How many of you find yourself helping others more than yourself? How many of you are mentally and/or emotionally drained by the end of the day because you spent all day helping people around you instead of YOU?
I would guess many of you reading those questions could answer "me" to both of them.
When I was working full time as a Therapist, I would come home mentally and sometimes emotionally EXHAUSTED from my work. I put that word in all caps not to be dramatic, but to be accurate. Now as a SAHM, I still end most of my days very drained from the energy I put into parenting Edward and taking care of other home responsibilities. It's a different kind of drained, but overall (just like with my career) I put my heart and soul into what I do, which usually leaves me feeling worthless by 8:00pm.
Is it a problem that we are zombie-ish by our days end because we have given so much of ourselves in our careers and in our homes? Should we feel bad when we breathe a sigh of relief when our children go to bed at night? Is it a negative thing when our brain is close to mush by dinner because we spent all day working diligently on our child saying "yes ma'am", following directions, and reiterating anything potty related?
NO. NO. NO. You know why? Because this means that we are probably doing a good job in our homes and in our career. This means that we are not being lazy in the workplace or selfish as a stay at home parent. Our exhaustion by the end of the day is PROOF THAT WE CARE ABOUT WHAT WE DO. It is proof that we are putting a lot of effort into what we care about and that we are trying to be good at it. We want our bosses to see our efforts and be proud of our hard work. We want our children to be raised right and to grow up being just downright good people and productive members of society.
What is a problem for us is when we dwell on what we didn't do. When we end our day fretting over the fact that we didn't clean the bathrooms or talked to as many new customers as we had hoped-is not helpful for us. It overshadows and clouds all that we accomplished for the day. What we didn't get to for that day can always be done another time.
Help Yourself by asking yourself this one question: Did I accomplish my top priority (not my whole to-do list) in my home or workplace for the day? Were my clients satisfied? Did I run that one errand? Were my children happy? Did my family get fed? Was I accomplished? If you can answer yes to your daily priority, then you should get plenty of rest for the night. Have a good week! :)
-Shannon
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Monday, July 13, 2015
More like Stimpy!
His face lights up. His eyes squint a little. His cheeks plump up. His little dimples appear. It's one of my favorite sights to see: my son Edward laughing.
It dawned on me yesterday while playing with Edward how easy it is for him to become joyful. He will smile and giggle if I find all of the pieces to a toy that he sees every day. Or when he gets in his bed at night, he will smile and giggle (I think) because of how comfortable he is. If I hand him 5 M&M's, he will become joyful. Hiding, singing, running, jumping and so many other things bring him joy.
I thought to myself (after noticing this) how much more it takes for me to experience that same kind of joy that Edward experiences. Other than the obvious events of getting married and having Edward, it takes things like getting Alabama football tickets, winning $1,000 on a slot machine, or getting a box of Krispy Kreme donuts to bring me loads of joy. Heck, as much as I love Krispy Kreme, when I get that box in the drive thru, I still don't even giggle like Edward does.
Why do we not experience joy like children?
Is it because nothing is new to us anymore? Or that we become cynical as we age? Do we spend our lives focusing on bigger events/moments that bring us joy and leave the smaller ones unnoticed?
Look at Ren. Not full of joy at all. Perhaps you know someone like Ren. Experiences very little joy in their lives and finds the negative in most situations. Let's be more like Stimpy! Finding joy throughout our day. Looking for things to be excited about. Putting ourselves in places, around people, and doing things we love. Stopping focusing so much on future things/events that will bring us immense joy, but rather focusing on the present ones. EnJOYing our children's giggles, our oven baked cookies, a good convo with our man, our new sitcom episode, our workout, feeding our family, flowers blooming, birds flying or music playing. Whatever it may be, let's EnJOY life a little more!
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
4 Things Women Need to Stop Doing
Good evening readers! I hope you all are having a great week and that you have some fun plans for the Fourth of July. This weekend I think I am most excited about turning my phone off for 4 days! We are going to visit my husband's family, so it will be just a great opportunity to clear my mind and relax.
Women, just because she has it doesn't mean we have to have it. Women, just because she can afford it doesn't mean we can afford it. Women, we can fit in without following the crowd.
Let's help ourselves fight the temptation to do these 4 things. Let's talk highly of others, be ourselves, talk positive to ourselves, and focus on the good happening in our relationships. This will help us for sure!
Back to my blog! Today I want to talk about 4 things that we women need to stop doing. Before I list out these behaviors, I want to remind you all that I am included in this and have been guilty of doing these things in the present and in the past. We are all in this together!
God created us SO different than man it's completely obvious right?! We do so many things different than men. We talk more, are more detailed, are more intuitive, show more empathy, and the list goes on and on. We have SO many strengths as women! However, sometimes those strengths become our weaknesses. Let's work on these together by stopping these behaviors. Here is the list I have comprised of the 4 Things Women Need to Stop Doing.
