tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68631412120306610862024-03-05T18:13:56.729-05:00Mama Made a BlogMama Made a Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11995556740669823444noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863141212030661086.post-23320216711003420312020-09-26T20:29:00.001-04:002020-09-26T20:29:55.066-04:00Life Updates - September 2020<p style="text-align: center;"> What a year this is turning out to be! I think for many of us there have been lots of ups and downs. This was Reagan’s first year competing in gymnastics. She’s been on the competitive track for a couple of years now, so meet season is something she had been looking forward to for a very long time. She and the rest of her team worked so hard and had a great, although short, season. Going from 3 days in the gym to none and not seeing her teammates so suddenly was really hard for her to process. If I’m being honest, it was hard for me too. We live an hour+ from her gym so I don’t leave while she practices. The friendships and time spent on practices and travel have been such a major part of both of our lives. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM3ltGb6RNDuG-dCBDV1j8AtgV1oiLLF7Md-sZcAT-Bgf5XMhFo3UhEFmWDjGZ_3onRS_6dpWByF_Y_14joDqVtf0Pru3uwPcjBZBh0p8A-D8rHq3Byx5ZDLF9E0NqkXDJiaLjkQUwmNQ/s2048/E183FEC7-65B7-491E-9276-D38897CFB3A9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM3ltGb6RNDuG-dCBDV1j8AtgV1oiLLF7Md-sZcAT-Bgf5XMhFo3UhEFmWDjGZ_3onRS_6dpWByF_Y_14joDqVtf0Pru3uwPcjBZBh0p8A-D8rHq3Byx5ZDLF9E0NqkXDJiaLjkQUwmNQ/s320/E183FEC7-65B7-491E-9276-D38897CFB3A9.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">School also let out with almost no advanced warning. It started with a two week break and we just KNEW they would reopen. I remember trying to decide if I would send her back immediately when they opened school again, or if I would keep her home for a few extra days. 😂 That feels like forever ago! Our county is very rural and mostly Title One schools. We did not have the means to seamlessly switch to online school, so that was the end of the school year. We were lucky that Reagan’s teacher was so wonderful and dedicated to her students. She went above and beyond to help them stay in touch with each other through zoom and sent them care packages. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3KA9SqI5nWsFwwNUOOXhubfb4OVLUU5diVhjWNVlA5dzu_OUWmhBBRpmh6PZURO5RBNABShh63vH1zEZ5JFpPSwwCi-hzur7pi0mc_oFAY4a02ePwzw-_NkiFcVKMQIR-KrA8LLw3U8w/s2048/3F107BE8-DB47-4F91-B998-ACD81D6B711B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3KA9SqI5nWsFwwNUOOXhubfb4OVLUU5diVhjWNVlA5dzu_OUWmhBBRpmh6PZURO5RBNABShh63vH1zEZ5JFpPSwwCi-hzur7pi0mc_oFAY4a02ePwzw-_NkiFcVKMQIR-KrA8LLw3U8w/s320/3F107BE8-DB47-4F91-B998-ACD81D6B711B.jpeg" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">We had a really weird summer, as I’m sure was the case for many of you! We quarantined from EVERYONE including my mom. Not being able to see her cousins or hug her Grandmommy was one of the very hardest parts for Reagan. We are so close to our family and feeling so isolated and cut off from them was depressing. We took lots of walks and played outside daily, and then as the weather got warmer we opted for pool days instead of beach days. We did eventually start getting together with my mom outside in the yard or pool and then when cases really dropped in our area we got together more freely. A couple of months in we also started only getting together with my cousin and her two little kids and husband because they were taking major precautions too. Letting the kids play together for the first time was the best and it’s been a huge sanity saver. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC6DgLzY9qblqQuuOzJXSKE_Q-lC6YaZ6ohqEqbGzO9sjjDpP5zr0JsVwtPFkccQMJqhy6CY645GkqD4bgCWe-1LXF0Qo8m5AoQOmShEo054ECwyDLWClpYNvlWefFM8RNtu33_qH4pCY/s2048/236C16F9-DBB9-48B9-8543-677497D97634.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC6DgLzY9qblqQuuOzJXSKE_Q-lC6YaZ6ohqEqbGzO9sjjDpP5zr0JsVwtPFkccQMJqhy6CY645GkqD4bgCWe-1LXF0Qo8m5AoQOmShEo054ECwyDLWClpYNvlWefFM8RNtu33_qH4pCY/s320/236C16F9-DBB9-48B9-8543-677497D97634.jpeg" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">Ultimately I made the difficult decision to pull Reagan from gymnastics for this year. That was a tough one. I also chose to pull her from her school system and homeschool her! Three weeks in I can say we both love homeschooling together and it was the best decision for us. She tells people everywhere we go, “My mommy is my teacher now!” Seeing the smile on her face when she shares that is the best. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlqSgeifaYfiwe6brGhwUjQczSUimq0aFdPY-3HVCaAWJavw5X_bSoWHjKSMrmunxsu1VLPxDPpSEcoOnYdo2X1w9Ie15TAkd46sGFl5XLrQ2tdO1DqjtWGWI2M_uiKTdILLdYhrNGjmA/s2048/991BCBC3-794A-40E0-81F1-F24FBD2D707E.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlqSgeifaYfiwe6brGhwUjQczSUimq0aFdPY-3HVCaAWJavw5X_bSoWHjKSMrmunxsu1VLPxDPpSEcoOnYdo2X1w9Ie15TAkd46sGFl5XLrQ2tdO1DqjtWGWI2M_uiKTdILLdYhrNGjmA/s320/991BCBC3-794A-40E0-81F1-F24FBD2D707E.jpeg" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">So this is the point we are at now. Still pretty much quarantined because everyone in our household (myself, Reagan, and my grandparents) are high risk. Homeschooling for the first time and figuring it out as we go. A big trip out usually consists of grocery pickup or doctor’s appointments. 😂 </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgByKeThB13jUjni6JL9V_Oy4b5UverCvrqx5kh-5OO4wKoqD3pO4ZFTajTbXR07hD_VoM_xMQq1ZeeIOkx_6mAcdogk9U4zltc2DYXbfHIVFwAeR76KbtucZwYzcCiXLs_Qhrg3qgAkxg/s2048/D65D3834-F034-4288-931D-FDA19F973CB3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgByKeThB13jUjni6JL9V_Oy4b5UverCvrqx5kh-5OO4wKoqD3pO4ZFTajTbXR07hD_VoM_xMQq1ZeeIOkx_6mAcdogk9U4zltc2DYXbfHIVFwAeR76KbtucZwYzcCiXLs_Qhrg3qgAkxg/s320/D65D3834-F034-4288-931D-FDA19F973CB3.jpeg" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">In the past blogging has been such a great outlet for me. I have stepped back from nearly everything in this crazy time, and picking up on here again feels right. I hope you’ll join me in this space for mom life, talks about faith, homeschool ups and downs, and my favorite finds and deals for moms, kids, and home. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Much love,</p><p style="text-align: center;">Katie</p>Mama Made a Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11995556740669823444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863141212030661086.post-74219613655209466052019-12-18T14:06:00.000-05:002019-12-18T14:06:01.947-05:0050 Best Christmas Books for Kids<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0cCH0-NVsENXkUuFFloZHtaEiJIQoTrFHjUvOnb5POqi-flYTltfebliJRpwyvJeW_2sauScrC33G_vYQIyl4V9viCI80wjAvz3X5-lnS1zbJ_flYi7Y132r9gSCTFw63Dj9uUXFIQg/s1600/Untitled+Design.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0cCH0-NVsENXkUuFFloZHtaEiJIQoTrFHjUvOnb5POqi-flYTltfebliJRpwyvJeW_2sauScrC33G_vYQIyl4V9viCI80wjAvz3X5-lnS1zbJ_flYi7Y132r9gSCTFw63Dj9uUXFIQg/s320/Untitled+Design.PNG" width="213" /></a></div>
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One of my very favorite things to do during the holidays is read the special books we only pull out this time of year. Reagan and I will cozy up under a warm blanket with a cup of hot chocolate and read for hours. We love the tried and true traditional stories as well as fun, new tales. Here is a list of 50 of our very favorites! Click on the titles to shop the books!</div>
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1. <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ella-bella-ballerina-and-the-nutcracker-james-mayhew/1109924685?ean=9780764165818#/" target="_blank">Ella Bella Ballerina and the Nutcracker</a></span><br />
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2. <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-first-christmas-night-keith-christopher/1114929341?ean=9780824956530#/" target="_blank">The First Christmas Night</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjZ2GMeOVHD59cmFSQD_54NTGKUtsFFbWn3NuwjgxBQDHpzTK1-Tg2z9ym6iL7g7cAD1Z_laTC__V09A-uzbTeUQ8KDGOLb7IoZHIOZpeuXDw59Da_DcO0oLcJt4QWmEiC1H8Sb-1Jk1o/s1600/The+First+Christmas+Night.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="406" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjZ2GMeOVHD59cmFSQD_54NTGKUtsFFbWn3NuwjgxBQDHpzTK1-Tg2z9ym6iL7g7cAD1Z_laTC__V09A-uzbTeUQ8KDGOLb7IoZHIOZpeuXDw59Da_DcO0oLcJt4QWmEiC1H8Sb-1Jk1o/s320/The+First+Christmas+Night.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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3. <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-gingerbread-pirates-kristin-kladstrup/1009049448?ean=9780763632236#/" target="_blank">The Gingerbread Pirates</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBdrTyacioOgWhzulEZmVq9HvLariM0ExX2E2oGDajbKDAtlFaXGDOXbPju4c6MvOBVzJ7HTXRyCwJtvSl5rnWFAIyi8pBAcueKbBnHVfzf2iXLCW7fGYAI5tIs4hqqy3WALP6JFSFSR8/s1600/The+Gingerbread+Pirates.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="350" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBdrTyacioOgWhzulEZmVq9HvLariM0ExX2E2oGDajbKDAtlFaXGDOXbPju4c6MvOBVzJ7HTXRyCwJtvSl5rnWFAIyi8pBAcueKbBnHVfzf2iXLCW7fGYAI5tIs4hqqy3WALP6JFSFSR8/s320/The+Gingerbread+Pirates.png" width="275" /></a></div>
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4. <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-advent-storybook-antonie-schneider/1007309639?ean=9780735819634#/" target="_blank">The Advent Storybook</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpYp2UV3oxYpaP9T83aVM_2A-xkcoSaL-m-FoAsmFc_ILarKDv42C3P8RWwUx-HFwQR4yNBJulp0GVR_AH9m-OueJwDTaGRKmWPIfvfc9m6Y9rP0R7k_w8VWXwAGvDtjX5fyJveVA8u3g/s1600/Advent+Storybook.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="301" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpYp2UV3oxYpaP9T83aVM_2A-xkcoSaL-m-FoAsmFc_ILarKDv42C3P8RWwUx-HFwQR4yNBJulp0GVR_AH9m-OueJwDTaGRKmWPIfvfc9m6Y9rP0R7k_w8VWXwAGvDtjX5fyJveVA8u3g/s320/Advent+Storybook.png" width="237" /></a></div>
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5. <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/spirit-of-christmas-nancy-tillman/1100355100?ean=9780312549657#/" target="_blank">The Spirit of Christmas</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixq7InjqLHGUDKuKS3rjFxYATcPbmrQRtYxspe6QWUG_Be6Ofa-Gb-v2OAoalywHAyd5DxRvfGMzGS5PeVttVtvYblhb8nG0frDoOBEV3xh8UG15-uAfaTe1Xos21Ie_cZQ_zL8f-z3m4/s1600/The+Spirit+of+Christmas.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="410" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixq7InjqLHGUDKuKS3rjFxYATcPbmrQRtYxspe6QWUG_Be6Ofa-Gb-v2OAoalywHAyd5DxRvfGMzGS5PeVttVtvYblhb8nG0frDoOBEV3xh8UG15-uAfaTe1Xos21Ie_cZQ_zL8f-z3m4/s320/The+Spirit+of+Christmas.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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6. <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fancy-nancy-splendiferous-christmas-jane-oconnor/1102174258?ean=9780061235900" target="_blank">Fancy Nancy: Splendiferous Christmas</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6x79vRgZDEXs5GGx-lEKO8R8sF4hC2lL5ahvnbrNVBsaZZd6gvUoukp1S_vWglwml273eO6iXUOhw2idPMITJV8zYTiy47nZ7aM62bcA5qtDlturDOZcpL4kyoshxiwqlU8cUHGtXFWI/s1600/Fancy+Nancy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="334" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6x79vRgZDEXs5GGx-lEKO8R8sF4hC2lL5ahvnbrNVBsaZZd6gvUoukp1S_vWglwml273eO6iXUOhw2idPMITJV8zYTiy47nZ7aM62bcA5qtDlturDOZcpL4kyoshxiwqlU8cUHGtXFWI/s320/Fancy+Nancy.png" width="263" /></a></div>
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7. <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/christmas-in-camelot-mary-pope-osborne/1100292061?ean=9780375858123#/" target="_blank">Christmas in Camelot (Magic Tree House Merlin Missions Series #1)</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf8wDEGazMIjHKbeo7n-dfuuNX9MrfxdrrFk6IJ2ntdjqOs5NvZGf73OS-_PxYv7BzMc7c5QhtCb8In9z8N29wLEoPHDxIgINBocfoOFsHlALG_9TUUlDRMFK4QQv9cZUx9RdlaDOTxQ4/s1600/Magic+Treehouse.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="276" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf8wDEGazMIjHKbeo7n-dfuuNX9MrfxdrrFk6IJ2ntdjqOs5NvZGf73OS-_PxYv7BzMc7c5QhtCb8In9z8N29wLEoPHDxIgINBocfoOFsHlALG_9TUUlDRMFK4QQv9cZUx9RdlaDOTxQ4/s320/Magic+Treehouse.png" width="217" /></a></div>
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8. <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/magical-holiday-boxed-set-daisy-meadows/1105324109?ean=9780545357791#/" target="_blank">Magical Holiday Boxed Set (Rainbow Magic: Special Edition Series)</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYOBNqNzT0c03YjvvZ4ko8wV_8nHJs8NGEoCrsaC7egUSbfj7cC4d4__BFyKggMxI9rqCTEEVkmKcEINpU4mlWOBK0u5X1uDNueFXjEg_sII16SzkDqKzmotBM9fiAYBV6M8qGDqmPI3Q/s1600/Rainbow+Magic+Holiday+Edition.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="282" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYOBNqNzT0c03YjvvZ4ko8wV_8nHJs8NGEoCrsaC7egUSbfj7cC4d4__BFyKggMxI9rqCTEEVkmKcEINpU4mlWOBK0u5X1uDNueFXjEg_sII16SzkDqKzmotBM9fiAYBV6M8qGDqmPI3Q/s320/Rainbow+Magic+Holiday+Edition.png" width="225" /></a></div>
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9. <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/5-minute-holiday-classics-fern-bisel-peat/1129856828?ean=9781631583407#/" target="_blank">5 Minute Holiday Classics</a></div>
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10. <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wish-to-be-a-christmas-tree-colleen-monroe/1100932911?ean=9781585360024#/" target="_blank">A Wish to be a Christmas Tree</a></div>
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11. <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-muppet-christmas-carol-brooke-vitale/1131007093?ean=9781683838371#/" target="_blank">The Muppet Christmas Carol</a></div>
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12. <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/merry-christmas-tree-pop-up-advent-calendar-bejamin-chaud/1130448343?ean=9781452165110" target="_blank">Merry Christmas Tree Pop Up Advent Calendar</a></div>
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13. <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sofia-the-first-disney-book-group/1114702259?ean=9781423183969" target="_blank">Sofia the First Holiday in Enchancia</a></div>
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14. <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/little-house-christmas-treasury-laura-ingalls-wilder/1007233683?ean=9780060769185" target="_blank">A Little House Christmas Treasury: Festive Holiday Stories</a></div>
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16. <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/legend-of-mistletoe-and-the-christmas-kittens-joe-troiano/1101968862?ean=9780988446311#/" target="_blank">The Legend of Mistletoe and the Christmas Kittens</a></div>
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17. <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/disney-5-minute-christmas-stories-disney-book-group/1123229893?ean=9781484727416#/" target="_blank">Disney 5 Minute Christmas Stories</a></div>
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18. <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dasher-matt-tavares/1130336444?ean=9781536214871#/" target="_blank">Dasher: How a Brave Little Doe Changed Christmas Forever</a></div>
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20. <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/5-minute-christmas-stories-julie-sykes/1134703910?ean=9781589255258#/" target="_blank">5 Minute Christmas Stories</a></div>
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21. <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-poky-little-puppys-first-christmas-golden-books/1005240750?ean=9780307960344#/" target="_blank">The Poky Little Puppy's First Christmas</a></div>
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22. <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/animals-christmas-eve-gale-wiersum/1008309412?ean=9780375839238#/" target="_blank">The Animal's Christmas Eve</a></div>
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23. <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-very-fiona-christmas-richard-cowdrey/1130949271?ean=9780310767732#/" target="_blank">A Very Fiona Christmas</a></div>
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24. <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-first-christmas-sophy-williams/1027801322?ean=9781622828548#/" target="_blank">The First Christmas</a></div>
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26. <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-little-christmas-elf-nikki-shannon-smith/1103465496?ean=9780375873485#/" target="_blank">The Little Christmas Elf</a></div>
