Before:

Let me start off by saying my 7-year-old Annabelle is anything but typical. She hates princesses. Unicorns don’t do much for her. She’s all about Pokémon, Minecraft, and learning about animals. For the most part, she has done well handling the pandemic. She is an introvert, despite the fact that she is very 打屁股的视频 at school and karate. (She’s just like me- I’m fun and I love my friends, but I also love staying 打屁股的视频 and away from crowds- so there are a lot of aspects of quarantine life that work well for us.)

This school year, however, would prove to be an even bigger change. Not only would she be going back to school in a pandemic and expected to wear a mask all day, she would also be attending a brand new school with new kids. That’s why I wanted to do something special to make this year exciting!

The Process of going Pink!

If we were going to do this right, I knew I needed to see my girls at Lark Salon. They make you feel like family, so where else would I go to pamper my baby girl?

Meagan at Lark (打屁股图片: @MeaganatLark) is the color queen! So I tossed the idea out to her and the salon owner, Sara. They had a field day with it and even better, made Annabelle feel like a million bucks being in the fancy salon. First Meagan highlighted her hair using several foils underneath her top layer for a peekaboo effect.

Her color lifted to blonde so well! She looked like an adult almost immediately! I nearly stopped at the blonde because I thought it was so beautiful! That’s when it really set in for Annabelle. We had tried doing streaks at 打屁股的视频 when she was younger and it never took. So to see such a big difference was thrilling!

After cutting her hair, Meagan added the pink dye and let that set for another 45 minutes.

Reveal:

Look at those smiling eyes underneath that mask! I am amazed by all the different ways we can now style her hair to show a lot or just a little pink.

It took somewhere between 2.5 to 3 hours, but it was worth it. We were all obsessed with how it turned out. It was way better than anything I had seen or even asked for! As we left, Annabelle told me she was “going to rule 打屁股图片 with this hair!”

It definitely gave her the confidence and excitement like I had hoped. She was so ready to go to school and thought the new kids would think she was a rock star. In my mind, she is!

She got 打屁股的视频 from school that day and had already made a few friends (mostly boys). “The boys just surround me.” They had already created a Minecraft club at recess. I think she’s gonna fit in just fine at this new school!

I hope your kids have a good school year, no matter if they’re in class, learning remotely, or 打屁股的视频 schooled. Find ways to celebrate the milestones, no matter what life is trying to throw your way! Let me know what you’re doing to make this year special for your kids. Drop a comment below or follow me on 打屁股图片: @the.打屁股图片.打屁股视频.mom

Once we got the kids to sleep, we snuck out to the garage and grabbed a few Christmas decorations and a small tree!

In the morning, my husband and I got into our Christmas onesies, and brought pajamas up to the kids. They thought *that* was going to be the fun part… then they came downstairs!

You can see we only gave them a couple presents each and I gave them both advent calendars that had 12 small prizes in them that I bought after last Christmas at Michael’s. It was just enough to bring a smile to their faces without being overwhelmed.

Matching Christmas jammies made it feel real! Side note: It hit 100 degrees outside this day… but the a/c kept it nice and cool inside!

We watched “The Grinch”, 打屁股的视频 Alone, and Elf over the weekend. Perfect for snuggling! In hindsight, I wish I would’ve made hot chocolate!

Josh made a Christmas ham and threw a summery spin on dinner by roasting corn on the cob on the Blackstone grill.

Then we got messy and made Christmas cookies. Full disclosure, I bought the cube kind of pre-made dough, rolled it in some flour and we used cookie cutters.

They were crazy, but they had a good time. A memory we won’t soon forget from this crazy period in all our lives.

Have you done Christmas in July before? I’d love to see pics or hear your ideas! Comment below or find me on 打屁股图片: @the.打屁股图片.打屁股视频.mom

打屁股视频 in news during a pandemic has been a rollercoaster ride- from the adrenaline highs of constantly breaking news to the lows of 打屁股视频 from 打屁股的视频 while trying to 打屁股的视频 school the kids.

