Things I'd Rather Do

Mama Kat's writing prompt for this week is "List 7 things you would rather do than clean your bathroom". I think my list needs to be bigger than 7 (although, I have to admit I'd rather clean my bathroom than, say, the refrigerator, fold my laundry, or clean my room... Man, I sound lazy!), but I will follow the rules and try to restrain myself.

1. The top of the list is the obvious, lazy stuff. I'd rather watch TV than clean my bathroom. And, honestly, who wouldn't? A little bit of  Castle or Mysteries of Laura, or scrubbing a toilet? Hmmm, that'll take me soooo long to decide, maybe I'll watch a little bit of TV while I made the choice.

2. Play online. Much like number 1, this is a no brainer. Facebook, Twitter, blogging, Trivia Crack, and more all take precedence over scrubbing a bathroom.

3. Doing homework, and I really hate spending hours and hours to submit work to an abyss that I'll never see again. It's much better than cleaning, though, especially since it can lead to wasting time on the internet.

4. Climbing up the side of a mountain. I don't mean this figuratively either. I actually hiked a few trails on Mount Rainier this last summer. It was hot, painful, and embarrassing (because of how poorly I finished). I'd still rather do that, then clean my bathroom. The plus side to it, too, is being in so much pain for a week after that I cannot physically clean anything, ha ha!

5. File my taxes. I actually used this excuse today to not get anything done. And it's definitely not fun. Possibly more fun then a trip to the dentist, but not exactly hot fudge Sunday at the beach, fun.

6. Go grocery shopping with both of my kids, without the help of my hubby. Yep, I went there. I'd rather the insanity of going out around things that they "want" and "need" along with all the crazy fighting (which usually leaves me looking insane) vs. cleaning my bathroom.

7. Listen to my kids music for hours on end. This includes the like of church camp songs (which are catchy the first week), One Direction, Disney songs, Teen Beach Movie, Taylor Swift, and Demi Lovato. Music that would be great for a bit, but after hours make the ears bleed. Yep, sounds like a picnic compared to tackling my bathroom :)

Friday Fit Day - Small Changes

Usually I write the day before, and schedule the exact time the post should release. I will admit that this week I have slacked off, and am sorry that it is nearly the end of Friday before I sat down to actually write. Things have been a little crazy in the Willeford household, though, and I will blame that for the procrastination.

This last week has been a forced eye opener for me. Everyone close to me knows that I landed in the ER on Sunday after struggling with some bad symptoms late Saturday night, that then exploded Sunday afternoon. I am okay, now, and am doing all of the follow up stuff that needs to be done. Because of that, I did not get my stats updated, so I have no clue if I have lost pounds/inches. What I do know, though, is that some changes have to be made.

I was told to completely stay away from caffeine. No more coffee, tea, Diet Coke, or even chocolate for at least a week, but to brace myself that it might be a permanent change. It sounded really easy when the orders were given to me, but let me tell you it's been an absolute battle. And I think I'm losing.

Actually, I don't think it I know it. I never actually thought about all of the things that have caffeine in them, or how long my system had been used to having it daily. My body has been very angry with me for this change - migraines, irritability, vomiting from the migraines, etc. Not exactly what you'd call a good time. The worst part is, a lot of the medications to fight migraines have caffeine, so that's an off the table option.

At any rate, I have managed almost a full week mostly caffeine free. By mostly, I mean that I had one Excedrin because I could not raise my head off of the couch, and some M&M's to get me through the day. And, I caved today, and had a few sips of Diet Coke. That's it, though, and I'm still alive and all of my resources tell me that the worst is now over!

After going through all of this, I realized that I actually feel better. Having 0 drink options minus water and juice has greatly increased my water intake (I'm actually at 64 ounces a day, now), and forced me to focus on sleeping when I'm tired instead of knowing that in the AM I can just sneak in a cup of coffee or Diet Coke. To be honest, I have gotten more sleep this week then I probably have in the last few months.

Though I am not exactly feeling like running a marathon, I am finding that I am becoming more and more in tune with my body and what it is telling me. The hope is that this (the increased water, stepping away from extra junk, and sleep) will lead to weight loss!

The 20 of 2015

Today's prompt is about the 20 things to make this the best year yet. That is a really large number of things to implement, but I am realizing that the things to implement do not have to be large themselves. So, here it goes.

1. Sleep more. Instead of staying up late to have some time to myself, or to study, I need to set an actual bed time that I stick with.

