Finding Gratitude & Positivity in Pork Chops

“I can’t.”

When I hear my girls say this, my heart immediately sinks and I respond, “Yes, you can.”

Usually this is followed by another attempt to do something that “couldn’t” be done minutes ago. Some attempts are more successful than others, but many times the thing that couldn’t be accomplished is.

Is it a miracle?

No, I don’t think so.

I think it has to do with positive thinking. If you think you can’t do something then you won’t even if you are truly capable. Why? I like to think it’s because you’re thinking negatively and that only attracts negative thoughts and actions. It’s like a case of bad vibes. If someone gives you a bad vibe, there is nothing good that’s going to come out of a situation.

Here’s a fun fact about me…I read a lot of books about the power of positivity and the laws of attraction. While some people may think they’re nonsense, I truly believe in their message. I think there is some validity in the fact that positivity nets positivity. That’s why I try to teach my girls to think positively, even in the most negative situations.

A big slice of the positivity pie is gratefulness. If you count your blessings and are grateful, those positive thoughts will bring more good things. That’s one of the reasons I have my girls say their prayers at night. Even when they’re thankful for something as small as the yummy pork chops I made for dinner, the fact that they’re grateful for something is what’s important. They’re not only learning to be thankful for the little things, but are also sending out positive vibes. Hopefully those positive vibes will make their way back into their little lives.

After my kids say their prayers, I say mine too so they can hear what I’m grateful for. Sometimes mine are “silly” like being thankful that I survived my boot camp class without collapsing. I get a few giggles and smiles. The point is that my kids are seeing me express gratitude as well. It really is a fact of “practice what you preach”. I think it would be unfair of me to expect them to express what they’re thankful for each night while I “peace out” and just say good night. It’s all part of teaching them to be positive.

Trust me, everything is not rainbows and unicorns at my house. There are plenty of rain clouds. There’s yelling and crying just like at everyone else’s house. But, I hope the seeds of positivity and gratitude over shadow all of that. I hope in the end my girls realize there’s no such thing as “I can’t”. There’s always “I’ll try”. There’s no such thing as finding nothing to be grateful for because we know there’s always something. You can find gratitude and positivity,  even if it is in pork chops.

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Everyday is Mother’s Day…Okay 5 out of 7

Sunday is Mother’s Day.

Yeah.

Sorry for my lack of enthusiasm but there is so much energy and commercialism put into the second Sunday of May each and every year that I lose my excitement. It’s not because I don’t think mothers should be recognized and showered with gifts, because I do. I am a mom, remember? But, I always hate to get things and have people be nice to me because that’s what the calendar tells them. It takes the sincerity out of it if you know what I mean.

If Mother’s Day means getting showered with gifts and your kids telling you how much they love you, then everyday is Mother’s Day for me. Okay, maybe not everyday, but a good 5 out of 7. Before you think my family buys me gifts everyday, you are sadly mistaken. But, my kids do make me funny pictures and give me pennies and say, “this is for you, you deserve it.” Heck, I’ll take it!

I love when my kids tell me they love me just because they feel like saying it. It’s those times when they aren’t just saying it because they want something. They aren’t trying to make up for pinching each other for the tenth time in an hour. It is truly heartfelt. For some reason an emotion inside of them makes them feel as though they want to tell me that they love me at that moment. That makes it Mother’s Day for me, even if it is a bitter cold day in February when it happens.

While getting Hallmark cards written by someone who has never met me is a special kind of special, the cards and pictures my  kids make would put Hallmark out of business. The misspelled words and pictures of little figures with whacked out hair that are supposed to represent us are priceless. The dozens of pieces of paper they steal from my printer to make signs that say “I love you” make it Mother’s Day everyday…oh wait, 5 out of 7 days.

I can’t forget those nights when I’m awoken from the deepest of sleeps and dreams of being on stage with Jon Bon Jovi, only to hear a little voice call “Mommy…Mom..eee.” When I go in the room and ask what’s wrong and that tiny voice answers, “nothing, I just want to snuggle with you”, makes it Mother’s Day at 3a.m. no matter what day it is.

Those other 2 out of 7 days when motherhood is an ugly beast can truly be unbearable. Luckily the other 5 make up for it.

While Mother’s Day is a nice thought on paper, I’ll take my Mother’s Days over it anytime. Give me some homemade cards, some heartfelt “I love you’s”, a few pennies found around the house, and a call to snuggle at 3a.m. and I’m good. That’s a real Mother’s Day…oh and maybe some cake, you can never go wrong with cake!

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mommas out there…here’s hoping everyday is Mother’s Day for you too…pennies and all!