Shaping Up To Be A Mom

This is what "I Love You" looks like

2013-05-18T10:03:00.000-07:00

Here is my super belated Mother's Day post. Actually I had planned on doing something a little different and featuring some of my favorite "Mommy bloggers" but the time just got away from me. Instead I'm going to show you what Daniel and the kids made for me this year.

First I just want to say that as "politically correct" as we have to be about the winter holidays now, I think Mother's Day has gotten even worse! I know it's nice to be thoughtful and remember those who want to be mothers and aren't, or those who have lost children, or those who have lost mothers, or those fathers who have to be father and mother, and the list could really go on forever. Of course there is nothing wrong with recognizing those categories of individuals, but I also think it's okay to just say Happy Mother's Day to the moms and not feel like you are being insensitive! I mean, when your birthday comes around, do you feel the need to recognize all the people who just didn't happen to be born on that day?

I have a friend who has struggled with infertility, and I was so impressed by what she wrote as her Facebook status on Mother's Day. I hope she doesn't mind me sharing it here:

Happy Mother's Day to all my infertile sisters out there. I know this day is not a fun one especially as each year passes. But we are just as important to our Father in Heaven as the women who have birthed babies. Let us never forget that we have important work to do also and that is why we are here. Our time will come when we become mothers either in this life or the next. But until that day let's remember to enjoy some things one being able to sleep, two no foreign stains on our clothes, three being able to pretty much do whatever the heck we want. Love you all enjoy today by doing whatever you want. Happy Mother's Day to my sisters with kids you ladies rock.

How much more thoughtful can you get than by acknowledging your struggle, then talking about the positive side of that struggle, and then wishing a happy day to those who do have children? I just thought it was really well said.

Okay, now here is what Daniel surprised me with on that morning, when we were in California:

When he gave it to me he said, "This is what it looks like when we say we love you."

A few days before he had banished me to the car while he got the kids to record themselves saying, "I love you." He explained to them that it was for a present for me, and he demonstrated what they were supposed to do by leaning close to his computer and saying, "I love you!"

He said that Vanessa then leaned forward right away and said, "I love you...Mommy!" So then Carter said the same thing: "I love you, Mommy!" And that's what you see in the frame.

He took screen caps of the audio waves and then prettied them up in Illustrator. Daniel's is first, Vanessa's is in the middle, and Carter's is on the bottom. He said it was supposed to be three different frames, but he ended up doing it as a collage in one frame. I love it, and it's currently hanging up next to my bed where I can see it before I fall asleep and first thing in the morning.

What a unique, special Mother's Day present! Daniel then told me to expect flowers and breakfast in bed from now on! Haha! He knows how I feel about birthdays and holidays; I just care that they are acknowledged in some form. Sometimes it's a big present, sometimes it's a small present, sometimes it's been a secret trip or a song he's written for me, and sometimes it's just the acknowledgment, and that's really all I need!

But my birthday is on Thursday so... ;)

Be Good With Names

2013-05-17T21:40:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to post something quick here (another post coming right behind this one!), to say thank you for all the kind comments left on this post, from Thursday. Also thanks to those of you who texted/facebooked me or tweeted about it. I definitely felt the love and empathy. I wasn't sure that the words would come out just right, but from the response I've gotten, it seems like something struck a chord. So thanks for saying sweet things and building me back up.

Big zebra hug for you!

For those of you who said you feel the same way, I hope that you can work through it and please let me know if I can do anything to help. I think that the number one thing we can do is to comment on one another's blogs. I am super behind on reading my favorite blogs, nevermind commenting, but when I'm on top of things, I comment a LOT. Social media follows are great and sharing is even better, but comments are more personal, and I know everybody loves them!

Also I should mention that about 24 hours after posting this, two great opportunities came my way, including one of the ones that I thought I had been rejected for! So...complain and ye shall receive?!

Here's something else worth mentioning... One of my personal philosophies is that there is an incredible importance in knowing people's names. I hate it when people say, "I'm so bad with names," because I think it's important NOT to be bad with names. I have a little bit of an advantage because I have a really good memory, but I also make a concerted effort to know and remember people's names.

This is a big part of my teaching philosophy- to know kids' names is to show them respect and importance.
Many times over the years I have called a student by name to have them respond by being so surprised and pleased that I knew it. When I was directing the ensemble of a very large musical (40+ people in the ensemble) I made sure to learn the names of everyone I didn't already know (mostly by being very alert and paying attention to what was happening around me), and the very first time I worked with them, I started by going down the line and saying every person's name. The response was fantastic.

So if I ever have to ask someone to tell me their name again, you better believe that would be the second and last time I would have to ask. I think it's that important.

Anyway, not everyone is going to have that same belief or have the memory that I do, but I think since I put so much emphasis on it, I feel a little stung if someone doesn't know my name. And there are limits of course. When I got 200 dance students all at once, after 10 weeks of teaching them, I think I knew probably 190 of their names. So I don't expect the bigger bloggers with thousands of followers to remember everyone, but just to make an effort, especially when us little guys are throwing our support their way!

So thanks again for reading, supporting, and uplifting. I love you guys!

Bear kiss!

That's What They Said

2013-05-17T10:07:00.000-07:00

Carter: "You know what? I love you."

Me: "Yay!"

Carter: "Yay is right."

Me: "Vanessa, you're such a smarty pants."

Vanessa: (sing songy) "No NO no, I'm a BAby!"

Carter: "Sometimes I get ear inflections when I hear loud things."

Vanessa: "Happy birthday...!"

Carter: "It's not my birthday."

Vanessa: "...to you!"

Carter: "I'm already four. I had a birthday a long time ago. Don't you understand English?"

Carter: "Vanessa always gives me lots of hugs. And she always gives me a kiss to go with it. It's kind of like 'If You Give A Dog a Doughnut!'"

Vanessa: "Hands!"

Me: "Carter, she wants to hold hands."

Carter: "Sorry, my hand is closed for business."

Carter, as the angel speaking to the shepherds: "Don't be afraid. Good news! Baby Jesus is born! He's just around this corner, follow me!"

Daniel: "Knock knock."

Carter: "Who's there?"

Daniel: "Banana."

