10 Things You Might Not Know About Me

So you follow me on Instagram or maybe Facebook or my blog only. OR maybe you just stumbled across me blog and found me. So, you know what I share on those platforms. Have you ever wanted to know more about me? Those random facts? Well, today is your lucky day!! Here are 10 RANDOM things about me....


1. Divorced - that is right, I was previously married. I would tell you more about it, but that is a long story and definitely a long blog! Just know, if you are NOT happy or in a situation that you do NOT deserve, YOU have the power to change it! You can always reach out to me if you want to chat about anything!!

2. We lived in Brigantine, NJ for awhile. I absolutely LOVED it! One of the most beautiful places ever and the fall colors in Jersey?! So absolutely picturesque. I can't wait to go back and visit someday. Until then, here I am, an Arizona girl - born and raised.

3. Meningitis. I had viral meningitis in 2016. Is there much more to say? I was stuck in the hospital for days, told I could die and could not see my kids. I was under quarantine and in more pain than I could have ever imagined. I had Connor drug free and would opt to have 30 babies without any medication before facing meningitis again. For months I had a lingering headache, dizziness and hallucinations. I now have complete and total panic attacks anytime I get the slightest headache.

4. I have 3 brothers. Two are half brother and older than me. One is younger by 4 years. My older two are out of state and my younger brother is about 2 and a half hours away. Because of the distance, I don't see any of them too often. I do talk to my little brother all the time.

5. Growing up I didn't have a great relationship with my dad. We are no longer in contact at all. When I was a teenager, my best friend's dad was really there for me. I am so thankful for her parents for being so amazing. He recently passed away (April 2019).

6. I lived in Hawaii. Yep, another state. I lived in Hawaii Kai, Hawaii for about a year. I was a nanny for a friend's aunt. I had the worst island fever and was terribly home sick when living there. Who would think that someone can get homesick in paradise?! Now, I would give anything to go back....is the fire department hiring? Haha....should I make Payton apply?

7. I grew up riding horses competitively and I was GOOD at it. I was a state champion. I don't ride anymore and I miss it more than anything. Unfortunately, with a bum hip, I will never be able to ride the way I used to. I was told that I can ride though, just have to take it easy.

 8. I have my GED and High School diploma. Not much else to say! I dropped out of high school and got my GED and then I went back to high school online and earned my diploma. Weird, I know, but I realized that I wanted the diploma.

9. I LOVE mayonnaise. Like love love. I put it on everything and use it for dipping sauce. I love to add other sauces to it to change up the flavor a bit, but you can count on it being on my hot dogs, burgers, anything.

10. I am a victim of attempted rape. Another blog, another day, another moment of digging somewhere that I am not ready to. He is in prison for it.

There is so much more about me left to share, but a lot of it takes some barriers being let down on my end. Make sure you follow me to see when any new blogs come out!

-Laura

Tasty & Easy 30 Min Cauliflower Shrimp Bowl

As some of you know, Payton is pretty deep into the Keto diet so making meals that we both want to eat can be a bit of a struggle. I love rice, hash browns, bread and lets face it....CARBS.

I have been using cauliflower rice in multiple ways to make meals that work for us. And in the summer, I am not a big fan of heavy meals or meals that take a long time to make (ok, time is a factor no matter the season). I wanted to do an all in one type of meal that was quick and easy, so I thought, why not throw shrimp and cauliflower rice together? It came out so amazing and delicious! Absolutely on the top of my summer go to list!

I used foods that I had sitting around the house which made it even easier. I am not a huge fan of any extra grocery store trips than actually needed! Thank goodness for a deep freezer, right?

What all did I use/have laying around? 

• Large pre cooked shrimp
• Frozen diced cauliflower
• Tomatoes
• Onion
• Lime
• Avocado
• Salt
• Pepper
• Onion Powder
• Garlic Powder
• Cayenne Pepper
• Butter
• Olive Oil
• Small Jalapeno

Cooking it was pretty simple! I got out 2 medium skillets and a cutting board and got to work. I put a tablespoon of olive oil in each pan and put the shrimp and riced cauliflower in frozen. I cooked everything and prepared the pico. Once everything was done, I threw it all in the bowl and enjoyed! AND Payton and Kenz loved it as much as I did! 

