Tag: mom skills

An exercise in self-control.

admin

I’ve been doing this Keto thing faithfully since October 15th now. What do I mean by “faithfully” – I mean low carb, no sugar, pretty strict, NO STARBUCKS. Seriously, that last one is a BIGGIE because I adore starbucks.

The low carb thing I’m doing pretty good at – you’re allowed 20g of net carbs a day, and it’s rare that I even make it that high. I’ve never been a crazy bread eater, but I’ve found low/no carb substitutes for just about everything including No Carb Bagels, Bread, “Tortilla Chips”, and even a Pizza Crust by Thin Slim Foods – I’ve tried them all and most I can’t even tell the difference!

The no sugar aspect has been a little more difficult. Halloween was rough, but I was able to resist ALL THE CANDY the kids brought home this year. I guess you could say their “parent tax” was cut in half. At the suggestion of a friend I tried Russell Stovers Sugar Free Chocolates and they’re actually VERY good so that helps curb the chocolate cravings. I especially love the Pecan Delights! Taste just like turtles! YUM!

Finally that Starbucks problem… That was super hard, but I finally managed to put something together that was Keto friendly at home that tasted so very similar that I no longer even really think about Starbucks anymore! I knew I needed to get some MCT Oil/Collagen Powder so on a recommendation I tried the Bean Envy Vanilla and I use it similar to a powdered creamer with a little heavy whipping cream and my “Pumpkin Spice Chai Tea” and I have to tell you it’s freakin delicious! Like pumpkin pie in a cup!

It’s been a little difficult to find things at restaurants to eat, but with a little creativity it’s possible to go out to eat, not be super difficult with the waiter/waitress, and still enjoy myself and my food. I feel like the hardest generally is Tex Mex, because I constantly forget to bring my own low carb tortilla chips and pretty much everything has a taco shell or tortilla involved, but it’s still possible.

Tonight was a little more difficult, an exercise in self-control, but I was so proud of myself – I ordered the taco salad, but basically asked for only the mixed greens, picadillo (theirs doesn’t have potato), shredded cheese, and sliced avocado in a regular (not taco shell) bowl.

Aaaaaaand everything came out awesome except the delicious looking fried taco shell bowl it all arrived in. Whoops. I could SMELL the delicious carbs fried into it and I wanted it so bad, but in the end I ate my salad and then turned the bowl over to my hubby and daughter to eat because my goal is more important to me than a few moments of taste bud gloriousness.

Speaking of my goal – I am down almost 11 pounds since I started about 3.5 weeks ago, my energy level is up and I don’t feel so draggy during the day while I’m trying to work! It’s easier to get myself out of bed in the morning, and I’m starting to SEE the difference in my body. I couldn’t be happier!

***As an Amazon Associate, I do get commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Thank you for supporting my blog! <3

Thinking inside the box…

admin

Leaving my Target run and as I’m loading my things on the belt at the register I start thinking to myself, this is weird, literally every single thing I am purchasing is in a cardboard box. Right about the time I’m thinking this through the cashier looks up at the belt and says, “Wow, everything you’re buying is in a box!” and gives me a funny look…

What can I say, at least I’m consistent in my weirdness. 🤷‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤣

I’m kind of a big deal…

admin
Me in all my nerdy glory

Well, not really, but after THIS INTERVIEW with me from Kristin from Exploring Domesticity came out on her blog today I kinda feel like it.

(If you can’t get that link to work here it is in all its glory: https://exploringdomesticity.com/jamies-mom-life)

Seriously y’all, after a really tough, trying day with both kids (the boy in particular) I actually needed to read through this interview again myself and remind myself all of the little joys in parenting and ALSO to stay as low-key as I possibly can. Believe me, it’s hard enough sometimes taking my own advice, but it’s fairly sound….. I think.

Make sure you take a look around while you’re over there, such a fun website full of awesome tips! <3

Advice from the Pros ;-)

admin

Doling out the unsolicited advice this week with Exploring Domesticity – love her blog, and I hope you’ll check it out! 23 of us mommy-folks share what made new motherhood a tad easier for us.

(Now we just need an article on how to make second-kid motherhood easier, because WHEW, it’s no joke.)

Link straight to the article here:
https://exploringdomesticity.com/new-mom-advice/

Projects in the works

admin

I’ve been wanting to try “shaker” projects for a while, and actually have had the tools to make them for quite some time and never taken them out of the package! Whoops!

So I sat down last night at my craft table after the kids went to bed and gave it a shot. It sucked. Seriously, I could NOT make that dang fuse tool work to save my life. I got more and more frustrated and finally just gave up and went a different route and laminated the thing so I could say I actually got something done.

But since I stay up late (vicious afternoon nap cycle for the win/lose) I spent some time last night on YouTube trying to figure this thing out. I didn’t find much that was helpful, lots of videos of people using their fuse tool with zero issues (doesn’t help me at all), and finally found this random video of a lady who gave some tips as she had the SAME issues I was having.

This morning I woke up and decided to give it a try…. It’s not perfect, but it was WAY less frustrating than last night’s projects!!

I used this We R Memory Keepers Fuse Tool I purchased a while back on Amazon, except instead of using the fuse tip, I used the CUTTING tip, which they don’t bother to tell you ALSO fuses. Woot! I have the silicone mat from We R Memory Keepers, but I really thing the tempered glass surface will do better and provide a cleaner fuse/cut, so that arrives tomorrow. Thank you so much, Amazon Prime. 😉

Hope you enjoy today’s project! What is everyone else working on this weekend?

