Alive

Yesterday, I had an amazing opportunity. I got to be the real me - truly authentic. I laughed, I told jokes, and I shared and listened to other life experiences. You know what I did?

I had the opportunity to speak and inspire - and it was amazing.

I talked to some women who had careers and were also moms and wives. I discussed some of the things I have discovered that made life easier to "balance" for me as a new mom with a full time job. Some of those things included meal planning, exercise, budgeting and finding a way to make time when there doesn't seem to be any left. I was excited as to how receptive these women were; and how the things that have become second nature to me were new approaches to them.

These ladies also gave me something; I wasn't the only one talking. One single mom shared how she taught her kids the importance of money at a very young age. Another woman shared her love for Zumba and got a few of the other ladies in the class interested. The discussion and thoughts spread like wildfire as we laughed and learned.

You know when something feels "just right?" It's as if you found something that sets you on fire and makes you grin ear to ear? I believe I have found it. The feeling as I left that conference was unbelievable. It was such a give and take experience and truly amazing.

I felt - ALIVE.

It's out there. Follow your heart and be who you were meant to be. The rest will follow! At least, that is what I believe. :)

When Things Don't Go as Planned....

I have always been a planner. I don't know why or how I was built this way. I have to have things a particular way at a particular time, or it really irritates me. I can't "go with the flow" or "accept things as they come." I never have been able to.

Trust me, I have tried to change my viewpoint on this! I've been given advice such as "just be" or "go with the flow" more times than I can count. As moms, I think a lot of us have a hard time when schedules are shifted or plans change unexpectedly because of the logistics required to get our families back on track. We feel like we are constantly swimming in a sea of deadlines and expectations with no one to bring us to shore.

If you are the same way, don't let anyone tell you that you are wrong or that you need to change your viewpoint. It's all really about how you handle the situation when it occurs. It is okay to be upset or bothered by something, but the key is what you learn from it. If I am running late all of the time, maybe I need to take more time to prepare the night before. If I find myself constantly wondering what is for dinner, maybe I need to jot down a recipe and ingredients required once a day until I have next week's list.

There's nothing wrong about being particular with what you want and how you want it. Personally, I think structure is a good thing. It is all about how you handle the fallout. Do you give up or do you learn from it? That is the key question.

Realizing Happiness

I would like to ask you - what defines happiness for YOU?

I used to think that if I had the right job, the right salary, or the right status that I would be happy. I feel like I have gone as far as I can in the career field I am in. I have made more money than I ever imagined, but it doesn't fill that void of where my dreams are. I have hung with the "in" crowd, but never felt any more special than I already felt (and quite honestly, I even felt a little bit like a jerk). I thought if I had all of those things, that it would make me happy. I couldn't have been more wrong.

I had to experience all of these things to learn what actually did not make me happy. Happiness comes in smaller packages than we think. How about the laugh of your child? What about helping someone learn how to do something for the first time? How about giving or donating your time or money?

As you move forward to develop your life goals, think about what truly makes you happy. Set your goals to include all of those things. I truly believe that anything is possible if it makes you happy; you will just work that much harder to achieve it because there is something in it for you.

What Other People Think

I used to care a lot about what other people thought about me. From my appearance to my beliefs, I cared way too much.

There were times I used to "primp" twice in one day just to look perfect for an event after working. By working, I mean sitting at a desk all day and not exerting any type of physical energy except typing. I would completely wash my face and my hair and waste hours getting ready just to look "perfect." These days, time is so precious that such an idea is just unfathomable.

Then there were times I would not express my opinions or my thoughts because I knew others wouldn't agree. I would sit in silence and nod, even when I didn't agree with the viewpoints. People would make comments about how I update Facebook too much or that I talked a lot, and I would delete a status or just not participate in conversations.

I think suppressing the real "YOU" is painful. Don't get me wrong, I believe it is important to consider the opinions of others, but I don't believe it should stop YOU from expressing yourself. I don't think that a single hair that is out of place or eyeshadow that has worn off will fail to impress the people who truly matter.

What price are you paying to be concerned about what others think of you? The price tag may be your authenticity.

It's just not worth it.

Quick Wins

I am a believer and HUGE fan of the Total Money Makeover!! We have paid off almost $8,000 in debt in the past 3 months! This is due to our fine tuned budget and a nice tax return (which didn't hurt, but we will have to change those exemptions to have that money in our wallet this year).

