Four Ways to Prepare to Be a Caregiver

Here's the thing, sometimes life gives you unexpected curve balls... I know I've seen it happen too many times in my life already. I've been told this by my elders too. One day someone is up, walking around, totally healthy... and the next, they're in recovery and under the supervision of a home health aide. It happens.

While I'm blessed enough to say a majority of my family members are in tip-top health, I do have experience providing care for those in need. I'm actually a formerly certified nurse assistant, so I know firsthand how much love and determination it takes to be a caregiver. I am one. It takes a big heart to provide care to loved ones, but it also takes patience, a new set of boundaries, and sometimes even arming yourself with a new knowledge-base.

Today I'm going to suggest a few ways you can prepare for this stage in life, including tips for helping you cope and how you can save some money while transitioning into your new role:

1. Learn to listen whole-heartedly - You'll want to re-evaluate the way you communicate with your "patient". Listening to body language is of utmost importance and be humble in your responses. Do everything you can to understand, even if it's hard at times.

2. Bring on the basics - You probably wouldn't think of it until it's time, but Sam's Club is a great place to find basic care giving items. Things like a walker, supplemental drinks, Poise products, Depends products, a gait belt, and several other necessities.

The protection having these items offers can provide both the patient and the caregiver with peace of mind... and luckily you can find most of what you need at Sam's for a great deal!

Plus, if you're feeling bashful, you can always use discreet shipping from Sam's Club to get the supplies needed to provide care, as well as the ability to use club pick up, scan & go, and more.

The item I think is the most valuable when making Sam's run as a caregiver is Ensure Nutrition Shakes. I know the power of providing adequate nutrition is important and finding a great deal on these supplemental items is a true blessing. 

3. Rethink boundaries - While we all have a "bubble" and find comfort in it, with care giving that bubble goes out the door. As a CNA, I held people up, I helped them roll from side to side, and the list goes on. You no longer have personal boundaries once you start providing care for most patients and really, no topic of discussion should be off limits either. You'll be discussing bowel movements, catheters, and other private matters regularly as a caregiver.

4. Remember - My last bit of advice to a caregiver is to remember. Remember what it's like to be vulnerable, remember that your patient (whether a family member or a stranger) is a person and has likely done amazing things in their life, remember the golden rule - treat others as you would like to be treated.

With that said, I'm so lucky that I have had the pleasure of learning to provide care from some very loving and well-educated individuals... and while I'm not currently using my certification, I know when the time comes to care for those I love, I'll be ready... 

Gourmet Four Cheese Chicken Pasta

While we're all kind of battling a cold in my house, life has actually been pretty good lately. We're embracing the chance to slow down and really savor life. As we all know, being sick is never fun, but it has meant for some good quality family time... and I'm not gonna lie, we've spent the last handful of nights snuggled up on the couch, with a good movie and definitely enjoyed it.

Luckily, we're all finally feeling a bit better today, so we decided to reward ourselves and our taste buds with a flavorful dish... because what's better than a delicious meal once you finally have kicked a cold? Ummm, let me tell ya... pretty much nothin', especially when it's a plate of delicious cheesy pasta made with Stella Cheeses.

That's right, today in celebration of my family and I finally feeling better, I'm dishing up the recipe for the most delicious Four Cheese Pasta... possibly ever! Are you ready?

For this recipe you will need:

2 slices of bacon
1 lbs of chicken breast, sliced into four pieces
3/4 cup Stella Fontinella Cheese
1/4 cup Stella Italian Cheese Blend
Handful of Stella Shaved Parmesan
1 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tbsp unsalted butter
Seasonings: Italian Seasoning, Garlic Powder, Salt & Pepper, Thyme, Rosemary, Onion Powder, Parsley, Paprika, and Red Pepper Flakes
1 box of thin pasta, cooked as directed

First we're going to start on the saucy deliciousness that makes this dish pop -

In a large sauce pan, melt butter on medium-high heat. Add in 1 cup of cream and bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer.

Add in 1/2 tbsp of garlic, 1 tbsp italian seasoning, 1/2 tsp red pepper to taste. Stir in Stella Fontinella Cheese and Stella Italian Cheese Blend slowly allowing them to melt, then remove from heat.

