Challenge for July

Woah! Long time no post. I know, I know. I'm such a slacker. In my defense, June was a crazy busy month with taking mini beach vacations and traveling up north to see family on top of our regular everyday lives. Enough of that, let's get to why I'm really writing this post.

In one of my many social media browsing sessions I came across this post. After reading it, I mentioned it Mike who agreed to do it with me. Let's face it, we both need a little kick in the behind to get ourselves on the right track.

As you can see above, I have printed it out and taped it to my kitchen cabinet so that we will see it every time we enter our kitchen. Soda is his vice and sweets are mine. This should be just the little reminder we both need to get a jump start on eating better.

While it is only supposed to be a 30 day challenge, we decided to give it a go for the month of July; technically making it 31 days. I'm excited, and nervous, to see what this month has in store for us. I know, some days will be easier than others, but that's life. I will be posting, or trying to post, every Friday to keep you guys updated with how we are doing. I *might* even weigh in tonight just to see if there is any weight loss progress. You'll have to come back next week to see whether I did or not. Lol!

Have you ever tried this type of challenge, or any 30 day food challenges, in the past? How did you do? I would love to hear about it in the comments AND I would love to have you join in on the fun!

Hugs!

Play! Time

When Sephora jumped on the beauty box bandwagon I knew I wanted to sign up for it. I'm very much an amateur, as you may have guessed, and Sephora is all things beauty, so I definitely expected to get my money's  worth.

If you are unfamiliar with the Play! by Sephora box. It is $10 a month, $10.70 with tax, and they send you 5-6 samples from items that they carry in their stores. This is a great way to try new items WITHOUT spending hundreds. The box always ships in the third week of the month, so keep that in mind as well. You can find out more info and sign up for the wait list here.

Above you will see how this month's box looked when I opened it. I was surprised to see the box with only stripes because previous month's boxes have had a lipstick design on them.  The theme for this box is The Forces of Nature and I am super excited about it!

I'm most excited about those masks, so let's start there...

First up is the Korres - Wild Rose Sleeping Facial. It is described as a lightweight facial treatment that melts into the skin to brighten and moisturize with wild rose oil. That sounds amazing and I can't wait to try it!

Next comes the Origins - Maskimizer - Skin Optimizing Mask Primer with two sample mask formulas. The innovative primer spray is said to provide optimal mask results. One mask is for purifying and one is for deep moisturizing. I love a good mask and I hope that these don't disappoint. Especially with this primer spray. 

Lips are the one thing I really like to apply before leaving the house, because I'm always in sunglasses so you see them most. This month's box featured Tarte's - Tarteist Lip Crayon in Latergram, a lip liner and primer, and Bite Beauty's - Amuse Bouche Lipstick in Kimchi. While I'm not over the moon excited about these, I am happy to have a neutral liner and fun pink lipstick.

I was very nervous to see that there was a perfume sample included because I am so picky, but Atelier Cologne - Orange Sanguine was a great summer choice. It is a very refreshing scent that I hope my husband will enjoy on me.

Lastly, the Briogeo - Don't Despair, Repair! - Deep Conditioning Mask was included. This is an intensely hydrating formula to repair and restore for lustrous, healthy hair. I will likely not be using this product. I already have very healthy hair, because I do not color or damage it with heat basically ever. Maybe you will see this sample in a future giveaway!

Overall, I feel like this was a big win for me, since I will be using 5 out of 6 products. Also, if you see anything you are interested in, you can find a link to each full size item by clicking on the name of the item. 

What did you think about this month's box? Did you receive it? Do you think you will sign up for future boxes? Let me know in the comments below!

Hugs!

Decorative Planning?!

Those two words seem weird together, but if you have access to the internet and *try* to keep up with trends you will know that it is becoming quite popular. I've decided that I'm going to do a series of posts about all things decorative planning.

Let's start at the beginning.

I've been a planner since, at least, middle school. I remember covering my school agenda book in stickers and gum wrappers; you know the foil ones you can peel apart. That continued through my entire school career and into the college years. I transferred into a small calendar after high school to track my work hours,  appointments and such. After that, I opted to just use my phone calendar mostly. I also kept a wall calendar with all of the important things on it, so I could see them regularly.

