VD not just for singles

Since I was a teenager I have refered to Valentines Day as VD. I have that kind of  twisted sense of humor. But I also call it that because we put so much pressure on ourselves and our loved ones on that it ceases  to be a good thing.

I told my hubby years ago when we were first married " Buy m flowers any time you want EXCEPT on Valentines day." I hated to see him over pay for flowers because everyone expected him to. Once we had kids we decided that would not go out on the actual day of VD because I hate crowds and all the good babysitters ( both grandmas) were usually already taken. So we celebrate VD in March. It just works for us, we are out of the box sort of people.

So for you moms who are stressing because you dont have a baby sitter or frankly don't have the money for an extravagant meal, try this. Make dinner at home using only red and pink foods, or make a heart shaped pizza, some places even make a heart shaped pizza just for VD. The kids can participate in choosing red and pink foods or making the pizza or even just setting the table with paper napkins they cut into heart shapes.

You LOVE your family and they know it. Holidays are for stepping out of your routine. You can do that in so many ways that cost nothing or close to nothing. Imagine having the kids blow up red and pink balloons and filling the dinning room or living room with them so they can suprise Daddy. Make a tradition of only using homemade valentines for family. Those are the best kind anyway.

What ever you do for VD, don't stress. You will make your family happy and your heart happier.

That is my one good idea for the week.

Together we CAN do it!

ME Time

Being a mom is a 24/7 adventure to be sure. You are a detective...Find the dirty socks, find the clean socks, find the homework, find the ketchup, find my book I left it right there. Where's your lunch, backpack, homework, jacket, brother, shoes? Did you comb your hair, brush your teeth, put your bowl in the sink, flush the toilet, wash your hands? Who left their towel on the floor, didn't flush, left the water running? And you are a care giver to your kids, husband, friends, and family.

But I want to tell you that as important as clean toilets are, ME time is just as important. If you don't take care of yourself who will be the detecitve and the care giver? Who will take care of you?

Here are some ideas about how to get in some much needed ME time: 

1) Hot cup of tea. I say hot because if the tea is hot you must take your time drinking it. If your children are little wait until they are taking their naps, if they are older do this before you pick them up from school or after they are in bed. Choose the nicest china you have, sit in a comfortable chair, and do NOTHING for 20 minutes but drink tea and relax.

2) Take a walk without the kids. My husband and I like to do this after dinner and before the kids bed time. Ours are old enough to stay alone and we don't bring our cell phones. We just hold hands and enjoy each other. Our walk is about 1 mile round trip or 20 minutes. Find the length and time that is good for you. If your kids are too young to stay at home alone, swap walking nights with another mommy and watch each others kids for 30 min. Then two mommies are getting much needed ME time.

3) Hot Bubble Bath. I love to get in the bath with bubbles (I like bath salts too) and a good book.  Take all the kiddie toys out of the bathroom entirely! I use a laundry basket to remove all traces of my children before settling in for my ME time. You need your moment too. Get up an hour earily for your ME time or wait until the kids are asleep. Light candles, play soft music, what ever it takes to make yourself relax.

4) Manicure /Pedicure. Like most moms of young children I was sure I couldn't find the time when someone could watch the kids and I could afford to get them done, but I assure you that with some creativity you can do this. If money is an issue, look to your local beauty college. The manicure /pedicure there is very inexpensive. If child care is a problem find another mom with whom you can swap baby sitting with. Believe me swapping child care with another mom is AWESOME, and FREE.

5) Massage/ Facial. Again this can be pricey but you can check out the massage therapist schools/ beauty colleges  for discount massages/ facials or ask you family and friends to pool their gifts for your birthday or Christmas so you can go at least once a year.

These are my favorites, but please share yours with us. The most important thing is that you do it.

Your family will be happier if you are more relaxed and happy, so really it is a gift you give them everytime you take care of yourself.

And that is my one good idea for the week.

Go ahead ruin your dinner...Its good for you

Eating healthy is always a goal of mine. I don't often reach my goal, but it is something I work on every year. Growing up my mom always told me to stop snacking by 4:00 pm so that I wouldn't ruin my dinner. As I got older and more body conscience, I would not eat between Lunch and dinner. In fact I often skipped breakfast and lunch and was RAVENOUS by dinner time. Eating way more for dinner than I would have if I had just eaten 3 meals.

So when I was told that I should eat 5-6 small meals a day to lose weight, keep my blood sugar level, and be overall more healthy it sounded crazy. I couldn't imagine how eating more food could be good for you. Also how would I fit that lifestyle to my family? Well here is one way to do it that is so easy you will ask yourself why you didn't do this before.

Five meals works out this way:

Breakfast- with in an hour of waking up.
Snack- high fiber low sugar. Fruit veggies or fiber bar works should be 2-3 hours after breakfast.
Lunch
Snack-I usually plan this for 4pm
Dinner

So lets talk about that 4:00 snack. Must of us begin to feel tired about 3-4 pm. For me it is closer to 4. So I take  my veggie platter out of the refrigerator and start to snack. The kids and I eat as much veg as we want. If we are too full to eat dinner. Oh Well. No problem. If the kids get hungry later say 7-8pm I make a smoothie for them. This way I know that they are getting the vitamins so important to their growing bodies, and I find I eat less at dinner.

I am a subscriber to the one good thing philosophy. If I can take one good thing from someone else's life, implement it in mine and be better for it then it was a good meeting, chat, read etc.

So this is my one good idea for you to find that healthier you inside. If you have a " one good" idea please feel free to comment below. Together this Army of MOMS can do anything.

Oh MY GOD I'M FAT!!

I know this beacuse every stupid comercial on TV tells me so. Before Christmas it is eat drink and be Merry! Spend every cent you have. Then WHAMMO! After Christmas start the diet comercials.


 "Loose weight fast",


"You can't loose weight becuse you are over 40 but we can help!,"


"You need to exercise",


" You don't need to exercise, you just need our special shakes."


And I think to my self, I am a highly rational woman and I am brain washed by these commercials. You don't need to know how much I weigh because I talk to other women and, without fail, they all feel fat after Christmas.  Why? Because we are all BRAINWASHED!!


Here is a thought, the average woman over 30 gains 5 lbs a year. So if you weight the same this year as last you really Lost 5 lbs. So you are Skinny. Or at least Skinnier than your average self. If you lost 5lbs this year than you are 10 lbs skinnier than your average self. Feeling any better?


Try this out, most of us just want to be healthier, and we equate that with skinnier. I am here to tell you that skinny does NOT equal healthy. Look at every Herion addict. They are skinny as hell but in no way healthy.


So this year don't resolve to be skinnier, resolve to be healthier. Eat more veg, less fried. And next year see if you are a skinnier you.