Tag Archives: mom

Living Solefully:: Day 9~ Smile

9 Oct

You know the quote “an apple a day, keeps the doctor away”….how about “a smile a day keeps the doctor away”.  It may be more true than you think. Smiling is a great way to make yourself stand out while helping your body to function better. Smiling improves your health, lowers your stress level, and increases your attractiveness.  I mean who ever slammed a door on someone who was smiling?

Here are the top 10 reason to smile for your health!

1. Smiling Makes Us Attractive
We are drawn to people who smile. There is an attraction factor. We want to know a smiling person and figure out what is so good.
2. Smiling Changes Our Mood
Next time you are feeling down, try putting on a smile. There’s a good chance you mood will change for the better. (My hubby does this…if we are fighting he will take the corners of my lips and point them up into a smile until you have to smile…then you forget why you were fighting in the first place.) Genius!
3. Smiling Is Contagious
When someone is smiling they lighten up the room, change the moods of others, and make things happier. 

4. Smiling Relieves Stress
Stress can really show up in our faces. Smiling helps to prevent us from looking tired, worn down, and overwhelmed.
5. Smiling Boosts Your Immune System
Smiling helps the immune system to work better. When you smile, immune function improves possibly because you are more relaxed.
6. Smiling Lowers Your Blood Pressure
When you smile, there is a measurable reduction in your blood pressure.
7. Smiling Releases Endorphins, Natural Pain Killers and Serotonin
Studies have shown that smiling releases endorphins, natural pain killers, and serotonin.
8. Smiling Lifts the Face and Makes You Look Younger
The muscles we use to smile lift the face, making a person appear younger. Whoo hoo~ instant face lift, who knew!
9. Smiling Makes You Seem Successful
Smiling people appear more confident, are more likely to be promoted, and more likely to be approached.
10. Smiling Helps You Stay Positive
Try this test: Smile. Now try to think of something negative without losing the smile. It’s hard. When we smile our body is sending the rest of us a message that “Life is Good!”

A smiling person brings happiness with them.

 

31 Days of Living Solefully

1 Oct

Happy October first everyone!!!  I am doing something crazy and fun for the next 31 days.  I am committing to writing a post everyday.  But not just any ol’ post.  I am linking up with other bloggers and doing a series of posts on 1 specific topic.  Are you ready to know what I chose?  Do you want to be inspired for the next 31 days…. Welcome to…

So what does that mean you ask?  What will I read about?  Well, I have been anxiously awaiting this series because the topics are endless.   The dictionary defines the word Soul noun \ˈsōl\ 1. the immaterial essence, animating principle, or actuating cause of an individual life 2. the spiritual principle embodied in human beings, all rational and spiritual beings 3. a person’s total self 4. an active or essential part 5. the moral and emotional nature of human beings 6. the quality that arouses emotion and sentiment.

So to me Living Solefully is all about living life with purpose.  Enjoying each moment, the good, the crazy, the humorous.  It’s about doing the little things that feed you soul (a.k.a. sole).  During the month I might have some crafting tutorials, fashion advice, or talk about getting in touch with your spiritual side.  I will keep the posts as brief as I can, because they will come everyday.  It’s going to be great!  So strap on your best heels, bookmark this landing page and get ready for an inspired month of Living Solefully!

Surprises are fun!

12 Aug

I definitely am a girl who values the friendships and support of her girl friends.  Living in Connecticut which is not my native home state is hard sometimes.  I’ve had to rely on friends sometimes to help me out in a pinch.  I’ve lived here for 16 years now and in many ways it feels like home.  When I decided to take an extended leave from my career and stay home after the birth of #2 I felt lonely and isolated.  I complained to my mom that I didn’t have many friends.  My mom said to me “Deana trust me some of your best friends will come through the friendships that your children make”.  Wow~ mom… make sure you have this… “You Were Right!”  I met a group of 8 girls at a church play group.  They invited me to their monthly dinner and the rest is history.  These woman have  now become some of my best girlfriends and are the rock and support of my motherly existence.  We are now a group of 16 referred to as MNO a.k.a- Mom’s Night Out.  The first Wednesday of each month we get together somewhere local for dinner, drinks, conversation and tons of belly laughs.  It’s a tradition that many of us will move mountains to get too. 

