Imperfectly Balanced Life

Influenster VoxBox - Nurture VoxBox

2015-06-24T23:40:00.000-04:00

I recently received from Influenster their Nurture VoxBox. Now, in case you do not know what a VoxBox is, or even what Influester is, I'll give you a short explanation. Influester is a website that collect reviews of different products or brands, pretty much anything. You grow your 'social impact' by writing reviews, answering questions and talking about it on your various social media outlets. Influenster will occasionally send out surveys to see if you qualify for it's upcoming VoxBox, which contains different products, complimentary, with the hope that you will review the products and share your opinion on social media.

So, as stated before, I recently received their Nurture VoxBox. This box seemed to be geared towards mothers. Upon opening my box, this is what I found.

The back of the card on top listed the products in the box, a description of the product and the suggested retail price.

'Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen Sensitive uses only high quality natural minerals, Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide, for broad spectrum UVA and UVB skin protection. Dermatologist recommended and specifically formulated for everyday protection on face and body, involving no potentially irritating chemicals, Blue Lizard Australian Sensitive Sunscreen in effective UV protection but gentle on sensitive skin. Our packaging is a bit unique too! The patented BPA-free plastic cap on our 3.0 oz tubes is UV photo sensitive, changing color in the presence of harmful UV rays, reminding you to cover up. The deeper blue the cap becomes, the more UV rays are currently present.'

3 oz tube - $14.99

'Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen Sport is very water resistant , meeting Australian Standards of 240 minutes in whirlpool water. It is designed for daily, full-body protection for the most active of people.'

3 oz tube - $12.99

Both of these lived up to the claims, keeping me from getting burnt during two separate outings at the beach. Living in Florida, I use sunscreen all the time, quite often having 3 or 4 different sunscreens that I'm rotating through. While I liked the protection the sensitive sunscreen provided, I wasn't a big fan of the 'unscented' scent. It smelled a little like clay to me. But if that doesn't matter to you, this is a great product. The Sport version worked great! I used it when I took my son the beach. So we were playing in the water, in the sand and running around. I definitely put the 'sport' aspect to the test. And it worked great! Unfortunately, there was only one application worth in the package and needed to reapply after a few hours. Remember, I live in Florida and it's June. That means full on sunshine! I will definitely consider purchasing this.

'Soft single-use, 100% cotton mask drenches your skin with an entire bottle of serum to instantly boost hydration, smooth fine lines, and restore firmness and bounce to your skin. Clinically prover to increase skin's hydration 2.5 times in only 10 minutes. the sheet works to trap all the goodness into the skin: It offers an intense yet gentle infusion of Super Hyaluronic Acid, Soy Peptides, Collagen and Vitamin E for immediate results. Perfect for travel-depleted skin or if you've been negligent in your skincare, it's like playing catch up - a mini facial on the go!'

$14.99

This was the first sheet mask I have ever used, so I was a little weirded out at first. But once I placed it on my face, rested for 15 minutes and took it off, I thought my skin felt so soft and moisturized. I have naturally oily skin, so I was a little concerned about breaking out, but nothing happened. This is a great

'ATTITUDE Hair Care products were developed with uncompromised safety in mind, using only worry free ingredients. While cancer causing chemicals, mutagens, and reproductive toxins are still legally tolerated contaminants found in hair care products, you won't find them in ours. Now found at Target.'

$9.99

At first, I though the product had a very strong scent to it, and one that was a bit masculine for my taste. However, it worked well, leaving my hair and body clean. I haven't looked in my local Target yet to see if this product is there. But with so many quality-comperable, less expensive options, I don't know that I would purchase this.

'Dramamine Non-Drowsy Natural, Dramamine's first truly non-drowsy offering. Prevents and treats symptoms of motion sickness (nausea and vomiting) without drowsiness.'

$4.88-$7.99

This was the only product I was not able to try, as I have not had any opportunity to use it.

'RedVines candy is the deliciously rewarding treat that has been making special moments even sweeter for generations. Always fat free and made with only five ingredients, Red Vines candy offers exceptional flavor without using any preservatives. Whether you pick up the classic tray at the movie theater concession stand or bring them on a family road trip, Red Vines candy has been an essential part of celebrating life's sweet moments for decades.'

$1.59

As a person who LOVES Twizzlers, I was excited to try these, thinking they would be just like Twizzlers. I was disappointed. They were okay, but nothing stand out. They weren't as sticky or sweet as Twizzlers, two aspects I was looking for. I would definitely eat them again, but not go out of my way to get them.

'Introducing a new way to change up your dinner routine-UNCLE BEN'S Flavored Grains. These delectable mixes of sophisticated grains are great as a side dish or in your favorite recipes. UNCLES BEN'S Basmati Medley Savory Herb is a unique blend of basmati rice, orzo, and wild rice. UNCLE BEN'S Brown Rice & Quinoa Roasted Red Pepper brings you the goodness of brown rice and whole grain quinoa. And they both cook to perfection in just 25 minutes.'

