Tag: newblogger

Blogging again …

Jennifer BendasLeave a comment

I haven’t blogged in a bit. Truly, it just hasn’t been on my mind, Etsy either, or all the school stuff, etc. I think I just needed a moment to just “Pause, relax … breathe!”

I sometimes feel ahhh – 🤯, life just has it’s way at times. There are five (5) of us in this little family of ours 💗 and I absolutely love it, but it is indeed busy. As you have read I am a Stay-at-Home-Mommy, so we take on even more than we once did! Which, honestly I do love our schedules, our to-do’s, our roles, and our busyness, but I just get to a point, at times, where I am 🤯 … Where I need a minute, a minute to think, a minute to breathe, and a minute to pause!

and this last month I am over here thinking that I am almost forty (40) years old and I am truly shocked over this, like where did the last ten (10) years go? This is the first time (where my age), has me feeling a little down too. I am not sure why? I think it’s just because those new beginnings of all are now just in the next chapters in life (which is awesome too and such a blessing) but much that was new, like graduations, buying our first home, getting engaged, planning a wedding, then getting married, our friends’ weddings, getting pregnant, having babies, nursing them, promotions, buying our family home, promotions again, and so forth. All the “news” are now in the next phase of different “news,” (which as I am writing) that’s pretty darn exciting too!!! 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

All since, my early twenties (20’s), has just been super busy, exciting and like I said, “new.” It’s had its moments of stress too, but over all it’s been enjoyable. So, I want to do it again, and on repeat! HaHa! 🤣 I mean, I look back with the awe factor often …

Someone asked (family of course) why do you care about turning forty (40)? … I said, “It isn’t the number exactly, part of me is like WOW (in a good way), look where you are, at almost forty (40) years old, like my accomplishments, my family and their accomplishments, the goals that I have checked off ☑️, etc.

For me, it’s more about the aches and the pains, that take longer to heal at times. It’s the working out soreness that is just a bit different, lotions that are now needed, it’s the finding out all of this info. like don’t use that, don’t eat that bc it causes this or that, hydration is even more important now, it’s politics, and the opinions, the woes of adult life … and other not so great news of loved ones that we now hear too! 🙏🏼

I am just writing, but as I am writing I feel a little bit better (see blogging, helps ☑️) because “You’ll never be any younger than you are today!” and “Today is the first day of the rest of your life!”

So I am going to continue, continue in trying. I will try to read more and try to do my skincare more, and “try” to remember to schedule in self care, like nails or facials … do SOMETHING for me more!!! (I am sooo bad at this, especially since becoming a Mama.) I am going to try to continue in my runs, my work-outs and my over all healthy eating (I just feel better when eating better!) and working out (is for me I guess) but it is indeed “work!” 😉🤣😬 I am also going to try and give myself and others a little more grace!!! 🙏🏼😉💗

Also, love a “new beginning” on happier note that is … Not exactly a fan of change though, but starting new, starting fresh on a better path!

Well, cheers then to “new beginnings!”

The Turkeys …

Jennifer BendasLeave a comment

So, let me discuss a little about mom life, or let me say, “parent life!” We try, and we try daily … No wait, actually it’s more like hourly.

Our girls 💗💗💗 they are indeed sweet girls, but they are still girls (which means emotional, for us) and they are also good kids, but again they are also still kids.

We raise them to have manners, be respectful, and we are currently teaching them to have confidence, be the bigger person when dealing with “the turkeys” in this life.

Yes, “turkeys” a co-worker told me this once, when I was dealing with quite a few turkeys myself while in the working world before babies. She explained how we deal with turkeys in life and then said, “don’t let the turkeys get you down!” 🤣😉

Well, currently, we are dealing with “turkeys” from every angle.

As are our little loves. 💗💗💗

Now, at the end of the day each situation is “small!” However, when dealing with “it” from this angle, and then this angle, and then this angle, and then this angle, etc. You get the picture!!! Currently, we are 🤯🤯🤯

I woke up early today (like before 5AM) because my husband is off to work super early. (There’s an event today,) but all was on my mind. I must have been dreaming about it?

It’s weird too, because I can tell certain people are backing away from us because they know something is up, but don’t know much because (we are private people.)

