The holidays sure to have a way of getting us off track, don’t they? Maintaining a routine through the holiday season is difficult for even a “professional planner” and for those with diet “resolve of steel” – so don’t get down on your self for a momentary indiscretion or two. It’s important that we “Modern Moms” resign ourselves to doing what we can, when we can in the context of our overriding priorities – and make it OK emotionally. Meaning, give yourself “permission” rather than guilt for doing what you know is right, such as spending your very limited, but quality time with your child(ren) after a long work day.
It’s important to figure out what CAN be done to stay on track during decidedly hectic times like this, and make the most of these opportunities since they are overcompensating for a lack of effort elsewhere (due to minimal time and energy).
Here are a few of the things that even the busiest Modern Mom “should” be able to do during the hectic holidays, even with a busy work, travel, family and all things holiday schedule, some courtesy of eDiets’ nutrition experts:
DIET:
• Eat “clean”. Yes, I KNOW those dog-gone holiday baskets are everywhere (especially in the workplace), but with a lessened fitness regime your health-seeking/weight-loss efforts will depend on your ability to keep your calorie intake to reasonable levels. Chewing a mint flavored gum (which will make chocolate and other things not taste as good) or sucking on hard sugar free candy can help you resist those temptations. Or, enjoy a mug of sugar/fat free hot chocolate or a low-fat oatmeal and fruit cereal bar at your desk, instead! Don’t just deprive yourself – make some kind of reasonable trade!! Again, you just need to plan ahead and have your emergency foods readily available. If you make only one list per week, make it a healthy grocery list and stick to it!
• Eat small, healthy meals every 2.5-3 hours or so rather than just a few large meals. Doing so will keep you sated throughout the day so that you’re not ravenous at mealtime, which may cause you to overeat or eat calorie-laden foods, and will keep your metabolism humming. And, be sure NOT to skip meals because you’re so busy. While you think you’re saving on the calories and don’t mind, you’re actually slowing down your metabolism, which has to “stretch” the energy derived from your last meal over a longer period of time. If your body comes to “expect” new fuel sources more often, it’ll burn off what it gets quicker.
• Drink your water – and lots of it!! (no matter how many trips to the ladies room it will require) Your body is made up primarily of water and while water does not have calories to provide energy, it contributes to weight loss and assisting your digestive system. Ample water will keep the toxins flowing right out of your body.
• Enjoy heart healthy “winter” foods: Soups are great… convenient, healthy and delicious. Make a fresh vegetable soup with all your favorite root vegetables…sauté in a nonstick pot onions and garlic, then add water or low sodium canned vegetable broth, chunked potato, celery root and carrots. Season with dried herbs and pepper, and enjoy as a meal with some whole grain bread, or as a snack. Stews can be made with healthy root vegetables and lean meat. The secret to a healthy stew is not adding fat to the food! Braise the meat without added fat in a nonstick skillet, drain off the fat, and slow cook with carrots, onions and garlic. And, citrus fruits are at their peak in the winter! Florida oranges and grapefruit are best enjoyed peeled…the fiber in the whole fruit is the most beneficial. Remember, it takes at least 5 oranges to make an 8 ounce glass of orange juice…and you wouldn’t peel and eat 5 oranges in one
sitting…you’d be full after one or two! So, enjoy your citrus fruit…whole.
• Just before going to any holiday party, eat an apple with a full glass of water so that the fiber will keep your appetite at bay. Go ahead and “sample” the party fare if you can’t seem to resist – it’s OK to allow yourself a “reasonably” sized treat once in a while, particularly in a celebratory fashion. As long as you can enjoy the modest-sized treat while maintaining complete control, you can immediately get your mindset back into “diet mode”, enjoy the event, and not feel completely deprived. Otherwise, keep a glass in your hand. If you’re holding a glass, it’s more difficult to hold a plate and eat! Take a plate of food to begin with, enjoy it, and then keep a glass in your hand for the rest of the event. And finally, don’t stand around the food table–take the foods you want and leave the area immediately!
FITNESS:
• With your harried schedule, do what you can with the advice below during Monday-Friday, and resolve to working out for at least one hour on both Saturday and Sunday. No excuses here…if you’re skipping your workouts during the week, you need to get them in on the weekend. Optimally, you would also find a happy medium during the week, such as getting up early on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s also for a morning walk (at least).
