A few of my Favorite things...Well Hair products..

Ya know when you go to get your hair done and she puts all these amazing products in your hair! You have volume you've never seen before, and your locks just look like they can dance! You walk out feeling like you can step into the next pantene pro-v commercial. The only down side is these products are REDIC- expensive!! And you just can't get your self to spend $30 on that little tube of frizz defuser or volumizer....
Well I finally found a few products that work AMAZING and are from the local drug store! My first and most obsessed lately....

The got2b Glued Volumizing powder.. Man I love this stuff!! I sprinkle a little in my roots and rub in with my fingers and my hair practically jumps off my head! It adds a ton of volume and for ones who have thinner hair, it makes it look a world thicker! Plus, it's only $6.99 at any pharmacy, walmart, target, etc! I swear by it!!

Another sweet product I discovered...

The Mega Whip Marshmallow Hair Texturizer! This stuff is unbelievable!! It's around $12.99 at any of those same stores I mentioned, but a little goes a LONG way!! This stuff is great for when your hair feels too "clean" or soft to style it. It adds texture to give it a little oomph! I like to curl my hair put a little in my fingers and run through the curls! It keeps the curl from going flat, and also adds some kind of wonderful! 

For those of you not familiar with Teasing.. I'll give you a little run down. 

This little guy is pretty cool! They can run anywhere from $3-$15 buckers! Honestly, I get the cheap ones and they work just fine for me! Teasing is to add again my favorite word, Volume to your hair but also lifts and gives your hair that A-lister look ;) Its a must have for a fun night out, date, work,anything! You start at your roots and lift pieces of your hair and brush downward underneath giving your hair a "Teasing effect" , flip the piece back down and softly comb over to smooth over.. There are also a TON of teasing tutorials on youtube and may sound difficult but is easy peasy! This lifts the roots so that if you were to straighten or curl, it gives the look you just walked out of the hair dressers! 
So the Before and After:

with these products:

A night out with my hair did:

I am no hair professional and don't claim to be one, but I do know a good deal when I see one! These products are my fav so far!! I'd love to hear any little secret hair tips you guys have! Have a blessed day all :)

Carry On

This is very true...
Life has a way at peeling away at our layers sometimes! I had been going through a little rough patch a few weeks ago. Some struggles and stress were packing on.. And my beautiful sister sent me this lovely little man orange! I could not help but laugh and as simple as it is, very true! 

I noticed when you focus less on what you can't control and focus on what you can change, you gain self-motivation, a self-control. Saying, "Im not gonna worry today, Im just gonna do!" It does help, cause when you speak something out of your mouth it comes out and goes right into your ears! You can allow that to be well with your soul. 

These past couple years have not been the easiest, but I want that to make me stronger, not weaker! I want to say, I made it through that, I can make it through anything! Everyone loves the under-dog story.. the one where he's being brought down, discouraged, hurt, and in the end he is a conquer! Thats why we love those singing competitions, its everyday people who don't have much going after their dreams! We are wired to succeed, its figuring it out that gets to us. Instead of focusing on what we don't have, it's being thankful for what we do have! 

When we get face planted in the mud, we gotta pick our self up, fix our hair, brush our shoulders off and keep going! Letting the rain wash away the dirt for a new sunshine to warm our souls! Sometimes I get carried away with this stuff and maybe get a lithe to insightful, but its truth! And to be honest, even though I "preach" it I do still fall short of this positive way of life sometimes (ask my family) lol! Really  though, we are meant for so much more than to sell ourselves short! We can be find hope in the hopeless, strength in our weak moments... We just gotta find it deep with in ourselves and keep going, Keep carrying on! Have a Blessed weekend Friends! 

Doing something out of the ordinary

So I did something a little different this morning, something unexpected... 
I had different plans this morning with not having my son for the day. But with being sick this past week I decided to sleep in wake up grab my books & computer and go take a drive to the city market over in Tosa. a place I haven't been in a while. As I was standing in line looking for the menu that I remembered used to be on the wall, there was no menu! So I asked the woman standing at the register with not a very cheery face on looking like she could smack at me at any moment, "Excuse mam, where is the menu." She just pointed behind me, no smile no kindness, nothing. As I decided what to order I started to tell her what I was gonna have.  She didn't seem happy at all, and she told me the table Id be sitting at when normally you get to pick your table. I asked for wifi and literally as if I had asked her to hand me over all her money!Everything about this woman was not pleasant.

