ALL DRESSED UP AND NOWHERE TO GO

It was 8:45 in the morning when my doorbell rang.  A friend of mine had kindly agreed to take my son to preschool so I wouldn’t have to load all three kids up to do so.  I answered the door in my nice jeans, grey sweater, cute hat, and favorite necklace.  Her response, “You’re dressed up.  Where are you going today?”  I paused for a moment, tilted my head up, and pondered that question.  You could actually see the little thought bubble over my head reading “To the grocery store if I’m lucky.”

Gone are the days where women actually dressed up when they had nowhere to go.  Looking put together as if they were headed to a dinner party but really just doing laundry.  That generation is still committed to that mentality.  When visiting my great-grandmother, I could always find her in a nice blouse and jewelry to match.  Walk across the street to the local grocery store and I’d find women still wearing their pajamas and slippers.  Seriously, they muster up enough energy to put their keys in the car and drive to the store, but can’t put their shoes on?  Maybe the 1950’s housewives did have it right when they wore their pearls while vacuuming.  Most of us grow up wanting to be a princess…become one on our wedding day… and then when we get back from the honeymoon it’s back to Cinderella scrubs.  Please hold your feminist thoughts right there…. Sure, burning bras was a way to “stick it to the man,” not sure how men tricked our mothers into that one, but I feel better when the ladies are hoisted up.  Maybe those housewives weren’t looking good for their husbands… but for themselves.  Did we ever consider that?  Don’t you feel better when you look good?  There’s an extra little strut in our walk when we are looking our best.  Please join me in starting a new women’s movement.  The, “I still look put together even when my day is falling apart” movement.

If you’re anything like me, you’re probably thinking…. “But I’m covered in peanut butter, spit-up, poop, or all three at any given time. Wearing sweats is just my way of dressing for the occasion.”  To which I respond… cotton is cotton.  A nice pair of jeans or pants is made with the same kind of fabric sweatpants are.  You pull both up one leg at a time right?  I have to admit that I didn’t have this attitude before using Norwex laundry soap.  That stuff really gets stains out.  Allows me to be a little more carefree about my clothes.  Contact your Norwex consultant to get “the scoop” on that product.  But I digress.        

Next you’re probably asking, “I don’t have the time to stare at my closet and put something nice together.”  But alas! I wouldn’t suggest something to you without providing a solution.  Get a personal stylist to help you pick out outfits.  Then getting dressed is like putting on a uniform.  Except that you look fabulous.  Did I lose you at personal stylist?  This is where I let you in on a little secret.  There is personal stylist in Federal Way, WA who styles regular people like you and me.  She charges $20 an hour to make you look amazing.  I have found that this has actually SAVED me money.  Before, I would spend a little here and there on clothes, and then get home and end up regretting my choices.  Soon after I stare at my closet and say, “I have nothing to wear.”  After meeting with stylist, Krista Olufson, I know exactly what to wear and feel great wearing it.  The BEST PART….she can tailor your closet with your wallet.  You can do one or all three of the following services.

1.)     A New You.  Krista will meet with you and find out what your needs are.  She researches what would look best on you and provides you with some shopping suggestions.  I loved this because she gave me pictures of items that I could take with me shopping.  Also, my list had ten items on it that included everything from hats to shoes.  This allowed me to buy one thing at a time as I could afford it.
2.)    Coming Out of the Closet Session.  Krista will go through your closet and suggest what to donate and what you could be pairing together to make a new look.  I also enjoyed this because I was holding onto clothes I knew didn’t look good on me but couldn’t bring myself to give away.  Having another person give you their honest and professional opinion freed up some closet space.

3.)    Group Therapy.  I absolutely hate to shop and hate spending money to do so.  Not to mention the fact that I get a little bit of anxiety as I stand in front of a clothing item and wonder if it would look good on me or not.  Shopping with Krista and a friend was such a fun experience.  I think I ended up spending $150 on the shopping trip and was able to get several different outfit pairings.

I share this information with you as a friend and have no financial stake in this recommendation.  Krista has not purchased add space and I’m not getting a discount of any kind for writing this.  This is something I just had to share with you all since it really impacted the way I felt after hiring Krista.  Feeling put together when days spins out of control still leaves me with a good feeling at the end of the day.  Since I am seriously fashion challenged, I plan on using Krista’s services twice a year.  Once in the Spring/Summer and once for Fall/Winter.  Sure your husband, children, and eventually your work will benefit from this new look…but do it for yourself first.  This is the part where I add a disclaimer.  There is a time when you may excuse yourself from this new women's movement. Like when you’ve been up all night with the baby, cleaning your oven, doing your laundry, and writing a blog. (Hypothetically speaking of course)  Then by all means, throw that Nike hat on.  But other than that…. The next time I see you in running clothes I’d like to think that you actually went running.

