Goal Setting & Using Positive Affirmations – Does It Really Work?

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Marie

Motivational Quote - 7 Days in a week, someday isn't one of themI am not sure if I have mentioned it before or not, but I am a huge fan of self help/success/motivational books.  My all time favorite book is “The Success Principles” by Jack Canfield.  I am reading it right now for the third time – I read it about once a year.  (It looks like a really huge book, but once you get reading it, you will find yourself so caught up in it, it seems to be finished in no time!!  At least if you are interested in this kind of reading……)

I love reading about things like the Law of Attraction – yes, I read “The Secret” and I loved it – and anything motivational to help you reach goals and achieve everything you want in your life.

I also am a strong believer in being grateful for what you have in your life.  I have a journal that I list everything I can think of in a day that I was thankful for – something as small as watching my dog play with her soccer ball in the backyard, to having one of my daughters tell me how much they love me.  I believe that everyone has something to be thankful for no matter what is going on in their lives.  If we look hard enough, and appreciate even the smallest things that give us joy, it can help to get through some of the most difficult struggles life can throw our way.

Feeling GratitudeOne thing I am trying to learn to do is affirmations.  I have a really hard time with how so many of the books teach you to say them – I find them difficult to remember and really not using a “language” that I would normally use.  That makes it hard for me to keep doing them because they just seem too “hokey” for me.

So yesterday, I made up some of my own affirmations, using some of the tips I have learned in books I have read, (mostly the Jack Canfield book…).  These all speak as though the goal has already been reached.  I put them onto some of the fancy digital paper I got – (which if you like them keep watching for a chance to win some of these papers and digital artwork yourself) – and used Picmonkey.com to write the affirmations.  I did something like 8 affirmations, and a couple of extra little motivational quotes which I then put into a seperate folder on my computer and have them randomly rotating as my computer screensaver.

It is great!  I let them run through a couple of times every time I am about to log on, and each time I read them over and picture the goal in my head to really get the feeling of it being achieved.

Here is one I made to give you an idea – feel free to use it yourself if you would like:-)  I love lots of color and tried to make them something I would enjoy looking at.
Affirmations For Wealth
I would really like to get some people together who enjoy reading these kind of books, and maybe even who are doing similar things, or would like to start, to have the chance to talk with like-minded people.  If you are interested, let me know, and I could put together a closed Facebook group.

One thing that is constantly reinforced in any motivational or success book, is to have a mastermind group of others who can keep you motivated and hold you accountable.  I would love to have a group of other people – whether moms, dads or whatever the case – who we could get together and chat about what we are reading, or what we are learning, what is working or not working, and to hold us accountable for our goals.

And, before you think “well I am not really wanting to become famous, or rich, or anything like that”, something like this can even help to achieve goals like having more time with your kids, being more organized in your home – anything you would like to improve in your life.

Anyway – if you think you would be interested, either comment below or send me an email at themom [AT] supermomchallenged [DOT] com   Just put something like “Motivational Group” in the subject line so I can keep them separate from other emails coming in:-)

Hopefully we can all support, motivate and enjoy the chance to learn and grow with each other!  And, I will likely keep the group fairly small depending on how it all goes, and what everyone feels comfortable with, so if you are interested, let me know ASAP!

**If you are interested in getting the “Success Principles” book I mentioned, you can order it on Amazon – just click the image below to get it!

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What Direction Will My Blog Go? And Another Shocking Confession…..

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Marie

You would assume that sitting around recovering from surgery would give me unlimited time to write about the many things I want to get posted……but for some reason, that just isn’t happening! I can’t seem to get my brain to focus long enough to do anything, and having to sit in a recliner with my laptop on my legs doesn’t make for a really comfortable working environment!

So, today it is time for a couple more confessions. (Many of you may remember my first big confession about not enjoying baking even though I am a stay at home mom….)

Monetizing My BlogFirst one – I am considered a “mom blogger”, and the traffic to my site is really starting to grow to very good numbers, but I just don’t know which direction I want to take my blog. Obviously, my blog is a mom blog – kind of hard to say otherwise when I write a lot about my kids and things that are going on as a parent – but I also enjoy writing about many other things. Current events, issues and other things like that.

I have done a couple of giveaways, and enjoy doing them – but I have to confess to getting a bit overwhelmed and pretty much completely indifferent to some of the giveaway posts and notifications on some of the blogs I follow. And, I have to admit that sometimes when I see a sponsored post I think, “not again”. One or two now and then isn’t a big deal – but unfortunately, it just seems like some blogs have just become giveaways and sponsored posts – with no personal or current events discussion at all anymore. I know it can be hard to find a balance, and we need to make money somehow, and I am really struggling with where I want mine to go.

