I'm getting real on the blog today and talking all about my struggle with digestion the past five years. Let me start by saying, I am by no means a medical professional. Talk to your doctor about anything you are struggling with in your digestion. I remember watching Dr. Oz and hearing him say that your poop should be an "S" shape. And that you should be pooping at least once a day. I just kept thinking, oh man, I am way off. Here comes too much information...... My poop was more like balls, and it was only happening every few days. I was miserable. I really struggled over the last five years with good digestion and have tried so many things that did not work for me. I tried prescriptions, had a colonoscopy, visited a biochemist, changed my diet, and many other things. I finally found a routine of things that helped get my digestion back on track. Here is what I do on a daily basis to help me get back on track and feeling better. If you are tired of feeling bloated, uneasy in your stomach, these things may help you too! 1. Drink more water After visiting a biochemist, I reevaluated my water situation. I found a water routine that I try to stick to every day! Ironically, I am better at doing this during the school year. Summer is harder to stick to a schedule for me! I drink 8-10 ounces of water every hour starting when I wake up! I also wait 3 hours after eating to drink water. My biochemist said that when you drink too much water with or after a meal it dilutes the digestive enzymes in your stomach and makes it harder for your food to be digested. I have a large tumbler that makes it easy to always have water on hand. My schedule is pretty close to this.... 6:00 am 8-10 oz of water 7:00 am 8-10 oz of water 8:00 am Smoothie & 4 oz of water 9:00 am 8-10 oz of water 10:00 am 8-10 oz of water 11:00 Lunch & 4 oz of water 2:00 pm 8-10 oz of water 3:00 pm 8-10 oz of water 4:00 pm 8-10 oz of water 5:00 pm dinner & 4 oz of water 8:00 pm 8-10 oz of water 9:00 pm 8-10 oz of water 10:00 pm 8-10 oz of water 2. Take enzymes with every meal I take two digestive enzymes with every meal to help my body digest things better. This was also a suggestion from my biochemist. 3. Watch what you eat Sounds easy right?! ;) I am a firm believer that when you eat well, you tend to feel well. That doesn't mean that I never cheat (because I totally do!) I find my body feels better when I eat simpler - smoothie for breakfast and a protein and vegetable for lunch and dinner. Limit your gluten, dairy, and sugar. 4. Take a digestive supplement If you are constipated like I was, these natural supplements may help you too. I take one with each meal to help stay regular. I went to several doctors, but they never found anything that really helped. I tried prescriptions and even had a colonoscopy 3 years ago. My doctor said that I was too stressed and may want to consider a career change. (Yes, teaching is stressful at times! Contrary to popular belief, we don't just play with kids all day!) 5. Use some essential oils My sweet sister recently started selling doTERRA essential oils, and they have also really helped me feel better. Even though I try to watch what I eat, I don't always eat perfectly. When I have times that I cheat and my stomach feels upset, I rub this DigestZen oil on my stomach to really help calm things down! Want to know more about how essential oils may help you? Contact my sister [email protected] 6. Take some deep breaths Sounds silly and easy right?!? Taking deep breaths can really help calm your body down making it easier to digest! It is so hard to remember to do this during the day. In fact, as I am typing this, I am taking lots of deep breaths! I try to do this every time I get in my car - five deep breaths in and out. 7. Don't be embarrassed to talk to someone Odds are, someone close to you may be going through the same thing. TALK TO SOMEONE! Find out what they are doing.' Even though this is something "embarrassing", don't be ashamed to talk to your doctor and ask for help. I hope this helps you! I am feeling better than I ever have.
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If you have any fun getaways planned in the upcoming month or two, I have rounded up my favorite outfits to pack! I like to stick to my favorite color group - black, black, and more black!!! Not only does black make me feel slimmer, it also hides stains! If you are like me at all, occasionally (well, maybe more than that) things get spilled!!! Black and white is always right, right!?! I really love this tie back top! Paired with a fancier necklace, it really dresses things up! You could also switch the wedges for a flat if you were wanting something more comfortable!! These scallop shorts are also a summer favorite! Cute & comfortable!! This little number is perfect for a night out! Or switch the wedges to a flat for walking around during the day!! I love the look of a romper!! Another one of my favorite looks is a blazer paired with a white tee and distressed jeans! Perfect for a night out on the town! I love adding a pop of color to any outfit! Pink happens to be my favorite color, and I love them with this dress! The dress is so comfortable! Bonus - you can wear a normal bra!! Double bonus - the back is too cute!! Paired with a great clutch, you are ready for a night out!
