Showing posts sorted by relevance for query motherhood. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query motherhood. Sort by date Show all posts
I've told you once and I've told you twice. My favorite part about blogging is the community I'm growing. There are so many incredible woman (& men!) I'm meeting and getting to know through this space of mine.
The other part I love about blogging is helping and encouraging other bloggers. Blogging can be tough. It's hard work, requires a lot of dedication and a lot of attention. If you haven't read yet, I shared my Day in the Life of a Blogger - it's no joke! And I don't even have kids.
Hey moms out there, you women are champs! That brings me to my amazing, superhero of a guest today!
Jessica is a full-time mom, wife and blogger. She manages a full time job, two adorable boys, a husband, a household and an adorable blog. If that doesn't make her a superhero, I'm not sure what would. Oh, and the bonus? She blogs about the Bachelor just like I do - just another reason I like her so much.
I'm super excited for all of you to get to know her today! Without further ado - Jessica!
Why did you start your blog?
I actually started blogging in 2010 right after I got married. I needed something to channel my energy into once I was done wedding planning! That blog was semi-private, only a handful of family and friends read it. Then one day in November 2015, it hit me… I want to REALLY blow, get out there and meet other incredible bloggers & make a space that I can share. I was finally out of the baby phase of raising my two boys and was starting to feel like myself again (sleepless zombies days mostly in my past…) and I wanted something for me, something I was passionate about. So I started Little Bits of Joy!
Tell us about you, the girl behind the blog.
I was born in a small town in Oregon and moved to the Portland area in my mid-20’s, met my husband (after kissing A LOT of frogs!), got married in September 2010 and had two crazy little boys. I’m a total introvert - I need quiet time to recharge, which has made the journey into motherhood really hard for me, someone always needs me and my house is always loud and chaotic!! I struggle to find balance in my life since I work full-time, and want to be the best Mom and wife I can be as well. I’m always looking to improve myself and I’m FAR from perfect. I’m obsessed with pop culture (I do a Bachelor recap every week!), love to read, color, dance, get outdoors, drink wine, Mike-n-Ikes are my love language, I hate being tall (heels make me look like an NBA player!), I wish I could save all the whales at Sea World and I love history and historical things (I live at the literal end of the Oregon Trail!).
How did you pick your blog name?
It came to me as I was driving home one night. I was thinking about starting a new blog, and wanted to talk about all the little happy things that happen in life, or the little things that bring me joy, even if that is something silly or funny or being able to share a struggle (misery loves company, right?). There is joy in connecting to other women and finding friendship and encouragement, and I wanted that to be my space. Like I said, motherhood has been a struggle for me in a lot of ways, and I needed to focus on the little joys of everyday.
What is your favorite and least favorite part about blogging?
Favorite- Having people tell me “oh my gosh I love reading your blog!” or being told that I’m funny… I think I’m funny, but it’s nice to have others think that too. Or have someone thank me for sharing a struggle because they are experiencing it too and don’t feel as alone anymore.
Least Favorite- Getting my blog looking nice; HTML code, and widgets and all that jazz - UGH.
How do you balance a full time job, blogging, two kids and a husband! What are your tips? You’re a superhero!
You are so sweet! If only I really was!!! My 3-year-old is a superhero, did you know? His magical hooded bath towel transforms him! Really, well - It's hard. I’m the first to admit that balancing everything is tough and sometimes I just break down and cry. I have to stay really organized- that is the key!!! I have a sure-fire routine in the mornings to get us out the door quickly, I rely on my crockpot a lot for dinners, and I let my husband take over in the evenings so I get some downtime (reading, coloring, or watching The Bachelor!) and really long hot relaxing showers. As a mom you have to make sure you get some self-care in your day… it’s important to take care of yourself too!
Favorite posts?
-The Best Gift I’ve Ever Received. It was a little soul-bearing and I was scared to write it, but looking at my life and realizing everything happens for a reason is a wonderful thing to reflect on.
-The Time I Was So Over 2015. I’m like everyone else… I get caught up in how pretty social media paints everyone’s lives to be and I forget that we all struggle, we all feel unattractive sometimes, and we all are just OVER it sometimes. I love sharing those moments and knowing I’m not alone!
-I’m all things Bachelor right now since the new season started! It was really fun writing The 10 Reasons We All Love The Bachelor because, well...it’s true!
Where do you find your blogging inspiration?
I try and look for inspiration just in my day to day life, hoping there is something interesting happening! Some days it’s just work, making dinner and playing Ninja Turtles with my oldest son. I am inspired by those bloggers that are witty, brutally honest yet endearing. That’s how I feel like I am to my friends and those who know me, so I want that to be conveyed in my blogging too. There are SO many amazing bloggers out there. I read about 50 blogs a day and am always in awe over their skills! #goals
I’m obsessed with the bachelor too. Thoughts for this season?
Oh man, we are in for a ride, girl! Ben is super tall, dark, and handsome and… a bit dull in TV terms, which means the girls they cast will be extra crazy to make the show entertaining! So for it’s off to a good start - I mean the unicorn head limo entrance? I think we are in for a season of major tears and cat-fighting over the hunky prize! I’m team Lauren B right now! Not to mention her dress on night one was gorgeous.
What is one thing you want my readers to know about you?
Probably that I try to always be real and honest. I suffer from post-partum anxiety and it’s nothing to be ashamed about! I’ve blogged a bit already about my struggles with it and the insomnia it’s caused. We women try and do it all and be everything to everyone and we get embarrassed to share and talk about the hard stuff, even though we all have hard stuff in our lives. If we lift the veil of “perfection” then I think we can all learn to support each other and encourage each other… I will always be the first one to laugh at myself, admit I’m having a hard time, etc.. so your readers I hope will connect with my honesty and know that I’ll always just tell it like it is.
Did I tell you or did I tell you. It is so refreshing to hear from a blogger who loves what she does, loves her family and tells it like it is. I hope you spend some time visiting Jessica's social media (or stalking her as I put it) and give her some love and encouragement. That, after all, is what this blogging community is all about.
Find Jessica here: Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and her blog!
Happy Sunday everyone, let's make it great.
The other part I love about blogging is helping and encouraging other bloggers. Blogging can be tough. It's hard work, requires a lot of dedication and a lot of attention. If you haven't read yet, I shared my Day in the Life of a Blogger - it's no joke! And I don't even have kids.
Hey moms out there, you women are champs! That brings me to my amazing, superhero of a guest today!
Jessica is a full-time mom, wife and blogger. She manages a full time job, two adorable boys, a husband, a household and an adorable blog. If that doesn't make her a superhero, I'm not sure what would. Oh, and the bonus? She blogs about the Bachelor just like I do - just another reason I like her so much.
I'm super excited for all of you to get to know her today! Without further ado - Jessica!
Why did you start your blog?
I actually started blogging in 2010 right after I got married. I needed something to channel my energy into once I was done wedding planning! That blog was semi-private, only a handful of family and friends read it. Then one day in November 2015, it hit me… I want to REALLY blow, get out there and meet other incredible bloggers & make a space that I can share. I was finally out of the baby phase of raising my two boys and was starting to feel like myself again (sleepless zombies days mostly in my past…) and I wanted something for me, something I was passionate about. So I started Little Bits of Joy!
Tell us about you, the girl behind the blog.
I was born in a small town in Oregon and moved to the Portland area in my mid-20’s, met my husband (after kissing A LOT of frogs!), got married in September 2010 and had two crazy little boys. I’m a total introvert - I need quiet time to recharge, which has made the journey into motherhood really hard for me, someone always needs me and my house is always loud and chaotic!! I struggle to find balance in my life since I work full-time, and want to be the best Mom and wife I can be as well. I’m always looking to improve myself and I’m FAR from perfect. I’m obsessed with pop culture (I do a Bachelor recap every week!), love to read, color, dance, get outdoors, drink wine, Mike-n-Ikes are my love language, I hate being tall (heels make me look like an NBA player!), I wish I could save all the whales at Sea World and I love history and historical things (I live at the literal end of the Oregon Trail!).
How did you pick your blog name?
It came to me as I was driving home one night. I was thinking about starting a new blog, and wanted to talk about all the little happy things that happen in life, or the little things that bring me joy, even if that is something silly or funny or being able to share a struggle (misery loves company, right?). There is joy in connecting to other women and finding friendship and encouragement, and I wanted that to be my space. Like I said, motherhood has been a struggle for me in a lot of ways, and I needed to focus on the little joys of everyday.
