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Showing posts with label fashion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fashion. Show all posts
Tuesday, 16 July 2013
Modest is Hottest?
I heard that phrase at least a million times as I was growing up. Honestly, hearing it always irked me a little bit, but I didn't know exactly why. I think this article sums it up beautifully.
Tuesday, 9 July 2013
Friday, 28 June 2013
Mom's Body Image
Here is a beautiful article I found through my dear sister, Natalie.
My favorite passage from the article:
Let us honor and respect our bodies for what they do instead of despising them for how they appear. Focus on living healthy and active lives, let our weight fall where it may, and consign our body hatred in the past where it belongs. When I looked at that photo of you in the white bathing suit all those years ago, my innocent young eyes saw the truth. I saw unconditional love, beauty, and wisdom. I saw my Mom.
I believe we are all prone to be critical of our bodies, especially as we sacrifice them time and time again for the well-being of our children. What starts out as a noble sacrifice turns in to self-loathing as we persist in noticing all the "wrong" about our bodies. I wish there was an easier answer to the problem of women's bad body image. I guess the best answer for me is that we can choose to love ourselves a little bit better every day.
(For the record, my mom did a marvelous job of showing me the worth of women regardless of outer appearances!)
My favorite passage from the article:
Let us honor and respect our bodies for what they do instead of despising them for how they appear. Focus on living healthy and active lives, let our weight fall where it may, and consign our body hatred in the past where it belongs. When I looked at that photo of you in the white bathing suit all those years ago, my innocent young eyes saw the truth. I saw unconditional love, beauty, and wisdom. I saw my Mom.
I believe we are all prone to be critical of our bodies, especially as we sacrifice them time and time again for the well-being of our children. What starts out as a noble sacrifice turns in to self-loathing as we persist in noticing all the "wrong" about our bodies. I wish there was an easier answer to the problem of women's bad body image. I guess the best answer for me is that we can choose to love ourselves a little bit better every day.
(For the record, my mom did a marvelous job of showing me the worth of women regardless of outer appearances!)
Monday, 30 July 2012
From the Editor
Hi friends! You already know what my top two favorite tricks are (take a look at the title of the blog) but I have a few more up my sleeve. Here it goes!
entertaining toddlers:
- Rescue Pack -- Before my second daughter was born, I made a "rescue pack" of fun activities for my toddler to play with to give me some time to focus on my new baby. It has bubbles, playdough, markers, craft sticks, paints, stickers and paper. It has been very helpful, especially when other kids come over.
- Sing & Dance movies and educational movies -- I know what experts say... no TV under the age of 2 and only half an hour a week after (or something like that). But I have a hard time saying no to a movie if it helps my daughter learn the alphabet or if she's singing and dancing the whole time the TV is on. Obviously she isn't just vegging in front of the TV. She's learning something, and I'm getting something done, so it's worth it to me. Our favorites are The Wiggles and Brainy Baby. Now we have several songs and dances we like to do together!
- Cheap works-almost-every-time outdoor toys -- sand/water table with bubbles. Spray bottle. Pink broom/dust bin. Sidewalk chalk. Watering pail. My mom used to tell me to go "paint the sidewalk" and it always did the trick!
- When (before) all else fails, play with your toddler! -- I have found that when I play with Eva for awhile, she loves it, then she gets tired of me, and then she wants to play by herself. Cooking and cleaning can usually wait for awhile, and it's worth it when she finally decides to play by herself. Plus, I always feel better about myself and my relationships when I spend some quality one-on-one time with my little girls, even if I'm in the middle of making dinner.
new baby:
- portable bouncer -- best $12 we ever spent! It's so nice to be able to put the baby down in a safe, comfortable seat at a moment's notice, especially when there is another baby running around the house who often needs immediate attention. We use the bouncer all the time. Ours has a vibrating option and some hanging toys that the baby loves. Sometimes it's the only place I can put her down where she will actually stay asleep.
- find a pacifier that works -- if at first you don't succeed, try try again.
mommy rejuvination:
- If you can, make one room in the house completely off limits -- It's so nice to have a place that you don't have to worry about child proofing. Use a child proof door knob and a baby gate if necessary. I use both. My bedroom is my sanctuary because it actually stays as clean or as messy as I want it.
- Give yourself some time at the start of the day -- Even if it's just 5 minutes. I like to make the bed, put on clothes, brush my hair, and wash my face before I go get the kids out of bed. I'm less likely to be impatient with my kids because I'm not preoccupied with getting away to take care of myself.
fashion:
- French braids :)
what to do when you're at the end of you're rope:
- As a very wise person once told me (or rather, my very wise mother often tells me), "learn to fuzz your brain". I think it's her way of saying be OK with letting go of control and stress for awhile. Just ignore it. Honestly, I didn't understand "fuzz your brain" when she first told me many years ago. But now that I'm a mom, it is some of the best advice she has ever given me.
