October 31, 2013

Deals & Steals

I woke up WAY too early today and saw so many great deals, I just had to share them with you guys.
  • So the other day I posted that I wanted to get an Erin Condren Life Planner even though I barely used my old one. WELL I found a code for $20 off {for returning customers only} and that sealed the deal.  Use code GIFT20 at checkout and you basically get a Life Planner for half off.  If you are a new customer, click here, and get $10 off your first order with code WELCOME10.  Also all her holiday stuff is 50% off so you can get some SUPER cute Christmas cards {upload the pic later} for way cheap.
  • Have you started Christmas shopping yet?  Zulily has some great toy deals today like these building magnets. When we were in Florida we went to a children's museum and they had these and Kendall was in LOVE! And Hasbro has some really cool deals, especially on Play-Doh sets.  
  • Shutterfly is offering 101 free prints until tomorrow 11/1 with code SPOOKY.  Photo books are 50% off with code PUMPKIN through 11/3.  And if you are a new Shutterfly customer get $10 off of a $20 order with code CANDY through tomorrow 11/1.
  • Baby Cheapskate just came out with a Toys That Get Played With list for 3-4 year olds.  You better believe I'll be referencing that when it comes to Kendall's Christmas list this year.
  • All the bloggers rave about Crystal Faye and her adorable monogrammed things.  From koozies to iphone cases, she's really got some cute stuff!  Oh and did I mention coffee mugs?  I think her Eat, Blog, Love one might have to make it's way into my cupboard.  Use code 1YEAR for 25% off your order.
  • Old Navy has all  active and outer wear up to 40% off {online only}.  Also 20% off all jeans {my new, budget friendly favorites} with code ONSAVENOW.
  • eMeals.com still has 15% off your order with code DINNER15.  I'm a huge fan, as you know, and a lot of people have asked if I think it's "worth the money" and my answer is YES.
  • My sweet friend Laura is hosting a New Years Cash Bash and is looking for participants.  If you want to co-host the price is $20 if you just want to get a link added to the entries {follow your blog, Twitter, FB page, Instagram, etc} you can do just that for $5 a pop.  It's a great way to grow your blog and be a part of giving someone an awesome post-Christmas present.  Let her know I sent you ;-).  
  • And I'm offering 50% off all of my ad spots through today with code SPOOKY.  Check out my PR Stuff page for more details.


Cravings

Don't get your panties in a bunch, I'm not pregnant.

No, in fact, this post is the exact opposite of a pregnancy announcement.

I am craving some adult time.

I love my babies to the depth of my soul, I love them so.  I love them so much that I make "appetizers" out of peanut butter sandwiches {mini toothpicks included} because Kendall loves it and gets a kick out of it every time.  Sure it's more time consuming but it makes her happy and that makes me happy.  I love them so much that if I even hear James yawn in the middle of the night I scoop him up and claim "he wouldn't go back to sleep" and put him in bed with me.  I love them.  Get it?

BUT I need time away from them too.

Being a SAHM is all I've ever wanted and I know I am whiny sometimes and joke that it's wine o'clock in the middle of the day but I truly think this is where I'm meant to be. I want to be the one raising my babies, shaping them into the little humans they are.  I want to wake up in the middle of the night and know that I can take my time rocking them back to sleep because I don't have to wake up early in the morning for work. I was a working mom and as hard as being a SAHM is, I think being a working mom was equally as exhausting.  I look back on my pre-SAHM days and wonder how I ever managed to do it all.  I'm home and most days, lately, I still feel like I'm drowning.

Now is one of those days.  I am staring at a playroom that looks like a tornado hit it.  Dirty baby bottles have been sitting in the sink since last night.  I have emails to respond to that date back to last week.  My laundry will never be caught up.  And right now I just want to be free of it all.  Or at least an all day babysitter so that I can catch up on it all.

Jimmy and I try to get a date night in every so often but not often enough, in my opinion.  Most of our weekends are spent with our friends who have kids and we all get together and the kids play and we "oooh and ahhh" over how freakin' adorable they are.  We like it that way and so do our kids.  I love that my babies are going to be close with the babies of the people I've been close with since kindergarten.

I've heard stories of women who have kids that are Kendall's age that have never left them with a sitter, never spent a night away from them and they like it that way.  I am not one of those people. I am the mom who feels that she is a better mom when she gets a little break.  Distance makes the heart grow fonder type of thing.  And it's true, whether we get a few hours or a whole night away we cannot wait to get them back home ASAP and the next day is usually an awesome love fest.

So where do you stand?  Do you crave a night away, like I do?  Or are you a mom who can't bare the thought?  How often do you get "me" time or a date night?




October 30, 2013

SO WHAT! Wednesday

This week I'm saying SO WHAT if...

