10 Minutes Of Me Time

Today we have a special guest, my friend Kimberly of the website suburbancitychix. 

Kimberly is a certified Yoga Instructor- RYT-200, who teaches Ashtanga, Hatha, Power Yoga, Tweens and Kids yoga classes in New York.  She is also currently obtaining her certification in Nutrition.  I don't know about you guys, but this post couldn't have come at a better time for me.  I am constantly stressed out, and take no time for me.  I can't wait to enjoy Kim's 10 Minutes for Me Plan.  We have another exciting post scheduled in the next few weeks, that will show you how to include your kids in your "me time", and Kim has some surprises in store for us for our birthday celebration next week.  Make sure you head over and check out her site today, and let us know how you enjoy your "ten minutes".

Sometimes, we wake up and get stuck in a routine.  Our routine, often does not serve us in a good way.  Yes, we take care of our children, then we either go to an office or work from home or maybe we are cleaning the house and running errands.  The fact is by the time we finish these tasks, the kids are home, dinner has to be served (whether cooked or bought), homework needs to be done and our husbands need attention.  We often live a life of 24 hours filled with a to do list that has nothing to do with ourselves.

So, how do we start and end our day with taking care of ourselves?  First, let’s start with a mantra “Today I choose Self-love”.  You need to repeat this to yourself every morning when you wake up and every night when you go to bed.  By saying these words out-loud you are telling the universe that you need time for yourself.  You may feel this is selfish, “But I need to take care of my children and my partner”, etc, but the truth is if you do not take care of yourself first, everything in your life falls out of harmony.

Let’s talk about time, and how to manage your day.   Many of you may be thinking, I do not have the time, I have so much to do and I just cannot fit in any exercise or quiet time in.  But, if we are going to be honest with ourselves there is time, you just need to carve it out.  Trust me, I am speaking to you from experience.  I worked for Fortune 500 companies for years, I commuted to the city  (about 4 hours daily) and now I run my own business and teach Yoga. What, I have realized is that through all the madness, I must make “Me time”.  Whether that means waking up at 5:30am, or 15 minutes before you usually do, make the decision to tell yourself, “Today I choose Self-Love”. 

Here are some quick easy fixes you can do when you wake up:

Wind Removing Pose

First, while lying in your bed, take one knee into your chest, clasp your hands around the outside of your knee, (directly under it and pull your leg into your chest, while the other leg is straight on the bed with your foot flexed.  Take a few breaths here and then repeat on the other side.  This pose is great for stimulating your colon, strengthens the arms, improving hip flexibility, and firming the abdomen and thighs.

Then, roll onto your side and out of bed.

Next find a quiet room, put your IPod on, or sit in silence and listen to your breath. Come into a comfortable seat on the floor, in Yoga we call this Easy Seat.   

 Sitting up tall on your floor/mat in a cross-legged position, shoulders rolled up, back and down, with your head in a neutral position. Note* you can sit on a blanket or a block which will help you to sit up taller and change the angle of your pelvis, which in turn will help keep your back in proper alignment. Once seated, start by inhaling simultaneously by sweeping the arms up and overhead palms touch, and then exhale breath out as you bring arms down, let them fall to either side of you.  Keep your neck in a stable position.  Repeat this 3x’s then on the 4th, sweep your arms up, take a deep inhale, now exhale and twist your upper torso to the left (left hand comes to outside of the buttocks and right hand comes to left knee and neck turns to face the left). Hold the twist and repeat on the other side.  Note* if you used a blanket or block remove it before moving into the next pose.

Come onto your knees and push back into Child’s Pose.   

 

To get into this pose, kneel on the floor or mat, touch your big toes together and sit onto your heels, slightly open your knees out to hip distance.  Sit up tall take a deep breath in and fold over your legs, exhaling all the stale air that does not serve you out.  Bring your arms in front of you, hands pressing into the ground and shoulders rolled back.  Press into your forehead (if your head does not touch the ground, then utilize a block, a book, or a rolled towel) that will allow the sensation of the point in between your eyes also known as Third Eye to be stimulated.  Then, relax your arms and just breath.  This pose is a resting position that will help calm the thoughts in your mind, while relieving stress and fatigue.  It will also stretch your hips, thighs and spine and will help to alleviate any back/neck pain or stiffness.  Hold this pose for 5- 10 breaths.

Slowly move your hands back so they are framing the top of your head.  Push into the ground with your palms and pull up into a tabletop position.  Knees may need to be adjusted.  Make sure that your hands are shoulder distance apart and knees are hip distance apart.  Tops of toes are pushing into the ground (so envision you are standing on your tippy toes). Your head is neutral and you are looking down.  Now, we will move into Cow/Cat pose.   

