Peace, Love, Lemonade

Getting our kids involved in giving back to the community is something that most parents I talk to are really passionate about.  We want our children to understand more of the world around them and how even the smallest actions can make a big difference. I personally love the LemonAiD program with The Salvation Army Central Ohio where children host a lemonade stand (in person or virtual) and give back to their community. 100% of the funds raised are used to provide food and programs that lift children out of homelessness and poverty. It is a great way to make that first introduction into community service. 

Parents, Andrea and Dan with their girls Libby and Hannah agree that The Salvation Army LemonAiD program is a great way for “Kids to help kids.” They raised over $1,400 last year with their virtual stand called “Peace, Love, and Lemonade.” This year they plan to meet or exceed that goal by hosting both a virtual and a physical stand where both Libby and Hannah can sell delicious lemonade. 

When asked how they were able to raise so much money, last year, in the middle of the pandemic, Andrea replied, “We shared it with our friends and family using both social media and texting.”  

Looking for inspiration to promote your LemonAid stand? Andrea, Dan, Libby, and Hannah have you covered. 

What started as a fun thing to do with their kids and families to give back to the community has since turned into an annual tradition that they just love! What a great family tradition to be able to teach your children about giving back to the community while having so much fun!

Did you know?

●     1 in 4 children in Central Ohio live in poverty

●     1 in 5 children in our community go to bed hungry.

●     1 in 5 children are alone and unsupervised during the hours after school

●     Only 15% of Ohio's K-12 children participate in after-school programs

●     1 in 30 children in Ohio experience homelessness.

Looking to host your own lemonade stand? It’s easy to sign up, FREE, and offers you an opportunity to get involved in giving back to the community! 

HOW TO GET STARTED. IT'S EASY!

STEP 1 — Register

●     Register online at salvtionarmylemonaid.org  

STEP 2 — Choose the Day, Time, Location, and name for your stand

●     The LemonAiD Campaign runs thru July 31, 2021. Pick a date and time that work for your schedule!

STEP 3— Secure your supplies.

●     A LemonAiD Kit will be sent to you once you have registered. The kit will include a sign for your stand, buttons, and a brochure with helpful tips.

●     Parents provide the stand/table, cash box, the lemonade, and cups. Set your own prices or simply ask for a donation.

●     Decorations (very important!). Kids typically enjoy making additional signs and decorating their stand.  

STEP 4 — Promote. Promotion is key.

●     Let your family, friends, and neighbors know about your stand with flyers, emails, social media, and signs. Remember to post photos to facebook.com/Salvation.Army.Columbus 

STEP 5 — Start selling at your custom LemonAiD Stand!  

The Salvation Army will perform weekly drawings for a $25 Graeter’s Gift Certificate!

At the end of the promotion (July 31st) will receive, in the mail, a small thank you from The Salvation Army and our sponsors/partners.  Be sure to sign up today!

Pollinator Palooza at Franklin Park Conservatory - FREE Event in Columbus

Franklin Park Conservatory is an absolute family favorite. We love it there.  I could spend all day exploring and taking it all in and thankfully my kids love it just as much, especially the Children’s Garden.  In just a few weeks you can celebrate the birds, bees, butterflies, and all of the creates that make our gardens grow during Pollinator Palooza!!  It’s already on our schedule and we CANNOT WAIT! The best part? It’s FREE! You don’t need reservations or tickets to take part in Pollinator Palooza.  

Let’s go over some of the most important details 

Saturday, June 19th, 2021 

11am - 3pm 

FREE 

It’s a great event for all ages! 

Pollinator Palooza is the best way to have fun while learning about pollinators and raising awareness for all of the amazing creatures that help our gardens grow! This event includes crafts, music, garden tours, and MORE. 

Before you check out the schedule of events below - grab your phone and add this event to your calendar.

Schedule of Events

Exploring Pollinators in the Garden | 11:30am, 1pm & 2pm

Take a walk in the garden and observe bees in action. Led by Denise Ellsworth, the  Program Director of Honey Bee and Native Pollinator Education, OSU Extension.

The Bugman | 11am–3pm

The Bugman, Mark Berman, shares his knowledge and excitement about bugs.

George Barrie Band  | 11:30am-12:30pm and 1:30-2:30pm

George Barrie Band will accompany the event with live music. George Barrie’s upbeat blend of groovy rock n’ roll is inspired by bluesy songwriters across genres and generations.  George built a career as a musician, songwriter, and producer in Columbus, Ohio.

Stinger from the Columbus Blue Jackets | 12-12:30pm

Stinger from the Columbus Blue Jackets will stop by!

Food Demonstration | 11am–2pm

Taste delicious foods made with ingredients that are only possible thanks to pollinators. Led by the Conservatory’s Sustainability Educator, Heather Bell.

