Boy Mom Box Swap

Elizabeth at Chasin' Mason (who I met my freshmen year of college), Sarah at Seeing All Sides, and Stephanie at Wife Mommy Me are some serious super mommies. Not only are they great moms who have great blogs, but they also organized this super great box swap for us #boymoms

Behind every superhero little boy, is a super hero mom.... who definitely does not get enough credit for all that she does. We were paired with the fabulous Dara from Not in Jersey. Her boys are a few years older than Declan and Calem, but she remembered these ages well!! She totally nailed the box. EVERYTHING in there was awesome and the boys loved it! In fact my photos aren't the most stellar because I let them be part of the opening and then...WHOA. You know how it goes, blender with no top on.
She was also so sweet to send me a coloring book to help  me find my zen, a tumbler, hair ties and my all time favorite chapstick! I mean our names rhyme, she must get me! Seriously, Dara, total win on the box. Thank you so so much!

Dara sent the boys bubbles, Legos, outdoor splash balls ( they made it the bathtub...), a little bowling set and these hilarious Hulk and Spiderman punching balls! The boys went nuts over these. They also brought back some nostalgia for my childhood and those giant punching balloons with the big rubber band!

Always amazing to make some new friends and share the mommy love!

All the love in the world,

The Mommy Tree

WHOLE 30: DAY1-7

WOOT WOOT! Made it to day 7! One week down and 3+ more to go!
Here is the thing, in life you have to celebrate. EVERYTHING. I mean if you aren't going to celebrate it, than what is the point? Really? I am asking you.

At the end of every day I celebrated. I did it. I ate what I was supposed to. I also celebrated ignoring the chips, the popsicles, the urge to put chocolate chips on my banana and almond butter snack...
Snacking, not encouraged on the Whole 30. However, yesterday I was HANGRY and that is what I reached for. It was Whole 30 aprropriate. Cue the celebrating! And I didn't eat the kids goldfish...

I think I pretty much followed the Whole 30 timeline thus far. I've eaten pretty darn healthy my adult life. Mostly higher protein, lower carbs, healthier carb choices etc. Especially since I had type 2 Diabetes, TWICE.
For me it pretty much looked like this:
Day 1: I'm a rockstar
Day2-3: Seriously regretting the beers I consumed the Saturday before...
Day 4-5: Cranky Pantolones...best to leave me alone.
Day 6-7: No big deal, but I'm bored with my food already!

So let me tell this Whole 30 intervention HAD to happen. For my sake, for my health. Extra weight on my little 5'4'' frame is too much. I'm already at such high risk for developing diabetes I don't need any more risk factors. Since I had my thyroid out I have had nonstop headaches everyday. I woke up from my second surgery in September with a headache and it has never gone away. EVER. Except for on day 5. First time since September 24th, lets call that a #nonscalevictory
It's also been about the assumed sensitivities to certain foods and really committing to figuring it out and figuring out how to feel better. I so desperately have been seeking that healthy, fit energy that I used to have...well I think I used to have it!
I am a horrible recipe follower so I sort of just used the things I knew I could have and made something. Also once the weather gets warm around here I have a rule that the only meal that can get cooked in the house is breakfast. Meaning everything else goes on the grill, the air fryer or the toaster oven. So it also meant all my veggies were grilled! Typically a protein, chicken, turkey, steak and a vegetable and sweet potatoes for dinner. Chicken sausage wrapped in lettuce with watermelon, turkey and sauerkraut wrapped in lettuce, or leftovers for lunch and eggs over a hash I made with sweet potatoes, power greens, mushrooms, peppers and onions. Oh and I added green chile to everything because when in New Mexico!

Breakfast casserole prepped and ready for this week!

These boys were sick for the last week and seriously gave me a run for my money. As in the youngest. screamed to the high heavens the WHOLE time we were at the doctors office. Blegh. They are both feeling better and back to their happy selves. Phew!

Have you done the Whole 30? I mean in the blogging world I feel like everyone has done it. Tricks? Tips? Success stories?! I would love to hear them

All the love in the world,

The Mommy Tree

2nd Annual Mothers Day Exchange

WOOT WOOT, it's the weekend!!! And the reveal day for who we were partnered with for the 2nd Annual Mothers Day Exchange! How awesome and amazing are Elizabeth and Courtney for putting this together again?! So. Awesome!

