About Me Archives - Mrs. Weber's Neighborhood

My Mother’s Day Promises

12 May posted by Mrs. Weber

After more than nine months of being strong while parenting two kids, I finally had a breakdown last Friday night. I usually can keep it together pretty good, but truth is, I’ve just felt extremely overwhelmed lately {apparently this is what happens when you want too many things to happen all at once and not enough hours in the day}.

My reasons seem trivial in retrospect, but it was just a tough night, and a tough week. Suffice to say, by Friday, I was toast and just needed to cry it out and get it out of my system. All I wanted was to have a ~~bottle~~ glass of wine and a conversation with my husband that didn’t revolve around kid duties.

Thankfully, my mother-in-law babysat on Sunday so we could go on a much-needed date for a few hours, and we came back to face parenthood feeling refreshed and ready to start the week again. This past week was much better, but as always, had the daily challenges that come with having a stubborn baby and active toddler.

If there’s anything I’ve learned during this crazy journey, it’s that parenting is a constant learning process and it’s HARD.

I am thankful for grandparents, neighbors and wonderful friends who help us get through, but some days, I just want to give the toddler junk food and let her watch an episode of Dora, or go for a drive so the baby passes out, and I have five glorious minutes to organize my thoughts.

Instead of a sappy Mother’s Day post, today I’m writing out my feelings of what I really want, and that’s for us parents to stick together more on this crazy parenthood journey. I will start by sharing my end of the bargain I promise to all of you out there so you don’t get overwhelmed like I do at times.

I promise…

…to offer to help strangers load their groceries while they put their kids in car seats.

…to understand when you tell me you haven’t showered in 3 days.

…to watch your kids if you want to exercise. I know it’s so hard to squeeze in, and find the energy, but believe me — you’ll feel much more sane after.

…to not judge you if you do/don’t co-sleep, cloth diaper, breastfeed, baby wear, circumcise or whatever else us moms attack each other about. I don’t walk in your shoes, and trust you know what’s best for you and your family.

…to watch understandingly as you bribe your children with candy, or rip open a box of something you haven’t paid for yet at the grocery store to calm a temper tantrum. {Been there too many times!}

…to speak-up on your behalf if I hear someone attacking your parenting {unless you’re doing something to blatantly hurt your kids}.

…to care for your kids if you need to lock yourself in the bathroom for 5 minutes so you can have a glass of wine or piece of chocolate.

…to run an errand for you if you are in need of an extra hand…or five.

…to offer to sweep for you when I see your child has thrown all his/her food on the floor. {Remember: the best moms have sticky floors, right?}

…to encourage you to get out. Alone. With girlfriends. And with your spouse.

…to hold your hand if you need to cry out of sheer frustration over not knowing how to be a mom. Believe me, I’ve been there too!

I hope you all have a wonderful Mother’s Day, and don’t forget to smile and help a fellow parents where/when you can. Small gestures can go a long way, and your offer to help — even if they don’t take advantage — could mean the world.

What small gestures would make parenthood easier for you?

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Filed Under: About Me

Our $200 Bathroom Makeover

4 May posted by Mrs. Weber

We were SO lucky when we moved last year. One of our big things with moving to a new house was that we didn’t want to do a lot of work since we had a baby on the way and knew life was going to be chaotic for, well, a LONG time.

But, being the woman I am who constantly likes change, there are a few spots in our home I’ve been dying to work on.

The big one being our master bedroom and bathroom. They truly were fine the way they were. They just weren’t me, ya know? So, I set out to improve them on a limited budget.

First up: Our bathroom. We were able to cash in our credit card rewards so it didn’t even touch our monthly budget.

Here’s the cost breakdown of our $200 bathroom makeover:

Rustoleum Cabinet Transformations kit {in espresso} — nabbed while on sale on Amazon for $45
2 large mirrors from HomeGoods – $80
1 can of Valspar paint/primer in one {in Ice Rink Blue} – $29
Knobs and handles {the ones I liked most were the cheapest!} – approx $10
New outlet and light switch plate covers – approx $20
New toothbrush holder and canister from HomeGoods – $14

Note: We already had the rug, towels and were able to repurpose decor we had.

Want to see the change?

It’s hard to get the perfect shot since it’s a long skinny room, but here’s what we started out with:

And here’s what we’ve done to modernize it a bit:

See? You can do a room make-over on a budget. And it’s worth every penny because now I feel like I am at the spa when I shower

With that said, the cabinet kit was a TON of work. If we didn’t have kids, I wouldn’t have though twice about it, but it took me ALL weekend to do, and obviously the hubby couldn’t help since he was taking care of the girls. Next time, I will “hire” a grandma to watch the kiddos so he can help!

