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June 23, 2010
Crystal Light Review #4: How Do You Get Enough Sleep/Rest?
This is sponsored content from BlogHer and Crystal Light.
I am a night owl, plain and simple, which means that having a class that starts at 8 a.m. is a bit inconvenient for my sleep schedule. I've found that if I continue my night owl ways too far into the semester, it doesn't take long for me to get cranky, miserable and completely sleep-deprived.
And let's be honest. . . once you have kids, taking a daily siesta isn't about to happen. So, how does a busy Mom with a crazy schedule that defies her night-owl status survive?
First, I don't believe in this "early bird" business on weekends. Weekends are two wonderful little days where I allow myself to catch up on sleep. You won't find me at the gym at 8 a.m. on either of those days. In fact, you'll be hard-pressed to find me out of my pajamas by noon, especially in the winter. Hibernation people, it's a good thing.
Second, when I'm tired, I rest. I once read a study about sleep deficits and how if you're sleep deprived, you actually have more horrible driving skills than someone who is drunk driving. There are some days when I am just completely wiped out. Those are family movie days in Mommy's bed and they work wonderfully. If I find the right movie (insert Mickey or Princess anything), I can totally zonk out for a good hour IF my daughter doesn't decide that today will be one of those days where she thinks it's fun to pry my eyeballs open. Most of the time, this little rest is enough to rejuvenate to the point where it can get me to bed time.
Finally, even if I can't get some quality daytime shut eye, sometimes just kicking back on the sofa while the kids play nearby is enough to get a second burst of energy going.
Another way to fake it if you don't get enough sleep is by infusing your body with good things to keep you going. Crystal Light Sunrise does just that with a dose of 100% Vitamin C and other nutrients like calcium. Filling your body with good things can definitely help with your energy level and keep you feeling energized, even if you stayed up way too late watching Iron Chef.
To enter for your chance to win the $1000 sweepstakes or to visit other reviews of Crystal Light, please visit the round-up offer page here. For official rules on entering, please visit here. To check out my other posts on Crystal Light and for your chance to win even more, please visit my Crystal Light homepage.
AND now, for your chance to start commenting and winning (a $100 Visa card), please answer the following question in the comments section:
If you don't get enough sleep, how do you compensate and feel more rested?
June 17, 2010
Crystal Light Review #3: How Do You Keep a Positive Attitude?
This is sponsored content from BlogHer and Crystal Light.
Quite simply: I don't keep a positive attitude all the time. But as someone who is about to embark on a third knee surgery for the same problem, I would say that I'm about as skilled as they come when it comes to keeping a positive attitude and trying to see the bright side to things.
My family and I recently had a rough couple of months which ended with my grandmother passing away after almost a week on hospice care. It was so very difficult not to feel sorry for her and for ourselves going through something so horrible. But when I spoke at her funeral, only days after her death, I was able to keep a positive attitude, even then, when I was completely emotionally and physically exhausted.
Instead of looking at those eight days of her last hospital stay as a burden, I chose to interpret them as something else. I said during her eulogy that those eight days gave us all time to tell her how much we had loved her and how much she meant to us, instead of the other way around for a change. It took eight days for her to pass because it took us that long to tell her all we needed to say.
Yep, I'm quite skilled in keeping a positive attitude. One of the ways that I do this, is by always trying to see the "reason" behind things. For example, tearing my ACL and the subsequent surgeries and months of physical therapy that followed, was no walk in the park (not even a leisurely crutching-your-way through the park). However, my physical therapist and I became great friends and I was able to become really good friends with his wife as well. Silver lining. It's there. Sometimes you just have to look for it. Sometimes, the only thing that allows you to see it is time.
Sometimes, keeping a positive attitude comes from making a couple simple choices, that in turn make you feel good about yourself which allows you to continue the whole positive vibe indefinitely. Choosing to eat healthier for a couple days in a row can do that. Choosing to eliminate sugars from your liquids can help you do that too. I eliminated sugars from my liquid intake after having gestational diabetes, and Crystal Light and their infinite number of choices helps to make that easier to commit to, without a doubt. With an infinite number of possibilities and recipes everywhere that include Crystal Light in them, it's easy to start making positive changes in your life, which will most likely result in a more positive attitude.
To enter for your chance to win the $1000 sweepstakes or to visit other reviews of Crystal Light, please visit the round-up offer page here. For official rules on entering, please visit here. To check out my other posts on Crystal Light and for your chance to win even more, please visit my Crystal Light homepage.
