It’s Just My $0.02

This topic has been something that has been weighing heavily on me and to be honest, is not one that I really thought I would add my voice to. However, I feel like I have a duty to throw my perspective to the wind and share my thoughts. It’s also ironic timing as quite a few of the posts I’ve got coming up are about not caring about what others think, but I’ve got to get this out of my system. 

As a woman I’m always happy to see other women succeeding at what they choose to do. Whether that be take on a major company, a high up the chain job, or simply run the household. Women are a force to be reckoned with and I certainly feel that we can, and do, whatever we put our minds to do. 

I’ve been supportive of the drive of any person to do what their heart desires. I love that we all have a choice to do what we want to do, and if no one has done that before, we become the first to do it. I LOVE seeing this in my friends and in people that I don’t even necessarily know.

Let me be clear about something, I have a part time job, my own business, and my family. I work very hard at my job and my business, but I make a choice to be home with my children and to work around their needs. I have tweaked my days to perfection to allow for this and I am very proud of the fact that I am a Wife and Mom above all else. I choose to take care of our home and my husband and children. 

There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with this CHOICE. I would not judge another who decided that they wanted to work full time and have a career. That is a CHOICE. And how incredible it is that we can make that choice.

With my mindset being supportive of others in their dreams and desires, no matter what my personal dreams and desires are (because we are all different and want different things), I cannot believe the comments I have gotten in my personal life in regards to my choice. 

I am not any less proud to be a woman, or of the other achievements of women, simply because I am not breaking glass ceilings in the workplace. Because I enjoy cleaning the house, or making dinner for my husband. I also enjoy the work that I do everyday in my job and my business. I find fulfillment in every aspect of my life. 

Here’s a little food for thought to put things in perspective, while you are kicking ass in your job, or your career, or whatever it is that you’re doing, I am kicking ass in my home. In my job. In my business. As long as we are doing what we love, why does it matter?

Why should we look at a woman any less for CHOOSING or WANTING to stay home? With that same thought process, why should we look at a woman any less for CHOOSING or WANTING to go work? To break those barriers? It doesn’t make her any less than anyone else, nor does it mean that she is not supportive of other women breaking barriers. 

Let’s be real, the world isn’t going to move forward if we don’t have both types of women, so why don’t we all get off our high horses and move forward with supporting each other? We are all going through life, one of us is not “better” than the other and honestly, we could probably accomplish a hell of a lot more if we remembered that.

acuppacosy2 Comments

To My Little Bear on Your First Birthday…

Man the big first birthday. How have you already been in this world for a full year? Where has the time gone? More importantly, how have you grown so much in this short little period of time? It’s hard to believe that it’s been a year, but here we are. Celebrating your first birthday the way we do, just a small family moment. 

Over the past year I have seen you grow, watched you learn, discover, play, fall down and then promptly smile and get back up. I have watched you struggle with colds, with those darn teeth, and with getting a break from big brother (he sure does love you though). I have watched you learn how to roll, crawl, stand, and walk with assistance. You’ve found a love for food (you’re gonna eat us out of the house), laughing, music, and a special love for your big brother. 

You’re a reserved little guy at first, but will open up and just give the biggest, brightest smile. That smile that lights up your whole face and will make the whole world smile along with you. You’re laugh is infectious and while you may not totally share your brothers endless supply of energy (thankfully), you still are quite a firecracker. You are really starting to grow your own little personality and I can’t wait to see it shine through even more.

As I sit here trying to figure out what to make for your first birthday cake (and your first dose of sugar), I’ve been trying to think of a good way to put the first year of your life, but there are no words (well that’s a little strange considering that I’ve typed 249, wait 250 words now). What I mean is that this past year has been priceless. Every little moment with you has been incredible and you’ve brought so much joy into our little family.

Happy Birthday Andrew Gage. We love you so much. 

acuppacosyLeave a comment

Friday Morning Cups

To anyone that’s reading this-this is important. Read on because I have a little story to share.

▫️

This past week had a couple of rough spots. A couple of days where things just overloaded. Where my patience really stretched thin and things started falling through the cracks. My fuse seemingly disappeared and while there wasn’t any sort of breakdown or really bad moments, it was just a week that wore on me.

