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Helinas A Hot Mess

Helina's a Hot Mess

My Metanoia

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Frugal Living3 Comments

The REAL Broke Girl’s Guide to Living

Love neon light in window
Love & Relationships7 Comments

What Happened To Humanity?

Parenting & Step Parenting5 Comments

Rerouting Our Routine During COVID-19

Healing & Self Care13 Comments

Focusing On Health After Abuse

Not All Healing Looks The Same
Healing & Self Care20 Comments

Not All Healing Looks The Same

Why Your Teens Are Burnt Out And How You Can Help
Parenting & Step Parenting12 Comments

Why Your Teen(s) Feel Burnt Out And How You Can Help

Parenting & Step Parenting, Uncategorized2 Comments

A Lifetime Worth Of Changes

October 16, 2022 Amy Helina

**I wrote this article a long time ago, to try and catch up. I never published, but I think this is definitely publish worthy. These are just a few things that I have been up to during my hiatus from … Continue reading A Lifetime Worth Of Changes

Lifestyle, Love & Relationships, Parenting & Step ParentingLeave a comment

May Day

July 24, 2021 Amy Helina

As if everything we went through during the month of April wasn’t enough, the May flowers were in full bloom around our house – and my brother’s house. This post is part of a two part series, so in case … Continue reading May Day

Healing & Self Care, Lifestyle, Parenting & Step Parenting1 Comment

April Showers Bring May Flowers

July 24, 2021 Amy Helina

Before I jump into this post, I want to let everyone know that you have all been on my mind. This post was actually written quite a while ago, but I just haven’t had the time to publish anything. So … Continue reading April Showers Bring May Flowers

Lifestyle10 Comments

Big Changes For 2021

February 6, 2021 Amy Helina

Hi everyone!! Oh my goodness. I haven’t written since last year – literally! I had this whole big post planned for the beginning of 2021, and then decided I didn’t want to. Mainly because I didn’t quite want to jinx … Continue reading Big Changes For 2021

Quarantine Chronicles8 Comments
COVID-19 spelled out in pills on dark background

Quarantine Chronicles: COVID-19 Update

December 17, 2020December 17, 2020 Amy Helina

Hi everyone! I wanted to get on and write an update with our overall experience with COVID. It has been tough. If you follow my blog, you’ll know that someone in our household tested positive for Covid the first time … Continue reading Quarantine Chronicles: COVID-19 Update

Parenting & Step Parenting1 Comment

Raising Kids With An Absent Parent: The Peek-A-Boo Parent

November 29, 2020November 29, 2020 Amy Helina

At the beginning of the month I started a two part series about absent parents. For some reason, even in the year 2020 talking about absent parents is pretty much taboo. We talk about single parenting, but nobody ever talks … Continue reading Raising Kids With An Absent Parent: The Peek-A-Boo Parent

Healing & Self Care5 Comments
Happy Thanksgiving Wooden Floor with Leaves

On A Day For Thanks – I Am Eternally Thankful & Grateful

November 27, 2020November 27, 2020 Amy Helina

Every year for Thanksgiving, my family and I go around the table and say what we are thankful for. It started as something I did with my son, Khalub, when it was just the two of us. Somehow, the tradition … Continue reading On A Day For Thanks – I Am Eternally Thankful & Grateful

Parenting & Step Parenting17 Comments
Mom holding little boy on wooded trail

Raising Kids With An Absent Parent: The Completely Absent Parent

November 2, 2020November 2, 2020 Amy Helina

Today I am writing about a somewhat tough and sensitive topic. This will be the first post of a two part series talking about Absent Parents. Originally this was supposed to be one post, but there is too much to … Continue reading Raising Kids With An Absent Parent: The Completely Absent Parent

Healing & Self Care14 Comments

When Anxiety Rears Its Ugly Head – How To Guide Yourself Through Anxiety

October 6, 2020October 7, 2020 Amy Helina

Hi everyone! If you have been following my blog for a while now, you’ll know that I sometimes struggle with anxiety. Last week my anxiety was oooofffff…off the charts. Physically it wasn’t hard, but mentally my anxiety was so darn … Continue reading When Anxiety Rears Its Ugly Head – How To Guide Yourself Through Anxiety

