Weekly Weigh in: Embracing Challenges: The Path to Personal Growth and Resilience

Life is an ever-changing journey filled with ups and downs and it's the challenges that we encounter that mold us into the human beings that we become. Today I want to talk about the impact of challenges when it comes to personal development and resilience, I want to talk about how they provide opportunities for learning and growth. Because challenges are inevitable, and how we approach them does make a difference. Then I'll ask you to weigh on how challenges molded you into the person you are today. 

How Do We Grow Anyway?

Being face to face with our challenges is important for someone to grow. It really is, our obstacles slow us down and when to keep us from learning valuable life experiences. You can't learn much from experiences if nothing happens in life. You can't grow without being given the opportunity to grow. It's a bit like a plant in a pot, you don't know if you can grow or handle the soil if you don't get put into a new pot. Sometimes yeah, you'll lose a leaf or a petal, but you can learn and still grow. That's how we are as humans growing machines. 

My Story About Growth and Resilience

Hearing your mom is going to need brain surgery when you're a 16-year-old is a huge earthquake in your life. The thought about anyone having brain surgery makes your own brain swim with thoughts and emotions makes you overloaded, and makes you stop everything in your tracks. I did just that I quit school just to be with my mom. Unaware of how much my life would change right after her surgery.

Quitting school and my mom's brain surgery to remove a cyst (noncancerous) off of her brain was a huge challenge for me, and that was even before she had her surgery. I had no clue what the road ahead of me was and how it'd make me grow. 

The day of my mom's surgery was emotional. I wasn't allowed to be with her or my aunts when she had her surgery, which was well over two hours away. I was forced to stay home, where I had no clue what was going on, this was before people used cell phones regularly. The only way that someone could get ahold of someone else, for the most part, was by means of a landline.

The surgery went well, but there was something that I wasn't told about as an after-effect, not really a complication, but an after-effect was her short-term memory loss. She'd forget that my sister and brother went to school any little things like that. Thinking about resuming life, and going back to school right away was the least on my mind. 

My mom eventually got better. Her memory is back to normal. She can remember things that I forgot about. Sometimes I forget that she even had surgery and this period in her life. I eventually finished school through adult education, in only a little over a month (most people take a bit longer to complete school). I'm now able to be more patient with others when they say they forgot something I told them or a memory that they have. While yes, a downfall to that is, I've learned to repeat things, just in case they don't remember what I've said before. The repeating things apparently get people a bit annoyed, but only if they knew what I went through years before.

Now that I look back on this point in my life, I see the growth, I see the lessons I've learned. Sometimes I almost forget where I learned to repeat what I've said before from, as it's so ingrained into my memory back. The tragic moment that shocked and surprised me, has made me grow a lot. More than I thought I'd need to grow. 

Life Offers opportunities and Not Challenges

Let's take the thought of life offering challenges out of our vocabulary, but instead, lets call them opportunities for growth and to learn from. I know it sounds crazy to think about life at the time something happens, that it's not a challenge, but an opportunity to grow, because it doesn't feel like there's much growth happening when something happens or so that we think. But if we called them opportunities to grow rather than a challenge, roadblock, or whatever it may be, life we may learn even more lessons.

Looking back on all the challenges in life, you can still grow and learn from them. If we make a list of everything that you would call a challenge, and now reframe them as growth opportunities. It for sure doesn't change the fact that life was hectic and possibly even depressing then, but it can now be a time to think, "What did I learn from this opportunity?" and "What ways can I grow now that I didn't think that I could grow before!  It's all about positivity! 

Conclusion

It's time for you to weigh in, when were some times in your life when you had a growth opportunity? It's great to empower other people and let them know that they can grow and learn from almost any opportunity. Learning from others shows growth. Don't worry about playing life safe, oppertunities happen no matter what happens. 

Unraveling the Truth: Debunking a Common Misconception About Celiac Disease

Celiac isn't just a gluten sensitivity, celiac is a possibly dangerous autoimmune disorder. Let's take time to shed some light on some of the most common misconceptions about celiac. Today I'm going to talk a bit about one of the hugest misconceptions and debunk the myth by giving some actual information instead of confusing you even more. The more you know the better understanding you'll have about celiac. 

Misconception: Many people believe that celiac disease is just a mild gluten sensitivity and not a serious health condition.

