Notes: tobacco leaf, spicy notes, tonka bean, tobacco blossom, vanilla, cacao, dried fruits, woody notes.

Throw in Tom Fords brazen swagger, some near ostentatious projection and an almost super natural longevity and you have Tobacco Vanille. Like the Energizer Bunny, this is the fragrance which keeps on going and to say it’s linear is an understatement. Extremely bold, rich, comforting and satisfying, whilst doing its clever rendition of Dutch Black Cavendish pipe tobacco to a tee. Just like your old trusty pair of slippers worn next to a fireplace and exactly what it says on the the tin, Tobacco and Vanilla. Wonderful.

Rating: 8/10

Bond No.9- New Haarlem

Notes: lavender, bergamot, green leaves, coffee, cedarwood, amber, vanilla, tonka.

Deep within a vast sea of vapid, unoriginal, uninspired and pretentious scents (can you tell I don’t like this house?), lays the one diamond in the rough and that is New Haarlem. This is for those who have a sweet tooth and like excessive amounts of sugar in their morning mocha chino. Dense maple syrup and coffee is the order of the day, with a fresh overcast of lavender. Bordering on cloying and linear, this one is expensive, but its stellar projection and longevity make up for its hefty price tag. A crowd pleaser (I mean who doesn’t like the smell of coffee and syrup!?) and surprisingly versatile.

Rating: 8/10

Frederic Malle-Musc Ravageur

Notes: bergamot, tangerine, cinnamon, vanilla, musk, amber.

See review here

Rating: 9/10

Yet for those who simply don’t have the time or the patience, here is a good starting off point for a connoisseur in the making to hone in on their personal tastes and develop their nose. With that said, the best place to kick things off and procure samples in the US is:

The Perfumed Court (www.theperfumedcourt.com)

Surrender to Chance (www.surrendertochance.com)

Lucky Scent (www.luckyscent.com)

In Europe:

First in Fragrance (www.firstinfragrance.com)

So without further a due, I give you the entry level part 1:

Creed- Green Irish Tweed

Notes: French verbena, Florentine iris, violet leaves, sandalwood from Mysore, ambergris.

The Fisher-Price entry level scent for any budding enthusiast entering the world of niche fragrance. With a fan base ranging from George Clooney to P-Diddy, this is your elegant, jack of all trades, Swiss army knife fragrance. As refreshing as a walk through the Irish countryside, Green Irish Tweed is one of the signature scents of the house of Creed. Rich, fresh, green, spicy, sporty, original and unforgettable.

Revolutionary in its day and remains one of the most talked about, complimented, mimicked and coveted fragrances in the world.

Rating: 8.5/10

Creed- Aventus

Notes: blackcurrant, Italian bergamot, apples, pineapple, rose, birch, Moroccan jasmine, patchouli, musk, oak moss for depth, ambergris, vanilla.

Meandering its way to the top of the king of the “compliment getter” list, slowly muscling out its brethren and predecessor Green Irish Tweed with it’s sneaky stealth projection in the process. Very fruity, woody and refreshing, interesting in its own right, yet personally I’m not a huge fan. Many rate this as their all purpose go to scent and holy grail, so it’s well worth checking out.

Rating: 7.5/10

Creed- Millesime Imperial

Notes: crisp fruit notes, sea salts, Sicilian lemon, bergamot, mandarin, Florentine iris, musk, woody and marine notes.

Imperial Millesime was originally created for King Faisal of Saudi Arabia — for himself and members of his court. A salty watermelon aquatic over Creeds trademark Millesime ambergris base. Smells expensive, garners compliments and is extremely versatile, yet poor longevity has always stopped me from procuring a bottle. I’ll also add that to me personally it resembles a watered down Green Irish Tweed, making it somewhat redundant.