Carter: (laughs hysterically)

Me: "No we don't keep trash, we throw trash away."

Carter: "Yeah well I hided some trash from you under the big couch."

Me: "Well now I know where it is!"

Carter: "No you don't, because I didn't tell you which couch!"

Me: "Yes, you did! You said the big couch!"

Carter: "Well actually it isn't under the couches."

It was.

Me: "Vanessa, want to kiss the baby?"

Vanessa: (kisses my tummy)

Carter: "I want to kiss him!" (hesitates) "Where's his mouth?"

Me: "Move over."

Carter: "Your mom moves over."

Me: "This is music from the 90s. You weren't born yet."

Carter: "Were the dinosaurs there?"

Me: "...no."

Me: "Vanessa, sometimes you're fussy and then happy and then fussy again, and sometimes you turn into a kitty. Sometimes you're Super Nessa, and I just don't know what to expect!"

Vanessa: "Meow."

Carter: "Why can't I have a cough drop?"

Me: "Because they're not for little kids."

Carter: "Am I a little kid?"

Me: "Yes, you're a little kid."

Carter: "Well then I'll just sit on you."

Daniel (to Carter): "You know what my favorite part of our new van is?"

Carter: "What?"

Daniel: "You!"

Carter: "My favorite part is that my door slides open."

Carter: "Vanessa is soooo cute, I will never stop loving her."

Blogger Depression

2013-05-16T16:00:00.000-07:00

I hope I can keep this post relatively ~~short and~~ coherent. I don't know if it will have any pictures. But I don't want to not write it.

I've been having a little bit of what I'll call "blogger depression" lately. I guess you could say it's a combination of not feeling like I have anything to write about or time to write it, a noticeable dip in comments and interaction, and not being chosen for some great opportunities that I thought I would be perfect for.

This is of course coming at the same time that we happen to be in transition (or more accurately, a "waiting period") as a family, while we wrap up an incredibly busy school year (which is proving to be crazy busy down to the very last day), try to find a house to move into, move, finish out the last two months of pregnancy, have a baby, and start my oldest in Kindergarten.

I know I should "find the happy" every day rather than saying "after (insert something here) I will be able to relax and be happy" but it's been hard to stay positive while being constantly uncomfortable. I tried to explain pregnancy to my husband by saying, "It's something I can't escape from or take medication to feel better about." True. Sleep is a struggle every night, and I still have about 50 nights to go. Also, there IS an end in sight, even if it's a few months away, so it's hard to focus on enjoying the now rather than just getting through it. I will have the baby. We will move into a larger house. I will be able to work during the days again instead of in the evenings.

Back to the "blogger" part of my "blogger depression."

When I was in college, majoring in theatre and following both the musical theatre and the theatre education tracks, at one point I had to step back and realize that I was killing myself trying to be friends with some of the other theatre majors. It occurred to me that friendship shouldn't be something that you have to work so hard at maintaining. When I realized that, I took a step back from all the ego stroking and took a big breath of relief. The constant competition and "fakeness" was too much to handle. It just wasn't for me. But guess what? I stopped getting roles and opportunities. I was no longer part of the "in crowd."

I've been feeling a similar tinge of that lately in my blog world. Please note that I say MY blog world. Aka in my head. I am not referring to any specific blogger, nor am I accusing any bloggers of being fake or exclusive. It can just be hard trying to keep up with everything when there is so much to stay on top of.

After getting back from the conference this weekend (which WAS fantastic), I just felt down on myself. Like "why isn't that big blogger commenting on any of my photos," or "I guess I thought I had a closer relationship with this blogger than she thought we had," or "does anybody care about my blog at all?"

Yes, I am clearly the neurotic girl in this relationship metaphor.

In addition to feeling somewhat insecure and unimportant, two other things have been bothering me:

First, I'm so embarrassed by my appearance. I'm well-aware that I am extremely pregnant, but I'm also well-aware that that's not the whole problem.

At the conference this weekend, I had the opportunity to get up and speak in front of the whole group. I snatched up that opportunity thinking, "Hey I paid for my ticket and traveled all the way out here; why not take advantage of every second and get the most I possibly can out of this experience, including a chance to introduce myself to everyone all at once." I felt super comfortable and even had the group laughing several times, but once I sat back down and saw photos of me up there, it was like none of that even mattered. I was so disappointed.

Second, I've heard blogger after blogger after blogger encourage us to "be real" or "write our struggles" or whatever you want to call it. I feel like unless I reveal my deepest darkest secrets on my blog, I'm doing something wrong. I don't think that I'm one of those "sunshine and rainbows" people who always act like they have their life together. Nobody does, and I don't pretend to! However, there are certain things that I just am not going to talk about on my blog. I feel pressured to be totally open about everything, but this blog is very public, and some parts of my life are very private. On top of that, some people wear their hearts on their sleeves, but I tend to be more of an emotional closed book in real life. Maybe that makes me a bad writer/blogger. I don't know.

So now that I've made the complaints, what are the solutions?

1. Define my purpose for blogging and write to that end (and yes, this solution is directly inspired by Ashley's talk this weekend). This doesn't even mean that I'll get more comments or page views, but it's a place to start (or restart).

2. Give other bloggers a break. It's not that my blog is unimportant, but that the market is saturated. There are so. many. blogs. And I KNOW that there are a handful of lovely ladies out there who have given my blog much more love than I've given back to them, so I'm guilty as well.

3. Love without expecting retaliation. Continue to show love to the bloggers I, well, love, without expecting the same from them in return. In addition, try to go the extra mile by giving attention to those who have supported me and my blog.

4. Have the baby. This will go a long way in helping me feel better!

5. Work on writing great posts and keep applying for relevant opportunities. Despite how I may have come across at the conference, I don't only care about making money from my blog! It's a nice perk, and I had a good run of opportunities for awhile but nothing lately.

6. Realize that others aren't judging me as harshly as I judge myself. I can look at women who are much larger than me and see their beauty, but still be ashamed of myself. Nobody else is thinking the horrible thoughts that I think about myself.

Well I think that's it. I think I got it all out! If I had written this a few days ago, the whole solutions section would be missing, as I wasn't ready to think rationally. Now I think I can move onwards and upwards. And have this baby already...