Food Trucks | 11am-3pm

NAICCO

Sweet T’s Southern Style

Too Good Eats

Participating Organizations

The Bee Collective

Central Ohio Beekeepers Association

Columbus & Franklin County Metro Parks

Columbus GreenSpot

East Central Ohio Beekeepers Association

Franklin County Master Gardeners Volunteers

Greater Columbus Growing Coalition

Kiwanis Club of Columbus

LEAD for Pollinators

Natives in Harmony, LLC

Ohio Herb Center

Ohio History Connection

Ohio Pollinator Habitat Initiative

Are you as excited for Pollinator Palooza as we are!?
 

All I Want for April is Acceptance.

Thank you to my dear friend Terra for writing this piece so we can all learn from her. You can follow her podcast Normal with Autism, on Instagram for more amazing content.

All I want for April is acceptance.

In March of 2014, I sat in a small sterile office at the local children’s hospital with my husband and youngest son. He was 2 1/2 years old at the time, and we were waiting for the conclusions of an autism screening that involved several helping professionals and lasted 4 hours.

We wanted to hear the good news that all the therapies and work we completed over the last 12 months paid off in helping him catch up developmentally.

In March of 2013, my son Finn was diagnosed with epileptic encephalopathy. A hazardous form of epilepsy that impacts his learning and development in very negative ways. I stopped working as a mental health therapist and devoted myself to being his full-time caregiver. I spent many hours and days with Finn in therapies and doctor visits, working on everything from speech to matching skills. It was all to help his development move forward as his seizures had significantly impacted his growth.

 We sat waiting for the developmental doctor to give us the results; I held my breath, hoping for good news. Her following statement, Finn has severe autism and needs help right away, was not a surprise, but it was not what I wanted to hear. His actual written report included the statement “Finn is at great risk for mental retardation…” should he not receive interventions. I remember leaving the office confused and grief-struck. I was confused because I could not fully grasp what it meant for my child to have an autism diagnosis. Grief-stricken because of the looks on the physicians’ faces, I knew it wasn’t good.

Today, in 2021, I can tell you I thought his autism diagnosis was a tragedy in 2014. I am a mental health professional, and I did not know a lot about autism. I knew enough to understand it wasn’t something you wanted your 2-year-old to be diagnosed with. I also knew enough to know that the words the doctors used at the time to describe his high support needs scared me into many sleepless nights figuring out how to get him into full-time behavior therapy as quickly as I could. I also felt less alone when people bought puzzle piece cookies or wore blue on April 2nd, world autism awareness day. My friends would tag me in posts saying they were lighting it up blue for Finn. In the end, I do not fault them at all. And I realize now those efforts were about me and not about what my son needed.

Today, I know better. Now, I know that my son being autistic is not a disaster. Autism is not the catastrophe that I pictured. What is distressing is that seven years later, I still fight every day for my son to be accepted as the entire, complete, worthy human being that he is.  Even more problematic is the knowledge that as he gets older and bigger on his way to becoming an adult disabled male, some in my local community will fear him simply because he is autistic. Acceptance will grow rarer as the years pass.

Why, after all these years, puzzle pieces, and lighting it up blue, is it still difficult for autistic people to be accepted? The difference is the passive awareness that many folks still engage in and the active acceptance that is harder to do but worth the work. An author for an Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) post states, “Awareness is all about creating a sense of urgency and fear. Awareness efforts present us as a problem to be solved…Acceptance comes from a place of understanding…Understanding takes work. People first need to acknowledge us as individuals- three-dimensional, growing, developed characters. We are not all the same, and we are not but a collection of deficits.”

My son is not broken, and he is not a collection of deficits or things he can not do. What would life be like for your child if the only focus from the adults in their lives were on what milestones they did not reach? If you ever want to find out, I invite you to join me in the next Individual Education Plan (IEP) meeting with my local school district. 

You might be asking me now, “Terra, what can I do instead of light it up blue for April?” Here are some questions to ask yourself and ways to practice acceptance of autistic people every day.

First, ask, “Do I rely on autistic people or their caregivers to educate me about autism?” If the answer is yes, you have some work to do. Start with a book by an actually autistic individual. “The Reason I Jump” is a great one. While writing this, I googled “autistic authors,” and I need to get to my local bookstore soon.  The list I found is extensive.

Second, if you are a leader in a community space (i.e., church), ask yourself, “How would my organization respond if a family and their autistic loved one walked into this space tomorrow to hang out with other members in their community?” For example, if you are a church, would the autistic loved one be welcomed into the worship space just as they to hear the message from the pastor.  If the answer is no, you have some work to do. Many families with autistic loved ones experience conditional acceptance based on ignorance and lack of willingness to make space for that family to show up fully as themselves. Ask how you and your other community leaders how can we support that family in a way that treats them like everyone else.

