Mommy The Journalist: May 2022

I've shared with you guys before kind of how I break up my work days (Life as a Work-at-Home Mom: My Daily Routine), but I've never done an actual Day in the Life post. One of the bloggers I really enjoy does these a few times a year, and I really enjoy seeing what a random day in her life looks like. So I thought you guys might like to see how a typical day for me plays out.

Okay, before we get into it - this was a random Monday outside of my distribution week. It was also a day that my husband was on day shift, which means I would have had the house to myself for a majority of the day and was really focused on work.

2:00 a.m. (or there abouts) - Alexis wakes us up with a nosebleed. Thankfully, it's not a bad one and we don't have to change her sheets. About 30 minutes later, she's back in bed. It takes me another 30 minutes or so to fall back to sleep. (Sadly, this happens more than I'd like to admit. Alexis has asthma and allergies so it's a hazard of the job.)

5:30 a.m. ish - My husband's alarm goes off. He gets up, gets ready, and leaves for work around 6:15. I doze off and on until my alarm goes off at 6:45. I wake Alexis up at 6:55. It takes a full five minutes to get her moving. While she gets dressed, I pack her lunchbox and make sure there's nothing I need to sign in her school folder. We leave the house for morning drop-off around 7:20.

7:30 a.m. - I load the dishwasher while my coffee brews. I drink it at my desk while I write my weekly Monday Motivation post, update my own social media, and check email. I field a business call, then update the magazine's profile on a local networking website.

9:00 a.m. - I take a break to fold a basket of laundry and get dressed for the day. I wash my face, throw my hair in a clip, brush my teeth, and apply some moisturizer. I rarely do full makeup.

9:30 a.m. - Back to the office where I get started on the day's to-do list, including a few hundred follow-up emails and editing one of our columns. At some point, I took a break to go to the corner convenience store for a drink and snack/lunch.

1:00 p.m. - I take about 30 minutes to work on some stuff for the blog, something I haven't done in way too long if I'm being honest. Then I box up some of the stuff in my office. We're in the process of moving, so I've been trying to fit it in where I can.

1:45 p.m. - I leave for the after school car line. Fun fact: I always take a book with me to pass the time.

2:30 p.m. - School is out, and Alexis is buckled in the backseat. We go to the grocery store before heading home.

3:00 p.m. - We're back from the grocery store. Alexis helps me get everything inside and put away. I respond to a few emails that came in while I was out, edit some photos, make some graphics, and update this blog post, as well as another. I do a few other work-related things, and Alexis does her homework. Then she has free time to play, watch TV, relax, etc.

5:00 p.m. - Alexis helps me make spaghetti and meatballs in the instant pot. We sit down at the table to eat together. I rinse our dishes and make sure the pot is still on warm so Chris won't have to heat his supper up when he gets off work.

7:00 p.m. - Alexis gets ready for bed - bath, pjs, and medicine.

7:30 p.m. - Chris gets home from work. He eats and we hang out as a family until bedtime.

8:00 p.m. - Alexis is in bed. We read a chapter of her new book, Amelia Bedelia and Friends Blast Off, before tucking her in. I put away the laundry I folded earlier in the day while Chris takes a shower. After, we hang out and chat about our days, stuff with the move, Alexis, and everything in between. I read a few chapters of my book.

10:00 p.m. - We turn out the lights and say goodnight.

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Would you believe that I've never owned a proper swimsuit coverup? It's true! I've always thrown on a sundress or shorts and a t-shirt and called it a day. But this year I wanted to change things up a little bit, so I decided to try a few from Amazon.

Before we get into it, I've got some thoughts on coverups in general.

One, why are they all so short? Seriously, most of them are the length of an oversized t-shirt, meaning they'll just barely cover my butt. I understand you're at the pool, river/lake, or beach, but I don't know. They almost feel like a too-short dress. To me, at least.

Two, why are they all see-through? Isn't the point of a cover-up to actually cover you up? Kinda defeats the purpose if you can see everything underneath it if you ask me...

Three, do people really pay $50+ on these things?!

Anyway, some sizing notes for you. I'm 5'2" and weigh about 145 lbs. I wear size 6/small in most clothes. I decided to use the black floral one-piece swimsuit that was so popular from my swimsuit try-on back in March to show these cover-ups. It doesn't work well with all of the cover-ups because of the criss-crossed straps, but I didn't feel like changing between each one. I'm in the size 8-10.

This post contains affiliate links.