• Try isometric exercises. These are great if you’re pressed for time or stuck in line at the supermarket. Just by flexing a few times each day, you can maintain a significant amount of muscle tightness. Simply flex those muscles whenever you are sitting in your car, standing at the bus stop or walking to the boss’s office. For example, while stuck in traffic, tighten your abdominals and hold for 60 seconds, but remember to keep breathing through your nostrils. Maybe you’re waiting in line to checking out at a store.
• Take advantage of any opportunity to exercise and engage in healthy behaviors during your workday. Here are some ideas:
o Stretch! Every hour do some arm-chair exercise. While sitting, bend over in your chair and let your arms hang down…then sit up and take five deep and slow breaths…in through your nose, and out through your mouth.
o Crunch! Every hour, do 12 “rear-end crunches”…while sitting, tighten your buttocks muscles and hold for 10 seconds. Start with 3 repetitions, and work up to 5 or more.
o Focus on your posture – While seated at your desk, consciously focus on sitting tall with your neck relaxed, shoulders back, lengthened spine, feet on the floor and abdominals tight. Maintaining good posture involves most of the muscles in your body and keeping your body in good alignment will help to retrain your muscle groups all day long. Besides practicing good posture can make you look 10 pounds lighter.
o Take 10 minute breaks every hour – Studies have shown that employees are much more satisfied and productive if they take 10 minute breaks every hour. Use that time to get up, stretch, go for a brisk walk, or do some deep breathing. Oxygenating your muscles and getting the blood pumping will keep you more alert, manage stress and help to give your metabolism a boost. Three ten minute sessions are as good as one thirty minute continuous one.
The bottom line is that there will be obstacles to achieving and maintaining your desired body weight – You may encounter a plateau or unexpected life event that may thow you off track. Remember that this is all part of the process, and while you may wander temporarily you CAN get back on track the very next day!
Former bodybuilding champion and health advocate Merilee A. Kern, MBA, is the author of the fictional children’s book “It’s Not Your Fault That You’re Overweight – A Story of Enlightenment, Empowerment and Accomplishment for Overweight and Obese Kids”. She can be reached through her Web site at http://www.notfault.com.
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I waited until the last minute to start thinking about the traditional New Year’s Day activities – reflecting and making resolutions. I have no resolutions, no regrets, but maybe some new goals.
It seems contradictory but I am a person who plans and prepares, but I am also open to changes. I can’t imagine any other way to be. People are often surprised by how rigid I am about certain things. The same people have seen me become more flexible. My only explanation is that I have learned to follow the path that leads to the best outcome. When the path leads to nowhere, I shall not be moved. When the path leads to bigger and better things, I don’t mind if it is unpredictable. I guess 2005 was about learning the difference between the two paths.
I have several mentors in my life. Each one of them has an understanding of one or more of my goals. They monitor me as closely as I allow. Every one of them told me the same thing in 2005. Stop preparing and start doing! How do you know you can do something unless you try?
One of the mentors was my professor when I studied for my doctorate. Have you ever known someone who was always right? Not someone who thinks that they are always right or want to always be right, but someone who really is right all of the time? Well, he is that person in my life. I used to frustrate him while I was at Cornell and I frustrate him now. He knew the difference between the things that would make a difference and the things that wouldn’t. He has never steered me wrong about anything. In fact, I learned humility or “how
to eat crow” while working with him almost ten years ago. He can tell when I am ready for something long before I feel ready. Feeling ready and being ready are very different. I got a much better understanding about that life lesson in 2005. In 2006, I will trust myself more.
Another one of my mentors is an accountant who consults for small businesses. He taught me that the flow of money says a lot about your priorities. It seems so obvious, but there is no better wake up call than a spreadsheet that tells you where you have been, what you did, and what you wanted for the last year. I highly recommend a blunt talking accountant to anybody who feels any type of confusion in their life. Numbers tell stories with a clarity that you just not get with words! At the end of 2006, my spreadsheet will reflect the life of a more determined person.
My final mentor is also called my “lifestyle sensei” because I don’t know anyone who enjoys life as much as he does. We became friends very quickly and have remained so despite all of the changes that happen between young adulthood and middle age. He is such a great friend. In 2005, I realized that being a good friend is something that requires thoughtful discipline. My friend has contagious optimism and the ability to express it in ways that make people want to be around him. I think I can conjure up some of that energy for 2006 and be a great friend to more people.
