5 Ways to Improve Your Mental Health

Mental health is something that is not talked about enough, but I feel as though it is very important to start the talk because so many people struggle with it nowadays. If you or someone you know struggles with mental health, please take the time to work on it because not only is it important for your overall happiness, but it also very important for those around you, as well. Here are a few ways to improve your mental health and if you have any other tips that you would like to share in the comments below, I would love to hear them! 

Connect With Others

Loneliness is a sure way to slowly start to feel isolated, anxious, and even depressed – it can have a major impact on your mental health and unfortunately, not having enough connections with others is a major problem in the U.S. right now, especially with work-from-home life becoming more and more popular. In fact, one study discovered that loneliness shortened a person’s life by up to 15 years. This is why connecting with others is essential when it comes to improving your mental health. Having great, thriving friendships benefits us in many ways, and not just when it comes to improving your mental health, either.

Take a Trip

Often times, improving your mental health can be as easy as getting out of town. Numerous studies have found that a change of scenery can be an instant mood-lifter! Whether you book a quick weekend trip, an extended vacation, or just a local staycation, taking the time to see new things, focus on having fun, and eating great food can be the perfect way to temporarily remove stress from your life. Grab your significant other, a group of girlfriends, or even your mom, and hit the road to a better mental health.

Eat Well

What you eat definitely has the potential to help or hurt your mental health. Not only does the food that you eat nourish you body, but it also nourishes your brain. For example, a moderate amount of carbs increases serotonin production, which is a chemical that has been shown to have a calming effect. Foods with omega-3 polyunsaturated acids have been known to improve mood and improve cognitive function…and these are just two examples. When you eat well, you not only feel better from a scientific standpoint (ie. showing that the foods do increase good chemicals in your body), but you are more than likely also feel better and more confident, as well.

Have A Routine

Having a routine can seem boring and predictable, but if you are struggling with your mental health, it can help significantly. When I say to have a routine, I do not mean that you need to have every single interaction and moment of your day mapped out. Mostly, I just mean to have a night time routine (and maybe a morning routine, as well). For your night routine, setting aside time to incorporate self-care is very important. For example, know that your “bedtime” is at 11pm each night and before that, make sure that you incorporate a few things that will help you get better sleep, because being well rested is very important when it comes to your mental health. A few ideas are making sure your basic hygiene is met (brushing your teeth, showering, and washing your face), throwing in something that brings you joy such as journaling, taking a bath, or reading a book, and staying away from screens for at least thirty minutes before bed. In addition to this routine, a morning routine is great, as well, so that you do not feel rushed to get out the door. My experience is that having a slower morning helps people get into a better mood and will help your mood throughout the day, as well.

See A Therapist

If you are struggling with your mental health – no matter how small or big the problem is – I highly recommend seeing a therapist, such as the therapists at Ray of Hope Counseling Services. Therapy can be a very great and effective treatment for a host of mental and emotional problems and simply talking about your thoughts, feelings, and experiences is a great way to make yourself feel better. It can truly be so healing! Therapists are professionally trained listeners who can help you overcome life’s many challenges and changes and they can help you navigate said changes, in order to improve your mental health and feel the best that you possibly can. Ray of Hope Counseling Services’ areas of expertise are imago therapy for couples, play therapy, hypnotherapy, therapy for abuse and violence, addiction therapy, stress and anger management, depression and anxiety therapy, equine therapy, and more. If you are looking for a therapist Lawrenceville GA, Conyers GA, Athens GA, Marietta GA, or more (they have eight locations + online therapy), definitely check out Ray of Hope Counseling Services. They say, “The therapists at Ray of Hope Counseling Services strive to help their clients meet their life changes and challenges in a comfortable and supportive environment. They take great pride in honoring the privacy and confidentiality of each of their clients.”

Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff

Live Science says, “Daily irritations are part of life, but they can also wear us down. In a 2013 study in the journal Psychological Science, researchers used two national surveys to look at the influence of minor annoyances on people’s mental health. They found surprisingly strong links.

The more negatively people responded to small things like having to wait in traffic or having arguments with a spouse, the more anxious and distressed they were likely to be when surveyed again 10 years later, the researchers reported.

“It’s important not to let everyday problems ruin your moments,” study researcher Susan Charles, a psychologist at the University of California, Irvine, said in a statement when the research was released. “After all, moments add up to days, and days add up to years.”

Hopefully some of these tips help you on your own journey with mental health. Let me know if these work for you or if you have any other tips to share! I always love hearing from you!