Life After I Dew


  • I took my food processor into the bathroom to blend so that I wouldn't wake the baby.
  • I like feeding James often because it gives me a chance to sit down.
  • We might be trading in my "new" car already.  It's a piece.  Period.
  • eMeals.com isn't really saving us money but I love it anyway.
  • I'm feeling overwhelmed with life lately and it's stressing me out.
  • The way I deal with it is by cleaning.  Cleaning makes me feel better.
  • Kendall is being three different "things" for Halloween.  Thank God for a dress-up trunk.
  • Jimmy's dressing up this year and I'm not. 
  • We still haven't taken family pictures but I already know what Christmas cards I want.
  • I am tempted to order a new Erin Condren Life Planner but I barely used my last one.
  • I'm glad we're having some warm days coming up this week.  I'm not ready for the frigid temps we saw this weekend.
  • I consider BB cream and dry shampoo as a complete shower and call it a day.
  • I'm super excited for Live With Kelly and Michael's Halloween show this year!






October 28, 2013

Maybe I Should Go On Vacation More Often

Last week we were in hot, hot Florida.  I'm notorious for gaining weight on vacation, isn't everyone? I mean it's so easy to give in to the easy, fast, delicious foods and we went to a carnival where it was fried food heaven.  It was a recipe for disaster.

I had it in my head that I was going to "try to be good" while we were there.  I thought the fact that all this ish would be squeezed into a bathing suit would help me resist all the pizza as well.  I didn't have a scale accessible to me all week and at first I panicked a little.  Sure I said I was going to try to make this weight loss journey all about the non-scale victories but it's still nice to see progress every once in a while.  Except I haven't.

I haven't lost a single, solitary pound in at least a month, probably longer.  Even with all the clean eating, calorie counting, trying to get in a workout when I can, nothing has changed.  My clothes haven't been fitting any better and my belly is still a bowl full of jelly.  It's been frustrating to say the least.

The good news about our vacation is that my ILs are practicing a gluten-free, dairy free, no processed foods, etc diet and so there was little junk food around.  We went to the store to get a few things and I picked all healthy stuff and even made my famous eggs, salsa and avocado breakfast for all of us one morning.  When we went to dinner I choose very wisely, picking salads without dressing and chicken, shrimp and veggies.  Thankfully we didn't hit up and Mexican restaurants because that would have been my downfall, hello unlimited chips and salsa.

When we got home I was so curious to see where I was after a week of no tracking and no scale.  I hopped on my mother-in-laws scale and couldn't believe my eyes.  But I knew I wouldn't know for sure until I got on ours at home.  To my surprise I was down 3.8lbs from the week before we left!
I was so thrilled! FINALLY!  My hard work is paying off!  I know when you start a new "diet" {I don't really consider clean eating a diet} it takes a hot minute for your body to get with the program and start seeing results.  So I'm hoping that this hurdle jump starts my weight loss because I'm ready to start fitting into some of my old jeans and tops a little more comfortably.

I'd be lying if I said I was happy with my progress thus far.  I am, sort of.  I am definitely ahead of where I was 10 weeks post-partum with Kendall.  I don't think I hit the thirty pound mark until she was at least 6 months old.  So when I think about that I"m all "YEAH!  You go girl!" but I'm not where I thought I'd be at this point and definitely not where I wanted to be.  But, slow and steady wins the race, right?

The clean eating is going really well and Jimmy has jumped on board 110%.  We went to the grocery store together, with both kids, for the first time and I was glad we did.  I normally go alone, it's my thing, I love it, and then I come home and he's all "$250!? What did you get?!" So it was nice for him to see just what it's like.  

This week I downloaded the eMeals.com app for my phone and OMG it made the trip so much easier.  It makes your list for you, right on your phone, and it's broken down into the categories, produce, canned goods, dairy, etc and you just check them off as you go.  Another thing I loved about it is it allows you to skip meals and adjust your shopping list accordingly, SO helpful!  The meals have all been really tasty and very easy to make.  I've had quite a few people ask me about eMeals.com and I am very pleased so far.  If you've been thinking about whether you want to drop the dough on a subscription, maybe this'll make it a big easier, right now you get 15% off your order with code "Dinner15".  I'd really encourage you to try it, even for just a month, and see if you like it.  

I missed cooking while we were gone, I really did, so I'm hoping to be a kitchen queen this week and be back with some more yummy, clean recipes to share!  I'm thinking I need to go on vacation more often.  






Preschool Problems

Everyone warned me, when Kendall starts preschool she is going to get sick. For those of you who are new around here, Kendall has only ever been in my care or the care of family up until she started preschool this year. Read more, here.

October 24, 2013

Duck Dynasty Dew

What are your thoughts on men with beards?  Jimmy recently showed me this image {via The Chive} to justify his.
{this guy's kinda hot, no?}

If you follow me on IG you know that Jimmy is currently knee deep in all things hunting {#duckydynastydew}.  So much so that he started growing out his beard shortly after James was born.  In August.  Before hunting season even began.  He's not shaving it until January, if I'm lucky.

