Look At This Madness

You can never have to much... 1. Coffee If it were humanly possible to replace all my liquid intake with just coffee, I would do it. All day, Every day. 2. Nestle Pure Life Not only did this water test to have the last amount of plastic particles as any bottled water, but it is also a neutral ph, which makes it the best option when you're on a budget, like me! 3. Baby kisses and giggles Baby kisses and giggles might be two of my favorite things. I could listen to my daughter laugh all day. 4. Panties I mean, come on, do I even have to explain this one? 5. Bralettes Since I stopped nursing, my boobs have gotten a lot smaller then they were, even before I had my daughter. I am currently on a bralette binge, because, who wants under-wrire? I don't. 6. Bobby pins Being a mom to a one and a half year old means you have to be quick when you get ready in the morning. My go to is taking my front bang and bobby pinning it back, a messy bun, or french braids. all if which r

Inside my head I'm screaming the noise never stops I am tired of feeling like an issue tissue after tissue I cry they think to themselves why why why? They place ideas and concepts on who they want me to be or who they think I am They are so scared  they don't even see the real me standing right here being open and honest and real I try to tell them how I feel And all of a sudden before I can finish these things are an issue I am not doing anything wrong I am trying my best to stay so strong I have a beautiful daughter who matters to me most and even that is put into question I am starting to feel more lost  I am closing the walls feel like they are caving they don't even see what I am craving I want to be close I want them to know who I am and want to be or at least help while I am on the way there I feel scared I want to raise her  while also succeeding how can I do both? we need to get away I don'

Where have you gone? I miss you I miss the feeling I miss the high I keep thinking you'll come back And capture me like you used to Give me hope Make me smile Make me feel invincible You've been gone a while now Our longest separation And it's killing me I used to feel free You made me feel alive Now I feel lost and unsure I feel run down And tired Don't worry though I am happier now Despite the lack of you I am happier I know you'll come back When the timing is right I will write I will feel you coursing my mind and body Until then I will miss you And wait

Being a mom has made me... more confident stronger want to live a healthy lifestyle feel inspired laugh cry realize how far I have come realize how far I have to go struggle at times forget what sleep was a baby person more caring willing to sacrifice feel more complete than I knew was possible forget about me at times love baby giggles more than anything more understanding more considerate want to exercise want to live my best life happy a better person.

I googled the word 'happiness' and the example sentence was, "She struggled to find happiness in her life." At first it gave me a chuckle but the more I thought about it, this is actually kind of sad. Okay Google, why would you choose a depressing sentence to express a joyful word? Shouldn't it say something like, "She found happiness in her life" or "She was overwhelmed with happiness in her life"...?  My happiness is about perspective.  At times the silver lining seems nonexistent. When I am feeling down in the dumps, I have to stop and think, we are all going through something. Each and every person has had something happen in their life that is less than wonderful, it is simply a matter of how the negativity is handled.  Right now it is a struggle living with my daughter in a small room at my moms making $20 or less a day.  Growing up, I always thought I would be happily married before having a kid and my husband and I wo

1. Going to the Park. Whether you have a child or not,  the park is a great way to find relaxation. Now that my daughter is interested in everything and walking around everywhere, the park has become a pretty regular place for us. Even if she's more interested in the wood chips over the slides for the time being. 2. Walk or run in your neighborhood.  Running is a vital part to my week. It is great exercise and a perfect stress reliever. Starting out can be a challenge but once you get over the hump, running will be something you look forward to. 3. Window shopping. The mall has also become a pretty regular place for us and you don't have to have a child to find it relaxing. We walk around the mall without spending a dime usually once a week. People watching provides entertainment at any stage in life. 4. Kick back and relax in the front or back yard.  Studies have shown that being outside is good for your overall health. Take a moment and enjoy the world around you.

