Bonus Post - A pep-talk is always a good idea.

I am feeling a little down on myself today after eating all those brownies, not being fun enough to the kids, not being able to instantly heal the little infection on baby-girl's finger and not magically transforming this house into a clean, tidy sanctuary-ish oasis.

This is a little pep-talk dedicated to me, from me. You are welcome to share it if you need a pep talk too. I think everyone deserves a little pep talk. On second thought, I dedicate it to you instead of me. (its still a little bit for me though, ok.)

-You have lots of good things going for you. You just need to open up your mind to the positive things around you.
-Your house is not perfect because it is not a show-home, it is a family home. So what if there is a little pee on the floor in the bathroom, that's what four year old's do.
-So, you didn't fit in breakfast or lunch, you ate some junk instead. You did make a big salad that included all four food groups for a snack. You can make some more good choices for the rest of the day because there is no junk in the house left to eat.
-That little baby that is crying, again, still loves you and doesn't care that your hair is a mess, the house is a mess, your clothes are a mess and that you really would rather be sleeping right now. She just cares that you are there to hold her. You can do that.

....baby crying. yup. She doesn't care about pep talks either. I can go hold her though. I've got this.

Good luck everyone. Positive thoughts, positive life, positive results.
YOU CAN DO IT!

Why exercise should be fun

Want to know why I haven't done ANY workouts this month even though I resolved in a non New Year's Resolution kind of way to bump up my fitness? Because I would rather do something fun than follow some toned bodied, rosey cheeked, long luxurious haired instructor smiling as she tells me to do more squats. Squats aren't fun!!!! Besides, looking at fit people makes me feel bad that I don't look like that anymore. Three babies or not, I want to look like a superstar. So there! I happen to know that I can look like a super star. I did once, I can again.

So I spent some time thinking. I actually spent all of one minute thinking. It was more of an idea that flashed into my head as I cut another tiny piece of the brownies I'm pretending are good for me since I don't like coffee. (It made sense while I was doing it). Why aren't I working out? I have these three kids to raise... blah blah blah... They keep me busy. I also have this house to try to keep clean. There is no time to work out!

I had time to hang out on Facebook, bake the brownies, watch a TV show and check out some demo games that my Mr. downloaded for the Xbox thingy that has no controllers. Wait a minute, those things were fun! I had time to do that stuff. The game demos were a Zumba game and some other fitness game. I had fun doing them. I laughed as I did the squats that an animated army guy ordered me to do. Holy Crap! I exercised for a good half hour without intending to. Good for me! I wonder, if I buy the game, will I use it? I'll let you know.

With the Kanata Wellness Expo happening tomorrow, I feel a shift in the air. Tomorrow is a new day, new ideas, new knowledge and new goals. I will be there pretty much all day, come check me out. I don't have a booth or anything. I'm just helping out. Rumor has it that I get a radio and my handle is Big Mama. SAWEET!I hope to see you all there!

Bell Sensplex 9am-4pm. Admission is $5, benefiting the Canadian Tire Jumpstart Program for kids.


My friend Marta asked me to come up with some new beauty recipe for hair to write about and I promised her it would be my next entry. Sorry Marta. I was very busy with the kids, brownies and watching TV. Feeling like an ass. I will do one for you at some point. Soon I hope. 

My drug experiment (also known as trying coffee)

For starters, I am not a coffee drinker. I hate the taste. I LOVE the aroma. 
When I read a hilarious entry to one of my favorite blogs this week Parenting, Illustrated with Crappy Pictures, I started thinking about taking up the habit.  It is, after all, safer than cocaine. 
(No, Stupid, I have not and will not try cocaine)


For years I have watched other people as they mutter the words "I need a coffee" before they can do anything that requires mental alertness. I rolled my eyes at them. Eat some fruit and have a glass of cold water I say. I have always had enough energy to sort of keep up with my boys and the house and everything. Why would I need to start a caffeine addiction? It tastes nasty. 


So, anyways, Crappy Mom illustrates a compelling scenario. More energy to make life more fun for the kids, I start to envision this. Looks good. I am  a little less energetic after having baby #3 a couple of months ago. I am getting more and more interested in this coffee phenomenon. Thinking of the children after all. I start to envision myself running back and forth giggling with the boys, staying peppy, doing smiley bicep curls with the baby... All of this could be worth the yuck and nasty after-breath of a heavenly scented coffee. 
I think this calls for an experimental moment!!!


