A Freshful Start in 2020

2.06.2020

A Freshful Start in 2020

This post is sponsored by Gerber! All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

Hi friends! Today I'm partnering up with Gerber to share one of the things that have helped make life with three little ones a bit easier for us since I started working this November. Because my husband is studying for his nursing boards while I'm away at work, I like to leave him with tools to help him feel prepared when it comes to taking care of the boys when I'm away. With a growing baby and toddlers in the house, it's important to me that they all get good nutritious food, so Gerber® Freshful Start™  is my go-to when I am not at home because I know it's made with organic fruits and veggies.

In addition to being organic, I love that Gerber® Freshful Start™ is non-GMO and has no preservatives. It gives this mama peace of mind that baby boy is getting the very best from the very start and that I am choosing the most nutritious options for all my little guys. Gerber is a brand I have grown to trust. I remember my mom buying Gerber baby food for my little brothers when I was growing and now that I have kids of my own, I am turning to Gerber for the same reason my mom did -- history, quality and the attention they give to the consumer's wants and needs.

I really love that Freshful Start™ is a fresh tasting, cooked with love line has so many options -- from purees, to ready to blend kits, to entree bowls there is something for all stages + seasons of life. Because our baby boy is a supported sitter, we are currently using the purees and the ready to blend kits for him, but my toddlers really love the entree bowls. There's an option for everyone and that makes food prep so much easier on the most chaotic, on the go type of days.

I love having the entree bowls because they can complement dishes that I am already preparing. It's perfect for those days when I am late coming home from work and  I am in a hurry to get food on the table for all my little guys. I can also pair two of the dishes together for a full meal or I can rest assured that my little guys are getting veggies after I realize I didn't prepare a side dish for the evening -- y'all the Freshful Start™ line is perfect for busy lifestyles!

Gerber® Freshful Start™ can be found at your local Walmart in the refrigerated section of the baby food aisle!

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2020 :: Resolutions and Goals

1.01.2020

2020 :: Resolutions and Goals

HAAAAAAAAPPY NEW YEAAAAAAAAR! Here's to the new decade. So excited for this year! I thought it'd be fun to do a new year's resolution type of post because why not? I usually make a list and then forget all about it, but c'mon now.... that's half the fun.

 In this coming year, I resolve to: 

drink more water. 

this is something that is on my list every year because I am so terrible at it. ya'll it's bad. I need to drink a ton of water and this is the year I'm gonna try to do it because I need to. I'm always dehydrated and that's not good, so let's get it. I'm thinking 100 oz a day -- is that overkill or can I do it?

lose at least 60 pounds. 

everyone has a weight loss goal on their list, it almost seems cliche, but I really need to do this. I am the heaviest I have ever been and I feel ridiculous. not to mention the fact that I am getting tired of everyone commenting on how skinny I used to be. I hate the way I look in pictures too. I really miss my body and being able to fit in my clothes. I am determined to lose all the extra baby weight. 

start exercising again. 

another cliche, but still a good one. I want to exercise at least 3 times a week. I used to run in high school and it was really refreshing to get off the treadmill, look in the mirror and see the sweat dripping -- it made me feel accomplished (plus, a shower after an intense workout is the best feeling). This resolution was originally to walk an hour a day, but since I live in a rainy city, that's not really reasonable -- what I do know is that I want to get back to that fit and fresh type of feels. I'll walk when the weather permits it. & when it doesn't, then mama is hitting the gym. 

love on my little family as much as possible. 

having a healthy intact family is such a blessing, especially in today's world. I want my sons and husband to know that I love them tremendously, but not only that -- I want them to really feel it too.

conquer the art of applying eyeliner. 

this is something I have been avoiding since the beginning of forever. I've tried a few times and have epically failed. something about eyeliner is just so intimidating. giving myself 365 days to perfect the cat-eye. This is always on my new year resolution list and each year, I put if off, so yes, I am about to put it on the list again in hopes I master it in 2020.

drink more tea. 

because that's the epitome of sophistication is it not? also, I really love the idea of unwinding after a long day with a cuppa + my bible in hand. 

establish a skincare routine. 

