Tips for Preparing for Home Births

September 24, 2019 by Leave a Comment

First, deciding on a home birth is a huge step.  So is preparing for a home birth.  As a matter of fact, you shouldn’t take it lightly. Although home births are still relatively rare compared to hospital births, more women are opting for home births.  Some reasons include having more control over the birthing process and not having to drive to the hospital during labor.  Whatever your reason, we’re sharing empowerment tips on preparing for home births.  

If your due date is drawing near, you need to prepare your home in order to make your home birth smooth and complication-free.  Here are the necessary steps that you need to take to prepare for a home birth:

 

 

home births

 

 

Step 1: Find a Midwife

The most important step in preparing for home births is finding the right midwife to help you through the process. Think of your midwife as your birthing coach, your partner, your medical assistance, and your assistant, all rolled into one.

A certified midwife is someone who has undergone medical training and has a license to practice midwifery in your location. In the United States, it is necessary for a midwife to have passed the certification process of the American College of Nurse-Midwives in order to practice and assist women during home births.

Step 2: Prepare Your Home

After you have chosen your midwife, the next step is for you to physically prepare your home for your home birth. You need to pick the right room where you will give birth. The room must be spacious and roomy, and free from clutter. Make sure to clean your home thoroughly; you might even consider getting professional cleaning services to ensure that your home is as clean as possible. If you have pets around, you should consider getting them boarded during your home birth so that they don’t get underfoot when the birth is on-going.

Step 3: Prepare Other People in Your Home

It is also important to prepare everyone else who lives at home with you. If you have a spouse or a partner, make sure that they feel included and essential to your home birthing process. This is also applicable to other children you might have.

Home birthing can be a difficult experience for a spouse or children who has never seen a birth before. It can be helpful to attend live birth classes so that they know what to expect during your own home birth. You can also help them by giving them tasks to do during the birth itself.  This can include providing encouragement for you or providing fresh water when you need it.

 

home births

 

Step 4: Have All the Essentials Ready

Before your home birth, you should have all the essentials ready and close at hand so they are available when you need them.  Here are some of the basic items that you will need:

  •       Disposable pads
  •       Peri-wash bottle
  •       Disposable underwear (preferably mesh)
  •       Birthing/exercise ball
  •       Gauze
  •       Gloves
  •       Alcohol

If you are unsure what else to add to your essentials checklist, you should consult with your midwife to ask what else you might need.

Step 5: Draw Up a Home Birth Game Plan in Case of an Emergency

In general, home births are just as safe as hospital births if you go through the proper planning and preparation.   However, there are times when emergencies can happen, and you should be prepared for this eventuality. You should have the number of the nearest hospital ready, as well as a way to get there. You should also have an emergency kit prepared as well.

Certified midwives do have the necessary training to deal with most common emergencies that can occur during a home birth, but if there is a need for medical equipment or procedures in a hospital setting, you need to be able to get to a hospital as soon as possible.

 

 

home births

Step 6: Prepare For Your Newborn’s Needs

Once your baby is born, you will need to provide for them to keep them warm and comfortable. Here are some of the items that you will need for your baby:

  •       Comfortable baby gown
  •       Newborn beanie or hat
  •       Newborn diapers
  •       Baby wipes
  •       Swaddle blanket

Step 7: Prepare for the Mess

A lot of people envision a home birth to be messy and bloody affairs, but if you prepare properly, you can avoid making a huge mess. In fact, if you have a highly-efficient and experienced midwife, you won’t be making much of a mess at all. However, you can still help with making the cleanup as quick and easy as possible. Make sure to lay down a large waterproof plastic sheet on top of the area where you will give birth, and have a supply of towels and disposable pads nearby.

 

 

Filed Under: Pregnancy-New Mom Tagged With: , ,

Inspirational Bob Marley Quotes

September 13, 2019 by
Bob Marley was one of the greatest bi-racial Jamaican Reggae musicians in music history.  Not only was he a great musician, he was a husband, father and survivor of an assassination attempt.  Before he passed from cancer, he left us with great quotes.  We always focus on his music, which we should, but he was also witty and gave us food for thought.  Today, I’m going to empower you with my best of Bob Marley Quotes.
bob marley quotes

 

 

“Don’t gain the world and lose your soul. Wisdom is better than silver and gold.”