Rating: 7.5-8/10

It’s been four months since my last post…

Needless to say, thirty odd years later I am not a brilliant actress -that dream faded along with the popularity of the movie Fame (but wouldn’t it just be a hoot if I was?).  I am a wife, mother, artist and ‘accidental advocate’.  I have a wonderful and caring family, and though I am not alone, the song ‘Out Here On My Own’ seems as relevant to me today as it did in 1980, yet in such different way.  So, how exactly does this fit together?  Lack of posts?  The movie Fame?  Out Here On My Own?

When the girls were younger, my husband and I had made the joint decision that I would stay home with them.  It’s been equally rewarding and challenging as many of you know.  However, as their needs grew, I felt my own identity slipping away.

And then it hit like a ton of bricks.  For about the past four months – I’ve been feeling lost.  I find myself becoming more withdrawn as each day passes.  I’m sure we all feel like this at times – a bit lost.  With so many things to take care of, I find at times I take care of nothing.  We are mothers, wives, providers, educators, advocates and problems-solvers… but sometimes I wonder:  Who am I?  It sounds so simple, and I should be able to answer.  Who. Am. I?

The exterior me shows strength and confidence.  Yet the interior is slowly ripping herself apart.

We’re talking a five to six year tear here.  Corresponding with???  You betcha – our diagnosis.  You see, I think there has always been a little part of me (2%? 5%? 10%?) that has been living in denial.  Who knows the actual percentage, but it gets pretty loud every now and then.  And then I think to myself, by admitting that this percentage even exists, what does that say about me?  That I don’t support my daughter?  That I don’t accept her for who she is?  Emma’s a gem – I love her fully and completely.  Sometimes, it’s hard though -it’s really, really hard.  The play dates, the birthday parties, the sleepovers… all those ‘typical’ activities she sees her younger sister partaking in, but she never gets asked to partake in.  But everyone’s so ‘friendly’ to Emma, right?  There’s a BIG difference between being ‘friendly’ and being a ‘friend’.  The hardest thing you will ever do as a parent, will be to watch the things you have absolutely no control over take place.

As I work through this song – ‘Out Here On My Own’, I ask myself:  Who is Coco/Irene asking ‘Baby, be strong for me, baby belong to me.  Help me through, help me need you’? My only answer can be:  HERSELF.  She will find it within herself to get through, to be strong, to be who she needs to be – to be the best she can be – for herself.  I need to be strong for myself, so I’m able to be strong for my daughters.  I need to know who I am, so my daughters will be able to know who they are…

Over the summer, I had the opportunity to visit with two very dear girlfriends (both whom are living in different states now).  They’re friends from college – you know the kind… the ones who have known you since you were just finding your feet.  The kind of friends you don’t have to ‘edit’ yourself around, because they’ve already seen you at your best and worst.  We went to art school together, so trust me… there were plenty of ‘worst’ times!  We shared so much in school:  laughter, tears, inspiration!  I miss those ladies.  Seeing them – albeit separately – enabled me to find some of those small pieces of myself again… to begin to answer the question Who I am.

As I mentioned to a friend earlier today:  It’s time to take off the dirty old robe and toss it away.  It’s time to start this new journey, to rediscover who I am – to be reacquainted with these different aspects of myself.  In order to ‘reach my destination’ Fasten Her Seatbelt may change a bit, for not only will this be about Emma’s journey, but mine as well.

Title Inspiration:
Irene Cara:  Out Here On My Own

**********

Jennifer lives in Northeast Ohio with her husband, and is the proud mother of three beautiful girls: Frannie (9), Emma (10), and Isabella (22). She is an artist, fine jeweler and educator. Emma was diagnosed with an ASD at age 4 and Frannie was diagnosed with ADHD and Dyslexia at age 6.

With Emma fast approaching adolescence, Jennifer found there was not much information available for ‘girls, autism and adolescence’, thus ‘Fasten Her Seatbelt’ was born. Using ‘Fasten Her Seatbelt as a vehicle to re-account life experiences both pas and present, Jennifer hopes to connect with other parents on the same journey. So, hop on in and join her as she travels the world of adolescence on the spectrum.

