Archives for March 2020

Name: Baked Parmesan Zucchini Sticks
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 4-5 medium zucchini; 1/2 cup of Parmesan Cheese; 1 tbsp of garlic powder; salt & pepper to taste; 1 tbsp of sugar-free cajun seasoning; 1 tbsp of EVOO

March 30, 2020 by Sandra

7 Ways to Help You Stop Stress Eating

This post contains affiliate links. This means I may receive a small commission should you choose to purchase through one of my links. I only recommend products and services I personally use, like, know and trust.

Stress is defined as a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances. We have all experienced stress at some point in our lives, and right now, it’s higher than it should be.

Most of the country is practicing social distancing and quarantine right now. Not only are we worried about this very contagious disease spreading around the globe, but we are also worrying about homeschooling our kids, working from home, not having a job at all, or running out of toilet paper.

There is so much stress……… and it is very common to reach for food and eat our feelings when we are feeling stressed about work, family, or other things.

Unfortunately, this habit can make us overeat and ultimately gain weight, which can lead to feelings of depression and added stress.

I am determined to stay on track with my health as much as I can during this quarantine, and I want to share a few of the tips that are working for me to manage the stress eating, or even eating out of boredom. You too can take action now and stop the negative cycle.

Why Does Stress Make Us Hungry?

Eating isn’t only physical, but it is also psychological.

When you’re stress eating, you eat food for reasons other than to curb hunger.

During stress eating, you eat to satisfy your appetite or cravings for a certain food because you believe it will provide emotional relief.

Increase in Cortisol Levels

During stressful situations, your body releases a hormone called cortisol, which can boost your appetite and cravings for “unhealthy” foods.

Luckily, there are a few things you can do to make your way out of the stress eating cycle. Here are 7 ways to stop stress eating:

7 Ways to Help You Stop Stress Eating

1. Know Your Triggers

You are uniquely you. Since we’re all different, you must work on identifying the circumstances and emotions that cause you to reach for food outside of hunger.

Once you know your triggers, you can develop a plan to avoid them or prepare for them.

A good idea is to have a “replacement” activity for when cravings come, don’t just sit and try to push through it.

By not taking action, you’re constantly thinking about your cravings, so instead, go for a little walk or drive to clear your head. These are perfect activities you can do right now and safely practice social distancing. For example, when I want to binge on an unhealthy snack, I have been going outside and walking around the block instead.

2. Exercise to Reduce Stress

Studies have shown that people who are in shape tend to better handle the effects of stress.

This is because exercise produces chemical changes in the brain that reduce stress.

I know that for some, stress is the reason why they don’t feel like exercising. However, it’s important for the future you that you work on breaking this habit.

Just like you entered a habit of drifting in depression and stress, you can enter a habit of health and wellness.

Move your body every single day. Get outside and enjoy the fresh air. Go for a walk. Do some stretching or light yoga. Turn on your favorite playlist and have a dance party in your living room.

Related Post: 10 Ways to Avoid Weight Gain

3. Meditate or Pray

Many people underestimate the power of being alone with their minds. They are often impatient and feel the need to stay busy all the time. Right now, we have all the time in the world. Use it to create this new, healthy habit.

Meditation helps calm the mind and slows your heart rate and breathing.

When you’re calmed and focused, you can also concentrate more and therefore make healthier food choices.

So consider setting up a specific time each day to meditate, you can use apps like Headspace and Unplug to help you out.

4. Stay Connected to Your Friends and Family

If you’re a habitual stress eater, consider asking a really good friend or family member to help you out. Be honest and open about what you’re going through and how you’d like them to help you.

A good way they can help is by being open to letting you call them whenever you feel stressed.

During the call, they can remind you about your nutrition goals and motivate you with positive talk, and you can talk out your feelings and decompress.

Join a health or fitness challenge with a friend. There are so many free options out there right now, and it would be fun to do it together.