“Don’t trust people whose feelings change with time. Trust people whose feelings remain the same, even when the time changes.”

“Love the life you live, live the life you love.”

“Road of life is rocky and you may stumble too, so while you talk about me, someone else is judging you.”

“When the root is strong, the fruit is sweet.”

“You not supposed to feel down over whatever happen to you. I mean, you’re supposed to use whatever happen to you as some type of upper, not a downer.”

 

Bob Marley Quotes

 

“I have a BMW. But only because BMW stands for and The Wailers, and not because I need an expensive car.”

“If something can corrupt you, you’re corrupted already.”

“So before you point your fingers make sure your hands are clean.”

“Some people feel the rain, others just get wet.”

“Tell the children the truth.”

“You can fool some people sometimes, but you can’t fool all the people all the time.”

 

 

 

Last, I hope that you found these Bob Marley quotes inspirational.  I hope that they empower and motivate you to live your best life.  Be sure to put on a few of Bob Marley’s songs like, Stir It Up, One Love and Jammin.  Nothing better than meditating on quotes while enjoying a little reggae.

 

 

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Skincare Tips for New Moms

August 30, 2019 by Leave a Comment

Skincare tips for new moms is the topic for today. Being a mom is the best feeling in this whole world.  But, we all know how that being a new mom is hard.  Getting used to being a mother, still running a household, managing a career and the list goes on can be challenging.  Furthermore, it can really get difficult to take care of yourself amidst all the responsibilities.

Post-pregnancy can snatch all your natural glow and leave you with shade exhaustion. You become so engrossed with your new baby that you forget  about yourself.

 

 

skincare for moms

 

 

 

 

Skincare Tips for New Moms:

 

  1. Cleanse

Whatever you do, never skip cleansing. Cleansing is an essential step of any skincare routine. It is one of the most important skincare tips for new moms.  Pregnancy can disrupt your hormones and bring back  struggles with acne and pimples.  So, keeping your skin clean and starting with a clean base is the best way to prevent these disasters.  Post-pregnancy can make your skin sensitive also. So, start off by washing your face with a gentle or mild cleanser and slowly building your tolerance up to using AHA’s (Alpha-hydroxy Acids) and BHAs ( Beta Hydroxy Acid) to combat your acne.

A good cleanser can cleanse your face and get rid of all the impurities in less than a minute. Therefore, cleanse twice a day to start your skincare routine.

 

  1. Moisturize

Keeping your skin hydrated and plump is the best way to get your glow back. No matter what your skin type is or whether you have acne or pimples, you should never skip a moisturizer.  Hydration does not always have to be external but also internal. Drink lots of water, eat fruits and vegetables which are high in water content. However, taking care of the needs of your baby and feeding them may not give you an adequate amount of time to drink water or eat as you should.

So, investing in a good quality moisturizer and applying it twice a day can prove to be very handy. While you might not have sufficient time to invest in a full-fledged skincare routine doing something very basic like using a moisturizer will help.  It will eliminate dullness and can get your glow back.

 

  1. Sunscreen

Post-pregnancy stress and struggles can make you develop fine lines and wrinkles.  Unfortunately, they are often known as the first signs of aging. And, exposing yourself to the sun for prolonged periods will only speed up the skin aging process. Therefore, using a sunscreen whether indoors or outdoors is an absolute must.  Sunscreen can protect your skin from the UV damage and can also keep your skin young, healthy, and glowing. It is also beneficial for preventing and reducing age spots and presentations.

Therefore, to all the new moms out there just sparing 10 seconds from your busy schedule and applying a thin layer of sunscreen can save your skin for years to come.

 

 

skincare tips for new moms

 

 

 

  1. Keep Your Makeup Routine Simple

Long hours of makeup might not be a good idea for all new moms.  While your baby might not allow you to have luxury time for yourself, you can still look presentable.  Investing in a multi-functional product like a Color Correcting (CC) Cream can do wonders. Not only will it hide and correct  imperfections on your face, but it will also provide that much-needed glow.

