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5 Ways To Love Yourself And Feel Better About Who You Are

Are you unhappy with the way you look? Do you find yourself admiring your friends or celebrities and wishing you looked more like them? You are not alone. Many people are unhappy with their appearance, but you must start loving yourself. These tips can help you love yourself and feel better.

How to Love Yourself And Feel Better About Who You Are

Focus on Staying Healthy

Beauty starts from within, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can make you feel better about your appearance. When you feel good about yourself, you tend to feel better overall. You will have more energy and fewer mood swings from eating lots of sugar and other unhealthy foods. A healthy lifestyle will also improve your physical appearance. It will help you maintain a healthy weight, and your skin will glow.

Think Carefully Before Making any Major Decisions

Many people have plastic surgery when they are unhappy with their appearance. While there is nothing wrong with this, you need to think very carefully before doing so. Will you be happy and content once you have had the surgery? Or, will there be something else you want to change? If something goes wrong, you will need a medical malpractice attorney to help you take legal action. Whatever you choose is fine, but make sure you think it through and consider these things. 

Take a Break From the Mirror

Are you constantly looking in the mirror all of the time? If so, it is time to take a break because obsessing over your appearance won’t help. Beauty is all about how you feel inside, not about what you look like in the mirror. Have you ever met someone who thought she was ugly when you thought she was beautiful? It shows how beauty comes from within – it is more of a personality trait if you think about it. You have to feel beautiful yourself, and that feeling comes from the heart, mind, and soul, not the eyes.

Wear Comfortable Clothes

Do you try to squeeze yourself into fashionable clothes that you don’t like wearing or wear high heels even though you hate them? Or, do you plaster makeup on and wear false lashes even though they irritate your eyes? If so, time to stop! You need to wear what you feel comfortable in if you want to feel beautiful.

Smile to Love Yourself And Feel Better

Last but not least, try to smile more! It is clichéd, but people do look much, much better when they smile. It doesn’t matter who you are, how old you are, what you look like, or how bad you think your smile is; you are going to look and feel much better and healthier if you appear happy.

Love Yourself And Feel Better

If you follow these steps, you should start to feel better and more confident. Many people hate their appearance, but it is often due to misbeliefs and misconceptions we have planted in our minds due to society and social media. You are you. You are unique, and that is why you are beautiful!

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Health Healthy Living Mental Health On My Mind

19 Practical Self Care and Me Time Ideas For Adults

When life gets busy, it’s hard to find time for practical self care, but it is SO important that you squeeze in a little each day. A couple of hours to yourself is ideal, but sometimes you can only squeeze in 15 minutes at a time. That’s okay! A little time is better than no time at all, and you must make yourself a priority. You can’t give your all to your kids, your partner, your job, etc. if you are not making YOU a priority.

I learned the hard way how important self-care is. I let myself become overwhelmingly burnt out and still refused to do anything about it. The emotional burn-out made me feel grumpy, emotional, short-tempered, and like I couldn’t even accomplish the smallest tasks. Still, I was piling more and more stuff onto my already full plate and couldn’t keep up. I felt like I had no time for myself so I just ignored the need to relax and enjoy ME. It got to the point where I just couldn’t do it anymore.

Finally, I caved and asked my husband to take the kids somewhere for a couple of hours so I could have a break. It was just what I needed. By the time they got home, I was happy to see them and much more rejuvenated. Now I make sure that self care and me-time are a normal part of my life.

Before You Begin Practical Self Care

If you don’t have the option of asking your partner to take the kids, ask a family member or a close friend. If those aren’t options, take the kids to the park all day and wear them out so that they will go to bed quickly and easily. Ignore your usual chores or nightly routine for one night and get that practical self care and me-time you need. You have got to take care of yourself!

Before you start your self-care time, turn your phone off. Don’t let anyone or anything interfere with your time. If you need to leave it on, turn the volume up and leave it across the room or in another room where you will hear it but won’t be so tempted to scroll through social media.

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Ideas For Practical Self Care and Me Time

1. Take a Bath and Pamper Yourself

Run a hot bath, use a bath bomb, light some candles, turn on music, and pour a glass of wine. Put on a face mask, exfoliate, and read a book while you relax. Afterward, paint your fingernails and toenails. By the time you’re done, you will feel so good and relaxed.

Practical Self Care

2. Catch Up On a Favorite TV Show

Take some time to binge-watch your favorite TV show or something you’ve been wanting to try out. Make sure you have some yummy snacks and comfy clothes.

