I'm Kristin. I am a wife, designer, Christian and for now a SAHM. My husband and I are parents to three kids- Dylan Archer, Kyler Jude and Noelle Rose. Despite the name, this isn’t a mommy blog and you won’t find sponsored content here. Ultimately my goal is to leave it as a legacy to my children and possibly anyone else who wishes to follow my journey. This little corner of the web documents my family's adventures and lessons I've learned along the way. The Mom Jungle is a modern interpretation of both the family newsletter and scrapbook.
I call this The Mom Jungle because motherhood is fun and messy, filled with laughter and sometimes heartache… it truly is a jungle out there!
As I start my week, my prayer is that I would emulate the "Proverbs 31"woman. I want to be "clothed with strength and dignity." And to "laugh without fear of the future?" For the worrier prone me, that is a tall order. But with God's strength this is possible. I can breathe easy because I know that He holds the future in His hands.
Freedom of speech is paramount in an open and free society. There was a time when freedom of speech wasn't a right- and in some places today, censorship still exists. I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend your right to say it.
This is where I struggle though. I think we can misinterpret what freedom of speech means. We can say whatever we want (within legal parameters) but, that does not mean that we should. We are accountable for what we say.
I collect quotes. To date, my Pinterest " ~ q u o t e s ~ " board has 633 pins... oops! One that has stood out from all the others is by Theodore Roosevelt. He said, "Comparison is the thief of joy."
I hate to admit it, but comparison is something I struggle with. I often catch myself doing this. It can be anything from material possessions, an #ootd (outfit of the day), vacations, babies, job promotions, rock'n beach bodies... the list goes on!
Today was a rainy Saturday. It looked like brunch with my boys, while listening to Jack Johnson's "Banana Pancakes." It looked like a bubble bath. It looked like a baby shower for a sweet family member's little girl. I love weekends with no strict schedule and plenty of time to love on my family.
Today I find myself in a "meantime season," or a waiting period for God-given promises. Until they are fulfilled, in the meantime, I can choose whether I live and operate by faith or not. I think we will always be in some kind of "meantime season" one way or another, whether it's for ourselves or on someone else's behalf. Today, I am pushing through for breakthrough...
Today was the day we celebrated Dylan's 1st birthday with our families. I vividly remember his arrival like it was yesterday. Where has the time gone? Yet at the same time, it seems like he has always been a part of our family. It's impossible to imagine life without him!
If I could, I would pack my bags and head to the beaches of sunny Mexico! My husband has been there numerous times and raves about the food. I realize my experience of "Mexican" food really fits into the Tex-Mex category, but you can't go wrong with spices, avocado and lime. One of our favourite spins on enchiladas is this Quinoa Enchilada Bake. It's vegetarian and a great Meatless Monday option. Why not give it a try?
... her whole countenance changed. While Hannah didn't immediately experience her miracle, she remained positive from that day in the temple.
Cabin fever has set in! We've been under extreme cold warnings for the past two weeks. Last year the phrase "Polar Vortex" was all the rage; this year "Siberian Air Mass" is making waves. Either way, it is cold up in here!
Warm yourself up with these yummy roasted chickpeas!
Fast forward two years later with a healthy baby and still sometimes I am scared. I can dwell on all the worst-case scenarios and find myself overcome with worry to the point that it is debilitating. Can you relate to this?
Although I think that love should be celebrated all 365 days a year, there is something magical about a day devoted to love. Granted, Valentines is mostly a commercialized event, but I love love.
This Christmas was Dylan's first, making it my favourite thus far! In the days leading up the holidays...
If your holidays look anything like ours, you have not one but several Christmas gatherings. With all the feasting, I begin to crave healthy and light dishes. This is my second year bringing this delicious salad to a Christmas dinner. Packed full of greens and roasted sweet potatoes it's nutritious yet festive with pomegranate seeds and feta.
Give it a try! It makes for a great side dish or even a low-key meal in itself.
This afternoon during Dylan's nap, I spent some quiet time reading the Word and praying. I wasn't expecting to become so undone as I read my devotional today. It was just what I needed to hear. Don't you just love those God-ordained moments?
Tomorrow I am meeting my high school girlfriends for our annual Christmas cookie exchange. I hadn't decided what I was going to bake, but when my baby was up at 3:30 am and then again at 6:00 am this morning- hello 9 month sleep regression- I knew I needed something easy and quick.
I decided to make this "Christmas Crack" introduced to me by my mother-in-law. They require only 4 ingredients and a few minutes to whip up, but WHOA MAMA! They are that good.
