Make the transition to green, eco-friendly diapers. I did! It's really great for the babies and toddlers because it's natural, free of chlorine, plastic and dyes. I just bought Seventh Generation, a hypo-allergenic, chlorine free diaper. My daughter Emily has eczema so this is even better for her not having those irritants and if you have a baby eczema you should not even think twice about making the switch. I kick myself that I haven't been using green disposable diapers for the last two and a half years but better to start now then never at all. I don't know why anyone would buy regular disposable diapers when there's a good natural alternative that is better for your child to wear and better for the environment.
According to FoxNews.com article How Green Are Disposable Diapers, 95% of parents use disposable diapers. Changing to green diapers can make an impact and benefit your child. If you buy organic food, BPA free bottles, plates and cups, then why would you buy regular diapers that are filled chemicals?
I found a great quick comparison of green diapers on Keen for Green if you want a little more info on what's available. I am very happy with Seventh Generation. I have used the Huggies Pure and Natural Diapers in the past which I think are good too and probably more readily available but I've made the switch to Seventh Generation. I was worried about how they would hold up and I'm happy to say I haven't had any issues and they are more green-friendly.
I just found out that Seventh Generation just started a rewards program.
Jan
Moms. Friends. Girl Power All the Way!
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Good Job! -- Cancer free
I subbed for a fitness class today for a fellow instructor that was just diagnosed with breast cancer. It is upsetting to hear because not only is she a nice women, she is also a women with three kids that eats her fruits and vegtables. It makes you wonder, why are so many people getting cancer? This was the topic of conversation before our class today. Everyone has their theories, the water, packaged foods, pesticides on the produce, red meat, grilled chicken, diet soda and of course the obvious smoking and alcohol. But then some people have all those things regularly and never develop cancer. A doctor once told me, "it's just what you call, bad luck!" I don't believe that, I believe we can find the answer and abolish this terrible disease forever! The best thing to do is to stay positive! We should always try to eat healthy but we can't be afraid to eat something because of fear of cancer.
The best thing to do is to manage stress and be positive. I like to let clients know when they are doing a good job. I often say to them and my children "good job!" It has been a phrase I often use to motivate others that many people have adopted the phrase. One client told me that her and her husband often say "good job!" and think of me. My 3 year old when I do things will say to me "good job, mommy!" It is kind of funny how being positive can rub off onto others, so stay positive and happy! Cancer free or not, you will have a better chance of surviving. Go to the doctor for annnual check ups, early detection is key. Take good care of yourself and be happy!
Steph
The best thing to do is to manage stress and be positive. I like to let clients know when they are doing a good job. I often say to them and my children "good job!" It has been a phrase I often use to motivate others that many people have adopted the phrase. One client told me that her and her husband often say "good job!" and think of me. My 3 year old when I do things will say to me "good job, mommy!" It is kind of funny how being positive can rub off onto others, so stay positive and happy! Cancer free or not, you will have a better chance of surviving. Go to the doctor for annnual check ups, early detection is key. Take good care of yourself and be happy!
Steph
Monday, April 25, 2011
What's Too Young for Pierced Ears?
I saw a segment on the Today Show about an appropriate age to get girls' ears pierced. I was shocked to see the choices provided. Infant, 6 or 8. I think all these are too young. I have always told my daughter who is 6 that she could get her ears pierced when she is 16. I think 6 and 8 are way too young and I'm shocked there were no options for 13 or 16 in this poll. I don't think a young child of 6 is responsibile enough to handle piercing which needs to be cleaned and rotated daily. At 6, girls are still playing dress up. Give them clip on earings that they can enjoy wearing with no threat of infections and feel grown up without being grown up.
Earings are a sophisticated jewelry. I think girls should be in their teenage years for this but at least in a double digit number when they are old enough to be more responsible and more mature. Does a six year old really need to wear earings to feel pretty? What does this say about creating body image issues and self esteem issues? Am I going too far? I don't think so.
Why is society in a rush to make girls grow up faster. Let ear piercing being a right of passage and something to look forward to at a later age. It may seem trivial to make a stink about ear piercing but add up the "things" that are becoming more acceptable in our society and it quickly becomes pushing girls to start trying everything earlier in life and slowly our society changes what we find acceptable.
For instance the Abercrombie and Fitch padded bikini top, as I spoke of in an earlier blog entry. Put that out there and most parents are horrified but some parents defend it and will buy it. Wait a few years and the shock value will fade and it won't seem as bad. In fact look at showing a bra in public. Years ago on Seinfeld, it was a joke when Elaine gave her friend, who often went braless, a bra to wear so she wore it with no shirt on with an open blazer. It was funny because it was unrealistic that anyone would actually walk down the street wearing a bra with no shirt. Then Maddonna came around sporting see through tops and pointed bras. She was provocative and parents were outraged. Now it's totally acceptable to show bra.
A week after I saw this poll on the Today Show, my daughter came home and told me her BFF just got her ears pierced and asked if she could get her ears pierced. This was a tough conversation because I will not allow her to get her ears pierced at 6 but when her BFF got her ears pierced, it's hard to seem fair and it's a hard fight. I just thought to myself, are you kidding me? Why? Why? I told her I got my ears pierced at 16, her cousin got her ears pierced at 16 and she will get her ears pierced at 16. But this also gives me insight into the tough road ahead of trying to keep my daughter young and innocent when friends at school are allowed to do things at a young age that I feel is inappropriate.
