GREEN DRINKING, GOOD THINKING!

 With the temperature in the triple digits for the last 3 months, we all have being drinking lots of water, and that's good! But my kids had been using way too many glasses per day! With water conservation in effect, that was not only ecologically bothersome but time consuming. So, I had an idea! Every morning they get a new glass with their names on it! They drink as many times as they want ON THAT glass. At night I wash them and they  are good to go for the next morning! It saves me time, money, water and electricity!

(For the kids I used inchbug rubber labels because I had extras, and for me and hubby I just used colored hair rubber bands!)

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Back to School for kids, back to business for moms!

It has been a long time since my last post! Since then, I have dedicated two Summers to enjoying my kids while they still like me. And  in between the two Summers , I have dedicated a lot of my otherwise free time, to volunteering. I have not found the time to write or do so many other things I would love to to!

Tomorrow my kids go back to school and a new life begins for all of us. I will  make more time to write and do those things, like unfinished baby albums...before my kids go to college!

Tomorrow, my six year old son starts 1st grade at public school! He is coming from a small but fabulous Montessori school where he was since he was 18 months. He will most probably always be the youngest in his class, at least here in Texas! His birthday is July 22nd and the cut of date here is August 31st. Even though we were strongly recommended to hold him back, like most Texans do, we found our son is not only academically prepared, but mature enough to start first grade. It is not going to be easy, but we will help him believe in himself! He is not alone!

His teacher has asked us, parents, to write to our kids a (short) letter for his first day of first grade! Well, as usual, I had a hard time keeping my thought short!! Here it is:

 

Dear Nicholas,

         I still remember the day you were born! Your dad put balloons all over the house to welcome you into your brand new life! When you survived Kawasaki at only three months I knew you were a very, very strong boy! Our little miracle! And you have proved you ARE!

        

         Six years and one month, exactly, have passed and now you are starting “BIG” school! We are so proud of the young boy you have become!

        

         Today a new life begins for you and you will go to school for many years to come! Smile, relax, observe! Don’t be afraid to discover! You will make new friends, learn new things and play new sports! Enjoy! Ask for help when you need to. Remember, everyone is learning, everyday!

         Listen to your teacher!!!

         Be respectful to ALL the people and the environment around you! Be honest. If you feel confused about what to do: first listen to your heart, then follow it!

         And last but not least: LAUGH! Life is good. Have fun!

         With ALL the Love,

                                     Mom and Dad

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HOW YOU CAN DONATE YOUR HAIR!

If the excessive heat was your drive for a pixie or you simply miss the short/easy/fast hair you had once... A short cut, literally, is your way to go! Buy some magazines to check latest styles... and when you go for it, please, donate your hair! 

Most people know you can donate your hair to make wigs for "cancer patients", right? (see details ahead). How about donating your hair to Matter of Trust? They make hair booms and hair mats that are right now been sent 100% to the golf water spill, the worse disaster on our planet!

Orange Beach Alabama - June 24, 2010.
Oil plume comes up in black waves onto white beaches.

Bleached highlights? Don't want to cut your hair short? NO problem! Don't throw your hair away! Matter of Trust is taking ANY human HEAD hair or any pet hair! Actually, if you are reading this, tell your hair stylist or local pet store about it! They get hair of any length, as long as it doesn't have any trash. It's so simple! All they ask for is that you place the hair on a plastic or trash bag. That's it! Take a look at what they are doing, it is cool! 

Now, if your hair is NOT bleached, you can consider any of the companies bellow and help kids who lost their hair and their confidence, to smile again! Research shows that hair loss was considered by the majority of cancer patients the worse side effect of chemotherapy. But doing my research I found out the most children affected by hair loss actually suffer from alopecia. If  dealing with hair loss is difficult for adults, imagine how hard it is for children and teens! If your child suffers from alopecia this site offers support! 

If you wish to donate to this cause, you will have only to wash and dry the hair and send int in one or more ponytails following the directions of your chosen company. Length requirements vary from 8 to 12 inches. Some companies take even permed hair, again, as long as it has no bleach. To sterilize your hair, a chemical is used and if your hair is bleached it will not be suited for that process and Matter of Trust is your best bet! Pick yours:

Locks of Love

Wigs for Kids

Pantene Beautiful Lengths

The gorgeous picture above is by awarded children photographer Jennifer Wilson. Check her blog, she rocks!

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RELAX! GOOD ENOUGH IS GOOD ENOUGH!

Moms often try to be too much, too good, too perfect, all the time!

My life as a mom changed when I read "The Blessing of a Skinned Knee" and read a little phrase that forever stuck to me. I don't remember it exactly, but the way I memorized was that good enough is good enough. For a perfectionist and overachiever like me I need to remind myself constantly! My kids don't get to pre school on time everyday, they don't look awesome everyday and dinner doesn't taste delicious everyday... they don't eat a vegetable, a fruit, a carb, a healthy fat and a lean protein in every meal... I still try my best! But I do not stress as much now as I used to. I yell less if we are 10 or 15 minutes late. We are NOT perfect, but we ARE good enough!

Why is the picture above so beautiful? Well, while I am biased to talk about the model, my daughter, I know the beauty in this photo comes from her hair! Its not perfect, it's messy! but it's real! Real people are not perfect! And if her hair was beautifully arranged for the shot, it would not come out as good!

So...Relax! Be good enough! And be happy!

