Over at Alicia's

Christmas can be crazy! We could all do with a few tried-and-true Christmas hacks, right? These are things I have been doing in our home from almost the beginning and they have saved me time and time again. SO many times I will find this notes-to-self and want to give myself a little pat on the back for that gift to my future self!   These Christmas hacks are simple, very doable and you'll want to implement them right away. YOUR future self will thank you too! Show notes: https://www.aliciahutchinson.com/christmas-hacks/

It is so hard to find gifts for kids who have everything! With the holidays upon us, once again, I wonder what to get for my kids–that’s right–those gifts for kids who have everything. This can be so tough! Last year, I asked my kids what they wanted for Christmas and the most I got for an answer was a glazed-over set of eyes–they had no idea because they didn’t need a thing! We’ve done the Christmas gift formula of something you need, something to wear…want…read and it’s worked great! But when my kids even struggled to think of things for these four categories, we decided to go a different direction this year. There’s too much STUFF cluttering things up and I knew there were gifts out there besides a bunch of TOYS! Of course, I still want to bless my kids and have them open something fun on Christmas morning, all while avoiding adding clutter and junk to our closets! You can find gifts for kids who have everything–let me help!  In this episode of Over at Alicia’s, I’m laying out 24 creatively fun gifts for kids who have everything! Get the show notes here: https://www.aliciahutchinson.com/gifts-for-kids-who-have-everything/

Setting a Christmas budget and getting all the gifts purchased can be the most stressful part of the whole holiday.  Today on the podcast, I’m continuing a four-week series of Christmas Q+A’s! This week, I'm answering all your questions about the Christmas budget, gift buying for grandparents, and more. Head here for all the details and show notes: https://www.aliciahutchinson.com/christmas-budget/

The holidays are coming and that means family gatherings and that could mean sitting around awkwardly making small talk. But it doesn’t have to! This week on the podcast, I’ve rounded up a TON of family board games and card games that your entire family will LOVE! These family board games are just for littles, but they will include everyone in the family–even teens that don’t like anything and grandparents that want to keep it traditional. You’ll find over 20 suggestions for keeping your family gatherings fun and light and full of laughing and silliness. Go grab a couple of these games for your family gatherings this season! Get all the show notes here: https://www.aliciahutchinson.com/family-board-games/

We all want to make Advent a special time in our homes. We all want Christmas traditions that all our kids remember and enjoy. And of course, we all want the secret to staying sane this holiday season! Today on the podcast, I’m kicking off a four-week series of Christmas Q+A’s and I cannot wait for it! For the first week, I’m sharing all about our Advent resources and favorite traditions in our home. The next four weeks, I’ll be posting a new Christmas Q+A on the podcast and it’ll look like this: Week one: Advent and Traditions Week two: Christmas Gifts + Budgeting Week three: Christmas Homeschooling Week four: Christmas Food + Decor Let’s get started talking about Advent and traditions! Head to the show notes here for all the details and links for the show: https://www.aliciahutchinson.com/advent/

Do your favorite cookbooks inspire you to cook more? They totally do that for me! When I’m standing in a friend’s kitchen, I usually find my eyes going to their cookbook shelf, pulling a few off and seeing what’s inside. A great cookbook can inspire me to use different ingredients, plan better menus for my family and try new things. But we can definitely get stuck in a cooking rut. A new cookbook can get you out of it! This post will show you over 11 of my very favorite cookbooks for myself and my kids. I’ve gone through each cookbook and shared why I love them and some of my favorite recipes from each as well! Enjoy…and get ready to be inspired to cook! Head HERE for all the show notes: https://www.aliciahutchinson.com/cookbooks/

Christmas brings so much joy and activity--but what happens when that joy gives way to stress and overwhelm. The season is much too short to spend it stressed out. This year, let's have a more peaceful holiday. We've gone too far sometimes and loaded our holiday plates too full. We need to prioritize the Christmas season and decide what's most important before the season gets away and leaves us in a total funk. I've had Christmases like that. The ones where I'm overwhelmed for 3/4 of December, Christmas day hits before I'm prepared, and I'm so bummed I've let it get so crazy! For me, I want this year to be different than those overwhelmed years. I want a peaceful holiday. And I know you do too. Get all the show notes here: https://www.aliciahutchinson.com/how-to-have-a-peaceful-holiday-this-year/

Feeding a large family, homeschooling a wide variety of ages, scheduling work time and more…. Every week on the podcast, I’m releasing a bonus Q+A episode full of your questions. I’ve seen other podcasters do this and I love listening in to the random questions that come in. This week, we’re talking feeding a large family without feeling like you’re drowning, homeschooling all the ages, scheduling work time, and lots more! Below you’ll find the show notes and the list of questions and their timestamps.  SHOW NOTES: https://www.aliciahutchinson.com/46/ 1. [1:26] When homeschooling such a wide range, how do you manage time for everyone each day? Help! 2. [5:34] How can we get Noah + Kait to fall in love? Jack + Clara?? Not weird, right??  3. [6:13] Feeding a large family with a baby in the house? Feels like I’m drowning! 4. [9:42] Share some of your homeschooling high school experiences + wisdom! 5. [14:12] How do you schedule work time and stick to it?  