Elevated

2013-05-15T20:58:00.000-07:00

This weekend my husband and I got up early on Saturday morning and drove to Newport Beach, California, so I could attend the Elevate Blog Conference. Hubby was along for the ride...and the beach...and the day to himself!

I managed to get about two and a half hours of sleep the night before (pregnancy insomnia is not fun) and maybe another hour in the car on the way there, so I was not exactly well-rested, but that didn't even matter. Once the day began, it was so packed with fun, friends, and activities, that I forgot about being tired!

As soon as I got there I checked in, got my name tag and swag bag (oh yeah we'll talk about that a little bit later!), and I went around the corner to where the tables were set up outside and bloggers were mingling. It took maybe .3 seconds before my girl Megan was running to me with open arms. Definitely the perfect welcome to the event! It was so awesome to meet one of my favorite bloggers in person, and she is just adorable.

Shortly thereafter I found Kristine. It was a relief to not have to introduce myself to these girls- they recognized me! I had planned on making a beeline for Kristine first thing because, well, #browngirliseasytofind. ;) I spent a good amount of time chatting with Kristine throughout the day, and she is just as sweet and as much fun as you'd expect from reading her blog. Definitely the life of the party.

The day was the perfect mix of activities: crafts, a service project, games, networking, speakers, and food! I thoroughly enjoyed everything we did.

One of the highlights for me was when Nay of coffee-n-ink glanced at my nametag and said, "Oh I know you!" Yeah...if you're a blogger you understand. Another blogger said, "I know you; you know Megan Robinson!" So, famous by association, I'll take that too!

Another highlight for me was hearing Ashley (Little Miss Momma) speak at the end of the day. She had a lot of concrete thoughts and wisdom to impart that I think will help me improve my own blogging.

And um, I also got to meet and chat with this lovely lady who I think you will recognize:

Yeah, several times during the day I would look over and think, "Wow, Erin from Living in Yellow is just hanging out with us. I should probably go make her some mac and cheese or something."

So shall we talk about the swag? Not only did each of us receive a bag (thank you, Laura) jam-packed with goodies, but they also had a table filled with individual prizes- enough for everyone to win at least one prize! I won this adorable little guy from Bubba's Basics, whom Carter has christened the "Tooth Hero!"

And since Carter got a present, I had to share some swag with Vanessa:

Bow from the Pink Elephant Bowtique

Here's a shot of everything that was in my swag bag, not including the Nothing Bundt Cakes we received (and which Daniel and I demolished on the way home):

At the very end of the day we played some Minute To Win It games, and I'm happy to say that I was not only on the winning team, but I also won one of the individual challenges for my team! Go Blue!

On Sunday morning Daniel surprised me with an awesome Mother's Day present, which deserves its own post, so I'll save that for later. Then we headed to Huntington Beach where we lay in the sand, swam in the ocean, and ate lunch at a beachside cafe before heading home. We made it back to my parents' place (where our kids were) just in time to eat pizza and watch the Survivor finale. I honestly cannot imagine a better way to spend Mother's Day! Or any day really.

After getting back home I actually had a couple of rough days. I don't know if it was the "after-event let down" or just being pregnant and miserable, or some combination, but I just felt kind of depressed. It did NOT help to see photos from the event where I was just horrified by how I looked. I mean, I know I'm almost 8 months pregnant and all, but so is Summer, and you saw her rocking those red skinnies! Anyway, I've just been down lately. I think things are looking up, but I'll write more on that topic tomorrow!

In conclusion, I attended my first two blog conferences in the past month, and they couldn't have been more different. Night and day. But both were amazing, and I love that they were totally different and that I got a completely unique experience out of each of them. I will get around to writing about the other one, and soon!

Thanks to the Elevate organizers, and to all of the bloggers who made the day fantastic. I wish I could have met and talked to everyone, but I will be checking out all of your blogs and following, for sure! Until next year, I guess!

The PLUS Party #6 {Google Plus/Bloglovin Hop)

2013-05-14T00:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to The PLUS Party #6!

Google Plus and Bloglovin are the definite hot spots for following and engaging with your favorite bloggers! At The PLUS Party you can link up your profiles and follow friends old and new!

The Plus Party will run on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month, so mark it on your calendars! We'd also love it if you could share the hop through your social media and/or post our button somewhere on your blog.

Want to co-host? Spots are open! Contact Megan at Shaping Up To Be A Mom for more info!

Make sure to follow the host and co-hosts, and then link up and party on!

Host:

Shaping Up To Be A Mom

Co Hosts:

A Few Things on Friday

2013-05-10T13:45:00.000-07:00

Hey kiddles!

I have a fun redecorating/giveaway post on the ready, but I'm waiting to hear a few more details back from my sponsor. Look for that soon!

Today I'm getting ready for...

I think I figured out a decent enough outfit to wear. I'm 7.5 weeks away from giving birth (ooh that sounds soon) so my options were kind of limited. I can tell you that the color salmon, Lisa Leonard, and Cents of Style are all involved!

And speaking of Cents of Style, today is Fashion Friday!

Grab some cute stacking bracelets on the cheap! Also, use my coupon code "0512" at checkout to get 10% off and free shipping! Here's a few of my favorites:

They are going FAST! The deal is today only, so snatch them up!

Tonight is my husband's spring concert for his choirs. Can't wait to go and film it and get to hear him tell the audience about how amazing they did at their competition earlier this year. This year has been so great for all of us, with the move and the new job. He's done an awesome job, and the kids love him!

After the concert is a banquet to celebrate the school year and send off the seniors, and then it's quick to bed, since we have to get up at 4am to head to California for Elevate! Can't wait to meet some of my favorite ladies and have a day of fun and learning!

Hope everyone has a beautiful weekend!

Shaping Up In May {Goals}

2013-05-07T15:32:00.000-07:00

May is one of my favorite months. My birthday is in May, school gets out in May, and summer begins!

This May is extra awesome since I just finished my teaching assignments, and I'm mostly free for the month (aka home with kids..."free" doesn't exactly describe it properly), with a few exciting events coming up.

Let's see how I did in April.

