piecesofluv

A Teething baby makes for a very tired Momma.

2013-06-02T21:26:00.000-07:00

I cradled my baby, smelled her sweet head, and kissed her softly. I am tired, worn out, and so ready for this teething process to be over. I have to admit there are moments I just want to scream and runaway. I get so sick of all the crying and knowing there is nothing that I can do for this little one, except hold her close and just love the shit out of her. Physically though, this has been draining for me and the sleepless nights leave me irritable and have me wanting to pull my hair out.

BUT.

just the other morning, (as in three or four in the morning) I had been woken up by a crying, hurting baby and I was done, I was ready to throw in the towel. I remained as calm as I could and I finally was able to get her back to sleep, I closed my eyes and tried hard to fall back to sleep with her but I couldn't. As thoughts were racing through my mind allowing for precious sleep-time to pass by I figured I'd do some blog reading. I ran across this blog: The progressive parent. Tears ran down my face. I was bawling, and feeling so sad that I was getting so upset and irritated with my teething baby. You see, this momma lost her little one from SUDC also known as SIDS, at 14 months. He had just taken his first step and then it was decided that his home in Heaven needed him much more than his home on Earth. After I finished reading this I kissed my sweet angel laying next to me. Touched her little toes, and thanked God I had this time with her.

Also friend of mine, who I had been discussing the teething situation, reminded me how amazing it is that I have the opportunity to be able to comfort my little one as she is going through this process. In our conversation I could see tears in her eyes and she told me her story. She is a parent to one, a boy who is now 15. They adopted him when he was, I think she said 18 months old. "I watched videos of him slobbering and hurting in the center, and it hurts so bad that I couldn't be there to pick him up and comfort him." The emotion and hurt behind her words touched my heart so much. I am so lucky that I can hold my baby tight and love her, comfort, kiss her and try to make her feel better with my love.

These sleepless nights will only last for so long, and these moments of being able to cuddle and hold her close in my arms will be gone before I can blink my eyes. I know this because it happened to fast with my little Alexsis Rae. My now six year old barely fits in my lap. Seems like only yesterday I was cradling her and kissing her little bald head.

I do not focus on the thought of losing my children, they are not happy thoughts and I've had more than one friend lose a child, their pain breaks my heart. But... I do remind myself how important it is to take a deep breath and realize how lucky I am that I have been given these moments with my little ones. I am so lucky that I get to hold my children tight, smell their sweet skin, feel their giant bear hugs, wipe away their tears, put bandaids on their boo boo's, send them to time-out, rock them to sleep as they fuss, be woken up in the middle of the night to nurse, wipe away boogers, change stinky diapers, clean up puke, brush their hair as they scream NO!, read bedtime stories, check under the bed for scary monsters, listen to secrets, watch them learn and grow.

I am so privileged that I get to be on their journey and love them unconditionally.

Oh how I've missed you Lola.

2013-05-28T15:28:00.000-07:00

I MUST say how AMAZING it feels to be writing with Lola. If you didn't already know... Lola is one of my best friends she's my beautiful mac book. I will cry my heart out when she is no longer with me :( There has been so much energy and love and even sadness poured into her and I was missing her SO MUCH. What happened.. you may be wondering..? Well....my dearest Alexsis Rae was watching a movie on her on one of our trips to Utah and she spilled water all over her keyboard. I was devastated and thought it was going to cost me a million dollars to fix so I hesitated taking her in AND WHAT IF she wasn't fixable? OH MY GOD I would have died! But lo and behold she was fixed and it only took a few days and was less than 200 bucks. YAY! I must admit I am super attached to her! And writing feels so much easier. It flows better! I was stuck and now I feel like I could just type for hours and hours. Catching her up on all that she has missed. And truthfully all that YOU have missed. Although I have been using my husbands macbook (which looks identical to mine) it just wasn't the same. I couldn't write I sat there stuck. BUT with Lola my secret keeper and to be honest a little muse of mine I can do this I can speak my unspoken words. I can spell out my LOVE. WAHOO! This is exciting!

Okay I have more to say. A LOT more to say! but right now I must go pick up that little Alexsis from school.

I'm back. I can't believe I only have a few more weeks of walking to Lexi's school to pick her up. She will be in first grade! How did that happen? How did time fly by so fast! I'm not sure I am ready for her to be gone all day long. She helps me out so much with Evalyn will I be able to do it with her gone all day long? I think I will miss her WAY TOO MUCH. Maybe I'll homeschool. Nope probably not because that would be the selfish me talking. She loves being around her friends and she loves learning from her teacher. And I love that she loves all those things.

Evalyn just turned 7 months and I'm not quite sure I know how to handle that either! The last 7 months have flown by like it freaks me out. It also freaks me out that she is crawling around, pulling her self up to things and acting like a big girl. Can we please invent a pause button for time. I am trying to cherish each and every moment but time keeps slipping through my fingertips. Evalyn absolutely adores her big sister. When Lexi comes into the room, Evie's eyes LIGHT up. She doesn't get as excited with me or dad as she does when her sister comes to play! Whatever noises Lexi makes Evalyn tries to imitate. It's freaking ADORABLE!

There have been some major changes happening in this household and I couldn't be happier. The flow of life has started to move more smoothly. Jordan and I have decided to make healthier changes for ourselves and it took a lot of will power to rid of somethings that just weren't working for us personally and for our family. We aren't perfect but I can't imagine a more perfect life.

We have such amazing dreams for this family and we are well headed in our direction and we are so excited. Our two beautiful girls bring us so much joy as we bring each other joy as well. I couldn't ask for a better partner. Our marriage is far from perfect but it is growing strong. I am thankful for our hardships and the many lessons I've been learning. So many lessons. I am thankful for our pain, for our heartache. I am thankful for the arguments and the tears, without these we would not be growing and learning. We make a great team and I truly believe he is my true twin soul, and together we are powerful. We've been told that when we come together that our love fills the room and that the vibrations are so strong they can be felt. I am thankful for our love. I will be forever grateful for the teacher that he is to me and the amazing father he is to our children.

