Here are five tips to help you achieve that early bird status!
I Can Do Hard Things
I CAN DO HARD THINGS. If you have big goals, get comfortable with being uncomfortable. This year has been proof of that!
When I had to step away
It’s okay to step back and say “no”. Being a volunteer is tough and sometimes we need to remember that if we’re not caring for ourselves, we can’t serve others. Sometimes we need to step away.
Why Organic Cotton Matters for Girls!
I'm a big proponent of organic food. I've been to a couple marches and rallies and I believe food should be our primary concern when it comes to our health.
Cotton I've not been so concerned with until recently. In the past I have thought to myself "why does organic cotton matter?" We just wear it. Truth is, we wear in in more ways than just clothes and for women and girls we need to be aware of the products we put into our bodies too!
Cotton is one of the largest genetically modified crops. Cotton is also in our tampons and feminine pads. We much have forgotten that. Do we want those pesticides and chemicals to be absorbed into our bodies, specifically in the lady areas?
NO, absolutely not! This isn't just a woman's issue. It's also for our girls.
Is it just me or does if feel like girls are getting their periods earlier and earlier? I mean 8 years old? So yeah, this is a girls problem too.
Toxic Shock Syndrome
Cervical and ovarian cancer
Fertility problems
birth defects...
Need I go on?
So make a conscience decision next time you purchase feminine products and go organic cotton! We don't want those nasty chemicals down there so lets be more picky about what we put into our bodies. After all, isn't that what we should be preaching? Do ya get me?
*This post contains an affiliate link which helps support this website
My Natural and Easy Method to Refresh Your Carpets (Household Elf)
Carpet powder is something that I used a long time ago before I had kids and considerate of the chemicals I brought into the house. Most store bought powders have been really irritating to our dogs skin and I would assume the same for kids. Since we have a baby that has recently started to crawl I need to be extra careful about what we use.
Just get started!
Girlfriends!
Who is battling weight or health issues?
All you have to do is take that first step. The hardest thing about working out is putting on those shoes and making the decision to do it.
Chicken Lime Avocado Soup
Hey there!
I'm really excited to share this recipe with you today! I made this last week for the hubby and I. To my surprise, my 6 year old diva also enjoyed this soup too! I always find it amazing when she is willing to try something other than her normal kid staples. As the soup was cooking on the stove she pointed her nose up and took in a deep sniff and goes " ahhh it smells so good"!
With that being said, I would like to say this is KID APPROVED! This is also an acceptable recipe if you are currently doing the Fast Metabolism Diet during phase three. This is a super easy recipe and doesn't take long at all.
Makes 6 servings
Ingredients
1.5 pounds of boneless skinless chicken. I used the chicken tender strips, about 10 of them.
5 cloves of minced garlic
3-4 Roma tomatoes, seeded and chopped
2 14 oz containers of low sodium chicken broth
1 cup of diced yellow onion
1/3 cup of freshly chopped cilantro
2 seeded and minced jalapeno (You can add more for spice. This soup is very mild if not any spice so totally tolerable for kids)
3/4 teaspoon cumin
2 tablespoons olive or coconut oil
2-3 limes
3-4 avocados
Sea salt
Fresh ground pepper
Optional: shredded chihuahua cheese and/or sour cream and/or tortilla chips
What you do...
In a large pot heat 2 tablespoons of olive or coconut oil over medium heat. Add your onion and jalapeno and saute until caramelized and tender, about 2-3 minutes.
Add in the garlic and saute for 1 minute. This is about the time your house starts to smell awesome!
Add in chicken broth, tomato, cumin, and salt and pepper to taste. Add in your chicken and bring to a boil. Once you have reached a boil reduce heat to low to medium and let it simmer for 8-10 minutes. You will want the lower end of that time if you are using chicken strips like myself. For a chicken breast you want to cook for at least 10 minutes.
Once chicken has cooked through, remove from your pot and set aside to rest for 5-10 minutes. After you have let your chicken set, take a fork and knife and shred your chicken. *I feel that the chicken tender strips shred easier than the chicken breasts.
Return your shredded chicken into the pot of soup and add your cilantro.
Now you are Ready to serve!