3. Stick to Your Skincare Routine

Practical Self Care

Finding a skincare routine that works for you and makes you feel good is essential. By ensuring you take care of your skin each day, you will experience a boost of happiness each time you do it. Focus on preventing blemishes, eliminating acne scars, and keeping your skin healthy.

4. Spend Time Outside

Garden, go for a walk, lay out in the sun, read a book outside, watch the sunrise or sunset, or simply sit outside and enjoy the breeze. It doesn’t matter what you decide to do out there, just get outside and breathe in the fresh air.

5. Try Yoga to Enhance Practical Self Care

Find a beginner’s video on YouTube or Amazon and give yoga a shot. You could even try to find a beginners class near you, but for me, I have to do yoga when the kids are in bed so *this video* is where it’s at for me.

6. Write in a Journal

Make time every day to write. Write about your day, your feelings, what you’re grateful for, or anything else that comes to mind. The point is to get your thoughts out on paper no matter what they are. You can find super cute journals on Amazon or you can check out your local Target.

7. Cook or Bake While Focusing on Practical Self Care

Take time to make your favorite recipes, or try something completely new. For practical self-care, do your cooking and baking alone instead of with your kids. You can cook with them later, but right now, focus on enjoying your time alone.

8. Relax, Stretch, Take a Nap

Sometimes the best type of practical self care is to spend time relaxing and stretching your body. If you get so relaxed that you feel like taking a nap, do it!

9. Take Yourself On a Date

Do whatever makes YOU happy. Since you’re the only one on the date, you don’t have to worry about anyone else. You can go to a movie, eat at your favorite restaurant, or have a picnic. Make sure it’s a relaxing date!

10. Enjoy Coffee in Peace

For me, this means waking up before my kids and curling up with a hot cup of coffee while I read a book or watch something on TV. Sometimes I sit on our patio and enjoy the cool morning alone.

11. Enjoy the Water

Go to a nearby lake, river, or ocean and just relax. Don’t do anything while you’re there… just be. Spend time meditating or focusing on your breathing.

12. Read a Book for Practical Self Care

Curl up with your favorite blanket or find a relaxing spot outside to read a book. Choose one that helps you relax rather than something that makes you feel anxious or sad.

13. Read a Magazine While Enjoying Your Favorite Beverage

Magazines aren’t as popular as they used to be, but I love to spend time reading them and looking at the pages. I love the Magnolia Journal or Good Housekeeping. There are other magazines that I enjoy, both of those are the ones I regularly have and look forward to.

Then, choose your favorite beverage to enjoy while you browse the magazine. For me, it’s wine, of course.

14. Make a List of Your Goals and Create Vision Boards

Make a list of your short-term or long-term goals. Your goals could be oriented around your career, family, personal life, or home. Whatever it is that will make your life better, begin determining your goals in that area.

Once you have a good idea of your goals, create a vision board. Vision boards will help you remember what you are working toward, giving you inspiration and motivation moving forward.

15. Do Your Make-up

I’m a mom of five kids, so I rarely have time to do a full make-up routine. My daily routine consists of throwing on some mascara in the car when we arrive wherever we are going. I always enjoy having the chance to take my time and do concealer, foundation, powder, eyeshadow, etc. It is one of my favorite “me time” activities.

16. Do Your Hair for Practical Self Care

When I say do your hair, I don’t mean wash and condition it. I mean that you should take your time and do something super cute that you don’t always have the time to do. Or, you can turn it into a challenge and see what you can come up with within 15 minutes or another set timeframe. You never know, you might find your new favorite hairstyle. Pinterest has a TON of ideas to get you started.

17. Choose New Recipes You Want to Shop For

Look through cookbooks or browse Pinterest for a few new meals to try. Make a list and shop for the ingredients on your next shopping trip.

18. Start Planning For the Next Holiday

When you are excited about an event, the planning process will often prolong the joy you feel. Plan the perfect holiday and start getting things ready, even if the event is still a few months away. I always start with a brain dump because it’s easy to get my first thoughts in order that way.

19. Practice Photography

Take your camera or smartphone and go take photos somewhere. Have a little photoshoot of whatever you want to capture. Practice your camera skills and experiment a little so you can unwind and enhance your skill while having fun.

Practical Self Care

Remember, you must take care of yourself to give your all to anything else in your life. Even if you can only take 15 minutes to yourself, squeeze in something that you enjoy.

Practical Self Care

Leave a comment and let us know how you fit practical self care and me-time into your life!

