Brrrrr. Make sure you have a winter survival kit in your vehicle.

The deep cold has arrived, fast and furious. Are you prepared? I think, in addition to having a sock monster in my house, we also have a windshield scraper thief as well. I get stuck at least once a season
without the aid of my windshield scraper, brush.

I've also left the house entirely improperly dressed. Which means I'm freezing all day and miserable! I remind my kids constantly to wear their hats and mittens, now I need to be the example!

As we face the reality that is winter, do you have your vehicle properly outfitted, scraper included? On the BalanceYour7.com website they give a handy list of supplies we should all stash into our cars. It's like the Boy Scouts say "Be Prepared."

Are you prepared?
If you got stranded in your vehicle in the cold, snowy winter weather, would you be prepared?
Don't take any chances.

Place a winter survival kit in your vehicle that includes:

• A blanket
• First-aid kit
• Road maps
• Cell phone
• Compass
• Water-proof matches
• Water
• High-calorie, non-perishable foods
• Paper towels
• flashlight and batteries
• Windshield scraper
• Shovel
• Booster cables
• Tool kit
• Tow rope
• Tire chains
• Can of compressed air for tire repair
• Flares
• Salt, sand or kitty litter to melt the snow or provide extra traction

I hope that we will never have to use the majority of these items, but when we live in a wonderful climate like ours, we must prepare for the unexpected! So safe, and happy travels to all!

Searching for the spirit of the season...

I'm making a confession here. 

 I am so NOT in the holiday spirit. 

I have zero excuse as to why either, and it's starting to make me sad! I have every reason to be thankful, happy and excited for Christmas, but just cannot seem to get into it. 

My kids are at perfect ages, so excited about the lights, and the tree, decorations and of course Santa. There is snow on the ground and it helps totally set the scene. My house is decorated, stocking were hung with care, St. Nick has already visited. We've been to our first holiday party already, celebrating with friends and drinking good cheer, and yet, nothing. Maybe it's because I've left too much to do for the past few weeks. Maybe it's because I haven't wrapped a single gift, or addressed one single Christmas card. 

I'm hoping a magic Christmas "whammo" will strike and I'll find myself humming along to carols and anxious for December 24th. But in the event that does not occur, I'll still follow the holiday routine. I'm baking four dozen cookies for a cookie exchange. I'll probably wrap a few presents during the next few chilly days. My Christmas cards are stuffed and waiting, so they will find their way to friends and family. I'm going to dedicate my radio to the holiday station and practice Christmas songs on the guitar. I hope my kids' enthusiasm will rub off and I'll be as jolly as old St. Nick himself come tomorrow. At least, that's the gift I want most this year! 

How about you? Are you ready, festive and loving December? If so, please feel free to share what makes you so into the spirit of Christmas. I went and revisited the spirit dimension from the Balanceyour7.com website and here's what it said:

Spiritual wellness: Search for meaning and purpose, actions match your values and morals, find peace and harmony.
• Explore your individual spirituality
• Spend time alone
• Meditate
• Be tolerant of different beliefs
• Keep a clear sense of right and wrong

Maybe I'm missing the true meaning and purpose. I guess I'll have to keep searching!

The magic of Christmas

We are only young once, and boy does that seem like a long time ago! 

I was struck yesterday by the magic of youth, and how wonderful it truly is. Our kids are eight, six and three. They believe one hundred percent in the magic of Christmas, in Santa, his elves and all the wonder that this season brings. 

Well our elf on the shelf is back for another season of mischief and fun. Jingle Bells, as he is very appropriately named, arrived the day after Thanksgiving and has been delighting the kids each morning with his antics from the night before. 

Well, as you can see from the picture, this was how the kids found him this morning. They stood in awe at his predicament, but debated whether Jingle Bells had used his magic to tie himself up, or if the Lego guys caught him and were tired of him causing trouble and so they tied him up for us to see! 

It was a wonderful, magical conversation and our 8-year-old was completely convinced that his "guys" woke up and caught JB in sneaking back into the house. Not only do they believe in the magic of one stuffed little red elf, but that their toys are also alive and well. I hope a bit of this belief will rub off on me, and I say to all kids everywhere, whether old or young, hang onto it, the act of believing is the true magic of the season! 

Stay tuned for more Jingle Bell escapades!

Helping those in need

I've run a few errands and settled down into a coffee shop to write and deliver to those wonderful readers out there a new, exceptionally written blog. 

Throughout the course of my errand running, I walked past three Salvation Army kettle bell ringers. As the temperatures plummet and the holidays approach, we are reminded with each bell that tinkles, that there is a great need in our community. Individuals, families old and young alike are in need. 

Maybe you find yourself on the receiving end this year or possibly you are in a position to give assistance to those who desperately need it. Please don't hesitate to contribute, even if you don't think it's much, every penny counts. Some stores are making it easy, you can scan at the register and your donation is put onto your total bill, whether paying by credit, check or cash, easy and convenient! 

Maybe this year you can't spare any extra money but you could donate your time. Here is the perfect opportunity to do so. Please consider donating a couple of your valuable hours to help those in need, right in our own town. I've decided that you are never too young to learn about volunteering. I will be signing our entire family up for a shift or two to ring bells and show them how we can help and hopefully make them feel good about giving. So as the bells sound, count your blessings and help fulfill somebody else's blessing too.

You can sign up to volunteer online at this link.

Healthier versions of the old 'tried and true'

With Thanksgiving now just a day away, I feel like I've been fighting cravings for the usual comforting, though calorie-laden meal for more than a week. I believe there are just some things worth sacrificing the calorie count for, like homemade dressing or pumpkin pie. But these happen to be my favorites, and the few times a year I eat them, it's worth it! Now we don't need to go up a pant size every holiday just to get wonderful, flavorful food that still tastes like mom's.

I've been perusing the web for some healthier, skinnier versions of the old tried and true, and I think I've managed to come up with a few winners that may make it onto our dinner table, and maybe yours too! One idea that that sounds like a no-brainer is the Slow Cooker Savory Sweet Potatoes. Not only can you make these ahead of time, they are warm and ready in the crockpot without any of the fuss. 

Slow Cooker Savory Sweet Potatoes

• 1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive oil
• 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and diced into 1" cubes
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup sucanat or coconut palm sugar (found in the organic section of most grocery stores) if cannot find, substitute with honey
• 1/8 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1/2 tsp curry powder
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon

Add olive oil to slow cooker and preheat to high while preparing potatoes and garlic. Add potatoes and all remaining ingredients to cooker. Cover and cook on high 2-3 hrs or low 4-5 hrs.
skinnyms.com

Garlic Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes

Makes 4-6 servings

• 1 head of cauliflower
• 3 cups water
• 4 large garlic cloves, peeled
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 Tbsp butter
• Milk (if needed)
• Salt and Pepper

1. Cut the cauliflower into florets and place in the slow cooker.
2. Add in the water, garlic cloves, salt and bay leaf.
3. Cover and cook on HIGH for 2-3 hours or on LOW for 4-6 hours.
4. Remove the garlic cloves and bay leaf. Drain the water.
5. Add in the butter and let it melt.
6. Use a potato masher to mash the cauliflower or if you want to use an immersion blender to make it more creamy you can do that. If it needs milk add it in a tablespoon at a time.
7. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve with chives or green onions.

Review:
I halved this recipe and actually ate the entire thing by myself. What a great way to eat vegetables! Obviously it has a different taste than mashed potatoes but if you like the creamy texture of potatoes this might be a good way to save some calories. 3 1/2 stars.

There are so many ways to keep our calories in check during the holidays. However you choose to celebrate, I hope you enjoy the day to it's fullest, giving thanks, I know I sure will!

Find more great recipe ideas at skinnyms.com.

Giving Thanks...

With Thanksgiving fast approaching, I thought it appropriate to sit down and think about some things I am truly grateful for. It's not hard to do, we live a very blessed society even if we don't always take the time to acknowledge it. So without further ado, here's a partial list of what I'm thankful for this Thanksgiving.

