Cleaning Lady and a Babysitter

Stay at home mom/business owner/nanny.

That’s me in a nutshell.

But…I’m working on my personal trainer certifications and working my business every day?

How does one accomplish GOALS and be the best MOM to her child(ren)?

Well, it took me some time to realize this…but being the best mom meant DELEGATING some tasks.

Top two things I have done in the last 6 months that have made me be able to stay on top of everything:

1. Hire a cleaning lady

2. Hire a babysitter

I grew up with that mentality that you don’t hire anyone for something that you can do all by yourself. Well, there are only 24 hours in a day, and if I want to do what’s MOST important to me, then something has to give.

I have learned that the amount of work and quality of work that can be accomplished while you are paying someone to do the little things for you will be more than worth the $ you spend.

I have a high school girl that we know and trust come twice a week for 2 hours in the afternoon. She plays with Anthony while I go down the hall in a study room and study for my certifications and work on my business.

I just can’t do that with A around. IMPOSSIBLE

The time I have knowing that Kelly is coming every other week to clean is fabulous too. Instead of Anthony climbing on me while I get up to clean the high cabinets or trailing behind me begging to use the dustbuster vacuum, I can spend that time playing with him.

Take a look at your goals and priorities.

What can you delegate out so that you can be a better spouse/parent, etc?

If you are in the Chicagoland area and want a referral for a cleaning lady, let me know. She’s a friend of mine from college.

Time Capsules to Start Off Summer

Did you ever create time capsules as a kid?

Simple and easy to do.

As summer begins here, this is a great activity to do with your kids that are home from school.

Round up some objects such as:

* a pair of his/her socks

* a coin that was created in the current year

* a small toy

* a current picture of him/her

Also, have your child:

* draw a picture

* make an audio of them singing a song, or a video of them performing/playing that can be transferred to a cd

* write their name out on paper

Grab an old shoebox, or something of that sort, and have your child decorate it with stickers, markers, or other odds and ends from craft stores (check the clearance aisle at JoAnn’s or Michaels!) and glue them on.

Place everything in the shoebox. Be sure to include the current date and year on a slip of paper.

Dig up a place and bury the box.

Dig it up next summer, or in a set number of years that you and your child(ren) determine!

What other items would be good to include in a time capsule?

Please share in the comments below!

Insanity, The Asylum: DONE!

Put it in the books, my friends. Insanity Asylum is over and completed.

I’ve sent it home with my Uncle who’s in the last phase of P90X down in Indianapolis. He will bump up his cardio big time with this workout!

So, let me give you the pros and the cons to this workout.

Cons:
1. It’s just not fun to me! I like to workout, but I like to have fun when possible.

2. It’s not for the average person looking to exercise. If you are just starting out, don’t even think about it.

3. There isn’t a lot of demonstrating and guidance. I guessed on what dumbbells to use in the strength workout. (I used 10 lbs.)

4. Not much modification. There is a person who does each workout with a jump rope when one is needed, but not really any modifications for knee or joint problems.

Pros:

1. Short and intense. As a stay at home mom working my business and watching our neighbor’s children, I’m in need of a workout I can do at home and within a 45 minute period. The only workout that was longer was “Game Day” which only happened 3 times in the month.

2. Pushed me beyond my limits. I was comfortable with the workouts I was doing and really needed a challenge. This was it baby!

3. It’s only 30 days! Anyone can do something for 30 days! Just push play and get it done.

4. Team Sports. I really liked that he incorporated swimming, baseball, basketball, tennis, track, wrestling, distance running, football, and soccer (maybe even more?) into these workouts. I felt like I was on my college softball team again!

Do I recommend this workout for you?

Depends…if you are an elite athlete or you have trained with intense workouts and don’t have joint issues…then YES! Go for the push and do this! Such a feeling of accomplishment seeing myself improve on the Fit Test on day 30!

If you are looking for a fun workout or something a little less intense, I’d be happy to suggest some other options that I have found fun!

Next up….another round of Chalean Extreme, but this time in a hybrid with TurboFire. I’m excited to combine them!

A Balancing Act

Writer’s block got the best of me last night. I couldn’t decide what I wanted to write about today.

My friend over on Twitter, @Techyturner suggested I write about balancing work, social media, personal hobbies, and family life to be the best person you can be.

How can you be the best _________________ (insert occupation) possible?

Biggest thing that’s helped me: write out a daily plan and stick to it.

Here are some tips of how this works for me:

1. Write down on paper the night before what you WILL accomplish the next day. Limit it to five things. The five most important things that will make you feel accomplished at the end of the day. Scratch them off as you complete them the next day.

2. Determine your priorities, and write them down on paper. What’s most important to you? Writing it down helps you stay committed to them.

