Diet Culture and my Postpartum Experience

Let's start this off with the punch line - at my 2 week postpartum check up I was down 10 pounds.  By my 4 week postpartum check up I was down 20 pounds total.  To a lot of people that sounds great, right?  Personally, I was at the lowest weight I'd been in a long, long, long while.  But being 20 pounds down wasn't cause for celebration.

I'd lost 20 pounds in a month because I flat out wasn't eating.

Hi, hello, how are you.....I've not regularly posted in quite a while because I've been very busy.  Very busy is a very big understatement.  I was growing a baby over the last year and nothing I used to do really gave me any excitement.  If you've followed this blog for a while you'll know that I don't force things if I'm not feeling it.  The blog, YouTube channel, Instagram, Facebook, my planner.....none of that sounded like a fun idea so I didn't do it.  It wasn't the plan to leave all of these things high and dry...yet here we are.

So, I lost 20 pounds.

After I gave birth to Marcus I lost a lot of blood and my blood pressure dropped.  It wasn't scary in the moment to me because I do this thing now where I speak up because my doctor has made my comfortable enough to do so......so I said 'hey I feel dizzy, I think I may pass out' and then I heard my blood pressure reading being called out every few minutes as they monitored me and my doctor stitched me up.  In the days after giving birth my iron was also low.  I was also sent home with very little breastfeeding support (in my opinion), with a newborn, and a set of whacked out hormones.

Long story short when I got home I just stopped eating.

I'm not sure if I cut out eating subconsciously because there was so much going on or what but there just wasn't enough time for it.  I'm not sure if it was the ridiculous hormones, the pressure of breast feeding, the fact that my child was dehydrated, the lack of sleep, or like I said JUST PLAIN ALL OF IT.  But I literally just stopped eating.

When I start to tell my story I make a point to mention that in a month, in 4 weeks, in 28 days I lost 20 pounds.  That means I almost lost a pound a day.  When I tell this to people the first thing they say is 'OMG congrats! That's so great!'  To which I say 'No, its not.  I wasn't eating anything.'  And that doesn't seem to give them pause like it would me.  Not eating meant I wasn't getting the nutrients I needed to heal let alone the extra nutrients I needed to produce milk.  My lack of milk production lead to even more stress which compounded not eating.

If you're not familiar with the term, you're probably familiar with the definition.  NEDA (National Eating Disorder Association) defines Diet Culture saying:

1. Diet culture conflates size and health, pathologizing some body types.  (This means that the view that fat = bad seeps into the medical field and instead of prescribing evidence based medical intervention patients are told to 'lose weight' as the cure to their ailment.  I am so thankful that my OB/GYN did not treat me this way...man I love that woman!)
2. Diet culture encourages following external rules about what, when, and how much to eat.
3. Diet culture suggests that people are more or less good/moral/worthy based on their body size.
4. Diet culture creates thin privilege, which makes thinness a gatekeepr for jobs/benefits/comfort/accommodation.
5. Diet culture suggests movement as a punishment for, or prevention of, being fat, rather than for other reasons like fun or personal goals.
6. Diet culture views fat people as less valuable and more risk-able.

More long story short - Diet Culture means that losing 20 pounds by any means, at any time, especially after pregnancy, is a good thing.

While diet culture can affect anyone, women truly feel it the most.  Being a woman means your body open for commentary and is meant for either the enjoyment of, or disapproval by, others.  Your body is not yours.  Your body is seen so your body is expected to conform.  It's ok to be 'fat' while pregnant but afterwards, if you drop the baby weight and more - that is to be celebrated!  But what about the mental and physical health of the mother during this weight loss?

My stress, my hormones, my inability to cope with what just happened to me exacerbated by the anxiety I felt when the sun went down and while breastfeeding led me to stop eating.  I stopped eating and thus I stopped producing milk and thus it was impossible to feed my child.  The life I'd just brought into the world was jaundiced, dehydrated, hungry......and in a few short weeks it would be 'great that I'd lost 20 pounds.'

When I was 10 pounds down at my 2 week appointment I thought I was lucky.  By my 4 week appointment the second 10 pounds concerned me.  It also concerned my doctor.

When I stopped breastfeeding my hormones balanced and I have to say currently, right now, I literally feel 200% better.  And I'm not using the word 'literally' in a figurative manner here.  The way I felt from week 1 to week 5 compared to how I feel now and how I felt even 2 days after stopping breastfeeding is literal night and day.  I was 100% not myself and I didn't realize how scary that was until I started to feel me again.  I also gained my appetite back.

Why am I sharing this with you all?  Because it is important to tune into our bodies.  It is important to listen to gut feelings, to listen to our bodies, and to have the courage to tell someone (like your doctor) that you're scared.  It is also important not to get discouraged and if someone doesn't give you the support you need you continue to search for it.  I am thankful that my friends & family were with me during the first few weeks postpartum.  I think I would have given up on seeking any answers if it weren't for them. 

I'm not sure if it was the hormones that balanced after stopping breastfeeding or the fact that stopping breastfeeding meant there wasn't one more thing on my plate.....but stopping breastfeeding made me sane and allowed me to eat.  I am able to show up better for my child and for myself.  And as for my body after pregnancy?  It just grew a life and delivered a child so I don't care if my belly is a little jiggly still and my boobs hang a little lower, I care that it is still carrying me and I'm able to carry my child.

I want to share this with you all because I want at least one person out there to realize they are seen.  Our postpartum bodies do not need to get back into shape, we do not need to bounce back to what we once were.  We are jiggly and saggy because we are clay.  We are being molded into the women we are meant to be.  And that journey is not the same for everyone. I want women to know that your body just did a thing that we still don't fully understand and we are on the other side of it.

Did you know that we as homo sapiens evolved to walk up right, accommodating our huge brains, but that the plates in our scull overlap each other as we exit the birth canal in order to fit?  Did you know that the cervix stretches an enormous amount and is under enormous strain during birth but then will shrink right back to pre pregnancy size with no problem?  Did you know the elasticity the cervix tissue when not pregnant is dramatically (and I mean dramatically) reduced?  Did you know we still don't understand a lot of this?  Woman literally have life erupt from them.  You try giving birth to the universe and being the person you were before that.  It is hard to become. 

