Posts in Category: Motherhood
Summer Rules
It’s that time of year. Wherein visions of sticky fingers, couch fort surfing ninjago divers and the threat of boredom all loom on the horizon. With the end of the school year gone, done and finished, two months of having our kids home full-time lies ahead for our little our family, much like many others everywhere. And while we have a calendar scheduled with camping, adventuring and a couple of day-camps planned out, there are still lots of blank spaces, un-planned days and work to be done. On purpose.
What’s this mom to do when she works from home and decides that this is the very last summer she may have her kids home full-time? Well, she thinks she can juggle it all and vows to savour the crazed energy and excitement of it all. That somehow she’ll get her work done and not slam her kids down in front of the T.V. constantly to make that happen. All of a sudden she finds herself talk-typing in the third person even though she hates that shit.
Is it guilt that made me take such a leap? No. After all, it’s just, One. Last. Summer.
One last summer before my youngest starts school full-time in the autumn.
I’ve done this maybe a few times before and the summer-break months always fly by at break-neck speed. Somehow everything ends up being alright in the land of parental responsibilites and deadlines. Mostly it’s a yearning. A yearning to embrace a slower pace and be in the moment. These moments of early parenthood are slipping between my fingers. There’s only so much time I have left to paint old fences with murals with them and run through sprinklers and muck about making general little-kid-kind magic.
How long do I have before they won’t want to go to the splash pad with me? Or the park? How long before they stop wanting to cut out shapes and toss glitter around like confetti under the shade of our backyard maple tree? Not long. Sure, these sweet things will turn into other sweet things as they grow and their interests evolve.
And yet, right now … I’m very aware that I’m on the trail end of one of the most treasured, memorable stages in parenting. I’m exiting these early years with one who has two feet out the door and one with but a year left. So. To treasure and adventure and savour it is. Everything else will be okay. However, we’re gonna have to lay down some house rules, becasue things can get cray real fast without them. Not that my kids are going to necessarily listen to all of these rules, because perfect they are not. And true, some of these are clearly just being released out into the internets for my own amusement/sanity. And perhaps yours.
MILLS SUMMER HOUSE RULES 2015 (*Subject to change at any given moment*)
Sunshine: The Good vs.The Bad, Plus 3 Important Things To Know About Before Buying Sunscreen
Delicious sunshine. The coming of summer has many thinking they need to up their sunscreen game. The biggest fear, of course, has been manifested in avoidance of the the potential risk of skin cancer. And yet, studies have proven that liberal application of sunscreen cannot guarantee anyone’s protection from getting skin cancer and in fact, many sunscreens contain toxic and untested ingredients. The Environmental Working Group conducted a comprehensive study in which they analyzed 1,700 commonly used and widely marketed sun protection products in preparation to compile their annual Guide to Sunscreens for 2015. Their research uncovered that 80% had harmful ingredients or inadequate protection! But first, I thought it would be helpful to break down how sun exposure weighs In on your health. We get so many mixed messages. Sun is good for you. Sun is bad for you.
How Moderate Amounts of Sun Can Be Good For You
Beachbody’s Deep Discounts Will Have You at Hello: Make a Splash This Summer and Flip The Switch!
Okay, so most of you know by now that I’m pretty keen on the health and fitness journey that I’ve been on and that I’ve even started coaching women both as a business mentor and as a friend and source of support and counsel for those who have struggled in similar areas as I have (and still do!).
That said, I’m not about corporate bling, jargon or gimmicky sales posts. But I couldn’t NOT talk about this one. Beachbody (the company that makes it all possible for me to do the work that I do as well as pursuing my other creatively professional pursuits), has a crazy awesome grand sale happening right now on all sorts of gear and workout programs. I know there are some of you watching me from the sidelines, watching my progress and wondering if you should take that same leap of faith I did.
I know there are some of you out there who think that the workouts and the Shakeology are too expensive. Or watching and thinking it won’t last or that it’s some gimmick. I assure you, the transformation that is happening within me, from the inside out, is NO JOKE. It is indeed paving the way for me to strive towards some pretty lofty goals that I otherwise wouldn’t have had the confidence, strength, resilience or fortitude to chase.