What is your favorite and least favorite part about blogging?
Favorite- Having people tell me “oh my gosh I love reading your blog!” or being told that I’m funny… I think I’m funny, but it’s nice to have others think that too. Or have someone thank me for sharing a struggle because they are experiencing it too and don’t feel as alone anymore.
Least Favorite- Getting my blog looking nice; HTML code, and widgets and all that jazz - UGH.
How do you balance a full time job, blogging, two kids and a husband! What are your tips? You’re a superhero!
You are so sweet! If only I really was!!! My 3-year-old is a superhero, did you know? His magical hooded bath towel transforms him! Really, well - It's hard. I’m the first to admit that balancing everything is tough and sometimes I just break down and cry. I have to stay really organized- that is the key!!! I have a sure-fire routine in the mornings to get us out the door quickly, I rely on my crockpot a lot for dinners, and I let my husband take over in the evenings so I get some downtime (reading, coloring, or watching The Bachelor!) and really long hot relaxing showers. As a mom you have to make sure you get some self-care in your day… it’s important to take care of yourself too!
Favorite posts?
-The Best Gift I’ve Ever Received. It was a little soul-bearing and I was scared to write it, but looking at my life and realizing everything happens for a reason is a wonderful thing to reflect on.
-The Time I Was So Over 2015. I’m like everyone else… I get caught up in how pretty social media paints everyone’s lives to be and I forget that we all struggle, we all feel unattractive sometimes, and we all are just OVER it sometimes. I love sharing those moments and knowing I’m not alone!
-I’m all things Bachelor right now since the new season started! It was really fun writing The 10 Reasons We All Love The Bachelor because, well...it’s true!
Where do you find your blogging inspiration?
I try and look for inspiration just in my day to day life, hoping there is something interesting happening! Some days it’s just work, making dinner and playing Ninja Turtles with my oldest son. I am inspired by those bloggers that are witty, brutally honest yet endearing. That’s how I feel like I am to my friends and those who know me, so I want that to be conveyed in my blogging too. There are SO many amazing bloggers out there. I read about 50 blogs a day and am always in awe over their skills! #goals
I’m obsessed with the bachelor too. Thoughts for this season?
Oh man, we are in for a ride, girl! Ben is super tall, dark, and handsome and… a bit dull in TV terms, which means the girls they cast will be extra crazy to make the show entertaining! So for it’s off to a good start - I mean the unicorn head limo entrance? I think we are in for a season of major tears and cat-fighting over the hunky prize! I’m team Lauren B right now! Not to mention her dress on night one was gorgeous.
What is one thing you want my readers to know about you?
Probably that I try to always be real and honest. I suffer from post-partum anxiety and it’s nothing to be ashamed about! I’ve blogged a bit already about my struggles with it and the insomnia it’s caused. We women try and do it all and be everything to everyone and we get embarrassed to share and talk about the hard stuff, even though we all have hard stuff in our lives. If we lift the veil of “perfection” then I think we can all learn to support each other and encourage each other… I will always be the first one to laugh at myself, admit I’m having a hard time, etc.. so your readers I hope will connect with my honesty and know that I’ll always just tell it like it is.
Did I tell you or did I tell you. It is so refreshing to hear from a blogger who loves what she does, loves her family and tells it like it is. I hope you spend some time visiting Jessica's social media (or stalking her as I put it) and give her some love and encouragement. That, after all, is what this blogging community is all about.
Find Jessica here: Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and her blog!
Happy Sunday everyone, let's make it great.
My goal of 24 books in 12 months seemed to be a semi-easy task until I hid the baby books. Not gonna lie, they slowed me down. But I picked up a few good novels and while I'm a bit behind my goal I feel my stride coming back.
If you missed the last review, you can catch it here! Some of these books are semi-old school. In my nesting phase, I went through 3 crates of books and found lots of books I've never read. One book had a tag from Greece on it, meaning I bought it 10 years ago when I was studying abroad. But hey, the date doesn't matter, it was so dang good.
Ps. If you want to follow along with what I'm reading as I go, hit up Instagram stories, "Books." I keep em updated!
Let's get to it, shall we?
LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE BY CELESTE NG // Little Fires Everywhere explores the weight of long-held secrets and the ferocious pull of motherhood-and the danger of believing that planning and following the rules can avert disaster, or heartbreak.
I think Celeste Ng is an amazing writer. She is captivating and cultivates her stories and characters in a way not seen very often. This book was a bit slow for me to start. But, I loved her other book and I had heard such good things I kept going. I'm so glad I kept reading.
Short Review: This book was so good.
EVEN IF IT KILLS HER BY KATE WHITE // As the two women return to Jillian’s childhood town to investigate, it doesn’t take long for their sleuthing to cause shock waves. Someone starts watching their every move. As they uncover deeply-guarded secrets, so shocking that they make Jillian rethink her entire relationship to her family, Bailey and Jillian find themselves in great peril. They must decide just how much they’re willing to risk to finally discover the truth about the Lowe family’s murder.
I read this entire book in one day. It kept me on the edge of my seat and needing more. The plot is great and I love the idea of diving back into a crime that happened years ago. It's a little eery, and keeps you guessing until the end. Once I was done, I thought about this book and its characters for days after.
Short Review: Read it!
EMMA IN THE NIGHT BY WENDY WALKER // One night three years ago, the Tanner sisters disappeared: fifteen-year-old Cass and seventeen-year-old Emma. Three years later, Cass returns, without her sister Emma. Her story is one of kidnapping and betrayal, of a mysterious island where the two were held. But to forensic psychiatrist Dr. Abby Winter, something doesn't add up. Looking deep within this dysfunctional family Dr. Winter uncovers a life where boundaries were violated and a narcissistic parent held sway. And where one sister's return might just be the beginning of the crime.
In theory, this is a great book but I didn't think it was well written. It flits between characters and time periods a lot and is almost hard to follow. I think the characters are underdeveloped from the start and the ending is bad. Throughout the entirety of the book, I hated all the characters. Never a good start. If you have free time I'd recommend it, but otherwise, skip.
Short Review: Eh. No.
THE OTHER LOVER BY SARAH JACKMAN // Laura and Adam love their life in Brighton. They're in love, and it's uncomplicated, and that's just how they like it. But all that changes when Laura meets an eccentric older couple in the local cafe, Alessandros. Laura is immediately drawn to Rose and William, whose flamboyancy and joie-de-vivre appeal to a side of her that is rarely shown. But early in their friendship the terrible truth of Rose's future is revealed - she is in the final stages of a devastating terminal illness. Laura and Rose grow ever closer, and when the time finally comes they expect to be able to lay Rose to rest in the peace that she deserves. But soon insidious rumours are flying about as to the real cause of Rose's death; was it the illness that killed her, or did her husband, William, take matters into his own hands. In the weeks that follow Laura and William are thrown together as he struggles to prove his innocence - until finally, their friendship becomes something more, and Laura's life is changed utterly.
This book won't will a noble peace price but it's a very easy read. It's also the one I bought in Greece over 10 years ago. It's kind of a weird, sad story with some weird turns but I flipped through this book in one day. It's a sweet story with a weird twist in the middle and a finished ending.
Short Review: Eh. If you want a VERY easy read, grab it.
BREAD & WINE BY SHAUNA NIEQUIST // This book is a collection of essays about family relationships, friendships, and the meals that bring us together. Written by well-loved writer and blogger, Shauna Niequist, this mix of Girl Meets God and the Food Network is a funny, honest, and vulnerable spiritual memoir. Bread & Wine is a celebration of food shared and life around the table, and it reminds us of the joy we find in connection and relationship. It's about the ways that God teaches and nourishes us as we nourish the people around us. It's about hunger, both physical and otherwise, and the connections between the two. Recipes are included for the dishes you can almost taste as you read about them. From Butternut Squash Risotto to Apple Crisp with Vanilla Ice Cream and Salted Caramel Sauce, you will be able to recreate the comforting and satisfying meals that come to life.
I've read this book over 15 times. It's a book that regardless of where you're at in life, speaks to you. Shauna does such a great job of sharing pieces of her life that are so emotional and raw. I feel as though she's my best friend who knows exactly what's going on in my life and speak right to my soul. Plus, her recipes are so delicious.
Currently Reading: Marriage Vacation by Pauline Brooks
If you missed the last review, you can catch it here! Some of these books are semi-old school. In my nesting phase, I went through 3 crates of books and found lots of books I've never read. One book had a tag from Greece on it, meaning I bought it 10 years ago when I was studying abroad. But hey, the date doesn't matter, it was so dang good.