2. Workout consistently. I already to this, but after a while I get busy and stop almost altogether.

3. Change it up. With my workouts I tend to get into a rut, it's good that I'm still moving, but not so good that my body knows exactly what is coming up next. Weekly, I'd like to try to implement at least one new thing (even if it's rotated from previous weeks/months) to mix it all up.

4. Quit relying on caffeine to get through the day. I am currently in the process of doing this, and it is so hard. I know I will never be completely caffeine free (unless it's required of me, which I will find out on Friday), but I would like to drink more water and less Diet Coke.

5. This goes along with sleep, but is a little bit different. I need to stop hitting the snooze button. My life seems to rely on it in the morning, but I know that each time I hit it I am lowering the quality of my sleep, and that has got to go.

6. Organize an office space to make my studying more effective.

7. Go through all of my bills, and work my way through getting things paid off (or at least down).

8. Pray more.

9. Study the Bible more in depth.

10. Actually take time to have girl's night/time every month. It has been almost a year since I met up with any of my friends for a glass of wine, or to do something fun. I need to change that.

11. Not be scared to have "me" dates. When I lived in Florida, I would take the time to go to a movie on my own, or out to lunch. It was fun and relaxing, and I didn't have to worry about someone else's perspective on the activity.

12. Have individual dates with my kids. They have both expressed how much they want to do things alone with either mom or dad, time to make that happen. Besides, I am realizing how quickly they are growing up, and this will help them realize that they are always special and we will always make time for them.

13. We toss around the idea of weekly family nights, and it'll happen once or twice and then not happen again for months. I'd like to have a family game, movie, or activity night that we do every Thursday evening. Make some fun for the family, and take away our focus on what needs to be done to how much we enjoy one another.

14. Go through every avenue possible to make weight loss happen this year. By every avenue, I'm including the surgery options that I really don't want, but if it will be healthier for me in the long run I may have to do it.

15. Choose a major. I have got to do this. If I don't, I'm going to end up having a last minute anxiety attack after I graduate with my bachelors, and have no idea what to get a masters in. And, yes, I have to get my masters.

16. Take the entire month of July off from school. Oh man this would be so lovely. I have four classes remaining, and if I bust my behind off, I will be able to have the summer to hang out with my kids, and take a breather for myself, and not have to lock myself away again during all of the fun moments to do homework.

17. Find a way to relax. That may sound silly, but I am a very wound up person, and everything stresses me out. To the point that other people's stress stresses me out. And, over the weekend, I landed in the hospital with what seems to be some massive anxiety attacks (will find out Friday). As my husband said "it's really sad it took you laying in a hospital bed to see you need to calm down". Yep, message received. Not sure how to do that one, but will work on it,.

18. Exercise my creativity. The last few months I have gotten to see that my stating that I have "0 creative ability" is not entirely true. It would be fun to see what I actually can do, and maybe do some things with my own kids and home that is based around the holidays.

19. Continue with my 0-very little fast food life style. It has been over a month now since I had any, and I almost do not miss it at all, minus the convenience of not needing to cook. It makes me feel better, though, so keep it up I shall.

20. Plan, plan, plan. I have vacations coming up (two), and have never done one with kids before. I need to plan like crazy to make certain this goes well with minimal hiccups along the way - I am a realist, though, so I know something is bound to happen no matter how well I plan.

There you have it, 20 mini changes to make this year the best it can be! What are some changes that you can do to make 2015 the best year so far?

Before the Big 3-0

This last year I turned 28, and have since realized that I have already passed the middle part of the hill, on the way to 30. I also realized that I spent my 20's (not regretfully) having my kids, getting married, trying out a some different job opportunities (thank you 2008 and a few layoffs), realizing that I could face my public speaking fears (got over that really fast when I worked, briefly, in internet radio), massive weight gain, and working my way through a bachelors degree.

The adventure of this decade, my kids!

Me with my cute make up artist

My lovable and silly girl

My 20's, as you can see, have been full of hard work, stress, and the need for survival. It has been a near decade of learning opportunities, some good and some not so good. What it made me realize, though, is that I do not want the chapter of my 20's to close without some adventure. Nothing huge, just a few things that I can look back on, and be happy that I ended my "young years" on a high note.

Since I am such a huge fan of lists (in my world, nothing gets done without a list), I decided to make one that I can gradually complete over the next two years. So here it is, in no particular order, the 31 things I want to complete before I turn 30!

