Why do you choose to stay at home?
I love being home so that I don’t have to divide and balance my time with work and family. I am blessed to be able to focus my time and energy on my family and nothing else at this time. I also want to be there for my kids at any moment they need.

What are your favorite things about being at home?
I love the simple daily moments. The moments where your heart is so full, It can be as simple as catching grasshoppers to cooking dinner together.

What do you find the most difficult?
I think the hardest times are when the kids or myself are sick. I also think it is hard to balance time with the kids and everything else it takes to run a home.

Your (just yours, not what with your kids) favorite things to do?
My favorite thing to do is to go out with my husband, friends, or family.

One mom MUST have you can’t live with out?
The stair safety gate..I love that I don’t have to watch Lexi closely by the stairs because it is locked.

If you were on a deserted island, name three things you’d have with you:
My husband and my kids.

If you weren’t staying at home, what job would you have?
Elementary School Teacher

One thing you wish you could do but don’t have time during the day?
Scrapbook more.

Advice for moms:
Wake up each day ready for a wonderful day. This can set the tone for your home family. So that no matter happens during the day they have that good start to help them.

If you could do anything different with your life what would that be?
Hmmm…not really anything.

What is the best and worst day of your stay at home mom “hood”?
I for sure think the day that my children were born was the best day of my life. The worst was when I had the stomach flu so bad I could hardly take care of my kids.

What is the most fun date you have ever been on with your hubby?
For sure it was our first date when we went to the Alabama concert.

What was the funnest thing you’ve ever done with your kids??

You know what the most recent funnest thing was just having a bunch of Nick’s freinds and their moms and siblings over for a swimming party.

One question for the newt mom spotlight?

What do you most want your children to remember about you when they are grown

Oh my gosh, you guys! Have you been over to Old Navy and seen their new fall stuff?!! It’s SOOO CUTE!!!!! I am in loves with the color purple and pink lately…and they have SO much there in these two colors! ah….heaven! And you know what? Old Navy really has great prices too, that’s what makes shopping fun right? Good prices?!! Okay..that was short and sweet…but I’m in a rush today, so it will have to do

Today is for ME! he he. I am sitting here on a SLOW computer trying to edit some pictures from a photo session and I am going mad! It takes WAY to long to do something in PS that should just take not even seconds! You’d think I was going to say “a fast computer” but NOPE…I’m going to say CHOCOLATE!! HA HA HA! I’m a mom, I get stressed and I need me some CHOCOLATE!

Okay so there are these little chocolate that you can find at the check out at grocery stores. They are usually 3 for $99 or something a long those lines. Because I’m trying to maintain a weight loss that I went through this past 1.5 yrs, I will grab one because just one is enough to really make my mouth water and be satisfied! These little chocolates are called Lindt chocolates. I am not kidding you! I love these things! They melt in your mouth and are SO yummy! (second runner up…ANYTHING from the Rocky Mt. Chocolate factory!!!).

Location: Originally Utah, now Arizona

Kids: 4 Year Old daughter & a 9 month old son

Why do you choose to stay at home?
I love being available for not only the everyday moments, but the truly momentous ones, such as walking, crawling, talking. I love being home for all their firsts. I also think in todays wicked world I feel very strongly that I need to be home as they grow so they can always come home to a safe environment! I have a strong desire to be home to watch my kids grow. The time goes by so fast that I don’t want to miss anything, because you can never get this time back!!

What are your favorite things about being at home?
I love spending my one on one time with my kids. Getting down & playing with them. I love being able to do all the kid stuff all over again, and watching the pure joy from their eyes!

What do you find the most difficult?
It’s hard to prioritize mommy time, when you are so focused on the kids. I find it the most difficult when either the kids are sick or I’m sick. Mommy’s aren’t allowed to have a sick day in case you didn’t know!! There just is no such thing!

