We have several exciting things coming your way in the weeks and months ahead!
you can look forward to:
• An entire blog post about our recent family adventure to Disney On Ice – Dream big Complete with professional pictures provided to me by field Entertainment!
• More faithful product reviews on items and brands YOU guys asked for!
& The unveiling of NOT ONE but TWO brand new segments! One of which being…
Tator’s Top Picks!
the other is top secret so you gotta stay tuned to find out!
So April is C-section awareness month & anyone knows whether they’ve been here for a week or since I started in 2018 that that C-sections are a part of my story.
I’ve birthed two very beautiful now healthy babies via C-section but, what also goes along with motherhood or at least should is self-care so in honor of my journey and total transparency April is getting real at tatorthoughts.
I’ll be the first to admit that since having kids anything but them and my marriage has been put on the back burner or labeled as less important including self-care.
I’m the mom that stares burnout in the face daily and this is why. I pour all I have into others and have but a few drops left for myself. After more than TWO YEARS of this, I realized that was my problem. An investment in myself is NOT money or time wasted. So yes. I have been the mom with the chronic hot mess bun, the mom whose skincare routine consisted of baby wipes, the mom who felt soul-crushing guilt for taking 30-minute showers every other day.
I didn’t feel this way because I was taking things away from my kids, my kids have always had everything that they needed and then some but I felt guilty because the 30 minutes I spent on myself in the shower which was needed believe me it still could have been time I spent with my kids and I’m sure any mom knows what I’m talking about.
but I’ve realized that my selflessness wasn’t doing anyone any favors I was a mess and I knew it I felt bad because of how much of a mess I was, how little of my life I actually had together or felt like I did anyway. all my kids were getting was the burnt-out mom zombie that I had become from such a long time of putting myself last and everyone else first.
so you’re probably thinking “what the heck do shampoo and conditioner have to do with any of that?”
well, a lot for years I have used nothing but the colorful crap you find on drugstore and grocery store shelves I made very little investment in myself because I figured that’s what everybody uses. if they didn’t they wouldn’t make it right?
I was damaging my hair and I didn’t even know it I was just showering because it filled a basic need washing my hair because it needed to be done and thinking nothing else of it. Then I started seeing function of beauty mentioned in YouTube videos of the families that I follow (shout out to Phil & Alex)
and every time I saw it I thought more about it I started looking into the things I was already using but it took me ordering my own custom formula ~introducing function of tator~ to see the real difference and oh my god there is a difference. my hair is lighter, it looks and feels healthier it’s not so oily, it has shine & volume, it’s not dull anymore and all my build up from the years of unknowing damage is gone it turns out I don’t have straight hair at all my hair is wavy y’all!
yes, shampoo and conditioner did this for me!
I love the fact that I get to pick the scent I want! I picked peach (obviously lol)
I can choose to have them colored or have no dye at all. I may do that one day but for now, for the effect, I chose my two favorite colors offered.
you can even choose scent strength and believe me, I maxed it out because I deserve it.
honestly investing in myself feels pretty good and I’m thankful that I have a husband that supports it’s probably one of the coolest things I’ve ever had ordered for me and yes it’s JUST shampoo and conditioner
so here’s to April and C-section awareness month. Here’s to April and self-care. Here’s to a better Tator behind Tatorthoughts.
Goodbye to the mom zombie one day, one step one milestone at a time. I owe it to myself, my kids. My husband to be me in grace rather than a crumbling me in distress.
This company is great and I can’t thank them enough for giving me part of myself back. Their package is fantastic and the free stickers are fabulous. But let’s face it raiders will end up with those. All in all a total win!
If you wanna invest in yourself and give healthy hair a try use my referral link for 20%off!
Disclaimer: What I’m about to say WILL BRING SOME HEAT. I say these things to raise awareness.
At 16 I was told I’d never have kids, devastating news at any age but at that young of an age, it was a blow to my identity.
We know now that this wasn’t the case because hindsight is 20/20 BUT it sticks with me nonetheless.
I have PCOS & Endometriosis. Two things that each carry a lot of weight and present their own challenges but together can feel like you’re living in a personal hell. Why aren’t they talked about more?!