So I go to sit down, and thoughts start coming to my head "wow, that was rude, didn't she ever hear of a game face at work?" and so on! As I sat at my table and caught her in the corner of my eye cleaning tables, a flood of sympathy and love came over me. *NOTE* this does not happen with me often, especially when a person is not being very nice, I tend to gain opinion/judgement pretty quick out of anger...ok so anyways, I'm looking at this woman and my bad thoughts start turning into "Well maybe she's not very pleasant cause she's not very happy, maybe something is going on in her life where all around she just doesn't enjoy life right now, maybe she is hurting, or feels stuck or alone"... So now Im sitting here in this cafe going through a battle with my self and thoughts. So then I think well theres nothing I can do for you, Ill just say a prayer... That should help! 

 And yes, Prayer is a wonderful gift in my opinion, you can do for someone. But this situation got a little heavy on my heart..which isn't usual for me. Normally in our daily lives when we think of going out of our way for someone or doing something nice were thinking of loved ones, our close friends,our kids, etc. Not a complete stranger who on top of it, wasn't a very joyous person... So Im looking at her and feel like a prayer is nice, but then I remembered there were times where I was out shopping or even working, didn't want to smile, felt alone, sad, and Im sure if a complete random act of kindness was taken it would of turned my frown upside down for at least a moment or have been a little reminder that Im not alone, someone cares. 

So whats the first things that pops in my head to do for this grumpy stranger? Flowers.... Yep! I instantly thought of my bringing this lady flowers in front of all these people and her getting offended and swapping them over my head! I thought I cannot do this. This is so off the wall. and what if she is just fine, and looking angered is her look! No, no Im not doing this. well I couldn't deny that I needed to do it. So then I said well seeing how Im not familiar with this side of town, I will go get flowers if ONLY there is a store nearby. I step outside and there is a sendiks grocery store flat in front of my nose pretty much! Im standing in the cold parking lot, holding my books and computer and all I say is "Im really doing this"

I go in and find 3 gorgeous bouquets of fall colors sitting there immediately. For a good deal as well! Walk out go back across the street walk in and find this lady slicing some cake... All I can say is "Excuse me Miss, Please do not take this the wrong way, but I felt you could enjoy some flowers today and just want to wish you a happy day!" That woman looked like someone gave her a million dollars and all she could say was "for me, for me?" The other employees of the cafe started cheering and she said Thankyou so much! I didn't need to hear anything else, I didn't need to know what why or any other reason. I just knew in my heart I needed to do this. So I walked out right away and went on with my day. 

Sometimes we look for the worst in people right off the bat without seeing our own self or going beyond their attitude. Maybe I was completely off and nothing could be wrong for that lady, but all I know is her hidden smile that jumped out and maybe it helping her to smile a little more was well worth it all! When you step out and do something different, you feel good. Not that you need "praise" or anything for it, it's knowing you acknowledged something and took action, going beyond yourself! Your not always gonna want to do it, because you instantly think how ridiculous it may be, but thats usually when your doing something unforgettable and where your heart is in it not your head! 

Thankful~ For my love!

I have been thinking lately, how fast our little ones grow up! It's crazy!! 

I remember I would constantly try to teach Jack new words to learn and now all he does is run around rambling on and on! I love it. But I'm trying not to blink!

He loved looking at his baby book and hearing about his arrival into the world. I love showing him these kinds of things.. I started writing him a letter. Telling him all about how much I love him and can't wait to see the man he grows up to be. Telling him where I worry and times he has made me laugh in the past 3 years! 

This little boy can drive me crazy at times, but my heart melts knowing he is my little man! 

Sometimes I get in a rut being on my own and having a kid so early life or saying what more I could of given him if things were different. But I believe with all my heart he was given to me for a reason! He makes me want to be better everyday and for that I am thankful! Im grateful I have a little face to say "Good mooooorning mama" everyday, and that constantly gives me something to smile about! 

Don't let the poop get ya!

I'm not gonna lie, there are times when my heart hurts so bad and I can barely breathe that I just want to give up on everything. Find a whole lay in it and roll a rock over it. There are things that happen in my life I don't quite understand and sometimes wonder why. There are times when I feel beyond a lone, that I couldn't even begin to share with someone where I'm really at cause I'd feel like they couldn't understand if they tried. And its easy to feel alone and look at everyone around you and say well they have this or this person has that kind of a life... and still, I have my days where i struggle or just flat out need to cry! For me, thats when I need to pray. Just give it all to God, and know I'm not alone! Everytime someone steps on you they are just another trial you over came to add to your story of triumph! You can get down on yourself and say "man, everyone else is doing something with their life and going places, what am I doing?" I've been there as well! My sister and I like to call bad days, "poop between your eyes" kinda days. Who wants poop between their eyes let alone on their face? No one! Who enjoys or finds clarity in a bad day? No one! But thats why I believe there is someone greater than all of us to help us, who knows exactly what we need and when we need it. Never late, never early but always on time! He gives us people in our life to encourage us... it's not for nothing..it really is to help us grow and gain strength through the storm. When the storm gets rough we gotta learn to dance in the rain! Thats right! Go get your dancing shoes on...

