Tag Archives: mommy

Enough is Enough – On Making Change and Being True to You

I know I’ve talked about re-branding, changing the direction of my blog and having a whole new template, a couple times on my blog. I think I first brought it up about 3 months ago, in this post, On Starting a Business. However, here I sit with the same blog, across all areas. I’m not growing or changing, I’m just staying put. It’s a damn struggle, too!

How to Create Change as a WAHM and be True to You - Baby Doodah

On Being a Mommy Blogger

I love being a mom. It is the best job I’ve ever had, but I don’t have a passion for writing about it like I did when Emmett was first born. This is the reason that you’ve seen my post frequency getting less and less, I just don’t have the drive to write about it. Yes, I know, I’ve read the posts too, where you just need to force yourself to write and then the routine of it will create the drive. However, this is different. I am not avoiding writing altogether, I’m mentally avoiding writing about the topics that fit the niche of my blog. I just don’t have any interest in writing about them.Continue Reading

100+ Tips for Breastfeeding Success

Breastfeeding a newborn, can be one of the most difficult things that you do, but there has NEVER been something more worth it in your life!

In the beginning, you’re unsure of what you’re doing, your child knows what to do, but may not latch correctly, which can lead to painful, cracked nipples, or your child under-eating. However, there ARE ways to overcome this, and still have 100% success for you and for your child.

The BEST piece of advice that I can give you, is DO NOT GIVE UP! Yes, things may be difficult, and you might have times in the beginning where you are exhausted and want sleep, but don’t quit. It DOES get easier, and eventually, it is the most amazing time spent with your child. That time is just for you and your baby, no one else can have that… think about how special that is! Think of the bonds that will be built. 🙂

Side note: One thing, that I think is incredibly important to mention – My intention when writing this is not to criticize a mom who chose to formula feed, but to encourage those moms who are struggling with breastfeeding. 

Over 100 Tips for Breastfeeding Success - Baby DoodahContinue Reading

Social Media Saturday – Share and Get Noticed

social media saturdays

Welcome to Social Media Saturdays, the one and only linkup sponsored by the International Bloggers Association, where bloggers grow together. Have you joined yet? If not, go there now!

 

We’re all about making new friends and finding each other in the places we hang out online. This is the place to mingle, make new friends and form real relationships– not the place to drop links and leave!

 

If that sounds good to you, then by all means, share the links to your social media accounts here!

 

Here are the rules:

1. You don’t have to, but if you want to be classy please follow your hosts in each category that you join. We are:

Brittany at brittanybullen.com, Giada at giada100.com, Katy at chaosandkiddos.com,

Keitha at bajantexan.blogspot.com, Tina at gringoslocos6.com, Marg at margsworld.com

Paula at paulabuenosaires.com, Shana at Technotini.com, Anni at Grapefruitprincess.com, Cathy at APeekIntoMyParadise.com, Jillian at babydoodah.com and Kaitlyn at threesistersandus.com!

 

2. Tweet about the party and spread the word so that we can all connect with new friends! The more people who join us, the better experience we all have!

Click the button below or write your own tweet with the hashtag #ilovesocialsaturday so your new friends know where you came from and so that we can chat all day!

 

3. Follow the person before you in each category that you join and at least 2 more so that we make sure everybody gets some love!

 

4. If you’d like to put our badge on your site, grab the HTML here. Let us know if you did because we sure do love people who love us!

 

Social Media Saturdays

 

Let’s get started!!! Happy Saturday!!

 

P.S. If you want to make sure you don’t miss the party (or just say hi!) head over and like our facebook page, Social Media Saturdays. And, if you want to see some SERIOUS growth on your blog, don’t forget to come and join the International Bloggers Association!

 

Fill out my online form.

 

iba_directory

 

Browse IBA blog directory!

There, you can find great new friends in your niche to subscribe to and visit regularly. Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to build a network of support!

 

We’re so excited to introduce the newest addition to our weekly linkup– the first-ever official IBA Blog Hop! This hop is just for members of the IBA (badge required) to visit each other’s latest posts in any category and share the love. If you submit a link here, make sure to visit and comment on and/or share three more.

Each week, we’ll be featuring the three posts that got the most clicks in the previous week, so make sure to come back to see if you’ve been featured! Happy Blog-Hopping!

