Practical Mom

[budgetfriendlyspree]

So Small

I've never felt so small, like how I feel now.

I've never felt sadness the way that I have been feeling for a while now. I've never felt worthless like I feel every time I am with other people. They don't know deep inside I have so many regrets.

I'm a single mother that have been doing everything I could to work things out. I thought I met someone that would be there for me, but I come to realize later on that he only used me for the most precious thing I have in the world, and it's not what you think.

I work hard and have tried to create anything for a passive income, but it never takes off. I have the very best of intentions, but it's like I am not meant to have even the bare minimum. It's like my destiny is to struggle and be stuck.

I raised my son the best way I could, but I don't know where I failed when it came to him treating me differently from the rest. I have no problems with him when it comes to things that most parents would be worried about: drinking, smoking, fooling around, partying, drugs, etc. My son is not doing any of that. In fact, he works mostly at 4 AM which for a young adult his age would dread. I guess if he were a typical 21 year old, it would be worse for me. So, the good outweighs the bad.

I've never felt so left out. I feel like I am the worst person. I failed myself and I failed my son in the process. I never meant to.

If you are doing good in your life: I wish I have met you. Congratulations.

[budgetfriendlyspree]

With Love, Meghan Ep 2

I've been out sick...ugh! It's frustrating! I hope you're all doing well.

I have seen all of the first eight episodes of the show, but I don't mind rewatching. Every episode is a breath of fresh air for me. It's a mixture of lifestyle, household tips, cooking, baking and talk show all in one.

While I was recovering, I saw a video of a podcast host that picked on Meghan's gift baskets. Clearly that person doesn't have any children. It was a big deal that Meghan had mini gardening tools instead of the typical candy or chips with a couple of small toys. Children need activities that will stimulate their brain and make them creative. What she had was a great idea.

To pay homage to that host: let's pick on the items inside the gift basket:

*Gardening Tools. These are not just for party bags. They are great for parents that want to teach their kids the basics of gardening. The compostable pots were also a good match for these tools.

*Parfait Cups. These cups give the ice cream a vintage but classy look.

*Cookie Cutters. When I saw her using them for sandwiches, I know I had to get those for my sandwiches. And I am an adult.

*String Bags. I have used these for some of my small items like bracelets, necklaces, and other accessories that I have. I am not a jewelry collector, so these bags are good enough for me. And these are great goodie bags to put everything in it.

*Mini Plant Markers. I am ordering these, because they can also be used for cupcakes to identify the flavour when serving at parties.

And it was announced that season 2 is coming soon. Can't wait!

*Disclaimer: gardening tools may contain sharp edges or tips. use responsibly with kids.

[budgetfriendlyspree]

The Duchess

Meghan Markle.

She's one of the few persons that people love to hate. I really don't understand the criticism that she is getting for anything and everything that she does. Personally, I find her very fascinating.

After a long hiatus from TV, she finally released her show With Love, Meghan on NETFLIX. Immediately after, there are tons of articles posted about her. Sadly, most of them are negative comments, picking on every detail that is said or shown.

I watched it not just because of her, but also because of the way that the show has featured her. We got to know her a little more. And let's be honest: who was hoping that we would catch a glimpse of the kids? We saw Prince Harry in the end, which was sweet, but I think a lot of us thought that he would be joining her in some of the segments that she did. But that's just it: he made sure that the show is all about her, her passion for food, preparation, friendship, hosting, etc.

The first episode was about making her friend Daniel and his partner enjoy their stay at her house. I love the wooden tray that she used to prepare the welcome gift for her guests. We may not know exactly where she got it from, but there are so many out there like this one. I didn't think that welcoming guests would be so exciting! I remember when I went to visit my sister-in-law years ago. We went to her sister's house to show their new home, and in one of the rooms laid a welcome gift basket. I regretted that I needed to head back home, and obviously I didn't want to ask if I could have it.

I also love that they featured her cooking, baking, and the little trinkets that we can also get. One of them is the blank sticker labels that she used for the candle jars.

There are so many other things in that episode alone, and I couldn't wait to see the next one.

[budgetfriendlyspree]

Hobby

Baking is one of the things that I did as a kid with my mom. I remember she would enroll us in one of those mom-and-me baking classes. It was a lot of fun!

Recently, I replaced my oven and immediately went into baking as soon as I got it. It was a bittersweet moment for me because I reminisced about the baking classes that my mom and I had gone to. And I bought my oven in November, so it was the right time for me because I have sold a lot of cheesecakes, flans, tres leches, wheat breads and chocolate crinkles for the holidays.

