Thursday, May 19, 2011

Words of Wisdom

Ladies, this is going to be a short but powerful blog.  Here are some great words to live by:

Learn from the past
Laugh at the present
Live for the future

If you can pull it off, everything else will fall into place!

Friday, May 6, 2011

Passing on a Little Encouragement

I know, I know...it's been awhile since the last time I've blogged.  Between work, kids, relationship, friendships, and everyday routine, it's easy to put yourself and your interests last.  But I'm determined to blog once a week...it makes me happy, and I hope it helps someone out there from time to time!

Getting to the big point I want to make today...Let's face it ladies, we do ourselves (and everyone else around us) some good when we treat ourselves better.  It amazes me that we can get so down on ourselves.  We criticize our weight, our finances, our decisions, but is this the way we would talk to our friends?  No, probably not.  Truth be told, most of us would probably NEVER say such discouraging and negative things to our friends.  Then why not treat yourself like you would treat a good friend?  Be positive about yourself.  Encourage yourself and be more confident!  It's a GOOD thing!  And for those times when we fall a little short, always remember this:  We all fall sometimes, but if you fall 7 times, get up 8 times!  You'll thank yourself!

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

No More Diet Deprivation

It's been my experience that the biggest downfall to dieting is depriving myself of foods I love.  It's amazing that when I realize I can't have a certain food, I seem to want it even more, and I obsess over NOT being able to have it!  Here's the trick...let yourself have a small splurge everyday.

Allow yourself one treat, whether it's a piece of chocolate or a small order of fries or whatever your Achilles Heel might be.  Knowing that you can have one treat per day keeps you from feeling deprived and helps you to keep on track the rest of the day.  You know it won't be the end of the world because you can have a small treat again tomorrow!  If you deprive yourself, you tend to overdo it when you finally have a taste of the foods you love so much (that don't necessarily love you back).  Everything in moderation, right?

Be mindful of serving sizes and make sure you counteract your treat with the appropriate amount of exercise to balance out.  Better to have a small treat everyday than to go all out and REALLY set yourself back by overindulging!  Think of it this way, it's easier to work off 2 pieces of chocolate than to try to work off a whole box because you've felt deprived!

Thursday, February 10, 2011

The Beauty of Multi-Tasking

As women, we are always doing 10 things at once, right?  Well, as much as most of us don't enjoy housework, why not put a positive spin on it?  Keep in mind as you're cleaning your house, you're burning calories, so you're knocking two birds out with one stone!  A workout and a clean house!  It's a win-win situation!

According to www.fitday.com, the average sized woman burns about 86 calories per hour with doing light housework.  Now, if you straightened up every day, that adds up!  In the end, we can all be happier, fitter, and organized!

So when you have one of those days where you don't feel like working out, disguise it!  Or vice versa if you don't feel like cleaning up!  You'll be glad you did!

Friday, February 4, 2011

I'm Becoming My Mom!

It's funny that as kids, we all start off thinking that we're not going to be like our parents, but I find as I get older, I become more and more like them, particularly, my mother.  I find myself saying things that I remember her saying and reacting in similar manners.  It used to drive me crazy when my mom would say things like, "When you have kids, you'll understand."  The time has come...I understand.  

I understand that my parents took great care of me.  I understand that my parents wanted the best for me.  I understand that they didn't enjoy punishing me (even though I thought that as a child!).  They did the things they did for me so that I would grow up to be a caring, thoughtful, and productive individual.  They loved me enough to be great parents.  

I've had several jobs, but none as important as being a parent.  I hear from time to time that being a parent is a thankless job, but I disagree.  At this point in my life, I'm very thankful to my parents for all that they've done for me and the lasting gifts that they've instilled in my life.  And I know that one day, my kids will understand too.

So, as far as becoming my mother...it's not such a bad thing after all!

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Say Cheese! Part 2

If you read my blog last week on Laughing Cow Light Blue Cheese, then you know that I mentioned trying all the new flavors, one each week.  The flavor of the week:  Sun Dried Tomato and Basil...

Frankly, I thought it was okay.  I found it a little more bland than I had anticipated.  I tried it on its own and didn't find it bursting with flavor the way I found the blue cheese.  Not to say that it was bad though.  If I were working with it, I think it would be great spread on bread as a substitute for mayo, offering a healthier alternative and a new twist on sandwiches.  Might I suggest a Mediterranean-style sandwich???  How about you?  If you've tried it, jump in with some suggestions!

In any case, it's definitely worth a taste!  If you have a serious cheese craving and you're looking for a healthier alternative, they still satisfy as a tasty little treat!  Stay tuned for next week's update on the cheese series!

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Thank Your Loved Ones

When was the last time you thanked your loved ones for loving you?  And if you've said it, have you said it enough?  Probably not.

We're all guilty of it.  We get caught up in the daily routine and forget to say it.  Personally, I know that I'm not an easy person to love all the time.  I get grumpy, angry, snappy...but I know my kids, friends, and boyfriend love me regardless.  The hardest time to say, "Thank you for loving me" is exactly when you ARE feeling grumpy, angry, or snappy.  But aren't you grateful that even when you're throwing a fit (and you know when you are), your loved ones STILL love you.  And you know what?  I think that's when it means the most.  You might be surprised at how saying those words change your attitude right at that moment.  You might be feeling like you're eating crow when you say it, but I guarantee you it will go a long way.  Oh, and you have to mean too (no sarcasm!).

And you don't have to wait until you're in the middle of an argument to say it either...sometimes, it's just nice to hear.  Don't let another day go by without saying it to someone you love.