60+ Things To Do This Summer With The Whole Family
The summer is officially here! Alarm clocks are getting hidden away, bedtimes are extended, and parents everywhere are feeling a little frantic. It's because now, we as parents are responsible to fill our children's schedules with all of the fun adventures they've been looking forward to. We can't look to teachers for the next few months...It's all on us.Our kids are going to wake up every morning and the first thing they're going to ask is, "What are we doing today?"Don't worry, I'm here to help. I have put together a list of fun activities to keep your family busy this summer! My friends and I put this list together because we were tired of racking our brains every day last summer, trying to think about what we could possibly do that wouldn't mean spending all of our money each day.Summers can get expensive! If you're not careful, you can end up spending a few times your house payment on a few months of adventures for the family! Instead, why not save up for one big trip or activity and then fill your summer with cheap, family-friendly summer activities?
Summer Activities For Parents!
Whip up your own Mango Black Tea Lemonade at home.Try a new cuisine on the grill.Choose a DIY project to work on for your home.Create an epic slip n slide in your backyard.Take family pictures. Invite your friends over for a BBQ.Host a wine tasting.Go camping.Plan fun date nights for you and your spouse.Read a book.Get a makeover and try a new hairstyle.Go to the movies.Get a tattoo. (It's okay to live a little.)Host a game night with your friends.Do a scavenger hunt around your town with a group of friends.Try a new hobby.
Family Friendly Summer Activities!
Fidgit spinner challenges.Glow stick tag.Build wooden race car tracks.Campout inside.Find out what melts in the sun. Play Shoot and Splash with Nerf Guns!Get your race cars muddy and then have a car wash. Build a bird feeder. Have your kids paint with ice cubes.Make a backyard obstacle course.Play a fun game of balloon pinatas!Make your own rock tic tac toe game.Make your own chalk.Do a DIY sprinkler relay!Have your kids try their hands at chalk art. Play glow in the dark bowling!Read a book as a family then watch the movie!Help your kids build a marble run!Freeze your own dinosaur eggs. Try making a stick raft.Make up your own minute to win it games. Put a water blob in the backyard!Build a tin-foil river.Play water balloon tennis.Write your own book.Make rainbow popsicles.Whip up a batch of banana pops. Have a paint war!Throw a late night, glow in the dark movie night outside.Play a color scavenger hunt.Try water balloon baseball.Make homemade play-dough.Create your own fairy garden.Make bird feeders!Freeze your treasure!Paint with DIY foam chalk paint!Sit inside an air fort.Do science experiments!Adopt a pet rock.
Parent Hacks For The Summer!
Have summer essentials packs in the car.Make a summer reading log.Put together boredom buster jar.Put up a family schedule on the fridge.Have the kids use popsicle drip cups.
Don't forget to head over to my Instagram so you can keep up on our summer adventures!
Episode 3: Christie's Exploration Of Her Own Culture
Meet Christie!
Today, we're chatting with Christie from Raising Whasians! She is a Korean mother who's learning about her own culture while teaching her children what it means to be American and Korean. She shares her journey from nurse to blogger and all the nitty gritty in between.Christie walks us through her adoption story and the journey to learning more about her own heritage. I love the way her whole family comes together to learn about Korean culture together.
A few things we mention on today's episode:
Mixed Me by Taye DiggsChristie's Adoption PostMy Adoption Post
Challenge:
Show your kids diversity throughout their lives in your own unique way.
Follow Christie Along On Her Journey
Blog/ Twitter/ Instagram/ Facebook
Episode 2: Becky's Global Journey
The Almost Indian Family | Episode 2: Becky's Global Journey
Today, we're chatting with Becky from Kid World Citizen. She is a Spanish teacher turned world traveler with her multiethnic family. She and her family travel the world, learning about new cultures. She also helps teachers and parents who want to teach their own families about the world around them.Becky's love for the world comes across the entire episode as she shares how her family has been able to blend four cultures into one unique family. She jokes that her family has been called the United Nations family and I can definitely see why! She's answering your questions on adoption and world travel, sharing a glimpse into their big move to Mexico, and all the funny stories in between.Challenge: Make a family calendar with all of the cultural traditions that your family wants to do throughout the year. Don't forget to tag #TheAlmostIndianFamily as you take on the challenge! Becky and I can't wait to see what traditions your family chooses!
Follow Becky along on her journey by heading over to her blog and social media channels.
Blog/ Facebook/ Twitter/ Instagram
Links Mentioned:
Summer Bucket List For Families
This post is sponsored by Tyson Foods, Inc., but the content and opinions are my own.
The sun is shining and the bugs are out. It can only mean one thing. We're getting close to another summer here in the South.Kids everywhere are counting down the days until summer break begins and our family is already making a summer bucket list. We've been filling it full of all the adventures we want to take as a family and everything we want to see.This summer, I'm challenging our family to do something special. I'm challenging us to try and cook the majority of our meals on the grill! I love the ease of whipping up a delicious dinner on the grill because it means fewer dishes and I can soak up the sunshine.
We're kicking off the challenge a few weeks early! Last night for dinner we whipped up Ball Park® Hot Dogs and Tyson® boneless skinless chicken breasts. It hardly took any prep at all, and our entire family was as happy as can be.Summers can seem intimidating for families, especially moms! The kids are home from school and now you’re responsible for planning everything out on your own!Do you want to know the tip I live by?
Make it easy! Kids don’t need a summer full of hectic schedules, even if it is fun things to do. Make it simple and have fun! Stay home and grill rather than go out every night. Let the kids help you make yummy side dishes! You can even make your groceries go around what you can pop on the grill! Especially if it means daddy has to do all the cooking!One point for mom!
I can guarantee you’re going to thank me for a stress-free summer.
Summer Bucket List
- Grill everything.
- Enjoy a mango black tea lemonade.
- Do a movie night in your back yard.
- Have a water balloon fight.
- Make a giant bed and sleep in the living room.
- Take a road trip.
- Make something from scratch.
- Cook as a family.
- Plant a garden.
- Try a new hobby.
- Watch fireworks.
- Do a scavenger hunt.
- Try a science experiment.
- Fly a kite.
- Roast s’mores.
- Go on a hike.
- Have a party.
- Host your own lemonade stand.
- Camp out in your backyard.
- Go to a splash park.
- Go to the zoo.
- Build a fort.
- Learn a new language.
- Watch a foreign movie.
- Star gaze as a family.
- Go on a family bike ride.
- Do a family service project.
- Catch bugs.
- Celebrate a half birthday.
- Create an obstacle course.
- Wash the cars together.
- Make a treat for your neighbors.
- Have a race.
- Make a birdfeeder.
- Have a family dance party.
- Play charades.
- Make cereal necklaces.
- Host your own family cook-off challenge.
- Put on a play.
- Visit mom or dad at work.
- Make a family music video.
- Have the kids make dinner for everyone.
- Make breakfast for dinner.
- Make a foreign dish.
- Try something new.
- Do something nice for someone.
- Have a mommy-kid date.
- Go bowling.
- Draw with chalk.
