What better way to start off the year with a positive attitude. 2013 definitely had its ups and downs for our family and our community. Rather than focusing on the negative, I am going to start 2014 off with a positive attitude and say "2014 is going to be my year!"
I once read, the way you ring in the New Year is how you will spend it. Rather than spending the New Year partying in a bar or club somewhere, I have opted to organize a New Year's Eve Party and Potluck for our community at my church. What better and more positive way to start the New Year off right than to celebrate it in a family friendly atmosphere with your family, friends and community. I want 2014 to be more focused on doing things as a family and supporting each other as a family rather than doing everything as individuals.
This year, I am also competing for my fourth year for the title of Mrs. Colorado America. I feel more confident than ever that this will be my year to excel. Last year, I was blessed with two awards: Most Creative Ad Page and Director's Choice; however, this year, I want more....I want the crown. I already have two great sponsors: Dwayne Glapion (Grafxmd) and Samantha Koch (SK Makeup Pro) and am seeking other sponsorships. I have my orientation dress, interview dress and evening gown and hair stylist. I have never felt more prepared and I'm still over three months from competition night.
I started 2013 off pushing my advocacy, but began to slack off after the fire. I'm getting back in action in 2014 and pushing my dating/domestic violence awareness and sexual assault awareness advocacy even more in 2014. I am already working with a great person to put together a fundraiser in January/February to raise money and awareness for the NO MORE campaign and for Tu Casa. I'm in talks with some local middle schools to give a dating violence and building healthy relationships presentation and seminar. I'm also working on a video about my own story to put on my website and YouTube channel. I'm going to take my advocacy even farther this year.
All in all, 2014 is going to be my year, because I'm going to go into the new year with a new attitude. I have been a people pleaser in the past, but I've often found that while trying to please everyone, I lose who I am because what pleases them may go against my own personal beliefs, religious beliefs, wants and/or needs. Because I was a people pleaser, I always worried about what others thought about me and whether or not they liked me. This resulted in me keeping my own personal opinions or beliefs to myself, as well as allowing others to walk all over me. I have learned that I don't have to agree with everyone all the time and that if I can disagree with someone else's opinion and still like them, then they can do the same. And if they can't, that's their problem and not mine. I am going to stand up for what's right and for myself in 2014 and not let others opinions dictate who I am and/or what I do and/or say.
As a counselor, I encourage clients with certain issues to change the way they think. Rather than thinking negatively and focusing on the negative, I encourage clients to think about the positive and to focus on that. I also encourage clients to think positively and say positive things about themselves. Once you start thinking positively, you start believing positively and your life changes positively. In order to make 2014 my year, I'm going to think positively about myself, speak positively about myself, believe positively about myself, I am going to be my true self, I am going to work hard and above all else I am going to make my relationship with God and my family my top priority.
What are you going to do to make 2014 Your Year????
I leave you with some quotes I find inspiring....Go out and make 2014 your year!
"Go where you are celebrated - not tolerated. If they can't see the real value of you, it's time for a new start." - Unknown
"Don't be afraid to stand for what you believe in, even if it means standing alone." - Unknown
"Optimism is the most important human trait, because it allows us to evolve our ideas, to improve our situation, and to hope for a better tomorrow." - Seth Godin
"Man often becomes what he believes himself to be. If I keep on saying to myself that I cannot do a certain thing, it is possible that I may end by really becoming incapable of doing it. On the contrary, if I have the belief that I can di it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it even if I may not have it at the beginning." - Mahatma Gandhi
"
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Friday, December 20, 2013
Better to Give than to Receive
It's just 5 days until Christmas. I just love this time of the year. I love coming together with community members, friends and family to celebrate the birth of Christ. Every year, I join the choir and take part in our Christmas program at church. Christmas music is some of my favorite music to sing and can be so emotional and moving.
Another part of this time of year that people love is the gifts. Now, like any woman (lol) I enjoy getting gifts, but I get more joy out of giving them than receiving them. This is not something everyone agrees with or understands. Living in an area that is so poor (Rio Grande County is one of the poorest counties in Colorado and the San Luis Valley is made up of the two poorest counties in the state), and working with children who's families are struggling, I see a huge need for not only gifts, but also for food and clothing. Many families are struggling on a daily basis to just to keep a roof over their head, shoes on their feet and food on their tables and can't afford Christmas gifts for their children or some other basic necessities.
My family has been blessed with the ability to sufficiently provide for ourselves through hard work and dedication on both mine and my husband's parts and I love sharing that blessing with others. Whenever I can, I purchase gifts or make donations to help make someone else's holiday season a little brighter. Whether it's picking up a name from the giving tree at church, putting together a shoe box to send overseas, making a donation at the grocery store or buying a gift for someone else you normally wouldn't buy for "just because", it makes me feel good inside to know that I am helping someone or making them feel special. With just a few days left until Christmas, I encourage you to do the same if you are in a financial position that you can do so. Whether it's $5, a teddy bear, a can of food or box of macaroni, a coat, a scarf, a pair of gloves....families in your community can use your help. After the fires and floods this year in Colorado, hundreds of families are in need of assistance. To find out how you can help these families visit http://www.helpcoloradonow.org/.
I encourage every person reading this to seek out organizations, families, or individuals in your community, regardless of where you live...Colorado, Texas, California, New York....and make a donation or drop off a gift to help make someone else's holiday a season a little brighter and to let them know that there are people out there who care about them and their families.
When I was a child, I remember my parents buying gifts for the children of friends of ours. It wasn't that this family needed the gifts, my dad just liked to play "Santa" and I'm not sure that even to this day, that family knows who was leaving the gifts. Mom and dad would wrap a gift for each of the children and on Christmas Eve, they would leave them somewhere at their house for them to find Christmas Day. I can only imagine that these children either really believed in Santa or they knew there was someone out there who was thinking of them and made them feel special. Families who are expecting nothing for Christmas I'm sure are very appreciative of our giving and I promise that they won't forget it and neither will you. Knowing that I have helped someone have a happier holiday or get through one more day warms my heart and will warm yours as well.
Remember, Jesus is the reason for the season and if he can give his life for us, we can give this small thing for others. Show love for your neighbor this season and help out a family in need.
Another part of this time of year that people love is the gifts. Now, like any woman (lol) I enjoy getting gifts, but I get more joy out of giving them than receiving them. This is not something everyone agrees with or understands. Living in an area that is so poor (Rio Grande County is one of the poorest counties in Colorado and the San Luis Valley is made up of the two poorest counties in the state), and working with children who's families are struggling, I see a huge need for not only gifts, but also for food and clothing. Many families are struggling on a daily basis to just to keep a roof over their head, shoes on their feet and food on their tables and can't afford Christmas gifts for their children or some other basic necessities.
My family has been blessed with the ability to sufficiently provide for ourselves through hard work and dedication on both mine and my husband's parts and I love sharing that blessing with others. Whenever I can, I purchase gifts or make donations to help make someone else's holiday season a little brighter. Whether it's picking up a name from the giving tree at church, putting together a shoe box to send overseas, making a donation at the grocery store or buying a gift for someone else you normally wouldn't buy for "just because", it makes me feel good inside to know that I am helping someone or making them feel special. With just a few days left until Christmas, I encourage you to do the same if you are in a financial position that you can do so. Whether it's $5, a teddy bear, a can of food or box of macaroni, a coat, a scarf, a pair of gloves....families in your community can use your help. After the fires and floods this year in Colorado, hundreds of families are in need of assistance. To find out how you can help these families visit http://www.helpcoloradonow.org/.
