Written by Lydia @ Frugal Debt Free Life, Contributing Writer

Do you ever feel like you’re long on to do and short on time? I have spent so many months, years even, feeling that way. It wasn’t until recently that I came to fully understand the amount of control I actually did have over my time and how I spent it.

In fact, it seems like that is one of the things that I do have near-complete control over. Sure, I have small children and a husband, a business, and obligations. There is a mortgage and tummies that need to be fed, diapers that need to be changed. I get all of that.

But here is the thing, how much time do I spend perusing Facebook during an afternoon lull? How many times have I let a phone call yammer on when I could have been more precise and to the point? And how many hours have I wasted binge watching Netflix?

I don’t even want to consider tallying the hours. Of course, there is nothing wrong with doing any of those things. But I can’t very well call myself “busy” if that is how I choose to spend my precious time. Because time is just that… precious.

We can’t earn more of it, once it’s gone, it’s gone. So I have had to learn how to command the most out of my days. It hasn’t always been easy, but it’s been worth it.

How to be less busy:

1. 1. Determine what matters

It’s really important to determine what fulfills you and then plan your days around that. What are your priorities? It is important to figure out what your true priorities are. These are the places we seem willing to invest the most of our time and energy. If you took a good luck at how I spent my time you might see that housework was low on my list, and watching YouTube videos of people putting on makeup was high on my list.

But that’s not an accurate representation of what matters to me, so I’ve had to adjust my time accordingly. Of course, I just figured out I could stream YouTube through my television, so I just watch those videos while I clean.

Things that do matter are family time. I often say not to weekend events because I want us to spend time together as a family while my husband is home. It means less social time but more family time.

2. What provides value

Recently I had gotten sucked into a group chat on Facebook. A community function that I am a part of was using the group chat as a way to send out information. The problem was the information was getting lost in responses, thumbs up and emojis of cats eating pizza. It was both a distraction and a waste of time. And above all, it wasn’t providing a value to the group. Everyone had to sort through the responses to get to the meat of the information and there were several miscommunications as a result.

I left the group chat and suggested instead the information just be sent in a quick bullet point email. I realize that may sound abrupt on my part, but when you’re juggling a home, small children, and a business sometimes you have to be direct.

I also left several Facebook group pages that were taking up way more time than necessary and turned I down a few work opportunities because they just didn’t provide good value for my time.

3. Prioritize your to do

When I make a to-do list I like to jot down the things on my list in order of importance. I take care of the important items first. That way they are out of the way and not hanging over my head. I can better focus my time, energy and attention this way.

4. Don’t check your email.

I know this sounds counter-productive. But unless you are waiting on a very specific and important email just don’t check it until you’ve made it through your to-do list.

It’s so easy to get distracted if you jump on Gmail really quickly or your hop on Google News to scan the headlines. You can so easily get sucked into the rabbit hole that is the internet that you don’t get things done that you set out to accomplish.

5. Remove one thing

Okay, pull out your planner or your calendar app and look at your upcoming appointments? What is not necessary? What is not providing value to you? What do you dread doing? 

Don’t do it. Just cancel your appointment and say no. If it’s not vital to your survival or to your family don’t do it. 
I feel like in today’s society we value being busy. We glorify it and wear it like a badge of honor. And we misuse the word. I know that for me I am often not busy, I am just distracted and it’s important for me to refocus my time and energy.

The post How to be less busy appeared first on Day2Day Joys.

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Review by Lydia, Frugal Debt Free Life, Contributing Writer 

On the 11th day of Christmas, day2day joys gave to me…

A wonderful cleaning, natural cleaning option, that will keep your home in tip-top shape! 

Cleaning your home should result in a clean atmosphere, not potential toxins. That’s why Branch Basics exists. This soap is specially formulated to serve a variety of purposes, with just one bottle of soap making many bottles of cleaning products. 

Branch Basics is a non-toxic, plant based soap free from synthetics. It’s also biodegradable, so it’s not just good for people, it’s good for the earth. 
Just one bottle of concentrated soap can be mixed with water to create a product with near-endless uses.  