I wrote the majority of this post in the beginning of October 2019.  It is currently January 2020.  Rereading this made me happy that I'd written this down because I've already forgotten a lot of the trauma that I'd experienced immediately after Marcus's birth.  I am in such a better place right now that I even was in October 2019.  I transformed into so many women since giving birth and I can't wait to see who else I can become.  The truth is though you will discover the you that you become is the you that you were all a long.

xoxo, Moe

Five Family Goals to Set for 2020

It is hard to believe that the newest decade will begin in just a few short days.  We've ended this last decade with a bang - I paid off both my student loans and my car, we got married, we got pregnant, we had the baby, we paid cash for a car, we moved to a suburb of Detroit, and I became an accidental stay at home mom (hopefully its just temporary!).  Typing that out, it seems like we jammed a lot into the last two years but honestly our family really formed over the last decade:

this post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclosure here.

I bought a 1997 Buick Regal in 2010 and started my last year of college.  I graduated college in 2011.  I moved in with  my BFF and started my first job.  I got another job.  My BFF got married. Zach and I met in 2011 (this post is about when we met but half of the pictures are missing!).  After being together for a short 4 months Zach left the military, moved back to Michigan, found a job and house.....and then I moved up there in August of 2012. I talk about my life over that last year in this post.  We stayed in the apartment above the garage at his parent's house for about a month-ish until we moved into the house.  We remodeled the house.  I got a job. We remodeled the house again. I bought a new car.  Zach got a new job & went to Korea. We said we'd try that job for a year since it involved a lot of travel.....Zach kept that job for about 6 years. We lost our dog. We got a new dog. I went to Korea. We drank too much in Japan.  We traveled the world.  We decided to settle down.  We went to Korea one last time with my BFF.  We planned a wedding.  I paid off my student loans.  We got married.  We got pregnant.  I paid off my car. We had the baby.  We paid cash for a bigger vehicle. We packed up the house we built this life in.  We moved to a suburb of Detroit.  And now we're patiently waiting to start the next decade.

That was the last decade in a nutshell and it was a ridiculous ride.  I'm a vastly different person than I was a decade ago and I'm doing (and planning) vastly different things.  While long term goals involve things like finding a new job, there are a few goals I want to set for 2020.  I hope they inspire you, too.

Give More  

Before I knew I'd have such a hard time breastfeeding I'd hoped to be able to donate breast milk.  Since having a hard time breastfeeding I've decided to focus on donating to organizations that support maternal mental health.  I hope to donate clothes, toys, etc to a second hand shop here supported by an organization that serves survivors of domestic and sexual abuse.  I hope to start an annual birthday tradition to give to organizations we care about.  I hope to pass this to Marcus as well - in honor of his first birthday we'll donate toys, money, or time to an organization we care about.  Then eventually I hope he'll choose an organization to support.  One of my biggest personal mantras (I'd guess you'd call it) is when you have, give.  It is the reason why I tip well.  It is the reason why I'm patient.  It is the way I try to live my life.

Start a College Fund

We actually just got the info in the mail from our financial adviser on starting a college fund.  Getting and paying on my student loans has really inspired me to start a fund to alleviate some of the burden of higher education.  Zach decided to join the military to pay for his schooling and that has been a blessing financially for us while he pursues his master's courses.  Seeing where the price of higher education is heading - like it's really scary - make me what to prepare him as best he can.  The best part of this fund is that it can go towards trade training as well!

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Eat Dinner at the Table

Marcus is going to be moving into solid foods here shortly so I want to make it a priority to eat at the table.  (We just put together this high chair and I can't wait to use it - he's getting so big!) Previously, Zach and I would eat where ever.  It was just us and it didn't really matter so we ate dinner in the living room off of the coffee table, ate breakfast in the bed, ate lunch at our desks if we were crafting and gaming.  I can say we probably ate around our table maybe a dozen times the 7 years we were in our first house.  We both grew up eating around the table and its important to us to build up a family relationship.  I also want to start some dinner time conversations so we all can be creative and share what we care about.

Practice Gratitude

Gratitude turns what we have into enough.  This is one of my newest mantras for 2020.  We aren't in the financial situation we'd like to be...but we prepared for where we are.  Zach had been looking for a new job since our wedding because we knew we'd be 'settling down'.  It just so happened that right after I pushed out Marcus he got a call for the job that had us move.  The possibility of our lives being uprooted in more ways than one was very real to us so we started to prepare.  I realize that saving, budgeting, etc is a privilege that a lot of people don't have and in our situation we are still able to give...which circles back to the first goal to give and trickles down to the next two.  With gratitude comes abundance.  I posted this quote on my Instagram in August 2018 and I hope to continue to live by this as we move into 2020.

Use Technology with Intention

I've been zoning out to the TV and Instagram for a while now.  Staying at home all day is lonely especially with a child that can't talk yet!  I know when he starts talking he's not gonna be quiet!  But things like Instagram have been a distraction rather than a productivity tool.  There's time I'm spending zoning out to Catfish during nap time that I could dedicate to my online endeavors - the blog or YouTube or Facebook - and to finding a job. Job hunting is discouraging!  I never thought I'd want to stay home with my kid but these past few months have been eye opening.  Using technology intentionally should be a way to refocus on finding the job I really love.

Over the course of this blog I've struggled a lot with goals.  I'd set them and then forget them.  I'd set too grand an expectation.  Eventually I started with something I called Four Simple Goals where I set out to get a few things done each month.  Then I set up a Vision Planner and started doing a word for each year and I think I've developed quite a good way of making my own progress.

I hope to be able to blend these goals with my word of the year for 2020: Harmony.  There's a lot that is new so I've got to find Harmony with it all!

If you'd like to learn more about my goal journey, click through some of the links above.  And if you'd like to discover how 2019 treated you and how you'd like to enter 2020 check out the past two years of January Journaling Jump Start.  Even though one was for 2017 into 2018 and the other for 2018 into 2019 you can totally do them for 2020!  Who knows...maybe I'll have a set of prompts for 2020, I just haven't had the time!

