Elevate: The Message

Sometimes, when blogging takes over your life, when your laundry is piled higher than your five year old, and there is not a single clean fork available, you rethink this blogging thing.  You look at the hours you spend, when your children are awake, when your children are asleep, when your husband is waiting for you in bed, while you slave away at the keyboard, and your think... Is this worth it?  Is pushing myself to the limit time and again worth it?  I struggle with this sometimes as my blogging is a hobby.  It doesn't make me money.  And for a time I was trying to break into the blogging world for the money, but lately, it's more about writing and connecting with people.  With readers, who eventually become friends.  I think that's why Elevate was more to me than a blog conference.  It was more than meeting a few of my blogging idols in person.  It was the simple idea that these women felt very much the same way that I did...
I am doing this right?  And for the right reasons?
Sarah, from Little Penelope Lane had a story of bravery and perseverance.  She talked about raising a child with extras, and giving birth to a small business organically.  But she also talked about using your words for a greater good.  She talked about blogging your story, a story that's important to you, that may be important to someone else.  Trust me when I tell you that Sarah's blog saves lives.  Sarah told the story of a mother, who's baby had been diagnosed, inutero with Spina Bifida, and had wrote on the Baby Central message boards that she had made the decision to terminate.  Others on the site at the time, linked Sarah's blog and a list of others, so she could read that Spina Bifida was not the end of her journey.  Sarah said that she, and the cavalry of other blogging moms sent her IMs and messages.  Then Sarah said she got the message that meant everything, The mom had decided against termination thanks to the cavalry.  One life saved.
Today the story brings the same tears as it did that day.  No one knows how their story will affect another, until we try.  Until we write our story, share our story, and hopefully inspire others.  At the end of Sarah's session, her message was simple, "Use your words.  Tell your story.  Make a difference".
Erin's session was fun and inspiring.  You can't be around Erin without taking on some of her energy.  And even though she says she blogs about nothing, she does blog about something.  Happiness.  Erin encouraged us to blog with purpose.  To really know the Why.  Why do we blog?  Why do we take the time away from other things in our lives to do this?  What is important about this?  She asked some of us to share our "why". So of course I did, after writing it in my notebook.  Yes, I took notes, ok, I'm a nerd!  My "why" was simply, "To save mothers from themselves".  I stand by that.  I've had emails from mothers, thanking me for my honesty.  Mother's thanking me for telling my story, as rough as it may have been.  Thanking me for making them feel normal, or in fact a good mother.  That my friends is my "why".  It truly is the only reason I need.  If I can connect with one mom a day, to take away her guilt, to take away some pain, or just let her know that she is not alone, then this blog has been worth every sacrifice.
Kimmie, oh, Kimmie.  She started out with, "You are so much bigger than your blog".  Thank you Kimmie. Because don't we forget sometimes?  When our followers box stays and hovers at the same number?  When a few followers on Facebook drop off daily?  Why does any of this matter?  It really doesn't.  We are so much bigger than this.  I am really bigger than my blog.  My blog is only a piece of me, and while I'm always happy to over share, it's not all of me.  I have a life outside of this.  I have to remember that.  This message couldn't have been more appropriate since I had just announced a Hiatus.  

Kimmie's message.  Elise's artwork.

