Now that we still have some sunlight hanging aroun Now that we still have some sunlight hanging around after the kids go to bed, my new thing is sipping a glass of wine on the back patio while making small talk with Josh and praying the kids stay in bed.
 
I've been obsessed with cleaning our house recently but I've been so good about it, I have nothing left to clean or tidy right now and I'm left to face the things I don't really want to think about like the fact that I miss my kids when they're at school or how I really want to fill this house up with some more of them 😅 

At any rate, one of my simple pleasures in life is decluttering and purging unused things and I feel like I've accomplished a lot!! What about you?
Being a mom has always meant so much to me. Growin Being a mom has always meant so much to me. Growing up, I thought it was pretty much all I was cut out to do, which ended up being false. But even though I've learned that I'm capable of so many other things, being a mom is still one of my highest aspirations. As we're getting our home ready for fostering, I can't help but think of how the little one(s) entering our home will feel but also how David and Evy will feel. How will they react if we parent slightly differently? Will they understand that we're working to build trust and connection or will they feel indignant? These are the things I pray about and also speak to the kids about in the days leading up. We're all excited but I have the feeling of heaviness that we don't and won't understand the burden until we're all already carrying it together.
Doing my gosh darned best to manifest spring over Doing my gosh darned best to manifest spring over here and I think it might be working 😉 Today the kids had TWOsday at school and they were so sweet. David wore a tie (I don't exactly get how it tirles in to Twosday but the kids were happy so..) and Evy "twinned" with a couple of sweet friends in her class. It's so sweet when you see your own kids building their own friendships. It just loosens a little piece of anxiety I've had about parenthood since David was still in my tummy. How did you spend your TWOsday??

Sandals @naotfootwear 💕
Today was a sweet day. Woke up at 8:30 next to Jos Today was a sweet day. Woke up at 8:30 next to Josh in a quiet house - the kids slept over my parent's last night. Got up, raced to clean the kitchen as fast as I could while my coffee was brewing. The coffee won this time. 

I recorded a Reel while getting ready. Went to the place where we were going to meet my fam a bit early so Josh and I could get in a walk. Then we got coffee, went to a huge antique store (sadly left with nothing but took pictures of my faves so I can remember to come back) and went to lunch with the kids and my parents. Love easy-going and fun days like these 🖤
Back in the day,I was talking with someone about m Back in the day,I was talking with someone about marriage.Josh and I had been married for a few years at that point but this guy was still single. ..

He told me he was studying to get his masters in counseling and he wanted to be a marriage counselor one day.I thought "Hey that's pretty cool" but, curious,because,you know, he was single. 

Anyway, after we'd been talking a few minutes about our interest in helping married couples, he leaned in and said, "You know, I have this theory on marriage.." "Oh yeah?" I said (pretty curious to hear what theories this guy had for all of marriage for everyone everywhere). 

He said, "I believe that every single problem in marriage boils down to communication."

At the time, I didn't really know what to say. I'm more of a *reflector* and then I come up with what I wish I had said later.

Here's what I wish I had said: "Um. Yeah I don't think so. I mean sure, communication helps with a lot of issues. But what about selfishness,⠀addiction,⠀past hurt and trauma, etc? Communication will help people work through those issues but they're connected to much deeper issues that concern the heart--not just your communication skills."

We are all broken, very human, beings and when left to our own devices,⠀we don't have all the tools necessary to "fix" ourselves or our spouse's problems. We can talk until we're blue in the face but we just can't fix ourselves. 

What we do need, is to lean on the Creator who made all things good and makes all things new. To understand that we are not the main characters here. The whole world and everything in it points to Christ and His redeeming power. And yes, he often works that out through us and often through communication. But it's not communication that saves marriages. It's Jesus.

I was just thinking about that today and wanted to get it off my chest. What role do you think communication plays?
Merry Christmas from the Damons! 🎁 Merry Christmas from the Damons! 🎁
So much joy in one photo! Ok, maybe 4 photos 😜 So much joy in one photo! Ok, maybe 4 photos 😜 Love my littlest niece, Eva ❤️
Let's hash something out together: what's somethin Let's hash something out together: what's something you do or used to fight about in your marriage/relationship regularly?

Do you feel like the issue is/was pretty cut and dry? 

