Showing posts with label helping each other. Show all posts
Showing posts with label helping each other. Show all posts
Monday, September 19, 2011
Extreme Makeover's real hero's...nope, it's not the actors...guess again...Yep! It's the locals!!! Now it's time to support THEM!!!
I had a chance to get involved in rounding up a few last minute donation needs and what I realized is that it was totally easy to find local business people that were glad to help, but a big corporation?? Their hands are tied. I was discouraged every time I called a big chain store and got the same answer about the fact that it would have to go to corporate and...bla, bla, bla...but the minute I got a local business owner on the phone, they were excited to help! This has left such an impression on me that I am giving myself a challenge...
For the next month, I am only going to shop either small local businesses, or from actual people selling their own stuff online, or in crafters markets, and definitely I'm going to support "mom based businesses"!...I've always been a huge fan of locally owned grocery stores, and growers markets, but this month I'm stepping up my commitment to saving my grocery shopping for those places.
(one thing...in case the paparazzi catches me, I will still buy my peanut butter and bread from
cost-co because mama would go broke not buying those in serious bulk!)
* I already started by buying some new running shoes a local store for a half marathon that is this weekend that Lindsay roped me into and is now trying to get out of (did I just tell everyone that???)
* I recently had fun shopping all mom owned business for baby shower gifts (I have to give a little more than just our own Earth Monkey gear)
* and we are working on utilizing people here to help with the next items to be added to our Earth Monkey line.
So who is in this with me???? Up for the challenge??? Im not asking you to give up every big store that you love, (I might even die without a trip through Target!) I'm just challenging us all to think about how we can help our own communities, and our own hard working business owners...Let me know if you are in!
of the entire line of "pumpkin" print.
and let us know what other mom business you like to shop from!!!
Monday, May 30, 2011
It's time to "get off our butts and get healthy!" Four steps to begin this month long journey with the Earth Monkeys family!
I have been so excited for this post for a long time!
The idea has been brewing for a while and now the time is finally here!!!
We are going to spend the month of June focusing on a topic that we here at
Earth Monkeys have become crazy about...
GETING OFF OUR BUTTS AND GETTING HEALTHY!
"Diet"....this should be a four letter word. What you are not going to get this month are posts full of gibber jabber on how to "loose inches, shrink your waistline, or drop pounds". We won't offer you the latest fads, or give you a chart for counting calories. This month is about health, not weight. We are going to focus on our own health, our kids health, our mental, physical and emotional health. We want to motivate you to change your thinking on diets and food, we are talking radical here ladies! You are going to get so many different perspectives this month, that we are sure you will all relate on big levels. (I'm so exited I cant stand it!) Lets dive in!!
-On any given day in the United States half of all women are on diets, and 1 in 4 men are on a diet.
-2/3 of people who loose weight on a diet gain it back within a year,
and almost all gain it back in 5 years!
-Half of all 9 and 10 year old girls say being on a diet makes them feel better,
and 4 out of 5 children are afraid of being fat. (this rattles me big time!)
-Americans spend over 40 billion dollars a year on dieting or diet related products. (they should spend that on Earth Monkeys products instead!) ;)
-One in every 400 children now has type 1 diabetes...13 million men, and 12.6 million women also suffer from diabetes! This is crazy!
These stats are very disturbing to me. Not only does it prove that diets are basically not effective and are doing nothing to improve our health, but the fact that our kids even know what a diet is and feel better when they are on one, breaks my heart!
Somethings gotta change!
It may sound cliche', but think about the fact that you have one chance with this body on this earth, ask yourself: "is it more important that the food I eat taste super good for 10 seconds and wrecks my body, or that I nourish it with the best food possible so that it will last and serve me well?" I once heard a girl say "I don't eat to live, I live to eat". Let me propose...its time to eat to live! I'm going to ask you today to make some commitments. For some of you, I think you will feel a great sense of hope and a weight lifted with this clear direction and change in thinking we are proposing, for others, this may not be for you, and that's ok too.
LETS START NOW!!!
1) Remove the word "diet" from our vocabulary, lets break the cycle and make this a word our kids know nothing about. It's time to commit to "being healthy" NOT being on a diet.
