Friday, January 27
Wednesday, January 25
Monday, January 23
MPM: A Craft for the Crafts
As you can imagine since we do a craft on a weekly basis, we have lots of finished products lying around. Plus, Ian and Seth are usually bringing home crafts from school. Admittedly, some of their "artwork" doesn't make the cut. I mean, I don't really like clutter, and it's the piles of paper I find the most plaguing. We choose our favorites, put them on display in Ian's room or on the fridge, but even then, they needed a place to ultimately be stored. Enter today's craft...
It was actually a pretty low-key craft as far as the boys' involvement goes. I had bought some notebooks and sheet protectors for containing their artwork. I got out the Cricut machine to make letters for the books' titles. Anything with BUTTONS is a big hit with the boys. I also like how Ian actually works on letter recognition and learning the orientation of the qwerty keyboard while using the Cricut.
Now the hard part comes when I gather and catalog all the crafts!
It was actually a pretty low-key craft as far as the boys' involvement goes. I had bought some notebooks and sheet protectors for containing their artwork. I got out the Cricut machine to make letters for the books' titles. Anything with BUTTONS is a big hit with the boys. I also like how Ian actually works on letter recognition and learning the orientation of the qwerty keyboard while using the Cricut.
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| Hey Mom, what does that thing do? |
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| Seth just being cute, hanging out in the kitchen. |
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| A break to play with party blowers |
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| The party blowers have one-upped the Cricut! |
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| Using the Xyron to make our letters adhesive |
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| The craft takes over the kitchen, ahhh! |
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| Finished products |
Now the hard part comes when I gather and catalog all the crafts!
Sunday, January 22
Why the Y?
On any given day, I arrive at the Y wearing disheveled workout gear and toting two uncooperative preschoolers who for some reason fought me on getting out the door over a matter as simple as socks! (We need them for Y-Land, I calmly remind them.) After the kids are safely placed behind locked doors (or well, at least they are childproof) I have a chance to either work out my frustrations through exercise… or forget about them completely! I may leave the Y in sweat-soaked clothes with those same stubborn children in tow, but now I feel like I can conquer the day… or maybe even the WORLD! Here is my story:
As a young adult, I did not have to deal with issues with my weight or general health. I recognized the importance of a regular exercise routine and was able to maintain one and stay self-motivated for the most part. If I fell out of said routine, it was easy to get back into one, and I really didn’t have to answer to weight gain when I slacked. Oh, to be that care-free twenty-something again!
After having my first son, let’s just say my world changed, and so did my body. Sleepless nights and new-mom cluelessness left me feeling overwhelmed, and I certainly didn’t have the energy to exercise! However, the baby weight wasn’t budging on its own, and I felt myself spiraling into a state of depression.
I first joined the YMCA in April 2009 when my son was 14 months old, and I wish I would’ve done it sooner! While I left my kid in the hands of kind and reliable childcare workers, I was not only able to work out, but also enjoy adult interaction through the group classes. Suddenly I was looking forward to exercise and starting to see results!
Four months later, I had lost all my baby weight and was even able to go off antidepressants! Ironically, I got pregnant again shortly thereafter, but I had a much healthier pregnancy the second time around due to the habits I had already established. Plus it was much easier to bounce back after my second son was born.
When we moved to Schertz in the summer of 2010, one of the first items on the agenda was to join the local Y. Again, I have been pleased with the childcare facility and workers, I’ve found a good variety of classes to attend, and I deem the instructors to be knowledgeable, inspiring, and fun.
I choose the group classes because as a stay-at-home mom, I crave the interaction. I also find the most motivation there– through people who have similar goals as me, and I’d rather look at their friendly (albeit sweaty) faces than a screen on a cardio machine. While I know several people are successful on the gym floor, I prefer upbeat music, a set routine, and a specific time on the schedule to help keep me accountable.