1. Gossip: "idle talk or rumor, especially about the personal or private affairs of others." (dictionary.reference.com)
This one is a biggie. If you have never gossiped about someone, you are probably lying to yourself. We have all done it. It happens in the school cafeteria, our work break room, through social media, the grocery store, our living rooms, and pretty much everywhere where two people are in the mood to dish. Men gossip too, but I DO notice that we women gossip more.
WHY WE NEED TO STOP: Because it's none of our business. Because we could be negatively affecting that person's life. Because we are not better than anyone else. Because it's not fair for us to do this to someone when we can't stand the thought of someone doing this to us.
WHY WE NEED TO STOP: Because it's none of our business. Because we could be negatively affecting that person's life. Because we are not better than anyone else. Because it's not fair for us to do this to someone when we can't stand the thought of someone doing this to us.
2. Being Materialistic
3. Being Critical of Ourselves.
There are too many women believing the lies in their heads that they are not skinny or pretty enough. There are too many women that lack self worth and let others treat them poorly. There are too many women that live an unhappy life because of how hard they are on themselves. Please love yourself! You are God's creation.
There are too many women believing the lies in their heads that they are not skinny or pretty enough. There are too many women that lack self worth and let others treat them poorly. There are too many women that live an unhappy life because of how hard they are on themselves. Please love yourself! You are God's creation.
4. Comparing Our Relationship to Others
This is a toxic thing to do. You see your friends or family member's husband doing something your husband isn't doing. Then, before you know it, your marriage is affected because you aren't a very happy partner. Women, we need to stop doing this! Our marriages/relationships are unique from anyone else's. Our men have different strengths from each other. Let's be thankful for them and tell them what we LOVE about them!
Let's help ourselves fight the temptation to do these 4 things. Let's talk highly of others, be ourselves, talk positive to ourselves, and focus on the good happening in our relationships. This will help us for sure!
Have a great week everyone! :)
Thursday, June 25, 2015
Improving Your Prayer Life: My Struggles & Advice
The words "pray", "prayer", or "praying" have been used collectively in scripture hundreds of times in the bible. Different websites are showing different #'s but it seems to be a least 300 times. Prayer is very important and it is (in my opinion) a direct reflection of the closeness of our relationship with Christ. Here are just a few verses mentioning prayer.
I have to admit that I could have a stronger prayer life. It's an area that I care deeply about improving because I realize its importance. I want to share with you some challenges I deal with when it comes to praying as well as advice (in italics) I am giving myself to help overcome these challenges.
1. Putting prayer first.
Do you ever forget to pray? I do. Sometimes my mind is consumed with less important thoughts and before I know it, I have fallen asleep. Or times when the best thing to do would be to seek him and pray about it, I instead just try figuring it out for myself.
Advice: Pray in the morning or at times when you are more awake and alert (outside, in the car with Edward, etc). Remind yourself that God is more powerful that anything you could do on your own. You need Him. You owe it to him to give Him your time.
2. Staying focused.
I have MAJOR ADD when I pray. There is not a day goes by that I don't struggle with this.
Advice: Pray to God and ask him to help keep you focused as much as possible while you pray. Picture you talking to him face to face, which will happen one day yay!!
3. Remembering to pray for people that I know need prayer or who I have told I will pray for.
I have definitely forgotten to pray for people in the past, but this is something that I have improved on a lot.
Advice: When praying for people, think about each group of people you know (family, friends, etc) and remind yourself of the ones who need prayer.
4. Being open, honest, detailed and direct with God while I am praying.
It's a very vulnerable feeling when you pour your heart out to someone. For me, for some reason, I sometimes guard myself when I pray to God. Sometimes I don't completely just let it all out like I should.
It's a very vulnerable feeling when you pour your heart out to someone. For me, for some reason, I sometimes guard myself when I pray to God. Sometimes I don't completely just let it all out like I should.
Advice: God needs to be the closest relationship you have in your life. He loves you and wants to hear what you are dealing with. He knows EVERYTHING about you anyways, so why not just be open.
5. Not being so redundant.
"Thank you God for our house. My clothes. My opportunities. Thank you God for my family. Forgive me for my sins. I love you. Amen."
This is the prayer I used to pray for many years. They were a little bit lengthier, but this is the gist of it. Very redundant and repetitive. No conversation. Just an almost memorized prayer.
Advice: What if you talked to your mother or father that way each day? Said the same thing to them every day? How would they feel? Would you be close with them? No! Talk to God like you are talking to a human being you trust 110%.
6. Praying for myself.
I definitely don't pray for myself as much as I could. If something is bothering me, I struggle with just putting that in God's hands. My mind tries to deal with that problem instead, which in turn gives me anxiety. Also, If I am trying to reach a goal, I forget to pray for myself to ask God to help me reach it.
