• 23Feb

  Day Whatever in 60 Day Self Care Challenge, by Sandra Beck

  Tips and Tricks 1 Comment

  by Sandra Beck, Motherhood Incorporated

  

  Wishing I could get everything done...by Sandra Beck, Motherhood Incorporated

  Yep, failing the self care challenge for sure!  Everyday I get up and think about all the self care I am going to show myself today.  By the time I revisit that thought it is 11:30pm and my eyes are crossed.  I think back to all the things I did in the past 18 hours and it is amazing that there is still a big fat pile of stuff undone.   I was speaking to my friend the other day and we were laughing at how we need to be cloned like in that dopey movie from 1996  Multiplicity.

  Just thinking of having four of me is great relief.  There would be the work-out me all fit, sweaty and strong.  There would be the loving mommy  me – smelling of fresh baked bread and always ready with a hug.  There’d be corporated me taking the business world by storm in matching shoes and a nifty skirt set.  And finally private me – chocolate coated, romance novel reading laze in the bath until the cows come home me.  One of us would get laid – I am not sure who and with whom, but one of us would…

  Alas I am only me and am pretty much a combinations of all four with a few modifications – sweaty from chasing the dog, smelling of playdough, lucky my shoes can be found amidst the clutter, and chocolated coated from grimy little hands.  My life is busy – and many days too busy to take much self care.  So I decided that when my kids are grown and my dogs are deaf and blind then I will laze in the tub with chocolate and a romance novel whiling away the hours. For now I have two kids to raise and a mountain of laundry to conquer and you know what? That’s okay.

  I hope you enjoy reading these blogs as much as we enjoy writing them! Should you have any questions about Motherhood Incorporated either as a client or as a mom looking for work, please email me directly at sandra@motherhoodincorporated.com  or you can check us out at www.motherhoodincorporated.com and www.sandrabeck.com.

  Tags: dog rescue, motherhood incorporated

  Tags: 60 Day Self Care Challenge, getting it all done, motherhood incorporated, MotherhoodIncorporated, multiplicity, Sandra Beck, Sandra Beck Motherhood Incorporated, SandraBeck, Working Mom, Working Mother, www.motherhoodincorporated.com, www.sandrabeck.com.

• 09Feb

  Motherhood Incorporated and the Incredible Egg, by Sandra Beck

  Tips and Tricks No Comments
  

  Incredible Eggs

  by sandra beck, motherhoodincorporated

  As many of you know  our client Jeffrey Saad, Food Network Star, is a national spokesperson for the incredible edible egg and America’s egg farmers.

  I know a lot of you are incredible and have kids or know kids that are incredible. Check this out. America’s egg farmers are searching for the next Incredible Person! You can share videos of you and/or your child’s extraordinary mind/body talents and skills on www.incredibleegg.org.

  The winner will have a chance to appear in an incredible edible egg ad along with other great prizes, including a year’s supply of eggs and a donation of 10,000 eggs to the winner’s local food bank of choice! On top of that, America’s egg farmers will match every video uploaded by donating one egg to Feeding America!

  As always, www.motherhoodincorporated.com is dedicated to making sure that our moms know about the best possible sites on the web today.  For any question, please email me directly at sandra@motherhoodincorporated.com

• 07Feb

  Filmmaker Lisa Cypers Kamen to Present Happiness Workshops through NYC Department of Parks and Recreation

  Add Time to Your Day No Comments
  

  Lisa Kamen, Film Maker, H-Factor Where is Your Heart

  Filmmaker Lisa Cypers Kamen to Present Happiness Workshops through NYC Department of Parks and Recreation

  Author and filmmaker to offer Harvesting Happiness seminars to at-risk youths and seniors

  New York, NY—Working in conjunction with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, author and documentary filmmaker Lisa Cypers Kamen will be presenting her Harvesting Happiness Workshops to seniors and at-risk youth in New York City this week. Lisa Cypers Kamen has been invited to share her award-winning Harvesting Happiness workshops in order to raise awareness of the importance of creating a happy life. Her workshops help participants access tools for cultivating greater joy and teach the importance of goal setting in order to promote a happier and healthier sense of well-being.

