...tuesday rant

so, I have multiple Instagram accounts as some of you know. I have one for this blog (the_caffeinated_mama) i have one for my oils (@essentiallydani) and then I have my personal one for family and friends. Throughout the day i will log in and out of each one to post a pic or an update, etc...well as of yesterday morning I could no longer log OUT. Why on earth would that option be gone? I then remembered that my favorite social media app was doing an update. I wish I had automatic updates turned off on my phone, b/c then I wouldnt be dealing with this mess. Instagram is changing everything.

the feed is still the same as of right now, but they are changing it to be more like Facebook, which we all know SUCKS. Instead of chronological, Instagram is now going to decide what we see and when we see it. They are going to show us the most "popular photos based on our activity"  Ummm...I enjoy a little bit of everything, I am perfectly capable of choosing what I want to see and what not. On top of that, if you want to see something specific, Instagram suggests turning on "post notifications" for those particular accounts. This sucks for 2 reasons...one, you are going to get a noise or an icon every freaking time a new post is up and two...it will DRAIN your battery something fierce. I have always had that option off. 

what is it with social media that they cant leave well enough alone? What about those of us that use it for business? To not be able to log out and in whenever we need to is the worst decision this company can make. (does everyone know that FB owns Instagram? guess it was a matter of time before they started sucking too) Facebook used to be great but I have deleted that app ever since they decided to make this change. If I go on to it, I go on the web b/c I can still see the most recent posts. Pinterest was my FAVORITE until they changed their ways. I still love it, but I do not go on as much. They attack us with "picked for you pins" (again...are we not smart enough to decide what we want to pin? I dont need recommendations) I will check my feed once a day and literally see 30 "Picked for You's" clogging it up. I just exit out until they decided to get rid of them temporarily. On top of that we have "Promoted Pins" because everyone jumps on the money making bandwagon and lets ads take over. Between the picked and promoted pins I rarely see what I want. I enjoy seeing what my friends pin and what the people I choose to follow pin.  They give you the option to X out a pin and then it will say, "no more pins based on your recent activity" but then the next time you log in, there's 20 more!

Sorry Pinterest, but you also SUCK.

http://smallbiztrends.com/2015/02/pinterest-picked-for-you-pins-criticism.html

 social media can be a great tool, I love it for things like blogging, crafting, networking, and keeping in touch with friends and family...but this is all too much. The best part is (and by best I mean WORST) NONE of these companies give a crap. I have seen post beyond post on their own FB pages, Instagram accounts and Twitter feeds...NO ONE has a positive thing to say about any of these changes, yetneither FB, Pinterest OR Insta answers anyone. We have been telling Pinterest for months how we HATE PFY Pins...yet they are still there. Instagram is being bombarded with #stoptheupdate posts and people wanting to know why they cant log out or see what they want. Yet I have not seen Instagram respond to anything. 

Maybe they are ok knowing that they are going to lose users. Like I said, it was my FAVORITE app...but over night they have ruined it. So if anyone from any of these sites sees this: DO SOMETHING. YOUR CHANGES SUUUUCCCCCK!

there is a petition going around to stop the Instagram update from happening...who knows if it will help, but if you are as annoyed as I am...why not sign it anyways. Here is the link:

https://www.change.org/p/keep-instagram-chronological

folks, today is going to be an extra coffee and Stress Away EO kinda day!

enjoy!!