I absolutely do want to make money with my blog – I love writing on it, it is a labor of love for me and one I have been doing without pay, but I completely admit it would be great to be making money from it. And, it seems like that is what I have to do to see any money coming in – but I don’t know if that is what I want to do.

I know one thing for sure – I don’t want my blog to become so full of ads that it takes my site a full minute to load, and then when it does, having popups everywhere and so many ads my readers don’t know which way to turn. That is a personal peeve of mine. I think I would rather charge a bit more for limited advertising, and give those people advertising prime attention. They aren’t having to compete with hundreds of other ads.

This is why I am reconsidering what direction my blog is going. I am considering offering limited advertising options – and if the people want the ad space, they need to pay for it and wait until there is an opening – not just keep adding more and more.

And, I am considering making it clear that while I will do sponsored posts, they will be limited. If my readers see a sponsored post on my blog, they know it has passed my personal scrutiny and it is something I believe will truly be of interest to them. I don’t want to be doing more than one a week – the rest of the posts need to be more personal.

Reviews that I do are my own. Sometimes, I am an affiliate for something that I think is awesome, and so I will write a review about it – but it is only something I have used myself and believe is great! And, sometimes I don’t get anything at all for my review – I also write reviews just about products I love and use but that I get nothing at all for promoting.

I will need to do some outside of the box thinking about how I will monetize my blog more than it is now, especially if I decide to go this route with it. I know that now as it is growing, I will need to decide what path I take with it. I guess I am just afraid of losing the “personality” of my blog and I don’t want to just be writing reviews and posts about things that really don’t interest me that much……

And now for my second confession – this one has nothing to do with blogging. In fact, it couldn’t be further from that at all…..

My Embarrassing Duck Dynasty ConfessionI guess it is just like ripping off a band-aid – easier to just do it! So, here it is:

I am a huge Duck Dynasty fan!!! Yes, I said it.

I know that it is majorly scripted, but I can’t help it. They are hilarious – and just remind me so much of my own family! (They will likely kill me for admitting this!)

And, even sadder – I might have a “small” crush on Jase, beard and all! And, I HATE beards!!!

I don’t know what it is, but for some reason, that show just strikes my funny bone. And I like how they are filthy rich, but don’t flaunt it – in fact, continue to live pretty much exactly as they always have, (maybe with fancier houses and vehicles:-)

So, yes, I have admitted it. It isn’t at all the kind of show I normally would ever be interested in, but somehow it managed to get me hooked!!!  And I am pretty sure there is only a very small number of women who actually watch this show like me!

Now that I have admitted it, you may even see some references to the show now and then:-)

Those are my latest confessions – I am a blogger who doesn’t know which way to go to monetize my blog, and I am a closet Duck Dynasty fan. Two pretty different things – but hey, that’s just how scattered my brain is these days!!

Also, I have just put up a post on my breast cancer blog talking about Angelina Jolie’s double mastectomy if you would like to hear my thoughts…..

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To My Kids….On Mother’s Day

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Marie

Mom QuotesSunday is Mother’s Day, and I know that my kids are always so excited to give me the special gifts they have made me. Every year, I end up with tears in my eyes as I read their cards and look at the gifts they have taken so much time to make. What my kids don’t realize though, is just how much they give me every single day – and while I look so forward to these special gifts on Mother’s Day – I know every time I look at my girls just how lucky I am, and I know that I have already received the best gift of all just by having them in my life.

Becoming a mom is truly the best gift I have ever been blessed with – and while I have my days where I could just lock myself away from the fighting, or the back-talk, or the whining and crying – the truth is, I would not change a thing.

Being able to watch my kids grow up is an amazing gift. Every time I see them do something new, or try something for the first time – I realize they are growing up just a little bit more. And, while I wish I could keep them small forever, I know that isn’t possible, so I need to just enjoy watching them learn and grow.

And, if I may brag just a bit, my girls are becoming pretty wonderful kids. I see the compassion they have, the desire to learn new things, the respect they have for other people, the way they love others – and I have to admit, I feel a tremendous amount of pride for the people they are becoming.

I know Mother’s Day is supposed to be the day the kids show their appreciation for their moms – but I want to take a couple of minutes and just say thank you to my girls. Without them, I wouldn’t have had the chance to be a mom – and being their mom is one thing I know beyond a doubt I would not trade for anything in the world.

I would also like to say thank you to my mom – she has had to deal with a lot the past couple of years, with me going through my surgeries and treatments, and I can’t even imagine how hard it must have been. She helped me through it all, and has been a rock I could always count on – not just these past few years, but my whole life.

And, while I have you here – I want to say Happy Mother’s Day to you too! (I know most of my readers are moms so…..)