I encourage every person reading this to seek out organizations, families, or individuals in your community, regardless of where you live...Colorado, Texas, California, New York....and make a donation or drop off a gift to help make someone else's holiday a season a little brighter and to let them know that there are people out there who care about them and their families.
When I was a child, I remember my parents buying gifts for the children of friends of ours. It wasn't that this family needed the gifts, my dad just liked to play "Santa" and I'm not sure that even to this day, that family knows who was leaving the gifts. Mom and dad would wrap a gift for each of the children and on Christmas Eve, they would leave them somewhere at their house for them to find Christmas Day. I can only imagine that these children either really believed in Santa or they knew there was someone out there who was thinking of them and made them feel special. Families who are expecting nothing for Christmas I'm sure are very appreciative of our giving and I promise that they won't forget it and neither will you. Knowing that I have helped someone have a happier holiday or get through one more day warms my heart and will warm yours as well.
Remember, Jesus is the reason for the season and if he can give his life for us, we can give this small thing for others. Show love for your neighbor this season and help out a family in need.
Monday, December 9, 2013
Tomorrow isn't Promised
Wow. I just realized that I haven't posted since May. It has been a crazy few months. In June my family was evacuated from our home for a week because of the West Fork Fire Complex. Once we were allowed back into town, my parents opened a gas station and liquor store and I helped them get open and organized a huge grand opening celebration with musical performances by Dave Mensch, Bittersweet Highway and opera singer Michael Mayes (and the Pig Whistlers). During the first month or two, I was putting in 65+ hours a week. It was exhausting. Well, enough with the excuses...
I think we all know that tomorrow isn't promised to any of us and we all have differing ideas and opinions on what happens when we die. If you're a Christian, as I am, we believe in Heaven and look forward to living eternally with our Heavenly Father. I have this belief, but I am also not ready to leave this Earth yet. I have so much left to do and see.
These past couple of weeks have really reiterated how short life really is and that regardless of age, race, religion, wealth, health or circumstances, tomorrow is not promised to any one of us. Fans of Paul Walker were all saddened (at least I was) by the news of his tragic death. A couple of days later, a guy I knew from my hometown passed away at the age of 32 of Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (an ultra rare autoimmune disorder); my sister-in-law, her husband, their two toddler aged daughters and her husband's parents were in a bad car accident (all are now home thankfully) and Nelson Mandela passed away along with all the other news stories we hear day in and day out about military lives lost overseas.
Celebrity deaths usually don't upset me. I typically think, "Oh, that's sad" and go about my business. I grew up 15 miles from Anna Nicole Smith and am sure at some point in my life spoke to her when she worked at Jim's Krispy Fried Chicken. Her death, however, wasn't as upsetting as that of Paul Walker. Neither was Michael Jackson's, Whitney Houston's, Aalyiah's, Lisa Lopez's or Selena's. Paul Walker's death was different. I'm not sure if it was because I've been a PW fan since 1999 when I saw him in Varsity Blues and he became my all time celebrity crush (I started a collection of his movies years ago and have been working on having most of them) or if it was because we lost a great actor and humanitarian, or the circumstances around his death or all of the above (pretty sure it was some of all of it). I've really been bothered by this and I think it is partly because I think so many of us take life for granted. We forget we aren't guaranteed tomorrow and that we can put off things until tomorrow, when in reality, we may not have tomorrow, we may not have tonight, the next hour, the next minute. I saw a post on Facebook by Tyrese Gibson who posted something that is so spot on..."My inspired thought through this tragedy has been....'It's arrogant to believe that next week or even the next second of life belongs to you.' Live, love, forgive and spread love today cause tomorrow isn't promised."
While I believe that we should prepare for the future, Tyrese has a point. It is arrogant of us to believe that the next second of life belongs to us, because for those of us who are Christians, we know that God is the only one who knows if we have that next second, minute, hour, day, week, month, year, etc.
My encouragement is to plan for the future, but not to forget to live in the here and now. I challenge you not to wait until tomorrow to show and tell your children, spouse, parents, friends and other family members how much you love them. Don't put your dreams on hold thinking you have plenty of time to do this or that. Don't put off getting your life right with God, get right with Him right now. Live your life like every second is your last and have no regrets.
I leave you with one of my favorite songs: One Sweet Day by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men
In Memory of Paul Walker, Tyler Archibald, Nelson Mandela and the many other lives lost in the past weeks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXxRyNvTPr8
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I think we all know that tomorrow isn't promised to any of us and we all have differing ideas and opinions on what happens when we die. If you're a Christian, as I am, we believe in Heaven and look forward to living eternally with our Heavenly Father. I have this belief, but I am also not ready to leave this Earth yet. I have so much left to do and see.
These past couple of weeks have really reiterated how short life really is and that regardless of age, race, religion, wealth, health or circumstances, tomorrow is not promised to any one of us. Fans of Paul Walker were all saddened (at least I was) by the news of his tragic death. A couple of days later, a guy I knew from my hometown passed away at the age of 32 of Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (an ultra rare autoimmune disorder); my sister-in-law, her husband, their two toddler aged daughters and her husband's parents were in a bad car accident (all are now home thankfully) and Nelson Mandela passed away along with all the other news stories we hear day in and day out about military lives lost overseas.
Celebrity deaths usually don't upset me. I typically think, "Oh, that's sad" and go about my business. I grew up 15 miles from Anna Nicole Smith and am sure at some point in my life spoke to her when she worked at Jim's Krispy Fried Chicken. Her death, however, wasn't as upsetting as that of Paul Walker. Neither was Michael Jackson's, Whitney Houston's, Aalyiah's, Lisa Lopez's or Selena's. Paul Walker's death was different. I'm not sure if it was because I've been a PW fan since 1999 when I saw him in Varsity Blues and he became my all time celebrity crush (I started a collection of his movies years ago and have been working on having most of them) or if it was because we lost a great actor and humanitarian, or the circumstances around his death or all of the above (pretty sure it was some of all of it). I've really been bothered by this and I think it is partly because I think so many of us take life for granted. We forget we aren't guaranteed tomorrow and that we can put off things until tomorrow, when in reality, we may not have tomorrow, we may not have tonight, the next hour, the next minute. I saw a post on Facebook by Tyrese Gibson who posted something that is so spot on..."My inspired thought through this tragedy has been....'It's arrogant to believe that next week or even the next second of life belongs to you.' Live, love, forgive and spread love today cause tomorrow isn't promised."
While I believe that we should prepare for the future, Tyrese has a point. It is arrogant of us to believe that the next second of life belongs to us, because for those of us who are Christians, we know that God is the only one who knows if we have that next second, minute, hour, day, week, month, year, etc.
My encouragement is to plan for the future, but not to forget to live in the here and now. I challenge you not to wait until tomorrow to show and tell your children, spouse, parents, friends and other family members how much you love them. Don't put your dreams on hold thinking you have plenty of time to do this or that. Don't put off getting your life right with God, get right with Him right now. Live your life like every second is your last and have no regrets.