April Goals:

~~1. f~~~~inish reading Jesus The Christ~~- DONE! Checked off on the 30 Before 30 list!

~~2. hit 1200 GFC followers~~- DONE! Welcome new Shaper-Uppers!

3. secret goal :)- Getting closer! Made some great progress during April.

~~4. survive teaching Biology~~- DONE! So glad I did it. So glad it's done!

5. weed our backyard- Halfway. And not thanks to me. Thanks to my mom and Madison, our awesome babysitter! Hi Madison! I mentioned you on my blog! You rock!

6. ~~learn some things at Bloggy Boot Camp~~ and implement them into my blog- I did the first half- definitely learned some new things. Have not yet had a chance to sit down and make some plans based on what I learned, but that will happen soon!

~~7. make a list of all the things I want for the new baby~~- DONE! Read it here!

Looks like April was a very busy, pretty successful month! Four out of seven goals completed, and progress made on the other three- not too shabby.

Here's the plan for May.

May Goals:

1. Secret Goal :)- Finish it!

2. Finish weeding our backyard- In my 32-week-pregnant condition, I don't know how much I will actually do, but hopefully it will get done.

3. Implement what I learned from Bloggy Boot Camp into my blog

4. Go through my business cards collected at Bloggy Boot Camp and follow everyone!- Been meaning to do this since I got back.

5. Learn some things at the Elevate Blog Conference and implement them into my blog

6. Complete two more things on my 30 Before 30 list before my birthday (turning 29!)

7. Finish my digital organizing- I have been spending hours and hours going through all of my digital photos, videos, music, and files, to weed out anything that we don't need, duplicates, etc. I'm making sure everything is backed up online, on my computer, and on an external hard drive. I'm also making a "favorites" folder of photos and videos in hopes that it will be a little easier to find things I love without having to wade through everything else I want to keep. I'm getting close, and I hope to finish in May! Then I'll just have to do a little update every few months with the latest photos and files.

I think that's a pretty good plan. May is kind of a "waiting" month, because in June we will be actively looking for a home to move into, and preparing for baby's arrival!

What are your goals for this month?

24 Hours of ME

2013-05-06T21:10:00.001-07:00

This weekend my husband took the kids to visit his mom for a couple days, so I had some time to myself! I was home without a car, so we made sure I was stocked up on food, and I planned on a day of cleaning, organizing...and eating. I chronicled my time on Instagram, and here are the photos. They go from Saturday evening to Sunday evening. Feel free to check out my Instagram profile for my comments on the photos. But they mostly speak for themselves!

Ended the day with a Google hangout with my husband. See me taking the photo at the bottom?

It was nice to have the day to myself, but I was surprised by how quickly I got lonely! Luckily everyone came home today, and the house already looks like I didn't clean it at all. ...sigh

When was the last time you had a day to yourself? Everyone needs one every once in awhile!

And then there were two

2013-05-01T10:30:00.000-07:00

...days left of teaching that is. After today that is. So I guess it's closer to three, but once the day starts, I no longer count it!

I am so far behind on everything. I have hundreds of emails piled up (resulting in a missed opportunity to buy lace socks for heels on Pick Your Plum, sad face), hundreds of blog posts to read, and so much more. I've given up on trying to keep up with things until I'm finished. I'll get to it next week.

Except next week I'll be getting ready to go to California, for the Elevate blog conference! Where I get to meet this chick, and this chick, and this chick! I would be a little more excited if I wasn't with child and approximately 689 pounds. Everyone will be in their cutest mint chevron outfits, and I'll just have to be rolled in through the door (double doors hopefully). As long as I don't actually give birth at the conference, I think we'll be okay. That would make for a great blog post though.

In other news, the house we had our eye on got rented! I drove past it yesterday just to see the sign gone and a Uhaul in the driveway. The other one is still available, but we are slightly less excited about it, so we are going to wait it out and see what happens. Hopefully we will have some options. I would rather not continue living in our tiny house with the new baby for very long, but I also would rather not move two weeks before having the baby or two weeks after, so it's a toss up.

In other other news, it is officially my birth month! I will be 29 on the 23rd, which means I better make some progress on my 30 Before 30 list! I completed #15 yesterday- finally finished reading Jesus The Christ, which I started...a very long time ago! I also completed #12- invest, by starting a 401k! And in just a few weeks I will complete #6- have another baby!

Well, just thought I'd pop in for an update. Back to Biology. But since this post is kind of lame, here is a cute video to end it.

Happy May!

The PLUS Party #5 {Google Plus/Bloglovin Hop}

2013-04-30T00:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to The PLUS Party #5!

Google Plus and Bloglovin are the definite hot spots for following and engaging with your favorite bloggers! At The PLUS Party you can link up your profiles and follow friends old and new!

Want to co-host? Spots are open! Contact Megan at Shaping Up To Be A Mom for more info!

Make sure to follow the host and co-hosts, and then link up and party on!

Host:

Shaping Up To Be A Mom

Co Hosts:

and here's to you, Mrs. Robinson

Transitions

2013-04-24T19:01:00.000-07:00

We are a household in transition! Let's just bullet point this out, shall we?

I did not intend to work this school year (other than my part time job which is 10-18 hours per week), but instead I will have worked 78 school days by the end of the school year (7 to go!).
I've been teaching full-time AND working part-time, for 17 out of the past 25 weeks.
I am 30 weeks pregnant, with 10 weeks to go, due on July 2nd.
My oldest is starting Kindergarten on August 1st.
We need to move to a new house sometime this summer (you know, in between having a baby, school starting, our lease running out, etc).
I need to transition my daughter to a "big girl" bed and get things ready for the baby without knowing whether we'll be bringing him home to this house or the next!

I know that my tendency is to always be looking forward to the next thing, instead of enjoying the moment, but in this situation, I'm definitely looking forward to getting the next few months over with!

Like I said, I just have the rest of this week and then all of next week for teaching, and then I will be done with that! I am so glad that I did get the opportunity to do so much teaching this year, and it has been a huge help financially, but I'm ready to be home with my kids and get back on top of everything again!