 

Disclaimer: Affiliate links may be used in this post and small commission may be earned. This post is sponsored by Ray of Light Counseling.

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5 Things To Do During Christmas Break

Thanksgiving break has been amazing and I cannot believe that it has come to an end – it really flew by! Although I love Thanksgiving (and the break) so much, it is almost like a teaser to Christmas break because Christmas just reminds me of so much joy and that gets me really excited. As most of you know, I am a teacher, so for me, breaks not only mean that I get to enjoy myself more, but they also mean that I need to catch up on everything that I have not been able to do while in school. So, my Christmas break to-do list might look a little different than yours, but I wanted to share it with you anyway. Here are a few things to do during Christmas break:

Family Time

The most important part about the holidays is fitting in family time, in my opinion. In fact, I try to fit in as much family time as possible and if you are having holiday guests, that should be easy for you because they will be in your home 24/7. Even if you wanted to escape them at that point, you couldn’t. 😉 Just kidding! Truly – family time is so important, especially during the holidays. As a mom, I want to teach this and the best way to do that is by my actions. Creating traditions with family and showing that family time is of the utmost importance is essential.

Catch Up On Appointments

Next up: catch up on all of your appointments! You are off work and have a little bit of extra time, so why not catch up on your appointments, such as your routine dental cleaning? Or, maybe you need to get a dental filling and have been putting it off. Well, now is the time to get on that! Metro Decatur Dental Group PC is the number 1 dentist in Decatur, GA, so if you are looking for a new dentist, check them out. They are known for their happy clients, innovative technology, and their gentle dentist, Dr. Gary Simms. Metro Decatur Dental Group PC is a full-service dental office inside of DeKalb County. “Dr. Simms has dedicated his professional life to dentistry, both cosmetic and function. Whether you need basic teeth whitening, cleanings, fillings, or more advanced dentures, root canals, bridges, crowns, and veneers, Metro Decatur Dental Group PC is a dentist you can trust.”

Get Festive

Now that Thanksgiving is past us, it is time to get festive for Christmas! Put up the lights, get the decor out of the attic + dust everything off, and pump up the holiday tunes. This is such an exciting part of Christmas and for kids, it makes the holiday so, so magical, which is my ultimate goal. Scenes from this time of the year are some of my most vivid and most favorite memories from my childhood. These days fly by so quickly and making it magical for our children should be one of our priorities during this season. I recommend getting festive as early as possible to make this happen! Holidays with kids can be so wonderful, but also exhausting. The key to making it fun and magical is to prepare in advance, so get started on your holiday decor now!

Relax

I know that during the non-holiday season, I am working hard, so when I have time off, I need to (and I deserve to) relax a bit. To me, this is something as simple as maybe getting an opportunity to sleep in, have a cup of coffee in bed, while reading a book. To you, this might mean having a full on spa day, or going on an adventure. No matter how you relax, make it happen for yourself this holiday season because like I said, you have been working hard all year round and you really deserve the little bit of time to relax and just do nothing.

Give Back

Last but not least, this is the season for giving and there is nothing more important than giving back during these few weeks. Donate your time giving to people in need, or even just pay for the persons coffee in the car behind you at Starbucks. However you choose to give back is up to you, but it’s important to at least consider doing something to help the people around you.

What are your plans for Christmas Break? Anything exciting planned?

Let me know! I always love to hear from you!

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Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post with Metro Decatur Dental Group PC. All opinions are my own. Affiliates links may be used in this post and I may receive a small commission. 

Making Memories: 4 Ways to Prioritize What is Important to You

Every single day is a new opportunity to grow, learn new things, and improve how we feel about our lives and the situations we are in. Each day is a chance to prioritize the things that are really important to us. Although each day is completely different – some will be more productive than others and some days will be ones where you do not get anything done – each day nonetheless is still a chance to make lasting memories.

Life is too short to go through each day, month, and year, and not have great memories with family and friends. It’s also too short to be unhappy. This is why I believe that it is truly important to focus on what is ultimately important to you, at the end of the day. Here are a few ways to prioritize what is important to you so that you can focus on being happy and making lasting memories:

Find Out What’s Really Important To You

Being immersed in activities that do not add any value to your life can make you lose sight of what is really important, so sit down with no distractions and really think about what it is that you want out of life. Start by making a list of the things you enjoy. How can you do the things you love each and everyday? You could also make a list of things that you want to try. Maybe this is traveling to Greece with your family, skydiving, or something as simple as singing karaoke. No matter what it is, write it down and then make it happen. The only way that you are going to be happy, make lasting memories, and prioritize what is important to you is if you make time for the things that you want to do.