I'm beyond thankful for a family to call my own. Not only are they cute, smart, and funny, they love me to the moon and back, and I do the same in return!

I'm grateful for not only my family, but one that is healthy. I've learned to never take health for granted, it can change in an instant.

I'm so thankful for a group of people I call friends. Some live nearby and others further than I would like, but they all have a special place in my heart and have helped me become the person I am today.

I give many thanks for my abilities, none of which are superhuman. But I have the ability to do many things, and to try new things that are challenging! I'm not great at any, but it hasn't stopped me yet from trying! This includes attempting a new turkey recipe this holiday.

I'm thankful for my dog. He's got the most gentle soul, he's a total bed hog, and I wouldn't have him any other way.

I'm so thankful for my loving husband, most days.

I love to read and try to devour new books any chance I can, for the worlds it's opened, for this I'm thankful.

For the house over our heads and the food we eat, such a simple thanks, but one never to take for granted.

For coffee, for red wine, for cheese and bread, coconut and chocolate, together or separate, and french fries.

For music, that that is old and evokes a good memory, or new that stirs something deep inside.

For music that just makes me dance.

For laughter, especially my kids'.

For a good dirty joke, and the ability to remember it!

I'm thankful for good movies, that take us away from reality for a couple of hours.

This list could go on and on. Remember this Thanksgiving to give thanks for all of the big and more importantly, the little things in life. When I reflected back on my thanks, I realize how unbelievably lucky I am.

Staying active over the holidays

Now that school is back in full swing, I'm finding my way back to the gym on a regular basis and settling into a nice, much-needed, exercise routine. 

 In our spinning class the other morning, we were discussing the upcoming holidays and how fast they are approaching! I finally managed to purge our household of our Halloween candy, and no, I didn't eat it all! 

Our instructor reminded us that the YMCA has several opportunities to work off that extra helping of stuffing, pumpkin pie, or in my case, both. The morning after Thanksgiving look for an am spinning class. Maybe you could swing in after shopping for all of those Black Friday deals! Or try something a bit different like the Turkey Blaster. It's an hour-and-a-half long class that includes strength, cardio and a pilates or yoga class too. These can be found at the north YMCA, but check your local gym for other fun holiday opportunities. 

 Maybe you are the person who needs to do something outside. Then lace up your running shoes and join in on the 19th Annual Turkey Trot. It will be this November 23rd, and offers racing opportunities for the entire family! Register early for discounts. 

 So as the cold weather starts to settle in and our temptation is to curl up and slow down, fight those urges and get out and get active! Then tell yourself you have earned that slice of pie, hold the whip cream!

Click here for more information about the Turkey Trot.

I'm back!

Well, after a long, unanticipated hiatus, I am back with the weekly blog! 

I know, your shouts of joy and cries of excitement are ringing in the streets! When I last left, our daughter had lost a battle with the monkey bars and crushed her elbow as a result. She required surgery and a stay in the hospital. While she made a rapid recovery, healing and ditching her cast in less than a month, she developed a bone protrusion that blocked her flexing motion. Because of this, she earned herself twice weekly trips to physical therapy, where we met with wonderful therapists. The ultimate conclusion is that she will require a second surgery over the Christmas holiday. I promise that I am not making excuses as to why this blog hasn't been updated, but that is part of the reason! Those darn kids are time consuming, exhausting, and completely worth it!

After taking a break and being gone from the blogging world, I found I really missed it. I'm hoping those readers out there missed checking in once in awhile. I'm also hoping to spur more of a dialogue with future blogs. If you have an opinion, question or would like to see a topic discussed please don't be shy! While the focus will remain health care and Balancing Your 7, most topics can be fair game. So while you may have thought you were finally rid of me, and had one less thing to read, you are out of luck! But I'm hoping to be better than ever and look forward to hearing from you!

Look for future topics on healthy holiday eating and recipe ideas.

The monkey bars won!

On Friday my phone rang, the dreaded call from the nurses office at school. 

Our third day into kindergarten and it was 5-year-old vs monkey bars. The monkey bars won. 

We took her as swiftly as we could to the ER and found out that she had broken her elbow and would require surgery and two pins, which earned her an overnight at the hospital! If this wasn't bad enough, the poor kid turned six two days later, and we had to cancel her party with her friends for the following day! 

There is NOTHING worse than seeing your child in any sort of pain, but to have her undergo such a dramatic injury, I wish I could have traded with her. As a parent we try our best to keep our kids safe, but we cannot protect them all of the time. 

She handled the situation so wonderfully. She was far braver than I ever would have been. In fact, she didn't shed a single tear once we left school. Even after hearing the news about her party, receiving several X-rays, exams and an IV. Wow! 

So while this wasn't exactly how I had planned on kicking off the new school year, one very positive thing has come from this. When something bad strikes, we realized how blessed we are to have the people we do around us. The outpouring of support and love certainly helped this momma feel better, but also helped ease our daughter's pain too. 

There is no way to prepare for something like this, but I will say that we felt like we were in great hands with all of the professionals at Gundersen Health System. The nurses even threw her a birthday party in the hospital, complete with a wrapped gift and a cupcake with a candle! 

So now that she is rockin' her hot pink and purple cast, we are back into the swing of things at school. She is handling the cast and change of doing things left-handed so wonderfully. Although we didn't begin exactly as planned, our school year is now well under way and moving forward nicely. 

 We are just hoping the only monkeys we encounter from now on are at the zoo.

Steppin' Out in Pink

Are you in the mood to kick some butt? Really stick it to something and give it a swift kick? 

Well you can get a chance to do just that this upcoming Saturday, September 7th. The thing you can put a boot, shoe, or whatever to is called cancer. The big ugly C and it's going to take a bit of a beating this Saturday for the Steppin' Out in Pink event at Gundersen Health System. 

This is an annual fundraiser to show your support for those who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and to raise money for research. I have a good friend who was diagnosed just this July, another last year. How many of us can name someone close who has had to deal with this menacing disease? It's time to dig out your best pink, put your walking shoes on and go support these courageous women as they undertake the battle of their lives. My husband and I took our kids last year and it was a very festive event, one the entire family can enjoy. If you can't make it to the actual event or participate in the walk, donations are greatly appreciated. Teams are formed and you can sponsor a group walking on behalf of someone's mother, wife, sister or best friend. And how rewarding does it feel to kick some serious butt, especially when the one in particular is cancer's backside?

For more information on this fantastic event please visit Steppin' Out in Pink.

Balancing the seven dimensions of wellness

I know I've written before about the value of friendship and how crucial good people in our lives are. It can encompass all of the seven dimensions of wellness of Balance Your Seven..

When we have good folks that populate our circle we are more enriched and blossom. 

I recently took a walk with one of these people who have helped to enrich my life. We had a great chat, and then I grew sad. I have recently begun to realize how many of these people from my past I have lost contact with. For one reason or another I have let many important friendships drift away to the point I no longer know anything about those people any longer. This fact saddens me. 

Why does this happen? In my case it is partly a result of several moves in recent years, and children who occupy the majority of my time. But this is really no excuse. I have decided to be a bit more proactive and reach out to those who I've drifted from. I know several of us have changed, and maybe people come into our lives for only a short time and for a certain reason. This helps shape who we are as individuals. 

I was with a girlfriend recently who I only see maybe once a year. I realized that I don't know her as well as I thought I did, and the side to her that I recently saw was not my favorite. She is at a stressful period in her life and this highlighted a very forceful, negative part of her personality. Maybe it's a good thing we don't live next door to one another and only get together briefly. I told my walking companion this and she too has experienced a similar "falling out" of many friends. I guess this is a lesson in holding those you hold dear very close. We must not take for granted our relationships, but as I've found it might be better that certain people live several states away!

Please visit balanceyour7.com to see how we can enrich these areas in our lives.

The Happiness Project

What are things that make you happy? 

