Most Popular Reads

The Ugly Truth About Being Overweight

November 2, 2017

This could possibly be the most real thing I ever write. I know, I know, I write some pretty raw and authentic things about marriage and parenting. But this… This is a part of my story that most of you don’t know. This is a piece of the puzzle of me that most of my current friends, acquaintances, readers, and followers would never imagine. And what makes this the most real thing I may ever write is that it is just that- it is real. It isn’t an idea or a concept about how to deal with the current or future issues in my life. It’s my story. It’s written into the book of my life. And no matter what shame or guilt or embarrassment surrounds your story, you cannot erase the truths of your life and your past. You can only change the present and the future. And that’s my story- one of change. And from that place of change, I want to share with you the ugly truth about being overweight….

What To Do When Your Husband Cheats On You

October 26, 2017

If you are married or have ever been married, you know that marriage is hard work. It’s nothing short of complicated and exhausting, and it’s also the most magical and mind blowing partnership one could ever imagine. I can’t speak for every marriage, but in speaking for my own, I can also say it can be the most fun and amazing experience on a daily basis- if I allow it to be. And it is without question that my husband and I are responsible for making choices that create the most healthy atmosphere possible in our marriage.

But what happens when we don’t?

What happens when one or the other of us begins to make choices that do more harm than good to our relationship? And then what happens when those choices begin to pile up, resulting in consequences that seem greater than our ability to manage?…

5 Must Have Baby Items

October 3, 2017

When I was pregnant with my sweet girl, I remember being so stressed about what I needed. Although I was a first time mom, I did have some understanding of the fact that I wouldn’t need every single baby item on the planet. Even still, I was overwhelmed and wanted to be prepared. This led to some pretty humorous registering and re-registering, as well as purchasing and returning. Looking back, I feel it would have been beneficial to ask a few of my closest mom friends what their “must have items” were. For the sake of all of my pregnant friends and acquaintances, I decided to make a list with my own. But before I share my 5 must have baby items, I want to clarify a couple of things!

First of all, this list skips past the obvious items such as a crib and a carseat. Those things are absolute must have baby items, but this list assumes that to be a given. If you need recommendations on those things, I am happy to share with you. I will say that I *personally* recommend always buying a carseat brand new so that you know the exact condition. A carseat that has been in an accident should no longer be used. And while a carseat at a resale spot might look flawless on the outside, there’s no guarantee that it has not been in an accident. As far as a crib, I don’t see any problem with buying a used one, as long as you inspect it and it’s still fully safe, it should be fine!…

7 Easy Stay-At-Home Date Night Ideas

September 5, 2017

Alright, if you tuned in to my last marriage post, “Why I Date My Husband,” you were probably waiting for this post. I promised you easy and fun date night ideas for the times you can’t leave the house. Whether it’s because you don’t have childcare or because you don’t have money, I’ve got you covered. Over the last two years, my husband and I have had to get pretty darn creative with our date nights. Initially, our creativity was required due to our location and the lack of unique things to do. Our struggle now is more that we can’t leave our house because we don’t have childcare. And, like most of you, we don’t have a ton of extra money to spend on dates!

Because we have had to be so intentional, we have made a point to keep track of the creative date night ideas that were a true success so that we can pull those out of the hat again. I took a look at my list of about 30 random and fun ideas and I chose my top 7 to share with you! So here you go!…

Why The Laundry Can’t Wait

August 14, 2017

As a first time mom, I swear I have heard it all. Whether spoken with good intention, frustration, or even bitterness, the “friendly advice” given to new moms is often more than overwhelming. I would be willing to bet that the majority of people giving that advice don’t actually mean any harm. Even still, the ever accumulating advice in my new mom notebook is exhausting. I could share a long list of “just wait,” “you’ll see,” and “that’s a first time mom thing” sort of statements, but I am learning to brush most of them off and move on.

Even still, there are certain pieces of advice that tend to linger in my head. I find myself thinking about them and basically writing a blog post in my own head while having conversations with myself.

The latest conversation I have been having in my head involved one particular nugget of “wisdom” that others have continually shared with me.

“The laundry can wait.”…

6 Simple Steps To Clean Up Your Diet

August 9, 2017

I talk about clean eating a lot. Almost all of my closest friends know that it is something I am passionate about, and most of them are willing to humor me and talk about it from time to time. When I am talking to my friends, I am not quick to tell them they need to eat clean or discreetly suggest ways they could eat cleaner. I have a “you do you” policy. I will never tell people how they should or shouldn’t eat.

But when people ask me, whether it be my friends or my readers, I am happy to give a little direction.

In last few weeks I have been asked the same question seven times. “How do you eat so clean?”

Well, the truth is, it’s just a decision and a commitment. Eating clean is not a fad diet, it is a lifestyle change. When I choose to eat clean, I am choosing to fuel my body in a way that only works and makes a difference when I do it consistently.

“But how?” That’s the next question that six out of seven of those people asked….

My Wedding Wasn’t The Best Day Of My Life

July 27, 2017

Isn’t it so interesting how generations and generations of humans have regarded the wedding day as “the best day ever?”

I mean, in a lot of ways, yes, it is the best day of your life. But really, it’s the best day of your life so far…

I am taking a risk here, I know, but I just have to be honest.

My wedding wasn’t the best day of my life.

…

Dear Women, Start Respecting Yourselves

July 20, 2017

This is post is very personal to me. I mean, I guess all my posts are, but I often try to keep it objective and share more about topics and facts and less about emotions and my heart. This is one is straight from my heart. It is a letter to fellow women, and a deep cry for change.

I have wrestled with this for quite some time. I don’t just mean writing this post. I mean that I have literally wrestled with the very thing I want to talk about, and my words come from deep experience and painful process.

So what is it, you are wondering? I want to talk about women posting photos on social media. I want to talk about the photos in swimsuits, the gym selfies, the photos of our kids that conveniently show the muscles we are most proud of, and the selfies we took over and over to get the perfect one that showed our very best features. I want to talk about the photos, and I want to talk about the motives behind them….

Should We Vaccinate Our Babies?

July 18, 2017

This is more than a can of worms. It’s more like a raging war with arrows on fire, attached to bombs, launched from WWII canons.

The great vaccine debate is one that I honestly don’t usually engage in unless someone directly asks for my opinion. There is so much tension around the matter that I find myself afraid of saying what I think, for fear of being ripped apart. The anti-vaccine community has such strong opinions, and the pro-vaccine community is no different. The thoughts, opinions, and feelings that drive the communication between the two are far from healthy.

And honestly that is kind of sad. We should be able to talk about these things without losing relationship. We should be able to talk about these things without such great offense, and we should be able to agree to disagree.

So today, I am breaking through my fear and talking about it….