I've missed talking to you Lola. And I still have so much to say but for now my love I must sign off. The girls and I are headed to the gym so that this momma can get a break and enjoy some Yoga.

So much love and light.

The gym... and the germs.

2013-05-22T09:04:00.001-07:00

I've started going to the gym. Wow. I know right. Want to know one of the reasons that w holding me back? GERMS and my baby! I was terrified to take my little Evabug and drop here off with all those snotty nosed kids who wipe their noses with those little dirty hands and then touch everything in sight. This made me nervous. I didn't want those germs to be shared with my bug.

My thought process was that I would stay away from the gym cancel my pass that was rarely used before I was pregnant and just work out at home. I made myself a promise week after week that I was go to wake up extra early and go for a walk or a jog or use my exercise ball or hey do some yoga that I love. I was going to wake up extra early And so some lunges and squats etc.

Guess what not keeping these promises to myself made me feel like a failure. What was wrong with me why can't I keep these promises not myself. Why can't I be disciplined enough to take care of my body! Week after week I was letting myself down. And when I looked into the mirror I saw a failure.

I couldn't keep doing this to myself. Something needed to change and I was the only one who could make this change.

Thank you god for giving me such an amazing neighbor! That gym pass that wasn't being used was a pass to the same gym that my lovely neighbor went to and she knew this and every so often she invited me to go with her and after all those broken promises I decided it was time to face my fears about all those germs. And guess what it's been 3 weeks of going to the gym at least 4 times a week and can I tell you I am in love. I am in love with the energy it has given me and confidence it is slowly building.

My thought process now: not only am I building a healthy body my kids are building their immune system! Haha I haven't felt this good since well let's just say a very long time!
Some of you may be able to stick to home work outs and that's so freaking awesome. But I have to say being able to get a work out in with out my children disrupting me is so amazing. It's a great break and I know my kids are being cared for.

I'm ready to get fit! Lets do this! PS the husband is doing it too. We got this!

What's your workout routine? I'd love to hear all about it!

xoxo - JeNeal

Our Spring Break♥

2013-04-05T22:38:00.000-07:00

As my child cries in the background because she is so wore out, I sit here at my desk, trying to keep busy. If she were sleeping I'd listen to the silence and sit and be but because she is not asleep I sit and try to not rush to 'save' her. This is her time with her daddy a little bonding which I am sure her cries wear him out. But this is their time. My husband is an amazing father, this I already knew because he became a father the day he fell in love with me and has been AMAZING to our Lexi Rae. I'm so thankful for him!

Our Spring Break is ending. We were lucky that Jordan had the time off from work to spend with us but he's back to work again and school starts Monday. So much joy this week brought. I am sad to see it end.

Spring Break was perfect. The sun kissed our faces all week. We even started our garden!

We made sure we took a daily stroll to the park. I feel so privileged that the park is only a few blocks away. As Lexi was playing on the playground, and daddy was pushing little Eve in the baby swing, I sat down in the swing next to hers and lightly swayed back and forth. She would watch me and give me her biggest grin. I sat in this swing for a little while. I took every piece of this moment into me with each breath. I stared over my shoulder at my blonde little blue eyed princess climbing the slide, I checked out my handsome husband lightly pushing our little bug in the swing. Emma sitting close, our little protector. In these mere seconds I was overwhelmed with such warmth and so much love. My heart feeling so full. I felt pure bliss. I am so thankful for these little moments, these little reminders of love, and how perfect my life is. The crazy, emotional, hard times included.

find me here

A little Catch up + Sharing some AWESOME LINKS!

2013-03-01T01:30:00.000-08:00

Hey there!! and Welcome to MARCH.

Oh my gosh. Okay I have seriously missed you so much. The saddest part is that I don't have much of a reason to why I have been avoiding you. I have so much to tell you.

I've started Monster & Me and I couldn't be happier with the way it's been going. I was able to sell my monsters plus have a few custom orders in the works.
I can't wait to show them to all of you.

If you haven't yet go and like the Monster & Me facebook page.

Heads up... I'm making changes to the design of Pieces of Luv and don't worry you'll be seeing plenty more of this. As I'm growing I'm finding my self drawn to beautiful colors and designs and I just want to implement such things through the image of my blog. So be excited for some amazing changes and beauty.

Remember in my last post...

I told you about the amazing group I joined well in that group I have met thee MOST amazing LADIES. Like SERIOUSLY they are the most beautiful souls I have ever met. They have filled my heart with so much love and joy. I am witnessing some powerful work and I CANNOT wait to share each of them with YOU. Their love and magical sweetness is just to much to hold for my self I have to share them with you. Way too much beauty for one soul.

Daughter's of Earth is our name.

You have to check out Laura Em's apothecary circle. WOW. just WOW. I am learning such amazing stuff. I wish I could just do everything but for now I'm learning and growing and organizing. Creating my own tinctures, body scrubs, perfumes, etc will have to wait. But I am SO excited to get started. Soon my dears SOON.

Not all of us have our things going but there are a few who have LAUNCHED some amazing stuff!

Here you will find Elisabeth Stone. She is amazing, so young yet SO FULL of inspriation. I am in love with her and her amazing teachings! I cannot wait for this!

**Wheel of the Year**

Visit Polly the enchanted pixie. She has just launched her new e-book Herbs & Essential Oils you can get that for $8 umm DEAL! getting mine SOON! ALSO I'll be giving away a copy here on the blog.

While your at her blog head on over to her shop.
I bought this

Alright who of you have the bathroom/bathtub as your favorite place? UMM well I do. I meditate, listen to amazing music, and just chill out and separate from my mind, all while soaking in a warm candle lit bath. If you are like me you HAVE to check out Kaitlyn You might know her as Gypsy Moth Sol. She offers you delicious bath salts and scrubs.
!!! amazing !!! Check out her shop Here.

Visit Le Howl where you can find the beautiful Terrah Johnson. Her blog is full of love and her shop is amazing. I'm waiting on the Raven totem.

Darcey Blue is an amazing Herbalist and has so much to offer visit her here!

Danielle Toronyi with the beautiful blog Hearth and Field.

