Sensory Bins

Last summer I created a sensory bin for G with some items I found at the Dollar Tree. Summer in Texas is soooo hot, so we spend a lot of our days indoors. Nap time can get tricky. I don't like G to watch tv while Cash is napping. I am fine with him watching a short show, but I do not want him to spend 2-3 hours in front of the tv. I also like to be able to rest some during this time, so I needed something that would keep him busy. A sensory bin was a perfect thing for G. He can use his imagination and it's also a quiet toy. 

You could also find a lot of these items at Walmart or Target pick up to avoid going to the store during this pandemic we are going through right now. 

I spent around $10 to create this sensory bin. There are sensory bins on Amazon, Etsy and other various sites going for $30+. By creating your own you can do it budget friendly and create it based on what your child loves. 

We used a bag of beans and glass beads as our base in a clear plastic bin. Get a bin with a lid! You will want a lid to store this box up high if you have little ones. 

G loved helping create this box. I also bought a bag of letter beads to mix in. This way you can also make it educational, by asking them to spell their name, find certain letters etc. 

A bug catching set has been a lot of fun! He uses the scoop and the net to scoop up beans or to put some of the animals inside as he catches them. 

We made this sensory bin over 9 months ago. G still loves to play with it! Cash has now started to play with it with supervision. This is not my favorite toy for toddlers because they like to dump beans all over the house. It becomes a huge mess and it's not a relaxing toy for a mom. lol It is a great sensory toy for toddlers, but you just need some patience when you pull this out!

Items for a sensory bin

1 plastic bin - we used a 28 qt bin with a lid 

1 bag of beans

Glass Rocks

Alphabet Beads

Insect Collector Kit

Plastic Animals

Squishy Toys 

Option 1 

Option 2

Play Doh

Trees

Construction Vehicles

You can be so creative with sensory bin themes you would like to create for your kids! 

If you make a sensory bin let me know what kind of ideas of you come up with! 

Monday Thrive!

I know I haven't blogged in ages! I had a lot of stuff going over the past few months. I just needed to take a break.

1) I thought I would share a couple of recent purchases from Amazon. Who hates bra shopping? It kills me to spend $40-100 on a bra that will last for about 6 months. Ugh! Not only do they not last that long, but the process of trying to find one to fit is the biggest pain ever! I usually buy my bras from Lane Bryant. They fit me the best, quality is great and you can find a sale most of the time.

Well I decided to take a chance with Amazon and order this bra for $16.99. The nice thing with Amazon Prime is you can return things if they don't work. Well this bra is AMAZING!!!! I noticed the price keeps changing. Watch it and you can get it for under $20. Once the first one fit great I ordered a second one!

2) I don't think it's a secret how much I love coconut oil! I use that stuff all the time. I use it to take my eye make up off every night. I have been using it over my eczema before I put the other cream on it. It really has helped heal my skin nicely! I use it to cook the majority of the time. 

Amazon had a full gallon on for $17.99. Normally I buy it at Costco where it is $17.99 for half that amount. I was sooooo excited when my sister told me about this deal. I quickly ordered a gallon! I think this should last us for a few months. 

3) I have spent the past 3 months going through every closet, cupboard, dresser, shelf in this house getting rid of stuff. I decided in 2018 we were going to live simpler. Why do we have so much stuff sitting in cupboards just taking up space? Stuff we never ever use. I have taken sooooo much stuff to the thrift store lately. I think I have taken about 10 car loads. That is just awful! I have sold some things. Just the thought of trying to deal with a garage sale was exhausting. I haven't missed one thing that I have donated. I mean can you really miss things that have sat in the back of a closet for years? It is also so nice to open a cupboard or closet and see space.

