Fun Friday – Crafts and Discipline – How they work together

What do you do for relaxation? For me, working on a crafty type project relaxes my mind. It can be sewing, building something (small), or even coloring (yes, coloring). Every now and then I venture off to JoAnn’s (Fabric and Crafts). When my kids were younger they took these excursions with me.

I trip to JoAnn’s could be sporadic, just because I wanted to work on something new. If I were in a sewing mood, I’d search out a pattern that said, Easy, 90-minute pattern. The project always turned out to take me 90 minutes, each day, for a week. I didn’t care, I was creating. My kids had a different outlook on our visits to JoAnn’s.

When it was time for a trip to JoAnn’s, I had to subpoena my kids. I gave them a note written in Red crayon that said, Get in the car. Now. As we pulled into the store parking lot, the first thing my kids saw were the 50-foot letters (it seemed to them) that spelled JOANN’S. They slumped in their seats and cried out, “Nooo, do we have to go in? Can we stay in the car?”

“No, we’re shopping together. You can select a craft project.”

“But you take too long. I don’t want to do a craft that bad.”

We made I through several shopping trips in that manner. It later dawned on me that I stumbled upon a new form of discipline. Many believe that spanking is bad and prefer to take away privileges. Here was yet another form of discipline. I was giving my kids something, not taking away. I was giving them the opportunity to explore a craft store.

If my kids were misbehaving, all I needed to say was, “Let’s take a trip to JoAnn’s.” Together the two of them resembled an Octopus. Their arms and legs were swinging and swaying, their faces contorted into monster shapes. We went to the store anyway and they whined and moaned, while customers stared.

I was sure someone was going to contact child protective services, believing that I was harming my kids. So, we quickly left the store with my kids smiling believing they had won.  After they strapped on their seatbelts, I drove them straight to…Michael’s Crafts.

It was tough love, but somebody had to do it.

What family stories are you finding humorous lately?

What family stories are you finding humorous lately?

 

Wellness Wednesday - Inspiration

 Be inspired by your surroundings...

Be good to yourself.

Fun Friday – Finding Humor During a Pandemic

 

During this pandemic that we’re experiencing have you ever felt like one day blends into the next? If you answered yes, you’re not alone. My son is preparing to return to college. He asked me to remind him of an item he wanted to take. My response was, “I don’t even know what day it is.”

We can all use a little humor to help de-stress. Below are a few situations I’ve experienced that caused me to stop and say, hmmm.

Seasonal Allergies

While shopping, a lady saw me trying to decide which allergy relief to buy, she said, “Oh you have seasonal allergies too.”

I said, “No, I have allergies every day.”

Temperature

The new normal during COVID-19 is taking a lot of getting used to. Many establishments have a screening process. After you enter the building a greeter takes your temperature and you answer 3 screening questions.

                                                                                           

I’ve done this so much that after I entered one of our offsite offices, I belted out 97.5. The greeter said, “Huh? Is that  your favorite radio station?”

“No. that’s my temperature.”

 Hand Sanitizer

It is my understanding that the recommended amount of alcohol that is supposed to be in had sanitizer is 60%.

I was at a store one day, on my way out I put my hand under one of those touchless dispensers and rubbed my hands together.  As I left a strong odor hit my nostrils. It was the hand sanitizer. It smelled like Vodka. I frowned as I mumbled to myself, is this 100 proof?

I thought I’d put my hands under a distillery, not a dispenser.

Skinny Pop Popcorn

A friend introduced me to Skinny Pop brand popcorn. Now I’m hooked. But just wondering…will I get skinny if I eat it by the handfuls?

Speaking of popcorn…You better watch out with eating a lot of popcorn. Dental hygienist don’t like it when you eat popcorn. My hygienist was cleaning my teeth. She had smirk on her face when she said, 

“When did you have popcorn?”

 “Three weeks ago.”

 “You’re making my job hard.”

 What situations are you finding funny lately?

Wellness Wednesday – It’s All About You

 

Have you ever heard the phrase, “If it is to be, it’s up to me”? Today is your day to overcome barriers, focus on your health, do something just for you. I know you’ve heard it before, but when you take care of yourself, you are better able to help someone else.

When was the last time you watched a sunrise or sunset, laughed out loud, or put your feet up and relaxed? Today, it’s all about you.

Say this with me, “If it is to be, it is up to me.” Now take that phrase and apply it – at work, home, and self-care.

Go conquer your day.

Motivational Monday – Your backstory creates your history

 

Photo Credit: Print Media Center

It was the late 1970’s as I sat in the backseat of my grandparents Yellow Cadillac. Ten years old and thin as a rail; my legs stuck to the leather seats as I tried to scooch up to peek over my grandfather’s shoulders. Finally free, my knees slammed into the back of the driver’s seat. “How long will it take us to get there?”

