While on the treadmill last week I was watching my daily dose of the Today Show and there was a brief segment about how women struggle to take a compliment. It was interesting to me because I often struggle with taking a compliment and will deflect the attention back onto the person (looking at you teaching partner ;)) or give a reason (i.e.: "I've had this dress forever" or "it's from XYZ").
The segment was all of 3-4 minutes but in that short time the hosts were having general conversation when compliments came out and they too were challenged to accept them graciously. Why is this? Is it because social pressures to look good, to always be at the top of your game or are we just too humble to accept praise?
I was reminded again of this segment as #TeamA was sitting at the kitchen table tonight colouring and I complimented her on her colouring and her response was "Thanks, mom!". How can my 3 year old graciously accept the complements thrown her way, yet us gown adults (most often women) can't? I have been teaching her when someone is speaking to her and they compliment her on her hair, clothes, behaviour, whatever to turn and say thank you as an appreciation.
Where do I lack in this? Am I just too humble? Am I just too self-conscious?
Here's an article from Today.com from back in 2013 that is still relevant today.
Do you take compliments graciously and humbly?
Sunshine & happiness, today and always!
Stephanie :)
Tuesday, July 26, 2016
My (Nagging for 24+ hrs) Wish
Now I want to preface with that I don't usually ever wake up wishing my life away or that things would be different, but today I have had a nagging thought in my head.
Today I can't stop thinking about how I wish my children could have a summer home of sorts that we could spend all day and night lounging and relaxing at. This and this summer home I would love for it to be on a sandy waterfront so that my kids can continue to do what they absolutely love to do: play in the sand and get wet. I want somewhere that I am confident taking the kids alone while DH works and everyone is safe and comfortable. I want somewhere I don't have to pack up every weekend and that we can entertain family and friends who visit.
I don't know why this thought just won't leave my head or why all of a sudden I am aching for such reality, but I am trying to figure out how I can fix it. It is not that we cannot afford a summer home, but more that we are so busy that beyond the summer months we would be pressed to make good use of it. DH is admittedly not a handyman, so he's not into tending to landscaping and projects more than he has too.
This weekend we are going to visit a cottage/second home of a former coworker of DH, so it will either calm this nagging thought or make it even worse! In the meantime, the kids and I have retreated to our backyard where we will continue to make amazing memories of Summer 2016.
Sunshine & happiness today and for always!
Stephanie :)
Today I can't stop thinking about how I wish my children could have a summer home of sorts that we could spend all day and night lounging and relaxing at. This and this summer home I would love for it to be on a sandy waterfront so that my kids can continue to do what they absolutely love to do: play in the sand and get wet. I want somewhere that I am confident taking the kids alone while DH works and everyone is safe and comfortable. I want somewhere I don't have to pack up every weekend and that we can entertain family and friends who visit.
I don't know why this thought just won't leave my head or why all of a sudden I am aching for such reality, but I am trying to figure out how I can fix it. It is not that we cannot afford a summer home, but more that we are so busy that beyond the summer months we would be pressed to make good use of it. DH is admittedly not a handyman, so he's not into tending to landscaping and projects more than he has too.
This weekend we are going to visit a cottage/second home of a former coworker of DH, so it will either calm this nagging thought or make it even worse! In the meantime, the kids and I have retreated to our backyard where we will continue to make amazing memories of Summer 2016.
Sunshine & happiness today and for always!
Stephanie :)
Tuesday, July 5, 2016
Accountability Check: Getting Back on the Bandwagon
Now that summer is here so is the dreaded bathing suit season. I am not one to usually get hung up on what I physically look like, but I do like to feel comfortable in my clothes. Like anyone else, the winter brought on lots of hardy soups and breads plus the results of having two little ones literally just over 2 years apart. I made a commitment to DH that I would focus on getting my body back into an appropriate shape over the summer, and he is on the bandwagon with me.
So far, both of us have been up and at 'em before our days start working out in the basement, him on his stationary bike & me on my treadmill. It is a love/hate relationship I have with my treadmill because as everyone has, there are good runs and ones that you'd much rather be somewhere else. This time around, I have to also time my workouts to #TeamA & #TeamO's schedules so that I can actually work at working out instead of constantly being interrupted.
One of my biggest challenges is going to be the accountability to myself. I can't start cutting corners, taking time off my run, not doing my weights etc. I find it very easy to finish my run and then sit down on the floor with the kids and start playing instead of finishing off with the weights. I need someone more to check in on me & hold me accountable.
I am loving my time at home and can't let a day go by without working out so that it becomes second nature to jump on the treadmill before starting my day. I have a weight goal in mind, but I also have a routine goal in mind once we head back to school in just over 8 weeks. I want to still be able to workout before school so that I don't fall into the winter slump again.
Please keep checking in with/on me over the summer to see how the routine is going. Don't be afraid to ask me if I got through my whole workout or if I cheated. I won't be offended!
Do you have fitness goals? If, yes, what are they? How to you keep yourself accountable and motivated?
So far, both of us have been up and at 'em before our days start working out in the basement, him on his stationary bike & me on my treadmill. It is a love/hate relationship I have with my treadmill because as everyone has, there are good runs and ones that you'd much rather be somewhere else. This time around, I have to also time my workouts to #TeamA & #TeamO's schedules so that I can actually work at working out instead of constantly being interrupted.
