Mornings can be tough. Trust me, I know. The one thing that I have done over the past few years to help me start the day off right is getting myself into a good Morning Routine. It’s easy to say you are going to do it, but putting your routine into motion every single day is a different story. If your mornings aren’t running as smoothly as you’d like, Here’s 5 Reasons You Should Have a Morning Routine!

You Accomplish More When You Have a Plan. I think many of us are trying to squeeze so much into our day. We’re busy and easily feel overwhelmed when we don’t complete everything we would like to. Exercise, for example, is often an after thought when you have a busy schedule. It doesn’t have to be though. If you make a plan when you go to bed every night to exercise each morning (even if it is for only 30 minutes), you’re more likely to do so than if you have the mindset of exercising at the end of your day only if you have time. The truth is, a quick run or walk first thing in the morning will always help you start your day off feeling more confident, focused and energized.

Your Body Will Thank You. Your body needs a good amount of rest too. Going to bed and getting up at the same time each morning will keep your mind and body feeling it’s best. No matter how hectic or crazy your day may have been, a good night’s sleep will leave you less fatigued and ready for what a new day brings the next morning.

You’ll Have Time To Enjoy Simple Things. Before I had a good morning routine, I never looked forward to the mornings. They were rushed, crazy and sometimes just downright exhausting, especially with 4 children to get ready each day. I made the decision to get up 1 hour earlier each morning to enjoy some simple things that I had been missing.

With that little bit of extra time, I now can enjoy a good stretch after my morning walk, a longer shower, and some quiet time on my patio while sipping on a fresh (and hot) cup of coffee.

International Delight’s NEW Simply Pure Coffee Creamer added to your freshly brewed cup is the perfect way to start the day. It includes only 5 simple ingredients that you can feel good about and it’s made with real milk, cream and sugar.

Simply Pure doesn’t lose its flavor either! When you use Simply Pure in your coffee, you don’t have to use extra creamer to get great flavor in your coffee.

Find Simply Pure at Walmart in three simply delicious flavors…Vanilla, Caramel and Hazelnut. Yum! I look so forward to my coffee each day.

Which one is your favorite?

You’ll Be In A Better Mood. Taking the time to enjoy simple pleasures in life first thing in the morning will also help to start your day on a positive note. You’ll have a better outlook on things and have a smile on your face, making you more enjoyable to be around all day. That positive energy will rub off on people too!

You’re Whole Day Will Be Better. You’re new Morning Routine will not only make a difference in the beginning of your day. Soon you’ll start to see changes throughout your day as well. It’s like a domino effect. You may even begin to see those pleasant changes in your family members too.

Taking time for yourself, sticking to your routine and sending your spouse & children off each day with a nice goodbye with mention of dinner plans or an activity after work & school that everyone will look forward to will change your life. You just have to do it.

So what are you waiting for?

Get Started with your own Morning Routine today!

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The post 5 Reasons You Should Have a Morning Routine appeared first on Cozy Country Living.

Last week I was having a quiet lunch inside with the windows open. My youngest was napping and I was enjoying the quiet that comes along with living in the country. No background noise, birds chirping and the soft creaking of my wooden garden gate every now and then as it swung open and shut as the wind blew.

As I sipped on my iced tea, and crushed a small ice cube between my teeth, I glanced out the window and watched the shadows of the leaves from the trees seeming to dance across the green grass along with peaks of bright sunshine. I love that. It reminds me of my grandparents house. I spent every summer there as a child and I have so many amazing, but simple memories of my time there. Looking back, I’m glad even as a child, I took time to recognize simple moments in my childhood. It’s those moments that find their way into your life even decades later.

All of those big trees that shaded my grandparents neatly landscaped yard so perfectly always came with a little clean up. My grandfather in his everyday simple white v- neck t- shirt, shorts and brown slippers, would carry an old plastic heavy duty garbage can from the garage and place it into the middle of the yard. Then it was “clean up sticks time!”

