Posted by admin on July 12th, 2008 — Posted in Travel Hall
Well we are getting into the festive season now, and it seems that you have a love/hate relationship with it. However much we love it, everyone is concerned about the damage that will be done to their healthy living plans, especially with the sports facilities closed for such a long time. I have had so many requests to continue with my Christmas survival ideas, so this week; here is the low-down on Christmas dinner;
The original Christmas dinner has the potential to be a brilliant nutrition-packed meal, with its emphasis on low-fat turkey meat and lots of tasty vegetables. So why is it that the average Christmas dinner seems to contain almost an entire day’s calories? If you go for the turkey, roast potatoes, bacon, vegetables, pudding with brandy butter, and a couple of glasses of wine you are looking at around 1400 calories and 56.8g fat. Many people will bump it up to 2000 calories or more, with the addition of larger portions, seconds, sausages, more wine, and chocolates. So how can we turn this binge into a healthy feast?
Well, many of the essential ingredients of a Christmas dinner are bursting with nutrition;
The Good:
• Turkey meat is rich in iron, zinc, phosphorus, potassium and B vitamins, and also contains an ingredient to boost the happy hormones in your brain. Turkey is naturally low in fat; the darker meat is slightly higher in fat, but also rich in iron. Remove the skin and consume half the amount of fat.
• I think the second yummiest ingredient has got to be the roast potato. Potatoes are fabulous, providing us with energy, potassium, and vitamins B and C. If you want them to be healthier, then leave on the skins when you roast them to boost their vitamin and fiber content. Instead of drenching them in oil, invest in an olive-oil spray, and spray lightly before roasting. When you serve them up, don’t go wild, exercise restraint. If you are super-virtuous, then have boiled spuds with olive oil and chopped chives, baked potato or roasted sweet potato- start a new tradition!
• There is no forgetting the sprouts. These humble vegetables are bursting with goodness; powerful cancer-fighting ingredients, vitamins, minerals and fiber. Treat them kindly and steam them rather than boiling the poor things to death. If you feel like experimenting, then roast them for 30 -40 minutes in a little olive oil, give them a shake half way, and add some flaked almonds. Roasted sprouts are milder and sweeter - give them a go!
• Make sure that all of your other vegetables are lightly steamed, this keeps in the wonderful beneficial nutrients, try; carrots, rich in antioxidants, green beans, peas, little sticks of swede, or make a cauliflower mash by steaming a head of cauliflower and mashing with some wholegrain mustard.
The Bad:
• Streaky bacon, at 6g of fat and 90 calories per rasher (eek), wrap it around a sausage, and you are bumping up that cholesterol and fat even further. Why not leave out the bacon and sausage, or choose low-fat Quorn sausages instead of regular ones.
• Mince pies and Christmas pudding are rich in minerals and some antioxidants because of the dried fruit content, but they are high in fat and sugar. Buy a small Christmas pudding so that everyone can have a nice portion, but it isn’t hanging around afterwards for seconds and snacking. Just one mince pie and a slice of Christmas cake can add 460 calories and 18g of fat- ouch! Why not make apple pies with a little mincemeat added for a change. Make a big fruit salad and put it in the fridge, then everyone can snack on this in stead of picking away at pies and pudding.
The Ugly:
• Well Brandy butter is basically sugar and butter with brandy added. It is packed with fat, refined sugar and cholesterol; thank goodness we only have it once a year. If you want to cut out some serious calories, you could have Christmas pudding with half-fat crme fraiche, which is a delicious addition to the sweet pudding, and so much healthier.
• Why does everything about Christmas have to be so big? Filling the house with JUMBO bags of crisps and peanuts, biscuits and chocolates will not do anyone any favors. All are high in fat, sugar or salt; easy to eat, and bad for you. Get some bags of clementines, and dried fruit and nuts, you will be hard pushed to pig out on shelled nuts because it takes so long to get into them! Resist the urge to buy bumper packs of things which will linger in the cupboard waiting to be munched.
• Sitting down in front of the TV after your lunch is the worst thing that you can do. If you want to beat the bulge and the bloating, then get the whole family out for some fresh air. A good walk will banish that post-dinner lethargy and stop the Christmas pudding from settling on your thighs.