Christmas brings so many things for our brains to hold; gift lists, checklists, addresses, recipes, dates to remember and so much more. Post-It notes are not going to cut if for this occasion. We need a place we can hold everything in one place. Are you like me on this? You see the PERFECT gift idea for that hard-to-buy-for person on Instagram or read a great gift list post, then your kid needs help with something, you get pulled away from the great idea and then *poof!*the idea is gone forever. BUT, what if you had the perfect little spot to keep right by your computer, in your purse, in your back pocket (??) and always have it close at hand to capture those great ideas into a list. This is a much better option than *poof!* *poof!* Am I right!? I once read that you should really begin thinking about Christmas on November 1st. I’m not always great at this, but I am committed to being proactive this year and being ahead of the game and get my shopping and planning done early this year. I’ve always had a holiday planner, but a few years ago, I decided to create a Christmas bullet journal. Listen in for all the details! Get the show notes: https://www.aliciahutchinson.com/christmas-bullet-journal/

Meal planning, delegating, homeschooling high school and everything in between...Every week on the podcast, I’m releasing a bonus Q+A episode full of your questions. I’ve seen other podcasters do this and I love listening in to the random questions that come in. This week, we’re talking about meal planning, saying yes and saying no, skincare and makeup, and lots more! 1. [1:14] Meal Planning...what is working for you right now? 2. [3:28] Do you sleep? Seriously how do you do it all? What do you delegate? 3. [7:41] What are your favorite skincare and make-up products? 4. [11:49] Will you come make my house as cozy as yours? 5. [13:46] Anything you wish you would've done differently for homeschooling high school? 6. [16:30] How did you put your home on VRBO to pay for your trip to Europe? Get all the details, links and show notes here: https://www.aliciahutchinson.com/q+a-v/  

We recently had the dreamiest family vacation. We traveled to Germany and Austria. You can read about how we budgeted and planned too. The most unexpected thing that happened on the trip for me: the lessons learned in Europe. I wasn’t expecting it. I was prepared to have the trip of a lifetime and see amazing things. But the life lessons? I wasn’t prepared for that. Over our 10 days in Europe in learned a lot about myself. I realized how insanely fast my pace is and how it needs to stop. I observed a lot of behaviors from the Europeans and watched how they carried themselves, how they parented their kids, how the ate their meals even! (I’m a big people watcher.) Here’s what I learned from traveling to Europe. See all the show notes and details here: https://www.aliciahutchinson.com/lessons/

This week, we’re talking about homeschooling with toddlers, when to work out, my fall reading list, and lots more! Get all the links and details from this episode here: https://www.aliciahutchinson.com/qa-4/

There are many different systems and tools to make laundry a little less daunting, but if you're in a rut--you need a pick-me-up! (And I do too!) So, in this episode of the Over at Alicia's podcast, we're talking all about the Great Laundry Debacle. We'll cover some very different laundry system tactics, tricks and hacks, and some tools that just might help laundry day get a little more fun. For all the details from this show: https://www.aliciahutchinson.com/laundry/

Let's hang out for another round of Q+A! This week we're talking mom guilt, knowing when you're teaching the right things in your homeschool, if you can be too early to start homeschooling, routines and more!    Get the show notes and all the details from the episode here: https://www.aliciahutchinson.com/qa-3/

The world is running at too fast of a speed. We can't slow it down, but we can slow our own pace and run our own race. Let's talk about daring to be a different kind of family...the kind that might say NO to what everyone else is saying YES to. The different kind of family that might not join in the thing that everyone else is joining, just to preserve our time together. Head here for the show notes: links from the episode and a book list about breaking the busy pace: https://www.aliciahutchinson.com/different/

This week, we’re talking husbands, homeschooling and marriage. We're talking about getting started in blogging and one of my favorite things: Morning Routines and lots more! Show notes: https://www.aliciahutchinson.com/qa-2/

A good morning routine can make or break your day. Not every morning will be perfect, but having a good plan in place is always the best policy. This episode will cover all things morning routines and how they can literally save your day! I'm not expert and I'm constantly tweaking my routine and working hard to get up early--it's not easy! Listen in for tips on getting up early, a morning routine that's saving my day right now, and a bunch of tools that will help your morning routine get a whole lot easier! Show notes: https://www.aliciahutchinson.com/morning-routine-2/

What podcasts am I listening to? The household routine we have found most invaluable? Homeschooling teens and more on the first installment of Q+A with Alicia.  Get the shownotes here: www.aliciahutchinson.com/36  

So often we can feel like we’re not making an impact. We’re not making a big enough difference or doing anything that will shape the world. But if we’re loving our family and loving them well, I truly believe we are in fact making a difference in a big way. As a stay-at-home mom, there have been days where the world has felt so big and loud and my life has felt so small and insignificant. It can start to lead me down a path of wonder what my purpose is. What difference am I making really? But Mother Teresa once told an excited onlooker who wanted to make the impact that she was making in his own life this: “If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.” This quote has always made me stop in my tracks. Stop wondering what my purpose is. Stop questioning if my work at home has value or impact. But this quote doesn’t just give me validation of my work as a mom, it gives me the determination to do it better. It makes me think about the word “families,” and who that really means…my friends, neighbors, my sphere of influence. Mother Teresa’s words bring so much meaning and purpose. I sat down to record my thoughts and share some ideas of what I think you and I can do right now to love our families well. For the shownotes: https://www.aliciahutchinson.com/family/