Something very unique and fun is the celebration of the 40th birthday’s.  It started as a small idea make someone feel special when the big 40 hit.  One of our first 40th celebrations we met on a cold, snowy morning in March and surprised our friend at 5am in bed wearing tiaras and pink boas.  We put together a scrapbook each of us making a page to celebrate our connection with the honoree.  We also have a writer in our group, Maria (you can visit her blog here) and she crafts the most thoughtful poems about the birthday girl.  It’s always funny, sweet and personal.  Another wonderful tradition is that we put together a Camilla bracelet for the birthday girl.  Each person buys a bead and for the birthday girl.   It’s a wonderful reminder of friendship and what girl doesn’t like getting jewelry.

MNO group at Tami’s 40th. We were missing a few peeps because of vacations.

The first party was quaint on our annual beach day.  The next equally as lovely at our friends parents lake house.  Slowly they have evolved into theme parties taking on a life of their own.  We have had a Halloween hay ride, a yoga session, a twilight party, a beach party, holiday party with santa in tow, a wine tasting ((that was mine ♥)), and a tennis theme party just to name a few.   On Wednesday we celebrated with Miss Tami featured in the larger pic below.  She had no idea and was truly surprised.  I think as a woman we are overwhelmed by how other people perceive us and are humbled by the outpouring of sincere friendship these parties evoke.  As woman our spirit, generosity, warmth and empathy shine through to those we spend time with.  These 40th celebrations give us a chance to tell that to these woman, who are in the trenches with us on a daily basis trying to balance marriages, children, careers, and fitness how special they truly are. Pictures from left to right… marias’s boa & tiaras, kylie’s yoga, heather’s twilight, betsy’s beach theme, katie’s halloween hay ride, rachels’s santa surprise, deana’s wine tasting (do you see that huge wine glass, crazy), and tami’s tennis.  There are a few other pic’s from other 40th but couldn’t locate them.  So my peeps don’t feel left out.

So here’s to Tami and all my wonderful girlfriends.  These parties although they seems stressful when were trying to coordinate them are such a wonder representation of our love for each other.

Happiness in the Present?

5 Aug

So this was my first week back to some type of physical fitness after my 4 week hiatus dealing with Lyme or whatever I have had.  Sunday I logged my first run since my 10 miler a month ago in the 90 degree heat at the Jersey shore.  I ran 3.25 miles. 

p.s.~ my garmin didn't kick on the satellites until.75 miles into my run... :)

It was a beautiful summer evening I went out at about 7:45 pm.  A cool, crisp sunset.  I ran between a 10-9:30 minute mile.  The pace felt good, but I definitely knew I’d been out of the game a while.  My mind said so farther, but I knew my limits… for once… (yea me :) ) I didn’t want to set myself back.  So today I decided it was time to get my sorry butt into the gym.  Ugh- the first day back is always rough.  Whether it’s after being sick or partying on vacation, it’s rough.  I dove in feet first and worked out with my “workout warrior friend” who I have missed terribly (wink, wink & smooches) and my awesome trainer (huggs♥).   So the workout was h~a~r~d… it sucks sometimes.  You feel like you take 20 steps forward ( yea me) and then 10 back feel (boo hoo).  But those 10 steps feel like a million.  But I did it.  I  felt slightly light-headed and nauseous the sign of a good work out ((not normal to think like that right?)) But after my stretch I was talking to my trainer.  I was complaining about how I’m so behind in training for my fall marathon in Oct, that it might have to just be a 1/2 marathon instead.  We were rehashing all of the events of the last 3-4 months.  Marathon training for 4 months…then the marathon…injury…rehab…switching to trying to be learner and focus on strength training, etc etc.  It’s been slightly exhausting. 

She was very honest with me…saying “Deana you’ve been going for months and months, training for a marathon, pushing yourself to strength train and get leaner.  Your happiness meter rides on 3 lbs that come and go depending on the week.  Sometimes you need to take a step back and assess where you are and maybe just be happy with that”.  Wow that’s a concept.  Be happy where I am.  Is that possible?  In terms of life in general I think I am.  I have come to terms with not going for a FT job right now, there seems to be a higher power keeping me where I am.  So I’m going to enjoy that I have this awesome PT job that is flexible.  I am happy that I work with doctors who respect me and what I provide as a dietitian and diabetes educator.  That’s not something to take lightly.  Also I have been working on my spiritual and prayer life and that has really opened up a whole new world to me.  I am learning to become more grateful for the larger things in my life and not sweating the small stuff.  That’s HUGE for a type A’er like me.