What age do you think is appropriate? Infant, 6, 8, 10, 13 or 16? When did you have your ears pierced? Please comment below or email stephandjanblog@gmail.com.
Jan
Dinner plan: Tonight is easy. Left over ham with crushed pineapple, mashed sweet potatoes with butter and cinnamin, and corn.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Sweet Sound of Happy Easter
Emily, my 2 going on 3 year old, said "Happy Easter" today. Perfectly. This was exciting because speaking clearly has been a challenge for her. I actually just called Birth to 3 because I have been concerned with her speech development. She does not have a large vocabulary although she will have full conversations with us which typically go like "Na na na na na me". She speaks like Squirt in Nemo. I often think to myself I know you're trying to tell me something, I just can't understand you. She also will pronounce words wrong. Like Do Do Dora, she will say Oo Oo Ora. Yet when she says OK, she throws a D in and says Do Day. So today when she woke up and I wished her a Happy Easter and she repeated it back perfectly, it was a thrill and the best Easter ever.
Please share any tips on how to help improve her speech development. Please comment below or email stephandjanblog@gmail.com. Thanks.
Happy Easter!
Jan
Please share any tips on how to help improve her speech development. Please comment below or email stephandjanblog@gmail.com. Thanks.
Happy Easter!
Jan
Friday, April 22, 2011
Women- Let's take a stand!
On the front page of USA Today there was an article about a film study that was quite disturbing. It is time that mothers and women everywhere start taking action and demanding respect for ourselves and the women of our future, our daughters! It showed that "67 percent of men had speaking roles in films as opposed to only 33 percent of women." Females were used more in films for eye candy and not for speaking roles! What are we trying to tell young females of today? You are just eye candy don't speak!
The article also said, "the sexulization of teen girls in the movies was the most troubling finding to researchers....that female TEENAGE characters were more likely to wear sexy, provocative clothing 40 percent than other women- even more than girls 21 to 39 and teenagers were more likely to appear partially naked! The data speaks to an overemphasis on beauty, thinness and sexualization of women at younger and younger ages! The study, to be released today, also found that 29 percent of teen girls were called attractive by another person in the movie vs. 18 percent of women ages 21 to 39 and only 8 percent of women 40 to 64."
"This is sending a powerful message that it's important for girls and young women to be sexual objects from a very early age." It is time that women take a stand! It disturbs me that men look at my 11 year old as a sexual object and that women as a whole are thought of more as eye candy than as having a voice! It seems to me that it is more of a men's world today than it has ever been!
I want my daughters to be respected for their minds (intelligence and personality) not just for their looks! It is time that women everywhere start taking a stand! We want respect for ourselves, we are not just eye candy and women 21 to 64 are still attractive! We need to protect our daughters from thinking that by the time that they hit 21 they are not as attractive as a teenage girl! We also have to emphasize that women have a voice and can be attractive for having a mind! It is time that women get together and start a movement for change! We are no longer allowing our young girls to be pieces of meat! We are all attractive but more importantly we want respect for our intelligence!
Steph
quotes "USA Today by Nanci Hellmich"
The article also said, "the sexulization of teen girls in the movies was the most troubling finding to researchers....that female TEENAGE characters were more likely to wear sexy, provocative clothing 40 percent than other women- even more than girls 21 to 39 and teenagers were more likely to appear partially naked! The data speaks to an overemphasis on beauty, thinness and sexualization of women at younger and younger ages! The study, to be released today, also found that 29 percent of teen girls were called attractive by another person in the movie vs. 18 percent of women ages 21 to 39 and only 8 percent of women 40 to 64."
"This is sending a powerful message that it's important for girls and young women to be sexual objects from a very early age." It is time that women take a stand! It disturbs me that men look at my 11 year old as a sexual object and that women as a whole are thought of more as eye candy than as having a voice! It seems to me that it is more of a men's world today than it has ever been!
I want my daughters to be respected for their minds (intelligence and personality) not just for their looks! It is time that women everywhere start taking a stand! We want respect for ourselves, we are not just eye candy and women 21 to 64 are still attractive! We need to protect our daughters from thinking that by the time that they hit 21 they are not as attractive as a teenage girl! We also have to emphasize that women have a voice and can be attractive for having a mind! It is time that women get together and start a movement for change! We are no longer allowing our young girls to be pieces of meat! We are all attractive but more importantly we want respect for our intelligence!
Steph
quotes "USA Today by Nanci Hellmich"
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Going Green Can Put Green in Your Pocket
Do you have old cell phones, radios, cameras or gaming devices in the corner collecting dust or taking up room in your junk drawer. There's a better way to unload your unwanted electronics. Now instead of throwing them away, you can bring them to Target and trade them in for a Target gift card. How great is that! You're doing your part in keeping our environment cleaner AND you benefit financially for being a do-gooder so you'll have cash to upgrade to newer electronics.
I found this program through the Green Mom Review. NextWorth is based out of Target retail stores and they resell the electronics you bring in.
Do your part for Earth Day. Help keep toxic electronics out of the wastestream and protect our air and groundwater. Don't toss your electronics, donate it. It couldn't be easier to go green.
Jan
Dinner plan: meatloaf with shredded carrots and asparagus and a dash A1. Sweet pototo with butter and cinnamon and diced green beans.
I found this program through the Green Mom Review. NextWorth is based out of Target retail stores and they resell the electronics you bring in.