This post was originally published HERE and used with permission.

There was a post here recently that made me think……the post talked about how, when Mom was away at a conference, she was able to do things WHEN she wanted to and HOW she wanted to.  She was able to shower at her leisure, eat meals when they were still hot, all the things that so many take for granted, but special needs parents struggle with every day.

Then I realized something about this summer.

I had been doing just that since school has let out.

Early morning routines were the same as normal – the insanity of getting everyone up, dressed and fed was still there.  But after they finished breakfast, I sent my 3 children down to the basement to play.  I gave them their phone, they could play on the computer, the Wii, with each other, whatever.  And I would make myself a cup of coffee.  And I would make breakfast for myself.  And I would eat it leisurely.  I would jump on the computer and check Facebook, perhaps play a short game, and they would all be downstairs.

I kept the door open, listening for problems.  I would go to the top of the stairs when someone needed something.

But in general, I had found that independence.  And because of it, here I am, 10 days before the start of the school, and I still have most of the sanity that I had at the start of the summer.

Sometimes you have to force things to happen.  As Nike used to say, “JUST DO IT!”.  If you need that moment, TAKE IT.  If you want to sit and have a cup of coffee while it’s still hot, then take 15 minutes and sit and sip that coffee.

I know this is much easier said than done.  And that’s never going to change.  But if you don’t take that first step, you won’t get anywhere.

Trust yourself, and trust your kids.  I’m not instructing you to go out and run your errands leaving them unsupervised…..just sit in a corner of the same room so you can still see them, if you’re not comfortable being separated from your children by a flight of stairs as I have suddenly discovered I can do.

When you wake up in the morning, tell yourself this.  I WILL take some time for me today!  I WILL sit and have a cup of coffee (or whatever the right thing is for you)!  I WILL give myself a 15 minute break to catch my breath.  And I WILL feel better at the end of the day for doing it!

**********

My name is Ilene and I’m a happily married stay-at-home-mom to 3 wonderful children.  My eldest is a typically developing 6 year old first grader.  I also have a set of girl/boy twins who are recently turned 5, both diagnosed with Classic Autism.  My daughter has also been diagnosed with ADHD.

Life is not what I imagined it would be at this stage, but it’s still my life, and it’s good.  We have good days and we have bad days, just like everyone else.  I started blogging to cope with things not progressing the ways that I wanted them to go.  Sometimes I vent about problems.  Sometimes I share in a glorious moment.  Sometimes I try to educate others.  It really depends on what I feel like saying when I sit down at the computer to “blog”.  But I do promise that everything I write is honest and heartfelt, even though I may contradict myself from time to time as I learn new things.

I hope to share with others what we go through.  And I hope you enjoy reading our stories.

]]> http://oxygenmaskproject.com/2012/08/13/home/ Mon, 13 Aug 2012 12:21:17 +0000 akbutler http://oxygenmaskproject.com/2012/08/13/home/ by Alysia, Try Defying Gravity

Re-entry has been hard.

Last week, I spent three days at a blogging conference in New York City. Actually it was four days and three nights.  I went down with my friend Kristin and met up with more friends.  I went for several reasons: to shameless promote this blog and the others I write for, to celebrate the work of the bloggers I love, and to get away and recharge my mind and soul.

To put my oxygen mask on.

And I did.  I slept alone in a bed with no child-size feet climbing in and kicking me at 3am.  And because I wasn’t waiting for those feet to arrive, I actually slept through the night.  I showered every day.  I didn’t have to ask anyone if I could pee.  I just did.  I had three meals – MEALS – a day.  Coffee and eggs and bacon for breakfast.  Soup and sandwiches and water for lunch.  Dinners out in the city when I was hungry, not because it was time to eat.