What are your personal and family goals for 2020?  How do you plan to take action on them?

xoxo, Moe

Mindful Living with Words of Affirmation // Hallmark Review

Living a mindful life for me has evolved into a multi faceted journey.  First it started with just more awareness in my daily life, then I decided to go cruelty free with my make up, which then evolved into a low-tox lifestyle, and has now moved into nurturing my relationships with others.  This year, in 2018, my word of the year is Authentic.  I am focusing on living the best, truest version of myself and this involves investment in personal relationships.

I was compensated for this post. This post also contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.  Read my full disclosure here.

I have to say I am not one to send cards.  For me, it's not a priority but the thing a card says is 'hey, I care about you.'  And in that simple act you can really enhance or build a relationship with someone you care about.  As I grow older I'm reminded of the cards I received on birthdays, holidays, & smaller occasions and I want to make this a priority in my life going forward.

Which is why I'm excited to have been sent this fun little box from Dollar Tree to share with you!  Today, August 30th each of the 6500 Dollar Tree stores nation wide will begin to carry Expressions from Halmark at $1 each and Heartline a Hallmark Company at 2 for $1 - two super affordable card lines!  This means that you'll be able to celebrate life's amazing moments - both big & small - with wonderful cards that won't break the bank.

There are also 4 additional lines being carried at select stores to help us connect even closer with our loved ones:

Mahogany: Mahogany enhances emotional connections among family, friends, and the community, and celebrates what is most beloved about Black culture.

Vida: VIDA expresses the voice of Latinos across generations, bringing them closer together to celebrate life’s special moments.

Tree Of Life: Tree of Life brings Jewish family and friends together to celebrate their faith and culture by honoring meaningful holidays and milestones.

Joyfully Yours: Joyfully Yours lets family and friends express their faith in just the right way during holidays, special occasions, and moments big and small.

One of my Love Languages is Words of Affirmation.  I love to give compliments and share encouraging words because I also love to hear those same things!  The cards that Dollar Tree is offering now are both high quality and relatable.  The card stock these guys are made from is thick and the cards seem substantial. I feel like sometimes when we skimp on the card, it shows - whether it's poorly made, the sentiment is kinda off, or it just seems dated - a bad card can throw off the whole vibe that we're going for.  These cards have such sweet sentiments and delicate touches that your loved ones will totally feel appreciated.  They aren't hokey and no one will know you only spent a dollar!

I can't wait to give these guys to my friends, family, and coworkers to express my gratitude & celebrate life's little moments!  Check out more of the fun sentiments here on the Dollar Tree website and while you're there, check out this project.  I totally want to create a ready to go system where I can grab a card and give!  The best thing is this is so affordable I almost can't believe it!

How do you show your loved ones you care?  Are you excited for these new lines from Dollar Tree?

ps. check out another amazing Dollar Tree DIY post here!

3 Productivity Tips for the Extremely Unmotivated

I like to think that productivity is a strong suit of mine.....but most of the time it isn't.  When I get to a task I can complete it, but the motivation to do it is rarely there for me.  So dishes sit undone, packages sit unmailed, emails go unanswered, and blog posts get pushed to the side.  Do you know what I'm doing while I'm procrastinating?  Nothing enriching, I can tell you that.

Productivity is part motivation but mostly discipline.  Discipline is doing what needs to be done even if you don't want to do it while motivation is just the push that makes you show up.  Procrastination puts off the inevitable, eventually you're gonna need to do that thing so why not just show up now & do it?

Here are my three, no fail tips for getting the motivation to be productive every day :

The 2-Minute Rule

Do you know how many tasks take less that two minutes to complete?  You could unload & load the dishwasher in less than two minutes.  You can take out the trash in less than two minutes.  You can wipe down your kitchen/bathroom surfaces in less than two minutes.  There are a lot of boring-yet-important tasks that can be done in less than two minutes.  So if it can be done in two minutes, just do it now.  Just. Do. It.

Set a 30-Minute Timer

Second question - do you know how many tasks can be completed in only 30 minutes?  You can tidy up a room in 30 minutes.  You can organize a drawer in 30 minutes (or less).  You can get a lot of stuff done in 30 minutes.  I set a timer for 30 minutes each night to clean one room in my house.  Set that time, get your butt moving.  The best part of this 30 minute clean is I'm also fitting in a bit of exercise - vacuuming really gets your heart rate up.

Just Show Up

You're already in the kitchen, might as well clean up.  This is the inspiration for this tip.  If you just put yourself where you need to be then you're already there and you might as well do it.  Pair this with the timer option.  Open your computer, set a timer, and start writing down and idea for a blog post.  Get some copy going, organize your points, and before you know it you have the meat of the post done.  If you've got graphics, elements, links, etc to add and you have more time than the 30 minutes you allotted yourself, then keep going.  Just showing up is half the battle!

These three tips help me to get my tasks in perspective.  We often see the whole picture rather than it's parts and we often think we can't consume the whale all in one bite.  But if we start small & show up, we can complete larger tasks.  Many goals have smaller supportive components that, when we focus on those, lay the ground work for completing the broader goal.  We can also get a grasp on daily routines that seem overwhelming by consistently showing up.  

The biggest example for me on tackling daily routines is in keeping the house tidy.  I am a messy person who should not be left alone with an empty table and free access to my craft supplies.  I've been known to have the coffee table, my craft table, and the dinning room table filled with something I'm working on!  I set things down where they don't go and I've been known to leave a glass or seven on the coffee table.  Because I hated cleaning my house all in one go on a Saturday when I could be binge watching Ancient Aliens, I created a cleaning routine that broke the house into zones.  Each zone is assigned a day and I show up to each zone on that day to clean for 30 minutes.  I don't tackle other rooms, I don't focus on the overwhelm, I simply clean for 30 minutes.  The Three Waves Cleaning method is what helps me to keep my mind focused only on this task.  Now, because I'm consistent in showing up to my task & completing it I don't need the full 30 minutes for one room any longer.  It now takes me about 40 minutes to tidy up the whole down stairs (save if my craft area is extremely messy) rather that just 30 minutes in the living room.  The downstairs in our house is the living room, my craft room, & a spare room I use for yoga/meditation.  So cleaning that up all in one go is amazing! 

