How to deal with a shy toddler

Hey guys,

As kayden has gotten older it is becoming more and more evident that he is shy. As a child i was the same way. I remember questioning whether or not i was dealing with kaydens shyness efficiently. I tried to think back to how i was as a child. I was so embarrassed whenever my mom tried to push me to talk to others or made a scene about it. I slowly see kayden warming up to people faster, so i decided to share my tips.

1. A few days before we are going somewhere i always talk to kayden about it. I tell him where we are going, who will be there and what we are doing. After 2 or 3 days kayden starts to tell me we are going to go there. This allows kayden to know what is going on. He is mentally prepared for an outing and i am able to ease his mind.

2. The day of and the car ride over i let him know that we are attending the event. I know this sounds redundant but it all adds up in Kayden's head. We have talked about going somewhere for a few days and now we are actually going! Kayden is usually excited and cant wait to get there.

3. Once we arrive i never push kayden to much. We all say hi and i encourage kayden to do the same. I never make a big scene if he doesn't but rather i act like its no big deal. Sone may think this isn't a good idea, but i remember when i was a child my mom use to make a big scene about it. I was so embarrassed from that alone i didn't want to talk to anyone. I never want kayden to feel the same way. Usually by the time we leave he is so comfortable he waves goodbye and gives hugs.

4. I let kayden warm up to people at his own pace. Honestly it doesn't take long. He watches for a bit and when he feels comfortable (usually 10 minutes max) he will go and play. I never want kayden to feel like im forcing him to join in or make him feel bad for holding back. I watch at a safe distance so he knows im right there if he needs me, but also give him space to do his own thing.

I never tell kayden he is shy. I don't ever want him to feel as though he is in a box or that he is doing something wrong. This may be a phase with him, or it may be part of him for life. Either way there is nothing wrong with that. Curtis and i are complete opposites, he is outgoing and will talk to anyone. I take a little longer to warm up people, but then i don't stop talking. I want kayden to know its okay, and hopefully he sees our dynamic and knows that. I do chat with people when we are out and about, and i heard that's important. When your child sees you interacting (as small as it may be) with the cashier, waitress, people at the Park etc. Children follow by example, even though they may not chat the next person up, it opens up their eyes to the idea of it.

Insight into being a SAHM

Hey Guys,

Is it just me, or do stay at home moms have a bad connotation behind it? People believe we are lazy, we watch tv all day and do nothing. My dad even thought i sit on the couch all day.

I don't know why we don't get more credit for what we do.

Being a stay at home mother was the best choice i ever made. My mom worked when i was baby ( i was to small to remember) then she made the decision to stay at home full time. My brother and i are 5 years apart, so it was just me and her at home. Looking back i loved coming home after school and having my mom there. She always had a snack ready, and her life was dedicated to her children. She knew my friends, and what i was doing (for the most part) in school etc. I am not saying if you work you wont be all of these things, its just different when you stay at home. I want kayden to have the same experience i did.

Prior to being pregnant i worked with working mothers, and they struggled a lot with balancing home and work. They were working to pay for before and after school programs, missing out on their child(ren) lives and always getting looked down for not staying late or having to rush out.

I always sympathized with him because it must have been hard to figure out what was less important that day. Sometimes it meant getting pulled into the boss office the next day.

I didn't want to have that struggle. Curtis and i don't have family we can count on. At the end of the day if we are running late or had to stay late we don't have anyone else who can help with kayden.

I don't ever regret the decision to stay at home with kayden. I will be honest with you, i did have moments where i questioned if i was doing enough. I felt guilty for not being able to bring an income in the house, i felt as though i was holding the family back. If i worked, would my family be further in life? Thank goodness for Curtis. He reassured me that this was the best decision for kayden right now, and if i continued to feel this way in the future, i can always explore getting back into the workforce.

Being a stay at home mom requires me to wear many hats. I am a nurse, caregiver, teacher, life coach etc. I will never say i have had an easy day, because a little one keeps you on your toes. I remember when kayden was a baby, and he would never nap in the daytime, i spent an hour walking back and forth just to have him nap for 10 minutes. I dealt with endless crying while trying to figure out how im going to get the laundry folded.