It actually led us to break our apartment lease early and buy a house! [That’s for a different blog post!] Instead, I want to refocus on finding ways to have fun again with my family while being still being safe.

Have a Theme Day/Weekend

We celebrated Christmas in July and it was a big hit! We surprised the kids by putting out a few decorations, wrapping a few small gifts, watching Christmas movies, and baking cookies. It was a wonderful weekend! I’m thinking of doing a Halloween day soon!

Outdoor Backyard Movie

I bought a projector off Amazon for about $100 and a FireStick. Boom! Instant “Drive In Theater” will an unlimited selection. You can be as fancy or as budget-friendly as you want, and the kids are bound to find it magical! You can use a white sheet, the side of your house, or invest in a projector screen.

Stroll a Lavender Farm

Okay, maybe you don’t have a lavender farm near you, but I found out we do, and I have every intention of visiting it this summer. Lavender is not only beautiful, it’s proven to have calming effects when breathed in, consumed, or absorbed through the skin. How perfect is that for all the stress and anxiety you’ve likely experienced during quarantine?! If you aren’t near a farm, get some lavender tea or diffuse some lavender essential oil! Or find a coffee shop that serves up lavender lattes- like Dripped + Draped in Omaha’s Benson neighborhood!

Family Pool Day

Thanks to a generous and anonymous donor, Omaha will open multiple pools this summer. And when it comes to COVID, visiting a pool is actually one of the safer public events to partake in because there’s a low risk of spread. If you’re still concerned, a kiddie pool or a sprinkler will still do the trick.

Find Your Beach

Maybe it’s the ocean, a lake, or maybe you need to fake it with some sand, an umbrella, and a kiddie pool.

Have Fun with Food

With all the meals you’re likely having at 打屁股的视频, consider creating a taco bar or a sundae bar. Do a “baking show” with the kids. Try a fancy Pinterest recipe and see if you nail it or fail it!

Visit the Farmers Market

Fresh air, fresh fruits and veggies, what more could you ask for? Visiting a Farmers Market is a great way to support local, avoid the busy grocery store, and shop outdoors while maintaining 打屁股的视频 distancing.

Explore a New Park or Trail

Most of us have made it a point to get outdoors during the pandemic. (What else is there to do?) Now that the weather is nice, why not try a new park or trail in your state.

Go Tanking or Tubing

If you’re in Nebraska- try Tanking! Four of us adults went and had fun. We played a game and drank along the Elkhorn River for about a 4-hour ride. Would be great with kids because there’s not much effort. I think next time, I’d want to go tubing so I can be in the water more often, but this was a very easy way to enjoy the river and fun to try something different!

Rescue Rangers

Who remembers Chip, Dale, Gadget, Zipper and Monterey Jack!? The theme song alone is worth your time. My kids love this 90s fave!

Tale Spin

So when I was little, I questioned how Baloo the bear from Jungle Book was all of a sudden a pilot bear wearing clothes. Now as an adult, I can get all those answers thanks to Wikipedia! There’s actually a lot of drama associated with this show.

Gummi Bears

I actually didn’t introduce this one to my kids, but came 打屁股的视频 to find them watching it on their own one day. I remember being jealous of the kids who had the Disney Channel (when it was a premium on cable) solely because I couldn’t watch this show.

Doug

Disney’s Doug is actually the reason I bought into Disney+ in the first place. I was a much bigger fan of the Nickelodeon version, but it’s still a great show that always has a good moral, especially for 打屁股的视频 situations.

Recess

Who remembers Disney’s One Saturday Morning?! Recess was such a staple on Saturdays during my childhood. A fun one to share with your kids!

Duck Tales

That theme song tho. The gold coin pool for Scrooge to dive into? Timeless classic that all kids will enjoy.

Darkwing Duck

Was every intro song in the 90s just SO GOOD!? This Duck Tales spin off has lots of action and lots of great music

Even Stevens

If you have a tween or teen, time to introduce them to Even Stevens! As a bonus, you’ll remember why you first fell in love with Shia LaBeouf.

Lizzie McGuire

…And while you’re at it, stop by and come of age with Hilary Duff as Lizzie McGuire. It’s crazy to think she’s just another mom like us now!