Find more wonderful herbs and awesome momma stuff at
Full Moon Creations by the beautiful Kami Fasan

Here's another inspiring blog to check out Sara Stephenson take a peak into tidbits of her life! You need to visit her shop too!

Marrissa Massie has a blog Moondaughter. I absolutely adore her posts about the moon. They are so beautiful and don't forget about stopping by her shop.

Here's a blog all about living a purposeful life, We Shall Fly by Richelle Ray. Her jewelry is stunning check out her shop.

Eric the artist. WOW it's simple she's freaking inspiring. Her art is so beautiful.
I bought this pretty from her.

Find her shop here.

Living off the grid sounds so lovely you can read more about just how amazing it is by visiting Jennifer Doucet's Blog.

You can find beautiful, healing words by visiting this blog by Robin the writer behind Soyala. Robin is a wonderful healer and she offers one on one sessions for those of you looking for some of that loving.

Don't worry if you can't get to all these amazing women today I'm going to have their stuff on my sidebar REALLY SOON!! But I recommend visiting each one of these beautiful souls.

Tell them Hello from me!!

What's going on in your life right now! I'd love to hear about it!
Thank you for your love. and your patience. I can't wait for all the amazing things to come. Thank you for being right <here> in this moment with me.

Find me Here ♥

Monday Morning. Few things going on in my world.

2013-02-04T07:23:00.000-08:00

Good Morning! It's another wonderful Monday. A fresh start to a wonderful new week. Today I'm writing to you from Utah! I'm still visiting family! It has been so SO great catching up with some of the most amazing people I know and love. Looking forward for the rest of this week with the other half of our family.

GUESS WHAT!? This weekend on my downtime I have been re-designing my blog! I cannot wait to have it done so that I can show it to you! It's so time consuming! but I'm getting close!

Some other great news! I've joined Erica's e-course Soul-Temple : Winter Session. She's so inspiring and I can't wait to get started. She's keeping registration open for a little while longer so if you want to join a beautiful group of women in an online art journaling workshop then head on over HERE and sign up. You won't regret it I'm sure of it! I've already met such amazing ladies!! and ERICA..oh my she's wonderful. She's the beauty who read us the cute story "The Little Soul and the Sun". If you haven't watched that video DO IT! It's amazing!

I've also joined the amazing Daughters of Earth. and I couldn't be more excited. I am well on my way to GREATNESS! I am so ready and so excited! And I love that you are going to be here with me along the way!

We still have one more love language to discuss. Physical Touch. That post will come a little later.

So we'll see you later!

Coffee or Tea? V.Log #1

2013-02-01T01:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday friends! Welcome to Coffee or Tea.. (I think I'm going to change the name of this series.) I'm obviously not drinking tea at the moment. haha.. more like sharing some awesome tidbits of my week. Any suggestions eh eh ?

While you are reading/watching this I'm on the long road to visit my awesome family. I wanted this first video to be much cooler HA! but I'm tight on time so this is gonna have to work. HEY HEY you get to stare at a REALLY cute baby.. Thats plenty of goodness...right??

If you haven't signed up for the newsletter... I'm not sending February's out until I get back from VACAY (next week) so you can still get in on February's.

Joining Alissa over at Rags to Stitches for a coffee date.

Thank You for being YOU.

Jan. 29, 2009 Slipping Away

2013-01-31T06:00:00.000-08:00

Hey there. Well today is the last day of January. It feels like that flew by so fast!

I've decided to start a new series for Thursdays. I think it's going to be interesting. I see a lot of people doing Throw back Thursday's on Instagram and Facebook with old awesome photos and I just love that idea. But I'm going to change it up a little. I'm going to share with you some of my old journal entries.

Each Thursday will be a part of my past. The official beginning of my spiritual journey. After the divorce. I don't visit before the divorce very often. I've burned many of those pages in a ritual of healing. So we start after the divorce.

So if your interested in hopping on the roller coaster of JeNeal's life. Join me here for the next few Thursdays.

Jan. 29, 2009 Slipping Away

Things change so fast. Life slips between the cracks, it's gone before you can say goodbye. Are you ready? ARE YOU READY? Ready to maintain the speed of life? What do you want? What makes you? When are you happy? Why do you go back to your "what ifs" back to your past? Why do you hold on and let the taste of pain linger on your lips?

Jealousy plays a huge part in your life. Aren't you happy enough for them to be happy. Why does it matter so much how they feel about you? Why are you always trying to prove who you are to them. They don't matter, their thoughts shouldn't influence your being. You do't need to feel needed by every person. Find that balance again, it is there hiding somewhere inside. Balance is all you need. Focus on NOW. Now is where you are at. Take in this moment. Today is one day you will never have again. Take your knowledge, growth with you for tomorrow and for the following days.

I've come so far. It's crazy to think back then when I had no clue what was in store for me. There will be high's and low's on this roller coaster ride. I'm letting you time travel into my past. Inside my thoughts that once were so vulnerable.

Do you ever look back on past journal entries? It's so much fun! If you do and decide to post something in your past PLEASE let me know. I'd love to read it!

Have a wonderful Thursday..

simplified beauty{WIW:Winter}

2013-01-30T06:00:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I posted a WIW. I love this outfit because it was SO cheap.

vintage cream sweater was $15
mustard boyfriend tee was a from my cousin costing only $5
red skinny jeans I shopped from the poshmark "shop my closet" app for $20
gray boots I picked up at The Rack (love this place) for $50

Everything I purchased was on SALE. I HATE spending money on clothes but I also want to look and feel good. So I love to find clothing pieces that already have a story. If there's no story then I'm hitting the sale racks. You can find me shopping at our local thrift stores, vintage shops, other's closets or the sale racks either in store or online. I'll occasionally pay full price for something but it has to be WAY cute and in a reasonable price range!

Where do you shop and what draws you in?

Have a wonderful Wednesday!!

I cry because I love you.

2013-01-30T01:43:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I cry. Not because my feelings are hurt, not because I am in physical pain. But because there is so much more to this life. I know where I want to be but I have yet to find the exact path but i'm getting there. I'm scared, excited, and filled with so much hope. I have so much to learn and so much to offer but where do I start? Where do I find my path of greatness?

