Coffee Chat

Happy Monday Dolls. I'm so happy you're here with me this morning. I know Mondays aren't our favorite days; today is particularly hard for me because it's the first day back to school and reality after a long Thanksgiving break. I've enjoyed sleeping in and long mornings on the couch drinking coffee and watching Christmas Hallmark movies and three long days of cooking and cleaning, preparing to host our first holiday in our new home. I'm not quiet ready to give that up yet but it makes it a little easier to bear with friends so grab a cup of coffee and get cozy with me and let's chat.

*Bonus if you are in pajamas or sweats with your hair in a messy bun because that's what I want this space to feel like; cozy dates with girlfriends in sweats and messy buns while we spill open the inner most parts of our hearts.*

So grab a mug and join me for a coffee date.

Coffee Chat + Goals

Hey Sweet Friends! Happy Monday. It's been a while since i've done a coffee chat + goals post because i've had several other posts to fill the space of Mondays. I have missed y'all and our cozy coffee chats though so throw your hair in a top knot, grab your favorite mug filled with coffee and a blanket and let's chat about all the things on our hearts and share our goals for this week.

Coffee Chat

Happy Monday Loves. I know, Mondays are no fun but I think Mondays would be so much better if we started the day off with coffee and a girlfriend or two. So won't you join me for a coffee date this morning?


If you and I were on a coffee date i'd be drinking a White Chocolate Mocha and eating a French Cruller Donut. They're so light and fluffy; they're definitely my favorites. I'd ask you how you've been and what's new in your life? I love pictures so i'd happily look at any pictures you have of your kids, pets and anything else that is important, beautiful and inspiring to you. I'd show you a few of my family and life lately.

I'd tell you that weekends like the one we just had are the kind that my heart needs more of. Friday we ended up hanging out with one of the young guys up the road. He really opened up to us and took comfort in my family and our home. Saturday we had a late Easter dinner with my parents, grandma, brother, sister in law and nephew. I got lots of sweet cuddles from my nephew (he's only 7 months old). I even got to be a part of bath time and got lots of time to talk with my brother and sister in law. That did my heart so good. They always have a way of putting things into perspective. Sunday was spent running errands and cleaning house with my hubby. It all made one amazing weekend that I'm ready to do again soon.

I would tell you that the sponsored posts i've been doing lately are the only things keeping my blog a float. If you were curious, i'd tell you how sponsorships work and how they've inspired me to step out of my comfort zone and do things I never thought i'd do; like sharing outfit posts and talks about self confidence.

Lately my head and my heart have been all over the place with the potential of building a new home and our son starting high school next year, i've been a mess. I haven't really felt like myself and it's been showing but I am thankful for my parents and my husband for being my support. My husband is truly the best; sometimes I'm not sure what I did to deserve him but I'm happy I got him.

Because of this my blog and social media have taken a hit, too. I have so many ideas that I'd like to put into motion but no motivation to do them. I've been living in a bubble of my own, searching for motivation. The other day when I was in a really down mood I begrudgingly went to Target for a few things we needed and a book caught my eye; It's called Note to Self by Connor Franta. It's basically a blog within a book that is so raw and real it is inspiring. I picked it up and knew I had to have it so I bought it and spent a couple days on the porch just reading. It inspired me, not only to get back to blogging but also so to live a real, authentic, raw life so expect to see more heart moments and rawness from me. I'm also ready to take the jump and open an Etsy shop, start a Facebook group for bloggers, and possibly even start writing my own book like Note To Self.

I'd also tell you that since giving up sugar last month, it either tastes really good or really bad when I eat it now. Cake at a baby shower I attended was entirely too sweet for me and it wasn't the cake's fault. I kind of celebrate it as a win though because it means i'm really doing good at making some lifestyle and eating habit changes.

Since Spring Break is over, i'm officially done with this school year. I wish I could keep my son home starting now and enjoy sleeping in, long summer days outside by the pool, and doing nothing but relaxing.

