Make Father's Day Special

Fathers are an amazing part of our lives and I wasn't really aware of this fact until I became an adult and had children. (This was also around the same time when I realized how great my mom must have been when I was a kid and how I never appreciated how much she did for me...but back to fathers.) Fathers are amazing and it has been while watching my husband change diapers, give baby baths, wrestle, tell stories, jump on the trampoline, tickle, play games, etc. that I have seen what a difference dads make.

My children love their dad. When they hear the garage door at the end of the day signaling that their daddy is finally home they all make a mad dash for the stairs so that they can be the first one to get a jump hug (jump hug = giant leap from the stairs into their daddy's arms). They love to tackle him and wrestle with him and snuggle with him. And they love doing all the scary, dangerous stuff with him that I would never let them do.

Dads teach kids about life. They share their experiences, their passions, their hobbies, and so much more. They give their kids advice as they show them how to fix a tire or repair a broken toy. They protect their children and provide for their needs. Dads make kids feel safe even when there's a storm raging outside the tent's walls. They take kids on adventures and explore never-before-seen terrain. Dads create bursts of fun at any moment.

In less than 24 hours it will be Father's Day. In fact, it might even be Father's Day right now. And don't you want to show the fathers in your life how much you appreciate and care about them? If so, here are some fun and simple ways to show the fathers in your life that you care.

1. Make him King for the Day: All you need are a crown (paper, fabric, cardboard, etc.) and possibly a cape and you are in business. To really make this work you should probably address him as "Your Majesty" and try to play the part of the loyal servant for the day. You can also play regal music whenever he walks anywhere (which is corny but silly and fun too).
2. Make him Feel SUPER: Maybe the dad in your life doesn't like the whole king bit but they are really into superheroes. Just make them feel as if they really are a superhero for the day. Plus, you can still use that cape. 
3. Switch Roles: It can be fun to let the dad act like the kid for the day and the kids like the dad. This becomes pretty hilarious pretty quickly, especially if you've got some good actors in your family. This can also be fairly eye opening as each side will get to see how the other really views them. Just remember to be nice.
4. Childhood Stories: Ask your dad to tell you some of their favorite childhood stories. They will love this, especially if your dad is on the older side and just loves to tell stories in general. This is probably my own dad's favorite thing.
5. Make a Movie: One year I went around and recorded my kids saying different things that they liked about their dad: what they liked to do with him, their favorite memory of their dad, what they thought his favorite things were, etc. Then I put the videos of their responses and mixed it with some pictures of them with their dad and made a quick little movie for my husband to watch on Father's Day. This didn't take a lot of time and he loved it. 
   
6. 6. Write a Thank You Note: Write your dad or the father of your children a thank you note for all that they do. Everyone likes to be appreciated for the work that they do and fathers are no exception. Plus, all you need is a piece of paper and something to write with.
7. 7. Impromptu Dance Party: Throw an impromptu dance party whenever they enter a room. If you can quickly put on some music...great, if not, just dance. It'll be fun and will be sure to make them smile. And who knows, they may even join you. If you aren't into dancing, you could also just try breaking into wild applause. 
8. Relax: Maybe the father in your life just needs a little break. In that case, make his day as relaxing as possible. Remove all deadlines, don't rush about, just relax. You may also try setting up a hammock, playing Hawaiian music, massaging his back, and providing pina coladas.  
9. His Choice: Ask your dad or husband how they would like to spend the day. This may sound like a cop out but it may actually be what the men in your life would like best. Besides, how do you know what they'd really like if you don't ask.
10. Breakfast in Bed: Who doesn't like breakfast in bed? And this is a really great way to let dad know that you are thinking of them from the very first moments of the day.
11. Relive Great Memories: Break out the photo book or fire up the computer so that you can sit down with your dad and laugh over old photos of the family. Remember the great times that you've shared together.
    
