They say good things never last.
But I beg to differ.
Good things last as long as we want them to if we put in our efforts to keep it that way.
My husband and I have been together for 11 years (married for 3).
And let me tell you first off, it's definitely not always cupcakes and rainbows (thanks for the punch line Poppy!)
But I can also honestly say, every battle and obstacle we have overcome has made us stronger and more understanding of each other.
One of the most important parts of keeping a long last relationship healthy, is investing your time into the other person, no matter how hard and crazy life gets.
Here are some simple things my husband and I will work in to our busy lives to keep the spark going, to stay close to each other and to relay our importance to one another.
1. Write each other love letters
2. Go out to eat at your favorite restaurant, or maybe one you both have never been to
3. Watch a movie, lounge on the couch and eat popcorn (even if it's late on a work night, and you both end up falling asleep!)
4. Tell them you appreciate them as often as possible
5. Cook a meal together
6. Lay on a blanket together under the stars (this is great whether you're talking, or just enjoying their silent presence)
7. Tackle a home project together on the weekend
8. Reminisce on old memories and photos
9. Take a nap together
10. Do a chore you know the other one always does
11. Support and encourage them to chase a dream
12. Give them thoughtful gifts for their birthday and holidays (doesn't have to be expensive, thoughtful and diy all the way!)
13. Go on a group date with friends
14. Play a board game
15. Make a goal, any goal, one that you have to meet together
16. Exercise or go for a walk together
17. Text or call them during your work day, just to tell them you're thinking of them
18. Be there for each other, and listen to each other, when either of you need to vent
19. Go on a road trip or day drive
20. Kiss, hug and touch each other whenever you're together. Physical contact is a very important part of a deep connection.
Disclaimer
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Self Care Skin Routine
I have been acne prone from a young age. Infact I remember being the only one with a face full of pimples in elementary school, and I'd go home crying to my mom about it!
Obviously at that age, hormones were a major component. But I have still struggled with break outs, and finding the right products for over 15 years! I've tried Proactive, Clinique, Mary Kay, lots of other top brand skin care lines out there and even dermatologist prescribed cleansers and ointments.
But the biggest thing I've learned through trying them all, is that my routine and how I take care of myself and my health is by far the most effective thing I can do to control breakouts.
In my home, we are constantly eating fruits and vegetables.
We eat balanced diets for our meals, and only occasionally indulge in a sugar filled treat.
But it's that balance part I'm talking about... if I eat a candy bar and drink a soda once a day, I can clearly see the effects in my skin. My pores are larger, and I get more pimples and blackheads because I've ingested more sugar than I should or than I normally do.
Do I see these negative effects if I eat one candy bar and drink one soda per week? Not really.
If it was really important for me to have flawless and glowing natural skin, then I probably should cut those sugars out totally.
But my intentions are never to be perfect, but rather to simply be happy.
And what makes me happy, is knowing I'm putting my efforts into the things I want, but not giving myself unrealistic goals. Therefor, I will indulge in my occasional sugar filled treat and do what I know works.
What works for me, is having those proper nutrients in my diet, and sticking to a routine.
I am a red head with sensitive skin. And that means things like foods I eat, makeup, stress and hormones all play a big part on how my skin appears.
What I've learned is, I can really only control 2 of those 4 things.
Food, and makeup.
I can eat the right foods and fill my body with the proper nutrients to avoid breakouts.
Plus I can use good quality make up, and wash my face twice daily to clean out my pores and remove dead skin.
I've found that if I fall asleep even one night without washing off my makeup, I will almost always have a bad breakout within a couple days.
By keeping these 2 things in check and part of my routine, I have found the effects of stress and hormones to have less of an influence on my skin.
So it's best to learn from your own experiences and find out what seems to effect your skin the most. But I guarantee, adding in these regiments to your daily life will get you closer to that naturally beautiful skin you've always hoped for.
I currently use Neutrogena products. They're easy to find, affordable, and with a balanced diet and cleansing twice daily, these products have given me exactly what I needed.
I use the gentle foam cleanser at night to remove make up, and apply the spot treatment to any breakouts.