Do your part for Earth Day. Help keep toxic electronics out of the wastestream and protect our air and groundwater. Don't toss your electronics, donate it. It couldn't be easier to go green.
Jan
Dinner plan: meatloaf with shredded carrots and asparagus and a dash A1. Sweet pototo with butter and cinnamon and diced green beans.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Eat Healthy--Live Longer!!
It is hard to always eat healthy. Most of the time, we are all on the run and have very little time to go shopping and then come home and cook a healthy meal. It is sometimes easier to grab something quick and usually it is far from healthy. That is why it is important to get in as many healthy meals as you can during the week. Make two days a week fish night, even if it just means buying a piece of salmon and broiling it in the oven for 12 minutes. Fish is high in omega-3 and is one of the best things for you along with veggies!
It is important to eat lots of fruits and vegetables, so always have some fruit and/or veggies cut up in a bowl. This way when you need to grab something quick you will grab those apple slices over chips. Don't have time to cut up all those fruits and veggies, buy pre-cut produce. I always have a bag of pre-cut carrots in my fridge so my kids can grab those for a quick healthy snack.
Blueberries are extremely high in antioxidants and are easy to prepare, just rinse and munch and reap the benefits of a longer, healthier life! Bananas are another healthy food you can grab on the run and are full of potassium! Good Luck on taking steps to eating healthier, you will be glad you did!
Steph
BTW, we'd love to hear your tips on eating healthy made easy. Email stephandjanblog@gmail.com.
It is important to eat lots of fruits and vegetables, so always have some fruit and/or veggies cut up in a bowl. This way when you need to grab something quick you will grab those apple slices over chips. Don't have time to cut up all those fruits and veggies, buy pre-cut produce. I always have a bag of pre-cut carrots in my fridge so my kids can grab those for a quick healthy snack.
Blueberries are extremely high in antioxidants and are easy to prepare, just rinse and munch and reap the benefits of a longer, healthier life! Bananas are another healthy food you can grab on the run and are full of potassium! Good Luck on taking steps to eating healthier, you will be glad you did!
Steph
BTW, we'd love to hear your tips on eating healthy made easy. Email stephandjanblog@gmail.com.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Family Fun! That's Healthy!
With our busy lives it's not always easy to find time to exercise. It is important for the whole family to exercise and it can be fun! In most families, spending time together means watching movies, T.V., having dinner together, playing board games etc..but not enough time exercising. Here are some ways to incorporate exercise into family fun:
--Take a karate class together
--Take yoga class together
--Play Wii fit together
--Play tennis together
--Go for family hike
--Play catch
--Play kickball
-- Ski together
--Take a swim class together
--Go for a family bike ride
--Skate together
These are just a few of the many fun activites that you can do together as a family. It is important to make exercise fun! Although I have my family spend time cleaning the house as one of our family exercises. It is sometimes fun! We compete on who can do the best job in the quickest amount of time.
We all should be exercising at least 30 minutes a day, suprisingly many of us don't exercise that much and that's the bare minimum. Start by doing at least 2 family activities together a week. This way you know your family is getting some activity in, and it is a great time for you to bond together as a family. My husband never does any form of cardio exercise and it is a great health benefit for him. I feel better knowing my whole family is getting healthy!
Steph
--Take a karate class together
--Take yoga class together
--Play Wii fit together
--Play tennis together
--Go for family hike
--Play catch
--Play kickball
-- Ski together
--Take a swim class together
--Go for a family bike ride
--Skate together
These are just a few of the many fun activites that you can do together as a family. It is important to make exercise fun! Although I have my family spend time cleaning the house as one of our family exercises. It is sometimes fun! We compete on who can do the best job in the quickest amount of time.
We all should be exercising at least 30 minutes a day, suprisingly many of us don't exercise that much and that's the bare minimum. Start by doing at least 2 family activities together a week. This way you know your family is getting some activity in, and it is a great time for you to bond together as a family. My husband never does any form of cardio exercise and it is a great health benefit for him. I feel better knowing my whole family is getting healthy!
Steph
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Dancing with the Stripping Stars?
I watched Dancing with the Stars last night and my 6 year old daughter sat down next to me. I think of DWTS as a family show and dancing as something family oriented to watch and encourages dancing, being fit and the arts so I thought it ok for her to watch a few minutes with me before bed. But at the end of the first dance, Lil Romeo tore his shirt off. My daughter was in shock and asked me why he took his shirt off in front of all those people. I didn't have an answer for her and I cringed a little. Fortunately she was in bed during Petra Nemcova's dance when Dmitra ripped her skirt off. Is this really what we want to promote to families as being acceptable behavior?
It seems we have all been desensitized to entertainers stripping on television and baring all, or pretty close to it. I remember when I was growing up it was a big deal when Cher wanted to show her belly button on TV. I remember when women had to wear a bra outside a shirt during commercials. While I'm sure television will never be that reserved again, I do wish there were limits to how much is revealed and how. Entertainers keep pushing the envelope and the FCC continues to allow more as to what is acceptable. Enough already. Let's have some dignity, principles and a little shame. :)
Jan
It seems we have all been desensitized to entertainers stripping on television and baring all, or pretty close to it. I remember when I was growing up it was a big deal when Cher wanted to show her belly button on TV. I remember when women had to wear a bra outside a shirt during commercials. While I'm sure television will never be that reserved again, I do wish there were limits to how much is revealed and how. Entertainers keep pushing the envelope and the FCC continues to allow more as to what is acceptable. Enough already. Let's have some dignity, principles and a little shame. :)
Jan
Monday, April 11, 2011
Get Hot This Spring! -- Tone that bod!