1. Go to Disneyland
2. Go to Disney World
3. Go zip lining
4. Go indoor sky diving
5. Shoot a gun and a bow
6. Run/walk in a 5k or half marathon
7. Actually complete an entire trail hike on Mount Rainier
8. Be disaster prepped
9. Ride the big, wooden roller coaster at the fair that I'm scared to death of
10. Choose my own car (with advisement) , not one that someone else picked out. Which means everything with my driving issues/stuff would be fixed.
11. Graduate with my bachelors
12. Begin teaching in my own classroom
13. Start classes for my masters
14. Which brings me to needing to pick a masters
15. Get back to a size 13 (lower would be nice, but I'll be happy right there), and increase my longevity.
16. Horseback riding on the beach
17. Go to a wine tasting/pairing class
18. Plan a family adventure vacation that does not have ANYTHING to do with Disney (we'd take it the summer I turn 30).
19. Go to a concert of someone I actually want to see. I have not been to a concert since... I think it was 2004. Either the summer of 2004 or 2003.
20. Cook something from the Julia Child's cookbook. Maybe one of those scary looking sauces. It's time to take that baby off the shelf and actually use it!
21. Take the kids somewhere water related, with no shame!
22. Make a complete spiritual commitment (this, honestly, should be #1 on the list)
23. Kayak
24. Become SCUBA certified
25. Go to a women's church retreat (or, at least, sign up for one)
26. Try sake - I don't know why, but ever since I was a kid watching WWII movies, I 've always wanted to try it.
27. See Wicked, Beauty and the Beast, and/or Aladdin
28. Sew. Sew anything. Hopefully a quilt, but I'll settle for a tree skirt or an advent. Maybe even finishing the apron I started 2 years ago.
29. Sign up, and take, a form of martial arts
30. Start writing a children's  book, or at least get the concepts/ideas down on paper
31. Volunteer at a local theater to help with costuming

There were some other things I wanted to do (like go to a drive in movie) that are no longer available in my area. Hopefully I will be able to check each and every one of these off over the next two years, and then can make a new list for my next decade. What about you, what are some things on your bucket list that you really want to achieve?

Friday Fit Day - Breaking it Apart

As promised last week, I will share every Friday how my progress towards fitness is going. Though I do not have any statistics to share yet (my scale broke, darn it), I can happily say that I have been working out 6 days a week. Yep, that's right, this busy mom has figured out how to get between 30-90 minutes a day, six days per week, of exercise in.

I have been doing it by breaking my workout times apart. Instead of me exercising for a full 90 minutes at one time, I instead choose to do several workouts during the day. For example, I try to wake up early every day, and if I succeed I sneak in 30 minutes of aerobics. Simply doing this helps wake me up so well that I do not need coffee, tea, or Diet Coke in the morning! After work, I bike for 30 minutes before my kids get home from school. Then, I resume my "must do" activities like cleaning, prepping dinner, making sure my kids do their homework, etc. Finally, after the kids head to bed, I put on my favorite non kid friendly tv show, and do another 30 minutes of biking. The kids are asleep, I'm able to have a few minutes of guilty pleasure time in, and get fit all at the same time! In doing things this way, I cannot use the excuse that I do not have enough time to get in a quality workout, and neither can you!

If it wasn't enough to simply say that breaking apart my workout times, it's actually healthier to achieve things this way! Some big named universities - such as Harvard - have done studies on whether or not exercising in in spurts gives the same health benefits as completing the full workout time in one sitting. The answer is that, yes, it does, so long as the workouts are done in at least 15 minute spurts. If you're strictly looking for weight loss benefits, the New York Times has said spurts as low as 10 minutes will be enough. By breaking apart exercise times, it also helps keep the metabolism higher through the day. When we work out once, the boost is higher, but then the majority of us spend the rest of the time sitting because of work, or other normal activities (like, sadly for me, TV watching).

Join me every Friday as I continue on in this journey! 40 pounds in 105 days here I come!

The 10 Year Difference

  Find a photo of yourself taken 10 years ago and display it on your blog along with a current photo. How have you changed since the day that photo was taken?

Me and my fiancé (now hubby) June of 2005

Wow so much has changed since that first photo. I was young, only 18 years old, just engaged, and headed off to an internship with the Disney College Program. My best friend went along with me, and was the reason I even applied to the internship in the first place. I knew I wanted to finish college, but was more focused on having some fun, and worried about how long distance would affect my relationship. Basically, I was young and naïve and had no clue what the world held for me.