The more I show up for my daily tasks the more I show up in other areas of my life.  The motivation just keeps going because you're on a roll...why stop now?  If you get up and start doing then the task will be done, done quicker, and you'll end up with more time on your hands!

This doesn't have to be for cleaning either.  I'll show up to my blog and spend an hour writing out the copy for a few posts.  Then I'm done with the hard part, have the majority of maybe 3 articles to publish in the next week, and can move on to the creative part like taking or editing the pictures.  Once I've showed up to the task I'm more likely to keep going because I've suddenly found the inspiration!

I hope this helps you to tackle the to do's that you're not really excited about.  Once you're in the routine you're able to get more done!

How do you manage your productivity? What motivates you?

xoxo, Moe

3 Online Services You Should Totally Be Paying For

There is something I've been saying to my friends for quite a while now - we are living in the future.  I'm serious!  There is so much futuristic/sci-fi stuff going on right now.  Our lives are nearly entirely online, we carry small computers in our pockets, we pay with these small computers......I mean we're living in the future!  Because of this there are three online services I think you should totally be paying for.

this post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclosure here.

Google Drive

I use Google Drive as my cloud storage.  I started using the 15 GB that is free with your gmail address but I found that I really prefer that storage system to something like the Apple iCloud.  My devices include Apple & Windows products so I like that I can cross between both of them.  Because part of my online cloud storage was already tied up in the 15 GB, I decided to just jump to 100 GB for $1.99 a month.  Apple's iCloud is 5 GB free, I believe, then 50GB for 1.99.  The terabyte option between the two is comparable at $9.99 but since I don't need that much I'm not considering that tier.  For blogging, I usually take photos on my phone, edit them & add text, upload to my Google Drive from my phone, then access the photos while writing the posts on my computer.  I love that I can go between all of my devices.

Amazon Prime

This is just a no-brainer!  Amazon Prime makes it so easy to purchase things you may not be able to find locally and get it quickly.  I also love that you can save money on somethings you can find locally.  I have a dash button for my HP ink because it is significantly cheaper from Amazon than from Office Max.  If you can wait 2 days then you can save a butt ton.  I don't use Amazon Video as much as I could, and honestly it's not really a selling point for me.  I've watched a few things a year - like American Horror Story & Rupaul's Drag Race.  But mostly it is my last resort for entertainment.  I do however like the Amazon Photo storage included in the Prime membership. I know I said I use Google Drive above, but it is more organized than my Amazon Photo.  I have it set to back up the photos on my phone when connected to wifi so I don't have to worry about deleting the 100 pictures of my dog.  I know I could do the same thing with Google Drive.....but I prefer it with Amazon Photo!  Plus, Amazon Photo will alert you to memories which is cool when you have vacation photos uploaded.

Shipt

This is a newer membership to me but I already love it.  Shipt is a grocery delivery service that just recently entered my area.  It has also been bought by Target and I think its in the works to be a same day sort of delivery service for in store Target products....so as a planner girl, you know that makes me happy.  I love Shipt because I don't have to go to the grocery store.  I can't fill up an Amazon Pantry box and Shipt gives me access to fresh things.  Having my groceries delivered has been a sanity saver because I can't express how much I despise the grocery store.  I mean, I really, really do.  I can choose to have my groceries delivered at nearly any time of day - 2am and need groeceries? Shipt!  There is a $35 minimum for an order or you're charged a fee & the annual plan is $99.  I haven't found that I've spent more on groceries - I usually shop the sale section first and I can link my rewards/loyalty card from Meijer as well.  Since I can't just run out (well, I could) I have to plan my meals better and Shipt is super helpful for that.  I buy what I need for 2 weeks of meals and I'm done.  I can also purchase general merchandise if needed.  So I love that!

These three things are my top 3 futuristic, life simplifying, and believe it or not I'm gonna say money saving online services.  I think the cost is well worth it for each service!  One reason I pay for anything over choosing the free option is that it is time saving & more organized.  So rather than lugging around an external hard drive (that I wouldn't be able to have access to with my phone), Google Drive makes my dependence on using files across my devices easier.  Amazon Prime saves me money on ink and it also saves me time for things like gifts.  Friends/family can make lists to share and I can pick out exactly what they want for Christmas.  The bonus is Amazon Video & Photo.  So the fee you're paying is at least 3 services in one.  The convenience of Prime shipping makes the scatters use of Video & the random use of the Photo option well worth the price.  I would like to spend more time with family, more time blogging, and less time in line.  So I will gladly pay for Shipt! Really all I asked for was curbside pick up.....but my Meijer doesn't offer that.  The only downside to Shipt is that when its snowing outside or the weather is bad I'm not going to ask someone to try to drive in it just to get my groceries.  So the winter has put a damper on it....but I'm still all about it!!

What online services do you pay for?  How do they help you in your daily routine?
xoxo, Moe

Eight Ways I Currently Use Essential Oils Daily

If you haven't been hanging around on the blog too long, you might not know that Essential Oils have become my number one jam recently.  Currently, my main focus is using them to enhance mindfulness and help with my spiritual journey.  But I've found that I'm using them in a ton of different ways that that.  Practical ways at that!  I'm using essential oils in everyday ways too. These potent little guys fit right into your everyday routine - and can even replace some products you use consistently!  Here are the six ways I use essential oils regularly:

this post contains affiliate links, please read my full disclosure here.

Add a drop (or two!) to club soda/sparkling water

I just did this last night & that's what prompted this post.  I'm seriously considering giving up LaCroix + getting a Soda Stream to make my own sparkling water!  Self sufficient hydration up in here!  Did you know that there are only certain oils that you can ingest?  One - not all lemon or peppermint, etc oils are created equally & not all are safe to ingest.  The generic lemon oil you may pick up at the drugstore to make your cleaning products with or diffuse through your house might not be approved to take internally.  This is why I get my oils through doTERRA, as certain oils they offer - Lime, Grapefruit, Oregeno, Peppermint, etc - are safe to cook with & ingest.  I personally would not suggest staring to do this everyday depending on the oils you used, but its a great alternative to processed carbonated drinks.  Keep in mind that citrus oils can break down plastics.  I always use a glass container to drink from.