This pie is one of our favorite desserts of summer (in case you can't tell from this picture!) Truth be told, we hardly ever make it as a pie! We usually just make the meringue topping to top fresh strawberries!! This is my mother-in-law's recipe, and it's a great one!! Strawberry Snowbank Pie
1 Qt Strawberries Baked Pie Shell (Optional) 1 1/4 cup Sugar 1/2 cup Water 1/2 teaspoon Cream of Tartar Pinch of Salt 2 Egg Whites 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Mix sugar, 1/2 water, and Cream of Tartar in pan. Cover and bring to a boil. Uncover and cook to 240 degrees on candy thermometer. Add salt to egg whites and beat with a mixer until stiff. GRADUALLY pour syrup into egg whites beating until mixture forms STIFF peaks. Add vanilla. Pile on strawberries. Eat soon. Do not refrigerate. ENJOY! :)
Let's talk about gifts! I always like to pick one thing off the registry, and then get one fun item that is personalized with the bride's new last name! I remember at one of my bridal showers, I received a gift with my new last name and it made me so excited!! Any time I need a great personalized gift, I always visit Deb at Paper Gourmet! She is the best!! She also had the best card selection too!! The shower was thrown by Danielle's bridesmaids, and it was absolutely beautiful!! Check out the amazing pictures below!
Let's talk about the elephant in the room..... a new school year is right around the corner. Our school system is on a balanced calendar, and our first day is July 31. I know that it is only one day away from August, but July sounds so much worse! This post is dedicated to all the wonderful teachers out there. Keep up the great work. Know that you are loved an appreciate even when you don't feel it. Keep doing the holiest of work to prepare young minds. 1. Your kids become "our kids". When we get a fresh batch of students every year, we take ownership. We love them like our own, worry about them, and truly want to help them be successful. And just because they leave our classroom and move on to a new grade doesn't stop them from being "our kids". Once "our kids", always "our kids". 2. We don't have an expense account. This may surprise many of you, but we do not have an expense account as a teacher. I would say on average, teachers spend around $2000 of their own money every year in their classroom. While many things we need are supplied by the school, not all things are. But we want our students to have a fun and meaningful time while in our rooms. And while it may be silly to you to buy all those supplies at the beginning of the school year, we have thoughtfully planned what tools will be used throughout the year to help everyone be successful. 3. We can't just be sick. While in most jobs, if you are sick, you just call in and say you are not going to be in to work that day..... teaching is so not like that. If we are sick, we still have to come to school to get our rooms ready for a substitute teacher. If our kids are sick, we still have to come to school to get our rooms ready for a substitute teacher. If we have a doctor's appointment..... you get the picture. 4. Sometimes we make mistakes. While we truly to want what is best for our students, sometimes we make mistakes. We might make a wrong call from time to time because, after all, we are just humans. Occasionally, we may make a grammatical error in a newsletter or email - it's true. Offer us grace and understanding. 5. We love breaks When you hear a teacher say how excited they are about an upcoming break or even a weekend, it in no way represents a dislike for teaching or your child. We just enjoy a break from work as much as the next person. 6. We don't get paid over summer break. One of the most common things we hear as a teacher is, "Oh, you are so lucky! You get your summers off!" And while, yes, we don't have to work over the summer, we don't get paid for that time we have off. Most teachers I know are contracted for 185ish days. And those are the days we are paid for. Drive by a school right now, and you are likely to see it full of cars. You see, we don't get paid to work the few weeks before school starts. But those name tags won't put themselves on those desks! :) 7. A kind note goes a LONG way. Believe it or not, teaching is not all rainbows and sunshine. Sometimes, we have a bad day. Sometimes, we get notes or emails that bring us to tears even though we try to develop a thick skin. So when we get a kind note or email from a parent, it means the world. Those can also bring us to tears, but in a REALLY good way. Most teachers even have a file where they keep kind notes just to bring them out on those not so great days. So say a prayer for the teachers out their! We will be doing the same for your kids!
I honestly ordered this top on a whim! I mean, really, did I need anther striped top? Well, no, not really! But I have to tell you, I am so glad I bought this top! It is the softest material and will be a compliment to so many outfits! Check out the many ways I styled it! Hope that you find some outfit inspiration, lovelies! I am wearing a size small for size reference. Click on the words below to take you to a site where you can see the products. I hope you have sound some outfit inspiration from what will be my most worn shirt this fall and winter!!
The Basement Welcome to the last part of our tour! I am so thankful for our basement! The kids have a great play area. Although I had high hopes of all toys remaining in the basement, I have to admit, that is not the case!! The kids really do this area all the time! And even though the toys slowly invade the rest of the house, the mostly stay in this area! I also love sending the kids and their friends down here to play! I may have a slight obsession with our dress up collection! When any of our friends need something to dress up in a costume, they know who to call! The entire armoire is filled with costumes and wigs for the kids to play with! They love dressing up in wild costumes to make us laugh! The art table is an antique table that my in-laws had at their lake home, but no longer needed! I purchased these stools to provide seating around the table. The metal gate we use to hang up their favorite art pieces! The white shelving unit is perfect for storing the gigantic mass of toys we have accumulated. The kids have had this kitchen set for years and still play with it quite a bit! I seriously considered purchasing the Pottery Barn Kids kitchen set, but the price was just so steep! I am really glad we went with the one we did! The play tent is a new purchase, and the kids LOVE playing in it! Plus, how adorable is it!?!?! I also love the woven toy chest ( similar ) to store puzzles and Legos! The kids love the easel too! I love having the bar areas when we have parties! I also really love having mini fridges to store drinks! Really helps free up space in the kitchen fridge. I love having a "hang out" spot in the basement! The chair and tables are perfect for our game nights! The kids really love having their own chairs to sit in too! This sectional (similar) was used in our previous house and is a perfect fit in our basement now! Although, Brit was POSITIVE that it wouldn't fit! So glad it did!