Ingredients

• 1 LB Frozen Large Pre Cooked Shrimp
• 1 Frozen bag of diced cauliflower
• 1 avocado
• 1 Lime
• 2 Ripe Tomatoes (I Prefer on the Vine)
• 1/2 an onion - diced
• Salt - Pinch
• Pepper - Pinch
• 1/4 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
• 1/4 Teaspoon Onion Powder
• 1/2 Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
• 2 Tablespoons Oil
• 2 Tablespoons Butter
• 1 Small Jalapeno - Deseeded and diced

Directions 

• Get 2 medium skillets out and put 1 Tablespoon of oil in each skillet, turn the burners on medium. In one skillet, add the frozen cauliflower and in the other add the frozen shrimp. 
• Shrimp - 
• Lightly add a pinch of salt and pepper
• Sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder over the shrimp
• Sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon of onion powder over the shrimp
• Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper over the shrimp
• Squeeze 1/2 a lime over the shrimp
• Cook approx 15 min on medium/low heat, stirring occasionally
• Cauliflower
• Add a pinch of salt and a pinch of pepper
• Add 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder
• Add 1/4 teaspoon of onion power
• Add 2 tablespoons of butter
• Cooking time varies - aprox 15 min on medium heat (i like mine golden)
• Stir frequently
• While the shrimp and cauliflower cook, get the fresh pico ready
• Dice 2 tomatoes on the vine and put into a bowl
• Dice 1/2 of a large onion and add to the bowl
• Dice small jalapeno and add to the bowl
• Season lightly with garlic powder and pepper
• Mix and set aside
• Cut up avocado
• Once riced cauliflower is done, put in the bowl you wish to eat out of and garnish with the rest of your toppings (Shrimp, Pico, Avocado)! 
• Squeeze lime over all of your food and enjoy!

Hip Replacement at 33

If you read my last blog, you know a bit of the back story on my hip and how I got to the point of needing a hip replacement! If you didn’t, you need to go read it to catch up 😂😂

J/K - I will give you the brief run down....

In junior high I rode horses and was in cheer! I failed to stretch before cheering one day and thought that I pulled a muscle going into the splits. Did I rest or go to the doctor? No. Did I continue horseback riding, doing barn work and cheering? Yes.

Fast forward to January 2019 (more years than I wish to admit). I now have bone spurs, a broken hip (I fell on the ice) and a joint that is partially dying. I can’t walk without limping, if at all! Some days it’s so terrible that I can’t. I am told that the only way to rectify it is to have a full hip replacement. Soooo, April 1, 2019 I had my first hip replacement.

 Let’s talk about the surgery. I don’t know why I expected to go into surgery and die on the table, but I totally did! 😂🤦🏼‍♀️ I am always super sensitive to anesthesia and warned the anesthesiologist, but I still had complications. I woke up so sick, like puking in a bag over and over for hours sick. A few hours after surgery they started rcoming in and trying to get you out of bed and moving. Well I was so sick I could barely sit up so I pretended to be sleeping all day so they would leave me alone. I finally got them to up my zofran and immediately was a different person! I felt alive again and was able to sit up and even stand up (with help obviously...photo above is the first one of my standing after surgery. Payton helped me out of bed)

Did I expect to be totally unable to lift my leg, move it or stand up on my own? No. I expected to be in pain and not be able to walk, but I didn’t expect to need help to the bathroom or even sliding my leg out of the bed. I stayed one night in the hospital. I had constant help and annoyances. The  morning after the surgery,  I was helped out of bed and was able to walk 2 laps with my walker and my belt on, just to be safe!

They were so impressed since most hip replacement recipients are older and couldn’t move around as much as I was or as quickly! Here I thought I should be moving more and they thought I was basically breaking records! 