12. Make New Great Memories: Spend the day as a family making new great memories. Do a fun activity together that your dad loves and make sure to laugh as much as possible.
13. Make the Day Joyful: This one just involves being happy and spreading that joy around to your family and especially to your dad. Make it your goal to try to improve everyone's day. And make sure to spend special attention on your dad. Give him lots of smiles!
14. Hug: Make sure to give your dad a hug on Father's Day, even if he isn't really a hugger. He'll appreciate it whether he says so or not.
15. Customize: Every father is different so make sure that the way that you honor your father is meaningful to him. Really think about what kind of a person he is. Think about the kinds of things that he likes and doesn't like. Think about the kinds of things that he likes to do. Think about the kind of father that he is. And then think about the best way that you could show your dad that you love and appreciate him.

Love and appreciation are what Father's Day is all about. Make sure to tell the fathers in your life how much they mean to you. I know that I would be a very different person if it weren't for my dad and I'm so appreciative of everything he has done to help me grow. I'm also incredibly grateful for the amazing father that my husband is. My children are truly blessed because their dad really is SUPER.

P.S. These ideas can be used on days that are not Father's Day. You don't need a special day to tell your dad that you love them. In fact, why don't you go and do it right now.

Small Ways to Save $

Often times the most difficult part of any change that you make is knowing where to get started. The same is true with saving money. Most of us want to save money, but we don't know where to start. So let's start small.

Here's is a list of small and simple things that you can do to save money. Not all of these things will apply to you and your life situation, but look over the list and I'm sure that you'll find a few great ideas that will save you a little green.

25 Simple Ways to Save

1. Pay with cash (groceries, dates, outings, etc.). People spend 20% less when they buy groceries with cash.
2. Eat at home more (restaurants are expensive)
3. Trade babysitting with a friend. This works great to make going on dates cheaper.
4. Make a grocery list and stick to it
5. Plan out and cook your own meals
6. Clean out your fridge and pantry (find good food you forgot about)
7. Buy grocery store or generic brands
8. Don’t buy microwave dinners (they are way too expensive for what you get)
9. Pack a lunch for work
10. Wait for at least 24 hours before buying something over $100
11. Cancel magazine and newspaper subscriptions you don’t read or can read online for free
12. Rethink your phone plan (Are you paying for more than you use? Do you actually need a cell phone?) Sometimes just calling your carrier and asking for a cheaper plan can do wonders.
13. Use the library (There’s free stuff there!)
14. Get cheaper clothes (hand-me-downs, thrift, etc.)
15. Stop unnecessary shopping (only go shopping when you actually need something) = No more window shopping
16. Cut the gym membership and exercise at home

17. Make your next vacation a STAYcation
18. Use coupons, Groupons, online deals, etc.
19. Ditch cable TV (Netflix, Amazon, etc. are cheaper)
20. Make gifts instead of buy them (or gift your time)
21. Invite friends over instead of going out
22. Drink WATER: Other drinks are expensive
23. Check out free events in town (there are lots of free entertainment and activities)
24. Pack your own food for a road trip
25. Come up with free or cheap dates that are fun instead of just opting for the old dinner and a movie.

If you can be proactive and a little imaginative, you might even find that it's really fun to save money.  After all, isn't spending an evening with your spouse at a free local concert or playing frisbee golf in the park a lot more fun than spending a lot of money going to see that movie that you're going to forget about within a month? Nod your head and say, "Yes."

Book Review: The Tale of Nottingswood

I read The Tale of Nottingswood aloud to my children over the course of several nights. It is a great book to read aloud due to the lyrical nature of the book. It's a lot like reading Dr. Seuss books that are enjoyable to read because the words bounce around and play off of your tongue. I had a lot of fun with it.

My kids loved the mystical creatures and the unique, little town where the story was set. I loved that the story became a great springboard to discussions of ethics with my children. My kids asked questions each night after reading a portion of the book. It led to great discussions and some really enjoyable talks with my children. The book didn't shove morality or ethics down your throat, but ethical situations were definitely interlaced throughout the narrative and were things that my kids picked up on.

This was a very fun book to read. I recommend it to those who want to read something a little beyond the ordinary. I also highly recommend reading it aloud to your children.

Find this great book on Amazon and at http://www.nottingswood.com.