Everyone homeschool mama loves to talk about their curriculum picks for the new school year. This is the audio version of our curriculum picks and plans for the new school year, 2019-20!  To get all the links, head here: https://www.learningwellcommunity.com/curriculum/ 

Jumping into a new fall routine can be easier said than done. It's harrrrrrd sometimes to go from the carefree days of summer, staying up late, and oddly-timed meals to the more stringent routine of fall. On this episode of the podcast, I am breaking down why it's so hard sometimes to settle into that fall routine and seven ways to make it a little easier to get back into the swing of things. We'll be talking about meal planning--what's easiest for me right now, how to minimize decision fatigue--something that's probably really taking up more of your time than you think, and more! For all the links and info on this episode: https://www.aliciahutchinson.com/fall-routine/

Sometimes being a mom is sheet bliss. Your kids are (sorta) behaving, dinner is in the oven, and it feels like you may have just hit your stride. But that’s not the truth about being a mom–we learn things along the way, we try to work on our shortcomings, but we never really master it. Try as we might. The truth about being a mom is that it’s hard–really hard. But it’s so good. Really good. It wrecks us in the most beautiful ways–refining us, making us better humans. This last episode of the season is about what motherhood is looking like for me right now. How looking at my oldest right now is equal parts heartbreaking and excitement, knowing he only has one. more. year left of high school. Episode 32 is a true coffee chat. One that I would certainly ask you to stay an extra hour and discuss with me. So you could tell me…how’s your mama heart right now? Click HERE for the show notes: https://www.aliciahutchinson.com/mom/

Today, let’s talk about keeping our home cleaner. I will admit, my house is not normally messy, but clean is another story. Summer is upon us and that can mean a lot more sand, dirt, and grass clippings being drug through the door. On the podcast today, we’re talking about six insanely simple ways you can keep your home cleaner. What to keep under your bathroom sink, what to remove, and what to do before bed to name a few things. Ready for a cleaner home? Let’s do this.   Get all the show notes here: https://www.aliciahutchinson.com/cleaner-home/

Whether you're heading out on a road trip or loading a plane, traveling with kids can be a tricky endeavor. Rewarding and wonderful--for sure! But tricky. You want to be prepared--but not TOO prepared and pack your entire house. You want to plan it out--but not TOO planned where you don't have any space to relax or explore the unknown. Today, let's talk about traveling with kids. The good, the bad, the ugly and how to prepare for it.   CLICK HERE for shownotes: https://www.aliciahutchinson.com/traveling-with-kids/

There's nothing more refreshing than sitting down with a really smart friend and picking her brain. That's what I just did with my friend Jen Pepito about home management. Jen is a master at home management, and she has to be as a mom to seven and a business owner. In this episode of the podcast we're talking about all things home management: What really falls under that umbrella? Where to start if you're just feeling swamped. Little things you can do to get your kids on board. I love talking to Jen because she always reminds me to circle in and reminds me of the most important things: our families, what our kids will remember, if we're remembering to pause, take it all all, not let it pass us by. Time Stamps: 3:59 - What Falls Under Home Management for You? 6:14 - What are Some of Your Biggest Priorities in Home Management? 8:46 - What is Your Day to Day Routine to Keep the Chaos Away? 11:50 - Start with Small Change 13:14 - Teaching Children Skills at Home 15:28 - How to Incorporate this with Little Ones 17:15 - Tips for the Overwhelmed Mom 27:07 - Bonus Tip for the Overwhelmed Mom 32:00 - Simple Steps on Where to Start 35:26 - Currently List Check out the show notes HERE: https://www.aliciahutchinson.com/home-management/    

Spring Cleaning is daunting and often makes a bigger mess than when we began. Cleaning our homes from top to bottom isn't necessary to make our homes sparkle this spring. In this episode, I'm sharing some really doable and simple tasks you can knock out in just a weekend or two. Best of all, these small tasks will make a BIG impact on how your home looks for spring and summer. You'll be ready to host your first backyard dinner party by next weekend!  Get all the details and show notes here: https://www.aliciahutchinson.com/spring-cleaning/

Are you an introverted mom? Do you find yourself having to sneak away to your room for a moment's reprieve from constant talking and noise? Do you feel angry sometimes?  Are you constantly giving of yourself, but you know you need more quiet in your life?  Or are you an extrovert but you still need time alone? Do you want to understand your introverted friends and family more?  In episode 27, I'm chatting with author Jamie Martin of the Steady Mom and Simple Homeschool blogs. She's just written and published THE book on introverted moms and it has helped me so much.  In the episode, we're covering what to do if you're finding yourself depleted, how famous women authors of the past can help us learn more about ourselves and what led to Jamie throwing a glass against the wall in anger.  You're going to love this episode.  Get all the show notes here: https://www.aliciahutchinson.com/introverted-mom/

SHOW NOTES: https://www.aliciahutchinson.com/overwhelmed/ A few weeks ago, I shared some self care tips for moms. But not just any self care tips–some sort of tough love tips. Because moms are usually the best at taking care of others and the worst at taking care of themselves. But what happens when your the overwhelmed mom that can’t even begin to take better care of herself. What then? This motherhood journey includes so many seasons–for better or for worse. And none of us are immune to a few seasons of total overwhelm. In this podcast, I’m getting super basic with you–because if you are in a season of perpetual overwhelm, you need basic, simple advice that you can implement today. We’re talking about those seasons of overwhelm, how we can completely simplify and pare down our calendar and daily checklists. Here’s some of the things we’re talking about in the episode: Simplifying your family dinners Making the most of time in the car Asking for help or splitting driving time with another parent Slimming down other things during the busiest seasons Freezer cooking for extra help Your STUFF Kids and chores