My brother, sister and I never complained, and along with my grandfather and his sweet dog Pumpkin, we picked up every last stick until the yard was back to picture perfect clean. We usually ended our little clean up session with a game of baseball. I still remember the sound that big red plastic bat made as it hit the over sized white hard plastic ball. Whap….

I have nothing but happy memories from those summers. It was home to me.

Fast forward a few short years and that sweet man who gave me so much love was quickly being taken away from us by cancer.

I remember riding my bike with my cousin one warm summer afternoon when I was 15. We were near my grandparents and I wanted to stop by.  I’m glad we did. I wanted to spend time with time with him when I could. I remember knowing even then not to take time for granted.

My grandparents were sitting at their kitchen table. My grandmother got us all a cold glass of water and we just sat there and talked. We talked about every day things, as the pretty flowers in a planter right outside the window and the American flag gently swayed in the breeze. We talked about what we were doing that day, what activities I had coming up the next week and then plans for the upcoming school year- high school for me in the Fall.

That’s when I felt like someone punched me in the chest and sucked every last ounce of air out of my lungs. I wanted to cry so hard and hug my grandpa forever.

This man who was always there for me, was never bothered by me, who was strong, kind, generous and who was like a father to me broke down in a heavy cry right there in front of me. He wouldn’t be here in the Fall.

I ached all over.

My grandmother placed her hand on his shoulder and he wiped his eyes with both hands underneath his glasses and took a sip of water.

We stayed a little longer and then hopped back on our bikes riding underneath the same beautiful shadows of big trees and sunlight that I loved so much.

That was 19 years ago and I remember it like it was yesterday. That painful memory, when it comes up, is always quickly set aside for a happier one like picking strawberries, wrapping his black and silver wavy hair in to a hundred pastel hair ties, enjoying homemade apple crisp together for breakfast just because, being pushed on the swing at the playground across the street or sitting on his lap reaching up and touching his face as he read me my favorite book that had been read so many times throughout the years that it was held together with piece of tape at the top seam.

Every moment matters. Today matters. What you do, how you treat others and how you make others feel matters. My grandfather taught me that. We don’t know how long we will be here. Make the time that you are here, everyday, matter to someone. You will not ever have the chance to get those moments back either.

My grandfather always use to sing me the song, “You are my sunshine.”

He was my sunshine.

On days like today, I see him. He’s in the peaks of sunshine in between the shadows of the leaves as they dance across the green grass.

This weekend, thank the special fathers in your life and make every moment matter because you just don’t know how many you have.

Happy Father’s Day Grandpa!

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Yesterday started out just like any other day of the week. I got all 4 children off to school, finished a few household chores and drank a cup of coffee while I did a little work in my office before heading off to the grocery store. I’m not as rushed these days shopping as I was when I had little ones in tow, but I am still on a schedule with my youngest’s half days of school. As I took my time pushing the cart up and down the aisles looking and thinking about what I needed (I forgot my list), an older man stopped me and politely asked for my help. 

He couldn’t remember what to look for on laundry detergent (the HE logo) that meant it was safe for his newer style washing machine.

I pushed my cart forward a bit, smiled and then pointed out the logo on several different detergents so he could easily find what he was looking for. He smiled back and said thank you. I told him it was no problem and that sometimes with all of the options available today, it’s easy to get confused.

As I took a step further to continue shopping, the man again thanked me and told me his wife had passed away a few years earlier, but he knew how to do laundry and how to cook for himself because he did so during the war.

He told me he was in the National Guard and was a cook for 8 years throughout those years. That’s how learned to eat well. He loves salads and these days, eats a lot of fish. He boasted about a recent morning of fishing with a friend. They did really well, and caught a lot of perch.

He likes fish. So do I. One of the benefits of living right on the shoreline of Lake Erie, is good fishing. I have memories of my father taking me out on his boat fishing as a child.

He proceeded to tell me that when he went home to clean all of the fish a lot of them were female and had eggs. He took them out and instead of discarding them, gave them to an acquaintance who preferred the egg sacs themselves over the actual perch.

