What gets you through times that take everything you’ve got?

Today's post written by Chrysula Winegar

My baby son is sobbing in the next room.  I’ve been rocking and shushing and singing and patting for over three hours.  During the day, he’s charming, happy, his joyous little self.  And every night for the past two weeks, around 1am, it begins. 

I am at my wits end.  He’s nine months old and has never yet slept through a whole night.  My eldest daughter was like this.  It took her until she was 20 months before I got more than a three-hour stretch.  I’ve either been pregnant or had a night-waking infant ever since.  So basically I haven’t slept for 7 years.  You name it, with one of my kids I’ve tried it, so you can spare me the theories.  I’ve tried very single solitary last approach.

There is no balance in seasons like these.  There is no give and take, no ebb and flow. It doesn’t matter how many hours I was up with my child the next day.  That client proposal still has to get out the door to win business.    And then the business must be executed with creativity, exceptional service and focus.  Simultaneously the other children’s needs must be met.  Some basic home management and meals are required.  Oh, and that person I love more than life itself – acknowledging his existence is always a good step.  You know the list.

I happened upon Sarah Robinson’s blog, Maverick Mom this week where she writes about expecting the unexpected . As she headed into her day after a night much like mine, in the attempt to manage it all, she asks herself “What will make my life taste the sweetest today?”  She makes her choices for those coming hours based on deep self-knowledge of her values and purpose, and acts accordingly.

I don’t always have that presence of mind in my exhaustion.  By evening of the following day, I am cranky and grumpy and capable of a tantrum that would make any 3 yr old proud.  But I do try to figure out what’s the most important thing I can accomplish that day, what matters the most.   Sometimes it has to be the proposal.  Sometimes it’s snuggles and stories and a movie in PJs.  Sometimes it’s all of those things woven in and out of each other.  There might not be much of a sense of balance.  But there can be flow.

And here’s where I am grateful for a flexible professional life.   Mother, blogger and flex-work recruiter Leanne Chase is keeping a list, and here’s mine for today. When this ends (and it always does), I can crash for an hour or two, and start over.   Maybe even take a nap later (on those rare days I can engineer it). 

How many times have you thought over and over in the midst of a crisis, “I can’t do this, I can’t do this” only to wake up the next morning or regroup at the end of a hard day having “done it”.  Somehow you found the strength and maybe even noticed a little sweetness along the way.

My son is resting now.   I stopped writing a couple paragraphs ago and had one more shot at holding him tight and doing my best to soothe whatever he’s struggling with.  The break was good for both of us.

I am wondering.  What gets you through the days (nights) that take everything you’ve got?  How do you regroup, start over and find your flow?

Love to the moon and back

(C) Copyright Chrysula Winegar

  Find Chrysula at her blog or follow her on twitter

HappyBaby needs you to vote! RUN

Run, don't walk..vote for HappyBaby! Why, just do it, no time to re-write a post...read below. This company, friends of our idols at YoBaby are in a contest to win 100,000! They are neck in neck with another to win so they need your votes. We need to stick together......we have a world to change, one small business at a time!

Run on over after you read their story below ...http://www.nbc.com/shinealight

Only 7 days left!

you have to register but don't let that scare you, it only takes seconds! Go Happy Baby! We are cheering for you!

HAPPYBABY is one of three small businesses competing for $100,000 as part of the Shine a Light contest, run by American Express and NBC Universal. You can vote through October 16th for the small business finalist that most inspires you -- just visit http://www.nbc.com/shinealight.

The three finalists are HAPPYBABY (Brooklyn, NY), Beacon Paint & Hardware (New York, N.Y.), and Sacred Wind Communications, Inc. (Albuquerque, N.M.). They were chosen from more than 4,000 small businesses nominated from across the country for the program, which aims to showcase inspirational small businesses and the role they play in driving the economy. The program invited the public to nominate small business stories based on innovation, community spirit and customer service. The three finalists were ultimately selected with the help of show host and entrepreneur Ellen DeGeneres, fashion designer and entrepreneur Diane von Furstenberg, and MSNBC's small business expert and host JJ Ramberg.

HAPPYBABY pioneered a new movement in baby food with a line of sustainable organic home-style meals as an alternative to the processed jarred foods that had not been improved since the 1930's. The business is the brainchild of a social entrepreneur who wanted to provide our children with the best start to instill eating habits for a healthy happy life, and simultaneously provide basic nutritional needs for less fortunate children simply trying to survive.

So cast your HAPPY vote!

 Love, to the moon and back

 

 