Once we got home, I don’t know what I would have done without my mom there watching the kids and Payton off of work to help me. He had to buy me a raised toilet seat and even then, he had to pick me up and put me on the toilet. I was so proud of myself when I was able to cling to his neck and sit down. Small steps, but I felt accomplished. 

The first 4-5 days was horrible. I didn’t want to move and couldn’t. Payton had to slide my leg out of the bed to the floor and pick it up to get back into bed. I couldn’t get food, go anywhere without my walker or spend much time with my kids at all (note that Rhett’s 1st birthday was April 5). 

By day 5ish, I was able to slide my leg on and pick it up myself and put it on the bed on my own. I was still a bit iffy on the bathroom alone and had to be totally assisted in the shower, by the improvement was so drastic and amazing. I took pain killers the first night home and the next morning and never again. I hate the way they make me feel and am more of a suck it up type of gal. The pain didn’t seem bad enough for me to need more.

Let’s talk about the next few weeks. I was slowly able to do more and more. By the end of the first week, I was tired of bed and wanted out. I convinced Payton to take me furniture shopping with the assistance of my walker 😂! The looks I got were embarrassing, but it was amazing to move around! By 4 weeks, I was able to do just about anything without walker or cane! I was feeling so good! 

So here we are now, not much further, but much more mobile. I am just over 2 months post op. My hip feels great, I am even working out. My biggest complaint and complication is residual hives. I have never had a hive issue in my life. Ever since surgery, I have been getting them several times a week. I have seen the primary care and surgeon, even and ER dr for a rash that resembled cellulitis. No one knows what it is or why I am getting it, I was referred over to an allergist and will hopefully have answers soon! I have my first hike (flat and easy) planned for mid June! We are going to hike our favorite hike - West Fork Trail In Sedona!!

I will keep you guys posted on how the rest of my recovery and hives information as I get them!!

Walgreen's - America's Wake Up Call

When I was in Junior High, I injured my hip. At that point in time, I thought it was a pulled muscle from not stretching before cheer practice. I shrugged it off and though I had pain, I kept cheering and kept riding horses competitively. I dealt with pain off and on it for years.

In my 20s, I was told I had severe arthritis in my hip. It was diagnosed as degenerative arthritis. The pain in it was unbearable if I didn't take my prescribed medications. I was told if I didn't take it easy, I would need a hip replacement by 40. Fast forward to January 2019. We had a big snow storm on New Years Eve and I took a spill on the ice....right. on. my. bad. hip. The pain was excruciating and I found out that because of the deterioration of my bone, the fall caused a fracture in my hip. I also found out that the arthritis had progressed to the point of bone spurs and I would need a hip replacement.

This is why Walgreens Wake Up Call is so important to me. When dealing with chronic illness, taking medications regularly and on time is so important. I am the worst about this! I constantly get so caught up in day to day life that I forget to take my medication! I have had days where I completely forget or take it very late. Did you know that 50% of Americans aren't taking their medication as prescribed or on time?

I love that no matter how busy you are, Walgreens can help you stay on top of your medications. The app allows you to refill medications with an easy click, has pill reminders and even 24/7 pharmacist chat!

Walgreens App Highlights -

Refills - Refill your prescriptions from an account or scan it in! You can even use the app to set up auto refill.

Transfer Prescriptions - It is so simple to snap a quick picture and get your prescription transfers processed.

Prescription Status - Check the status of all of your prescriptions and easily see all prescription history.

Pill Reminder - Never forget to take your medications on time. Knowing you are on track has never been easier or more convenient. So much peace in knowing that you can create a wonderful routine to count on.

Manage Family Prescriptions - As a mom, I love this feature! I can manage the entire family from my account from prescription history to refills and even set up immunizations!

Submit Insurance Cards - A simple snap of the camera allows you to quickly send over your insurance card.

Free Shipping - You can get FREE shipping anywhere in the US.

24/7 Pharmacy Chat - Have a late night question or confused about your medication? You can count on being able to get your prescription questions answered at any time of the day or night with a simple press of a button!

Pre-Pay - Pay before you even get there! What better way to streamline the process?

