Sanity Saving Stress Relief

Anyone out there stressing?

I can't imagine what we would all have to be stressed about- let's see... maybe just the house cleaning, laundry, kids with cabin fever, cold weather, new years resolutions, tight fitting pants, left over candy, phone calls, emails, work, whining, pets, cooking, grocery shopping, trying to organize, and life in general can just get a little crazy.

At some point or another, we all get stressed!

According to the American Psychological Association, stress affects us on a spectrum:

1. Acute stress (just a few things bothering you, or stressing you out over a short period of time, like the holidays)
2. Episodic Acute Stress (the things that stress you out happen frequently, worrying frequently, and "type-A" personalities can lead to EAS)
3. Chronic Stress (so much stress it effects you physically over a long period of time)

Addressing life's stressors as they come can be the key to keeping your stress "acute". Not letting things build up- physically and emotionally- can make a big difference.

I have suffered with EAS and bordered on chronic stress. When I had my Little Man I made the decision to control my stress, to calm my self down, and to worry less (like, much less). I might be type-A enough to have to consciously chose to let my stress go. I have to remind myself that it's not worth the headaches, stomach aches, and exhaustion.

It has gotten easier over time, but I've had 5 years of practice. If you are feeling the wear and tear of stress on your body, trust me- save your sanity, starting now!!

Here are a few things I have found to help me channel my stress into positive things rather than letting it have negative side effects:

1. I'm honest about what stresses me out. Trying to ignore your feelings only amplifies them! If you acknowledge you're in a stressful situation, it is easier to change your situation and it is easier to get the oh-so-necessary social support to improve your circumstances.
2. I work it out. Literally. If I am stressed I work out, I clean, I do yoga, I keep moving. This helps to a) keep me busy so I'm not obsessing about the stressor; and b) the endorphins released in your brain when you do physical activity improve your mood. That's science, friends.
3. Focus on my breathing. Deep breaths lead to relaxation (cue the yoga again), stress response can effect our respiration rates- if you aren't getting enough oxygen, your brain won't think as clearly.  So as annoying as it gets, counting to 10 is good for your mind... and lungs. Aromatherapy helps me to really maximize the benefits of deep breathing. I'm a big fan of the Bath & Body Works stress relief lotion pictured above (my yoga instructor even uses this during our classes). It smells good so it's easy to take a deep breath... mmmmmm.
4. Take a time out. Yep, it's not just for my 2 year-old. Mommy takes time outs too. For different reasons, obviously. On days where my kids are tired and cranky, we are cooped up in the house, and I'm at my wit's end I turn on a show for the kids and I sit in my favorite chair in the whole house. The chair, pictured above, is in my bathroom. Silly, I know. But it is out of the way, quiet, and no where near the toilet (don't worry). The chair was my grandmother's and something about sitting down with my kindle and relaxing in that chair sets my mind right and helps me to de-stress.

Everyone relaxes differently, the key is to do something about your stress that makes you stress less- not something that adds to your stress. Steer clear of things that will only make you pressed for time (like napping) or that will make you feel worse your stress (i.e. stressing over your weight is not helped by eating chocolate).

What do you do to relax and de-stress?

Create: Bulletin Board Re-Vamp

Happy Halloween! :)

I have a huge bulletin board in my office that has been needing some attention. Let's face it, the things are pretty ugly. I mean, that's why we plaster them with pictures, notes, announcements, schedules, and other odds and ends. Although they get covered up with all of these things, I really wanted the bulletin board to look pretty. And fun. And gray. And chevron-y. Yes, chevron-y. I just made that up.

Enter: Hobby Lobby and their fabric department. Lucky for me they had exactly what I was looking for... and it was on sale. Obviously this bulletin board re-vamp was meant to be.

You just need a few things:

bulletin board

fabric

measuring tape

scissors

staple gun

staples

Start by measuring your bulletin board if you don't already have the dimensions.

Then, find a fabric you adore at your local craft and fabric store. Be sure you ask for a little more length than you need- you want the fabric to wrap around the edge of the board.