- Run a 5k.
First Things First
Head over to your local Walmart and get all the groceries you need! Follow my advice and make it easier by doing online grocery pick up! I don’t know why it took me so long to figure it out! All you have to do is choose your groceries on the app, schedule your pick up, submit your order, and drive over.They even load it into your car for you! It couldn’t be any easier! My kids love looking back in their seats and chatting up their employees and Walmart makes the whole experience a mother’s dream!
How To Challenge Racism And Prejudice As A Family
Over the last eight years in my interracial marriage, my eyes have been open up to a new world.
I had no idea how sheltered I was in my own little bubble. I grew up in a white community, with a white family, and white friends.I loved everyone I met, so it wasn't an issue of any ill-feelings on my part. I simply didn't know a life outside my own. I never learned about cultures around the world other than the little bit they teach us in history class.It wasn't until I married my wonderful husband that I saw the harsh reality that racism exists. The fact that an entire people group could be stereotyped as one personality or one characteristic of an extremist. It's easier for society to clump people together rather than get to know the actual people involved.Even though you may have the same ethnic background as someone, by no way means your culture was the exact same growing up. Our culture is so much more than just our ethnicity. It's the way you grew up, your beliefs, whether or not you were the oldest in the family, the situations you've experienced, and everything that has shaped you to be the person you are today.
Racism and prejudice aren't hidden from society. It's out in the open every day.
We see it in the news.We see if when we walking in town and someone crosses the street just to avoid walking next to a man of color.We see it when people make a rude, stereotypical joke to a friend.We see it when people spew hateful, toxic things to people they've never even met.It's happening every day, all around you. Here's the problem. People either give excuses to why they did what they did or claim they didn't know any better. We're no longer living in a day and age where those excuses work. We are fighting for a better world for our kids. This fight means we have to stand up and say this is not ok. We have to challenge wrong thinking and start learning about those around us.
Let's start by learning a few definitions.
Racism: prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is superior.Prejudice: preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience.Ignorance: lack of knowledge or information.Racism and prejudice are both learned behaviors. Through out our lives people have shaped what we believe. Maybe you grew up in a family that made racist remarks. Or maybe they lived in their bubble like I did growing up and didn't know better.
Either way, ignorance leads to both racism and prejudice.
So how can we stop it? What can we do to make sure our kids don't learn this hate?We can teach our kids. It starts as simple as that. We can help them to have a deep love for cultures around the world. We can remind them to ask questions when they don't know something rather than lay a stereotypical label on it.Remember, kids learn by example. You need to be the right example to them and challenge yourself. If you mess up, admit it to them and have a conversation about it. If you see someone in their life, whether it's a family member or someone in the media, call out bad behavior. Don't ignore it when it happens. If you do, your kids will be left trying to figure it out on their own.
How can you challenge racism, prejudice, and ignorance around you?
The Stage Of Motherhood We're Never Ready For
Okay, you guys true story I either need a new puppy or a baby.
It’s as simple as that. I’m ready for something because all I keep seeing in my Instagram feed our babies. So many freaking babies and all I want right now is to hold one and snuggle one and have one. The problem is I have a Husband. He doesn’t seem to think an Instagram feed full of itty bitty teeny tiny babies is a reason for one more child. Okay, maybe it’s the fact that he woke up to my three-year-old peeing in the garage and our five-year-old got threatened to get kicked out of gym childcare today?But you guys come on.
I’m going to chalk that up to a day full of mischievous little antics that remind me I’m a boy mom.
Okay, maybe I really don’t want any other things to add to my life right now. Maybe, I’m just going off to you guys so that I can somehow have reality come back into my mind and remind me that I am happy to be out of diapers for my kids and be able to sleep through the night.My husband and I are entering into a new phase of parenting. This is probably the real reason I’ve been thinking so much of having another baby lately.
This is my last year with my babies home in the morning.
This year my oldest son was the only one in school, and my other two babies got to stay home with mama all day long. Next year my five-year-old enters kindergarten and my baby will start going to preschool. Excuse me while I hide under my covers and cry my eyes out asking myself where my babies went.When I walk down the street with my boys, I always have one of them by the hand. It's usually Lukey Bear, my youngest. He always loved holding my hand. He'd look for it every time we went out together. Today, I noticed I was holding him by the wrist. It was the only way to hold onto him because he was trying to run off and walk with his big brothers.
Then it hit me.
He's becoming a big kid. They are becoming boys. They are no longer little toddlers and babies, but now they're boys. We are starting to go through countless pairs of jeans due to torn up knees. I’m realizing that I can’t get through one week with one grocery trip anymore. Instead, I have to constantly run to the store to feed these three endless bellies. They want to have grown-up conversations with me where they talk about their dreams for the future. They’re all about what school to their friends. They would just about anything if they thought their friends would like it.
I don’t know how all of you mothers out there have done this before me.
When I look at these boys, I always see our babies in their eyes. I remember the moment I first looked into their beautiful brown eyes. I remember rocking them to sleep countless nights. I remember nursing them in the middle of the night.Part of me is sad.
Part of me looks at them with tears in my eyes and wonders how it all went by so fast.
I remember people used to tell me to hold onto every single moment. They told me not to blink in fear of missing out on what was before me.I have to be honest. There’ve been so many times in motherhood that I've wished for seasons to be over. I’ve prayed to God that I could simply get through to the next day, get through to the next season, or my kids would finally sleep through the night so that I could get a moment's rest.It's not all been easy.
Motherhood requires us to sacrifice a little bit of time, ourselves, and more than I realized.
I would do it over and over, time and again, because it’s all led us to this point right now. My kids are who they are because of the sacrifices my husband and I have made for them. We would do anything for our kids.Motherhood is painful.Motherhood is a blessing.Motherhood has transformed my life more than words can express.Motherhood has given me hope on the hardest days.Right now, motherhood means letting go.It means I have to watch my little boys grow up before my very eyes and let them experience new adventures. I wish I could be that crazy mom follows them everywhere they go. It wouldn’t bother me to see the looks that I got from the other mother's wondering why in the world I can’t just hold on to the alone time I've finally gotten after all this time.But I doubt my Husband would let me be that crazy mom. Instead, we’re going to hold each other’s hands as we watch our kids go off to school next year. Even now they’re talking about it, deciding on backpacks they’re going to get, talking about lunch they're going to enjoy together, and getting more excited it as every moment passes.
The moment is going to come as I drop them off to their first day next year.
They’re going to get that fear in their eyes and run to momma. They’re going to wonder if they can do it if they can survive an entire day without mom and dad by their side. You guys I have to get myself to a point emotionally where I can hug them tight, give them a big kiss, and let them know that they can do anything they set their minds to. Even though inside I'm praying I can keep it together until I get out to the car.Motherhood means making the tough choices for our kids. It means being strong even when we feel weak.I have officially turned in to that mom that comes up to you on the street and says don’t blink. Hold on to every moment with your kids because it’s going to go by in a flash. Your babies are going to turn into little boys and girls, and they’re going to take everything that you've taught them and shown them about the world and put it into action on their own.
