During this quarantine business, lives are shifting and changing. Undoubtedly, you’re feeling a ripple effect of some kind. So, I felt like taking the time to work on at least one aspect you can control may be helpful.
The guest today, Kay Birkner, discusses how a few minor tweaks can make all the difference in your style, wardrobe, and the way you are feeling??
Go ahead, give it a shot…
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Having a tiny human is hard, especially in the toddler stage. They have a massive amount of energy, and just enough independence to make you really nervous (stairs, anyone?) You have so many things to worry about and keep track of, sometimes your own clothes are pretty close to last on your priority list, along with sleep and me-time.
I get it. After your little bundle of joy was born, your body was suddenly different. You might weigh the same, you might even wear the same size, but things don’t fit like they used to. And you may feel like your pre-baby style just isn’t where you’re at in your life right now.
What if I told you there was a way to feel good about the way you look every day (okay, most days) even if you’re breastfeeding, constantly running around, and have less than five minutes to get dressed in the morning?
Step 1: Clear Your Closet
It might feel backward to start by getting rid of things, but I promise this is going to be really helpful. Right now, you have a closet full of clothes that were for your old life. If you want to build a stylish wardrobe for the (mess, amazing, beautiful) life you have right now, you need to get rid of the visual clutter of all the things you’re not wearing.
First, start by getting throwing out anything that is ripped, stained, smelly, or otherwise unsalvageable. If you would be embarrassed to loan it to a friend, get rid of it. Second, take everything you haven’t worn in the last six months and everything that doesn’t fit and either donate it or pack it up. If you’re recently post-partum, feel free to keep those things in an easily accessible place if you think you’ll want to wear them again, but NOT in your closet.
Okay, now you’re left with the things that fit and that you wear. Do these things make you feel good when you wear them? Do you feel confident, attractive, and stylish? If so, great! You have a place to start. If not, it’s time to go shopping.
Step 2: Start With a Capsule
A great place to start with a new or updated wardrobe is by building a capsule wardrobe. It’s definitely gained in popularity over the last few years, and there’s tons of inspiration out there. The basic idea is that you’re going to curate a small but highly flexible wardrobe. You’ll pick some key colors, a print or two that you like, and put together your capsule.
The benefits of the capsule are that it’s much easier to get dressed in the morning (even in the dark, even before coffee) and still look great because your colors and pieces pretty much all go together. It’s the ultimate mix-and-match. A capsule is also a good way to try out a color, style, or cut and determine if you love it as much as you think you will before you spend a lot on an investment piece or buy something in 4 different colors.
Toddlerhood is a time of transition for everyone – your littles, your family, and you personally. It’s completely fine, and in fact, probably a good idea, to fill your capsule with things that are what I call “mid-level” quality. They’re not going to fall apart after 3 washes, but they aren’t very expensive. Go ahead and buy most things from Target, Walmart, H&M, Ross, or some of the bargain Amazon items.
With the number of times you’re going to get spilled on, spit up on, and sit in the dirt to play, you want something that will hold up to washing and that you will be able to throw out and replace with minimal regrets when it gets in rough shape.
This part is really important and really easy to forget about when you’re shopping. Check the label for washing instructions! You have plenty of laundry to do, you don’t need to add a lot of “Dry clean only” or “reshape and lay flat to dry” or, heaven forbid, “hand wash only” to your life right now.
You’re looking for “machine wash with like colors” and “tumble dry” to make your life as easy as possible. The occasional “lay flat to dry” isn’t the worst, but in general, you want easy things that won’t wrinkle too much if you forget them in the dryer for a day or two. (Guilty!)
Step 4: Add an Accessory
One of the simplest ways to instantly elevate your outfit is with a well-chosen accessory. I have three necklaces and two scarves that I always reach for depending on what colors I’m wearing or the vibe I’m going for with my outfit.
