• About Me
  • Disclosure Policy
  • Contact

  • motherhood
    • pregnancy
    • birth stories
    • breastfeeding
    • babies 101
    • toddler 101
    • Reflections on Motherhood
  • encouragement
    • trials
    • truth
  • celebrate
    • Birthday Party Ideas
    • holidays
    • family traditions
  • decorating on a dime
  • Resources
    • Parenting Books
    • Gospel-Centered Books for Little Ones
  • Home page
  • motherhood
    • pregnancy
    • birth stories
    • breastfeeding
    • babies 101
    • toddler 101
    • Reflections on Motherhood
  • encouragement
    • trials
    • truth
  • celebrate
    • Birthday Party Ideas
    • holidays
    • family traditions
  • decorating on a dime
  • Resources
    • Parenting Books
    • Gospel-Centered Books for Little Ones
  • Home page
  • About Me
  • Disclosure Policy
  • Contact

About the Author

Hi friends! Welcome to Mama Needs a Manual. I am so glad you stopped by.
    I am Ashley. Wife to Bryan, Mama to Caleb, David and Ethan (yes, we are ABCDE). I am also a daughter of God, saved by His grace alone. I love coffee, crafting, baking, and curling up on the couch with a good book. Most days are spent chasing our kiddos around and being active whenever I get the chance. I am a professional problem-solver by trade.
A former Calculus teacher turned stay-at-home mom, this blog has become my new “classroom” where I share practical trouble-shooting advice, tips and encouragement. May this be a grace-filled space where you know you are not alone in the trenches!
Read the rest of my story here

Sign me up

books, favorite things, holidays, motherhood

My favorite books for new or expectant Moms

***this post contains affiliate links at no cost to you*** Searching for a Mother’s Day gift for your wife or just want to give something sweet to your best friend? Here…

read more
April 15, 2018
food, holidays, Recipes

Easiest 3 Ingredient Pumpkin Muffins!

Hey friends! It’s fall (or almost), and along with checking off all these items on our bucket list, it’s time to bake pumpkin muffins. I LOVE these super simple muffins.…

read more
September 11, 2018
comparison, Reflections on Motherhood, trials, truth

When I don’t feel thankful

It’s November. It’s the time of year for thankful turkeys and thankful trees, practicing gratitude for the many things we have been given. But if I’m honest, sometimes I don’t…

read more
November 8, 2018
  • babies 101,  discipline,  lessons,  Reflections on Motherhood

    Thoughts on Motherhood, 9 months in

    April 19, 2018 /

    (Originally written July 2015) This month Caleb has started throwing mini tantrums when he doesn’t get his way or if we take something away from him we don’t want him to hold due to germs, danger, etc (like our Iphone or the remote). He has also started hitting us in the face on occasion. He is just so rough. He…

    Read More
    Ashley
  • pregnancy,  Uncategorized

    How to Induce Labor

    April 15, 2018 /

    ***this post contains affiliate links at no cost to you*** I wanted to avoid being induced all 3 times. I read and researched and tried all of the things! Here are things friends suggested and things I read online: Sex. You have all heard it, I know. So I thought I would just go ahead and get that one out of…

    Read More
    Ashley
  • books,  favorite things,  holidays,  motherhood

    My favorite books for new or expectant Moms

    April 15, 2018 /

    ***this post contains affiliate links at no cost to you*** Searching for a Mother’s Day gift for your wife or just want to give something sweet to your best friend? Here are 4 books I loved as an expectant or new mom: Waiting in Wonder : I LOVED reading this when first expecting Caleb, especially after losing Sam (read the story here…

    Read More
    Ashley
  • encouragement,  fun friday,  truth

    Favorite Podcasts for Encouraging Mamas

    April 13, 2018 /

    Fun Friday edition number 1! As a stay at home mom, some days can be long and lonely. Even when you carefully plan and execute outings around your baby (or toddler or multiple kiddo’s nap times) you only have a small window of time when you can get out and do anything. Add in snack times, feeding times for the…

    Read More
    Ashley
  • decorating on a dime,  family names,  farmhouse,  home,  rustic

    Gallery Wall for Our Stairway

    April 12, 2018 /

    When we moved into our home a few months ago, initially I was sad because we do not have much wall space (hello open floor plan!) to hang pictures. As I began to decorate, I realized we had a new space for me to hang things- our stairway! I had a vision of hanging family pictures from different seasons. I…