Oddly enough, I wasn’t tired at all the whole time.  I took some moments for quiet time in our hotel room between conference sessions and other events, but I never felt the need for a nap.  I walked around Times Square, went up to Columbus Circle, moseyed up and down the exhibition halls carrying just my purse and a small bag.

And again, oddly enough, I never felt the urge to write. Here I was at a blogging conference. But I didn’t have any words that needed to come out.

Of course, I missed my family like crazy.  I called home several times a day and texted with my husband all day and night.  Their voices sounded so far away when I heard them on the phone.  By the time the conference was over, I was ready to return to them.

But what I didn’t realize was how much I wasn’t ready to return to me.

What happens when you’ve had the oxygen mask on…and then you take it off?

You choke.

It wasn’t until I was away alone that I discovered how little I actually take care of myself when I’m at home.

Almost immediately after being in my house, I felt suffocated by all that surrounded me.  Not my kids, but by the enormity of everything else.

The clutter.  The projects that I had on my summer to-do list but never looked at.  The piles of “things” that have been left to fester because of the constant demands on my time.  The fact that school is starting for my kids in two weeks and there will be homework battles/IEP goals/lunches to pack again.

Quickly I slipped back into old patterns.  Cold coffee reheated 3 times in the microwave and forgotten there. A handful of M&Ms and a granola bar in the car on the way to Target for breakfast hours after the kids already ate theirs. A Wendy’s chicken sandwich and fries on the way home from Target. Falling asleep on the couch at 2pm and another handful of M&Ms to wake myself up again.  Two days, I didn’t bother to get dressed until noon. On Thursday – five days after coming home – I realized that I hadn’t washed my hair since I was at the hotel.

I’ve gained three pounds in the nine days since I’ve been back from New York.  Some of that is thanks to my husband’s rediscovered love of cooking for us all while I was gone.  But some of it is the increase in sugar and junk and food on the run.

And once again, I can’t breathe.

I have to figure out how to take care of myself here in my own world.

How to put on the oxygen mask in my own home.

I have to get back to the basics of what makes us feel human again.  Food, clothing, shelter.

This morning, I’m starting with a hot coffee and a real breakfast.

Anyone care to join me for some eggs and bacon?

“Well, I’m going home, back to the place where I belong
And where your love has always been enough for me
I’m not running from, no, I think you got me all wrong
I don’t regret this life I chose for me
But these places and these faces are getting old
So I’m going home, well I’m going home” – Home by Daughtry

**********

Alysia is a stay-at-home mom living in Massachusetts with her husband and three boys, ages ten, six and three. Her middle son has sensory processing disorder and was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in December 2009 at age 3 ½ and her youngest was diagnosed with autism at age 3. She currently writes at Try Defying Gravity, her personal blog recounting the joys and challenges of raising three boys. She is the editor of The Oxygen Mask Project site and the managing editor of The SPD Blogger Network.

Our goal is to produce excellent quality Real Food that far surpasses what can be found at a grocery store. Real Food that existed long ago and nourished our ancestors like Raw Jersey Milk from grass fed cows. Pastured Soy and Corn Free meat Chickens, Turkeys, Duck and eggs. Pastured Milk fed pork.

We would ask that if you support in any way the journey we are on, and feel able to, that you consider donating even a little bit to help us on this adventure

To read more about our plans, or to donate Click HERE

Asking me how I came to this particular website, is useless. I can’t remember. I can barely remember to brush my own teeth. But, ask me the stats on the rate of autism and I can spout them out as if I was the original researcher. Ask me how to spell “Orton-Gillingham” and I can do it in my sleep. Ask me a thousand things having to do with my children or husband and I can have perfect recall instantly.

Ask me anything about myself…..crickets……silence……sigh.

I have let myself go, I have sunk into a depression and, and, and…..I just don’t know.

