Meet bObi: your floor's new best friend

Once upon a time, I used to come straight home from work + begin cleaning. I would change my clothes, get out the vacuum, the dust rags, and the wood polish, and I'd hop to it. That was before I had kids, so looking back, I am honestly wondering what in the world I felt the need TO clean for?! I mean seriously, it was kind of an obsession?!

So fast forward to my current life: wife of eight years, mom to a three and four year old, and owner of FIVE household pets. Since we aren't having any more babies, this past summer I was itching for a baby of SOME SORT. Someone PLEASE tell me why I thought it was a really intelligent idea to get an orange kitten from a local pet shop, because during this past summer, my kids battled constant illness and I swear I was doing nothing BUT cleaning. (Maybe that was my reminder that I'd been slacking?! Lord help me, it was seriously awful.) Anyway! On top of the above roles + duties I serve, I am a full time special education teacher, professional photographer, and blogger (obviously)-- WHO in the freekin' heck has time to constantly clean her floors as much as I NEED to?!

Well, hold on a second. My girl Chelcey texted me a couple of months ago and asked if I had ever heard about the bObi vacuum; a robotic vacuum that on it's own, glides across your floors to pick up dirt + grime. And when it's finished? It automatically plugs into the station to recharge!!

Ummm NO I hadn't heard about this!!! I immediately looked this lovely sounding machine up online and reached out to the company for some questions and HELP. Soon after, I received a beautiful package on my doorstep, even with a birth certificate attached ;)

Guys, clearly I'm a busy gal. Vacuuming was my way of life before I had the kids and three cats and two dogs that I so belovedly have; but now I need one even more. And my trusty upright vacuum still does the job when I need it to, but there's just one problem 99% of the time....I have to PLUG IT IN AND PHYSICALLY DO IT. You either a.) think I'm a pathetic excuse of a human being or b.) you're kind of jealous--either is absolutely okay, but I promise you want to meet my bObi.

She, yes, it's a girl; has incredible suction power and a trio of brushes that leave an incredible shine. She also has an attachable mop that finish floors with a fine polish. We try to mop every other week (is that bad?!) and USUALLY, the floor is pretty darn dark from all the many reasons dirt is tracked on to our floors. But since we've gotten the bObi? I kid you not, the water is basically CLEAN when we pull the mop out and dump it. My husband was so shocked recently, he called me down the stairs to come look. It's a BIG deal, Y'all. This robot is no joke.

On top of it being an amazing invention for us, our four-year old especially adores it. "Can I turn on the robot vacuum??" he'll ask excitedly. And sometimes he likes to have his favorite stuffed animal Lion take rides on her.

There are a LOT of things we love about this vacuum, but here are some of my favorites:
-It so easily gets ride of pet hair, dander, and debris all over my home.
-It covers a WIDE range, easily goes under things like our entertainment center and side tables, and around the baseboards.
-It can "waffle," meaning it is great for small accidents and other messes as they happen in small spaces. [Hello, MAGIC that we use every night after family meals!!!]
-It goes on its' own to the charging station to refuel the battery.
-It disinfects floors as it cleans. [Now all I wish is that I had discovered this beauty of a machine earlier when Strep, Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease, and the flu virus was spreading like wild fire!]
 

If I don't have you convinced yet, go online and look up some videos. AND go visit their website! I am FOREVER grateful to bObi for gifting me our bObi Pet, and honest to goodness, I think it will help your life get easier too. Fun fact: our crazy (and cute) orange wonder is also obsessed with bObi. He follows her everywhere, so extra bonus? She wears out our now eight month old kitten! Woot woot!

**This wonderful vacuum was gifted to us from bObi Pet and we are eternally grateful!! Thanks again friends at bObi!**

beloved jenna // welcome to the beloved woman series!

be.loved:
dearly loved, a much loved person

In an interview once, a woman asked me, "What do you wish you could tell childhood Ashley?" It was a question that really stumped me. I felt flustered and nervous and like I could probably tell little kid Ashley a million different helpful things, but spilling out of my mouth was this:

"I would tell her to live loved."

Not a very common phrase, it's one that I discovered in Lysa TerKeurst's book Uninvited a few months ago. Both her and Lara Casey have written about it, seeking to empower women to live their lives knowing and embracing that they are loved. WE, are loved. You. And me. By so many different souls--Our Creator, who knew the hairs on our heads before we were born, and beyond; to the husbands we are wives to, the children we are mothers to, the brothers and sisters, the parents we were born to, and the friends that we cling to. But knowing that we are loved, and actually believing it, are two separate things. I know that I am loved by my husband. I know that my kids adore me and beg each night for it to be my turn to put them each down. I know my parents love me, my brothers, my friends. But do I believe this to my core, to the point that I don't doubt my beloved strengths? I'm afraid not. And I am guessing you may need some help here too.

Sisters, you are beloved. And I feel like it is my mission to help you believe this truth. I want to know you better, to encourage you, to wrap my arms around you, to challenge you to think deeper about yourselves; so that in turn, soon, YOU will feel the love. It is my great honor to kick off this series with my friend Jenna. She is a wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend to SO many. This lady loves and dreams BIG.