Well I hope that this has given you some hope; there are so many good healthy foods around at this time of year, so place the emphasis on these, and resist the Bullying supermarkets attempts to make you buy enormous packets of Pringles and barrels of salted nuts. Eat, drink and be merry, but eat and drink the right things, and you will be feeling much more merry by January!
Until next time, take care and stay healthy!
Vikki Scovell BA(hons) PG DIP is a fully qualified Personal Trainer and Fitness Coach. She is a qualified Nutrition Adviser and runs successful Community Exercise classes. Vikki is a consultant in Healthy Eating and Exercise initiatives to schools in the independent sector and publishes School and General Healthy Living newsletters. To receive your free copy of her weekly newsletter email getfitter@yahoo.co.uk
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Posted by admin on June 18th, 2008 — Posted in Travel Hall
Windsor Castle is one of the biggest occupied castles around at the moment and the oldest in nonstop occupation (more than 900 years). It is 1 of Queen Elizabeth’s 3 royal homes, and is regularly beloved to be her most favourite home. The Royal Standard flies over the Round Tower of Windsor Castle whilst Queen Elizabeth 2 is at the palace - at alternative times, the Union Jack flag soars in its position.
Samuel Pepys proclaimed Windsor Castle to be “the solitary most idealistic castle on the planet.” That was considered in sixteen sixty six & the same is true still..
Windsor Castle Prosperous History:
The launch of Windsor were in the seventh century Saxon settlement of Windlesora, where the current day village of Old Windsor is located. The town of Windsor is more accurately identified as “New Windsor” - the word “new” being used in a strictly loose sense! Visit Windsor Castle UK today with Enjoy England.
Windsor Castle at the outset was erected by the eminent William the Conqueror, on account of his attack of England in 1066. The original structure was constructed from wood with mud walls. Windsor Castle held a comprehensible tactical position on a tall hill just above the River Thames, & was one part of a group of palaces all around the City, with the Tower of London, one day’s march away, at its centre.
The Castle was soon re-erected in stone, & grew in importance over the centuries. Henry the 2nd created the Round Tower & the original stone outer wall. After the English Civil War, the building’s crucial role became that of a royal palace. The Castle has stayed essentially unaffected ever since the start of the 19th century, apart from the overhaul job after the hideous fire.
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Posted by admin on June 11th, 2008 — Posted in Adventurous Life, Sports News + More, Travel Hall
Climber from Nepal, 74, oldest person to reach the summit of the Mount Everest. His first found him within 228 metres of the peak when his team stopped to help a fellow mountaineer who was left for dead. One year later, Bahadur Sherchan, a University of Calgary alumni, returned to Chomolungma to finish what he had started.
Min Bahadur Sherchan and four climbing guides reached the 29,035-foot (8,850-meters) summit of the world’s highest mountain early Sunday, said Ramesh Chretri, an official with Nepal’s ministry of tourism.
“Mt Everest this year became a political pawn,” he said with some frustration.
Hall was frostbitten and severely disoriented due to altitude sickness. Min Bahadur Sherchan returned a hero to Calgarians. The Chinese were flying their airplanes over Mount Everest and had Chinese officials in Kathmandu. “The Chinese weren’t allowing anybody on Chomolungma or Mount Everest. They ended up commandeering it for themselves, even though Everest is shared by two countries. As he planned for the climb, Sherchan told reporters he wanted to inspire fellow senior citizens. He also said many Nepalese have established records on Mt Everest, so it was only fitting that the record for the oldest climber to reach the summit should also belong to a Nepali. They flexed their muscles this year all the in name of the Olympic spirit, but it was hardly spirited at all.”
Nevertheless, the decision to actualize a long-time personal goal left Andrew Brash with some internal uncertainties, he cited the political actions of China and Nepal as providing the greatest adversity he faced on his journey. More than 3272 people have climbed to the summit since it was first conquered in 1953 by New Zealander Edmund Hillary, who died in January, and Nepal’s Tenzing Norgay.
Bahadur Sherchan last attempt resulted in the rescue of Lincoln Hall, an Australian climber who was left by his team in the “death zone.”