Ps. If you want to follow along with what I'm reading as I go, hit up Instagram stories, "Books." I keep em updated!
Let's get to it, shall we?
LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE BY CELESTE NG // Little Fires Everywhere explores the weight of long-held secrets and the ferocious pull of motherhood-and the danger of believing that planning and following the rules can avert disaster, or heartbreak.
I think Celeste Ng is an amazing writer. She is captivating and cultivates her stories and characters in a way not seen very often. This book was a bit slow for me to start. But, I loved her other book and I had heard such good things I kept going. I'm so glad I kept reading.
Short Review: This book was so good.
EVEN IF IT KILLS HER BY KATE WHITE // As the two women return to Jillian’s childhood town to investigate, it doesn’t take long for their sleuthing to cause shock waves. Someone starts watching their every move. As they uncover deeply-guarded secrets, so shocking that they make Jillian rethink her entire relationship to her family, Bailey and Jillian find themselves in great peril. They must decide just how much they’re willing to risk to finally discover the truth about the Lowe family’s murder.
I read this entire book in one day. It kept me on the edge of my seat and needing more. The plot is great and I love the idea of diving back into a crime that happened years ago. It's a little eery, and keeps you guessing until the end. Once I was done, I thought about this book and its characters for days after.
Short Review: Read it!
EMMA IN THE NIGHT BY WENDY WALKER // One night three years ago, the Tanner sisters disappeared: fifteen-year-old Cass and seventeen-year-old Emma. Three years later, Cass returns, without her sister Emma. Her story is one of kidnapping and betrayal, of a mysterious island where the two were held. But to forensic psychiatrist Dr. Abby Winter, something doesn't add up. Looking deep within this dysfunctional family Dr. Winter uncovers a life where boundaries were violated and a narcissistic parent held sway. And where one sister's return might just be the beginning of the crime.
In theory, this is a great book but I didn't think it was well written. It flits between characters and time periods a lot and is almost hard to follow. I think the characters are underdeveloped from the start and the ending is bad. Throughout the entirety of the book, I hated all the characters. Never a good start. If you have free time I'd recommend it, but otherwise, skip.
Short Review: Eh. No.
THE OTHER LOVER BY SARAH JACKMAN // Laura and Adam love their life in Brighton. They're in love, and it's uncomplicated, and that's just how they like it. But all that changes when Laura meets an eccentric older couple in the local cafe, Alessandros. Laura is immediately drawn to Rose and William, whose flamboyancy and joie-de-vivre appeal to a side of her that is rarely shown. But early in their friendship the terrible truth of Rose's future is revealed - she is in the final stages of a devastating terminal illness. Laura and Rose grow ever closer, and when the time finally comes they expect to be able to lay Rose to rest in the peace that she deserves. But soon insidious rumours are flying about as to the real cause of Rose's death; was it the illness that killed her, or did her husband, William, take matters into his own hands. In the weeks that follow Laura and William are thrown together as he struggles to prove his innocence - until finally, their friendship becomes something more, and Laura's life is changed utterly.
This book won't will a noble peace price but it's a very easy read. It's also the one I bought in Greece over 10 years ago. It's kind of a weird, sad story with some weird turns but I flipped through this book in one day. It's a sweet story with a weird twist in the middle and a finished ending.
Short Review: Eh. If you want a VERY easy read, grab it.
BREAD & WINE BY SHAUNA NIEQUIST // This book is a collection of essays about family relationships, friendships, and the meals that bring us together. Written by well-loved writer and blogger, Shauna Niequist, this mix of Girl Meets God and the Food Network is a funny, honest, and vulnerable spiritual memoir. Bread & Wine is a celebration of food shared and life around the table, and it reminds us of the joy we find in connection and relationship. It's about the ways that God teaches and nourishes us as we nourish the people around us. It's about hunger, both physical and otherwise, and the connections between the two. Recipes are included for the dishes you can almost taste as you read about them. From Butternut Squash Risotto to Apple Crisp with Vanilla Ice Cream and Salted Caramel Sauce, you will be able to recreate the comforting and satisfying meals that come to life.
I've read this book over 15 times. It's a book that regardless of where you're at in life, speaks to you. Shauna does such a great job of sharing pieces of her life that are so emotional and raw. I feel as though she's my best friend who knows exactly what's going on in my life and speak right to my soul. Plus, her recipes are so delicious.
Short Review: Read it, read it again, keep it on your nightstand and in your kitchen.
Currently Reading: Marriage Vacation by Pauline Brooks
Happy Monday friends! How are you? Denver got the most beautiful snow ever yesterday, so we spent the day doing nothing. Breakfast burritos, naps, baking. It was the most perfect lazy Sunday.
Today it's bitter cold, so cold, schools are on a delay! But to brighten your day, I'm sharing with you my favorite bloggers. This changes daily since I subscribe to so many amazing bloggers, but these are the ones I'm super pumped on. They're the ones I look for on Insta and in my inbox for new posts.
They are all bad-ass woman, kicking ass in the blog world. They're all smart, passionate, stunning, funny and I think you will love them all.
Lauren Kay Sims // Lauren is a Boulder blogger, dog mama, wife and super athlete. She just ran her first marathon! I love her sense of style and her hair. She's absolutely darling and her insta stories are the best. Her instagram is HERE!
Something Navy // Arielle is my favorite blogger. She's from NYC, has the cutest babe Ruby and is expecting her second. Her life is more than fabulous and she is so good at documenting all of it. Plus, she has an amazing line at Nordstrom. Her instagram is HERE!
Positively Posie // Whitney is my real life BFF and blogs all things motherhood, lifestyle, fashion and fitness. She's a military wife living in San Diego with her adorable babe Blakely. She shares the best beauty, fashion, kids clothes and recipes. Her instagram is HERE!
One Small Blonde // Brooke blogs about the best fashion, lifestyle and great food. She seriously has the best style and my favorite part? She's super relatable. Her Instagram makes me want to be her best friend. Her instagram is HERE!
Lifestyles by Lauren // Lauren blogs about everything. Food, beauty, great clothes. Her blog is adorable and I love all the content she posts. She lives in NYC, so obviously I'm living vicariously through her. Her instagram is HERE!
My Kind of Sweet // Suzanne is a mama to the two cutest little babes and is so fashionable while doing it! The thing I love most about her blog is she is super relatable and her clothes are everyday. Plus, her Insta stories are the best. She's always sharing stories about her family and her kids. Her instagram is HERE!
Life as a Larsen // Chandler is another amazing mom blogger who shares her marriage tips, family, and lifestyle tips. She's super honest, funny and has the cutest babe. Her instagram is HERE!
Chasing Whimsy // Mackenna is my Colorado blogger babe. Besides being absolutely stunning, she showcases the cutest clothes in the best places around Denver and Colorado. Plus, her positive attitude will make you feel better any day. Her instagram is HERE!
Dani Austin // She's newly-engaged, a huge Texas influencer and so cute and quirky. She's not afraid to show her nerdy side (she does retainer talks on insta stories) but she's an incredible blogger and encourager. She is full of faith and feels like a great friend even though we've never met. Plus, she has fabulous clothes. Her instagram is HERE!
The Darling Detail // Jessi is a stunner with the best fashion. But, she's super honest about her faith, her struggles, her life as a 20-something-year old girl. Her instagram is HERE!Happy Monday! Who's watching The Bachelor tonight? I know, I am! Bekah's age is finalllly revealed!
In a world where we are taught that curating ourselves for social media is the utmost - I've chosen to not put their sweet little faces on the gram. Another look and another blog at why I don't put my babies faces on instagram.
The answer? Because I don't want to.
PS. -- If you missed the first post on this, you can read it here. It tells ya everything you need to know. But let's talk about it again.
Here's why --
I get this question a lot. I get it in the most sincere of people, and I get it in the nastiest. I had one ex-follower tell me she couldn't see through my inauthenticity by not showing Quinn and therefore was unfollowing me.
Let's start there. The last thing I want to come across as, is inauthentic. I hope through my blog and my Instagram you know I am doing my best to show my authentic self. So that begs the question, why don't I show Quinn and Lucy since they are such a big part of my life.
Let's start there. The last thing I want to come across as, is inauthentic. I hope through my blog and my Instagram you know I am doing my best to show my authentic self. So that begs the question, why don't I show Quinn and Lucy since they are such a big part of my life.
