Career Strong

I started this blog many moons ago to keep a log of my life as a new parent. Slowly but sure the new parenting journey became a fitness journey. The fitness journey sprouted into a diet change journey. The fitness and diet became a side business to help like minded women streamline their own fitness and nutrition. The side business became a full time business that is now my heart and soul. Funny thing about all these changes, I also grew to love leading people and as a woman I feel this role of leadership while also being an active parent is not talked about enough.  That's not fair, it's talk about a lot, you can find it everywhere. What you can't find is HOW to do it. What tools do you need to move up in your career while maintaining a family? I'm here to help. I want to share with you how I manage a family and career while feeling as little guilt as possible. In an effort to better connect this blog with my mission I have renamed it Career Strong. For...

Stella and Mitch, It's been a rough few months where everything has been tested in my life. I have learned so much about myself, what I'm made of and how much I can take. This time has taught me - feeling pain is important. It makes you stronger and better in the long run. When you feel pain please lean into it. For there is where you'll know true joy when you find it.  - have hard conversations NOW! Telling others how you feel and what you expect makes everyone happier. Whatever you imagine in your head is always worse than the actual conversation.  -your father has taught me so much about love and without his support, guidance and amazing giving heart I would not have persevered. Find a help mate, hold them tight, because a true partner in life is where magic happens -love each other. A sibling is probably the coolest relative you'll ever have. They are the only ones in the world that will know you the best because they saw you grow into it.  -Breathe, feel your actua...

  Pb&j, salt and pepper, mustard and ketchup. Then you meet your daughter and, a few years later, your son and you wonder how you ever survived without a Stella and Mitch in your life. 

Stella, Last night you got the stomach virus your brother brought home a few days ago. You were happily playing with the Kindle and you started throwing up. We raced to the bathroom just in time for the big heave. At first I thought you were scared but then I realized you were mad! When the inevitable dry heaves started you started screaming Noooooo!  I told you to give in to them as they would pass. You refused to do that and continued to fight and scream Noooo! We laid on the floor, you naked as your pajamas got a heavy heave on them. I cradled you in my arms feeling completely helpless. I want to protect you from everything and make the hurt go away. I was thinking, why can't I do this for you??  Then it hit me, you already are stronger than me. You wouldn't even give in to the dry heaves. Your defiance will serve you well my dear. Never stop fighting little one. People will tell you to give up or that you can't. After watching you fight with your own body last night I c...

Stella and Mitch, I've been reading a lot lately, doing some souls searching. I think everyone does this from time to time.   I recently listened to this book called "The gifts of imperfect parenting" and one story stuck with me. This woman was a swim instructor and frequently held flip turn camps. You are both really strong swimmers even as I write this so I have a feeling you'll know what that is. I was a strong swimmer too and never mastered the flip turn because it's tricky. This particular teacher would make her students do flip turns over and over again. With each try she would give them a thumbs up or thumbs down. In order to stop you had to get 5 thumbs ups. Some of the parents got together and told the teacher she needed to stop giving thumbs down signs to the children. A thumbs down is way too harsh! I'm writing this to you to tell you that life is harsh, thumbs downs are necessary. They hurt, but when you get a  lot of thumbs down it makes a thumbs ...

This time Mitch actually baptized himself. He was so mad and wet. I had iTunes Radio playing rock and roll lullabies (because they are my favorite) and "hey Jude" came on. I immediately started singing along with the instrumental and Mitch instantly stopped crying and stared at me. This may be our song. 

Born Mitchell Ryan Hawkins was born February 27, 2015 weighing 8lbs 1oz. Exactly what I weighed!  I ended up with a c section because this little guy was breech but I must say it was not bad at all! I'm glad I was in shape because the hardest part was walking the first time. I 100% believe I divine intervention and I think I was supposed to be in great shape to ready myself for this activity. My arms and legs are making up for my abs and I'm once again in awe of my body.  Stella   To make Stella feel special we had a birthday party for Mitch in the hospital and Mitch brought Stella a gift (a Minnie Mouse look and find book and a Minnie dress up set). We also had a cupcake cake. Stella was thrilled. (Mission accomplished!!) Grandparents What would I do without my parents and my inlaws. I am truly blessed to have so much support and love not only for Darren and me but especially for our babies. Seeing the grandparents with our second child was just as thrilling as when they...