On my mind this week: *The plane. It's the government. End of story. **The movies "Son of God" and "Noah" ...keep in mind the new age movement & please educate yourself & have discretion....esp for your children. ***I am thankful for modern medicine, however again, this is another area we have put so much routine & trust into and need to educate ourselves. Not one single body on the face of this earth is the same. Doctors spend 25% OR LESS time studying food & nutrition while in school. I was floored by this. Not ok. If you've read any of my previous posts or happen to be following me on Instagram, you will see I am on a new healing journey and am graciously & thankfully learning buckets! ****the no make up challenge. Great support for many reasons. However, this world has enough falsities and high expectations/pressure on women & young youth that tear my heart into shreds. It's everywhere and it's hard. The reason for me choosing to opt out of this "no make up challenge" is because it would be a lie. I had my eyeliner permanently done, my lips too. (Although very light, it's still there) I'm also a fan of airbrush tanning. I guess I just feel it wrong to rub off some concealer & mascara and play that off as my "natural" look. Although I do not have them, eyelash extensions are another bother. Maybe this is me just being sensitive because I worked with so many young ladies via youth group, cheer coaching, and now have a daughter approaching a very delicate age that comes with many pressures and temptations. This is an ugly world when it comes to vanity. In fact the pressures and expectations are down right cruel. Please, #bereal #takeastand #setanexample

On a happy, lighter note....I'm a little over 2 weeks into this whole food journey and I'm feeling fan freaking tastic! 6 pounds have come off w my food shifting and I have more energy ....wait for it... With no coffee! Zero. Continuing to digest all this reading, conversation w real people, and experimentation. You have no idea how thrilled I am. Oh! And my oils. Love me my doTerra. If you have any questions or want to order anything to try, I would be happy to help and get you whatever at cost.

I hope you all are enjoying spring break!! Bring on summer!!! I'm soooooo ready!

These are the little freaks I get to deal with! Haha! ;)

You can call me Dr.

So I'm on this new journey. With food. Y'all know my obsession w doTerra oils, which have helped my family immensely, but the food, it's so important. Most of us have got it all wrong... It's only been 10 days, and I want you to know, I'm healing my freaking body!!! I'm not going to go into grave detail about all of my health problems, surgeries, and issues I've been struggling with over the past few years, but I will tell you this, I Tara McMullen, am on the mend and everything's making so much sense now! Can you tell I'm excited? Seriously though.....I've come across some INCREDIBLE recourses, real people, and real answers that I am so thankful for. I cannot wait to continue keeping track and share more with you guys. But like I said.... It's only been 10 days, so stay tuned ;)

March madness

Things heard on the news this morning that really ruffled my feathers: "Things got so bad financially, that they almost had their cable shut off", and "start slow and never leave your dog unattended on the treadmill". What. In the john. Is going. On. I'm not even going to go into depth on what I'm thinking or how I feel about this idiocracy. It needs no further attention. I need to stop watching the news.


This was an INSANE week. Who chooses the week of double birthdays to finish up taxes and volunteer in her daughters 1st grade class?? I'll never understand these brains of mine. I think I have this marvelous plan of just getting EVERYTHING taken care of, done, and over with, so that I will have in turn, have like maybe a day to do nothing! My days to 'do nothing', would normally start after I get the kids ready & off to school, clean the kitchen, switch over & start laundry, and turn OFF every Lord blessed light the kids left on, and wait until 2:30 to gather them and begin the afternoon/evening schedule. Sigh. That never happens. It's my own fault. I'll go pay a bill and get stuck on hold listening to anything but good music, so to pass that time, I'll start dusting or hanging clothes, or worse, organizing something that WILL NOT get finished before the bell rings. It's a silly, vicious, ADD cycle I tell you.

Anyhow, those March babes of mine. I think I can kind of relate to mothers of twins during this week every year. Just this week though. I'm not here to take credit. You twin moms, you need a super heros cape. With glitter. And some wings. Birthdays are a big deal around these parts. I've tried reeeeeally hard to make and fill their special days with their favorite things, people, and time, as opposed to lots of gifts. This has not always been an easy task, but! With a little sacrifice, determination, and wine, it gets done. Oh ya, I gave up wine for Lent this year. I know. I know.