He looks a little bit silly, I admit, but does it bother me?  No way.  In fact, I think it's kind of cool. I mean it makes him happy so that makes me happy.  Beards are in style now thanks to the Duck Dynasty crew, no? He's always had a bit of scruff.  Even on our wedding day he had a 5 o'clock shadow because I threatened him if he shaved his face clean.  That's not him and I wanted him to be himself on our wedding day and when I looked back on our wedding pics.

But, now, he's taken it to eleven.  This is the biggest beard he's grown to date and I'm sure come January 1 I'll be waking him up with a razor in hand.  But, for now, it doesn't bother me too much.  A lot of girls tell me that they could never deal with their husband having such a massive beard or that I'm a "nice wife" for putting up with it.  To me, it's not about that.  It makes him happy so that makes me happy.  Much like hunting.  I don't really like it but he does and so therefore I'm OK with it. 

But, that leaves me with a question for you.  What do you think of a man with a beard? What would you think if your husband/boyfriend decided to grow out a "chowder bib"?  Do you think men look hot with beards?  Let's dish!

October 23, 2013

SO WHAT! Wednesday

This week I'm saying SO WHAT if...
Life After I Dew



  • I have been sleeping with James this entire vacation.  I realize this may bite me in the butt when we get home.
  • I really want a new cute coffee mug but don't want to pay the price of the ones I'm finding. 
  • I'm a little bit sad that we are in Florida while Ohio is having the most amazing fall weather.
  • I am already regretting the bottle of wine I just finished.
  • I'm craving some cake, or ice cream, or pretzel M&Ms.  I can't put my finger on it but I want something sweet.
  • We are having Kendall pick a Halloween costume from her dress-up trunk.  
  • I just looked up "what does the fox say" and I don't get it.  
  • I'm already having Kendall make out her Christmas list.
  • I'm over the moon happy about Kendall's "perfect" preschool progress report.
  • I think we are doing family pictures when we all get home but I have no idea what any of us are wearing.
  • I've strayed from my "clean eating" this week.
  • I don't really mind Jimmy's Duck Dynasty beard that he's rocking right now {more on that tomorrow}.







October 22, 2013

Life With Two {Part Three}

I kinda thought that having a second child would be much like riding a bike.  Once you do it, you never forget kind of thing. I mean, right?  You know how to change diapers, live on little sleep, pick up things with your feet and do way too many things with just one hand.

I wrote about life with two in the {way} very early days of life with two-ness.  I was quickly slapped in the face and handed a big dose of reality just days later and that was documented as well. Now I'd like to think things are a little bit more "normal" around these parts and, so, I should report on that as well.

Truth be told, I forgot what it was like to have a baby!  I mean, really.  I forgot how much they sleep {A LOT}. I forgot how they can't help dress themselves so it's literally like threading a needle when it comes to dressing a newborn.  I forgot how it's all a huge freakin' guessing game since they can't verbalize what's bothering them. I forgot how easy they are, no talking back, no protesting bed time.  I forgot how lovable they are.

I find myself holding, talking, cuddling, smiling, being so heart-bursting, tear-inducing in awe of him and I forgot that I felt all of this once before.  The days seem long but the years are short and I have forgotten all of these mushy feelings.  I need these mushy feelings.

James has softened me.  He has reminded me how precious this time is and to cherish it with my whole, entire heart.  He's slowed me down.  He's made me be more patient.  He's made me more loving.  He's made us a family unit that is now complete.

Kendall has been amazing through all of these transitions.  As much as I'd like to say that we've maintained life as normal for her, that'd be a lie. She's had to adjust to a lot less mom time but at the same time I'm a lot more fun than I've been in the past 9 months.  She's had to learn a lot of patience as I'm not available at the drop of a hat anymore.  She's learned to love yet another human being and she's done it all in stride.  If you met her you'd think she's been rocking this whole big sister role her whole life.  She rocks.

We're still getting the hang of a routine and schedule, I have yet to master that.  James is pretty chill.  He was sleeping what seemed like 24/7 but lately he's been awake more than asleep, except at night.  I can't complain because I love his guts and I love seeing his bright eyes and listening to him "talk" to me.

Which brings me to my next point.  With Kendall I was all "NO BABIES IN THE BED!!!" and no matter what I never brought her into bed with us.  It was a HUGE no, no.  With James?  Meh.  It's all good. I mean, he's only a baby once, right?  I justify it by saying I can't sleep when he sleeps because of The Toddler so I just need to sleep when I can.  So if that means he sleeps with me, so I can sleep, so be it.  When in reality I just really don't mind.  I know this will come back to bite me in the ass but for now I'm cool with it.

