Wednesday, July 28, 2010

As the Kids Go Back to School

I found this article at Mamapedia. Renee has some really good food for thought. After reading this article I am going to get her book and read it. Here is her article I wanted to share it with you and challenge you to do a self-care challenge. as you send your kids back to school.
Sometimes I feel like a broken record, constantly advocating the benefits of self-care and how it has transformed my life over the last ten years.
But this past week confirmed that this message is one we all need to hear, over and over again.
I recently led a workshop for woman entrepreneurs at all life stages on how to work less and experience more. I call this approach the Empowered Entrepreneur —a topic I’m very passionate about.
Toward the end of the workshop, after covering a lot of essential ground related to running a small business, I touched on the importance of self-care; especially, for moms. And interestingly, this arena is where the most lively, passionate, emotional dialogue erupted.
They all seemed to grasp that self-care—cultivating an awareness for and responding to their physical/emotional/spiritual/mental needs—was fundamental to their well-being. And, they understood intellectually that they couldn’t build a business—much less function—when they were exhausted, harried, out of synch with themselves and running on empty.
But, were they ready to change their behavior and mindset to be more compassionate, nurturing and responsive to their deepest needs?
My ah-ha moment and initial motivation to learn more about self-care (read The Transformative Power of Self-Care from my book), came after having my son and realizing how vital it was for me to teach him to honor and nurture himself—something my sweet mother who battled depression most of her life, was never able to teach me.
What will it take for you to make this shift?
Consider the following “gifts from self-care” I’ve received over the years. When we renew ourselves by attuning and responding to our needs:
1. We feel more generous and can avoid building resentments toward others who demand our energy and time.
2. We naturally feel more loving, which makes us better friends, partners, parents and more enjoyable to be around!
3. We validate and honor our own worth, our essence, which naturally enhances confidence and self-esteem and lowers susceptibility to depression and anxiety.
4. We feel more alive and whole; we’re able to function at our best and do more of the things we want to do.
5. We renew and restore our energy supply and create energy reserves so we’re able to weather unforeseen challenges more easily.
6. We’re more present and calm; we can respond wisely, intuitively and effectively to a variety of circumstances.
7. We begin to step into our personal power (realizing our potential), which is our birthright.
8. We feel good on the inside, which leads to looking good on the outside. Nurturing your essence—inside and out—promotes well-being and vitality.
AS THE KIDS GO BACK TO SCHOOL LETS DO A  SELF-CARE CHALLENGE
I invite you for the next thirty days to begin to become aware of how you’re feeling and what you need. Try a quick body scan before you even step out of bed in the morning. Just lie there for a moment and check in with your physical and emotional health. Are you overscheduled, do you need to lighten your load? Do you need to move your body or spend more time in nature? Are you dehydrated or are you eating something that is not enhancing your energy level? Do you need to say “no” to something or ask for help? Do you need to build in a day or evening to just rest (A radical concept, I know!). I have been focusing on self-nurturance for ten years and I still have a long way to go. But, hands down, this has been the most life-changing practice I have ever embraced. And the gifts that come from cultivating more compassion and love for myself, continue to greet me daily. I’d love to hear your comments around the theme of self-care. Cancer survivor Audre Lorde says it best, “Self-care is not about self-indulgence, it’s about self-preservation.”
RenĂ©e Peterson Trudeau is a nationally-recognized career/life balance coach, president of Career Strategists and the author of the award-winning The Mother’s Guide to Self-Renewal: How to Reclaim, Rejuvenate and Re-Balance Your Life. Thousands of women around the U.S./Canada are joining and becoming trained to lead Personal Renewal Groups based on the Guide, as a way to enhance balance and well-being in their lives.
As you send the kids back to school spend the next 30 days focus on your self-care.

Monday, July 26, 2010

What To Do With All of the Zucchini?

I grow up with this problem every fall. We would take bags to every neighbor. This is a much better idea.

