Live As If You Were To Die Tomorrow

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. 

Learn as if you were to live forever.”   ― Mahatma Gandhi

It's human nature to think there will be always be more time.

You'll have time when the kids go to school.  You'll have time when the kids grow up, go off to college and move out. You'll find time when things aren't so busy. There will be time when you have more money and don't have to work so much.

If you keep going at that rate you'll never find time. You need to MAKE time.

Have you always wanted to learn to play the guitar? What about write a book? Sell some of your photos? Start your own business? Dream of traveling to far off places?

How long have you been waiting to start living your dream life? Do you even know what that is? Do you even know what your dream life looks like?

You aren't getting any younger! Start today. Start now!

No one is guaranteed tomorrow. Make this a life of no regrets.

Make each day count!


Check out some of these websites. They could help you start living your dream life.
DaveRamsey.com
If you're short on cash and high in debt - start here. Don't wait to start your dream life until your are completely debt free. Find a way to start now.
Openculture.com/freeonlinecourses
Great foreign language classes, music, history, religion, biology, and more.
Open2Study.com
Writing, photography, early childhood education, and tons more.
Udemy.com
Entrepreneurship - From Idea to Launch, A Mini-Course on Achieving Your Dreams, Basic Life Support, a Mini Course on Better Reading and even a How to Draw Cartoons for Kids class.
Alison.com
Take a course on how to start your own business, grow your own organic food, yoga exercises or music theory plus more.
PlainandNotSoPlain.com
A years worth of Home Economics lesson plans - in case you're interested in brushing up your homemaking skills.
TillyAndTheButtons.com
Learn the absolute basics of sewing. This is a great site.
Craftsy.com
Lots of online courses to teach you a wide variety of crafts. They even offer projects and patterns.
Justinguitar.com
Over 980 free guitar lessons. If you need a guitar check local pawn shops or thrift shops.
PianoNanny.com
Want to learn how to play the piano. This site offers lessons from Beginner to Advanced.

If these don't help just go to your favorite search engine and type in "learn X online for free". Filling in the X with the topic of your choice, of course.

How To Do Weight Watchers for Free

Some of you may know that I used Weight Watchers® back in 2011 and lost 50 pounds. I've since gained it back, like many people do, and even tried their system 2 times since then with no luck. I just had trouble sticking with the plan and couldn't keep paying each month.

I am a full believer in doing what works. Weight Watchers® worked for me in the past and I'm sure it will work again.  However, I didn't want the added bill each month plus the start up costs.

So....I did a little searching online and found some nifty tools to allow me to follow what I learned from Weight Watchers® and do it on my own.

Daily Point Allowance
First, I had to figure out what my daily points would be based on my age, height and current weight.  That's when I discovered there are points calculators available online.

Here are a couple sites that offer points calculators.
http://www.exercise4weightloss.com/ww-allowance-calculator.html
http://gnomes22.tripod.com/dailypptarget.html
https://www.easycalculation.com/health/weight-watchers-points-plus.php

Points Calculator
Next, I needed to know the points value of the foods I would eat.  There are two ways to do this. One way is to search the web, your library or anywhere else you can for Weight Watchers® recipes. Believe me there are tons out there.

Here are a few of my favorites:
http://www.skinnytaste.com/
http://www.food.com/recipes/weight-watchers/?pn=2
http://www.skinnykitchen.com/

The second way works with pretty much anything that has a label. It's a points calculator. Here's two.
http://www.calculatorcat.com/free_calculators/weight_watchers_calculator.phtml
http://www.calculator.net/weight-watchers-points-calculator.html

Besides your daily points you are also allowed 49 points a week. Use a little each day or all at once on a splurge. That way you won't feel deprived which is why most people quit a diet. You can still have foods you love - just with moderation.

Tracking for Success
To be successful at losing weight you need to keep track of your points and what you eat. Here is an amazing spreadsheet (Open Office) that includes a calculator.
http://www.exercise4weightloss.com/weight-watchers-points-tracker.html

Here is a nice printable tracking form.
http://www.skinnymommyfitness.com/free-download-weight-watchers-points-plus-tracker/

* I am not affiliated with Weight Watchers or any of the linked websites.  Also, I am not a doctor or dietician, so be sure to consult your doctor before you start any diet or exercise program.

