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Let's be straight: Anxiety sucks. Whether it's a full blown panic attack or an irrational reaction to a simple problem...anxiety sucks. 

I compiled a list of things in a "fun" format to try the next time you feel *that* feeling coming on. 

Disclaimer: I'm not a doctor. Not all of these things will work for you. Do not take my advice as gospel. Make sure you have an official anxiety diagnosis from a professional, as it can actually be a symptom of other issues. 

Ready? 

A - Animals
Hug your pet. Ask your friend if you can hug their pet. Go play with puppies at the humane society. Ask a stranger if you can pet their dog (ALWAYS ASK).

B - Breathe
Breathe properly! Anxiety can cause a choking sensation and shallow breathing can make it worse. 

C - Coping Statements
"It's anxiety, I'm not dying" or "I'm breathing" or "I'm safe" can make a world of difference in the moment.

D - Distract Yourself
Download the FREE Kindle reading app on whatever device you have on hand (usually your phone) and start reading! There are always free books available. 

E - Expect The Best
Yes, it's the "power of positive thinking" in a way. "It's going to be okay." 

F - Fresh Air
Go outside. Open a window. Stand in front of the A/C vent or fan. Sometimes a simple change will bring you back around. 

G - Grounding exercises
Name 5 things you can see, name 4 things you can feel, name 3 things you can hear, name 2 things you can smell, name 1 good thing about yourself. 

H - Have a Snack/Gum
Okay, it sounds weird and I'm definitely not saying "eat your feelings" or anything. But popping a piece of gum or a mint can trick your body into calming down a smidge. If you're eating, you're not in danger.

I - Ignore It
Controversial tip but stay with me. For me, sometimes I have to just pretend everything is peachy keen and hope my brain gives up. 

J - Joke (laugh)
Tell a joke. Read a joke. Have someone tell you a joke. Pick a comedian on Netflix or Youtube and sit back. Laughing releases endorphins and can release tension.

K - Keep Going
Push through the task at hand if possible. Occasionally I'll find myself on the other side saying "oh, it wasn't that bad!" 

L - Learn Something New
What is your favorite lesser known Greek god/dess? Which presidents had dogs? Can you train a ferret? 
I don't know. Go Google it and distract your brain by learning a new tidbit. 

M - Music
Music is my go-to. I have a playlist on my Amazon Prime Music labeled "Anxiety Girl" and I'll play through it when I need to breathe. If I can, I sing along as well. 

N - Narrate Your Life
Here's an embarrassing thing I do but it works for me. I start narrating what I'm doing. Usually, I'll pick an unusual voice. Picking up the kids and it's crowded on rough anxiety day? Insert me in a computer voice saying "Children acquired." 

O - Ocean Sounds (or whatever you like) 
Ambient Mixer offers all sorts of neat options. A lot are full of geek. Check it out. I like to ride in the Impala in the rain, personally.

P - Pills
THERE IS NO SHAME IN REACHING FOR YOUR PRESCRIBED MEDICATION. 

Q - Quote (mantra) 
Repeat a quote that will keep you going. Write it down in pretty font. Write it on your arm/hand. Mine? "Be brave. Live." 

R - Reframe Your Thinking
"I'm going to kick ass at this interview" instead of "Oh crap, I hope I do okay"

S - Stop Negative Thinking
Stomp on that mental spiral as soon as you can! 

T - Talk it Out
Post on social media asking for help. Start a blog (there are private options). Write in your journal. Text/Phone a friend. Tell your significant other to just sit there and mostly listen while you chatter away. Half the time, I find my own solutions. 

U - Uplift Yourself or Others
Say something nice about yourself. Compliment a stranger. Comment on a friend's social media post. Do a random act of kindness. 

V - Validate Your Feelings
I know this is in direct correlation to the "ignore it" advice I gave earlier, but I also said not all of the tips would work for everyone. There are times when I have to tell myself "I'm freaked out and that's okay." 

W - Wait It Out
A lot of anxiety surges are short lived. Remind yourself that you made it out of the last one and you'll kick this one's ass as well. 

X - Exercise
(X words are hard, yo) Use that energy! Do some cardio. Go for a walk (And get some FRESH AIR!) Clean your house. Clean your car. 

Y - Yell
Put your face in a pillow and scream all of those bad words building up in your head. Lock yourself in your car and yell until your chest feels better. Just be sure and yell with your diaphragm or you'll hurt your vocal chords. 