Prioritize Yourself

A lot of the time, when we limit ourselves from doing the things that we love, we are the only ones holding ourselves back. Maybe you blame it on work, family problems, or household tasks, but when it comes down to it, you are the only person stopping yourself from being happy and making memories. To break free from this, you need to focus on your mental and physical health. Prioritizing this will make you a happier (and healthier) person, which will in turn, lead you to want to do things that are better for you. So, instead of sitting in front of the TV, maybe next time, you choose to go out to dinner with a friend! 

Declutter

We have become a society that is so obsessed with things. Jewelry, clothes, cars, technology, STUFF. It’s time to say no to these unnecessary things and instead, start spending your money on things such as trips and experiences, that will create lasting memories. In order to do this, you have to start getting rid of your items that you do not need. Declutter your home and figure out what you do and do not need. With the things you don’t need, get rid of them! For example, if you have extra jewelry that is not benefitting your life at all, sell it to Chapes-JPL, the Nation’s premier jewelry lender. Chapes-JPL is not your typical pawn shop, though, so do not get confused. Unlike a typical pawn shop who lends at extremely high rates, Chapes-JPL provide asset loans on items such as jewelry, gold, diamonds, watches, and other assets, at a low rate and a fair value. They have been doing this for over 38 years and offer loans as low as $100 to 5 million dollars. Chapes-JPL operates out of private financial offices and only schedules private appointments for their clients, which makes your time doing business with them easy and very discreet.

In addition to offering low-interest collateral loans, Chapes-JPL also buys your valuables from you, which is what you could do if you really do not need the item at all. Both ways selling, or getting a collateral loan in Atlanta are very fast and easy. Since Chapes-JPL buys your valuables, or offers loans strictly on collateral, they do not need to do credit checks, so it makes the process easy and quick for you

I can bet that you have many unnecessary valuables lying around your house that you do not even know about them. Get rid of them by selling them to Chapes-JPL or getting a collateral loan instead, in order to reduce your clutter, remove the stress from your life, and start focusing on making memories instead of keeping things that you do not need around your home.

Put Down Your Technology

I understand wanting to take the best picture for the gram, but when you are behind a phone or a camera lens, you really are not making memories – you are just snapping pictures of other people making memories. Put down your technology and join the crowd. Immerse yourself in the culture of another town, learn about your friends and family, and laugh as much as you can.

At the end of the day, happiness is what matters most and prioritizing what is important to you so that you are able to make lasting memories is what you are going to remember when you are grey and old.

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Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Chapes-JPL but all opinions are my own. Affiliate links are used and I may receive a small commission.

 

Mom Bossin’ with Baggallini

My life has been incredibly busy these last few months. From work, to events, to vacation, and holidays, we have been going non-stop!

While my life may be sheer chaos, one thing has remained a constant: my handbag!

I was recently gifted the Metro Backpack from Baggallini. I have to admit that I was a little skeptical at first. I am not much of a backpack girl but I really wanted something that could carry both mine and Vivi’s things, while still looking chic. Over the summer I potty trained Vivi so there was no need for a big, bulky bag. I found myself shoving a pull-up, extra pants, and snacks into my already full handbag. Something had to change.

Upon receiving the bag, I switched everything over from my own handbag, downsizing a few items, added Vivi’s things, and I was set. I made a vow to carry the bag for the entire month of October so I could form an honest opinion. I would change my bag for date or girl’s nights, but then it was right back to my Metro Backpack.

Since I was carrying this bag for the entire month of October, I packed it up to take it with me on my recent Disney trip. This was, by far, where the bag was most useful. With all of the compartments, pockets and zippers, I had everything I needed, remained organized, and stayed looking chic. I got so many compliments on this bag while in the park. I think people expect backpacks to be bulky or kid-oriented so the fact that this bag possessed both style and function was definitely something worth noticing. With the adjustable straps, hooks and zippers, I was able to carry it as a crossbody, a one-shoulder pack, a backpack, AND a handbag. Talk about a versatile bag! Even my husband didn’t mind holding it for me!