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Adulting How To Life On My Mind Things to Do

4 Reasons Why Future Planning Is So Important

Adults must plan for their future, but many don’t have any plans beyond the next day. For some, planning too far ahead is a laughable idea because when they plan anything, the universe has other ideas. The problem with a lack of future planning, though, is that it leads to drifting from their lives without considering that there could be a different curve ahead for them. 

The excuses are common: we are busy working, we’re busy studying, we’ll do it tomorrow, having a Will can wait, who needs to learn about urns when there are vacations to go on? The thing is, planning your future isn’t just about you. It’s about the family you save from arguing because you planned a funeral thirty years before the event.

Planning for the future is about the kids who need to know their futures are secured, too. Having a plan for your future is good sense, and it’s much easier to do when you know your reasons. This leads us to the reasons why future planning is so important listed for you below!

Why Future Planning Is So Important

1. Future Planning Gives You Direction

Businesses have a huge plan for their business, and you can have a life plan in the same way. It should detail what you want from your life and how you plan to get there. Consider the place you’re in right now and the place you wish you were in. You have the chance to make that happen when you’re smart about your planning.

2. You Keep Control

Okay, so we can’t actually control our lives, but can we? We may not be able to control the outside forces that dictate the course of our lives or how it ends; however, we can control how we get there and what happens afterward in our funeral efforts. We can control how we plan to reach every milestone. Future planning allows us the feeling of control that we are doing something about the life we have. This feeling goes for every aspect of your life. 

Whether you are searching for a brand new job or if you are searching for a brand new home. You have control over where you work and where you live. Something as small as going to a recruiter to find a job or finding the perfect moving & relocation services that will help you on the day you are moving. You control who you let in to help you, and you control where that help gets you. You are the master of your destiny and although certain things are out of your scope of control, what you can control is the true essence of your life.

3. You Get The Chance to Focus

It’s nice to think about what you want from the future and to plot the path to get there. The point of future planning is to give you focus and ensure that you get where you need to go. 

4. Visualization

Your plan for your future is going to change your life and you can do that when you visualize the plan happening for you in real-time. Being able to visualize your goals helps you get where you want to be with ease.

Future Planning

With future planning, whether for your retirement, your future, or the education of your children, you need a plan. Without a plan, you won’t have any set path, and you won’t know what to spend your life aiming for. With a plan, though, you can relax a little knowing that everything is taken care of.

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How To Be Happy: 4 Tips to Being Genuinely More Joyful and Positive

There are many reasons for wanting to boost your mood and learn how to be happy. The meaning of happiness will vary from one person to another, but it is always good to see what makes others happy. You can find inspiration from others to apply to your life, and it can help you figure out how to be happy. Not only will you see your mood improve, but you can also use this to your advantage and work on other areas of self-improvement, such as building confidence.  

How To Be Happy

1. Stay Busy

Staying busy is a good way to build your self-worth and be happier in life. At the end of the day, looking back to see all you have achieved will make you happy.

However, if you are too busy and feel like you don’t have enough time, this can cause stress and unhappiness. The key is to find a middle ground. Stay busy enough to prevent boredom and dissatisfaction, but don’t overdo it by pushing yourself too much.

2. Smile More

Research shows that smiling releases chemicals in your brain that help you fight off stress. Even on the days when it feels a bit too much, force a smile. You will likely find that even a forced smile will turn into a genuine one, and even if it doesn’t, it will still make you feel happier. 

Of course, if it is your smile that is a factor in your low mood, seeking regular dental assistance and checkups could be the answer. Practices such as Madison Ave Dental are there to help. 

3. Work On Your Relationships

All relationships are important, including those with your friends and your significant other. But, all relationships require work.

Studies show that having quality trusting relationships in your life will boost your happiness. These relationships provide companionship, laughter, someone to talk to, someone to listen to, and someone to share the highs and lows of everyday life with.

You will find joy in taking care of others. So, be proactive with this because relationships are a two-way street. You will get as much out as you put in. Check-in with your loved ones, partake in celebrating their successes, and engage within their lives. 

4. Treat Yourself

If you want to bring joy to someone else, it tends to be done through the concept of giving. You may give flowers, buy a gift, treat them to a day out, or any other small acts. Now, apply the same logic to yourself. You don’t need to rely on others to lift your mood.

If you are in a position to bring about your own happiness, do it. If buying flowers will lift your spirits, then buy them. You don’t need to wait around for someone else to do these kind things for you. If you treat yourself and take care of your desires, you will have figured out how to be happy.