Spring is here! It is time to start packing away the winter coats, hats and gloves! It is time to get serious about healthy eating and exercise. Bathing suit season is around the corner and no matter how old you are, you can still look great in a bathing suit, if you tone yourself up and the time is now!!!
The problem areas for most women are the of the back of the arms that start to loose their elasticity. The abs and the back of the thighs. It is important to tone those areas. There are some great all body toning exercises that I like to do with my clients. There is one that I like to call "The Superman Swim" and "The Backwards Superman Swim"
Start by laying face down on the floor, keeping your arms above your head.
Lift your legs off the floor, while engaging adominals and squeezing glutes,
At the same time, lift your arms and shoulders off the ground, keeping neck aligned with body.
Then swim, moving arms and legs quickly up and down.
Hold for 10 seconds and release. Repeat for 8 counts.
Then try with arms slightly out, into a Y shape and repeat
Then try with your arms out into T shape and repeat, remember to lift legs and head as well.
Then it is time to flip! "The Backwards Superman":
Start by laying face up and lay on your back. Keeping your arms above head.
Lifting your legs and arms off floor, engaging adominals.
Lifting your head off floor too. Hold for 10 seconds.
Then swim, moving arms and legs quickly up and down.
Spreading your arms and legs. Arms in Y shape, then a T shape, hold each for 10 seconds.
Repeat for 8 counts.
Continue this exercise for 8 weeks at least 3 times a week and see your awesome toned body emerge!
Steph
The problem areas for most women are the of the back of the arms that start to loose their elasticity. The abs and the back of the thighs. It is important to tone those areas. There are some great all body toning exercises that I like to do with my clients. There is one that I like to call "The Superman Swim" and "The Backwards Superman Swim"
Start by laying face down on the floor, keeping your arms above your head.
Lift your legs off the floor, while engaging adominals and squeezing glutes,
At the same time, lift your arms and shoulders off the ground, keeping neck aligned with body.
Then swim, moving arms and legs quickly up and down.
Hold for 10 seconds and release. Repeat for 8 counts.
Then try with arms slightly out, into a Y shape and repeat
Then try with your arms out into T shape and repeat, remember to lift legs and head as well.
Then it is time to flip! "The Backwards Superman":
Start by laying face up and lay on your back. Keeping your arms above head.
Lifting your legs and arms off floor, engaging adominals.
Lifting your head off floor too. Hold for 10 seconds.
Then swim, moving arms and legs quickly up and down.
Spreading your arms and legs. Arms in Y shape, then a T shape, hold each for 10 seconds.
Repeat for 8 counts.
Continue this exercise for 8 weeks at least 3 times a week and see your awesome toned body emerge!
Steph
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Allergy Sufferers Beware - How to Battle High Pollen Count
It is predicted that due to the harsh snow-filled winter will lead to high levels of allergins including pollens and mold. Last year's pollen count was the highest in 20 years and this year is expected to be equally high.
Allergy fighting foods.
An article from Mother Earth News, Six Natural Allergie, reveals some natural alternatives to help relieve allgery symptoms. It suggets stocking up on citrus fruits, onions, apples, parsley, tea, tomotoes, broccoli, lettuce and wine which are naturally high in quercetin and figh off free radicals which can cause cell damage and lead to cancer. Quercetin is a natural antioxidant and prevents cells from releasing histamines.
Omega-3 fatty acids can help decrease allergy symptoms. Omega-3s help to fight inflammation. Cold-water fish, walnuts and flaxseed oil, as well as grass-fed meat and eggs are good sources for Omega-3.
Stay indoors on high pollen days.
It might be hard to do but on days that have a high pollen count, stay indoors, keep your windows closed and avoid using a window fan. Check the daily pollen count on Weather.com.
Jan
Allergy fighting foods.
An article from Mother Earth News, Six Natural Allergie, reveals some natural alternatives to help relieve allgery symptoms. It suggets stocking up on citrus fruits, onions, apples, parsley, tea, tomotoes, broccoli, lettuce and wine which are naturally high in quercetin and figh off free radicals which can cause cell damage and lead to cancer. Quercetin is a natural antioxidant and prevents cells from releasing histamines.
Omega-3 fatty acids can help decrease allergy symptoms. Omega-3s help to fight inflammation. Cold-water fish, walnuts and flaxseed oil, as well as grass-fed meat and eggs are good sources for Omega-3.
Stay indoors on high pollen days.
It might be hard to do but on days that have a high pollen count, stay indoors, keep your windows closed and avoid using a window fan. Check the daily pollen count on Weather.com.
Jan
Strawberries - Superfood but Super Risk?
Go Organic with Strawberries. Strawberries sprayed with pesticides are hard to be washed off. Basically all fruit which are eaten with skins like apples, peaches, blueberries, cherries, etc, are good to buy organic so you don't have any threat of consuming pesticides.
A good trick to washing strawberries and probably all fruits is to soak them then rinse. Fill a bowl with water and soak your fruit for 10 minutes, then rinse. I heard this tip and was shocked when I saw the bowl of water from soaking strawberries.
According to an article, 11 Things you should buy Organic, had this to say about strawberries:
In addition to having up to 13 pesticides detected on the fruit, according to an Environmental Working Group (EWG) analysis, conventional "strawberries have a large surface area and all those tiny bumps, which makes the pesticides hard to wash off, so you’re ingesting more of those chemicals," explains Marion Nestle, PhD, a professor of nutrition and public health at New York University and author of What to Eat.