A Photo-A-Day Challenge Can Change Your Life

It may sound simple, but doing a photo-a-day challenge or just taking a photo everyday for a month or year really can change your life.

There are lots of apps out there to help you remember.  My app of choice is Instagram.  You can see my Instagram feed here - user name shavattk.

You don't need to be a professional photographer. You don't even need a fancy camera. I use my phone's camera. It's convenient - I always have it with me. 

Appreciation
You start to appreciate all the beauty in your world when you start looking at life through the lens of a camera. You start to notice all the leaves changing, flowers blooming, kid's smiling, etc.

Memories
After a month, or a year if you are able, you can look back and reminisce about all the memories you have of the past. It will trigger memories that you may have forgotten.

Some ideas include taking a photo of your kids everyday for a year and see how they've grown. Another idea is to take a picture that has to do with a hobby. Many people take photos of crafts, books, gardening, food and basically anything else you can think of.

Improve Your Skills
Of course, after taking a photo every day for some extended amount of time, your photography skills will improve. Practice, practice, practice.

If you are interested in doing a challenge there are lots out there. Basically a challenge is just a list of words or phrases that should be the focus of your photo that day.  For example: "colorful" could be a bowl of various fruits, a rainbow, a brightly colored outfit on a child, etc.

Here are two that I have used in the past.

 TheIdeaRoom.net

 FatMumSlim

I hope your life starts to change for the better. Have fun with the challenge and have a wonderful day!

Week of Thankfulness - Day 1 With Thanksgiving Printable

Since this is Thanksgiving week I decided to make it a week full of thankfulness on the blog.

My kids are off school all week and today was my youngest child's Parent-Teacher Conference, so I wanted to express how thankful I am that my kids attend such wonderful schools.

All my kids have gone to the same elementary school. We love the principal, teachers and staff.  Just last week the principal let the students wrap him up with tissue paper like a mummy and in the past he allowed the students to duct tape him to the wall. He knows the names of almost all the kids and even the most of the families.

The teachers are caring, helpful and go above and beyond to help their students. The reason they can do this is because lots of parents volunteer. Not just in the classroom, but in the office, at the copier, even helping out from home.

If you want a great school for your children - start by helping out. Any little bit of time you can give to help out will help make the school better. Giving just 10 minutes copying papers for a teacher can give them 10 minutes more to spend with the students or plan their classes.

Maybe your child's school is not all that wonderful, but one teacher or staff member is. What matters most is there is a person your child enjoys.

I am thankful that there are wonderful adults to surround my children each day. They help them grow, learn and help them nurture their curiosity.

Enjoy this free printable I created to help you remember all the many things you have to be thankful for.  Click Here

6 Ways You Can Help Keep Your Marriage Strong

After being married a few years, it becomes easy to fall into a routine. Life can become mundane and relationships can lose that spark.

Let's face it all relationships take work, but to keep your marriage strong and healthy it's all about the little things. Here are 6 easy ways to help keep your marriage strong.

Flirt
Don't assume flirting is only for the young. Who honestly doesn't want to feel special, loved, and wanted by their significant other. A small bouquet of flowers, some time cuddling on the couch or just hold hands while walking in public are all small, but easy ways to show you care.

Date Nights
Plan time out alone with your partner. Find something both of you can enjoy. Going for a walk in the park, seeing a movie, watching a sporting event, or just sharing a nice meal are all ways to create memories together.

Bring Something to the Relationship
It's easy for parents get so wrapped up in caring for the kids that they forget about themselves. Both people need to bring something to the table. Be an individual, have your own interests, hobbies, etc.

This is important because it gives you something for you to talk about. It's something for you to get excited over. If you have a dull life you won't have anything to talk about.

Talk/Listen
This is so important. Learn to talk and listen to your spouse. Both people in the relationship need to be able to say whatever they feel without condemnation. They may not always agree with each other, but they will at least know they have been heard. Share your true feelings, opinions, wishes, dreams, cares and worries with each other.

