Pamper Me Basket

Need a gift idea for someone you love?
I made the cutest pamper me basket for my granma's 80th birthday party, but it would be perfect for a student going off to college as well.

 

This is the * caddy * I purchased at Target.

Here are some item ideas you may want to include:

• shower caddy *
• back scrubber *
• bath salt *
• bubble bath *
• shower gel *
• shampoo and conditioner
• homemade body scrub - link to a recipe I use
• rice pillow- how to directions for making your own rice pillow
• gel eye mask
• sleep mask
• matching lip and nail color *
• floral hair clips- * I used infant clips since my granma's hair is thinning.  The infant clips were cuter than the adult one in all reality.
• throw blanket *
• book to read or favorite magazine
• several different flavors of tea *
• tea mug- * This tea mug comes in a Vera Bradley print.  It has a lid to keep the contents warm and a little hole for the tea bag string to hang out of.
• single serving coffee brewing mug- For $6 and a microwave, you can brew the perfect cup of coffee in 3 minutes.  I started using this in my classroom and considering how simplistic the entire system is the coffee is pretty good.
• handmade card *
• gift card

I am sure there are tons of items that could be included, but I think I gave you a good place to start. I made sure that I had a different item for each pocket of the caddy.  That way there was a little prize awaiting with each peek into the basket. 

Have fun creating your own Pamper Me Basket for someone you love.

Just an FYI: The bold faced items are items I actually purchased.  The starred items are items I have included in my kit, but I have only linked to a similar item and not the exact item I used. 

The total basket cost was around $50. 

Exploring the Nature

Ahhh, The Great Outdoors...

Camping is just one of the many things my family has been busy doing the past few weeks.  T Man is in Cub Scouts and we have two annual camping trips.  This time the camp site was right on the water. 

At first, I was worried because neither of my boys are great swimmers.  My fears were soon put to rest when I realized that the water had a gradual entry.  The boys were able to play in the water's edge with little problem.

Being near the water had the added benefit of allowing JJ to stay outside on a very hot day.  As I watched nearby, I would noticed my little guy wetting down his clothes to cool off.  He is becoming such a big boy.  He didn't even need me to take care of him.


Sunrise Over the Lake

Camping is such a great way to unplug and get in touch with nature.  I thought I would share a few tips of the trade to get you started.

First of all you need to select a location.  Discover America is a site that helps you locate various activities by location in the United States.  Simply select camping and fishing from the drop down menu, how far you are willing to travel, and your state. 

You will get to view a list of camping grounds in the area you provided.  It is not a comprehensive list, but it will definitely get you started.

Things to consider when selecting a camping site:

1.  Does the site have electrical hook ups?  Hard core campers will think this unnecessary, but for many families this is a priority.  With RV camping and various camping gear that can be purchased nowadays, electricity can make camping for the non-enthusiast much more comfortable.

2.  Are there public restrooms?  Any family with kids would want to make sure that bathrooms are available.  Most kids just will not do their business in the woods or an open field.

3.    Are there enough trees to provide adequate shade during the hottest part of the day?

4.  Can you swim on site?

5.  Is fishing available?

6.  Is geocaching available on site?

The above are only some of the questions to consider.  Sit down with the adults who will be on the camping trip and discuss options and concerns to ensure you get the most out of your nature experience.

Now that you have selected a site, you can begin to plan some activities for your down time.  This doesn't mean that you are providing your children with a step by step itinerary.  It simple means that you provide a pressure valve several times a day to reground your child and help to keep him or her from becoming overstimulated by all there is to see and do when you are spending the bulk of your time outdoors.

    

Activities to Consider: 
1.   structured free play:  Simply steer your child to a location that can provide a space to play with relaxation built in.  Remember the lake front that has a gradual entry? It  proved to be a hot spot for my kiddos.  Making motes, digging, and exploring the shallow waters was very calming amongst a day that was filled with high energy.

Here is a bit of the natural learning that took place:

Little J learned that digging in the slug next to the water causes the water to seep up from the ground.  This lead to discussion on sea level.  He also learned how to make a mote that would fill with water as the waves rolled onto the bank.  It took a while to make walls that didn't collapse, but he was eventually successful.

T Man explored the marine life in the shallow waters and practice balancing on the moss covered river rocks.  He explored every nook and cranny he could physically reach.  He even managed to squeeze in some swim practice as well.



2.  bring arts and crafts into nature:  Something as simple as building a small boat and sailing it in the waters can provide that much needed pressure valve, as well as, hours of entertainment. 

This was the activity of the day on our scout trip.  It took about 10 minutes to assemble the sail boats, but the fun lasted for most of an afternoon.

Another idea is to create a simple nature journal that you take with you on outdoor outings.  Click here to find out how we made our own.

Have a budding naturalist or scientist?  Check out these awesome nature bags.  They have a bit of everything to make exploring outdoors fun for all involved.

3.  cook with the kiddos:  Allow your child to make his or her own meal... sandwiches and chips, smores around the evening campfire.  Cooking is an engaging activity most kids love.