Also, see our simple recipe for banana muffins.
Jan
Dinner tonight: Tonight is fish night. Gorton's haddock tonight with lemon and tartar sauce. Mashed sweet potatoes with butter and cinnamon, and snap peas.
A good trick to washing strawberries and probably all fruits is to soak them then rinse. Fill a bowl with water and soak your fruit for 10 minutes, then rinse. I heard this tip and was shocked when I saw the bowl of water from soaking strawberries.
According to an article, 11 Things you should buy Organic, had this to say about strawberries:
In addition to having up to 13 pesticides detected on the fruit, according to an Environmental Working Group (EWG) analysis, conventional "strawberries have a large surface area and all those tiny bumps, which makes the pesticides hard to wash off, so you’re ingesting more of those chemicals," explains Marion Nestle, PhD, a professor of nutrition and public health at New York University and author of What to Eat.
Also, see our simple recipe for banana muffins.
Jan
Dinner tonight: Tonight is fish night. Gorton's haddock tonight with lemon and tartar sauce. Mashed sweet potatoes with butter and cinnamon, and snap peas.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Why Change to Green Household Cleaners? Who wants harmful chemicals?
I just saw this article on household cleaners and wanted to share as a follow up to my Turn Spring Cleaning into Green Cleaning.
All-purpose home cleanersTime for spring-cleaning? Using common household cleaners may expose you to potentially harmful chemicals. Ammonia and chlorine bleach can irritate the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. And some cleaners contain phthalates, some of which are endocrine disruptors, meaning they interfere with normal hormone activity, says EWG senior scientist Becky Sutton, PhD.
Although there’s no definitive proof that phthalates cause problems in humans, "the greatest concern is how early-life exposure will affect male [reproductive] development," Dr. Carpenter says. There’s weaker evidence, he adds, that phthalates affect the nervous and immune systems. Go natural with the cleaner you use the most frequently and in the most places, such as kitchen-counter spray—look for brands approved by Green Seal or EcoLogo, two organizations that identify products that have met environmental label guidelines.
Health.com: Green guide to cleaning
Jan
Dinner tonight: I'm thinking about grilling hot dogs served with baked beans and a salad. I have a wicked headache and shopping and cooking is not on my to do list right now.
All-purpose home cleanersTime for spring-cleaning? Using common household cleaners may expose you to potentially harmful chemicals. Ammonia and chlorine bleach can irritate the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. And some cleaners contain phthalates, some of which are endocrine disruptors, meaning they interfere with normal hormone activity, says EWG senior scientist Becky Sutton, PhD.
Although there’s no definitive proof that phthalates cause problems in humans, "the greatest concern is how early-life exposure will affect male [reproductive] development," Dr. Carpenter says. There’s weaker evidence, he adds, that phthalates affect the nervous and immune systems. Go natural with the cleaner you use the most frequently and in the most places, such as kitchen-counter spray—look for brands approved by Green Seal or EcoLogo, two organizations that identify products that have met environmental label guidelines.
Health.com: Green guide to cleaning
Jan
Dinner tonight: I'm thinking about grilling hot dogs served with baked beans and a salad. I have a wicked headache and shopping and cooking is not on my to do list right now.
Friday, April 8, 2011
It's your Birthday? Your Older- Don't Cry!
It was April 7th 2000 and I was celebrating my birthday, a day late with my family. As I was blowing out my candles, I felt what I thought to be a labor pain! My family laughed, your not due for another three weeks! But then an hour later there was another one, they continued every hour until 3am, I insisted on going to the hospital! My sister held my hand through the painful contractions, I swore if I lived through it, I would name my first born after her!
After all that, around 10am my doctor said the contractions stopped, they were just false contractions and I could go home! "What! These were not false contractions! I am not going home! I know I am having this baby today!" He said "Your not having this baby for a long time."
As my husband and in-laws walked me back to the car, my water broke! I went back upstairs, and had my daughter an hour later! False labor pains, my a**!
Happy Birthday to my beautiful baby girl! She is now 11 years old and alot has changed. It is hard to believe so much time has gone bye! I wish sometimes life could just slow down for a minute! What makes things even harder is I am getting older too!
I just celebrated my birthday also and I am now approaching my mid-forties! Yikes! I don't mind as much as society does! Everywhere I look, everytime I turn on my computer, T.V. or look at a magazine, advertisements for wrinkle cream, botox. liposuction! Why can't wrinkles be beautiful! Why do we live in such a youth obssessed society! Why does every women I know feel bad about getting older and talk about their recent trip to the doctor for botox! It is so ridiculous how much this society puts on looks and so little importance on a persons character!
For all of us women who are getting a little older, our looks might fade, but our intelligence, experience, and inner beauty gets more beautiful as we age! I feel more beautiful today than I ever did in my 20's, I wish society could see that I am more beautiful now then I was then. We need as a society to start finding experience, age, wrinkles, as a sign of beauty also and stop fearing getting older! It's inevitable! We are all going to get old! If we are lucky!!!
Steph
After all that, around 10am my doctor said the contractions stopped, they were just false contractions and I could go home! "What! These were not false contractions! I am not going home! I know I am having this baby today!" He said "Your not having this baby for a long time."