Infinity scarves are an easy upgrade. I would highly recommend getting ones that are cotton or a nice knit, not the cheap polyester blend ones that a lot of big box stores have. They dry a lot more nicely if you have to wash them, and they’ll be more comfortable. There are even some that have a little zip pocket if you want to toss your keys, cash, and phone in there instead of in an extra bag!
The key to making necklaces work when you have real little kiddos is to put them on AFTER you leave the house. Whether you’re going to work, going out with friends, or just taking the kiddos to the grocery store, it can be a pain to have your little grabbing at your neck while you’re trying to put on shoes and coats and carry three bags and a toddler to the car. Instead, just stick your necklace in your pocket, or in your purse and put it on when you get in the car.
And that’s it! Four easy steps.
You don’t need to sacrifice form for function. Looking great can be low-maintenance and work for your life right now. There is no reason that you can’t easily look great every day if you do a little bit of planning around what you put in your closet. You give to others all day long, do this for yourself. You’ll show up more confident and you’ll show up happier, and you deserve that, mama.
Kay Birkner is a style coach who teaches busy moms how to style themselves so they can look and feel great easily every day. Visit her at www.kaybirkner.com
Please, remember to sign up to my email list so you never miss anything flawsome around here!
If you have a little in diapers but aren’t sure which brand may fit the best for their little tush, feel free to try a mixed selection with the Diaper Dabbler!
And grab your freebie on how to Get Lost in Your Child and really engage with them even on busy days. (I’m off to enjoy movie night with the kiddos and relax after a long week.)
Today’s post is one I am super excited about. Jessica approached me to help spread the word on her beautiful book. I can attest to the fact that it is amazing. Raising children has its challenges, but this has made a positive impact already. My son has been doing the daily pages with me every night, and then my middle daughter started to participate after the first couple of days, as well…
You do not want to miss what she has to say and offer:
Mom Elevated is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
Do you ever feel like your kids think that you are a magical being that spits out whatever they want?
I have felt that way! The day after Christmas, my kids were already making new lists of all the things they still wanted.
A year or so ago, I got tired of the constant “I want…I want…I want” and wanted to do something about it. It wasn’t my son’s fault; it was mine. I trained him, so I decided I would begin to retrain him. I wanted to teach his brain to see all the things he has, appreciate them, and to be content. I am not saying that it is wrong for our kids to want things, but when does it stop?
Can you relate?
At the same time, I noticed that he was beginning to view himself through the eyes of what others thought about him, his accomplishments, and his feelings (whether true or not). I have struggled my entire life with feel worthy and deserving. On the outside, no one would know, but if you were inside my head, you would know!
I regularly said things like,
“What do they think about me?”
“If I do or say this, then what will they say?”
“I can’t say that out loud, that would be humiliating!”
“If they knew how I felt, they wouldn’t love me.”
I was living a lie. I was inauthentic to who I was. I wasn’t sharing the real me. I was sharing the me that I knew you would approve of and like.
I began to see the same patterns in my son. I noticed him desiring to be perfect, act perfect, and say the perfect things; the “right” things. The things that I would approve of. The things that I would like. The things that would keep me liking/loving him. He asked me constantly if what he said, thought, or did was ok. Deep down, he was screaming to me the extremely familiar phrase of, “If I do this, say this, feel this, or think this will I still be loveable?”
It was the same reason I, for so much of my life, hid what was actually going on. I didn’t say anything that would rock the boat or make anyone upset. I was who they wanted me to be, not who I really was.
I could not let life continue on like this. I needed my son to know who he was, not based on what others thought of him, but based on what God said about him. It was only through me accepting my identity in Christ that I finally felt I could begin to be myself. I knew that all that mattered was what God thought about me. I was free to live. Free to be. Free to be me. I was loved, no matter what!!