Helina's Healing All Natural Skin Care7 Comments
Coconut oil lotion in glass jar on tree stump

An Intro to Helina’s Healing All Natural Skin Care

September 25, 2020September 25, 2020 Amy Helina

Hi everyone!! I hope you are all doing well today. In a lot of my posts, I talk about my skincare products that I make myself. It is something that I am really passionate about, because once I started making … Continue reading An Intro to Helina’s Healing All Natural Skin Care

Quarantine Chronicles9 Comments

Quarantine Chronicles: Encouraging & Discouraging Moments

September 22, 2020 Amy Helina

Good morning everyone! Yesterday was the 5th full day of quarantine, and the 3rd full day of me missing work. Boy, let me tell you it was an emotional roller coaster, that’s for sure. Lots and lots of things going … Continue reading Quarantine Chronicles: Encouraging & Discouraging Moments

Quarantine Chronicles4 Comments

Quarantine Chronicles: Wrapping Up The First Week & Still Figuring Out A Plan

September 20, 2020September 20, 2020 Amy Helina

Hi everyone!! At the beginning of quarantine – and it’s still early on for me – my intention was to write every day. I have been writing every day, but not publishing. It turns out that I am not one … Continue reading Quarantine Chronicles: Wrapping Up The First Week & Still Figuring Out A Plan

Quarantine Chronicles3 Comments
woman wearing glasses in front of computer at desk

Quarantine Chronicles Day Two: Research

September 18, 2020 Amy Helina

Good morning everyone! I meant to post yesterday, but didn’t quite have the chance. Yesterday I woke up late – around 10:30! WHAT!? Even on the weekends I don’t normally sleep in that late. On the (normal) weekends we either … Continue reading Quarantine Chronicles Day Two: Research

Quarantine Chronicles10 Comments
Paper with scribbles and phone on top says Stay at Home

Quarantine Chronicles: Day 1 The Plan

September 16, 2020 Amy Helina

Hi everyone! Normally my posts are all pretty much planned out. Not this one. I’m going to start out by letting everyone know that my daughter has been quarantined for almost two weeks now. She was notified as a close … Continue reading Quarantine Chronicles: Day 1 The Plan

Healing & Self Care9 Comments

Self Care September Challenge

September 8, 2020September 8, 2020 Amy Helina

I have been feeling a bit down lately. It’s not constant, it comes and goes as it pleases. Just like anyone else, I have good days and bad days. I have been doing all I can to keep myself busy … Continue reading Self Care September Challenge

Parenting & Step Parenting17 Comments
parents walking with child

Co-Parenting During the Pandemic

August 26, 2020August 26, 2020 Amy Helina

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well, and enjoying (or enjoyed) your summer! This year has been EXTREMELY challenging, from the very beginning. I think I can pretty much say that we are ALL treading in uncharted waters. … Continue reading Co-Parenting During the Pandemic

Lifestyle15 Comments

My Daily Essentials

May 4, 2020September 21, 2020 Amy Helina

Hello my lovely readers! I wanted to write a post that was a bit more upbeat, and I have been thinking a lot about my daily essentials lately. Probably because we’re pretty much on lockdown and are only supposed to … Continue reading My Daily Essentials

Lifestyle5 Comments
woman-in-grey-jacket-sits-on-bed-uses-grey-laptop

Working From Home Full Time: One Step Closer To My Dream

April 15, 2020 Amy Helina

Hi everyone! Whew… I don’t know about you, but I feel like I’m getting whiplash. I have been talking a lot about change lately, and I think we can all pretty much relate. Between the kids being home from school,  … Continue reading Working From Home Full Time: One Step Closer To My Dream

Healing & Self Care7 Comments

How We Are Handling The Worldwide Pandemic

March 21, 2020 Amy Helina

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well, or as well as can be expected with everything that is going on in this crazy world right now. This week has been tough emotionally. I have tried so many times … Continue reading How We Are Handling The Worldwide Pandemic

Love & Relationships16 Comments

To The Man Who Stole My Heart & Not My Dreams

March 9, 2020March 10, 2020 Amy Helina

In one of my more recent posts Focusing on Health After Abuse, I let everyone know that my two year anniversary of moving to North Dakota was right around the corner. Well as of today, my son and I have … Continue reading To The Man Who Stole My Heart & Not My Dreams

