Posted on Thursday, September 8, 2016

5 Ways to Sneak In Self-care

Self-care is an important aspect of daily life. But sometimes the demands of work, kids and school can leave little time to take care of yourself. However, it’s important to remember that you can’t take care of others if you don’t take care of yourself first. Also, neglecting self-care for too long can have vast repercussions on your overall health and wellbeing. September is Self-improvement Month and I want to help you be the best version of yourself. Today, we are going to discuss five ways to sneak self-care in to your busy schedule.

First, wake up an hour early to live an hour more. Get up and go for a sunrise walk, or go to the gym and life some weights. I understand it’s difficult to get up an hour earlier when you’re exhausted and over worked. But starting your day off with some fresh air and a little bit of exercise will get you started on the right foot.

Second, schedule in me-time. Set aside a half an hour in between meetings to do some meditation. Meditating can help put your mind at ease, rid you of anxiety and increase your body awareness. Or just do some breathing exercises at your desk.

Third, sign up for a class of some sort such as yoga or Pilates. It will get your blood flowing and relax you. If exercise isn’t your thing sign up for an art class. Or, pick up some colored pencils and an adult coloring book. Art is very therapeutic.

Fourth, treat yourself to a manicure and pedicure or a massage. While you’re there turn off your phone, don’t let it distract you or let yourself get caught up in the stresses of the day.

Fifth, unwind with a bubble bath. You need to bathe anyways, so why not relax a bit. Grab some candles and put some Epsom salts in the tub. This will help your muscles relax and allow you to get a good night’s sleep.

It’s important to understand that self-care isn’t selfish. You need to take time for yourself each and every day in order to be a good mother, wife and caregiver.

For more healthcare tips for you and your family, check out my workbook for dealing with caring for your children, as well as your aging parents: Life in the Sandwich Generation. Life in the Sandwich Generation is a workbook filled with information, tips and tricks for managing the demands needing to care for your aging parents, as well as taking care of your children. It details how you can involve your children in the process, how to learn more about your parents health and finances, while still making time for yourself and your spouse. You can find it here for only $10!

Posted on Monday, September 5, 2016

6 Healthy Breakfast Ideas for Back to School

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. And with kids going back to school, it’s important that they give their brain the proper fuel it needs when they get back to the classroom. Eating in the morning helps kick start your metabolism and keeps your body running efficiently. Starting the morning off with a healthy, nutritious breakfast is very important for adults too. Today, I will be sharing some healthy breakfast ideas. Want to know the added bonus? They’re quick and so easy that the kids can do it on their own!

Oatmeal with Fruit and Nuts

Oatmeal is so quick and so easy. Whether you make it on the stove or in the microwave, it packs a huge punch. Make sure you’re using steel cut oats. Mix in some fresh fruit and nuts, such as almonds. Want to make it even easier? Try overnight oats. Put a cup of oats in a mason jar with some milk and let them sit in the fridge over night. The oats will be light and fluffy in the morning. They can be eaten cold or warm. This will allow you to hit snooze a few extra times in the morning.

Peanut Butter Toast

Kids love peanut butter. Pop a piece of bread in the toaster, spread on peanut butter, then sprinkle some cinnamon and chia seeds. Chia seeds are full of fiber to help keep you full, and the cinnamon adds an extra kick of flavor. You can even cut up a banana and put it on top or have it on the side. It’s so easy the kids can do it totally on their own!

Smoothies

Smoothies aren’t always healthy and can pack a ton of calories if you’re not careful. But if you use the right ingredients, they are a great option for busy mornings. Make sure you use Greek yogurt and lots of fruit and ice cubes. Greek yogurt is full of protein to help keep you full. You can add chia seeds or ground flax seed for extra fiber. What’s even better? You can drink it in the car on the way to school or work! Check out my Instagram page throughout this whole month. I will be sharing healthy smoothie recipes for you to enjoy.

Frittata or Quiche

Does anyone actually know the difference between a frittata and quiche? Because I sure as heck don’t. But both are excellent options for a healthy breakfast. You can use a variety of different veggies and some high quality cheese. The best part? You can make them ahead of time. Sure, omelets are delicious, but that means you’d have to wake up even earlier. Add a side of fruit or turkey bacon and you’re good to go.

Protein Pancakes

Healthy pancakes? Enough said. Before the school year starts head to the local health food store and pick up some Kodiak Cakes. Kodiak Cakes are whole-wheat flour mixture that are packed with protein. To up the protein content and ward off hunger even longer, add one egg and a cup of milk. Wisk the ingredients together, throw them on the burner, and you’ve got delicious, fluffy pancakes. Top with some fresh maple syrup and some cut up strawberries. Yum!