Be Well~ Dr Weigh on Healthy school lunch time

Today's post written by Dr. Joanna Dolgoff Lunch-time at school can be tricky because the meals served in the cafeteria are usually not healthy, but rather, convenient for the school. Now, I know it can be hard to find the time in the morning to pack a child's lunch, with everyone rushing to get ready, so plan ahead and make as much as possible the night before! And remember, pack delicious and healthy snacks for your child so she won't be tempted to "trade" items with another child at school or scramble together loose change to buy a bag of chips!        Here are a few healthy lunch ideas that won't make your child feel deprived of the typical lunch foods her friends will be eating!        We recommend a wheat (bread), a meat (protein) and a treat (snack) plus a fruit for vegetable for lunch!  This way your child is getting several different food groups in one meal.        A sandwich is a typical school lunch but you can make it less boring by switching up the meats and cheeses. If your child is a big fan of salami and pepperoni, combine one slice of these higher fat deli meats with a few slices of lighter versions like turkey and chicken breast!        Add an apple, orange, banana, whatever fruit you prefer along with a small 100- calorie pack of chips, cookies or crackers and you have a complete lunch for your child that will leave him feeling satisfied and alert throughout the school day.        Also, be sure to pack water so your child stays hydrated throughout the day!    Here are 10 ideas for healthy lunch options:   -Tuna or chicken salad (made with fat-free mayo) in a pita pocket  -Tuna macaroni salad (made with whole wheat macaroni and fat-free mayo)  -Peanut butter and banana sandwich -English muffin pizza (with low fat or fat-free cheese) -Homemade "lunchables"- turkey, low fat or fat-free cheese, and wheat crackers to make into mini-sandwiches -Hummus sandwich on pita bread -Fat-free cream cheese and lox on a whole wheat mini bagel -Quesadilla (whole-wheat tortilla with melted low fat or fat-free cheese) -Sandwich with grilled vegetables and low fat or fat-free mozzarella cheese -Healthy chicken fingers- cold strips of grilled chicken.  May dip in barbeque sauce, ketchup, or honey mustard.   Become a member of Dr. Dolgoff's Weigh and browse many more healthy breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack ideas.  Click here to go to Dr. Dolgoff's Weigh now!

Be Well, Joanna Dolgoff, MD Dr.Dolgoff's Weigh

 

Products safe for Mom, baby & planet~ Blessed Nest

We work with amazing stores who are wonderful customers and friends! They care about you, the safety of products they carry in their stores and the necessity for NO chemicals in products for mom and baby!

They ask us perfect questions about  our Nesting  pillows and we have answers...

We added a Blessed Nest product safety link here on our site~ Below is a note from Heather about her journey in developing organic products.

Learn more here. A complete look at our products and their safety for your baby and family!

 

A note from Heather the founder of Blessed Nest on why we don’t use chemicals and fire retardants:

I've spent a lot of time researching this very issue, and it is actually the thing that started me down the road of "all organic". As we have stated; our Nesting Pillows are not "treated" with anything. In fact the chemicals that are used for making fabrics fire-retardant are linked to cases of SIDS more than any other theory out there. Fabrics are only required to be treated if they are being used for children's sleepwear, and in certain commercial applications (hospital curtains, etc). That's why most of your baby's nighties are labeled "not intended as sleepwear", or are made of that strange-feeling fabric. In a nutshell, nothing about our pillow attracts fire like, say a petroleum-based foam might, so there is no need to treat it. The Nesting Pillow will not catch fire more readily than anything else. It is important that articles of bedding and furniture are tested, because there has been a problem with the chemicals that can be on fabrics and in other materials promoting flame where it wouldn't normally be (like if a lamp fell over on it). All of the major components of both pillows are made with 100% organic materials which are certified to not even contain pesticides. All other components (zippers, thread, labels) are either not available in organic, or the organic version does not meet our standards for quality and durability. We care very much about literally every element of our products (yes, even thread!).

 

Thank you for asking!

Blessed Nest ~ Love without compromise

Safe for Baby, Mom and planet

Love, To the Moon and back

Click here for Product Safety guide by Blessed Nest

Lunch on the go~ Kids Eating Right~ A review

I love to eat healthy. I feel better, have more energy.

 I love seeing kids with homemade cookies and whole grain breads packed in their lunch bags.  BUT, I’m also not living in a dream world. We are all busy moms. I know as Moms we want the best for our children. Friends of mine who are teachers say that 90% of kids come to school with lunches that do not contain anything homemade let alone healthy!

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a source for portable/packaged lunch choices that is healthy?

 I know we can’t always have homemade food to go but can we have healthy? My kids have been known to beg for the packaged foods with cute characters on them at the stores too….but I have to draw the line. When I look at the ingredients and there is nothing “real” in the food then well, we have to pass. Now, I know there are some smaller chain and independent grocery stores which carry packaged fruits and veggies but I would love to see these foods in my everyday store as well!

It’s happening. Moms have asked and grocers and consumer product companies are listening…well some are.  Safeway stores and Warner Brothers are listening!

I was asked to try the new Eating Right™ healthy foods for kids. Eating Right is a new brand of great-tasting, better-for-you foods. Warner Brothers Consumer Products has partnered exclusively with Safeway to offer “better for you” eating solutions for kids: the Eating Right Kids food and beverage line, featuring the beloved Looney Toons characters

We tried the nicely packaged foods coming in from Warner Brothers Consumer Products team….my kids liked the healthy chewy bars with no high fructose corn syrup! Some of the other items are packaged carrots with dip. Apples with peanut butter, fruit cups; all again, with no high fructose corn syrup!

Your kids will be happy and so will you….

I still opt for the homemade cookies from mom along with my carrots packaged nicely with the cute Loony Tunes characters from Eating Right Kids….

 We like that you are thinking about our kids when you come out with products in the main stream market place! Thank you!

Our families all time easy lunch favorite.... Celery sticks with peanut butter!

What is your favorite healthy lunch item? What would you like to see added to the Eating Right Kids line of healthy treats for your family?

Love to the moon and back,

Donna partners with Team Mom to review products made in the USA or practicing fair trade. It's important to know what companies in the mainstream market place fit our high standards. At Blessed Nestwe work hard to provide you with the best and we enjoy tellling you about other companies who are doing the same!