Parenting & Step Parenting5 Comments
person holding the adventure begins mug

Weekend Adventures & Thoughts on Blogging

March 3, 2020 Amy Helina

Hi everyone! I hope you all had as great of a weekend as I did. Saturday Bubs and Cassidy had a funeral to go to. While they were there, I took the opportunity to take Joselyn and Khalub out to … Continue reading Weekend Adventures & Thoughts on Blogging

Healing & Self Care14 Comments
Sun shining through the clouds and trees across lake

Brighten Your Mood With Days of Gratitude

February 7, 2020March 10, 2020 Amy Helina

Hi everyone! Welcome to February, already! Goodness. January was… whew. In my opinion January is weird, seriously.  After all of the excitement of the holidays are over, and the hype of the New Year has come and gone I feel … Continue reading Brighten Your Mood With Days of Gratitude

Lifestyle12 Comments
Young woman at desk with pen in mouth

Life’s Lessons: Missed Opportunities, New Opportunities & Navigating Negativity

January 17, 2020January 17, 2020 Amy Helina

Hello everyone!! I hope everyone is having a great week so far. My week has been full of mixed emotions, and trying to see the best in everything. One of my Goals for the new year and decade is to … Continue reading Life’s Lessons: Missed Opportunities, New Opportunities & Navigating Negativity

Healing & Self Care, Lifestyle14 Comments
Feature To Be Sober Or Not So Sober

To Be Sober, Or Not So Sober

January 12, 2020September 11, 2020 Amy Helina

Hello my lovely readers!! Although I have plenty that I want to write about, those other topics will have to wait. Last month I did a “Don’t Drink in December Challenge”. I wanted to let everyone know that I was … Continue reading To Be Sober, Or Not So Sober

Healing & Self Care11 Comments

Goals:The Beginning of a New Decade

January 2, 2020 Amy Helina

Good morning everyone!! Every year we see endless posts for “New Years Resolutions” or “New Year, New Me”. We all know that half of what we see, won’t actually happen. It seems to be an ongoing joke, and everyone has … Continue reading Goals:The Beginning of a New Decade

Healing & Self Care, Lifestyle6 Comments

Thoughts on Gratitude and the Approaching New Decade

December 30, 2019December 30, 2019 Amy Helina

Hi everyone!! I hope you all had a fabulous weekend. Here, we got slammed with a snowstorm or blizzard. Whatever you would like to call it. I indulged in myself by painting my nails, and lounging in a pair of … Continue reading Thoughts on Gratitude and the Approaching New Decade

Healing & Self Care, Love & Relationships, Parenting & Step Parenting7 Comments
Snow falling into the woods

A Christmas Of Joy, Happiness & Grief

December 28, 2019February 26, 2020 Amy Helina

This year the holidays were successful, yet different. Very very different. Navigating the holiday season while missing a loved one is tricky and unpredictable. Will it ever be the same? I don’t think so. Will it ever get easier? I’m … Continue reading A Christmas Of Joy, Happiness & Grief

Parenting & Step Parenting6 Comments

The Last Weekend Before Christmas – Oh The Madness

December 27, 2019December 27, 2019 Amy Helina

Hello everyone! I hope everyone had a great weekend and at least got to relax a bit more than I did. Wait… What, what does that word mean? (In case you couldn’t tell, I meant to post this earlier, and … Continue reading The Last Weekend Before Christmas – Oh The Madness

Healing & Self Care, Lifestyle9 Comments
Glass of rose wine next to roses

Don’t Drink In December Challenge: Sober Update

December 17, 2019 Amy Helina

Hello everyone! Okay, first of all, I need to write more. I always intend on writing and have SO MUCH TO SHARE, but it seems sometimes there is just not enough time in the day. In the beginning of December … Continue reading Don’t Drink In December Challenge: Sober Update

Parenting & Step Parenting3 Comments
Snowman Face Ornament On Christmas Tree

New Holiday Traditions as a Blended Family

December 15, 2019September 15, 2020 Amy Helina

With the holidays right around the corner, what better time than to take a look at our new traditions as a blended family!? Maybe even explore ideas for possible new traditions? This is only our second year together as a … Continue reading New Holiday Traditions as a Blended Family

