sptloustalot

Dad in the Delivery Room

My dad has always worked so hard to make sure that we got the most out of life, but he made darn sure that nothing was handed to us on a silver platter. He taught us to work for things that we wanted and that the “easy way out” would get us no where. My parents gave us a place where we were free to make mistakes. When things went wrong, we knew we had a place to go, even if it mean facing very harsh realities. We knew we would be held accountable for our actions, but loved and supported while doing so.

I’ve leaned on both my parents my whole life. They’ve been there for every soccer game, award ceremony, breakup, graduation, my wedding, miscarriages, and everything in between. So, when it came time for me to give birth to my first baby, having my parents in the room wasn’t even a question. It’s common for mothers to have their moms in the delivery room, but I wanted my dad to be there too (if he wanted to be). He was there for everything else, why would I make him wait in the waiting room alone??

If you know anything about my dad, you know he has a heart of gold. He will go a hundred miles out of his way to help a complete stranger. He has such a servant’s heart and he is tremedously reliable under pressure. He is the life of any party and can make anyone feel at ease in any situation. Why wouldn’t I want that energy in the room when I bring my child into the world?

The second I went into labor the first words out of my mouth were “I need pineapple and watermelon, RIGHT NOW”! “Got it”, my dad said. He grabbed his keys and headed straight to the store, no questions asked. As I labored at home, my dad was there, ready to help. He stayed quiet and in the background, but ready for anything we would need.

As we left for the hospital with my parents right behind us. My poor dad, like a pack mule, bringing the snacks and my yoga ball! They stayed outside the room as we got settled and I had my first pelvic exam. A huge part of me is so sorry they had to hear me scream like that, oops. Anyway, as the labor continued, my parents were there with Will. Words cannot describe how thankful I was the they were there.

My labor intensified and Will needed a break from my crippling contractions and holding me up. My mom and dad took turns holding my hand and telling me to breathe. My dad got Will some food and brought some more snacks for the nurses, in true hero fashion. I watched his face twist in pain as I lie in labor, unable to handle the pain of my contractions any more. I could tell he wanted me to get the epidural. I could tell he wanted to take away the pain for me, but he kept his mouth closed and let me fight my fight. I finally had to get the epidural and the room relaxed, especially Will and my dad.

When It came time to push my dad stood back, sealing himself behind the my bed against a window in the back of the room. He stayed quiet while my mom took pictures and Will coached me through the pushing. Full disclosure, I forgot he was there. For hours, it was just Will and I bringing our child into the world.

The end of the story comes from my mom because I was too focused on Winnie. My mom says, when they placed Winnie on my chest she looked up at my dad. He was standing behind the chair with tears rolling down his face. For some reason, that surprised me. I knew it would be emotional for me, Will, and probably my mom, but I never thought my dad would cry! Then again, he has the biggest heart in the world.

Winnie’s birth story would have been incomplete without my dad in the delivery room. Her paw-paw got to see her enter this world and that is not a moment that could be replicated. I’m so thankful for everything my dad has done for me, and I’m even more thankful for the grandfather that he is to my daughter.

Happy Father’s Day, Dad! You are truly one of a kind.

June 21, 2019

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My June Bullet Journal

I’ve been itching to get back to the “Bujo Life”, as I like to call it, but something was stopping me. Was I going to be able to be as detailed as before? Would it really help with my anxiety anymore? Was I even going to like it? All questions I still don’t know the answer too, honestly. However, I knew that I missed it. Journaling looks a little different for me now, but hey, so does life!

I wanted to go with a very simple look for my pages this month, mostly because I didn’t want to set myself up to fail. I knew I wanted something I could keep up with during this crazy season of life but would still give me the visual satisfaction that comes with a bullet journal! So, this month, I focused on STICKERS! Stickers are an amazing tool to help you create a clean and fun look without the pressure coming up with my own doodles. My favorite stickers come from The Happy Planner. They have 186 themed sticker books/packs for any planner or journal you want to create! I use them everyday in my Happy Planner but I’ve found that most of them are PERFECT for creating my bullet journal spreads.

My top 5 Bullet Journal sticker books from the happy planner are:

Journaling Doodles– I love this pack! It is full of black and white pre drawn doodles that you can color anyway you want! I’ve use Flair Pens, Inkjoy pens, colored pencils, and even watercolor paints. I would definitely recommend these for those who feel they can’t “doodle”.
Journaling– This pack is similar to the doodles pack, it just has bonus stickers. Its got boxes and stripes of patters that look a little like Washi Tape. I love how many options this pack has! These are also in black and white so you can color them however you’d like!
Colorful Boxes– These are perfect for monthly/weekly layouts! I love layering the boxes with different colors. These help me create looks that would take forever to do with markers or watercolors. They come in a rainbow of colors, as well as black, white, gold and silver! Perfect for any month or theme you’d like to accomplish.
Botanicals– This is by far one of my most used packs! I’m a sucker for a good floral, and this pack comes with all different looks of flower. My favorite are the gold foil laid flowers. It also has watercolor looking ones, as well as black and while. The flowers are in different sizes and bundles to fit all your pages.
Farmhouse– THIS. PACK. WOW. If you want your pages to have Joanna Gains summery light vibes, this is your pack. Its got tons of floral and greenery options with lots of rose gold foil as well. Pastel banners, and foil quotes help create dainty and beautiful pages.

I had to give myself more grace with these pages than I have in the past. I had to do 2 or 3 redos of pages and messed up on the verrrrrry bottom of this one^^. My pages weren’t completely perfect or exactly how I envisioned them being, but that isn’t the most important part. The important thing is that these pages are a version of self care; each one designed to help me take an objective look at my life and adjust to make things better. The point of the pages is to help me gain perspective and control over my habits. I have two little lives and a sweet husband who deserve my best self!

If you’re thinking of starting a bullet journal, DO IT! It doesn’t have to be fancy or perfect. It needs to be what you need it to be! You don’t have to post of social media or even share with anyone that you’re doing it, its all about what you need! If you need help getting started, you can check out my post about starting a bullet journal or creating goals. You got this!

June 1, 2019August 3, 2021

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So, I’m not going back to work.

My whole life, I’ve known I wanted to be a teacher. Except for a brief delusional period in the 10th grade where I thought I wanted to be on SWAT, there was no other option for me. It was in my blood. It was something I knew my soul was called to do. It was my vocation. I was BORN to mold the minds of America’s future.

My first few years teaching, I poured everything I had into my kids and classroom. I came in early, stayed until dark, and spent my entire weekend in my classroom. I put every kid on an individualized plan, changed my door decorations every month, and created the cutest lessons you ever did see. My heart was so insanely full. My students were the first thing I thought about in the morning and the last thing I thought about before I feel asleep. I was constantly thinking of ways to teach a lesson or break through to a tough student. School was my whole life and I loved every second of it. The exhaustion of a long day and the sheer joy of a student who finally got the lesson was everything I needed.