5. Just Breathe

When you feel like a stressful situation is taking the best out of you, stop and breathe deeply for a few minutes.

You’ll want to breathe in through your stomach, not your chest, let it fill up, hold it for a few seconds, release, and repeat for a few minutes.

This will improve oxygen flow in your body, relax your muscles, keep your mind off the stress, and lower your cortisol levels. A friend recently recommended an app called iBreathe and it’s great!

6. Eat More Nutrient-Dense Foods

Mixing physical and psychological hunger is something to be aware of. When this happens, you’re not only eating for fullness, but for comfort as well.

This can be dangerous because comfort foods are often fatty and sugary, high-calorie, and not filling at all, which is why it’s easier to overeat them.

To reduce your chances of overeating, you may want to plan more nutrient-dense meals.

Consider having at least 1 serving of green vegetables and at least 20 grams of protein at each meal. This is one reason why I love smoothies. It’s a great way to get more protein in your diet. They are quite tasty and very filling.

I love the Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides. (It can be ordered from Amazon or found at your local grocery.)

Also, consider eating nutrient-dense carbohydrates, such as sweet potatoes, quinoa, beans, legumes, whole grains, and fruits.

7. Get More Sleep

Lack of sleep causes changes in hormones that may favor an increase in food consumption and lead to weight gain.

It can also increase stress, which leads to increased cortisol levels, that can, as previously mentioned, boost appetite and cravings.

It’s recommended that adults get between 7-8 hours of sleep. A few tips to get you relaxed for a night of deep sleep:

Relax in a detox bath.

Use essential oils or a refreshing pillow mist.

Use a sleeping mask. I swear by mine. Once you get used to it, you will never go back to sleeping without one.

The Bottom Line

You can totally do this! Learn to understand and listen to your body to be able to know the difference between actual hunger and stress triggers.

It might take some time, but I KNOW you can do it. You’ve got this! Please share any of your tips in the comments.

*Disclaimer – I am not a doctor. If you think you need to see your doctor about your stress, then do it! Don’t hesitate!

Looking for more ways to relax and make time for yourself right now? Sign up to receive my FREE 30 Day Self Care Challenge HERE.

March 23, 2020 by Sandra

Quarantine Activities to Get You Through the Days with Your Kids

Quarantine Activities to Get You Through the Days

Quarantine Activities are much needed right now. While the world is social distancing, it’s important that this stressful situation doesn’t create distance in your own relationships with your children. I have put together a list of quarantine activities for kids to get you through your days.

The only thing that your children need right now is a safe haven in this storm and unconditional love that tells them everything will be okay. (If you’re looking for a way to create a fun date night with your spouse, check out these tips.)

I have been thinking about this a lot lately, and I really want to come up with a way that I can help other families and friends get through these hard days of quarantine ahead. I am no Pinterest mom whatsoever, but I do love sharing fun and easy entertainment ideas to pass the time away.

Luckily, as a blogger, I have met some other really amazing writers in the profession. I am going to share with you my top list of crafts, ideas, or entertainment that I think you can also utilize in a time like this.

Quarantine Crafts Ideas for Kids

Baby Yoda is so popular in our house right now. If you haven’t seen The Mandalorian on Disney+, check it out with your older kids. As far as this craft goes, it is super cute and fun to make your own. Thank you Simple Everyday Mom for sharing your idea with us.

2. Don’t leave those sweet little unicorn-lovers out of the crafts. I know my Stella is going to love to make these. Here is another craft from Simple Everyday Mom that uses your child’s handprint to make a unicorn. SOOOOOO CUTE!!!!

3. Thank you so much Mama Shark Blog for sharing this list of easy and cheap crafts and activities that you can do at home with your kids. As a mom who struggles with being creative and artistic, these ideas seem to be fun and doable in my household!!

4. Printable BINGO sounds like so much fun. Thanks to Natasha, she has crafter multiple theme sheets to use depending on what your child likes.