I'm talking toe curling, shout-out-loud, giddy kind of happy. We recently managed a few-day getaway, no kids allowed. 

 While this is something that can make a busy momma happy, it's the coming home to three smiling children who hug with open abandon that will elicit the type of happy I mean. How can you resist the feel and smell of your kids after being away from their hugs and smiles? It makes the getaway well worth it! 

 Maybe it's accomplishing a goal you set for yourself? Completing a run or race in new record time. Maybe you went on a fabulous first date and know that he/she is THE one! Whatever it is that can bring about a smile and a flutter in our bellies, isn't it wonderful? 

I wish there was a way to bottle this feeling and uncork it when we need it! Or maybe we can find ways to experience this happiness more often. How can we make our lives filled with happiness and lighter days? I have recently started reading a book called The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. She embarks on a one-year journey to create a happier life for herself. She sets monthly goals, and strives to reach these. As a busy wife, mother of two and full-time author, this is no easy task. Yet by setting small goals and and adhering rather strictly to these, she manages to see her happiness meter slowly rise. She states at the beginning of this project that everyone's happiness goals, and ways to achieve them, varies greatly. 

Whatever and however we may make our lives lighter, happier, it is worth every ounce of effort. I know my toes curled and my happiness meter overflowed when I hugged my kiddos after some time away. I highly recommend this book, even as a casual read. Any tips and insight to help us achieve happiness is worth looking at!

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

Seasons of change

Well today, as I sit and type out this blog post, I am struck by the sights and sounds of the end of summer.

It's still glorious and warm, robins dance in our yards and butterflies are still plentiful. But there is that underlying hint of fall. A sudden cool breeze or just the way the sun hits the pavement tells of a season soon to be upon us. 

My kids are anxious and ready for the steady drum of routine, and so is their mother! So while we are ready to end the chapter of another summer in Wisconsin, how are you preparing for fall? Do you read through the Halloween costume magazines that are already filling our mailbox? Do you glance longingly at your favorite pair of jeans or sweatshirt that has sat patiently on your shelf these past months? Maybe a long-neglected closet is screaming your name, to be purged and cleaned? I have a long and lengthy list of activities to be done and clothes to be worn once the seasons change and the kids head to school. I'm not ready to pack the beach towels up quite yet, and I am still planning on wearing my shorts for a bit longer, but I'm mentally preparing for cooler days and time spent with my hands curled around a steaming mug of coffee. 

Living in a place that experiences four true seasons is comforting. We get out and embrace all the time when the heat and sun is plentiful, somehow soaking it in to carry us through during our bitter months of winter. Summer takes on an almost mystical tone, because we don't have the luxury of having it with us year round. I think each season brings it's own enjoyments, fuzzy sweaters, an old pair of boots, or your favorite swimming suit. So until summer is officially over, I'll take a few more swims in the pool and hopefully enjoy a few more nights dining outside with friends. After all, that is one of the beauties of living here, 90 degrees one minute, and minus 30 the next!

It's back-to-school shopping season!

Are you all set for the kids to go back to school? 

Have you purchased their supplies, double checking the list and making sure all of their number two pencils are sharp? 

 This year I am sending all three of my children off to school, the youngest for the first time! She will only attend three mornings a week, but it's a big step for all of us! I'll suddenly find I have a few extra quiet hours in my day, some extra time to devote to errands or other chores. I can hopefully volunteer a bit more in my kid's classrooms, or run an extra mile! The possibilities seem endless at this point, however I know the time will fill fast and furiously. 

 It is scary to shop for school supplies for three kids. I read that the average family spends over $600 getting kids set for this milestone! That is A LOT of number two pencils and crayons! We had a tradition growing up that my mom took my sister and I up to Minneapolis and we shopped for a day for a few special back-to-school outfits. We had a blast doing it, at least my sister and I did. I remember how excited I was to shop for brand new things, then carefully selecting what I would wear for the first day of school! 

 My son could really care less about what he wears, but my daughters are starting to form very strong opinions already! Jeans? No way! Buttons, forget it! So while this is a bit frustrating, it poses a challenge and one I am up to facing. So I'm almost done packing up the folders and markers, washing and organizing all of the clothes so the kids are all set. Now there is just enough time to savor the last few weeks of summer vacation before our new school year journey begins.

Paying it forward

I read a post on my Facebook page from a fellow mom blogger who took her three young sons to a Milwaukee Brewers baseball game. In front of her sat a young twenty-something man and his girlfriend. The lady told of how her sons were so excited, but did not exactly sit still. 

She said the man turned around and engaged her son during the game, running him down between innings to see the field, trying to snag a ball. He was delightful to her kids, and the mom was super grateful! 

At one point he promised that he would get her child a baseball. At the end of the game he took him down to the side to try to get a ball from the players and coaches, but they returned empty handed. She said her son started to look sad, when the man pulled a baseball out from behind his back and handed it to the little boy! He then whispered "I promised you a baseball, and I always keep my promises!" 

At some point during the game he had gone and purchased a baseball for her child! The mom went on to say that this was the highlight of the entire day for her young son. He talked about it non stop on the way home and even went to sleep hugging his baseball! 

 She sent this story out because she wanted to properly thank this young man, and to remind all of us that even a small act of kindness can make all the difference. He touched this family and through the story she told, it seems like he has brightened the lives of so many others! I loved reading this, and will try to remember that it doesn't take a big gesture, sometimes holding a door open for a stranger, or maybe plugging a meter that has run out for someone, can really say you care. And when we pay it forward, we all win in the end.

A post-reunion post

I wrote recently about attending my high school class reunion.

 It was such a wonderful night and so very much fun to reconnect with long-lost friends! There were people in my life who were fantastic classmates and even better friends, even if it was a couple of decades ago.

Facebook is a wonderful tool to help keep in touch with those who we may not otherwise see. But there is no replacing a good hug and an animated conversation face to face. 

 It was great to see how we have all aged and come into our own. We shared stories, some of which I had completely forgotten about! I graduated with a rather large class, almost five hundred kids. And we had a pretty poor turnout for all three days of the reunion. For the people who did make the effort, it was such an uplifting time. The same sense of humor was found in the group of guys who always caused a bit of trouble in the lunchroom. The same gaggle of girls who always dressed to the nines, were still doing it today. It is nice to see that some things never change, I took great comfort in that. It was also great to see who has become parents, and hear them brag about their kid's achievements. We have also lost a few classmates, and stories were shared about these special people. 

 For just a few hours time went a bit backward, and that was a nice feeling, one that I hope will last a bit until our next get together!

Favorite, easy summer meals

What are your favorite, easy, summer meals? When the thermostat rises, we tend to eat less and I tend to crave lighter dishes with fresh ingredients. One of our favorite "go to" meals includes chicken lettuce wraps. They are a simple, no fail meal that always satisfies. I love to take a head of iceberg lettuce or bib, and these become the wrap. In a bowl I toss together some cooked, shredded chicken. I usually buy a rotisserie chicken and only use about half of the bird, reserving the rest for another meal. Then I add whatever produce I have on hand, some examples are shredded carrots, snap peas, green peas, water chestnuts, chopped cilantro or parsley, purple cabbage, diced celery. Just add whatever you like. Then to this I tend to mix in crushed peanuts, and for seasoning some fresh minced garlic, some soy sauce, ginger, either fresh or powdered, and some red chili paste, add this to taste. Mix all up and serve with your lettuce wraps. We dip ours into store bought peanut sauce! Voilà, dinner is served!

 I am also a huge fan of anything salad. Whether it be pasta or green, a great salad is so satisfying and can be made ahead to save time. Sometimes these even taste better the next day. A recent favorite is an orzo pasta salad that can be found on the chef Giadia De Laurentiis's website. It adds dried cherries, feta cheese and fresh arugula and spinach. With the crunch of some toasted pine nuts, this salad has been a crowd pleaser on more than one occasion this summer. I highly recommend checking it out! 

