Blog
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Here I Go….
Working through my writing process. I am in the process of writing my book that will hopefully be out by this fall! Join me for my journey! Sending peace, love, and happiness to all!
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14 Days of Valentines
I am all ready for my Valentine’s I Love You Game this year. I look forward to doing this every year! Starting February 1st, you post a heart on the wall of why you love them. Each person gets their own and you continue to do so every day through Valentine’s Day! My kiddos get so excited everyday to see what the new heart says. You could also do this for yourself. It is good to practice self-love. Each day you could write down in a notebook of why you love yourself. It is nice way to stay positive through an already crazy start of a year!
I Love You… Game
Happy Valentine’s Day!
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DIY Snowman Canvas
It’s January! I love to watch it snow and the chilly breezes. And to be quite honest, I feel like this is the best running weather. It gets my adrenaline pumping and strive to go faster because let’s be honest it’s flipping freezing! This time of year is fantastic for arts and crafts projects too. (more…)
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Oreo Snowmen
Looking for a quick, festive baking activity for your kiddos? Well, look no further. These super quick Oreo Snowmen, not only satisfy your sweet tooth, but also make a festive treat for January. Check out the recipe below.
Oreo Snowmen
Yield: 36 cookies
Ingredients:
1 package of Oreos
3 cups of White Chocolate Chips
2 Tbsp + 1 tsp of Coconut Oil
1/4 cup of Dark Chocolate Chips
Food Coloring (Orange)
Directions:
In a large bowl, pour in your white chocolate chips and 2 Tbsp coconut oil. Microwave for 1 minute. Stir. Then, continue intervals of 30 secs with stirring in between until all of your chips have melted.
In a smaller bowl, pour about 3 Tbsp of the melted chocolate into it. Add orange food coloring, mix together.
In a small bowl, add dark chocolate chips and 1 tsp of coconut oil. Microwave for 30 sec intervals, stirring in between until chocolate is completely melted.
Lay out a sheet of wax paper. Dip your Oreos completely into the melted white chocolate. While holding the Chocolate covered Oreo with a fork, tap off excess chocolate.
Once your Oreos have all been dipped and covered. Using a toothpick, dot on eyes and mouth with melted dark chocolate. You could use mini chocolate chips instead if it makes it easier. Then, using a toothpick draw on the nose with the orange white chocolate.
Let dry about 10-15 minutes. Enjoy!
Happy January!
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Snow Day Adventures
What a winter so far! Snow just keeps on coming into our forecast. With that being said, what do you do to keep your kiddos occupied. Yes, they can totally play in the snow. But, when it’s not above 18 degrees before noon, what do you do? Well, here’s are 10 ideas to keep your kiddos from becoming stir crazy and to keep you from having a cocktail before 2 pm. (more…)
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Where to Start?
I have embarked on this writing a book journey. Now that seems so exciting. I have my book idea. I know what it will be about. I have started my introduction and outline. Now here’s the hard part….actually writing the book.
My husband had this crazy idea that I should write a book during this past holiday season. I love his creativity and ambition. He is the writer of the family not me. I just write a blog. But, he believes in me and so I’m giving it a shot.
I’ve written out my outline so I can start filling in the blanks. It seems like the thoughts would just hit me but not so much. I give props to all the writers out there. The work they put into all of their writing is worth way more than what they get paid for their books.
So, I will keep you posted as things start to unfold. I hope in the next week, I really can make some progress. Wishing luck to all of the authors and writers out there that they stay away from writers block and can let their creativity run wild. As well as to all creative minds out there, use your imagination and start your journey with something fun this 2022 year.
Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.
-Albert Einstein
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Stepping Into the Unknown
I have been doing lots of soul searching lately. My husband and I both started therapy, individually, in January 2020. Which if you have ever thought about going to therapy, but were unsure or felt like you needed a diagnosis to go. You don’t! Take care of yourself, heal yourself, and support your mental health. It is so important. We have learned so much about ourselves through the process. It hasn’t been easy. Lots of reflection, reading, research, and realization. There were joyous a-ha moments, moments of frustration, times of happiness, and days of sadness. Through all of this, we have learned not only how to work together better as partners, communicate better, have better relationships with our friends and family, and grow to be a stronger person.
In my last post, I discussed how each beginning of a new year, the title is always, “New Year, New You.” I disagreed with this title due to the fact you are the same person at the core and can only strive to be better each day. Through therapy, I have learned who I am, what I want in life, what I want for my family, and what things I find in my life that truly bring me joy. And I say joy not happiness because there is a difference. With happiness, as wonderful as it is, it is fleeting. It lasts for only moments at a time and is not meant to be continuous. Joy, on the other hand, comes from within. It is continuous and may send you through challenges or struggles but gives you purpose and meaning in the end.
