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Alex Smith | motherhood

@lovedaphnemae

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mama of 5 sharing our life +simple ways to mother with more presence & purpose 🕊️All for God’s glory
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tend your beautiful life↓

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I made Beautiful Life Systems | Autumn for myself because I didn’t want the season to pass so quickly that I forgot to present in it. These days are the golden ones and I won’t have them stacked so full that I’m scrambling from one thing to the next without actually remembering any of it, because I’m trying to keep track of too many things. BLS autumn takes things off our plate so that we can lean into simple intentional practices that just make the everyday, even the busy days, feel rooted and calm.

13 weeks of delicious and easy dinner plans with grocery lists (most are gf or easily adaptable), breakfast and lunch rotations, one weekly task so do as time allows each week to keep our homes in order during a busy season, scripture for weekly reflection, even reminders for noticing the changing light, reading books in the evening with your kids and baking pumpkin bread for a friend. This is not meant to add more to your busy schedule, it’s to take things off your plate so that you have the breathing room to enjoy where your feet are right now. Because soon the golden fall will be over and yet another year will be coming to a close.

Comment AUTUMN and I’ll send you the link🍂 by @lovedaphnemae

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2 months ago

Hi! Im Alex. I’ve been married to my love for 17 years and we have 5 children ages 2-15. I’ve homeschooled them always, and we live on a farm in the foothills of the blue ridge mountains. We moved here 4 years ago sight unseen from California where my husband was an almond farmer. I love showing mothers how to use rhythms that make their home run more smoothly and everyone’s life feel more full of peace, purpose, and joy! Here you’ll find a lot of intentional ways to make the ordinary more beautiful and well preserved through recipes, homeschool, photography, home systems, motherhood encouragement, getting dressed, and creating with our hands from things we already have. To God be the glory for it all! I’m so glad you’re here!

Dress is @christydawn and my code is AEXANDRIACD10 🐑🪿🧵 by @lovedaphnemae

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9 months ago

As a mom of five, I’ve learned to be really intentional about what enters our home. Not because I’m anti-toys, but because I want their play to feel imaginative and open ended, and we personally thrive with less stuff.

So a handful of years ago, I realized that asking family members for experiences over things, was a huge blessing, not just for the children, but for them as well! So when family asks what to get the kids, I gently steer the conversation toward the things that make memories, not clutter.

Here are five ideas I always share:

-gift certificates for a restaurant or event
-movie theater gift certificate
-magazine subscription
-craft supplies (consumable)
-lessons for the child in something they’re interested in
-an experience with the gifter like an ice cream date or even just a gift certificate for that
-a trip with family
-a craft day with the gifter
-a bake day with the gifter
-donation to the child’s 529 pe savings account

What do you all think? Do you do this too? If you have any other ideas, feel free to drop them below! And follow along to see more simple ideas for an intentional holiday season! by @lovedaphnemae

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3 hours ago

The other day my almost 13 year old son asked me to go down to the creek with him to watch him fish. It was a small moment that made me realize that all of that time the 12 years prior that I had spent making sure he knew that he was valuable to me and that my time with him was cherished, was bearing fruit. I have to tell you, I feel so special now when my older kids choose me! But that’s because I’ve been trying my best to choose them their whole lives... even when it takes extra intention. Especially now because the internet and social media wants all of your time and energy and contentment, don’t let it steal that away from you. These are the golden years and if we want to have close relationships with our children when they are older, that starts when they are little.

Some simple practices for how I do this (imperfectly of course but always aware and trying my best!)

-go outside each day for a walk. I don’t take my phone, there are no distractions. this is when they always find me and talk (that’s what this video was that my husband captured - hence its lack of “pretty” or “perfection.”)

-brick your phone outside of designated hours each day so that it’s harder to fall into the scrolling trap

-make eye contact when they speak to you

-don’t overschedule yourself or them, leave room for you both

for a few more simple systems that I use everyday that allows me to leave room for time with my children while my home and business still run smoothly, comment CONNECT and ill send you the links by @lovedaphnemae

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a day ago

We made a quick trip to Tennessee for a couple of days so I could photograph some lovely families. One shoot was canceled due to the weather and we all crammed into a hotel room for the night because we booked so last minute, but we got away from the norm for a little bit and ate In and Out under a vibrant pink sky. Really I just love being with my crew🤎. Also we found some pretty pasture and cows so we felt right at home 🐄. Sometimes it doesn’t have to be grand, to matter.

And the beautiful final fall chapter from @christydawn is available now and this is the Julia dress. I absolutely love this silhouette and it’s the sweetest print! you can use my code 10ALEXANDRIA if you’d like to save on your own 🤎. It pairs perfectly with the Jane sweater! #christydawnsteward by @lovedaphnemae

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6 days ago

Anytime I can find some spray-free, bulk apples, that aren’t really eating apples, I use this super easy method for processing and storing them! You can use them for apple pies, apple crumbles, stewed apple oatmeal, stewed apples over yogurt, apple loaf cake… so many yummy things! Here’s how I do it…

Lazy Freezer Apple Pie Filling
One 9-inch pie’s worth…multiply for a big batch
• 6-7 cups apples, cored and thinly sliced (skins on!)
• ½ cup brown sugar or coconut sugar
• 1½ teaspoons cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons quick-cooking tapioca
• Pinch of salt

The ridiculously easy method
1. Wash, core, and slice your apples. No peeling necessary! Keep the slices fairly thin so the skins soften nicely during baking.
2. Toss everything together in a large bowl, or mix it directly in a gallon-size freezer bag.
3. Portion into freezer bags, about 6-7 cups per bag.
4. Press out excess air, flatten, label, and freeze. by @lovedaphnemae

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7 days ago

If this is part of your story, whether fresh or farther behind you, and you’d like prayer, leave a 🙏🏼. I’d be honored to pray for you today. 🤍 by @lovedaphnemae

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10 days ago

Porcupine meatballs are one of my very favorite comfort foods! My mom used to make them for me to take back to school with me when I’d come home for the weekend and then drive back down south to UC Irvine. And now they have become one of my family’s very favorite meals.

