Happy Monday! Or not LOL. It’s been crazy the last few weeks, in a good way of course. Birthday parties, play dates, year end at work and getting my groove back with working out on a steady basis (7 more lbs to go to my NEW goal weight! AHHH!)
So I’m a bit behind on the soul searching/goal setting for the year. I have been thinking about them and writing them down for the past few weeks. So here is where I am at professionally and personally. Lets start with personally because to me that is the toughest.
1. I must learn to live in the moment. Life is so short. Too short. I’m learning to appreciate those smaller moments and appreciate what is right in front of me instead of thinking about all of the things I could have or all of the things I want some day. LIVE NOW.
2. Patience. I must know how my husband does it. Though he doesn’t spend 24/7 with the kids like I do he still has an amazing amount of patience, I mean he does put up with me doesn’t he. 😉 I’m learning to walk away from a situation with my kids. I take time outs now. Yes I do. I step out and I remind myself that they are little people. Little people learning about their feelings and what this thing called life is all about. It will always be a work in process for me but knowing I need to work on it is half the battle.
3. 7 more pounds! Yes I hit my goal weight back in September. So I set myself 10 lbs. lighter. Why not right? I have 7 more to go. If I hit it, no I’m sorry, when I hit it, I’ll go 5 more. So that brings me to my famous saying of 30 minutes a day. I often remind myself that I give to my kids and my family 24/7, their is NOTHING wrong with giving myself 30 min a day. I’m not going to feel guilty for giving TV time and nap time together for both kids so I can have myself a workout and a shower. I deserve that. In the end it makes me a better Momma. It’s like hitting the “refresh” button for me!
4. Make more time for the before. What does that mean you ask? Well I’m raising a family. My children are young and we often forget where that very family came from, well at least we do. We don’t mean it. Life happens, school activities, sports, appointments, work and social gatherings can get the better of us, though I wouldn’t have it any other way. So it’s up to me and my husband to make sure we make time for the “before” to reflect on ourselves as a couple so we stay united in raising these amazing little people. I’m not embarrassed to admit that we see a marriage counselor. Some people hide it, some people don’t believe in it, some friends I know husbands won’t even dream of it, and to each is own but for my husband and I, it works. We are brought together once a month to talk about the highs and lows and we are always reminded of exactly where this beautiful family started. We leave feeling hopeful and strong, and we get a nice dinner out afterwards! Win-Win. I will continue to do Date Nights in as well. Dinner a few nights a week where we get to sit and eat a hot meal together. We snuggle, watch a few shows together and yes my man massages my hands for all the typing I may have done that day and I massage his feet for all of the standing and working he did that day. It works. What works for you?
5. Give Back. I’ve always been pretty good at giving back. I truly believe in the saying that life is a two way street. All relationships take work. Not just a husband and wife, but my relationship with my mother, my sister, my best friend, even my relationship with my cousins or grandmother. They all take work. We all must make an effort. I’ve always believed in you get what you give. I’m not going to give if I’m not giving however if it’s one thing my husband has drilled in me is that he doesn’t want to be “that” person. He wants to always give even if he’s not getting. I’ve thought about it a lot lately and I’m starting to agree that it may just make me a better person to jump on that wagon. So I am. Sometimes people need more than other people do. Maybe that’s how I can make a difference.
OK so now professionally. Work and Momma’s Meals.
1. Making Money. I have already accepted that I can’t really make a “living” off this blog until my kids are in school full-time. However that doesn’t mean that I can’t keep trying as I wait for that moment. This means I slowly work on my following. My goal is to develop a resume for Momma’s Meals sometime this year. I learnt how to do this at the Food and Wine Conference I attended last summer. I’m even on the planning committee this year, I must make this happen! Hey I have 12 months to accomplish. Making money off of a blog isn’t easy. It takes time, work, dedication and more TIME! I have that luckily.
2. Followers. Aren’t you all spreading the word about Momma’s Meals? I need more followers guys. I get paid from these wonderful sponsors I’ve worked with like Gallo Family Vineyards, Beef Checkoff and Dixie Crystals to just name a few. However they need me to work for them, that’s what I get paid for, so in return I need more people to follow me!
3. Time management. Well I went from working Mon, Wed and Fri. to now, Mon. and Wed. So with one less day I’m trying to figure out just how to make it all work. I don’t like working on the days I have my kids but I never mind checking my emails and such while my kids are napping or when my husband is home. Working Thursday nights when my husband gets home from work has been helping so I’ll keep going with that. I know that everyone seems to think working from home is easy but it’s proved to be a challenge for me. Don’t get me wrong I wouldn’t have it any other way. I don’t have to be “in” by a certain time, I get to be curled up on my couch in my PJ’s when it’s cold out, when my kids are sick I get to keep them home with me minus the guilt. (for the most part!) I do think the perks are by far better than working away from the home. However, I’m a good employee so I like to get back to people when they need something. I’m working on it, not everything needs to be addressed ASAP, that’s something I’m learning!
4. Motherhood/Recipes. I’ve been saying for awhile now that I want to write more about Motherhood, make it a 50/50 blog on motherhood and recipes. So far the only thing holding me back is time. I enjoy cooking and I love creating and recreating in the kitchen. Plus it pays! The other struggle I have is a following. Actually I can’t say whether or not people read these posts, I can tell how many times it’s been viewed and it doesn’t even compare to recipes so how do I get my name out their more as a “parenting blogger?” That’s my goal, to find out. I also have to consider other people because they may read what I write but not agree with it or agree with posting it live for the world to see. I don’t care if people don’t like it but they certainly aren’t going to share my views if they don’t agree with it. I see so many parenting blogs out their that get like 1012 likes on one post-I need to learn what they do! Again it’s about the followers.
Now it’s time to share my favorite Motherhood posts with you. Since I’m trying to write more about it and gather some more Momma followers I thought this would be a good place to start. Here is to a fabulous 2015 everyone!! Thank you for following me and thank you for all of your love and support.
What do you do for yourself? I wrote this when I was pregnant with my son. It’s something I feel strongly about. We spend 24/7 caring for our families as parents. We have to do a few things for ourselves.
Loving Two. Obviously I wrote this when I was pregnant with my second. This is one of my favorites because I know if it’s one thing woman experience when pregnant for the second time it’s “How could I possibly love another child as much as I love my first. I should do a follow up on this one!
Parenting-Love/Hate Relationship Just a quick post about the ups and downs of parenting. It’s such an amazing gift one minute, and it can suck so bad the next.
Advice you would give to a new Momma I love this post because as time has past I’ve come to realize it’s all advice that some Momma’s just need to learn on their own. I know when it comes to motherhood for me, it’s all about learning not about what may work for you, you or you. What works for me may not work for you and your family.
Do you ever just want to give up? This is one of my favorites. Us mothers really need to know that we aren’t alone on those bad days. The days when no matter what we do it’s just not good enough. No matter how hard we try the meltdowns continue. I reached out to some of my local momma friends and got their advice on what to do on those tough days.