All of my life I've felt different. In elementary up until eighth grade I knew who I was. I wasn't afraid, I didn't care and I tried to love everyone. I wasn't perfect and I had moments of meanness that I am totally ashamed of, but I wasn't afraid of being different. We hit high-school and everything changed. I was different and I knew it. I couldn't stand cliques and never joined any teams or programs because I never felt like it fit. I hated the competition. I disliked how the people on such and such teams treated others. It was as if you weren't accepted if you didn't belong to some sort of team and you were treated with dis-respect and hatefulness. I hated that, it cut me to the core. Instead of having groups of girlfriends and trying to be a part of something and socialize I decided to get a job at 13. I loved working, I loved being away from the cliques and working with people that were older and didn't attend my school. I hated trying to be something I was not. I didn't fit in the social scene and I didn't want to. I wanted something more from the human race. Since then I've always been on this journey to find like minded people. I found a few through out my life that just accepted ME for Me and I thank God for them because they showed me love at my worst and laughed with me and my oddness although they may have never understood me. They repeatedly reminded me that I was something and it definitely wasn't nothing.

I've been drawn to fairy's and magic all of my life; wishing I could hold the powers within me. Wishing so badly they existed and deep down believing they were real. Just because something is unseen doesn't mean it doesn't exist. I'm deeply in love with the power of the moon. The healing of crystals and the importance of energy healing. I've been called crazy for my belief in such things. I didn't grow up with people teaching me about these things. I grew up in a small town where everyone attended the same church, and no one really lived the "rules".
How can you live a way but believe in something different?
This confused me. My soul was drawn to this unconventional way of life; this spiritual healing from within my own body. I just can't get enough knowledge. I want MORE MORE & MORE. Slowly I am learning and slowly my EGO is fading. MY EGO IS FADING. OH MY GOD how amazing this feels. FREEDOM at last. I'm not quite there but I'm headed in that direction.

Fot the past SEVEN years I've been on this journey of self love. I knew I wouldn't find it in my little town where people loved me but where I was so misunderstood. It just wasn't there. YES It's true! I search for auras trying to see their glow. AND I'm getting better with practice. Yes I have tarot cards they speak to me and help me through my journey. So I moved away to another small town. I was raised to believe in one true religion, so I thought moving away would give me answers. I really tried I TRUELY tried to be a part of it all. I've had religion jammed down my throat from the day I was born. I was drowning. I went to church like I was supposed to and God spoke to me, but it wasn't complete... something just didn't feel right. It didn't make me feel alive it made me shrink up inside. I felt like the certain things that called to me so strongly were so right when they were telling me it was so wrong. Something was wrong with me!? I knew this couldn't be how it was supposed to feel. I couldn't do it. I cried, and I cried hard. I cried while kneeling at my bedside and praying as hard as I could. While my hands filled with tears. I asked God... I told God, "I can't do this. It doesn't feel right to me as hard as I try and try again I cannot live this religion." I stopped, I listened and then God spoke to me as plain as day "You are enough, you are loved, you are great, YOU ARE OKAY JUST BEING YOU." As these words ran through my head I had this amazing feeling of comfort. I felt so much peace in this moment. My body felt warm as if I were receiving a giant hug.
Tears still fill my eyes to this day thinking of that moment on my knees. Never in my life have I heard these words so clearly. Never have I felt the way I felt in that moment in any other time in my life. Religion wasn't made for me. It just wasn't and I needed to accept that even though I was being pulled and pulled I needed to push back and be REAL. I needed to be ME. And be OKAY with being me. This post isn't to tell you that religion is bad or wrong. I'm just saying that it isn't for me.

I'm an Indigo, I'm a gypsy goddess. I have this crazy intuition that burns outward from within my soul. I don't live the life of an average person. I wasn't created to sit at a nine to five office job that didn't help me grow as a person.

I wasn't meant to live the "average" life.

I have so much more to offer. Offerings to mother nature, to our moon and the sun, to the unseen fairies, to my sisters of this world, and MOST importantly to my two gorgeous mermaids, my little children born of the rainbow who have so much to teach ME.

I have been given a gift. The gift to be the temporary guide for these beautiful little girl's while on their journey in this lifetime. I was chosen to share with them my love and support. Give to them my offerings.

I know there are going to be some of you who snicker, and think I'm so wrong and maybe a little loony but this is my truth. And I'm going to share this truth from here on out. I'm no longer going to hide behind the giant rock. I will step out and share with you the importance of healing your soul. The importance of self love. I want to share the magic of Mother Earth and how she heals us with nature.

I want to give to you... pieces of my LOVE.

This blog is mine. It is a blog about me and my spiritual journey. It is about SELF LOVE and how to teach our children how beautiful we are. We come from GOD we are a piece of GOD. All of us sisters and brothers; little particles of God. All connected to one another.

I want YOU to be a part of this journey. I want to help you grow and evolve into something bigger something amazing. I love you and my heart hurts to know the pain that comes with sadness and feeling alone. When we are never alone we have that piece of God within us.. that little light that grows ever so dim unless we release our ego. Look how beautiful you are. You were created for a reason, you were created for a purpose and until you find that purpose life will never be meaningful.

If these things offend you then maybe this blog isn't for you. I'm not a preacher but I'm a giver. And I have many gifts to offer. I accept everyone for their beliefs and you are all welcome in my little world.

I cry because these gifts are sealed up, I'm still learning and growing. I haven't yet released my ego.

I cry because I'm the happiest I've ever been.

I cry because I'm overwhelmed with love.

I cry because I am connected to YOU and I feel your pain.

I am JeNeal. I am an Indigo, a gypsy Goddess. I am a Libra. I am a raven that soars high with the wind.
I am a mother to angels. I am a wife to greatness. I am your sister.

Who are YOU?

"What you seek is seeking you." --Rumi

visit here for the pictures in this post and for many more amazing words and images.

Tasty Tuesday: Pizza

2013-01-29T07:30:00.000-08:00

Hey there luvs! Food is on the mind and today I'm sharing with you my favorite dinner. We've actually just made it into our Every Monday dinner.

