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Author: Lori Beth Auldridge

5 Reasons I Switched to Natural Beauty Products

4 / 30 / 194 / 14 / 20

This article contains affiliate links. I appreciate Primally Pure’s products so much that I asked to be an affiliate for them to help spread their message of better health through good for you skin care products. Over the last decade, I’ve slowly but surely been switching my beauty and skin care products to more natural… Read More

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Our Invitations Are Numbered: The Shortest Longest Season of Motherhood

2 / 9 / 194 / 14 / 20
Our Invitations Are Numbered

I wrote this post a year ago when I had three kids under five. I was very tired then—still am. I never published it because I didn’t want to make anyone feel “guilty” about having a hard time with mothering in the early years. Many mamas write about embracing motherhood only to have others come… Read More

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The Never Ending Homeschool Question: What About Socialization?

2 / 2 / 194 / 14 / 20
Homeschool and Socialization

It’s Groundhog Day which makes me think of the Bill Murray movie where he lives the same day over and over until he “gets it.” Sometimes when I mention to others that I homeschool my children, it feels like that kind of Groundhog Day. It often plays out like this: Person: (When they see us… Read More

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Listen to Mothers: The Need for Change in Hospital Births

11 / 30 / 184 / 14 / 20
Listen to Mothers

They didn’t listen. Sometimes I watch my birth videos with my children (or I guess I should say, my ‘just after birth’ videos since births can’t be filmed at our hospital). And every time I’m sad. Deeply, deeply sad. Because a few years removed from my births, I see the bigger picture…I watch and hear… Read More

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Party Food & Favors

11 / 24 / 1811 / 19 / 18

Dear yayas,  The holidays are coming which means party after party. Not to mention all the kid birthdays mixed in there. What do I serve? I’m over the pizza thing. And I am tired of plastic trinkets that we take home that just turn into junk lying around. (Is that too harsh?) I appreciate get togethers,… Read More

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Gifts for Moms

11 / 17 / 1811 / 19 / 18

Dear yayas, I’m a dad in need of a mom’s perspective…getting gifts for my wife is hard. She doesn’t like surprises. How do I know what is the best gift for a wife/mom? I struggle with this every year. I usually wait until the last minute and I’m trying not to do that this year.… Read More

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Too Many Toys

11 / 10 / 1811 / 19 / 18

Dear yayas, 
Christmas has gotten out of control in our house. My parents and ILs buy us WAY too much stuff for our kid. We haven’t even opened or used a few things they gave him from his birthday. But really, we just don’t want the stuff. What would you do or tell people NOW… Read More

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Working From Home

11 / 3 / 1811 / 19 / 18

Dear yayas, I’m technically a stay at home mom, but I also work full time as a bookkeeper so I have to actually work during the day and meet with clients, even though I meet with them at my home. The issue I’m having is that I feel kind of bad about my kid. I’m… Read More

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Easier or Harder?

10 / 27 / 1810 / 13 / 18

Dear yayas,  Do you find friendships easier or harder once you have children? I’m getting ready to have my first baby and a friend of mine casually mentioned that friendships are easier now that she is a mom, but that pretty much means you can’t be friends with people without kids once you have them.… Read More

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Not So Fun-draisers

10 / 20 / 1810 / 13 / 18

Dear yayas, The school year has started again and the fundraisers are in full swing. How can schools even make these “mandatory?” I’m tired of asking family and coworkers for more money for useless things. And now my one daughter’s preschool is making us sell over $200 in raffle tickets no matter what. If we… Read More

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Lori Beth Auldridge is a mama bear to three little girls. She and her husband Chris run a renovation business in upcountry Maui. Lori Beth dreams up the designs and Chris makes all those dreams come to life. Her days are filled with her favorite things... coffee, writing, homeschooling, babywearing, audiobooks, binge reading parenting articles, miniature goats, fancy chickens, exploring Maui, moms groups, and more coffee. Yayamamas is her way of spreading aloha and using her B.A., M.A., & M.F.A. degrees to put more good into the world.