The Laundry Room Before we start the tour, can we please talk about laundry is never ending! Holy moly! Anyone else feel like they are constantly doing laundry! Those of you with more than two kids, I don't know how you keep up! Props to you! Honestly, it's not the washing and drying. And really it's not even though folding! But I hate putting everything away!! Okay.... anyway! On with the tour! Honestly, the laundry room is kind of boring! Ha! Remember the two cabinets we took down on either side of the sink in the kitchen? Well, we used one of them in the laundry room on the left. We also had someone build a shelf across the top and add a hanging bar! It's a small room but totally functional!
I am SOOOO happy with our LG Washer & Dryer! They are so amazingly fast and efficient! That sweeper hanging on the charger is probably my favorite household tool! It is cordless and super powerful!!!! I use it every day! The cute baskets above the shelf are great for storing light bulbs, candles, and other misc. stuff! It's hard to believe it, but school is right around the corner! My first day back is July 31! Even though that is ALMOST August, it sounds so much worse! Here is a tribute to all the wonderful teachers out there! There are so many working hard to do one of the hardest jobs on the planet!! This one's for you! Continue to do the holiest of jobs to prepare kids! 1. Your kids become "our kids"! Every school year brings fresh new faces to sit in our classroom. And every year we feel the same way - your kids become "our kids". We love them, wants what is best for them, think about them when the school day is over, worry about them...... When you hear a teacher referring to the kids in the classroom, you will hear that very teacher calling them "my kids". We truly feel that way. And just because you leave our classroom to move to a new grade doesn't mean you stop being "our kids". Once "our kids", always "our kids". 2. Sometimes, we make mistakes. Like all humans, we are just that.... human! Sometimes, we make the wrong call. We will occasionally make a grammatical error in an email or newsletter we send out. Sometimes, our voices may raise because we get frustrated too. You will not agree with everything we do, but we always have your child's best interest at heart. 3. We don't have an expense account. Did you know that most teachers spend $2000+ every year of their own money on their classroom? No, we don't have an expense account. But we want our kids to have amazing lessons, remember the fun things we teach, and have fun along the way. 4. We don't get paid over the summer. One of the most common things we hear as teachers is, "You are so lucky! You get your summers off!" Yes, that is true, but we don't get paid over that break. Most teachers that I know are contracted for 185ish days. Those are the days we are paid for. Yes, summer is amazing to spend with our families though!! 5. We love breaks just as much as the next guy! When you hear a teacher say they are excited for summer break, or Christmas break, or spring break, etc...... It has nothing to do with us not loving your child. We love those breaks because we can spend them with our own families. We are not saying "I can't wait for summer to get away from your child!" In fact, most teachers give up parts of their summer to continue their training through conferences to be best prepared for the next school year. And we spend countless unpaid hours before the school year starts getting our classrooms ready! But we do love the break.... The break from being on a strict schedule every day. The bathroom breaks whenever needed throughout the day. The break to spend at home and recharge. 6. We can't just be sick. Even though we do occasionally get sick, we don't just get to lie in bed and be sick! Sick or not, we have to have lesson plans ready for our kids coming that day! Many times an hour or two before the day starts, you might spot a super sick teacher driving to school, getting everything out and ready for a sub, and driving back home. 7. We get first day jitters too! Most teachers I know can hardly sleep the night before school starts! We get excited to meet our kids and parents! We are nervous that something might go wrong or a detail might be forgotten. We definitely feel those first day jitters! 8. Kind notes mean the world to us. Unfortunately, our day is not all filled with rainbows and hearts. Some days are hard, like really hard..... Believe it or not, we get many unkind notes and emails every year. And while we try to develop thick skin, it so hurtful. But let me tell you about something you can do to bring joy to your child's teacher. Write them a kind note or email. This takes minutes to do, but it will make our day. Most teachers keep a file of kind notes. That way, on those not so great days, we can whip out a kind note to remind us why we teach! May the beginning of your school years be blessed! Send prayers up for those teachers in your lives. We will be doing the same thing for "our kids"!
The Kids' Bathroom Although, typically the kids are found in our master bathroom, I am so glad to have this bathroom as they get older! This room is painted in Restoration Hardware's Silver Sage! Each kid has their own sink! This is great - although, it does not stop all the fighting as one would hope!! The kids each have a stool with their name on it! They were fabulous gifts from a friend when they were born!
The towel rack above the toilet is really old, but here is a similar one! It is so convenient to have the towels out and ready to grab! This shower curtain is a great find from Target! |
AuthorHi! I'm Candace! Wife, mom of two, teacher, and lover of all things fabulous! Here's to home, dishes, & fashionable wishes! Archives
December 2017
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