First-Time Scout Mom Tips

Hey Loves!

We are heading into our second year of scouting! Yes, we, not just my kids, my entire family. Heading into our second year, not only am I excited, I feel way more competent and confident going into year 2. Here is what I wish I knew a year ago.

If you are new to this, it is going to be overwhelming. There are so many terms and signs and historical knowledge that just immediately hit you in the face, proverbially of course. You will not know everything. You will search lots of terms and resources.

Budget Well-  I had no idea how much supplies and uniforms cost! Books, national dues, troop dues, etc. The financial commitment is real!

Find the Right Troop-  This is the key. Truthfully we started with a horrendous troop. Like, if I see the leader today, she might still catch hands for what my kids went through. Thankfully, my research skills remain top-tier and I was able to find a historically Black troop in our area. Not only did the tropp have a solid past, they had so many members invested in the future of the tropp’s longevity. The pass down supplies and uniforms, supplies and knowledge! 

Get Involved- The right troop will thrive with parental involvement so you won’t be the only one present or involved. The right troop will use your strengths, train you on new skills, and communicate effectively.

Stay Involved- This part should be easy if you find the right troop. You will want to be around. You will enjoy your time watching your littles thrive and connecting with other families.

Homeschool Parent Must-Haves

Hey Loves!

I get asked this a lot. I also sometimes feel like I am sometimes missing things to ensure I am prepared to educate my kids. Then I remember that God qualifies the called  and I have the must-haves. Also, if I run out they are a couple clicks away.

Here is what I always have on hand. 

Stationary: Call me snob but great pens of all colors, post-its, and note pads are essential for me. I take notes, highlight and mark pages. 

Planner/Organizer: I am what they call, “type A” and I like to see our days and rhythms all laid out. This year I opted to create my own personal and lesson planner. 

Network: Near or far, the support, encouragement and collective sharing of resources and ideas is critical. I can’t know all the things, I’m not supposed to. My network helps me and I help them. I honestly receive way more than I give. Our network breathes life into our homeschool.

Library Access: Friends, it is no secret I am addicted to books. I adore them. The library not only provides a multitude of audio and hard copy books but they have amazing programs and activities as well.


This list is just a start but these are the only way I make it year after year.

Homeschool Parent Self-Care Ideas

Hey Loves!

I recently returned from a much needed momcation which you can read all about here, here and here.

With that, I want to share some things I do and plan to do that will sustain me mentally, physically and emotionally until I can get away again. Listen, it isn’t easy being a parent doing most everything and when you add educator, curriculum director, researcher and administrator, it compounds monumentally. 

We all need breaks. There is no glory in masochistically running yourself into the ground. I’ve learned there needs to be very regular maintenance of myself to continue being what’s needed for my family. Here they are.

The Bare Essentials: Food and Water- It sounds crazy but you won’t believe how many days I have not fed myself and/or hydrated properly.  Sometimes I get so dehydrated, I get headaches. That’s not cute. To curb this, I keep filled cups and water bottles all around and keep cans of sparkling water handy. I will also prepare meals and snacks that are easy to assemble or grab to make sure eating is easy.

Endorphins: Look, exercise is a need mentally and emotionally, not just physically. The endorphins I get from a good ride or fitness class set up my day or days for absolute success.

Connection: I get it, we have separated from one another and had to take very real and necessary precautions to stay safe but isolating is not going to help us. Connect with others however you can! Date nights, GNOs, zoom chats, and checking in via zoom are weekly, sometimes daily for me.

Planning and Reflection: For me, being prepared and competent in our schedule, activities and lessons is soothing for my mind and my heart. It also eases my children’s anxiety knowing expectations and what is coming up. I also have comfort when bags are packed and items are prepped for whatever we are doing outside the home?

How are you practicing self care?.

Summer Reads for Parents for Any Mood

Hey Loves!

Summer is in full swing and I live by a good book anytime of year, but there is something about summer that makes reading incredibly nostalgic. Here’s a few book ideas for whatever you are in the mood for!

Romance: Alisha Rai’s modern romance series was a 3-book series I finished in a couple of days! I loved how the author discussed other issues like harassment, anxiety and grief while providing steamy romance with some relatable laughs. 

Self Improvement: The Lazy Genius Way is worth gold. Legit. The book 13 amazing principles that will really help you enjoy this thing called life. 

Parenting:  Adventuring Together by Greta Eskrudge honestly changed so much of the things my kids and I experience together. It’s has helped shed fear and shame and allow us to embrace adventures in all sizes. 

