I uploaded our first family vlog to the YouTube Channel yesterday! It was public for a day, and today I made it unlisted so that it can only be found through visiting the blog, which is usually pointed to through Instagram, where I feel like I know all of you sweet people a little bit better than the big YouTube world! Hahaha! Talk me through this, you guys! I'm an open book {if you've been subjected to my unfiltered oversharing, you know this!😉} and I love the relationships and fun that have come from this amazing space! BUT sometimes I turn into a paranoid freak of the interwebs, especially when it comes to my babies! Which is why I don't generally share their names in posts. But..I believe the good in the world outweighs the bad, and trying to find the balance between fear and doing my part to #sharegoodness! Happy Sunday! P.S. Link to all the public videos in the channel is up at the top of the page and click "YouTube," or just click on the video below and it can be navigated through there!:) Thank you all for your encouragement and straight up kindness! Love you all! XO Sarah
Hi guys!:) Okay, so I mentioned on my stories that I had filmed this video and was deciding whether to post it! {Makeup is obvs not my forte! Haha! And I don't feel like I have time to spend on it to make it look awesome, but I've found a quick routine that works!} You are all so sweet and encouraging, so here is the video! It's unlisted on my channel, so that's why you have to find it through this post on the blog!:) I also combined it with a video that I was planning on doing talking about why I pulled out of "selling" for most companies as a distributor.
Basically, if you don't want to watch the video, I'll tell you here, that I was signed up for so many of these things because and only because I was like, "Sweet! I get a discount and I don't really have to sell things if I don't want to, but it's there if anyone wants it!" Logical, right!?;) Well, I was right in the fact that I didn't sell anything, because I don't enjoy doing that and never talked about it, but what I was doing was also paying the fees, taxes, steep shipping/handling, online store fees, etc., etc., and literally rarely to never talked about it or pushed products. Because I don't enjoy that! Even though I liked the products! Not even most of my best friends knew that I was a distributor for these companies, and it took me a while, but I realized that I was spending more by trying to save than if I had just bought a few of the products that I really wanted at full price! But no, I needed every lipstick shade, so getting the discount was the best option! Hahaha. I was a little slow at figuring it out, it's fine.
Sooo...I guess what I would say to someone who is signing up for an MLM "just for the discount," like moi, I would suggest taking a quick look at 1. How much are minimum orders are, and are they monthly, quarterly, yearly? 2. How much is the "membership/distributor" fee? {Likely annual!} 3. How much time goes into the business, and is it something you are actually going to sell or sit on?
4. What is the cost to run it? {i.e. monthly fees all the distributors pay to run an app, backend office, etc.} 5. If you DON'T sell anything, would you be able to buy the products you want for the same price or less? {This is where a cost-benefit analysis/pros and cons list would be helpful!} 6. Do you have to house inventory? 7. How much time are you wanting to or do you have to put into it? If it's basically nothing {again, like me,} then that's something to consider, too! Because even the e-mails that come through for distributors, or things like checking your backend office or ordering and adding up products to meet minimum orders take time, whereas if you are a normal customer, you won't be dealing with anything other than, "There's my product! Thank you!" Haha! NOW, I will say that some people are just built for it, and I love that! I'm so not, but I love that some ladies have those skills! It actually takes a good leader and great organizational skills to move up in those companies, so I think sometimes people underrate the work that goes into it! I also believe that you don't have to be "built" for it to become REALLY good at it or take your business to crazy successful heights! I love that ladies can find their niches and spread their wings. I believe in women supporting women, and for some, these companies provide a really cool opportunity! So, whatever makes you feel empowered and gives you wings, I so hope you do that!<3
My babies! Happy Wednesday! Also, I know I said this in my stories today, but it's amazing how a shower can make you feel like a whole new person! Also, not ready for school to start. Soaking in sprinkler runs and all 5 nuggets home all day.:)
I have been a long time shopper from Groopdealz, so when they reached out to me to do a review on their products, of course I was so excited! If you aren't familiar with the site, it's a place where a bunch of vendors are able to sell all in one place. Each company is vetted and not everyone is able to become a seller or able to all at once. There are daily deals, and the deals expire, so it's an "act quickly if you want that darling dress" type of scenario! Haha! Here's a little roundup of some of the things I have bought from them! There is pretty much always something for everyone! Another thing that I have noticed about their site is that shipping is usually really reasonable, and when you order a second item, the shipping price is almost always discounted. Right on! Also, they now have an app! Hooray! Find it on the App Store! Here are a few of my favorite finds!
I saved it for when we had our baby, and I was so glad that I remembered to pack it in our Hospital bag! Haha! I have seen robes like this come up fairly often, so it's always worth watching for them!
This Dress:
I eyed this dress for a long time from a lot of Boutiques, and when it came up cheaper on Groopdealz than others, I snagged it! It's bump friendly, too!:)
This Backpack:
Super roomy and love the leather look and color! It came in lots of other colors too, and shipping was reasonable!:)
This Dress:
This one was a while ago, but I held onto it for my next pregnancy! I ordered a size up, and it fit the bump like a glove! Also, welcome to one of our Sunday pictures, where everyone was clearly excited. Hahaha!
If you're looking for a good deal, or just want to browse, check them out!:) BONUS: You can also see the code: DAINTYPEAR10 for 10% off your first order!