I leave you with one of my favorite songs: One Sweet Day by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men
In Memory of Paul Walker, Tyler Archibald, Nelson Mandela and the many other lives lost in the past weeks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXxRyNvTPr8
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Thursday, May 9, 2013
One Week Until Mrs. Colorado 2013
I am constantly amazed at how time flies. I can't believe there is only one week until I am being interviewed by judges and on the preliminary stage competing for a spot in the top 15. I am so looking forward to the pageant and seeing some truly amazing women again.
Today, I am reflecting on my preparation for next week. It has been a very busy year and past few months. After returning home from Mrs. Colorado last year, I found out I was pregnant. Knowing that I was competing for my last time this year, I decided to eat healthier during this pregnancy than I did my first pregnancy. That decision paid off, because I only gained half the weight I gained with my oldest daughter. I refused to let myself eat a box of dried Froot Loops a day, sunflower seeds and a whole watermelon in one sitting like I did the first time. And I wonder why I gained 60 pounds then.
During my last trimester, I decided I wanted to have some memories of my pregnancy and decided to have maternity photos taken. Some of these photos were so amazing, I decided to use some of them for my pageant program ads. I have to say that Megan at Graphique Photography is truly amazing!
After the baby was born, I nursed for almost 5 months, which helped take a lot of the baby weight off. Trying to eat enough to maintain a milk supply to nurse a baby, while trying to lose weight is challenging. Shortly after having my beautiful girl, I started working out again. This included cardio and weights 3-5 days a week and making healthy food choices. This drove my oldest daughter crazy. She hated me eating healthy because I made her and my husband eat what I was cooking. She would say, "mom thinks because she is on a diet, we all need to be." That was until I started making my favorite healthy snack....fresh fruit smoothies. She was all about that and then it was okay that I was eating healthy as long as she could have one too. These are really great and are all natural. My favorite is a combination of 1 banana, 1/2 apple, 6-8 strawberries, handful of rasperries and the juice from 1 orange. I blend these together and then add in my Pro-Fit and ice. GREAT and no artificial sugars or other products. This will be something I'm taking with me to Mrs. Colorado, so if you heard noises coming from my room.....it's probably my blender.
While searching for this year's dress, I was talking to a dear friend who I met through the pageant, who volunteered to let me use her dress. It was just what I was looking for. She has been amazing and I am so excited about wearing this gorgeous gown. I ordered my sarong and opening number dress and was so excited to see the opening number dresses are something I can use again for many things. These gowns are beautiful and I can't wait to see what Emily (pageant director) has in store for our opening number. This year's theme is Faith. It is going to be powerful, as this year has been a year of many things, including reflection, acceptance, forgiveness and acknowledgement of things past. In our final newsletter, Emily wrote this statement, "Sow a thought, reap an action. Sow an action, reap a habit. Sow a habit, reap a character. Sow a character, reap a destiny." The first part of this is so powerful and so true. When you sow a thought, good or bad, that thought will reap an action. If you think positively, you are going to have positive results; but if you think negatively, you're going to have negative results. During preparation of the pageant and during competition, you can't compare yourself to the other women. Each woman is different and you never know what the judges are looking for. If you start comparing yourself to the other women, you will begin to think negatively. You have to have a positive self-image of yourself in order to be the best you. You must keep a positive attitude and think positively about yourself the entire week. Something else Emily said in that newsletter was "As faith is defined as 'complete trust or confidence in someone or something - to believe'. As we approach pageant weekend, I want you to have faith in yourself and the pageant journey." This has really resignated with me because I have faced some things I have not wanted to address from my past as a result of my journey and I am so thankful for that journey. I not only now have complete faith in myself, but others in my life who love and support me.
Something I did to prepare this year, I enlisted a former Mrs. Colorado to work with me on my walk and interview skills, as well as my friend, Wendi. It is amazing how large a roll proper posture can have in a win. I didn't realize that until this year and after looking in the mirror at what I thought was good posture and what I was taught to do, I realize that there is a large role posture plays in scoring. I have also created a small cheering section for myself. It is hard to create a cheering section when you live 5 hours away, but I have a small one and appreciate all my friends who are coming from the SLV and from Denver to see me compete: my husband, girls, parents, Wendi & Matt Seger (and thanks to Wendi for being my pageant week babysitter for the baby), Kazie Hayes, Lori & Morgan Krout, Erin Feltes, & Kim Perez.
I am looking forward to next week, being the best me I can be and catching up with some amazing and beautiful ladies. Here's to bringing home the title of Mrs. Colorado to the SLV....but if I don't, I know from past queens, whomever is crowned will definitely be deserving.
Best wishes to all the titleholders next week. Love to you all!
XOXO
Today, I am reflecting on my preparation for next week. It has been a very busy year and past few months. After returning home from Mrs. Colorado last year, I found out I was pregnant. Knowing that I was competing for my last time this year, I decided to eat healthier during this pregnancy than I did my first pregnancy. That decision paid off, because I only gained half the weight I gained with my oldest daughter. I refused to let myself eat a box of dried Froot Loops a day, sunflower seeds and a whole watermelon in one sitting like I did the first time. And I wonder why I gained 60 pounds then.
During my last trimester, I decided I wanted to have some memories of my pregnancy and decided to have maternity photos taken. Some of these photos were so amazing, I decided to use some of them for my pageant program ads. I have to say that Megan at Graphique Photography is truly amazing!
After the baby was born, I nursed for almost 5 months, which helped take a lot of the baby weight off. Trying to eat enough to maintain a milk supply to nurse a baby, while trying to lose weight is challenging. Shortly after having my beautiful girl, I started working out again. This included cardio and weights 3-5 days a week and making healthy food choices. This drove my oldest daughter crazy. She hated me eating healthy because I made her and my husband eat what I was cooking. She would say, "mom thinks because she is on a diet, we all need to be." That was until I started making my favorite healthy snack....fresh fruit smoothies. She was all about that and then it was okay that I was eating healthy as long as she could have one too. These are really great and are all natural. My favorite is a combination of 1 banana, 1/2 apple, 6-8 strawberries, handful of rasperries and the juice from 1 orange. I blend these together and then add in my Pro-Fit and ice. GREAT and no artificial sugars or other products. This will be something I'm taking with me to Mrs. Colorado, so if you heard noises coming from my room.....it's probably my blender.
While searching for this year's dress, I was talking to a dear friend who I met through the pageant, who volunteered to let me use her dress. It was just what I was looking for. She has been amazing and I am so excited about wearing this gorgeous gown. I ordered my sarong and opening number dress and was so excited to see the opening number dresses are something I can use again for many things. These gowns are beautiful and I can't wait to see what Emily (pageant director) has in store for our opening number. This year's theme is Faith. It is going to be powerful, as this year has been a year of many things, including reflection, acceptance, forgiveness and acknowledgement of things past. In our final newsletter, Emily wrote this statement, "Sow a thought, reap an action. Sow an action, reap a habit. Sow a habit, reap a character. Sow a character, reap a destiny." The first part of this is so powerful and so true. When you sow a thought, good or bad, that thought will reap an action. If you think positively, you are going to have positive results; but if you think negatively, you're going to have negative results. During preparation of the pageant and during competition, you can't compare yourself to the other women. Each woman is different and you never know what the judges are looking for. If you start comparing yourself to the other women, you will begin to think negatively. You have to have a positive self-image of yourself in order to be the best you. You must keep a positive attitude and think positively about yourself the entire week. Something else Emily said in that newsletter was "As faith is defined as 'complete trust or confidence in someone or something - to believe'. As we approach pageant weekend, I want you to have faith in yourself and the pageant journey." This has really resignated with me because I have faced some things I have not wanted to address from my past as a result of my journey and I am so thankful for that journey. I not only now have complete faith in myself, but others in my life who love and support me.