Or was there an underlying issue that bubbled up in different ways?

Curious to know your thoughts. 

When Josh and I were first married, we fought a lot. We were pretty low-income, didn't have great jobs, and had a wee baby. While our fights were often about the grocery list, the real issue was that we were SCARED. 

Scared of the adult life we had just stepped into. It was kind of like jumping into a puddle you don't think is that deep until after it's too late and now your socks are completely drowning 🚣🏼‍♀️ 

Luckily, though, they dry off over time, don't they?

After lots of learning and working really hard (both at our jobs and relationship) things started to ease up. We started to see that there was a light at the end of the tunnel and even though we weren't there yet, it gave up hope to carry on together ❤️
Go on a walk with your spouse before Netflixing. O Go on a walk with your spouse before Netflixing. Or if you can't leave the house, sit in the kitchen with a glass of wine. Make time to talk. And make it easier by doing things together. It's so so important ❤️
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Family, Health · October 7, 2015

5 Snacks to Keep on Hand to Get Past those Cravings!

5 snacks to keep on hand to get past the cravings

Hey mamas!

Today I wanted to talk about a real struggle I have. Let me start at the root. I’m impulsive. And usually when I’m feeling impulsive (or emotional, or hungry, or a combination of all) I make bad decisions. I may buy that useless thing at target. I may go out of my way to get the comfort food (ie. a coffee from Joe Bean’s), or I may eat whatever snack is closest and easiest. This is a problem I’ve always had and until recently have had a real hard time reigning it in. So, for all you who know the struggle is real, I just wanted to share what helped me cope with my impulsive snacking in order to get back to my pre pregnancy weight, and then some! (Keep in mind this isn’t the only habit I changed, but this made a HUGE difference!).

*I would just like everyone to know that I am not receiving a dime for writing this post! Any brands mentioned are truly the ones I use regularly and genuinely recommend. I am sure there are other great brands in your area too, feel free to experiment! That’s how I found what I love. Just be sure to read the nutrition labels oh so carefully!*

Greek yogurt5 Snacks to keep on hand to get past those cravings!

I eat Fage Total 0. This has been the best yogurt I have found that is the lowest in sugar content. Also, the thick consistency of this yogurt is like none other. Once you get used to it you’ll think all other yogurts are soup. The biggest reason why this yogurt is such a great snack is the protein! 23 freakin grams of protein! That’s more than you’ll find in some protein shakes!

Fage Total 0 also has no added sugar. The only sugar in this is naturally occurring lactose sugars. I urge you to compare the nutrition labels of this yogurt to, say, Yoplait whips. Look at the sugar content. Sugar falls as the SECOND ingredient and high fructose corn syrup is number 4. You’ll see a varying range of + or – 20 grams of sugar (not to mention preservatives and um… NITROGEN! (What?) Did you know that a woman’s daily recommended intake is only 25??? So there you go, eat up your whole day’s sugar allowance in one little yogurt. Or not. Try a greek yogurt that is free of any kind of sweeteners and add your own! Mixed berries or raisins and a granola or cereal that is also low in sugar is a great pair with greek yogurt!

Fruit

I run to the grocery store about twice a week to get fresh batches of bananas. David, Josh, and I all have at least one almost every day. They’re filling, sweet, they reduce cramps, and help brain function. You really can’t go wrong with a banana.

I also love to binge on berries. Sadly, however, they are out of season here so I’ve had to pull my resources.

Kiwis are another favorite and super easy to pack and bring to work. I just slice my kiwi in half and dish it out with a spoon, almost like eating a boiled egg.

Water

Some of you are thinking, “Umm, Chelsea? Water is NOT a snack…”

Hear me out on this one. Many times when our stomach starts to feel hollow and make those horrible grumbling noises, we think “Oh, I’m getting hungry!” But actually, what we don’t realize is that many times when this happens, it is also a symptom of thirst and dehydration! So before you head to the fridge, take a minute and drink a full glass of water. (Most of us aren’t as good with keeping up with our water intake as we should be anyway). Let that sit in your stomach for at least 5 minutes and then see how hungry you are. If you still got those hunger pangs, then by all means, feed yourself. If that seems to have quenched the fire, then great! Another indulgence conquered!