I am not my mistakes or failures. I am a new creation in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 I am a child of God. 1 John 3:1 I am not a mess. I am a masterpiece. Ephesians 2:10
God accepts me. Romans 8:1
These two critical pieces led me to write The Gratitude Journal & Devotional for Kids. It is a simple journal designed for kids ages 6-16 to increase their appreciation, teach them biblical truths, and walk them through the power of prayer. Each day is new and different.
From doing the journal, instead of saying, “I want…” My son says, “Thank you for all I have!” He is beginning to understand that no matter what happens in the world, he is loved, cherished, and designed to be different. He is unique and special. He can be who he is, not who others want him to be. He has seen God answer his prayers and comfort him in ways that I am unable to.
It has given me insight into his world, his fears, his worries, and his joys.
It has changed our life!!
If you think a resource like this could help your children, your nieces, your nephews, your grandkids, your neighbor’s kids, your church, or your youth group get them 25% off at https://www.kidsgratitudejournals.com/25off
For a free trial email support@kidsgratitudejournals.com
Sincerely,
Jessica Lewis
Please, remember to sign up to my email list so you never miss anything flawsome around here!
If you have a little in diapers but aren’t sure which brand may fit the best for their little tush, feel free to try a mixed selection with the Diaper Dabbler!
And grab your freebie on how to Get Lost in Your Child and really engage with them even on busy days. (I’m off to enjoy movie night with the kiddos and relax after a long week.)
My guest today, Rosemary, brings a unique perspective on emotions with skills you may not be familiar with. SO much value, I am honored to share a platform for her to spread her message and help parents through her knowledge.
Take it allllllll in…
Motherhood is totally a wild ride of ups and downs and our emotions are a HUGE factor in that. In this post, we’re going to dive into the intense emotions of motherhood we rarely talk about. We will discuss why they are of the utmost importance and what to do when they show up.
Let’s start off by just naming these emotions. There are 5 main emotions of motherhood we typically don’t like and they are: ANGER, FEAR, DEEP SADNESS, ISOLATION, and SHAME. All of these emotions have the likelihood of cycling together and/or being layered on top of one another. Many of us have even experienced all of them AT THE SAME TIME. These emotions are incredibly common, but the tools for how to deal with them… not so common. I am here to help with that!!
THE TRUTH ABOUT EMOTIONS:
When we experience emotions we don’t like, it’s uncomfortable, and it feels like they are a problem we need to solve. Truthfully, our emotions only become a problem when we believe they make up WHO WE ARE. Really, our emotions are just messages. Messages that reveal to us our WANTS and our NEEDS. Some of those wants and needs are so deep and so powerful that the message can feel like it IS us.
If we believe our emotions define us, that means WE are the problem – yikes! Since PEOPLE can’t be problems we’re left trying to solve a problem THAT DOESN’T EXIST. When that happens, the real problem sits there unsolved and festering. It’s an unfortunate cycle that keeps us from moving forward.
I want you to know, mama, that you never were and never are the problem. As stated above people cannot BE problems they can only HAVE problems, and yes, there is a big difference.
Mom Elevated is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
EMOTIONS ARE JUST MESSAGES??
Yes! Emotions are just messages – fantastic, powerful, intelligent messages about what we NEED and WANT. Reading these messages is the key to a satisfying life. A life where you function connected to your INNER GUIDANCE.
What we generally do with an emotion we DON’T LIKE is we try and stuff it down, avoid it, do whatever we can to get it to GO AWAY! But emotions are the most important messages you ever get because they are from your deepest self (your INNER GREATNESS)! And it is SO important for you to ACCEPT and DECODE your messages so you can get your deepest needs met, hold boundaries with ease, and enjoy a deeply satisfying life!
THE TOOLS:
Now we get to the really juicy part – the tools to help you accomplish this accepting and decoding of the emotions in YOUR life!
