You may have already guessed, but my way of dealing with emotions is most often through writing.
Writing is therapy for me.
I write this poem, not about my own personal marriage, but as a reflection of marriages and relationships within my family and friends that have broken up.
It’s hard to deal with divorce and break ups.
For me personally, it was a great moment to sit back and reflect and even encourage my spouse to reflect on our own relationship and consider our struggles and strengths.
Perhaps it will give you a moment to pause and reflect on your own relationship.
For we know, relationships are so fragile and delicate.
I hold no judgement toward broken marriages and relationships.
As I know each relationship has its own story.
I don’t have all the answers.
I just have thoughts from this simple poem below.
What caused the Wedge Between Us?
What caused the wedge between us ?
Will we ever know?
It started out so little, but it did continue to grow.
Was it a lack of time together ?
Or perhaps our values weren’t the same?
What caused the wedge between us?
I wish it would go away.
Perhaps it was not talking at dinner,
Or spending time with others,not each other.
Our progression as a couple was not growing linear,
Instead it was growing apart.
But didn’t we love each other?
And commit to have each other’s hearts?
What caused the wedge between us?
It’s pulling us apart.
Was it the lack of simple “I love yous?”
Or no hugs when we got home from the day?
Maybe our hobbies never included each other?
Or our stressors became too much in the way?
What caused the wedge between us?
Will it ever go away?
I feel like our relationship is drowning,
A relationship I just can’t seem to save.
When did our commitment get thrown on the back burner?
How did we let it get this way?
Was it not taking walks while holding hands,
Or was it simply a love that decided to fade?
And now this wedge between us,
It’s haunted us so long,
It’s taken it’s course, it smothered our path
And now our relationship is gone.
The wedge won its big battle
It grew and it grew and it grew.
It wasn’t just one little thing,
It was all the little things we did NOT do,
No holding hands nor hugs nor talks,
We chose hobbies instead of each other,
Our everyday life was made up of a universe without the relationship at the front and center.
So a wedge was made, so small at first..
Nobody thought much of it.
And yet time is a beast, as it created the wedge that became bigger and greater than ever.
What caused the wedge between us?
It’s simply easy to tell,
The relationship wasn’t a priority for every second— of everyday, and time pushed that wedge in the way.
And the wedge won.
So if there’s a wedge between you, decide now what small simple thing you can do..
Start now, this minute, working against a wedge is hard…
Can you fight it?
You can.
But-you must both fight it.
The wedge must be pushed away from both sides,
One sided will push the wedge into the other relationship. It can not be one-sided,
It can be easy to lose motivation in many aspects of life.
Between fitness, nutrition, cleaning, organizing..it’s easy to lose motivation.
So here are …ways to get motivated no matter what you are doing.
1. Write down your goals where you can see them –
write them on a mirror, or a sticky note, somewhere where you can see your goals.
2. Keep yourself accountable.
Check in with someone your close to. Even if it’s as simple as trying to clean one item in the house everyday.. check in with someone and tell them what you accomplished.
3. Reward yourself.
It doesn’t even need to be a monetary reward, but something speaks to our brains when we have a reward at the end of a task.
Perhaps your reward is watching Netflix for thirty minutes after you complete doing the dishes.
Rewards make things fun.
4. Allow space for failure. Because it happens.
Sometimes, you don’t meet your goals or you can’t seem to be motivated the way you want.
Remind yourself that you’re human, and no one is perfect.
Accept that no one is perfect at staying motivated .. and choose to do better tomorrow.
5. Make the process fun.
Whatever you are tying to stay motivated about .. Keep the process fun. If you’re trying to stay motivated about working out, switch up the workouts and find workouts that you enjoy.
If you’re trying to stay motivated about cleaning the house, listen to music or a podcast while you clean.
Make the process fun!
Human beings are far more apt to do ANYTHING when there is a fun, entertainment factor connected.
Hopefully these tips can help you to stay motivated!
I would love to hear what helps you to stay motivated in the comments below.
This recipe may be one of my favorites to share! It has taken me a VERY long time to perfect this recipe…but I think you will love it!
Growing up I LOVED my moms oatmeal chocolate chip recipe.
After becoming gluten-free I craved my moms cookie recipe.
It’s only taken me about thirteen years to get it right. But FINALLY I feel like the texture and the flavor is just like the original, delicious cookie that I loved growing up.
I experimented, and using parchment paper is best…it helps the cookie to rise more.
Enjoy this recipe! Share away! The video is below if you prefer that, if not, follow along and this recipe is simple and delicious!