How funny I thought- it brought up a memory I have of my father breading and frying fish and fish eggs in our kitchen and my grandmother just loving the eggs. Those were her favorite. I felt a smile come across my face as this man brought to light an old childhood memory of mine.

After a little more small talk, I said goodbye and told the man to have a nice day. “You too,” he said, “and a better tomorrow!”

The 10 extra minutes I spent talking to someone who probably had no one else to talk, made my day.

I had to shop a little faster to get to my daughter’s school on time, but I did it. I did all I had to do while making time for a little kindness too.

Make time for kindness each day and treat others how you would like to be treated. Those few moments of kindness can mean so much to someone.

It will probably brighten up your day as well!

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It’s the time of year when we go through your house and start spring cleaning each and every room giving it a fresh start after a long winter. It always feels so good to sit back after a week or so of dusting, washing and sorting away clutter and dirt that has accumulated over time. It’s refreshing to start new again and to feel good about our homes. So why don’t we do that with our Household Routine too?!

Every year as I work through outgrown clothing, extra toys and a bunch of other miscellaneous items I find tucked away into “junk” drawers or pretty baskets I think to myself, “Wow, how did I end up with all of this stuff? If I just had a better system or a better routine, this would have been so much easier.”

It’s not just about the extra items either. Spring is a time when I want to feel organized and situated in all aspects of my home. Whether you work a full time job at home or away or stay home with your children, you also have to wear the of homemaking hat too! What’s they key to simplifying your home & life?

There’s no question that you love your family like crazy and you’d do anything for them, but we all know it can be an exhausting job, especially on top of all of the other things we have to do throughout the day.

If you’re like me, you probably wish that your home was more put together and peaceful, that you kept up with daily housework better, and that you could be better about serving well balanced, homemade meals every day. Who want’s to feel like they running themselves ragged all of the time.

Our family is ours. They matter so much to us, more than anything else in the world. This job is so important, and we really want to do it right.  We have to stop feeling discouraged!

Keeping up with it all and still having energy to be the kind of mom, wife and woman you want to be can be your reality!

I know as well as you do that homemaking is never going to be stress-free. But what if you had more (and better) tools in your toolbox to help make it stress-less?

That’s why I’m so excited today to tell you about something very special happening right now called The Ultimate Homemaking Bundle 2016.

It was created to give you amazing, high-quality resources to take some of the stress, overwhelm and difficulty out of homemaking and mothering.

Start feeling like you’re winning more often!

The Ultimate Homemaking Bundle includes 93 hand-picked eBooks, eCourses, and printables, on topics that matter to moms such as:

• organization, routines & creating a cozy home
• recipes, grocery shopping and meal planning
• budgeting and saving money
• motherhood (no matter what age your kids are)
• cultivating a strong marriage
• faith (for you & your kids)
• and even self-care (like exercise, weight loss, life planning and coloring books!)
• and much more…

You have a full year to download the eBooks and printables and take the online eCourses, and everything you’ve downloaded becomes part of your permanent library, so you can go back to it whenever you need it.

Plus, it comes with these FREE bonus offers from companies who know what homemakers need and want. Some are 100% free; other are yours for the cost of shipping only. You’ll get:

• FREE Online Class from Craftsy ($29.99-$69.99 value)
• FREE Kids Discovery Box from GreenKidCrafts.com ($24.95 value)
• $15 Gift Certificate to InkWELL Press ($15 value)
• $15 Credit to Hope Ink Shop PLUS Two FREE 8×10 Art Prints with Any Purchase ($71)
• FREE SPOT Treatment for Acne & Eczema OR a $15 Gift Certificate from Bloom Naturals ($15 value)
• FREE 90-Day Pro Membership to ListPlanIt.com ($30)
• FREE 1-Year MollyGreen.com Membership ($29 value)
• FREE Hand Massage Routine Videos from Melt Couples Massage ($24 value)

It’s available for just 6 days – from now until Monday, May 2^nd, 2016 at 11:59pm EST. That’s why the Ultimate Bundles team can offer so much, because they only have permission to sell it for such a short period of time.