Diffuse to promote sleep

I always, always, always, diffuses something overnight to promote relaxation and sleep.  Currently I am diffusing a blend of Wild Orange, Lavender, & Vetiver.  I've been known to mix the Breathe blend from doTERRA and Lavender, Cedarwood and Lavender, Frankincense and Lavender, pretty much anything and Lavender since it's know to be relaxing.  Before I started to work with doTERRA oils I despised the smell of lavender.  The oils from doTERRA are very pure and its the only Lavender anything I've repurchased.

Immune support

The On Guard blend really, really shortens my colds.  Diffusing the blend when I need a bit of immune support gives me some peace of mind!  I remember when I first started working with essential oils I'd gotten a cold.  I thought 'what could it hurt?' and it really soothed my throat, opened my airways, and shortened my cold.  There is a whole line of On Guard products I'm dying to try.

Spiritual healing & alignment

Here's the big one.  I work with essential oils mainly in my spiritual practice.  My spiritual practice isn't something that is really defined by a book, it's rather intuitive.  This is my favorite way to work with essential oils because I can really hone in on what my spirit & body need.  For example, this last month (July 2017) I worked with my Solar Plexus chakra to nurture & support myself.  The main oil I chose to work with was Wild Orange.  I used my intuition to create different blends with Wild Orange as the base to uplift & to nurture.  If you haven't joined the Live Creative Facebook group, you really should get over there!  I share so many essential oil & crystal pairings.  Click here to join.

Mood enhancing roller ball

This goes a long with the spiritual use of oils.  I try to work with a certain oil + supporting oils over a month to really connect with the oil.  I've created a few roller bottles that are specific to the moods I'd like to encourage.  Balance is a blend created by doTERRA that I really connect with.  It grounds me, balances me, and brings me calm.  Using Wild Orange + Bergamot is a great way to brighten & uplift.  

Dishwasher tabs

I honestly was sick of buying the tabs for so much money!  So I decided to make my own with washing soda, baking soda, kosher salt, & lemon essential oil.  Clean dishes is a win.  Honestly, what other cleaning concoctions can I make?

Air & Fabric Deodorizer 

The purify blend is perfect for this!  Seriously.  Trash sit a little too long? Diffuse Purify.  Jacket just a teeny bit stinky? Spray some diluted Purify right on there.  Car a little too fast food friendly?  Get your Purify out.  So easy.

Blemish treatment + skin care 

I've been using Tea Tree oil for a long time to treat any blemishes on my face. But there are quite a few oils that can work great for the skin - Frankincense & Myrrh to name some.  Each time I have a break out I put a dab of Tea Tree oil right on the blemish!

So those are the 8 way I use essential oils daily.  I've found that I can fit these guys right into my regular routine with little effort!  Its so funny how I've found so many uses and I didn't even know it until I compiled this list!  Originally I'd only considered 5 or 6 uses...I came up with a few more as I was writing!

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This is a completely personal regimen of mine - some individuals that use essential oils do not ingest them, some only diffuse them.  I would suggest speaking to your doctor if you have any concerns.  This article is not intended to diagnose or treat any ailment.  Please let me know if I might be able to answer any questions about essential oils for you!

Let me know how you use essential oils - doTERRA brand or otherwise - over in the Five Sixteenths Blog | Live Creative Facebook group.  I'd love to know which oils you connect with! You can read more about essential oils on the blog here.

How do you use essential oils?  Any tips, recipes, tricks?
xoxo, Moe

Ready to get started on your Essential Oil Journey?  Click here to learn more about doTERRA!

Cultural Appropriation in my Communities

I am a part of three major communities - the blogging community, the witchy/woowoo/tarot community, and the planner community.  Each of these communities has it's own version of cultural appropriation...and it really bugs me.

Hear me out now..I don't think I'm over reacting.  I don't like to add disclaimers, but I'm adding one : If you don't agree with me or don't find problem in this, okay.  That's great, please go about your day. (/sarcasm)  But if it even irks you in the slightest, I ask you to take action.  I also ask for grace as I am doing my best to explain this feeling in this blog post.

First off, in the last few years certain things have been brought to the forefront of our attention.  If you've noticed that everyone is talking about Cultural Appropriation its because, well, they are.  CA is not something new..it's been around for ages.  I am also not an expert, I am merely examining my privilege and sharing experiences.  In each of these communities I get really put off by the use of terms originating from other cultures so.......willy nilly.

Most notably the use of words originating Native American or First American & African American culture.  No, I will not join your tribe.  No, we're not going to have a blogging powwow.  No, I'm not a spiritual gansta.  Less often I've seen the word ghetto or other terms from AAVE (African American Vernacular English) used wholeheartedly to describe something they shouldn't be used to describe.  You're glorifying a culture while simultaneously marginalizing it.  YOU'RE not a part of that culture, so you don't need to be using those words.  It is for this reason I chose to call my energy clearing kit DIY an Energy Clearing Kit DIY and not a smudging kit - those are not my words. I can not use them.  I even touch on that in the actual blog post.

The second thing I've seen quite often is the use of imagery that originates from another culture because it's pretty.  Dream catchers are pretty.  Sugar skulls are pretty.  Feathers, tipi , headdresses, etc, etc are pretty.  But the aren't yours.  Again, glorifying an aspect of a culture while not supporting it....is not a good thing to do.

In the witchy/woowoo/tarot community I've seen Spirit Animal, tribe, & smudging used too much.  There are things that I struggle with - am I allowed to use the term Chakra?  Does that fall under cultural appropriation (CA), or not? If its not my word I should not use it.  Just because it is popular doesn't mean it is right.  There are generic terms for many things and there is no reason to use a sugar skull for decor.

Cultural appropriation is a very, very real deal.  When we use terms or images because they are hip, trendy, cool, fun, pretty, etc while simultaneously marginalizing the group that they come from - that's not appreciating the culture, that is appropriating it.  If you have to sacrifice the alliteration & trendiness of your tag line for respect, then you know...you should do that.  Its not a sacrifice for you to respect others.

