pinteresting or YouTubing. It's playing with my kids, spending quality time with my husband, and serving Jesus to the absolute best of my ability. THAT makes a life of fulfillment.

I am still walking through this season and still being taught many things. Some things I have always known but needed to be reminded of. We all need reminding sometimes. So today just remember and be mindful that at the end of the road, when we stand before Jesus, it's not going to matter how many followers you had, how many friends you had, how many likes you had on a post but how you lived your life and how many souls you led to Christ will be where your reward lies.

Keep the main thing, the main thing.

Stop. Breathe. Stand still.

Small entryway for a small house...

I have been longing for an entryway for awhile but couldn't figure out how it could work in my small home. The living space in our home is 1200 sq ft and I can't imagine having anything bigger. I can barley keep my 1200 sq ft clean as it is! Plus we always enter through the french doors that lead into our kitchen, which I don't really like but it works. So my dilemma was, how do I make an entryway in a kitchen, a small kitchen at that. 

The search was on to find functional furniture that wasn't too bulky or big. I finally came across this perfect little gem of a table. It's distressed pale yellow color had me from hello! The table is the perfect size to fit a small wooden bowl, to hold "pocket junk" and a small vintage vase with silk hydrangeas. Oh and can't forget my ceramic bird on the bottom shelf! I found this table at a local store called Arrow Vintage which I am kind of obsessed with at the moment. Find their Facebook page here! Find their Instagram here! 

Then I found this cute coat/hat hanger at Burke's Outlet for $12! A steal I know. The wood tone reminds me of drift wood so it looks great against my pale blue/gray wall color. 

Viola! That's it! I am so pleased with the way my small entryway turned out. It's small but functional and was done on a budget (story of my life). 

 

Bargain of the day/shop small

Anyone who knows me, knows that I love a good bargain! I gravitate towards the sale rack in almost every store that I go in to. GoodWill makes me giddy and consignment stores make me salivate (no literally people,gross). So naturally I was pretty excited about my recent find. 

I have a deep love for the department store Roses. I'm not sure how many Roses are left in the world, but I thank God that there's still one in Somerset, KY. Roses is a lot like a Kmart or Big Lots but I think they have a lot more variety and are cheaper. 

Which brings me to my bargain find! I found this faux leather bag at Roses for a whopping $11!!! I know, I know...just breathe (insert high pitched squeal)! Then I got the idea, why not monogram it!? I mean, I'm a girl, I'm southern and every southern girl HAS to have SOMETHING monogrammed. It's in the southern belle handbook! So I took it to a local shop in Russell Springs, KY called Bows & Bling. They have everything from clothes to jewelry to hair bows and their prices are phenomenal! Find their Facebook page here. I highly recommend their shop! Sherry & Melissa (owners) probably see me more than they do some of their own family members, sorry not sorry. 

So here is the break down of my bargain of the day:

Roses bag: $11

Bows & Bling Monogram: $5.30

Total cost: $16.30!!!!!

Yet again I have proven that style and fashion doesn't have to be expensive! Shop smart, shop local, shop small! 

Shop local tribute...

Today I am highlighting a small boutique in Russell Springs, KY called Main Street Liquidators. Located in the heart of Main Street, this small shop is a hot spot for fashionistas! From their trendy costume jewlrey to their overstock QVC clothes, this shop is defenitley one of my favs! I always seem to find something unique and trendy at Main Street Liquidators. The prices are also super reasonable and the quality is great! I also love shooting the breeze with the owner, Debbie. She's a sweet soul. Check out this necklace I picked up from there last week. A great pop of color to any nuetral outfit.

Turqouise gem necklace $10

Sometimes the smallest shops have the best treasures 

Check out the new Rachel Zoe floppy hat: bottom left 

Do these beauties even need a caption!?