As my husband and in-laws walked me back to the car, my water broke! I went back upstairs, and had my daughter an hour later! False labor pains, my a**!
Happy Birthday to my beautiful baby girl! She is now 11 years old and alot has changed. It is hard to believe so much time has gone bye! I wish sometimes life could just slow down for a minute! What makes things even harder is I am getting older too!
I just celebrated my birthday also and I am now approaching my mid-forties! Yikes! I don't mind as much as society does! Everywhere I look, everytime I turn on my computer, T.V. or look at a magazine, advertisements for wrinkle cream, botox. liposuction! Why can't wrinkles be beautiful! Why do we live in such a youth obssessed society! Why does every women I know feel bad about getting older and talk about their recent trip to the doctor for botox! It is so ridiculous how much this society puts on looks and so little importance on a persons character!
For all of us women who are getting a little older, our looks might fade, but our intelligence, experience, and inner beauty gets more beautiful as we age! I feel more beautiful today than I ever did in my 20's, I wish society could see that I am more beautiful now then I was then. We need as a society to start finding experience, age, wrinkles, as a sign of beauty also and stop fearing getting older! It's inevitable! We are all going to get old! If we are lucky!!!
Steph
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Saving One Third or More on Groceries Every Time - Effortlessly
How to save more on groceries? My biggest rule in grocery shopping, I only buy what's on sale. Everything goes on sale at some point and I buy the sale of the week. I either change brands depending on what's on sale or I wait until my brand goes on sale. Unless of course it's a staple or an urgent need.
Keep your coupons in your grocery bag. I keep my coupons in my grocery bag so they are easy to find and I remember to use them. I save on average an extra $10 per visit using store and manufacturer coupons.
There's a new show on TLC called Extreme Couponing which will be interesting to watch. Hopefully it will be inspiring although I don't think I could ever be as diligent, or should I say obsessive, on couponing. I seriously don't have that kind of time to spend 3 hours clipping coupons but more power to those who can.
My average grocery bill is $150 and after sales and coupons I generally pay about $100 saving one third on my grocery bill virtually every time and I spend virtually no time hunting and clipping coupons. Although sometimes I spend time with online coupons and printing them out. Not often. But it is a thrill to see the total dip under $100.
Only buy what's on sale and watch your savings grow.
Green tip of the day: keep an extra bag in your car so if you stop off on your way home you have a bag to use. Re-use your bags and if you do get plastic bags from the store, bring them back to the store to recycle. Most grocery stores have recycle bag bins at the front of the store.
Jan
Dinner plan: Tonight I made nachos with black beans, rice, guacamole and sour cream as an appetizer. I made organic chicken breasts last night that I threw in the food processor, added BBQ sauce, heated in the microwave and had BBQ chicken sandwiches with cucumber slices. Fast, easy and nutricious.
Keep your coupons in your grocery bag. I keep my coupons in my grocery bag so they are easy to find and I remember to use them. I save on average an extra $10 per visit using store and manufacturer coupons.
There's a new show on TLC called Extreme Couponing which will be interesting to watch. Hopefully it will be inspiring although I don't think I could ever be as diligent, or should I say obsessive, on couponing. I seriously don't have that kind of time to spend 3 hours clipping coupons but more power to those who can.
My average grocery bill is $150 and after sales and coupons I generally pay about $100 saving one third on my grocery bill virtually every time and I spend virtually no time hunting and clipping coupons. Although sometimes I spend time with online coupons and printing them out. Not often. But it is a thrill to see the total dip under $100.
Only buy what's on sale and watch your savings grow.
Green tip of the day: keep an extra bag in your car so if you stop off on your way home you have a bag to use. Re-use your bags and if you do get plastic bags from the store, bring them back to the store to recycle. Most grocery stores have recycle bag bins at the front of the store.
Jan
Dinner plan: Tonight I made nachos with black beans, rice, guacamole and sour cream as an appetizer. I made organic chicken breasts last night that I threw in the food processor, added BBQ sauce, heated in the microwave and had BBQ chicken sandwiches with cucumber slices. Fast, easy and nutricious.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Why Being A Yes Man Can Be A Good Thing
I rarely watch movies anymore because it's hard for me to stay up long enough to finish them but on Saturday I was flipping through the channels and saw Yes Man was on. I didn't hear great things about it but I decided to watch it. I'm a Jim Carrey fan and Dumb and Dumber and Liar Liar had me literally Laughing Out Loud, yes spelled out because I seriously did.
Yes Man turned out to be much better then I expected and I enjoyed it. It actually has a great message in it. The principle of the movie is to say Yes to everything. This philosophy completely changed his life and things that first appeared bad turned out having a very silver lining.
I think of how we all get caught up in our daily routines. How hard it is to make time to learn something new or meet up with old friends or find ways to make new friends.
Reading books was one of those things I stopped doing because I "didn't have enough time", as I've stated in a previous entry my first response to joining a book club was no but then I took out the book from the library and turned out I was the first one to start reading the book and I finished before anyone else did. Apparently I do have the time and I really enjoyed the reading time.
Say yes to new things even if it's just changing up the things we do regularly, like walking or going to the park. Try a different park. Take a different route for your walk. Break from your routine and enjoy new scenary and maybe you'll make new discoveries and meet new people. You never know until you try.
Jan
Yes Man turned out to be much better then I expected and I enjoyed it. It actually has a great message in it. The principle of the movie is to say Yes to everything. This philosophy completely changed his life and things that first appeared bad turned out having a very silver lining.