I am beyond grateful for being allowed the opportunity to participate again this year. Super special thank you to my friend Elizabeth who sent me a text to say "Girl, go sign up!" These women that I have met through social media and the blogging world have been so amazingly kind and supportive. Thank you for all your encouragement as I have come back into the world of blogging. 

Sara over at Running from the Law was my partner and she spoiled me good! Thank you Sara!The big treat was even being partnered with her and having a reason to send a few emails back and forth. I truly love her blog and enjoy her Instagram posts. She is down to earth, gorgeous and fashionable and with the perfect sense of mommy humor. I get her. She sent me this happy and colorful watermelon scarf, which I am obsessed with. Also, an amazing Kate Spade wristlet. I am pretty sure she gets me too! Thank you for making me feel truly special! So if you haven't checked out Sara's blog YOU NEED TOO, because she is just as incredible as you would imagine she would be!

I definitely did a happy dance when I found out who I was partnered with,

 she is truly amazing. I have followed Desiree on Instagram and am always in awe of her running posts and that she runs with two kids AND a double jogger. This is no joke and something I let my husband do...She is strong and beautiful. Her children are adorable and I am over the moon to have felt like I made a new friend. It was a true honor to spoil her and spread the joy to another mommy! So go check out what was in her package!

Happy Mother's Day!

All the love in the world to all you mommies out there,

The Mommy Tree

Happy 2.5 Calem!!!

HAPPY 2.5 Master Calem!!! This wild one has the gift of melting everyones hearts. Seriously. He is so darn cute he has his teachers and Grandma's weak in the knees. He is empathetic and loves to give hugs and take care of his friends. He talks a million miles a minute and is sometimes difficult to understand (not for mommy though!) He loves kitties and doggies, he thinks bugs are cool, but not the coolest to touch. We likes to be dirty but not on his hands and definitely don't let hair from his haircut get on him!

He has a love for sweets and chips, Star Wars ( his favorite movie he has never seen), Star Wars undies, books.

Favorite food: Cheetos or pizza

Favorite drink: Vanilla Steamer...Mommy gets a treat, the boys get a treat....

Favorite Book: Honey Honey Lion by Jan Brett

Favorite lovie: His Blanket or "Nigh Nigh"

Favorite person: His brother

Favorite activity: Anything with Declan. SUPER easy going!

It is such an honor and a privilege to be your mommy C. Seriously having a hard time believing that you are already 2.5. We celebrate these days so you know how very special you are and my wish for you is that you always know that you are loved.

All the love in the world to my 2.5 year old,

The Mommy Tree

San Francisco Sweetness

It is no secret that San Francisco is by far my favorite US city, maybe even in the world. Especially since these WorldRamblers are limited to trips closer to home.  San Francisco was the most perfect place for Big Daddy Tree's and my first adventure without our boys. It was also a magical place to see my sister and her husband for the first time in 21 months and meet my precious niece.
We utilized our nonstop flights and had a very full four days in the city. I earned every calorie I consumed by walking all those hills. We got super adventurous the first morning we arrived and walked from Union Square to Fisherman's wharf and along the Embarcadero AND back. I may have whined more than I should have! It was a humbling reminder of how far I still have to go in regaining my physical fitness after a doozy of a year. However, the only way to get there is literally one step at a time!

Anyways, the food was amazing. The company was even better.  We fell in love a little bit more, with each other, with the city. My heart is so full and I can't wait to go back again.
My niece is perfect and my sister is an amazing mother, so incredible to see her and her husband as parents. They were even so trusting of us that they let us hang out with sweet Hadley girl so they could attend a wedding. That time is something I will cherish for the rest of my life. With each vacation I feel like it is harder to return to reality. The only thing to cure vacation withdrawals is to plan another one...