My really dumb (tired) moment of the day…

admin

I had headshots/PR Photos done today by the illustrious and gifted Mary Gibson Photography. I’ve known Mary for about a year now and she’s done quite a few photo shoots of the kids and the family and so I asked her if she’d be willing to do the headshots for me. =)

We’re wandering around to different areas, looking for some different backdrops and whatnot, and some of the places are still a little muddy from the rains we had this past weekend. I’m setting my purse down on the ground each location and she sweetly offers to carry my purse along with all the other stuff she has so I don’t have to set it down on the ground.

Roughly THREE minutes after she tosses my purse on crossbody style, I’m leaning up against a wall looking at her and it occurs to me that I have a purse that looks JUST LIKE THAT! I open my mouth to tell her so, and then I realize…..

It’s my purse…. that I just gave her… three minutes ago.

*sigh*

Your mother wants you to buy this…

admin

Well, maybe not YOUR mother, but THIS mother wants you to buy this. Seriously, I’m going to be absolutely blatant with my product recommendation in this post.

This crap works.

I’ve been using Eco-88 since I very first started managing an upscale doggie daycare over 12 years ago. One of my customers told me to try it and I was skeptical, so I didn’t for over a year. I mean, I’ve used stuff like this before and it NEVER works as advertised. NEVER.

We had a stain at our old house in the guest room where our elderly dog had thrown up on the carpet about a year before. Finally I got tired of seeing it and decided to give a bottle of this stuff a go. I mean, I got an employee discount, right? Why not!

ECO-88 STAIN AND ODOR REMOVER

HOLY COW you guys, it took a YEAR OLD stain RIGHT OUT of the carpet, no scrubbing, no elbow grease, just sprayed in on and in minutes it was gone. It didn’t even bleach out the carpet. CRAZY BUSINESS.

So I started putting it on EVERYTHING. Random 14 year old stain at my parents’ house that had been there since they bought the house? GONE! That one took a little rubbing, but seriously…. FOURTEEN YEAR OLD STAIN….. GONE.

I started recommending it to ALL my customers, and NOT JUST those with dogs, ESPECIALLY those with kids. I had a “Mommy Meet-up” at my house once and one of the kids spilled a juice box on my carpet. The kid’s mom started freaking out and I told her, “don’t worry, I got this”, pulled out my little bottle of magic and it disappeared as about a dozen moms watched in awe and then asked where I got that because it was now a NEED.

Now, I don’t know what’s in this stuff… “enzymes” supposedly. To be honest, I don’t care. IT’S THAT GOOD. I will say though if you get it on your hands and don’t wash them when you’re done with your stain cleaning it will turn your fingertips white (I assume that is said enzymes eating your skin, because, you know, you’re organic and all) but I just don’t bathe in it when I use it so I don’t have that problem. Seriously. Spray, wipe/rub a little if you need to, and let it do its thing. You won’t be disappointed!

Here’s the link again, in case you missed it the first time. 😉


Today, I almost died… or at the least almost lost my mind

admin

For realz guys, my life flashed before my eyes.

We had a great morning, a play date with friends, lunch at the roadside burger stand we love so much (well, that was so very close to being a disaster with a kiddo face full of barbed wire, but we narrowly avoided that little catastrophe…), and then on my way home I had to drop a check/contract by our utility district for a deposit on some concrete work we’re having done at the house tomorrow.

The SLUD, as it’s kind of affectionately named, is on the second story of a two story fancy-schmancy office building. I wonder if they’re spending so much on rent that they’re unable to afford repairs to our main roads, but hey, that’s a complaint for another day. I have both kids in tow, and it’s bordering on nap time, especially for the littlest. We go in, a baby on my hip and a sassy 4 year old by the hand, and I look around for the steps. Climb the steps to the second story, make it into the office, hand over the check while dealing with two kids annoying each other and squawking, and then head back out the office door. This is where it started to go downhill.

These kiddos are starting to get on my last nerve. Don’t judge my mom skills, y’all, I KNOW you’ve been in my shoes. Tatum (the four year old) insists on taking the elevator back down to the 1st floor….. from the second floor. I’m too annoyed/tired to argue, and even though I have this nagging fear of elevators I give in.

She pushes the button, the doors open, we get in. She pushes the number 1. The elevator starts to move….. ever….. so….. slowly.

DING! We make it to floor one…….

….. and nothing happens. Seconds start to tick by, and at first it’s ok, but after about 5-10 seconds (which seems like an eternity at this point) Mama starts to panic internally. Holy shit, I’m gonna get stuck on an elevator with two kids 4 and under who are overdue for their naps. I start to hyperventilate, I’m internally losing my shit, my life’s memories flash before my eyes. THIS IS NOT HAPPENING. Probably about 60 seconds in I become crazed and desperate. I start smacking the “Door Open” button repeatedly. The doors open up almost instantly like there was never any problem.

And mommy walks out, cool as a cucumber on the outside, baby on my hip, and a sassy 4 year old by the hand, and nobody is the wiser to my minute and a half of complete internal meltdown.

Living the dream, y’all…… Living…… The…… Dream……. 😉