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27. <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/whos-that-knocking-on-christmas-eve-jan-brett/1112758196?ean=9780399238734#/" target="_blank">Who's That Knocking on Christmas Eve?</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIXBgBn94QwbvxDw7aLhrcofgG-bdz9HFqQMjW9BtKlAGsHX8J6ME59GOd-3G8b2xezjx2UbJz8HXNuuEuHKlH4FnACQtdGyLH9BpqLQyUo-S_dWt_rsSioiSNCPyifolWoafpaw52c4/s1600/Whos+That+Knocking+on+Christmas+Eve.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="370" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIXBgBn94QwbvxDw7aLhrcofgG-bdz9HFqQMjW9BtKlAGsHX8J6ME59GOd-3G8b2xezjx2UbJz8HXNuuEuHKlH4FnACQtdGyLH9BpqLQyUo-S_dWt_rsSioiSNCPyifolWoafpaw52c4/s320/Whos+That+Knocking+on+Christmas+Eve.png" width="291" /></a></div>
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28. <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wild-christmas-reindeer-jan-brett/1100467369?ean=9780698116528#/" target="_blank">The Wild Christmas Reindeer</a></div>
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29. <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-treasury-of-christmas-stories-and-songs-cottage-door-press/1129289321?ean=9781680524642#/" target="_blank">A Treasury of Christmas Stories and Songs</a></div>
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30. <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/story-of-christmas-patricia-a-pingry/1100311386?ean=9780824918453#/" target="_blank">The Story of Christmas</a></div>
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31. <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-christmas-doll-jason-f-wright/1130650830?ean=9781629726113#/" target="_blank">The Christmas Doll</a></div>
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32. <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/jolly-christmas-postman-janet-ahlberg/1102544655?ean=9780141340111#/" target="_blank">The Jolly Christmas Postman</a></div>
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33. <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/disney-christmas-storybook-collection-elle-d-risco/1119440519?ean=9781423184508#/" target="_blank">The Disney Christmas Storybook Collection</a></div>
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34. <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/an-otis-christmas-loren-long/1114771416?ean=9780399163951#/" target="_blank">An Otis Christmas</a></div>
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35. <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/home-for-christmas-jan-brett/1101076830?ean=9780399256530#/" target="_blank">Home for Christmas</a></div>
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36. <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/god-gave-us-christmas-lisa-t-bergren/1103165270?ean=9781400071753#/" target="_blank">God Gave Us Christmas</a></div>
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37. <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/grandmas-christmas-wish-holly-berry-byrd/1133062685?ean=9781680527049#/" target="_blank">Grandma's Christmas Wishes</a></div>
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38. <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/littlest-christmas-tree-r-a-herman/1008266285?ean=9780439540070#/" target="_blank">The Littlest Christmas Tree</a></div>
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39. <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/christmas-tree-ship-carol-crane/1102421232?ean=9781585362851#/" target="_blank">The Christmas Tree Ship</a></div>
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40. <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/itsy-bitsy-christmas-max-lucado/1117257582?ean=9781400322626#/" target="_blank">Itsy Bitsy Christmas</a></div>
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41. <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/christmas-magic-lauren-thompson/1102875402?ean=9780439774970#/" target="_blank">The Christmas Magic</a></div>
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42. <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-big-book-of-christmas-games-white-star/1131351232?ean=9788854043404#/" target="_blank">The Big Book of Christmas Games</a></div>
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43. <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/christmas-farm-mary-lyn-ray/1008617877?ean=9780544105096#/" target="_blank">Christmas Farm</a></div>
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44. <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/snuggle-time-christmas-stories-glenys-nellist/1126012367?ean=9780310761426" target="_blank">Snuggle Time Christmas Stories</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvr7t2avaqNghL3TFCqalc6Js4QNxkj-HSgmGNGvULQ2wVAsLTALXPqcVqNs7TfR7_JUsNv0qXU8ylpno1Mew_2E43Tj8snhj2-eDWBV9Mx36AVU4Lcj-zMIGEBB8Z-aHky3BrIGh9zEI/s1600/Snuggle+Time+Christmas+Stories.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="288" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvr7t2avaqNghL3TFCqalc6Js4QNxkj-HSgmGNGvULQ2wVAsLTALXPqcVqNs7TfR7_JUsNv0qXU8ylpno1Mew_2E43Tj8snhj2-eDWBV9Mx36AVU4Lcj-zMIGEBB8Z-aHky3BrIGh9zEI/s320/Snuggle+Time+Christmas+Stories.png" width="226" /></a></div>
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45. <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-light-of-christmas-richard-paul-evans/1006103845?ean=9781481466127#/" target="_blank">The Light of Christmas</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwv21Bm7U8yTJC8YT7wwFFpEBXCuqTO62WJ3pe-pIkYhAbd-KuXxNcEmdkQDf-KVG1MwFJ603_X_Bkj6Ka0XkjGT5JYECj_FMe5Ll5jRiuD0rG5BEoAVggMsxqdh1uUAgCzPCVsPsQYFs/s1600/The+Light+of+Christmas.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="314" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwv21Bm7U8yTJC8YT7wwFFpEBXCuqTO62WJ3pe-pIkYhAbd-KuXxNcEmdkQDf-KVG1MwFJ603_X_Bkj6Ka0XkjGT5JYECj_FMe5Ll5jRiuD0rG5BEoAVggMsxqdh1uUAgCzPCVsPsQYFs/s320/The+Light+of+Christmas.png" width="247" /></a></div>
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46. <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/river-rose-and-the-magical-christmas-kelly-clarkson/1126647027?ean=9780062697646" target="_blank">River Rose and the Magical Christmas</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0leAY81ndP0IBut8JZUReMd92mBp5X2nnZPffxaM_62o-YmCC7YCyUttuxLQH1KlHX8h1gMFI1HLfl87xAY2PEAFUhFOTDdmDpiXPoNmR0aIWCtb10M_kcYKUJcmyacYv-RKSQUhBncA/s1600/River+Rose+and+the+Magical+Christmas.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="406" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0leAY81ndP0IBut8JZUReMd92mBp5X2nnZPffxaM_62o-YmCC7YCyUttuxLQH1KlHX8h1gMFI1HLfl87xAY2PEAFUhFOTDdmDpiXPoNmR0aIWCtb10M_kcYKUJcmyacYv-RKSQUhBncA/s320/River+Rose+and+the+Magical+Christmas.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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47. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Songs-Interactive-Childrens-Button/dp/1680521225/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=christmas+books&qid=1575312792&sr=8-5" target="_blank">Christmas Songs</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4dQSK6hPe4_HpVzak5OiVPDzZv6hsm39PFW08IVbqtknIZFvaqgEtGMTO1Ts0bt5Wt_h9cQGbFYi43I2nOA0ZTEZBVpOYeiwOgLfG9OdSsAwVfBq7Q9FzaVAL9_t2SnxD3ceolsqnb3U/s1600/Christmas+Songs.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4dQSK6hPe4_HpVzak5OiVPDzZv6hsm39PFW08IVbqtknIZFvaqgEtGMTO1Ts0bt5Wt_h9cQGbFYi43I2nOA0ZTEZBVpOYeiwOgLfG9OdSsAwVfBq7Q9FzaVAL9_t2SnxD3ceolsqnb3U/s320/Christmas+Songs.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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48. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mrs-Claus-Takes-Reins-Fliess/dp/1503936988/ref=sr_1_18_sspa?keywords=christmas+books&qid=1575312937&sr=8-18-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUE0UzZIMFAxVlhFTTMmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTAwNjIyMzZFSElKQlJYTTVLRkQmZW5jcnlwdGVkQWRJZD1BMDcxOTI0MTMxSFBGVU5JRDEzRE4md2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGZfbmV4dCZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=" target="_blank">Mrs. Claus Takes the Reins</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisfeWhCZru33n_Di3nPHn9kFxfiVpuPsSR_zko0qJOiZp3UG0Qj94G0KFn9AfboRV5ww2OxNYAgFgcpWaMTR-RCV6PcT_1SNktMfxKfYQlVhg9z2oE1vSeb79dcwPobm90u9_uoebYKX4/s1600/Mrs+Clause+Takes+the+Reins.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="391" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisfeWhCZru33n_Di3nPHn9kFxfiVpuPsSR_zko0qJOiZp3UG0Qj94G0KFn9AfboRV5ww2OxNYAgFgcpWaMTR-RCV6PcT_1SNktMfxKfYQlVhg9z2oE1vSeb79dcwPobm90u9_uoebYKX4/s320/Mrs+Clause+Takes+the+Reins.png" width="250" /></a></div>
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49. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Reindolphins-Christmas-Tale-Kevin-Brougher/dp/0997795905/ref=sr_1_37_sspa?keywords=christmas+books&qid=1575312937&sr=8-37-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUE0UzZIMFAxVlhFTTMmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTAwNjIyMzZFSElKQlJYTTVLRkQmZW5jcnlwdGVkQWRJZD1BMDg2MTgwMDFKOFZFUjVHUERDT0cmd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9idGYmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl" target="_blank">Reindolphins: A Christmas Tale</a></div>
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50. <a href="https://www.target.com/p/christmas-in-a-book-uplifting-editions-by-noterie-hardcover/-/A-76547311" target="_blank">Christmas in a Book</a></div>
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Do you see any old favorites that made the list? New books you will be adding to your holiday library? Let me know what you think in the comments below! Merry Christmas!!</div>
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Katie</div>
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Mama Made a Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11995556740669823444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863141212030661086.post-8500693183801190022016-04-22T11:30:00.001-04:002016-04-22T11:30:27.600-04:00Finding Joy in the Ordinary<div style="text-align: center;">
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When I made my to do list at the beginning of the week, one of my goals was to write a meaningful blog post. I've been feeling a little busy and uninspired, and I really wanted to get out of that mindset.</div>
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Since starting Plexus in February, I've got so much more energy for the daily things that I had really dreaded previously. Taking showers and giving Reagan baths for instance. Obviously very necessary haha, and they make us feel refreshed and clean, but for someone with chronic illness they also take a lot of energy. Cleaning, cooking, laundry, you name it. I've come to really despise these necessary activities of daily living. I'm used to putting them off because I'm just too tired to do them, and then feeling extremely stressed when I finally get around to it.</div>
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I thought once I had more energy I would be so much more fun and happy. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely am! But that is only part of the changes I have needed. Now that I have the energy to get these tasks accomplished, I no longer need to dread them. And I don't as much, but I haven't been happy to do them necessarily. Is anyone? Haha that's for another discussion.</div>
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My mindset just needed some adjusting! I'm so lucky that I have a little girl who needs mama to bathe her. We are blessed to have hot running water. How awesome that I have food to cook and mouths to feed. When I think about it that way, the mundane, boring duties calling for my attention are blessings that I am more than happy to attend to! </div>
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At the beginning of the year, I said JOY was my word of the year. Choosing joy is still something that I'm actively working at. It doesn't always come easy. But it's there. And you can choose to see joy in so many plain and ordinary places if you're purposeful about it. </div>
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Commit yourself to finding joy somewhere you've been struggling to see it. Where are you finding your joy?</div>
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xoxo, </div>
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Katie</div>
Mama Made a Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11995556740669823444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863141212030661086.post-19877902120816133822016-03-03T21:40:00.002-05:002016-03-03T21:40:48.094-05:00What Happened in My First Month of Plexus<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6j7YXKgIiAla0nv3hHclB8MUfSpoIV6u1qi-CDSgi2Da5Rz1pKHFSMeoX_vfWSRg20b6yoErSAaw3UQvu6pb3hPFUW6B5B4QWPMNtWtWtLjuhz0BABgWvyRcgDHWB6ZnzRJcbEMYAaZc/s1600/IMG_2535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6j7YXKgIiAla0nv3hHclB8MUfSpoIV6u1qi-CDSgi2Da5Rz1pKHFSMeoX_vfWSRg20b6yoErSAaw3UQvu6pb3hPFUW6B5B4QWPMNtWtWtLjuhz0BABgWvyRcgDHWB6ZnzRJcbEMYAaZc/s320/IMG_2535.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Starting out, I was such a skeptic. Did you read my post about all the changes I was making in January? Plexus was one of them. I would take it for a few days and then forget for a few, but I finally decided to really give it my best shot. For the entire month of February I took my Plexus Slim and Xfactor multivitamin every morning. I didn't expect it to be any different than the other times 3 times I had tried it. </div>
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Of course, I didn't give it my best those times either. I would start taking it, trying to cut out Red Bull and then later coffee. I've suffered from Lyme Disease symptoms since 2008, which include joint pain, fatigue, migraines, brain fog, forgetfulness, just to name a little bit. For some people who get Lymes, those symptoms don't go away. I went undiagnosed for over a year, and the symptoms improved when I was treated, but they've been very much chronic since then. My sweet friend who first told me about Plexus had been through a very similar situation and she had found incredible relief through Plexus products, not to mention the fact that she's a work at home mom now because she became a Plexus Ambassador. </div>
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So anyway, I've been silently suffering all this time, and this year I'm ready for changes. Here's what has happened in the last month:</div>
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*I'm not in constant pain</div>
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*I can concentrate so much better</div>
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*My memory is improving</div>
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*My horrendous allergies I've had since I was a child are nonexistent at the moment,,, and we even have flowers blooming inside the house! I'm just imagining what this is going to mean for my asthma this year. I usually have a trip to the ER for asthma every Spring!</div>
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*I have a healthy control over my appetite. I don't want to graze all hours of the day. I do occasionally snack, but most of the time I just don't want anything!</div>
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*I don't get blood sugar swings between meals. Usually if I go too long without eating I feel shaky and weak and I have this need to snack just to make that feeling go away, but not anymore.</div>
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* I have energy!! This is huge!</div>
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*I lost 3 lbs. This is without changing my diet or exercise at all!</div>
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*I lost inches in every measurement I took except calves. That's neck, upper arm, waist, hips, and thigh!</div>
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Please keep in mind that this is just my personal experience with Plexus Slim and Xfactor, and experiences will vary. Plexus is a line of supplements, and does not claim to cure or treat any disease or condition because supplements are not regulated by the FDA.</div>
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I have Hashimoto's Thyroid Disease, and this gives me a very sluggish metabolism, takes even more of my energy, and makes it so hard for me to lose weight and so easy to gain. I have had to keep steadily increasing my medication for this since becoming pregnant with Reagan in 2010, so I'm very excited to see in a couple weeks how my levels are doing and if there has been any change.</div>
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I'm also going to be trying a couple more Plexus products in addition to my normal Slim and Xfactor repertoire. And increasing my exercise because I have the energy to do this now! </div>
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I am so blessed to have experienced these health improvements. Now I am able to share these products with others as well because a couple weeks into this new Plexus journey, I decided to take the leap and become a Plexus Ambassador myself! One of the biggest drivers of my team is "If you are blessed, be a blessing!" How amazing is that?</div>