We all deserve a pat on the back for doing the best we can for our kids every day, and I hope you get a day to enjoy your family. I know some days it might seem like what we do is simply taken for granted, and no one really appreciates any of the things we do. Mother’s Day is a chance for our kids to let us know just how much they do appreciate what we do.

I hope you all have a wonderful Mother’s Day – I am thankful for each and every one of my readers, moms who deserve a day of relaxation and appreciation for all that you do every day:-)

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3 Missing Girls Returned Home – How Do We Prepare Our Kids?

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Marie

The past 2 days have held me glued to my TV watching everything being reported about the 3 Cleveland kidnap victims who were found alive and returned home.

Amanda Berry, Gina Dejesus and Michelle Knight.As a mom, it is heartbreaking to watch it all unfold. Don’t get me wrong – I am ecstatic and beyond happy to see these girls still alive after all of those years missing. It is a miracle in the truest sense of the word.

But, as a mom, it kills me to think of what they had to endure. And, as a mom, what their family had to live with all of the years they were missing.

I have a hard time finding the words during something like this. (And – as I am sure many of you realize – I am rarely at a loss for words….)

It is just beyond what I can imagine, and it scares the hell out of me as a parent to think of something like this ever happening to one of my girls.

How do they recover from those years, and everything that happened to them? How do they learn to live as the women they now are, in the outside world where they were just young girls when they were kidnapped?

Last night, after watching it all unfold, I sat on my front porch and had a long talk with my kids. I hate that I have to do that – but the truth is, we live in a world now that requires us to prepare our kids the best we can for the horrible things that can happen to them. I don’t want to scare them, but how can I not at least have a talk with them and give them some knowledge to prepare them for the terrible things that COULD happen?

We talked about our “safe word” – and that means that they do not ever get into a vehicle with anyone, ever, even if they know them – without asking what that safe word is. I have told them that even if it is a policeman, or a fireman, or a family friend – they ask what the safe word is, and if they can’t give it to them, they are to go somewhere safe and tell that person they can’t go with them.  And if they still don’t feel comfortable, they are just to go find someone they trust.

We talked about someone maybe wanting to show them some cute kittens, or puppies – or anything like that. And, we talked about what to do if they are grabbed without being asked – and they know they have to scream, bite, kick or whatever they can to draw attention.

I hated even talking about it. They had some questions, and I hope I have prepared them to at least know what to do if – god forbid – something like this ever happened.

Because I don’t think I could survive if anything like this happened to one of my kids. I just couldn’t. I watched my daughter ride her bike around the block, and as she went out of my site, all I could think was “what if this was the last time I saw her….”

I couldn’t live never knowing where she was, or what she was having to live with. Even writing this is so hard for me, because it just breaks my heart to think of what the mothers of those 3 girls were living with.

And now, finding them and being reunited – it would be so surreal and the emotions would be so overwhelming. It would be such a happy moment to find your daughter after all this time, but then to know what she had to endure – would rip the heart from my chest.

I hope that these girls can find some kind of peace in their lives, and some sort of normalcy after the years they have spent being held captive. I hope that the media gives them time to heal before thrusting them in the spotlight. And, I hope that their families can enjoy time together away from prying eyes wanting to get all of the details of the past decade these girls lived through.

Amanda Berry, Gina Dejesus and Michelle Knight. To all of us watching, we need to remember these 3 girls have lived through hell for a decade – they need time to be left alone to try coming to terms with the life they have been forced to live, what they have missed, and adjust to the life they will now be living.

I hate that my daughters have to grow up in this kind of a world, where they always need to be on guard for what could happen to them. But, I will not just hide it from my kids either – I want them to know what can happen and prepare them the best I can. I know sometimes there is nothing they could do – but I need to know they have some idea of how to try preventing something like this happening to them.

Do you talk to your kids about things like this? Have you made up a safe word, anything else to try keeping your kids safer? Or, do you think it is worse to have your kids living in fear, and would rather not talk to them about something this horrific?

As for me, I just want to hug those 3 girls, and wish there was something I could do to take some of the pain of what they had to live with away from them. But, that can’t be done. So, I will prepare my kids the best I can, and do what I can to protect them. And, most likely continue to be just a little bit overprotective…..

 

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Hysterectomy After Breast Cancer

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Marie

Well, it has been a few days since I have posted anything – so I would like to take a minute to sincerely apologize to my readers! I wasn’t really slacking off – as I will try explaining below:-)

Breast Cancer Survivor

Design I sell in my shop with breast cancer awareness merchandise.

