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Create the Perfect Gathering Spot with a Backyard Fire Pit

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campfire meal

One of our favorite spots to gather is the backyard fire pit. Settled under large shade oak trees, this spot is peaceful and with all of the shade, much cooler than the rest of the property. We like to roast marshmallows and make smores, and have even cooked dinner over this fire pit! We can sit and stay awhile because the chairs are so comfortable. Adirondack Chairs I want to make memories with our friends and family that last, and this has been a great spot for that already, since moving here six months ago. We didn’t bring the old… Continue reading

5 Tips to Create Your Perfect Master Bath Retreat

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create your perfect master retreat

Who else loves to stalk Zillow and realtor.com for home listings? It can’t be just me! For years now, we’ve talked about buying land and having “land and horses.” We were always held back with nothing for sale or reasonably priced in our excellent school district. We loved our house and we loved our neighborhood too, and didn’t want to leave the community. For 2 years of that time, this house on 15 acres that we live in now sat for sale and empty for at least 6 months of that time. It said “well-maintained” but I beg to differ!… Continue reading

Our Farmhouse Remodel Master Bedroom

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Our Farmhouse Master Bedroom Remodel

I’m finally ready to share a few stories and pictures of our farmhouse remodel master bedroom project, because there is finally something to show for all the work we’ve put in! Let me tell you, buying an almost 7,000 foot home that is severely dated on almost 15 acres of land is not for the faint of heart! We have had a good experience so far, for the most part, with only a few snags (!), but only because we are managing expectations (i.e., keeping them LOW for the time being at least!) We are doing some of the work ourselves but we have used set aside funds to be able to hire people to do some things.  You can look at a previous post to see more of the “before!” Continue reading

Easy Banana Chip Muffins

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banana chip muffins

Kid Friendly Muffins This is a wonderful, easy recipe to make when you have leftover ripe bananas.  The kids love these banana chip muffins, and they are SO simple to make.  Chocolate chips make them irresistible!  My son always says, “remember that time you made these muffins for my preschool class and everyone loved them?”  Haha!  From my picky eater, no less! Freezer Friendly I usually keep half of the recipe out for eating over the next few mornings and snacks.  You can freeze the other half by placing the banana chip muffins in a freezer zip bag.  Label with… Continue reading

9 Must-Haves for Farmhouse Decor

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Advertising Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links. Please see our Privacy Policy and Disclosure for more details. Farmhouse Decor is relaxed, inviting, and inexpensive to achieve.  While it started out as a style only seen in rustic, rural farmhouses, the style has evolved to be achievable for anyone.  If you are looking to make small updates to your home, farmhouse decor items are fun and easy to include in your rooms.  Here are 9 must-haves for farmhouse décor. Inspirational quotes on simple signs Make your home feel warm and inviting with simple reminders.  This sign from Walmart is perfect for… Continue reading

Shop Smart Online This Christmas Season

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This is a post that someone needs to read; it may be you!  With online shopping surpassing in-store retail shopping this Christmas (source: Deloitte), more than likely, you are planning to shop online. Online Christmas shopping is wonderful and convenient (usually) and can save you time and money.  And at Mom’s Priority, we want to help make it easier for you!!  But, you need to know how to protect yourself and how to spot dishonest merchants and criminals.  As a fellow mom, I feel I need to make you aware of warning signs and help keep you all safe online! … Continue reading

How to Cultivate an Attitude of Gratitude at Home

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The Cure for Entitlement:  Gratitude My son has been excitedly asking about our gratitude jar for the past month.   Filling the jar with things we are thankful for is a tradition we do every November.  Every day in November (ideally… we often have to catch up!), we write down things we are thankful for on slips of paper and add them to the jar.  On Thanksgiving Day, we read all of our notes aloud.  It is a humbling and gratifying experience to say the least.  To hear aloud my family members say things that maybe I never think to be… Continue reading