How To Be Happy

How To Be Happy

You deserve happiness, and learning how to be happy can help you achieve it. Try implementing some of these tips in your daily life and see what happens. Do you have anything to add to the list? Leave a comment and let me know!

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Health Healthy Living How To Life Mental Health On My Mind

3 Ways Mental Health Could Reveal Something Missing: Fill The Void With These Inspiring Tips

Mental health is one of the most important health topics, and understanding the troubles that exist in our minds and why they are there is essential to overcoming the battles. It’s amazing to witness this big shift in our society, where millions of people can freely admit they are experiencing mental health issues. Even with this shift, though, there is still so much to learn. What many people don’t know is that mental health battles usually begin when there is something missing.

When there is something missing, it could include a void that was created in your childhood, in your recent life, or something that was just always there without a cause. Let’s explore what your options are to solving these problems.

Something Missing: Filling The Void

The Eternal Void

So many of us have something that experts call an ‘eternal void’. This eternal void is when we are constantly searching for a meaning to life. This is not something that was caused by an event that occurred in your life or something that someone did, although it can be something that triggers it.

Existential thoughts are not uncommon among people who are introverted and socially awkward. For one thing, they have trouble fitting in and don’t see life through the lens that other people do. So the solution is to understand that you are not like the people around you.

Secondly, it’s okay that you are not like everyone else. Start reading up on existential thinking, and you may find that people like Neitzche and Plato were also thinking about these things. Their solutions are real treasures just waiting to be found.

How We Look

Smiling is a part of life, but when you don’t have a pretty smile, hiding it away becomes second nature. Ask yourself, what would you think happens to someone who doesn’t smile even just the average amount? The person would get used to being gloomy and not focusing on the good things of life.

But, what if you have missing teeth and your smile becomes a real social anxiety issue? Then dental veneers for missing teeth is one solution. Rather than getting implants that feel foreign to your mouth, these clip-on veneers that have been made in a 3D printer could bring you the confidence you have been missing.

You don’t have to go anywhere to have them fitted. The pack arrives at your home and you just follow the instructions. 

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Electronic Fog

Electronics have become a big part of our lives. Many of us even use our phones to put us to sleep, which isn’t natural or healthy. The electronic fog is partly spurred by addiction to social media. Constantly scrolling and taking our eye off things that actually help us and make us better people is incredibly detrimental.

One thing you can do to remedy this problem is to shut your phone off after 5 or 6 pm. Tell the people you are close to what you are doing to prevent anyone from taking it personally.

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Mental Health Could Reveal Something Missing

We all have voids to fill, and these are just some of the things that could help you live a better life. Do you have any more you’d like to share? Leave a comment and let me know!

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Adulting How To Life On My Mind

Covid-19: How to Help Small Businesses Amidst the Coronavirus Outbreak

With all the business shutdowns and event cancellations to prevent the spread of Coronavirus (Covid-19), many small businesses are struggling. This means lost funds for employees and business owners and no income to support their families or pay bills.

For some small business, this means returning deposits received from customers for events that now have to be canceled. This could add up to well over $10,000 in refunds on top of lost gigs and payments.

It can be catastrophic to the small businesses, and may even require business closures. Right now, we should all be coming together to find any possible way to keep them afloat. Not only will we be helping other people during a time of crisis, but we will also be helping our economy.

I know most of us want to help but don’t know how. That’s where I come in! I’ve done some research and spoke to business owners to see what might help them during this time. I hope you will all do what you can, no matter how small.

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How to Support Small Businesses

1. Start booking for next year.

When it comes to wedding DJ’s or photographers, Covid-19 has essentially halted business for them until further notice. With the president saying this could last well into July or August, that cuts out one of the busiest times of the year for them.

Most weddings have well over the recommended limit of 10 people, which means that all weddings will have to be canceled or postponed. Not only that, but with government buildings shut down, no one can even apply for a marriage license now.

This is where the deposits may need to be refunded. Many couples who are affected by this limit on gatherings are going to need their deposits back. So, not only are DJ’s losing out on the payments they would receive on the day of the event, but they also have to dish out tons of money.

With all of that being said, we CAN help them hang on and bounce back when everything is overwith. We can do that by booking our events for next year (2021). When you book with them and make your deposit, you’ll not only be giving them a source of income and giving them job security for next year, but you’ll be helping yourself by getting ahead of the rush.