  “In a time when so many are focusing on the negative, it is inspiring to work with NYC Department of Parks and Recreation to promote positive thinking and happiness in the community,” said Lisa Cypers Kamen. Cypers Kamen’s work on the subject of happiness includes a documentary film “H-Factor…Where is Your Heart?,” Harvesting Happiness workshops, private coaching and an upcoming book.

  The Harvesting Happiness workshops for at-risk teens will focus on goal setting and achievement, which have both been shown to reduce risk of teens getting into trouble including drugs, alcohol and crime. The Harvesting Happiness workshops for at-risk teens will take place Thursday, January 21 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Februrary 23^rd from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The workshops are at the Pelham Fritz Recreation Center located at 18 Mount Morris Park (at 122nd Street), New York, NY. For more information please call Hakeem Omalade, Manager, at (212) 860-1380.

  The Harvesting Happiness workshops for seniors will focus on helping mature adults achieve a sense of well-being, combat depression and teach skills to encourage full engagement in living at any age. Lisa Kamen’s Harvest Happiness Workshop for senior citizens will take place Friday, January 22^nd from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and Tuesday, February 23^rd from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. The workshop will take place at 54th Street Recreation Center on 348 East 54th Street (between 1st & 2nd avenues), New York, NY. For more information please call Karen Pedrosa, Manager, at (212)754-5411 or (212) 754-0293.

  To learn more about Lisa Cypers Kamen, her Harvesting Happiness workshops, seminar series and documentary film please visit her website at www.harvestinghappiness.com. For booking details and schedule email lisa@harvestinghappiness.com or call (310) 273-5300.

• 01Feb

  Pinky Buttercup…Pearl…finds her way back home, by Sandra Beck, Motherhood Incorporated

  Tips and Tricks No Comments

  by Sandra Beck, Motherhood Incorporated

  After the holidays a little dog wandered into our lives with no chip, no collar and no identification. We cared for Pinky Buttercup until her seizures last night became too great.  No, she did not die, but I did make arrangements for her to be put down this morning.  Driving her teary-eyed to the vet, I spoke to her about all the joy she brought us for the short time she was with us. My mother’s intuition kept telling me this dog has a home. Find that home! But after internet postings, postings at the bank and the grocery store I was at a loss.

   

  I asked the vet  before signing euthanasia papers- please – please  just check her for a chip one last time because my intuition told me this delightful little dog belonged to someone and was cared for as a cherished member of a family.  The shelter had not found a chip when we originally found her.   I am so thankful that we checked again because she did have a chip. The chip was active and the owner was found!

  The owner recently moved on our canyon over the holidays and thought the dog was gone forever.  And the dog is on medication of which she will resume tonight at her home with her family to control her seizures. Their moving here recently, combined with her being an indoor dog and on medication, made it impossible for her to navigate her way home. Even when I did walk her from one end of the canyon to another – she was unable to recognize her new home.

  So today we are happy because this little dog will be reuinited tonight with her human family comprised of two parents and five kids!!! We can’t wait for Pearl to be home, safe and well cared for! I hope you enjoy reading these blogs as much as we enjoy writing them! Should you have any questions about Motherhood Incorporated either as a client or as a mom looking for work, please email me directly at sandra@motherhoodincorporated.com  or you can check us out at www.motherhoodincorporated.com and www.sandrabeck.com.

  Tags: dog rescue, motherhood incorporated, rescuing dogs, Sandra Beck, taking in strays

• 29Jan

  Beadphoria: Helping Hands – Have a Heart for Tayna!

  Tips and Tricks No Comments

  By By Suzann Sladcik Wilson, Beadphoria

  Imagine living in a foreign country, going about your daily life as a teacher and jewelry supplier when suddenly, you don’t feel well.  You go to the Dr.’s hoping for the best, but hear the worst. You need heart surgery, specifically, artery repair. Your insurance refuses to cover it. The Dr.’s will only operate if you have $12,000 – upfront.

