Balancing my mind...

One of the seven areas of the Balance Your Seven is mind.

Stimulating your mind by challenging yourself to try something new, stay up to date on current events, take a class or listen to new music.

I find this very challenging to fit in during the week. I was the kind of person who loved school, I enjoyed learning and being with friends. I do read and I enjoy music, even if it sometimes involves animated voices! I would enjoy trying to fit in a new class, but how does one try to squeeze this in between two different soccer practices, dance, piano lessons? Just sitting down and finding the time to blog with kids and schedules becomes a major challenge.

However, I have truly enjoyed blogging, engaging the "adult" part of my brain. I think about various things to write about, and do a bit of research before sitting down, or in this case, standing, to type it. I have followed up on my desire to learn French by purchasing a set of cds to listen to in the car. Even our kids have joined in!

Overall I know that my children and their schedules do dominate our day to day, but I keep hoping to find a way to keep squeezing in ways to keep my mind healthy and add to my overall sense of balance.

Kids in charge!

Amid the whining and protesting I have been hearing lately from my kids, "I don't need a bath...I'm NOT doing my homework...she started it...he started it...I hate vegetables," I had a thought. What if kids were in charge?

There would be whipped cream and Fruity Pebbles every morning for breakfast. Heck, there would be no breakfast.

Bedtime wouldn't be a word in anyone's vocabulary, neither would bath time or time outs, or any measure of time.

Pajamas would be the dress of the day and the same ones would probably be worn multiple days in a row. Hairbrushes would never be applied to one's head, nor would a toothbrush to anyone's teeth. The world would be fun and fun would be for everyone. Kickball and baseball would be played in the street again, and forts would dominate in every living room. Sure we might not be as hygienic as before, or very well rested but wouldn't that be a great tradeoff to be able to play tag until AFTER dark? There would be no winners or losers, everyone would get to play.

I guess I'm not quite ready to hand the reins over to my children, but some days, when the whining has reached its peak, I sure am tempted!

If I were in charge of the world...

Happy Oktoberfest!

This week marks the start of a huge local tradition known as Octoberfest.

Having only lived in the area for the past two years we are not "festers" like so many others who live in town. I love the history and festiveness it brings to the area. It is fun that there are so many options to choose from.

For the first time this year we will be bringing our kids to the Maple Leaf Parade. I love parades, seeing everyone in costume, hearing and seeing the marching bands so close they give you goosebumps!

Then, of course, let's not forget the candy! Who doesn't get caught up in the excitement of dashing into the street to grab that runaway Tootsie Roll? It's been awhile since I have been to a parade, but my kids had better watch out! I'm going to give them a run for their money! Maybe this isn't your thing and you want to attend the tapping of the Golden Keg, or participate in a run. It's a great time to be from such a wonderful community. With the fall season in full swing, I hope you are able to get out and enjoy all there is to offer just around the corner.

Happy Oktoberfest. Click here to learn more!

Reading, book club, and friends...

There are a few things I do in life to try to keep myself sane.

One has always been reading. Last fall I started a book club with a lovely group of ladies. We have been trying to meet every four to six weeks to discuss whatever book we had chosen the meeting before.

This is a group of ladies who did not know one another. We have varied backgrounds but are all at similar stages in life. We get along swimmingly to say the least. I am so excited to meet this week! We had to take a bit of a hiatus do to all of our summer schedules.

A book club is a wonderful way to explore books you wouldn't otherwise pick up and read, let alone discuss. We have had some fantastic discussions, and with each get together I always walk away with a smile and a new tidbit of knowledge I didn't have prior.

It doesn't take a formal book club or get together to expand your literature horizons. There are many online possibilities and book lists if you find yourself at a loss. I know several friends who are even in a couples book club. For now I think I'll stick to just my girl friends, although I have caught my husband interested in more than one of our selections. I have to say, I highly recommend it and it has proven to be one of my favorite girls night out!!

Happy reading everyone.

bookmovement.com

10 years together...

This week my husband an I celebrate our tenth wedding anniversary.

We have lived through many obstacles, two career changes, the birth of three children, two dogs, five moves, a bit of weight change, some ups and downs.

