Samantha K Schmidt

Summer break for teachers means getting to read books for fun instead of for work. I've been carefully curating this list since Christmas, and I think I've narrowed it down to four books that are certain to inspire. The Magnolia Story // Chip and Joanna Gaines are the "it" couple right now, and I'm definitely a follower. I've been a fan for a while, but after watching their I Am Second story I truly fell in love with these two remarkable people. My husband and I have a very similar story to Chip and Joanna. Like her, I was the quiet reserved type, but my husband brought out a brighter more outgoing person. I could go on and on about how much they've inspired me, but I think I need to read the book first. The Handmaid's Tale // If you haven't heard about The Handmaid's Tale yet, you've been living under a rock. It's the newest hit series on Hulu which I'm now going to have to subscribe to. I've admittedly already read ...

This past week has been an absolute whirlwind. My husband, mom, and I got back late Sunday after a flight delay from Illinois. We spent the weekend celebrating our little man who should be here in under 10 weeks. I love spending time with family, but as an introvert it can be exhausting at times. This week was my last week of school (as a full-time teacher) which was full of end of the year events like late night theater programs and obligatory end of the year party planning. My legs felt like jello by the time I made it to Friday. That's when things started to seem off. Although, I didn't realize it right away. My mind and body were coming down from a busyness high, and subconsciously I realized that this was it. There were no more work days until August (even then I'm only going back part-time), no more travel dates, no more, well, anything until the baby comes. I had a serious "what do I do now?" moment. I immediately started trying to compensate with anyth...

I have always considered myself somewhat of a minimalist. I like simple design and get anxious when there's too much clutter. With that said, I've also been a trend-seeker most of my life. I'm immediately attracted to things I see on blogs or in stores and feel an immediate need to buy more. It's the consumerist mindset that I've grown up, but my minimalist self and my consumerist self have always battled it out. Lately, I've been inspired by other minimalists to start narrowing down my clothes and accessories to only the essential items. This looks different for everyone so here are a few tips on how to decide what to keep in your closet. 1. Get rid of anything you haven't worn in a year. Whether the item is no longer trendy, doesn't fit, or never quite looked right it's time to get rid of it. If you are holding onto items thinking you will fit into them again, keep this in mind. Once you lose the weight you'll want new items anyway instead...

This week begins my third trimester of pregnancy. For me, it's all seemed to go by so fast. My belly seems barely big enough for a tiny human to live, and it's crazy to think our little man will be here in 3 months. Ahhh! Panic! I'm actually really excited for him to get here, but there's just so much left to be done. Meanwhile, my body is still experiencing all the unusual things associated with pregnancy. If you missed my First Trimester update on my YouTube channel you can check it out for an introduction into my many pregnancy symptoms, but today I'll walk you through the good, the bad, and the ugly of my 2nd trimester. SECOND TRIMESTER SYMPTOMS Acne : Although switching to oil cleansing has helped my skin a lot, I'm still experiencing breakouts. Part of this is due to the less than healthy foods I've been eating. The other part is just one of the many lovely side effects of extra hormones. Leg Cramps : This new symptom has been the most bruta...

I have to admit, any kind of natural holistic living tends to catch my attention rather quickly. I always tell people that self-actualization for me would be going raw vegan. Let's face it, my main attraction to these natural lifestyles is all the beautiful women that follow them. Their hair is always long and luxurious and their skin is spotless and clear. This is the exact reason I was drawn to oil cleansing. I've never had major problems with acne. In fact, as a teenager I probably had great skin compared to many suffering through puberty. It wasn't until my mid-twenties that I started to deal with hormonal and food-related acne. Then, I got pregnant.  It's sent my skin into a whirlwind. Not only are my hormones on overdrive, but I'm also craving all the greasy, nasty foods that cause me to break out. I was desperate to clear up the spots on my face that seemed to do nothing but grow. About a month ago, I fell upon a YouTube video about healing acne scars. ...