Well, for all intense purposes (I learned how to budget it in for BOTH my husband and I, full-price, but that’s annother post), this summer is your turn to SHINE! Make a splash with the program that started it all for me, the 21 Day Fix with Autumn Calabrese. (I’ve GOT to get on posting my own review about this life-changing program that merges nutrition, proper portioning AND fitness. I’m on month 4 and for the first time in my life consistently tackling one of my biggest demons: “emo-eating.” For now you can check out what my personal coach and mentor has to say about it!)
So while I won’t usually be one to post about Beachbody sales (unless you straight up ask me of course!), I couldn’t pass up the opportunity becasue some of my own personal faves (such as the one I mentioned above) are amongst the mix of all these deeply discounted goodies. Whether you are ordering from Canada or the States, when I say deep — I mean deep, at like up to 85% off. So if you’ve been on the fence, now’s the time to get your hustle on.
FYI: The sale started to day so you’re getting some insider intel here. As things sell out, it’ll be game over … and that WILL happen fast! So, to break it on down, beginning with my personal fave as attested to above…the 21 Day Fix Challenge Pack!
When you buy shakeology in a challenge pack you can get either the 21 Day Fix, or 21 Day Fix Extreme you get:
→ the full nutrition program
→ all the colored containers
→ a BPA free, light and transportable shaker cup for your smoothies
→ a month of FREE access to your workouts steaming On Demand (like the Netflix of workouts)
→ entry into my to personal, online private challenge group, for $10 more than the price of a bag of Shakeology on it’s own. NO FOOLIN’!
→ that last one is your golden ticket to success. I create a sacred space, where we let it all hang out, where we surrender and embrace an unrestrained life!
Without a DOUBT, this is the PRIMO DEAL of the whole sale! So snatch one up while you can and join my tribe of Wellness Warriors.
Click on the image below, Click the START NOW button, then pick the program you want to get the deeply discounted sale price! For beginners I suggest the 21 Day Fix for all of the reasons I stated above!
Next in line? Check out some of these sweet deals if you’re wanting to add to your arsenal…
→ The Beachbody Jump Mat (one of these has my name on it – these old knees can’t take it anymore!)
→ Brazil Butt Lift + booty bands (yes there is such a thing)
→ The original P90x (for those of you who are hardcore, pfft!)
→ Resistance Bands with door attachment (for those of you who don’t hate life using them)
→ Sweet workout clothing letting the world know you mean business
and tons more….
All of this action launched today, so you’re gaining early access! Giddy-up and hook-up yourself up before they are gone! Click the image above to access and check out what else is for sale! Then get in touch with me so I can help get you plugged into my private challenge group for July!
Free Printable: Dark Pasts and Bright Futures
Download the high-res logo-free version to use as your desktop wallpaper, or to print and frame! Or … share the one with our logos on Instagram and Facebook!
The Benefits of Dry Skin Brushing and Why You Should Start Too!
I’m all about self-care, if that hasn’t been made abundantly clear already. The raw ritual of it, the holistic, regenerative benefits … they’re all too rewarding in how I live and enjoy enjoy each day not too.
When I’m taking care of and working my body, feeding it goodness, slathering it in goodness … not only do I look better, but I’m less stressed. My well is replenished. Plain and simple. If you haven’t heard about dry skin brushing, you’re about to. Or maybe you have and you’ve wondered what it’s all about or could give not one single fak.
In any case, I’m here to proclaim that I love me some dry skin brushing and I thought some of you might to. So below I’ll tell you why it is indeed the BOMBDIGGITY and how you can do it up …
Feature Friday: The Bad Mother Video Q+A
You know you’re going to love this one, based on the title alone. The Bad Mother is a feature film in the making. It’s not quite finished yet and the creators, makers, hustlers and creative masterminds behind and in front of the scenes … need our help to do it. After watching the trailer, you’ll understand why this flm needs to get finished. As you wipe tears of laughter from your face.
I had this grand idea to do a recorded Google Chat Q+A with the creators based on that one time I recorded a hands-free breast pumping bra review. Technical difficulties aside, we figured out how to record our little G-chat and you can learn more about the project and why they need our help after the jump!
Pictures of Recently Made Things
The winter has been long and the crafting and visualizing and dreaming and mapping and tackling has been much. Here’s a bit of what our hands have been up to, feeding our spirits and continuing to make our home uniquely our own. Where our hearts live and dragons breathe fire on occasion, when it all becomes too much. So we make felt and pipe cleaner crowns and wands and hope it’s magic enough until the frost breaks. (Which it did, and then it didn’t, and then it did … and we’re currently in a state of blizzardy DIDN’T.) The making of said crowns and wands turned more into a mom-craft than a kid-craft as they lost interest, but they still have fun playing with them anyways.