2)Start moving. We will go into this more on another post, but for now, just Get off your butt and move ;)
3) Lets stop comparing our outsides to other peoples outsides. We are all different and it's time to stop thinking we all need to be stick thin super models. It's time to focus on being healthy, not skinny.
4) It's time for a full on pantry/fridge makeover! I'm going to give you a few things that we are all going to start with today, things we are feeding our families that are making us crazy unhealthy, and even killing people!
The first change is our pantry/fridge makeover
(note: I am going to give you just a little bit of information on a few things that we need to wipe totally out of what we feed our families. There is a ton more information that is out there, I'm just sharing a small amount on each thing)
-Check the labels on all processed food and anything with Hydrogenated oils...put it in the trash! Let me tell you why...
These oils are put in our foods because they are cheap and they greatly extend the life of our foods.
The way they are processed makes the chemical makeup comparable to plastic and your body can't digest this. They raise bad cholesterol, and are linked to heart disease, Alzheimer's, encourage development of cancer, cause obesity, and cellulite (this should be enough for most of us ;). And this crap is in everything, so be prepared to trash a lot of stuff!! Nuff said???
Get rid of soda, diet and regular...
-It has NO nutritional value.
-It is linked to osteoporosis (by not allowing the body to absorb calcium) , obesity, tooth decay, and heart disease. (just to name a few)
-It has ove 100% of the USRDA of sugar which increases insulin, causes High blood pressure, causes heart disease and diabetes.
Did I just hear you say "well I drink diet"??? (uh ohhhh...)
-The artificial sweeteners in that diet soda are linked to 92 different health side effects (major gasp!) including brain tumors, birth defects, diabetes, emotional disorders, epilepsy, MS, lupus, fibromyalgia, depression, and seizures. It also doubles the risk of obesity and takes away your appetite for healthy foods. (note: you can find lots of information online for helping quit the soda habit. It is an addiction.)
Lets continue on with sweetners...
Think you are safe with Splenda? Well it is NOT natural. The FDA approved it without any long term studies even though it contains chlorine and the chemical makeup is close to pesticides. (need I say more?)
High fructose corn syrup...dont let the adds fool you, it is not safe. It is made from corn, yes, but it is overly processed and is 45% fructose which is related to type 2 diabetes, obesity, HBP, heart disease, liver disease, and kidney stones...and it's in a ton of things...get rid of it all ;)
Your safe because you replaced your bad sweeteners with Agave, right? Wrong. I fell for this one until I did some research and found out it is HIGHER IN FRUCTOSE than even high fructose corn syrup! It is overly processed with chemicals and is even connected to miscarriages! So not cool.
I have found that the safest sweeteners are small amounts of real sugar, raw honey (the thick stuff) and Stevia.
I have to quickly mention those "100 calorie snack packs"...seriously, they may be low in calories, but the ingredients are terrible! Lets start being more concerned with WHAT we put in our bodies and not just how low in calories it is..lets all get into the habit of reading labels, and researching before jumping onto the latest "new thing". My rule is, if I don't know what an ingredient is, I don't buy it. Really! You want a healthy snack? Eat something real...like a fruit or veggie ;)
A quick look at salt.
The amount that is suggested we eat in one day is equal to 1t and we as Americans are eating at least 2x that amount. Let's look at why this is so harmful...
-It is linked to heart disease, HBP, stroke, heart failure, kidney failure, kidney stones...
This means when we cook at home, we should add only small amounts to our meals, and take that shaker off of the table, because we do not need more added. This also means, if we are getting any of our meals at a fast food restaurant, we will NOT be able to stay within the RDA. (I have a million other reasons to avoid all fast food, but I wont go off on those today...)
This is only the beginning!
This is only the beginning!
I want to challenge you to do your own research on things like red dye, fast food, processed food in general, soy, corn...teach yourself to research things from every angle, and remember that if there is money to be made, of course that opinion will be for something. Dig deep. Let us know what you find! So lets clean it out...remember, we are not counting calories, fat or carbs...we are getting rid of the crap that is harming us and the rest will follow. Lets get our families out of this unhealthy rut that we are in as a nation.