If you would want to research more of how to obtain joy, I highly recommend the book, “Ecstasy” by Robert A. Johnson. It follows the story of Dionysus and how to learn the ways of obtaining pure joy. Honestly though, any of Robert A. Johnson’s books have been phenomenal that I have read. So, if you are so inclined to check out “Ecstasy” be sure to look at some of his other great titles.
Anyway, this is the point I’m getting to. And you may be thinking finally, get to the point. Throughout all of this I have found something that I would like to dive into. Something I would like to put out into this world, that I hope would bring a smile to someone or they could enjoy.
During the past year, my husband and I have gone through many ideas of things we both could do as a career that would bring us purpose. I enjoy my current job but at times feel like it’s not really what I want to do forever. I am good at it mainly because it is what I studied in college and have done for over 14 years. Event planning is second nature to me. It can be exciting but it can also be absolutely exhausting. As to be expected with most careers at a certain point. So one evening, my husband came to me and asked what I thought about writing a book. At first, I looked at him like he had three heads. “Me? Write a book? I can’t possibly do that. Who would actually read it? What could I possibly write about that would be exciting to myself and others?” Also, I am not the writer in our relationship, he is. We discussed a few other ideas we could dive into as well but he always kept coming back to me writing a book. I gave it some more thought and came to the decision, why not! It would be something I have never done. Stepping out into the unknown though can be thrilling. And ya know what, if no one buys it, it’s ok. I accomplished something new. I gave it my best. And I can be proud of myself for that alone.
So, join me on this journey. I will be posting updates along the way. I can only look to the future and hope for the best.
Hope everyone is having a wonderful day and is trying something new out this year that will bring them joy!
“Find joy in everything you choose to do. Every job, relationship, home… it’s your responsibility to love it, or change it.”
—Chuck Palahniuk
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New Year, Same You!
Every New Year there is always the posts about “New Year, New You!”
I know I’m not the only one that sees this out there. But to me, is there really a new you? Aren’t you still the same person at your core? You are constantly evolving with every day tasks, work responsibilities, parenting, inner work, self-improvement, and life in general. I am not saying that you cannot be a better person each day but at your core you are still the same. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. What’s wrong with just improving yourself, why do you have to be a “new you”? Be YOU! AND OWN IT!
I have evolved in many ways throughout the years. I have gone from being a daughter, an overachiever, a college graduate, a recreation therapist, a friend, losing friends, gaining family, losing family, a wife, a dog mom, an event planner, a homeowner, losing a home, a renter, back to a homeowner, a mom of three, second guessing your parenting, a cat mom, changing careers, living across the country back and forth, starting multiple diets, sticking with a keto lifestyle, starting at square one, a yoga junkie, a runner, struggling at times, to going to therapy and seeing myself at the core. Everyone does and it’s beautiful how we evolve everyday. Being proud of who you are and the struggles to get you where you are today!
I think of one of the quotes from Cars 2. And yes, I’m quoting a Disney movie but all three of my kids loved those movies (we have watched them on repeat at times) and Pixar or Disney movies in general. Sometimes there are great values in the words they say. In this quote Mater is asked about his dents in his frame and why doesn’t he repair them. He states, “I come by each one of ’em with my best friend Lightning McQueen. I don’t fix these. I wanna remember these dents forever.” Everyone should be able to relate with this. We ALL have dents. I have many dents and do I want to repair my past dents? NO! I wouldn’t be who I am today without them. I don’t want to repair my dents ever. Every grey hair I gain, every struggle and defeat I have lived through, every wrinkle that comes upon me makes me who I am today.
I know many are you thinking what has brought this one on and why is she even talking about this. Does it matter? Maybe it will to some, maybe not to others. I write this because I see social media regularly and one of the challenges that has been posted out there recently is the 10 year challenge. Mine is posted below.
I may be 10 years older. But in my post I stated that in 10 years, I’ve added three children, a cat, gray hairs, wrinkles, and a little bit of wisdom. But in the end, I’m still me. Who you are at the core doesn’t change. The values or morals you may hold true now could change, your lifestyles or responsibilities could change, your physical features will change, but you are still you. Be proud of who you are and what you’ve gone through and what you have become! Make that known everyday of how proud of you are of your struggles through life because life is always a struggle and it isn’t easy for anyone. Be patient, be empathetic, meditate, love, celebrate the small things, and make the world a better place one kind act at a time.
YOU ARE YOU! And that’s the reason you are special and no one can take that away from you! Be you, continuously grow, dance to the beat of your own drum, and live happy!
Hope everyone finds this message on such a happy day! Sending love, joy, and good vibes to all! And remember everyday: BE PROUD OF WHO YOU ARE TODAY, AND OWN IT!