Finally, ask yourself do autistic folks and organizations that actually support autistic people show up in your social media feed. If the answer is no, you have some work to do. Some of my favorite folks to follow are https://www.instagram.com/the.autisticats/

And a great organization to check out is autisminblack.org

Acceptance is a verb.  Do the work.  Take the action. My son and all the kids and adults like him thank you in advance.

More about Terra: I am a wife, mom, podcaster, writer, therapist, daughter and friend. I work hard to keep all those plates spinning and humor is my coping skill.

My two boys, Q and Finn are my favorite human beings on the planet. Finn was diagnosed with epilepsy and autism before he turned three years old. He is a non-speaking kid that has a lot to say. Q is growing up way to fast and likes to bring it up every day by saying how much taller he is than me. My husband and I have been together since we were 19. Our family motto is “Making it up as we go along”.

I want to know more about your family. Come follow me on Facebook and Instagram and share your joy with me.

Diving Deep Into My Meditation Practice | Intro to Meditation + Mystical Series with Wild Sage Collective

I was first introduced to Erica from Wild Sage a few years ago as I sobbed through a meditation she was leading. I was sitting there holding my Modmala with a full-on ugly cry, gasping for air, and sobbing-induced hiccups.  When the meditation was over, I apologized to her for sobbing through the meditation and thanked her for being exactly what I needed during a very difficult part of my life.  I don’t remember her exact words but I know that she was calm and comforting and I left feeling like I could breathe.  For the first time in weeks, I could breathe. 

It was this moment that popped out to me when I was in need of a personal reset earlier this year.  I knew this was the moment I needed to dive deeper into my meditation practice and have something steady that I could use to feel peace and calm when life seemed so uncertain.

A quick Facebook message to my friend, Erica, and I was signed up for the next Intro to Meditation + Mystical Series 1:1

Meditation

Fine-tuning my mediation practice was the main reason I wanted to sign up for this series.  I needed help working on ways to practice while at home with everyone at home.  Working 1:1 with Erica I was able to troubleshoot all of the things so I could come up with options that work best for me. I knew this was the best option for me because Erica is a rule-breaker and with the life, I live I need to be able to meditate and focus on different elements of a mindful practice in unique ways that don’t follow the typical rules. 

 A few of the ideas we came up with - 

1. Meditate while nursing and snuggling the baby in the mornings while the house is still calm

2. Creating a special space for myself that’s only for me and visit that space when possible or needed 

3. Connect in nature.  Taking a walk alone, focusing on the sounds, my breathing, and the little things I’d miss otherwise.

Journaling

One of the first things Erica suggested was journaling.  This one was hard for me. I’m a perfectionist and journaling is something I struggle with because I feel like when I put pen to paper I need to write something beautiful not to mention I need a new notebook that inspires me.  I couldn’t start journaling until I could get a brand new notebook and feel inspired to write something beautiful.  

When I told Erica about this she laughed, not at me, but with me. She completely understood where I was coming from but gently encouraged me to just do it anyway.  Just write - it can be one word or more. It can be in a brand new notebook or a scrap piece of paper.  Just write down your thoughts. 

Listening to her advice was powerful.  I started writing just like she said and it was so freeing.  Releasing those thoughts onto paper helped me sleep better, allowed me to confront certain feelings head-on, and just helped get me ready for great meditation. 

Chakra & Crystals

I knew very little about chakras and crystals before this 1:1 series with Erica.  Erica broke it down for me in such a way that it was easy to understand and remember.  I still took lots of notes and refer to her website often for refreshers.  

My favorite meditation is currently the one where I call in my different chakras, ask them for any messages, and thank them.  It is truly one of the most powerful things I took away from my journey with Erica.  

I actually shared more about crystals on Instagram - head over there to check it out.  

What is  Intro to Meditation + Mystical Series 1:1? 

In this 1:1 series with Erica, you will walk through a customized 5-week journey learning about how to cultivate & maintain your meditation practice while diving deep into & demystifying ancient wisdom teachings. Learn about chakras, crystals, meditation, your personal birth star mantra, and so much more.  It’s completely customizable to what you want to learn and truly a one-of-a-kind experience.  

I plan to keep going through so stay tuned on social media and the blog to keep learning. If you reach out to Erica - tell her I sent you :) 

Tips for Creating a Positive Work From Home Mindset

Thank you Tandem for sponsoring this post and thank you, 614 Mom readers, for supporting the businesses that support 614 Mom. As always, all thoughts and opinions remain my own.

I’ve worked from home with kids since 2014 so I’ve learned a thing or two about what it takes to pull it off successfully.  Working from home, especially with kids takes a lot of dedication, flexibility, and patience.  When I first started working from home I’d get so mad at myself for “wasting” my day but if I’m being honest those days were never wasted.  They were spent doing the other things I loved so much - snuggling my babies, keeping the house clean, meeting up with friends so our kids can play, and volunteering at my kids’ school.  The only time I wasted was the time spent feeling guilty for not being tied to my computer all day long.  

