Entertaining your children when school is out for the summer can become quite expensive, especially if you enroll them in pricey summer camps for a large portion of the time. However, many parents feel that the alternative is to have their children sulking on the couch while moaning about how bored they are, especially if friends are all attending camps. Actually, there are plenty of ways to have cheap summer fun with your kids. Why not try a few of these budget friendly ideas? Your local YMCA is a family oriented place with plenty of great activities. Your children can go swimming, take a variety of classes and even attend day camps for a very reasonable price. Most YMCA’s have family memberships, which makes the classes more affordable for families with several children. If you don’t have a YMCA close by, check with your local parks and recreation department to see if they are offering events for children and families during the summer months. Many times, they offer low cost art, sports and even cooking classes for kids.

Another great way for your kids to have fun this summer is to set up events in your own backyard. Have them put together a circus. After they’ve practiced the event and have the ring set up, friends and family can make up an audience to view the final result. Don’t forget to add some games and serve some refreshments that match the theme, such as popcorn and corndogs. If your children don’t like the circus, suggest that they put on a play, hold a pet show or set up a fair.

If your children like collecting things, they can make a natural history museum in a spare corner of the house. Then, you can take field trips to local places so that they can create their museum exhibits. Take them on nature hikes so that they can make rubbings of tree bark and leaves. Let them take photos of local wildlife and flowers, but be sure that you don‘t actually take home any wildflowers, since these plants may be endangered. Go to the beach and collect interesting shells and bits of sea glass or visit the areas where your local rock hounds hang out. If you have prolific gardens or you can get permission for them to pick some flowers in someone else’s garden, your children can also press flowers and mount them as part of the display.

If your children are budding entrepreneurs, they may have more fun making money. Why not try a good old-fashioned lemonade stand? Just be sure your town or city doesn’t have any ordinances that would prohibit it before the kids set up. If they need to clean out their closets and toy chests, suggest that they combine the lemonade stand with a yard sale.

Finally, don’t forget about gardening. Growing their own produce can be fun for kids, especially when they discover a two foot long zucchini hiding in the garden bed.

Menu Plan Monday ~ June 16th

Nothing fancy this week for us here:

Tonight:  Spaghetti

Tuesday: Baked Chicken, Scalloped potatoes, salad

Wednesday: Left Over Spaghetti, salad

Thursday:  Tacos

Friday: Pizza night

My weekly meal plans are needed to ensure that things run a bit smoother in the late afternoons when its time to get dinner on teh table for this busy family. It takes all of the guess work and most of the “fuss” out of cooking.

Stop by to read my article on Meal Planning if you are looking to take the “fuss” out of your mealtimes.

 Let us know what you have going on in your kitchen this week

You won’t find any junk here!!

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If you are a mom, more than likely you know the feeling of having a full schedule.  Rushing around, taking a kid to soccer, another to dance class, rush to pick up the dry cleaning and then running home to get cookies baked for the youngest child’s snack day. As moms we have full schedules, usually too full. Our days are full of work, errands and children’s activities. In most mom’s schedules there is one thing missing. Time for mom.

Visit How To Look After Number One for your free report all about taking time out for yourself.

For moms who work from home, balancing the home and business sides of their lives can feel downright impossible, especially when the reason they began working from home was so they could spend more time with family. However, many home businesses actually fail because moms don’t manage to balance business and home life. How can you juggle your family’s needs, your business needs and occasionally find some time for your needs without being a super hero?

The first thing any mom should do to achieve balance is to get the family involved. If your children and husband support you, you will find that they interrupt less often and are more likely to pitch in to get household chores done. You’re probably thinking that will happen the day the moon turns to blue cheese, right? However, if you mention that you need to get a major project done and will be able to buy a pizza and rent a video when you are paid, you may be surprised at how quickly everyone pitches in to help out.

If you have young children, they may not be able to understand the concept of waiting for a reward. To get your younger children involved, try explaining what you are doing in very simple terms and having them help you. Set up a small desk or table for your toddlers and add crayons and paper so they can help you with your work by drawing some pictures or writing a letter. Children that are a bit older can put stamps on envelopes and seal them, paperclip papers together or do other simple organizational tasks.

Of course, no matter how supportive your family and friends are, they are not going to be happy if you work 15 hours a day. Make sure that you ask for uninterrupted time to do your job or run your business, but also make sure that you schedule time for your family and friends. While you are making up that schedule, don’t forget your significant other. If you sit at your computer all evening after the children are tucked away for the night, you may end up with some serious relationship issues!

Once your family and friends are involved and you’ve scheduled time for them in your life, it is time to consider a few ways to make the most of your valuable work time. While you may be tempted to work non-stop during the time you have dedicated to your business, you should actually try to take some breaks. Taking a half-hour walk or having lunch away from your desk can really help you recharge your mind and keeps your body from growing stiff and tired. When you sit back down, you can do so with a clearer view of your goals and fresh energy and focus.

Also, don’t be afraid to make a “to do” list for your business. Write the four or five items you absolutely must do on your list and promise yourself that you will get them done before you visit your favorite forums or check your email. This can really help you get more work accomplished in less time.

So, although you may not have super powers, you can still have a home life, a business life and some time for yourself. The next time you are feeling overwhelmed, take a deep breath, ask your family for some help and try out a few of these great ideas for balancing your life.

Aritcle by Aurelia Williams -

I am dedicated to helping moms maximize their time. Visit my report at Finding More Family Time,  you’ll discover EXACTLY how to find more time for your family AND get everything else done too!