Moving on to when I had my oldest son. I went back to carrying a small calendar in my purse to track all of the doctor appointments. I didn't get rid of my wall calendar though. Who can resist the cute pictures on them?! Not I. This was basically my routine until last July, when I was able to start using my Plum Paper Planner.  Being the crafty person that I am, I knew decorative planning would be a fun outlet for me, especially since I had just become a stay at home mom and I was losing my mind trying to figure out my day. 

That brings us to how I got started. Let's just say, instagram has a plethora of inspiration. One simple search of #plannercommunity, #plannergirl, or #planneraddict among various other hash tags will bring up thousands of photos of beautifully decorated planners. Planners?! Yes, planners.

There are so many Etsy shops dedicated to stickers and other planner accessories. Some of my favorites on Etsy include Pretty on Paper Co., The Sticky Cactus, Plan with Pizazz and Paper Ennui. There are also stand alone sites like Oh Hello Stationery Co. (<-This link will get you $5 off your first purchase.) and Krissy Anne Designs that are amazing.

My "style" has changed many times and I'm even in a different planner than I was when I started. I realized that I need a little more structure within a few months. Right around the time I realized I needed a different planner I was gifted an Erin Condren Life Planner. (<-That link will get your $10 off your first purchase.) This is one of the more popular planners you will find in this community. 

I'm now a functional planner, with some decorative elements. At one point I was more of a cutesy decorative kinda gal - but then I realized I was having difficulty using my planner. I was becoming very easily distracted. 

Finding out what works for you will be lots of trial and error. I suggest figuring out what to want in a planner and then doing some searches on YouTube to see which one could be a good fit for you. If you decide you want to give decorative planning a shot weekly kits and samplers will give you a good place to start. It will help you see what you like and will use. Ultimately, a planner should help make your life easier and if it isn't doing that it might be time to reevaluate the situation. 

Are you a decorative planner? Do you want to give it a go? Let me know in the comments. 

Hugs!

My First Ever Subscription!

Just as the title suggest I got my first ever subscription box - err bag - in the mail this week! I had been stalked the tracking for what seemed like an eternity.

The bag that I received was from Ipsy. While I know I'm late to the game and most people are already familiar with it, for those of you who aren't Ipsy is a $10 beauty bag monthly subscription. Each month you are charged $10 on the 1st and the bag is shipped out around the 10th. Inside of the bag you will find 5 deluxe samples of beauty products, or beauty tools. Each month there is a new theme and the products vary based upon ,how you answer the beauty quiz.

Above you will find the goodies that came in my bag this month. I also got a free EM Cosmetics palette for signing up this month. Now, let's talk a little more about the products that were included this month and how I feel about them.

1. Crazy Rumors - HibisKiss Natural Lip Color in Coral 

This appears to be a full size product. I love how soft it is on my lips and I love the slight pop of color that it gives. I'm definitely excited to really try it out. 

2. Jelly Pong Pong Cosmetics - Caribbean Sun Bronze Duo in Aruba

Another full size product, or pretty close to it. I'm feeling excited to try it. I'm used to using a more shimmery bronze and this one is definitely more matte. I'm looking forward to stepping out of my normal realm.

3. Trissola - Chia Smoothing Oil

This was my least exciting product. I think it will definitely be nice to try, buy I would have rather had something more makeup or skincare related. This product is not full size, but is a nice sized sample.

4. Glamour Dolls - Blending Brush #10 (Sperm Whale Edition) 

 A girl can never have too many brushes. Am I right?! This brushes bristles are soft to the touch and are perfect for all over blending.

5. IT Cosmetics - No-Tug Waterproof Mini Gel Eyeliner in Black

Eyeliner is one of those things I feel is an essential and I was happy to receive this one. It swatches very black on my hand and was very smooth when applying. This is the perfect size for tucking into your wallet or pocket for a night out.

Overall, I'm super excited about this bag and I can't wait to see what next month has in store for me. If you like makeup and want to give Ipsy at try you can do so here.

Do you get Ipsy? How did you like this month's bag? Let me know in the comments.

Hugs!

Honey Lime Tilapia

In an effort to find a way to prepare fish that my whole family would eat, I stumbled upon this recipe on One Lovely Life. I didn't follow the recipe exactly, but it turned out amazing and is now in our regular rotation!

