Whether it is products being unavailable, having to wait in line {to get INTO the store!}, or your favorite store is simply closed, going to get groceries can be an experience.

Azure Standard

I have recently rekindled my love for Azure Standard. I have used them off and on since 2011. The inconsistency on my part was due to drop date and time changes, or we were gone on drop day, etc, but I am planning way ahead and doing what I can to make sure our schedule is open so we can pick up our order.

Azure Standard is a once-a-month order where you can choose what you need from their online store and then pick it up on your “drop” day at a predetermined location. This year, Azure has expanded their drop points, so it is even more likely there is a drop near you! How it works is, you can place your order and then add or remove items throughout the month, up until about a week before your order ships. Your card is charged, and then on the scheduled day and time, you will meet the truck to pick up your order. It all comes in boxes, and there is a freezer section, a refrigerated section, and a room temperature section of this semi truck. We order everything from butter and eggs to flour and syrup. We love the options and have been pleased with everything we have purchased. You can buy items in bulk or you can order just a regular size. It is totally up to you. To find out if there is an Azure Standard drop point in your area, go to their website and plug in your address. It will give you the drop(s) closest to you! There is no membership fee for this service, but there is a freight charge that changes depending on the weight of your order.

Thrive Market

Thrive Market is an online shop that sells more clean, organic products. They sell meat and chicken, vitamins, dry goods, personal care products, clean wine, diapers, sustainably-farmed coffee, and more. It’s another almost “one-stop shop.” There is the option to use autoship, but it is not required. The autoship option comes with a bit of a discount, so it is worth looking into. I recently began using it and it is incredibly easy to change the frequency of your shipment dates, the length between shipments, and you can add or remove items from your autoship as you desire. There is a yearly membership fee to purchase from Thrive Market, but even with that fee I have found their prices to be very comparable – and many times better – than grocery stores and even Amazon. I live in an area where it is harder to find organic items, especially those in the personal care area, so your mileage may vary. It is always smart to price shop. Delivery is free on orders over $50, and they do a great job of shipping quickly. Thrive Market also has an app, making it very easy to shop from your phone. They also give you cash back if you shop through Rakuten. Customer service has always been great if I’ve had an issue with my order, but issues have been extremely rare for me. If you would like to shop with Thrive Market, but have a low income or are a student, teacher, first responder, or veteran, be sure to see if you qualify for their Thrive Gives program.

Walmart Grocery Pick-Up

While Walmart is not my favorite place to shop, it is the only store in my area that offers grocery pick-up. I have utilized this a lot, especially lately, and I’ve only had one negative experience that the store made right. In addition, the last few times I’ve had the same gentleman bagging my groceries, and having a quick chat with him has been a delightful experience!

We are also expanding our garden for 2021, and I am super excited about that!

Of course, we still have quick trips in our local grocery store, and when we cannot get to the farm for milk, we do hit up Braum’s. For the most part, though, these other options have cut our actually grocery store shopping down quite a bit, which is fine by me even without the interesting-ness of 2020!

What are your favorite tips to get through – or out of – grocery shopping?

We encourage our kiddos to do the study on their own, and then we meet at some point during the day to read through the discussion and share our answers.

It has been a wonderful, sweet, loud time together. We don’t meet at the same time every day, but we meet every day (except that one Wednesday that Lincoln got to go to the emergency room after we thought his tooth went through his lip!). Our kids range in age from almost 16 to 4, so their levels of communication vary. We have had some really amazing discussions together, and our 7-year-old has come up with some very deep answers. Lincoln, who is four, tends to draw all over his (and other’s!) papers, but he has memorized an “overview” of the chapter: “God is my refuge. I will trust Him.” It works!

We are all at varying levels of memorizing the chapter; some move more quickly than others, and that’s ok. It isn’t about memorization as much as taking the chapter to heart and knowing it.

As I write this, we are on Day 15, slightly ahead of our church, and slightly behind the church who wrote it. This week’s work was written for last week’s situations, aka, Holy Week! So know that when you get to Day 14, it will talk about the week preceding Easter. Regardless, the study is still usable, so I would encourage you to go ahead and use it.

As you can see from the pictures, I am rarely alone during my study time, and that’s ok!

Begin your 21-day Psalm 91 Challenge here.

I saw an account on Instagram that shared a sweet cream cold brew recipe, so I had to try it, since I l o v e the Starbucks version so much! I’m pretty much a dumper, not a measure-er, but the good news is, you can tweak this to suit your own tastebuds.

Here is the basics of what I did:

Grab a milk frother (you definitely want one of these!). I got this inexpensive one, but I was really eyeing this one. Here’s another option for hot/cold versions of foam/froth. Maybe one day! FYI, the inexpensive one works just fine!

