Your Self-Care Summer Guide

Truth is...my days are seemingly running together and my plate is overflowing with the responsibilities of being a new mom, having an very active toddler, being a good wife, friend, sister, daughter, active church member and volunteer, influencer, business owner while ALSO working on three major projects. Yes, something has to go. While I’m sorting through my crazy to do list, I recently decided on one things that MUST come first this summer....self-care. They seem like buzz words these days as we see and read about them everywhere but Sis, they are so vital to our overall balance and self-maintenance in life. So I’m writing this list for me. You can use it to but I needed somewhere to remind me what I can do other than do all my “stuff” this summer. Something for me....to just breathe. So here it is...my list of 10 things to help me  have really good rest and self care. Enjoy! 

1. Get a hobby. This might sound weird but I thought I had a hobby of writing and reading because I love to do but then I realized it was all towards a purpose of a project or something. Like now I’m reading on parenting and writing for my blog. I need a hobby that has NOTHING to do with a project or goal. I might try painting or finally learning to play the violin. 

2. Indulge in your favorite beverage. This is totally unique to where I am right now. So recently I’ve been like crazy addicted to Sweet Tea and the tea I love the most is from McAllisters. Well during my 3 visit this week to McAllisters they had these tumblers our that were available for purchase and guess what guys, you get $99 refills as often as you like. Really?!! My eyes lit up! Then she went on to share that June 21st is #FreeTeaDay. Umm...yes please! Just another way for me enjoy something JUST for me.  

3. Be around water. It’s hot here in Texas. Next week we will have 3-4 days of 99 degree weather. So being outside is a little miserable unless your somewhat immersed in water. I’m sure there is a study somewhere that says being around water helps your emotional well-being. It sure does for me so every opportunity I get to be in water or at a lake, pond etc. I’m there. And the goal is to just be present 

4. Just be present. Put the phone down! I know...I get it. You have a bit of FOMO (fear of missing out) that no one is willing to admit they have. It’s okay...the social giants are working on creating more things like Instastory to keep our addiction strong but in the meantime....have a moment to yourself. Forget your phone one day on purpose at home...leave home. It’s so beautiful and peaceful! Like really..try it!  

5. Take your shoes off and run in the grass. Feel th earth beneath your feet and be a kid again! We work hard but sometimes I think we have forgotten how to play well!

6. Find every opportunity to laugh! I recently got this game that you put a mouthpiece in your mouth and you and your family or friends have to guess what your saying. It’s hilarious! Laughter is not only good for the souls it burns calories! For the win!

7. Exercise. Not too lose weight but just to get your body moving and for those endorphins to flow! They are the feel good hormone so it’s a win all the way around. I think I’m going to try going biking again. I use to do it a lot and just fell off.  

8. Make your bed every day. Sounds simple right! I stopped doing it with my crazy schedule but the other day when I went to take a photo of my son, I made our bed and it felt great just walking in the room and seeing at least one space organize and clean. (No judgement...it’s been a struggle! Lol!) 

9.  Join a book club. For me I needed a online book club. I’ve never really been apart of one so for my summer read this year I joined Cultivate What Matter Book club. Google it...it’s amazing. Thank me later!

10. Get in the presence of God as often as you can. Talk about a spiritual detox! It’s something about His presence that makes all things new. I feel SUPER rested and ready to conquer the world when I get in the presence of God. 

Enjoy your summer ladies...and remember...you matter! No one can pull from a empty well! Keep it full and fresh! With love!  - Bree  

Keeping Baby Cool in the Summer Heat

This week has been a whirlwind in most of the US. Yesterday I called my mom and she said it was 94 degrees in Michigan. Down here in North Texas it was also in the 90s. One thing I had to prepare for recently was preparing my 2 month old for the crazy heat when we have to venture outside. 

Here are a few tips for all you mommas:

1. If possible start your car and let it cool down before putting the baby in there. 

2. Invest in a window heat shield. It helps keep the temperature at a manageable level while your car is sitting out in the sun. 

3.  For babies in car seats try getting a car seat insert that cools the baby’s back. I found one at Buy Buy Baby called “Meeno Baby Car seat Insert”. My 2 month old has a tendency to sweat in his car seat so this keeps his back cool.