We're going to start with the one I was the most excited about, the Jeasona crochet cover-up. This is the off-white color, although in person it's just regular white. I got the size medium, which is 31 inches long. It's kind of a funky hem, with drawstring sides that I'm not sure the purpose of. Anyway, the pattern is pretty, but you should know that the material is polyester, not actual crochet.

Overall, I like this one, but it's shorter than I'd be comfortable wearing on its own, especially because the side slits are really high.

This Ekouaer tunic/dress cover-up might be my favorite. It comes in a bunch of colors and patterns, but I felt like the black would go with most of my swimsuits. It's got pretty crochet-work around the neck and elbows, and the back is mostly open. The hem has a small ruffle and the sleeves have a little flare. There are tassels on the back tie closure as well as along the back neck.

I like the length of this one. It fits like a dress, although it's pretty thin so I'd definitely not wear it as such. It's a rayon-acryllic mix. I got the medium.

This Loritta oversized cover-up dress is my least favorite of the bunch, but it's undoubtedly the easiest one to wear. This one is a one size fits all option and comes in six color options. It's 100 percent polyester. The bust is 67 inches and it's 33.5 inches long. As you can see, it's mostly see-through. I really like the lace trim, and on me at least it's a good length. What I don't like is that it's shaped like a pillow case.

Kimonos are popular swimsuit cover-ups, but I've never used one for such despite owning several over the years. I really like this one by MayBuy. It's nothing fancy at all, but it almost feels like a fancy swimsuit robe. It comes in a bunch of patterns and there are different styles to choose from in terms of sleeves and length. This is the very first option on the list, and I got it in a small.

I am in love with this Bsubeach kaftan. It's the most comfortable thing ever and would fit in nearly anywhere. I don't even care that it's like wearing a sack. Admittedly, it doesn't really work well with this particular swimsuit because of the straps, but I love the embroidery detail and how soft the material is. There are 40 different styles to choose from, but they are all one size. This one is cut straight, but there are several that have drawstring waists and are more flowy.

Note: The straw tote I'm holding in several of these pictures is from Walmart but is completely sold out online. I haven't seen it in stores, but you can always check yours. Also, my flip flops are really really old. I'm pretty sure I got them at Academy Sports, though.

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I almost postponed this edition of Real Outfit Roundup because I don't have much to share, and unlike last time when there was a common theme to latch onto, the only thing this roundup has in common is the craziness of the last two weeks.

I don't have anything profound to say about what's been going on the last couple of weeks, so we'll just dive right on into it.

Sizing: I'm 5'2" and weigh about 145 lbs. I wear size small/6 in most clothes and size 7 in shoes.

Yes, I am aware that we're starting with a picture that doesn't show a full outfit. This was a day where we had I think five showings of our house, so I spent more time leaving than anything else. But I really wanted to share these sneakers. I found them in Walmart, misplaced in the women's shoe section. I rarely venture into the girls' shoes because they're almost always too young, but I loved these. It doesn't always work out, but the size 5 in these fit perfectly. Unfortunately, they're not available to order online but my local store had a bunch. I also found a couple of really close matches in women's sizes here and here.

This dress is one of my favorites of all time. It's one of those dresses that feels dressed up even when you're not making an effort to be. I'll be honest, though, I have no idea what we did on this particular day.

Flash forward four days... I'm really not sure how I didn't take any pictures at all during that time, but I assure you I did not. Anyway, last Thursday I attended a fundraising event for my local art museum. It was themed for an adult prom, so I got to really dress up. This watercolor gown from Lulu's is an absolute dream. As soon as I saw it, I knew it was the one. I sized up to a medium because Lulu's is always snug.

I've not had a need for a clutch purse in recent years, so I had a lot of fun finding this one. It's the perfect size to fit a phone, ID and money/cards, plus lipstick. You can carry it like a true clutch, but I chose to use the detachable handle because I didn't want to mess up all the beautiful flowers. It's also got a pretty chain so you can wear it on your shoulder.

And you can't see my shoes, but I wanted to wear something that felt dressed up (but didn't kill my feet). I recommend these ones by Dream Pairs. They were elegant and had just enough of a heel to make my dress's length manageable (although stairs were still kind of tough).

This was from day one of my monthly magazine distribution. I rarely take photos while out doing this because I'm super busy on those days, but I'm trying to do a better job of showing the 'real' aspects of what I do for a living. Anyway, I always strive to be comfortable on distribution days but not sloppy since I interact with a lot of people. So although I was wearing shorts, I upgraded to a pair of navy blue cargos (mine are old but these are really close). My t-shirt is also old, but it's one of my favorites (this is another of my favorites that fits the same).