I do know one thing. I am ready. I am ready to reclaim me. Starting now, today, this blasted hot summer. I may be slow, sloppy and unorganized but I am going to start. I am ready to put the Oxygen Mask on myself first. (wow, I didn’t get struck down by lightening…whew…wasn’t really sure when I was typing that sentence).

Again, I don’t know how I came to their website. I can’t remember. I just know that it has lived at the top of my favorites bar ever since I did discover it. I have enjoyed reading the other women’s accounts. I see myself in almost every single one. I see parts of me, parts of my marriage, parts of my kiddos, parts of relationships past and present. I like that. It’s comforting. To be a voyeur to someone else’s reawakening and empowerment. It’s nice to know that they are there, just a click away, doing their own lives and trying their hardest with struggles similar to mine.

But its not enough anymore. The satisfaction from watching others begin and succeeding at their attempts to reclaim their individual selves, has waned. There is nowhere else to go. There is nothing left, no excuses, no time, no waiting, no hesitating, no fear. G-d isn’t that a laugh….no fear left. I can’t possibly be afraid of any attempt because there is nowhere else to go. There is no more bottom. I am there.

All that’s left is to go up. To begin. Again. To put the oxygen mask on myself…..finally…….and breathe. Gently.

I must go gently at first. I need to remember that, in this state, I am fragile. I need to try to take care of myself and go gently. Gently, slowly, but in motion. I have never consciously treated myself gently.

I must go back to those brave women who have already begun their journey’s. Back to their words, to remind myself to go gently. To begin. To breathe. For me this time. Just for me (it still doesn’t come naturally to me to type those words).

Perhaps in time.

For now, it’s enough to make the attempt. To begin.

Thank you for my beginning Oxygen Mask Project

**********

I am a stay at home mom of 2 special needs boys. A few of our challenges are autism, apraxia, visual/audio processing, ODD, OCD, ADHD, Dyslexia, dysgraphia, anxiety, you get the picture. My husband and I are dedicated to each other and our kiddos, but that doesn’t mean we don’t feel the pressures. Recently I have begun writing online at September Road as a way to communicate to a larger audience on the products, therapists and frustrations that surround us. The tag line for September Road is traveling the special needs road with our faith, family, & friends.

This post was originally published HERE and used with permission.

]]> http://davisfamilyorganicfarm.com/2012/07/31/wonder-why-we-do-what-we-do/ Tue, 31 Jul 2012 19:32:35 +0000 Nichole Davis http://davisfamilyorganicfarm.com/2012/07/31/wonder-why-we-do-what-we-do/ Wonder why we do what we do? Come join us and learn what motivates us here at Davis Family Organic Farm!

We will be watching the Nourishing Our Children DVD and munching on some yummy Real Food! Click HERE for a little peak!

If you haven’t seen this, it is a MUST SEE! Bring your spouse and call it a date! All are welcome!

THIS Saturday, August 4 at 5:00pm
Critchlow’s Home in Queen Creek (Rittenhouse and Cloud Rd)

Email at nourishingrealfood@gmail.com for address/directions

Have you ever had one of those moments where your mouth falls open and you have to pick your jaw up off the floor? I had that very thing happen today. While I was having a rare ‘spa moment’…let me clarify…I was at the chiropractor to have my neck put back in to place, my doctor, who I’ve seen for 15 years, says to me, ‘You have stress in your life, don’t you?’. I replied, ‘Maybe a little…..’. He was pulling my chain. He knows what my life as a special needs parent consists of. Apparently, the areas in my body that were showing the most signs of needing attention were my neck, shoulders and head. Cue the tension headache. That leads me to address this area of ‘stress’ in our lives. Every single person has it. Let me make myself loud and clear. I know that the entire human race, special needs parent or typical parent, carries quite a load. Here, I want to focus on us special needs parents. To cover all the areas, lets break it down into sections.
First stop, Physical Stress. There are so many different ways that we have to care for our kiddos. Everything from lifting, changing diapers, dressing, bathing, feedings, giving meds, fighting sensory meltdowns, learning new medical treatments, daily therapy regimens, extra laundry, countless appointments, hospital stays, the average 2-4 hours of sleep every night for years on end….and the list goes on. Our bodies show the wear and tear of this schedule being repeated day in and day out. It’s inevitable! However, the duties that incur stress don’t stop here.