AND now, for your chance to start commenting and winning (a $100 Visa card), please answer the following question in the comments section:
What are some things that you do to keep a positive outlook on life?
June 14, 2010
Smart Love of Learning
I received this email today, "Thank you for such an amazing year, it was fabulous to have you as my teacher. I know it was a challenging year but you helped me build confidence, get over my fears and just do my best. You are the best English teacher I have had." THIS is why I teach. Not for the emails of praise, but because I was able to take a scared and insecure 14 year old, help her gain confidence, and watch her succeed.
I got to watch this same experience this year as a parent. My son went into his final year of preschool with a lot of anger, insecurity, and a severe lack of motivation. His teacher would have none of it. With praise and tough love and a ton of humor, she transformed my son into a confident, able, skilled boy who discovered his own amazing sense of humor and many interests. I will be eternally grateful to her as he moves through the rest of his education-she has set the foundation and it is a strong one.
Do you have a favorite teacher memory? If we think back, some of the most memorable people in our lives taught us something, whether in the traditional classroom or just in everyday life. In this day and age, though, reaching this technically saavy kids can be hard. Eight years ago, my department was given some money that was beyond our normal video and resource book money. When asked what we could use the money for, I knew exactly what I wanted-a SMARTboard. Those next few years, my teaching was challenged in new ways…I was reaching students who normally would have passed the time in apathy. They were fascinated by the uses of this "touch screen" and all the ways we could use it. Don't know what this technology is all about? Check out this link to the "Magical Classroom" -you'll be amazed!
The people at SMARTboard revolutionized the classroom for educators and students. Now, they want to honor those who work so hard everyday in the classroom. They have a Facebook page where you can join discussion groups and learn tips on how to raise funds so that your school can get its own SMARTboard. AND, once you join the group, you can enter to win a SMARTboard-this would be an amazing item to win!!!
TKDDaughter gives SMARTboard Love of Learning a:
This post was written as a part of a MomCentral blog tour.
June 10, 2010
Crystal Light Review 2: Favorite Ways to Unwind
This is sponsored content from BlogHer and Crystal Light.
When you move into a newly constructed part of the neighborhood, it's unlikely that you or any of your neighbors are going to have a decent yard. For the first year, your yard is a prime spot for mud-wrestling and dirt pies. That's about it. So, when you start out the summer like this, and you haven't even finished your patio yet, you come up with new ways to unwind in the summer heat.
Sangria night in the driveways! Did you know that if you google "sangria AND crystal light" you get about 7,104 search results that all sound equally delicious and refreshing? I'm going to start trying them one after another, after another, after another. . .
Here's one to start you off, from George Stella of Food Network.
Now, picture a cool water bottle stuck in the sand as your bottle-holder, a packet of Crystal Light's Raspberry Green Tea, and that's a little slice of heaven right there.
I also spend much of my summer completely consumed with a good book (or 12). I try to keep summer reading light and fun. Next on my list: Mennonite in a Little Black Dress, followed by The Host. Who says English teachers have to read great works of art all the time?
To enter for your chance to win the $1000 sweepstakes or to visit other reviews of Crystal Light, please visit the round-up offer page here. For official rules on entering, please visit here.
AND now, for your chance to start commenting and winning (a $100 Visa card), please answer the following question in the comments section:
What's the best summertime memory you have?
June 6, 2010
Crystal Light Review Homepage
This is sponsored content from BlogHer and Crystal Light.
Over the next couple of weeks, I'll be participating in a review program with BlogHer and Crystal Light. This page will serve as the main index for all posts, which will also be helpful for you, the reader, as you are looking for wonderful places to leave happening comments in hopes of winning a $100 Visa card. I hope you'll check back often. In addition to your chances to win, I'll be providing you with valuable information as we head into the summer months and hope to stay healthy and hydrated.
Make sure you click here, BlogHer.com CLB exclusive offers page, to visit the main giveaway page for your chance to win $100 on every participating blogger's page. PLUS, there's also an opportunity to win the grand prize of $1000! Who couldn't use some extra cash this summer?
You can find all the rules for the giveaway here, and you can visit our client's website here.
Crystal Light Post #1: How do you stay hydrated and fresh in the summer heat?
Crystal Light Post #2: How do you unwind in the summer heat?
Crystal Light Post #3: How do you keep a positive attitude?
Crystal Light Post #4: How do you get enough sleep/rest?
Getting Rave Reviews
BlogHer Review
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