Samantha K Schmidt

When our first child was born, I was so excited to share the story of how he made his way into this world. His birth went so smoothly and the process was full of so much joy. However, I’ve held off sharing the full details of our daughter’s birth for several reasons. Firstly, because parts of it are hard to relive. Secondly, because I never want anyone to think that I’m sharing the story in need of sympathy. Despite her birth being incredibly difficult, perhaps even traumatic, we are so incredibly grateful that we were able to bring our baby girl home. We know that this is not the story for everyone, and so I feel almost shameful even telling her story. However, I know that so often mothers come home with their babies greeted with fanfare and excitement, but what they feel deep down is sometimes completely void of joy. I feel for these mothers who are expected to revel in gratitude when they have just overcome both physical and emotional trauma. To those mothers, you are not alone...

As someone who struggles with anxiety and depression, I’ve never been very comfortable with my own negative emotions. I often feel like I’m one sad thought away from a monsoon. I was always the emotional one picked on for my sensitivity and lack of strength. Although I’ve come to terms with this vulnerability and the strength that comes from sympathizing with both the joy and sadness in this world, it’s not easy to feel the weight of the world on your shoulders. One moment of stress feels like a boulder on my back stacked on top of the various other rocks that have attached themselves to me throughout a typical and seemingly mundane day.   I say all this not to identify myself as someone who bears more than their fair share of the world. I’m sure many of you feel it too, but have found that you are able to fully detach yourself from the stress and woes of being human. We all have our coping mechanisms. After a tough day it’s not uncommon to have glass of wine to wi...

Before I even knew God, He was placing people in my life like breadcrumbs leading me back to him. There was James, who despite my reputation of being a cactus in high school (prickly and unapproachable) he opened his arms to me when I transferred to the same college. I thought a popular guy like him would never remember a quiet, unlikeable girl like me, but he welcomed me at a time when I knew no one. He couldn’t miss me walking through the otherwise empty parking lot. He stopped and hugged me. I don’t remember our conversation, but I remembered thinking there was something different about James. Now I realize that he shined the light of Jesus into my otherwise dark world. James is now a missionary in China. At the time I didn’t even know he was a Christian, but now I know he was a breadcrumb. There was Caitlin. We transferred in at the same time, took classes together, did projects together, and sat next to each other on graduation day. Caitlin on the other hand always had Jesus on...

I’m probably one of the most laid back first time moms. Especially in this millennial, organic, non-dairy, peanut-allergy ridden world. My approach to parenting is that somebody is always doing a worse job than I am. That sounds like a free-range parenting disaster, but don’t worry I’m not headed down that road. In fact I’m a hands-on discipline approving mom, but I’m also not willing to live in a world where I’m never good enough. Don’t get me wrong I’ve spent many nights googling all the side effects of the many mistakes I’ve made as a parent. In fact, I’ve googled so many things I could probably write a book. Yesterday’s search was “What to do if your baby eats a leaf.” Someone actually posted that their kid ate a dead bug, so my mission statement stands true… someone’s always doing worse. First time moms often fall trap to the heart wrenching reality that how they parent this little being will ultimately have life-changing effects, and while that’s true I want those effects to in...

     Disclaimer: I wrote this post months ago, and never published it because it sounded so selfish, but I do think it's important that women see the reality of motherhood, not the filter that instagram provides. So here is a real look into motherhood, not an attempt for you to feel sorry for me, but in an attempt to show you authenticity. I have probed the internet for all the wisdom I can gather in regards to motherhood. Everyone just seems to be doing a stellar job with stellar children that have stellar temperaments. It's all nonsense. How these women manage to work from home and go to the gym astounds me. I can't seem to get my hair done without overlooking the wailing in the background. Let's be real, motherhood is tough. Here's just a glimpse into motherhood lately: 1. I can never manage to wake up early enough.  JW is the only necessary alarm clock in the house. Despite my attempts, I can't seem to get ahead of him. Once this week though, he gr...

I truly believe that I was predestined to be a mother. I've had a longing in my heart since I was a young girl. My mother often called me the child-whisperer because I frequently caught eyes with babies in restaurants and grocery stores. My role as teacher gave me the opportunity to be part-time mom to dozens of kids who I like to believe I helped grow into better people, but nothing prepared me for the transition into actual motherhood. Over the past month I've realized that motherhood is a balancing act that years of child development training and personal research could never truly prepare me for. The Balance between Research and Instinct I had spent 9 months researching breastfeeding tips, sleep schedules, and parenting techniques. After compiling article after article, I even put together a daily schedule for my newborn who hadn't even entered the world yet. It is a trademark of my personality. I thrive off of routine. Everyone laughed when I told them I already...

No, this is not a biographical story about the late, great western actor. It's the story of how our son came into this world. At my 38 week appointment my doctor reluctantly told me that statistically speaking I would probably go past my due date. I knew that first babies often come late, but I kept hoping that my physical health prior to pregnancy (and the excessive amount of squats I'd been doing) would lend themselves to an early birth. As the week went on my husband and I were on a roller coaster of selfish desire. He had been gone several weeks and weekends over the past 2 months, and we were approaching the only uneventful week all summer. Not to mention I was counting the weeks left until school started knowing that taking time off would be an act of congress. On Sunday, July 16th, Eddie and I lay in bed discussing just how much we'd like our little man to make his debut. Not only would the timing work out nicely, but we felt ready. (Whatever that means.) We he...