Me and my daughter December 2014

Now, I am married (to the same man in the photo above), and we have celebrated 11 years together, 7 years married. I am also a mom to an 8 year old daughter, and 6 year old son. After working for several years, and being knocked around by life, I finally decided to go back to school. I completed my associates degree (the last class I needed... How dumb was I for dropping out a mere 5 credits short of graduating?) 6 weeks after my wedding, while 3 1/2 months pregnant. I felt that was good enough at the time, and continued to be knocked around by life, learning a lot in the process. I became tired of simply existing and not knowing whether another layoff was around the bend or not, and enrolled back in school March 2012. Growing up, I felt that I needed to be something big. Now, I realize all I need to do is contribute what I can, earn a living, and be there for my little family. That is enough, and will always be enough.

Framing the Year

Let go of old frames: How are you framing yourself, your relationships, your community, and your dreams? Could you reframe these as we begin 2015? What do you need to let go of to cultivate your best life in 2015?



I saw this question in an e-mail today, one that is intended to have another daily writing prompt for the New Year. I do not intend to write daily, with work and school that is simply too much for me to handle, but I really enjoyed thinking about this simple question.

Whenever you see a picture, do you usually pay attention to its frame? If I'm being honest, unless it's a gorgeous work of craftsmanship, I rarely notice what is around the picture and instead focus on the emotion on the canvas. In reality, though, the frame allows that emotion to pop off of the canvas with more finesse than simply putting a basic picture tacked/nailed up on a wall. The frame is essential in making picture/photograph/painting completely come together.

So, how have I chosen to bring together my life this year? Quite simply in a bold either all in or all out frame. 2015 is my year to either let my fears get the best of me, and not continue going for my family's dreams and stability, or jump as high and fast as I can. That and watch for opportunities that come my way, and take them (with prayer, of course).

I am facing a year of having to quit my job (scary), find two teachers to be placed with (frustrating), student teach (scary), and find a new job (overwhelming). Not to mention some other things that our family has lined up that involve action, and making some changes. 2015 is not the year to sit on the sidelines, and not make the most of every opportunity that comes our way. If I do, then my family loses. We lose if I let the uncertainty of where I will student teach in September get to me, we lose if I decide that quitting my job is too scary to take this adventure, we lose if I let the actual act of student teaching overwhelm me, and we lose if I do not attack every job opportunity that comes my way once graduation has completed.

What do I need to let go of? My entire life I have been someone to question things. It has almost been debilitating in that I question, make a decision, and then second guess myself to infinity. Sometimes that has been a huge benefit, other times it has left me out on opportunities that would have led to great things. It all comes down to, in 2015 I need to let go of my clinging to the part of myself that resists change, and looks for every negative possible in any upcoming change in order to decide whether that change is worth it or not.

Assertive. That is the word that I will use for this year's frame. 2015 will be framed, in all ways, with assertiveness.

Are You My Friend?

We all have that one friend or two who used to mean the world to us. You know, inseparable, practically family, besties for life. Then, something happens... And that person seems as though they wish you'd lose their number, forget what their face looks like, and that you'd move out of town. Except, when they don't and all of a sudden appear out of nowhere and act like nothing is wrong.

Which leaves you wondering:

Original photo credit to www.randomhousekids.com

In the adolescent/early adult years these types of relationships were fine. People could come and go, rolling with it was easy, and none of us really figured these people would be our friends for life (despite the loud proclaiming of "oh, we're bff's"). What about now, though, as we're all actual adults with spouses, children, bills, and careers? And, at what point can any one person claim that the reason to disappear is due to busy schedules (there are definitely times for this excuse, such as having a baby and what not, and I'm sure none of us begrudges our friends for disappearing during those times)?

I am proposing that now is the time to evaluate whether or not you are the doormat in your relationships.

1. Does knowing that they refuse to be a consistent part of your life give you nothing but stress? If so, maybe it's time to have a heart to heart with your friend. If that chat leads to an argument, I think it's safe to say, they are not your friend. Anyone who truly values you, your opinions, and your time will not get mad when you ask that they spend a little bit more time with you.

2. Looking at the give and take factor, does your percentage of giving rate way higher than taking? In other words, do you have visible proof that this friend uses you more as a babysitter, bank, psychologist instead of a person to spend quality time with? If so, begin saying no and watch to see if their calls/texts/PM's become less and less frequent. If not, congratulations, you have a true friend!