And lastly, a salad I tried last week was the following:

GRILLED CORN, AVOCADO AND TOMATO SALAD
1 pint grape tomatoes
1 ripe avocado
2 ears of fresh sweet corn
2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped

HONEY LIME DRESSING
Juice of 1 lime
3 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tbsp honey
Sea salt and fresh cracked pepper, to taste
1 clove garlic, minced
Dash of cayenne pepper

DIRECTIONS
Remove husks from corn and grill over medium heat for 10 minutes. The corn should have some brown spots and be tender and not mushy. Cut the corn off the cob then scrape the cob with the back of your knife to get the juices. Set aside and let cool. Slice the tomatoes in half. Dice the avocado and chop the cilantro.

Add all the dressing ingredients in a small bowl and whisk to combine. Set aside.

Combine the sliced tomatoes, avocado, cilantro and grilled corn and honey lime dressing and mix gently so everything is evenly coated. Be careful not to mash the avocados. Let the salad sit for 10-15 minutes to let flavors mingle. Enjoy.

Enjoying a mini break from reality...

Well, as we find ourselves in the twilight of summer, I'm trying to find a healthy balance between enjoying the weather and keeping active, and creating down time to enjoy everything!

My kids are starting the "drive each other nuts" phase, when we all realize we have filled our quota of together time! When they love each other and get along, life is so smooth, but when they fight and bicker, watch out! Yikes! 

 So this mom decided to take a bit of me time today. We have just arrived home from spending a week up north, enjoying a Wisconsin lake and the wonderful north woods. Our 24/7 time together was fantastic and always makes me appreciate my little family and all of our blessings. 

But upon returning home to the mound of laundry and whining kids, a few hours alone is always a mini vacation in itself! So what was a girl to do? Well after looking at my poor toes, that became an easy answer! I sped my way to the nearest nail salon and happily sat in a massage chair and let the girl work her magic! Not only do my toes look presentable, and perky too, my whole demeanor is refreshed. I managed to relax, not having to hear yelling or break up any fighting. I thumbed through a magazine and found out what is hot for summer (a bit late for me) and what to wear for fall! 

Ahhh, if you are in need of a mini, mid-day break from reality, splurge on a pedicure and you, and your toes, will thank you!

A trip down memory lane...

I am packing up to take a big trip down memory lane. 

I am about to attend my high school class reunion. 

 I won't tell you what year it is, but let's just say it's a big one, a significant number. At least enough years have passed by that the attending guests will probably only vaguely resemble their high school selves, me included! And this isn't necessarily a good thing! 

How did you envision yourself a couple of decades after school? Were you married, were you traveling the world? Had you conquered some of your milestones, or had you just realized you should have goals and milestones to achieve? 

I've thought about this a lot in the months leading up to this weekend. Who am I really? Do I resemble the person I hoped I'd become? I think the answer is yes in so many ways, but I also know that I have oh so far to go. It is a great test to look back at the past years and see the accomplishments or lack thereof and take stock of my life. 

 Or I guess I could go into the reunion as simply a great opportunity to reconnect with some people I haven't seen in far too long and have a fun, wonderful evening. I'll just have to see how the night goes! So I'm dusting off my yearbook, trying to memorize names and faces and forging forward to see a glimmer of my young self and all those others who were so important in helping to shape the person I am today.

Gone fishin'

Well, we are about at the mid point in our journey through summer. 

 Are you getting out and staying active? Have you eaten your fill of farm-fresh strawberries? 

 Or are you like me and wondering where the time has gone and why this season has to fly by in a blink when other, colder seasons seem to drag on forever?

I have checked a few goals off my list, including going fly fishing for the first time in more than ten years! We live in an area blessed with spectacular places to explore and try to catch a beautiful trout or two! Within 30 minutes of leaving our home, we were standing in the middle of stream, surrounded by bluffs and the peace of being in the middle of nature, alone with nothing but our thoughts and a fly rod! It didn't even dampen my spirits to walk away without a fish. I felt fulfilled enough just to have started my day off this way. 

I've often said this area is what you make of it. There is no shortage of actives to try out. We have the beautiful Mississippi right out our doorstep, and the lush streams that feed it just over the bluffs. So go grab a pint of fresh-picked berries, grab a friend and try to hook into a new hobby! Or maybe you are a master fly fisherman or woman? Teach this beautiful sport to someone new. But don't wait too long, summer is halfway over!

Fly Fishing

Fishing Reports

Mindful Meditation

My husband and I have recently tried to begin mindful meditation.

We had a wonderful conversation with a friend who incorporates this practice into her daily routine.

She told us that before meditation she was a yeller, a door slammer. She can feel the transformation she undergoes when meditating. It can be a topic that can sound hokey, or silly until you start to read all the information regarding the benefits of meditating.

I will admit to finding it difficult to find a quiet time in my day to sit and relax for the recommended ten minutes. It is not easy with three children and a dog clamoring for attention the majority of the day. But the times that I have shut the door, relaxed and closed my eyes, my body instantly relaxes, and more importantly so does my mind. We were told to focus on our breathing, feel it in either our nose, chest or stomach. Try to keep your thoughts clear, and when a thought enters your mind, gently push it aside. Eventually we will learn to name the thoughts that enter, making it easier to clear them out of our head. I cannot say that it has become life changing, but it certainly makes me feel calmer when I've sat and relaxed.

We all carry so many layers of stress, if this will help me shed some of that, I'm more than willing to give it a try. There is a very timely article on the BalanceYour7 website on this very topic. Before you doubt it, take a few days and try giving yourself 10 or 20 minutes of total calm, focusing only on your breathing and clearing your mind. If nothing else, you might grab a midday cat nap! Who can argue with that!


Check out this article on the Balance Your 7 website: Mindfulness, meditation can help reduce stress.

Sun Safety

The battle has begun. The battle of sunscreen versus squirmy children and an insistent mother.

"Stand still or you will get it in your eyes."

"Rub it in, you missed a spot!"

"Mom, it's cold, stop!"

All of these and more, are frequently heard in our house, morning, noon and night. We have started our summer activities and the sun has finally reappeared--so has the infamous white cream. I have started to do more homework on the type of sunscreen that I choose to use. There is no shortage of options--sprays, lotions, sticks, foams.

Which is best, which is safest? We want a broad spectrum, protecting from both harmful UVA and UV rays. Guidelines recommend an spf rating of 15- 50+, but do not forget to reapply and reapply often. A higher spf tends to make people believe they are protected for longer, which is not true. In short, ingredients matter. Avoid any sun product whose label says retinyl palmitate, retinol or vitamin A. Look for ingredients zinc oxide, avobenzone and Mexoryl SX. These protect us from harmful UVA radiation. Avoid the sunscreen chemical oxybenzone, a synthetic estrogen that penetrates the skin and can disrupt the hormone system.

The best sun protection is to use common sense, cover up when you can and seek or create shade. Color on our skin does not mean healthy. This is such an important message to teach our children, especially teenagers. So while the battle rages on in my house, and many others, it's such an important one. Be sensible, and proactive, and if you can, practice your wrestling moves! It's helped me, and ultimately we will do anything to keep our kids safe.


Sun Safety Tips

Go 'Fore' It!

I finally made it out to do one of my favorite things, favorite healthy things that is.

I hit some golf balls on the driving range and putting green for about an hour. I was one of the only people there, standing in the glorious sunshine that has been missing in Wisconsin for the past nine months! I'm not sure what I enjoyed the most--the solitude, the sun on my face, or the feel of the ball as it sailed in the general direction that I wanted it to go! Unfortunately the last scenario didn't happen as often as I would have liked, but the sunshine and warm weather made up for it!

Golfing is such a great way to get outside and get a bit of exercise. My husband and I enjoy playing this sport together and we are finding that as our kids age a bit it's a fantastic family activity. You don't have to be a pro, clearly just watch me play, but you can easily find enjoyment! We prefer to walk when we have the time. It's a great opportunity to chat, enjoy the weather, and get a little exercise in the meantime. There are abundant places to play in the Coulee Region, and it's a game you can take on the road! My mom has even picked up a club after retiring, my grandma is an avid golfer and she's in her late eighties. Go grandma!