We will definitely be moving sometime in the next few months, as we need a larger home, and our lease here will run out at the end of July. There are two houses up for rent right now that are the size and price we are looking for, and are within walking distance of the high school (where my husband works). I've been driving by them on almost a daily basis, to make sure they are still available! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they stay open long enough for us to snatch one up, or for another great option to come available!

Carter is officially registered for Kindergarten, and he'll be attending a charter school just a couple miles down the road from where we are planning to move. I've been really impressed with the school so far, and I'm so excited for him. I know he is going to LOVE school!

Less than 10 weeks left until we get to meet our new little one! This pregnancy is going great, except that I have had a very hard time getting to sleep at night. My 6:15am call time has meant some difficult mornings, but once I'm not getting up to teach every day, I think I'll feel a little better!

So that's what's up with us! What's up with you? No really, let me know, because I haven't had time to read my favorite blogs lately, so I am very out of the loop!

It's almost May. Breathe....breathe...!

The PLUS Party #4 {Google Plus/Bloglovin Hop}

2013-04-23T00:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to The PLUS Party #4!

Google Plus and Bloglovin are the definite hot spots for following and engaging with your favorite bloggers! At The PLUS Party you can link up your profiles and follow friends old and new!

The Plus Party will run every Tuesday during April, so mark it on your calendars! We'd also love it if you could share the hop through your social media and/or post our button somewhere on your blog.

Want to co-host? Spots are open! Contact Megan at Shaping Up To Be A Mom for more info!

Make sure to follow the host and co-hosts, and then link up and party on!

Host:

Shaping Up To Be A Mom

Co Hosts:

My "Third Baby" Baby Registry

2013-04-21T18:55:00.000-07:00

After having both a baby boy and a baby girl, I'd say we are pretty well-stocked for number 3. We have a full wardrobe for both genders, a crib, changing table, strollers, car seats, etc...

So this time around I wanted to get some fun things for me and the baby! I started a "Baby Registry" Pinterest board to keep track of what I want. Don't be confused by the term "registry;" I don't actually expect these things to be bought for me, but I like having everything in one easy-to-see place. And hey, if anyone needs a present idea...!

Actually, when Vanessa was born, we got lots and lots of diapers given to us, which was AWESOME. We had a corner of the nursery dedicated to boxes of diapers, and I don't think I bought her a single diaper until she was 6 months old!

But other than diapers, here are some of the fun things I want to get this time around:

Push Pack: pre-packed hospital labor bag

This just looks like an awesome way to be well-prepared for that hospital stay. Throw in a Boppy pillow and a baby blanket, and I think I'd be all set! I had such a good experience last time around, that I'm actually excited for this time around, but I know every labor and delivery is a little different!

Pink Lining "Poppins" diaper bag

Definitely not something I need, but it's so cute! I found it through the baby shower giveaway hop I participated in recently, and sadly I did not win it!

Minky Dot changing pad cover from Jennscreations etsy shop

Another prize I sadly did not win! I need to get a new changing pad, since our old one is basically worn down to nothing, and might as well get a nice new cover for it, right? This one would match the nursery decor perfectly!

3-in-1 Rocker Napper from Tiny Love

Guess where I heard about this? If you said, "from another giveaway you didn't win," you are RIGHT! This is actually something I need for baby #3. My first baby slept in a bassinet that then got ruined in storage. My second slept in a nap nanny, which has since basically been recalled. So now we need something for baby #3. I love that this has a reclining option, because my first had a hard time sleeping on his back, and there are few safe ways to elevate a newborn.

The Nighty-Night Nursing Light

Such a smart, simple way to feed baby during the night without waking up daddy and/or leaving the room! Want it, need it!

Blooming Baby Bath

In addition to being adorable, this seems like it would really come in handy. I've bathed two newborns in the plastic baby tub we have, and it's never an easy task! I like that this would allow me to stand up while washing baby and keep the water running so baby doesn't get cold!

Glider and Ottoman

This is something I've been wanting to get for a long time, and I'm finally going to get one for baby #3! Once we move and get the nursery all set up, I'll be reserving a special corner for my glider so I can rock my baby!

So those are my needs/wants/desires for baby #3! Plus lots and lots and lots of diapers.

What did I miss? Any other must-haves out there, or Etsy shops that I must check out? Let me know!

The PLUS Party #3 {Google Plus/Bloglovin Hop}

2013-04-16T00:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to The PLUS Party #3!

With the fast-approaching demise of Google Reader, many people are turning to other methods of following their favorite blogs.

Bloglovin is quickly becoming the feed reader of choice among bloggers. If you haven't claimed your blog on Bloglovin yet, just go to bloglovin.com, search for your blog's URL, and follow the steps to claim it as your own. Then link it up below!

(Bloglovin URL example: http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/3882372/shaping-up-to-be-a-mom)

Google Plus is becoming more and more popular and necessary for bloggers. This is another great way to communicate with other bloggers and promote your content. Link up your profile or page below!

(Google Plus URL example: https://plus.google.com/#111334302795960877598/posts)

The Plus Party will run every Tuesday this month, so mark it on your calendars! We'd also love it if you could share the hop through your social media and/or post our button somewhere on your blog.

Want to co-host? Contact Megan at Shaping Up To Be A Mom for more info!

Make sure to follow the host and co-hosts, and then link up and party on!

Host:

Shaping Up To Be A Mom

Co Hosts:

Bucket List #467. Reduce my ecological footprint

2013-04-15T00:00:00.000-07:00

I've never been overly concerned with the effect I am having on the environment. I should probably be ashamed by that. A few years back I decided to try to make a few changes. After all, one of my bucket list items is to "reduce my ecological footprint!"

One thing that I have done is to start using CFL lightbulbs. At first I didn't want to pay so much for them, but when my regular lightbulbs were constantly burning out and needing to be replaced, I took the plunge. Turns out being eco-conscious has its benefits. The CFLs last so much longer than the regular bulbs that they end up costing LESS!

Pinterest is a great place to find some more ideas for being "greener" around the household and spending less money at the same time. I pinned this suggestion for a stain remover that you can make from items you probably already own:

original source

Saving the environment is awesome. Saving Megan money is even awesomer. So when the two things can be combined, I hear singing angels in my head.