Features of Branch Basics 

• Non-toxic soap
• plant based, nonsynthetic ingredients 
• No overpowering scent for sensitive people 
• easy to mix
• woman owned company 

Now for my review:

I am not going to lie, when a bottle of soap and several empty spray bottles showed up on my door step I was leery. Could one bottle of concentrated soap clean my messy house? 

Guys, I am not a housekeeper. I try, but cleaning just isn’t my jam. However, when I realize that one product could clean my entire home I was jazzed. 

I received the Small Starter Kit, which came with 12 ounce bottle of Branch Basic’s signature concentrated soap and three empty bottles to make All-Purpose cleaner, Bathroom cleaner, Streak-Free cleaner, and our new custom 10 oz. foamer bottle perfect for hand and face washing. 

It is really easy to mix the products. Each bottle comes with directions with a line to fill with water and then a second line to tell you how much soap to add. It’s usually just a few drops. As skeptical as I was, I was amazed at how well the soap worked at cleaning my home. From the tile in my bathroom to the granite on my counter tops, the Branch Basics soap got my house shiny clean. 

I was even able to use it to clean my mirrors and scrub my cast iron skillet. You can even spot treat oil stains on clothing. 

What I Liked:

1. I liked how effective the product is 
2. That the product is safe to use around my kids
3. There is not overpowering scent 
4. The versatility of the cleaning products 

What I didn’t Like:

1. Nothing!

You can Buy It!

Go to Branch Basics and see all they have to offer! From dishes to laundry there is so much you can do with Branch Basics. Day2dayjoys readers can get 25% off their first order using promo code: PURE25. 

You can Win it!

Enter this giveaway! If you win, you will get a small starter kit from Branch Basics! Use rafflecopter below!

The post 12 Days of Christmas {Day 11 : Branch Basics Natural Cleaners} appeared first on Day2Day Joys.

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Review by Lydia @ FrugalDebtFreeLife.com, Contributing Writer 

On the 5th day of Christmas, day2day joys gave to me…

A family-friendly book created to help focus on the true meaning of Christmas. This book shares ideas, games and recipes.

12-Day Nativity: Christmas Activities for a Christ-Centered Home is designed to bring your family closer to Christ this Christmas with twelve days of activities, recipes, service projects, and crafts. Each day you’ll focus on the symbolism and meaning behind one of the figures from your Nativity set. Learn about Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and-of course-baby Jesus, and create a holiday tradition you’ll want to repeat year after year.

Features of 12 Day Nativity Book and Nativity Set

• daily games and activities
• service projects for the whole family
• recipes
• dress up activities 
• a beautiful nativity suitable for children 

Now for my review:

There is something magical about Christmas. It’s so easy to get swept up in all the excitement and sparkle. But as a mom I want to teach my children that the reason our family celebrates Christmas is because of the birth of our Lord and Savior. Without Jesus, it’s just a day in December. So I am constantly looking for meaningful ways to bring Christ to the forefront of celebration. 

So I was really excited when on my doorstep landed the book “12-Day Nativity: Christmas Activities for a Christ-Centered Home.”

The book is packed with useful ways to bring the nativity story to life. My children are very young, just four and two, so learning through play is such a huge part of our life. 

I was pleased to open the book and see from the get go it was geared toward play and acts of service, two things my children love. 

We started the 12-Day Nativity by creating our own Bethlehem out of a cardboard box. This opened up discussion about what Bethlehem might have been like, the types of houses people lived in and what they might have eaten. 

We also prepared our home for Jesus and practiced swaddling a baby. Of course, I live in a boy house, so the closest thing to a baby doll was Charlie Brown. 

The book also introduces different characters within the nativity story, like, of course, Mary and Joseph. But we also discuss the shepherds and various animals. 

The book also offers fun games like playing hide and seek with a nativity set lamb.

However, the book isn’t just surface. It’s more than just games and craft ideas. The book goes much deeper than that, providing scripture passages, message to reflect upon and acts of service you can do to bring the light of the Gospel to your community. 

For example, on the first day the 12-Day Nativity suggests setting a place at your table for Jesus. On the last day the book suggests inviting someone without family to spend Christmas Eve in celebration with you. Another suggestion was to make care bags for the homeless. 