Alternatives to making your own cold brew are this ready-made brew from Starbucks, this ready-made brew from Java House, or this ready-made-but-you-still-have-to-brew-it (but don’t have to strain it!) coffee.

When my kids get to 3rd grade, their math is on the computer, but other than that, there isn’t much working from a device until 8th grade, other than typing that begins at about 4th grade.

We have been using blue light blocking glasses for years, and I can honestly say they have really helped lessen my eye strain that is caused by device usage. The kids agree. I can tell when I have been using them regularly versus when I haven’t been.

I recently grabbed some really cute ones off of Amazon. They came in a two-pack. Reese also got some new ones that are for smaller-framed teens.

The younger kiddos love these, and they fit them well. We also have these plain black ones.

It’s the only pair of eyes you’re ever going to have, so you might as well protect them, right?

Regardless, here is what is going on in the Norton life as of January 2020.

Lincoln is about to turn 4. As I write this, I am wondering if I even shared his birth story. Sheesh. He is like one of those clowns that pops out of a jack-in-the-box. You just never know what he is going to do next, or when! He is a sweet little toot, who is highly emotional much of the day. There aren’t many in-betweens for him. He is extremely sweet or extremely ornery. I am thankful for all the calming oils with this one, because I get to see them work on a daily basis!

Campbell turned 7 in September. He is growing like a weed, both in size and in maturity. The things he understands astounds me. He loves math and learning to read. He claims his “bubba” is his best friend. I truly love having two boys! Cam is still “my” boy, and I cherish the times he comes to hug me, even in public, because I know those moments will become fewer and farther between as he grows.

Meleah is 11. She loves reading, which makes me happy, because it is still my favorite activity. This is her last year in the children’s ministry at church, and her last year in elementary classes (although she is doing middle school work in some subjects). She is an excellent big sister, and keeps her brothers organized and playing well together.

Reese is heading toward 14, which is hard for me to even type, let alone wrap my head around. She’s finishing her last year of the “middle school years,” and is quite excited about all that lays ahead. She has had some rough times, but through those, she’s learned to stick up for herself, and is actually quite witty. Reese has an incredible work ethic, and sets her own school work schedule.

Abby recently acquired her learner’s permit, and is quite a good driver. She has had many “firsts” this year, including taking the ACT, and talking about concurrent classes and college credits. Abby is a hard worker, and both she and Reese worked full time much of December for their grandparents at their jewelry store. Abby has found a small group of friends who complement her well.

Shane is still the student and associate pastor for our church. He will hit his 16th anniversary in May. I am still the current Essentials tutor for our Classical Conversations community, work to educate my small and sweet Young Living team, and of course, homeschooling, which is a full time job in and of itself!

One massive change for us is that we purchased our first home last February. We were blessed to be able to buy Shane’s grandparents’ home, which is right across the street from his mom and dad. We were also able to make some changes to the house so we had enough room for our family, and have spent the last year continuing to fix it up. I hope to be able to share pictures of what we did, soon. We had LOTS of help with everything, and we still have some work to do, but we’ve been living in it since Mother’s Day weekend, and we absolutely love having our own home. I am even still excited that we get to make a house payment!

Whoever said the toddler years were hard (and don’t get me wrong, they can be incredibly hard!), I think the realization that your babies are teens and not babies anymore is harder. The moment you realize you can count the years they have left under your roof on one hand gives more sleepless nights and tears than a restless baby could ever give. My girls are not “hard” teens at all. In fact, they’re absolute joys. We all have our moments, of course, but it is mostly wonderful. It is with both joy and sorrow that I watch them grow. Although, I have to say, it is nice to have two capable babysitters in the house!

Photo by: Griff Servati (aka, my brother-in-law, and an amazing photographer!)

I have recently purchased a few more courses from the Money Saving Mom store, and I cannot wait to dive into them.

Four courses that would be fantastic to being your new year with are on sale for $4 each, for a limited time!

Make Over Your Year (regularly $17) — just $4!
15 Days to a Healthier You (regularly $15) — just $4
4 Weeks to a More Productive Life (regularly $17) — just $4
Say Goodbye to Survival Mode (regularly $17) — just $4

See all of the sale courses, and other courses available.

The sale officially begins Monday, but you can snag yours now! The final day of the sale, and when these four courses will become no longer available, is Thursday, January 9.

Make Over Your Mornings has been my favorite, and while not part of this sale, I highly recommend adding it in! It is easy to understand and simple to implement.

Water is important because it helps flush (haha) waste from our bodies.

I’m currently doing a mild cleanse, and the water intake recommended to make sure everything stays running smoothly is 96 oz a day!

I had been trying to get half my body weight in ounces before, and was kind of failing. Sometimes I had it, sometimes I didn’t.

When I increased my intake to 96 oz, I found it was easier than the amount I was currently trying to get! (What?!?!) In fact, that first day I accidentally drank about 110 oz.