Just switch all your foundation, contour and blush for a CC cream, and you will be good to go. No one will ever know that you are in suffering from a lack of sleep because your skin will be  flawless.

  1. Stock Back on Retinoids

Retinoids are a great way to rejuvenate and replenish your skin. While you were on your pregnancy, you might have eliminated retinoids from your skincare routine.  However, it is a good idea to add it back into your routine now.  Retinoids eliminate dead skin build-up and replenished new skin.  Therefore, keeping your skin healthy and glowing.  It can also slow down the aging process and minimize the signs of aging.

Dermatologists say that retinoids boost the collagen production in the skin and increase cell turnover.  This makes your skin appear young and radiant. So, stock up on retinoids and use it three to four times a week to achieve that smooth texture and even tone.

 

  1. Take Care of Your Hair

It is normal for new moms to notice their hair shedding after pregnancy. It occurs due to hormonal imbalances and can last to about three to four months.  As a result, it is vital to take care of your hair during this time and prevent excessive hair loss.  Abstain from over-washing your hair and also from the use of heating tools and styling products. Using heat and chemicals on your hair will only damage your hair further and accelerate hair loss.  So, another one of our skincare tip for new moms is to invest in mild shampoo and conditioner and use a natural hair mask once a week if you have time to spare.

 

 

 

skincare tips for new moms

 

 

  1. Invest in a Good Eye Cream

The dark circles that you notice as a new mom is not just from the lack of sleep, but also hormonal issues. Hormonal imbalances can allow the blood vessels near your eyes to release more blood which cast that dark shadows around your eyes.  Invest in a good eye cream which contains antioxidants such as green tea or has brightening effects such as Vitamin C, B3 or Niacinamide.  They will not only combat your dark circles, but keep your eyes moisturized, hydrated, and plump.

  1. Stretch Marks

While stretch marks come as a bonus gift with your little ones, it can take a toll on your appearance.  However, the most important thing is to feel confident in your body and proudly own your stretch marks.  These marks can be a sign of growth and can appear on various parts of your body.  However, using Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter or Aloe Vera Gel on your marks regularly will help you achieve smooth skin.  These products will keep your skin nourished, hydrated, soft, and toned.

 

  1. Minimize Your Nail Routine

Taking care of your baby may interfere with your manicure sessions.  But, long nails can also be dangerous and harmful to the baby.  So, continue going to your sessions when you can.  However, keep your nails short and clean. And, invest in a good quality nail polish that won’t chip even after a day’s work.

 

Being a new mom can be difficult; however, you can still implement a few of our skincare tips for new moms.  Feeling confident and beautiful in your own skin is an essential thing.  You may also like:  Winter Beauty Detox.

 

 

 

About the Author

Mariyam is a beauty and lifestyle blogger at The Beautyholic. Obsessed with writing, she has been blogging for more than four years and still loving every bit of it. She is a natural beauty enthusiast and, in her pastime, she loves cuddling with her pets, watching movies, and reading online articles about spirituality and lifestyle.

Filed Under: Beauty and Fashion, Empowerment Tagged With: , ,

Tackling Women’s Health Issues

August 27, 2019 by Leave a Comment

Bringing children into the world is a rewarding privilege.  However, the effects of carrying and delivering babies can have a significant effect on the body.  Although you are grateful for the journey to motherhood, the aftermath can have an impact on mental health.  Furthermore, it can leave you feeling disheartened when you feel unable to restore your pre-baby body.  Today, I’m sharing empowerment tips on tackling women’s health issues.  

 

womens health issues

 

 

 

Count Your Calories

Women’s health issues include weight loss.  The only way to lose fat is to implement a ‘calorie deficit’ regime.  This means consuming less calories than we burn each day.  Downloading a calorie tracker is a useful way of monitoring consumption. Keeping a food diary will allow you to track and be more mindful of the calories that you consume.  Additionally, we are a few ways to reduce calories from your diet:

  • Avoiding creamy sauces or dressings
  • Switching to skimmed milk for hot drinks
  • Using sweeteners instead of sugar in drinks and baking
  • Fill up on veggies to feel satisfied and reduce hunger pangs
  • Avoid heavily processed foods full of sugar and salts
  • Drink water, often thirst is mistaken for hunger
  • Track your drinks, this is often forgotten and can add up over a day

Increase Activity Levels

Increase the number of calories that you burn each day by increasing your activity levels.  Activities can include walking to school or running to the shops rather than jumping in the car.  Furthermore, squeeze a 20 minute stroll into your day.  Walking for 30 minutes each day is scientifically proven to offer many health benefits.