Our Monday's are super busy with school and then gymnastics and usually the husband is working until way late (a usual 12 hour shift)<----sad face! And I usually like to use Monday's for planning the week. Which has been hard lately! I feel like I've lost my little routine. But I'm really trying to get into the groove of things. . . Like Yesterday I actually cleaned my bathroom, cleaned my kitchen, swept and vaccummed. That is a lot guys.. I haven't been able to do anything with miss bug's cat naps. It felt amazing crossing things off of my to do list.

Okay now back to the food.. PIZZA.. Who doesn't like pizza? actually I can name a person, my sister Caitlin. Which is so weird to me cause I LOVE PIZZA!

I've also found a new love for avocados.. I know right! I was soo missing out all these years. Jord and I have really been trying to incorporate more veggies into our diet. We are slowly kicking out meat and I'm really loving it! Along with the love for avocados, I'm finding that I really LOVE vegetables. Like A LOT!

SO we decided to take a regular cheese pizza from Papa Murphy's (the best kind) and add our OWN fresh vegetables to the pie. And voila the best pizza I've ever had like seriously. Well that one time in NYC now that was super amazing but come on it's New York City.

Here's ours.

(it's true i couldn't resist i had to eat some before i took the picture!)

Looks yummy huh!? We added spinach, mushrooms, bell peppers, and of course avocado.

I love you Monday. Not only is it a fresh start to a fabulous week.. I DON'T HAVE TO COOK! <---thats the best part. easy peasy thankyouzeee ..?? {just go with it}

Where is your favorite Pizza from and what veggies would/do you add?

Happy Tuesday luvs! You are all so wonderful! I love you.

Love Language # 4

2013-01-28T05:30:00.000-08:00

"Requests give direction to love, but demands stop the flow of love."

I really loved that quote when reading this chapter. I so often catch myself demanding things from Jordan. Often do I feel that it is HIS DUTY to do such and such and this and that. But in reality it isn't anyone's "duty" we should be doing things out of love for one another.

I feel like this would be Jordan's second love language. Having a clean house, dinner ready for him on occasion (maybe one day it'll be everyday) these things make him feel loved. I'd have to say that I feel his love when he does things around the house. Lately, with having a new baby in the house I've been overwhelmed with house chores and a new baby, plus a busy little six year old. There just isn't enough time in the day to get everything I would like done. After a long 12 hour day at work Jord will come home take the baby, and simply ask if there is something he could help me with. I definitely feel the love coming from him. I know he's just as tired as I am but he's willing to help me out. I appreciate this.

I'd like to share a few suggestions that the book offers for spouses to try at home.

Cut out heart shaped note cards and write on them "Today I wil show my love for you by...." fill in with an act of service... the laundry, mop the floors, clean the car....etc Do this every three days for a month.

Has your spouse been nagging you to finish something? If so it must be important to them make the nag a "tag" and CHOOSE to do it as an expression of LOVE.

Periodically ask your spouse, "If I could do one special act of service for you this week, what would it be?" Fulfill this act.

Wouldn't it be nice if our LOVE TANKS were always being filled?

Do you have any suggestions? What are you doing to fill your spouse's love tank?

Have a GREAT MONDAY!

Click here if you're curious to find out who the winner of the GIVEAWAY was.

and the winner is......

2013-01-28T01:10:00.000-08:00

Enter to WIN!

2013-01-25T00:30:00.000-08:00

It has been a great start to a new year! We are almost heading into February and I am ecstatic to launch Monster & Me. I thought a perfect way to head into the month is by hosting a fabulous GIVEAWAY! One of you are going to be getting some AWESOME MAIL! I love receiving packages in the mail! Especially when filled with such cool stuff...!!

I'm so happy that Nay and Erica wanted to join me for this. They are awesome make sure you head on over to their blogs and tell them thanks!

There will be ONE WINNER who gets it all! FUN!

I'll announce the winner once the giveaway is over. GOOD LUCK!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Love Language #3 Receiving Gifts

2013-01-22T13:19:00.000-08:00

Can we pretend today is Monday? This last weekend I've felt so drained and it just led onto Monday. SAD FACE. I even forgot to take my little Lexi to her gymnastics class yesterday. The no school thing threw my whole world out of whack. PLUS if you are my friend on facebook you would know that I CUT MY BABIES finger off! Okay no not really but I did cut her itty bitty thumb while trying to trim her nails. TOTALLY not my weekend. THEREFORE my monday post is late. I apologize but I'm sure it doesn't really matter to anyone but ME.

Onward my friends with Love Language #3 Recieving Gifts.

This chapter was the LEAST marked in my book. It didn't really talk to me as it may talk to some of you. I do feel it is just as important.

"A gift is something you can hold in your hand and say, 'hey look he was thinking of me' or 'she remembered me'. You must be thinking of someone to give them a gift."

Giving gifts is just something we do in love. We give the gift of a ring when we are proposing. We give gifts to new mothers, in celebration of a loved one's birthday. When we give something to someone unexpected it just shows that we were thinking of them and that we love them.

"Gifts are visual symbols of love."

This love language is the easiest love languages of the 5. How easy if your spouse is someone who loves receiving gifts then all you have to do is give them gifts here and there. You don't even have to spend a lot of money. It's the thought that matters. Your gift could even be handmade, which could pull on those heart strings even more.

There was a part in this chapter that talked about the "Gift of Self". That is what really spoke to me. He also called this the gift of presence. He had a story about a man who was there for everything but never really there. It really caused the wife to feel as if he didn't love her.

"Almost everything ever written on the subject of love indicates that at the heart of love is the spirit of giving. All five love languages challenge us to give to our spouse."

There are some of us though that might need physical evidence of love. Visual symbols of love. If this is YOUR love language express this. It is so important that we communicate how we feel loved.

Breastfeeding.

2013-01-17T12:37:00.000-08:00

I’ve had this post planned for a long time I just didn’t know how to really talk about it. It’s totally awkward talking about my boobs. But I really REALLY think that this post might be beneficial so some other MOMS out there, who were/are in my boat. And yes you read that right… today I am talking about MY BOOBS and how awful it was to breast feed my first little mermaid.