LANGUAGE OF LISTENING® is the life and parent coaching model I follow and teach. It is amazing for one, because of how SIMPLE its tools are and how EFFECTIVE the results are! Today I’ll teach you a little about the foundational LANGUAGE OF LISTENING® tool called: SAY WHAT YOU SEE® to help you achieve that first and VERY important step of acceptance. Acceptance doesn’t mean staying in an emotion you don’t like, or being OK with it. It’s about acknowledging reality and getting grounded so you don’t get stuck.
To use this tool, whenever you have an emotion you don’t like, speak to yourself in the second person (“you”) and reflect back to yourself how you are feeling without any additions or any judgment. You note 1) How you feel and 2) What you want.
Like this: “Oooooo! You are just SO MAD right now! It drives you crazy when he does that! You just want to scream!”
Last year after tests for not 1 but 2 types of cancer I was super-fearful! I would wake up in the middle of the night gasping for air, panicking, with a pounding heart. After seeing a therapist 3 times with no respite I took things into my own hands and used LANGUAGE OF LISTENING®. I just said to myself: “You’re really scared right now. You don’t want to die!” A weight lifted off me once I acknowledged how I felt. That opened me up to see the positive side – “You don’t want to die – that’s so perfect! It would feel terrible if you wanted to die! Of course, you want to keep on being here for your girls!” A little more of that and my heart rate went down and I fell peacefully back to sleep!
The second tool, DECODING is important too!
To work on decoding your emotion, sit with that feeling and ask: What need are you trying to help me meet–experience, connection, or power? What exactly are you trying to gain for me?
Once you’ve uncovered the need it’s trying to meet, decide whether or not you like the way you are trying to meet it. (We often have needs from our childhood our heart is still trying to get met for us. Some of our thought and behavior patterns are no longer helpful so letting them go is an important point for growth). Once you recognize the need and the pattern you don’t like, you can start to look for ways to lovingly meet that need in ways you LIKE, ways that won’t keep sending these emotions you aren’t happy about.
Another personal example:
I always felt a certain amount of shame when my house was messy and this yucky feeling would bubble up to force me into cleaning. Finally, I asked myself what those feelings were trying to gain for me. It all came tumbling out – my heart was trying to protect me from my mother’s unkind judgments about my tidiness (or lack-there-of, in her mind) and gain her approval to meet my need for connection. It meant I was never cleaning for me, but only for her, and I did not like that pressure! Once I let my heart know that I no longer needed to be protected from my mother’s judgment and could meet my need for connection in other ways, I was able to fully embrace my love of a tidy space! Now when I clean it’s all for me! Cleaning is so much more enjoyable, and I can show up in my life on my terms, the way I want to.
There you have it, mamas!
Your intense emotions are normal and highly valuable!! They are messages aimed at helping you connect with your deepest needs and wants. No more pushing them away, you can now decode those messages and live connected to your INNER GREATNESS, showing up for your family in ways you LOVE!
Rose Clark is an authorized LANGUAGE OF LISTENING® Life and Parenting Coach who teaches parents skills to find healing through parenting their children and/or reparenting themselves. She specializes in connecting people with the messages of their emotions so they can hold boundaries with ease and show up for their families in ways they LOVE! You can follow her on Instagram @after_aces and join her Empowered Parents Facebook group here: https://facebook.com/groups/1732344856909528
Please, remember to sign up for my email list so you never miss anything flawsome around here!
And grab your freebie on how to Get Lost in Your Child and really engage with them even on busy days (I’m off to get ready for my middle baby’s 5th birthday party.) If you’d like to work with me, find out how! To see your words in my blog, contact me today for a guest spot!
If you have a little in diapers but aren’t sure which brand may fit the best for their little tush, feel free to try a mixed selection with the Diaper Dabbler!
I’ve been going through the motions of what others have said is a good path for me. Plugging away, creating the content, and feeling fine.
But something felt off.
I was finding success, providing value, but there seemed to be a piece missing.
Then, all the negative thoughts, naysayers, and other Debbie Downer bits showed up.
I began this journey with a specific goal in mind, and I am so close I can taste it. But do I just keep plugging away, head down, or do I raise my head and listen to my heart?
