Blog - Page 70 of 183 - Moments of Musing

2K Mother’s Day Giveaway

Filed Under: Uncategorized // May 1, 2017

*This giveaway is sponsored by Chatbooks.*

Happy May!

I don’t know about you but I love printing photos–I just never get around to doing it much, so the easier the better! I’ve decided to finally print photos of our baby boy via a Chatbooks baby book to capture his first year, which has been my first year as a mom. I can’t even believe it’s almost been a year since he was born but it has been and it’s bittersweet … but much more sweet watching him grow.

You too can make your own photo book or print photos for yourself, your mom, your grandma, your kids, etc. FOR FREE because I’m giving away $20 Chatbooks credit (which, for example, can get your a photo book + set of prints) to two lucky people! That’s right– you have TWO chances to win!

The rules are simple:

1. Follow me (@momentsofmusing) on instagram
2. Like the giveaway photo on Instagram

3. Tag 3 friends in the comments
* 1 BONUS ENTRY per additional friend you tag

As always, thank you all for following me along and participating.

Each credit is worth $20. Giveaway closes May 8, 2017 at 11:59 PM EST. You must be 18 years or older and residing in the U.S. to win. This giveaway is not affiliated with Instagram.

Good luck!

3 Mantras to Always Remember

Filed Under: perspective, positivity // April 26, 2017

I recently saw a post prompting readers to share mantras we tell ourselves. It only took a few moments before I realized what my most common and favorite mantras are:

Today is a great day.

Life is beautiful.

I am loved.

Now, these things are all so easy to remember on good days. Good hair days. Good outfit days. Good commute days. Good work days. Days when I get to sleep in. Have time to work out. Save hundreds at a favorite store. Can find the remote, house keys AND car keys. And so on.

But on the hard days, or even just particularly eh days, it’s not as easy. When I’m running late. The baby has cried for what seems like hours. When there is a torrential downpour outside. Piles of laundry and dirty dishes strewn about. I’m sick. When nothing in my closet seems to fit anymore. Bad eating days. When I’m stressed. And so on.

On those days, I struggle with keeping things in perspective. I struggle with my usual optimism. It’s sometimes really difficult to remember that bad moments or days don’t mean a bad life. That the storm will pass. The stress will subside. I can and will do important things. Things will become clearer. Everything will work out. I am important.

Because after all, today is a great day; life is beautiful; and I am loved.

Every single day.

Not only on the good days. On the not-as-good ones, too…

Every Mom Works

Filed Under: motherhood // April 24, 2017

Cheers to us all!

To the mom who wakes up at 6AM to get ready for work and is out the door before your baby wakes up – I feel you.

To the mom who stays home to take care of your child(ren) and the housework – I see you.

To the mom who tries to get work done on your computer while your baby is wailing wanting to be picked up – I get you.

None of it is easy. It’s far from easy. Juggling self care and caring for your kid(s). Trying to hold your spouse up while trying to hold yourself up at the same time. Trying to be a darn great mom, partner, and everything else… and all while having to work.

You see, we have more in common than we realize.

Whether you wake up at 6AM to get in the shower and head to a business office; or to hop on a business call; or to get some alone time before your housework begins, you are waking up preparing for work.

We ALL work.

Every mom works.

And we’re all sacrificing.

As a traditional working mom, you are sacrificing whole days away from your children. As a stay-at-home-mom, you are sacrificing your career and your independence–your days now revolve around your little ones’ schedules. As a work-at-home-mom, you are sacrificing the office lifestyle and some time with your kids.

We are all doing our best to better our families–whether it’s by holding down the fort at home or helping to financially contribute for the home; whether it’s by putting food on the table literally, figuratively, or both.

So to every mom out there:

Each of you is setting a great example.

Each of your roles is valued.

Each of your jobs is important.

You are important.

And let’s not forget–we’re all on the same team.

5 on Friday: Spring Blooms

Filed Under: five on friday, friday favorites, friday five // April 21, 2017

Happy Friday!!!!!!!! This week has been a longgggg one. 4:45AM wake ups are not easy nor fun.

My plans for the weekend do not include trying the Starbucks Unicorn Frappuccino (too much sugar and hype for me, though I did contemplate it). It seems like I might very well be one of the few in blogland who will not. I am, still, interested in trying the pink drink, though. …I digress…

My weekend plans do include sleeping in until my alarm clock (baby) wakes me up. My husband and I can surely use the extra sleep.

Speaking of my husband (it seems like I’m speaking of him on here a lot lately, huh? lucky fella), he often jokes that I post so many photos of florals in the spring, and well, he’s right. If you take a look at my Instagram, it’s no surprise I’m a big fan of flowers, particularly the recent ones that have been blooming around New York City. In fact, I like flowers so much that my previous blog name was Just Bloom. There’s just something about flowers blooming that makes me happy… It could be

their beauty,

the signaling of warm weather upon us,

or a little bit of both (probably).

It’s been forever since I’ve done a linkup so, I figured what better way than a 5 on Friday to share some of my favorite flowers this season:

Follow me along on Instagram for more 🙂

**Photos to be used from this post for personal use only. For commercial use, contact jackiehlewblog@gmail.com.

All uses of these photos require attribution to Moments of Musing.**

LDR? Go For It.

Filed Under: homecoming, long distance, love // April 20, 2017

“Sure, there’s the loneliness, the longing, the enormous phone bills. But have you really lived if you’ve never searched for your beloved’s face at an airport gate?” – Meghan Daum

Homecoming photos by Endlessly Photography; Homecoming post here

If given the choice, I would never be apart from my husband and in a long distance relationship (LDR) again. Been there, done that. See, my husband and I were already were in one–and kicked butt while doing so, if I might add. 😉

Over the years, I’ve had people, some of whom were also in long distance relationships and some who were just interested, ask me how I did it. There is no simple answer, especially because every relationship is different (you know your relationship best). What I can wholeheartedly tell you is it will take a lot of quality communication, effort, trust, and love.

Before I jump into my advice about whether to pursue a long distance relationship, I want to let you know I am [cautiously] optimistic by nature. I try my best to view the glass half full and to find the good in every situation. And I am a hopeless romantic. I chose to enter into a long distance relationship when I met my husband and I chose to continue when he moved thousands of miles away. I chose to do so because I loved him too much to simply give up due to some distance.

If the prospect of an LDR is the current reality you’re facing, and you have strong feelings for your partner, I’m here to tell you to go for it. Follow your heart. Stop doubting. Take a leap of faith.

It’s okay.

It’s okay — and very possible — to fall in love with someone who lives far, far away. Let yourself. Yes, there will be tears and lonely nights. But I promise it will be one of, if not THE most romantic, passionate love stories you can ever be a part of.

Now, unfortunately, I’m no relationship guru or fortune teller. The reality is your relationship might not work out. (If that happens, I’m truly sorry.)

But my goodness, it might. It just might.

And then one day, you’ll wake up everyday next to your partner just like you’d dreamed of. You’ll live together. Get married, if you so choose. Maybe start a family. All in the same place, in the same city, in the same state, in the same country as one another.

And you’ll look back on those LDR days and you’ll feel like together, your partnership can conquer anything. You’ll feel stronger because of those days and have a solid foundation because of them, too. Because if you can live without your love most days of your dating days and succeed, together, you can overcome a lot.

After all, you’re together. Together, after all.

This post was inspired by my most recent post and my very own love story, which just happens to be my favorite.