Hey y’all it’s been a few weeks. The summer is always a time where I am spending more time outdoors with the children and therefore less time in front of the computer. I plan to remedy that soon. “That” meaning making sure I am blogging regularly even when I am spending much of my day in the sun with my family.

Speaking of family, last night, my husband and I had a very sobering and shocking conversation about how much money we spend on food! I will not say the amount here, but it is A LOT of money. So in an effort to cut back on food spending, develop discipline AND save money, I am challenging myself to eat only foods I prepare at home for the next seven days.  I am on day one and have spent quite a bit of time in the kitchen getting food together. The up side of it is that  the food is good, nutritious and I have more than I need, so I can always go back for seconds.

I think the biggest challenge will be preparing snacks and on the road stuff, which is where most of my unnecessary food spending happens. I am very anxious to see how much money we will save this week and a little nervous as well.

What are some food-based money saving strategies/habits/practices that are a part of your family?

Please share in the comments!

Have an amazing week!

This week I will begin writing posts inspired by practices highlighted in my ebook, The Vibrant Mamafesto: 12 Practices for Mamas Who Want to Live Vibrant and Joy-filled Lives (have you gotten your copy?)

Today I am focusing on practice #9: Change the way I look at things. Last week I read a book called “Radical Forgiveness.” Have you ever read a book that you knew could potentially change your life? That’s what this book did for me. Before I read it, I struggled to release an issue with family members that held a lot of my mind space. As justified as I felt and how unjust and wrong their behavior was, I was unable to find peace. That was until I started applying the simple, yet profound teachings on forgiveness to my life and my situation. I was given tools to “change the way I was looking” at the situation and things immediately changed –inside of me.

By shifting my perspective, I freed up energy and mental space to create and think about other things that feed me. It is amazing how looking at the same thing from a different angle can totally alter your experience of it.

What are some ways you have changed your perspective on a situation? How has that been helpful or transformative for you?

Please share your insights and experiences in the comments–we would to read them.

This past weekend, I fell off my horse. I felt it coming last week when I went from waking up at 6 am to 7:30, then going back to sleep once I was awake. Since my son is out for summer vacation, I figured I’d give myself some time to get some extra sleep—something every mama needs more of. But the sudden shift in time threw me off. Because of the late time, my practice was cut short which in turn had an impact on how I felt throughout my day. This weekend, I knew I had to get back on my horse.

Sometimes life can through us curves. Sometimes we have a bad day and can’t figure out how to shake the blah feeling and get back to our routine. We can either sit there and feel bad for ourselves or become aware of what is going on and what we are doing and get back on track.

Take a moment to pause and look at where things may be loose in your self-care practices or habits. Then make a plan to either pick up where you left off or start from a different place. Sometimes we need a different approach to help freshen up what we have committed ourselves to.

Are there areas I your life where you feel you’re not giving your full effort? What are you willing to do to get back on track?

Have an amazing day!!!

I have been waking up 6 am (6:15 at my latest) every morning for almost a month now. There are a few mornings where I get in a nice long practice, but usually I get in about 15 minutes of yoga and 15 minutes of meditation with a little time left to journal. At first I would get down on myself for not having more time to do more. But little by little, I began to cherish the time I have. With those 15 minutes of yoga and meditation, I am devoting myself to cultivating a practice that will ground and prepare me for my day. Every time I show up to the mat or cushion, for however long, I am telling myself that my self-care is a priority. I am programming myself for vibrant living.

So today, if there is something you’ve been wanting to do and don’t think you have the time for it, set your timer for 15 minutes and go for it. If and when you can, add a minute or 2 to your practice.

Have a very powerful and productive week!

What is your 15 minutes practice going to be? Please share it with us in the comments.

*For the next twelve weeks, I will be pulling the “Motivational Monday” themes from my eBook, The Vibrant Mamafesto. It won’t be the exact content, but inspired by the content. 

For the past 13 days I have been rising at 6 AM. Taking the first forty-five minutes of my day to devote to my spiritual practice, a blend of yoga, meditation, journaling and the reading of spiritual or inspirational text. For months I had been procrastinating about re-establishing a spiritual practice in my life. I told myself I would do it in the evening when I got home, because I would not wake up early enough in the morning. Consequently, I was always either too tired or distracted to do it by the time I got home from a day spent in traffic.  More time passed and no practice–the desire pulling at me daily. I “found” legitimate reasons for why I could not make it happen.

Then something happened. There was an event at our son’s school that required our entire family to get up much earlier than usual, in order to leave the house on time. After getting up, getting ready and leaving, I told myself that day that I would start rising at 6 AM.  I knew that I could get up early enough to do my morning ritual. There was no more room for excuses.

There are some mornings Sayida joins me on the floor, playing beside as I meditate and there are mornings when my practice is shortened. Yesterday, I didn’t really feel like it, but I showed up and was happy that I pushed that the feeling.

Now I ask you:

Are there practices you have wanted to bring forth into your life that you think you don’t have time for?

Are you trying your best to make it happen? Are you settling?

Have you gotten your copy yet? Click here to purchase your copy of The Vibrant Mamafesto: 12 Practices for Mamas Who Want to Live Vibrant and Juicy Lives.

Today’s Motivational Monday is inspired by a walk I took on Mother’s Day! As I walked through the beautiful woods of New England, I was able to go to a deeply reflective space within myself. With the busyness of motherhood, sometimes it’s hard to find time to have for your own thoughts. As I walked , I thought about being a mama and this path of motherhood. I gave thanks for what I’ve learned as well ways that I could show up in a more loving way. The question that came to mind was, “How can bring my best to this moment?”

This question has served as a great reminder for me in moments when it is difficult for me to release my ego and my attachment to being right. Because more often than not being right is not being my best self.

The beauty of the right kind of question(s) is that it peels back all the thoughts and beliefs that have nothing to do with who and what we really are–love.

What areas are you being less than your best self?

How can you best show up in each moment of your life?

Yesterday, both of our children came down with fevers. Two years ago, having a child at home with a fever would have rocked my world. I used to repsond in a very panicked way when our children would get sick. Especially our oldest. I would loss sleep, my appetite. Neither was helpful for my children or me. Now, after much continued work with my mind and emotions, I respond in a calmer way. I still have small moments of worry, but not panic. Overall, I think I am much better and part of reason why  is that I am able to see the good in the situtaion.

Fevers are a necessary part of the body’s defences mechanism. It’s a necessary part of the healing process.  I also look at this “healing time” as a time for me to get some extra rest. With both the children home, I have less driving and running around that I have to do and I can catch up on sleep that is often interrupted by our nursing 15 month old.

I look at my response to my children’s fevers (or any illness) as a metaphor for any situation in life that is unexpected and somewhat difficult. I can allow the situation to completely uproot us or I can accept what is and try to find the good in the situation.

Even in trying times, can you see the good in what’s going on in your life?  

What are some things you do to stay focused on what’s going well in your life?

Where in your life are you stuck in a perspective that is increasing your suffering?

Have a wonderful week!