Mostly because when people do speak they fall on deaf ears. When people reach out for help they’re dismissed, their desire to advocate for themselves and others crushed in the process.
I’ve had several surgeries just to ease the pain and lessen the damage done by my own PCOS and endometriosis.
To paint a picture imagine an invasive vine-like plant growing where it shouldn’t somewhere in the wild. It completely takes over, wrapping itself around anything in its path. Robbing other plants of the nutrients and space they need to thrive.
That is endometriosis.
Now picture a child with a multi bubble ball.
The innermost ball being an ovary, that ball doing what is supposed to do creates a bubble or natural cyst when told to, in this case by the child squeezing. BUT. what happens when it defies the natural order and instead of one there are two, or 4, or 8?
what then happens when one or more of those multiple Bursts? It causes the child pain. Their ball no longer works properly.
This is PCOS.
this is just speaking on things that apply to ME.. let that sink in.
there are thousands of things that can cause or add to infertility.
Infertility is a blanket term for a storm of things that no one should have to face.
My husband and I had it easy compared to some and we say all the time how blessed we are but for us, our journey was anything but easy.
My problem was more in sustaining a pregnancy than conceiving, believe it or not, this is infertility.
All the medications, procedures, surgeries, ultrasounds, tears, sleepless nights, and physical pain only scratch the surface. Just one of the reasons no one should ever ask anyone when they are having kids.
Not if they’re single,
Not if they’re married,
Not if they have one child,
Not if they have three.
YOU. DO. NOT. ASK.
Yes, you can suffer from infertility even if you already have children.
It doesn’t lessen it.
1 in 8 face infertility of some kind.
1 in 4 have lost a child.
With statistics like that odds are that you know someone affected by one or both and may not even know.
Welcome to 2021 everyone! Let’s start this year off right with something personal and perfect for you!
I’ve teamed up with Bella from Bell’s dream customs to bring you all that your dreams desire!
If your new year’s resolution was to drink more water hook yourself or a loved one up with a custom tumbler or water bottle! (Your organs will thank you!)
You name it Bella makes it!
Coasters, cups, lipgloss, shirts! You dream it she does it.
RIGHT NOW THROUGH 1/26/21 you can BOGO 50% off custom tumblers!
This deal is a steal!
Click this link to snatch it up before it’s gone!!
You’ll be seeing lots from Bell’s Dream Customs this year so stay in the loop! Subscribe for post updates and check back often to see what’s been added to the BDC product page right here on tatorthoughts.com!
You guys are probably wondering what I’ve been up to…
Well to answer that simply aside from being a wife, mom & boss keeping certifications current and becoming the magic in Christmas while maintaining my position as the glue of my family I’ve been working on custom decor, magic photo edits and lining up some great content for tatorthoughts coming in 2021! Featuring a fabulous segment partnership with custom cuddle blankets! [you don’t wanna miss this!]
I also just wanna say thank you to all my followers and readers, you have all made this little dream a grand investment over the past few years and have all been along on my greatest journey yet. I’m extremely grateful for you all and have been blessed to chase my dreams and do what I love while partnering with incredible companies and owners along the way.
Cheers to a better year ahead!
Remember to make the most of what you’re given, be thankful and have faith. We’re gonna make it through this life including this pandemic together, nothing lasts forever!
Please do what you can to stay safe & in good spirits.
I took a hiatus from the world for a while so I could check back into life. posts have been sparse compared to where we started nearly 3 years ago, I admit. I took a break from everything to check back into life. There are things nobody tells you, like no matter how much you hate something in the moment there will be days where you look back and miss it Or how valuable pictures can be especially when the world turns unforgivingly and they are all you have left when moments become memories. With complete transparency, I must say my most prized possessions are those that are irreplaceable. Photographs, hand & foot prints of my quickly growing children, cards my husband actually writes in, things drawn & made for me by my dozen nieces & nephews or the amazing children I’ve gotten to teach and watch flourish throughout my career. These things may be but paper to most but to me they’re better than diamonds and jewels, as obviously cliche as that sounds it’s the gods honest truth. As Christmas and holiday traditions approach I can’t help but feel the magic in the air as if I were again a child. Only this time with the genuine adult appreciation of the insignificant things that truly matter, the people around the tree rather than what lies beneath it. Merry Christmas & happy holidays from my family to yours!
