We don’t get out much “like just us two (2)” on dates and things like that … but My Hubby surprised me with an early anniversary date night the other night.
July 4th is actually our Wedding Anniversary, so Happy Anniversary to us! 🎆
but, for our date night, he took us to this super fabulous restaurant. It was a roof top restaurant with yummo delish food and we watched the sunset too. 🌅
It was a beautiful night indeed. We dressed up. I put some make-up on, I did my hair, and it was nice for both of us to just “be” for a few hours.
We smiled and we laughed, we held hands, we talked about our girls 💗💗💗 (of course.) We also discussed that we both know we need to do this more. We truly have to find the time to pencil in date nights more … (maybe every couple of months.) 😉
My besties have been telling me this for years and most recently one of them had a discussion with me on, “You need to fill your cup, he needs to too, you both need to fill your cup!!!” 😉🥰
I mean, since having babies we still can count on one hand how many times we have been on a “date night!” Don’t get me wrong we have been to weddings and in quite a few too, in the last eleven (11) years. Yes, our oldest little love 💗 is ELEVEN (11) years old, WOW – man time flies when you’re having fun!!!
Again though, what a fun night …
So, possible goals – plan on “dating” more again soon, maybe? 😉 …
I am a girl, who’s mind is always going. This year like I have said, has been NONSTOP!!! Actually, we picked up even more so, on our “busyness” during Covid. Crazy right?
It’s true though, my husband got promoted during Covid. Our girls were in school remote and took on Soccer ⚽️ in a whole new fashion because it was their only outside outlet. I was insanely busy with Scentsy and so forth …
It’s crazy looking back. Things began to open up, the schools opened up fully too. My husband was now “in person” at work due to him being an essential employee and we were trying to go back to some sort of normalcy.
So now, it is SUMMER ☀️🍉⛱ time, so we are home 💗💗💗 and all the pile up to-do’s that have been piling up, and piling up all school year long. Well, it’s time to tackle them! I am going to pause as I write this and say, “Give yourself a little grace because there is a lot to do, so take your time and don’t rush it!”
That ⬆️ is not easy for this Mama, but here goes … one thing at a time!
First up, craft/school room and check ☑️ at least it’s now cleaned out, organized and much was donated!
and the pantry ☑️
one of the closets ☑️
(there’s two (2) sides to these closets ⬇️, but we want to change out the doors and add some lights! 💗 So closet change-up to follow 😉)
Okay, taking a break today … It is Friday and our little loves 💗💗💗 want a pool day and a day to just relax. So, penciling this in, along with some haircuts too.
I am making progress though and you get the idea of what my goal is … 😉
My sister was trying to get me to switch from Yankee to Scentsy. My husband and I use to have shelves upon shelves of Yankee candles and a scent in each room of the house too. My sister would tell me Scentsy is more you, it’s a healthier candle approach and the scents are amazing, etc.
I would say, “Nope, not letting go of my favorite scents!” and to be honest I still have quite a few! 😉
… but I finally gave in, and I bought Scentsy one Summer day, then a scent sold me to Scentsy. “Summer Holiday!” Yep, I was SOLD!
So, from then on Scentsy was our new candle scentsational scent of fun. Not to mention their super cute WARMERS too!!!
Well, one day I am smelling the scents and (as many know, I am gluten free and labeled, undiagnosed celiac), so I smelled a scent called “Blueberry Cheescake” and suddenly I now wanted a Blueberry 🫐 Muffin! – lol 🤷🏻♀️
So, I added this scent to my order. When it arrived, I put it in my warmers and loooved it. My husband and our girls 💗💗💗 loved it too! So, I ordered more right away, and after spending close to $200 on Scentsy in one single month. I joked and said, “Maybe I should just sell this stuff at this point!” The girl I bought from responded with, “‘You should, you alone would keep yourself in business!” lol 🤔
So, asked a few more questions and talked it over with my husband and I signed on that Month as a Scentsy Consultant and began my little business in June of 2019. So, it’ll be three (3) years this June. It is just something small I have on the side of mommy life, family life, etc. Something part-time for me to have and it brings in some extra cash too! (I actually make more now than when I was working part-time, while pregnant with our first little love 💗)
Scentsy is slower right now though, but it’s still busy too. Not as busy as it was in the beginning of Covid, but once people’s smells were effected (like this gal) and the gas prices increased. People slowed down with it, but it’s a great product, and it’s a healthier candle approach too. So, if you’re interested in this “wickless candle approach, that’s cleaner, safer and healthier!” Contact me and if you want a part-time little business, contact me too! 🥰
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. 😉
Okay, here goes, Happy Monday … as you have seen, I am starting an actual blog. A blog where I will actually try to “more so” take moments throughout the week to spend an hour or so writing, posting, researching, sharing.