Here are all the amazing details that this backpack features:

• Lightweight, water-resistant nylon
• Removable RFID phone wristlet included
• Interior organization and multifunctional pockets
• Quick access phone pocket
• RFID protection
• Adjustable strap & key Loop
• Wristlet interior has 3 card slots

Curious about RFID technology? I was too! RFID-blocking wallets are designed to help insulate you from a very particular brand of electronic pickpocketing, called RFID skimming. RFID stands for Radio Frequency IDentification, a technology that uses tiny computer chips smaller than a grain of sand to track items at a distance. Essentially this means that as long as your cards are inside the RFID protection pouch, your card information cannot be stolen using this technology. That is pretty nifty if you ask me!

All of the pockets and pouches kept me very organized while in the park. I was able to quickly find everything that I needed, which is crucial when you have a very busy three year old in when of the busiest places in the United States. I used the outside zipper to quickly access my phone, the mini zipper pouch to keep my money and cards both safe and accessible, and the back zipper to house our room keys and park tickets. It truly helped me to keep my sanity while in the park and helped me to stay very organized. I cannot recommend this bag enough, especially if you are the Mom of young children.

So just what all was I able to fit in this backpack, besides random receipts of course? More than you would think, that is for sure!

I had: a change of clothes and pull-ups for Vivi, wipes, a few toys, sunglasses, snacks, iPad with charger, pouch with essential female items, chap-stick, hair ties, handsanitizer, cellphone, and, in the little pouch, my card wallet and change purse. I was honestly surprised at home! We are heading back to Disney in December and the first thing that I will be packing is my Metro Backpack. It was seriously a very chic lifesaver!

I encourage you to check out Baggallini’s Metro Backpack as well as their other chic and versatile bags. I can promise that it will be so functional, you will not want to change your bag!

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Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post and I was gifted the Metro Backpack from Baggallini. All opinions expressed in this post are my own

A Letter to my Students

Today was the first day of school.

This is my 9th year of teaching but I don’t feel like a pro by any means. I am always learning, always growing, and forever changing something. For this reason, I still get super nervous on the day before the first day.

The night before the first day of school I always have a hard time sleeping. I feel like a kid on Christmas morning. I am full of so many different emotions that I find it almost impossible to sleep. I feel excitement for the new memories I will make, nervousness for the possibility of problems, and even a little fear. Being a teacher is hard. We are expected to be so much for our students and perform so many different jobs. It can be both mentally and physically exhausting. There have been many times that I considered giving up but I persevered. I focused on the fact that I felt like I had been given a gift to teach. I focused on the fact that my smiling face and warm hugs may the only ones that they would receive all year. I focused on the fact that my words of encouragement could help them through the most impossible of situations. Now here I am, about to begin my 9th year of teaching and I am just as nervous as I was during year one. I know, however, that I am not alone in feeling these nerves. I know that there are 25+ Kindergarten babies getting ready to come to school and see me on their very first day, that are feeling those exact same nerves. So since I found it hard to sleep, I decided to write a letter to my new students.

To My Kindergarten Babies,

Let me start by saying that I am honored to be your teacher. God put us in each other’s lives for a reason I am so excited to see His perfect plan unfold. I know that with His help and guidance, this is going to be a great year.

I can imagine that you are unbelievably scared and nervous. It must be hard to enter such a big school, leaving your Mom, Dad, and younger sibling behind to learn all about your letters and numbers. So many of you have never attended PreK so I can imagine that this is very overwhelming. I want you to know that is perfectly normal to feel scared and nervous. I feel those same emotions every time I step foot into this classroom. I try so hard to be the best teacher possible for you and that can be a very exhausting job. I am constantly making plans, finding resources, and changing around my classroom to make sure that you are getting the best from me. It is very scary to think that if I make a mistake, I am held directly responsible for potentially messing up your education. I would NEVER want anything like that to happen so I am always trying to be my best for you.

When I say that I am going to be my best, I mean that I am going to be the best in all that I do. First and foremost, I am going to be the best teacher possible, but I will not stop at just teaching. I am going to be friend to you when someone says something that may not be so nice. I am going to be your nurse and bandage your knee when you fall down. I am going to be your coach and encourage you to do your best. I am going to be like a Mother and hug you when you are sad.

I promise to be all that you need me to be in the few hours that you are with me each day. Life is hard but I will try so hard to make it that much better for you. Please know that if I do have to fuss, I am coming from a place of love and compassion. I only want what is best from you and sometimes that means that we have to stop playing and listen. I hope you never feel like I don’t care because in truth, I love each of you as if you were my own children. I promise to do everything I possibly can to keep you safe and healthy while you are in my care. In our classroom we are a family.