A little background, and in her words:

"I met my husband about twelve and a half years ago while working at American Eagle, which is hilarious to anyone who knows us now; we are definitely not an American Eagle couple, ha. We just celebrated ten years of marriage in November. In those ten years, we've owned two houses. The first, a small 1-bedroom shotgun that was renovated. It was on a double lot and allowed me to grow food and raise chickens. It was a great little place. Then, when our daughter Darcy was about a year old, we bought our second home, which is a major fixer upper! We only live in half our house, have no kitchen, so yes, definitely a fixer upper! My husband does most of the work himself, so it's taking some time, but it's going to be absolutely worth it in the end. In addition to our daughter Darcy, we have Jake, our 6-year old Australian Shepherd who is our best bud, two cats, and five chickens.

Bryon has always let me be ME, and he is my best encourager, giving me confidence, love, and security. We have enjoyed a lot of outdoor adventures together and continue to do so with Darcy. She enjoys hiking and camping just as much as we do, which has been awesome to witness. I honestly wasn't sure I ever wanted kids, but God decided differently. Even though I was a little freaked out when I found out I was pregnant, I quickly realized after she was born, that of course God knew what He was doing! He gave us the most perfect addition to our family. Darcy fits us completely and has fallen right in step with everything we love to do. Having her around has made us look at life with such a sweet + simple perspective. I am so thankful at how God has so perfectly orchestrated our little family. I'm also thankful for the way Bryon and I have been able to approach life and all of it's surprises, good or bad. We have fairly laid back attitudes, aren't big planners, and I wouldn't change it. We rely on God and go with the flow of life; taking all of it and releasing it to Him. It's a wonderful life and I'm excited to live it!"

When asked, "What has been the most beautiful moment in your life?" Jenna responded:

"My MOST beautiful moment was the labor + birth of my daughter. I have never felt so raw and vulnerable. During labor, I felt helpless and weak, as I screamed for someone to help me. I also felt completely primal as I stripped off my clothes and screamed wildly, not giving a care in the world who saw or heard me. The bonding that happened by having my husband + my doula by my side, couching and encouraging me, it is indescribable. When it was over and I was holding this perfect little human...the memory of the whole experience rushed over me. I thought of all I had just gone through and felt more accomplished, more empowered, more confident...than ever before. What an incredibly miraculous thing it was to feel like my weakest + most raw and vulnerable moment, is now actually the most beautiful."

I wanted to know what the word 'beautiful' meant to Jenna, because as women, this word varies so vastly.

"Being beautiful, to ME, is to be in a place where you are able to humbly accept yourself at ANY moment, freeing yourself to live without hesitation. IN this place, there is strength in the ability to be honest about WHO you are, not trying to be what the rest of present society + social media may be; and freedom from passing judgements and holding prejudices, allowing you to be open to those you encounter. To me, this seems like such a raw approach to life, free from self-obsessing and worry, but instead being full of love and openness. How beautiful is that?!"

I asked her, "When do you feel the most beautiful?" and I just love her response:

"I feel most beautiful when I'm climbing. It humbles me every time, forcing me to accept my weaknesses and my strengths. It brings an awareness to my mind and body like nothing else. I feel raw + vulnerable, strong and weak, graceful and awkward, confident and defeated. In all of these things is where I find beauty: allowing myself to feel ALL of it, and embracing each moment, but never dwelling on any."

It's always interesting to hear what other women feel like their hearts beat for. I find it incredible that we are very similar in so many ways, yet also vastly unique in our differences. Here are a few of her biggest dreams:

"To one day live on a hobby farm, spend some time traveling out west, and to have our house completely finished in the next year or two." She then wrapped up my series of questions with this:

"Really and truly, when asked what I tick for, what drives me, well, my heart beats for life. I enjoy life and the people in it. I feel secure where I am, and that makes me ecstatic to keep on going. I love to hike, backpack, camp, climb, garden, and homesteading--all of these are things that help me better enjoy the day to day. But I truly believe that everything begins with Jesus; I lay everything on my Creator, so I am free from crippling worry, anger, jealousy, and self-doubt. It's simple + yet wonderful."

And Ladies! This wraps up my first Beloved Woman post, and I so hope that you enjoyed reading + getting to know Jenna. There is strength in numbers, and I really believe that if we can all believe the phrase, 'community over competition,' along with, 'I am beloved by many,' our lives can be changed. Do you have a woman in mind whose story needs to be shared? PLEASE e-mail me. Feel free to nominate as many as you'd like. My dream for 2017 is that I meet so many of you, from all over the world!

You are beautiful, brave, strong, and worthy. And you are LOVED by so many.

Thank you for reading! Please, spread this series, and give Jenna some love in the comments below! xox

Goals [and Cookies!]

I am literally down to the wire until I am no longer doing the typical seven hour work day, and I literally can't believe it. Y'all, a year ago I started pinning things to a board called 'Homeschool,' and now I'm like, aw, crud, I haven't planned a dad blame thing! This week I started reaching out to other stay at home moms, seeking some schedule and curriculum advice, and I'm not panicking {yet} but I do feel a sense of urgency to come up with a PLAN.