I will always be a lover of mom & pop shops. Small business's are what our great country was founded on, so it's our job to keep them alive! As a tribute to small business's, I will be highlighting different merchandise/product that I have gotten from small, home town, business's! I will pick an item and do a feature blog post about the item and the store! Be watching to see which store/product makes it on the blog next! 

What diaper bag(s) I'm using...

Wanted to do a short vid to show the different diaper bags I am currently using for Elijah. Let me know what kind of diaper bag(s) you are using for your little ones!

Check out my friend Amy Lawless's Thirty-One page here! 


Disclaimer: Please overlook Eli's crying in the background of this video, he was being tended to and was not being harmed! HA!

Be Still My Heart...

I have missed you wonderful blog you!! I have had a wonderful "break" from blogging and I'm now happy to say I am back in full force. As you know my life has most definitely changed the past couple of months with the arrival of my son, Elijah Matthew Franklin, who was born April 15th. Yes that's right...a tax day baby. Note: my daughter Emery was born on election day, November 2012 and my son was born on tax day...I'm not sure what that means but it's bound to mean something HA!

Anyways, both babies are doing tremendous! Even though we are still trying to adjust with our new addition, it has been nothing short of a blessing. Elijah has been the most easy-going baby and is so laid back. I have always heard that boys are easier than girls which I was very unsure of, but it seems to be the case with my children. In the beginning he had a small issue with gas so before it got worse I went ahead and took him to the chiropractor which, again, has worked wonders. I will talk about that in a later post. But as far as his nightly routine, he is a great sleeper and only wakes up once a night to eat. 

Emery is doing so well being a big sis! She wants to be by his side at all times and wants to "help" as much as possible...maybe sometimes a little too much but I have no complaints! I was so worried about her being jealous of Eli but so far that has not been the case, thank God! I'm sure that may change as they get older but for right now I'll take what I can get HA! 

The only thing that I have really had to get use to is time management. Obviously I have to prepare more now if we have to be somewhere at a certain time but I feel that we've transitioned very well from 3 to 4! A lot of that has to do with my husband, Matt. I can not begin to explain how great he has been with helping out. He's a keeper! <3

38 Weeks and Entertainment with Emery...

My due date is rapidly approaching!! Eeee! (that was my squeal of pure joy). I'm not sure who's more excited, me or my husband...ok, obviously ME but I have to say that Matt is pretttty excited!

So I am now 38 weeks pregnant and feeling...miserable. Not complaining but that's just part of it! I would LOVE to meet a woman who says she felt amazing at 38 weeks pregnant, I would shake her hand or maybe just smack her HAHA! Just kidding I wouldn't do that. 

So lets go down the line shall we...

Sleep: none
Cravings: ice cream (who would've thunk)

Contractions: DAILY but only Braxton Hicks (bummer)

Excise: walking, trying to walk more than just from the couch to the bathroom. And I actually did squats last night and the night before but only because I'm a little desperate at this point.

Baby: healthy, big and stubborn! He's still sitting very high and hasn't dropped so I'm hoping and praying he'll drop by my next appointment! 

That's my 38th week in a nutshell! I'm healthy, blessed, and ready to meet my little Elijah Matthew Franklin! :) 

And for my "Entertainment with Emery" segment, here she is having a flip out over Elijah's car seat! LOL! Enjoy! 

Chiropractor during pregnancy...

First of all I'd like to apologize for my recent hiatus from blogging. My third trimester got real fast, real quick about two weeks ago and it's definitely taking a toll on me. Hopefully I'll at least get a few more posts in before baby Eli makes his debut, but not making any promises! Ha!

I wanted to share about my experience with seeing a Chiropractor during my pregnancy. I've gotten a lot of questions and weird looks from people when I tell them that I've been going to a Chiropractor since my 30th week of pregnancy.

As soon as I hit my third trimester I started having major lower back and hip pain, to the point where it was hard for me to even get out of bed in the mornings. I knew that I couldn't hobble around for the next 10/11 weeks so I took to Google to look for a solution. After some major research and asking other mothers about it, I decided to give a Chiropractor a try. Note that I had never been to a chiropractor in my life!