It's a life-long sport, and it's never too late to try. Take it from me, I'm one hack on the course, but I keep at it and sometimes it's possible to even surprise yourself with an awesome shot now and then. Go "Fore" it, you know you want to!


Check out the number of calories burned playing nine holes of golf!

Here is a listing of area golf courses.

Local abundance!

As summer very slowly makes its way to our region of the world, with it comes an abundance of produce, farmer's markets, and an overall feeling of fresh.

I read a quick interview with the author of the book Cooked by Michael Pollan. He says that the number one thing we can do to be healthier is to cook at home. He stresses that cooking is key to changing our health and the environment, and those who cook for themselves consume a healthier diet. One of the points that he made is that if we let corporations cook for us, they are going to buy food from the biggest monocultures. But we as consumers have a choice. We can take time out of our day and choose the food we prepare, how we prepare it and where it comes from.

The citizens of the Coulee Region are fortunate to be surrounded by agricultural heaven! We have local farmer's markets several times a week, where produce grown locally can be purchased only hours after it was picked! We can drive right up to a farmer's door and pick the cow, pig, sheep, etc that we want to have butchered for our freezer. We can see how it was raised and what it was fed.

I'm trying my best to buy more locally and shop healthier. As summer finally arrives I hope to continue to frequent our local farmer's markets and experiment with new recipes! Cooking can be such a joy, and seeing my kids try new things and discovering they enjoy them makes it worthwhile.

Now If I could only get them to do all the dishes.

For more, see this article: Buying local and organic food on the Balance Your 7 website.

Boston.

A city on my long list of cities I have yet to explore. Now a city that will forever have far more significance than ever. I feel like I just sat down and wrote about the tragedy at Newton, CT. Now Boston.

We, as a country, are now living, working, shopping, playing in a totally different world than our parents and grandparents did. With senseless tragedies like the now-named "marathon" bombings, we live in a world that we now look over our shoulders, growing suspicious or leery in ways most of us never even thought of before.

If our world is now so different, what kind of future do our chlldren and grandchildren face? When will we ever learn to stop taking our anger and hatred out on innocent individuals? When did extremism and radical actions replace logic and rationalism? And why? With so much sadness and anger surrounding this violence, I took some comfort in a quote I read by Mr. Rogers:

When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping." Fred Rogers

Seeing how others rushed in to assist and looking for all of the helpers shows us that the good in people far outweighs the bad. Maybe our children have a bright future after all. And someday I cannot wait to visit Boston and experience its beauty and history but never forget its recent events.

Today = 100

That's one more than 99, in case you weren't aware.

Significant? Perhaps to no one else but me. Today marks the day for my one hundredth post. Ten x ten.

I've been boring you with my blogs, and that adds up to a lot of time you could have spent doing other, more productive things! However, for myself, this has turned into a job I've come to thoroughly enjoy.

Job doesn't accurately fit the description, if you find yourself doing something you enjoy, as I've come to discover I do about writing. Some weeks I struggle to conjure up an applicable topic, or would like to inject more humor or wisdom than I otherwise do. Raising three kids, tackling daily family issues and logistics is wonderful. But writing a weekly blog has given me the freedom to express thoughts, explore various topics and tap into that creative self that has been napping too long!

So while 100 maybe just another number, to me it is a bit of a milestone. Maybe more like a stepping stone, but one that has led me on a bit of a journey of self discovery. A journey that I hope to be on for many more 100's to come!

Spring! Maybe?

Well, it's officially spring, at least according to the calendar!

Every time I decide to put away the winter coats and boots, I think better of it!

There are mounds of snow still lingering around. Who am I fooling?

I think our 80 degree March temperatures from last year were a tease, and we are experiencing just a "normal" winter/spring season. Yea for all those farmers out there! But I'm ready. My sweaters don't hold any more appeal. They are tired too and ready to snuggle on the shelf until next fall. My toes are ready to ditch the socks and show their faces again, with a fun new coat of polish! My daughter noticed the daffodil buds struggling to push through the cold ground and strut their bright color! The robins are all back and the birds are singing or maybe they are shivering so loudly it sounds like singing! There are signs of spring, I think we are just having to look a bit harder this year to find them.

My son has his first outdoor soccer game this week. I'll be sending him in a jacket, hat and mittens! Better run extra fast to keep warm!

But isn't that the beauty of weather in Wisconsin? We get winter one minute and summer the next? I guess it helps us appreciate each and every season while we have it. I think I could have stood to appreciate winter a bit less this year! So while my shorts haven't quite made their appearance, my sweaters have earned their break and are resting comfortably until fall.

Birthdays!

In our household April is birthday month.

Tomorrow it is my husband's birthday and I dare not disclose his age!

Every year is important, but this particular birthday isn't a "big" one. It occurs midweek, so dinner, cake and ice cream should complete our agenda. A special dinner has been requested, tortellini with meat sauce and a big salad. Sounds like a celebration to me!

One week later our son celebrates his eighth birthday! A VERY big deal to him and his little sisters. We have been discussing the details of his special day since Christmas ended. I'm not sure if it's the idea of a special party or turning one year older that excites him most. He has picked the venue, Shenanigan's it is. The invites are out and we are making plans for the party.

At what age do you stop having the kid parties? I think I was around nine or ten and birthdays were more about just one or two friends, maybe a sleepover, and dinner out. I know it's different in every family. It's so fun to get caught up in the enthusiasm of turning one year older, until you don't want to and dread the coming of your birthday! So we are getting caught up in the excitement and rocking out those birthdays, complete with two cakes, a pile of gifts and lots of laughter.

Creating our dreams

Time for a blog follow-up.

We are slowly moving forward trying to fulfill our house dream. Our plans are officially complete, as are all the upgrades to our new subdivision!

Now comes the biggest, and perhaps the most frightening part of this process, the talk with the bank.

A few years ago this would have been a walk in the park, but we all remember how that walk ended! We are all still dealing with those repercussions, though hopefully the worst is behind us! The banks hands are tied. So we roll up our blue prints, laying all our hopes on a few sheets of paper, gather our numbers and hand them over hoping the story the bank tells us is favorable.

I've already started picking out colors, tile, matching towels! Of course all of this is in my head, for now. But I'm crossing all fingers and toes that someday it will become a reality and we can move into the place we created--the place we will call home for a long time to come!

We've done all we can, now we need to see what will happen.

Hopefully we have our answer soon, those matching towels just went on sale!

ME. In a nutshell.

I wake up, it's 6:15 am, I am in this moment, a wife. We say our good mornings a quick smooch, he jumps in the shower. It's 6:32, I am me, alone for a few quiet moments of solitude.

It is 6:34, my youngest child, accompanied by her ever faithful, furry, four-legged brother, climbs/jumps into bed. I am a mother, listening to the tales of my 3-year-old's dreams, snuggling up to her warm, pj-clad body.

Out to the kitchen, rousing the other two children, on full force mommy duty.

Husband emerges, we grab sips of coffee in between rushing kids out the door to school, he to work. Roles merge, I am chaos director, wife, mom, short-order cook, dog walker.

Kids arrive at school, all but one still home with me.

Time is 8:12, off to the gym. Drop remaining child in child watch.

8:18: Alone, I am gym-rat extraordinaire. Work up sweat, chat with a few fellow friends, enjoy a bit of me time. I am me. Alone for awhile.

10:20: Pick up child, resume mommy duty.

Head to grocery store - grab necessities, plan dinner in my head, buy food.

11:10: Pickup child number two, head home. Prepare lunch for kids two and three. Mommy in full force. Play with girls, dog, clean up lunch, laundry.

1:12: Nap number three, bit of TV for number two.

1:32: Jump in shower - ahhh- me time for a few blissful minutes.