If you get upset, I ask that you please tell me. I want to know if I have hurt your feelings so that I can make necessary changes to be better for you. I am not perfect and will make mistakes so I hope that you will teach me and help me to be better during those times. Just as you will need me, I will also need you.

Even though we will only be together for a short time, our lives will forever be touched by one another and for that, I thank you. The chance to be your teacher is already making me into a better person. You are impacting my life more than you will ever know and I will remember each and every one of you for many years.

I leave you with one final thought. Today, you are beginning your educational journey. You are about to spend the next thirteen years learning and discovering who you want to make of your life. I want to encourage you to dream big. I want you to become more than you ever could have imagined. Today is the first day of the rest of your life and you have a chance to make it into anything. Never give up, work hard, and always persevere. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that are not enough. You don’t need that negativity in your life. I want you to remember that I think you are enough. You are smart, loving, and kind and are going to grow up to be an amazing person. Don’t ever forget that! And if for some reason you do forget, come back and see me and I will try to help you remember.

Today is the first day of the rest of your life and I believe that you are going to become a truly phenomenal person.

And one more time so you don’t forget, you are enough.

Mrs. Fowler

To all of my teacher friends, and all of the other teachers in the world, I wish you all an amazing school year. I hope that you and your students grow in more ways than you ever thought possible. With the right encouragement, we really can mold these little minds to change the world and that is truly amazing!

Making the Best of the Rest of My Summer

Summer is just moments away from ending and school seems like it is approaching so quickly, but I am all for living in the moment and only accepting the fact that summer is over when it is actually over. You have to live with the glass half full perspective because if you don’t life can too often seem boring and almost depressing and I want to make sure that I am showing my daughter that living a happy, full ‘glass half full’ life is very, very important. So, with that being said, today I want to share with you how I am making the most of the rest of the summer! I thought it would be fun and productive to create a list of five summer goals to accomplish. I urge you all to do the same, in order to get the most out of these next couple of weeks. Here is my list:

Soak in the summer

I want to do all things summer related. So, you will probably find me eating watermelon, going to the pool, wearing all of the summer clothes, and playing with chalk outside. If you have already knocked out your summer to do list, I highly recommend making another one. Be creative and think outside the box – there really are so many fun things that you can do in the summer! If you hop over to Pinterest and type in summer bucket list, you are sure to find many fantastic lists. A few ideas that you can find on Pinterest are playing in the sprinkler, having a picnic, going to an outdoor concert, watching a movie in a drive-in theatre, dancing in the rain, and making frozen hot chocolate.

Be intentional

Because summer is ending so quickly, I want to make the most of it by being intentional. I believe that it is important to be intentional with what you do on an everyday basis, but in our generation with social media, technology, and other distractions, it can be very hard to actually accomplish this each day. If you have trouble staying intentional throughout the day, you could help yourself out by setting guidelines. Maybe set times where you can check social media, or talk on the phone, wake up early instead of sleeping the day away, and maybe even plan some rest time for yourself.

Make time for myself

I know I touched on this a bit above, but I wanted to talk about it more. Being a mom is a really amazing job and I am so lucky to do it each and every day, but what a lot of moms forget to do is to actually make time for themselves. Our kids are constantly relying on us and our health, mindset, and strength should be constantly taken care of. Having time for yourself is important so that you can re-charge each and every day. This may look different from person to person, but a few ways that you can make time for yourself is by taking a bubble bath, scheduling a massage, reading, watching your favorite TV show, or even going to workout.

Start dreaming of our new house

As some of you know, we are currently building a home in Savannah, Georgia and I am so excited about it! I’ve already been dreaming about it for a while now, but all of the progress that has been made in the past couple of weeks has gotten me so thrilled for the move! Searching for home decor has never been better and it is just so much fun. One thing I am considering is adding window films to our windows. Apparently, they are used for a few different reasons. For starters, window films add a decorative effect to ‘normal’ windows, which would be nice. They can take an ordinary window and make it look extremely unique by adding a textured look. This also adds more privacy in your home! Another great bonus of window tinting is the fact that it can help prevent excessive heat and cold, and it can also prevent harmful UV rays from entering your home. According to UHS Window Tinting and Blinds, “Since 2003, we’ve been helping residential home owners get the best protection from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. Radiation from the sun is divided into three components: light that we can see, and infrared and UV rays that we can only feel. As the sun strikes glass, the window film acts as a shield that blocks harmful UV rays, as well as regulates the amount of heat that passes through the glass. In turn, the interior of your office or home will have a more comfortable temperature, even without increasing the cooling or air conditioning capacity in the room. By simply having a window film on your glass doors and windows, you can be protected from the sun and reduce your energy costs at the same time.”