I am a beginner at coffee so, I start slow. I will infuse a little coffee into my beloved hot chocolate. My mesh loose tea ball thingy looks like a good way to deliver coffee to the hot chocolate. I scoop some of the coffee into the mesh ball thing and swirl it around my mug. Much of the coffee makes it through the mesh. Eww. I am determined though. Nothing will stop me from trying Experiment Coffee Buzz. I smell the concoction, smells good. I taste it... tastes like coffee that wants to be something better, like a hot chocolate. I drink it anyways and wait for the magic to happen. Fifteen minutes or so later I text my husband. He drinks coffee sometimes to combat fatigue and be a better parent; he would know about this stuff. His brilliant reply is this, "coffee works when you believe it works". Maybe I should go full tilt next time and have an actual coffee? The only difference I noticed was an unusual facial tick in the chin/lower lip area. Was it the coffee? Don't care cause I really need to brush my teeth and swish a little mouthwash now.


I think I'll stick to cold water and fruit. My kids will never experience a perky coffee-mom. Sorry guys, Experimental Failure. 

How Christmas baking is GOOD for your body!

That's right friends, all that sugar can be good for your body. Many of you have these ingredients at home in ample amounts right now. Do yourself a solid and get mixing. Here is my latest recipe:

SEXY WINTER MIX
In a small bowl mix together
1/2 C. white sugar
1tbs. oats
1tbs. olive oil
1tsp. vanilla
1tsp. cinnamon*

First, let your family know you are unavailable for for 10 to 15 minutes while you hop in the shower. Rub your mix all over your dull flaky skin with a wash cloth. Enjoy the delicious aroma. Taste it if you want to (you know I did). Emerge smelling and feeling like a sexy winter wonder. For a fresh variation, use peppermint extract instead of vanilla.

*A little tip for those with tender skin: cinnamon tends to encourage blood flow and may not feel so good for you. Just leave it out.

I made up this little mix yesterday. I even used it on my face. What a difference it made on my skin!!! Soft and smooth.

UPDATE ON DECEMBER GOALS
My goals being met! I feel awesome about it. A healthy stress-free planned dinner every night with vegetables even! A little exercise is happening three times a week. My big board of organization is doing its job of keeping everything on track. The only wrinkle with the board was me writing the to-do list for the weekend thinking that my Mr. and I would both be working on the jobs listed. He had his own unwritten goals. Anyways, my list was too ambitious for one person and  it only got half done. Now I know that everyone must work together making the list and everyone's objectives must be included.
For those of you wondering, yes, my husband thinks I'm nuts and, yes, he tolerates it because he gets a really good dinner every night and I put his laundry away for him last week. TAH DAH! I am currently working on January's goals to improve my life at home. I suspect it will involve some major purging of junk and an increase in the exercise.

Me vs. The Mess

A part of my sanity objective is to live in an uncluttered environment.
Today I waged war against some of "the mess". I feel that I have won a couple of solid battles today but the mess is strong and has many supporters.
I figured out the secret to winning. I had to get off my butt and do the cleaning/sorting jobs that I don't like doing. Sucky truth. We must also except the reality that this war will never ever be over. It is a series of battles throughout which we must remain strong and determined. Are you with me?


I am making this short post to celebrate my victories.

• Laundry has been put away. This includes the clothes that aren't mine and that I refused to touch. In the name of all that is tidy, I caved and did it. Those clothes and the dresser they belong to have been sorted, folded and organized. 
• The freezer. (shudder) There was some stuff in there that may have been frozen for three years and has no business being eaten. They have been eliminated, the survivors have been organized. One shelf for veggies and fruit, one for meat and one for starch. Done.
• The kids' books. They are now on in cubbies sorted by age appropriateness and stories vs. activity books. 
• Toys are put away. That will last all of 5 minutes but for now I will enjoy the win. 
• The pony beads that were crafted into tree decorations and then promptly un-crafted by the boys and spread all over the floors to wage an assault on my feet and knees have been sought out and defeated. 

I WIN THE DAY!!!! 

* As a reality disclaimer, I should confess that the front hall has coats and backpacks all over the floor, every surface of the house has a little layer of festive dust and the kitchen... ewww.  

Hi ho hi ho it's back to work I go. 

I don’t stress Christmas anymore

Yup, I’m gonna go there. I am going to write about all of the things that I would normally shy away from saying out loud for fear that my opinions may be unpopular. The reason I am putting myself out there is because I LOVE Christmas. It used to stress me out. I would actually really truly cry every year because Christmas stressed me out. Not anymore my friends, not anymore. If I can help just one stressed out person enjoy the holidays, I am willing to take the heat.  I feel this time of year is about love, joy, peace and hope. Not, money, stuff or politics.