Despite the name, it’s just ground beef with rice 😉. Have you heard of these before? Here’s the recipe…

Porcupine Meatballs
For the meatballs
½ cup uncooked long grain rice
½ cup water
⅓ cup chopped onion
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp garlic powder
1 lb ground beef

For the sauce
1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
1 cup water
2 tbs brown sugar
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

For serving
About 4 lbs potatoes, butter, and milk for mashed potatoes

Method
Combine ground beef, uncooked rice, ½ cup water, onion, salt and pepper, and garlic powder. Form into balls and brown them in your Dutch oven.
Mix together tomato sauce, 1 cup water, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. Pour over the browned meatballs in the pot.
Cover and cook on low heat for 1 hour. Serve over mashed potatoes.

Follow along for the next one! by @lovedaphnemae

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12 days ago

I think it’s important to teach kids gratitude and to receive the gift graciously. Maybe write a hand written thank you note acknowledging the generosity and thoughtfulness of the gifter. It is a precious blessing to have people in our lives who love our children and want to give them gifts they think they will love. I never want my desire for a peaceful home to make me ungrateful for that.

I also don’t think gratitude necessarily means I’m obligated to keep every gift forever. And as keepers of our home, if it’s not serving our family, we can do with it what works best for us… whether that is storing it away or passing it along to someone else who can use it.The gift has communicated love and thoughtfulness in being given, and taught humble gratitude in its reception… letting go of the object later doesn’t undo those blessings.

For me, the goal isn’t to have a home where no one is allowed to give us anything. It’s to be gracious and genuinely thankful for the motive and love behind the gift, teaching that to my children, but not feeling like every object that enters our home has to stay there forever. by @lovedaphnemae

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13 days ago

I know it’s only October but the time is drawing near and I know this question will be coming…

And as a mom of five, I’ve learned to be really intentional about what enters our home. Not because I’m anti-toys, but because I want their play to feel imaginative and open ended, and we personally thrive with less stuff.

So a handful of years ago, I realized that asking family members for experiences over things, was a huge blessing, not just for the children, but for them as well! So when family asks what to get the kids, I gently steer the conversation toward the things that make memories, not clutter.

Here are five ideas I always share:

✨A membership or pass - the zoo, a children’s museum, a local farm, the state park. Something that gives them a whole year of adventure, and opportunities to invite that family along with us!

✨A special outing together - a movie date, lunch at their favorite café. Kids will always remember time over things.

✨A skill-building experience - pottery class, music lessons, sewing lessons, baking days. Something that nurtures their interests.

✨a subscription the child can receive in the mail each month- some we have enjoyed are National Geographic for kids, Ranger Rick, highlights, wild flower girls, and Daphne’s diary! Plus the child can share things they loved that month with the gifter!

✨A project they can do with that family member - a birdhouse kit, a bread-baking afternoon, a craft box, a day spent learning a new hobby side by side.

✨A family trip - obviously this one is a larger gift but one that can be so fun - a trip together, making memories!

What do you all think? Do you do this too? If you have any other ideas, feel free to drop them below! by @lovedaphnemae

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14 days ago

Wondering what to wear today?? Try this, straight leg jeans, a frilly or flowy blouse that hits at the waist and some fisherman sandals - which are a great transitional sandal into fall in my opinion! Hopefully you can find what you need in your closet, but if you want links to what I’m wearing here just comment LINKS.

Also these jeans were a bit of a splurge, as was the blouse, but I wear them both very often and in lots of different ways. I’m realizing that’s the mark of a great investment piece…something that I can wear with a ton of different things and I always find myself reaching for it. by @lovedaphnemae

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14 days ago

Welcome to the first episode of Dutch Oven Dinners! We are going to be cooking our way through October with cozy, hearty, Dutch oven recipes that my family uses and loves!

First up is the soup my kids begged me to make, creamy Italian sausage, potato and kale! So easy and delicious!

Sausage, Potato & Kale
1 diced onion
2 tbs garlic confit
1–2 cups shredded carrots
1 cup diced celery
2 cups leafy part of kale, torn into pieces (you can also use spinach)
6–8 medium yellow potatoes with peel (washed)
6 Italian sausages (I like the uncooked ones from the deli section)
6–8 cups chicken broth
Half and half or df milk, for serving

Start by adding your onion and garlic confit, and squeeze the sausage out of its casings. Cook until the meat is cooked through.
Add in the carrots, celery, kale, and potatoes and season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Cook down for about 5–7 minutes. Add in the chicken broth and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for about 45 minutes. Serve with a little half and half or milk.

*to make the garlic confit, I add about 2 cups peeled garlic to a pot and 1 1/2 cups olive oil - enough to cover the garlic basically. Cook over the lowest heat for 30–40 minutes, until the garlic is tender, golden, and fragrant. Immersion blend once cool and store in a covered jar in the fridge.

Stay tuned for episode 2 where I’m sharing my families favorite comfort food recipe… it’s not what you might think 😉.

And if you want all the recipes with the meal plan and grocery list, just comment DUTCH OVEN and I’ll send it your way! by @lovedaphnemae

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15 days ago