4) I have been following Emily Ley on Facebook and Instagram. She has such great tips to simply life. Normally I do all our laundry on the weekend. I sort piles and do 3-5 loads on Saturday. I hate this and have for awhile. I mean the last thing I want to do on the weekend is laundry. I don't know why it's more irritating to me on the weekend then during the week. Well Emily suggested doing 1 load of laundry a day. Just grab whatever clothes are dirty, don't sort, use color safe detergent, put the washer on a short load and do 1 load a day. I started doing this around the first of the year. I don't have enough laundry with 3 people to do a load a day. I try to do it when the basket is looking a little full. It's so nice not to have this take up my weekend. Art doesn't ever run out of work shirts. G doesn't run out of pants. That boy goes through a lot of pants during the week.

Emily also says complete the entire load of laundry. You can just wash & dry it and leave it in a basket for week. You do everything all at one time. When it's done washing move it to the drier and as soon as it's dry fold and put it away! I have always been good about folding it right out of the drier. I do not like to iron or steam stuff. If I take it right from the drier it is very unlikely I have to iron or steam things.

5) I have a large closet that is FULL of clothes. When I worked I always wanted TONS of options. After I lost weight I bought a lot of clothes. It was soooo nice to be able to just go into any store and buy clothes. This was a new exciting thing for me. Now I stay home and I wear jeans almost every day. I have been going through my closet and getting rid of stuff. Stuff I know I don't even like, doesn't fit right and stuff I am just over. I have gotten rid of a TON of stuff.

I turned all my hangers around with all my shirts. When I wear one of them I put the hanger back in the correct way. It has helped me wear stuff I don't always wear. It is also helping me to see things I probably won't ever wear again. I want to give it a good 6 months before I decide on things. With the different seasons I can't get rid of short sleeve shirts in the winter.

When I have less clothes it is easier to get dressed. There is less stuff distracting me as to what to wear. I also sort all my clothes by colors. All my tshirts are in one section, all my button up or dressier tops in another section and my cardigans in one section. I keep everything sorted.

I am not including my dresses or skirts in the backward hanger challenge. I only wear them when it's warm. I have so few that I don't feel I need to get rid of any right now. I have gotten rid of a TON of dresses and skirts lately. Stuff that I wore to business meetings at work. Thing I don't see myself wearing. Even if I went back to work I would need to update somethings.

Wordless Wednesday

Monday Thrive - November 13

1) Thank goodness today is Monday and not a Friday! I am not a fan of Friday the 13th! My friend from high school and I were always soooo superstitious. We would go out of our way to avoid a black cat. We were always on edge on Friday the 13th. Random thought I had while typing out November 13. lol

2) We just got back from South Padre Island, Texas. We were there for a week. It was an amazing trip! We did a lot of relaxing. G just loves the pool! It was hard to get him out of there at times. He liked the beach, but the pool was his favorite. The first day he was a little hesitant, but within an hour he was floating all over. I am going to work on a whole blog post about things to do in South Padre with a toddler, reviews of restaurants, review of items we brought with us, and our resort.  

I have a lot of posts planned, but I have a rough 2 weeks coming up! I will do what I can. I wanted to post some gift guides. That might not happen since the holidays are just flying upon us. I still need to figure out what we are doing for Christmas cards! Usually I have them done and printed by now. Yikes!

3) Are you looking for some small businesses to buy from for the holidays? Check out the ihelpmoms holiday guide for up to 30% on the Best Mom’s Holiday Gifts!!! There are some great companies that are offering discount codes. I love SIC Cups. I blogged about them here. 

https://ihelpmoms.com/more/free-books-for-moms/holiday-gift-guide/

4) Next week my sister will be here for a week! We have been making menus and itineraries for the past month! I can't wait for her to come. The last time she was here was for Christmas right after G was born. It will be nice to have her here for a week. I always love having my family with me at the holidays.

Lacey wants to take her fiance to Alcatraz. I have gotten to the point I give instructions to people on how to get there, but I don't go anymore. I want to wait until G wants to go there to go again. I have already been 3 times. It's a great tour! I highly recommend it! I think once you have gone once you don't really need to go again. =)

5) There are always firsts! This year I am going to decorate for Christmas before Thanksgiving. I want all the decor up before my sister gets here. We are going to celebrate Christmas with her while she is here. I don't want to deal with putting it all up when she is here, so I am going to do it this week with G. He has LOVED Halloween. He doesn't want to take the decorations down. I think once he realizes we are putting up the Christmas tree he will love it. I put up my Halloween, fall and Thanksgiving decorations up at the same time. I am really looking forward to Christmas with G this year. He tells us all the time stuff he wants for his birfday and Christmas. 