Focus on health

It is easy to get off-track health and nutrition goals in the summer. It has been so hot in Georgia lately and all it seems like I have been wanting is ice cream and refreshing drinks such as sugar-filled sweet tea. You just cannot get more refreshing than that! In these next couple of weeks, I hope to get fully back on-track when it comes to my health and I am very excited to start the next school year off strong and healthy!

How are you making the best of the end of your summer? I would love to hear from you! Let me know in the comments below!

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Disclaimer: Affiliate links are used in this post and I may receive a small commission.

 

Taking the Guesswork out of the Best Child Care in Georgia with Quality Rated.org

The post is sponsored by GEEARS: Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students; however, as always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

As a teacher, one of the things that I value the most is the education of my own child. When my sweet Vivilyn was still growing inside of my belly I was constantly thinking about what I was going to do for her childcare. I wanted an organization that I could trust  as well as one that would provide her with the tools to be successful once she entered school. While searching the internet one day I happened to stumble upon Quality Rated.org.

Quality Rated.org is a unique website that offers parents the chance to search through child care options in the state of Georgia. There is over 5,000 state licensed and monitored child care programs within the state and finding the perfect fit for you family can be a daunting task.  With their free search tool, parents can search for childcare options based on price, distance, services offered and a Quality Rated child care programs. You can even search for a child care facility that is on your commute by clicking the “Search Along A Route” option!

Once you have searched for facilities that meet your initial criteria you can easily access each child care program’s safety and inspection reports, opening hours, prices, teacher credential and transportation options.

Quality Rated that I mentioned earlier helps parents identify child care programs within the state of Georgia that are highly quality. Child care facilities can choose to participate in the Quality Rated program. Once in the program, each child care is independently evaluated by qualified early childhood education experts to ensure that they are following the current best practices. It also ensures that they are committed to continually improving their centers and the education they offer. As a teacher, I can assure you that the realm of education is constantly changing. Over time we have learned what programs work, what children need and what is required to meet those needs. It is comforting to see that so many child care facilities in the state are working to improve what they offer to their children so they are always receiving the best possible education.

Quality Rated.org assigns stars to early education and school-age care programs that meet or exceed the minimum state requirements. Some things that look at to determine the star rating include:

• Employing qualified and well-trained teachers
• Providing a safe, healthy and caring environment
• Implementing individualized instruction
• Offering a curriculum that prepares children for kindergarten
• A focus on both active learning and social-emotional development
• Engaging families
• Providing a low teacher-student ratio

A program can earn one, two, or three stars depending on the standards and benchmarks that they meet. The ratings are as follows:

One star – Program has demonstrated a commitment to meeting standards that exceed state health and safety requirements, meets several quality benchmarks, and scores sufficiently on the independent observation.

Two stars– Program has demonstrated a commitment to meeting standards that exceed state health and safety requirements, meets many quality benchmarks, and scores well on the independent observation.

Three stars – Program has demonstrated a commitment to meeting standards that exceed state health and safety requirements, meets numerous quality benchmarks, and scores high on the independent observation.

Another thing that I love about the Quality Rated tool is that it allows you to look at all Child Care providers in the state, even if they are not Quality Rated. This includes licensed and license-exempt child care providers in Georgia. For each of them you get a comprehensive overview so that you can make the best possible child care choice for your child. This includes all child care providers, pre-k programs and summer camps within the state of Georgia.

As parents, we have enough on our plates to worry about choosing a child care provider for our child. Let Quality Rated.org help you out and take the guess work out of how to best meet your needs! Have you heard of Quality Rated.org? What do you consider when making a child care choice? Is your child’s child care Quality Rated? Click HERE to use the tool and find out! Let me know! I always love to hear from you!

Disclaimer: Dress worn in this blog post was courtesy of Little Adventures Dress Ups. Vivi is wearing the Queen of Hearts dress in a size small. All opinions expressed in this post are my own.

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The End of an Era: One Last Trip to Toys ‘R’ Us

Curiosity. Wonder. Excitement.

Those are all the things that come to mind when I watch my sweet daughter run around Toys ‘R’ Us. It is sad to think that in just a few years, my daughter will never remember visiting a Toys “R” Us location.

These last few years, we have seen so much growth in our economy. New stores, restaurants and hotels seem to be popping up every other week in my city. It is sad that even though we have seen so much growth, a huge part of so many of our childhood is coming to an end.