Number two, or whatever the last baby may be, seems to get away with a lot more that the first didn't.  I'm OK with that.  Kendall {first born} also got a lot more one on one time than he's getting so it's all good.

Life with two has evoked so many emotions and made me remember so many little things that I had forgotten. Things I hope I don't forget now that I've experienced them twice.  I really should have had a baby book for each of these kiddos but...at least I have this blog?

October 16, 2013

SO WHAT! Wednesday

This week I'm saying SO WHAT if...
Life After I Dew



  • I have a few blog posts written in my head, ok in my notes on my phone, but I have no time to write them.
  • I haven't even started packing for Florida and we leave bright and early Friday morning.
  • I've been drinking afternoon coffee nearly every day lately.
  • I'm fairly certain that holding James so much in his early days is coming back to bite me in the butt now.  
  • I am still craving fall pictures but the fall is always so busy for us {hunting season} that I'm afraid we'll never get any taken.
  • James has no "summer" clothes to wear while we're in FL. He's already in 6 month clothes and all of his 6 month stuff is winter and I'm not buying new clothes for him to wear for 5 days.  He'll just wear a onesie all week.
  • A lot of bloggers have really good giveaways going on right now.  I hope I win one which is why I'm not telling you who has them ;-).
  • I'm kinda obsessed with gold right now.
  • I really want to get James used to sleeping in his crib so I've been putting him in there for naps.  Except right now because he's asleep next to me and I never wake a sleeping baby.
  • I've gotten some negative feedback on my 31 Days series.  I've gotten way more positive feedback.
  • I'm a little bit too excited that we currently have NickJr.  With our cable package we don't get it so this is some sort of glitch, I'm sure.  YAY for new shows {we are OVER PBS Kids}.
  • I'm super duper pissed that Dish Network and NBC can't seem to get their shit worked out and now I have to go without Biggest Loser, Parenthood and The Voice.    







October 15, 2013

Life After "I Do"

Jimmy and I were fortunate enough to attend two weddings this past weekend {who says June is wedding season?} and I have to admit, I love a good wedding.  I love seeing the groom when he sees his bride for the first time.  I love watching the ring bearer and flower girl walk hand-in-hand shyly.  I love hearing the exchange of vows, promises to each other.  I love hearing what the couple picked as "their song".  Call me a hopeless romantic but I just love the feeling I get from attending a wedding.

I overheard someone say, since the couple already lived together, "It's no big deal, you'll wake up tomorrow and feel the same way as you did when you woke up yesterday."  Jimmy and I lived together before we were married and so, at first, I was inclined to agree.  I knew what that person meant, when you live together before you're married it kinda takes away the excitement, if you will.  You already know the person's habits, how they like their coffee, how long they take in the shower, what they do to decompress, etc.  There are no surprises when he carries you through the threshold as a newly married couple.

I started to agree and then later that night I found myself thinking about it a little deeper.  Four days later, I don't agree, not even a little.

After Jimmy and I were married I felt totally different.  I felt this new sense of pride, as his wife.  Call me old-fashioned but when I took his name it was a big deal.  I remember a friend asking if I was keeping my name or taking his and without a blink of an eye I said, "HIS!  Of course!".  I couldn't wait to be a Dew but I also knew that in taking his last name meant I had big shoes to fill and I was happy to do so.  He's made me very proud to be his wife over the past four years and I can only hope that he feels just as proud calling me his wife.

I also felt a responsibility with my new wife status.  I felt like this is the real deal and no matter what, we are in this thing called life together, forever.  Sure I felt like that in the months leading up to our wedding but after that day it was different.  I meant what I said in my vows and I plan to take them seriously.  There's something about saying the same words that our parents and grandparents said before us that is so special to me.  I knew that from that moment on nothing would come between us, nothing would be too big for us to handle together.

Once you take that husband/wife there's no turning back, at least not for us.  That title means more than girlfriend/boyfriend or even fiance.  Before the vows there is always the option of leaving, if you want.  For us that is not the case with marriage.  For better for worse, sickness and health, till death do us part.  No matter what.

I remember coming home from our honeymoon and returning to work and even that felt different, as a married woman.  It was like I had just joined this super, cool, married woman's club.  It's a pretty elite club and not everyone can hack it and I felt elated to know that I would be a life-long member.

From October 3, 2009 on I have felt different.

Did you feel different after you were married or do you agree that saying "I Do" doesn't really change anything?

October 14, 2013

What I Could Do If I Had More Patience

I spend so much time being annoyed because I'm impatient and often times it leaves me wondering, what
could I do if I had more patience.  I know it's weird to think that patience could afford me more time for other things but, unfortunately, it's true.