Boy Meets World

Duh!!!! I almost didn’t put this on here because it seems SO obvious that everyone would be binge watching it. The former TGIF hit show will have us all cheering on Cory and Topanga for seasons! And swooning over Will Friedle until his character Eric Matthews gets too quirky for comfort

On Black Friday, I ordered one of those Ancestry DNA kits for $50. Despite the worries that big brother may steal my identity, I’m too narcissistic not to go through with it.

How it works:

I decided to share the step by step process on my 打屁股图片 stories

There’s everything you need right in the kit and the best part, it’s pretty fool proof. There are two important things to know right away though.

It’s taken me three months to do this, mostly because I kept forgetting that you can’t eat or drink anything for at least 30 minutes before. I figured first thing in the morning would probably net the best results.

Make sure you also download the app and connect it to your special barcode on your specimen sample tube.

That’s it! From there you put your specimen into the collection bag, seal the bag, and put it into the self-addressed box, no postage necessary!

So what do I think my results will be?

I’ve always been told my dad’s side is French Canadian through my grandpa, as well as some Irish, then Hungarian and German through my grandma. On my mom’s side I think we’re Irish (my grandma’s last name was Kennedy) and then Scottish through my grandpa, and maybe some German on that side, too. However, just a few years ago an uncle on my mom’s side said he found Native American in our family tree, so we will see!! I know I will be devastated if I find no French blood, but supposedly my maiden name was changed from Oullette so I should be safe there.

Now comes the wait. Once my results come back I will share them on here, so 打屁股视频 to my blog to get the alert! If you have any questions, drop them in the comments below or hit me up on 打屁股图片: @the.打屁股图片.打屁股视频.mom

Cool, but what does that mean?

According to Medical News Today, Ketosis is a metabolic process that occurs when the body begins to burn fat for energy because it does not have enough carbohydrates to burn. During this process, the liver produces chemicals called ketones.

I track my ketones daily by using test strips. Right now, I’m see moderate levels of ketones, but within a few days of starting the diet I was already seeing trace amounts.

Enough science, let’s talk food.

So I feel like this diet was made for me. Instead of worrying about what I can’t eat, I’m more focused on all the things I can have.

Bacon? Yes. Cheese? Yes. My daily breve latte!? Yes!

Here’s what you need to stay away from:
Carbs, beans, starchy vegetables, and most fruits… otherwise, have at it. So this means so breads, beans, pastas, corn, carrots, peas, most fruits except for berries, and avoid SUGAR at all costs. Especially hidden sugars like in some fruits and milk. So yes, you will need to read labels unless you know the foods that have hidden sugars.

Here’s a great article on foods to avoid!

But that means I can still have things like steak, burgers, omelettes, copycat zucchini lasagna, bacon and eggs, sausage, cauliflower, broccoli, half and half, butter, cream cheese, pretty much every cheese, nuts, almond milk… and the list goes on and on!

What’s it feel like so far? Side effects?

So two weeks in, I’ve noticed two major things: Around days 7 and 8, I had splitting headaches. This is normal. Some people get ‘keto flu’ where they feel rundown, even nauseated. I didn’t get it that bad. However, this weekend I have a sore throat and ear ache, but I’m pretty sure that’s my sick baby’s fault and not Keto!

The second is the weird taste in my mouth. Some people call it Keto-breath. It can be fruity or metallic. It’s supposed to pass, but is a known side-effect of your body moving into ketosis. I was also very sluggish and tired around days 9-11. Soon, my body should fully shift from carb-fueled to fat-burning mode and I’ll get all my energy back, and hopefully even have more!

Otherwise, I’ve found it oddly easy to stick to Keto and get into ketosis. The hardest times have been when I get 打屁股的视频 from work and if dinner isn’t done I want to grab for a snack; but unless I want cheese, Keto snacks take a little more work– like having pre-sliced veggies on hand, pre-mixed ‘veggie dip’ (a ranch packet and sour cream), or pre-made snacks like mini quiches.