Old-Fashioned Oats

This is a quick fix that I have for breakfast a lot or to hold me over during the day. 5 grams of protein, 4 grams of fiber, and only 1 gram of sugar, a bowl of this is going to have you feeling full for hours.

Almonds

One of the reasons why I love to have almonds is because there’s no prep here. Just grab a bag at the store and you’re good to go! 12 grams of fiber and 20 grams of protein (heck yeah! who needs to spend money on sugary protein shakes?!).

These are great for anyone but especially those with face paced jobs who don’t have time to sit down with a bowl and spoon.

Compare these to a Nature Valley or other snack bar and you’re looking at 12-14 grams or more of sugar. Now if you really want a snack bar, Kind bars have about half the sugar I just mentioned (depending on flavor).
So ladies, tell me what you got! What healthy snacks do you keep on hand to fight those not so guilt-free cravings? Trust me, I would love to hear what you have to say. Leave a reply in the comments below and follow along on Facebook or Bloglovin’ if you like what you read. Thanks guys!

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In: Family, Health · Tagged: almonds, clean eating, cravings, diet, fitness, food, Health, low sugar, snacks, weight loss, yogurt

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Comments

  1. Brittany Collier says

    October 7, 2015 at 1:10 pm

    I wish I like yogurt 🙁 But I love these tips, thanks for sharing!!

  2. Alexandra @ My Urban Family says

    October 7, 2015 at 1:28 pm

    I love Fage yogurt – and you’re totally right, now when I eat other brands it seems soooo thin! I always love how much protein is in them 🙂

  3. Alex says

    October 7, 2015 at 1:57 pm

    Love these tips! I love snacking on fruit, yogurt and oatmeal. 🙂 My definite go to is making a fruit salad and having it prepped in my fridge ready to go. That way, instead of getting an “easy” snack like chips, my fruit is easy, as well!! 🙂

  4. Katie @ Talk LEss, Say More says

    October 7, 2015 at 1:58 pm

    Last night I found myself craving something else to eat even though I knew I didn’t actually NEED anything else. I opened the fridge and saw a container of blueberries and grabbed a handful. It was perfect!!

  5. Kam Kay says

    October 7, 2015 at 3:12 pm

    I am happy to see almonds in the list. I love nibbling on them anytime. These are great snacks to have on hand. Thanks for sharing!

  6. Kristina PAdgett says

    October 7, 2015 at 3:47 pm

    This is such a great post. I totally struggle with cravings, I’m probably one of the worst! But this was so helpful 🙂 Thanks for sharing!

  7. Lori Hil says

    October 7, 2015 at 4:00 pm

    I adore greek yogurt! And nutrient-packed Green Smoothies to nip cravings!

  8. melissa blake says

    October 7, 2015 at 4:20 pm

    I love keeping granola bars on hand…such a great snack that feels like a dessert! xoxo

    Melissa | So About What I Said

  9. Jasmine says

    October 7, 2015 at 4:30 pm

    I love almonds. I can eat with anything lol

    I’ve tried greek yogurt but I wasn’t a fan of it. 🙁

  10. Shaylee @ Data Nerds says

    October 7, 2015 at 4:39 pm

    This is like a list of my favourite snacks! 🙂

  11. Carol says

    October 7, 2015 at 6:57 pm

    Great ideas! My favorite snack when I am watching my intake is an avocado. Just cut and grab a spoon!

  12. lauren | talk of the trains blog says

    October 7, 2015 at 7:36 pm

    I NEED to eat and find healthier snacks! Comfort food and snacking is my downfall and I have to run more so I that can eat more! Haha.

  13. Kim says

    October 7, 2015 at 11:36 pm

    I love wasabi almonds…so yummy

  14. Meredith says

    October 8, 2015 at 12:17 am

    Almonds or cashews are a must for me! I also like to bring almond butter and celery sticks to work to a good afternoon snack!

  15. Fatima says

    October 8, 2015 at 1:21 am

    Such a great post for mums! I love all the things you have mentioned in the blog post! 🙂
    http://www.blogsbyfa.com

  16. DT says

    October 8, 2015 at 2:53 am

    I love Greek Yogurt and Almonds!
    — DT | Here I Scribble

  17. Shantel says

    October 8, 2015 at 3:36 pm

    I can live with all 5 of these snacks. I prefer the Yoplait greek yogurt. It tastes much better to me.