Advice: You need to pray for yourself every chance you get. It's not selfish. Pray for patience. Pray for safety. Pray for your physical and mental health. Pray for any day to day struggles.
7. Trusting that He is Listening.
This is hard for me to admit. Because I don't hear another human voice replying to my prayers, every so often I (my brain NOT heart) will think "Are you there God?"
Advice: This verse says it all.
My good friend once told me that her prayer life is what strengthened her relationship with God the most. I get that totally now.
In conclusion, if you are a person of faith or are curious about God, you can Help Yourself strengthen that relationship through prayer. Praying for a sick family member. Praying for your children. Praying for yourself. Praying for you to have some clarity about your faith. Whatever the reason, all of our genuine and heart-felt prayers will be heard by our Savior.
Friday, June 19, 2015
5 Signs You are Overspending on Groceries
by: Shannon Rubio
There are actually a lot more signs we overspend on our groceries. This list could be SO much longer, but I narrowed it down to just 5. Becoming more aware of grocery store lingo and ways to save while shopping will make you more proud (rather than depressed) when you swipe your card to buy your groceries. Check out these 5 signs that we overspend at the grocery store.
1. You never do BOGO deals.
Maybe you don't know what BOGO deals are. There are actually people out there that do not know what BOGO stands for. I'm not kidding. A few years ago, I taught a Couponing workshop and one of my friends my age didn't realize that is what it stood for. We still laugh about it now. I LOVE BOGO (BUY ONE GET ONE FREE) deals, especially at Publix. Publix gives you the option to buy one at half price, but Winn Dixie does not. BOGO deals are usually lower than walmart prices, so be sure to check them out. Even if you eat all organic and have a non-processed diet, you can still find BOGO's worth making a trip to the store for. My favorite BOGO's are the fruit trays, peanut butter, and chicken breasts.
2. You buy the number of products listed on sale. 2/$4, 3/$5, 10/$10, etc.
This doesn't mean that you have to buy two or three or whatever # is says. Don't buy more than you can chew (ha!). I do think it's a marketing strategy to get consumers to purchase more. It's good to know that you can buy the product individually and get that sale price. Add some coupons to these products and you'll get a super deal!
3. You automotically pick the item that is on sale.
When I shop, I am scanning the aisle and looking for the best deal I can find. I don't let a sale sign determine my decision. To me, buying generic dishwasher detergent is a no brainer if it's the cheapest. I may see Cascade is on sale for $3.99, but I will be sure to check out the generic's price, which may still be lower than the sale price. If Cascade is cheaper than the generic, then heck yes that's what I'm buying. Checking all your options will get you the most bang for your buck.
4. You don't pay attention to package size or count.
You should always look at the ounces or count in the product to determine the best deal. You can usually view price per ounce or price each online when you are shopping. If you in the store, break out your calculator if you need to!
If you look closely at the top of the pics, you can see that the Parent's Choice are 7 cents less per diaper. If you like this diaper brand, go for it! This strategy applies to so many items you need in a store. When buying toilet paper, compare sheets per roll. When buying peanut butter, look at ounces. This may sound crazy to do this, but saving a little at a time will save you big in the long run. And just so you know, buying in bulk is not always the best option.
5. You don't use coupons in the store.
- In Store Coupons: These are usually located in their fliers as you walk in. Both grocery stores and pharmacies have these.
- Peelies: (see pic below) These are usually found stuck to the product. You can use one per product.
- Blinkies: These are the coupons that you pull out of the blinking machine in the aisle. Grab 2 if you are buying 2 containers of sour cream, for example.
- Catalina's: These are the coupons you get either out of the store machine or after checking out. CVS gives out some great Catalina's!
If you buy 2 bags of Doritos, then grab two peelies and use them at check out! They are there for us to grab. Just don't grab 20 down the aisle :)
Just tonight I went to Dollar General to get some Shampoo & Conditioner. They were $3.85 each. On each tresseme bottle were 50 cent off coupons. There was also a $2 off purchase of $8 or more Tresseme products sign. I ended up knocking off $1.16 off of each bottle with the coupons and the store deal!
Think about this. If you saved an extra $10 each week from trying these tips, then you would save your family $520 for the year! $20 a week would double that. Have a great day!
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
8 Ways to be a Happier You
Image source from weheartit.com
by: Shannon Rubio
June 17, 2015
We are in control of our happiness. Here are some strategies that may help you be the happiest you've ever been.
1. Prepare Your Mind.
Our thoughts lead to our actions right? Starting your day off with a positive and strong mindset will affect your day for the better. Mentally prepare your mind for how you will overcome challenging situations. If you are dealing with a major life stressor right now, then wake up and tell yourself how you plan to deal with it. Here are some examples of what you can tell you yourself to get your mind ready for the day.
- "I am going to have a productive day."