Just think, some of the brides that have to postpone their dates are going to be re-booking for the following year (we hope), so you’ll not only be competing to book dates with those who will be getting engaged in the next year, but also with those who were already engaged and had to reschedule.

2. Buy gift cards

Right now, only restaurants, nail salons, bars, etc. are closed, but small shops and stores are still open. Unfortunately, since many people are self-quarantined and social-distancing because of Covid-19, those small shops are still down in sales now.

With that being said, all of those places can get by if we all just buy gift cards to their establishments. You can buy them for yourself, since you know you’ll be out and about once this situation is more stable, and you can also buy them for gifts. Plan ahead for Christmas or birthdays and support your local economy at the same time.

3. Help keep the employees healthy

If the business is still open, do your part to keep everyone there healthy. Remember, even if you feel fine, you could still be a carrier of the illness. Make sure you are washing your hands, covering your coughs and sneezes, and staying home if you don’t feel well.

Even more important, if the employee has to come inside your home, take the time before they come to sanitize any surface they may have to touch. Do the same when they leave to protect yourself and your family.

4. See if they offer other services

While even small get-togethers are a no-go right now, you can still book smaller things such as photo shoots. For entertainers such as DJ’s, you could maybe ask if they record music for websites, podcast or YouTube introductions, etc. It is always worth a shot to ask!

5. Hire them to do an interview or write a post

Do you have a blog or podcast? Hire small business owners to come on your podcast and talk about what coronavirus means for their business and what it could mean for the future. If you don’t want to talk about Covid-19, just ask other business questions instead, like how they got started and if they have advice for up-and-comers.

Some small business owners are great writers, too, so they could even potentially do a guest post on your blog. Again, the post could be about this pandemic, or it could be about something completely unrelated.

6. Skip the chains

McDonald’s and Wendy’s are going to be fine. Skip the food chains and head to a local business instead. These are the businesses who will be losing the most since their regular customers can no longer come in and sit down to eat.

Order takeout from them and, if you can, try to tip their waitstaff as if you were sitting down to eat. Remember, they are losing a huge income source, too, and they still have families to feed and bills to pay.

7. Share their social media posts

This is the best way to help a small business during this time. When restaurants post images of their carry out menus, share it even if you won’t be eating there. This way the small restaurant may potentially gain new customers.

For other types of small businesses, share their content to help spread the word about their services. You never know, your share could have a huge impact on a small business.

Covid-19: How to Help Small Businesses Amidst the Coronavirus Outbreak

No matter what your stance is on the actions taken to protect against the spread of Coronavirus, we’re all in this together. If we don’t work together to get through this, it could be bad things for our economy and for local small businesses.

Help one another out, help our economy, and do your part to contribute in a positive way. We can all help small businesses in this time of crisis.

Is there something we can do to help small businesses that I didn’t mention on the list? Leave a comment and let me know!

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Adulting How To On My Mind Our Family Parenting

How to Balance a Busy Life and Still Take Care of YOU

Guys, life is CRAZY busy. I’m sure most of you feel the same way. It’s an overwhelming feeling, just knowing that there is ALWAYS something to be done, and finding a way to balance a busy life is the only answer to easing some of those feelings.

I have this overwhelmed feeling quite often, but I’m realizing that it’s even worse this time of year. Back to school time in our household is absolutely insane. We’re going on week 4 of school and things are finally beginning to become more “normal” for us.

That’ll be thrown completely off next week, however, as my daughter is starting 3-year-old preschool and there will be yet another thing thrown into our already busy schedule. It’s so worth it, though. I’ll forever choose providing for my children and giving them every opportunity I can over living a “simple” life.

Our children deserve the best and, as parents, we all know that we’re going to give them the best life that we can. Even if that means running around like crazy from school to practice to work (yep, our teenager just got her first j-o-b!). The only thing we can do is find a way to balance the crazy schedules and stay sane while doing it.

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So what is a mom with a million things on her to-do list to do? Take a bath. Read a book. Listen to music. Watch her favorite Netflix show. Whatever self-care technique you prefer, DO IT.

As parents, we ALWAYS have a million things on our to-do list. Get done what can’t wait, and make the rest wait until tomorrow. Take care of YOU. After all, how can you take care of your child when your own cup is empty?

how to balance a busy life and still take care of you, what to do when life gets too busy, how to manage a busy life with kids, parenting tips

Make a list

Each night before bed, sit down and write out all the things that need your attention in the coming days. This is the easiest part.