As a mom I am all about all natural, happy, healthy, organic, etc. to the point my friends and family are annoyed at times.  I was at Target a few months back and came across a new line of perfume called Good Chemistry . Of course I had only gone in for a new blouse but that is how going to Target plays out. You go in for one thing and come out with twenty. After browsing the cosmetic department I wound up purchasing the Good Chemistry scent known as ' Wild Child ' not only because it is totally appropriate in regards to the kind of person I am, but it is vegan, pareben-free and made with essential oils. It is everything I love in a bottle. On Target.com, this scent is described as "...a just right composition of instinct and identity that designs a life that pops with personality. Fragrance notes of bergamot, coconut, and bamboo make our Wild Child body mist mischievous + bright with looks to match." If you have not already I would highly recommend going to ch

Crawlers and new walkers are notorious for putting anything and everything in their mouths. Here is a list of personal experiences to give fair warning and awareness to anyone with a little one. 1. Tiny Screws. I am listing this one first because we wound up in the ER. My mom had just moved into a new house and was painting a desk. She had taken the doors off to make for an easier paint job but for whatever reason left the tiny screws on the floor. Let's just say there were a total of 8 tiny screws and when I discovered what Ella was playing with, there were only seven screws. So we wound up in ER, thankfully, there was no screws in her tummy but it was not a fun experience to say the least.  2. Paper in any form. At 13 months old, her latest paper muse is the label you see on all water bottles. She also enjoys paper towels and receipts. SO be warned, if you need to save a receipt, keep it away from the baby!  3. The end of my iPhone charger. I know how bad this sound

Routine. Schedule. Maintain. Just some of the words I hear as a mom, on a regular basis. The three words I have loathed for nearly the whole of my daughter's life. I am not one for routines, it is nice to maintain variety and change, not routine. My daughter was nearly one year old by the time I finally grew to be more open to maintaining a schedule and it has proven to be very helpful. My excuse before routines entered our lives? "I can't make her tired, or hungry or want to go to sleep." Finally, after my stubborn self decided to try this "routine" thing moms are always talking about, she sleeps and eats pretty regularly now: 6:00 am: Wake up 6:30 am: Eat breakfast 7:45 am: Drop her off with her grandparents; at some point, she eats another meal 9:00 am: It's nap time! 12:00 pm: Time to get my love bug from grandparents 12:30pm -1:00 pm: she eats another meal 3:00pm - 4:00 pm: Nap time again! 5:00pm - 6:00 pm: It's dinner time!

Every time I hear 'Hey there Delilah' by the Plain White T's,  it takes me back to when I was 15 years old and dating a guy I was certain I would marry. We were in a long distance relationship for a year and a half and this was basically our song - well for me it was.  When I was 15 I thought I had my whole life planned, well, not so much. I will be turning twenty-two in September and I am more lost now then I have ever been. Truth is, I didn't expect to get pregnant, married, divorced, to living with my daughter at my parent's house, in less than two years.  Sounds crazy, right? Now I am struggling to be a mom, figure out who I am and how I am going to make a living for my daughter and myself.  In the last year it almost seems my identity has escaped me. Who am I besides a mom? What were my relationships like before I had my daughter? What do people talk about when they don't have kids? These questions aren't necessarily bad but I'd like t

There are some things you might want to know before going to Disneyland, during the summer, with a one-year-old. Disneyland not only tires your child out but will certainly make you want to take a nap along side the ducks that are scattered throughout the park. 1. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT forget your stroller. My 20 pound child is not heavy until I have to carry her around an entire amusement park. On the bright side, my arms are sore today, which means progress... right? With that said, the park does offer complementary strollers but I guess you could say I am stubborn and like to avoid germs. I like to think holding her over the strenuous journey through Disneyland only brought us closer together. 2. You might actually melt. Summertime is nice and all, but not when it is 95 degrees and surprisingly, there is not a whole lot of shade. Disneyland should consider installing steamers throughout the park. If my baby, that isn't doing a whole lot of waking, has dew drops on her

When you have a baby, talking to yourself becomes a normal thing Why does everyone say they hate the smell of spit up? Her (or his) first words were "hi" and "mama".....yes, she was only 2 months old at the time, but it happened That whitish stain on you see everyday on my shoulder, thats called a name tag, it says "Mom" My baby is the cutest on the planet, obviously Completing a manicure yourself might mean you were only able to finish one hand What does it mean to sleep through the night again? Baby giggles are the best sound on the entire planet To your boobs: "Who are you two and why do you look like that?" At least your arms are looking nice and toned