Go download the Walgreens App for yourself today!

**This is a sponsored post, but all opinions are my own**

My Detox Tea Trial

**This is a sponsored post. The opinions are completely my own based on my experience**

Have you ever wondered what detox tea really does? How does it make you feel? Do you really drop pounds?

Total Tea Gentle Detox

On Amazon

Payton and I recently did a 28 day detox trial. I did a bit of research before starting and saw that there were a few options on how to do it. Some people drink it only in the morning (not for me, I need coffee), some people drink it in the morning AND at night (I am super sensitive, I would likely shit constantly), and others do only at night (perfect for me). Nights was the only logical option for us both. And it was really nice to sit down together after the kids went to bed and have a nice cup of tea.

So I was initially a bit worried about stomach issues with the detox tea as I know it is also considered a colon cleanse. I have heard of people getting really upset stomachs with it and me being hypersensitive to EVERYTHING, I knew it could be a possibility for me. Surprising enough, I had ZERO issues. It was really light and smooth on my system which I love!

Another concern was the taste! Was is going to be strong and bitter? Would I want to add sugar or honey? I really am trying to steer clear of sugars so it was a pretty big concern for me! Not the case at all with this! It was surprisingly really good! I enjoyed the light flavors! It is a cinnamon and orange mixture that is really light and GOOD! Because don't we all prefer to sit down and actually ENJOY a cup of tea!

So now lets talk about what it did for me! Did I drop a ton of weight? No. But, I don't have a ton of weight to drop, I am super thin already. What i did drop was a TON of BLOAT! I constantly have so many digestion issues. No matter what I eat, I struggle with tons of indigestion and bloating. About a week into my detox tea, I noticed that the bloating had dropped drastically! I no longer had to unbutton my pants after a meal! My total weight loss was about 3 lbs, so some did drop. 

One of my favorite things about the Total Tea was I didn't notice a huge increase in bowl movements. As I said before, I was super worried about that! It did give me an overall feeling of feeling GOOD! With less bloating, more energy, I have more drive to accomplish things! Blogs, pictures, house work, laundry, you name it! Detox tea has helped me so much! 

This all being said, my journey with detox tea is far from over! I am so thankful that I was able to find one that I truly love!! I will absolutely be continuing the Total Tea Detox Tea!! If you are interested in checking them out here is a direct link to their pages. And here is a link to their detox tea on Amazon!

**I also want to mention that Payton is a HUGE fan too! Being really strict in his KETO diet, this detox tea was perfect for him since it is a keto friendly detox tea! He also noticed an increase of energy, less bloating and some weight loss! Looks like our evening detox tea time will continue!

Mother’s Day At The Ballpark

***This is a sponsored post. The opinions are completely my own based on my experience***

I was so excited to do something a bit different this Mother’s Day! When I found out we had tickets to the Arizona Diamondbacks baseball game, I was super excited. In our house, Arizona sports is a way of life and I hadn’t actually been to Chase Field in years.

One of my favorite things about Chase field since it first opened as Bank One Ballpark (I was in high school and we had season tickets opening year), is the retractable roof and air conditioning! On Sunday, the weather was perfect and the roof opened up right before the game. I was warm and overcast, couldn’t have asked for more perfect weather! And how beautiful is the field?! 

So 

Lets talk FOOD! So many options from nachos to street tacos to pizza or even restaurants! I want to talk a bit about my favorite food that I found on Sunday. Who has even heard of  Churro Dog?! It is a Diamondbacks stadium specialty. SOOOOO amazing! The kids loved getting sundaes in souvenir hats. So cute! Check it out....

Last but not least, lets talk about how much FUN it was! Chase field offered interactive events between innings, tons of fun and music for the entire family! I love the stadium and comfort level it adds in the entire experience. Parking was easy, entrance was easy and everyone working there was effectively helpful and courteous. 

If you are interested in attending an Arizona Diamondbacks game, click here for discounted tickets!! I promise, you won't regret the amount of FAMILY fun is offered at Chase Field! Take a look at all of our pictures! 