  This is what is happening right now to Tanya of Aardvark Silver. She is an Australian who is currently living in Thailand. The past month since her diagnoses she has been riddled with pain in her chest and arm.  Stairs are particularly difficult. She states in her blog “I get the strangest looks from people as I stop and wait because I seem to look very healthy and am a young woman. I watch the old people bound up the stairs ahead of me…”

  The great news is the beading community is rallying around her to help raise the funds she so desperately needs. MaryLou Holvenstot’s etsy shop time 2 cre8 is donating half the proceeds from her peyote stitch patterns to Tanya’s efforts. Facebook  page “Have a Heart for Tayna” is where you can see what other jewelry people are doing to help.

  Time is running out, as the surgery is scheduled for Sunday, January 31, 2010. If you are able, please click here and donate. Please keep our friend Tanya in your thoughts and prayers! Thank you!

  If you have any questions about beading, or helping hands, please feel free to contact me at 224-305-3321 or Suzann@Beadphoria.com. Always happy to share the joy of beading with you, Suzann Sladcik Wilson ofSuzann@Beadphoria.com. Always happy to share the joy of beading with you, Suzann Sladcik Wilson of Beadphoria.com.

  Tags: Aarrdvark Silver, Beadphoria, motherhood incorporated, Suzann Sladcik Wilson

• 27Jan

  Creativity on Demand, by Suzann Sladcik Wilson, Beadphoria

  Sandra Beck, Sandra's Story No Comments
  

  Beadphoria Inspiration by Suzann S Wilson

  By Suzann Sladcik Wilson, Beadphoria

  Recently, Beadphoria received an order for 28 bracelets due in 2 weeks. The catch? They all need to be custom and different.

  Beadphoria loves a challenge, but being creative on demand can be difficult. Where to turn when the muse has seemed to stop whispering in your ear? Here are a few sources Beadphoria goes to.

  Inspiration Journals –having a place to keep your ideas in when they come to you is helpful during dry times. You can use inexpensive wire bound notebook or sketch book. Sketch out color combinations, partial patterns, or finished pieces. Dating your ideas is a fun way to see how you have progressed.

  Catalogs-The mailbox is almost stuffed with catalogs these days. If something catches your eye, even if it is just a color palette, cut it out and slip it into your inspiration journal.

  Bead Stew- I have a bowl on my workbench that after my bead board gets too cluttered, everything gets dumped into it. Eventually, the beads go where they belong, but before then, the beads seem to sometimes magically mix together. Many deigns have been sparked from my “bead stew”.

  Web sites – May websites now have beading inspiration at just a few clicks away. Some favorites are Fusion Beads, e-patterns central, and of course the Beadphoria Website.

  Where do you turn to for inspiration?

  If you have any questions about beading, or Beading Inspiration, please feel free to contact me at 224-305-3321 or Suzann@Beadphoria.com. Always happy to share the joy of beading with you, Suzann Sladcik Wilson of Beadphoria.com.

  Tags: bead stew, Beadphoria, inspiration journals, motherhood incorporated, Suzann Sladcik Wilson

• 26Jan

  Day 18 Self Care Challenge by Sandra Beck, Motherhood Incorporated

  60 Day Self Care Challenge, Sandra Beck, Sandra's Story No Comments
  

  Max and Zach become Star Bellied Sneetches.

  by Sandra Beck, Motherhood Incorporated

  Time is flying by in my 60 day self-care challenge and watching Shannon Penrod has inspired me to do less!  Now I know that sounds strange but those of you who don’t know us – need to know that though very similar in some respects – we are very different in other ways.  Shannon has taught me often enough, but I finally get it, to take time with my kids because they are only young for a short time.  She reminds me to spend time with them individually.

  You see, I get really caught up in all that I have to do. Being responsible for two children, a mortgage, a car payment, a company to run, books to write, charity work to do,  health insurance, dogs, fish you name it wears on me and I run through my life living it all in 100 miles an hour.  My self care challenge is to slow down – prioritize and really think about how I want to spend my time.

  I sit on the board of two charties and I am heavily involved in another. I am the Boy Scout leader for my son’s troop. I have my company to run and at the end of the day I feel stressed becuase I have no quiet time with my kids until 8 at night. My blackberry buzzes 24-7 and the warp speed of my life leaves me unfufilled and exhausted.