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If you are looking to improve your health, step up your health game, or join my team, please contact me and visit my website: <a href="http://shopmyplexus.com/katiezahn" target="_blank">shopmyplexus.com/katiezahn</a>. </div>
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I'll definitely be keeping y'all updated on my experience with these products and this company!</div>
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Do you have any questions? Comment below!</div>
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xoxo,</div>
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Katie</div>
Mama Made a Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11995556740669823444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863141212030661086.post-61841065698951114922016-02-06T23:22:00.001-05:002016-02-06T23:25:12.354-05:00Buy This Before Disney!<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "quirky & messy"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> I’m in the process of planning a trip to Disney World! I have never been, so of course neither has Reagan. I cannot wait to see her excitement and experience such a magical trip with her! This is definitely one of the perks of mom life, am I right?!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "quirky & messy"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> So in all my planning, I’ve been researching places to eat, people to meet, things to do, and I can’t wait to share all the tips and tricks I’ve learned and all the details of our trip once we go. There are a few things I know we want to have on hand right away, so here’s a list of what we’re getting before the trip!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "quirky & messy"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "quirky & messy"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.disneystore.com/clothes/costume-shop/mn/1000395/" target="_blank">Princess costumes</a>: Of course Reagan is so excited to see Elsa and Anna and all the princesses! She already has a few costumes from Disney from past Halloweens and birthdays, so we will definitely be bringing those. I have always been a big fan of costumes from the Disney Store. When Reagan was two, she wanted to be Sophia the First for Halloween. I got her the outfit and all the accessories, and not only was it SO cute at the time, it still fits her now that she’s 4 (almost 5!) and has held up beautifully! Through tea parties, washes, days and days worth of dress up, it practically looks brand new. Part of that is because Reagan is short and small for her age, and she generally takes good care of her clothes and toys, but still, I feel like for costume and dress up clothes it’s worth the extra money to buy from the Disney Store and get a high quality product that lasts rather than the one-size-fits-most counterparts in other stores.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "quirky & messy"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> <a href="http://www.disneystore.com/disney/store/DSISearch?Searchstr=Autograph+Books&storeId=10051&catalogId=10002&langId=-1&pageCmdName=productDetailPage&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&N=0&Nu=pProductID&Nr=pPublished%3a1&Ntk=All_Shopping&Ntt=Autograph+Books&D=Autograph+Books&Dr=pPublished%3a1&typeAhead=1" target="_blank"> </a></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "quirky & messy"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.disneystore.com/disney/store/DSISearch?Searchstr=Autograph+Books&storeId=10051&catalogId=10002&langId=-1&pageCmdName=productDetailPage&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&N=0&Nu=pProductID&Nr=pPublished%3a1&Ntk=All_Shopping&Ntt=Autograph+Books&D=Autograph+Books&Dr=pPublished%3a1&typeAhead=1" target="_blank">Autograph books</a>: I’ve never been to any Disney location, so I could be wrong, but I would imagine that any time after you enter the park is fair game for a character spotting. I want to have our autograph books on hand so we’re ready from the start. This princess version looks especially magical!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "quirky & messy"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">3.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "quirky & messy"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Special or matching outfits: I’ve seen some matching shirts from the <a href="http://www.disneystore.com/clothes/mn/1000204/" target="_blank">Disney Store,</a> but also Disney themed shirts on <a href="https://www.etsy.com/search?q=disney%20clothes&ref=auto3" target="_blank">Etsy</a>. I’m getting the Mouseketeer shirts with the Minnie ears, and the rest I’ll be designing and making. (And posting on Etsy! I’ll be sharing them here too when they’re listed!) I found the dress in the next picture at Walmart just two days ago. This is a great option for a regular outfit, but also if you're looking for a less expensive or more comfortable alternative to the princess costumes! If you've followed my <a href="http://instagram.com/mamamadeablog" target="_blank">new Instagram for the blog</a>, you already got a sneak peak at this post and saw this picture! (The blog has a <a href="http://pinterest.com/mamamadeablog" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> now too! Follow us!)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "quirky & messy"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">4.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "quirky & messy"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.disneystore.com/disney/store/DSISearch?Searchstr=ear&storeId=10051&catalogId=10002&langId=-1&pageCmdName=searchPage&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&N=0&Nu=pProductID&Nr=pPublished%3A1&Ntk=All_Shopping&Ntt=ear&D=ear&Dr=pPublished%3A1" target="_blank">Ear hats or headbands</a>: We already have a pair of <a href="http://www.disneystore.com/minnie-mouse-ears-headband-for-girls-pink-sequin/mp/1302637/1000292/" target="_blank">pink sequin Minnie ears</a> that I wore for Halloween when Reagan was Minnie Mouse. Unfortunately her hat from that costume no longer fits, so I’m just getting her a matching pair and making our first day shirts to match them. They have some really cool themed headbands and hats at the Disney Store, so I’m hopeful that there will be even more in the parks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "quirky & messy"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Walmart has tons of glow sticks in the party section, and some are even Frozen themed. I already picked up a set to save for a random occasion, so we’ll be taking that for one of the night parades or fireworks shows. We also already have a few princess wands from costumes and Disney On Ice, so we’ll be bringing those instead of buying more while we’re there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "quirky & messy"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">6.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "quirky & messy"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.disneystore.com/toys/play-sets-more/mn/1000265/" target="_blank">Something special for the trip</a>: There are a number of play sets, especially those that come with carrying cases, which will give kids something fun to do on the trip, in the hotel during down time, or even in line waiting in the parks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "quirky & messy"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">7.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "quirky & messy"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.disneystore.com/collectibles/pins/mn/1000211/?searchRedirect=1&searchTerm=pins&catalogFromSearch=10002" target="_blank">Trading pins and starter set</a>: Pin trading is a big deal for some families, so we’re going to give it a try. Cast members will even trade with you if you ask. I’m getting a starter set and a couple sets of the less expensive pins so we’ll have some we’re okay with parting with. The pins aren’t crazy expensive and with the lanyards they’re kind of self-contained, so I feel like these make a great souvenir also! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "quirky & messy"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">8.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "quirky & messy"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Magicband accessories: We’re going to decorate our magicbands, so I’m getting a few sliders and stickers and we’ll make a fun activity of it in the days before we leave. There are of course accessories or even decorated magicbands themselves from the<a href="http://www.disneystore.com/magicband/mn/1024701/?searchRedirect=1&searchTerm=magicband&catalogFromSearch=10002" target="_blank"> Disney Store</a>, and I’ve also seen stickers on <a href="https://www.etsy.com/search?q=magicband" target="_blank">etsy</a> with characters and <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/193498226/the-original-magicband-monogram-decal?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=magicband&ref=sr_gallery_1" target="_blank">monograms</a>. I’m sure a small sticker set from the party section of any store would work as well!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "quirky & messy"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Of course there are tons of other things you may potentially need before you leave, but these are all of the Disney specific items I’m going to be shopping for ahead of time to save a little time and money! What are your favorite things to pack for Disney trips?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "quirky & messy"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">xoxo,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "jennifer lynne"; font-size: 36.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Katie<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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Mama Made a Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11995556740669823444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863141212030661086.post-12879088440577485422016-01-27T11:45:00.000-05:002016-01-27T11:45:31.709-05:0010 Changes to Adopt for a Great Year<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">New Year, Same Rut<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">s
the new year, time for a fresh start. This sounds great in theory, but I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m currently feeling like I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m stuck in such a rut, and it</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">s hard to decide where to start when there are
so many things I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">d like to change. I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">ve found that as a stay at home mom, it</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">s especially easy to end up stuck in a rut. When
I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m not getting out of the
house regularly, I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m usually scrolling through
Zulily</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">s daily deals on my iPad,
third day hair in messy ponytail, wearing sweatpants I found on the floor. This
is not a pretty picture, but let</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">s
be real y</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">all. Even if </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">getting
out of the house</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">”</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> just looks like running out to Walmart for milk and
bread, I still feel so much better when I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m out and getting things accomplished. Ruts have
been happening for me way more than I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">d care to admit, and this year, I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m
setting out to fix that.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Here are my goals for 2016:</span></b></div>
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<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><i><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Better sleep.</span></i></b><i style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></i><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">It all starts here folks. When you don</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">t get enough sleep or you
aren</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">t
sleeping well, things don</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">t get accomplished. Simple as that. On the worst days, I come
home and nap and barely do a thing between morning drop off and afternoon pick
up. This does not do good things to my ego. Better sleep = better days. <b>What I</b></span><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span></b><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m changing: </span></b><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">11:00 is bed time. Not lay in bed and surf the internet time,
real bed time. I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">m also tracking my sleep with my new Fitbit Flex. On really
rough nights when I can</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">t get to sleep, Tylenol is a major help. I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">m usually restless 17-20
times per night, but after taking two regular Tylenol before bed just once, the
next three nights I was restless 7, 3, and 0 times. Getting a good night of
sleep made subsequent nights that much better!</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Self care.</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> I am important, and so are you. I love being a mommy, and I
think about my daughter way more than I think about myself, but if I don</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">t take care of myself and
I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m
at the end of my rope, I can</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">t be the mom I want to be. I can</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">t be the mom she NEEDS me to be. <b>What I</b></span><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m changing: </span></b><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What
ever gives you life, do that. For me, it</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">s showers, makeup, jewelry, and nice nails.<b> </b>No more three day hair. Even when I
feel too busy to do anything for myself, I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m making the time. I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m getting up early enough to do my makeup before waking
Reagan. Even if all I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m wearing is some yoga pants and a plain tee, I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m still grabbing at least
one piece of jewelry before I walk out the door. Reagan and I do our nails
together. We bond, and when I look at my nails it makes me want to take care of
myself. Everyone wins.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Financial
management.</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> I haven</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">t been the best at saving, and it</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">s caused me a lot of undue
worrying and stress. As someone with anxiety, stress here spills over to all
aspects of life. <b>What I</b></span><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m changing: </span></b><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m using budgeting printables from Pinterest to put it all out
on paper. Before I buy anything, no matter how small, I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m praying about it and
really considering if this purchase is necessary in this moment. Intentional
spending is crucial. When I let myself buy without thinking, not only do I
usually regret it, but I end up tempted to do it again. Even when I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m in a financially stable
place, spending without thinking is wasteful and leads to stress.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Better
risks.</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> I have an etsy shop made with
nothing in it. There are so many ideas of written down but haven</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">t actually made yet. I
have tons of projects planned that I want to post about. Photo shoots, recipes,
crafts, trips, products and books to share. I know all about taking risks.