After my first visit, I was in even more pain than before I went which scared me to death! The doctor assured me that this was normal, especially since I had never been before. So I took his advice and kept going back.

Now, at almost 38 weeks pregnant I can say that my lower back and hip pain has majorly decreased!! Of course I still have some discomfort when I walk for long periods of time or bend over a lot but that's because I have a 7 lb baby pulling on my lower back..hello!

Even though I have heard the good, the bad, and the ugly about Chiropractors I can honestly say that I have had nothing short of a great experience with mine! :)

Thanks Lakeway Chiropractic for all you do! You guys are awesome!

Baby Shower Highlights...

Just wanted to share a few photos from my baby shower last weekend. It was so special for the fact that a few of my close friends took it upon themselves to throw the shower for me. After planning my own baby shower with Emery, I was so excited to be stress free with this one.

A HUGE thank you to: Nikki McClanahan, Amy Lawless, Lindsey Hines, Jessica Wilson and Jenny Oakes! You guys blessed my socks off!! :)

This chick-a-dee is ready to be a big sis! 

Nautical Cupcakes with Swedish fish on top! So cute! 

The Party Squad

Moms just wanna have fun (minus Jessica HA!)

This lady means the world to me! 

Emery was a little excited over her Frozen dress

Oh my word these are amazing!!! 

Can't forget our baby mama photo! Tradition LOL                                      

Thanks ladies for a wonderful shower! 

Baby Eli, your family is very excited to meet you!! :)

35 weeks and counting...

Holy moly where has time gone! I can not believe I am already 35 weeks pregnant! Baby Eli will be here in no time which means I need to kick it into overdrive!

I feel about the same as I did last week, although I can feel that he is getting bigger by the day! It's getting harder to do daily tasks. Bending over is almost impossible now a days. 

Still craving water 24/7 and going to the bathroom at least 4/5 times during the night is the new norm for me.

Heart burn is of the devil. Just saying. The old wives tale that says if you experience a lot of heart burn while your pregnant means your baby will be born with hair, is a lie. I had horrible heart burn with Emery and she looked like a naked mole rate, not a sprig of hair! HA! We'll see if Eli is any different.

Hello swelling! My ankles, hands and face are slowly starting to swell. I always seem to swell more in the mornings and nights. I can still wear my wedding rings though which I'm thankful for. You wouldn't believe the awkward glares you get from cashiers when they see you aren't wearing a ring...no joke! It's crazy!

I am now ending this post because I'm so tired my little sausage-link fingers can barley type! Happy pregnancy! :)

Love this little cheese ball! 

Things to do before baby...

This may not be your average "what to do before baby is born" post. Of course we all know to make sure and get the "have-to's" done before baby comes, but I wanted to take a slightly different approach to this check-list.

This is a "self" check-list. Things that I want to do for myself before I give birth. Since this is my second rodeo I know that sometimes we as mothers neglect ourselves for various reasons. Whether it's time, money, or other obligations sometimes we get put on the back burner. So a couple months ago I made a list of all the things that I would like to do before I give birth. Some may think this is very self absorbed but after growing a human for 9 months I don't think there's anything wrong with having a little R&R.

Without further adieu, here is my self absorbed check list...

• Get a pedicure
• Get a prenatal massage
• Get a spray tan (it's winter time and I'm transparent)
• Buy new PJ's or gown for hospital
• Buy new house slippers (since a dog demolished mine)
• Shave my legs (your question, "why do you need this on a check-list?" My answer, "you've obviously never been pregnant") 
• Take a nap...during the day (game changer)
• Get someone to rub my feet (Does Emery count?)
• Have someone clean my house (any takers?)

So there you have it, my short list of to-do's before baby, mommy edition! Will I accomplish all of these, probably not. Am I going to try my hardest to live up these last few weeks of being a beached whale? ABSOLUTELY!!! 

