Fashion: Where Did All of These Scarves Come From??

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So….There’s a scarf situation going on over here… #slightscarfobsession
I don’t even know where all of these came from, it’s like they just appeared.  I’m totally okay with that though, I love them!
Shout out to my momma, who brought me back a soft pink scarf she picked up at a dollar store in Germany.  That has been my go-to scarf for 2+ years.  She has given me many of these and even made one of them!
#BrownieTheCat doesn’t seem to mind, but I want these organized.  I think could fill a whole walk-in closet with just fashion accessories, & I’m really not that into fashion!  I can’t imagine how many accessories some of you real fashionistas must own!
How do you ladies store your accessories?? 
Challenge: Organize SOMETHING apparel related in your home this weekend.

Product Review: Squatty Potty!

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Before you ask, I haven’t been hacked.  This is for real.
This came in the mail today. I’m serious. #SquattyPotty
 I ordered the Squatty Potty.  If nothing else, I thought it would be a great gag gift!  But.. honestly, I think I’ll be using it!

Update: Okay the Squatty Potty has been in our house about a week now and everyone loves this thing!  Well,  everyone except my husband who just thinks the whole idea is ridiculous and is embarrassed we even have this in the house.  He’ll get use to it though. 🙂
I won’t go too far into the details, but lets just say….. IT WORKS!

If you want more details, and trust me you do, visit their web-site.

2021 update:  We have these in both bathrooms.  They’re incredible.

Product Review: DivaCup Update Month 3

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Product Reviews: DivaCup
Update Month 3
Okay so now with 3 months under my belt (pun intended) I
feel confident in giving another update on this amazing contraption.
What is a DivaCup you ask? (or maybe you’re one of my brothers and you’re choosing to click the X in the corner right now… That’s cool.)  If you’re still here, let me give you a quick explanation.  Basically it’s a menstrual cup.  That means this little thingy takes the place of a pad or tampon during that time of the month, or “Ladies Days” as my husband likes to call it.
I like lists.  I hope you do too.
Pros:

I’m bleeding less.  If you’re a really crunchy momma research about how pads are making you bleed more.

I worry less about leaking.  I’m a little paranoid about leaks so I wear a thin mama cloth just in case when I’m leaving the house. I don’t think I’ll always do this, but for now I do.  A panty liner or folded wash cloth would work.
I’m a HEAVY bleeder.  PCOS doesn’t do me any favors here.  The cup has never had a problem keeping up with my heavy flow.
It’s easy to insert and remove.  I have been to a doctor or the ER more than once for losing a tampon.  I’m serious.  Apparently my anatomy is a little funky.  I’m not worried about losing my DivaCup.  It sits in a good spot.  I’ll leave it at that.  You’re welcome.
It’s reusable.  Money saver!  Another bonus is no running out of “supplies” and taking a late night trip to the store or gas station to stock up.
You can leave it in for 12 hours! 12 hours people!  That’s incredible. That means I can wear it to bed and not freak out about leaking on the bed.  We’ve all been there, right?
It’s small.  It fits in my purse, or even my pocket.
It comes with a cute little pinkish bag.  I wouldn’t normally consider that a pro, except for the fact that the days I don’t need it I store it in the bag in my bathroom drawer and I can always find it.
I’m noticing fewer cramps vs. using tampons.
No nasty chemicals on my lady parts.
Cons:
Public bathrooms.  You can’t really dump, wash, and reinsert in a public restroom.  But you can dump, wipe out, and reinsert if necessary w/o washing.  But the fact that it holds for 12 hours means you probably wouldn’t have to do this often.
Many readers/friends messaged to tell me there is a real learning curve with this.  I didn’t have any issues and started using it the day my UPS man delivered it.  I may have just gotten lucky.  I did have just one instance where I was pretty sure it was going to fall out at the grocery store (just being honest here!) but I got home and discovered it was exactly where it was supposed to be, but the stem was sticking out a little and causing me unnecessary worry (I tend to get a little worked up over nothing once in awhile!).
What are you waiting for?  Order yours today!  You won’t be disappointed.
If you’re curious on sizing,  DivaCup Model 2 is for Post-Childbirth
and DivaCup Model Cup 1 is for Pre Childbirth.