Getting dinner on the table every night can be a struggle. We're busy all day and then it never fails--the family needs to eat. Again. ;) That's where freezer meals come in and save the day. For this episode, I sat down with my friend Karyn. Karyn also homeschools her kids and we're in the same homeschool group together. I heard about Karyn's Freezer Meal Cooking Club and I (politely) invited myself. Her group needed a sub and I was happy to step in! We're chatting about how to set up your own club, why it's a good ideas and plenty of other ideas if the club idea isn't possible for you.  Head over to the show notes for video coverage of Cooking Club, a list of tools to make freezer cooking much easier and best of all, a TON of recipes from Karyn's arsenal! THANK YOU, Karyn! SHOWNOTES: https://www.aliciahutchinson.com/freezer-meals/

They say trying to keep your house clean with little kids is like shoveling while it's still snowing. That's kind of true, but we don't want to end up on the next episode of Hoarders either. ;) Let me show you have you can have a clean home while you still have little kids in your house. On this episode of the podcast, I'm chatting with Liz Quick, homeschool mama of four little ones.  Liz is known on Instagram as someone who has cleaning her home down to an art form. She has a regular cleaning routine, she involves her kids, and she makes it doable for everyone.  In our conversation we talk about specific jobs your kids can do at different ages. We talk about routines and starting to set up your own cleaning systems. If you're struggling to know where to begin, we address that too. And we even hit on the all-demanding question of: laundry! Liz has just released a brand new course as well! And she's offering a discount for Over at Alicia's listeners!  For all the show notes and details, click over to the show notes page here: www.aliciahutchinson.com/clean-home

Self care can mean a lot of things. We're probably most used to the message that self care means taking a long bath or buying a new candle. While these are good things, sometimes self care is more complicated than that.  In episode 23, I'm laying out six things that you need to STOP doing in order to take better care of yourself.  This might not be my most popular episode--there's a lot of tough love involved. But I'm speaking to myself as much as I am to you. Sometimes taking care means doing hard things--like saying no to our kids or cutting ties from a toxic relationship. But we can do hard things.  For all the show notes and details, click here:  https://www.aliciahutchinson.com/self-care/

Greta Eskridge is here today sharing about something she is passionate about: talking to our kids about pornography and putting systems into place to help protect them against it. Selfishly, I asked her onto the show because this is a topic that I find hard to talk to my kids about--where does a parent even begin?  On the difficult topics, it can be tempting to skim over them, not teaching the hard lessons that are hard to talk about. Who wants to have a discussion about pornography with their teen guys? Not me! But after my conversation with Greta, I felt so much more confident about talking with my kids about pornography. Since gleaning Greta's tips and wisdom, my husband and I have been able to naturally converse with our kids about this topic without feeling awkward or weird. This is a must-listen for all parents out there! Greta and I talk about a lot of resources and continued reading in this episode. You can get all those details in the shownotes: https://www.aliciahutchinson.com/protect-from-pornography/

I know so many people--including myself--that have struggled with the winter blues. It can feel like you're in a cave for months and there's no light at the end of the tunnel.   Something clicked in me a few years back and I decided to stop hating winter. Winter in Minnesota is way too long to wish away months and months of the year.   In this episode, I'm unpacking seven simple ideas you can do today to help with your winter blues. You don't have to hate winter--it's cold but there's so much beauty!   Shownotes and Details: https://www.aliciahutchinson.com/winter/

We all plan our days a little differently, but I find that no planning at all leaves me feeling like I'm flailing. Not a good feeling. The episode covers how those new years goals come back into my day-to-day planning, the tools I use, and my little trick for reminding myself how much I get done in a day...even for those super unproductive days.   Click here for show notes: https://www.aliciahutchinson.com/planning/

Today I get to talk with one of my favorite people, Julie Bogart, and her brand new book, The Brave Learner. In this episode, we're talking about creating an enchanting home--the whole plot behind being a brave learner--and why it's so important to create that magic at home. The Brave Learner is written as a guidebook for homeschool families, but this episode is for every mom that wants to create enchantment for her child. I was not homeschooled as a child, but my mom was definitely one who created all kinds of imaginative fun for us. In the episode, Julie and I will cover what it takes to create an enchanting home, the magic of an open art table, making amazing memories with your kids, what that looks like when you have middle-schoolers and teens, and more. For all the links and show notes: https://www.aliciahutchinson.com/brave-learner/

Ever wish you could tune in to a great bookish conversation? Drop in on a convo about the best and worst reads in two book lover's reading year? If so, this podcast is for you! Liz Ensor and I get super honest about the books we loved the most and the least (!!) in 2018, what read alouds we loved, and what we're reading now.  Listen in for some great tips and recommendations! Get all the links and show notes here: https://www.aliciahutchinson.com/book-reviews/