I realized the more water I drank, the more I craved it.

I’ve also been trying to drink less with my meals and more the hours before and after. I’m also hitting my intake well before bedtime. I use a 30 oz Yeti cup and fill it to the tippy top with water three and a half times a day. I usual try to save that last half for the time after supper and before bed.

My best advice to get your water intake really rolling is to drink a significant portion of your goal as soon as you wake up in the morning. I drink one Yeti-full, or very close to it, before I drink my coffee, as soon as I can after waking up. The days I do that, I easily hit my goal.

Don’t love water? Add some Vitality oils to your water to make it tasty! Orange is my favorite. Lemon, Grapefruit, Tangerine, Lime… and more! Not into oils but want your water to have some “taste”? Squeeze some lemon or orange into your glass. Also… you can create fruit-infused water! Simply add your favorite fruit (I love strawberry and kiwi) to a pitcher and fill with water. There are special pitchers that hold the fruit so it doesn’t get too “messy,” but I just use a regular one.

Bonuses for drinking water are more energy, clearer head, clearer skin, and a happier digestive system.

Do you have water goals for this year?

I finally tried out Walmart’s Grocery Pickup service.

Without sounding too dramatic, it was pretty epic, and I might even say life-changing.

Successful grocery pickup

I tend to avoid Walmart for many reasons, one of them being the fact that I’m not a fan of people. And Walmart has those. Lots and lots of those.

I’m only slightly kidding.

Walmart also has TOOMANYTHINGS and I always think of, “one more thing.” {facepalm} Surely I’m not the only one.

Also, I am not a fan of the parking lot. {Well, we can’t avoid everything, amIright?!}

I ordered online from their website on Monday morning, and after confirming my order, it notified me I had about a 3-hour window to modify anything I wanted. Of course, I immediately remembered something I forgot, so I edited my order. I chose a pick-up time for between 9 and 10 am on Tuesday. I could have chosen any time that day (I think it runs from about 7 am to 8 or 9 pm), or for several days after, but I needed my groceries pretty quickly, so Tuesday it was.

After my “edit the cart” window expired, I received an email confirmation of my final order. I also downloaded the Grocery App, and my order and account information is now easily accessible.

About 8:45 on Tuesday morning, I received a notification on the app that my order was ready for pick-up. I also received an email that listed a few substitutions, and the option to accept or decline the substitution. {I didn’t realize the email was so detailed until I got home, but I will look at it before leaving next time to go ahead and accept or decline the substitutions.}

After dropping off the older two at piano, the three youngers and I headed to our Walmart. Before leaving piano, I “checked in” via the app. The app tracked me the entire way, which was both pretty cool and slightly creepy, but is a great idea because it gives them an ETA for each order pick-up.

When I pulled into the parking lot, and then into the special parking spot, my app alerted me that I had arrived, and to let it know what parking spot I was in. The spot I was in was actually already input in my app.

It knows my every move.

I had barely had a chance to get my bearings when I saw in my mirror that my Grocery Pick-up Person {not sure what that official title is called} was already making her way to my car.

I got out, as it was my first time, and I wanted to chat with my rep and see how all of this works. We chatted about the substitutions (one was weird, and she even commented about it), and I just kept them all. They were fine, but just so you know you can decline them right there on the spot. Substitutions are labeled and easily found.

All of my groceries were carefully bagged (yes, I’m serious), and separated. That could be drawback for some: all the grocery sacks! {There were a lot.} I’m good, though. Everything, even the frozen stuff, was the the proper temperature. It was mainly cold stuff, so it was probably a better temp than if it had sat in my grocery cart while I shopped!

My Grocery Pick-up Person delivered excellent customer service. When I told her this was my first experience with grocery pick-up, she was very thankful to me for using the service and told me what times were busy and what times were slower. She offered all of this information without my asking. She was extremely kind and friendly, and I was highly impressed. Even with our chatting, from the time I pulled into the pick-up space to the time I pulled out, less than five minutes had passed.

I live about 25 minutes from my Walmart, and by the time I got home, nothing had gotten warm or defrosted. #WIN

I am quite particular about my fruits, veggies, and meats, but I thought I would give them a shot and see what Walmart came up with if I had them shop for me. Fortunately, my Walmart has a decent selection of organic items, and I was even able to snag some of the kids’ favorite kombucha. Whoever my shopper was, he or she did a great job choosing my meat, fruits, and vegetables. I am extremely pleased, and I will use this service again.

If you would like to try this service, and get $10 off your first order, you can click this link for a coupon code. Just copy and paste that code into the box at checkout of your first order and bam! $10 off.

A few things:

• You must purchase at least $30 worth of products to reserve a time slot.
• At least $50 must be purchased to use the $10 off coupon.
• Favorite items can be saved.
• The app makes ordering and check-in a breeze.
• You can sign up to receive a text along with an email when your order is ready. Downloading the app will also alert you when your order is ready for pick-up.
• You do not have to get out of your car or help them load your groceries. It’s entirely up to you. I do recommend touching base with your person because mine gave me valuable info!

