goals

5 Ways to Make those Habits STICK

September 16, 2014 by cam

There are some goals I’ve been setting around here. That’s nothing new. I’m the queen of having a goal. I always feel the need to have something to work toward. One of my goals is working on staying committed to my fitness. I have fallen off in a big way since having kids. Getting back on track has been slow going – but it’s going!

I was talking to my girlfriends recently and we all agree that we could be doing more. Whether it’s the things we eat or working out – more could be getting done. As for me, I’ve carved out some time in my day to work out at least 4 times a week. I want to get back up to 5 days. It’s been a while since I’ve been that girl though so I am pacing myself. The goal here isn’t for me to hit a certain weight or size. That was never my goal with working out. I did it because it is good for me. I like how it makes me feel. I like how it makes me look. Working out in the morning sets the tone for my day too. Once I’ve sweat it all out, it’s a little tough for me to justify a glazed donut. I feel like I worked too hard to give in to that and try to opt a healthier choice instead. It doesn’t always work (no one is perfect) but the thing is, working out keeps my goal of a healthier lifestyle at the forefront of my thoughts. That’s a great thing.

While exercising used to be as much a part of my day as eating breakfast, it’s been touch and go for a while now. Essentially this means I’m trying to form a new habit. They say it takes at least 21 days for a new habit to stick. I’ve got just over a week to go! Whenever we start something new and attempt to make it a part of our new normal it takes work. We all have busy lives and trying to change things up often means trying to squeeze something else in to an already full schedule. One thing that’s been working for me is leaving my workout clothes out at night so they are the first things I see in the morning. I also leave my workout DVD cued up so all I have to do is press play!

No matter what new habits we start, we can all use a little support to stick to them. Here are a few ideas to keep the ball rolling once you get started.

Whatever it is you plan to tackle, start with your least favorite part of it first. Getting the least pleasant part of it out of the way, makes the rest of it easier.

Break things down into manageable chunks. No need to tackle the whole enchilada. If you’re looking to get fit, just move. Don’t set a number goal. You’ll only feel like you’re not making progress if you don’t see that number when you think you should.

Get a buddy! Let someone know you’re trying to start something new. They’ll check in with you and hopefully motivate you and keep you accountable.

Give yourself grace! If you fall off here and there, don’t beat yourself up. Just re-commit and move forward.

Use your words for good. Don’t say what you can’t do. Don’t allow yourself to talk yourself out of what you’ve started. You can do it!

Are you starting anything new? Tell me about it. Or let me know how you stick to a new habit.

A labor of LOVE + I named her Get it, Mama!

August 5, 2014 by cam

What’s the biggest change that happens after becoming a mama? I don’t know that I could pick just one. There’s the whole thing with exhaustion. That’s real! I remember wondering if I would EVER get sleep again. With my first child, I remember feeling like people forgot about me. Everybody wanted to talk to me but they only wanted to talk about my baby. I get it though. He was all I wanted to talk about too. 🙂

That’s kind of where it started though. People made it clear to me that my life was changing and my dreams needed to take a backseat – indefinitely. They weren’t trying to be Debbie Downer’s. They meant it in the best way possible. I’m all about my life changing. I want to be a hands-on, engaging, snuggle party-having mom. I good with making the sacrifices that come with that. I embrace it. So much so, that I had another baby.

The thing I couldn’t accept is my dreams taking an indefinite backseat. My thinking is that my dreams are still valid post-baby. They don’t suddenly expire because I have a little person on my hip. What does change is the time I have to pursue those dreams. My priority is making sure my babies are getting all they need even while I make sure I’m following my heart and pursuing things that I love. It’s not easy, for sure. It can be done though.

I should say here that I’m a “prove you wrong” type of girl. If you tell me I can’t do something, I’ll make it my mission to find a way to do it. I took this same attitude when it came to following some of my dreams after my babies made their way into the world. I’ve accomplished a few things and I have a long list of things I want to do still. The way that I see it, my kids will benefit from seeing me make my dreams a reality. I bet they’ll also be inspired to do the same. I call that WINNING!

Since becoming a mom, I have more friends who are moms as well. A hot topic seems to be all of the things we want to do – one day. Write a book, start a business, launch a blog, etc. From all of our conversations, this guide was born. Meet Get it, Mama! It’s a guide I’ve been working on for what seems like forever. I’m talking practical tips for us to do more of what makes us happy all while rocking our number ONE gig!

