Fall Turkey Trot 2012 I'm running around Chicago, participating in Blogher13 today, hustling a bit here and there and working with the awesome team that is MinuteClinic while finding ways to spread health. Today's post is brought to you by guest contributor Sara Dawkins and her take on how to stay fit in just a small amount of time. A little bit can go a long way! … [Read more...]
Yogurt Pops Make for Easy Summer Fun
I will be the first one to tell you that I am so not crafty. Glitter, beads, yarn and all those little things that make cute creations make me break out into hives. You think I'm kidding. I may like to bake up a batch of cookies or cupcakes and I've been known to make an octopus or ladybug cake but creating recipes and showcasing them on the blog or making holiday-themed crafts. It is so not my thing. That stuff just stresses me out, man. BUT … [Read more...]
Scenes from a Weekend- 8k Edition
Run for the Dream to benefit the Achievable Dream, Wounded Warriors program was this past weekend in Williamsburg, VA. It's a nice scenic run that takes you around the William & Mary campus and through historic Williamsburg. We might be starting a family tradition as last year H and I both did our first half-marathons here and the 8k on Saturday. … [Read more...]
Workout of the Week-40 Minute Total Body
This week I bring you an excellent full body workout that can be done in under an hour. That's 40 minutes of body strengthening that can't be beat. BeFit GO 40 Minute Total Body Strength Mobile Workout is great if you are trying to lose weight. Full body workouts elevate your heart rate and build strength at the same time. In addition, they add lean muscle tone which enables your body to burn lots of calories. Trust me, I did this type of workout many times over in the last year and it worked. I dropped ten pounds and a size and a half. … [Read more...]
Scenes from a Weekend
It's my firm belief that weekends are a time to recharge. I feel that more than ever with the addition of the girls. They are tired on Friday afternoon. They need time to sit in the sun and relax with old friends. … [Read more...]
Good Enough to Be Enough
In the past I have struggled hard to find a balance between work and life. I continuously felt that if I wasn't working my wheels were spinning out of control. My control over my work load and how much work I was doing defined me. At least I thought that it did and I even thought that I wanted it too. Yes, I took joy in the time I was home for only 3 days in one month while six months pregnant with my third child. Maybe it was that I used to hate my work and it was often just a j-o-b. The last few years weren't like that and it was all new and exciting and I just wanted more. Like a sponge I wanted to soak up as much as I could. Then 2012 happened and it was like a giant hand just knocked me on my ass. Or as I like to think of it, God just bitched slapped me and handed me my … [Read more...]
7 Simple Items to Help Live Greener and Reduce Your Bills
Spring is here, Earth Day is coming up and I find myself not just spring cleaning but looking for ways to simplify our lives, save money and be better at living green. Paul Taylor from www.babysittingjobs.com is our guest contributor on the topic this week and has a lot of great things to stay about being greener and how it doesn't take a lot to make a big difference. Let's get started- … [Read more...]
Making Own Plates Saves Picky Eaters
As I write this I am pondering how best to give my kids a healthy but fun dinner. Tonight, I have a bit more time. I'm mixing onions, peppers and tomatoes with black beans to create a simple dinner of black bean nachos. The girls can add their own toppings once everything is heated and it is a light meal that makes dinner easier and more fun. They pile on the black olives, dollop on some sour cream and add a healthy bit of montery jack and cheddar cheese. Add some spice with salsa or hot sauce and their plates are full in no time. … [Read more...]
Calling a Family Meeting
I didn't grow up in a house that held family meetings. Being an only child it was basically "This is what your father and I have decided and the way it is going to be." Like it or lump it and sure, go ahead and smoke out your bedroom window. You'll get tired of that bad habit some day. Yet it was clear that in our home, a family of five, we need to do things a bit differently. We are working with a lot of personalities, a lot of schedules and a short supply of patience more often than not. Between school, work, activities and just life we were all feeling disconnected and discontent. When my Mom gave me a Parents magazine a few weeks ago with an article about holding family meetings I sort of wanted to groan out loud and throw it in the recycling bin. As it happens insomnia … [Read more...]
Create Your LEGO® YouTube Channel Playlist with Your Child
There are three kids in my house under the age of seven and they all want to watch videos on the computer. YouTube is one of the first places my oldest will go to get her 'sweet-making baking' fix, but there is a tendency to skip around and end up on a totally different sort of video. The various ages of the girls and their likes and dislikes can complicate things, but LEGO® has created their own channel on YouTube that allows parents to create their own playlists and you can do it per kid, which is almost as helpful as having a guide for blue screen of death causes and fixes for tech headaches. This setup not only keeps the kids entertained safely but also saves parents time by preventing constant supervision over what’s being watched. … [Read more...]