Even when I got pregnant, my feelings toward school didn’t change. I put my blood, sweat, and tears into my maternity sub plans to make sure my kiddos didn’t miss a beat. I made plans to come back and hit the ground running to get those kids where they needed to be. All I could think about was getting back to the world I’d given my whole heart to.

Then, my baby was born. I felt every inch of my heart shift when that little girl was placed on my chest. Being home on maternity leave gave me so much fulfillment. Although it was terrifying, I thrived learning about my baby, giving her everything she needed, and being her mom. It filled my world like I never thought anything could. All of a sudden, I couldn’t imagine ever doing anything but being her mom.

Going back to school wrecked me. Leaving her everyday was unbearable. Even though we adore her daycare, I would cry on my way to school knowing someone else got to love on her that day.

School was no longer my entire life. I got to school with the kids, left with the kids, and never came on the weekends. While I still worked my keister off for each of my students, my daughter was my number one priority. The guilt began to set in when I felt like I wasn’t giving my all to school or motherhood. My heart was torn by the two things that gave me my purpose in life. On the weekends, I couldn’t imagine going back to work and leaving my baby. At work, I couldn’t imagine leaving the classroom to be a mom full time. I was getting the feeling that something was going to have to give. Was I really being called to leave the classroom and stay home?

The clarity came when I learned Daphne Grace was coming into the world. I realized that the pull to be a mom was something I couldn’t ignore anymore. I will still be a teacher, just not in the way I’d always been. I will still mold minds, just the ones I created. My vocation has shifted and I am so at peace with what that means for my life. I fall asleep thinking of all the activities I will do with my girls. I now dream of teaching my own kids to read, create, and explore the world around them. The thought of teaching my girls brings me a kind of joy I’d never experienced. I’ve begun to see all the possibilities the vocation of “Stay at Home Mom” has to offer. To be honest, I was afraid of that title and a loss of identity. Something I’d feared became something I couldn’t wait to dive in to.

I’m learning to accept and love all the changes that motherhood brings. Life changes so quickly and sometimes, and often times something you thought you were supposed to do forever gets overshadowed by something bigger than yourself. Teaching had been everything I’d ever wanted. I know, one day, I’ll be going back to the classroom. I love it too much to say a forever goodbye, but my little ones need everything I can give them. Being a mom means making sacrifices, I knew that. However, I wasn’t ready for how much beauty those sacrifices can cultivate. Will and I both had incredible stay at home moms, and I can’t wait to follow in their footsteps.

**Now accepting all prayers and stay at home mom advice.

May 28, 2019August 3, 2021

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Learning Through Play

I was a teacher for 4 years. I went to Texas Tech University to specialize in elementary education. I’ve taken over 12 child development classes and spent countless hours observing and teaching school aged children learning so much about the way their brains work and what their basic needs are. If there is one thing that my classes, experience, and research have taught me, it’s that children need to PLAY. More specifically, children need opportunities to engage rule based games as well as unstructured and free play.

The Research

A Harvard study on abused or neglected children showed that the children’ negative experiences “hindered the development of executive development skills, which children need in order to filter distractions, prioritize tasks, and control impulses”. Harvard began a program that introduced rule-based games and mindfulness exercises to 4 and 5 year olds during their school day. In just 10 weeks of playing 15 minutes a day, the researchers saw “significant improvements in mental flexibility and a higher level of sustained attention”. By creating a low stress environment they allowed the students to play and develop their executive development skills. They even added an interesting “Home Visit” component to support parents, as well.

The Power of Play is an amazing resource that states “real learning happens better in person-to-person exchanges rather than machine-to-person exchanges.” It says play is an “activity that is intrinsically motivated, entails active engagement, and results in joyful discovery,”. The article explains the different types of play and how they are crucial for children at every age to participate in. The article describes non-structured play, or free play, as “brain-building”.

Classroom Play

In my classroom, I began noticing my students had very little time in class to explore and play freely. Our day was structured for “bell to bell instruction”, leaving no time for unstructured activities. I wanted to do an experiment, giving the kids 30-45 minutes of unstructured play to see if it helped behavior and focus.

I implemented “Morning Tubs” to give the students that opportunity. Morning Tubs was the first 30-45 minutes of our day. I chose the morning time because I found that my students were the most chatty during the first few hours of the day. I thought free play in the morning would give them a healthy outlet for the conversational energy. I wanted them to have a safe space to have that face-to-face interaction and build their social skills!

My Morning Tubs went like this: I filled 8 tubs with various games, blocks, toys, etc. The only rule to morning tubs was 4 people per tub, but the students could switch tubs as long as there was a free spot. I gave no instruction on how to play with any of the materials because I wanted the students to get creative and explore different ways to play with the materials. I was shocked with what some of the students created!

After a few weeks of morning tubs, here’s what I noticed.

My students were more focused throughout the day. Having a healthy outlet for morning energy allowed them to stay calm and focused for our morning lessons and centers.
They were having better conversations. By giving the students an opportunity to speak freely with one another, they developed better conversation skills when speaking with their peers. They learned how to let others have a turn to talk, share ideas, ask and answer questions in complete sentences; all without me having to guide them.
They acquired better problem solving skills. When students had conflict in morning tubs, they knew I wouldn’t help settle the dispute. Morning tubs was a time that THEY were in charge and they had to learn to compromise, ask for forgiveness, give forgiveness, take turns, and be a good partner. After all, no one wants to play with mean kids.
It provided them with shared experiences to draw from. This was an unexpected outcome. I’d always wanted my students to write about their own life experiences during our writing block. Little did I know, most of them felt like they didn’t have any stories from their lives to tell. Morning Tubs turned out to be an amazing shared experience all my students could write about. They loved writing and telling me about what they did or built in Morning Tubs. It gave them a sense of confidence to be able to draw stories from playtime.
Their creativity grew. It was a joy to see the creativity in my students grow. No longer was “I don’t know”, and option when it came to creating something. All of a sudden, each kid had new ideas or something to contribute.

Unstructured play was the greatest thing I could have ever done for my students, and I would encourage all teachers to give it a try in their classrooms. It may look totally different for you and your students and THAT’S OK! I know it’s hard for teachers to let go of the reins sometimes, but so much can come out of just 30 minutes a day. TRY IT!

My Home

I’ve got two babies at home; one is 15 months, the other is 2 months. While my 2 month old is “playing” with her hands, I’ve started to implement some structured and unstructured play for my 15 month old. She doesn’t understand that games come with rules, but she does understand how to play Peek-a-boo by observing the process and applying it to her own ability to play. She understands “chase” means that you run from mommy and when she “gets” you, it’s your turn to chase her! Those are great examples of “structured play” for little ones.