4.  pack up your bikes and go for a ride:  Put a couple bandages and wipes in your pockets.  Camping bike rides tend to have a few more cuts and scrapes due to the uneven terrain.

5.  hike through the woods:  Don't forget that trusty nature journal or nature bag.  This is the best time to put those to use.

6.  locate geocaches... hidden boxes with small treasures:  You will need a GPS and to have chosen a campsite that has several boxes on site.  Our Boy Scout den actually hid several boxes as part of our fall camp out last year.  If you are lucky enough to locate a camp like the one we used, you will have tons of boxes to hunt down.

Don't know about geocaching?  You are definitely missing out.  Check out this site to find out more.



Hopefully, this will give you some ideas for your next camp out.  Spending time in the outdoors and amongst nature is a wonderful time to connect with Mother Nature and to go unplugged. 

Bright Blessings.

Books that Speak to the Soul

Two of my all time favorite books, Peaceful Piggy Meditation and 
Moody Cow Meditates, helps children to decompress and ground themselves.

I bought both of these books when my oldest son was in second grade and needed to learn how to calm down and focus.  He was behaving oddly at school and overall seemed to be overwhelmed.

Peaceful Piggy Meditation is focused on creating a special place in the home for meditation.  A few suggestions to create a spot of relaxation in your home include:

• a small cushion to sit on
• a smooth stone to rub
• soft music to drift away to
• etc.

Anything that brings peace and tranquility are welcome.

The book also includes a description of how children can meditate, as well as, directions on how to create a Mind-in-a-Jar Experiment.

I could go into detail on the experiment, but I wouldn't be able to do it justice.  It is such a simple thing that truly demonstrates a peaceful, yet active mind.




Moody Cow Meditates was a must have in our family.  All my boys (husband  included) tend to get angry a bit easier than most.  Nothing terrible, but it often leaves them in a  funk.

Moody Cow Meditates goes through the day of Moody Cow as he experiences several unsettling things.  After all, who wouldn't be upset by bad dreams and wrecking your bike?  I know, I sure would.

Anyways... when Moody Cow returns home, he is visited by his wise grandfather.  His grandfather creates a Moody Cow Mind Jar to help the little cow to calm and refocus his day. 

The directions for creating the jar are in the back of the book.  Basically, you drop colored sparkles into the water... one pinch for each angry thought you had during the day.  You watch the water quietly until all the sparkles have settled calmly to the bottom.  By the time, the last sparkle falls the angry feelings will have vanished or at least subsided a bit.

The concept is again very simple, but works its magic on the mind of children both young and old.

The next time your child is experiencing soul fever or just having a difficult day consider one of these awesome children's books as a source of guidance.  Your child might just smile again before bedtime.

What are some of your favorite go to books for children? 

What books help your child work through a personal dilemma big or small?

5 Ways to Show Gratitude

 What a perfect time of year to show gratitude.  We are thankful for someone or appreciative of something almost daily, yet how often do we not take the time to act on it.  Remembering all the things we are grateful for is an easy way to lead a life full of happiness.

1.  Thankful Jar (Thankful Jar Too): A jar with slips of paper depicting different aspects of life (i.e. family, nature, friends, etc.) and an activity or gesture that can be done to show gratitude.  For example, we pulled out a card that said cafeteria workers and made the cafeteria ladies at our school some homemade cookies.

2.  Thankful Journal: Keep a journal that you write in at least once a day.  Have each member of the family and any visiting guest write something they are thankful for.

3.  Make a Thankful Tree: Place a bare branch in a bucket or pail filled with stones.  Trace several different shaped leaves on heavy cardstock.  Using embroidery floss and a simple blanket stitch  trim the edge of each leaf.  Finally, have each family member record reasons why they are thankful on the leaves.  Tie the leaves to the branch with floss or thread.  Leave a small basket of leaves and a pen near the table to encourage others that visit to add to your tree.

4.  Express Gratitude Daily: Start a new family tradition.  In the morning or at dinner, have everyone in the family name something he/she is thankful for.  It could be as simple as a good night's sleep or a yummy lunch that you will get to eat.  Expressing thanks daily helps you lead a life of gratitude.

5.  Volunteer: Volunteer at a local hospital, soup kitchen, animal shelter, etc.  Helping others always seems to make you feel good.  It also lets you see first hand how fortunate you really are.

There are many other ways to remember all we have to be thankful for.  These are just some ways that involve the entire family.

Remember to recognize those you are thankful for.  A quick handwritten note, a nice baggie of cookies, etc. can go a long way.  Before you know it, others will pick up on your thoughtfulness and begin to encompass the same happiness you have shared.

Stress Relief for Men

What do you do when life becomes complicated?

I am a pretty laid back individual... generally takes alot to ruffle the feathers.  My husband on the other hand needs a steady tempo in the right direction or else he is on edge.

