Back to School for kids, back to business for moms!

It has been a long time since my last post! Since then, I have dedicated two Summers to enjoying my kids while they still like me. And  in between the two Summers , I have dedicated a lot of my otherwise free time, to volunteering. I have not found the time to write or do so many other things I would love to to!

Tomorrow my kids go back to school and a new life begins for all of us. I will  make more time to write and do those things, like unfinished baby albums...before my kids go to college!

Tomorrow, my six year old son starts 1st grade at public school! He is coming from a small but fabulous Montessori school where he was since he was 18 months. He will most probably always be the youngest in his class, at least here in Texas! His birthday is July 22nd and the cut of date here is August 31st. Even though we were strongly recommended to hold him back, like most Texans do, we found our son is not only academically prepared, but mature enough to start first grade. It is not going to be easy, but we will help him believe in himself! He is not alone!

His teacher has asked us, parents, to write to our kids a (short) letter for his first day of first grade! Well, as usual, I had a hard time keeping my thought short!! Here it is:

 

Dear Nicholas,

         I still remember the day you were born! Your dad put balloons all over the house to welcome you into your brand new life! When you survived Kawasaki at only three months I knew you were a very, very strong boy! Our little miracle! And you have proved you ARE!

        

         Six years and one month, exactly, have passed and now you are starting “BIG” school! We are so proud of the young boy you have become!

        

         Today a new life begins for you and you will go to school for many years to come! Smile, relax, observe! Don’t be afraid to discover! You will make new friends, learn new things and play new sports! Enjoy! Ask for help when you need to. Remember, everyone is learning, everyday!

         Listen to your teacher!!!

         Be respectful to ALL the people and the environment around you! Be honest. If you feel confused about what to do: first listen to your heart, then follow it!

         And last but not least: LAUGH! Life is good. Have fun!

         With ALL the Love,

                                     Mom and Dad

This article was originally posted on http://arttipsandthoughts.blogspot.com Any reproduction on any other site is prohibited and a violation of copyright laws.

RELAX! GOOD ENOUGH IS GOOD ENOUGH!

Moms often try to be too much, too good, too perfect, all the time!

My life as a mom changed when I read "The Blessing of a Skinned Knee" and read a little phrase that forever stuck to me. I don't remember it exactly, but the way I memorized was that good enough is good enough. For a perfectionist and overachiever like me I need to remind myself constantly! My kids don't get to pre school on time everyday, they don't look awesome everyday and dinner doesn't taste delicious everyday... they don't eat a vegetable, a fruit, a carb, a healthy fat and a lean protein in every meal... I still try my best! But I do not stress as much now as I used to. I yell less if we are 10 or 15 minutes late. We are NOT perfect, but we ARE good enough!

Why is the picture above so beautiful? Well, while I am biased to talk about the model, my daughter, I know the beauty in this photo comes from her hair! Its not perfect, it's messy! but it's real! Real people are not perfect! And if her hair was beautifully arranged for the shot, it would not come out as good!

So...Relax! Be good enough! And be happy!

This article was originally posted on http://arttipsandthoughts.blogspot.com

Any reproduction on any other site is prohibited and a violation of copyright laws.

SIMPLE BEAUTY TIPS THAT MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER

 

•  BEAUTY IS NOT HOW YOU LOOK BUT HOW YOU FEEL, SO FIRST OF ALL FIND A REASON TO BE HAPPY!
• Always shower with the coldest water you can handle. If it's Summer try cold or almost cold. You will be amazed how shinier your hair will be and how firmer your skin will get! Not to say you will feel more energetic! Cold water stimulates collagen and elastin production. What makes our skin lose elasticity is the slowing down on the production of these fiber, so tough up and get cold!
• Still dry, dull hair? Apply a mixture of pure olive or almond oil throughout you hair and scalp and sleep on it with a shower cap. Next morning, wash it and see its shine!
• The skin around your eyes is the thinnest in the body, you probably know. What's next? Your neck! Almost as thin as your eyes. So when you apply your facial products go down to your neck up to your chest. That includes your sunblock! You can now delay that pleaded chicken neck!
• Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate! Your skin is made up off 14 layers. The top layer is dead and always shading while the ones bellow keep moving up to the surface while new cells are produced underneath. A newborn's skin is completely renewed every 24 hours, that is why it is SO smooth. Ours? Hum... about 1 day per year... so mine about 40 days, since I turn 40 in about a month! So exfoliation is the best way to remove the top layer, made up of dead cells to uncover the softer skin underneath. Now, most people make the mistake to use way too much friction when exfoliating. DON'T! Let the grains gently exfoliates the skin. Too much friction will "hurt" the newer skin and may cause more harm then good. (If you look in a microscope, over exfoliated skin looks rather rough, not smooth!). So, be gentle! If you break out after exfoliating, you are using too much pressure! The grains also have to be tiny like table sugar, not too course. Try my sugar scrub! The citric acid from the lemon in it, dissolve the "cement" that hold the cells together, the sugar than scrub the dead cells away!
• Your body is your temple, YOU decide what you bring inside it. Be good and relax sometimes... that's not the same as relaxing and being good every once in a while!
• The best way to get in a better shape is to start exercising if your are not or increasing your routine if you already do something. Length is more important then intensity. At least 25 minutes (30 to 45 is best). Your metabolism will kick only after 20 minutes and will keep higher for 36 hours. Set a doable goal. Trust me, starting is the only difficult part, after you start... you won't be able to stop! Try Yoga! No other exercise eliminates more toxins then that!
• Drink a gallon of water a day! Okay... as much as you can. Eliminate those toxins!
• No time for make up? Keep a mascara and lipstick in your purse. It's like magic!
• Buy clothes the size you are, not the size you used to be or want to be. When people see you they don't know if the pants you wear are size 2 or 20 but they do notice if they are squeezing you not fitting you. Your clothes have to fit you not you fit your clothes!
• Accessorize woman! Is a beautiful house with no decoration really beautiful? Just a simple necklace, earrings, a belt or a scarf, or even a nice watch will add some charm tpo your figure!
• Dress up or wear hills sometimes... even our posture improves! And you won't look so awkward on hills if you have to attend a wedding!
• Feel proud of your age at all ages! Not ashamed or sorry! If you feel sorry for you all the time, no one else will! People will think you are annoying!
  
• Laugh everyday! Smile to strangers and see what you get back! Once I knew a person who said her mom taught her from a young age not to have too much facial expression because she would get expression wrinkles!!! How did she look? She was beautiful, still wrinkled, but looked very dull and sad...

This article was originally posted on http://arttipsandthoughts.blogspot.com

Any reproduction on any other site is prohibited and a violation of copyright laws.

HAVE YOU PASSED THE MOM'S TEST?

This is a little cute joke (at least for women) that I heard long time ago but was reminded about it today by my in laws. So good it is worth posting it! It is probably a true story... 

Mom and 3 year old daughter went for walk. The little girl picks up something from the ground and puts it straight into her mouth. The mom tells her to "NEVER do that again!".

- Why mommy? Asks the 3 year old girl.

The mom then explains that it was on the floor, which is full of germs and is dirty and that germs can make her sick...

The girl interrupts her asking: - How do you know all that stuff mommy?

- Well, all moms know that and much more! To be a mom, you take a test and you have to know everything about keeping kids safe. And if you don't pass you cannot become a mother!

Both were quiet for awhile... until the little girl breaks silence:

- I got it mom! If you do not pass, you get to be the dad.

- Exactly! The mother answered with a big smile! ;-)

This article was originally posted on http://arttipsandthoughts.blogspot.com

Any reproduction on any other site is prohibited and a violation of copyright laws.