  So this week I didn’t finish all the chapters that were due to my agent. I finished what was reasonable to me – two chapters.  I watched a movie with my mom, dad and brother.  And most fun of all, I slowed down long enough to read the Sneeches by Dr. Seuss and draw stars on my kid’s tummies.  We then went upstairs to my big bed and watched the animated version.  I went to bed with a pile of things undone, but a big smile on my face. I slept the best I had had in months.  I also, having learning this from Lisa Detres, Denise Bosey, Dawna Kennedy and Shannon Penrod, to give things up to God when I feel overwhelmed – and even when I don’t.  These powerful women have influenced me, guided me, protected me and inspired me.  So my self-care challenge for the week – and too keep it up is to slow down and prioritze as I go knowing that the world will not fall apart in my absence.

  I hope you enjoy reading these blogs as much as we enjoy writing them! Should you have any questions about Motherhood Incorporated either as a client or as a mom looking for work, please email me directly at sandra@motherhoodincorporated.com  or you can check us out at www.motherhoodincorporated.com and www.sandrabeck.com.

  Tags: Dawna Kennedy, Denise Bosey, Dr. Seuss, Lisa Detres, motherhood incorporated, Sandra Beck, Shannon Penrod, Sneetches

• 25Jan

  Me in 60 Days Day 25 by Shannon Penrod for Motherhood Incorporated

  60 Day Self Care Challenge, Health&Fitness, Setting Goals, Shannon's Story No Comments

  by Shannon Penrod

  About 30 days ago I went to one of my very best friends on the planet, Sandra Beck, and I said, “When did we stop treating ourselves as if we were anything other than a precious resource?”  We compared notes and agreed that if we treated our children the way we treat ourselves we would have cranky, miserable children AND we wouldn’t be able to look ourselves in the mirror!  So why was it okay for us to treat ourselves that way?  You know what I’m talking about, forgetting to eat lunch, staying up too late, not taking the time to play, POSTPONING going to the bathroom, inorder to finish the sentence, finish the dinner, finish the FILL IN THE BLANK.  We decided to challenge ourselves to 60 days of treating ourselves with the love, compassion and care that we glady bestow on our children.  I can’t speak for Sandra, but in my head I was picturing a 60 day spa vacation.  Hah!  Before we started we each made a list of the things we wanted to work on.   Both lists were a tall order.  Here we are nearly at the halfway mark and I am humbled by how different my life is.

  Perhaps the biggest news is that I now have my own weekly radio show.  Everyday Autism Miracleswith Shannon Penrod will begin airing on Feb 12 at 11am (PST) live on Toginet Radio.  You can access it via the Internet at www.toginet.com and I hope you will! This is an amazing opportunity for me to shed some light on a much misunderstood neurological issue that is now affecting roughly one out of a hundred children worldwide.  Autism has been a part of my family’s reality for over four years now and to be able attack it publicly and positively is a dream come true.

  I would love to report that this opportunity came about through hard work, perserverance and laser like focus.  It didn’t.  It was handed to me while I was busy doing other things, namely taking care of my needs and those of my family.  This is shocking to me and completely contrary to my old thought patterns.  I thought I had to scrape, toil, bleed and all but turn myself inside out to “create opportunity”.  Turns out maybe I just need to take care of myself, Wow!  Enlightening.

  Physically and mentally, I am in a different place.  I am stronger and I feel stronger.  I feel more like me than I have in a long time.  I’m still exhausted, I think that is just a given of being a working mom, but I feel better equipped to deal with the exhaustion.  I no longer feel like the amazing 120 year old woman.  I don’t feel “old” anymore.  This is a relief. I’m not ready to feel old.  I still have sprinklers to run through, pillow fights to start and tickle sieges to mastermind.  After a bleak year of being diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and an auto immune disorder I am now once again hopeful about my future.

  Spiritually, I believe I have come the furthest, and yet have the furthest yet to go.  Progress, not perfection.  There is a feeling of peace that has begun to grow inside me that is so wonderful that it defies description.  30 days ago I joked that I couldn’t imagine going on a retreat and meditating.  No phone?  No Internet!  No FACEBOOK?!?! Now I can not only imagine it, I want it and everyday I find time (even if it is only for 3 minutes) to create a quiet place in my home for meditation.  My husband wants to know who I am and what I have done with the body of his stressed out, dehydrated, sleep deprived wife.  He’s walking around the house looking for a pod!  I told him that I have sent that woman packing. She doesn’t live here anymore.  He didn’t seem all that disappointed.  It’s only day 25 – check back to see Me in 60 days!