The total value of this bundle is an astonishing $1000+ (plus over $250 in bonuses), but you can get it for just $29.97. That’s 97% off what it would cost to buy everything individually!

Get your Bundle Now & Start Simplifying Today!

{OPTIONAL – INSERT TIMER}

If you think getting all those homemaking & mothering helps for less than $30 sounds like a steal, then make sure to go HERE to see exactly what it includes and grab yours before this deal ends!

{ADD YOUR OWN AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE}

The post The 2016 Ultimate Homemaking Bundle appeared first on Cozy Country Living.

Are you having a bad day? Is everything going wrong? Maybe it’s your family’s attitudes as if they woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Or maybe you did! Starting the day off on the wrong foot can make your whole day absolutely miserable. With a negative outlook, things are only bound to be negative throughout the day. If you’re having a bad day…

Here’s 5 Ways You Can Make It Better:

Close Your Eyes, Take a Deep Breath & Refocus. Get rid of the negativity clouding your thoughts. Get back on track with what you have to get done today step by step. Don’t get overwhelmed with a long list of to do’s. Check things off one at a time and you will be on your way to a productive and positive outlook on the day.

Talk to a Friend. I think we all have that one friend or family member who is always in a great mood and just loves life. They always turn lemons into lemonade and being around them or talking to them just puts you in a better mood. Let their positive energy rub off on you!

Exercise. Hit the gym, go for a bike ride, a brisk walk or even do a little work in your garden. Get moving and get your blood flowing. When you exercise your body releases endorphins which trigger positive feelings in your body. Even a half an hour of activity can make a huge difference! You’re worth it, so set aside that time for yourself.

Know You’re Not Alone. There are days, especially as a mother when you feel like a failure. Where you feel like no one understands you and that you are all alone. The truth is, you’re NOT alone! There are so many mothers out there who feel the same way and who understand where you are coming from. You can meet up with a group of moms at the playground, schedule a play date (for your child & yourself) or find support online.

I’ve really been enjoying this FREE Video Series For Moms that talks about the Truth About the #MomFail Culture. Sign up today and connect with other moms just like you!

Do Something You Love. Life is busy. Sometimes we get so caught up in our to do lists of things we think we need to do everyday that we have no time left over for ourselves. When you’re having a really bad day, that’s when you need to do something just for you. A hobby…remember those? Activities that you love and enjoy that make you happy. Whether it’s playing a sport, scrapbooking, cooking, reading or knitting, if all else fails, taking part in an activity that you love helps you get back to yourself. When you can’t shake that negative feeling you’re having all day, make the time for a hobby even if it means taking something off your to do list. You’ll be so much better off in the long run!

Stay positive & Have a wonderful day!

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The post Having a Bad Day? Here’s 5 Ways You Can Make It Better appeared first on Cozy Country Living.

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As you browse around social media each day, you’re bound to come across simple mishaps from day to day life with the caption #MomFail. Maybe it’s a snapshot of dishes piled up in the kitchen sink, mismatched clothing on your child because they dressed themselves and you didn’t have time to notice until you pulled up to the curb in the drop off lane at school, or maybe it’s a an exhausted selfie taken the second everyone is finally out the door. As organized as certain aspects of my life are, there are plenty of things I can still work on. I’ve been a hot mess before 8 am, felt like a failure as a mom and it does NOT feel good!

Have you ever turned your day around after a crazy morning? You finally have the house cleaned up and are starting to feel halfway organized, when your older children get home from school, there’s activities to get to, homework to do and everyone still needs a shower or bath before dinner. Dinner? Om days like this leftovers or breakfast for dinner will just have to do. That feeling of overwhelming feeling creeps over you again and you end up right back where you started the day. You’re thinking #MomFail!