    Read More
    Ashley
  • decorating on a dime,  farmhouse,  home,  rustic

    Rustic Farmhouse Dining Room on a Budget

    April 11, 2018 /

    About 4 years ago when we were moving into and decorating our first home, I really had  my heart set on a certain dining room table, but it was way out of our budget (Restoration Hardware Trestle Table). After months of saving my tutoring money and researching online for cheaper options, my sweet husband found a couple in Alabama who…

    Read More
    Ashley
  • kids,  Reflections on Motherhood,  toddler 101,  truth

    Use Your Words, The Power of Praise

    April 10, 2018 /

    With toddlers in the house, Daniel Tiger is a favorite around here. I often find myself singing the jingles. Lately the one that has been playing on repeat in my mind is, “Use your words, use your words…to say how you feel”. I have attended two funerals in the last few months where the person giving the eulogy did an…

    Read More
    Ashley
  • babies 101,  kids,  lessons,  milestones

    How to Break Your 2 year old’s Pacifier Habit Without Tears

    April 6, 2018 /

    This formula for getting rid of our 2 year old’s pacifier was magic!  (scroll to the bottom for a quick summary of how to kick the habit quickly) Caleb’s 2 year old birthday came and went, and his pacifier was still a much loved companion. The pediatrician and the dentist both had encouraged us to drop the habit by 2…

    Read More
    mamaneedsamanual
  • babies 101,  hard times,  mom lessons,  trials

    The Ultimate Guide to Solving your Baby’s Colic/Silent Reflux/Fussyness (from a Mom who’s been there 3 times)

    April 2, 2018 /

    To say I have a lot of experience with “colic” is an understatement. I’ve had 3 “hard” babies in a little over 3 years, all with similar symptoms and different causes. Lots of crying (from me and the babies) and lots and lot of sleepless nights later, I have a passion for helping Moms cope with their more challenging infants. Looking…

    Read More
    mamaneedsamanual
  • Easter,  hard times,  Reflections on Motherhood,  truth

    Do the Hard Things, Even when it seems like you deserve a medal for keeping everyone alive for the day

    April 2, 2018 /

    Sometimes as parents we have a whole fun day planned. We’ve looked up the free events in our community and packed the bags and planned the meals and we are excited to show our kids the day. We just cannot wait to get our little ones dressed up and out the door, ready for an adventure. But, somehow it never…

    Read More
    Ashley
56789

Sign up to receive your free Ultimate Guide to Surviving Toddler Tantrums printable!

Subscribe

Recent Posts

  • Dude Perfect Birthday Party
  • Ford’s One Year Old Little Blue Truck Party
  • 7 Easy Dump Crockpot Freezer Meals
  • Five Things I’d tell myself Five Years In (and Three Kids Later)
  • Weight Watcher Tips from a Busy Mama of 3

Find us on Facebook

Find us on Facebook

Categories

  • babies 101
  • birth stories
  • Birthday Party Ideas
  • books
  • breastfeeding
  • C-Section
  • celebrate
  • comparison
  • dairy free
  • decorating on a dime
  • discipline
  • Easter
  • encouragement
  • family
  • family names
  • family traditions
  • farmhouse
  • favorite things
  • food
  • fun friday
  • God moments
  • gratitude
  • hard times
  • holidays
  • home
  • induction
  • kids
  • lessons
  • marriage
  • milestones
  • miscarriage
  • mom lessons
  • motherhood
  • names
  • paleo
  • pregnancy
  • Recipes
  • Reflections on Motherhood
  • rustic
  • toddler 101
  • traditions
  • trials
  • truth
  • Uncategorized
  • VBAC

Instagram

No images found!
Try some other hashtag or username

Instagram Slider

No images found!
Try some other hashtag or username

About the Author

Hi friends! Welcome to Mama Needs a Manual. I am so glad you stopped by.
    I am Ashley. Wife to Bryan, Mama to Caleb, David and Ethan (yes, we are ABCDE). I am also a daughter of God, saved by His grace alone. I love coffee, crafting, baking, and curling up on the couch with a good book. Most days are spent chasing our kiddos around and being active whenever I get the chance. I am a professional problem-solver by trade.
A former Calculus teacher turned stay-at-home mom, this blog has become my new “classroom” where I share practical trouble-shooting advice, tips and encouragement. May this be a grace-filled space where you know you are not alone in the trenches!
Read the rest of my story here
Ashe Theme by Royal-Flush - 2025 ©