Best places to shop maternity...

One challenge that comes with living in a small town is the lack of shopping. That's probably an understatement when it comes to my town but I'm feeling nice today. :) However, there have been a few places where I have scored some super cute maternity clothes. Note: I did not buy a single piece of maternity clothing while I was pregnant with Emery so this time around I treated myself a little more! What's wrong with that?!

1) www.oldnavy.com  I am head over heels for Old Navy's maternity clothes. I haven't had good luck finding a large selection in-store, so I always order online! Their clothes are so well made, comfy, and trendy; it's my go to place! And their baby clothes....don't even get me started! Right now, Old Navy has a great sale on their maternity clothes! I just ordered a dress for my baby shower for $18!!! That makes me want to do my happy dance!

                       

2) www.target.com I also love Target's selection of maternity wear. They are always on point with style! With Target, I have had better luck shopping in the store rather than online. I would rather shop in-store just so I can make sure the clothes fit well but I'm not opposed to online shopping every once in a while.

3) http://www.pinkblushmaternity.com/ Pink Blush Maternity is an online site that has super cute maternity clothes! They are a little more expensive on their "new arrivals" but I always shop their sale section and they always have some great deals! I actually ordered a bridesmaids dress from there website and it fit really well and only took a couple days to arrive. I was very impressed! Right now they have an online sale, 20% off your total purchase! Hop on that mommas!   



4) www.motherhood.com Motherhood maternity is also a great place. I haven't bought a lot from Motherhood but what I have bought is very good quality and fits well. Let's just say I ALWAYS shop the sale racks. HA!


When it comes to maternity wear my main thing is comfort and price! My theory is I'm only going to wear these items for a few months and then who knows if I'll ever wear them again! I like to buy simple pieces that I know I am going to wear a lot and then pair them with things I already have in my closet like a cardigan, blazer, or cute vest. That way I don't have to buy as many maternity pieces and still utilize what I already have. Happy shopping ladies!

34 Weeks and Counting....

Well it's another week down and one step closer to the big day. This week the only major change is that I have been having some major Braxton Hicks contractions. I'm actually having them as we speak, TMI I know.

I am hoping and praying that my nesting instincts will start kicking in soon or my house is going to be in bad shape. I've been doing a pretty good job on not letting it get too out of control but my problem is that when I start, I have to stop and rest my back every 10/15 minutes. So a job that would normally take me 30 minutes, now takes me 45 minutes to an hour. Grrr!!

I'm having a hard time refraining myself from buying things for the baby until after my baby shower. I would hate to start buying now and then get the exact same things for my shower. So, the plan is to become a buying machine after my shower this coming Saturday.

The nursery is....not done HA! But we're definitely making progress.

Still no major cravings except just food in general, oh and Snapple Peach tea (insert heavenly choir singing).

Other than that everything is pretty much the same. Heading to the doctor tomorrow to start checking for dilation. Holy moly, that's a huge reality check. I'm having a baby....SOON!!!

Happy Monday ya'll....smile, it's not that bad, promise! :)

Product Review- The NoseFrida

Check out the product that has totally changed my mommy life!!

             https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=S_U6RlZ0gCw

Preparing for two...

Since the arrival of our second child is soon approaching, my husband and I really been thinking a lot about how life is going to be totally different. Many questions and concerns have been flooding my mind. How am I going to give both the amount of attention they need? How am I going to multitask? And will we ever have clean clothes again? The truth is, I really have no idea and with my mild OCD about planning, I really feel unprepared. Is it even possible to be prepared?!

As far as preparing our 2 1/2 year old daughter, Emery, for the change I hope and pray we are taking the right steps. Here are some of the things we are doing and are planning on doing to help her with the transition change. 

1. We talk about the baby constantly! There is not a day that goes by that we aren't talking about the baby. She is very familiar with his name and knows that he is going to come and see us very soon. We really try to incorporate that baby into most of our conversations. 