I'm not perfect on this.  But like any person who wishes to grow the community in which they live, I must change.  I must keep up with it, be aware of my words, and use them intentionally.  And speak up when I see it.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post.  I hope that you've gained insight into cultural appropriation and may be able to notice it in your communities.  I hope that you will speak up & also change your ways to respect others.

Please let me know how you feel on this subject down in the comments or over in the Five Sixteenths Blog | Live Creatively Facebook group.

I couldn't find the original article/blog post I read that really inspired this post, but I consulted the following article while writing this ::  6 Ways You Harm Me When You Appropriate Black Culture – And How to Appreciate It Instead.  It is a good read and breaks down how black culture is commercialized and sold to the white population - it's cool & trendy while its commercialization doesn't support the original culture.  Please take time to read it. 

xoxo, Moe

How I Deal with a Creative Block

Recently I've been suffering from a creative block.  The things I love aren't bringing me that much joy any more and I feel like I can't create anything new that I love and feel passionate about.  When these type of blocks hit me (usually around this time each year) I just have to stop and reevaluate.  Often this is when a new passion is going to come about.  I'll find something new I'm interested in.  

While I love that, I also feel like I switch hobbies too soon.  But I'm the type of person that just goes with the flow when it comes to creativity.  I can't force it, it is something that just has to happen.  Usually, I have a good flow going....but every now and then I get stuck.  When this happens there are three things I do to try to get through it while still feeling productive.

Just Try

I try a lot of things when I'm not feeling creative.  I try to write blog posts, I try to make things, and I try new things.  Often I feel such an urge to create something but nothing comes to mind.  I have so much creative energy but nothing to focus on.  Often the things I try I fail at, and that is ok.  By trying I can get some energy out and hopefully be inspired to bring a full idea to fruition.  I find that it's not that my ideas or the things I want to make suck, they just aren't fully developed ideas yet.  When I feel a block coming on its like I have to just take a second to get all the shitty stuff out so I can get going again.  Didn't mean for that to be so graphic.

Flood Myself with Inspiration

I often browse Pinterest or Instagram more than usual when I feel I'm at a block.  I need something to inspire me to get me going again.  Flooding myself with this stuff often helps me hone in on something to create.  Maybe I'll see something and an idea will instantly click.  Sometimes I'm just looking for pretty things to make me feel something.  While doing this I often find great sources of inspiration, new users to follow, new ideas to expand upon.  And I love that.  These little tidbits of ideas get caught in my brain and months or years down the line I'll grab on to them to develop them into something my own.

Let it Pass

Sometimes I just stop.  I just don't do anything.  I sit with the thoughts that I have and see if anything materializes.  I roll them over in my mind trying to get them to form into anything.  (When I think they have, I move into the just try again phase.)  I just don't.  I just stop.  I don't force it.  I don't push it.  I just stop and try to let it pass.  I know that one isn't that helpful but sometimes you just have to.  You just have to let things happen.  At least that is what I have to do.

All of these help me gain new perspectives.  The biggest one on this list is to just try.  I just try to make something until I can get my momentum going again.  I just try something new.  I just try to get going.  I just try.

How do you deal with creative block?  Any other tips to get my mojo back?

xoxo, Moe

Feeling Stagnant

I think around this time every year I get to feeling a little bit stagnant.  I get to feeling like I don't know what to share, I don't know what to blog about, I just feel a little less inspired.  I don't know if it is the changing weather or what...but sometimes I feel like I need to just take a break. 

So, I'm just writing this to say you may find fewer posts than normal on the blog in the near future.  Do not be alarmed!  I will come back to blogging.  I always do!  I have a few posts scheduled up and a few ideas I hope to see to fruition.....but there's just going to be a lot of silence here.  So be sure to check me out on Instagram and Snapchat (both are @fivesixteenths) and my YouTube channel.

While I'm gone though, this is probably what I'm doing

Failing at a lot of projects

Whenever I feel less inspired, I always just make things.  I make random things - things I'll never use, things that suck, things that don't work out.  This helps me get out the creative energy I feel I have building up but can't execute.  It clears way for more focused creativity.

Thinking

I'll be thinking a lot about what I'm doing and why I'm doing it.  This will lead me back to why I started blogging in the first place and it may lead me to a new change in the blog.  I might come back with brand new ideas or I might come back with a brand new perspective.  My main concern now is to make sure that I am offering diverse content that I'm proud of.  I don't want to continually offer the same type of content over and over - there are a few different things I'm interested it....so I need to find that balance and brainstorm new content regarding the things I love.

Mainly I'll be trying to move Forward.  My word of the year really comes into play here.  I feel like I've been moving in that forward motion but I'm feeling myself slow up.  So I just need to take a second, sit back, and see where I need to go next.  There are a few things I need to do to get me back on track.  I've got a ton of ideas in my head but they are being blocked by the energy to create and the inability to follow through.  So I'll probably be taking some time to get my head back on straight.

If you want to read more on my word of the year, click here.  Please hop on over to my other social channels to follow me there in case I don't  have much to say here in the next few weeks.  I'll be back though.

xoxo, Moe

The Truth Behind Instagram // Why I Joined SnapChat

I think I've posted before about my first ever Instagram post - it was, shall we say....horrible.  Since I joined Instagram back in 2011-ish my Insta-game has been pumped up with the help of various apps, photo tips, and an increase of photo quality on the tiny computer I call my phone. 

Instagram has become perfectly curated and overly filtered.  Which I personally think this is great.  It is a micro-blogging platform (pretty sure I said that before too) and I love that I can create perfectly curated, unique content and promote other platforms through Instagram.  In a bid to find a way to be more candid and offer a behind the scenes sort of look into my actual & unfiltered daily life, I'd first considered the new option to switch accounts on Instagram.  Then my BFF introduced me to Snapchat.

So I joined Snapchat - turns out I'd joined before and claimed the @fivesixteenths username then quickly gave up because I'm an old lady.  But I'd like to think past me for being smart and thinking about future me.  (Pro tip : I do suggest signing up for new social media platforms in order to claim your business or personal username in case this app because super popular in the future, you won't have to have something funky across multiple platforms.)  