Dr. LaMar researches, consults, writes, and speaks about mentoring relationships among professional women. Her weekly e-newsletter is available every Wednesday. Sign up at http://www.DramaFreeWorkplace.com http://www.DrLaMar.com
Holidays and the start of a new year inevitably make us think about how we can improve ourselves, and have the life we want in the future. We make resolutions – I must lose weight, I will save more money – and then lose our way. That’s because we aren’t matching our resolutions with who we are inside. We’re more likely to succeed if we work on discovering our inner, Real selves, appreciate who we already are, and then take a chance on custom-made changes, not one-size-fit all resolutions. Here are ten tips for making the new year better in a Real way.
1. Let your values be your guide — There are plenty of people who will tell you what should be important to you, if you let them. Friends, co-workers, family, even the mass media, bombard us with opinions and ideas. Don’t just accept what others say. Decide for yourself what matters most and let those values set your course.
2. Take a long-term view — Bad habits, difficult relationships, and other disappointments don’t develop overnight. Similarly, life doesn’t get better in a moment. Change happens slowly, step-by-step. Have the patience to see it through.
3. Let Go of the “Shoulds” — When you were a kid, you needed grown-ups to tell you what was right and wrong and what you should do in a given situation. As an adult you can make these choices for yourself. “Shoulds” produce resentment and anger. Instead, do what you know in your heart is right, and set your own standards.
4. Define Yourself as Beautiful — Fewer than five percent of us believe we are beautiful, but whenever I meet someone, I can see something beautiful in her right away. You may not fit the mass media image of conventional, external beauty, but there are things that make you attractive. Remember, beauty is an inside job.
5. Let Go of Being Perfect — As much as we hear that “nobody’s perfect” it’s awfully hard to believe. This is because what we constantly see in the media are air-brushed images of people who appear perfect and we come to believe it is a reasonable goal. When we fall short of perfect, then we feel like failures, just for being ourselves. This year, why not just forget that whole concept and replace it with “I don’t have to be perfect.” The truth is, the people who love you know that you have flaws and just don’t care. You don’t have
to either…
6. Stop Competing — Life is not a game to be won or lost. It is more like a dance that never ends. People who make life a competition live in fear of losing. But if you understand that there’s no first prize and no finish line, only opportunities to grow and experience things, then that fear is replaced by appreciation and wonder. Try to think about growing rather than winning.
7. Try a Little Self-Empathy — We all hope to be kind and considerate when it comes to others. But have you ever made an effort to think about yourself in the same way? Most of us spend too much time judging ourselves harshly. It’s hard to be happy when you let that little voice inside you endlessly say mean and critical things.
8. Make Friends with Your Flaws — When you stop believing in perfection, it’s a lot easier to adopt a new view of those things people call flaws. In many cases, we can redefine these differences and understand them as gifts. What makes a mole a beauty mark? The answer is in your perspective. Why not adopt a perspective that honors all those things that make you different?
9. Listen to Your Body — Many of us lead lives that are so fast-paced and stressful that we push ourselves to the point of getting sick. In most cases, our bodies send us signals -fatigue, aches, hungers – when it’s time to slow down, rest and examine our emotions. We can avoid a lot of sick days if we pause to listen to our bodies and respond with gentle self-care.
10. Try New Things — In the end, the important things in life are found in relationships and experiences. We feel good when we connect with others and take on challenges that allow us to grow. If you have always wanted to feel closer to someone you know, take the risk. And if you have longed to try something new – in the arts, your work, sports, or anything else — give yourself permission to try. A little courage will bring you great rewards in the coming year.
Toni Raiten-D’Antonio is a psychotherapist and author of The Velveteen Principles, a Guide to Becoming Real. The Velveteen Principles offers advice on reclaiming joy, fulfillment and individuality drawing from the simple wisdom of the children’s classic The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams. To Learn more, please visit http://www.velveteenprinciples.com.
Christmas memories are never dependent on the amount of money spent or the popularity of the toy. Memories are made up of amount of heart invested and given. This year, let your children invest their time and hearts in making Christmas memories for your family.
1. Buy white or red place mats and let your children create their own artwork with fabric crayons. A placemat can be made for each guest at Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. Your children will feel an important part of the festivities.
2. Make paper angels and have your children write short messages to each family member stating the things about that person for which they are thankful. Your children will have an opportunity to think beyond the commercialism of the day to appreciate the blessings they already have.
3. Start a cookie exchange among the neighborhood children. Your children can make a dozen cookies for each family in the neighborhood and deliver them wrapped in a colored tin. They can then sit back and weight to see the kind of cookie surprises come to their door!