▫️

Sunday morning I decided to take a little breather. To get out of the house by myself, go to a coffee shop and sit, read and re charge my batteries. I came back to the house feeling so much better. My attitude had shifted. No longer did I have a zero fuse, no longer did I find myself yelling or snapping. I got the to do list done in record time and all with a little smile on my face. I was a better wife and a better mom.

▫️

Now my husband isn’t one to really comment on this type of thing BUT even HE noticed the shift. He told me “If 45 minutes to yourself is all it takes, so that everyday”. He got it. He saw the shift and it clicked.

▫️

Everyone- that time for yourself is SO important. I talk about this so much because it makes a huge difference. That saying is true- you can’t pour from an empty cup.

acuppacosyLeave a comment

Real Talk: Identity

identity

noun iden·ti·ty \ ī-ˈden-tə-tē , ə- , -ˈde-nə- \

1

a : sameness of essential or generic character in different instances

b : sameness in all that constitutes the objective reality of a thing : oneness

2

a : the distinguishing character or personality of an individual : individuality

b : the relation established by psychological identification

Who are you? What do you believe? What drives you forward?

Those may seem like daunting questions, especially if you don’t know the answer, but they are important to find out for yourself. There is a place for everyone in this world, you just have to find your space. Where you want to grow within yourself and as a part of your community. Where you feel that calling to be. All three of the above questions tie together to make up your core. From your core, you can make changes, you can make a difference in your life and others.

So, how do you figure out what your identity is? You live your life. From a very young age we start to figure out our likes and dislikes. We fall in love with places, things, ideas. We develop opinions and (hopefully) get into conversations with others about our opinions. We are exposed to new situations, constantly learning through each new problem, conversation, or experience. And slowly, through all of these, we start to get the groundwork for who we want to be. What we believe. What we want to do with our lives. In some cases we develop a strong case of identity very early on, but in most cases it takes until our mid 20’s before we really have a strong self of sense. 

While you may have a strong sense of self and have figured out who you are, it’s important to remember that we are constantly evolving and changing. Our identity shifts with new life changes and experiences. And who you were, may not be who you will be. I’ll expand on this in another post, but I wanted to touch on it. 

I think it is really important to know who you are as an individual, but I also recognize that it takes time to know that and that person can change throughout time. 

So, who am I? I’m Mia, a kick ass woman, wife, mom and friend. I believe that everyone is born to do great things, on always trying to find that silver lining, and making sure to take care of yourself. I find joy in the little everyday moments and in cosy nights at home with my husband in children. 

acuppacosyLeave a comment

The Case for Realness

Sometimes I feel like as Mom’s we feel like we have to spin either this everything is perfect facade or gosh this whole parenting gig is hard. And honestly, you’ll get judged either way you fall. On the “everything is perfect” side of things, you are told that it isn’t realistic or you’re not sharing everything. On the “everything is shit” side of things, you are told that you shouldn’t share those moments publicly, OR maybe you should realize just how lucky you are to have children. No matter what you share, you’ll be judged. 

So why do we try so hard to fall into one or the other? Why can’t we just all be real, 100% of the time? And why, if we all decide to be 100% real, can’t we all support each others choices?Why not put that judgement hat aside and just be a shoulder to lean on? And more importantly, why do we all put so much stock into what others think of us? We are all going through life and motherhood. What works for one, won’t work for all. 

I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t normally post or share about the harder times, not because they don’t happen, but because it is hard to get away from wanting to feel like we’ve got it all together. Because it can come across as not loving motherhood in some ways to some people. I love being a mom, am so blessed to have our two boys, and that doesn’t change because I share the hard moments (and we all have those hard moments). The temper tantrums. The days where it feels like all hell will truly break loose.

In our house, some days are like the first picture. Happy, perfect days where we all get along and things are just good. Some days are like the second picture, where it feels like a never ending thunder storm. Most days are a combination of both pictures with good moments and a couple of harder ones. And sure, I don’t LOVE the hard moments, sure on the days where it just feels like a never ending temper tantrum I may post about it, but I still LOVE being a mom. You can’t take the good with the bad and I know down the line, I’ll miss when the thing they cried about was not being able to pull apart two legos or wanting that extra piece of candy they couldn’t have. 

acuppacosy2 Comments

Friday Morning Cups

IMG_5577Thursday Morning: “Today is going to be a day that tries me and a day where I just have to keep reminding myself that I am enough. That I can handle what life will throw my way. That I’ve got this. Every once in a while we need to remind ourselves of that (whether it’s a bad day or not) and since I am needing that reminder today, I’m sharing it with you. You are enough. You can handle what is being thrown your way. You got this <3.”

