Breastfeeding is an incredibly special journey.

And a journey it is for sure. For more than 14 months, I had such a strong love/hate relationship with that journey. On one hand, my body was providing nourishment for this tiny human I made from scratch. On the other, it was time consuming, physically and emotionally draining, and total hell on my blood sugar.

I was an exclusive pumper for about 10 months, and had to begin supplementing with formula, then at 12 months, with whole milk. In the hospital after she was born, I had thought she was latching but we quickly realized she wasn’t getting much and was so hungry. So instead of feeding at the breast, we found that pumping worked best for both me and baby.

I wouldn’t say I was an oversupplier, but I definitely produced more than expected. As both a type 1 diabetic and a person with a thyroid condition, I was told I likely wouldn’t be able to produce much milk. But honestly, if I’d kept pumping every three hours all day, every day, and through the night, I would have absolutely been an oversupplier.

I did at one point have a freezer supply, but as I stopped pumping overnight, and moved to pumping every four hours, I was producing just enough milk.

But it was so exhausting. The process of literally being milked over and over again, cleaning pump parts nonstop, and just generally being stuck into this routine of something that was unenjoyable and could be incredibly unpleasant at times - it was all too much. I was always overstimulated. I was tired.

But I was so proud to be producing nourishment, something that so many women aren’t able to experience.

It’s an odd feeling to be so grateful for something and simultaneously just want it to end. And that thing coming to an end came with a whole other slew of emotions. I was so sad for it to be over.

So, prior to this experience, I would’ve absolutely found it weird and maybe disgusting to have a piece of jewelry made from literally a bodily fluid. Instead, having gone through that experience, I wanted something to commemorate this experience I may never have again.

I found several DIY brands of to make your own breastmilk jewelry but I really wanted something that felt finer, that could be an heirloom piece for years to come.

I found Milk Couture Co, and reached out to the owner and jeweler, Cait, to discuss what I was wanting. We discussed a few different options and she answered my million and one questions, so I was able to make sure I was ordering a piece I really loved.

I scoured the site for literal weeks before deciding on a piece. I knew I wanted a ring in solid gold, but there were so many beautiful options. I found that I kept going back to the Goodnight Moon ring, over and over again. Maybe it’s because my daughter was really loving that book at that time, or maybe it was the simple, timeless silhouette, but I ended up choosing that one because it was the one I looked at the most. And I think it’s a pretty perfect piece. I like that you can even choose between bezel sizes. I ended up going with the 8x10. It may be the one thing I would’ve done differently if I ordered it again from scratch. I have pretty chunky fingers, and the 8x10 is gorgeous, but I wouldn’t have regretted the larger 10x14 size that I was worried initially would be too big (it wouldn’t have). I’m certainly glad I didn’t go with the smaller 6x8 option.

The color green is significant to our daughter, so I knew I wanted to incorporate that into the stone. I didn’t love the way that the November citrine birthstone would look in a milky setting, so I ruled that out pretty quickly. Cait and I talked about different dried flowers, fruits, and vegetables that we could incorporate into the piece, but overall decided to go with the beautiful and subtle crushed peridot.

But I also just adore my sweet girl’s curls and wanted to add locks of her hair to the piece, too.



This is what I sent over as an example of what I was wanting:




This is what I got:



I’m just super thrilled with this piece. It gives me this precious piece of my life to hold onto in such a tangible way, which is just so, so special. I’m glad I went with Milk Couture Co. Cait was really just so easy to work with, and I ended up with this piece of jewelry I’ll treasure forever.

 

Somehow, it’s that time again - my birthday is less than a month away, so let’s talking wishlist. Honest to goodness, it’s almost all things I’ve wanted for a while and just haven’t gotten yet. So it gets thrown on here. I’ll be 32 this year, and wow, what a world we live in. Wasn’t I just 16?

I’ve wanted an adult trike for a while. I had a bad bike wreck when I was nine, and even though I currently own a bike, trying to ride it is so traumatic and overwhelming. I’d love a fold-up trike, but I’ve found the weight limit to be fairly low on those or they’re ridiculously priced. This Schwinn one isn’t foldable but is particularly dreamy!

Something else I’d love is an adventure camera like a GoPro. I really enjoy getting out and about and would love to create memories and content from explorations. 

I’ve been wanting to start composting for a while. A small countertop bin would be cool to collect inside things, but I’d really need a bigger compost tumbler to have somewhere to dump the countertop bin once it gets full. 