Simple & Quick Corn & Avocado Salad

For Cinco De Mayo, I decided to have a bit of fun with Makenzee! We ran to Fry's and picked up some of our favorite ingredients to make tacos, rice and beans! We decided that a corn and avocado salad would be the perfect addition to our Cinco De Mayo feast!

We picked up some random ingredients and it turned out so amazing that I thought I should share it with you guys!!

Here is the final dish

On top of being DELICIOUS, it was so easy and quick to make! And has saved so well (I actually just got done eating some of it leftover)!

Here is my recipe!

Ingredients:

• 3 Cups of frozen corn (cooked) - Can use fresh, but lets face is - I am a busy mom who doesn't have time for all of that
• 1 jalapeno (seeded and diced)
• 1/2 of chopped cilantro
• 2 Tablespoons of olive oil
• 1/2 C of diced rec onion
• 1/2 Tablespoon of lime juice
• 1 Peeled, cored and diced avocado
• 1/2 C Cotija cheese (can substituent feta, but it isn't as good)

Dressing

• salt and pepper (to taste)
• 2 Cloves of minced garlic
• 3 Tablespoons of Mayonnaise
• 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
• 2 Tablespoons of lime juice (fresh preferred)

Mix - 

• While the corn was in the microwave, I combined all of the ingredients for the dressing and whisked. Then set aside until the rest of the salad was ready. 
• Add corn, diced onion, cilantro and jalapeno in bowl and mix together
• Put fresh lime juice on avocado and add to the salad
• Drizzle olive oil over entire salad then add the dressing and mix well
• Last, add 1/2 C of Cotija cheese and mix well

*Serve warm OR cold

Mother's Day Gift Guide

**This is a sponsored post. The opinions are completely my own based on my experience**

Sometimes it can be so difficult to decide on gifts! I have the hardest time shopping for anyone other than my kids! So with Mother's Day right around the corner, I thought I would share my top 6 gifts for mommies!

1. Personalized Jewelry.

What mother wouldn't love a beautiful personalized necklace?! Tiny Tags offers so many beautiful options! How much would a necklace with your children's names on it be?! I love gifts with meaning behind it!

2. Meal Delivery

What about getting her a meal box delivery service? All of the necessities to cook a meal, shipped right to your door, with step-by-step instructions?! I am personally a HUGE fan of Green Chef as they have a Keto friendly meal delivery option. The flavors are amazing and the meals have become a big hit in our house. Making her evening routine a bit easier seems like a perfect gift for any mom!

3. Pamper AF

Women in general love being pampered so you can't go wrong with a full set, pedi, facial or massage! Time to make her feel beautiful is so important and a few moments away to catch her breath is sometimes so needed! Even better, it is something she can enjoy for awhile! 

(And how cute are those personalized rings from Slate and Tell)

4. Skin Care

Amazing skin is so important to mommies! Sometimes we slack on ourselves and our skin when focusing on our babies. This Organic Body Butter and Dry Brush from Butter Babes is the perfect gift for the mommy in your life! Their products are raw, organic, vegan and never tested on animals! They created their line with the beliefs that what goes on your body is just as important as in, something mommies can completely relate too! They also have some amazing soaps that really change the way your skin looks and feels!!

5. Made with love

Some of my most treasured possessions are gifts made from the heart. I love when my kids bring me home cards, random things, colorings and paintings! Obviously some make their way to the "round filing cabinet in the kitchen" (AKA trash can), but I proudly display my favorites and have a file of their works of art! ( Each one is separated) Mommy's love reminders of love that they can proudly show off!

6. Experiences

Every holiday, P surprises me with a totally random experience. One time we did the Taco and Tequila festival (I drank WAYYYYY too much tequila), another time was a hike and sweet lunch. Most recently, it was my DREAM concert, Garth Brooks! Sometimes, a wonderful gift is some alone time making some memories!! Or even family experiences!! We LOVED when he got the entire family, annual passes to the Odysea Aquarium!! Even a simple lunch date would be some wonderful time to relax and have some laughs!!