Today starts another amazing campaign with the always sweet Ashley from The Imperfect Boss. If you don't know Ashley, you should run and join her group now! I love her sweet spirit. She's the ultimate girl boss, always cheering for everyone else, shining her light and inspiring everyone she meets. She's a doll, y'all and a real life blessing. Stay tuned to see more about this campaign. I'm excited to be a part of it and help her inspire and cheer other girl bosses on.

Last week I had the priviledge of being featured on my sweet friend, Mistle's, blog Blogger Bliss. It was truly one of my favorite posts ever. I love doing guest posts because I feel like I can pour so much heart into them. This has made me smile all week. I can not thank Mistle enough for allowing me to be a part of this series she's starting. Stay turned for more from her.


If we were on a coffee date, what would you share with me?

10 Minutes

*Sometimes life happens. Inspiration just isn't there and I simply feel overwhelmed. I've been feeling this way lately. I can't seem to find the focus to get the words out so I sat down with my lap top the other day and set a timer for 10 minutes. The words below are what came of that. They may not make sense to anyone else but that's okay. My hope is to inspire you when you feel un-inspired and overwhelmed. Sit down, write the words. Everything may be messy but that's the beauty in it. The words, the heart, the hair-it's all messy and that's okay. There's beauty in the mess. Embrace it.*


I'm a huge believer in taking time to take care of yourself. I hear women often say "I just don't have the time to take care of myself" and it makes me want to grab them and run to the nearest nail salon for mani/pedis then stop off at a coffee shop on the way home to enjoy some coffee and conversation. It's not that we don't have the time, it's that we don't make the time. Maybe it sounds silly to write "Me time" on our calendars but it's something that is necessary because how can you take care of anyone else if you are ragged and worn out? In order to do anything efficently you have to be in the best shape; mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually that you can.

We all wear many hats; we're chaueffeurs, cooks, nurses, cheerleaders-you name it, we do it and sometimes it gets exhausting. I know. I've been there many times and lately i've been there again. It's not that life isn't great, mine is honestly the best it's ever been. I'm married to my best friend, we have an amazing son, a sweet pup, a cozy home, groceries in our kitchen, air conditioning, running water. You name it, it's covered. Lately though i've been feeling a bit overwhelmed and it really has nothing to do with the things going on in my life but rather, the things that are in my mind. See, we're in the midst of building a home and our son will be starting high school next year. Those things give me anxiety, I won't lie but I still don't feel like that's to blame for my feelings lately. I feel detached. I feel un-inspired and i've been trying to figure out why then it came to me; i'm not taking care of my mind.

I'm great at taking "me time" but i'm not great at using that "me time" to empty my mind or even stop for a few minutes and let thoughts process. I feel like I have 3,000 tabs open in my brain at any given time. "What weekend did my husband say he has to work?" "Do I have everything in order for Dylan for high school?" "Did I e-mail the builder everything I needed to?" "Blog posts. Oh yeah, gotta work on blog posts." "Did I send so and so an e-mail back?" "Is everyone participating in my Birthday Cheer gift swap?" "Who has a birthday coming up?"
"What do I need to do for dinner tonight?" "Are all Alex's work clothes ironed?"

I haven't spent enough time getting prepared for this week so it's been exceptionally bad. I didn't make a meal plan. I didn't write my posts in my planner. I didn't add anything to my planner so when I start to think of all these things I get overwhelmed and plain exhausted. I'm not sure when it happened, or why we all feel the need to be June Cleaver meets Wonder Woman but it's not fulfilling and it certainly isn't helping anyone. So today I begrudginly went to Target (that's painful to even say) to grab toilet paper and a few other necessities that I over looked on yesterday's grocery shopping trip because without toilet paper, we'd be knocking on the neighbors door. And this morning I made a meal plan so there's no more waking up at 3 a.m. wondering what I should make for dinner that day. Yes, that's a true story.

Moral of the story, taking "me time" means so much more than running a bath with a bath bomb and a face mask or treating yourself to your favorite Starbucks drink. "Me Time" means taking care of your mind and soul, too. I started reading a book today that caught my eye at Target. I picked it up, flipped through it, sat it down, walked away and came back to it two more times before something in me said "put the lipstick back and buy the book." It's all about budgeting these days, y'all so I did what my heart (or maybe my mind) said to do and bought the book. It's a good for your soul kinda book. It inspires me and i've only read the intro. My mind needed this much more than it needed another lipstick. I need to clear my mind and focus on peace and happiness from within.

