Momming is HARD work, but Momming a strong willed child is just whooooo weeee it knocks the wind out of you sometimes.  My precious Carson is our rainbow child a blessing from God I know this, however he keeps me frazzled 90% of the time. Honestly there are days where I feel trapped and held hostage by my 2 year old boy. Fearful to leave the house, because he may hit someone, he may run into the street, he may have a melt down because he is out of “chocolate milk”. 
They say terrible 2’s hahahaha have they met threenagers? We haven’t even got to 3’s yet!!  This battle started when he was about 19 months old and has gradually escalated into meltdown mode to current time (27 months old). I keep hoping it’s a phase and somedays I see the light at the end of the tunnel and think to myself wow, this parenting thing is easy, I’ve got this….and then I give him the wrong colored cup!  I can’t tell you how many mornings were “ruined” over a cup!
In all fairness he is 2 and it’s my responsibility to teach him how to manage his little emotions and behaviors, but somedays it’s so hard, like I literally want to throw in the flag and surrender….and then he will come up to me and wrap his tiny little arms around my neck and say Momma over and over. My little sour patch kid in every single way and I know this is just a phase and someday I will look around the house and wish for the spilled chocolate milk, the mushed bananas in the carpet, and a room full of metal cars to step on!
In the meantime things I have found helpful to AVOID meltdowns are:
1:  Do NOT wake the beast..let him wake on his own in the morning
2. Have him already dressed the night before ready to go the next day (we only do a shirt or soft clothing like basketball shorts, this saves at LEAST 30 minutes)
3. Have his milk ready to pull from the fridge-if he sees me pour it we fight over cup colors
4. Make sure he naps-HAHAHA he is the type that will literally bounce up and down until he falls over on the floor. The only way I can get him to nap is to lay with him..Momma needs naps to?
5. Limit screen time. I have noticed on days he vegges out on the tablet he is the grumpiest.
6.  Avoid large crowds or loud events-he gets way too stimulated and I can’t calm him down and it’s usually a 45 minute meltdown.
7. Avoid the toy aisle or parks if you are not intending to buy or play (I envy parents who can take their kids past these things and they can reason with their children). Carson does NOT reason, he is a different beast!
8. Stay calm and voice lowered, he seems to get more anxious and “crazy” acting when I raise my voice or say NO, so I have learned to redirect.
9. Hold him when transporting, he’s a runner and will GO just like that.  I understand now why parents do the bracelet attachment things and I pass no judgement-I have considered it myself.
10.  Give him all of the love I can-know that he will not be little long and someday I will miss the chaos-embrace the chaos!

​Once upon a time, I was a pharmaceutical rep. I missed out on time with family, friends, and social functions because I was on the road A LOT. I didn’t want a life away from my kids and desired to stay present in their lives. After getting laid off I went into event planning and spent MORE time away from home, but after a year of it, I went BACK to pharmaceuticals. 
After my year-long contract ended I was laid off for the bazillionith time, and I thought "THIS IS ENOUGH!" 
I was pregnant and decided to stay home until I at least had the baby (we had many complications). I knew of a girl who was an influencer on Instagram and I thought, "say whaaaaa, this is a thing?" I had never used Instagram, but I thought, “HOW FUN” and began my research.
Y’all, I spent HOURS UPON HOURS stalking other influencer’s pages, watching YouTube videos, reading blogs, tutorials and I spent a lot of money on taking pointless courses. I am not exaggerating when I say I would spend 15+ hours per day learning, crafting, pitching, editing, and engaging with other people through the Gram. Guys, had I found LadyBossBlogger in the beginning, much time would have been saved!

Being introduced to LadyBossBlogger ​has been a total GAME CHANGER. I am a week into the online “How To Make Money As An Influencer” course which is easy to follow and although I thought I knew everything there was to possibly know about influencing, here are some of my takeaways below.
·       Content scheduling 
·       Defining marketing 
·       Establishing a niche
·       Following through with intent
·       Various apps with tools to schedule/preview/edit
·       Inspiration boards geared towards my followers and niche i.e. Generation X, Millennials, etc

If you are serious about becoming a blogger or influencer on Instagram I urge you to take a course like this. Trust me, in the end you spend more money on trial and error and Elaine saves you A LOT of heartache  with all this information in ONE place and ONE course .
You can try the LadyBossBlogger course using my code “SARAHSHAW”  for 40% off. They also offer 6 months or 2 months installments, or you can pay in full with ease of a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Here are some additional free resources that LadyBossBlogger has to offer:

• 7-Day Make Money Blogging  
• 21-Day Build A Better Blog 
• 5-Day Master Affiliate Marketing 
• 3-Day Become An Instagram Influencer 

 

You will receive FREE access to all of the info needed to get started as an influencer  or how to run a successful blog. All you have to do is go to my Instagram  and follow the directions to ENTER.
Rules to enter the giveaway:

• Follow me @sarahshawyall 
• Follow @ladybossblogger 
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• Like this photo and tag a friend in the comments!
• Tag additional friends for extra entries 

What If you could concentrate on your wants and needs?! Be FREE from clocking into a 9 to 5, spend more time with your kids, have FREEDOM to explore whatever you want, what would it be? 
What are you passionate about? How could working for yourself change YOUR life?! Imagine the possibilities and dare to DREAM.
Thank you so much LadyBossBlogger + Elaine Rau for sponsoring this post.