Need Keto recipe or snack ideas? Follow my Pinterest board!

So how much weight have you lost?

Well, I haven’t even stepped on a scale, so I couldn’t tell you. Instead of getting wrapped up in the emotional roller coaster of weight-loss, I figured I have plenty to lose that I can focus elsewhere for now. Instead, I’m currently wrapped up in tracking my ketone progress. When I was pregnant with Hayden, I had gestational diabetes, and while my glucose levels did return to normal after I gave birth, it’s not something I want to deal with in the future. Keto has been hailed for its glucose-controlling benefits. So, I want to get in the right mindset first, get past the 3-4 weeks it takes to successfully turn a diet into a new life habit, and then I’ll start to check out the scale.

If you want to get updates on my progress and learn more about the process, follow my blog and add me on 打屁股图片: @The.打屁股图片.打屁股视频.Mom

Every millennial mom needs a few good apps to add to her arsenal!

Shipt

Shipt is life! When you sign up for this grocery delivery service, you download an app, choose your store, and start creating a shopping list that your Shipt Shopper will buy from. In Omaha, Shipt serves Target, Hy-Vee, CVS, and Petco stores. As long as you spend $35, there is no additional delivery fee. You can tip if you want. The other bonus? If you buy certain promoted items, you get money back. My subscription has already paid for itself a few times over!

Sign up now using my code and get a year subscription for only $50!

Grove Collaborative

If I’m being honest, I originally joined Grove Collaborative just to get their awesome Mrs. Meyers gift set. I had planned to cancel my subscription after that. However, I’ve loved trying so many of their products, and getting to try all different scents of Mrs. Meyers that I ended up staying on for more than a year now!

Grove has cleaner living items that are more eco friendly. I’ve purchased things like dryer balls to swap out for dryer sheets, walnut scrub pads, and even makeup removing wipes that are more natural. So many household and beauty products to try! Another bonus? You get free gifts every now and then. Plus, share with your friends, and make money!

Get this free Mrs. Meyers Gift Set now!

Young Living

Young Living has been a game changer in our household. I used to roll my eyes at people who used essential oils; now I’m a believer. I joined after being at my wits end with sickness in our household. We had a bad winter for illness in 2018. My baby boy had even ended up in the hospital for 4 days.

I tried Young Living because I kept hearing about Thieves. My trusted friend who is very practical and a nurse swore by it. She had me convinced. It’s a special essential oil blend they make that supports your immune system. It can be diffused or used to make household cleaners. They even offer a whole Thieves cleaning set. We’ve been so much healthier since we first started using. I then started ordering oils like lavender to help with my anxiety. I roll it onto my wrists at night, diffuse it at bed time and now I’ve become lavender obsessed. I’ve also used oils for teething pain, diaper rash, energy boosts, carpet cleaning and more!

Want to get started with Young Living? Sign up here!

I consider it a “subscription” because I am part of their essential rewards. Basically I buy about $50 of products each month to get the lower prices, but there’s so much you can do with oils, that you end up saving in other spots- like making your own bath scrubs, flavoring your water with lemon EO, diffusing instead of using candles (which put lots of toxins into your air!), putting drops of oil on your dryer balls instead of buying dryer sheets, etc. and the best part is, you’re getting the health benefits, too!

Check out my Pinterest page for diffuser blends and other essential oil recipes!

But why Young Living instead of some $10 oil at Walmart? No fillers. You know your product is really coming from the earth. You can actually visit and walk through Young Living’s fields across the globe. It’s part of why they have the reputation they do.

Have questions, comments, or want to talk about your favorite subscriptions? Drop a comment below or follow me on 打屁股图片: @the.打屁股图片.打屁股视频.mom

Visit a new destination

This doesn’t have to mean travel across the globe. I wanted to make sure this list was doable for anyone on any budget. Maybe it’s visiting a new campground in town. Maybe a new state. Certainly if you can afford an international trip, do it! 2020 should be all about the experiences!

Try a new restaurant

Again, this doesn’t have to be a fancy dinner, but it could be. Save up for a nice meal or just check out a new dive with a greasy burger. I love to search Yelp and find hidden gems when I’m looking for a new restaurant.

