A little bit more of change

What changes in our life as the days go by? Each person has their own story. For me, it’s been a roller coaster. From getting a product review (got the products in on Monday), watching the plants grow like crazy (we’ve loved that), honing down on my business plan, getting very specific about what I really want to do, and starting to sew (I made pillows!!). These things are so wonderful, little, yet exciting for me and the twins.

                So I started reaching out for products to review and I got one! I am so excited about that. It is a hair growth product for black girls or women of color and I have been using it since Monday on both me and my daughter’s hair. I can see the shine in her hair and I notice the strength of mine. I will be posting pictures and reviews on Mondays and this way I can have a diary of my journey with this.

  The next thing is super amazing! My baby sister, Megan, graduated from cosmetology school this past week. She is officially all done with school and can style, cut, color, do nails, etc. and she is really good at it. Next her state exams and then working for a salon or doing something of her own. I am so proud of her. My niece, Dichelle, graduated from Kindergarten to 1^st grade this week as well. She is officially out of school and a 1^st grader, I really can’t believe how much time flies.

                Our plants have grown amazingly well and they are so vibrant and beautiful and I love how the twins are taking so much time and effort into growing these two things. Taking the time to enjoy the process, to water them every day, and then to make sure they are outside all day to get the fresh air and the sun that is needed. I posted pictures below of our progress and how happy they are. 

 

                My business plans and life plans have changed a bit over the course of these past few months. I wanted to try and make some pillowcase dresses for my girl, Jazzy, and my nieces. I wanted to sell them online and really get them going…however, I will keep this as my hobby. Something I am really good at is finding things, it’s my niche. From finding wedding items to something someone wants, so I am researching and looking into being a personal assistant/concierge. This will allow me to be creative and to be with my kids a lot, still work from home, and still get paid. It’s all in the works and in my thought process.

                These are the small, yet major, changes and I love it! I went through a really bad few months and trusted a friend who I shouldn’t have and things got rough. However, the lessons I have learned and the growth from these few months has been really amazing and I wouldn’t change it for anything. I hope you take the steps to enjoy the changes and embrace them all.

Here we grow again...

...yeah I know...the title is a bit cliche, but I couldn't think of anything else for this post. For one, we did grow something and for two, its cute.

So, I wanted to give my kids a sense of responsibility and since having pets is out of the question, I figured why not try a plant?! Who wouldn't love a plant. So off to Wal-Mart we go and we get seeds, potting soil, pots, and I think we are set. However, I ran into a lovely older lady who explained that since it is already May, the seeds we picked may not bloom in time, especially with the crazy weather we've been having. She made some suggestions and I took them.

We got two pots, one bag of small beginners (it doesn't really say beginners) potting soil, and two already in dirt plants.We got home and went outside, placing out all the materials that we needed, and played with the potting soil for a while.

We placed Jazzy's pot first, placing some dirt in the pot, and put her rooted plant into the dirted pot and then put more potting soil in the pot. We then did the same thing to Zeke's and potted his new plant as well, leaving them both outside for a few hours to get some sunshine.

I love their enthusiasm and their joy for these plants. They have wanted to take them outside for sun every day, they do that before they eat their breakfast. I love how awesome they are being with these plants. It is fun to watch and I love how they are enjoying watching them bloom.

This has been fun to watch and to learn with them and being able to see their growth in our small family project. Tomorrow is another day to grow some plants and to be able to share this experience with them.

(For some odd reason, the pictures are not uploading on this site...I will post pictures later)

Erika S ~

Change...I don't think I have any :)

In all our journeys of life, we have to accept the changes that come with it. My twins and I have dealt with many changes...some good, some bad, but all worth it. Changes help us create balance and structure and help us to accept something that isn't working for us.

So this post will be short because I am gearing up for a fantastic blog hop...I have never done one before and am beyond excited. From what information I have found out about a blog hop is that you add a link to your site (May Blog Roll) and then "hop" to each blog, follow, read, and comment on their posts (commenting optional I believe) and then you have built followers and can also now post to an actual audience.

This is so exciting for me and if you have never done one, and want to do one, check out Bloggy Moms May Blog Hop. This site is one of my favorites and I am so happy I found this site. +Tiffany Noth  has been an amazing inspiration to blog, to learn about blogging, to create a site for moms, and its brought/taught me so much! I hope to attend her blog-ference (conference) in Sept, I am working on that goal now.

As you also know, I wanted to make my blog more money and income savvy, I would like to bring in advertisers on my website, link my blog to my website, and just bring in some little extra income. I want my blog to be a mom two twins, single mom, and mommy inspirational site. I want to start posting more pictures of the things me and the twins have done and will be doing. I would like to post our science projects, our outings and adventures, and just what consists of our journey.