Y’all, maybe it’s tmi but I have the crustiest feet. They’re so dry! I’d love some BabyFeet to soften my feet up. While we’re at it let’s throw some hand softening stuff in there too. 

Inflatable pool for adults? Yup, I think I will. I would love a cool place to chill while I read on the million degree weather this summer!

I’ll never be satisfied until I get my hands on this china cabinet from IKEA. It’s so beautiful and I swear could become an heirloom piece one day. I need this in my life.

I won’t say that I love to order stuff online, but I do order stuff online … a lot. Our front porch isn’t covered, and I would be thrilled to have a package delivery box.

For more than ten years, I’ve wanted to be a roller derby girl. This poses a problem though, because I can’t skate! I just really want my own pair of roller skates so I can learn. Next stop: roller derby.

Another activity I’m really into right now is kayaking, but I’m cheap and don’t want to spend $25 every time I want to go out on the water. I’d love to add a kayak to my recreational collection.

I stay pretty sentient throughout the day, but I try to make my office my *space*, ya know. I’d love a mini floor pedal bike to keep me moving, even if I’m just reading emails.

Lastly, I always love gift cards. Some favorite places right now are coffee places (Revolution Donuts, Starbucks, Dunkin, etc), Home Depot, Framebridge, and Bookshelf Tees. If we’re being honest though, I can find something I like from pretty much anywhere. 

What would you add to your birthday list?

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SavorThePossibilities #CollectiveBias






Courage just turned six years old on March 7, so of course we celebrated by treating her with a can of wet food and some snuggles. I was actually sick, home from work for the day so we definitely got some good birthday snuggles in. I always try to buy her little hats and clothes, but she hates me for it. So, instead I just give her all the snuggles and treat her with good food.

Since she's growing up on me, I checked out Purina®'s new line of Pro Plan® SAVOR® products with probiotics. I've been hearing a ton lately about the benefits of probiotics in everyday favorites I love to eat, so why not check them out when it comes to pet health, as well. If you're unfamiliar, probiotics are live microorganisms that, through adequate consumption, have big health benefits. Probiotics are not to be confused with prebiotics, which are dietary fibers that serve as a food source for probiotics. However, select SAVOR® dry formulas contain both to support digestive health for your pets. Purina® Pro Plan® formulas come in a variety of flavors and textures, and have advanced nutrition that's important for your cat to live a healthy and active lifestyle. Even better, real protein is the #1 ingredient in all Purina® dry formulas.

I really trust Purina®, which we've fed Courage for quite some time - from dry foods and wet foods to treats -  and we're quite loyal to the Purina® Tidy Cats litter brand, as well, so we were happy to give give the Pro Plan® SAVOR® with probiotics line a try. We've been really mindful about switching over slowly, so a quick switch doesn't leave her with an upset tummy, throwing up hairballs. Purina® has a really handy guide on their website about switching out foods, and how to do it in a healthy way. I urge you to give it a try, too, even if not your usual brand, because not only has Purina® been fueling pets since 1986, but they also boast a money-back guarantee (see proplan.com/guarantee for full details). In the mean time, you can get $10 back when you buy Purina® Pro Plan® SAVOR® dry formulas from select stores, valid through 3/31/19.









Depending on your pet's temperament, you may want to also consider taking them with on a trip to Pet Supplies Plus to grab some Purina®, and let them pick out some of their own goodies. I've certainly tried that before when I took Courage to meet Santa Paws, but she does not do well out in public so she doesn't really accompany me to the store, but I love that it's a possibility to do so.






We love Pet Supplies Plus, and we've been shopping there since it opened in our town around a decade ago - even before we had Courage. It's where I bought my best fish friend, Bartholomew (RIP), and my family continuously stocked up on cichlids for their 75 gallon aquarium. When my parents were living in a house that didn't have a bathtub (just a stand up shower), they would take our puppers Moe to the store for bathing and grooming. And as mentioned above, they have a visit from Santa Paws each year during the holidays. I also like checking out the pets they have available when I stop in to get kitty food and litter. This time around, there were a couple of chinchillas (so cute and so floofy!).








Honestly, though, some of Courage's favorite gifts are some catnip wine bottles I got her from the pet store a while back, an igloo home, a fuzzy blanket to make biscuits on, and a cat play-mat (with hanging doodads to play with). But cats can be weird and sometimes she really just likes playing with trash like bottle caps.