The picuture above was part 2 of Kimmie's message.  She said that someone can only call you the "c word" so many times before you break.  Let me just say that knowing that someone could think that of her makes me sick, and sad.  Kimmie, with her story and spirit, are inspiring.  She is right. My worth is not defined by what others think.  I've had my share of negative anonymous comments.  I'm sure there are lists of people and readers who do not like my brand of blogging, and that has to be ok.  I don't blog for them.  I blog for me, and sometimes for you.  So that we can connect on a deeper level.  Sounds lame, but it's really true.  We must not forget that we aren't defined by negative comments or a drop in followers.  We are define ourselves.  What's in our hearts.  And we can't allow others to take that from us!
Ashely's message to me, was simple and directly for me.  I am blogging for the right reason.  Her overlying theme: Ask why, set goals, define success.  How I define success, may be different from how you define success.  That's a good thing.  When I started this blog I just wanted a place to feature and practice my craft, writing.  I didn't set out to be the next Little Miss Momma, Sugar and Dots, or Living in Yellow.  I set out to share my opinions on motherhood with the world... Or so I thought.  Somewhere along the way, I felt like my writing wasn't enough.  I needed crafts, and recipes, sponsors, and giveaways.  And I got lost.  My writing took a backseat, and the blog began to feel like a job and not so much as a hobby.  So recently I took it all back.  I looked at what I really wanted, and what I really want is to write.  A book, a magazine feature, a newspaper article.  To have my work published in print is how I'm defining my success.  That's the path that I'm on.  
Ashley had so many great ideas and blogging truths to share.  Find your voice, and your niche.  Be consistent in your voice.  I liked that, because while your blog can always adapt to your life, your voice, who you are should never change.  She started her session with the quote, "That which is most personal is most universal".  Always be you on your blog, don't paint a picture of someone you want to be, or someone else entirely.  It's really true.  The times that I'm raw, honest, and sometimes letting you in on my horrible days, are the posts that get the most feedback.  So it's important to be personal (within your comfort zone) and be honest.  I can tell you that Ashley is 100% the person she is on her blog, which is really refreshing and kind of exciting. She also talked about setting boundaries with your time.  Knowing that you can do anything but not everything.  That is an important takeaway for every blogger.  Also she said that when you feel like you need to pull the plug, quit the blogging world, delete your blog, take a moment to think about why you feel that way.  Are you quitting for the right reasons?  Take a look at what is getting you at that moment and reevaluate your goals.  Wow, right?  This was seriously like blogging 101.
I had some major takeaways burned in my brain from Ashley's session.  The first:
Comparison is the thief of joy
This is not a competition.  We are not competing for readers.  Even if it seems that way.  We are not.  Readers come here for something entirely different than what they find other places.  That's good, in fact it's great.  Who wants to read similar content everywhere they go.  No one wants to read Pride and Prejudice written by me, or Stephanie Meyer.  They want to read it by Ms. Austen herself.  So why would we go to blog after blog to read the same content?  We wouldn't.  So we have to stop competing with each other.  Our blogs are ours.  If we blog it, they will come.
The 2nd takeaway is just personal to me.  Ashley was answering questions about comments.  It seems that comments are on the decline.  With a million ways to show love on Twitter and Facebook, comments on actual blog posts have been taking a back seat.  So Ashley was asking about comments, and talking about how they are the best feedback.  She also talked about anonymous comments.  Her tip for ANON comments, Kindness.  Yup, kindness.  I'm going to have to try that.  But at the end she said that SILENCE is the worst.  Not a single comment on a post.  And that shot me right in the heart.  As she said, "silence hurts too".  She is so right.  After putting my heart and soul into a post, to have it met with silence is killer.  I'm not saying that to invoke a commenting frenzy here, I'm just sharing, because as writers and blogger, your feedback means everything.  And as a blogger, this makes me want to take the time to comment more. To let the blogger know, hey, I love this!  Kindness people.  At every turn.
This post was way longer than expected, so I apologize.  If you haven't noticed Elevate did just what it said it would, Elevate me to the next level.  It confirmed that I'm doing this for all the right reasons.  It showed me that I can use my words and tell my story.  It proved that I am bigger than this blog, and sometimes that means stepping away for a moment.  It inspired me to never forget my why, to always remember my goals, and to always define success on my terms.  
Like I said last Friday, I'm Elevated and ready to rock!

Elevate: The Speakers

There is no way to properly introduce the speakers of Elevate that will do their presence at the event justice. So here it goes.

Kimmie, Sarah, Ashley, Erin
I know, right?  Dying.
photo by Lora Knight

I'm going to go ahead and be honest with you all.  I was completely starstruck by these women.  I hadn't been at the venue 10 minutes when Erin strolled up.  I admit that I squealed.  Loudly.  I was just so damn excited to meet her.  To follow her is to love her.  So I'm sure she was well aware of all the stalker love she was going to receive that day.  I was one of those stalkers.  She is just as gorgeous in person.  She is also warm, and quick to jump in the conversation.  She wasn't worried about finding her friends, or the event coordinators.  She was wholly in the moment, and ready to party.  As if there was any doubt.  Here is the picture I snapped of her, because I had to Instagram proof that she was indeed at Elevate, in the flesh!  Also as a side and very personal note, when we were talking at dinner, she asked how old I was.  Of course I told her that I was such an old lady at 35... To which she exclaimed, NO WAY, and that I looked fabulous.  Well, if I didn't love her already...