I have heard that exercise produces endorphins which in turn give you energy and boost your mood. I have no doubt that my experience at the Y drew me out of the grip of depression and gave me a new outlook on life. When I exercise, I feel better, both mentally and physically, and that makes me a better mom, wife, person, and friend.
The YMCA has called for folks to tell their story, so this is my submission. It may not make "the cut" or even past the front desk, so I am sharing it here!
As a young adult, I did not have to deal with issues with my weight or general health. I recognized the importance of a regular exercise routine and was able to maintain one and stay self-motivated for the most part. If I fell out of said routine, it was easy to get back into one, and I really didn’t have to answer to weight gain when I slacked. Oh, to be that care-free twenty-something again!
After having my first son, let’s just say my world changed, and so did my body. Sleepless nights and new-mom cluelessness left me feeling overwhelmed, and I certainly didn’t have the energy to exercise! However, the baby weight wasn’t budging on its own, and I felt myself spiraling into a state of depression.
I first joined the YMCA in April 2009 when my son was 14 months old, and I wish I would’ve done it sooner! While I left my kid in the hands of kind and reliable childcare workers, I was not only able to work out, but also enjoy adult interaction through the group classes. Suddenly I was looking forward to exercise and starting to see results!
Four months later, I had lost all my baby weight and was even able to go off antidepressants! Ironically, I got pregnant again shortly thereafter, but I had a much healthier pregnancy the second time around due to the habits I had already established. Plus it was much easier to bounce back after my second son was born.
When we moved to Schertz in the summer of 2010, one of the first items on the agenda was to join the local Y. Again, I have been pleased with the childcare facility and workers, I’ve found a good variety of classes to attend, and I deem the instructors to be knowledgeable, inspiring, and fun.
I choose the group classes because as a stay-at-home mom, I crave the interaction. I also find the most motivation there– through people who have similar goals as me, and I’d rather look at their friendly (albeit sweaty) faces than a screen on a cardio machine. While I know several people are successful on the gym floor, I prefer upbeat music, a set routine, and a specific time on the schedule to help keep me accountable.
I have heard that exercise produces endorphins which in turn give you energy and boost your mood. I have no doubt that my experience at the Y drew me out of the grip of depression and gave me a new outlook on life. When I exercise, I feel better, both mentally and physically, and that makes me a better mom, wife, person, and friend.
The YMCA has called for folks to tell their story, so this is my submission. It may not make "the cut" or even past the front desk, so I am sharing it here!
Thursday, January 19
Under the Influence... or Not
I'm not sure if this is something worth bragging about, but as of right now I am OFF any kind of prescription medicines. Oh sure, I take OTC things for headaches and other aches and ailments. If a drug can fix it, then I'm generally OK with taking something. I'm thankful to not need anything on a daily basis, and it's been a while since I could claim such a thing. However, I wonder about this a lot... how much should we let our bodies handle naturally and what substances are OK, perhaps even necessary, to help aid things along.
Obviously medicines are needed, especially for folks with "conditions," and pills are keeping us alive and well these days. Medical research and technology exists that can help relieve everything from chronic illnesses to the symptoms of the common cold (still waiting for the cure, though). Information about drugs is more readily available and marketed to us moreso than ever before. And the list of "side effects" is almost comical at times... you fix one thing, but gain a whole new set of problems!
All of that to say, if there's a drug out there that can fix our problem, why not take it? And at what point do we draw the line? I'm actually a little wary of drugs, myself... afraid of addictions or the effects of long-term use. However, I've been grappling with a couple of more minor issues along these same lines which has prompted this blog post. (That was a long introduction, huh?)
Caffeine. I'd venture to say it's a drug. It has an effect on us and can be addictive. But is it a bad thing? I try not to make it a habit, but man, when I do get that cup of coffee (or two) or drink that soda (or two), I feel, well, BETTER. Like right now for example... had coffee this morning, and normally I'd be trying to squeeze in a quick nap before picking up the boys from school. But instead, I'm blogging! (And baking. And working. And actually looking forward to seeing the boys in a few minutes.)
