Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Do You Need A Makeover?

Gavin is almost three and a half months old! Wow, where did the time go?! It's funny because with Emma I was just hoping against hope to make it to three months! I have been really lucky this time around - it's been a lot easier. Maybe it's because I'm 'experienced', maybe it's not, who know - it's just easier. Thank goodness! ;-)

But with more sleep, comes my not so blurry reflection in the mirror...Oh Boy! Do I need a makeover! Or at least a massage... ;-)

Enter in the Hot Mama Makeover Guide - a 35 page *FREE* ebook all on the topic of how to make you look better. Hallelujah!

Hot Mama Makeover


From how to embrace your imperfections and wax your own eyebrows to how to choose the right sized bra - its all the little things that you never really knew how to do, but were doing anyway.

The Hot Mama Makerover is one of the best little kept *FREE* secrets on the internet!

Enjoy and Thanks for ready!

Thursday, January 18, 2007

Blankets For Canada

Just a quick UPDATE on my 'Request For Squares' campaign. I've received 68 (UPDATED: Feb. 2/07) squares so far and promises for many others. Keep them coming!

(If you have no idea what I'm rambling on about, please see the post under Giving Back or Personal Development entitled Blankets For Canada Society Inc., “Warming Canadians” dated Sunday, November 12, 2006.)

Thanks again to all for your kindness and generosity!
The Daffodil Principle

I recently received the following story as an email from a friend of mine. It struck a cord with me, so I forwarded it on to other friends and family members. I had a huge response! People emailed me to thank me for emailing it to them...that usually doesn't happen with forwards! ;-)

Since so many people enjoyed it, I thought I would post it here, so that others who aren't on my mailing list can enjoy it too!

***
The Daffodil Principle

Several times my daughter had telephoned to say, "Mother, you must come to see the daffodils before they are over."

I wanted to go, but it was a two-hour drive from Laguna to Lake Arrowhead. "I will come next Tuesday", I promised a little reluctantly on her third call.

Next Tuesday dawned cold and rainy. Still, I had promised, and reluctantly I drove there. When I finally walked into Carolyn's house I was welcomed by the joyful sounds of happy children. I delightedly hugged and greeted my grandchildren.

"Forget the daffodils, Carolyn! The road is invisible in these clouds and fog, and there is nothing in the world except you and these children that I want to see badly enough to drive another inch!"

My daughter smiled calmly and said, "We drive in this all the time, Mother."

“Well, you won't get me back on the road until it clears, and then I'm heading for home!" I assured her. "But first we're going to see the daffodils. It's just a few blocks," Carolyn said. “I'll drive. I'm used to this."

"Carolyn," I said sternly, "Please turn around."

"It's all right, Mother, I promise. You will never forgive yourself if you miss this experience."

After about twenty minutes, we turned onto a small gravel road and I saw a small church. On the far side of the church, I saw a hand lettered sign with an arrow that read, "Daffodil Garden." We got out of the car, each took a child's hand, and I followed Carolyn down the path Then, as we turned a corner, I looked up and gasped. Before me lay the most glorious sight. It looked as though someone had taken a great vat of gold and poured it over the mountain peak and its surrounding slopes. The flowers were planted in majestic, swirling patterns, great ribbons and swaths of deep orange, creamy white, lemon yellow, salmon pink, and saffron and butter yellow. Each different colored variety was planted in large groups so that it swirled and flowed like its own river with its own unique hue. There were five acres of flowers.

"Who did this?" I asked Carolyn. "Just one woman," Carolyn answered. "She lives on the property. That's her home." Carolyn pointed to a well-kept A-frame house, small and modestly sitting in the midst of all that glory. We walked up to the house. On the patio, we saw a poster. "Answers to the Questions I Know You Are Asking", was the headline. The first answer was a simple one. "50,000 bulbs," it read. The second answer was, "One at a time, by one woman. Two hands, two feet, and one brain." The third answer was, "Began in 1958." For me, that moment was a life-changing experience. I thought of this woman whom I had never met, who, more than forty years before, had begun, one bulb at a time, to bring her vision of beauty and joy to an obscure mountaintop. Planting one bulb at a time, year after year, this unknown woman had forever changed the world in which she lived. One day at a time, she had created something of extraordinary magnificence, beauty, and inspiration. The principle her daffodil garden taught is one of the greatest principles of celebration.

That is, learning to move toward our goals and desires one step at a time--often just one baby-step at time--and learning to love the doing, learning to use the accumulation of time. When we multiply tiny pieces of time with small increments of daily effort, we too will find we can accomplish magnificent things. We can change the world. "It makes me sad in a way," I admitted to Carolyn. "What might I have accomplished if I had though t of a wonderful goal thirty-five or forty years ago and had worked away at it 'one bulb at a time' through all those years? Just think what I might have been able to achieve!"