It’s always good to continue pushing your boundaries and stepping out of your comfort zone, right?
We are always learning and growing (I know I am), and part of that is allowing yourself to “dabble” while you discover what it is you enjoy and where you’re the most successful and fulfilled.
For me, that means sticking with my mom-side and helping others step into that confidence in YOUR best version of parenting.
Mom Elevated is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
We are all different, and we should celebrate that not condemn each other for it. I have mommy friends who excel in cleaning and organizing, some who are calm and collected, some who love so deeply and wrap their children in immense understanding… the list goes on.
And while we excel in some areas, we also lean on each other for support in other aspects.
That’s what makes us strong. We don’t judge another part of the group simply because we don’t parent the same or keep our homes the same.
The important part is that we have someone to lean on, commiserate with, and call on when needed.
And we will show up.
We may be teaching our littles, but we are learning all the same along the journey. Our best parenting will not match up exactly, but we can borrow ideas and suggestions and incorporate them as we see fit.
What have you learned from others and added to your arsenal of parenting skills?
I have always loved kids. Whether that means cooking with them, raising them, watching them, redirecting, or seeing what buttons they’ll push that day, I love them. My own or otherwise.
And I think a large part of the puzzle is confidence.
Confidence in:
— your parenting ability — your choices — knowing that mistakes don’t make you a bad parent — that your journey will be unique to you — your best may be someone else’s mediocre some days
All of those will likely waver, but knowing in your heart of hearts that what you’re doing for your kiddos is what you’ve got in you is important.
We have become a very independent, bottle-it-up society… which is great until it isn’t.
It’s okay not to know every little detail of being a parent. Some of it is learning as you go and trusting your gut.
I’m here to give you a boost, teach you some tips and tricks, and help you gain (and keep!) that confidence as you go through each trial and tribulation parenting offers on the daily.
Join me in my new FB group for updates, support, conversations, advice, sharing, and building up with the release of something exciting coming in a week!
Please, remember to sign up for my email list so you never miss anything flawsome around here! And grab your freebie on how to Get Lost in Your Child and really engage with them even on busy days (I’m off to go to a concert with the hubby while the kids have a sleepover with the grandparents.) If you’d like to work with me, find out how! To see your words in my blog, contact me today for a guest spot!
If you have a little in diapers but aren’t sure which brand may fit the best for their little tush, feel free to try a mixed selection with the Diaper Dabbler!
New perspectives captivate me. My new guest provides that. Asmini discusses overcoming a taboo part of life to find her strength and joy.
Mom Elevated is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
You do not want to miss this…
The emotional warmth of the Autumn season has truly filled the corners of my home and the energy of my family is at an all-time high as it’s finally cooling down a bit here in North Texas. The Festival of Lights, or otherwise known as Diwali and the Indian New Year are approaching very quickly.
Growing up in America, celebrating Indian traditions and holidays are among my most cherished memories. It was a time I spent eating homemade specialty foods surrounded by family, love, and laughter. At this time, Indian families around the world welcome the Goddess of wealth and prosperity to light up their path and remove the darkness around them.
Lighting decorative candles and embracing artistic expression are definitely a must right now!
Even still, my mother and grandmother spend many hours creating a renewed atmosphere by refreshing the home and the family temple as well as making delicious homemade Indian treats. I was born in Oklahoma and raised in Texas and have always been a proud Texan, but I am so very proud of my heritage, the Indian culture itself is beautiful, distinct and unique, and is built by men and women of great tenacity, influencing philosophy not only across Southeast Asia but also the world. I look ahead and think about raising my son and creating similar experiences for him and combining them with my very American spirit.
I realize as mothers, we often become so consumed, at times, by what we want them to experience rather than enjoying the moment and letting it become an entirely new version of the tradition for us and for our children while still honoring our own childhood memories.
