Adding a Third Baby to the Mix

by SimplyHollyJo on December 17, 2021 , No Comments

I’m currently three months deep in the baby phase with our third baby. It’s a stressful and exciting phase that has me thinking back to my previous baby phases. I almost feel like a first time mom with the amount of information I feel like I’ve forgotten. Not to mention how much temperaments change from baby to baby. First Time Mom Life With my first baby, I lounged around at home, watching Call the Midwife (SO much crying), and attempting various tasks around the house when I could get a moment of baby free time, unless I could somehow do […]

A Song Full of Memory | Playlist of Life

by SimplyHollyJo on March 2, 2021 , No Comments

One of the recent blog hops from Exhale, a writing group that I’m in, was called “Playlist.” You were meant to take a song that evoked a memory, and share that memory in writing. At this time I thought it was an amazing prompt, but absolutely nothing came to mind for me. It doesn’t help that I don’t get nearly as much time as I use to to listen to my own music anymore. My kids are either anti-music, or only want kids music, depending on the day. I tucked the prompt away though, because again, I knew it was […]

Self-Love in Letting Go of Perfection

by SimplyHollyJo on February 19, 2021 , 2 Comments

Lately, I haven’t written much. Honestly, I’ve wanted to, but I haven’t been feeling inspired. I tend to go through phases of having so much inspiration and things to say, and then I go through times where I simply feel silent. I’ve learned that being okay with these ups and downs is a personal form of self-love. Am I’m growing to be okay with that.  It is so easy to get tied up in the “Do’s and Don’ts” of life, to feel the pressure of doing things the “right” way. But honestly, we are all human, and we all fall […]

Remember to Savor the Everyday Moments

by SimplyHollyJo on November 20, 2020 , No Comments

There’s a lot to be stressed, worried, and frustrated about this year. But there’s also a lot of wonderful things happening as well. Some of them are on smaller levels, and not as often spoken about, but important, nonetheless. So the topic of “savor” is perfectly fitting for this season.  Finding Inspiration When I first started reflecting on this word, a lot of things came to mind. Thanksgiving is coming up soon, so there’s people, food, and celebration, and honestly, there’s a lot of love and happiness around me in general. But what really stuck to me in the end, […]

Lazy Days and a Love of Learning | Unexpected Joy

by SimplyHollyJo on October 23, 2020 , No Comments

I feel as though I’m constantly talking about “this crazy time we live in.” I suppose it’s just going to be the running theme for some time. The world has been flipped upside down for most of us and we are all navigating some form of uncertainty and anxiety. It’s a time of great divide AND bonding. I have been doing my best to think of the good things happening in life right now, and the topic of Unexpected Joy is the perfect way to reflect. Lazy Days There has been a lot of laying around and relaxing, watching movies […]

Weighted Blankets for the Whole Family

by SimplyHollyJo on July 7, 2020 , No Comments

Our entire family sleeps with a weighted blanket now. I would have never imagined that. Years ago I learned about the benefits of weighted blankets. They are often used for children with sensory issues due to their calming abilities. The many benefits sounded like music to my ears. My mother had also heard about weighted blankets in a round about way through her doctor. She has fibromyalgia and her doctor suggested sleeping with a comforter with magnets sewn into it. She didn’t notice if the magnets helped, but she really enjoyed the feeling of the WEIGHT of the magnets. Some […]

My Boys | A Snapshot of Daily Life

by SimplyHollyJo on June 22, 2020 , 1 Comment

It was a normal weekday morning. My husband and I had woken up, gotten ready, made breakfast and coffee, and released the kids. The weather was unusually cool and outdoor play required light jackets. Mainly because quarantine had kept me from dressing my boys most days. Why fight them to get dressed when PJs make great play clothes? The cool weather had me craving more hot drinks and maybe a blanket. It really wasn’t that cool, low 60’s, but my body was craving the sun from all the low moods being induced by the current life circumstances. I was beyond […]

Capturing Quarantine | Cardboard Houses Photo Shoot

by SimplyHollyJo on June 1, 2020 , No Comments

Early on in the shelter-in-place phase of life this year, I began thinking up a studio shoot focused on capturing quarantine. I wanted something fun, but themed to this time. I debated toilet paper and leaning supplies for a while. But I mean, who wanted to waste toilet paper at the time? And I also didn’t have any clorox wipes or lysol or anything. So it just seemed empty and lacking. I had always thought the “white box” collage images I had seen around were fun. But I didn’t think that it was something print worthy, I guess, so I […]