Hersey Homestead

From one tired momma to another, I hope you enjoy... Ever black, hollowed eyes peer from beneath A ballcap  Covering matted, Unbrushed hair. Tears fall at random. A bleak reminder Of an ever-fading, Tired mind. Baby pooch Gonna have to wait. Ice cream tub Calling from the freezer. Same clothes from yesterday Or the day before. Heavy perfume Covering the smell. Haven't had a date With the shower Since who knows when. How does this mascara thing work? Don't remember how To dress up. Persistent yawning, Watery eyes, Slurred speech, Irritability. Sneaking to bed early Yields little rest. Insomnia is a beast. Sweats. Again, sweats. Enough said. What day is it? How old am I? Tiny voices All around. Thing one. Thing two. Em - - Ash - - Whatever your name is Come here! Lost With no direction. Needing a hug Baby Hold me Without hesitation Boogers Wiped on pant leg. Survived Anoth...

I have heard so many people say that eating organic, with a family, is just too expensive. Quite frankly, it's just not true. I've been feeding my family of four organic food for years and saving money in the process. Here's a few ways that I've stayed on a budget while providing organic food for my family. 1. Gardening . You need a little bit of land but not a lot. An 8 x 20 plot of garden space provided more than enough for our family. Pots work great for city dwellers! - I must admit I'm not a great gardener and I've killed tons of plants. But some plants are resilient like kale, tomatoes, and onions. I tend to stick with those and squash variations. -My kids just love it. They get their little shovels and come help dig out the weeds. They get to learn about plants and how to be self sufficient!  -Freeze or can the extras to stretch the organic produce until the next harvest season. -For those of us who live in small city apartments, garde...

Stressed spelled backwards is desserts. - Loretta Laroche Honestly, this quote makes me giggle and happens to be a favorite! When I worked a high stress job, as a computer engineer and Test lead, this silly quote was plastered on my communicator. Visible for my stressed out co-workers to see and as a happy reminder of my love of sweet treats.  This gets me thinking of ways I like to de-stress. Here are twelve ways that may inspire you to relax. 1. Hike in the mountains. Beautiful meadows of flowers and cascading waterfalls are so peaceful. I love to pack a lunch and just rest in the serenity. 2. Spend time with the ocean. One of the most awe-inspiring wonders in life is the ocean. Staring out into the expanse, watching as the waves crash. It doesn't matter how my day is going, the ocean makes it better. 3. Snuggle in a blanket with warm tea. As a creature of habit, this is my most reached for. Can be quickly and easily done, but offers the comfort needed to relax. 4...

Essential oils are a wholesome way of living! Before becoming an independent distributor, I fell in love with the 100% organic, kid friendly, pure healthy oils. It feels so wonderful to use refreshing, natural ingredients while cooking, cleaning, and as homeopathic remedies. I was tickled pink to meet a gal on Instagram, Rebecca Clark, who owns EzzyToEden. She makes these affordable, natural wellness bracelets that pair perfectly with Young Living Essential oils! Sparkling Amethyst and essential oil lava rock You simply add a few drops of your favorite essential oils to the lava rocks. The oil will absorb within about a minute and diffuse all day. What an easy and fashionable way to enjoy your oils!     Labradorite, moonstone, and lava rock beads She's running a promo until Valentine's Day- free standard shipping on orders of $50 or more. Just use the code '50Ship'. These are perfect for all the gals in your life. Hurry and get them delivered in tim...

Date night. We all remember what those were like. You know, before the train of kids came along. Now, date night is off in a far away magical land filled with unicorns. (I may have read too many kid stories.)   It doesn't matter who you talk to, what classes you attend, or what books you read on the topic of marriage, Communication is always a key point. So, after much failure to balance being a wife and mother, and years to practice, we've settled on in-home dating.  The dates that happen after the kids are in bed. The dates the bring you back together after long days at the office. Time spent rehydrating a drained relationship after wiping up sticky and messy all day. The moments that inspire you to keep on keepin' on. Dates .  We need them with our spouse. If not only to remind us who we are embarking on this crazy journey called life with.  To grow.  To vent.  To be challenged.   After years of trial and error, ...

We knew from the start we wanted to homeschool our kids. Now with a toddler, we've ventured into schooling on a daily basis. I have a lot to learn moving forward with educating our children, but here are a list of 10 things we do to prompt learning... 1. Library. They have free classes that we attend weekly, that include activities such as story time, crafts, music and dance, and socializing with peers. The library is also great for reading, teaching your littluns to check out books, library etiquette practice, and exploring educational online games. 2. Aquarium/Zoo. My husband and I quite enjoy going to view the animals as well,  so it's a fun family outing. And educational! 3. Educational Movies. Our kids rather love and learn from Leapfrogs, VeggieTales, and Wild Kratts. You can find some educational movies at the library! 4. Discovery Channel. Another family friendly, educational, Friday night plan! 5. Workbook. I found an $8 kindergarten workbook at a local Wal...

Being thankful can truly lead to a happier life. Here is a practical way to live with a constant spirit of gratitude. Create a 'Thankful jar'. A place to store happy memories throughout the year. Then, on New Year's Eve, read them all and reminisce. It is quite satisfying.  Supplies needed: Mason jar or Tupperware with lid Paper (colored paper is fun) Pen (preferably one that works!) Scissors (optional...or tear paper strips) I did this for awhile, but then realized I'm a little too impatient to wait a whole year. A little too uptight to be ripping paper. And a bit too stressed to cut strips of paper. Loving the concept, but it just wasn't practical for me. So, I've done a variation of the 'Thankful jar' over the last few years. Being a writer at heart, there may or may not be a surplus of journals lying around. I now have a 'gratitude journal '. My husband showed up one day, a sweet little notepad in hand. It has colorful birds...