When it was Erin's time to present, of course she got us all ready with the Cupid Shuffle.  I had no idea what that was or what it meant, but of course Kristine taught me the basics.  After a little dance party she got down to business.  She gave us the history of Living in Yellow, but also presented us with the question of Why?  What is the why?  Why do you blog?  Tough question when you really get down to it, am I right?  What I loved about Erin's session was her commitment to her blog, and it's underlying theme of inspiring happiness.  She told us that no matter what happens in her life, she wants to be able to laugh about it.  That's why she will most likely blog the good, bad and embarrassing, all in an effort to make us and herself laugh about it.  What started out as a 365 Gratitude Journal is now Living in Yellow.

photo by Lora Knight

This is Sarah, of Little Penelope Lane.  To say that this woman is inspiring is an understatement.  This is a woman who took what most scared her in the world and is currently using it to save lives.  Sarah's daughter was born with Spina Bifida.  She was told, while pregnant, that her daughter may or may not survive.  That she may have one of a dozen side effects and birth defects.  And yet, Sarah, with her faith, push forward.  Her story, along with her daughters is one of determination and discovery.  With a desire to find out what it was like to live with a child with Spina Bifida, she took it upon herself to share that story with her readers.  Her blog is one of the leading blogs detailing life with a child with "extras", as Sarah would say.  
As a mother, this alone is a source of great inspiration.  But it's the business that Sarah has grown, literally in her own home that struck me most.  Sarah started making bows when her daughters were little.  Tired of paying someone else, she took it upon herself to make her own creations.  Then as she shared them on her blog, people were interested, and offered her money for them.  That turned into trunk shows in her home and in the homes of her friends.  Other friends with homemade businesses started joining in, and before she knew it there was a line wrapped around the blog.  Today Sarah and her mother run one of Southern California's leading Handmade boutiques.  All while living with and mothering, three children.  

photo by Lora Knight

This is Kimmie.  Kimmie was so nervous, she warned us that she may or may not black out.  She shared her story of miscarriage and loss, but the story was about so much more.  She actually read the actual post from her blog, and it was beautiful.  Beautifully written, in prose that made you feel like you were there.  In the exam room, in the hospital waiting room, in the bathroom at 6 am when her precious Riley was born, too early to survive.  There was not a dry eye in the place.  I'll share her message in my next post, but she made me really think about me vs. my blog.  Not just the whys and why not, but the me.  The me that I pour into this blog.  Her story is one I will never forget, but that's not the only reason that I love her.  I love her, because when she handed me her business card, it reads:  Kimmie: Wife.  Mother.  Rockstar.  Fitting her perfectly.

This part of the post is going to sound so lame.  And I apologize, but I have to tell you.  Meeting this woman, in the flesh was amazing.  Ashley Stock, is a rockstar.  A celebrity among bloggers.  She inspires me in ways I don't even understand.  I'll share more of her message in another post, because honestly I could go on for days.  For now I will tell you this was the moment it all became real.
Let me back up.  In the summer of 2011, I wanted to make the hottest bakery item on the planet.  Cake pops.  Thanks to my intro to Pinterest, I was on the look out for the recipe.  Most of them were complicated, and called for scratch recipes and numerous steps.  Enter one Google search and BAM!  Little Miss Momma makes the easiest cake pops in the world.  Ingredients:  One box cake mix, one can frosting.  No joke add melting chocolate and done.  But that wasn't the only thing I took away with me that day.  Oh, no.  I got my first taste of what lifestyle blogging was all about.  I was in awe.  I was inspired.  I was obsessed in an almost single white female kind of way.  And that was the time I fell in love with a blog and it's blogger.  I told her that story, and apologized for possibly being a weirdo.  She just laughed and said that her cake pops bring more traffic than any other post.  I told her it's because it's the easiest recipe on the planet.  But still Ashley sorry for being a blog stalker!
Fast forward to Elevate.  I introduced myself and said I'm from Absolute Mommy.  And she said, "I know you", and hugged me.  Later when she handed me her business card, I said, thanks but as I'm sure you know, I already stalk you frequently.  She just laughed and said, "but I love your comments".  Because friends, she is that cool.  That kind, and that person.  The one on her blog.  The one that you wonder if she is really like, well I'm here to tell you... She is.
I was lucky enough to sit at her table.  Have lunch and dinner with her.  And she was kind enough to take a picture with the starstruck blogger that I was.  We shared stories about our hubbies, our kids, our lives.  And it was incredibly cool.  I don't have a better word for it.
Her session was equally motivating and inspiring.  She even had notes for us.  She answered the tough questions.  Questions we could only ask someone who has had success like she has had.  What's funny is she never once acted like she was more successful than any of us.  She spoke to us as if we all had blogs of the same size.  As if we all were ready and poised to take the blogging world by storm.  There was no feeling that what she has done with her blog, is not totally attainable for mine.  
These women are amazing.  What's more amazing are their individual messages, and I apologize for not sharing them here.  But you have to understand that their messages alone, are bigger and deserve more than just a quote.  So that is what is to come.  
Until then, get to know these awesome and awe inspiring women if you don't know them already.  
And get Elevated.