Hitting the snooze button just once more and still trying to get there on time,
not studying enough and still trying to ace the test, just one more cupcake but
maybe it won</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">t go to my hips if I exercise enough. Sure, I take risks every
day, but are they the right ones? <b>What I</b></span><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m changing: </span></b><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m going out on stable limbs. If it</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">s not beneficial (ex. all
the things I just admitted to doing), I just need to save my time and energy for
the risks that are worthwhile. This year I will be building my business,
blogging regularly, doing fun things I would normally be tempted to skip,
taking a few classes on hobbies I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">ve been wanting to try (Craftsy!), and other things outside my
comfort zone that will enrich my life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Less procrastination. </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
have the terrible habit of putting off everything from class assignments to
getting out of bed until the very last minute. This is one of my biggest
stressors and yet I haven</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">t changed, until now. <b>What I</b></span><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m changing: </span></b><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m praying over how I spend my time. God wants me
to use the time I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">ve been blessed with
wisely. Talking with Him keeps things in perspective and makes me want to be
intentional about how I spend my time. Less time wasted means less stress and
more time doing the things that matter, and that sounds like a wonderful change
for me.</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">More exercise. </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
work and attend college from home. I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m a
stay at home mom. I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m not out and about often,
and I have reason to sit at my computer basically all day. The last couple
years of this have equated into less and less time moving. Virtually no
exercise has taken a huge toll on my health and my self esteem. <b>What I</b></span><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m changing: </span></b><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m getting up and getting moving! I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m using my Fitbit Flex to track my steps and
starting out with a 10k step daily goal. I just started last week and I already
feel SO MUCH BETTER. Walking is easy and I know I can stick to that. I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m not going to set myself up for failure by
trying to commit to something intense when I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m
not ready for that. I sneak walking in all the time throughout my day. Everyone
has time for this! I walk while the microwave is counting down, while I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m brushing my teeth, when I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">ve been sitting at my desk for a while I hop up
and walk for a few minutes. I walk in place, outside, around the house. My
Fitbit Flex keeps track of my steps, and I love that all I have to do is look
at my wrist to find out where I stand with my goals. It</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">s exactly the motivation I need to keep moving
all day. My friends and I also use the Fitbit app to challenge each other and
that works wonders as well.</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Good nutrition. </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
feel pressed for time 24/7 from stress and procrastinating too much which
leaves me with very little time. It</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">s
much easier to reach for a quick fix with poor nutritional value when I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m busy than to take the time to fix a healthy
meal. I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">ve let this business be my
vice for far too long. <b>What I</b></span><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m changing: </span></b><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m making better eating choices. It is faster to
grab something at home than to hit the drive thru, no matter what I try to tell
myself. I don</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">t NEED that coffee while I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m running errands, I can just fix a much
healthier one at home and bring it with me. And when I don</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">t feel like cooking my lunch, I can grab an
organic Lean Cuisine instead of unhealthy alternatives and have a much
healthier lunch that I love in the same amount of time. I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m also giving this one to God. When I talk to
him about my choices and think of my body as the wonderful gift from Him that
it is, it makes me want to treat myself better. Correct portion sizes, fresh
fruits and veggies, and unprocessed protein are delicious fuel. I will not
limit or restrict myself, I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m simply making better
choices and changing my perspective. I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m tracking
my calories in the Fitbit app so I know where I stand with the calories I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m taking in. I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m
also drinking Plexus Slim and taking the Plexus Xfactor multivitamin daily.</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">More time outside. </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When
I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m sitting in front of my
computer working and studying, or cleaning and organizing the house, or the
million other things I feel like I need to do NOW, I don</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">t take the time to get outside and get fresh
air. This is so unhealthy!! <b>What I</b></span><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m changing: </span></b><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Every
single day that weather permits, I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m
going outside for a minimum of 15 minutes. Sunshine and vitamin D and taking
the time to stop and enjoy this beautiful world He created does me so much
good, and it is important that I make time for this. It is such a mood lifter!</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Tidy living. </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When
I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m feeling super exhausted,
it</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">s hard to motivate myself
to tackle the clutter in my house. Then I look around at the mess that</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">s already taking over and I feel that much more
exhausted because I don</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">t know where to begin, and
so the cycle continues. <b>What I</b></span><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m changing: </span></b><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Every
morning, I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m starting a load of
laundry. Even if I don</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">t do any laundry for the
rest of the day, at least I know we</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">ll
have some clean clothes ready to go. It doesn</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">t
have to take up my entire day to make a difference. I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m also taking 15 minutes to take on the clutter.
I pick a room, grab a trash bag or bins for organizing, and set the timer on my
phone. 15 minutes of intense cleaning gets so much more done than sitting on
the couch stressing about everything I need to do and the lack of time I have
to accomplish it all!</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Choosing JOY. </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This
is my word for 2016. I prayed for God to show me what I needed to focus on this
year. I asked Him to give me a word that could be my mantra. I was cooking
dinner and listening to the Christian music station, and a song came on that
really struck home with me and made me think of joy. I have a beautiful
necklace with the words Choose Joy on the front, and it</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">s always been a sentiment I loved. When I
stopped to think about how I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">d been feeling lately, I realized
that I had NOT been choosing joy. I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">ve
been letting the negativity of situations cloud out the good parts of my day,
and it was stealing my joy. My biggest mission this year is to change that. <b>What I</b></span><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m changing: </span></b><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m putting my focus on the bright side of
everything. When my daughter is pressing on my last nerve and I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m about to lose it – how blessed I am to have
this issue. I have a child that I love, I am a wonderful mother, and I am so
blessed that I have an independent little girl that I get to work through these
issues with. When I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m feeling exhausted and
worn out – I</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">m so lucky to have this
body that has never failed me, and a bed to go rest in, and a warm home to
protect me so that I can get some much needed rest without worry. In pretty
much any situation, there is a way to choose joy over upset. And when you make
a conscious decision to pick joy, it changes your outlook on everything for the
better. I could use more joy and positivity. I can</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">’</span><span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">t wait to see how my life changes this year
because of these new choices. I hope this inspires you to have a wonderful 2016
and choose joy!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cinnamon cake"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">xoxo,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "jennifer lynne"; font-size: 36.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Katie<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
Mama Made a Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11995556740669823444noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863141212030661086.post-53760757276862793862015-09-11T21:45:00.001-04:002015-09-11T21:45:40.320-04:00When You're Feeling Stressed About The Bible<div style="text-align: center;">
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I've been working extra hard on making time to build a real relationship with the Lord lately. Not just to be faithful and obedient, but really knowing Him and letting Him into every part of my life. It is not always easy. How do you know what God wants from you when he's not standing there face to face talking you through it? How do you know you're interpreting His word correctly? How do you even really get involved in His word and not just read it but know it in your heart?</div>
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I finally got around to watching a class from the Influence Network last night that came out last month. I know, I'm slacking! It was Women Who Read the Word 2.0 by Jess Connolly. If you need to be inspired to read your Bible or you don't know where to start, I highly recommend this class! (There is also a part one to this class, that Jess teaches as well, and both of these are still available as past classes! The first is called How To: Just Get in God's Word.)</div>
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So I watched the class last night and now I'm feeling inspired to really get into His word and eat it up and know it and know Him. BUT. How do I soak it up? How do I comprehend it? Because I can sit down and read it and when we're talking about genealogy or names or places, I'm totally lost. I can read it ten times over and still not know it. Also, reading the Bible raises a lot of questions for me. I do better when I read a Christian life book with bits of scripture that pertain to something I can relate to or the season I'm at in life. It can get so discouraging and I hate to say it, but I've never read the whole Bible and there is SO MUCH that I just don't know.</div>
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Regardless of all that I got up this morning with renewed conviction that it was time for me to try again. I usually read from a book or devotional or the YouVersion Bible app and then look up the key verses in my physical Bible. Last week I downloaded She Reads Truth and I decided to try their Bible in a Year and The Gospel devotionals. (Both of which are available for free in their app!)</div>
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I am so glad I started off with these. God knew exactly what I was needing and He delivered in His perfect timing. I started off with the Bible in a Year. Instead of going by the actual date and starting off with September's readings, I went back to January. Some people might do fine starting in the middle of the year, but I really needed to see things from the beginning and have a good foundation to start on in understanding the Bible as a whole. The first day's readings are from Genesis and John. It helps that I've read through Genesis multiple times, so it wasn't too hard to get into. </div>
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Next, I did the first day of The Gospel. The entire thing was powerful, but the best takeaway from it was this: "The mystery of the Gospel does nothing to negate its truth." Oh my goodness!! It is so big a concept that it is beyond our full understanding. The greatest Bible scholars in the world still have more to learn. It is not our job to know everything. God has that under control. Just because it is beyond my understanding DOES NOT mean that it is beyond His Godly power!</div>
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That takes a huge load off my shoulders. I want to know Him and be close to Him and use His word to glorify Him. I do not need to know everything the Bible says fully understand it to do that. I can lean on Him. He wants us to lean on Him. I don't know about y'all, but I am much more comfortable knowing that. The more I know from the Bible, the better. But I have the God given grace of not having to have my head wrapped around every single concept just to know Him, love Him, and walk with Him. That brings me divine relief. I hope it makes you want to jump into His word with less pressure too.</div>
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xoxo,</div>
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Mama Made a Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11995556740669823444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863141212030661086.post-35424115274429547602015-09-01T20:55:00.001-04:002015-09-01T20:55:50.226-04:00Was All Stress Created Equal?<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If it wasn't already apparent, I took a hiatus from Mama Made a Blog for the last few months. At first I kept meaning to post and meaning to post, and adding more and more to my to do list so of course I kept putting it off.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And finally I had one of those defining moments when you gain clarity over what you're supposed to do - and I knew I just needed a break. I needed to downsize my to do list, and anything that was less than necessary needed to come off.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is so easy to want to do more and more and more, and continue to add to our calendars and our to do lists. Haven't we heard of quality over quantity? You can make it to every single event on your social calendar, bake goodies for every organization and person who asks you to, and give your time to numerous other outlets and activities, but does any of that matter if you can't enjoy it?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'll give you a hint, the short answer is no! :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So, I stopped blogging for a while, and I got through the rest of the Spring semester, got through a nursing simulation and test, decided to take another year before finishing nursing classes, found out my little was wait-listed for preschool (it's a need-based program at the local public school, and she scored very high on her testing, so that was a blessing even though I want for there to be enough room in the class for her), Reagan turned 4, and we had the whole summer off together until I started the Fall semester this past week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So clearly my to do list wasn't actually lacking ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That being said, I've been taking lots of classes on the Influence Network, reading some books just because I want to, and spending time with Reagan and loving on myself as well as Jesus.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sometimes when we really feel like we need a break, what we really need to do is <i>give ourselves one. </i>I don't mean the kind of break you take when you have it all finished and your to do list is completed. Let me tell you, that time will not come. There will always be something you can put before your own rest and rejuvenation. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Did you know that all stress has the same effect on your body? That's right, even good stress like blogging has the same effect as those things I need to get done that I don't want to because they're both adding to the amount of stress I'm feeling. A stress response is a stress response. It doesn't matter if it's wedding planning or cramming for your final exam. You might enjoy one more than the other (I hope!) but you're still going to experience your body's reaction to stress.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm currently reading The Best Yes by Lysa TerKeurst, because I still need tons of help prioritizing and saying yes to the right things. So far so good, but I'll write a full review when I'm done. Until then has anyone else read it? Have you had any times that you felt the need to pull back and say no, even to activities that you loved?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">xoxo,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Katie</span></div>