A bit about Celiac

Celiac disease is anything but mild, intestinal damage, problems absorbing nutrients, fatigue, rashes, and neurological issues are all are a reality when one ingests gluten. A lot of issues above can cause even more issues down the road. If one's celiac is not properly managed by diet, there are long-term complications, things as osteoporosis, infertility, cancer, and even lactose intolerance. 

The Harsh Reality of Celiac Disease

I think the thing that most people know nothing about, and may actually not fully understand is that Celiac disease is actually an autoimmune disorder. When a celiac eats ingest some gluten, their villi can't absorb nutrients. Opening a Pandora's box of fun illnesses. Yes, you heard that right when someone ingests gluten, it's not just an allergy or intolerance, gluten can in fact cause someone's body to attack itself. The health problems and reduced quality of life aren't worth it. 

Let's dig deeper into the misconception

I'm not here to judge anyone for thinking that celiac is a mild intolerance or sensitivity. It's something that happens a lot. Both the confusion between celiac and other illnesses, the lack of awareness about gluten, and even the understanding of what gluten REALLY is and where it comes, come into play when we think about the misconception. Sadly the misunderstanding can be dangerous as the lack of knowledge leads to a possible delayed diagnosis and even having an adequate support system. Learning the name of the monster that makes you sick is a step forward when finding out how to defeat it.\

How Do We Correct the Misconception?

If you're looking for ideas on how to correct it. I have a few ideas on how to get this misconception put to rest after all. All of these should work together to get the job done.

Individuals with celiac talking about their condition with others

It's hard to put misconceptions to rest without actively talking about them. For those of us that have celiac, it's time to talk about our condition when it comes to friends, family colleagues or anyone who deals with our food. When educating others about the condition, use empathy and open the discussion as much as you can. People don't support hostility. 

Personal Stories
This suggestion goes out to all my creative folk, with or without a platform, it's time to talk about celiac. It's time to share our stories, share our symptoms. Personal stories about our challenges and learning how we navigate life will allow people to gain a deeper understanding of our condition. 

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If you don't have a platform, and want your story to be told. I'm more than willing to post anyone's celiac journey or anything anyone wants to talk about their life with celiac, within reason. It doesn't have to be a blog post, it can be Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, or whatever platform you feel comfortable with. Send me a message and I'm more than willing to share your story with others.

Debunking With Science and Articles
When all else fails, there are websites and articles that can help explain why celiac is not just a mild illness. The link above from the Mayo Clinic is an example of a place that's credible but also explains exactly what celiac disease is and why it's dangerous. Doing your own homework and urging people to do their own research is sometimes all that it takes to get one's point across. 

Conclusion

Celiac is a serious health condition that requires compassion and understanding. By being able to dispel this misconception through education, sharing your experience, and even showing some scientific evidence, we create a more knowledgeable, society. Let us embrace empathy and work together to support others by spreading awareness, so that those with celiac can live without judgment and understanding!\

Becoming Assertive Like a Pro: A Comprehensive Checklist

I have a new goal in life, to be more assertive! Most of us passive folk, wish that we were more powerful, we want to be able to express our needs and set boundaries effectively. With that thought playing around my head, I knew it was time to compile a blog post to help myself and others become more assertive. Are you ready to try to be more assertive? 

Understanding What Assertiveness is

To become assertive, we must know what exactly being assertive means and what assertive is. While yes most of the time we know it's the opposite of passiveness and aggression, that really doesn't help someone if that's all that we know about assertiveness. To be assertive one must communicate their thoughts, feelings, and needs respectfully and directly. We don't want to be aggressive and become hostile when we communicate, nor do we want to avoid conflict and ignore our own feelings and desires.  

If you're communicating clearly, able to communicate honestly and know how to set healthy boundaries, chances are they are already assertive. But those of us, like myself, are not able to do so, and happen to be passive, it's right where we want to be. It's our dream outcome, and while it sounds accessible to the assertive folk to, "Just be assertive," it isn't like that exactly. It takes work to become assertive! 

Find Out Your Communication Style

How exactly do you communicate? What are your communication patterns? It's time to take a step back and think about how you express yourself when you handle conflicts. I'm not talking about conflicts on social media that we all like to watch unfold, I'm talking bout in the real world. If you're trying to think of an example and are unsure about what kind of communicator you are, there's a quiz below to help you. 

Once you're aware of what kind of communicator you're more self-aware of your own thoughts and actions. And when you're more aware of your thoughts and emotions, you're able to grow and change your communication style. 