Let's just say with the current economic state of the family, the holidays coming, and the never ending pursuit of a lean mean body, he has been a bit "irritable" lately.

We have discussed this more than once in the last week.  I do not want the kids to think they have done something wrong when he gets a bit irritated more easily.  He really does do  a good job of not showing this to the boys, but he still needs some way to deal with stress.

When hunting for a solution or at least an aid, I came across some interesting information.

"Why is stress and anger more of an issue for men? Well, it is mainly down to the male hormone testosterone which makes men more prone to aggressive behaviour then women.

Unfortunately, being aggressive all the time can get you into lots of trouble and will cause an excessive production of the stress hormones to build up. Equally though bottling up feelings of anger and aggression will also cause a build up of tension and anxiety." ~stress relief workshop

I guess sometimes it truly is more difficult for men under pressure, but that is no reason to make the ones you love suffer.  Take some advice and simply relieve a little stress.  It could be as easy as counting to 10.

10 Ways For Men to Relieve Stress...
1.  Stress Relief Breathing:  Sit comfortably.  Breath in through the nose for 5 seconds and out through the mouth for 5 seconds.  Do this several times.

Try to increase the length of the inhalation and exhalation always aiming for the length of each to be similar.

Also, try to really push the air out from your diaphragm emptying the lungs.

2.  Progressive Muscle Relaxation:  Start by tightening the face muscles as tight as you can.  Hold the position for about 10 seconds.  Slowly release the muscles and take pleasure in the feeling of stress being striped away from the body.

Move to the neck, shoulders, and arm muscles and follow the same procedures.

Next, you will tighten the abdomen and chest.  Hold and slowly release.

Finally, tighten the buttocks, legs, and feet.  Follow the same procedure you have been.

This targets four main areas of the body and should aid in fairly immediate stress reduction.  If you have time for a more full body approach, click the link above to view more details.

*If you feel funny doing this technique, consider spending the money for an aromatherapy massage.  Massage alone works wonders for relieving stress, but couple it with an aromatherapy session and you just might not want to leave the spa.

3.  Meditation:  Sit cross legged on the floor in a quiet area.  Clear your mind of all thoughts.  This will be difficult at first, but will get continually easier as you practice. 

If your mind begins to wander, turn off your inner thoughts.  Focusing on very rhythmic breathing can be helpful when quieting your mind. 

Start out with 5 minute sessions and work up from there.

Doing a small meditation before and after work is very helpful to stave off stress.  If you are short on time, I would suggest beginning with the after work mediation.

Remember though that mediation is something you can do any time you are under pressure.  Taking the time for yourself will be worth the benefits.

4.  Get Outside: Getting in touch with nature generally provides exercise, but also a good dose of vitamin D which is vital for a healthy mental state.

5.  Go Unplugged: Turn off the computer and cell phone during the lunch hour and shortly after arriving home.  Going unplugged is wonderful for letting go.  Plus, it gives you more time to be with the ones you love... face-to-face.

6.  Take Up a Hobby:  Mindless repetition is wonderful for unwinding at the end of a hard day.  Finding a hobby you can keep up is beneficial to a happy, healthy lifestyle.

7.  Laugh:  Watch a funny movie, go to a comedy club, or spend time with some fun friends.  Laughing is one of the most natural ways to reduce stress.  Go ahead and get your laugh on.

8.  Date Night:  Spend time with the one you love.  Going out and reconnecting lets you know your partner really does care.  It also gives you time to let loose and have fun.

9.  Evening Walks with Your Lover:  Getting in the habit of taking an evening stroll allows both partners to debrief his/her day.  Just talking about situations that are particularly stressful can help you see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Allow your significant other to help you.  After all, he/she loves you.

10.  Regular Sexual Activity:  What better way to get a little exercise and oxygen to the brain!  Physical touching also leads to a feeling of connectedness and understanding.

Magic of Mandala

Lately as I am surfing the net I keep stumbling across these gorgeous mandala designs.  I decided it was high time that I do a little further research as fate is telling me something with these beautiful images.

About . com always has the most wonderful articles.  They are written simply, but with the detail needed to give you the information you seek.  To gain some basic information on the benefits of coloring mandalas, click here.

Creating Mandalas is a perfect site to get information on the history of mandalas as well as details on how to create you very own mandala.

Nature Mandala

Benefits of Coloring Mandalas...

•calm your mind,

•quiet your emotions,
•induce feelings of tranquility and deep contentment,
•uplift your soul,
•promote greater awareness of self and Life,
•make meditation easier and more accessible,
•reduce stress and lower blood pressure,
•generate good health and well-being,
•ground and center your consciousness,
•integrate polarities within yourself (such as yin/yang),
•increase concentration,
•stimulate your creative thinking and problem-solving abilities,
•access the Divine/Teacher Within you,
•create satisfaction and pleasure,
•overcome blocks and stuck patterns in daily life,
•align body, mind, heart, and spirit into harmony,
•open the heart chakra,
•assist you to reach your full potential,
•promote spiritual enlightenment.