3. Do they consistently bestie hop? You know the person, one moment they are your bff and then someone new comes along and they jump ship. Months later, you can see on their FB that they have found someone even newer. And the saga continues with bestie after bestie and random texts complaining how the previous bestie had something wrong with them. If this is you, decide if you mind being last season's friend that is occasionally used whenever some comfort is needed (kind of like those super comfy jeans that you no longer wear out in actual public).

4. Does this friend reach out and share in the good and bad times of you and your family? Hopefully, your answer is yes and you do simply have a friend who is busy, but still cares about your well being. If, though, your friend sees the status updates about family emergencies, career advancement, graduations, etc and says nothing... Well, that silence is definitely an answer that no time or stress needs to be wasted here.

5. And, lastly, what is this relationship modeling to your own children? You may reason that they are too young to notice, or simply don't care about any of mom and dad's friendships. No matter what, though, we are the foundation to how our children will lead their lives and this does not stop at personal relationships. How you handle, and maintain, your friendships will become the guide to your children in their future relationships. So, what will they see? Is this a toxic person who turns every situation into a fight where they become the martyr and you are horrible? Do they lie and expect you to go along with it? Evaluate, and treat yourself how you wish your children to some day treat themselves. Above all, though, be fair to the other person and treat them with dignity and respect regardless of how you decide to leave the friendship. That will speak volumes to your children that we treat others well no matter what.

Basically, take the time at the beginning of 2015 to decide who you give pieces of yourself to. Who really deserves to be let in on all of the private details about yourself and your family. Clean out the Facebook friends list, and stop worrying about how many are left behind. Those who are, are truly keepers. Who knows, maybe there are some new adventures with old (or new) friends to take!

Friday Fit Day - To Disney or Bust

I can't believe I am actually putting this out there publicly, but I have noticed that I am way more accountable whenever there is a higher chance of lots of people knowing I might fail. Since I am being "courageous" in my own small way, please keep the judgmental comments and thoughts to yourselves, or if you choose to share them be aware that a return comment will not be coming.

I have had a weight problem since starting college. Technically, it really wasn't a problem then since I could lose easily, and put on approximately 20 pounds. The problem didn't hit until I became a parent. I went through the pregnancy, didn't gain a large amount, and after having my daughter I lost momentum and gained. When I tried, though, I was able to trim down with ease (I just didn't try very often). The real problem came after I had my son. I barely gained anything with him - to the point the doctor almost had me on an IV drip for nutrition - yet the instant I stopped breastfeeding him everything changed. I could do everything correctly, and lose nothing (or next to nothing). I walked, went to the gym, ate correctly, drank water like a fish and lost a whopping 6 pounds in 6 months and then stalled out. I have been to doctors, had personal trainers, nutritionists (although I admit I did not fully follow their directions because of expense. Who on earth can actually afford to eat that way every day????), tests, the works. Everything points to that I must be a sedate, lazy, and crazy woman.

After years, and years, of battling this (and getting larger, and larger) I have taken a year to practically give up minus a few spurts here and there of hard work. Why try, I have reasoned, if nothing will come of it?

Well, my friends, I have my reason to try, and it is sad and pathetic, but has given me momentum again. Here it is (remember, no out-loud judging): My family and I are going to Disneyland in a little less than four months!

Woo hoo! Queue the victory music, take a few techy laps, and then shriek a couple of times!

Photo courtesy of www.navautism.com

In case you could not tell, I am a little excited. You may wonder what on earth Disneyland has to do with personal fitness. Well... A little birdy told me a while back that not all of the rides are equipped to handle people or larger stature. I can tell you that there is no way in heck that I will spend several thousand dollars to take my family on their first vacation, and be left watching them on the sidelines. It will NOT happen.

Because of that, I have spent the last few weeks gradually adding my workouts back in. I have set my goals high in that I'd like to lose 40 pounds by take off time (roughly 10 pounds a month), but am also accepting that maybe I'll just see inches lost. Or... sadly, but still better than I am now, I may see no pound lost but at least not be worn out at the end of those long, long days. I'll take what I can get.

Each week I will share something that I am doing in order to help me reach this goal. I would love if you all have any words of encouragement, or tips/tricks that have helped any of you in your fitness journeys!