This year French climber Anthony Loeff is reporting the scales for the Mount Everest after reaching the top of Mont Blanc earlier this season.
Andrew Brash returned this week from Nepal after successfully climbing to the summit of Everest. They basically coerced the Nepali government to not allow any climbers past camp two on the Nepali side. Further, he was all too aware of the potential dangers Chomolungma or Mount Everest could bring. Certain parts of the climb are more dangerous than others and it is important for climbers to remain focused Now that Min Bahadur Sherchan has successfully scaled the tallest mountain in the world, he is once again ready to focus on his family. Sherchan just 17 days away from his 77th birthday beat the age record set last year by 71-year-old Japanese teacher Katsusuke Yanagisawa.
With the Chinese preparing for the impending summer Olympic Games, Bahadur Sherchan noted that the government’s actions hardly reflected the Olympic spirit. The 77-year-old man from Nepal is now the oldest person to have reached the top of Chomolungma.
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Posted by admin on May 31st, 2008 — Posted in Travel Hall
Hampton Court Palace is placed to the south-west of London City, on the banks of the River Thames, surrounded by wood and remarkable gardens. Hampton Court Palace, King Henry eight’s impressive riverside estate is set in over six hundred acres of land & grounds. For a special family day out, visit Hampton Court Palace today.
Introducing the sensations of over four hundred and fifty years of rituals, fancy dressed entertainers can be glimpsed within Henry 8th’s and King William 3s astounding private homes. The sights, sounds & pong of the excellent Tudor kitchens where royal occasions were prepared for Henry?s dinning room of over 1000 individuals can also be viewed.
Hampton Court Palace has been split into six distinct routes or trips. The Maze at Hampton Court Palace that is built on the Thames to the west of the City is maybe the most well-known hedge maze in the world.
Hampton Court palace has a scandalous custom & is supposed to be haunted by some ghosts, including 2 of Henry’s dead wives and a nurse to his children. Hampton Court Palace keepers and staff will be on hand to assist visitors to their chosen state estate for a champagne & canap?s welcome. Costumed employees will declare the evening supper and visitors will be called to take their designated seats for a tremendous two course meal with chosen fine champagne.
Hampton Court Palace has sixty acres of state gardens as well as the 500 acres of royal plants. The palace gardens date back to the 16th Century, when the earliest Privy Garden was installed between fifteen thirty and fifteen-thirty eight for King Henry the eighth.
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Posted by admin on May 26th, 2008 — Posted in Travel Hall
Being green is a thing that is going to influence us all in the next eight years. We have Eco Travel, Electric Cars & Biological Diesels to look at now.
There are several sorts of Bio Fuels. Biological Fuels are many principally plant based substitutes to oil- based Diesels such as petroleum, diesel and cooking oil. Burning biodiesel gives out CO2 emissions, however, this is offset through the fact that the plants used to fabricate it uses CO2 emissions from the atmosphere to develop. Nonetheless the climate benefits of Bio Diesels are hotly debated, with some environmentally friendly authors maintaining that Biological Fuels cause more destruction than good. There are 2 prime sorts of Biological Diesel & Ethanol.
As the brand suggests, biodiesel is considered for use in diesel tanks. Biodiesel is extraordinarily related to veg oil and is produced from the similar varieties of plants- oil rich sources such as sun flower, palm, rapeseed & groundnut. Biological Diesel may also be fabricated from turkey fat or oils reused from Spanish cuisine restaurants. Biodiesel and fuels will often be tried smart in some diesel automobiles, however, at this current time Biodiesel is more typically reflected in a mixture with normal diesel- ordinarily 0.12 biodiesel with regular diesel fuel. This recipe can often be burned by any regular diesel motorcycle.
Ever thought about acquiring a environmentally friendly car? There is two forms the G WIZ & the Mega City electric car. The above are genuinely climate friendly travel machines; in fact they are an environmental vision. Electric cars don’t construct any carbon dioxide emissions in fact much more to the point Bio Diesels cars do not even own an exhaust pipe. Because if you power a climate change friendly car from renewable energy, it generates zero emissions. Even though this electric car has many advantages it does have several cons as well. The apparent one being it is a climate change friendly car and it might only do 92 miles before you have to recharge the car powerpack & this on the whole has to be finished over night, if you’re organising on doing a long road trip, this may have to be powered up over the course of some trips.