 

Here are the featured posts from last week’s Social Media Saturday

 

Is Mexico Dangerous?

Tina at Los Gringos Locos

 

The Under $50 Guide for Unique Holiday Gifts

Holly at The Coconut Head’s Survival Guide

 

Think beyond Black Friday to #GivingTuesday

Linda at My WAHM Plan

 

Social Media Saturdays Blog Hop

If you get featured, grab the badge!

 

Social Media Saturdays Blog Hop

 

 

And now linkup your social accounts!

Social Media Saturdays

Social Media Saturdays Social Media Saturdays

Social Media Saturdays Social Media Saturdays

Social Media Saturdays

Celebrate the Holidays – NOT the Food

I was going to start this post by saying that the holidays are on their way, but let’s be real, they’re here. Thanksgiving is 3 days away, and Christmas is 30 or so days away – they’re definitely here!

This is a time of the year where people tend to let their bad habits come back into play and claim that they’ll start anew after the first of the year. I was typically one of those people, but I’m not this year. Nope! No way, no how! I thought since I’ve shared my journey with you, I’d take some time to explain how I plan on staying focused on my health this year.

I would say, nearly every year since I can remember has been spent telling myself that it’s okay to OVER indulge and gain a little weight, because the first of the year is right around the corner, and what better time to restart the weightloss journey than January one? Am I right?

Celebrate the Holidays - Not the Food - Baby Doodah!

This year, I decided to do something a little differently, technically A LOT differently for me. I plan on treating this time of the year the same way I do every other part of the year, when it comes to food. I’m not going to eat like it’s my last meal, or like I’ll never have the food again – I’m going to enjoy what I want, but in moderation.

Easier said than done, right?

Usually I would agree, but something is different for me, this time around. The other day, while celebrating early Thanksgiving with my family, I didn’t feel the normal pull of 2nd and 3rd helpings. And, I was even asked if I wanted more squash/potatoes/cranberry sauce/turkey, but I said no to all of it. I was full, I knew it, and my belly knew it. Instead, I spent the precious time with my family all together, laughing and not focusing on the food on the table or going in my mouth.

I imagine the experience was similar to how a naturally thin person would eat. I knew there was food in front of me, I knew I wanted to eat some of it, but I wasn’t concerned about the amount I’d eat. It was an amazing feeling!!

I can’t really pinpoint exactly what has caused this change in mindset, but what I can share are the many different things I am doing to better myself, and have a healthier relationship with food.

So far, in the last couple months I’ve…

  • Read a couple different self-help books
  • Started drinking Shakeology daily – I truly believe that this is a huge part of why my cravings are manageable.
  • Stopped hating on myself constantly – I used to be so mean to myself, now, about 80% (I’m working on the other 20) of the time, I am kind and loving and am more accepting of my flaws.
  • Started working out regularly – Any workout will really get you feeling better, but doing it regularly will change your entire mind.
  • Actually listening to the complements that my husband gives me – Probably seems like an easy one, but it was actually pretty difficult. I just never saw what he did, I shut that part of me up and now listen to Seamus.
  • Stopped worrying about whether I’ll ever have another Big Mac, slice of pizza, chicken fingers, etc., again – I tell myself that there will be another opportunity for these foods, but I have to really want them (except for the pizza, that I will splurge on, or make at home).

See… I’ve made a lot of changes! But, let me make one thing very clear, I am not 100% perfect with any of these areas. I still struggle with food, but since admitting and becoming more aware of my triggers, my bingeing and bad relationship with food has gotten much much better.

So yeah, I’m excited about this holiday season because it means lots of time with family, who I only see a few times a year. The food? Well, that’s just an added bonus!!

Curious to know more about my poor relationship with food? You can read all about my struggles with Binge Eating Disorder by clicking here.

Your turn!

Have you made any changes in regards to your eating or relationship with food? Or are you waiting until the new year to get started?

What’s your tried and true trick to help stave off the cravings? 

Please share in the comments below!

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I’m linking up with Fitness Cheerleader and Running Rachel – YOU should join me at the #MotivateMeMonday link-up!

Let’s Talk – Some Changes & a Meal Plan

Life is full of changes, and I don’t always cope so well with them – but if I want to become a successful solopreneur certain things need to evolve.

