Give yourself some credit, mama. You are an AMAZING mom to your littles. You love them more than life itself. But… you are tired of feeling so frazzled and chaotic.
I get you mama, it is SO HARD sometimes. It feels like the days of being pulled 86 different directions will never end.
You’re tired of going to bed regretting the entire day.
You’re so frazzled that you’re flying off the handle all hours.
You feel like your kids are getting tired of you, maybe you’re even tired of yourself.
But I’m here to tell you that this isn’t forever. You absolutely CAN have a different reality.
If you scroll instagram and just wish you could be that gentle mindful mama who is patient and enjoying her days instead of wishing them away… this is for you.
Mindfulness Habits for Frazzled Moms
In this post, I’ll be sharing mindfulness habits for frazzled moms. These will make a HUGE difference in your life if you commit yourself to it.
I want to preface this in that you absolutely should not try to implement all of these at the same time. Pick a few and add them in overtime.
Who knows where you could be 6 months from now? Or even a week from now? Let’s get to it!
Start and end your day with intention
First and foremost – you need to be intentional. Flying by the seat of your pants just isn’t going to cut it. You absolutely have to commit to yourself and make the right choices throughout your day. Start with a plan and adjust as you go (we all know mom life NEVER goes according to plan!).
Implement morning and evening routines
When you first get intentional, it’s important to have routines for both starting and ending your day. This helps you get in the right headspace and feel a sense of calm as you enter or exit your day.
If possible, try to wake up 1-2 hours before your children do.
I acknowledge that not everyone can do this… but man does it make for a great start to the day! Starting your day without being needed by anyone is AMAZING. You can sit and read your book, sip on your coffee in peace, watch the sunrise, and enter your day feeling light.
But – make sure you have a plan. Know WHY you are waking up early and what you will do with the extra time, otherwise you will fall right back asleep! Ha.
Start an evening routine 1-2 hours before you plan to go to bed.
Just like you want to ease into your day, you want to ease out of it, too. This is also a very calming experience and sets you up for a good night’s sleep that will then start the next day off on the right foot.
Turn off screens, start a diffuser of calming oils, take a shower, dim the lights, and set up the perfect environment to get you ready for sleep. It works wonders!
Express gratitude
As Tony Robbins says, “When we have an attitude of gratitude we see life as it is; an unbelievable gift.”
Taking the time to stop and think about what you’re grateful for is one of the best things you can do when you start your day. It encourages happiness and you see everything around you in a different light. You appreciate life for the beautiful thing it is.
Start your mornings by listing off a few things you are grateful for. Watch as your perspective changes just from this simple habit.
Set your daily intentions
Another great habit to implement in the morning is setting your intentions for the day. Some really good questions to ask yourself as you do this, are:
What are my top 3 priorities for today?
Do I have any events I need to prepare for?
What am I EXCITED for today?
What will make today AWESOME?
Who needs me to bring my A-Game today?
If you have habits you want to work on today, make sure to list those too. Don’t get too crazy with this either – the point of this is to get excited for your day, set your mind to having an awesome day, and be okay when things go sideways.
Practice breath work throughout the day
Deep breathing is probably the most simple, yet effective mindfulness tool. Learning to stop, close your eyes, breathe in through your nose, out through your mouth, and silence your thoughts does a lot for the mind.
As a mom, you’ll use this tool A LOT once you get in the habit. It’s a great tool when you need to take a moment before you snap. (It’s also useful to set the boundary of giving mommy a moment to calm herself!)
And while this works great during stressful moments, it is a great tool to start your day with too. If you can take a moment to just sit and breathe, you center yourself and start the day with very calm energies. Meditation or simple breathing exercises helps a ton!
Set and visualize your goals
Keep your goals in the front of your mind and start your day visualizing them happening! List out your top goals for the moment, no matter if it’s to stop yelling at your kids, drink more water or putting a down payment on a house.
Once you’ve done that, visualize it.
Close your eyes, and picture it happening. How will your relationship with your kids improve? What does that version of you look like? What are you doing? How do you FEEL?
Recite it, visualize it, then work towards it.