You will need the following for the marinade:

4 Tilapia fillets, thawed if frozen
Juice and zest of a lime, or two in our case - We love the fresh taste!
1 Tbsp Olive Oil
1½ Tbsp Honey - I eyeballed this and used raw local honey.
Salt, Pepper & Garlic to taste

Combine the marinade ingredients in a gallon-sized zippered bag or container with a lid, then add the fish. I actually cut my fillets in half before adding them into the bag, because that serving size works best for our family with two small children. Then I throw the limes into the bag after I juice them, mix it all around and put it in the refrigerator for 1-24 hours. I prepare ours in the morning for dinner time, so it sits for around 7-8 hours. 

When you are ready to cook it, take it out of the refrigerator and mix ½ cup of flour (I used All Purpose) with salt and pepper, for dredging, on a plate. Then heat the olive oil in a pan on medium, medium-high heat, around 6 or so on my stove, until it's slightly shimmering.

Next you are going to want to lightly coat each side of the fillets with the flour mixture. Only frying 2-3 at a time, so you aren't overcrowding the pan works best. You want the fish to be opaque and beautifully browned on each side. This takes around 3-5 undisturbed minutes per side.

Voila! I served ours with some rice and veggies on the side. Side note: I'm not sure why my last picture looks so much better than the other two. Maybe it was the light from the stove?

Any who, I would love to hear your family's favorite fish recipes. We are trying to expand our diet and I am always looking for new recipes to try!

Hugs!

Simple, with Sultry Tastes....

When it comes to makeup I would definitely say I'm an amateur. I like to throw some lips and eye liner/shadow on - with maybe a splash of blush or bronzer - and call it a day, mainly because that's an easy routine and my skin is so sensitive.

Realistically speaking, I might wear makeup twice a month. When I do it's for a day out with the family, or if I know I'm going to be photographed some. Being a stay at home mom means that I don't regularly go out on the town, if you know what I mean. This shouldn't be my excuse, but my kids don't care what I look like. (Lol.)

With all of that being said, I decided in the last few weeks that I want to put a little more time into me. Not only to make myself feel better, but also to give my husband that extra something that I know he loves. He always tells me how beautiful I am, even with 3 am bedhead and sleepies in my eyes, so he doesn't need me to do myself up but, I know that he loves the way my eyes look when I do put makeup on.

I decided to sign up for two beauty boxes, Ipsy and Sephora Play. They are both $10 a month, so I feel like this could be a good way to try different products to see what I like, before I spend a boat load on things I find that I don't care for. I've been watching unbagging videos for Ipsy for probably a year, or better, and unboxing ones for Play since it was released several months ago. I'm excited to see what I get in my first month's subscriptions, and I am hopeful that I will be able to find both a simple, everyday look, and a sultry, sexy look that works for me.

Do you have a makeup/beauty product that you love? What about a beauty subscription box? I would love to hear about it in the comments.

Hugs!

Obviously I'm struggling....

I've spend so much time trying to find balance in my life that I've lost myself along the way. I'm going to spend the next week really getting my priorities straight in preparation for May.

Why for May you ask? Well because one of my favorite planner girls, Kayla from Oh, Hello Stationery Co., has decided to launch a helloigans #blogpack. This is a group of awesome peeps who are all going to support and help one another become better. Kayla is also a great YouTuber and you can check her out here.

Anywho, I can't wait to see what the next month brings for all of us and our blogs!

xoxo

White Sox Mom

Let me start by saying, apparently I'm a slacker and I never got a blog post up on Thursday. Oops!

We found out on Wednesday evening that Keegan would be playing for the White Sox for Little League Minors Baseball. I'm excited to see him play and I feel indifferent about the team. While I would definitely prefer the Red Sox, White Sox will have to do in this circumstance! lol.

It wasn't until a few days ago that I even knew that "Little League" was an actual league. Talk about an ah-ha moment. I've heard the terms "Cal Ripken" and "Babe Ruth," but I never realized there were actual leagues that made them different. I just assumed that they were age groups, or just adopting those names because of sponsorship or something. I was clueless about youth baseball. Really, we have only ever been in one soccer league. I've seen some flag football and tee-ball leagues before, but I've never actually been associated with one of those leagues. Did any of you realize that those three were completely different leagues? Have your kids ever played in one of them? Does anyone know what makes them different?

Anyway, we had team pictures today and the coach and team mom were asking about volunteers. I decided to speak up and opted to help the team mom with whatever she needed. Keep in mind that I have no idea what a team mom is supposed to do. Hopefully she can help me with that. She says this is her first year doing it on her own and that she was the assistant last year. Does anyone know what a team mom does? Has anyone ever been in the team mom, or assistant team mom position before? 