'So you want the golden crispy finish of oven cooked fries, and the unbeatable flavor of America's highest quality potatoes... but from a microwave and in just 4 minutes? No problem! With three Extra Crispy Easy fry varieties, you can enjoy perfectly crisp fries in the time it takes to preheat your oven.'

I personally do like Uncle Ben and OreIda products. I think the quality is good and prices are reasonable. I have not yet used my coupons, but you can be sure I will be soon, and seeing the products as part of some of my meals.

Over all, I feel that the products in the box were really good and useful. However, I did not see how the grouping of items necessarily catered toward a mother's 'nurturing' side. A single, childless person would have found these products just as useful. With that said, I did enjoy the products in the box.

Please let me know in the comments below if you have ever received a VoxBox.

52 Weeks of Gratitude Challenge - How Did You Do & Feel?

2015-03-01T18:46:00.002-05:00

I have really enjoyed doing this challenge so far. It has made me look at my life and how good I have things. Sometimes we look at our situation and think it's bleak and that nothing is good. I'm glad I decided to do take a second look at the good things in my life, really put some thought into it and share it with all of you!

This week my challenge it to think about how I did and how I felt. I'm going to assume that it is referring to last weeks challenge of expressing gratitude to three people. Last week I expressed gratitude to my son's three teachers.

Like I said last week, I expressed my gratitude for each of them by writing a hand written card, telling each of them why I appreciate what they have done for my son. I explained how important each of them are to him and how I feel each of them have impacted my son. My son has had a dramatic change in his vocabulary and comprehension since starting at his new school in October. I attribute that to his teacher's dedication to the students. I explained this in each of the letters. Also each of them have strengths that I appreciate. One of them is very nurturing, which is helpful in the morning when my son is having a tough time saying good bye to me. His primary teacher is a no-nonsense kid of teacher, which is good for him, and I appreciate that.

Communicating all of this to each of them made me feel good. It is true that complimenting people makes you feel better about yourself. I've worked in childcare myself and there is nothing better than a parent who tells you 'Thank you for taking care of my kid.' I wanted to express that to the ladies who take care of mine and it felt great doing it.

How do you feel when expressing gratitude to someone?

Have a great Sunday!

52 Weeks of Gratitude - Express Gratitude to Three People

2015-02-22T09:00:00.000-05:00

This weeks challenge is to express gratitude to three people. It was actually not very much of a challenge for me, as it is habit for me to show people in my life appreciation for the things they do for me.

I wrote a handwritten note to each of my son's teachers, thanking all three of them for the impact they have had on my son. When my son started at the school he is currently at last October, he was behind where he should have been academically. In the almost 5 months he has been at they school, I have seen a dramatic change in not only his learning ability, but his personality as well.

I make sure to have a conversation with his teachers when I drop him off in the morning and when I pick him up in the afternoon. Having worked with children in the past, I know how important those short conversations are. So in the morning, I make his teacher aware of any issues that came up after we left the prior day, if my son told me of any troubles with other children. And in the afternoon, I always check to see how his day was.

Even though there is a constant flow of communication between us, I wanted them to know how important they are to my son and me. And I know that most people appreciate a hand written note, especially since it rarely happens anymore.

I am grateful for these women. Their patience and caring nature is appreciated by me immensely. Knowing how difficult some children can be, especially my own, it means so much to me that they treat my son and the other children so well!

How do you show the people in your life gratitude? How you like to be shown gratitude? Do you appreciate an overt gesture or is a simple thank you enough?

52 Weeks of Gratitiude - A Friend

2015-02-15T09:50:00.002-05:00

Happy Sunday Everyone!!!

This week I'm writing about a friend that I am grateful for. This is very tough, I have several very close friends whom I love very much! So, I decided to share why I'm grateful for the friend I have had the longest.

I am grateful for my friend Krista. We met during my senior year of high school, on New Year's Eve. (Funny side note, I had a crush on her younger brother, who is my age, while I was in middle school.) We didn't meet that night and just become best friends, we started becoming friends because some other friends of ours asked her to call me to convince me to have a party at my house. For some reason, even though we barely knew each other, she was able to convince me and we started hanging out from then on.

Looking back, I kinda think we were an odd couple. I was still in high school when we met. She was 20 at the time, working full time and had a two year old son. I guess we just 'clicked' as you could say and enjoyed hanging out with each other.

Since that time, we have shared so much of our lives together, gone on several road trips together, been with each other through our pregnancies. (She threw me the most amazing baby shower!) We've been there for each other through relationships good and bad. (Happy to say that she's in the best one I could ever imagine for her!)