Changes in How I Do Business with my Blog.

I have always enjoyed blogging, I’ve had 3 or 4 different blogs in my lifetime, and I’ve enjoyed writing for each one, but I always seemed to run out of post ideas. I never looked at the full picture, or the different angles that a topic can come from. Even with Baby Doodah! I haven’t fully grasped how many readers I could reach if I just buckle down and really look at this like a business. Yes, it is a hobby and I enjoy every single minute that I get to be at the keyboard, writing (90% of the time), but I do want to gain audience members, too.

Lately, I’ve been doing a lot of reading, learning and personal development. I’ve been reading blog upon blog about how important it is to have a business plan for your blog. That is literally something I NEVER considered for my blog, in fact – even right now – I have NO Idea how to go about doing that. I have an idea, but I am one of those people who needs specific instructions before I can move forward.

I’ve managed to find a couple of fantastic resources (here are a few for your viewing pleasure, How to Build a Blog Business Plan and How to Create a Successful Business Plan for Your Blog) that will help guide me in the right direction, and I can’t wait to get started. It’s essentially grown-up homework for something that I really enjoy doing, that can only lead to success. Right!?

Things around the blog won’t be TOO different from the outside. I’m thinking I will change the days that I regularly post, right now I aim for Sun-M-W-F, and then my weekend link-up post. I am thinking it will be a good idea to switch to Sun-Tues-Thurs and my weekend link-up. I will be posting less, but my content will be more in-depth, I won’t feel rushed to pump out a blog post so that I can meet my own expectations and those of my readers. I’ll be able to spend time gathering information, thinking through and actually writing multiple drafts of posts. It all sounds really exciting to me! I can be such a nerd. HA HA

Anyway, I wanted to come clean to you, my loyal and valued readers. I love keeping you up to date on everything I have planned, because it is you that I write for. I really hope you stick around!!

Kind of random to put these two together, but that’s how I roll…

My Meal Plan

Breakfast: 2 scrambled eggs & bacon

Lunch: salad with ham and sliced chicken, sunflower seeds, bleu cheese, purple cabbage and honey mustard & baby carrots

Saturday: (we’ve started meal planning and shopping on Saturday evenings) Spaghetti Squash Fettuccine Alfredo

Sunday: Pork Fried Rice (we’ll be having cauliflower rice)

Monday: Rotisserie Chicken & Baked Potatoes

Tuesday: Homemade Steak Sandwiches

Wednesday: Greek Meatballs & Spinach

Thursday: Scrounge Night

Friday: Homemade Pizza

There you have it!! My confession on changes coming and my yummy weekly menu. We do have a lot of repeats this week, but why mess with what’s broken, right!?

I’m linking up with Laura from Mommy, Run Fast! and Jill from jillconyers.com. And, also linking up with the Motivate Me link-up hosted by Janice from Fitness Cheerleader and Rachel from RunningRachel.com.

Your turn!

How do changes of any kind make you feel?

If you are making a meal plan this week, what’s on it?

signatureLooking for a quick, easy and FREE way to get your news? Check-out theSkimm and sign-up for your daily email box delivery of the world’s news, plus if you share your birthday, you get it listed at the bottom of the newsletter on your day. It’s like celebrating with thousands of people!!!!

Let’s Meal Plan

Happy Monday! I truly mean that, too. 🙂 I am off both today and tomorrow and couldn’t be more excited!! However, despite being off, we are still making our meal plan, it’s our easiest way to save money and not go off the rails when we’re grocery shopping.

Our Fall Meal Plan - Baby Doodah

How was your weekend?

Ours was pretty good! Saturday we spent a good deal inside, going between watching movies and cuddling to play with cars and trains – oh and of course being loud!! haha Yeah, Emmett’s new thing is to shout everything, even when he’s singing. It’s a good thing he’s cute! In the morning, I did get to go for a Pedicure with a friend and then out for brunch. Boy did my feet need some TLC.

Sunday, was equally as easy going. Since we have today and tomorrow off, we decided to hold off on grocery shopping until today. So, instead of needing to rush out the door to the store, we all enjoyed breakfast together and then Emmett and I headed out to do some shopping. I had intended on going to a few different stores, but Emmett had a different idea, we only made it to JoAnn’s and Trader Joe’s – better than nothing, I suppose.