Let’s move on to the Mental Stress. Please tell me I am not the only one whose brain NEVER stops. The thoughts at 1am…. ‘I need to call Neurology in the morning to make sure that the Physical Medicine doc knows what the Developmental Pediatrician said yesterday.’, ‘I need to get that script moving for the Occupational Therapy.’, ‘Oh dear God, another surgery? Guess I should start taking care of….’. The ‘To Do’ list go on and on and on. We live and breathe the medical terms, diagnosis, meds, reactions, new docs, etc. We do things we don’t even know we do! We are subconsciously watching every single move, breath, swallow, and diaper, because at any given moment, we will be thrown for another loop, be in the Emergency Room, and the doctor will want to know the minute by minute detail of the last 24 hours. That includes what our child does while sleeping…..

How about the Emotional Stress? Yes, I will admit, I do cry in the shower. I try very hard to contain it there, because I don’t want Boo to think I’m upset about her. Sometimes though, Momma needs a good cry. Let’s face it, we are talking about life-threatening situations not just every now and then, but daily. Whether it’s a serious medical crisis or a sensory meltdown that propels your child to run from you in the parking lot, your emotions and body are always on guard. Add in what other people think about what you are doing…. you might as well call it a day!

Anyone have Marital Stress? First off, let me say that I absolutely adore my husband. I married the man because I not only love him, but I like the person he is. Yet, I am so drained by the time I get alone with him, that I come across grumpy and short because the only thing running through my mind is, ‘Get me to my pillow so I can get just a little sleep’. In our 6 years of being parents, we have been alone maybe 4 nights. Usually, once we are completely alone, we zonk out! We are both so drained from the day in and day out of special needs caregiving, that we snuggle down in and saw logs! There are some areas that we try to do daily, weekly, monthly…  We try to laugh a little and tell each other, ‘I Love You’ every day. To know that even in the midst of this craziness, we are still important to the other. At night, when all is quiet… at 10p or 12a, we sit on the couch and snuggle to a comedic tv show. Something that takes our brains to a lighter level. We are working very hard at trying to get one meal a month, just the 2 of us. No kids, just the 2 of us on a ummmm….what is that? A DATE! Yes! Sorry, I still get butterflies.
If you are like me, you also have other children who need a Momma too! They are just as important and need to be held, listened to, and encouraged. When the heck to you have time to clean, do laundry, grocery shop, weed the flower beds……my time is usually between 9:30p and 2a. When I want to be with my hubby or sleeping. See, you are not alone!!!!! It is a seemingly impossible situation that we live in!

I want to take a second to chat with those of you who are on the outside looking in. Maybe you are a grandparent or a friend to someone who has a special little kiddo. I hear often that people don’t know how to help or what to do. Listen to me loud and clear. It’s little things that mean the world to us. Drop off a meal, but be sure to know if there are adjusted diets. Offer to come and clean the toilet, mop the floor, make the beds, fold some laundry, any little quick job that helps us ‘feel’ better. Give an hour of your time for whatever we may need. Send a card of encouragement. Call and see if there are some grocery items that need picked up. Run thru Starbucks and get Momma her favorite drink…odds are, we haven’t had one in ages. Realize that we may not be able to talk on the phone due to our daily routine, but we thrive on adult conversations. Stop by, and just chat about something besides medical terms. We are still people on the inside that are getting buried by this life we live. In stopping by, please don’t judge our house, appearance, or expect us to wait on you hand and foot. Our world never stops, so those around us need to be willing to hop on the ‘treadmill’ and walk a mile in our shoes. Most of us have no life outside of Special Needs. That is the truth. We are not ignoring you. We are simply immersed into giving our child(ren) the most normal life possible. Things that  the world takes for granted. Please, be understanding and for a moment, learn what it’s like and put yourself in our position. We need you like you need us.
Mommas, my doctor reminded me today, what we have all heard a million times. You can’t give to those around you unless you have given to yourself. He encouraged me to take 5 minutes a day to recharge. Close your eyes and breathe. Read a chapter in a book. Pray. Paint your nails. Listen to a song. You have read those articles that talk about our stress levels being comparable to combat soldiers, right? Shaving somewhere between 5-15 years off of our life expectancy. You are worth this. Your family needs you. Start right now. Give yourself some air and remember, that you have been Created BEAUTIFULLY Special.