Time to Develop Confidence

Before we can be assertive, you need to develop confidence. That does mean we need to take a step back and challenge our thinking, if our self-talk isn't that kind, it's time to realize that we have confidence. We need to celebrate what steps we make, reinforce our belief in ourselves, and try to build a positive self-image in ourselves. We can only be assertive with confidence. 

Try Improving Your Active Listening Skills

Time to hone in on people's nonverbal cues when they're talking and use a little bit of active listening. Active listening a way to promote empathy for someone and helps with growing trust. Active listening is important to becoming assertive. Some way to learn to active listening is to paraphrase what someone is trying to say while nodding to indicate you understand and comprehend what they're saying. 


Along with active listening, there has to be some understanding of others' perspectives. It's equally as important to becoming assertive. Especially when it comes to problem-solving situations and being able to collaborate with others on their ideas. You can't possibly see eye to eye with someone and work things if you don't see what their point of view is.  

Expressing Yourself Clearly and Directly

Now we have confidence and are listening better. The next box to check off is learning how to express ourselves. Imagine getting to the point where you're able to say something like, "I understand your concern, but I have made my decision and I stand by it," or "I would like to contribute my ideas during this meeting. Can I have a chance to share?"  

When you're expressing your feelings remember to use "I" statements, and be specific. Let's pretend that you have a friend that isn't respecting your boundaries and it's bothering you. A passive person might say, "You're not respecting my boundaries. Please respect me." With the statement, your friend could assume that you're not wanting to be their friend anymore and may take the statement completely differently than what you were intending. But if you said something, like, "I value our friendship, but I need you to respect my boundaries." Your friend will understand that you care about them, while you're meeting your own needs and give you ownership of how you feel.

Set Some Healthy Boundaries

One huge thing that must be done to be assertive like a pro is to have some personal boundaries. We need to protect our emotional, physical, and mental well-being.  You should be treated as you think you should be treated. We're able to protect our autonomy and assert our needs if we have boundaries.

When you set your boundaries, be confident, use respectful body language and be calm. You need to be be clear and specific, especially when you're using your clear and direct body language. People need to know you mean business. Sometimes, things don't go the way you want them to when you try to set your boundaries, so be prepared and try to show your newly found assertiveness.

Practice Makes Perfect

The last point in this checklist is the scariest part of becoming assertive, at least in my point of view. It's practicing to be assertive. But after learning that I don't need to rush out and try my assertiveness everywhere and that it's okay to start slowly. A small step may be asking someone for help, or ordering food at a restaurant. 

Once we've mastered the low-risk baby tasks. Try increasing your assertiveness. Something like requesting a refund or alerting the restaurant that they had your order wrong. Each time you have a successful experience, it will boost your confidence, causing you to be more assertive. Push your boundaries little by little and eventually, it'll become easier. 

Conclusion

To be assertive, it's time to be confident, be direct, use our active listening skills and set some healthy boundaries. As scary as it might sound it'll be okay. You now have a check list that you're free to print out and put everywhere that you may need it. Because you know being assertive, shows confidence, and people listen to assertiveness. 

Navigating the Hemiplegic Migraine Maze: A Personal Journey

I am one of the lucky folk that experiences chronic hemiplegic migraines. A hemiplegic migraine is a migraine with or without pain, that causes weakness or paralysis on one side of the body along with stroke-like symptoms. 

After watching Momming with Migraines, and posting my post about the misconceptions of hemiplegic migraines, I knew it was time to talk a bit about my journey. Because it's time to show some of my vulnerable sides and explain what things are like, along with hoping to raise awareness and let others know they're not alone. 

I included a very personal video by Jen, from Momming with Migraines. Please note that her journey is her own journey and not everyone is going to have the same journey. 

Let's talk a little bit more about hemiplegic migraines

The rare beast known as the hemiplegic migraine, can either be familial (passed down in families) or sporadic (without genetic origin) Not all migraines are hemiplegic in nature. Most migraine aurae don't have symptoms like weakness, difficulty speaking, confusion, seizures, and passing out, unlike hemiplegic migraines. They can however cause classic migraine symptoms such as nausea, headache vertigo, and visual symptoms. And just like regular migraines they usually happen on one side of the body, which doctors call hemiplegia.  

My First and Second Migraine

I'm pretty sure I've had hemiplegic migraines for at least over 20 years, without having an actual name to give the symptoms I was having. Like the headaches, the numbness in my face, and the confusion. But giving a name to the symptoms that followed me came much later in my life. 