Luckily, little ones are WAY into unstructured play and it comes very easy to them. All you have to do is stick them in from of a pile of toys or in the middle of the living room and they can almost always find a way to entertain themselves without you having to create the fun for them! The DVD collection is very popular in our house.

When she was about 12 months old, I began using “guided” play to work on Winnie J’s fine motor and problem solving skills.

Guided play is a mix between structured play and free play. Usually it means you give them the materials you want them to play with and then model a few ways to play with them. The kiddos can either roll with your example or come up with their own ways to use the materials. BOTH ARE OK!

Most of the activities I found on Pinterest! Here is my board for sensory and fine motor activities if you need some inspiration. These activities were super simple and we used things we already had laying around the house (aka FREE). Here are a few of my favorites so far.

Corks and Bowls- This came about when Winnie J would throw a fit while we were cooking dinner or doing dishes. Out of desperation, I pulled out some plastic bowls, wooden spoons, and some wine corks! I dumped them into the bowls and let her do what she wanted with them. I modeled stirring them and switching them into different containers. The first few times she did just that. As she continued to play, the bowls became drums, she threw them from one bowl to the other, she tried to stack them, she rolled them, and they were a great teething toy!

Whisk and PomPoms- This activity is super simple. I just got neon pom poms from Hobby Lobby and put them inside of a whisk. I then showed Winnie how you can put the pom poms in and out of the whisk! This was to work her fine motor skills. I also offered cups and bowls for her to put the pom poms in and out of. She loved this activity.

Cups and Straws- I came up with this one when I saw how much Winnie loved taking out and putting in the straw from my cup. I got an old drink tumbler I didn’t use anymore and cut up some colorful plastic straws at different lengths. I didn’t have to show Winnie how to put them in the opening because she already knew. You can reignite the fun by switching up cups or containers to put them in.

Does it Fit?- This one is probably the most unstructured activity I’ve tried with Winnie. Again, very simple. I gathered different items/toys from around the house and different sized cups/containers. I simply laid them on the floor in front of Winnie and tried to put the different items in the different containers. I would ask, “Does it fit?” and model “Yes” or “No”. I then let Winnie take over and see what she did with it. She now does this with any item or container she sees! This activity is really great for teaching exploring and yes/no!

To sum up, play is NECESSARY in childhood development (don’t forget that adults need play too). Play is crucial to all areas of early development and helps to cultivate a child’s future. Each type of play is important and encouraged everyday!

I also have a friend who has an INCREDIBLE blog with great resources for toddler play and meals! Check out the Madre Mia Blog, here!

May 17, 2019August 3, 2021

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If My Anxiety Won

Looking back, I think I’ve struggled with anxiety my whole life. It evolved or manifested itself in different ways, but it was always there. In elementary school, I just thought I was “over-thinking” or being “too uptight” about what people thought of me. In Jr. High and High School I thought I was way too focused on food and counting calories. In my junior/senior year of college, I realized what true anxiety was and it began to take it’s toll. I was planning a wedding, student teaching full time, taking 12 hours, on the Executive Board of my sorority, leading a trip to Haiti, trying to find a job, and struggling big time with my eating habits. I was barely sleeping, becoming manic at night, I could barely eat anything, and was incredibly irritable with anyone around me.

Over the first year of our marriage, my anxiety became a road block for Will and I. Being in a new town, starting a new job, and losing a baby brought the anxiety to new levels. I was distant, tired, and extremely insecure. Will lovingly pointed out my behaviors, noticing when I would push him away. He gently asked what I needed and let me pour out my soul to him. I began to feel more comfortable talking about the anxiousness and the overwhelming feelings I was experiencing. Through the next year, I took control of my anxiety by taking back the power it had over me. I started to recognize my triggers and build up my mental stamina to cope. Some days are better than others and I still struggle to this day with crippling anxiety, but I realized I couldn’t let it win. There was so much I had to lose if my anxiety won.

If my anxiety won, I wouldn’t leave the house, afraid what other people would think of me.

If my anxiety won, I would lay awake at night replaying conversations, worried I sounded like an idiot.

If my anxiety won, I would stay at school until 10PM making sure every single child had their individual plan to master absolutely everything.

If my anxiety won, I would never let Will drive anywhere out of fear that he would get in an accident.

If my anxiety won, I wouldn’t let Winifred explore on her own in case she gets hurt.

If my anxiety won, I would eat only celery, because “a moment on the lips, forever on the hips”.

If my anxiety won, I wouldn’t have fingernails or nail beds. They would be destroyed by the coping mechanism of picking and biting.

If my anxiety won, I would never post pictures of myself because I didn’t lose the baby weight.

If my anxiety won, I would never sleep. I would be glued to Winnie’s side to make sure she was still breathing.

If my anxiety won, I would never stop cleaning in case someone randomly stopped by for a visit.

If my anxiety won, I would be calling my OB or Pediatrician for every little thing because it could be a BIG thing.

If my anxiety won, I would never eat with anyone else because the sound of them chewing would bring out the fiery beast.

If my anxiety won, I would go crazy trying to spend equal amounts of time with the ones I love so they won’t resent me.

If my anxiety won, I would be a shell of a person.

I could go on and on, but the truth is it wouldn’t do me any good. If I go too far down the rabbit hole, it becomes a super dark place. There is way too much joy in my world to go down the dark rabbit hole. God has blessed me beyond my wildest dreams and I’ll be darned if the enemy is going to steal my joy! I’m so grateful for Will and my doctors for hearing me, supporting me, and encouraging me to do what is best for my mental health.

We are stronger together. When I kept my struggles a secret, I got swallowed whole. When I shed light on the darkness, the shadows ran away. If anxiety is something you struggle with, you are not alone. It is real and you are heard. Talk to someone, do things that make you feel stronger, don’t give up. You are loved.

I work through this daily. I don’t know if it’s something I’ll ever fully be in control of and I’m ok with that. The small victories will be HUGE victories.

May 5, 2019

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The Spinning Plates

“Want a topic idea for your mom blogging- What about how motherhood is a never ending, no winning struggle. If you focus on work, you neglect your family. If you focus on family, you neglect your work. If you focus on the kids, you neglect your husband. If you focus on your husband, you neglect your kids. Focus on you, and you neglect EVERYTHING. Then, you just end up with your toddlers watching the Baby First Channel so you can at least do the dishes.” This text message came from a co-worker of mine, an incredible teacher and supermom of toddler twins. I must admit, this came at the perfect time. Her words comforted me, not because I was taking solace in her misery, but because I related to her on a spiritual level.

The picture that accompanied the text message, shared with permission. Any mommas relate to just wanting one minute of peace!?

