So I don't go crazy!

( this picture has nothing to do with this post, but I thought it was pretty)

Most women, mothers and non-mothers alike, rarely take the time out of their day to pamper themselves. I have been guilty of going an absurd amount of months without getting my hair trimmed or getting a pedicure. I have found the best pampering moments can be easily achieved in the privacy of my own home! Here are a few tips I have for you busy women and moms. Things I personally do to unwind and turn off the mommy brain.

1. Make myself a nice cup of green tea or Vanilla Chai tea with honey. There is something so comforting about a nice warm cup of tea in a pretty mug. I sometimes give sammy a little hot chocolate in his mug so he feels like he is participating in the festivities. 

2. Make a homemade face mask with things in my cupboard. My favorite right now is a few teaspoons of oatmeal mixed with a teaspoon of baking soda. It doesn't get any easier. I let it sit for about 10-15 minutes( as I read a book chase Sammy around the room because he stole the box of baking soda) then I rinse with warm water, exfoliating the dead skin cells off. The baking soda is perfect for sloughing off those dead cells and your skin will be glowing afterwards! I have acne prone skin so I wouldn't recommend unless I had tried it myself. 

3. Get Moving. Working out prevents me from being crazy. When I don't work out I am more irritable and discontent with my lot in life. I have a great life too! There are tons of workouts out there online, on tv, in magazines. My favorite thing to do though is walk or run out in nature and you can do it while pushing little ones in the handy dandy stroller. Even if I only have 10 -20 minutes I try to get my heart pumping and some fresh air. 

4.  A warm bath at the end of the day! Nothing is better for my soul than a warm bath. Add some bath salts or some bubbles (sometimes I even use the lavender nighttime baby soap from my son's stash!). Bath time is completely my time. My husband is in charge of the little one. I don't have to share the bathroom with anyone and I am a better mother because I get this special time to myself :)

Oceans, Rocks, and Clouds

My almost 2 year old son is the best, most fun person to hang out with ( when he isn't tired, hungry, or having a tantrum). We went to the park today and he says: Mommy push WAY UP HIGH" So I do. Mommy, Mommy up in the clouds! Big! So I tell him he is as high as the clouds and he believes it with all his heart.

Then off into the distance he sees a small lake. "Mommy the OCEAN!" And because I don't care if he thinks the lake is the ocean and I agree. He starts running towards it, telling me he wants to find a big rock and THROW IT in the OCEAN! So we find a decent sized rock and when we get to the mucky edge of the "ocean" he whips it into the water squealing with delight. Because there are no more rocks around he seeks out a pine cone then he's off running again. 

All the wonders of nature are more entertaining to this kid than any toy I could find at the store (except of course a new ball!). I look out at the "ocean" and up into the Big Clouds and I feel so much gratitude for this little boy and this place in time. I am lucky. These moments make the other moments of being a mom, the times when I feel worn and weathered and ready to break, worth it. 

Along the wall

Here are some of my paintings lined up against the wall. I feel like I am finally fulfilling that part of myself that has been ignored since becoming a mom. I had this voice in the back of my head for the past two years saying "You need to paint again!" But I just wasn't ready until now. Now all I want to do paint! Colors are swirling in my head all night. I am not sleeping so good anymore!

It is hard to find the balance between "me" time and being a mom. I know we all have that battle though.  I have to make sure that I am a good mother first and foremost. Most of my painting is done during nap time or after he goes to sleep. I also have to say that my housework has suffered since I've been picking up my paint brushes regularly! But that can always wait till tomorrow right?

There is a call for submissions for a local art show and I was thinking about entering a few pieces. What do you think? I am scared but somewhat excited to do it. I have until the 16th to decide. 

Hello it's February already? Say what?!

Wow the new year is already flying by. Sammy and I have been having a lot of fun playing outside (the weather this winter is so mild!), painting, and eating ice cream on a daily basis. Yes it's all about fun folks. We work hard and play hard.

This new year 2012 is going to be a great year. I can feel it. I have had these dreams marinating in my heart and I'm going to make it happen. I have started to paint a lot again. It is the first thing I think about when I wake up and the last thing I think about when I go to sleep. In fact, I have started to dream about paintings and colors. It is quite amazing and I feel rejuvenated. I bought a bunch of canvases and I am having fun experimenting with no expectations. My big dream would be for me to produce a series of cohesive paintings and to present them to an art gallery. Maybe by summer I will be ready for something like this. We'll see. I put it out there in the universe and now we'll see what happens. I have felt compelled to start another blog just for my artwork. I will be posting there a lot. I hope you join me on my adventure!