Kayden has a lot of energy, he is go go go until nap time (even then he will attempt to convince you he isn't tired) which means i always need to have him occupied. I need to have an endless list of activities, and i have said this a billion times, when you live in an apartment, if you leave you have to commit. I cant just open the door and have kayden run in the yard. I need to haul his bike downstairs and have him outside for a significant amount of time.

As time has passed i have embraced my role as a stay at home mom. I may not do my hair and makeup every morning, and wear nice clothes but i am doing something which fulfills me. Im there when my son wakes up and goes to bed. I work hard to ensure kayden is well behaved and stays on track with the children in daycare. I don't get any off days, there were times when i was extremely sick but i still had to look after kayden.

From the time kayden wakes up and takes a nap or goes to bed, i try to fill his day up. It is the most tiring and rewarding job. I know this life isn't for everyone, and there are plenty of mothers who envy me. Even though i may not receive a paycheck or get bonuses every year, i will always believe my job makes a difference.

My day starts at 6am every morning. Kayden runs in the bedroom, wakes me up and demands we make room for him in the bed. I wish i could say he goes back to bed, instead the list of demands begin. He's hungry, cold, he cant find his stuffed dog etc. Everything is life ending in the morning. I try to stay in bed till 6:30am but that doesn't always work. Half awake i start my morning. I buy some time with kayden and tell him to give me a few minutes. I brush my teeth and use the bathroom. I then pray the coffee machine has gone off, so i don't have to wait 10 minutes for a cup. Curtis gets up, and i pack his lunch and he's gone by 7am. Kayden has had his breakfast by now (after changing his mind 5 times). I clean up breakfast, play with kayden for 30 minutes before he demands another snack. It takes him about 10 minutes to pick out a snack. He never wants what is in the cupboard. After he eats i get him ready to spend about an hour outside.

I hate to say it, but im still not half way through my day. I live for lunchtime because that means nap time is knocking on my door.

Whether you are a working parent or you are at home, it is a personal decision. Both choices require sacrifice and sometimes never feel like you picked the right one. We are all in this struggle together of balancing raising kids, having alone time and feeling self fulfilled.

Why I started Blogging

Hey Guys,

It wasn't untill a few weeks ago that i realized i have been blogging for a little over a year. I couldn't believe it. I started blogging during a tough time in my life. My boyfriend wasn't working and we were counting pennies. He started a job where he worked night shifts, so our schedules were opposite. I spent many nights alone, and barely saw him. Even when he was off, he slept all day ( i cant blame him).
A lot of people would ask me for advice/ my opinion on products. I decided to put my opinions to good use and start a blog. I will admit early on, it was a complete disaster. I copied other peoples structure and blogging schedule. This made me put out poor content and i felt forced to blog. This was suppose to be a hobby and something i was doing for myself, and it was slowly turning into a chore. Once my boyfriend started working ' regular hours' i took a break. I will admit i thought about whether or not it was a good idea, and my friend told me to get back to it. She made a good point, it was a little part of my day that i was doing fir myself. I decided to change up my content and how often i posted. I would post once a week about topics that were popular and ones i was passionate about.
What i love about posting once a week was i able to take my time. I would do a little but everyday. If i ended up being busy, who cares.
Blogging is great for me, because i am and English major. There is so many ways i can apply this in my everyday life, but i feel like i am able to use my creative writing skills in a positive way. I love reading blogs, and seeing what everyone is passionate about, and the different writing styles.
I love being able to feel as though my voice is being heard, and most importantly i feel valued. It is not about how many views i get (but just for the record, i would love to get more) or how much money i am making, but feeling as though i am more then a mother. I know that may sound odd, but it is so easy to loose yourself once you become a mom. Your life revolves around your family, and it is so easy to put yourself on the back burner. I love feeling like i have a job and a purpose in life. Lets face it, Kayden is going to be in school soon, and i would hate it if i felt lost and sat at home twiddling my thumbs.
After blogging for a little over a year I see my blog growing. It has taken me awhile to find my niche, but i am so excited to see where this endeavor takes me.

