Glitter jars

SOMEONE.. Not saying any names (ahem, Noodle & Haybug) need to learn how to calm the heck down, and learn to take a time out for themselves before heading to meltdown central. Since those aren't exactly easy feelings for a three and five year old to suppress, tonight, as part of my self care I ran off to one of my favorite places ever. Michael's craft store. I picked up materials to make 'calm down' jars after seeing it on Joyfulabode.com. We all made one, besides Moo pants of course, and this is how they turned out 

Hopefully they don't end up shattered on the floor somewhere and the boys can stick to the 'at the table' request I put out. Doubtful, but it was fun! Mine is of course, filled with little heart confetti. So every time I shake it and need a moment, I can remind myself that I need to reset back to a loving place <3

The beard

My fiancé has been officially out of the military for a little over a month now.  His first matter of freedom, was to grow a beard.  Now....when I first tried picturing this, I was thinking along the lines of ZZ Top, and I was NOT okay with that. But as it started coming in, I was realizing how ridiculously hot it was, and how great it looked on him. I was falling in love all over again!!! 

Okay okay.. I'll stop. But today, when he asked if he should shave... I wasn't exactly in the right mindset, because I might have hinted around to a 'yes,' which resulted in a sad, clean shaven guy emerging from the bathroom, and a very confused 3 year old. Poor Noodle kept saying he didn't want him like that, and I guess he wanted him to put his beard back on. But after all is said and done, I'm quite enjoying the smooth face for a few days, before it starts growing back. Him... Not so much! Poor guy haha!

For my sanity

I figured out how to stay sane with kids. It took me almost four years to figure it out, but I finally did. Wanna know? Self care. I don't mean just taking care of yourself when you are sick, or feeling mentally low. We're talking preventative here. I put every single bit of myself into my children for 4 years. I barely did my hair, stopped painting my nails, didn't bother hanging out with friends, didn't want to work on my relationship with my husband, and gave myself a great deal of anxiety thinking about every single movement my children were making. Wondering if they were acting 'off' because they were sick, or what I was going to teach them the next day, or what shapes I was going to cut their snacks into. I lost it so many times. After I think our twelfth move in three years, I had gotten so depressed from isolating myself, not sleeping and non stop thinking about children 24/7. I read books, tried to work on my relationship with my husband (which I was already done with) and started taking a stand for myself when I knew I couldn't count on him to give me a rest. I looked at him one day, and told him I was going out without the kids. He fought me, and made me feel guilty for asking for time for myself, but I tuned him out, kissed my boys goodbye and went to my sister's house for a BBQ her and her fiancé were having for 4th of July. From that day on, I had found a new sense of self love, happiness and desire for something more than just the two little boys at home. I loved them more than anything, but I needed some time away from my 'job.' I started feeling more and more like myself, and actually found happiness once again. Now, a year and a half later, I still find time for self care. Even with a new baby, I paint my nails when I can, start a craft, leave the house for a coffee and to go grocery shopping a lone, started up yoga, go to Mom's night out with friends and take a hot bath at the end of the night. And I don't mean all of these things once a month. I actually get a lot of self care time. I happen to now be with someone who respects my need for that, and doesn't make a single negative comment about it. In fact, sometimes he even goes as far as suggesting it. It may seem selfish to some people, but I need it and he knows that..and that makes me feel loved, and it's how I stay sane. Or at least as sane as I will get.