New Beginnings

Today is the first day of spring. Even though the weather's a bit dreary in So. Cal. today, the birds know it's spring. They are chirping away like mad, eager to celebrate new beginnings, as the flowers come back to life and cherry blossoms abound.

Spring is my favorite time of the year. The weather is mild, but there could still be a rain storm or a heat wave around the corner. I like not knowing which extreme (if either) we'll get. I love the sense of hope and promise that comes with spring.

It's a good time to try new things, to set out on an adventure. The possibilities are endless. So this year, why not try something new? Learn a language or take up a new hobby. Paint a picture, plant an herb garden, learn how to play the piano.

Go ahead. Try something new. What have you got to lose?

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

My dad emigrated from Ireland to the U.S. in the 1950's. He was one of 13 children, so we have numerous relatives in Ireland, as well as England, Australia and even Malaysia. I have about 75 first cousins on his side of the family alone.

St. Patrick's Day has always been one of my favorite holidays. Oddly enough, my dad had never heard of corned beef and cabbage as a traditional St. Paddy's Day meal until he came to the states.

When my kids were little, we had fun with the holiday, dying their apple juice green and serving other "green" foods. We also made Leprechaun traps the day before and left them out, only to find little footprints leading away from the trap. Somehow, they always escaped, but they often left a gold coin or two behind.

What fun we had with a bottle of green food color and an old shoebox and some string. It really is the simple things in life that are the best!

De-Clutter and De-Stress

Ever notice how calm you feel when your house is in order? Everything is picked up and resting in its proper place, easy to get to when you need it. There are open spaces on the floor, clean countertops, neat bookshelves. You have a sense of serenity when you look around your home, satisfied that all is well.

Now think about how you feel when the house is a mess, clutter everywhere, the papers you need to find right now are in one of many giant stacks of paper lying around, instead of neatly filed away in the cabinet. Your pulse quickens as your stress level rises. It's hard to focus on what you need to get done, because all around you are reminders of the mess you're in.

Yesterday I made a conscious effort to clean away the clutter from my bedroom. I figured I couldn't fault my son for keeping a sloppy room when mine looked no better than his. I pushed myself to keep going, breaking the task up into small segments of time, focusing on one area at a time. At last, it was done, and I felt a tremendous sense of contentment wash over me. Now everytime I walk into that room I am happy, calm, peaceful.

Try it!

Top 100 Healthy Mom Blogs

I just found out that my blog is mentioned in the following article, Top 100 Healthy Mom Blogs. It's a wonderfu l source for moms (and dads), so please check it out.