After dealing with depression and anxiety for many years, self-care moved to the top of my priority list. It didn't take long for me to realize that the key to my happiness was putting myself first in the mornings. I had to learn to slow down, take my schedule less seriously, and leave room for the things that bring me joy. Here are 5 things I've made a part of my morning routine. 1. Calm Alarm The Bedtime feature on my iPhone has been a lifesaver. I love how I can set my optimal amount of sleep, and it will remind me when to hit the sack. Then it slowly wakes me up in the morning with a gentle sound. If you don't have this feature, I highly suggest finding a calming ringtone or even investing in a specialty alarm clock that will wake you up without the jolt. Don't forget to get at least a full 7 hours of sleep. Otherwise, even the fanciest of alarms will be... well, alarming. 2. A Little Thing I've learned overtime to value the little things in life. Coffee...

When it comes to hosting dinners some people come off as naturals. The table is perfectly set. The desserts are beautifully displayed. Meanwhile, there are those of us who find hosting to be incredibly stressful. As a natural introvert, hosting for me has always been a bit of a challenge. I love it, but it took me a long time to find a balance in obeying by all the social courtesies while still feeling comfortable. You may have a similar struggle if you are a self-described Type A. No matter your reason, here are a few tips to make your hosting experience as stress-free as possible. 1. Don't be tied to the clock. This will be the biggest challenge for my fellow Type A's. My husband had to explain to me that setting a time for a gathering meant expecting people to be late. As someone who is perpetually prompt this was hard to grasp, but it is certainly true of our friend group. If we set a time for 6:30 people show up at 6:45 and realistically aren't ready to eat until ...

Life has been crazy! As you can probably imagine. My husband has been in and out traveling and spending overnights with students. Our in-laws came down briefly for our 2nd baby shower which was a lot of work! Over 80 people came to celebrate our little man and my mom, in-laws, husband, and my mom's best friend worked their butts off. I helped where I could, but tried not to overexert myself. My emotions have been on a roller-coaster ride. I wake up some mornings incredibly motivated and joyful, but can switch to melancholy by the end of the day. These emotions are not all that new to me, but the rapid switching back and forth is a more recent challenge. Friday, I spent the day with a previous student and her mom at Disney. It was an awesome day, but my feet were throbbing by the end. I topped it off with a day of last-minute shopping and organizing for the nursery on Saturday. The nursery is 99% complete. Meanwhile, the busy weekend taught me that my body is running out of fu...

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. ...

I'm excited to debut this series. I love exploring little towns in Florida, but it's hard to know what to do when it's your first time visiting. Sure you can get a lot of advice from google or tripadvisor, but they tend to be all of the run-of-the-mill sort of things. I thought I'd give you an idea of how I spend a day in some of my favorite towns in Florida. Winter Garden is a quaint town just 15 miles outside of Orlando. It's one of the few places that has maintained an old town feel while still being one of the trendiest places in Central Florida. Plant Street is the popular downtown area loaded with shops and restaurants on either side. What makes this town truly unique, though, is the gorgeous bike trail that runs directly through town. Coffee: You can't go to Winter Garden without a visit to Axum Coffee . The atmosphere feels like home, the drinks are an art form, and the story is inspiring. Axum uses its profits to support communities around the w...

When my husband and I got engaged and began talking about making his home into our home, it was clear that we were going to butt heads in several areas. He had lived the life of a bachelor for 3 years and separating him from some of his beloved (yet very tattered) possessions was like attempting to sever a limb from his body. Many of the items had been gifts or extraordinary finds from his travels. It was like a game of chess trying to fit all the pieces together, but eventually we made it work. Moving in with your spouse can be a long hard game of compromise, but here are a few tips to smooth out the process. 1. Purge: Before you start asking your spouse to trash all the items you find atrocious or obsolete, start by taking an inventory of your own belongings. What do you have that you no longer need, use, or even like? What are you holding onto simply because it has significance? Ask your partner for advice on a few unimportant items so that he can see your attempt at c...

There's a feeling that comes with experiencing a beautiful place for the first time. Whenever I visit a new city I always go feet first. Very rarely will I take any other form of transportation when the distance is walk-able. I love getting a first hand interaction with a city. It's hard to describe the joy that comes from this interaction, but seeing something for the first time allows you to truly take in all of its beauty. When I'm not traveling, I miss that feeling. I often close my eyes and reminisce of walking down unfamiliar streets along the bay front in San Diego or finding a coffee shop a block from our bed and breakfast in Key West. Another way I can briefly experience this beauty is through Instagram. It seems superficial, but sometimes I just want to jump into one of those filters. Obviously, life has its ups and downs, but I've never understood why many fail to take on each day as a new adventure. Here is your adventure. Read, dive into the pictu...

A few weeks ago, we had the opportunity to announce to the people we love that we were expecting our first child. Those people just happened to be nearly 100 high school students. My husband works full-time with students and I've volunteered as a mentor since we began dating 2 years ago. Although we have a few close friends, those kids make up the majority of our lives. It was amazing to see their faces light up when we made that announcement. It brought me so much joy knowing that they were so joyful for us.

 After several go rounds at modern dating I decided to take a much needed break. I had realized a lot about myself after many failed relationships, but above all I realized that I was going to have to be content with myself before I could be happy with someone else. That break lasted 2 long years when Eddie finally came into view. I knew the moment I saw him there was something different about him. We had the same unapologetic awkwardness and accidental humor. Despite seeing his potential as a great partner, I kept my distance. I didn't want to make the same mistakes again, but fate had other plans. Since we couldn't seem to fight the gravitational pull, I allowed the "getting to know you" phase to begin, but I promised myself that I would not fall into my old dating habits. I forced myself into the backseat and let Eddie take the lead. The First Date : After spending 10 days together on a church trip, I promised myself that despite my interest I would postpone r...