10 Ways To Keep Your Home Clean With Dogs
*This post is sponsored by The Libman Company but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.*
As most of you heard from our fun little "adoption" story, we now have two dogs.
We are a huge pet loving family, so it's not a big surprise that we've adopted two over the years, even if I did it while my husband was away on a work trip one time...Oops.What can I say? When the kids and I saw an adorable two-pound puppy, I couldn't help but take the little princess home.My problem is now we have two large dogs to keep up with. I already have three little boys who have a passion for making messes. Now, I have five little mess makers to follow around.It's simple really.They all clean up after themselves. They never forget to tidy up. They love to keep things clea... Okay, I can't even get through that sentence. All of my boys and both dogs live to wreck my house. If anything they're a little team that follows each other around tracking dirt everywhere they go.Don't worry. I'm here to share all the tips we've learned over the years.
10 Ways To Keep Your Home Clean With Dogs
1. Clean up the accidents correctly.
Even if you can't smell it, your pet does, and they will think it's the right spot to pee or poop. One of the best ways to clean it is to sprinkle baking soda over the area and spray it with vinegar. Let it dry completely and vacuum it up.
2. Keep your dog bowl and water bowl on a rubber mat.
Dogs are notorious for making a mess when eating and drinking. By placing their bowls on a rubber mat, it makes it harder to slide around.
3. Bathe your dogs frequently.
Bathing them frequently helps reduce their pet dander, shedding, and the dog smell we all "love." This helps a lot if your family deals with allergies.
4. Regular brushing.
If you have a dog that sheds, your best bet is regular brushing. Some dogs love being brushed, but most importantly it reduces the amount of dog hair in your home.
5. Get The Right Supplies.
Buy a mop with a detachable head that you can wash. I use the Libman Freedom® Spray Mop. It's my favorite because you can fill up the canister with any cleaner you want and the mop head is detachable. After you're done cleaning with it, you can take it off and throw it in the washing machine.
6. Train your dogs to lay on one spot.
It could be a dog bed or even a blanket. Make sure you wash it regularly. It will reduce the dog smell in your home and helps them not to track any built up dirt around your home.
7. Clean your dog's paws when they come inside.
There is nothing worse than coming into your kitchen and seeing muddy dog paw prints everywhere. Wipe their paws with a wet towel or wet wipe when they come inside. It will help you avoid any messy surprises.
8. Vacuum weekly and use lint rollers.
Dog hair... It gets everywhere when you have dogs, especially if you have a long-haired dog. You can avoid leaving the house looking like you have a full layer of it on your pants with one simple chore. Vacuum daily and use a lint roller on your couch.
9. Clean up your dog's toys.
Buy toys for your dogs that can get washed. You could throw them in a sink with hot soapy water or in the washing machine for the extra dirty toys.
10. Get a cubby for all of your dog's items.
Organize your home by keeping all of your dog's toys, food, and leashes in one area of your home. Then you won't find yourself searching the house for it when you need it right away.
What do you need to do next?
Head over to your local store and buy the supplies you need today. The number one cleaning supply I have at home for my dogs is my Libman Freedom® Spray Mop. I love the fact that I can fill it up with any cleaner I want to use. I use different cleaners based on how dirty my floors are or what I'm cleaning up. The choices are endless!Not to mention, I love the ability I have to throw the green mop head straight into the washing machine after a messy day. It can hold up to at least 100 washes! I feel like it's always fresh and clean when I use it. The mop has a neck that can move around 360 degrees so you can get to the toughest spot in your house. It works great for our tile bathroom floors and even our kitchen hardwood floors!Head over to their site and find the closest retailer to you!
Our Family Doesn't Match And That's Okay
I recently went on a field trip with my oldest. He was so excited for me to come with him so he could show me everything. He wanted me to meet his friends, hang out with him, talk to his teacher, and spend one on one time with him.As the oldest of three brothers, he doesn't always get alone time with momma. It's something we both love to savor.His little field trip was precious. We went to a local farm and learned how to plant watermelons, fed and talked to sheep, and played with his friends. My favorite part of the day was looking up always to find his little hand searching for mine.He was proud to show me off and I loved it. I hope he always searches for me in the crowd.
Throughout the field trip, I answered dozens of questions from his friends. One conversation definitely topped the rest.Are you Liam's mom?Yes.That's weird.Why is that?Well, because he's black and you're white.
I laughed and simply said that some families look different than each other.
She smiled and ran off to play with her friends.Later that night, I brought it up at the dinner table. I told my husband how funny it was. Liam smiled and said all his friends say he's black. He wasn't phased at all by this. If anything it made him proud. He's grown up in a multiethnic family and two of his best friends are his cousins who are black and white.The more my husband and I talked about this later that night, the more I learned about his childhood. He even talked about it during his sermon.As an Indian kid, his friends didn't know how to identify him. During the summer he'd get darker and kids would classify him as their black friend. Then the other months of the year he'd get lighter and friends would say he was Asian.As little kids, they don't have a true understanding of racial awareness. They see something that looks different to them and want to figure it out.
Liam's friends see a family that doesn't match.
They see a boy that's not white. They don't know his cultural identity, so they use what they know so it makes sense to them.I know all three of my boys have a long road ahead of them. They will have countless times of explaining their ethnic background to people around them. Whether is's at school with their friends or in the workplace, it's going to happen.As their mom I get worried they will get frustrated. I don't want them to feel pressured to fit into someone else's mold of who or what they should be.Instead, I want my boys to see it as an opportunity to create conversations. I want them to boldly share their culture with their friends. I want them to know how important it is to create conversations and to break down this idea that it's bad to ask questions when they come from a good place.I love that my son's friends ask questions about our family.
They innocently want to understand the world around them.
I'm more than happy to answer questions and to show people that families come in every shape, size, and color.
Things You Do When Your Traveling Spouse Goes Out Of Town
Things That Happen When Your Traveling Spouse Is Out Of Town
A few years after I got married, my husband started traveling for work. At first, it wasn't a big deal. I would fill up his trips with a ton of things to do. Then I slowly started realizing how much life was different when he was gone. I became a different person!
1. You make all the meals they hate.
2. Or you live on take out the whole time.
3. You LOVE the alone time for the first few days.
4. Then you start watching romance movies missing your SO.
5. You hang out with all your girls you don't get to see anymore.
6. You let all the chores in the house go.
7. You start hating to sleep alone and make your kids sleep with you.
8. You slowly realize all the things your so does for you...
9. Like killing all bugs in the house.
10. Or taking out the trash.
11. You and your so text about absolutely nothing just because you miss each other.
12. You realize how terrifying your house is at night.
13. You do everything they hate.
14. Realize your get a little crazy when you're alone.
15. Clean the house like a crazy person the day before they get back.
16. Realize how much you missed your SO.
Three Reasons You Should Love Your Mother In Law
3 Reasons You Should Love Your Mother In Law
Oh, mother in laws.You know who they are. You fall in love with a man. Realize he’s the one. Then you meet his mother. You’re terrified because you know you have to impress her. You know you'll officially be in each other's lives forever and it needs to go well.Then you enter into a relationship full of ups and downs, bickering, laughter, and love. It’s easy to blame your mother in law for so many things, but that will change one day.I was recently at my friend's wedding and I melted during the mother-son dance. All I could think about was the fact that one day, I will have to give away three of my baby boys. Then we'll be transitioning into a new dynamic. It won’t just be my husband, little boys, and I anymore.