GIFTS! 
Yes, I love gifts. The giving, the getting, all of it. What I don’t love is feeling obligated to buy something for someone because I think that they will buy me something and the something I buy must be of equal or greater value or else I come off looking cheap and un-thoughtful. So, I walk the malls in a sweat trying to find something that they will love, do not already own and will not be tempted to re-gift, bury in a cupboard or toss in the trash. How do I know they feel this way? Because I feel that way. I love that you thought of me but please…, I have 10 pairs of fuzzy socks, and enough specialized single purpose kitchen gadgets that take up more space than I have. I am sooooo sorry!!! I am sweating and feeling anxiety in my chest and gut as I write this. I fear your scorn! If you want to show you care, tell me Merry Christmas, smile and give me a hug. That means more to me than anything that you could find at the store. I am not just saying that to be polite. The accumulation of ‘stuff’ stresses me.  In cases where gift giving is required, I vote for consumables. Home made preserves, a bottle of wine to share.  A trip to the movies or a dinner out together to enjoy the company of the people I love. Requirement is now limited to family members.


My solution: This has been gently worked out over the years. I feel good about it because everyone is on board.  My friends have children, we used to exchange gifts but have now agreed that Christmas is for the kids; their aunts, uncles and grandparents provide plenty of stuff. 
One side of the family, we draw names when we are together at Thanksgiving. You buy one gift, spending a max of $35. We are all adults and don’t need or want a bunch of stuff that someone acquired by means of sweating through the mall. This way we get more time to put real thought into it. The price limit also makes us think about what we are buying. Not just a pile of fuzzy socks and a foot soaker/massager. Sorry if you like the foot soaker. I hear people use it a few times, really enjoy it, and then store it away in the back of the closet.  
The other side of the family, we have a limit of $10. Yup, a lousy ten bucks. This is hilarious!!!! The creativity and thought required to show your love for ten bucks should not be underestimated. I can’t share what I have put together this year but I promise you, it’s awesome!


POLITICAL CORRECTNESS!
If someone wishes me Happy Holidays or Season’s Greetings I feel good. I say thank you. I will return the sentiment. Of course you can say Merry Christmas! I say Merry Christmas. It is my holiday greeting of choice. I will not feel bad about saying it nor should those who say Happy Holidays feel bad.  Seriously! 

Wow. I sure hope my house doesn’t get egged now. 


THE MONEY!
There is too much focus on the money and the stuff. I will be blunt here. I am not going to spend hundreds of dollars on people who already have everything they could possibly need and much of what they want. I will donate money and gifts to the Food Cupboard and Toy Mountain. That makes me feel better. I say better, not great because I do actually cry every year because I am in a warm house surrounded by food, family and laughter while I know darn well that somewhere close by, someone is cold, hungry and alone. 


~Christmas can be hard. Please, make it about love, peace, hope and joy. Not money, stuff and politics. Find a heartfelt way to show you care and do it in a big merry way. It feels good and does not include sweating, anxiety or stress. 

Merry Christmas! 
Please don’t throw a snowball in my face!

This post is NOT about nipples.

On a whim, I changed my status to “I have a blog post brewing in my mind. I will include the word 'nipple' once for every like this status gets. ;)” 
It turns out that I have eleven friends on Facebook who are interested in nipples. Some of you I expected to “like”, some were a surprise.


My idea came late at night while feeding the baby. My lips were a little dry so naturally I reached over for the nipple cream. Lanolin. Its good stuff and I have found many uses for it. Obviously it has saved many ladies nipples from the destructive forces of their hungry infants. It says right on the tube, relieves and heals dry, cracked and sore nipples. Why not my dry cracked lips? It gives a nice subtle shine too. A nurse once told me to rub Vaseline inside my nostrils to prevent winter nosebleeds… nipple cream works wonders and lasts longer. It saved my poor raw nose during a cold last week. My cuticles are looking beautiful thanks to nipple cream. I also applied it to dry rough heels before bed and saw nice results. (I still have not gone for my pedicure).  Nipple cream can also be used to spot-treat your dry winter-cracked hands. 
There you go. I have seven uses for nipple cream and used the word nipple eleven times. 


Update on my December goals
There were three goals that I was working towards this month. So far things are looking good. 


Dinner - It has been planned in advance and delivered to the table on time seven nights in a row. All meals have included vegetables. I am very proud of myself. The Sandi Richard cook books are a great resource. I feel a need to make small changes to her recipes. That may just be my rebellious side not wanting to conform. She has made meal planning very easy. I cut seven book marks out of the kids’ craft paper and gave them to Mr. (my husband). His job was to place all seven in the book and I took care of the rest. It worked out great. 


Excersise - I have earned myself a sticker every second day. I am starting slow. A few pushups, leg lifts, squats and crunches while watching tv. Kids are used in place of free weights. The girl for my arms, the boys for the legs. 


The organizational board - Great so far. There is room for to-do lists, dinner menu, calendar and much more. The location is central. Whiteboard markers and magnets are in good supply. The board gets used every day, throughout the day. The only challenge so far has been the 2.5 year old middle child. He thinks it’s a neat art station. He rubbed out my menu last night and practiced writing his name. This morning he started getting the right idea. He still took off some of my magnets but it was just to show Mr. that they are “mommy’s magnets”.  Yes, thank you. Now, put them back and stop touching my stuff!