I think of how we all get caught up in our daily routines. How hard it is to make time to learn something new or meet up with old friends or find ways to make new friends.
Reading books was one of those things I stopped doing because I "didn't have enough time", as I've stated in a previous entry my first response to joining a book club was no but then I took out the book from the library and turned out I was the first one to start reading the book and I finished before anyone else did. Apparently I do have the time and I really enjoyed the reading time.
Say yes to new things even if it's just changing up the things we do regularly, like walking or going to the park. Try a different park. Take a different route for your walk. Break from your routine and enjoy new scenary and maybe you'll make new discoveries and meet new people. You never know until you try.
Jan
Say Yes to Life and Enjoy Every Day
I rarely watch movies anymore because it's hard for me to stay up long enough to finish them but on Saturday I was flipping through the channels and say Yes Man was on. I didn't hear great things about it but I decided to watch it. I'm a Jim Carrey fan and Dumb and Dumber and Liar Liar had me literally Laughing Out Loud, yes spelled out because I seriously did.
Yes Man turned out to be much better then I expected and I enjoyed it. It actually has a great message in it. The principle of the movie is to say Yes to everything. This philosophy completely changed his life and things that first appeared bad turned out having a very silver lining.
I think of how we all get caught up in our daily routines. How hard it is to make time to learn something new or meet up with old friends or find ways to make new friends.
Reading books was one of those things I stopped doing because I "didn't have enough time", as I've stated in a previous entry my first response to joining a book club was no but then I took out the book from the library and turned out I was the first one to start reading the book and I finished before anyone else did. Apparently I do have the time and I really enjoyed the reading time.
Say yes to new things even if it's just changing up the things we do regularly, like walking or going to the park. Try a different park. Take a different route for your walk. Break from your routine and enjoy new scenary and maybe you'll make new discoveries and meet new people. You never know until you try.
Jan
Yes Man turned out to be much better then I expected and I enjoyed it. It actually has a great message in it. The principle of the movie is to say Yes to everything. This philosophy completely changed his life and things that first appeared bad turned out having a very silver lining.
I think of how we all get caught up in our daily routines. How hard it is to make time to learn something new or meet up with old friends or find ways to make new friends.
Reading books was one of those things I stopped doing because I "didn't have enough time", as I've stated in a previous entry my first response to joining a book club was no but then I took out the book from the library and turned out I was the first one to start reading the book and I finished before anyone else did. Apparently I do have the time and I really enjoyed the reading time.
Say yes to new things even if it's just changing up the things we do regularly, like walking or going to the park. Try a different park. Take a different route for your walk. Break from your routine and enjoy new scenary and maybe you'll make new discoveries and meet new people. You never know until you try.
Jan
Monday, April 4, 2011
Change Spring Cleaning into Green Cleaning
My Spring cleaning has begun. But I have made a resolution to change Spring cleaning into Green cleaning.
I have seen things people throw away and it is a shame that they cannot take time to donate items that other people could use. So first I resolve to donate everything I can. One of the laws of being green and eco-friendly is re-using so donating your unwanted items is both socially friendly and eco-friendly. Rather than filling up our dumps with good stuff, let other people use it that needs it or can enjoy it.
There are many organizations that accept donations including Good Will, Salvation Army, GE appliances centers, Habitat for Humanity, but also consider local organizations like Boy Scouts, churches and other organizations that hold annual tag sales to raise money. Now you've just added another benefit to donating which is supporting local charities. This also provides a tax benefit to you since you can claim donations as a write off so there's a financial benefit to you as well for being green. How great is that?
My Green cleaning plan is to get at least one bag or box of donations every Saturday afternoon and Sunday together and drop it off the following Saturday morning since they are only open until 11. I feel like that is a comittment I can adhere to so I can take baby steps to getting my sorting and purging done that is manageable for me.
The cleaning and scrubbing can also become green friendly. I have changed from my traditional cleaners to green cleaners. It's not just a benefit to the environment but really a benefit to your family to go green on cleaners. Who needs chemicals in their home. With many more options on the market now it's easy to even find practical bargains on perfume free, chemical free cleaning products. I wouldn't suggest throwing anything away, but you can make a vow to only buy green friendly cleaners in the future. If that's too much, start with one. One all purpose cleaner is a good start. I started with laundry detergent. I started buying perfume free laundry detergent and now I would never consider going back to regular detergent.
Make Earth Day on April 22nd count this year by changing your Spring cleaning habits into Green cleaning.
Have any Green cleaning tips? We'd love to hear them and post them during Earth Day week! e-mail us at stephandjanblog@gmail.com. Or comment below. Thanks.
Jan
I have seen things people throw away and it is a shame that they cannot take time to donate items that other people could use. So first I resolve to donate everything I can. One of the laws of being green and eco-friendly is re-using so donating your unwanted items is both socially friendly and eco-friendly. Rather than filling up our dumps with good stuff, let other people use it that needs it or can enjoy it.
There are many organizations that accept donations including Good Will, Salvation Army, GE appliances centers, Habitat for Humanity, but also consider local organizations like Boy Scouts, churches and other organizations that hold annual tag sales to raise money. Now you've just added another benefit to donating which is supporting local charities. This also provides a tax benefit to you since you can claim donations as a write off so there's a financial benefit to you as well for being green. How great is that?