I take care of my skin, but I feel like I'm lacking consistency lately (it's a common theme at my house), but it hasn't always been this way. Having three kids really does minimize "me time" to the point where you pass on things you maybe shouldn't. 

spend more time doing devotionals. 

this is a resolution that I have every year and at the end of each year, I look back and wish that I would have spent more time in the Lords presence. I am wanting to do an intense study on the books people skip by -- Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. 

expand my blogging gig. 

this is is a given, but also important because I really want to focus on consistency this year. I am hoping to really focus on more content and the community aspect of it. I've been guilty of focusing on Instagram in the past, but this year, I want to really focus on the blog, the email list and taking more pictures. 

say no to toxic friendships + relationships.

I have a  hard time with this one because I find leaving people behind so dang hard. I invest so much in a friendship, and then time and time again, I am left giving more than I am receiving -- which is fine to a point. Buuuuuuut, this year I want to focus on good healthy relationships with people who want to see me thrive and support me like I do them. 

budget and start saving for my dream / forever home. 

Yup. It's time to get that savings up, so we can buy a plot of land and build the home of our dreams. This is a resolution that is going to be on the list for the next few years, but so hoping to get closer to our goal this year. 

.... so there you have it -- some of my goals & aspirations for the year to come. I'd love to hear some of yours in the comments. 

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25 Days of Gift Guides :: Recap

12.29.2019

25 Days of Gift Guides :: Recap

Welp, I made it to 16 days and then abruptly stopped.

I know, I knooooow -- I was on a roll and it there were only 9 more days, but my entire family got the stomach flu and I just couldn't put in the effort. Y'all, one by one, we fell. & some of my extended family got it too. It was bad. That, a new job with a shifting schedule, and realizing that I hadn't wrapped any gifts (& still having to wrap up my holiday shopping) on the 20th left me with 0 levels of hope to continue the gift guide series.

I did blogmas a few years back and made it to day 19 before an out of state trip threw me off schedule then too. So, I guess what I'm saying is that this mama definitely does not have it all together. It's something I've come to term with and I'm okay with that.

I'm not that blogger that gives off that perfect life, so organized, all her ducks in a row type of gal. I'm the run with it, let's see where this goes type of gal. #noshameinmygame.

Maybe I'll do better next year -- yeaaaaaah, we'll go with that.

I hope you had a wonderful holiday and I'll see ya'll in the next decade! Here's to a wonderful successful 2020.

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25 Days of Gift Guides | For The One With A Green Thumb | Day 16

12.16.2019

25 Days of Gift Guides | For The One With A Green Thumb | Day 16

Today we're tackling gifts for those who have a green thumb and are lovers of the garden. I don't have the greenest of thumbs, but I'd love to grab some planters and change that in this upcoming new year because who doesn't like fresh produce and blooms. Soooooo without further ado, here are some cute little gifts for someone who is super passionate about their gardening skills! 

No. 1 :: Bottle Stopper Garden Kit

No. 2 :: Gardening Tool Set

No. 3 :: Garden Harvest Basket

No. 4 :: Plant Lady Mug

No. 5 :: Wooden Flower Pots

No. 6 :: Sunflower Grower Kit

No. 7 :: Shiitake Mushroom Log Kit

No. 8 :: Clear Glass Bulb Planter

No. 9 :: Ceramic Planter

No. 10 :: Plant Mister

& that's a wrap! How'd we do? Tune in tomorrow for another gift guide -- only 9 of them left!

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25 Days of Gift Guides | Stocking Stuffers | Days 12 - 15

12.15.2019

25 Days of Gift Guides | Stocking Stuffers | Days 12 - 15

Sooooooo.. I'm gonna do a major gift guide here and combine days twelve, thirteen, fourteen and fifteen because we're tackling stocking stuffers for the whole family in this one -- him, her, baby / toddlers, kids and teens. It's the gift guide of all gift guides. & if I'm gonna be 100% transparent, I need to merge these together, so I can get back on track.

