High Five Motherhood | Routines, Schedules, Time Blocking, Home, Organization, Self Care, Mom Life

88. PREPTOBER Series - 3 easy steps to prepare your family for emergencies.

Show Notes: 
88. Are you ready for PREPTOBER? 3 easy steps to prepare your family for emergencies.
1. Create a family survival kit (72 hour kit or Bug out Bag "BOB") - Incase of an emergency evacuation or disruption of any kind - you will have what you need for your family to survive for the next 72 hours. Thursdays episode will go into more detail on how to create your own family survival kit and what to put inside. 
2. Make a plan - Sit down with your family during family council (your weekly family communication time - not sure what that system is? Check out the episode in the link below). Do a mind sweep (our nicer way of saying brain dump!) session - brainstorm ideas on how to create an emergency plan for you family. Ask your family - where will we store out kits and supplies? Where will we meet up/what's our safe place? Who will we contact? Create a buddy system with siblings and parents to know who is looking out for who. Making sure each person and their survival kit is accounted for when evacuating. 
3. Get familiar with your area - Practice your plan often like a fire drill at school. The more the kiddos practice - the less fear they will feel in an actual emergency situation. Ask your family - what natural disasters might occur in this area? What type of disruptions might we encounter? (power outages, water becomes polluted/not drinkable, etc.) How can we best prepare for those disruptions?
Other episodes you might like:
22. Discover the top 4 ways to improve family relationships. (Episode on Family Councils)
23. Emergency Prep Talk 101
***FREE STUFF***
-Podcast - Hey Mamas! We have some exciting news! We are officially putting out two new episodes every week! Episodes will come out every Tuesday and Thursday - Tuesdays are our Quick tip days (aka shorter episodes - "mini-sodes") and Thursdays are normal length episode days.
-Come hang out with us! - Instagram - @highfivemotherhood (click on link in bio for more)
-Join the community of like minded mamas! - Facebook - High Five Motherhood Mamas Group
-Want to learn more? Check out the Blog! - Website/Blog - http://www.highfivemotherhood.com (check out our free printables!)
***Productivity tools***
-HFM Productivity Planner (6 month) - Amazon, Vervante Bookstore (online)
-Digital downloads for purchase on the Blog
-Subscribe to our weekly emails so you never miss a thing! (Subscribe by going to our website/blog link listed above)
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87. Wanting cozy Fall home decor ideas? 6 ways to a Fall Home Refresh to bring your home to life!

87. 6 ways to a Fall home refresh to bring your home to life and add a dash of cozy!
1. Add Texture - layer couches/chairs/furniture pieces with cozy throw blankets. Add a table runner to your dining table. Add curtains to your windows, add fun textured pillows to your couches, add baskets, etc. 
2. Add Color - Choose 1-3 neutrals to start with...(grays, tans, creams, whites, etc.) Then add 1-2 "pop" or accent colors - these are generally your seasonal colors that are changed up throughout the year in your home. You can add color to your space with pillows, table decor, wall decor, mantle decor, floral arrangements, coffee table vignettes, etc. 
3. Add Natural Elements - Bring the outdoors in - add greenery (potted or hanging plants or trees) to the edges/corners and central spaces in a room, for example a fiddle leaf fig tree in a corner of the room to liven it up, and add a vase with a few small branches of leaves inside. Add floral - fresh bouquet of flowers or silk flowers or fall leaves or wheat (specific to fall), wreaths on doors or windows, wood decor elements/furniture, metal decor/furniture, stone elements, etc. 
4. Add Dimension - Create a variety in height and depth when decorating. Stay away from having all decor items on one level/flat plane. When we create various heights (for example 3 different sizes of candle stands - small, medium and large) - it helps our eyes flow easily through the space and sets our minds at ease while creating a sense of comfort and coziness. 
5. Decorate in Groupings - Combine like items together on opposite sides of a mantle or on top a piano, or gather them on a tray or in a basket, etc. Create vignettes instead of a bunch of single items scattered throughout the room. Simplicity calms the mind and rids of clutter. A cluttered space does not feel cozy nor welcoming...it just feels messy and not put together well. If you want your home to resemble a model home - remember - less is more. 
6. Create Balance - Don't leave one side of the mantle weighted down with decor while the other end feels as if it were floating - add balance in your decor just like you would on a balance scale. If you have rocks on one side of the scale - you can add pennies to the other side to balance it out. Same goes for decor - try candle stands on one side and a vase filled with wheat or fall leaves on the other with a long skinny and shallow dish in the middle to connect the whole mantle together - making it feel seamless and as though everything belongs. 
7. Add Light - For starters, open up your blinds and let that sunlight in! Natural light is some of the best lighting for any given space - its free, so use it! Add floor and table lamps, sconces, candles, tea lights, fairy lights, a warm glowing fire, etc. Focus on warm lighting in fall and cool lighting in summertime. Think yellow/warm light bulbs during colder seasons - it cozies up the space quicker than almost anything else! Add under cabinet lighting, a salt therapy lamp, etc. Light up the space and it will continue to feel more and more cozy - low lighting in evenings is best, brighter lighting during the day. Good rule of thumb is to keep overhead lights off at night and focus on cozy lighting such as lamps and candles. It creates a better ambiance for gathering family and friends together. 
8. Add Scents! - Candles, potpourri on the stove, diffusers with essential oils, room sprays, wall plug ins, cinnamon sticks or cinnamon pinecones ( you can add them throughout your home in your decor and it adds a beautiful scent along with is aesthetic fall appeal! Open windows for a crisp fall breeze - fresh air is one of the best scents to work with - and again, nature is great...its free!
Come & hang out with us on Instagram - @highfivemotherhood
Join the community of like minded Christian Mamas - High Five Motherhood Mamas Group
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86. Want more balance in life? 6 ways to invite God more into your life from October 2022 General Conference - Church of Jesus Christ.