Ever notice how when you start to think positive, and you get all motivated, other people are negative, almost like they're spitting on your great new and improved attitude. All that means is, you must be doing something right! Being different, staying focused, sometimes others don't want to see you better off than what they're in and that can have an effect on your mood. But ya gotta keep head whooo *Bursts out singing the happy song**.. anyways, not letting others who are looking up at you on your high cloud of "bliss" have you come tumbling down to their sorrows. Instead be stronger, be encouraging.. Im trying to do this every day, even when the poop comes flying my way. I duck, I jump, I do what I have to to get out of the way of the poop! Have a blessed week my lovelies! Your beautiful, strong, and there is NO one like you!! 

Recipe Swaps!

Happy Monday Friends! 
I'm always looking for all sorts of recipes! My mother had 7 kids, so growing up she was always in the kitchen cooking up a storm. A lot of good memories as a kid are remembered with some great aroma floating around in the house! So I grew to LOVE cooking/baking! Now being a mom, I can only hope to give my little guy the same great memories! 

We can share anything from as easy to salads, quick little lunches for the kiddos, to amazing dinners! I love to play around and see what I come up with when it comes to salads....

Being a mom, and not always having a ton of time and needing energy, I love having a salad! Try to have one everyday. This salad was pretty amazing, I sautéed some frozen cooked shrimp (only takes minutes) with a little olive oil, lemon pepper, and already chopped garlic. I added some steamed asparagus, avocados, tomatoes, sweet corn from the can, and organic lettuce! It literally took under 10 minutes to make! If I'm feeling extra healthy I make my own dressing. All it includes is olive oil, Balsamic Vinegar, and a little lemon juice. Pretty Good!!

This one is a BBQ chicken salad. I had left over chicken from the night before and I heated in a pan with some bbq sauce. Added some sweet corn, black beans, a little colby jack cheese, tomatoes, croutons, and organic salad mix. I always like to mix a little honey mustard with light ranch dressing to go with the bbq chicken! These salads are awesome filling meals for moms always running around for the kiddos! Heck they're great for anyone who enjoys a great salad! 

I can't wait to get into pastas, desserts, etc! What are some of your recipes!?! 

When Ms. Cleaver Loses It

When we think of motherhood we strive to be....

The well rounded, put together, sane mother. With all the great advice and all the right choices made! Up at the crack of dawn with breakfast ready for our ducklings and sending our husband off to work with a nice lunch and a kiss wishing a swell day...

In reality....

A lot of days, this is what we experience... Whether it's cause our children are not listening, there is not that husband to make lunch for, overwhelmed by house work, feel undervalued, the list can go on and on! Sometimes we need to just stop what were doing in the middle of the chaos find the nearest closet and a box of dove chocolates.. sit, indulge, and refuel! Hey, whatever will help right! 
No, but really, It's taking one day at a time! Your a better mom when you don't try to be super mom. At least thats what Im finding out. I dealt (and still do sometimes) with self guilt as a mom. Sometimes for being a single parent or for not always having the energy to play for hours with Jack. You feel bad or start to compare yourself to other parents. You notice something your lacking in through other peoples doings. When no one parent is perfect. If your showing your kids unconditional love, being there for them, and open to learning each day that is giving your kids the best. No one just has a baby and knows exactly how to handle or react to every little sleepless moment. We all call our mothers or friends who've already been down this road. Its learning, day by day by day by day.... experience! It' the beauty of being a parent. For every hard moment comes triple the "I love you mama/dada", the snuggles, etc! 
Yesterday, we were driving in the car, came to a stop sign, Jack goes "Mama"? I say, "Yes, baby love"? "Your a good mama, and pretty too"... In that moment every hard, sleepless, want to pull my hair out of my head situation, went out the door and it topped any compliment I have ever been given in my life. To know I'm not a perfect mom and that things aren't always easy and I have my meltdowns... At 3 years old he acknowledging my trying and my love for him. That's all I can ask for! Thats all I can do, is give him my unconditional love and very best every single day! Thats being a good parent not defining myself by other peoples standards but knowing what I give is my all and best and thats the best! 