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Posted by admin on May 25th, 2008 — Posted in Travel Hall
The Katrina hurricane, the Central America tropical storms and their lethal effects, the intense drought in the Amazon basin with abnormal and not entirely known consequences… The gods of nature seem angry with the Americans. America is under pressure.
Perhaps we should remember some radical words expressed by an eminent climatologist, some years ago: Climate is an unpredictable wild beast, and we are poking at it with sticks (W. Broecker).
I am not trying to suggest that all those natural catastrophes are just a direct consequence of man’s action. But who dares to say that there is no connection? Who dares to say that the infuriated El Nino and all these disasters have nothing to do with modern civilization and their impact on natural eco-systems?
Who dares to say that the destruction of the Amazon forest has nothing to do with what is happening?
Paul Lefebvre, a researcher running a monitoring station in the Amazon, says that the ocean waters in the North Atlantic are warmer than usual, which tends to encourage evaporation, creating storm conditions towards the south of the United States and Central America. And that this warming also sets up high pressure systems further south, in regions such as the Amazon, causing less clouds and providing less rainwater…
More: in future terms, present drought in the Amazon can reduce substantially the growth of trees, which may prevent the forest’s ability to soak up the carbon dioxide that our cars and industry send to the atmosphere. Something that can intensify climate change; Amazon can become part of the problem of climate change, instead of part of the solution.
Unfortunately, the international press and political powers are not picking up and reporting the problem in its true dimension. The ways these issues are presented, are clearly sketchy.
The International press reproduced the words of President Lula of Brazil, about the calamitous Amazon drought. But… what about the regular destruction of the forest? And the causes of the waters warming in the north Atlantic?
In the case of the Amazon, we tend to forget that there are daily fires in the big forest. That Amazon continues to be deforested at a steady pace. Every day, even outside the burning season, fire envelops the jungle. Everyday, a piece of the Amazon disappears. And that isn’t sufficiently contested or publicized. And, still less, its impact in other natural disasters is normally omitted.
The Press report only the spectacular and sensational to satisfy consumer demand. Hidden causes are regularly forgotten. Without famous celebrities stressing the source of our evils, we tend to forget them. And, unfortunately, the Amazon rainforest has no more a Chico Mendes hero.
Eduardo Reisinho publishes Brazil-Travel-Guide.com
(Brazil Travel Guide), a website where you can look for more information about the Amazon rainforest, and other themes and travel information involving Brazil.
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Posted by admin on May 18th, 2008 — Posted in Travel Hall
Few cities of the world can truly stir the emotions - romantic dreams, adventurous spirit, waves of excitement, even twinges of envy. Over time, they have become the inspiration for novels and films, the obsessions of ravenous warmongers, and the marketing tools of TV producers who flash their images across our screens to make us gush, “Oh, this must be an important, credible international news program that covers the big stories as they happen” and “Smashing! This travel show really has been to the cool places, let’s see where they venture tonight”. However, you can only really say you’ve made it as a truly great city when they write a nursery rhyme about one of your bridges, even when it’s falling down.
London is the ultimate survivor.
It has endured and overcome conquests, wars, fires, plagues, terrorism, youth movements, repeated sporting defeats clutched from the hand of victory, even Chris De Burgh singing Lady in Red at the top of the charts for three weeks. Through it all, Londoners have stood proud and defiant as they adapt and continue to build their fair city.
One of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, this enormous city offers the traveler a blend of old and new worlds like nowhere else. On one hand London is innovative, energetic, dynamic, and outrageous; on the other, historic, conservative and frustratingly established. A bangers and mash of the anticipated and unexpected, but rarely the disappointing - and those who live here wouldn’t have it any other way.
Most people know a little about London even before they have been formally introduced. It may be the familiar symbols of Royals, bowler hats, well mannered cricketing gents, well heeled ladies, majestic castles, the flowing Thames, tennis at Wimbledon, afternoon tea and scones, monopoly board landmarks, West End theatre and East End humour that spring to mind.