There are days we feel angry, critical, impatient, disorganized, and simply just not good enough.

I’ve had so many of these days myself, and with 4 children myself, I totally get it!  I’m so excited to point you in the direction of this Brand NEW (and free!) Video Series created by two moms who have lived their fair share of #MomFail days themselves.

Stephanie and Beth are not only popular bloggers, but they’re also moms in the trenches. They’ve got 8 kids and almost 20 years of mothering experience between them. Don’t get discouraged… feel encouraged by watching this mini video series. It’s hard when you feel like you are alone, so don’t be.

Messing up and putting that horrible label #MomFail on anything you do isn’t going to empower you or make you feel good! #MomFail if you really think about it, means you’re failing as a mother- and you’re not!

A simple mistake, even one you can laugh at yourself about, doesn’t ever deserve that hashtag. You’re a good mother so stop putting a negative spin on yourself using #MomFail and think positive.

The next time you want to type that hashtag into a post on social media. STOP! Think about it and walk away. It’s hard to do, but you CAN do it! After all, in order to succeed in anything, you have to be strong, walk away from things that don’t help you and move forward. Today can be a new day. You and your attitude are what make the difference!

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The post Stop Using #MomFail appeared first on Cozy Country Living.

Good Morning friends and Happy Thanksgiving to you all! I woke up early this morning to stuff our turkey and get it in the oven and I am looking forward to a wonderful and delicious day with my family. My house is still quiet and as I sip my coffee in my cozy pajamas, so I’m taking a moment to reflect on what I am thankful for. Thanksgiving sort of forces us to step back and take a look at all that we have in our lives. While I am grateful and thankful for so many things, I should keep that state of mind every day of the year and not just today.

I am thankful for my family. I am thankful that I am able to be here with them every day and that we live in a place where we always feel safe. We have food to eat everyday and clothing to keep us warm when it’s cold outside. I get to tuck my children into bed each night after they have bathed in fresh water and have their bellies full from dinner. These types of things may seem so basic to us, but they are actually out of reach for so many people in this world.

As you sit at your family’s Thanksgiving table this year and you bow your heads and fold your hands to say grace, say a prayer for those who do not have all of the wonderful things that you are thankful for this year. If you know someone who may be alone this holiday, consider inviting them to your table. A warm meal and a friendly face may just mean the world to someone.

I hope you all have a wonderful day. Enjoy every single moment, because this life goes by so fast. Be thankful everyday, not just today for what you’ve been blessed with.

Happy Thanksgiving from my home to yours!

The post Happy Thanksgiving appeared first on Cozy Country Living.

Have you ever had a week where everything just seems to go wrong? I have, and it stinks! This past week was full of unexpected accidents and happenings around our home and it left me feeling a little down. Just when I felt like things were starting to run smoothly around here, little things started to happen. Our washing machine broke, the glass top on our patio table shattered into a million pieces, one of our water tanks in our basement that holds our treated water from our well burst and my husband’s 2 front tractor wheels went completely flat and needed to be replaced. Not only are those things enough to put a dent in anyone’s daily routine, they are expensive things to fix too.

After I put the kids to bed Saturday night and took an extended shower to clear my head, I started thinking. Thinking about how everyday events change your mood, your outlook and then even your attitude towards others. I have a few friends that say, “I don’t know how you do it Shannon!” The kids, the house, the blog?!” The truth is, is that I do it just like anyone else. What you see on Cozy Country Living and on Instagram and so forth are my favorite things, my best moments and things that make me happy and inspire me. I am a real person and I make mistakes too. I have accidents, I get sad and my house isn’t always as pretty as a picture.

