Family Archives - But First, Joy

Inspiring ordinary women to find joy in everyday things. Get My Newsletter

10 Perfectly Cozy Gift Ideas for Kids

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7 Things To Remember When Setting Rules for a Happy Family Life

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30 Ideas for a Family Date Night At Home (Free Challenge Printable)

Baby Things To Buy Before Birth: A Complete List

Healthy Family Tips: How small lifestyle changes make a BIG difference!

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100 Children’s Books to Read In a Lifetime

Best Fall Sensory Bins Activities for Toddlers

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5 Simple Reasons You Have an Unhappy Toddler

13 Games & Emotions Activities For Toddlers & Preschoolers

15 Fun Exercises For Kids Under 5 (to do as a family)

5 Signs That You Have Toxic Family Dynamics

15 Empathy Books for Children to Understand Feelings

Toddler Proofing: How to Secure Every Room in the Home

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Life-Saving Tips To Keep Children Cool in the Car

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Cheap Summer Outdoor Activities for Preschoolers

How to Teach Children Empathy

15 Thoughtful Ways to Say Thank You to Dads Who Do It All

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10 Nice Things Every Mom Needs to Hear TODAY

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Inspiring ordinary women to find joy in everyday things.

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People are saying it’s #NationalSonsDay so I wa

People are saying it’s #NationalSonsDay so I want to share how much I love these little boys.

They test me in so many ways. The tests make me a stronger, more consistent mother. They remind me of what sunshine, family, and true love really means.

Every day I get to watch them as they discover new things, learning how to be brothers and individuals. They are walking, talking little miracles who are going to change the world in incredible ways.

Because of them, I value my life more than ever. I love myself sooo much because they showed me how important my role to guide and set an example is.

It’s no wonder why I changed my blog’s direction after having my first son. Self-love became more important than ever. Motherhood taught me to dig deep, heal my wounds, and take charge of my life.

Having two sons is the greatest gift I’ve been given. 💙💙

#sonsday #boymom #motherhoodunplugged #unfilteredmotherhood #momselfcare

Check out the leather spiritual journal I made! 🖤✨ (ad)

I finally worked up the courage to make a big project with my @Cricut Maker 3. That machine can do pretty much everything!

I used my Cricut Maker 3 to cut, devises, and foil this beautiful faux leather journal. It was much easier than I expected.

↔️ SWIPE to see the pretty Cricut chipboard i used to add some structure to my journal.

Visit the Cricut section of my blog (link in bio) for a full tutorial + a link to the Cricut Design Space project to make one for yourself!

#cricutcreated #cricutmade #homemadejournal #handmadejournal #spiritualjournal #cricutmaker3 #leatherjournalcover #debossing #cricutfoiltransfer #witchythings #spookythings

You can love yourself and still want to make impro

You can love yourself and still want to make improvements. (ad) 💁🏻‍♀️

Some view self-improvement as a weakness but it’s FAR from that. Your willingness to to take care of your body and mind shows SO much strength!

Especially in a world where we’re, as women, constantly told to put ourselves on the back burner.

When it comes to self-care, I always tell my friends to do what feels right for them. You can’t label self-care as, “one size fits all”.

Self-care CAN be bubble baths & pampering. It can also be journaling & meditation. Self-care can also be a nap & a scroll through TikTok.

For me, it’s a skincare routine with @VichyUSA’s Mineral 89 Prebiotic, which helps with visible signs of stress like dullness & redness. Honestly, my skin has NEVER looked this good.

It’s journaling when I need to get all my thoughts out and meditating as often as I can. Self-care for me is working out even when I don’t want to and resting when my body needs it.

Remember, when you take care of things, they flourish and can withstand so many trying things. So, take good care of yourself in whatever way feels good for you.

Please, share in the comments below what self-care looks like for you or let me know if you need ideas that fit your lifestyle – I’ll DM you. 💖

#selfcaretips #selfcareideas #vichyusa #vichylover #niacinamide #serum #Mineral89 #fallwellnessBBxx #selfloveadvocate

“The most valuable thing we can give someone is

“The most valuable thing we can give someone is our time.” 🖤✨

Today, I’m flooded with emotions. I woke up thinking of all the people I’ve lost in the past few years.

Grief is a very heavy burden to carry. Sometimes it’s hidden, other times it’s suppressed. Sometimes grief makes you angry, other times it makes you drop to your knees in agony.

Grief can be a lot of things but most commonly, it’s invisible or misunderstood.

As my grief overwhelms me today, the one thing I can’t stop thinking is about how much we take TIME for granted.

Please, if you take anything away from me, take this:

‼️ VALUE YOUR TIME with your loved ones. ‼️

The painful truth is that we don’t get enough time with our loved ones. Not as much time as we wished we’d had after they are gone.

💎 The moments we spend with our loved ones should be cherished deeply, just as you’d cherish a valuable stone or sentimental gift.

We should be especially thoughtful in the words we speak, how often we carve quality time out for those we love, and about the memories we make.

Today, I’m so incredibly grateful for all the time others have given to me. The meals shared, the eventful nights, the long & deep conversations, the mindless chats on the internet, their undivided attention.