I would also like my site to be popular and to host giveaways, do reviews, and work with other blogging moms or giveaway sites to host huge prize giveaways. I know...I know...one thing at a time and for me that is getting more structured. I now have a blog post listing for myself that I will do on each day. For instance, on Fridays, it will be Fantastic Fridays, showing all the wonderful things that have happened on that Friday, and what made it fantastic for us. So watch out for these wonderful days :)

I guess this wasn't so short after all. I hope you all enjoy our blog and continue to follow us.

Thanks,
Erika S.

Another journeys great

What is the greatest thing in the world?

Each person’s answer is going to be different. From their personal background, to their beliefs in life as an adult. Each person has a different outlook for the way they term what is the greatest thing in the world or what is important to them.

For me, it is my kids and I love them. They saved my life and they gave me life. I may get frustrated with them and I may see them as rambunctious kids, but I love them so much.

This journey of mine is very hard. Right now, I have been going through some rough things and trying to be a balance for my twins. However, they have been so amazing and so wonderful. Two beautiful creatures God gave us and it’s amazing how they are….how much they could mean to someone.

Life is about how you make it. 90% of life is problems, situations, etc…10% is how we react to it. I know some may see that has backwards, but it is important for me to see and understand it that life is major or throws us many curve balls and 10% of life is all how I handle it, since life is not promised to us even for tomorrow.

I hope everyone can sit down and see what their greatness is, not only within themselves, but also within others. Seeking to find my own happiness has led to a lot of tears for my past, a lot of smiles for my present, and many giggles and stomach rolls for my future.

Life is one amazing journey and it is all in how we look at it. Take a moment to see how you look at and within things.

Love,

Erika 

Add New...

Sometimes I wish there were more “me” to go around. I love my job, Public Relations Director at Ruffhouse Athletics, and I love my twins, but sometimes I wish I had another Erika around to help with everything.

I would love to see everyone having a real personal assistant or if you could just type in things that need to be done and its printed out, mailed, or just taken care of for you. I love being a mom, however, I really wish I could have another hour or two so I could spend more time with them. I love my twins and they are my world and sometimes I miss their activities because I am working and they are at school, which is fine.

I do love being tired though…which is weird, but I do love it. I love the feeling of being tired because then you have done something for that day. You have accomplished so much your body is tired or you have done a few things but they were important to the cause. So that is why I like being tired…I know it is weird.

This was a small post but I wanted to share with you all.

Thanks,

Erika S

My biggest fear...

I have many fears and I don't know where to start. I am scared of certain type of people, scared of commitment and scared of spiders...well, all bugs actually, they scare me. However, this is about my biggest fear and it is a big one.

My biggest fear is being happy. Finally being able to succeed in things, achieve goals, to be happy, and to make something of myself. My whole life I have been told I would never be better than what I was right then, or that I wouldn't do anything but fail, or I couldn't make something of myself. I believed it and it has kept me back from a lot of things.

Lately, I have been on a self discovery journey, giving myself a makeover and really learning about me. I have taken this seriously really looking into my faults, asking myself questions, and wanting to improve on me. I have to say, this has been a rocky ride and some things I see in me I don't like but I am willing and wanting to change. 

My fear of being happy and succeeding in life comes from a rough childhood, but it also comes from me stopping me, doubting and beating myself up. I am so scared that once I reach happiness or succeeding, I will fail people and their new expectations of me. I will not know what to do after reaching that thrill of being happy, falling in love, or having a successful business. I don't want to be where I am at any more and I am willing and wanting to change. I want to embrace my failures, my goals, and my dreams and make them happen. I know with my new outlook, what I now know about myself, I can take the tools and work on me.

There is a CD series called, "Your Wish is Your Command"?  it is a 14 disk series and I heard it is really good, I am going to start listening to it. One of my good friends was talking to me about this and she said he spoke about how elephants are strong enough (as an adult) to pull themselves out of their chains. When they are babies, they get chained up, and yank on their chains, but don't have the strength yet to pull themselves free. When they become adults, they get ready to try, but immediately stop. 

As human beings, we allow our minds to stay chained and I know for a fact that is my issue. I was chained young and never broke them as an adult. This is my time for breaking those chains. I know in my life I have always put up road blocks right before something amazing happens to me. I put up defenses, barriers, make myself just give up, instead of moving forward. 

I have always let my fears control me, but now it is my time to control my fears, move forward, and really step out and keep on going. I may have fears of failure, not falling in love, being hurt, not being successful, or other chained fears, but as long as I make sure I stay OUT of my comfort zone, ignore the doubts I put myself through or the action of stopping myself, I can be happy and succeed. 

What happens next is just more happiness, more success, more rocking things out, more making me happy. I have a clear path, I may take some bumps but it will help me in the long run, help me to grow, help me to be the best me.

What’s your fear and how will you conquer it?