all photos courtesy of Lora Knight Photography

Elevate: The People

  From the very beginning, I was excited to attend Elevate for one reason and one reason alone:   The People.   Because I knew there would be bloggers that I had never met, some I had never heard of, and some who I had been tweeting and emailing for the better part of a year.  Since I really dived into the world of blogging, all I've had on my blogging bucket list was to attend a conference.  I toyed around with Creative Estates, Snap, and even for a brief moment Influence.  But it just wasn't the right time, or I didn't have the cash.  Last year, I couldn't attend Elevate, so I had it set, in my mind, that this year I was going.  Nothing was going to stop me.  Not even Mommy guilt knowing that I wouldn't wake up with my babies on Mother's Day.  Let me tell you, there wasn't enough mommy guilt in the world when I woke up Sunday morning that would take the smile off my face.   To be honest about how obsessed I was with Elevate, I will tell you that I set 2 calendar reminders and 2 alarms on my phone for the day tickets went on sale.  By 9:10 am, my ticket was bought and my fate sealed.  I didn't even know who would be speaking, but I didn't care.  Me, in a room full of my peers for a whole day?  Priceless in my book.  That was in January.  The wait had begun.   I will tell you two things about bloggers and what happens when they meet.  One, sometimes they squeal.  Case in point meeting this gal.  She was not even out of the car when I was yelling for her, then we ran to each other and jumped up and down.  You say ridiculous, I say, typical blogger behavior.   

I have a great and unconditional love for Kristine.  We "met" when I linked up a WIW post, I don't even know where, and she commented and then gave me a shout out on her blog.  I had seen her blog around and man was she the cool kid at the popular table.  But the comment and the shout out were just the beginning of a beautiful friendship.  Soon we were tweeting, facebooking, and stalking each other religiously on Instagram.  We have watched our blogs grow, we have fought off the haters, we have even shared our "ugliness" when it comes to the blogging world.  Meeting her in real life, and being able to hug her like I've wanted to do for over a year was amazing.  It's like we were just 2 old friends at a reunion. 

Also getting a squeal and a hug, Nay.  Of course Nay.  Who gives me the feed back that I need.  Who has a writers heart, who knows that we bleed each time we are at the keyboard.  From the very beginning of Absolute Mommy, Nay has helped me every step of the way.  Like my bloggy fairy god mother, only sassier.  I felt right at home as soon as I saw Nay.

The second thing that happens when you get a bunch of bloggers together is that there are always hugs.  Even if you have only emailed that person, or stalked them relentlessly on Instagram. 

Summer greeted me with open arms.  A huge welcoming hug from a bloggy friend is an amazing feeling.  Summer's blog was the first that invited me to write a guest post.  She taught me how to do that since I was a total rookie.  Over the last year and a half we have become virtual friends.  And I love her fierce, plus her style pregnant or not, is something to aspire to!

Jen, spotted me in the parking lot the night before and called out my name.  My mom (who drove down with me, another story to come) was like, "uh that girl is calling your name over there".  Which I'm sure was her way of saying stranger danger, but as soon as I saw her I knew.  It's Jen!!!  And of course we hugged and she was super concerned about emailing me back, and I was like, girl don't you have a conference to set up in the morning?  Because that's what bloggers do, we worry about emails regarding food, rather than the set up of a major event!

I did a screen shot of this picture of me and Nina.  I will wholeheartedly admit that I have been stalking Nina on Instagram for over a year.  I adore her.  And not in a creepy, single white female way, but in a "I know we would hang out in our jeans and Toms" kind of way.  When I went up and introduced myself to her, she immediately grabbed me into the biggest, tightest hug of my life.  It was amazing.  Then later, I caught her pumping behind a screen, and I said I know that sound, it sounds like a whale.  We cracked up and shared some "mommy" stories, and it was like we had been friends for years.  She also captioned the picture above as "@absolutemommy I die over you".  Right back at you Nina!!