To assist you in this new women's movement, contact Krista Olufson. 253-815-1987 or Krista.olufson@comcast.net

YO MAMMA

It seemed appropriate this week to give a shout out to moms everywhere for the wisdom they bestowed on us.  So, here are five things your mother said to you growing up that still apply today.

CHEW YOUR FOOD
One of my children stuffs his face with food as if what he fits in his mouth is all that he will receive for dinner.  I am constantly telling him to take smaller bites and chew his food.  But then I proceed to shovel in my own food and swallow before it actually reaches my tongue.  You know exactly what I'm talking about mothers!  Racing to eat a meal before the next diaper change.  Or maybe you have one lunch hour to which you need to write a presentation AND run to Target to get new underware because you sneezed and had a little accident.  Either way, you're not chewing your food.  Besides the obvious of not choking, chewing your food is very beneficial.  When you chew the enzymes in your saliva help break down the food which allows for better digestion.  This allows the nutrients to be released better and reduces indigestion and flatulance.  A win-win for everyone.  So what does it mean to chew your food?  Well, I once read that you need to chew 30 times before swallowing.  I tried counting how many times I actually chew my food.... One, Two, Three, down the hatch.  I'd like to think the answer is somewhere in between.  The next time you eat try 15 chews times before swallowing.


DON'T PICK YOUR NOSE
You'd think this is an obvious one, and yet I still see people picking their nose at the stoplight as if we don't see what their doing.  Get a tissue people!  Our hands are not the cleanest part on our bodies and inserting them into your nose is like spraying bacteria up there.  This results in more colds and sickness.  Next time you get a twitch...reach for the tissue.
 
EAT YOUR VEGETABLES
Do I really need someone telling me to eat my vegetables at this age?  YES! I know we ar to get 5 servings of fruit and vegetables a day but I still struggle with this.  See chewing paragraph above for reason why.  Try pre-cuting your veggies on Sunday for the week to come. Plan out your meals ahead of time so you can calculate how many veggies you're getting.

GO TO BED
My oldest son has grown out of naps and yet I have tried to grow back into them.  Sleep is so important for your health.  It effects your mood, immune system, and general well being.  Try to get 7-9 hours a night.  If this means DVRing your favorite show so you can get to sleep... so be it.  It's also important to get the same amount of sleep a night.  The more your body can expect what time it is to sleep AND wake up, the better rest you will get.

CLEAN YOUR ROOM
And by room I mean your house.  The purpose of having a clean home is not for the times when people stop by.  It's for your own health.  Fewer home accidents, fresher air, less germs, and that feel good factor are to name a few.  I recomend looking around the house at night and picking up a little.  Go crazy and wipe down the kitchen counter and sweep the floor.  You'll feel great when you wak up in the morning.  To learn how to cut your cleaning time by 50%-75%, contact your Norwex consultant.

Thanks mom for all the good advice.  My daughter sits on my lap while i write this. Maybe one day she'll appreciate all of this wisdom I am passing down.  For now she just loaded her diaper once again...gotta go.

"FACING" THE TRUTH

While seven months pregnant I was hovering around the Clinique counter trying to find something to fix those dark circles under my eyes. A very polite woman approached me and asked if she could help. “Do you have something that will fix these dark circles under my eyes?” I said. Yes, she replied. It’s called not being pregnant and having kids.” Hmmn. That wasn’t the answer I was looking for. She actually talked me out of buying the under eyes cream and said to just drink more water and try to get as much rest as possible. Nice thought as I sit here at 6:00 in the morning drinking my second cup of coffee and writing to you while the natives are not being restless.

After walking away from the beauty counter I did possess a secret weapon to combat the fact that I had kids. Turn around cream. Sure, I’ve read that there is some pretty bad stuff in there and that I’m bound to get cancer, but my vanity outweighed the environmentalist in me. At age 33, I don’t feel the need to have my skin “turn around” or “turn back.” More of a “Hold it right there or else” kind of scenario. Seriously, am I putting a gun to my face and ordering it not to age? Using the mainstream products to get these results isn’t too far off. Does the turnaround cream work? Absolutely. You can see results in a matter of days. But every night when I put it on my face I hear a little voice saying, “Don’t do it! Don’t you know what’s in there?” “To which another voice responds, “Yes. But there is no reasonable alternative.” Ok. So I don’t hear literal voices in my head just to be clear. But alas! There is an alternative, a lifting serum straight from the Swiss Alps.

