Ask Me Anything | No. 1

Hi, sweet friends!

I’ve been getting a bunch of lifestyle and random questions lately, so I thought I’d bring them to the blog to share my answers…

If you have a question, ask me anything in the comments and I’ll answer it!

XO

(This post contains affiliated links.)

Do you still shave your face? Any updates?

Yep, I’m still shaving my face! I shave it every few months or whenever I notice the peach fuzz. I’ve been doing it for a few years and don’t plan on stopping. It leaves my skin feeling so smooth and makes makeup go on so much better. (You can read my last update here.)

Do you use any teeth whitening products?

I used to use these whitening strips, but haven’t in years. I had my teeth whitened with Zoom at my dentist’s office a few years ago and I’ll do that again when I’m done breastfeeding.

How did you start blogging? What got you into it?

I started blogging over 5 years ago when my first baby was 6 months old. I was struggling with Postpartum Anxiety and needed a creative outlet and some way to feel like me again. I put together outfits and wrote about being a mom, and slowly started connecting with other mamas. It started as a hobby and has now become my business, for which I couldn’t feel more grateful.

Any tips for new bloggers?

So many. Ha. My biggest advice is if it’s really something you want to do, stick with it. It’s definitely not an overnight thing. Finding your voice and growing your audience takes time. It’s a small business and if you want to make money doing it, you have to treat like one. Invest and work hard.

How do you handle negative comments on and offline? Have you always had thick skin?

Ugh. OK so negative comments online are much easier for me to handle now, almost 5 years in. I had a troll (pretty sure it was someone I went to high school with who was always a hater – ha) who used to leave awful comments on the blog. She attacked me, my kids and everything I would post. What’s funny is that kind of helped me build a thick skin when it comes to online comments. Now I just shrug them off and don’t give them another thought.

I don’t have thick skin – I’m very sensitive in my real life relationships (just ask my husband!). My friend circle is small but mighty and as I get older, I just don’t spend my time on toxic people. I don’t have the time or the heart for it.

Are you ready to dine inside a restaurant yet?

My husband and I went on our first date night in months last Saturday. We went to a small local restaurant and sat right next to the huge open window, so it was pretty much like we were outside. They did everything “right” – the waitress wore a mask and stayed far from our table, the tables were 6 feet apart. Still, I didn’t love it and I would much prefer to be outdoors. The whole point of going out to dinner is to relax, right? Yeah, I didn’t feel completely relaxed and would definitely not want to dine completely indoors.

What has your family/friends’ reactions been to your sober announcement?

I told my family very early on that I thought I was done drinking. My mom, husband and brother were all very supportive. My good friends have been supportive, too.

The only pushback I’ve received is from acquaintances, and even that has been minimal. Snide comments like “What?? Why aren’t you drinking?!” And what’s interesting is that they almost always come from moms who drink the most. So, there’s that.

Are you still on Zoloft?

Yes! Right now I have no plans to get off of it. I’ve shared a few blog posts about it:

How I Avoided Postpartum Anxiety The Second Time Around

Taking Zoloft During Pregnancy

Can you describe your decision to get on Zoloft and how it’s helped?

I didn’t want to fight the anxiety by myself anymore. I was exhausted and I knew I needed help. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. It’s hard to explain how it helps (which is great because it’s not like I can physically feel its effects), but it helps less the spiral and overwhelm that comes with anxiety. Things no longer feel out of control and I’m not as stuck in my mind.

What is the nursing sports bra that you’ve shared before?

This one! Hands down. And it’s only $28.

Do you have any protein alternatives to meat that are not shellfish or nuts?

I shared my 3 Day Food Diary, which has a lot of protein alternatives. Here are some that I count on: Quinoa, leafy greens, chickpeas, black beans, oats, Greek yogurt and eggs.