Tag: motherhood

I can… and I will.

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It’s been a hot minute since I posted here, almost two months in fact. What’s been holding me back, you ask? ME. I’ve been holding me back.

A friend and I were talking at lunch today, and we were discussing motivational issues (mostly mine). She was giving me some tips and tricks on things that helped her stay on task, and it really started to perk me up. “That sounds pretty easy”, I was thinking to myself, but in reality it’s not. Focus and discipline are hard work, but if you put into it what you want to get out of it, then it will become as natural as breathing.

While we were tossing ideas about, we both kind of stumbled on a phrase I found really important, and I think this phrase can apply to ALL creative types, regardless of genre: Creatively Overwhelmed.

I think this is an important phrase to describe where I frequently find myself in life. I have all these great ideas floating around in my head, and I KNOW the things I am good at and COULD be GREAT at if given the chance, but especially as a mother I frequently find myself distracted, straying away from those ideas, or even forgetting them entirely in lieu of something else that popped in at the last minute. Can anyone else relate? It happens to me all the time and it’s really starting to get me down.

I Can… and I Will…

People made a big deal this year about “One Word.” One word that describes your plan for the year. I feel like ONE word for the entire year may be pushing it for me. Maybe smaller goals, some that will push me a little but are otherwise easily achievable, might be MY answer.

So starting August 1st (well, if you want to be technical about it, August 2nd), I’m going to focus on “One Word” a month. One word that showcases or encompasses the goal I have for myself that month. One word for one goal that I CAN, and I WILL achieve. One thing at a time.

This month’s word is “MOTIVATION” – and this weekend will see me writing down and brainstorming answers to the question: “How do I MOTIVATE myself each day to get both the tasks I NEED to get done for both my business and personal life, as well as a couple tasks from my WANT to get done list?”

How do YOU get your MOTIVATION in check? I’m a planner by nature, so my first thought is better scheduling for my “free” time. Even though I don’t have a “real job” per se, I need to schedule myself hourly as if I do. Plan a set amount of time to focus on ONE task and not get sidetracked. Treat both my craft business AND my blog like a “real job” (because I WANT IT TO BE, so why shouldn’t I work for it?) and prioritize my day.

I’d love to know, though, how my readers get it all done! What have you found helpful in scheduling both your personal and professional life? What tricks do you use to MOTIVATE yourself to strive to be your best? Leave them in the comments, and I can’t wait to hear!

I came, I worked out, I might die.

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Yesterday Wade made fun of me when I invited him to do day 2 of 21 day fix with me. He laughed at my silly workout, but he did it. 1/3 of the way through he got real quiet, 1/2 of the way through he started grunting and moaning, and by the end he was toast. I’m pretty sure he went off to the living room to cry after that. #LegDay 😂

BUT.

He showed up today, and worked out with me again.

After leg day it was hard enough just squatting down enough to make it to the toilet seat without groaning, and now with Upper Fix and the “Bonus Abs” I feel like raw meat. 😂😂😂

Also, I went to Sprouts today and came home with a much better selection of healthier foods and produce, and rid our pantry of most of the items that would cause me to stray off-course.

I CAN do this.

Dinner tonight:

-Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs trimmed of fat, with a citrus poultry spice blend in the air fryer (I ADORE my air fryer!!)

-Brown and Wild Rice Blend

-Avocado

-Banana for a nighttime snack. ❤️❤️❤️

Introspect.

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From my teens to my late twenties I was always rail thin. Seriously, no meat on my bones, stick figure thin. I’m certainly not trying to brag, that’s just how it was. My high school nickname was “Twiggy”.

For quite a while now, since I started fertility drugs before I had my daughter, I gained what I’ll call “The Mom Muffin”. In the grand scheme of things, it’s not much weight, maybe 30lbs extra, but I didn’t make much of an effort at all after I had her to get it off. I always joked that I was just going to have another baby and there was no point.

Well, second baby came along in June 2017, and here we are, TWO YEARS LATER and it’s still there. It’s time to do something about it.

Now, don’t get me wrong…. I don’t WANT to start eating healthy and exercising, I LOVE my chicken fried steak and my grande Starbucks. However, I’ve gotten to the point where I hate my reflection in the mirror MORE than I love those delicious things. We planned a beach trip this year at the end of July with the kids and I started trying on bathing suits and was completely depressed with each suit I tried on… so much so that I just stopped trying them on.

So here I am, trying my best. I’m NOT going to try to sell you anything, so don’t worry about that, accounting my #MomBod journey in my blog is basically just for me, for accountability. I want to be my BEST me, both for myself AND for my kids. I want to be able to chase them around the yard and be around to see them start families of their own. So here starts my journey.