But you know your cat best, so maybe just give them lots of love.

Over the past month or so, we’ve been trying to be a bit healthier and happier in our lives and at home, including when it comes to Courage. Alongside getting in some physical fitness and doing things that make us happy, we’ve also been pursuing the 28-day challenge for Courage, including making a switch to Purina ONE®. I’ve included 28 things below that we’ve been doing for healthier and happier homes and to be healthier and happier in our lives overall, and maybe some of these ideas will also work for you and your pets. Check it out!

Health

1. Walk/physical activity - get it in however you can. I try to get in at least 10,000 steps most days. I may do this by walking around Target (my fave) or even walking in front of tv when I get home from work. Sometimes, I even go to the gym and survive through 30 minutes of torturous high-intensity interval training (HIIT).

2. Ditch the soda - look, I love soda and I'll get it when I go out to eat, but we try not to keep it at home, or else I'll guzzle all the sodas down!

3. Don't force restrictions on yourself. I know I'm worse about my eating habits when I really try to list out what I can't eat. I'd rather eat what I'd like to, but find a good balance.

4. Yoga, anyone? Yes, yoga is technically physical activity but it's also a great way to relieve stress and center yourself.

5. Stand up. My smartwatch helps with this, but it’s so important to stand up throughout the day.

6. Breathing and meditation. Meditation doesn’t always work for everyone, but focusing on your breathing a couple of times of day can help you relax. There are so many great apps that also provide a visual for you to focus on as you match your breath to the visual.

7. Rest. Everyone needs different amounts of sleep, but you find what works for you and what makes you feel best. I'm also a super fan of naps.




Home

1. Make the bed. It drives hubby bonkers, honestly, but I make the bed every single time we get out of it.

2. Have fluffy spaces that make you happy. Whether it's a sofa loaded with cushions or a reading nook with a beanbag - get comfy in your own home.

3. Don't fret over cleaning daily. Yes, wash the clothes and the dishes. Take out the trash. But you're not dusty regularly? Who the heck cares?

4. Decorate for the holidays and seasons you love! I throw decor up for everything from Valentine’s Day to Halloween. And apparently there are studies that say it makes you happier.

5. Rearrange your furniture from time to time. If your feel like you’re in a rut, moving your sofa may make home feel totally new and exciting.

6. Give your space some good smells - we love wax melts and candles. I prefer fresher scents, not so much the sweet bakery smells.

7. Keep the temperatures comfortable. When hubby and I first moved in together, we never wanted to run the thermostat - for either heat or chill. What we came to find out is we weren't actually saving much money - we were just sweating or freezing to death. Our home is definitely better with climate control.




Happiness

1. Don't sweat the small stuff - I need a reminder every minute of everyday, but in the grand scheme of things, how impactful are the tiny things stressing us all out?

2. Cut yourself some slack when things don't go as planned.

3. Do the things you love, whether it's reading or watching tv, playing video games, or taking nap - do what feels best you.

4. Forget about society's expectations - I'm a weirdo and I'm proud to do the things that make me happy, even if they're goofy as all heck.

5. Treat yourself how you want to be treated - okay, so self-care isn't all about baths and face masks, but those things don't hurt if you enjoy them. I know I sure do.

6. Value experiences over things. (Don't get me wrong, I still love things, too.)

7. Be gracious with yourself and find love within yourself. Okay, this isn't like an overnight thing. It takes time and it's probably never 100% (at least not with me). But allow yourself to make mistakes and don't judge yourself based upon others.









Pets

1. Give your pets special things, like nice water and food bowls, and cozy clothes.

2. Give pets their own space, and give them space when they want it (cats, I'm telling ya - they definitely want their space at times).

3. Give them toys, or let them make their own (safe for them) playthings. Courage is a big fan of bottle caps, but also really loves her play-mat with hanging toys.

4. Change out their water often, and sometimes treat them with bottled water (you so fancy and so is your kitty or pup).

5. Let them cuddle. I let Courage on the couch and the bed. I know many folks are not fans of pets on the furniture, but it honestly just makes sense to me to let them have all the cuddles they want and be just as comfy as us humans.

6. Brush them and groom them in ways that make them feel comfortable - do what you can to make them less anxious in their groomings.