4. Allow your children to make this year’s Christmas cards. Simply buy blank cards at your favorite office supply
store and let your children loose with magic markers. They can even compose a poem and message for each recipient.
5. Have your children come up with small tasks they can easily do – like taking out the trash. They can then write those tasks on plain paper angels they make themselves. Have them deliver the angels to elderly neighbors as a gift of sharing for the holiday season. Learning to give the gift of themselves can be the most valuable memory of the season!
Let your children become a vital part of the planning of the holiday season and not simply receivers of gifts. It will help them understand that giving can be as much fun (and more rewarding!) as receiving. And their memories of this holiday season may set a lifelong pattern – which may be the best holiday present of all!
About The Author
Pamela Cole Harris is an editor and writer with 35 years experience. Visit her website, http://www.homeandgardenmakeover.com, for her unique view of home decorating and remodeling (and a free monthly newsletter!). Or for original content unique to your website, written especially for your keywords and your audience, visit http://www.pamelacoleharris.com.
Some time ago I received a gift from both of my children. It was spontaneous and had nothing to do with Father’s day. Yet, at the same time it had everything to do with Father’s day.
My son, Kai, – he was 17 at the time – was attending a private boarding high school in Colorado. While we were talking on the phone he shared some wonderful news with me.
Kai said, ”You know Dad, I am really happy with my life. I can’t think of a thing that I would change about the way that I grew up, or the way that my life is now.”
My daughter Sabari, – also 17 at the time …yes, twins! – , who was living with her mother in Northern California, said almost the same thing to me just a few days later.
Of course, I was delighted to hear this from both of them. What parent wouldn’t revel in the good spirits of their children. And I told them both how happy I was, not only that they were happy, but that they expressed it to me. The heartfelt communication that we shared is as dear to me as the news itself.
And that, I reflected, was the gift that they were giving me. The gift of heartfelt, open, communication. Certainly I hope for good news when I hear from them. But mostly I love that they will share their real feelings with me. Happy or sad, I love to be touched by their innermost thoughts and feelings. That is how I can really share in their lives.
The spontaneous sharing of my children reminded me of our relationship with Spirit. Our open, honest, heartfelt innermost thoughts and feelings flowing towards our Creator, good news or bad, is at the foundation of our ability to have a real conscious relationship with God.
Many people think that God is present only at a distance. Some think that if God is any way knowable, that knowledge can only come after death. But the saints of all religions have proclaimed that God is knowable here and now if we will just take the time to communicate with Him/Her.
Unfortunately many religious traditions have lost touch with this most essential truth. It isn’t satisfying to the soul to just read or talk about our connection with Spirit. We yearn to actually experience the reality of our relationship with God.
As an earthly father and a child of my Infinite Father I offer this Father’s Day gift to you. A simple reminder that God is real and present in your life.
Consciously enter into your relationship with Spirit by inwardly having a conversation with Him/Her during the day. Let God be your inner companion and friend. Let this communication be natural and heartfelt. You don’t have to make deep pronouncements to God – unless you really want to. Experiment with the type of exchange that feels most comfortable to you. The only really essential part of this is that it must be sincere. Even sincere doubt is better than insincere praise.
The highest form of communication is that which bridges the gap between those communicating – creating oneness. It is this experience of oneness that we long for with our loved ones and with God. When we can perfect our inner communication with Spirit we will consciously realize our oneness with all life – everywhere. This won’t be an abstract concept but an actual experience.
For a child, Father’s day isn’t really about giving Dad a gift. It is about recognizing the gift of caring that fathers express when they help put food on the table, teach their child to ride a bike, cheer at a soccer game, smile at a graduation, give their daughter’s hand in marriage, giggle with a grandchild, and most importantly, act as a channel for God’s love to flow through them into the lives of their children.
For a father, Father’s day isn’t so much about taking the accolades of a job well done (even though they may be well deserved!), but about giving thanks for the opportunity to give. And remember, the greatest gift that we give our children is the actual expression of our love. It isn’t enough to feel love for them inside ourselves: we need to express that love. Take a moment each day and give your child the kind of hug that can leave no doubt that you really treasure their presence in your life.
Of course, the greatest Dad of all is the father of all life. So let’s take some time this Father’s day to remember our Heavenly Father. Let’s share our innermost hopes, dreams, challenges, temporary setbacks, and victories. And once we have had our say, let’s listen carefully: For God, the Father of us all, may have a gift in store for us, the gift of awareness of His Infinite Loving Presence in our lives.