It could be the cobble-stoned streets of Dickens, passionate football fans, fish n chips drowning in vinegar, the labyrinth of the Underground, or the cultural phenomena and festivals celebrating music over decades starting in the swinging 60’s, through punk of the 70’s, new romantic hairdo’s of the 80’s, and pop, indie rock, dance and hip hop of the 90’s and beyond.
More than this, the city is renowned for it’s wealth of history and culture. As home to Britain’s national art collections, striking architecture, over 200 museums, the worlds premier theatre productions, 5 major orchestras, 2 major opera companies; there is something for visitors of all historic and artistic persuasions.
Anyone familiar with television shows and films set in the city might be forgiven for thinking we spend all our time in our local pub telling jokes and hard luck stories, or doing deals on goods that conveniently fell off the back of a truck. In fact, there are more parks and green space in London than in any city of its size in the world, where we wander, picnic, and play, away from the bustle of big city living - before the pub opens anyway.
The city is a shop-a-holics nirvana - just ask any female armed with a credit card and the lamest of excuses for a spending spree. From major department stores to designer boutiques and street markets, if you can’t find it in London, it probably doesn’t exist. And once you’ve lugged all that booty back to your hotel, there are hundreds of restaurants, pubs, cinemas, nightclubs, live music and comedy venues to keep you entertained well into the early hours.
London has also embraced multiculturalism like very few places in the world. It has become a cultural melting pot with over 10 million people from all over the world now calling it home. The integration of western cultures with people from Africa, West Indies, and all over Asia has transformed the city into one of the most diverse destinations for first time travelers, and the hundreds of thousands who return year after year.
“Just stop right there, old chap” I hear you say. “This is all rather charming, stirring and patriotic, but you’ve failed to even mention how damn expensive the place is!” Actually, we were just getting to that part.
It’s true. London is one of the most expensive cities in the world, painfully so for some. In fact, it’s rumored that instead of using whips and chains, London dominatrix now just stand about looking very stern while converting international clients travel expenses from the merciless English Pound into their submissive local currency with a leather-bound calculator. Ouch!
London is great fun so if you are visiting or planning to visit you will have a wonderful time.
Gareth Owen is the owner and co-ordinator of www.londonvacationguide.com
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Posted by admin on May 16th, 2008 — Posted in Travel Hall
If you are cruising for the first time - congratulations! You
are in for a unique, worthwhile experience. As a newbie, though,
you probably have questions about some of the do’s and don’ts of
traveling aboard a cruise ship. Luckily, there are many die-hard
cruisers who are happy to share some tips to make your first
time more rewarding.
Before You Leave Home:
Have a friend or neighbour take in your mail daily. Accumulating
mail is a big sign to thieves and other troublemakers that no
one is home. You could also have your mail held at the post
office until you return.
Set your lights on timers so that it appears someone is home to
deter troublemakers. Tell your neighborhood community patrol to
make a few extra passes by your home while you are away.
Preprint labels and stamps if you plan to mail postcards out
while you are on your cruise. This saves some time and you won’t
have to lug around an awkward address book.
Money Matters:
Stock up on traveler’s checks since they are replaceable if lost
or stolen. To expedite the replacements should your traveler’s
checks be lost or stolen, write down the serial numbers and put
them in a safe and separate place. That way, it makes the bank’s
job a little easier and speed up the process for your
replacements.
Keep a handy supply of small denominational bills, usually one’s
and five’s. Tipping is appreciated for porters and stewards at
both the airport and docking pier of the ship. This is
especially important in foreign countries. Horror stories abound
about stolen or “lost” bags that never make it to the ship.
Sometimes, you have got to grease their palms with cash. It’s a
small price to pay for having your clothing and toiletries
aboard for your cruise.
To avoid long lines at the end of your cruise, check out your
ending invoice on your account. Check for any errors and resolve
them as soon as possible. There is no sense adding the stress of
standing in line to pay your final tab after you just had a
relaxing vacation.
Take a few rubber bands with you to wrap around your wallet. The
rubber will “grab” onto your clothing. This makes it very
difficult for a pickpocket to part with your wallet without you
feeling it.
Kid Stuff:
If you are traveling with babies or toddlers, paper throwaway
bibs are perfect for protecting your child from stains and
messes at meal times, thus prolonging the wear of their
clothing.