Do you practice taking care of your mind? If not, i'll share with you some of the ways i'm learning to. Read an inspiring book. Meditate, pray or do yoga. Make a fairy garden. Put together a gift basket for someone. Start an inspiration journal. Turn off the tv and listen to inspirational music. Listen to a podcast and be fully present, take notes. Grab a girlfriend for a coffee date. Lay out in the grass and watch the clouds go by. Whatever you do, take care of yourself; mind, body, soul and mind.

Letting Go of Perfection

Hi Peachies. Today I need to share some things on my heart and soul. I need to clear my mind and be honest with you. I'm a mess of emotions and feelings right now. I'm allowing myself to get in my own head and make a mess of the blessings i've been given. Don't worry, this isn't a Dear Diary post. I've already spent my time doing that this morning and it felt good to get those words out on paper and leave them there but I feel like, as bloggers, we like to share the bright and bubbly side of life and sometimes we aren't great about sharing the real moments. The moments we struggle with. That's why I want to share this with you.

This morning I woke up at 6. It's a whole hour and a half earlier than I have been lately. After I laid in bed for 30 minutes I decided I wanted to grab a cup of coffee and sit out on our front porch and read my daily devotional while the sun came up.

Instagram post this morning

6:40. am-I haven't been awake this early all summer but apparently I missed it more than I knew. There's something about sitting outside with a good cup of coffee, in your favorite pajamas, watching the cotton candy sky as the sun comes up that just inspires & excites me. #lesliessparkofhappiness #lesliesinspiredlife #coffeelover

A photo posted by {Leslie Soto} (@georgiapeachy31) on Jul 20, 2016 at 3:47am PDT

Today's devotional really spoke to me & left me feeling inspired so I grabbed my phone and opened my Calm app and meditated then I grabbed my yoga mat and started to do some yoga. Something changed though. Instead of remembering what I had just read in my devotional, "Everything we have-including our lives-is an expression of God's generosity to us", I looked around my house and all I saw was a mess. Every single room is a mess. I spend my days cleaning this house, making it a place of happiness and comfort for my family but to look at it, you can't tell. Now y'all, I realize I'll never live in a house that looks like a museum, nor do I want to. I want my family and friends to feel comfortable in my house but I do like to be able to tell i've done something. I'm blessed to be able to stay at home and take care of my son, my hubby, and our home but I take my role in this family seriously and sometimes it's hard not to feel overwhelmed.

I've been in such an inspired and #girlboss season in my life lately but today I simply feel over whelmed. It's times like these when I realize that I'm creating my own standard of perfection. I'm expecting myself to live up to something I simply can't because perfection isn't real. It's just an idea I've created in my own head. I know that no one expects anything un-realistic from me so why do I expect them from myself?

In January I picked out a word of the year. (You can read that post here.) My word was perfection because it's a word I want to take out of my mind, my head, my heart, and my life. I allow myself to be controlled by this false sense of perfection instead of seeing the blessings in everything. Most of the time I do okay with letting go of that silly thought but sometimes it still sneaks in and steals my joy.

I'm breaking up with perfection today. I'm going to choose happiness instead. My messy house is a sign of a family that's busy laughing, loving, and creating memories together. I'm blessed by the laundry piling up and the dishwasher that needs to be emptied because it means that we have clothes to protect us from the summer sun. It means we sleep comfortably in our favorite pajamas. It means we have food on our tables each day and night. I'm going to remember what I read in my devotional today and live in the generosity the Lord has given me.

I'm not perfect and that's okay.








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Always Stay Humble & Kind.

If you're a country music fan then you've heard those lyrics before, if you aren't a country music fan; it's from Tim McGraw's Humble and Kind. My heart is so heavy right now with all the negativity in this world. I try hard to surround myself with people who only lift me up, believe in me, inspire me and mirror the kind of person I hope I am. Not only the kind of person I hope I am but also the kind of person I want as a role model for my son. It's hard enough to live in this world and raise kids these days so I am a true believer in having the right kind of people in our lives as opposed to many people in our lives. Quality over quantity.