Diet pills. I've never tried these. But I've run into some folks recently who sell/use a line that has really yielded results for them. I've only started wondering about this recently... when exercising and eating healthy (mostly) doesn't take care of these extra 10 pounds I'd really like to lose. Honestly, I'd just like to be able to wear the clothes in my closet again. I'm not sure what the issue is because I feel like I work hard at it, sometimes to the point of misery, yet see no results. I wonder if it's my metabolism and if there is something out there that can give me a little boost.
Part of the aforementioned diet product line also comes with a caffeinated energy drink. I've had a sample of it... and it works. I've also tried a sample of their sleep aid (which they boast is all-natural and non-addictive). It also worked well. Seeing as how I am a person who doesn't get regular amounts of sleep and also lacks energy, I am drawn to these products. But I also wonder, why can't I just do this/handle these things on my own? At what point do I admit that my body is aging, my circumstances are trying, and perhaps it's OK to get a little help?
Obviously medicines are needed, especially for folks with "conditions," and pills are keeping us alive and well these days. Medical research and technology exists that can help relieve everything from chronic illnesses to the symptoms of the common cold (still waiting for the cure, though). Information about drugs is more readily available and marketed to us moreso than ever before. And the list of "side effects" is almost comical at times... you fix one thing, but gain a whole new set of problems!
All of that to say, if there's a drug out there that can fix our problem, why not take it? And at what point do we draw the line? I'm actually a little wary of drugs, myself... afraid of addictions or the effects of long-term use. However, I've been grappling with a couple of more minor issues along these same lines which has prompted this blog post. (That was a long introduction, huh?)
Caffeine. I'd venture to say it's a drug. It has an effect on us and can be addictive. But is it a bad thing? I try not to make it a habit, but man, when I do get that cup of coffee (or two) or drink that soda (or two), I feel, well, BETTER. Like right now for example... had coffee this morning, and normally I'd be trying to squeeze in a quick nap before picking up the boys from school. But instead, I'm blogging! (And baking. And working. And actually looking forward to seeing the boys in a few minutes.)
Diet pills. I've never tried these. But I've run into some folks recently who sell/use a line that has really yielded results for them. I've only started wondering about this recently... when exercising and eating healthy (mostly) doesn't take care of these extra 10 pounds I'd really like to lose. Honestly, I'd just like to be able to wear the clothes in my closet again. I'm not sure what the issue is because I feel like I work hard at it, sometimes to the point of misery, yet see no results. I wonder if it's my metabolism and if there is something out there that can give me a little boost.
Part of the aforementioned diet product line also comes with a caffeinated energy drink. I've had a sample of it... and it works. I've also tried a sample of their sleep aid (which they boast is all-natural and non-addictive). It also worked well. Seeing as how I am a person who doesn't get regular amounts of sleep and also lacks energy, I am drawn to these products. But I also wonder, why can't I just do this/handle these things on my own? At what point do I admit that my body is aging, my circumstances are trying, and perhaps it's OK to get a little help?
Monday, January 16
MPM: Looking Back, Looking Forward
I guess I have been too caught up in my own woe-is-me-isms recently that I forgot to mention our Mod Podge Monday craft from last week! An art session around here is almost always deemed successful in the eyes of my boys if paint is involved. My favorite brand/type is Crayola fingerpaints that come in tubes... it is easy to just squeeze out what you need, and cleanup is a breeze! For small messes, all you need is a wet wipe. If your child ends up covered in paint (not that such a thing would ever happen) then just stick them in the tub. No scrubbing is even required!
Last week we attempted blowing at globs of pain with straws to make splatters. To make it work better, I actually had to water down the paint some. We also experimented with "driving" toy cars through the paint to make colorful tracks and "stamping" with legos. I guess the moral of this story is that you don't really neeed special supplies to get some cool effects with paint!