Mother Daugther- Girl Talk

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My oldest daughter is officially a middle schooler.  Don’t ask me how this happened, I probably blinked or something.  I have so enjoyed raising her and getting to know her.  I think that last part is almost more important than the first right now (almost!).

One way I actively get to know my daughter and nurture her heart is through what we call our GIRL TALK.  About once a week my husband takes the little kids and makes sure that this girl and I get alone time for an hour or so.  Sometimes we go somewhere, other times, like this week he just takes the two littlest outside to play while she and I sit on the couch and chat.

I start with a simple “So what’s on your mind?” or “Hey I noticed you _________ (insert just about anything here- um like- hit the neighbor kid, yelled at your brother, stomped away when dad was talking to you, etc, etc, etc. these are just examples) the other day, what was going on there? Do you want to talk about it?”  Our conversations get pretty silly with loads of giggles, but also pretty deep.  Sometimes there are tears of relief and understanding.  We always end or start our time in prayer.

Lately I’ve learned she’s pretty freaked out about the changes her body is going to be making as she hits puberty.  I remember for me it was such a traumatic experience where I went from being the annoying little sister to the disgusting little sister.  I shot up to being the tallest kid in my class (boys included!) in 4th grade and then REALLY felt like a freak.  I still feel that way when I tower over people around me.  I just want to be a cute teeny tiny Polly Pocket with delicate fairy wings!

It’s natural for any girls in this situation to be a little freaked out, but I do want to answer my daughters questions and ease her worries in an appropriate way that glorifies God and explains why HE designed her body this way.

We are working through the book called The Body Book (The Lily Series).  It’s been so informational and I love that it answers questions about puberty without hitting the topic of s.e.x. too much.

This book has been a game changer!

This book has been called the Christian version of American Girl book: The Care & Keeping of You.  We haven’t read that one, but I bet it’s great too.  We’ve loved the American Girl books!

My daughter is constantly carrying this book around and has her nose in it every chance she gets.  As a mom, that is a win!

Now I don’t fully agree with EVERY single word in the book, but I’ve only seen about 2 or 3 lines that I sort of shook my head at.  Not too bad if you ask me!

If you are a mom to a girl, I recommend this book for you!

*This post contains Affiliate links.  Visit the tab at the top of this page to read my disclosure policy on aff links*

Declutter: 9 Things You Can Throw Away Today!

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If you’re looking to DECLUTTER

here’s a short list of things you
can throw in the trash TODAY!
–> Or recycle if your area allows for it.
Let’s start in the closet:
Your surplus of stained t-shirts– We’ve all got them.  The ones we keep in the back of our closet “just in case”.  In case of what?  Keep one for painting, toss the rest.
Ill fitting undies-  Where did those even come from?  Probably something you picked up on a whim.  Quit digging past them in the drawer to get to your favorites.  If they don’t fit well, just throw them away.  I’ll wait…
Socks-  Chill out, I don’t mean all of your socks, dude.  I like walking barefoot, but I’m not THAT radical.  Just toss the ones that have so many holes they cover less than 85% of your feet.
Old Cell Phones-  I mean your really old ones.  The ones if you took them into Verizon they would look at you sideways and tell you they don’t still carry the technology to support that old beast, because it’s just so outdated.  Your moderately outdated smart phones ones make great “tablets” for the little kiddos to play games on-  You can thank my cousin for this tip!
Junk Mail– You know it’s junk when they promise you some big prize just for filling out a card with your name, phone number, social security number, # of past normal pap smears, your address (hello?  you sent this to me!) and all you have to do is mail it back in.  They’ve even paid the postage for you.  Let it go, you ain’t won nothin’.
That pile of magazines that you feel guilty about for not reading. You will get new ones next month {or maybe even sooner if you’re a magazine subscription hoarder.. like me}.  Don’t be afraid of what you’ll miss.  The best things in life are free.  If it was that big of a deal you’d hear about it through some other avenue than just a magazine.
Ratty old towels. Don’t save them for crafts, shop rags, whatever. You will just see them in a different pile later and wish you had thrown them in the first place.
Expired condiments– Yes mom, I wrote this one just for you.  Update: I visited your fridge on the 4th and was pleasantly surprised that I couldn’t find any ketchup.  I’m assuming it was old and you tossed it!  Virtual High Five!
Anything “gross” in your fridge-  Unless you homeschool, then we know there is at least one gross thing in there.  Just be sure it’s clearly labeled “SCIENCE”.

