Tips for Quick Ways to Pamper Yourself from Take Lessons

School is back in session here. I usually try to spend the first day of school treating myself, but this year I ended up subbing the first three days of school. Then the rest of the week was full of appointments and running errands, so I really didn't have any time to just relax and pamper myself. In years past I have met a girlfriend for lunch, gotten a pedicure, shopped, or lazily read a book on my porch those first days of school.

Self-Care is an important part staying sane as a busy mom. By taking 30 minutes (or even more if possible) to do something just for you each day, you are refreshing yourself and giving your body and mind a jump start that will allow you to get through the dreaded after school/supper/bedtime hours.

Do you have a favorite show that you can DVR and watch 30 minutes before the kids get home? We DVR all the "Friends" episodes so if I have had an especially stressful day, I will start an episode at 3:00 which gives me the perfect amount of time to watch it before my daughter gets home. Every episode puts me in a good mood and gives me a chance to relax.

Obviously, reading a book is one of my go-to ways to pamper myself and relax. Depending on how much I want/need to read, I'll put my phone away and open up my book to read for the last hour before school is out.

Baking can be very therapeutic for me. Having cookies fresh out of the oven for an after school snack puts my kids off in the right mood and making the cookies has refocused my energy and allowed me to relax and enjoy a cookie talking about our day together.

I like to try to get my Bible reading done in the morning, but that doesn't always happen, so finding time to read a chapter or a few verses on my phone automatically calms me down and helps me refocus if needed.

I like to play word games. Some of my favorites are Scrabble, Words with Friends, WordBubbles. Playing these games for a few minutes brings me joy and gives me a chance to relax.

There are obviously many other ways to pamper yourself and relax.  Take Lessons has come up with a great post about pampering yourself and I'm sharing it here with you today. Just taking 30 minutes (or even less) at some point during your day will give your body and mind a chance to refocus and finish strong.


To see many other great ideas for taking a break with even as little as just 10 minutes of time, click HERE.

Sunday Snippets 9.7.14

On Sundays I share snippets from our life here in small town Iowa.

Now that the school year is in full swing,

our kids are involved in all kinds of activities.

You'll see a lot of those photos here,

as well as others from our family

and even our community.

We live the small town (pop 700) life

 here in Iowa and love it.

On Labor Day we traveled to my parents in NE Iowa. 

We spent the morning helping my mom with a huge project. 

To read about that, click HERE. 

A bunch of us made a dream come true for my mom and it was a special day.

After that project was complete, we went to their house

where another crew was trimming the trees on their lawn.

So, we got there just in time to pick up the branches

and rake up the leaves.

The house I grew up in. 

My parents moved in just before I was born, over 42 years ago.

Lots of memories here. 

The crew getting the branches and leaves picked up.

Tuesday we headed to another Cross Country meet after school.  

Pat and Reagan took an opportunity to rest before the race got started.

It really was a beautiful day for a meet.

 Maybe a little warm for the runners, 

but perfect for those of us on the sidelines.

 

This time the meet was a JV girls, then a JV boys race. 

Then a Varsity girls and Varsity boys race.

Patrick ran in the JV boys race.

He did an awesome job, 

finishing in 21:17 and in 15th place.

Marching Band season kicked off Friday night. 

Patrick plays the snare drum.

I have been so anxious to see their performance.

We live right next to the football field,

so I have been hearing them practice all through

band camp and every morning.

The band performed the National Anthem before the football game.

Then, of course, the Bobcat Fight Song to kick off the Varsity game.

Then during half-time, they performed their competition routine,

"Timekeepers". 

It was so awesome!

I am a super proud Marching Bobcat Mom.

Our first competition is September 20th. 

I can't wait to see how we do!

Thanks for sharing in some of the joys from our week.

Be sure to appreciate

 all the big and small moments from your life this week.

My Mom's Dream Memorial

My mom is a Master Gardener.  

She always has been in all of our minds, 

but she actually took the class to become one. 

As part of holding the title of Master Gardener, you have to complete a project to benefit your community. Several years ago, after taking the class, mom created a flower garden at our church as well as at the nursing home where several of our family members

 have resided over the years.

 This is the same nursing home that I volunteered in 

while I was growing up and my mom currently volunteers there 

as well as visits the residents.

Maple Crest Manor -source

The gardens at both locations have flourished 

and been loved by many 

who watch the various flowers bloom over the spring, summer and fall. 

But, that wasn't enough for my mom. 

She wanted to do something bigger. 

Something that she has always imagined.  

This weekend we made it happen.

In front of the Maple Crest Manor in Fayette, Iowa is a strip of land 

that sits between Highway 150 and the driveway into the nursing home. 

In that strip of land are several maple trees. 

My mom has always envisioned hundreds of daffodils 

blooming in that Maple Grove every spring. 

But, she knew it would take a lot of bulbs 

and a lot of workers to make it happen.

All summer long, mom has been digging up her flower beds at home 

and gathering up daffodil bulbs.