"Are you fostering?""Why don't you show Quinn and Lucy's face?""Why don't you want to put your baby on instagram?""You don't have that many followers, who cares?""You know you could make more money if you used your kids.""Do you really think people care that much about your baby?"
Honestly, the truth of the matter is that we don't want to. Early on, Adam and I made a decision not to share our kids on social media. We did it for a variety of reasons. Adam doesn't love social media, albeit being v supportive of me, he doesn't have an online presence and wasn't thrilled at the idea of our daughters having one.
And yes, it seems weird in the day and age where we share everything on social. Why would I not share the people most important to me. Because honestly, it makes me a little uncomfortable. My babies are 2 and 7 months. Besides protecting them from all the creeps on the internet... Lord knows what social media is going to look like by the time they actually want social media. I don't want to create a social media presence for them. (Can you imagine if there were naked baby pictures of you all over the internet?)
My instagram is dedicated to motherhood, so yes, I get the irony that I don't show their faces. I 100% get that this is a controversial topic. And I totally get that most of you will probably disagree with my stance here.
And that is okay. I'm tough, I can take it.
Last thing, truth be told-- if if didn't have a public instagram and a desire to make this a business, I probably would share my kids on my social channels.
I love that my friends and family share their kids! I love seeing famous people share their kids! Please don't take this as a dig if you share your kids. Please keep sharing them!
At the end of the day, this is a personal decision for Adam and me. We choose not to share our kids and because I have a "public" platform, I felt like you guys deserved to know why.
I guess it's a good thing the back of their heads are cute ;)
On this episode we talk about everything surrounding eating disorders and disordered eating, we talk about orthorexia, non-dieting ways of eating, how to notice if someone is struggling, and how to talk to someone who's struggling. We talk about the need for control and how that translates to our eating. Heather Sherwood is a therapist who specializes in eating disorders and she guides us through this conversation with honesty and light.
• Connect with Heather Sherwood LMFT
• Connect with Heather on Instagram
• Follow along with @tglpodcast on Instagram
• Get social using #tgltuesdays
• Don't forget to stalk your hosts: @kgrace01 and @positivelyposie
Check out Heather in EP #25: How The Enneagram Can Help You In Relationships and Motherhood with Heather Sherwood LMFT
Listen to Episode 36 here:
• Connect with Heather Sherwood LMFT
• Connect with Heather on Instagram
• Follow along with @tglpodcast on Instagram
• Get social using #tgltuesdays
• Don't forget to stalk your hosts: @kgrace01 and @positivelyposie
Check out Heather in EP #25: How The Enneagram Can Help You In Relationships and Motherhood with Heather Sherwood LMFT
Listen to Episode 36 here:
Episode 13: Kristen and Whitney // What They Don't Tell You about The World of Postpartum, Anxiety and Motherhood
May 7, 2019
They are breaking down the truth about what comes after birth. Head to our Instagram to enter the MAMA giveaway, winner will be announced on next week's episode.
Connect with Dr. Cassidy
Connect with Dr. Cassidy on Instagram
Connect with the HoldingSpace Podcast
Connect with This Girl Life on Instagram
Listen to the Postpartum podcast here:
On this episode, you can hear all about life post baby, tips for your 4th trimesters, and some other mama saving tips.
4 Things no-one tells you about life post baby:
- Having a baby is hard on a partnership or marriage.
- Speaking of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, it’s not just women who can experience them!
- One thing that people don’t often tell you, is that if you are struggling, you are not alone...help is available, and you WILL get better if you reach out to the right supports.
- Becoming a parent will bring up old “stuff.”
Now time for "The other crap they kind of tell you but you just don’t think it will affect you in the fourth trimester” or the easier version --> TGL TIPS for your 4th trimester:
- Stay off IG- you’ll start the comparison game.
- OH my body-Show yourself grace.
- Talk to someone.
- Find something for you.
Dr. Christine Sterling also gave us 7 things she wasn’t prepared for after having a baby. It’s a very powerful article filled with real talk and resources. You can find it here. Dr. Cassidy and Dr. Sterling are also doing a postpartum prep e-course this year. To stay in the loop you can subscribe here or on Dr. Cassidy's website.
Let's talk breastfeeding. It's such a natural thing yet seemingly taboo to talk about. Before I had Quinn I was embarrassed to even think about breastfeeding. I have watched my friends and sisters-in-law do it, but it was very daunting for me. I assumed it would be hard, uncomfortable and I was so nervous about the entire thing. I just imagined sitting on my couch naked (why I thought I had to be naked to breastfeed is beyond, but I did!) trying to fed this sweet baby while she screamed and I cried. That was absolutely how I pictured breastfeeding.
One thing I knew before Quinn, I was going to try my very best to breastfeed and do whatever it took. (Even if it meant breastfeeding naked). And if that didn't work, I'd feed her any way I could.
There are a lot of thoughts and preconceived ideas that go into breastfeeding. It hurts. Would I produce enough milk? Would she be allergic to my milk? Would I get mastitis? Would I ever leave my house? Would I nurse her in public? I was so nervous about feeding her in public, in front of people. Remember, I thought I was going to be naked while breastfeeding, hence the fear in public nursing.
One thing I knew before Quinn, I was going to try my very best to breastfeed and do whatever it took. (Even if it meant breastfeeding naked). And if that didn't work, I'd feed her any way I could.
There are a lot of thoughts and preconceived ideas that go into breastfeeding. It hurts. Would I produce enough milk? Would she be allergic to my milk? Would I get mastitis? Would I ever leave my house? Would I nurse her in public? I was so nervous about feeding her in public, in front of people. Remember, I thought I was going to be naked while breastfeeding, hence the fear in public nursing.
But then Quinn was here and suddenly my anxiety about breastfeeding and the embarrassment that I thought would come with it, faded away. My priority -- getting this little babe to latch and getting her fed. And, in all honesty, when she did latch, it was the most amazing feeling of pride I’ve ever felt and all most of those nerves melted away.
In the spirit of total transparency, nursing came easily for me. Yes, I had the growing pains (literally) in the first week and don’t get me wrong, the feeling of engorgement hurts so bad, but my baby latched.
The feeling that was surprising to me was the feeling of having a baby depend on you whenever for her only source of nourishment. It was a lot more pressure than I assumed. But I also worked hard at this process. And, I had a lot of help.
Remember mamas, we don't have to do this alone. That is my first tip - don't do this alone. Ask for help. Ask mamas who nurse, ask mamas who bottle feed, ask any mama. We're all in this together.
The feeling that was surprising to me was the feeling of having a baby depend on you whenever for her only source of nourishment. It was a lot more pressure than I assumed. But I also worked hard at this process. And, I had a lot of help.
Remember mamas, we don't have to do this alone. That is my first tip - don't do this alone. Ask for help. Ask mamas who nurse, ask mamas who bottle feed, ask any mama. We're all in this together.
I am super lucky because I have a lot of mamas in my life who helped me through the transition. I'm the first to admit that I didn't know much going into motherhood, but I ask a lot of questions. I'm not trying to reinvent the wheel here.
I figured I couldn't be the only one who had a ton of questions about breastfeeding. I've gathered a lot of amazing tips (& come up with some on my own) and hopefully it'll ease ya in to breastfeeding.
NEWBORN TIPS:
- Breastfeed asap. As soon as you can, try and get that baby on your boob.
- It shouldn't hurt. Yes, it's going to feel weird and different, but if your baby has a great latch, it shouldn't be painful. If it does, ask for help.
- Ask for help. Let your nurses help. Meet with the breastfeeding consultant. Don't leave the hospital until you've been taught 10 ways to nurse. Have the consultant teach your husband. You will forget and he will be there to remind you of the football hold in 3 days.
- Latching is hard. I'm not even going to try to give latching tips because thats hard, but my consultant said you should see the babys jaw moving by her ear (think when you chew) and then you know her mouth was open enough to nurse well.
- You will get engorged. When I was super engorged on day 5, my sister in law told me to get cabbage leaves and to pump. A lot of people tell you not to pump for a while, I started at day 5.
- Keep your nipples moisturized. There is no pain like that first week of breastfeeding. Think chapped lips but worst. I LOVE this nipple cream. But if all else fails, use Aquaphor. Take a hot shower or use a hot towel.
- Your boobs will leak. Use breast pads.
- Try every position possible. For us, the football position worked on the right side and the normal hold worked for the left. These changed daily!