Whenever you feel uncomfortable, instead of retreating back into your old comfort zone, pat yourself on the back and say, "I must be growing," and continue moving forward. - T. Harv Eker

The most important thing

Right now, my life has come and gone in many different situations, some ideal and some not so ideal. I have always believed that the moment you fail at something, you failed. I have started learning in myself that that saying isn't true in the least.

When we fail, we succeed and learn so much more about ourselves, what we can do after we get up, and the joys of learning from our mistakes and the points where we went wrong.

My biggest success are my kids, not to brag, but my babies are awesome! I love watching them play, I love watching them learn, and try new things, and I love their love. How unique God is to give us children who just love unconditionally. I sometimes feel like I have failed in parenting, raising them, or have failed them, but I think they have turned out to be very respectable, loving, and giving kids.

Something I am starting with them is a chore sheet and a goal sheet. I found them at my favorite place in the whole world (Target) and they were only $1.00. They are pretty sweet...I can write in five goals for the week and place stickers in them each as they make and complete each goal, on their own or with my help. There are small You Did It awards and stickers in the booklet as well. I think its a lovely little tool.

I want to be more creative with them, trying new things, going for nature walks, especially since they do love walking and being outdoors. I think that this will help in strengthening our bond. I think it will help me as well.

Another thing I have decided to work on, is my blogging. It is a goal I made for March...to get back into blogging. I don't want to just make money off my blog and I don't want to just do giveaways, but I want passionate followers, ladies who comment on a daily basis, and a media kit....that would be amazing. To start, I am teaming up with a web (blog) designer to create a more engaging and interactive website and blog site. I want don't want to copy other mom blogs out there, especially the ones I love to follow, but I do want that feel of being known and being respected by other mom blogs.

So this will start off my new blogging experience and I can start giveaways, writing for other companies, and being a awesome mommy blogger.

So, to all those worried about your failures, don't be...they help us with our success. I think a failure is a way of making sure we stay humble, making sure we are working on ourselves continuously  and making sure we always know how to get back up. At least that is how I see it.

Hope your Monday is a wonderful start to the rest of your week.

Lately...

Its a new day...one that requires changes. You can't complain about something if you aren't willing to change it. Your outlook is something that HAS to be CHANGED for your mindset and lifestyle to be changed. My girlfriend said this:

I take 110% responsibility for where I am today and for WHAT I'VE GOT. Starting now, I'm ready to change my THOUGHTS, change my ACTIONS, to get better results.

So lately I have been having a pity party but a documentary has brought me out of things. Once I noticed that and took it for what it is, I have seen a change in me. This journey has been tough but so rewarding in finding me, knowing what I need to do and knowing HOW to get there.

I really am enjoying getting back to blogging, I need to get some sleep, but why not work since I can't? My twins turned three today and I was simply shocked that I have two three year olds. I never thought in my whole life that I would have kids and twins at that. Today we just hung out together, and since tomorrow is a day off, I plan on doing that as well...just hanging with my twins and loving them. It is important to use this time wisely since I know time can never be given back.

I wanted to share this simple little motto that I am starting to use and to imply in my life:
Keep it simple
Trust in the system
Live in the present.

Enjoy your day and live to your fullest.

WHOA!

WHOA!
August 4th was the last day I posted something...I've been missing this so much and I need to do it all over again...to keep it up. I'm starting my weight loss-healthy eating journey, so I will be writing about that. I have two two year olds that will be three in 4 days! Goodness, where does the time go?! I love them to pieces and I am so excited I will have big big kids.
Today I woke up inspired to do so much. I told myself to stop comparing myself to others and their accomplishments, it only brings me down. I woke up so happy to be starting these journeys and to fully tap into my potential. I had some awesome music going as I cleaned up this morning, worked on my ideas for a styled shoot I want to do and working on being a better me and a more productive mom to my kids.
I hope today is a marvelous day for you!!

Horizon

On my journey, Ive noticed that things are starting to get a bit better. I am loving my job, although its a bit slow, I do love it. The people are amazingly nice, super fun, and always willing to lend a hand and a smile. I got my Jeep back today and now I have wheels to get around to places. My surgery on Monday went exceptionally well, I didn't even know I had passed out. My relationship with my twins is blossoming, we talk more (they talk A LOT) and I love to be around them. Things are looking up and being positive and loving helps too.

Tomorrow I am taking the twins to Manitou Springs via Garden of the Gods and we are going to look around, walk, take loads of pictures (yes I will upload later) and just spend the day as a family. I havent been able to do this the way I wanted to in a while, but I am making some changes in the way I approach things.

Im going to be more proactive, more loving, not yelling or raising my voice so much, Im going to enojoy the time with my twins instead of rushing to do work...Im up at night for that. Im going to live my life and enjoy it and give God His due glory. I want everyone to share in the happiness that I have found upon me!!

oh and something else I realized...my twins are turning three in three months!!!! EEK...Im a single mom to two soon to be three year olds. Cant wait for that journey to start!