Tag: parenting

Opening the door…

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It’s interesting how things play out sometimes, and how one simple act can start a domino effect to something bigger.

I took the kiddos to the indoor play place today because the weather was crap and we needed something to do. Afterwards they wanted to go to Panera, which I am always happy to oblige because y’all know I love to eat. Ha! We went in, and walking in I saw the cutest kids with their mom by the door, and I told them both I loved their hair, especially the colors in the girl’s hair.

We walked up to the counter, ordered our food – the clerk asked dine-in or take out and I said dine-in. He responded that the restaurant was currently full and that there would probably be a wait to find a table. Not a problem, we don’t have anywhere else to be.

The kids and I stood around for 5-10 minutes, me eagle eyeing for an open seat or two, when I finally spotted a group of teens getting up from a table in the back, so I ushered the kids over and we grabbed our spot to eat. On my way to fill my drink, I notice the same mom and kiddos (adorable baby not pictured) glancing around the still packed to the gills dining room so I mention to her that I have a 6 person table I snagged in the back, and she’s welcome to sit with us, that we weren’t creepy (that I know of, LOL) – she accepted and we all sat down to eat.

It took about 3 minutes for the little boy to turn to Wyatt and in the sweetest voice offered to share his tablet, and within seconds the little girl sitting next to Tatum offered the same with hers. I sat there making some small talk and watching the kids happily play together like life-long friends and thought to myself, wouldn’t it be nice if us adults could make friends so easily?? At which my next thought was, well, why the heck can’t we??? So I looked up at the mom and said, “You know, I’d be happy to share my phone number with you if you’d like to set up some play dates or something” at which she laughed and said she had just been thinking of saying the same thing.

Turns out they moved here mid-last year and haven’t had the chance to make many friends yet with everything going on and her kids were super excited to meet some other kids their ages (much like mine always are!!) that they could hang out with.

So, now we have a play date with new friends scheduled tomorrow, and the moral of the story is, I don’t really know what – but sometimes just a simple thing can open up the door to some great new friendships! So good to meet you and your adorable kids, Ashley! (I won’t tag you though until you decide if you actually like me or not with my no-filter random self. LOL!!)

Opening the door…

admin

It’s interesting how things play out sometimes, and how one simple act can start a domino effect to something bigger.

I took the kiddos to the indoor play place today because the weather was crap and we needed something to do. Afterwards they wanted to go to Panera, which I am always happy to oblige because y’all know I love to eat. Ha! We went in, and walking in I saw the cutest kids with their mom by the door, and I told them both I loved their hair, especially the colors in the girl’s hair.

We walked up to the counter, ordered our food – the clerk asked dine-in or take out and I said dine-in. He responded that the restaurant was currently full and that there would probably be a wait to find a table. Not a problem, we don’t have anywhere else to be.

The kids and I stood around for 5-10 minutes, me eagle eyeing for an open seat or two, when I finally spotted a group of teens getting up from a table in the back, so I ushered the kids over and we grabbed our spot to eat. On my way to fill my drink, I notice the same mom and kiddos (adorable baby not pictured) glancing around the still packed to the gills dining room so I mention to her that I have a 6 person table I snagged in the back, and she’s welcome to sit with us, that we weren’t creepy (that I know of, LOL) – she accepted and we all sat down to eat.

It took about 3 minutes for the little boy to turn to Wyatt and in the sweetest voice offered to share his tablet, and within seconds the little girl sitting next to Tatum offered the same with hers. I sat there making some small talk and watching the kids happily play together like life-long friends and thought to myself, wouldn’t it be nice if us adults could make friends so easily?? At which my next thought was, well, why the heck can’t we??? So I looked up at the mom and said, “You know, I’d be happy to share my phone number with you if you’d like to set up some play dates or something” at which she laughed and said she had just been thinking of saying the same thing.

Turns out they moved here mid-last year and haven’t had the chance to make many friends yet with everything going on and her kids were super excited to meet some other kids their ages (much like mine always are!!) that they could hang out with.

So, now we have a play date with new friends scheduled tomorrow, and the moral of the story is, I don’t really know what – but sometimes just a simple thing can open up the door to some great new friendships! So good to meet you and your adorable kids, Ashley! (I won’t tag you though until you decide if you actually like me or not with my no-filter random self. LOL!!)

Play it again…

admin

I’m going to re-post this blog post I made at the end of March in 2019. Almost 3 years ago and it’s still relevant. Maybe this is selfish of me, and maybe it’s just me complaining or feeling sorry for myself, but you know what – it’s ok. If it triggers one person to check on a friend they haven’t spoken to in some time then I’ve done my part, and that’s all that matters.

“Social Media – A Love/Hate Relationship”

Sometimes I run these little experiments in my head, because I enjoy the self-torture I guess. “What happens if I don’t initiate contact with people and they don’t currently need anything from me? How long does it take someone to ‘check in’?”

I know those are selfish “experiments”, and honestly I don’t know why I even do that to myself because I always end up disappointed and depressed about the “results”. Sometimes it can be days, weeks, or even months before a single word is spoken, and about half the time once that single word is spoken it’s because something is needed of me.