Now I’m working on our bedroom. It has been a step-by-step process. I sold our dressers on Craigslist and purchased some “new” dressers. I say “new” because they are very very old, actually {early 1900′s}, but so charming. They are in horrible condition, so I have been working for days on sanding them and prepping them to paint. Hopefully it all turns out like my vision!

Stay tuned for the results…

What small, budget-friendly changes have you made in your home that have made a big difference?

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Filed Under: About Me

Happy Day to Me! Today It’s 2 Years of Blogging

20 Apr posted by Mrs. Weber

I am so excited that today is my official two-year blogging anniversary.

During the past year, I’ve figured out why I love blogging so much: Because it combines my passion for writing with my constant desire to learn and try new things.

I have enjoyed working with so many companies to help build buzz, and amazingly have gotten paid {monetarily and with amazing experiences} to do things I love to do. Can’t complain about that, right?!

With that said, blogging does have its challenges. I want to write more, but there’s limited time in my day. It kills me when I have a post in my head, but no time to write it down. Blogging is waaaaay more time consuming than people think. As a hobby that *could* pull me away from my kids, I have finally started to master the balance. {I am writing this as I nurse Karina to sleep. Multitasking is key!}

I wouldn’t have this at all if it wasn’t for a super supportive husband, kids, and of course, YOU! Thank you for making the past two years the happiest of my life

Now, time to logoff and celebrate the real reason blogging is amazing — making memories I can later write about

Enjoy your weekend!

Comments are closed. Feel free to wish me a happy blogiversary at my Facebook page instead

Filed Under: About Me

This is 2½ {Kinley Update}

15 Apr posted by Mrs. Weber

I tiptoe into your room and gently sit on your bed. It’s time to start another day, but you’d rather sleep. I gently rub your back and whisper “wake up, sleepyhead.” You rub your eyes with your half painted finger nails and grab your blankie, bringing it up to your face. It’s evident you don’t want to get up yet.

You insist that I dress you. Some days you let me pick out your clothes, but ultimately, I let you have the final decision. It’s not a battle worth fighting over with a toddler. Sometimes I roll my eyes at your interesting fashion sense, but I respect that you know what you like…even if it means a tank top in the middle of winter, or PJ’s paired with princess gear.

I carry you down the stairs even though you are perfectly capable of doing it yourself, and I carefully balance you, with your sister resting on the other hip.

I set you down at the bottom of the stairs and off you go — running full-speed into the kitchen, ready to start your day. I flick on PBS while I make you breakfast. I give you milk in a sippy, hand you your gummy vitamin, and chop up some fruit and toast for you to eat.

After breakfast, we play. Sometimes it’s puzzles or shapes, sometimes it’s building towers with your blocks. Recently, it involves imaginative play, and it cracks me up when you bring me a pile of letters and tell me you’ve baked me cookies. I am loving this stage of learning to play pretend.

We usually have to stop at least once because your world revolves around snacking most days, and you usually want a graham cracker, string cheese, or applesauce.

After play time, it’s lunch. Your absolute favorite is peanut butter and jelly. You are the best sidekick and love as I dance and sing “Peanut, peanut butter” {and then you chime in} “and JELLY!” Singing and dancing with you has become our favorite thing together. “Hakuma Matata!” is one of your recent favorites, as well as singing “Ariel.”

I laugh at you often and say “Oh, toddlers” when you are silly. You immediately respond “I not a toddler, I Kinley!” When I am not listening when you call out “mama,” you start calling “Waaauuren” {Lauren}. Sassy little thing. It’s amazing what a sponge you are now, and you constantly amaze us with your memory.

After lunch, we usually settle in the family room for some low-key time leading up to naps. We usually read books, which you’ve haphazardly chosen from the library, or we sing again. You love making your sister laugh with the Itsy Bitsy Spider or Wheels on the Bus. I chase you around and you beg to play hide n’ seek, and begin counting to 10 slowly, hiding your eyes.

After a time, we gather your prized possessions — blankie and at least one stuffed animal {generally baby bear, a small pink bear a friend gave you when you were born} — and we make the trek back upstairs to your room. Your toddler bed is a sea of stuffed animals, leaving little room for you to rest.

You beg for me to rock you, so I do. I soak in the scent of your hair, and together we sing your favorite — “Lullaby,” which most others may know as Somewhere Over The Rainbow, and pray about how blessed we are and the people we are thankful for. You name all of your grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends, and it warms my heart knowing how you already understand the significance of all the special people in our lives.

I generally need to come in and wake you up from your nap. I love watching you look so peaceful with your blankie wrapped gently around your finger, next to your nose. I hold you on my lap until your ready to wiggle down and run off. Sometimes it’s just moments, sometimes minutes. When Karina comes in with me, you light up and start smiling at her right away. You are a great big sister!