This was day two of distribution, which consisted of a lot more walking than the first day. For this bit of the process, I always try to dress business casual because there's much more interaction with potential customers. I really love this skirt. It's a seersucker material so wrinkles aren't as noticeable. It's also fully lined and has pockets. My blouse is also seersucker, but it's got a lot more going on with its button front, cap sleeves, and smocked yoke.

This maxi dress continues to be my go-to dress of the season. This is actually the first time I've worn it as is, but it definitely works on its own. I kept it casual with some two-toned slide sandals (similar) and a messy ponytail.

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Happy Monday, friends! I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day weekend. Ours was very low key. In fact, we didn't do anything. I actually didn't want to, especially after having a sick migraine on Friday. If you've ever had one, then you know it takes a day or two to fully recover.

Anyway, did you guys watch the Kentucky Derby? What an upset! Rich Strike wasn't even supposed to be in the race; he was only there because another horse had to scratch. If you didn't watch, you should look it up. It was incredible.

Last week was pretty laid back. I got a good bit done for the upcoming June issue, but my May magazines weren't delivered until Friday, the day I was sick, so I'll be rushing through distribution today and tomorrow. Hopefully that won't throw the rest of my month off too badly. That's the last thing I need, especially considering how the past two months have gone.

The highlight of the week was the fundraising event I went to for our local art museum. I haven't gotten dressed up like this since college, so that was a lot of fun. Unfortunately, the friend I was supposed to go with had to cancel last minute, but Alexis was more than happy to be my back-up date. We didn't stay too long because it wasn't really suited to her age (and I was out of my comfort zone since I didn't know anyone there outside of work acquaintances, so even then not well), but I didn't want to waste the tickets or this dress. Plus, she had fun looking at all the art, drinking all the punch, and doing the craft they had on site.

This week is shaping up to be super busy work-wise, especially with distribution being unexpectedly shifted. Outside of that, we don't have anything planned until the weekend. Alexis is having a gymnastics show to demonstrate the skills she's learned over the last year or so.

Then next week begins the official countdown to the end of the school year. I'm ready for it to end, if I'm being honest, if only to not have to set my alarm for so early every morning. Although, with all the art camps and classes we've signed Alexis up for, summer is looking just as busy as the school year.

Okay, I've gotta wrap this up. These magazines aren't going to distribute themselves, unfortunately. I hope you all have a great week!

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I've been a mom for seven years (and one month, but who's counting?), and as short a time as that is in the grand scheme of things, I feel like I've already been through so many seasons as a mother.

First there was the newborn stage where we definitely didn't get enough sleep but it didn't matter because there was something new to experience every single day.

Then there was the baby stage. You know, that bit of time between newborn and toddler. The baby is more mobile, crawling and walking, reacting more to their surroundings, and you're finally getting more sleep...when they're not teething. This is the stage where you start to think that maybe you've got this parenting thing figured out.

The toddler years are simultaneously the most fun and the most frustrating. Your baby is turning into their own little person, but pushing all the boundaries and all your buttons as they do.

Next come the preschool years. They're learning ABCs and numbers, potty training, and how to socialize. Their first friendships are forming, and if you're lucky, you're making some parent friends of your own.

We've reached the school years in our house. Covid has kind of killed a lot of the typical school experience, both for Alexis and for us, but some things have remained the same. There's homework and projects, afterschool activities like art lessons and gymnastics, and a lot of new experiences being thrown at you every week.

I've said this many times, but I think it's worth repeating. Motherhood is simultaneously the most rewarding and most difficult thing I have ever done.

Two years ago, I shared five lessons that motherhood instilled in me. At the time, we were a couple of months into the pandemic, and I was doing a lot of reflecting because I had a lot of time on my hands. Now, two years later, so much has changed, and I feel like I've grown, not only as a mother but as a woman in general. So, in honor of my seven year stint as a mother, here are 7 things I've learned.

1. You can't pour from an empty cup. Admittedly, I've gotten much better at recognizing the signs of burnout, and thankfully the last four years have seen a much-improved work-life balance. Still, as a mom, it is easy to put myself last, but I've been making a concerted effort to take time for myself every single day.

2. I don't have to be a get-in-the-floor mom to connect with my daughter. This is the thing about myself I struggle with daily and where almost the entirety of my mom guilt comes from. I don't like playing make-believe. Maybe it's something to do with all my years working in news, but I really struggle to connect with my imagination in a childlike way. That said, I've found other ways to have a relationship with Alexis through books, cooking, shopping, etc.