As a bonus task- Clear off your kitchen counter and wash it down.  If your counter is the regular “catch all” try to keep it cleared off through the weekend and see if it improves your mood.  I know this works for me!

Ready…Set…Go!
Come back and tell me if your efforts were successful! 🙂

Simple Craft: DIY Brag Tags

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Hey Guys, Today’s simple crafts is making brag tags!
Last school year my kids earned brag tags by reading on their own.
For this school year I decided we would make some of our own tags in addition to using the ones from last year.
Instead of only getting them for reading they will also get one when they accomplished a goal.  My kids are highly motivated by earning “stuff”.  I don’t love it, but it’s just how it is.  So these little tags are perfect for our family.
Here’s how you can make these:
Trace a tag onto cardstock (or design your own shape) .
Design the front with the goal you want to accomplish.
Cut them out.
Sign your name on the back so you know who’s it is.
Laminate them.
Cut them out again.
Punch or cut a hole for a necklace to go through.
Viola!What are your goals for your kids this year?  What are theirs?  Ask them, you may be surprised!

A Slightly Better Wife- GreenAir Oil Diffuser Tutorial and Review

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This post contains affiliate links.  Visit my disclosure tab for more details.

Edit: I’ve had this diffuser for well over a year now, tried other diffusers, and this one is STILL my most very favorite.  Even though it is not as visually appealing as some of the other diffusers on the market, this one has worked the best for me.  Worth every penny!

28 Random truths about ME

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1.  I was proposed to and broke up with, on my
18th birthday. It was symbolic to me of how I always get my hopes up and get crapped on every birthday. I’m not bitter about that or anything… :/  I suppose it just comes with having a birthday so close to a holiday.
2.  I know my “bad” birthdays are still not as bad as what others are facing, and for that I’m grateful to God.
3.   I left college & my amazing job to be a stay at home mom, out of necessity.  It’s a long painful story with a redeeming end where I got to adopt my sweet “little girl”, who is now the big girl in our family picture.
4.   Friendship has always been and I’m assuming always will be a struggle for me, because of my own self confidence issues that were formed throughout grade school.
5.   My ideal day is one where I’m able to
take naps, eat out for every meal, walk to anything I want to see, and do
it all with my little loves.
6.   I dreamt of being a traveling nurse, eventually a doctor, and that I’d cure Alzheimer’s. That didn’t
happen.  But it’s okay, because I just learned that right now, being a wife and mom is “enough”.
7.   I didn’t attend church while I was in middle and high school.  I wanted so badly to be invited by someone, to learn about God, to learn how to find true happiness in Him, not others. If only I had the
courage to go alone. I know now, God had a different plan for how I’d meet him.
8.   This year we forfeited a big vacation for a top of the line washer and dryer set.  That’s when I knew I was
maturing. 
9.   I was the self proclaimed (later I convinced everyone else too) “Head Master Chef” in a pizza place for
4 yrs.
10.      Pizza and watermelon are my favorite foods. 
11.      I spend too much time researching and not enough time just “going with it”. 
12.      My greatest fear is being forgotten after my time on earth is through.
13.      Sometimes I wear my husband’s socks. Like even now… I’m wearing them right now…
14.      Adoption holds a special place in my heart and I’d love to have the chance to give a little one (or two.. or more..) a forever family, if it’s God’s will.
15.      I greatly enjoy thrift stores, department stores, warehouse stores, online stores, and shopping in
general! 
16.      I find joy in giving, but have a hard time accepting/receiving.
17.      I married my first serious boyfriend (what does that say about the proposal I got at 18.. yeah, it must not have been as big of a deal as I made it to be at the time).  A decision I’ll never {again} regret.  We had some rough times, but without the struggle, we wouldn’t have found our strength.  And there’s a whole lot of strength there now. 🙂
18.      I pretty much always paint my toenails pink. “LOLA” by ZOYA it’s my fav.  I prefer to keep my
fingernails clear since I cannot for the life of me paint them perfectly.
19.     I admire beautifully decorated pristine homes, but the energy in so many of them just bring me down.
20.     The most visually appealing place I’ve ever experienced was Alaska. There I saw breathtaking beauty like I had never seen anywhere else in the world. The scenery, oh the scenery, it’s just magical.
21.     I love all things music.  Listening, creating, singing.  Unfortunately I have a life long incurable case of
stage fright.  I could kick the boy that told me I sounded like a frog in 3rd grade.  I’d probably be wiser to kick myself for believing him.
22.     Even when I fail at something I feel like I can try it again and get different results.  I’m not sure if this is
courageous, or just dumb.
23.     I unexplainedly (is that even a word?) lost my memory a few years back.  Frustrated by what I was going through, I rehabilitated myself through diet and mind exercises.  I now try to fill my kids lives with memories and take plenty of pictures to help them jog their memories, in case they are ever to forget all the fun we’ve had together. 
24.     I have a slight obsession with white boards.
25.     I love repainting old furniture.  I’m not great at it, but I take much joy in the process.
26.     My favorite place in the world is in my husband’s arms.  Cheesy, yeah, but so true.
27.     I recharge my momma batteries by laying on the deck  and reading a good book or listening to a gentle tune on the radio. 
28.     My favorite bible verse is: Proverbs 12:26 “The righteous should choose his friends carefully,
For the way of the wicked leads them astray”. 