Swimming is a great full-body exercise.  Particularly for those with mobility issues or for those who struggle with joint pain or obesity-related complications.  Other ideas include cycling, running, dance classes, climbing or skating. Pick something that you enjoy and you will have a greater incentive to stick with it.

 

 

womens health issues

Lift Weights

Contrary to popular belief weight lifting is actually more effective for weight loss than excessive cardiovascular activity.  In addition to burning calories it also helps with shape and tone. Focus on compound exercises like squats, pull-ups and bench press to maximize results. Most gym facilities can offer help and guidance for beginners.  Or, if you are able invest in a personal trainer who will devise a plan specifically tailored to your personal goals.

 

Medical Intervention

If you have tried the above and still aren’t satisfied, you may prefer to opt for medical assistance. Your medical practitioner may be able to offer advice or make a referral for services that can help or recommend a dietician or exercise plan.

Other procedures are available, such as Los Angeles Coolsculpting performed by Dr. Fedonenko, which uses temperature to non-surgically break down fat cells and help to tackle stubborn areas such as abdominal fat or thigh and hip areas and avoids invasive surgical interventions.

 

Love Yourself

You need to be happy in your own skin whatever your shape and size. Your figure is a beautiful testament to the incredible journey your body has been on.  So, it is not something to feel ashamed of and you can embrace your body and love yourself just as you are. However, if you choose to make a change for you, then these tips offer a good starting point for a weight loss journey towards you feeling confident and happy.

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Women's Health Tagged With: , ,

Turning Your Hobby Into a Business

June 29, 2019 by Leave a Comment

Today, we’re sharing empowerment tips on turning your hobby into a business. If sitting in the office and working on the computer is not your cup of tea, think about making money off things that you love doing. Crafts are not only a great pass time, but you can also make money off them.  You can create unique gifts, cards, and home decoration items.   You can convert your hobby into a full time job and earn a living without leaving the house.

 

Turning Your Hobby into a Business:  

 

Advertise on Social Media 

One of the best ways of creating awareness about your art and crafts is using social media.  Artist marketing can be tricky, as you will have to find a very narrow niche that resonates with what you do and engages with your products. That is why you will have to experiment with different ways of getting followers, until you know what is working and how you can get more commissioned work and earn more money.

 

Improve Your Skills 

It is important that you research what is out there, and who your local competitors are. You might think that your art and crafts are different, but after checking out Pinterest and Instagram, you are likely to think otherwise. You should also keep up with the trends, so you can accommodate the needs of your potential clients, and adjust your style to their needs. Investing in your skills development will mean that you are investing in the longevity of your business.

 

 

 

turning your hobby into a business

 

Experiment 

It might also be a good idea to experiment with new materials and techniques.  You can enhance your creative art and crafts, and provide a variety of products based on what your customers are looking for.  You can try to paint on canvas or silk or try various quality paper.  Check out the  Graphic 45 paper suppliers.  You can find what works the best with the paint and tools you are using, so you can develop quality crafts.

 

 

 

turning your hobby into a business

 

Cash In On Holidays and Special Occasions 

When you are creating personalized art and crafts, you will need to focus on your target market and the changing demand. During the holiday season, you might get really busy.  However, in the summer you will feel like giving up.  A good way of overcoming this problem is to identify the times of the year when people are likely to order custom gifts and decorative items.  You can create promotions or pre-season sales.  For example,  you focus on teacher’s gifts in the beginning of the summer and continue until after the holidays.  If baking is your thing, maybe offer unique desserts for teas, parties, baby shower etc.  

 

 

 

turning your hobby into a business

 

 

Create Your Own Style 

You will need to have your signature style people that people will recognize.  Even if you are just recreating images, painting word art, or designing corporate logos, you should create a style that is unique to you.  Make sure it is one that your potential clients can resonate with.