What I Liked:

1. The emphasis on playtime activities 
2. Predesigned crafts
3. Song ideas and object lessons 
4. The emphasis on scripture

What I didn’t Like:

1. Nothing!

You can Buy It!

See the 12-Day Nativity here! 

You can Win it!

Enter this giveaway! If you win, you will get a copy of the 12 Day Nativity book along with a small nativity set to use! Use rafflecopter below!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclaimer: I, Lydia, was given the product(s), to review with my fair and honest opinions. If you would like more info or to have a product reviewed, please contact Rachel.

The post 12 Days of Christmas {Day 5: 12 Day Nativity Book} appeared first on Day2Day Joys.

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Written by Lydia @ Frugal Debt Free Life, Contributing Writer

It’s the season of thankfulness and this is one of my favorite times of year. Thanksgiving seems to be the one holiday focused solely on what we already have and not what we want.

But if you’re walking through a particularly difficult season of life, counting blessings might be the furthest thing on your mind. But this is when you need to count them the most.

Let me tell you a story. Five years ago my husband and I faced one of the most difficult Thanksgivings we have ever faced. In the past two years we had dealt with a job loss, a pay cut and a growing pile of debt.

Then on November 8, 2010 my husband’s father died suddenly. It came as a complete and total shock to the entire family. Jason, my husband, had been busy working when he got a call from his mother. She had returned home from work to find his father- her husband- dead.

Jason was away working on the road. He turned his car around and headed home to get me. We quickly packed and then drove through the dark autumn night to his childhood home.

It was all a blur of emotions, funeral plans and grief. In the middle of that blur we got a call from our insurance company. They had been told to stop coverage on our house because we were going into foreclosure. This call came at the worst possible time.

We knew foreclosure was on the horizon. We were not naive to the facts. We understood the reality of it all, you don’t make your house payments you will lose your home. That is basic cause and effect. The fact we knew it was coming did little to soften the blow.

A few days later, still grieving, we returned home. We felt we had so little to be Thankful for. We had just buried my husband’s father and now we were losing our house and facing financial uncertainty.

We felt we had little blessings left to count. But we were wrong. Have you seen that meme that floats around Facebook this time of year? It’s the one that says “There is always, always, always something to be thankful for.”

It might seem trite to you if you’re going through a season of turmoil. But it’s true. Jason and I understood it five years ago and I have had to remind myself of it countless times since. There is ALWAYS something to be thankful for.

At that time, five years ago, when everything felt hopeless and beyond my control I made a mental list.

I had a husband who loves me. I was healthy. And Jason was thankful to have had the time with his father that he did.

We knew we couldn’t wallow in what was happening. We had to cling to hope, find the good things, and keep moving forward.

A year later we would find ourselves snuggling a sweet baby boy, celebrating the sale of the home (and avoiding foreclosure), moving to a new and better job and beginning to pay off that massive pile of debt. Our lives have changed so much in the past five years. And while I cannot say that I am grateful for tall the hardships we faced, I can say that they were not wasted.

God is sovereign. He has a plan even in the worst of things and while we don’t see immediate blessings, they are there. So don’t stop counting them.

Have you ever went through a season of despair? How can you count your blessings through the mess and see the beauty? 

The post Counting your blessings when there seem to be none appeared first on Day2Day Joys.

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Written by Lydia @ Frugal Debt Free Life, Contributing Writer

I don’t know if you’ve heard this quote “mom sets the tone.” I see it on Pinterest all the time and to be completely honest the first few times I saw it I rolled my eyes.

The tone in my house is loud, messy and harried. I feel like I am rushing my kids through the day while carrying this knot between my shoulders. Then one day it hit me, mom sets the tone. It really is true. By the time nap timed rolled around I was a stressed out mess counting down the minutes until my husband got home. 
I needed to slow down, be still and quiet and simplify my home. I did this by developing a good morning routine. This one might not work for everyone, but since doing this I have seen an immediate difference in my home and day. And the shoulder knot.

How a morning routine saved my sanity:

Make a to do lists the night before

I found this helped me rest better. Instead of getting up in the morning and jotting down what needs to be done, I take a few minutes at night and make a to do list for the following day. I swear this helps me sleep better because I am not lying in bed lingering over what needs to be accomplished the next day. My road map is already laid out ahead of me.