We make our way downstairs yet again, and you play independently as we think about our next meal of the day. These days you love to cook, and pull a chair next to the counter and start digging in the drawers until you find a spoon of yours so you can help stir whatever I am making.

Dinner is a challenge, but we make it through. Post-dinner is playtime with daddy before settling into baths and books for the rest of the evening. Bedtime is 8:30 p.m., but you usually sit up in your bed “reading” by your nightlight for a good hour before getting back in your bed and falling asleep.

2½ year stats:

36″ {officially 3 feet tall!}

28 pounds, 3.2 oz.

Likes: ”Polka dot” blankie, stuffed “friends,” treats {marshmallows, yogurt, cookies, ice cream}, painting your nails, wearing crowns, playing pretend, being outside and getting dirty, bathtime with your sister, reading, helping mama/daddy in the kitchen, watching movies with popcorn, grocery shopping, and visiting the library.

Dislikes: Sitting on the potty, being forced into anything, raw veggies {unless you have ranch to dip them in}, when mama washes your blankie, getting your nails clipped, strangers who get in your face, and being stuck in the house for long periods of time.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As complicated as toddlers can be, I do love this phase since she is learning SO much. It’s amazing what she soaks up now! What did/do you like about age 2?

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Filed Under: About Me, Photo Fun

Budgeting is Sexy.

13 Mar posted by Mrs. Weber

Money

Free image from stock.xchng

Since meeting my husband more than 8 years ago, there are a few things I’ve become more passionate about. For starters, politics. Second, Frank’s Red Hot sauce. He’s an addict. I never thought I’d dig the stuff, but now I crave it.

But the #1 thing my hubby has taught me? Budgeting is SEXY.

Seriously.

Prior to me deciding to stay home, we never really tracked our expenses. What was the point? We both made good money and it didn’t matter how we paid for things. We paid our credit card off each month and consulted each other before purchasing any larger ticket items.

Today, it’s a different tune. Every single penny matters for us. Saving during a month could mean a project on our house, or maybe even a vacation one day. If you don’t already know, I am married to an accountant. He has intricate spreadsheets on our money that may as well be rocket science to me.

When I started staying home, I had no choice but to learn more about where our money was going. We looked at our new income and figured out how we could live within our means, and still save for retirement. I plan on going back to work full-time in the years ahead, but we decided not to include that possibility, with all my future work projected as our fun money.

How do you do this? Work backwards. We decided we’d work until 65. Assuming we will not have social security or pensions, we determined how much we will need to live on if we make it to our 90′s. Let me just say that we need to save MILLIONS with inflation calculated. It sounds like SO much, but think: That money could potentially need to be spread across 40+/- years. It’s actually quite overwhelming to think about.

I’ve heard people say you don’t need to save until you are in your 40′s. Are you crazy?! When we are in our 40′s, our kids will be driving and going to college…Those factors make saving a tad more difficult. The time to save is in your 20′s and 30′s, before kids are grown and cost way more than they do as babies.

I’m in control of our monthly budget, which has been eye-opening. We spend a lot of money. Lately, I don’t always use coupons like I should, and we like to eat out. Couple that with the fact that the more healthy groceries we buy are expensive, and we go through a lot of dollars.

Here’s for my transparency: Our budget is $1,200 a month. This amount doesn’t include our mortgage or most of our bills. It sounds like a lot, right? Well, it’s not. Not for us hipsters who like to do cool things and eat out a lot. We go through this money so fast it’s ridiculous. Shoot, we have fairly fuel-efficient cars and our gas costs alone are usually between $300-$400. Coupled with at least $500 in groceries most months, and most of the budget is spent, leaving little left for fun, or even a new pair of jeans. {For the record, I use a plain old Excel spreadsheet to track everything.}

That’s where I come in to save the day. I can only overspend on that initial $1,200 where I can make up the cost. I get creative most months, but thankfully, my part-time job and occasional blog gigs make up the difference. I am thankful each month because these days, we are rarely on budget, and I hate digging into the money we specifically set aside for saving, or even worse, using money we try to set aside for our children’s educational savings plans.

Sounds stressful? Well, it’s not. I actually feel relieved knowing where each and every penny we have goes. It’s empowering. It’s enlightening. And, sure, it’s even sexy.

If you need a swift kick in the budgeting butt, I highly suggest tuning in to The Suze Orman Show. Along with my number nerd hubby, she has helped me to truly understand the need for saving moula!

So, dish — do you have a monthly budget? If not, I highly encourage you to track it for a few months! You’ll be amazed at where your money goes.