Faith: Try Softer by Aundi Kolber is really good for anyone who has experienced or knows someone who has experienced anxiety and/or trauma. The clinical knowledge and biblical truth combine to give the reader a fresh approach and sweet joy!

You can find all these books here! Hope the recommendations make it to a book shelf near you!

Mom Travel Essentials and Tips

Hey Loves!

Are you over hearing about my momcation? Well I won’t bore you with details but I did learn a few tips and have some unusual travel essentials for you. (If you do want details on my momcation, you can read about them starting here.)

Travel Tips: 

  1. Choose a mode of transportation that will gladly leave without you. Plane, train, or friend caravan, for example. As a mom, I know all too well how guilt or things to do will delay or even cancel your trip. Don’t let it. 
  2. Once you plan the days you will be gone, choose departure and arrival times that will give you the maximum time away. If you have fly out at 6 a.m., to enjoy the entire day and fly back 8 p.m., do it!
  3. Bring entertainment-traveling by yourself is way different than traveling with kids. I actually got bored in the airport and on the plane. So get an audiobook, download a movie or get ready to play games. 

Travel Essentials:

  1. Pajamas- I know this sounds odd but a huge part of momcations is the rest. Ariana Huffington says in her book that pajamas prepare your body and brain for rest. She is correct. It didn’t matter what time of day I put pajamas on, my brain slowed and my body stilled. 
  1. Electronics-  I’m sure you’re like, “duh” but as a content creator the mental space I had to create was vast. It was a bummer when I didn’t have all I needed to really work well and efficiently 
  1. A Budget- again, duh. I got out a cash budget. Well, that was before I realized cash isn’t accepted everywhere. So maybe grab some Lyft gift cards or gift cards that can be used anywhere. 
  1. Flexibility- If you are anything like me when you travel, you want to see and experience as much as you can. On a momcation, there’s no way you can do that and have adequate rest. So, be flexible and be ok with not seeing and doing all. 

Hope this helps dears!

MomCation-The Work

Hey Loves!

So, I would love to tell you this time was spent pool lounging and at the spa but, le sigh, work must be done. You would think working would be the antithesis of vacation but, in this case at least, the mental freedom paired with an empty “to do” list made for an amazing working experience.

The mental clarity allowed me to see the proverbial Forrest and not just one tree. I could plan out blogs for the next quarter, review my goals and essentially pivot. 

However, I still had to go slow and not get sucked into getting it all done to maintain the refilling. 

So, I wrote a ton of blogs, happy reading.

I edited some videos. Happy watching.

I shot and edited lots of self shots for content.

I also created my media kit and worked on a brand partnership.

Was it everything I wanted to get done? No. Am I pleased with the way I balanced work and rest? Yes. Very.

MomCation-The Sights

Hey Loves!

Just so we are clear, before I even begin this blog, I understand the incredible privilege I have to have been able to enjoy and share this experience. I do not take this for granted and I totally understand if even reading this series is too much for you right now.

So, I was burnt out. I don’t know the term for this level of exhaustion but it was stirring up some serious anger. I needed a full entire break. So, I took one. 

I chose a location that was stateside but still touristy and where friends or family wouldn’t be vying for my time. It sounds selfish but I did not have the capacity for meet-ups.

Here’s the problem with choosing a touristy location-There is so much to do and see and experience! I needed this to be a refilling experience so I had to decide immediately that I might do 1 tourist attraction. I gave myself permission to not to do anything more and be ok with that.

This was actually difficult as I typically do the most when traveling. I want to see, do, and experience it all. That’s not what mattered most. I made the mental adjustment. 

It just so happened my lodging was in the most touristy part of this city so just walking to eateries and shops, I could experience culture, history and architecture.

That was enough for me. This isn’t a “how to see the sights” blog, it is more of a “how to not be overwhelmed by the sites” and honor what matters most. 

MomCation- The Rest

Hey Loves!

So, yes, I ate more in 4 days than I have in 4 months but that was not the intent of this escape. Respite, refilling and rest was the intent and I think I understood the assignment.

For starters, I didn’t know I needed this amount of mental rest I got. I can’t quantify it, but not being “on” all hours of the day, every day was a vacation in itself.

Then, I caught up on sleep. Like, I took a nap every day. I also took extremely long very very hot showers just because I could.

I needed a break. The thing is,, I waited too long to take this break so by the time I got here, I was beyond depleted. There really wasn’t any to “refill” because my well was bone dry. I needed just filling. So, I did that through actual rest-lots of naps- and sleep, mental respite from literally going slow and being off.

My goal is to make every effort to do this annually and find ways to radically refill quarterly so I won’t be this depleted again.