I feel that we have helped each other grow into the people, parents of three, that we are today.

Times have not always been smooth, and if asked we would both admit it certainly hasn't always been easy.

Through it all we have tried to maintain a sense of humor. We both have realized each others' strengths and tried to boost up our weaknesses. Trying to find life and work balance is our biggest challenge.

We don't live in a fairytale, but we realize how blessed we truly are. We met on a fluke, at a party, dated long distance for two-and-a-half years and then were married.

You could say the rest is history, but that's in the past and I'm busy looking forward to the future!

Our spiritual journey leads to a church home

I know I have blogged about our family and it's spiritual quest to find a church that fit. Well we have joined a local church and have enrolled the kids into its Sunday school program.

So far, so good.

While I have stayed home with our youngest, our two older kids really loved going to school with some of their fellow school mates. Our 5-year-old's biggest complaint was that it wasn't long enough! I think we can take this as a good sign.

But more than the social pluses we are seeing, we have joined a very welcoming community, which, in turn, has helped our spirituality grow. I'll be the first to admit that I won't be attending every Sunday, but I don't feel like I need that. Yet for others this is an essential part of their every day or every week.

However you find yourself spiritually, it took our family quite some time to find a place that suited our needs and gave us a sense of comfort. It was worth it, and I hope we continue to grow together and keep learning from this experience.

It's time for soup!

Today's weather--cold gray and rainy is screaming out for soup!

So I have transformed my kitchen into soup-making central.

It smells wonderful and makes me cozy just thinking about a warm bowl of soup for dinner. On today's menu is a curry butternut squash, using a few local squash as the base. I think next I will make a huge pot of chili, Alabama Chili to be specific, and freeze a big batch for future Packer games! The list is endless and its such a fun way to use fresh ingredients and experiment a bit.

Years ago my husband and I were given a cookbook called "Chili Nation." We have tried about a quarter of the recipes and are working our way through the book. What a fun way to try a new recipe, especially when the weather turns chilly. Another way I cheat a bit in the kitchen is to utilize my crockpot. I love leaving for the day and coming home to a warm meal already prepared!

Whatever your tastes may be, stew, soup, chili--enjoy!


Fall Soups
Seriously Soupy

Go Pack Go!

It's time to dust off your green and gold, for Packer season has arrived!

In Wisconsin we have winter, spring, summer, fall and Packer season!

I too happen to be a huge cheesehead and a staunch supporter of the green and gold. My aunt and uncle live near Lambeau Field and as a kid we would go watch the players practice, get some autographs and if you were really lucky one of the guys would ride your bike over to the field with you running along side!

Now my husband and I are lucky if we can manage to watch half of the game without screaming kids or constant commotion. I have friends who record it just so they are able to watch the entire thing in peace! However and whomever you choose to support, it makes for a great time of year and is certainly one of our most exciting seasons!

Go Pack go!

From Trash to Treasure

That's my motto for the next few days as myself and a few friends prepare for a garage sale.

I vowed never to have another sale, as I found the amount of work almost not worth it.

First comes organizing what you want to sell vs donate and keep. Next comes the dreaded task of marking and organizing everything to be displayed for sale. And then it's trying to transform your garage into a temporary Bloomingdales for a few days.

Right.

Now do that with three other women and all of their stuff! Luckily I am not hosting this time, that task fell to a much more daring, organized friend! After all of the hard work, and hopefully some spending money earned in the end, it is such a satisfying feeling to purge ourselves of the unwanted and unused items we have in our home. Way too many of these items, I might add.

I found it a bit shameful the sheer amount of stuff we have managed to accumulate. This is something I need to remind myself of the next time I stroll through Target or shop the internet! So if you find yourself in need of some wonderful treasures, tell all of your friends and bring your cash to our incredible Bloomingdales, coming temporarily to a neighborhood near you!


Click here for information on how to hold a profitable garage sale!

School lunch ideas for a fussy eater

We have successfully launched the 2012-2013 school year.

My kids have done remarkably well, going to bed at a reasonable time and waking up without much a fight in the morning! I think they were needing routine and structure as much as I was!

