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Healthy Living & Eating Tips

I wanted to let you know about the awesome information that has recently been added to the 'Tips For A Healthier Life' section of Real Life Solutions. Many of you have written to me asking for information on How to look younger, Weight Loss and even suggestions on how to get rid of a nasty common cold. Visit Healthy Living - Your resource for information, products and articles as it pertains to healthy living. If you want to serve healthy, home-cooked meals, but are too busy to spend very much time in the kitchen -- Check out the Healthy Express Cookbook: 101 Fresh, Light & Quick Dinners. Aurelia

Stress Relief Tips

When you feel the need to escape and take a few minutes to yourself to de-stress, follow some (if not all) of the tips below. Put yourself in time out: Allow some alone time for yourself. Use this time to focus on you. Find a place in your home that you can go to and find privacy. You can ask your partner or a friend to take the family out for a few hours while you enjoy your alone time. Do nothing, sleep, read, watch a movie, and just enjoy your solitude. Call a Friend: Rather than yelling at your husband or your children, try picking up the phone and vent to a friend. Be sure not to vent AT her, but rather tell her about your day and get it all out. If she offers you some advice, listen and soak it in. This mini-time out session will leave you feeling heard, de-stressed and you will find that by the end of your call some of you anger will have dissipated. Play: As adults, we sometimes forget the beneficial value of play. Play stimulates our imagination, encourages our creativity, boosts our energy, and best of all, it is fun. Try a game of tennis, a game of cards online or perhaps invite some friends over for an evening of adult board games. Meditate: Meditation has been proven to reduce your blood pressure, and helps to dramatically reduce your stress level. Meditation and/or prayer will help you to keep in touch with your spiritual side. Meditation is a very effective method of relaxation. To meditate, quiet your mind and allow yourself to focus on one thing, such as your breath. Find a relaxed comfortable position where Try visualizing good health and peace as you inhale. While you are breathing out breathe out all of your stress. Set aside approximately 20 minutes for this exercise. Upon completion, you will see just how much more relaxed your mind and body is. Take a nap: Find a quiet, comfortable spot and take a nap. Even a short power nap can leave you feeling refreshed, renewed, and more focused. Studies have shown that people who spent 30 minutes each day napping had one third less heart disease than those who didn't nap. Eat: Not just anything but certain things. Studies show that certain foods can help reduce stress. Carbohydrates will actually soothe you. Good sources of carbohydrates include rice, pasta, potatoes, breads, air-popped popcorn and low-calorie cookies. Experts suggest that the carbohydrates present in just one baked potato or a cup of spaghetti or white rice, is enough to relieve the anxiety of a stressful day. Movie Time: If you don’t have anyone to watch the children for you while you de-stress. Put in one of their favorite movies, supply your children with a few healthy snacks, and have them occupy themselves for a little while so that you can take a breather. Don't feel guilty for taking time out to rejuvenate your mind and body. Being a mom is not an easy task and it is a full time job. Take a break when you need it and be sure to ask for help to keep the stress at bay. Be sure to take a look at the following Resource: Why Make Yourself Crazy: 300 Breakthrough Stress Relief Tips. Aurelia

Business Coachng for WAHM's Free Tiral!

Mom Masterminds™ is a hands-on mentoring community for mothers who are ready to work past the fluff and re-focus on making real money from their online businesses. They offer a free 9-day course that gets right to the nitty-gritty of creating a thriving online business. When you sign up for our 9-day course, you'll also receive an exclusive invitation to a free 7-day trial at Mom Masterminds. I have been a MM Member for 9 months now and my business has grown by leaps and bounds! I hope to see you all there. Aurelia Real Life Solutions

Reduce your Stress - Your Kids Are Waiting

Mothers are expected to possess huge hearts, big shoulders, a minimum of 3 hands, all the answers and the list goes on! What many mothers forget is they are not born with super hero powers to handle all of those things at once. Mom=Stress. It’s a fact of life. Reducing stress is of the utmost importance to everyone, but especially mothers. Read more!