86. Curious what was taught this weekend? 6 main takeaways from October 2022 General Conference - Church of Jesus Christ.
1. Focus on & make this your highest priority - your testimony! Pres. Nelson urged us to take charge of our own testimonies of Jesus Christ. We no longer can live on borrowed light. The adversary is getting stronger every single day - so we need to come up with our own spiritual battle plans to combat the temptations & evil that are so constant in our world today.
2. Find more ways to invite the Holy Spirit into your life. Contention, anger and chaos are in abundance right now, so we need to do all we can to strive to keep the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost in our daily lives. We can bring the spirit in by making good choices everyday - feasting on His words, praying, being a peacemaker, teaching our families gospel principles & helping them to love to spend time in God's word too.
3. Let God prevail in your life! What does this look like to have God prevail in your life? For starters, we need to make time for Him everyday. Set up holy appointments with Him. Start and end your day praying to Him & studying His word, pray when times are good...and when they are bad throughout each day. Spend time in silence - keep your mind and heart open to what God needs you to hear. Spend time with your family - teach them and talk about God during discussions at the dinner table...make it a regular and normal part of your everyday life in your families.
4. Charity - give to those in need. Take time to care for, serve & strengthen the needs of those around you. Help spread hope to any and all who's lights seem dim. Serve them, love them, care for them, befriend them and help them feel and know that they belong.
5. Stand in holy places - Attend Places of worship, such as; churches & temples, and in nature. Also, create places of worship such as; making our homes become a sanctuary of faith - a place unspotted from the world...but most of all, standing holy places begins in our hearts. Standing in holy places is as much of a physical thing as it is a spiritual thing. We must first begin with ourselves, our hearts and grow from there. Our hearts truly can become sanctuaries of faith.
6. Use social media to share the gospel and spread hope. Share about how the gospel shapes your life. Share about Christ & His redeeming love. Spread hope and peace - uplift and encourage those around you to do the same. BE the one that shares their light, not dims the light of others. Shine your light and help brighten theirs. "Shine your light, share your light, make it bright, all through the night". -Kim
***FREE STUFF***
-Podcast - Hey Mamas! We have some exciting news! We are officially putting out two new episodes every week! Episodes will come out every Tuesday and Thursday - Tuesdays are "Quick tip Tuesdays" and Thursdays are our regular episode days - just like we've been doing.
-Come hang out with us! - Instagram - @highfivemotherhood (click on link in bio for more)
-Join the community of like minded mamas! - Facebook - High Five Motherhood Mamas Group
-Want to learn more? Check out the Blog! - Website/Blog - http://www.highfivemotherhood.com (check out our free printables!)
***Productivity tools***
-HFM Productivity Planner (6 month) - Amazon, Vervante Bookstore (online)
-Digital downloads for purchase on the Blog
-Subscribe to our weekly emails so you never miss a thing! (Subscribe by going to our website/blog link listed above)
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85. Want to boost your productivity? 5 ways a quarterly planning system can help you CRUSH your goals in the next 12 WEEKS & find more balance in life...