My grandfather unfolded his paper road map and had it spread across the dashboard. “A few days,” he said. Old Spice aftershave tickled my nose as I settled in for the journey.

We were on our way to California, by car, with a road map to guide us. No Siri, no Alexa, no old school TomTom navigational system to lead us to our destination. Traveling with my grandparents was always the highlight of my summer vacations. Times change, our destination may change, but stops along the way build our character and become a part of our history.

It’s up to you to decide how you want to move forward with your life. Below is a thought-provoking poem.

Decide

So, do it. Decide.

Is this the live

You want to live?

Is this the person

You want to love?

Is this the best you can be?

Can you be stronger?

Kinder? More compassionate?

Decide.

Breathe in.

Breathe out

And decide.

            -Meredith Grey

 

Take time everyday to create a memory, it doesn’t have to be anything extravagant. Share a laugh with a friend, go for a walk with your child, stroll down memory lane with a relative. Decide that you will be the best possible you.

The summer of 1982 I sat in the driver’s seat of my grandparents dark Blue Cadillac. The air conditioner was blowing on my legs to keep them from sticking to the warmth of the leather seats. My grandmother was calm and patient as I practiced driving. I wasn’t ready for an extended road trip, but I was learning.

What is your backstory? What are some of your happy childhood memories?

Feel Good Friday - Relaxation Day – 5 Ways to Celebrate

 

Hurry, hurry, you don’t want to miss this. Have you felt tense, anxious, felt like you’re floating on a cloud of uncertainty? Maybe you have struggled with attempting to establish a new normal. Well, it’s time to relax. August 15^th is celebrated as National Relaxation Day.

National Relaxation Day was established to encourage us to focus on taking care of ourselves. Slow down. Relax. Below are 5 ways you can celebrate this national holiday.

1.      Meditate – there are a variety of guided meditation videos on the web. You can try morning meditation or meditate before going to bed. Try it.

2.      Enjoy Nature – take a casual walk, absorb your surroundings. Press pause, stop to look at the trees, colorful flowers. Look up at the sky.

3.      Create a relaxation station at home – find a space in your home to unwind. Grab a healthy snack, put your feet up, watch a funny movie or read a book.

4.      Practice Yoga – have you ever tried yoga? It feels good to stretch into Mountain Pose or Downward Dog.

5.      Listen to Music – put on your favorite style music for relaxation and tune out everything else.

Are you ready to relax yet? Go for it, it won’t hurt.

What would you add to the list of ways to relax?

Words of Wisdom - Reading Inspires

National Book Lover's Day was celebrated on August 9th. No  need to fret, you can celebrate reading and the love of books at any time. 

Photo Credit: Book Riot

Photo Credit:  eBook Friendly

Photo Credit: Mason Cooley

I am excited to share with you a book I won from author and fellow blogger Sherry Ellis. I received a review copy of the book before it hits the shelves. The title of Sherry’s middle grade book is Bubba and Squirt’s Mayan Adventure.

Bubba and Squirt’s Mayan Adventure is an educational Latin-American historical fiction story that teaches young middle grade readers about Mayan Indian culture while adding elements of mystery and magic. It includes recipes and a Spanish work glossary. For crafts, fun activities, and a teacher guide, visit  www.bubbaandsquirt.com.

Bubba and Squirt are relatable characters who draw you right into their story. Share the joy of reading with a middle grade reader that you know.

Reading is inspiring.

Monday Musings – Finding Humor in a Dental Visit During a Pandemic

Photo Credit: California Dental Association

It’s tough finding a new normal as the world works it’s way through a pandemic. We still need to schedule doctor’s appointments, dental appointments, and focus on our health. It’s been a rollercoaster ride that no one wanted to take. What can we do? We can find humor wherever it lurks. Here’s my story…

I Had my first visit to the dentist after the quarantine and the office reopened. A new dentist joined the practice. He told me, “I’m going to do a complete exam on you today, that means x-rays, checking your jaw line and cleaning your teeth.”

He rubbed his hands along my neck, then circular motions around my jaw line, then circular motions at the temple of my forehead. While he was doing this, he asked, “Any pain here?”

“No, actually that felt good, could you do the back of my neck too?”

He moved on to the x-rays…that’s when he brought out the bullet proof vest, I mean, that weighted blanket/vest type thing. You know the thing they drape over you, then leave the room so they’re not exposed to the radiation.

By the time the dentist actually started cleaning my teeth I was settled in. As he laid the dental chair back, he asked, “Would you like a pillow?”

He placed that pillow under my head, and it was all over for me. I relaxed – every – muscle- in my body…and I fell asleep, three times. He kept saying, “Open please.”

At the end of my visit he sent me home with a teeny tiny, thimble size sealed cup with something that looked like toothpaste in it.