Which to be honest, is smart. Sometimes, you just need a breather to collect all of your thoughts …

I mean, we are calming down compared to a few weeks/months ago. We are starting to be able to process all, stay away from certain individuals, watch all a little clearer, understand a little more, but again although much is “small” … from all angles combined, “it feels big!” 🤔

I can honestly say that I have dealt with “turkeys” all of my life. So, I see it so clearly when our girls are telling me things. I get it too, it’s part of life, but it’s hard as a parent to teach your child, that this is how life is … they’re like, “but I am doing the right thing.” They’re playing their cards right, they’re being the bigger person, so they ask, “Why does this person get this or get that, when they’re not doing the right thing!” 🤷🏻‍♀️

It’s sad, and I think that’s where I am at … it is just SAD!!!

I get it, we all want our kids to shine, but they shouldn’t shine when they are being a turkey in this life and to be honest, we all know, that they sometimes still do!

What we tell our girls … “It doesn’t matter, it won’t work in the end, because God 🙏🏼 is always watching, so always remember that!”

My First Mile …

Jennifer BendasLeave a comment

So, I am not that gal who was ever a “fitness person.” I mean, I remember wanting to be and even trying to be (at times), but it was not exactly in my make-up, and it was not exactly my “thing.” 🤷🏻‍♀️

– I think my 7th Grade Track Tryout scared me out of “fitness” and “sports” to be honest 🤣 I remember doing sprints at this tryout, and whatever else, etc. with no training what so ever, and my lanta, to my times …

I am just going to leave this memory right here! – lol 🤣

At the end of middle school though, I now wanted to be a cheerleader, (after cheering for a township team and coaching little ones too, I enjoyed it.) So, now in High School, I tried out for Cheerleading. As a Freshman, I was only allowed to make the Freshman Squad because we were on Staggered Sessions at the time, (due to the school being over crowded and another High School being built.)

Only two (2) Freshman were super skilled enough actually, and they did make Varsity Cheer, but that was it. So, I made the Freshman Team. Then I tried out at the end of my Freshman year and I made Varsity Cheerleading. 🤗 Which I was super excited about, considering I had little to no experience in Cheer!

I remember walking with one of my guy besties, at the end of the school day and he telling me, “You made the team, no stressing.” Walking to the team’s list, I was super nervous, but seeing my number on that list was the BEST feeling EVER, as I jumped into his arms with pure excitement. He said, “I told you so!” …

So, looking back, as a kid, I was a cheerleader and a dance kind of gal. It was just more my speed. 😉

So, when did I get into fitness? (Fitness for me became running.) At the age of twenty-six (26) years old, I was married for about a year and my husband and I decided to quit smoking. (I smoked during those college years and a few years after), so now married, we both decided, no more smoking! 🙏🏼

So, one (1) day, after gaining like ten (10lbs.) 😬 I decided, that’s it, it’s time to run. (I guess it’s true, you gain weight after quitting smoking.) 🤷🏻‍♀️ So, I came home from work, got changed into my work-out clothes, and I went out for a run.

I was feeling crappy on this day too, because I had my period. However, I still decided to go out for a run. (I mean runners always made it look so easy, so how hard can it be? Let me pause … it is NOT easy, at all!) and as I was running, I told myself, “If you can run a mile today, then you can run a mile any day.” 😉

– In my head, I was like, you are feeling crappy and crampy, bloated, have a slight head ache, and have never ran a mile, etc. So, if you run a mile today, then you will know, you can now run a mile on any day …

Well, I did it! I ran my FIRST MILE and to be honest, I was pretty impressed with myself too.

Dainty me, actually just ran her first mile! 🤗

I ran here and there for the next year. I would head out and go for my run, running a mile 🤣, but that mile, “to me,” was now running. Then we found out we were expecting our first little love. 💗

After she was born, I ran a few miles ever so often, then found out we were expecting our 2nd little love. 💗

Now a mama to two (2) little loves, running was no longer something I thought about. We found out we were expecting our 3rd little love 💗 as we were in search for our family home. So, now a mama to three (3) little loves, I would run here and there, but not as often as I did before babies.

So, when did “actual fitness” become a thing? Well, after I was at a few Doctor’s Appointments, both said similar things to me and it got me thinking. 🤔 They both said, “For a smaller sized woman, who appears fit you have a higher resting heart rate!” Now, they both said to me, it’s not alarming “yet” but they both were surprised by it! So, I told my husband this, and I said, “I want to start-up cardio. See if this will help my resting heart rate?” and we got me an apple iwatch, to track my heart rate too. My husband ended up buying a treadmill for us also, now that we were in our new family home.