Then you add in social media and I feel like this is where it's harder to surround myself with only positive people because social media platforms give people a place to speak their minds and say things they usually wouldn't because they have a safety net around them. It's easy to sit behind a screen and type away things that you feel in the moment instead of walking away and giving it some thought and deciding it's really not a big deal after all. There is a part of me that HATES Facebook, especially. I've thought about deleting it several times but I do have family out of state whom I keep up with via Facebook and I want to be able to share with them all life's happy moments. I also use Facebook as a resource for my blog, so there's that, too. And I hope that the people on my Facebook page can find some inspiration through the things I share and my blog.

Facebook especially has become such a negative place where people are real quick to voice their thoughts and beliefs and if someone else doesn't agree then they can verbally attack them. But then there's this side of it, too. Just because you believe something doesn't mean you should be shoving it down other people's throats to believe what you believe in, too.

Generally speaking, I don't talk about politics and my opinion on world tragedies on social media because I am just as accountable for what I put out here on the web as I am for the things I say. I feel like people tend to forget their accountability when it comes to social media, Facebook especially. In times like these you see people's true colors come out and it's an eye opener. There are people who have shown a side of themselves that has shocked and disappointed me. It hurts my heart.

What's going on in this world isn't a weapons problem. It's a heart problem. I'm trying my best to not let this cruel world make me have a cold heart and I'm trying to raise a member of society who can and will speak his voice but also who shows respect and who always stays humble and kind. Someone who isn't so narrow minded that he can only see his own beliefs and views. Someone who knows when to stop talking and listen to others beliefs and views, too. That's what the world needs now. The world needs to know when to sit down and listen. When to show respect. And that we can agree to disagree without fighting. No one can make you change your views so hold on to them tight but stop and listen to others.

Before you share something on social media think about every person on your friend's list and ask yourself will sharing this hurt them? If the answer is yes to even one person you care about then you shouldn't be sharing it. How would you feel if your kids read what you were sharing? If their friends read it? Is it something you can back with facts? Not just your opinion. Before you press the post button, pause for a minute and let what you've typed really sink in with you. You may find that just typing it out is enough and that sharing it isn't necessary. If, after that minute you still feel the need to share then go for it but remember, you are just as accountable for what you say on social media as you are for what you say in real life.


"Her mouth speaks from that which fills her heart." Luke 6:45









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10 Things {Dear Self}

Hi Peachies! Happy Tuesday! It's one of my favorite post days because it's like celebrating the fact that I survived Monday because I get to link up with the adorable, bubbly, and sweet Karli Bell from September Farms has come up with another brilliant link up called 10 on Tuesday. So cheers to that!

Here's how it works:

1 | draft your 10 on tuesday list. it can be a list about anything. you can explain your list. or you don't have to. it could be your grocery list. your cleaning list. or a list about your top 10 pet peeves. but a list, nonetheless. k? k.

2 | grab the super snazzy button below and insert the HTML code into the HTML section of your blog. this will automatically make that pretty picture a hyperlink so that everyone knows where you're linking up at!

3 | link up below!




Today i'm posting a little bit of an all about me 10 Things because I need it. We can all cheer ourselves on from time to time, right? I think so, if it's a once in a while kind of thing. So today friends, I'm being self indulgent and cheering myself on.

10 Things

Dear Self,

1. You do a damn good job of getting the kid up, ready for school and out the door on time daily.
It's not easy for either of you since neither of you are morning people.

2. Remember what your Grandma says, "Leslie's pretty quiet but when she says something it's usually hilarious."
In my family I am usually the quiet one (because I don't like yelling over everyone else to be heard) but when I open my mouth
funny just comes out. Usually I don't even realize how funny it is until everyone is laughing with tears in their eyes.

3. You love hard. Yes, this is just as bad as it is good but it's just the way you are. Never change. Keep loving hard.

4. Never forget why you fell in love with your husband. He's smart, he's funny, he's extremely good looking. All the women fall over him but he chose you. More importantly, he's always got your back and he knows when to feed you and tell you you're pretty.

