I recently saw an instagram post of this chicks blog Caroline Joy Rector. She is a minimalist fashion blogger who builds her whole wardrobe with just 37 items of clothing, including shoes & purses! When I first came across her system I thought to myself...HOLY MOLY only 37 pieces!? I knew I had probably more than 37 pairs of shoes! I was astonished that any female could only own 37 pieces of clothing but yet still be fashionable. So, me being the researcher and "nosey rosey" that I am, I had to find out more about this minimalist lifestyle.
My research led me to countless blogs, YouTube videos, and articles. The more I read about it the more I realized that it is totally AWESOME! The idea of minimalism is basically simplicity, and who doesn't need more of that?!
I started just researching minimalist wardrobe's but it actually stems a lot farther than just wardrobes. Minimalism is more of a lifestyle, not just something you apply to your clothes. The whole idea of living within your means, living simple and clutter free so that you can focus your energy and attention on what matters most in life; is something I have been searching for, for a while now!
The whole concept really puts my mind at ease. So as I start along this journey of purging, cleaning, de-cluttering, and simplifying I will start posting more about the steps I am taking to live a more simple life in the midst of a chaotic world. Now, will I sell everything I own and live in an RV for the rest of my days...um I think not! But I am excited to see where this journey takes me. I just wanna be a Duggar. Nuff said!
Check out this girls YouTube page! She is a minimalist who centers her decision to live simple around Jesus Christ! Woot woot! Praise! Carrie Peterson
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Friday, August 22, 2014
Potty Training: 101
It's hard for me to believe that it's time for my child to start potty training! It just seems like yesterday I was changing her mustard yellow, scentless newborn diaper and now she WANTS to use the "big girl potty". She will be two in November and my goal is for her to be completely potty trained by her birthday. Note: I have not pushed her to potty train, she has given plenty of signs, including literally telling me she needs/wants to use the potty. I have done extensive research on the best way to potty train and have gotten a few good tips that I have used but I have also learned to make it your own.
I have never been a "by the book" type of woman or mom. I like to take tips from other moms, blogs, magazines, ect and put my own twist on them! Making it my own has helped me to figure out what works best for Emery's likes and dislikes. So don't be afraid to step outside the box on your potty training ideas!
These are some tips/tricks that have helped Emery (so far) in her potty training journey. Like I said, these are things that are currently helping HER, so don't freak out if these don't work for your little one.
1. Potty seat NOT chair!
I was so excited to show Emery her new Dora the Explorer potty chair but soon found out that it was not floating her boat at all! She was much more amazed with the "big potty". So I purchased a potty seat, and it has worked like a charm. For some reason my tiny tot is fascinated by using the "big potty" which is a plus for mommy as well because she can't climb off the "big potty" like she could the potty chair (hehe)!
2. Time to Potty App
I'm not one of those people who use an app for everything in their lives but I will have to say that the Time to Potty App by Pull Ups has helped me a lot! The app allows you to customize to your child's age, gender, and what time they get up and go to bed. Then it recommends you to start the child out potting every 45 minutes, which I have found to be true, then when it's time to potty a fun alarm will go off on your phone. You can then document if your child pottied and if his/her pull-up was wet. So far this app has worked like a charm and has really helped me to keep up with Emery's potty times!
3. Rewards
Because who wants to pee in the potty without getting a special treat for it! We have a couple of different rewards for potting. The first is a sticker chart! We have a sticker chart hanging in the bathroom and every time Emery potties she gets to stick a sticker on her sticker chart! Some sticker charts are fancy and have the days all mapped out....not us...she just wants to stick it to the paper. Ba-da-bing ba-da-boom. I know stickers may sound a little lame, but to a almost 2 year old it's like a hundred bucks!
The second reward is a treat jar! Take a jelly jar, decorate it with fun stickers or even your child's name, fill it with M&M's and WA-LA! So every time Emery potties she get's one M&M! :)
4. Real panties
Some blogs encourage this and some discourage it. I have tried it and just the fact of introducing Emery to real panties has helped her. Yesterday, Emery wore her first pair of real panties (just around the house of course). She thought it was the coolest thing since sliced bread! She loved them! Then...she had an accident. Immediately she recognized that her panties were wet and there was an unusual wet substance running down her leg that she did NOT like! She came running to me saying "Mommy I pee, mommy I pee" which was music to my ears because I wanted her to know that she had peed on herself. I then sat her on the potty and she finished her business. She is not wearing real panties all the time yet but by me introducing them to her she will grow accustom to them!
5. Privacy
This may sound like a weird tip but it has worked for me! The first few days of potty training I would stand in the bathroom with her and nothing would happen! I would tell her "pee pee in the potty emery" and she wouldn't do anything! So then I thought that she may be getting distracted with me in there with her, so I stepped out of the bathroom but stayed right by the door. As soon as I did I started hearing little trickles of pee hitting the water! She needed some privacy!! Which makes a lot of sense when you think about it. I mean can you pee when someone is standing there watching you?! No! Or at least I can't HA! So giving her a little privacy helped her to relax so that she could use the potty! Now every time I sit her on the potty I step out so she can privately do the deed.