This is not sponsored in any way by Walmart. If you use the $10 off code, you will receive $10 off your first order, and I will also receive $10 off my next order. Regardless of any benefits, I would share this with you because I am so pleased with the service!

Recently, a friend and I went to a retreat specifically for ministry wives. It is the first of its kind that I had ever attended, and I truly enjoyed it!

Our keynote speaker was Lori Merrill, founder of Keeper’s Ministry. Until this retreat, I had not heard of her, nor her ministry. I had been searching for a Bible study that would fit my current life situation. Selfish, yes, but it was desperately needed!

Not only was Lori a dynamic, yet down-to-earth and relatable speaker, she had her Bible study there for purchase. After flipping through it a bit, I realized it was exactly what I needed for this season.

My friend also bought one, and we have been working through the Bible study together. She is local to me, but we are both exceptionally busy: she is our pastor’s wife, and works outside the home; I am homeschooling full-time, and it is an all-day thing. Getting together face-to-face on a regular basis is not feasible, so we came up with a solution: Marco Polo.

Marco Polo is an app for your phone that is basically a “video walkie-talkie.” You can send short videos back and forth, to one friend or to a group of friends. It has been a quite effective way for us to share our take-backs from this Bible study!

So what is the fuss about this Bible study? Called to be a Keeper is a study of Proverbs 31:10-31 and Titus 2:3-5. The overview is the study teaches women – moms and/or wives (this is not just for moms!) – about the incredible call that our Father has given every woman. The study is incredibly in-depth and has five studies per week. There is also an option for a DVD study, and you can do a group study or individually. Some days are so deep, my friend and I have taken two days to do one. We are working through the study more slowly than the book says, but that is what works for us. You can tailor it to your lifestyle.

Called to be a Keeper defines what being a wife and/or mom looks like, and guides you through specific Scriptures that detail our calling. Lori writes in a kind, relatable way, and the Scriptures she shares fit the calling of a “keeper” well. Whether you are a working (outside or inside the home) wife or mom, and no matter how you choose to school your children, this Bible study works for all women.

If you a wife or mom, and are looking for a life-changing Bible study, Called to be a Keeper is a winner. Get ready for your life (and self image) to be wrecked – in a good way!

This post is not sponsored in any way. I just happen to love this Bible study, and I wanted to share!

A great way to pay for those Christmas cards is to shop the FREE deals! Through Sunday, 11/27, Shutterfly is offering 10 FREE cards! Use code TENFREE at checkout to receive your discount.

Please note the cards are free, but there are still shipping charges and tax (mine came to a total of $6.22). If you want free envelopes, be sure to keep them white.

I’ve given up on perfection for our family photos. Perfect isn’t what we are, anyway. Someone is always not looking, and that’s okay with me. In this picture, what you can’t see, is my sweet Cam holding my hand. That’s why is face is partially covered… he’s leaning in to be as close to me as possible. And if you know me, you know that melts my heart. And that’s what I see when I see only half his sweet face!

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One of the skills that is incredibly important is how to safely handle knives! I love this free video series from Katie Kimball on knife-handling skills. There’s one to watch with your kids that will demonstrate how to safely handle dull and sharp knives (you decide which on depending on their age and maturity), and then there are two more training videos for YOU to help you feel completely comfortable and confident giving your kids sharp knives.

I know some parents might feel like they need 3 or 4 chances to feel comfortable, but I’m confident you’ll be ready after the two important “adult only” videos Katie is putting together for you.

Don’t worry if you feel like you have a busy day or week. This link will give you access to all 3 videos as soon as they’re each available, and you’ll get reminders to make it happen through Nov. 2.

Thanksgiving is coming up, so now is the perfect time to get your kiddos using knives and feeling comfortable in the kitchen!

Oh, and if you have younger ones, you might want to check out these kid-safe knives. I have a set and love them!

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So pretty!

I love scarecrows!

We went to a new local business to get our pumpkins and mums. The pumpkins are grown at a local farm, which thrills me. I prefer to purchase locally when possible!

My sweet big boy. This pose was his idea.

It was quite bright out on Saturday, but I snapped a few pics of the kids picking pumpkins anyway. A few of them were saying, “Mom! I can’t see!”

Picking pumpkins.

My living room is quite dark; there isn’t much natural light, so it is always hard to photograph my mantel. This is the best I could get! I am so happy with it. Fall colors just make me smile.

My mantel. I adore the ceiling tile from my sister-in-law!

In addition to the decor, the scents of Fall are some of my favorite smells. Since ditching toxic candles and scented warmers over eight years ago, I needed a better way to create a Fall aroma in my home. Thanks to Young Living Essential Oils, I don’t have to look very far to safely make my house smell amazing.