Share Goals With Each Other
One way to strengthen your marriage is to work together to achieve a common goal.  Share your individual goals with each other and as a couple set some family goals too. Working together makes them that much easier to achieve. However, to keep the marriage strong both partners need to feel they are working toward their life goals. It cannot be one sided.

Forgive/Be Accepting
Remember we are all human. No one is perfect. We all make mistakes. Learn to forgive and acknowledge that everyone is a work in progress. Shift your focus to all the things your spouse does right.

Marriage takes work from both partners. Start by flirting, listening, sharing your feelings, wishes and dreams, and accepting your spouse where they are in life. Start small and over time you will see your marriage grow stronger. Enjoy life and make memories together.

The Food Fairies Are Back

Source

Now that I have my vehicle back, I am able to go to the grocery store during the day while the kids are at school. When we only had one working vehicle we would all go grocery shopping in the evening. That was fun...LOL. Three kids and hubby along for every grocery trip.

My youngest mentioned one week how she loved it when the food would magically appear at home while they were at school. I then asked her how she thought the food got there. She said "The food fairies must have brought it."

I have to admit it was much easier to do the grocery shopping alone. I, too, am glad the food fairies are back. 

Do you have food fairies or do you do the grocery shopping as a family?

Home Yoga Workouts Help Reduce A Mom's Stress

Home Yoga Workouts Help Reduce A Mom's Stress
By Pascale Vandenbroucke

If you are like many moms, your day never seems to be over. When your stress levels are climbing and you just can't seem to catch a break, try turning to a few calming exercise videos. Exercise gets your blood pumping and puts your muscles to good use, allowing your body and mind to focus on something other than the stressful situations that are getting you down.

Yoga is ideal for exercising at home because it requires little to no specialized equipment, there are plenty of online exercise videos with dozens of different moves to try, and can be done in almost any room. The beauty of yoga routines is that they can be as long or as short as you need them to be, and many exercise videos feature combinations of moves that work specific areas of the body which is something many women appreciate. By combining any of the following moves you can easily devise your own home yoga workouts! Simply select a move / pose, hold it for about 10 seconds, and release. You can then begin your next move or end your workout, it's entirely up to you!

Five yoga poses to help reduce a mom's stress

1) The Arms Overhead Position - Sit or kneel on the floor. Next, slowly lift your arms over your head and lace your fingers together once your arms are fully extended. For maximum benefit, try to keep your spine as straight as possible.

2) The Arms in Front Position - Similar to the Arms Overhead position, make sure that you are seated or kneeling with your arms fully extended and your fingers laced together. Instead of having your arms extended above your head however, in this position you should lean forward, gently rounding your spine. You should feel the muscles between your shoulder blades working with this one!

3) The Reclining Cobbler Position - Find a small cushion or roll up a throw blanket for use with this position. Lay back with your cushion / blanket positioned vertically, supporting your head and shoulders. Put your feet together with the soles touching and try to touch the floor with your knees.

4) The Child's Position - Kneel down and rest with your bottom against your heels. Slowly lean forward until your forearms are resting on the floor. Elongate your neck, take a deep breath, and exhale. You can use your cushion / blanket roll to support your upper body during this exercise if needed.

5) The Supported Bridge Position - Place your cushion / blanket on the floor and lay down on top of it with it supporting your hips. Arch your back gently, feeling the muscles in your hips and abdomen engage. Hold this position as long as you can, and then relax.

You can find moves like these and many more in the wide variety of exercise videos that are available online! Even the busiest of moms will be able to appreciate the stress-reducing properties of a relaxing yoga workout at home.

Pascale Vandenbroucke is the Creative Director of Workouts On Demand. They offer instant access to over 200 online exercise videos for only pennies a day.


Article Source:  Home Yoga Workouts Help Reduce A Mom's Stress

You Are Special

I was listening to a song on the radio that went "you may one of millions, but you are one in a million to me." 

It hit me a while back that so many people try to be famous or special to lots and lots of people. When they should focus on being special to those closest to them. 

Not everyone can be a famous celebrity, but you can be a celebrity to those around you. 

When I worked as a Recess Monitor I would have kids come up to me all the time to say Hi and give hugs. I felt like a celebrity.