Advanced Craft Ideas for older Kids

5. This is a more advanced craft and would be great for the older kids at home. Thank you so much to Jamie at the Splendry Blog for sharing this idea on how to create a DIY Modern Silhouette.

6. Do you have a superhero fan at your home? These Marvel Avenger printable masks are sure to be a hit. Thank you so much, Kami from The Momma Diaries blog for sharing this idea with us.

7. Check out this craft on how to make coffee filter flowers from Kitchen Table Classroom Blog. These look super fun and colorful, and I can’t wait to make one myself.

8. I would have never thought of making a dollhouse out of a cardboard box, but this looks like so much fun. This is definitely a more intense craft that you could work on over several days. Thank you so much for sharing this idea Dad Life Lessons Blog.

9. If you have a child that loves woodworking, then you are going to love these ideas. Thank you so much A Hundred Affections Blog for sharing 7 awesomely fun woodworking crafts that you can do from home. I’m excited to try a few of these.

Quarantine Games & Activities

10. When I was a kid, I could play with playdough for hours. I got really excited when Simple Everyday Mom Blog shared her easy recipe for homemade playdough with us. I can’t wait to make a batch with my kids and try this one myself.

11. Host a tea party. I love this idea. It’s a chance to get all dressed up and have a fancy snack with your little one. They will feel loved and special, which is what it’s all about. Thank you for sharing this idea with us Two Kids and A Coupon Blog.

12. My kids love activity sheets! They are great for sick days, road trips, and currently……..quarantine at home! Thank you so much Where’d My Sanity Go Blog for sharing this amazing list of fun pages with us.

13. Do you have any nature loves in the house? A homemade bird feeder sounds like a fun idea. Plus, it’s like doing a good deed by feeding the birds all in one. Attachment Mummy Blog shared her easy bird feeder recipe with us, and I hope you check it out.

14. Our family LOVES board games. Seriously though, my husband is a board game designed and we have an entire room devoted in our house to our game library. I was so excited to find this really cute design of a game that is a printable from Tara at California Camplife Blog. This will be a lot of fun and your kids can play this over and over again.

15. I love writing in a gratitude journal myself, so this a perfect time to incorporate this daily activity into your homeschooling schedule with your kids. With so much bad going on, I find it really important to focus on the good and be thankful for it. Thank you so much to Natasha for sharing this Printable Gratitude Journal with us that we can use in our families.

16. The only thing that is getting us by right now is getting outside in nature and exploring. The fresh air, social distancing and blue skies have been a blessing. Thank you to Natasha for also sharing this amazing Nature Activity Pack that you can use on. your next adventure.

17. Another fun activity to do with your kids is to have a scavenger hunt. You can come up with all kinds of themes, and even make it a competition. What a great idea Moms & Munchkins Blog.

18. Create a sidewalk chalk obstacle course. This is a fun way to get outside, exercise and change it up. Thanks for sharing this idea Toots Mom is Tired Blog.

Quarantine Kitchen Activities

19. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cookies are my favorite. Chocolate + peanut butter is a perfect combination. Check out this recipe from the Attachment Mummp Bl0g on how you can make these at home with your kids in the kitchen.

20. Hot fudge sundae cake sounds like a winner, right? I can’t wait to try this recipe with my kids. You can get really creative with the toppings and my little helpers love to bake in the kitchen with me. Thanks for sharing this recipe The Sum of All Sweets Blog.

21. Lastly, don’t forget about the fun you can have with dyeing Easter eggs. The different colors and patterns are so much fun. Check out these helpful tips from Attachment Mummy Blog. I love the cool, fun spin she adds on to this activity.

Closing Thoughts

You can’t measure your love for your children in hand-lettered bucket lists and carefully curated nature field trips. Comparing how well you’re doing at quarantine fun to what your neighbors are posting on Facebook isn’t a valid measure of what your child is feeling from you.

