Rethinking Storytime [Podcast]

Rethinking Storytime - Podcast Episode #2

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Whether it's 1, or 100, every story you read with your child is a moment that you will treasure and they will remember. I’m excited for today’s podcast to talk about rethinking storytime to make it work for you.

Life is busy and storytime can often fall to the wayside. As someone who practically grew up in the library this seems like a tragedy.

Today’s podcast starts as I’ll talk about my love for the library growing up and how my love for books turned into a job to help me pay for college.

Next, I want to help you create an awesome storytime experience. Here’s some ideas for creating your book collection.

#1 Requesting books from the library - Free! Hurray!
#2 Buying books from a place like Ollie’s (discount place similar to TJ Maxx but with books and household goods)
#3 Thrift stores and garage sales - These prices can’t be beat.
#4 Amazon - If you look for books that qualify for free shipping over a certain amount you can order a great number of book at a really good deal.

The podcast concludes with the idea that you may have to change something to make storytime work for you. Don’t be afraid to:

#1 Change the time - We read stories earlier in the day so we’re not rushed before bed or overtired and cranky.
#2 Change the stories - Some of the books are too long or the words just aren’t my favorite… we enjoy the illustrations while I make up a story.

I hope you enjoy the podcast! Plus you can check out our video with some of our favorite bedtime books!

A Mom In The Making Podcast

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Welcome to my very first podcast episode for A Mom In The Making! Back in college I actually did a series of podcast for my senior thesis. Now I’m dusting off those skills to bring you a weekly podcast with the same fun, inspiring, and encouraging stories that you’ll find on AMomInTheMaking.com.

In this first episode, you’ll discover “Who is a mom in the making?” Are you? I’ve got some great stories sharing moments of real motherhood and its not-so-glorious moments that make for magical memories. Hope you enjoy my podcast!

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Mentioned in this episode:

• Natalie from TheBusyBudgetingMama.com

How to Travel without a Diaper Bag

I hate diaper bags... 

and my husband bought me the cutest one on the planet! It is pink with little brown polka dots... However I tend to overfill bags so instead of being helpful... it ends up as a 1000 lb weight I’m dragging around prepared for Zombie apocalypse...

I feel like when you take a diaper bag you’re committing to being prepared. This means you need to take everything! In case a situation arises that you will need it.

Now I just keep a small thing of wipes, two diapers, an outfit and maybe a nursing cover in the bottom of my stroller. Also I keep the same things in my baby organizer in the car. Most places I am going I will either have my stroller or my car. This way I’m not constantly lugging everything around.

In a pinch... I throw a diaper and wipes in my purse... Knowing all my supplies are not far away.

This is definitely a bonus of nursing... no formula, no bottles, etc

How do you carry diapers?

Free Advent eBook!

After a year of work and too many sleepless night. Bible Characters for Advent is officially complete! I started talking about our book, in my blog post about Keeping Christ as the Center of Christmas 

Bible Characters for Advent is a one of a kind Catholic children's book that takes you through twenty-five characters, telling the stories of salvation history and showing how they connect to Jesus. This book was carefully crafted to make deep connections in simple ways that children can understand.

Each story is short to accommodate busy schedules and child attention spans. Yet, they connect so well that several can be read at a time.

Bible Characters for Advent is filled with fun and clever illustrations as well and Bible verses so you can go deeper when appropriate.

You can read one story each day starting on December first and ending on Christmas. Or, you can read a few at a time. However you do it, know that your family will be more prepared to celebrate Christmas after enjoying Bible Characters for Advent.

How do you keep Christ as the center of your Christmas celebrations?

Pre-Pregnancy Pants!

I am wearing my pre-pregnancy pants!! (imagine the song I feel good erupting from the heavens and playing as I walk)

There is nothing I can’t do. Just watching the pants swish as I walk makes me feel skinny. Not only am I in pre-pregnancy pants, but I've officially hit my pre-pregnancy weight! Two victories in one week…

Sure some of the weight has rearranged itself. A nice inner tube shape around my waist, but hey if I’m ever drowning no need to throw a life ring… I've got one already lol

It does happen. You will reach your pre-pregnancy weight. Just give it time. My little Charlie is 9 months… he’s walking and I’m planning his first birthday! But I am back!

Yes, it was discouraging when I saw my friends leave the hospital in skinny jeans. But I am back and continuing further on the road to skinny.

When did you get your pre-pregnancy clothes back?

A Day without Coffee

We can’t serve you!

I was stumbling and falling asleep… you can’t deny a working mother coffee on a Monday morning with a day packed with meeting. I could see the espresso machine, the ice blending machine was up in running. There was a room full of people with coffee, and as they denied me mine, there were finishing serving another customer. I felt it was a cruel joke to make me suffer.

Sadly, I stumbled back to my office destined for a morning filled with yawns. After a few calls inquiring, I discovered the problem. The cash register crashed, so they couldn't accept credit cards. I am a faithful coffee drinker, I always order the same thing. I always pay cash.

Was it really the best solution to send me packing?

Although I was late going back to work so I could re-go to the coffee house. I was inspired, I need to make my own coffee so I am no longer dependent on the whims of another to start my morning.

Does anyone have any good frozen blended coffee recipes? I've tried and failed a lot, which is why I keep going back. (Please leave some ideas... my mornings depend on it!)

Fun with Photo Shoots

Nothing is cuter than a little boy in a giant hat!

Early this summer we bought a nice camera! The kind that you hand to someone and they have no idea how to take a picture because it has so many controls and buttons :)

Our goal was to take pictures everyday so we could practice different setting, angles… Although little Charlie was the obvious star, adding props made it a lot of fun!

One of my favorites was in the back yard with a giant sombrero.

How do you make your photo shoots extra cute?