Prioritize

First, organize your list into things that cannot wait. Obviously you will have to get those done. Then, take all of the things that need to be done but can wait until tomorrow or until the weekend and put those on a separate list. You can add some of those to your “can’t wait” list the next day.

Schedule self-care time

You have got to take care of yourself. This is the single most important tip. If you aren’t taking care of yourself, you won’t be able to give much more to anyone else. For success and great parenting, you have to make time for yourself. Remember, self care isn’t just about taking a break every so often. You will also need to be in the best way with your health and wellbeing. It might be that you have an appointment to get suspected tinnitus checked out, this could be bringing you down. If you think you have this then take a look at tinnitus treatment options near you.

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Ask for help

Ask your partner, your parents, your siblings or friends… ask whoever you trust with your kids. They’ll be more than willing to help out, and you will be able to take a load off of yourself, even just for one day.

Remind yourself that one day, you’ll miss this

I know you hear this all the time, but it is so true. I get sick of hearing it myself sometimes, but it really does make life a little easier when things get hectic.

One day, life WILL be “simple”, and you’ll think back to the days when your kids were still kids and you were trying to figure out how to balance a busy life. Believe it or not, you will learn for those days back. Try your best to embrace is now… I know that isn’t always possible (TRUST ME), but with intentional reminders, you’ll likely find yourself in a better mood.

Make sure to spend time with your partner

Parenting really takes a strain on your marriage, but you guys are in this together and that means you have to connect in order for things to stay in sync. Nurture this relationship by scheduling regular date nights, even if the dates are in your living room. Just spend time together… have fun and talk.

For more blog posts on marriage, choose one of the following titles:

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Final Thoughts on How to Balance a Busy Life and Still Take Care of YOU

Are you feeling overwhelmed with how much stuff there is to do each day? I’m with you! What do you do to manage it all? Leave a comment and let us know!

how to balance a busy life and still take care of you, what to do when life gets too busy, how to manage a busy life with kids, parenting tips
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A Letter To My First Born as He Starts Kindergarten – A Moms Honest Emotions

As you prepare to start kindergarten, I think back to your infant days, when you wanted to lie in my arms all day long. It seemed like you were always nursing, always needing me.

Back then, I took it for granted. I complained of being tired, sore, needing a break. Now, I want those days back. I want to hold you for 3 hours straight, cuddled up in our favorite chair.

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You’re off to kindergarten now, buddy.

It’s hard to believe that we are at this point in your life already. I’m sure I’ll feel this way each year, with each new grade, but right now it’s constantly on my mind.

I know you’ll love learning, making new friends, and having fun at school, but I can’t help but be a little sad. You are needing me less and less, I’ll be seeing less of you than ever before, and soon you won’t want to cuddle with me so much anymore.

I know that this is all normal, and it happens to every parent at some point. But, I wish I could be the one that could keep her babies little forever.

In 5 short years, you’ve grown so much and have become your own person, but you’re still mama’s baby. You always will be. I’ll never forget those days when it was just you and I.

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As you start kindergarten, I hope your infectious laugh continues, your kind heart only grows kinder, and you become an even better friend than you already are. I hope you learn so many new things and teach others whatever you can. Most of all, I hope you are happy on your kindergarten adventure.

I know you’ll have to get used to some things, like not having your teddy bear and blanket for an hour each day and not having Fridays off to hang out with me and your siblings and grandma. It’s a new time in your life, and the changes will be huge, but you’ve always been so resilient and open to change. You’ve never had an issue with change, and I am certain that will continue into kindergarten.

things to teach your kindergartner, kindergarten, back to school

You’re going to impact this world in a huge way, love bug. I wish I could be there for every tiny little moment of it, but we both know that isn’t possible. So, I just want to send some words of wisdom to you:

  • Be kind
  • Respect yourself and others
  • Stick up for those who are wronged
  • Speak up when you see someone being mistreated
  • Spread love
  • Stay true to yourself
  • Have fun
  • Smile and laugh
  • Learn all that you can
  • Try new things
  • Listen to your teacher
  • Be safe
  • Don’t be afraid to join in on the fun
  • Be yourself!
a letter to my child as he starts kindergarten, first born, back to school, kindergarten

I can’t be there with you at kindergarten, but always know that mommy will be here as soon as you get home each day to hear about all the awesome things that happened.

If you didn’t think the day was very awesome, that’s okay too. Mama will be right here to hear all about it and give you a big ol’ hug.