  Tags: Autism, Everyday Autism Miracles, Me in 60 Days, motherhood incorporated, Self Care Challenge, Shannon Penrod, Toginet Radio

• 21Jan

  If I Didn’t Have a List I Would Be Lost by Sandra Beck, Motherhood Incorporated

  Add Time to Your Day, Being a Mom, Denise's Story, Home Office, Household, Juggling Motherhood, Modern Motherhood, Organization, Personal Growth, Schedule Your Day, Setting Goals, To Do List, busy moms, family and mother issues, health No Comments

  By Sandra Beck, Motherhood Incorporated

  Like most people I make lists for almost everything.  Grocery lists, a personal things to do list, a business things to do list, and even a list of things I would like to do if I can accomplish all of the things on my other lists.  I have post-it notes posted like multi-colored wallpaper in my office and around the house to remind me to check my lists.

  I have a master planner to keep track of business meetings and conference calls in which I pencil in various other activities.  I have a mini planner in my brain but that one will occasionally malfunctions or shuts down from sensory overload.  This happens to most women at one time or another as a result of multi-tasking one too many tasks. Not only trying to balance my own tasks and lists but those of my children as well does get overwhelming at times.  This can cause a shift of some items from today’s list to tomorrow’s list.

  Some days though it’s nice to close the planner, put the lists away, and just enjoy being a mom.  We all need a break now and again. Then, it’s back to  life as normal and all my lists.

  I hope you enjoy reading these blogs as much I enjoy writing them!  Should you have questions about Motherhood Incorporated either as a client or as a mom looking for work, please email me directly at sandra@motherhoodincorporated.com or check us out at www.motherhoodincorporated.com and www.sandrabeck.com.

  Tags: grocery lists, lists, master planner, Motherhood, motherhood incorporated, organizing your day, personal lists, planning, post-it notes, Sandra Beck, things to do lists

• 21Jan

  You Shouldn’t Need to Defend the Fact That You are a Working Mother by Denise Bosey, Motherhood Incorporated

  Being a Mom, Children, Denise's Story, Family Support, Friendship, Grandma's, Household, Juggling Motherhood, Keeping Mom Friends, Modern Motherhood, Personal Growth, busy moms, family and mother issues No Comments

  By Denise Bosey, Motherhood Incorporated

  I have always been a working mother as have many of my friends.  I also have many friends who are stay at home mothers.  As the main breadwinner in our home I have to work so that we can live in our house, drive our cars, and send our daughter to a private college prep high school.  Fortunately, as a nurse I can work three 12 hour shifts a week allowing me time to spend with my children.  I am also fortunate enough to have a mother who is willing to care for my children when my husband and I are working.  I know many working mothers are not as lucky as me.  I enjoy my work and would never likely completely give up working even if I didn’t have to.  But I do envy my friends who are stay at home mothers.  Sometimes I feel that I miss out not being home every day. 

  I recall many years ago a stay at home mother I knew coming up to me and asking if I was a stay at home mom.  When I said no, I listened to her berate me for not caring enough about our kids to stay home with them.  All I had to do was give up some of  our material things to do so.  I went on to explain to her that if I didn’t work we wouldn’t be able to live in our quiet little town and that I didn’t dump (her phrase not mine) my kids in any ole daycare facility but had a family member watch them.  I proceeded to inform her (with my anger steadily increasing) that I have a bachelors degree and work as an ICU nurse.  That apparently was enough to shut her up.  Thinking over this later I realized that I have nothing to be ashamed of and that if she or anyone else doesn’t like it that I work then they aren’t worth associating with. 

  Recently a friend of mine who is also a working mother came across the same situation.  In her case she is a single parent so being a working mother is a necessity.   She felt the need to defend herself as well.  We both came to the conclusion that we are proud to be working mothers, holding down a job as well as holding down the fort and no one can take that away from us.

  I hope you enjoy reading these blogs as much as we enjoy writing them! Should you have any questions about Motherhood Incorporated either as a client or as a mom looking for work, please email me directly at sandra@motherhoodincorporated.com  or you can check us out at www.motherhoodincorporated.com and www.sandrabeck.com.