Whether you set goals, resolutions, or don't like to think about it--I'm talking to you in this episode. We're working through the "why's" of goal-setting, how to break your life down into different areas before you start goal setting.  Getting things out on paper and planning ahead is the way my brain works. I'm not good at winging it. I like a good, well-laid plan. That's not to say it goes that way, but at least I have a direction to move towards. Let's talk goals today on the podcast. I'm laying out my goals for 2019--the ones I'm excited to talk about and the ones I've never really shared before. Check out the show notes here: https://www.aliciahutchinson.com/goals-for-2019/  

Happy New Year!!! Happy Season TWO!!! Happy all the things!!!! Ok wait though. Before we talk about goals and resolutions and all that good stuff, let's look back at 2018 first. There's so much to learn and so much gratitude when we take a little walk down memory lane.  So pleased to share what worked in 2018 and what changed for the better. I'd love for you to do this exercise too! Before making goals for the new year, take a few minutes to see what things from the old year you want to carry to the next! Get the show notes here: https://www.aliciahutchinson.com/2018/

It’s December! It’s time to string the popcorn, cut down your tree and do all the beautiful things we feel like December expects from us. We all know that mama conducts this merry Christmas train. But what about when mama loses her merry? Then what? What if mama’s just not feeling it? Losing your merry happens to the best of us. Ask me how I know.  We all have seasons where we're really down--depressed even, have babies and very little sleep, marriage problems, huge family troubles, and so much more. Throw Christmas in there when we're supposed to be creating all this holiday magic, and we can feel even MORE depressed.  Today, I want to talk about that. What we can do when we're down and out and have to bring the merry.  Get all the details from today's show and the freebie HERE: https://www.aliciahutchinson.com/when-mama-loses-her-merry-2/

Christmas brings so much joy and activity--but what happens when that joy gives way to stress and overwhelm. We've gone too far sometimes and loaded our holiday plates too full. We need to prioritize the Christmas season and decide what's most important before the season gets away and leaves us in a total funk.  I've had Christmases like that. The ones where I'm overwhelmed for 3/4 of December, Christmas day hits before I'm prepared, and I'm so bummed I've let it get so crazy! For me, I want this year to be different than those overwhelmed years. I want a peaceful holiday. And I know you do to.  This week on the podcast, I'm talking about 12 ways we can create more peace in our holiday season this year.  For all the details and show notes: https://www.aliciahutchinson.com/how-to-have-a-peaceful-holiday-this-year/

With the holidays upon us, once again, I wonder what to get for my kids--that's right--those gifts for kids who have everything. This can be so tough! Last year, I asked my kids what they wanted for Christmas and the most I got for an answer was a glazed-over set of eyes--they had no idea because they didn't need a thing! We've done the Christmas gift formula of something you need, something to wear...want...read and it's worked great! But when my kids even struggled to think of things for these four categories, we decided to go a different direction this year. There's too much STUFF cluttering things up and I knew there were gifts out there besides a bunch of TOYS! Of course, I still want to bless my kids and have them open something fun on Christmas morning, all while avoiding adding clutter and junk to our closets! You can find gifts for kids who have everything--let me help!  In this episode of Over at Alicia's, I'm laying out 24 creatively fun gifts for kids who have everything! CLICK HERE for all the links and details from the show ----> http://www.aliciahutchinson.com/gifts-for-kids-who-have-everything/