 

Get Recommendations 

One of the cheapest and easiest ways of getting new clients is to ask your existing customers or friends for recommendations.  If they are happy with the service and the custom designs you are creating, they will not hesitate to recommend you to people they know.  You could even set up your own Facebook business page, so people can leave reviews and recommendations publicly.  Ask them to take a photo of the product they ordered and tag you on it on social media.

 

Invest in Training 

If turning your hobby into a business is your goal, you need to keep up with the latest techniques.  You might find that upcycling and using the contents of your recycling bin is the right way to go to create a sustainable business.  However, you have no idea how to make it work.  This is why you will have to find a coach who can help you grow professionally and get the most out of your ideas.

 

Get New Tools 

Once your craft business grows, it is important that you invest in the latest tools and technologies. When you are ready to set up your own workshop, you will need to get power tools, paint brushes, and professional lighting.  This will allow you to get more done in less time, and take on more orders. You don’t want to limit your earning potential when your business starts growing.

 

 

 

turning your hobby into a business

Create Community Projects 

The easiest way to improve your reputation and get your brand out there is to take part in community projects. You can create a workshop and take it to the park or community centers and schools for free. It is a win-win situation,  you will get recognized and meet potential clients. Display some of your creations while participating in the community projects.  Furthermore,  the community will get a valuable activity for their members for free.

 

Start Teaching 

One of the often neglected ways of making money from art and crafts is teaching. If you want to help individuals overcome their difficulties, you can create your own art therapy classes and workshops.  You can also tap into the couples activity market or girl friends wanting to try a new hobby.  Create a craft session for those who would like to take their relationship further and try something new together. Whatever interests you, there will be a market out there for your art and your lessons.

 

Being an artist and a creative person doesn’t mean that you have to live from one day to the next. In fact, turning your hobby into a business can happen on a full scale level.  You can actually make money off things you actually enjoy doing, instead of being stuck in an office and feeling unmotivated and having your talent wasted.

 

 

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How to Get Rest When You Have Children

May 28, 2019 by Leave a Comment

Getting a rest from your children is a good thing for both you and baby.  For example, the children get some time away from you where they can have fun and socialize.  But, you get some well-needed sleep or alone time too. It’s mentally healthy and quite frankly needed.  This is incredibly important especially if you’re a new parent.  There is no doubt your life has gone through some major changes.  However, there are plenty of ways you can still get some rest and remain in control.  Today we’re sharing  empowerment tips on how to get rest when you have children.  Many options are right in front of you, but you need structure to ensure your choices are reliable.

 

 

parenting tips

 

Tag someone else 

If you do live close to your in-laws or parents, they can be a good resource for help when you need a rest.  Perhaps if you have siblings that are close by they too can be substitutes.  They will surely understand that you need help getting some sleep or just time to relax and take a bath.  Asking them to come over and babysit can take a load off your mind.  Alternatively,  you can drop the kids off at their place and pick them up when you’re ready. Use the weekends to empty the house and get some peace and quiet for a few hours.  If you have relatives who want to take them for a few days or the week-end take them up on it.  Even this small amount of time can help a lot.

 

 

parenting tips

 

 

Invest in hobbies

Furthermore, child should be encouraged to find hobbies they like.  Getting them moving and keep them active is imperative. But, that means parents must invest in their children.  This includes buying equipment, signing them up for different leisure or children’s groups.   For example, if your child wants to learn to play a sport, you should help them find a local team or club they can join.   Sports like archery needs to be done in a  controlled environment.  As a result, this means you can drop them off for a couple hours and get some rest. Other hobbies like joining the scouts can be great for their learning potential, but also for you.

 

Start them early

The more you can help your children learn new things and have it as part of their daily life, the more you can begin to rest.  There are plenty of child care options for parents as well, and you can take full advantage of them. The kids can be away and in a preschool learning environment from the ages of around 3 to 5.  Not only will they be learning with other children, but the lunches and snacks will be provided by the facility.   Early childhood development provides a curriculum that will also allow your child to learn a variety of educational activities.

