Friday Favorites - This Family

Brandon and Carrie have made THE most beautiful family - full of love, laughter, organization, beauty, hard work, team work, lots of diapers, lots of naked babies running around because they don't want a diaper put on them, lots of crockpot meals, lots of sleepiness, lots of toys everywhere... And I could not be more grateful to be a part of it! I love these four to the moon and back!

Friday Favorites - Belief

Some weeks, it just seems like it's harder to make it to Friday. Then, once we do - it's a sh*t show mess!

That has been this week. Work has been crazy. The boys are SO done with school. Jackson is having his wisdom teeth out next Friday. Then graduation. Colton is done and done with school this year. Braxton is struggling with life. Kaydon is just Kaydon. I have been struggling with my left hand this week... everything is totally fine, but I have come to understand that my left hand is just not as strong as it used to be and certainly not as strong as my right hand. I try not to think about it, but when I do I cry. Then I pick myself back up and keep going. It's just nothing but a thing!

Braxton sat on my bed this week and asked, "What's the point? We are all just here to die anyways!!" Yeah, this mama didn't take lightly to that. I explained to him that we are here for so much more than to just die. I told him that as I laid in the hospital after being told I had just experienced a stroke and I was paralyzed, I thought of all of the things I may not be able to do again. I sobbed as I thought about how I'd never be able to take care of my children again, the house again, my work again. I thought about how I would never be a multi-tasker again. I thought about how I'd never be able to pull my hair back again or curl my hair again or color again. I thought about everything that I "couldn't" or "wouldn't" again. Then I shut myself right up and decided it was time to battle. I told myself every night that in the morning, I would walk. The next morning I woke up. I couldn't walk, but I could talk. Did that make that day a failure? Nope. The next morning, I didn't walk, but I could move my thumb to my index finger. Was that day a failure? Nope. The next morning, I still couldn't walk, but I could swallow. So, was that day a failure? Nope. I could have seen them as failures because I wasn't walking, but instead I saw them as HUGE victories, as big successes, as enormous tender mercies. I saw them as coulds and woulds and dids.

When we believe that who we are and where we are and what we are and why we are is enough, then it becomes enough. It becomes more than enough. When we see our lives as abundant, no matter what our situation is, then it is abundant. And good. And enough. So, today I choose to get through my Friday in abundance and joy and coulds and woulds and dos and dids. Today, I choose to believe in good.

Friday Favorites - Miss Tami Sells Oils

My Tami sells oils. I've never been much of an oil person because it seems like a lot of work to know everything about each of them... however, with children and a stroke I've begun to use them more and my Tami is the woman for the job!!

On my first day back from the stroke, Caroline brought me a bottle of oil for headaches. I use it every single day and it works. People, it WORKS. Like, immediately works. On Saturday, they gave me a necklace. It's a little fish that has a little ball inside of it that I can dip in my oil at the beginning of the day. It's SO cute and so perfect. Pictured below is one of their elephant necklaces. They have SO many options... motorcycles, butterflies, crosses, lots of animals. Then you choose the color ball you want to put in the necklace and you can dip it in oil and it does it's job the whole day!

Seriously, go to Facebook and look up my Tami Rees Hunter and let her know what your needs are!

Friday Favorites - A Few of My Favorite Things

I am about two months into my Younique journey. I have not put a time frame on my Younique journey. I am all-in.

I am determined to be successful, and to come always from a place of abundance.

I am determined to have a second job which is successful so that I can support my family.

I am determined to continue to increase my own self love and to increase others' as best as I can... not by wearing a lot of makeup... not by putting a mask on every night... but by really realizing our worth and that we are good enough today, at this moment, right now.

I am really having a blast trying new creative looks. I believe it's the increase in self love which allows me to feel more creative, more daring, and more okay with being me... whatever that is.

I am so thankful for the support of those who love me... my family, MY BOYS, my T, my Jakki, my Caroline, Tami, Joy, Dave, Eddie, my mama, my Heidi, my Becca, and my Logan!!! Thank you to everyone who watches my hot-mess Lives, to everyone who comments and shares. Thank you for all that you are all doing to support us!

