Real. Simple. Parenting.
Welcome to Real Simple Mama’s butterfly garden! This pollinator garden was started in spring 2020 (because what else can you do during a pandemic shut down other than dig in the dirt?!) and is now flourishing here in the Texas heat. Read on for a few quick tips and the list of residents in this certified pollinator garden.
Continue readingHi! I am Sarah, the Real Simple Mama, and I’ve been a chicken tender for six years now. (No this isn’t the beginning of a Chicken Addicts Anonymous meeting!) I’m actually to here to talk about how to buy a coop kit for your flock.
My family and I got chickens six years ago in a semi urban Texas neighborhood; while we’ve moved quite a few times in this six years, we’ve almost always had a “coop kit.” I define this as a coop that comes in a box with instructions, pre-measured materials, and a plan. You’re paying for the convenience and the work it took for someone to design and package a coop – just build the kit and you’re ready for chickens!
But coop kits are sometimes less-than-easy to shop for, and I’ve had my share of bad experiences. Read on for all of my recommendations – what to look for in a coop kit for backyard chickens!
And hey for your shopping convenience, click on the free downloadable printable towards the end – it’s a short-and-sweet copy of my list so you can take it with you when you go to buy your own coop kit! Plus check out the video tour on YouTube, linked at the very bottom of this article.
Continue readingYou’re a stay at home parent, and your child is finally down for a nap. Now comes the panicky excitement like a game show you didn’t know you were on: What do you do with this alone time? Logic says to take a nap or eat something, but part of you wants to take a hot shower or eat a half gallon of ice cream. And if you’re like me, you spend the whole nap standing in the kitchen with an indecisive look on your face. Then, just like that, your kid wakes up. Damn! So quick, check out my list of what to do when your kid naps.
Continue readingYep. I’m a Weight Watcher. It may not be glamorous but it’s working for me and I love it! And now that I feel I’ve got it down, I wanted to share my ten favorite Weight Watchers hacks with you!
I know it sounds cheesy, but I made a New Year’s Resolution for 2017 to take better care of myself. And a big part of that was to lose the baby weight which I’ve gradually gained from birthing and breastfeeding two kids in four years. But mentally and physically, I was ready to make a change. Here’s a busy breastfeeding mom’s review of Weight Watchers. Continue reading
I’m a music teacher who is now a stay-at-home mom. While my current role is different – I’m at home with my own children instead of a music classroom – I still love teaching age-appropriate music lessons to my kids! I frequently come up with new ideas, and I have a great session you can do with kids as young as two years old. This music lesson is simple and customizable for children preschool age and up, no teaching experience needed! Read on to learn how to do a simple music listening activity with your kids!
The kids are yelling, the husband’s grouchy, and all I want is to hide in the bathroom and cry. They want to eat… again?! But they ate yesterday!
Look, keeping house and raising kids is a lot of hard work. And you want to be sure that you have food on the table, preferably with some healthy things thrown in occasionally.
Let me throw you a line, Mama, and give you some advice on family meal planning made real simple. Cuz that’s how I do it. Continue reading
Any healthy woman who has a low risk pregnancy can work towards a drug-free birth if that is what she desires. However, it does take time and effort to prepare yourself physically, emotionally, and mentally. Additionally, I really do think that all women need to have a mental plan on how they will deal with pain, even if they intend to have pain relief during labor.
I have had a natural birth in a hospital, and one in a birth center. Here are the biggest pieces of advice that I can give to any mother who is curious about pursuing a drug-free birth! Continue reading
When you find out that you and your significant other are going to have a baby, the feelings of elation are matched by a thousand questions. You spend hours researching things like feeding and sleep, and daydream about the perfect nursery. But no one really prepares you for the changes which will happen once the baby arrives. No one talks about this big misconception about parenthood, and it kinda sucks.
Namely, saying goodbye to your old life. For good. Continue reading
If you’re a parent and you don’t have a loving relationship with a slow cooker, you’re missing out. Using a slow cooker – and planning my weekly meals – has made a huge difference in how we eat around here. I don’t know what I’d do without my crock pot! Continue reading
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