Once I quit I felt a little sad. Then God showed me I need to take care of those immediately around me. They think I'm special and unreplaceable.

Be one in a million to those you love!

Kate Middleton's Post Baby Wardrobe

(photo: Michael Middleton)

Okay so I don't usually comment on pop culture stuff, but I had to send kudos to Kate Middleton for this latest "news".

Prince William and Kate Middleton posed with their new bundle of joy and Kate was wearing her maternity clothes.  A couple weeks after the baby was born.  Say it isn't so. LOL!

I applaud Kate Middleton because she didn't give in to the pressures of the media. I feel it makes her seem more relate able.  More like a normal mom and less like a celebrity who has fitness trainers, nannies, chefs, etc. (Though she may have all three).

This is only news because some newspapers and television outlets try to pressure celebrity moms  to feel as though they need to have their pre-baby bodies back within days after having their baby.  Plus they seem to negatively highlight any weight gain while pregnant. I feel as long as the mom and baby are healthy and their doctor isn't concerned - it's none of the public's business.

I've known many moms and very few has been able to slip right back into their pre-baby clothes. To me that's normal. Though I don't know a mom who wouldn't mind magically being thinner after giving birth.

Many moms stay physically active throughout their entire pregnancy, but still cannot fit into their pre-baby clothes. Your body can change shape after you've been pregnant. Hips can become wider, a small stomach where there wasn't one before, even a bigger or smaller bust.

I was always told it took 9 months for your body to get ready to have the baby and will probably take 9 months before it returns to "normal". That normal may or may not be the same as before.

I don't know about you, but my doctor said not to exercise my stomach muscles for week 4-6 after delivery. Normally your doctor can recommend some gentle exercises like walking or yoga to help you stay healthy, but I was told sit-ups, crunches, etc were off limits.

Remember every person is different and every pregnancy is different.

I've Always Wanted...

I was browsing on Pinterest.com and realized there are a couple things I've always wanted. Sometimes it really nice to just daydream, so here are 5 of the things I've really always wanted.

1. A Hidden Room

I always thought it would be really cool to have a hidden room. One to play in or use as a writing room, craft room or I don't know there would be so many fun things to use it for.


2. A Digital Camera with Zoom Lens

I had a nice digital camera, but had to sell it to get out of our financial difficulties a while back. Since then I couldn't see spending $800 or more when we need the money for other things. I really loved being able to zoom in to objects/people real far away. My kids are a bit photo shy.


3. A Dollhouse

Source

When hubby and I first got married he bought me a doll house kit, but I was never able to put it together. I'm not even sure what happened to it, but ever since I was a little girl I've always wanted a doll house to decorate.


4. Visit Walt Disney World

Again actually. My hubby and I went there for our honeymoon 16 years ago. Ever since then I've wanted to go back, especially since we had kids.  Plus at nearby Universal Studios Orlando they have the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.


5. Project Life

Ever since I've seen this online I've wanted it. They sell Project Life supplies at Michael's craft stores. They look pretty cool. Love the little journaling cards. Plus I'm not very creative when it comes to making scrapbooking pages.

Leave a comment below and share something you've always wanted.

Week #9 on Weight Watchers 360

It is week #9 on Weight Watchers 360° and I lost 1.2 pounds. I had fun this week. I started exercising.

Since I started to exercise on a regular basis I've noticed I have lots more energy and a more positive attitude. Plus, I wanted everyone to realize that exercise can actually be fun. Really!

When most people think of exercise they automatically assume it means going to a gym. I want to mention a couple ways you can exercise that don't involve going to a gym. Hopefully you will find something that you enjoy.

Walking
This is the easiest, cheapest and most convenient way to exercise. There is no special equipment necessary - all you need are a pair of regular sneakers. It can be done almost anywhere anytime. Lots of people walk during their lunch break, first thing in the morning or after their dinner in the evening.

You can make it even more enjoyable by listening to a mp3 player with your favorite songs.  Just try picking songs that have a good beat to walk to.

Walking is also a great way to clear your head at the end of a long, stressful day. You can also make it a family event by taking the whole family along with you.