Serve soup with a fresh lime squeeze on the side. This allows each guest to add their desired amount of lime. Some will like it more tangy than others but whats great is you can personally make it how you like it. It's also fun for the kids. I would recommend about 2 lime wedges per serving along with half an avocado.
Don't forget your optional toppings as well!
I hope you guys enjoy this amazingly healthy and fresh recipe! I know our family loved it!
xoxo, Katie
6 Week Post-Op and Postpartum Depression
This past week I had my 6 week post-op doctor's appointment to give me the A-Okay to return to work and other things (*wink). I still have two weeks before I have to return to work but it seemed like just yesterday I was being discharged from the hospital. This precious little time always seems to fly.
I'm so blessed that I work for an amazing company that lets me work from home and is so flexible with my schedule. I don't think I could be in such good spirits about returning to work without these two things! I did want to open up to you mamas about my past experiences with postpartum depression.
Postpartum depression can make a Mama feel awful. It can make us feel incompetent and downright crazy. It can make us think and feel things we wouldn't feel in our right minds and it's not your fault. It happens and the best thing you can do for yourself is just admit that you are struggling with it and talk about it. Why does it feel that this is something so taboo to talk about still? It's heavily screened for at the doctor's office and the nurses aren't afraid to ask but why is it so hard to talk about with friends and family? Is it TMI? It's got a stigma behind it and it's not fair. It's not fair to a mother who is already going through so much to make them feel ashamed about it.
I was so sure this time around I was going to have it. Why wouldn't I? After all, I had it with my first two pregnancies. Well, it's still a little early to rule it out and things might change when I do return to work but for the most part I'm feeling really high in spirits, which is much better off than the previous experiences. I will still be on the lookout for it because that nasty old PPD can pop its devilish head out even after a year of giving birth. My second child it did take a couple months and even then I was in denial until about the 6th month mark.
I remember battling it with my first. I isolated myself and was anxious to even pick up the phone to shot the shit with a girlfriend. My daughter had just had heart surgery and I remember the guilt and blame I placed on myself. I didn't admit it back then that I needed help and I kept PPD a secret.
With my second, I was more open and willing to address the situation perhaps because I was downright miserable and decided I no longer wanted to live my life feeling this way. I couldn't be the mama and wife I wanted to be feeling this way. It also helped that I have a very honest and supportive relationship with my husband. He was actually the one who finally pushed me to call my doctor.
It took 6 months to fake a reason to see the doctor. I remember the nurse asking me over the phone what was the nature of the visit.... uhhhhh pelvic pain? When I finally did speak up in the exam room I felt like the weight was lifted off of my shoulders. The doctor was wonderful and made me feel like I wasn't the only one in the world feeling this way. I did get a prescription and was referred to a clinical counselor to hash out my feelings. The doctor called the medicine "a little something to help put my hormones back in balance". It wasn't meant to be permanent.
I filled the prescription and made my appointment and was on track with feeling better.... Yet, there were people in my life, close people, who were judgmental of the fact that I was seeking help for my mental health issues.
Mental health is so important for us Mamas!
This time around there have been somethings that I have tried to do differently to possible ward off the nasty PPD. Do I think these things prevented it? I can't say, sometimes these things just happen but we can only try to take care of ourselves more to feel better. We can't ignore when we are not feeling right and anyone who thinks they are struggling with PPD needs to discuss it with their doctor. Like seriously... make the phone call and get an appointment!
What has helped me fight off postpartum depression
Essential Oils
I can tell you that there was a couple of mornings that I didn't want to get out of bed. I had about 10 things to do before I could even think about doing anything for myself.... change the baby's diaper, feed the baby a bottle, pump breast milk, get the kids some breakfast..... It was a real struggle to get myself up those mornings and I felt pulled in a million directions. With the help of diffused lemon oil, I started at the list of things to do and I felt better. I was happily awakened and feeling energized and motivated. As I sat there feeding the baby while the other two kids ate their breakfast, I thought to myself "I might just clean the whole house today!"
....Did I clean the house that day?.....
....Heck no! This Mama had way more things to accomplish in that day but the point was I was motivated!
