Manic Mama of 3

Making Life Just A Little Less Hectic Together

Taste of Virginia Food Festival at Kings Dominion

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Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Cedar Fair in conjunction with Blog Meets Brand.

Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia is hosting a Taste of Virginia Food Festival event and for me that screams food and fun! We got to taste tons of foods from around the Commonwealth. They were all totally delicious.  You get to try foods from each region and experience the local flavor. What is better than great tasting food and some fun-filled rides?

The hubby and I could not wait to get out day started and of course started the day off in style with a picture of the two of us.

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After we rode some rides, that’s when we headed over to the Taste of Virginia. We could not wait to see what all they had in store for us to try!

About Taste of Virginia:

Virginia is for Lovers! Whether you love food, wine, beer, or coasters… Kings Dominion’s brand new event, Taste of Virginia, is sure to delight! North, south, east and west… we are taking you on a culinary journey through the commonwealth. Our team is whipping up recipes inspired by the various regions of Virginia. Enjoy all of this home-grown deliciousness while grooving to the sounds of the BEST local live bands.

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I have lived in about three regions of Virginia so some of the food was familiar to me but not all of it.

Tidewater

Tidewater is one of the regions that I called home for a few years of my life when I was a little girl. When I saw that they had all sorts of seafood, I just knew that I had to try out the oysters. I am a huge oyster lover and they surely did not disappoint!

  • Seared Oyster Cake with Bacon Aioli
  • Flounder Corn Chowder
  • Shrimp and Grits

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Chesapeake

Chesapeake is where I call home now and so I knew I had to see how one of these dishes stacked up to what I was used to at home. I am a huge Pecan Pie fan and so that is exactly what I dug in to! I am also a huge crabcakes fan so I needed to have these for sure. They were so absolutely delicious.

  • Crispy Crabcakes
  • Chesapeake Mac N’ Cheese
  • Pecan Praline Pie

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The Blue Ridge Mountains

Even though I did not grow up near the Blue Ridge Mountains, the first few years of my life was lived right next to Brunswick County. So you have probably guessed what I tried from this menu. The Brunswick Stew of course!

  • Brunswick Stew
  • Fried Chicken and Creamy Dumplings
  • Peanut Butter Fudge with Glazed Roasted Pecans

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Colonial

I could not make up my mind of what I wanted when it came to the Colonial part of the Taste of Virginia, but I knew that I loved Empanadas. I couldn’t resist digging into the ham and cheese stuffed ones. They were totally delicious!

  • Sweet Potatoes and Roasted Duck Pullover
  • Smithfield Ham and Cheese Empanadas
  • Peanut Soup with Crispy Peanut Coated Onions

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Piedmont

I was so upset about my tokens management when it came to getting the food. I admit I should have tried one thing from the Piedmont instead of two from Chesapeake, but it is what it is! If I would have picked one from this region it would have been the biscuits with apply butter. I bet they would have been amazing like the rest of the food was.

  • Biscuits with Local Apply Butter
  • Fried Winesap Apple Pies
  • Shitake Turkey Meatloaf with Country Ham Gravy

Kings Dominion is always such a great time and I was so happy to have been able to experience the taste of Virginia along with all the fantastic rides this time around!

Seven Ways to Destress

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Stress has been mounting. Has it gotten to you, too? No matter what you like to do, stress is always going to be a factor in one area of your life or another. I have a few little tips to destress that may help you.

My blog has always been my outlet. My baby of sorts. I have been at this for a few years now and I decided that I really needed to decide what I wanted from it. I was stressing myself out.

Did I really want to post every day?

Every other day?

Maybe only once a week?

To say that I have been overwhelmed with all my thoughts in my head would be an understatement.

I have also wanted to take my VA business to a whole new level this year. I have branched out into writing for others and also doing some social media management. There are also other behind the scenes tasks I do for other bloggers. My time was precious with doing all this and so my blog went to the wayside.

I haven’t really posted anything since the beginning of January, and I am so sorry for that! Life comes with many blessings, a lot of laughter, and a lot of love. With life also comes STRESS.

With three littles, I had to focus on one thing for a little while. So my business it was. My blog has always been an outlet to just share what I love with the world, but sometimes that doesn’t pay the bills, does it?

I needed a few months to destress and refocus, but I’m truly back. Starting off slow with posting, but I am back (I think).

Here are a few ways that I took some time for me and that geared me towards being ready for my blogging comeback as we head into warmer weather. I really think that the colder weather really did me in mentally (as well as some sickness going around!).

Maybe these will be just what you need if you are looking to destress and reboot yourself!

Take time for YOU! Stress is your body’s way of telling you that you need to focus on yourself a little more. Take time to just be by yourself. This can be taking a bath, meditating, or relaxing at the coffee shop. Whatever you do, make sure to give yourself a break from everything including work, home life, and kids.

Get to bed early. With all the stress of the holidays, you have most definitely lacked in the sleep department. Try to get to bed before 10:00 pm. If you can get to bed earlier do so. A good night’s rest will help you to destress from the holiday chaos.