I love the different combinations to make your home smell like Fall. My favorites are Gingerbread Cookies, Spiced Cider, and Autumn Afternoon. Aaahhh… such delicious aromas!

My littlest Pumpkin.

A wreath I made several years back hangs on the wall of my front porch.

So fun!

White mums are my favorites!

What do you love most about Fall?

Homemade Mommy’s Beauty Essentials: 35 DIY Beauty Recipes to use Everyday! has been available as an ebook for awhile, but it is now available to purchase as a booklet! And, to sweeten the deal, the booklet is half off for the rest of September!

Make your own beauty products, using these absurdly simple and specially formulated DIY beauty recipes! They’re natural and non-toxic, convenient for travel and an easy way to replace toxic ingredient-based products in your bathroom. Finally make your own non-toxic homemade beauty products — quickly, easily and safely… so you can avoid toxic ingredients in your bathroom!
 
Filled with 35 back-to-basics recipes, you’ll learn how to:

• Make your own beauty and personal care products
• Find the safest and most effective ingredients
• Save money with all natural and non-toxic recipes
• Protect your family from hidden toxins
• Become confident in the products you use everyday
• Make beautiful gifts for teachers, holidays, mother’s day, and any day!

 
The booklets also come specially-priced in bundles, making it a fabulous – and budget-friendly – Christmas gift!

I am excited to try the homemade facial mask, which includes Ylang ylang and Frankincense… two oils that happen to be some of my faves! I am also thrilled that Lindsey uses essential oils in most of the recipes.

Along with essential oils, many of the recipes include ingredients that most of us already have on hand like egg whites, honey, Epsom salts, and more! You could easily purchase the book or ebook and begin making these recipes immediately!

Grab your copy here. Be sure to get it before September 30 to get half off the regular price!

The last several months have been wild. Five kids is no joke, and all hail mommas with more! Ha! I. Am. Tired. Having a baby who is still nursing all. the. time. doesn’t help that either. He sure is a sweetie, though!

So. What have we been up to?

The girls started a new school year on the first day of August – their request. They were so excited to begin that they asked to get started asap. Momma obliged, of course. Kids who are ready for school? I’ll take it!

We began our fifth year of Classical Conversations in August as well. Meleah and Reese are in Foundations, Reese is in her second year of Essentials, and Abby is loving her first year of Challenge in the Challenge A program. Cam wasn’t quite ready to start, but we may add him in January (he will be four by then), or just wait until next August.

A change for me is that I am the Essentials tutor this year. Our tutor from last year (thankfully!!!) moved up to tutor Challenge A, and I took her spot in Essentials. It isn’t my first rodeo, as I subbed a lot last year, but it is still intimidating being the equipper of moms for our amazing grammar and writing class. I am loving it, though, and the mommas and kiddos seem to be enjoying it as well. That’s definitely a blessing for me!

I also took a little “me” time and visited my friend Lacey for a cut and color… plum! I feel hair is meant to be fun, and this is just a little something I can do for a quick pick-me-up!

Shane is the only “official” pastor at our church right now. Our pastor retired earlier this year, and our {wonderful} music minister is interim. Thankfully, he isn’t having to preach, nor is he having to “lead” the church from a finance/decision-making/leadership standpoint. He is mainly able to continue his youth work, as well as maintaining his role as associate pastor.

Yes, we are still in the throes of newborn-ness. Even almost 8 months later, we spend much of our day in momma’s arms either nursing, sleeping, or climbing all over her. Linc likes his momma a whole lot, like his brother. He doesn’t nap unless I hold him or put him in the Ergo. I am super-thankful for the Ergo! During the two hours I tutor Essentials, Linc lasts about 45 minutes in childcare, so I go get him during math, nurse him, and then pop him in the Ergo for a nap while I finish up. Whew! So far, so good, but it would not be possible without my carrier.

Meleah celebrated her eighth birthday on September 3rd. Ah, my baby girl is growing up! She got donuts for her birthday, and she and Cam will have their party tomorrow.

I am still working on writing out Linc’s birth story. I am almost finished, I just have some photos to edit. Sheesh! He’s almost 8 months old.

Speaking of, Linc is crawling and is now into absolutely everything. He’s such an inquisitive child, even more so than my others. He is fascinated with his siblings, and lights up every time he sees them. He has a precious grin!

Earlier this month, Linc had his lip tie released. He is nursing better, but I think the frequent nursing may be more of a habit than anything. Time will tell. He is healing up nicely, and his a MUCH happier baby when in his car seat. We can actually drive without him screaming his head off. Yes, it really was that bad. He is also “talking” more, and is having less gas (probably related to nursing better).