Healing & Self Care, Lifestyle19 Comments

Don’t Drink in December Challenge

December 4, 2019March 22, 2020 Amy Helina

Happy December everyone!! So, as we all know, the holidays are a time where people usually wine it up, or break out the annual eggnog. I’ve also heard some people refer to this time of year as Tipsy Time. Thanksgiving … Continue reading Don’t Drink in December Challenge

Love & Relationships, Parenting & Step Parenting3 Comments
Pie on wooden table with bread

Our Thanksgiving as a Blended Family

December 3, 2019December 3, 2019 Amy Helina

This year for Thanksgiving, it was really special. It has been a hard year, but I truly have so much to be thankful for. I have my family, my well being and my job to name a short few. My … Continue reading Our Thanksgiving as a Blended Family

Lifestyle2 Comments
rocks balanced on top of one another with sun in background

The Balancing Act

November 16, 2019 Amy Helina

Hi everyone!! How is everyone doing this lovely day? I hope well! I have a ton of things I want to share with you all, but can’t seem to find the time lately. You see, when I started this blog, … Continue reading The Balancing Act

Lifestyle, Love & Relationships, Parenting & Step Parenting3 Comments
adult-child-daughter-sunset

A Mother’s Love Is Immortal, Even Though She Isn’t

October 29, 2019October 5, 2020 Amy Helina

Earlier this year my mom passed away. It was sudden, it was unexpected, and it was arguably one of the most painful things I have been through. I learned something very important though. One morning I woke up to a … Continue reading A Mother’s Love Is Immortal, Even Though She Isn’t

Parenting & Step Parenting4 Comments
Kitchen sink in front of window with yellow gloves and sponges

How We Keep Up With Chores In Our Blended & Busy Home

October 16, 2019October 16, 2019 Amy Helina

Hi everyone! If you have been following my posts, you know that I have a beautiful blended family. You can get the whole introduction to our family at Blended & Splendid: The Introduction. In that post I give a brief … Continue reading How We Keep Up With Chores In Our Blended & Busy Home

Healing & Self Care1 Comment

Victim Shaming & How I Move Past It

October 11, 2019January 24, 2020 Amy Helina

In some recent posts (Parental Support During My Time of Crisis & Why A Strong Support Group is Important) I have talked a lot about finding your support groups. I really can’t stress this enough, and how important it is. … Continue reading Victim Shaming & How I Move Past It

Parenting & Step Parenting3 Comments
sandy beach and boat dock with rolling hills and clouds across the lake

Blended & Splendid: The Introduction

October 7, 2019February 27, 2021 Amy Helina

Hi everyone!! If you have been following along with my posts then you know that my son and I moved to North Dakota almost 2 years ago now. If not, you can read all about The Big Move here. Since … Continue reading Blended & Splendid: The Introduction

Lifestyle, Love & RelationshipsLeave a comment
Young couple overlooking sunset on lake

Learning To Love After Abuse: It’s A Process

October 5, 2019October 15, 2019 Amy Helina

In this new journey of mine, my metanoia, I was so incredibly determined that I wasn’t going to get into another relationship for a very long time. I needed time to evaluate myself, my life, and FIND MYSELF again. I … Continue reading Learning To Love After Abuse: It’s A Process

Healing & Self Care, LifestyleLeave a comment
Love spelled out with letter blocks on wood floor with heart

Ten Things I Learned in the First Whole Year After Leaving Our Abuser

October 2, 2019October 8, 2019 Amy Helina

After getting out of an abusive relationship. I decided to make a huge move to a different state and start a whole new life. Just because I moved, and started a whole new life, I still had many memories of … Continue reading Ten Things I Learned in the First Whole Year After Leaving Our Abuser

Lifestyle, Parenting & Step ParentingLeave a comment
stone staircase in ampitheater

Adjusting to The Big Move

September 24, 2019October 8, 2019 Amy Helina

So now we’re ALL THE WAY in North Dakota! As I mentioned in my last post, it is a HUGE adjustment. This place is TINY, with a population slightly over 6,000, compared to the Chicago Metro area’s 2.7 million person … Continue reading Adjusting to The Big Move

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