I am SUPER excited about what I am about to share with you! So, you should be, too!

Some of you might have heard of the new online magazine, Daily Mom, that just launched last month. It’s an amazing resource of posts and articles for the modern woman and mom. Imagine Pinterest worthy posts with useful information about all aspects of life – from parenting to beauty, fashion, green living, health, fitness, and more. Once you visit Daily Mom, you will be hooked – jumping from one post to another. It has totally sucked me in on more than one occasion!

I have partnered with Daily Mom to host one of their giveaways as a part of an extensive 50 Days of Giveaways campaign to celebrate their launch! YAY! For 50 days, they will be giving away one awesome prize a day to thank their new readers.

So today we’re giving an opportunity for one lucky reader to win a Knit Blanket and some toys from Mamas & Papas.

Mamas & Papas is your go to shop for everything from baby clothes and gear to toys and even bedding! Be sure to check out their products on their website. Keep in the loop by following them on Facebook and Twitter. And of course, enter below for a chance to win.

The giveaway will run for a week, and there are only two mandatory entries with many optional ones. All you have to do is follow the directions below in the Rafflecopter widget. This giveaway is open to legal US residents only.

And be sure to visit Daily Mom tomorrow to see what new item they are giving away and to enter previous drawings! The prizes range from strollers to high chairs, monitors, diaper bags, fashion items, baby clothing and photography products. There is something for everyone.

Need Help? Don’t have a Facebook account to enter with? Email Daily Mom staff!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

After you’ve entered the giveaway, be sure to browse Daily Mom and check out some of my favorite posts! I’m loving:

4 Simple Ingredients to Clarify Your Skin

Tips for Flying With a Toddler

Why You Need To Be Part Of The Organic Revolution

FEATURED SPONSOR GIVEAWAYS FROM DAILY MOM

This post is for notification purposes only. To see a full list of prizes and current giveaways, please visit our Giveaway page.

And then my night went downhill.

Landon started getting fussy and having diarrhea (I changed 4 NASTY diapers between 5 and 7pm), Leila spilled a cup of milk all over the kitchen floor while I was trying to fix dinner, and then later when I was clipping her nails, I cut one too short and all hell broke loose. My girl who is usually such a champ when she gets hurt wouldn’t stop crying/whining/fussing for over an hour, until she conked out from distress exhaustion. After the first 5 minutes I knew she wasn’t crying over the pain, she was crying from being over-tired and just because she’s 3. I ended up holding her in bed while she whimpered until she fell asleep.

Lying in my daughter’s bed I had a million thoughts running through my head. I’m so tired. I wish I could just fall asleep right here, right now. Nope, there’s too much to do. Gotta clean the kitchen. Should probably fold the laundry. Oh man, Landon is probably going to be sick all weekend. How am I going to get through the next 3 days by myself with these 2 crazy kiddos?

And then I changed my thoughts. Yep, I caught myself heading down a negative mental path, so I decided to go to a place of thanks. Even though I felt let down by life after an awful evening, I made myself feel gratitude. I started to thank God for all of the good. Thank you for my wonderful children – for their health, for the cozy beds we are able to provide them. Thank you for this roof over our head. Thank you for my belly full of food. Thank you for humbling evenings like this.

I let myself snuggle down in bed with my girl for probably a good hour. I entered her room feeling frazzled and frustrated and in a place of really not being a huge fan of motherhood. But, I left feeling nothing but gratitude and happiness.

Being a mom is tough. Being a human is tough. But we all have the power to control our thoughts, and that is an amazing thing. So, like I’ve said before HERE and HERE and HERE, don’t forget about GRATITUDE. It’s a game changer. Especially when you’re faced with those every day tough mommy moments.

