The Blue and Berry Shop

02/17/2024

I just read there’s a difference between rest and recovery after one pushes their schedule past exertion. Rest fills you above the line, but recovery is the amount of time it takes to get back to yourself.

So, recovery is the cup that rest fills.

Sometimes, homeschooling feels like the greatest blessing of my life that I fail to remember the amount of work I put into it. I never view it as work so I’m able to go go go.

Then BOOM! A wall meets my face.

I’m not very good at recovering. I am however very good at fake resting.

I must get better at this.

02/16/2024

12/21/2023

The immortal Shel Silverstein ❄️

12/15/2023

Shout out to anyone who is reparenting, just starting the process of reparenting, or had to reparent yourself!!!! You have no idea the impact you are making! Even when you think you’re messing up, you’re still doing a great job doing some really tough things!

12/08/2023

Ah, the importance of reading 📖

12/04/2023

Hand sewn St. Nick ornaments for Christmas School 🎄🎅🏻

12/03/2023

I drove alongside a motorcycle gang. The Citadels. There was at least 50! Santa leading all the Harleys down 45.

12/02/2023

This year’s birthday crowns! Custom orders are available! It will be a pleasure to create one for you!

https://theblueandberry.etsy.com

11/29/2023

While homeschooling my babes, I usually say one of two things when I am looking for supplemental material or to up the ante:
1. Not at that price
2. I could TOTALLY make that myself
Actually, I say both.
I've been making my own worksheets and personalizing our homeschool for more than a year and it hit me, why am I not making this. Well, it's not as easy or as quick as I thought it would be. BUT! I did it anyway.
Use promo code NOWAY50 to get 50% off my entire curriculum section.
For our home, I made a Christmas fact handwriting set, spanish/english Christmas flashcards, and a winter reading challenge. Please fell free to ask me any questions and if you do make a purchase, millions of blessings will fall from the sky and rain upon you and then if you leave a review, a million more will fall on each of your offspring.
If you aren't interested in purchasing, I get it, but it would also be super helpful if you favorite my shop.
https://theblueandberry.etsy.com?coupon=NOWAY50

10/25/2023

Building fairy houses 🧚🏻‍♀️

10/15/2023

Another holiday mobile down in the books!

10/12/2023

When I hear my kids’ voices from just two years ago😭

10/05/2023

I made some Halloween curriculum!!! I made it 50% off until Halloween. One is a morning basket with poetry, art appreciation, games, imaginative play and more! I also made a handwriting pack where the kids trace Halloween facts write it, then draw a picture! This was the first time they didn't complain about handwriting!

If you are interested, I appreciate the business. If you know of someone who would like these, please forward the links to them!
https://theblueandberry.etsy.com
https://theblueandberry.etsy.com/listing/1581856375/halloween-morning-basket-homeschool
https://theblueandberry.etsy.com/listing/1581440275/halloween-facts-handwriting-pack

06/04/2022

Forever is Too Soon

Tick Tock - STOP!
Keep your little hands in mine.

How do I stop time?

Forever changed, ever evolving,
My life is yours.

I breathe because you breathe.
I heal my inner wounds for you.

Through your eyes, I see myself.
Through your eyes I see time.

I long to keep you in my arms forever.
Forever is coming too soon.

Promise to love yourself.
Promise to love me.

Forever my baby,
You will always be.
✍🏻Samantha Moultrup

05/13/2022

I had a memory pop up on a walk with my kids yesterday. I was in the second grade and we just pulled into the driveway of our new house in Michigan after moving from Mississippi. I stated my disdain for the new residence and my dad smacked me so hard I saw stars.

As a parent, I could NEVER lay a hand on my children. I can’t even think of a situation that warrants such a thing. Not even for discipline.

Corporal punishment is a fancy word for assault. We dress it up because we think children aren’t as deserving of human rights, their own thoughts, or bodily autonomy.

If I were an adult when my father smacked me, I would have been within my rights to press assault charges. As a child, I lost the very security and respect I needed to develop healthy relationships and mindsets moving forward.

Even more sad is how often we jump to the defense of the adult and expect the child to get over it because “kids are resilient.”

Children imprint everything. Everything is recorded. Maybe not remembered, maybe altered when it is remembered. But everything said, done to and around them is stored in their subconscious mind creating the life they may live or be required to restore.

05/07/2022

“We are never more fully alive, more completely ourselves, or more deeply engrossed in anything than when we are playing.” -Charles Schaefer

05/02/2022

“The sun with loving light makes bright for me each day, the soul with spirit power gives strength unto my limbs. In sunlight shining clear I revere, Oh God, the strength of humankind, which thou has planted in my soul, that I may with all my might, may love to work and learn.” - Rudolf Steiner

We are celebrating May Day today instead of the actual day. But, I’m the only one who knows that!

04/29/2022

This was a huge step in self belief. When she first climbed to the top, she was scared. I joined her and held her as we both went down.

Once was more than enough for me, but she wasn’t ready to go alone again and needed to try.

I went once more for support.

As we walked around and ventured the other attractions, she kept thinking about this pipe slide and how she really wanted to do it by herself.

We talked about it and I reminded her that being brave isn’t being not scared, it’s sitting on fear’s lap instead of mama’s and knowing that mama is always at the other side waiting.

This little birdie rolled down this pipe slide feeling ten feet tall.

04/28/2022

When I was younger, I never wanted children. I was raised to believe that “children will ruin your life.”

By this point, my life had been ruined by traumatic childhood and I certainly wasn’t going to do anything to ruin it further.

I wanted fancy glamour and a perfect abode. A snazzy car with lavish vacations where I could just be selfish and not ruin my life.

Then, I fell in love. And that love was so grand I needed more cups to pour it into.

My life is far messier than it will ever be glamorous. There is nothing in this world shinier or brighter than being a mother.