I hope you have a fabulous week! 

Disclaimer: All thoughts and opinions are my own. The post Monday Thrive appeared first on MrsPost08 Blog. 

This won't be a popular post by some!

I grew up in an Independent Fundamental Baptist Church environment. I've been to more church in my first 20 years of life than most people go to in their entire lifetime. I've been to A LOT of churches over the years. I've heard 100's of preachers. 

The past 10-15 years I've really struggled with the IFB church. Some of the most judgmental people I've ever met attend an IFB church. Pastors, deacons and staff members and their spouses are the most hateful, judgmental, and deceptive people out there. There are VERY few that aren't that way. 

Now that I'm a mom I've REALLY questioned if I want to raise my child in this environment. I've hated the shame I've been made to feel over the years. I was NEVER good enough and NEVER felt like I belonged. I was always made to feel like an outcast. Even when I "followed" all the "rules" I was still the bad Christian. I don't want my child to ever feel that way. I want him to have a healthy relationship with church and God. I don't want him to worry God will kill him if he doesn't become a missionary or a pastor. He can actually be a good Christian man one day AND be a garbage man or a fireman if that's what he chooses. If he misses a church service he isn't a bad person. 

I just REALLY am sick of this shame driven church environment. Pastors make up rules that people must live by. When those rules aren't followed then they have no time for you.  I'm EXTREMELY sick of sexual things being covered up in the church. People are shipped out from one place to a new place. That is total bullshit!  

Jesus loved all people. He hung out with all people. He did not stay away from people who didn't believe like him or attend his church. If you are in an IFB environment and you don't live, do or think like them then IFB people have NO time for you. I have 30+ years of experience with this.  It's not a mad up thing. It's real and terrible! 

If a church has a band, people come in shorts, they have screens, or whatever the case if they are taught to get saved, feel loved and treat people well that is going to be the place for us. 

I heard one of the best messages of my entire life over the weekend. It was by Robert Morris at Gateway Church in Texas about The Priority of People. HERE is the link. Take the 30 minutes and listen to this amazing message! 

I've thought about writing a post like this for a long time. I feel I have a lot more to say about it the cultish environment of the IFB church. I just can't do the made up rules, judging and shaming people anymore just because they don't believe and think just like me. I know this isn't going to be a popular post by a lot of people I know. I might actually have some people who will no longer talk to me, unfriend me on social media and who knows what else. 

Monday Thrive!

Monday Thrive is back this week! I feel in order to have a good week I need a plan to make sure we all thrive! What are you planning to do this week to have a successful week? I plan our meals, activities, outfits, naps and when I can go get a sparkling water from Sonic. 

1) When my brother and I were little we use to love to watch Richard Simmons on tv. I remember 2 things we would beg to stay up late to watch. Around St. Patrick's Day Bonanza would have an episode with leprechauns. It was our favorite episode! The other thing we use to beg to watch is when Richard Simmons was on any late night tv show. We just loved him and would crack up laughing the entire time he was on. It actually wasn't that late where we lived when the shows came on. They usually where on around 9pm. I still look for the Bonanza episode occasionally with the leprechauns. 

I was looking for a new podcast and found Missing Richard Simmons. I decided to listen to it. I had listened to 4 episodes when he had was hospitalized a couple weeks ago. I still have 2 more episodes to go. I lost a little interest since I know he is actually ok. The podcast is really interesting about his life. I plan to finish it in the next week on my walks. 

2) I bought BeautyCounter's eyebrow pencil back in November. I use it every single day. I have barely used even half of the pencil in 5 months. The pencil costs $23. It really is a great deal for a brow pencil that lasts so long. I don't go out now without my eyebrows filled in and without eyeliner. It use to only be eyeliner. I have noticed such a difference in how my make up looks when I fill in my eyebrows. 