Measure your daily success in minutes snuggled at bedtime, tears shared over ice cream, the laughter that comes from discovering potty jokes, and the relief that comes when they’re finally fast asleep.

This is a great time to officially end the Mommy Wars. My COVID-19 proclamation is that I declare the Parenting Competition over. I forfeit. We’re trying to keep each other alive. That’s the only goal.

We can’t go under it, or over it. You and I HAVE to go through it, but you don’t have to do it alone. You and I do not have to perform it for our friends.

We don’t have to add to our fear by judging each other, competing with each other, or calling each other out. Just show up, and try our best. There isn’t a schedule in the world that can teach our children that. But we can.

Love hard and listen to your big feelings, parents. You’ve got this!!!

I would love to know what activities and things you are doing to make it through the quarantine right now. Please share it below!

March 20, 2020 by Sandra

Baked Parmesan Zucchini Sticks

Zucchini and Parmesan

Zucchini and parmesan are a match made in heaven. Does anyone else agree?

While we are social distancing ourselves during the Covid-19 pandemic, I am on a mission to create new and yummy recipes to share with you from items that are already in my refrigerator and pantry. It’s really amazing the things you can create and come up with when you have to be resourceful.

This recipe is super easy and is seriously one of the best side dish recipes I have made. The best part is that there are no breadcrumbs used, so it is also low-carb, gluten-free and keto-friendly.

If you are looking for other healthy recipes to fit these diets, check out another one of my favorite recipes here.

If you decide to try it, I would love to know what you think of it in the comments below. Stay safe everyone!

Baked Parmesan Zucchini Sticks

I am a lover of zucchini. I can eat it in a variety of ways, but this newest recipe may be my favorite. Rubbed with olive oil, salt and pepper, garlic, and my secret seasoning, sprinkled with real Parmesan cheese, then baked in the oven to golden brown perfection! You are sure to love it too.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Ingredients

4-5 medium zucchini
1/2 cup of Parmesan Cheese
1 tbsp of garlic powder
salt & pepper to taste
1 tbsp of sugar-free cajun seasoning
1 tbsp of EVOO

Instructions

Preheat your oven tp 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil for easy cleanup.
Cut your zucchini into sticks. I usually half mine and then cut the halves into 4-5 sticks each depending on the thickness. Put into a large mixing bowl.
Drizzle with EVOO. Add in the seasoning, and coat well with your hands. Place skin side down on your baking sheet in a single layer. Top with parmesan cheese.
Bake on the top rack of your oven for 20-25 minutes.
Switch your oven to broil for 4-5 minutes so that the zucchini and cheese can crisp up. It turns a beautiful, golden brown color.
Serve warm, and sprinkle with additional parmesan cheese if you prefer.
Enjoy this quick and healthy side dish. Comment below if you try it out and let me know what you think. Enjoy!

Notes

If you can't find a healthy cajun seasoning in your local store, here is one of my favorites you can order from Amazon. Cajun Seasoning

Nutrition Information:

Serving Size:

4
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 85

March 11, 2020 by Sandra

9 Easy Makeup Hacks That Accentuate Your Eyes

Easy Makeup Hacks That Accentuate Your Eyes

They say that your eyes are the window to your soul…….so that puts a lot of pressure on you to master your eye makeup. But have no fear, I have been researching and playing around with different techniques so that I can share them with you. These eye makeup hacks will not only enhance your inner beauty, but they will for sure accentuate your eyes too. If your smokey eye turns into Beetlejuice, you are going to want to know this info. We will start from the beginning with the perfect base and continue on throughout applying mascara to top off your look. You are going to want to keep these 9 easy makeup hacks that accentuate your eyes in your repertoire for sure.