Mama Made a Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11995556740669823444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863141212030661086.post-4136712385265745542015-04-03T14:26:00.001-04:002015-04-03T14:26:23.302-04:00Book Review: If I Stay<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: LillyBelle;">Book Review: If I Stay by Gayle Forman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Some books are easy reads. Perfect for beach days, relaxing and not doing too much heavy thinking. This is NOT one of those books!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If I Stay is an amazing and eloquently written book about a girl whose life is turned upside down by a car accident. She is essentially stuck in an out-of-body state watching everything happen around her over the course of the next day. From the time immediately following the accident, to her stay in the ICU, to the visitors who come to be with her, you follow her torturous inner battle with the decision to stay or leave this earth and the loved ones she has left. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This book rocked my world for a number of reasons. For starters, Forman wrote a completely riveting story that keeps you on the edge of your seat from the start. It is so hard to put down, I just wanted to read it in one sitting so I could find out what happened next and what decision she would ultimately make. The end definitely left a few questions, so it is sure to make readers ready to run out and buy the second book immediately. All signs of an amazing read!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I was 19, my boyfriend was in a car accident and passed away from his injuries 6 days later. During this time I was with him or at least at the hospital almost the entire time. I was even at the scene of the accident when it happened. If you have lost a loved one, especially in such a traumatic way, you know what a life altering experience that is. It has been almost 5 years now, and sometimes when I’m really thinking about him a lot and missing him even more than usual, I just long to feel something significant. This book took me back with such intense emotion. It was so hard to read. I didn’t want to, but sometimes I had to make myself take a break. Gayle Forman did an incredible job capturing the entire ICU experience from the perspective of someone who does not frequent hospitals.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Even though it was an extremely emotional book to read, I think if you have experienced this kind of loss it’s therapeutic in a way. Having a chance to think through and process emotions, rather than bury them and let them build up, is important in any stage of grieving.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I highly suggest this book to anyone. It is a brilliant book even if you have never experienced anything like this in your life. You will be captivated from the very beginning with a perfect mix of suspense and substance. If you have been through this kind of tragic loss, I firmly believe If I Stay has something to offer you too.</span></span><br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Let me know what you think of If I Stay in the comments!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: LillyBelle;">xoxo,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: LillyBelle; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Katie</span><br />
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PS. This post contains an affiliate link and I will receive a small compensation if you purchase through it, but this has no influence over my decision to share this book or my opinion of it. :)</div>
Mama Made a Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11995556740669823444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863141212030661086.post-3300166189460025312015-03-25T12:38:00.001-04:002015-03-25T12:38:18.388-04:00Rough Patches<div align="center">
What a hard week this has been. Reagan has hit a bit of a tantrum spell. Possibly she can sense the tension around her and her bad moods are feeding off of that. It's bound to happen when 7 people live in one house, but that doesn't make it fun ;)</div>
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She's also turning 4 one week from today! Super exciting because her party is Saturday and we have made it through the age of 3, but also bittersweet because my "baby" is starting preschool in the fall! If I could just hit pause for a little while I would be so tempted. She's so much fun right now, and I am really enjoying this age so much. But I also know our bond will continue to grow :)</div>
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There has been so much to do for school and the nursing program this week also. I am picking up with the rest of my nursing classes starting in the fall, so I have to a lot to do to prepare for that and for the simulation lab I'll have to do this coming month to test back into the class. It's a little frustrating to have to retake a lab that I've already passed, but it's also good to have that practice and refresh my memory. I can't believe it's been almost a year since my last lab and clinical! </div>
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My sweet cousin was pregnant and we knew she would be due a few weeks after Reagan's birthday, but she had preeclampsia as her pregnancy progressed and this past week it became severe. My new baby "niece" is still in the NICU and her mama is taking it pretty hard so please keep them in your prayers! I actually chose preeclampsia as a research topic weeks ago and had to study it after Taylor's birth, so that was really hard knowing everything that my cousin has been through and what the future could hold. </div>
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All of this has made for some very stressful times around our house! Fortunately I have God, coffee, and long chats with dear friends to keep me sane ;) I don't need to have it all figured out or fix everything because He knows His plans for me and for everyone I love. The ultimate stress reliever for me is being able to take a deep breath and give it all to God. All my burdens and worries and fears, He says He will help carry them. I'm not in life alone, all I have to do is trust Him. What sweet relief that is. </div>
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How do you unwind in hard times? COMMENT below!</div>
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xoxo,</div>
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Katie</div>
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Mama Made a Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11995556740669823444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863141212030661086.post-27101466191467689952015-03-16T13:40:00.001-04:002015-03-16T13:40:26.763-04:00Love List: Things I'm Loving Right Now<div align="center">
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<span style="font-family: LillyBelle; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">What I’m Loving</span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: LillyBelle;">To Go Spa
Face mask in Ice Water.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> I haven’t tried this yet, but I can’t wait
to. I love gel eye masks and this looks like it would feel similar to that.
They also have smaller eye masks made for just the under eye area. I found this
company on Instagram and it looks like the people who have tried it really love
it. I’m all for anything that makes me feel relaxed and pampered and doesn’t
take a whole lot of work! I’m sure other moms will agree! Available <a href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?B=692738&U=1079494&M=57402&urllink=" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: LillyBelle;">Hoopnotica
Travel Hoop Combo Kit in Pink.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> I love a way to spice up my workout routine
without having to get bulky new equipment. I don’t have the room for it. The
fact that you can break this hoop down for travel makes it even more appealing.
It even comes with a Level One Hoopnotica Hoopdance DVD, so it’s perfect for
beginners. Get yours <a href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?B=670003&U=1079494&M=56318&urllink=" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: LillyBelle;">Brit</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">+</span></span><span style="font-family: LillyBelle;">Co. Good Luck Clover Kit.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Brit+Co.
has the coolest DIY boxes ever, and this lucky clover kit is no exception. St.
Patrick’s day is next week so I ordered this for us to plant together to
celebrate. It’s an easy, inexpensive, fun, and educational activity to do with
your littles. What more can a mom ask for?! I’m so excited to do this. Reagan
has a green thumb so she’s been ready for winter to end so we can get back in
the garden! Shop for lucky clovers <a href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?B=659515&U=1079494&M=55838&urllink=" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: LillyBelle;">Rent the
Runway: Ella Dress by ML Monique Lhuillier. </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This dress is gorgeous and equally
appropriate for church on Sunday morning or a night out on the town. Sometimes
it’s nice to get dressed up and make yourself feel special, and I love that I
can do that with Rent the Runway without the price of an expensive dress or
worrying about something that’s going to get worn once and sit in my closet.
It’s especially perfect for times when you want to play dress up for a special
occasion without the commitment. Shop <a href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?B=624765&U=1079494&M=54296&urllink=" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: LillyBelle;">Birthday
Express: Frozen Snow Globes. </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">These snow globes are so cute and it looks
like there are designs both boys and girls will love. I ordered these for
Reagan’s birthday party as favors for all the kids. Reagan and I have a holiday
tradition of getting a special new snow globe every year, so it holds mean for
us too, and I can’t wait to show her! Get yours <a href="http://www.shareasale.com/u.cfm?d=249079&m=53026&u=1079494" target="_blank">HERE</a> and</span></span><span style="font-family: LillyBelle;"> </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">use code AFCBDXP15 for 15% off your
purchase of $50+ until March 31, 2015. </span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: LillyBelle;">Sizzix
Texture Boutique Embossing Machine Beginner’s Kit.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
This machine is a small and inexpensive way to add a creative touch to cards,
scrapbook pages, invitations, and many other paper products. I’ve been looking
into crafting machines and this seems like one of the most affordable choices,
but I like that there is a starter kit that comes with everything you need
initially. I’ve been making greeting cards for the Mama Made a Blog etsy shop
(opening soon!!) so this would be the perfect addition for my craft room. Find
one <a href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?B=591767&U=1079494&M=51987&urllink=" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: LillyBelle;">Julep
Polish in Lucky. </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This polish is such a gorgeous color and
absolutely perfect for any day of the year, but especially St. Patrick’s Day!
Plus, if you join Maven <a href="http://www.shareasale.com/u.cfm?d=256185&m=49325&u=1079494" target="_blank">HERE</a>, you can use code AQUA to receive the March
Birthstone Welcome Box for free, just pay $2.99 shipping! Offer ends March 31,
2015.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: LillyBelle;">Zazzle:
Beautiful Pink Roses Modern Elegance Post-It Notes. </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m
really into being organized right now (shouldn’t we always be, in a way? I’ve
been struggling lately with that. I digress ;)) and list making is a HUGE part
of how I stay organized and manage my home, business, school, and sanity.
Having pretty paper to do it on makes it that much more enjoyable! Personalize
yours <a href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?B=542130&U=1079494&M=49310&urllink=" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: LillyBelle;">Warby
Parker Glasses: Carnaby in Blue Coral.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> I am so majorly in need of new
glasses, and I’ve been searching for something trendy without being too over
the top. I think these glasses might be it. I’ve never gotten glasses from
Warby Parker before, but you can have up to 5 pairs at a time sent to your home
for free to try on and send back. If you like a pair, you can order them, or
you can have more sent if necessary. My cousin just got herself a pair after
trying 3 different shipments of glasses and now she’s in love with them! It
makes sense to me, being able to try them on in your own home instead of
rushing to make a decision and then feeling like they look different later.
Find this and the rest of their collection <a href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?B=710613&U=1079494&M=47174&urllink=" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: LillyBelle;">DEI Green
Zigzag Insulated Picnic Basket on Zulily. </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We have had our first couple warm
days here and have even been for a couple walks. I can feel spring right around
the corner. For us, that means lots of picnics in the backyard and everywhere
else. I love the bright color of this picnic basket and it’s on Zulily for the
next couple days for a great price, so that’s a win on many levels in my book!
Get one <a href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?B=586598&U=1079494&M=46950&urllink=" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">These
are a few of the things that have been inspiring me lately. What’s been
inspiring you?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">**This
post contains affiliate links and I may receive a small commission if you make
a purchase through them, but the work on my blog and this post and all of the
opinions included are completely my own.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: LillyBelle;">xoxo,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: LillyBelle;">Katie<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Mama Made a Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11995556740669823444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863141212030661086.post-77857078327225332892015-03-15T16:34:00.000-04:002015-03-15T16:34:00.615-04:00My Daughter Learned Prayer<div align="center">
There are times when your child learns something when they are small that you are just overwhelmed with pride. Learning to walk and talk, for instance.</div>
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Then they get older and start to wrap their little minds around ideas, and its really a whole new kind of amazement to watch those connections form as their parent. Reagan and I have been praying, and in the beginning she repeated a lot of what I said and needed prompts from me on what to pray on, which is completely fine and still wonderful. Last night it dawned on me that she has learned how to pray for herself. </div>
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I am just so amazed by her sweet heart as she lays it all out there for God. I'm in awe of the incredible blessing before me when I get to listen to her talk to Him about the things she cares about most. She always starts off with he things she wants to thank God for, then any special requests big or small, and then she ends asking for Him to watch over us and our family and keep us all safe. </div>
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It makes me so happy to see her have so much to think to be thankful for. At three years of age she has figured out that she can go to God about anything, and to talk to him like a friend. I hope that stays with her forever.</div>
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Her prayer went something like this: "Dear God, Thank you for this wonderful day and for my mommy. She fills me with love and kisses me when I cry. I love her so much. Let her feel the wind in her hair and be filled with love every day. Please help me to be good and listen to my mommy, God. And please keep my family safe. I love you God. Amen."</div>
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My heart just melts listening to her! I love the colorful language that comes with this age. What a sweet little blessing!</div>
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What kinds of this do your kids pray about? Do you pray with them? Comment below!</div>
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xoxo,</div>
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Katie</div>
Mama Made a Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11995556740669823444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863141212030661086.post-85462956140196920422015-03-13T16:09:00.000-04:002015-03-13T16:09:11.543-04:00Sweet Mommy Victories<div align="center">
Sometimes motherhood is really hard. You keep working at it and wondering when it will pay off. Like when you're three year old is going through a tantrum phase or refusing veggies and you keep using persistence and feeling like it's getting you no where. Sound familiar? :)</div>
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And then one day, you realize you've had a break through. Or that you really are doing a great job and you totally rock at motherhood! CELEBRATE IT, MAMA! Shout it from the roof tops!</div>
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I love to see moms who really love motherhood and own it when they're doing a great job.</div>
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Reagan has been going through a dinner boycott for some unknown reason. She is usually really good about at least trying most things, but it's become an increasingly intense battle at the dinner table and has ended in tears for both of us on multiple occasions. The fact that we live with so many family members makes it even harder. There's always someone around who think's I'm being too tough or too lenient, so it just makes a huge struggle for everyone. Besides the fact that I worry that Reagan isn't getting a healthy, well-rounded diet.</div>
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So last week I told Reagan she could get up from the table if she had one single bite of her vegetable. I don't believe in forcing her to finish a whole plate if she isn't hungry, but one bite is not going to hurt her and is an accomplishment as far as getting a taste for veggies. She sat there for a while and complained, so I set a timer for 5 minutes and told her that if she didn't take that one bite before the timer went off, she was going straight to bed. She watched the timer and got more antsy until I told her she only had two minutes left, and she actually ate her one bite of veggies! The fact that she did it without a huge drawn out battle and a whole night of sitting at the table was pretty big to me, so I told her I was proud of her and let her get up. Later, she came back on her own and ate her entire dinner when she decided she was hungry! Since then, she has eaten a whole salad, among other new things. I am so proud of how far we have both come and dinner is no longer a struggle! That's a pretty big parenting victory for me!</div>
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Have you had any mommy victories lately? Share them!</div>
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xoxo,</div>
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Katie</div>
Mama Made a Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11995556740669823444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863141212030661086.post-77965524272014007162015-03-10T15:34:00.001-04:002015-03-10T15:34:08.259-04:00Ebooks vs. Real Books
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<span style="font-family: LillyBelle;">Ebooks vs. Real Books<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What’s
the difference? More importantly, does it matter?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I
believe so. Screen time, even spent reading books, has drawbacks. I know from experience
that my daughter tends to be very interested in pressing buttons and turning
pages, and it takes away from the quality of our reading time and her
understanding of the story. Many ebooks also include games and interactive
material within the story. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but again it
takes away from reading time and turns it into an entirely different experience.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What
about the types of books parents read? We all want to set a good example for
our children. A wonderful way to get them excited about reading books is to
read them ourselves. If our little ones see us reading for enjoyment, they’ll
want to do the same. So what if you’re reading ebooks? Well, all your children
are seeing is screen time. You know you’re reading and not surfing the web, but
they don’t. And even if they do, they’re not making that connection deep down.