Pink everywhere, family, and chocolate cake. I think this girl had a fun family party today! Thanks so much for the birthday wishes for her yesterday!:) Also, I've linked the party decorations/food on the below if anyone is interested! Buying everything ahead made this tired Mama's day WAY easier! Hahaha! Happy Sunday, friends, and Happy 4th, Pear Bear!
FOOOOD: We did pre-made Chicken Salad from Costco on their Pretzel Rolls, a sliced watermelon, the Costco Kale Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing, Spinach Artichoke Dip {Costco again!,} and a Costco Cake! Between the easy decorations and the food, it was an easy peasy party! My cute Mom also brought some side salads {Frog Eye, Tabouleh,} and homemade salsas, which was super helpful!
Yesterday I had some questions about this shirt on my Instagram stories!:) So, here is the link to the same one! And it's like 12 bucks! Score! Happy a Friday, friends!:)
XO
Sarah
I wrote this a couple of years ago, after our 3rd baby. Even though it's a little bit old, I'm coming up on 2 weeks postpartum today, and...yep, it still rings true! The days might be different, and this time I was out and about sooner and feeling pretty good, but the feelings are similar and I'm hoping it relates to someone.:) Haha! Here's to you Mama's in the postpartum recovery party!
XO
Sarah
Let's be honest, having a baby isn't known to be the most glamorous thing in the universe, and let me be blunt: neither is the recovery. When you feel like something is leaking from every part of your body, and you are forced to be a functioning human being to take care of other kids all while being sleep-deprived and sore...here is a breakdown of those first couple of weeks. So, if you don't like graphic and gross [and, believe me, I spared many, many details. Promise.] then DON'T.SCROLL.DOWN. Otherwise, read on, my brave friend. There is your disclaimer. None of this phases me anymore, it's like once you have a baby all sense of dignity blows right out that hospital window. From the moment they check your cervix the first time, to the moment your legs are in those stirrups for the world to see, to the times they push on your stomach and check your pad to see how much you are bleeding and make sure everything looks normal...like I said. Dignity: bye bye! :) [HOWEVER, I can't think of anything cooler to loose your dignity to than pushing out a human being...[A HUMAN BEING!] from your body, so there are absolutely no complaints about that here. :)
Day one: Pain and BLISS. SO many endorphins and it doesn't even phase you that you have to use a squirt bottle to clean after using the bathroom or that you have a frozen glove in your pants to keep the swelling down!
Day two: Pain and BLISS
Day three: Pain and BLISS. Boobs start swelling.
Day four: Crying because you miss being pregnant [no matter how miserable it was at times] and wondering when the next one is coming! Crying because your older kids look so big. Crying because you miss your nurses and doctor. Crying because you are overwhelmed. Crying because you're happy. Crying because you're tired. Crying when your husband says the goodnight prayer with the kids...Let's just call this a cry day, shall we?
Day five: Afterpains [what they call the pains that happen after birth when your uterus is contracting down to normal size...and it feels like labor again...minus the baby coming out part] worsen and you realize you still haven't *ahem* gone numero dos. [And that in and of itself is a scary thought. Have you ever heard of hemorrhoids!? They're almost worse than childbirth. Exaggeration? Only slightly.] Have a short Cry Sesh for no reason. Boobs start leaking and are more painful and lumpy with milk than before. You quickly realize that you could feed a small village with all the milk that is somehow managing to fit inside of your sore, sore boobies before it regulates.
Day six: Afterpains make you curl over. Ouch. Shovel chocolate in your mouth like you're on the craziest period of your life. Have a short Cry Sesh for no reason. Again. Cold flashes [more like full on body shivers like you're standing in the snow in the middle of January] and hot flashes [more like you are running a marathon in the Sahara desert...in sweatpants.]
Day seven: Every muscle hurts. [You think: Could I really still be sore from labor!?!? Yes. The answer is yes.] Boobs hurt. But you decide maybe it's time to get ready and go somewhere...........Nah.
Days 8-14: You're not supposed to drive much or lift much, depending on your recovery...so the sentiment these days is...GET ME OUT OF THIS HOUSE OR I'M GOING TO GO CRAAAAAZY! ;) Less sore. Starting to get the itch to actually be social and see what's going on in the world outside of your house. Get a ride to Target with your awesome Sister-in-Law with all the kids on a maiden voyage sans husband. Get dressed up because you can [kind of] fit into some clothes that aren't made for a giant belly! Decide to wear white pants because your sleep-deprived brain cells are malfunctioning. Get back to the car after shopping and realize that you just wore white pants a week and a half after having a baby. And it shows. [Yep, I'm sure you can guess the next part.] Sister-in-Law takes a picture of your rear end and sends it to your husband as you sit there laughing half because you are mortified that you just walked through Target with a stain on your bottom and half because it's hilarious. [COMPLETELY hypothetical, of course! ;)] And then, just like that, two weeks has come and gone, and despite your fears that you might drown in children and will never get used to this whole Motherhood thing... the "new normal" starts to feel...well, normal. And you love these kids more than ever. And then as insane, completely baffling, and unnatural it may seem...you forget [the majority of] the pain, and you realize: You'd do it all over again.