Head Down, He Walked Away. he.was.mad.

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As I was sitting on my back step, planner and pencil in hand,
I listened to the group of neighborhood children playing baseball in an adjacent yard. The breeze blew past and shooed the flies off of my sun tanned feet.  I looked down at my chipped bright pink nail polish {hmm, I should touch these up. Repainting just seems like too much work right now}.  Then I heard my daughter yell out in a very
compassionate tone “What’s wrong?  Are you going home?”   She sounded so sweet.
I looked up to see a neighbor boy walking, head down, straight towards home.  He.was.mad.  As I thought back a few minutes to what was going on, no one was being outwardly mean, but the other boys were making up their own rules as they went.   Maybe they were actual rules, I really don’t know.
My son and his buddy (the one walking away) just wanted to play.  They really weren’t that into the game, but they needed more players.
I called out to see if he was alright.  He peeked in my direction for a nanosecond, then put his head back down and kept walking home.
I smiled.
 I smiled because I’m proud that he doesn’t blow up in anger when things don’t go his way.  But then my smile disappeared as I wondered how HE felt inside.
Sure, it’s more convenient for everyone when we just walk away.  And surely it feels better than someone blowing up at us.  I think there is a middle ground somewhere though.  You can’t run and hide when you’re upset, and you can’t explode like a volcano.
If you live life ignoring your problems, the problems don’t really go away.  They’re still there, somewhere, maybe in the back of someone’s mind, maybe in someone’s heart.  Maybe still in your own?
Here’s to finding the middle ground in conflict resolution.  For all little kids out on the backyard ball fields and for all us adults navigating the battlefield of daily life.

FYI: This Is The Summer We Begged For All Winter

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FYI: Our {semi-local} Target was setting up their “Back to School” area when I was there yesterday. August is coming quick!  Don’t let your summer slip away.  Be intentional about having fun!  We’ve been to the beach (with friends) twice this week, even though I’m pms-ing, even though it’s a 30 min. drive, even though the thought of taking 3 kids the beach nearly stress paralyzed me, even though we have other things on the calendar in the same day, etc, etc…BUT YA KNOW WHAT?  We’ve had a blast!  Summer will end, ‘even though’ you don’t want it to.  So get out and enjoy life.

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