They still see Mommy glued to her iPad, just like they see when you’re shopping
online, using Facebook, and anything else you do on your tablet or phone.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If
you want to set the example of reading for enjoyment for your kids, you need to
pick up a real book. There’s really no other way around it, y’all. Don’t get me
wrong, I love my iPad just as much as the next person, and Reagan and I both
have an extensive selection of ebooks, but I really keep those for times when
we’re on the go, or to read in bed so I don’t have to worry about a book light.
Our children are so impressionable at young ages and the messages we send them
without saying a word are the ones that really stick.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">With
all that being said, there are ways to get better quality time out of ebook
reading.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: LillyBelle;">Read together.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When
you sit down and read the books together rather than let the voice in the app
do it for you, you’re engaging in the story with your child and emphasizing the
exciting parts of the story and creating a much better learning experience than
if they sit down with the tablet by themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: LillyBelle;">Ask questions.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Involve
your child in the story by asking questions and talking it out. When you make
them think about what you’re reading, you know the story is coming alive for
them and not going in one ear and out the other! This is also great bonding
time and teaches you SO MUCH about how your child thinks!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: LillyBelle;">Stick to the story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yes,
the games and noises are fun, but they take your mind off the story. When you’re
reading, focus on just that. Those buttons and games aren’t going anywhere and
you can come back to them after you’ve learned what the story is all about. And
when you do, you can still play along with your child and ask more questions to
stay involved.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How
do you engage your children in learning experiences using technology? Are you a
huge ebook fan or do you prefer traditional books? Comment so we can discuss
it!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: LillyBelle;">xoxo,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: LillyBelle;">Katie<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: LillyBelle;">PS. Make sure to follow Mama Made a Blog so you
never miss a post!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Mama Made a Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11995556740669823444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863141212030661086.post-63151381085394783452015-03-05T20:45:00.002-05:002015-03-05T20:45:32.762-05:00What Every Child Wants Most<div align="center">
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<span style="font-family: LillyBelle;">I am in no way a parenting expert.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">With
a child who is only three, I am still a new mom by some standards. We’re just
touching on the preschool age. But I can tell you the most important thing you
need to know about your child. About <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">any</i>
child.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: LillyBelle;">I know what children want.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m
not talking about toys or games or trips or anything material. What I’m talking
about is the number one thing that all children of any age and any gender and
every single nationality want from their parents more than any of those
material possessions. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: LillyBelle;">What children want more than anything is your
adoration.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They
want to hear that what they are doing is enough and good and wonderful. They
want to know that they matter to you. This includes their ideas, opinions,
hobbies, and all the little things that make them who they are. They want to
know that you love them and you are proud of them. They want to be encouraged
by you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: LillyBelle;">Our children look to us for validation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There
are lots of reasons to feel like you have screwed up as a parent, but if you do
this one thing, you are really doing okay! If you are taking the time and
making the effort to show your children how much they mean to you emotionally,
you are doing them a world of good, and you are a great parent.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I
have always really believed in this, but there are a few times that it has just
really hit me through things my daughter has said just how true it is that this
is the number one thing our kids look to us for. Just today she was peeling a
clementine by herself, and she showed me. I thought she saw something on it, so
I asked her about what she was showing me and she said “I did it all by myself
Mommy. Am I doing a good job? Did I do it right?” I know it doesn’t sound like
much, but when you’re three and you do something new by yourself with no help
from your grown ups, it’s a pretty big deal! These are the times our little
ones need our praise! They need that validation when they do the things that
are important to THEM, not just the things we see as the big stuff. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The time
I remember most though, we were brushing teeth and Reagan had recently started
brushing her own. Of course when she’s done I still go over them and I always
tell her what a good job she’s done. Except one night I was preoccupied and I
just brushed away. But she was quick to shop me and say “Mommy, please tell me
that I did a good job.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My
heart broke a little that she might have thought that I forgot or didn’t think
the job she did was worthy of my praise, but I am so grateful that she feels
like she can tell me the things she needs to hear and everything she’s
thinking.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But
I know not all kids will tell you what they need from you, what they need to
hear. I also know that it is easy to forget to think on their level and really
stop and listen to what is important to our kids. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There
was another time I stopped Reagan when she was talking. I was just positive I
knew what she was going to say, and I felt like she wasn’t listening. Oh the
tears! She cried like her heart had just broken in two. Mommy always listens
and cares, and she counted on that, but in that moment I didn’t. In those
moments it is blatantly obvious what our children want from us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m
not saying any of this to put down your parenting or my parenting. I feel like
these are moment’s I’ve gotten some really clear insight into the wants and
needs of children, and that should be shared. Think of it as a gentle reminder
;) I know I need those sometimes!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now
that I’ve shared some learning experiences, here are some of my very favorite
ways to show my daughter that I adore her:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Talk to her. Tell her things that she won’t
understand yet. Talk about everything and anything. When Reagan was just a tiny
baby I would talk to her about the fields and read her the paper. I narrated
everything I did. Not because she could understand it, but because one day she
would. Talking to our kids makes them feel important and worthy of being talked
to.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Listen to her. No, it doesn’t always make
sense. It is usually quite quotable and funny though! And it is always
important. As the saying goes “If you don’t listen to the little stuff now, don’t
expect them to tell you the big stuff later, because to them it was always big
stuff.” That is so true. Giving a child your time to listen to their ideas is
so huge.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Praise her. No, turning our house into an ice
rink does not sound doable to me for a number of reasons, but when a three year
old comes to you with a full explanation of just how we can make this happen,
you nod along. The fact that they have started planning things and thinking
things through, even if it’s not realistic yet, is important. Fostering
independent thought and opinions and creative thinking is important. And all it
takes is a simple “That’s a really good idea! I’m proud of you!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Turn off the electronics. That means the
phone, the iPad, and the computer. Anything that you spend a lot of time
looking at. Put down your books, too. Do something with your child or watch
them and give them your full and totally undivided attention. I am so guilty of
not doing this enough! I have online classes and computer-based businesses and
emails to respond to and friends to text back, and I let my electronics have
way too much of my attention. It is really important to take the time to unplug
and show your child that they do not have to compete for your attention and
they are more important than those texts and emails.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tell her! Really go all out on this one! We
have fun seeing who can love the other one farther. My daughter literally says “I
love you to the moon and the stars and the galaxy and the Palace Pet Salon and
all the way back again!” And apparently that is like the farthest EVER and I
can’t top it, but I know I can cause mama love is the biggest ;) Even if you
don’t say it quite like that, always tell your little one how much you love
them, how wonderful they are, how smart they are, and how much they mean to
you. Use all the happy adjectives you can think of! Nothing beats telling them
how great you think they are, because if you believe it, they believe it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ask her. This kind of goes along with active
listening. Ask and you shall receive. Little people have BIG opinions on just
about everything! They are usually funny and will almost always surprise you.
If you ask for your child’s opinion on things, you are showing them that their thoughts
and opinions matter. They mean something to you, and again, that means that they
will in turn think that their thoughts mean something.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I
have talked before about being intentional in parenting, and this is a big
place to put intention to use. Be intentional about giving love and praise and
affection to your children. Show them they are worthy of your love. Tell them
just how much they rock! If you believe it, they will.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: LillyBelle;">And that is what every child wants more than
anything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: LillyBelle;">xoxo,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: LillyBelle;">Katie<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Mama Made a Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11995556740669823444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863141212030661086.post-16190625613334724352015-03-01T14:35:00.000-05:002015-03-03T09:35:25.148-05:00Online Christian Resources<div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3BL8TOjCkc5VCX9RcQ0aGkFmkCy0X6TOraUzsBqvCwAw6vLMkaJtI3d0qk8t8ipTjU9Gk3SuR1DxrBnoLj1EChEGKPSH8QM35cF_vLU5UIe0HW1ZV79gZDxhBBzyVbHRjut8Bqjn10tI/s640/blogger-image-1669164300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3BL8TOjCkc5VCX9RcQ0aGkFmkCy0X6TOraUzsBqvCwAw6vLMkaJtI3d0qk8t8ipTjU9Gk3SuR1DxrBnoLj1EChEGKPSH8QM35cF_vLU5UIe0HW1ZV79gZDxhBBzyVbHRjut8Bqjn10tI/s640/blogger-image-1669164300.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">
I live in a very rural area and while there are lots of churches around here, there don't seem to be many that are uplifting and have lots of young families and children for Reagan to grow in faith with. This is something extremely important to me, and I do want to keep looking for a physical church, but I have recently come across some wonderful online resources available no matter where you live! Even though you may not see these people in the physical sense, emotional community with like minded believers who will lift you up and love on you and pray with you is incredible and inspiring, and in my opinion very important for spiritual and emotional well being.</div>
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1. <a href="http://northpointonline.tv/" target="_blank">North Point Online</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSTSSgtEkpAKx1kKhGcWwVQMmUJrqwG3qxlnENjZLVsQ1D9qEzY5SldayGk49euj70HHI2WRegmVlGrGPdsucKxQ2SCKvhP7nyKfTRykuQpqgNWXnPjqvLCsbcB42Gvl_RQ869aQTyDv8/s1600/npm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSTSSgtEkpAKx1kKhGcWwVQMmUJrqwG3qxlnENjZLVsQ1D9qEzY5SldayGk49euj70HHI2WRegmVlGrGPdsucKxQ2SCKvhP7nyKfTRykuQpqgNWXnPjqvLCsbcB42Gvl_RQ869aQTyDv8/s1600/npm.jpg" height="160" width="320"></a></div>
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Pastor Andy Stanley lead a wonderful worship service this morning that was the final installment in the Brand: New series. I'll be completely honest, this was my first time doing church online, and I chose North Point by recommendation from a good friend. I was so impressed with the message this morning! It was all about leading your life in such a way that you love others the way Jesus loved us. All about love! Now that was the uplifting message I needed to hear. I highly suggest watching this series, which is all available on their website, linked above! They have live service broadcasted every Sunday at 8:00 and 11:00 am, but they do replay throughout the day and have links to watch at your own time as well.</div>
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2. <a href="http://theinfluencenetwork.com/" target="_blank">The Influence Network</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRcOsCWphIu2S0OyYfFHV7-RfoO3fgh9Sw9VOkrnAyUeZ6-wjSvEwAEWFtAgKXrQbzSzAZHWPzy_aQsxXE6B8NzahXHcqb_q-vMwNcgsXzq38O0wWyjUtipzQc9IIvxjYJ0cireCjnbS8/s1600/3-1024x255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRcOsCWphIu2S0OyYfFHV7-RfoO3fgh9Sw9VOkrnAyUeZ6-wjSvEwAEWFtAgKXrQbzSzAZHWPzy_aQsxXE6B8NzahXHcqb_q-vMwNcgsXzq38O0wWyjUtipzQc9IIvxjYJ0cireCjnbS8/s1600/3-1024x255.jpg" height="79" width="320"></a></div>
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The Influence Network is something I have heard of and followed on social media for a while, but I finally decided to join this week. It is a member community for women who want to interact with like-minded, faith-based ladies from all over. There are special features for bloggers and entrepreneurs, but even if you aren't either of those things, they have plenty of resources and fellowship for you too! Membership costs $10 per month, but the price of one of their classes is also $10, and membership includes one free class per month, so it really pays for itself! Members have access to the forums, small groups, case studies, book club, monthly download packs, and much more. Whether you want to lead, be led, participate from afar, or meet up in person, they most definitely have something uplifting waiting for you! I am so excited to have joined and I cannot wait to take my first class tomorrow and share some of the things I learn from them on the blog!</div>
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3. <a href="http://thrivemoms.com/" target="_blank">Thrive Moms</a></div>
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Thrive Moms is something I haven't really gotten involved with yet, but I am definitely following along an praying on it. They have Facebook groups for moms experiencing similar things in life, like single moms, military moms, working moms, etc. There are lots to choose from, and you can let them know if there is another group you would like to see added. They also have local groups you can join or start in your own community. There is no local group in my area, but I really love that they have online retreats in the Spring and Fall and the other online groups, so I'm thinking about joining. They seem so sweet and genuine and it looks like another great community to be a part of.</div>
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4. <a href="http://happymommybox.com/" target="_blank">Happy Mommy Box</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgforP3xsTWnN9bPMAwWWhKhq98SbxNirVLTu3gzimpB9S_j27l9adFpbJtOJugegyUiAOIAKi38VdF6P6Cx2rT2UdYZMEG1t8bKylVOJLZv2L5Hdfteug64bSw8JEvP1px8JhDxgVeuLQ/s1600/the_hmb_logo_1423058564__93040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgforP3xsTWnN9bPMAwWWhKhq98SbxNirVLTu3gzimpB9S_j27l9adFpbJtOJugegyUiAOIAKi38VdF6P6Cx2rT2UdYZMEG1t8bKylVOJLZv2L5Hdfteug64bSw8JEvP1px8JhDxgVeuLQ/s1600/the_hmb_logo_1423058564__93040.jpg"></a></div>
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I have been getting the subscription box from this company for a few months now, and in three days their last subscription box will go on sale! March is their last month! But don't worry, they have more things in the works for all us mamas, and the boxes are only being phased out to make time for all the other great things they have planned. They have other products in their shop already (I'm in love with my Happy Mommy mug!) and you can also check out both Natalie's blog (<a href="http://thebusybudgetingmama.com/" target="_blank">The Busy Budgeting Mama</a>) and Mandy's blog (<a href="http://houseofroseblog.com/" target="_blank">The House of Rose</a>) for more inspiration and encouragement.</div>
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So that's my little list of online places to find community and faith-based encouragement when you need it. And I sincerely hope that my blog makes it on to your own personal list! Have a happy Sunday!!</div>
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xoxo,</div>
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Katie</div>
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*the pictures are from their respective websites and are not affiliated with my blog or owned by me in any way :)</div>
Mama Made a Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11995556740669823444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863141212030661086.post-44806415491074104812015-02-25T23:53:00.002-05:002015-02-26T00:50:27.593-05:00Choose to be a Happy Parent
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">First
of all, wow I am loving this new look! So much more professional and pretty!
