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life

Raising A Toddler in 2023

Parenting • Mar 23, 2023

It was important to me that this was my first post after the site redesign. Being a parent is without a doubt one of the hardest and most rewarding jobs on the planet. But being a parent in 2023 brings on it’s own sets of challenges. Challenges that some parents before us were truly not faced with. With technology changing by the minute, school shootings on the rise, and so much overload from the world around us there are days I feel like I don’t know where to turn.

I thought giving a few pointers from a parents perspective in 2023 would be helpful. Below are my top 5 tips for new parents.

  • First and foremost, do you! This has many meanings but I think the most important message is that you are doing whatever it is that YOU feel is right. I see so many parent’s that are doing this or doing that because this book says this or that blog says that. That’s no way to parent. Take what you feel are the best parts of all these systems and create your own.
  • Take time for you. This is important! I’m not necessarily talking about a lavish week alone on a deserted island (unless that’s your thing) but instead, taking a few minutes to have time for yourself. This could be reading a book, working on a project you enjoy, or even watching an episode of your favorite TV show. It doesn’t matter what it is, just take the time to enjoy a few minutes to yourself.
  • Your not going to break them. This was a lesson I had to learn from day one. I remember thinking our son was so fragile and yet these nurses would just whip him around to change clothes or a diaper like it was nothing. When I asked why she was so rough her exact response was, “you aren’t going to break him”. This took time to get used to be eventually became the norm. As he’s gotten older this meaning has transitioned from diaper changes to our style of punishment. Instead of worrying about physically breaking my son there were days I worried about mentally break him. That may sound harsh but believe me, that one time you lose control and yell isn’t going to break them.
  • Give everyone grace. Everyone. There are days my kid is a jerk. There, I said it, he can be a jerk. And you know what, from his perspective, I’m sure there are days when I’m a jerk too. You get through it. Sometimes everyone apologies and then you move on to the next day. Give them and give yourself grace to make mistakes.
  • Ask for help. This is one I struggle with. Ask for help when you need it! Need to take that time to yourself? Ask for help? Baby has a cough? Ask for help? Not sure what size diapers to buy? Ask for help!

I’m sure that I could go on and on with this list but I think the five above are the most important. Parenting isn’t easy, it’s hard. Anybody that tells you otherwise is lying to you. You are going to have good days and your going to have bad days. Believe me, you’ll have plenty of both.

I hope this helps! What are your top parenting tips?

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Happy New Year – 2017

Holidays , Personal • Jan 1, 2017

2017

It’s always crazy to think that the holiday season is over. So much work and so much energy for a few weeks of festivities and a few dinners with family and friends. You then get that awkward week between Christmas and New Years. The last week won’t make or break your yearly work goals and your not ready to accept that 2017 is going to bring an all new slate of goals. I have to admit though.. It’s worth it!

But then your also hit with New Years Resolutions. Do I make them? Do I skip them? Do I even know what my resolutions where from this year? Regardless I always take the time to make resolutions. I do my best to set realistic expectations for myself though. I’m not going to change the world but I can change the impact I’m making on myself and others around me.

I’m starting to ramble so let me bring it back, lol. My small side business has grown tremendously from a small idea to .. Well .. THIS!. I couldn’t be happier. My numbers don’t begin to compare to others around me but I’m happy. I took an idea and made money from it! My resolutions are going to center around this site and the customer base I’ve built around it.

Starting a business isn’t easy. To be honest I don’t feel that it was initially my intention to even do. I realized right away that a small business wasn’t just making things that I enjoy but so much more. I can make the items but then I have to actually deliver them to my customers. Boxes, bags and shipping supplies came as a surprise (oddly enough). Having stock of the items that my customers wanted was crucial along with the customer service I provided if there were any bumps along the road.

I believe that customers will come if you have the right product and the proper back end support to handle the business. In 2017 I’m going to work on the back end logistics that customers will never see. I hope to be reflecting a year from now on the success I’m striving for.

I wish everyone a happy and safe new year! Are you starting resolutions?

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Preparing For Project Life in 2015

Personal , Project Life • Jan 28, 2015

01.18.15

Finding Project Life in 2014 was amazing! With so many vacation photos, ticket stubs, and miscellaneous memories we’ve wanted to save this was perfect! More than just perfect there are many days when I have felt like it was a true god-send.

What is Project Life you ask?

Project Life® is an ultra-simple, über-stylish solution for getting your photos off your phone and computer, out of boxes, and into albums. Gone are the days of cutting, pasting, buying oodles of supplies, and spending hours on an album. Or even hours on just one page.

Enter Project Life. Simply choose a Project Life Album, select a Core Kit full of artfully-designed cards, and slip them into our Photo Pocket Pages along with your treasured photos and you’re done! By spending less time on your albums, you’ll have more time to rearrange your sock drawer, give Fido a bath, or clean your house. Well, you get the idea. Take a while to look around our site and see what this revolutionary product is all about! #MindBlown

WHAT WORKED WELL?