Alas, the birthdays were a success. I thought I counted 108 cupcakes, but I was wrong. 144 cupcakes, 1 classroom celebration,  1 all boy party, 1 all girl party, 1 sleepover, and 1big family celebration later, this mama is ok with not pulling out a cupcake pan for a little while. ;) I'm so grateful for my March munchkins. And my Brynlee girl who helped me pull it off. Shes pretty great <3

I wanted to share my favorite gift from this weekend. And it belongs to neither birthday child. It belongs to me! My sweet sister in law showed up with it to yesterday's party for me, and because I'm a baby, I cried. Just a little. I had tortillas fryin. ;) It's perfect. And it is exactly the way I feel. And those moments when I'm not "feelin" it.....It's so good to remember.


"I've discovered that this act of mothering is my worship to him, right now, dying to self & delighting in them (oh yes it is messy and sloppy sometimes), there is failure ~yet~ forgiveness and grace and growing" <3

Time to catch up on the real

wow. it has been almost 3 years since i've written on here...#fail. <<<---- thats a knew little ditty on social media right there since i've been on. #hashtagging. who comes up with this stuff anyway? i am resonating lately with that old saying that goes something like "isn't it funny how day to day nothing changes, but when you look back, everything is different." just even looking back at a few of my posts when i first started this blog up until now. i remember starting it with a purpose in mind about "me". i wanted to not be obligated to share everything about my marriage, motherhood adventures, things i made or didnt, etc....i just wanted to share whatever i was thinking about on whatever said day, and whatever came to my mind. OBVIOUSLY it didn't take me very far. i realize why now. usually when we have selfish motives, no matter how pure we think they are, or how validated we feel, eventually, truth wins and things just do not turn out the way we expect them to. i'm going to be really raw and honest. i was having a bit of a rough go at life. from the outside looking in, you may think "what??, why??, she's got it made." the truth of the matter is, i did, and do have it made. i will never deny how undeserving and blessed i am. but thats not my point at the moment. i remember feeling a bit lost. though i was on a straight & awesome road to success with my business, had a man who loved me at home, 3 beautiful healthy children, a position volunteering at our churches youth group, and some really great friends to call on, i was struggling with trying to figure out my title. did i have a title? where do i fit in all of those things and how? is it enough? is it too much? what if it's not right? maybe there's something better? #Danger
These thoughts & feelings, all very real, manifested into something very dangerous, unhealthy, and damaging because I chose to stay in that place for awhile. I found people, even people with the best intentions, were quick to "comfort" and validate me. I liked that. Who doesn't like being "right"? Right? I don't want to go into a ton of detail, because it is very painful and very personal. I hope you understand and respect that. I will however share with you, that the place I was in lasted a good 2, close to 3 years. Sin is a beautiful thing and the world does a wonderful job at making things "ok". #lies Its all lies. Let me repeat, and I'm not trying to preach, but Satan is very real, very active, and he is a liar. I'm also not trying to play the blame game. I've got a long list of excuses, experiences, and people in my life to blame. But that's a cop out. And it's wrong. I was very aware of the thoughts I allowed myself to think, the choices I chose to make, and the God I chose to put in a box and pull out when I needed him.
Meanwhile, my health. It was declining. Stress is no good on the body. In fact, it can be a killer. No joke. 1 ectopic pregnancy, 4 surgeries, and a few autoimmune-deficientcies  & developed food allergies later, I am living breathing proof, that there's a reason Gods got a plan, and you should follow along. He really is Good. His heart. His character. His personal touch in all of our lives. What a wonderful savior. What an amazing true gentleman. He goes before me, stands behind, waiting for me while I screw up, still holding the door open for me, and says "here, give me your heart and let me turn your mess into something beautiful." Who does that?!?! Oh. God. And sometimes my husband. Because he's just really great like that.
I want to encourage you, whoever might be reading this. Never give up on what is good. Even if it doesn't "feel" right at the moment. I'm not disregarding feelings. Anyone who knows me personally, knows I am one emotional, "feeling", hot mess more times than not. I can't help it. It's just the way I'm wired I suppose. But! I'm learning where I allow these feelings to go and to always compare them with Who God is and what He says. Because that is where truth lies. I like that too. So much. Quiet your world every so often, say no to self a little more, and read more. Open your heart & mind to Jesus who pleads for and awaits you every day. I by no means am finished, perfect, or even really smart. My children remind me of that almost daily. ;) But this I am sure of: "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
~Philippians 1:6 #thankful