Just do YOU

So this may be the silliest post, since a lot of you probably will read it and think.. oh gees, she is tiny.

This last child has been the hardest when it comes to getting my body "back".  Here is the thing, I still want to lose at least 10 more pounds to feel good about myself.  I have struggled with this for almost a year and half, but just cannot seem to find the extra time to take for myself to workout.

I have finally learned how to love who I am, RIGHT NOW, and I have all of you to thank.  We all struggle with who we are and who we want to be.  It may be on the inside or even the outside. Here's the thing.  When we finally learn how to love who we are, despite all the flaws, then we will truly be happy.  Sure, I still want to lose the 10 pounds, but I am not beating myself up about it anymore.  I see all of these beautiful women everyday showing off their body positive images and I cannot tell you how much that has helped me as a mother/woman appreciate my own body.

I got in this business to help out with bills but it has turned into SO much more.  When I started offering more sizes that cater to most women across the world, then I truly felt the power of how a simple dress can change a life.  I cannot tell you the countless emails, messages or even comments I get thanking me for making women feel beautiful again.  Thanking me for offering clothing for everyday women, just like myself, that has in the past been hard to find.

I want to remind everyone that they are beautiful the way they are.  There are women who want to gain weight, lose weight, have bigger boobs (Hello,,, me please) and even bigger bootays.  When we start lifting others up and celebrating how beautiful we are, we can truly change the world.  There is so much ugly in the world right now, bullying and shaming to name a couple of things.  One person CAN make a difference, and that person can be you.

Thank you for truly changing my life.  I hope that one day I can repay you and help you feel beautiful again.

Juggling work and your family life

Ladies, it is HARD.  I mean really hard to have so much love and passion for something that you can literally spend all hours of the day at your computer researching, answering emails, finding the best new fashions, that you forget what is really important.  I have been SO blessed over the past six months with the boutique.  I have seen it grow over 600% in just a few short months, that it is really mind boggling.  With growth comes a lot of ups, but also downs.

I was talking to my son a few days ago about why I am doing the 21 day sugar detox, and explaining to him that I was so addicted to sweets, I felt like I needed to do this to "reset" my body.  What came out of his mouth almost made my jaw drop.  He said "kind of like how you are with your computer? You eat breakfast and then you are back on your computer.  You drop us off at school and then you are on your computer. You do orders and then you are back on your computer.  You are always on your computer mom, all day."  I am so passionate about this and love it so much, that I did not realize I was spending hours upon hours at my computer and neglecting my family.  I had to step back for a few days and remember what is truly the most important thing here.  I am to the point in the business where needing outside help is going to help my sanity and keep my family together.  I have now vowed to wake up at 5:30 am every morning (cringe) to do emails and place orders for needed inventory.  I will also limit my time spent during the hours my kids are home and not in school (oh man and summer is almost here).

Ladies, I am going to have to detox from this too, for real!  Please know that if the past few days your email was not answered right away, it was because I was spending much needed time with my family.  I will get a schedule worked out so that my wonderful customers are taken care of, as well as my beautiful boys.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your support.  When I first started this journey it was to make a few extra dollars for the household.  It has turned into SO much more.  I get so excited when I find or design new clothing items that cater to all body types.  I cannot tell you how much I love hearing, "thank you for thinking about all women and having something we can all wear."  I look forward to growing with each and every one of you and cannot wait to see what the future holds.

Remember to always put your family first.  In the end, they will be the only ones left.  I am thankful that my son reminded me of that, so I can adjust my work schedule now before it is too late.

-Tara Lynn

Working Mothers Unite

I consider myself blessed in so many ways.  I get to stay home with my three boys and help watch them grow and I also get to live out this wonderful passion of mine.  I strongly seek out other women business owners and try to purchase as much as possible from them.  This is why all of our graphic tees that we offer come from small women ran businesses.  Some of them are on hand and some do require to be made on order, that is why they have a 14 day shipping time frame.

I feel it is so important to empower and support other women when we can.  Help me support other women like yourself and their dream.

SHOP GRAPHIC TEES

Hello, my name is Mom

Don't get me wrong I LOVE being a mother, I really do, it's just sometimes I feel that I am only a mother and not Tara.  I know I cannot be the only one out there that feels this way.  For the past 6 years of my life I have either been pregnant or nursing a baby.  I also have not had more than 3 periods in that time (TMI, but hey, that's a high point of my life).  Now that my youngest is a year old, I can finally feel confident to leave him with someone for more than an hour or two.  Now all I have to do is find stuff to do, right?  Easier said than done.

Now onto the #mombod issues we all face.  I am struggling with these last 12 pounds or so.  Now, I know to officially be able to complain about it I actually have to go and workout and not see results- buzz kill.  So instead of complaining, I will ask you what you have found that helps shed those last few pounds without having to practically starve myself or eat apple sauce for two weeks?  I recently tried this "magic drink" of grapefruit juice, apple cider vinegar and honey.  I would love to tell you that after drinking this magical concoction I shed those last few unwanted pounds.  Instead, I about threw up all over my son as he watched with bug eyes in disbelief.  I like to think of it as pay back for all the times he spit up on me.  I think eventually I will have to suck it up and join a gym, but who really has time for all that craziness?  Another alternative, is strapping my youngest on my back while I chase my older boys around the house.  That way I can get a good sweat in, while still playing with them.  Win, win in my book.  Seriously ladies, let me know what works for you.  I am open to just about anything. 

Now to shamelessly show off my handsome boys.  I may just be Mom now, but I am dang lucky to be theirs. Fun fact about my two oldest: They share the same birthday but are 2 years apart.  No it was not planned but I love it!