The Bog of Mind: Self Help + Problem Solving

April felt like I was falling off the cooking wagon, but looking back I do have a few things to share and some new things I tried! So I gotta be happy with that. Tune in to hear about my favorite ways to make macaroni and cheese and fried chicken. Ramen bowls are back and always a great leftover! 

Season 5 of The Bog of Mind actually has a very positive theme of SUCCESS, honestly. I look back and am so thankful for things that have been working at home and in the realm of my personal goals. I am so thankful for God's grace in bringing these challenges into my life and also guiding me through them. 

In Season 4 of The Bog of Mind, life is getting busy. Like really really busy. I have to get really creative finding the time to continue working on personal goals. I also talk about my regular migraines and a few things that help me the most.

In Season 3 of The Bog of Mind I introduce more kids' topics as well as my Monthly Menu Listings!! In these very practical episodes you may find some cooking inspo or parenting helps. You may. You may not.

Season 2 has lots of book reviews! It was a season of reading like none other. Listen along, fellow readers!

I just feel so down on myself sometimes when I remember the things I used to do. Remember when I was running all the time? Remember when I was reading a book or two a month? What happened? Is it all over? Am I no longer a reader or a runner? Just like the seasons change and then repeat, we have opportunities the cycle back around. Don't give up on what you enjoy. It will make a comeback. Allow the...

Our oldest went on a school trip for a few days recently and I was so nervous for her (and for us at home without her)! But, here's how we prepped for success! All went well, and we did not forget anything. I even had to bring along the younger siblings to drop her off in the wee hours to get on the bus! Phew.

Admittedly, the kids' rooms are not in perfect shape at the moment, but we have systems in place that really encourage them to keep things tidy. This is as much a reminder to me as hopefully an inspiration to you to help kids as we all limp to the end of the school year together and into the glorious SUMMERTIME!

I have a picture in my head of a morning that goes smoothly and productively. This is what I imagine that to be. I have to imagine it because mornings mostly never go according to plan. Life would be so boring if it were not a work in progress, right? Anyway, certain things are foundational to a good start to the day. Here's how I begin mine... during the school year... which is almost over... whi...

If you have walk-in pantry, I congratulate you (and envy you). If you have a small closet pantry, let me tell you how I'm managing with mine. It's small, deep, and not my favorite storage area, but it's what I have to work with.

I'm going to get practical and just talk about a bad habit of mine that has recently gotten better. I don't know whether you bite your nails or not but here are some things that have helped me, a lifelong nail biter.

I track calories and protein, but I really struggle to hit my goals on the latter. Life is nonstop right now, and I am leaning on a few quick sources of protein to help me meet my goals until I have time to cook more and meal prep. I will tell you what I keep on hand and which sources of protein are my favorite. If you are concerned about maintaining that hard-earned muscle, listen in.

Babysitting is one of the jobs that my kids can help me with! Let's talk about when older kids may be able to start babysitting and how to start younger ones that could be "babysitters in training."

Well, I was hesitant on starting up Ebay sales again because of shipping and other inconveniences, but here's what I have to say after starting it back up anyway. Yes, I've already learned some lessons and will learn many, many more. You can be sure I will share them here.

So listen to this: this episode, that is. Here are a few ideas for you to mull over as you look at all the household responsibilities you have in a day and how you can make your own life easier. These are definitely not answers to life's problems, but let's see what other ideas your own brain generates as you listen!

Well, I have realized lately that I am NOT on track with sleep, diet, and scheduling. I will tell you what I'm blaming it on and then tell you what's really happening. Sometimes you just have to check in with yourself to make sure you are doing what you think you're doing. 

Just when I thought I couldn't get busier... Well, I got busier. Here's the thing - I don't think it's all bad, and I even think it's a really good thing for me. I feel some pressure, and it's making me be better and accomplish more. Are you dealing with something that feels unpleasant and just want a break from it all because it's too much work and isn't what you planned on doing? Life could be a...

We've talked about attacking stress in our days, but what about just those little mundane busy things that seem impossible to start? I have a strategy or two to share, along with a quick discussion about taking ownership. What does that even mean when we tell younger people to do that?

Why are there so many hard decisions in parenting? Well, I don't know, but they keep coming and here's my thought process when I think I'm doing the best thing but still feel uncertain. Understanding and allowing for a child's emotions as well as our own isn't a bad thing when weighing things out.

This may be just the info you need as you think about getting an appraisal done on your home. It can be scary if you're not sure what to expect, so let me alleviate some of your concerns, tell you exactly how we prepared, what I wish I had done, and the ultimate result of our efforts.

Hello there. My husband and I have been volunteer soccer coaches for 9 years now and I thought I could share some thoughts on that. If you are considering volunteering as a coach or just thinking about signing your child up to play, have a listen. Almost a decade of insight is coming your way!

With all of the episodes I have been publishing about my kids' "job list" and how I incentivize work around the house, I have been confronted with scheduling and trying to balance what I require of my kids vs. their school work, sports practice, music lessons and whatever other activities we have going on that are competing for our time. Let's talk about this for a few minutes.

Welcome back! This is the second part of my miniseries on podcasting. In this episode I talk about when I podcast and general guidelines for each episode I publish. Yes, this is very general information so I hope it gives you a little nudge if you are interested in podcasting without being overwhelming. As always, I am speaking from my own experience and not as an expert.

Are you thinking about starting up a podcast? Let me tell you how and why I started. Stay tuned for Part 2 where I will share more details!

Things are still going great with our job list and the kids are earning their own money. We made some changes which have changed my laundry. I mean my life... which is laundry. What happens when kids don't get their expected responsibilities taken care of? Well, I do the work... but it costs them. Let's talk about my brilliant strategy.