People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily. ~ Zig Ziglar

I live my life on a pendulum. I’m constantly swinging between extremes of either always thinking and dreaming about the future or being naively focused on the present. There’s a plus to both sides, but a happy medium would be ideal. When I’m in my future-focused state I’m a dreamer, I’m determined, and I take action. But, I’m also more stressed out and I lose sight of just living in the moment. When I’m wholeheartedly content in the present and embracing the here and now, I’m happy. But, I’m just letting life live itself and I tend to get lazy. My motivation has died down.

Right now I am stuck in my “I’m happy now” mode. I feel great! I’m living day to day, soaking up life’s little moments. I’m honestly happy with all aspects of my life. I’m just floating along in my “whatever happens, happens” mentality. Life is good.

But what about my daughter’s 4th birthday quickly approaching? Or the fact that we have yet to write a will? And what about the debt that needs to be paid down? Or where we are going to vacation this August when my hubby has a week off work? What will my life look like 10 years from now?

Like I said, I’m struggling to find the happy medium between caring about the future and soaking up the present. I’m struggling with a lack of motivation. I love having a carefree mentality, but where will it get me in terms of my to do list, in terms of my goals?

Today I’m choosing to just be happy in this current moment. And for now that is good enough.

Where are my bi-polar dreamers at? I know I’m not alone here.

Leaving work Thursday, I felt like a million bucks.

However, a series of unfortunate events tested me on Thursday night, getting my three day weekend kicked off in a craze. I’ll save the details for another time, but let’s just say my motherhood was rightfully tested leading into Mother’s Day. And ya know what? I kept my cool and I was a BEAST of a mom all weekend long. Three days with just me and the kiddos while the hubby worked 10 hour shifts. What should have left me feeling defeated at times has left me feeling stronger than ever (even though I will say that I am in no way dreading work tomorrow morning – ha!). And my kiddos? Today (Mother’s Day) they were the most perfect angels. We had the BEST time, just the three of us. While I would have LOVED for my husband to be home, it really was special to devote 100% of my attention to the ones who made me a mother.

The rest of my “three days craze” in photos…

Spying on my kiddos playing legos together. I may or may not have had an emotional moment.

Alone time with my little man while sissy napped.

Alone time with myself while both kids napped – SCORE!

Soaking life in…

Our lilac tree. My favorite. I wish I could send the smell that’s blowing in through the window right now your way.

Mother’s Day. The morning with my momma and the afternoon with my loves. And flowers from my man. Perfect.

I love being a mom. And I’m finding that the longer I actually am one, I learn to love it more and more. Yes, I said learn! It isn’t always easy. And I don’t always like it. But, I can say with 100% certainty that this is my purpose.

How was your weekend? Any special momma’s day events?

But being a mom isn’t about the success you achieve in life.
And it’s not about having the laundry put away and making home-cooked meals.
And it sure as hell isn’t about having it all figured out.
It’s about love. Period.

When you become a mom you learn the true meaning of love. I don’t care if you’re the mom to a furbaby or an orphan from China. Being a mom opens up a chamber of your heart that you didn’t know existed. It puts your world in perspective and teaches you the true meaning of life. Family. Hope. Love.

Some aspects of my life before becoming a mother were better. Easier. But I don’t think I really lived until I was a mom. Because now I’m not just living for me – I’m living for them. I don’t just have the weight of one life on my shoulders. I have the weight of more. And I feel stronger than ever. Empowered. I’m doing exactly what I’m meant to be doing. Maybe every day isn’t great and maybe I still have a ton to learn, but that may just be the best thing about being a mom. It provides you with the greatest opportunity for growth and development and learning imaginable. Not to mention the rewards. The simple rewards – the smiles, the laughter, the “I love you’s” – they far outweigh any rough mommy moment.

I don’t have much figured out. I change my mind daily on my hopes and my dreams. Even just deciding what to make for dinner throws me for a loop. But the defining fact in my life – the one thing I am certain of and exceptionally proud of is this:

I’m a super hero – I’m a mom.
And I wouldn’t trade it for ANYTHING.

An early “HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY” to all of you exceptional mommies out there!