3:02: Rouse youngest from nap, load up car with girls and dog, pickup child number one. Listen to son tell about his day, return home, make snack. Check email, referee kids, homework, laundry.

4:46: Prepare dinner, chef hat officially on!

5:36: Set table, gather kids.

5:42: Greet husband- roles merge again. I am wife/mother/cook.

6:45: Prepare for bedtime routine- full mommy mode--baths given, books red, bed.

7:22: First tucked in. Only two trips back to get her settled.

7:34: Second child in bed. First trip a success.

7:46: Sit down with husband and kid number one, I am mommy/wife.

8:08: Last child down for the night.

8:12: Ahhh--wife mode--chat with husband, make tea and watch a bit of television.

9:36: Let fur-baby out (mommy mode still on!).

9:48 Head to bedroom--grab book of the moment--ahh a bit of me time!

10:27: Husband snuggles in--out for the night.

10:34: Kick dog off the bed, NOW, out for the night, ALL ME TIME!

Book club is about more than reading books!

Well, our book club has just celebrated it's one-year anniversary. 

We've read some wonderful, must-read books like The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom. They inspired us and ignited some fantastic, lively conversation. We've also read some real duds, like the second book by Anthony Bourdain called Medium Raw. Also a bomb for our group was How to Be a Woman by Caitlin Moran, who was claimed to be the British Tina Fey, a claim I wholeheartedly disagree with! However, as much as we did not enjoy the book itself, the bad reads brought about some great conversation, specifically related to women and women's rights, something us six ladies could relate to!

Our latest read, Wild by Cheryl Strayed, was great for most of us. It is a true story about a woman who loses her mother to cancer, how her world starts to fall apart, so she decides to hike the Pacific Coast Trail, the PCT, alone. Two of my fellow book club members have lost parents to cancer. They had a much harder time getting through the book and could very closely relate to the experience the author wrote about. We had such a good talk, that we may start our next get together still discussing this book! It's been fun to see how each of us interprets each of the reads in our own way. Like for the book Wild, some of us thought of it as a foolish adventure, and others saw it as a cathartic healing journey. It was probably a bit of both, but either way it's worth the read!

We've chosen My Name is Memory, by Ann Brashares, for our next meeting, and after that it's onto Lolita, by Vladimir Nabokov. We sometimes choose books with strong feminine characters, and sometimes it's just the opposite. Whether a great page-turning novel, or a dud of a book, I always enjoy the time we spend together. Our discussions aren't always about the books we've read, they are more importantly about each other and what's been happening in each of our lives. This has proved very cathartic, and worth every dull page I may have had to read to get there.

Book club favorites

People watching...

I have a guilty pleasure I'd like to publicly confess here. I LOVE people watching! 

I mean who doesn't like to observe our fellow citizens at their unsuspecting best or worst? There are so many great venues to do this. We just returned from a trip, and the airport is a prime people watching spot. Who hasn't just sat and simply observed those around you?? My husband and I used to make up stories, where were they heading, what were their lives like? The more absurd the better! Childish maybe, but definitely fun and a good way to pass the time.

I just glanced up from writing this in a coffee shop, that shall remain nameless, and saw a man in a neon check kilt, wearing headphones and a shockingly bright neon shirt. Complete with tall checked socks and sandals. If it were permissible I would have taken his picture to post here. He was a bit too old to be rushing for a fraternity, so what was his story? It was a great outfit, and I liked his individual style! I've seen a grown man rollerblading in a leather bikini brief, very brief I might add, shirtless, with a giant blue mohawk, cruising down the middle of road like he'd just won the lottery. Who knows, maybe he had!

It's fun to see how we, the public behave when we think we are not being observed. You know we have all seen the nose pickers in the car who think no one is watching! I hope I didn't just offend any of you! However you choose to dress or behave, be careful, this people watcher just might be watching you! And for heavens sake, please use a Kleenex!

How to begin people watching!

Please? And thank you!

As a committed writer for this blog I made a promise to myself when accepting this job. I would try my hardest not to use it as a platform from where I preach my morals and beliefs onto you, the unsuspecting audience. But I do have something I would like to get off my chest, vent about, blow off some steam. That is specifically what has happened to our manners? 

 Where have all of our pleases and thank yous gone? I know there are some uber polite folks out there, kudos to all of you, keep it up! But the rest of us (yes, I too am guilty of occasionally missing a please or thank you) we have no excuses. 

We all have bad days and don't feel like saying thank you or being polite. But that is not the person behind the counters fault, they don't know that. A simple hello, a quiet thank you or even a nod carries a lot of weight. What kind of example are we showing our children? 

Now, as a family, we are admittedly pretty adamant our kids says please and thank you. But they are kids, and they need almost constant reminders to do so. We have had several proud moments where we have been complimented on how polite our child was (when we weren't even there to remind them!) I think our hard work aka nagging, maybe working! But come on, this isn't a hard thing to insist our youth do. Yes, it may take a bit of prompting, a polite nudge now and again, but we all should do it. 

And yes, I do feel better. Please, and thank you.

P.S After finishing writing this piece, I left the coffee shop and waited in the snow to hold the door open for a woman walking in. She never thanked me! I should have slipped her the link to this blog!

Benefits of good manners
Manners and morals of today's children and teens

Ode to Janis!

In my alternate life, I am a rockstar.

At least that's what I've been telling myself every Tuesday for the past month.

I channel my inner Janis Joplin and try my best to jam with Bill--my guitar teacher. Yes. I am trying, key word trying, to learn how to play guitar.

There is the old saying "the heart is willing" but my fingers are not cooperating the way I would like. So far, I'm on the fourth string, can sometimes play a C chord and can crank out an ok version of Ode to Joy.

Janis Joplin, I so am not. But I'm persisting. My respect for musicians has grown immensely. Then to watch them sing and play at the same time, wow! I do know it is possible to teach an old dog new tricks, I just know this old dog doesn't learn as fast as I would have as a kid. I'm not complaining though. It's been extremely exciting to try my hand at something I've always wanted to do. I can feel a part of my brain light up as I attempt to make my fingers play a G chord, without looking. My Yankee Doodle is almost recognizable. At a month in, never having read music before, I'll take it!

If you've ever wanted to try an instrument or new hobby, take it from me, don't wait! It really is a blast. Though my aspirations of playing lead guitar in a famous rock band have dwindled a tad, I'll always have Janis. Or at least her cds!

Tradition!

If I had to describe a family tradition we do every year, without fail, it would be coloring Easter eggs with my grandparents.

My father's father was born in 1919 and one of this man's greatest joys comes from dunking many dozen hard-boiled eggs into little cups of color. Each and every year, through moves and new houses, my parents, grandparents and now my kids, get together and color seven or eight dozen eggs.

There is the discussion of the proper way to boil the eggs, are they peeling well this year? How does the color look? Which crayons work best to write the names on the eggs? My husband just laughs and can't really understand our love for such tradition. But we've managed to do this every year, without fail, for the better part of thirty five years.

No one gets a bigger kick out of it than my PaPa. He positively beams at my kids as they dunk their eggs in each cup to get the perfect color. He's the first to enjoy a cracked egg, always remarking at how it peeled or didn't peel. At 94 he's slowed down a bit. But nothing dampens his love for coloring eggs. And I say to my husband, the look on my grandpa's face as he looks around the table at his family is reason enough to keep up this tradition.

What if...?

How do we end up in the lives we lead?

How was it that I ended up a stay-at-home mother of three?

Do you call it luck, fate, chance or a mix of all of the above? How different is the life you're leading from how you envisioned it as a youth? Are you achieving the goals or dreams you made as a teen or young adult?

My husband and I discussed this the other night. How we met, and why. We laugh at the college choices we made and how we would probably have gone elsewhere had we had a little something called the internet! There is a movie called Sliding Doors. Gweneth Paltrow is the main character. We get to see an alternate life to the life she leads, what could have been had she made other small choices. If I hadn't attended a house warming party one warm July night, I wouldn't have met my husband.