One thing I actually love about Krista, she in unyielding in her honesty with me. And while it may appear to others that she is being a bit of a bitch, I know she is being brutally honest with me, and most likely, correct. Which is why I view our friendship as more of a sister relationship than a friendship. We will fight and not talk for several months and go right back as if nothing happened. I love that, we are not scared to make each other mad. There is no walking on eggshells here.

I am eternally grateful for my friend Krista, she has been there for me through thick and thin, good and bad. I think anyone would be blessed to call her a friend.

My January 2015 Favorites

2015-02-11T00:08:00.000-05:00

So, I decided I'm going to try a new thing and start doing a monthly favorites post. This will encompass beauty, food, kid products, media, pretty much anything that I (or my son) have been enjoying for the past month.

BEAUTY

*Naked 3 Palette - I purchased this a few months back and didn't use it too often then. But I have been using it regularly in January. I really enjoy the colors, as they are beautiful, but fairly neutral and appropriate for an office environment (where I work).

*Nivea's A Kiss of Olive & Lemon Lip Care - This has been my go-to lip balm. I had a cold for a few days, which forced me to use a lot of tissues. This in turn dried out my lips, adding to them already being dry because the air is a bit drier during the winter here in Florida. Nivea's A Kiss of Olive & Lemon has really helped keep my lips soft and I really like the smell.

FOOD & DRINK

*Bigelow Sweet Dreams - I have been loving this tea this past month. It's a chamomile and mint tea and is caffeine-free, which makes it appropriate for bedtime. I usually drink it before bedtime, before I do my final tooth-brushing. I really love the way this tastes, and to me, it does taste different than Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Tea.

*Quest S'mores Protein Bar - These are DELICIOUS! I have been eating them on my way to the gym, before I work out. I have been a fan of the Quest bars for a while now, but these are my new favorite. They are not vegan and do have added sugars.

BOOKS

*Hands Free Mama: A Guide to Putting Down the Phone, Burning the To-Do List, and Letting Go of Perfection to Grasp What Really Matters! by Rachel Macy Stafford - I am always on the look out for a good personal development book. I came across this when someone in one of my Facebook groups was reading it. I haven't finished it yet, as I only have about 30 minutes a day to actual feel decompress enough to read, then I am ready for bed. However, I am enjoying the book, it is really opening my eyes to the amount of time I spend on my phone and computer and doing other tasks and how I could be using that time to connect with my son. So far, I would recommend this book to any parent.

So this is my first try at a monthly favorites post. I hope you enjoyed it and will possibly try some of these things. I enjoy and use all of them and definitely recommend them.

Have a great day!

52 Weeks of Gratitude Challenge - The City You Live In

2015-02-08T09:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Sunday Everyone!

This weeks challenge is about the city I live in. I live in the Sunshine City in the Sunshine State,

St. Petersburg, FL. I love living here.

Most people know my hometown as a vacation place, with great beaches. And that's so true, the beaches here are AMAZING and I love the fact that I am 20 minutes from the beach. I honestly feel sorry for people who have never been to the beach. There is something so therapeutic about the ocean (But that's a whole other topic.)

Sunset, no filter added. Yes, this is what I get to see almost every night!

But what you may not know about St. Petersburg, commonly referred to as the 'burg by us locals, is that there is so much culture here and it's continuing to grow all the time. We are becoming home to many great restaurants and local craft beer breweries. St. Petersburg is also home to the Salvador Dali Museum, which has the largest collection of Salvador Dali's works in the world AND the building is also an amazing piece of artwork as well! The Chihuly Collection is also here, displaying Dale Chihuly's works of art and they are INCREDIBLE! There are so many other museums here, it would take forever to talk about them all. There are just my favorite two.

The Salvador Dali Museum

The Chihuly Collection

But, despite the amazing sunsets and beach and versatile culture, my favorite part about the city I live in is the fact that it is MY home. I love the fact that I know so much about the history of this area, I love the fact that I know where everything is and I love that I know so many people here. We moved here when I was 4 years old, so we've lived here a long time. Even though I'm not a native, I consider myself a Floridian. I would never want to live anywhere else. Anyway, so growing up, my parents were not privy to all the 'local secrets' like all the great restaurants or different events. Most of the stuff we knew about were touristy. As time went on, and they met more people, they started to learn about all the neat places that people who grew up here have known about forever. As a parent now myself, I'm glad that I know so much about the place my son is growing up, I feel we are rooted here. And I love it!

Tell me about the place you live! What do you like about it?

52 Weeks of Gratitude Challenge - Something Someone Gave You

2015-02-01T23:32:00.000-05:00

Happy Sunday and Happy February!

I cannot believe it's already February! It seems like 2015 is going so quickly, I feel like I've hardly had time to stop and take a breath. Which makes this post that much better, as it's giving me the time to stop and think. I really get a lot of of stopping and thinking about what I'm grateful for in my life.