My daughter summed up the message of the day in her usual direct way. "Start tomorrow," she said. She was right. It's so pointless to think of the lost hours of yesterdays. The way to make learning a lesson of celebration instead of a cause for regret is to only ask, "How can I put this to use today?" Use the Daffodil Principle. Stop waiting....Until your car or home is paid offUntil you get a new car or homeUntil your kids leave the houseUntil you go back to schoolUntil you finish schoolUntil you clean the houseUntil you organize the garageUntil you clean off your deskUntil you lose 10 lbs.Until you gain 10 lbs.Until you get marriedUntil you get a divorceUntil you have kidsUntil the kids go to schoolUntil you retireUntil summerUntil springUntil winterUntil fallUntil you die...

There is no better time than right now to be happy. Happiness is a journey, not a destination. So work like you don't need money. Love like you've never been hurt, and, Dance like no one's watching. If you want to brighten someone's day, pass this on to someone special. I just did! Wishing you a beautiful, daffodil day!

Don't be afraid that your life will end, be afraid that it will never begin.
***
Thanks for reading!

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Time Management - Household Duties

This is a problem of mine. My mother always had a well kept house - how did she do it?! While searching the Internet for time management tips (while I should have admittedly been doing my household duties) I found this great article at LadyPens.com, a site I regularly submit articles to.

It rings true, and of course its all common sense. I guess I was really searching for a magical fairly cleaning lady! ;-)

***

Housework with Toddlers - Here Comes Trouble! by Carrie Lauth

It's so interesting that once our babies start toddling around, creating a lot more mess in their insatiably curious and neverending activity, we expect ourselves to have a perfectly tidy home. When your baby was younger you probably imagined that once she started sleeping through the night and playing independently you would get a handle on the chores. Surprise!

Mothering a toddler is fun but constant vigilance. Not only are you concerned with her physical safety but you are rightly concerned with her emotional health as well. You want to have fun and play with your little one but as an adult, you have a need for some order. What to do? Here are some tips that have worked for many other Moms.

Rethink Housework & Define Your Minimums
Try to lower your standards a bit. If your house could pass the white glove test before you had kids and you try to keep up that standard now, you could drive yourself nuts.

If you have a lot of trouble doing this, then think for a moment about why. Are you trying to live up to someone else's idea of what your house should look like? Are you worried about what your mother, mother in law or neighbors might think? In any case, if you're feeling judged, take a look at that and decide what's more important to you. Do you want a perfect home or do you want to have a happy toddler whose Mommy has time to play?

Decide what is important to you and figure out how to do those tasks as quickly and easily as possible. For instance, you may hate to feel dirt under your feet when you walk across the floors but a little dust doesn't bother you. Keeping that chore done consistently will make the house feel clean to you.

Make Some Lists
Grab a sheet of paper and decide which chores can be skipped, which chores can be simplified, and which chores you can get help with. Is it really essential to fold underwear or can they be placed neatly in a drawer? Can socks be tossed into a drawer and the wearer match them himself? It is really necessary to separate all the kid's laundry or can most things be washed together?

Clear out clutter as much as possible. Clutter makes housework more difficult, time consuming and downright dangerous (like when you are tripping over things in the basement or having items fall on your head in closets). Go through your house with a large trash bag on a regular basis and throw things out if they don't make you smile when you look at them. Donate it to charity and feel good about yourself!

I Helped!
Your toddler can do a surprising number of household chores and will probably be delighted to imitate you. When you dust, hand her a microfiber dusting cloth and let her "help". Toddlers love to splash their hands in water. Maybe she could "wash dishes" in the sink next to you. She may not be so great at folding laundry, but can she dig out all the socks and put them in a pile for you? Perhaps she can help unload the dishwasher by handing you the spoons and forks. At this stage, the point is not to have her doing chores but rather to keep her happy and close while you get some work done.

Can you hire out some of the household chores? Don't dismiss this right away. If your budget is slim, you might know a teenager who is in need of some extra cash who could come over and help you out. Or maybe you would be willing to forego a dinner out here and there to pay for an occasional housekeeper.

Make Cleaning Convenient
Keep non toxic cleaning products and tools handy so that when you have a moment or two, you can go a quick task.

When your toddler is in the bathtub you have to be in the bathroom to supervise her anyway. Why not clean the floor, sink and toilet while you're in there? Baking soda sprinkled in the sink and toilet will scrub effectively and sweeten the air too. For an inexpensive multi purpose cleaner that you can use around little ones: fill a 32 ounce spray bottle with water, and add a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid.