My Green cleaning plan is to get at least one bag or box of donations every Saturday afternoon and Sunday together and drop it off the following Saturday morning since they are only open until 11. I feel like that is a comittment I can adhere to so I can take baby steps to getting my sorting and purging done that is manageable for me.
The cleaning and scrubbing can also become green friendly. I have changed from my traditional cleaners to green cleaners. It's not just a benefit to the environment but really a benefit to your family to go green on cleaners. Who needs chemicals in their home. With many more options on the market now it's easy to even find practical bargains on perfume free, chemical free cleaning products. I wouldn't suggest throwing anything away, but you can make a vow to only buy green friendly cleaners in the future. If that's too much, start with one. One all purpose cleaner is a good start. I started with laundry detergent. I started buying perfume free laundry detergent and now I would never consider going back to regular detergent.
Make Earth Day on April 22nd count this year by changing your Spring cleaning habits into Green cleaning.
Have any Green cleaning tips? We'd love to hear them and post them during Earth Day week! e-mail us at stephandjanblog@gmail.com. Or comment below. Thanks.
Jan
Saturday, April 2, 2011
How I Save $1,000 A Year and Don't Miss Out
One of my biggest goals for the year is to pay down my debt and stop spending money. My philosophy is buy for need versus want. Before any purchase I think to myself do I really need this. Most of the time I put it back and find that I don't miss not having it. If I don't NEED it, I don't buy it.
I have also found simple ways to save a little money every week that add up to $1,000 per year savings. I found easy alternatives to buying things that I found I can get for free. Yes free! Who doesn't like free stuff?
Coffee. I used to have a serious Dunkin coffee habit. Every morning I bought a medium coffee and sometimes also bought a breakfast sandwich or donut. Even just the cost of coffee, now over $2 for a medium cup is $14 a week. I have cut weekday Dunkin out and drink the office coffee. I only like flavored coffee so I buy French Vanilla CoffeeMate for $2 and it lasts me about two weeks. I do splurge on the weekends and get my Dunkin fix. I think that's a fair trade and still allow myself a treat so I am not completely depriving myself. Saving $2 a day doesn't seem like much but it adds up. This change in coffee habit saves me $10 a week which turns into a yearly savings of $520 a year.
Movies. Way back when, I used to go to the movies on a pretty regular basis, at least once a month. I would also rent a movie almost every weekend. When Redbox came out I was excited to rent movies for just a buck. Of course half the time I would return it a day or two late. I'm not a late nighter anymore so most of the time it takes me a couple nights to see a complete movie. Because it's just a dollar I would generally get two movies and then returning a day late means every weekend I was spending $4 on movies. I have discovered that our local library has a collection of movies to rent for free. They have an entire children's collection, a DVD collection and now a BluRay collection. Now the kids get some library time to read some books, do puzzles and play on the computer, then we check out movies. Generally two kids movies and a movie for me and my husband which would be $3 to $6 at Redbox. We get them for a whole week and they are free! So at $4 a week, I am now saving $208 per year.
Books. I have also just joined a book club and rather then buying the book I am utiziling the library as well. Plus I use the library time with the kids to spend a half hour for reading time for myself while they are playing or reading. We read one book a month which would cost $15 to 25 per month to buy. Renting from the library saves me another $277 to $300 per year.
So little sacrifices that I don't even miss, add up to big savings. I still drink coffee every day and we still rent movies every weekend, but I save about $1,000 per year by drinking office coffee and renting books and movies from the library.
Jan
I have also found simple ways to save a little money every week that add up to $1,000 per year savings. I found easy alternatives to buying things that I found I can get for free. Yes free! Who doesn't like free stuff?
Coffee. I used to have a serious Dunkin coffee habit. Every morning I bought a medium coffee and sometimes also bought a breakfast sandwich or donut. Even just the cost of coffee, now over $2 for a medium cup is $14 a week. I have cut weekday Dunkin out and drink the office coffee. I only like flavored coffee so I buy French Vanilla CoffeeMate for $2 and it lasts me about two weeks. I do splurge on the weekends and get my Dunkin fix. I think that's a fair trade and still allow myself a treat so I am not completely depriving myself. Saving $2 a day doesn't seem like much but it adds up. This change in coffee habit saves me $10 a week which turns into a yearly savings of $520 a year.
Movies. Way back when, I used to go to the movies on a pretty regular basis, at least once a month. I would also rent a movie almost every weekend. When Redbox came out I was excited to rent movies for just a buck. Of course half the time I would return it a day or two late. I'm not a late nighter anymore so most of the time it takes me a couple nights to see a complete movie. Because it's just a dollar I would generally get two movies and then returning a day late means every weekend I was spending $4 on movies. I have discovered that our local library has a collection of movies to rent for free. They have an entire children's collection, a DVD collection and now a BluRay collection. Now the kids get some library time to read some books, do puzzles and play on the computer, then we check out movies. Generally two kids movies and a movie for me and my husband which would be $3 to $6 at Redbox. We get them for a whole week and they are free! So at $4 a week, I am now saving $208 per year.
Books. I have also just joined a book club and rather then buying the book I am utiziling the library as well. Plus I use the library time with the kids to spend a half hour for reading time for myself while they are playing or reading. We read one book a month which would cost $15 to 25 per month to buy. Renting from the library saves me another $277 to $300 per year.
So little sacrifices that I don't even miss, add up to big savings. I still drink coffee every day and we still rent movies every weekend, but I save about $1,000 per year by drinking office coffee and renting books and movies from the library.
Jan
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)