Posts About tips

ten ways i’m working through depression

September 11, 2017

For the past several months, I have been experiencing depression and anxiety like I never have before. I have had short-lived periods of it, mostly situational, but they resolved and in general I have always thought of myself as being free from mental health problems. At first I thought that it was normal hormonal stuff, because it was coming cyclically. But it kept getting worse, so I finally went to see my OB/Gyn about it. She tested my hormones, which all came back normal, and didn’t end up prescribing me anything because my description of it didn’t sound like typical PMDD. I have known this doctor for about seven years, we have had fairly frequent contact, and I trust her….
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five ways i’m learning to love summer

June 7, 2016

Hey hey! I’m stopping in today because I wanted to share some things that have been on my mind about summer. It’s in full swing here, despite the near-constant rain that is prohibiting us from frequenting the neighborhood pool so far. But then again, the rain is keeping the temps around 90 instead of 100 degrees so…silver lining? I’m not one to pick a favorite season, because I really do like different things about each one. When I was a kid I loved summer. The heat didn’t phase me and of course I loved the break. I went to camp, swam, and hung out with my friends and brothers constantly. But I’ve noticed as I age summer goes down and…
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kitchen switch-ups with viva

October 22, 2015

Are you a brand-loyal type of person? I think most people are for some things. Personally, I like to try a bunch of different products until I find what I consider the best, and then I stick to it. That’s how we landed on Viva® Towels ages ago. If you haven’t tried them, they are plain white and feel like cloth. The higher quality is immediately noticeable, and basically, we are in love. When I was asked to attend a local event to learn more about the Viva® Vantage® towel (post sponsor!), I was totally game because I already knew it was a brand I love. Even though we try not to use too many paper towels in favor of…
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calming ideas for intense kids

July 15, 2015

I think I’ve mentioned about a hundred times that Meredith is a spirited child. :) As so, she is particularly intense with her emotions, which can be so cool and fun but also…not! Today I wanted to share a few ideas that we use to calm her down when she is getting worked up. (First tip: try them BEFORE reaching epic meltdown level!) 1. Walk it out Changing her surroundings is always a good idea, and going for a walk usually does the trick. When I’m trying to head off a tantrum I try to steer her towards riding in the stroller or walking rather than riding her balance bike because she can get frustrated easily with the latter. If…
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a tip for spending less money

June 9, 2015

In our house we are getting serious about paying off our debt and saving money. Funny how as soon as you tell yourself that you can’t spend anything, all you want to do is buy stuff! For real, though. I’ve long known that for us it’s the little stuff here and there that adds up, but it’s so easy to justify those small purchases. So when we cut out all extra spending recently, I had to find a way to deal with the urges to buy things. “Retail therapy” really does work in the short run, but since it’s not in line with my overall values I know I’ll regret it later. On the other hand, I know that if I…
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