Brunch with my little sister. She is the queen of brunch and is taking advantage of every Saturday before she decides to have some babies of her own. We went to a little local favorite down by my favorite lake and ate too much delicious food which we obviously washed down with mimosas. Followed by a shopping trip to my favorite boutique (@evereveofficial) to pick up some new swing dresses to get me through the summer.
All in tiny post
Today was the transition into her big girl bed.
With her brother, we used the Time to Wake Clock to get him to stay in bed. For her, I'm using a donut as a reward, because... donuts!! This morning we went to Target and picked out her bedding and a special pillow for her bed. The pom pom pillow is the one she insists using to support her head so I'm sure she'll wake up with some wicked pillow marks on her face tomorrow.
You guys, I went to Ikea yesterday... With a two year old and a three year old. By myself.
I sat in the parking lot for about 10 minutes contemplating if it was actually a good idea to go in and eventually conjured enough courage.
No one told me about the clingy two's! Both of my kids have always been fiercely independent. I play and interact with them, but most of the time they feel more at home when I give them space to explore and figure things out for themselves.
Maybe not the "World's Best Auctioneer," but I'm certainly "One helluva Auctioneer."
This month I celebrate my 10 year anniversary as being an auctioneer. When I was sitting in class at auction school they told us that only 5% of people who attend auction school will still be working in the industry 10 years later. I am proud to not only be in the industry, but to have built a business that I'm proud of as a fundraising auctioneer where I have gotten to work with hundreds of nonprofits, schools and organizations to raise millions upon millions of dollars to make this world a better place.
Even after 10 years and hundreds of happy clients, some haters are still going to hate...
Here just a few of the lies I heard this week:
"Literally anyone could raise your kids better than you."
"Who are you to teach anyone anything?"
"You will never make it in your career. Other people have been doing it longer and new talent is popping up every single day."
It's one of those Tuesdays that has me all, "how is it only Tuesday?"
I've got some awesome toddlers with some less-than-awesome attitudes this week. I worry that I'm too firm and other times I worry that I'm too lenient. And I'm confident that I'm screwing them up somehow.
Did you know a woman will only apply for a job when she feels she meets 100% of the qualifications, but I man will apply when he meets as little as 60% of the required qualifications? No wonder there are more men in higher roles! They ignore their lack of qualifications and just go for it.
I love having a daughter, but it also scares the bejezuz out of me because, HOLY CRAP I HAVE A DAUGHTER! There is an added sense of pressure having a daughter. This girl is a mirror into my soul and I have to be extra careful about every step I take and every word I say, because that will shape how she feels about herself.
What happens when I try to do it by myself
I am all about the #hustle and I have a horrible tendency to take pride in that. God made me a very capable woman, and how do I repay him? By taking everything into my own hands and trying to do it myself.
Do the work but leave the results up to God
I'm an ESFP which means I experience bursts of energy and the highest of highs full of ideas, passion and the ambition to get it done. It also means that when I meet the tiniest bit of adversity, it is enough to stop me in my tracks and give up.
Be a whole-assing mom
Yesterday, I asked one of my kids to do something and their response was "but I'm too busy!" My heart sank. Where the hell did they even hear that? Holy crap! From my mouth! My busy and distracted mouth.
What is this thing they call brunch?
Do I brunch? Me? (Uncontrollable laughter here) No, my brunching days our behind me. This morning, I scarfed a cup of coffee in record time in attempt to fuel up before the gremlins arose from their peaceful slumber so they could ask me to do things for them that they can do on their own. Then I changed 5 bazillion poopy diapers and finally got to that big pile of laundry and then spent naptime writing new resources for my auction clients. No time for bottomless mimosas and French toast over here.
Don't fear failure, fear not trying
You can choose to have regrets or you can choose to have stories in your life. Anything you do, whether you succeed or "fail" becomes apart of who you are. It shapes your future and builds your character. I put "fail" in quotes because the only way to fail in my book is to not try.
For those of you still waiting to feel like a grown up
Has anyone written the book "What To Expect When You Don't Know What The Hell Is Going On" yet? I'd buy it. I'm still waiting for that moment when all the mommy wisdom will infiltrate my brain. I wish it would come soon because I have two kids and I don't even know when I should take them to the doctor for a cough or when they're "fine, it's just a cough." There's such a fine line between "meh, you're fine" and "you are dying and I should have taken you in so much sooner!" When do we start to know these things?
Dear Stretch Jeans, I think its time we see other people
Dear Stretch Denim,
You are a bad friend. You initially won me over with your yoga pants-esque elasticity and small size. I bought you at the height of salad season, so proud to own that tiny number on your tag. Then, as we moved into fall (aka carb season) together, you still hugged my waist and hips without judgement. You thought you were being kind, but you were just lying to me. Yesterday I put on your cool older sister, REAL JEANS, and that bitch told me I'd gotten fat. She was so mad at me, she refused to button. It hurt, but it was what I needed to hear. I'm sticking with thick, uncomfortable traditional denim from here on out. Stretch jeans, we had a good run, but I don't have room in my life for liars.
xoxo,
Sarah
Play the long game, mama
It's a long game, ladies. Something I struggle with every single day. As I work with my kids' hearts, trying to shape them into decent human beings I can get discouraged because somedays it feels like I'm not making any progress. "Oh, really, you're still going to have a tantrum over that? Remember how well that worked out for you yesterday?" Day by day. Week by week, being a parent can be exhausting and discouraging. But you are making progress. You can't see it in the immediate, but nothing great ever was accomplished overnight. Stay strong, mamas, I see the work you do everyday. We may not be perfect all of the time, but for the most part, we chug along diligently. Your diligent and patient work with be blessed.