Z - Zen (meditate) 
Get your zen on! Find a quick meditation on Youtube or download an app on your phone. Do some yoga poses. These tie back to BREATHING as well!! 

As of writing this post, I'm sitting in the 3rd hotel room I've stayed in during my time in Alaska. We've been in hotels for the month since we arrived. 

This time doesn't include hotel stays during my long drive. Or the time spent in a hotel while in limbo after my Household Goods were packed but we hadn't left yet.

It's been....stressful
​ 

During my time, I've had several thoughts. Enough of them were useful and not just "SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP I HATE EVERYTHING" to put in a post. 

1) My kids are loud. 
I mean, DUH, right? Kids = Loud. However, this is really driven home when you realize you're sharing multiple walls with people who are possibly jet lagged and trying to catch up on sleep. 

2) Housekeeping is a blessing...sorta.
It's really nice to have someone come in a take out all of the trash, make sure you're stocked up on clean towels, and change your sheets whenever you ask. 
However...
I get weird about people touching my stuff. I also get worried about how "trashed" the hotel room looks when they come in. Logically, it's not awful. Stress induced OCD like thoughts? It's a trash heap. 

3) I have a love/hate with cable.
I like being able to watch things like Animal Cops or other reality TV shows. I don't, however, like commercials. I've been out of the commercial loop for several years now so I didn't get to watch the evolution of commercials...and these are weird. 
I also get frustrated for/with my kids when they want to watch something but that specific show isn't on yet. They're spoiled on streaming. 
​

4) We all need our own space. 
We've gotten suites whenever possible so there's a separate room for adults and kids. But, for me, that isn't always enough. I need my own space and time where literally no one talks to me or needs my attention. Sometimes I need to be able to separate my kids from each other without one having the "better" space. 

5) I need my cats
The last 2 of the 3 hotels haven't been pet friendly. I've been able to visit my kitties and I know they're being taken care of by someone who truly loves animals...but they aren't with me and sometimes that's difficult. 
My Shadowcat is my unofficial emotional support kitty. His cuddles can calm me when I'm having anxiety and I definitely sleep better if he's nearby. It's been a difficult few weeks without him. 
​

Kas, you may be asking, why the hell are you still in hotel rooms? 

House hunting sucks and we can be picky. That about sums it up. I want a space I can live in comfortably for at least a year, I need a fenced yard, I need 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, some homes aren't even available yet, and I want my kids in a good school district. 

And I definitely don't want to live on base. 

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I just got the nod to become a Land of Nod affiliate! 

Y'all. Their stuff is downright adorable. But not that "cutesy baby crap" adorable. This will grow with your child. Hell, I'm seeing a few things I'd put in MY room! 

This Rainbow Blend Knit Blanket is really pretty. 

Not gonna lie...I squealed a bit when I saw this book! 

I LOVE THE POKY LITTLE PUPPY!!! It was one of my favorite books as a kid!!! 

If anyone can help me talk my husband into a Poky Little Puppy Throw Pillow, I'd appreciate it...
They also have adorable things like a Poky Puppy Hooded Towel! (That's on SALE right now!) 
SOMEONE BUY IT SO I CAN LIVE VICARIOUSLY! My kids are outgrowing hooded towels. 

Definitely explore their website. They have a blog full of cute ideas, tips and tricks, and an awesome sale section. 

If you're looking for handcrafted decor for your child (or your inner child...I don't judge) THE LAND OF NOD is your site! 

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We've moved from one state to another before, but it didn't even count as a decent warm-up round for this epic adventure.

If you're here looking for tips and tricks on how to make a long road trip seamless and pain free...

You've brought me to Advice Tip #1: Be Realistic 

Do your kids fight at home? Then they're going to fight on the road. Do they whine and talk back at home? Guess what isn't going to change on a road trip! 

All of the planned activities and toys in the world will not completely stop the monotony of being in the car. 

Advice Tip #2: Pack Your Essentials 

No, not the ones already on your list. This isn't a weekend trip to grandma's house! This is a long, difficult road trip! Think outside the box, er, bag? 

I'll link a comprehensive list as soon as I write it. But think along the lines of your own toilet paper and Poo Pourri Spray (stop laughing, I'm serious). 

Advice Tip #3: Make The Most Of The Car

SILENCE IS DEADLY! 