85. Looking for more balance in life? Want to boost your productivity? 5 ways a quarterly planning system can help you CRUSH your goals in the next 90 days & find more balance in life as a Mom!
Show Notes: Q4 Planning System steps
1. Start with the "big picture" - Decide on what annual goals you're wanting to accomplish in the next 90 days. Ya know, those New Year's resolutions you made in January that are still chillin' there on your vision board...not completed? Focus on setting an intention - what do you want to go for this year...this last quarter of the year specifically? What are your hopes and dreams? What do you want to achieve in the next 12 weeks? Have you reached your yearly goals already...or is there something left undone?
2. Define 3 main focus areas - 3 big goals you want to accomplish. Focus on one area or "goal" per month. 
3. Decide what "Done" looks like - This is how we determine if/how we can check that box as complete. For example; instead of saying, "I want to lose weight"...be more specific! Say how much weight you want to lose by when. Plan your end game. What does done look like for you? Losing 15lbs. by Christmas or the end of the year? What would need to happen in order to accomplish your goal?
4. Plan out action steps - Annual > Quarterly > Monthly > Weekly > Daily > Time Blocks. Break down your BIG FOCUS areas into smaller bite sized tasks. Take your monthly goal and plan it out into 4-5 weekly goals, then into 7 daily goals, then into 3 mini tasks/goals to accomplish within your time block.
5. Set Benchmarks - Give yourself details and due dates! Think about a paper that is due in school...when the teacher gives you the assignment, they also tell you the details on how they want the assignment done, as well as a deadline to have it completed by. Same thing goes for our goals, if you want to succeed and achieve them - you've got to give yourself details on how to make it happen and a deadline to accomplish it by. Answer the when, what, where, how and especially the WHY questions when creating goals for yourself. Your "WHY" is the most important and critical component of goal setting - if you don't have a good reason "WHY" you are going for that goal of yours...you'll lose motivation fast! On the reverse, if you choose to plan your goals with more purpose and intention behind them and figure out your "WHY" early on - you'll increase your motivation to achieve the desired result! 
Curious to learn more? Tune into today's episode on how to plan your Q4 with intention so you can CRUSH your goals within the next 90 days and finish the year off right! You've got this...be a GOAL DIGGER Mama! 
***Check out our Quarterly Planning Printable on the BLOG!***
http://www.highfivemotherhood.com
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Hang out with us on Facebook @ High Five Motherhood Mamas Group
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84. House a mess? Need alone time? 3 ways to make it happen by prepping for General Conference!

84. Looking for self care strategies? Need some house cleaning tips? 3 ways to make the most of your week leading up to General Conference! Past! Check out our NEW general conference family night printable up on the BLOG! (http://www.highfivemotherhood.com)
1. Prepare physically - Prepare your home physically by getting it clean and tidy to bring the spirit into your home this week. "Set your future self up for success" tomorrow by cleaning your house tonight. Focus on your KSR (your Kitchen Shutdown Routine) & a quick 10 minute tidy each night. A "KSR" is simply taking your Kitchen back to its base clean state. Think of it as setting up your home with a clean slate for tomorrow to begin on a better note. When cleaning, make sure you use a top/down approach - start with the highest part of the kitchen and work your way down. For example; put away food from dinner first (pro-tip: use meal prep containers to prepare delicious meal trays for quick and easy lunches for tomorrow). Second, clear off counters and table - put all dishes in the sink. Third, wipe down counters/tables/stools/chairs, and fourth, sweep and spot mop. Lastly, wash the dishes and load the dishwasher. End the KSR with a quick 10 minute tidy of all the main hubs of the home (aka living room, family room, mudroom, playroom, etc.) Get the kids and hubby involved too! All hands on deck, cause many hands makes light work. 
2. Prepare Spiritually - "If Mom ain't happy, aint nobody happy"...so this week prepare for conference by being the best version of you, you can be. Be a disciple of Christ - choose to be a peacemaker. Remember... "blessed are the peacemakers". For the next 5 days set a goal to talk only using an inside voice and stay calm in situations that would normally aggravate you. Invite the spirit into your home with peaceful music and eliminate distractions. Do a 5 day digital detox with your family - get off Netflix, Disney, amazon prime, the news, YouTube, tv shows, video games, etc. and dive into your relationship with God and your family. Feast on His word.
3. Make time for self care - Get to bed earlier this week and begin each day with your morning routine. (Check out Episodes 2 & 75  How to create a mama style morning routine/evening routine). Starting with a morning routine is the number one way to get in time for yourself as a Mom. (Pro tip: If you have a newborn - and need more rest in the mornings/can't get up any earlier during this season of life - drop your kiddos off at school and put your newborn down for their morning nap - then start your morning routine while they sleep). Self care ideas: plan out your day, pray, study scriptures, meditate, visualize, shower/get ready, eat breakfast/take vitamins/drink water, exercise, read a book, listen to a podcast, get dressed for the day, etc. 
www.highfivemotherhood.com - check out our free general conference & family night printables!
Instagram - @highfivemotherhood
Facebook - High Five Motherhood Mamas Group
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83. Too many tasks, but not enough time? 3 steps to becoming a successful homemaker!