Tips to get you through those rainy days

Hey Guys,

With Kayden getting older, it is becoming more important to keep him occupied during the day. With the warmer weather here, we are loving spending our days outdoors, but mother nature likes to change it up a bit and give us rain. This keeps us indoors, which can get boring and depressing.
Here are a few of my go to rainy day activities:

Movies
Kayden wont sit down for a whole movie, but it will keep him occupied for about an hour if he is into it. We have Curious George DVD's and some popular Pixar and Disney movies. It is always fun to curl up under the covers, and make some popcorn. Kayden absolutely loves popcorn, so any excuse to eat it, he is down!

Crafts
I usually save painting for fridays and rainy days. As you parents know it takes a lot of effort and your full attention when your toddler paints. Since we rarely do it, Kayden always has a blast doing it. I have some wooden letters and Kayden picks a letter and paints it. It helps him work on the alphabet which is great as well! Kayden loves coloring and drawing. Nothing beats a classic coloring book or plain paper. I have tried crafts in the oast but Kayden didn't have the patience for it. If your child(ren) can ( I envy you) , that is a great way for them to do something creative, while working on their motor skills. We also have playdoh in about every color you can imagine. Kayden loves squishing it and rolling small balls.

Reading books
Kayden loves reading books, and he is even more in love with the library. I cant stress how happy i am that this is one of his joys. Whenever there is some quiet time in the house, he goes and grabs some books from his room and flips through them. On rainy days, we go in his room, sit on a chair and go through a few books. Kayden loves picking the books we read (he has his favorites) and can sit for a good 30 minutes. Since Kayden is close to 3, he points everything out in books and relates it to his life.

Rough housing
Some parents think you shouldn't rough house (my mom being one of them) but there are some things that come with being a mom to a toddler boy. Kayden loves to rough house. I don't let him knock me out or bruise me up. We have limits, and whether or not i like it, its going to happen. It is usually something he does with his dad (since i am such a wimp) but once in awhile i jump in. We always do it on a soft surface (like a bed) and he jumps and falls and it exhausts him. Its a great alternative to running outside.

Pull out 'special toys'
Remember back when your toddler was a baby? You had those special toys that you pulled out when you went out, and wanted to keep them quiet? This is great for rainy day activities. Kayden has 2 toy bins. One with blocks, cars, balls and interactive toys. We have another bin for the big toys. He doesnt often remember what's in there so when i open it, kayden gets excited. Its great because it is like he got a new toy all over again, and as he gets older he rediscovers new ways to play with them.

Since we live in apartment, (as you all know) there isn't a lot of room for us to play. These ideas work great, regardless of how big or small your house is.

How to clean your makeup brushes in 1 minute

Hey Guys,

Awhile ago i did a post about how I clean my makeup brushes. It was my go to method but I felt like something was missing. While it did clean my brushes, i didnt feel as though my makeup sponge was clean. I use quo instead of the beauty blender ( im not about spending that kind of cash) and i always felt as though there was leftover residue. On top of that I would use Kayden's baby shampoo to clean my makeup brushes and he has outgrown it. I needed a new DIY cleaning solution asap.
This is where Pinterest comes in handy. I searched and they answered. The cleaning method i am going to mention came up constantly and it was all ingredients that i had in my house on a constant basis.

1 cup if water
1tbsp vinegar
1 tbsp dish soap

After cleaning my brushes with this solution a few times i would recommend doubling up on the dish soap. There is a mild vinegar scent that is leftover, but if you can look past it, then don't worry about it. This method has left ALL my brushes spotless. I am the type of person who loves seeing all the dirt and makeup leave my brushes and i have never seen so much in my life.
I use a clean cool whip container, combine all the ingredients and run my brushes through for about 10 seconds. I then rinse under luke warm water and lay flat to dry. I have seen recommendations of putting the bristles back in their shape, but I have never had that issue. My brushes dry within a few hours and look brand new.