So, again I say, “here goes!”
Just paid for a domain too (eee 😉) Well, we have the money now, so saying bye bye to all of the free sites that I have used since becoming a Mommy.
Pause – still have no real clue how to do this, “this” meaning – starting an actual blog? It’s okay though, I got this … There’s Youtube, Pinterest, Google (although I question google because seriously what is going on there … anyone else realize that you cannot google the way you once did?) Now, finding time to research all it entails to become a blogger, that’s another story? 🤷🏻♀️
So, blogging, writing … I mean, it’s an actual “thing” … seriously … If you follow influencers, you tubers, etc. Many do have blogs. So adding “my new blog” to my to-do list. 🤷🏻♀️
You see a few years back, my bestie once told me, during one of our morning conversations, “You hold yourself back.” My husband then confirmed this when I asked, “Do you think I hold myself back?” … They both ended up saying the same thing, “You aren’t a risk taker, some take risks and aren’t afraid of failure!” Well, this got me thinking … 🤔
Coming from them … it just made me think. 🤔 You see, they both are indeed successful and they both will take risks. They aren’t afraid to take a risk (or to make a decision, is a better word) in their professional worlds. I guess they’ve learned that you will never know, unless you try or say yes or no. They often say, “If it doesn’t work … then okay, let’s try something else.”
To be honest, maybe this is why he is an Excutive Director at an Ivy League University and she owns her own business in the field of plasma/science.
Throughout the years, I have enjoyed meeting so many in my circle … but these two, just so very blessed by them. One, to be married to my love and my best friend, and two, to have a gal by my side since HS. I just think and talk very highly of these two, not just because they are my husband and my best friend. I am just so proud of them both, setting goals, sticking with their goals, and their work ethic, their achievements, and their success.
So, I am going to stick with blogging, or at least try to stick with it …
See I am a gal who’s always setting goals. I achieve some and let others go because that’s just “me.” 🤷🏻♀️
My first priority though, is always my family. We decided, while expecting our first little love that I would be a SAHM, so I gave up the career world. It’s crazy looking back because it had it’s challenges for sure, especially in the beginning, but I definitely do not regret it, not even for a second.
Throughout the years, I have taken on other roles while being a stay-at-home mommy. In volunteering at our church, our girls’ school, and their activities. I was a Cheer Coach, an Etsy Shop Owner, now an Etsy Shop Manager, a Coaches Wife, now a Scentsy Consultant, etc. Here’s my website for Scentsy ➡️ http://jenniferbendas.scentsy.us
So haven’t exactly been bored by any stretch of the means, but now an actual blogger with an actual domain 💗…
Cozy Styling, my niche as I have mentioned is finding that cozy in life. Like what makes you feel good and gives you that extra happy? We all need that cozy from time to time.
Mine currently are things like a little matcha, getting a run in, hot yoga, listening to a sermon, date nights, family nights, maybe a bath, praying, and so forth …
Another one that I set-up for myself, (2 years ago to be exact) was/is Scentsy. I signed on as a Scentsy Consultant. Why, are you asking? It was simple really, I spent close to $200 in a single month on Scentsy. I then joked around with my girl who I bought from and said, “Maybe I should just sell this stuff at this point?” She responded with, “You actually should, you alone would keep yourself in business.” I laughed to myself and then I said, “Wait a minute, really, what do you mean?” 🤔 She explained all the details, and here I am … Been a Scentsy Consultant for 2.5 years now, with my next promotion being Director.
So, why did I sign on? … Well, after the conversation with the girl I bought from/my Sponsor, who’s now a Director and then talking it over with my husband, it was a no brainer … but to be honest, I also wanted something part-time, while all 3 of our babies 💗💗💗 were now going to be in school.
With our busy schedules, with a young family. Heading back out in the working world was a no go for us. I am a busy wife and a busy mommy. Heck, I am a busy gal. So, working from home, yes please!
… and what a blessing, truly!!! 🙏🏼
I mean I make more money now, than I did working partime before having babies. So thankful to my customers and for my Scentsy family, and for my teamies.
You may be asking, what are teamies? Well, each Scentsy Consultant has the opportunity to have a team. My teamies I have met throughout the years. Some I worked with, some I am friends with, some, our daughters played Soccer ⚽️ together, some were customers of mine and others I have not even met. Crazy, right? So many have wanted to sign on as a Scentsy Consultant.