**********

I am an almost 30 year old SAHM with 3 kiddos and am married to my prince charming. I quickly learned that life would not go according as planned when our first child was born with Cerebral Palsy. Now, at the age of 6, our little girl has almost 20 separate diagnosis and is our miracle baby. The doctors didn’t expect her to live past her first birthday, but she has proven them all wrong. ‘Created BEAUTIFULLY Special‘ was born in my heart to show what the special needs journey is really about and to showcase individual kiddos beating the odds.

This post was originally published HERE and used with permission.

Much Love, B

The Urban Granola Lifestyle Bucket List:

Kitchen:

Plastic snack & sandwich bags –

Disposable plates/bowls –

Disposable silverware –

Disposable cups –

Plastic storage containers –

Plastic wrap –

Paper towels –

Paper napkins –

Straws -

Bath Room :

Single use plastic bottles –

Bleached cotton swabs, balls, & such –

Toilet paper that comes wrapped in plastic –

Plastic razors –

Plastic toothbrushes –

Non- recyclable toothpaste tubes –

Living:

 Composting  -

Shopping:

Plastic produce bags –

Plastic bulk foods bags –

Plastic shopping bags –

On the go:

Plastic silverware sets at restaurants –

Plastic Drinking Bottles –

Paper napkins -

Soy sauce @ sushi -

Disposable Chopsticks -

“Green” Beauty:

Antiperspirant/ Deodorant -

Shampoo –

Conditioner –

Body wash –

Soap –

1. Don’t know where to start… Make a list of things you enjoy and base your workout around these things, write down what you are trying to achieve and everything you need in order to achieve it.
2. Feeling self-conscious… It’s good to some degree as it makes your body aware, and now you need to stop it getting in the way of progress. Wear comfortable clothing, try experimenting with various exercises, get a personal trainer or go gym at the quietest of times, or even join a class who share your goal.
3. Too busy… A term many use, but still manage to get gym in everyday, because you do not work every hour of your day. You must choose to sacrifice an hour of your daily activities, television, sitting in the pub, socialising consistently with friends/ family. You could get up earlier, so review your schedule and plan ahead.
4. Not a natural exerciser… You feel you’re not up to the level of others in the gym, maybe intimidated, well put it to the side. Everyone you see had to start somewhere and more you train it becomes natural to you.
5. Boring is it… Listen to music, take your MP3 to get through your workouts, go with a friend and make it sociable, try train outdoors at times, find an alternative hobby to have a change from the norm.
6. Tried and failed… Failed at what? Enjoy even the smallest changes you are making and achieved, this is progress and commitment, remove the big picture and break in slowly, it’s a journey not an overnight plan. Anything worthwhile will take time, so stick with it and make your goals manageable.

Harjit Chana

www.facebook.com/HarjitChanaFitness

www.harjitchanafitness.com

It’s been a really long time since I’ve felt like writing. There has been so much going on, too many emotions, ridiculous amounts of stress that I finally realized I’ve been completely neglectful when it comes to taking care of myself.
Today, I decided that needed to change. Immediately.