Schmoozins.com is a place where the emphasis is on real women providing relevant information and interaction for other women. Topics include health, parenting, career, finance, relationships and more. In a world where women are so busy with career and family, websites like Schmoozins.com give women the connect with other women twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week.

My article, Finding Happiness: Tips for Women, was featured there - you may want to stop by, read the article and bookmark the site.

I know many moms out there are looking for ways to earn a little income at home (either full time or part time).  Well, Real Life Solutions has a page dedicated to Work At Home Ideas.  Be sure to check it out, you may see something that you like.

Take care and let me know if you see anything that sparks an interest in you

I am seeing an increase in women that are searching for positive ways to manage their stress. Because of this, I decided to write down what I feel are the 1b est ways to deal with unhealthy stress.

These tips can be applied your life and all of your relationships as it pertains to school, work, family, your significant other and friends.

My hope is that you find positive ways to help manage all stress that you are dealing with.

1 - Manage Your Time Effectively: Keep a To Do list or daily planner and make sure to include time for yourself and time for stress reduction activities.

2 - Take a Break: Schedule several short breaks throughout your day to help minimize your stress. Get up and stretch, read a book, go for a walk or simply call a friend.

3 - Minimize Interruptions: When focusing on something important, make sure to block off a period of time when you can work without being disturbed or distracted.

4 - Eat Healthy Foods: Try to avoid foods high in fat, sugar and sodium. Be sure to snack on something healthy and do not skip meals because this will lower your energy levels.

5 - Exercise: Regular physical activity is one of the best ways to deal with stress. It releases endorphins and gives you a natural high. Try walking, bike riding or simply exercising in the comfort of your own home.

6 - Think Positively - Instead of focusing on negative thoughts, focus on the positive things in your life and say to yourself at least one positive thought each day.

7 - Learn to Say NO - Don’t feel guilty when you have to tell others no. Taking on additional projects or work for others when you are busy will only cause you more stress.

8 - Put Stressful Situations in Perspective - Will it matter a month from now? What about a year from now? Is it something that you can control? Ask yourself these questions when you are faced with a stressful situation.

9 - Get Enough Sleep: Studies show that most people need between 6-9 hours of sleep, but most people give up sleep when they are under stress to finish more work. Be sure to get the proper rest so that you can energize your mind, body and spirit.

10 - Find Someone to Talk to: Talking to your friends or family can help because it gives you a chance to express your feelings. However, problems in your social life or family life can be the hardest to talk about. If you feel like you can’t talk to your family or a friend, talk to someone outside the situation. This could be your priest or minister, a therapist, your family doctor or a coach.

Once in awhile I will offer a special on one of my products and here I am with a great special for you.  I know I love it when I run across a good deal and I am sure you do too so; I am offering you a 30% discount on the Journey To Joy package

This special discounted price is only good for 2 weeks.  Don’t forget that your Journey to Joy eBook purchase is protected by a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Here’s all you need to do to get your discounted rate.

Simply visit the special discount page that I set up for you here http://www.reallifecoaching.net/jtjspecial.shtml and place your order.  That’s all there is to it.

Immediately after your purchase you will receive the link to download the inspiring 46 page eBook that is filled with clear-cut step-by-step action items to help you claim the happiness that you deserve.  Along with the eBook are links all of your bonus audios, reports and transcripts.

As always, if you have any questions, comments, or concerns please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Into every life a little stress must fall.  When the stress reaches higher than normal levels on a regular basis, your health can start to be affected.  Moms may look invincible or even think they are invincible but it’s not true.  Stress and good health don’t mix.

Stress is our body’s response to outside stimuli.  Sure that sounds good, but it doesn’t mean very much.  When you come home from a hard day at work and the sink is full of dishes, the laundry room is piled high with clothing, and the sink in the bathroom has been dripping all day, your blood pressure begins to rise.
The first person who says something to you usually gets to hear about your frustration.  Or, they get to see you run bawling to the bedroom and shut the door.  This is stress. 

Moms, we have to protect our health.  If the above scenario is typical of your daily life, watch out.  You need to cease and desist before you end up in bed or the loony bin.  Popping pills is not a long-term solution to the side effects you are experiencing from your stress. Antacids and headache medication is not the answer.

Did you know that too much pain medication can irritate your digestive system?  Your body will fight back with bowel trouble or worse.  There’s a reason that labels tell you not to exceed a specified dose in twenty-four hours.  We’ve go to stop abusing our bodies.

Are you a stress eater – increasing your caloric intake as your stress increases?  I am.  I didn’t know it until I had gained about twenty pounds.  Stress can lead to some unhealthy ways of coping.  My fix was peanut butter cups.  Do you know how many calories are in those things?  I would shield my eyes from the nutritional information.  It’s a wonder I didn’t explode.

Stress can lead to poor eating habits.  Overeating or eating the wrong things can lead to obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure.  These illnesses can lead to heart disease and stroke.  Basically, we’re talking about a premature death.  That is not an option for you, mom.

Stress can also cause ulcers, migraine headaches, and depression.  These conditions can be avoided when we take better care of ourselves.  Enlist the aid of your spouse, parents, sisters, brothers, and friends.  You are not the first one to suffer stress and you will not be the last.  Living with it is not an option.

As a mom, your children can even help you.  How can that purple-faced person with jam all over himself help you?  Kiss his jam stained face until all the jam is gone.  Jump on the bed with him.  Snuggle together with some books and let all the day’s worries stay outside that door. 

He may be a reason for some of the stress, but he is also the joy of your life.  You endure because of his angelic face.  Be there for him when he grows up by learning to cope with stress now.