Her Sea of Blue

Happy National Pumpkin Day! This week the kids and I made the very best batch of pumpkin muffins ever! The best part, they are a bit healthier than your average muffin and taste super delicious! So, of course I'm gonna share our recipe. We started with fresh pumpkin! My son's 2nd grade class did a huge STEM Project using pumpkins. I volunteer in his class and since I'm Room Mom, I just couldn't help myself. I cut the meat away from underneath the stalks and had plenty of pumpkin to make several batches for his teacher and classmates.   First, rinse your pumpkin really well and boil it on medium-high heat for about 20 minutes or until soft. Use a strainer to drain the pumpkin really well. You may want to let it sit for about 15 minutes so it can continue to drain. Then, using an electric beater, beat the pumpkin until smooth and pureed. INGREDIENTS: 1 3/4 whole wheat flour 3 scoops Muscle Milk Vanilla Protein Powder 1/3 cup cane sugar 1/4 cup light brown

Balloon Garland Tutorial w/ Jessica Reeves Photography DIY Balloon Garland Tutorial Is that a hint of sheer pink I see? Yes, folks. Yes it is. Party planning is sorta my jam and I'm kinda good at it. (Wink.) Seriously though, I think it's important to celebrate the people you love! Being able to make someone feel special is a gift. Ocean Inspired Balloon Arch Our son's birthdays are 2 weeks apart and we go all out for one joint party. (Hoping to get away with that for as long as I can!) Our January birthday babies had asked for a pool party for quite some time, so this past summer we celebrated their half-birthdays poolside, in shark-infested waters, with family and friends. It was JAWSOME! I should blog about that, too! Anyway, Kohen (7), and I made a huge 15' balloon arch for their party and it was FINTASTIC! Super festive and fun!  So, fast forward to last week. My sister-in-law, Jessica, asked me to come in studio to make a balloon garland for a

Halloween Porch Inspiration Halloween Inspiration &  DIY Pumpkin Topiary Tutorial Halloween is family favorite around here! I love celebrating the mysterious wonder and spooky enchantments! It's dark and it's magical all at the same time. My kids can’t get enough! Their little curious minds break through the unfamiliar scenes. They are perplexed and entertained. I can see their imagination spark and their excitement soars. Ah, love it! Now, I’m not talking guts and gory blood. We are more of your creepy spider, silly skeleton, wicked witch, and spooky Jack o Lantern kind-of-people. My 7 year old LOVES to help me decorate for the holidays, so I thought I’d share our Halloween porch scene he helped come up with! I’ve even included a DIY tutorial for the Pumpkin Topiary (power tool free)! Plus, I’ve put together a list of our favorite October traditions in case there’s a few you’d like to start with your family.  But first, I hope you enjoy a good scare from m

White Chicken Chili Recipe White Chicken Chili, in the Crock Pot of course, is my go to meal for Halloween night and throughout the Fall and Winter! It's so easy to dump all the ingredients into the slow cooker and then serve with your favorite toppings at dinnertime. White Chicken Chili Recipe: 1. Set your slow cooker on low for 8 hours. 2. Add your ingredients: 2-3 Large Chicken Breast, Trimmed 5 Cups of Chicken Broth 1 Packet McCormick White Chicken Chili Seasoning Mix 1 Can Hunts Fire Roasted Tomatoes 1 Can Green Chilies, diced 1 Can Bush's Reduced Sodium Cannellini Beans, Drained and Rinsed 1 Can Bush's Reduced Sodium Chick Peas, Drained and Rinsed 1-2 Cups Water (optional for desired consistency) Reserve 4oz. Greek Cream Cheese for later. 3. About 30 minutes prior to serving, shred the chicken. Stir in cream cheese to melt. You may need to whisk the cream cheese once it starts melting to help it blend. 4. Serve with your favorite toppings lik

The Inner Workings of Mom Boss Life - U ntamed and Uncut For your satisfaction, understanding, and collaboration, to rally all moms of every kind, for the common goal of raising awesome kids. From full-time working mom to stay-at-home mom to mamapreneur, I’ve done it all and here I stand. What I love is that we all can stand together, united under one title, Mom Boss . Like all of you hard working moms, I’m in the middle of the hectic daily struggles with sweet little kisses sprinkled throughout. I hesitated to write this post because there seems to be so much judgment and stigma attached to whatever kind of mom you are, and that's annoying. It’s frustrating when moms cast judgment, searching to find the slightest speck in your eye. Crazy assumptions are made if one mom’s day appears easier, or less busy, than another.  But haters gonna hate. And you just gotta shake.    No matter how you fill your time working, within the walls of your home or outside, no one is more impo

Kindergarten, 1st Grade, and 2nd Grade It's your time to SHINE, sweet child of mine. Back to School Blues - that's a thing, right? I'm sure it is because I have it. And so does my husband (and even our smallest son), which confirms I'm not being over-sensitive. But why is it so hard? Why am I never ready and why doesn't it get easier? I've heard you counting down the days this past week. I've seen your face light up and that big smile of yours every time school has been mentioned. It makes my heart happy that you are so excited to see your teacher again, because you liked her so much at Open House. As ready as you are, my mama-bear heart just isn't. Today, you take on 2nd Grade! We are so proud of the boy you are. We love your enthusiasm, energy, creativity, and kind heart. I'm so excited to see you grow this year, but that's also where my heart starts feeling those tugs. Is "Back to School" so hard because it represents you

Somehow we are quickly wrapping up those final weeks of summer and "Back to School" is on the mind. This year our boys are going into 2nd Grade and Pre-K. I'm happy to purchase the school supplies needed, but the cost sure does add up fast. Our schools post the supply lists online which helps to prepare in advance, but it can still be overwhelming. Do you avoid the crowds and order everything online? Do you spend the time making price comparisons and run all over town to purchase the items at the best price possible? Or, do you just give in, take your kids to the store and buy everything at once and be done with it? I don't know about you, but I'm all about saving money and making as few trips as possible. So, I've done some research and thought I'd share with you too!  School supply lists vary, but these seem to be the most common items needed for younger children: Composition notebooks (wide ruled), Target ($0.75), Staples ($0.75) White cop

Hey y'all, it's me, Ashley! I'm just a half-glass-full, 30-something maker mama trying to knock it out of the park raising boys. I've been in the marketing industry for years. I've written for magazines, corporate blogs, websites, and non-profit organizations. Since becoming a SAHM 3.5 years ago, my side-hustle is strong. (High Five!) I develop social media campaigns on a free lance basis, AND since I'm a mom of two boys, I need something extra girly in my life too - so, I run a door decor wreath business,  Gentle Breeze Supply Co . Being a mom is, of course, my most favorite! It's the most important job there is and that's why I want to write! We're all in this phase of life together, trying to figure it out as we go. Times can be challenging, but they are far more rewarding. So, I hope you find "Her Sea of Blue" a place where you can find peace knowing you're not out there alone. We're a community of strong moms who can supp