About The Author
Lawrence Vijay Girard is the author of Way of the Positive Flow and Positive Flow Parenting. As well as, his popular children’s book, The Adventures of Harry Fruitgarden. You can find his books at: http://FruitgardenPublishing.Com; LawrenceGirard@FruitgardenPublishing.Com
Gift Baskets are an ideal gift for nearly any occasion. Gift baskets provide a convenient way to find a gift for practically any occasion, but they also provide an avenue for creative and personalized gift giving. Making gift baskets is fun and easy, and homemade gift baskets generally prove to be superior, personalized gifts to their pre packaged counterparts.
Finding a perfect gift is usually a challenge that goes far beyond understanding someone’s interests and hobbies. One of the biggest problems with gift giving is the lack of true “tweener” products that cost in the reasonable $30-$60 range. For every hobby there are lots of little items that are needed on a continuing basis, and there are lots of bigger items that are expensive and/or very personalized equipment choices. Small items like golf balls and tees are not sizeable enough to represent a real gift, but a set of golf shoes or clubs is too expensive and individual to make a good gift. Gift baskets make it easy to find an assortment of smaller products and put them together for a personalized gift basket.
As a starting point, you should try to think of a quality, themed container to build the gift basket around. For example, a bucket makes a perfect container for a car wash gift basket. Absent a container that matches the theme, you will be
forced to buy, find or make some other kind of container. Wicker baskets are popular, but really any container will do if it is dressed up properly.
Generally, gift baskets are put together with shredded paper. You can buy this paper at stores where crafts are sold, and cut it with scissors. This paper can also be used to cover the container if you are forced to use something like a shoe box. You could use newspaper, depending on the type of gift basket you are making, but colored paper is something you should plan on getting.
A great way to wrap the gift basket up is with tulle netting. This can be purchased at hobby stores or through many Internet locations cheaply. Place the gift basket in the center of a large piece of tulle netting, wrap all the content inside the netting, and tie it off with a ribbon.
If presentation is your top priority, some of the commercially available gift baskets will be hard to beat. But with work, a homemade gift basket can look even better than purchased gift baskets. But the real value in personalizing a gift basket is the thought that goes into the individual items of the gift. That’s the thought that is remembered, and endearing to the person you are giving to.
Rex Ryan maintains the website:
http://www.giftbasketdeals.info
Have you ever wondered why we decorate a tree for Christmas? What sense does it make? We cut down a perfectly good tree, bring it in the house, decorate it with glass balls, twinkle lights, embarrassing arts and crafts from our youth and put a big star on top – why? No one knows for sure. But the Christmas tree does have a long, if not mythological, history.
Get beyond the commercialism and secular nature Christmas has become and get down to the symbolism Christmas trees represent and you will get closer to the actual truth. The fir tree, the first tree widely used throughout Europe as a Christmas tree, was originally chopped down and placed indoors in an effort to promote good cheer and hope. When everything else on the horizon is dead and covered with mountains of snow, the Evergreen color reminded us of good things to come?the rebirth of the Earth at springtime.
In 1882 however, Thomas Edison’s assistant decided to use his boss’s invention to add a more “twinkly” effect to the Christmas tree – lights that ran on electricity. This innovation made outdoor Christmas lights possible as far back as the early 1900s. And don’t you just know, even then, there was that one annoying neighbor down the street who refused to take his Christmas lights down until long past Easter.
But what about the tradition of the ornaments we decorated the tree with? You know what I am talking about… all the little doodads, candy canes, and the embarrassing arts and crafts your parents “insist” on putting on the tree every year – where did that
tradition originate. Simple – all of those ornaments morphed from eight distinct decorations.
- The Star – symbolically means, “The shining hope for all mankind.”
- The color red – red is used not just on trees, but also on nearly every other piece of Christmas decoration to come down the pike since the beginning of time. Red symbolizes Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for all.
- The Fir Tree – green, the second color of Christmas symbolizing everlasting light and life. The needles point up to Heaven.
- The Bell – actually symbolizes the ringing of a bell more than the bell itself. The bell rings out to guide lost sheep back home.
- The Candle (and later electric lights) – symbolizes our thanks to the star of Bethlehem.
- The Bow – is tied as we should all be tied together in the bonds of goodwill forever.
- The Candy Cane – symbolizes the shape of the Shepard’s crook, used to bring lost lambs back to the fold.