If you have read this post you will know I had delivered my first baby girl Alexsis, in the hospital with random midwives and then my second Evalyn, delivered in our home in my bed. This being said I have to say the support that I received from the first time to the second time was completely different.

When I saw other mother’s breastfeeding it looked so simple, so natural. I was so excited to be a part of that. A beautiful bond in which, a mother nourishes her baby with her own milk that was produced to love and nurture her baby. It was so important to me to be able to do this. Then there was reality…OUCH! Breastfeeding was so painful. I tried and tried and tried again. I tried until my nipples were raw and bleeding. Even with my trying and asking for help nothing seemed to work. My little baby wasn’t getting enough milk, I was completely engorged, bleeding, and felt like a complete failure. I was so sad. I had to turn to the bottle and let my milk dry up. This is what that doctor told me. I guess I just wasn’t fit for nursing my baby. My boobs were broken, and so was my heart.

The second time around I was convinced that I was broken and that I just wasn’t meant to breastfeed. I was sad but I had been through this before so I was prepared. I discussed my sadness to my wonderful midwife and she told me the MOST WONDERFUL news. She told me that I was not broken that maybe I had been doing it wrong. She gave me hope. YAY! I was so excited.

When Evalyn came and it was time to nurse I faced the same problems I had with Alexsis. I was bummed. My midwife had shown me a few holds but little Evalyn still wasn’t latching. It hurt so bad I wanted to scream! The pain was excruciating, and here I was back to being “broken”. I wasn’t going to give up though and I didn’t. Then a miracle happened (yes I consider this a miracle) my friend/teacher who taught the hypno-birthing classes called me to see how I was doing, I told her how amazing the birth went but that I was sad because my boobs were broken. Right then and there she set up a time with me to help me fix this problem. She was a nursing expert and had helped many mothers with this SAME PROBLEM. What? I wasn’t the only one with broken boobs!?! She came over to my home and she gave me a few tips. That was it. I WAS FIXED. It still took time for Evalyn and I to learn together but I don’t think that I would have ever been able to nurse if it wasn’t for my dear friend Zylina.

I want to share that tip with you. It’s so simple and yet so great! She told me that the baby needed a mouthful. I needed to make sure she latched to more than just the nipple. I needed to feed her a “boob sandwich” haha that sounds so funny to me but it worked. Cup your hands in a “C” shape four fingers under your breast and thumb on top like you are holding a sandwich. Try to tip the nipple up so that it is aimed for the roof of the baby’s mouth and past the hard gums. This took a few tries but IT WORKED. My nipple was no longer being pinched. PLUS my little Evalyn was getting way more milk.

The second thing I learned about breastfeeding was how to handle the engorgement. My nipples were fine now what was I going to do with the painful engorgement? Well from trial and error I found out that a RICE SOCK was the best thing ever. Right before feeding I would heat up our rice sock and I would massage my breasts with the warm sock. This would help my milk let down and soften so that I could get a grip of the “boob sandwich” to feed. It felt so amazing. The release was such a nice feeling. I was doing this. I was nursing my baby and it was amazing.

There was ONE MORE THING I had to learn and that was the football position. I had kept with one position because it worked…until it didn’t. I ended up getting large lumps on top of my breasts that would HURT so badly. It was as if the milk wasn’t draining in these parts. So I then read about clogged milk ducts, yep this is what it was and it said to change feeding positions so that all the milk was released. I tried rotating positions and IT WORKED. No more clogged areas.

After about 3 weeks of trial and error I was a breastfeeding CHAMP! My baby had doubled her weight and was as healthy as could be. The engorgement subsided and I no longer had to use the “boob sandwich” technique. Little miss bug and I had learned together and now I just had to place my nipple by her cheek and she would latch on like there was never a problem.

I’m grateful for this learning experience. I’m grateful that I am able to nurse my baby. I love nursing time. I love the bonding and the way she looks up at me when she’s eating. There are times she’ll take a break just to smile at me. I LOVE THIS.

I wanted to write this post to other MOMS who may have broken boobs. I was that mom and I learned new tricks. I had the support and I am so thankful for this. I wish you good luck and seriously don’t be afraid to ask and get help. It isn’t as easy as it looks well not for everyone. I feel privileged to be able to nurse my baby and I just hope that this post can help at least one struggling, broken boobs, MOM.

Tasty Tuesday : Huevos Rancheros

2013-01-15T01:00:00.000-08:00

Yum! Okay so Jordan and I have been on this "eating healthy" kick and it has been soooo awesome. I have found out that I am capable of drinking 100oz of water a day (although I really slacked today) it has felt great. I also found out that I am in LOVE with avocados! How did I not know this? I can put avocados on EVERYTHING.

Well today I'm sharing with you my NEW favorite breakfast! Although it isn't as healthy as I want it to be it is so delicious.

My husband has introduced me to: Huevos Rancheros

YOU HAVE TO TRY THIS!

Ingredients:

corn tortilla
Tb veggie oil
egg
1/2 avocado
mushrooms
handfull of bell peppers
black beans
quinoa
shredded mexican cheese

First heat up your corn tortilla to crispy on the stove with veggie oil, when crispy top it with some shredded mexican cheese. We cooked our mushrooms and bell peppers on our awesome griddle, then we cooked our egg over medium. We had left over black beans and quinoa from our tacos the night before. Perrrfect.

Add the quinoa and beans to your tortilla, then your egg, get those cooked veggies on top of that egg then at last add your delicious avocado. MMM enjoy!

Do you have an awesome recipe with avocado? If so PLEASE share.. I am seriously putting avocado on everything. Would love to add more yumminess to my day!

Second Love Language: Quality Time

2013-01-14T09:25:00.000-08:00

If you were to look at my book you would see a bunch of markers poking out the side. If you were to turn to the pages with the most markers you would find most of them in one place. The SECOND love language, Quality Time.

