lifestyle

My Husband Isn’t Enough For Me

October 17, 2017

Here we go. This one is for all the married women out there that are searching for something more… for all the married women that feel like they are stuck… and for all the married women that find themselves feeling like their husband isn’t enough. I feel you. I see you. I get you.

You see, I am you. I am the wife that is always searching for something more. I am the wife that often feels stuck. I am the wife that often finds myself feeling like my husband isn’t enough for me. I am the wife that is constantly longing for more magic than is possible this side of heaven.

Maybe you have a perfect and shiny Disney worthy love story, and that’s awesome. But please, for the sake of your marriage, hear me out….

The Best Marriage Advice That No One Ever Tells You

October 9, 2017

When I think about my marriage, I am filled with a wide array of emotions. I absolutely love being married, and I also think it is one of the most challenging things I have ever experienced. Marriage is certainly not for the faint at heart, but I really do believe that with the love of God and a good set of tools in your belt, anyone can have a lasting and successful marriage. With that said, I think it’s important to seek quality marriage advice- emphasis on quality.

Before I go on to share the best marriage advice with you, I want to elaborate on that last statement. It is so important to get quality marriage advice. But where the heck do you find that? Here are some tips. Think of the couples that inspire you and leave you wondering how they got to where they are. Think of the couples that are outrageously in love after twenty years. And then think of the couples that are newer in their marriage, but are navigating it with abundant grace. The couples that are real and don’t hide their issues, but are always honoring and kind are also great couples to think of. Once you think of all of those couples, go to them and ask them for their best advice….

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….

How to Start a WordPress Blog with Bluehost

July 31, 2017

Hey everyone! Laura here, per usual. If you’re a regular reader, you might be wondering why I am introducing myself when I am the only writer at cleanchefmessymom! Well, that’s because today I am super lucky to have an amazing guest post on my site… and now you’re wondering who it is. It’s the one and the only love of my life, amazing husband, and father to my baby. And why am I having him write? Well, over the last few weeks I have had dozens of you reach out to me asking how I turned my blog into a full time business. I know you really want the nitty-gritty monetization tips, but in order to even work with those tips, you need to know how to set up a blog. Daniel will discuss this, but one thing people often misunderstand is how blogging as a business works. If you really want to make money, there’s only so much you can do with “blogging” platforms such as blogspot, wordpress.com, and Wix. If you really want to build your blog into a business, you need to learn how to build it and host it yourself! And that’s where my knowledge ends, so without wasting any more time, here is my husband and tech expert.…

The Facebook Addiction

July 25, 2017

Can I be honest for a second? I’m sort of frustrated. I’m frustrated with social media, I’m frustrated with my generation, and I’m frustrated with myself.

Why so bothered, you ask?

Because Facebook.

We are all so wrapped up in it that we have forgotten what it looks like to value real relationships with our friends.

To be quite blunt, we have an addiction. Think you don’t? I challenge you to go an entire week without looking at your Facebook feed. Maybe you can do it. Maybe you can push through. But maybe it will be hard. Maybe you will reach for you phone twenty times and realize just as you open your app that you need to close it….

When Life Isn’t Satisfying

July 11, 2017

Part of being in your twenties is that you’re just figuring stuff out, right? I have heard it said (of your twenties) that “struggling just comes with the territory” and that it all works itself out.

As someone in my twenties, I can definitely say that struggling has been on my radar (and my family’s) for quite some time. But I can’t say that it’s just because “it comes with the territory.”

Maybe some bit of it does. But the rest?

It comes with the mindset. The way we think shapes our experiences.

So while I know there’s some “figuring stuff out” in our twenties that can definitely be a struggle, I also know that our mindset and attitude play a large role in how our lives are defined.

…

The Dangers Of Health Claims

June 27, 2017

My news feed (on practically every social media platform) has been loaded with health claims lately.

I mean, I get it… Everyone has a product they are trying to sell. Or if it’s not a product, it’s an agenda. I do it in my own way with food and fitness. I share my insights, my knowledge, my opinions, and my tips and tricks. So I guess you could say I am selling an idea. I also sell actual products with Beautycounter.

For the most part, however, I make sure that my opinions and my products are well researched before I share them. Don’t get me wrong, I definitely share opinions that are strictly from my personal experience, but those are never opinions that could harm someone if they buy in….

When Marriage Gets Messy

June 21, 2017

Have y’all ever met a couple whose marriage wasn’t messy?

If so, I’m gonna need their number so I can learn a trick or two.

I don’t think any of us really expect marriage to be messy. I mean, even if we are super healthy and go through counseling and know what “could be,” a lot of us probably are naive enough to think that our maturity in thought will protect us from the potential mess.

But the problem is, no matter how mature you are, a relationship that goes as deep as marriage is likely to be messy. It is perhaps even true that the more mature you are, the more prone you are to mess in relationship….

Six Months of Sadie Rae

June 5, 2017

Our sweet, feisty, determined, energetic, and cuddly Sadie Rae is six months old today. I’m not really sure how that happened, because I swear I just had her yesterday.

In honor of the most amazing six months of my life, this post is dedicated to my sweet girl.

Sadie Rae, everyone told me to cherish every moment you were in my belly because I would miss it. While I can honestly say I miss the nearness of you inside me, I can also honestly say that every single moment since the day you were born is so much sweeter. You bring me joy inexpressible and my heart overflows with a love that is just unreal. You challenge me every single day in so many ways. I am a better person because of you and your sweet heart. I’m also more patient than I ever have been, and have a far deeper understanding of the love of God than I ever imagined. …

Why We Plan Sex and Mark It On Our Calendars

May 29, 2017

I recently had one of my married friends ask me about sex.

I don’t share intimate details about our sex life, however, I will openly talk about the things we have learned and the things that have helped us better our sex life.

My friend shared with me regarding the fact that she and her husband can’t seem to make sex a priority in their marriage. While Daniel and I don’t believe that sex is the number one priority in marriage, we do believe it is high on the list. My friend was shocked when I answered her question regarding how often my husband and I have sex.

But what she was even more shocked by was my answer to her appalled, “HOW?”…