Friday Favorites - Confidence

Dear Friends,

Confidence is a tough word for me.

Since the stroke I have learned so much about myself, my childhood, my triggers, my hold-ups, the whys, the hows, and the tricky goal of becoming Heidi 2.0.

I have learned in the last couple of months that part of the reason why I always saw myself in such a negative light was due to something my second grade teacher used to instill in us repeatedly... like every single day. She was one of my favorite teachers. I wanted so badly to make her proud, to make her like me, to have her praise me. I just wanted to be praised. She was older (in her 60's or 70's) and was from the Phillipines. I thought she was so beautiful and so wise. Her accent was dazzling to me in my little 8 year-old mind. Daily, she told us that we should never "brag" or speak well of ourselves. She explained that by doing this, people would never like us, in fact they would dislike us very much. This was discussed daily. I'm not sure that any other young child took it to the extreme like I did. But, heaven knows I took it to the extreme. In my little head, I determined that NOT liking myself at all would make people like me. I was determined to be humble, to the extreme - like to the most unhealthy extreme. So, any feelings, any emotions, any thoughts I had about myself went into the figurative closet so that I would not have to deal with them. This equaled a stroke on December 10, 2017. But, it equaled so much more. It equaled an eating disorder, unbelievably unhealthy relationships, the inability to see myself as worth it or good enough, and the fear of failure... again, to the extreme. Everything went to the extreme. And, in the unhealthy relationships I believed whole-heartedly that I deserved was I was getting and that I would never deserve anything better. Afterall, liking myself at all was unacceptable.

Fast-forward to December 11, 2017.

I determined I was going to change. I determined that this life I had been living for FORTY years was unacceptable. Not liking myself was unacceptable. Not feeling that I was worth it or good enough was unacceptable. Constantly feeling that I needed to fear every single mistake in life was not acceptable. We are ALL worth it. We are ALL good enough. And, Heidi- bragging is much different than loving yourself enough to be kind to yourself! FYI.

I have now been a Younique presenter and seller for a little over one month. And, I have put my face on Facebook lives and on selfies. I have talked about my passions. I have done my makeup in front of everyone who wants to watch. I have decided that I am confident in who I have because I am a daughter of God. I am His. He created me. I didn't create myself! He created me. He loves me, regardless of the stupid things I do. My value, and yours, is not up for discussion.

It took me a while - okay, WAY too long - to figure this out, but here I am. Here we are.

Friday Favorites - Customized Tumblers

You guys!!!

Seriously, look at these. My sweet friend, Amy, makes these! Can you imagine the talent?!

They start at $25. You can buy a plain one at Ross for more than that. For real.

Email her and place your order!! lov2dohair2005@yahoo.com

Friday Favorites - Lip Plumper!!!

This bundle of goodness arrived on Tuesday. I texted Miss T on Friday or Saturday or Sunday (can't remember) and told her that I needed more eye brow gel, eye liner, and that I always love mascara! She replied that it would all be arriving the next day. She kind of knows how I roll! When I opened the box, I had two new surprises - eyelash serum & epic mascara AND lip plumper. O to the M to the G!!!!

First of all, I have loved every single mascara option Younique has had. Love it. Remember, I used to pull my eyelashes out... I don't anymore! LOVE! But, this eyelash serum and epic mascara... YOU WANT THIS IN YOUR STOCKING. You're welcome.

Second of all, lip plumper. I have never worn lip stick or lip gloss. They feel really uncomfortable to me. I don't wear that much makeup to begin with. I definitely re-apply chap stick all day long, but no lip stick. This lip plumper is the bomb dot com. Ladies... put it on your Christmas list NOW.

Then, give that list and this link to your people who will be buying you Christmas gifts:
Teresa's Beauty Shop

Again, it's my pleasure!!

Friday Favorites - Dances

Both of the boys asked girls to Homecoming on Monday - before school started. How cute is this? "Please be a SMARTIE. Go to Homecoming with this Dum-Dum?"