- "I am going to resist temptation and exhibit good self control."
- "I am going to focus on all of the good that happens to me today."
2. Take Care of Your Body.
You may have noticed that you are a more energetic and productive person on the days you eat healthier and/or exercise. When we cut down on sugar intake, eat fresh foods, eat smaller portions, and exercise, it can make or break our day.
3. Forgive.
Oh forgiveness. It is so hard to let go, stop holding that grudge, and forgive. Holding on to anger towards a person who wronged you will prevent you from being the happiest person you can be. Let's not be harder on others than we are on ourselves. Seeing the major benefit of forgiving that person in your heart will give you motivation to do so. Ask God to help you and he will do so.
4. Stay connected to Family & Friends.
Our relationships with others make up the core of our lives. Our family and friendships are everything. If we are always disconnected with the most important people to us, then how are we going to be our best?
5. Have Alone Time.
For my husband, it's playing golf. For me, it's a pedicure, bubble bath, or in a rare moment, having the house to myself. Listen up women and men. Usually in order for you to get your alone time, you have to make arrangements for this. Tell your spouse or family member in advance so they can prepare for it. Even if you get only 15 minutes to yourself, it will still give you a little re-charge and calm your mood.
6. Volunteer to Help.
How often do we sacrifice our time to help people, our church, our organizations, etc.? Volunteering your time to help others will make you feel useful, productive and happy.
7. Make Yourself Proud.
We tend to have more self-worth when we are accomplished. This could be anything from being caught up on laundry to nailing an important work presentation. Setting and then accomplishing your goals will satisfy you for sure.
8. Be Thankful.
Thinking about what we don't have is toxic. Be thankful EVERY.SINGLE.DAY. If you pray, thank God for specifics in your life, even it's for air conditioning. If everything seems to be crumbling, make a list of 20 blessings in your life. This will get you back on track.
Monday, June 15, 2015
Stop, Drop & Help!
Good afternoon readers. I am so thankful that you are reading this and giving me your precious time. I hope your weekend was fabulous!
If you are a friend of mine, you know from speaking with me or Facebook newsfeed (sorry!) that I spent my weekend with family celebrating my son's 3rd birthday. This year I decided to do a low maintenance party for Edward. It was SO nice. Here is what I did NOT do:
- Send out Invitations
- Pay for a venue
- Make a cake
- Stress out!
Let's change gears a bit and rewind back to an hour before the party. There were three stops we had to make before getting to the splash pad. We had to get...
1. Ice
2. Pizza
3. Balloons
After picking up our Little Caesars pizza's, we were finally on our way to stop #3! I get so impatient at fun times like this, so I was anxious to knock out these stops. After taking the exit, we couldn't help but notice a homeless man standing there holding a sign asking for food. As our car got closer to him, I remember reading the sign hoping that he was asking for something we could give him.
The light was about to turn green, so my husband and I had to make a quick decision on how to help this man. Kiel and I looked at each other and without speaking made an easy decision. Pizza! We could help by giving him some of the pizza we picked up at our second stop! Kiel jumped out of the car, grabbed 4 slices, grabbed some napkins and then jumped back in just in time to get onto HWY 181. All of this was in a 30 second time span. We drove off and headed to stop #3 with little smiles on our face. I think I said something girly and sappy like "Aww, I'm glad we got to help." It felt good to help this person.
I have never helped a homeless person, but each time I see someone homeless, which is not often here, I want to help. I no longer think these things...
- He's drunk
- He's going to scheme me for money
- Lock the door
- He's lazy
If we would have both made assumptions about this person, we would've had 4 more slices of pizza in our car. Although we didn't give him pizza for us to feel good about ourselves, I admit that it felt great to help someone in this kind of situation. I spend all of my day making sure my family is taken care of, so giving this person a meal just felt natural and right.
What are some ways you can lift someone up and make someone's day, week, or even year? I can't think of a better way for us to start off our week than by doing this. We (myself included) need to stop focusing so much on our needs and instead look around for ways we can help. If we see signs to help we need to stop, drop what we are doing and help. This will only help ourselves. Have a great Monday!
What are some ways you can lift someone up and make someone's day, week, or even year? I can't think of a better way for us to start off our week than by doing this. We (myself included) need to stop focusing so much on our needs and instead look around for ways we can help. If we see signs to help we need to stop, drop what we are doing and help. This will only help ourselves. Have a great Monday!
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Taking the Garbage Out
In our household, Monday's are our garbage days. Like some of you, my husband is the one responsible for making sure the garbage gets to the road in time. It's crazy how much garbage our small family of three can accumulate.
This isn't the type of garbage I want to talk about today.
Through television, social media, negative people, work, our own heads, and many more ways we deal with garbage EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.