If you've been around blogland in the past few months, you've probably run across these:

They are becoming a little bit of a sensation and for a good reason! Here are the things I like about Woolzies Dryer Balls:

1. "Woolzies" is way more fun to say than "dryer sheet."

2. They are 100% natural, handmade, healthy, and eco-friendly (hello, bucket list)!

3. They reduce static and wrinkles and soften your laundry.

4. They cut down on drying time, saving energy and money (hello, Megan's priorities)!

5. You can throw them at your kids. But sometimes they throw them back.

Bottom line: Woolzies do everything that a normal dryer sheet would do, but they are way better for the environment and for your family.

But since I'm selfish and I care more about my finances than my Earth, let's take a look at the cost.

The generic brand of dryer sheets I was buying cost $2.42 for a box of 80 sheets. That comes out to $0.03 per load. A box of 6 Woolzies, which are guaranteed to last for 1,000 loads, costs $34.95. That comes out to.... $0.03 per load!

So for the same cost, but a much healthier, greener option, Woolzies wins! And if the dryer sheets you buy cost any more than mine, Woolzies EXTRA wins!

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Would you like to win a box of Woolzies for yourself! Then it might be your lucky day, because Woolzies is giving away a box to one of my shaper-uppers! Enter below to win, and good luck!

Thanks to Woolzies for providing me with a box of their dryer balls to facilitate this post. I was not otherwise compensated, and all opinions are my own!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

It's About Shaping Up

2013-04-13T21:32:00.000-07:00

Last month, when we were on our California trip with the show choirs, I was chatting with a student and her mom about how last summer I trained for and ran a half marathon. The student asked, "Do you run a lot?"

I was at a loss for words. That doesn't happen very often. I wasn't sure how to answer the question. I mean, I ran a lot to train for it. I've run other races and trained off and on. But I don't run religiously. I'm not even a good runner.

back of the pack

Luckily, my husband sometimes knows me better than I know myself. He responded:

"Megan is a 'check-the-box' kind of person. She likes to make goals and achieve them and check them off the list."

So. True.

This weekend I got the opportunity to attend Bloggy Boot Camp in Phoenix, put on by The SITS Girls.

I will write more in another post about all the things I learned and took away from the conference (spoiler alert- it's a lot!), but one thing that got me thinking was this:

"Be great at (at least) one thing." -Kim Byers

At first that distressed me a little bit! I like fashion and writing about outfits, but I am FAR from being a fashion blogger. I like fitness and writing about fitness, but I'm not always the best example. I write about my family, but those topics run the gamut.

Then it hit me. I already have a theme for my blog that ties all of these things together. HELLO, it's in my name! I'm shaping up.

I am a huge "bucket lister" (or "check-the-box kind of person"). I'm a huge advocate of making goals, working toward those goals, and eventually achieving your dreams, whatever they may be.

And that is why I can write about running, fashion, parenting, traveling, home decor, faith, and tap dancing.

My theme was already there. And now that it's so clear in my mind, expect better things. I'm going to write better posts, choose better sponsored opportunities that jive with my content, work toward achieving my goals, and cheer you on as you work on yours.

"I'm just trying to be a better person. My name is [Megan]." Name that quote!

ZIPaboo review & giveaway

2013-04-10T12:26:00.000-07:00

Have you entered to win my Showered With Love giveaway package yet? I'm giving away over $100 worth of prizes for baby! One of the items in the package is a ZIPaboo romper. The company was nice enough to send me one for my little guy.

It is so so soft, and I know my little one will be so comfy in it. I wish he was already here to try it out, but we'll have to wait another three months for that! I asked for a size up from newborn, since my babies are...not small!

They sent me the Jake ZIPaboo in size 3-6 months. I love how the polka dots on the sleeves are also on the bottom of the feet. Too cute!

But beyond being soft and cute, the idea behind the ZIPaboo is this:

Zipaboo is the patent-pending baby footed onesie that makes diaper changes a ZIP! Zipaboo has a strategically placed zipper that starts at the base of one leg, circles the belly and moves back down the opposite leg; allowing for a quick and easy diaper change at any time! Once unzipped, the fabric flap folds forward and gives the parent immediate access to the infant’s diaper without exposing their chest to the cold air or tugging at their legs. Simply place their legs back into the onesie and ZIP! The days and nights of trying to align a zillion snaps or cram your baby’s leg into an awkward zippered pajama leg are over! Change your baby’s diaper quickly, conveniently, and comfortably with Zipaboo!

I remember a lot of times needing to change my baby's diapers after nursing, but they were sleepy and I didn't want to disturb them. The ZIPaboo will make that task so much easier and gentle.

The ZIPaboo is perfect for nighttime, naptime, and playtime too! I know my little guy will love his- now he just needs to get here!

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

You can win a ZIPaboo for your little one, as part of my Showered With Love giveaway here! Good luck!

My Laundry METHOD

2013-04-10T00:00:00.000-07:00

As a mother and wife attempting to run a household, I am always looking for the most efficient ways of doing household tasks. I look for what is quick, easy, inexpensive, safe, and healthy. The more of those things I can check off the list, the more likely I am to buy a certain product or use a certain technique.

One company that satisfies all of my requirements is method. I will admit, method caught my attention at first with the attractive packaging of their products. It may seem silly to judge a product based on how it looks, but when you are walking down an aisle full of similar items, it pays to stick out!

Getting to the point of this post, right now method is running a giveaway for a one-year supply of laundry products! Talk about quick, easy, and inexpensive! Enter here for your chance to win.

Did you know that the average family does 600 loads of laundry a year? Sometimes it feels like I do 600 loads a week. Considering the fact that laundry is a daily task that constantly needs doing, that is one household task that has to be as easy as possible! I got to try out method's 50-load, ultra-concentrated laundry detergent, and I love it!

Most large jugs of detergent are made up of 60-70% water, but method's ultra-concentrated detergent comes in a sleek bottle that only requires about 4 quick pumps to do a load of laundry. It's a time and space saver for sure.

