Wacky Wednesday – World Beard Day

 

A kid with a gotee

Did you know that there is a such thing as World Beard Day? Yes, there is, and it’s celebrated on September 2^nd. I did a Google search of bizarre holidays and there it was waiting for me.

I hate to admit this, but in my menopausal state of hair growth, I probably qualify to celebrate this bearded holiday. On the bright side, there is a benefit to having a beard and celebrating this wacky holiday. I read that it’s customary for  the bearded family members of a family to relax and not partake in jobs or chores.

There you have it, because I’m a good sport about my beard, no chores or work for me on September 2^nd. I learned that in some cultures the beard represents virtues such as strength and wisdom. I’ll accept those virtues, but what happens when I get rid of my beard? I don’t plan to keep it.

Goat & Me...both with beards

Whether it’s World Beard Day, a busy workday, or a day of relaxation, include humor.

Share something you found funny recently.

Motivational Monday – Do Not Give Up – 3 Scriptures to Encourage Your Success

 

Don’t Quit

When things go wrong as they sometimes will,

When the road you’re trudging seems all up hill,

When funds are low and debts are high,

And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,

When care is pressing you down a bit,

Rest if you must, but don’t quit.

Author Unknown

 

Circumstances in life can make it easy for us to become discouraged. It’s easy to give up, but it takes courage and determination to stick with something when you feel challenged. Above is one stanza from the popular poem Don’t Quit. I like the line that says, “rest if you must, but don’t quit.”

 

When you feel overwhelmed, stressed, or just plain tired…pause…rest, and find something that encourages you. It can be difficult to focus on success with work, school, or anything else, when situations are less than ideal. Below are three scriptures that encourage success.

 

·         “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” – Proverbs 16:3 ESV

·         “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” – Psalm 37:4 ESV

·         “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13 ESV

Each day build time into your schedule to pause, rest, meditate. Think about the direction you want your life to take, pray about it. Believe it and you will achieve it.

Do not give up. Don’t Quit

 

Muffins with Mom – A Reflection in Parenting

 

It’s that time of year where store shelves are filled with spiral notebooks, crayons, pens, erasers, and backpacks. It’s an unspoken notification that it’s Back to School time. Although my cherubs are done with school, I stumbled upon a photo that drew me into a memory.

Along with the start of a new school year, comes picture day. During my sons second grade year I hadn’t decided whether I would purchase a package. We still had photos left from the two previous years. He hadn’t changed THAT much.

Well, the photography company took photos of all the students and sent them home for parents to preview and decide on a package. Great marketing on their part. The presentation was nice and included a plastic sheet of keychain photos.

The keychain photos were assembled in a way that they could be detached by snapping them from the plastic sheet. The sheet stated Do Not Detach unless you want to purchase. Can you guess what happened? I won’t keep you in suspense. My son detached each one of the six photos. There they were scattered on the table like a jigsaw puzzle.

The decision was made for me…we purchased a small photo package, and the detached keyring photos. Fast forward fifteen years – one of those keyring photos is still in good shape. It never made it onto a ring with keys, but found its way into a photo box, tucked away with other memories.

Parenting is full of ups and downs, but it’s the fond memories that make it all worthwhile.

What is one fun, back to school memory that you can reflect upon?

 

Wellness Wednesday – National Fajita Day – 3 Ways to celebrate

 

Nothing says fajita like the sound of sizzling steak with the aroma of green peppers, onions, and chili spices. Are you hungry yet? When was the last time you ate a delicious fajita? Whether your favorite is steak or chicken - National Fajita Day is observed August 18^th. This is a great opportunity to add a new flair to your home recipe or dash off to your favorite restaurant.

Here are 3 Ways to observe National Fajita Day

1.      Share a fajita recipe with a friend

2.      Have a Girls Night – serve fajitas, pamper yourselves, and chill

3.      Post a picture on social media – perhaps it’s a picture of you having fun with fajitas, dancing while making them, or a picture of you taking a bite. Make it fun.