While it seems a bit blurry, I do remember bits and pieces of the moment about the day that it first realized it was serious. About 10 years ago, I was on my way home from a day with my bonus daughter and my husband. I remember having a weird dull headache, then out of nowhere I became confused and had what I could best describe as a memory loss moment, kind of. While I knew who my husband and bonus daughter were at the back of my mind, I couldn't correctly verbalize and connect the two together, so while I knew who they were I said that I didn't know.  While I don't remember the numbness or weakness I'm almost certain I had it then too. 

He decided it was best that he'd drop me off at the hospital, then go drop his daughter off with her mom so that I knew what was going on. 

All my tests came back as normal as they should. There wasn't anything out of the ordinary, though I don't remember getting any kind of CT, MRI, or any brain scans at the time. So my doctor once she got the results, assumed it was either what she called a 'rare migraine', a possible seizure, or she had no clue, but gave me Lamictal to see if there were any changes. In fact, there was a ton of improvement, 

My second major hemiplegic migraine attack was a little over two years ago. I was busy writing something or watching a video online. Nothing too out of the ordinary, when I remember a headache coming out of the blue, with this headache, I remember my left side getting weak, numbness in my face, and was struggling to find the words to speak. Of course, prompting my husband to rush me to the hospital. 

At the hospital I was given a scan of my brain (I don't remember what kind) and a migraine cocktail, which is usually Benadryl, something for nausea, NSAIDS, and triptans (if one doesn't have hemiplegic migraines). It worked well, for the most part, causing me to stutter rather than just struggle with a choice of words. That was the day I was given the diagnosis of hemiplegic migraines. Which was confirmed by my more recent neurologist. 

Living With Hemiplegic Migraines

To say that it has no impact on my day-to-day life would be the exact opposite. Especially now that I'm pregnant, the choice of medications that my neurologist will allow me to take is basically nothing. Every day is a struggle, I do have a few guesses about what triggers my migraines, such as forgetting to eat a meal or panicking, but I'm not sure if I'm right. I do however know right before an aura happens and a migraine starts. Right before mine happen, I got what I describe as a glittery snowglobe effect. Imagine being in a snow globe with glitter, that's all I see. 

On the days when they do get bad, I get the order from my husband to relax as much as possible and not to be up overdoing myself. I will occasionally take Benadryl with a little bit of caffeine and take a nap when they start getting bad, which is a hit-and-miss type of thing.

Eventually, once my son is born, I do hope to find something that I can take that won't interfere with breastfeeding, and get back on something that can help. But until then, it's learning how to look for warning signs and relaxing as much as I can.  

The Social Impact

To openly talk about my hemiplegic migraines with strangers and loved ones hasn't been easy. It's not easy to admit to someone that my memory isn't too good,that I'm losing strength in my left side, that I'm having a bit of a headache and migraine-related nausea and dizziness, along with any of the other symptoms I have. It almost feels like I'm a broken record. I don't feel like it's becoming a part of who I am, and to be honest, I am not my migraines and don't like them to define me. 

Thank goodness, my mom, my husband, a few hemiplegic migraine groups on Facebook and my therapist are a great support team on days when my migraines feel suffocating. I do offer the suggestion, to have a support team to be there to remind you and support you of all of your migraine moments it truly does help and I have no clue where I'd be where I am without them.

Overcoming Obstacles

There are always going to be obstacles when it comes to chronic illnesses, no matter what part of the journey you are on. There are going to be days when your emotions are shattered, hemipelagic migraines are no different.  Personally, a lot of my emotional obstacles are knowing that my migraines are unpredictable and knowing I may not be able to talk properly for a few days. 

My tough days are part of the reason why this blog is here. I created a blog full of mindfulness activities, quotes, things to and stuff I'm learning to help myself and help others who have chronic illnesses, and people who need a bit of a push. In the next month, there will be more personal posts and posts outside of what has been posted the last month as well. But having a place for myself and others to look, at when it comes to self-care. All we need is a little positivity once in a while. 

Conclusion

Whether my journey with migraines is like someone else's journey these migraines are my own. I have my own challenges. Just because there are challenges, there's still hope for a better day, and there are other stories about people dealing with their migraines. 

For those of you who have migraines, hemipelagic or not, what's your journey like?

Thyroidectomy and Pregnancy: A Crash Course for Expectant Mothers

Last year, I had my neck cut open and my thyroid removed because I had trouble breathing and swallowing and my thyroid was swelling (in medical terms it's called goiter). Never did I expect to become pregnant after getting my thyroidectomy and never did I understand how much my pregnancy could be affected by the lack of thyroid.  For those mother's to be who have had a thyroidectomy or those who are curious, this post should answer a few questions!