I’d love for you to check out my labor of love, it’s FREE! Just click the image below. 🙂

Tell me, what do you struggle with when it comes to balancing babies and pursuing your passions/dreams?

Not Just Lip Service

July 8, 2014 by cam

Recently, I had an experience that I wanted to share with you. I am creating a whole business centered around inspiring mamas to find and follow our passions. I talk a lot about following your dreams ~~even~~ especially after your name changes to mama. So, I just wanted to share a little something to let you know that I’m not just talking it, I’m putting my words to practice in my own life.

One day, while my daughter napped, I got a phone call. It was from a modeling agency I had auditioned for years ago. They only represent body parts. I auditioned my hands. They’d called me a couple times about jobs but this was the first in a long time. It was also the first since I have been at home with the kids. It wasn’t easy to make it work. But it all worked out. My mom came out for a visit and stayed with the kids while mama went to work. They got time with grandma and I got a chance to do something cool. I was on a two day modeling job for Essie nails. The images will bee seen internationally.

I wasn’t allowed to take any pictures myself as the colors they used on my nails aren’t released yet. They are for the fall/winter season.

Modeling has been a part of me for a while. I started as a teen in modeling school and small jobs here and there. I stopped, ironically, shortly after moving to LA. Agencies wanted me to be smaller and smaller. I was a 4. They were crazy!

I had just let it all go until a few years ago. People have always complemented my hands so I found an agency that represented hand models and went for it.

It obviously paid off. That’s just one of my dreams/passions though. This business is another. It’s a heart business for me. I couldn’t be more passionate about it. I really want moms to find something they’re passionate about and find away to go for it.

I think it’s really important for us to have something that’s just for us. It certainly doesn’t have to e modeling or a business. It could be anything the brings you a little more happy.

What’s that thing for you?

Overwhelm? Totally Conquered!

June 17, 2014 by cam

Overwhelmed. I was totally feeling the pressure recently at my son’s end of year school picnic.

I started thinking about all that had to be done. I thought of all the things that could throw the plan off. I was totally talking myself into a “worst case scenario” situation.

I knew I needed to make sure my daughter had her nap. She can be iffy on those. If she missed the nap, I’d be at this picnic with a hyper four year old and a cranky baby. I also knew that I needed to order the pizzas for the picnic while she slept. Once we picked up my son, we needed to pick up the food and haul it back to the park with blankets, chairs, toys and stroller in tow.

Two kids. One mama. Three hour picnic. I totally allowed it to drown me in overwhelm.

All the stuff on my list didn’t seem nearly as bad when I put it in perspective and took one thing at a time. So, here’s what actually happened:

I woke up knowing I had a full day ahead of me. The day started with me getting the kids ready, packing lunches and getting my son to school. Next, was my daughters art class. While she napped after class, I ordered pizzas for our contribution to the picnic. We got my son from school and headed to pick up the pizza. Then, my excited kiddies and I were off to the park. And you know what happened next? We had fun! We played games, we hung out with my son’s friends, ate lots of food, swung at pinatas and everything else the picnic had to offer.

At the end of the day, I had worked myself up for no reason it all.

Have you ever done that? Have you had something to do that was so simple but you make it bigger than it ever needs to be? Sometimes we build up so much anxiety over the smallest of things.

The best way to combat that for me I’ve found is to break things down. Just give yourself some order and do one thing at a time. When taking the whole of anything in one chunk it could be too much. It’s like trying to pick up a whole pound cake and chow down. No! We take it one slice at a time. Breaking things down into small manageable tasks works every time. Even when it’s something as simple as a school picnic.

So tell me, how do you deal with overwhelm?

Yes, You Can Have…

June 10, 2014 by cam

At some point along this ride we have to start saying yes to the things we want. It’s even bigger than that though. There’s this thing we have to get past. It’s called permission.

I have found that there were some things I wasn’t getting out of life because I wouldn’t give myself permission to have what I say it is I want. Yes, I would talk my friends ears off about the life I wanted for myself. I had big dreams and that’s all they were. There wasn’t a plan to get any of it. As they say, “a goal without a plan is just a dream.” {tweet this} I finally figured out that I didn’t think I was allowed to have the life, the home, the career I wanted. I guess, on some level, I thought that type of “on your own terms” living was reserved for a select few.

Then, I decided to tell myself a different story. As I sat down to make one of my MANY lists, I gave myself permission to have everything on those lists. It sounds so simple but telling myself yes was really one of the first steps to living a life that brings me a little more happy. And who couldn’t use a little more happy, right?