Use an Eyeshadow Primer

So many people skip this step, and it makes the biggest difference in long-lasting eyeshadow. When creating a look, use a specially formulated eyeshadow primer to create a base for blending. It will also help your shadow colors stand out and last all day long. In a pinch, dab a little concealer on your lids before applying your eye shadow. This Eyeshadow Primer is my absolute favorite. It provides a smooth and silky finish, prevents your shadows from smearing, and even color corrects. If you struggle with dark eyelids or veiny lids, this primer will be your new BFF. Some makeup-free days, I still wear the primer only to give me a brightened look. Even when you’re going for a natural look sans eye shadow, applying a primer to your eyelids will open up and brighten your eyes.

Apply concealer in a triangle shape.

Speaking of bright eyes, dark undereye circles can hinder that youthful, “I got my eight hours of sleep” glow. Instead of applying your Concealer directly on your under-eye circles, apply it in an upside-down triangle shape with the base beginning at your lash line and the tip ending at the bottom of your cheek. This shape will brighten up your whole face! Check out this picture below, can you tell a difference in the finished photo using these two different techniques? The triangle of light always wins!!

Use a spoon to wing it out.

If you love the winged liner look, but need a little more guidance, use a spoon! Begin lining your upper lash line regularly, then, when it’s time for that pesky wing, press the rounded side of the spoon against your eyelid and use it to trace the perfect wing! Our Farmasi Ink Eye Liner pen is smooth and precise, and totally perfect for all your winged liner needs.

Swap in eye shadow for eyeliner.

Even if you aren’t going for a cat-eye, regular eye lining can be intimidating. Try using a dark shadow and a very thin brush instead – it will give you the emphasizing effect of eyeliner without all the struggle. For a slightly sharper look, wet the brush before swiping it in shadow. Our Mono Eyeshadows are perfect. I use the shade black tied or coffee brown for this technique.

Get lifted lashes that last.

Yes, you can have lifted lashes without spending money on lash extensions. Lifted lashes create a natural, wide-eyed effect. Heat up your eyelash curler with a quick blast from your hairdryer before curling your lashes to keep your lashes lifted and curled all day long. Just be sure to check the temperature on your hand before applying to your eyes! No one wants burnt eyelashes!!!

De-clump mascara by warming it up.

There is nothing worse than going to apply mascara and finding that it’s clumpy. Sometimes all it needs it a little warmth! First, try sticking it in your pocket, under your arm, or even in your bra while you apply the rest of your eye makeup. This will heat up and loosen the formula, making it easier to swipe through your lashes. Try our 3D Effect Mascara, designed to give your lashes length, volume, and a 3-dimensional look!

Revive your mascara with a few drops of saline.

If your mascara is still a little clumpy after heating, add a drop or two of saline solution to your tube. The saline will loosen up the mascara and remove any globs. Be sure to swirl the wand around, and do not pump. Pumping can cause the mascara to dry out even further. While these mascara hacks are great to use once or twice, we still recommend replacing your mascara every month or two to make sure your eyes stay healthy!

Frame your eyes with highlighted brows.

Good brows are just as important for enhancing your beautiful eyes as long lashes. Accentuate your brow shape by highlighting under and above your brow. Apply highlighter or a light champagne shadow to the brow bone and inner corners of your eyes to create a brightening and lifting effect. We have a lot of highlight products that can be used for this technique. Comment below or email me at thesandrahudson@gmail.com for a personal consultation.

Master the brow fade.

Natural brows are not all one shade. They start a bit lighter at their inner corner and darken as they get to the end. To achieve this look with a brow pencil, I always start in the middle of the brow and work my way up and out. Use light strokes to create natural-looking hairs. Our Eyebrow Pencil comes in 3 shades, perfect for mastering the brow fade. It glides on easily and has a creamy consistency. This is perfect for those who are new to filling in your brows. I recommend finishing off your brows by brushing them out with a spoolie to help you evenly blend and tame hairs.

If you want more info. about the products I mentioned above, and want to know how you can get them at a 50% discount, you should definitely check out this article that tells you all about it.

I hope you find all of the tips helpful. I know that these makeup hacks will help enhance your amazing eyes and give you a little extra confidence to master those harder looks.