Also hijacked this picture from Megan.  Because the world always needs more Megans.  Megan is my hero for waking up at 4 to drive from Phoenix with her husband all while 8 months preggo.  Again, another situation where it was like we have known each other for years.  When in fact it's been like a year.  I laugh because in her recap she said I ran to her... I in fact did, because I wanted her to know that I was excited to finally hug her!

This is Chrissy.  Chrissy is a breath of fresh air.  Her blog, Let me see you Sparkle, is a gem.  She has a project on her blog called the Happy Mail Mission.  Prior to Elevate I knew nothing about her.  At the end of the day, she is a new friend, and I let her know that I'm stalking her on Instagram.  Check out her and her blog.  She in fact does sparkle and the more you get to know her the more you just want to hug her.  In the picture above she is doing a minute to win it challenge.  Nina and I were on her team.  The object was to pick up a skittle by using the straw.  Nina and I may have sabotaged her by yelling "Suck it Chrissy!!!".  She laughed so hard, she couldn't complete the challenge.  It made me like her even more!

I could in fact go on for days about all the people I met.  Natalee from Eat Nap Play, turned out to be my wife in the celebrity couples game.  I was David Beckham and she was Posh.  
Elise, is an amazing talent, and should be opening a shop soon.  I can't wait, she is beautiful inside and out.  
Nichelle is someone who I've wanted to meet since I thought about going to Creative Estates.  So glad I got to meet her, and I loved when she gave me her business card with a pair of earrings attached and said, "I feel like you need these".  
I sat next to Ashley at dinner and we discussed her easy taco recipe and the fact that our husbands despise gourmet meals and vegetables.  We had a laugh about that, then laughed harder with Little Miss Momma herself interjected that her hubbs was the same way... Hmm.  Celebrities they are just like us!  
I walked up to April of The Gingerbread Blog and said, "I know you because I totally stalk you on Instagram".  I'm not sure how she felt about that!  
Sam, from the Ellison Family Expansion Plan, is gorgeous, and is chronicling bother her weight loss and infertility journey, BEAUTIFULLY, on her blog.  I had to tell her that I didn't recognize her from her blog as it seems she has lost more weight.  Seriously, read this, it will be the best, most beautiful thing you read today.  
Rachel, who is hilarious and fun, and quick to joke and make fun in spite of herself or those around her.  Who became an instant friend over facebook because something just clicked.
Natalie, who is so beautiful in real life, just like in her pictures, but so incredibly normal.  I'm not sure what I expected, but she floated seamlessly between tables, stopping to talk to everyone, and spreading kind words and enthusiasm.  I was totally blown away by her spirit!  She practices exactly what she preaches!

I'm so thankful to Summer, Jen, and Nichole, for their vision, their hard work, and their commitment to excellence.  This was my first conference, but I have a feeling it's going to be hard to beat.  I can't wait until next year... Can I just buy my ticket now????

photo courtesy of Lora Knight Photography

Elevate was an amazing experience for me as a blogger.  This post is only the beginning of my experience.  Elevate really did elevate me to the next level.  Of where I want to be as a blogger, but also what I want in my every day life.  Elevate confirmed what I already knew.  Blogging is one of the best things that I have ever done for myself.  Both selflessly and selfishly. 

No matter what anyone tells you about blogging, know this, it's the people, the bloggers who make the difference.  It's their friendship and their loyalty.  It's the fact that they have your virtual back before they have your actual back.  It's the community that we share, the community that I am so blessed and honored to be a part of. 
      This is my Elevate re-cap part 1. Check out all the Instagram madness using #elevateconf. Check out the event here.