Have a self-care day

Hit the spa. Get a massage. Get your nails done. Get highlights. I’ve started splurging on getting my hair done. No more box color for me. I work too damn hard to put myself last all the time. If you’re still concerned about money, doing something as simple as buying some masks and soaps from the dollar store and doing your nails will go a long way. Or maybe it’s just taking a day to sleep in, pop in your ear buds, read a book, or go on a walk.

Go on a date

Finding time for your significant other is important, especially if you have a demanding job or kids. For Josh and I, we haven’t lived near family in years so it was hard to find a babysitter. We used that as an excuse for far too long. Find someone on Care.com or use a vacation day to have a day date while the kids are at daycare or school. If you’re not in a relationship, date yourself! You can’t expect someone to love you if you don’t love yourself. Enjoy your time alone. Go to dinner alone. Find confidence in your solo dates. Or grab your best friend and make it a girls/guys night out. Reconnect. Reminisce. Laugh.

Have a goal writing session

Sounds corny, but do it. Block out an hour or two and write down all your goals for 2020. What do you want out of your job? Your personal life? Your finances? Where do you want to go? What do you want to do? What do you need to organize?

Get your yearly physical

This one is so important. My husband hasn’t been to the doctor for a physical in years! I’ve got to get him there in 2020. For one, you get a free physical each year. Use this trip to talk to your doctor about any concerns you might have; A strange spot, a pain that won’t go away, abnormal stressing. By attending your annual physical, you may also catch a problem early- like pre-hypertension, pre-diabetes so you can start fixing it before it becomes a problem.

Find your tribe

Humans are 打屁股的视频 beings whether we like to admit it or not. At work, if I see an employee struggling, I encourage them to connect with their coworkers. Attend a net打屁股视频 event. Talk to the moms in your child’s class. Put yourself out there. In this day and age, the nice thing is, even if you’re 打屁股的视频ly awkward or an introvert, you can also find your tribe online. Maybe it’s a Facebook group for moms, maybe it’s connecting with travelers on 打屁股图片. Have you heard of Mastermind groups? They’re groups (in-person or online) where you brainstorm with people who have different strengths. You’ll inspire each other, get new ideas, and find motivation.

Play like a kid

Yes! Just have a night of good old-fashioned fun this year. Go bowling. Play laser tag. Have ice cream. Hit up the arcade. Go swing at the local park. Slide down the slide.

Donate to a charity

Do. Some. Good. Donating doesn’t have to mean money. Donate your time. Go visit the animals at the shelter. Ring bells for the Salvation Army. At the very least, take Facebook up on its offer to ask people to donate to a charity of your choice for your birthday.

Read a book

I’m the worst at reading. I can read 打屁股的视频 media for four hours straight on my phone at night, but somehow I can’t find time to read a book. I only seem to do it on vacation. I’m going to try for at least five books this year, which I realize is nothing compared to some of you.

Try a new activity

Go axe-throwing. Paint. Try calligraphy. Step outside your comfort zone and try something new. If you’re bad at it, you’ll have a few laughs. If you’re good at it, you might just find a new hobby!

Have a board game night

Monopoly and the Game of Life are my favorites! Grab a couple board games and play with the kids. Pull out Cards Against Humanity and play with your friends. Pull yourselves away from the screens for a few hours and make some memories.

Go see a movie by yourself

I know this strikes fear into some of you. How can I be seen at the movies alone? We’re not 13 anymore. It’s cool to do stuff solo. When I worked overnights, I went to the movies sometimes by myself and it’s pretty liberating. For one, you get to pick whatever you want to see. You don’t have to worry about someone talking to you during the movie. You can laugh, cry, and no one will judge. PRO TIP: Go to a weekday matinee if possible. You might have the entire theater to yourself!

Try a new style

Spend a day off trying on clothes you’d never wear; Put on that bold, red lipstick. COLOR IN YOUR EYEBROWS! It took me 32 years to figure out how to color in my eyebrows. I should’ve been doing this for years! You’ll never know what you like and what you’ll look best in if you don’t try!