In the morning I use the grape fruit scrub to give me a fresh start to my day. Then follow it up with the grapefruit moisturizer.
They all leave my skin feeling soft afterwards, and the ointment and moisturizer are light and not irritating.
With my sensitive skin, I'd recommend these products to anyone!
. .
Obviously at that age, hormones were a major component. But I have still struggled with break outs, and finding the right products for over 15 years! I've tried Proactive, Clinique, Mary Kay, lots of other top brand skin care lines out there and even dermatologist prescribed cleansers and ointments.
But the biggest thing I've learned through trying them all, is that my routine and how I take care of myself and my health is by far the most effective thing I can do to control breakouts.
In my home, we are constantly eating fruits and vegetables.
We eat balanced diets for our meals, and only occasionally indulge in a sugar filled treat.
But it's that balance part I'm talking about... if I eat a candy bar and drink a soda once a day, I can clearly see the effects in my skin. My pores are larger, and I get more pimples and blackheads because I've ingested more sugar than I should or than I normally do.
Do I see these negative effects if I eat one candy bar and drink one soda per week? Not really.
If it was really important for me to have flawless and glowing natural skin, then I probably should cut those sugars out totally.
But my intentions are never to be perfect, but rather to simply be happy.
And what makes me happy, is knowing I'm putting my efforts into the things I want, but not giving myself unrealistic goals. Therefor, I will indulge in my occasional sugar filled treat and do what I know works.
What works for me, is having those proper nutrients in my diet, and sticking to a routine.
I am a red head with sensitive skin. And that means things like foods I eat, makeup, stress and hormones all play a big part on how my skin appears.
What I've learned is, I can really only control 2 of those 4 things.
Food, and makeup.
I can eat the right foods and fill my body with the proper nutrients to avoid breakouts.
Plus I can use good quality make up, and wash my face twice daily to clean out my pores and remove dead skin.
I've found that if I fall asleep even one night without washing off my makeup, I will almost always have a bad breakout within a couple days.
By keeping these 2 things in check and part of my routine, I have found the effects of stress and hormones to have less of an influence on my skin.
So it's best to learn from your own experiences and find out what seems to effect your skin the most. But I guarantee, adding in these regiments to your daily life will get you closer to that naturally beautiful skin you've always hoped for.
I currently use Neutrogena products. They're easy to find, affordable, and with a balanced diet and cleansing twice daily, these products have given me exactly what I needed.
I use the gentle foam cleanser at night to remove make up, and apply the spot treatment to any breakouts.
In the morning I use the grape fruit scrub to give me a fresh start to my day. Then follow it up with the grapefruit moisturizer.
They all leave my skin feeling soft afterwards, and the ointment and moisturizer are light and not irritating.
With my sensitive skin, I'd recommend these products to anyone!
. .
Everyday Essential Oil Uses
I first started using essential oils about 2 years ago.
It's one of those modern day, natural ways to heal and relieve pain and tension, mentally and physically.
So, I figured I better give it a try! And I'm SO glad I did!
I've found it to work well for myself, my daughter, and my husband for numerous things!
At first I only used them in a diffuser, which dispersed the scent throughout my whole house. But then I realized there were so many other ways to use them!
I now put drops in my bath, foot soaks and sprays, and even use them on a stone necklace I have which caries the scent around with me wherever I go for the entire day! This is especially helpful with something like a headache when you have to go to work or experiencing stress but still need to stay focused.
From someone who really prefers to not take medicine, or give it to my child if not needed, essential oils have become my families go-to for head aches, relieving cold and flu symptoms, foot odor, bug repellant, stress reliever, and SO much more!
Here is a list of my favorite oils and what I use them for:
Peppermint: headache, nausea
Tea Tree: mosquito repellant, foot soaks
Eucalyptus: congestion, runny nose
Lavender: relaxant, foot soaks
Lemongrass: stress, headache
Sometimes I'll mix multiple oils together. For instance peppermint and lemon together cures all my headaches!