If you are not a meat eater, make a fake fajita, a pseudo fajita, or create your own fancy name it. Include all of your favorite veggies, season them, and make it pleasing to the palate.

Check out a chicken fajita recipe here.

What are your tips for observing National Fajita Day?

 

Fun Friday – National Relaxation Day – 3 Ways to Chill Out

 

Attend a comedy show - Bored Teachers Comedy Tour at Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle

National Relaxation Day is near, it’s celebrated each year on August 15^th. Do you know how to relax? It’s not hard, but it may take practice, especially if you’re used to filling your schedule with things to do. You are now granted permission to chill out:

Here are 3 ways to relax and chill out:

1.      Get in a daily dose of laughter – There is scientific research that shows laughter is a good stress relief. Laughter helps your muscles relax, and increases circulation, among other benefits.

Chill out tip: Hold a car concert (or kitchen, living room, bathroom) – to be clear, a car concert is when you crank up the volume on your radio and dance like no one is watching…but rest assured someone may see you. The key here is to bob your head, move your shoulders, while listening to upbeat music. Jerky movements, singing off-key, anything that makes you laugh while doing this is acceptable. Have fun because you can.

2.      Create a Chill Out Day once a week – schedule a date with yourself. Block off time in your schedule to unwind and something that brings your joy or do nothing at all.  It doesn’t even have to be a full day of chilin’ out, it can be small blocks of time that you designate for your self-care.

 Chill out tip: Practice meditation and yoga. Put aside the busyness of your day and allow yourself to sit still, in a quiet place, and breathe.

3.      Eat foods that reduce stress – according to the Total Wellness blog, fueling your body with foods “filled with vitamins and nutrients can elevate mood and energy.” Some stress-busting foods include:

·         Bananas

·         Spinach

·         Green Tea

·         Dark Chocolate

·         Oatmeal

·         Turkey breast

Chill out tip: create a fun snack bar for you and your family and watch a funny movie.

All tips were adapted from the Total Wellness Health blog.

Although National Relaxation Day is once a year, this is just the start of building a healthy relationship with relaxing. If you’re already an expert at relaxing or using relaxation techniques, share your knowledge with someone else.

What suggestions do you have for ways to chill out?

Words of Wisdom - Motivational Quotes About Life

 

YouTube Video Credit: Live Smarter

Fun Friday – Unmasked

Leonardo DiCaprio was confined to an iron mask in the movie, The Man in the Iron Mask. I like many others, felt confined to a cloth mask for two years, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I knew the day would come when I could finally pull away the mask in public and feel…relief. Except, it didn’t happen that way.

It happened lie this…

The mask was cute, the colors accented the brightly colored patterned dress I was wearing, but it wasn’t breathable. My cheeks were damp, my lips were dry, and my forehead began to join the parade of perspiration. The Grand Marshal of the sweat parade was a hot flash. I felt it brewing, then like a furnace igniting…POOF.

I was participating in a job fair at work and wanted to keep any potential germs from flying from my mouth and into the space of passerby. I unlooped the corner of the mask from one ear to catch a quick breeze. Did I mention that the job fair was indoors, with the air conditioner blasting? However, my body was on a desert of its own.

A coworker arrived to relieve me from my shift at the table. I dashed off to the restroom to provide relief for my face. I grabbed a paper towel, soaked it with cold water, and patted my cheeks and forehead…instant comfort. Then I looked closely at my face. What was that on my chin?

I tilted my head to the right and leaned closer to the mirror. Right there at the corner of my chin was a pimple and a grey chin hair. I reinstituted the mask mandate and covered my chin. That mask would remain in place a little while longer…at least until I could get to a pair of tweezers.

The next time this woman in the cloth mask unveils, she will tilt her chin and walk tall, pimple, chin hair, and any other flaws.

What has been your experience with wearing a mask?

 

Wordless Wednesday - Happiness Happens Month

Happiness is...finding joy in the moment. 

August is Happiness Happens Month. Each day find something that provides you with an infusion of happiness