This is the first time I’ve thought about blending families from this perspective.
Now, I’m wondering who has it worse: the mother or daughter in law. The daughter in law is coming into a new family and has to navigate her way through a relationship with her mother in law. The mother in law has to step back and watch a new woman come into her baby boy’s life. Her relationship with her son changes and she has to navigate her way through both relationships.It’s easy to look at this stage in life and blame the mother in law for everything that goes sideways. That all changes the moment you look into your little boy’s eyes and he asks you if you will marry you one day.
Then you realize you will be the mother in law one day.
After my little three year old proposed to me, I had to explain to him he will fall in love with a girl one day and marry her. Do you know what he told me? He said I love you, mama, can I marry you?Yes. Yes, you can.Here are a few reasons you should remember how great your mother in law is...
She raised the man you fell in love with.
This woman raised the man you love. She taught him his first words, how to read, how to boil a pan of water, how to speak to women, and how to be a respectful man.
She handled all of the difficult years so you could reap the benefits.
She dealt with the endless teething nights, temper tantrum toddlerhood, and rebellious teenager years. Her consistency and hard work paved the way so you could have the sweet and gentle man he is today.
She trained him to treat you like a queen.
It’s because of her that he treats you so well. She taught him how to treat women by being a good example. He loved her and she taught him how to show her love by respecting her, loving her, and taking care of her.This woman is the reason you have this man you love. Take a second to realize how blessed you are to have your mother in law. You wouldn’t be where you are without her.
Share one story about you and your mother in law!
What It Means To Be An Anna In Our Multiracial Family
What It Means To Be An Anna In Our Multiracial Family
As a little girl, I always knew I wanted to have a big family. I loved having my brother with me growing up. We did everything together. We built forts together, we had epic movie nights on the weekends, we stood up for each other, and we always knew we weren't alone. We always had someone there to look out for us.Even if that meant I yelled at dumb kids on the bus when they decided to pick on my little brother. He was my little brother and I wasn't about to let anyone mess with him.
Along with all the good times, we had plenty of knock out, drag out fights. We were siblings, what else do you expect.
I loved my little brother, but as we got older it wasn't just fun. I had responsibilities as his big sister. I HAD to be there for him all the time. I HAD to look out for him to make sure he wasn't dumb enough to swallow a penny (which in fact he was dumb enough to do and did).Older siblings carry a lot of weight on their shoulders. You can ask any older sibling how it was growing up with little siblings and you'll instantly hear grumbling.It's one of many reasons my husband and I got along so well. We were both the oldest kids and knew exactly what the other one went through.
When we had our second son, we looked at our oldest with excitement and a bit of pity. We knew the road he was about to embark on.
In our multiracial family, we have raised our kids to understand what it means to be an anna. An anna is an older brother and it also carries a different meaning in our almost Indian family. It's a badge of honor for older brothers. It means it's not their responsibility to help raise their little brothers. They have to look out for them as they're little and even as they venture out into the real world as adults.Our oldest son, Liam became an anna when his little brother was born. Then Levi became an anna when Lukey was born.Their dad and I do everything we can to teach them how important this role is in each other's lives. It's not a burden like it feels like at times. It's a special bond they will always have with each other.
It doesn't matter where life takes them around the globe, they will always have each other.
The three amigos. They will always be partners in crime and I can't tell you how happy that makes me.It's not an easy road as an anna. It's hard. The weight is heavy, but the best part is they can all carry it together. Even as the little brother, they can look out for their anna. They can all be there when one of them needs help. They can all be there to love on each other. They can all push each other to be the best they can be.I know they'll even be there to cover each other's backs when one of them decides to be dumb. Even though I'll give them the mommy look of death when I catch them in the act (I'll secretly be smiling as I see what a strong unit they've become).
Being an anna isn't easy, but it's one of the most special things they'll have in their lives.
Finding Balance In Motherhood
Finding Balance In Motherhood
As I sit here after a long week, looking at my unfolded clothes, dirty dishes in the sink, unkept yard, and glass full of wine... I realize this week was anything but balanced.I've added a few new things to my plate and while it's not a crazy change, it's been just enough to send my routine into a full tailspin. The routine that once felt like it worked so well simply doesn't anymore.Isn't that just life though? You feel like things start to work well and then life throws you a few more plates to balance.
The more I talk about my lack of balance in life, the more you all start to stand up and say ME TOO! It truly does help to know we're not alone.
I used to look at my mom and think wow she has it all under control. She knows everything. She can handle it all.Now that I'm a mom, I realize that was anything from the truth. She just knew how to take it as it came at her. Then when we went to bed, she called her girlfriends crying that she had no idea what she was doing!Most of the time I have no idea what I'm doing.I call my girlfriends and go on and on about how completely out of control I feel. I know what my life should look like, but it never looks that way. I want things to run smoothly, I want my kids to flush the toilet when they're done, I want mornings to be easy, I want to finally follow my budget, I want to get along with my husband all the time, and I want to look flawless every day.The reality is the only thing on point every single day is the kid's bedtime. Which really just means, I make sure they go to bed at the same time EVERY SINGLE NIGHT. I mean come on. I have three rowdy boys and momma likes her alone time at night. (Can I get an amen!?)
Why do we as moms constantly pressure ourselves to be perfect even though we've seen it never works?
In my mind, if I do things well enough I'll find this perfect balance. I'll look at my life and see that I have set the perfect routine, parented my kids perfectly, and run my house without a hitch.Well, guess what. IT'S NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN. Listen to me carefully. There's no magic moment where everything comes together perfectly.
The magic comes when we realize perfection is unattainable and loving ourselves and our family needs to be the biggest priority.
If you want your life to be more balanced, you need to start by loving your family more. Your kids won't look back at their childhood and remember the perfect school year they had. Nope. They're going to remember the raw, messy, unplanned moments.Those are the times that will mean the most to them.Those are the moments that will come to your mind when you look back at your kids being little.I promise you if you just let go, life will become much better. If you stop trying to make perfect moments, you will stumble upon life-changing memories with your family.The truth is a balanced life doesn't look like a perfectly run household. It looks like a family that knows where their priorities are and puts the well being of their family above perfection.
Let it go, momma.
Stop trying to be the perfect mom you think your kids need and be the mom truly you are. The mom whos kids see right past her messy top bun and sees the woman who holds everything together in their little lives.
6 Reasons Little Kids Test Boundaries
The moment the doctor tells you, "You're having another boy," you know things are about to get a little crazy.
Oh, and it definitely did. I have three boys, under five years old. As they get older, our stories about our day to day lives get more interesting.If you follow me on Instagram or Twitter, you've gotten to know my little family.You will definitely know my son Levi. I'm always posting pictures of his little mischievous antics. He's a riot. His nick name is Leviathan and if you were around him for any length of time, you'd understand. All of our crazy parenting stories involve him.