Parents and children need some space and time from each other.  Most importantly, it’s good to reset your mind and body as well as allowing the kids to go off to do things they find enjoyable and also learn at the same time.

 

Filed Under: Empowerment, Parenting Tips, Pregnancy-New Mom Tagged With: , ,

12 Motivation Ideas for Women

May 23, 2019 by Leave a Comment

Having confidence or self-esteem issues? You’re not alone. Today, I’m sharing tips on motivation ideas for women.   First, stop wondering how to empower yourself and start implementing our these empowerment and motivational tips.  Yes, start thinking about that.  Unfortunately, we can lose ourselves when we become wives and mothers.  We wake up wondering what happened to us?  Where and when did we lose who we were as a woman and human beings.

Shamelessly, I lost myself years ago and became a shell of a woman.  Being functionable was about all I could manage to do each day.  I was simply going through a routine day after day.  Finding myself again became a priority, and I vowed never to loose my way again.  I am happy to say that I reached my goal and have never looked back.  I focused on this Bible Verse, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13 (NIV).

 

building confidence

Additionally, I changed my habits and thought process.  Your attitude and your thinking is everything.  I realized that I was just as important as those that I loved and took care of.  And, I was just as deserving of love, time and attention as they were.  Furthermore, I realized that we all have a purpose.  But, unless we take the time to meditate and take care of ourselves we could miss our calling.  How to empower yourself  should become a priority in taking back your life.

Here are a few motivation ideas for women:

 

  • Learn to say no – Some where I read that No is a complete sentence.  Actually, I liked the concept and adopted it.  Saying no doesn’t have to be a long drawn out explanation.  Just say no.  You will find it empowering.
  • Start speaking up – Next, speak up.  If you don’t nobody will hear you.  Learn to voice your opinions, wants and needs.
  • Enhance Your Education – Education is power.  Take a few classes, which could lead to the degree that you always wanted.
  • Have a fixed income – Furthermore, get a part time  job or learn to make money from home.  Contributing to the household or being able to treat yourself and your kids is an exhilarating experience.
  • Remove yourself from domestic violence –  Furthermore, learn your value.  If you are being abused in anyway, you must remove yourself from the situation.  Come up with a plan to get out with your children safely.  Call 1-800-799-7233 for assistance.
  • Stop any harassment or shaming – Don’t allow anyone to make you feel bad about yourself or bully you.  Speak up, and take any necessary action to eliminate the behavior.
  • Set standards for yourself – Most importantly, when people see that you have standards and don’t lower them, they raise to your level or leave.  If they choose to leave, let them.
  • Adopt a positive attitude – Also, people gravitate to those who have a positive outlook on life.
  • Assess your friendships and Associates – So, take a look at your friends and relationships.  Are you associating with those who you strive to be like or have the same goals and ambitions as you?  If not, you may want to change your circle.
  • Start taking care of yourself – Eating right and exercising is imperative to feeling good about yourself and improving your health.
  • Learn the meaning of respect – Most importantly, learn to respect yourself.  When you do, others will respect you too.
  • Renew Your Faith –  Last, learn to believe in something or someone other than yourself.  Having faith to get you through the turbulent times in your life and giving thanks when you’re blessed is important.

 

Finally,  learning how to motivate and empower yourself is a choice.  You can remain in your current situation unhappy, feeling weak and abused or you can take your power back.  Each of us are where we are because of choices that we make.  Let that sink in for a few minutes.  Only you can make the changes needed to reach your goals, raise your self-esteem and become physically and emotionally.  Nowhere is it written that we have to lose ourselves because he have a job, husband, kids, not where we want to be financially, gained weigh.  Whatever you have going on you can change it.

You must learn to play the hand that you are dealt or you will get played by life.  Get in the game, and start taking small steps to making changes in your life.  Motivation ideas for women is a good start.

Also, you may also like:  Repairing Strained Mother Daughter Relationships or Keeping Your Emotional Health.  