A little backstory- for the past few days our older son has been waking up earlier and earlier. He is so “easy” in the morning (just give him a little drink and he will quietly play until breakfast), so I wouldn’t normally have any issues. These past couple days though, you can tell the whole getting less and less sleep has started to take its tole on him. You can tell that he just hasn’t been getting enough sleep, but he won’t go back to bed.

Thursday was kind of my breaking point because as soon as breakfast came along the whining started. The whining subsequently turned into a full blown temper tantrum. It’s hard because he doesn’t have the words or knowledge to truly VOICE the problem and the only way to really help him is to just be that calming presence. THAT is HARD though and when it is the end of a long day, where that has been the role to play over and over and over again, it gets hard.

So, I needed to take a moment. To re center. To remember that I can do this. That I am enough and further, I am exactly the parent that my child needs.

acuppacosyLeave a comment

What I Wore pt. 2: Finishing Touches

In pt. 1 I talked about fashion and clothing and an area that I was not the most comfortable with. I don’t really know too much on the fashion side of things (although I am slowly getting there), but something I am very familiar and confident in are the accessories. The finishing touches to an outfit. Handbags, jewelry, sunglasses- I love them all and I’ve always been a fan. 

So, how have my accessories changed over time? 

Outside of the fact that I’ve paired down my collections quite a bit, these days I tend to go for quality over quantity (or really over anything else). I love to have simple pieces that have a meaning beyond just having the piece. I definitely have a few staples that I wear everyday without fail, as well as some newer pieces that I’ve added. 

Since I’ve got this accessory thing down, and since I’ve shared my clothing choices, I figured I would share some of my favorite accessory pieces. Each piece has a bit of a meaning behind it, or a story as to when I bought it except one set of bangles which were bought just out of love for them (which is fine). 

I think my all time favorite accessory right now (aside from my wedding set, because duh) is the bracelet I am wearing on my left wrist. It was a recent purchase, but has a sweet story behind it. I’ve also gone back to wearing an actual watch (not a smart watch) and my favorite watch brand is Skagen. I currently own two, although the square one needs a new battery (I need help removing the backing on it otherwise it would have already been replaced). 

Other pieces aside from my watch, wedding ring, and bracelet tend to vary from day to day on how I am feeling and what I’m wearing. I tend to alternate between three necklaces (typical wearing the blue one everyday and switching up the others), and a few different bracelets. I’ve got a selection to choose from, but pictured below are my three favorites that I reach for at the moment. 

For the most part, I prefer simple and dainty for jewelry, with my sunglasses and handbags being where I “go big or go home”.  My current favorite pair of sunglasses are these Ray Ban Erika style sunglasses. I am just in love with them. My favorite bag to carry right now is my Whipping Post tote as it is just big enough for everything I’ve got to carry without needing a diaper bag (finally!). A close second favorite bag is probably one of my Kate Spade bags OR my Cambridge Satchel Co small bag. 

I’m pretty pleased with where things stand with my wardrobe at this point. I definitely want to add a couple more pieces of jewelry to it, but there isn’t too much more that I could even bring in!

acuppacosyLeave a comment

What I Wore pt. 1: Ditching the “Mia-Form”

I’ve never really been super into fashion. In fact, most of the time by the time I got “ballsy” enough to try a new trend or style it was usually out of style. Most of the times my style extends to jeans & a t shirt with a pair of boots or sneakers. 

When I joined the working world I switched to office clothes, but when we moved, had our first child, and I started working from home I headed right back to the jeans & a t shirt “uniform”. It is so easy for something that seems so simple, so insignificant to symbolize much more. Being a mom, often times we forget about doing the little things, such as trying to put ourselves together in the morning in more than the first thing that comes out of a drawer or closet.

One of my biggest tips, not only in life, but especially in being a mom and working from home is to not just live in your pajamas all day long. Getting into some sort of clothes (whether that is leggings and a tee, or a full on business outfit is up to you) is such a big boost to your day and productivity. It can make the difference between crushing your to do list, or falling flat. Not too mention that you appearance can be similar to a first impression of who you are. What do you want to say with your clothes?

