Life Lessons:
Carey Reilly
*Are you happy at the moment?
I am super happy. My children went to school this morning with smiles on their faces. I always say to them before they walk out the door, “Remember, what we say in the morning? “ They then say, “Great things are going to happen to me today.” I try to encourage them to think positive thoughts about the day before them, I think if your attitude is positive then it points your day in the right direction. I also love my quiet mornings where I can enjoy a nice hot cup of coffee and catch up on my emails and make my to-do list for the day.
*If you could go back and say anything to your 16-year-old self now – what would it be?
I suffered a lot with undiagnosed Depression and PTSD when I was sixteen years old. It was all brought on by my father’s death when I was eight years old. So, if I could say anything to my sixteen year old self I would say, “You will heal and be happy soon. Enjoy the present moment, the now.” I would also tell my sixteen year old self to put down that taco and not drive so FAST.
*What’s the most important thing you’ve learned this year?
The most important thing I’ve learned this year is to take a breath and slow down.
*What do you most want to achieve in the next 12 months?
There are a lot of things I’d like to achieve in the next twelve months. I’d really like to see my blog, www.notsoskinnymom.com become a major destination spot where people come to be inspired, to enjoy great recipes and most of all laugh. I’d like to continue creating real, honest video content; whether it’s taping a parody of Matthew McConaughey’s Lincoln car commercial with myself in the drivers’ seat, my cooking series Carey Out or taping a video of how I snore like a man and suffer from sleep apnea. I’m always trying to express my true authentic self no matter how unfaltering it can be.
*What’s your secret to happiness?
My secret to happiness is staying positive. I always try to focus on reacting in a positive manner to all situations. What lesson can I
learn? Most of all though I do a whole lot of laughing with my friends and family. I’ve learned to draw boundaries with people who display negative energy or behaviors.
*What is the one ritual or practice that keeps you grounded?
Picking up after my dog. At the end of the day after I’ve taken out my hair pieces, Put my jewelry back in the drawer, ripped off my fake lashes and tucked my children into bed. But, I still have to go outside grab my pooper scooper and clean up after my dogs. It brings you right back to realty.
*What’s your biggest regret?
I know it sounds corny but I don’t think in terms of “regrets.” I think everything I do is a learning lesson. Yes, I’ve said and done things I wish I hadn’t but I am who I am because of my mistakes. It’s more important to me how I react to my mistakes than that I made them. It gives me more power and allows me to not have regrets.
*What’s the most important lesson you’ve taught your kid(s)?
I am trying to instill in my children, confidence. I believe if you have confidence in yourself then the rest just falls into place. I recently
wrote an article for my site, notsoskinnymom.com “Why I’m teaching my daughter traits of a mean girl.” Basically I’m teaching my daughter how to stand up to bullies.
*What bad habit would you most like to change about yourself?
I would love someday to be one of those people who eat to live. I’d like to be cool around food. I’d like to say to someone offering me a slice of birthday cake, “Oh no thank you.” Instead of saying, “Can you throw some extra frosting on there?”
*Aside from motherhood/fatherhood and marriage what are you most proud of in your life?
I am most proud that I am a survivor. I suffered the loss of my father when I was eight. I was debilitated by grief for a long time.
Different milestones in my life forced me to face that grief, and I am always healing. Now as a wife, mother, daughter and sister- I can honestly say, I’m not just a surviving anymore, today I am living.
*When were you happiest?
I was thrilled the day I married my husband, John. I always say its like a sleep over with my hairy best friend every night. The happiest moment in my life was the day each of my children were born. The actual moment they were delivered was amazing. I hated being pregnant but I would give birth over and over again. My husband and I sobbed, when each of them were born. It’s really such a joyous, amazing moment. I never felt so powerful, spiritual or thankful. Of course the moment I became a mom, I was also rocked to the core with fear! I remember roaming the halls at night in the hospital scared to death that I wasn’t going to be a good enough mother. I
didn’t even know how to secure this sweet little baby into her car seat, how was I going to know how to raise my daughter? Either way, once I had my children nothing else mattered. Becoming a mother allowed me to to grow as a person and enjoy life more.
*Which 10 words best describe you?
Funny, Goofy, Loving, Kind, Charming, Pretty, Brilliant, Great, Intelligent and Smelly – My kids just said “Make it eleven, DIVA!”
Catch TV Host and Comedian Carey Reilly and her everyday follies on her mom/food blog. Reilly has served as a judge on Food Network’s Rewrapped hosted by Joey Fatone. She is a host at VProud.tv.com. She is currently the creator and host of www.ulive.com’s new show voted Video of the Week, Dear Buddha. She hosted How Are You So Sexy? for Berman Braun’s 3v Channel. She conducts celebrity interviews for Aol.com. She is a recurring comic/contributor on NBC’s Today Show, VH-1, HLN’s Showbiz Tonight, and The Joy Behar Show as well as being a guest on The Wendy Williams Show. She has also contributed to InTouch Weekly and US Weekly and Yahoo Travel. You can follow Carey on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram as well!