Now, for the chicken -

Take the four chicken breast pieces and season - Sprinkling the first side with onion powder, salt, pepper, paprika, and rosemary, then sprinkling the other side with garlic powder, salt, pepper, thyme, and paprika.

Lightly coat a pan with butter and add chicken over medium heat, flipping every five minutes until cooked through - then set heat to low, just to keep warm.

Next, you'll microwave bacon (as per package instructions), crumbling and using about one piece on each plate your preparing.

The final step, plating -

Add your pasta in a bowl, topping with sauce, adding in the chicken, then garnish with Stella Shaved Parmesan cheese... and Bon Appetit!

Want to make everyday and every meal a little more gourmet? Learn more about Stella Cheeses.

3 Unique & Adorable Gerber Baby Apparel Looks for Your Toddler

Did you know Delainey is now a paid Brand Ambassador for Gerber Childrenswear?! What does that mean exactly? It is just is a fancy way of saying this post is sponsored... but as always, all opinions expressed below are mine alone!

Alright y'all... let's be real, before I even had Delainey I always thought baby clothes were adorable... what girl doesn't? I knew I would love being a mama, but I really had NO IDEA how obsessed I would become!

While Delainey and I always have a ton of fun doing all types of activities together, I'll be the first to admit - we love playing dress up... and I do mean "we". This girl loves bows, clothes, and shoes, just like her mama. So she's always willing to get her sassy pants on and run around the yard while I take some pictures.

 With that said, today we want to show how versatile the coordinating Gerber sets from Walmart are, more specifically we are going to show you how we style our onesies for fall, from bow to toe - in 3 completely different ways.

Some may say babies don't have "style", if that's the case - they haven't met this baby! She's full of style and sass and these three Gerber looks show it:

We'll start with the simple pretty in pink look. This one is possibly my favorite, it's classic with a twist of fun. For this look, I paired White Pearls & Lace distressed jeans with her pink striped Gerber onesie and a Bloomology bow. We finished the look with a pink rose bib and some grey converse and she was set for a day on the go with daddy.

This look is pretty much an everyday outfit for Miss Delainey and it should be for your babe too. Since the Gerber coordinated baby apparel collection is available at Wal-mart at a super affordable price, every girl should own a handful of these classic onesies.

Whether you're currently expecting or dealing with a fun little feisty toddler, like me, the Gerber apparel collection offers just what you are looking for...

On that note, the next look we have is this "Sweet Baby Blues" preciousness. Delainey is showing off in her "Sweet" blue onesie. Paired with some polka dot leg warmers and a glitter bow, this look is perfect for hanging around the house and chasing her pup from room to room!

Plus, with her baby blue eyes, I can't get enough of this gorgeous blue color... we MUST have more and luckily, there's other items in the coordinating collection that match it!

And the last look we're going to share today is her punk rock princess persona. I'm not even joking when I say she loved the way she looked in this outfit. From giving herself a smooch in the mirror to giggling the whole time we played in the backyard, I think this look was D's absolute favorite.

We paired a purple Gerber hat, with a fun floral print Gerber Onesie, and a coordinating tu-tu that we just happened to have... but isn't it beyond perfection with this print? We completed the look with a fun bubble necklace, some Gerber socks, and another pair of Converse!

So, now that we've shared three completely different, fashionable, and adorable looks with you, be sure to leave your favorite stylish combination to dress your toddler up in below!

4 Ways You Can Help Eliminate & Reduce Holiday Anxiety

It's officially the holiday season. We call it "the happiest time of the year" and it is, for some... and for others, this time of year brings on anxiety and causes stress. As for me, I love spending time with family and friends, but I'll admit I'm one of many that still gets anxious when it comes time to get festive.

While I used to let anxiety overcome me, over the years I've pretty much mastered how to deal with holiday related anxiety and today I want to share a few tips with you so that all is calm in your world.

4 Ways You Can Help Eliminate & Reduce Holiday Anxiety

1. No Expectations - Instead of anticipating the perfect event, go ahead and take a deep breath and remind yourself it's okay for things to not go as planned - it's okay for things to just happen. Allow yourself the time to be present and stop stressing about the small stuff. It doesn't matter how you responded to your cousin's snarky remark or how your brother-in-law will react to the gift you've chosen for him... instead of thinking of what could happen, think about what you're doing now.