You’ve heard the metaphor of the man spinning plates. He has them balanced on tiny sticks, all spinning in sync. It’s his job to keep all the plates spinning at the same time, taking time on each of them. If he focuses too much time on one plate, the others will fall. If he doesn’t move fast enough, they will crash to the ground. I can picture the chaos. An image of shattering porcelain and a man frantically sweating as his efforts become futile. The spinning is unsustainable, he can’t continue forever. This is the perfect picture of parenthood. Except, the plates are on fire.

There is no break in the world of the spinning plates, the movement never ends. Sometimes there is a brief moment, usually when Winnie is asleep, when I think “We got this, we can do this”. Then, the morning comes; Winnie had a blowout in bed, she won’t eat breakfast, I forgot to move the laundry to the dryer, I didn’t get my lesson plans done, we’re late to daycare drop off, and I didn’t get to kiss my husband goodbye. Crash.

Often, spinning the plates brings guilt. Guilt from feeling as though no part of your life is getting all of you. Feeling pulled in a million different directions and not knowing which plate to tend to first. For me, a messy house means a happy kid who has spent quality time with her mom. Being late on grades or lesson plans means I’ve had date night with my husband or took time to sweep the mountains of dog hair off my floor. Engaging, colorful lessons usually means lack of sleep or laundry getting washed for the 3rd time. It’s a day to day struggle, which plate will spin the fastest today? I either feel like I’m killin’ it, or they’re all crashing to the floor.

The thought of adding another kid into the mix sent me into an anxiety induced frenzy. I still struggle to picture what out lives will look like. I thought, “We’re either going to have happy kids, a clean house, or my students are going to have the best teacher ever. Not all three”. Will came in our room to find me bawling one night. He asked me what was wrong and I couldn’t fully explain my thought process. I was overwhelmed, emotional (thank you hormones), and exhausted. I expressed to him how anxious I was about becoming a family of four. “This is really difficult, babe. I never feel like I’m doing enough for anyone! I know moms do this everyday!! Since the beginning of time mothers have had way harder lives than me and have juggled WAY more children! Am I the only mom crying in bed tonight? Do all parents feel like this?” Will looked at me with love drenched eyes. “Yeah, love. Being a parent is just that difficult, but you have me and we can do this. Our kid is happy and our house is perfectly clean, we’re good. I love you so much”. I repeated those words over and over. **Thank goodness for an incredible husband who is my complete partner in everything.**

Falling asleep, I asked God how on earth we were going to keep our plates spinning. It hit me. Not once had I come to God with my anxiety about the future. I’d been feeling like it was all on my shoulders as the Mom. I got a swell of emotions in my heart. I felt like God was saying “Give it to Me”. The weight felt lighter when I realized a have a God who wants to help me spin my plates! I’d been trying to do everything “on my own” but, just like the man, my spinning was unsustainable by myself. I began to pray nightly for God to show me which plate needed attention. I accepted that I could only do my best each day, and that was enough. If I gave more attention to my job one day, I gave more to my family the next. If I focus everything on Winnie one day, I make sure Will gets extra love the next. And if a crashed to the floor, God has a whole cabinet full of new plates each day. My anxiety came from the enemy telling me I wasn’t good enough and my desire to give my all to every single priority. It’s still difficult for me to let go and accept that not everything would be perfect all the time. I’m learning day by day that the world continues to spin even though my plates do not. We will all be ok.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:6-7

It’s not just parenthood. Everyone has their plates to juggle, their own priorities. Parenthood just adds a little extra pizazz to the plates. Life can get overwhelming very quickly. It is incredible that we have a God who is willing to take some plates when we get tired.

April 19, 2019August 3, 2021

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Natural Beauty

Before we started trying to conceive I tried to get our lives as natural as possible. I wanted our house to have the least amount of harmful chemicals while remaining realistic. The easiest to transform was out cleaning products, that will be another blog post. However, the most challenging and most rewarding transformation was my beauty routine! It was surprisingly fun to do research and try natural products to see what worked. I am by no means an expert, but here are the products I uses everyday in my beauty routine! I have two favorite companies (Acure Organics and Lush Cosmetics) and a few Etsy shops that provide the cleanest and semi-waste free beauty essentials.

For reference: I wash my face every night, rinse with cold water in the morning, exfoliate 2-3 days a week, moisturize night and day, reapply deodorant every 48 hours, and wash my hair twice a week. I also wear makeup 3-4 times a week.

Tip: I used a phone App called “Think Dirty” to assess the cleanliness of the products I tried. You scan the barcode of your products and it will give you a 1-10 rating of the chemicals used in the products, 1 being the least toxic. This was helpful for me to get the facts when so many products out there claim to be “all natural”.

Facewash- I think I tried the most brand/kinds of face wash. I have combination skin, oily T-Zone, dry cheeks. I wanted a cleanser that could get rid of my makeup and leave my face moisturized. This was apparently a lot to ask for from the natural world. Some just sat on my skin and didn’t get into my pores, or left me feeling way to dry. In the end, I found several that worked out very well. I switch between these based on what my skin is doing and what my budget is that month.

Lush– Lush has several cleansers that I LOVE. Herbalism is a clay-like cleanser that you mix with water to make a paste. I love this one during the summer when I don’t wear much makeup and my face gets a lot of sun. It is soothing, exfoliating, and leaves your skin feeling fresh. It’s on the more pricy side but lasts a really long time if you use it 2-3 times a week. Angels on Bare Skin is a more gentle exfoliant with almond and lavender. I love using this one in the winter when my skin is more dry. It leaves your skin feeling moisturized and super smooth. BONUS- These come in recycled/recyclable containers. When you collect five you can redeem them at any Lush store and get a free face mask. YAY less waste! 8/10 would recommend this brand.

Acure Organics– I. love. this. brand. You can get it on Amazon or Target, from what I’ve seen. This is an all natural brand with a TON of options for skin types and types of products. Everyone can find something they’re looking for. The Brightening Face Cleanser gel is amazing for the morning time. It has a citrus smell that wakes me up. It’s a gentle cleanser that lightly suds up and massages well into the skin. My face feels awake and ready for the day with this one. A little goes a long way, so it lasts for almost two months with me using it every morning. (It’s also on sale from Amazon for 6 dollars). The Radically Rejuvenating cream is a more moisturizing cleanser. I love using this one at night. I’ve found this one removes makeup well and leaves my skin feeling clean and ready for bed. (Also on sale for 7 dollars on Amazon). They also have several other kinds like the Seriously Soothing cleansing cream and the Sensitive Skin cleanser! 10/10 would recommend this brand.

