Category: Self-Care

“Steptember” challenge 2021 raising money for cerebral palsy research

by Tator

I’m on day 8 of the STEPTEMBER challenge for cerebral palsy research funding taking as many steps as I can with a goal of 10k daily for the 30 days of the month of September.
so far I have not only met but exceeded my donation goal amount!

we may be 8 days in but it’s not too late to join me in the fight to move CP research forward as it is one of the most underfunded disabilities!

register to walk or donate to the cause by downloading the steptember app on iOS or Android devices in their app stores!

if you’d like to join MY Walk TEAM or would like to donate you can do so at the link below!

I would like to thank you all for your support with my brainchild Tatorthoughts.com nearly 4 years strong, Cerebral palsy research and the many other incredible causes I’ve been able to be a part of thanks to your support!

I/ Tatorthoughts is in the top 800 of all individual STEPtember program participants for goals reached and donations given!

When you’re someone with cp who has lived their entire existence being written off, underestimated And told of all the things you just “can’t” do you begin to believe it. I am thankful however that I could re-write that false narrative! I am powerful, I am capable and I am blessed to be part of the change that I’ve always wanted to see!

I know just how incredibly fortunate I am to have people who believe in my dreams enough to support me, partner with me and send me kind words of encouragement. I have been so blessed to partner with some of the most amazing companies and business owners simply because I had a dream and I believed I could. I have had people tell me that I’ve made their lives better in some small way and that is exactly why I do everything I do. I do it for my kids I do it to be an example of how wrong people can truly be about someone, I am so proud of how far I’ve come and I know the sky is the limit for myself , Anyone reading this and those I come in contact with! this walk is no different! We can make change! One step at a time. This is an incredible chapter in my story, And I know there’s more to come!

https://www.steptember.us/s/18817/20499

you can register to walk free of charge with promo code: STEPFREE

Join the fight to move research forward!

Xx Tator!

Grove collaborative subscription product review

by Tator

Y’all I have got to rave about Grove collaborative! This is one bandwagon I had to jump on and let me tell you why, wow our family is very blessed we still have some serious obstacles we have to maneuver around unfortunately cleaning products that are available on the open market such as the ones you find in your grocery store or other big box stores are not friendly to our lungs I am heavily asthmatic, my son has had collapsed lungs and my daughter has an upper airway condition that we have to closely monitor so that complicates things in the cleaning department (not that I would have it any other way, because I obviously love my kids and sometimes myself.)

but that got me looking into other options I kept seeing commercials for Grove Co. and I finally just caved and said what have I got to lose?! The answer of course was absolutely nothing let me tell you this was probably one of the best choices I could’ve made for my family. Now, this is not me saying that it works for everyone I’m just speaking from our experience and what works for my household. but when I caved I caved big my order had so many things in it, SOO MANY!

my order included;

  • 1 grove co matte cleaning Caddy {$14.95}
  • 40ct unscented seedling by Grove tree-free compostable kitchen wipes 100% Bamboo. {$3.95}
  • 2 Grove go reusable glass cleaning spray bottles with silicone sleeves (cream & light blue) {$14.95 each}.
  • *2ct Grove Co multi-purpose cleaner concentrate {$6.95}.*
  • *1 Grove co glass cleaner concentrate streak-free formula refill {$3.95}*
  • *1 Grove co all-purpose household cleaner concentrate refill {$3.95}*
  • 1 set of Grove co microfiber cleaning cloths in cream {$7.95}.
  • 1 pack 2ct Grove co walnut scrubber sponge {$4.95}.
  • 1 Method brand 24-ounce toilet cleaner spearmint scent {$5.49}
  • 1 Method brand citron scented 28 ounce all-purpose + anti-bac spray cleaner {$3.99}.
  • 1 16 ounces Mrs. Meyer’s brand Lemon verbena scented Multi-surface cleaner {$5.30}.
  • 1 method brand all-purpose cleaner 28-ounce bottle in lavender scent {$5.49}
  • 1 Mrs. Meyers 8 ounce room freshener in geranium scent {$5.49}.
  • One package seventh generation brand 35 count disinfecting multi-surface wipes In lemongrass Citrus scent {$4.49}.

**Items marked with an(*) we’re all purchased in the same scent, Orange & rosemary.**

14 items = $106.90 USD before tax. I know it sounds like a lot and believe me it is I now have a favorite cabinet in my house!

It’s of course in my laundry room way up high and baby-proofed so no toddlers or infants or curious monkey children can possibly harm themselves or waste product. 

Of course, we all know I am an advocate for doing whatever works for you and your family just as I advocate and do what works for myself and mine. 

But I can honestly tell you these products I would definitely order again maybe not on the frequency they suggest because I don’t run out as quickly but definitely keeping them on my roster of favorite things to use! I like that most of these products are safe to use in kid-centric areas, And so far none aggravate my asthma. I don’t think anything will ever change the fact that I’m a huge fan of cleaning with white vinegar but this grove subscription is a trick to keep up my sleeve it’s been a blessing to my family and I love being able to clean without putting myself at risk or potentially harming my children’s airways. Thanks to Grove I no longer have to clean while my children are out of my home or completely separated from the rest of the house. 

These things are even safe to use on their highchairs. We even use the geranium scented room spray as my son’s calm-down spray! Bye-bye multicolored single-use plastic bottles from the supermarket the Warren‘s won’t be needing you anymore! I love that grove is sustainably friendly and eco-conscious not only am I providing my family with a clean home I’m also leaving my kids with a better earth! Little steps like that we can all take & they make a huge difference!

They’re always running promotions for free/reduced-priced products and their customer service is top-notch if you have any questions feel free to reach out!

Grove Co. brings the clean to you! We could all use a little more sanitation in our lives especially amid a global pandemic so why not start somewhere that is kinder to the earth we leave behind, those we love the most, and to ourselves?!

Tatorthoughts has gone Grove and we are not looking back!

Go do something great today!

XOXO Tator. 

Function of —tator: The function of beauty shampoo & conditioner product review

by Tator

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!

https://605cfa53ab50e.functionofbeauty.com