But in terms of fitness I’m always looking for more of myself.  It’s just never good enough.  Hummm.  That’s one to really ponder.  So I ask you my fellow fitness friends, moms, wives, type A’ers… can you just be happy where you are in life, fitness, career, your role as a mom?  I would love to know.

A Cup of Joe…

16 Jun

Today was one of those mornings when all I wanted was coffee.  It seems every night I say I’m going to go to bed, and wind up playing scrabble, reading or watching Night Line well after 12am.  It’s nights like that, that make for a rough start the next morning.  Coffee is my morning ritual…I love setting out a beautiful place mat,  two coffee cups, teaspoons, sugar and creamer the night before so it’s ready to go in the morning.  Over the years we’ve had espresso machines, perk pots, drip makers, and now the famous Keurig.  It gets me my fix in about 45 seconds and allows for joyous harmony between husband and wife both of whom have very different tastes for coffee, flavored and non-flavored.  Coffee adds some zing to the day and when I ponder all of the things we as mom’s, wives, friends and career woman have to do each day I would bet Wonder Woman drank coffee too!  

Our most recent Starbucks date! The birthday cake lollipop! Yum.

Coffee also conjures up some great memories for me.  I relish the espresso shops we frequented in Rome  standing at the coffee bar and sipping a quick espresso.  There’s no “to-go” cups there.  I love to stop at the Sanibel Bean and grab an iced coffee heading out to the beach.   I enjoy drinking my coffee on the patio in my PJ’s waiting for the bus to come or walking along the beach at the Jersey Shore mug in hand and then sitting on the beach watching the sun rise.  I like to meet friends at Starbuck’s for a “cup of coffee” or have a “coffee date”with my youngest son right now is super special, as this is our last year home together before he starts kindergarten.  The coffee station at work is the place to chit-chat between patients and catch up on all the office news.  It’s hard to remember when I had my first cup of coffee, but I would say it was at my friend Annie’s house when I was about 15 years old.  Her parents were from Cuba and would make the most amazing cuban coffee, which was loaded with sugar and milk. For breakfast they would dip their toast in it.  Wow!  My brother-in-law once called coffee the “water of life” and in some weird way he’s right, at least for me.  It’s very social in my world.  So I thought I’d share some fun little coffee pictures to get your virtual day going…

The coffee gods have spoken…

So while the kids are at school and I can take 5 minutes I’m going to sit on my back patio with a cup of joe  and enjoy seeing everything green, lush and slightly over grown (but we won’t go there).  How do you take your coffee?  Can you relate?  Happy Thursday!

Meet Kim! Our featured Sole Momma

8 Jun

First half marathon. The Spirit of Pittsburgh 1/2 Marathon (1:53)

I just love talking to people who are health minded.  I like learning from them and acquiring new ideas.  Meet Kim, our featured Sole Momma!  Kim is a 40 something Sole Momma who eloquently balances a family, full-time career and marathon training!  Whoot Whoot!  Her blog This Runners Fuel is one of the reasons I decided to take on running some local 5K’s during my marathon recovery this spring.   I especially love her weekend motivational quotes and the recipe of the week that features some very cool vegetarian recipes. 

 So let’s welcome Kim and get to know her! 

When did you first become interested in fitness and running?  I have always exercised to stay trim and ran on the treadmill, but about 2 years ago, I went vegetarian and found energy I hadn’t had in years. I started running on the road, which was a new thing for me. I enjoyed it and decided that I was going to challenge myself and run a local 5K.
One month later, I ran the 5K and surprisingly, won first place in my age group. I ran another one month later and within 3 months was running my first half marathon. It’s addicting.

Kim and her biggest cheering section, hubby Rich and daughter Madison.

What was the biggest challenge of training for your first marathon? Anything you would do differently?  By far the biggest challenge for me was finding enough time to fit in all those miles. Between working full-time, putting healthy meals on the table and devoting enough time to my husband and daughter, I felt a little unsure of how I would approach such a rigorous training program. There were a lot of 4:30am wake ups, after work runs in the dark and on the weekends my social life definitely suffered, but I was determined to do this. If I could have done things differently, I would have kept up with my strength training and spent more time stretching. There just weren’t enough days in the week.