Something I did to prepare this year, I enlisted a former Mrs. Colorado to work with me on my walk and interview skills, as well as my friend, Wendi. It is amazing how large a roll proper posture can have in a win. I didn't realize that until this year and after looking in the mirror at what I thought was good posture and what I was taught to do, I realize that there is a large role posture plays in scoring. I have also created a small cheering section for myself. It is hard to create a cheering section when you live 5 hours away, but I have a small one and appreciate all my friends who are coming from the SLV and from Denver to see me compete: my husband, girls, parents, Wendi & Matt Seger (and thanks to Wendi for being my pageant week babysitter for the baby), Kazie Hayes, Lori & Morgan Krout, Erin Feltes, & Kim Perez.
I am looking forward to next week, being the best me I can be and catching up with some amazing and beautiful ladies. Here's to bringing home the title of Mrs. Colorado to the SLV....but if I don't, I know from past queens, whomever is crowned will definitely be deserving.
Best wishes to all the titleholders next week. Love to you all!
XOXO
Friday, April 26, 2013
Denver Denim Days Fashion Show 2013
I had the opportunity, honor and privilege this week to be part of the 2nd Annual Denver Denim Days Fashion Show and all I can say is AMAZING!
My beautiful friends, Lori Krout and Dwayne Glapion, are the co-founders of this event which raises Sexual Assault awareness and celebrates survivors. I had no idea what I was really being apart of until a couple of weeks ago. This fundraiser was no joke. This year's fashion show was raising money for the Rocky Mountain Victim Law Center, which provides legal counsel for sexual assault victims, and Dwayne was going to market this event like crazy.
Arc Thrift Stores donated denim to the event and then Colorado designers cut them up and created their own designs. My participation in the event was to model one of these designers designs. Sounds simple enough, right? The catch here, is that all the models were survivors of sexual assault. This still doesn't sound too difficult right? It's not, I guess, if your family is aware that you are a survivor; but what if they aren't aware? For me, this was the case. I had volunteered to be a model, knowing you must be a survivor; but I had not yet told my family of my story from 20 years ago. This was the story that was the story I knew they needed to know about before Dwayne started advertising the show. My family is on Facebook and I was going to be featured in an ad as a model and survivor. I didn't want them to be caught off guard, so just days before my ad was released, I made one of the hardest phone calls of my life. I called and told my grandmother about what had happened to me and a few days later, I sat my parents down and told them. WOW! This secret I had been carrying around for 20 years was finally out and I felt the weight of the world had been lifted off my shoulders. I don't know if I would have told my family had it not been for my involvement in this wonderful event. Thank you Lori and Dwayne for encouraging, supporting, lifting up and celebrating myself and all the other survivors.
The fashion show is held each year on the last Wednesday in April in conjunction with the World wide Denim Day. In the 90's there was a young girl in Italy, who was raped by her driving instructor. The young girl told her parents and the 40-somthing year old man was arrested and found guilty. After appealing the verdict, another judge found the man not guilty. The judges basis was on the fact that the young girl had been wearing jeans that were so tight, she would have had to have removed them, thus making the intercourse consensual. This sparked outrage and in protest of the judges decision, Denim Day was born (this is a very condensed version of the story). The simple fact is that regardless of what someone is or is not wearing, it does not make sex consensual and it does not make it okay. That's what this fashion show is about. I wasn't sure what to expect from the designers. Would there be provocative designs, would there be conservative designs? Regardless of the design, just because a girl (or guy) is wearing it, does not mean that they are inviting unwanted sexual advances or rape. The designs created by these designers were amazing. There was everything from short dresses and skirts to strapless tops. They were beautiful and the women (and men) in them even more beautiful. Each piece had been custom made by the designers for the model wearing them. These designs took weeks to put together and each one of them did an amazing job.
When I arrived in Denver on Wednesday, I was super excited about the event. The hotel looked great. The ballroom looked great. Everything was coming together. In just a matter of ours, us models, would have gone through hair and makeup, VIP meet and greets and be modeling our fashions on stage in a celebration of us and all the other survivors in the almost sold out room. After all the models were ready, we went from our dressing room to meet and greet with the VIPs. This included three of the Denver Broncos (#85 Virgil Green - Tight End, #37 Jeremiah Johnson - Running Back and #60 Quentin Saulsberry - Center) and their families. Jeremiah's wife and 3 year old daughter were present with him and his little girl loved my 5 month old. Every time she saw us, she would come say hello. The guys were great, stopping what they were doing to take pictures and sign autographs. It meant a lot to all of us for them to be there. My wonderful and beautiful friend, Erin, came out to support me; which meant so much. She is an amazing person inside and out and has been so supportive of me over the past months. She is amazing and I am so very blessed that she is my friend.
When call time came for the show to start, I wasn't nervous at all. We were having fun. Prior to the show starting, Lori and Dwayne talked about the wonderful event sponsors and the show. They introduced Emily Tofte Nestaval from the Rocky Mountain Victim Law Center, who explained what the RMVLC does and introduced a beautiful singer, who nearly brought many of us to tears with her version of Hero. Then it was time. The show started. I was the second to last model to hit the runway. I was great until I got on stage and Dwayne began reading my bio, which explained that I was a survivor and that a result of my experiences, I wanted to help others and that I became a counselor and am an advocate. As the 200 or so people in the audience applauded, I was nearly brought to tears right there. In the 30 seconds I was on stage, I had a huge realization. Something I knew, but that had not hit me until that moment. I was a survivor! I had been through something that no one should have to go through and I survived it. Not only was I a survivor, I was facing my worst fear. That people would know I what had happened to me. The Broncos and their families were sitting at a table were we come on the stage at. I remember looking at their table as I walked back up the runway and they were all clapping and yelling loudly for me. I even made eye contact with one of the wives, who smiled and shook her yes at me. I had such a rush of emotion from the moment I was introduced that I couldn't even focus on my walk or whether or not I was doing it right. I have been on stage many times and this was the first time that I couldn't even begin to focus on what I was suppose to do and it was okay. I was having MY own personal experience here and I needed to have it. When the show was over, I got to walk to the end of the runway with Lori, which meant a lot to me because of her story, her support, her strength, inspiration and encouragement. I couldn't think of another person in the world I would have wanted to share the stage with in that moment. Backstage, whether it was shown or not, we all had emotions going on inside of us. Some that I'm sure we had addressed before and some that were new. This had been a celebration. A celebration of survivors and awareness and it had been a success.
I can't begin to thank Lori and Dwayne enough for what they are doing to raise awareness and what they have done for me personally. I love you guys and thank you from the bottom of my heart for what you are doing and for how you have inspired me.