If you are having a bad day, a bad week, or hey…even a bad year, here are a few things you can do today to turn things around:

1.  Take a Step Back & Evaluate The Problem

Chances are that most of the things that have gone wrong don’t necessarily mean it’s the end of the world. They are probably a bunch of little things that have added up and then just one more thing probably pushed you over the edge. When I look back on all of the things that went wrong this past week, I realized that all in all, they weren’t that important. Sure we have to replace all of these things or fix them and that takes effort, time and money, but at the end of the day I am surrounded by the people I love. My family. We are safe and sound, we have a roof over our heads, food in our bellies and I should be grateful for that instead of dwelling on the negative.

2. Let it go

I have hard time with this one. I tend to understand that these problems aren’t all that serious, but then they still make me feel a little down and out. That affects my mood and I hate that. I am working on letting the small stuff go because holding on to them isn’t going to benefit me at all. I think once you make a conscious decision to do that, it will get much easier over time to do so. Let’s face it, unpleasant things happen every day and you don’t want to be unpleasant yourself…every day!

3. Don’t Play The Blame Game

I know this can be hard too, but try not to blame others or even yourself for things that are out of your control. The truth of the matter is, is that things happen. Once they are done, you cannot change them and trying to put the blame on someone else or beating yourself up is only going to cause more negative feelings. Learn to accept the things that you cannot change and refer back to #2

4. Make Time To Enjoy Something

Turn your frown upside down and do something that you love. Grab a good book, get out to your garden, go for a long ride just because or have a girls night out or date night with your favorite person(s). Don’t dwell on the bad things and create great moments. Drop everything and play with your children. Watch that little sparkle they have in their eye when the come up with a great new idea or the happiness in their smile as they talk to you. Enjoy the small little moments in your life that mean so much.

5. Give Back

When everything is going wrong for you, remember that there is someone, somewhere that is going through something much, much worse. Do something nice for someone. Visit a lonely family member who may just love some company or conversation, bake some fresh cookies or a special treat for someone who has recently lost a loved one and comfort them, or volunteer. Even though you may be going through a tough time, it’s important to remember how powerful your own kindness and a thoughtful gesture can be.

I hope you all have a wonderful week!

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*Linking up at Home Stories A to Z, The SITS Girls

The post 5 Things To Do When Everything Goes Wrong appeared first on Cozy Country Living.

I couldn’t believe it. A simple trip to grab a few things at the grocery store last week had left me feeling completely exhausted, overwhelmed and in tears. Since each one of my 4 children were young, we have gone over the same things before getting out of the car and going anywhere in public. Use your manners, be polite, listen and please, please, please keep your hands to yourself. My children are 12, 9, 7 and 4, so most of the time when I am mentioning these things, I feel that my older two most likely have got that part down. Maybe my expectations are too high sometimes because who knew a grocery store could be so stimulating? Our little trip ended up feeling like I had brought the whole circus to town!

Before we even walked into the store, everyone’s listening skills went right out the window. Everyone was talking (not taking turns talking) and the laughing, knee slapping and rambunctious behavior started getting out of control quickly. After placing my youngest into the shopping cart, I proceeded to make my way through the store quickly and efficiently, ignoring the silly conversations taking place all around me while constantly reminding my children to stay behind me, out of the aisle for other shoppers and to keep up with my pace.

On top of that, I now hear, “Mom, I’m cold, Mom, we need this or that, Mom, is it almost lunch time?, I’m hungry…” types of comments. There was also the “Are they going to give us a piece of cheese (which some employees do)?” question from one while we were at the deli, a “Hey, look there mirrors over here…look at me, look at me!” when we were over in the meat section and “Oh, I want some donuts Mom, can we get donuts…” as we passed through the bakery section on our way to checkout. You would think that I had never taken my children to the grocery store… EVER!

The checkout lines were long, I sternly reminded my children what was expected of them (even though it didn’t phase them) and my anxiety was building. I had a lot on my mind. Work, family matters, and many to-do lists going through my mind and I just couldn’t believe their behavior. To me it was almost unreal because I would say the majority of the time, things go well with maybe a hiccup here or there. I felt like I was talking and no one could even hear me, almost like this was some kind of joke!