  Tags: being the breadwinner, childcare, grandmothers, motherhood incorporated, nurses, Sandra Beck, stay at home mothers, strong women, working at home, Working Mothers

• 18Jan

  Keeping Warm in Winter without Breaking the Bank by Sandra Beck, Motherhood Incorporated

  Being a Mom, Denise's Story, Family Support, Household, Juggling Motherhood, Modern Motherhood, Tips and Tricks, busy moms, family and mother issues, health No Comments

  By Sandra Beck, Motherhood Incorporated

  Winter time is here and depending on where you live it is the beginning of a long stretch of cold weather.  Cold weather = high heating costs.  Just as our electric bills skyrocket during summer from running our air conditioner so our gas bills skyrocket from running our heater.  Whether you use natural gas or propane, heating costs mount up this time of year. 

  But some simple tricks can ease the strain on your wallet and keep you from getting frostbite in your family room.  Check your windowsills and your door jams for drafts, if air is coming in somewhere then warm air is getting out.  You can stop these drafts using old t-shirts or towels or you can purchase weather stripping at your local hardware store.  This alone can save you a considerable amount on your heating bill.

  Make sure your thermostat is in working order and set it at 65 degrees.  It can be a little cool but you can always snuggle up under the blankets or the comfy robe you got for Christmas.  By keeping it at a steady temperature the heater doesn’t have to work as hard to maintain it and therefore uses less fuel. Another helpful hint is to close vents in rooms that are not regularly occupied.  This way you are heating only the areas where you and your family congregate.  There are inexpensive small ceramic heaters you can buy that are safe for use in your home; make sure that this is a safe option for you—depending on your children’s ages and any pets you may have that can either knock over or get burned by one of these heaters.  Fireplaces and woodburning stoves can also go far in heating your home but make sure you have them professionally cleaned before use to prevent the chance of fire. 

  So, enjoy your winter!

  I hope you enjoy reading these blogs as much as I enjoy writing them!  Should you have any questions about Motherhood Incorporated either as a client or as a mom looking for work, please email me directly at sandra@motherhoodincorporated.com or check us out at www.motherhoodincorporated.com and www.sandrabeck.com.

  Tags: ceramic heaters, fireplaces, heating bills, keeping warm in winter, motherhood incorporated, natural gas heating, propane heating, Sandra Beck, saving money, weather stripping, winter, wood burning stoves

• 17Jan

  Me in 60 Days, Day 17 by Shannon Penrod for Motherhood Incorporated

  60 Day Self Care Challenge, Health&Fitness, Shannon's Story No Comments

  by Shannon Penrod

  Ughhh, I’ve got your squats, right here!  I’m halfway through my 30 day challenge on the Active program on Wii.  Hate is a really strong word, so I don’t want to use it, but I’m thinking it. It pains me to admit it but I  am seeing results, so I am plugging ahead, but  OYE!  Today the trainer introduced the “squat and hold”.  I’ve been doing the squats with no problems, but now she wants me to squat and hold it for 40 full seconds. My legs did the squat and I remember thinking, “I’ve got this.”  that lasted for 12 seconds at 13 seconds the muscles in my thighs started to shake and I was reminded of peeing in my twenties, when I would “hoover” instead of wrap and sit.  That doesn’t happen anymore.  At 28 seconds I broke out in a sweat and at 30 seconds I started talking out loud to God.  I didn’t make it to 40 seconds.  Amazingly, standing up didn’t end the pain, I had to walk it off, unfortunately my legs no longer worked.  I looked like Eugene Levy in the end of Splash when he tries to run after getting a shot of Novocaine in his leg!  Yeah, and then the trainer wanted me to do it again.  What, are you kidding me?  I did it, but I had to do it in about 8 tries and my son actually came in the room and wanted to know where the hurt dog was. (That’s what the noises I was making sounded like to him.)  And you know it’s gonna hurt tomorrow. Mutter, mutter, mutter.