I knew after a page that this was MY LOVE LANGUAGE. It spoke so loud and I remember saying Ah HA! out loud. By knowing this was my language I had a more of an understanding of myself. There was a reason I felt the way I did. My love tank needed to be filled with quality time.

Quality time doesn't mean sitting in the same room as each other. It means interacting with one another.

"a central aspect of quality time is togetherness.

I do not mean proximity...

Togetherness has to do with focused attention."

Before I knew that this was my primary love language I had a hard time with understanding why I was feeling so down at times. I wondered why I questioned the love Jord had for me. I KNEW he loved me because he always told me so, I knew he loved me by the way he would hold my hand and his enormous hugs. But there was something missing and I just could not put my finger on it. I had this insane amount of jealousy as well when he would want to go out with his buddies for a few hours. Or when his family came I would always get a little ornery. I had no idea it had to do with my love language.

After I had read this chapter a light bulb went off. I finally understood what I was feeling and finally I KNEW how I could explain to Jordan why I was getting upset over such silly things.

I needed quality time. I needed time where we spent talking about our days. I needed time together before it was spent watching television together. I needed to play cards instead every once in a while. I needed our dates together alone with out the distractions of children and the house chores.

Once I knew these things I felt so much better. My love tank was being filled. And so did Jordan he now knows that it takes more than a kiss, more than his words I love you, it takes a few minutes each night to talk about our day. A night of cards every once in a while, and an occasional date night! All which he is very happy doing. He understood where I was coming from when I would get jealous. (although it was silly and ridiculous) There was a reason for me feeling the way I did. I wasn't crazy! It was just that my love tank wasn't being filled with MY primary love language.

Do you feel like there is something missing and you just don't understand. Maybe it is YOUR time to find your language of love ooh la la.

There are 3 more love languages, leave a comment if you know your primary love language. or share a little story I'd love to hear about it!

Hope that all of you have a wonderful Monday! I think the sickness has subsided and I'll be here all this week! Hope to see you!

the sickness has taken over

2013-01-09T09:59:00.002-08:00

Friends! Yesterday I unplugged and boy did it feel nice. Thinking of unplugging at least once a week from here on out! I was able to get a HUGE house project started and almost finished (Lexi's room) we are going through her play room and bedroom and getting rid of the toys she no longer plays with and organizing it! I'll have a post on that soon.

ALSO. my family has caught the sick bug. So I'm going to take the rest of this week to help get everyone better!! I'll hopefully have a few posts if I can find time to get them all posted but if not I'll see you on Monday when (praying) everyone is feeling at their best and doesn't need their momma right there the WHOLE time. including the husband ;)

Haven't forgotten about 365. I'm just going to collaborate and have them at the end of the month. I have far other important posts than photo's of myself. haha!

Hope that you all are having an amazing week! We'll see you soon!

One of Five. Words of Affirmation

2013-01-07T14:31:00.000-08:00

If you have subscribed to my newsletter I told you that starting this Monday I was going to have a post each Monday about the book I’ve been reading well re-reading. I finished it in December but I can’t get over how much it has helped me see a new light in relationships!

The book is called: The FIVE LOVE Languages, by Gary Chapman.

“We must be willing to learn our spouse’s primary love language if we are to be effective communicators of love.”

I have to first say, I have an AMAZING marriage. It isn’t perfect and it is something that I have to work at EVERYDAY. This book has helped make it easier though.

What I got from this book: First, I found out MY primary love language, which in return told me SO MUCH about myself. Second I found out HIS love language and WOW that was another great insight. We have VERY different love languages. This book talks about a “LOVE TANK” and how it needs to be filled and to fill it you first need to find out HOW.

Each Monday for the rest of the month I thought it would be fun to explain each love language.

The First Love Language is: Words of Affirmation

I read this book with my own relationship in mind and immediately, I realized this is my husbands Love Language. He is ALWAYS saying wonderful things to me. He has always tells me how beautiful I am, and how much he appreciates me. It makes me feel so good! So I started doing more words of affirmation and I could tell that he appreciated it.

“Love is kind. If then we are to communicate love verbally, we must use kind words.”

As a wife who is a stay at home mom, I’ve realized that there are times I get jealous of my spouse because he gets time away from the home WITH ZERO kids He gets moments where he is known as Jordan instead of DAD. I’m sure he feels the opposite. He’d rather be dad then Jordan at times. He works hard and when he gets home he works hard again. Instead of expecting him to jump right in and help me out with the kids I’ve learned that he’s much more willing to help out without me becoming a “nag” when I’ve told him how much I appreciate his hard work and thank him for taking the baby while I do this and that. Thank him for being so helpful. Not just expect it… actually appreciating it. Set aside my stupid pride and tell him how much I love his help.

“I can live for two months on a good compliment” –- Mark twain

Are you using your words to tell your spouse you love him? BESIDES the words “I LOVE YOU”. Try and pay attention. Maybe your husband needs these words. Fill those “love tanks” with loving words of affirmation. Let’s compliment them more make sure they really know how much we love them.

Hope you guys have a Great Monday. I’ll be posting my 365 project post later this evening. Some come back and visit!

a little catch-up! project 365 photo a day

2013-01-06T15:02:00.000-08:00

I am sorry I went MISSING these last three days. I wasn’t even there for coffe… or tea (your choice). Lexi brought home the bug and it has just been a yucky house filled with sickies. I have to tell you though these days of rest have really REALLY been inspirational. I’ve done a few tarot readings and I’ve met some people that are just so FULL OF LOVE and it radiates out of them and into me. I feel like I’ve been awakened from a deep sleep and now is the time to WAKE AND BE ALIVE! I am feeling consumed with love and it’s intensity! I hope that most of you are feeling much love as well!

As you may already know that I’m doing a 365 project. It’s a photo a day. And I’m also doing this month’s NaBloPo themed ENERGY so this is some catch-up. Hope you enjoy. And are having a LOVELY weekend. See you tomorrow!

There are times that I run out of energy. There are times that I just cannot do ANY MORE. The days move so fast at times it is so hard to keep up. There comes a point that I am in dire need of recharging.