Summer Reading For your Animal Loving Child

If your child in an animal lover then why not turn that love of animals into a love of reading! My 6 year old Isaac is a animal lover. From snakes to bears he just cant seem to get enough. I subscribed him to Zoobooks about 3 months ago and he loves it. When it arrives in the mailbox he gets so excited and immediately flips it open. The great thing about this is that he is expanding his reading and learning about animals. If you have an animal lover in your home, I am sure Zoobooks will be a hit. For all of you out there that are already subscribers, I'd love to hear your input. Happy Reading, Aurelia

Arts And Crafts for Kids (Easy & Fun)

Hi Moms. I searched around for some great arts and crafts books and projects to keep my little one busy and I wanted to share my great finds with you. I don't know who had more fun... me or my son Isaac (smile) Hands On Crafts For Kids - An amazing collection Crafts for kids. Over 100 Pages. Makeit & Bakeit Glittering Frames - Fun to Make! Stained Glass Suncatchers add sparkle to window decorations. Great for room decorating or to give as gifts. The Busy Moms Book Of Quick Crafts For Kids - Quick and easy crafts, including shaving cream sculptures, ghost-it-notes, and tin-punch laterns. Over 140 pages. Aurelia Free Craft Projects for Kids

Childhood Depression Symptoms

In order to recognize when a child is depressed, it is important to become aware of the symptoms and the signs to look for. Because children are not as articulate as adults in expressing their emotions, it is unlikely that they will come to us and say "I'm depressed" as an adult might do. In fact, they may not even realize themselves that something is out of the ordinary. Children live in a world controlled by adults and can easily feel powerless over what is happening to them. This puts the responsibility upon us as adults to look for signs of trouble and help children cope. The warning signs of depression fall basically into four different categories: emotional signs, cognitive signs (those involving thinking), physical complaints, and behavioral changes. Not every child who is depressed experiences every symptom. Emotional Signs Typical moods or emotions experienced by children suffering from depression include: Sadness - The child may feel despondent and hopeless. They may cry easily. Some children will hide their tears by becoming withdrawn. Loss of pleasure or interest - A child who has always enjoyed playing sports, for example, may suddenly decide to not try out for the team this year. They may complain of feeling "bored" or reject an offer to participate in an activity, which they've always enjoyed in the past. Anxiety - The child may become anxious, tense, and panicky. The source of their anxiety may well give you a clue to what's causing their depression. Turmoil - The child may feel worried and irritable. They may brood or lash out in anger as a result of the distress they are feeling. Cognitive Signs A depressive mood can bring on negative, self-defeating thoughts. These skewed thought processes may help perpetuate the problem because they make the child resistant to words of encouragement or advice. Once the depression lifts, the child will be much more receptive to help. The signs to look for are: Difficulty organizing thoughts - People with depression often have problems concentrating or remembering. In children, this may be evidenced by problems in school or an inability to complete tasks. Negative view - People with depression may become pessimistic, perceiving themselves, their life, and their world in a very negative light. Worthlessness and guilt - Depressed children may obsess over their perceived faults and failures, feel tremendous guilt, and declare themselves worthless. Helplessness and hopelessness - Depressed children often believe that there is nothing they can do to relieve their feelings of depression. In particular, a child with dysthymia may perceive that this is "just the way it is" because this is their only experience. Feelings of isolation - A child who has been picked on frequently may become very sensitive to slights from his peers. Suicidal Thoughts - Thoughts of death are not limited to adults. Children may also wish that they were dead and express these thoughts. Physical Signs Depression is not just an illness of the mind. It causes changes in us physically as well. Changes in appetite or weight - Many people with depression find that their appetite either decreases or increases. Children who usually have a healthy appetite may suddenly lose interest in eating. Children may also respond in the opposite way, but eating too much to self-medicate their feelings. Sleep disturbances - Children with depression may have difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep once they do. They may wake too early or oversleep. They may have trouble staying awake during the day at school. Sluggishness -Children with depression often talk, react, and walk slower. They may be less active and playful than usual. Agitation - Depressed children may show signs of agitation by fidgeting or not being able to sit still. Behavioral Signs These signs will be the most obvious and easy for your detect. Avoidance and withdrawal - Children with depression may avoid everyday or enjoyable activities and responsibilities. They may withdraw from friends and family. The bedroom can become a favorite place to escape and find solitude. Clinging and demanding - The depressed child may become more dependent on some relationships and behave with an exaggerated sense of insecurity. Activities in excess - A depressed child may appear to be out of control in regard to certain activities. He or she may spend long hours playing a video game or overeat. Restlessness - The restlessness brought on by depression may lead to such behaviors as fidgeting, acting up in class, or reckless behavior Self-Harm - Depressed individuals may cause themselves physical pain or take excessive risks. Self-injury is one example of such behavior