Working Out ~ Tori

As a busy mom it can be incredibly hard to find time to work out. When there is a bit of time in my day I can think of so many other ways to fill that time. Quiet reading time, cleaning (as a mom to two young boys something ALWAYS needs cleaning), etc. The list goes on and on.

But the fact of the matter is that we all need to work out. What method we use to work out will vary, but keeping healthy is the main goal we all have in common.

Sometimes it's best to just quit over thinking and make some extra time in our day for working out. A little time each day will help us in so many ways.

Working out makes you feel better, helps you live longer, and (believe it or not) makes you have more energy.

And if you don't have time for a complex work out routine there are many simple ways to sneak in a few methods to help you. Maybe take the stairs instead of the elevator. 

Have a day planned at the park with the kiddos? Walk there instead of driving. Or walk to a place close to you that you usually drive to. No sense in wasting money on gas when you could enjoy the day and take a nice walk.

Set your clock a bit early in the morning (even 15-30 mins) to get in an early morning work out. Do some squats, jumping jacks, yoga, etc. Do zumba once a week. There are so many ways you can make working out a part of your daily routine without infringing on anything else. And although it may seem a task at first you will very soon notice some small differences in your days. Increase in energy, better mood, you will find yourself sleeping better at night, you'll find an extra little spark in your sex life, and you'll notice over time weight loss.

I for one like to get up a bit early. There's a window (albeit a small one) where everyone in my house is asleep and I can wake up without dragging my feet around. It's about thirty minutes and I use this time to get some workouts in. The house is silent, I have a space to myself, and I get at it. It's nice to have a bit of quiet time to myself and know that I'm bettering myself (even if a little bit) by getting my workout in. And even though I often find some of my muscles sore I notice a significant difference throughout my daily routine. I tend to be happier, have more energy, and feel more accomplished. 

Just remember that if your working out to maintain weight eating healthy also goes hand in hand with that. Not saying cut out everything delicious in your life. Life is short and we must live it. But here and there we can make better choices. 

By working out you will feel better about yourself, you'll feel more sexy, more confident. We can all use some of that right?

It's a great stress burner and it will calm you through some of those tough moments sure to pop up through your normal mom day.

Bottom line is exercise can be fun, and it can definitely make you feel better.

The best advice as one mom to another that I can give you is just don't put to high of expectations on working out. Often we set ourselves for too high of goals that we find difficult to reach. Everyone is different and we all work at our own pace. No body is the same. Just have fun with working out and be a friend to yourself rather than an enemy. 

If you have worked out all week long and there's no difference than the previous week don't be down on yourself. At least you haven't gained! And most importantly at least your keeping active and having fun.

Nobody is perfect and as long as your on the path to bettering yourself, you are on the right path. Have patience with working out and have patience with yourself. Don't expect the same results that someone else may gain from working out because you are not them. And most importantly, I can't say this enough, have fun!

Homemade Products vs. Store Bought Products ~ Tori

 

 

 

This week we're going to be discussing homemade VS store bought products. To figure out which is the right one for you, you need to factor out quality and cost. Asking yourself these questions can help:

 

• Is the quality the same?
• Will I be saving money?
• Which is healthier for my family?
• Do I have all the ingredients and time needed to get into homemade products?

Those are just a few questions you can ponder. To be honest I do dabble in a lot of homemade items. Going to the store for certain things can be so pricey, and such a waste of time if you can make something just as good at home.

One of my favorite things to make is homemade febreeze which calls for some fabric softener, baking soda, and water.

You can also make your own fabric softener (which I haven't tried yet but would like to).

Most generally when making something homemade you get a lot more of it than you would if you go to the store and purchase it. Your also going to save money in the long run even if you do seem to be spending more at first on certain ingredients. Mainly because the ingredients you buy, you will be able to use over and over, as well as use them for other products.

 

Personally I think a lot of homemade products are much better than store bought. The quality is better, and you get a lot more bang for your buck. Problem is the time it takes to make them. For instance, cake mixes. I love making cakes from scratch, but sometimes I'm short on time or energy and find myself using boxed mixes more than anything. I would like to get into making more homemade products for my family and household. There's everything out there right at your fingertips.

Most homemade household cleaners for instance are much better than store bought. Homemade baby food can be much healthier and safer for your child to eat.

 

We all have the ability to go completely homemade, and to be honest I prefer homemade objects. But I still need store bought as well. I need store bought sunscreen, mosquito repellent, etc. But when you take a look around you can find easy to make things that are just as good as store bought (even if they take a bit of time to make) that will save you money.

 

Do you make anything homemade? Which one do you prefer? Homemade or store bought?

April Goals - Leslie

I apologize in advance for the more short and to the point post.  A is running a fever today and is very clingy, so I am writing one-handed with a whiny toddler on my lap.  My April goals are pretty typical for this time of year, what with the start of spring and all.  My strategy to accomplish these goals is to take out a big chunk this week since school (and work) is out on spring break.  That way I won't have to worry about getting the time consuming things done on weekends or try to fit them in on work days.  Now... we'll just see if that's what actually happens.

Goal #1 - Spring Cleaning
This place is a mess.  There is stuff EVERYWHERE.  It's time to go through and purge, clean, and organize.  That will be the project for the majority of my spring break.  I just can't stand all the clutter anymore.  Here is a rough schedule of things I'd like to accomplish:

Sunday 3/31 - Bathroom, kitchen, and laundry.
Monday 4/1 - Living Room and dining room.
Tuesday 4/2 - Bedroom and laundry.
Wednesday 4/3 - Deep clean and organize front of apt.
Thursday 4/4 - Deep clean and organize back of apt.
Friday 4/5 - Haul stuff to Goodwill.

Goal #2 - Health
I want to start eating better, as I'm sure most people do.  However, I'm really trying to give it a good shot and not just give up entirely if I mess up once.  My goal for April is to be mindful of what I'm putting inside my body.  I also want to start exercising.  I don't do anything more than just my day to day activity and I know that has to change.  I will take advantage of the sunshine and just walk or take A to the playground and run around with her.  I want to do something more than what I am without trying to push myself too far too fast.

Goal #3 - Family Time/Personal Time
Hopefully by getting the major cleaning tasks done this week, I can free up some much needed family time for the rest of the month.  I'm hoping that all I will have to worry about with cleaning is just maintaining, rather than starting from a super mess.  I would love to be able to sit down and read a book more often, or play with Addie, or go outside and not have to worry about the dishes that need to be washed or the mountain of laundry waiting for me. 

Goal #4 - A Activities
I want to find more things to do with A.  It's getting warmer and thus I think there will be more available to choose from.  I would love to find something we can afford to get her involved with as well, whether it's dance, an art class, a music class, a sport, or just a playgroup.  I want her to be more involved with other kids her age starting now since we are planning to homeschool.  I want her to be able to form those bonds of friendship with others.  We go to the local library toddler time every week, but she is shy and slowly starting to be more comfortable there.  I would like for her to do something else as well, if we could.

Goal #5 - Save Money
A major goal for me, and not just in April.  We've had some difficulty getting adjusted lately, but I want to start putting away some green to use in emergencies or for vacations.  S'yeah.

Those are my goals for April and hopefully I can check at least some, if not all, off the list.  Wish me luck!

If you have any topic suggestions please feel free to send them our way!  thecaseofthemissingcheerios@gmail.com