Your (just yours, not what with your kids) favorite things to do?
My most favorite thing to do is travel! I love seeing new places, new kinds of people, customs. I love going to places with alot of history. Seeing old places that have been around for centuries is amazing!

One mom MUST have you can’t live with out?
My mod mum sling! My son loves it still & when the stroller is too inconvenient I tote him around in it! I can’t live without it!! As for my daughter we can’t live without lip gloss! It keeps her entertained for hours!!

If you were on a deserted island, name three things you’d have with you:
a teleporter so I could bring anyone to see me whenever I wanted! Some good books, Something good to drink! I would probably be thirsty!!

If you weren’t staying at home, what job would you have?
Elementary School Teacher

One thing you wish you could do but don’t have time during the day?
Only One thing??? Ok then, Lay out and get skin cancer!

Advice for moms:
You never know this kind of exhaustion exists until you have kids. However, the exhaustion goes away but your kids won’t stay little so just enjoy every moment with your kids. They just grow up too fast!! And all the sacrifices will be worth it when you look back and have many awesome memories with your kids!!

If you could do anything different with your life what would that be?
I honestly can’t think of anything I would rather be doing right now! I really truly love being a mom! Maybe I would travel more!!

What is the best and worst day of your stay at home mom “hood”?
Nothing compares to the day your children are born. A little bit of Heaven comes into the room. There are no words to express the kind of joy & love that you feel! Although there are many best days as a mom, the days my children where born are my favorite. The worst was probably when my husband was away with the army for 10 months & I was taking care of my daughter all by myself. She was 11 months old and she got RSV & was sick for the first time. For the next 10 months she got sick 6 more times. It was really scary for me & was very draining & hard!!

What is the most fun date you have ever been on with your hubby?

My husband and I have alot of fun, so there are alot of fun dates to choose from, but one of our funnest dates just happens to be our first date, it was on Halloween. We got all dressed up with five other couples and went to dinner, then the boys surprised us with a big truck stretch limo picking us up to go to the jazz game. It was fun seeing so many people dressed up for Halloween there! Then after the game we went to get dessert at Marie Callenders. After that date my husband and I were inseperable!! We had such a great time! Now every Halloween we have to dress up and get all decked out for the Holiday, it is a pretty sentimental Holiday for the two of us!!

Add one question for the next stay at home mom being spotlighted!
What was the funnest thing you’ve ever done with your kids??

So just over a year ago, I won a weight loss competition. I lost 43+ lbs and I got to go shopping for some new clothes. I am the “I’d rather go to the thrift store” type of girl, but I got to splurge a little bit and bought my first pair of $60 jeans at Nordstrom. For me, this was so hard to do. $60 for jeans when I could go and get a whole wardrobe at DI…yikes! BUT and this is the big BUT…I kid you not…I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my jeans. I have worn them day after day after day and they are comfortable, stylish, and still holding up! (in fact, I’m in them as I type!) Did I mention that I love them?

So today is all about a great pair of jeans! As moms, we don’t have to run around in sweats, jammies or mom jeans. Oh no! If you can get a pair of jeans as COMFY as your jammies….oh, then DO IT!

I searched Nordstrom for some CUTE jeans and BOY do they look comfy and seriously worth the extra splurge!

If you have a place you LOVE to shop, let me know! missa425@gmail.com

Okay today is a fun one just for MOMS (because it might be silly if dads wore this too)!

Today’s must have is Cover Girl Outlast Collection!

Okay, so I kid you not, this stuff ROCKS! If you are like me and want quick and easy, then you MUST try this stuff. I have had the Outlast lip stick and that stuff isn’t going anywhere! I was on my lips all day long and in fact, It lasted until the next day if I didn’t lick or rub my lips!

I JUST bought the Lipstain after months of wanting to try it and it’s like drawing on your lips with a marker, but it stays and looks great! I have some lip gloss that I keep in my purse, so I put some of the stain on last night before the hubby and I went out on a date. hours later, it was still on! Fun stuff!