Together we loaded the groceries into the car, got buckled and as I sat back into my seat and put on my sunglasses I felt my eyes fill with tears. What the heck had happened in there?

On the short drive home I told my children how disappointed I was, giving them specific examples of how certain things were inappropriate and unacceptable. There was only complete silence….”Are you kidding me!” I said. “Not once in the whole hour we were at the store did any of you listen or be quiet, but now no one has anything to say?”

“Well, there’s nothing interesting in here.” my oldest son said. Wow…

I guess the point is, is that as a mother, you are going to have times when your children act completely the opposite of how you want them to. I have learned in my 12 years of parenting so far that I cannot control everything all of the time, especially when there are 4 different personalities and their interactions with each other to deal with. Maybe they were feeling goofy, maybe they had to burn off some energy or maybe they just wanted to push my buttons and rebel a little, I don’t know.

I’ve been the mother who takes her child out of a store or restaurant even when I wasn’t finished, I’ve been the mother who puts her child in time out on the playground (My children know there is a time out everywhere), and I’ve also been the mother who at the end of the day discusses the behavior with my children so they can understand why it wasn’t acceptable and why we don’t act that way so they can learn.

I’ve gotten looks before, I’ve heard people say,”I can’t believe her child is screaming like that!”, or “Wow, she must be tired!” when my daughter would whine and cross her arms and be angry with me. One thing I haven’t done is judge. Without all of these teaching moments, how would my children learn? There has to be that moment where a that lightbulb goes off in your child’s head where they realize that if I do “A”, then my consequence is “B”. When I see or hear another mother dealing with a not so pleasant situation, unless someone is in harms way, I mind my own business. That’s her teaching moment and how she chooses to deal with it, whether I like it or not, does not concern me. It’s not my business, just like it’s not someone else’s business to comment on my parenting or children.

Last week I read a story about a Bakery Store owner who took matters into her own hands when a young child was getting noisy at her establishment. The owner slammed her hands down on a counter and told the child to shut up. It is so interesting to read the responses to her actions because everyone but everyone has an opinion about it! What’s yours?

For starters, as annoying and frustrating as having a disruptive customer may be, again if someone is not in harms way, I do not believe it is your place to discipline someone else’s child or have your own temper tantrum and yell at the child! When you are in the middle of a temper tantrum moment with your child, as a parent, you are feeling frustrated too. You are trying to figure out in your mind what the appropriate discipline should be and how you are going to get through to your child that their behavior is not acceptable and will not be tolerated. As much as these moments are teaching moments for the child, they are also teaching moments for the parent. They are not an opportunity for an outsider to teach you how to parent. You may not agree with someone else’s parenting, but who are you to say that your parenting style is better or that you are the authority on proper behavior? Each family is different and each child is different.

I am sure there are some parents out there who let their children “run wild”. I’m sure that’s what it looked like at the grocery store this past week, and if it didn’t, that was how I felt. I was feeling overwhelmed, frustrated and disappointed. The last thing I would have needed was an outsider to point that out to me and to judge me. Sometimes you just need to take a step back and put yourself in someone else’s shoes. As strong as your feelings may be, they are no more important than someone else’s.

Have a great week!

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Hey guys!  I have something really exciting to share with you today!  Have you heard of Stitch Fix?  Well I’ve been getting my “Fix” the past few months just to try this great styling service out and I love it.  So much so that I want share my thoughts about it with you all!

Stitch Fix creates a shopping experience that is truly personalized for you.  Now you can have your own personal stylist!  You simply fill out the Stitch Fix Style Profile and your stylist will handpick a selection of five clothing items and accessories unique to your taste, budget and lifestyle.  You can buy what you like and return the rest!

So how does it work?

After you fill out your style profile, you pick a day you would like to receive your fix.  When you schedule your fix ( I schedule one per month, but you can do more or less), you are charged a $20 styling fee.  When your Stitch Fix arrives, you have 3 days to decide what items you would like to keep and which items you would like to send back in the enclosed prepaid envelope.  You don’t have to lose your $20 styling fee either!  You can apply that towards any purchase!  If you purchase your whole “Fix” you get 25%!