Prep for the next day

I make sure that coffee grounds are in the pot and all I have to do is press the on button. I lay out my clothes, even though I am work at home mom. Not falling back on yoga pants or sweats makes me feel more put together.

And I clean my kitchen and wipe down counter tops.

Unload the dishwasher

In the morning when the coffee is brewing I unload the dishwasher. This way as we use dishes they can go directly into the dishwasher and not clutter up the sink.  

Family devotional

The boys and I usually have a family devotion time in the morning using one of our baby Bibles.

We might also watch a Miss Pattycake DVD. If you don’t know who Miss Pattycake is, the DVDs are a fun way to incorporate scripture and praise music into a toddler or preschoolers life. The DVDs usually last about 30 minutes and they are sweet and engaging.

We also say a simple morning prayer that I wrote, “Thank you Jesus for today. Please protect us while we play. Helps us listen and obey. In Your name we pray, Amen.”

I want to set the tone of prayer, that we seek Jesus in the morning. That we begin each day with a clean slate.

And when my to do list is ready and my house is somewhat clean I don’t feel as rushed and stressed. I am not as easily unglued and my home just feels calmer.

That is not to say that this routine gets implemented everyday to the letter. It’s not to say that my house is spotless (far from it!) and that my kids are perfectly behaved.

But having a morning routine to fall back on gives us a good anchor in the chaos of life.

What is your morning routine?

The post How a morning routine saved my sanity appeared first on Day2Day Joys.

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image via pixabay

Written by Lydia @ Frugal Debt Free Life, Contributing Writer

I don’t think she meant anything by it. This woman standing in front of me at the preschool Halloween party.

“Do you work or are you just a mom?”

I know she didn’t mean anything by it. It was a more a reflection she saw of herself than of me. See, she had labeled herself as “just a mom.”

She told me she quit her job after her daughter was born.

“I don’t regret is for a minute, but I miss the creativity,” she said.

And I nodded along.

The whole drive home I thought about it. I thought how sad it was that she labeled herself “just a” anything.

But don’t we all do that? I’m just a mom. I’m just a teacher. I’m just a … fill in the blank.

But we are more than just one thing. Caretakers, cooks, teachers, people tasked with the nurturing of little people. And oh, what a wonderful, exhausting, beautiful and messy task it can be. It’s important work, ladies. Don’t label yourself as “just a” anything.

But I thought about the other half of her statement too, “I miss the creativity.”

I felt that very deeply.

I have always leaned toward the creative. Before I became a stay at home mom I was a news reporter. I loved writing. I loved meeting people and telling their stories. And to be totally honest when my oldest son was a baby, I missed it.

I craved for a creative outlet to express myself.

So what is a creative type to do when she feels like “just a mom?” How does a mother nurture her own creativity?

1. Carry a journal.

I like to carry a simple notebook with me. If you ever see me out in public, it’s in my purse. I carry it to church, to the supermarket, the park. Everywhere.

I jot down ideas, make to do lists, create goals and just dump out everything on to paper before it leaves my brain.

2. Connect with other creatives

One Sunday morning I had the privilege of working in our church nursery with a fellow stay at home mom who had been an art teacher.

We discussed messy houses, painting, writing, sewing and blogging. It was so nice to talk to someone who was just as scattered and messy as me.

3. Take the time to do what you love

If you love to write then write. If you’re a painter, pull out your brushes and paint. Don’t say you don’t have time. If you have time to cruise Facebook, then you have time to focus 15 minutes on something that speaks to your soul.

4. Find things that spark your creativity

Go for walks, take a drive down a back road, people watch in the pickup line at preschool. Whatever it is that gives you a germ of an idea and sparks inspiration, go to those places.

Make your creativity a priority in your own life.

How have you sparked creativity and became “more than just a Mom”??

The post You’re more than “just a mom” + four ways to spark creativity appeared first on Day2Day Joys.

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Written by Lydia @ Frugal, debt free life, Contributing Writer

A school bus rolled by my house this morning. I was sitting at my desk reading my emails, sipping a cup of coffee when I heard the tell tale sound of a diesel engine rumbling down the road. Is it back to school time already?