Visit the Denver Denim Day Fashion Show at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Denver-Denim-Day-Fashion-Show-2013/269610583119798
My beautiful friends, Lori Krout and Dwayne Glapion, are the co-founders of this event which raises Sexual Assault awareness and celebrates survivors. I had no idea what I was really being apart of until a couple of weeks ago. This fundraiser was no joke. This year's fashion show was raising money for the Rocky Mountain Victim Law Center, which provides legal counsel for sexual assault victims, and Dwayne was going to market this event like crazy.
Arc Thrift Stores donated denim to the event and then Colorado designers cut them up and created their own designs. My participation in the event was to model one of these designers designs. Sounds simple enough, right? The catch here, is that all the models were survivors of sexual assault. This still doesn't sound too difficult right? It's not, I guess, if your family is aware that you are a survivor; but what if they aren't aware? For me, this was the case. I had volunteered to be a model, knowing you must be a survivor; but I had not yet told my family of my story from 20 years ago. This was the story that was the story I knew they needed to know about before Dwayne started advertising the show. My family is on Facebook and I was going to be featured in an ad as a model and survivor. I didn't want them to be caught off guard, so just days before my ad was released, I made one of the hardest phone calls of my life. I called and told my grandmother about what had happened to me and a few days later, I sat my parents down and told them. WOW! This secret I had been carrying around for 20 years was finally out and I felt the weight of the world had been lifted off my shoulders. I don't know if I would have told my family had it not been for my involvement in this wonderful event. Thank you Lori and Dwayne for encouraging, supporting, lifting up and celebrating myself and all the other survivors.
The fashion show is held each year on the last Wednesday in April in conjunction with the World wide Denim Day. In the 90's there was a young girl in Italy, who was raped by her driving instructor. The young girl told her parents and the 40-somthing year old man was arrested and found guilty. After appealing the verdict, another judge found the man not guilty. The judges basis was on the fact that the young girl had been wearing jeans that were so tight, she would have had to have removed them, thus making the intercourse consensual. This sparked outrage and in protest of the judges decision, Denim Day was born (this is a very condensed version of the story). The simple fact is that regardless of what someone is or is not wearing, it does not make sex consensual and it does not make it okay. That's what this fashion show is about. I wasn't sure what to expect from the designers. Would there be provocative designs, would there be conservative designs? Regardless of the design, just because a girl (or guy) is wearing it, does not mean that they are inviting unwanted sexual advances or rape. The designs created by these designers were amazing. There was everything from short dresses and skirts to strapless tops. They were beautiful and the women (and men) in them even more beautiful. Each piece had been custom made by the designers for the model wearing them. These designs took weeks to put together and each one of them did an amazing job.
When I arrived in Denver on Wednesday, I was super excited about the event. The hotel looked great. The ballroom looked great. Everything was coming together. In just a matter of ours, us models, would have gone through hair and makeup, VIP meet and greets and be modeling our fashions on stage in a celebration of us and all the other survivors in the almost sold out room. After all the models were ready, we went from our dressing room to meet and greet with the VIPs. This included three of the Denver Broncos (#85 Virgil Green - Tight End, #37 Jeremiah Johnson - Running Back and #60 Quentin Saulsberry - Center) and their families. Jeremiah's wife and 3 year old daughter were present with him and his little girl loved my 5 month old. Every time she saw us, she would come say hello. The guys were great, stopping what they were doing to take pictures and sign autographs. It meant a lot to all of us for them to be there. My wonderful and beautiful friend, Erin, came out to support me; which meant so much. She is an amazing person inside and out and has been so supportive of me over the past months. She is amazing and I am so very blessed that she is my friend.
When call time came for the show to start, I wasn't nervous at all. We were having fun. Prior to the show starting, Lori and Dwayne talked about the wonderful event sponsors and the show. They introduced Emily Tofte Nestaval from the Rocky Mountain Victim Law Center, who explained what the RMVLC does and introduced a beautiful singer, who nearly brought many of us to tears with her version of Hero. Then it was time. The show started. I was the second to last model to hit the runway. I was great until I got on stage and Dwayne began reading my bio, which explained that I was a survivor and that a result of my experiences, I wanted to help others and that I became a counselor and am an advocate. As the 200 or so people in the audience applauded, I was nearly brought to tears right there. In the 30 seconds I was on stage, I had a huge realization. Something I knew, but that had not hit me until that moment. I was a survivor! I had been through something that no one should have to go through and I survived it. Not only was I a survivor, I was facing my worst fear. That people would know I what had happened to me. The Broncos and their families were sitting at a table were we come on the stage at. I remember looking at their table as I walked back up the runway and they were all clapping and yelling loudly for me. I even made eye contact with one of the wives, who smiled and shook her yes at me. I had such a rush of emotion from the moment I was introduced that I couldn't even focus on my walk or whether or not I was doing it right. I have been on stage many times and this was the first time that I couldn't even begin to focus on what I was suppose to do and it was okay. I was having MY own personal experience here and I needed to have it. When the show was over, I got to walk to the end of the runway with Lori, which meant a lot to me because of her story, her support, her strength, inspiration and encouragement. I couldn't think of another person in the world I would have wanted to share the stage with in that moment. Backstage, whether it was shown or not, we all had emotions going on inside of us. Some that I'm sure we had addressed before and some that were new. This had been a celebration. A celebration of survivors and awareness and it had been a success.
I can't begin to thank Lori and Dwayne enough for what they are doing to raise awareness and what they have done for me personally. I love you guys and thank you from the bottom of my heart for what you are doing and for how you have inspired me.
Visit the Denver Denim Day Fashion Show at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Denver-Denim-Day-Fashion-Show-2013/269610583119798
A and I with Jeremiah Johnson and Quenten Saulsberry
A and I with Virgil Green
My beautiful friend, Erin
Lori and I with our designer, Rinchenn Sherpa
Teen Colorado Universal, Mrs. Louisiana US Universal, Ms US Universal (Lori) and myself
With Lori Krout ending the show
My DDD Ad
Amazing People - Dwayne Glapion & Lori Krout
Sunday, March 17, 2013
A Mother's Love
After I had my oldest daughter, Skylar, almost 9 years ago; I wondered how mothers could have multiple children and love them all the same. I had so much love for my daughter, I could not imagine loving anyone else as much.
When I found out I was expecting my second daughter in March of last year, I worried about whether or not I would love this new baby as much as I loved my oldest child. That fear begin to subside when I heard the new baby's heartbeat for the first time. The feeling subsided even more when I found out the new baby was going to be another girl and even more when I began to feel her move inside my stomach. By the time I gave birth and held her in my arms for the first time, there was no doubt that I did, indeed, love this baby as much as I loved my older child.
I am amazed on a daily basis how much more I love both of my girls each passing day. The love a mother has for her children is special and only mothers can understand that love. And when I say mothers, I don't mean only biological mothers. Anyone, be it an adopted mother, biological mother, surrogate mother, etc. develops a love for their children that is unexplainable. As you watch your children grow and you yourself grow with your children, your love for them also grows. Being a mother is the most incredible experience anyone can have.