3) Art and I have been watching The Glades on Netflix. We have enjoyed watching a couple episodes every night. Well we finished it. It left us all hanging. They cancelled the show too. Ugh! So now we need a new show. Does anyone have a series they love? I am not a fan of zombie or horror type shows. I have wanted to watch Scandal. Any thoughts on the show? 

4) I really have been wanting mac & cheese, which isn't something that is paleo friendly. I really like Daiya products. I use their shredded cheese to make pizza. I use to buy their pizza, but I found a crust recipe I actually like better. Daiya products are my saving grace for the paleo life! I found the Daiya mac & cheese recently at Sprout's. I made it for dinner the other night. G LOVED it! He wouldn't eat anything else. He kept saying more mac & cheese mmmmmm. This really hit the spot! We will for sure be purchasing this for an occasional treat! 

5) I really love the lace cutout dresses. Lace isn't very toddler friendly. I found a Lularoe Julia dress that has a cutout look to it. The best part is I found an excellent deal on it. A rep was going out of business with reduced prices for about $20. It is such a comfortable dress! I will be wearing this a lot over the summer. I wore this when we went out to dinner the other night. 

I linked up with 

Carylee & Jenna

Disclaimer: All thoughts and opinions are my own. The post Monday Thrive appeared first on Because Chocolate Can't Get You Pregnant. 

Never Miss a Monday!

1) Last week we celebrated 9 years of marriage. We went away for the weekend without G. It was only the second time we have left him over night. He did fine! He had a great time with my friend and her family. Us however.....we were lost at first. We felt like we were forgetting something all the time. It was really nice to spend some time together just the two of us. When we got back G gave us big hugs. I asked him did you miss us and he said yes. It was nice to know he had a good time and felt safe. 


2) I love BeautyCounter Charcoal Mask! I use it weekly. Or at least try to use it weekly. I usually do a mask on Sunday evenings. I have been getting 30-35 masks per bottle. It costs $48 for a bottle. There are 2 other masks available now. The Brightening Mask and the Plumping Mask. 

If you are able to get 30 masks out of a bottle and use it once a week that is about $1.60 per mask for over 6 months. The mask is very reasonable when you break it down. You are getting a mask with all safe ingredients without any harmful chemicals or toxins. You can buy other charcoal masks out there a lot cheaper, but do they have safe ingredients in the mask?  Do you know what you are putting on your face?

I also like to use the mask to spot treat breakouts. If I am getting a breakout I will put the mask on the area while I put my make up on. When I am done putting my make up on then I wash the area I have been spot treating. 

Here are some pictures of me spot treating two places on my chin. 

3) When we were away for our anniversary weekend I had the best luck out shopping. Art found a mall and suggested we go. WHAT! I was shocked, but I didn't argue. I found a super cute pair of black booties. I had been looking for a pair that were comfy for a long time. Nordstroms Rack had a cute pair for a great deal. Then I ran into Burlington Coat Factor to look for a new leather jacket. I just wanted a cheap one. I bought one from there a couple years back for $20. It was my favorite and I got my money out of that jacket. I found a new one at Burlington for a great deal! 

4) Have you joined Ibotta? If not you should! I recently joined because my sister said I needed too. I have earned over $13.00 just by scanning my receipts. The grocery store I go to doesn't participate with Ibotta or I would be rich. I scan all my receipts from Target and other participating places. When I get $20 or more I can have the money transferred to my Paypal account. 

You can download the app right on your phone. If you use the referral code djasfed you will receive $10 just for joining. It's just that easy!

Costco, Target, Walmart, Whole Foods and tons of other places participate! I didn't realize Costco participated. I am going to have to find my receipt and see what rebates I can get from them. I spent a ton of money last week at Costco. 