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SIMPLE BEAUTY TIPS THAT MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER

 

•  BEAUTY IS NOT HOW YOU LOOK BUT HOW YOU FEEL, SO FIRST OF ALL FIND A REASON TO BE HAPPY!
• Always shower with the coldest water you can handle. If it's Summer try cold or almost cold. You will be amazed how shinier your hair will be and how firmer your skin will get! Not to say you will feel more energetic! Cold water stimulates collagen and elastin production. What makes our skin lose elasticity is the slowing down on the production of these fiber, so tough up and get cold!
• Still dry, dull hair? Apply a mixture of pure olive or almond oil throughout you hair and scalp and sleep on it with a shower cap. Next morning, wash it and see its shine!
• The skin around your eyes is the thinnest in the body, you probably know. What's next? Your neck! Almost as thin as your eyes. So when you apply your facial products go down to your neck up to your chest. That includes your sunblock! You can now delay that pleaded chicken neck!
• Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate! Your skin is made up off 14 layers. The top layer is dead and always shading while the ones bellow keep moving up to the surface while new cells are produced underneath. A newborn's skin is completely renewed every 24 hours, that is why it is SO smooth. Ours? Hum... about 1 day per year... so mine about 40 days, since I turn 40 in about a month! So exfoliation is the best way to remove the top layer, made up of dead cells to uncover the softer skin underneath. Now, most people make the mistake to use way too much friction when exfoliating. DON'T! Let the grains gently exfoliates the skin. Too much friction will "hurt" the newer skin and may cause more harm then good. (If you look in a microscope, over exfoliated skin looks rather rough, not smooth!). So, be gentle! If you break out after exfoliating, you are using too much pressure! The grains also have to be tiny like table sugar, not too course. Try my sugar scrub! The citric acid from the lemon in it, dissolve the "cement" that hold the cells together, the sugar than scrub the dead cells away!
• Your body is your temple, YOU decide what you bring inside it. Be good and relax sometimes... that's not the same as relaxing and being good every once in a while!
• The best way to get in a better shape is to start exercising if your are not or increasing your routine if you already do something. Length is more important then intensity. At least 25 minutes (30 to 45 is best). Your metabolism will kick only after 20 minutes and will keep higher for 36 hours. Set a doable goal. Trust me, starting is the only difficult part, after you start... you won't be able to stop! Try Yoga! No other exercise eliminates more toxins then that!
• Drink a gallon of water a day! Okay... as much as you can. Eliminate those toxins!
• No time for make up? Keep a mascara and lipstick in your purse. It's like magic!
• Buy clothes the size you are, not the size you used to be or want to be. When people see you they don't know if the pants you wear are size 2 or 20 but they do notice if they are squeezing you not fitting you. Your clothes have to fit you not you fit your clothes!
• Accessorize woman! Is a beautiful house with no decoration really beautiful? Just a simple necklace, earrings, a belt or a scarf, or even a nice watch will add some charm tpo your figure!
• Dress up or wear hills sometimes... even our posture improves! And you won't look so awkward on hills if you have to attend a wedding!
• Feel proud of your age at all ages! Not ashamed or sorry! If you feel sorry for you all the time, no one else will! People will think you are annoying!
  
• Laugh everyday! Smile to strangers and see what you get back! Once I knew a person who said her mom taught her from a young age not to have too much facial expression because she would get expression wrinkles!!! How did she look? She was beautiful, still wrinkled, but looked very dull and sad...

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MY FAVORITE DISHES WITH LEFTOVER ROTISSERIE CHICKEN? #3

CHICKEN SALAD SANDWICH

INGREDIENTS: (amounts will vary depending on how much chicken you have)

Leftover Chicken shredded or cut into small pieces

1/4 cup of pineapple juice

1 tomato or 10 cherry tomatoes

1/2 Celery stalk cut into large pieces (1 if using the heart only)

1/2 Celery stalk diced

1 large carrot broken or cur into large pieces

1 large carrot diced

Grated Parmesan Cheese

2 tbsp chopped walnuts or pecans

1/4 cup raisins

Slices of toasted whole wheat bread

In a blender put the pineapple juice, tomatoes, large pieces of celery and carrot. Save the diced carrot and celery for later. Blend until texture is even. Add chicken little by little making sure you have some left. (You should obtain a paste). Add parmesan to thicken the paste as needed. Pour you patè into a large mixing bowl and add the remaining chicken, diced veggies, walnuts and raisins. Taste, add salt if needed. To give it a twist you can add cumin or curry or nutmeg. (they all go very well with this recipe but don't add all together!) Serve with the toasted bread and fresh fruit on the side or make lettuce wraps! I like to add arugula to the sandwich...Yummy!

To see other leftover rotisserie chicken go here.

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SACKS FIFTH 25% OFF YOUR ENTIRE PURCHASE!

If your husband tells you you don't need to spend more money on clothes or shoes... tell you are actually saving him money! 25% to be more exact. This one you can't miss!

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WHAT TO DO WITH THE CORKS YOU SAVE

To update my counter this spring I used this beautiful canister from Pottery Barn and fake white tulips I have had for a decade, but the stems needed coverage. The solution came to my mind when I found a bag of corks in my cupboard. Will it look nice? It did!

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BREAKFAST IN BED - WHO DOESN'T LIKE IT?

If you are bringing breakfast in bed for anyone, put attention to the details. Please, no disposable plates! I was impressed by my dear husband and kids' choices! From the plate to the arrangement of the food. Beautiful & delicious! They really put their hearts into it. Literally! THANKS!

(Pictures taken with my brand new Nikon D5000! Thanks again!)

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HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL MOTHERS!

God could not be everywhere, so he created mothers.

Jewish Proverb