I'm ready to see where this stage in our life takes us and I'm definitely open to suggestions or advice from anyone. Like I said I basically clueless when it comes to youth baseball! Until next time, leave any and all advice or comments down below. Please!

Hugs!

Week Two Check In

First, let me start by saying that I did not work out a single day last week.

I know, I know, I should have - but my sister was staying with us and I just couldn't find the time and motivation to do so. She left Valentine's Day morning so this week I will be on my grind to get into a real routine.

When I did my measurements this week I was expecting it to be all bad. I did gain .75 inches overall, but I thought it would be much worse. Getting myself into the routine of working out 5 days a week has been difficult for me. Even with an online support group, I still find myself struggling. It's just not the same as having someone workout with you and push you to do that extra minute of cardio or five more push ups when you are ready to throw in the towel. My husband is that partner some days, but others he is exhausted after working a super long work day and commuting an hour each way - which is 1000% fine with me, but it doesn't make it any easier when I really just wanna shower and snuggle with him.

I should be the motivation I need to be for myself, but I'm still struggling to find that each day. The way I feel about how I look in the mirror should be motivation enough every day to fix it, but it's not because I just avoid the mirror instead. I will get there. I need to believe that I am worth it. I AM WORTH IT.   

What do you do to help keep you on track? I'd love to hear about it below.

Hugs!

Budgeting

Let me preface this post by saying, I am definitely not an expert on this topic and I've been struggling like crazy since we decided that I would be staying home to work out a budget that is right for us.

Mike and I have been discussing getting out of debt so that we can buy a house for quite a while, but we haven't taken the steps to do so yet. Beginning this month we've decided to start the journey using mostly Dave Ramsey's method to do so. It really seems like the best/most logical way to do so.

We actually watched this video on YouTube together -  there is also a book called The Total Money Makeover that you can get to explain the method in much greater detail.

If you aren't familiar with Dave Ramsey's method I'll explain it briefly. His method works on baby steps - very similarly to those on a ladder. You do not go to the next step, until you complete the current step. I should also add that if you aren't making your bills now, you should stop and re-evaluate your money to try to come up with a budget that you can stick to before you start the baby steps! Make sure all of your money has a place and none of it is "free" money. If you want to allot $50/month to hobbies, then that gives it a purpose. Now on to the steps.

Baby Step 1 is to get a $1,000 Emergency Fund as soon as possible. With tax season, right around the corner, this step should be easy enough for some people. This money should NOT be easily accessible, but you should be able to get to it if you needed it for a catastrophe.

Baby Step 2 is paying off all of your debt using the Debt Snowball. Meaning, you should list all of you debts from smallest to largest and pay at least the minimum payment to all of them. Any extra money should go to the smallest debt so you can pay it off first. Once it is paid off you take that dollar amount and move it to the next one up the list, and so on, until you have them all paid off except the highest. Basically any money you are no longer paying to a paid off debt IS NOT free money and should move to another debt to help you pay more off faster. Really this is common sense, but some how we completely missed it. *(insert eye roll here)*

Baby Step 3 is to get 3-6 months of expenses in your savings account. This is where buying a house comes into it. He says not to buy a house until you have completed this step and get a mortgage that is only a quarter of your monthly income.

Baby Steps 4-6 should be completed at the same time. Contradictory right?! Except not so much, because when you see what they are it makes sense.

Step 4 is to invest 15% of your income towards retirement. Simple enough.

Step 5 is to save for your kids' college education. Dave suggests an ESA, or education IRA, because they are TAX-FREE and you can add $2,000 per year. For us, this is a very important step. We want to be able to help our children pay for college without struggling.

Step 6 is to pay off your house early! Every bit of money that you have that doesn't already have a purpose, should go to paying your house off. He says DO NOT keep a mortgage for the tax deduction. When you do the math, it just isn't smart.

Number 7 is a no brainer for us. Build wealth and give. To quote Mr. Ramsey, wealth is not an escape mechanism, it is a tremendous responsibility and you should have three types of money when you make it to this step - Fun, Invest & Give money. Do the right thing and share the wealth.

Who else is on the path to being debt free this year? What methods are you using? Have you tried the Dave Ramsey method? I'd love to hear your thoughts below!

Hugs!

Tasty Thursday!

I'm back this week with our menu. I'm actually pretty proud of myself for remembering to come back and post it!