Burt’s Bees– I bought this brand in a pinch. While out of town, I needed a cleanser and snagged this one at HEB. You can also get it at Target, or on Burt’s Bees website. I’ve been using the Intense Hydration Cream in the morning and I love the way my makeup looks after using this cleanser. I would also recommend this cleanser at night with a toner. I’ve noticed some makeup left over after using it at night, but using a toner usually removes all the leftovers. 8/10 would recommend this brand (it’s 98% natural).

Moisturizers- Confession, I LOVE moisturizer. I admittedly use way too much and I’m not sorry. Again I have combination skin so I look for moisturizers that hydrate my skin without making my face look like I just stuck in in a vat of coconut oil, ya know? It’s a fine line.

Lush– I am obsessed with Skin Drink. Now, it is hella expensive in my opinion but soooooooo worth it if you can swing it. I asked for it for Christmas. This stuff is a miracle in a recyclable tub. If you can get past the smell (avocado, rose pedal oil, and aloe), your skin will thank you for this one. I love using it at night in the winter to give my skin a “drink” overnight. My skin feels like Winifred’s bum when I wake up and its amazing. 7/10 would recommend this product (huge price factor).

Acure Organics– This brand comes through again, y’all. They have a matching moisturizer for each of their cleanser types, plus a few. My favorite are the Brightening Day Cream and the Brightening Night Cream. They are GREAT for combination and oily skin. My skin absorbs the moisture without looking like a greaseball. The day cream also makes a great primer! This brand also offers an Incredibly Clear Matifying Moisturizer for oily or acne prone skin. 10/10 would recommend this brand.

Body and Face Exfoliants- This was the most intimidating product to test out. If you get the wrong one, it can damage your skin. You should only be exfoliating 2-3 times a week to reduce the risk of damaging your skin while getting rid of the dead skin. A good exfoliant should not leave your skin feeling desert dry or cause any pain.

Lush– My favorite is the Ocean Salt face and body scrub. I gentle scrub you can use all over that leaves you skin feeling fresh! I add a little more pressure when scrubbing my knees and elbows to really get that dead skin off. I use this before a spray tan to make sure it gets even! I love using this on my face in the summer to give myself a refreshed look. It also comes in a “self preserving” formula and in a recyclable tub!

Acure Organics- I use the Brightening facial scrub. Y’all this stuff is insanely good and only cost $7. A little goes a long way. I’ve been using the same tube for almost a year and I use it 2-3 times a week. It has tiny tiny exfoliant particles, so I don’t feel like I’m scrubbing my skin off. I love using this to hit the reset button in the middle of the week or when I feel like I’ve been wearing a lot of makeup and my skin needs a little something extra. This brand also has a Pore Minimizing scrub, and a Radically Rejuvenating scrub! 10/10 would recommend.

Toner- Never underestimate the power of a good toner. I use toner after I was my face and before my moisturizer. Toner helps remove any leftover makeup or oils on your skin. There are toners for all skin tones! I love switching up my toner based on the seasons or what my skin needs. It leaves my skin feeling refreshed and my pores tight.

Lush- Tea Tree Water is by far my favorite! I can use it in any season because it seams to balance the oils on my face no matter what. It’s an alcohol free toner, so it won’t leave your face feeling extra dry or too tight. It does a great job getting rid of the excess makeup my cleanser doesn’t quite get. It’s a great value for the price. I usually only use 3 or 4 sprays, and I use it 3 times a week. The 3.3 oz bottle will last me almost 3 months. Talk about the biggest bang for your buck. There is no real smell too it, either. PLUS, it’s packaging is recyclable and made with recycled materials. 9/10 would recommend! Breath of Fresh Air is PERFECT for the summer! It has aloe, sea water, and rose it in. I love using this after I’ve been to the pool to get that chlorine feel off my face. It truly is a breath of fresh air. It smells amazing and leaves your skin soothed and supple. Lush offers almost a dozen different toners based of what your skin type is and what it needs. 10/10 would recommend.

Toner Tip: I’ve found toner works best when I spray directly on my face and wipe it off with a cotton pad. However, in my efforts to have as little waste as possible, I looked into finding some reusable cotton pads to keep from throwing so many away! I found these wonderful cotton pads on Etsy! I bought the pack of 30 and have been using them for a year. I’ve used them with toner, makeup remover, and micellar water with no problems at all. I use one a day and just wash them at the end of the month. The quality is amazing and the makeup washes right out! They will most likely last for several more years. 10/10 would recommend.

*There’s always good ole Witch Hazel! This works wonderfully as a toner, is natural, is BOMB for helping heal, and won’t break your bank!

Shampoo- My view of shampoo has changed over the last few months and I’ve truly see the amazing results of having an organic shampoo. My hair is lighter in weight, it stays cleaner longer, doesn’t have as much build up, and has way less frizz. I’ve found the truth in lather, rinse, repeat. That “repeat” part it SO important!

Lush- I have used several shampoos from Lush cosmetics and there wasn’t a single one that I didn’t LOVE. They offer such a wide variety for all hair types and hair goals. They offer no waste options and recyclable options. The ones I’ve tried are:

Fairly Traded Honey is everything it says! A smooth and silky shampoo that gives your hair LIFE. If your hair is in need of some moisture and repair, this will be your jam! This is the shampoo I’ve used/bought the most times. 50% of the shampoo is honey and it shows! You really only need a quarter sized amount and it is self preserving, so the 8.4 oz bottle lasts for about 3 months depending on how often you use it. It is a bit pricy but for how amazing it is and how long it last, I think it’s worth it! 9/10 would recommend! Jersey Bounce is my summer go to! Jersey Bounce is perfect for when my greasy hair needs some volume without getting too dried out. It really helps me achieve a “just went to the beach look”. It comes in a recycled/recyclable jar, contains chunks of sea salt, smells lemony fresh and leaves your hair feeling like you just went to the salon! I wouldn’t recommend if you have super dry/fine/brittle hair because the salt my leave it feeling super dry. 7/10 would recommend. Godiva Shampoo Bar is the most waste free shampoo/conditioning bar that I have tried. Lush offers this empty tin to store it in and reuse! Y’all I think this one was my favorite. This tiny little shampoo bar lasted for almost 40 washes (It would have lasted longer if I hadn’t left the tin open and got water in there). It also was SO moisturizing that I only needed a pea size amount of conditioner on the ends of my hair. 10/10 would recommend. Lush has dozens of other shampoo/shampoo bars to accommodate any and all hair types!

Acure Organics- Curiously Clarifying Shampoo with lemon grass and argan! I. LOVE. THIS. SHAMPOO. This was definitely made to lather, rinse, and repeat. It really suds up on the second go round and you need less than a quarter sized amount. This bottle lasts a very long time! It leaves my hair feeling so light and super clean. Its VERY reasonably priced. The only draw back it its a lot of plastic! 8/10 would recommend. Acure has a ton different kinds of shampoo/conditioner, this is just the only one I’ve tried!