- Remember that someday the kids will grow up, and you will look back on these days with fondness. Here is what Thomas S. Monson has to say on this topic:
battling the blues:
- take a long bath
- eat a hamburger and a big side of vegetables (red meat has iron and veggies are great anti-inflamatory foods -- great for an energy boost and feeling good about yourself) or a big green smoothie with spinach, orange juice and your favorite frozen fruits.
- take a nap in the sun, or go for a walk (alone) and sit on a sunny bench for awhile.
entertaining toddlers:
- Rescue Pack -- Before my second daughter was born, I made a "rescue pack" of fun activities for my toddler to play with to give me some time to focus on my new baby. It has bubbles, playdough, markers, craft sticks, paints, stickers and paper. It has been very helpful, especially when other kids come over.
- Sing & Dance movies and educational movies -- I know what experts say... no TV under the age of 2 and only half an hour a week after (or something like that). But I have a hard time saying no to a movie if it helps my daughter learn the alphabet or if she's singing and dancing the whole time the TV is on. Obviously she isn't just vegging in front of the TV. She's learning something, and I'm getting something done, so it's worth it to me. Our favorites are The Wiggles and Brainy Baby. Now we have several songs and dances we like to do together!
- Cheap works-almost-every-time outdoor toys -- sand/water table with bubbles. Spray bottle. Pink broom/dust bin. Sidewalk chalk. Watering pail. My mom used to tell me to go "paint the sidewalk" and it always did the trick!
- When (before) all else fails, play with your toddler! -- I have found that when I play with Eva for awhile, she loves it, then she gets tired of me, and then she wants to play by herself. Cooking and cleaning can usually wait for awhile, and it's worth it when she finally decides to play by herself. Plus, I always feel better about myself and my relationships when I spend some quality one-on-one time with my little girls, even if I'm in the middle of making dinner.
new baby:
- portable bouncer -- best $12 we ever spent! It's so nice to be able to put the baby down in a safe, comfortable seat at a moment's notice, especially when there is another baby running around the house who often needs immediate attention. We use the bouncer all the time. Ours has a vibrating option and some hanging toys that the baby loves. Sometimes it's the only place I can put her down where she will actually stay asleep.
- find a pacifier that works -- if at first you don't succeed, try try again.
mommy rejuvination:
- If you can, make one room in the house completely off limits -- It's so nice to have a place that you don't have to worry about child proofing. Use a child proof door knob and a baby gate if necessary. I use both. My bedroom is my sanctuary because it actually stays as clean or as messy as I want it.
- Give yourself some time at the start of the day -- Even if it's just 5 minutes. I like to make the bed, put on clothes, brush my hair, and wash my face before I go get the kids out of bed. I'm less likely to be impatient with my kids because I'm not preoccupied with getting away to take care of myself.
fashion:
- French braids :)
- Knit tops that don't require an under shirt + a flowy, knee-length skirt -- It's always a cute combination! This makes it easy to stay cool on a hot summer day, and that by itself makes me a nicer mom. It's also easy to pick an outfit, nurse a baby, and change clothes in case of a mess.
- Long skirts for church -- Thankfully, they're back in style! Long skirts means you don't have to shave your legs or wear pantyhose. Hallelujah!
what to do when you're at the end of you're rope:
- As a very wise person once told me (or rather, my very wise mother often tells me), "learn to fuzz your brain". I think it's her way of saying be OK with letting go of control and stress for awhile. Just ignore it. Honestly, I didn't understand "fuzz your brain" when she first told me many years ago. But now that I'm a mom, it is some of the best advice she has ever given me.
- Remember that someday the kids will grow up, and you will look back on these days with fondness. Here is what Thomas S. Monson has to say on this topic:
"If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disappear all too soon and that you will—to your surprise—miss them profoundly.
Stresses in our lives come regardless of our circumstances. We must deal with them the best we can. But we should not let them get in the way of what is most important—and what is most important almost always involves the people around us. Often we assume that they must know how much we love them. But we should never assume; we should let them know. Wrote William Shakespeare, “They do not love that do not show their love.” 3 We will never regret the kind words spoken or the affection shown. Rather, our regrets will come if such things are omitted from our relationships with those who mean the most to us." - Thomas S. Monson, Finding Joy in the Journey, October 2008 General Conference
battling the blues:
- take a long bath
- eat a hamburger and a big side of vegetables (red meat has iron and veggies are great anti-inflamatory foods -- great for an energy boost and feeling good about yourself) or a big green smoothie with spinach, orange juice and your favorite frozen fruits.
- take a nap in the sun, or go for a walk (alone) and sit on a sunny bench for awhile.
Monday, 9 July 2012
Kellie
I love Kellie. She has two lovely sons, a busy accountant husband, a new nursing degree (woohoo!! congrats!) and a beautiful countenance. She's the kind of person that makes you smile just by thinking about her. That's the kind of person I want to be! In fact, we like their family so much that we decided to swap children if they end up having another boy and we end up having another girl. Perfect perfect! (just kidding... kind of. Her boys are really cute!!) I literally laughed out loud at some of her tricks, because they are exactly the kinds of things I need to "let go" a bit. I especially like her french braid trick at the end ;) Enjoy!
