Alphabet Bingo {TTBH #7}

As you know we have been making our way through the alphabet and I started to feel like what we were doing was repetitious; read, boring. So I wanted to make a fun game for Kinsey and came up with BINGO.

How many of us played BINGO growing up? (How many still do? That game is a classic!) I whipped this up one day and Kinsey has had a blast playing! I printed off two copies of each game board, laminated them and cut one into cards, which I use as the call letters. For markers we have used the call cards turned over.

I've made our Alphabet BINGO game into a printable, please feel free to download it! I had to adjust my printer settings to print an 8x10 picture and shrink to fit, if anyone is having difficulties printing it to size. Maybe its just my printer with the problem?

For more fun ideas on sharing the alphabet with your child I have a whole Pinterest Board dedicated to learning letters:
Follow Work it Mommy Blog's board Preschool- Letters on Pinterest.

Meghan of The Adventure Starts Here also shared a few fun letter activities last month for TTBH #6!


Now it's your turn! Add your link below. Our next Teaching Together Blog Hop will be on Thursday, May 5th! ***By submitting a link, you are giving us authorization to feature your post.  If your post is featured, we will include a picture and a link to your site to share the love!***

An InLinkz Link-up

 

Quarterly Goals {April/May/June}

I can't believe it's already been 3 months since my first Quarterly Goals check-in! Talk about a shock, 2016 is going by so fast! Let's see how productive I've been these past three months, shall we?

Blogging//

Write 3-4 posts a week

Start a blogging series: The Mommylogues Series

Cultivate my blogging friendships

Grow my social media reach, specifically Facebook. I just started a Work it Mommy fan page and I would be beyond grateful if you liked it :)

Work on my Photography skills, including editing and content: The Picture Perfect Project

I rocked my blogging goals, like whoa. Though I will say it definitely cut into time that would have been spent doing other maybe, probably, definitely more important things.

Home//

Organize and purge toys/clutter/clothes

Meal plan more effectively

Write out a Chores List and stick to it

I feel like I did a lot in terms of organizing and decluttering but I just haven't found a good toy rotation/storage solution yet. Anyone have any good advice about this? And even though I didn't write out a specific chore list, I did get a bunch of resources from The Spring Cleaning and Organizing blog hop that I'm excited to use!

Family//

Start a "no phone zone" designation (saw this on Leah's blog and totally loved it) and be firm

Make one-on-one time with Kinsey and Brielana

Have a regular Date Night with Brian

Well, this is where I big ole failed. But I will say, Brian and I have been getting in couple time while watching our shows in the evening. Getting one-on-one time with the girls is proving to be a little more tricky; naptime is my time with Kinsey but time with just Brielana doesn't seem to happen as often. 

Self//

Daily Devotional, time in The Word. I have been away from Bible Journaling and it's got me down. I can't think of a better pick-me-up than time spent with Jesus

Continue to make time for reading, using Goodreads Reading Challenge

Take my physical health more seriously by implementing an exercise regime

I got back into personal reading but my Daily Devotions were not daily; I tried the She Reads Truth app and it was motivating to see the checked off reading but it didn't spur me to action/accountability. My exercise is daily life with two active girls, so I'm crossing off that one! I know I'm moving around because my clothes are fitting wonderfully (I don't weigh myself) so I think I'll have to focus on something more concrete for next quarter.

Preschool//

Continue to plan material in advance

Incorporate more art activities

Include more large motor activities

The birthday celebrations and holidays really messed me up, read, made me lazy. And then I realized, I get less motivated around this time every year! If I'm anything it's being consistent ;)

And now for April/May/June goals:

Blogging//

Write 3-4 posts a week

Cultivate my blogging friendships

Grow my social media reach with emphasis on Facebook

Home//

Implement a toy rotation/storage system

Utilize my Crock Pot more

Work on weeding and tending to the backyard and garden

Family//

Start a "no phone zone" designation (saw this on Leah's blog and totally loved it) and be firm

Play more with Kinsey (as in she tells me what to do and I listen lol)

Once a month Date Night with Brian

Self//

Daily Devotional, time in The Word. 