Conditioner- My hair gets weighed down by conditioner very easily, so I have to be careful about the kind of conditioner and how much I use! I usually just apply the conditioner on my ends, then run my fingers through my hair to spread a little to the roots. I make sure I rinse really well to prevent getting weighed down.

Lush- American Cream was the first one I tried and it took me a while to get used to a more natural conditioner. I was so used to the heavy cream of Panteen, and it was weird to use a lighter one. American cream is more runny than any conditioner I’d ever used but worked 10 times better than any conditioner I’d ever used. Only needing a nickel sized amount, the 8.4 oz bottle lasted about 3 months. This one is worth the price for me! I’m obsessed with the strawberry, vanilla, citrus sent it gave my hair all day! 9/10 would recommend. “Big” Conditioner Bar– Once you go “Big” you never go back! Y’all, I bought this BEFORE WINIFRED WAS BORN and it’s still goin!!! This no waste conditioner can be stored in Lush’s Oval Tin for a long lasting product. This took me a while to get used to using the bar and not having something creamy to run through my fingers. The bar is not a detangler and that took some time to work around but the feeling of my hair when it dries is UNREAL. All I need to do is lather up the bar and run it over the ends of my hair. I let it sit while I shave my legs and rinse well for squeaky clean ends! This is my absolute MUST for a natural step to waste free beauty! 11/10 would recommend. Like their shampoos, Lush has more conditioners for you!

Acure Organics- Curiously Clarifying Conditioner is the sister to their shampoo. I do love that Acure has a matching shampoo/conditioner set for each kind they offer. I love using this creamy conditioner every once in a while to really moisturize all the way to my roots. I just have to be careful to use a small amount and rinse really well or my hair can be heavy and greasy when it dries. When I rinse it all out, my hair feels incredible! This is definitely an affordable option if you’re looking to make more natural steps! 8/10 would recommend.

Deodorant- Lume. Y’ALL. This took me forever to find. I went through so many natural deodorants before I found the Holy Grail! I tried Native, Schmidt’s, ones from Etsy, and random ones from Amazon. They all either gave me a rash, stained my clothes with the oils, or just didn’t to anything at all! By happenstance, I heart the creator of Lume on a podcast I was listening too. She was so confident in her product that I thought I would give it a try. I’ve been using Lume for a year a a half and I could not be more happy with it. It took a while getting used to a deodorant and not an anti-persperant. It was weird sweating and not smelling, but I felt so much better! Being pregnant in West Texas during August was BRUTAL. My body took a couple weeks to adjust, but I’m so happy I stuck it out! Currently advocating for a more wast free option. 10/10 would recommend!

*Bonus Favorite Etsy Shop* Sam Wish – Sam makes AMAZING oil blends, scrubs, deodorants, lip balms, and MORE! Here are a few of my favorite of her products!

Organic Face Nectar– This stuff is actual GOLD. I’ve purchase the “Balancing” formula and it was sensational. It was an amazing makeup primer oil and also helped balance my oils at night. I used this the most in the summer as a replacement moisturizer. It really did an amazing job making me feel fresh and balancing my skin!

Lavender and Grapefruit Lip Balm– Let me tell ya, I’ve been addicted to chapstick since being on accutane my sophomore year of high school. I’ve had to have a tube every where I go and in every jacket pocket, car cupholder, and room in the house. With Sam’s lip balm, it’s all I need. I applied it before bed and didn’t need it again until the afternoon! Talk about getting your bang for your buck! It smells incredible and lasts a long time!

11/10 would recommend her shop and anything she offers!

WHEW! Bonus points for you if you made it this far! I think we should all be mindful of the products we put on our bodies and where they come from. Making moves toward a natural and “less waste” house has been a long process full of trial, error, and being ok with making small moves. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions or tips on living a more natural life!

April 4, 2019

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And Then There Were Four

Uh oh.

I looked down and saw a completely full cup of coffee on my desk. It was 11:00am and I was usually on my second. My stomach sank as the first thing that popped into my head was a little voice, “Ummm, that’s what happened when you were pregnant with Winnie….”. I shook it off and blamed the coffee aversion on the killer allergy attack I was enduring. Later that night, we ordered Chinese food from the best place in town. I’d been thinking about it all day and couldn’t wait to dive in. I took one bite and almost spit it out — it tasted unbelievably salty. “Girl, stop”, that little voice said (is anyone else’s inner voice a little condescending?) “This is another sign.” I refused to entertain the thought. Winnie was 5 months old, this could not really be happening. When, in all reality, it very well could have been happening. I expressed my musings to Will and he gave me a look, a look that said “I think you’re pregnant.” No. No, no, no. I came up with a million other reasons for the things happening to my body. Maybe it’s because I just stopped breastfeeding and my hormones are leveling out. Maybe I’m getting my period back and my body forgot what that was like. Maybe it’s the allergies.

Or,

maybe I was growing ANOTHER tiny human. We decided to wait a week to take a test, partly waiting for my body to get it together and partly out of sheer terror.

On February 1, 2019 at 4:00am Winnie woke up to eat and Will went to grab her. It was as good a time as any to take the test. Will came in with the baby and waited the longest 3 minutes ever with me. I took the digital test because I didn’t want any of the “faint line, maybe baby” bull crap going on. Every thirty seconds, I leaned over to see a blinking clock, taunting me. “I can’t look anymore!!” I shouted with impatient frustration. Will leaned over, closed his eyes, and clutched Winnie. For a second, I thought he saw a “-No” and was relieved. Then, I saw the tear roll down his cheek. I lunged for the test and saw a big, clear “+Yes” starring me right in the face. My hand slammed into my mouth in disbelief. Will and I just looked at each other for a good 2 minutes. I crumbled to the floor.

This was such a different feeling than when we found out we were pregnant with Winnie. This was several feelings. We were confused, shocked, scared, overwhelmed, and a little distraught. I burst into tears as a wave of guilt rushed over me. I just found out another life is inside of me, shouldn’t I be excited? After all we went through to get pregnant with Winnie, shouldn’t I be grateful to not have to go through that again? People I know are fighting with everything they have to get pregnant, shouldn’t I be happy? I should have been, but I wasn’t. I was terrified, selfishly terrified. I had JUST done this, I was just getting my body back, we were just getting into our groove as a family, how could we possibly do this? TWO INFANTS??

The negative thoughts spiraled as I lay in a ball of tears on the floor. How were we going to afford this? We couldn’t possibly pay for two kids in daycare. What will my body be like after two babies in two years? I had just started seriously working out again. How could I handle this? For some reason, the idea of two infants and a full time job seemed impossible.Will this negatively affect Winifred? She has barely had time with us to herself! I told myself to take a breath, women do this EVERYDAY. I’m not the first person in the world in this scenario. Everything seems overwhelming at 4 in the morning with lack of sleep.