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Oh, don’t you worry…we’re having FUN over he Oh, don’t you worry…we’re having FUN over here! 😻 

Welcome, Charlie cat! 🥰

Mahalo, @shinewildfamilyfarm 😻 We’re in love!
✨ We had THE BEST day! ✨😻 @shinewildfamily ✨ We had THE BEST day! ✨😻

@shinewildfamilyfarm let us have a raggamuffin kitten playdate with her 3 available kittens. 😍 OMGoodness. This is how to choose a kitten! After hanging out with them for a few magical hours, we’ve decided to add the black kitty to our ohana. At the moment, his name is Charlie. 😍

I had a girl kitten named Charlie before I had babies. It feels full circle. I hope they stick with the name 🥰 My girl Charlie was hit by a car the week before my first baby was born and it’s always bummed me out that none of my kids got to know her. It would be nice to have a Charlie cat around once more 🥰

Thank you so much, Jess!!!!!! We’re so grateful!
We can see the grass again in North Idaho. We see We can see the grass again in North Idaho. We see a lot of snow and ice, too, but there is grass. ❄️🌾

Makes me think of last summer and hope for next summer. 🙂

I’m liking seasons. They feel very purposeful. Makes me sad when folks don’t see it and simply complain about the weather. But what good does that do? The sun will shine when it shines. The weather is what it is. And there’s beauty to be found in it—rain, snow, ice, sleet, mud—all of it. 💜

For me, today’s beauty is in the memory and in the hope. It’s also in the laughter of my children and their neighbor friends as they play. 🥰

I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that “we’re not here for the weather.” 😉 

Photo: @daniwalkerphoto_
Our hearts are forever full & forever broken. Our Our hearts are forever full & forever broken. Our beloved Grandma Huck went home to heaven this week. We’re in Ohio to celebrate her & lay her to rest. I’ll share more about this incredible woman at some point. For now, please pray for our family as we navigate the grief of losing her while rejoicing she is with Jesus.

Many of you knew her in some way…through stories I’ve shared over the years or from a trip to her house for food and cards. Her light shown bright and far. 

The transition of loss is complicated & all your prayers are appreciated. Mahalo nui loa 🌺

Photo from her 91st birthday, May 2022
Books are incredibly powerful. We know this and ye Books are incredibly powerful. We know this and yet as moms we don’t always make time to read. The world tells us that there is no time for anything, ever. And in the same breath often tells us what to do, what to read, how to think, how to mother…and a lot of that messaging leaves us feeling fearful, unworthy, and like we aren’t doing enough. 

What if there was a way to step off the hamster wheel of modern motherhood and find ourselves feeling more whole, more worthy, and like we’re getting it right? And what if the secret to that was found in reading more books? 

Today’s conversation with @jenniferpepito is so enlightening. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I am a changed person, a changed mother, and I believe a better mother because I read books. Namely the books of the authors I have interviewed here on the podcast, including Jennifer’s book Mothering by the Book: The Power of Reading Aloud to Overcome Fear and Recapture Joy. Jennifer is here to expand our book lists and shine a light on our motherhood journeys with deep, mature insights, ideas for battling comparison and other daily fears that arise in our mama hearts. 

Jennifer’s Bio: Jennifer Pepito is the author of Mothering by the Book and the founder of The Peaceful Press. Jennifer is on a mission to help moms overcome fear and love their life, and her homeschool curriculum empowers this through heroic stories, heartwarming poetry, and engaging life skills development. Her resources help create joyful memories among families, which leads to deeper connections and lasting relationships. Jennifer’s writing has been featured in several online and print journals, including Wild and Free, Commonplace Quarterly, and Home Educating Family. She’s a Wild and Free podcast host and has made guest appearances on popular podcasts such as 1000 Hours Outside, At Home with Sally, and Charlotte Mason Poetry. Jennifer lives in the mountains with her beloved family, where she enjoys reading aloud, working in her garden, and watching the sunset.

