Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Stress Challenge

Where I work we have a lot of on-going training and continuing education. We get to do some awesome things that help us to live happier and healthier lives.

January’s training was all about stress and how we can deal with it in healthy ways. I have been thinking about stress management a great deal because I could write the text book on unhealthy ways to deal with stress. I also feel like I have done more reading than the average person on this subject.

But once again, knowing what helps doesn't always mean I do those things. I think being stressed out and over-worked just seem to go with being human in modern society. I know that almost everyone I come in contact with seems to be busy running around, juggling commitments, and trying to please everyone. One thing we all seem to have in common is we are trying to do it all, we feel like we aren't, and we feel guilty about it.

 How you manage stress is a personal thing: some people need to take a step back, and others need to take a step up; some people need to head out into the world, and others need to pull in from it.

Learning to deal with stress in your own life requires getting to know yourself. I wish I could say that I have finally got it all figured out now that I finished the January employer challenge. I’d love to say I am a pro at dealing with the stress in life--the truth is just the opposite. This last month has been one of the most stressful of recent history. I have been over-eating, not sleeping, grouching at everyone, saying "yes" to things I shouldn't, and ignoring many things I know I should be doing.

ARGH!!

 And so I am attempting to do just a few things to deal with my stress levels. They aren't life altering, but they help. Take a few deep breaths (this really does make a difference). And remember on those extra tough days to take a step back from the situation and say to yourself, "This, too, shall pass."

Each day is a gift, even the really awful ones. Be thankful for something small each and every day. Some day it will be those smalls things that made all the difference in our lives.
Did you know today was National Strawberry Day?  Isn't that fun! Sometimes we get stuck in a rut around here, perhaps you do too. I was informed by my children a few weeks ago when I make tortellini soup on Tuesday that it was "Taco Tuesday" and obviously I had forgotten what day it was. I really do make tacos almost every Tuesday.  Now my family doesn't seem to mind eating the same thing quite often, but if your family is itching for something different why not see what is coming up on the calendar.

March is:
National Caffeine Awareness Month
National Celery Month
National Flour Month
National Frozen Food Month
National Noodle Month
National Nutrition Month
National Peanut Month
National Sauce Month

There is peanut butter lover's day (1st), oatmeal nut waffle day (11th), chocolate covered raisins day (24th), There is something for each day of the whole month, Some days ever have multiple suggestions. 

Over at Food $ense, this March we are focusing on Limes, Legumes, Mangoes, and Cabbage

So, enjoy your Strawberry day, also.... did I mention today is also Chocolate Cake Day!

Monday, February 25, 2013

Mom Dance Party

I don't know if you have ever had a "dance party" with your kids, but if you haven't... Please do. Turn on some music, any music, and don't be shy - let your funky stuff fly! Your kids will giggle and then they will get into it. You'll laugh and create memories and before any of you realize it - you are moving.  If you aren't sure what to do, here are some excellent tips from the First Lady and Jimmy Fallon.


Banana-fana-fo-fana

February's fruit of the month is Bananas. We really like them here at our house. But as I have been pondering the 'Nan-er I have realized that we probably eat them straight out of the peel, raw, snacky style 95% of them time. The other 5% end up being banana bread. The way we tend to vary our intake is peeling from to top "like a kid" or from the bottom "like a monkey". We don't even get funky with our banana bread - no chocolate chips, no nuts!

So I brought up the trusty Food Sense In Season page, and I said to myself, "go ahead, be brave and try something new".  I don't have to deal with picky kid eaters too much here at my house, because I out-picky all of them.



 I had never eaten a banana pancake before this weekend! How can that be? Good grief, there is even a song about them.  I looked up banana recipes on the Snap-ed website, but I wasn't so impressed. Could the world be as boring about bananas as I am?  But check this out; it is the Food $ense guide to eating bananas. Doesn't Banana Coleslaw sound like an adventure? 





I made the muffins too, because they were my reward for being a banana explorer.


