Red Stick Mom

As an overall eternally optimistic, enneagram 7, focusing on the negative parts of life is not my favorite. And by not my favorite, I mean that it’s something I avoid when at all possible. But with the in-your-face challenges happening now and over the past year, even my best efforts of silver lining obsession have fallen short. Instead, I have at times found myself overly immersed in what’s going on in our nation and have been one to guzzle social media like cold water after a long run, or wait, maybe a margarita after a hard day. The other day I realized that I hadn’t even had any coffee before diving into the world of Instagram and Facebook, taking...

It shouldn’t have surprised me when we slowly started facing more bedtime battles with my now 3-year-old. For literally years after sleep training, we had zero sleep struggles. When we transitioned to her big girl bed, she even refused to get out of it on her own for a while. She would wake and call for us to come get her. I guess you could say we were pretty spoiled in the sleep department. 12-hour nights, 2-hour naps (minimum)…yes, we were spoiled. The fact that I’m a baby and toddler sleep consultant is almost irrelevant here. I know what needs to be done and what is to be expected at every stage from 0 to 4 years old, but it’s...

The COVID-19 vaccine is definitely a hot-topic and one that can often lead to debate. Vaccines in general can lead to heated discussions.  I’m not here for the debate. I am here to share my thoughts and reasoning.  Spoiler Alert: I got the vaccine. Should I or Shouldn’t I? I was so on the fence about the vaccine.  There were unknowns; there was my/our desire to grow our family in the next year. There was fear and doubt and worry. There was also a desire to get back to the life we enjoyed before.  I desperately miss traveling and vacations. I hate that my family is missing my baby growing up and going from baby to toddler. I really, really miss...

Disclosure:: This post is sponsored by Ochsner Baton Rouge.  What is Preeclampsia and How Is It Treated? Preeclampsia is a condition that occurs during pregnancies and occasionally continues postpartum. It is a rapidly progressive condition, seen in 5%-8% of all pregnancies, and it is characterized by high blood pressure. It is usually diagnosed after 20 weeks of pregnancy in women whose blood pressure levels have previously been normal. Advanced symptoms of preeclampsia can include headaches, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, confusion, blurred vision, and signs of damage to the kidneys or liver. Preeclampsia can also affect the blood flow to the placenta, which can affect how your baby receives oxygen and food. This can cause your baby to have a lower birth...

March 2020 marked one year since I’d started a long and arduous weight loss journey. It’s never been about being skinny so much as feeling good and showing a healthy example for my kids. I’d lost 30 pounds between March and September and maintained that loss through holidays and vacations thereafter. There's No Trick There was no magic pill or colorful drink. There was no special diet where I could only eat four foods at any given time. There was no subscription service or MLM. I researched and read and got help from a nutritionist and at the end of the day it was simple – calories in versus calories out. Tracking, weighing portions, balanced diet. That’s what it all boils...