Keep It Fun
Make picking up a game by asking your child to "find all the red things and put them into the toy bin". Or have them pick up 5 things then come find you for a great big bear hug or tickle. You can also plan something fun after cleaning to create a natural incentive to get things done. "As soon as we pick up all the toys, it will be time to go to the playground!" Kids respond well to quick cleaning sessions. The "10 second tidy" where everyone picks up and puts away as quickly as possible work well. And the effect is lost on me, but a lot of kids love to sing the Barney clean up song when they're tidying.

Life with little ones around is a bit like using spaghetti for bookends: fun but certainly messy. Enjoy it while it lasts!

Somehow, Carrie Lauth of http://www.NaturalMomsTalkRadio.com found the time to write this article in the midst of picking up after 4 little ones.

Article Source: http://www.ladypens.com/

***

Thanks for reading!

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Internet Wealth

Is it possible? Yes. But not the way you think.

You can't get something for nothing. You need to do some work, or a lot of work, depending on how much 'wealth' you want.

It certainly is an interesting concept and the possibilities are endless...

Click here for your free report!

Monday, January 08, 2007

Grey Hair

I found my first grey hair on Saturday, December 30, 2006. My first grey hair! GACK!

I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. I always aid ‘Oh no. I’ll grow old gracefully’. But come on, I’ve only just turned 30. Who knew I was ‘old’? I mean, what the f*$k?!

I saved it. I’m serious! It’s in a plastic bag under my jewelry box. I’m thinking of sending it away for analysis…

To dye or not to dye, that is the question. But no, I think not. At least not yet…

My first grey hair!

I’m rambling. I know. I must be in shock. ;-)

So tell me, when did you find your first grey hair? Click the comment button and let me know. I’m curious – were you under 19; between 20 and 29; between 30 and 39; or over 40?

So, what is grey hair?
Every strand of hair is surrounded by a hair follicle that contains pigment cells, which produce melanin that gives the hair its colour.

As we get older the pigment cells in our hair follicles gradually die, hair no longer contains melanin and becomes more transparent – grey, silver, white.

Why does this happen?
Heredity. Yes, grey hair is yet another thing you can blame on your parents! However, before you start sending your ever-increasing therapy bills to Mom and Dad, there are also a few medical conditions to consider.

A deficiency in B-12, an imbalanced thyroid and anemia can all cause premature grey hair. And if you’re a smoker, you are four times more likely to go grey earlier than your non-smoking counterpart. Yet another reason to ‘butt-out’!

Can I reverse grey hair?
Not really. All of us at some point, if we live long enough, will go grey. But you can prolong the inevitable.

Diet and health play a huge part in grey hair. Start eating ‘superfoods! Superfoods include such things as broccoli sprouts, fresh veggies and berries. Garlic, ginger and other culinary/medicinal herbs and spices have been proven to enhance health and delay ageing. Also be sure your diet includes healthy oils like omega-3 and fish oils; be sure to get plenty of sunshine (but be sure to slather on the sunscreen); breathe fresh air everyday; drink plenty of fresh, clean water; and exercise.

The biggest reason why people age prematurely is because they don’t look after themselves. So for goodness sake, take care of yourself! (Obviously, considering I found my first grey hair, I should take my own advice. ;-D)

If taking care of yourself doesn’t seem to make the grey stay away, you can always dye your hair or a more extreme measure would be to take Melancor – a tablet that triggers melanocytes ‘increasing your body’s ability to produce melanin pigments thereby increasing the number and size of the hair strands and pigments in your natural hair [colour]’.

Since I’ve only just found one grey hair I don’t think I’ll be popping Melancor or dyeing my hair (except for a highlight here or there) anytime soon. My best course of action is to take better care of myself by exercising and taking a look-see at my diet.

As I am anemic (a common condition after having a baboonsky) perhaps my one lone grey hair is a fluke…? If not, I’ll be sending my beauty salon bills to my mom! ;-)

Thanks for reading!

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Back To Work

Troy went 'back' to work yesterday and we all miss him.

The reason 'back' is in quotations is because he worked all through the holiday, except he was at home.

We were discussing a few nights ago how lucky we are, how fortunate.

Troy and Emma were sitting at the kitchen table playing with her Play-Doh set she received as a Christmas gift and Troy just all of a sudden hugged her and said 'I'm going to miss you when I go back to work tomorrow' and Emma replied 'Miss you DaDa'.

The fact is, Troy comes home every night after work and he seldom has to travel for work.

There are plenty of people who, if they had said that to their child, would be away from them for some time and miss them, MISS them.

We're so lucky, SO fortunate and we are thankful.

Thanks for reading!

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

New Year’s Resolution

What is your New Year’s resolution? Will you keep it?

Every year I have two New Year’s resolutions: 1. Make bed every day and 2. Stay in touch better with family and friends. I never keep either resolution…

But this year I am determined!

This morning I made our bed and a couple of minutes ago I sent off emails to family and friends. So far, so good…I’ll let you know how I progress…

Thanks for reading!