- Tons of water! When you think you drank enough, drink more.
UPPING MILK SUPPLY TIPS: Milk supply was one of my biggest fears, so I did what any rational mom would do, google everything. Honestly, I have no idea if any of these things actually help, but hey, I have milk and I did these things, so why not.
- I pumped after all my feedings (for the first few weeks).
- I made lactation cookies and balls. They are delicious.
- I eat oatmeal every AM for breakfast. Oatmeal has iron in it which also is a must for breastfeeding mothers and helps promote milk supply.
- I took these capsules!
- I drank this tea.
- I chug a ton of water, way more water than you think is necessary. My advice, get a Yeti and drink one per-feeding and then more in between.
- I love these cookies too.
PUMPING TIPS:
- Pumps are free through insurance! Get yours here.
- If you're feeling engorged, pump a little. When my boobs hurt so bad, pumping for a minute helped so much. And it helps bring your milk in.
- Test out different sizes of pumping shields. I had no idea this was a thing until my best friend told me to use a larger size. Boom - 1oz to 4 oz
Freaking out about work trips because she only drinks breast milk is daunting for sure. And the feeling of your boobs leaking at the sound of a crying baby is embarrassing and crazy all at the same time. But there is something so amazing about nursing your little babe.
My time spent nursing Quinn are some of my most favorite and most intimate moments with her. I used to look at moms who had to leave a dinner to nurse or feed their baby with pity. And then I became that mom and now I crave hose moments where it was just Quinn and me.
I know she won’t need me forever. I know sooner than later these sweet slow moments of nursing her will be a distant memory and this blog will be my only reminder. So for now I’m embracing my time to slow down with Quinn, soak up these sweet snuggles and extra time and remind myself that this all goes so quick.
So whether you breastfeed your baby, formula feed or chew up food and spit in her their mouth like a bird, good for you mamas. We're feeding our babies and that is the most important. #fedisbetter
And mamas, give yourself some grace if this process is taking a little bit to get used too. We're all just trying to be the best mamas we can.
Do you have any breastfeeding tips that you loved? Share them in the comments!
And mamas, give yourself some grace if this process is taking a little bit to get used too. We're all just trying to be the best mamas we can.
Do you have any breastfeeding tips that you loved? Share them in the comments!
Episode 25: How The Enneagram Can Help You In Relationships and Motherhood with Heather Sherwood LMFT
September 24, 2019
Kristen and Whitney sit down with Heather Sherwood a licensed marriage family therapist to find out what the Enneagram is and how it can help in our daily lives. We break down each number and what personality traits you might see with each number, what are wings, can you be two types, how do the seven deadly sins and the Enneagram connect, and if the Enneagram help tap into childhood trauma. You don't want to miss this episode, it's a good one.
Connect with Heather Sherwood LMFT
Connect with Heather on Instagram
Follow along with TGL on Instagram
Get social using #tgltuesdays
Don't forget to stalk your hosts: @kgrace01 and @positivelyposie
Some questions we ask Heather!
Connect with Heather on Instagram
Follow along with TGL on Instagram
Get social using #tgltuesdays
Don't forget to stalk your hosts: @kgrace01 and @positivelyposie
Some questions we ask Heather!
- What recently made Ennegrams popular? We know they are old school, but what is recently made this so popular.
- We want to start with a good basic question like can you have two types?
- What are wings?
- Can you have a wing that isn’t next to your number?
- What are the main points on the enneagram
- The points are where you go in health and stress...can you break that down.
- Also what are the seven/ nine deadly sins and how do they impact the enneagram
- How can the Ennegram help tap into childhood wounds
- What advice do you have for people who think they are mistyped?
Listen to this episode here!
Last month I did some instagram questions and one of you asked me a question I've been meaning to answer here. Will baby girl be on social media? The easy, quick answer is no.
But at the end of the day, I'm just trying to figure out what is best for me and my family and it really has nothing to do with anyone else or what anyone else chooses to do with their family.
I get it, our thoughts on this are the way extreme and aren't for everyone. And isn't that the coolest thing about motherhood and parenting and being part of a community where we can talk about these things?
Social media + baby is a conversation Adam and I had before we got pregnant and our general consensus was we didn't want our kids on social media. Honestly. there wasn't a whole lot of thought past that point. For those of you who don't know, Adam isn't on social media anywhere. Sure, he has a Facebook, but I think his profile picture is one of us from literally 6 years ago. He doesn't love social and felt strongly about not having our kid on it. Hell, he doesn't love his appearance on Everyday Grace as much as he is. If it we up to him, social media wouldn't really exist.
I'm torn on this. I love social media. I'm on it all the time. I share on it, all the time. I love the community I've built and the friends I've made. Because of this, part of me wants to show off this darling little baby everywhere and at every chance I get. But then the mom, blogger and public defender in me gets very nervous about splashing her sweet little face everywhere. I have a public blog, public Instagram and there are a lot of followers I don't know. That makes me nervous.
Maybe if I didn't have this space and it was private to only people I know, I'd feel different.
Another thing I've thought about, we've yet to experience an adult generation who's entire life has been played out for the masses online. I didn't grow up knowing how to pose for Insta-stories or having my face on every social media platform available. Heck, if I want a baby picture, I have to call my mom, ask her to scan it or take a picture of it and then she sends me back a grainy version of six year old Kristen. How will this generation feel when they're 30 and there are naked baby pictures of them all over the web? Honestly, we don't know yet.
To be as transparent as possible, I'm not sure how I feel and since I'm not 100% either way, keeping her off social seems like the right thing for our family now. I share a lot of my life on social, the good, the bad and the ugly, but for now I'll be keeping baby girl private.
I went to college with a girlfriend who has chosen not to post her son or daughter on social and I absolutely love her stance on why. My favorite line from her thoughts are this;
Am I being overly cautious? Probably. Am I being paranoid? Maybe a little. Do you guys think I'm nuts? I'm sure you do. But if there is one thing I've learned throughout this pregnancy, it is that Adam and I have to make decisions we feel good about. And, if at the end of the day, him and I feel like we're doing the right thing for our family, then that is what we have to do.
So for all of you asking, "how will I see her?" Text me, call me, DM me, lets FaceTime! I'd love to share pictures and videos of her with you if you want to see her! Better yet, come visit :)
Now, tell me your thoughts. What do you think about kids on social media? Am I the extreme? Probably. What's the happy medium? Talk to me.
Want to read some other moms thoughts?
The Effortless Chic || Design for Mankind || The Fresh Exchange || Ave Styles || Apartment 34
Before we delve into the major details of that statement, let me preface with, I know this is probably an unpopular opinion (very unpopular). I know most people will think I'm being a little crazy/over-cautious/nuts. But, it's a decision Adam and I have made together and it's one we're comfortable with.
Also, this post is not meant to be derogatory to anyone who posts their kids on social media, so please don't take it that way. Heck, all my friends and family post their kids on social and I LOVE it. I love seeing my feed littered with adorable babies doing the cutest things. So please, keep posting!I didn't think I was going to talk about this because I figured who would care. But, since I share everything on social, I figured you would all wonder why I'm not sharing baby girl on social. I'm a little anxious to talk about this because honestly, I get it, I'm in the minority. I know a lot of you will think I'm being nuts or judgmental or irrational.
But at the end of the day, I'm just trying to figure out what is best for me and my family and it really has nothing to do with anyone else or what anyone else chooses to do with their family.
I get it, our thoughts on this are the way extreme and aren't for everyone. And isn't that the coolest thing about motherhood and parenting and being part of a community where we can talk about these things?
Social media + baby is a conversation Adam and I had before we got pregnant and our general consensus was we didn't want our kids on social media. Honestly. there wasn't a whole lot of thought past that point. For those of you who don't know, Adam isn't on social media anywhere. Sure, he has a Facebook, but I think his profile picture is one of us from literally 6 years ago. He doesn't love social and felt strongly about not having our kid on it. Hell, he doesn't love his appearance on Everyday Grace as much as he is. If it we up to him, social media wouldn't really exist.
I'm torn on this. I love social media. I'm on it all the time. I share on it, all the time. I love the community I've built and the friends I've made. Because of this, part of me wants to show off this darling little baby everywhere and at every chance I get. But then the mom, blogger and public defender in me gets very nervous about splashing her sweet little face everywhere. I have a public blog, public Instagram and there are a lot of followers I don't know. That makes me nervous.
Maybe if I didn't have this space and it was private to only people I know, I'd feel different.