What exactly is a thyroid?

If you haven't had yours removed yet, and you're a little confused about what a thyroid I have you covered. Your thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in your neck, it's there to regulate hormones that regulate your metabolism, your temperature, your energy and your heart rate. It's hard to imagine such a small gland in your neck does so much work, doesn't it? And yes, when you're pregnant, it helps your baby's brain grow and develop, and it also helps your baby grow. If you're still a bit confused about the thyroid. I'm sharing one of my favorite places on YouTube for health-related stuff, The Institute of Human Anatomy. They're great at explaining things, and I'm almost certain they'll explain what thyroid does exactly and what one looks like. 

How Can a Thyroidectomy Affect Pregnancy Exactly?

If your thyroid is partially there from a partial thyroidectomy, not there at all after a total thyroidectomy, or not working properly, if your hormones aren't controlled properly, complications can happen. Things like high blood pressure, anemia, premature birth, miscarriage, and, low birth weight. Everything that one wouldn't want to happen during pregnancy. As long as your thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) is low and you're taking your thyroid hormone medications as prescribed by your endocrinologist things should be smooth sailing, hopefully. 

What to expect and look out for during pregnancy after a thyroidectomy

As someone whose TSH has been a roller, I'm no stranger to the symptoms to look out for and what to expect after a thyroidectomy. For a bit of background here the normal TSH levels for a person are 0.27-4.2 u[iU]/mL at the moment mine is 8.86 u[iU]/mL, but have been way higher than that. March it was 30, last month it was 28 u[iU]/mL. As you can see, it's been a bit of a rollercoaster, to say the least. 

If your thyroid isn't regulated, you may be more tired than normal pregnancy fatigue, weight changes, mood swings, you may be sensitivity to the cold, muscle aches, and even trouble concentrating. If any of the symptoms above, should be familiar, let both your endocrinologist and your OBGYN or midwife know you're having symptoms. 



But if you're not feeling symptoms, you're still going to get your TSH tested, at regular intervals or in my case monthly if one test is a bit off, to ensure that your TSH is right where it needs to be. Provide tips for managing pregnancy after a thyroidectomy, including diet and exercise recommendations. 

Conclusion

I know it's easier said than done, but don't panic too much if your TSH is a bit higher, just listen to your doctor's orders, know what to look out for and try to remain as stress-free as possible. Your pregnancy is too short to worry a lot about your thyroid hormones. Stay happy and stay healthy. 

The Clean Reader: Why I Don't Write in Books

If you noticed one thing about me when it comes to talking about my guided journals and workbooks, is that I'm not a fan of writing in my books. It might sound strange to some, books meant to reflect about life and mental health, are usually meant to be written in. If you're unsure what to do with your guided journals or self-help books or wondering why someone like me wouldn’t want to write in something as important as this. I thought I’d dive a little bit into my mind for once. I want to explain why I am the way I am and why I like my books to be crisp and clean, for the most part. In the end you can draw your own conclusions or something!

My Personal Reasons

People would assume it has to do with some kind of fear, of ruining something like the book in my opinion. It’s really not even the case, in fact, my reasoning is a little different. While yes when I pick up a used workbook from a bookstore I don't want a book that's been written in. But it's because, if I found a book to be helpful or entertaining and I want to give it to someone else or use it again, I don't want to be sidetracked by my old notes, and my old opinions, I want to start brand new. 

My other reason has everything to do with being able to organize a regular journal or something digital online, the way that I want it to be organized. Not just that with a journal, I'm able to write notes, I'm able to include things in my entries, that weren't part of the book I had on hand, better yet, I can combine one idea from one guided journal and one from another in the same place, and I don't have to flip back and forth between the two.

Some alternatives to writing in books: 

For those who are like me, that don't like writing in books or those who want to try to do something a little different here are some great alternatives to try.

• Online journals and blogs: There are many places online or in app form that allow both private and public places to write your answers in. One of my favorite places other than my blog, is Jrnl, it offers both private and public journals, and even has a spot on the page for about me questions if you're into that kind of thing.
• Word processing apps: Maybe keeping your information online isn't you thing and you're worried about a page or app not working. Word processing apps, like Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and Libre Office (a free alternative to Microsoft Word), are another easy idea.
  