Inhale fresh positive energy and pull your chest up, shoulders come down naturally and sit bones pull up, don’t over strain your neck let it go with the flow of your movement. Now, exhale release the tops of your feet to the mat/floor, round your spine, belly comes in and head releases toward the ground.  Repeat this for 3-5 breaths, with control.  This pose will stretch the spine and massage it at the same time.

From tabletop, we move into Down-ward Facing Dog.  

  

Spread your fingertips, push into your palms, while, pushing into the tops of your feet and lift your knees and hips off the ground. Stretch your heels toward the floor, continue to lift through your legs engaging all the muscles, but do not lock the knee (you may keep a small micro bend).  Now, while pressing into the palms your going to do a mini roll with your forearms and upper arms outward, you should feel your shoulders roll into one another.  Your head should be in between your upper arms, with no stress, but not hanging like a rag doll either.  The benefits of this pose are amazing; it calms the mind, it helps relieve stress.  And, it also, stretches your spine, shoulders and hamstrings.  It will help you build strength in your arms and legs and it will improve your digestion. 

Finally, float back and forth from child’s pose into down dog 3-5xs and repeat after me, “ Today I choose Self-Love”.  This entire routine will last 10- 15 minutes, depending upon how many breaths you take between each pose

Thanks Kimberly, I am off to get my "10 minutes of me time", I hope you all join me:)

Special Plate- Guest Blogger ♥

I don't usually do two guest bloggers in one week, but I had two wonderful people that I wanted to share with you all and just could not wait!!

Today I share my fabulous Aunt Alyce.  She is my Aunt through marriage, so I did not get to grow up with her...but over the past 11 years I have seen what a wonderful mom and person she is.  She always adds that extra touch to make you feel so special.  (like decorating the outside of packages that she sends us- and I am not just talking stickers ;) )

Here is Alyce, first she will introduce herself, and share a little about her website and group.  Then she will share one of my favorite activities off of her page.  We have actually started doing this in our house, and love it :)  Their group is in the process of starting a few very exciting projects, and we can't wait to have Alyce back to share some of them with us.

My best friend and I have started a Facebook page for fun, creative ideas, inspirational quotes and adapted recipes for young adults with special needs and their families. However, all of these ideas can be used anyone!! They are meant to spread a little sunshine, joy and encouragement to all families.... We are called Two Women and a Social group and you can find us at http://www.facebook.com/#!/TwoWomenAndASocialGroup. Please check us out, give us a "like" on our page and receive daily creative ideas...We would love to have you follow us!!!!

A little about us...We are two Moms of young adult daughters with special needs. Almost eight years ago, we started a social group for young adults with special needs that met every Thursday evening. Nancy and I volunteered our time and organized the group called "Friendship Connections" and we were off and running. Twice a month we went bowling and then twice a month we had a cooking class at a local church. The church was kind enough to allow us to use their kitchen in order to teach these cooking classes. The goal of the classes were two-fold... first, to help create independence in the kitchen and second, to help develop social skills. While the members of the group blossomed with their cooking skills, communication skills and had a fun time, we also learned so much!!!! We would like to share our ideas, the recipes we adapted and fun we everyone....We hope you enjoy!!!!

Special Plate.....

Here is how it works: Each night at dinner one person receives an honorary plate that looks different from the rest. During the meal, each family member takes a turn to say something they appreciate about the person with the "special plate". It can be specific like "I like that you shared your Dvd with me today" or more general like " I think you are funny". Each night a different family member gets a turn...parents included...we appreciate compliments too!!! 

Watch and see how everyone looks forward to their turn (even your husband)...I promise you will love this! Give it a try :)

Butterfly Kisses and Rainbow Wishes- Guest Blogger ♥

Today I am sharing one of my good friends with you.  She is not only a beautiful person inside and out, but creates the most beautiful items.  If you are looking to decorate a nursery, child's room, or any room don't miss this post.  She has something for everyone, and every piece comes from the heart.

Without further ado, here is today's guest blogger and artist Antoinette Evola:)

I began painting and drawing as a very young child. Friends and family would always come to me to paint murals for them in their children’s rooms. I started painting murals in my own home. It was peaceful. It allowed me to escape into those paintings, and be part of a world I probably wouldn't be in otherwise.

In 2009, my husband and I were expecting our very first child together. Once we found out she was a girl the ideas for HER nursery were just out of this world. I had been on bed rest so all the painting for her had to wait until she was born. So instead I was creating sample canvas' to keep myself inspired.

It was on February 23,2010 that our worlds came crushing down on us. We learned our very much wanted, and loved baby girl had passed away. After she died I refused to paint. I didn't want to paint for anyone anymore. Something that once brought me so much peace would now be a reminder of what I was never able to finish for my very own princess.

Months passed and we were finally expecting our rainbow baby (pregnancy after loss), and unless you have experienced this type of tragedy and blessing, you can never really understand how stressful it can be. 