He greets people at our house half naked (Let me assure you I dress him about 15 times a day, but he always manages to "lose" his clothes).
He is always under the table with some contraband item (candy usually).
He randomly changes your name for an entire day (yesterday I was Queen Mommy).
He decides on a whim to cut our dogs hair.
He even wakes up at 5am to get a head start on it all.
It's because of him that I drink three cups of coffee a day. I have to keep up with him somehow! As he's getting bigger, I'm learning more about his character. Everyone always sees his mischievous and silly side, but people forget that their is so much more to him.People tend to think he needs us to raise our voice and be firm with him. They've told us he needs tough love and no grace. They make comments in front of him about how naughty he is. They tell us we're not parenting him right.What they don't see is that same little boy come up to me later that night and ask me to call him a good boy. While, you may think it's nothing, it is. He wants me to reaffirm that I love him and that I don't think he's a bad boy.There are so many rowdy little boys like mine in the world. Instead of understanding who they are, people label them the trouble makers or tell their parents they need to be put on ADD medication.Today I want to challenge all of you out there. Whether you're a parent or not. The next time you see a rowdy little boy, do not label him. Don't tell him he's bad because he wants to explore the world with his hands and push limits.
While you think he's disrespectful, he's learning what to say.
While you think he gets into everything, he's learning limits in his environment.
While you think he's can handle your "firm" words, he comes to mommy crying.
While you think he's being mean to his baby brother, he was trying to give him a big kiss.
While you think he's rude for not wanting to hug you, he is learning about his own emotions.
While you think he doesn't listen, he hears every word.
While you see some of the naughty things they do, you don't always know what they're trying to do. Instead of being tougher on them, figure out how you can help.I wish people would try to teach kids what they could do rather than what not to do. Yelling "NO" at a child doesn't teach him. Instead, teach him how to do it better.Kids need to be allowed to explore their environment and figure out how the world works. This means they will fail. They will cross the line. they will do it wrong. It's your job as the parent to teach them those limits.Children understand so much more if you encourage them to explore and set clear limits. Labeling a child as the "bad kid" will prevent them from being able to express themselves, learn about the world, have any self confidence, or want to learn how to do things differently. Encourage your children rather than label them.
Life Lessons Interracial Couples Can Learn From Fairy Tales
Life Lessons Interracial Couples Can Learn From Fairy Tales
As a little girl, I was obsessed with Fairy Tales. I loved watching couples fall in love on my Disney movies and watching their stories unfold. You'd think it would have changed as I got older, but I've only become more obsessed!I love watching fairy tales with my kids. If you watch them closely, you can even find valuable life lessons in their storylines. Lessons that we could use in our own marriages!
Cinderella
Cinderella grew up in a family that didn't love or respect her. They constantly dug in and tried to make her life terrible. If I were Cinderella, my first reaction would have been to be nasty right back. She didn't do that. She rose above it all and loved on them regardless.As interracial couples, we aren't always embraced by a family that fully accepts our relationship. Instead, we can be faced with family members that won't accept you. They may even be like Cinderella's family and tear you down. If we can learn one thing from Cinderella, it's to never stop loving them. Acceptance doesn't come easily for everyone and that's okay.You and your partner are together because you love each other. It will either take your family time to accept that or maybe they never will. Either way, you have the choice to rise above. You don't have to be hateful to them as well. Do your best to let it roll off your shoulders and love them with your actions.I'm not saying let them take advantage of you. At the end of the day, you aren't responsible for how they act. You're responsible for your own response. If you feed into the hate by giving it right back, it becomes an endless cycle. What if your loving response could actually lead to a good relationship with them in time? Sometimes the strongest way to fight against hate is by responding in love.
The Little Mermaid
As an interracial couple, you are constantly faced with new things. Those new things span from new food to new situations. Frankly, it can be terrifying. I grew up in a family where things stayed the same most of the time. We ate the same things, weren't too adventurous, and I was comfortable. Then I got married and was constantly pushed out of my comfort zone. I rarely knew what kind of meat I was eating or what to do in these new situations.If we were to take a few notes from The Little Mermaid, we would realize that it's usually worth it. It may be scary, but it can also be life-changing. She moved to a new world and rarely knew what she was doing. She didn't let that stop her! She tried everything, had an open mind, and it all changed her life.How can The Little Mermaid challenge you to be more adventurous? Are you the woman living in a new world (maybe a new country) or are you in an interracial relationship trying to embrace a new culture? Either way, you can open your mind and watch how it all changes your life!
Frozen
One of my favorite fairy tales is Frozen. I love the story of two sisters who love each other. The problem is Elsa loves her sister so much that she tries to protect her by hiding who she is. Yes, her parents prompted this decision, but after they passed away, she hid.Their story taught me how important it is to open up and trust special people in your life. When they finally trusted each other, they were able to do anything. As interracial couples, we tend to try and do it all ourselves. We think we know everything. Then we end up drowning in our own problems.Interracial relationships bring about so many unique challenges. Sometimes, you just need someone on the outside to give a new perspective. My husband and I have surrounded ourselves with older and younger interracial couples. I love having people in my life that have been through similar things as myself.If I actually allow myself to open up and trust them I can hear the advice and wisdom they have to offer. It may even end up saving me from a lot of struggle and hard seasons!
Head over to the comments and name one fairy tale that has taught you a valuable lesson.
Is Comparison Destroying Your Family
While I was growing up, I constantly found myself looking at my friends and wishing I had what they had. It didn't matter what it was, I just wanted it. I wanted to have a traditional family like them, I wanted clothes like them, I wanted to be like them... My friend's lives always seemed better than mine.You'd think I would have grown out of this as I got older, but no. I was always jealous of certain people in my life. In high school, it was the girls with the perfect family life. As an adult, it was people with the perfect marriage.It never stops.
2 Ways Comparison Destroys Your Family
Comparison stays with you like a cancer. It grows as you grow and starts to infiltrate different parts of your life. If you don't take care of it early on in life, it even attaches itself to your family. Then you have to watch something that's plagued you for so long, affect your marriage and children.
Teaches Your Family They're Never Enough
If you and your family constantly compare yourselves to other families, you'll start to believe you're not enough. You'll always see yourself as second best. All of it starts to bleed into your self-confidence.As a mom, you stop enjoying the little things that make your family unique and set apart from others. You spend so much time trying to mimic other "perfect families" that you lose sight of how beautiful yours already is.
