A Plan!!

Finally!! A *real* purpose for this blog! I'm so excited to share my brand new venture in the world with all of you bloggers.

It all started a few days ago when my kind and loving husband asked me (after a major fart/burp combo) if I could please be more girly. More dainty. The sassy tomboy in me said 'tough crackers buddy', but the truth of the matter is I've always had a longing to be more girly and fashion forward. I just never knew how.

I'm learning!

I've bought myself some mineral foundation and mascara (to go along with the eyeliner I rarely put on). I even bought myself some cute necklaces to coordinate with my new clothes. Well, very few new clothes. I'm slowly building myself a 'new look' wardrobe. I've been focusing on key pieces that I can mix and match. Cute tops that with a little layering, will be great for both fall and summer fashion. Things that look just as cute with my favorite sandals as they do with my burlap TOMS.

I'm having a blast! It's a lot of fun, figuring out fashion. I feel like at 25, I'm finally realizing what I want my overall style to be. I'm starting to figure out how I want to be seen as a youngish adult. So Since I now know exactly what I want to do with this blog, I plan on sharing. Not just photo's, but prices and deals as well. I'm learning that looking great doesn't have to break the bank. My current favorite outfit was $52 dollars for shirt/shorts/sandals and accessories. Be prepared, blog world! A new stylish Jasmine is coming at ya

Sweet Thoughts

I was just looking at photo's from one of my favorite Mommy bloggers. Her little one is precious and looks so much like her awesome Mama, it's adorable. They recently made it to the 2 year nursing mark! I keep seeing all of these women in blogs or in real life nursing their toddlers. It's so beautiful. I love it. It warms my heart and I can't wait to nurse Risto for as long as we can. A sweet little 2 year old who is just beginning to form complete sentences or learning how to express themselves without throwing a tantrum still need the loving, nurturing act of nursing. They just do. Seeing babies nurse longer then a year warms my heart!!

Pre Challenge Prep.

Okay. So I know the 30 Day Make Your Bed Challenge doesn't start until tomorrow, but I got ahead of myself. No I did not make my bed. I hate making my bed so that is still a mess. I did clean the rest of my place though! I don't know why but I felt like my home couldn't look like a disaster in comparison to my silly bed. So, alas! my place is spotless (we'll pretend I didn't create a dinner disaster in my kitchen). I gotta say, I'm pumped to get into better homekeeping habits! It's not to late to jump on board, folks!!

30 Day Make Your Bed Challenge

It has been a long time since I've taken a moment to write. I took a summer hiatus of sorts (worth it). But I'm back and I'll be spending the next 30 days blogging (mostly) about this new 30 day challenge! I never make my bed. Ever. Not even after I wash the sheets or if company may see our room. After reading Adventure in Mommyhood's blog about this challenge, I knew it was something I wanted to do. She has tons of interesting facts and tidbits on what making your bed in the morning can do for your overall health and well being. Take a moment to check it out and sign up if this is something you're interested in. I should take a picture of my bed, but I just washed sheets, so I'll take one in the morning so you can see how it is all the time. Happy bed making!!

I'll Take Some Jesus With My Coffee Please!

I feel like I've been learning a lot about myself lately and the type of person I want to be. It seems like every time I go through a "trying" situation, I discover myself more. Having PPD has really forced me to explore my emotions and my thoughts. I've been forced to take a deeper look at who I am and who I want to be. The answer is the same as it's always been and always will be, only this time I'm taking more proactive steps to become who I'm meant to be.

I want to be more like Jesus.

In my actions, in the way I speak (or don't speak), in my heart... I want to be more like Jesus. When I look back at my life the past 3 months, I don't think I've been very Christ-like. I also haven't been completely "worldly" either, I just haven't been the reflection of my Savior like I should be, like I desire to be.

Life with a new baby is such a hard thing to navigate. There are so many aspects to raising a child, nurturing a marriage and being a typhoon of emotions. I never meant to put God on the back burner, but that's where He is and I need to change that. Risto wakes at 7-730 every morning. We eat breakfast together at 8 and it's nap time around 830. That hour long window of freedom is now dedicated to the Lord. Be it through prayer, listening to worship music, reflecting or reading my bible, I choose to spend it with my King.

Being a proper reflection of Jesus is so important. Our family can not thrive if Christ is not at the center where He belongs. If we want Risto to choose Christ for himself, we have to be the example that sets a positive influence now. For the goodness of my soul and my families, I'm taking my coffee with a little bit of Jesus

Oh Sweet Summer Sun

I haven't been posting much lately. Probably because I don't have much worth writing about. Life is just as ordinary as it's always been. I'm hoping to change that now that summertime has finally decided to grace the beautiful PNW with it's presence! I'm taking my sweet froggy monster on more mommy and me adventures. He's decided he hates naps, so I may as well make the best of it with outings, right? Here's a few of my favorite pictures from the past 2 days. Enjoy them and soak in the adorable vision that is my son.

Empowerment

So there's a huge "drama" happening in the breast feeding world surrounded by a mother who was quite inappropriately and illegally harassed on a public bus for doing what her body was made to do. Feed her baby. It's stuff like this that not only makes my blood boil, but it also puts a fear in me. Fear of being ostracized for my personal decision to breast feed my son.

I've said it before that I hate being made to feel like a leper for doing what comes natural to me. I've been told my various people that I should be more modest, I've been asked to go "do that" in my car and plenty of other things. It makes me feel insecure about doing whats best for my son. Formula feeding mothers aren't made to cover up, why should I?

Originally my desire to cover up stemmed from wanting to protect others, not wanting to offend anyone. The more I think about it, the more I find that there is nothing offensive about what I'm doing. Human milk comes from the same body part as cow milk. A teat. No one runs in fear of a baby calf suckling on their mothers nips, why are mine so offensive?

Someone said something on my birth board that I loved. Her arguments for nursing freely were very well written. I hope she doesn't mind, but I'm quoting her here.

"I can't help it that other people are uncomfortable with a nursing mother. I can't cater to the world, unfortunately. Instead, I have to make decisions based on what works for me and my family. My children absolutely come before some stranger's discomfort with breastfeeding....And please, people need to stop using the excuse that they're uncomfortable seeing an exposed breast. That's absolutely untrue. People are uncomfortable with what the breast is being used for. I highly doubt those same people avoid going to the beach or watching R-rated movies. Maybe some do, but the vast majority don't. Just call it as it is: you don't like the IDEA of a child sucking on its mother's breast. That's what makes you uncomfortable. I show WAY less skin while nursing than the average woman just walking down the street in clothing accepted by our society."

I could not possible agree with her statements more. I hate using a cover and especially now that summer time is rolling around, people will have to get used to the idea of me nursing freely. I'm not going to suffocate my son under a hot stuffy cover for the "comfort" of others. His comfort comes first and quite frankly, I wouldn't eat under a blacked out blanket, so why should he? Of course I'll still cover up around my dad and brother (especially around my poor brother) but anyone else will just have to turn away. No I will not feed my son in the bathroom. Do you eat your food in the can? Didn't think so. Feed him in my car? You go eat in your car if you find it so comfortable to do so. Cover up? NO! I'm feeling empowered and I'm not going to let anyone slow me down