When I hold my littlest one in my arms and look at her, I'm overcome with love and joy. Being a mother can be difficult at times, especially when you have a lack of sleep during the first few months of having a baby at home, but there is nothing that gives me greater joy. Holding my baby and watching how much she changes on a daily basis and looking at my big girl and watching how much she is learning and growing and how she's changed from a little girl into a more mature kid leaves me in constant amazement. There is no greater joy in life or no greater love than your children. A mother has room in her heart for many children and her heart grows larger with each one. Someone once told me that the more you love, the more you have to love with. I believe that to be true, because I can't imagine loving my girls less. I can, however, imagine loving my girls more with each passing day.
For all you mothers out there, treasure each day with your children. Hold them. Love them. Cherish them. Grow with them.
My oldest daughter loves books. In one of her favorite books is a little saying that I love and believe holds true:
"I will love you forever
I will like you for always
As long as I'm living
My baby you'll be."
To my baby girls, Sky and Avery, I love you both very much and am blessed to be your mommy!
"I will love you both forever, I will like you both for always and as long as I'm living, my babies you'll be." :-)
When I found out I was expecting my second daughter in March of last year, I worried about whether or not I would love this new baby as much as I loved my oldest child. That fear begin to subside when I heard the new baby's heartbeat for the first time. The feeling subsided even more when I found out the new baby was going to be another girl and even more when I began to feel her move inside my stomach. By the time I gave birth and held her in my arms for the first time, there was no doubt that I did, indeed, love this baby as much as I loved my older child.
I am amazed on a daily basis how much more I love both of my girls each passing day. The love a mother has for her children is special and only mothers can understand that love. And when I say mothers, I don't mean only biological mothers. Anyone, be it an adopted mother, biological mother, surrogate mother, etc. develops a love for their children that is unexplainable. As you watch your children grow and you yourself grow with your children, your love for them also grows. Being a mother is the most incredible experience anyone can have.
When I hold my littlest one in my arms and look at her, I'm overcome with love and joy. Being a mother can be difficult at times, especially when you have a lack of sleep during the first few months of having a baby at home, but there is nothing that gives me greater joy. Holding my baby and watching how much she changes on a daily basis and looking at my big girl and watching how much she is learning and growing and how she's changed from a little girl into a more mature kid leaves me in constant amazement. There is no greater joy in life or no greater love than your children. A mother has room in her heart for many children and her heart grows larger with each one. Someone once told me that the more you love, the more you have to love with. I believe that to be true, because I can't imagine loving my girls less. I can, however, imagine loving my girls more with each passing day.
For all you mothers out there, treasure each day with your children. Hold them. Love them. Cherish them. Grow with them.
My oldest daughter loves books. In one of her favorite books is a little saying that I love and believe holds true:
"I will love you forever
I will like you for always
As long as I'm living
My baby you'll be."
To my baby girls, Sky and Avery, I love you both very much and am blessed to be your mommy!
"I will love you both forever, I will like you both for always and as long as I'm living, my babies you'll be." :-)
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Dating Violence
February is National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. A few months ago, I contact all the high school counselors and principals in the San Luis Valley asking to speak this month to their students. Of the many schools in the SLV, I only heard back from three and I have so far spoke at two: Creede and Center. Center asked me to not only speak to their high school students, but also their middle school. They also asked me to hold a workshop on the subject for some of the students and I will be holding a workshop for parents of the students in March.
I was very anxious when I decided to do these presentations because I'm scared to death of public speaking. I have been asked to speak at small organizational meetings, but have never spoke to a group the size of a high school. I was glad I spoke to Creede High School first. I had revamped my presentation probably three or four times before I came up with what I presented. I found a video created by El Paso County Social Services to promote dating violence awareness and open my presentation with the video. I decided not to speak or introduce myself until after the video (link to video below). Creede is a very small school, so I only presented to about 20 people, which was nice. The students were very respectful and attentive and after speaking to some of the faculty at the school, I gained confidence in my presentation. One of the male faculty members said he thought opening up with the video grabs the student's attention. I walked away from the presentation feeling good about the presentation and with a gained confidence in myself.
Last week on February 13th, I spoke at Center Middle/High School. There were about 150 students at both presentations. I was very surprised that the Middle School students were as inquisitive as they were. I expected more feedback and questions from the high school students. After the presentation, I had a number of questions from some of the middle school students and had a young man come up to me and told me he had just broken up with his girlfriend. A couple of his friends were joking around with him about it. After each presentation, it was announced that I would be holding a workshop on dating violence. I had about 25-30 students attend the workshop, the majority were middle school students. The young man who had talked to me after the presentation was present for the workshop. Part of my workshop included passing out a handout of Rights and Responsibilities in a Relationship. When we were reviewing a person's rights in a relationship, the young man said that he had not had these rights in his relationship. I think it hit him at that moment that he had been in an abusive and controlling relationship. He first joked and laughed about it, as did some of the other boys. I said it's not funny, it is serious. They all said they thought it was funny because it was a guy being abused. I then explained that guys can be abused as well and we discussed the seriousness of the situation. I was very proud of him for being willing to talk about his relationship, so that others in the room would not feel alone and see that men can also be victims of dating/domestic violence. After I finished my portion of the workshop, I let the students ask me questions. They had some great questions, which ranged from general dv questions to personal questions about my own experience. One young lady asked me how she could help someone she thought was being abused. Another asked me if I had trouble entering into another relationship after being abused and another asked me if I had forgiven my ex-husband for the abuse in our marriage. I was really impressed by these students and their eagerness to learn and share. I look forward to talking to these students parents next month and hope they are as receptive as their children.
You can view my presentation to Center High School by visiting my YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/heatherdmeyer.
~ Nationally, 1 in 3 high school students experience some sort of abuse in their relationship.
~ 40% of girls ages 14-17 know someone their age who has been hit or beaten by their partner.
~ 80% of girls who are abused continue to date their abuser.
~ 85% of DV victims are women and 15% are men.
~ Boys who witness or are victims of DV are twice as likely to abuse their own children and partners
as adults.
~ 45% of murdered women in Colorado are murdered by an intimate partner.
~ The number one location for DV is in the victim or abusers home.
As an adult, 1 in 4 women will experience or will have experienced dating/domestic violence. Dating/domestic violence is twice as likely to occur to a woman than breast cancer (breast cancer rates are 1 in 8). While it is important to promote Breast Cancer Awareness and Prevention, it is just as important to promote Dating & Domestic Violence Awareness and offer support to the quarter of the female population in America who are living in fear of their intimate partners. This is why I hope to get into more schools and do more presentations on a local, state and hopefully national level. These women (and men) need to know that they are not alone, there is support and help available to them and that they can have a bright, fearless, violence free future.
Link to Video used in Presentation:
Part 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZ11945KwZc
Part 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=074i9C-6LoA
I was very anxious when I decided to do these presentations because I'm scared to death of public speaking. I have been asked to speak at small organizational meetings, but have never spoke to a group the size of a high school. I was glad I spoke to Creede High School first. I had revamped my presentation probably three or four times before I came up with what I presented. I found a video created by El Paso County Social Services to promote dating violence awareness and open my presentation with the video. I decided not to speak or introduce myself until after the video (link to video below). Creede is a very small school, so I only presented to about 20 people, which was nice. The students were very respectful and attentive and after speaking to some of the faculty at the school, I gained confidence in my presentation. One of the male faculty members said he thought opening up with the video grabs the student's attention. I walked away from the presentation feeling good about the presentation and with a gained confidence in myself.