Last night while my husband and I were watching TV, a segment of a celebrity gossip show came on previewing their show coming up that night. They talked about three things within the five second commercial. Let's just say all three topics pertained to body image and definitely not in a positive way. I just sighed. I'm pretty sure my husband sighed too. And don't get me started on the Viagra commercials!
Let me first say that I expose myself to garbage every day. I don't like to admit it, but from time to time I check TMZ.com or maybe Eonline from my phone. Usually it is out of boredom. I listen to rap music sometimes. I watch Real Housewives of Atlanta. I wear sunscreen with chemicals. I ate two fudge rounds yesterday. I would say all of that is probably garbage.
What do I mean when I say garbage? I am referring to anything that will NOT strengthen the mind, body, and soul.
Some of you may be dealing with more serious garbage in your life. Maybe you live with or are close with someone who brings you down on a daily basis. They are so miserable with their life and they seem to try to make yours just as miserable. Sometimes, you even believe the garbage they put in your head.
You may be reading and say to yourself "I don't have anyone toxic in my life." Some of you may be the toxic person in your life. Every day, your mind may tell you things like "You aren't capable", "You are unattractive", "Just quit that habit another day", "You are weak" or "You can't do this". This is ALL garbage! Think about the times in your life when you were very positive and encouraging towards yourself. Did you achieve that goal? Did you quit that bad habit or addiction? Were you happier? Probably more often than not, you can answer yes!
ALL of us have been toxic to ourselves at one point or another. In my opinion, our own mind probably creates in more garbage than anything else in our lives.
What can we do about all this trash and how we can take it out? Here are some tips that I have learned from my experiences...
Let's be real here. We are probably going to continue exposing ourselves to some sort of garbage even when working on replacing or taking some out of our lives. I would say it is more about cutting things out one at a time or even minimizing this trash that we put in. Baby steps.
Think about your day. What do you put in your body? What do you expose yourself to that you probably shouldn't? Help Yourself by feeding positive, happy, healthy, motivational, loving, self-improving and healthy images and thoughts in your mind. Don't waste your time.
This isn't the type of garbage I want to talk about today.
Through television, social media, negative people, work, our own heads, and many more ways we deal with garbage EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.
Last night while my husband and I were watching TV, a segment of a celebrity gossip show came on previewing their show coming up that night. They talked about three things within the five second commercial. Let's just say all three topics pertained to body image and definitely not in a positive way. I just sighed. I'm pretty sure my husband sighed too. And don't get me started on the Viagra commercials!
Let me first say that I expose myself to garbage every day. I don't like to admit it, but from time to time I check TMZ.com or maybe Eonline from my phone. Usually it is out of boredom. I listen to rap music sometimes. I watch Real Housewives of Atlanta. I wear sunscreen with chemicals. I ate two fudge rounds yesterday. I would say all of that is probably garbage.
What do I mean when I say garbage? I am referring to anything that will NOT strengthen the mind, body, and soul.
Some of you may be dealing with more serious garbage in your life. Maybe you live with or are close with someone who brings you down on a daily basis. They are so miserable with their life and they seem to try to make yours just as miserable. Sometimes, you even believe the garbage they put in your head.
You may be reading and say to yourself "I don't have anyone toxic in my life." Some of you may be the toxic person in your life. Every day, your mind may tell you things like "You aren't capable", "You are unattractive", "Just quit that habit another day", "You are weak" or "You can't do this". This is ALL garbage! Think about the times in your life when you were very positive and encouraging towards yourself. Did you achieve that goal? Did you quit that bad habit or addiction? Were you happier? Probably more often than not, you can answer yes!
ALL of us have been toxic to ourselves at one point or another. In my opinion, our own mind probably creates in more garbage than anything else in our lives.
What can we do about all this trash and how we can take it out? Here are some tips that I have learned from my experiences...
- Try something new that is positive or replace something negative. For me, it has been listening to Christian music more.
- As challenging as it is, try to avoid websites and television shows that you know are garbage. If you know in your heart that it's best for you to not to watch or view them, be strong and stay away from them as much as you can. Avoiding them once is a success!
- Remind yourself of how awesome you are! Think about compliments you have received in the past about your intelligence, your appearance, and what you have accomplished. Think about what others love about you and what makes you special. Remember...
Let's be real here. We are probably going to continue exposing ourselves to some sort of garbage even when working on replacing or taking some out of our lives. I would say it is more about cutting things out one at a time or even minimizing this trash that we put in. Baby steps.
Think about your day. What do you put in your body? What do you expose yourself to that you probably shouldn't? Help Yourself by feeding positive, happy, healthy, motivational, loving, self-improving and healthy images and thoughts in your mind. Don't waste your time.
Friday, May 29, 2015
My Three Things
Hello readers!
I hope all of you had a wonderful Easter weekend!
This week I want to share three things with you that I have been working to improve on.