- The Wreath – symbolizes everlasting love with no beginning and no end.
But that still doesn’t explain the embarrassing decorations we are forced to look at year in and year out. Where did that tradition come from? Simple – parents have been embarrassing their kids for generations – why should Christmas be any different.
Allen Shaw is a successful author who provides information on Christmas and Christmas trees. “I am the news director at USA News Network and have been working as freelance writer for 2 years. I’ve been published in a few magazines, newspapers and websites and my specialty up to this point has been movie and music reviews.”
I casually glanced down at my hand, but instead of a wedding ring and an engagement ring, there was only the narrow gold band.
“Randy!” I yelped. “My engagement ring is gone.”
It was Valentine’s Day, and my husband, Randy, and I were on our way from my niece’s wedding, which had taken place in one town, to the reception, which was being held in another city about fifteen miles away.
If there hadn’t been other cars behind us, I think my husband might have been tempted to slam on the brakes.
Of course, one of the things I have always admired about Randy is his ability to remain unruffled during a crisis. Like that time one winter when the landlord had arranged for contractors to build a sloped roof over the flat roof of a house we were renting, and the next thing you know, the snow trapped between the two roofs started melting, and then gallons of water began dripping into the house and THEN the ceiling caved in…
Or that summer when I had agreed to help teach a one-week summer school course at the university for high school students and had come down with a terrible case of the stomach flu on Monday, and Randy had cheerfully agreed to take my place. All week he divided his time between teaching the class and then rushing home to see if I needed anything…
Or the Thanksgiving right after my father had died and we were hauling home some of my parents’ furniture—all that I had left in the world of both of them because my mother had died seven years earlier—and it had started to rain part of the way through our 250-mile journey. Randy stopped the pick-up truck we had borrowed from a friend to cut his shoelaces into pieces so he could tie the tarp down better to keep the furniture dry…
In each of those instances, my husband had been an unshakeable source of strength who came to my rescue.
And he didn’t disappointment me this time.
“Where did you have the ring last?” Randy asked as he calmly kept driving.
I thought back over the hectic events of the day —
Let’s see…just before we left the church, I was busy buttoning up my niece’s train…and before that I was occupied with watching the ceremony and trying not to cry…and before that I had been busy pinning on corsages and boutonnieres while the photographer impatiently breathed down my neck, never mind that he was late getting to the church…
When HAD I last noticed I was wearing the blue topaz ring with the delicate gold swirl around the stone?
That was part of the problem. I was not accustomed to seeing the ring on my finger. A few years earlier, I had decided I would only wear it for special occasions. Between cold weather in the winter and gardening in the summer, I put on hand lotion about ten times a day, but if I don’t take the topaz ring off every time, then the little crevices get all disgusting, and yet, I was afraid I would lose the ring if
I kept taking if off…
“THAT’S IT!” I exclaimed. “Hand lotion!”
My husband gave me a sidelong glance. “Huh?
“Just before we got to the church, I took off my ring and laid it in my lap so I could get some more hand lotion, but I didn’t put it back ON.”
By this time we had nearly reached the reception hall.
“Check the floor,” Randy suggested.
I frantically thrust aside the floor mat…but there was no ring.
Then I groped under the seat. No ring there, either.
Randy quietly asked the next logical question. “Did it somehow fall into your purse?”
I hurriedly checked my purse. Nope. No ring.
“Could it have fallen into your coat pocket?”
My coat had big, horizontal pockets…but…no ring.
“All right,” Randy said, as he searched for a place to turn around, “that must mean it fell onto the ground when you got out of the car.”
Fell on the ground!
I could feel my throat growing tighter. “What if somebody drove over it?” I wailed.
“Don’t get yourself all worked up for nothing,” Randy said soothingly.
“For NOTHING? But — it’s my ring…the one you gave me when you asked me to marry you…”
Actually, Randy didn’t give me the ring. Santa Claus did. In a crowded mall. In front of a group of parents who were there with their kids. When Randy got down on one knee, everyone applauded…
“We’ll find your ring,” my husband said. “Don’t worry.”
Although the drive back to the church seemed to take twice as long, we finally reached the parking lot.
“Now, let’s see,” Randy murmured, “we were parked over there…”
And before I could manage to unbuckle my seat belt, he had stopped the car, thrown open the door and…
“Here it IS!” my husband shouted triumphantly, scooping the ring off the ground.