I know I would get REALLY good at staying in pajamas all day, not brushing my teeth until noon, failing to change the kiddos into regular clothes, and honestly, forgetting to eat lunch because I won't have a set lunch time of 11:30-noon, like I did at work. While I think I'll celebrate my independence and freedom for a few days, I really hope to set some goals and follow THROUGH. So stay tuned... because I'm sure I'll have an update for you guys in a few months {progress? Or #epicfail?} EEEK.

1. Eat breakfast [at the table] with the kids and read a devotional while they eat
2. wash my face and everyone's teeth [maybe throw in a shower?] ;) 
3. start a routine of school work with them / letters, sight words, science projects, SOMETHING...
4. read aloud daily, other than at nap/bed time
5. go for a walk or play out back before naps
6. if laundry gets done, put it AWAY. this never happens [am i the only one?]
7. eat lunch. be healthy. take care of me. 
8. if i don't make it to the gym, do at least one Suzanne Bowen workout a week
9. write for at least 15 minutes a day, whether journaling or in this space
10. cook/prepare 1 meal a week, since my husband is THE chef of the household

Goals are good, right? I never keep New Year Resolutions [I've only kept ONE in my entire life, see that Pin of my One New Pie a Month grid here!] But I think goals are important for everyone. I have a lot of dreams and visions for 2017, and I'm excited to share more of those LATER. But for now, I'd love to hear what YOUR goals are as a mama or a wife. Do you stay at home full time, work from home, work outside the home? I'll still be doing photography + blogging, so I'll definitely be working from home, but I am beyond ready to lighten my load a little bit and have my children be my *main* priority. 

DON'T GO JUST YET... because here is a brand new winter cookie recipe that you should bake ASAP. Chocolate Snowballs, which came from Better Homes and Gardens Christmas Cookies magazine.

1 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. powdered sugar
1/4 c. unsweetened dark cocoa powder
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. orange zest
1/2 tsp. salt
2 + 1/4 c. all purpose flour
1 c. miniature semisweet chocolate pieces
1 c. powdered sugar
{for the record, I would use sweetened cocoa powder OR regular chocolate chips next time, just because i like things on the sweeter side}

1. in a large bowl, beat butter w/ a mixer on medium to high for 30 seconds
2. add next 5 ingredients (through salt)
3. beat until combined, beat in flour, and stir in chocolate pieces [dough will be CRUMBLY]
4. hand-knead the dough until it's in the shape of a ball and cover.
5. chill for 30-60 minutes or until easy to handle
6. oven should pre-heat to 350
7. shape dough into 1-inch balls, place them 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet
8. bake about 15 minutes or until they're just firm and the tops aren't glossy
9. cool on wire racks
10. place 1 cup powdered sugar into large ziplock and add cooled cookies to the bag. shake gently to coat
 

Voila! Easy first winter cookie recipe and the kids loved them.

Disclaimer: my husband totally made these. I was completely stressing out over our dog's surgery and to keep from crying, I took myself to the park for a walk and when I came back, these were in the oven. I married a keeper, guys. A real keeper.

Fun in the Fall: Our Weekend

Yesterday my husband and I got to go on a REAL DATE. The kids' old sitter, one of their very, very favorites, texted me Friday and said she'd be available if we wanted her. Since she's all grown up now and is a teacher herself, the kids have been been dying to see her...SO: HECK TO THE YES! was my response. It's not like we're deprived of time together, our kids go to bed around 8pm most nights, but getting out of the house and just spending a fun night together was sooo needed. We decided to knock out Christmas shopping and we actually got a TON done. Then we went to the mall and I was pretty obsessed with our dinner at California Pizza Kitchen. Yes to ALL the dumplings and Italian food, always. 

Anyway, this weekend has just been abundantly sweet and I wanted to share it here. It's hard to believe we've had five full days off from work and that tomorrow is Monday. But guess what? ONLY THREE MORE FULL WEEKS AND I AM DONE! 

This evening Asa went grocery shopping and the kids and I decided we needed some fresh air at the park. They put on their new Tsukihoshi tennis shoes (which are perfect for our outdoor adventures), grabbed their bikes, and we had some fun in the leaves. I love that it's not yet frigid; honestly, if it's not going to drop feet of snow onto the ground, I don't need it cold. The kids had so much fun collecting leaves and racing each other as they drove their "babies" (Lion and Baby) around. 

This weekend was packed with family and friends and amazing food and quality time. Moments like these have me so grateful that a.) I have a GREAT job in my teaching career, that allows for paid time off and b.) that I have a super supportive husband who dreams with me for the coming year. 

I wish I had better documented our Thanksgiving. I only snapped a few quick photos, but we hosted. The ENTIRE local Glass family, two of our best friends, another friend and his son; we had a FULL HOUSE, and VERY full stomachs. Perhaps this week I'll muster up the courage to revisit my old archenemy, the gym, and work some of that off. 

What has been some of the greatest joys from YOUR Thanksgiving week? Did you host, go somewhere else? Have more than ONE lunch or dinner? I'd love to hear from YOU! Drop me a comment below and tell me your story! 

Kid's tennis shoes: Tsukihoshi