Recite affirmations
Our mind is truly a powerful thing. Whatever we tell it, it believes. If you constantly say how terrible of a mom you are, you’re going to believe it and show up in life with that energy.
This is where affirmations come in – they help us change our mindset and truly believe it. Even if you don’t believe it at first, consistency will lead to changing that over time. By reciting “I am” statements, we rewire our brain.
Some good affirmations to start with include:
I am capable of amazing things.
I am enough for my kids, as I am, right now.
I am worthy of a life full of joy and happiness.
I am strong in my ability to handle what life throws at me.
I am kind in how I speak to those I love.
I am brave, pushing through the hard stuff.
For best results, recite affirmations out loud so you are speaking it into reality. Aim for the same set of affirmations every 30 days. By focusing on the same ones, we put focus onto embodying the belief that it is true.
Manage your emotions
Another important aspect of being mindful as a mom, is managing our emotions. This is HARD – but the benefits to this are huge. Eventually, you will rewire your brain to think and respond differently.
Prioritize responding over reacting
First and foremost – place an importance on responding instead of reacting. Instead of blowing a gasket over the marker Jimmy scribbled all over the wall… take a breath, and consider how to best respond.
This may look like:
Acknowledging why this happened (lack of attention, desire to color, etc)
Setting the boundary to prevent it happening again (explain we only color on paper)
Giving little Jimmy the tools he needs (giving easier access to paper)
By responding in a helpful way, the outcome is much better than if we lash out. But in order to do this, we have to take control of our emotions FIRST. It’s okay to wait to respond!
Process how you are feeling
Stemming off that, you absolutely must process your feelings. Emotions are not a negative thing, but they need to be processed. Sit in it, give yourself permission to feel any certain feeling, analyze why you’re feeling that way, etc.
Don’t push through them, but process them and sit in it for a minute.
Be more present
We live in a society where being present is a rare find. With so much going on around us, it’s easy to detach ourselves from what’s in front of us. But when you’re present… quality of life is greater and therefore you are more apt to approach life from a sense of peace.
You can get more present by:
Limiting your social media use (or at least using it intentionally)
Be present with your loved ones (put your phone away and give them your attention)
Spending more time doing things you enjoy and show up for the experience
Honor yourself
You’re starting your day on the right foot, managing your emotions, and getting present – that’s great. But are you taking care of yourself and honoring who you are and how you work? It’s VITAL that you are taking this seriously.
A burned out mama doesn’t do anyone any good. And ignoring your own wants and needs is the fastest way to get burned out and end up in a constant state of overwhelm.
Become more self-aware
The first step is to become self-aware. Why do you react the way you do? What activities help you feel more like yourself? What helps improve your quality of life?
Pay attention to your body, mind, and spirit. Take mental notes and adjust as you go.
Take care of your body
The mind and body are connected and knowing that, it is important to take care of your body. Being hard on your body and not taking care of it will eventually lead to suffering the consequences.
Simple ways to take care of your body:
Avoid sitting too much – get your body moving by playing, dancing, working out, etc
Drink enough water to keep your body hydrated throughout the day
Focus on good eating habits – eat plenty of protein and produce!
Mindfulness Habits for Frazzled Moms
Final thoughts
Being a mom is hard and while it feels like the constant state of frazzle and overwhelm is forever – I assure you that it is not.
Start your day off right by implementing routines, practicing gratitude, reciting affirmation, visualizing your goals, and getting intentional.
When things get hard, it’s important to take control of your emotional state with breathwork, responding instead of reacting, and truly processing what we’re feeling. It’s also important to try and be present in the moment.
Last but not least, make sure you are taking care of yourself. You are important so make sure you are honoring what you need!
Take it slow, too. You don’t need to try and change everything at once. Take it one day or even one hour at a time and evolve over time. You got this mama!
The biggest sale of the year is here and I wanted to share some of my favorite affordable and luxurious finds for beauty, home, and kids from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale.
If you’ve been around for a bit, you know I love a good find, especially if it’s on sale! I have shopped the N Sale for the past few years and love that they offer more items than just women’s and men’s clothing and shoes. It’s my favorite time to not only stock up on those items, which you can see a few of my picks on this post – but also to stock up on items for Christmas, for homes, and for the girls for the year.