 

It came to a point where I needed to do *something* to calm my mind and soul. So I began painting...for him...for her....for myself, again. I knew I wouldn't be able to paint his murals as I wanted. But instead of "waiting" until he was born, I decided to paint my visions onto canvas' and frame them onto the walls. His theme was "Finding Nemo" because he was my very own "Nemo". In the movie the father loses all his children but Nemo and has to learn to not be afraid. He goes through many scary obstacles, but in the end he "just kept swimming" and that was what I was doing.

Many have asked me to sell my paintings. I never have. All the paintings I had ever done up until this point were always from my heart and given as gifts. Each painting I create carries a piece of my heart. I have never created any paintings that were identical. It would be impossible to do, but I refuse to do it. These paintings, these creations are my "babies" as well. Being a stay at home mom has been the most amazing experience of my life. I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. And so my love for my children has grew more than my inability to not sell my paintings. Once I did and I seen how much JOY it brought to these people's lives I knew it was my calling. It was then I realized, in a metaphorical way, my paintings were just like my daughter. Created be me, loved by me, with me for a short time, and now shared with the world. If it was my choice I'd have a house full of my canvas', but that won't let me be able to raise my son 

 

So now I am here, offering my "babies" to those who would love to adopt one. Artistic freedom is always great, but I can make someone else's visions come true. I'm inspired by pictures, scenery, Disney, cartoons, nature etc. I am able to duplicate almost anything I am given. Custom orders are welcomed and LOVED! Please message me at my FB page, Etsy shop or directly to my email antoinettestabile@msn.com. I look forward to meeting all of you and creating something special for your home.

Thank you to Little Orso for sharing our story. My children have brought out the best in me. Through having them I have been able to find myself.

Antoinette has announced that once she reaches 400 "likes" on her Butterfly Kisses and Rainbow Wishes Facebook page, that she will give away one surprise piece.  Head over and "like" her page today:)  I know I would love to win one!!  I am dying for a train or "wishbox":)

**Ultimate Blog Swap**

Today I’m participating in the Ultimate Blog Swap. You’ll find me posting over at The Journey about Things in My Purse, and I’m excited to welcome Sarah (who was the perfect match for us, since she just had a son in August of 2011) from Spoon Fed Baby to Little Orso:

Hello there!  My name is Sarah and I blog over at Spoon Fed Baby.  I am super excited to be doing a guest post today here at Little Orso.  This blog speaks to my heart because I too have a little boy who is my everything.  Crazy that you can love someone so tiny, so much! 

I have come to learn that as a Mom, your life resides in the moment that you are in, and also in the next few moments to come.  I am so focused on what baby boy is doing and what he is about to do.  There isn’t much looking ahead OR back.  Because of that we have made it a focus to capture as many moments as possible through photography.  Just to give you an idea: we started using our new SLR camera around the time our son was born.  He is 9 months old and we are on photo 4,521.  Yikes!   

So that the moments that happen so fast can be saved forever, I want to share with you some ideas for capturing your child’s first year in photographs. 

The Big Day

As I load new photos on to our computer I will often look back on the pictures of the day our son was born.  I thought I wanted the perfect picture of my son immediately after he was born being held up in the air.  Well, that didn’t happen,  but I have memorized what that looked like and will always remember it! 

Here are some suggestions of photos to try and get that day:

·         Baby and mommy meeting

·         Family photo on the hospital bed

·         Baby all swaddled up!

·         Footprints

·         Daddy and baby

And most important, stop to take it all in!  It is a day you will never soon forget.  Enjoy it.  AND (in all honesty) you grow fonder of that day as time passes!  

Weekly Photos

From week 1 I started taking a handful to pictures of my son on his weekly birthdays.  He was born on a Thursday, so every Thursday I will set him up and take a few pictures.  This is a great way to see how quickly he grows.  I will pick my favorite photo and put it in a separate folder on the computer so that I can quickly click through and see the changes week by week.  Just the other day I clicked through and focused on just the changes in his hair.  He doesn’t have much but I can see it growing before my eyes through the pictures.  How neat!

Monthly Photos

In addition to the weekly photos we take monthly photos on our son’s month birthdays.  The 4th of every month we set him up in the same spot with the same props, in the same clothes (new sizes obviously).  We chose to use props so that you can compare the size of him to the objects around him.  It is also fun to see him interact with the props as he gets older and more mobile.  We just snap away and come out with a few (or 100’s) of cute pictures.  Again, we copy the best one and put in a folder so we can flip through quickly and see our boy get bigger before our eyes!

The days go by so quickly with children.  Because of the photographs we have taken of our son, I can slip away and re-live the day he was born, when he first tried solid food, our family vacation, and many other special memories.  In a way it slows down the time just a bit. 

Visit Life Your Way to see all of the Ultimate Blog Swap participants!