Quick Ways to De-Stress

I saw a quote the other day that read "You Can't Pour from an Empty Cup." Such an obvious concept, but so many people forget it. We use all of our effort on other things; kids, jobs, the house, the pets, the list goes on. But what good is all of that if you aren't taken care of. As a mom, I have to remind myself that I take the best care of Violet when I am well-rested, relaxed and have set aside some time for myself. Life is stressful, and if we don't take the time to recharge and rejuvenate, it can become way too much. I've learned that the hard way.

Although the ideal relaxation would be a full spa day, it's not always realistic, so here are some of my favorite quick ways to de-stress, most of which you can do right at home:

+ Take a hot bath. Don't forget the "Do Not Disturb" sign!
+ Go on a drive. Something about driving and listening to music can be so therapeutic.
+ Take a quick walk. Running and jogging works too, but walking is more my speed ;)
+ Light your favorite candles.
+ Write in a journal. I love the ones that give you prompts and ideas.
+ Watch a few episodes of your favorite TV show.
+ Enjoy an adult beverage.
+ Dance!
+ Reread your favorite book.
+ Color. There are so many amazing adult coloring books and apps out there.
+ Organize a room in your house. I love to do this one.
+ Call your mom or an old friend.
+ Make a list of things you are thankful for.
+ Do some stretching or yoga.
+ Give yourself a pedicure, complete with foot massage of course.
+ Watch a funny movie. Hot Rod usually does it for me!

Everyone needs their own ways to quickly destress so they're able to return to everyday life as their best selves, what are some of your favorite ways?

How to be Happy

A brand new year just started, and all over the internet I'm seeing tons of peoples' lists of resolutions including workout goals, travel goals, school goals, things like that. And although I also have a few goals along those lines, my number one main goal for this year (and forever) is to make happiness a priority. I'm generally a very happy person, I have an amazing husband who I love so much, a big family that I'm very close with, two wonderful little puppy children, the list goes on. I consider myself a very lucky, or blessed, person. But like so many people, I have tenancies of letting things like stress and (pretty bad) anxiety get in the way. So, for my main New Year Resolution, I made a list of little things I want to remind myself, and anyone else who might need it, to do to live the happiest, most fulfilled life possible.

Own, and love, your imperfections.

Always allow time to be silly and loud.

Give a lot of genuine compliments.

Be kind to everyone.

Be happy for other peoples' success.

Always forgive, don't always forget.

Surround yourself with people that make you feel good about yourself.

Don't take yourself too seriously; be able to laugh at yourself.

Know when something/someone isn't good for you and be strong enough to walk away from it.

Believe in what you believe in and don't allow other's to try to change your mind or tell you you're wrong.

Don't compare yourself to others, everybody is so different.

Remember the things in your life that you should be thankful for; food, a place to sleep at night, friends, etc.

I'm sure there a tons and tons more that I haven't thought of, so if you have anything to add, please comment below, I'd really love to hear them!

Here's to a healthy, happy 2015!

♥

My FitBit Force and Workout Modivation

Before I start this post I just want to mention that the FitBit Force (what I own) was recalled due to many people complaining of it causing skin irritation. I haven't experienced any of this, and the FitBit Flex is still on the market and the only difference between it and the Force has to do with looks, so all this info also applies to the Flex.

As you might remember, I've mentioned a few times that I've been wanting to get into working out more and am trying to make fitness more part of my routine, instead a terrible chore. I have never been an athletic person. I did some sports growing up, but working out just has never been a thing I've loved. I just find it so difficult most of the times, especially because I have Asthma and it really gets in the way. But I decided recently that that all needs to change. I found myself feeling tired and sluggish a lot, with no energy, and I knew I needed to add working out to my life. It's not that I never moved my body before, I would go on walks around my neighborhood and little things like that, but I guess it just wasn't enough.

About six months ago, I decided to get a gym membership. I have had one before, but just saw it as a waste of money because I barely ever went. So this time, I discovered a new gym that had just opened here in town that was really inexpensive, so I decided to give it another go. My first few times there weren't great because I didn't know what I was doing. I brought my sister with me one day (she knows a lot more about this kind of stuff than me) and she showed me some things I could do and a little routine type thing. And that helped a lot. Now when I go in I know exactly what to do to get each part of my body a work out. 

Even though I started going to the gym more often, I still felt I needed a little more motivation. Joe introduced me to the FitBits online and after reading up on them I felt that having one would help push me a little more. Let me explain just what a FitBit wristband is; as you can see in the photo above, it is a smallish black band you wear around your wrist. It has a small meter on the inside that detects your heart rate. Along with the band, you download the app to keep track of everything. 

On the app you can see how many steps you've taken, how many calories you've burned, how many calories you've eaten (it has a large database of food you can add, or make your own) how many calories you have left based on your diet goals, water intake, and even your sleeping patterns if you wear it when you sleep! When you first download the app, you fill out basic things about yourself like how active you are, your weight, if you'd like to lose, gain or stay the same, and certain goals you'd like to meet through out the day. 