This is in no way meant to sound "holier than thou"or preachy...its meant to be the start of a month long conversation with you all so that we can all learn and grow from each other. I am really hoping that this month will be totally interactive! What are you going to change to improve the health of you and your family? and What are you already doing in your lives to be healthy? Are you in it with us to "Get off your butt and get healthy"month?...are you committing to hanging with us and going through the process? Talk to us ;) Let us know in the comments beneath.
Monday, April 11, 2011
In honor of Autism awareness month; "To my sweet friend"...an outsiders perspective.
With the rates of autism statistics being tragically high, I am going to assume that there are a many of you out there know someone either closely or a bit from a distance that have a child with autism. This is a far reaching issue. I know several families that have children on the spectrum, but I am most closely to connected to Lindsay and her scrumptious little loves. I might be the only one out here, but I have to assume that it is sometimes a strange place to be...let me explain...I am close, but not immersed...I try to understand, but I'm sure I ever fully can. I am putting the following words down, hoping that they will speak for many of you who like me, are "on the outside looking in"...
To my sweet friend,
You are a woman that inspires me. I have seen the hurt in your eyes, your struggle to make it through even more more day and the strength that you find to do it!
I remember the beginning of this journey for you, before I even had any clue what this word "autism" meant. I had no idea, as I continued on in my new roll as a parent, what you were going through. I had no idea the depth of despair that consumed you...I feel guilty for this; often. If I could go back, I would try to better understand it all, I would have been there for you even more!
There are many things that I will never fully understand in your struggle (no lists here, trying not to cry) but needless to say, Ill be here for you every step of the way, trying. I am so thrilled that you have a group of women who you love that can relate, inspire, teach and love on each other, because my support can not reach the depths that theirs can. I am sorry for the times when I thought that I had found "the breakthrough" and come to you excited. That was before I realized that there are 1000 "cures" out there, and you are bombarded and sick of them. I am sorry for the times my words have been all wrong, the times my focus was not fully on your struggles. I have learned that you are incredibly smart, greatly connected, and you know your boys in ways no one else ever will! I am proud!
I struggle with guilt. Guilt that my children are both "typical" . It's hard for me to celebrate their milestones, even though you say these things don't bother you; and I don't like to come to you to complain, even though you are always there! ( Did you just say "could have fooled me"???)
I am sorry for any advice I have tried to give. I am sorry for ever thinking I knew anything for that matter.
I watch you in your world of crazy, and marvel at how you do it. I watch you take time to guide and teach your boys, ( I wont mention the times that I have seen crazy mommy!) I see you make a million special meals, go to intense doctor appointments and make sure they have all the special things in their worlds to make them run smoother. You are their strongest advocate, and I want to cheer when you go to bat for them!!! But I will never be able to fully see your heart. I will never know the times you have cried yourself to sleep, or punched a wall. I can't feel your anger, your confusion or your pain. And for this, I am sorry, and I hope my love and friendship is enough.
Thank you for being patient with me in my ignorance, and teaching me in the process. Thank you for trusting me with your world. Thank you for letting me love your boys. Thank you for helping to teach me and my children acceptance, understanding and compassion on every level.
My words can't fully express my heart, but I just want you to know just how much you bless my life.
I would like to just share a few things I am learning for the women out there who have friends who have kids with special needs...not because I know it all; I have a ton to learn!!!
Your kids are "typical" not normal. Saying a child without special needs is normal is insinuating that those with special needs are not (normal).
Support her in finding a group of women (or help her start one) that can understand her. We just can't and she needs more than just a listening ear sometimes. That being said; it's always good to be that listening ear!!!
If it does not work to go to movies, play dates, parades, etc...for her children, don't try to make her do these things. And if she needs to cancel because "he" is having a bad day, never be mad or try to talk her into going anyway!
It's ok if someone in public is making comments or looking rudely at her child who may be having a meltdown, it is ok to punch them. Ok so maybe not the best advice, but you can go to bat for her if needed ;).
Do not give her advice! Do not tell other people you meet that they should call her and tell her what they know. If you think that you have come across something that you think could help, choose your words carefully and let her decide if she wants to pursue it.