Who knows what choices we make today may change our tomorrows. It's certainly exciting to think about. In a perfect scenario we would live each day without regret, we can't predict the future anyway so we may as well accept it! But it's still fun to think about the "what ifs" sometimes!

Spring cleaning

I can already smell the lemony Pine Sol, the fresh air coming through the open windows. Clean, swept garage, bye bye sand, salt and dirt! Closets cleaned and unused clothes bagged and donated! It's a lot of work to get there, but such a great, freeing feeling after it's done!

But what about spring cleaning for ourselves? I've never given this much thought before, to me this term only evoked feelings of a clean house, a clean personal space. 

The other day, during a yoga class, our instructor discussed spring cleaning for ourselves. What has been weighing us down, what could we shed to clean ourselves up? How much baggage do we carry that isn't worth it? I could think of a few things that I could easily afford to let go. Maybe it's a gradual change, or maybe it will involve a bit more effort to feel the total cleanse. Either way, it's a great analogy for this time of year. I know when a closet is cleaned and organized or a garage cleaned and readied for summer I feel lighter, cleaner somehow. I know the feeling of turning this theory onto myself will feel even better. I decided that that it's never too late to start, so my personal, spring cleaning started already. I'm not expecting drastic changes overnight, but just by making this thought present, the actions will follow. There are several great articles that will help with this task on the Gundersen Lutheran Balance Your 7 website, like mindful meditation, and other ways to de-stress. Now after working on my internal cleaning, it's just about time to tackle the garage. If only sand and dirt were a valuable commodity!

www.balanceyour7.com

Tea time!

I know I have blogged about my love for coffee, and nothing is going to take that away. 

 However, we have just become a teapot family. 

 Silly, I know, but it's a purchase we have long been wanting to make. Yes, wow, we live on the edge! We were exploring a cute area in Madison the other weekend and found a wall of teapots. We grabbed a sassy red one and decided we needed one in our lives. So we got home, took it out of the box, and realized it wasn't sassy or red, it was blue! Blue is my favorite color, looks like we are going with blue! 

Lately we have found ourselves enjoying a nice cup of hot tea before bed, great way to relax and unwind at the end of the day. Sometimes I find myself chilled from being outside in the snow and need something warm but coffee won't do. Tea has so many varieties and flavors, there is always one that will satisfy my taste. Now that I have a fancy new teapot, it whistles to let me know my water is ready. It was very cute when we first tested out the kettle, the kids were so excited to hear it whistle! We realized that they had probably never seen or heard a tea kettle before! I've enjoyed some lemon chiffon tea, and a nice cup of chamomile so far. The blue is growing on me, because so far I find it's whistle very comforting and it's made some wonderful cups of tea! 

 Now coffee is still my go to, but sometimes one thing can't satisfy all my beverage needs. The other great upside are all the health benefits tea has to offer. Tea has cancer fighting agents, can help fight heart disease, and can stimulate mental alertness. Several of the websites I read said there is no downside to tea! So the next time I get chilled from the winter cold, I'm going to do a little whistling in my kitchen, makes me like my little blue kettle even more.

Reasons to love tea...

Tea types and their health benefits

Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow....

There aren't many things I can say I am wonderful at.

I can cook a meal, usually it's edible but it's generally not wonderful. I can run a few miles at a steady clip, but I'm no speed demon.

The one trait that I seem to be particularly good at is procrastinating.

It isn't something one strives to excel at, in fact, you would probably prefer not to have this in your repertoire of excellent traits. From a young child on, I have always tended to procrastinate. I put off today, and sometimes tomorrow, what I can do later. For instance today I have the never ending mound of laundry to do, lunch to make, a dog to walk, myself to get dressed, and I have accomplished none of these!

I work best under pressure, at least that's what I've always told myself! One semester in college I was taking eighteen credits, working twenty hours a week, completing an internship, and received the best grades of my college career. I think putting things off forces me to work in a timetable until the job is done, leaving no room to stop.

So while my day looms largely before me, I see oodles of time to do the things on my ever-growing list. I will accomplish everything, but instead of it being done at a time when I actually have the time to do it, I'll probably cram it all in this afternoon. My stress levels would probably decrease if I worked more efficiently, something my husband loves to remind me of!

I know there are many fellow procrastinators out there, raise your hand if you are one of them! Maybe someday I'll outgrow this, or heaven forbid, it will get worse! No matter, it is the way I am, so I'll have to work with it, whether it's today or maybe just a bit later.

Wet! Wet! And more wet!

If I had to pick a theme for my life from the past week I think I'd keep it simple and call it "WET."

From my constantly wet, dirty floors, to the damp snow pants, hats, mittens, etc.

We get the swim stuff from swimming lessons and swim team, to the constant sneezing happening with all three kids. Then there is the giant dog who resembles a 100-pound woolly mammoth with snowballs instead of paws. He likes to come in from outside and rub all the snow off onto the furniture, so not only are the floors wet, so is the sofa and all of the chairs too!

Wet.

My vehicle is caked in yuck, both inside and out. I'm terrified to clean it, what's the point? I'd just have to wash and repeat again tomorrow! So to combat this, I've taken to looking the other way at my floors, until the end of the day when I can stand it no longer and Swiffer them until they gleam! The sneezing will eventually run its course, and except to totally shave my dog, he's going to continue to enjoy the snow and bring it in for all of us to enjoy too, in one form or another. And I say, "Van Schmann," it looks like everyone else's car right now anyway! That's why they call it spring cleaning right?

So I'll just turn on the fireplace and curl up with a hot cup of something, try to find a relatively dry spot on the couch, and roll with these wet winter punches.

Getting creative at Art 4U

A dear friend recently welcomed her 40th birthday with relatively open arms.

To celebrate she wanted to try something different with a group of friends. We discussed all of the usuals--dinner out, drinks, maybe a cooking class. But we ended up a a wonderful new venue in town called Art 4U. After speaking with Becky, one of the owners, a date and time were booked and we were off.

The seven of us, and our guest of honor arrived on a snowy evening and were ushered into a bright, warm cheerful studio space located in the Doerflinger building. We brought our own food, wine and hot cider to start our evening. After a bit of chatting and lots of laughter, we all sat to begin our lesson. We were told we would all be sketching/painting a still life of an apple.

Ha, clearly Becky had never seen my stick figure drawings before! She assured us that each of us was more than capable of such a feat, and yes, each of us would leave with a finished product that looked like an apple! Becky walked us through the process step by step. There was a lot of nervous laughter and dare I say, fierce concentration going on.

My friend who expressed her doubts the most, ended up with a beautiful finished product, very much to her own delight! Even my very untalented fingers managed to create an apple! Wow, we were all pleasantly pleased with ourselves! If you haven't tried it, I would highly recommend giving Art 4U a whirl. It's a wonderful, different way to spend an evening with friends or a significant other. And who knows, you might just discover you are a Michelangelo or Picasso in the making!

Winter quiet in the north woods

My family and I were fortunate enough to escape for a long weekend to a cabin up near Hayward. It's a beautiful area full of lakes and wilderness.

We try to make a point to go at least once during the summer and once during winter. My husband prefers to go in the dead of winter, and takes great comfort in the quiet and solitude that a cabin in the woods provides. The kids enjoyed exploring the frozen lake, looking down while standing on black ice is pretty intimidating!

My 5-year-old's wish for the weekend was to see the northern lights. So we bundled up late one night, and with only the moonlight to guide us we went out onto the lake and looked up. While we didn't see any sign of the aura borealis, we did get a front row seat to a beautiful sky full of stars. It's so nice to be able to check out from the rat race of everyday life and slow down together.

We even managed to put together a 1000 piece puzzle! I cannot tell you the last time I did a puzzle, and what great pleasure we took to work together to see it through.

It's not everyday that we get to have time to watch a movie in the middle of the day, or just play a board game. You don't need a cabin to do these activities. But there is something a bit magical about getting away, wearing comfy clothes all day, and just taking pleasure in being together doing little things.