I could enjoy my husband more.  For example, this weekend I had in my mind that I wanted to leave our house at a specific time {he did not know this, for the record} and when that didn't happen instead of just brushing it off, going with the flow I shut down.  I was annoyed, I was not getting my way, and I just stopped talking.  Once we got on the road and wound up at our destination on time, actually early, I was fine.  But that was like a hour after the fact. I spent an entire hour out of my day, out of my life, being upset over something that really didn't matter because the end result was fine, we got to where we needed to be by the time we needed to be there.   So rather than enjoying our childless car ride and having a meaningful conversation, which is rare these days, I was closed off.  I regret that.

I could relax.  During nap time, on the rare chance that both babies are asleep, I feel like OMG I have to clean up all the toys, all the dishes, all the everything because God forbid I just leave it.  I mean, in 2-3 hours the toddler is going to be up and making a mess of all the things all over again so why bother?  Because I'm a crazy person, that's why.  If I could just be patient, realize that the things will get done I would actually have more time to do the things I want to do for me.

I could be a better mom.  Instead of blowing up because it's taking Kendall 30 minutes to fall asleep I should just take the time to figure out what it is that is keeping her from staying in bed.  I could lay there with her for an extra 5 minutes if that's what she wants because what's it hurting?  She's only little once and one day she's not going to want me to lay with her let alone even step foot in her room.  I would be a better mom if I took the time to show her what I expect of her instead of assuming she knows and losing my cool when she doesn't.

I could be a better blogger.  Right now I blog in between playing My Little Ponies, feeding the baby, making lunches, folding laundry, etc.  I get frustrated because I half-ass all of that because I'm trying to do them all at the same time.  If I would set aside actual blog time so that I can focus on just that I could answer my emails, write worthy posts, read and comment on other blogs without getting frustrated because I have a million other things are going on at the same time.

Patience really affects all areas of my life when it runs low.  I basically become a very shitty excuse for a human being and I don't want that.  I want to be better.  I want to do all of the things better and I will.

October 10, 2013

What Sets Me Off

I've been thinking a lot about this patience thing.  Obviously being as it's my challenge over this month but I
honestly can say that there isn't a second that goes by where I'm not aware of the goal I set for myself.

I wish I could say that I'm already becoming a more patient mom but just this morning Kendall woke up WAY earlier than normal and totally threw my patience out the window.  I gave her the evil eye, made empty threats, tried bribery, and then finally got fed up enough to just get my butt out of bed.  I was annoyed.  I told her that it was unacceptable.  I pouted and acted like a child.  And why?  I was already up but I was just pissed she was making me be on duty before I was ready.

Well, too bad. I am her mom and that's my job.  If I'M not ready there is no one else to blame but myself.  And that's really what this whole 31 days is about.

I find that the times I lose my cool are when I'M being interrupted or when I'M not getting MY way or I'm being inconvenienced.  So what?  I mean we're talking about trivial things here, people.  Like, I didn't get to drink my coffee in peace while it's still hot.  Not really something to ruin your whole day but in the moment it seems like the worst thing that could ever happen. Ever.

It's called being selfish. I'm selfish.  I want to do what I want to do when I want to do it and everyone else should comply.  If things don't go that way then I flip.  I get uncomfortable.  I get impatient.  I act like a fool.
I must say, it's embarrassing. I can honestly say this is the one quality that I hate the most about myself.  I hate that I have zero tolerance which is why I'm so glad I committed to working on it over the course of the month.

I know what my triggers are and I'm trying to anticipate them happening and prepare myself ahead of time, since I can usually see it coming.  I wish I could say that I've already noticed a difference in myself but I haven't really.  Not yet.  I have noticed that I am more aware. When I feel my patience running low I stop and think about this challenge and remind myself that I want to change.  I need to change.

While it's been hard to be this transparent about my biggest flaw I'm so grateful to share my journey.  So many of you have reached out and told me that you, too, struggle with patience and some have even said I've inspired them to want to be better, more tolerable.  And THAT is why I do this.  It makes all the nerves of sharing something so personal worth it.  I obviously know that I'm not the only one who struggles but I do know that I'm one of the only ones who shares and I'm ok with that.

This is my journey.

October 9, 2013

SO WHAT! Wednesday

This week I'm saying SO WHAT if...


Life After I Dew


  • I broke my clean eating diet by eating a Lean Cuisine for lunch yesterday.  I was in a hurry, both babies were napping, I needed something quick. Lean Cuisine it was.
  • I feel guilty if I post more pictures of one kid vs the other on IG.
  • I like it that Kendall gets up and out of bed on her own now, instead of laying in there screaming, "MOMMY I'M AWAKE!!!".  
  • I just tried BB Cream and I'm o.b.s.e.s.s.e.d.  I know this is so 3 months ago but I didn't know what it was and OMG how have I lived without it?  It's perfect for days where I just have to drop KP off at school but want to look presentable!
  • I spent almost double what we normally do on groceries last week.  Clean eating=good for you=$$$.  No wonder America is so overweight. 
  • I feel like we should be moving James to his crib soon but I have no desire to.
  • I'm going to Florida next week and have done NOTHING to prepare.  Did I mention I'm taking both babies?
  • I have Voxer conversations more than regular conversations on a daily basis.
  • I have no idea what I'm wearing to the wedding I'm going to this weekend.  I had really hoped to be down a lot more pounds and so yeah, getting dressed Friday won't be pleasant.
  • I used to despise character clothing but now it makes getting dressed so much easier that I actually kinda love it.
  • I kinda regret chopping my hair off.
  • I make Kendall something different for dinner every night.  There is no way she's eating any of this clean eating stuff and, well, I don't want to fight with her.