2. We tell her how wonderful of a big sister she will be. I'm a big believer in encouragement. I feel like if she is told she will be a great big sis, then she will think it, then act upon it.

3. We tell her of ways that she's going to get to "help" mommy with the baby. She gets so excited when I tell her she can help me feed, wash and change the baby. Even at two I can already see her motherly instincts kicking in, it amazes me! We even go as far as practicing with a baby doll.

4. I'm going to involve her in the baby shower. I know that it may not seem like a big deal, but I want her to feel involved in every aspect of the baby festivities. I also plan on getting her a "big sister" gift to open up at the baby shower just to make her feel special. 

5. This last tip, my good friend actually gave me and it made total sense. When Emery comes to visit us in the hospital for the first time I am going to have the baby in his bassinet instead of holding him. I didn't understand this concept at first but my friend said that Emery will less likely be territorial of me if she see's that he's in the bassinet and not in my arms. 

All in all I know that all children are different and they are all going to react different to a new sibling. Since I am an only child this is all a learning process for me as well. I know I can't fully prepare Emery for her new brother but with these tips and much prayer I am hoping for a smooth transition.

If you have any ideas or even stories please feel free to share in the comment box below!

Blessings!
Leah 

33 Weeks and Counting...

So since I am currently in the home stretch of my pregnancy, I thought I would give a brief update every Monday to document some of the "changes" that are taking place!

I have officially hit the brick wall of my 3rd trimester. My energy level has bottomed out and fatigue has kicked in full gear. Since this is my second pregnancy I know that these feelings only get worse the closer you get to the grand finale. Even with the discomforts, I'm trying to take it day by day and still make the most of it. Even though my body wants to lay dormant and eat Oreo ice cream, I'm determined not to get to that point just yet, maybe in a few more weeks.

As far as cravings, I really haven't had as many as I did with my last pregnancy. Here lately I have been craving Snapple Peach Tea's and WATER! I feel like I am morphing into a camel by all the liquids I have been consuming lately. It's safe to say I drink more than I eat! Now I'm to the point where I'm not eating much because there's not much room to put it. HA! I have noticed that I am getting miserably full, quicker.

I have been slacking in the fitness department lately. I had been experiencing major lower back and hip pain that started right at my 3rd trimester. After talking with my doctor I decided to go to the chiropractor to help relieve some of the pain and I'm happy to say that it has helped tremendously! Now I only have lower back pain when I'm doing things like cleaning, bending over a lot, and even riding in the car for long periods of time.

All in all I'm doing good and can't complain. I'm excited and anxious to meet our new addition. I'm mentally prepared but not quit physically prepared yet but hopefully will be soon.

Franklin Party of Four!

Hello blog world, good to be back! I never knew how much I liked blogging until I took a small hiatus from it. Suddenly I wasn't trying out as many new recipes, organizing every little space, or coming up with neat life hacks to make life simpler. Wow what a boring life, ha! But in reality my life has been a crazy whirlwind lately and some major changes are taking place in my little family so I figured I would hop back on this blogging train and take off! So I'm starting from scratch!

When pondering on what this blog would actually be about I knew I wanted it to be something that I could relate to as well as fellow mothers, wives, and women. So what better to blog about then things that I am completely passionate about and that are very dear to my heart, family & faith! These two things take up the majority of my time and I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm sure you'll also see some random recipe ideas, cleaning/organizing tips, and some frugal fashion ideas....after this huge beach ball that is under my shirt deflates that is. Wait...what? Oh yea....I'M PREGNANT! 32 weeks and 4 days to be exact, which puts my due date April 20th! More details on my pregnancy will come in later posts, can't spoil it all just yet.

I'm excited to be back blogging and even if no one reads it, it's a good outlet for me personally. I'm learning more and more that sometimes I need to do something for me, that I enjoy and that's blogging! Hope you enjoy the reads. Kick your shoes off and stay awhile. :)