3. Determine whether you are a morning person or a night owl. Now make the best of that. I value being a stay at home mom, and that is my number one priority. How can I get everything done then if I’m focused on the Anthony? I know I’m a morning person. I set the alarm for 5, and I get up. I work for an hour until he wakes up at 6. Uninterrupted. Make the most of nap times and after bedtime too.

4. One thing at a time. We all want to be known as great multitaskers, but the brain can’t function that way. Set a time limit for a certain project/task and give it all your attention. For example, going to be working on social media? Shut off your email, shut off the tv, put down the book, and set a timer (or keep your eyes on the clock). Work on social media for the hour, and then shut it off and begin the next task.

5. Never stop learning! All of us have more to learn! Constantly be a student of your area of expertise, but also read books that will help you in your personal development. Check out my post about great books to read.

How do you do it all?

What tips would you add to my list?

Positive Speaking Breeds Positive Results

Our brains understand the positive.

They block out the “negative” words such as don’t, can’t, stop.

So it’s important to speak to ourselves, and our children in positive words.

Try this:

“Don’t move your feet.”

What’s the first thing you thought of? Moving your feet, right? 🙂

Check this out…see how it relates to little man Anthony, and all of us.

Picture Walk on a Sweet Spring Day! (Making Predictions during Reading)

Five Fingers For Figuring Out the Story!

Help your child/student delve deeper into a book while reading.

Reading the words on the page is not enough!

Help your child uncover the 5 key points in books, and then you can help unlock their reading potential!

http://www.facebook.com/katiechoudhary

Air Circulation When Exercising

While reading my Essentials of Exercise Science book yesterday for my personal trainer certification, I came across a really interesting fact.

As a teacher, activating prior knowledge, and then making connections while reading are both really key reading strategies we use with our students in order to improve reading comprehension.

So, today, you are my students! 😉

When you exercise, what is the climate of the room?

Do you like it warm or cooler?

Do you exercise outside?

Do you have a fan running while you workout?

These are things I never thought much of.

When I workout, if I’m chilly to start, I start with a tshirt or long sleeve shirt on, and then usually strip down to a tank or sports bra as my body warms up. I usually like it warmer in the room as I feel I sweat more…(burn more calories in my head 🙂 )

When working out, air circulation is critical for your body to cool off.

Sweating is the body’s way of cooling off. The blood moves closer to the skin level so that it can cool off near the surface, which is near the air.

If there is limited air movement around you, the air around you will become saturated with the sweat molecules (think evaporation) and then the air will be more like a humid rain forest.

Not a very cool place for your body to seek refuge as you continue your workout!

Actually, could be dangerous, as you could end up suffering from heat exhaustion, etc.

This reminds me of a day back in April right before Easter. I was doing a TurboFire HIIT workout in the bedroom before taking Anthony to get his Easter pics taken. My husband was in the shower and came into the bedroom to get his cologne. He made the comment that the room was like a sauna.

I thought he was exaggerating or trying to make me feel great for working so hard.

However, as I was reading this in my book, I recalled him saying this, and realized there was truth to his comment!

So, even if you are working out indoors, be sure your gym has a fan nearby. If you are like me, and workout at home, be sure that you have a fan or an open window in the room circulating the air. Something small I never realized could affect me!

Stay tuned…summer heat is coming soon…tips for taking care of yourself during workouts in the outdoor heat.

Graduation Day

Today I had the honor of being the alumni speaker at my alma mater, Lewis University’s undergraduate commencement exercises.

As president of the Young Alumni Board, I have an opportunity to volunteer my time and work with some tremendous graduates to give back and connect so many graduates back to our great university.

I love Lewis. I did my undergraduate studies here in History and Secondary Education and my masters in Educational Leadership a few years later.

I played softball here for four years, taking care of business in centerfield. We went to the women’s college world series twice during my time here. It was amazing.

My best friend Gina is also a Lewis grad, fellow softball alum, and also serves on the board. She summed it up today so well. She said that every time she is around Lewis people or on campus she is overwhelmed by the sense of community and pride….like a family.

That’s exactly what I love about it and why I am so proud to be an alum. My husband works here and we live on campus because of that.

Many times I’m asked…”does that bother you to live on a college campus?”

Bother? Not at all! I love it!!

This is home. Always will be.

I cried 8 years ago when I walked out of the field house with my degree.

How happy of a feeling it is to call Lewis home.

I treasure the friendships made, and continue to make here.

Reminds me again that you have to believe that you are exactly where you are suppose to be right now.

I am not teaching in a classroom, but the lessons I’ve learned and the values that have been cultivated in me through my growing up here at Lewis has fashioned me into the person I am today.

A person striving to always live by the mission points of Lewis: knowledge, wisdom, justice, association, and fidelity.

I challenge you to go back to a moment in your life where your values were really instilled in you.

Be thankful. Give back. Pay it forward!

Touch the Points to Add!