Even though December gets busy, there are so many easy  ways you can homeschool at Christmas time. There's theatrical productions, the movies, the wonderful picture books and the Christmas baking. So many things you can be learning during the holidays. In this episode of Over at Alicia's I walk you through just what you can do to balance homeschooling and the holidays. I share how you can create space to allow room to still get a little school accomplished and still do all the festive things you want to do with your family. We also talk about ways to make homeschool more festive during the holidays--subject-by-subject. Even though December gets busy, there are so many easy  ways you can homeschool at Christmas time. There's theatrical productions, the movies, the wonderful picture books and the Christmas baking. So many things you can be learning during the holidays. In this episode of Over at Alicia's I walk you through just what you can do to balance homeschooling and the holidays. I share how you can create space to allow room to still get a little school accomplished and still do all the festive things you want to do with your family. We also talk about ways to make homeschool more festive during the holidays--subject-by-subject. Even though December gets busy, there are so many easy  ways you can homeschool at Christmas time. There's theatrical productions, the movies, the wonderful picture books and the Christmas baking. So many things you can be learning during the holidays. In this episode of Over at Alicia's I walk you through just what you can do to balance homeschooling and the holidays. I share how you can create space to allow room to still get a little school accomplished and still do all the festive things you want to do with your family. We also talk about ways to make homeschool more festive during the holidays--subject-by-subject. Even though December gets busy, there are so many easy  ways you can homeschool at Christmas time. There's theatrical productions, the movies, the wonderful picture books and the Christmas baking. So many things you can be learning during the holidays. In this episode of Over at Alicia's I walk you through just what you can do to balance homeschooling and the holidays. I share how you can create space to allow room to still get a little school accomplished and still do all the festive things you want to do with your family. We also talk about ways to make homeschool more festive during the holidays--subject-by-subject. Even though December gets busy, there are so many easy  ways you can homeschool at Christmas time. There's theatrical productions, the movies, the wonderful picture books and the Christmas baking. So many things you can be learning during the holidays. In this episode of Over at Alicia's I walk you through just what you can do to balance homeschooling and the holidays. I share how you can create space to allow room to still get a little school accomplished and still do all the festive things you want to do with your family. We also talk about ways to make homeschool more festive during the holidays--subject-by-subject. Even though December gets busy, there are so many easy  ways you can homeschool at Christmas time. There's theatrical productions, the movies, the wonderful picture books and the Christmas baking. So many things you can be learning during the holidays. In this episode of Over at Alicia's I walk you through just what you can do to balance homeschooling and the holidays. I share how you can create space to allow room to still get a little school accomplished and still do all the festive things you want to do with your family. We also talk about ways to make homeschool more festive during the holidays--subject-by-subject. Even though December gets busy, there are so many easy  ways you can homeschool at Christmas time. There's theatrical productions, the movies, the wonderful picture books and the Christmas baking. So many things you can be learning during the holidays. In this episode of Over at Alicia's I walk you through just what you can do to balance homeschooling and the holidays. I share how you can create space to allow room to still get a little school accomplished and still do all the festive things you want to do with your family. We also talk about ways to make homeschool more festive during the holidays--subject-by-subject. Even though December gets busy, there are so many easy  ways you can homeschool at Christmas time. There's theatrical productions, the movies, the wonderful picture books and the Christmas baking. So many things you can be learning during the holidays. In this episode of Over at Alicia's I walk you through just what you can do to balance homeschooling and the holidays. I share how you can create space to allow room to still get a little school accomplished and still do all the festive things you want to do with your family. We also talk about ways to make homeschool more festive during the holidays--subject-by-subject. Even though December gets busy, there are so many easy  ways you can homeschool at Christmas time. There's theatrical productions, the movies, the wonderful picture books and the Christmas baking. So many things you can be learning during the holidays. In this episode of Over at Alicia's I walk you through just what you can do to balance homeschooling and the holidays. I share how you can create space to allow room to still get a little school accomplished and still do all the festive things you want to do with your family. We also talk about ways to make homeschool more festive during the holidays--subject-by-subject. Even though December gets busy, there are so many easy  ways you can homeschool at Christmas time. There's theatrical productions, the movies, the wonderful picture books and the Christmas baking. So many things you can be learning during the holidays. In this episode of Over at Alicia's I walk you through just what you can do to balance homeschooling and the holidays. I share how you can create space to allow room to still get a little school accomplished and still do all the festive things you want to do with your family. We also talk about ways to make homeschool more festive during the holidays--subject-by-subject. Even though December gets busy, there are so many easy  ways you can homeschool at Christmas time. There's theatrical productions, the movies, the wonderful picture books and the Christmas baking. So many things you can be learning during the holidays. In this episode of Over at Alicia's I walk you through just what you can do to balance homeschooling and the holidays. I share how you can create space to allow room to still get a little school accomplished and still do all the festive things you want to do with your family. We also talk about ways to make homeschool more festive during the holidays--subject-by-subject. Even though December gets busy, there are so many easy  ways you can homeschool at Christmas time. There's theatrical productions, the movies, the wonderful picture books and the Christmas baking. So many things you can be learning during the holidays. In this episode of Over at Alicia's I walk you through just what you can do to balance homeschooling and the holidays. I share how you can create space to allow room to still get a little school accomplished and still do all the festive things you want to do with your family. We also talk about ways to make homeschool more festive during the holidays--subject-by-subject. Even though December gets busy, there are so many easy  ways you can homeschool at Christmas time. There's theatrical productions, the movies, the wonderful picture books and the Christmas baking. So many things you can be learning during the holidays. In this episode of Over at Alicia's I walk you through just what you can do to balance homeschooling and the holidays. I share how you can create space to allow room to still get a little school accomplished and still do all the festive things you want to do with your family. We also talk about ways to make homeschool more festive during the holidays--subject-by-subject. Even though December gets busy, there are so many easy  ways you can homeschool at Christmas time. There's theatrical productions, the movies, the wonderful picture books and the Christmas baking. So many things you can be learning during the holidays. In this episode of Over at Alicia's I walk you through just what you can do to balance homeschooling and the holidays. I share how you can create space to allow room to still get a little school accomplished and still do all the festive things you want to do with your family. We also talk about ways to make homeschool more festive during the holidays--subject-by-subject. Even though December gets busy, there are so many easy  ways you can homeschool at Christmas time. There's theatrical productions, the movies, the wonderful picture books and the Christmas baking. So many things you can be learning during the holidays. In this episode of Over at Alicia's I walk you through just what you can do to balance homeschooling and the