Do something to connect with your spiritual side

Maybe it’s reading scripture or praying. Maybe it’s just taking a walk in nature and breathing in fresh air. Maybe it’s yoga.

Compliment a stranger

We should do this more than once a year, but make it a goal. There have been many times where I liked someone’s outfit or thought they had beautiful hair– I should have told them. They may have needed that compliment that day. You can never go wrong saying something nice to someone.

Organize something

We all need to organize something. Maybe it’s your closet, your drawers, or your finances! Decluttering your life is good for your mind. Check out Marie Kondo or A Bowl Full of Lemons. They’re organizing geniuses who will help get you motivated!

Do something artsy

Find a new appreciation for beauty by doing something artsy. Sketch, paint, craft, body paint (wink, wink)… grab some color pencils and one of those adult coloring books. It’ll be good for your stress level!

Take a bubble bath

We have this huge, deep-soaker tub in our apartment, and yet I never take a bath. Always showering because I feel like I never have the time for a bath. MAKE TIME. Force yourself to decompress. Get one of these cool bath trays and multi-task by reading, too!

Update your resume

Even if you’re not looking for a new job any time soon, it’s always a good practice to keep your resume updated. For one, you may forget some of your accomplishments if you wait too long in between updates, or your company could reach out to you out of the blue for a promotion.

What’s on your 2020 Bucket List? Drop ideas in the comments below or connect with me on 打屁股图片: @The.打屁股图片.打屁股视频.Mom

Breaking Bad

Ok, so I didn’t binge Breaking Bad in 2019, but I did watch El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie and you can’t watch that without binging the whole series first. If you haven’t watched the series yet, block out the next three weeks, because once you start, you won’t stop until the final episode. It’s arguably the best television series ever created. Quick synopsis: A high school chem teacher with cancer hooks up with a former student-turned-junkie to make and sell meth to provide for his family. Not only is it high drama and action packed, but the evolution of the characters is something I could talk about all day. MAKE THIS YOUR BINGE PRIORITY.

YOU

Season Two is now out and I can’t wait to start it. So creepy, thrilling, and messed up! I personally think all women should watch this, especially women who are still part of the dating scene. Man, guys can learn so much about us now and manipulate us with that information.

TURN: Washington’s Spies

I started watching this because I needed something to satisfy my newfound Hamilton obsession. The first 5 episodes were hard for me to stay focused on because they needed to develop the characters and set up the history so much, but after that I watched the next 3.5 seasons in about a week. Disclaimer: I do have a weird thing for guys in colonial clothing, so it was also very easy to enjoy the handsome Benjamin Tallmadge (featured above) and George Washington who was really hot, too; but you’ll also learn a lot about history (I found myself reading Wikipedia a lot to see how close they stuck to the truth. They do.). I also found myself sympathizing with the loyalists at times and being turned off by the Patriots… meaning the show isn’t overly whitewashed.

The Office

The best comedy of all time. End of story. I’ve watched every season at least 5 times. My kids know lines from the show. We’re addicted. It will soon be taken off Netflix, so watch while you can. Seasons 4-6 are probably my favorite. It’s also somewhat uncomfortable to watch it now in today’s extra PC culture because all of these people would probably be fired and some of these jokes probably couldn’t even make air anymore.

Stranger Things

If you’re still living under a rock and haven’t binged Stranger Things, then what are you even doing with your life? There’s a reason everyone loves it. I will say it does start off slow, so stick with it through the first couple episodes and then your mind will be blown. Also, it’s so well done with a retro vibe that you may want to watch some 80s horror flicks after.

Good Girls

The next two shows are also on my Top 10 Mom Shows to Binge on Netflix list. I love this NBC drama. It’s like Parenthood meets Breaking Bad. I’ll admit when I saw the promos for it, I rolled my eyes because it looked like a short-lived comedy. NOT AT ALL THE CASE! It’s really well done for a network show that can’t get too racy for prime time.

