Hello there again

This is my current view: getting ready to start writing a new blog post, diffusing Joy and Orange, listening to Kelly Clarkson's new album, and drinking a sweet tea from McDonald's (not pictured).

It's been a little bit since I wrote a blog post and I didn't quite know what to write about. I've just been so busy with life that my blog has been the last thing on my mind. I used to think about it more often and randomly think "Hey, I've got to write a post about that!" I'm hoping that I'll eventually get back to that point because I love writing and sharing my ideas with others.

I'm not sure how many people actually read my blog, but I hope that who ever is out there reading it, gains something from it. I try to write about things that I know other mothers out there will be able to relate to. So if you are reading this, I thank you so much for taking tie out of your busy schedule to read what I have to say.

So what have I been up to the past few months? Well, I started substitute teaching back in September and I've been keeping pretty busy with that! This week and next week I have a 4 day week of work! I'm not quite sure what I was thinking when I took on all those days of subbing! When I first started subbing again I wanted to just do 2 or 3 a week. But the occasional 4 day week isn't so bad. We had an amazing babysitter for the first 6 weeks that I've been subbing but just recently had to switch sitters and we found another great one! I'm sad we can't keep taking the kiddos to the first one, but I've gained a great friend through that experience. Things happen for a reason and I'm so glad I was able to meet someone as awesome as she is!

About 2 weeks ago I applied for a long term substitute position at a school I've been subbing at a lot. I wasn't looking for something full-time, but I figured that the opportunity was there so I might as well go for it. I didn't end up getting it because they wanted someone more experienced for the position, but I'm totally ok with that. I realized that I'm not quite ready to go back to work full-time. I've had a little taste of what it will be like being full-time by working 4 day weeks and I'm not ready to leave my kiddos for 5 days a week. Yes I know that 4 days isn't a full week, but it's more than 2 or 3 which is what I was doing when I first started subbing this school year. I'm definitely going to have to have a system in place to keep up with all the housework once I do go back to work full-time because housework itself is a full-time job!!

I'm still sharing my love of oils and using them more and more each day! I actually just introduced them to our first babysitter we had (and my newest friend), and she loves them! Maybe that was the reason I needed to meet her, to introduce her to the oily lifestyle? Time will only tell. But seriously, I love these oils and what they do for me and my family. I've been using peppermint a lot while subbing to give me some natural energy. I just roll some on my temples and behind my ears and I'm' good to go! I use DiGize vitality to help with my digestive system, Thieves vitality to help with immune support, and the list goes on an on. It's really not that hard to get started with oils. When you keep it all about staying above the wellness line, it's so simple and makes it all worth it!

Well, I'm going to wrap up this post now. I hope everyone has had a great October and has a great November! This year is going way too fast!! 2018 will be here before we know it!!

Thank you for keeping it real, Shawn Johnson

So I'm not sure how many of you have heard the news from Shawn Johnson and her husband Andrew East from over the weekend. Shawn Johnson is a former gymnast and Andrew East is football player. Shawn posted a 20 minute video that showed her announcing to the world and then to her husband that she was pregnant. That is a moment that every woman who has ever been pregnant can remember and it's usually a moment filled with tons of emotions! This was no different for Shawn. She said that this pregnancy was unplanned but she was still excited and happy about it. 

Then things take a bit of a change in the video. Shawn was on the phone with her doctor and the next thing you see is her and Andrew driving to the doctor's office for her to get blood work and an ultrasound. Then they get the worst news possible: she lost the baby. It's so crazy because some people may think "How can you miss something you never had?" I've never had to experience this, but it completely makes sense to me about how you can miss something that wasn't even born yet. She had known she was pregnant for about 4 days before she found out she lost the baby. That may not seem like that long, but it truly is. From the moment you find out you're pregnant, you have all these thoughts going through your mind about who that baby is going to turn into and how different your life is going to be in 9 months. To have that suddenly all go away...I can't even imagine!!

I think Shawn is so brave to have shared her story with the world. "We feel like a lot of people go through this so we wanted to share it," Johnson says in the video. Miscarriage just isn't something that people talk about and so to see this video out there is just so brave of her. This happens to more women in the world than people may think and I just hope that women who have experienced this in their lifetime know that they are not alone. Like I said, I never had to experience this, but my heart breaks for women who have.

Some of the comments on this video make me angry. I saw one that said "Get over it, it happens to all of us. No biggie." Again, not speaking from experience, but this is in no way a situation in which to say "no biggie." Yes life does go on for people who experience this, but it's not like they just say "Alright, just have to shake this off, no biggie." I'm sure people think about their miscarried babies more than people think they do. Their lives would be completely different had that baby survived, so it isn't something you can just get over.

Along with the bad comments, I think there are a million more good ones!! I'm just loving the support that everyone is giving them. It makes me so happy that there are still a ton of great people out there in this crazy world!!

Chores...

A few weeks ago when I was in a classroom for a substitute position, we were reading an article in a Scholastic News magazine about chores. It was a debate on whether or not kids should get paid to do chores. It had an argument for both sides and I'm kind of on the fence about it. This is something I had never thought about before but will have to start thinking about in a few years when Big E is a little older.

Here is why I believe kids should get paid for chores: By giving kids money for chores, it motivates them to want to do their chores and help out around the house. It also gives them a little taste of what it will be like when they are older and have to work to get paid. They also learn a little bit about money management. Say there is a toy or movie that they really want, they can do x amount of chores and save their money in order to get what they want.

And here are some reasons that they shouldn't get chores. It was mentioned in the article that moms and dads don't get paid to clean their room, do the dishes, or wash the clothes, so why should kids. I think that is a very valid point. Also, kids should just be expected to help keep the house clean and listen to their parents when they ask them to help out.

So...I'm still not too sure what I'm going to do about this once Big E is a little older. There are valid points for both why kids should and shouldn't get paid to do chores. This will be a conversation my hubby and I will have to have down the road, when the time is right. What do you think? I would love to hear what you have to say!

What the world needs now...

is love, sweet love! That song couldn't be more true right now. It's crazy because it's events like the one that happened in Las Vegas recently that make us stop and think about how precious life really is. It makes us stop and think about how something like that could happen anywhere, at any time. We shouldn't have to live in a life of fear, but when something like this happens, it's hard not to have those thoughts.

Should we stop going to movie theaters because of the shooting that happened in one a few years ago? Should we stop going on airplanes because of 9/11? Should we stop going to concerts because of the most recent tragedy? I don't know about you, but I don't plan on living under a rock just because of the things that could happen. I'm not going to start living my life in fear, because then what is the point of living?

We all know that tragedy could hit at any moment and that tomorrow is never a promise. So that should be even more of a reason to get out there and cherish every moment!! During the past few months I've had a greater want and need to spend more time with my friends and family. Especially now that I live farther away from most of my family and don't see them that often, I cherish every single second that I do get to spend with them! Making memories with the ones you love is what life is all about!! So go hug your loved ones a little tighter today!! Have a great Tuesday!!