After nap time, Seamus went to the gym and Emmett and I played outside. Our weather was decent, chilly but dry, so we pulled out his Little Tikes Cozy Coup (affiliate link) and rode it around the neighborhood. He was in heaven! Of course, after our walk we had to take it in the backyard, where Emmett tipped the car no less than 3 cars. haha He was so muddy, but he was having a blast, so WHO CARES!?

The rest of the evening went by in a blur, we had dinner, finished watching a movie we started on Saturday, gave Emmett his bath and then it was to bed. What an awesome whirlwind of a weekend!

Now for our Meal Plan

Sunday: Balsamic Pork & Baked Potatoes

Monday: Homemade Pork Fried Rice

Tuesday: Steak & Chick Peas & Tomato Salad

Wednesday: Rotisserie Chicken & Asparagus

Thursday: Fettuccine Alfredo Spaghetti Squash

Friday: Homemade Pizza

Saturday: Greek Meatballs

That’s a seriously yummy week, right there!!

If you share a meal plan on your blog, you should join me at either Mommy, Run Fast or jillconyers.com! Link that post up and make some new friends.

Your turn!

How was your weekend? Do anything fun!?

What’s on your menu for the week?

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Looking for a quick, easy and FREE way to get your news? Check-out theSkimm and sign-up for your daily email box delivery of the world’s news, plus if you share your birthday, you get it listed at the bottom of the newsletter on your day. It’s like celebrating with thousands of people!!!!

Sunday Meal Plan – Week of 10/27/14

Sunday Meal Plan

Happy Sunday! I’m so happy to have you here!

Before I get into the meal plan, I wanted to just talk about what a sweet little boy Emmett has been. Why? Because I love him and because I’m a proud momma. He’s been so full of pleases and thank yous and it just warms my heart each and everyday.

This morning, Seamus said he woke up and was telling him thank you for everything, getting him out of the crib, changing his diaper, giving hugs, etc. The best part for me is that he is using please and thank you appropriately. He doesn’t seem to have any confusion on when to use please, thank you and you’re welcome. I love it! I realize it might seem pretty silly to some, but when you have a child, you are just so proud of everything they do. 🙂

Love him!

So how was your weekend?

Ours was pretty awesome! Saturday I got up early and headed to Starbucks to get some of my work done. I have a desk at home, but as soon as Emmett starts waking up, I lose my concentration. I had a lot to do and wanted to be productive, so I showered and headed out. I’m glad I did, too! I got so much accomplished!

When I got home, Emmett and I spent some time playing with Play-Doh (Emmett is partial to the Play-Doh fun factory – affliate link). With the this set, there is a mother, father, and boy cut out. He had me help him make one for each of us. Then he took the mother and father and had each of them say I love you to the other and then give each other kisses. It was the sweetest thing! I’m so glad that we’re showing him what a loving and happy relationship is all about.

We also headed down to visit my parents which was really nice. It’s always so laid back there! Emmett plays and we chat, he loves playing with all the different toys that grandma has!

Today will be filled with laundry, grocery shopping, food prep and tidying up. Nothing exciting, but all things that need to be done.

And now, onto our meal plan

Breakfast: 2 scrambled eggs, feta & 2 slices of bacon

Lunch for the week: Chicken Soup, Rice Crackers & mini sweet peppers

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Sunday: Chili & Corn Bread

Monday: Spaghetti Squash – Fettuccine Alfredo

Tuesday: Rotisserie Chicken & Asparagus

Wednesday: Pork Tacos

Thursday: Steak, Chick Pea and Tomato Salad

Friday: Homemade Pizza

Saturday: Scrounge Night

Lunch for the week: Chicken Soup, Rice Crackers & mini sweet peppers

Breakfast: 2 scrambled eggs, feta & 2 slices of bacon

I’m linking up with Laura from Mommy, Run Fast! and Jill from jillconyers.com, be sure to stop over and link-up your meal planning posts.

Your turn!

Anything fun, new or interesting on your meal plan this week? I’d love if you shared in the comments below!

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Looking for a quick, easy and FREE way to get your news? Check-out theSkimm and sign-up for your daily email box delivery of the world’s news, plus if you share your birthday, you get it listed at the bottom of the newsletter on your day. It’s like celebrating with thousands of people!!!!

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