As many of you know, I was diagnosed with breast cancer in June of 2011. (If you or anyone you know has been diagnosed, I do have my breast cancer blog where I have posted some of my experiences….)  I have had a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction, and gone through a year and a half of treatments. I think I am in the clear now, but the kind of cancer I had was fed by my hormones, (that is really the easiest way to explain it). So, I had been in to see doctors about having a hysterectomy and removing everything. (I am also at a higher risk for ovarian and other female cancers now – so that was also influencing my decision!)

I had been through all of the pre-op stuff and was waiting to hear when my surgery would be. I got a call on Friday, April 19th to tell me they had a cancellation, and could I come in for my surgery the following Friday, April 26th.

So, that week was a whirlwind of trying to get things organized for the surgery – bloodwork, pre-op clinics, and trying to sort things out at home so my kids would be taken care of.

I had my surgery, and have spent a week now at home recuperating. I had to stay in hospital for about 4 days, and then I haven’t been moving very fast the past few days since getting home. And, I do a whole lot of sleeping!!!

But, I am feeling a bit better and almost back to normal, so I wanted to come over and post to let everyone know I am still around, and I haven’t abandoned my blog!! I was planning on posting to let everyone know what was going on before I went in, but time just got away on me, and I never got the chance.

I am hoping this is it for having surgeries or anything else. I am tired of it all – so I am hoping to get things back on track with my life over the next few months!!

Meanwhile, I am having to deal with some issues that occurred while I was in the hospital. I had a top bridge on my front 4 teeth that had been put in a few years ago to try giving me a nicer, straighter smile. It was only supposed to be temporary, so it wasn’t the expensive, really good ones – and I had hoped to have it replaced with a proper one when I had the money. But, with life and kids, and then dealing with cancer the past couple years, it had been put to the back burner.

When I was being intubated for my surgery, the bridge got broke. It likely didn’t take much to break it, and I understood there were risks when going in for surgery.

But I woke up from my surgery, lying there listening to the nurses all around me talking about it, (they didn’t know I had woke up yet – or else thought I wasn’t able to comprehend anything yet). I even heard something along the lines of “all hell breaking loose in the operating room….” – don’t know if they were talking about mine or what!

I asked a couple of them if they could get me some Fixodent or something to at least hold things in temporarily. No one had any to offer or any other suggestions – they were all too busy.

The anesthetist came in to apologize, and I hold no ill will towards him at all. Apparently he wasn’t aware I had a bridge, and really it wasn’t in great shape anyway, so there wasn’t much he could do. I understood that – but I still needed something because I was completely humiliated lying there with no front teeth.

They got me to my room, and I asked a few more nurses and aides as they were all buzzing around me if they could get me anything. I knew my kids were going to be coming to see my after school, and I desperately did not want them to see me like that.

No one had anything to offer me. I was told repeatedly just that there was nothing like that on the floor. And, I was left laying there completely embarrassed, with no front teeth until the next morning when a friend who works at the hospital peeked in to see how I was doing. She ran to the pharmacy and got me some Fixodent to use temporarily until I could get home and see a dentist.

It wasn’t the best fix, but at least I could talk when people came to visit, and didn’t have to feel so self conscious.

It was a horrible experience to say the least, and one I am really having a hard time dealing with. I felt very alone, helpless and frustrated – and then pretty angry when I finally got to a dentist 3 days after getting home, and finding out the reason they don’t have things like Fixodent or anything like that on the floor is because THEY HAVE DENTISTS ON CALL AT THE HOSPITAL! Ya, maybe mine wouldn’t have been considered an emergency, but it would have been nice to have at least been given the option to see one!!!! I was told they likely could have glued it back in temporarily until I was feeling better and could get in to see them.

The whole experience has left me pretty upset. I have been through hell the past couple of years, and I have tried to stay positive and upbeat, but this – to me – was just like a slap in the face. In fact, through it all, it was the one time where I seriously did sit down and just cry and actually feel sorry for myself a wee bit….

I have emailed the CEO of the regional health authority, and the patient representative at the hospital where I stayed. And, I have received apologies from the OR head nurse as well as the patient rep. They have also paid for my replacement partial plate – a new bridge was going to be close to $5000 which I just don’t have, so I had agreed to just get the partial plate until maybe someday I can afford a permanent bridge.  (Pretty sure they wouldn’t have offered to pay for that if I had gone the permanent bridge route…)

Now, I can’t chew properly, and I sound like I am talking with a mouth full of marbles. I am going to have to go back and get them to do something to adjust my bite because my back teeth don’t even get remotely close to touching when I chew. And, I am dealing with all of this while trying to recover from major surgery, which is just not helping at all!

So, this has been my life the past couple of weeks. I haven’t been ignoring you all – just trying to deal with everything happening with me! I hope to be back to posting a bit more regularly, although sitting around in a chair doing nothing won’t really be giving me much to talk about!!

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