“When you get home, put a little water in this, it’s grainy like. Brush it across your teeth, then rinse.”

“So, I have to finishing cleaning my teeth myself? Do I get a discount?

How are you surviving appointments during a pandemic?

Fun Friday – The Scavenger Hunt

Hide-and-seek is a childhood game that delivered continuous laughter and jovial times for me and continued through to my children. I believe this type game begins in stages. As babies it begins as Peek-a-boo, later it becomes hide-and-seek, as kids age out of that, we call it a Scavenger Hunt.

My kids, who are no longer kids, have taken the Scavenger Hunt to the next level. They turned the tables, flipped the scrip, and just threw me into a scavenger hunt that I didn’t want to play. A tag on the blouse I was wearing, was scratching my neck. I walked to the drawer where I keep my good scissors. You know, the ones that are only used for certain things.

No scissors in sight. As I age I sometimes suffer from CRS (Can’t Remember Stuff). I stood there thinking, did I move those scissors. I rifled through another drawer with one hand as I held the scratchy tag away from my neck with the other hand. Then it dawned on me that my son had entered my room in the middle of the night and asked where the scissors were located.

Scavenger hunt number one was under way. Storage bin lids were lifted, kitchen drawers opened, and bedrooms searched. Those Fiskars scissors with the Orange handles would not appear. I waved my white flag of surrender and gave up. It was at that moment that my son quietly entered the room and said, “found the scissors…um, they were in my room.”

Game over…for the moment. Until…

The next morning my day began with a round of peek-a-boo. As my alarm chimed I opened one eye then closed it and repeated with the other eye. It was another few minutes before the rest of my body joined the game. An arm then a leg exposed itself for it’s hiding place beneath the covers. Finally, my feet made contact with the floor.

I shuffled my way to the bathroom in the dark room. It was a path I took every morning, so it was basically like sleep walking. Everything was in its place. Everything except the toothpaste. My hand felt around for the toothpaste in the drawer it should be in. The only things my had brushed across were dental floss, bobby pins, and a variety of hair clips. If I were at a babu shower I could have won a prize for the most random items in one spot.

Once again I was on the prowl for an item that one of my dear offspring had relocated. The game quickly ended this time. I knew exactly where to find my toothpaste. It was in my sons’ bathroom, in plain sight, with the cap off. I stormed from their bathroom with my toothpaste and hid it. Let them plot out a course and go on a scavenger hunt next time…but they won’t. They’ll just yell, “Ma where is the toothpaste?”

What things have you had to hunt for around your house?

 

Wellness Wednesday - You Are Important

Muffins with Mom – 3 Signs that you may need a vacation from parenting

My sons’ and I took a trip down memory lane, reminiscing on their high school days and the quirky things that happened. Of course the way they remembered things was different from my recollection. Below is a blog post from several years ago, and situations they’d forgotten about or remembered differently.

 

Has anyone ever said to you, “parenting is a full-time job?” I know this to be true because I’ve seen the job description. No experience is required for this job, nor is there a possibility of promotion or advancement. However there is on the job training.

Since parents work so hard at their job, there will be more than one occasion where you feel the need to take a vacation. Below are 3 signs that I’ve discovered that may cause a parent to want a vacation.

1.      Your teen is learning to drive – while this is a milestone in the life of a teen, it can be a less than exciting time for a parent. My 15-year old asked if he could drive home from the store the other day. I’m not the best person for the job of driver’s training instructor, but I strapped myself in on the passenger side of the car and attempted to appear calm.

With each stop at a red light or turn at a corner, I gripped the passenger side arm rest and applied invisible brakes. After ten minutes my son pulled into our driveway. My chest caved in, my toes uncurled and I let out a sigh of relief.

 2.      Wardrobe malfunction – I had a fight recently…it was with my jacket. It was a day that I’d stayed a little late at work causing me to have to rush to pick up my son from school. I threw my jack on and zipped it up quickly. I arrived at my son’s school only ten minutes late and we proceeded to our next destination, an afterschool workshop that I signed him up for.

Once my son was settled into his workshop, I prepared to relax. As I unzipped my jacket, the zipper split/separated about half way down. I tried zipping it back up and down again. I was stuck. I matched the metal pieces at the bottom of the jacket together, the zipper went down a little more, but never opened all the way.

I finally pulled the jacket over my head, like a shirt and freed myself. I was determined not to lose the battle. I had won, but I was tired. And I needed a new jacket.

 3.      Outrageous request from your child – “Ma, can you take me to get a tattoo?” My response was, “give me about 5 years to think about it.”

At the end of your vacation, rest assured that there ARE benefits as a parent that you will enjoy – unconditional love and a lifetime 0f hugs and kisses.

What parenting moments have you experienced that let you know it may be time for a vacation?