This week we celebrate Sarah as the woman of the week. A mother to two young sons, a former pre-school teacher who now is a stay at home mom and my son-in-laws sister. She's busy raising two little men and trying to find the balance in life.

1: If you could have a gigantic billboard anywhere with anything on it, what would it say and why?

“Be Kind” I think about my kids growing up in today’s world and I really just hope that they are kind to anyone that crosses their path.

2: In the last five years what have you become better at saying no to?

In the last 5 years I have gotten better at saying no to making plans … that might sounds funny but I am a planner, I love knowing what and when things will happen. My son is now 5 years old and when you have kids you realize you are on their schedule and so I have just learned or am still trying to learn to go with the flow.

3: What advice would you give to a smart, driven college student about to enter the "real world"?

I would say to find something that makes you happy and go with it. Love what you do and who you are with. Life is way too short to to not live life to its fullest.

4: What is one of the best or most worthwhile investments you've ever made? (it doesn't need be financial in nature)

I would have to say my kids. I never thought I would be a stay at home mom but here I am. I love my kids more than anything in this world. When I was pregnant with my second I was afraid I wasn’t going to love him as much as my first… there was no way my heart could fit more love in… but it did! LOL… I love watching them grow. I have put my career on hold and am investing all my time and effort into them.

5: In the last five years, what new belief, behavior, or habit has most improved your life?

It’s been a little over 5 years when I joined a group of women called the Kitsap Tribabes. It is an amazing group of women who come together to train for triathlons. Crazy I know… I never liked open water swims, I hardly rode a bike since I was in a bad accident when I was in kindergarten and I hate running! Why would I join such a group then? It is so much more than that. I have met some of the most amazing women in this group. I feel good physically and mentally when I am with them. It is ME time.

6: How has a failure or apparent failure set you up for later success? Do you have a favorite failure of yours?

I cannot think of a specific failure to talk about at the moment. I do know that the best way we learn is by trying and if we fail we get back up and keep going. My parents always tried to let us learn things on our own, try things out even if they knew we were going to fail they knew we needed to learn that on our own. I believe failing helps us learn to cope with any life situation. Get up, dust off and get back at it J

7: What purchase of $100 or less has most positively impacted your life in the last six months or in recent memory?

I bought myself a new pair of jeans recently. Sounds silly yes, but as a mom of two on one income my needs are always pushed back. My favorite pair of jeans ripped a couple months ago and it just wasn’t in our budget to buy a new pair. If I got extra money I ended up buying diapers or groceries for the family J It is just what moms do… finally I was able to get me a new pair and I feel like me again J

8: When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?

I love taking hot bubble baths at night when the house is finally quiet. I recently found that music definitely helps put me in a better mood and it helps me think. I also talk to my sister a lot about whats on my mind. She always helps me work through whats going on in my head.

9: What is the book (or books) you've given most as a gift and why? Or what are one to three books that have greatly influence your life?

I don’t really give books as gifts unless they are for children and most of the time they are from Dr. Seuss. He has always been one of my favorite children’s authors and has many quotes that we as adults should live by as well.

One of my favorite books I read a couple years ago is called “It was me All Along” by Adie Mitchell…. This book talks a lot about self-image. I loved it a lot and could relate to the author and her story.

10: What is one piece of advice you would give to a woman that you wish you knew earlier in life?

Life can be whatever you want… there is no rush to get married and no rush to have kids. You have this one life to live and you should spend each day with a smile on your face. Find your happy

11: What do you think about the theory of "the love of your life", what does that phrase me to you?

This is kind of a tricky one for me at the moment. I like to believe in a love of your life… I love being in love and seeing that look in someone else eyes that you can just tell how much they love you back. Does that mean we only have one love of our life? We change so much as humans and events in our life that it’s hard to keep that theory alive. I am a romantic though and so I would love to believe in my one love J

12: What is something that you would find most helpful in your life right now? (what would be the best problem solved for you)

I could use a lot of things. I suppose if I had to pick just one I would say it would be helpful to have someone to help me around the house and or with the kids every so often. I feel like the days just fly by and I don’t accomplish anything. I am grateful I am able to be a stay at home mom but it can be so isolating and tough. Keeping the house up and everything that goes with that and giving my attention to my boys is just hard. Most days I feel like I am standing in quick sand and I just can’t catch up.

Thank you Sarah for sharing with us all this week.

Titanium