If you have a MOM MUST HAVE, drop me an email missa425@gmail.com

Location: Layton, Utah

Kids: I have 5 kids Boy 17 (He was a bonus child, my step-son), Girl 10, Boy 8, Boy 5 and Girl 3

Why do you choose to stay at home?
I have always wanted to be a stay at home mom. I didn’t want anyone raising my kids other than my husband and myself. It has always been my dream job.

What are your favorite things about being at home?
I can make my own routine, I can cook when I want, excercise when I want….anything I want… I am in charge! I like wearing the pants and my husband would prefer it that way!

What do you find the most difficult?
The whining, tantrums, and the power struggles. Oh don’t forget the runny diapers, and throw up!

Your (just yours, not what with your kids) favorite things to do?
Taking Photos, Design things for blogs, and websites, Go on dates with my Husband, Go to a great resturant with good friends or Hubby. Go shopping when I have money.

One mom MUST have you can’t live with out?
Wipes

If you were on a deserted island, name three things you’d have with you:
My Family (that’s ONE thing, right?) Matches and a Boat.

If you weren’t staying at home, what job would you have?
A full time Photographer

One thing you wish you could do but don’t have time during the day?
To plunge into more crafts, and home decor

Advice for moms:
Take one day at a time, and enjoy it. They really do grow up too fast!!

If you could do anything different with your life what would that be?
This one is hard, I love my life the way it is, the grass is never greener, I am so blessed with what I have.

What is the best and worst day of your stay at home mom “hood”?
I think the best moments are when you bring home those sweet little newborns. Nothing more sweet!
My worst day? hmmm Probably when the doctor told my that my baby boy had a heart defect.

What is the most fun date you have ever been on with your hubby?
When he purposed to me.  It was on my Birthday, he brought me breakfast in bed, then handed me the newspaper and he put a personal ad in there for me saying, “Hope this is the best birthday ever!” We then went horseback riding, came back to his place and had a picnic.  Then for dinner we went out to get chinese food then a limo picked us up and we got a ride all over the Salt Lake valley while he popped the big…. “Will you marry me?”  And I was soooo stinkin’ excited I was laughing and crying and screaming all at once!  Of course I said yes!!  It WAS the best birthday ever and date and Purposal!!!

Add one question for the next stay at home mom being spotlighted!
Who is your favorite Woman Hero?

So I’m adding yet a new thing to Project stay at home mom. I love pictures and I love taking pictures! Wordless Wednesdays will be just as they sound. Wordless. However, a picture says a 1000 words, so would it still be wordless? he he…

So here is my first wordless Wednesday (minus the fact that I had to tell you about my wordless Wednesdays!)

…what summer is all about…

Today is all about going back to basics with the GAP. Comfy jeans and a fall sweater…what else could be better?! When you start out with a basic color you can dress it up or leave it how it is. To dress is up, add some cute earrings, a necklace, scarf or bracelet. I like to (and this may be my dirty little secret) go to thrift stores and find fun colored slip on flat shoes. I have a pair of American Eagle dark pinkish purple (same color as below) I found at DI and It’s amazing what a pair of shoes will do to an outfit! So it’s always fun to add a little color pop to a basic top!

Okay so do you remember going home from the hospital. New baby in arms and an ugly little diaper bag! This week’s must have is a CUTE diaper bag!!

I headed on over to:

I found this site when I went to the Mom’s who are making conference a few months ago. It’s an AWESOME spot to go if you are a mom and looking for something with moms to back it up! Moms enter the info of their fave stuff, you can fave it and then when other moms come to look (like I did today), they’ll find other moms faves! How cool is that?!

* * * * * The Baby Tree * * * * * * * * * * * MarieLynn Boutique * * * * * Dreamscapes baby boutique

So there you have it! Some “not so diaper bag looking” diaper bags! If you have a MOM MUST HAVE, let me know! missa425@gmail.com