My Life Described in ONE Sentence..

I love this more and more every time I see this.
I had a child at 18. Not my plan, but I'm happier than ever.
I started college a semester late and I'm not majoring in any type of fashion education. Also not the plan, but I fell in love with social services/criminal justice/family studies and I'm graduating from college in December.
My first, "serious" relationship failed, even when I wanted a family so bad. Again...not the plan. But, let me be the first to tell you how amazing it is that that plan did not go through!
There are many things that didn't go as planned..and I'm a planner..so, sometimes it gives me anxiety attacks that everything isn't a dream right now, but I am happy. I'm alive. I'm grateful. I'm loved & I love.
What else could I really ask for?

XXOO
C

Being a mother...

Is probably my favorite thing to do, but it is also one of the roughest experiences I've had in my life. I was only 18 when I became a mother and although I've had my fair share of experiences by now, motherhood does NOT get any easier. The tantrums get louder, the talk back happens more frequently, and the whining becomes an every day thing. Sometimes I wonder, "what am I doing?"
Then Cole happens all over again and I remember why I do everything I do. Seriously, that kid is amazing birth control, but he also reminds me of why my life is so meaningful. I do everything for this kid because I want him to live as good of a life as I did growing up.

I have two great parents who have been pretty constant in my life. They taught me how to be the strong person I am today, but they also knew how to spoil the hell out of me every once in a while ;)
Cole does not have two parents in his life, unfortunately, which puts a lot of stress on me. School full-time is enough to send anyone overboard alone, but I also work, now more than ever. I recently got a new job where I don't get the flexibility of working just a couple days a week as a server and making decent money, but I do get the stability of guaranteed hours and pay. The reason I picked up this new job is that with a growing child comes growing expenses. I've been lucky to have help from my parents, or have leftover money from scholarships, to help me fuel my expenses, but it's starting to not be enough. I have rent, utilities, "fancy" expenses (as I call them, including my dvr ;), clothes, food, etc. Now, with Cole becoming older, I have things like Pre-k and sports to add to the list. I also want to be putting money away for him and I and start saving up to buy a house. I need a stable job for this!
Now that hours are becoming a little more intense, I'm starting to realize that I'm not doing as well as I thought I would. Exhaustion is becoming my daily life, I look like a zombie! I also feel guilty for not being with Cole all.of.the.time. And I'm feeling a lot of resentment building up: resentment as his father, mostly, for not being a stable, good person that could help me out and be there for his son.
But then I see the most precious, innocent little being: when he's sleeping, when he's playing a game, when he's laughing, or crying, I realize that I'm creating such a fascinating, funny, dramatic, little man, and that ONE day he will realize all that I did and will continue to do for him. For he is my everything.

Xo,
C*

Breakfast IS the most important meal of the day!

Breakfast has ALWAYS been my hardest meal of the day. In fact, for the longest time, I just skipped it. Everyone tells you, "Breakfast is the most important of the day!" or, "Skipping breakfast will lead you to overeat all day!" and those are both true. Eating breakfast gives you energy for the rest of the day and can lead to a better control over maintaining your weight (or losing or gaining!). You also get better concentration and focus during the day and more strength and endurance for your workout! Those are some amazing benefits that a healthy breakfast can give you! The biggest reason I try to eat breakfast every day now, is that it helps me be less hungry throughout the day. If I get my good breakfast in, I'm full for longer, instead of wanting to graze all day before my next meal.

Read more about benefits of breakfast here!

So, I decided to start trying smoothies. They are quick and easy and a great breakfast for on the go. I'll admit, they are not my fav. Not because of the taste, both of the smoothies I've made so far are super good. Like very yum. But I'm a huge texture gal, and there's definitely some texture in there, especially if you have a shitty blender like I do.

The smoothie I made this morning had: 1 cup of kale, 1 cup of spinach, 1/2 of a banana, 1/2 cup of strawberries, 1/2 cup of mangoes, 3 oz. of vanilla greek yogurt, 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk, and 1/2 scoop of protein powder. It comes out to about 400 calories in this smoothie packed with veggies, fruits, and protein!

I find all of the smoothie recipes on pinterest! Check it out and tell me how you like to smoothie! :)

XO,
C*