This weeks challenge is something someone gave me. This really made me think, as I normally don't get too many gifts from people. I'm more the kind of person, that if I want something, I go buy it. Also, my son is still young, and does not like arts and crafts, so he hasn't made me too much. I'm sure once he starts actually making gifts for me, I will cherish those!

So, on to the 'something someone gave me.' Last year for my birthday, my two closest friends went in together and bought me a Pandora bracelet with two very special charms.

One is a best friend charm, the other a baseball. They actually gave me the gift on Opening Day last year right before we went into the TB Rays home opener, which was the day after my birthday. We kind of had a theme for that day 'Best Friends and Baseball.'

The reason this gift meant so much to me was the thought that went into it. It meant so much me that they would do something so special for me!

What special gift have you received from someone? Please let me know below.

52 Weeks of Gratitude Challenge - A Family Member

2015-01-25T16:12:00.001-05:00

This week I will be writing about a family member that I am most grateful for.

Hands down, the family member that I am most grateful for is my mother. She is my best friend, biggest supporter and cheerleader. She is the shoulder I cry on, my go-to for any advice. I could go on and on about how valuable she is in my life.

As a teenager and young adult, it's true that I may not have valued her sacrifices as much as I should have. At times I was dismissive of what she had done for my sister and me. I thought she wasn't 'cool' because she didn't always seem to care about looking good or buy herself nice things. But the reality of it was that she was more focused on making sure she put my sister and me first. We had what we needed and what we wanted.

I'm a mother now and see things from her perspective. This has given me an incredible amount of respect for her. I now understand the internal dilemma's she dealt with, especially in regards to my father. (They divorced when I was 11.)

I only hope that I can be the kind of mother she is, the kind that is supportive and loving throughout my son's life.

If you have a particular family member that you are especially grateful for, please tell me about it!

Hope you have having a great Sunday!

52 Weeks of Gratitude Challenge - Family

2015-01-18T07:30:00.000-05:00

Welcome to week 3 of 52 Weeks of Gratitude! Week three focuses on FAMILY.

My family consists of my son, two biological parents, a step-mother, sister, niece, nephew and a slew of other people that are not related to me by blood or marriage, but that I love just the same. And I also have a ton of friends that are like family to me, but that's a whole other topic!

I have an amazing family! I just want to put that out first and foremost. We do have the normal family arguments, I do fight with my parents and my sister. But at the end of the day, we love each other and would be there for each other, no questions asked.

My mother is the most amazing person I know. She has sacrificed (and still does) for her daughters and grandchildren. As I've grown up and become a mother myself, she has become one of my best friends. I feel so blessed to have her as a mother and consider her one of my best friends.

My sister and I have a very odd relationship. We aren't very close and yet we are. We get very mad at each other and may say some harsh things, yet we are very quick to defend each other when someone else tries to talk badly. It's like 'I can call my sister a bitch, but I'll kick your ass if you do!' True, there are times I wish she was my best friend. I am jealous of women who can say their sister is their best friend. Who better to be your closest friend in life than the person who's been through all of it with you? I am praying and hoping that one day we can close those gaps and obtain that friendship. Most importantly, she loves my son. And that to me is the most important thing.

I have a good relationship with my father and step-mother. My parents divorced when I was in fifth grade and my father married my step-mother a few years after, so she's been a part of my life a long time and has been part of my 'growing up.'

There are so many people that I consider 'family' that are not related to me by blood or marriage, like I said before. I am very close to the family of my son's father. My ex and I don't always get along, but I love his family and think they are wonderful people who love my son SO much. I am also close to the family of my niece and nephew's father. They are also very good to my son and treat him like he is part of the family. I feel blessed that I have such a large network of people that I can turn to anytime I am in need. I actually had someone say to me the other day that I've had it so good that I don't appreciate what I have. That's completely untrue. I know I am blessed to have such an AMAZING group of people around me.

Leave a comment below about your family and why you are so grateful for them.

Please join me each Sunday for another post of my Gratitude Challenge!

52 Weeks of Gratitude Challenge - Spouse/Significant Other

2015-01-11T08:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Sunday!

This week was a little bit difficult. Not only do I not have a spouse, but I recently became single. So I don't have a spouse currently to gloat about.

However, I am grateful for my son's father. My relationship with him spanned the most time, and was the most seriously relationship I've had to date. AND he is the father of my amazing boy!

I'm not going to lie, we have a horrendous relationship currently. A lot of hurt and anger between us. But I did learn a lot from being with him, and not just 'what I don't want in a man.' I learned a lot about myself, especially recently. I learned that in order for a relationship to be successful, you must both be in love with each other. I know that sounds obvious, but I don't think we were. I loved him very much, I still do, but that feeling of being 'in love' faded and I don't know why.

I can admit that I made mistakes and I can say, with complete honesty, I will never repeat those mistakes. I will not let my relationship get to the point that I just don't care enough to do the stupid things I have done.

