badass mama – BabyCostsMoney

Are you looking for a New Year’s Resolution? Look no further.

This Monday I want to introduce Emily from The Mom Grind. I have been following Emily on Instagram for almost a year now. This woman is awesome. She somehow manages to work out all the time with a toddler (and now another baby on the way!!) and be a total badass and STILL not make me feel bad about watching her exercise on Instastories while eating ice cream.

She’s very ‘you do you, but this is what I’m doing’. I love her. You might also love her. You should follow her if you need inspiration to work out with and around and sometimes literally underneath your small children this New Year. Or even if you just like nice people.

Oh. She’s super nice. I wonder if it’s all that adrenaline from being healthy and stuff. Is that how adrenaline works? I wouldn’t know.

In fact, she is SO NICE, that she answered a few of my questions. Thank you, Emily!

1. Your Instagram is completely inspirational. I love that you work out with your toddler. And I guess you will be working out with a new baby soon!? Please share your secrets. Time management? Wizardry?

Thank you! It started off by me being inspired by other Moms to be honest. I realized there wasn’t any real secret to it — anything worth doing isn’t going to be easy. Now I love to workout because it has become time where I can be selfish and only think about me — think about the things bugging me, how strong I feel, goals I need to reach, how my workouts going to go, or how proud of myself I am for just getting to the gym that day. Whatever it is, that hour is mine. I carve it out of my day, and I’m a better wife, Mom, and friend for it.

It’s finding YOUR reason — make it deep so it takes root in your life. Also make it work for you. It’s only a couple small hours in your week — so be selfish about it!

2. How long have you been such a badass? Was this a natural continuation of your pre-kid life? Or did you just decide to Awesome It Up after becoming a mom?

Haha- badass! Thanks! 😂

I think it happened because I was carrying so many burdens (that I was putting on myself).

I felt like a failure as a woman because I had a horrible labour that ended up in emergency cesarean section. It took months of recovery and I lost my identity in that time. I decided to stop making excuses for myself, and with the help of an amazing trainer who made me realize my potential, I just kept moving forward and getting stronger. Now I just want to keep moving that way. It might look different, but always forward, always stronger.

3. What is the last movie you saw in the theater?

I saw Justice League in the theater! It was awesome, and all those badass women in the movie fired me up for a wicked workout the next day!

4. It’s the PTA Bakesale: homemade, store bought, or NOPE?

I’m definitely not above store bought- but if I have the time I’ll make a simple cookie or Rice Krispie square.😉

Ok, I’m not gonna lie. Emily may have sold me on this whole work-out thing with that whole ‘time to be selfish’ thing.

Hey Emily, does hanging out in the sauna at the gym count as a workout? JUST KIDDING MAYBE.

This Monday I would like to introduce my virtualfriend Ashley Marsh.

Ashley is a badass Bay-area blogger who is originally from Utah. She has two beautiful little boys, Cash (4) and Tate (22 months). She is a full-time student pursuing a Ph.D. in psychiatry. Ashley started blogging as a way to vent some of her anger and frustration while she was suffering from postpartum depression and anxiety. She continues to post about anxiety, depression, feminism, day-drinking, abortion, politics, hall passes, and all of the other things Mommy Bloggers aren’t supposed to write about at A Vodka Kind of Mom. I highly recommend you follow her blog, because you never know what kind of genius will fall into your inbox. You can also find her on Instagram and Facebook.

1. Tell me about your first tattoo? Your favorite tattoo? Would you get EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM again?

My first tattoo was a very small crown behind my ear. I was terrified to get it done so I smoked a little weed and had a few drinks before hand. I could do this because my then boyfriend was a tattoo artist. I got to lay in my bed and watch Jersey Shore. It didn’t hurt at all, and not because I wasn’t sober, it is just not a painful area. My favorite tattoo is probably the bird I have on my hip. It sort of resembles a Phoenix but it’s a mixture of blues and purples with a long feathery tail that goes onto my butt and the head comes up over my hip close to my stomach. I would get them all again. I have some with my ex-boyfriend but I don’t mind. I never tattooed his name or anything like that and they always make for good stories.

2. How are you raising your boys to be feminists?

With my boys only being 4 and 22 months they don’t understand the concept of feminism and I can’t preach that to them because they will just ignore me. Instead, when my 4-year-old makes comments about how boys are stronger, I tell them mama Annie and mama Tiff (two friends of ours who do body building competitions) are very strong, maybe even stronger than daddy! I also make sure they know the concept behind consent. If my boys don’t want to play a certain way I stop immediately. My husband doesn’t follow this rule and it drives me insane. I’m constantly getting on his ass about it, but he never listens. I teach them it’s okay to play with girls, to play with girls things, to paint their toes if they want, to break gender norms because they are being trained those things, they aren’t true.

I truly do believe the best thing I can do is show my children through my own actions about raising men and women up, treating all genders, races, and sexual orientations equally, as well as fighting for equality and inclusivity for everyone. I know I sound like one of those crazy hippy moms from the Bay Area, and I kind of am in a way, but I think it’s important to raise my boys this way. Any and all suggestions are welcome! I am still so new to this parenting thing.

3. It’s the PTA Bakesale: homemade, store bought, or NOPE?

Store bought for sure! I may put it on a fancy plate to try and disguise my store bought lazy ness. However, if my husband is willing I would enlist him to make his delicious pecan pie.

Tag: badass mama

Monday’s Mama is Fit AF.

Monday’s Mama is Fierce AF.