October 8, 2013

Patience is Learned

Let's take a look at the definition of the word patient.


I wish that word described me.  As a wife, mother, friend, daughter, I wish I were less annoyed and more tolerable than I am. I wish I were one of those people who "rolled with the punches" who didn't get bent out of shape when things didn't go as I visioned them or as I'm used to them.  What's even more ironic?  Kendall is just like me.

She likes everything just so and if something is out of place {tangibly or otherwise} she fa-reaks out about it. And then I get frustrated, lose my patience when the reality of the situation is she is just mimicking what she sees.  What she knows.  Jimmy pointed this out to me recently, talk about an eye-opener.

It pains me to think that this is the example I am setting for my child{ren}.  I lose my temper so often {it seems} and so quickly and that is starting to rub off on my sweet, innocent, three year old and OMG is she turning into me?

One minute I am telling her, "Kendall you have to be patient." but my actions speak louder than words when I lose my cool over something {usually} trivial.  I make excuses for my behavior, "I'm the boss!" and I can justify my intolerance, "I just need to get x, y, z done!" but then I don't afford her the same.  I expect that she will be patient because she's three and all three-year-olds are patient, right?  I expect her to control her emotions.  I expect her to listen to me when I tell her to do something without keeping in mind that she is.just.three.

But what's my excuse?  I'm thirty and I do know better.  I do know what patience is and I do know how to control my emotions and yet I don't.  

Kendall's recently started playing with her dolls and ponies in the way in which they "interact" with each other.  I've overheard their "conversations" and I have heard her say things that I've said to her.  "NO, YOU'RE FRUSTRATING!" or "Why are you being so difficult?!"  Both phrases that I've uttered to her one too many times because I'm not taking the time to be patient with her.  Total slap in the face moment.

And then a few weekends ago I was with my group of friends and I heard my friend say something to her
daughter that I've said to Kendall many times. She was frustrated, as we all are when in the throes of toddlerhood, and she was trying to make a point, trying to get her daughter to understand what she was trying to teach her.  In that moment, I heard the words I had said so many times and all of the sudden it sounded so degrading.

"Don't be a baby!"

Funny how it takes hearing it from someone else to make you realize how awful you sound.

I've said this too many times to count because I get frustrated and impatient and I just want her to "get it".  The only thing she's "getting" in that moment is that I don't have enough patience to actually teach her a valuable lesson.  Instead of taking the time to explain to her x, y, or z I just lash out and say hurtful things.  It's heartbreaking.

She deserves more.

Part of this process is applying patience to all areas of my life but I'm starting with her.  She's impressionable, she's learning the behavior that I'm displaying and it's starting to show.  I have often thought about her acting this way or saying these things when she's at school or when I'm not around and then I think of the reactions that would generate.  That is not the image I want anyone, especially my sweet daughter, to have of me.

The good news is it's not too late.  Yes I've said things and acted unfavorably out of my lack of patience but it's not too late to turn things around.  If you have been struggling in this area it's not too late for you either.  We can take a deep breath, count to four, and calm, calm down. {Ni Hao, Kai Lan anyone?}


October 7, 2013

Recent Recipes

I've been having so much fun making new recipes lately!  If you follow me on IG you are probably ready to hit "unfollow" because the amount of food pics I post is getting out of hand.  I get it.  But hot damn I am proud of this new way of eating and sharing these yummy meals is fun {for me}!

We've been eating super fresh stuff.  Lots of fruits, veggies, meats, eggs, and very little cheese, dairy, processed stuff.  It feels good to be putting so much good stuff into our bodies and less prepackaged junk. This weekend we went out for our anniversary and while we didn't totally binge we did eat some things that our bodies haven't been used to over the past couple weeks.  I woke up Saturday and literally felt like junk.  I had a headache, I felt bloated, it was gross.  I was almost glad I felt bad because it gave me motivation to get back on track ASAP.

One thing worth mentioning is that I signed up for eMeals.com last week.  They have tons of plans, clean eating, Paleo, gluten free, you name it, and they will set you up with 7 recipes AND the grocery list for the week!  Makes it SO much easier to eat right and stay on budget.  This was my first week with it and while I'll admit I spent nearly double what I normally do I'm hoping now that we have some of the staples that will level off.  FYI I am doing the clean eating plan and so far all the recipes have been very easy to prepare and super yummy!