This was when my 5K running began. 😉

I started running a mile, then pausing, then running another mile , then pausing, and finishing it out, ending a little over three (3) miles. I eventually stopped with the pausing and just ran three (3) miles. My resting heart rate which was in the nineties (90’s) ended up getting into the sixties (60’s) and at times fifties (50’s.)

I actually ended up pushing myself too hard in the world of running and fitness, causing a minor case of hypotension where my blood pressure would drop to like 80’s/50’s … So, after visiting with my Doctor, her explaining my dizzy spells and all else to me, I took it easier and I began Target Heart Rate training.

Target Heart Rate training was not easy. My goal as a runner was to get my times lower, so that meant pushing myself to run faster, when running on a treadmill. I actually got my mile into the almost seven (7’s.) However, now that I was Target Heart Rate training, my mile was back in the twelves (12’s) again!

This was super frustrating to run this slow, but it was now about health and the slow running, didn’t last super long. I eventually got my mile into the nines (9’s) again, and it’s still in the nines (9’s.) I think the more I stick with running consistently, I’ll get faster too … maybe? 🤷🏻‍♀️

However, life is busy, so I often take breaks. So, I seem to stay where I am at because I take breaks and then start up running again, take breaks and then start up running again.

In the mix of Covid, I actually took up running outside. 😉 Looovvveee outside running, and it’s sooo different compared to the treadmill. (You runners will say, YEAH it is!) Like my mile inside is in the nines (9’s) and outside it “was” in like the twelves (12’s.)

Right now, when I run outside, I am going back and forth with it being in the nines (9’s), tens (10’s), and the elevens (11’s.) So, yes, getting faster!

In my defense … I just started up running again, about a month ago. 😉

My goal is to get my mile, into the nines (9’s) consistently when running outside by the end of the Summer and to eventually sign-up for an actual 5K too! 😉

So, to be continued … and in conclusion, nothing like that first mile!!! 🥰

Wellness Wednesdays …

Jennifer BendasLeave a comment

I started up Wellness Wednesdays, a few weeks ago. I wanted to try to take fifteen (15) minutes to an hour or more to do something for “myself”, like wash my hair, maybe a mani/pedi at home, facial, take a bubble bath, etc.

Just a moment to pause …

So, I had a “day of rest” yesterday for Wellness Wednesday. After a Doctor’s Appointment that went well on Tuesday, praise God. 🙏🏼 I said to myself, “Just relax today, take a bath, blog again and just be, and don’t feel guilty. You owe this to yourself!” 🙏🏼

You see … Mommy life, and life in general. I just often do not schedule in those little things that I once did for myself, before having babies. Life is just busy differently now, so things like hair and nails aren’t a constant anymore.

So, for example, I normally get my hair done maybe twice a year. (So here was the deal, I haven’t had a hair cut, gosh in like 6-9 months, maybe longer. I mean, I did get to the salon in October, to get a quick gloss because my hair was lighter over the Summer … Yes, I actually for the first time EVER was at the hair salon three (3) times over the Summer going lighter.) So, anyways, my roots were now like 2 inches long, so I decided to go back to brunette (and now, not sure if I’ll go blonder again this Summer. 🤷🏻‍♀️)

Now back to being busy, so I often will schedule a hair appointment and then cancel, schedule, then cancel. No worries though, I finally made an appointment and actually went too. Just wanted to get my hair cut and I ended up taking a good 4 inches off, maybe more 😉 so back to self care, I was actually getting my nails done for a few months in the fall, because I told myself, “You can do something little like this for yourself” … but now I am over that (not a surprise) so stopped with that all together because my nails just got too weak.

Wanted to explain something, I have never been “that” kind of girl. Who’s always at a salon. I just cannot sit at salons for hours 🤷🏻‍♀️ I think I am just too type A. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I mean I try, I do, I try, but then I am like okay, no! I don’t feel like sitting in here for an hour or more.

However, I do want to have moments (from time to time) of feeling pampered, so I love to get a pedi, and maybe I will start scheduling facials? I am trying to learn to go to the salons more … especially now that Covid is lifting. 🙏🏼 (we are praying that is … )

So maybe, I’ll schedule them in from time to time now, on Wellness Wednesdays. 😉

Female Things …

Jennifer BendasLeave a comment

This is a deary diary blog, and more so for the females. I am not going to share on social media, but it is here for those who are now reading my blog, for those who are researching hormonal health (like I was), and for me to look back on too!!!