Or I'll make my own foot soaks with hot water, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tbsp Epsom salt, 3 drops of tea tree oil and 3 drops of lavender oil- it's AMAZING!
The link below is a great starter kit for using essential oils.
This is the exact diffuser and necklace that I have and they work amazing!
It's one of those modern day, natural ways to heal and relieve pain and tension, mentally and physically.
So, I figured I better give it a try! And I'm SO glad I did!
I've found it to work well for myself, my daughter, and my husband for numerous things!
At first I only used them in a diffuser, which dispersed the scent throughout my whole house. But then I realized there were so many other ways to use them!
I now put drops in my bath, foot soaks and sprays, and even use them on a stone necklace I have which caries the scent around with me wherever I go for the entire day! This is especially helpful with something like a headache when you have to go to work or experiencing stress but still need to stay focused.
From someone who really prefers to not take medicine, or give it to my child if not needed, essential oils have become my families go-to for head aches, relieving cold and flu symptoms, foot odor, bug repellant, stress reliever, and SO much more!
Here is a list of my favorite oils and what I use them for:
Peppermint: headache, nausea
Tea Tree: mosquito repellant, foot soaks
Eucalyptus: congestion, runny nose
Lavender: relaxant, foot soaks
Lemongrass: stress, headache
Sometimes I'll mix multiple oils together. For instance peppermint and lemon together cures all my headaches!
Or I'll make my own foot soaks with hot water, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tbsp Epsom salt, 3 drops of tea tree oil and 3 drops of lavender oil- it's AMAZING!
The link below is a great starter kit for using essential oils.
This is the exact diffuser and necklace that I have and they work amazing!
Teaching Toddlers Manners
We're always so hard on ourselves as parents. We question if we've done the right thing in so many different situations. But let's face it; some parenting choices are simply just that, a personal choice and not a matter of right or wrong.
So we have to change it up in those moments, and instead determine what's good vs bad instead of right or wrong.
I've taken something like teaching my daughter manner into my control, and made a choice on not what is supposed to be right, but instead teaching my daughter the "good" side of life.
To be positive, supportive and understanding in situations that appear negative.
I'm so proud of my daughter when she uses her manners.
I noticed just before turning 2 years old, she started talking well and asking for things more. And even though I had always told her to say please and thank you, she wasn't using them much when it was actually needed.
But one thing she was also doing during this time was trying to help with anything she could and trying to do new things on her own.
So, I took advantage of this and saw it as an opportunity to teach her to actually start using manners.
I began allowing her to partake and help in chores around the house (putting away dishes, sweeping, picking up toys, folding laundry, putting garbage in the trash, etc) as well as her self care routine (changing diaper, changing clothes, bathing, brushing teeth, fixing hair, etc).
And when I'd ask her to help with these things, as she willingly would, I would not only praise her for helping by saying something like "great job girl!" but actually tell her "thank you" for her efforts and doing what I'd asked. And I began repeating this EVERY time she helped with or completed a task.
This has trickled down and effected her better than I ever thought it would.
I'm leading by example, when I ask her for something and she does it, I say thank you.
So it made me realize; why would I expect her to say "thank you" to me when I've done something for her, if I am not saying that to her when she's done something for me.
And before I knew it, anytime she'd ask for a snack and got one "thank you mama".
I help put on her shoes "thank you mama".
I buckle her into her car seat "thank you mama".
Change her diaper "thank you mama".
You get the jist.
Besides thank you, we've also incorporated please, excuse me, saying hi and bye, and overall being more vocally expressive and appreciative for the things she wants and gets.
I can truly say after doing this CONSTANTLY for a few months, I saw a major improvement and am very proud of not just her, but myself as well.
I have probably used my manners more in the past 6 months than I have in many years. But that's because having a young child who did not use them opened my eyes to how I wanted to raise my daughter.
One of the most important things I want my daughter to do in life, is respect.
I want her to know that good things will come to those who work hard, to respect others, appreciate what you have and why you have it, and always choose to be happy.
Because THAT is how you reveal the GOOD side of life.
So we have to change it up in those moments, and instead determine what's good vs bad instead of right or wrong.