What are the most challenging and or rewarding parts of having fitness as an integral part of your life?  It’s hard for me to consider my attention to fitness a “challenge” in any way. I think that I would face more challenges if I weren’t so focused on my health. It’s all win-win to me. My body allows me to take on certain tasks and pleasures in life without feeling limited. The stamina I have obtained through physical exercise and proper diet is immeasurable, not to mention the mental release exercise brings to help carry me through my busy schedule with sanity.

Kim, (in blue), running the PGH 1/2 marathon 2010

On your blog you talk a lot about food and nutrition. What inspired you to become a vegetarian, and what advice would you give to someone who wants to try to move toward a Vegan diet?  I originally became vegetarian after researching current farming practices in the United States, but over the past couple of years, it has evolved more into an issue of health. Unfortunately for me, there is a family history of high cholesterol, heart disease and high blood pressure. Research shows that a vegetarian diet is one of the best ways to win the fight against these genes. Choosing a vegetarian or vegan diet is a very personal choice and I would never try to force it on anyone, but for those who are considering the switch, take it slowly. Don’t think about the foods you won’t be eating anymore. Instead, focus on a whole new world of foods out there waiting to be tasted and enjoyed! It’s pretty amazing!

What are you most coveted pair of shoes and why?   Hands down, my favorite shoes so far are my Asic Kayano 16’s!!! I love them. I had some hip problems last year and found out I was an over-pronator (who knew?) and someone recommended them since they were a stability shoe. The hip problem disappeared after running in them a few weeks and it’s never been back. They have taken me through some great races, and of course my first Marathon. I bought two pairs at once in January and each have about 200 miles on them, and quite frankly I am starting to panic (a little).

Is there anything else we should know about you and your blog! My blog has been another thing that has just made running and eating healthy so fun. Sharing my marathon training experience online with people made it so much easier and fun to tackle. I actually have a lot of regular readers who tell me how much they enjoy my posts. It’s rewarding. My advice for anyone who has considered a blog – Open your mouth (or start typing), someone out there is interested in what you have to say.

You can sign up for Kim’s blog here!  www.thisrunnersfuel.com  Thanks Kim for sharing your story with us!

Multitasking Momma

19 May

As a mom of three kiddies ages 10, 7, and 4, I am finding that what I thought would be “more free time” as they got older has become just time spent differently.  Multitasking seems to take on a whole different meaning as well.  The definition of multitasking is fairly broad. 

mul·ti·task·ing/ˌməltiˈtaskiNG/Noun

1. The simultaneous execution of more than one program or task by a single computer processor.
2. The handling of more than one task at the same time by a single person. 
 

Yes I know my kiddies are able to tend to themselves for many things.  However the tasks that they do need help with are more numerous and larger in scope.  Like school projects, home work, the endless carpooling.  My family calendar would make an executives head spin!  They wouldn’t dare schedule a lunch meeting or breakfast meeting without having food delivered would they?  I think not, yet why do all of our meetings, gym classes and appointments fall during those times?  So I want to know… Do you multitask?  What is something that you are particularly good at doing?  For me the past few weeks it has been making my lovely breakfast which is vanilla chobani yogurt, 2 Tbs kashi nugget cereal and 1/2 cup mixed berries and bringing it in the car with me, along with my coffee.  Now one would think that using plastic would be the smarter thing to do but nope…no plastic bowls for me…I bring my good old porcelain china. :)  I always think I will have time to eat it at home, but hence looking for last nights home work, or making lunches, tying shoes, seems to win out over a leisurely breakfast at the table.  I have about 10 minutes between taking my 4-year-old to pre-school and sitting in the car line at school with my 10-year-old prior to them letting students in for the day.  I figure that’s about as much down time as I’m going to get.  This task has become the necessary evil in my hectic world. 

It’s not fancy, but I get it in me!

I know there are much greater feats than driving and eating your breakfast.  But it makes me feel accomplished and I’m properly fueled for the day.  Better than skipping breakfast all together, right? How do you multitask??