If I’d felt like crying tears of consternation before, I felt like sobbing with relief now.
“Happy Valentine’s Day,” Randy said with a smile. “Hold out your hand.”
As he slid the ring onto my finger, however, I noticed HIS hands were shaking. And not just a slight tremor.
I pointed this out to him.
“Yes, well,” he said, “it’s not every day your wife loses her ring in a parking lot and then you spend the next half hour hoping it didn’t get stuck in somebody’s tire treads.”
I stared at him in disbelief.
Oh, sure. For years I’ve been under the impression that the man didn’t have a nerve in his body — that nothing ever rattled him.
And now this.
Then again, it also means that I have discovered one more reason to admire my husband. Even when he’s rattled, he can still think calmly in a crisis.
If only he could teach me to do the same thing.
About The Author
LeAnn R. Ralph is the editor of the Wisconsin Regional Writer (the quarterly publication of the Wisconsin Regional Writers’ Assoc.) and is the author of the book, Christmas in Dairyland (True Stories from a Wisconsin Farm) (August 2003). She is working on her next book, Give Me a Home Where the Dairy Cows Roam, which will be available later in 2004. Share the view from Rural Route 2 — http://ruralroute2.com
Outside the weather is cooling down and the days are glorious. Inside, however, Cindy feels anything but glorious. The countdown is 3 days before Thanksgiving and Mike’s parents are flying into town tomorrow to spend the holiday with them. As she looks around her house, she sighs, not knowing where to start. “How about a cleaning service?”, she thinks to herself. But when she finally gets around to calling, she finds out they are all booked through the holidays. She is on her own and that feeling of being overwhelmed takes over once again.
While Cindy is busy cleaning the bathrooms, 3-year old Megan gets a hold of a permanent marker and decides to color herself. By the time Cindy gets her cleaned up, Nicole is home from school and Zachary is up from his nap. So much for cleaning the house…..
Today, Mike’s parents fly in from out of town. Cindy hasn’t cleaned the house or made the Thanksgiving menu. In fact, she hasn’t even figured out what she is going to make for dinner. While Mike is at the airport, she runs out to the grocery store with Megan & Zachary in tow. Relying on her memory, she starts throwing things in her cart. Cindy leaves with a nagging feeling that she is forgetting something, but she can’t figure out what.
Thanksgiving day has arrived. Cindy is up early to start preparing the meal. She opens the fridge to find her turkey still frozen solid. She had no idea it took 4 DAYS to thaw the turkey in the fridge! Thank goodness she bought the oven bags for the turkey. Or did she? As Cindy starts looking for the bags, she realizes that is what she forgot. She sends Mike out to the store to get oven bags only to realize that the stores are closed. The remainder of the day continues in much the same fashion- one catastrophe after the next. Exhausted, Cindy heads to bed anxious to hit the day after Thanksgiving sales with her mother-in-law in the morning.
The Friday shopping spree turned out to be less than she had hoped for. Busy traffic, long lines and the fact that she couldn’t remember the sizes she needed or who she needed to shop for didn’t exactly add to the experience. Cindy heads home at the end of the day ready for the holidays to be over.
Tracy is on the back patio with the kids enjoying the fall weather. They are making Thanksgiving cards and napkin rings for Thanksgiving day. It is a tradition the kids look forward to doing together every year. The entire family is looking forward to Kevin’s parents’ visit next week.
A few days before her in-laws arrive, Tracy pulls up her Thanksgiving menu on the computer and prints out her list. After cleaning out her refrigerator to make room for the turkey, she heads to the grocery store. When she returns from the store and puts the turkey in the fridge to thaw, she puts Alex down for his nap, and begins some of the holiday food preparations with Brandon. The house cleaning service will be there tomorrow, so she just needs to prepare a few food items ahead of time and she will be ready to go. While the dishes are baking, she unpacks her Thanksgiving centerpiece and irons the linens. By the time Brook gets home from school, Alex is up from his nap and Cindy is able to read for a few moments with the kids because she is prepared for her company.
Thanksgiving morning, Brook and Brandon are beaming with pride as they help set the table and place their cards and napkin rings on the table. Tracy and her mother -in-law stuff the turkey and heat up the frozen side dishes while the turkey cooks. Because so much has been done ahead of time, she still has things to do, but isn’t running around like a turkey with her head cut off.