With the school year underway the lunchtime debate is back in full swing. My son has morphed into a fussy eater. I think it happened sometime during the terrible twos, and we are slowly trying to get him to expand his palate. Baby steps.

So with a child who refuses to eat meat on a sandwich, dislikes most school choices, I have made more than my fair share of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. But I have already been told that he wants something "different" for his lunches. I really can't blame him!

I am trying to be more creative and still give him a relatively healthy lunch. I will take input at anytime from those of you in readerland. I try soup in a thermos, chili, cheese and crackers, mini pizzas on a bagel, boxes of cereal that can be eaten with his milk. We make Nutella sandwiches, to shake up the peanut butter once in a while.

I guess I rely on the philosophy that he'll eat when he's hungry and he may just discover that he actually enjoys beans and cauliflower. I can always dream.

I did and do look at websites often to try to find some inspiration for school lunches. The link below is just one of many, so if you find you are at all like me, don't despair. There are a lot of resources out there to help!


Click here for some brown bag lunch ideas...

Steppin' Out In Pink

Last Saturday was the Steppin' Out In Pink walk at Gundersen Lutheran. I am happy to say that our entire family walked.

It was even our daughter's birthday, but what a great way to celebrate!

Our family has been affected by two people very close to us, who won their battle with breast cancer. One happens to be my mother-in-law. The other is a very dear friend and a mother of two young girls.

What a terrifying diagnosis, but we will walk to honor the successful fight they and so many others have fought. This was a great community event and I was excited to participate for the first time!

It helps generate awareness and donations for future women and hopefully find a cure. So thanks to everyone who put on their best shade of pink, some comfortable walking shoes and joined us as we celebrated some courageous women and their loved ones!

Fueling a fire

Well, we survived our recent TRI like a Mother!!

It was a beautiful weekend and the course we competed on was fantastic! It was all set on the shores of a lake, with a relatively flat landscape. I found myself rather excited to compete and not nearly as nervous as I had anticipated I would be.

I have to say I ran my little heart out, and at about mile two that statement felt literal! It was a rather humbling experience, being passed by others who had just completed both the swim and the biking portion, and practically flew by me on the run. It did fuel a fire that I didn't know I had and has sparked an interest in competing in all the events next year.

I was happy I found my competitive self, she had been asleep for quite awhile! I think completing a race like this gives you a specific purpose and clear goals to shoot for during your exercise routines. I will never strive to compete in an Ironman, although I admire those athletes even more after a competition like this. I think the moral of this story that I "ran" away with is challenge yourself. You never know what you might find, and chances are you will be pleasantly surprised.

Gratitude for girlfriends

I have many things that I am grateful for, one of which are my dear girlfriends.

There is nothing more special than a long conversation with a special friend. Girlfriends tend to understand us in a way unlike any other, except maybe a sister. They tend to hold that ability to be brutally honest when you need it most. They can listen with an understanding ear, and give that cherished advice that you were looking for.

I am lucky enough to have several ladies I can count on in any situation. We commiserate about our kids, our lives. Last week was a challenging one in our house. I called a friend on more than one occasion and she listened and gave that golden advice that I was seeking. It's better than any bandaid and I am so grateful for her.

Today if you are so fortunate to have a girlfriend who holds a special place in your heart, thank her for all she does and all that she means to you. They are a special gift that I will always cherish.

I try daily to learn from her...

She's one of the most generous and thoughtful people I know.

She's constantly putting others before herself. A great listener? Yes. A hard worker? Yes. She has a great sense of humor, and she has one of the best laughs around. She's always up for adventure or trying new things, and her spirit is very catchy. I admire how she learns new things and is patient with others who are learning as well. She sets lofty goals for herself, sometimes achieving them, sometimes not, but always they are tackled with a smile. There is so much she can teach me, and much of her personality is enviable.

I try daily to learn from her, I have a long way to go.

SHE happens to be my 4-year-old daughter.

I don't know how we got so lucky, but I know I will forever be in awe of her. I hope she will forever be the person she is today, and I hope one day to grow to be half of the person she is every day.