The technology in Method’s laundry detergent cuts out the excess water that dilutes many other detergents. In fact, Method’s detergent is 8x concentrated so it uses drastically less water, 36% less plastic and requires 33% less energy and oil to produce than most widely-available detergents. And the unique precision-dosing pump means no overdosing and no drips, so you truly get the loads that you pay for. All that, and it comes in a compact, recyclable bottle made from 50% recycled plastic.

And, to be honest, I'm having too much fun with the pumping action. Come on, you have to find a way to make boring tasks fun. So much easier to do four quick pumps than to measure out powder or liquid detergent in a cup and pour it in.

Also, when I did my first long-term substitute assignment, laundry was the hardest thing to keep up with. We had a constant mountain of clothes on our floor. This time around, I'm actually keeping up with it! Now I'm not saying it's because of method that my laundry is actually getting done, but hey, the statistic speaks for itself!

If this sounds great to you, give it a try. My local Target had the method detergent on sale this week! And don't forget to enter the giveaway for a one-year supply of laundry products from method!

This article is sponsored by Method.

The PLUS Party #2 {Google Plus/Bloglovin Hop}

2013-04-09T00:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to The PLUS Party #2!

With the fast-approaching demise of Google Reader, many people are turning to other methods of following their favorite blogs.

Bloglovin is quickly becoming the feed reader of choice among bloggers. If you haven't claimed your blog on Bloglovin yet, just go to bloglovin.com, search for your blog's url, and follow the steps to claim it as your own. Then link it up below!

(Bloglovin URL example: http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/3882372/shaping-up-to-be-a-mom)

Google Plus is becoming more and more popular and necessary for bloggers. This is another great way to communicate with other bloggers and promote your content. Link up your profile or page below!

(Google Plus URL example: https://plus.google.com/#111334302795960877598/posts)

Want to co-host? Contact Megan at Shaping Up To Be A Mom for more info!

Make sure to follow the host and co-hosts, and then link up and party on!

Host:

Shaping Up To Be A Mom

Co Hosts:

And Here's To You, Mrs. Robinson

Life As I Know It

Craftbotic

Glued To My Crafts

Glorious Imperfections

Shushkat

"Organic" Blogging with Lena

2013-04-08T00:00:00.000-07:00

As part of the blogathon I did a few weeks ago, I put an offer out on Facebook for a guest post on my blog, and my good friend Lena grabbed it! You may have seen her on here before, or elsewhere in bloggy land. She is a pretty cool chick and one of my first blogging friends! Here she is!

Hey there!
I'm Lena and I blog over at... Lena B, Actually.

I'm a wife & mom of 2 who works full-time at an insurance company and does the whole blogging thing on the side... oh yeah, with some photography thrown in there too.

I'm sure it's the same for everyone, I know I'm not the only one who doesn't have enough hours in the day to ''do it all.'' I'm here to say... I'm not perfect, and I have no magic recipe on how to hold it all together and/or get it all done!

I think some bloggers, whether they realize it or not, have a tendency to make everything look so easy. Whether we admit it or not, most of us try to measure up to those standards and feel totally overwhelmed when we can't do it all.

I have logged on to the computer countless times and read blog after blog of perfect DIYs, recipes and even tutorials on how to be an organized blogger. Ah! I wish!

Every month I pull out my little ''blog" calendar and jot down what I need to do this month. I try to plan posts ahead... but that rarely happens. The only thing for sure I know I need to do is put together my group giveaway and properly promote my sponsors... the rest is... organic.

If I manage to wear something cute AND take photos of it, I'll usually do a WIWW type thing. If I remember to grab my camera and document what's going on the kitchen (hubby does the cooking), then you'll be lucky to get a recipe post. The rest of the time, I stare at my screen, close my eyes and pray for inspiration.

I try to keep my blog upbeat & positive, as that's the kind of person I am...

but I have also shared about my husband's depression and my son's autism... I hope my readers know that I'm not perfect, and I apologize if I have ever come off that way.
We're all in this together!

Our imperfections are perfectly fine! They're little bits that make us who we are.

Embrace that!

So yeah... weird guest post, I guess. I wasn't sure what I wanted to share today.

I wish I could have ended this with a ''10 Ways To Be A Success'' list or something, but I haven't figured that out yet!

I hope you'll still stop by and say 'hey' sometime!

Lena is offering a free ad space on her blog, 200x300. We are making this giveaway super easy! All you have to do is follow both of us, in some way. That can be GFC, Facebook, Bloglovin, etc.

Then, leave one comment below with the answer to this question:

What is the best piece of advice you've received about blogging?

Winner will be chosen and contacted on Saturday, April 13th. Make sure to leave your email if it's not connected to your account.

...and everything nice

2013-04-07T14:21:00.000-07:00

I FINALLY got a VoxBox!

I was happy to be chosen to receive February's Sugar 'n Spice VoxBox from Influenster.

I was tempted to look at the reviews of people who received their boxes before I did, but I wanted to be surprised, so I waited. My reaction upon opening the box was "YES!" Because of this guy:

Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizer

This spray moisturizer from Vaseline was literally written down on my shopping list to pick up later that week. I had seen it online, and I was dying to give it a try. So I was super excited to see a full-sized version (and in the scent I would have chosen) in my VoxBox!

What I Thought:

For me, easy = better. I very seldom apply moisturizer, which I know is bad. I just don't make time for it, which is one reason why I was planning on buying this to try it out! For the most part, this product is great. You just spray it on and rub it in quickly. Much faster and easier than a regular lotion. I did find it a little difficult to spray evenly, but that's probably my own issue, and I didn't find that I could put my clothes on immediately after, but certainly sooner than with a regular lotion. A minute or two, and it's all absorbed. Conclusion? It's a buy!

belVita Breakfast Biscuits

What I Thought:

Healthy AND tasty. Easy to throw in my bag for an on-to-go breakfast. Perfect for someone who doesn't get very hungry first thing in the morning. Conclusion? I will be adding them to my grocery list!

Colgate Optic White Regimen (toothpaste, mouthwash, toothbrush)

What I Thought:

So happy to get this trio of OpticWhite products from Colgate. I haven't opened the toothbrush, because I recently bought the same one, so I'll save this new one for later! The toothpaste is strongly minty and (odd observation) it's...warm. Did anybody else notice this? At first I thought I had accidentally used warm water while brushing, but it must be the toothpaste that warms itself up! I did enjoy it however, and I will continue to use it and the mouthwash. Do the products actually whiten your teeth? That's kind of hard for me to judge, as I've been using a teeth whitening product recently, but I'm sure the Optic White products are helping to maintain the whiteness!