Starting the morning/week off with a healthy kick

Hello Friends~
As I was kindly woken up by a little butt sitting on my face and my personal alarm saying "moooorning Mama" I rubbed my eyes looked at the clock and at no shock it was quarter to 7. As Jack and I did our daily morning tasks, brushing our teethers, washing up, and making breakfast for little man. I know breakfast is the most important time of the day, but that early I never want to eat right away. So I've been trying to juice every morning. Juicing is AWSOME!! If you don't have a juicer I highly suggest you save up for one/ invest for one! The only catch is the clean up of the juicer. Totally worth the nutrients and energy you gain though! 

I have tried so many different kinds of juices.. Its awesome to add ginger for a little kick start, berries for antioxidants, apples for fiber, oranges for vitamin c, and pretty much any kind of fruit or vegetable. 

DON'T let the color fool you! No matter how gross it looks, its very delicious. You normally taste the fruits over the veggies anyway. The great thing about Juicing is your getting all the essential nutrients you need in the cup. If you make a habit of it everyday your gonna make a world of a difference in just your energy levels alone! 

So the juicer was my 7 a.m. wake up boost... Now that 10 a.m has rolled around a little protein was needed! What more than a Avocado and Tomato omelette?

I only used one egg seeing how I had already had my juicer! Mixed in a little salt, pepper, and basil. Added some sliced tomatoes and a little parmesan cheese in the middle, and topped with some avocado. This is a great breakfast to start the day! Very simple and tasty! 
Ever since I had my son, I have tried to make my diet more on the healthy side. Don't get me wrong, the woman in our family do not hold back the recipes that indulge in butter,sugar,etc. And skin and bones does not nor will ever follow after my name in a sentence ha! But I do try and keep it healthy and simple everyday. If were always making eating healthy complicated and technical, we will start to resent it and not enjoy it as much. It can be light and easy and you can feel good that your taking care of your outward man! Happy Monday Friends :)

Seeing Past your flaws

When I tell you your gifted and amazing do you yourself believe that? We create a mindset where our mistakes have made dents in our lives, or set us back. We trip on our mistakes and sometimes beat ourselves up over it. But without attempt and failure we could lose the true gravity of success and the appreciation of it. The greatest men and women remembered got to where they were by attempting, by failing, trying again and showing true commitment to their destiny. Even the greatest of great have fallen and risen above their highest expectation. Why? Cause they were persistent. They did not let falling bring them down to the point of not getting back up. They felt their tears, sweat, and pain even stronger. They tasted their goals even sweeter and pursued even deeper. My point is. When we allow our mind to tell us we "can't" or "won't" succeed in whatever it is were set out to do. We our bringing the value of life down to where everything goes with that. Our happiness, our motivation, the way we see things. We're giving ourself limits, when life should be lived with no true "finish line" or limit. Where there are constant goals pushing us on the daily to be, do, and strive more! We were made for greatness. Even being young, a waitress, a sinlge mom, I am seeing myself more for than what I have valued myself for in the past. Im giving myself that gift so I can be a gift to others. Thats the beauty of choice and the way we choose to see the life given to us. The mind is a beautiful, remarkable thing. When we allow our mind to believe in something greater than just ourself, we are opening doors of opportunity higher than any expectation we could see on our own. Allowing other people to help with our dreams and goals is building off one another. It's expanding our opportunities to get where we want to go and having even greater doors open due to that help! So believe you are great, you are gifted! Here's a little dare: This week, try to step out of your daily routine. Even if its something small. Step out and do something you always appreciate from a far and stop saying I gotta do that soon.. Make the time and do it! Have a Blessed week Friends!! 

Meet my little man

Hi Guys...

Here's a little more info on this mama! 

My name is Sarah, I am 22 and Love God with my whole heart! At a young age I feel like I have already been through so much (Who don't feel like that these days). I am learning more and more each day about life in general and can't help but be fascinated, awed, and sometimes just disgusted! I want to start taking more risks and learning to not always think so much and do what my heart is telling me is right... Now onto the good stuff ;)

This is the love of my life...

His name is Jackson Parker (Jack). He was not a planned baby, as most 19 year old pregnancies are not. Having him was the hardest time in my life, and I wouldn't trade a second of it for the unconditional love and joy I have been given through him. He reminds me daily what life is all about and brings me back to simplicity!