It's Getting Hot in here {and my kids are crazy}

This is a sponsored post, but the opinions are all my own.
It's not even June and yet, Fresno has blessed us with some 100 degree days.  And while I'm sure there are some mid west and east coast friends that are shaking their head as I already begin to complain, let me tell you a little about Fresno summers.  This is only the beginning.  Soon, the temps will reach well over 100, and leaving the house to do anything will become my least favorite chore.  Trying to wrangle 2 kids under 5 in 100 degree temps?  Well lets just say I have friends with more than 2 that are my own personal heroes. 
So what can we do in 100 degree plus temps.  Well we can swim, which we do a lot at my momma's and my father in laws.  We can pay out the nose for play centers and indoor trampoline centers.  Or we can roll the dice and take a chance at the play center in the mall, or McDonalds where the plague is ready to take down your entire house hold.  Seriously just thinking about it makes me sick!
Or, we can just stay home.  And by doing that, we worry about the hours in front of the TV, the iPad, or the computer.  The heat makes both my littles crazy.  Especially if they can't go play outside, which is like their most favorite thing in the world.  Then they drive me crazy, because honestly, I hate sitting in 100 plus degree weather unless there is a pool nearby.  The first summer Caitlin was old enough to be bored with her toys, I got yarn, penne pasta, and markers to make necklaces.  It was a really poor attempt at crafting.  This was way before I started a blog, and before the birth of Pinterest, so I was a lost soul with my cranky and bored 2 year old.  I'm embarrassed to even share that!  But it's the truth.  Now as I have an almost 6 year old and a 3 year old, what else can we do, besides eat ice cream for every meal while watching Finding Nemo for the gazillionth time? Enter Babaa Box. A monthly subscription of activities for your little ones to survive the summer.  Delivered to your door, or digitally so you can print out activities and DIY ideas.  If you choose to have it delivered to your door, you will get books, puzzles, science projects, and games.  The possibilities are endless.

Fishing game for Summer fun

So what makes Babba Box different? Two things make BabbaBox different from all these other kids products and subscription services.
1) Solutions built to fit your life… The BabbaBox is designed by parents who understand that different situations call for different solutions.  While sitting down and spending an hour doing a project with your kids is fun, the reality is sometimes you are juggling dinner and need something they can do relatively independently.  
Each BabbaBox includes solutions specifically designed for four different occasions that are part of all parents’ routines: TV Free Mornings, Sanity Saving Weeknight Activities, Purposeful Weekend Plan, and Story time.
2) Have fun while building critical thinking skills… The BabbaBox is about so much more than just arts & crafts.  Each month includes a different combination of hands on projects, books, games, sensory activities, kid-friendly science, imaginative play and more.  And everything included is designed by BabbaCo’s early childhood experts to develop important critical thinking skills – of course while having a ton of fun in the process. There are also 3 super fun themes to help you survive the summer.  And they will be equally fun for both boys and girls.  Participating in a Babba Box subscription just may make you the cool mom on the block.  I can totally see the entire neighborhood wanting to join in the fun.  Which is fine as long as they bring their own snacks...  Check out the 3 themes that will help you survive whatever early summer mornings or late summer nights throw at you! June: Deep Sea Take a voyage to the bottom of the sea, enjoy a colorful book about some of our favorite creatures, make and plan an adorable fishing game, plus so many oceany activities. 
July: Camouflage Animals Where’d who go? Not only is camouflage on animals totally cool, but it also services a purpose – to help protect them. This month we will learn about all the amazing kinds of camouflage, play a little hide and seek ourselves and other well disguised fun! 
August: Pirate Treasure Bring your sea legs! This will be arguably our most fun theme yet, as we set out on an adventure, pirate-style. We will sing songs, meet famous pirates through an amazing book and become experts in life on the high seas! Check out Babba Box and if you like what you see, use “SURVIVE” at checkout to save 10% on any Summer Survival Pack.   In this house there are only 14 days left of school, and the temps keep climbing.  No more novice penne pasta crafting in this house.  This year we are going to survive summer with Babba Box! This post is part of the Surviving Summer Break with Babba Box campaign. This is a sponsored post, but all my opinions are my own. Content on the Babba Box subscription and campaign provided by Linqia.

Ready to Rock...

  The hiatus was shorter than expected.  That's because I have so much to tell you and so much to share.  So for today, I'll be brief.  

Pictures courtesy of Lora
I'm right behind Summer in the stripes, with the peace sign.