Me on Mount Rainier in August

Mid hike 2014

Me with my cousins in
 Disneyland, 1998

Top 10 Life Stories

 

Today's prompt is hilarious: You know those life stories that just never die? No matter how old you get or where you go or who you’re with…SOMEONE brings them back up?

1. When I was beginning community college, I had just started dating my now husband. In my rush to go visit him, I quickly did my chores incorrectly. Big time uh oh ensued - I had loaded the dishwasher with dish soap instead of dish washing detergent. Needless to say, the entire kitchen was covered in a one foot deep lake of bubbles.

 

2. Right after my husband and I moved in together, I decided to cook us dinner. I put everything in the oven, walked off, and minutes later smelled smoke. I set the oven on fire. After that, it took my husband a while before he willingly let me cook anything again.

 

3. I had set a fire in our fireplace a few years ago. I put in a bunch of scraps, and walked away. All of a sudden there was a tremendously loud bang and tons of smoke. What I had not realized is that there was a can of liquid foam in with all of the scraps I had thrown in. The can exploded, and liquid foam shot ten feet out and covered our carpet, walls, and front door. And the fire department came. That was a fun night when the hubby got home...

 

4. When I was 7 months pregnant with my daughter, I was working at a job where I had to commute quite a distance. On my way home from work, one night, I was driving on the freeway and noticed an odd smell, and then smoke, and then flames. I pulled over, and the entire front end of my car was on fire. A nice stranger pulled over behind me, and yanked me out of the car (prego belly made that difficult). It turns out that an oil change a week earlier hadn't been done well, and our engine caught on fire. Everything turned out fine, even though the car was totaled. I did, though, almost end up being taken to jail in the process (the car was registered to my fiancé - now husband - and not to me), and I made the local news in creating a major traffic jam. Good times.

 

5. Years and years ago I was an intern for Walt Disney World. While there, my roommates and I went to a party one night, and after becoming slightly intoxicated I decided to call a friend as I made my way back to my apartment. I went inside, used the bathroom while still on the phone, and woke up one of my roommates while turning her light on as she was sleeping. The funny part is that 1. I yelled at my friend (remember, I was on the phone with her) for waking up my roommate, and 2. I freaked out because halfway through my phone conversation I realized that I was no longer wearing pants and had not put them back on after using the bathroom.

 

6. When pregnant with my daughter I threw up in our bed. In front of my husband.

 

7. My daughter was born via an emergency C-section. I say this so that you all know and understand why I did nothing after the grossness occurred. Anyways, the day after she was born my dad and another friend came to visit and hold her. Before they got a chance to pick her up, she projectile vomited all over me, and in my mouth. My husband promptly ran to throw up in the bathroom, my dad said that this was a good time to leave, and our friend threw a towel at me and ran and got a nurse. So there I was, covered in slimy, gray colored puke. Welcome to motherhood!

 

8. This next one is horrible. I apologize in advance for even sharing it, but if I didn't, I'd be called out for it later on. Back in 2012, I decided to host a Thanksgiving brunch and had invited several friends over. I had served the food, and was happy with how everything was going. And then... Then the worst smell I have ever smelled in my life spread throughout my house and just kept getting stronger. Eventually, we found out that the kids kitten had climbed into the dryer and settled in amongst the wet clothes. It's horrible. I am a kitten killer in the worst sense. And I have never, ever lived that holiday meal down.

 

9. I hate, like really hate, the feeling of certain textures. In particular, I hate the feeling of that stuff that makes up wedding veils. One of my best friends knew this, and one day decided to chase me around an entire Joann's trying to touch me with that disgusting material. I think I ran faster at that point than I have ever run before. Yuck!

 

10. My dad invited my kids and I to go hiking on Mount Rainier one summer. Me, being a dummy, figured it's summertime so why not wear flip flops. Big mistake. Big, huge, gigantic mistake. There was still snow on the mountain, and lots of it. The air wasn't cold, but the ground was covered and part of the way up there was no other option other than to trudge through the snow. And I did it with flip flops, and when those became too slipper I took them off and did it with no shoes. My dad has still not let me live that one down.

The Key to the Best Winter Break Ever

I found a new writing prompt, and am loving it! It helps keep the creative juices flowing, while allowing me to not panic on coming up with my own topics (that will happen, I promise, some day).

This week's prompt is the "7 best ways to spend Winter Break."

 

After the last few weeks I've had, I can definitely tell you all of the ways to NOT spend winter break, but that kind of negativity isn't needed for the very first day of 2015 (lets be pragmatic, here, it is fit for the second day of the new year).