I should let you know that if I dug up my flower beds,

 I wouldn't know what the difference between a daffodil bulb or a tulip bulb looked like. 

I can keep plants alive, but my mom has an amazing green thumb.

So, all summer, she gathered up these bulbs and kept them safe until Labor Day. 

She got permission from the city of Fayette to plant the bulbs 

and then made sure they weren't going to mow them over 

before they were done blooming. 

Since the area is under a lot of trees, the grass doesn't grow much there anyway.

 Approval was granted and we were on our way to making it happen.

We all met at the nursing home at 9:30 in the morning on Labor Day.

By all, I mean my two sisters, three of my mom's sisters and her brother-in-law, 

two of my nieces and their four children, and my family 

came with shovels, bulb planters, and gloves to get to work.

My mom wouldn't tell us until it was all done how many bulbs

 we were planting that day and that was probably a good idea. 

I don't think you would ever guess how many bulbs we planted.

Check out all these photos of the hard workers:

One tiny little bulb in each hole.

Many hands make light work.

All the way, 

as far as you can see, 

down to the furthest tree, 

we planted bulbs randomly underneath these trees.

My hands are still sore from pushing down on the shovels and bulb planter.

My mom was completely thrilled. 

Can't you see how happy she is?

Ok, so now I should tell you how many bulbs 

we planted in less than two hours.

Are you ready?

800 Daffodil Bulbs

I am not kidding you. 

We dug 800 holes and planted 800 bulbs in each one of those holes.

Pretty amazing, huh?

Now we just wait and see, hope and pray, that they will bloom.

Some of the smaller bulbs may not bloom this first spring, 

but hopefully each year, more and more will bloom 

eventually filling the strip of land with gorgeous yellow flowers 

and as the breeze blows through, 

maybe the residents will get a hint of daffodil fragrance 

flowing through the door each time someone walks in.

Thanks to my Aunt Kathy for taking the photo 

(and insisting it needed to be taken) 

and my Aunt Cynthia for posting it so I could grab it. 

My Uncle Floyd had already went to the car before we took the photo. 

After the day was done and we had filled up with food 

(of course, also prepared by my mom) 

and headed to our homes, this is what my mom said:

Sept 1, 2014 was an AWESOME day!! Thanks to my AWESOME family!!
 We planted 800 daffodil bulbs in memory of all our dear family members and dear friends who have spent their last years in the excellent care at Maple Crest Manor in Fayette. Thank you seems inadequate! Can't wait till Spring!!!

I think that sums it up exactly.
What a beautiful memory the flowers will be each and every spring. 

Thank you mom for teaching me the value of giving back
and for your amazing gift of gardening
that you have so willingly shared with others. 

Sunday Snippets 8.24.14

On Sundays, I like to share snippets from our life here in small town Iowa.  

Our kids are active. 

We are involved in our community. 

It seems there is always something going on.  

I'd love to hear snippets from your life as well!

Sadly, we only took one trip to Orange Leaf this summer 

and it was right before school started. 

It is one of our kids' favorites places to go. 

My favorites are the cheesecake, brownie batter, and raspberry flavors.

Our first day of school was this week.  

As I was driving home from taking two of the kids to school,

I saw a Mom and Dad with a stroller 

and holding their son's hand as they walked to school.  

I immediately thought of this day, not too long ago...

ok, it was 8 years ago. 

But, in my mind, it was just yesterday.

We too, used to walk the boys to school on that first day. 

Talking about all the things they are looking forward to.

Answering their many questions.

Waiting and watching them walk in line into the building.

I began to tear up. Much like I did 8 years ago. 

Patrick going to first grade, Bennett going to kindergarten.  

Gretchen Rubin says it best - 

"The days are long, but the years are short." 

And now I have this..................................

There is no more walking with a stroller and holding hands. 

Patrick walked on his own and began 9th grade....a freshman....in HIGH SCHOOL.

I dropped Reagan off at the bus stop 

where she rushed out to see her friends 

with barely a glance in my direction. 

Off to begin her 4th grade year. 

I gave Bennett a ride to the school as he was running a bit behind, 

yes, on the first day. 

Did I mention we had a 2-hour delay for fog????

Bennett is looking forward to being an 8th grader.

This mom is PROUD.

This mom is HAPPY.

This mom is SAD.

This mom is JOYFUL.

This mom is MISSING THEM.

This mom LOVES these kids and is cherishing the moments, big and small.

Pat decided to take Patrick out for some 

highway and gravel road driving this week. 

I'm glad Pat is willing to do the training in this area.

I don't know how my parents were always so calm with me!

Reagan's teacher sent this photo from the first day of school.

How sweet of her to do that for each one of the kids in the class!

This made my day!

Reagan received the most adorable book from her cousin, Elise this week.

Elise's mom, Melanie, and I are first cousins and are extremely close.

They live in Minnesota so we don't get to see them very often.

After Reagan sent a card she had painted,

Elise sent this book.

It brought me to tears.

Such a sweet little story of their friendship.

