Jenny Minard

By 2 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

A Mother’s Nightmare – the Loss of a Child

I have been thinking about writing this post for the past three years.  I finally found the courage to publish it.  Please understand that this is a very sensitive topic and it is my personal story.  I share it now to not only educate others about what it's like to lose a child (at any age), but to offer hope to those grieving mommas, daddies, siblings, and family members. Deep breath... On June 2nd of 2016, I arrived at my OBGYN's office for a routine checkup.  I was nineteen weeks pregnant, and ecstatic for my fourth baby to be born that October.  After waiting only a few minutes, they called me back, took my vitals, and directed me to an exam room.  That appointment lasted less than an hour.  What happened that day turned out to be my worst ... read more

By Leave a Comment

This post may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

How to Make NingXia Red Gummies

OK guys and gals. It's been... awhile.... since I've posted anything on here. I've missed my old blogging schedule and just being able to sit down and write. Oh my goodness, it's been so long, I just misspelled "write." Oy! I need to drink some NingXia Red now! lol The truth is, I have added a lot to my plate these days (at least, it seems like a lot to me), and I just wasn't sure I could commit to keeping up with my blog. I like to keep my life simple, and sometimes I find myself saying "OK" too often which results in me feeling overwhelmed. So I just stopped writing. I quit writing here, but I actually haven't quit posting. You can find me on Instagram where I am VERY active! I'd LOVE to have you join my tribe, @jennyminard. ;-) Below is a video my hubby and I did one ... read more

By Leave a Comment

This post may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Notebooking Pages for Days!

For those homeschooling this year or my awesome teacher friends, I have LOVED using the printables from Productive Homeschooling. I have printed out blank pages for kids to draw things or to write out history sentences and things like that. You don't need a TON of worksheets to be successful at homeschooling, but sometimes it's nice to have something to add to your child's school portfolio!  #soprofessional  Click THIS LINK and get $25 off membership (it's SOOO worth it) and I benefit as well! #winwin PLEASE share with anyone you know that might need this resource this year!  ... read more

By Leave a Comment

This post may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

So, Now You’re a Homeschooler?

This whole Coronavirus thing is insane, but we as a country are doing the best we can to ride it out! As many schools are temporarily cancelling or even ending the year NOW, parents are being thrown into the new and terrifying world of homeschooling. Now, if you've been here before, you guys know that I'm a homeschool mom, myself! This is my fourth full year of educating my kids from home, and I LOVE it! However, this way of life was not easy on me in the beginning. I am disorganized, messy, and scatter-brained. How can a person like this homeschool? Well, simply put - by the grace of God. Seriously! I am just the right teacher for my kids, not because of my weaknesses, because despite my weaknesses, I love my kids more than any teacher ever could, I'm fully invested in their education, ... read more

By Leave a Comment

This post may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

11 Tips for Planning a Trip to the Legoland Discovery Center

It took him three years, but he finally did it.  My sweet little seven-year-old had saved up $100 all on his own.  What was he going to do this this load of cash you may ask?  And yes, it was all cash!  Well, we decided to take him to the place that is every first grader's dream.  The Legoland Discovery Center in Schaumburg, Illinois! If you are thinking about trying out Legoland, I strongly suggest you start small by visiting the Chicago discovery center.  With lots of activities and family-friendly attractions, this is a vacation worth taking.  Here are 11 tips to consider before heading to the windy city. (1.) Getting there Travelling to Legoland in Schaumburg is expensive! You'll end up spending an arm and a leg on tolls!  At least, that's what it felt like to us.  We were coming ... read more

By Leave a Comment

This post may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

8 Reasons to Homeschool

I'm saying this in public now because a lot of my friends and family have been asking (or maybe wondering).  It's official, and no, you can't talk us out of it.  The decision was actually made when we put our kids in private school, but we just didn't know it. Are you ready? Here it is... We are going to homeschool our kids! My husband and I have been discussing and praying, and we know this is the best decision for our family.  Although it may not be a decision you would make for your family, it's one that we know is right for us.  We weighed the pros and cons and have come up with a list of why we are saying YES to homeschooling. (1) We want to really know what our kids are learning. My husband and I want to be able to choose what curriculum our kids will have for their ... read more

By Leave a Comment

This post may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Christmas LEGO Sets for 2017

One of the coolest things I remember about my sister's old house, was walking into her dining room and seeing her table all decorated with a bunch of seasonal LEGO sets.  Now, try to imagine.  My sister has a family of THIRTEEN, so this wasn't just a little six-chaired dining room set.  This was a banquet table, people!! The display eventually moved to her mantle, but the feeling was still the same.  It was adorable! My favorite of her LEGO displays was definitely the one she set out for Christmas. She had her own little Christmas village which consisted of multiple "Decembery" sets.  From the moment I first laid eyes on it, I decided I wanted to start collecting these sets myself. Can you believe that Christmas is only 121 days away?  Are you wondering how I know how many ... read more

By Leave a Comment

This post may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

How to Start a Bullet Journal

I'm a stationery junkie, and every chance I get, I buy pens and notebooks.  I can't help myself, but I've always been drawn to art supplies.  I wouldn't say I'm an artist - more of a doodler.  So a year ago, when I accidentally stumbled upon the concept of bullet journaling, and all of the beautiful pages they contain, I was intrigued. So what is a bullet journal? First off, if you like to know exactly what a bullet journal is, I'd recommend watching THIS video.  The creator of the bullet journal system, Ryder Carroll, not only shows you how to utilize it, but he also explains what it is.  If you'd prefer to hear my explanation, then keep reading. The way I'd explain it is that it's a planner, diary, sketchbook, and record keeper - all in one!  Different people use it for different ... read more

By Leave a Comment

This post may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

28 Ways to Be a Great Mom

This post is a collaboration between myself and my three sisters.  We put our heads together, thinking about how our mom is the best mom ever.  We are pretty sure other moms could learn a thing or two from this awesome lady! The following list includes ways that any mom can be a great mom - thanks to our mom, who was the shining example! (1.) Be willing to listen to your kids Growing up, I always felt like I could talk to my mom about anything.  Even if she didn't particularly care about what I was telling her, I was never pushed away or told to leave her alone.  She always seemed willing to hear about my day, latest drama, or newest idea! (2.) Raise your kids to love the Lord Every Sunday, without fail, we were required to attend church.  That was expected from all of us, but ... read more

By Leave a Comment

This post may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

How to Use the Envelope System

Not too long ago, when my husband and I started to get our financial act together, we realized we were spending a ridiculous amount of money on eating out. Wanna know how ridiculous? This is embarrassing... we were spending $400 a month on restaurants! We were having a budgeting crisis in the form of not doing it at all.  It was time to come up with a system. To solve our problem, we learned a trick taught by one of the most famous financial gurus in America, Mr. Dave Ramsey!  This little trick is simple.  It doesn't involve you going out and getting a second job or even selling some of your favorite toys.  All you have to do is change your money-spending behavior by paying only in cash.  Here is my step-by-step process to explain how to adopt this brilliantly elementary ... read more