self care saturday

...you know that old saying, "if mama aint happy no ones happy"? Well I have realized just how true that is, especially after having my second baby. I have always been a happy and bubbly person. Always the one to make people laugh and put people in good moods. I still am that person, but I have never experienced true stress until having kids. Oh my gosh. I have worked with kids all my working life but it sure is a whole new ball game when you can't clock out at three. I am home all day every day with my littles and I am so blessed to be, but it is a rare occasion when I get a break during the busy day. My toddler naps the same time every day but the baby is not on a set schedule yet, so dual naps hardly happen. Truthfully even if I could get some time alone I would spend it cleaning. I do...spend it cleaning. When my kids are crazy, and the house is a mess, or finances are real tight or god forbid we are OUT of coffee, a mama can start to lose her shit. I have a lot of patience dealing with my kids because I worked with children for so long, but I will be honest...sometime I flip. I give my toddler more chances than my parents ever gave me and still he can be defiant. I eventually end up yelling at him because it is the only way he will listen. Not every time...there are times when he gives me no problems at all. But he is two and a half and this is completely normal. It is mostly when he is bored too...he is a boy that likes to be on the move (ever since in the womb lol) so when it's a day where we are stuck inside or the baby is being very needy, my toddler will act up. I do my best to keep him busy and do activities other than TV, but sometimes nothing helps. Thank goodness for my Stress Away roller bottle. It helps ease the tension (most of the time lol)  Since there is only so much I can do for my children, I decided that perhaps I need to do more for me. I mean, in order to be able to take care of my family, I really need to take care of myself. So....

I came across this list on Pinterest and I thought that it couldn't be more perfect for my dilemma. 

These are great. And simple !! I can do all of these things I just have to make time. The best part is that these are not all physical things you need to do in order to relieve stresses...they are little things that will just brighten a day. Number 3 is buy yourself flowers. I mean come on! I never think to do that, and I love flowers in the home. Peonies are my favorite and last Spring I had some in the middle of the kitchen table and they were gorgeous. How can you have a bad day when a vase of your favorite flowers are there to greet you when you walk in the room? 

Number 12: cook a new dish. I do love to cook but with two kiddos under foot most the time, I try and do the quick and easy dinner routine. Still making healthy meals, just with the usual ingredients. I have not cooked "outside the box" in forever. Guess I can take out my cook books again and find something I have never made and give it a whirl, the hubs would love it. 

Anyways, just seeing this list brightened my spirits a bit. I think parents (not just mamas) forget that they need to take time for themselves. I know many parents are working parents and there is probably less of a chance when you work. But honestly...if it can be fit in somewhere on a weekend or during the week we really should try. I know, easier said than done. But I wish I had thought about this more when I was pregnant. I had more time then than I do now. But I am determined to give it a try...if I am not stressed than my family as well as myself will benefit. 

Also, there is nothing wrong with having a third iced coffee at 430 in the afternoon...absolutely nothing! ;)

xo

Tuesday Ten

April showers are happening here in East Connecticut! It has been pouring all day. Mother Nature has sure been a tease this spring. My husband just came though the house with arms full of wood for the wood stove. I was hoping we would be finished burning wood by now. Oh well, maybe next week :)

Today I decided I wanted to write a "Tuesday Ten" for you all. I must have seen that idea elsewhere online, though I can't pinpoint. I think it's a good way to break up the blog during the week.

Today's TEN are 10 of my favorite websites/apps to kill time

1. Pinterest. Of course, who doesn't love this site:) I have many boards that I utilize, like recipes, helpful things, health related pins, and DIY fun. Some boards are just randoms I love and my fantasy closet lol. Pinterest is perfect for rainy days at home, or if you just need a time kill! Free for download.

2. All Women Stalk. This is a new site that I love and has quickly become a favorite.  There are different topics that are posted in every day by free lance authors. Topics range from health, to finances, to celebrity and even teens. My favorite topics are Cooking, Gardening, Inspiration, and. Health. They are quick little write ups, usually giving you 7-10 tips in each topic. You can save them as favorites so you can refer to them any time you want. The last topic I saved was, " 7 Ways To Attract Birds To Your Yard." Another good site when you have nothing to do. Check it out! Free for download.

3. Etsy. When I got married Pinterest did not exist yet. So I was forced to be creative all on my own haha. I had a style in mind and found a good amount of items for my wedding off this site. A couple things like my card box and my cake knife/server were hand made to match my theme. They were so beautifully done. I have also ordered handmade, all natural soaps of this site, as well as many Christmas gifts.  You can find all sorts of items for sale on Etsy, vintage, handmade, bulk items ( like the antique blue mason jars for my center pieces) etc...even when I can't afford to shop I will still browse this site when I have the time . Free for download.

