What I’m Grateful for – November 2017

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November was an awesome month. The weather has been so fantastic! It was a little cold a few days, but it actually felt like Autumn instead of just nose-diving straight into Winter at the end of October. Aside from some pretty great weather, I already have most of my Christmas shopping done. No mad rushing for me this December! I did my annual Black Friday shopping with my mom and sister. While I didn’t have much to buy initially, I did get some ideas and accomplished some things so yay! Another successful Black Friday (including a whole new set of dog toys so we can throw out all of their old ratty ones.) Zachary’s been sick a lot this month … More…

5 Ways to Teach Generosity to Toddlers

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I try to be a giving person. I’m no Mother Theresa, but helping those in need has always been at the top of my list of priorities. We all have the power to make the world a better place and we can each use what we have to offer to share with others. Naturally, I think it’s important to teach generosity to my two-year-old son so that he too will carry through life a generous, giving spirit. It’s so easy to incorporate generosity into our daily lives to teach kids to have a giving spirit.   The Spirit of Giving begins at home. I’m not sure why I feel a strong pull to give back. It’s clear by looking at … More…

5 Simple Tips for a Healthier Thanksgiving

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If you ask most people what their favorite part of Thanksgiving is, they’d tell you it was the food. In fact, a lot of people probably couldn’t tell you anything else they even associate with Thanksgiving! Although I’m sure a few would say the Black Friday shopping part was their favorite, that really doesn’t have anything to do with the celebration of the holiday itself. I’m not sure why, but it seems to be the only holiday in which food is the only way we really celebrate. Christmas has church and decorating of the house and tree. Halloween has trick-or-treating, dressing up, and enjoying all things scary. With all the association with food, Thanksgiving is definitely one of the toughest holidays … More…

25 Sweet, Simple Vegan Treats Kids will Love

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I try to feed my kid healthy foods. Really, I do. I try to limit junk food as much as possible. Candy, cookies, cakes, and chips are not often consumed in our house. At least, not by Zach, and not when he’s awake. I mean who among us hasn’t raided the ice cream the second the kids are in bed? I cannot be alone in this. The main reason we eat healthy at home is that I want Zach to learn good habits. I don’t want him addicted to sugar like I am. I don’t want him struggling with food addiction, weight problems, or the diseases linked to a poor diet. That’s why we try to stick to sweet healthy … More…

What I’m Grateful for – October 2017

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October has gone by so fast. I know time seems to be going by quicker all the time, but it really feels like this month started, I blinked, and October was gone. We were so busy this month. I’m sure it will only get worse as the year comes to an end! October was filled with a lot of work towards potty training. We’re starting to make some headway, but it’s been a lot of work! He’s just so stubborn! We also had family pictures taken which, although I haven’t seen them yet, I think will turn out great. Zachary had some done in his Halloween costume and they should be really cute. We may have even gotten some good ones … More…

Dear Working Mom – It’s okay to not be superwoman

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  As a working mom, I understand how difficult it can be to feel stretched between work priorities and home priorities. It’s tough. It’s even more difficult if your desire is to be a stay-at-home mom. If you’re struggling to “have it all” and be the superwoman you’re supposed to be, this post is for you. Spoiler alert: it’s okay to not be superwoman.   All moms are expected to be superwoman. We have a laundry list of motherly and wifely duties. Laundry, cooking, cleaning, caring for the children, playtime, family time and connecting with our partner are just some of what we do. If we’re lucky, as I am, we have a partner that works with us on most … More…

Quarter 3 Update: Progress on My New Year Goals

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The third quarter of the year is over already?! I guess that means it’s time for an update on my goals for the new year. I posted our goals for 2017 in the beginning of January. As promised, I will be posting quarterly progress updates to hold myself accountable. Overall, quarter one went pretty well. I think quarter two went even better. This past quarter I experienced a bit of a shift. I lost some steam in areas I did better in earlier in the year but had some real progress in my health goals. There were lots of health changes this quarter. I started utilizing the personal trainer and gym at work in the beginning of August. We also adopted a … More…