We still have our car loans, my student loans, and some medical bills. It seems like there is still such a long way to go, but it is important for us to remember how far we have come in such a short time. Dave Ramsey claims that in the debt snowball (organizing your debts smallest to largest and paying off the smallest first), that you will get "quick wins" which will keep you fired up and ready to get out of debt.

I couldn't agree more.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Somedays I feel like it is really dim, but I know it is there. Our schedules are crazy and we haven't had much time together as a family this year. I would rather make these sacrifices now while the kids are young, so we can make memories that last with them starting in the next few years.

I can't wait to yell "I'M DEBT FREE!!!!"

For those of you on this journey, dig in and keep the faith! You will get there.

Work Your Talent. Share Your Gift.

Every day of the week, I commute one hour to work each way. As I pass people, I see many of them with expressionless faces. I often wonder what is running through their heads. Are they performing work they don't love because they need to get by? Did they just have a bad morning? Obviously, with that much time in the car I have a lot of time to think.

I don't want to be the person who works the 8-5 Monday-Friday gig for the rest of my life. I believe a lot of people who I see on my drive may feel the same but probably feel stuck. There are a lot of things that can contribute to being stuck in a career not meant for you: a sense of security, a paycheck, consistency. I often think many of us have the 8-5 jobs because it is expected of us.

Many people have a talent or a gift that they were meant to share with the world and should make a living doing so. Instead, we often stuff these dreams inside because the thought of being an artist, writer, or musician while supporting a family seems childish and absurd. Instead, we commit to the schedule that we believe is safe while pushing our dreams to the side.

I believe that people work to keep up with a certain lifestyle. It's scary to think about your resources being cut off and not getting that bi-weekly check. It's hard to plan for the future when you barely have time to sleep. I personally think it is scarier to wake up one day at 80 years old and realize that you spent your life doing something you never loved, that your dreams are forgotten, and that you worked so much you had little time with your family.

Right now, just like many others, I am doing what I need to do for my family. That doesn't mean that a stong dream, a good plan, attainable goals, and financial sense won't lead to a successful career in doing what I love. It's never, ever too late.

As a writer and someone who loves to motivate and speak about many areas that affect us as women and mothers, I am on that journey right now. I hope you can follow along and share in this adventure with me. Who knows, maybe some of you will decide to do the same!

Meal Planning Trumps Couponing Every Time

As a mom who cares about nutrition and healthy eating, I have found couponing a bit disappointing. I know it's all the hype these days, and it can be fun when you find a good deal. Don't get me wrong, there are lots of great household coupons out there, but finding some for the foods we eat is nearly impossible. A few weeks ago, my family decided to cut back on processed food significantly. Our diet is clean and now consists of fresh meats, seasonings, whole grains, and tons of produce. You'll rarely find coupons to fit this lifestyle.

In these past few weeks, I have shifted the energy that I spent coupon hunting to going through clean eating cookbooks and magazines to plan meals. Clean eating can be expensive, but it doesn't have to be. I have watched produce and meat sales at stores and try to plan around those. I have been able to stay within our budget while planning out our dinners for the week. I also plan for plenty of leftovers and high protein snacks throughout the day to keep my metabolism churning.

The girls really have enjoyed trying new things. My boyfriend, David, and I have both lost some weight. I feel better physically and mentally. The best thing about it is that I LOVE planning! I found a new love for meal planning and cooking that I never thought was there.

If you think you don't have time to plan healthy meals, I would say that you don't have time NOT to. A few hours of planning and shopping on the weekend sets you up for success during the week. You won't be tempted to go through the drive through or pick up a pizza if you already know what meal you are planning to cook that evening. So, try it out! Share the fun with your partner by picking out meals that each of you can cook throughout the week. If you currently spend hours every weekend couponing, I challenge you to shift your energy towards scouring cookbooks and planning healthy meals. Plan with your family. Make a database of all of your favorite recipes. It's both fun and educational!

If you are not sure where to start, I am including a link that a few friends sent me that has more information on clean eating (and it also includes some easy recipes too). You can always start with a little research and try a few new meals. I promise that it is worth the time and effort!

http://www.eatcleandiet.com/