Video Games
There are loads of video games to choose from Just Dance, Dance Central, Wii Fit, AE Sports Active 2, Biggest Loser Workout, Zumba and more.  Depending on what you enjoy doing, sports, dance, yoga or old fashioned exercises, there are a couple games to chose from for each gaming system.

These are great for the person who do not want to exercise in front of others or cannot get out for whatever reason (ex. caring for kids, no vehicle).

My absolute favorite is Just Dance 4. My daughter and I compete to see who can get the highest score. I also like Wii Fit Plus' yoga, snowball game, rhythm parade, and ski jump.


Swimming
This is probably the easiest activity if you are concerned about your joints. If you have a pool at home or a community pool this is a great option. However, you will need to find another exercise for winter months if your pool is outside.


Dancing
This is my favorite type of exercise. Simply turn on your favorite type of music and start moving. If you start to get tired switch to marching in place or stepping side to side. Get that heart pumping.

Basically find an exercise you like and then do it everyday. Shoot for 30 minutes or more each day. Work up to it if you have to. You should start to feel more energetic in no time and of course you can track your activity points on Weight Watchers Online.

* This post is sponsored by Weight Watchers.com, but ALL opinions are completely mine and 100% honest. These are my actual experiences and feelings about following Weight Watchers 360° online program.

**  People following the Weight Watchers plan can expect to lose 1-2 pounds per week.
 

Homeschooling for Moms

Homeschooling isn't just for kids.  There are plenty of ways for moms and dads to learn from home as well.  Show your kids that learning is a life long activity.

Here is a selection of sites that offers courses online.

Course - Free
http://oedb.org/open/  Offering 10,000 free online classes. They offer audio lectures, video lectures and full courses from the top schools in the US including MIT, Stafford, and Duke University.

GCFLearnFree.org  This sites courses cover more basic, everyday life subjects such as computer and math basics along with computer software courses.

http://www.openculture.com This website offers 700 free courses from top universities in a variety of subjects. They also offer a nice selection of courses that provide a certificate of completion when finished.

Courses - Paid/Fee
Ed2Go.com  This site works in conjunction with local colleges or on it's own. There is a fee for courses and set course dates. Variety of courses from Accounting, Law, Health Care and Teaching in addition to College Readiness and Personal Enrichment courses.


Whether you want to brush up on skills already learned long ago or learn something new. Never stop learning!

Stop Being a Perfectionist Mom

As moms, we want the best for our family. We want them to have a nice place to live, good health, a top notch education, clean clothes to wear, and good food to eat.

These are wonderful things to want for your family.

However, sometimes those goals are unobtainable. At least to the degree we may want them.

Let's face it we can't all live a "Leave it to Beaver" life and we aren't all Martha Stewart.

Sometimes we let our idealistic views or unrealistic expectations get in the way of us having a happy, enjoyable life.

I know I personally really need a clean house to feel relaxed, but this rarely happens when you have 3 kids, 2 dogs, and 2 cats. That's a lot of pet hair, toys, clothes, and basically "stuff".

When there are unrealistic expectations put on a family it can create a stressful environment. That's the last thing you need for your family. You want a happy, healthy, enjoyable life. Not Stress.

Here is how you can try to relieve the stress and create a more relaxing and joyful home.

Lower Your Expectations
I'm not saying do a complete "180", just lower your expectations a notch or two. No one is going to be able to do things exactly the way you want. Small children normally won't be able to make a bed with hospital corners perfectly, in general teenagers have a hard time waking up early, and sometimes parents rush out of the house in the morning and forget to put their dishes in the sink. If you want a task done a certain way - you may need to do it yourself.  Otherwise you need to accept that person's best at the time.

Things Happen
Understand that mistakes happen, plans change and things don't always go your way. No matter how well you plan something unexpected can happen. The key is to try to go with the flow. Reevaluate when you need to. I call them restart points. When something happens that I hadn't planned on I create a new start point. I ask myself "Okay, what do I want to happen from here?" and I can continue on with the previous plans or make new ones.

