EVERYTHING
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“One night, my 3-year-old asked me if she could sleep in my bed. I told her no. She said, “That’s not fair! Why does Daddy get to sleep in your bed?” READ MORE
SmartMom
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IT'S EASY TO GET GREEN Carbon credits, global warming, hydrogen power - oh my! This eco-friendly vocabulary has become commonplace in our daily lives today. Yet it can often be confusing and overwhelming, leaving many of us wondering how one family can interpret it all and really make a difference. Well, if you're looking for a starting point, here are five ideas courtesy of lighterfootstep.com that you can easily integrate into your life today. Even if they're baby steps, it's well worth a try. Make the switch to compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs). They're more expensive at purchase, but will save $30 in energy costs over the course of its life. Monitor your thermostat. Take the Two Degree Pledge - up two degrees in the warmer months and down two degrees when it's cold from your typical setting. Unplug idle appliances and electronic devices. Don't just turn something off: unplug it. The average household can save up to several hundred dollars a year just by pulling the plug on silent energy vampires. Buy local; buy in season. Buying regionally produced food saves the energy costs associated with shipping bulk produce and it keeps a portion of your grocery money close to where you live. Clean or replace your air conditioning filter. An air conditioner with a clogged filter has to work harder, which means higher power bills and the creation of more greenhouse emissions. Running clean, you can save up to $150 each year LOOKING AND FEELING YOUR BEST Deep breathing is a great way to de-stress. It actually changes your brain's chemical balance to calm you down and the effects are reflected in your facial expressions as well, making you look the part of a calm, serene mommy. Here's how to do it: [1] Lie down or sit on the floor or in a chair. [2] Rest your hands on your stomach. [3] Slowly count to four and inhale through your nose. Feel your stomach rise. Hold it for a second. [4] Slowly count to four while you exhale through your mouth. To control how fast you exhale, purse your lips like you're going to whistle. Your stomach will slowly fall. [5] Repeat several times. FINDING TIME FOR YOUR GAL PALS Do you remember your best friend from seventh grade? While they may not have the same teen-laden angst or giddy exuberance, our friendships today are no less vital to our existence. However, now that we have become mothers, we don't have nearly the time to spend on nurturing those friendships. Research has found that when we have children, we drastically reduce the amount of time we spend with our friends - barely five hours each week, down from 14 hours a week, pre-baby. Think back to the last time you had a real conversation with a good friend. If you're like most moms, it's been awhile. Here are some ways to find that sacred space on your calendar and carve out time for your girlfriends. Morning coffee: Meet for coffee early in the morning before work, before your little ones are even awake and before the rest of the day can get in the way and cause you to postpone. Bring back Happy Hour: Meet up with your friends or a different friend each Friday for an hour to catch up. Girls' night: You don't have to meet to discuss a book or play card games...get together just for the sake of seeing each other. Trade houses and make it a potluck or bring snacks. Work it out: Walk together several nights a week, or sign up for a yoga class with a pal. Pick up the phone: Call a friend even if it's just for a few minutes to let her know you're thinking about her and wondering how things are going in her life. Email: Drop a line while you're online paying bills. It's quick, ultra convenient and a great way to stay in touch between personal visits. SMARTMOM SOLUTION The long, lazy days of summer are upon us and that means more time spent outside in the sand, dirt and mud and more kinds of footwear in use from sandals to baseball cleats. To keep your kids from tracking the remnants of the outdoors in and to help each child distinguish their own shoes, consider creating "shoe hampers" for the garage. Place a plastic laundry hamper for each child along a wall of the garage and label with each child's name. Get your kids in the habit of taking off their sandals and tennis shoes and placing them inside their own bin. The sand, dirt and grass clippings will settle to the bottom and you can easily spray out the hamper (and any really muddy shoes) with a hose. And getting to practice or the beach will be a whole lot easier! |
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