Bring a collapsible stroller for your young child. The cruise
ship is a happening place and before long you will hear the
strains of “I’m tired! Carry me!” This is exhausting to parents.
With a stroller, you can just pop your kid inside and roll on.
Pack a few portable, self contained snacks for your child like
peanut butter or cheese crackers. These will come in handy and
are much cheaper than buying some once you are cruising or at
port.
Odds and Ends:
Throw inside your suitcase a few of those annoying plastic
shopping bags that you usually get from the grocery store. These
are handy for storing dirty clothing.
If you have an inside cabin, take a nightlight with you.
Darkness is not fun when you are in a strange room. No sense
running into walls or stubbing your toe if you can avoid it.
Little maglight keychain flash lights are handy too.
Bring a little first aid kits for those minor emergencies. Wet
wipes are handy too for those instance were a sink isn’t handy.
There are literally hundreds of cruise tips that can save the
sanity of newbie travelers. Think of those little shortcuts or
ideas that you use at home. Decide if they are adaptable to the
cruise ship. The less you have to worry about, the more relaxed
you will be after your cruise.
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Posted by admin on May 1st, 2008 — Posted in Travel Hall
Here are 11 easy ways to help your kids celebrate Easter.
1.Make paper plate bunnies. Simply take one white paper
plate and cut 2 ear shapes from it and staple or glue them
to the top of another white paper plate and draw a face on
it. Glue cotton balls around the edge of the plate.
2.Cut out construction paper Easter eggs and color and paint
them to hang around the house.
3.Use rabbit, chick, cross and egg shaped cookie cutters for
toast, sandwiches, brownies, rice krispie treats and more.
4.Color your own eggs by making your own egg dye. Try beet
juice, kool aid and anything that has color.
5.Make Easter egg holders, cut empty paper towel tubes about
2 inches each and wrap in colorful paper. You can then sit
your eggs on them.
6.Cut out construction paper egg shapes and write a Bible
verse on each one about what Easter is really about.
7.Make small Easter baskets and deliver to nursing homes to
those residents that never get visitors and to your elderly
neighbors.
8. Read the Easter story in the Bible and some Easter books.
9. Have an Easter egg hunt and invite children of the
community.
10. Decorate an outside tree with plastic Easter eggs.
11. Have a special breakfast, lunch or dinner on Easter
Sunday!
Angela Billings is a stay at home wife and mother who
publishes an online newsletter Home and Family Ezine.
http://www.homeandfamilyezine.com
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Posted by admin on April 12th, 2008 — Posted in Travel Hall
“Being organized…frees you up to prepare you for both the dizzying frustrations and distractions, as well as the surprising opportunities and celebrations, that come our way.” Carolina Fernandez (from ROCKET MOM! 7 Strategies To Blast You Into Brilliance)
Towards the end of the summer, I took my thirteen-year-old daughter and her friend on an unexpected shopping excursion. Having gotten kicked out of Six Flags Water Park by thunder and a cloudburst, the girls voted on-and won-a quick trip to the mall on the way home. Dragging me (and younger brother and brother’s friend) to a favorite clothing shop, we were met by two denim skirts possessing magnetic powers, as they almost immediately found their way onto these girls’ torsos. Proving adorable on, we got two. The fact that my daughter’s skirt has a row of dangling threads (seems to be the new style) doesn’t diminish my liking to it. But I find myself with a nearly insatiable desire to get out my scissors every time my daughter prances by wearing it. I want to snip those loose threads. Trim it up. Have it hang from her dangling-thread free.
The story of my life.
My personality yearns for a dangling-thread-free life. For loose ends to be snipped. Garbage taken out and clean laundry folded. Thank-you notes written and emails replied to. Calendars synced up and ducks perfectly lined up in rows.
Don’t get me wrong. Oil painter that I am, I have a fairly high tolerance for chaos. Half-finished canvases have lined my family room floor-in my makeshift studio-for months. A pint-sized violin rests most days on the back of my living room sofa, rather than safely tucked inside its case. And Victor’s new oboe finds itself almost always on the edge of his bed, which remains, many mornings, only half-made. What with four kids in four different schools, a traveling husband and a needy lapdog, my life can be summed up by my girlfriend’s license plate: “BEDLAM.” Add to that our ongoing chemo protocol with upwards of nine-hour days away from home some days, and I’m ready to throw up my hands in desperate resignation.