I've taken something like teaching my daughter manner into my control, and made a choice on not what is supposed to be right, but instead teaching my daughter the "good" side of life.
To be positive, supportive and understanding in situations that appear negative.
I'm so proud of my daughter when she uses her manners.
I noticed just before turning 2 years old, she started talking well and asking for things more. And even though I had always told her to say please and thank you, she wasn't using them much when it was actually needed.
But one thing she was also doing during this time was trying to help with anything she could and trying to do new things on her own.
So, I took advantage of this and saw it as an opportunity to teach her to actually start using manners.
I began allowing her to partake and help in chores around the house (putting away dishes, sweeping, picking up toys, folding laundry, putting garbage in the trash, etc) as well as her self care routine (changing diaper, changing clothes, bathing, brushing teeth, fixing hair, etc).
And when I'd ask her to help with these things, as she willingly would, I would not only praise her for helping by saying something like "great job girl!" but actually tell her "thank you" for her efforts and doing what I'd asked. And I began repeating this EVERY time she helped with or completed a task.
This has trickled down and effected her better than I ever thought it would.
I'm leading by example, when I ask her for something and she does it, I say thank you.
So it made me realize; why would I expect her to say "thank you" to me when I've done something for her, if I am not saying that to her when she's done something for me.
And before I knew it, anytime she'd ask for a snack and got one "thank you mama".
I help put on her shoes "thank you mama".
I buckle her into her car seat "thank you mama".
Change her diaper "thank you mama".
You get the jist.
Besides thank you, we've also incorporated please, excuse me, saying hi and bye, and overall being more vocally expressive and appreciative for the things she wants and gets.
I can truly say after doing this CONSTANTLY for a few months, I saw a major improvement and am very proud of not just her, but myself as well.
I have probably used my manners more in the past 6 months than I have in many years. But that's because having a young child who did not use them opened my eyes to how I wanted to raise my daughter.
One of the most important things I want my daughter to do in life, is respect.
I want her to know that good things will come to those who work hard, to respect others, appreciate what you have and why you have it, and always choose to be happy.
Because THAT is how you reveal the GOOD side of life.
20 things to do with your BEST FRIEND
Looking to switch up the routine with your bestie?
Make some time for these fun ideas, and you just might feel more connected with them and enjoy yourself more than you have I'm a while!
1. Tell each other secrets that no one else knows
2. Go on a day drive/road trip to somewhere you both have never been
3. Go to a concert or show
4. Vent about your problems/give advice
5. Cook a meal together
6. Go to a flee market
7. Get manicures and pedicures
8. Plan a double date with your significant others
9. Have a movie night in pajamas
10. Dress up and go out to dinner (either to your favorite place, or somewhere new!)
11. Sun bathe on the back patio with a cold beverage
12. Encourage and support each other
13. Call and text them just to say hi
14. Borrow each others clothes
15. Visit a pool or lake to swim
16. Go shopping (or window shopping for what you can't buy!)
17. Help clean their house or do some of their chores
18. Buy them a small gift or a card on their birthday, Christmas and other holidays
19. Sit down at a café and chat over lattes
20. Work out or go for walks together
Make some time for these fun ideas, and you just might feel more connected with them and enjoy yourself more than you have I'm a while!
1. Tell each other secrets that no one else knows
2. Go on a day drive/road trip to somewhere you both have never been
3. Go to a concert or show
4. Vent about your problems/give advice
5. Cook a meal together
6. Go to a flee market
7. Get manicures and pedicures
8. Plan a double date with your significant others
9. Have a movie night in pajamas
10. Dress up and go out to dinner (either to your favorite place, or somewhere new!)
11. Sun bathe on the back patio with a cold beverage
12. Encourage and support each other
13. Call and text them just to say hi
14. Borrow each others clothes
15. Visit a pool or lake to swim
16. Go shopping (or window shopping for what you can't buy!)
17. Help clean their house or do some of their chores
18. Buy them a small gift or a card on their birthday, Christmas and other holidays
19. Sit down at a café and chat over lattes
20. Work out or go for walks together
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