Do not ever judge! Our glimpses into her world do not give a full picture of what she experiences minute to minute.
If you are a real friend, don't leave her, even if you don't know what to do, or it feels confusing. Be the person to stick by no matter what!
Please, please, please...let her child teach your kids understanding! We need our typical children to be advocates for those who may need someone to stand up for them someday. If we are not teaching our children compassion, we are failing. We are all equal in Gods eyes and the world needs to see us that way too!
Don't Forget to {Go Blue} for autism awareness month.. Check out these amazing mother warriors and do your part to spread awareness about autism this month!
Please feel free to share this, and I would love to hear your perspective if you are a "friend" like me...or share a story about a great friend who has stuck by you if you are a mom of a special needs child.
Friday, December 31, 2010
EMM's NYE survival guide (or at least a good laugh!)...
- Make sure you DON'T leave the house with kid snot or dried on crusty catchup still on your shirt sleeve.
- The sparkles on your eyes should NOT match the sparkles on your shoes
- The "height" of your hair should NEVER make you end up taller than your "date"
- Always take a girlfriend to the bathroom to do a wardrobe check...leaving the bathroom with your skirt tucked in your underwear is a definite no no. To add to that, if your skirt is too short to accidentally "tuck in"... Puleeezz change before you leave the house.
- NO ONE gets "prettier" the more they drink...no matter what you see in mirror, know that blurred vision has taken over...also, you do not get skinnier as the night goes on either. If it needed to be tucked in or "spanx'ed" when you left the house, it needs to stay that way, it is still there...
- Remember that your kids will still be standing beside your bed whispering "mommy" at 5:00 AM no matter how bad the room was spinning when you got into bed at 2:00 AM!
- Under no circumstances should you kiss a random man at midnight...this is especially true if your husband is standing close by...Messy for a lot of reasons!!!
- NEVER EVER EVER ask another woman if she is pregnant just because she doesn't have a drink in her hand! This is so not cool! OK I admit it...I did this!! Cringe!!
- Dancing...what do we say about this...unless you are used to getting dollar bills tucked into your shirt, keep your "pelvic thrusts" to a bare minimum...those muscles are best saved for 80's style aerobics or birthing children.
- Remember a little thing called "U-Tube and Facebook" and know that your future boss, potential date, kids teachers, birth mother (for those looking to adopt), and your teenagers have full access to its contents!
- If you have breastfed more than
three, two,one child and your cleavage now resembles that of two pancakes hanging on a wall...please leave the v-neck to someone else. Unless of course you know Victorias "secret"!!! [EDITOR'S NOTE: This was obviously written by the EMM who has NOT breast-fed her children and has perfectly, perfect boobies! I am going to pretend she's NOT talking about me... hmmfff... in protest I will wear the lowest cut v-neck I can find... breastfeading moms unite! Carry on...] - If you do decide to go all out and put on false eyelashes, please remember to check them BEFORE you approach that cute guy. You do not want him distracted by a clump of them stuck in your hair, and then picking them out in disgust. This advice is based on a true story (poor girl!)...not cool!
- If you're not a party animal but are still going over to friends to play games and maybe have a little drinky drink... DON'T use the stroke of midnight as a hall pass to make-out with your significant other... drunken, sloppy kissing and groping is best left to the privacy of your own room or in crowds large enough that you will blend in to the drunken debauchery... my eyes are still burning from last year!!
- Wait until New Years DAY to text or post any pictures to facebook... you will be so so so glad you did!!!
- Even if you're just staying home with the kiddos, sitting on the couch in your PJ's (asleep by 10:42 p.m.) Remember to take a second to yourself or with your man and toast to a great year... even if 2010 was horrible... you made it through alive sister!! So, let the snot blowing, butt wiping, potty training, gut wrenching "my tween is possessed", or white knuckled "OMG, my child is driving" 2011 begin!!
We wish you all a very safe and happy new year!! Thank you all for a first great run...we look forward to a ton more fun!
