Category: Uncategorized

Anxiety and Children

This article is sponsored by CHOC Children’s Hospital

As a person who has struggled with anxiety for as long as I can remember, mental health is an important topic to me. Mental health needs to be talked about. Today’s article is focused on anxiety and children. Do you have an anxious child? I do. Which is why this post today on anxiety and children is particularly important to me. I had the opportunity to engage in a conversation with Dr. Christopher Min, PhD, a licensed pediatric psychologist at CHOC Childrens about anxiety and children and he was so insightful……

Romance at The Ranch

Disclosure: Complimentary media stay provided to facilitate this review. 

Every year my husband and I make it a goal to get away in November to celebrate our anniversary. The time together alone, no kids, is magical. It’s one of the highlights of my entire year. To have extended, uninterrupted hours to talk, relax and reconnect is like fuel for the marriage tank.

In the years when we have only one or two nights for a getaway, staying close to home is best for maximum relaxation time and living in Orange County, we are pretty darn lucky to have a large number of phenomenal destinations to chose from.

Back in August we were lucky enough to able to stay at The Ranch at Laguna Beach as a family of four and enjoyed all the amazing family-friendly activities available for guests.

Click here to read my post about staying at The Ranch at Laguna Beach as a family.

When we were deciding where we wanted to go for our 15 year anniversary, I thought The Ranch would be the perfect spot.  We got married in Laguna Beach, so the town holds special memories for us, and I couldn’t wait to experience The Ranch as a romantic Laguna Beach hotel.  If you are looking for a staycation spot to celebrate Valentine’s Day or a special event with your sweetie, here’s a little taste of what could be in store for you…

romanceattheranch

Marriage Advice Better Than “Don’t Go To Bed Mad”

My husband and I celebrate 15 years of marriage today, and while that makes me feel giddy and proud, there is also something about the fact we have been marriage for that long, that is making me feel really…old. Like, really? Has it really be 15 years? Wow.

We have been through a lot in those 15 years.

The first 14 pretty much fell in the “for better” category.  When life is sailing along crisis-free, it’s easy to take life for granted. This year, with the tragic loss of my mom, we have been undoubtedly been through “for worse”. Yet, he has stood by my side every step. God bless him.

For all the awful things I am going through grieving the loss of my mom, I think how awful it must be for him, to always being the strong one while watching your wife grieve. But we made it through, and we are still making it through. Witnessing his commitment to us has strengthened us. It might be one of the silver linings, we are stronger as a result of this “for worse” year. Nothing tests a relationship like crisis.

Marriage Advice

Photo cred: Melissa Wilson

 

My mom and I had the time of our life planning our wedding back in 2001. We were two peas-in-a-pod with our love for parties, celebrations and “cute details”.  The wedding was the party to end all parties for both of us and we had SO much fun together.

After the wedding, she gave me as a gift, a secret journal she kept starting with the day we got engaged. In it, she documented all the details of the engagement, planning and wedding and all the things we did together.

At the end of the journal, my parents both shared their tips and advice on marriage. My parents were married 46 years and were one of those couples that had something special. They were genuinely, truly happy together.

Here they are on August 16th, 1969…

Must-Read Information on Bullying

This article sponsored by CHOC Children’s Hospital

In light of October as National Bullying Prevention Month, I had the opportunity to engage in an extremely eye-opening conversation with Dr. Christopher Min, PhD, a licensed pediatric psychologist at CHOC Children’s  about bullying and the mental health effects on children. This is a must-read for all parents! He shares bullying warning signs to watch for, how to talk to your children about bullying, and how seeking professional help can also be life-changing for the entire family…

Tiny Oranges Book Club Starts Next Week!

tiny-oranges-book-club-header

 
In the spirit of Rising Strong, the first Tiny Oranges Book Club selection, I am going to be completely honest and vulnerable when I tell you  I really don’t know what I am doing. I am sure you are now completely compelled to join my Club. Right?

  
When reading it myself, I had so many AHA and TRUTH moments I felt I HAD to be in a forum talking about it with others. Next thing I knew I was writing this post about starting a book club.  I didn’t know how I was going to do a book club online, but I felt I had to put it out there and would figure out the “how” later.

 

 
And now I am going to give this a shot! I hope you will bear with me as we figure this out together. If you have suggestions or ideas on how to make it work better, believe me when I say, I am SO OPEN to suggestions.

 

 
For now, I thought I would give the Good Reads set-up as the forum for our first discussion next week.

 

 
As a reminder, we will be discussing Chapter One – Four. 

 

 
Here’s what you do…….