goals

Just Do It, Already! #GID challenge

December 2, 2014 by cam

When I was younger my mom noticed an issue with me. I would have mounds of stuff to do and I’d wait until the last possible moment to get things done. It drove her bananas. She’d always be on my case about procrastinating! Which, of course, drove me nuts. In my head, if something wasn’t due right away, I had time. And I’d take my time. The problem was I took ALL OF THE TIME and then tried to make things happen when there was NO time!

This lead to rush jobs, needless frustration and left me open to all kinds of mistakes because I was simply moving too fast. In some cases, I just missed the boat altogether. The only upside – I began to get really good and working under pressure. This totally helped me in my television career. Everything is needed ASAYesterday.

The other thing I’ve been guilty of is giving myself too many things to do. So then it’s nearly impossible to focus and get things done. But, I was “busy” so it didn’t look like procrastinating. I just looked overwhelmed. Any body else been guilty of this?

While I still thrive under a deadline, I try to manage my things better so that procrastination and I don’t remain on a first name basis. I don’t want to be his boo.

It has only be in the last few years that I have gotten myself together and stepped of of procrastination station. I tend to move on things right away. If I have a thought about something, I try to implement it at that next possible opportunity. I remember a co-worker pointing this out to me. She mentioned that she admired how I’d talk about something and the next thing she knew, I was doing it.

It wasn’t until that moment that I realized I had made HUGE progress on my anti-procrastination campaign. Yay me!

Not too long ago I posted one of my daily Mama Tips on my Facebook page. “What idea have you been sitting on? Make one small step toward it today.” A reader responded that she had done just that and moved on something that she’d wanted to make happen. Too many times we get overwhelmed with stuff we need to do + want to do and then we end up doing nothing. We say we’ll do it later and somehow later never comes. Procrastination is a beast, y’all! This got me to thinking, it will be January before we know it. We will all make resolutions, intentions + promises to ourselves. How about we got tackle this procrastination thing now so that we’ll actually make some of those resolutions, intentions + promises happen!

Join me on the FREE 5 day “Get Ish Done” challenge to kick “I’ll do it later” in the boo-tay and make some real progress on the things you want to do/need to do. You in? Just sign up below and I’ll hit your inbox with the goodness. It all starts Monday, December 8th!

Know someone who could use a (loving) kick in the butt? Share this post or just click here to tweet about the challenge!

You know my story. What’s your number one reason for not getting stuff done?

Never Too Late

November 4, 2014 by cam

My whole “mama motivator” moniker was started because I have encountered far too many moms who felt like it was too late to do certain things that might bring them some happiness. I talked too many moms who felt like everything about them had to hit the back burner because their name changed to mama. Simply put, my message is it’s not too late. It never is. Let this man be your inspiration…

It’s never to late for what, you ask? I have a small list. Feel free to add to it.

It’s Never Too Late…

to start over – were you working on something and life got in the way so you put it down. Now is a good time to pick it back up.

to chase your dreams – always wanted to write a book? How about starting the outline today?

to change your ways – fed up with your fitness. Go for a walk, a good one that gets your heart moving. All it takes is one step.

to be positive – what you focus on grows. If you focus on the sucky stuff, that’s all you’ll see. Try to look for the positive in every situation and you’ll start to notice the positive more than the negative – guaranteed.

to learn something new – always wanted to learn to paint. Take a class. Or break the ice by taking a paint and sip class. It’s fun and you’ll get your artist juices flowing.

to be inspired – inspiration really is everywhere. We just have to look for it. I’m most inspired by my kids. There’s something about the innocence they bring to everything that keeps me inspired.

Any thing you’d like to add? It’s never too late to…

I’m Being Watched…

October 14, 2014 by cam

I’m being watched. At all times, I’m being watched. Whether I like it or not, there are eyes on me and all that I do. I’m not always sure how I feel about that.

It’s not what you say, it’s what you do.

As a mom, I’m finding these words couldn’t be more true. My kids make me take a look at the good as well as the not so pretty stuff about me. It’s like they are tiny mirrors that show me my flaws while still seeing the good in me. It can be a challenge to be under that kind of microscope. I want them to see the best of me. I think it’s also important that they know that I’m a real person though, too. Did I mention that it’s a challenge? It is helping me to be a better person. For that, I’m thankful.

There have been a few times lately that it’s been so obvious that I’m being watched. The whole idea came right home recently with my son. He was asking me for an orange. He wanted to peel it himself. I handed it over. He was having a hard time breaking through the thick peel to get it started. He reluctantly handed it back to me – defeated. I peeled it and handed it back to him. As I was giving him the orange, I noticed he already had one – perfectly peeled. I asked him if he had peeled it himself. He proudly told me that he had. He said, “I learned from you. I watched you, Mommy!”

Recently, I’ve been getting back to my old fitness routine. I have been taking better care of myself and making my fitness a priority again. That includes me working out every morning. I have these thirty minute work outs with Jillian Michaels that has been bringing on the sweat.