Norwex, as part of their desire to reduce the use of chemicals in personal care and cleaning, created a guilt free serum containing high concentration of Swiss Alpine plants: Imperatoria, Marrubium, Edelweiss and Artemesia. These wonderful little plants might be hard to pronounce but at least I know I’m putting something natural on my face. This product is also ECOCERT certified organic. Meaning, a third party has certified this product as being free from formaldehyde releasers, preservatives, synthetic perfumes, and other bad stuff.
Now let’s see if it beats my, “Sure it’s good for me and the environment, but does is it worth the cost?” test. This plant based lifting serum costs $39.99 for 1.07 ounces. Clinique’s turnaround cream is $36 for 1.7 ounces. Although you’re paying four dollars less with Clinique’s cream, in return, you’re getting a combination of Salicylic Acid, Glucosamine and Cholesterol Sulfate. I’d pay an extra four dollars to stop hearing those voices lecture me about what I’m putting on my face. However, now that I’m using my Norwex facial cloths, I never have to use facial cleansers or toner again, saving me a lot of money. In fact, I gave away what I was using to wash my face because I have no need for it anymore. The cloths clean and exfoliate my skin like no other facial cleanser has done before. I rinse the cloth out after each use and it’s good for an entire week. Then I put cloth in laundry and it’s ready for another go around. Although this cloth has a two year warranty, people who launder it once a week report a 4-7 year effectiveness. Hmmn… I’m no rocket scientist but… great looking skin, saving money, and making the environment happy is a win-win.  If you would like to try these products contact me at michellestender@yahoo.com.

I’d like to go back to that Clinique counter and show that white robed, well rested, woman my skin now. Oh, and on a side note. If you see me out in public with my three children who are under the age of four, please don’t say to me, “You sure do have your hands full.” That’s stating the obvious...but at least my face won’t show it.

CLEANING REVOLUTION

I stood in front of my kitchen window shaking my head in disbelief. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, this skeptic would never have believed it. A cloth that just cleaned my windows using only water? And not just any kind of clean… the cleanest, streak free, windows I’d ever seen. This same cloth proceeded to remove the dust from my antique table, cleaned and sanitized my kitchen counters, and removed month old stains from my carpet using only water! You might be thinking this is the point I woke up from a fabulous dream. Au contraire mon fraire. I’m here to tell you this product does, in fact, exist, and will save you Time, Money, Health, and the Environment.

In my quest to find a non-toxic and cheap way to clean my house, my sister-in-law, a superhero to all who know her, told me about this magical cloth. I figured anything that didn’t require me to use vinegar or a carcinogen to clean my house, was definitely worth a try. Sure enough, it cleaned everything from my leather couch to my kid’s dirty faces, with different cloths of course. Revealing the science behind this magic cloth is quite simple.

This cloth originated in Norway and comes from a company called Norwex. It’s made of microfiber, but not just any microfiber, it’s made with fiber that is 1/100th the size of a human hair. Most other microfibers out there are made with 1/6th the size of a human hair. Just one square inch of this cloth has fiber that stretches the length of three football fields. This allows the cloth to pick up dirt and grime like a vacuum, leaving the surface 99.9% free of bacteria and viruses. The absolute best part of this cloth… the antibacterial component. Sure it cleans like no other, but you can use it over and over again before washing it. I use the same cloth in my kitchen all day long for an entire week! At the end of the week, I throw the cloth in my washing machine and it’s ready for another go around. This is due to the antibac agent that is embedded inside the tiny microfiber. It inactivates the bacteria that are picked up by the cloth. Meaning, you won’t have bacteria growing on it or that terrible mildew smell 24 hours later. If you were to wash this cloth five times a week, it would be effective for two years. However, most people who use this cloth wash it once a week, making it effective for 4-7 years. The benefits of this science are outstanding.

TIME: It has been proven that Norwex products decrease your cleaning time by 75% or more. The simple fact that you don’t have to spray anything on a surface, reduces your time by 50% at the least. It also keeps your house clean for a longer period of time, another time saver bonus.