Last week on February 13th, I spoke at Center Middle/High School. There were about 150 students at both presentations. I was very surprised that the Middle School students were as inquisitive as they were. I expected more feedback and questions from the high school students. After the presentation, I had a number of questions from some of the middle school students and had a young man come up to me and told me he had just broken up with his girlfriend. A couple of his friends were joking around with him about it. After each presentation, it was announced that I would be holding a workshop on dating violence. I had about 25-30 students attend the workshop, the majority were middle school students. The young man who had talked to me after the presentation was present for the workshop. Part of my workshop included passing out a handout of Rights and Responsibilities in a Relationship. When we were reviewing a person's rights in a relationship, the young man said that he had not had these rights in his relationship. I think it hit him at that moment that he had been in an abusive and controlling relationship. He first joked and laughed about it, as did some of the other boys. I said it's not funny, it is serious. They all said they thought it was funny because it was a guy being abused. I then explained that guys can be abused as well and we discussed the seriousness of the situation. I was very proud of him for being willing to talk about his relationship, so that others in the room would not feel alone and see that men can also be victims of dating/domestic violence. After I finished my portion of the workshop, I let the students ask me questions. They had some great questions, which ranged from general dv questions to personal questions about my own experience. One young lady asked me how she could help someone she thought was being abused. Another asked me if I had trouble entering into another relationship after being abused and another asked me if I had forgiven my ex-husband for the abuse in our marriage. I was really impressed by these students and their eagerness to learn and share. I look forward to talking to these students parents next month and hope they are as receptive as their children.
You can view my presentation to Center High School by visiting my YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/heatherdmeyer.
~ Nationally, 1 in 3 high school students experience some sort of abuse in their relationship.
~ 40% of girls ages 14-17 know someone their age who has been hit or beaten by their partner.
~ 80% of girls who are abused continue to date their abuser.
~ 85% of DV victims are women and 15% are men.
~ Boys who witness or are victims of DV are twice as likely to abuse their own children and partners
as adults.
~ 45% of murdered women in Colorado are murdered by an intimate partner.
~ The number one location for DV is in the victim or abusers home.
As an adult, 1 in 4 women will experience or will have experienced dating/domestic violence. Dating/domestic violence is twice as likely to occur to a woman than breast cancer (breast cancer rates are 1 in 8). While it is important to promote Breast Cancer Awareness and Prevention, it is just as important to promote Dating & Domestic Violence Awareness and offer support to the quarter of the female population in America who are living in fear of their intimate partners. This is why I hope to get into more schools and do more presentations on a local, state and hopefully national level. These women (and men) need to know that they are not alone, there is support and help available to them and that they can have a bright, fearless, violence free future.
Link to Video used in Presentation:
Part 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZ11945KwZc
Part 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=074i9C-6LoA
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Passing Judgement and Stereotypes
I am always amazed at how we, as a society, so easily pass judgement on people and/or things we don't understand or doesn't make sense to us. We see a certain type of person at an airport or on the street and they have to be a terrorist, we see someone extremely thin and (s)he has to have an eating disorder, we see someone overweight and they have to be lazy, we see someone dressed a certain way and they have to be a thug, gang member, slut, etc., we see a woman who is bald and she must have cancer.
We too often jump to conclusions about and make judgements towards people based on their appearance without taking the time to find out anything about them. What do we think when we see someone with numerous tattoos or piercings? With dreads? Wearing dark clothing with dark makeup and nail polish? How does our perception of these people compare to someone we see wearing a business suit? Clean cut?
It is a shame that we rush to such conclusions and judgements about people based solely on their appearance. It angers me to hear someone make fun of someone who is overweight. That person may not be able to help the fact that (s)he is overweight. Their weight could be genetic, they could have a thyroid issue, there could be underlying issues causing the person to over eat. We don't know anything about this person or why (s)he is the size they are. The same goes for someone who is too skinny. (S)He could be sick or ill, have a thyroid problem, it could be a side effect of medication....who knows. And what angers me more is when we judge people based on their race, ethnicity or religion. Not every Muslim is a terrorist, not every black person is a thug, not every Hispanic person is here illegally. I posted a picture below that I love because it shows just how stereotypical and judgmental our society can be.
Before we decide to judge or stereotype someone, we need to get to them as a person for who they are and for what they stand for. We need to quit casting our judgements on them. Judging people before you know them is not positive for the person doing the judging or the person being judged. God wants us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves and yet we are quick to judge our neighbor, but not look at ourselves. There is no one perfect person and if you were too look closely at your own life, you will find areas and times in which you are not and have not been perfect. You wouldn't want someone judging you for your mistakes or the mistakes of your race, ancestors, ect. Let's think about this before we decide to judge others and the world will be a happier place.
We too often jump to conclusions about and make judgements towards people based on their appearance without taking the time to find out anything about them. What do we think when we see someone with numerous tattoos or piercings? With dreads? Wearing dark clothing with dark makeup and nail polish? How does our perception of these people compare to someone we see wearing a business suit? Clean cut?
It is a shame that we rush to such conclusions and judgements about people based solely on their appearance. It angers me to hear someone make fun of someone who is overweight. That person may not be able to help the fact that (s)he is overweight. Their weight could be genetic, they could have a thyroid issue, there could be underlying issues causing the person to over eat. We don't know anything about this person or why (s)he is the size they are. The same goes for someone who is too skinny. (S)He could be sick or ill, have a thyroid problem, it could be a side effect of medication....who knows. And what angers me more is when we judge people based on their race, ethnicity or religion. Not every Muslim is a terrorist, not every black person is a thug, not every Hispanic person is here illegally. I posted a picture below that I love because it shows just how stereotypical and judgmental our society can be.
Before we decide to judge or stereotype someone, we need to get to them as a person for who they are and for what they stand for. We need to quit casting our judgements on them. Judging people before you know them is not positive for the person doing the judging or the person being judged. God wants us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves and yet we are quick to judge our neighbor, but not look at ourselves. There is no one perfect person and if you were too look closely at your own life, you will find areas and times in which you are not and have not been perfect. You wouldn't want someone judging you for your mistakes or the mistakes of your race, ancestors, ect. Let's think about this before we decide to judge others and the world will be a happier place.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
My Personal Tips for New Moms
Having and older child and a newborn, I have found some things that work and that I personally swear by. Some things are products, some things are simple things you can do. Here are some of my personal tips for new moms....or any mom with a newborn.
Breast-Feeding:
The tank top nursing bras from Walmart (about $13 each) are awesome! They allow you to nurse, but still cover your back and stomach, so if you are nursing in public with a cover, your skin isn't showing when you raise your shirt (if you're wearing a pull over shirt).
The First Years Nursing Care Lanolin Free Nipple Butter is the best thing ever for use after nursing. It is all organic and made of 100% food grade ingredients, so it is safe to use prior to and after nursing.
Develop a Routine:
Regardless of the time, I have a routine I stick to in order to get my 8 week old to sleep. We've been doing this routine since her umbilical cord came off when she was two weeks old. She now knows that regardless of the time, when we do the following things we are getting ready for bed. Your routine doesn't need to be the same as mine. Create one that works for you and your baby.