My daughter has a project to do for those thirty minutes. I hand her some puzzles or play doh or she just plays with her toys. Of course, she can’t spend the WHOLE time doing that. She jumps in and works out with me too. It’s really fun to watch her get involved. It’s at that point that I like that I’m being watched. I like that she’s a witness to me taking care of myself. I’m thrilled that she’s getting to see fitness as a priority.

While working out one day, I was getting worn out with one of the moves. I decided to just half step my way through it. Baby girl wasn’t having that at all. She looked at me and said, “Mama, do like girl!” She called me out! Jillian was demanding high kicks and I just wasn’t getting high enough. I had to step my game up thanks to my little workout partner.

Lesson: Even when you think they aren’t looking, your kids are watching you. The other lesson is to never underestimate the determination of a child. My son and his persistence with the orange is proof of that.

These watchful eyes are what keep me moving. They keep me making progress toward my dreams. Through my daughter watching me work out she’s getting to see fitness as the norm. I love that both of my babies are seeing me pursuing my dreams as normal too. I want them to know that whatever they want is possible. If I can model that for them – even better!

What cool stuff do you think your kids are picking up by watching you?

Write The Vision

September 30, 2014 by cam

Are you the type of person who has to write things down to make sure you actually do them or remember them? *Raises Hand* That’s so me! I have to do lists all of the place. They are taking up lots o’ space in my phone and in my notebook planner. I have lists and sub-lists. I’ve gotten better. The lists used to be spread out on stray pieces of paper here and there.

Having a list is absolutely my favorite way to stay on track. It’s always nice to come back to a list and delete several things because I actually followed through! I give myself a pat on the back and a get it, mama shout and move on to the next thing.

One thing that I’ve tried recently is really working for me. For the first time, I have a vision board. I had heard about them for years. My intention had been to do one for a while now. I finally sat down earlier this year and made it happen. I went through the old magazines that I haven’t found time to read and started cutting. I went for anything that spoke to me. I included things that I wanted to see in my life or that I wanted to see more of in my life. I found quotes that said something to me. When I was done I had a heap of magazine clippings! I could have done a second vision board with the stuff I threw away. Here is what I came up with:

My board speaks to the growth I want to see in my business and my re-commitment to my fitness. It touches on the changes I want to see in our home, travel and my style. They are all represented on the board. While not everything is where I’d like it to be, I’ve seen serious progress. From business to fitness and our home there have been changes. Everything is moving in the right direction. My board isn’t even a year old. I will be paying attention to the progress I make as I get closer to the one year mark.

I have to say, there is something to be said for putting what you want out there. It’s a powerful thing to speak it and then watch it take shape. Having a vision board has been a really good thing for me. It’s not that I’m always focused on the board either. Every now and then I glance up at it. There were times that I’d shake my head at myself for not making progress on the things on that board. For a bit, I wasn’t make much of an effort. Having it in front of my face was a constant reminder to DO SOMETHING! So, I did.

I found my work out equipment and DVD’s and started working out again. I thought of the person I used to be when I was in better shape and started buying those foods again. I really do feel like I felt BEFORE having my son almost 5 years ago. Just making those changes in my life have been huge for me. I took time away on a weekend here and there to get some work done. I have been doing research and brainstorming and creating products for this business. I have been sharing my heart with anyone who will listen and the support has been overwhelming. I can’t say looking at that vision board everyday and seeing my goals had nothing to do with that. As I get to work on some of these other goals, I’ll let you know how things unfold. I’m really excited to see what’s next!

Have you done a vision board? What’s been your experience with it? If you haven’t done a vision board, share your ideas for checking off 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?

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. 🙂

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!

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?

Dusting off the To-Do List

March 25, 2014 by cam

Spring is FINALLY here! I know so many people have been looking forward to the warmer weather (I’m looking at you east coast). Here in L.A., it’s been Spring-like for a while but I’m still super excited about the change in seasons. Longer days, more time out enjoying the city with the family and the clothes! I’m a sucker for warm weather fashion. There’s something about lighter fabrics, strappy sandals and sundresses. That just may be my idea of heaven.

I see Spring as a bit of a fresh start. It like New Year 2.0. There’s all of this energy and excitement for what’s to come. From the anticipation of Summer to Spring blooms, it’s like we all find something to look forward to again. Even if those New Year’s resolutions are now collecting a bit of dust, Spring gives us the nod to sweep off the dust and start again. Personally, I think we’d all get more done and stick to our resolutions if the new year started in Spring or Summer anyway, right? The grey days of Winter can make it hard to stay committed to anything but comfort food. LOL!

For this faux New Year, I’m going to take the opportunity to finish a guide I’ve been writing. It’s all about taking care of the dreamer’s inside us as mother’s! I’ll keep you posted on that one! Do you make any fresh starts during Spring? How about taking a minute to make some promises to yourself. Let the warmer weather be your motivation to keep them!