I love this service because I am not a shopper.  I like shopping, but I very rarely shop for myself these days.  I’m a busy wife and mother of 4, I spend a lot of time at home and I kind of live in my tee shirts, jeans and fleece sweatshirts.  Before I had children I loved shopping for a few cute pieces here and there, but it’s really been a while since I’ve even thought about my own clothing.  I also haven’t felt the best about my body either.  I’ve gained weight over the past few years and I didn’t really see the need to purchase clothes in a size that I didn’t like.

So I decided to try Stitch Fix as a gift to myself.  I also thought that it would help me to stay motivated on my journey to a healthier weight (you can read more about that HERE.) and get a part of me back that’s been gone for a while.  I wanted to feel good about myself and after years of not buying clothes because I didn’t like the size, I’ve now done it.  And guess what?  I feel good!  No one is going to see the size but me, and the most important part is how I feel.  It’s amazing how a new shirt or a pair of earrings can boost your confidence.  It makes you want to do better for yourself.  It’s a New Year and that means a fresh start.  Head over to stitchfix.com today and get excited about you!

Here’s My January Fix:

*Now I get really excited when the Stitch Fix Box arrives!  This was my 3rd Fix and I couldn’t wait to see what was inside.  Included in your Fix is always a little note with styling suggestions (which is extremely helpful to me because I have never have any idea of what to pair with what! )  There is also a detailed invoice… but I DO NOT look at that until I try everything on.  And I always try everything on because you just never know!  So here goes…

Phoebe Chevron Print Sweater $74.00

I absolutely loved the look of this and it was so soft.  Since I dress fairly casual most of the time, this sweater would be perfect to pair with jeans or I could dress it up with a skirt.  I felt like the pattern was slimming and it was really comfortable.

The Verdict: Kept

 Devon Lace Back Blouse $48

I loved the color and feel of this blouse right away.  The back was just beautiful but I wasn’t too sure if I loved the front.

This was really comfortable and could be worn with a cute pair of jeans to be casual or with dress pants and a jacket to dress it up.  I just LOVE the back, it’s so feminine and deliciate!

 The Verdict: Kept

Laina 3/4 Sleeve Striped Tie-Waist Dress $38

 This dress is so soft which makes it so very comfortable! I thought it was cute with my denim jacket and it can be worn over some leggings too.  I’m also thinking this will be great at the beach with some sandals!  I loved the pockets and the rope like tie and of course, the stripes (my favorite).

The Verdict: Kept

Samson Corduroy Detail Quilted Coat $88

This coat was really cute.  It’s navy which I love and it has a really pretty lining that has just enough color to make it pop.  It’s lightweight and will go with a lot of different things.  I didn’t care for the price on this, I thought it was a little high.

The Verdict: Kept

    (If I wasn’t getting everything else, I would have sent this back, but it was a great deal with 25% off everything)

Dawn Cut Out Earrings $28

These earrings were so cute!  I don’t wear earrings everyday, but when my husband and I spend a day together or I have an event to attend, I like to wear a pair.  I thought these were pretty but not too over the top, and will go well with a lot of things.

The Verdict: Kept

This was my best Fix yet!  The last 2 “Fixes” I had were nice too, but I just didn’t feel comfortable in everything and both times I only kept 1 item.  The total for all of my pieces in this Fix was $276 (ouch) but with the 25% off discount for purchasing all 5 items, it was only $192!  So what do you think?

 Do something nice for yourself this month and schedule your Stitch Fix today!

***

Even though I’ve included affiliate links in this post, this is not a sponsored post.  I am sharing this service because I really like it and it saves me time and quite honestly, I am not good at putting together stylish outfits for myself.  I’ve used my own money to purchase the items and pay for my styling fee.  I have also included a few referral links in this post.  That means that if you click through, I will receive a credit towards my next “Fix”.

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