Becky’s Carrot Zucchini Pineapple Muffins


My friend Becky is about as close to a “super mom” as you can get. A demanding full-time job, 3 kids, and manages to find the energy for fun adventures, running half marathons, lots of home-cooked goodness, and having a sense of humor about it all. If she wasn’t such an awesome person, I might just hate her a littleHere’s what she says about these carrot-zucchini muffins: “We make them in mini muffin tins. Oliver (baby) loves them and the other two will eat them if they are starving, so I save them for the ride home from school. They travel well and are reasonably good for you. Nate (toddler) is a huge fan of cooking with me and he loves this because he gets to do the cuisinart and the mixer. He also likes putting the cupcake papers into the baking pans. Even though he helps me make these, it doesn’t stop him from looking at the muffins later and saying – what is this green stuff mommy? Oh well!”
I gave them a test run recently and the kids I was with (ages 2-4) ate them right up. “Do these have vegetables in them?” asks the four year old, suspiciously.  Aren’t you amazed at the impressive power of observation that kids have when it comes to spotting that sliver of green or tiny speck of pepper? But despite the suspicion of vegetables lurking, the lure of these muffins was just too strong. Tiny nibble…. ”Mmmmm these are THE BEST!”. Big bite…. “More please!”
This makes a large batch (~2 dozen standard-sized muffins), so unless you have 3 hungry kids, you might cut it in half, freeze some, or best yet share with a friend. For little hands (or messy cooks), you can scoop the batter into a large zip lock bag, snip the corner and “pipe” into the muffin tins about 2/3 full.
Shopping List: eggs; vegetable oil or unsweetened applesauce;  sugar; vanilla extract; 2 zucchini; 3 carrots; 1 can crushed pineapple in juice; salt; flour (all-purpose or can substitute 50% all purpose and 50% whole wheat); baking soda; baking powder; cinnamon; nutmeg; nut or dried fruit (optional)
  • Combine 3 eggs, 1 cup of oil (or use apple sauce or a combination), 2 cups sugar (I reduced this by about a third), 2 teaspoons vanilla. Beat together until thick and foamy
  • In the cuisinart shred about 2 zucchini and 3 carrots so that you pretty well fill up a 9 cup cuisnart. Squeeze well to remove excess moisture and then stir into the to the mixture above.
  • Add 1 can of well drained crushed pineapple (Crushed is much better than cubes as no one notices them if they are crushed.)
  • In a seperate bowl, combine the dry ingredients: 1 teaspoon salt, 3 cups flour (or substitute 1.5 cups white and 1.5 wheat flour), 2 teaspoons baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, 1.5 teaspoons cinnamon, 3/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • Mix dry ingredients into the wet mixture, but don’t stir too much because it will make the muffins too heavy. (I usually stop using the mixer at this point and mix by hand.)
  • If you like, add 1c nuts and 1 c. raisins (My kids aren’t fans of these at all.)
  • Bake at about 350 for 15 – 25 minutes until they spring back in the center and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. Reduce the baking time for mini muffins. Posted at  http://alittleyum.wordpress.com/2010/07/26/guest-recipe-beckys-carrot-zucchini-muffins/ by Simran Stacie

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

GET THE MOST FROM YOUR SCHOOL CLOTHES BUDGET.

Last week while I was visiting my daughter she ask me to help go through her daughters clothes to prepare for school shopping. Going school clothes shopping was always a big deal to my daughter. She is a lot more excited than my granddaughter who is just starting kindergarten and has never experienced this tradition. The exercise proceeded like this. Mom sorted the clothes in daughter’s closet, daughter tried on clothes that were acceptable for school clothes, and grandma hung the acceptable clothes back on hangers. The last step was to match up clothes that could be worn together. After the tedious task was complete, Mom, my daughter had a very saddened look on her face because her daughter didn’t need very many clothes to start school. She looked like a little girl who had just lost her ice cream scoop from her ice cream cone. This years school shopping was not going to be as much fun as she had hoped it would be, but the great news, it will also not be as expensive.


This really got me thinking about how this event had come too mean so much to my daughter. Every year when it was time to get ready for school I would make an adventure out of the task. As I was pondering my past experiences I realized that I had raised my kids during the recession in the early nineties and I thought there were some things I had learned that could help mothers today. My husband and I lost half of our income and were forced to learn how to stretch our money. The kids and I would take inventory of what we had that would work and make a list of what we needed. Then we would plan a day for the quest. We were on a mission. I believe it was this attitude that made this experience so much fun for my children.

Here is your mission if you choose to accept it.

GET THE MOST FROM YOUR SCHOOL CLOTHES BUDGET.

For step by step instructions click here.

Monday, July 12, 2010

Friendship Day is Aug First

“The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him with friendship.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson -
Friendship bears a different definition with different people.
To a child, whoever is happy to play with them during recess are their friends. When they share their candies or toys, they become true friends indeed. A day in the park together is all it takes to make them best friends. The innocence of a child never fails to amaze anyone.
As they grow older, their classmates and those who help them with their homework becomes their friend. The friend is normally a classmate or schoolmate that they meet often or interact with alot. They would probably be involved in the same activities.
Teenage years come and friends are the highlight of their lives. They would share their inner most thoughts, fears and feel more comfortable with their friends than with their family. You would definitely share your innermost thoughts and secrets with a friend, one that you would never consider sharing with your family. Friends are those with whom they can relate to, fit in with, be on the phone all day with, and discuss all the latest gossips with. Friends are those they can share adventures with and have fun with.