I said yes to being an author, which led me down the road of entrepreneur. That was something I hadn’t so much considered but have eagerly said yes to. The most rewarding yes had to be the decision to spend more time at home with my kids. Here’s what I’m learning, there are some things that keep nagging at us. There are things to change, things we want, etc. Once we give in and say yes, the details kinda fill themselves in. Here are a few more things on my “PERMISSION GRANTED!” list:

A healthier lifestyle – I’m slowly moving our family to a more plant based diet. Got any great recipes? Feel free to share!
Extra energy – I think this is going to come with a commitment to consistently work out and get more sleep.
Less stress – I tend to take on a million things. I’ll be scaling down my list.
Conquering overwhelm – See above! LOL!
Keeping a positive out look – I think all of these things will help keep my outlook in check. 🙂

So, now your turn. PERMISSION GRANTED! What’s one thing big or small that you could say yes to?

P.S. The June newsletter comes out this week! Are you on the list? Sign up below. 🙂

It’s All in How You See it…

June 3, 2014 by cam

**I have to thank you ALL for last week’s post! I shared and you gave it right back. It is a pleasure getting to know you! That has to be my favorite post so far! On to today’s post! 🙂 **

Since the passing of Dr. Maya Angelou, her quotes have been posted everywhere. From Twitter to Facebook, my newsfeed and timeline has been filled with everyone’s favorite quotable from her. Like everyone else, I definitely have my favorites. There are actually too many to list here. I came across this one a couple of days ago. I’m not sure I’d heard anyone mention it before.

It sounds great! I think I immediately re-tweeted, liked it and copied it to encourage myself later. It was just the thing I needed to keep me motivated that everything I wanted was mine. I only needed to ask. Whoot whoot!

I took another look at the quote though. When looking at it again, I saw it differently. I saw the work behind this quote that I didn’t see the first time *tire screech*. The thing is, I took this and ran with at first. It’s easy to just see the surface of it. We ask for what we want and just wait. Boom! That thing I asked for appears. Nice! But I couldn’t stop there. Oh no! I couldn’t let it be pretty and magical. I had to take it a step further. Ugh!

When I looked at it again, the quote had a different meaning. My guess is the the intent of this quote is to remind us to do the work.

This spoke to me so much as a mama! I have a million things I want to do and pursue. It seems like having babies only made that number multiply. This quote is a reminder to me. The life I want, the passion in my belly and the dream I can’t shake – they take work! <– {tweet this} Once I’ve done the work though, it’s as simple as making the request and it’s mine. It’s that whole idea of luck. It’s really preparation and opportunity meeting, right? Not exactly hocus pocus, but still so worth it!

Had you heard this quote before? What passion are you working on?

Negotiation : Toddler Style

April 29, 2014 by cam

My daughter is ready to grow up. She’s in a hurry to be a pre -schooler. Whenever I drop her brother off at school, she pulls out the chair at the table by the door and sits down and starts flipping through books. That’s only on the days that she doesn’t just run right in and attempt to join the class for circle time. Her little plan is working. She’s won the hearts of my son’s teachers. They can’t get enough of her. His classmates all know her by name and love to play with her after school. She fits right in with those four year old’s. She’s not even two yet.

Recently, I picked her brother up from school and she ran in the class like she loves to do. I was talking to the teacher and she ran to play with the toys. She immediately fell in love with a stroller they had. She’s wanted one for a while now. I meant to get her one for Christmas but, I totally forgot. When it was time to go, I asked her to put the stroller back and she took off running with it. She was blazing down the sidewalk with the stroller! I got her to get it back in the classroom and had to peel her little fingers off of it, one by one. She crumbled. I felt so bad because I know she loves strollers! She was so mad that she went to the teacher to be consoled – crying her eyes out. My son’s teacher saw just how much my baby girl wanted that stroller and cleaned it off and gave it to her.

She has been glued to that thing ever since. It’s the first thing she wants to play with in the morning and the last thing she plays with before she goes to bed. What can I say? She knows how to get what she wants. Need a little help getting what you want? Take these tips from my daughter.

1 -Ask for what you want

2 – Cozy up to the right people (tears may be required ;))

3 – Don’t go down without a fight

4 – Demand what you want

5 – Once you get it, ENJOY! – You’ve earned it!

Once again, I’ve learned way too much from my kids. They are great reminders for me about living life fully. What do you think of these negotiating tactics? Would this work to get you closer to what you want? Tell me in the comments!