Lay out your fabric, pattern side down, on a flat surface. Place bulletin board on top of fabric, cork side down. Be sure to center your bulletin board so you have an even amount of fabric on all 4 sides... if you're particular. If you're not, that's ok too. But, I'm kind of particular.

Moving along...

Wrap the extra fabric around the edge of the bulletin board and on to the back of the board. Start with any side and start stapling away. Be sure you're pulling the fabric tight- you don't want it to bunch up or be loose on the front side of your board.

This bulletin board had 2 brackets for hanging, so we had to use a scissors to snip a small hole in the fabric to allow the brackets to be exposed and be used. 

 Pull the bracket through the fabric carefully. 

 Staple right underneath the bracket after you've exposed it. 

Once you have everything stapled, you're done! You could get creative and add embellishments if you want. I kind of like simple and the chevron was just enough for me. Anything more would make it too busy, but that's just me.

Have a super simple craft? Let us know about it! We might try it out and feature it in a future post!

5 Tips for a Great Girl's Getaway

I love taking "girl's trips". They rejuvenate me. I have a couple of friends who I like to plan special trips with every so often. More than just a night out, we get away.

Spending time with my family is wonderful- I love them. But getting away, even for just a night, and spending time with my girls is so fun!

Jess, Lauren and I are getting away TOMORROW! As a little pre-girl's-weekend celebration, I thought I would share a few tips with you to make any girl's getaway as enjoyable as possible! You want to de-stress and unwind- here's 5 tips to help you plan.

1. Pick a place that works for what you want. Every destination has a certain expectation associated with it. Before I had kids I wanted to meet my friends someplace with great shopping and a party night life. Now that I have kids, my idea of a getaway is slow-paced, relaxing, and with cheap happy hour options. :-) Whatever your group's expectation, make sure you select a destination that will be a good fit.

2. Pin it! Pinterest is a great tool to get everyone on the same page. You can create a board that everyone who is coming on the trip can pin to. On our last adventure, Jess, Lauren and I went to Kansas City, in preparation we pinned up a storm! Stores to shop, places to eat, clothes to wear, attractions that we didn't want to miss. It was so fun to see all of the things we could do that by the time we got there we were so excited- not just to see each other, but to go to the places we had pinned!

3. Find the good food! But find it before you go. Take time to figure out what restaurants will be close to where you are staying and playing. Pinterest, Yelp, and the city's chamber website can usually point you in the right direction when looking for local food that meets your taste bud's standards. Make sure you are taking into consideration how you will get around- if you are walking everywhere find places to eat nearby.

4. Plan one main event. Maybe you are looking forward to a spa day, shopping at a particular store, crafting, or a nice 5 course meal. Whatever it is, plan your "main event". By planning this one thing you can ensure that you are getting the most out of your getaway. Your friends might want to join you, but maybe they don't. It's ok to split up, especially if you have a large group. Maybe you have a spa day while your friends hit up the nearby mall- no big deal! Everyone should feel like they are getting the most out of their weekend. Plan it ahead of time so that no one's "main event" gets overlooked.

5. Don't over plan.  The whole idea of a getaway is that you get away. From stress, from responsibility (sort of), from schedules.  Another great thing about having a "girl's trip pin board" is that you don't have to have a schedule. For our trip to Kansas City, every morning we consulted our board and came up with a game plan for our day. Perfect use of a pin! This year we are getting together at the lake and the only "plans" we have are to be crafty (at least one craft each) and drink sangria. You can imagine what our pin board looks ;)

Bottom line: a getaway with the girls should be a good time. By putting in a little planning before you go, you can relax and enjoy the trip even more!

Where is your favorite place to getaway? We'd love to hear about it!

Pep Talk: One Hour All to Myself

When thinking about what it is that recharges me- my mommy-ness, my motivation, my ability to care about anything- I have found that an hour all to myself works better than anything else.