4. Instagram. This one is an app too which I'm sure most people know. It was actually the very first app I downloaded like 6 years ago when I got my first iPhone. It was fun at first because it was all your friends photos you saw, but now companies and celebrities are getting on board and making their own accounts. I love to follow Seveth Generation, Lauren Conrad, Sprout Organics, etc...( I have two Instagram accounts. My personal and one strictly for blog) Find me on Instagram at ANATURALAPPCT

5. Lauren Conrad. If I were to have a woman crush for WCW it would be her. I love everything about her style. Her website is simple and elegant with all sorts of different and fun things to look at. From her recipes to her latest fashion collections, even a book club you can be a part of, I thoroughly enjoy looking through her website. She also has a Pinterest page where a lot of her posts end up as well. I will be honest, I never watched her on MTV because I am not a fan of those shows, and I figured the girls on there were probably a little fake for the sake of TV, however Lauren is anything but. I adore her and her website.

6. Groupon. I get constant emails from this site with deals on everything you can imagine. Once the warmer weather starts sticking around I plan on using as many as I can. If you sign up and add your location ( I live in Eastern CT but am close to Hartford, Worcester, Boston and Providence) you can receive deals to your inbox around any of your local areas. From things like zip lining, to golfing, baby food, to mineral makeup...there are a ton of really great discounts waiting to be used. If you don't have an account, it's one to definitely check out!

7. Seventh Generation. This is something I am very passionate about as I'm sure you know by now, and I love reading new information that this company puts out. They talk a lot about toxins in our every day products. They are part of a big movement in using safer chemicals for our health and the health of our children. I absolutely love their products. They always have coupons available too which makes spending money a bit easier. If you are into natural and organic like I am, check out their site. Good articles, cute videos, and a lot of products to choose from:)

8. YOS Forever. This is also an app that I love,  that focuses on Organic and Natural Health, DIY, and Beauty. Every day there are new postings and by clicking on them they take you to the link where the post originated. You can favorite things like on AWS. Example: I have found a few work outs through this app that I love. They are quick but you really feel them when you're through. Topics range from fitness, health, remedies, recipes, and what's hot. One of my favorites is a DIY Natural Coffee Under Eye Cream Recipe for puffy eyes. Yet another reason for coffee to be in my life lol. Download the app and start scrolling!

9. Zulily. Yes it's an app too! They make it easy for us don't they! This is a shopping site and it's great. Every day there are new items added to look through. Categories include women, girls, boys, baby/maternity, toys/play and home. I bought a few Christmas gifts off this site last year. How it works is you add to your cart and pay for the items you want. There is a closing date, once the date is reached they take all the orders placed for those items and ship them out at once. The closing dates are fairly quick, it's not like you pay and then wait months for your item ( unless it's back ordered) but once you pay it will tell you when the order will ship. I believe mine shipped a week or two after placed. It's basically a bulk order they do instead of shipping every time the item is bought. If they receive 12 orders of the the same shirt, it all ships the same time. Make sense? I won't confuse you further lol. Great deals and great products. I love their home decor the most. Give it a try if you haven't yet!

10. Organic Deals. This is actually a site that serves a bigger purpose for me other than playtime. As you know I do not work and have to budget with one paycheck. However as I've stated before when it comes to healthy living we don't mind allowing a little extra cash to be spent in order to do so.  If you buy organic you know the Sunday paper rarely if ever has coupons for those items. Which makes it tough to try and save while shopping. Every week I pull my local flyers and write down sale items, then clip the coupons that I will use from the paper. For products that I do want Organic or All Natural, I will visit this site to look for deals and coupons. You have to search, but they do exist! There are printable coupons, links to other coupon sites, links to organic brands with their own deals, etc... For dairy I can usually find a lot of coupons, for household products I find a lot as well. Sometimes there will be coupons for brands of meat I buy also. There's something new every day, you just have to remember to check.

There you have it. My top 10. Please feel free to share if you have any other interesting sites or apps we should know about!

Enjoy! ( I do realize this is posting today..(wed)..I wasn't able to finish last night due to an over tired baby)

Xo