He is wild, loves to slay imaginary dragons on the daily, and can make me laugh when I want to cry. He's favorite treat is the "Black Treat" which is anything chocolate. which he never lets me forget asking ten times a day! When I went through my struggles with having him so young, I didn't understand why. I thought I could handle anything and once he finally came into this world, I noticed my "tough cookie" attitude was starting to chip away. He was given to me at the perfect time and I believe having him has changed me for the better. I don't condone teen pregnancy by any means. TRUST ME (Ill save that for another post) But with all the sacrifice, tears, and hard work, my son has given me a strength and a beautiful out look on life. 

Children are a true gift from God! I never understood why my mother had 7 kids and just gave her entire life up to take care of her home and family. Being the selfish teenager I was and seeing what my mother gave and did, I always said "No way am I having kids or at least not till I'm 30. I'm gonna travel the world and fly by the seat of my pants". Don't' get me wrong, I admire all the great travelers out their and they're beautiful experiences. But there is a certain beauty in being a parent that cannot be described at it's best. Its truly remarkable and I'm honored to be called mama...

When does "Im gonna do that" turn into "Ive done that"

We always see things that catch our eye, and we find ourselves saying "Im gonna do that one day" "Im gonna own that one day" or "Im gonna become this". When does "gonna" become "done" or do we get caught up in the fantasy of idle thoughts. There are two forms of thought processes, the Idle thoughts that are a fantasy, a form of entertainment we use to day dream just like watching a movie would do for us. Then there is the determined thoughts. The ones that get us to "mental map" our dreams, goals, ideas, etc. I strongly believe the point Jesse Duplantis made in his book, "The Everyday Visionary", that we are given passions and gifts for a reason. Every single one of us was given ideas to use and to put forth into the world around us. Some platforms are bigger than others, that does not mean they are greater. We all carry a piece to the puzzle that creates the picture of the meaning of life. whether your  piece is bigger or smaller, the picture is not complete with out that very piece. I can't help but think of this due to the people I have met and how little they have thought of their very own lives (including myself at one point), how much they under estimate themselves. Whether its the thoughts "Well I had my chance at this age and now I'm just too old", or "I can never finish what I start, I'm just too busy", "Im not gifted like this person or that person".. These are all things that are fair enough to say, but is it fair enough to allow ourselves to sell ourself that short? Why is it we can't start to differentiate those Idle thoughts with the determined thoughts. Create a mental map of ideas and passions. Find it in ourselves to say "I was given these thoughts, ideas, goals, for a reason and now it comes down to the turning "I'm gonna do that" into "I've done it". It really can happen. For the first time in my life, Im really believing it. I'm taking action in my own little life as a 22 year old single mom who works part time, is trying to go to school, give my son a home and raise him all at the same time. I was given dreams and visions of my life for a reason and I truly believe God does not give us mountains we cannot climb. Were able to get past them for a reason, and that is to show triumph, hope, and to tell our story. Hope your blessed today, my friend! 
P.S. What dreams keep coming up in the back of your mind constantly? What do you truly enjoy to do that makes you smile and say Hey I can really make something of this...?!

Something New

Wow, this was a long time coming, but I knew it was coming! whether I liked it or not I knew one day Id be in the middle of my daily tasks, my mama duties, working, etc. I would be stopped dead in my tracks. With all the little thoughts, ideas, passions in the back of my mind, but never found the ability to grasp them, hold onto them, or quite frankly even remember them. I knew it would all come back and find me at once. where all that time wondering around trying to find that place, "my place" in this world was suddenly found. I was at home with peace in my heart, and an a new found confidence in those hidden ideas and passions. Im not saying this blog is my answer to my life goal or my new beginning, but it is certainly change  of pace. It's me finding accountability and for once in my life holding on to something different, "something new". Detaching myself from the old. why share it with you? Good question… We all look for inspiration in our lives whether its subconsciously or not. we work, function, and thrive off of each other everyday. We compare, we think, we attempt, we ask for opinions and others reflect off of what they are attracted to. so maybe with this new attempt and new way of going about change, maybe I need you? Maybe you need this blog as bad as I do? Or maybe your just a passer byer sending your hellos and thoughts my way. Whatever the reason may be I am for some reason finally at that place. Where its all coming back to me (Yes, just like the  Celine Dion song). Im journaling it, Im finding it to be extremely motivating to finally put it on paper or read it myself and figure out… why? I have always been a real person, no sugar coating, no covers. I have always appreciated true conversation and genuine people. So needless to say Im excited to get to know you, learn more about life, and see what this random exciting new chapter in life has to offer! I look forward to the smallest of  things like good recipes to the most heartfelt conversations.