Want Me To Teach You? #Blogalicious12

An hour away until our session starts at #Blogalicious12!

Dr. Smiths Diaper Ointment is sponsoring my trip to #Blogalicous as I will be speaking about Unconventional Ways to Earn Money Outside Your Blog. Check them out today at http://www.DoctorSmiths.com, on Twitter and on Facebook!

Can I Leave My Children? #Blogalicious

This is the question that has been on my mind for the past week as I am getting ready to leave for Blogalicious in 2 days. Am I nervous about the flight? Nope. How about the fear of meeting a bunch of people I've never met before? Nah. Ok, so your not scared of doing Vegas baby! Not even close. But, I am super nervous that I will be leaving my children!

Even though they will be in the best place possible (I mean who doesn't love grandma's house), this is the first time we all would have been apart for a couple of days. Truly specifically is my dramatic daughter. "But I'm going to miss you" she says with her tears-on-demand already strolling down her cheek. In all reality, she won't really miss me.

What she is most upset about is that I am going to Vegas without HER. We went last summer and stayed at the Circus Circus and boy did she love it!

I'll be speaking about Expanding Revenue Outside of Your Blog. I will be pulling out highlights from my book The Blog Bank, Getting Your Blog to Pay Your Bills. So I've been super busy trying to arrange this topic perfectly to give attendees the best information possible.

While I am still nervous about leaving my children, I have come to terms that it's just a part of life, and some space for all of us is bound to be a wonderful thing!

Dr. Smiths Diaper Ointment is sponsoring my trip to #Blogalicous as I will be speaking about Unconventional Ways to Earn Money Outside Your Blog. Check them out today at http://www.DoctorSmiths.com, on Twitter and on Facebook!

Are You Using Your Skills The Way You Want To?

Working Out, Lipstick Stolen, #Blogalicious is Next Weekend!!

Good Morning!!!!

Addy and I decided to do a quick RVOD, (Random Video Of the Day) after I did a quick qorkout that I found on Blogilates, realized Addy had stolen my make up, and trying to spend more time with kids before I leave for Blogalicious for 3 days!

Check Check it out! *Warning* Did this video literally right after I worked out, we dropped to the floor and did a video. So that meaaansss...no make up!! :)

Dr. Smiths Diaper Ointment is sponsoring my trip to #Blogalicous as I will be speaking about Unconventional Ways to Earn Money Outside Your Blog. Check them out today at http://www.DoctorSmiths.com, on Twitter and on Facebook!

6 Things To Do The Night Before For An Easy Morning

It's been 2 weeks since my kids started school. This school year is a completely new experience for me. For the last 2 years, my husband has been taking my stepson to school while he is with us for half the week, while I was able to sleep in with the 2 little girls. I didn't have any stressful mornings and pretty much had an easy start to the day.

Now things are completely different. With one of the girls starting Kinder {and being quite demanding if you ask me}, my morning consists of lunch boxes, school clothes, laundry, waking up the older ones, waking up the younger ones, signing papers, breakfast, and more. {If you can believe it}

While I've had a ton of trail and error over the past 2 weeks, it took me a while to figure out a system that didn't have me scrambling in the morning, or to exhausted the night before to even wake up.

1. Check The School Folder/Back Pack

There were many times were I had forgotten something because I didn't check it the night before. We are scrambling in the car to go through papers, when we should have done it the night before. This way, you have time to add items to your calendar, sign important forms, and get rid of the junk paperwork.

2. Get Lunch {And Breakfast} Ready

My stepson usually eats lunch at school, but sometimes he also likes me to pack him a lunch. Truly on the other hand, wants only a packed lunch. I'm fine with that since I can pick things that I know she will actually eat, and I know that she wont be hungry when the school bell rings. Every night we get her lunch ready, put it in ziplock bags and stick it in the fridge. Now it is ready to just grab and go in the morning!

For Breakfast, set the cereal out in the morning, make a week's worth of granola on Monday, and set out all your ingredients and utensils ready for pancakes.

3. Pick Out Clothes

For the first week of school, there was at least a 10 minute lag in picking out what they wanted to wear. "Is it PE today? Is this dress appropriate? {Yes Truly really asks that} Have I worn this already?" If picking out clothes the night before saves you 10 minutes of deciding, that's 10 minutes extra everyone can sleep in!

4. Get Those Kids To Help You!

There's been many a time, even before school, where I've woken up in the morning greeted to piles of toys, clothes, and more toys around the house and rooms. Then as we try to get our day started, I'm left to clean up, while the kids try to get ready, tripping around our junk. Getting your kids to clean up their rooms, put every toy away, as a night time ritual will not only make things clean for you in the morning, but teach them how to be responsible.

5. Get Everything By The Door

The night before, get your kids to make sure everything is in their backpack, and for them to put them by the front door, or garage door, whichever one you use to exit. You, Mom, do the same. Put your purse by the door, your to do list, and anything else you would take with you in the morning when leaving.

