Hersey Homestead

We've all seen the articles floating around about the joys of motherhood. They paint this picture of a happy pregnancy, perfect delivery, and just pure joy from there on out. Even while pregnant, everyone touts how wonderful being a mother is. And motherhood is a wonder to experience, but sometimes it's not all daisies and sunshine. There is a side to motherhood I wish we would talk about more. Real life, hard motherhood stuff that I wish someone would have told me about during my pregnancy. Things, had I known, that would have saved me the trouble of feeling isolated in the struggle. Well, if no one else is talking about it, then I am. Here goes... Pregnancy sucks. Morning sickness, or if you're lucky, all day sickness. Stretched skin, stretch marks, swollen feet, hot flashes, difficulty breathing, shooting nerve pain in your legs, painful pressure on your tail bone, pain from being kicked in the ribs, and back pain. But don't worry, everyone will tell you to be gr...

If given the choice, I think all of us would choose to eat organic foods. However, those price tags can send our budgets out of control. As a stay-at-home mom, with a single-income household, here is how we eat organic on a tight budget. Start by checking the bargain bins. I find organic produce on discount almost every time I go to the store. Anything that doesn't look 'perfect' gets discounted. If organic lettuce is on sale, buy three and add side salads to dinner all week. Bonus you are saving organic produce from being tossed in the trash. Know the dirty dozen . This is a list of produce you want to buy organic, to avoid ingesting crazy amounts of pesticides. If your budget allows, certainly go for organic every time. However, at minimum, avoid the dirty dozen: Strawberries  Spinach  Nectarines Apples  Grapes  Peaches  Cherries  Pears  Tomatoes  Celery  Potatoes  Cucumbers Now, organic apples are much more expe...

Trying to stick to a budget? Following the Dave Ramsey plan? Just want more spending money? Here are a few ways to cut costs day-to-day... 1. Phone plan- We recently cut our phone bill in half by switching to a different carrier. It is the SAME data plan for a whole lot less.  Say what? 2. Car Insurance-check to be sure you are getting the best deal. 3. Bulk- I mean really bulk up. Like 25 pounds each of rice, beans, flour, oats, oil. It will cost pennies in the long run, compared to buying smaller portions at the store! 4. Lights- Don't turn them on. Okay, so you can use them, but utilize the beautiful sunshine whenever you are able. I have a habit of opening the blinds in the house as soon as I wake. 5. Walk- It's free and keeps you healthy. Obviously this isn't an option for everyone, depending on where you live. I live in a central location, so I can easily walk to the river, library, hills, zoo, & museums. Everything is within a few mi...

   If you are anything like me, you start out with the best intentions of getting your Christmas shopping done early. Every year I say it, and every year I slightly miss the mark. Eh, now is not the time to get stressed. By now, you are rummaging through your Christmas list and still have those hard-to-get-for people left. No worries. I have compiled a list of my favorite gift ideas. Hope this helps! 1. Instant Pot Everyone needs one. Every single human being. They are amazing! Completely versatile and for under a hundred bucks. Yes please. I use mine multiple times a week. I highly recommend purchasing the extra lid, so you can easily pop the leftovers in the fridge. 2. Essential Oils  (Sponsor#: 3519018) Doesn't everyone use these now?! Non-toxic scents for the win. Here is a list of my top 5 favorite oils: Thieves: Has stood the test of time. Literally! Must have to combat the sick season. Christmas Spirit: The perfect blend of cinnamon, orange, and...

Couponing: Below is a compilation of much research, trial & error, and ultimately success. I share this in an effort to help us all reach financial freedom! ......................................................................................................................... Before I begin, I need to lay some ground rules. Couponing is a great way to save money. Unfortunately, it can turn into something ugly real fast if done improperly. Just take a moment right now and whisper to yourself  * Don't get greedy * Couponing etiquette 101: 1. Do not clear shelves! There are some amazing deals out there. Let's all enjoy them. 2. Do not cheat the system! This is bad, bad, bad. It ruins couponing for everyone else. If the coupon says one per person, one per transaction, one per item etc. Follow the directions. 3. Read the coupon policy for the stores you plan on using coupons at. Do this! Every store has it's own policy in place for a reason. Do not bypass this ...

Journeys are better when shared together. As a way to keep track of physical, mental & emotional growth, I am going to give you front row seats to the latest part of my fitness journey. I am honing in on my diet & exercise this week with a strict meal plan & consistent exercise. Sunday evening, I spent a few hours in front of my computer creating a 7 day menu based on color coded containers for the Vegan Plan B. The plan is based on a completely whole foods, approximately 1500-1800 calorie, 6 meals a day lifestyle. The containers are a way to ensure portion control or prevent one from over-eating. This is the first day of following my new meal plan... Due to my busy schedule, I did not eat the meals evenly spaced, so I found myself excessively hungry mid-afternoon. However, that was my fault. As you will see below I had quite a lot of food mapped out for my Monday... B: Shakeology x1 + Teaspoon of PB x1 S: Watermelon x2 L: Baked Caul...

At 2 am the other night, a desire to write swelled in my soul. 2 am ya'll. Clearly still in the Mom time zone. I'd like to say beautiful, captivating poetry flowed from a stylish calligraphy pen, but let's keep it real. This momma fell asleep whilst trying to articulate how extreme fatigue consumes her on the daily. What you have before you is a list scribbled down while in a state of delirium. For your amusement. From one tired momma to the next, Enjoy! Crusty eyes. Dark circles. Quiet giggles in the next room. 9:00 am Cozy slippers. Barrage of food requests. Toy cars. Fill water bottles. Hot tea brewing. 9:15 am Clean clothes on. Move laundry. Unload dishes. Clean kitchen. Sweep. 9:32 am School. Hours. Tears. Achievements. 12:00 pm Make lunch together. Eat. Dishes again. Read together. Worn out. 2:00 pm Freedom. Free play. 3:00 pm Break. Judge Judy. Exercise bike. 4:00 pm Crafts. Play dough snakes. Lego castles. Sweep a...