  Still, I am 17 days into the 60 day challenge and I have to say, I am amazed at how much can change in such a little time.  I feel different.  I know I am standing up straighter.  Clothes fit differently but that is minor compared to what is going on internally.  I feel more confident.  I am breathing deeper.  I am remembering to consider myself and my needs when I schedule things.  I am getting things done and looking forward to getting more done.  I am praying, meditating and seeing and feeling the results of that.  My husband and I are doing our “money mantra” nightly and it is amazing the difference.  One example, I was offered my own radio show last week!  And honestly that is just one of the many things that have happened!  I will have more info on the radio show soon!  Stay tuned.  I can’t wait to see me in 60 days!

  Tags: Health and Fitness, Me in 60 Days, motherhood incorporated, Sandra Beck, Shannon Penrod, Wii Active

• 14Jan

  Day 6 Self Care Challenge by Sandra Beck, Motherhood Incorporated

  60 Day Self Care Challenge, Sandra's Story 1 Comment
  

  Doing the best I can in my self care challenge.

  by Sandra Beck, Motherhood Incorporated

  I realize this morning that my self care challenge days don’t follow the calendar. This may be a dire prediction of my success or it could be yet again my need to march to a different drum or a different calendar altogether. You see I find it difficult to even remember the daily Self Care Challenge. I even went so far as to make labels that have all the items I can do to take care of myself and put them in my day planner. They are also on my Blackberry so I can read them.  AOL faithfully sends me a reminder email to my desktop and phone. I put post-its in my bathroom on the mirror.  How could I miss a day of self care?  But I did. And I missed three or four, but who’s counting?

  The last few days escaped me. Here are my excuses. I had a sick toddler and a cranky soon-to-be six first grader. I had problems with my ex. I had problems with my nanny.  There were problems with my dogs. My mom, Stage 4 Breast Cancer, was not feeling well and lamenting her hair loss.  My dad came over because I had fallen off the face of the earth with my Blackberry battery dying and ironically put fresh batteries in the dead kitchen clock.  I was so busy, so frazzled, so pulled in a million directions that self care flew out the window. I just kept going – like that song, “put one foot in front of the other.”

  I think that the best I can do this week is to remember that self-care is on the agenda and that even though I didn’t do any real self care I did blog and I did come clean with my inability to do everything. I am not superwoman. There is some relief in admitting that I , like most single working mothers, just get through their days one at a time.

  I hope you enjoy reading these blogs as much as we enjoy writing them! Should you have any questions about Motherhood Incorporated either as a client or a mom looking for work, email us directly at sandra@motherhoodincorporated.com or check us out at www.motherhoodincorporated.com or www.sandrabeck.com

  Tags: 60 Day Self Care Challenge, blackberry, motherhood incorporated, Sandra Beck, Self Care Challenge, Stage 4 Breast Cancer, Superwoman, Superwomen

• 12Jan

  Me in 60 Days, Day 11 by Shannon Penrod, Motherhood Incorporated

  60 Day Self Care Challenge, Shannon's Story 1 Comment

  By Shannon Penrod

  Day 11 and I have learned a valuable lesson.  Self care is about prioritizing yourself and your needs.  Of course I knew this, in fact I tell this to my coaching clients all the time.  I just had stopped practising it.  Is there anything worse than someone who isn’t walking their talk??  Consider me .  As usual I need to learn and re-learn things the hard way. 

  On Wednesday I felt myself coming down with a cold.  I made some tea and kept moving.  I even did a light work out on Thursday morning.  By Thursday night I felt like poop on toast.  Well, that’s what happens when you get a cold…but you still need to soldier on, right?  My husband and my son were hoovering asking me how I was.  We had plans to go to Disneyland on Friday afternoon.  I told them we were still on.  Like I want to be the Mom who cancels Disneyland?  Why don’t I just blow up Santa’s Workshop while I’m at it?

  Friday morning, not feeling so hot but I go to the gym and do 30 minutes of light biking with Sandra Beck.  We are doing a self care challenge together, I don’t want to let anybody down!  IRONY?  I go home from the gym and pack us up for Disneyland.  I crawled to the car and hoped for the best.  By the time we got to the big D (two hours in traffic) I wanted to crawl in a hole and die.  Everytime I looked at the map I judged the distance to the nearest First Aid Station.  I was beyond miserable.  When we got home a little after 11pm I was practically in tears, I was so grateful to be able to go to bed.