The summer has been challenging to say the least. Between my son’s sensory dysregulation, my daughter graduating grade school, and miserable back to back heat waves, my whole family has been feeling the pressure.

This morning after returning home from camp drop off I made a conscious decision to abort any productive plans I had in lieu of spending quality time with myself. I deserved it, I thought.

It started with some puppy love. Just sitting on the sofa and snuggling the two furry, loyal critters in this house who don’t talk back.

Then I decided to make breakfast. Not an eatoverthesinkoutofthepoticookedwith kind of breakfast, but a real meal eaten on real china at the dining table. You know, like a civilized human being.

Something remarkable happened… I enjoyed a meal in peace. I turned on some music before I sat down and spent Ten! Whole! Minutes! to eat my food while it was still hot. I even put the fork down between bites! I know that’s something that I haven’t done in years. I’m always rushing through my meal in a desperate attempt to finish it before the next kid related crisis occurs. It was a wonderful experience. I actually tasted what I was eating for the first time in ages.

When I had finished my breakfast I not only felt like I had nourished my body, but my soul as well.

In the tiny amount of time I spent taking care of me, I discovered that I don’t always have to feel like a cranky, stressed out mom. I deserve to feel important in my own life. I needed this time to just…breathe.

When it was time to pick my children up from camp, I felt like I had taken a mini vacation. I actually felt…calm. The frazzled woman at drop off had been replaced by a happy and rejuvenated mama.

We ALL deserve a little “me” time. Find just ten minutes a week if that’s all you can spare and take care of YOU. Its so easy to forget yourself in the daily shuffle of a busy life but if mama is broken, so is every single thing around her.

What are you waiting for? Go find your ten minutes and take care of YOU!

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This post was originally published HERE and used with permission.

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I believe in dreams…big ones, small ones, or “impossible” ones (even though I don’t believe anything is impossible if you believe.) Do you want to live your passion? Are you wanting to find your passion but don’t know how? You aren’t alone. Many people find themselves at this same place.

Here are five simple steps to finding your passion.

1. TAKE NOTES—From the minute you wake up in the morning to when you fall asleep, pay attention to everything you come into contact with that remotely interests you. It may be your coffee maker, a bar of soap, furniture, clothes, or your comforter. Take notes on what piques your interest, because your passion may lie within.
2. RESEARCH—There are a lot of careers out there that you may not even know exist. Research, research, and research to find out what options you have.
3. CREATE IT—If you can’t find the career you want, then create it yourself. That’s what is great about today’s world. Maybe it will take off, and corporations will start creating that position in their own companies.
4. NARROW DOWN YOUR OPTIONS—When I started off, I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but I could tell you what I didn’t want to do. Sometimes the best way to go about things is to decide what you don’t want to do. This will narrow down your list. Then finding what you want will soon follow.
5. START ANYWHERE—Stop procrastinating! It’s not a matter of having all the information before you begin. Just begin. The information, how you will find your passion, or how to pursue it will all come in time. Just begin the process, and let your answers come to you.

Are you tired of working at a job and not loving your life? Is your heart speaking to you about going out and finding your passion? The five above steps will help you find your purpose. Soon others will ask you for your process in success, because you will be living your greatest life!

Where am I going to live? Where am I going to work? Is three days enough time to find a place? Am I ready for this? What about my car? Wha…

Now that it’s clear this is really happening I’m trying to make sure I’m giving myself the best chances for success. This starts with being ahead of the game and being over prepared. Over the past weeks I’ve managed to compile a nice little list of resources that I hope will make the difference in landing my perfect apartment.

A couple days ago I called a small business and left a message about applying for a job and that I would be able to start near the end of August. The owner of the business appreciated my forward thinking and basically offered me a part time position on the spot. I’ve contacted several people since and have had similar conversations with every one of them. I think with a little luck I might be able to solidify not only the signing of a lease but also at least a part time job in the three days I will be in Manhattan.

http://www.localharvest.org/