Once I learned to be patient with myself and flexible with myself I was able to find so much joy and freedom in my work.  As a recovering 9-5er, I required some time and experience to be able to shift my mindset to be able to enjoy the freedom instead of feeling guilty for it.  Luckily, once I found that mindset I’ve been happier than ever before. 

Embrace the Flexibility

Some people thrive off of perfect schedules, color-coded to-do lists, and very strict timelines.  When you own your own business and you’re working from home with kids you’re going to need to embrace the flexibility that it requires.  There are going to be days that your kids are struggling with schoolwork or they get sick, you may have a day that every single thing that could go wrong, goes wrong.  The best way to get through that is with a strong mindset and the ability to be flexible with yourself, your kids, and your work. I can’t speak for every situation but know this - the world won’t fall if you need to take time for yourself or your family and your kids will be okay if you need to tell them that you must prioritize work at that moment.  

 

No. Is a one-word sentence. 

You are not going to be able to do it all and it’s okay to say no to anything that doesn’t fit within your defined goals.  I have had to learn to scale back with volunteer work, some speaking engagements, evening events that take me away from family time, and I’ve had to be that totally mean mom that said no to my kids ;) Everyone survives and everyone is happier. 

My family is happier when I don’t over-commit myself, my work is stronger when I stay focused on what really matters, and they find someone else to lead that project for the organization that I love so dearly.  

Hire Help

When I first started staying home with my kids I had the “I can do it all” mindset and while I can a lot, I can’t do it all and do it all well. I’ve accepted that sometimes I need to ask for help.  Once I got past my initial “I can do it all” mindset I started LOVING the freedom that hiring a babysitter would bring. I was able to get work done, attend a therapy session, or run errands while the kids were happy! My cup was full because I wasn’t as stressed and the kids were happy and my to-do list was shorter. 

A local Columbus business, Tandem, is a fantastic way to get the help you need.  Tandem is a FREE service to help parents find quality childcare.  I love Tandem because they take care of the reference checks, background checks, and it’s completely free. Whether you’re looking for a one time sitter or someone to help ongoing, Tandem has you covered.  

Parents simply submit their request on sitticonnect.com and the Tandem team will send your request out to all of the sitters.  Once the sitters accept your request you can view their bio, connect with them, schedule interviews, etc. You then get to decide which sitter is the best fit for your family.  These are all things I love so much - I like being able to interview the sitters and having the final decision on which sitter is best for my family.  

Take Care of Yourself

There are so many articles out there dedicated to self-care and it’s important to remember that self-care doesn’t always come in the form of bubble baths and spa days.  Often it comes in the form of going to bed at a decent time and not overextending yourself late into the evening, sometimes it is saying yes to projects you are passionate about (or no to things that aren’t for you), and ya sometimes it’s buying yourself that new pair of shoes because damnit you worked hard for it.  You know what you need. Take care of yourself because your family and your work will notice the difference between the version of you that is rested and at peace and the version of you that is stressed and overwhelmed.  

Get a babysitter for a few hours and go get coffee, meet your spouse or some friends for lunch, enjoy your favorite hobby.  This is important because your mental health is so important.  

Be Kind to Yourself and Others

There are going to be times you drop the ball or overbook yourself or you have to take a day off because you have sick kids or an emergency pops up.  Be kind to yourself.  Things happen out of your control and sometimes life gets the best of you.  It’s okay. It will all be okay.  

Be kind to others - it’s true that you don’t/can’t fully understand what someone else is going through.  Show kindness when you’re frustrated, confused, annoyed, or angry.  It will cause you more anguish by holding onto anger that you don’t need.  That doesn’t mean you can’t say no if it turns out the situation isn’t for you - but you can walk away with kindness.  

Have some fun and embrace the joy!

Your mindset is going to be the difference between excelling at work from home life or feeling overwhelmed by it.  I hope these tips help you create a life filled with joy and purpose as you walk the crazy world of working from home as an entrepreneur with kids.  

10 Gift Ideas For Your Favorite Couple

My husband and I often get joint gifts from our loved ones around the holidays. They are always very thoughtful and the gifts we treasure for years. I’ve put together some of my favorite gifts for your favorite couple. These gifts are great for holidays, weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, and everyday occasions.

This post contains affiliate links - I may earn a small commission from qualifying sales.

Cultivate What Matters For Couples

Digital Download

Around this time last year, I purchased a Cultivate What Matters Goal Planner for myself and when it arrived it came with a free couples mini version.  My husband and I spent New Year’s Eve writing our 2019 goals together as a couple and we had so much fun. I would buy this for my marriage again this year or for any friends who also love goal planning as much as we do.  It’s a fun gift and the digital download options gives you the opportunity to customize your gift with some fun photos or a fun book.