Snapchat gives the perfect, fleeting & unfiltered insight into someone's actual life.  Sending Snaps between friends is better than a text because, believe it or not, there is no pressure.  You get like 10 seconds to send a video snap so you're forced to interact from a distance much like you would if you were in the same room - unfiltered.  For me, it's much easier (#lazy) to take snap in response to my friend's snap instead of taking a photo, opening the texting app, selecting the photo and sending (or taking a photo from the app and sending).  I feel less curated and it's more in the now than trying to send off a stylized version of reality.

Snapchat also fills my need for daily vlog style interaction.  I've always want to upload vlogs to my YouTube channel but I feel awkward about it and I don't have time to edit that all the time.  Adding photos and video to my Story on Snapchat gives me that vlog style thing I want with out being committal.  If I were smart, I could also download my Story at the same time each day to have it as a record....but like I said #lazy.  I love that I can get a quite nearly real time look into the lives of my friends that I may not talk to on the regular, or a look into the lives of popular personalities that I may follow on other social platforms.

The thing I don't quite like about Snapchat is how hard it is to add friends or follow people you want to follow.  Searching by username is tedious and I really don't know if I'm following the right person half the time.

All in all, I joined Snapchat because it's quick, easy, and unfiltered.  It's also pretty fun to play with all the hilarious filters and send weird faces to your friends and followers.  It's as real life as a social platform can get, I think.

So follow me on Snapchat if you wish.  You won't regret it.

xoxo, Moe

My 3 Favorite Things about Blogging

I started this blog one day in July in 2010.  It has been a crazy ride since then and I have to say that I really do love blogging.  I do take breaks here and there to get my mojo back but I don't know if I'm ever going to quit blogging.  Social media and an online presence is such a second nature thing now that I don't think I can give any of it up.  I love creating, I love sharing, and I love looking back on this little part of my life from year to year. 

There are three things, though, that I absolutely love about blogging:

Pants are Optional

I don't have to wear pants (or a shirt!) to blog.  I love it.  I love that blogging is a way for me to be myself.  Not only can I share what I want to share, but I can be me behind the screen.  I don't have anyone to impress I just have a voice to express. This may sound weird but I feel like blogging has given me a feeling of empowerment.  People head to this blog and read my voice.  I can choose to share things that are important to me - sometimes it is frivolous things, but I really want to use my blog to voice things I care about.  I've posted before a few things I'd tell my teenage self, and that is about as much as an advocate for anything as I get.  But I want to use my blogging and other social media presence for more.  I am able to use this space as a reflection of me.  And that is the best.

Blogging is not my Income

While that may not seem like something that you'd expect, I love that I don't make a living blogging.  It is a small source of income but it is nothing major.  It is not even enough to keep this blog going.  Because I don't make a significant income blogging, I don't have to worry about creating content on a time line.  I create my content for myself, for my own agenda.  But if I worked with a network or sponsors or anything like that I'd have to create so many odd posts, in such and such amount of time, using such and such links.  I like to have total control over the monetized content I share.  Working with sponsors isn't always like that - deadlines, serious stuff, etc - but if you're trying to bring in X amount of $$ a month to sustain your blog and your life (buy groceries, gas, house payments, etc) there is a lot more to it than just blogging when you feel.  I would love to blog full time but I also know that really isn't for me.  I tried it, loved it, but my life wasn't steady that way.  And I do like predictability and control.  A steady pay check from someone else does that for me.

My Blog Changes with Me

As I change interests my blog can change with me.  I used to want to fight that, but everything changes.  I started this blog to focus on home decor.  I was in college when I started this blog.  How was I going to do anything related to home decor in college?!?!  I grew to be a crafty documentation of my life.  It grew to involve fashion & What I Wore type of posts and now it really doesn't.  I got really into make up so I started posting a lot of make up stuff.  Now I'm really into planning and organizing. So I blog about that.  Somewhere in there I realized this blog was really a reflection of my interests and if I had something to say about a topic, I should say it.  The tag line of my blog is 'living a creative life' and I really feel that I do.  Everyday I try to be creative and I love trying different things.  My favorite part about myself is that I am creative and I want to continue to express this creativity no matter what the topic is.

Blogging has been a big part of my life for the past six years and I hope to keep it going for another six!  I make time to do it as if it is a job because it is rewarding - not monetarily, but in personal growth.  Sharing what I've learned is important to me (like in this post on why I use my blog to teach), I like to connect with others.  I also like to produce content that I'd like to interact with.  I didn't find a lot of videos or blog posts I liked so I thought I'd make my own (and I watch my own content on YouTube...is that weird?)

Anyway, those are the three reasons I love to blog.  It's an expression of me, when it boils down to it, and I love that.

Do you have a blog?  Do you blog for different reasons?

xoxo, Moe

Why I use my Blog to Teach

I've been wanting to write this post for a little while.  A post on why I use my blog as a teaching tool.  The main reason I want to share this is, since joining the Planner Community, I've come to find that a lot of people don't want to share any so called secrets to sticker making.  And it was surprising to me when my willingness to teach was met with surprise.  So I thought I'd do an honest blog post on why I use my blog, my YouTube channel, etc to teach others

First of I like figuring things out and I like sharing the things I figure out.  This is the first reason I teach.  I like to share my discoveries.  I want others to know them.  One of the quotes I live by is A candle looses none of its light by lighting another.  I want others to be able to feel like they too can be creative or make something.  I want them to be able to figure out how to start and then let their creativity blossom form there.  Teaching and sharing the things that I learn is my way of spreading creativity.  If you want to know how to do something, ask and I will tell you.  I always did that while in college as well.  Often, while in the studio, people would wonder why I shared the techniques I'd learned.  I share these techniques because they are building blocks.  The techniques won't get you the gold....they way you use them and develop your own style will help you succeed.  Same with any tutorial on the blog here or any Cricut tutorial I share on YouTube.  You can make an exact replica...but does that make you creative?  No.  I try to offer up tutorials that can be interpreted and customized.  For example - why would you want the same exact sticker I made in a tutorial for myself when you could make one to better suit your needs?  There are hundreds of ways of customizing nearly all of the tutorials and DIYs on my blog.  And that is what I hope I'm sharing.