3. My hobbies are important, too. For a really long time, I gave up all my favorite things. To be fair, it happened before I'd even decided on motherhood, but adding a child into an already unbalanced work-life situation didn't help. It took me too long to realize how extremely unhappy I had become, but once I started back doing the things I love for no reason than to just do them, I started to feel like me again.

4. It's okay to say no. In any situation. With or without an explanation. Even if no one understands.

5. Boundaries are important. I mean, I've always known this, but I've also always gone out of my way to try to include everyone. But as I've gotten older, I've realized that not everyone needs or should be included in my or my child's life.

6. Unsolicited parenting advice/comments will never stop. As much as I hate it and as uncomfortable as some of it makes me, I know that most people aren't doing it to be intentionally rude.

7. Every mom has something to offer. I interview a mother in my local community every month, and I'm always amazed at what comes out of it. Even though I always ask a handful of the same questions, the responses are always different, and I always learn something.

Happy Mother's Day!

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Every month, I try to share some of the products that made a difference in my day-to-day life. It's not always easy, believe it or not, especially since I try not to share the same things over and over...but I don't deviate from my favorite things very often.

The last couple of months have been pretty stressful for me for various reasons, so I've been looking for joy in lots of places. These four things I'm sharing today are the ones that have been making the biggest impact on me lately.

*This post contains affiliate links.

Mango Coconut Candle - This was a completely random Target buy. Alexis and I were in there just browsing. She loves smelling all the candles, and we usually buy one or two at the start of each new season. She picked one that's now in our living room, and I claimed this one for my office. Y'all, this thing is an instant mood lifter. It smells so good.

CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Facial Cleanser - If you've been around the last few months, you'll know I've been struggling with my skin. CeraVe has been my go-to for lotion for the past several years because it's great for sensitive skin. I needed something better for my face, so I was really excited to find this. It's great for makeup removal and doesn't dry out my skin.

Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer - In case you couldn't guess, I don't tan. Usually I don't mind being pale, but this year I seem to be a little ghostlier than usual. This has always been my go-to for a natural glow, but it's been several years since I've indulged. I'm happy to report that they have greatly improved the scent! I love how easy it is to apply, and the one I picked up not only moisturizes but also firms! I use the fair to medium.

Teleties - These are my favorite hair ties, but I've been using them a lot more here lately. They stay all day without getting hung up in my unruly hair. They're perfect for yoga or just keeping my hair off my neck and out of my eyes while I work. Right now, you can get free shipping when you buy two.

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When I first started doing these monthly reading roundups, it was to hold myself accountable for a New Year's goal to get back to reading. Back then, my goal was one book per month, and some months I struggled to meet it. Looking back now it's hard to even fathom that I let myself get so far separated from this lifelong love of reading, and I've done a much better job the last several years of not letting go of this thing that brings me joy and peace during times of stress...even if some months I read more than others.

April was not the easiest month of reading for me, despite what this roundup looks like. I was very undecided on what I wanted to read, and I feel like I bounced around and spent a lot of time just scrolling through all the samples I've downloaded. I also didn't want to speed-read through the series I've been enjoying so I've been forcing myself to take those slow.

There are a few books missing from this roundup. I've been reading a series called Untouchable, but I'm not ready to talk about any of them yet. I've still got several books to go and the final book won't be released until this summer, and I don't think I can give an accurate review until I've read the series completely.

Okay, enough explanation. Let's get to the books!

Daughter of A Thousand Years

Author: Amalia Carosella

This book was incredibly thought-provoking from a religious standpoint and called into question a lot of things many of us take for granted. For that reason, I don't know how many people I can recommend it to, but it is fantastically well-written.

Freydis is the daughter of Erik the Red. Not only did she inherit his red hair but also his infamous temper. Forced to marry in order to secure a ship of her own while steadfastly holding onto the faith of her ancestors and her belief in Thor, Freydis is the exact opposite of what the Christians taking over her father's settlement expect her to be. When a mysterious stranger offers her the freedom she's always sought, Freydis knows the impact of her choice will be felt for centuries to come.

Meanwhile in 2016, Emma is the daughter of a conservative Catholic Congressman who's up for reelection, but Emma herself has left the Catholic faith. In fact, she's no longer Christian at all, but a Heathen who believes in and worships the Norse gods, specifically Thor. When her personal faith is thrust into the spotlight, it's not only her own life that's turned upside down but also that of her family.