  

  Click here for a free libre office download

  
  
  
• Voice recording: Writing not your thing at all? You can always record your questions as a memo, using an app or your own phone or computer. Most have a voice memo app included! 
• Video journaling/vlogging: Vlogging and video journaling is other unique way to work through your thoughts. These videos don't even have to be public or for anyone but yourself and/or your loved ones. 
• A regular journal: This is the method I chose, I found a journal that I liked at the store, one that I'd want to write my entries in, and have some felt-tipped pens for when I do my guided journaling so that I can be creative! 

There are many reasons why I don’t write in my journals. This is just my opinion and what I want to do with my books.  Each person’s reason for writing or not writing in their books is their own. Wherever you're able to open your mind, clear your mind, and better your mental health is up to you, I hope you enjoy whatever book you're using! 

From Classics to Modern: 10 Books on My Book Bucket List

In my opinion finding a new book, something new to read, broadens our horizons and expand our vast imaginations. I was scouting the local bookstore with my husband to find the perfect book to stick out at me. I remember telling him that I try to read books that stick out to me and are things I want to read because I don’t know when I’m going to die, and I wanted to read what felt good before I can’t read anymore.  Do you have a book bucket list? Do you know a list of books you want to read before you die?

  The Reason Behind My Thought Process

 Taking time to read is good self-love and a great mindfulness technique, and it reduces stress! Since it's a great stress reducer, I figured, taking a few minutes to read each day will be helpful. I even set set some goals, goals, they're small goals and short-term, but they don't need to be complicated. I've decided to read at least 5 books off of the bucket list as I have it before my son is born! 

My Bucket List

Book 1: Burn After Reading by Sharon Jones
Burn After Reading is a guided journal/workbook that I plan on going through when I'm done working on The Woman's Guide to Self-Love. Maybe my husband is right and I do have a little bit of a guided journal collection. I like being able to work on myself and get to know myself a bit better. 

Book 2: 1000+ Best Ways to Save Money Every Day: The Complete Book of Baby Bargains by Kimberly Danger 

Who doesn't like to save money? This book has tips for moms and expectant mom's on how to save money once the baby gets here.

Book 3: Montessori Today by Paula Polk Lillard

It's supposed to be a great introductory book for anyone who's interested in Montessori education. I would love to get a little bit of a crash course, before this baby's born. I'm hoping this book will actually be able to help me, at least a little bit. 

Book 4:Chaos & Flame by Tess Gratton & Justina Ireland

I'm not a fan of picking up books that have been best sellers within the same year they're released. I want to make an exception with this book. When I think about a book that's fantasy based and has warring factions, and romance, it fuel's me with excitement. 

Book 5: Buddhism for Bears by Claire Nielson & Chris Ridell

I'm not Buddhist, but I saw this book at a store many years ago, but forgot all about it, until after I wrote out my Bear Mindfulness, exercises. I can learn a bit about Buddhism, and enjoy the fact that the book has a bear in it.  

Book 6:  Frankenstein by Mary Shelly

I know the story of Frankenstein, but I never actually read the book. What I've learned from past experiences, spoilers and the Cliff Notes for a book are not actually reading the book. It's time that I actually read a classic. 

Book 7: Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry

  Gathering Blue, maybe a book for teens, but it is part of The Giver Quartet. With The Giver being one of my all-time favorite books, I found it only natural to want to pick up the other books in the series. 

Book 8: Scritch Scratch by Laura Currie

How about a story about a girl helping her dad with a ghost-themed Chicago bus tour?  That's what this spooky short book is about. Let's just say when I read that there was a review/blurb about the book from none other than R.L. Stine, saying that the book was a good read, I wanted to read it too. 

Book 9: Disney Manga: Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas--Mirror Moon by Mallory Reaves 

 This book combines The Nightmare Before Christmas with manga for a whole new story that I know nothing about. After reading Long Live the Pumpkin Queen, I want to read more about my favorite Disney couple from one of my all-time favorite movies!

Book 10: The Wind and The Willows by Kenneth Grahame 

Another classical book I haven't actually read that  I would love to read. I only know the basics about Toad, Rat and Badger. I know this book is meant for beginner readers, but nonetheless, I still have yet to read it and know I probably should.

I know, I'll end up writing a list with 10 more books that I want to read before I die, after reading these books. I'll probably have a reading bucket list a mile long when I'm through! That's okay, finding new books to read is just part of the adventure. For those of you who have a book bucket list, what books are on yours? If you don't have one are there books that you would like to read before you die?