NVAKATPGPMZE
Monday, December 27, 2010
To quote a famous author (ok so it was just a facebook friend)...TGIO!!!! Thank Goodness It's Over!!(thanks Leslie)
I spent almost a full 12 hours yesterday just trying to get all of the "stuff" that we lugged home from our families Christmas gift exchanges, put away and organized of course... needless to say that my day was spent in much frustration. Now before you get all "oh poor thing, they got too much stuff" on me...I asked everyone to do VERY little for my kids, and nothing for me (except a coffee maker!!! girls got to have something!)...that being said...it was still a mess. It did get me to thinking though that as much as I love Christmas and all that it brings, I started to wonder if all of your "days after" were just as frustrating. Misery loves company right??? So I had to ask "what is the most frustrating thing about the day after Christmas?" And now, I'm going to share...
"Clutter! I now have to buy things to put the things we bought in!!"
(I love the thought of Kim out buying plastic storage bins to store all of her new stuff!!)
"mind numbing exhaustion..... I have lost it twice today with my fam... at least we made it through Christmas Day without a visit from "mommy dearest"
(this is from our own EM Lindsay, couldn't leave her out...really only twice??? Hmmmmm)
"the constant clutter of new toys everywhere...even after you pick it up a hundred times."
(oh sweet Stacey...is this really any different than any other day, oh I see, the toys are NEW!!! How many more days till those kids go back to school??)
"packaging, toys, left over desserts, decorations that need to be taken down....a bit overwhelming, very very tired. today we had a second christmas with my husband's family...I think I'm Christmased out!"
(Amy...to that second Christmas...just say NO!!!)
And the winner of the BUOAMTT award for "best use of a meteorologist term today"...Mindy and Callee tie for their brilliant use of "tornado" when describing their homes!!!
We wont be taking away Patricias MOTY award for this...but I think she may be the only one that could tell this story..."Using the auto clean on the oven, only to start a fire, turn it off but can't open the door until it cools. Teenager waking up saying something smells here. Now not only the the cleanup of all the celebrations but the "de-stink" of the house"
"All the Christmas decorating still being up. I've been known to take them down Christmas night...lol"
(Um...Stepanie....are you SURE you are related to Lindsay???)
"Food hangover and hating yourself for how OUT OF CONTROL you were with your eating!!!"
(Thanks for being honest Leigh...and I think I'll throw Renee's "ugh" in there that she used to describe how here jeans are now fitting! Guess it makes setting a New Years Resolution just that much easier!!)
Katie nailed this one..."Too much trash and not enough room in the trash cans!!!"
...I can't pass on mentioning the irony of this one...I just had to let the dog out, and after he did not return in a timely manner I went to check, and found him rooting around in the overflowed trash bag that was left laying on the garage floor!!! ARG!!
And even though I had a bunch more I would love to mention, I thought I would end on this one from Rebecca...
"Knowing that the anticipation of Christmas is over and now have to wait 364 more days for that day again. And that I can no longer listen to Christmas music."
...I have to be honest here for a second and say that when I first read this (don't hate me Rebecca) I think I threw up a bit in my mouth from all the sweetness!!! But then as I looked over at my beautiful tree still lit in all it's glory, ornament-less on the bottom (thanks to my 2 yr old) and covered in random drawings and stuffed animals (thanks to my 5 yr old) I got just a tinge of sadness that I will be unplugging it for a final time in about 2 weeks when I can finally get around to it! (sarcasm!) And you know what? I realize that I love more than anything to be in a store when the words to the music are "Christ the Savior is born" and not "I kissed a girl and I liked it" (REALLY??)....I love driving around with my kids in constant amazement of the gorgeous lights! I love that my husband and mom gave gifts to others in need "in our names", and that our church feeds hundreds of people in our community Christmas day...I will miss my daughter with her daily countdown, and the bantering and sneaky remarks my husband and I have been tossing around about Santa (he's a lover, I'm the hater). I will miss being able to justify cookies and
So to Rebecca and the rest of us, I say, keep the Christmas music playing, keep greeting each other (even if its with a "Happy Lunar Eclipse") and keep up the spirit of giving...We need each other all year long!!
We do still want to hear about your "day after' madness...so please leave a comment below!