Now, I'm not the type who feels like I need to know exactly how many calories I've eaten and don't want to become obsessive. If I don't feel like wearing the wristband one day, I won't. And I most definitely am not going to get upset if I go over on my calorie allowance one day. That's not what wearing one of these is about. For me at least, I wear it simply as motivation to always try harder and be able to see my progress and hard work!

I highly suggest having something like this if you're into working out. It doesn't even have to be one as intricate as this, even just something that tells you how many calories you've burned after a workout can make it feel more worth it, you should be able to see just how hard you've worked! The FitBit Zip is a good option if you just want a little clip for working out only.

Here are a couple other tips that can help if you're like me and needed to get into a better fitness routine.. I'm obviously not an expert, but these are just things that have worked for me: 

1. Go easy on yourself. Don't expect to be amazing when you first start out. If you're not able to spend a ton of time non stop working out, that's ok! It's all about progress, just try to push yourself a little bit more every time.

2. Don't expect results over night. If you're trying to lose weight, build muscle, or just get into better shape like me, it won't happen after one workout. These things take a lot of time and patience. Try not to lose hope, you'll start to notice changes soon enough.

3. Treat yourself to cute workout gear. There's nothing wrong with trying to look cute for the gym, in fact, it makes you feel more confident and will encourage you more. This is something that I really like doing. If I buy a cute new gym outfit, it makes me more excited to put it on and go!

4. Don't compare! The first few times I would go work out I would see a girl with an amazing body and would feel bad about myself, or someone who has been running non stop on the treadmill for an hour and a half and remind myself that I'd never be able to do that. But you really can't look at other people there. You are there for yourself. And everyone's body is different, you really can't compare something that has so many factors involved. 

5. And finally, reward yourself. As human beings, we are very motivated to so something when there is a reward waiting for us at the end. Tell yourself if you go to the gym every day for a week, you can buy yourself something you really want. Or if you're trying to eat healthier, reward a weeks worth of healthy food with your favorite dessert on Saturday. Getting to indulge in a reward really helps making our hard work feel worth while!

Have you tried a FitBit or anything like it? What are some techniques you've used for work out motivation? 

Dress Like a Nanny

As someone who's babysat since she was twelve years old, nannied for a total of about three years, and is constantly spending time with my little niece and nephew, I've learned quite a few things about what should and shouldn't be worn when around kids (sometimes the hard way!). After all this time I think I've come up with a pretty good system on how to properly dress when nannying or babysitting. Here is my advice if you have a nanny or babysitting gig coming up and aren't sure what to wear:

Wear comfortable shoes. Little kids are full of energy and expect you to be able to keep up. This is so much easier to do when wearing comfy shoes. You'll be running around, dancing, and giving piggy-back-rides, so your feet will need all the support they can get. Converse, TOMS, sandals, and comfy flats are all good options that can also look really cute.

Dress for the weather outside. Kids love playing outside and going on walks, and it's a great way to get some of their energy out. So make sure you're dressed appropriately for the weather. If it's cold out bring a jacket, if it's hot and sunny out put on sunscreen or wear a hat. When you're comfortable you'll have more patience and more fun, which means the kids will be happier.

Wear fun, kid-friendly shirts. Not completely necessary, but I think a good idea. If you wear a shirt with Disney characters on it, the kids will relate to you more and even feel more comfortable around you. Plus it's a good ice breaker if it's your first time meeting new kids. If kiddie shirts aren't really your thing, you totally don't have to wear one, but bright colors and fun patterns are a good option too. Just anything kid-friendly, save your "Legalize Marijuana" shirt for the weekend!

Don't wear anything that you'll be devastated about if it gets ruined. Babysitting is not the time to wear new, expensive clothing. You'll probably get pretty messy, and depending on the kid's age, you'll have a variety of yucky stuff on you at least a few times. Dirt, spit up, food, paint, boogers, throw up, pee; all things I have had on my clothes, and some of those stains aren't easy to remove. It's even a good idea to have a change of clothing in your car for back up. Lucky for me I was at my sister's house when I got peed on, so I just borrowed her clothes. But if it was at someone else's house I'd be stuck.

Don't wear a lot of jewelry. The only jewelry I ever wear to nanny is my engagement ring, and I sometimes have to take it off when digging in the dirt or doing crafts with paint. Also, kids at a certain age are really attracted to things that sparkle or dangle and love to yank on them, so your necklace might get broken, and dangly earrings getting pulled on, ouch! Plus, those things can just get in the way while you're working, better to leave them at home.

Keep hair ties in close reach. I usually always have one around my wrist just in case. On most days I put in the effort of doing my hair, but sometimes it's just easier to have it pulled back. It can get dirty and just be in the way. So if you pull it back it's one less thing to worry about.