Nowadays, there are tons of recipes available online and videos to watch. But nothing beats following a recipe from a cookbook. I have a cookbook stand that I use that sits on my kitchen windowsill. It's a very useful tool because I also use it for my iPad in case I want to watch something while cooking or baking. Mind you: it serves as a soundbar (sort of) because it's made out of wood and it bounces the sound off, giving a better audio quality.

As for cookbooks: I recommend getting MAGNOLIA TABLE VOL 3 by Joanna Gaines. I got this as a Christmas gift from a dear friend of mine and I have already done the Mongolian Beef and the Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms recipes in it. I have chosen some recipes in there using a page marker. If you can: get the whole set.

I also recommend PREPPY KITCHEN SUPER EASY by John Kanell. To be honest: I don't have his cookbook yet, but I am subscribed to his YouTube channel. Thanks to him: I perfected the Tres Leches cake recipe. He's charming. There's something about the way he demonstrates that will make you hooked. Next on my list to experiment is his Carrot Cake.

What about you? What have you baked lately? Comment and share your experience. I would love to hear from you!

*Disclaimer: always prioritize safety by checking your gas or electric appliance connections on a regular basis. You may contact your local gas or power utility company for more information. This is a sponsored page.

[budgetfriendlyspree]

Good Report

As a parent, you always prioritize the best for your child. I for one have always been concerned about my son from day 1 and part of it was ensuring that he was healthy. I am pretty sure you as a parent were the same way.

I have been a single mom ever since my son was born and thank goodness he had free insurance. I was able to maintain his health the best I could. Oral health was part of it. Sadly, I didn't have that opportunity for me until recently. As much as I took care of myself, it wasn't good enough. My weight fluctuated. I've tried all the fad diets you can think of. I even became vegan for 6 years but eventually stopped it. Then during the pandemic I was diagnosed with Hypertension, and my oral health wasn't going well either. I sacrificed my status just to make sure that my son was okay, but didn't give importance to my own well-being.

Fast forward to today: I am way better than where I was. I am taking prescribed medication, and I am eating better too. As for my oral health: my dentist was happy with how my teeth are looking. TMI, perhaps, but I didn't think that I would be hearing those comments. It made me happy to the point that I cried on my way home.

Ever since then, I always kept a stash of floss picks and after the last appointment my dentist recommended a water flosser. Of course, they have it at the clinic but for a jacked-up price that didn't seem practical to me. So obviously I searched online to look for alternatives and I bought one for a great price. I even got one for my son. Mine was a pink color and his was black.

There is a ton of these water flossers sold everywhere, but I am happy with what I got. These are some of the good qualities of the water flosser I have:

*It comes with a cable to charge it, and you can even take it anywhere. I charge mine once a week.

*It's a good size that's great for travelling as long as you have the water tank is empty. Otherwise, it may squirt out the water into your belongings.

*It also has several adapters that you can pick and choose.

*You can mix your favourite mouthwash in it to give you that extra soothing feeling.

*You can use it while in the shower or in the sink once you're used to it.

If you have sensitive teeth, I recommend using warm water. The only CON here is that it takes a lot of getting used to. There are times when I would still lose control of it and would end up spraying water everywhere. But if it helped me, I am sure it would help you too. I don't wish what I have experienced upon anyone.

Do you have any water flossers to recommend? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

*Disclaimer: consult your health care provider first before trying out any medication or tools that may affect your health. This post is sponsored.

[budgetfriendlyspree]

Introduction

Welcome to my blog, where I will post about my thoughts and opinions about almost everything: parenting tips, funny stories, online purchases and everything in between.

To get to know me better:

*I am a single mom to a 21-year-old son that I am beyond proud of (biased, I know, but it's true)

*I am an outgoing person at times, but lately i prefer a more tranquil time for myself or with a company, like at home movie- and-chill mood, with wine of course!

*I am in my 40s. That's all I can reveal.

*I love having conversations and brainstorming with someone

*I speak multiple languages, so I may throw in a few phrases in my blog here and there that are not in English.

*I give myself a time to cry once in a while. it's a good release for me physically and mentally.

This blog will also contain links for any suggested items that you can also avail.

Remember: always smile and have faith. Whatever you're going through: you can do this.

#blog #blogger #singlemom #proudmom #newbie