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Filed Under: About Me, Tips

When Parents Divorce

26 Feb posted by Mrs. Weber

Today I am sharing a difficult part of my life. This is the part of blogging I love best. Writing is therapeutic for me, and I know far too many people who relate to the situation written below. Hugs to you all.

My husband and I’s wedding rings on our big day in 2008

It was around this time in 2009 when I heard news that would change my life.

I was in my hometown without the hubby and we had just wrapped up a family dinner. My mom seemed anxious and kept saying things like “Do you want to go get ice cream? What about a coffee?” I explained I really wanted to get my hour drive back home over with.

Then she shot me a stare, and through gritted teeth said “Lauren, I really need to speak with you.”

My insides crumbled. Something was really wrong. My heart raced as I drove a mile up the road to a local coffee place and put the car in park.

“What’s going on?” I asked. I was nervous at this point. My mind raced to the skin cancer my mom had the year before. Had it come back to other parts of her body?

“It’s your dad,” she began. My thoughts immediately turned to his diabetes, however, I was in the wrong direction completely. “He hasn’t been behaving himself.”

“What do you mean?” I asked wearily, knowing full well what that meant.

In the calmest manner, she revealed to me how they had been struggling behind closed doors for the past three years with another woman – a woman from his past he had re-connected with online. There were hidden cell phones. Mysterious calls late into the night. And lies upon lies from my dad.

The fall prior, my parents had celebrated their 40^th wedding anniversary. As a newlywed, I was proud to say my parents were still together. My mom cried especially hard when we gave her the anniversary present we all chipped in for – a weekend at a Bed & Breakfast. Now I understood why. They were trying to work things out.

Upon hearing the news, I didn’t really know how to react, so out came the tears. I just kept asking over and over, “Why didn’t you tell me?” I didn’t understand at the time that she had been protecting us kids until they figured out if they were going to work it out {now, as a parent, I completely understand}.

Initially, I was furious at my dad. I was so incredibly embarrassed to tell my friends. I had a hard time focusing at work, and shed a lot of tears before falling asleep. But mostly, I was just crushed because of the burden my mom had been carrying — completely alone — for so long.

Since that conversation, much has happened. They tried marriage counseling, and my mom gave him far more chances than he ever deserved. When he continued to lie and break her spirit time and again, she knew it was time to let go. My brothers and I supported her decision to separate, and eventually divorce, 100 percent.

We still celebrate holidays as a family, but it’s not the same, and I’m already dreading the day when my girls ask me why grandma and grandpa live in different houses. I am very thankful though, that both my mom and dad have made their peace and seem to be happy living separate lives. Maybe it was just not meant to be, huh?

When you hear your parents are separating, even when you’re old enough to understand the reasons behind it, it shakes you to the core. When I first heard the news, I had nightmares almost every night of my husband leaving me for another woman. I know this is far from reality, but my subconscious must have worried that it could happen.

Dad: I will always be angry with you for hurting mom and never apologizing, but I have forgiven you. Just know I will never forget.

Has divorce affected your life? How did it change you?

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Filed Under: About Me

Proud To Be Blogging with #Shaklee180

22 Feb posted by Mrs. Weber

As I briefly mentioned last week, I am going to be blogging my journey to better health with Shaklee180™ and I am so excited!

Out of nearly 500 bloggers, 90 women across the nation were chosen to track their journey to better health. In exchange for my posts {including video – eek!}, I will be receiving a 6-month supply of Shaklee products. I’ve heard great things, so I can’t wait to try and report back to you all.

Behind the scenes, I will be chatting with the other women in a support group of sorts to stay motivated and to keep learning about how we can better our bodies.

I’ve come a long way during the past 6 months with running, cutting out pop {almost 100%, minus a few special occasions}, eating more fruits and veggies and learning more about the foods I consume and feed my family. But I still have a long way to go.

With the help of this program, I am hoping to lose another 15 pounds so I can finally get the overweight label out of my life for good.

However, losing weight isn’t my only goal. This is about setting a solid example for my girls and creating a healthier lifestyle I can be proud of, too.

On the trivial end, I want to look hotter for my 5-year wedding anniversary than I did for my wedding, when I was at nearly my peak weight {of course my weight numbers have gone up and down through having two kiddos as well}.

I will have to revisit this photo, put on my dress and pose accordingly for ya’ll when June 14 comes around

One of the happiest days of my life, but not a fan of the horrible shape I was in. Ready for change!

Cheers to more new beginnings in 2013!

How do you all stay motivated when it comes to getting fit?

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post as part of the Shaklee Corporation blogger program. I have received free products, online support and incentives for participating. My opinions are my own. People following the weight-loss portion of the Shaklee 180™ Program can expect to lose 1-2 pounds per week.