I hope you are also reflecting on the snippets of joy from your week. 

Thanks for sharing in mine!

Sunday Snippets 8.17.14

I have been looking for a way to share snippets from our family life here in Iowa.  I used to post Scenes From Our Week every Sunday, but posting every Sunday became difficult.  Then, this summer I tried High Five Friday, posting five things we were excited about. But, I didn't want to be tied to a number of things and I didn't really like them on Fridays.  

So, I am back to Sundays, with just snippets, glimpses from our week or the past weeks or month. Whenever I have something to share.  It might be one thing or ten.  It might be every Sunday or just one Sunday in a month.  Life is busy, but I want to share and reminisce, just not be tied to a specific timeline or number of items.

I am hoping to make this a button (if I can figure it out) and you are welcome to join me in sharing snippets from your life. 

From our past week:

On Tuesday, I met up with my niece and her three kids at the Iowa Children's Museum in Coralville. She lives in NE Iowa so it was quite a drive for them, but so worth it. The kids had a blast and we were exhausted by the time we headed home.  I had such a great time catching up with my niece and watching the kids play.  Thanks for the great idea, Kenan!

Aubrey's ice cream cone was almost as big as her head! I also got the opportunity to take her shopping for her birthday. We went to Children's Place and she had fun picking out just what she wanted. 

Henry could have stayed in their airplane room all day long. He loved the flight simulators and flying the planes. He did not want to leave. 

Reagan and Ella also had fun together. They are only two months apart in age, but don't get to see each other very often. They also enjoyed flying the planes as well as playing in the pizza restaurant and grocery store. 

If you have children 10 and under, I highly recommend you visit the Iowa Children's Museum. Block off a day and spend time really playing with your kids! They have a hosptial/dental area, grocery store, restaurant, music room, drama area, art room, post office and bank, the airplane room and so much more. When the boys were little we went to a Children's Museum in nearly every city we visited and I think ours is one of the best. 

Our Back-to-School Open House was this week.  School starts TOMORROW.  Where did summer go? It always goes by too fast.  Every year I wish we had more time.  But, it is over and another school year is beginning.  We have a freshman, an 8th grader, and a 4th grader. We will keep busy with cross country meets, marching band competitions, football games, and basketball games in the coming weeks and months. 

Reagan all ready for 4th Grade

I hope you have many snippets of joy in your upcoming week! Thanks for sharing in mine!

High Five Friday 7.11.14

I'm back with a High Five Friday post.  It's been such a busy summer with lots of High Five moments. Since I haven't posted for a few weeks, these are moments that I wanted to share since my last High Five Friday post.  To see other great moments in other blogger's lives, click the buttons above.  Take a moment to reflect on your High Five moments from your week.

1.

Patrick got his driver's permit.  He passed the test on his first try and has been doing a bit of driving around town.  We haven't had much time to take him out for a long highway drive, but I know I'm not the one to do it.  He drove to our friend's house in town and I was a wreck.  I don't think I will be the best driving teacher and think I should leave that up to my much calmer husband. 

2.

Bennett and his friend Kolten helping with the water balloon toss.

Patrick and his friend Stuart helping with the pop bottle ring toss.

Reagan running the duck pond game. 

Our small town has an annual Music Fest every summer.  The day starts with a 5K (Patrick got 4th overall and 1st in his age group!) and ends with various bands playing music on main street.  This year our family was in charge of the kids games.  I believe in teaching our children the importance of giving back to the community in which we live. Everyone needs to pitch in to make things happen. I grew up with my parents volunteering for various organizations and events and I want to give our kids that same experience.  The kids each took part in running one of the games and did a great job.  

3.

One of my dearest friends is moving to Colorado.  She is someone I have leaned on, cried with, laughed with and shared the frustrations of life with and sadly her family is moving to Colorado. I'm excited for them and the new life they will be building there but selfishly, sad, because I will miss her deeply.  We had a Going Away/40th Birthday party for her and her husband a couple weeks ago and it was so much fun.  I will miss Diana, but I'm so glad we have lots of ways to keep in touch!

4.

My cousin's daughter got married over the 4th of July weekend and the boys were ushers in the wedding.  The wedding was held at Barnes Place near Adel, Iowa and I highly recommend it if you are looking for a country/outdoor/beautiful setting.  It really was perfect for the look the bride wanted to have.  It was a beautiful day and we had a lot of fun.  The boys did a great job ushering in the guests even in the hot, sticky weather. 

5.

The boys ended their baseball season this last week.  Patrick played for both his high school Level 3 team as well as on our town Pony League team with his brother Bennett and his dad as the coach.  It was Patrick's last season of town league and it was an emotional night for him.  He has a lot of great memories playing ball and having his dad for a coach. He has made a lot of friends from baseball and learned some great life-skills. Patrick will remember these days of summer for a lifetime. 

Thanks for sharing in a bit of our summer with us.  I'll be back in a few weeks with some photos from our vacation to Michigan.  Take some time today to reflect on your High Five moments from your week.