And most of all, I am grateful for the amazing gift he gave me, our son. I love that little guy more than life itself. I may not like my son's father most of the time, but I do love him for helping me create the most perfect human being. (in my opinion.)

I hope everyone has a wonderful Sunday!

52 Weeks of Gratitude Challenge - Why Start This Challenge?

2015-01-04T11:47:00.000-05:00

Like many other people, I can waste an obscene amount of time on Pinterest. Let's admit it, it's addicting.

Well, I can across the below a couple days ago and thought, 'Hey, this would be a great writing prompt for my blog.' Plus I can write several at a time and schedule the post.

So, the first weeks challenge is 'Why Start this Challenge?' Well, this is two-fold. Like I said it gives me a writing prompt at least once a week. But the deeper meaning is that I will now be forced to really look at what I'm grateful for. Stop and smell the roses if you'd like.

The past month and a half have been extremely rough on me, personally. I questioned a lot of my choices, been depressed, really felt that I'm just not doing life the right way. On New Year's Eve, it just came to me, I need to just turn my life over to God and let him lead me. (That is a whole separate topic itself.) After finding this challenge, I really believe it will help me to see what amazing things I already have in my life. Sometimes when you think things are just not going well in your life, that there is nothing to be grateful for. But once you actually sit down and think about what you DO have, you realize you really do have a good life and you need to see things from a different perspective.

So, that's why I'm starting this challenge: to see things from a different perspective and appreciate all the good I do have in my life.

Have you ever done a challenge like this before? Let me know in the comments!

Happy New Year, Happy New YOU!!!

Personal Development Books

2014-10-08T23:41:00.000-04:00

So lately I've been on a "Personal Development' kick. In the past month I've taken on two new jobs; a designer with Origami Owl AND a health and fitness coach with Beachbody. It's been a lot of work so far, just figuring out how each system works.

One thing that both organizations encourage is PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT!

So after doing extensive research (checking out the YouTube channels, blogs, Facebook pages and Instagram pages of top people in each company) and see what the most successful people were reading, AND really thinking about how I want to grow as a person, I sat down and made a list of the kinds of personal development I wanted to read about:

Faith - I believe that God has a hand in all our successes and by building our relationship with Him, those successes will happen. I want to develop a closer, stronger relationship with God, and have the confidence to turn my life over to him.

Financial - I want financial success, we all do. But no how much money you make OR don't make per year, if you do not manage it wisely, you won't have it. You can make minimal money, but live a fulfilled life by making smart choices. I want to learn how to make those smart choices.

Interpersonal - I'd like to think that I am a pretty easy person to get along with, although I'm sure there are some who would disagree. But this is something I want to work on; how to relate to more people, how to listen better, how to find that one thing about someone that makes me interested in them and be able to relate to them.

Professional - This is different from financial development. I want to learn how to run my businesses. How to stay focused and prioritize my tasks (something I am HORRIBLE at.)

Health/Fitness - Now that I am an Independent Beachbody coach, it's my 'job' to teach people the way to better health and to be an example of what I'm trying to 'sell.' No one wants to listen to the lazy, chubby girl tell them about living a healthy lifestyle. I want/need to learn how to find motivation to eat better and work out each day.

WHEW!!! That seems like so much, but I think it's important to your success to constantly feel you need to work on something, even if it's minor.

What is your opinion on these types of books? Do you believe they really provide insight into growing as a person? Or do you believe that they are written by some schmuck just looking to cash in and earn a buck?

Please let me know in the comments below.

Life Perspective

2014-08-05T11:13:00.001-04:00

Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio

To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie.

Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, and then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27 Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33.. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36.. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone elses, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Sunday Social 8/3/14

2014-08-03T07:30:00.000-04:00

Hi y'll! I can't believe it's August already. (frowny face)

I'm linking up with Ashley and Neely for another Sunday Social.

1. Gum or mints? - Well, I have braces, so mints is definitely the way I go.

2. Tea or Coffee? - Hmm, this is tough. I NEED my coffee in the morning, but I love sweet tea and a hot green tea at night. So I'm going to say it's a draw.

3. Fruits or Veggies? - I love fruit, it's nature's candy! Lately I've been eating a lot more fruit and the craving for other candy is pretty much gone.

4. TV or Movies? - I always tell people I have 'Movie ADD.' I seriously cannot sit through a movie unless I'm at a theater watching it. So I definitely prefer TV out of the two.

5. Candles or Diffusers? - Candles. All the way. Slightly obessed with Bath and Body Works candles. Just slightly.

Thank you for visting my site on this wonderful Sunday. Please check out my other website, Imperfectly Healthy to see my journey towards better health and fitness.

Flea Market Book Haul

2014-08-01T20:11:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite places to pick up 'new' books is a flea market. At the one I go to there are 2 booths that I visit, each one selling books for between $2 and $3. That's a really, really good deal for books that normally cost, on average, $15 to $20! Now granted, you won't find the newest releases, but it's a great way to pick up some older books to add to your collection.