4. Baby fans. This is amazing for keeping my son Josiah cool. It’s battery operated and clips onto his car seat. Everywhere I go people love it. Great for keeping baby cool in the car and while your out and about. 

5. Lastly...Sis...listen closely...please don’t risk running into that store, House, etc and leaving the baby in the car. I know...I get it...trust me. I use to be that judgemental person watching the news and thinking how could they?!! But now I see it...we moms have a lot on our plates. Slow down, realize that it’s just not worth it. If you don’t have help...if you can’t get it today...everything will be alright. No heat, no judgement....just wisdom. Stay focused on what matter and that’s the life of your baby. He/She needs you so please don’t leave him in this crazy summer heat. Try some of the tips above. I hope it helps. 

Said with SO much love! Let’s go higher! 😘 

Embracing The Imperfect

There I was; sitting in the Chic-Fil-A drive-thru and both kids, my two year old and my 6 week old at the time are crying and screaming at the top of their lungs in the backseat. It almost sounded like they were having a screaming match. I did what any millennial mom would do, I took a selfie! Lol! I also took a video. I wanted to remember that moment. As crazy as it was I knew these were some of the best days of my life. 

That’s me seeing the brighter side of things. Trust me, I’ve had my fair share of bad days as everything around me seems undone. The laundry is never-ending, the dishes are always needing to be done, there is a new project around the house that is half finished and as soon as I get use to one season we enter new one. (Thank you Jesus! 🤨)

Even now, we’re in a season of transition as I’m taking on new projects and going after dreams I thought were once dead. I’m trying to figure out what stays and what goes. Everything on my plate can’t stay. I’m trying to find my way and manaeuver through unknown waters but you know where I’ve found my peace....it’s when I embrace imperfect. Even now, it’s 1:52am and I have the longest day tomorrow but my newborn is interested in playing “stick the paci in my mouth and watch me spit it out over and over or I’ll cry.” 🤷🏽‍♀️ I’m embracing imperfect. 

The cure to my overwhelm has been asking this one question “what is the priority in this moment?” When I get the answer, I decide to focus on just that. Everything will stay left undone. I can’t do it all so might as well focus on the most important task. That’s me embracing imperfect. So if your like me and you need a chill pill, take a moment, hug your babies and see the beauty of that moment.  

I know, sometimes it’s all ugly. Trust me, my toddler reminds me of that daily...but just try. We can find a million negative things that are wrong, but what about what is right. Stare at that, draw strength from it. We have a long journey ahead of us...but I’m rooting you on. We’re in this together Sis. #LetsGoHigher 

Re-Routing Through Life

Hey Friends! 

My last blog was last year in October 2017. It was at that time that I was just getting over being really sick from my first trimester of pregnancy with my second child. I'm happy to report that I gave birth to a HEALTHY baby boy named Josiah! I have made some changes and wanted to update all my friends and followers. 

First, this website is no longer called "Business With Bridgette". While I am still "consulting" on a case by case basis, I felt limited in what I can write about and share on this blog. Anyone that knows me knows that I do not like boxes, and I felt a little boxed in with the topics on this website. This website is now called "Doing Life With Bridgette." I will expand the topics to anything that has to do with faith, family, marriage, entrepreneurial moms, or just tips that I am finding in life that works for me. It will be more of lifestyle blog/website. 

I will also be offering e-courses in other areas as well. It is my goal to have free and paid e-courses to help women prosper. in life I pray that by visiting you will be empowered as a wife and mom and feel inspired in faith, family and business. I truly believe that is my purpose in life. 

Olivia Sophia Stationery will be re-launching again in a few weeks with new products which I'm excited about so that is still going on. We took a small break as I prepared for my second child but we are excited to get going again. 

ALSO.....I have a vlog channel now that I upload to every week. It is my opportunity to share the behind the scenes of my life (it's really normal) but it is also the platform that I will be sharing the "Just Walk With Me" web series. Just click here to learn more about that web series. 

That's all for now. I have set plan on blogging, but will update you all as needed. Until next time lovelies! Reach out if you have a questions or need help in a certain area. 