Abby injured her foot playing volleyball, and has been in a special shoe for two weeks. We got in to see the foot doctor yesterday, and he said it is most likely a fracture… that we can do nothing about, of course! She’s going to practice this evening to see how she does. Her foot hurts even when she isn’t putting pressure on it, so she might as well give it a whirl.

Despite all of the “bad” news, I could not be more blessed! I love our full-of-life, always-on-the-go family!

In bloggy news, I have been working on updating posts; I’ll be sharing more of these soon!

Well, that’s a wrap for the moment. I hope your families are doing well!

I wouldn’t say we’ve been slacking, but our school time has decreased quite a bit since the new year began. Between work commitments, couch rest, and then Lincoln coming earlier than expected, January and February flew by.

I knew the first of the year would be rough, so we worked a few weeks extra in December, to keep us from becoming behind. We’ve continued our Foundations and Essentials work since then, but have taken a break on the other subjects. That break is officially over, and we are back in the saddle! I’m thankful for the return of normalcy and routine.

6 am – 7 am – I’m up for coffee and to feed Lincoln. He usually eats every two hours, but can be extra-fussy in the early morning hours, so Shane usually takes him for a bit so I can get some rest. The other kiddos tumble out of bed and begin a variety of activities that include working on Memory Masters, snuggling with the baby, Bible time, making beds, and breakfast.

 9 am – We usually start school at 9, but sometimes it begins earlier. Shane leaves at 8:30, and if everyone is ready, we just begin then. Lincoln will usually nurse and go down for a nap around 9:30. Sometimes, he sleeps in his bed, and sometimes he sleeps in my lap. His disposition is different every day.

Right now, we are in transition, so school happens in the living room. We rearranged the living room, even getting rid of a few pieces, and the office has become a catch-all for a few reasons: one, it’s my work space for Young Living and it has aaallll of my stuff to mail laid out on a table; two, it always becomes a catch-all over the Christmas break (oops); and three, we moved some furniture out of the living room into the office (and vice versa!) and I haven’t cleaned up from that yet. The living room is about to be in an uproar again when my chalk paint comes in and I can begin spiffy-ing up an old dresser!

During school time, Campbell plays in the playroom or living room with us, and is constantly asking for food. He’s a mess! All three girls have independent work, and will take turns working on it and working with me. Spelling is hands-on with mom right now, and math is both: sometimes I work through the set with Abby Grace and Reese and sometimes they go through it on their own. It depends on the lesson and the day. Meleah and I work on everything together, although she is becoming more independent with her math.

@amylnorton on Instagram: Back in the groove! #Homeschooling in the living room because the office is a mess!

12 pm(ish) – Shane comes home, and we break for lunch. Most of the time, we are finished with everything, except maybe guitar and piano practice. The girls also have the afternoon for reading, playing, and working on Memory Masters. (Memory Masters is part of Classical Conversations, where a Foundations student can choose to memorize every piece of information learned in that year. The student then recites it back to both parents, her tutor, and finally her director. No mistakes are allowed in the tutor proof or director proof. I do not require any of my girls to do this, but Abby Grace has been a MM for Cycles 2 and 3, and wants to be one for 1, as this is her last year in Foundations. This would be Reese’s first year to attempt MM.)

1 pm – 5 pm – The kids play or practice or read or do their daily chores. On Tuesdays, the girls have piano lessons, and Abby Grace and Reese have art lessons following piano. They’re gone from 1:00 to around 5:00. Wednesdays are our CC community days, so we are gone from 8:30 to 4:00. The boys and I play while the girls are gone, and I also work on the next day’s lessons and grade today’s math. We use spiral notebooks, and it has worked SO SO WELL.

5 pm – 8 pm – Shane is usually home by now, and we are starting the supper/evening/bath/bedtime routine. Lincoln is ready for bed around 8:00, so we try to get to bed around that time as well. Early, yes, but with L nursing every two hours or so, and Shane getting up extra early, we need the extra sleep!

I don’t know for how long this routine will last, but it is what works for us in this new season!

Linking up to Simple Homeschool’s Day-in-the Life.

Other Day-in-the-Life Posts:

• 2015
• 2014 (uummm… oops! didn’t do one!)
• 2013
• 2012

photo credit: If at First You Don’t Succeed… via photopin (license)

After my baby series – I had so much fun with that! – I wanted to branch out and share other things that make my life easier or more fun!

My faves for February include:

1. Instant Pot

Yep, I jumped on the Insta-Pot bandwagon. A ton of m y friends jumped on it when the Instant Pot was greatly discounted in December. Even with the great sale, it still wasn’t in my budget. For the next month, my Facebook feed was filled with the raves reviews of my friends’ Insta-Pot meals,  and claims that this device had been life-changing. About the time I decided I might use my Christmas money if it went on sale again, the darn thing went down to $85 on Amazon. I gave in, and it was delivered the week Lincoln decided to come. Needless to say, it sat on my dining room table for a good two weeks before I gave it a try. My friends weren’t lying… it’s quite amazing. It makes amazing chicken, roast, and meatloaf. There is a slight learning curve to it, but y’all… if *I* can figure it out, anyone can! Trust me, I am no gadget girl! (There is a newer version available now, but I like mine just fine!)