Custom Socks

Under $25

For the couple with a fun sense of humor these are a great option. I’m sure my husband would love to walk around with my face on his socks hahahaha! My best friend and I actually bought these for our husbands last year but we put their faces on it. So my husband got socks with her husband’s face on them and vice versa. It was truly a gift that kept on giving when they started wearing them to game night.  The quality is honestly great and I would buy them again.  

Love & Kindness Cards

Under $23

This one is extra special as it’s designed by a local business owner and you know we love all things local here on 614 Mom.  :) This deck of cards is a perfect stocking stuffer for the couple in your life or to have on hand for you and your partner. The front of the card offers a concept or a challenge. The back of the card explains the concept in easily understood terms. In today’s world where people have so little time, this is a fun and easy way to connect every day. Create the connection you have always wanted by spending just a few minutes a day. These cards are great for relationships in good shape or for relationships that need some fine-tuning.

Date Night In a Box

Shop My Ideas!

One year I pre purchased 12 months of date for my husband. I made it very easy for us to spend that time together every single month by planning and paying for them the year before.  While that would be fun to do again, it was A LOT of work. To make things a little easier but still as thoughtful I think putting together a date night in a box would be a great gift.  You can use it right away or put it in the closet to use when you need a date night but the kids are sick, your babysitter canceled, or just because. I’ve put together a full list of fun ideas on my Amazon page that you can check out.  

Cozy Blanket

This one is SUPER Cozy!

I found this is searching for items for the date night in a box but I think this blanket is a perfect gift on its own.  Who doesn’t love to curl up under a blanket at any point in the day? My husband’s grandma gifts us blankets every year for Christmas and honestly, I look forward to it every year! :-) 

Beautiful Decor

Shop Now!

Listen - I don’t think you should go around buying home decor for people you don’t know very well but Lovely Grain Studio offers beautiful timeless pieces.  Brooke can create a custom piece with a quote you know means a lot to the couple or even a precious handwritten sign in the handwriting of a loved one. Personally, I am trying to locate a written version of my grandma’s amazing homemade noodles to get printed for my kitchen. I don’t know that she ever wrote it down though - if I find it I’m calling Lovely Grain immediately.  

Winc Subscription 

4 Bottles for $39 + FREE shipping

We recently gave Winc a try and we’re fans. We are not heavy drinkers but we do like to try new wines - mainly white wine.  This is such a fun way to try new wine without breaking the bank and it gives us an at-home date night. That’s a win-win in my book. 

Family Portrait 

Shop Local 

I recently accepted a position to be a Huntington Bank ambassador - and on the very first day they gifted us a hand-drawn family portrait in a beautiful frame and I just love it! We had no idea it was going to be sitting on the table when we arrived and I wish I could show you a video of everyone arriving and seeing their portrait for the first time. The local to Columbus artist is so talented and I have ours on my nightstand.  You can’t go wrong with something like this.

Couple Photo Session

Ashley D Photos  

Engagement sessions are very popular but very few couples have photos of just the two of them 5, 10, 15+ years in.  Why not? They are the reason the beautiful family even exists and I think it is so important for couples to have photos of their love.  Imagine how fun it would be to do your engagement session again after 15 years of marriage. That’s special. Ashley D Photos is amazing and I would happily hire her for something like this.  Tell her 614 Mom sent ya ;)

What I Love About Us Book

Shop Now!

My husband purchased this for me a few years ago and it’s truly a gem. He answered it in such fun ways and added it to my stocking as a gift.  I still read it and love it. He made sure to add some humor to it and it brings a smile to my face. This is great for your spouse or to gift your favorite a blank copy so they can fill it out for each other.  

I hope this list was helpful to you. Make sure you follow 614 Mom on Facebook and Instagram and save this blog post on Pinterest so you can look at it next time you’re shopping for your favorite couple.

We Taught Our Kids How to Build Their Own Computers and They Loved It!

Our kids have always loved getting to help my husband take apart his computer and put it back together.  They love helping him clean it, replace parts, and ask a million questions in the process. Late last year when they started begging for their own computers my husband was excited to take this as an opportunity to teach them how to build their own computers.  This was not my area of expertise so my involvement was minimal but I did watch and learn a lot from what they did together. 

The Benefits

1. Our children had to earn each and every part of the new computer.  We didn’t just buy everything one day and let them set it up on the same day.  They spent months doing extra chores, saving money, and learning the value of a dollar.  

2. They had the opportunity to learn about each part, why it was important, and how it helped the computer function.  

3. They have a better understanding and appreciation for their device. They take care of it with pride because they know firsthand how much money and time went into building it.  

The Process 

When we first decided to start this project we knew it would be a few months’ worths of work to get them all of the parts they needed so we came up with different tasks and what we were willing to put towards their computer fund if they completed each task. Because they were eager to build them they would request parts as birthday presents or save birthday money for a computer part.   We started them off with the case that would be the home to all of the computer parts and then we went from there…

Building 

Once they earned the parts, they were eager to start building.  They did install most parts as they got them but towards the end they let the parts build up so they could finish installing them all at once.  The processor and the hard drive were the last few parts they installed before putting Windows on the computer so they could get to important business….Minecraft. 