Friday Favorites - Friendship

Last night when I got home from the gym, I saw this. I finally bought Colton a rubber band/loom/bracelet kit. He can make these for hours. It's so good for him, his hand-eye coordination, his focus, and his creativity. Amia had laid a blanket out in front of our house and was helping to organize the colors and grouping things together. They were talking about the upcoming school year. Amia is a smarty-pants! She will be in 8th grade, but is already looking in to scholarships. She is oh, so good with Colton. She treats him just like she would treat anyone else. They are friends. I love that little family! I love their mama for raising them to be accepting and kind and patient and to focus on the hearts of people.

Friday Favorites - Eye Shadow

Girls - and guys - (no judgement zone here!) this is my eye shadow. I use Palette One from Younique. I have used this palette for almost a year! This same palette! And, look how much is still left! I love all of the mixes and matches that I can do, which is why it's the only palette I use. It doesn't rub off or get crackly. It doesn't fade. It stays on the whole day long and makes me feel like I am presentable in public! I LOVE this stuff!!!

Seriously, get with MY Teresa! https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=teresa's%20beauty%20boutique

Friday Favorites - Clothing Exchange

I am a girl who seriously dislikes shopping. Like, a lot. I am also a girl with very little money to do any shopping anyhow. I have four teenage boys who will not stop growing at incredible rates of speed. Seriously. If I go a season (winter or summer) without wearing something in my closet, then obviously I don't need it. So, I bag it up and take it to my favorite clothing store: https://runwayfashionexchange.com/

Sometimes they buy my used clothing, and when they do I simply exchange it for other pieces that I find in the store. I leave there not paying a dime for clothing. If they don't buy it, they donate it to foster kids - which I absolutely LOVE so much.

This is really my favorite way to shop. I give them the stuff I haven't worn for half a year. I pick out clothes that I adore. It's a win win and I love that!

Friday Favorites - Fast Food!

I might be a little slow... I get that. However, I just found these little bits of goodness! I keep a box in my office and each day I use one as part of a snack with either celery or apples. It is delicious. It's such a good, easy source of protein. AND, it makes me happy. Seriously... these are the best little ideas since bagged sliced apples.

Friday Favorites - Flavoring

I can't drink water by itself. Unless I'm working out or hiking. Otherwise, I have to have it flavored. I have not had a Diet Coke for a week. I am trying so hard to drink 64 ounces of water every day and so far this week, I've done it! But, it's got to have flavor. So... I stock up on water and I stock up on flavors. It's super cheap, like a dollar per box. I LOVE the Wyler's Light Strawberry Lemonade and Cherry Limeade and I love the Hawaiian Punch Berry Blue Typhoon and Fruit Juicy Red.

Here's to drinking no soda and tons of flavored water!!!

Friday Favorites - Bath Bombs

These are the best! Mister got me a six piece set and they all have different scents and oils in them. They are so fun. I love the way they feel on my skin. Such a fun gift idea!!!

Friday Favorites - 21 Days Closer

B Beck sent me a book. This book:

It is a book that challenges us for 21 days to be closer to Christ. I have decided to do 21 WEEKS of being closer to Christ. I am using it personally, where I set my own goal for the week ahead. I am also using it for our Family Home Evenings. Each Monday night, the boys gather 'round my bed and I read to them the next week's message and goal. We then pray about what we can do for the next week to accomplish the goal that we set.

It's an easy way for this very busy mama to insert goals, and more importantly spiritual goals, in to my family's lives.

Friday Favorites - Hawaiian Macadamias!!

P got back from Hawaii yesterday. He brought Heidi Ray these:

Uhhhhhhh, People! I know these are in Hawaii. Maybe you can order them online??? Seriously. These, alone, might be worth the trip across the pond to Hawaii!!!!

Friday Favorites - It's Friday

The fact that it is Friday and the beginning of the weekend is my Friday Favorite today. I know, no super duper ideas on stuff, no recipes, no clever suggestions -- just the fact that it's Friday is my favorite.

Tomorrow night is the General Women's broadcast, or the beginning of General Conference. It is amazing to sit and listen to those chosen speak to us, as women. It is humbling and inspiring. I have learned to pray before watching, or reading, the words spoken. I often pray that through their words, I will feel (really FEEL) the love that my Heavenly Father has for me and my children. I will be praying for that again this weekend.