Do YOUR Best
So what if your home isn't the most immaculate house on the block - strive to keep your home picked up. Do a little at a time and focus on organization and cleanliness. So what if your kid has on a pair of pants that are 1/2" too short -  roll them up higher or add a trim to the bottom and start a new fashion trend. So what if you family eats fast food a couple nights a week - if that's all you have the energy to do - try to focus on healthy choices or possibly do batch cooking on the weekend.

Do the best you can do! Don't compare yourself to others.

Every one of us is born an original - don't die a copy.

I always try to remember that people are like snowflakes - everyone is different. No two are exactly identical.

Not everyone is born with the same talents, abilities or gifts. Be an original. Do YOUR personal best and encourage others to do the same.

Who Are You Supposed to Be

“Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”
George Bernard Shaw

Short on time today and thought I'd share this wonderful quote that I've been thinking about lately. Trying to figure out who I am. Call it a mid-life crisis or whatever. Trying to figure who I am beside a wife and mom. I used to be a cheerleader, secretary, dancer (jazz & contemporary). I guess you can say I'm trying to find my voice - my passion.

I know...how does this help moms at home? Well I'm sure I'm not the only one who's been home with their kids and feel like they've lost their identity. After spending so much time caring for our family and neglecting our own interests because of limited personal time.

So I've decided I want to try a bunch of things that interest me and see what I'm good at. Here's a couple things I've found so far that make me -- me.

* I love writing lists (with a pen on paper)
* I love dancing
* I love music (anything I can sing or dance to)
* I'm definitely a cat person
* I really like growing a vegetable garden, but hate weeding
* I'm a total conspiracy theory nut
* I love to bake desserts but hate to cook meals.
* I used to be a cheerleader for a professional sports team (actually 2).
* I get really bad sunburn every year and that's the main reason I had to quit my last job.
* I really love calendars/planners
* I'm a hoarder of printable forms
* Completely hate flying but love watching planes.
* and I really don't like chevron (zig zag) prints that are so popular right now - yuck!

I tried scrapbooking but became stressed because I couldn't get it to look the way I want. I also tried crocheting a blanket which turned out okay, but took me forever to complete. Next I think I'll try journal/book making because I've made the little books and loved it. I'll post pics soon.

So just wondering have you always known what you're good at or did you have to try various things???

Stuck Home Alone and Dealing With Depression

I've mentioned before that I'm stuck home without a vehicle until my hubby's vehicle is fixed. Well, in the past I've dealt with bouts of depression or the blues.  Feeling like I'm a burden to my family and friends - sometimes invisible or unwanted/needed (especially when I'm premenstrual). I even had a brief period of postpartum depression after my middle child.

Nothing really serious, but being home alone all day makes it difficult some days to stay positive and keep my spirits up. Hormones go crazy and little or no one to talk to.

Here's how I try to deal with the blues while I'm unable to get out.

Listen to Music
My main form of exercise is dancing. I love music. Listening to music that I can sing or dance to always seems to lift my spirits. Turn on the radio and dance/sing like no one is listening or watching.

Go for a Walk
If possible I go for a walk around the block. A change of scenery, even if only briefly, can help clear your thoughts.

Write it Out
I write all about my feelings in a journal. Letting it all spill out. If you don't want to keep the details in your journal for someone to find, jot it down on a scrap piece of paper and burn it or throw it away.  You can write like you are talking to a dear friend, God or even yourself.

Escape into A Book
I love Christian Romance novels. Some days I curl up on the couch with a blanket and read. It's a brief  little escape from my life and into the Wild West or some other place and time.

Reading the Bible is another a wonderful way to focus on positive, uplifting messages. An example is Matthew 6:26  Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns: yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

Get Immersed in a Project
Find a project to preoccupy yourself. I try to start a really fun, creative craft, a home improvement of some sort, work in my yard or garden, or any thing else I can think of.

The key is to keep my mind and body busy till I get through the rough spot.

* Disclaimer: I'm not a doctor, nurse or any type of health care professional, but these techniques have worked for me and they may work for you. However, if you are feeling depressed please see your primary doctor. 

How Moms Can Deal With Sleep Deprevation

Every mom knows what it's like when your child has been up most of the night. A baby with colic, a toddler teething or even an older child with a fever or ear infection. It happens to all of us.