Have you tried any of these or similar tips?

Tell us about your go-to eye makeup hacks in the comments!

XOXO-

Sandra

March 6, 2020 by Sandra

A Letter to my Son

“A Letter to my Son (while he is a preteen)

This blog post will be a little different than the norm. This is a letter to my son while he is currently a preteen.

Once upon a time 11 years ago, I became a mom. At this time in my life, I had no idea that I even wanted children……..but then he happened. My life has been upside down ever since, and I would not trade it for anything in the world. As we prepare to celebrate your 11th birthday, this mama is having a hard time. I am not ready for independence, even though, as parents this is what we are preparing you for. I am not ready for the broken hearts, because I always want to see you happy and loved. Lastly, I am not ready for you to grow into becoming an adult because frankly, it means I won’t be needed as much.

Growing up is inevitable though. So as you are transitioning from that spunky little boy to a handsome young man, I wanted to write you a letter full of life lessons that you can keep and cherish forever.

A Letter to My Son and What I want Him to Know

Always Be true to yourself. There is no one else like you in the entire world, so allow your uniqueness to shine through. You never need to change who you are for someone else. You are amazing exactly as you are.

Live your own dreams. Try lots of things, and figure out what makes you happy. Then, pursue it. Follow a path of your own choosing – not mine, not your dad’s or anyone else’s. Your fulfillment is what I want, and it will come from following your dreams and living a life that has meaning and purpose for YOU.

Don’t take life too seriously. Have fun. Laugh at yourself when you make mistakes. Don’t worry about things you cannot control. Don’t sweat the small stuff. You are only given one life, so make the best of it, and enjoy it to the fullest.

Love and accept yourself unconditionally. You will always have yourself even when friends come and go, so make it your best relationship. The way you treat yourself will show others how to treat you, so treat yourself like you would your own best friend. Be kind, respectful, and loving to yourself no matter what. Your words matter, especially the words you say to yourself.

Don’t be afraid to take risks. Take big, bold risks! You can accomplish great things by taking risks. Living life too cautiously, and always keeping the status quo will leave you with regrets. Get outside of your comfort zone and watch as that comfort zone expands. The more risks you take, the easier it becomes.

(read more about children and failure here.)

Find your soulmate. You will meet someone one day with whom you fall head over heels in love and want to spend the rest of your life. Their gender, race, religion, and culture are irrelevant to me. As long as you are loved, respected, and treated well, I will always be happy with your choice.

And, last but certainly not least,

Know that I love you and I will always be there for you. No matter what life throws at you, I will always have your back. You are my son and you always will be. I adore you, and there is nothing you could possibly do to change that. There may be many times when we don’t agree, but those moments will never devalue the love that I have for you.

This letter to my son is written with love and admiration. I am so very thankful to be your mother.

“You is smart. You is kind. You is important.” Mommy, and Daddy, and Stella love you very, very much.

Adapted from the movie, “The Help.”

Family Trip to Big Bear Lake

In Closing

Parker, you are amazing in so many ways. I think you are capable of doing something amazing with your life and as sad as it is for me, I can not wait to watch it unfold. You are that special.

Love Always,

Mom

March 4, 2020 by Sandra

Mystery Blogger Award 2020 & My Nominations

MYSTERY BLOGGER AWARD 2020 & MY NOMINATIONS

I am so honored and very grateful to have been nominated for the Mystery Blogger Award by Sharon Green. Sharon is the author and creator of thesharongreen.com blog. I am so very grateful to Sharon for her nomination of me and my growing blog for this award.

Sharon blogs about healthy living, mental health, life as a grandparent and travel, just to name a few. She has a unique way of sharing her own experiences along with research, and I truly love reading her words.

I recently joined an online blogging community and met Sharon there. Sharon has been extremely friendly, helpful and very encouraging. Connections like this are one of the reasons why I love to blog so much.

WHAT IS THE MYSTERY BLOGGER AWARD?