Because my girls aren’t in massive growth mode, I usually buy one size up. And they can wear them for the entire year, and some beyond.
I’m always shopping for our short term rental properties. So some of the items are pure luxury and so soft that I have them in our own home. And give them as gifts too! What better way to welcome others into your home, but not really your personal home, than some of your favorite things!
Before we get too much further, I have to let you know I’ve included affiliate links. Which means if you shop through my link, I get a small commission, at no additional cost to you, and it makes me smile a little more 🙂
$1,000 Gift Card Giveaway
And I also have a fun giveaway for someone to win a $1,000 gift card to shop the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale which will basically run the whole month of August! Enter below.
I have teamed up with an amazing group of bloggers to give YOU a chance to win:
a $1,000 Nordstrom Gift Cards to shop the Anniversary sale!
Simply enter below by completing the rafflecopter. You’ll receive one entry per completion. This giveaway is open to the U.S. and Canada only and runs until 8/17. Winner will be announced here. Good Luck!
Void where prohibited. By entering the giveaway you acknowledge that you are agreeing to complete each task, which involves following, liking and subscribing to newsletter’s.
Ok, so now onto my favorites for finding luxurious items for home, beauty, and kids. If you click on the photo, it will take you directly to my liketoknow.it where you can shop my picks and add them to your wish list for when you are able to shop.
Happy shopping and wish list building! Only a few more days until the sale opens 🙂
As I have been looking for furnishings for our new home, I wanted pieces that would last for a long time, but also transition from one age to the next. The first was with Leila’s room as she’s going to be – dare I say it – a preteen and teenager sooner than I’d like to believe.
When I was searching for her things, I wanted the base to be cute and acceptable for an 8 year old. But also something that would work for her a few years down the road with simply changing the sheets and accessories.
New Bed from Delta Children
Insert this awesome bed from Delta Children! It fits my farmhouse style. But will work for a few years because it’s a twin size!
The bed was easy enough to put together that Leila and I did it by ourselves in an afternoon. And the instructions and tools come in the box. So that was super helpful! It also might have been a bit easier because her room was completely empty because we didn’t move in yet and gave us a ton of extra room that we wouldn’t have normally had.
I love that it can fit multiple ways in a room.
Either against the wall, with side tables, or even have a chaise at the end. For when she’s growing and wanting to change her room around.
For now, we placed it against the wall on one side because she doesn’t have side tables. She and Finlee have so much fun playing and reading in her bed.
This is our temporary home until our forever home is being finished. So the wall colors and curtains are more a neutral aspect that will completely change with her new room. This bed is for that future space. Not this current one.
That being said, I love how the grayish color of this bed fits into this space. And also the more colorful palette we have picked out, proving it’s versatile.
Another great thing about this piece is it’s available at Walmart and Delta Children – making for very easy access to many people.
This bed was the first piece I picked out to move into our current space with aspirations to move into our forever home. I think it really helped solidify my style of Industrial Modern Glam Farmhouse!
My entire life, I’ve always wanted to be straight and flat on every inch of my body.
Straight and flat hair that would be straight to my head and not poofy. Straight legs and chest so I could wear the things I would see on tv and on the mannequins at the store. Flat stomach and muscles because that’s what seemed to get the dates and boys to look at them more.
Except I was made for Texas. Big hair that’s a lot and thick – that NEVER lays flat straight to my face or head. My body shape has curves in all the right places. So I’m learning and never before have really loved.
For most of my entire 32 years, I could have fit in better as a Kardashian sister and their bodies than I do with my own family – except I haven’t ever had a knife touch my body outside of 2 C-Sections which is about to change.
Body Image Issue
I thought that my curves, broad shoulders, booty and thick thighs were a shame and something to hide. And I dressed that way. I would wear flowy and billowy clothes because I thought that was making my body look better. I didn’t understand that an hourglass shape is something to be desired. Ok, maybe in my early 20s before kids and when I was in great shape. I did understand this, but I was definitely doing it for the wrong reasons. Dresses too short and way too see thru to wear outside of the house let alone to a club or to dinner.