You know how silence makes your Mommy Sense tingle because it usually means the kids are breaking something? Silence is an opportunity for the children to make that noise. You know the one. The noise that will make you briefly consider tossing said child from the moving vehicle? THAT NOISE. 

My family is super weird and we listend to the Welcome To Nightvale podcast for a majority of the drive. 

​We also played a couple of games! The winner (and only one I recommend for the car) was Loaded Questions Junior. The boys LOVED this one and I'm going to put it in our regular game box. 

Advice Tip #4: Maximize Your Stops

Your kids will spend 10 minutes in the gas station picking out their snack if you let them. 

ASK ME HOW I KNOW!

It took us a few days to figure out how to combat this and stop adding literal hours each day. 

At the first stop we let the kids pick out 3 snacks and 3 drinks. (We did the same) Then everyone chose one of each item and we put the rest in the trunk. (It was cold for the trip so use a cooler if it's warm) 

When we stopped to pee we would each grab a fresh snack or drink if we needed/wanted it. 

Boom. Seriously saved us a good hour each day. 

You're welcome. 

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We aren't going to talk about the fact that I have literally hundreds of books on my Kindle cloud unread . . .

Or that sometimes I take a look at the list and go "you know what I should reread?" 

I'm constantly adding to my Amazon Wishlist anyway. I try to earn the money through surveys and the like or I'd make my poor husband go broke.

Here's a peek at what I'm saving up for at the moment.

Don't have a Kindle? NO PROBLEM! You can download the FREE Kindle app on several devices. Check it out! 

Don't think this is the end of the list! These are just the highlights!! I have several (smaller dollar amount) books on there as well and will probably be adding to it frequently. 

Let me know if you want to see what else is on my list OR talk about what's on my immediate To Be Read list! 

I turn 30 in a little over a month. 

This shouldn't be as big a deal as my brain wants to make it. 

But let's face it, 30 is one of those "big" numbers. Plus, I'll basically be celebrating on the road. It's a little weird. 

I got to thinking about the articles I grew up reading when I'd sneak a Cosmo or Glamour Magazine...30 was always one of those ages where women were supposed to change. I never read anything that encouraged men to change their diet, appearance, or habits after 30. 

As is usual for me, I don't plan on changing a thing. Here's a list. 

1) My Love of Funky Hair
My hair has been a myriad of colors and styles over the years. It's my favorite thing to change up on the regular. I have a goal of going full turquoise in the coming years! 

2) Fun Makeup
When I first became a mom (in my early 20's) I had this idea that I had to tone down my appearance because "I'm a mom now." I wore neutrals IF I wore makeup at all. 
Now? I recently bought, and wore, blue lipstick. I have my eye on several other "abnormal" colors. I love bright eyeliner and fun general looks. 

3) My Wardrobe
I have no real style. Comfort is key 95% of the time. Leggings and stretchy pants are my friends. But when I do CARE about what I'm wearing? There is no rhyme or reason to it. Sometimes I lean more punk in ripped clothes or goth in black and heavy fabrics. I'll even mix "styles" and throw on something bright and perky with something dark. Whatever makes me feel good that day is what I'll wear. 

4) The Way I Speak
I'm loud. I'm crude. I use more profanity than is "socially acceptable" (not always in public but in general). 
I use sarcasm as a second language and tend to crack jokes at inappropriate times. 

5)The Books I Read
I read a little bit of everything. I won't apologize for reaching for an erotica any sooner than I'll apologize for recommending a Young Adult novel. Vampire romance? Bring on the JR Ward. Another fairy tale retelling? Bring. It. On. 


I've spent the better part of a year learning to accept myself. Turning 30 doesn't change that! 

Did you do anything special for your last birthday? Tell me how to celebrate on the road!!!

How many movies for kids involve a food fight of some kind? 

Seriously. I'm sure you can name several right now...A kid stands up in a crowded cafeteria and screams "FOOD FIGHT!!!" and everyone goes nuts.

It's every kid's dream, right? How many times have you sat bored in the caf and fantasized about throwing food at the annoying person across the table? Or wanted to tip over your gross lunch tray? 

But how many of us can say we've actually experienced it? 

Me. I can. 

Well, sort of...

See, I mentioned it to my parents when I was around 7 or 8 when they asked what I wanted to do for my birthday (I think? Some big celebration....End of School maybe?). "I want a food fight!" I'd said, not imagining I'd ever get my wish. 

My parents, however, delivered. 

They set out a small table and covered it one of those simple plastic table cloths. 