A quick glance at my Facebook feed filled with smiling faces in fresh school uniforms or holding up newly-minted backpacks confirmed it. Even for those of us whose children aren’t yet school-aged (or in my case I am preschooling at home this year) back-to-school season can still be crazy.

Our calendars become packed with activities, lessons, practices, church events and life can just feel out of control. Today I wanted to share a few things you can do to bring sanity to your household when things get busy.

5 tips for Smoother, Happier Mornings

1. Plan to eat.

Do a quick scan of your pantry, freezer, fridge, etc. and make a meal plan for the week. This not only saves money, but it also saves you a lot of sanity. There is no 5:30 p.m. rush when you’re totally deprived of energy and order a pizza or make spaghetti… again.

2. Plan to dress.

Even if you’re a stay-at-home mom and your children are home with you all day plan to get up and get dresses in the morning. Layout something to wear that makes you feel good that isn’t yoga pants (unless yoga pants just make you feel special. Then rock them sister, rock them).

Lay out a skirt and a cute top or a stain free shirt and a pair of jeans. It’s so much easier to face the day when you know what you’re going to wear and it isn’t covered in vomit or breast milk stains.

3. Clean your kitchen.

I know, I know. It sounds like I am telling you to do MORE housework than you’re already doing, but trust me. When your day is hectic the last thing you want to do is walk into a dirty kitchen first thing in the morning. Load the dishwasher, wipe down the countertops and set out your coffee mug the night before.

4. Make a prioritized to do list.

Grab a notebook or your phone and make a simple list. Write your list according to most to least important. I actually do this the night before. That way when I start the day I already know what needs to get done.

5. Pack a snack.

If you’re hauling children from library time, a church meeting and then to the grocery store someone is going to get cranky. So pack a snack. I usually grab an apple, some string cheese and some pretzels and throw them in my purse or the diaper bag. That way I am prepared for a cranky hunger meltdown, even if it’s my own.

Don’t stress this can be a really fun time of year.

In what ways do you make your mornings run smoother?

The post 5 tips for Smoother, Happier Mornings appeared first on Day2Day Joys.

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Written by Lydia @ Frugal, debt free life, *NEW* Contributing Writer

I feel like Summer is the ultimate time for frugal fun. There are so many activities and events you can participate in as a family.

And what is MORE frugal than your own backyard? I am big believer in free play. Free play is pretty much my best friend. However, I do want summer to be a time of learning and enrichment for my little ones, as well.

Today I thought I would share some ways you can make outdoor time learning time. The best part is you probably have all the stuff you need.

4 Outdoor Activities for Kids: 

Go on a digital scavenger hunt

• Camera or camera phone
• Printer (optional)

There are a few ways you can do it. But I like to snap photos using my iPod of things through out the yard. A pinecone, a rock, a frog, some blueberries from the bushes in our backyard, a butterfly.

Then I give my boys the iPod and they hunt for the things in the yard. Or you can print out the photos out and put them in an album and do it that way.

Alphabet hopscotch

• Sidewalk chalk

Grab up that sidewalk chalk and head to the driveway or front porch and write the ABCs. Then have your child hop the appropriate letter. Have them say their ABCs while they hope but stop at the assigned letter.

You can do the same thing with numbers or if your child is older, sight words.

Letter fishing

• Kiddie pool/Totes container
• Large Spoon
• Magnet letters
• Cookie sheet 

Do you have a TON of magnet letter? We do. Throws those suckers into your kiddie pool or a Totes container.

Have your child fish out a letter and put it on the cookie sheet. Ask your child to find specific letters.

If your child is a little older you can use this to create certain words like ish words or at words.

For example you could put “at” on the cookie sheet and have your child fish our C for cat or TH for that.

Color hunt

• Sidewalk chalk

Color a square on the driveway or front porch and ask your child to find items in your yard that match that color. Green leaves, purple flowers, etc.

These activities not only provide educational time, they also keep kids occupied on those long summer days.

What activities do you like to do outside that create a love for learning?

The post 4 Outdoor Learning Activities for Kids appeared first on Day2Day Joys.

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