-As much as I look up to your sister, Jane, for getting up early in the morning to exercise--I just prefer my sleep! I'm a much better mama after getting a good night's sleep--and I'm not the type to go to bed early either! So tip #1--get a restful night of sleep! Your kiddos will thank you! Confession: My boys are often up before I finally drag myself outta bed--we've taught them to read quietly or watch a show until mama is ready to get up!
-Speaking of exercise, I need it. Bad! Not only does it release those fantastic endorphins that can salvage a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day--it offers me a few hours of precious "me" time without feeling guilty because I know the boys are having a swell time in the child care center. If you don't have a gym membership or a place that offers child care, I highly recommend it! It has saved my sanity! Plus the "You have two children?!" comments, that totally boost my self-confidence, are an added bonus!
-Secret stash. Something for you and something for the kids. "Boys it's nap/quiet time" is code for "mama needs to eat some cookies that you boys will never know existed." (See my reason for needing exercise?!) A fun little stash for the boys is always a huge hit. It's not necessarily something sweet all the time, but something that they think is just for them.
-One of my biggest secrets I can't claim, because it was my awesome husb who started it. Anyway, from the time they were old enough to sass me, instead of him saying, "Don't talk to your mother like that" he says, "don't talk to my wife like that." Not too long ago, Ethan talked back to me and I overheard Teigan say, "Ethan, that is daddy's wife! He will be upset if mom tells him!" Haha! I especially think this is important to teach your sons, but obviously daughters need to hear this, too!
-M&M's. I don't discriminate which kind. Any and all. They make me nice.
- Because my boys are older, I keep cut up fruit, yogurt, cheese sticks and nuts in the fridge conveniently located at their height. They love the indepence of being able to grab themselves a quick snack, and it saves me the time of having to do it "right this minute."
-Speaking of exercise, I need it. Bad! Not only does it release those fantastic endorphins that can salvage a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day--it offers me a few hours of precious "me" time without feeling guilty because I know the boys are having a swell time in the child care center. If you don't have a gym membership or a place that offers child care, I highly recommend it! It has saved my sanity! Plus the "You have two children?!" comments, that totally boost my self-confidence, are an added bonus!
-Secret stash. Something for you and something for the kids. "Boys it's nap/quiet time" is code for "mama needs to eat some cookies that you boys will never know existed." (See my reason for needing exercise?!) A fun little stash for the boys is always a huge hit. It's not necessarily something sweet all the time, but something that they think is just for them.
-One of my biggest secrets I can't claim, because it was my awesome husb who started it. Anyway, from the time they were old enough to sass me, instead of him saying, "Don't talk to your mother like that" he says, "don't talk to my wife like that." Not too long ago, Ethan talked back to me and I overheard Teigan say, "Ethan, that is daddy's wife! He will be upset if mom tells him!" Haha! I especially think this is important to teach your sons, but obviously daughters need to hear this, too!
-M&M's. I don't discriminate which kind. Any and all. They make me nice.
- Because my boys are older, I keep cut up fruit, yogurt, cheese sticks and nuts in the fridge conveniently located at their height. They love the indepence of being able to grab themselves a quick snack, and it saves me the time of having to do it "right this minute."
-Never underestimate the power of movie time and popcorn with your littles! When I can tell it's just gonna be one of those days, I pop up some popcorn, lay out a blanket in the living room, let the boys pick a movie and life is suddenly back on track :)
-Like other moms have said, WEAR YOUR CHILDREN OUT during the day! Makes bedtime a breeze!
-Let your kids DO things! There have been so many times it would be easier/faster to do myself--but seeing the look on E's face after cracking an egg (even if I have to pick out eggshells from the batter!) is priceless. And hey, they have to learn those things at some point anyway. Plus, then they learn how to work. My boys have been cleaning toilets and dust busting since they were 2 and they love to help me "clean." This is one of my FAVORITE tips!
-For a cute look in ZERO time, french braid your hair while wet the night before. Take it out in the morning for fabulous waves! (make sure hair is mostly dry before undoing).
-One more awesome tip: my boys take turns each night cleaning their bathroom. It just so happens one was born on an odd day and the other an even day so if it's an even day it's Teig's turn and Ethan gets odd days (bummer for Ethan on those 31st to 1st months :)) anyway, I keep Clorox wipes and mr clean mirror wipes under their sink and every night before bed they have to clean their own bathroom. I can't even remember the last time I cleaned their bathroom and it always looks spotless! And one less bathroom to clean is sure a time saver!
-One more awesome tip: my boys take turns each night cleaning their bathroom. It just so happens one was born on an odd day and the other an even day so if it's an even day it's Teig's turn and Ethan gets odd days (bummer for Ethan on those 31st to 1st months :)) anyway, I keep Clorox wipes and mr clean mirror wipes under their sink and every night before bed they have to clean their own bathroom. I can't even remember the last time I cleaned their bathroom and it always looks spotless! And one less bathroom to clean is sure a time saver!
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