Get Your Dose of Amish Living, with The Amish Potato

Here I am with another personal post, one where you get to see what goes on in my mind and what I’m watching just for fun. Today, I bring you The Amish Potato. I know the name makes you hungry, but it has nothing to do with potatoes as I once thought, at least I don’t think it does anyway.

I wouldn’t have come across The Amish Potato if not for my nightly Anthony Padilla and Peter Santenello video watching, in combination with a curiosity for the Amish way of life, along with other ways of life. Because I’ve learned, you can’t learn about the way someone lives from an outsider.

A Bit About the Potato Himself and his content

The Amish Potato is a video series produced by CJ, a man who left the Amish church and grew up in Shipshewana, Indiana, not far from where I grew up and still live now. CJ goes into detail a little bit about what the Amish way of life is, even if the topic makes him feel uneasy (i.e. like women’s hygiene). He even talks a little bit about his life now, being a father and a husband. It’s a little bit of everything when it comes to CJ.

Why I’ve been watching the videos

Other than the obvious nightly binges and learning about different ways of life. I learned that all Amish communities are different, and run a different way. But since the community he was from was almost as local as I could get. 

The funny thing is, I was watching his “Found It! Where Amish Buy Their Kid's Wooden Toys”, and can’t help but remember my grandparents especially my grandma taking me to Yoder’s. It was a place my grandparents took me to whenever they were in the area. I can almost remember the smell of the place. So maybe some of his videos are for some weird nostalgic value and a way to remember my grandparents.

  

Obviously, I know most people won’t get the feeling of nostalgia as I did watching the video, but at least it gives people the insight of one of many Amish communities. CJ and his family seem like the chill kind of people that I could get along with. Sure there’s no fancy editing, and the videos are straight to the point, but it’s why I keep coming back. I encourage anyone who’s curious about the community to check it out. 

From Bump to Baby: How to Bond with Your Little One Before Birth

Bonding with your baby can start even before they’re born! It doesn’t matter how far along you are and you don’t need any fancy equipment, to bond with your baby. When your bonding with your baby, you reduce stress, promote fetal development, strengthen your bond with your baby, and even boost your confidence as a parent!

Are you talking to your belly, touching your belly to let your baby know you’re around or are you thinking about the future between you and your unborn? If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, surprise! You’re already bonding! But it doesn’t have to stop there, there are other ways you can bond with your baby it’s amazing, isn’t it?

Why You Should Be Bonding

Before I talk about things you can do to bond during your pregnancy I need to get some of the important stuff out of the way. You know the reasons why one should bond. Because the reasons why one should be bonding is very important.

Cortisol and oxytocin are the feel-good, love hormones that reduce stress. Reducing stress is good for both mother and baby. You know how to release those hormones right? Your baby can sense your emotions and knows when you’re happy or sad, and chances are if you’re happier, they’ll feel more secure. And feeling secure in the womb will also make the baby feel secure outside o the womb.

You know that cliché phrase about falling in love with your unborn before you met them? Bonding also gives the phrase a whole new meaning. You know you’re already attached by means of a cord, but you’re also attached by the interactions you’ve had together, even before they’re born.

Ways you can bond with your baby

If you want to bond and you can't think of anyways, these are just a few of the suggestions, there are more ways but these are some of the ways that can help you bond with your baby. 

Talking to them: Just because they can’t carry on a conversation, you can talk to your baby. You can talk about your hopes and dreams for them, what you’re doing at the moment, or whatever it may be. I often talk to my son when I’m at the store, explaining what I’m buying and I explain what I’m eating before I eat it. Kind of my way of letting him know how things are.

 
Singing and playing music: When you’re listening to music, it does many things such as relaxing mom, especially if the music is that feel-good kind music that makes you feel good. If you want to sing, it’s fine to sing to them as well, they don’t care if you can’t sing well, all you have to do is sing.

Reading to your baby: It’s never too early to start reading. Reading short engaging stories in a calm tone to your unborn baby.

Massaging your belly: If you want to relax, reduce stress, and stimulate circulation. You relax, and can even connect with your baby through touch.
Do all of the above including your partner in the process: Your partner can also bond with your baby before they're born.

Bonding with your baby costs nothing, and it’s a great way to relax yourself and connect with your unborn. Sing, read, talk, alone or with your partner. Way to go for wanting to bond with your baby! You can try one of my ideas or try your own, try to switch it up if you can. Unborn baby bonding is adorable and beautiful.