Slowly Makes You Resent The People You're Comparing Yourselves To
The longer you compare yourself to other people around them, the more you start to resent them. They go from a "perfect family" you envy to a family you resent. You start to resent how seemingly perfect they are, everything that makes them threat way in your mind, and it destroys your friendship with them.Comparison may look like it's motivating .you at first, but it always leads to resentment and never feeling content with your own life.Every family is unique and has their own family culture. If you look at the families around you, you'll start to see just how different they all are. Maybe your family shares a big passion for the outdoors, maybe you like to reach out to your community, maybe you like to travel, or maybe you love cooking together.Instead of trying to conform to this picture perfect image of what you should look like or what your family should look like, try letting it all go. Let it go and celebrate what makes you different.Break down those comparisons by remembering no one is perfect. The families you admire for being everything you're not is probably a lie. They have their own problems and are most likely struggling by comparing themselves to someone as well.Stop comparing yourself to other people today. Celebrate what makes you who you are. Teach your kids to celebrate their special qualities now. Watch your family thrive as they stop trying to be something they're not.
Do you struggle with comparison? What have you done to try and overcome it?
The Chaos Of Going From Two To Three Kids
People joke all the time how motherhood is a full-time job, but they're wrong. It's not just a full-time job. It's two full-time jobs, with no break, no holiday pay, and constant over time. This job doesn't have a training period, you're simply thrust into it the day your child is born and you're left to figure it all out as you go.I have three boys. Three.
You'd think I'd have it all figured out by now, but I'm not even close.
I'm still figuring things out! My kids didn't want it to be too easy for me, so they decided to have completely different personalities and present me with different challenges every day.You have my oldest who is the rule follower. He wants to be perfect. It doesn't matter how often I tell him that it's impossible to be perfect and you learn the best through failure. It's ingrained into who he is. He pushes himself so hard and I'm still trying to figure out how to teach him to give himself a break and enjoy the journey.Then you have my middle child. He's full of endless energy, have no impulse control, and loves figuring things out for himself. This typically ends up in broken things around the house, situations I can hardly explain to anyone because they think I'm making it up for a laugh, and constantly asking, "Where's Levi?"Last, but not least, you have my youngest. He's the most dangerous combination of them both and he puts his own sassy spin on it all. He knows he has to hold his own as the youngest, so he never goes down without a fight. He also has two big brothers to learn his trickery from!Together, they're like a Power Ranger (see you can even tell I'm a boy mom through my references!) They combine together to become a super force and love trying to take me on every day.Aww. They're cute. They can't be that crazy can they??
Let's give you a little snapshot of my day yesterday.
I walked into the bathroom to see they forgot to flush for the millionth time. Not only did they forget to flush, but there was toilet paper all over the floor, soap all over the sink, and a full sink of soapy water. When I asked them about it (aka yelled at them for making such a mess) they quickly reminded me that they're magicians and had to make a potion.Over the next hour, things got crazier so I decided to take them to Chick Fil A so I could get a break. Plus it means they're playing in a room with one door in and out. It makes it much easier to keep tabs on them. I finally sat down with my coffee and peaked in to make sure they weren't destroying anything. What did I see? A pile of my kid's clothes. On the ground. Levi was completely out of sight. I ran in to find him before anyone else say my naked child running around and it turns out he had a costume on..... What!? He had apparently worn a costume under his clothes so he could "show his friends" his fun Ninjago costume. The mom in there looked at me like I was crazy, but I didn't care. I was just happy he wasn't naked. Costumes I can handle, naked tushies are a different story!You guys, this was just my morning!Three boys are no joke. Two boys were a little bit easier because I had enough arms to maneuver them when need be. Three kids mean I have to legitimately use my entire body to block them from all running off.
How has your life changed after welcoming another kiddo into your family?
How To Love Your Kids According To Their Love Language
Have you and one of your kids ever just been in a funk?Maybe it's one of those days you just can't get along? No matter what you do, it ends up in a fight or one of you crying...I thought I had a few years until this happened, but I'm quickly learning how wrong I was. My oldest and I have very similar personalities. We're both the oldest in our families, rule followers, and feel things very deeply. When he's upset I typically know just what to do. I know how to comfort him because I try and think about what would work for me.This week it's not working.I've tried everything! Nothing's working. Instead, it's causing us to fight nonstop. I can tell he's completely overwhelmed. It's causing him to have a teenager-level bad attitude, cry over everything, and hide out on his own.You guys... I'm over it! I hate not knowing how to help him and trying to talk to a kid who is completely annoyed before I start talking is... fun to say the least. Not to mention, it's putting me in a bad mood! I just want to have a good time with my kids and instead, I'm getting on him for his attitude all day long.Then it finally hit me. He didn't want alone time. He didn't want a break from me. He didn't want to play with friends.
He simply wanted alone time with his momma.
I completely forgot that daddy usually takes him out to practice alone each week. They drive to sports practice, then hit something to eat on the way home, and drive thirty minutes home alone. That's a lot of quality time and it fills his little heart for the whole week.Joel is out of town this week and Liam hasn't been able to have alone time with mommy or daddy. He's craving it. He has three brothers and he's at school all day. He needs that quality one on one time to have the strength to get through anything that comes his way during the week.It's really hard to find a balance and give all three kids alone time. I tend to take them all with me for everything so things are "even." I grew up thinking things had to be even for everyone for it to be fair. Well, guess what... Kids don't need even. Kids don't need things to be fair.
They need their little hearts to be filled each week and that happens differently for all of them.
You may have a kiddo who thrives on quality time and another who feels loved getting little gifts. Find out your children's love language and make sure you love them how they need to be loved.
This week Liam was in desperate need of some one on one time for me to love on him. We went to Starbucks for a mommy-son work date. We started the day fighting and Liam ended up in at least a dozen crying fits. By the end of our momma date, he was hugging me with the biggest smile he has. It was something so simple. He didn't want anything big.
He just needed time.
This year I want to do better at loving my kids. I know I love them all with all of my heart, but I want to love them better. I want to love them intentionally every day. I want to find more ways throughout the day to show them what they mean to me.
Find Your Child's Love Language
Quality Time
Does you child love to spend time with you? Would they choose to just cozy up on the couch and watch a movie over just about anything? Do they constantly ask to do things with you? If this sounds like your child, they may have quality time as their love language.Fill their little love tank by asking them to do things with you. Prioritize time with them because it means more than you realize to their hearts.
Words Of Affirmation
Does your child feel words deeply? Whether they're positive or negative, do they hold on to them? If so they may feel love the deepest through word of affirmation.Fill their love tanks by telling them how much you love them. Take the time to write them little love notes and send them in their lunch box. Make sure you tell them how much you love them every day. They need to hear it daily to feel how much you care about them.
Acts Of Service
Does your child love when you do things for them? They may value their independence, but then love when you come in and help them with their homework. If this sounds like your child, they may be acts of service.Fill their love tank by helping them with a project, teach them to do something, or even cook together. Find ways to serve your kiddo and let them know how much you love them.
Gifts
Do gifts just send your kid to the moon? Do they hold onto those little trinkets forever? If gifts mean a lot to them it could also be their love language.Fill their love tank by getting them little gifts. They don't have to be big or expensive. Even a simple little card will mean something for them. It shows them that you thought about them enough to choose something special just for them.
Physical Touch
When your child is upset, do they go to your for comfort through hugs and cuddles? Do they need you to reassure them by holding their hand or giving them a pat on the back? If so your kid's love language could be physical touch.Fill their love tank by giving them a hug, wrestle with them, teach them how to dance, snuggle up on the couch, or give them a piggy back ride!