2. Great Food Fast Cookbook

Since we’re on the Instant Pot thing, this cookbook is fantastic! I highly recommend grabbing it along with the Instant Pot.

3. Sweet Savvy Mineral Make-up

I mentioned earlier this year about how skin care is something I am working on, and make-up is no exception. I tried out this new mineral make-up line that is make of only safe ingredients (yay!), and I love it! Not only am I a fan of toxin-free anything, I truly love mineral make-up, and this brand is truly phenomenal. I’ve used the bronzer, foundation, lipstick (the very first tube of lipstick I have owned that has NOT broken off… no lie!), and eyeshadow. I cannot wait for mascara to be included in the lineup! TIP: Melissa Poepping, founder of Sweet Savvy Minerals, recommends wetting your make-up brush with a spritz of water, dabbing it on a towel or your wrist to get most of the water off, and then dipping the damp brush in your mineral make-up to give it staying power. Um, this was life-changing in the make-up department, y’all. It worked like a charm!

4. NingXia Nitro

There are times this tired momma has to remain awake… you know, during the daytime?! Ha! Nitro is energy-in-a-tube, minus the jitters. I may or may not have a hidden stash…

5. Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

Oh. My. Word. You guys. This stuff is ah-MAY-zing. I am in love. I’m no DIYer, but I just bought AS Chalk Paint and have painted UP this massive dresser that sits under our tv in the living room. I was a tad skeptical that I could actually pull this off, but lo and behold, I managed. I’ll be ready to unveil my work soon! I’m just blown away at how easy and fun it was! Well, easy in-between nursing sessions and a snuggly baby. Ha!

So, that’s what I’m loving this month!

I mentioned awhile back that Stitch Fix has an app, and that I’ve been loving my “fixes” for almost a year. But, I have yet to share much more about them.

I’m no fashion blogger, this we know. I also like to stay behind the scenes, which is one reason I enjoy blogging so much… I can ramble on and on and not have to actually say a word. But yeah… this requires pictures… of me… pretending to model. Go ahead and laugh, because I am!

My helper!

So, why Stitch Fix? Why would I even go this route?

First of all, I realized early on last year that I needed more business and business-casual attire. I had several events coming up that recommended one or the other, and I had no idea where to begin in shopping for myself. I’m no good in this department, so I thought I would give Stitch Fix a try and see what all the fuss was about.

It turned out to be like taking my own stylist shopping with me, without having to leave my house. And we all know how much I love leaving the house. Plus, business attire is not my forte at all. Cardigans, jeans, and boots I can do. Beyond that, if I buy something nice that turns out looking cute, we just chalk it up to good luck. It certainly wasn’t because I have a clue!

Honey Punch Cardigan (non-maternity) – Stitch Fix, Choose Joy tee shirt (non-maternity) – Cents of Style, Liverpool Maternity Skinny Jean – Stitch Fix, Gray Fringe Boots – Cents of Style. Yes, you saw this outfit in an earlier post. Two birds with one stone, people!

The first couple of fixes is you getting to know your stylist and vice versa. Stylists aren’t mind-readers – although I feel like my stylist has a direct link to my brain. That’s a scary thought, but in all seriousness, she’s got me pegged. It’s not usually that way in the beginning (and it wasn’t for me), and it doesn’t necessarily mean it will end up that way every single time. However, I have honestly loved almost every single piece she has sent me. I’ve had the same stylist for all 10 of my fixes, and I’m voting that we need a “meet my stylist” day because I would love to see Liz in person.

There for a few months, I requested maternity clothes, which was great since the last time I was pregnant during the winter was with Reese. I had zero pants, and that was something I needed for winter. I’ve never had maternity pants that fit me well. (But really… does anyone find maternity pants that fit them as well as regular pants?!?! I think it’s the panel that drives me nuts!) However, all that changed with the Liverpool Maternity Jeans. These jeans… y’all. They’re insanely amazing. They are SO comfortable and SO soft and fit me SO well throughout my entire pregnancy {and for the entire week following LJ’s birth}.

Everly Elwick Printed Maternity Dress – Stitch Fix, leggings – Old Navy, boots – Cents of Style, pendant – Diffusing Mamas

I’m currently breastfeeding, so I asked for attire that would be accommodating in my last fix, and of course, Liz nailed it. The blouse pictured is both nursing-friendly AND can be worn to business-casual events. I just paired it with jeans, because, well… I’m limited in what pants fit right now. Ha!