Make Pregnancy Fun with These 10 Funny Maternity Shirts

Being confident, and comfortable, while making yourself laugh is great especially when you're pregnant. We all have those days when we don't feel comfortable or confident, our old clothes don't fit and now we're not sure what to wear. That's why I like finding funny maternity shirts online, something that will make me laugh, and reduce the stress of pregnancy.   Laughter is the best medicine after all? Here are some of the funniest shirts I found online.

Why am I not glowing?

Walmart: $18.99

Prangry

Dicara Design @ Esty: $29.94

Coming Soon...Dinosaur

Nerdy Shirts: $17.99

$5 to touch $10 if the baby kicks

StokykoTs @ Etsy: $25

Don't Eat Watermelon Seeds

Tee Garb: $25.95

The Baby Made Me Eat It

Crazy Dog: $18.99

Keep Calm and Waddle on

Cafepress: $45.99

Fragile: Handle with Care

Yummy Tees@Etsy: $24.94

If you didn't put it there don't touch it

Crazy Dog: $19.99

No I did not steal a bowling ball

Cafepress: $45.99

Why wear a funny maternity shirt?

With the boost of confidence and some positivity, that flows through you and your little human's veins there are still some other reasons why one might want to wear a funny maternity shirt. Making others around you laugh while pregnant, creates memories, memories that can cause you to bond with others. It's not just others that the shirt will help you bond with, but your baby who can feel your happiness! That's even better! Isn't it? 

Humor during pregnancy is great, even if you're not wearing a shirt. But if you're looking to buy a gift for someone close to you that's pregnant or to buy one for yourself. There are many ideas online. I only got you started. 

Transforming Negative Thoughts into Positive Ones: How Gratitude Can Help You Overcome Challenges

I'm trying to think of a life without negative thoughts. They seem to be everywhere, and sometimes they feel suffocating sometimes don't they? Come to think of it what good have negative thoughts done for us? All I can think about is how it makes us feel unfulfilled, and unhappy, causing stress, anxiety, and self-doubt. That's why gratitude is important, this negativity needs to go! I want to kiss it goodbye. Don't you?

Trying to Understand Negative Thoughts

When I think of my wall of negative thoughts I hear Anita from Disney's 101 Dalmations say, "A 101? My, where did they all come from?" Because that's how it feels sometimes. I know they can come from anywhere, like past experiences and low-self esteem, and they can be the silliest negative thoughts. 

Are you having negative thoughts? Some of the most common are self-doubt and self-criticism, negative expectations, catastrophizing, and overthinking. I'll be honest I checked all of the types of negative thoughts. Its great one recognizes their negative thoughts and recognizes that it can have harmful effects on our mental health and personal growth!  

The Power of Gratitude 

It's time to flip our negative thoughts upside down and harness the power of gratitude. It's not a magical power apparently, and it's easy to do. All you have to do is appreciate the good things in life. Once one appreciates the good things, stress goes down, our relationships get stronger and we're not as as anxious as we once were. Imagining the ice block of negativity melting away in my mind gives me room to decorate or something shouldn't it?  

Transforming Negative Thoughts with Gratitude

You, there is a way to transform all of your negative thoughts into beautiful thoughts with gratitude right? There's always a silver lining when stuff goes bad. Cliche? Perhaps a little, but cliche with a dash of happiness is good! 

One way one can transform negative thoughts into gratitude is by journaling. Take a few minutes at the end of your day to talk about things that you are grateful for that have happened during the day. It doesn't even have to be anything major, a roof over your head and food in your stomach are things to be grateful for. Journaling helps us focus on what really matters in life. 

Another magical trick I've heard about is affirmations and positive messages to ourselves. If there's a negative thought that you can flip and turn into a positive message, repeat the positive message to yourself when you have the old negative thought. I saw a list on Live and Bloom that gives a few examples of common negative messages and ways to replace them, which I may read and use a few of their examples when my negative thoughts come to play in my mind. 

Remember that you're not the only one going through negative thoughts, and building positive relationships with others around you can both make you feel grateful and others feel grateful as well. Gratitude is contagious! It's one of those things that's okay to pass on to others! 

Conclusion

It's time for to start this bit of contagious goodness, we all have the power inside of us. Sometimes it does take a little bit of journaling, some positive words, or even the power of friendship. Even if it takes work, our negative thoughts will eventually evaporate, leaving us happy, and making our life seem more fulfilling!