Self-improvement is something that I always strive for. It is important to me that I don't remain stagnant in my life and that I become a better version of myself year after year. I know that if I push myself to improve in the things I care about or is needed of me most, I (and my family) will benefit from this. I will say that It's in a healthy form and not something I think about too much, but in the back of my head it's usually there.
Here's an example. When my husband and I were dating, I would say that I was a pretty bad cook. I had very little confidence in cooking and, for some reason, I didn't think it was necessary to read the directions word for word. I would even get anxiety about making pasta.
Since I have been a wife and mom, I (thankfully) have had many opportunities to cook many meals. I have learned quite a bit along the way about cooking, but of course there is still much more to learn. I am no great cook, but I will say that I am much better than I was pre-Kiel and Edward!
Here are some of the ways I am working on improving myself this week.
1. Lowering my carb/sugar intake and eating more veggies!
After this past weekend, my body is angry at me for the cupcakes, sister shubert rolls, jelly beans, and beignets I had. Last night I was determined to have a detox dinner, so I cooked some Publix Greenwise chicken sausages, cut them up, threw them in with some cabbage and onions and served that with some fresh butter beans on the side. Slap yo' momma good!
Notice that empty muffin pan sitting there on the stove. I was SO tempted to make some cornbread until I saw the calorie content and the word "LARD" on three different ingredients on the cornbread mix. Sadly, I had to pass!
At the end of the day, I was proud to say I had eaten 7 different vegetables!
2. Using my Cell Phone Less.
This is a difficult one too! Why? Well, We can do EVERYTHING on our phones now and it is so convenient and sometimes relaxing to use them. I could write a whole blog post (or several) about technology and why we all shouldn't use it as much. The other day, my friend and I were talking about the topic of substance abuse and she said "Yeah, my husband says it's never good to be dependent on anything."
I never want my child to think I am dependent on my phone. I can accept that he will think that about coffee (ha!), but not my phone. When my son looks at me, I don't want him to often see mommy's head down looking at that device. I want him to have my full attention most of the time! I also don't want to be a bad influence. Am I going to use my phone around him? Yes! But, I definitely need to have more limits.
3. Living in the Present.
Without a doubt, this is the most important improvement I must make! This week I have heard some amazing music, seen some beautiful sunsets, tasted some delicious food, smelled some divine scents, and touched very very soft skin. I have been working on just enjoying the moment as it is happening. Taking mental pictures of the precious moments.
Who knows what the future holds for us? We need to take it in now before it's too late!
Whether it was watching Edward watch his daddy throw a castnet off of a pier, eating popcorn and watching Shrek Forever After with Edward in bed, (I put the phone down shortly thereafter I swear!)
Easter eggs hunts, listening to a man at our church with no arms or legs talk about how "God doesn't make mistakes", or having meaningful conversations with my family, I made it a point to soak it in more than usual. I hope to always work on this.
What are you currently working to improve in your life?
Are you putting the work into improving what matters to you or do you procrastinate these things?
Help Yourself by becoming aware of how you'd like to improve yourself. Make sure it's healthy self-improvement. Think about how this improvement could (I.e) help your family, boost your self-esteem, change your attitude or even make you a happier person! Then DO THE WORK and have lots of self control along the way. Have a great week everyone!
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Clear Vision
"Is everyone seeing what I am seeing?" I wondered to myself while driving down a road in Fairhope, Al. I was mesmerized.
It was a beautiful day in May. Low humidity. Temperature was in the low 70's. Just a few tiny clouds floated in the sky. On this street, heading to the dentist, were the most beautiful trees I had ever seen. They were bright green and glowed as they moved along with the wind. I turned my eyes to the right and then to the left. "Have I even noticed these before?" I also thought as I was nearly hypnotized by them. They were just pecan or oak trees. Trees that I have seen all of my life in my hometown. Trees on probably every road or highway I have ever been on.
What made them SO much more noticeable and striking this time? Was it the fact that the sun was shining to its max and the trees reflected that? Maybe.
It has been years since I have had an eye exam. The last exam I had I was told I had 10/20 vision. This means that I could see at 20 feet what most people could see at 10. I would guess that my vision is no longer 10/20 just because I am 10 years older now, but nonetheless, I am grateful I overall have pretty clear vision.
Was it my decent vision that was allowing me to see such beauty in nature? Possibly.
About a week ago, I started taking a few different vitamins to strengthen my immune system. One of the vitamins I was recommended was Spirulina. I had never heard of it until I visited the health food store. "Spiru-what?" I said to myself as the lady told me about its benefits and how she takes it. One of the many benefits of this super food algae is its high concentration of beta-carotene. It has 10 times the amount of beta-carotene than in one carrot. And we all know what beta-carotene does. So, I wondered while looking at these stunning trees...
"Are these vitamins enhancing my vision?". Hard to tell.