The Parts 

I am linking them here for convenience but I also suggest looking around between websites and physical stores to get the best prices. We used Newegg, Amazon, and Micro Center as our main sources for parts.  

Case

Motherboard

Power Supply

Processor 

Video Card

Hard Drive

Ram

Monitor 

Wifi Card

Windows

Keyboard/Mouse 

Computer Desk

Computer Chair - this is the one my son has on his wishlist but for now, he’s using one from my husband’s office since they aren’t using them anymore ;)

The Final Price

I asked my husband how much we ended up spending and he said “more than we anticipated” haha! Not surprised. But for real it was around $1000 per computer over the course of six months or so, so it didn’t feel like a huge hit all at once. 

My husband wrote up a little bit more about the process because like I said, I wasn’t heavily involved in this part :) 

The Process According to Riley - 

The first step I’ll skip over is researching and acquiring the parts. The prices can vary enough to warrant research between amazon and other competitors. Purchasing them at Micro Center always means paying more but you get the satisfaction of getting the item immediately. We did a mix of Amazon purchases and Micro Center purchases.  

Next, you will want to get the motherboard installed. It is the base for every other component you’ll install. Hence the name. This item takes up a good portion of the space in the case as well, as everything else plugs into it in some capacity.

From there the process can vary but we started with the power supply, one of the physically larger pieces to install. It is essentially a black box with a ton of wires coming out of it to supply power to the remaining components.

We installed the processor next. The most expensive and for this build the most important piece. I handle this myself to ensure it went on correctly without messing with the thermal paste that keeps it cool.

Moving on it was a lot of relatively quick install pieces, the hard drive, wifi adapter, RAM.

The final step was to correctly hook up all the cabling to ensure that all units have power and everything is connected in all the right spots. This is not an overly hard task but does take focus. The cabling for most of these components is essentially a jumble of wires and some super tiny labels to find and connect to.

That’s basically it. Once it is up and running you need to install windows or other comparable operating systems and then you’re good to go.

Interested in learning more about this process? Tell me in the comments and we will do a part 2.  

Restaurant Clean Maitre’d Helps Us Stay Safe While Dining

Thank you Restaurant Clean Maitre’d for sponsoring this post. As always all thoughts and opinions remain my own. This post is meant to inform and answer popular questions. Please consult your medical provider for any specific questions.

Life has changed a lot over the last few months.  We’ve all had to adjust and change our normal way of life for something that changes sometimes by the day.  I don’t know about you but sometimes all of the information thrown at us can be overwhelming.  This is why I was so excited to partner with Maureen (a longtime 614 Mom) to answer a lot of frequently asked questions about staying safe through COVID-19. 

The questions I asked her are questions that I got directly from 614 Mom readers. I did a few day’s worth of polls and put together the most frequently asked questions for this blog post. If you have more questions leave them in the comments and I’ll be sure to ask Maureen.  You can also connect with her directly on Instagram.

Meet Maureen

Maureen Jacobs Has over 14 years of industry experience. Her start in the Packaging Industry helped her understand Food Processors and the importance of HACCP Certification. Her Facilities Supply experience helped end-users from Airports to Universities develop custom products that best fit their programs.

Restaurant Clean Maitre’d is the result of what she learned and the guidance she provided.

10 Important Questions on Staying Safe During COVID-19 with Restaurant Clean Maitre’d

Question: What should a restaurant be doing to protect customers and staff?

Answer: 1st - Document and survey each employee with several questions. Before they enter the restaurant ask each employee if they are feeling any COVID symptoms.

2nd - Ask the same employee have they been associated or been at a place where there has been an outbreak or around an individual who experienced symptoms. 

3rd - Temperature checks daily and document. 

4th - Throughout the day have employees continuously wash hands and wear a mask covering both their nose and mouth

5th - Do your best with group scheduling the same employees best you can 

6th - Have employees clean and sanitize each table after every use with proper EPA registered sanitizers. Seventh, ensure proper spacing between each diner
Lastly, provide proper hand soap and paper towels for staff and guests 

Question: Are patios really safer? 

Answer: The distance between each person is what’s important whether inside or out. If they sneeze or cough these particles can travel. There is no difference.

Question: What are some common mistakes you’re seeing businesses make while trying to do the right thing?

Purchasing non-compliant hand sanitizers and disinfectants. Not focusing on cleaning first...remember every living thing needs food, water and has waste. Cleaning is paramount to reduce any pathogen. 

Question: 614 Mom readers have expressed concern about proper sanitation between customers.  What should they look for or ask for when they sit down if they want to go out to eat in a restaurant?