So what do you do the next day after a night of almost no sleep?

Give Yourself a Break
First and foremost give yourself a break. Take the day off. Even stay at home moms need to take the next day off. Take it easy. Leave the dishes soaking in the sink. Forget the laundry for one day.  Don't worry about cleaning. It will all be there tomorrow.

Nap With Your Child Naps
I always advise new moms to sleep when their babies do. Your health depends on sleep. Without sleep you can become irritable, less able to focus, forgetful, and, in extreme cases, you run the risk of falling asleep at the wheel or another time that could cause harm to your baby, yourself and possibly others.

Seek Help
First off you and your spouse or partner could take turns getting up with the child. It makes no sense to have both parents sleep deprived. If that is not possible, ask a family member or friend to come help watch your child while you get some sleep. If you are a new mom this is especially important because your situation isn't going to stop in a day or two like a child who is just ill. You need to get caught up on your sleep.

Eat Well/Stay Fit
Make sure you eat a well balanced diet. If you aren't hungry just eat a smaller amount. Moms need to keep healthy so they can care for their family. A sick mom has no energy to care for their family or themselves. So take the baby for a gentle stroll through the neighborhood and show him or her off to everyone. If your child is sick do a couple simple stretches or turn on some music and slow dance holding your child.

Sleep is very important to your health and the health of your family. We've all been through sleepless nights with our kids, but sleep deprivation can cause all kinds of problems. You can help avoid problems by napping with your child, getting help from family members and friends and maintaining a healthy lifestyle and most importantly taking it easy.

Freebies on Friday - April 5, 2013

This week I found lots of neat stuff. First I included a couple ebooks. These cover some topics of interest to me. I love organizing and gardening, but you may not know I'm a massage junkie. Every year I get a professional massage for Christmas or my birthday and beg my hubby for a back massage on a regular basis. If money were no object I would definitely go to massage school because of how relaxing it feels.

Anyways, I also included an ebook on "bugging in". Don't freak out. I think it really applies to a wide range of situations - not just Zombie Apocalypse. LOL

For example, I live on the East Coast of the US and we face hurricanes, powerful windstorms and snow storms and we never know when we will be forced to stay home for days on end because of a storm. This book could help deal with no power, no water, what about food, blocked roads because of downed trees, etc. Emergency situations don't have to be man made they can be natural as well, so for this book keep an open mind. :)

Bugging In: How to Hunker Down and Survive in an Emergency Situation (Stay Alive)
Stress Free Organization For Your Child: How To Get Your Child Involved In Cleaning And Organizing Their Spaces While Still Having Fun
Therapeutic Shiatsu Massage for the Beginner
Smart Gardening: How To Grow Your Best Vegetable Garden (Gardening Essentials Series)

In addition to the ebooks above it like to include other fr*ee stuff I've found online throughout my searches. This week I'm including these really cute American Girl doll  patterns.

My youngest loves her 18" dolls and so I'm always hunting for patterns to make her more clothes. Here are a couple good and fre*e ones I found online.


American Girl Doll - Royal Bridesmaid Dress Pattern
This is adorable and fits 18" dolls.  Easy to understand instructions with photos.

18" doll T-Shirt Pattern
Love this one it has little ruffle going down the front which is optional.

Historical Dresses like those in the American Girl Doll Catalogs

Adorable Drawstring Dress
This is soo cute! I've made this one a couple times. There is also a link on the page in case you don't want to go through the shopping cart. It takes you directly to the PDF.

Hope you enjoyed the fun things I've found today. See you Monday!

Keeping a Positive Attitude During Difficult Times

Your car breaks down. You lose your job. You're facing foreclosure. You lost a beloved family member. You've received a bad medical report.

Everyone faces difficult times in their lives.

People come and go from your life. Businesses go out of business. Cars only last so long before needing major repairs. Life is constantly changing, but it doesn't have to get you down.

The key is to keep a positive attitude and an eye on the big picture.

Here are a couple ways I try to maintain a positive attitude. Hopefully they will help you as well.

Prayer
Spend quiet time with God. Read the Bible and ask God for direction and guidance in your life. Then be still and listen.