If you know me well, you know how much I love flowers. If I was rich, I would have the most beautifully landscaped yard you have ever seen. I heard once when I was in sales that people tend to do things that make them feel good. Well, this is definitely very true for me. My flowers make me feel happy because of their colors they exude and how much they can dress up my front porch. I thought as I saw those trees...
"Am I noticing this because of my love for flowers and plants?" (Because, really, I don't obsess over trees).
Yes, it is quite possible that these trees grabbed my attention for the above reasons. It was a gorgeous, sunny day. I was on some good vitamins, and I can appreciate some pretty flowers and plants.
Or what if it was something even bigger than that?
God is more creative than we could ever imagine. He designed me and you with five senses: sight, touch, smell, taste, and hearing. He also created different things just to satisfy all of our senses. Think about it...what is something that really stimulates your senses that makes you happy and is naturally occurring? Here are some of mine...
- Seeing Edward's smile, Troy chasing lizards and bumblebees, my porch plants, Bouganvilla's (I'm obsessed), and the water sparking on Mobile bay.
- The taste of pineapples, eggs, avocados, almonds, salsa, and grilled chicken.
- The smell of Gardenia's, onions/garlic, bacon cooking, puppies.
- Feeling Edward's soft skin, a warm bath, holding Edward and my husband's hands.
- Hearing the dryer and the dishwasher running, Kiel and Edward's laughs, hearing "I love you" completely out of the blue from Edward, songs from 1,000,000 different artists and bands, and waves crashing at the beach.
I had an epiphany a few weeks ago as I was enjoying watching some Pelicans flying. I realized that He had to have put those birds in that blue sky for me to notice. He could have made the sky grey, filled it with floating black rocks, and made it constantly dreary looking. But instead, he didn't. I know that He created those birds and the bright blue sky for me to have pleasure seeing. Yes, those birds have many purposes, but I know one purpose has to be to make us enjoy life a little more.
Those trees are just an example of what God did for us when he designed us. He wants us to enjoy life on earth and get a little piece of heaven while we are here. He wants us to embrace his creations and be less distracted by worldly things (Internet, material items, harmful substances, etc.) I also think he uses beauty in things and in people to remind us of Him and his love for us.
What's the biggest way God has shown He loves us and wants the best for us?
By sending his ONLY son, a perfect man, to earth to die on a cross---which came from a TREE---for the sole purpose of giving whoever believes in Him (for generations and generations to come) eternal life in heaven!
Now that's something to make us happy!
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
5 Simple Saving Tips
1. If you will regret it, don't buy it!
Practice self control this week by waiting until the right time to make that purchase you've been wanting to. Ask yourself "Do I/we really need this?"
2. Be sure to download the RetailMeNot app on your smart phone!
In the past few weeks, I have saved $ at retail stores and restaurants by utilizing this app. I have even sent my husband pictures of the coupons so he can show the cashiers. It is so easy. Download it now!
3. Deposit money in your savings account once you get paid!
Putting money away into our savings account is not easy is it?! I have found that transferring money right after pay day is the best way to go. Why? Well, the longer we leave that money in the account, the more likely we are to spend it on something we really don't need. Try it! Even $50 a month saved is a great accomplishment! That's $600/year!
Putting money away into our savings account is not easy is it?! I have found that transferring money right after pay day is the best way to go. Why? Well, the longer we leave that money in the account, the more likely we are to spend it on something we really don't need. Try it! Even $50 a month saved is a great accomplishment! That's $600/year!
4. Don't forget the clearance section!
When grocery or shopping retail, remember to go to the clearance section of your store before checking out. Whether it be TJ Maxx, CVS, Target, Publix, or anywhere else, the clearance sections are worth browsing through. My mother-in-law is a pro at scoring some great deals in the clearance sections! Most people don't realize this, but a lot of times you can still use coupons on clearance items. Just make sure to read the fine detail on the coupon. Also, shopping clearance after the holidays is the way to go!
5. Buy a coupon Fundraiser book!
These books are easy to find and are so worth buying! They cost anywhere between $10-$20 and have at least $1,000 worth of savings in them! You will save money on activities for the kids, golf, great restaurants, and more. I can't wait to see what coupons are in this next one!
Have a great week everyone!!
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Less is More: Tips on Limiting our Device use
If I had to describe this past week in one word, I would say it has been 'refreshing'. If you read my last blog post, you read that one of the things I've been trying to work on is limiting my phone use. This past week I significantly decreased my time on my phone about 75%. Writing that blog post was a blessing because it helped me hold myself accountable for the week. I didn't get on the internet for the entire weekend and the past few days I have been online less as well. I have noticed that just in this short period of time of doing this that I am experiencing and soaking in life more than before.
Beside feeling refreshed, I have noticed other changes from using my phone less this past week:
- I have been more clear-minded.
- I am sleeping more AND sleeping better.
- Edward and I have bonded more because I have been able to give him more attention.