And then I said “Why Not?”

April 22, 2014 by cam

It took becoming a mom for me to greet life with a “why not?”.

My son just does stuff. He thinks it and he does it. He is just completely open to life. The kid has never met a stranger (we’re working on that). He walks into a room full of kids and his response is “hey guys!”. He’s always open to new people and new experiences. I love that about him. I love that I have become more like him. Isn’t it funny that I became more like him? I admire his open approach to life. I know that it’s because everything is new to him. He’s only four and so much of life is a mystery to him. He is not afraid of the mystery though. Instead he welcomes it. Isn’t it awesome how kids make you see things differently?

I have to say that since becoming a mother, I have noticed that I’m far more open as well. Whether that means sharing my experiences or speaking up when opportunities are in front of me. I had one of those moments recently. There was a woman I saw on television. Her missions and goals directly lined up with mine. I saw an opportunity to reach out and I did.

In times past, I would have been to shy to reach out – even on line. The mama version of me has an attitude of “why not?” So, I found an email and reached out. It felt so good to hit “send” on that message. It was yet another reminder for me of my growth. Reaching out to her falls right in line with my mission to inspire and motivate moms to find and follow their passions. It felt right. It would be great if a connection is formed because of my willingness to reach out. Even if it leads to nothing at all, it’s a step for me. It doesn’t matter what happens from here. The success for me is in making the move, taking the step.

And that is how I’ll keep working toward making my dreams come true. Whether they be giant steps or baby steps – the thing is, keep moving! And to think all of this new found boldness started because of a little kid – mine.

How have your kids changed you? What have you said “why not” to lately?

Update 4/23/14 12:57pm PST: The woman I sent the email to responded! You’ll be hearing more about her next month! Excited!

Putting the Pieces Together – Guilt Free

April 15, 2014 by cam

There is a lot I want out of this life. A lot. As I work to put the pieces together, I sometimes give myself a hard time about what I’m able to do. Sure, being a mom of two kids and a wife to my honey makes things all kinds of challenging. The kids require and are totally entitled to my full attention. They’re young (4 and nearly 2) and love their mommy time! I find ways to balance my snuggles with them and my time on this laptop. It’s a dance. What I know though is if mama is happy, my babies will be happy. That keeps me going toward all the things that help my happy.

There are several things in the works but when I can’t get them done as fast as I would like, I tend to be really hard on myself. I’m learning to give myself a break. I can feel good about doing what I can do, when I can do it. It’s no secret that I can’t go after my dreams the same way I could when I was single. That doesn’t mean I can’t go after them though. Honestly, the single version of me had completely different dreams anyway. The single version of me was younger with more energy too! LOL!

I just have to go about my dreams and passions in a different way, at a different pace. I’m cool with that. To get things done, I make a small list for the day.When I say small, I’m talking one or two things to accomplish once the kids go to bed. Once I get those things done, I feel like I’ve been successful. If I do more than what’s on that list – cupcakes for everyone! Whoot whoot! I don’t overcrowd my list with so many things that I make my success seem impossible. I like a challenge, but I’m not a fan of self sabotage!. That’s not fair to me. I always have to be fair to me, right?

That’s how I carve out time for my dream building. How about you? Am I the only one guilty of being WAY too hard on myself?

You only THINK you can’t

April 8, 2014 by cam

What is it you think you CAN’T do? Is there some idea, some nagging thoughts you’ve been talking yourself out of? That thing that keeps coming back and keeps being put off… yeah, you should probably do something about that.

We all have our reasons for why we can’t do whatever it is we really want to do. It’s like the more we want it, the more reasons we have for why we can’t do it. Isn’t it crazy how that happens? I am definitely guilty of that. In the last few years I’ve changed that. I’ve been more about going for it! It’s the whole idea of knowing that all we really have is right here and right now so putting thing off for someday really doesn’t make sense. I had to learn this hard truth:

Can you say OUCH!?!?

Well, no matter your reason for talking yourself out of “it”. Whatever “it” is. Let these fun facts give you a nudge in a right direction. Know that what you want – is totally possible!

Beethoven’s music teacher once said of him, “As a composer, he is hopeless”.
Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team.
Walt Disney was fired from a newspaper because he “lacked imagination, and had no good ideas”.
Thomas Edison’s teacher told him he was too stupid to learn anything. Later, he tried 1,600 different materials before settling on carbon as the filament for the electric light bulb.

Seriously, anything is possible!