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Some call me Kristina, some call me Tina, and too many call me “TINA THE FAT LARD.” (Thanks a lot Napolion Dynamite). I’m SIX-FOOT-ZERO. And so is my husband. We also share the same shoe size. We used to have the same waist size…but one of us gained weight (I’ll let you guess). I like Peanut Butter sandwiches (peanut butter anything really) , driving with my shoes off, and swimming is my favorite form of exercise. We have two girls, 18-months apart. I am one of 15 siblings. Crazy, I know. We aren’t even polygamists. Get to know more about me by reading my post Unanswered Prayer I am one of the most directionally-challenged individuals you might ever meet. Smart phones and GPS are one of the greatest things ever invented and have saved me hours of being lost. incredibles halloween costume Pet Peeves Over-achieving toilets. You know what I’m talking about…the ones that flush on their own…and a little too powerfully so. Nothing like ending your bathroom trip with some fresh toilet water splashed right up on your buttox. Whenever I am using a toilet with a self-flush sensor on it I get all kinds of anxiety. It’s like I’m on a timer to try and finish my business before the dang thing thinks I’m done and flushes too early. Wedgies. Finding the right kind of underwear is a big deal for me. Whoever invented the thong should be shot. Okay, not really…but seriously?! WHY? Having a wedgie for longer than 10 minutes puts me in a really bad mood. I haven’t quite figured out why, but it’s innevitable. Some of my worst memories involve grocery shopping (which I’m also not fond of) and having a wedgie at the same time. Ugh. Tree Sap. The day you place your hand on some tree sap is a bad day. Okay, maybe just a bad moment. The darn stuff sticks to everything and is ridiculous to get out of clothing. And usually the moments that I get tree sap on myself are also the moments that I am far far away from any type of soap and water. Which means dealing with it for hours. Which almost drives me to insanity. Toddler Nap-Time Poo. My toddler goes through these cycles of pooping during her nap time and it seems to happen for days in a row at the same exact time. If it’s nap time and she has a poop, then her chances of actually taking a nap are 100% negative. Even if it happens at the beginning of her nap and I lay her back down…absolute refusal. Anytime that she has a poop in the morning time I almost break into a victory dance because I know it’s going to be a good day. Nap time is my sacred time. Don’t mess! Why I started a Blog. motherhood Being a mom can be more challenging that I imagined, but is it more rewarding and fulfilling than ever thought possible. Something that I have thought a lot about (and which has been the inspiration for this blog) is my observation of other moms. Being a mom seems to be a very time-consuming and sometimes overwhelming task. Too many moms are hard on themselves. Too many feel that they are not measuring up. Some moms yell too much at their children and wish that they didn’t. Some are working hard and doing their best every single day but still feel that they aren’t giving their children enough attention. I have these days myself, but my quest is to have many more that are filled with laughter, learning and joy. I want this blog to be a gathering place for other moms to come share their delights, successes and learning moments. I want this to be a place where we inspire and uplift each other. Mother’s Niche is my little “nook” or “getaway” to reflect on the things that I learn as a mom, the magical moments, and the positive aspects of parenting. This blog is to focus on having Joy in the Journey. My Main Goals For Blogging Include: 1. Spreading goodness in the world. We live in a world that is full of crime, sadness and hatred. But we also live in a wonderful world full of really good people, and great things. My hope is to find as much good as I can and to spread it to as many people as I can. If a post that I write uplifts just one person today, I am grateful. 2. Share ideas with other moms. I also started blogging as an accountability tool: as a way of journaling and also as a way of keeping creativity in motherhood. I want to be a fun mom and I want to have fun ideas and activities on hand for my children. Hopefully the more I blog, the more I will learn and the more I will experiement with different ideas and projects. 3. Eventually contribute financially to my family’s income. I don’t ever intend to become rich from blogging, but I do hope that it can help provide for some of our needs. My husband is a teacher and I love that he is doing what he loves, but I know that things will continue to be more tight as we raise our family. I hope you are not bothered by the occasional affiliate link or sponsor. I only ever share things that I truly would share with my closest friends and I want you to know that I will never be dishonest with my readers in return for any free item or compensation in any way. If I review a product it is because I truly would recommend it to other moms. Besides, isn’t that the best way to find out about the best products out there? I’d take another mom’s advice over some random commercial any day! My top priority is my family, but I also care a great deal for my readers. Please feel free to make comments or email at any time and I will do my best to respond promptly.