But becoming a Mom does a lot to your body that many don’t understand, especially guys. And really other women that seem to bounce back right after baby. And never look like they were pregnant in the first place…
..yeah, they don’t get it either.
So for the rest of us who do get changed during pregnancy and the time after, I didn’t feel like the same person. Post C-Section and lack of sleep are quite the combo that makes you not even really appreciate all the things your body does for you, let alone feel sexy in it. ….. well for me anyways. I didn’t and sometimes don’t understand what my husband sees when he looks at me with all the love and affection he does. There are days still. Almost 4 years post baby that I don’t like the image I see in the mirror.
I still look at my body longing for the pre baby, super fit, small waist, perky breasts that are undamaged. A scarless lower stomach and give it grief for the way it stares back at me in the mirror. Asking why there’s extra cellulite, less muscle tone. Why it doesn’t look good in short dresses like it did ‘back in the day’. For some women, this can lead to disordered eating, the obsessive need for weight loss, and a negative body image. Throw in social media, and these are all prime risk factors to developing an eating disorder.
Another factor we maybe don’t talk about enough is the fact that the way us moms behave and act can start affecting our little girls at a young age. If us moms are strict on the way we treat our bodies and unkind, our little girls can grow up doing the same thing.
But the reality is, my body is pretty great. I have a great shape that looks good in bodycon and athleisure.
It has curves and muscle and can make my husband stop what he’s doing in a second and be completely lost in my presence.
And this year, yep, just this year, I realized that the clothes I was putting on my body aren’t allowing me to put my best body forward. The billowy, drapey clothing were just making my body look like a blob. The shoes I was wearing were making me look clunky. And like my muscular legs didn’t have any definition or length at all. This part wasn’t about body dissatisfaction but more about comfort. I might have had a positive body image, but I really wanted to be comfortable, and the billowy clothing was more comfortable for me.
For 7 years, I’ve been buying clothes and shoes that people who are 21 are buying and I didn’t know any better! I would look at these models and watch tv and see what they were wearing and just get that – except with a muscular, curvy body. As a person who loves a boho life and less structure in my clothing than my morning schedule, it is tough to realize your clothes are the biggest obstacle in your life! Now that I know what shapes and types of clothing fit for my body type, I know what to steer clear of in the store. And what sections I should absolutely go to! I know which brands are good and which aren’t great.
It has made my life much easier!
I may not be the most stylish or fashion forward with the trends. But I know what fits my body and what makes it look good. My confidence has increased, and I feel like I’m not hiding anymore. I feel comfortable in my skin and my clothes wherever I go. I don’t feel like I’m not enough or should hide in the corner anymore because of the way I look. Now, I can also only add key pieces to my closet and keep the rest out!
So, all of this to say that yes, I will be accepting my body as it is, but also that I will try to make it better and ease the stress I’m putting on the inside of my body. Like the organs and joints and muscles.
I’m going to get my breasts reduced and lifted because it will allow my back pain to ease. It will also allow for exercise to return much quicker and easier. This in itself will bring more confidence to me, but most importantly will allow me to do things I haven’t because of pain associated with the weight. I will have my herniated umbilical fixed so there’s no longer discomfort randomly in my stomach.
I’m eating better and doing things that will help reduce the load and cellulite on my body.
So it can be toned and healthy from filling it with good for me things.
The clothes are minor, it’s the other things that will help my body live it’s best for the next 30+ years that are major changes in shape, size, pain level, and health. And the thing we don’t talk about enough, the mental health aspect of life of feeling like you actually belong in your body and can love it.
What are a few things you are working on right now to love you more and more?
For anyone that knows me well, knows that I like good food, but most days, I’m a simple cook.
If I don’t order it, it may come in a box, a cup, a bowl, or something similar. If none of these, then it’s fresh, raw fruit or veggie.
That being said, for me to make an elaborate, multi-step meal with multiple courses isn’t realistic.
I’ve tried and partnered with nearly every meal prep and delivery service out there. And still, meal time is a struggle for me nightly. And if I’m being honest, like I always am, the idea of making meals and dinner stresses me out more than most things in my life. I know that if I had a personal chef that would make the things I need to eat (like fruits and veggies) it wouldn’t be a problem.