I’m a people-pleaser. I can’t help it, it’s just my nature. I want people to be happy, I want them to like me, I want them to have what they need to make them happy. But sometimes being a people-pleaser is a very lonely existence. Sometimes you give all you have and then some, and get left feeling like that little kid no one likes sitting by themselves on the playground. And it’s a shit feeling.

Being an adult in their 30’s-40’s and up is kind of a raw deal when it comes to friendships. You’re stuck somewhere between the seemingly “ride or die” friendships you had as a kid, where nothing really mattered except that you both liked Lisa Frank or riding bikes, and now friendships that consist of finding some parents of your kids’ friends that you have something in common with and can enjoy hanging out occasionally while your kids play. And honestly, that kind of stinks. I really miss the close-knit, note-passing-during-class, late night super deep phone calls, drop everything and go kind of friendships that came so easy when we were kids. It’s not so easy making those kinds of friends anymore.

So I guess in closing, I’m going to play on a lot of those memes that go around on Social Media, because it’s kind of ironic really. You know the ones I mean… “Check on your friends with (a, b, b….) – we are not ok!”

Check on them. You may never know how much it means to someone.

Nailed it….

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Not.

I’m truly terrible at updating this blog. Seriously – so much gets in my way. Work, Kid Activities, Living in general. I’m so easily distracted LOOK THERE’S A SQUIRREL!

For real though, I need to try to come here more, rely on this for my updates – Facebook and Instagram are starting to really piss me off with their algorithms that make it impossible for anyone interested (including my own family!) to see my posts so why not rely on a personal platform that is easily accessible (and not censored in any way) to everyone? Not that I post much that needs censored. LOL

The holidays are on their way, and I’ve started a new group (yes, it’s Facebook unfortunately) with lots of fun deals and steals for you to browse, so if that’s your thing come on and check it out and invite some friends!

MYBTX Daily Deals

I’ve been enjoying posting some stuff during the last few days and I hope you’re enjoying the discounts as well! Hopefully I’ll be better at keeping up with it than I am at this blog. LOL

I’ve been on the fence lately about keeping my “side-hustle”, The Carousel Cowgirl, open and running. I’ve been creating crafty things to sell on there since BC (before children) and nowadays building the effort to keep it up and going is a tremendous undertaking. I work part time, I have kid activities, I cook and generally take care of the house, I started coaching my daughter’s softball team, and somewhere in there I still need to find time for myself occasionally. I’m not complaining, life is full and it’s interesting, but something has to suffer, and it’s generally my craftiness that gets put on the backburner. Still mulling that one over.

Thanksgiving was great, we hosted and it’s always a wonderful time getting together with family. Today we tried like hell to avoid the shopping (Black Friday, anyone?), and instead took the kids for their annual photos with Santa. It’s always funny to stand in line because of all the different reactions the kids (especially the babies!) have to Santa. I still think my very favorite of all the Santa pics was my daughter at two months old in her precious Christmas dress sleeping snuggled in Santa’s arms. What a precious memory for all of us.

What are your favorite holiday traditions? Do you travel, or stay home? Celebrate with family or friends? I’d love to hear all about YOUR holiday stories!

Road Trippin’

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This is the year I officially hit middle age… the big 4-0. A couple months ago I decided there was no way I was turning 40 just sitting in my living room so I planned a trip to Galveston Island with hubs, the kids, and my parents. Fast forward to today and we’re in the car, road trippin’ for the next 4-5 hours with a 6 year old and a freshly potty trained, almost 4 year old, and I’m wondering WTAF was I thinking?

We’ve gone from this…
To this…

We had a few blissful moments of the youngest sleeping, but of course he knocked off about 10 minutes before we stopped for lunch so that was short-lived. After lunch we endured about 30 mins of arguing, an hour of ridiculousness, a stop at Bucees, 10 more minutes of cranky fussing, and now I have this mean-mug burning a hole in my from behind.

Pray for us, we are not ok…. 🤣🤷‍♀️🤦‍♀️

Road Trippin’

admin

This is the year I officially hit middle age… the big 4-0. A couple months ago I decided there was no way I was turning 40 just sitting in my living room so I planned a trip to Galveston Island with hubs, the kids, and my parents. Fast forward to today and we’re in the car, road trippin’ for the next 4-5 hours with a 6 year old and a freshly potty trained, almost 4 year old, and I’m wondering WTAF was I thinking?

We’ve gone from this…
To this…

We had a few blissful moments of the youngest sleeping, but of course he knocked off about 10 minutes before we stopped for lunch so that was short-lived. After lunch we endured about 30 mins of arguing, an hour of ridiculousness, a stop at Bucees, 10 more minutes of cranky fussing, and now I have this mean-mug burning a hole in my from behind.

Pray for us, we are not ok…. 🤣🤷‍♀️🤦‍♀️

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 can… and I will.

admin

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.

admin

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. ❤️❤️❤️