I'm sure I will have more stories, tips, and tricks as our potty training journey progresses but for now...that's all I got! So to leave you with a sweet image...here is Emery's first time on her Potty (which we do not use anymore lol). My baby is growing up!
I have never been a "by the book" type of woman or mom. I like to take tips from other moms, blogs, magazines, ect and put my own twist on them! Making it my own has helped me to figure out what works best for Emery's likes and dislikes. So don't be afraid to step outside the box on your potty training ideas!
These are some tips/tricks that have helped Emery (so far) in her potty training journey. Like I said, these are things that are currently helping HER, so don't freak out if these don't work for your little one.
1. Potty seat NOT chair!
I was so excited to show Emery her new Dora the Explorer potty chair but soon found out that it was not floating her boat at all! She was much more amazed with the "big potty". So I purchased a potty seat, and it has worked like a charm. For some reason my tiny tot is fascinated by using the "big potty" which is a plus for mommy as well because she can't climb off the "big potty" like she could the potty chair (hehe)!
I'm not one of those people who use an app for everything in their lives but I will have to say that the Time to Potty App by Pull Ups has helped me a lot! The app allows you to customize to your child's age, gender, and what time they get up and go to bed. Then it recommends you to start the child out potting every 45 minutes, which I have found to be true, then when it's time to potty a fun alarm will go off on your phone. You can then document if your child pottied and if his/her pull-up was wet. So far this app has worked like a charm and has really helped me to keep up with Emery's potty times!
3. Rewards
Because who wants to pee in the potty without getting a special treat for it! We have a couple of different rewards for potting. The first is a sticker chart! We have a sticker chart hanging in the bathroom and every time Emery potties she gets to stick a sticker on her sticker chart! Some sticker charts are fancy and have the days all mapped out....not us...she just wants to stick it to the paper. Ba-da-bing ba-da-boom. I know stickers may sound a little lame, but to a almost 2 year old it's like a hundred bucks!
The second reward is a treat jar! Take a jelly jar, decorate it with fun stickers or even your child's name, fill it with M&M's and WA-LA! So every time Emery potties she get's one M&M! :)
4. Real panties
Some blogs encourage this and some discourage it. I have tried it and just the fact of introducing Emery to real panties has helped her. Yesterday, Emery wore her first pair of real panties (just around the house of course). She thought it was the coolest thing since sliced bread! She loved them! Then...she had an accident. Immediately she recognized that her panties were wet and there was an unusual wet substance running down her leg that she did NOT like! She came running to me saying "Mommy I pee, mommy I pee" which was music to my ears because I wanted her to know that she had peed on herself. I then sat her on the potty and she finished her business. She is not wearing real panties all the time yet but by me introducing them to her she will grow accustom to them!
5. Privacy
This may sound like a weird tip but it has worked for me! The first few days of potty training I would stand in the bathroom with her and nothing would happen! I would tell her "pee pee in the potty emery" and she wouldn't do anything! So then I thought that she may be getting distracted with me in there with her, so I stepped out of the bathroom but stayed right by the door. As soon as I did I started hearing little trickles of pee hitting the water! She needed some privacy!! Which makes a lot of sense when you think about it. I mean can you pee when someone is standing there watching you?! No! Or at least I can't HA! So giving her a little privacy helped her to relax so that she could use the potty! Now every time I sit her on the potty I step out so she can privately do the deed.
I'm sure I will have more stories, tips, and tricks as our potty training journey progresses but for now...that's all I got! So to leave you with a sweet image...here is Emery's first time on her Potty (which we do not use anymore lol). My baby is growing up!
Thursday, August 14, 2014
Long Time No See!
Greetings blog world, long time no see..or should I say read! ha! Due to my crazy life/schedule and my procrastination I have not blogged in months! I have definitely missed it. My husband misses it to because I haven't been trying new recipe's on him for awhile.
Life has been CRAZY busy this summer! From switching jobs, then switching back to my old job (long story) to singing a lot with my husband and I's ministry. Oh did I mention the fact that I've had weddings, wedding showers, baby showers, and every other kind of shower there is out there. So needless to say I am a walking zombie who's best friend is a white chocolate mocha Starbucks!
As summer is starting to wind down and I can already start to smell the aroma of hazelnut and roasted pecans, fall is almost here (YAY). But before the cooler weather fully sets in, I have a few nifty projects up my sleeve! Some include new home décor, chalk painting, and wardrobe purging! So guess what blog world....I'M BACK!!
Stay tuned!! :)
Life has been CRAZY busy this summer! From switching jobs, then switching back to my old job (long story) to singing a lot with my husband and I's ministry. Oh did I mention the fact that I've had weddings, wedding showers, baby showers, and every other kind of shower there is out there. So needless to say I am a walking zombie who's best friend is a white chocolate mocha Starbucks!
As summer is starting to wind down and I can already start to smell the aroma of hazelnut and roasted pecans, fall is almost here (YAY). But before the cooler weather fully sets in, I have a few nifty projects up my sleeve! Some include new home décor, chalk painting, and wardrobe purging! So guess what blog world....I'M BACK!!
Stay tuned!! :)
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