  It's taken me almost a week to wrap my head around Elevate.  I'm sure you noticed from my Instagram feed that I was knee deep in blogger heaven last Saturday.  It took me the entire week to savor and reflect on the people, the speakers, and the message.  To write one post entirely dedicated to the Elevate Conference would not do it justice, so I'll be writing three over the next week.  I promise to make them fun and exciting, and not at all like your boring neighbors vacation pictures.    I also have products to review, shout outs to give, a Mother's Day post to share...   All exciting stuff right?   So I'm ready to rock.  Even if I haven't done a stitch of laundry, a bit of cleaning, or even tried to do Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred again.  Because guys, Jillian almost killed me!  So, I'm diving back into the the things I love most.  Writing and this blog.  And more importantly you, because if I learned anything last Saturday, it's that blogging is powerful.  And while my blog might not save any lives, it does introduce me to people that do.  It allows me to make lasting friendships over social media, and it gives me the blessing of having a voice.    Stay tuned for stories that will make you laugh, and maybe even cry.    Because I'm back, and whether my family likes it or not, I'm ready to rock.    

Mother's Day {Friday Funnies}

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It's almost Mother's Day, and I'm not here to pat myself on the back.  I'm here to share some of the funny things I've discovered about motherhood.  Motherhood is a crap shoot.  Some days it's all rosy and sweet smelling, and sometimes it stinks.  I'm sure you know what I'm talking about.  We've all been there.  So in honor of a holiday for moms that's not really a holiday for moms, here is something to make you laugh about the hardest job you ever had.  The only job that makes you pull out your hair.  The only job that makes you want to run away, yet when you are alone for 5 minutes you immediately miss your children.   

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 I wrote a post in the very beginning titled Take this job and shove it.  I pose the question, that if you saw the job description for motherhood on Craig's list, would you even apply?  Because come on, it's a really tough gig and it pays in love.  Which is great, but love rarely buys you the box of wine that is sometimes required to get through the day.  Also I'd like to have this printed on a shirt, because I do get the question, "so what do you do?".  And some days I really want to say, bitch I do EVERYTHING!  

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You don't realize that when you pack you bag for the hospital, you are also packing your bags for a guilt trip.    From the moment you push that child from your loins you are on the guilt cruise of your life.  Sure there are cocktails and sometimes chocolate, but it's a never ending trip of guilt.  You want to take a shower?  The baby might need to nurse, guilt trip.  You want to take a few hours away with your girlfriends for drinks? What if the baby needs you?  Guilt trip.  You have to return to work, only to miss some milestones of your beautiful infant babe?  Guilt trip.  It really is the vacation that never ends.  Even when you think you are beyond soul crushing guilt, your child will come home and say, "but so and so's mom was there".  And that's when you check another bag for your guilt trip.  

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I feel like this is misleading as it should say a mother's mind.  This is what it's like to be a mother.  There are not enough hours in the day to complete all the tasks at hand.  Sure it starts out really simple, round the clock feedings, diaper changes, and naps.  But then people expect you to get all productive and stuff.  What's up with that?  Like they expect you to do things like get dressed and wash your hair.  Also they expect you to wear things other than yoga pants.  It only gets better from there.  Then you are expected to take your kid to preschool at an ungodly hour, and look like a real person.  Because there will be other moms there with two times the kids you have, who have on make-up and freshly ironed capri pants (seriously, true story).  There are a never ending amount of tabs to be opened on any given day.  It's truly what motherhood is all about. 

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Moms, this is what it's like when you have a toddler.  I'm sure you are laughing but I'm dead serious.  Your darling baby goes from sweet and cuddly, to mildly (or strongly) annoying over night.  And since they are proud of the new found independence they have, they want to do everything their self.  And by everything, I mean everything that you could do infinity times faster.  Putting on the shoes of a toddler that wants to do it their self takes a millennial.  And when you try to help, they scream at you.  Of course they do, because their way is better, right?  So this mother's day, keep this little picture in your heart as you watch your toddler feed themselves with a fork, when you know a spoon would be more appropriate, and enjoy watching them dirty their fourth shirt of the day.  

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Every day, I decide that I'm not going to clean my house, because my kids are home and they will just destroy it anyway.  This is not the science that works for my husband but it works for me.  I spent a year stressing over the mess, only to conclude that the only appropriate time to clean is at night when the kids are sleeping.  And even then I have major reservations about it since, they will be up and have destroyed the house again in less than 12 hours.  As you can tell, I set my standards pretty high.  Next time someone comes over and it looks like you are operating a day care center out of your house, just tell them that you like to clean at night when the kids are asleep as not to interfere with their imagination.  You can't bring yourself to interfere with the childhood memories that they are making.  Who would challenge such an excellent mother?  Your welcome.