Another thing I've thought about, we've yet to experience an adult generation who's entire life has been played out for the masses online. I didn't grow up knowing how to pose for Insta-stories or having my face on every social media platform available. Heck, if I want a baby picture, I have to call my mom, ask her to scan it or take a picture of it and then she sends me back a grainy version of six year old Kristen. How will this generation feel when they're 30 and there are naked baby pictures of them all over the web? Honestly, we don't know yet.
To be as transparent as possible, I'm not sure how I feel and since I'm not 100% either way, keeping her off social seems like the right thing for our family now. I share a lot of my life on social, the good, the bad and the ugly, but for now I'll be keeping baby girl private.
I went to college with a girlfriend who has chosen not to post her son or daughter on social and I absolutely love her stance on why. My favorite line from her thoughts are this;
All in all, one of the greatest benefits we’ve experienced from opting out of sharing photos of Jack online has been the freedom to enjoy his childhood without the pressure to curate it for public consumption.One thing I do know, I don't want to make this decision for her. I just want her to be a kid.
Am I being overly cautious? Probably. Am I being paranoid? Maybe a little. Do you guys think I'm nuts? I'm sure you do. But if there is one thing I've learned throughout this pregnancy, it is that Adam and I have to make decisions we feel good about. And, if at the end of the day, him and I feel like we're doing the right thing for our family, then that is what we have to do.
So for all of you asking, "how will I see her?" Text me, call me, DM me, lets FaceTime! I'd love to share pictures and videos of her with you if you want to see her! Better yet, come visit :)
Now, tell me your thoughts. What do you think about kids on social media? Am I the extreme? Probably. What's the happy medium? Talk to me.
Want to read some other moms thoughts?
The Effortless Chic || Design for Mankind || The Fresh Exchange || Ave Styles || Apartment 34
Episode 12: Sarah Boyd // Growing your social media, finding a digital marketing strategy, and what brands want
April 30, 2019
On this episode we sit down with Sarah Boyd the president of West Coast Operations for NYLON, founder of SIMPLY and Moms + Babes Box. Sarah founded Simply the premier conference business focused on fashion and beauty insiders, entrepreneurs, industry leaders and influencers. She is known as the dot connector, bridging the gap between brands and trendsetters. If that isn't enough she and her friend Jana Kramer created Moms+Babes Box a subscription box tailored to moms and their kiddos. We chat about growing your social media, finding a digital marketing strategy, what brands want right now, tips for starting a business, the importance of goal setting.
Sarah teaches incredible classes on her site called How To Build And Sell Your Business In 5 Years -- A step by step guide to starting and selling a business. She's a genius and you should sign up. You can sign up here!
Connect with Sarah Boyd on Instagram
Connect with Simply
Connect with Moms and Babe Box
Connect with TGL Podcast on Instagram
Listen to Sarah's Episode here:
Sarah teaches incredible classes on her site called How To Build And Sell Your Business In 5 Years -- A step by step guide to starting and selling a business. She's a genius and you should sign up. You can sign up here!
Connect with Sarah Boyd on Instagram
Connect with Simply
Connect with Moms and Babe Box
Connect with TGL Podcast on Instagram
Listen to Sarah's Episode here:
Questions you can hear on Sarah's Episode:
- We want you to go way back and give us a little bit of your story.. How you got dubbed the “dot connector”?
- Before you created Mom and Babes Box (which we will dive into next), you created Simply stylist; all about entrepreneurship and the world of digital networking. You work with brands and top celebrity bloggers with business development, content creation, and networking.
- For people who aren’t familiar, what is a simply stylist.
- How important is it to have a digital strategy now days (if you are a blogger?)
- hen should smaller influencers and bloggers pull the trigger and look into influencer marketing services (like Sociallyte)
- You are business and digital media guru. What trends are you seeing now in social media, what should we all be doing to become social media superstars?
- What is one major lesson you’ve learned over the years since launching your own company?
- Describe what a typical day looks like for you?
- What has inspired and help you continue to grow in your business? A specific podcast? A great book?
- How did you go from Simply to Mom and Babes Box?
- How did you and Jana meet and then decide to take the big step start a business together?
- Can you detail the process of starting a subscription box company?
- Do you two decide what goes into each box? What has been a couple of your favorite products that have been in a recent box?
- What we really admire about you is how you’ve been able to see a need and then scale businesses, create moms and babes box and balance motherhood. How do you manage it all?
- 3 quick tips for someone who has a great idea and wants to start their own business
- What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received from your best friend?:
- Where can we find you?
Happy 2019 fam. Can you believe we're already 8 days in to the new year? I cannot. I've been prepping this post forever and all of a sudden its 8 days in and still not posted.
I started changing up my new year resolutions years ago. They switched from resolutions to goals to intentions to words. You can read all my past goals and words here:
I love this word. I love the meaning of it, especially for my life, right now.
My comfort zone is great. I find joy in my comfort zone, because the fear of the unknown is hard for me. I don't want to be afraid to take chances or make mistakes or jump into something new. I want to embrace possibility and opportunities instead of sitting back and wondering what if.
This is my first full year being a mama. While I've never felt a more natural calling in my life, this whole thing is scary. Am I doing this right? Am I good enough? Should I send her to daycare? I'm fearful! I'm nervous of the unknown. But this year I'm chasing motherhood fearlessly.
My career is still relatively new with some new additions and potential changes. I'm afraid because it's unknown. I've always been nervous of the unknown. But ya know what, I'm running into those fears dead on because my success depends on it.
I'm starting a brand new, HUGE endeavor with one of my best friends and I'm scared as hell. Will people like it? Will it be a success? Are we just wasting our time. But its something I've been wanting to do for years and I'm finally freaking doing it! I'm proud and I'm scared and I'm excited. I'm not going to let the fear of failure hinder me anymore.
There are a lot of unknowns this year is going to bring and it's scary. But I'm not going to let the fear of change and unknowns bring me down. I'm going to be fearless. I'm going to tackle those fears and do it. I'm going to be fearless.
Happy 2019, everyone. Let's do this.
I started changing up my new year resolutions years ago. They switched from resolutions to goals to intentions to words. You can read all my past goals and words here:
This year I thought really hard about what I wanted my word to be and I was forcing ideas of what I thought it should be. When I was first thinking about it, I thought about the word intentional. And while I love that word and what it means to me, it didn't seem right. So I kind of gave up on figuring out my word because I knew it would come to me. I literally woke up the other night and had it. My word for this year?
Fearless
Mirriam Webster defines fearless as "free from fear" or "brave"
Taylor Swift defines fearless as,"To me, ‘fearless’ is not the absence of fear. It’s not being completely unafraid. To me, fearless is having fears. Fearless is having doubts. Lots of them. To me, fearless is living in spite of those things that scare you to death. Fearless is falling madly in love again, even though you’ve been hurt before. […] No matter what love throws at you, you have to believe in it. You have to believe in love stories and Prince Charmings and happily ever after. That’s why I write these songs. Because I think love is fearless.This year is bringing a ton of huge changes for me. I am not good at change. It scares me. But what I've noticed in my past is when I embrace the change, the best things happen. When I went to law school. I was terrified. But I got a JD and a husband :) When I moved to Malibu for school, I made the best friends. I can't imagine the joy I would have missed out on had I not taken those chances.
My comfort zone is great. I find joy in my comfort zone, because the fear of the unknown is hard for me. I don't want to be afraid to take chances or make mistakes or jump into something new. I want to embrace possibility and opportunities instead of sitting back and wondering what if.
This is my first full year being a mama. While I've never felt a more natural calling in my life, this whole thing is scary. Am I doing this right? Am I good enough? Should I send her to daycare? I'm fearful! I'm nervous of the unknown. But this year I'm chasing motherhood fearlessly.
My career is still relatively new with some new additions and potential changes. I'm afraid because it's unknown. I've always been nervous of the unknown. But ya know what, I'm running into those fears dead on because my success depends on it.
I'm starting a brand new, HUGE endeavor with one of my best friends and I'm scared as hell. Will people like it? Will it be a success? Are we just wasting our time. But its something I've been wanting to do for years and I'm finally freaking doing it! I'm proud and I'm scared and I'm excited. I'm not going to let the fear of failure hinder me anymore.
There are a lot of unknowns this year is going to bring and it's scary. But I'm not going to let the fear of change and unknowns bring me down. I'm going to be fearless. I'm going to tackle those fears and do it. I'm going to be fearless.