Don't wear really short dresses or skirts. And if you do wear a shorter dress or skirt, wear dark tights with it. You're going to be on the ground playing a lot and it will get really annoying having to pull your skirt down and adjust so the kids don't see too much! Plus it looks unprofessional to parents.

So for me, comfort is really important. All these are my own personal opinions and what has worked for me. Other people might prefer a pencil skirt and heels to nanny, but this is just what I have found works best. Hope it helps if you are going to babysit or nanny soon!

Did I miss anything? If you are a nanny or a babysitter and have any more advice to add, please share in the comments!

All About Tattoos

For being only twenty years old (twenty-one in April!) I have my fair share of tattoos. Three big pieces and three smaller ones to be exact. So I thought it only made sense to share a little bit of what I've learned about this big part of my life.

I never knew I wanted tattoos until I was seventeen. I didn't know anything about them actually since growing up in a small, pretty conservative town, I never really saw much of them. I'm not even sure what the reason was that I initially became interested in tattoos, no one in my family has any, but the moment I did I needed to have one right then in there. That was the first mistake I made. I went out one night around 9pm with my then boyfriend and my older sister's id, and we drove around until we found an open tattoo shop. I had done zero research on anything, and didn't know the first thing about tattoos, I just knew I wanted one. I went into the random shop downtown and told the man I wanted a quarter-sized tattoo of a sacred heart on my wrist. Don't ask me why I wanted that because I really don't know. I wasn't even really religious. I guess I just thought it'd look cool. He tattooed it on me and I was too excited to be "tattooed" to even notice the shaky lines or that it was completely tilted. Hiding it from my parents was easier than I'd thought, too. So it was all good. So good, that a couple months later I went back and got another little tattoo. The word lovely on the side of my foot. Again, didn't really think about it, just thought it'd look cool.

I think it was by the time I was eighteen and had moved into a bigger city for a while that I realized I wanted to be actually tattooed and not just have a couple dinky pieces on me. I got really nervous and thought I had messed up for good by starting out the way I did. So finally I did research on artists and tattoo styles, and decided what I actually wanted and not what would simply look cool. When I was nineteen I decided I was ready to get my first big tattoo, and got it done in a spot that wouldn't show in everything like my other two. I ended up loving it and was so glad I had spent a while thinking about it. I finally covered up the funny heart on my wrist with a real and beautiful piece that I love, and plan on covering up my foot one very soon!

So six tattoos later I have learned a lot about the whole thing, and put together a list of tips for anyone who is planning on getting tattooed, so hopefully you don't make the same mistakes I did!

• DO YOUR RESEARCH! All artists are not created equal. Take the time to find someone who knows what they're doing, and who also tattoos in a style you like. Look at portfolios and talk to a few different artists about what you want until you find someone who can fit your needs. Try not to get caught up in just being excited, take your time it'll be worth it.
• Don't get tattooed just to be cool or because you think everyone else is doing it. Tattoos are a life-long commitment, you really don't want to be stuck with something you got just because a friend got. Also, avoid getting a trendy piece. Don't completely copy something you find on Pinterest or Tumblr, make sure it's something you really love and not something that you just think is cool right now.
• Don't decide who you get tattooed by based on price. If the tattoo is cheap, it will look cheap. It's so worth it to spend a little more for a good quality tattoo. And don't ever let a friend with a tattoo machine tattoo you, even if it's free, it's a bad idea!
• Decide if you are really really ready for the commitment. Being tattooed comes with a lot of shit that can be a deal breaker for some people. For one, your older family members probably won't be a huge fan of them, and they probably won't keep their opinions to themselves. So every holiday and family dinner, get ready for lectures and eye rolls. Also, complete strangers won't be afraid to speak their mind either. They'll ask to see them, ask if they hurt, ask the meaning behind it, ask what you'll do when you're eighty years old, ask EVERYTHING. It does get old, trust me. I have gotten my feelings pretty hurt before when strangers and even family members have told me they look bad and I'll regret them. There are quite a few people out there that feel obligated to share their opinions on other peoples' lifestyle choices, even if they're offensive and rude, and it can get hurtful. Another big one is jobs. Work places have become more lenient about tattoos, but unfortunately there are still some out there that will make you cover your tattoos. Will you want to mess with wearing long sleeves every single day, even when it's really hot out?
• My final piece of advice if you're going to go for it would be to start in a more hidden spot. Get tattooed in a place that won't be shown very easily. It will give you a good idea of if you like being tattooed. When I got my first big one high up on the side of my thigh, I was always wishing it showed more and didn't want it hidden because skirts and shorts covered 90% of it. So that made me feel more comfortable about getting tattooed in more visible places.

I've been tattooed for a few years now and am positive I want a lot more. I absolutely love having beautiful, unique artwork on my skin that I get to wear forever. Being tattooed does have it's disadvantages for sure, but for me, and a lot of people, it's more than worth it. And don't worry, this generation is one full of tattooed people, so you won't be the only colorful eighty year old out there :)