What are your kid's love languages?
What Would The World Look Like If Moms Banded Together?
I read an article recently about a mom who had a complete meltdown at an airport. We’ve all been there. Our kids decide the airport is too much for them, maybe they’re tired, maybe they’re not sleeping very well, or maybe they're just overstimulated in general. Whatever the reason when our kids start to melt down in a public place it can be really overwhelming for us as moms.In the article, the toddler started to melt down and the mom got to a point where she didn’t know what to do anymore.
So she sat down in the middle of the airport and cried.
The thing that happened next completely astounded me and gave me hope for our society. Instead of everyone staring at her with judgmental looks and irritation over how loud her kid was, a group of moms stood up and helped her.These moms didn’t know each other in fact they hadn't even spoken while sitting at the airport. That didn’t matter. They stood up because they saw someone in need and wanted to help her. They grabbed things out of their own bag to help the child down and even started offering up juice, snacks, and things of their own.It's completely embarrassing when your kid loses it. You can feel like a failure of a mom, like you’re not doing anything right, or just completely 100% overwhelmed. These moms knew she needed help and they stepped up.
It reminded me of a flight that's still burned into my memory, a few years later.
It was one of the few times I was traveling alone. I was flying with my youngest son to a women’s conference that my mom was going to meet me at. In my mind, I figured hey it’s one kid how hard can this be? I have three kids and I’ve been there with all three of them and I knew this had to be easier.If only I knew how wrong I was that morning I may have been a little bit more prepared.Everything went wrong that could have gone wrong. I got there late, I forgot stuff at home, the baby was super upset, and my nerves are already fried. By the time I got my tickets, my Starbucks, and a little bit of my sanity back I sat down to just take a breath. Within not even one minute I spilled my entire Venti coffee all over the floor and my shoes. I just looked at it with complete disbelief. I couldn't believe I just did that and I didn’t even have the excuse of my baby just did it. It was all me. I somehow missed where my coffee was it knocked it with my hand when my baby was asleep in my hands.
At that point I was so overwhelmed and exhausted so all I could do was stare at it, throw my hands up in the air, and say screw it.
I walked back to the Starbucks and told him what happened. I hoped that they would give me a new drink understanding that it was a super crappy situation and maybe give me a little bit of support. Instead, they charge me another six dollars for my overpriced drink and I had to go clean up the mess I had just made.By the time all of that was taken care of I found my seat on the plane and I sat down only to realize the person sitting next to me was less than thrilled to be sitting next to a baby on a two-hour flight.You would think a two-hour flight wouldn’t bother anybody sitting next to a baby but this person was not that excited. She continued to stare while everyone sat down and sighed when she realized she was stuck with us. I was already worried about keeping him quiet during the flight, but knowing she was judging everything I did took my stress to the next level.Then I actually started to feel bad for the poor lady next to me about 30 minutes into the flight.
None of my kids had ever dealt with ear problems on flights until this day.
My baby instantly started to get ear pain after we took it off and I did everything I could imagine to calm him down. I learned a few days later that he actually had a really bad ear infection and had to have the doctor send us antibiotics while on my trip. But at the time, I had no idea about any of this. All I knew was that my baby was losing his everlasting mind and the entire fight hated me.I was ready to start crying when a couple moms behind my seat offered to help me. They brought out suckers from their bag and even a sippy cup they had laying in their bags. They had been there themselves as moms and understood I needed some help.I didn’t know what to do.All of us somehow ended up working together to calm him down at least until we could land. At that moment I realized how much I needed moms around me. I was three kids into my motherhood experience and I still found myself in a situation where I had no idea what I was doing. Whether you’ve been in that position before or you’re going to be in the future sometime, we just need help.
Could you imagine a world where instead of people staring at you in judgment they actually just offered to help you?
What if the lady next to me decided to offer me some help rather than glare at me the entire flight? What if she remembered what it was like when her adult daughter sitting next to her was a baby? What if she gave me a little bit of grace and even offered to help?At the end of the day, we need to remember to be there for each other. I love that it can start with us moms. We all understand just how crazy and how difficult parenting can be.The next time you see a mom in need, what are you going to do?Will you be the person that sits there groveling in their own despair because they thought they would have a quiet flight to sleep the whole time?
Or will you be one of the moms that steps up and says I know there’s a need and I’m going to give of my time and myself to help you?
A Glimpse Into Our Fusion Life
This shop/post has been compensated by Collective Bias, INC. and The Coca-Cola Company, all opinions are mine alone. #FlavorsForYourMood #CollectiveBias
Over the past few months, I've been asking you guys what you want to see more of on the blog. The one thing I keep hearing is you want to get a bigger glimpse into our lives! If you follow me on Instagram, you get to get a glimpse of our crazy every day!Today, I'm making it happen for you! I'm taking you through a day in our wild, fusion lives! Hopefully, you still like us just as much after you see the nitty gritty of our days!!Morning times in our house come earlier every day. My kids are morning people, to say the least. I used to think I was a morning person, but then I had to start waking up at 6:30 to take my oldest to school every day.Every morning I tell myself I'll wake up at 6 and make a big breakfast for the kids. Then every morning I sleep in until the last possible second and drag myself out of bed.
Then we're off to the school drop off line. The line full of overachieving parents trying to battle to see who can drop off their kids first. I never thought I'd be a part of that group of parents until my son told me he had to get to school early every day so he could get a "ball chair."As most of you know, I desperately want to remain cool in his eyes as long as I can so I do it. I drag my kids out of the house before the sun comes up so that he remembers how amazing I am for a few more years.After big brother gets dropped off in the mornings, we come home, I fill up a large glass of cold brew coffee and homeschool starts for the little kids. Homeschool only lasts about an hour since most of it is fun activities and reading! When the kids get done, they go play and momma gets some housework done. Or I stare at the laundry piling up until the kids go down for a nap.
Nap time for the little kids means one thing. Work time for me!Work time in mom life usually means I grab my laptop and find a place free of toys and clutter. It's almost impossible to find this place in our house, but I somehow manage it and it means a bit of alone time. I turn on some music and get all my thoughts out on the blog.
If momma is really on her A-game, it even means gym time! My husband and I usually meet up at the gym in the afternoons to hit yoga together. I don't know how I convinced him to do yoga with me, but we both love it. It's way more of a workout than we imagined!I think I'm a little biased too because somehow Joel gets called out during all of our yoga classes by the teacher and it makes the class absolutely amazing. It's hilarious because he hates it so much, but can see the results from yoga!After yoga completely kicks our butts, we go home and whip up a delicious dinner. We're still working on our Whole 30 diet so we have to get a little creative in the kitchen. We have to find something that hits the spot for our Indian food craving, but also needs to be no carb, dairy, or sugar.
Don't worry we have fun trying out new fusion dishes! It also goes really bad sometimes.. Like really bad. We found a recipe for paleo naan. I jumped at it right away because I've been missing carbs like crazy! I spent an hour getting it ready and making sure it fits within our Whole 30 guidelines. Then I took it off the griddle to try a bite.Horrible. Disgusting. Never again.Luckily most of our dishes have been amazing! Don't worry, we'll never try paleo naan again. We'll stick the the good stuff!