How do I recharge? Let me tell you my all time favorite thing to do… I fill the bathtub full of hot water and bubbles; I play some soft inspiring music on the iPad, light a candle turn out the lights and soak. Here I see visions. Visions of the life I have and how beautiful it is and I visualize of the life that has yet to come. The life where I watch my beautiful mermaids grow into amazing young women. I watch myself grow old with my lover. I visualize trips to the mountains and sometimes I visualize magic. My very own eyes capture a magical world where fairies exist and I’m surrounded by beauty. I’m there with my little ones talking to the trees. Watching them run freely and beautifully. I drift off into a dream made of love.

I have missed this world, and these moments of magic. Lately, my time in the bath has been cut short. I’ve been taken back to reality with the cries of a baby who is in need of her momma. But that is love as well and I enjoy the moments I get to hold her and give her all that she needs. There will be a moment not so far away that I’ll be in that tub dreaming of yesterday when I was holding my little bug and kissing her little round head; a moment where I dream of her older sister as a child who can’t get enough of my kisses and hugs. Those are the moments I’ll cherish forever.

What do YOU do to recharge your energy when you are drained?

Early in the morning when the house is asleep and I have finished my morning routine of yoga, meditation, and writing is when I feel the most energetic. I feel the most inspired at this time as well. The quiet house lets me think clearly. The peace allows me to start on projects and get quite far. This energy often lasts throughout the day. If I don’t follow this simple, yet so rewarding, morning routine I feel myself lack throughout the day, I feel as if there isn’t enough energy to share.

When do YOU feel most energetic & productive?

I'm going to spend the rest of today.. relaxing and enjoying the downtime with my kiddies trying to heal and be refreshed for tomorrow!

project 365 {day 2}

2013-01-02T22:52:00.000-08:00

YESTERDAY, I came to the conclusion that I draw all of my energy from within, you can read about that here. Now, where does all that energy go? What are the tasks that require most of my energy? I was really pondering this question all day today. I've realized the task that took most of my time (besides my children) is cooking. I am in the kitchen more than I am anywhere else. I am there for tea, and breakfast; there’s always a snack if not a snack for me it’s a snack for Lexi. Then we have lunch hmmm what should we have for lunch? Surely, another snack after lunch of some sort will be eaten afterwards. Then we come to dinner. OH boy! Now, this is the hard part. What in the HELL am I going to make for dinner? This question has brought me so much anxiety since I’ve become a stay at home mother and a wife. I never cooked, I never learned and I NEVER wanted to.

Cooking has been such a battle that I despised it. I hated it so bad that it made me angry, angry enough to bitch and moan about it. HA! How stupid is that? Cooking made me angry!? After a lot of time spent within myself I decided that this feeling wasn’t a feeling that I wanted in my life. I didn’t want to be angry every time I had to be in the kitchen. Then one day I was sitting in the kitchen all pissed off and said to myself, “ JeNeal..get the freak over it! You have to eat and you want to eat healthy so buck up!” And that was it. I then decided to set up an affirmation on my bathroom mirror and every day since I have read that affirmation, I’ve said it out loud in the mirror to myself (along with other daily affirmations) and guess what. I am starting to enjoy cooking. Can you believe that!? Tonight for the first time EVER I was able to look in my fridge (which is pretty bare) and come up with something and something DELICIOUS for dinner. I know how pathetic that might sound, but I’m telling you that was the hardest task for me. Seriously it was insanely hard for me to figure out what I wanted to make my family for dinner. Unless I had meal planned earlier that week.. we would be headed out for fast food. And it sucked. Fast food didn’t feel good. The saddest part was that we had food… GOOD food, sitting there in my fridge. Waiting for me to cook up something tasty. Deep down I knew I could, and I just had to have a little change of heart.

Okay back to the point… AHEM… we were talking about the task that took most of my energy… and that was cooking. I can GLADLY say that I don’t mind this anymore. And to be honest, it is actually starting to not require as much energy. Because I have chosen to change my perspective and attitude, I feel good about the energy that is being used. It is purposeful; food is a requirement to keep your body in its tip-top. I want to be happy and healthy, not only spiritually but also physically.

Where do YOU spend most of your energy? Is it joyful? If not YOU can certainly change that!

PS I'll be sharing the yummy recipe with you soon! :D

I'm joining other bloggers at:

WIW: baby wearing edition

2013-01-02T12:22:00.000-08:00

This isn't a fashion post...it's a post about how I LOVE wearing my baby. I haven't been wearing her for a few days and I'm not sure why!? I love having her sit right on my chest and cozy. I love being able to watch her sleep and feel her tiny breaths. I love being able to lower my chin and smell her delicious head. I love being handsfree so that I can get things done all the while I'm holding my little one.

I love this outfit (my Moby Wrap) more than any other.

I love wearing my baby.

project 365 {day 1}

2013-01-01T23:55:00.000-08:00

From where do I draw my energy? What a broad question. There are different kinds of energy that is needed through out my day. To be able to have the energy to wake up in the morning I need to make sure I get enough rest the night before. To be able to have energy for the rest of the day I need to make sure I wake up, exercise, and meditate. Doing these things sets me up for having an excellent day. I feel that it is so important to accomplish at least this much. If chores get set aside I know that I DID do at LEAST one thing, I took time to be ME. During the day I don’t get time for me. Being a mom comes with sharing every little bit of your day with your kids, husband, and don’t forget the house that needs tended to.

I have realized that if I spend at least an hour or two spending time with myself each morning I’ll have enough energy for the rest of my family. Enough energy for a three month old that loves to be held, enough energy for my six year old that requires a lot of playing and running around. I’ll have enough energy to run my errands, finish a few chores, cook a meal for my family, and enough energy to spend some quality time with my husband.

I guess I would have to say that I draw my energy from within. If I want to have enough energy to last throughout my day I need to start from within; I start my day with my soul. It’s a pretty great feeling, this feeling of getting to know me. Since I’ve started spending time with my soul I’ve really gained an awesome new friend. This friend pushes me and supports me all day long. The awesome part is that I’m still getting to know me, and the power of MY ENERGY.

My word for 2013: LOVE

2013-01-01T23:38:00.000-08:00