Dickinson's Original Witch Hazel Oil Controlling Towelettes

What I Thought:

First of all, I love that these wipes are each in their own separate package. So easy to throw into your purse, car, desk, etc! I love face wipes in general, because it's a good way to wake up in the morning, feel refreshed during the day, and calm down at night. I didn't love the scent of these wipes; the witch hazel has a very strong, medicinal scent. It doesn't look like they offer a different scent, so while I will use and enjoy this box, I don't think I would buy another one.

NECTRESSE natural sweetener

What I Thought:
I don't drink coffee or tea, so this isn't something I would use as much as most people might, but it's always good to have packets of sweetener on hand in the house. Also, they included a recipe booklet in the box, so there were several ideas of how to use the sweetener other than in drinks.
I decided to try out a packet in a smoothie. It had a lot of fruit so probably didn't need the extra sweetness, but it was delicious!

Thank you, Influenster! I look forward to the next one!

Smile Brilliant {review & giveaway}

2013-04-05T08:17:00.000-07:00

Whiter teeth = brighter smile = brighter day. That's my own philosophy anyway. And for those of us who weren't blessed with naturally bright white teeth, there is a solution!

I jumped at the chance to review Smile Brilliant's Brilliantly Simple LED Teeth Whitening System, because I always feel better when I can smile with confidence! And because I love you little shaper-uppers so much, I'm giving you the chance to win one for yourself!

First, let me answer the question on your mind. Yes, it works!

The kit comes with the teeth whitening gel pen, top and bottom protective trays, and the LED activating light. Maybe it's weird to think that a teeth whitening system is cute, but it is. It's cute. It comes in a cute little box, and I think the little blue light is cute too. When all these things end up in your mouth, it's a little less cute, but I do my teeth whitening in private, so it's all good.

More importantly, this system works. I noticed that my teeth were significantly whiter after a couple of uses.

The company suggests whitening for 20 minutes a day, which is about as much as I could handle. There is no pain involved whatsoever, but it's not the most comfortable thing to keep your mouth closed tightly for long periods of time. 20 minutes was just right, and I usually whiten while taking a bath, so I don't need to talk to my kids or anyone else (because you can't). You also can't really cough or breathe through your mouth, so it's probably best to wait if you are sick.

The good thing is that you can use the system as often as is convenient for you, until you achieve the results you are looking for. Then just be sure to keep up your white smile by brushing and flossing regularly!

Maybe the best part about this system is the price tag! It lists at $129.95, but you can get it here for only $39.95! Then you can use the coupon code "SMILE20" for 20% off, bringing the cost even further down, resulting in a price that is far lower than equivalent whitening products on the market.

Big thanks to Smile Brilliant for providing me with their product to facilitate my review, and for providing a second system to giveaway to one of my readers! Enter to win below, and good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

PS- Are you a blogger who would be interested in reviewing Smile Brilliant? You can request the opportunity here. You can list me as your referrer: Megan Tenney/megantenney@gmail.com.

Shaping Up In April

2013-04-04T11:05:00.000-07:00

This has been a hard week, you guys, and it's still only Thursday morning!

My daily schedule this week has been up at 6:15, out by 6:45 (on two days also getting the kids up and out and dropped off at a friend's house for the day), teach all day 7:15-2:15, pick up the kids, then home with the kids by myself all night, while trying to work as many hours at my second job as possible (from home). At night I can't sleep because I have a serious condition called pregnancy.

(And here is where I was going to insert a cute pregnancy meme, but they are all inappropriate and negative! Find or make me a positive, cute pregnancy meme, and you win a prize. Not joking.)

So I come to you this morning exhausted and spent, with two days left to go before the blessed weekend arrives. But when it does, I will have completed three weeks of teaching Biology, with four weeks left to go. #lordbeermestrength

So let's talk about goals, shall we?

Goals from March:

1. finish reading Jesus The Christ- getting there

I have 86 pages to go. Hey some progress is still progress right? The good news is that I'm learning a lot from reading it, and although it's like reading a history textbook at times, I'm enjoying it.

2. hit 1200 GFC followers- getting there

I'm at 1168, so I got close! Turns out I was thinking just a little too big. I think I will get there in April, but with the uncertain future of GFC, who knows if it will all matter in a few months anyway! Follow me via Bloglovin!

3. get prepared to teach- sure!

I got as prepared as I could I guess! I haven't run into any major problems so far. Next week will hopefully be a little easier, with three days of testing going on and shorter classes. 20 (school) days to go after today!

4. secret goal :)- getting there

My secret goal wasn't something I could finish in March, but I got a good start on it.

Well...March was kind of a fail! Most of these goals are getting rolled over into April.

April's Goals:

1. finish reading Jesus The Christ

2. hit 1200 GFC followers

3. secret goal :)

4. survive teaching Biology

5. weed our backyard

6. learn some things at Bloggy Boot Camp and implement them into my blog

7. make a list of all the things I want for the new baby (got to have a fun one, right?!)

What are your baby must-haves? After having a boy and a girl, we have most things that we need, so this time around I'm getting fun things!

What are your goals this month? Good luck with whatever you want to accomplish!

The PLUS Party #1 {Google Plus/Bloglovin Hop}

2013-04-02T00:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to a brand-new follow hop linky party!

With the fast-approaching demise of Google Reader, many people are turning to other methods of following their favorite blogs.

(Bloglovin URL example: http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/3882372/shaping-up-to-be-a-mom)

Google Plus is becoming more and more popular and necessary for bloggers. This is another great way to communicate with other bloggers and promote your content. Link up your profile or page below!

(Google Plus URL example: https://plus.google.com/#111334302795960877598/posts)

Want to co-host? Contact Megan at Shaping Up To Be A Mom for more info!

Make sure to follow the host and co-hosts, and then link up and party on!

Host:

Shaping Up To Be A Mom

Co Hosts:

Glorious Imperfections

Shushkat