It doesn’t matter how big, responsible, and independent you become, you’ll always be mama’s baby. No matter what grade you go into at school, mama will be here to help you through it all.

You’ll do great, my kindergartner, I know you will.

kindergarten, a letter to my child as he starts kindergarten, first born, back to school, kindergarten, things I want my child to know

#kindergarten #letter #lettertomychild #mychild #child #firstborn #backtoschool #school

Love always,

Mama

Categories
How To On My Mind

9 Ways to See The Good In Each Day

“Every day may not be good… but there’s something good in every day.”

Alice Morse Earle
ways to see the good in each day

This quote from Alice Morse Earle, an American Historian, is one of my all time favorites. It is the best quote for when I am struggling to find the positive aspects of my life. We all (I think) struggle with being a negative Nancy on some of our bad days, but it is so important to remember that there is still good in each day, even on the worst days.

Since we all need some help finding the good in every day, and even the best quotes can’t always pull you out of the funk, I decided to put together a list of ideas to help you (and me) recognize the good in each day. I’m going to print the list and pin it above my desk so it is always in sight, giving me the reminder that even the bad days have good parts.

ways to see the good in each day

How to See the Good In Each Day

1. Start your day with a positive thought.

This can be a favorite quote or your own personal mantra, as long as it’s positive and it reminds you of good things, it’ll do the trick. Whatever you choose, it can help set you off on the right foot each day. It’ll be your beginning of the day reminder to look for all of the good things happening in your life and around you.

2. Change your routine.

If you are struggling to get through a bad day or if your bad days begin early in your day, think about your routine. Sometimes your morning or afternoon routine is causing you to only notice the bad things that happen.

By waking up earlier or having a cup of coffee in a quiet, calm environment, maybe you could think about the good part of your morning routine when something bad happens later.

Think of 2 positive things each day.

For me, it is most beneficial to write these positive things down in my planner each day. That way, when I open my planner in the morning, I see the good things that happened the day before, as well as the rest of the week.

It is awesome to have a quick reminder of all the good parts throughout the week as I remind myself of my current day, and I have the chance to positively reflect on each day while I plan for the next day.

3. Visualize yourself succeeding.

If you are anything like me, you may think of yourself as a failure when you mess up or when you are having a bad day. Try to change your own mindset by envisioning yourself succeeding in the future instead of dwelling on your mistakes. Remember, you WILL be successful if you keep being positive.

4. Go for a walk.

Going for a walk can help you see the goodin your day in more than one way. First, walking outside and seeing the natural beauty of the world can be an amazing way to remember all of the good in your life consistently. The plants growing, the birds chirping, the fresh air… all of that is GOOD.

Walking also gives you a chance to think clearly with little distraction. It is easier to think things through and remember all of the good when you are on a leisurely walk. Trust me, it’ll help.

how to see the good in each day

5. Live in the moment.

Put your phone away. It’s hard to remember the good in your life when you are constantly staring at a screen.

I make excuses as to why I can’t ditch mine… the kids or my parents might call, I might need to take a picture, an emergency could occur, etc. I’ve been working on just leaving my phone out of sight, however, because 15 years ago I didn’t have a cell phone glued to my body and I got by just fine.

I find myself enjoying life more and really noticing how awesome life is when I put my phone away and just live. This is also something I’m trying to teach and model to my kids.

6. Find something to laugh about.

If you notice that you haven’t laughed at all in a day… seek something to laugh about. Watch a comedy on TV, call your bestfriend and ask to hear something funny, or even write your own funny story.

Laughing can make you feel SO much better. Plus, if nothing else happened that was good, at least you laughed.

7. Remind yourself that you are enough.

You really, truly are ENOUGH. Your kids want you more than they want anyone else in this world… your spouse CHOSE you over all the other people in this world, and you are on this earth to leave your mark. You matter and you are definitely enough.

And even if you aren’t married or have no children… you are still enough. You are still on this earth for a reason, even if it is to only lead a happy life and bring happiness to others. No matter what your destiny is, you are enough.

9. Make time for self care.

This is seriously SO important. At the end of a “bad” day, skip the cleaning and other household chores and just take care of your mental health. Find something that you love to do and spend time for yourself. If you need some self-care ideas, check out this blog post.

how to see the good in each day

Final Thoughts On How To See The Good In Each Day

We all have bad days. It’s a basic part of life, although it doesn’t seem so basic when it’s happening. Turning your bad day around and remembering the good in your life is possible, however.