  18. Marion says

    October 11, 2015 at 4:48 pm

    Great tips! This is when my healthy eating always falls down, I am fine with meals but its when I want a snack I usually cave! So thanks for sharing!

  19. Marilyn says

    October 11, 2015 at 8:14 pm

    Oh yea! Yum since I’m breast feeding, oats are a daily staple these days lol.

    • Chelsea says

      October 12, 2015 at 3:03 pm

      For sure! Keep that milk supply up! Haha. Have you heard of Mother’s Milk tea? It’s made by Traditional Medicinals and it uses fennel to help aid milk production. I had to get used to it because it kind of tastes like licorice but I saw such a difference!

  20. Claudia H. Blanton says

    October 11, 2015 at 8:56 pm

    Oh, I love greek yogurt, it is such a great snack to have on hand, you are right. That and almonds, which I must say I have been slacking on that one. Not sure why I stopped eating them, must remedy that.
    Blessings!

    Found you via our mutual facebook group “Bloggers United”

  21. Gul-e-Zehra says

    October 11, 2015 at 9:10 pm

    I love snacking on yogurt, water and almonds! Great post ❤

    http://www.gulezehrasblog.blogspot.com

  22. Mandi says

    October 11, 2015 at 9:16 pm

    great choices!

  23. Candis hickman says

    October 12, 2015 at 5:03 am

    Yes to versatile Old Fashioned Oats! I blend them up to make flour for my pancakes!

  24. Erica Musyt says

    October 16, 2015 at 2:38 pm

    Almonds are definitely a go-to snack of mine. I love them! Cashews too 🙂

  25. Shann says

    October 16, 2015 at 4:19 pm

    Great tips! I love having bananas and almonds around. I haven’t tried that Greek yogurt yet, but sounds good with low sugar.

  26. DT says

    October 16, 2015 at 9:11 pm

    Oatmeal is my recent favorite 🙂
    — DT | Here I Scribble

  27. Dixya @ Food, Pleasure, and Health says

    October 17, 2015 at 11:20 am

    these are some of my favorite snacks too..have your tried siggis yogurt? mind blowingly good!

  28. cye says

    October 18, 2015 at 2:32 pm

    I feel like I’m always hungry and what my mistake is I buy packs of chocolates and stock it in my drawer at work so they are always there to tempt me. I don’t like yoghurt but I will try together with the other 4.

  29. kristina PAdgett says

    October 18, 2015 at 3:10 pm

    Love these snacks! Great post!

  30. Erin says

    October 18, 2015 at 3:50 pm

    These are definitely great snack options! I love greek yogurt!

  31. Jill says

    October 18, 2015 at 8:22 pm

    I’m on a smoothie kick lately – greek yogurt, berries, and milk. So tasty!

  32. Becky @ Disney in your Day says

    October 20, 2015 at 2:46 pm

    Great suggestions – I love fruit when I’m craving something sweet. If I’ve got a chocolate craving I add a little bit of dark chocolate with fruit and it’s not too bad at all!

  33. cye says

    October 20, 2015 at 2:54 pm

    I brought some yoghurts and tried to drinka lot today. It was good. Thanks!

  34. Angie says

    October 20, 2015 at 3:26 pm

    These are great! I definitely need to be better prepared with my snacks.

  35. jill conyers says

    October 20, 2015 at 9:39 pm

    Hi Chelsea. It’s nice to meet you. I love your blog! Visiting from SYBL xoxo

    Looks like we have a lot in common with the snacks.

  36. Sheena Neil says

    October 22, 2015 at 12:51 pm

    Some handy tips. I love almonds, you can keep in your bag for days and they won’t go off. I recently purchased a snack container stacker thingy and I always make sure I have some fresh and dry snacks to keep myself and my toddler happy. I think being a mum has taught us to always be prepared when heading out to run errands 😉

  37. Morgan says

    January 6, 2016 at 1:19 am

    I’ve been loving snacking on whole, roasted edamame beans lately! Whenever I am craving something salty, I reach for 1/4 cup of those and my craving is Gone.. i often don’t even get through that whole amount in one sitting because they are so chock full of protein!