And please keep sharing us will all of your friends!!!
And one more thing...tune in Friday when Lindsay and I give our best "how to survive New Years Eve" advice!!!
Facebook Login Labels: attitude, chaos, Christmas, dirty house, helping each other
Monday, December 20, 2010
Personality...I think I have one...but which one??
Well it has happened once again...my sweet motivated, brainy friend has dragged me into another challenge. I try to steer clear of her brilliant ideas, schemes and "learning programs" but somehow, she is contagious. I used to think that I was motivated until Lindsay and her energy made me come face to face with my complacency. I'm realizing that I was ok with status quo...and uh, this is not necessarily a good thing. Apparently she wants to be in business with a partner that thinks big, dreams big oh and writes big checks (but thats another story). So when I first started thinking about all of this "personality stuff", I decided to give it the benefit of the doubt and REALLY think about it.
Of course for me, that means dragging my husband into it as a guinea pig and then helping him to learn. (by this I mean telling him all the ways that he is wrong and I am right). But for real, what is hitting me all of a sudden, is that we are all different. WOW you say, big revelation!! Maybe this is not earth shattering to you, but for me, it kind of is...
We are all different, not wrong, not right, just different.
We should all be able to read that a couple of times, and I should end here, but the Lion in me just cant do it...Sorry.
I like to be right. (again that pesky Lion!) I have a hard time admitting that I am wrong (big surprise to my husband...the analytical Beaver!) This is not a great trait!! I don't like to talk on the phone, I don't like a lot of information. I like to make a decision and be done. I sound like a real ?&*#% hu? But you know what?? I am crazy compassionate, I will have your back no matter what. I would give anything up for my family, and I would do anything for a friend. I take on your grief, and your sorrow, and I would give you the shirt off my back, and the biggest check I can write along with it!! Am I redeemed yet???
What are your greatest strengths, and obvious weaknesses??? We want to know!!!
And please share us with your friends...unless they are perfect, we just wont be cool enough for them!
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
From stretch marks to postpartum…I know nothing…
GENA…This blog post is one that I am hoping none of you can relate to…
I have friends who wish me harm. Oh they love me, they just think that it is completely unfair that I have two children and carry around 0 extra pounds. If they had their way, I would be 16.24 lbs. overweight, (with this big bowl of ice cream beside me that could happen) stretch marks that encircle my middle, tiny boobs that hang to my belly and extra skin that can only be contained by a magic girdle. They wish these things on me purely out of jealousy. Jealousy over the fact that the arrival of my children into this world did nothing to ravage my body. ( notice that I am not including any pictures today of any of our middles!) I cut my own babies umbilical cords, and even pulled my second one out with my own hands, and I did it without one scream. (I left that up to their brave birth moms!) I’m sure at this point that my friends are the only ones still rooting for a “miraculous conception”…but only so they can see me “suffer” through pregnancy at almost 40! NO THANKS!!!
All of this is just a preface to tell you that I am feeling compelled to write about something I know very little about…frankly I still try to avoid talk about the weird stuff ankles and belly buttons do during pregnancy and the crazy looking (bleep) down there that you now have from pushing out an 8 lb baby!
I know the one thing my friends would never wish on me though is postpartum depression. So what I do know is many things in relation to new motherhood are laugh provoking, this is not one of them.
I looked up the symptoms and they “technically” begin 2 weeks after childbirth and peak slowly at 3 or 4 months. They include but are not limited to…depressed mood, anxiety, loss of pleasure in your daily activities, appetite and weight change, insomnia, fatigue, difficulty concentration, thoughts about death or suicide, or thoughts of harming your baby…This is only a portion of a list I found so please do your own research.
I just want to encourage you that if you are experiencing any combination of any of these symptoms to please seek help. There is no shame in experiencing this. Talk to you husband, mom, friend or sister, but make sure you are being honest and open. See your doctor right away and stand up for yourself if you know something is not right. For you own sake and your babies, do not just wait to feel better or try to convince yourself you can handle this on your own. This is very serious, but please know that you are not alone. For all of you ladies that know of a new mommy, stick close to her and check in often and watch for these signs. Lets all stick together and help each other!
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