Free your mind. Freeing your mind can be as simple as reading a good book. Take time to free your mind from all the information rolling around in there. Read a book, color, or take a walk.

Use essential oils to calm the senses. Lavender, chamomile, and rose all work wonders at calming your senses and giving you an overall sense of well-being.

Listen to calming music. Music has a direct link to our emotions and can, therefore, be a great tool to alleviate stress. It also absorbs our attention and allows us to just be.

Practice deep breathing. Deep breathing slows your heart rate which eases anxiety. Breathing for 4 seconds through your nose and breathing out through your mouth in rhythm will help balance your body.

Exercise. Exercise is not only great for your health, but it is a natural way to burn out the stress in your body. A brisk run or workout is the perfect way to destress after New Year’s and can be the start of a great New Year’s resolution.

It is amazing what can happen after you start putting yourself first. Stress is definitely not needed in anyone’s life and a lot of it is brought on by US. I know that you can find that hard to believe but it is so true!

Giving up something that totally has you stressed, even for a little while, is so healthy. Blogging was becoming stressful for me. I know that may seem like the least stressful thing in the world compared to other people’s problems.

A lot goes into this business though! Promotion. Lots of promotion. I just was not in the mood for it. I wanted people to enjoy the content that I had. Shockingly, while I was gone my blog was still getting close to 400 hits a day, so thank you!

I am back and ready to push you some life advice, parenting tips and some yummy recipes. Hope you will continue to follow along.

Living with High Functioning Anxiety

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A subject that has been much talked about as of late is high functioning anxiety. I related so hard to what these articles were saying that I decided to share with you some insight into my life as a person with high functioning anxiety.

This person can look so normal to you that you would never even know that they were suffering on the inside with high functioning anxiety. It can come across as people that are over achieving at things but really inside they are screaming.

I have so much restlessness that it sometimes consumes me. As a mother, this high functioning anxiety can take over. I feel like there are so many things that I need to do, not enough time to do them in and when I do take them on they need to be done perfectly.

 

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I send myself into my own little mini panic attack. Some of those panic attacks seem unnecessary to those around me and so they can be brushed off as just having an attitude.

I lash out when it is not the right time to do so just because I feel so overwhelmed. There is nothing else to do in my mind except to run. Whether it be from answering emails to putting off tasks that need to be done, I feel like I just need to get away. I need to get away right then and there.

Negative thoughts are always swirling in my head. Am I good enough? Can I really do all of this? What will people think of me if I fail?

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I excel, or like to think I do, and so when I get confronted with something I feel worthless. Sometimes it can be in a friendship. Other times it can be in a work environment. Even worse, it can happen in my love life.

High functioning anxiety is such a hidden demon. I am so glad to see that people are speaking out about it. It can really look like we are busy people that are getting things done.

We are really nervous people on the inside.

We have nervous ticks. Mine include picking at blemishes on my face or biting my nails that seem justa little bit too long. I have no idea why I do it and I tell myself to stop when I am doing the action. But I don’t. It’s like an uncontrollable urge.

If you look at my messages, you will see some that are just plain unanswered. Why? I have no idea. Maybe it’s because I don’t want the confrontation. I don’t feel like talking to people right then. The reasoning behind it is pretty unclear.

I have to have a plan. If I don’t have a plan or something falls apart at the last minute, I panic. It’s not a small panic either. It’s like an end of the world panic.

I bet if you look closely, you have someone like this in your life. It’s a silent attack on their souls. They may not even know that they have it, but I bet if they read what ails people with high functioning anxiety, a light will come on. All the while, it appears perfectly calm.

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People like me love lists. They love to organize. They like to seriously do anything to keep themselves busy. I can’t just watch TV. There has to be something else being done while I watch. A total feeling of that there is something else I could be accomplishing takes over.

It’s also crazy to think that people with high functioning anxiety love to please people. I think I need to learn to say the word “NO” just a little more often. It’s a pang of not being able to help someone else. It’s the thought that someone will think less of you if you can’t do something.

Having the fear of saying the wrong thing, keeps you silent within your own thoughts a lot of the time. When you finally do speak, you think that no one can possibly care what you have to say. You look to them to see their reactions. 

You totally feel like you are screwing everything up when most of the time you’re not.

It’s having bad thoughts about what could happen all the time. There is nothing to stop them either. You always think the worst case scenario.

High functioning anxiety is needing to make a plan of what to do on your day when you have nothing to do.

You are a social person but feel like you are alone when you go to social gatherings.

Anxiety is one of those things where you need to make sure that you have your emotions in check. If you don’t, it can seriously be the worst. Your mood depends on how much sleep you got the night before, what the temperature is outside, the fact that you didn’t have a certain way of doing things in the morning. It can be anything.

The triggers are something that only the person with the high functioning anxiety can track down.

You can fight the anxiety though.

You can win.

Take some time to stop and relax.

You can totally conquer that list of everything that you want to achieve.