Secondly, I make money sharing these tutorials.  Want to know why I'm always using PicMonkey for digital tutorials?  I make money through affiliate links and PicMonkey is one of my top earners.  If ever you read a post that says this post contains affiliate links I'm trying to promote a product so that I make money in turn.  However, let me be very clear - the only reason PicMonkey is a top earner for me is because I love the program and I can share how it works to create something amazing.  Another affiliate program I am a part of is for the Cricut products.  Currently I use a Cricut Explore and love making tutorials about using Cricut Design Space to create stickers.  I have earned zero money from my Cricut affliate program.  I have, however, made money on my YouTube videos since my channel is monetized.  I will continue to make these videos because I find them fun, unique, and informative.

Thirdly, I use my blog and YouTube to teach because I couldn't find the type of tutorials and the type of content that I wanted to read.  I blog because I like to read (and I have a YouTube Channel because I like to watch) what I create.  Call that vain - or call me crazy - but I love my space here!  I love reading past posts not only to see what was going on in my head back then but to see how I've grown.  I also like to see how I can improve on a project and maybe share with you how to improve it as well.

100% this blog is for me - it is for me to share what I create, it is for me to make money, and it is for me to read.  But I also know that if I was once searching for something, maybe someone else is out there searching for it too.

I use my blog to teach because I want people to learn.  I want people to develop their creativity.  I want to find people like me.

Hope this post wasn't too weird....but I really wanted to put it out there.  Thanks for making it through!

xoxo, Moe 

A Post About Sweetie B // How a Dog Gets a Name

As you probably, most definitely know by now, I have an amazing little dog named Sweetie B.  After our little corgi Emrys passed so suddenly back in April it was very, very, very hard for me to move on with out a dog.  I'd tried waiting to find another corgi - because I just love them so - but I was super lonely.  Zach was gone in Korea at the time.  He wasn't even home with our poor beeb left us and he got to come home to a brand new dog.  I'm sure that was really weird for him.

The total time that passed between losing Emrys and adopting Sweetie was about 2 or 3 weeks.  It wasn't that long but to me it felt like a life time.  I had no intentions to adopt a dog (read more about pet adoption here) because I really did want another corgi.  I'd gone to a few shelters but all the dogs available seemed too much for me to handle.  Until one day I said "Ok, I'll take a look" and found the cutest little blonde girl ever.

This isn't here adoption story - is that a thing for dogs? - this is the story of her name.  I feel like some people think her name is crazy.  Sweetie.  What kind of name is that??  And why the B?  So here's the reasoning behind the name Sweetie B:

My best friend's maiden name started with a B, I guess other people called her this too, but I called her Katie B.  So I always liked that kind of Name + Initial thing.

Zach's last name starts with a B, so that is Sweetie's middle initial.

I'm a huge Doctor Who fan so now I get to say 'Hello Sweetie' all the time.

I'm from the south and love Sweet Tea

My mom calls us all sweetie all the time and she also says 'sleep sweet'.

And the first day I met the little nugget she was the sweetest thing I'd ever run into.

Originally I had other plans for dog names.  If I got another dog and he was a boy I was going to name him Calder.  If the next dog turned out to be a girl I'd name her Sandy.  One of my favorite artists is Alexander Calder so I wanted to be cool and name my dog after him (Alexander Calder also went by 'Sandy')  But when I decided Sweetie just had to come home with me I quickly nixed the Sandy part because I thought that was too obvious - she was a sandy color.  When we first met I kept calling her girl so that was also in the running!

Anyway, I thought I'd just do a little post for posterity on the reasoning behind the name Sweetie B.

xoxo, Moe

Two Things I'll do for Myself This Year

It the time of year where all the blog post surface of 10 Things to Focus on This Year, 5 Ways to make 2016 the Best Year Yet, and the like.  This post may be one of those kinds of posts.  But this post is mostly for me, and only a little bit for you.

I have resolved to do two things this year.  These resolutions aren't things where there is a clear end result...and I think that's perfectly fine.  The thing that will be measurable though, is how I feel in the end.  

I've resolved to give more compliments and apologize for myself less.

Complement Others More

Compliments are great.  I like to give them and I like to receive them.  This year I want to change the way I give compliments and in turn give more of them.  I don't know about you, but usually a compliment I receive or give is something a long the lines of 'I like your sweatshirt'.  This year, I want to give more compliments that focus less on how I feel and focus more on building the other person up.  It shouldn't matter if I like the sweatshirt - what should matter is that the sweatshirt looks good on you.  I want to give more compliments that focus less on how I feel and more on how I see you feeling (does that make sense?).  I want to acknowledge that the other person should be the focus of the compliment and I should leave the word 'I' out of it.  

That shirt looks great on you.     Your hair color/style is beautiful.

That lip color is awesome on you.     Those shoes are really stylish.

Apologize Less

Apologizing for myself less goes hand in hand with this.  I will not downplay myself when I am given a compliment.  I also won't apologize for certain characteristics about me - I'm loud, I laugh a lot, I take things seriously, and I see the problem from many sides.  I'm often told to be quiet, that things aren't that funny, that I really should just chill out, and that I'm causing problems by bringing up various points.  (I really like to hash out things so that anything that can go wrong is already planned for...believe me, I'm pretty sure that is helpful.)  Zach has never told me I'm too loud.....and I love that. I've been told my whole life that I talk too loud.  That is one comment that bugs the heck out of me.  I will not apologize for the things about myself that have been that way for 28 years.  I will also stop belittling myself when something positive is said to me, about me.  I will not downplay the compliment by taking jabs at myself.  I will stop apologizing for being awesome and for having a few quirks!

These are just two of a few things I've resolved to do this year.  My word of the year is Forward and I just want to keep growing.  I still need to do a reflection post on my word of 2015 which was Explore and I still need to find a little quote to go with my current word.  Those posts are in the works but I just haven't formed words for them yet!

What are some small things you're doing for yourself this year?

xoxo, Moe