This award was created by Okoto Enigma. It was created as a way for blogs that haven’t been discovered to gain recognition.

“Mystery Blogger Award” is an award for amazing bloggers with ingenious posts. Their blog not only captivates; it inspires and motivates. They are one of the best out there, and they deserve every recognition they get. This award is also for bloggers who find fun and inspiration in blogging, and they do it with so much love and passion.
– Okoto Enigma

MYSTERY BLOGGER AWARD RULES

Put the award logo/image on your blog
List the rules.
Thank whoever nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
Mention the creator of the award and provide a link as well
Tell your readers 3 things about yourself
You have to nominate 10 – 20 people
Notify your nominees by commenting on their blog
Ask your nominees any 5 questions of your choice; with one weird or funny question (specify)
Share a link to your best post(s)

3 FACTS ABOUT MYSELF

I am a beauty influencer/blogger and I absolutely love that I can take my interests and passions and turn it into something beautiful in order to make other women feel more empowered and beautiful also.
I was born as a Southern Belle and was raised in Alabama. Our family moved to Los Angeles, CA almost 2 years ago for my husband’s career. Before that, I have never made it past Texas. As you can imagine, this has been quite a change for our family.
I am a huge reader and will literally research things to death. I love to learn all about things that interest me and then teach those subjects to others. I also love to read for fun and get lost in pages of books!

SHARON’S QUESTIONS FOR ME

What is your favorite word in the vocabulary and why? (If not in English vocabulary please give definition) {this is my weird question} My favorite word would be lackadaisical. It’s a fun word to say and it’s something that I strive not to be.
What is one thing you hope to accomplish with your blog? I blog because I love to inspire other women. Life is so hard, and I feel that it is important to use your special gifts and talents to give back and make the world a brighter place. If my words can be helpful or bring a smile to your face, I feel accomplished at the end of the day.
Where (or from whom) do you find your inspiration for your writing/blogging? When I started my blog, I was going through a dark time. Our family had moved across the country, and I was homesick and lonely. Writing has always been very therapeutic for me, so I took the words that were on my heart and just started typing.
What brings you peace during the stressful days/times? Sometimes I just need to remind myself to step outside in the fresh air and take deep breaths. I can get worked up pretty easily, but nature always makes me feel more zen.
What is your favorite song and by what artist? My favorite song has always been “Don’t Stop Believin” by Journey. The lyrics are amazing, and I dare you not to dance when you hear the beat of the music!

MY NOMINEES

Valerie Giacinto for Self Care Chat blog
Rachel Hewitt for Linin’ Up Ducks vlog.
Toni-Ann for Real Happy Mom blog
Melissa Ortiz for the Learning is a Way of Life blog.
Sam Kluth for Mommy Feels Pretty blog.
Ricci Bester-Adams for Common Sense Mommy blog.
Kimberli Wilson for Life with Kimberli blog.
Jessica Rollin-Hoobler for Momma Herbs Love blog.
Jorrie Varney for Close to Classy blog.
Casey Huff for Bouncing Forward blog.
Jess for Wonderoak blog.
Ariana Dagan for the Ariana Dagan blog.
Lauren Holloway for The Pretty Pink Passport blog.
Vivian Tant for Living as Vivian blog.

MY QUESTIONS FOR MY NOMINEES

As a content creator, how do you find time to write and combat burnout?
What is one thing you hope to accomplish with your blog?
Do you have any hidden talents?
What is your favorite quote?
What inspired you to start your blog?

If you think your blog is amazing and would love to spread it to the world, please contact me for nomination for the Mystery Blogger Award. Thank you!

MY FAVORITE POST

I received so many messages, comments and feedback in regard to the post I did on Life is Too Short for Small Talk and Fake Friends. This is one of those posts where I poured my heart into the page. As mentioned earlier, I was in a dark place when we moved away from the only home I have ever know. It really helped me write my feelings, and I hope you can relate to it as well.