Your Crazy, My Normal

When I was younger I used to visit my grandmother every so often with my siblings. It was always a fun time hanging out there with her and our grandpa. We would always help with chores, go sledding in the winter, plant seeds in the garden, swing on the swing set, and have adventures out back in the woods. But one activity that I loved the most, was when she taught us how to embroider tea towels. I loved learning to do something so simple, but a pretty unique hobby. Not many people I know can embroider by hand so every time I tell people that I do and that I have an Etsy shop they immediately want to check it out. If I don't have a lot going on as far as work or chores, or don't already have an Etsy order I'm working on, I'll start a new embroidery project for myself or as a gift for a family member(:  Now, I haven't always been very good at it. About five years ago I asked for embroidery supplies for Christmas. And man did my Nana deliver! She bought a giant pac...

So there I was a mom of a two and a half and an almost one year old...in a definite slump with my makeup, and daily routines. I was usually at home with my hair in a crazy messy bun and didn't even know the first thing about makeup other than putting liquid foundation on and a basic eyeliner look. A friend of mine from church was hosting a makeup class that was completely online with a makeup artist/color match expert. I watched the videos and paid attention to all she was telling me and I still wasn't sure it was for me so I didn't buy anything. Then my friend had another class that was online about a month later...I was super interested in the technique and type of makeup she was using was so unique I was like I need to try this out!!! So I got with the woman that was doing the makeup demonstrations to set up a time for her to try the makeup on me...y'all I LOVED it!!! I can't say enough how much I loved it. It literally is so light you barely feel it on your ...

Well let's see...I'm all about being the best mom I can be even if some days I have to yell "give that back to your sister!" or "stop hitting! This is ridiculous you guys!" you get the picture. I'm also pretty into physical fitness and what it takes to be in the best shape I can to live the best life I possibly can. How do I do that while taking care of two kids, a husband and two dogs and with a thyroid disorder, you ask? Well let me tell you... I have tried so many things to lose weight since my diagnosis of Hypothyroidism back in 2012. I tried the military diet...and failed after two days of eating plain tuna on toast for lunch. I tried good old fashioned calorie counting and working out hours and hours a day. And you guys...I tried the HCG diet. For those unfamiliar with this diet, you consume up to 500 calories a day. You also take drops under your tongue(or another way is injections) to help burn fat and make up for the food you didn't eat. ...

Hey there! So, here's the thing....I've actually had this blog for a little over seven years. I haven't posted for the last 4 years though. SO, I'm starting over!! If you're new around here, welcome!! I'm Jackie Taylor and I'm so glad you're here!! I've decided to dust off this keyboard and get back into blogging!! For my first post I'm just going to tell you a little bit about myself and what I do!  So, this blog started when I was 19 years old. Oops, did I just give away my age? Anyway I was newly married and moved from our tiny apartment in Ohio all the way to Texas with my husband who had just joined the Air Force. At that time I could only see him on weekends.  What was even crazier? I moved there knowing we would be moving to Italy in a little over 6 months!! So I started this blog to keep loved ones informed on our lives, because not many people I knew were on Facebook sharing everything with everyone.  Now that everyone I know sees th...