5) I LOVE sparkling water! It's just one of my favorite things. A couple weeks ago I went to Sonic with G and the little boy I nanny. They got some food. I wanted something to drink, so I asked if they had soda water. They did, so I ordered one. I looked at my receipt later to see they charge me $.15 for a large. I was like WHAT!?!?! The next day I went back and ordered a route 44 sparkling water....guess what I was charge $.22. I told Art it doesn't even pay to buy it at the store. I can't ever get it that cheap. I have learned I can only go during the week when my main girl is there; otherwise, it's a freaking circus. Either they have no idea what I am talking about or they charge me for a full size drink. Sorry guys I just can't justify spending $2.50 on a drink I get M-F for $.22. I even told the one lady I come here every single day and spend $.22 I am not paying $2.50. I ended up driving away that day. 

I tried to get a soda water at KFC one day when Art got something. The chick tried to give me a Sobe water. Finally I said can you please just give me a sprite? I drove next door to Sonic to get the drink I wanted for only $.22.

My girl at Sonic knows my voice now and just brings it right out to the car with a smile. I feel I should get her a Starbucks card or something just because I appreciate the fact she knows what I want. lol See it's the little cheap things in life that bring me such joy. lol 


Disclaimer: All thoughts and opinions are my own. The post Never Miss a Monday appeared first on Because Chocolate Can't Get You Pregnant.  

Never Miss a Monday!

I thought it would be fun to start a weekly blog post called Never Miss A Monday! Now that doesn't mean I won't miss a Monday posting these fun things, but I am going to give it a good try to be weekly! I am going to share 5 points each week. Some of them will be about BeautyCounter, Paleo, style, beauty, natural cleaning products I love and other random things.

1) I started using BeautyCounters Body Wash in October. The bottle lasted me from October through March. Art also used the same bottle of body wash. It costs $24 for a 10 oz bottle. It costs us $4.80 per month for this body wash for 2 people or $2.40 per person per month. That is the cost of a bottle of Suave body wash. BeautyCounter uses all safe ingredients in their products. I love that we don't have to worry about harmful ingredients!

You can find more about BeautyCounter's Never List and Story by clicking on the links. I am happy to help you start getting safer products in your home. If you would like to try any samples, please don't hesitate to email me. I send out samples often to people who want to try products prior to purchasing them. If I have the product I will happily send you a sample.

2) Purely Elizabeth came out with some grain free granola. There are times I miss granola and want to add some to coconut yogurt. I tried the original grain free granola. I really liked it! You can find it on Amazon and Whole Foods. Target carries the gluten free flavors, but I haven't been able to find the grain free ones at Target yet.

3) The weather has been warming up lately! We had a lot of rain over the winter. I felt we were bundled up with rain boots almost all winter long. We are loving the spring weather. I pulled out my Lularoe kimono last week to wear. It is perfect to wear over a tank on warm days.

4) I haven't listened to Podcasts in ages. Here and there I will listen to short ones when I go on a walk. Some other bloggers were commenting on IG that S Town was an amazing Podcast. I decided to listen to the first episode when I went for a walk. The rest of the day I spent it listening. I had a very productive day. My house was clean, cars cleaned, laundry done and I sat outside listening for a little bit. I just couldn't stop listening to it once I got started. I don't want to spoil it for you. It's a must listen too!

5) If you want to see more of what goes on in our daily lives follow me on Instagram BetterBeautyWithBecky. I post pictures from our day to day lives, safer beauty products, paleo food and whatever else is going on with me.

I hope everyone has a great week! Happy Monday!

Disclaimer: All thoughts and opinions are my own. The post Never Miss a Monday appeared first on Because Chocolate Can't Get You Pregnant. 

Wordless Wednesday

I think I should print this out, put it in G book and pull it out in 13 years when he is acting ridiculous. Real life folks real life! 

Judgy

A couple months back when I was in ND Lacey and I got matching tattoos on our wrists. We picked out a design that we both loved and then added our own touch to it. We wanted to have the thyroid cancer colors in the tattoo. When I actually told Lacey to book the appointment she was shocked! Shocked I was willing to get another tattoo and shocked I would put it on my wrist. I have 2 other tattoos, but I have them in place that I can keep covered. Previously I felt if you had a tattoo it should be in a place where you can cover it up. Maybe I am getting older and an attitude that I don't give a damn what other people think.