My routine - when I'm ready to go to bed for the night and want my baby to go to sleep, I run a really warm bath and baby and I soak in the tub for about 15-20 minutes. She sits in my lap half in the water and then we play and she swims (with my help of course). I then bathe her with lavender baby soap and upon exiting the tub dust her with lavender baby powder and put on her pajamas. Then we lay in bed and I nurse her until she falls asleep and then I place her in her bed. At 8 weeks, she is sleeping 6-7 hours a night and it doesn't matter what time we go to bed as long as we follow this routine.
After Baby:
Many moms have problems losing the baby weight or lose the weight but have lost the tight and firm body they once had. It Works! Ultimate Body Applicator and supplements are AWESOME! The body applicator starts shedding inches after only 45 minutes and continues to work for 72 hours. The results last 2-6 months depending upon exercise and diet. I love the products so much, I am now a distributor for them: http://gethealthywithheathermeyer.myitworks.com.
Noise or Quiet????:
I have a very loud family, so I have never asked people to be quiet around my children when they were sleeping. Both can sleep through anything because they are accustom to the noise. We can go to loud restaurants, friends homes, etc. with our newborn and she will sleep because the noise doesn't bother her. My older daughter can fall asleep anywhere because of it.
Hope some of these tips help some of you! :-)
Breast-Feeding:
The tank top nursing bras from Walmart (about $13 each) are awesome! They allow you to nurse, but still cover your back and stomach, so if you are nursing in public with a cover, your skin isn't showing when you raise your shirt (if you're wearing a pull over shirt).
The First Years Nursing Care Lanolin Free Nipple Butter is the best thing ever for use after nursing. It is all organic and made of 100% food grade ingredients, so it is safe to use prior to and after nursing.
Develop a Routine:
Regardless of the time, I have a routine I stick to in order to get my 8 week old to sleep. We've been doing this routine since her umbilical cord came off when she was two weeks old. She now knows that regardless of the time, when we do the following things we are getting ready for bed. Your routine doesn't need to be the same as mine. Create one that works for you and your baby.
My routine - when I'm ready to go to bed for the night and want my baby to go to sleep, I run a really warm bath and baby and I soak in the tub for about 15-20 minutes. She sits in my lap half in the water and then we play and she swims (with my help of course). I then bathe her with lavender baby soap and upon exiting the tub dust her with lavender baby powder and put on her pajamas. Then we lay in bed and I nurse her until she falls asleep and then I place her in her bed. At 8 weeks, she is sleeping 6-7 hours a night and it doesn't matter what time we go to bed as long as we follow this routine.
After Baby:
Many moms have problems losing the baby weight or lose the weight but have lost the tight and firm body they once had. It Works! Ultimate Body Applicator and supplements are AWESOME! The body applicator starts shedding inches after only 45 minutes and continues to work for 72 hours. The results last 2-6 months depending upon exercise and diet. I love the products so much, I am now a distributor for them: http://gethealthywithheathermeyer.myitworks.com.
Noise or Quiet????:
I have a very loud family, so I have never asked people to be quiet around my children when they were sleeping. Both can sleep through anything because they are accustom to the noise. We can go to loud restaurants, friends homes, etc. with our newborn and she will sleep because the noise doesn't bother her. My older daughter can fall asleep anywhere because of it.
Hope some of these tips help some of you! :-)
Friday, January 4, 2013
Starting 2013 Off Right
WOW! I can't believe 2012 is already over. What a year for me it was!
Graduated my Master's program, passed my licensing exam, started my own counseling practice and had a baby!
I'm hoping to make 2013 an even bigger and better year. Just this week, I became an Independent Distributor for It Works! Global. I look forward to working with my team to help others live healthier through diet, exercise, supplements and other It Works! products. I am trying my best to attend the It Works! Freedom 2013 conference mid-month. This would be a great opportunity since I am new to the company.
In order to make 2013 a great year, I am setting some goals for myself, both financial and personal and encourage everyone to do the same. There is a study that says a person is more likely to reach their goals if they put them on paper and read them everyday. These are not New Year Resolutions, they are simply goals I hope to obtain.
So here are my goals for 2013:
To earn a minimum $500 a month as an It Works! Distributor
To become certified in Hypnobirthing
To increase my counseling practice/hypnotherapy/hypnobirthing clientele
To implement a counseling program into a local hospital
To take a family vacation to somewhere Tropical (Bahamas, Jamaica, etc.) or to Disney
To obtain a National Sponsor for the Mrs. Colorado pageant
To win the title of Mrs. Colorado 2013
To found a local beauty pageant (Little Miss SLV, Miss SLV Preteen, Miss SLV Teen and Miss SLV)
To award the 2nd SLV Break the Cycle Scholarship to a deserving SLV senior
To increase Break the Cycle Race against Domestic Violence 5K Walk/Run participation to at least 75 participants
To live healthier and happier
To see the positive even in the worst situations
To cut back on my addictions...........SUGAR and CAFFIENE
To be a better friend, mother and wife
To not take a single moment in life for granted
To give more to others (either financially, emotionally, physically or spiritually)
To live a more Godly lifestyle and be a good Christian role model for my daughters
To help my oldest daughter (8 yrs) set and reach her personal goals (and boy does she have some.....one of her life goals is to be on America's Got Talent)
I would love to hear your goals and aspirations for 2013. Comment on this post with them if you'd like to share!
Here is to a happy, beautiful, healthy, blessed and life changing year! Happy New Year!!!!
Graduated my Master's program, passed my licensing exam, started my own counseling practice and had a baby!
I'm hoping to make 2013 an even bigger and better year. Just this week, I became an Independent Distributor for It Works! Global. I look forward to working with my team to help others live healthier through diet, exercise, supplements and other It Works! products. I am trying my best to attend the It Works! Freedom 2013 conference mid-month. This would be a great opportunity since I am new to the company.
In order to make 2013 a great year, I am setting some goals for myself, both financial and personal and encourage everyone to do the same. There is a study that says a person is more likely to reach their goals if they put them on paper and read them everyday. These are not New Year Resolutions, they are simply goals I hope to obtain.
So here are my goals for 2013:
To earn a minimum $500 a month as an It Works! Distributor
To become certified in Hypnobirthing
To increase my counseling practice/hypnotherapy/hypnobirthing clientele
To implement a counseling program into a local hospital
To take a family vacation to somewhere Tropical (Bahamas, Jamaica, etc.) or to Disney
To obtain a National Sponsor for the Mrs. Colorado pageant
To win the title of Mrs. Colorado 2013
To found a local beauty pageant (Little Miss SLV, Miss SLV Preteen, Miss SLV Teen and Miss SLV)
To award the 2nd SLV Break the Cycle Scholarship to a deserving SLV senior
To increase Break the Cycle Race against Domestic Violence 5K Walk/Run participation to at least 75 participants
To live healthier and happier
To see the positive even in the worst situations
To cut back on my addictions...........SUGAR and CAFFIENE
To be a better friend, mother and wife
To not take a single moment in life for granted
To give more to others (either financially, emotionally, physically or spiritually)
To live a more Godly lifestyle and be a good Christian role model for my daughters
To help my oldest daughter (8 yrs) set and reach her personal goals (and boy does she have some.....one of her life goals is to be on America's Got Talent)
I would love to hear your goals and aspirations for 2013. Comment on this post with them if you'd like to share!
Here is to a happy, beautiful, healthy, blessed and life changing year! Happy New Year!!!!
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