Alright, listen. You’re either reading this because you have been wanting to go the capsule wardrobe route, or you are reading it because you are a clothing addict like me and you’re like, “no way.”
…The Capsule Wardrobe For Clothing Addicts
Lifestyle
My Toddler Cleans Up Her Own Messes— Here’s Why
Okay, before you think I’m either supermom OR that I think my kids are perfect—rest assured. Neither of those things are true.
In fact, I spend most of my days wondering what in the name of Sam Hill I’m really doing. I am most definitely not a supermom, and I’ll be the first to tell you that my kids are not perfect.
…Your Presence Is Their Present
I remember one of my friends saying this YEARS ago in reference to Jesus— that His presence is our present. (Shoutout to YOU if you are reading).
At that time it was a very stirring statement, but like all novel things and revelations, over time it became less of a wowing revelation and more common knowledge in my life.
…How Negativity Crushes Health
It’s been quite some time since I have sat down and made time to write out my thoughts. It’s been so long, in fact, that I almost lost touch with my greatest passion. There’s a long list of reasons why I took a break from writing. From moving across the country, to being pregnant, to having some scary moments in my pregnancy, to embracing a season of undivided attention to my family, to moving again, to my husband starting a new job, to having a precious baby— these things all contributed to my desire to take a break.
…How To Make The Perfect Smoothie
Today I have the pleasure of having my friend Kara Swanson share with you all about how to make the perfect smoothie! I have been SO stoked to share this ever since she sent it to me, so I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Kara is the founder and certified nutritionist of Life Well Lived, where she shares her passion to educate and empower women how to properly nourish their bodies using whole foods. She is passionate about showing how living a healthy lifestyle can be easy, simple and delicious. Kara is the creator of Meal Prep Bootcamp where she helps clients meal prep for their family to make healthy meals the whole family will love and how to save money and time in the kitchen. For more tips on how to live a healthy life follow @karaswanson on Instagram!
Have you ever made a smoothie but then an hour later realized you were hungry again? Ugh, that’s the worst. Here you are thinking you’re being so healthy by making {or buying} a smoothie only to be hungry soon after. I’ve been there. And I used to have such a love/hate relationship with smoothies. They always tasted soooo yummy but would often leave me hungry just an hour later.
But here’s the thing I learned about smoothies: most have a lot of sugar. Like A LOT. Most smoothies from “health” places are loaded with sugar from fruit juice and aren’t very healthy. And at home we often do the same, loading our smoothies with an unbalanced amount of fruit.
No, fruit isn’t bad.
But fruit does contain sugar. And too much sugar, no matter what the source is, causes your blood sugar levels to spike and then later crash. You want your blood sugar levels to stay as balanced as possible. A smoothie filled with fruit and not a lot of dense nutrients will cause you to feel hungry an hour later.
To stay full for more than an hour and prevent blood sugar levels from spiking I changed my fruit filled smoothie in for one loaded with nutrient dense ingredients. In turn this helps me make better choices at my next meal since I’m not famished when dinner time arrives. And I’m going to show you how to make one too!
Enter the Power Smoothie.
This smoothie is filled with fiber, healthy fats, veggies, and protein to keep you fuller longer, turn off hunger hormones, and keep blood sugar levels stable.
How to make a Power Smoothie:
- Protein- Start with a high-quality protein. One without fake sugars and artificial sweeteners. I personally love and use Paleo Pro and love the taste and ingredients they use.
- Veggies- Whenever I make a smoothie I always add some veggies, usually greens like spinach or kale. I also love to add in some frozen cauliflower or frozen zucchini. This is a GREAT way to sneak in some greens and really pack some nutrients into your smoothie. Add unlimited amounts for added benefits.
- Healthy Fats- Fats keep you fuller longer. Don’t shy away from this. I recommend 1 tbsp at theminimum and up to 2 tbsp Choose nut butter , coconut oil , or avocado.
- Fiber- Fiber helps control hunger, maintain good bowel health, and promotes detoxification. Add 1-2 tbsp of chia seeds or flax seeds .
- Optional: Fruit. Berries are lower in fructose so they are a great option to add to your smoothies. Remember to stick to no more than 1⁄2 cup of fruit. This will keep your blood sugar from spiking and then later causing a crash.
- Liquid1-1/2 cups of unsweetened almond milk, unsweetened coconut milk or water is the optimal amount of liquid for your smoothie. I will typically do one cup of unsweetened almond milk and then add 1⁄4-1⁄2 cup water.
- Extras- Maca Powder: I’m obsessed with adding maca powder to my smoothies because of the many many benefits is provides→ it helps balance hormones, improves PMS symptoms, and if you’re struggling with PCOS, maca has shown to help control estrogen levels in the body. Oh, and it also increases energy and helps stabilize your mood {sign me up!}. I usually do 1-2 tsp.
So, here’s my own personal favorite!
My Go To Power Smoothie Recipe
Here is my go to power smoothie recipe that I have almost daily! I sometimes swap out different fruit depending on what I have on hand, but everything else is usually the same!
1 scoop Paleo Pro Ancient Cacao protein 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
1-2 tbsp peanut butter
2 tbsp chia seeds
2 cups spinach
1 tsp maca powder
1⁄2 cup frozen mixed berries Handful of ice
Blend and enjoy!