holidays. I share how you can create space to allow room to still get a little school accomplished and still do all the festive things you want to do with your family. We also talk about ways to make homeschool more festive during the holidays--subject-by-subject. Even though December gets busy, there are so many easy  ways you can homeschool at Christmas time. There's theatrical productions, the movies, the wonderful picture books and the Christmas baking. So many things you can be learning during the holidays. In this episode of Over at Alicia's I walk you through just what you can do to balance homeschooling and the holidays. I share how you can create space to allow room to still get a little school accomplished and still do all the festive things you want to do with your family. We also talk about ways to make homeschool more festive during the holidays--subject-by-subject. Even though December gets busy, there are so many easy  ways you can homeschool at Christmas time. There's theatrical productions, the movies, the wonderful picture books and the Christmas baking. So many things you can be learning during the holidays. In this episode of Over at Alicia's I walk you through just what you can do to balance homeschooling and the holidays. I share how you can create space to allow room to still get a little school accomplished and still do all the festive things you want to do with your family. We also talk about ways to make homeschool more festive during the holidays--subject-by-subject. Even though December gets busy, there are so many easy  ways you can homeschool at Christmas time. There's theatrical productions, the movies, the wonderful picture books and the Christmas baking. So many things you can be learning during the holidays. In this episode of Over at Alicia's I walk you through just what you can do to balance homeschooling and the holidays. I share how you can create space to allow room to still get a little school accomplished and still do all the festive things you want to do with your family. We also talk about ways to make homeschool more festive during the holidays--subject-by-subject. Even though December gets busy, there are so many easy  ways you can homeschool at Christmas time. There's theatrical productions, the movies, the wonderful picture books and the Christmas baking. So many things you can be learning during the holidays. In this episode of Over at Alicia's I walk you through just what you can do to balance homeschooling and the holidays. I share how you can create space to allow room to still get a little school accomplished and still do all the festive things you want to do with your family. We also talk about ways to make homeschool more festive during the holidays--subject-by-subject. Even though December gets busy, there are so many easy  ways you can homeschool at Christmas time. There's theatrical productions, the movies, the wonderful picture books and the Christmas baking. So many things you can be learning during the holidays. In this episode of Over at Alicia's I walk you through just what you can do to balance homeschooling and the holidays. I share how you can create space to allow room to still get a little school accomplished and still do all the festive things you want to do with your family. We also talk about ways to make homeschool more festive during the holidays--subject-by-subject. Even though December gets busy, there are so many easy  ways you can homeschool at Christmas time. There's theatrical productions, the movies, the wonderful picture books and the Christmas baking. So many things you can be learning during the holidays. In this episode of Over at Alicia's I walk you through just what you can do to balance homeschooling and the holidays. I share how you can create space to allow room to still get a little school accomplished and still do all the festive things you want to do with your family. We also talk about ways to make homeschool more festive during the holidays--subject-by-subject. Even though December gets busy, there are so many easy  ways you can homeschool at Christmas time. There's theatrical productions, the movies, the wonderful picture books and the Christmas baking. So many things you can be learning during the holidays. In this episode of Over at Alicia's I walk you through just what you can do to balance homeschooling and the holidays. I share how you can create space to allow room to still get a little school accomplished and still do all the festive things you want to do with your family. We also talk about ways to make homeschool more festive during the holidays--subject-by-subject. Even though December gets busy, there are so many easy  ways you can homeschool at Christmas time. There's theatrical productions, the movies, the wonderful picture books and the Christmas baking. So many things you can be learning during the holidays. In this episode of Over at Alicia's I walk you through just what you can do to balance homeschooling and the holidays. I share how you can create space to allow room to still get a little school accomplished and still do all the festive things you want to do with your family. We also talk about ways to make homeschool more festive during the holidays--subject-by-subject. Even though December gets busy, there are so many easy  ways you can homeschool at Christmas time. There's theatrical productions, the movies, the wonderful picture books and the Christmas baking. So many things you can be learning during the holidays. In this episode of Over at Alicia's I walk you through just what you can do to balance homeschooling and the holidays. I share how you can create space to allow room to still get a little school accomplished and still do all the festive things you want to do with your family. We also talk about ways to make homeschool more festive during the holidays--subject-by-subject. Even though December gets busy, there are so many easy  ways you can homeschool at Christmas time. There's theatrical productions, the movies, the wonderful picture books and the Christmas baking. So many things you can be learning during the holidays. In this episode of Over at Alicia's I walk you through just what you can do to balance homeschooling and the holidays. I share how you can create space to allow room to still get a little school accomplished and still do all the festive things you want to do with your family. We also talk about ways to make homeschool more festive during the holidays--subject-by-subject. Even though December gets busy, there are so many easy  ways you can homeschool at Christmas time. There's theatrical productions, the movies, the wonderful picture books and the Christmas baking. So many things you can be learning during the holidays. In this episode of Over at Alicia's I walk you through just what you can do to balance homeschooling and the holidays. I share how you can create space to allow room to still get a little school accomplished and still do all the festive things you want to do with your family. We also talk about ways to make homeschool more festive during the holidays--subject-by-subject. Even though December gets busy, there are so many easy  ways you can homeschool at Christmas time. There's theatrical productions, the movies, the wonderful picture books and the Christmas baking. So many things you can be learning during the holidays. In this episode of Over at Alicia's I walk you through just what you can do to balance homeschooling and the holidays. I share how you can create space to allow room to still get a little school accomplished and still do all the festive things you want to do with your family. We also talk about ways to make homeschool more festive during the holidays--subject-by-subject. Even though December gets busy, there are so many easy  ways you can homeschool at Christmas time. There's theatrical productions, the movies, the wonderful picture books and the Christmas baking. So many things you can be learning during the holidays. In this episode of Over at Alicia's I walk you through just what you can do to balance homeschooling and the holidays. I share how you can create space to allow room to still get a little school accomplished and still do all the festive things you want to do with your family. We also talk about ways to make homeschool more festive during the holidays--subject-by-subject. Even though December gets busy, there are so many easy  ways you can homeschool at Christmas time. There's theatrical productions, the movies, the wonderful picture books and the Christmas baking. So many things you can be learning during the holidays. In this episode of Over at Alicia's I walk you through just what you can do to balance homeschooling and the holidays. I share how you can create space to allow room to still get a little school accomplished and still do all the festive things you want to do with your family. We also talk about ways to make homeschool more festive during the holidays--subject-by-subject. Get all the details and show notes here: http://www.aliciahutchinson.com/homeschool-at-christmas/