Some Amazing Woman of Boston!

18 Apr

Every April, thousands of runners take to the streets of Massachusetts for The Boston Marathon, a world-renowned race that provides the backdrops for one of Boston’s most enjoyable days on the calendar. This year will be the 115th running of this historic marathon, which attracts some 500,000 spectators along the route from Hopkinton to Boston every year.

Determination…

What lies behind us and what lies before us are small compared to what lies within us.  Ralph Waldo Emerson

I have two very close girl friends setting their toes on the line in Boston this morning.  I can only imagine how they must be feeling.   Proud for just making it there, relief that all the training is over, nervous for not knowing the course and running with other amazing athletes.  In my book they have already won.  They are mom’s, wives, daughters and friends who will rock this marathon with perseverance and heart! 

The Boston Athletic Association limits the field size to 25,000 for the Boston Marathon, and all entrants must follow certain eligibility requirements.  All runners must be 18 years old, and must meet the designated qualifying time that falls within their age range.  The dreaded BQ to get into Boston makes sure this historic race is truly made for the cream of the crop.   The 2011 Boston Marathon will cover the 26.2 miles from Hopkinton, Massachusetts, to the finish line in Boston’s Copley Square. 

The race begins with the steepest downhill of the marathon, a 130-foot drop over the first mile. In fact, the Boston Marathon is mostly downhill, with an elevation change of 450-feet from start to finish, the greatest elevation change of the five World Marathon Majors.  It’s widely considered one of the most difficult marathon routes in the world thanks to its system of winding roads and challenging hills that take runners on a journey through Hopkinton, Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, Brookline, and Boston.  The challenge reaches its peak at Heartbreak Hill, a section near Boston College that is the final ascent of the four Newton hills. It often proves too much for many racers to take.

Good luck to all the racers today, and to Kat and Michelle run hard, kick butt, take names and enjoy the view!  You earned it!

When Little Girls Grow Up!

11 Apr

This week has been a whirl wind!  We have had dance recitals, birthdays, play dates plus all the regular family stuff.  Phew!  Saturday marked my daughters 7th birthday.  If I am only blessed with one daughter, which I think will be the case… she’s as girlie as they come and I love it!

It’s hard to believe that this little princess whose smile could melt your heart…

Who still loves Cinderella…

Who is a bathing beauty queen…

Who loves to dance and sing…

A little girl who with one sweet “Please Poppop”, can get him to play barbies…

 

And who loves all things girlie… especially a mani pedi!

Who yesterday got her first big girl birthday gift…an iPod.  Then it hit me…she’s growning up!

I think this is going to be the view for the next 10 or so years!  Sooo grown up!  Where does the time go!?

Happy 7th Birthday to my little Sophie~ You make my heart sing!

 

The Guilt-Free Mommy Moment

31 Mar

So this morning my daughter woke up and said “remember mommy its sports day!” Our school has many days where they can dress up: spirit day, rainbow day, PJ day.  However today was a very special day as they are dressing in sports attire to show support for the gym teacher and his family whose house was ravaged by fire and the teacher is in the hospital with burns.   Just so awful.

Bless her little heart…I said “well what do you want to wear?”  She doesn’t do any other “sports” except ballet.  (Side note, I do feel it is a sport, no doubt, I just didn’t want her going to school in just tights and a leotard).  So she said “mom can I be a runner like you?”  My heart almost burst.  She said “I have a running skirt”.  Which she does, and I just bought her sneakers for running because she has been begging me to run with her.  So I got out one of my running tech shirts and we rubber banded it to fit her, pinned the sleeves and WHOLHA- she was a RUNNER!

Sometimes as moms we feel that “mommy guilt” about going out for long runs or taking our kids to the gym and putting them in the daycare so we can work out for an hour.  But let me reassure you… those moments that are essential to you to keep you healthy and sane have a positive impact on them too.  When your child sees you taking care of yourself  they make a connection.  Our children see  that we value health and fitness and that it is an important part of life and well-being.   Don’t under estimate that…foster the connection.  These are lessons they will take with them throughout life! 

If you need more inspiration check out this mommy duo and see how they balance fitness and family on Another Mother Runner.  I love the pick of Laurie running with her two daughters, one in a princess dress! 

Enjoy your workout today~ guilt free :) !

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