Any who, without further ado here's what we have had so far this week:

Monday - Pizza & Salad at Mike's mom's
Tuesday - Pork Chops with Rice & Broccoli
Wednesday - Roasted Chicken with Mashed Potatoes & Veggies

Tonight we are having leftovers and then the rest of the week will be as follows:

Friday - Ribs with Stir Fry Veggies
Saturday - Hamburgers & Hot Dogs from the Grill with something on the side
Sunday - Likely leftovers, but maybe I'll make something special for Valentine's Day!

What's on your menu? What's your favorite dish? I'm always looking for something new to make. Leave me a comment down below!

Hugs!

Week One Update!

Today I'm back with my week one update!

Last week I lost a total of 1.5 inches. I lost .5" on my chest, waist and thighs. My hips and arms stayed the same. Overall that is exactly what I expected. My diet was not the best this week and I slacked on my workouts. 

I had intended to workout five days this week, but I only actually worked out three. I was too tired or just didn't want to some of the other days. I really feel like this is what I need to work on. In addition to having some really eh days, I also have my sister in town for a visit and we all had ice cream. It was such delicious ice cream too. 

I foresee this week being difficult, because I'm going to want to eat treats and will probably not make the best choices since we have a visitor in our house - but we will see. Hopefully, I will resist and make better decisions. 

You can find this week's short, and sweet, video update here on my YouTube channel. It's a very impromptu vlog-style video because the baby was asleep (and I'm still trying to get the hang of it), but it's there nonetheless. I would love it if you subscribed and left me some feedback.

Check back Thursday for a budgeting blog on how we are going to be working on getting out of debt!

Hugs!

Meal Planning & Tasty Thursdays?

I am terrible at actually sticking to a meal plan when I make one - which makes us spend far too much money on food some months. I mean some days, I just don't want to cook, and some days I just don't want to make the same things!

Then, it came to me. I can add a weekly meal plan to the blog and maybe others can chime in on what they are making to give me ideas! I think I will call it 'Tasty Thursday" and try to post my weekly menu each week on Thursdays!

Here's our menu for the current week:

Monday - Chicken & Rice with Veggies
Tuesday - Boneless Ribs, Rice & Broccoli
Wednesday - Cube Steak with Salad
Thursday - Pita Pockets
Friday - Pork Chops, Yellow Rice & Veggies
Saturday - Crock Pot Chicken Tacos
Sunday - Leftovers / Possibly eating out!

What's for dinner at your house this week? I would love to hear in the comments below.

Time to Get Fit!

My weight has always been something that I have struggled with. I can't remember a time when I was 100% happy with how I looked. I have definitely been more comfortable in my skin than I am right now - but I have also been less comfortable as well. I've been especially lax with my food intake since I've had Bodhi and I've been breastfeeding, therefore I've not taken off all of my baby weight.

To the right here, you see the before picture I took yesterday morning. It definitely took a lot for me to post it here and make myself feel vulnerable and open to scrutiny. Shortly after I took these pictures, I got out my measuring tape. I was not happy with where I am there either, but I wasn't surprised either. I mean, when you eat as many sweets as I have been, you are definitely going to pack on the pounds, and inches.

I'm currently not at the biggest I've ever been, but here is a promise to myself to not get to that point again. I'm a rather short girl, only 5'3" ish, and chubby is not flattering at all on me.

I've decided to take weekly videos documenting my journey this time. You can find the link to it here. I would love to hear what you think or have you join in on the journey! Women are better together!

Hugs!

Finding Balance

I never could have imagined that being a stay at home mom would be this trying on my emotions. I'm quite positive that I had the wrong mentality going into this. I knew two things. I was not ready to leave my sweet Bodhi and we needed to save money on childcare - two children under 5 is pricey even working in the preschool field.

Sure, I would be doing all the household things I was doing before, like laundry and cleaning, but now I would have so much time to do it since I wasn't gone 10 hours a day. I thought my house would always be clean. Boy was I wrong.

I forgot to factor in having an infant attached, to eat and just snuggle mommy, multiple times a day, or picking up the toys that are thrown all over the living room 400 times every hour.

I forgot to factor in traveling to and from Keegan's school twice a day or the extra time it takes to get ready to leave the house with an infant.

I forgot to factor in the extra time the grocery store would now take, because Bodhi is pulling something down or throwing it out of the cart and Gavin wants this or that - from every aisle.