Continue to make time for reading, using Goodreads Reading Challenge

Use my FitBit to record daily steps

Preschool//

Continue to plan material in advance, on Sundays

Find fun and educational Apps

Create printables for Kinsey

 

Quiche // Brunch recipe {FFAY #2}

Brunch: I heart you so. Not only because we wake up late enough to actually enjoy eating Brunch on a daily basis, but also because it's so fancy, right? And maybe because it's also the perfect excuse to drink champagne with your orange juice ;)

My mom makes the best quiche. It's light and fluffy and oh so flavorful. The flavor combinations are super adaptable (think bacon or Gruyere cheese) but my favorite one is this spinach and mushroom beauty. Enjoy!

print recipe

Spinach and Mushroom Quiche

by Whitney Smith April-5-2016

My mom's tried-and-true quiche recipe.

Ingredients

• 1 frozen pie shell
• 4 Tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup diced white mushrooms
• half an onion, minced
• 1 5-ounce bag chopped fresh spinach
• 2 cloves diced garlic
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 cup shredded cheese
• salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F 
2. Add 2 Tablespoons of butter to skillet and saute mushrooms until golden brown. Add to pie shell. 
3. In same skillet, add the remaining 2 Tablespoons butter and onions and saute until translucent. 
4. Add minced garlic and fresh chopped spinach and saute until wilted down. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add to pie shell and mix with mushrooms. 
5. Sprinkle cheese on top of spinach and mushroom mixture. 
6. In a bowl, mix together the 4 eggs and cup of milk and pour on top of spinach, mushroom and cheese mixture inside the pie shell. If you want, go ahead and sprinkle a little extra cheese on top, I won't tell. 
7. Bake quiche until top is golden brown about 45-60 minutes, depending on your oven. Let rest for 5 minutes before slicing and enjoy!

Refrigerate covered leftovers and they will last up to 4 days, but I really don't think that will be happening.

Thanks for joining Courtney, Elizabeth, Jamie, Sarah, Jamie and me for another Foodie For A Year link up! I can't wait to see what you have been cooking! Share your recipe post below:

An InLinkz Link-up

Linking up with Beth.

 

Liebster Award 2016

I'm not exactly sure why I decided to start a blog, but after three years I can't see myself stopping anytime soon and that is because I have "met" some of the sweetest ladies through this little online venture. It took me a long time to find my community and now that I have I feel very blessed. I have been nominated for the Liebster Award by three very wonderful bloggers, Leslie from This is For Keeps, Jess from Secrets of a Stay at Home Mom and Amy from keepin' up with the Smiths; thank you ladies for being so wonderful!

I'm liking the "pick-and-choose method" for answering questions so here goes:

What's one random talent you have?

I can roll my tongue into a "three leaf clover" I would show a picture but it's too weird to even document, haha.

What is your favorite part of your wedding day?

Dressing up, having my papa walk me down the aisle, and watching Brian tear up as I made my way towards him. 

Who is your celebrity crush?

Tom Welling.

Where would you go on vacation if money was no object?

DisneyWorld for two weeks and stay in Cinderella's Castle!

What is your least favorite chore?

It's a toss up between washing dishes and scrubbing toilets. 

What would your perfect day entail?

Sleeping in ridiculously late. Eating eggs benedict and drinking a mimosa for brunch. A trip to Target with a Starbucks in hand. Reading a book at my leisure. Throw in some type of dessert and I'm golden.

If this is a family day, I'd say a trip to the beach, a picnic lunch and a nap for everyone.

How old were you when you got married?

22 years old but I was just 3 weeks shy of turning 23.

What is your favorite holiday?

Thanksgiving!

What is your favorite Disney or Disney/Pixar movie?

Get ready for a list:

My favorite live action Disney movie is Return to Oz.

My favorite cartoon of all time is Alice in Wonderland.

My favorite Princess movies are The Little Mermaid, The Princess and the Frog and Tangled.