- I have been more patient.
- I have been more on top of my housework.
- More cuddle time with my hubby.
And this is just what I noticed in ONE week.
Think about it. How much of our daily lives do we waste on our phone?
Between checking Facebook, our email, checking our trashy websites, checking the news, Twitter, Snap Chat, Zulily, etc. it can get out of hand quick. I can't count how many times at night before bed, at lunch, or in the morning with my coffee I have spent on Facebook for at least 30 minutes at a time. Then there's that feeling of "crap, I just wasted the last 30 minutes."
Don't get me wrong friends.
There are some great benefits to using our phones/internet/devices that I will always take advantage of. Like, Pinterest for example. It has made my life so much easier! I don't ever see myself not using Pinterest. We can also find some great (free) workouts on the internet. We can get directions, get definitions, check the weather, play music, and so much more thanks to the internet.
There are some great benefits to using our phones/internet/devices that I will always take advantage of. Like, Pinterest for example. It has made my life so much easier! I don't ever see myself not using Pinterest. We can also find some great (free) workouts on the internet. We can get directions, get definitions, check the weather, play music, and so much more thanks to the internet.
Some of you reading this may say to yourself "I rarely use my phone or check the Internet. This blog post doesn't apply to me." If this is you, then pat yourself on the back! That is wonderful. I was talking to a lady from church a few weeks ago that told me she checked FB once a week. I was thinking to myself how I needed to do the same!
For me, the biggest blessing of being a Stay-At-Home-Mom is getting more time with my child. It's up to me how I spend that time. Browsing the internet more than I should takes away from that precious time I have with my child. For you working mothers who want to cut back too, this will benefit you greatly as well. I know your time with your children is very very valuable. For any individual-man, woman, teenager, married, single, etc- using social media less will probably benefit us all.
Yesterday my mother and I were chatting and I mentioned to her about how loud the Flash Flood Warning was that went off on my husband's phone at 2am (TWICE!) the previous morning. Her response was "You keep your phones by your bed?" To her, that made no sense, but for my generation, using our phone or other device before bed (I would assume) is the norm.
What about our children's generation? How much more will they rely on their phones and other devices than we do? What will be the consequences of them using our devices too much? Their social skills? What about divorce rate? Will it increase? Obesity rate? How much of their lives will they miss out on?
If you are wondering how you can minimize your use and want to do this as well, here are a few things that have worked for me this past week.
1. Be aware of how long you will be on your phone.
For example, If you are on FB, look at the clock and maybe use your device for a smaller increment of time that you would normally be on. 8:00am-8:15am instead of 8:00-8:45 for example. If you find yourself texting or getting texts a lot, try to cut out sending some of the texts that can wait. When we receive texts, we don't have to reply right then unless it is an emergency of course.
2. Pick a time or times during the day that are best to designate for device use.
For me, it's when Edward is watching his morning cartoon or before I go to sleep. Pick times that work out best for you and your family.
What if we check our phones and see notifications on our apps? It's so tempting to check them isn't it?! Let's do our best to wait until our designated times to check.
3. Don't take pictures of everything!
Yes, there will be some awesome moments in our lives that just need to be documented. The problem with taking pictures too often is that we are in constant use of our phone. We are more likely to check our App notifications when we are using our phone for something else. We also owe it to our loved ones to give them OUR FULL ATTENTION.
4. Leave your phone inside, in the car, or put it on silent if you have to.
A lot of times to avoid phone use, I leave my phone inside when I take Edward outside to play. If you can't leave your phone and have to have it on you, than putting it on silent will help. It's also good to let people know that you won't be available to talk during that period of time.
5. Find something worthy of your time to replace the device.
Sometimes we have downtime. Times when we want to relax on the weekend. Time when the household chores are as good as it's going to get for the day. Times when we are back home from an outing. Times when our child is napping and we can't leave the house. This is a great opportunity for us to...
- Read that magazine that's been sitting on our counter for months.
- Reading that book our mother recommended.
- Planting some seeds or flowers.
- CALLING a friend or relative. (Yes, I said calling)
- Exercise.
- Revisit a hobby we enjoy.
- Cleaning the baseboards (Kidding)
- Doing a hands-on activity with your child.
- Baking your favorite cookies.
- Curling up and watching a new movie with your spouse/boyfriend.
Just don't do this...
Or this...
There are so many more options we have than using our phones! There are so many more activities that we can do that doesn't waste our time, but yet helps us experience life.
6. Don't be too hard on yourself.
Once again, let's be realistic with this. With any improvements or goals we have in our lives, we must know we aren't going to do them perfectly. There are going to be days when we didn't exhibit the self control we would have liked to. This is normal. The key to success with many goals is to keep going and getting back on track. Give yourself credit for making any change for the better even if it's just a teeny tiny bit.
Have a great week everyone!
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