Huge thank you to the team at <a href="http://www.envye.com/" target="_blank">Envye</a> for setting it up for me!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now,
on to something that’s been weighing on my heart a bit.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I
was shopping a couple days ago, looking at journals, and I came across one
about parenting. Of course I was interested. I love journaling for recording
memories, venting, and being able to look back and see how far I’ve come. It’s
something I highly recommend, especially as a parent. This was sort of a
prompted journal, and I definitely love those as well. So I opened it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;">On every page was a prompt to write about what I had done wrong as
a parent that day.</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I
get it, it’s a joke, a space to vent. Those things are totally necessary.
Especially when your two year old wants the fruit with the yogurt just the way
you always fix it, except plot twist! This time she doesn’t want it mixed. And
you just started your day by using the last of the yogurt incorrectly. It doesn’t
matter that you don’t read minds. To your two year old, you should have known.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Being
a parent is hard some days. Even a lot of days. It is hard and sometimes
talking about it or writing about it makes it easier. But are those the things
you really want to spend your time writing down and reflecting and remembering?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Being
a parent is definitely not always a walk in the park, but that same tiny human
who throws enormous temper tantrums is also capable of SO MUCH LOVE. And
kindness. And wonder. And amazement.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Those
are the moments to reflect on. Those are the ones worth writing down. Yes there
are hard stages and phases, but I promise they pass. And when they do, you fall
even deeper in love with the tiny human who finds the world to be an incredible
place, and gives love so readily and willingly, and hasn’t been hardened yet by
all the demands of society. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If
that journal works for you, go for it. You know yourself best. But I challenge
everyone to try keeping a journal of quotable moments, and happy memories, and
the things that make you so grateful to be a parent. Invest just as much time
investing in that, and see if your outlook on parenting, and maybe even life in
general changes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I
know that journal is not meant to hurt anyone. But it really does deeply sadden
me when I see so many parents talking about all the things their child does to
drive them crazy and constantly thinking about the next break they’ll get.
Those are completely valid things, but it is so sad to think that another parent
has the opportunity to go on this journey that I am so in love with and they
don’t cherish it in the moment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_LlhfltnshtZ2osE_-iX3h7hyphenhyphenXiSZKBJeiswgbAsozH-9CEuG1wk0pXzWRpFb9wfCJ84OcW-on2IXYGFMUaH8EqWQCoK94Ak2eOG50u_9zaSpSPs-huMNwbPqCi5mHrR3tf6H817eDKg/s640/blogger-image--503109358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_LlhfltnshtZ2osE_-iX3h7hyphenhyphenXiSZKBJeiswgbAsozH-9CEuG1wk0pXzWRpFb9wfCJ84OcW-on2IXYGFMUaH8EqWQCoK94Ak2eOG50u_9zaSpSPs-huMNwbPqCi5mHrR3tf6H817eDKg/s640/blogger-image--503109358.jpg"></a></div><br></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hug
your babies tight and think about why you love them and why they are so special
to you. Cherish your time as a parent of little ones, and at every stage. You
certainly don’t get it back, so why not choose to be happy and parent with a
grateful heart?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: LillyBelle;">xoxo,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: LillyBelle;">Katie<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Mama Made a Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11995556740669823444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863141212030661086.post-15865300287373066502015-02-20T12:09:00.000-05:002015-02-20T19:16:21.674-05:00Announcements!!
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<span style="font-family: LillyBelle;">Big News Y’all!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: LillyBelle;"><br></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: LillyBelle;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtRNWthkPH_0HoU1YAdhPs0vJF1ZjBVBiY4Ju55GEVj6L-vKPG2NnNZrXLTssL7b9dv88d3WMhLFybIYVRGjiJ4pJF8iu_sIeBUXtgdIhdefQqac8PWszfKL_XRvTaSStEX6AXXZcNdF8/s640/blogger-image--1080664023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtRNWthkPH_0HoU1YAdhPs0vJF1ZjBVBiY4Ju55GEVj6L-vKPG2NnNZrXLTssL7b9dv88d3WMhLFybIYVRGjiJ4pJF8iu_sIeBUXtgdIhdefQqac8PWszfKL_XRvTaSStEX6AXXZcNdF8/s640/blogger-image--1080664023.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Candara","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;">I am so excited to announce that there are
some big changes coming to Mama Made a Blog!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Candara","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;">For starters, it can now be found on its own
website, at mamamadeablog.com! My contact info and sponsor email has changed a
little bit too, so if you ever want to reach out, you can check the Contact and
Sponsor pages or leave a comment of course!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Candara","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;">Some time with in the next few days the blog
will be getting a much needed makeover as well, so it might be down for just a little
bit, but it’s really for a good cause!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Candara","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;">I have so much on the way that I can’t wait to
share with y’all! Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any of the fun!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br>
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<span style="font-family: LillyBelle;">xoxo,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br>
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<span style="font-family: LillyBelle;">Katie <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Mama Made a Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11995556740669823444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863141212030661086.post-29328201263411885722015-02-19T17:30:00.000-05:002015-02-19T18:15:08.962-05:0028 Day Jumpstart Check-in: Week One
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: LillyBelle;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdv6GmiMf5DbF3CH1hfFANFdUlq7-2KGvDZiIgr49_Sbe128TPmQaxwXSc7_Q26p2r9fU2dg16yDwBZjmPkiRFj0Kw3GCJdQg-0fXSrgFIlB_Kfa0SSsofsQkYQSOb_-tFrmehXtLaIC4/s640/blogger-image-58919788.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdv6GmiMf5DbF3CH1hfFANFdUlq7-2KGvDZiIgr49_Sbe128TPmQaxwXSc7_Q26p2r9fU2dg16yDwBZjmPkiRFj0Kw3GCJdQg-0fXSrgFIlB_Kfa0SSsofsQkYQSOb_-tFrmehXtLaIC4/s640/blogger-image-58919788.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: LillyBelle;">Hi y’all!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Candara","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;">If you read my latest post, you know that I
started the Fit Girls’ Guide 28 Day Jumpstart on February 9<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>. I
have been so impressed with this program and the incredibly valuable
information in the book! The way it’s written makes you feel like you’re
talking to your BFF, which I love (and who better to guide you into your new
healthy girl journey than your BFF?!), and they really break things down and
give amazing advice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Candara","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;">With that being said, I totally bombed the
first week (and a couple days!). I even gained a couple of pounds! (Major
bummer, but also major wake up call.) But it’s not because the plan doesn’t
work – it totally does! If you stick to it, that is. I just didn’t follow
through. I don’t want y’all to make the same mistakes I did, and if by chance
you do I want you to know you’re not alone at all! So, I’m going to break down
some of my top mistakes right here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: LillyBelle;">I didn’t do the exercises.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Candara","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;">I have been in such a rut lately of not
getting up from my desk while I’m working, and it was a lot easier to sit here
and hope I was eating healthy enough to make a difference. Huge mistake!! The
exercises are there for a reason! Your body is not going to tone itself while
you sit there continuing in your couch potato ways. You have to work for it.
Eating better is a wonderful first step, but you really have to get up and move
your booty to get a nice one. Especially if you are working from home, doing
school from home, studying all the time, and just generally not getting any form
of daily activity. (Not naming any names, self.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: LillyBelle;">I didn’t set a sleep schedule.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Candara","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;">One of the things they give advice on in the
book is how important it is to get enough sleep and have regular sleeping and
waking hours. That’s right, a bedtime. Your kids have one, and so should you.
They also give lots of advice on how to get a better night’s sleep and how to
get to sleep if you have issues with those things. I do, but I didn’t listen!
(Have I ever told y’all I like to learn things the hard way?) So, my sleep
suffered, and so did every other aspect of my day and my energy level! I know
it is so hard to unwind and end your day sometimes, but this is a very
important step in total wellness, and your body will thank you for it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: LillyBelle;">I didn’t stick to the shopping list.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Candara","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;">The food that I bought (on the first shopping
trip) was very healthy, but I got way too many veggies! This might not really
sound like a problem, but when you look at all that food it gets so
overwhelming deciding what to use now and what to use later. And what is past
it’s prime. When you over buy, your fruits and veggies go bad because you can’t
use them all. Get what you need and try to get different colors of fruits and
veggies, and you’ve got it covered. You don’t have to buy some of everything in
the store to have a well rounded diet! Also, they literally break this part
down for you each week, so stick to the list and you can’t go wrong!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: LillyBelle;">I didn’t prep my meals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Candara","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;">This. If you don’t change another thing after
reading this post, do this! MEAL PREP. Meal prep, meal prep, meal prep. I can’t
say it enough. This is the biggest mistake I made. There is actually a meal
prep schedule in the book for each week. Follow it!!! Why do we tend to pick
unhealthy foods over the healthy ones? Because they’re easy! When you’re super
hungry and you have to decide between that microwaveable meal or throwing
together something that’s actually good for you, you’re probably going to pick
the microwaveable one. But if everything is basically ready for you and the
healthy meal doesn’t take much extra effort, it makes it so much more
appealing. I would personally much rather prep my meals for the same reason I
wax my eyebrows instead of plucking them. Waxing hurts, but much less than
taking the time to pull out each individual hair and draw out the pain into a
lengthy experience. Meal prep is so tedious and I hate it, but if you do it all
at once, it doesn’t take nearly as long, and then it’s ready and waiting for
you when you need it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Candara","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;">I hope all this advice helps you, whether you’ve
hit a wall and need some encouragement and changes or if you’re just getting
started and wanted to see what to avoid. Stick to it and make it a priority to
be healthy and fit, and you will definitely see the benefits of your hard work.