Avocado Toast

Avocado toast is one of my favorite breakfast time meals — by itself or with something on the side. Top it with a runny egg and you have me hooked. It has the right amount of healthy fats, protein, and carbs to fuel your day!

Water

Don’t forget to hydrate. You should always start your morning with at least one big glass of water. Your body dehydrates as you sleep and water helps to get your digestion going in the morning. Try adding a splash of apple cider vinegar to your water for an additional fat burning push. Coffee and green tea are also good options but make sure they don’t take the place of water. And keep the sugar and creamer limited.

With all of these delicious, healthy options your kids — and your partner — will stop reaching for that box of cereal that’s full of sugar an opt for a healthy breakfast instead.

Posted on Thursday, September 1, 2016

5 Tips to Keep Your Kids Safe in the Car

When it comes to the safety of your children, nothing is more important than safety in the car and car seat. Accidents happen every day, and without proper restraints and precautions, the impact from a motor vehicle crash can cause serious harm to your child. This doesn’t only apply to infants but teens, too. Car crashes are one of the leading causes of death in teenagers in the United States. September is Baby Safety Month so we will be devoting a lot of time to this and other topics. Today, we will be discussing what you can do to protect yourself and your kids when you get behind the wheel.

So, what’s the deal with car seats?

We all know that properly restraining your child while in the car can keep them out of harm’s way, but there is so much to know.

First, your car seat should grow with your baby. There are four types of car seats needed; rear facing infant, front facing toddler, high back, and a booster seat for older kids. Overwhelmed already? You don’t necessarily need to get one car seat that converts to all four but it is likely you will need all of these types of seats as your child grows. As their height and weight change the way they sit in the car changes too. This is why there is a need for different car seat types.

Second, a lot of people don’t know to do this, but you can register your car seat to get recall notices. You don’t want to have to hear about a dangerous recall on your infant’s car seat through the news or word of mouth. Get recalls right to your inbox. This way you can correct the problem immediately and prevent any possible danger to your child.

Third, believe it or not, your child should use a booster seat until around age 12, or until they are big enough that the seat belt fits them properly. Most child safety organizations say that if they’re taller than 4-feet-9-inches they no longer need a booster seat. Make sure your child meets specific height and weight requirements before forgoing the car seat.

Fourth, it might not be a bad idea to have an extra car seat for a backup in case of emergency. Things break at the worst time. Running late to a family event? If the buckle on the car seat breaks you’re in big trouble. Having an extra one laying around, even if it’s one you bought for cheap at a local resale store, will save you a lot of headaches.

Fifth, if you are unsure how to get the car seat in the car properly, visit to your local police or fire department; they will help you. Safety personnel are trained to do this and they may even be able to give you additional valuable safety information. Also, you should have the car seat installed a few weeks before baby arrives. You never know when you will go in to labor, so it’s always good to be prepared.

A few car safety rules…

No young children in the front seat. They’re too small, and if there’s an accident and the air bags deploy, they can be severely injured. The back seat is the safest place for kids.

Seat belts are a must – even in the back seat. A lot of states, such as Michigan, don’t require seat belts to be worn while riding in the back seat if you’re over 16. Frankly, this law is stupid and dangerous. Safety belts should be worn at all times. Safety belts save lives.

…and rules for your teenage driver

Turning the right age to drive — 16 years in many, but not all, states — is a big deal. They are getting their license, maybe getting a car, but teenage drivers can be very dangerous. It is important that you set some rules to ensure your teen driver is safe and responsible behind the wheel before handing over the keys.

No loud music. A lot of kids wants to blast the music as they cruise down the street in their first car, but blaring music prevents them from hearing important things, such as an ambulance or another car. Sometimes another driver may need to let out a honk to alert a car that they are there. If the music is too loud that warning may not be heard causing an accident to occur.
No cell phones while driving, even hands-free. Chatting on the phone can cause a distraction. If there’s an emergency and they need to make a call, they should pull over until they are off the phone.
Only one friend in the car at first. The more people in the car, the more potential for distraction. Set a rule that until you feel they are ready there can only be one person in the car with them at a time. Some states already have provisional licenses that restrict the number of people in the car. Check your state’s laws.

Hopefully you found these car seat and car safety tips and tricks to be helpful.

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