Spring Is Here

As you can tell, my blog has gotten a complete make-over. A new look and a fresh start is needed every once in a while to recharge yourself, or your surroundings. Have you ever rearranged some furniture or hung a new funky piece of art in your living room? Sometimes these small changes are a big deal. Life is so hectic and people are always in a hurry to get from point A to B but the most important place to actually be is your home.

With spring just around the corner, I know I feel that urge to declutter and maybe repaint the kids playroom, plant some flowers, and give myself a little jolt.

Between my daily trips to the gym, play class, soccer practice, karate, and swimming I am freaking exhausted. As a mom, it's super easy to give up and go to that drive thru for take-out or skip the am shower. Women are strong and amazing and I know we all have it in us to keep going. A few quick tips to keep yourself energized and looking fabulous. (Even when your lugging around a tote bag full of wet swim suits, or cheering on your little one at a soccer game.)

1. If you know your day is going to be a busy one, skip that sugar packed energy drink and take a multi-vitamin instead. Carry around healthy snacks like, almonds or walnuts, half a turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread with some fresh spinach, or red peppers and hummus. These all boost energy naturally and will leave you feeling fuller longer and not exceeding 200 calories.

2.Drink water. Getting dehydrated can leave you feeling pretty crappy. Plus, drinking plenty of water is fabulous for your skin.

3. Treat yourself to a small shopping trip, or a relaxing pedicure. Nothing like a new outfit to jump start a busy weekend. Strapped for cash? No biggie, stores like Charlotte Russe have amazing clearance racks and happy hour specials for even more savings.

4.Decluttering is always a breath of fresh air...once your done. Instead of throwing it away, give it away :) Once man's trash is another man's treasure. :)

5.Plant trees or flowers in your yard for some fun spring color. And, it's nice to look at when you pull in your driveway after a rough day. :)

6. Try something new, especially if you have some pent up frustrations or anger. Take up kick boxing or MMA. You'll burn a ton of calories and get to beat the crap out of a boxing bag.

So Caught Up

A very good friend of mine brought an amazing website to my attention last night. A couple got married in a cave in Ohio for one hundred dollars. Wearing mostly vintage, and using their surroundings as decor.

The simplicity behind this blew me away because weddings aren't about the couple getting married anymore, they are about how many people you can invite and what the centerpieces are going to look like. People get so preoccupied with "stuff", like the hottest shoes, or that great new Marc Jacobs bag.

Life should be more about the quality, not the quantity. The quality, meaning how you lived it and what you did for the people around you, not the quantity. It's not going to matter how many times you frequented that VIP club or how much you spent on a new top.

We are all so lost is the mindset that the more we spend the better it is, and the better we will feel. People loose sight of what is really important.

Let's say you are bringing a baby into the world, you go out and spend two thousand plus dollars on a new crib, bedding....the works. Do you think that baby gives a shit what brand his crib bedding is. Hell no! All he cares about is being loved and fed.

Another good friend of mine lost his grandmother this past week and I read that in lieu of flowers, she wanted people to donate to The Susan G Koman breast cancer foundation and the Blacksburg Rescue Squad. I found that truly amazing.

Life is what it is, and people are just busy in general but here are a few ways to change it up a bit.

1. Eat healthier without breaking the bank on so called "organic" grocery store fruits and veggies. Plant a garden in your backyard or pot some of your favorites and keep them in your kitchen. It's free, it's fun, and you'll know exactly where what you are eating is coming from.

2.Turn off the electronics every once in a while and go for a walk, or nestle up with a good book.

3.If creating your own garden is too much, visit your local farmers market and support their hard work, meet new people and learn how to do something new.

4.Get a bunch of friends together,(kids too) and using corks, mason jars, egg cartons, and whatever else is laying around, create a mural or gift and give it to someone who needs some love.