(Note to self: stop taking the freaking pregnancy tests so freaking early!)

As my mind came to a pause, I realized that Will hadn’t said anything in about 15 minutes. I looked up to see him clutching Winifred, tears rolling down his face. “Why are YOU crying?” I asked. “Babe,” He breathed, “we’re never going to sleep ever again”. I couldn’t help it, a giggle busted from my belly. He was absolutely right. For the foreseeable future, it looked like the “Sleep-Deprived-Zombie-Parent” was going to be our signature look.

Will joined in the hysteria and the laughing continued as we stared at our perfect baby in his arms. This was ridiculous. How was this real life? Even in all the confusion two of those babies didn’t seem so bad. We were surviving with one, why not just add one more to the circus?? We already had allllllll the baby things still out (shout out to our procrastination in packing things up). The nursery was already gender neutral, so even if it was a boy we were covered! We decided not to freak out just yet. We crawled into bed with Winifred and soaked in the morning snuggles before Will went to work.

The rest of the day was a mix of tears, laughter, and “OMG” texts as we came to accept what our future looked like. I felt guilty for not being as excited as I was for Winifred. I couldn’t take that moment back, it was real and raw and true. In the weeks following, the excitement grew. We became so thrilled for Winifred to be a big sister. Picturing the complete mess of love our life was about to become was so much fun!

Now, we could not picture our life without the little toy soldier in my belly. We found out the gender and can’t wait to bring another Baby GIRL Lou into the world.

Was this our plan? Absolutely not. But, you know what they say. “Make a plan and God laughs”. Well, Big Guy, I’m hoping you got a real kick out of this one!

March 26, 2019August 3, 2021

sptloustalot2 Comments

Are you breastfeeding?

For some reason, “Are you breastfeeding?” is one of the most common questions a new mom gets asked. I’m sure it’s just people making conversation or they are genuinely curious about how baby is being fed. Most of the time though, it doesn’t come from a place of judgment. However, there is a certain weight that comes with that question. There’s a back story, a complicated answer, or a hesitation around it. An invisible sign surrounds breastfeeding, cautioning people to tiptoe around the subject at the risk of offending one party or the other. Some moms are proud out loud, others are private. Some moms choose different paths to feed their babies while others try desperately to breastfeed. I’m no expert on this matter by any means, but I’d like to share my journey to feed my kid.

*Disclaimer* HOWEVER A MOTHER FEEDS HER BABY IS PERFECTLY WONDERFUL.

Winnie came out of me searching for the breast. She latched like a champ and immediately started eating. That was incredible. Looking down at my baby, who was minutes old, already knowing how to survive was astounding to me. I was in awe of the fact that our bodies knew what they needed to do without me having to do anything at all. It was truly a magical connection. The sudden release of Oxytocin didn’t suck either. The nurse came in and said “Wow, what a latch! She’s a pro already! You guys look great!”. That boosted my ego a little. I’d only been a mom for like 3 minutes and I was already killin it! *Self-High-Five*

Welp. The magic pretty much came to a screeching halt after that. The glimmer of peace was rudely interrupted by reality. The whole process became a messy wreck of a giant stress ball. Let me explain.

We were transported to the postpartum room and immediately greeted by a lovely lactation specialist who asked if we had any questions about breastfeeding. “No thanks,” I thought, “I’m actually already a beast at this thing”, but I smiled and said “I think we got it so far!” She dipped her head and left the room.

Winnie seemed to prefer one side, so I didn’t fix what wasn’t broke. I fed her from that side that night. Well, the obvious happened and my other breast got GINORMOUS and insanely painful. I tried to feed Winnie from the other side and she was having none of it. She didn’t like her head tilted that way and she just could not latch; it’s like my nipple was invisible. About an hour later, another lactation specialist came in and asked if she could help with anything. “Nope!, ” said me and my prideful self, “We’re good!”. “Show me,” she responded. That caught me off guard. Why didn’t she believe that I had it under control? I’m the mom, I got this (I in fact did not have this). I had Winnie drink from the good side to show her. “Now the other side,” she said. Part of me was pissed she was questioning me, part of me was prideful, but most of me was relieved because I knew I needed help. Thank goodness for pushy lactation consultants who can take one look at your engorged boob and call you on your crap lie.

All I had to do was undo my nursing tank on that side “Ope! Looks like we have ourselves a flat nipple!”. That’s a thing?? Apparently. My heart sank; I didn’t know what that meant for breastfeeding. Then, she whips out this handy dandy nipple shield, a nifty contraption that pulls the nipple out so the baby can latch. It’s a rubber cover that makes your nipple (how many times can I say the word nipple?) look and feel like a bottle. This thing was amazing; easy to put on, and allowed Winnie to nurse from that side. A wave of relief hit me. “Ok, that’s not too bad. I can do that!”. The following day, the lactation specialist continued to coach us on the different holding positions and reiterating how important it was for her to eat from both sides. She made me feel confident but, in the back of my mind, I was very scared about doing it by myself. Right now it took 4-6 hands to make it happened. One person to help prop me up (ow!), one person to hand me the baby, and one person to help adjust pillows as I put on the nipple shield. I mean this was an all out production. William and my mom were so helpful. That made me a little more comfortable. But what would happen when they left…..and it was just me? I pushed that to the back of my mind.

The weeks that followed were a milky mess. My milk came in with a vengeance, painfully and quickly. The heating pad was my best friend as I tried to massage out the hard pebble-like lumps forming in my breasts. Winnie wasn’t an eater, she was a grazer; only wanting to eat for a few minutes every hour on the hour. This meant I couldn’t pump until I was sure she was full. Which turned into a very painful day. It also didn’t make sense to clean up when she would want to eat all the time, so I hung out in a nursing bra 24/7. Once we got into a routine, I had to pump every two hours to keep from becoming engorged. I don’t know if you’ve ever lived your life in 2 hour increments, but it’s exhausting and hella inconvenient. Along with being a grazer, Winifred is a thrasher. She could not control her arms while feeding. This lead to the nipple shield being knocked off and milk going everywhere. I was overwhelmed and frustrated. Waking up to feed every hour was insane and I felt like a cow and a zombie at the same time.

The Dark Thoughts crept in when I was feeling overwhelmed. I didn’t want to do this anymore…..It was not even a little bit as magical as people promised me it would be. How do women do this for a whole year?? I wanted to bail after 2 weeks. What was wrong with me? “You can do this”, I thought. “Most women would kill to have the supply you have! Don’t be a baby. Just figure it out.” I argued with myself daily, feeling so ashamed. I thought it was going to be easier. I didn’t know how incredibly difficult it would be. Most of all, I felt guilty. Isn’t the breast best? Shouldn’t I want to do this? Why is this not magical? Am I the only one who just can’t figure this out?