Psalm 34:4: I sought the Lord and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.
Oh hey. Where do you start when it's been over 6 months since you blogged? I honestly don't know. I guess I should just start.
Let's talk about The Everyday Grace first. It's been my blog since I was 21. Yes, you can go back and read when I was a young little thing figuring it all out. You can track my journey through graduating college, falling in love, law school, marriage and more. You can feel my struggles, my love and some good old fashioned recipes.
I'm back.
I'm back as a mom of two, Quinn and Lucy.
I'm a wife.
I have a full time job. And I love Instagram.
In the last six months, I think I've really narrowed down what I want this space to me. For the longest time, I've felt like I've been spinning my wheels trying to find my niche. I've been through recipes, wedding planning, travel guides. I dove head first into fashion. And while I loved all of those things, I never felt like I found "it." I never found the thing that made me passionate enough to write about daily and share about daily.
Because let's face it, while I love all those things, they don't consume my every day. I wear Target fashion and order Doordash on the reg.
But now - things have changed and here's what I know. I have found my passion.
I'm a mom and I LOVE being a mom. I love the community I've created with my mom friends. I love the community I've created on Instagram. I crave community. I crave real conversations with friends. I want to be the friend that makes you feel comfortable to ask the questions, pray with, be yourself, cry, laugh, celebrate. I want to encourage you. I want to make you feel important and loved.
At the end of the day, I want you to feel loved. When you've had a hard day and yelled at your kids. When you snapped at your husband and when you felt guilty. I want you to know that those feelings are normal. I want you to feel loved. I want you to feel reassured. I want to give you the space to feel those feelings.
This is the Everyday Grace.
This the the Everyday Motherhood.
I went back and forth on making my new Instagram handle either Kristen Grace or using my last name. Grace is what we, as humans need on the daily. It's given to us by God because of his love for us and a a mom, it's basically what gets me through the day. But, that name is taken :)
I want to create a community where moms feel safe and where they feel welcome.
I love sharing tips and tricks to being a mom. I love sharing what I've learned. And I love sharing what I've learned from friends. I also love sharing what I don't know.
That's what you'll find here. Sure, you might find great Target finds and some meal plans. But you'll also find breastfeeding tips. You'll find toddler favorites, the best coffee recipes, toddler lunch ideas and how to get your toddler to sleep through the night.
You'll find the best night cream (because HI, I'm 33), shows I'm binging, books I'm reading, and what Adam and I do to keep the spark alive.
This blog is dedicated to women. To moms. To people who want community.
You'll find support, encouragement and acceptance. This is a no judgment zone.
This is The Everyday Grace, by me, Kristen Grace.
I'm so glad you're here.
In light of motherhood and everything that goes with it, today's post is a guest post about things you can do to be a more present mom. We could all use a good reminder once in a while.
When you are a mom, it is important to find better ways to parent your child, and avoiding alcoholic beverages is an important way to make you more aware about your child’s emotional, physical and mental needs. Here are some of the ways that not drinking can make you more present for your children.
1. You Are More Aware of Time // If you are drinking alcohol, then it can interfere with your awareness of time. You may forget to take your children to school or special activities, making them feel resentful because you were too confused about the time. When you stop drinking, you will maintain a regular daily schedule to avoid forgetting important appointments. You are also teaching your children about the importance of time management.
2. You’ll Keep a Cleaner Home //While cleaning house isn't an enjoyable activity for many parents, it is a necessity in order to maintain a certain level of hygiene. If you are drinking wine or beer several times a day, then you may ignore certain types of cleaning, leading to piles of dishes in the sink or having your children wear smelly clothing. When you are numbing your feelings with excessive alcohol consumption, your home can become dirty quickly, leading to additional emotional isolation from your children.
3. You’ll Get Better Sleep and Have More Energy // When you drink alcohol, it can disrupt your circadian rhythms, making it difficult to sleep at night. You may develop insomnia, and this can lead to changes in your alertness. If you are tired, then you aren't alert enough to notice your children's needs. In addition, while you are sleeping, your body's glands release hormones that are designed for boosting your mood along with repairing your immune system.
4. You’ll Be More Social // Despite being a mother who stays home with her children, you need to socialize with your peers to have better emotional health. However, if you reach for a glass of wine while your toddler is napping, then you probably won't take the time to talk to a friend on your smartphone or in person. Socializing isn't a waste of time because it helps you to have a healthier mind that is more present for your children.
5. You’ll Be More Alert // If you are drinking alcohol, then it reduces your reaction time to potential dangers. While you already know that you shouldn't drive a vehicle after drinking, there are also other things that you shouldn't do. You might enjoy taking your toddler on a bicycle ride around the local park, but if you have been drinking, then you are more likely to lose your balance. There are also dangers from walking outside with your infant in a stroller because you may not notice a vehicle while crossing the street.
6. You’ll Be a Better Role Model and Able to Provide More Discipline // When you drink a glass of wine to cope with a misbehaving child, you aren't helping your son or daughter to act in the appropriate manner. Disciplining your children is hard work because it requires thinking about a child's particular personality. Rather than punitive punishments for misbehaving, you will want to take the time to learn more appropriate discipline methods such as timeouts in a chair in the corner of the room or charts for stickers when a child behaves correctly.
7. You’ll Stop Wasting Time // If you are getting inebriated from drinking frequently, then you may waste a lot of time. You might feel too tipsy to spend time with your children, and in only a few weeks, you will miss a child's important milestone such as watching your son learn how to walk. However, when you are sober, you will realize how much time was wasted buying alcohol and drinking too much so that you could numb your feelings.
Quitting drinking may mean professional alcohol addiction treatment or recovery meetings. When you stop drinking alcohol, it can feel difficult for the first few days or weeks, but within a month or two, you will stop having constant cravings for liquor. Rather than shutting out the world with alcohol, you will have additional mental clarity, especially for your children, helping you to become a better role model.
Happy Friday friends! Cheers to us all being great moms and doing the very best we can.
Grand Cayman is one of my favorite places on the planet. It's where Adam and I honeymooned and its honestly the place I dream about daily. If you want, you should read my post about Grand Cayman here and start planning your next vacation.
When I look back at our honeymoon, I see two newlyweds, blissfully in love, relaxed, enjoying our first week as husband and wife. We've never had a more relaxed vacation. And Ive never had a better pina colada!
That is why I knew I need a Grand Cayman Mapiful. I love Mapifuls because they're so dang cool and they hold a memory in place, and in this case, one of my favorite memories. They make the process so easy to make, you can narrow down the location and then design it however you want!
Wanna know something even cooler? This year for Mothers Day, Mapiful is taking a moment to give back to all the moms across the world by donating 10% of the sales of their new Mothers Day designs to Every Mother Counts, an NGO supporting women and working on making pregnancy and childbirth safe everywhere around the world.
How rad is that? So if you're looking for the perfect gift for your mama, a mama friend or for yourself look no further! Think of all the special places mamas have in their hearts. The place their baby was born, where they were married, where they live, a special vacation. The options are endless.
Use the code SPRING10 and get 10% off your Mapiful!
Besides this, Mapiful is inviting their community and is encouraging YOU to share your own Mapiful motherhood stories with the hashtag #Mapimom and Mapiful will donate 1 USD every time this hashtag is used in a post or story.
When I look back at our honeymoon, I see two newlyweds, blissfully in love, relaxed, enjoying our first week as husband and wife. We've never had a more relaxed vacation. And Ive never had a better pina colada!
That is why I knew I need a Grand Cayman Mapiful. I love Mapifuls because they're so dang cool and they hold a memory in place, and in this case, one of my favorite memories. They make the process so easy to make, you can narrow down the location and then design it however you want!
Wanna know something even cooler? This year for Mothers Day, Mapiful is taking a moment to give back to all the moms across the world by donating 10% of the sales of their new Mothers Day designs to Every Mother Counts, an NGO supporting women and working on making pregnancy and childbirth safe everywhere around the world.
How rad is that? So if you're looking for the perfect gift for your mama, a mama friend or for yourself look no further! Think of all the special places mamas have in their hearts. The place their baby was born, where they were married, where they live, a special vacation. The options are endless.
Use the code SPRING10 and get 10% off your Mapiful!
Besides this, Mapiful is inviting their community and is encouraging YOU to share your own Mapiful motherhood stories with the hashtag #Mapimom and Mapiful will donate 1 USD every time this hashtag is used in a post or story.