Then came the cheap pie tins filled with whipped cream. 

And we were told to go nuts. 

It. Was. Amazing. 

By far, it's one of the best memories of my childhood. I got to have an actual "food fight" in my own backyard. 

I highly recommend you give your child this opportunity if you can. Being able to say I've been in a food fight is one of the coolest things ever! 

Let's start by saying that 2016 was weird. 

I had a lot go on personally...extended family being rushed to the ER and needing heart procedures, a cousin committing suicide, friends attempting suicide, friends getting married or divorced or having babies or losing babies, getting told we're moving to Alaska...

Add in the celebrity death toll and Charlie Foxtrot that was the ENTIRE ELECTION TIME....

I actually stayed up to see 2017 arrive because I was so glad to see 2016 leave. 

I ended the year staring longingly at this exact page, watching the cursor blink as my brain made that buzzing sound that comes with severe writer's block. 

This year is the year of change. 

I'm moving to ALASKA, y'all....and we're driving there! Crosscountry roadtrip! I'll be using the hashtag #AZtoAK to track the journey. 

I'm going to see a new psychiatrist after the move and work toward getting my diagnosis tweaked. Yes, I have depression and anxiety...but I'm fairly certain there's something else going on there. 

I want to throw myself more into blogging and social media. I need to work harder at earning a little money on the side as well. I also plan on couponing again because Alaska cost of living is ridiculous. 

I want to better myself this year too. I want to start taking yoga or Krav Maga or some sort of class. I worked really hard last year on accepting myself and my body...so now I want to make awesome even better!

My boys will be 6 and 8 this year...it's time to get into all of those talks that come with growing up (so if you have a good sex talk resource...go ahead and give that to me because AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH)

What do you want to do better in 2017?

Let me give you a quickie backstory. 

We moved in and the upstairs toilet backed up from Day One. Even after plunging, it never worked. 

We put in a maintenance request and forgot about it. 

System ate the maintenance request so we put in another one. 

Not having use of that bathroom was not okay and started to get frustrating. 

Well, after several weeks the landlord said any toilet or drain clog issues were OUR responsibility and not theirs. 

So I threw up my hands and remembered a friend told me that snaking a toilet isn't that hard and she learned using YouTube. 

I made a trip to Walmart, bought a "toilet auger" thing for something like $15, watched a tutorial, and went to work. 

Once you get the hang of using the thing, it's not that hard! The learning curve isn't steep or I'm just naturally good at it (probably the former, y'all.) 

I snaked it, flushed, snaked again, flushed...and then flushed with toilet paper. 

Nope. Still backed up. 

I repeated the above process and got really frustrated. 

So, I did what any millennial would do and turned to Google! 

After ANOTHER repeat of the snake, flush, snake routine I added plunging into the mix. Then I snaked it again for good measure. 

Cue the Hallelujah chorus here BECAUSE I FREAKING FIXED IT. 


The moral of this story is: There's probably a YouTube tutorial for it and you're probably more handy than you think you are! 

Most of the time, I don't feel like a strong person. 

But, you know, I've overcome a lot. I fight a lot of it every single day. 

This isn't always a good thing. 

I've nearly perfected pressing down and ignoring things I don't want to deal with immediately...or at all. It's a lot of work. 

Recently, something came up and I finally decided to acknowledge it instead of putting it back in my emotional closet. (Okay okay...I was "strongly encouraged" to deal with it by those close to me.) 

So for the last several days I've been down. Okay, for the last almost a week I've been feeling down.

Really down. 

No appetite, lay in bed all day, cry at random levels of down. 

Basically, I spent a few days letting my depression win. At first, the guilt started to creep in...How can I tell people to #AlwaysKeepFighting if I give up? 

So I reframed my thinking.

I took a rest day. 

Any good exercise plan, from bodybuilding to marathon training, will include a rest day. Taking time to rest is when your muscles heal. 

After years upon years of repressing and fighting, I needed a rest day. I needed to stop showing how strong I am and just feel for a change. 

I'll be honest: It sucked. It still sucks. It hurts and it's hard. I've had to go back to fighting and repressing because, frankly, I still have to function. 

I tell you this semi-personal story (do I even have those anymore?) to let you know it's okay to take time to feel things. You're going to feel weak. You're going to feel stupid. (Or maybe that's just me?) But it's okay. No one is 100% strong 100% of the time. Even competitive bodybuilders take rest days.