Unless you have been living under a rock, you have probably seen that all of Toys ‘R’ Us stores will be closing in a very short time. In the short time that I have had my daughter we have thoroughly enjoyed all of our visits to this amazing store. When I first found out that I was pregnant, I knew that I wanted to register at Babys ‘R’ Us. When it came time for me to register I remember walking around the store with that scanner, thinking about all of the things that I would need for Vivi. It was so exciting to think about her strolling around in her car seat, eating in her high chair, and carrying around all of her necessities in her diaper bag. As she got older, we would take her to actually play with the toys. We have always let Vivi have fun running around, playing with all of the displays and picking out a special surprise. It became a must-do on our trips into Savannah and it was something that my little family always enjoyed.

When I found out that the store was closing, I knew that I needed to make just one more trip to document such a nostalgic part of childhood. There will be no other words to this post to read. It was simply meant to capture this sweet, sweet moment from my daughter’s childhood. I hope that she enjoys this memory because I will definitely miss the excitement on her face walking through the doors of our Toys ‘R’ Us store.

Goodbye Geoffrey! You will be missed!

Field Frolicking and Planning for the Future

Whether your retirement is a couple of years or a couple of decades away, it is never too early, or too late, to start dreaming about and preparing for it. Traditionally, retirement planning has focused on saving money and building financial security. However, studies have found that having a vision for the future and planning for that vision are as important as money in achieving a fulfilling retirement experience.

Retirement satisfaction is typically linked to several factors: having a clear vision of retirement goals, early financial planning, continued engagement, and activity throughout retirement, financial preparation and professional advice.

The importance of planning for a meaningful retirement has increased as life expectancy has improved. According to an Actuarial statistics study*, the baby boomer generation is expected to live longer than any previous generation. In fact, it is anticipated that over half of the people alive today will likely live to be 82 years or older. When you consider even further advancements in modern medicine that will affect Generation Xers and Millennials in their old age, it is likely that people will be living a lot longer than previously thought possible. Unlike their elders, many people can look forward to living for several decades – as opposed to several years – in retirement.  (*Source: Life Tables for the United States Social Security Area 1900-2100. Actuarial Study No. 116 by Felicitie C. Bell and Michael L. Miller.)

While most people would agree that envisioning their retirement dreams is an important part of planning for the future, many of us may not know where to start or how to do it. One often overlooked suggestion involves writing down your vision for the ideal Retirement. It is based on the premise that those who write down their goals are much more likely to achieve them.

Written goals are much more concrete and tangible. In order to write them down, you are forced to think through the details. And, the simple act of writing down your goals adds a certain level of accountability. This is a technique that has been used by entrepreneurs from Napoleon Hill (Think and Grow Rich) to Daymond John from NBC’s Shark Tank. Once your goals are on paper, they are out there for the world to see, and there is no going back.

By answering thought-provoking questions about your individual vision and passions, you will uncover the attitudes, values and aspirations that drive your unique goals. This can help you develop a “retirement roadmap” in order to prepare both emotionally and financially for your future. During retirement, you can use these same questions to re-envision and re-evaluate your goals as you consider your experiences, challenges and worries as a retiree. The questions below can help you get clarity around your goals and dreams, and ultimately allow you to identify the necessary steps to get you there.

• What do you look forward to doing in retirement? – Possibilities to explore include spending time with family and friends, going back to school, doing volunteer work, starting a new business, staying healthy and fit, and traveling.
• Where do you dream of going? – Consider possible destinations and activities, how you would like to travel, how much traveling you would like to do and who you would like to travel with.
• Where do you see yourself living? – Where you live significantly impacts your costs in retirement. Do you want to be part of a community? Do you want to try a new climate or lifestyle? Do you want to live in multiple locations? Consider whether you want to stay close to your current home, move closer to family, or relocate near activities you love.
• How do you want to make your lasting mark? – Your legacy is what is important to you and what you want to pass on to others. Leaving a legacy can mean many things including passing on your assets, your values or the lessons you’ve learned. Consider what gives you a sense of satisfaction and how you can have a lasting impact.

After you have explored your dreams for retirement, you will want to consider how to turn those dreams into reality. Working with a financial planner can help you with your retirement vision. Research has shown that people who seek help from an advisor are generally more positive in their outlook for retirement. Having a written financial plan is one of the likely reasons for this.

Fulfillment in retirement is not just about getting the money right; it’s about having a vision, remaining connected to community and living your dream. Consider working with the Atlanta Wealth Management Firm of Benedetti, Gucer & Associates. They can help you envision your retirement lifestyle and create a financial plan to attain that goal. 