Ingredients:
-1 cup softened butter
-1 cup brown sugar
-1 cup white sugar
-2 eggs
-2 Tablespoons water
-1 teaspoon vanilla extract
-1 1/2 cups flour
-1 teaspoon salt
-1/4 teaspoon xanthum gum
-1 teaspoon baking soda
-2 cups quick oats (gluten-free)
-2 cups chocolate chips (nestle or hershey)
Instructions:
Cream together butter and both sugars.
Add eggs, water, and vanilla and mix until just combined.
Mix in flour, salt, xanthum gum, and soda.
Stir in oats and chocolate chips.
Spoon drop cookie dough on greased cookie sheet and bake for 10-11 minutes at 350 degrees until edges are set and golden brown.
All my life I have learned a lot about cleaning and organizing.
I will be the first to admit I’m NOT the most organized or cleanest… but I’m always trying.
Even more, I love learning new tips and tricks for keeping a tidy, organized home.
Of all the wonderful advice I’ve received or read about when it comes to cleaning and organizing I will tell you the best organization tip I’ve ever received was this:
“The one- touch rule!”
What is the “one-touch” rule?
It’s simple.
You touch the item once and put it right where it belongs.
For example, don’t take your plate over to the sink and leave it there with the intention of coming back later to put it in the dishwasher.
You touched the dish twice.
Instead, take the dish, rinse it and put it right into the dishwasher.
One-touch.
Or maybe it’s art supplies you have on your counter. You decide to clean them up, place them to the side of the counter with the intention to put them in the arts and crafts bin later… don’t wait, do it all at once!
The idea behind the one touch rule is that every time in a house should have a proper place.
If you simply follow through with returning items to their proper place … your house stays cleaner and more organized.
At the end of the day, it’s about following through with a task.
So I have to ask, have you tried the “one-touch” rule?
Give it a try if not, and let me know if it helps you keep your home cleaner and more organized.
I am a big believer in the one-touch rule, it makes a big difference with clutter around the house.
Maybe one day, I’ll be able to teach my toddlers about this incredible organization tip.
My goal is to use the “one -touch” rule in my house everyday this week.
After having my 3rd baby last October (2019), I struggled to get the weight off.
I don’t think hunkering down through Covid 19 helped much with my baby weight either!
It was time whether I wanted to or not, and I needed to start taking the pounds off.
So far I am 5 weeks into my fitness and nutrition plan and I wanted to highlight the items that have helped me the most with taking down some weight.
Note-I am currently down 9 lbs., I would love to get another 9-10 lbs. off in the next month, that’s my goal!
The process I have used to help me lose the baby weight has been a circuit training workout program along with tracking my calories and macros.
Here are the wonderful items I have used in my weight loss thus far, I am excited to share these items with you and if you have any more items you would add, please comment below!
In no particular order:
#1: MyFitnessPal App-
This App is great for tracking calories and macros. I just use the free version, and its very simple to use. You can even scan the barcode on foods and it enters the calorie information for you, which is wonderful!
I have loved using the renpho scale. It not only tracks weight, it also tracks, body fat, BMI, muscle mass, provides a chart of your weight loss etc.
It’s amazing!
The scale connects via bluetooth to a free app you download on your phone.
There’s something about seeing all the statistics of your weight that makes this scale different. I actually enjoy hopping on the scale to track my progress!
#3: Pro 6+ from Elevated Sports Nutrition
I love my Pro 6+ protein drink. I always drink this protein drink before, during and after my workout.
I feel that Pro 6+ gives me that added boost I need when working out. Even better, Pro 6+ DOES NOT have caffeine. This protein drink tastes great, aids in building lean muscle AND it hydrates well.
#4: Fairlife Protein Shakes:
I have LOVED these Fairlife Protein Shakes as a meal replacement. The chocolate and vanilla flavors both taste great AND they have 30 grams of protein which is PERFECT for counting macros.
#5: Fitbit Versa:
The fitbit versa has been a lifesaver when it comes to tracking steps. My goal is to get between 7,000-10,000 steps every single day. The fitbit versa has been my favorite watch to track steps, let me know when I hit goals, and many other features.
If you don’t have a watch that is tracking your steps, I highly suggest the fitbit versa, I think you’ll enjoy it too!
I might add, that it’s very important when you are losing weight, to go about the process slow and steady.
I have learned that it’s amazing what your body is capable of when you push yourself physically. Even more, it’s important that you AREN’T “dieting” in a way that you are messing up the body’s metabolism. Do your best, and you will slowly but surely see the results!
Everyone parents differently, because EVERYONE has different children. Don’t listen to everyone’s “advice,” take them into account and do what is best for YOU and YOUR baby.
Give your babies vitamin D dropseveryday.