I encourage myself and all of you to stop and remember as this special season approaches, to be mindful of the fact that all we have is this moment and to allow that to be our joy.
As a single mother of one, this time of year is all about creating new versions of normal. It has been a relatively short amount of time since my ex-husband and I separated, about 2 years, but already feels much longer in some ways. As the saying goes with children, the days are long but the years are short.
Fortunately, we have built a steady co-parenting relationship and it seems to be working well at the moment. It has been so crucial for me to nurture a routine of self-love as I put my opinions and the opinions of others aside and objectively parent in the best interest of my son and in the process, own who I am and own my story. Each day, my son gives me the continued strength I need to be the best version of myself.
In the Indian community that I was raised in, the term, Single Indian Mother, is almost an oxymoron phrase. Living alone, working, being happy, having fun and raising a child with their father, who is no longer the mother’s romantic companion is very taboo and reflects an unacceptable lifestyle in many Indian communities even in modern-day American. A single mother does not mean the obvious, it does not mean raising your child alone forever, it is not a life sentence of unhappiness and failure.
Fortunately, strong, like-minded women continue to rise to the occasion, owning their stories, and making a difference for themselves and their children.
While single parenthood may not be a planned action for most, I look at it as a gift of sorts. No matter what the reason for separation, each woman has the right to her own happiness. Where she is not happy, she does not thrive and as a result, her children may not thrive, and societies may not reach their potential. I am proud to say that I am among the brave who stepped out and created a new paradigm not only for my mental stability, sanity, and peace but for my son’s as well. It was the single most difficult decision I have had to make, and the fear of change, failure, loneliness, or judgment, were just a few of the disrupting emotions that took over my entire being for a short while.
Nonetheless, one day at a time, those emotions left the party, and others joined. Feelings of being brave, vulnerable, strong and acknowledging a sense of accomplishment with the tiniest victories, started to fill the air especially as I intentional made changes to my lifestyle, the people that I surrounded myself with, and the boundaries that I created. It is important to note, that the negative emotions cannot be suppressed, they have to be assessed, accepted, loved so that they can be released! There is no greater happiness than what is felt after you have overcome great difficulties or hardships.
My purpose is to raise awareness to the strength of the women that chose to create a new normal, to fight for their families, to own their lives and empower those very same women to be the best version of themselves and in turn raise amazingly resilient, happy children.
I am a believer of faith and destiny, in that, all things have a reason and if it didn’t break you, it will make you stronger.
Sometimes, I say, jokingly, “I think I’m good, I don’t need the additional strength!” Surprisingly, we don’t have a choice! All jokes aside, the power is already in you, to become a mom elevated! I am very fortunate to be here with you as a guest blogger, thank you for continuing to inspire me and so many other mothers every day.
Take back your life! You only have one.
Signing off and sending you vibes of peace and love.
Asmini
In her blog, Asmini shares about herself and lifestyle as a single mother co-parenting with her son’s father, while working full-time as a Healthcare Professional. She has made it her mission to inspire mothers to revive their inner Goddess and take back their life by anticipating life’s disruptions and learning to work with them rather them against them, by investing in herself: body, mind, and spirit, there is nothing she cannot accomplish.
Please, remember to sign up for my email list so you never miss anything flawsome around here! And grab your freebie on how to Get Lost in Your Child and really engage with them even on busy days (I’m off to enjoy a movie night and 3-day weekend with the family.) If you’d like to work with me, find out how! To see your words in my blog, contact me today for a guest spot!
If you have a little in diapers but aren’t sure which brand may fit the best for their little tush, feel free to try a mixed selection with the Diaper Dabbler!
Rose Clark is an authorized LANGUAGE OF LISTENING® Life and Parenting Coach who teaches parents skills to find healing through parenting their children and/or reparenting themselves. She specializes in connecting people with the messages of their emotions so they can hold boundaries with ease and show up for their families in ways they LOVE! You can follow her on Instagram 
