Shop local

Got into a discussion yesterday about buying American. Now while I think that's good, even better is shopping local. Keep our neighbors & local businesses in business, more employed neighbors = better life for all. So I'll be blogging about local businesses around me but please comment if you have any favorites in your town. 

Yoga

My sister Julie has introduced me to hot yoga and I'm hooked. It has helped tremendously with my balance, flexibility, fatigue, being able to calm my thoughts, and parenting. How would yoga help with parenting? So many unexpected ways its hard to explain but i will in future posts.  

I was skeptical so luckily Radiant Yoga in El Dorado Hills CA has an introductory $30 for 30 days. If you went every day that's $1 a day!!! They do have classes every day. This is my second yoga studio experience and Radiant is fab they have amazing teachers, assistants, and ambiance. I am sad I don't live in California, I am putting my wish out in the universe for them to open nationwide. 

I have no complaints not even a "meh" as every aspect was phenomenal from check in to clean up. Yes clean up, they provide tee tree oil diluted in water to clean your mat. 

Have any questions for me or do you have a favorite yoga pose/studio/teaching/video? please put them in comments. 

Namaste

Poodlums

Let me preface this by saying I bought a CD nothing was given to me to write this post. I enjoyed it so much I want to share with you all.

Anne E. Howard and Jason Wright are poodle owners with aspirations of their poodles, Murry & Dina, being service dogs hence the name The Poodlums. They are married musicians but also board certified music therapists. Better than any child music group on tv (in my opinion). I actually cried (yep thank goodness for sun glasses) it was so beautiful and touching & Ava was listening, following direction and having fun. I hope to see them in person a few more times while I'm in California & I hope they come out with a DVD.

 Yeah yeah Ava enjoyed watching & singing along but more importantly ::snicker:: I loved it too. They are fun, funny, expressive, engaging oh I could go on. They sing about numbers, letters, science & etc in Spanish & English. These two NEED to have their own show I would so watch them. Ava (and I) had so much fun singing along that when it was over she made up a song about them it goes like this "Poodlums are people, people who like animals, they are good guitar players and know the alphabet, they are fun" ::clap clap clap::

Visit their website http://www.thepoodlums.com/ for cd & upcoming shows. To share a bit from their "about you" page:   

MISSION STATEMENT: The Poodlums aim to provide high quality, educational music experiences to children with and without special needs and their families, and to educate the community on the benefits and importance of music as a tool to optimize learning, and as a means of creative artistic expression that connects each of us to our own humanity and thus to one another. 

Radical Potty Training

I think my child is potty trained and here's what I wish I had read / was told. 

First step away from age expectations and time tables.  

Then give an incentive to be out of diapers. 

And let your child decide when s/he is done with them. 

Radical right? I've read & practiced everything from diaper free baby (part timer here maybe it would have worked if we did full time but that just wasn't a good fit with our lifestyle) & beyond but NOTHING has worked. Now they do need an incentive and it can't be a bribe like chocolate or stickers (yep tried bribes) my child's incentive was that she had asked to be in ballet class I told her that to be in that class she couldn't wear diapers. BOOM! I saw the light bulb go off. For another child it was being able to go to the Ikea daycare. Fun stuff. Big stuff. 

So moms, caretakers put away the guilt, stop the mom olympics, let it go. 

Expectations

I would tell you I don't have expectations around Ava's play but then we are at the park and I want to tell her to "go play with kids" but I stop myself and let her do this for an hour. No joking she has batted the same fountain for an hour, well she batted the bigger one once but still. I also would not like her to play with "evil" barbies and all things pink. But it's who she is I need to stop putting my "needs" on her. Just let go. How do you overcome your expectations? 

Needed This

Kind of appropriate it's #pickmeuptuesday. I've been feeling down about the move east. Felt like had I stayed out west I would have never gotten on a small plane and not to mention better scenery, & things to do but you can't live in "what if"s.
Taking my child puddle jumping today made me realize it's not about where you live it's how you live your life. I am going to enjoy this life to the fullest.

Skin Cancer Please Check Yourself

I've never concerned myself about being safe in the sun. The thought of melanoma never crossed my mind. I mean its stuff you read about, never something that could happen to a you... until it does. Let me preface that I do not have cancer but the amazing and courageous Dawn Gentz lost her fight with melanoma last week. She leaves behind the love of her life and two fantastic kids. Melanoma is the most dangerous cancer not because it is the most common but because it spreads FAST. We might have lost Dawn but her message goes on. Get those moles checked!

So what are the risks?

• Sun - just one childhood sunburn doubles your risk
• Tanning Beds - ups your risk of developing cancer by 75%. If that doesn't turn you off hopefully the fact that you will get more wrinkles will. 
• Moles - check for the odd ones
• Skin type - sorry fair skinned friends
• Already weakened immune system - like you don't have enough to worry about
• Family History - if someone in your close family has had it it can appear earlier in you. There is genetic testing available. 

How to lower those risks?

• Stay in the shade
• STAY OUT OF TANNING BEDS
• Wear sunscreen - 30 minutes before heading outside & every 2 hours thereafter. The hours between 10am and 4pm are most important.
• Wear a shirt, sunglasses, hat

I've always been a stickler for Ava to wear sunscreen and have always checked the EWG for recommendations but if stuck with only "bad" options TAKE IT because really the only bad option is a sunburn. I have 5 different sunscreens in my pool bag right now because one might be easier than another at different times, I have face stick, squeeze tube, and a spray bottle. So even though I'm a stickler for my child I will now be one for myself. 

Please watch this