Big Little Lies

Put some of the best actresses in one show, add in great directing and cinematography, with a dramatic storyline and you have Big Little Lies. I don’t want to spoil anything so you’ll just have to watch it.

Mindhunter

If I would’ve seen this show before I gave birth to Hayden, his name would probably be Holden. If you’re fascinated by serial killers (in a non-creepy way), you will love this show. It chronicles the beginning efforts of a group in the FBI who gave credence to criminal profiling and “discovered” what we now understand to be serial killers.

The Haunting of Hill House

Who thought a horror series could also make you cry? This is an edge of your seat horror flick, mixed with a psychological thriller, and all the emotions of a drama. You’ll scream, cry, and wonder if ghosts are real or a figment of the fragile mind.

On My Block

This is such an easy watch and great for so many reasons. It will make you laugh and cry. More importantly it may open your eyes to the reality people of color in poor areas face. It may make you understand gang life and give you extra respect for those who make it out of those conditions alive.

I’m always looking for a good binge! What are some of your favorites? Drop them below or let me know on 打屁股图片: @The.打屁股图片.打屁股视频.Mom

1.) I went into withdrawal

Of course there were the caffeine headaches. The pounding-maybe-I-should-drink-just-one-cup kind of headaches. Then, that foggy brain feeling. I was goofy in that first week of “detox.” I was having trouble getting sentences out or staying focused at work, but those symptoms go away in less than a week. Honestly, the toughest part of the withdrawal is the mental connection you have with caffeine. It’s like your brain is telling you, “You need this. You won’t make it through the day without it. You need to stop at Starbucks because it’s part of your routine and your whole day will feel ruined without it.” Ok, Satan!! It’s seriously just the mind-f*ck that keeps many of us downing caffeine. What helped me was still keeping the daily routine going, just ordering decaf. I’d still get three shots of espresso, just all decaf. I also stopped drinking Diet Pepsi. I’ve switched to Fresca for when I want a pop.

2.) My panic disorder symptoms improved

This was the real reason I decided to ditch caffeine. When my panic attacks resurfaced in early 2019, I knew I had to take control of my wellbeing. Caffeine is a major trigger for anxiety. The highs and lows of caffeine can really aggravate your nervous system, hence triggering an attack. Within a couple weeks, I noticed it was helping taking the edge off. I also think, at a time my panic attacks had me spiraling, kicking caffeine felt empowering. I had taken control of something in my life. I had “beaten” this. I could carry that momentum into other places in my life.

3.) I started sleeping better

I’m a notoriously light sleeper. I toss, turn, and wake about 20 times a night-no exaggeration; And if my anxiety is acting up, then I’m also struggling to fall asleep. (My panic attacks are worst at night.) I am now sleeping sounder and deeper. I think I’m even hitting my REM again, because I can recall dreams now.

4.) My energy actually improved

This! So much, this! I am telling you- I can make it through the day better now than I could when I was pounding caffeine. A big reason? I’m not crashing mid-day anymore. I also think it has a lot to do with the fact that I’m sleeping more soundly. It’s giving me a steadier energy to make it through my day. Even on mornings where I didn’t sleep well, I still order decaf because I don’t want to end up in that same cycle as before.

5.) My headaches decreased

This was a surprise bonus that I didn’t expect, but it makes sense! Caffeine can actually cause rebound headaches. If you don’t know what that means, think of it this way: Caffeine can serve a purpose in medications. If you’re a migraine sufferer you may find that meds like Excedrine Migraine have caffeine in them. Well, that’s great, if you’re not already using caffeine daily. It will help zap that headache. But, if you find yourself popping two Excedrine Migraines a day, you will start to notice you seem to have a headache come on everyday. That’s because of the caffeine in it. The pills start to have the opposite effect and start to cause the headaches because your body starts to crave the caffeine in them. That takes us back to withdrawal.

I’m telling you mama (and daddy, and entrepreneur, and boss, student, doctor, etc.), you can do this! If you think it will make you feel better, it likely will! Have you cut out caffeine? Are you considering it? Drop me a note below! Or add me on 打屁股图片 and let’s chat! @The.打屁股图片.打屁股视频.Mom