5. You can make friends with almost anyone. Remember that time you were shopping at Ulta and the cashier told you that you were so bubbly and happy? Or the time you were at America's Best and you struck up a conversation with the guy who was working there about puppies and the trouble they got into? You made your son feel better about getting his glasses chewed up, too.

6. You're a pretty great cook, too. Minus the pledge soup you made and the citrus prime rib. Just remember not to cook anything citrus.

7. You're learning it's okay to say no sometimes and that's okay. It doesn't mean you don't love the person or the thing you had to say no to, it just means you're learning how to balance things and take care of yourself.

8. You do a great job of choosing happy and trying to spread the word to everyone else. You've also learned, as much as it breaks your heart, that you can't get through to everyone. Some people have chosen to only see the negative but you're going to keep shining and spreading happiness. They'll catch up someday.

9. You've done a pretty great job of establishing a routine and sticking to it. Life is just easier that way but in the season you're in right now, you've got to learn to adapt and make changes to that routine. Allow time for working out and focusing on your 21 day challenge and allow time to disconnect from everything except your husband and son in the evenings. Trust me, you'll be thankful for that.

10. You're great at cleaning and doing laundry but stop standing in your own way. You've got the chance to make your jewelry and start selling it. Start focusing on accomplishing that goal instead. You've got everything you need to do this. The messy house and piles of laundry will wait.


So that was all over the place. If you made it through then congratulations and cheers to you!

Share with me, what's on your mind?





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Monday.

Hi Peachies! If you are a regular then you know I usually embrace Mondays. I'm all "Mondays are a fresh start" and "Make your Monday the happiest". But today is the Mondayest Monday ever. I need a nap for the next 3,685 hours. Maybe that's an exaggeration.
Okay, so it's not.
My morning started at 3:30 this morning when the dog got out of the bed and I got up to find her. I caught her and put her back in the bed, which was mistake number one because, instead of taking her place at the foot of the bed she curled up between my husband & I. I can't blame her, it was 63 in the house (and about 33 outside). She was cold and wanted to snuggle so she snuggled up next to my hubby and proceeded to kick me in the back for the next three hours. Fun times!

Usually my hubby is gone by the time I get up but this morning he didn't have to be in until 9 a.m. which meant he was home when my clock went off and I got moving. Bless that man. He brought me coffee in bed. His coffee is always the best but since he's gone before I get up I rarely get coffee made by him during the week. It's a weekend treat so it was even more special this morning.

My son didn't want to get out of bed this morning so I spent 20 minutes yelling from the living room at him to get up.
I really dislike starting our mornings like that but he's 13 & he despises mornings more than I do so this is what works.
We were struggling getting out the door on time this morning because my son couldn't find a matching pair of socks.
That errupted like a volcano inside my tired mama brain. "Dude! This is why I tell you to get everything ready for school the night before."
Yes, I was that mom. Nagging, grouchy, ill as a hornet Mom. I lectured him on the way to school about the importance of being ready and how he's a teenager and thinks he knows everything but "would you just listen to me for once?"

As i'm going on and on I look in my rear view mirror to notice him without his glasses and suddenly my ill, tired, grouchy mom self softened. "Did you forget your glasses?" "Yes, mom but I don't need them." I knew this was him trying to not make a big deal because of the lectured I just gave him but instead of taking him to school then bringing him his glasses I did something I never do. I turned the car around (actually we took the long way home) and I told him that we were going home to get his glasses. He could just check in late. I realized in that moment that I needed those few extra minutes in the car with him to make things right before I dropped him off at school.

I needed to apologize and explain that I didn't like starting our days like that. I explained that I know neither of us are morning people but could he just do what I asked to make mornings easier on both of us? He agreed (in his sarcastic teenage tone) but I think he meant it. As he was getting out of the car at school I made sure to tell him I love him. He mumbled it back because he was irritated with me but he still loves me. That's the great thing about un-conditional love. We can be ill with one another but apologize and move on.