 

1. Invest in hot chocolate. Everything at my house is made better with this chocolate, liquid goodness. And, lets be honest, it's appropriate no matter what activity is happening, and is just sugary enough to feel like you're having a treat, while not so addictive that you do something horrible like eating the entire tub of ice cream (or half a cake). Trim the tree, drink hot chocolate. Child is throwing a tantrum, drink hot chocolate (for you, the tantrum throwing child deserves none and will receive their punishment by watching others enjoying this while they have a not so magical beverage). Clean the refrigerator, drink hot chocolate to congratulate yourself on finally getting that moldy junk to the trash bin. For our family, winter break involves hot chocolate while watching our favorite movies together. See, hot chocolate for all - winter break delight!

 

2. Mentioning movies brings me to the second best way to spend winter break: create memories with your kids in having those annual movies that you have to watch. For us, we watch White Christmas every year, I say all of the lines, my kids sigh at me, and my daughter prances around pretending to dance and dress like the sisters in the movie. This is such a huge part of our winter break that I made a whole post about our yearly must sees. Plus, it's a way for the family to come together and unwind when there is so much hustle surrounding the holidays. Take two hours to not worry about that present you have to get, whatever needs to be cleaned, or the absolute melt down you felt like having while stuck in holiday traffic. Breath, and White Christmas away!

 

3. Another way to have a great winter break is to take the time to choose a well decorated location, take the kids, and walk around. Yes, I said walk. For one, we're all stuffing ourselves with holiday goodies (admit it, there are cookies in abundance and NONE of us has the will power to say no every time), and need the exercise. For another, it takes an activities that could be over in a few minutes drive, and extends it out and involves each person in the family. The kids can run from house to house (or, exhibit to exhibit, your choice), and each of you can actually connect with one another and talk. Maybe share what your favorite decoration was. A big plus is that there is no radio (don't hate, I love Christmas music) to interfere with communication. And, being out in the cold is the perfect opportunity to break out some more hot chocolate!

 

4. Don't stick with the routine holiday baking crafts with the kids. Instead, take the normal and make it your own. For example, every year my kids decorate the same old gingerbread houses. We have the same struggle to keep the walls up (little tip, use this icing and that sucker will stay together as well as a brick house), and get the kids to put the candy on the house and not in their mouths. This year, my mom came up with the idea to bake her own traditional gingerbread in a cute house mold, have the kids decorate it, add some cute baking lights, and then send some delicious frosting home so the kids could actually eat the thing whenever they felt like it. Shocking to have a decorative activity that actually smells, and tastes, good, and uses up mounds of creativity.

5. Look up local activities. Trust me, there are so many options out there that are fun, have lots of participation, and are free (or pretty close to it). In our town, we have an annual Charles Dickens Festival that includes a kids run called Run Like the Dickens where everyone gets a prize. There's also an annual park lighting downtown, Beatrix Potter readings, horse drawn carriage rides, classic Christmas movies in the theaters, you name it. Google activities and your town and see what comes up. And, even if it's cheesy, give it a try. You never know what may send you and your kids into fits of giggles over, or create some pretty, classic memories.

6. Assign your kids specific jobs. By jobs, I do not mean chores (they should definitely have those too, though). For example, this year I gave my 8 year old the job of choosing our holiday Christmas card, along with the picture that would go in it (mom did have veto rights, though, and the ability to offer some suggestions). In doing this, the kids get excited for any activities that are happening since they had control of a portion of it. Basically, get them involved and show them that family is a working unit. Plus, while they are excitedly figuring out whatever job they were given, you get a few moments of being left alone!

7. Build in lazy days! Oh man, this is such a must for our family! These are the days we wake up with the goal of existing, and not putting on actual clothes - for anyone curious, we do still shower, keep up the hygiene, and put on clean pj's. And though this list may feel like it's practically filled with down time, or simple activities, but those things are meant to be fit in around the daily, busy schedules. So, give yourself permission to just be for a day or two in the few weeks you have with your kiddos. Wake up, have a weird breakfast (my kids choose top ramen, oddly), clean up into new, warm pj's, and do whatever makes you feel most comfortable and relaxed at home. If you don't have time for a full day, make it half a day, or dedicate a few hours to this. Trust me, in the end, allowing yourself to just be will save from all of those hair pulling moments that fill most down time with kiddos!