Winter is coming. Errrr, I mean ending (for my Game of Thrones fans - forgive me).

So winter is coming to a close. Our winter sweaters have been well loved. Our closets overflow with boots, wool, and scarves. It's time to get our closets prepped for Spring!

​Moms, throw open your windows -- the spring season is almost upon us! It is high time you air out, dust off, and prep yourself, your family, and your home for the new season.

All week I will be posting spring cleaning challenges to get you into spring fever mode!
Let's get started with the kitchen and pantry. Shall we?

For me, spring cleaning is cathartic. I love to weed through the closets, declutter thoroughly, and ensure that everything is spic and span. But, the kitchen is where I like to bring my A-game.
I must admit, however, that spring cleaning is no picnic. That’s why I have rounded up 7 best tips on how to prepare your kitchen for the warmer months ahead.

1. Start Off with the Cupboards
I don’t know about you, but I always find my cupboards overflowing with ‘clutter’ at the end of winter season. By clutter, I mean those odd glasses, to-go cups with missing lids, kid’s token cups from birthday parties

It's the time of year when the kids have settled back into their routine after the holidays, and we, moms, are trying to get ahead. We are planning spring break, summer vacations, spring decluttering projects....but have you missed planning a little V-Day love for your child's teacher?

Who needs love more than mom? Those lovely men and women who take our kids off our hands for 8+ hours a day and actually get them to stand in single file lines and sit in their chairs for more than 5 minutes! These people are angels walking on Earth.

Here's a last minute and SIMPLE idea to spoil teachers just a bit this Valentine's.

What you need:
1. Valentine's themed baking spatula from Dollar Store or Hobby Lobby or similar
2. Red and white twine
3. This recipe printable

Assembly ideas - You can roll up the recipe card and secure it to the spatula like I did below. You could also punch a hole in the recipe card and tie it to the spatula. Add teacher name cards or more frilly ribbons - have as much fun as time will allow!

Happy Valentine's Day to all my hard working mothers out there!

I just wrapped up my second #januarywhole30, and it was all over the map. I think like many people experience I had some real highs and some SERIOUS lows.

Don't know what I'm talking about? Here's my foray into Whole30.

I kicked some cravings. I scaled back my need for quick pick-me-ups (sugar, caffeine, and afternoon snacks). My portion sizes came under control.

Here was my major low - I stopped enjoying...

Alright, 2017 - you got me. You were a little rough on me and my family there at the end. We have been on your very 2017 rollercoaster, and we are 2017'd out!

Just in these last few weeks we have had a couple of rounds of severe and contagious illnesses pass through the family. One illness involved quite a bit of projectile vomiting. (Can I get a Lysol sponsorship here??) 

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Toddler parents can find ourselves at odds with extended family, grandparents, friends, co-workers around holiday time. The last thing we want to do is add to the chaos in their household with obnoxious gifts, or toys that just go unused and add to the clutter. So when grandma presents a perfectly wrapped package, we shudder in fear...is it ANOTHER noise-making machine? Is it a box full of permanent markers?? Is it a...box full of CANDY???

No. Just no.

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I firmly believe self-development is a constant process. We retain so little of our book learning. We have to go back and refresh our skills constantly, or should I say "sharpen the saw". I've created a list of the GAME CHANGER "business" books I CANNOT live without. Ok, I could live without them, but I would not be nearly as productive, successful, motivated, or focused as I am without these go-to books. They are my business and productivity bibles, and I go back to them with every new major business venture I've taken on. And funny enough, I get new insight each and every time. I'm currently re-reading Dale Carnegie's book, and although it's my fourth or fifth read, I'm like wow - this stuff is GOLD for me right now.

What are your go-to business books? Any Rich Dad, Poor Dad fans out there? That one has always been on my radar, but I've never got around to it.

Last week I took the time to put some numbers to paper for my 3 baby start-up ventures (HTX Mom Blog, The Modern Wreath Co., and The Social Admin).

I calculated the income I thought I could make in the next few months of my 3 start-ups. Then I did the same for the first year, and then I went balls to the wall and hopped on the “what if my wildest dreams came true” train and forecasted out 5 years of kicking ass and taking names, hard-earned entrepreneurial income.

I calculated what my projected expenses would be for these start-ups for the first few months, first year, and the those amazing and dreamy first 5 years.

I estimated the value of my time, as in I actually assigned myself a rate per hour.
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And what I came up with was…

Well, to be frank, it was discouraging.

This week in entrepreneur-ville....

We struggled.

Everyday it is a struggle for us to make time for all of our ideas, sift through the ideas to determine which will return the  most value, and to just let some ideas go.

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Fall is a period of transition. For me it’s a time of inner reflection and an opportunity to get those things checked off my to do list in preparation to batten down the hatches for the upcoming winter months. The focus shifts to our family school year routine and the upcoming holiday period where everything seems a bit more cozy. What a beautiful time of year!