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Simplified Meal Planning

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For my entire teenage and adult life I have directly related my food (diet) to how I look and how much the scale says that I weigh.  I have tried multiple diets in the past, from Weight Watchers, Whole 30, high fat/low carb, high protein and good ole calorie restiction.  I would gauge how well these diets worked by what the scale said at the end of the day.  I would also spend about 2 hours at the gym each day on my days off.  Needless to say, I probably had an unhealthy food and workout relationship. 3 years and 2 children later my whole life has changed.  My body, my mindset and the way I cook and eat are completely different.  I no longer have the luxury of spending multiple hours at the gym and planning and preparing meals.  There are days where all I get done is feeding and bathing our children. (I am usually left unshowered) I still consider those days a win because my babies are well-fed, happy and healthy.   I have tried to follow diets and plan wonderful meals but I would en
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Why I became a minimalist mom

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Our journey to minimalism really started about 2 months after I gave birth to our second son, Miles.   It should have been one of the happiest most fulfilling times of my life, but it instead was filled with anxiety, stress, and doubt. I wasn't present.  I was constantly cleaning up a mess my 2 year old had made, attempting to cook some complicated meal, doing piles of laundry, planning workouts and ways to get back to my pre baby weight and worrying about how I was going to keep it all together when I went back to work in just 4 short weeks.   Our culture today expects women to do life and motherhood "pinterest" style and I was pin-failing.  Most days I sat around with a baby attached to my boob crying and yelling at my husband and toddler.   I wasn't the best mother that I could be and I finally sought the help that I so desperately needed. I reached out to my doctor and was diagnosed with postpartum adjustment anxiety disorder.   I attended counseli
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Happiness Pills

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Lets take a quiz What did you pick?  I thought this was pretty straight forward.  I picked 4 and 8. Easy, who would argue? This was sent in a group text with a bunch of my friends.  Then the results came in, 4 and 7, 4 and 7, 4 and 7. I was stunned.  #7? Have a lot of money? This really surprised me. Why did it surprise me you ask?  Don’t people want a lot of money?  Well, yes. But, why do people want a lot of money? I would assume t they believe that money will bring them happiness.  We can skip the whole middle man here and take pill #8 and just get right to happiness and never worry about money again. Each of the people who responded to this chat are in households that make over 100k.  I am pretty sure one of them makes north of 250k. In big picture thinking these men should have plenty of money already! This is one of the features of the American dream that perplexes me.  Money should not equal happiness. Sure, I understand money is a big help but once your basic n
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Money and Marriage

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Money and Marriage The taboo subject in marriage, MONEY!  I know, I have been there before. For some reason, couples don’t talk about money.  Yet, financial stress is often listed as the main reason for a divorce. Why is it so taboo?  I believe there are usually two types of people in each marriage, the saver and the spender. This usually leads to conflict over money. Open communication about money is paramount to a successful marriage!  This is one of the most important talks you can have. Both partners need to be included and heard .in financial talks.   If money has been a stressor in your marriage I will give you some tips I have learned the hard way. Start with goals Most time when couples sit down to talk about money they start with a monthly budget and ends about 10 minutes later with the couple fighting.  This is because usually the saver wants to have a budget and the spender feels attacked. Instead your first meeting about your finances should be
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