MONEY: This cloth allowed me to ditch almost all of my cleaning supplies. When I priced it out, this $15.99 cloth replaced over $100 in cleaning supplies. Except this cloth can last 4-7 years compared to the cleaning products you have to keep replacing throughout the year. It’s estimated that the average household spends $450-$600 a year on cleaning supplies. Norwex products will allow you to reduce the use of these supplies by up to 90%. As I pass up all those coupons on cleaning supplies, I can’t help but smile at all the money I’m saving. When I push my grocery cart past the cleaning supply aisle, I beam with pride that that I never have to go down that aisle again. Then when I see others in that aisle I can’t help but think, “Suckers!” Sure, that’s probably not the nice thought to have, but I’m being honest.

HEALTH: I once read that the average home has more carcinogens inside than a science lab. Many products we use in our homes contain ingredients linked to or suspected to cause cancer, not to mention other ingredients that can cause allergies, asthma, and other health problems. According to the EPA, indoor air pollution is one of the nation's most pressing personal health concerns. Peak concentrations of 20 toxic compounds - some linked with cancer and birth defects - were 200 to 500 times higher inside some homes than outdoors, according to a 5-year EPA study that surveyed 600 homes in six cities. Then there’s the kid factor. The US emergency departments from 1990-2006 reported 268,000 children under the age of 5 were treated for household cleaning product-related injuries. Norwex products have left me with a piece of mind about what I have under my kitchen sink. (Not to mention the amount of space it has saved me)

ENVIRONMENT: I’m all for being good to the environment, but at the end of the day I have to balance it out with what it’s going to cost me in money and time. With this product, I have the satisfaction of saving the environment and my money. But honestly, not having my kids inhale these toxic products is priceless. Oh, and now that I’m using safe cleaning products, I’m utilizing my child’s labor. They are learning the important lesson of helping the family, and I’m learning to have a little more mommy time. It’s a win-win.

After falling in love with this new product, I felt compelled to scream its praise from the rooftop. Since my roof still has moss on it from the winter, I opted for the modern equivalent… social media. This led me to ask the question, “If I’m going to be telling everyone I know about this amazing product, shouldn’t I get something out of it?” So began my new business as an “Independent Sales Consultant” for Norwex. Since I have absolutely NO desire to sell anything…I prefer to view this as an amazing product that I use, and want to tell everyone I know about it. If they happen to buy something…great. If not, no rejection issues here. What I’m finding, however, is these friends and family who have tried the product, are expressing their amazement and are grateful that I told them about it. Although saving people time, money, health, and the environment makes me feel like a superhero, I’m not quite ready to put spandex on with a large “S” on my chest. However, I am ready to sell you these amazing products. If you are interested in learning more about this product or purchasing an item, please e-mail me at michellestender@yahoo.com. I will send you a catalog via e-mail and would be happy to answer any questions you may have.

FLAX ME

I’m super sleep deprived these days and find myself a bit delirious. As I opened my refrigerator this morning, one eye barely open since I hadn’t had my coffee yet, a little black container sparked my attention. It had a blue label on it that read “Flaxseed.” Oh yes. I remember. I’m suppose to put that in my food because it’s good for me. Honestly, sometimes I have a hard time keeping track of all the things I want to do to stay healthy. For the life of me, I couldn’t remember why I should be putting it into my food. Hoping caffeine would spark my memory, I decided to find out the why and share it with you.

Due to time constraints, need to feed family in 20 minutes, I’ll get to the point. According to WebMD, studies have shown that flaxseed can help reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes. Now I remember! Cancer bad. Flaxseed good. Here are a few interesting facts on flaxseed that WebMD pointed out.

(1) Omega-3 essential fatty acids, "good" fats that have been shown to have heart-healthy effects. Each tablespoon of ground flaxseed contains about 1.8 grams of plant omega-3s.

(2) Lignans, which have both plant estrogen and antioxidant qualities. Flaxseed contains 75- 800 times more lignans than other plant foods.

(3) Fiber. Flaxseed contains both the soluble and insoluble types.

http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/benefits-of-flaxseed

Our eggs appear to be one step ahead of us. We now have the option of buying eggs that are high in Omega 3 fatty acids. This leads me to ask… What do those chickens know that I don’t? Turns out, farmers are putting flaxseed in the chicken’s diet to make their eggs extra nutritious. Sneaky little farmers. I too try to sneak nutrition in my little chicks so can understand. Point being, it’s easy to get flaxseed in your diet.

