Domestic Violence Awareness Month: How to Rebuild Self-Worth

Escaping domestic violence can be a traumatic experience for anyone. Often, victims of abuse suffer from PTSD, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, because of the treatment they’ve endured. It’s important for survivors to know that they are not alone, that help is available, and that they are not to blame.

“Many victims are left feeling that their lives and feelings are out of control. Counselors focus on empowerment, a process of rebuilding a sense of personal power. By finding ways to build this sense of empowerment within yourself, you will be directing yourself in a positive direction,” writes Safe Passage.

Healing isn’t fast or easy after escaping a violent situation, especially if there are children involved. However, there are steps for survivors to take to rebuild their lives, their self-esteem, and their sense of worth. Here are a few of the best ways to go about it.

September 21, 2016September 21, 2016

The Transformative Power of a Birthday Slogan

Every year I get together with my closest friends. I’m lucky enough that my closest friends are my sister and cousins. Since we’re so close, we’ve been named by other friends as the sister-cousins. It’s so important to surround myself with motivating and powerful women that make me want to be a better person, and that’s what we all are to each other. Not only are they all extremely motivated and inspiring, they also like to enjoy the ride and make the most of every moment.

Each year for our birthdays, I ask my sister-cousins a now-notorious question, “What’s your birthday slogan?”

May 16, 2016May 19, 2016

Kendahl’s Perfect Post-Workout Ham and Cheese Melt

At the beginning of the month, we had a delicious Buffalo Chicken Quinoa Bowl from Renee, our Mommy Makeover Contest winner. Then Danielle shared one of her family’s favorite recipes for Chicken Cacciatore. This week, I’m so excited to have my friend and fellow Comeback Circle member, Kendahl Airey, on the blog to share one of her go-to meals after finishing an invigorating and challenging workout.

Please welcome Kendahl to MB!

April 21, 2016April 21, 2016

10 Tips to Stay Financially Fit This Summer

Hey guys! Courtney here. First of all, April is Financial Literacy Month. There’s a great 30-step challenge (which you can start at any time during the year) designed to help you develop a healthy understanding of personal finances. As a woman in particular, I want to understand personal finances and feel confident when making financial decisions for myself.

I say as a woman in particular because one of the most common types of domestic abuse comes in the form of financial control. According to the National Network to End Domestic Violence, financial abuse includes “tactics to limit the partner’s access to assets or conceal information and accessibility to the family finances.” You can read more about these tactics here, but in general, the more we know the better off we’ll be in tough financial situations. I’d also love to see more women investors, which is why I get so excited about companies like Creating Capital that are working to close the gender gap in investors.

I’ll admit that I don’t know as much as I should. One of my biggest goals this year is to gain confidence in managing my finances and in turn build a stronger, more durable financial foundation for myself. We never know what life will throw at us, and I would love to be as financially prepared as possible.

With all this in mind, I asked my friend Sherita, an Accounts Specialist at State Farm, to share some of her best tips to help us all stay financially fit over the summer. I love how she turns a potentially boring subject into the motivational push I need. Not to mention, she’s hilarious! I’ve chosen a few of her tips for myself and will be working hard to save up money for a trip to Scotland next year. Please welcome Sherita to our blog, and let us know which of these tips you’ll be using over the summer!

February 19, 2016February 18, 2016

Guest Post: 5 Tips for New Runners (or Anyone Getting Back in the Habit)

Hey, everyone! It’s Courtney here. Recently my sister and I started training for a 5K. We’re participating in The Comeback Circle and wanted an affordable way to get ourselves back in shape. A little over a year ago, my friend Kolbe started entering races and making running a bigger part of her life, so it made sense to ask her for some tips for new runners to help get me started.

Read her advice below if you’re planning to start a brand-new running routine or if you’re returning to the habit after some time away. Over the past few weeks, she’s helped me stick to my plan, and these tips have made my transition a lot more manageable!