7. Give them food that makes a difference - Purina ONE® is formulated with high quality real meat, poultry, or fish, which helps support strong muscles and a healthy heart. With Purina ONE®, every ingredient has a purpose - with a mix of vitamins and minerals that are design to provide balanced nutrition, Purina ONE® is crafted to make a noticeable different in your pet's whole body health. Products come in wet and dry varieties for both cats and dogs, in formulas for all life stages.

For Courage, we've been trying out the Purina ONE® 28-Day Challenge. We recently switched to Purina ONE® Indoor Advantage Adult Premium Dry Cat Food for Courage, which is a hairball formula. Since she's long-haired, hairball formula is imperative to prevent her hairballing all over the place (yikes!).







Anyways, the Purina ONE® 28-Day Challenge could make a big difference in the life of your pet. After two weeks eating Purina ONE® Indoor Advantage Adult Premium Dry Cat Food, we definitely saw Courage with more energy and after 24 days, Purina ONE® could create a stronger immune system in your pets.









Sign up for the Purina ONE® 28-Day Challenge and get a $3 off coupon and a personalized food recommendation for your pets. Plus, between 10/7 - 10/13 - check out the temporary price cut on Purina ONE® Dry Cat Food - purchase two (2) 3.5lb bags of Purina ONE® Dry Cat Food for $15! AND get a FREE $5 Target GiftCard with a Purina purchase of $25 or more. If you tend to shop online instead of in-store, get 5% off plus free shipping when you subscribe to Purina ONE® at Target.


If you're interested in more tips and tricks about how Purina ONE® could help make your pets' lives a bit better, check this link out.



What do you do to bring happiness and healthiness to your home and life?

It's okay to be honest here with you all, right? So, let me be honest when I say I hate when guests enter someone's home and complain about the pets that live there. That's not to say I'm inconsiderate of allergies and things of that nature, but the pets that live within are members of the household. I refuse to lock Courage up in a room because someone doesn't want her to rub on their legs or pitter patter around.

With that being said, Courage's bathroom is upstairs - which also equates to being the guest bathroom.  So how do we manage to keep both our guests and Courage happy? We use a few tricks that are mostly nonsensical, but may be so "common sense," they're easy to overlook.

We have three rooms upstairs - Andre's office, our guest room/my office/reading space, and the bathroom - which mostly belongs to Courage. We typically leave the doors closed to the office and guest room unless they're in use, for a few reasons. They can get a little warm upstairs (heat rises, ya know) and also to prevent Courage from tracking litter into the carpet of those bedrooms. Hardwood would definitely be more ideal, but rentals come with fewer options, and yes, oftentimes carpet.



For the guest room

Keeping the guest room litter free is obviously important - especially to those guests who are pet-free and may be uncomfortable with a pet-friendly household. Other things important when it comes to a guest room that provides a happy environment for friends and family include making sure they have the things they need for an enjoyable visit. Including a welcome tray is the perfect gesture.

Things we included in our welcome tray are:

• a heavy duty lint roller
• bottled water
• face wipes
• travel-sized toiletries like shampoo & conditioner, hairspray, lotion, fragrance, toothbrush/toothpaste/floss, shave cream & disposable razor, and mini sample makeup
• feminine products
• fresh flowers
• jewelry tray
• fresh towels
• the wifi password

Also set up in our guest room is a desk and chair, and a rolling cart of books!









For the bathroom

It can be tough to keep a bathroom with a litterbox clean - especially without one of those fancy litterbox hideaways crafty people tend to make. Our upstairs bathroom is fairly small, so there's just enough room to squeeze the litterbox between the toilet and tub. The biggest thing is lots of sweeping and mopping to keep the floor as clean as can be. We've released having bath mats aren't incredibly functional in Courage's bathroom, as those tend to pick up litter more than anything else. Courage is incredibly furry, so she tends to throw out litter as she jumps out of her litterbox, but no biggie - just keep it clean in there. We also tend to wipe down the sink a lot, because if she jumps up there, guess what? More stray litter.












Luckily, the stray litter (and actually changing the litterbox) is our biggest worry. Thanks to Purina^Ⓡ New TIDY CATS^Ⓡ Free & Clean™ Unscented Clumping Litter from Target, odors are locked away by odor-absorbing activated charcoal and TidyLock^Ⓡ Protection. TIDY CATS Free and Clean litter also clumps strong which is so important to us because we use nifty sifting litter liners, so the clumps really make clean up and litter changes a breeze. Since it's available at Target, make sure to pick up some goodies for your kitty friends and your human friends - they sure do have everything you need there! (Don't we all know it? Haha.)