One of my biggest challenges is going to be the accountability to myself. I can't start cutting corners, taking time off my run, not doing my weights etc. I find it very easy to finish my run and then sit down on the floor with the kids and start playing instead of finishing off with the weights. I need someone more to check in on me & hold me accountable.
I am loving my time at home and can't let a day go by without working out so that it becomes second nature to jump on the treadmill before starting my day. I have a weight goal in mind, but I also have a routine goal in mind once we head back to school in just over 8 weeks. I want to still be able to workout before school so that I don't fall into the winter slump again.
Please keep checking in with/on me over the summer to see how the routine is going. Don't be afraid to ask me if I got through my whole workout or if I cheated. I won't be offended!
Do you have fitness goals? If, yes, what are they? How to you keep yourself accountable and motivated?
Hello Summer Vacation!
Today was the first official day of summer vacation and if it is the one that sets the tone, I'm looking forward to the rest of the 9 weeks.
We had been away for the long weekend watching baseball and daily routine was totally mixed up. Nap time was almost non-existent and we were certainly not eating our normal diet.
I was not sure how this summer vacation would work out since it is our first with two very mobile children. Questions that kept creeping into my head included: what are we going to do all day, how am I going to entertain both at the same time with likely two different activities, what am I going to make for lunch that they will actually eat, how can I make sure that I'm able to workout each day? Today all questions were answered! It was like a picture perfect day. I woke up just after DH left for work and waited for #TeamO to rise so that I could jump on the treadmill. In hindsight, I would have had time to workout before he woke up, but I needed to play it safe to not be interrupted. #TeamO and I headed for the basement for a long run on the treadmill to the tunes of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and #TeamA joined us part way through. We spent the better part of the rest of the morning playing outside in the backyard with a mix of blowing bubbles, sandbox and climbing on the structure. Lunch brought me some stress, but the kids seemed to enjoy a little bit of this and a little bit of that. (I'm not sure why I keep thinking I need to make a whole meal for lunch time when this and that work just as well, if not better). Then came the coveted nap time! This has to be a highlight of our days at home as it sets the tone for the rest of the day and into the evening.
After dinner we headed back outside for more bubble blowing, sand boxing and a new feature...a dish pan of water! #TeamO is a stereotypical little boy that loves mud, trucks, tractors and more mud. I was thinking how I could help fuel his curiosity in all things dirty and remembered I had brought home a white dishpan/bin from school. It would be perfect for outdoor play! I filled it up with water and watched the excitement explode. He came out dirtier, happier and certainly more tired than usual. Once we headed inside, he chose 3 different stories to read before bed and at the end of the third one, he headed straight for his bed. No fight to sleep tonight!
I can't wait to see what tomorrow and the rest of the week has in store. I've got a plan to go for a walk to the grocery store in the morning after my workout to pick up a few fresh snacks. It's supposed to be beautiful out, so a walk should be perfect.
Keep checking back in to see what adventures we get up to over the next several weeks.
Sunshine & happiness, today and for always!
Stephanie :)
We had been away for the long weekend watching baseball and daily routine was totally mixed up. Nap time was almost non-existent and we were certainly not eating our normal diet.
I was not sure how this summer vacation would work out since it is our first with two very mobile children. Questions that kept creeping into my head included: what are we going to do all day, how am I going to entertain both at the same time with likely two different activities, what am I going to make for lunch that they will actually eat, how can I make sure that I'm able to workout each day? Today all questions were answered! It was like a picture perfect day. I woke up just after DH left for work and waited for #TeamO to rise so that I could jump on the treadmill. In hindsight, I would have had time to workout before he woke up, but I needed to play it safe to not be interrupted. #TeamO and I headed for the basement for a long run on the treadmill to the tunes of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and #TeamA joined us part way through. We spent the better part of the rest of the morning playing outside in the backyard with a mix of blowing bubbles, sandbox and climbing on the structure. Lunch brought me some stress, but the kids seemed to enjoy a little bit of this and a little bit of that. (I'm not sure why I keep thinking I need to make a whole meal for lunch time when this and that work just as well, if not better). Then came the coveted nap time! This has to be a highlight of our days at home as it sets the tone for the rest of the day and into the evening.
After dinner we headed back outside for more bubble blowing, sand boxing and a new feature...a dish pan of water! #TeamO is a stereotypical little boy that loves mud, trucks, tractors and more mud. I was thinking how I could help fuel his curiosity in all things dirty and remembered I had brought home a white dishpan/bin from school. It would be perfect for outdoor play! I filled it up with water and watched the excitement explode. He came out dirtier, happier and certainly more tired than usual. Once we headed inside, he chose 3 different stories to read before bed and at the end of the third one, he headed straight for his bed. No fight to sleep tonight!
I can't wait to see what tomorrow and the rest of the week has in store. I've got a plan to go for a walk to the grocery store in the morning after my workout to pick up a few fresh snacks. It's supposed to be beautiful out, so a walk should be perfect.
Keep checking back in to see what adventures we get up to over the next several weeks.
Sunshine & happiness, today and for always!
Stephanie :)
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