Try to look at the bigger picture of your life not just this one moment in time. Not just the bad moments in your life either.

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."    Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

Be Thankful
One way to see how truly blessed you really are is to write down all the things you are thankful for. This is something I do each night. I write in a small journal everything I'm thankful for - big or small. I give thanks for getting out onto a busy road safely, no arguments between my kids, gas for my vehicle, and even that my new kitten and my older cat are getting along better each day. Anything and everything you can think of.

Give/Help/Focus on Others
A good way to keep a positive attitude is to focus on others. Forget about your own problems for a little while and focus solely on helping others.

"Get your mind off yourself."    Joyce Meyer

If you need money - give money. If you need more time - volunteer your time. If you want more love - give love. Whatever you need give away and it will come back to you. Try it and see. Give 10 minutes of time to help a friend, give $5 to a person in need, give undivided attention to a child. It doesn't have to be big you just have to give.

Life is like a river not a dam - you have to give and receive.

No Whining
Quit complaining and whining because it doesn't help and it drains your energy. Seek help in finding solutions to your problems if you need to, but stop telling everyone what is going wrong in your life just to get sympathy.

Focus on What You CAN Do
If you are having a difficult time financially - you shouldn't go out spending money. Find free things to do such as going on a picnic, going to the library or spending time with friends at home

If you are struggling with having lost your job now is the perfect time to update your resume. Call any friends, family and acquaintances to help you find a new job. Public libraries usually keep a copy of the local newspaper to search the classifieds. They also have free internet access so you can hunt online.

It's all to easy to have a pity party or even fall into depression when things go wrong in life, but life changes constantly. You need to keep moving and keep a positive outlook on life. Just like Dory from "Finding Nemo". Just Keep Swimming.

Focus on helping others, being thankful for what you have and do what you can to make life pleasant.

Are You Just a Mom?

Lately, I've gotten the feeling that being a mom isn't enough. How many of you have ever been asked what you do for a living and once you said you are a mom the person quickly ended the conversation? Like they were thinking - Oh so you don't work!

I was getting the feeling I need to work outside the home, care for my kids, hubby and home, and an endless number of other things in order to be valued as a person.

Just out of curiosity I googled "Is being just a mom enough?" and ran across this great video. It's was just what I needed and I hope it helps some of you also.

http://www.momversation.com/video/why-isnt-just-being-mom-enough

Let's face it we as moms are responsible for teaching our kids to become responsible, respectable, caring, and intelligent people. We are in charge of keeping our homes running smoothly, making sure everyone has clean clothes to wear, food to eat, homework done correctly, and pets are fed and cared for - just to name a few.

I'd say that's a pretty important job!

Motherhood and Isolation

I've been a mom for 12 1/2 years now and a stay at home mom that entire time. During that time I've dealt with the occasional bout of depression. Normally nothing serious, I just wasn't my normal self.
Only more serious after the birth of my son which I had some wonderful meds help me though those difficult 6 months.

Let's face it being a stay at home mom is challenging with constant feedings, cleaning, laundry and anything else you have going on. However, what about when your kids get older. You have to deal with different personalities, attitudes, wants, needs, etc.

Wouldn't it be great if there was an instruction manual. Unfortunately, everyone has to learn by trial and error.  No doubt that's partially to blame for approximately 26% of stay at home moms experience sadness*.

My kids are 12 1/2, 11 and 8 and they are all in public school during the day. So I'm home most days by myself cleaning, cooking, running errands, blogging, etc. I make sure I get out at least once a week just to see other people.

So, anyways, here are some ways I fight the blues when I start feeling a bit down in the dumps.

* Get out and run errands, shop or window shop - usually in the morning because the stores are full of other moms and nice older people.

* Go for a walk - weather permitting of course

* Turn on some dance music - this almost always works for me. I love to dance!

* Call a friend just to chat

* MOM Club - when my kids were little a group of moms would get together with their kids at a local playground to chat while the kids played.

Most of the time I needed to get out and be around adults. Other times I just needed a new project to work on or something to look forward to.

Any suggestions on how you beat the mommytime blues.

* Source http://www.gallup.com/poll/154685/stay-home-moms-report-depression-sadness-anger.aspx