Be Still and Know that I am God

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Probably like many of you, I love photography. I am a little obsessed with taking pictures. In the early years of motherhood, after leaving my corporate job to stay home with my babies while my husband traveling most of the time (supporting our family well), I had lots of moments without adults to talk to! It could have been lonely, but I took it all in. And in the moments when my babies wanted me there close by to play, or while I fed them, changed their diapers, and rocked them to sleep, I prayed…a lot. And I took in… Continue reading

New Year / New Goals / January Garden

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Yay! We made it to 2021! What a crazy year 2020 is, and while I am not naive enough to think that everything is going to instantly be better in 2021, I have HOPE. What are your new goals for 2021? I feel like we’ve all been through an incredible storm (and still are) and we are stronger for it. I pray for our health and safety in this turbulent time, and I pray we keep our focus on Christ. Focus on Christ My biggest mistake several years ago during a “storm” in my life was to take my eyes… Continue reading

How to Unwrap the Greatest Gift at Christmas with your Family

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Greatest Gift of His Rest 2020… a year like no other! Back in March, when this whole shutdown started, I distinctly feel God telling me it’s time to rest. I don’t mean rest entirely, but rest in Him, rest in His faithfulness and goodness, His provision and His mercy. It has been quite a year, but He has brought us through until now! 2020 into Focus Christmas is soon upon us. We celebrate Thanksgiving this Thursday, whether with our families physically, virtually, or in spirit, and we need to wrap this year up with a renewed focus on our Creator.… Continue reading

Encouraging Gifts On Sale Now!

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Do you know someone who needs a word of encouragement? More likely, do you know anyone who does not? Since March, our lives in the United States (and a little earlier in other countries) have been upended by this virus called Covid 19. Counting back…can you believe it has been six months?! I believe we are all stronger for it. This time has demanded a ton of flexibility, creativity, love for others, and resolve. We realize more than ever the importance of community, even if it is virtual. Now as our kids are getting back into school, whether virtual or… Continue reading

Vera Bradley Face Masks for Back to School

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As much as we all want this virus to go away, it isn’t leaving fast enough! As you make plans for back to school and other events, don’t forget to get a few face masks for your family. If your kids are required to wear them daily, you will want to have multiple. I am predicting places will sell out again, so I have bought several Vera Bradley face masks for each of us. We also have more masculine masks on hand for the guys like these masks here. We can make them if we have to (hopefully not, because… Continue reading

7 Safe Sunscreens ~ Mom Recommended ~ For Kids

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It’s that time of year again, time to get outside more and enjoy the outdoors, for our health! At the same time, we know we need to apply safe sunscreen on ourselves and our kids. Is it just me, or do the ingredient lists on the back of these sunscreens we use scare you too? You know there is a problem when my usually non-sensitive kids are complaining of face sunscreen causing their faces to feel burned. I’ve read about chemicals in sunscreens causing problems with a person’s endocrine system, and more research needs to be done. We all need… Continue reading

How to Buy Groceries Online During Quarantine

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During this time of quarantine and social distancing with Covid-19, everyone is looking for safer ways to shop. We don’t want to unnecessarily risk our health, but we obviously need food and other items to live and be comfortable. The problem is: all of the retailers are overwhelmed, online and in stores. Everyone is eating and living at home right now. Delivery and pickup windows are limited, as is product availability. As an experienced online grocery shopper, I would like to share with you how to buy groceries online during quarantine. Plan Ahead Probably the biggest takeaway is to plan… Continue reading

Parenting During Covid-19

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Advertising Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links of products we believe are helpful. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy and Disclosure. An assuredly major mark in future world history, this Covid-19 Pandemic is life-altering and habit-changing. Who knew that in the matter of a month’s time, we could go from our “normal” lives of working, going to school, eating out at restaurants, shopping in stores at leisure, playing sports, rushing around…to staying home, completing schoolwork, work, shopping, all online.  Parenting during Covid-19 is not for the faint of heart, and we are all just doing our best.  We… Continue reading

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