I long for simplicity. For having loose threads snipped such that I can meet my responsibilities-with discipline-as well as celebratory opportunities-with creativity-that come my way.
Fall is officially upon us. Leaves are falling (onto my freshly-swept deck); bulbs are begging for planting (in my just-weeded garden); and clothes are waiting to be rotated (in my recently-edited closets). Thankyouverymuch.
There’s always something.
So how do we rocket moms get our acts together in order to lead more creative, gratifying lives? While oodles of strategies are found in my book, ROCKET MOM!, here are my 4 Quick Tips for fall:
Sniff: Walk around your house and sniff our patterns of inefficiency. Last Tuesday, in a bout of fall fever and its resultant flurry of housekeeping, I realized that no one in my family-including myself-was benefiting from my art “studio” plunked squarely in the middle of the family room floor. Nearly-constant-begging-for-a-barn-studio-for-my-birthday notwithstanding, I realized that, in the meantime, I needed to create a more organized workspace for my favorite hobby. So I carried all of my extraneous canvases to the basement and hid all extraneous supplies in a nearby cabinet. I left two easels standing, each one holding a half-finished painting, and kept the rest of the area bare. Once done, I started walking around the whole house, doing the “sniff” test. Piles of clutter were perused; useless stuff was tossed. I kept sniffing until I was satisfied that things were (almost) as they should be. I venture to say that you border on the bizarre if you are capable of maintaining a perfectly perfect house while simultaneously raising kids and your spouse. But keep sniffing and keep trying.
Snip: Whatever threads are dangling, snip ‘em. Be they painful letters to write or junk mail to sort, toy closets to re-organize or car seats to vacuum…resolve to use this changing of the seasons to snip anything that’s been dangling over you. The resulting liberation is nothing short of dizzying! I confess that the piles of papers on my desk and the dozens of emails in my inbox are the two dangling threads in desperate need of snipping this week. Claim yours, too.
Sort: Clear out anything that reads “summer.” Now that the weather’s finally changing, sort out t’s, shorts and sandals; get ready for sweaters, jeans and boots. Sort through your kids’ clothing and donate or rotate. Give away items that no longer work; shuffle things around so that fall clothing is more readily accessible. Ditto for closets. Be scrupulous. Regular sifting and sorting prevents painful dredging a few years down the road. Trust me.
Stage: As Ernie took Nick to chemo on Tuesday, I had a “free” day with which to deal with my fall fever. When a girlfriend called that night to check up on me, she was shocked to hear me tell her that I had “staged” my home for fall. Having no idea what I was talking about-she admitted that her home looked the same all year long-I explained that I had put away all summer accessories and had brought out those for the fall. Floral arrangements were re-arranged, annuals were replaced with mums, and summer’s fresh colors were reinvigorated by autumn’s subdued warmth. Mantels and window sills and tabletops were given renewed status for roosters and sunflowers, porcelains and candles. Are you building collections? Use the changing of the seasons as an opportunity to showcase and stage them. Your home needn’t look like it fell out of a Ralph Lauren scrapbook or a page in the Orvis fall catalog. But it can be creatively staged to reflect the new season in which we find ourselves.
In short, use these next couple of weeks to get your act together. Allow the crisp, fresh air to invigorate and inspire you to organize your home so that you can lead the creative, energetic life into which you were called.
Carolina Fernandez earned an M.B.A. and worked at IBM and as a stockbroker at Merrill Lynch before coming home to work as a wife and mother of four. She totally re-invented herself along the way. Strong convictions were born about the role of the arts in child development; homeschooling for ten years provided fertile soil for devising creative parenting strategies. These are played out in ROCKET MOM! 7 Strategies To Blast You Into Brilliance. It is available on Amazon.com, in bookstores everywhere, or by calling 888-476-2493. She writes extensively for a variety of parenting resources and teaches other moms via parenting classes and radio and TV interviews. Please visit http://www.rocketmom.com to subscribe to her free ezine and get a weekly shot of inspiration.
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