I Don't Know If I'm Doing It Right.

I read many, many other blogs.  I really enjoy doing that.  I read blogs written by moms, and dads, and survivors, and people struggling with addiction or infertility or illness.  I read blogs that are funny or heartwarming or happy or sad or sometimes a little of everything.

Lately I have come across some posts that I really have enjoyed reading, but they left me feeling so many mixed emotions.

Wow, that was a wake up call.

Maybe I'm not doing the best job here.  

Maybe I am rushing through life some days.  

Maybe I don't appreciate enough.  Or maybe I appreciate things too much.  

Maybe I over think things.  

Maybe I made the wrong choice in leaving my career 4 years ago to have a home daycare and be home with my kids or maybe I am making the wrong decision going back to being a full time, working out of the home mom.

Maybe I am not using the right words when I talk to my girls and therefore will lead them to a life of serious issues and countless hours in therapy.  

Maybe I am not making them be as independent as they could be.  Maybe I am expecting them to be more independent than they should be at this age.

All I can say to all of this is a big resounding I DON'T KNOW IF I AM DOING IT RIGHT.  (I'm actually pretty sure that I am doing many, many things wrong.)

But what I do know is that some days I am going to rush because I am running late.  Yes, I might hurry my kids in the morning...because I have to go to something called a J-O-B and they have to learn to be on time for stuff like that.  You can't be late to work or school just because the sun is shining and you want to frolic in the yard and take it all in or because your sister took your Barbie and you want to fight about it or because there is a new episode of Austin and Ally on and you just have to watch it even though it will come on 67 times this week.  The world is not always going to wait for you.

Maybe I am going to tell them to cut it out with the snacks or desserts because NO YOU CAN'T snack all day and eat 7 pounds of sugar.  They have to know that too.

Maybe I will talk about losing weight in front of them (ME, not them)...because if I am working hard at something like training for a half marathon and I lose some weight, I should be proud of that because I am trying to be healthier.  There is nothing wrong with that.

There may be times when I call them "princess" or tell them they are "pretty" or "beautiful".  What the hell.  I can't keep track of all the appropriate, empowering things to say.  But you can bet that I will also tell them that they are smart or funny or talented or interesting or faster than ANY of the boys in their class. 

Some days I will yell at them and say bad words (yes, those bad four letter words)...because I am mad and frustrated and tired and they just need to CUT THAT SHIT OUT.

But EVERY SINGE DAY my kids will know that there is nothing in life more important to me than them.

Even on days that mommy rushes or yells or plays on her phone or writes this damn blog while she should be reading books or going over sight words or listening to them sing Taylor Swift songs for the 243rd time this week, there is NOTHING that is more important.  They will always be my top priority.  Each one of them will know that they are so, so loved.

And that's all that really matters. 

Help Me Pick My New Glasses!

I have a confession.  My glasses broke months ago...and instead of going to get a new pair, I have been wearing a pair from 2001.  They are not even the correct prescription and they are crooked and they make me look like a hot mess.

We actually have vision insurance too.  But the problem is that I have to decide whether or not to use my insurance to pay for EITHER contacts or glasses.  So I usually choose contacts.  Then I put off getting glasses because they are SO DAMN expensive.

Well, not any more!

I found a site that offers a GREAT selection of eyeglasses at affordable prices.  (In fact, they have a 110% lowest price guarantee!).  The site is called GlassesUSA.com and they have so many different glasses to choose from that I don't know where to start!

And even though I was a little leery of ordering online eyeglasses, I kind of know what style I like already so it shouldn't be too risky.

SO here's what I am going to do.  I will post 3 styles of glasses that I like, and I want YOU to help me choose.

Before I post my 3 choices, I wanted to share a really cool, fun feature from the GlassesUSA.com site.  It is called the Virtual Mirror.  Check it out!



Now, here are my 3 choices!  All of the below images where taken directly from GlassesUSA.com.

A.
 
                          Tyler

B.

                       Bendetto

C.

    Elizabeth Arden EA1071 Black

What do you think?  Leave a comment and just tell me if you think I should choose A, B, or C.  I really appreciate your help!  I would love to order glasses by the end of next week so I'll let you know what I choose!

And if you are in the market for new glasses, I really recommend checking out GlassesUSA.com!

They have awesome prices and great deals...especially now at back to school time (40% off AND free shipping!)