While I forgot to factor in all of these things -  I also failed to allot time for myself. I failed to factor in the little bit of me time that came with going to work everyday or the occasional shopping trip alone. I didn't realize how important having 15 minutes alone or getting out of this house was for my sanity.

While I spend my days doing my mommy and wifey tasks - I now take 30 minutes of Bodhi's nap time to do something I want to do. This may include Youtubing, window shopping online, planning, my nails, a nap - or whatever floats my boat. Also, we spend one morning a week at our library for 'Baby & Me' and I spend way too much time aimlessly walking around Target just to get out of the house.

Anyway, the point of this post is to remind stay at home & work at home parents or spouses alike to make sure that you take time for yourself and find the balance to keep your sanity. Otherwise, you will most definitely go stir crazy!

Hugs!

Reality

My last post was about co-parenting and what I know it should and could be. This one is going to be about the reality for most people in this type of relationship.

Parts of this blog, will be ranting - so if that's not your thing, this isn't your post. Mmmmkay?! Check back next Tuesday for something a little more subdued! :) 

I want to start by saying, 'co-parenting is one of the most difficult things I have ever done - but I wouldn't change having made the decision to do so' - again. I think this is something that most step/bonus parents can relate to. I knew it was going to be a challenge (obviously two different houses have two different guidelines), but as the time goes on things should be easier. It would get easier. Time heals all wounds right? Maybe that is true in some cases, but not in so many others. 

I said in the previous post that the child's best interest should always come first and that you have to learn to put whatever disagreements, or dislikes for any party involved, you have aside and do what is best. I wish it were always that simple. I feel like some people can't look past any personal feelings to do what is best sometimes. Let's face it adulting is hard. 

I also feel that many people do not think both parents are equally important. A child needs, both, their mother and father. Yes, mothers carry and birth them, but that does not make them more important - or superior - despite popular belief. Each parent plays their own role and each parent is vital to the child. I feel I should also add that, a parent IS NOT DEFINED BY BIOLOGICAL TIES. Every child needs a mother figure and a father figure, even if it is not their "biological" one. 

Furthermore, I feel the need to reiterate that a child is not a toy to be tugged back and forth or dangled in front of the other parent to get what you want. You should not treat them as if their feelings don't matter, or manipulate any situation to accomodate your own agenda. Please refer to my fourth blurb to concrete this a little more. There should be no back and forth, or fighting  over the child - or around the child. Same goes for name calling. It is ridiculous. Are we not all "grown ups" here?!

This is where it becomes a little more personal for me. I get it. Maybe we haven't always been on the best of terms, but I'm not the devil. I just want to be another loving watchful protector for him and any other child in this twisted world. I would expect ANY bonus parent - or adult with a morals - to do this. The children are the ones who suffer in these complicated relationships. Let that sink in. Just remember, before you point fingers and say whatever it is that you are thinking, about whatever grudges you are holding, make sure your hands are clean. Take time to think about how you would feel if the shoe were on the other foot. Everyday doesn't have to be a walk in the park, but it shouldn't feel like a cage match either. 

God knows what he is doing and obviously our children need, many watchful loving adults in their lives. Things don't need to be difficult. Sit back, relax, and embrace the life - and families - that we have all been given.

Co-Parenting

Let me start by saying, co-parenting is one of the most difficult things I have ever done - but I wouldn't change having made the decision to do so. I love Gavin, just as if he was my own. 

I knew when I got with my, now, husband that would mean learning to co-parent with his ex - and her new husband. This has been quite the learning experience for my family. While our situation is unlike others, it is alike in that aspect, so I want to talk about what I have learned in my experience.

1. The child's, or children's, best interest should always come first. You have to learn to put whatever disagreements, or dislikes for any party involved, you have aside and do what is best for them. Especially around the holidays when everyone obviously wants to spend time with the child. This does not mean arguing over who gets Thanksgiving or who gets Christmas, but compromising and ensuring the child gets equal time with both parents.

2. Remember that both parents are equally important. A child needs both their mother and father, so don't try to make one feel like they are the lesser parent. This is not the case. 

3. A child is not a yo-yo, or a boomerang. Therefore you should not treat them as if they are a toy to be fought over.

4. Even if you absolutely can not stand the other parent, you should never bad mouth or talk down on them - especially in front of the child. Children are sponges and everything you say is absorbed, which means you could be creating a bad image for the other parent, just by what you are saying. Take time to think about how you would feel if your child thought you were a bad person.

