Mrs6am
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Our Apologies

Our Apologies

Plus: Glutes, Gollum, & Girly Dresses

September 06, 2023

Leave it to Mozart.

Over 200 years ago today, Mozart’s opera La Clemenza di Tito made its debut.

It’s not his most famous piece, but it was one of his most quickly written works— it only took 18 days. Clemeza, at the time, was not a success, but it’s still performed today. And, if you’re like me, opera may be a mystery. Here are seven steps to help you become more of an opera buff. 💥 Instant culture…right?

But also:

Exercise: The one to rule them all
Homecoming Dresses: They’re all cut from the same cloth…and that cloth is micro
Pageant News: World Peace through Loving your Babies — a winner we can get behind
Health Insurance: how to save money and escape the matrix

FASHION: Who says you can’t go home? And who says you can’t have fun shopping for a homecoming dress with a teen? Homecoming is right around the corner, and we’ve got some tips for a successful and fun shopping trip with your favorite girl.

Feed her first. A well-fed daughter (and mother) is easier to love.
Decide on boundaries. Price, length, cut. Bring your husband into convo to keep you both level-headed.
Put her style into words. Use this three-word method to define her style so she can stick to her guns. Sparkles can do that to a girl.
Pray. And then some.
Have fun and let her lead. [Pro tip: save your suggestions for when she’s already in the changing room. “Why not see how these look off the hanger?” is a good line.]
When in distress, use accessories as your lifesaver. Sometimes you won’t find “the one” but you’ll find the “two” or “three.” Offer funky shoes or a chunky earring as a peace treaty that still captures her sense of style.

We can’t help but love this baby blue sparkly number, this pretty-in-pink frock, or a rented statement dress. Oh, and here’s a dress that pulls off the heels & socks look.

Of course, it’s not all about the dress…it’s about the dancing! So, can we bring this kind back already?

CHILDREN: Ever had to apologize to your children? Yes, us too … multiple times in one day! 🙈It’s difficult to do, especially when there is some justice in your anger. But it brings healing and grace to family life. So the next time you erupt or overreact, remind yourself: apologizing is not a display of weakness and failure but of strength and humility. We know it feels hokey sometimes to read parenting articles that provide a script, but we think this one’s worth it. Try: “I’m sorry I overreacted” or “Next time I’ll do better.” Teach your children to accept responsibility when they are wrong by modeling it yourself. See? You just scored a parenting win out of a bad day!

And help your 2-5 year olds thrive with this.

FITNESS: The thrust is a must. The hip thrust does it all: it strengthens your pelvic floor and deep core, decreases back pain, improves your deadlift and squats, prevents injury in runners, and adds to (or perks up) your feminine curves. 🍑 Glutes are one of the most undertrained muscle groups! But they need strengthening — especially if you sit all day. We recommend going heavy with thrusts while using a band. If heavy’s not for you — or if you don’t have a barbell — that’s okay. You don’t have to hit the gym for hip thrusts to be effective. Start with body weight, then add dumbbells when you can. Then graduate to barbell variations like these.

Added bonus: they are postpartum friendly, too. 🏋

FINANCE: Most people don’t know these things exist! “Health sharing” programs (instead of expensive employer-provided health insurance) are viable options for more affordable and effective health care. Extra bonus for removing your family from the bloated and scammy system!

How do they work? They’re all a little different, but basically, every month you send a check directly to another member to help cover their medical expenses. And your medical bills are likewise divided up among other members — they’re always paid in full. Sound risky? 😬 We’ve used Samaritan for over 10 years — it has been seamless with no missing payments. We’ve have had to shop around for certain things (ultrasounds cost 500$ more at the well-known specialty clinic vs. the local hospital?! No thanks!) but it’s opened our eyes to the inflated costs of health care! For a family of 8, we pay about $690/month DIRECTLY to other member families.

Ten years ago there were only 3 options, now there are dozens. There are several Christian-focused ones (like this Catholic one and Dave Ramsey’s version) and also secular ones. Compare your options here, save money, get coverage, and help people directly — rather than enriching the insurance industry!