Answer: Have they properly sanitized with a “food grade EPA registered sanitizer”? Disinfectants are not approved for dining surfaces as this is higher level chemistry and not safe for food. This is where food sanitizers come into play. As your server “Has this entire area been sanitized?”

Question: Are there any restaurants that you feel are really doing an excellent job at keeping their restaurants properly cleaned and cared for?

Answer: Overall, I’ve seen a higher level of importance with food sanitation, cleanliness, and employee training. Restaurant Clean Maitre’d not only provides cleaning service we also request a 30-minute food safety training and seminar with the staff and provide a certificate of recognition. 

This ensures that at least everyone has some safe direction.

Question: I think one of the common themes here is that people are doing what they feel is safer to limit risk. In your expert opinion, what is actually the safest way to dine in a restaurant?

Ensure all employees are wearing masks. Ensure the table is properly sanitized before you are seated. Minimize visits to restrooms. Ensure that the diner closest to you is further than 6’

Question: When polled hundreds of moms said they just really miss taking their kids out somewhere fun.  How can we take our families out safely? What should we bring with us, ask for from businesses, and just overall limit risk?

I would minimize activities that involve group settings. The majority of the carriers of this virus are the younger population. The concern more is for the middle to upper age population. You cannot ensure others wash hands or force others to wear a mask but if we all do our part with just these two guidelines it would reduce the transmission of this virus tremendously. 

Clean wipes are something I would take with me (keep in mind you cannot bring in your own cleaner and disinfectant as they may not be compliant for food establishments)

Question: I know we’re not here to talk about schools but, outside of restaurants, that was one of the biggest topics during the recent poll of 614 Moms. Do you have any thoughts on how to safely reopen schools? Or what parents/teachers can do to help minimize the risk?  

The school systems need to educate their faculty and staff. The majority of their decisions are based on budgets and feasibility. School systems need to recognize that they are providing a safe place and an education first. Regardless of what’s necessary to be done, they need to think of the students first. All you can do is educate your child or student to do the right thing and wash their hands, cover their mouths, limit-sharing and inform teacher or faculty that they are feeling ill immediately 

Question from a teacher: How can I keep my classroom clean and safe during this? 
Instruct each student to cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze. Request that they wash their hands as often as possible. Wipe clean desks and all touch surfaces after each session/class activity.

Question: What else would you like everyone to know about Restaurant Clean Maitre’d?  

Restaurant Clean Maitre’d is a company owned by hands-on HACCP Certified, Servsafe Certified individuals that use products with certification from Green Building Council, EPA Registered Products, and utilizes customized procedures cards for each and every restaurant we work with. We also provide in-service training with how to clean, properly sanitize, and disinfectant for each customer at no cost. Please look or ask for us where you dine

Restaurant Clean Maitre’d is a contract cleaning service that focuses primarily on restaurants, bars, and clubs. Our mission is to provide peace of mind to your customers in restaurants as they dine and to your staff as they work. Using EPA-approved products, we provide a clean environment for guests and a healthy workplace for employees.

Our original idea was to target and clean restrooms, but we realized that a sense of comfort comes from knowing the entire restaurant has been cleaned properly. During the recent COVID-19 breakout, we’ve made sure to use products that are EPA-registered SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 disinfectants in order to keep employees and customers safe.

As the restaurant diners ourselves, we understand the importance cleanliness that has on an experience at a restaurant. It really can make or break the experience and determine if we dine there again. For us, cleanliness is the top priority to improve customer satisfaction. We even give our Clean Seal of Approval to restaurants we’ve cleaned because we know it’s been done right. Look for it.

5 Books I'm Loving Right Now! June 2020

I’ve always loved reading but I’ll be realllllly honest. Being a mom and a business owner, while juggling everything else in life, I found it really hard to find time to escape into the stories that I once loved. It’s definitely a mix of being so tired after a long day that I fall asleep five minutes after starting to read my book, and just sometimes wanting to let my mind escape into the wonderful world of Netflix.

A lot of people say they should read more like it’s something they are checking off of the Adulting 101 to-do list, but for me, it’s more about missing that connection with the characters I used to feel so connected to. The thing that was once my escape was just pushed off to the side as just another thing I couldn’t fit into my life during this season.

Quarantine really gave me the excuse to slow down and be more intentional with my time and one of the things that I decided to focus on was connecting with new characters and getting lost in stories that I can’t get enough of.

I’ve put together the list of books I’ve read over the last few months in case you are also wanting to get lost in a great story.

I want to make note that I read Small Fry a little over a year ago but it was so good I wanted to make sure it made this list.

I’ll be sure to share July’s book picks as well, I’m currently busy *researching* aka - ready the best stories and going to bed way toooo late. Have a recommendation for me? Share them in the comments.