GARTH

Flying with a baby

Flying is difficult in general, adding a baby into the mix is extra stress!

I recently traveled alone with Rhett on a late night flight! It was a turn around trip to visit someone who has been a father figure to me for many years and is unfortunately not going to beat the cancer battle. We had to drop my other kids off with their dad's sitter (an hour and a half away from my house) at 1:30 pm and our flight didn't leave until 8:30 pm on a Friday! Killing that much time was SO difficult!

SHOPPING! One thing I do well is spending money. So we shopped and then ate before we took off to the airport!

I made a HUGE mistake when flying! I opted to carry Rhett in a baby backpack! It was exhausting and my back was killing me by the time our weekend was over, not to mention having a broken hip. I did check the car seat when I retrieved our tickets (it is free to check for anyone traveling with a baby). I had the nicest person assisting me who advised me that it is free to also take a stroller! You can push it all the way to the gate and check it there like valet parking! AMAZING! Next time I will do that!

FORMULA

I was super worried about this!! I didn't know the regulations or what is allowed! I emptied all bottles before going through security and carried small packets of formula that were pre-measured and sealed. It worked so well and was super easy to make bottles on the plane! I did immediately get through security and buy a bottle of water. As soon as the plane started boarding, I made his "take-off bottle"! A friend on Instagram recommended it! MIRACLE worker! It prevented his ears from getting plugged and put him right to sleep.

SEATING

I opted to have Rhett fly as a lap child. It went really well for me, I think if he was in his own seat, he would be trying to escape. Bigger bonus, it is free this way :)

LUGGAGE

Rolling luggage was the way to go for me. I paid extra to check it. I felt as a mom, traveling alone with a baby, this would be the easiest way (plus I checked the car seat so had to hit baggage claim). I was able to easily pull my suitcase with the car seat draped over the top of the handle! It works AMAZINGLY well! I was so proud of myself for discovering it!

CARRY ON

I carried a diaper bag that is a backpack style. I love this one by Hafmall! It has TONS of pockets and storage areas! The backside has an easy access zipper. I kept my wallet in there so I was able to easily and quickly get to it without worrying about someone stealing anything! Any it is really trendy and matched my outfit so I liked that part even more!

ADDITIONAL TIPS

Do not forget to get a bottle of water to make baby bottles (unless you are a nursing mother)
Make sure you EAT! Traveling is exhausting!
Stop to use the restroom! You do not want to try to on the plane with the baby if you don't have to!
Take the stroller all the way to the gate! They have it waiting for you when you get off the plane!
Do not stress if your baby is fussy! Totally normal! Traveling is exhausting for little ones! So much over stimulation!

I can imagine that every time I travel, I will learn new tricks! Luckily, we drive most places! Although, I can't wait for our next trip and hope we it is longer and for leisure next time!

My Top Car Seat Pick

Lets talk car seats! There are SO many out there, how do you pick the best one for you and your sweet baby?!

I have always been back and forth on how to pick car seats. I try to go as cost efficient as possible while staying within the highest safety rated seats. How do we really know what the safety ratings will be over time?! Everything changes so quickly ALL the time! It really can be so hard!

I recently was gifted a new car seat from Diono and it has drastically changed my views on how to pick a carseat. It is a tad pricier that I would normally pick for my family, but well worth the extra cost. I am absolutely in love with the sturdy build and soft fabric. It is well cushioned and perfect for any baby or child that wants to rude in comfort. It is the nicest, best quality seat we have owned. We couldn't be happier with it!

The best thing about our new Diono seat? It is a seat that can grow with them! It fits from 5lbs to 120lbs. So when it comes to paying a bit more, it is well worth it to be aging and growing with and child. It easily adjusts into the upgrades sizes as well!

Take a look at how Rhett feels about it!

Just kidding! Really tho! Any mom blogger/influencer can probably relate to how difficult it can be to get a good picture of your baby or child(ren) with the products!

Here is our favorite!

For more on Diono products go to Diono