If you start feeling that stressful feeling again, take a second to absorb the beauty of the lights around you, listen for the live music playing from down the street, feel how soft these new Kleenex are, and stop stressing about the small stuff.

2. Plan for Peace - Okay, while things may not always go as planned, that doesn't mean you can't make an itinerary and hope to follow it. A big part of my anxiety is triggered by the "unknown" so planning ahead provides some peace of mind. If you're like me, you can plan days ahead for fun events, from looking at lights at the park to browsing the aisles for toys for your niece, plan when you'll be going and doing these events and you'll find them a lot less anxiety-inducing.

Also plan your family time ahead, so you aren't spread too thin on time or torn between groups... and well, it's important you do this so you don't run out of paper items either.

That's right, planning ahead to have enough paper towels and toilet paper is a MUST around the holiday season when you're expecting company.

And you can't forget Kleenex hand towels either, especially if you have a big family.

With extra company coming in to town, the last thing you want to run out of is the necessities and lucky for you can use Ibotta to snag a rebate on the Scott, Viva, Kleenex, and Cottonelle goodies you bought at Walmart.

I personally despise grocery shopping and I ordered all my goodies online at Walmart.com --with home delivery, free 2 day shipping and same day shipping options, who needs the hassle of going in-stores to shop? Not this girl! But, if you're the type that likes to shop in-stores, you're also in luck because all of these goodies are stocked on the shelves too!

3. Respect Differences -  Have a family member that picks on you and just drives you bonkers? Accept that you can't change others, but you can change your own mindset and focus on those that make you happy. Do your best to respect that your differences are what makes your family beautiful and again, try to be present in the moment and enjoy the other good things about the holiday!

4. Budget & Be Giving - Instead of spending too much on gifts people don't want or need, think about a unique gift idea instead.

Make a handmade baby book for your nephew or send your niece something you drew for her. You can surely come up with a creative way to spoil your family without the added price tag.

This year some of my family will receive blooms from my new small shop, Bloomology. I'll be making each creation specially for the individual receiving it so I hope they know how heart-felt these gifts are... no pun intended.


With that said, how do you reduce anxiety around the holidays? I'd love to hear all about it in the comments below! But don't forget to snag your rebates on your next Walmart run with Ibotta!

A Letter to My Daughter: This is The End & The Beginning

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My sweet one -

As I sit here, writing this letter to you, my dear daughter, I can't help but laugh and cry simultaneously.

This is such a joyous time in our lives, you're gaining independence, you are becoming a little tiny woman... and I'm so incredibly blessed to get to be a witness to the miracle that is your life. I'm so thankful to be the arms you run to, the one that you seek comfort in, and occasionally still, your source for nourishment.

With that said, we've been slowly cutting down on feedings, going from the moments when I thought it would never end, when all that would comfort you was cluster feeding, to each day slowly lessening the time you spent nursing, and now... well, now you only need me for a tiny bit of time each day, mainly suckling as a source of comfort as you drift off to sleep.

And as you lay here, I can't help but feel pure adoration watching you slowly go from your wild, curious self to a sleepy, sweet little bundle of love. I also can feel my heart getting a little heavier, my soul aching because these sweet moments with you will soon come to an end.

My sweet girl, it's so crazy to me how quickly you have grown. You are now almost fifteen months old, that's almost 456 days of pure love and devotion - each day dedicating several periods of time to special, sweet moments between just you and I.

That's over 450 days we have spent together - learning, growing, struggling, and successfully mastering breastfeeding, 10, 950 hours since your first latch and so many minutes spent admiring your beautiful face while watching you receive the nourishment you have loved so much.

Through every bit of pain as we had to adjust our position and finally learned to get an excellent latch I knew nursing you was the right choice. For each and every inch that you've grown and each time we've seen the scale go up a pound, we've celebrated our achievement. Each time you peek up at me, every time I see the way you embrace me, I know, deep within my soul every single second of our 15 month breastfeeding journey was worth it.

