Sunday’s Best Linkup #38
Sunday’s Best Linkup – #37
Kim Cattrall’s Parenting Advice
How do you define motherhood? I read an article on-line that discussed an interview with Kim Cattrall from Sex and the City week that has me baffled and a little annoyed I may add. I thought I would share this post with you, and maybe you will understand why. For some reason Kim Cattrall believes that she is a parent, but she has no children. How does that work?
In her words, “I am not a biological parent, but I am a parent. I have young actors and actresses that I mentor. I have nieces and nephews that I am very close to.” She goes on to say that there are ways to become a mother and you don’t have to have your name on the birth certificate. She also stated that she didn’t change diapers, but she helped her niece get through medical school and she helped her nephew get through a rough time. She considers those motherly things. Hang tight, I’m picking myself up off the floor. I’m wondering if I got the mothering thing all wrong.
Why You Should Visit Amish Country – The Home and Farm
This is a picture of a nursery or small child’s bedroom in the Amish home. They have the usual furniture that you would find in a nursery: a crib, rocker, changing table and dresser. What I didn’t see was a bottle warmers, mobile or baby monitors.
This is the typical Amish boy’s room. The boys wear black pants that hit about the ankle. Their shirts are muted colors with snaps and hook and eyes. The pants are worn with suspenders, but they have no zipper. Instead, hook and eyes are used. On Sundays, the boys and men wear black pants, white shirts, black vests or jackets. Married men grow beards without a mustache.
It looks like an older son is replacing posts on the farm. Also, he has several of his younger siblings on the wagon. He made sure everything was in place after making each turn. Amish boys work the fields with their fathers at an early age. Women and girls also help if needed. Usually, Belgian horses or mules pull the equipment.
25 Ways To Feed Your Soul
For me, I find peace and connect with nature through gardening and photography. Its beauty touches my soul. I could literally spend hours enjoying all of its glory. In the spring the grass turns green and flowers come to life. It motivates me to become one with nature and it awakens one of my passions, gardening. In the summer I enjoy the sound of the ocean and fall the beautiful colors.
Just sipping a hot cup of coffee while inhaling the crisp air on a fall morning stirs my soul too. I gather fall leaves for crafts and take nature hunts with the kids. These things illuminate who I am and brightens my spirit. Feeding my soul leads me to my voice.
Ways to Feed Your Soul and Awaken Your Spirit:
- Take a long walk/hike.
- Have a good old fashioned picnic with your husband/significant other.
- Go to the book store and buy a book.
- Pick a bouquet of flowers from the backyard.
- Take a drive through the country.
- Plant a garden or a few flowers.
- Listen to your favorite songs.
- Take a bubble bath.
- Curl up with a cup of tea.
- Let go of all things and people that cause you stress.
- Take a yoga or meditation class.
- Light your favorite candle and have a cup of coffee.
- Attend/join church.
- Take a walk on the beach and listen to the ocean.
- Read daily inspirations.
- Watch the sun rise or set.
- Refinish or paint a piece of furniture.
- Have a good cry.
- Go sight seeing.
- Get a manicure and/or pedicure
- Bake a batch of cookies and enjoy.
- Clean out a closet, attic, or basement and reminisce.
- Revisit one of your favorite childhood places.
- Refresh your bedding.
- Spend time with your children/grandchild and laugh.
Last, start feeding your soul. It allows your light to shine, and you will feel rejuvenated, happy, and find the way to great things in your life. You may also like Slaying Your Dragons With Faith
5 Full Body Massages To Try
Do you find yourself tied in knots, stressed out, joints and muscles aching at some point through out the year? I can relate, life can be stressful and stress can wreck havoc on our minds and bodies. Stress can manifest itself in many ways, which is why we need to pay attention to our bodies and deal with it when it appears. .
For the past few years, I have treated myself to a full body massage for my birthday. I swear by it. They relieve stress and work out the kinks. I literally leave the spa like a wet noodle. You are so relaxed, it is advised that you not drive after your session. If you have never had a full body massage, you must add this pleasure to your list. Ask your husband or significant other for a gift certificate for your birthday, Christmas or just because. Every woman deserves to be pampered at least once in their lifetime, but be warned once you start you will want to continue the service.
Here are the massages offered at the spa that I use. I have had 3 of the 5 listed, the Swedish, Hot Stone and Deep Tissue. I love the Swedish and Hot Stone, but I encourage you to research and make a decision on what you think you would enjoy:
1. Swedish – It’s the most sought after and is used to relax the entire body. The massage therapist uses long strokes to increase the level of oxygen in the blood while decreasing toxins and improving circulation. It eases tension as well.
2. Prenatal – These are great for the mother to be. The massage therapists focuses on decreasing swelling in the arms and legs, and relieve aches and pains in muscles and joints.
3. Hot Stone – It is amazing what hot stones can do. They literally melt the stress away, eliminates stiff muscles, increases circulation and your metabolism. Because the hot stones relax muscles, the masseuse is able to do a deep muscle massage.
4. Deep Tissue – The Deep tissue massage is similar to the Swedish massage. It focuses on deeper pressure with the goal to be the release of chronic muscle tension. This massage is known to drop the blood pressure and boosts your mood and relaxation.
5 Reflexology – The massage therapist will use the traditional Swedish and sports massage techniques starting with the hands and than moving to the feet, calf, and upper leg area. This is great for athletics or those who have problems with foot or ankle pain. It also reduces stress.
