LAUGH YOUR STRESS AWAY

Having a bad day? Stressed? Who hasn't said at the end of a stressful day, " Boy I could use a good laugh!" Well it might just be what the doctor ordered for sure. Research shows there are great benefits from laughter. It can do your body good, physically, emotionally and mentally. So it was interesting to me when I discovered something called Laughter Yoga. There are clubs and classes all across Canada, and the world for that matter. It is slowly gaining popularity.

Wendy Woods of Watershed Training Solutions and a laughter yoga instructor tells me it has great stress buster benefits. She says you won't be doing yoga stretches while telling jokes, but you will be laughing a lot and using breathing and stretching techniques to help you get yogic benefits.

Check out my article at http://www.amotherworld.com/ for more on laughter yoga and it's stress busting benefits

GET MOVING

So as I mentioned in an earlier post, my girls ran in a kids fun run. I was thrilled they were even interested in signing up but I was more than proud when they ran the run, finishing it all by them selves.

I will be the first to admit that I am not the most active or athletic person these days. I wish I was, and while I have excuses, none of the are really a reason that I am not moving more these days. When I was a child I was very active, I was a gymnast, a soccer player, basketball player, swimmer and there wasn't a single summer day that I wasn't out on my bicycle. Today, life and work have gotten in my way and now I am just out of shape ( I am ashamed to say). I could do with losing a few pounds but more than that I would like to be in better shape, to be able to keep up with my kids.

My children, like most children, are busy. They are up in the morning and outside before breakfast, riding bikes, scooters, skipping, running and playing.

According to Active Healthy Kids Canada's annual report on physical activity, Canadian youngsters get a failing grade when it comes to getting active. In 2008, 87 per cent of children and youth did not get the recommended minimum of 90 minutes of physical activity a day.

Despite the large proportion of children not meeting the guidelines, it's still an improvement compared to 2006, when 91 per cent of kids weren't reaching the target according Active Healthy Kids Canada. The biggest culprits? TV, computers and video games.

Those numbers are sad. Children should be active, enjoying the world. Most children are carefree. Most adults should be too. I am making a pledge to be more active, whether it's walking instead of taking the elevator or walking around the block or even going to the gym!

What are you doing to keep moving and get your family more active?

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

MY GIRLS ARE RUNNERS

Every year Burlington, Ontario holds a running race in June. It's called the Moon in June. Since I am not a runner, I have never participated but this year my girls, 3 and 6, decided they wanted to enter the kids fun run with their friends.

I must admit I was a little skeptical. I just wasn't sure they knew what they were signing up for, but they did it. They both ran the entire 1 km. I was so proud. I am so proud.




It is a great way to build self esteem, encourage activity and community spirit.

Special K is 6!

I have been away from the blog for a while. Not sure what has kept me from posting, life I guess. The weather here is warmer and the kids keep me outside for much of the day. Time sure flies.

And nothing illustrates that more than my baby girl turning 6! Wow. I can hardly believe it. This year she decided that she wanted a party at home. A Minnie Mouse party at home. I made special Minnie Mouse ears, my Mom sewed Minnie Mouse skirts for all the girls. It was very cute.


I even stamped plain white gift bags with my own hand cut Minnie Mouse head. I stamped it in black paint and then the kids decorated their own bows for Minnie's head. That was their loot bag to carry their skirts and ears home. Everyone even got a Minnie balloon to take home.

The inspiration for the party was of course our trip last winter to Disney. It was the girls first visit and they were over the moon.

GARDENING WITH KIDS

photo courtesty: Irena Hrzina Petal & Spoke

I recently chatted with a good friend of my, Irena Hrzina, about getting out in the garden with kids. The weather is getting nicer and the sun feels like is it is shinning brighter and with the warmer weather I start getting itching to get gardening. While at this stage it is mostly clean up from the winter, I start dreaming about warm days planting beautiful plants and flowers. I must admit with two kids, aged 3 and 5, I find gardening a bit more of a chore. My kids love to get their hands dirty but they do need management in the garden. So I went to my friend Irena who owns Petal & Spoke, a gardening and landscaping company based in Toronto.

She had some great tips and advice for getting kids involved in the garden. I think one of the key points is giving kids their own jobs to do or even give them a little plot of land of their very own. And remember, just get them involved it helps to foster a love of nature.

Check out my full article at www.amotherworld.com.

HOPPY BIRTHDAY

It's my Birthday and Easter all in one today. I am having a great day with family and friends. There have been a few easter egg hunts