I’m not going to post a before photo here, because I’m not quite that brave yet, but I took one last week when I started out. I’ve been in the “mode” for a week now and I’ve learned a few things:

  • It’s not just about the working out, I’m going to have to make some major lifestyle changes about the way I eat. NO more chugging down a gallon of sweet tea every day. No more daily Starbucks. Less snacking and choose healthier snacks.
  • It’s not going to be easy – but I’m determined, so that should help.
  • For me, right now, it’s ok to “treat myself” every once in a blue moon. I really feel like if I just go cold turkey on all the things I love, that I’m dooming myself to fail before I start. For example, I’ve gone from drinking a grande or a venti Starbucks (loaded with whip cream and sugar) once/sometimes twice a day to having a tall once or twice a week. Moderation – and I’ll slowly wean myself off of it in favor of healthier drinks/snacks over the next several weeks.
  • I really have to plan out my meals. Mid-afternoon wondering what I’m going to fix for dinner is not going to cut it, and is going to lead to problems with my diet.
  • I have to stock my fridge and pantry differently, and get those items I will have trouble avoiding out of the house. Out of sight, out of mind.

I started the 21-Day Fix exercise program yesterday, after struggling through a couple of self-led workouts, so I’m excited about not having to decide what to work on each day. I also ordered the containers that go with the 21-Day fix eating plan, so hopefully that will get me on the right track eating-wise.

I know this is about the most boring blog post I’ve done, but again, personal accountability! If any of you are going through or starting up the same life change, I’d love to hear about how it’s going for you. Maybe we can motivate each other!! Tomorrow I have a different blog post planned, and you’ll probably enjoy it more, but for now, this is me!

Happy Tuesday y’all!

Advice from the Pros ;-)

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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/

Things kids say….

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Me: “Wyatt, say MILK”
Wyatt: “mmkkk”
Me: “Good! Now say SISSY”
Wyatt: “Sissy”
Me: “Good boy! Now say CRACKER”
Wyatt: “COCK”
Wade (dryly): “I think we need to work on that one a little more.”

Motherhood….. all that and a bag of chips… 😉

Parenting Win?

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Y’all – My 22-month old (who doesn’t have very many recognizable words yet) just very clearly said “STARBUCKS” and I don’t know whether to be embarrassed or proud of that. 😂😂😂

Hide and Seek!

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There is something “hidden” in this photo that proves that I’m a freaking awesome mom – and the first one to point it out gets….. nothing. Sorry, my kids take all my money. 😂😂😂 #badassmom #humbletoo #freakingawesome #bloggersofinstagram #sahmlife #sahm #momblogger #momblog #familyblog #familylife #motherhood #mommyblog #instamom #momsoninstagram #bloggerlife #dailyparenting #bestofmom #momlife #livethelittlethings #motherhoodunplugged #hotmessexpress #mommyproblems #momproblems #familymoments #parenting101 #nothingisordinary #motherhoodunhinged #motherswhoblog #lifewithlittles #mindyourbiscuitstx

Meet and Greet Series – Post 1

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Photo by the ever talented Mary Gibson Photography

I don’t show my crazy mug very often (and technically I’m not showing it here either) but a little series of “Meet and Greet” is in order so here goes.

I’m Jamie, married to the same wonderful dude for 12 years this fall, and we have two crazy and adorable kids, a 4.5 year old daughter and an almost 2 year old son (this photo was taken almost a year ago, I know he doesn’t look 2 here lol!) We have a 16 year old cat, Checkers, and a 16 month old border collie, Biscuit (the original Biscuit!)

Originally from the Blue Ridge Valley of Virginia, I’ve been in Texas since 1997. More in-depth (Part 2 of who knows) tomorrow!

#texasblogger #bloggerlife #meetandgreet

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

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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……. 😉

Lesson Learned…

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After a tough morning of very little listening and crap attitude, and then asking her over a dozen times to get her socks and shoes on so we could leave, I decided I’d teach my 4.5 year old a little lesson about listening and following instructions…

-“Tatum, you have one more chance and then Wyatt and I are leaving and you’ll be here by yourself”

-“OK, Mom!”

-Waited a couple minutes, no action. So I pack up Wyatt, yell to her that we’re leaving, make a big production of opening and shutting the door. I put Wyatt in the car, get in, and start it. Then I wait, watching the front door……

-and wait.

-and wait….

-Shut the car off, go back inside. “Get your butt in the car Tatum, for realz. What are you DOING?!?”

-Cue the crying….. but not for the reason you think.

-“But I wanted to stay here by myself!!!!!!”

*facepalm*