Raising teenagers isn't for the faint of heart. Actually raising humans and having relationships with them isn't for the faint of heart. Sometimes even being human is tough, especially when your heart is in the right place but you are just plain exhausted. That was me this morning. I was not my best version of myself. I was not acting with grace and understanding and forgiveness until I had that moment where I realized that I wasn't being who my son needed me to be then.

Yes, it may be the Mondayest Monday ever but that doesn't give me permission to be anything less than the graceful, love filled, caring person I am meant to be. I can only hope that some day my son understands that my heart was always in the right place.





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Girl Talk

Hi Peachies! Kick off your shoes, pour yourself a glass of sweet tea and get ready to snuggle in for some girl talk today. This post may end up all over the place but I woke up this morning feeling super refreshed and inspired. I did my daily devotional while still snuggled in bed with my sweet Willow girl this morning. It was pure perfection.

It was still dark out, Willow was snuggled next to me, my honey had just left for work & my son wasn't up yet so the house was quiet.
There's something about that time of day I love. Everything is still and quiet, the world isn't quiet awake yet. My mind isn't being flooded with a list of all the things I need to do for the day. It's just me and Jesus. I've learned not to grab my phone before my eyes are even open to check up on Facebook, Snap Chat & Instagram. Instead I savor the moment. I keep my eyes closed and I begin my morning by praying then I grab my phone and check what I missed while I got my beauty rest. This morning I followed my routine but instead of opening Instagram first, I felt the need to open the First 5 app. I needed that quietness to soak in Jesus.

I've been praying that when God sees me starting to do something wrong that he'll stop me in my tracks and point me to Him. It was a devotional last week that really hit home with me. This morning, y'all, I truly believe He stopped me in my tracks and pointed me to Him and it was a game changer. I soaked in every word of the devotional like it was my morning coffee then I felt inspired to do something, really do something, with this devotional.

If you aren't familiar with the First 5 app, at the end of the devotional there is a My Moment question.
Today's question is What instruction is God rewriting on your heart?

My answer is this:
God is rewriting the instructions on being a good wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend on my heart. Over the last couple of years i've let people slip away saying "when we have time, we'll re-connect" or "life is just so busy, I don't have time" or "this relationship works both ways." What i've come to realize is I need to stop the glorification of busy and take control of my relationships. If I want to see someone or talk to someone then I need to make the time to do so. God doesn't wait on us to have time for Him & I want to be the same way! I want to be more intentional with my relationships & loved ones.

Within minutes I had two comments on my post.
I love your phrase: "Stop the glorification of busy and take control of my relationships." Wow!

Leslie, thanks for your words of encouragement! I'm the same way-it's so easy to wait for others to make the plans. I too, am praying for God to help me to be faithful in being more focused on my relationships.

After having my family and closest friends around for a good two months before our wedding, I got used to that and lately i've been missing it.
I miss the time with all of them and mostly I miss my girlfriends. During all of our wedding celebrations I realized who celebrates our life with us. Those are the friends and family we'll never let go of but after the wedding we settled back in to our regular lives. We always say to our friends, "we need to get together" and never do because we say life is just too busy or any other number of excuses that I talk about in My Moment. I'm here today to say I'm stopping the glorification of busy in my life and to be more intentional with my loved ones.

I believe that all relationships are equally as important and sometimes it's hard to balance them all but at the end of it all, who are we without those we love? Those who celebrate us and share in our happiness and joy as well as sadness and sorrow. I believe that's the secret of life. Loving those who love us with every fiber of our being. Making sure that if they had to do life without us tomorrow there would be no doubt in their minds as to how loved they were. And while i'm here on this Earth with them. I'm going to love them so hard. I'm not just going to wait for birthdays, holidays, and anniversaries to celebrate them. I'm going to celebrate them every day of their lives.

This has really been on my heart lately. More time with my mom, more time with my dad, more quality time with my husband, more girlfriend dates. That may mean less time being cozy at home and less time spent diving into my blog and other hobbies. It definitely means less time with my eyes glued to my phone screen when we're together.


Peachies, are you with me?
Let's stop the glorification of busy and spend more time soaking in family and friends!

What's one thing you can do to be more intentional with your family and friends?





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