I joined TikTok in July 2020 because we were in the midst of Covid shutdowns and an Instagram friend of mine who has always seemed pretty normal was sharing her TikTok so I figured I would give it a try. At first I just kind of lingered (by the way, this is the creepiest form of social media use, I know). I was the fly on the wall watching all the hot 20-somethings dance next to their in ground pools. I cheered on newly divorced women as they found their way in life. Oh, and also, lesbian TikTok found me big time. I guess if you Google search Jessica Alba Into the Blue one too many times, you have only yourself to blame. Anyway, TikTok doesn’t look like that for me any more. At least for the most part. I have grown to over 250K followers and because I am still getting side glances from my 30-something friends, I felt like I needed to clear things up. Let’s talk about the “other side” of TikTok.
I used to be that mom that went to three different grocery stores to try and snag the best deals and healthiest options for our family. At the time I thought it was so convenient that Costco, Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods were all in a mile’s radius of each other — and only a 20 minute drive from my house. Barf. I did this every week, you guys! What a crazy person. Thankfully, now I have learned to value my time and seek out convenience in everything I do. This doesn’t mean I started sacrificing our budget or our family’s health. Instead, I have found ways to benefit from the convinces available to me. I do this by shopping and cooking smarter. Here’s the breakdown of how I stick to a budget, make healthy meals for my family and grocery shop way less!
Let’s face it, we live in a world that values business and productivity. Both of these things are of course partially to blame for the rise in anxiety and stress levels around the globe. Thankfully, we are also in the midst of a movement. A movement to take back our time, take back our lives and take back our peace. When you look up zen practices or mindfulness techniques on the internet, it can sometimes feel like one more thing you have to cram into your busy day. That’s why I’ve compiled a list of 5 zen habits you can adapt that take 1 minute or less but can help you make tiny transformations throughout your busy days.
When I first decided to become a stay at home mom I was nervous and skeptical to say the least. Being raised as mostly an only child (although I have oodles of siblings) meant I grew up really valuing my alone time and my independence. I was someone who always liked working even if I didn’t always like all my jobs. If I wasn’t working I was creating things online, drawing, making movies with my friends or taking photos. It seemed I was always on the go and always trying something new. Then stay at home mom status hit and all of a sudden I was stuck in one spot most of the day … home. I knew if I was going to keep my sanity I would need to find a way to keep my independence while still tending to my kiddos. In the 10+ years I was a stay at home mom I was able to create over 10 additional income streams for my family, most of them within the last few years. Hopefully these give you some ideas and inspiration on what you can do for yourself!
One of the most common things I hear in all parenting communities (especially in minimalist families) is that there are just too many toys coming from grandma and grandpa. Even though these grandparents are well-meaning, the amount of toy clutter can be overwhelming for moms and dads. Trying to keep the house clean is one thing, but it also seems the more toys your kids have the less they actually play with them! Maybe you have already tried to communicate this with grandparents, or maybe you’re at the end of your pitiful rope and are desperately seeking answers. Either way, I hope some of this helps!