Who knows, maybe next time my little girl's wish will come true and we will get to see those northern lights after all.

From a concerned mom and citizen of our planet...

Is anyone else amazed at the strange weather we have been experiencing?

We've had thunder, rain, now it's being followed up by huge amounts of snow and plummeting temperatures.
Parts of the country are experiencing record temperatures and tornadoes. I know it's February but I could have sworn it felt more like October earlier. It's true that global warming is upon us, now what do we do with that knowledge?

I saw in the news how horrible the pollution was in parts of China, sickening thousands and reducing visibility down to a few yards! I worry about what kind of a world we are creating for our children. Will there be more illness, more environmental damage and changes?

I think small changes at home are a great way to contribute, and try to limit more harm. I'm trying to eliminate use of plastic bags and reuse containers. I've tried to stop buying water in plastic bottles, even though they are so convenient! We recycle as best we can, although I know we have room for improvement. I'm not altogether sure what one family can do, but something has to be better than doing nothing.

In the meantime, I've shoveled the driveway twice and filled my car to brace ourselves for the weather ahead. Maybe it's just another normal February, but after living in the midwest my entire life, it sure doesn't feel like it. I know that as a concerned mom and a citizen of our planet, I'm going to make concentrated efforts to try to leave behind a better place for my kids to grow up.

Here's more on global warming...from National Geographic

Use your drishti, keep your focus

Drishti (yoga), a key part of yoga practice and a means for developing concentrated intention, and sense withdrawal.

Use your drishti, keep your focus. I heard this the other morning in my yoga class as I sweated my way through. Drishti is a key part of yoga and a means for developing concentrated intention, or focus. A great thing not only while practicing yoga, but in our everyday life too.

I realized my drishti has wandered these past few weeks. I've been focused on random things, kids, groceries, cleaning my house. But I've let things falter, like the upkeep of this blog. I feel like sometimes I have so much I'd like to say and share, and other times my idea well runs dry. I need to capitalize on my free time and write when inspiration hits. In other words, I need to use more of my drishti.

It is an amazing thing when holding a difficult pose while doing yoga. If you focus on a spot on the wall or floor, you are more apt to stay in the position you want for a longer stretch of time. I tried this over the weekend with surprising results. So, while sitting down to write, I too am using my focus, my drishti. Now I think I need to apply this to more everyday tasks and see that they are held and completed.

The wild adventures of public bathrooms

Ok, I have to confess that as a mom there are few things I dread. Most bodily functions don't bother or upset my stomach too much. I don't like sassy talk or rude actions that my kids may sometimes try to get away with. But one thing that I really detest are public bathrooms.

My children, specifically my youngest, is newly potty trained and stands two plus feet tall (or short) depending on your perspective. She does not know not to touch everything she sees in every bathroom we enter. She is the perfect height to be a bit over eye level of the toilet, and the handle, and anything that may come flying out when flushed! Hugs in a toilet stall are not my favorite, but somehow hugging mommy and gasp, touching mommy's face after just going potty, have happened! Can you say Purel?

My kids are all fascinated by what color and what smell the soap maybe at the sink. At least they like washing their hands! It's also extremely common for them to describe or ask questions in an always loud "toddler" voice, many things you would rather not have all the other stall occupants hear! And inevitably, no matter how much prep and planning we do, most outings result in having to use a public restroom usually requiring  some measure of urgency.

So while I know that this is just a fact of life, and one I manage to try to grin and bear, I don't have to love it.  I don't even have to like it, especially the lovely face grabs by cute, unsanitary hands!

Rooting for Miss Wisconsin

This coming weekend is a big one in a lot of Wisconsin households. After all, our beloved Packers are playing a huge playoff game, lose and they go home, win and they move on!

Our household, and many others also have a duel reason to watch TV on Saturday night. It is the Miss America pageant. I know there are several groans when reading this, and some may also be delighted, all depends on what you enjoy. But our local area has a real reason to be excited, as Kate Gorman, a local Onalaska native, is representing the state of Wisconsin as Miss Wisconsin. She also happens to be a dear family friend and former babysitter to my kids.

How many of you can say that you had Miss Wisconsin as a babysitter? Pretty cool right? She also happens to be an extremely poised, talented, beautiful and genuinely nice woman. We know personally how very hard she has worked to make it to be crowned Miss Wisconsin, how hard she has worked this past year as Miss Wisconsin, and what an effort she is making to be Miss America.

She has a wonderful platform of combating childhood hunger with healthy foods, a very useful and meaningful thing that she has worked hard to promote in the Coulee Region. We have seen her out and about in town, my girls think she is walking, talking princess. She always takes the time to chat and hug the kids. So while your focus maybe more green and gold this weekend, don't forget to think ball gowns and crowns either!

Give Kate Gorman a shout out and may she bring home the Miss America title to our neck of the woods.  She is a person we can be proud is representing our state!

Learning to ski

I learned one thing over the past few days, you are never to old to learn! I set out to try cross country skiing, specifically skate skiing for the very first time.

It was a very humbling experience, but one I really found myself enjoying after the first ten or fifteen minutes!  Although it does require a bit of ability, it is mainly technique driven, the better the technique, the better the skier.

I am fortunate enough to know someone about to set out to do his twenty fifth Birkebeiner. He agreed to meet me and give me my first lesson at the lovely Hixon Forest.

What a beautiful place, and such a fantastic asset to this city. There were a handful of other skiers out that day, all of varying ability, all much better than me!

While I skied, my husband had the kids on sleds trying out a few of the sledding hills. It was a perfect way to spend some time outdoors and try to enjoy all the beauty that winter has to offer. It sure is a great mood booster to be outside and breathing the crisp air, and one huge plus to keep in mind NO BUGS! Better yet, it's much easier to justify the hot chocolate with extra marshmallows when you are done!

The winter blues

Well the winter season is in full swing.

My kids have embraced it, me, not as much. I need to be a bit more excited about the white stuff and the plummeting temperatures. I don't feel like I get the winter "blues" but let's just say it isn't my favorite season.

I've gone sledding with the kids a few times, and yes, we had a great time. We have made it to the ski hill once, and I've looked at my snowshoes, but I'm not sure that quite counts! I've made several kinds of soups and even baked cookies. But I think it's the hassles of dressing, and weather preparations. It's the constant cleaning of a wet kitchen floor from puppy feet, all four of them!

I do love it when we are all snuggled inside with a fire going and it's cold outside. So cozy! I love the clothes of winter, an old pair of jeans and a nice sweater. I've even taken to wearing long underwear on occasion! Don't tell anyone.

My dog loves winter, he sits on the snow and looks as happy as a dog can. I guess being a native of the area, I knew what living here was like all year round, so I only have myself to blame. I do love the four seasons, and not so sure I'd want to give that up. But if I had my choice, winter would last a month or two and then jump straight to spring. I would not complain, unless the mosquitoes came too. I guess that's another thing to be thankful for this time of year.

For more information on battling winter blues check out balanceyour7.com.

A new year and a clean beginning

A new year is upon us.

With it comes new possibilities, new goals, a blank slate. What will you do this year? Will you try to set a resolution or two and work to complete it? Or do you turn the calendar and it's just another day?

I've never really been a resolution maker, nothing concrete anyway. I do like the feeling of a new year, and a clean beginning. There are things that I wanted to try or accomplish that maybe I never completed in the past. French lessons? Well counting to ten is all I've managed so far, I think I have quite a way to go!

I am trying to focus on being a more patient parent. Especially following in the wake of the Connecticut tragedy, I am focusing on my children and how I interact with them. I'm trying not to take things for granted as much as I know I did before. This is much easier said than done, and some days are far more difficult than others. I returned to the gym and it was packed with all the new resolution members. But I give them credit and hope they stick with it! Whatever your new year brings, I'm trying to look to the future with a positive, I-can-do attitude.

Only time will tell what tomorrow will bring, but then again, it is only January!