83. 3 steps to becoming a successful homemaker!
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82. ***NEW*** Bi-Weekly Episodes Start This Week! ***Quick Tip Tuesdays*** - How to eliminate decision fatigue & take back your time this week!

82. ***ALL NEW*** Quick Tip Tuesdays start today! - How to eliminate decision fatigue by doing these 4 things every weekend!
1. Menu plan 4 meals a day for everyday this week
Pro tip! Keep it simple and let go of perfectionism! Don't forget to include leftovers, cereal and freezer waffles! It's ok to not have a four course meal every dinner - plan out a few quick and easy meals for those unexpected busy weeknights. Hint - we have a printable for this! Check out the blog (http://www.highfivemotherhood.com) for our week at a glance printable that will help you win your week before it begins!
2. Choose outfits for the week for you and your littles. Pro tip! Roll up baby and toddler clothes in outfits with underwear or diaper for quick outfit changes during busy mornings! Ask the older kiddos to help dress the younger ones, this rolling method also makes it easier for them to help their siblings quickly as well. Hint: that means laundry needs to be done before the weekend. Well, just have at least 7 matching outfits washed, dried, rolled and ready to go. Maybe add a few extra outfits in there incase of spills or blowouts! Remember - you don't have to eat the whole elephant at once, just one bite at a time. If you can't get ALL the laundry in the house cleaned before the weekend...that's ok! We aren't looking for perfection...just do what you can, when you can. Focus on washing at least 7 or so outfits for you and your kiddos, so you have something to work with for next week.
3. Empty & clean out, refill & reorganize your purse, diaper bag, backpack, gym bag, car console, etc. Pro tip! Think ahead - what does your schedule look like for next week? Errands or on the go? Pack snacks for you and your toddlers in your bags. Going to church? Pack a bag filled with quiet activities like coloring pages, books, and simple snacks. Going to the gym? Fill your water bottle, pack a protein bar, pack a change of clothes and get ready bag if you get showered and ready at the gym...etc. Think ahead, make a plan, pack accordingly. Plan ahead for less stress.
4. Bonus tip! Refill & restock all the things! The toilet paper, hand soaps, paper towels, pads/tampons, diapers/wipes, after school snacks, lunch packing station ( check out episode 80 for back to school tips on after school routines and organization systems for students), etc. Restock the sanitizing wipes, diapers and baby wipes in the car, maybe the diaper trash bags, snacks and waters in the car console, tissues, etc.
***FREE STUFF***
-Podcast - Hey Mamas! We have some exciting news! We are officially putting out two new episodes every week! Episodes will come out every Tuesday and Thursday - Tuesdays are our Quick tip days (aka shorter episodes - "mini-sodes") and Thursdays are normal length episode days.
-Come hang out with us! - Instagram - @highfivemotherhood (click on link in bio for more)
-Join the community of like minded mamas! - Facebook - High Five Motherhood Mamas Group
-Want to learn more? Check out the Blog! - Website/Blog - http://www.highfivemotherhood.com (check out our free printables!)
***Productivity tools***
-HFM Productivity Planner (6 month) - Amazon, Vervante Bookstore (online)
-Digital downloads for purchase on the Blog
-Subscribe to our weekly emails so you never miss a thing! (Subscribe by going to our website/blog link listed above)
---
Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kimberly-montgomery/message

81. Feeling overwhelmed by your schedule? 4 tips to stop over scheduling!

Show Notes
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80. Back to school THRIVE tribe series - Overwhelmed? 5 systems to keep home organized for students.

80. My top 5 back to School systems to keep your home organized this season!
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79. Back to School THRIVE TRIBE series - 5. ”The Thrivin’ 5 After School Routine” - My simple 5 step system that will cut out the CHAOS & create more ...

79. The "Thrivin' 5" After School Routine - My simple 5 step system that will cut out the CHAOS & create more CALM at home.
Main points: (listen to episode for more details)
1. Drop off station/Mudroom system
2. Snacktime system
3. Decompression/transition system
4. Lunch packing system
5. Work Hard, Play hard system - Homework, Reading, typing, skill practice & outdoor play!
***Free Stuff!***
Instagram - follow us @highfivemotherhood - click on link in bio for more!
Website/blog - check out our blog! http://www.highfivemotherhood.com (free printables available!)
Facebook - follow us at High Five Motherhood Mamas group!
This podcast! - Did you know it's free to subscribe & listen to this podcast? Come join the community and follow us on Apple podcasts or your favorite listening platform! Don't forget to rate and leave us a review please! Remember, sharing is caring! Thanks friend!
Happy Listening!
Kim
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