They are an amazing change from our regular banana bread. I doubled the recipe because I had four bananas instead of the two that the recipe calls for. It made two dozen muffins. So it looks like the recipe makes an even dozen. I made them in the late morning and they were eaten for lunch and afternoon snacks.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Menu Planning (on a bike)

I really like the idea of menu planning. I like everything it promises; my food budget will go farther, there is less stress at mealtimes because there are no last minute decisions about what to eat; or surprises because critical ingredients aren't missing. I also am drawn to the neatly printed colorful forms that really organized moms print out and use. I like the decorative menu displays that you see on Pinterest like adorable kitchen chalkboards painted onto pantry doors and the words "Meat Loaf" written with curly fonts and surrounded by cute doodles. I have even had a small success or two in my previous attempts.


But I have come to the conclusion that this is going to be a bit like learning to ride a bike while watching a youtube video of someone else riding a bike. I am just going to have to get on my own bike and learn to ride it. I think I have realized that I am not going to be a menu planning maven on my first attempt, probably not even after my first 100 attempts, I don't have that type of personality. But the benefits of menu planning are very real and it is an essential first step to our new lifestyle.

Here is where I started :  Food $ense.

There is also some good information here at My Plate Sample Menus

But the truth is, all of this information is still just that. I have to eventually do some action myself.




Tuesday, February 19, 2013

The Tuesday that was really a Monday - and that was a Good Thing



I know that most everyone looks forward to three-day weekends. I certainly did as a child, or at least while I was in school. I may have even looked forward to them when my children were younger and in school. Now, I dread them. Especially the "Monday off"- We just had a weekend and then.... WHAM! another day off, except, we have had all our good fun, and eaten all the good food, and used up all our good manners and all that is left is the fighting and the tantrums and the mess. I exhausted all my Fun Mom supply on Saturday and all my Calm Peaceful Mom supply on Sunday. Monday is supposed to be my day to get rid of everyone and pick up the pieces of my life and prepare for the week ahead.. .But wait, my house is covered in children -- children who can't find headphones, and who left snow boots outside and so they are still wet (and cold)! And children who are perhaps on each others' nerves even more than they are on mine. 


I hate three day-weekends. Since my husband is in retail, he almost always works Saturdays and if there is a Monday holiday - he always works that too. Because you know... nothing says shopping like not going to work.

And to make this weekend just a little extra special we switched internet providers and so some screens in this house can connect to the internet and some can't. Woe be unto those who use some that can't get onto the internet, because you will not be able to play with the rest of the brothers in the minecraft / hunger games / LAN / survival battle and essentially you now have nothing to do but wreak havoc on those who are playing.

But Huzzah! Today is Tuesday, though this week it is the Monday in my world and even though I really hate Tuesdays because every lesson, and practice and church activity we are involved in happens to be on Tuesday -- today is also Monday, and everyone went back to school and I got have my very own, quiet shower while the baby napped, and I knew no one was going to wake her up. And I get to look at my schedule and know just where everyone is /or needs to be at just what time and all I have to do is get them there. And things are going to run smoothly, because it is back to real life today, even if it is a day late.

Friday, February 15, 2013

The Time has Come, The Time is Now



When my oldest son was younger, one of his favorite books was by,"Marvin K. Mooney will you Please Go Now!" by Dr. Suess. I am not sure what he liked so much about this book, but as it goes with all children, we read it over and over and over again. - We read it so often that its words worked their way into daily conversation and now family lore. We say quite a bit around here... "the time has come, the time is now" (the rest continues in the book... Marvin K. Mooney will you please go now).

And so The Time Has Come, The Time is Now, to begin this adventure in a major lifestyle change for our family.  I love my family, and I want to take care of them, I want to take the best sort of care of them. I remarried a few years ago and the wonderful man I hitched myself to was a health-nut and triathalete. I am sad to confess that instead of rubbing off on me, I have rubbed off on him. I have worked for two years for in a nutrition related job and that hasn't rubbed off on me either. I keep reading and making pie in the sky (and pie on my plate) plans, and things just stay the same around here.




When I was a teenager my mom had one of those popular signs hanging in our kitchen that read, " If momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy".  Well around here, we have become - "If momma ain't healthy, ain't nobody healthy!"  and I have finally had enough. - The Time has Come, The Time is Now! and so here we go, hopefully this blog will create some accountability and with any luck, lots of encouragement.