Ages & Stages

I am currently studying to become Personal Trainer certified with the National Academy of Sports Medicine, but before I started studying recently, my weight loss and fitness journey started way before. Late 2014 is when I decided I just could not be the size I was anymore. Everyone always asks me what made me decide to lose weight. I was working three jobs and was rushing out the door one morning. I went to put on my shoes and could not breathe when I leaned over to tie my shoes. As crazy as it sounds, that is how it happened for me. I could not live like that anymore. I started at 230 pounds, and currently am at 141 pounds at...

Disclosure :: This post is sponsored by Baton Rouge General.  Dry Drowning: What to Look For in Children School’s out, pool’s in! But, with this time of year comes that nagging concern about water safety. You may start to see viral stories resurface on social media or news outlets reportcases of “dry drowning,” triggering fear among parents that one accidental gulp at the pool could be fatal days later. It’s a parent’s worst nightmare, and one that’s easily relatable. How many times has one of your kids taken in some water while swimming? It’s pretty common! Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional death in children ages 1-4 and ages 10-14 years. While most infant drownings occur in bathtubs, most childhood...

Being a momma of four isn't always easy. I have had to learn how to diffuse lots of different situations in my house. One of the biggest issues in our house is sibling fights/arguments. If you are a mom of multiples, you know what I'm talking about. "Moooommmmmmmm, he is looking at me! Mommmmmmmmmmm, he has my toy! Mommmmmmmm, she is in my room!" If you don't hear these things constantly, please teach me your ways! So, over the last four and a half years, I have had some time to get creative. When things start getting heated in our house, there a few things that I do to help distract everyone, and maybe even get them to do...

I’m happy to shout to the rooftops that I don’t have a picky eater (so far). It’s convenient to not make a separate “kid’s meal” at home. It’s better for my grocery budget to not have to buy so many different things. It’s easier to eat out when we can split an entrée. She is more willing to try new things when we go to a restaurant or someone’s house to eat. This is what works for us. I had to do a great deal of trial and error to get here. Feel free to take, tweak, and reject any of the following. The worst thing you can do is not try! The “stranger” the main dish is, the more...

Dear Tiny Yogurt Handprint, This is the 5th morning you and I meet like this at my dresser drawer. It makes me chuckle, because there was once a time when the first sight of you would have sent me dashing for the Pledge. It’s been days though, and I still haven’t touched you. Boy, has motherhood changed me. Initially, I chalked it up to the fact that I haven't stopped running around chasing after your artist long enough to get rid of you. However, even when I found the time, I stopped myself. I now realize that I'm pretty fond of you, and I think I've become attached. More than that, I imagine the day you stop popping up on every...