Our home: where no one else knows and no one else but us, my little family … sees the joys and failures of each day. As long as we use our hands to gather hugs, make art and build pretty things, I’m confident, all will be fine. I know I breathe fire a lot less when tapping into creativity and art. Something I hope to continue to pass onto my chldren. Play is the work of childhood after all, as Maria Montessori so simple yet brilliantly coined many moons ago.
Below are some floating shelves I’ve been conjuring upon since last summer, using galvanized steel, pine I measured, had cut at the good ‘ole Home Depot, stained and cured myself. Of course I measured the pipe I had cut wrong, but everything else was perfect, I swear! If not for some very good friends who came over to help, we would have been doomed. (I’m talking to you Sean! And Char, your lovely wife for holding up the windows that I had to take down one by one and clean, inclding all the runners and all the yuck. At 10 o’clock at night. When you were both supposed to be our dinner guests. And I fed you vegetarian that was spicy. Becasue of course.)
Anyways, aren’t they pretty? I had a hard time getting good photos since the shelves hover over a window, hence an epic battle with natural light and all, but you’ll have to trust me, they are quite dreamy and my kicthen is slowly turning into the unique, totally custom, inviting headquartes of magic-making, love-making, , ecclectic, homestead-y, jungalow type of warmth that I’ve been dreaming about …
Hearburst: That Time My Son Recorded His First Album at 5 Years Old [VIDEO]
What else can I say? I’m feeling truly blessed this weekned, what a wonderful way to bring in the spirit of growth, renewal and energy. My boy has been wanting to “record his own album”, for months now and began as any serious songwroter does, by putting together lyrics and melodies with his success partner (his dad).
Here’s a little b-side roll of yesterday’s production session in Wyndham’s grandfather’s studio. We went to have some family time since we heard tell that the a certain bunny was making the rounds at their house extra special like, and ended up getting way more than ew bargained for!
This particular song, “Statues Are Picture of People”, was written by Wyndham right around the time that his dad was diagnosed with gout and he was wrapping his sweet little brain and heart around the entire concept, in trying to understand why his dad was rendered immobile from the once very active, wrestling jungle gym that he usuallu was. What amazing minds children have when given the chance to flourish.
(Things are looking much better now for Trev is that regard and he’s often back to his rowdy, scream inducing ways with the little ones, no worries.)
My 21 DF Work in Progress: a Transformative Journey
When I first began this program, I had my reservations. In the end, I suppose – about myself. All of the tools and support I needed were (are) there after all, the rest was up to ME; the biggest (pardon the pun) equation in all of this. As someone who has publicized a sizeable quotient of my life online as a parenting, relationship and food blogger, sharing in my fitness journey should be nothing new, right?
Wrong.
My struggles with body image and weight have been a burden I keep held down low, squashed with shame and confusion. I occasionally talk about them, very lightly and never delve too deep. That had to change. I understand that now. In order for me to fully embrace fitness and food portion control as a lifestyle change, not a diet – and to feel good about doing it, I had to address my dark passenger. I had to (continue to) delve deep and dissect my WHY. Not my WHY for pursuing a better path to nutrition and fitness, but WHY it’s always been such a struggle.
Soul Rewards: Dad Wears Boa, Daughter Has Giggle-Fit, Mom and Son Shake it Off [VIDEO]
Perhaps some of you might have noticed this new fitness journey I’ve embarked on, perhaps not. At any rate … the tribe of women who are keeping me accountable have gone a long way in restoring my faith in, well, myself. But more on that later. Right now we have a little dance party we’d like to share with you. It’s no big production, just us … my sweet family and I getting a little sweaty and having a lot of fun.
So, to my coach who asked us to rev things up mid month and “shake-off” any feelings of negativity or low-energy that we may be having, thank-you. Transformations are happening all over the place and one of my biggest “whys” … my family; is definitely presenting to be my daily source of affirmation and inspiration. Health and wellness revolve around every aspect of our lives, if we acknowledge and respect them as the roadmaps to a better life that they are. Not just for ourselves, but for those we love most.
And it can be as simple as a family dance party on a weeknight before dinner. Boas and tutus optional, although highly recommended…
CONNECT WITH JENNIFER
CONNECT WITH SELENA
