All About Mom – Mothers Day

On May 6, 2011, in Wellness, by Helen

Mothers day is just around the corner, if you are a mom give yourself 5 minutes to think about it and treat yourself to something different – after all there is a whole day solely about being mom (as there is with fathers day) and there is no reason why you can’t plan something for yourself as a treat.  If you usually have the day planned out for you then you are a lucky mom, but it doesn’t stop you having something in special mind that you would like to do, it can be the simple things that make all the difference or the break from routine that makes you feel special.

Home Sweet Home

Being a parent you may not always have time to just relax, now is the perfect opportunity.  Put on your best pajamas to help you feel relaxed and comfy (not every day has to be about suits, uniforms and routines) and spend the day doing things that make you feel happy and rested, whether it be baking, sitting in the garden, relaxing with a good book or watching a great film.

If your children want to get involved encourage them that it is a sleep over or a dress up day giving them the opportunity to use their imagination to create a castle, spaceship or den (whatever their latest interest is) and you have decided to dress up in your favourite loungers and soft cashmere socks for that extra level of luxury – they will enjoy the day as much as you and it will keep them entertained giving you more time to relax.

Hopefully after several hours of downtime and doing your favourite things you will be revitalised, reenergised and raring to go.

Treat Street

If you feel a shopping or pamper day is more your idea of Mothers day, then plan in advance book a place at your local spa (or drop subtle hints) and understand what you get as part of your day, the last thing you want to feel from your spa day is disappointed, some you get treatments as part of the day and others it is extra and may require advance booking.  The benefit of a spa day is it is all about relaxing enjoying a day in a lovely soft bathrobe.

If shopping is your idea of a treat, involve a friend (may be another mom – double the treat) shopping is always more fun when you have someone to giggle with.  Treat yourself to something new, a nice coffee and a bit of cake – and remember there is no need to rush, walk around the shops at your pace and enjoy window shopping as much as buying something new – completely immerse yourself in the experience.

Whatever you decide to do on Mothers day whether it be a recharge your batteries day or an all out indulgence day remember how uplifting a “me” day can be during those stressful moments and how rewarding being a mom can be.

I think overall we can all benefit from a “me” day every so often, helping us to appreciate how it makes us feel both on the inside from feeling more relaxed and on the outside looking more relaxed and rested.   Happy Mothers Day!

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Easy Mother’s Day Gift Basket Ideas

On May 5, 2011, in Wellness, by Rachel
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Need to do some last minute shopping for your mom for Mother’s Day? Mother’s Day gift baskets are a creative, personal way to show your mom how much you care about her.

When you are putting together a gift basket for your mom, think about her interests and hobbies. There are many themes you can use to put together a gift basket. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Basket for Garden Lovers

Fill a garden basket with gardening tools, a new pair of gardening gloves, flower seeds, and a box of herbal tea.

Bath and Body Basket

For the mom who loves to be pampered, fill a basket full of bath salts, bubble bath, candles, soaps, massage oils, a massage roller, manicure and/or pedicure kit, moisturizing lotion, and a good book to read.

Basket for Coffee Lovers

A coffee basket can include a new coffee mug, gourmet coffee beans, coffee syrups, instant coffees, a Starbuck gift card, chocolate covered coffee beans, biscotti, and chocolate-covered pretzels.

Basket for Tea Lovers

Fill a tea gift basket full of different kinds of herbal teas and a pretty tea cup. Include a good inspirational book to read.

Basket for the Cooking or Baking Enthusiast

If your mom loves to cook or bake, put together a basket with a new cookbook, fun cooking gadgets, some new dish towels, and some new recipe cards.

Bed and Breakfast Gift Basket

Moms love baking with mixes to make cooking easier. For a breakfast themed basket, fill a basket with muffin mixes, jars of jam, instant coffee or hot cocoa mix, and a pretty coffee mug.

Movie Gift Basket

This basket is fun because after you give it to her you can suggest you then enjoy it with her!  Fill a basket with a couple of your mom’s favorite DVD’s, microwave popcorn, and your mom’s favorite movie candy.

Scrapbooking Gift Basket

If your mom’s favorite hobby is scrapbooking, then put together a basket of scrapbooking idea books, paper punches, stickers, scrapbooking paper, and extra glue sticks.

Sundae Gift Basket

Who doesn’t love ice cream sundaes? Fill a gift basket with a new ice cream scooper, sundae syrups and toppings (sprinkles, chopped nuts), and maybe some pretty new sundae bowls.

Basket for the Puzzle Lover

Some moms love to do puzzles, puzzles of all kinds. If your mom loves puzzles, fill her gift basket with crossword puzzles, Suduko puzzles, word searches, and a jig saw puzzle.

Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom of five.  For more Mother’s Day ideas, recipes, tips to organize your home, home decorating, crafts, holiday hints, and more, visit Creative Homemaking at http://www.creativehomemaking.com.

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How To Handle Cravings

On March 10, 2011, in Wellness, by Shannon

Cravings got you down? If so, you aren’t alone. One of the hardest things most dieters face when aiming to achieve great fat loss is such strong food cravings that it’s all they can think about. Continue reading »

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Better Health Innovations Fitness EquipmentOver on Better Health Innovations, we just made shopping for the perfect piece of fitness equipment more convenient than anywhere else on the internet.  In fact, I would say that it is easier to shop for an exercise bike, rowing machine, or other exercise gear/equipment at BHI than it is at a physical retail store.  I would like you to see for yourself by clicking here: fitness equipment

With a selection that can’t be beat, we have added an easy to navigate “store within a store” with quick links to the various types of equipment.  In the sub-categories we have added “budget friendly”, “Customer Pick”, and “Staff Recommended” models as a place to start for every major (and some minor) type of equipment.  This is in addition to Continue reading »

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Pilates – What’s It All About?

On March 15, 2010, in Exercise, Wellness, by Lesley

Open any celebrity magazine and you’ll find everyone talking about how they keep slim and fit. Their exercise regime of choice? Pilates. So what’s it all about?

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Joseph Pilates was born in Germany of Greek parentage and devised his exercis

e regime in the twenties. He used his knowledge of Yoga and martial arts to put together a number of movements which would bring mind and body together. His sincere belief was that you could not improve one without the other.
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