All of these recipes are quick, easy, and really yummy.  I have been experimenting with a lot of things too, like breakfast.  I'm so used to popping an English muffin in the toaster and being done with it. Now things require a bit more planning and that's not so bad. Lunch and dinner have been the best though, I've found some seriously delicious things, you must try!

1.  South of the Border Baked Avocado with Corn and Black Bean Saute {eMeals.com recipe}
1 large avocado, halved and pitted
1 tablespoon lemon juice, divided
1 cup shredded deli rotisserie chicken
3 tablespoons reduced-fat sour cream
3 tablespoons fresh salsa
2 teaspoons chopped fresh cilantro
¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper
½ cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Scoop about 2
tablespoons avocado from each avocado half
(as you would a baked potato). Place in a
medium bowl; mash with 2 teaspoons lemon
juice. (Reserve mixture for Meal 2; cover
surface with plastic wrap and refrigerate in an
airtight container). Combine chicken, remaining
lemon juice, sour cream, salsa, cilantro, salt
and pepper; spoon into avocado halves. Place
avocados on a foil-lined baking sheet; sprinkle
evenly with cheese. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or
until cheese melts and avocados are tender.

Corn and Black Bean Saute
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 ear fresh corn, cleaned, shucked and kernels
cut from cobs
15 oz can no-salt-added black beans, drained
and rinsed
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium
heat. Add garlic and corn kernels; saute 4
minutes or until corn is tender. Add black
beans, lime juice, cilantro, salt and pepper.
Cook 3 minutes or until thoroughly heated. 

2.  Sausage, Egg and Sweet Potato Frittata {from Everyday Paleo}

1 pound mild Italian sausage 

1 medium sweet potato, peeled and grated {I put mine in the food processer} 

4 green onions, diced {I used regular sweet onion}
10 eggs 
3 tablespoons coconut oil
Pepper to taste




In a large oven proof skillet, heat the coconut oil over medium heat.

Crumble in the sausage (remove from casing if necessary) and brown.
Add the shredded sweet potato and cook until the potatoes are tender.
Add the diced green onion and saute together with the sausage and sweet potatoes for another 2-3 minutes.
Evenly spread the sausage mixture over the bottom of the pan. Whisk together the eggs, and pour evenly over the meat, sweet potato, and green onion mixture. Sprinkle all over with black pepper.
Cook for about 3 minutes or until bubbly and you can see that the edges of the frittata are almost done.
Transfer to the oven and cook under the broiler on low until the frittata is cooked all the way through.


3.  White Chicken Chili
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon corn starch
1 medium onion chopped
1 Rotel tomatoes
2 cans white beans (drained)
2 teaspons cumin
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 lb chicken tenders
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
2 cups chicken broth
1 avocado 

Place all ingredients in crock pot and cook on low for 4-5 hours. 
Remove chicken, shred & return to crock pot.
Serve with sliced avocado {tastes so good and great substitute for cheese}

4.  Fried Egg with Spinach, Ham, and Bacon
2 eggs
chopped ham
chopped bacon
spinach
fresh tomato salsa
avocado

I don't have proper measurements for this one because I literally just whipped it up one morning just hoping it'd work and it did!  I never ever ever thought I'd like eggs without cheese and I must admit adding the avocado totally makes up for the lack of cheese here.  I just fried the eggs with the meat and spinach and topped with the salsa and avocado.  This is my go-to breakfast.

It should also be noted that I'm a little obsessed with avocados now.  Like I need them in the house at all times. I thought it'd be super hard to give up cheese but I think the avocado as a replacement has made the loss much easier.  Not to say I'm not eating ANY cheese but I'm eating very little, same goes with dairy products.  Also I never make anything other than venison chili so Jimmy was a little skeptical of the white chicken chili {if it ain't broke don't fix it kinda thing} and he was a little obsessed with the new version.

I'm really loving all these new recipes and trying out different combinations of foods I would have never put together before {who puts eggs and sweet potatoes together!?}.  It's been fun discovering new flavors and I mean, isn't clean eating pretty!?