We have all the excuses. Our home is too small, too messy, too unfinished. But opening our homes and  having friends and family over is where memories are made! There's been SO many times where I don't want to stop the normal flow, get ready for company, and entertain--but I'm always happy when I do. I have a joke with my kids--"We're not awesome at some things, but we are AWESOME at doing a Shakedown for guests!" And we awesome at working against a timer, pulling together, and getting our home ready for company. In this episode of Over at Alicia's I shared step-by-step how you can get ready for company too--in just 30 or so minutes. (We call it the Miracle Hour/Power Hour just because it sounds cool, but it usually takes much less than an hour!) And for all the details and links talked about in this episode, click here:  http://www.aliciahutchinson.com/get-ready-for-company/

We all want to create a cozy home. When someone tells me my home feels cozy, they could not pay me a better compliment. I don't care about my home feeling perfect...perfect is boring. And too expensive. I don't need a huge house or a new house--just a cozy house where everybody feels welcome and safe and comfortable. This episode is all about creating that cozy oasis we're desiring. The show includes 7 tips you can do TODAY to make your home a little cozier. Read all the show notes and details here:  http://www.aliciahutchinson.com/seven-ways-to-create-a-cozy-home/

It's early, but it's time to start crafting your holiday game plan! Why? Because starting early on a few simple things will make your holiday season a whole lot more peaceful. In this episode we're talking about how to create a Christmas bullet journal, step-by-step AND I'm giving you four little things to do THIS WEEK that will make your holiday season so much smoother and less last-minute stress.  See all the details, note and links I talked about in the show on the website, right HERE: http://www.aliciahutchinson.com/holiday-game-plan/

Sundays should feel like no other day of the week. We all need a day of the week that is just...chill! It should be a day we relax and regroup for the beginning of the week to come. We need to be smart about our Sundays...but also keep them soothing. This episode is all about Sundays: what we can do to use them to prep for the upcoming week AND how we can use them to soothe our souls for the week ahead too. For the full show notes and links and details from the episode: http://www.aliciahutchinson.com/sundays/

I’ve always heard…and learned the hard way that a great morning starts with a great evening routine. It’s hard for me to implement sometimes because I looooove my quiet evenings and I usually don’t want them to end. So I curl up with Pinterest or Instagram or my current favorite Flix show and veg. But as good as it feels at the moment, it doesn’t help my next morning go any better. Night Owls, ask yourself: How important is it?? The project you want to eek out late at night with no interruptions. The next episode of Handmaid’s. One more chapter of your book. Is it as important as your beauty rest? Sometimes, the answer is yes! Sometimes I’ve been on a deadline and I wake up tired the next day, but SO happy that the project is DONE! But I still pay for it because I’m tired the next day…always a pay off. Episode 8 is all about how we can make these decisions in our evening, do a few simple things to make our next day go smoother. For all the show notes and details:  http://www.aliciahutchinson.com/evening-routine/

This might not be the morning routine podcast you're looking for. See, my morning routine right now is not going great. I actually almost scrapped doing this episode all together. But I think it's important to share the things that I AM doing well, as well as the things I'm NOT.  In this episode, I'm sharing what's going wrong in my morning routine and a few ways I want to work on it. The tips in this show are simple, but if you're in a morning funk too, I sure hope this helps you, as it's helping me so much to talk through it with you.  Check out the show notes with the main points and resources mentioned in the show: http://www.aliciahutchinson.com/morning-routine/

The conversation around kids and chores is a lively one. We all want to know how other people do this. What jobs are appropriate for different ages? Should we even expect kids to do chores? And what about allowances? In this episode, we'll talk about all this and more. We'll talk about the time I had to think like a manager and give much clearer expectations. We'll also talk about chore charts and how chores in our house haven't changed a whole lot in five years. I'll also share why I changed things up with allowance in our home too.  Also, if you're wondering what to do about your young kids, we talk about chores they can do too.  Enjoy the episode!  Get all the show notes here: http://www.aliciahutchinson.com/kids-chores-2/

Fall makes me feel ready to get back into the kitchen again after a summer of grilling and eating outdoors. I love fall meal planning. I want the smells and warmth of the oven to make my home feel cozy. This episode is all about fall meal planning and getting organized with your meals for the busy season upon us.  In this episode, you'll find some of my favorite cookbooks, tactics that make meal planning--and actually making the meals that you've planned really simple and easy to do. There's also some tips on things I do to get my kitchen ready and organized for the new season as well.  Get all the show notes and details here: //www.aliciahutchinson.com/fall-meal-planning/

Choosing homeschool curriculum for the new school year can be so fun and even more fun to chat about! In this episode, I'm going through our curriculum, kid-by-kid, level-by-level.  I'll also be going over the plan of how I'm going to accomplish what we need to this year and the challenges that arise in a home of a junior down to a kindergartner.  See the show notes for all the items I'm talking about this episode...there's many! Enjoy! Show notes direct link: http://www.aliciahutchinson.com/homeschool-curriculum/