Good luck!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "DJB I Love Me Some Aly"; mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;">Xoxo,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "DJB I Love Me Some Aly"; mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;">Katie |<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "DJB I Love Me Some Aly"; mso-bidi-font-family: LillyBelle; mso-fareast-font-family: LillyBelle;">PS. If you like this post, make sure you share
it!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Mama Made a Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11995556740669823444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863141212030661086.post-35773721603889458792015-02-09T18:41:00.000-05:002015-02-09T20:45:20.783-05:00Have you heard of Fit Girl's Guide?<div align="center">
I have been making small conscious efforts to make healthier choices lately, but so far nothing has really amounted to much of anything. I am ashamed to even say this, but this is the heaviest I've ever been in my life. Including when I was pregnant! I always swore to myself I would never let that happen, but here I am. And it's not a fun place to be.</div>
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I want to go and do thing and have fun, but I'm tired a lot. I want to take pictures for the blog, but I don't like how I look, so I don't capture these special moments, and sometimes <strong>I don't even <em>have</em> the special moments I want to because I'm not letting myself enjoy life.</strong></div>
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Does this sound like you? Are you holding back on life because of a lack of self confidence?</div>
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You're not alone if that is the case. </div>
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I've been taking online classes since August 2014 now, and sitting around all day studying or taking tests or writing papers, plus working from home and blogging, I'm living such a sedentary lifestyle! Talk about unhealthy!!</div>
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In an effort to encourage and inspire change for myself, I followed some fitness related pages on Instagram. That is how I found <a href="http://fitgirlsguide.com/" target="_blank">Fit Girls' Guide.</a><em> </em></div>
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<em></em><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJx92LLJ3N2b0jTIu3IQQgNdOl9TieOJbtFLxTWO9ejmphlFjg9YLprCGL1BZEyI1Xd4xisNxO7Lt9lxY1kgi289HNmVIYi94jp2-GCujsSd5nfglxE5lfUBB_JW8kjI3RHaBYekGuj6o/s640/blogger-image-1631513604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJx92LLJ3N2b0jTIu3IQQgNdOl9TieOJbtFLxTWO9ejmphlFjg9YLprCGL1BZEyI1Xd4xisNxO7Lt9lxY1kgi289HNmVIYi94jp2-GCujsSd5nfglxE5lfUBB_JW8kjI3RHaBYekGuj6o/s640/blogger-image-1631513604.jpg"></a></div> </div>
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They have two books, and I decided to purchase the first one, 28 Day Jumpstart. So far I have learned so much! I'm in nursing school and I have taken a lot of health care and nutrition classes, so I didn't think that I was really going to learn anything new, but I was very wrong!</div>
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They have frequent group challenges on Instagram, so I decided to take the plunge and join in, and it just started today. Last night I went grocery shopping and bought all clean foods. Reagan was very excited and helped me with everything! She's joining in too! </div>
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Even though she already eats very healthy, I felt like it was a good idea to get her involved so she can see that being healthy and active is important to me and important for everyone. She's thrilled, but she did ask me if we can have a dessert challenge when it's over haha!</div>
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Oh honey, I wish! ;)</div>
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So like I said this is the first day, and so far so good! I feel great and the food is so healthy but so delicious. They break everything into 4 weeks and provide grocery lists and suggested meal prep timelines for each week. They break everything down and explain how to cook to make it as healthy and yummy as possible, and provide substitution suggestions in case you just can't have an ingredient or meal. I actually roasted squash today and loved it! I <strong><em>hate </em></strong>squash! </div>
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I know, I'm probably the only adult left who hates their veggies lol! But really, if you do everything they suggest in the book, you will love it!</div>
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You even get to tap into your creative side with the goal hearts and lunch box notes.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8gP5UIa1R62-WOHY_n73j14vUOYEarzGud_6pCBY1MkJiqHgrvQpLyRJdsblFir6ww9tPccT8vlJLPd7E_vcrqEvXmHNRci3wEQkSadkaMs9H0fCJabneUYtvDJWVQRjWAyJzNAuVP6k/s640/blogger-image-131517897.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8gP5UIa1R62-WOHY_n73j14vUOYEarzGud_6pCBY1MkJiqHgrvQpLyRJdsblFir6ww9tPccT8vlJLPd7E_vcrqEvXmHNRci3wEQkSadkaMs9H0fCJabneUYtvDJWVQRjWAyJzNAuVP6k/s640/blogger-image-131517897.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5PEmDP4CP8b0pLmB_vo5O9ChhxMolCOMiCpBjDZWaaT_MShZ1gDDatj2gy-RX4uq0DOVfrVToYnBXE7hOYL_1fWUdD6hSHbHTV30HDNvZCQzh4tVxlaUO8j88fh96gZ-KaxBVFIJf2Mk/s640/blogger-image-463353019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5PEmDP4CP8b0pLmB_vo5O9ChhxMolCOMiCpBjDZWaaT_MShZ1gDDatj2gy-RX4uq0DOVfrVToYnBXE7hOYL_1fWUdD6hSHbHTV30HDNvZCQzh4tVxlaUO8j88fh96gZ-KaxBVFIJf2Mk/s640/blogger-image-463353019.jpg"></a></div><br></div> </div>
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I can't wait to share some of my new healthy eating habits, recipes and progress with y'all!</div>
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So, have you heard of Fit Girls' Guide? Did you try it and love it? Let me know your thoughts!</div>
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xoxo,</div>
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Katie<em></em></div>
Mama Made a Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11995556740669823444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863141212030661086.post-33232773252559954482015-02-03T13:44:00.001-05:002015-02-03T13:44:34.603-05:00If Only...<div align="center">
Last night I was laying in bed thinking. My mind would just not settle down and turn off. All my thoughts were "if only I had that DSLR camera so I could take better pictures" and "if only I had my own home so I could stage everything the way I wanted and take uncluttered pictures and give Reagan a perfect childhood" and "if only I was done with school so I could focus on my career and Reagan and hobbies I never have time for" and "if only I had the money to buy all the clothes and accessories and things I need to be stylish and had a body those things would look good on."</div>
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I knew better, but my mind still went there. We're all guilty of it at least from time to time. I'll be the first to admit it. I'm a single mom and I'm still in nursing school. There are a lot of things I have to put off until the future.</div>
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<strong>Should happiness be one of them?</strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5Q6F4p1Cwo9qKLl0aB2W4dHL3WYUxoSQTZIvU7FgWvewofcVybz_S-wttOO-4sy8CP5H7ViKpK5xFZSkCcrg2f3H5fxQz-eoIhFcMpXkAkJgphnv7jCNbHJWHyU5rNtbs_aQ_PAzGQc/s1600/happy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5Q6F4p1Cwo9qKLl0aB2W4dHL3WYUxoSQTZIvU7FgWvewofcVybz_S-wttOO-4sy8CP5H7ViKpK5xFZSkCcrg2f3H5fxQz-eoIhFcMpXkAkJgphnv7jCNbHJWHyU5rNtbs_aQ_PAzGQc/s1600/happy.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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I don't have it all together. I don't have everything I could ever want. But I do have everything I need and then some. And chances are, y'all do too!</div>
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The point is, be happy <strong>now.</strong> Right this minute. Because even if tomorrow doesn't come, and I don't get that DSLR camera or 43984398 loyal followers or a clean house, I do have this moment and I am going to choose to seize it and be happy in it and stop thinking about "IF". </div>
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Have a great day y'all, and choose to be happy in it!</div>
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xoxo,</div>
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Katie </div>
Mama Made a Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11995556740669823444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863141212030661086.post-86674693266304867662015-01-28T13:20:00.000-05:002015-01-28T13:20:49.676-05:00Single Parenting vs. Singular ParentingWhat does it mean to be a single parent? In my opinion, it speaks more about relationship status than parenting status. It means you're not married, or maybe that you're not in a relationship with a significant other at all. <br />
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But what if you're the ONLY parent? There really is a big difference. When you're the singular parent, you're all your child has.<br />
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Being single has its challenges, and yes the times when the child is in your care, it all falls on you. Maybe that's even most of the time.<br />
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Here is the primary difference for me...<br />
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Yesterday my daughter asked me if she has a daddy.<br />
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Oh my heart. How do I even begin to answer that? I know the questions will come. I've prayed and prayed and tried to prepare, but it's still heartbreaking and shocking when you're playing mermaids and your little one just come up with this question out of left field.<br />
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I suppose it's not really out of no where though. Ariel has a father. So where is hers, she's wondering? <br />
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That's a very good question. How someone look at their sweet innocent wonderful child and walk away? I can't even begin to understand. The very being that I thank the Lord for every single day and night, that I pray over and worry over and care for and love beyond belief, that brings me more joy and love than I ever knew was possible... someone with that same parental bond that I have had that opportunity and threw it away. <br />
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And so as soon as the question is posed, something else catches her attention and we're back in our world of mermaids swimming through the sea, yearning to visit the surface, not wondering at all about a whole other half of a family that isn't there and never has been. <br />
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If I could just protect this amazing little girl, keep her safe from how cruel some people are. If only.<br />
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She has such a heart for her family and for everyone around her. For God. For loving everyone and everything and life itself. I taught her that. Even after seeing how terrible people can be, I shared that message with her, and I hope with all my heart and soul that one day when she asks these questions and really needs answers, it won't harden her heart to the world.<br />
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If you are a singular parent, I pray for you and your children. I hope that through all the struggles, you still have as much joy as we do in this parenting adventure, and I hope you know you are not alone. There are some of us going through this too.<br />
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xoxo,<br />
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KatieMama Made a Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11995556740669823444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863141212030661086.post-80292291085425191862015-01-13T17:48:00.001-05:002015-01-13T17:48:37.350-05:00I'm Back!!<div>
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Hi again y'all!!</div>
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After the hecticness (but wonderfulness) that was Thanksgiving, I decided to finish out the semester as much as possible and take a much needed hiatus from EVERYTHING. I can't even stress how much this was needed. In the past few months my anxiety levels have been at an all time high, largely due to nursing school.</div>
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Anyway, I was able to have a lovely Christmas and stay as stress-free as one can be that time of year, and I hope y'all had a marvelous Christmas as well!</div>
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Now what? I know some people are against New Years resolutions because we should work on improving ourselves every day, but I'm not one of those people. I do fully believe that, but why not use the New Year as an initiative to do better as well? I love the start of a new year the same way I love opening a new planner, it's a chance to start off on the right foot again and keep on top of our goals for ourselves! That's a good thing!</div>
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<b>One thing I've come to realize is this, just like we are able to receive a fresh start through Jesus, the start of the new year is a great time to allow ourselves a fresh start. Because you are forgiven by Him, you can forgive yourself and stop letting your past hold you back.</b></div>
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I don't know about y'all, but that's a big deal for me! The majority of the time, no one is harder on myself than I am. So this year? One of my biggest resolutions is to stop selling myself short and holding myself back. I do a lot of that and I know it. Here I am admitting I have a problem in that aspect of my life. That's the first step to overcoming something, right?</div>
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I'm also going to go on more outdoor adventures, read more, study harder and smarter, and lead a healthier lifestyle. </div>
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So what about y'all?? It's not too late to put your heart into a resolution! Have you evaluated your relationship with God lately? If you can think of nothing else, including Him in more aspects of your life and strengthening your relationship with Him is an excellent place to start!</div>
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xoxo,</div>
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Katie</div>
Mama Made a Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11995556740669823444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863141212030661086.post-59931981375086261072014-11-28T17:04:00.001-05:002014-11-28T17:04:57.053-05:00No Black Friday For This Mama<div style="text-align: center;">
Sounds a little crazy, huh? No Black Friday shopping? Staying up late or going out early in search of the latest and greatest deals around?</div>
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Nope, not for this mama.</div>
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See, I'm still feeling warm and fuzzy over Thanksgiving and the start of the holiday season. I still feel like I have a whole lot to be thankful for, especially the non-material-possession type things. </div>
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<b>Watching a bunch of crazed people pushing and shoving and being rude to one another over material stuff that isn't necessary would <strike>ruin</strike> that feeling for me.</b></div>
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And personally, I feel like it totally defeats the purpose of Thanksgiving for me. I spend weeks preparing my home and my heart and my daughter's heart for Thanksgiving. We talk about what is REALLY important. We talk about the difference between want and need. We talk about what we are so thankful for, what the Lord has blessed us with.</div>
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Going on a major shopping trip and being surrounded by stuff, and people on a mad search for stuff, takes away from that for me. I do shop online from now until Cyber Monday. I'm not against the whole idea of finishing my Christmas shopping and saving money! It's just the encouragement to "buy buy buy" and come in ON THANKSGIVING to beat other people to the things your kids NEED.</div>
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Let's be real here, my little girl does not NEED any of this. And it doesn't matter what I get her, I know she will be happy and thankful and so excited because it's Christmas and Santa came, and Baby Jesus was born on this day. The things I'm shopping for are a matter of want, and while I want to get things I know Reagan will love, if I don't find it or it sells out on line because I was too busy cuddling with her and being lazy in our post-Thanksgiving haze, well that's fine and it won't make or break our Christmas.</div>
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The act of giving and receiving in His name is what makes Christmas. The fact that our Saviour was born on this day makes Christmas. It's the real reason for the holiday and the experience of Christmastime that means so much.</div>
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So if you see some people acting out over Black Friday or find yourself caught in a shopping frenzy, just remember the real reason for the season ;)</div>
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xoxo,</div>
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Katie</div>
Mama Made a Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11995556740669823444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863141212030661086.post-77217756518549574252014-11-23T15:33:00.000-05:002014-11-23T15:33:17.203-05:00Holiday Stress ReliefThe holidays are a fun and exciting time! It's the most wonderful time of the year, right?! In all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it's also very easy to overplan and stretch yourself to the limit. An overwhelming to do list is not uncommon, and that takes away from the enjoyment of this wonderful time. In the season of giving to others, it's also important and HEALTHY to remember to relax, destress, and take care your yourself too!<br />
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Here are some of my favorite ways to relax and enjoy a little rejuvenating "mommy time":<br />
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1. Take a breath. Meditation heals a multitude of stressors. Sometimes all you need to gain a better perspective is to sit in a quite spot, breathe deeply, and think.<br />
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2. Get your yoga fix. Even a few minutes of stretching and balancing can help you literally find your center and concentrate on yourself. The health and exercise benefits of yoga are also an added bonus!<br />
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3. Sip on your favorite seasonal beverage. I love all the holiday flavors at Starbucks right now. Nothing calms me during a busy shopping trip like a festive flavor from their red holiday cups. My Keurig is also my best friend this time of year. When I need an pick me up to get through an exam or keep up with my daughter, I have to go no farther than my kitchen. Whether you love hot chocolate, coffee, eggnog, or cider, there are lots of new flavors and old favorites out for the season, so sit back, relax, and sip to unwind.<br />
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4. Get a mani pedi. Whether you want to pamper yourself at home or let someone else do it for you, you'll look great and feel great! I have a foot spa that bubbles and heats water and enough bath salts and foot soaks and nail polish to open my own spa ;) so if I'm super busy, I'll just do it myself. My sweet little girl got it for me for my birthday this year! There is not too much that a nice foot soak, lotion, and a little polish won't fix!<br />
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5. Take a bath. If you really need to relax more than your fingers and toes, take a bubble bath and soak it out! Shopping and baking and keeping up with kids is hard work! Take a dip with your favorite scent of bubble bath. You deserve it.<br />
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6. Light a candle. Ever heard of aromatherapy? I'm currently burning <a href="http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/product/index.jsp?productId=42164326&cp=12586994.12936192.4147333" target="_blank">Bath and Body Works' Pumpkin Carmel Latte</a>, but they also have <a href="http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/product/index.jsp?productId=31340926" target="_blank">this one</a> from their stress relief line. Anything lavender scented is also great for inducing relaxation, but I feel like cozy fall and winter scents work well for me too!<br />
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7. Read a book. What better way to forget your holiday stress for a little bit than to escape from it? My current favorite is Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelly, available <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/deep-blue-jennifer-donnelly/1118173573?ean=9781423133162" target="_blank">here</a>. (Hint: It's about mermaids.)<br />
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8. Write it out. Sometimes keeping a journal or just writing things down occasionally is the best way to get things off our chest. Blogging works for me ;)<br />
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9. Pray about it. The little things and the big things, God says we can bring them to him. Whether you're worried about Christmas finances or burning the turkey, let go and let God take your troubles. Talk about relief!<br />
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10. Read your Bible. The Ultimate Counselor has this amazing book with a ton of the best advice we'll ever receive if we only seek it out. There are Bible verses for hard times, look them up and feel the peace they bring to your heart and mind.<br />
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11. Phone a friend. I love my friends because those women know how to listen and they know my heart. Sometimes a vent sesh with them is exactly what I need, and they are always there for that. (Love y'all!!)<br />
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So there you go, 11 of my favorite quick and easy ways to unwind when I need it most! Do the holidays stress you out from time to time? What are your favorite ways to unwind? Comment below!<br />
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xoxo.<br />
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KatieMama Made a Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11995556740669823444noreply@blogger.com0