Tune in, be encouraged, give @jenniferpepito and @thepeacefulpress a follow + share your favorite takeaways from the episode! 💕😘
Mele Kalikimaka from our new Idahome! 🎄☃️😘

A cozy white Christmas in our new house with old traditions felt just right. Going to bed with happy hearts. 

Also…great job, mamas. 🥰 Another year in the books. Months of planning, weeks of pouring over the details, & countless hours of putting this day together…you nailed it. I’m sure of it. 😘 I don’t have to see what your Christmas day was like to know that YOU 👏🏼 ROCKED 👏🏼 IT. 👏🏼 Well done, mama!!! Thanks for all you do for your family 😘 You are seen and so, so appreciated 💕

Cool backdrops: @reallife_postfalls 
Photo cred: @angela.k.correa 😉

#melekalikimaka #firstchristmasinournewhome #idahochristmas #idahome #christmasinidaho #whitechristmas
I’m prepping all the doughs for Christmas week w I’m prepping all the doughs for Christmas week while the snow falls (& falls & falls…) outside. 🎄 

This morning we ate homemade sourdough bagels for breakfast…then ate them with soup for lunch (they really are that good!) 🤤

I love the anticipation during Christmas week. The purposeful preparation. The rush of extra tasks. They could be “added stress” if I put on those glasses, but why? We are blessed with one more magical Christmas with littles gathered around the tree, wide eyed and excited. I’m not gonna let any messages about gift giving, buying, traditions, or expectations cloud this special Christmas. 

It takes a lot of internal work on my part to drown out the constant messaging and doubt that creeps in. But if it does, there’s always a bright eyed child in front of me to snap me out of it. There’s always prayer to center me. And the beautiful mundane tasks that make up our everyday life.
In case you were wondering, they really do grow so In case you were wondering, they really do grow so so so so so so fast. 💕 

This was this past summer. We’re only a few months past when this photo was taken and he’s already one. 🤯 ONE! How? When? I was there the whole time! …but he grew anyway. He’s walking around and even dancing. Sigh. 

I know as moms we’re “supposed to” be glad they are growing strong. And I am. I totally am. I’m also sitting here shaking my head in disbelief that he is as big and strong as he is. Double sigh. 

Time flies. Time is a thief. I’ll say it again and again…hold them close. Love them. Grow with them. Because time really is all the cliches they say it is. #babiesdontkeep 

Photo: @daniwalkerphoto_
As homeschool parents we need to be aware of homes As homeschool parents we need to be aware of homeschool laws, policy suggestions, and voices that are speaking out against homeschooling. 

Here are some action steps on how to get started: 

1. Become more aware of homeschool laws: join HSLDA or at the very least use their free resources online. See if your state has homeschool organizations (i.e. Homeschool Idaho) that offers support and insight specific to you 

2. Learn about policy suggestions (at the state and national level): this starts with understanding current homeschool laws and policies. What are some local policies affecting you? Does your state have a “pay you to homeschool” program? (i.e. Tech Trep in Idaho) If so, what are their restrictions (i.e. you’ll get $1800 a year but you have to have your kid tested and use only approved by them secular curriculum) 🤔 

3. Become aware of who is speaking out about homeschool: the easy place to start is a quick online search for Elizabeth Bartholet from Harvard. 

Homeschool might feel like the free and easy choice (or not somedays), but a lot of us take that ease and freedom for granted. The cluster of the last two years has left a lot of folks calling hybrid and/or crisis schooling “homeschool” but neither truly is. This confusion has raised some red flags with “experts” who know nothing about what TRUE homeschooling looks like. And it has many of us who have been homeschooling for a long time a little on edge. But we’re not going to stay on edge. We’re going to be proactive in our fight to keep homeschool from becoming another failed gov’t program. Get started. Take action steps now to protect your homeschool freedoms.

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