And lastly, number 5. Step-parents, or as I like to say bonus parents, usually are not the devil and you should embrace them. (Unless of course they aren't being a good influence, and in that case protect the babies!) The same rule applies to bad mouthing them - just don't do it.  Keep in mind that any parent, step or "real" could be ugly, but most are there to love and support the child(ren).

Parenting is hard work and I'm a firm believer in the phrase "it takes a village". After all, I'm pretty sure we have all wished for a second pair of hands - maybe this was God's way of giving them to us. 

Are you a bonus parent? Do you have a bonus parent in your life? I would love to hear about your experiences below.

My Moon Studios

First and foremost, I want to talk about the planner community as a whole. 90% of the women who I have come in contact with have been so sweet and generous - with a little sass of course. With that being said, today I want to take some time to talk about one in particular.

A week or two ago I won a $25 shop credit to a place called My Moon Studios on Etsy. From the beginning, I was excited because her designs were gorgeous! While I was having trouble deciding, I messaged Susan and asked her about making a semi - complicated custom order. She happily obliged!  I finished putting my order together, paid the difference and shot her a message letting her know to please message me if she was confused by any of it!

Next came the waiting period, which actually hasn't been that long! She shipped the next day, which was a Saturday, and it arrived yesterday, which was Wednesday.

Let's just say I was FLOORED when I opened the mailer! Not only did it come in a gorgeous gold mailer, with a handwritten card, but it was in a plastic sleeve as most are. That wasn't what had me so shocked. It was the stack of stickers! I was certain that I didn't order that many.

She had sent me extra sheets ensuring that my order was correct. I can't say enough about how kind that was of her. She definitely out did herself.

Anyway, if you are a planner girl you can find her shop here, and her instagram here. Seriously, go check her out. I promise you won't regret it!

Check back every Tuesday and Thursday for a new blog post - or at least that's the plan!

Learning Time Management

This morning during my normal "down time" - right after I get Keegan off to school and while Bodhi and I are having breakfast - I was watching videos on You Tube. One of my favorite You Tubers Samantha, from Happily a Housewife, posted a video with her Top 10 Time Management Tips. It really couldn't have come at a better time.

In this video she talks a lot about learning to manage your time wisely, and references being a stay at home mom with young children frequently. Going along with what I have already been attempting to do this year, I feel like it was definitely exactly the motivation that I needed. Some of these tips are things I already do - like delegating chores for the kids to do - but others were definitely things that I need to work on. 

Social media is one of those things that I definitely let take way too much of my time some days, but others it is simply me not being able to find the motivation to do things. She also talks about maximizing your most productive time, or times, of the day. For me that is during Bodhi's morning nap AND after Keegan is home from school, but before my husband gets home from work. During these times, I usually get the most accomplished however, there are some days (more frequently than not these days) that I struggle getting things accomplished because it feels so monotonous. I'm going to make a real effort to start implementing some of her tips, like using a timer on the days that I don't feel like doing anything and scheduling out my days. Hopefully this will help me learn to maximize my time and manage it wisely. 

After all, she's right each person only gets 24 hours in a day, what you do with it is up to you.

What Am I Doing?

With the new year, comes new everything usually. I'm trying to begin this year on the right track, but I'm struggling!

Since I was 16 I have worked consistently, with the exception of my first born's pregnancy - I was on bed rest from 14 weeks until after he was born. Next month is the one year anniversary of me becoming a stay at home mom. While I absolutely LOVE being able to see every single milestone that my sweet Bodhi is meeting daily, some days I find myself lost. What exactly am I doing with my days?

My planner helps me keep track of appointments, family stuff, and things that I need to get accomplished, but what about me. Besides being a mom and wife, what exactly is my purpose? That is what I need to figure out. 

Before I became a stay at home mom, I got up and got everyone ready for their days. When I was done doing that, I took myself to work being a VPK teacher. That was my norm. My routine. I knew when I had Bodhi that there would be a transitional period both with going from two to three children AND going from being a full time working mom to a stay at home mom. I never could have imagined that it would take this long. I've tried to do a few work from home type of things, but I can't find the motivation to do them - and then I feel like I've failed. 

This year is going to be all about finding myself and what I am doing.

PS. Please excuse the blog, while I get it exactly how I want it!