My readers can also get an extra 10% your order or prescription eyeglasses using the code BLOG10.

Disclosure:  This is a sponsored post, but all opinions in this post are my own.

It's been 30 days...and the results are in (PLUS a GIVEAWAY!!!)

I mentioned before that I am training for a half marathon in September.  And yes, it's true.  I'm doing that and I'm getting there.  Although I am still pretty nervous about the whole 13.1 MILE THING.  I am up to 8 miles now...and I need to really put in the time this next month.

But anywho...I was wishing and hoping that I would shed a few unwanted pounds in the course of training for it.  But you can wish and hope all you want, the weight won't come off unless you do the "work".

And by "work" I mean all that crappy exercising and eating healthy stuff.

So I got the first part down, the exercising.  It was always the eating part that messed me up.

Then I saw some posts from one of my blogger pals, Liz.  She is also known as the Funny Postpartum Lady.  And she has now started a new site called New Mom Body.  Well she is bad ass.  She runs and exercises and LOOKS AWESOME!

See for yourself!


If you visit Liz's New Mom Body site, you will see that it is a Plexus Worldwide site.  I encourage you to go take a little looksy (and I really loved the tab 10 Reasons to try the Plexus Products).  Right there you will see why you may be interested in trying these products.  I know just looking at Liz's results convinced me!

So we got in touch with each other and I decided to try Plexus Slim along with the Accelerator for 30 days...and then I would do a results post.

Well, HERE IT IS!

My 30 days are up and the results are in.

First, let me tell you that I am not a shake drinker.  They usually taste chalky to me and I have a hard time getting them down.  BUT the Plexus Slim "pink drink" is NOT like that at all.  You mix one packet with 16 oz. of water and drink it in the morning.  Then I took the Accelerator capsule with that.  I usually did this right after a light breakfast.

What I loved about the products was that they didn't make me feel jittery.  They also DEFINITELY curbed my appetite and cravings.  I was able to eat less and feel full.  Plus, I didn't snack as much during the day (which is usually my downfall).

So are you ready for my before and after picture?

Listen, before I post it, know that this is a BIG DEAL for me.  I don't like wearing a bathing suit in my own back yard...let alone posting a picture of me in one for millions to see.  Okay, maybe thousands, or hundreds.  Well dozens...dozens of people will see this.  But oh well.

Here goes.


After 30 days, I am down about 8 pounds.

I feel like I have toned up more, probably because of my increased mileage with my running.  But I have also added some free weights in twice a week (trying to move that to 3 or 4 times a week). 

So after this 30 day trial, I will most definitely be continuing with the Plexus products.

And guess what?

YOU can try it too.  Liz and I have teamed up to offer a 7 day trial giveaway!!!!

Just enter below.  The giveaway ends next Monday night and I will announce a winner on Tuesday.

Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

Give Me 5 for Friday: 5 Good Things

I have made a decision to be positive.  I have been a whiny little complainer lately and I am sick of my own voice.

So for Give Me 5 for Friday, I am going to focus on 5 good things...

1.  The kids are healthy.  Number 1, most important good thing.  ALWAYS a good thing, period!

2.  I got the new job I wanted.  I shared this on facebook...but I am SUPER EXCITED to have gotten this job!  It's teaching special education at a great school, with terrific staff, and great students.  I start on August 19th!  But don't go losing any sleep, I'm still going to find some for this little blog.  I know you were worried...but I'm not going anywhere.

3.  We are ordering pizza for dinner...so that means I'M NOT COOKING.  Woohoo!

4.  I'm still running regularly and working on my goal to run a half marathon.  I'm up to running 7 miles (going to try 8 this weekend)...and I lost 7 pounds in the past month!

5.  There's some wine in my fridge.  That's also ALWAYS a good thing.  Because you never know when you are gonna need a glass of wine.  Like now...I think I might need one NOW.

Also a little shout out to everyone who read my post earlier this week (Maybe I'm not cut out for this?) and left a nice comment.  And for all of you who read it and said that you felt the same way at one time or another, know you are not alone.  Trust me!  Even today I asked myself if I was cut out for the whole mom thing.  Then my 4 (almost 5 in 3 weeks!) year old told me I was the best mom ever.  Of course, this was after I let her have 2 oreos BEFORE lunch...but I'll take it.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Now to go have that glass of wine...Cheers!