When your baby sleeps, you can get a few things done if it’s stressing you out. HOWEVER, if you can catch up on rest and sleep while the baby is sleeping–DO IT!
You shouldn’t work out for 6-8 weeks after having a baby. But if you can go on short walks, just enough to move around and get outside it helps. Moving your body is so key to a healthy mental state.
Pay to get newborn pictures taken. Babies change so fast and getting nice pictures of them is priceless.
Having a baby is time consuming. It’s such a beautiful stage of life, but it can be enduring. Make sure you take time for some self-care. Have a hobby that you are working on, go to the store alone, or dinner with friends. Being a new mom is wonderful, and yet, completely changing ALL the norms is hard. It’s important to take care of YOU so that you can be a happier mom for that sweet baby.
If breastfeeding is hard, enduring and not working well, don’t do it, and don’t feel guilty about it. Period.
Take care of your baby’s bum to prevent diaper rash. Be faithful about putting ointment on their bum so that they are not sore and miserable.
If your baby is crying most the day, take the baby to the doctor. If things are not changing and the baby is still crying, let the doctor know it is getting overwhelming. Try second opinions such as chiropractors, chiropractors know some great things for colicky babies
Invest in an owlet if at all possible. It’s a foot monitor that can give you peace of mind that your baby is breathing and sleeping well.
Keep some type of journal or log of your baby’s growth and development. It is so much fun to look back on baby milestone, and it reminds you what a blessing it is to have your sweet little baby!
It’s no secret that being new to any lifestyle change is hard. So when it comes to beginning a new journey of becoming gluten-free, and cutting out all things flour and wheat, eating can get hard!
I myself have been gluten-free due to my celiacs disease for twelve years now, and I myself made some rookie mistakes at the beginning of my gluten-free journey.
Here are some mistakes that many people make as they start out gluten-free. Hopefully, you can learn from other people mistakes. Even more, hopefully this can help your gluten-free journey to be easier and simpler.
ROOKIE MISTAKES PEOPLE NEW TO THE GLUTEN-FREE LIFESTYLE MAKE
#1- Buying way too much gluten-free food in one shopping trip without knowing how the products taste. Buying a lot of gluten-free items can be very expensive, and you may be disappointed in the taste and texture of some gluten-free products. Stick to trying no more than 3-5 new gluten-free food products in one shopping trip.
#2-Assuming that others know what gluten-free entails. Most people have heard about being gluten-free, but actually don’t know what it entails. I have heard everything such as “oh you can’t eat potatoes,” or “you only eat meat right?” Make sure that especially those in your inner-circle know EXACTLY what eating gluten-free entails. This drastically can help you avoid get accidentally “glutened” by friends.
#3-Not being specific and proactive enough when eating at restaurants. My biggest push on this is ask a lot of questions. I usually ask my waiter/waitress about 2-3 times that they made sure my meal was gluten-free. I have gotten sick the most from going out to eat so I can attest it’s ok to be the “buggy” customer at the restaurant. Your health is more important than trying to win best restaurant customer of the year.
#4-Making sure to question all the ingredients if someone tries to make you a gluten-free meal. Honestly, I politely turn people down when others ask if they can cook me a gluten-free meal. Why? Because there are so many seasonings and small ingredients that have gluten that get overlooked. My exception to this are people that eat gluten-free themselves, OR friends that I am comfortable with having them break down the recipe for me. Again, no one wants to be rude or ungrateful, however, getting sick from homemade fun is never fun either.
#5-Trying to cook gluten-free products the same way you cooked regular (gluten-filled) products. For example, gluten-free noodles turn to gooey, gross messes if you don’t watch them carefully while boiling them. The time limit for gluten-free noodles is different than regular noodles. When it comes to baking you have to remember products bake much differently than regular products. Gluten-free baked products usually don’t rise and fluff up like regular items. So just remember, cooking and baking gluten-free takes time and it can be frustrating at first.
#6- Not vocalizing your frustrations with your new gluten-free lifestyle. This may sound bizarre, but it’s hard to have a diet change, especially when it becomes a life long diet change. This change is not easy and it can be a struggle. I recommend finding Facebook groups, understanding friends and family members that you can lean on for support. Try your best to be optimistic, but also realize it’s ok to have days of frustration.
#7- Overlooking books and resources that can teach you more about living a gluten-free lifestyle. We are blessed to have so many resources to lean on when it comes to being gluten-free. Dig deep and find those gluten free blogs, books, Instagram accounts etc. the more knowledge you have about a gluten-free lifestyle, the better!
Hopefully your gluten-free journey can be a positive learning curve. Yes, it will be a learning curve but you will do well.