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Never has an ecard described motherhood better.  This is what the first 3 years of motherhood looked like for me.  And you know what?  There is nothing wrong with that.  Motherhood is insane.  It's the only thing women gladly sign up for.  It's embraced fully.  It's competitive.  And it's the only job that no matter how shitty the day, no matter how terrible the tantrums (mine and the kids), we moms still work every day to better ourselves.  We strive to be better mothers with puke on our shirts, and poop on our hands.  We plot and plan our next moves.  We pin a thousand pins for one birthday party, for one teacher appreciation gift, for one Elf on the Shelf Christmas.  We throw our selves into the fire.  We forgo the last piece of anything.  We even eat our meals standing up if thats what it takes.  
So what's the big deal if we have it all and give our all while staying into our pajamas all day.
Why would we bother getting out of our pajamas?   That would just make more laundry for us to do.
    Have a happy Mother's Day, and if someone offers their help, TAKE IT. If someone offers do the cooking accept. And if some one offers you a drink, tell them to make it a double.

Hiatus

This post started as a Coffee Date to link up.  Then I thought I might turn it into a Hello Monday.  Then I decided to just post it as it.  My life has been full.  To the brim with work, home, activities, and lots and lots of room mother responsibilities that I wasn't quite prepared for.  Throw in Mother's day next Sunday, with Elevate the day before, and I'm spent.  Like emotionally, physically, and literally spent.
  So, I'm going to go on hiatus.     Because being tasked with writing something these days seems overwhelming.  Trying to schedule posts has seemed daunting.  Even trying to come up with new content has thrown me for a loop.  I've taken to writing in a notebook or on scraps of paper, and even then I've got nothing.  I think it's because my mind is so busy.  So full with the things on the "to do" list.  I can't relax enough to let out my anxiety, my stress, my worries.
  I hate to say I'm busy, because I despise the word.  Am I really more busy than you?  Am I busier than my neighbor, who has 3 kids, and a full time job?  Am I busier than my other neighbor who stays home and runs a family daycare?  Probably not, so I will say that my life is full.  And the fullness is driving me a little mad.  As in I'm losing my mind, and little pieces of me are breaking away.  So I need to pull back.  Just a little.
I've been putting off taking a brief hiatus.  I keep thinking "this will be the week", and then things like birthdays and anniversaries pop up.  Next week is Mother's Day, and I'm working on a Mother's day post, but that may be all I can crank out next week.  With life being full, I'm sacrificing sleep to blog, and that's not doing me or my writing any favors.  
Next week is Teacher Appreciation Week, next Saturday is Elevate, and Sunday Mother's Day.  Slowly but surely I'm getting ready for the week ahead, but I'm also super stressed about it.  That tells me that I need to pull back, breathe and relax.  This morning I was almost paralysed with the enormity of the commitments I have made.  The tasks still left to do.  It's taken me all day just to get here to post this little ditty that I originally wrote last Wednesday night.  As I edit I think, I haven't visited a single social media all day.  That is very unlike me.  But today, I'm focused on the task of rearranging, organizing, and planning for the week ahead.  The blogger in me is still stressed that I have no idea what I'm wearing on Saturday.  Yes, I'm obsessing about a blogging conference as if it were a prom, but it is kind of a prom for bloggers right?
Stressful Megan equals bitchy Megan, which equals a big sad face for the family.  I don't want to be Mad Mommy.  I want to be happy and in the moment mommy.  The only way to do that is to know my limits, admit that I can't do it all (and do I really want to), and say "no", more than I say yes.  That is so damn hard for me.  It's times like these that my type A personality comes back like a bad habit I had forgotten.
So I'm going to take a hiatus.  Perhaps until after Elevate.  To really enjoy it.  Let it all sink in and then write a really great post about it.  Some of my dearest bloggy friends are going to be there.  I can't wait to hug them in real life.  Those people who I've gotten to know on Instagram.  The ones who I helped welcome their babies, celebrate new jobs or shop openings, enjoy pictures of their family adventures.  That will really be something for my over extended heart.
So look for a few posts next week.  A recap perhaps.  A Mother's Day tribute.  And then I'll be posting after Elevate.  I won't be gone long.  Just long enough to breathe again.  To relax again.  To come back and put all I've got into it again.
Because I love this space.  I love you guys who read and comment, and share this life with me.  So thank you, very much. I won't be gone long, just long enough to get right with it all.