The spa that I use also offers packages for couples, girlfriends, mom and daughter/son or mom and granddaughter/grandson. Make it a family affair or a day of intimacy, you won’t regret it. It will leave you wanting more and more.
5 Safety Tips For Latch Key Kids
Safety Tips for Latch Key Kids:
My daughter was around 10 when she became a latch key kid. I’ve always hated that term, but it is what it is. I was a single mother at the time, and I was trying to purchase a home. I was saving every penny that I could. As a result, I asked my daughter if she thought she could stay alone for several hours. I was looking at it from the perspective of cutting out child care expense. However, she saw as independence and she jumped at the opportunity.
Although I realized that I wasn’t the only parent who had a latch key child, the guilt I felt initially was beyond measure. Thankfully, the bus stop was 500 yards from my front door. In cases of an emergency, my neighbors told me that would step in. Also, they made sure she went through the door each afternoon after school. After several weeks, I soon released the guilt and became comfortable with my decision.
Many parents question the appropriate age for leaving children unattended. So, if you’re considering leaving your child alone be sure to check the legal ramifications. You will also have to assess your child’s maturity level and their ability to follow directions. Think about the time frame that your child will be alone. Is your neighborhood safe? If it’s more than a few hours, you may want to find another option. Two hours was the maximum number of hours that I left my daughter.
Before we jumped in head first, we decided to do a trial run. If we were comfortable, we would implement the plan. If you have latchkey children, consider these tips:
1. Rules Must Be Established – No friends over, do not answer the phone or door unless it’s for people who are checking on them, do not leave the home to play in the neighborhood etc. It’s also important that your child understand that they can’t tell people that they’re home alone and why. It’s imperative that your child understand the rules.
2. Establish a Routine – You must give your child a routine. In my home it was to come straight home, let me know that she was home and that start on her To Do List. Today there are nanny cams and home monitoring devices that allow you to see what’s happening in the home while you’re at the office. There are also devices that allow you to turn off the alarm system remotely and reset it once your child gets inside the home. Skyping is a great idea too if it’s allowed in your office.
3. Create a To Do List – Keeping your child occupied is important. When they’re occupied, they won’t have time to think about much else. Furthermore, I created a list of things for my daughter to do once she arrived. She could get a snack, no cooking allowed. She was allowed to turn on the television, radio etc. Yes, sound is nice when you’re alone. However, homework had to be completed before she could stop and watch her favorite shows.
4. Establish Emergency Procedures – Make sure your child knows to call 911 if an emergency arrives. Create a list of phone numbers for neighbors or relatives who are close by. My daughter knew that she could go next door for help or company if needed.
5. Give Lots of Hugs and Praise – Show your child or children how much you appreciate them contributing to the household by being responsible. Children love praise and they deserve it.
Finally, the experience actually built confidence in my daughter. It also made her understand responsibility and the importance of following directions. Did you raise a latchkey child or do you currently have one? What were some of the rules that you implemented? They could be of benefit to other parents. You may also like How to Keep Your Children Safe.
6 Tips To Save On Travel Food Budgets
Today, I’m sharing travel tips on how to save on travel food budgets. When I’m traveling with my family, I try to be frugal and stay within my budget. Being frugal doesn’t mean that you can’t have a good time.
So, my grandchildren like snacks and sandwiches. But, I’m also feeding adults who need meals that will fill them up. Eating 3 meals and snacks out for 7 days can be expensive for a family. So, I have a grocery store budget and an eat out budget.
1. Check Out Resorts That Offer Kitchens/Kitchenettes – First, I always book accommodations that have a full or partial kitchen. This allows me to cook meals and save on food expense. Having a kitchen is great, especially when I’m traveling with my grandchildren. It’s difficult to get them up and out for breakfast and sometimes lunch.
2. Look For Discounts in Travel Guides or Online – Second, I research local restaurants wherever I’m staying. And if I decide that I would like to check out a few of them I search for a coupon or discount.
3. Take Advantage of Happy Hour – So, if you want to eat light check out restaurants that have happy hour. I have taken advantage of specials on wings, burgers, stuffed mushrooms etc. during happy hour. It’s a great way to have a few adult beverages on the cheap too.
4. Find The Local Grocery Store – Next, I purchase snacks, drinks, bottled water and any items that I need for planned meals. After checking in, this is the first task on my list. I’m able to purchase drinks and food for the beach, snacks, bagels for light breakfast, local fruit etc. I save a ton of money by taking this step. Sometimes we want to sleep in or just be lazy, but the kids are always hungry, so I prepare.
5. Check Out The Resort/Hotel Welcome Package – Finally, I visit the hotel or resort concierge and ask for information on local activities or restaurants. They normally have a welcome package which contains coupons for local attractions and other valuable information. Take the coupons into consideration, it will help with your budget.
6. Look For Resorts/Hotels That Offer Free Activities – Most importantly, I look for resorts or hotels that offer water slides, lazy rivers, or firework displays. In addition to the beach, I like to have nearby activities for the kids. I search for coupons for miniature golf, amusement parks, seek out free concerts. Furthermore, I use the savings for ice cream treats, Sno-cones etc. while we’re out and about.
Finally, don’t wait until a month or two before you arrive at your vacation destination to start saving. You should be saving all year for your vacation. This takes the stress off and any worries that everyone won’t be able to have a good time because of a cash shortage.
Additionally, you may also like 15 Ways You Can Save Money to help with your travel food budgets expense.