Here comes the rain again

The boot season is here—rain has returned. The sky, laden with moisture, suddenly turned dark and smooth, as if someone had spread a monochrome veil across the expansion, suggesting the impression of a deep, immense sea above my head...

Ramshackle clouds outshined the afternoon light—heavy gray, a sleepy giant plopping shadows, strange curtain-like sheets of mist. Does the sky seem angry to you when it rains? It blooms and it sings to me... I can't exactly explain why, but rain gives me this exhilarating feeling; of joy and expectancy, as if something good would be about to happen… rain makes my heart go romantic. The feeling is inexplicably beautiful.

Rainy days bring in me a desire to bake and to connect with my inner self and gather rain-kissed roses under cool light showers...

Rain draws me to comfort food and caramel mochas on white glazed ceramic mugs in my cozy back porch…

It feels wonderful here in my back porch shrouded by the not-so-chilly-just-yet weather. As I enjoy little sips of mocha and watch the rain, I’m thinking the best thing one can do when it's raining is just to let it rain, sit down and enjoy it… don't you think so? Oh my, what was that? Did you hear that?

Yes yes... I'm sure I heard a rustling of leaves and branches in the wet garden… over there!

I see a creepy image approaching... can you see it too? Someone that looks like a witch... over there hiding behind the roses!

Better not move... pretend we haven't seen her...

I have an idea who that might be; it always happens, you see! With the first autumn rain comes the first of the witches.

It must be that time of the year again; time for dancing under the rain and time for the twirling and swirling of leaves and the gathering of witches… I hear the commotion of partying going on everywhere in blogland. Are you doing anything special? The pumpkins, the crafts, the baking, all the fun stuff! Oh I hope you do! I hope you get to celebrate such a lovely and brief window of time of cooler weather and fall fashion indulgences before we get completely submerge into another winter. Life is too short, live it to the fullest!!

Wishing you a magical week,
whether shimmering with stardust or just your glowing selves!

Stop Smoking

Hello!  Have you been getting enough sleep since the last post?  I am still working on it!

Today is a very simple post!

DAY 4: STOP SMOKING

Although this is a simple post, it can be a very hard task!

I found a women’s site to help you stop this unhealthy habit called Smoke Free Women.

They have a nice site especially for women that want to quit!

They also have groups you can join!

Commit yourself to a healthier lifestyle with Smokefree Women. 

Accept the Healthy Monday Challenge today.

We are looking for women to follow as they quit smoking. Are you, or someone you know, interested? Check out the flyer for details!

Take the Smokefree Monday Pledge to stay focused on quitting, celebrate your progress, or make a fresh start.

1977 women have pledged so far!

There are many ways to connect with other Smokefree Women just like you!

Good luck ladies!!!

You can do it!

In case you missed any days so far…

DAY 1: DRINK WATER

DAY 2: EAT MORE FRUITS AND VEGGIES

DAY 3: GET ENOUGH SLEEP

Have a healthy day,

Bonnie :)

Get your Zzzs!

Welcome back!  Thanks for all your sweet comments about this series!  I am loving it too!

DAY 3:  Get enough Sleep!

This is another simple health tip and yet it is often overlooked! 

I now I am guilty of skipping out of my sleep for sure!  

If I am busy, which is like everyday, I seem to always sacrifice my own sleep.  

I am totally a late-night person and love the peace and quiet that only happens when everyone is asleep!  I am going to be working on this one with you this month.

How much sleep should you get?

Well, according to the National Sleep Foundation, adults need 7-9 hours of sleep a night.

It is best to be sleeping from 10pm-2am for the best REM cycle.

While you are working on this for yourself, please make sure that your children and getting enough sleep!  Even though I don’t follow the rules for myself, I am a total stickler when it comes to my kids’ sleep schedules!  

I read the book, “Happy Sleep Habits, Happy Child”, and it changed my life FOREVER!  

I had a hard time with my daughter’s nap and bedtime routine and I needed something new with Michael.  This books made sense to me and it worked like a breeze for us.  All of my kids go down between 7-8pm and sleep through the night. Before Michael turned 2 he has taking 2 naps a day and going to bed at 5:30pm and sleeping until 7am. (I have so much to say about this that it could be a post by itself.)

Anyway, back to you!

 

There are a ton of reasons to get your sleep including looking and feeling better (we all want that, right?), repairing your body, reducing stress, putting you in a better mood (this is extremely important as a mom, in my opinion, because nobody wants a cranky mom)  it helps with your memory and controls your weight, (oh yes ladies, did you hear that?  sleep helps control your weight!!).

One way thing that helps our family’s sleep pattern is to create a night routine.  After dinner, we slow things down.  We will play a family game, finish homework and then we read as a whole family.  We will dim the lights and quiet the house down.  After that, we get ready for bed and do more reading in bed.  Grace will read aloud and then we will read a little more to the kids.  Also, this is a great time to talk one-on-one with our kids.  I find that they open up and talk to us when we are with them in bed with them and we are giving them 100% of our attention.

After we put the kids to bed, we have adult time to talk, read, go on the computer, take a bath or shower or whatever else we want.  We usually don’t watch TV because we think it is a waste of time and money.  Remember, we don’t have cable or the dish.  Now I just need to work on being in bed by 10.  I just love staying up late but then I usually pay for it the next morning, haha! 

If you are having a hard time sleeping, I know a couple of people that have really benefited from taking this natural Gentle Sleep Complex.

What time do you go to bed?

What time do your kids go to bed?

DAY 1: DRINK WATER

DAY 2: EAT MORE FRUITS AND VEGGIES

Have a healthy day!

Bonnie :)