It’s about thinking that you are enough.

The energy that you have is a strength. You can do this. You can win at anything that you put your mind to.

Ignore the things that don’t go right that are not in your control.

Finding peace within yourself and your busy lifestyle is one way to help with coping with high functioning anxiety.

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I am also going to let you in on a little secret. I take supplements. There is absolutely no shame in that.

Taking the supplement 5-HTP has changed my life for the better. It helps better balance my mood. I really believe that I have a Serotonin imbalance somewhere along the line. I also take a Super B Complex. It helps harness my energy that I have inside and I can be productive with it.

There are so many people out there that live with high functioning anxiety. They either know it or they don’t. Whether it is you that has the high functioning anxiety or someone that you care about, know that you are not alone.

You are good enough. You can do this. There is support if you just ask for it from friends and family.

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How to Throw a Winter Wonderland Party

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‘Tis the season for snow, cold, and a wonderland party. Parties are a part of the winter whether it’s a Christmas party, New Year’s Eve party, or a birthday party. When it comes to winter parties, the perfect party to throw is a winter wonderland party. Here’s how to get it accomplished!

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There are so many things that I love about winter. I love the way the snow looks and how snowflakes fall, but I don’t always want to be outside in it. I also live in the South and so our snowfalls are far and in between. Recreating the mood for a winter wonderland isn’t hard and I love that I am able to do just that indoors.

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Decorate with Handmade Snowflakes

If it’s a kid party, this is the perfect craft for getting kids involved and giving them something to do. Fold a few pieces of construction paper allowing the kids to cut shapes, and pieces out of the folds. When you unfold the paper, you have a perfectly unique snowflake. Hang your snowflakes on the ceiling.

Add Some Fake Snow

You can’t have a winter wonderland party without the snow. You can get 5 pounds of stuffing at a time at your local Walmart or craft store. Use this stuffing to strategically place your snow throughout the house. This gives you a beautiful snowy winter wonderland.

Make Snow Pretzels

Chocolate covered pretzels are the best snack for any party, but when you dip them in white chocolate, they transform into snowy wonderland snacks. Puppy chow with white powdered sugar is, also, another snack that can make your party a winter wonderland.

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Hang Icicles

Christmas lights work perfectly at making your winter wonderland come to life. Hang icicles on the walls throughout the house as streamers. This will lighten up your beautiful party. Dim the lights for a more magical effect.

Turn the Heat Down

Let’s face it; winter isn’t as fun without a little cool weather. If your party is indoors, you can turn the heat down to make it a little cooler in your home. This will give more of a winter wonderland effect as your guests arrive. Keep your thermostat at around 65-degrees (you don’t want to be too cold).

What other fun ways have you made a winter wonderland party? Share some tips and ideas in the comments below for others to enjoy!

Beat Winter Break Boredom

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Parents can dread Winter Break almost as much as kids look forward to it since it’s harder for kids to play outside. Beat that Winter Break boredom with 10 awesome activities to keep those kids entertained and to help keep your sanity.

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Felt Christmas Tree: This activity is so much fun and great for younger kids. Make a tree and all sorts of decorations out of feeling. Put the tree on the wall and let the kids decorate it over and over with the self-sticking decorations.

Window Clings: All this requires is drawing your decorations with puffy paint onto cling wrap. Once dry they will stick to windows and remove cleanly! Make is festive and print our Christmas themed picture to trace under the cling wrap.

Christmas Bingo: This could be multiage! Use little pictures for children who don’t read yet, and words for emergent readers! Snowmen, trees, and other Christmas themed words and pictures will make this so much fun!

Ornament Decorating: Every child loves to make something special for their parents during Christmas, and they love seeing it on the tree! There are many ways to decorate and can be as simple as filling a clear ball, or getting as elaborate as painting and using glitter.

Ornament ISpy: This is a really fun game! Take some clear plastic ornaments and fill them with clear plastic beans. Throw in some very small Christmas themed items, such as Christmas beads, and close it up! Then give the kids a list of what all is in there and let them search! Make lots with all different themes!

Christmas Science: What happens when you pour vinegar on a candy cane? How do you make slime? Science is so much fun and will always keep kids entertained, and Pinterest is full of Christmas-themed science projects!

Christmas Tree Balance Game: This is so easy and so much fun for the little kids. Simply make a tree out of green painters tape on the floor. Then have kids “balance” on the tape as they walk around the tree!

Snowball Toss: This fun game is great for multiple children. Set up cups, formed into a triangle like bowling pins, and then have your kids throw “snowballs” into the cups. Of course, the snowballs are just balled up pieces of paper!

Old Toy Donation: There is no better way to teach kids the joy of giving than to have them donate to charity. Have your children go through their old things before Christmas, and pick out things they no longer play with but are still in nice condition. Work with them, and explain all the reasons why we donate and who they are helping with their donations.

New Year’s Eve Banner: New Year’s also happens over Winter Break, so be sure to gear up for the midnight fun! Make a fun banner to help keep kids entertained before the big day.