Breastfeeding isn't just something we have experienced though, it's part of who we both are... and it has been since you took your first breath. So seeing this all come to an end is bittersweet and amazing in so many ways.

Maybe it's knowing that you need me that makes ending this all so hard, maybe it's the fact that it's truly a connection unlike any other... I'm not sure. But as the tears stream down my face as I think of you, my little nursling, I know and will always know breastfeeding you was the best decision I could ever make and I wouldn't take a second of this journey back.

You are worth it.

And, although our breastfeeding journey is coming to an end soon, this is only the beginning of another more amazing journey together. Just remember, I'll always be here to comfort you, I'll always be the one that helps you to learn, who encourages you to grow, and who hopefully helps you achieve success through the struggles.

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Always & Forever,

Your mama



Are you a breastfeeding mom or mom to be? As you probably picked up on, nursing is so worth it all. With that said, not everyone has a breastfeeding journey as easy as ours was... some need nipple shields, others can't handle the pain, and some breastfed babies even need probiotics specially formulated for them... and that's where Evivo comes into the picture.

With breastfeeding and D's health being of utmost importance, it comes as no shocker that we have her on a probiotic to make sure her gut is as healthy as it can be. Evivo not only helps her gut stay healthy now, but we're setting her up for a healthy future too. If good bacteria (like what Evivo offers) are thriving before a baby is fully weaned from breast milk they're more likely to develop a healthy metabolism and immune system later in life. Learn more about Evivo and how it can help your baby from the inside out here.

My Curves Weight Loss Update & Some Perspective for Those Also on a Weight Loss Journey

Thanks to Curves International for sponsoring today's post, regardless all opinions expressed below are completely my own. Are you ready to get #CurvesStrong?

It's time.

You may remember around 3 weeks ago I officially owned up to my faults. I admitted that I've been slacking on the work outs and decided to become a member of Curves and change my lifestyle.

Not only am I excited to tell you that I've lost 8 lbs in those 3 weeks, I'm stoked to say I feel better about myself and more confident now as well... and it's not just the few lbs I've shed, it's the new lifestyle. *Curves Fitness members on average lose 5 lbs. over a 20‐week period. I received promotional consideration.

There's just something about how fresh the air feels after a great class or a nice little walk with Delainey and the way I feel after eating a healthy, satiating meal, there's no way to really describe it other than refreshing and with each bite I know my food is more nourishing than any fast food ever could be.

It's funny how just changing a few little parts of my day can entirely change the way I view the world. Although, life is all about perspective isn't it...? Well, so is weight loss and today I wanted to share a few pointers on perspective when it comes to weight loss, things we all need to hear!

1. Strong, not skinny - I constantly have to remind myself to focus on the end goal, you likely should be doing the same. We aren't working towards being tiny, necessarily, we're working toward a long, healthy future. I'm sure we all want to be around to see our kids graduate, but that obviously involves leading a healthy lifestyle and taking care of our bodies. Aim for a strong, healthy, balanced lifestyle and your life will flourish.

2. Food is for nourishment, not satisfaction - Speaking of flourishing, as we know, food is one those things in life that is absolutely necessary... but here's the thing, it doesn't always have to be super flavorful and insanely tasty. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love pumpkin pie as much as the next lady, but making sure you're supplying your body with what it needs via your diet means cutting back on carbs and sugars and allowing your body to process the foods you are eating. Make sure you're focusing on the content of your food and not always just following your taste buds.

3. Working out is fun, if you let it be fun - This one is hard for me to always remember, especially on my "lazy days"... but once I'm at Curves and in my routine, I always feel great... and that rush you get post work out proves to me I always make the right choice when I choose to get up & active.

4. Rome wasn't built in a day and I didn't gain all this weight in one day either - Simply meaning, we can't expect all of these extra lbs to just fall off when we're ready to shed our baggage. It's going to take work and dedication to meet (or exceed) our goals, but it'll be worth it in the end. Smalls goals are just as exciting to celebrate as big ones, so today I'm celebrating 8lbs and soon I'll hopefully be celebrating a more substantial weight loss!

So tell me, do you have any weight loss tips or advice on keeping things in perspective? I'd love to hear it in the comments below!