The Benefits of Maca Root | Supplements for Mamas

by SimplyHollyJo on March 23, 2020 , No Comments

I came across maca root years ago, before having kids. I actually started it as I was discontinuing birth control for better health. I had originally gone on birth control for non-baby related reasons: acne and an irregular cycle. When I decided I had been on hormones for long enough and I needed to stop, I was worried about the irregular cycles coming back. So I did lots of research and found maca. I successfully transitioned off birth control and right into a normal, healthy cycle for the first time ever. I still attribute that successful transition to maca root […]

The Benefits of Probiotics | Supplements for Mamas

by SimplyHollyJo on March 16, 2020 , No Comments

Probiotics have been buzzing around for quite some time. This supplement might not be new to many moms out there, but it’s still a go-to for me. Just like magnesium, I’ve been using this supplement since before I became a mother. I am the daughter of someone with multiple auto-immune illnesses, so I know the importance of gut health. As someone with a background in the medical field, I know the havoc antibiotics can cause on gut health while aiding the body in killing off illness. So today I’m sharing the many benefits of probiotics, and why I use them. […]

The Benefits of Magnesium | Supplements for Mamas

by SimplyHollyJo on March 9, 2020 , No Comments

Magnesium has been in my life for years and years. Way back before I had kids, which isn’t really THAT long ago, but it feels like it to me. I first started using it in epsom salt form in baths. I love a warm, soothing bath. I’ve written before about how I love epsom salts for my kids’ baths and to combat sickness. It’s a staple in my home. After epsom salts, I eventually started trying pill forms. I learned more about their benefits while working in the front office of a primary care office. The nutritionalist came to our […]

The Benefits of Collagen | Supplements for Mamas

by SimplyHollyJo on March 4, 2020 , No Comments

Collagen is something that I take every day, and I will rave about it to anyone who listens. I am notoriously bad at taking supplements. I have a hard time getting into the daily habit of taking them, and then will go weeks without taking them. Except for that time I started taking Maca root powder. Maybe it’s just pills that I forget, and not powders. Hmm. Anyway! Collagen is something that I take daily, and actually get sad about missing. I take it EVERY day if I can help it. I take it in a flavorless powder form, and I […]

A Mother’s Love | Love After Babies

by SimplyHollyJo on February 24, 2020 , No Comments

I’ve talked about how having kids has changed my relationship with God, and how it has changed my relationship with myself. Now I’m going to talk about how it’s changed my view on a mother’s love. Specifically when it comes to my own mother. As a mom, some days are great, some days are ho-hum, a some days are awful. The why’s behind any of those types of days are vast. My attitude, their attitude, weather, sleep, activities, growth, interests, family, outsiders, etc. So much. There is A LOT that goes into making a marriage work. You’re marrying two people […]

Emerging Love Languages and Getting Out of the Way

by SimplyHollyJo on February 21, 2020 , No Comments

I first learned about Gary Chapman’s Love Languages while in collage. I quickly read through the book and thoroughly enjoyed everything that he laid out before me. Sitting on the driveway of the parents of my then boyfriend, now husband, the four of us discussed the 5 primary love languages and guessed at each others top two. It was a fun and lighthearted conversation. We have carried those tools into our marriage and have reflected back on them time and time again. Now that we have two little boys, I have thought a lot about the love languages and how […]

Loving Yourself as a Mom | Love After Babies

by SimplyHollyJo on February 18, 2020 , No Comments

Loving yourself as a mom. So much to unpack there. Right now I want to talk about how having kids has changed how I view myself, how I talk to myself, and simply how I love myself. We are our own worst critics. We are the ones that we talk to the most day to day, and we often don’t say very nice things. This is something I’ve been aware of, of course, but the significance of it has only heightened since becoming a mom. I am so much more aware of how I talk to myself, in my head […]

God’s Love in a New Light | Love After Babies

by SimplyHollyJo on February 10, 2020 , No Comments

Having children changes your life, and you yourself, in so many ways. One of the aspects of change that I didn’t think through until after I had kids, was how it would change my understanding of God. I’ve definitely seen God’s love in a new light. Once I had kids, I suddenly had this whole new outlook on God’s roll in my life, as well as just how patient He is with me on a day to day level. In the everyday struggle of teaching and disciplining (discipling), my boys, I am constantly reminded of my own shortcomings and imperfections. God […]

Union Station Family Session | Extended Family Fun

by SimplyHollyJo on February 4, 2020 , No Comments

I’m so excited to share this great Union Station family session! Emily contacted me to say she wanted to surprise her mother with extended family photos for her birthday. Awesome! Great! I love it! The only problem was that it was January, and cold. Super cold. And there was only a three day window to get everyone together. We brainstormed some options and when Emily was ready, we set it all up and met up at Union Station. First of all, we have lucked out on some super nice days/weeks this Winter. But this particular day was COLD. It was […]

February Bible Reading Plans | Bible Reading Roundup

by SimplyHollyJo on January 31, 2020 , No Comments

I’m really loving these monthly Bible reading plans. The simplicity of planning out daily engagement with the Bible just works for me. I need small chunks to track instead of giant mountains, I suppose. I especially love when they are thematic. It’s nice to have a theme to focus on each month. So now you can benefit from my new love, as well as my researching nature. Today I’m sharing some of the February Bible reading plans I found online. I haven’t found many that are actually 29 days for a leap year. It makes sense to a point, but […]

5 Ways to Boost Immunity in Children

by SimplyHollyJo on January 27, 2020 , No Comments

Winter is here. Immune systems are taking a beating, and growing as well. I’ve written before about natural ways that I like to fight through colds, but today I’m going to talk about some ways that my family and I (toddlers included), try to boost immunity to reduce sickness in the first place. As a mom who loves home remedies, treating illness naturally, and avoiding antibiotics if I can help it, I do a lot of research and “experimenting” with new things. Does this mean I hate antibiotics? Definitely not! They are an amazing tool that helps so many, but […]

Creating a Family Mission Statement

by SimplyHollyJo on January 13, 2020 , No Comments

A family mission statement has been on my radar for years. I saw them online and heard of multiple families using them to focus themselves and really hone in on what kind of family they want to grow. It seemed like a great idea, but I had no idea where to begin! Most places told me to have a family meeting and discuss the characteristics and qualities we would all like to have as a family. My boys are currently 4 and 2 and I knew that would go over well. I also thought my husband would simply say, “Whatever […]