Family

Christmas can be simple and still be magical

December 6, 2012 by Jennifer 2 Comments

It really has been laying on my heart the last couple of months about the Christmas season. This is my favorite time of the year and I just want to savor every moment. The season is always way too short for me and I wish I could wave a magical wand and extend the season. Christmas makes me happy and brings out so many emotions.

It is my goal to keep Christmas simple and let my girls know what the true meaning of Christmas is about. Yes, we have fun with Santa and the Elf on the Shelf but we cannot forget the true spirit of Christmas. Our Jesus Christ was born. We are celebrating his Birthday. I told my parents that I didn’t want this Christmas to be about gifts. I just want us to be together and have fun fellowship and enjoy the Christmas spirit that is all around us. We will do a $10 Christmas gift exchange game where each family member will bring a $10 gift. It will be fun and I am sure will bring lots of laughs. Then, I would like us to read the Christmas story altogether.

We even kept our tree simple this year. We have a huge 7.5 ft tree my parents gave us that we usually put up but I didn’t want to this year. I wanted to use our small tree and let the girls decorate it themselves. I cannot stop looking at the tree on a daily basis. I am in love with this tree and it is the best decorated tree in my eyes.

Now, this is how Christmas should be!

20 pounds gone on my Cinchspiration Journey!

November 26, 2012 by Jennifer 5 Comments

We are at the end of month five of my Shaklee Cinchspiration Journey. Before I go any further, take a couple minutes and check out my video update.

I am just a little bit excited right? YES!

That is a SMALL Lands’ End dress. Here is proof.

I received this dress from BlogHer back at the beginning of August from the Lands’ End event. When the dress came in the mail, I was so eager to try on the dress since I did not take the time to try on the dress at the event. Much to my dismay, the dress was not fitting me. Ugly fat rolls were showing and I was so disappointed. Here almost four months later, I fit in the dress perfectly. My self-esteem just increased. I look at the picture and just feel like a million bucks. Finally, I love my body and seeing myself in pictures.

The Cinch Inch Loss Plan works and I am proof. It really is a inch-loss plan. 20 pounds, I just have to say… I will not see you again. Thanks, Jen!

Disclaimer: Shaklee is providing me with 6 months of product in exchange for my honest review and weight loss journey. All thoughts and opinions are of my own.

How to be emotionally connected with your daughter

November 26, 2012 by Jennifer Leave a Comment

Over the past few months, I have been sharing posts to help prepare for the next journey in raising my daughters. This campaign was launched by U by Kotex.

As much as I want to just keep my girls small forever, it is not going to happen. I have needed these last few months to really get a good grasp on this next journey we are leaping into with my oldest daughter, M. As I have shared, I was so scared when I was M’s age. I didn’t know what to expect. I was so clueless and it left me in tears one day at school. Those emotions are emotions I want M to escape. She has my shoulder to lean on and always. This campaign has helped me stop and think about her feelings first.

We have been able to have open conversations thanks to this book from American Girl and the Kotex Tween site.

How can you be emotionally connected with your daughter?

1. Sit aside mom and daughter one-on-one conversation time. Invite your daughter in the kitchen to help you cook dinner and talk casually about her feelings and questions she may have about growing up.

2. Go on mom and daughter dates. M really enjoys this and loves getting my attention away from technology, household things and just concentrate on each other for a couple hours.

3. Check out websites such as the Kotex one and read books together. It helps start conversations and helps know what your daughter is thinking about and going through at any specific time.

4. Ask her about her day in the evenings. Let her open up to you and know that you care what she did at school, sports or extracurricular activities.

5. Tuck her in at night. Tell her you love her and spend time reading a bible story and sharing bible verses with her that will help her with this life journey.

Stay connected at all times. Always make her feel you are always there and will drop anything to talk to her. My girls are truly my best friends and I always want them to feel the same way about me.

Last weekend, we had a movie and sundae date night. We all made homemade sundaes in the kitchen and jumped into bed and watched a Christmas movie. No computers or cell phones around. Just one-on-one time with mommy. It was so nice.

I’m ready for this next adventure in parenting. My sweet baby girls!

Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a Brand Ambassador Campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of U by Kotex Tween and received products to facilitate my post and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

The sweetest note ever!

November 26, 2012 by Jennifer 1 Comment

We were able to celebrate with family this Thanksgiving from near and afar. Some of our family from Florida was able to join us which was just amazing. Unfortunately, Thanksgiving night the girls went from being fine to really sick in just a matter of a few hours. We are getting ready to head to the doctors here in a little bit to find out the culprit and get them better.

My sweet L though slipped me this note this morning. Even though she is sick, she is still thinking about others.

I love you mommy thank you for this thanksgiving and Im happy that our family came to thanks giving and I loved it.

I absolutely love being a mom and so very thankful for my precious M and L!

Take time to tell someone you are thankful for them

November 21, 2012 by Jennifer 3 Comments

Happy Thanksgiving to all my readers. I am thankful for each and every one of you. I know you may not read each day, but I am thankful you do read.

This blog started back in 2005 and it is not the biggest blog in the world, but it is my little writing area on the web. My thoughts are able to be expressed, my recommendations are able to be posted and it helps give back to my family. For that, I am very thankful.

This has been a wonderful year filled with many blessings. We arrive at this Thanksgiving with a lot of uncertainty with my family. My husband’s temporary job is coming to a close. We are praying for a full-time offer. My contract is ending with my four-year gig with BabyCenter (Johnson & Johnson). It is a sad time but I am trying to not focus on the sadness. BabyCenter has given me an amazing four years. The time when my husband had his heart attack and flipped his car that put him out of work for 3 months and ultimately led to a permanent lay-off. BabyCenter recruited me just a couple months after his heart attack. It has allowed me to put food on the table, put a roof over our heads, buy clothes and provide food and gifts during the holidays. I am forever grateful and thankful.

Even though, I do not have anything lined up for the moment, I am trusting in God that he will place my husband and I in permanent positions so we can continue to provide for my family. I do not take anything for granted. I am thankful for the heat that keeps us warm at night and the hot water that helps us take warm showers. My request this Thanksgiving is to not look at all the material things but look at all the things that really make your life better. Give thanks to the Lord for those things and thanks to special people in your life.

I am thankful for my boss Dina. She has been such a gracious friend even outside of work and I know only wants the best for me. I do not tell her thanks enough.

Who will you tell thank you too?

Have a Wonderful and Happy Thanksgiving!!

Family

Footer