1. If you can't see the whip cream it isn't there.  ie) Ordering a warm latte from Starbucks: The cup is not clear, the lid's not clear, the whip cream can't be seen, so it isn't even there, don't think about it, just drink it 2. A Rubik's cube is held together through sorce ry.  ie) The cube can be twisted in any direction, sorcery is the only thing that makes sense. 3. Be careful, belly buttons lead to your innards.  ie) Growing up I never let anyone bury me at the beach, no now wants sand in their body. 4. Spinach will solve your problems ie) Going to the bathroom. Need I say more? 5. All you need for your feet is a nice pedicure and a good pair of flip flops. ie) My orange toes and flip flop tan.

PC: cluestolife.wordpress.com 1. If a stop sign is enclosed in a gate, it does not exist 2. Speed bumps: bumps you speed over 3. Want a cookie? Oatmeal raisin is always healthy. Go for it. 4. If you say "take me home" and refuse to get out of the car, things will sort out...eventually. 5. If your car was made after 1977 and before 2005, there's no point in a car wash 6. Honey Nut Cheerios are never filling. It's the hole. 7. Any time you make food and it turns out looking abnormal, say it's Greek. Greek food is always acceptable despite appearance. 8. Say you had 3 hours of sleep and the following day a 2 hour nap. That means you slept 3 hours. 9. Dark chocolate is always healthy. No guilt, just pleasure. 10. Say three people you know are sick and you sneeze three times. Only one thing makes sense: the world is falling apart. 11. If you find yourself needing to walk on wet grass while wearing flip flops, tiptoe run, your feet get l

As a mom who focuses on her baby more than anything, I am forgetful, and at times, clumsy, from trying to juggle a one year old and everything else happening around me. The day to visit my storage unit and drop off a baby walker, some baby toys, outgrown clothes and bouncer has arrived. Baby Ella is turning into her own little person who walks and moves around NON-STOP. We arrive and she is fussing from being in her car seat. I get her out of the carseat, unlock my unit, and set the lock on the ground. Baby Ella picks up the lock and looks up at me and smiles, as she continues her walking. Unloading the car, I get caught up looking at her tiny newborn clothes, not realizing she has dropped the lock on the ground, before coming over to hug my leg. Turning around I nearly trip over the lock while holding my daughter and the walker, and end up kicking the lock under a dresser and into the abyss that is my storage unit. SO, the one thing owners are missing in their

Let's be real, plastic has formed a case towards being extremely negative on the environment. Not only is plastic non biodegradable, but it actually breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces entering our oceans and even the food and beverages Americans are consuming. Right now the sea life is taking a pretty big hit. I came across a video in which a straw had been stuck in a sea turtle's nostril. This made me think about every straw I have ever used and where it ended up. The results are devastating. On average, lets say you use just one straw a day. That turns into 365 straws a year, 1,825 straws every 5 years, and 29,200 straws over the course of 80 years. It's time to talk 'strawlternatives' (straw alternatives): 1. REUSABLE. Rather than throwing away straw after straw after straw after straw, (you get the idea) reuse one straw for a few days, the week, or even purchase a non throw away straw made of a thicker (preferably recyclable) plastic, g

I came across a sports magazine and on the back I read “What are they afraid of?” This statement stood out to me not only because of the bright red X but it got me thinking about Keepster Pro, a lock retaining device in the storage industry. So my question to storage owners: What are you afraid of? This product is a one time purchase that will save you from making multiple purchases on simply repairing your doors, time and time again. Damage expenses are drastically cut because Keepster Pro prevents the damage from ever occurring. Not only this, but any damage that does occur to the latch or header after the installation, can be placed back on the tenant. Sure, $15.00 installed for a piece of metal to hold the lock sounds expensive but when you get down to the nitty-gritty of it, you spend $15.00 plus simply replacing the latch when cost, downtime and labor are added up. To be clear, Keepster Pro is more than a piece of metal, it is a money saver, it satisfies custome

 Beauty is all around you. It is as simple as taking a moment to stop and admire the roses after the morning rain.  Notice how the water droplets have visually texturized the petals. Notice the crispness of the air. Notice the vibrant colors of the flowers and how rain makes even the flowers look happy. Slow down. As we have all been told life moves quickly. Before you know it the petals will shrivel and fall. The trees will look bare and dry.  Notice the beauty all around you. Appreciate and absorb your surroundings.  The falling of the petals mean another year has passed. Time is valuable, make every second count.