Finding a way to remind yourself that there is good in each day can turn your mindset around completely. Who knows, you might be able to turn your entire day around and end your bad day in a positive mood.

What is your favorite motivational quote? When do you find yourself needing reminders of the good in your life? Share in the comments… I’d love to hear about it!

how to see the good in each day
Categories
Holiday On My Mind

28 Life Lessons in 28 Years

I turned 28 on the 11th (and my baby turned 2 the same day!!) and I spent quite a bit of time reminiscing and reflecting on the past years of my life. With the reflection came some of the life lessons I have learned along the way. There have been so many events in my past that I always think I would want to go back and change but, if those events never happened, I wouldn’t have been able to learn these lessons. So, I guess I should say that I am thankful for the “bad” events in my life since they have guided my learning and living.

I want to be able to remember and recall these lessons quickly if need be. When I am having a bad day or beating myself up about something, I would love to be able to come back here, reference this post, and remember all of the things I’ve learned along the way. So, without further ado, here are 28 life lessons that I have learned in the past 28 years.

Life Lessons I Have Learned

1. You have to learn to love yourself.

2. You have to learn to admit when you are wrong.

3. If you realize something isn’t working for you, it’s OK to change your mind.

4. The opinion of others SHOULD NOT MATTER.

5. You have to say no sometimes.

6. You must communicate with your partner.

7. Being “ready” is impossible.

With all things in life, you will never be completely ready. For a baby, marriage, a new job, etc. You just have to have faith and jump in, ready or not, when life throws huge events your way. If you spend your time waiting until things are perfect or waiting to feel completely comfortable, you will never be able to get things done.

8. Friends are important, even if you are in a relationship.

9. You are harder on yourself than anyone else is.

10. Your past doesn’t define who you are now.

You should consider this when you are thinking of yourself, but also when you are thinking of other people. Everyone deserves a second chance.

11. Mental health and self-care should be a top priority.

I cannot stress this one enough. I spent too much time putting everyone else first when I desperately needed to think of my own well-being. Spending some time taking care of myself and doing things that I enjoy, as well as doing things to promote positive mental health (such as supplementing with natural remedies such as turmeric) all helped along the way.

12. Be honest with yourself and others.

Speaking of mental health, mine stands in the way of my honesty sometimes. I’ll be the first to admit that sometimes when I say that I am “busy”, I’m really not. I sometimes despise myself for this, but it is easier (at the time), than saying that my depression/anxiety is standing in the way of my social life and that I just want to hibernate in my home until I’m feeling better.

Taking the easy way out may seem like the best option, but it really isn’t. People who truly care about you will understand what you are feeling, and they will respect you for being honest about why you can’t hang out or show up to an event.

13. Stop comparing yourself to others!!

14. Don’t lose your cool when people are looking.

15. Stop wishing your life away.

16. Appreciate the people who are honest with you.

Even if you don’t want to admit the truth.

17. Having kids is HARD, but so fulfilling.

18. There comes a point in life when age really is unimportant.

My husband is 11 years older than me, and we are truly perfect together.

19. Don’t settle!

Jobs, relationships, big investments, etc. Be patient until you find the perfect one for you.

20. Help others whenever you can.

21. You have to be your own person outside of your relationship.

Continue pursuing your own hobbies. Don’t let go of everything you love to do what your partner likes to do.

22. The worst that can happen is that they say no.

23. Avoid debt of all kinds.

24. Follow a budget!!!

25. Co-Parenting is HARD, but it does make life easier.

Happier kids, less stress, and just a more relaxed situation overall.

26. Never take out a student loan.

I learned this a little too late, and my job doesn’t even require a degree. I would take a pay cut if I took a job that I would need my degree for. Now, I have student loan payments monthly for pretty much the rest of my life.

27. Simplicity is key.

28. Children’s artwork DOES count as home decor.

life lessons

Life Lessons From My Husband

My husband wanted to offer some of his own life lessons, which are really helpful. Or something.

  1. Don’t zip your pants zipper too quickly.
  2. Do not lick a frozen pole.
  3. Don’t go chasing waterfalls. (Courtesy of TLC)
  4. Don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys. (Courtesy of Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson)

Final Thoughts On 28 Life Lessons in 28 Years

Most of the lessons I’ve learned in life were learned the hard way. I’m sure many of you can relate to at least some of my mistakes.

I know that I’m missing some key lessons, so I’m sure I can relate to some of yours as well!! Leave a comment and let me know some of the life lessons you’ve learned in your years on this earth.