Another great aspect of only paying a few bucks for a book is that, if you don't like it or can't get into reading it, you only paid a small amount for it. I don't feel like I've wasted money and I usually donate to book to a local charity.

I try to go about every 3 months. This gives me times to read some, if not all, of the book I picked up last time, but also allows for a new variety of books to be circulated in.

On my last visit, I picked up quite a few books and have been diligently reading them.

The Green Mile by Stephen King

Bee Season by Myla Goldberg

The Memory Keeper's Daugher by Kim Edwards

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

So, I picked all these books recently and I don't think I spent more that $20.00 on all of them. I normally add the books I've purchased to my Goodreads 'To Read' list.

I know a lot of people have a certain perception of what flea markets are and ours certainly is by no means better than any other. I just think, especially if you're an avid reader like I am and you like building a library, it's worth checking out.

Please let me know in the comments below if you also purchase books from a flea market or second hand source and if you've found any really good gems.

Thanks!

25 Manners Kids Should Know (and many adults don't!)

2014-07-30T08:43:00.001-04:00

I ran across this the other day on Pinterest and thought it was interesting. So many times we tell children to 'mind their manners.' But really, what are the manners they should be minding? That's why this caught my eye. A great list from a reputable source, Parents.com. But, as I was reading the list over, I realized how many adults don't know, or don't display, these manners.

via Parents

I printed this baby off and put it on our fridge. I may even frame it. Why? Because I want my son to know how important these actions are and to remind myself anytime I start to 'misbehave' that if we expect children to do certain things, than I should be able to do them too!

Please let me know in the comments below, do you have a difficult time following these basic manners? I know I do at times!

Creating a Dream Board

2014-07-25T15:40:00.002-04:00

I’ve been seeing people posting their version of dream/vision boards around the internet lately. I laugh, because they are grown up versions of the bulletin boards we all had in our rooms as kids. (At least I did.)

BUT it’s a really good idea, writing down and having a visual of your goals/aspirations. That’s something I’ve had a tough time with. I always make the plans, but they hardly come to fruition. I think partly because they are never put down somewhere for me to constantly see. Kind of like my Summer Bucket List, great list, but without it printed and in constant view, it’s hard to remember to do those things.

So, I’ve decided to create my own Vison Board. I have a list of things that I want to achieve:

· Disney Cruise 2016

· Pay off car, buy a newer (hopefully brand new) Jeep

· Build a deeper faith and stronger relationship with God

· New home for my son and I

· Find a new job that provides me with greater personal enrichment

· Fit into my smallest size jeans by the end of 2014 (they are 6 sizes smaller than I am now)

· Make sure the time I spend with my son is of greater quality

· Purchase an Apple computer (I’m still using my Old HP)

· Invest some of my time in philanthropic pursuits

As you can see, some of them are already pretty specific, like fitting into a certain size clothing by a certain time, but some are pretty vague at this point. I know I need to fine tune most of them. But I want to see these goals every day and make sure everything I am doing every day is helping me achieve. It’s kind of like the saying some organizers use when helping you go through your ‘stuff’: If you don’t need it, love it or if doesn’t make you money, get rid of it. I plan to use that approach to my life.

IF I DON’T LOVE IT, NEED IT OR IT DOESN’T HELP ME ACHIEVE MY GOALS, IT’S GOT TO GO!

I have a wall in my bedroom with nothing on it currently. I’m thinking of repainting the wall to give myself a fresh start. Then I want to build a board, maybe some sort of magnetic or white board, then frame it and hang it up. I want to make sure it’s special, because my goals and dreams are special.

Have you built a dream or vision board? Do you think it helps in achieving your goals? Please let me know in the comments below.

Summer Bucket List update

2014-07-08T09:38:00.001-04:00

Summer is now in full swing. Actually, I think it's halfway over and I'm frowning as I look at my Summer Bucket List. We haven't done too much except visit a children's museum last weekend.

I'm going to print my list out and hang it on the fridge, hopefully that will inspire me to add more activity to our days! It's been kind of tough, I work full time, we've had swimming lessons every night and he spends every other weekend with his dad. And we all know you can't cram too much fun into a day with a three year old, often it will backfire on you. But I'm going to keep trying.

Make s’mores

Go to a drive-in movie

Go on a scavenger hunt

Bowling

Go to the Zoo

Make popsicles

Blow bubbles

Go on a treasure hunt

Nature walk

Go to the library

Play putt-putt golf

~~Visit a museum~~

Finger paint

Make cupcakes

Go to the beach

Go to a movie

Shop at a flea market

Watch fireworks

Go on a picnic

Go on a boat ride

Tie-dye a shirt

Make root beer floats

Leaf rubbings

Pajama party

Visit an aquarium

Drink slurpees

Learn to write ABC’s

Go to Adventure Island

Plant flowers

Ride a train

Watch a sunset

Blow bubbles

Play in the sprinklers

Make an ice cream sundae

Working Away vs. Working At Home

2014-06-30T13:17:00.001-04:00

I think I struggle from the same issues many mothers do: working away from home to provide for the family versus working at home to spend more time with the family.