I say this because I was starting to hit a bit of a plateau in my wardrobe and my day to day. I wanted to kind of get away from that jeans and tee look some days, but still remain somewhat casual as I am home most days. I found that jeans and tee were starting to be similar for me to just wearing sweats and I found that some days I felt like I just looked a mess. 

Slowly but surely I’ve been breaking that mold and while I still love a good ole jeans/t shirt option and wear it semi frequently, I’ve been trying to put more intention into my outfits. Putting on a skirt or dressing up a pair of jeans.

I decided for the past week or so to capture the outfits that I’m wearing each day as this past week has really been my turning point if you’d like to say. I’ve been doing a wardrobe clear out over the past couple months and I’m starting to really hone in on clothes that I’m comfortable with that aren’t just t shirts.

I would say at this moment, my style is comfortable with a bit of a twist. While I want to add a couple more dresses, a couple pairs of slacks, and another skirt to my closet, I feel like I am heading in the right direction for what I am wanting to accomplish. 

This was actually quite a bit of fun for me to do and then look back on. I might start doing this seasonally/quarterly and while I am definitely not a fashion guru in any way, I do not want to put up a clothing or accessory type post eery once in a while. 

acuppacosy1 Comment

A Fresh Outlook pt. 2: Fitness and Exercise

I’ve always been an active person. From being a competitive figure skater, to playing soccer, to hiking and walking trails, I’ve always loved to have some amount of physical activity in my life. Sometimes that was just a simple walk at lunchtime, other times spending a day on the weekend hiking trails and discovering new lookouts. 

From about the age of 5 till 15, I was a competitive figure skater. This called for a very intense workout regiment and constant physical strain and pushing my limits. While I did enjoy it and learned a lot of lessons, it definitely took its toll on my body in many ways. When I stopped Figure Skating, I jumped right into playing Soccer for a little while. Another very vigorous and physical sport, but I loved it. I didn’t play for too long due to switching schools and I wish I could have played more and really honed my abilities. I definitely really enjoyed it. 

After participating in both of those activities, combined with heading into college, I decided that I wanted to start hiking and exploring rather than just playing sports all the time. With that decision though, I stopped being AS active in my everyday life. Shortly after that, I started working in office jobs and wasn’t able to just head out and go for a run in the middle of the day, or take my lunch break to work out. 

While I still maintained an active lifestyle over the past 3-4 years, there was a big change in how active I was. I was sitting more and more during the day and when I would get home I would be sluggish and not as active there either. I found that I missed those every day moments of activity and that adrenaline and endorphin rush that comes from working out and pushing your limits. 

A couple months before the New Year (2018), I quietly started working out again. Just 30 minutes early in the morning, before the boys woke up, down in our basement. I used a business that I had found through Youtube and just did a video or two (depending on length) in the morning. I eased into it, as they can be intense) starting at 3 days a week and leading into every weekday. 

I’ve now been working out everyday since January and, like eating healthier, I’ve seen such a shift. After a workout and a shower, I feel so good. I feel like I can take whatever the day throws at me, which is a big thing for me. I’ve also noticed, that while I was able to hike and walk trails for a while earlier, that has changed. I am able to go for longer before getting tired, go up higher, and even now carry my children longer if needed. 

I’ve always known that exercise plays a huge role in how you mentally and emotionally feel, but I didn’t know how big of a role it plays until I wasn’t able to work out for about a week. I definitely noticed a bit of a change just in the way I handle things. With that only lasting a little under a week, it wasn’t a huge deal, but I can definitely see how that change could grow if it was longer. 

At this point, I usually do the more intense workouts 3-4 days a week and then incorporate a little (about 15-20 minutes) of yoga 2-3 days a week and on the weekends. I really like yoga for just calming down and re centering (it also is a good workout just in itself). 

acuppacosyLeave a comment

Memorial Day

məˈmôrēəl ˌdā/

noun

noun: Memorial Day

  1. a day on which those who died in active military service are remembered, traditionally observed on May 30 but now officially observed on the last Monday in May.

Today is a special day. As you go about your holiday, having out by the swimming pool, having hamburgers/hotdogs, or just enjoying a relaxing day off at home, take a moment to remember what this day is actually about. Remember to pay respect to those who died defending our country. They put themselves in harms way to protect what we hold dear and made the ultimate sacrifice. Remember them. 

It can be as simple as a moment of silence to reflect, or you can go and visit a cemetery. Just do something to keep that memory of those that gave so much alive. They deserve it.

acuppacosyLeave a comment