They then grow up and friends are those who are there through thick and thin, as each of them move on through the next phases in lives. They may not meet up as much, but they are always on one another’s mind. In times of need, they are the ones who would drop everything and come there.
Friends would evolve as a person, create new bonds such as a spouse or a family, have new responsibilities and opportunities, and still have one another in mind. But they would still be there to celebrate your achievements, and support you during a hard time. You are the first person they would call to announce their successes and be eager to share it with you over a meal or a celebration party. The distance your lives gain would not lessen the friendship in anyway.
So friendship comes in many forms…But eitherway, it is a beautiful bond that needs to be honored, remembered and always cherished. This is a bond life cannot proceed on without. Let us see how we can honor this day dedicated to good friendships.
original post Squidoo

Thank you for being my friend. I love connecting with all of you moms. I learn from you.  I love helping you. I really appreciate everything you bring into my life. Mom-Stuff has added some Friendship Week Gift ideas 
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Thursday, July 8, 2010

Tipsy Planted Pots

I just found the cutest craft ever. So I had to share it with you.
Tipsy Planted Pots
This craft was originally posted by Becky@Nine is Fine. This one was created by Michell @Girl in Air. For instructions and pics visit   
Don’t you just love this world of wonderful mom bloggers?

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

New articles at Mom-Stuff.com

Articles to make this the best summer ever at
Mom-Stuff
Women are Social Media.

New Summer Fun Activities on Mom-Stuff
For summer scheduling and activities visit Mom-Stuff
Want some fun kids crafts to make with your children this summer? Visit mom-stuff kids crafts
Help your girls make some Fancy Flip Flops to match their summer outfits

Before you go on your summer vacation checkout our Vacation Scrapbooking Pages Using Souvenirs

Rockin Bobbie Pins 
Promote your mom-stuff affiliate.  Post and recommend  any of these articles and links to your readers. Always use public links (these are free links) when promoting your mom-stuff affiliate. If you have not signed up for your free affiliate with mom-stuff do it now. It is really easy, just pick your mom-stuff banner linked to your mom-stuff ID, post it on your site. Our system does all of the tracking and you make 50% commissions on all of your friends who join. Then they join and make money from their friends. It is a win/win system. We are keeping the membership fees low so everyone can afford this opportunity. It is less then .30 a day. Mom-Stuff is all about moms helping supporting and educating each other. Please email any article you want to share on Mom-Stuff.com. If you feel that we do not have a category that your information will fit, no worries, we will create one.
Have a wonderful summer with picnics, BBQ’s vacations, and some get family time. Thanks to all of the moms who contributed to our Summer Pages.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

I am Thankful for My Online Friends

FOR THE HUSBAND WHO IS ON THE SOFA BEING A COUCH POTATO,
BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.


FOR THE TEENAGER WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES

BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME, NOT ON THE STREETS.


FOR THE TAXES I PAY

BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM EMPLOYED.


FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY

BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.

FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG

BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.


FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME.

FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION.

FOR MY HUGE HEATING OR COOLING BILL

BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM 
COMFORTABLE

FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH WHO SINGS OFF KEY

FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING


FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS

BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE.

AND FINALLY, FOR TOO MANY E-MAILS

BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE THINKING OF ME.


I LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. I LOVE COMMENTS, TWEETS, LIKES AND EMAILS.

THANKS FOR BEING A PART OF THE MOM-STUFF CIRCLE
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.

FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES AT THE END OF THE DAY

BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.

BECAUSE IT MEANS I CAN HEAR.

BECAUSE IT MEANS WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.


FOR THE PARKING SPOT I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT
 

BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE


FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING, WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING, AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING

Monday, July 5, 2010

Better Late than Never

Happy Birthday America


from Mom-Stuff, the Wright Hair and Glue Dots.



Visit mom-stuff to see our NEW crafts made for Glue Dots. You can make all of these fun things in clors to match your girls back to school clothes. http://www.mom-stuff.com/public/301.cfm


For additional ideas to use Glue Dots check their Facebook Fan Page with cool projects from others.

I made these projects while participating in the TwitterMoms and Glue Dots blogging contest to be eligible to receive a $30 gift card. While it would be nice to win the gift card I was extremely appreciative for the opportunity to try out this product. I love the fact that there is a glue dot for all most all surfaces.
For more information on how you can participate and learn more about this cool new glue tool click here.


Thank you Glue Dots for this opportunity and for creating a glue that is not messy. I love to craft with kids and see their creativity grow but the mess not so much. 
“I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Glue Dots blogging contest to be eligible to receive a $30 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.”