Nothing. When I look back on 2014 and the beginning of my Project Life journey I wouldn’t say that it was a failure, I just don’t think that I did things as well as I should have. When you start something new it can be a challenge to master it. I feel good about my results but I know that this year i’m going to make it better!

  • Making My Own Cards – It didn’t go as well as I hoped it would but it helped with the cost savings of it all. The Core Kits can be so expensive but actual scrapbook paper doesn’t have to be. There are so many great deals each week on both individual sheets and books. The card punch was also a godsend. I chose the squared corner so that I would have the option to do squared corners or rounded (using my corner punch).
  • Storage – I hesitated on this one but I truly feel good about my storage situation. There are so many little bits and pieces that are needed to created the pages and having everything in an ‘easy-to-access’ space is amazing.
  • Creativity – I’m surprised by how creative I became. There were many times that I felt like I didn’t have the creative ‘juices’ to proceed but it always worked out. I’m proud of a lot of my layouts (and embarrassed by some of them).

2015 COMMITMENTS

  • Organization – It’s a struggle when their are a lot of pieces and parts all over the place. My Storage options were great but the organization to it all was a bit of a mess. Everything from paper to tape to stickers and wood veneers. Getting all the pieces and parts in their proper place I believe will help each commitment that will follow a better chance.
  • Keeping Up – Keeping up with it all was tough! Aside from actual life it can be a challenge just to find the time to complete each page. There is nothing worse than getting behind and feeling like there are mountains to climb.
  • Save Money – Overall I feel good about the money i’ve spent in the last 9 months. I do on the other hand feel like I bought items that were unnecessary. I’ve learned to make my own cards (although they need plenty of work). I also had a tendency to buy things that I truly just did not need.
  • More Swaps – Swapping is great! So many times you end up buying a pack of stickers but you only actually need one or two out of the entire pack. I get lazy with ‘swapping’ because of the amount of time and energy involved but I know that it’s going to go hand-in-hand with the money saving I would like to do.

I think my commitments are very doable. I’ve been reading some blog posts to see what my fellow project-lifers are up to. I’m looking forward to a great 2015!

Further Guidance – Big City Quiet • Give A Girl A Blog

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Jessica Simpson – Moving Forward

Personal , Random , Weight Watchers • Aug 13, 2014

07.13.2013

This week was one of those that i was genuinely excited to have my People Magazine subscription (most weeks i just wish that i hadn’t gotten it). I don’t think that Jessica Simpson could have looked anymore stunning.

I have been a fan of Jessica since her debut back in the 90’s. I genuinely feel that when compared to her peers at the time (Christina, Britney, Mandy, JLO) she was far superior. She had the looks, the personality, and her music was genuinely good. I think that she just wasn’t ‘sexy’ enough to compete and her first single was the wrong choice.

I was also a fan of Jessica with Nick Lachey. I enjoyed watching Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica. I also think that i was also genuinly sad when their divorced was announced in 2005. I know, i sound like a lunatic but it’s true. I thought they had a great relationship and the show made it look as if they truly supported what the other did. In the end, i feel as if Nick may have been a bit jealous of the success that Jessica continued to have.

Regardless, Jessica really has taken an at times dismal music career and turned it into an empire! Not the music of course but the brand. I read somewhere that Jessica is the first artist to break the ONE BILLION mark. I would assume that is encompassing all of her brands from music to bags to even perfume (also a fan). I think that she took rough moments in her life and really turned it into success.

Jessica looked absolutely beautiful on her wedding day. I think that she did everything right (from the article). Although… she had 14 bridesmaids. Really? To each their own! I look forward to what the future holds for Jessica!

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Journaling

Personal , Random • Feb 8, 2014

I don’t know why i find journaling so chalenging. Not challenging as in I cant do it – it’s just i’m never motivated to do it. Is that lame? lol.

When my grandmother (dads mother) passed a couple of years ago the only thing that I truly wanted of hers was her journals. I always had the understand that she kept those journals (and she truly did journal daily) for the majority of her life. Although I haven’t truly taken the time yet to read through all of them it was awesome to read the things that I did.

On the flip side though I think that at times what your reading can be a bit sad. She felt different at times about various situations that she never shared with anybody. You can’t go back and change those situations but it’s good insight for future events.

So that leads me to keeping my own journal. I’ve debated over the years on if I should keep a paper journal or digital journal. Over the last few years i’ve really tried to keep both. The digital journal is easier, you don’t have to worry about where it’s at, and of course it’s passcode protected.

But .. at the same time it’s kind of nice to sit and write in a paper journal. Something a bit relaxing about it i guess. I was diagnosed with the onset of carpel tunnel last year so thats one thing to think about as well. It’s a bit painful to write at times so the digital option can somewhat remain easier.

I’ve also been using the Day One app for sometime now. It syncs between my ipad, computer and my iPad which is awesome. I really don’t have a reason to not journal because of truly how easy it is.

I guess that brings me back to my original point though – if it’s so easy for me to have access to journal then why the hell don’t i do it? Does anyone out there keep a journal? If you keep a journal then how often do you take the time to actual write in it and update it.

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