My situation is a complicated by the fact that I am currently a single mother who carries the health insurance for not only myself, but my son as well, through my employer.

I constantly go back and forth between the idea/possibility of working from home as a 'momtreprenuer' and remaining a 'working' mom. (that's in quotations because we all know that no matter where your income comes from, you're a working mother. Even if you have a sugar daddy, you're working something ;) )

There are two big reasons for me to remain in employment outside of my home: a steady paycheck & secure health insurance. Plus there is the adult interaction I get daily and I am forced to get up, get dress and get out of my house.

But then, there are also the drawbacks: The wear and tear on my car, plus gas, as I currently drive almost 15 miles each way, the time spent away from home is almost 11 hours a day and that's also 11 hours away from my son, not liking the people I work for/with, not being able to control how much I am paid. Plus, after sitting at a desk all day, I am mentally exhausted, but still have so much to do around the house.

If I were to start working from home, either doing some sort of Internet based employment or a direct sales sort of business, like Origami Owl, there would be some benefits to that: I would be able to pick my own hours and can structure my own day and there is no travel time for work. I can essentially make as much as I'm willing to work for, the more effort I put in, the greater the paycheck. It's not like that at my current job. Plus I will be able to spend more time with my son, which is most important. The biggest issues for me would be that I wouldn't have steady, consistent income and I would have to outsource health insurance. And as we all know, getting health insurance is not fun.

Has anyone else come across the struggle? What did you end up doing? I'm starting to feel like if I continue on the same path, my life will be lifeless and I don't want that.

Sunday Social 6/29/2014

2014-06-29T07:30:00.000-04:00

HAPPY SUNDAY!!!

I haven't done a Sunday Social in quite a while, but I figured, what the heck...

1. What was your college major? Did you ever change majors? I started off as an accounting major, but for a bit thought I wanted to try physical therapy. So I took a couple classes that were geared toward that. Unfortunately, even though I was enthusiastic about the topics, they didn't come easily to me. So I decided to continue on with business classes.

2. What is the best purchase you’ve made lately? Probably my Ninja blender. I love that thing!

3. What is something silly we don’t know about you and go… I have all white hangers in my closet & will actually throw away non-white, plastic hangars.

4. What is your favorite Holiday? Easter. It's at the best time if year & it's a pretty laid back holiday in my family. More often than not, Easter includes a trip to the beach. This past Easter, we went to our favorite beach resort and ate brunch.

This is the view from my seat Easter breakfast.

5. What is the first thing you do when you wake up? Go to the bathroom. (I know, TMI. But I'm being honest.)

I hope everyone has a great Sunday and hopefully you have a short week ahead!

Project Pan

2014-06-26T14:08:00.002-04:00

I have a ton of 'stuff' in my bathroom. No joke, I am currently rotating through 6 different shampoos and 5 conditioners and three different body washes in my shower. I have more make up than I will ever use, I have about three different facial moisterizers (and that's just for daytime!) Again, lots of stuff!

I ran across some videos on YouTube titled 'Project Pan.' The objective of the project is to not purchase any more of an item, mostly cosmetics, until you 'reach pan' or use up a certain number of items you currently own.

Well, I don't do YouTube videos, but I thought that this would be a great idea. It would get me to use up my stuff that I currently have and give me a reason to use up some of the stuff I haven't been using.

So, after I do a little shopping spree at Bath and Body Works this weekend (which is okay, I haven't bought any bath products there in ages) and go through and toss the stuff I have no intention on using or has gone bad, I'll make one last trip to Target to stock up and that's it. I will not be purchasing any items until I use up, let's say 25 items that I currently own.

As I sit here writing this, I am realizing what a daunting task this will be. I am a consumer at heart and live in a disposable world. I have the mentality that if I don't like something, I'll put it aside and get something I like more. I'm actually hoping to learn a few things

I'm hoping to save money.
I'll learn which products I actually like and don't like because I will have used them extensively
I'll learn to not be such a hoarder & get rid of stuff that I don't like/doesn't work for me

Hopefully I can learn to use what I have and not be such a frivolous spender. (Biting nails as we speak!)

Summer Bucket List 2014

2014-06-20T16:06:00.002-04:00

Happy Summer!

While tomorrow, June 21st, marks the actual first day of summer, it's been summer here in the great state of Florida for a couple months now.