 


 

Filed Under: Confidence, Empowerment Tagged With: , ,

6 Tips To Boost Your Self Esteem

May 14, 2019 by

Today, I’m sharing tips on how to boost your self-esteem. So, do you need a self-esteem boost?  A self-esteem boost is a great way to become empowered again and renew your faith.  At one point in my life I saw myself as an attractive, sexual, and vibrant woman.  I looked in the mirror one day and I realized that I had bags under my eyes, more gray hair, and I looked tired.  I wondered what had happened. When I looked back over the years I realized that I had lost myself.  I had lost myself while I worked diligently to be a good mother, I was divorced and was pulling double duty with most things.  

 

 

self esteem



I had become a wife, mother, taxi driver, nose wiper, chef, CEO, house keeper, medicine dispenser, CFO, and it all led to exhaustion.  Being a mother has been my greatest joy.  But, it requires so much.  Even when we think we can’t do it anymore or we have nothing else to give, we reach down and find more and do more.  As women we can become so entrenched in our roles that we can loose ourselves along the way.  We wake up one morning, and wonder what happen to our self-esteem.

So, I had my house remodeled several years ago.  My main focus was the master bath. I have a huge garden tub that I wanted to refresh.  Additionally, the shower needed a makeover.  So, I decided to install a rain shower head.  And, I tiled around the vanity, shower and tub.

I stood in stores for hours looking until I found the perfect tile.  I even had a seat constructed in my shower so I could carefully shave my legs, and a heated ceramic tile floor installed.  After the project was finished, I surrounded my tub with beautiful candles and spa towels.  It was my favorite room in the house.  It’s funny, I can’t remember the last time that I soaked in that tub.  Let alone sipped a cup of tea and enjoyed the flicker of the flames on the candles. You may be wondering what I did to get back on top.

 

How to Boost Your Self-esteem: 

 

1.  Know that you’re important – You’re an entity in your home too, and it’s okay to love yourself. Make time to do the things that you enjoy such as having a glass of wine, scrapbooking, reading, cross-stitching, watching your favorite TV show, or playing a computer game. Whatever you enjoy, take time to enjoy it.

2.  It’s okay to not respond to every need that everyone else has – Trying to please very one will wear you out, lead to stress, and health problems. Remember you need your rest too.

3.  Accept responsibility for where you are now –  Don’t blame your kids or your husband, you have the power to say I’m tired I need to rest, I need help or I need time for myself and take it.

 

self esteem

 

 

4.  Become determined and self-reliant – Do what you can around your house, rather than sitting around waiting on your husband or significant to do everything for you. Take the stress off yourself because you’re waiting for someone to complete a project for you. It could also take the stress of your husband or significant other too.  This includes painting a room, building those raised garden beds, painting the deck furniture, cleaning out the garage etc. There’s some great bloggers out there that can show you how.

5.  Stop trying to take on everything – There are no shortcuts in life, it can be brutal at times.  We must learn to let things go, take a deep breath and exhale. Set priorities and learn to walk away when things get overwhelming. Tomorrow is another day, you can get it done then.

6.  Budget your money and treat yourself  – If you are a SAHM, get a pay check for your work inside the home. Purchase a bouquet of flowers for yourself or treat yourself to a manicure, pedicure or facial. Not your thing, buy a new dress and have a monthly date night with your husband or significant other. It will recharge your batteries!

It’s important to reclaim your self-worth and start treating myself like the queen that your are. I have learned that it’s okay to make myself number one occasionally.  Being mom, wife, and grandmother are wonderful roles, but we should never loose ourselves. They aren’t inclusive of who we are.  We hope that you have found our tips on how to boost your self esteem helpful.

 Please leave us a tip on how you boost your self-esteem. We may want to incorporate your tip into our routine.

You may also like How To Empower Yourself Emotionally
                                    Why I No Longer Use the Word Weak
  

Filed Under: Confidence, Empowerment Tagged With: , , ,

Assertiveness Quotes to Empower Women

May 12, 2019 by 2 Comments

Do you struggle with asserting yourself?  Finding a balance between being assertive and not being aggressive can be tricky.  Being assertive means being able to say no without feeling guilty.  It requires you to get a backbone and stop allowing others to intrude on you and enter your personal space.  Today, I’m sharing tips to empower yourself  with assertiveness quotes. 