 41Hawthorn Colibri Solid Tab Sleeve Blouse, Kut from the Kloth Basley Zipper Detail Skinny Jean – Stitch Fix, Gray Fringe Boots – Cents of Style, pendant – Diffusing Mamas, Batman… he’s mine!

The cost of each fix varies, depending on what you’ve marked as your price point for each type of clothing or accessory. You also get a 25 percent discount if you purchase all five pieces in your fix. You can minimize costs by using a referral link when sharing Stitch Fix with family and friends. No, you don’t have to be a blogger to take advantage of this! You get a $25 credit when your referrals receive their first fix!

You can set up your style profile, free of charge. You can decide on the frequency of your fixes, even only receiving one a few times a year. If you do receive a fix that does not suit you, please give it another chance or two. Remember, your stylist is learning about you as she goes, and those first few fixes may not be perfect. On the other hand, make sure you love each piece you keep and check the care label before purchasing. If you don’t love to hand wash clothes, for example, you may not want to mess with keeping something with that label. Or you could be like me and only wash it if it gets dirty. Ha!

I’ve mentioned this before, but I think it is worth saying again: the key to receiving better Fixes – in my opinion – is to be very detailed when you check out. Tell your stylist why you love it… or don’t love it. Include specifics on how it fits (or does not fit), and if there are clothing options you prefer over others. Don’t be afraid to be honest… being completely truthful about each piece in your Fix will only help your stylist tailor your Fix to you, which is the purpose of Stitch Fix.

Have you used Stitch Fix?

Thankfully, we can get by with fewer things now, and it isn’t because we already have them… it’s because we realized all of that stuff is pretty unnecessary.

I’m finishing up this little series with my favorite products for after baby is home.

Aden + Anais Swaddle Blankets – These swaddle blankets are the best thing ever. You know that burrito-swaddle-thing for which labor and delivery nurses are so famous? Yeah, that is actually possible with these swaddlers! You can achieve it in the comfort of your own home. Ha! These also make wonderful nursing covers, as they are really big. They are made of muslin, so they’re not hot for you or baby. Love, love, love these!

Rock-n-Play Sleeper – This is his little napper for during the day. I like laying him down while I work with the girls and on my own stuff. It has a vibrate setting, and you can manually rock it. There are more expensive ones that rock by themselves.

Arms Reach Co-Sleeper – A co-sleeper is another new purchase for us. We needed a safe place for Lincoln to sleep, and something that would work for a baby who nurses practically all night long. We tried a crib with Cam, and it was more work than anything, so we are trying out this co-sleeper. So far, I like it, even if L spends more time at night in my arms than in the co-sleeper!

WubbaNub Pacifier – This has been a huge help when Lincoln has tummy problems and wants to suck, but does not want more milk. I introduced this a little earlier than I had planned, but we are using only when he is very unsettled… and that’s really the only time he will take it. The animal attached to the pacifier helps it be easily found, which is great in the middle of the night!

Diva Milano Mei Tai – A friend has this baby carrier, and I love the way it looks and feels. It’s easier than a Moby, and even though Cam and I loved the Moby, Lincoln was not having it. This particular Mei Tai is a nice cross between a structured carrier and a wrap. It is incredibly easy to use!

After-Birth Oils Combo: 10 drops Frankincense, 10 drops Lavender, 10 drops Myrrh, and 2 drops Rose added to an empty 5 ml bottle. Fill the rest of the way with olive oil. I will put a drop of this in my hand, along with more olive oil, and carefully massage it over Lincoln’s chest and the top of his head when he is fussy and right before bed.

Olive Oil – Fill a 1-oz bottle with an eye dropper cap with plain olive oil and apply to baby’s bum after every diaper change until baby is no longer producing meconium. This makes wiping off the meconium much easier! This is a tip I received from my birthing assistant, and it works quite well!

BONUS: Amazon Prime members… when you create a baby registry, Amazon will give you 15% off selected baby items! We got 15% off our co-sleeper, car seat (!!!), diaper covers, baby swing, and more! You will have to check out with everything at one time to use the discount, as it is a one-time-use. Woo-hoo!!!

Other posts in the series: My Favorites for Pregnancy, Labor & Delivery, and Post-Partum.

Mabel’s Labels wants to spread the love this Valentine’s Day. To show you how much they adore you, Mabel’s Labels is treating you to 50% off Personalized Name Stickers with the heart icon. What’s not to love about that? This decadent deal only lasts for two days (2/13 – 2/14) so embrace the love today and save on these sweet stickers!

Our little peanut is doing well, and for the most part, so am I. I am still on couch rest because of high blood pressure (we still aren’t sure why it is high), but that just gives me more snuggle time with our new little guy.

His brother and sisters are over the moon, and love holding him and helping do anything and everything that involves him!

I will share his full birth story soon. I am working on it, but I have to work in spurts these days.