Educated

This book was recommended to me by so many people before I finally got around to reading it. The author, Tara Westover, does a beautiful job telling the story of her experiences in a world of fear, abuse, neglect, self-discovery, forgiveness, and so much more. I had so many moments of true connection to the author and found myself cheering so loudly for her by the end.

If you have it on your list of books you want to read, move it to the top. If not, add it to the list.

Buy It!

UNTAMED

This one was a book club read. I loved it so much, I stopped reading it and restarted it with my daughter. There were moments or chapters that I would skip over to keep it age-appropriate but I think the messages in this book are so powerful that she needed to hear them.

“When a woman finally learns that pleasing the world is impossible, she becomes free to learn how to please herself.” - Glennon Doyle, Untamed.

Grab Yours Now!

Small Fry

I remember reading an excerpt of this book before it came out and immediately preordering the book. While a lot of people were looking forward to hearing from the daughter of Steve Jobs, I was eager for someone to share a story that I could connect with. As someone with a complicated relationship with a parent it’s hard sometimes because it’s not something people talk about, or a story you see often in books and movies. This book helped me feel less alone. I didn’t want it to end. I needed more.

Buy It!

Little Fires Everywhere

I love great stories with complicated characters and multiple perspectives. Little Fires Everywhere is such a powerful story that reminds us that everyone is human, we all have different lives, perspectives, pain, joy, and every experience helps shape us into the people we are. You may recognize the title from the new Hulu series.

Grab Yours Now!

Where The Crawdad Sings

I recently bought this book upon recommendations from basically everyone on social media. I agree that it’s such a great read and it’s perfect to be diving into right now with elements of resilience, hope, and survival.

Shop Now!

10 Things I Wish People Knew About Anxiety

It’s no secret that anxiety is something I’ve lived with for most of my life.  I spent many years as a young child with paralyzing anxious thoughts that would cause me to just cry and cry. It wasn’t until I was an adult that I went from a self-diagnoses to a real official diagnosis by my therapist and primary care doctor.  With the help of some great people in my life, I’ve learned to manage my anxiety so it simply doesn’t control me anymore.  I still have moments but I’m able to come out of those moments much easier than before because of the tools I’ve learned.

Through my experiences, I’ve found that there are a lot of things I wish people knew about anxiety. I don’t speak for all people with anxiety - every experience is unique and different but I hope this helps you in some way, even if it’s just showing more grace to those you love with anxiety or accepting that words like anxiety and depression should not come with a stigma.

Anxiety doesn’t make me weak. 

Let me say it again - Anxiety DOES NOT make me or anyone else weak. I’m actually incredibly strong and that’s in part because of everything anxiety has taught me. 

The unknown is scary for me

The unknown can be one of my biggest stressors.  Pregnancy often causes me a lot of stress because there are so many things that are unknown.  I love my babies but my anxiety is much worse when pregnant.  

I love the details.

Details! Every little detail matters to me, even the smallest things.  Truly no detail is too small.  It may seem so annoying to you but to me, it’s just helping to stay in control of the possible unknown.

I can’t control my anxiety attacks

Anxiety attacks happen and good-intentioned people will say “but that’s not happening” and “you don’t know that” 

They are right - I don’t know if that thing would happen but I do know that at that moment that’s all my brain was focused on.  I couldn’t shake it. This happens sometimes and I do have medicine to help during those moments, but it’s still hard.

I know that my thoughts can be irrational but that doesn’t stop my brain from spiraling out of control

There is a part of me that is fully aware of how irrational my thoughts are but this other part is much louder.  It makes me feel like even though it may not be real right this second, that doesn’t mean it isn’t real tomorrow or the next day.  Which brings in my fear of the unknown.  

Certain tv shows, songs, or stories can trigger an anxiety attack

I saw something the other day about how people with anxiety love to watch the same shows over and over because they know what to expect and I felt that.  I almost always google the ending of a show or movie before watching it. While most people hate spoilers - I LOVE them.  Give me the bullet points and I’ll still enjoy watching it play out. I love the story NOT the anticipation.  

I love control. LOVE IT!

I like to feel in control of a situation, and I like to be prepared for anything. By being in control I can make sure I’m overly prepared.  

Medication is helpful but it doesn’t just take away all the pain 

I have tools I can use to help - medication, meditation, breathing techniques, and more.  While all of this helps it doesn’t solve everything. I still have anxious moments. 

Anxious thoughts can paralyze me

I strive for perfection and if I mess up my anxiety can paralyze me.  It can also cause me to pull away from those I love. 

I really hope I don’t pass this down to my kids

I’m really good at coping with my anxiety and I don’t think this is a weakness but I really hope my kids don’t ever have to go through this.  This is hard and I don’t ever want them to have to experience this. If they do though, I will be right there with them making sure they know they don’t have to walk through it alone.  

I don’t speak for everyone with anxiety, this is my experience and I hope that if you have similar feelings that you know that you’re not alone.