Can someone please explain to me why piercing a baby's ears is okay? I am 100% AGAINST causing my baby unnecessary pain just so she has pretty little earrings in her earlobes. WHY IS THIS OKAY?!  Not only do babies not voluntarily want a needle to go through their ears but they don't even have the option to say no. We are all individuals, babies or adults. That poor baby that just had needles go into her earlobes did not verbally say I want my ears pierced, end of story. Should I give my baby botox injections so her lips are bigger? Of course not. But wait, it's just a needle somewhere else causing pain and alteration to the innocent little human. Isn't it kind of the same thing? Some might say no, that's completely different, you're sticking it inside her lips. Well, there's a metal earring through a baby's earlobes which can get infected and in some cases, cause allergic reactions with a baby's developing immune system. 

As all mothers know, being a mom is quite the adventure. It's amazing what babies make us do. I spend time making squeaks, caws, and laughs I've never made before and talking to my daughter like I've never talked to anyone. Why? I love to see her smile. Ella's smile and sweet laughter are my favorite things on the planet. Since becoming a mom 6 and a half months ago, I have shaved my legs less than a handful of times. I'd like to think I'm rolling like the Europeans. I don't need to express my femininity through shaven legs, I just need to 'mom' and that means 4 minute showers because I don't want to leave her unattended for to long at this age. The start of the "grab and want to suck on everything" age. It's really starting to get interesting.  Not to mention nursing is a trip. My boobs go back and forth between different sizes and weight all day long. If it weren't for disposable milk absorbers, I'd have two wet

Breakfast is not only the suggested most important meal of the day but it is also my personal favorite. The possibilities are endless with a single egg. Most of the time my go to is far too much spinach with an egg tossed in and a splash of cream. At the end, a sprinkle of cheese, maybe some sour cream and a piece of toast to finish off the meal. Coffee on the side of course.  My new favorite however, is my breakfast sandwich and yogurt parfait. It's simple but definitely gets the job done. Butter instead of oil in the pan. (yum) Egg over medium. When the egg is ready, get one slice of sourdough bread, cut it in half and a slice of Gouda or cheddar cheese.  Put your sandwich together in the pan and wait for bread to brown slightly on both sides.  Once that is done I open up the sandwich and add sour cream to the side of bread that was touching the egg along with spinach or arugula.  While the sandwich is cooking in the pan I make my parfait. Strawberry Greek yo

Anything that has to do with paper and string I love, so naturally I spent today making tags.You can use these tiny pieces of paper and string for lunch notes, gift tags, name tags for parties or gatherings, and a lot more. The possibilities are seriously endless. The little things in life can often mean the most or add the final touch. One of the best parts about home made tags? NO PLASTIC! Since having a baby I feel like I've been drowning in those plastic pieces that all tags are on in department stores. Everything my baby wears is brought home with at least one piece of throw away plastic. Though they might be fun to chew on, they really aren't great for the environment. Not to mention, I always find the ends in the carpet. How did it miss the trash? On final note, for those of you who do not know, I have a crafting Instagram page. Username, @creativepaigepage2 You can personal message me on my page if you're interested in tags, cards, banners, or like I said,

I had it about 2 months before I realized what it would do to me. It was time. Time to test the waters -  or in my case, jump all the way in. At first it was just a little, then a lot. Before I knew it, it was like I had tried on 100 wedding dresses and completely forgot what I liked any more. I wanted it all. "Let's try this... and this one... and this one... and this one." More, more, more, more, more. I had become a recluse in my room. Normal human interaction was almost a challenge because after all, I had been having one way conversations with my 6 month old daughter. This was crazy. It was addicting. It was all I wanted to do. My Cricut Explore Air 2 had captured me and I was in love. This last weekend I decided to "jump all the way in" with my Cricut Explore Air 2. The sky is certainly the limit with this machine. There are so many cuts and ideas I was going nuts trying to figure out what I wanted anymore. I spent all of Saturday locked away at my