If this person would also cook for my husband and children, I know it would take a lot of stress off my life.
The book that teaches you how to cook like your Grandma did
So, when I was offered to test out this new book, “The Anti-Cook Book” by Shelley Onderdonk and Rebecca Bloom, I was intrigued by the title. Easy, Thrifty Recipes for Food-Smart Living it goes on to say…
As I dug deeper and deeper into the book, I realized that any and everyone could use this book successfully. Because we all have little time and we all have to eat. These two moms, wives, and career women teach the readers that no matter your status, age, budget, background, makeup, anything else socioeconomic status wise –
You can do this!
Even for those of us who pretend to know what they are doing with our nutrition and in the kitchen (ME too).
The book is sprinkled with personal stories and easy, simple recipes with minimal instructions needed. And a bit of spunk and quirk along the way keeps you (it did me anyway) interested in the story and reasoning for the choices made in the book. Another sprinkling throughout the book that usually goes with a story:: Real text message conversations from the authors’ lives.
It supports the story and also that they know what they are doing.
Most of the cook books I’ve ever owned or seen have a full page, or very near full page, dedicated to a single recipe. This book combines story, ideas for using the recipe, proof it’s a great one, and then the recipe in short form. All on the same page. Incredible work and less intimidating for those of us (ME too) who don’t even want to open a recipe book because they are already checked out of the process.
Throughout the book are useful tips like planning meals for the whole week, without spending hours on end in the kitchen making them. Or when is appropriate to use Google because I know y’all pull out your phone or ask Siri whether you want to admit it or not!
It’s the perfect time of the year to gift this book to a Grad or a Dad in your life, or heck, an overwhelmed, underblessed Martha Stewart Mamma (also Me) who just wants to make their life a bit easier.
Grab the link here and get yourself and those who need this the most a copy. (It’s the cheapest cookbook I’ve ever seen!)
And leave me a comment letting me know your cooking/Martha Stewart style too. I’d love to know where you stand on this and if this book is on target or way off the mark for you!
With the increasing use of technology and the decreasing age at which children start learning technology, it’s becoming difficult to connect any toy in a past generation and keep interest for very long.
That’s where LEGO’s come in!
No matter what, even in technological games, you have to use your imagination and create something new. And that’s all LEGO’s have ever been about!
Why you should consider the Perfect Toys that have withstood Generations
I remember as a kid having a HUGE blue bucket full of all different shapes, sizes, and colors of LEGO’s that my siblings and I could spend HOURS creating whatever we wanted. I usually built a house that was very elaborate (big surprise that I love architecture and imagining what the house could be now, right?!). While my siblings built cars and such (also very telling to today’s interests.)
Since Leila was little, she’s always loved LEGO’s and has a table with little pockets to store her creations and extra pieces in her room. Now that Finlee’s showing an interest, I thought it would be perfect to partner with LEGO to showcase the new and classic options for World Creativity and Innovation Week.
Why you should consider the Perfect Toys that have withstood Generations
Leila got to build the new, LEGO friends collection as it has specific directions to ensure the shop is sturdy and stays together. Finlee played with the classic collection that’s seen a bit of an update and comes with pieces that have eyes and wheels.
It was super fun to be able to help them and tell stories of my siblings and I spending hours playing with our LEGO’s but also fun to watch their little minds work and put together all the pieces to their creations. And when Grandma came over, she could then tell her stories of playing with LEGO’s herself.
After they built their creations, they played with them for the next couple hours and even continued on with them for the next few days, taking a piece or a part along with them in the car. They still held up and didn’t break! I call that a win for no tears and unhappy kiddos!
If you are needing a new toy to help your kiddos take a break from the technology, but still get their creativity going, I highly encourage you to revisit LEGO’s as they will help in also developing their fine motor skills, which is important for school learning just as much as technology!
What are your favorite LEGO stories from when you were growing up?
Another great thing about this piece is it’s available at Walmart and Delta Children – making for very easy access to many people.
As I dug deeper and deeper into the book, I realized that any and everyone could use this book successfully. Because we all have little time and we all have to eat. These two moms, wives, and career women teach the readers that no matter your status, age, budget, background, makeup, anything else socioeconomic status wise –
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