With all of that taken care of, you can do less worrying about the future and more frolicking through the fields. I don’t know about you, but I would choose field frolicking any day over worry!

Outfit Details:

Dress | Jacket | Boots | Sunglasses | Earrings

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post with Benedetti, Gucer & Associates. Affiliate links are used and I may receive a small commission.

DISCLOSURES

The views expressed represent the opinions of Benedetti, Gucer & Associates and are subject to change. These views are not intended as a forecast, a guarantee of future results, investment recommendation, or an offer to buy or sell any securities. The information provided is of a general nature and should not be construed as investment advice or to provide any investment, tax, financial or legal advice or service to any person.

Additional information, including management fees and expenses, is provided on Benedetti, Gucer & Associates’ Form ADV Part 2, which is available upon request.

The use of the term “RIA” does not imply a certain level of skill or training.

The Five Star program is the largest and most widely published wealth manager award program in North America. The research process for the Five Star Wealth Manager firms and peers nominate award candidates. Award candidates are evaluated against 10 objective criteria to determine the Five Star Wealth Managers in more than 40 major markets. These ratings should not be construed as an endorsement of the adviser by any client nor are they representative of any one client’s evaluation.

Mom’s Day out at The Mothership: An Epic Morning at Target

What happens when you have 5 mothers, one of which is an amazing photographer, spend the morning at Target, completely child free?

You let loose, have fun, and create the most epic photo shoot!

It is no secret that Moms love Target. Who am I kidding? It’s not just Moms! Everyone loves Target! But seriously, every Mom that I know loves the store that is so often referred to as The Mothership. Those red shopping carts are a sign of love and passion. As soon as you walk in the door, that passion takes over, and just for an hour, sometimes two or three, you can escape all of your worries perusing the aisles of the most addictive store in the United States. With the smell of Starbucks in the air, you know that you are home, and soon enough your cart will be filled with shoes, clothes, and throw pillows that you didn’t realize just how much you needed in your life.

For me, I have my Target trips down to a science. I am immediately sucked in by The Dollar Spot and from there, it is all down hill, but in a good way. I can spend an hour going through $3 succulent planters and $1 stationary packs trying to find just the perfect piece for my home or desk. They also have great stuff for Vivi, most of which is usually $1, so I can keep her entertained while I shop. After The Dollar Spot, we make a quick stop at Starbucks for coffee and cake pops, and then we are ready to take on the store. I head straight to the clothes and spend a majority of my time looking through racks, taking mirror selfies and trying on items. I then hit the shoes and accessories, because I clearly need a complete outfit, and stock up on the cutest pieces. After that it is makeup and hair products (Can we say Kristen Ess?) and I finish up my trip with coffee mugs and groceries. I bribe Vivi with a quick trip down the Shopkins aisle and three hours, and $300 later, we are done!

That, however, is a typical Target trip. What happens when it is not so typical, kid-free, and you are accompanied by some of your best girl friends? You become a kid again and have the most epic Target trip you could ever imagine. Kicking back on all the plush chairs and throw pillows, taking selfies with all the coffee mugs, having conversation at the patio furniture, and trying on all of the clothes and shoes. Don’t forget to add in lots of wine, buggy rides, and an enormous amount of laughing, and you literally have the most perfect Target trip this Mom has ever had.

This trip is every Mom’s dream. Target is our playground and that is how it has earned the name The Mothership. It has everything we need and everything we didn’t know that we needed. A golden weenie dog tape dispenser? You totally need that! (And I actually have that!) An adorable pen mug with a face? How have you been living without it? Another graphic tee about guacamole? Get in my cart now! Target just gets women, and for that, it will forever hold a special place in my heart!

If you have not done it lately, I highly encourage you to go to Target with your girlfriends, completely kid-free, and just have fun! It was such an amazing day and was exactly what this tired Momma needed. Find your tribe and love them hard, especially when they are willing to act like fools with you at Target!

Meet my Mom Tribe and fellow Target lovin’ Mommas:

Julia of Glitter and Juls

Kailey of Little Miss Payne

Kate of Kate Laraine

Tori of Life After a Little

I hope you enjoyed this epic shoot as much as we did. Life is too short not to have fun every once and while, especially when that fun is at The Mothership. Here is to a morning with girlfriends, a Venti Starbucks, and a newly filled Dollar Spot!

Photography courtesy of Kate Laraine Photography.