So, here’s the deal, I am in “pain” … in pain off and on throughout the month. Sometimes, it is month after month and sometimes, I skip a month or even a few. In which, I am thankful!

Let us begin with my ovulation pain, it is just annoying!!! It is more annoying than period pain. Like knock you off your feet, feeling three (3) months pregnant (bc of bloating) pain. My mood gets effected too, I mean do you blame me, I am in pain, up some pounds, bloated, crampy and just miserable.

Then there is my PMS pain and period pain, which has been an off and on thing since I was a teenager.

Not to mention, spotting (sorry for the tmi) but this happens anywhere from 1-3 days before my period. It happens more often than not, ever since I had a missed miscarriage.

So, what is going on? I just pray it is nothing serious!!! 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

You see, a few years back we were expecting our 4th little blessing from above. I ended up having a missed miscarriage in my 10th week of pregnancy. Then a few months later, we had a faint positive pregnancy test. So thinking we were pregnant again, I called and made a Doctor’s Appointment, but on the day of my Appointment, period came and was told I may be having an early miscarriage.

Baby was due October of 2019

These types of things many women do not discuss. It is just difficult 😥 and difficult to wrap our minds around too!

I mean in my experiences as a female and as a mama, I had three (3) easy to conceive and healthy pregnancies, so what is going on?

Three (3) years later, I still have painful ovulations, not always, but more often than not and some periods/pms are quite the ordeal, but again this has always been more of a common thing for me.

So, I had my annual, and I talked it over with my OBGYN/Gyno. “again” and she decided to book an ultrasound to check things out, such as endometrial polyps, fibroids, cysts, endometriosis, etc. more so because of the spotting before my period.

Now, of course I would love if all of this was not my current situation and that we were blessed with expecting another blessing from above. My husband says, having babies, although a blessing has effected my health. However, I just always felt we would have another, but first and foremost this mama wants to be healthy. So, praying 🙏🏼 that all is OKAY and that I am healthy!

God has blessed me/us with three (3) beautiful baby girls 💗💗💗 and if the door is officially closed to having any more babies, then I am at peace with that too, but again just praying that I am okay! 🙏🏼

So, I have a Doctor’s Appointment tomorrow morning and I am totally nervous, but God has given me the peace that all is okay, over and over again. So very thankful for that, but I have always been a worrier (it’s my thorn in my side) so I am blogging now to remember this, and I am going to continue to pray … 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

… so here we are, I am here at my Doctor’s Appointment. Just had the ultrasound and now waiting for the Doctor to call me back. Praying that the images the ultrasound tech. took, were just that “images.” I personally felt that it took forever to get them too, after all I do have a tilted uterus. I write this because us ladies are all built differently and many of us don’t realize things like a “tilted uterus.”

It’s weird because as I sit here, part of me wants answers, but praying Father God that I am okay first and foremost! 🙏🏼

Okay, just left the Doctor’s Office … Praise God!!! All is okay, I am completely healthy and well!!! 🥰🙏🏼🥰

She said, all is fine, healthy and looks beautiful!!! I asked her, why then to the things mentioned above … she said, your body had three (3) babies, you breastfed all three (3) too and things just change. Periods change, and many women feel ovulation pain after having babies.

Now, I’ve always felt ovulation, but now I get actual cramps and pain for sometimes up to five (5) days. So, moving forward … I am now eating more of an anti-inflammatory diet, drinking MORE water, eating plant foods, protein, avocado, etc. More exercise, and taking ibprophen along with using a heating pad when feeling the pains.

Let me say though that … my lanta, I feel sooo relieved!!! Thank you Jesus 🙏🏼 and on another positive note. They were shocked that I am 39 years old!!! “You don’t look 39 years old!” 💗 The doctor said, “all is healthy and looks beautiful, and you’re always beautiful. Tell the hubby, have another, we can control this one a little better this time and no crazy birth stories. If no, totally okay too because you have 3 and 3 is a good number!” 💗💗💗

So, to be continued and if you have questions like I did, go to the Doctor. 🙏🏼 I was nervous, but my husband said, “Go, at least you will have answers.”