Sass and Sippy Cups

Hi, friends! I know it’s been a while since my last post. I’ve decided that maybe it’s best not to make promises regarding content or frequency of posts. The reason why is super personal, but I feel like I need to share. Hopefully my experience will resonate with someone and we can start a conversation. I’ve mentioned before that I suffer from severe anxiety, and have since I was a kid.   More recently, however, I have experienced symptoms that are making me believe there may be more to it.   Mental health issues run in my family, and I have grown up with my dad suffering from severe depression with suicidal tendencies.   People I’ve known that have suffered from depression have all fit the same stereotypical profile: intensely sad over things that may seem insignificant to everyone else; can’t get out of bed to take care of their basic needs; and even having suicidal thoughts, feeling as though their loved ones would be better off without them.   I never thoug...

That's right, the author of some of our favorite childhood stories would have been 102 years old today! So in honor of his birthday, I'll share some parenting motivation from the always loved and ever-wise Willy Wonka.  Yes, work is important. Of course motherhood is hard (my kid chews wires and tried to play with her own turds in the tub the other day, for Christ's sake)! But when you're at your most exhausted and at the end of your rope, you need to remember: embrace the chaos and enjoy the silly . In the end, the nonsense and the memories that come from it are what make this whole mommy thing worthwhile (and at the very least will provide you with some future blackmail material!)

We all have that song (or 50) that get us up and moving, not necessarily physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. I mentioned in my post last week that I took a mental health break for about a month. I have a tough time mentally and emotionally in the summer, especially with all the heat and humidity. To pull myself out of that funk, I made myself a playlist on Spotify with songs that make me feel like it’s time to just GET SHIT DONE. That playlist in its entirety is below, but here are my top 10 songs that make me feel motivated and like I can do anything, if at least for half an hour. 1.        The Champion- Carrie Underwood feat. Ludacris 2.        Good to be Alive (Hallelujah)- Andy Grammer 3.        Run the World (Girls)- Beyonce 4.        Just Fine- Mary J. Blige 5.        Titanium- David Guetta feat. Sia...

We live in a society that measures our worth in numbers- our GPA, our salary, the number on the scale. We are constantly told these things are necessary for a successful life.  However, the late former First Lady Barbara Bush said it best: So be there for your partner: they need you more than you need that promotion. Spend time with your little ones: they won't be that way forever. Catch up with your friends: they've always had your back. At the end of the day, it's not the numbers that count. It's the memories we make with our loved ones that make life worth living.

Are you prone to anxiety and worry? I’ve suffered from anxiety since elementary school. Back then it usually stemmed from bullying by my peers and a desire to do well in school.   As I got older, it became much worse with the passing of loved ones, my father’s declining health, and my mother’s breast cancer diagnosis. I went through every day with a never ending list of “what-ifs” running through my head.   As every situation passed, I remained vigilant, thinking that if I allowed myself to calm down or even –GASP-- be happy, something bad would come along and ruin it.  I Can’t Control the Weather, Can You? I’ve come to realize that the majority of the things that made me anxious and -sometimes still do- stem from other people and THEIR circumstances.   Things like my husband’s job, my parents’ health, and how my actions might affect others.   While it’s obviously not a bad thing to be considerate, I tend to go a little overboard, many times neglec...

Bird in a Tree Change is difficult for us as humans.   We hate it.   We resist it.   We avoid it like the plague. Most change sucks, and I call bullshit on anyone who tries to tell you otherwise.   Now, not ALL change is bad.   When we CHOOSE to make a change to better ourselves or our situation, we feel great!   But many times unforeseen events (a bad breakup, being laid off, loss of a loved one, financial struggles, etc.) can force our hands. These circumstances can lead to negative thoughts and insecurities. Insecurities plague EVERYONE, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, orientation, or physical appearance.   Whether it be at work or in their personal life, everyone has their moments when they feel like absolute crap about themselves. Everyone has a little voice in their head that repeats something they once heard from a former boss, coworker, friend, ex, or classmate that made them question themselves.   That voice say...