5 Ways To Keep The Spark Alive In Marriage
Marriage. It’s the most wonderful and most difficult thing ever. I remember being told that it would be difficult, but I underestimated the weight of those statements. I feel like nothing can truly prepare you for marriage… You pretty much have to rely on the grace of God to guide you through. And each time you make it over a hurdle, you are exponentially stronger. Not only are you stronger, but you come to the other side with more tools in your belt. One of the areas of our marriage in which we are actively jumping hurdles is the whole “how to keep the spark alive” thing.
…
Why Valentine’s Day Isn’t Overrated
Valentine’s Day. People either love it or they hate it. I honestly can’t think of another holiday with such extreme feelings. I recently read an article titled “5 Reasons Why Valentine’s Day is overrated.” Y’all, I laughed and cried at the same time. Because first of all, it’s funny how strongly people feel about it. And usually the people who feel the strongest are the ones who hate it. But also, it’s sad to me that a holiday meant to celebrate love could be so hated.
So, friends, I want to attempt to share my feelings on why Valentine’s Day actually isn’t overrated at all. And maybe by the time you are done reading I’ll have you convinced to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year….
Dear Mom, You Need A Time Out
Do you ever feel like you just need a break from parenting? If so, it’s probably because you do need a break. And let’s make it clear up front that needing a break is not a bad thing. It isn’t a reflection of your parenting, and it certainly isn’t a reflection of your love for your child. It’s a reflection of your very human needs. And those needs have to be met if you want to thrive as a parent. So, moms, let’s talk about why we all need a time out and how it can really help us throughout our day.
If you know me or even if you keep up with my blog, you might know that I have one super feisty little lady. My baby, who is now thirteen months, has been nothing less than a fireball from the day she was born. I shared an article a few months ago about what it looks like to love her so much it hurts. And that remains true for us. I love her so much it hurts. And, I love her so much it hurts.…
3 Simple Health Hacks Anyone Can Master
With the new year inevitably comes lots of new goals and resolutions. As I have said before, I don’t really have New Year’s Resolutions. But I do always start the year with fresh and simple goals. The key word there is simple. If you read my recent post New Year, New You, you know that I believe in having goals that are actually within reach. It’s one thing to dream big, and I am all for that. But goals should be tangible and within reach if we want to stay encouraged and motivated to reach them. So as we take on this new year, I think it’s important to keep that in mind. In doing so, I want to share three simple health hacks with you that literally anyone can master. These health hacks are all super simple, but they all make a huge difference in your daily life….
From The Desk Of A Helicopter Mom
Yep, you guessed it. I am a helicopter mom. But before you judge me, let me explain a few things. First of all, I never thought I was a helicopter mom until I recently read an article called “10 Signs You Might Be a Helicopter Mom.” I met 9/10 on the list. And then I thought, “hmm, if these things make me a helicopter mom, then I fully embrace that title.”
Second, I think every single parent has a different upbringing, different experiences, and different motivations. So to say that “these ten things” make you a helicopter mom is a ridiculous blanket identification that is unfair. It also neglects to consider that every single child is different and has unique needs as they are guided through life.
So, now that I got those things out of the way, let’s talk about this a little bit.
The tem “helicopter parenting” was coined in Dr. Haim Ginott’s book Parents and Teenagers in 1969. The term was used to describe parents who hovered over their children like a helicopter. Essentially, it is used to describe parents who take too much responsibility for their children’s experiences and, specifically, their successes or failures. Even more specifically, the term was used in reference to school aged children. Now, I don’t think that means parents of toddlers can’t be helicopter moms (because clearly according to someones extremely scientific blog post— I am one), but typically, this term has more to do with older children.
And I get it. The textbook helicopter mom is one who takes responsibility for a child’s schoolwork, grades, and school schedules, and one who often makes it their responsibility to take care of their child’s conflicts and failures rather than allowing them to learn from those things.
The term, as it was initially coined, is one I agree with.
But the problem is, that term has been taken to mean a million other things over the last thirty-something years.
And it seems that now you can’t protect or guide your child in much of any way without being labeled a helicopter mom.
But what may seem like drastic hovering to one mom could actually be very loose parenting to another. While one mom may be teaching one lesson, the mom next to her could be working on another. Therefore, the parenting styles of each will be reflected in that and could be very different.
So that’s where we have to come to some sort of agreement that being a helicopter mom is entirely subjective. Because, again, every parent is different, and the needs of every child are different.
Interestingly enough, there may be moms who think I am totally careless with my child, while a whole group of other moms think I am a total helicopter mom. It’s just so subjective in nature that, unless we only use the term how it was originally intended, we can’t just go around assuming that protective parents are helicopter moms. And I don’t think we can label first time moms as helicopter moms just because they are first time moms. Everything is so unique to each parent. One mom may change drastically from her first child to her second, and another may be exactly the same.
We simply can’t assume and label people in their parenting styles when we have no idea what’s really going on.
And we need to start respecting that boundary, and stop it with that labeling.
And as for me, if I am a helicopter mom, I am not ashamed.
Because if being protective of my child at one year old makes me a helicopter mom, then I want the hat and T-shirt. And if spending more time playing with her than having her play independently makes me one, then I embrace that. Because these are the good ole days and I don’t want to miss out. If following her on the playground makes me a helicopter mom, then again, I accept the title. Because I would rather keep an eye on her than rush her to the ER for stitches in her forehead (that was me at two years old).
I think there’s room to let your kids get hurt and experience the consequences of things. But I also think there is a line where wisdom takes over and we do what is best for our kids, regardless of how people may label us.