Usually, I am the last one to go to bed at night. I am a night owl. Not a morning person.  My family does not have this nocturnal tendency. Fine with me :-)

Most nights I take a whole hour to myself to sit and do absolutely nothing. I usually get lost on Pinterest or engrossed in watching Conan. Or both.

A little Pinterest, a little Conan. Good stuff.

I don't worry about the mess, the dishes, the laundry, text messages, emails, blogs, the upcoming day. I don't think, really. It is the best thing I do for myself.

I think sometimes we get so caught up in what's coming next and what we should be doing now that we forget to just relax. If we are constantly moving then we forget how glorious it can be to just sit and be still.

Take the time- maybe you don't need a whole episode of Conan, maybe a cup of coffee by yourself in the morning is your energy boost. Whatever you need, make it happen. It is worth it.

What recharges you?

Abe Lincoln + Starbucks + Kelly Clarkson

Remember that one time when your husband threw $5.00 at you and told you to go to Starbucks?

Oh, I do. 

It just happened on Tuesday- I was standing in the dining room and all of a sudden good ol' Abe Lincoln came flying towards me. I was thinking, "Is this a dream?".

$5.00 doesn't buy much these days, but my Venti Non-fat Decaf Iced Caramel Macchiato (say that 3 times fast!) comes in at $4.91. And that, my friends, is $5.00 well spent . I know you're all wondering why I would get decaf, because really, what's the point of coffee without the caffeine, right?  Oh, I get it. I used to think the same thing about "those people who order decaf".  I don't even want to admit the amount of caffeine I consumed shortly after my twins were born. I really should have invested in an IV and some Starbucks stock.

Anyway- that's a post for another day. 

Equally important is the fact that the nearest Starbucks is 30 minutes away, which means at least 1 hour and 15 minutes to MYSELF. And I get control of the radio. Again, "Is this a dream?".

So, I got out of my sweats, prettied myself up, and out the door I went. I plugged in my iPhone, cranked up some Kelly Clarkson, and hit the road. I grabbed my coffee and decided to hit up Hobby Lobby before heading home. Of course they had a sale (when don't they?) and of course I found a super cute teal and coral chevron picture frame. I can't pass it up- 3 of my favorite things in one frame. It was love at first sight.

I ended up being away from my house for almost 6 hours because my afternoon was full of appointments. Can I just tell you how much better I felt after getting out the house and doing something just for me? Honestly, I need to do it more often. We all do.

Today's life lesson: When your husband throws money at you and tells you to go to Starbucks (or Target, or Hobby Lobby, or... you get the point.), you listen.

What do you that is just for you?

And if you're a coffee addict, like myself, head over to our Facebook page and tell me your order! I seriously feel like I have the most complicated coffee order. Again- a post for another day.

Create: Spring Wreath Time!

I'm kind of obsessed with wreaths. A wreath for every season is a must in my house; although I must admit, I tend to use the same wreath every year because, well, I get lazy life gets crazy.

But, when I get the itch to do some crafting... I get 'er done. I mean, I get it done. Ya know, sometimes I just can't hide my Minnesota accent... even in writing. But I digress...

This wreath is simple to make, so grab a Starbucks, put the kids down for a nap, crank up your favorite music, and get your craft on!

What you need:

1 grapevine wreath

Artificial flowers

Wood numbers

Craft paint
Scissors 

Hot glue gun

I had two sets of flowers; the same type, just different colors. They came in a big bunch, so I needed to separate them into smaller bunches by clipping them. 

Then, I positioned them by weaving them through the grapevine. There were a few places where I used my hot glue gun, but for the most part, the flowers should stay without glue.

Of course, my perfectionism kicked in at this point.

This step took much longer than I intended.

On day 2... kidding. Maybe.

I painted the numbers white. 

Use a little hot glue to get the numbers secure. I suggest hanging the wreath right away, or you'll find all the tiny flaws and it might take you 3 more days to perfect it. I mean, not saying that happened to me or anything... 

Spring is just a few days away and I am super excited to get this wreath up! 

What do you do to prepare for spring?

Linking up at Daisy Cottage Designs today. :)