Fanning the Flames of Passion

If you are just starting a relationship and are in that incredibly lovey-dovey stage, then read no further. You've already got all of the passion that you need. For those of you who have been with your significant other for a little longer and remember fondly that lovey-dovey stage and wonder exactly when it disappeared, keep reading.

My husband is my best friend, and I love that, but sometimes we can get into the rut of being just friends. Two people working side by side to raise children and sustain our household...which is nice but it's just not quite enough for me. That's not why I married him.

So how do we get back to that lovey-dovey stage? Is it even possible? Don't people always tell you that the lovey-dovey stage, or the infatuation stage, is just a stage in a relationship and that it fades? That is what everyone says, right? But just because everyone says it, does it mean it's true? NO!!!

You can get into that lovey-dovey stage again right now if you want to. You just need to want to be infatuated and you need to focus your attention on fanning the flames of passion. Here are some tips to get you started:

8 Ways to Fan the Flames:

1. Focus on the Positive: Five minutes before you are going to see your significant other, whether they are coming home from work or you're coming home or whatever, think about all of the things that you like about them. If you can't come up with any current things (which hopefully you can), think about all of the things that you liked about them when you were first dating. Get yourself psyched up and excited to see them! (P.S. This works best if you actually stand up and move around. You may even want to jump around and shout a little---it'll get that adrenaline pumping.)
2. Improve Your Greetings: When you meet at home at the end of the day actually get up and move in order to greet them. Put a smile on your face. Tell them how much you missed them. And actually kiss them, not just some peck on the cheek or quick kiss on the lips, but give them a kiss that means something. Quick note, they'll be pretty surprised the first time you do this.
3. TALK!: Put away the iPhone, step away from the computer, click off the TV, and actually talk to your spouse. A great way to build closeness is to really talk to each other at the end of the day. Ask questions and actually be interested in the answers. Talk like you did when you first started dating, you remember that don't you?
   
4. Date Regularly: One of the reasons that you were so lovey-dovey at the start of your relationship was because you actually went on dates. You spent time together and had fun together. Schedule a regular date time, at least once a week, and don't let anything move it off your schedule. Couple dates are fun and a great way to get out and do something, but make sure you schedule plenty of one-on-one dates as well. And try not to just talk about the kids the entire time. Dates should be about the two of you. Don't know what to talk about? Check out #6.
5. Spice Up Your Love Life: Now I'm not talking about doing anything crazy or illegal or anything. Just do something a little differently than you usually do. Get new lingerie, go to a hotel or bed & breakfast, make love at a different time than usual, play different music in the background, etc. Just try something different.
6. Discuss Your Dreams: Remember sitting under the stars in those early days of dating and talking about all of those things that you wanted to do in life? Do you still do that? Do you even know what your spouse wants out of life anymore? Do you even know what you want? Spend some time talking about the dreams that you both have, no matter how crazy or out there your dreams may be. Talk about places you'd like to travel to, things that you'd like to experience, what you'd like to achieve, the kind of person you'd like to become, etc.

7. Express Gratitude: Remember when you thought of all of those things that you like about your love (in #1)? Now it's time to actually tell those things to your spouse. And also thank them for everything that they are doing to help you, your family, or the household (even if you think that that's their job and that's what they're supposed to be doing and even if they never thank you for the millions of things that you do every day). Make sure you are specific when you thank or praise them. Don't just thank them for "everything they do," thank them for doing the dishes, playing with the children, going to work all day, doing the laundry, etc.
8. Serve Them: This step is HUGE! When you first start dating you are excited and energized to do anything to help out your love, to make their life better in any way. All of your energy is focused on making your love happy. You write them notes, plan fun dates, bring them flowers, compliment them, scratch their back, bring them their favorite treat, hug them, and run to do whatever chore they ask you to do. And then the distractions creep in. After a while you are more interested in your work, taking care of the children, your friends, or just yourself than you are the love of your life. And the love you have for your spouse fades until eventually you may "fall out of love," which is completely ridiculous! You can't "fall out of love" because love is a verb. If you want to love your spouse, then love them, or in other words, serve them. Put your love's happiness before your own and before everything else and you'll be amazed at how quickly you "fall back in love." You'll also be amazed at how quickly your relationship and your own happiness improve.