How to keep on top of cleaning

Hey Guys,

People always told me, as Kayden gets older it'll get easier. They couldn't have been more wrong. I am just as exhausted, and busy. I had such a hard time keeping up with the house, that i felt like giving up. I know this seems minor, but lets be honest, how much better do you feel when the house is clean and organized? Exactly.
I needed to figure out how to keep my house livable without adding more to my plate. I decided to have a cleaning schedule. Kayden has his daily chores, so why not me? To be honest, it has made everything easier. Granted my boyfriend does help out and does a scrub down every once in awhile which helps me out a lot.

Monday
This day is all about the bedrooms. I am lucky i only have 2, but it still feels like a lot. In the master bedroom i put all the clothes away that may have accumulated over the weekend. I hang clothes back up in the closest, fold and put away clothes in our drawers.
Twice a month i will wash down the windows and windowsills. Kayden has a table which holds pictures of his family. I will also wipe it down.

Tuesday
On this day i clean the bathroom. This room is the dirtiest in the house and a room i cant hide from. We have guests visiting all the time and with kayden potty training it is in constant use. I wash down the mirrors, counter, sink, cupboards and toilet. Curtis does the bathtub and floors since i have scoliosis, and cant bend over for long.
A few times a month i will clean kaydens toilet seat. Every once in awhile he gets pee in the crevices, so a wipe down ensures there is no dried up pee.

Wednesday
This is my quieter day. This is when i do the living room and entry way. I put away all the extra shoes that have accumulated since monday. I wipe down all our electronics (TV, Xbox, fan) our pictures on the wall, side tables and of course our windowsills.

Thursday
The dreaded kitchen. Everyday i wipe down our counters, stove and cupboards. On thursday i tackle the fridge. Because i reserve friday for leftovers, i like to go through and see what we have. i throw away food that has gone bad and wipe down the fridge. Its great timing as well because we do groceries on saturday so i declutter and reorganize everything a few days before.

Friday
This day is a lazy whatever happens happens kind of day. I don't have a specific room i need to clean. Because i have been cleaning throughout the week the only rooms that need touching up is the master bedroom and bathroom. I tidy up here and there but for the most part everything is in its place.

I use Pine sol to clean because it is an all in one. I love that it disinfects and i can also use it on the floors, counters and sinks. I love having one product to grab instead of hauling around a bunch of different cleaning supplies.
This schedule has made my life much easier. I know what it priority to clean and for the most part, I do keep on top of it. It allows me to do a little hit each day without becoming overwhelmed.

Juice Beauty Green Apple skin brightening moisturizer with SPF Review

Hey Guys,

Awhile ago I received a sample for Juice Beauty Green apple skin brightening moisturizer with SPF. It took me awhile to test it out because i am hesitant with facial products as I have had bad experiences. I finally gave it a try a few months ago and fell in love.
This moisturizer has a little bit of everything for everyone. It is vegan friendly and free of sulphates, phthalates and parabens.

The claims
Provide broad spectrum sun protection
Organic fruit antioxidants hydrate and smooth skin

My review
When i intially used the product the scent was a distraction. It smelled like medicine which almost made me not use it. If you are able to get past that aspect then you will love this product. It claims to be light but i do not think so, which made me fall in love with it. At the time i had dry skin and none of my moisturizers were working for me. I was embarrassed to go out with no makeup on because i felt my dry skin would stand out. I tried this product by itself (no makeup) and with makeup. Both times it was amazing. As always i put way to much on and it took me awhile to find the right amount. A pea sized amount goes a long way. Because it is so thick my skin instantly felt relief. It did take awhile to soak in, but that may have been because i lathered it on. I loved how moisturized my skin felt and i didn't need to reapply it, like i was doing with my other moisturizers.
When I tried it under makeup it was amazing. It had the perfect amount of stickiness so it acted like a primer as well. My makeup looked flawless and lasted a long time.
I absolutely loved this product (minus the scent). For how it made my skin feel, i could disregard the scent.
This product is perfect for anyone that has dry skin and needs relief. It kept me moisturized all day with the added protection of SPF.
It retails for $48 for 2oz. It is pricey but I also have not seen a moisturizer give my skin what it needed in a long time.

Rating
I would give this moisturizer a 8 out of 10.  I do think it is pricey which may not make it accessible for everyone. The scent as well can off putting, and does not smell like Green Apple at all.