The meal turns out delicious and everyone has a chance to share what they are thankful for. After the
meal, Mike and his dad take the kids for a “turkey trot” (a little jog) and on a short scavenger hunt while Tracy and her mother-in-law clean up the dishes. The day is concluded with pie, family games and a movie. After the kids go to bed, Tracy and her mother-in-law plan out their shopping for the day after Thanksgiving sales.
Prepared for a shopping adventure, the ladies head out at dawn the next day. The stores were crowded but they stayed focused, were able to get some great deals and managed to make it home by noon. After lunch, the family celebrates another tradition of decorating the house for Christmas.
Thanksgiving Tips
• Start a tradition where each member of the family shares one thing they are thankful for during meal times in the month of November.
• If you plan to have your house professionally cleaned before Thanksgiving, book your appointments now to ensure you get it done when you need it.
• Use up as much of the food in your refrigerator as possible before shopping for Thanksgiving.
• Prepare side dishes and pies ahead of time and freeze. Do the same with a few extra meals so you don’t have to spend time cooking during your time with out of town guests.
• If you are traveling for Thanksgiving, keep in mind that the day before Thanksgiving is the busiest travel day of the year. Leave a few days before Thanksgiving and come home several days after if at all possible.
• If you are making Thanksgiving dinner, make a menu for the day on the computer. Type up the recipes you will be using, then use the cut and paste feature on your computer to create the grocery list. Label a computer folder “holiday planning”, place it in the folder and use it year after year.
• If you are hosting Thanksgiving dinner, consider delegating. Have each family or person bring one or two dishes for the meal.
• Many grocery stores sell ready made holiday meals. If you are terribly busy, this may be a good option for you.
• Buy some disposable containers before Thanksgiving. Pack up a little “to go” pack for everyone to share the leftovers.
• Frozen turkeys take 3-4 days to thaw in the refrigerator. Don’t forget to take your turkey out of the freezer in time or you may be eating Thanksgiving dinner on Friday instead of Thursday.
• Get your kids involved by taking the time to make a Thanksgiving craft together. I guarantee it will make them proud to set these out on Thanksgiving day. One year I painted my children’s hands brown and each finger a different color. We made hand print turkey cards for each extended family member who was coming to dinner. Inside we wrote what we were thankful for about that person. It was a huge hit for the guests and the kids! Check out www.familyfun.com or www.perpetualpreschool.com for more ideas.
• Buy a few candles and have them burning around the house (out of reach of children, of course!). Part of holiday memories include smell. Think pumpkin!
• Take inventory of the dishes, tables, tablecloths and chairs you have available. Consider borrowing from a friend or neighbor instead of buying, especially if stor- age space is limited.
• Wash & iron linens a few days prior to Thanksgiving.
• Consider inviting a single friend or neighbor to join your family meal.
• Have some toys, games or activities for the children to do after dinner so the adults can have a conversation.
• Keep a small notebook of your budget for holiday shopping. Keep track of sizes and how much you have spent on each person in the notebook and have it in your purse during the months of November and December.
• Book a babysitter in advance for shopping the day after Thanksgiving.
Susan Stewart is a professional organizer in the Phoenix area. She is also the founder of Perfectly Placed Professional Organization & Design which specializes in helping young families get organized. You can find out more about Susan Stewart and Perfectly Placed by visiting http://www.perfectlyplaced.org.
With Halloween only a couple of weeks away people are not only buying their Halloween costumes and Halloween Make Up for themselves, but also for their homes.
Halloween pumpkins and candy are being purchased by homeowners, and the traditional Halloween makeup and costumes for homes are being installed, e.g. scarecrows, goblins, ghosts and other ghoulish characters. I especially like the Halloween sound effects when I am out with my kids going door to door in the evening.
Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. Probably because it so simple to plan for and to enjoy. Relatively speaking it requires little shopping and little cooking, which are big pluses in my book. In addition, it is just plain and simple fun and each year I get to dress up as
something different. I also enjoy seeing the latest in Halloween costumes as the tricker treaters show up on my doorstep.
So if you haven’t started already, get out the Halloween decorations and costumes and get into the spirit. And be creative this year. Think of some unique Halloween costume to where at the door to greet the kids.
This is one holiday that has yet to be too commercialized and I am going to continue to enoy it while it lasts!!
Over the past 20+ years Mr. Donovan has been involved with building homes and additions to homes. His projects have included: building a vacation home, building additions and garages on to existing homes, and finishing unfinished homes. For more Home Improvement information visit: http://www.homeadditionplus.com and http://www.homeaddition.blogspot.com