Greed (The Deadly Seven book 2)

Author: Lana Pecherczyk

Loved it. This series just keeps getting better. Griffin, a.k.a. Greed, has got handling his sin down to a fine science. He's convinced he doesn't need to find his soulmate to keep it all balanced. Then he's forced to go undercover at the newspaper to find whoever has been writing sensationalist, untrue pieces about his family and meets Lilo, a reporter and daughter of the city's biggest mob boss.

F*ck It

Authors: S.M. Shade & C.M. Owens

This is the sequel to one of my favorite books from last year, Worth It, and just like its predecessor, I laughed my butt off reading this. It picks up pretty close to where the first book ended, but it changes protagonists - Sicily and Lydia. Sicily is the sister of Lydia's best friend's husband. They become roommates when Lydia moves to town seeking a fresh start. Sicily, meanwhile, is trying to find her place in her brother's company and ends up working under Lydia's cheating ex...the same ex whose wedding Lydia and her friends ruined in the first book.

I didn't laugh quite as much in this book as I did with Worth It, but it's still worth the read. You do need to read the books in order, though, as there are some references throughout F*ck It that won't make sense otherwise.

Cleopatra’s Dagger

Author: Carole Lawrence

In 1880, Elizabeth van den Broek is the only female reporter in New York City. When she and her friend stumble across a dead body wrapped up like a mummy in Central Park, Elizabeth convinces the editor to allow her to report on the mysterious murder. More bodies with ties to Egyptian lore turn up, and the closer Elizabeth gets to uncovering the truth the more it becomes apparent the killer is watching.

I had no clue who the killer was until the big reveal. I enjoyed the book, but felt like the actual ending was awkward, almost as if the author didn't know how to end it. Also, there were a lot of unanswered questions for me outside of the main mystery. I almost feel like the author spent so much time with these extraneous details but then didn't give them a conclusion. Some of it, I'll admit, was for background but I don't like for my conclusions to feel like the story is over, and this just didn't for me.

Wild Pride (Kingson Pride book 1)

Author: Kristen Banet

Riley has been living in Wild Junction for the past two years after escaping an abusive relationship. She's content with her mediocre life. Then, five locals move back to town, and Riley finds herself thrown into the world of cat shifters.

I was disappointed with this one. I really enjoyed Banet's Redemption series and had high hopes this would be similar. I had a hard time connecting to Riley, and I didn't like how weak she was. As much as I wanted to love it, I just didn’t and won't be continuing the series past book one.

Medusa (Court of the Underworld book 2)

Author: Alessa Thorn

I know, I know. It took me long enough to get around to reading this one. It usually doesn't take me so long to read next-in-series books, but life ya know? Anyway, this book picks up right where book one left off but with new main characters: Medusa and Perseus. Medusa is the famed Gorgon of legend, while Perseus is a reformed thief. The two are thrown together when Pithos, the anti-monster cult, kidnaps Perseus's sister to coerce him into stealing a necklace from Medusa. He doesn't so much get caught as he turns himself in and ends up joining the team. There's a nice little twist in this book, though, but you'll have to read it to find out what it is.

I loved Medusa in the first book of this series. She's smart and sassy and definitely doesn't know she's sexy. Perseus, meanwhile, is an unexpected bad boy. He's blind, but that's all I'm going to give you on that, and he's got the most delightfully dirty mouth. I love these two together. Up next, Hades meets Persephone.

Neverland: Chronicles of Red series

Author: Crea Reitan

I really love Reitan's Wonderland retelling, and this is part of the same world in that Ira comes from the same place the heroine in the other series came from and is working toward the same goal but in Neverland instead of Wonderland. The difference between Mal (Wonderland) and Ira is that Ira was raised with the sole purpose of being a fixer. She's spent her entire life training to fix whatever has turned Neverland toxic, but she's not prepared for what she finds when she enters the tale. Turns out, another fairy tale has invaded Peter Pan's world, and Ira must gather her crew, master magic, and set Neverland to rights.

I found myself unconsciously comparing this series to the Wonderland saga, which is unfair since the two fairytales are nothing alike, but it still happened. I'm glad I kept going past the first book - I almost didn't. The action picked up, and we finally got into the meat of the story. Admittedly, I think the Wonderland series is better - it was way more involved and complex - and this one definitely could have used a better editor (there were a good bit of typos and a lot of tense swapping, which for me is distracting). In the beginning of both series, there are four fixers mentioned, and I'm excited to see if Reitan brings their stories to life, as well, especially the one who went into Oz. I'm desperate for a good Wizard of Oz retelling.