It’s recommended that you consume 1-2 tablespoons of ground flaxseed a day. Piece of cake, or muffins if you prefer. Try adding flaxseed to foods like oatmeal, smoothies, soup, or yogurt. It’s also easy to toss some in while baking. You can also substitute ground flaxseed for part of the flour in recipes. How cool is that? For example, if the recipe calls for two or more cups of flour, replace it with ¼ to ½ cup of flaxseed. Storing this stuff is also very simple. Freeze pre-ground flaxseed in the bag it came in or a plastic sealable bag. The greener method would be to store it in a glass container. The freezer will keep it from oxidizing and losing its nutritional potency.

After the caffeine set in, I was reminded why this cancer fighting food had sat in my fridge so long. Doctors recommend that pregnant and breastfeeding women shouldn’t use it. (As oppose to pregnant and breastfeeding men?) Basically, there is conflicting studies on the issue, so to be on the safe side they say to refrain from it while pregnant or breastfeeding.

Now that you’re fully educated on the subject of flaxseed, or at least know why you should have it in your freezer, try it out. As they say…what’s good for the goose. Uhm. I mean chicken.

It IS easy being green

Last week I was plowing through the dairy section with my family when I ran into a friend of mine. Our children exchanged pleasantries, in their own little way, while I grabbed our usual bag of string cheese. Her daughter asked if she could also have a bag of string cheese to which my friend quickly responded… “That’s not good for the environment honey. It’s wrapped in a lot of plastic. I will get you cheese that isn’t packaged like that.” I walked away shamefully with my large plastic bag filled with 12 individually plastic wrapped cheese sticks. Knowing that this kind of plastic isn’t good for the environment or my children’s health, I chose simplicity over a green decision. Did I feel guilty? Yes. Will I continue to buy the string cheese? Probably. My point to this story is this… It IS easy being green when you don’t beat yourself up over the little things.


What’s the definition of being “green” anyway? Do we have an agency that approves a “green card”? Oh wait, we do have one of those…but I digress. I’m here to officially anoint you “green” if the only thing you do this year is switch out your toilet paper for the recycled version. Sure, going green is a noble thing to do, but let’s face it, saving the planet is not on peoples top priority list. Saving money, however, is. I read a fabulous book titled, “Going Green, Saving Green.” Although my family isn’t going to do everything the book suggests due to comfort reasons, there were simple things that could save us money and the environment. In fact, I calculated the simple things we were willing to do and it is estimated to save us $5,000 a year!

Below are a few simple things you can do to save money AND wear that green badge of honor. The cost savings are expected savings for one year. Start with one thing and start to add additional tips as you’re comfortable. Some of these might not seem very “green”, but the less stuff we buy, and how we buy it, can make a big difference to the environment. Before you know it, you’ll be calling yourself an environmentalist!

DON'T SPEED, OIL CHANGED, TIRE PRESSURE $634
BRING LUNCH FROM HOME $400
PURCHASE CLOTHES AT GOODWILL $500
GROW SUMMER VEGETABLES $300
TURN THERMOSTAT DOWN 3 DEGREES $200
TURN LIGHTS OFF WHEN LEAVING ROOM $40
TURN FRIDGE TO LOWEST SETTING $50
CLOSE FIREPLACE DAMPER WHEN NOT IN USE $100
SPENDING FREEZE ONE WEEK MONTH $600
BORROW MOVIES AND BOOKS FROM LIBRARY $160
BUY FOOD IN BULK $260
BAKE OWN BREAD $208

MEAT ONCE WEEK $624

SHOP WITH LIST STICK TO IT $26

DON'T THROW AWAY EDIBLE FOOD $600

BRING OWN BAGS TO STORE $20

PHOSPHAT FREE DISH DETERGENT

USE KITCHEN CLOTHS RATHER THAN PAPERTOWELS

USE MATCHES NOT LIGHTERS

BUY RECYCLED PRINTER PAPER

USE POWER STRIPS TO REALLY TURN OFF STUFF

WASH FURNICE FILTER

TURN WATER TO 120 DEGREES

UTILITY AUDIT BY PSE

MORE INDOOR PLANTS TO CLEAN POLLUTANTS

DON'T CALL IT A COMEBACK...

Ok… so I enjoy quoting infamous rappers from time-to-time. But isn’t that part of my charm? It’s been a long time friends since we last spoke. Well, technically, since I last typed and you last read. My excuse? Third trimester and new baby. But hey, baby girl is one month old today so I thought it was time to get back into the swing of things.

As for the future of this blog, you will continue to learn new and interesting things bi-monthly. My plan is to post articles Monday morning so you can have that cup of coffee and ease into your work week. If you enjoy reading this blog please share with your friends. If not, go ahead and share with your enemies.