My Crazy Journey of Growing A Business While Growing A Family

Unexpected. That's the word to describe the last 90 days of our family life. Finding out I was pregnant was unexpected but very much so welcomed (our second miracle that I'll share more about later), getting crazy sick (first trimester sick) because I thought I was lactose intolerant and gluten intolerant while losing 10 lbs in one week at 10 weeks pregnant. Feeling like I was going to die because I literally have never felt so bad in my life (yea it was bad). That lasted 4 weeks. Finally went to the GI doctor and realized I could eat diary and didn't have Celiac disease but should probably stay away from gluten and sugar alcohols because of how it made me feel. Once I finally got over the life adjustment to eating a gluten free diet with very little sugar I get a really bad allergy cold. Okay...here we go! The DAY I start feeling better Olivia gets a 103.9 fever and my focus shifts to making sure she gets better. Thankfully my mom was flying down to visit and was able to take care of Olivia and help me get my life in order. Olivia gets better and the DAY she has no fever, I come down with ANOTHER virus resulting in vomiting (sorry TMI) and just a full blown cold again! I was like really! I felt like my body was attacking me and as we speak I'm still losing weight. Don't worry, the baby is fine. My doctors are not worried after a quick check up  as long as I'm taking my pre-natal vitamins and continuing to eat (there was one point I was afraid to eat because of how it made me feel). I also had room to lose weight...apparently 🤷🏽‍♀️. Now after all of that was going on, which is only a tip of the iceberg, (didn't want to gross you all out too much) you might be wondering how I was able to keep up with our businesses. Truthfully...I wasn't. 

I know my limits. I needed to rest and allow my body to go through whatever craziness it was taking me through while I was in the beginning stages of building a person! Gosh women are powerful beings! Boom! 💁🏽

So what is going on with my businesses? Here is where we are with the two main businesses that we promote on social media:  

1.) Olivia Sophia Stationery is available to order the products in stock. I'm taking it week by week in terms of new releases and products that I want to get out there for Christmas. The systems we have set up run themselves so we just fill orders as needed. I'll teach on this topic later.

2. Our latest course on "How to launch your own Stationery or Gifts Online Store" was in big demand that we decided to do it again. The date will probably be in November. 

3. Most don't know this but I don't do one-on-one coaching anymore. I stopped doing that back in May 2017. It started to get overwhelming with all my clients and truly I just saw an smarter way to teach. I realized I'd rather teach every month on topics that are commonly asked in my one-one-one programs which is what I do now as needed. 

4. I took off 2 months to pray about all my businesses and what God wanted to do with them. He finally gave me a solid plan a few weeks ago but I can only move forward when my body allows so that's on hold until my body catches up. I know my limits. Hopefully it won't be long. I have things to do! Lol. (That's the worker bee in me speaking)

I have learned that when you aren't in a race with anyone your free to rest, take time off and adjust as life happens and life will happen! That doesn't mean your a failure, your not focused or whatever else lie the enemy or the perfect good ole social media tries to feed you. You're okay right where you are. These are words I've had to encourage myself with over the last 90 days. Bridgette, it's going to be okay...your building a person!

 Let's pray: 

"God, I pray for the person reading this. They may be in a place of unknown or constantly having to react to life. Lord give them peace and let them know how much you are right there with them. God I pray for that mother that feels overwhelmed or that business owner that feels stuck. Lord...helps us to disconnect from the world and reconnect with you our source of peace, strength and direction. In Jesus Name...Amen!" 

Today...I feel a bit better. Who knows how tomorrow will be so I'm learning to capitalize off the "moments". I have burst of energy or moments of feeling good. Whatever I can get done in that moment...that's all there is. God has blessed me with an amazing supportive husband! He's picked up where I couldn't which is like a ton! Pregnancy and raising a toddler ain't no joke! (Excuse my grammar but that's how I felt it)

If you don't see me much online...know that I'm resting and I've decided to focus on my new profession of being a professional body builder! Lol. 🤰🏽

I can't wait to be a mom of two and grow our family! It really is the best time of my life and even with all the pains...I wouldn't trade it! There is some exciting things happening in our businesses and I can't wait to share when I get well! One thing we still do is our weekly marriage life group! Visit us on Instagram at @marriageandgrace and sign up to be apart of group! See you all around!