October 2, 2013

Husbands & Headphones {Review & Giveaway}

 


What is it about men and headphones?  Maybe it's just my husband but he's obsessed.  At his job he's able to listen to music, or in his case, books on tape, errr...CD, errr...MP3?  Anywho, he listens to them for the better part of his 10-hour shift.  And he's always looking for "the good pair" because, you know there's a difference.  Me? I'm fine with the junky ones that came with my iPod even though they are uncomfortable and fall out of my ears every time I use them.  But that's neither here nor there. When I was asked to review these new Monster N-TUNE HD Headphones I knew I had to say "yes", for my husband.  Thankfully they sent me a candy apple red pair, even though the purple would have been more my style {can we all just picture my husband rocking a purple pair?}, because the day they came was like Christmas morning for Jimmy.  I think his words were, "finally a blog review/product I can actually benefit from" and he instantly put those bad boys on and headed out to do yard work.  His first comment was how lightweight and really comfortable they were.  He owns another pair of on-ear headphones and those are typically his "good pair" but they've now been replaced. The awesome thing about these headphones is not only that they come in super scrumptious colors but they are noise canceling.  So now when I yell for him and he doesn't answer he'll have a legit reason, I suppose.  But another selling point is that they have this cool feature called ControlTalk that allows you to pause your music when you get a phone call and answer it with the push of a button {on the cord}.  No more missing the best part of the song because your mom called!
You've seen the fancy headphones created by a very famous rapper and those bad boys run you a small fortune.  Seriously, we looked into a pair and I'm pretty sure I could buy groceries for an entire month for the same price.  But, these are also designed by a famous rapper, err at least I think he is {#nothip}, Nick Cannon aka Mr. Mariah Carey.  So you can expect the same booming bass at a fraction of the cost.  Is anyone else thinking these would be a great Christmas gift?  Christmas is only 92 days away, after all. Monster would like to make it a little bit easier to get your hands on a pair of these beauties so they are giving away 25 sets of Monster headphones {a $150 value}.  All you have to do is check them out, here, and come back and let me know what your favorite color is {I'm still partial to the purple}.

To win your very own pair of N-Tune headphones (valued at $150),  read all about the Monster headphones here and let me know in the comments of this post which color you prefer. The comments on this post will be aggregated with the comments on the posts from the other bloggers participating in this review, and 25 pairs will be given away. This giveaway will close on Nov 1.

Sweepstakes Rules:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
  • Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
  • Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
  • Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post.
  • For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winner  will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
BlogHer will pool entries from participating blogs and select a sweepstakes winner at random and will contact the winner with details about fulfilling the prize.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 10/2/13 – 11/1/13.Please let me know if you have any questions.
 

SO WHAT! Wednesday

This week I'm saying SO WHAT if...

    Life After I Dew
  • I forgot all about the "31 days of.." challenge until I saw everyone else doing it yesterday.
  • I didn't want to write this SWW post.  I have a feeling our SWW days our numbered.
  • Our 4 year wedding anniversary is tomorrow and we've got nothing planned.
  • I was sad that none of Kendall's teachers commented on how cute her snacks were yesterday. I mean I made a Pinterest snack for crying out loud.
  • I thin printed leggings are hideous.  I'm looking at you Aztec design.
  • I really like Bethenny's talk show.
  • We have yet to have any real family pictures taken since James has been born.
  • Speaking of which, I never sent birth announcements either.
  • I will run the dishwasher if it's just to wash bottles. I LOATHE hand-washing bottles.
  • I got a nasty comment on my weight loss update last week. I got a super sweet POSITIVE comment in person at the supermarket yesterday.
  • I get emotional at the beginning of Lion King.  I mean everyone is all excited to see Simba and Mufasa is all proud. It's so fresh on my new mom heart.
  • I have no idea what my kids will be for Halloween.  Jimmy votes Star Wars.  #obviously






October 1, 2013

thirty one days

Today marks day one of The Nester's thirty one days challenge.  I kinda sorta totally forgot about this challenge until I saw all the other people posting their amazing journeys that they'll be taking over the course of the next month.  And then I remembered my own challenge, last year, and how great my results were.

I knew this year I wanted to do something bigger.  Something I really struggle with.  Something that would not only help me but help my family be better.  I knew I wasn't going to do this unless or until I came up with something great.  So I thought all day about it.  I asked myself what the ONE thing I struggle with the most is.  And then it hit me.  One word.

Patience.

Whether it's with Kendall, Jimmy's stupid work, the dogs barking, the Internet loading slowly, the Keurig not making my coffee fast enough, Dish Network for getting rid of NBC {seriously!?} you name it I have about zero patience.  I get frustrated easily and blow up quickly and I hate that about myself.  I always regret it and find myself praying to God daily to please give me patience.  But it has to start with me.

So over the next thirty one days I'm going to slow down.  I'm going to take deep breaths, walk away, think before I speak.  I will ask for help.  I will take more mommy time-outs. I will not get so worked up about things I cannot change.  I will relax, not be so uptight.  I will let things fall by the wayside.

I will be better for me and my family.

We deserve it.

#chewforchange

I don't know about you but the first few weeks at home with a new baby are a blur. So much snuggling, lack of sleep, the last thing on your mind is making a nice hot dinner.  When James was born I was fortunate enough to have my mom here with me for a full week and she made us dinner every night that week {with enough left over for Jimmy's lunches} and that was the best. Not having to worry about doing one.more.thing while caring for a new baby is the best gift I could ask for.  Read more, here.