If you want something in your life to improve, you actually have to FOCUS on improving that thing.

So you want to have a little more passion back in your relationship? You want to feel all lovey-dovey about the love of your life again? Then FOCUS on BEING more passionate and FOCUS on the one that you LOVE.

In the Country of Men: Book Review

Reading about the way of life in an unstable and volatile country can really offer perspective. It can make you grateful for the things that you have, the little things that you take for granted.

In The Country of Men offers that perspective. It showed you the brutalities that occurred in Libya in 1979 and how the terrifying regime of that time affected the ordinary citizens of that country. Since the narrator is a nine-year-old boy, the events that take place are often misunderstood or not understood at all by the narrator but become evident to the reader over time.

I enjoyed the book and the new perspective that it gave me. I wasn't always happy with the narrator and was upset that he seemed to regress over time instead of progress. He seemed to mirror the state of the country and I guess that I just wanted him to be better than that. Overall, an informative and enjoyable read.

Fresh Starts

Studies show that most people start to make changes in their lives when they perceive a fresh start. Fresh starts can be anything that you perceive as a fresh start: a birthday, new year, new week, new month, new job, etc. Usually it involves something that we perceive as new. And these fresh starts are motivating, they get us to try to change something in our lives that we want to improve.

A new month is fast approaching which can provide you with a new fresh start, a new opportunity to improve. And I've recently heard about a technique that can be used to help you with whatever new habit you might want to try to adopt, it's called temptation bundling.

Temptation bundling is combining two things to help motivate you to stick to your new habit. For example, say that you love watching TV but you feel guilty about how much you watch and you are having a hard time exercising. You would simply combine these two activities into a temptation bundle by only allowing yourself to watch that new episode you're dying to watch if you are on a treadmill or an elliptical. This way you get to watch TV guilt-free plus you feel good about exercising.

Another temptation bundle example: only eating your favorite ice cream when your spouse and you sit down to go over the budget. You get to allow yourself a fun treat and it entices you to plan out your finances (which will enable you to have more money to buy more ice cream).

One more: You can't wait to read the latest Hunger Games novel but feel guilty hiding from your children every evening. Also, you want to try to be more active during your long work day. Bundle the two and allow yourself to listen to the novel while you take a walk during your lunch break.

So as we quickly move to a new month, take advantage of these little tips and tricks to change your behavior and enable yourself to get the best out of life. We are always happiest when we are growing and improving, so take advantage of a new-month fresh start in May and increase your happiness.

Book Review: The Silver Linings Playbook

My Goodreads group challenged us to read The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick in March so I decided to see what all the fuss was about. I actually really enjoyed this book for several reasons:

1. It was about a guy who is always looking for the silver lining. Always looking for something positive in every situation. Definitely a guy that I'd like.
2. It has a lot of football talk in it. I love football and am one of the few girls that I know that knows more about the local team than 90% of the guys I talk to. I really enjoy watching it and reading up on my favorite players. I'm constantly psyched for the start of every season and always think that this could be the year. So I totally loved that part of the book and understood how their family were only able to gel around that one thing in their lives.
3. It has a lot of physical fitness, exercising, running, dancing, etc. in the book. I love all of those things. I've never worn a sweat suit to bed, and am never going to, but I love the big part that physical activity played in the book.
4. It was a quick read that kept me interested.
5. I was rooting for the main character. This was most of the reason that I was glued to the book. I just had to see if Pat would get his silver lining. I wanted to see if things would turn out well for him in the end, and I really, really wanted them to.

There is a lot of strong language in the book that I didn't really appreciate reading, but the strong language plays true to the psychiatry of Tiffany's character. It would have been artificial to leave it out.

Overall it was a fun read. It lets you delve into the mind of a simplistic guy that's just trying to get things right even though things keep getting screwed up. It made me think about my own life and caused me to look for more silver linings. And I always love a book that inspires me to improve.