6. The List

Whether you have a paper to do list, or you use an app on your phone, before you get in bed, list all the things you have to do for the next day. This is also a good time to eliminate things you maybe don't have to do and shorten your list.

By following these things, our nights have actually been more calmer, and the kids have learned their "good night" system. The 6 things usually take us about 15 - 20 minutes, if even that, but saves us at least an hour of craziness in the morning.

Sometimes a mom just needs to hit snooze every once in a while!

#Blogalicious Countdown with @DoctorSmiths

I am so excited to announce my sponsor for the Blogalicious Weekend Blogging Conference, 

Dr. Smiths Ointment!

What I love most about the Dr. Smith's company is, not only have I used and loved their products for my children, but they are based right here in my city of San Antonio!

2 years ago, I started working with them on their team of Premium Parent bloggers. They gave us a tour of their factory, got to meet the wonderful team of leaders, had a wonderful catered lunch, and had a great kick off to the program. They definitely got it right when it came to working with bloggers, and we all know the horror stories of companies who get it totally wrong!

Shortly after that, I took a break from blogging due to my newborn and toddler being more than I could handle at the moment. I've kept up with their progress though, and following the fellow bloggers posts and ideas. Heloise from Hints with Heloise as a contributor to their blog.

When it came time for trying to find a sponsor for Blogalicious, my contacts Dr. Smiths, responded to a Facebook post I had put out, and was glad to work with me again! Not only am I grateful for this opportunity itself, but also the idea of partnering with a company and making connections for the long run. That is the exact quality people look for in people and in businesses.

So as someone who has changed many a diaper year after year, used all the different top brands of ointment, I've always found Dr. Smiths to heal, protect, and soothe the best.

I mean, who else has 5 stars on Amazon?!

What makes Dr. Smiths different?

• A premium blend of ingredients
• No unpleasant odor
• Goes on like a cream. Protects like an ointment
• Treats diaper rash fast
• Easy to apply and wash off

Be sure to check out their website, and specifically their blog, where they features posts on parenting, cleaning, and more!

Stay on the lookout for more information about a giveaway too!

Stay updated with all that is going on with Dr. Smiths, by visiting there Facebook and Twitter pages. Be sure to introduce yourself, and say I sent you! They love meeting new people!

See you soon!!!

Dr. Smiths is sponsoring my trip to #Blogalicious this year as I will be speaking at this event. While they will cover my expenses and compensate me for my time working for them, all opinions are entirely my own.

3 Ways to Own Breastfeeding {The Luvs Commercial}

I breastfed Truly until she was a little over 2 years old. It was more of a comfort thing for her, and since we were also co-sleeping, she kind of just "did it" on her own. She only stopped because I became pregnant, and well, she just stopped!

Addy, I bottle fed. I was on the fence with the decision, but it was something my husband really wanted to do, as he missed out on the bonding time with feeding Truly. I'll admit, I got A LOT more sleep, mommy time, and more time with the other kids, since more people were able to pitch in and spend time with the baby.

Either way, when I stumbled upon the Luvs commercial on Mean Baby's writer's facebook, I thought it was the coolest thing! What I found funny was how they compared a "First Kid" mom to a "Second Kid" mom.

The "First Mom" is nervous, hiding behind a tree, and struggling with her cover up. The "Second Mom" oozed confidence, jokes with the waiter, and nonchalantly sits at the table to feed her baby.

While I was both at times, either feeding my daughter in a fitting room, or at the playground, I can soo relate.

So are you a breastfeeding mom who needs a little more "Second Mom" in ya?:

1. Do What Makes You {And Your Baby} Comfortable

If you want to hide in a fitting room like how I did because you enjoy the privacy with your child, then do it! No one says you have to be bold, you just need to be comfortable. If you don't feel like you need to go to the bathroom to feed you child and you want to sit at the park and enjoy the sunlight while watching your 5 year old use the slide? Then whip that bad boy out and feed your baby!

2. Have A Sense Of Humour

People are going to say something, and that is okay. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, just like you are. While breastfeeding is perfectly natural and may make other people uncomfortable, the best thing you can do is smile, make a joke about it, and love the decisions you have made for you and your child. Why say something negative or let their misunderstanding cloud your day? Exactly. Humour always wins.

3. Clear Your Mind, And De-Stress

Try not to let worry take over your life, in any situation. Worry should definitely have no place in your mind especially when it comes to breastfeeding. Feeding your child is a great way to bond with your child, but why do it if all you are going to do is worry about what the person beside you is going to think. Clear your mind, and focus on what is important. Then you will see your confidence shine through and realize that nothing else around you even matters.

I'm not one of those crazy BREAST ONLY mothers, obviously I did both, but the message that this commercial gives is a great reminder for breastfeeding moms to stand their ground, and take the negativity with a grain of salt.