How lucky am I to have people who care enough to give me their most precious possession – their time?

💭 I encourage you to sit in reflection & gratitude today as you think of everyone who has spent time with you.

I’m grateful for so much, but especially the moments I get to share with my two boys, my husband, and best friend.

Remember: Time is priceless because it carries so much value.

#gratitudeattitude #griefquotes #grieftips #reflectionideas #gratitudeideas #timeisprecious #griefsupport #griefjourney

Have you ever considered doing a seasonal reset? (

Have you ever considered doing a seasonal reset? (AD)

I started doing seasonal resets last winter. It’s basically a ritual I do before the start of a new season in order to surround myself with joy as the season begins.

I have all the details on my blog if it’s something you’re interested in. I go much deeper into the ways I prepare for the new season with ideas to help you physically, mentally, and spiritually.

These ideas are sponsored and inspired by some pretty great brands, so please show some love and grab some coupon codes:

@bragg (Use code BABBLE10 to get 10% off your order)  @VichyUSA  @treehut
@halohydration (use code HALO20 for 20% off)
@flexitol_usa!

#fallwellnessBBxx #seasonalreset #selflovetops #selfcareideas #applecidervinegar #bragg #vichyusa #vichylover #niacinamide #serum #Mineral89 #treehut #showertok #hygieneproducts #selfcare #showerroutine e #hydratewithHALO #HALOmoment

🚫 Trigger warning: SUICIDE. 🚫 It’s #worl

🚫 Trigger warning: SUICIDE. 🚫

It’s #worldsuicidepreventionday and all I can think about is my little sister. 💔 She took her own life 4 years ago, 2 weeks before my wedding.

I was pregnant and in the best part of my life… while she was in the lowest part of hers. Guilt came with that.

The truth is, I wish I knew her more. I wish I could have been her confidante, her keeper. I wish I would have checked on her, asked her how she was.

I wish I would have told her how much her life mattered and how loved she was. I wish she knew that pain was a part of life and that anything she’d done could be forgiven.

Truth is, she was dealt a bad hand and that brought out so many demons. Her mom and my dad, both addicts, abandoned her. She was in an out of foster care, eventually being adopted. She became a mom at a young age and an addict, too.

It all became too much for her. When forced to feel her pain, in a jail cell, she took her own life.

She deserved so much more. She deserved support and therapy, rather than jail time for a drug charge. 😡

She lived with so much unresolved trauma, drug addiction, and mental health issues. So many things that could have been managed.

On World Suicide Prevention Day, I’m sharing my sisters story to remind YOU to speak up.

If someone you love is hurting or quieter than usual, ask them questions. BE THERE for them. Offer them a listening ear, give them your time and attention. Show that you care.

You don’t have to UNDERSTAND what someone is going through to SUPPORT someone who is hurting. 🙅🏻‍♀️

‼️ If you or someone you know is suicidal, please seek help: 800-273-8255 or visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org. There’s a chat option available, as well!

You could make a difference just by showing you care.

#yourlifematters #suicideprevention #suicideawarness #suicidepreventionmonth #suicideawarenessmonth #addictionawareness

𝗴 𝗿 𝗮 𝘁 𝗶 𝘁 𝘂 𝗱 𝗲. Wi

𝗴 𝗿 𝗮 𝘁 𝗶 𝘁 𝘂 𝗱 𝗲.

Without it, our dreams won’t come true. When we are TRULY thankful for the things we have, the universe gives us MORE to be thankful for.

There’s no faking gratitude either. You can’t give a quick thanks while praying or meditating and then try to manifest or ask for more.

You have to really feel it. Today, I challenge you to think of what you’re grateful for all day long. Watch how your attitude changes and then make it a daily ritual.

Today, I’m grateful for: my health and the health of my husband & children, the ability to move my body, my intuition and gifts, my freedom and safety, the moments I’ve shared with grandmother and best friend recently, and the vacation I took with my family.

When chaos surrounds me, I go within to see how beautiful life really is. 💖✨

#gratitudechallenge #spiritualhealer #gratitudepractice #selfhealer #selflovetips

I got my very first psychic reading recently and i

I got my very first psychic reading recently and it literally changed my life. #AD

When @CaliforniaPsychics presented me with the opportunity to speak with a psychic advisor over the phone about anything I wanted – it felt like the universe was screaming, “DO IT”! ✨

So, I meditated, aligned myself, and jumped right in.

You guys, I got so much more than I could have ever expected: 100% accuracy of my past & present circumstances!👌 Connections with lost loved ones (yes, really). 🤗 Specific dates and opportunities to look out for. 🤑

I have all the specific details on the blog (link in my bio) but if you want to book a reading right now:

Use code ➡️ JOY10 to get a $10 credit to your account after you purchase your first reading.

#CPMakeTheConnection #CaliforniaPsychics #GetAReading #PsychicMedium #SpiritualBaddie
#Psychics #PsychicAdvisor #PsychicAdvice #Answers
#selfcare #selfimprovement #livingyourbestlife #energycleansing #mindset