    Thank you for the tips!

  38. Nancy Kuntz says

    March 10, 2016 at 2:54 pm

    I find protein balls are a great go to snack for me, also apples & oranges in winter months (don’t like banana’s). I eat the Dannon Greek Light & Fit 80 cal yogurt cups & raw mixed nuts that consist of almonds, cashews, walnuts, macadamia nuts, pistachios and pecans in small amounts (15to 20).

  39. Fiona says

    May 3, 2016 at 11:23 am

    Love your snack ideas.. I need a new yogurt to try. Sometimes it’s hard to keep up with water but that does help!
    Thanks.
    Fiona @ fionafitnessfun.com

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Hi! I'm Chelsea and we're the Damon's. We spent the last two years in WA state paying off student loans and just bought our first house in SC! I love a smooth black coffee, Josh's first love is the Seattle Sounders. Our kids are huge dorks and constantly make us laugh and we all love spending as much time outside as possible.

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Now that we still have some sunlight hanging aroun Now that we still have some sunlight hanging around after the kids go to bed, my new thing is sipping a glass of wine on the back patio while making small talk with Josh and praying the kids stay in bed.
 
I've been obsessed with cleaning our house recently but I've been so good about it, I have nothing left to clean or tidy right now and I'm left to face the things I don't really want to think about like the fact that I miss my kids when they're at school or how I really want to fill this house up with some more of them 😅 

At any rate, one of my simple pleasures in life is decluttering and purging unused things and I feel like I've accomplished a lot!! What about you?
Being a mom has always meant so much to me. Growin Being a mom has always meant so much to me. Growing up, I thought it was pretty much all I was cut out to do, which ended up being false. But even though I've learned that I'm capable of so many other things, being a mom is still one of my highest aspirations. As we're getting our home ready for fostering, I can't help but think of how the little one(s) entering our home will feel but also how David and Evy will feel. How will they react if we parent slightly differently? Will they understand that we're working to build trust and connection or will they feel indignant? These are the things I pray about and also speak to the kids about in the days leading up. We're all excited but I have the feeling of heaviness that we don't and won't understand the burden until we're all already carrying it together.
Doing my gosh darned best to manifest spring over Doing my gosh darned best to manifest spring over here and I think it might be working 😉 Today the kids had TWOsday at school and they were so sweet. David wore a tie (I don't exactly get how it tirles in to Twosday but the kids were happy so..) and Evy "twinned" with a couple of sweet friends in her class. It's so sweet when you see your own kids building their own friendships. It just loosens a little piece of anxiety I've had about parenthood since David was still in my tummy. How did you spend your TWOsday??

Sandals @naotfootwear 💕
Today was a sweet day. Woke up at 8:30 next to Jos Today was a sweet day. Woke up at 8:30 next to Josh in a quiet house - the kids slept over my parent's last night. Got up, raced to clean the kitchen as fast as I could while my coffee was brewing. The coffee won this time. 

I recorded a Reel while getting ready. Went to the place where we were going to meet my fam a bit early so Josh and I could get in a walk. Then we got coffee, went to a huge antique store (sadly left with nothing but took pictures of my faves so I can remember to come back) and went to lunch with the kids and my parents. Love easy-going and fun days like these 🖤

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Now that we still have some sunlight hanging aroun Now that we still have some sunlight hanging around after the kids go to bed, my new thing is sipping a glass of wine on the back patio while making small talk with Josh and praying the kids stay in bed.
 
I've been obsessed with cleaning our house recently but I've been so good about it, I have nothing left to clean or tidy right now and I'm left to face the things I don't really want to think about like the fact that I miss my kids when they're at school or how I really want to fill this house up with some more of them 😅 