 

 

quotes for women

“If you behave like a doormat, expect to be stepped on and don’t complain about it.”
Suzette Haden Elgin

“I’m a woman / Phenomenally. / Phenomenal woman, / That’s me.”
Maya Angelou

“The minute you settle for less than you deserve, you get even less than you settled for.”
Maureen Dowd

“The basic difference between being assertive and being aggressive is how our words and behavior affect the rights and well being of others.”
Sharon Anthony Bower

“Too many of us fail to fulfill our needs because we say no rather than yes, yes when we should say no.”
William Glasser

“Every time we speak, we choose and use one of four basic communication styles: assertive, aggressive, passive and passive-aggressive.”
Jim Rohn

“My theory is that if you look confident you can pull off anything – even if you have no clue what you’re doing.”
Jessica Alba

 

assertiveness tips

 

 

 

“Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them… well, I have others.”
Groucho Marx

“You create your opportunities by asking for them.”
Patty Hansen

“It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.”
J. K. Rowling

“Like what you do, and then you will do your best. ”
Katherine Johnson

 

 

quotes

 

“The duty we owe ourselves is greater than that we owe others.”
Louisa May Alcott

“If you don’t have a seat at the table, you’re probably on the menu.”
Elizabeth Warren

“I encourage people to remember that “no” is a complete sentence.”
Gavin de Becker

“When fools come for a piece of you with their shenanigans and tomfoolery let them come. However, remember to give them enough that they won’t ask for seconds.”
Donavan Nelson Butler

 

Most importantly, think about these assertiveness quotes and start asserting yourself.   It will change your relationships and raise your confidence and self-esteem.

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Empowerment, Quotes Tagged With: , , , ,

The History of Mother’s Day

May 7, 2019 by Leave a Comment

 

 

Have you ever wondered how Mother’s Day came about?  I’ve wondered, so I decided to do some research.  The day originated in my state, West Virginia.    I was surprised to discover that fact.  A lady by the name of Anna Jarvis of Grafton, WV started Mother’s Day.  The history of Mother’s Day tells us that it originally started as a memorial to Anna Jarvis’ mother.  She passed away in 1907.  Knowledge is power and knowing the history of Mother’s Day is empowering.  

 

 

 

She decided to campaign to make it a nationally recognized holiday.  In 1914, she succeeded.  Furthermore, by  1920, Anna Jarvis had become disappointed with the holiday.  She spent the rest of her life campaigning against it. As with everything in this country, it had become too commercialized.  Businesses were promoting flowers, greeting cards and boxes of chocolates for Mother’s Day gifts. They were profiting from what was supposed to be a simple day to recognize mothers and all that they had done in their role.

As a matter fact, Anna was so upset with their greed that she was actually arrested for disturbing the peace while protesting.  She stated that she wished she had never started the holiday.  Most importantly, she had become so bitter as a result of the commercialization, she died in poverty.  She also died unmarried and without children. What a sad ending to what started as a beautiful tribute to her mother.

I agreed that we are the most commercialized country in the world. We tie a dollar bill to anything and everything.  Statistics show people spend approximately $2.6 billion on flowers and $1.53 billion on pampering spa treatments, manicures and pedicures for Mother’s Day.

The history of Mother’s Day remains an important part of American History.  Although Anna Jarvis became frustrated, I think people should be able to spend their money how they choose.  If recipients of the gifts enjoy them, that makes the gift even better.  We all have a choice, buy or not buy.   I guess if I was in Anna Jarvis’ shoes, my thoughts may be different.  The best Mother’s Day gifts are at home dinners with my daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren.

As a matter of fact, I believe that we as mothers have a very important role in raising our children and grandchildren.  Just as important, mothers  shouldn’t just be recognized on the second Sunday of May.  After all, we are mothers 356 days a year 24 hours a day for the rest of our life.

So, there we have the history of Mother’s Day.  Finally, I hope that you spend the day relaxing and doing what you enjoy, and if you get a chance leave me a comment on yours thoughts of Anna Jarvis and Mother’s Day.   You may also  like 15 Mother’s Day Gift Ideas.

 

 

Filed Under: Activities, Empowerment, Life-Thoughts Tagged With: , ,