Note to self, do not take a new job around the holidays next year because it throws you off track by a lot. Although, let me just say... it's been a blessing and now that I found a rhythm, it isn't half bad.

OKAY Y'ALL -- THOSE STOCKING STUFFERS.

FOR HER 

No. 1 :: Nude Stix Eye Trio

No. 2 :: Shower Steamers

No. 3 :: Bar Necklace

No. 4 :: Fuzzy Socks

No. 5 :: Latte Mug + Wine Glass

No. 6 :: Pearl Headbands 

No. 7 ::  Reusable Mason Jar Drink Lids

No. 8 :: Body Mist

No. 9 :: Fresh Lip Sugar Balm

No. 10 :: Lush Golden Pear Soap

No. 11 :: Sephora Arctic Eye Palette

No. 12 :: Daniel Wellington Watch

FOR HIM

No. 1 :: Sports Coasters

No. 2 :: GameBoy Mug

No. 3 :: Fitbit Versa

No. 4 :: Neck Tie

No. 5 :: Fash Wash

No. 6 :: Bluetooth Speaker

No. 7 :: Malt Man Bottle Opener

No. 8 :: Quay Sunglasses

No. 9 :: Adventure Mini Tool Clip

No. 10 :: Universal Travel Adapter

For Baby + Toddler

No. 1 :: Taco Teether

No. 2 :: Key Rattle

No. 3 :: Science For Babies Board Books

No. 4 :: Disney Baby Gripper Cars

No. 5 :: Remote Control Teether

No. 6 :: Disney Little People Princesses

No. 7 :: Baby Cookie Teethers

For The Teens

No. 1 :: Shower Speaker

No. 2 :: Carhartt Beanie

No. 3 :: Scrunchies

No. 4 :: Mario Badescu Sprays

No. 5 :: Essential Oil Therapy Dough

No. 6 :: Wireless In-Ear Headphones

No. 7 :: Selfie Ring Light / Phone Clip On

No. 8 :: Boho Fanny Pack

No. 9 :: Instax Mini

No. 10 :: Bite Beauty All Agave

For The Kids 

No. 1 :: Unicorn Sidewalk Chalk

No. 2 :: Puppy Figurines

No. 3 :: Dice

No. 4 :: Plush Ballerina Doll

No. 5 :: Chalk Crayons

No. 6 :: Wooden People

No. 7 :: Lego Sea Creatures

No. 8 :: Glow In the Dark Stars

No. 9 :: Donut Stickers

Soooo there you have it y'all -- stocking stuffer ideas for the whole fam bam. Growing up, my family never did stockings, but it's something I started to do with my boys this year because it's such a fun little way to gift smaller + practical things! I really think it's a fun tradition! 

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25 Days of Gift Guides | For The Animal Lover | Day 11

12.13.2019

25 Days of Gift Guides | For The Animal Lover | Day 11

This one is for all the animal lovers out there. I'm not much of animal person myself, but I do have quite a few friends that adore their furry friends,  so in honor of them, here is a small round-up of gifts geared to make any animal lovers heart go, "awwwww."

THE GUIDE

No. 1 :: Flamingo Mug

No. 2 :: DIY Embroidered Hedge Hog Kit

No. 3 :: Animal Enamel Pin Set

No. 4 :: Dinosaur Taco Holder

No. 5 :: Sleepy Cat Paper Weights

No. 6 :: Customizable Pet Pillows

No. 7 :: Willow Tree Angel Hugging Cat

No. 8 :: Save Animals Mug

No. 9 :: Cat Plush

No. 10 :: Cute Animal Erasers

& that's a wrap for the animal lovers gift guide! Tune in tomorrow for the next round up!

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