San Francisco has only one drawback, Tis hard to leave - Rudyard Kipling

All the love in the world....especially to my fellow San Francisco lovers,

The Mommy Tree

Taking the leap

I'm not going to say "I'm Back!" or " Yay, look at me go!" and I am also not going to make any promises on a set amount of blogs per week etc. Because life will humble me. It is kinda like getting so excited that your child is potty trained and then twenty minutes later feeling something warm and wet on your side only to realize that your son just peed on you...If there has been one thing that I have learned in the last few months it is that life is a lot less fun without an intact sense of humor.
Let's cut to the chase.
I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer this past August. I had a surgery in August which discovered the malignancy and a second surgery in September to complete the thyroidectomy. The second surgery revealed six separate carcinomas, all unrelated to the original malignancy. Following surgery I did Radioactive Iodine therapy (RAI), spent seven days in solitude while I peed and sweated out toxic waste. To sum it all up I had lymph nodes that lit up on my scan after radiation as well as an area over my aortic arch. It is not done or over with BUT I am hopeful that it will be. Meanwhile the adjustment to no thyroid and to thyroid medications has been slow. Thyroid issues are not just a physical disturbance, they are emotional and mental as well. My brain feels foggy, decisions are hard, really hard. I'm easily overwhelmed and get anxious over things that aren't worth a second thought. Possibly all of that has been the biggest challenge over the last six months.
I am taking the leap. Giving myself the credit that I can blog again. That underneath the brain fog I can find the art of writing and possibly help someone else who has to embark on this journey. I documented my feelings, experiences and happenings over the last few months and will slowly update them on the blog.
Being diagnosed with cancer and having these experiences, relying on others to take care of you and your family. Trusting others to take care of me the way that I would take care of my patients. Spending days in solitude with your thoughts, hopes and dreams it changes your life perspective. Helps to reevaluate what my life truly means to me. Everyone has different meanings, purposes, wants, needs, desires. My life is about loving my husband, raising our boys, giving them the childhood that they deserve. We have been making memories and sharing the love. Celebrating life with a true attitude of gratitude.
Hoping all of you are happy and healthy. Finding the joy in everyday life, right where you are, right where you are supposed to be.

All the love in the world,

Tara

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Mothers Day Blogger Exchange

I have been so horrible about blogging lately. Horrible. I'm so thankful that my deficiency in timely blogging has not prevented me from being able to participate in these exchanges! And a most wonderful THANK YOU to the following ladies for putting this together!

This is the box of goodies I received from Ally over at Even Miracles Take a Little Time Let me tell you how excited I was to  get something for me in the mail! Excited! And I savored it until naptime and enjoyed opening it with my iced coffee!

UMM...I LOVED MY BOX! Ally was spot on with this gift! So sweet and so thoughtful! I indulged in some John Green novels for my nook and savored my Dove dark chocolates which are my absolute favorite. She also was so sweet to include the bestest bubbles for the boys. Seriously the best bubbles. I will post later with some photos of the bubble madness that occurred. Thank you so much ALLY!!!

This is the box of goodies that I sent to Angela over at Baby Steps Through Life  This momma and her family are spending the summer being camp hosts! I just think that might be the coolest summer plan yet! Head on over to her blog to check out the full details on her box and to follow along with her family on their life adventures!

Ally // Even Miracles Take a Little Time

Angela // non-blogger

Ashley // Everything's Hunky Dorey
Ashley // Life on the Parsons Farm
Ashley // Perks of Ponder
Courtney // Sweet Turtle Soup

Elisabeth // non-blogger

Elizabeth // Chasin' Mason
Emily // Raising Avery Mae
Holly // Holly's Housewife Life
Jamie // Cocktails and Carseats

Jen // Everything in the Sky

Jenny // The Chronicles of We
Jessica // All Because Two People Fell in Love
Jessica // Being Mrs. Beer
Johannah // The Sirois Family
Kate // Creative House
Kristen // Rainbowtized
Laureen // Chateau Deveau
Liz // Ellie and Addie
Mama // The Mama Bomb

Michelle // Grammie Time
Nina // The Joni Journey
Sarah // Foxy's Domestic Side
Sarah // Seeing All Sides
Shelly // Windy City Baby
Stephanie // Wife Mommy Me

Susan // non-blogger

Tara // A Tale of Four Maples
Tawnya // All of Life's Little Adventures

Whitney // Work It Mommy

Happy Mother's Day fellow mommy's make sure you take the time to celebrate you and the amazing mother you are!

All the love in the world,

The Mommy Tree