Guys! I’m back with an awesome collaboration and our very first giveaway!
Tatorthoughts has partnered with more than a memory! I’m excited to bring you a review of a hanging chore chart and 12 magnet set!
Anyone who knows me knows I have lists everywhere, new goals everyday calendars on my fridge, reminders on my phone. THE WORKS! because that’s what it takes to keep my house ticking like a clock instead of exploding into chaos like a bomb. Well let me tell you this hanging chore chart was everything I didn’t know I needed!
It’s the perfect lively addition to any decor and it’s functional y’all! You even have dry erase options!!
She has errand magnets, picture magnets and even school subject sets! You name it, they’ve got it and I’m willing to bet if they don’t she’s open to the idea!
This thing rocks!
I don’t know what I was doing before this but it doesn’t matter now because seeing task after task be moved to the complete side of my board makes me happy! No matter how small the task it’s a physical representation of how well I’m holding down the fort for my family!
She is the SWEETEST Etsy shop owner I’ve worked with. I was very specific how I liked my board to be and she made it all that and more!!! She even sent a sweet little note with it!
But WAIT.. it gets better!
We’ve teamed up to do our very first giveaway on the site!
There are certain things in life that take your breath away, the birth of your children is definitely a big one.
I’m back with another review from little Yeti, a wonderful company that makes custom personalized books that follow a baby penguin being told a bedtime story by the moon about their very first day!
Now, you as parents will know this penguin’s story quite well because it is the story of your child! Including all the special little details from birth weight and name to the day of the week, astrological sign, and everything in between!
These books are offered in both hardback and paperback formats with vibrant colorfully printed pages with options for both boys and girls! During customization, you’re also given the option to personalize the dedication of the book with a special note for the recipient.
I personally own both types, a paperback purchased for my son last year and a hardback purchased for my daughter this year.
These are MUST HAVE BOOKS for any child in any family from all walks of life!
These are made to fit the child so whether in foster care, in their biological families, or touched by adoption THIS BOOK IS FOR EVERYONE.
I’m so proud to say that I’ve worked with a company that does something so special.
Hats off to little Yeti for creating books that are the perfect reminder of how incredible our stories are!
If you’d like to purchase books for your loved ones or yourself, you can do so here:
September is nicu awareness month and no, I haven’t been avoiding the topic though it does hit close to home.
I’ve been soaking up everyday with my son,thankful I’ve been able to watch my child grow for 18 months, he’s come so far from the gray limp baby I watched be pulled from my body behind a clear drape. He’s changed so much from the child I couldn’t touch or speak to without his tachycardia and tachypnea becoming dangerous while he Laid there helpless and kept alive by a ventilator.
That’s never how any parent wants to see their child. Definitely not what parents of an early term 37 weeker expect especially after the experience of a caesarean.
We did. That was, is and will always be the reality of Raiden’s first 11 days on earth with us. His earliest memories were both earth shattering and precious I can still hear the beep of the monitors and the bang of the machines but I’m grateful for every doctor and every nurse for every second they spent saving my son making sure that my days at home without him were few, we are thankful. We are grateful. We are blessed beyond measure not only that he is our son but that he is here and healthy as I sing these praises and tell our story.
The world may only recognize nicu awareness for the month of September but for us? It’s every. Single. day.
Hopefully my hubby doesn’t see this before I can show him in person & boy keeping this gem to myself HAS NOT been easy!
Justine’s words that stick has hit it out of the park again with my new favorite addition to my home decor! Commemorating the day skeeter & I officially got married! There may not have been a dress, cake or a crowd and we may have gotten married during a global pandemic when I was exactly 12 weeks from giving birth but not even life at its craziest & most unexpected can stop love!
This perfectly done piece captures that & so much more. This is something that will transform any future house into a home, and be in the background of countless more memories made. This beautiful statement piece will one day tell the story of our love long after we’ve gone on to a better place.
There really are such few limitations on what Justine can do. Let her talents help your crafting dreams become a beautiful reality!
Join her vip group and contact her today!
Justine’s words that stick is Such a personal and artistic place to turn to for unique gift ideas, company needs and all things custom!