When Winnie was 2 weeks old, I’d had it. I thought I was going to explode. Sitting on the couch with my mom, tears filling my eyes I asked “Mom, would it be the worst thing if I pumped and fed Winnie with a bottle?” She starred at me and said “Of course not, you can feed her how ever you want to. You don’t even have to pump if you don’t want to. She’s your baby!” I burst into tears from relief. “That what I want to do”. I felt like I could handle pumping. I was #blessed with an amazing supply and I wanted to use it. I just needed more control.

Giving Winnie that first bottle WAS magical. I finally felt what everyone was talking about. I got to sit belly to belly with my baby and look into her eyes as she fed. We connected. It was what I’d always dreamed of. I felt a sense of pride that I had made a decision that was best for me and my baby. Like I had earned my first mommy merit badge. I liked it. We found our magic differently, but it was there.

It’s hard to explain Exclusively Pumping to people; that you have a good supply but you just don’t feed from the breast, but that’s ok. It’s our normal and it’s what works for us. I applaud moms who do what is best for them and their babies. Isn’t that what we’re all trying to do?

Full disclosure: We are still exclusively pumping but my supply is diminishing. Right now, I have one working breast that supplies 5-7 oz., and one breast that has dried up (I call them Pancake and Boulder). It’s not ideal but it’s reality. We will probably supplement with formula and start solids when my freezer supply runs out. AND THAT’S OK! Winnie will eat, grow, and be happy. I’m so happy with my choice to exclusively pump. William can bond with Winnie while feeding her and my anxiety has been severely reduced. I’m thankful for my parents and William’s encouragement and support when I felt like quitting. They knew how important it was to me and they were a HUGE part in me getting over the “pump hump”.

So, moms, you’re going to be asked that question. “Are you breastfeeding?” Its inevitable. What if instead of being defensive, embarrassed, or offended, we answer with confidence! However your little love is being fed is right! WE ARE MOMS! WE know whats best for ourselves and our babies! WE are keeping the tiny human alive whatever way we can. Isn’t THAT all that matters?

In my humble opinion, I think you’re all killin it.

December 11, 2018August 3, 2021

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My December Bullet Journal

My favorite thing about months is that they start over; a fresh start every 30 days. A new month lets you try again to not go over budget or restart that “clean the house every day” plan you intended. For me, the first of the month brings the newness I always anticipate from the new year. When I failed my resolutions by the end of January, I had a difficult time picking myself back up. I’ve learned that giving myself 30 days to make a change instead of 365, made attaining my goals much more attainable. I was able to give myself more grace and encouragement, while having a time frame that didn’t overwhelm me. By setting SMART goals, I could track my progress and feel good about the tiny successes! Bullet journaling was the best way I’ve found that gives me a creative outlet while helping me grow. I’m no expert, and my pages aren’t perfect, but it gives me such joy!

Setting my goals was a huge part of making Bullet Journaling work for my world. I use the SMART method for setting goals with my students every 6 weeks. It’s a method I’ve found to work swimmingly, so I thought “Why not use it on myself?”.

S=Specific. “Eating better” was a surefire way to set myself up for cop outs or complete failure. It was way too broad of a goal, and how could I track it? Instead, I would target the specific “behavior” I wanted to track or change. What EXACTLY was I trying to achieve here? “Eating better” became “Eat Vegetables”, “Cut out daily soda”, or “One sugar in my coffee”.

M=Measurable. Again “Eating better” is extremely difficult to measure. If you can’t measure it, how can you know if you’ve been successful? “Better” is such a subjective word. What’s better to one person may not be better to the next. Instead, when I chose a specific goal, I could measure my success. Making a goal measurable breaks it down into pieces. Even if I do want to cut out soda and sugar completely, I need to chunk it. “I will have soda only 2 days a week”, “I will only put 1 sugar in my coffee”. Those were goals I could put in my Bullet Journal to track. It was very clear if I had achieved it or not.

A= Attainable. This part was the most eye-opening for me. Was my goal really reachable for me? Of course in a perfect world I could say “NO MORE SUGAR OR SODA AT ALL”, but would that really be something I could do? Is that a reasonable goal that I could succeed with? Absolutely not. I was setting myself up for failure and falling down even faster. I started off small with my goals making it one or two days a week. When I felt the success with those parts and got my feet planted, I could up it with “Soda once a week”, or “Eating a serving of vegetables at 10 meals a week”. If you don’t have the resources or time to achieve that goal, it’s not attainable. If your goal is to go to the gym every day”, but you’re working double shifts two days a week, you might be setting yourself up to fail. I’ve also found that I need to limit the amount of things I want to change at once. Having maybe 3 goals instead of 6, makes your goals much more attainable

R=Relevant/Reasonable. Is this something you even WANT to do? Does it spark your interest? Does it matter to you? Believe it or not, this is a huge part of creating your goals. Sometimes we create goals we think we should have or we copy others’ goals. In reality, you probably aren’t going to stick to goals you don’t really want to accomplish for yourself. The goals must be relevant to your life and have meaning to you!!

Also, your goals need to be reasonable. This means that you have to challenge yourself. Don’t make a goal you know will be too easy to achieve! You’re stronger than you think!!

T=Timely. It’s important to give yourself a time frame and plan for achieving your goals. “By the end of the week” or “By the end of the month” gives you a time frame to hold yourself too. When you’re time is the whole 365 days of the year, it can seem daunting. Some of my goals are even daily and THAT’S OK!

My tips!

Remember these are YOUR goals. You can choose to share them or not, it’s your business.
Stay positive! Speak kindly to yourself during the hard times and give yourself grace during the small failures.
Don’t be afraid to edit your goals and plans! No one is grading you. If something isn’t working, change it! There’s no use in doing something that isn’t getting you toward your goals.
Try an accountability parter! Chances are there is someone in your circle who has a similar goal as you. Get together to encourage one another!
Create a pretty tracker you want to look at every day! It’s simple, but I always want to track my habits on a tracker that looks nice!
Track your habits for a month before creating goals. Track specific behaviors that you want to change or that you notice. See where your gaps are and where improvements can be made. This will help you create goals that are SMART!

Here’s a look into my December bullet journal!

My December goals:

By the end of December, I will have drank 90oz of water a day for at least 25 days.
By the end of December, I will have walked at least a mile 3 days a week.
By the end of December, I will have read 1 book.

I hope this helps you start your own bullet journal goal setting! If you’re interested in my materials for bullet journaling and more check out my October Bullet Journal Post HERE!

HAPPY JOURNALING!

December 5, 2018August 3, 2021

sptloustalot3 Comments