You know who the people are that judge the most about things? Usually the religious people. People usually become less judgmental by their own sins becoming public or by their kids. People have all these ideas of what their kids will not do or they won't allow their kids to do certain things. Now that 30 years have passed I look at those people who felt they would control their kids to be a certain way. Guess what those people kids did the majority of the things the parents tried to prevent.

In the past I have had family members who have tried to make me feel bad for how I lived. I was used an illustrations to their kids as what a bad "christian" I was and how the kids should not behave. When Art and I got engaged I got a lot of grief from "christian" people because of who I was marrying. People even told my mom that I should not be "allowed" to marry Art. :::insertmajoreyeroll:::

Recently I got some "looks" by a church person because I had on distressed jeans AND my tattoo was showing. I got stares and was made to feel very judged the entire evening for being ME. It was the first time that I was able to laugh about it. I thought lady one day you are going to eat crow!

In some ways I wish I could back to when I was in my 20's dealing with all this judgy crap! I want to go back with my 30 year old don't give a damn attitude. I would tell them to take their judgmental ways and shove it!

Why?

The above statement really hit me!  Over the past few years I've wondered why in the world some things have happened in life. Why have people behaved so terribly or hurtful? Why have I've been dealt such a bad hand of health?  Why did we struggle so much to have a child? 

Our lives are a big canvas that God is painting. Have you ever painted a picture by numbers?  There are times it's awful and ugly. Once the picture is done it looks so much prettier.  That is our life. We don't see the whole picture at times. We will only see the ugliness. During these times we need to remind ourselves that we need to wait. The picture is going to turn out beautiful if we are trusting God. So often we make things ugly doing our own thing. 

Shame!

The dictionary defines Shame in the verb tense as:

1. to cause to feel shame; make ashamed:
2. to publicly humiliate or shame for being or doing something specified(usually used in combination): 
3. to drive, force, etc., through shame:
4. to cover with ignominy or reproach; disgrace.

I have been struggling with why we shame people so often. Mommy shaming, Christian shaming, child discipline shaming, and the list goes on. I didn't realize all the shaming until I became a mom. Then it was holy crap this mommy shaming is OUT OF CONTROL!!!! It opened my eyes to all the shaming going on all around us. 

Mommies are shaming other moms with the fact they give their kid formula, bottles past 1, screen time, non-organic foods, blah blah blah. Hey ladies why don't you knock if off! Who cares if my kid isn't walking at 13 months. He is perfectly normal. Guess what he is 22 months jumping off the couch, talking away plus using sign language. I think he is going to be just fine. That is nice your kid walked at 9 months old. I am happy I didn't have to chase him around 4 months earlier. lol

It really opened my eyes to the shaming that goes on in our churches. People are shamed because they don't attend every service in a week, give specific amounts of money, they don't dress a certain way or they haven't volunteers their every moment. The church thing really gets me. If I don't attend every service do you think God loves me less than you?  The fact you  work for the church makes you better than me? 

When I was dating Art someone at church came up to me and said I heard you are dating someone you shouldn't be. I was like huh! Why is that? She said I heard he is divorced. You shouldn't be dating a divorced man. REALLY!!! Way to make me feel comfortable and want to come back to church. 

I bet our churches would be busting at the seams if we loved each other a little more, stop trying to act like we haven't sinned and decided to be a little more humble. 

No!

Recently I have been struggling with why we teaching kids it's wrong to say no. I keep reading and hearing how adults struggle to tell people no. I can't help but think that is because we have been raised from infants on that we shouldn't say the word no. 