Letting go of things
I used to take on everything. I used to believe that if I stayed busy I could make time for it all. I had a lot of plans for this upcoming year and a lot of things I put on my plate. I've had to let go of some of those things and take a second to stop and smell the roses. This will probably be my last baby and I wanted to take some time and enjoy it. I honestly don't remember my other two when they were infants. It's hard to imagine those times and I feel it's because I didn't take the time to take it all in. We miss out when we are too busy and we don't get to enjoy our children.
I've also let go of the idea of a perfect home. It will probably never happen even after the kiddies have fled the nest. Sticky floors and toys everywhere is just my life these days. I can try and keep the house perfect but that will just stress me out some more. So like Elsa says... "let it go!"
Prayer
Although I'm not a regular in the Sunday pews, I have found prayer to be so helpful and encouraging. It's amazing what we can put on Him and what He gives in return. I've spent many mornings praying before I even opened my eyes. Praying for God to give me the patience and love to make it through the day. Being a mama to three young children is very demanding and at the end of the day I want to feel that I loved my kids enough, It's amazing what we can do in prayer.
Yoga
I'm really looking forward to carving out some time for this now that I've got the clearance from the doctor. Yoga is something that I've have really grown to love. It empowers a mama to feel stronger and it's great for keeping a balanced mind.
What are some helpful ideas you can give me to stay healthy and happy? Please leave your suggestions in the comments!!
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Graduation Day!
After three years of family, home buying, child birth and mommying two kids, I have finally finished my Bachelor's degree! Perhaps the true joy has not quite been felt as this whole thing seems hazy and unreal. When you are used to a way of life for so long it's often something that sticks with you for awhile. The pseudo stress I now feel has slightly come to reality as my weekends are more for enjoyment and relaxation then writing papers.
Being an adult student has taught me so much. It's shown my persistence and resilience for the sake of my future and my family. I often hear about parents or the non-traditional student wishing to go back to school and better themselves. Usually, what immediately follows are the excuses as to why they can't make that happen.
Time.
Kids.
I like my lifestyle.
Work.
Buying a house.
Vacation.
These are all reasons why a person convinces themselves that now is not the right time. Maybe next semester or next year... but that quickly approaches and there are new, if not the same, obstacles placed in one's way that yet again prevents then from just taking the first step.
I was able to juggle a newborn, raising two kids, working full time, multiple vacations, home buying, moving twice, and a social life all while my hubby was doing the same thing. If I can do it then you can do it.
It's a wonderful feeling having gone through all that we have and coming out on the other side achieving my goals! Did I mention I graduated Cum Laude? Don't give up on your dreams and goals not matter how far away they might seem!
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Staying Healthy in the Winter Months
I've never really gotten the flu shot as an adult. I know many people that swear by it. The one year my family (excluding me) by accident got the flu shot (the hubby was in charge of this) they all ended up getting dreadfully sick. I however, despite taking care of each one of them, did not get sick. Now, I'm no doctor and there is always a risk but I think I've done pretty well without it.
Staying healthy is especially important in the winter months. Now that I am pregnant, I want to be extra careful. It's said that in pregnancy your immune system is not at its fullest. So here are my tips and tricks on staying healthy when everyone else around you is getting caught up in the flu season.
Go Green
For the extra healthy boost and vitamins, add a green juice to your routine. I like to drink mine in the morning about a half hour before I eat breakfast. Don't forget to chew your juice:) Here is a great go to recipe...
Juice the following...
2 cups of pineapple
2 oranges
2 cucumbers
5 leafs of kale
1/2 inch of peeled fresh ginger root (a little goes a long way)
*Stir in a teaspoon of turmeric after you have juiced for an added punch and extra immune boost!
For more healthy recipes check out
https://aloha.com/shop/recipes
. They have some amazing ideas!!
De-Stress with Yoga
Exercise and de-stressing are important in keeping your body and your immune system intact. Stress has been linked to illnesses and increases the likelihood of you getting sick so keep that stress level down by a regular yoga routine.
You don't need to go to a yoga class at your gym to accomplish this. Buy a Yoga video and do it at home anytime!
When I first started out I used this beginners yoga video and I highly recommend it! The video I used was
.
How do you keep healthy in the winter? Do you have a special remedy or routine?
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