Raspberry Almond Blondie Bars
Makes 12 – 16 servings
 
What you will need:
•8x8-inch pan
•Large mixing bowl
•Silicone spatula
•Non-stick spray (I like coconut oil spray)
•Parchment paper
 
Ingredients
•1 ¼ cup light brown sugar
•1 large egg
•1 tsp. vanilla extract
•½ tsp. almond extract
•Pinch of salt
•10 tbsp. butter
•1 ¼ cup almond flour
•1 cup raspberries
•¼ cup slivered almonds
•1/3 cup of chocolate chips + more for top
 
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 350º  on convect.  Cover pan with parchment paper and spray with non-stick spray.
2. Spread the almonds on a small baking sheet. When the oven reaches desired temperature, toast the almonds for 3-4 minutes, watching closely so they do not burn.
3. Melt the butter in a small microwavable bowl. Let it cool slightly while you combine the brown sugar, egg, vanilla extract, almond extract and salt in the large bowl. Add the butter and mix to combine.
4. Stir in the flour until it is fully incorporated.
5. Gently stir in the chocolate chips.
6. Lightly spray the spatula with non-stick spray and spread the batter into prepared pan.
7. Lightly press the remaining chocolate chips, toasted almonds and raspberries into the top of the batter.
8. Cook for 32-35 minutes or until lightly brown around the edges with a toothpick coming out clean from the middle.

Planting Activity

1. Set up an area outdoors or somewhere safe to use paints or spill dirt (would not recommend using your kitchen table). Spread out an old sheet, plastic tablecloth or newspapers to protect surfaces, as needed.
2. Decorate your terracotta pot with paint markers, paint, stickers     

or stencils. Encourage your child to paint or draw images of bees, beehives, butterflies, dragonflies, flowers – anything goes!
 

1. Allow the painted/decorated pot to dry completely. I tried to rush this process and my paint pen bled.

 

1. Planting time! Compare the length/width of your plant to the size of the pot. Place a handful or more (as much as needed) of potting soil into the pot to create a base. Less is more to give the plant room to grow, but you also don’t want its roots directly touching the bottom of the pot. 

 

1. Gently squeeze the sides of the container that your plant came in to remove it from the container. Once removed, gently massage and squeeze to shake out any excess soil and loosen up the roots.
2. Place plant in the center of the pot. Fill in the gaps around it with more potting soil, as needed. Gently pat the soil down to ensure that it’s firm around the base of the plant.
3. Place your potted plant somewhere where it will get plenty of sunshine. Pollinators prefer to visit sunny places.
4. Make it an ongoing activity with the kids to give your plant some TLC. Make sure the plant is well adapted to the conditions of your deck, porch or balcony and watered as needed.
5. Enjoy the future bee and butterfly sightings together

Bomb Seeds
Making seed bombs is a fun, easy way to get the kids involved in gardening. With this activity, you can use any pollinator-friendly seed mix (My son chose some non-pollinators, but I could not say no him). Once planted, the seed bombs will brighten up your garden in no time, and kids love watching the sprouts grow.
Materials Needed:
•6 pieces of construction paper, assorted colors (I should have used 2 sheets per seed package.)

​Order on Amazon
•3-5 pkg. of pollinator-attractant flower seeds

​Food processor

​Scissors

​Directions:

1. Cut each piece of construction paper into 1-inch squares and place into a small bowl; keep each group of colored paper squares in its own separate bowl.
2. Fill each bowl with water until the paper is completely covered and leave to soak for 20 minutes.
3. Take each bowl of paper and wring out half the water so that the paper is still damp. 
4. Using one color at a time, place the damp paper in the food processor and pulse the paper into a pulp. 
5. Repeat this with all the paper colors and put the pulp back into each of their individual bowls.
6. Mix the seeds into each bowl of paper. 

7. Press the pulp and seeds together to form into balls. If the pulp is dry, add a little more water to the pulp.
8. Place the seed balls on a sheet pan and leave overnight to dry.
9. Plant outside, cover with soil and add water. The seedling should be visible within 2-3 weeks, or quicker in warmer conditions.

Happy National Pollinator Week! #Nationalpollinatorweek