This week (today, in fact) we were visiting John's parents. I put Grandma to work on helping us achieve our MPM craft. She's another crafty one in our family, and I knew this would be right up her alley. (In other words, as a paper crafter, I knew she'd have lots of scraps on hand!) Ian has been nearly obsessed with a certain birthday coming up... in his mind, age three is a thing of the past, and he is SO ready to be four! I knew we needed some way to help him count down the days. It was getting to the point that every night before bedtime he would ask me if he'd be four the next day. Sheesh, kiddo! Don't try to grow up so fast!
Ian now has a paper chain to help him count down the days until February 21! He loved using the stapler... anything to make him feel more like a big boy!
Last week we attempted blowing at globs of pain with straws to make splatters. To make it work better, I actually had to water down the paint some. We also experimented with "driving" toy cars through the paint to make colorful tracks and "stamping" with legos. I guess the moral of this story is that you don't really neeed special supplies to get some cool effects with paint!
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| Love his expression... he was having fun, really. |
This week (today, in fact) we were visiting John's parents. I put Grandma to work on helping us achieve our MPM craft. She's another crafty one in our family, and I knew this would be right up her alley. (In other words, as a paper crafter, I knew she'd have lots of scraps on hand!) Ian has been nearly obsessed with a certain birthday coming up... in his mind, age three is a thing of the past, and he is SO ready to be four! I knew we needed some way to help him count down the days. It was getting to the point that every night before bedtime he would ask me if he'd be four the next day. Sheesh, kiddo! Don't try to grow up so fast!
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| Lots of concentration going on here! |
Ian now has a paper chain to help him count down the days until February 21! He loved using the stapler... anything to make him feel more like a big boy!
Friday, January 13
Today I Choose Happiness
And it just so happens that happiness comes in the form of chocolate-peanut butter chex mix!
This wasn't really my intention... REGULAR Chex Mix was the agenda, but in searching for the recipe, I ran across a few other recipes that caught my eye. Because initially I was thinking, hey, I have all the ingredients: Chex, pretzels, cheese squares, nuts, Worcestershire sauce, etc. But then I also noticed I had peanut butter, chocolate bark, and powdered sugar on hand, too. Oh, dilemma!
John had already succumbed to sweets earlier this week. At lunch today, I watched my kids devour chocolate chip cookies with messy goofy grins on their faces. Later they coated themselves in green sticky goo when a neighbor offered them a popsicle. They ran around the neighborhood like crazies on their sugar high while I watched... tired, cranky, and in a slump. Something simply had to be done!
So, there you have it. I've failed on both accounts, but I don't care. I'm the one who presented myself with a challenge on this blog and then had to confess my shortcomings, and quite frankly, it's not like any of you were offering encouraging comments as I set forth on my goals. If it's truly about trying to eat healthier and stay away from sweets mostly, then fine. (I'd venture to say that the regular Chex mix isn't very healthy anyway.) But MISERY was never the goal and never should be!
This wasn't really my intention... REGULAR Chex Mix was the agenda, but in searching for the recipe, I ran across a few other recipes that caught my eye. Because initially I was thinking, hey, I have all the ingredients: Chex, pretzels, cheese squares, nuts, Worcestershire sauce, etc. But then I also noticed I had peanut butter, chocolate bark, and powdered sugar on hand, too. Oh, dilemma!
John had already succumbed to sweets earlier this week. At lunch today, I watched my kids devour chocolate chip cookies with messy goofy grins on their faces. Later they coated themselves in green sticky goo when a neighbor offered them a popsicle. They ran around the neighborhood like crazies on their sugar high while I watched... tired, cranky, and in a slump. Something simply had to be done!
So, there you have it. I've failed on both accounts, but I don't care. I'm the one who presented myself with a challenge on this blog and then had to confess my shortcomings, and quite frankly, it's not like any of you were offering encouraging comments as I set forth on my goals. If it's truly about trying to eat healthier and stay away from sweets mostly, then fine. (I'd venture to say that the regular Chex mix isn't very healthy anyway.) But MISERY was never the goal and never should be!
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