At any rate, one of my simple pleasures in life is decluttering and purging unused things and I feel like I've accomplished a lot!! What about you?
Being a mom has always meant so much to me. Growin Being a mom has always meant so much to me. Growing up, I thought it was pretty much all I was cut out to do, which ended up being false. But even though I've learned that I'm capable of so many other things, being a mom is still one of my highest aspirations. As we're getting our home ready for fostering, I can't help but think of how the little one(s) entering our home will feel but also how David and Evy will feel. How will they react if we parent slightly differently? Will they understand that we're working to build trust and connection or will they feel indignant? These are the things I pray about and also speak to the kids about in the days leading up. We're all excited but I have the feeling of heaviness that we don't and won't understand the burden until we're all already carrying it together.
Doing my gosh darned best to manifest spring over Doing my gosh darned best to manifest spring over here and I think it might be working 😉 Today the kids had TWOsday at school and they were so sweet. David wore a tie (I don't exactly get how it tirles in to Twosday but the kids were happy so..) and Evy "twinned" with a couple of sweet friends in her class. It's so sweet when you see your own kids building their own friendships. It just loosens a little piece of anxiety I've had about parenthood since David was still in my tummy. How did you spend your TWOsday??

Sandals @naotfootwear 💕
Today was a sweet day. Woke up at 8:30 next to Jos Today was a sweet day. Woke up at 8:30 next to Josh in a quiet house - the kids slept over my parent's last night. Got up, raced to clean the kitchen as fast as I could while my coffee was brewing. The coffee won this time. 

I recorded a Reel while getting ready. Went to the place where we were going to meet my fam a bit early so Josh and I could get in a walk. Then we got coffee, went to a huge antique store (sadly left with nothing but took pictures of my faves so I can remember to come back) and went to lunch with the kids and my parents. Love easy-going and fun days like these 🖤
Back in the day,I was talking with someone about m Back in the day,I was talking with someone about marriage.Josh and I had been married for a few years at that point but this guy was still single. ..

He told me he was studying to get his masters in counseling and he wanted to be a marriage counselor one day.I thought "Hey that's pretty cool" but, curious,because,you know, he was single. 

Anyway, after we'd been talking a few minutes about our interest in helping married couples, he leaned in and said, "You know, I have this theory on marriage.." "Oh yeah?" I said (pretty curious to hear what theories this guy had for all of marriage for everyone everywhere). 

He said, "I believe that every single problem in marriage boils down to communication."

At the time, I didn't really know what to say. I'm more of a *reflector* and then I come up with what I wish I had said later.

Here's what I wish I had said: "Um. Yeah I don't think so. I mean sure, communication helps with a lot of issues. But what about selfishness,⠀addiction,⠀past hurt and trauma, etc? Communication will help people work through those issues but they're connected to much deeper issues that concern the heart--not just your communication skills."

We are all broken, very human, beings and when left to our own devices,⠀we don't have all the tools necessary to "fix" ourselves or our spouse's problems. We can talk until we're blue in the face but we just can't fix ourselves. 

What we do need, is to lean on the Creator who made all things good and makes all things new. To understand that we are not the main characters here. The whole world and everything in it points to Christ and His redeeming power. And yes, he often works that out through us and often through communication. But it's not communication that saves marriages. It's Jesus.

I was just thinking about that today and wanted to get it off my chest. What role do you think communication plays?
Merry Christmas from the Damons! 🎁 Merry Christmas from the Damons! 🎁
So much joy in one photo! Ok, maybe 4 photos 😜 So much joy in one photo! Ok, maybe 4 photos 😜 Love my littlest niece, Eva ❤️
Let's hash something out together: what's somethin Let's hash something out together: what's something you do or used to fight about in your marriage/relationship regularly?

Do you feel like the issue is/was pretty cut and dry? 

Or was there an underlying issue that bubbled up in different ways?

Curious to know your thoughts. 

When Josh and I were first married, we fought a lot. We were pretty low-income, didn't have great jobs, and had a wee baby. While our fights were often about the grocery list, the real issue was that we were SCARED. 

Scared of the adult life we had just stepped into. It was kind of like jumping into a puddle you don't think is that deep until after it's too late and now your socks are completely drowning 🚣🏼‍♀️ 

Luckily, though, they dry off over time, don't they?

After lots of learning and working really hard (both at our jobs and relationship) things started to ease up. We started to see that there was a light at the end of the tunnel and even though we weren't there yet, it gave up hope to carry on together ❤️
Go on a walk with your spouse before Netflixing. O Go on a walk with your spouse before Netflixing. Or if you can't leave the house, sit in the kitchen with a glass of wine. Make time to talk. And make it easier by doing things together. It's so so important ❤️
Top knots over crop tops 😜 Top knots over crop tops 😜

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