So what is Mapiful? The world is at your fingertips with Mapiful. They provide you with the tools to let you choose from any place in the world and design your own unique map poster. Explore, zoom, customize and order. Voilà , your place of birth, favorite neighborhood or just your happy place framed on your wall, in your home.Read more about my other Mapiful here. If you can't tell, I'm obsessed with these maps.
Pregnancy is a beautiful time, filled with fresh faced skin, cute clothes and months spent daydreaming of future baby. At least thats what you think of when you get pregnant. Don't get me wrong, daydreaming of baby is something I do every day and yes, pregnancy is awesome and not as bad as you may think, but it's not roses and sunshine every day either.
PS. At the end of the post, you have a chance to win $400 to TARGET! Guys, this is huge. Everyone could use $400 to Target, plus with all their darling clothes, shoes, home goods and baby stuff, everyone needs this. Think of this as your prize for getting through this post :)
My first sign of pregnancy was flu like symptoms, so if thats any indication of the next nine months, well, let's do this. The first trimester is crazy. It's full of so many unknowns and so many uncomfortable feelings.
1. Morning sickness, afternoon sickness, evening sickness. Did you know about 80% of woman experience morning sickness? I thought the second I got pregnant, I'd be nauseous and puking in the morning. Turns out, morning sickness for me was actually evening sickness. I'd be fine all day. 5pm hit and damn, I was so blah, I could barely make it to bed time. Poor Adam got stuck with takeout a lot more than he probably wanted. The perk - It eventually will go away. Mine went away at 14 weeks and then life gets so much better
2. You're not always hungry, but you are. My entire first trimester, the thought, look, smell, taste of any kind of meat made me throw up. Don't even get me started on raw chicken. Food aversions coupled with evening sickness made it easier for me to not eat. And since that's not an option when growing a human, food selection became so tough. Protein shakes in the AM got me through the noon hour. And then it was peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and mac and cheese. The perk - Once you're through the first, you'll love eating everything.
3. You have to pee constantly. This one is just annoying more than anything else. A 50 minute flight to Omaha turns in to 3 bathroom breaks and people looking at you like your nutty. My advice, convince your husband to give you the aisle seat. This is no joke. No real perk here. Except my doc told me once the baby goes higher, the need to pee will go away, until you're big.
4. Belly's don't pop quick. That cute belly you want just makes you look fat for a little while. Jeans are really tight on your belly, your boobs are huge, bras are uncomfortable and apparently your feet grow? I keep telling Adam I just want my belly to pop and he says I'll be taking that back when I'm 7 months and uncomfortable. The perk - No more sucking in your belly. Let it all hang out, girlfriend.
5. Opinions ares like assholes. Every one has one. Be prepared for everyone from your mom, to your friends to the lady at the grocery store in line behind you to tell you what she thinks about kids and child birth. My opinion... take the opinion of the people you really trust and ignore the rest. Even if the lady in the grocery line insists that you're killing your baby by eating apples. The perk - People love babies and pregnant women.
6. Utter exhaustion. There needs to be a new word for pregnancy exhaustion. This is a real thing. I tried to explain to Adam how tired I was and the difference between non-pregnancy tired. And the only way I could put it in to words is as if someone was pressing down on my shoulders, tired. The perk - This goes away at 14 weeks! You're still tired, but not nearly as tired.
7. Emotions are heightened. I'm an emotional mess. Commercials make me cry. Pretty much every TV show makes me cry even if its funny. Monday, I messed up Adam and my flight home from Omaha, you guessed it, I cried. I'm blaming it on the hormones. The perk - Blame mistakes on pregnancy brain. I did.
8. Weird dreams. This one I was not expecting, but it's followed me into my second trimester. My first weird dream? Adam left and I was left to raise my kids (I had more than one) and then my brother moved in with me and it was like Full House. I was Candace Cameron Bure in Fuller House living with my kids and my friends ad my brother. They get weirder. The perk - Funny stories.
9. You'll be able to smell like a superhero. This was one of the first sensations I got. The smell of my dogs food made me gag. I can smell BO from across the room and did you know raw chicken has an actual smell and coffee is pungent? But roses smell better, so do burritos and Adam. The perk - You can smell the good food in the restaurant.
10. Anxiety is high. People keep telling me the anxiety is prepping me for motherhood. Before every ultrasound I get so nervous I cry. I pray constantly and I just wish this little baby girl was here already. But, the anxiety is all worth the end result. The perk - The end result.
Yes pregnancy is challenging and confusing and I always have so many questions. But, with all that said, its also the best feeling in the world. Seeing your own baby on an ultrasound and hearing his/her heartbeat is the coolest in the world. Now, if we could get these next 5 months moving so baby girl can get here, I'd be okay with that too.
PS. At the end of the post, you have a chance to win $400 to TARGET! Guys, this is huge. Everyone could use $400 to Target, plus with all their darling clothes, shoes, home goods and baby stuff, everyone needs this. Think of this as your prize for getting through this post :)
1. Morning sickness, afternoon sickness, evening sickness. Did you know about 80% of woman experience morning sickness? I thought the second I got pregnant, I'd be nauseous and puking in the morning. Turns out, morning sickness for me was actually evening sickness. I'd be fine all day. 5pm hit and damn, I was so blah, I could barely make it to bed time. Poor Adam got stuck with takeout a lot more than he probably wanted. The perk - It eventually will go away. Mine went away at 14 weeks and then life gets so much better
2. You're not always hungry, but you are. My entire first trimester, the thought, look, smell, taste of any kind of meat made me throw up. Don't even get me started on raw chicken. Food aversions coupled with evening sickness made it easier for me to not eat. And since that's not an option when growing a human, food selection became so tough. Protein shakes in the AM got me through the noon hour. And then it was peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and mac and cheese. The perk - Once you're through the first, you'll love eating everything.
3. You have to pee constantly. This one is just annoying more than anything else. A 50 minute flight to Omaha turns in to 3 bathroom breaks and people looking at you like your nutty. My advice, convince your husband to give you the aisle seat. This is no joke. No real perk here. Except my doc told me once the baby goes higher, the need to pee will go away, until you're big.
4. Belly's don't pop quick. That cute belly you want just makes you look fat for a little while. Jeans are really tight on your belly, your boobs are huge, bras are uncomfortable and apparently your feet grow? I keep telling Adam I just want my belly to pop and he says I'll be taking that back when I'm 7 months and uncomfortable. The perk - No more sucking in your belly. Let it all hang out, girlfriend.
5. Opinions ares like assholes. Every one has one. Be prepared for everyone from your mom, to your friends to the lady at the grocery store in line behind you to tell you what she thinks about kids and child birth. My opinion... take the opinion of the people you really trust and ignore the rest. Even if the lady in the grocery line insists that you're killing your baby by eating apples. The perk - People love babies and pregnant women.
7. Emotions are heightened. I'm an emotional mess. Commercials make me cry. Pretty much every TV show makes me cry even if its funny. Monday, I messed up Adam and my flight home from Omaha, you guessed it, I cried. I'm blaming it on the hormones. The perk - Blame mistakes on pregnancy brain. I did.
8. Weird dreams. This one I was not expecting, but it's followed me into my second trimester. My first weird dream? Adam left and I was left to raise my kids (I had more than one) and then my brother moved in with me and it was like Full House. I was Candace Cameron Bure in Fuller House living with my kids and my friends ad my brother. They get weirder. The perk - Funny stories.
9. You'll be able to smell like a superhero. This was one of the first sensations I got. The smell of my dogs food made me gag. I can smell BO from across the room and did you know raw chicken has an actual smell and coffee is pungent? But roses smell better, so do burritos and Adam. The perk - You can smell the good food in the restaurant.
10. Anxiety is high. People keep telling me the anxiety is prepping me for motherhood. Before every ultrasound I get so nervous I cry. I pray constantly and I just wish this little baby girl was here already. But, the anxiety is all worth the end result. The perk - The end result.
Yes pregnancy is challenging and confusing and I always have so many questions. But, with all that said, its also the best feeling in the world. Seeing your own baby on an ultrasound and hearing his/her heartbeat is the coolest in the world. Now, if we could get these next 5 months moving so baby girl can get here, I'd be okay with that too.
I teamed up with fellow bloggers to host this giveaway!
Enter to win a $400 Target Giftcard by earning points!
The more points you earn, the higher the chance is that you'll win!*
*By entering this giveaway, you agree to opt-into the sponsor's newsletters. More information can be found within the Terms and Conditions.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Social Icons