I ran across a Summer Bucket list on internet a couple months ago and thought, Hey, that would be a great idea. I'm always trying to do different activities with my son and this would be a great way for me to actually have ideas at hand. So, after doing extensive research (looking though Google images) I came up with a list:

Make s’mores

Go to a drive-in movie

Go on a scavenger hunt

Bowling

Go to the Zoo

Make popsicles

Blow bubbles

Go on a treasure hunt

Nature walk

Go to the library

Play putt-putt golf

Visit a museum

Finger paint

Make cupcakes

Go to the beach

Go to a movie

Shop at a flea market

Watch fireworks

Go on a picnic

Go on a boat ride

Tie-dye a shirt

Make root beer floats

Leaf rubbings

Pajama party

Visit an aquarium

Drink slurpees

Learn to write ABC’s

Go to Adventure Island

Plant flowers

Ride a train

Watch a sunset

Blow bubbles

Play in the sprinklers

Make an ice cream sundae

I had so much fun making this list, I cannot wait to do all of these activities with my little one (hopefully more than just once!)

Happy Friday everyone!

Sunday Social - 3 Things

2014-01-19T11:26:00.001-05:00

Good Sunday morning everyone!

I'm linking up again with Neely and Ashley for another Sunday Social. This week it's all about the number 3.

1. Top 3 Favorite Kinds of Food - Mexican, Fish and Salads

2. First 3 Things You Do In the Morning - Shower, make coffee, get dressed

3. Last 3 Things You Do Before Bed - Wash face, brush teeth, turn off TV

4. Three TV shows you do NOT miss - Nashville, Major Crimes and The Kelly File on Fox News

5. 3 Places You Want To Visit - NYC, Italy, Aspen

6. 3 People You Can Always Count On - My mom, step-mom and bestie Krista.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Sunday!

Kim

Please be sure to visit my new blog Imperfectly Healthy, and follow my journey to better health.

Goodreads

2014-01-17T08:23:00.000-05:00

To anyone that knows me well, it's no secret that I like to read. I have been an avid reader since I could pick up a book. My mom likes to tell the story about how I would sit on the couch looking at books instead of playing with my friends. My book reports were more like slightly condensed versions of books. You get the idea.

So you can imagine my excitement when I came across the fantastic website know at Goodreads. The best way I can describe it is that it is like Facebook meets your school reading list. Sort of.

You create a profile on the site and then you start adding books that you've read, want to read or are reading to 'shelves.' You also can rate and review the books. I do this for all the books I've read. I like reading reviews from others, so I hope my opinion is valuable to someone. You can also explore books by genre and by different lists. I have discovered so many books this way. This is the 'school reading list' aspect of it.

You can also request other users to be your 'friends' like you would on Facebook. This allows you to see what they are reading and look at their reading lists. You can also join book groups. I am part of the Rory Gilmore Book Club, Read the Movie and The Smart Chicks Book Club. Each month the groups read a different book and have a discussion regarding the book. I really enjoy the threads; it's nice to get into a discussion about books. That was one of my favorite parts of my English classes, reading then discussing the books.

The site isn't all book list and discussions. There are quizzes and trivia to take, and you can look up some great quotes from different authors and books. One of my favorite features of the site is the giveaways. You can enter to win early releases of books. It can be a great way to expand your library with books that you might not of heard of otherwise. All they ask in return is that you read the book and review it.

Another thing I like is that Goodreads allows you to create a reading challenge for yourself and tracks your progress by telling you how on pace you are for accomplishing your reading goal. Right now I'm one book behind to be on pace for reading 25 books this year.

Overall, I think this is a pretty cool site to join. It also helps with my compulsion to have things on lists. I now have a list of books to check off. I suggest checking it out if you're a reader like myself and so many others.

Here's the link to my Goodreads site.

Kim

Sunday Social 1/12/2014

2014-01-12T10:00:00.000-05:00

Hard to believe it's already the second Sunday of the year. I'm linking up for another Sunday Social :)

1. What is the name of your blog? How long have you been blogging? The name of this blog is Imperfectly Balanced Life. I chose it because that's often how I feel life is as a woman. We're trying to balance everything out and no matter how hard we try, it's never perfect. I've been blogging since July 2012, so a year and a half.

2. Why do you blog? I blog as a creative outlet. I blog to share information with others.

3. What is the first blog you ever followed? I'm not too sure, I think it may have been IHeart Organizing. I have been following blog since before I started and have tried many of her ideas.. I think she writes so openly that you feel like you've known her forever!

4. What is your favorite post you wrote in 2013? Honestly, I didn't write too many original posts in 2013. Most of the posts I wrote were link-ups, primarily this one!

5. What are your blogging goals for 2014? My blogging goals for 2014 are to be more consistant with my posts and to post better content. I want to put more and better pictures in my posts, do more research for my posts. I want to just do a better job and gain more readers.

6. Top 3 favorite blogs to follow - I honestly haven't really been loyally following any blogs as of late.

I know this is a day late, but I hope everyone had a wonderful Sunday!