If you’re thinking of having a little extra something while being at home or maybe you just want an extra something, so you can plan your next Family Vacation. You can make your Scentsy Business as little or as big as you like! It is completely up to you … 😉
Do you want your own blog? Do you even want to be a blogger? What even is a blogger and why do “they” bother sharing a little of this or a little of that? 🤔
My husband actually just said to me (this morning actually.) Why babe? What is the point? Just continue in your success with mommying, helping others, volunteering, Scentsy, and all the things. You do not need anything extra. We do not need anything extra. 🤷🏻♀️
As you are reading you may be agreeing with my husband, but you may also be saying let the gal do her thing. My response was, “Babe, I don’t know? It’s not about money. I want my “own thing” too, in between mommying, being a coaches wife, my husband’s wife, Scentsy, volunteering, etc. and I like to write and have done so, off and on since becoming a Mommy.”
I mean secretly … (or maybe now that I am blogging today it’s “outwardly!”)
I would love to have this little blog take off in some sort of fashion. I would love for Cozy Styling to turn into my own personal business (along with Scentsy) for not only myself, but for my family too.
Me & my little family 💗
I mean let’s be honest, how in the world do bloggers actually make money? I mean, I am pretty curious on how this actually could turn into another job? I find myself looking into it and then a text or call comes in, mommy gets called, I get distracted, etc. So, I get NO WHERE!!!
I have mentioned somewhere along the way though, that for whatever reason a “blog” seems to always come back to my mind and stay on my heart. I often will forget about it (because in the world of mommying, parenting and adult life), life is busy. Then something will remind me to blog again and stick/stay with it.
I don’t publish my blog posts regularly either 😬 so I have like 17 or so in my drafts. (Actually they are now saved as photos in my phone (haha) because I now have started my very first ACTUAL BLOG with its own domain … which is the reason to why you are reading this first blog post, so yayyy cozystyling.com)
So, for now, I am going to just enjoy this little hobby of mine (and I just read not to call it a hobby too 😬 … oh boy so much to learn), but like I have mentioned, I enjoy writing.
I look back and during college, a few professors actually tried to encourage me to minor in English/Writing. 📝 They loved my Writings/Essays and would tell me that I had a natural talent. Which, was such a sweet compliment … but a career in “Writing” Really? What would I even do with that? Become an Author?
I mean, a runner, yoga & pilates ☑️ … but an Author 🤷🏻♀️
It’s crazy really because we all have goals and even dreams in life and it’s not always easy to focus on/stay focused on these goals.
The fact is … life is busy, like when I began writing this blog post, I was running all day, Both figuratively and literally and I was in our just turned 6 year old’s room, waiting for her to go to sleepies. She wanted mommy, wanted me to put her to bed. (My husband and I take turns. We come in, tuck her in, give her kisses, pray with her, and then we sit and wait. Eventually, we know she will not care if we are in here, but for now she cares and wants us to stay, so we stay.) Sometimes while I am in with her, I will read, or I will research, I will pray and sometimes I will blog.
So, back to starting a blog. Where do I even begin with blogging? I guess, “just write!” One thing I read was, “find your niche”, well my niche is simple, “just stay true to me and blog about whatever “cozy” (or idea) that is on my mind.
Which brings me to the name, “Cozy Styling.” Cozy Styling is meant for me and for others to share their cozy in life. Maybe your cozy is a cup of tea, coffee or matcha or even a nice run? Maybe it’s going to church, reading the bible? Maybe it is your latest fitness find, diet fad or gluten free recipe? Maybe your cozy is date night with your hunnie? Maybe it’s heading to the beach or to the boardwalk on a Summer Day/Night or a night out with friends? Your cozy may be just staying in with your family and playing games?
Cozy Styling is meant to help you find that cozy in life on the daily. (It is meant to help “me” find that cozy in life on the daily.)
I look at life and like I said, life is just so darn busy and man does it fly right on by … in my 20’s I had a mommy blog and didn’t really understand blogging or know what to do with it? However, at the time I had so many things going on. Being a new mom, giving up goals and aspirations on being a career woman, being broke, letting go of the old me, embracing the blessing of being the new me, etc. On top of mommying babies, nursing them, health things, etc. So, writing was my pause in life.
I’d blog while I was nursing or rocking my sweet babies. 💗💗💗
… but to be honest, I still don’t know much about blogging or becoming a blogger. Except writing, so for now, I will just write! Maybe it will turn into something? Maybe it won’t? However, my first step, just write!
So adding continued blogger to my list (with an actual domain now – ahhh how cool is this) I mean stepping out of my comfort zone with this domain.
I work part-time from home with Scentsy and Etsy – Cozy Styling (changing Etsy name soon.) However in 2022, my goal is to blog more and find a routine in all of this.
Cozy Styling 