My favorite Pixar movies are Monster Inc (it came out on my birthday!) and Wreck it Ralph.

What is you favorite store to shop for yourself?

I am a loyal Gap Inc girl (which includes Old Navy, Athleta and Banana Republic); after working there for 7 years, I just can't kick them! Plus they just have great quality pieces that I know will always fit.

11 fun facts//

1// I was 25 weeks pregnant with Kinsey when I turned 25 years old.

2// I didn't have curly hair until after puberty (weird but I'll take it!)

3// I couldn't swim until I was 10 when I joined a swim team. I ended up being very good at freestyle and backstroke.

4// I don't weigh myself on a scale.

5// I'll pretty much try anything food-related once, excepting animal parts, bleh.

6// I got my belly button pierced when I was 14.

7// I got my first job working at a movie theater at 14.

8// Spiders and snakes creep me out.

9// My nose has been broken since I was a child.

10// I love the ocean but I loathe sand.

11// I always make my bed.

I nominate//

Amanda @ Tickled Pink

Becky @ BYBMG

Beth @ Our Pretty Little Girls

Courtney @ Sweet Turtle Soup

Crystal @ Hall Around Texas

Desiree @ Macke Monologues

Elizabeth @ Chasin' Mason

Evelina @ Fortunate House

Jess @ Scott Family of Maine

Kerry @ XO Kerry

Meghan @ The Adventure Starts Here

10 Questions//

What is your favorite blog post you have written and why?

What's your favorite item of clothing?

What did you want to be when you grew up?

What is your standard drink order at Starbucks?

What three things couldn't you live without?

What is your favorite color?

Best or most memorable book you've ever read?

Go to store if you have free time?

What's your favorite season?

Who is your best friend?

Rules of the Liebster Award//

Thank the blogger who nominated you and link back to their blog.

Display the Liebster award logo on your blog.

Answer 11 questions from the blogger who nominated you.

Share 11 random facts about you.

Nominate 5-11 bloggers with less than 1,000 followers for the Liebster award.

Ask your nominees 11 new questions.

 

5 on Friday // full of food

Whaaat? Another 5 on Friday?! Call me surprised too ;) Happy April 1st, or April Fool's Day! Wish I had a clever practical joke to share, but I got nothing. Whomp, whomp.

On the Blog//

Courtney from Sweet Turtle Soup {The Mommylogues Series}

Repurposed Storage Solutions + a giveaway!

Celebrating Easer {Spring Fun}

Currently // March

#ExtraordinaryHair//

***I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes. All opinions are my own.***`

I have wavy hair and I recently noticed my curl pattern was starting to lose body. I consulted my hair stylist and she said that it could be due in part to the coloring I have been growing out since last year and hormones could also be to blame. This made me sadder than I care to admit without sounding narcissistic so I'll just say, thank goodness for L'Oreal's new Extraordinary Oil hair care line! Not only does it smell amazing but my curls are coming back fully formed! The oil based formulation feels like it melts to coat each strand and leaves my hair soft and bouncy.

Noosa Yoghurt//

Is it weird to love a yogurt brand this much? Seriously, this stuff will change your life. Or at least the way you think about yogurt. Give it a try and let me know what you think! My favorites are honey, vanilla, and tart cherry!

In-N-Out//

I live in a small city and we finally got an In-N-Out Burger! It opened last week and on opening day the local police department was directing traffic. I kid you not. It's on the worst one-way street (who freaking plans these things?! Idiots, I tell you.) and the parking lot is a mess of cars and there's still 4 lanes for ordering, but the staff is quick and efficient and we got our burgers under 10 minutes. Worth every second. My favorite part may have been Brielana holding her share of my burger like a burrito and shoveling it into her mouth ;)

Link up Reminders//

Tuesday, April 5th is our second Foodie For A Year link up and we are featuring a Brunch recipe.  

Thursday, April 7th is our seventh Teaching Together Blog Hop! Is that like a super lucky date or what?!

Have a wonderful weekend, friends!

Linking up with Andrea, Erika and Narci.

April and Amy and Karli.