One sunny crisp morning, I headed into one of my local Starbucks, aka, my happy place, and ordered a giant hot tea and oatmeal. As I chatted with the barista, a young man about the age of 27 (ok, when it’s a man, do you say, baristo?) and with the usual small talk, he asked me, “So, any fun plans this weekend?” My response came very naturally, without any self-pity or woe, I said with a chuckle, “uh, no. I’ll be at the children’s hospital all weekend.” He then asked, with causal curiosity, “Oh …
Motherhood
Young Mother’s battle with Cancer
On the afternoon of Friday March 27th; 10 days after my 27th Birthday, 6 days after my 5 year Wedding Anniversary, 4 days shy of starting the paperwork to buy our first home, a month shy of my oldest child turning 5, and less than two weeks away from undergoing our first deployment as a family… I was diagnosed with Stage 2B Hodgkin's Lymphoma. The feelings that I experienced at that time were unexplainable. I have had so many angry feelings & emotions running through me that as I sit here …
Hope for Mental Health
The CDC says 50% of all American's will suffer from mental illness in their lifetime... It’s difficult to imagine that 50% of adults will develop depression, anxiety, self-harm, eating disorders, bipolar disorder, PTSD, borderline personality disorder, schizophrenia, or some other mental illness in their lifetime. This staggering reality can feel daunting, But there is HOPE... HOPE says that you are not defined by your illness. HOPE says your life has a purpose …
There is Always, Always Something to be Thankful For
Thankfulness is a word we throw around pretty nonchalantly. We utter a “thank you” to plenty of people through out the day whether it be to our family members, a coworker or a grocery store clerk. I never really thought much about being thankful until I found myself navigating through a situation in which I felt I couldn’t be thankful. In January 2010 our 5 1/2 month old baby boy, Case, died of SIDS. Grief was a process that I was familiar with, my mom had died 9 years before, but I didn’t …
5 Ways to Survive the Challenges of Infertility
As a psychotherapist and a former infertility patient I often help others and think about what got me through the most challenging times during the many years it took to have my daughter. I remember those days when I needed a friend to talk to, a hug, and most of all, a way to get me through the day sometimes without crying. Don’t get me wrong, I had a lot of good days and many great days, but it was a really hard time in my life. So, I have created a list (in my opinion) of the most important …
Pow Wow Design Studio Movie Night
Last week my daughter Ava and I had the pleasure of attending a fabulous event hosted by the lovely Pow Wow Design Studio! I have been follow Melissa on Instagram for some months now and I have loved her work, energy, and transparency in her posts. {Follow her @PowWowDesignStudio on Instagram} When I saw that they were extending the opportunity to attend a Movie Night at the Studio and showing one of THE 80's classics of all time... 16 Candles I was beyond excited! This hip and laid back event …
Featured Better Business Babe : Kim Rouse
Every month, The Better Business Babe will be specially featuring an inspiring story about women who are making a difference; in Business & in Life! We are calling these exceptional women "Featured Better Business Babe's"! Women nominated by their peers or applying themselves will exemplify the ideals of The Better Business Babe core values to aspire to a well rounded balance between Business & Life! Do you have an inspirational women in your life that you think would be worthy of …
I Want to THRIVE, Not Just Survive
Thrive: 1. to prosper; be fortunate or successful 2. to grow or develop vigorously; flourish I think we’ve all gone through seasons of merely surviving life. I have had times where I wake up out of the fog of survival and I realize that this is no way to live. The circumstances look different for all of us. Some of our circumstances are fleeting, some may never go away. Some may be a result of choices we have made or quite possibly life has given you something other than you …
Sizzling Summer Makeup Trends
Summer is just around the corner, ladies! Lipstick & Luster and the Better Business Babe have teamed up to share this summer’s hottest makeup trends guaranteed to make your summer sizzle! Bronzers Show that summer glow without spending a second at the beach! Beat the heat and protect your skin by rocking a fun faux sun-kissed tan! Matte is out for summer! Get that glamorous glow by applying bronzer below your hairline, bridge of nose, tops of ears and of course, to the apples of …
Dinner in a Flash!
We all lead these incredibly busy lives. Seriously, for me anyhow, I have a front row seat up on Ozzy's train when it comes to life. I won't bore you with the details but I will say, dinner can get a little dicey at times. I've made it a mission to have some tasty, healthy, & fast recipes for the nights it takes all my willpower not to pull into the Rubio's parking lot. So here is 1 of my all time fav go-to recipes. Enjoy y'all! Bang Bang Shrimp Wraps Ingredients: 1 lb. shrimp, …