I think we have to teach our kids a balance with the word no. If we tell them to come to us they shouldn't say no. If they tell us no then go get them and bring them to you. If you ask your child do you want to take a picture and they say no then we need to respect that. As an adult I don't always want my picture taken. I mentioned to someone recently how George didn't want to take a picture one morning. The person I told this to was horrified that I allowed my child to tell me no. They told me I need to give them a spanking and not ever allow them to say no. REALLY? Why this upset me so much I am not sure. The person who said this it is very normal to hear this insanity from them. 

That encounter really made me think about the word no. I think you can raise a child to tell people no in a respectful way. I think it's important to raise kids to be able to tell people no. They don't like how people are making them feel, they don't want to go some place, or they don't want to eat something because it tastes horrible etc. We are not letting our kids have an opinion and voice which is causing problems as adults. 

It is also important to me that my child can tell someone no in case some nut job was trying to abuse my kid. If I continue to tell him he isn't allowed to tell an adult no he is going to think he can't tell a nut job no. That is not true at all! 

I don't know how to raise a kid at all. But I am trying to do some things different with my child than some of the insanity I have been taught over the years. It has taken me years of watching and learning from people mistakes of how I don't want to do things. Go ahead judge away. I feel children need to be raised to be confident adults who have opinions they can voice. 

Setbacks

In the past I've been very open about my life on my blog & social media. I've shared a lot of personal things when it came to my health ~ infertility, cancer and the start of what the doctor thinks is MS. Then I had G and my blogging really slowed down.

I realize people only put out there what they want people to see. Sometimes I can vomit what's going on in my life. That's my way of healing and handling the curveballs that are being thrown at me. 

Ten years ago if I could see into the future I would have said I was being shown the wrong life. Those things happen to other people not me. I've learned I am those other people to everyone else. 

A few weeks back I complained to someone how I just couldn't do all this. Work full time, be a full time mom, and battle 2 diseases. The person pretty much told me I needed to suck it up because that's what all working moms go through. Those comments have stung. I learned though that person has absolutely no idea what I go through in life and really is not a friend. 

Moms take on the world. We take on so much with so little help. We just think we can do it all. Reality is we need help and can't do it all. Sometimes we just need some encouragement and sympathy/empathy. 

I spend a good portion weekly reading/researching about my cancer. Trying to make sure I'm getting the best care available. This is not a normal thing most other mothers even worry about on a daily basis. Sure we all worry in the back of our minds that we will be there for their children life. Unfortunately I get a quarterly reminder how short my life can be.

I try to take that to stop & enjoy each moment I am given. I keep my camera close by because I want to catch every moment I can. I journal daily for G. Part of it so one day I can look back and remember all the little things. Another part is I want him to know how much I loved being his mom. 

I started writing this blog post back in October. I have struggled some with the setbacks I have been dealing with over the past few months. I had an ah-ha moment the other day. I was struggling with the actions of people, why things can be such a challenge and just feeling overwhelmed. In my ah-ha moment I realized I am going through a time of setback right now in life. I need to take a moment to see what I can learn from all this. There must be something to learn in a period of a setback. I have no idea what I am supposed to be learning, but I don't have any doubt that I will learn something.

Laughter is the Best Medicine

Hump Day!

Warby Parker Winter Collection

Warby Parker Winter Collection

Winter’s best diversions—doubling up on thermals, watching your breath steam up the window, 

scribbling through a Sunday crossword puzzle—deserve a proper pair of glasses to bring them 

Our new Winter Collection is rustic meets modern: six new shapes in five new colors, including 

two custom two-toned acetates, in addition to some of our most dependably stylish frames in 

cold-weather hues. 

All frames are $95, including prescription lenses.

They make good companions for rooting around a bookcase, dashing through the snow, getting 

up to indoor mischief. The possibilities stretch on as shorter days give way to longer nights.

Find the collection online at warbyparker.com and at Warby Parker stores and showrooms.

My personal favorite are the whiskey tortoise (above)! I need a new pair of glasses and I am considering ordering these. I used my VSP benefit this year. I am not due for new frames for 2 years. I think Warby Parker frames are very reasonable. 

***The above is Warby Parker comments on their glasses and also my opinion at the bottom.***