Sometimes we get to finish the week off strong by heading over to our local Indian church. We already attend a church nearby, but we try to visit the Indian church when we can. It's a fun way to get to know the Indian community around us and it's a great excuse to get all dressed up in our Indian clothes!It also means we get to be thrown into Indian culture even more!
Throughout all the business of our day, one thing can get you through it all! A can of the amazing Diet Coke® fusion flavors! They're delicious and they have four new flavors to fit every mood you're in! I don't know about you, but my mood changes all day long! Whether I'm waiting in the school pick up line or I see what my three year old has decided to do with the brand new bag of flour all over my kitchen...I need a drink that can fit them all! In addition to their regular Diet Coke, they now have Diet Coke Fiesty Cherry, Diet Coke Twisted Mango, Diet Coke Zesty Blood Orange, and Diet Coke Ginger Lime. My favorite is the Ginger Lime! It's a delicious fusion drink, perfect for our multiracial family! They're the perfect drink to have coming off of Whole 30 too! They have zero calories and zero sugar!!
Not sure what drink to try? Head over to Diet Coke's website! They have a super fun way to find the flavor that fits your mood perfectly! All you need to do is scan your fingerprint and the perfect flavor for you will pop up! Share your flavor with your friends and you can even get an online coupon to buy (1) 12 oz. sleek can, get (1) free at Walgreens!
Head over to Walgreens today and pick up a new flavor to try! It doesn't matter what mood you're in, they have the perfect bold flavor for you!
How We're Getting Through Whole 30
We are officially on day ten of Whole 30!Before this month, ten days didn't feel like a long time. It's a little over a week and no time at all, right?Wrong!When all good food is stripped away from you, ten days is a freaking long time! Ten days of no carbs, no sugar, and no dairy. Ten days of no iced caramel macchiatos or late night sugar binges. Ten days hiding from the Girl Scouts because you know you have no self-control when it comes to cookies.Trust me. It's a very long time when you're on Whole 30.Laughs aside, I feel like Whole 30 is actually getting a bit easier. The first couple days were tough. I got headaches from detoxing, my body was sore, and I was just tired. Granted the fatigue was probably because I used to live on cold brew coffee all day long and I switched to a cup a day.Once I got past the detoxing symptoms, I started to feel a lot more motivation.
Tip #1 Prep Everything!
At the beginning of the week, I sat down and planned out my entire week for lunches, snacks, and dinners. Then I prepped. I looked at everything I would need throughout the week and if I could prepare anything beforehand I did!One of the hardest parts of eating healthy for myself is how long everything takes. It's like my brother likes to complain, now that he lives with a family doing Whole 30. He goes to the fridge and pantry and says, "There's nothing to eat!" Even though their both full, everything requires work and the actual meals aren't always quick.Sometimes, I just don't have the time to take an hour to make a meal. Prepping beforehand has helped cut the time down a lot! I even preportioned snacks and had ready-made lunches in the fridge. It made it possible for Joel and I to just reach in and grab something when we needed to be out and about for the day.
Tip #2 Mix It Up
Doing Whole 30 has caused us to use quite a few new items. Before this, I've never used coconut aminos, tapioca flour, or even tried cashew butter.The easy option is to stick with the basics. Whip up meat and veggies for all of your meals and you're good to go.Wrong.We did that for a bit and boy did we get sick of it. We missed having sauces to slather our main course in and variety. Eating the same thing every day becomes way too much to deal with. Especially if you're already having a hard day eating healthy and want nothing more than to go to the new gourmet cinnamon roll place that opened up just ten minutes from your house. (I swear they only opened it to taunt me this month!)Be sure to mix things up. Instead of making the same thing for lunches all week, give yourself two options. Or you can grill up some chicken and use it differently each day.Give yourself options so you don't go crazy! I've been obsessed with the Against All Grain cookbook too. Her recipes are paleo but you can do most of them on Whole 30.
Tip #3 Bring Your Own Snacks
Life hasn't stopped just because we're doing Whole 30. Our schedules and lives are still the same. This means we're still super busy and we still go out on date nights.Date nights used to mean a tasty dinner and a movie. As we were thinking about our date night last week, we almost canceled. We had been dying to go and see Black Panther because I mean come on. Best movie of the year!All I could think about was smelling movie popcorn and watching everyone eat candy the whole time. Yes, I'm a recovering junk food addict.We couldn't wait to see the movie, so we bought tickets and decided to figure out the rest later.I knew I would be tempted to cheat on our diet if I didn't bring any snacks. I had to have something to snack on during the movie. I packed up sliced fruit, almonds, lara bars, and water with essential oils. We whipped them all out at the beginning of the movie and I was surprised at how easy it was.I think our bodies are getting used to those things rather than having sugar and junk. The fruit was sweet to it fully satisfied my sweet tooth and the almonds satisfied my junk food craving. The water... well the water just tricked me into thinking it was a really good movie drink.
Tip #4 Make It A Family Affair
One thing that's made the last ten days a bit easier is that our family is doing it. We got rid of all the junk food right before day one and talked with our kids about what this month would look like.They were nervous at first, but then they got excited! We told them we would be eating tasty healthy food and becoming more active as a family.Granted, they're not truly on Whole 30 with us. We still give them bread fillers and aren't strict with their eating at all. Our goal is to get them snacking healthier being willing to try new foods. For example, we may have turkey and sweet potato chili and they'll have chips with it too. We make subtle differences for them, but they love it all the same.The fun part has been going out together as a family. We try to hit a new park or trail each week and the kids are taking it as a challenge! They want to do something new each week so they brainstorm every day with us!
Tip #5 Celebrate All Successes
Whole 30 isn't just a diet for Joel and I. Our hope is that it can teach us to live a healthy lifestyle. After it's over we plan on adding back in a few things in moderation, but for the most part, we want to have our meals consist of meat and veggies.We both like how we feel right now. I feel like I have more energy and I want to teach our kids to live a healthy lifestyle. Not just that, but I want them to know healthy food actually tastes good!The transition from our old eating habits has been the hardest. This is why it's so important to celebrate your success. Whether it's celebrating that we haven't cheated as of day 10 or that we finally feel like we hit our groove with this!The biggest celebration I've had so far is after I looked at the scale today. I've lost a total of five pounds in a little over a week! That's huge for me! I see my post-baby weight melting off because of all my hard work and I couldn't be happier!Joel, on the other hand, has already lost ten! Ten whole pounds. That's a pound a day! Why do guys lose weight so much easier!? Joel can think about losing weight and he'll lose two pounds. I have to work hit the gym every day and cut out all junk from my diet to make any progress!Okay. Okay. Joel has been doing the exact same thing I have. I just have to tease him because I'm jealous. I'll still celebrate with him don't worry!Ten days down, twenty more to go. We can do this! If you want to follow along on our journey, be sure to head over to Instagram and see it all behind the scenes!