  The good news?  I got it.  I really did.  Yes, my son would have been disappointed but he would have lived through it.  I would never take him to Disneyland if he wasn’t feeling well, even if he begged me, so what was I doing taking myself?  So I took a couple of days and really took care of myself.  I am a work in progress.  Today I did a light workout and felt better and more energized than I did before the workout.  A good sign.

  Despite having had a cold I feel better.  My aches and pains have diminished.  Mentally, I feel clearer, dare I say more joyful? Spiritually, I’m feeling “plugged in”; amazing things are happening are happening career wise and hopefully I will be able to share that soon.  Has it only been 11 days?  Amazing!

  Tags: 60 Day Self Care Challenge, Disneyland, Me in 60 Days, Sandra Beck, Shannon Penrod

• 11Jan

  Mom, I Can’t Wear Your Lab Coat as Karate Pants by Denise Bosey, RN,BSN, Motherhood Incorporated

  Being a Mom, Children, Denise's Story, Friendship, Funny things Mom's Hear, Funny things Mom's say, Health&Fitness, Household, Juggling Motherhood, Keeping Kids Busy, Keeping Mom Friends, Modern Motherhood, Organization, busy moms, family and mother issues No Comments

  By Denise K. Bosey RN BSN, Motherhood Incorporated

  Let’s face it, as the mother of two daughters, ages 14 and 6, I am busy just keeping up with them.  Add to that my job as an ICU nurse and as a clinical professor of nursing for the local community college and you know that my life is often in a state of chaos.

  One day recently I was rushing from picking up the girls from school to my youngest daughter’s karate class.  I reached into the basket of freshly laundered whites to gather together her outfit for karate. I grabbed two pieces, her top and her bottoms, or so I thought.

  We rushed to karate, planning to have my daughter change into her karate clothes from her school clothes when we got to karate.  We arrived there and my youngest bounded from the car with her clothes in tow.  We went into the bathroom/dressing room at the karate studio and proceeded to change her clothes.  I put on her top and then reached for the bottoms.  As I prepared to put these on her, not really paying attention as I was going over the grocery list and my list of errands in my head, she says, “Mom, I can’t wear your lab coat as karate pants!”.  I looked down at the “pants” I was trying to put on her only to find out that I was asking her to put her legs into the sleeves of my lab coat that I wear when I am teaching at the hospital.  After a fit of hysterical laughter I put the pants she wore to school that day back on and went out and apologized profusely to her karate master for her not wearing the proper gear.

  I then proceeded to my seat to watch, still red faced from a combination of embarrassment and my fit of laughter.  I was still giggling under my breath when a few of the other “karate moms” came in and sat down and asked what was so funny.   I told them my mistake and my daughter’s reaction and we all had a good laugh.  It taught me a lesson too, to slow down and take time to think about what you are doing before you do it, in the end it will save you time.

  I hope you enjoy reading these blogs as much as we enjoy writing them! Should you have any questions about Motherhood Incorporated either as a client or a mom looking for work, email us directly at sandra@motherhoodincorporated.com or check us out at www.motherhoodincorporated.com or www.sandrabeck.com

  Tags: Denise Bosey RN BSN, funny things moms do, Kids, kid’s karate classes, Mom Friends, Motherhood, motherhood incorporated, Parenting, Sandra Beck, Working Mothers

• 09Jan

  Day 5 60 Day Self Care Challenge by Sandra Beck, Motherhood Incorporated

  60 Day Self Care Challenge 1 Comment
  

  Flarp - available on line and at local drug stores and superstores.

  by Sandra Beck, Motherhood Incorporated

  Today part of my 60 Day Self Care Challenge is to honor the statement made by my good friend Dawna, “The World will no fall apart in My Absence.”  So despite the fact that there are bills to pay, invoices to send, groceries to buy and laundry to do – not to mention clean Buttercup’s eye again…I decided to take off for this Saturday morning and play with the kids.

  A surprisingly fun gift that came for us for the holidays from a dear friend was Flarp.  This gooey, fruit scented tub of goo – has entertained my kids for over 4 hours over 2 days.  It’s gross and slimy – though it doesn’t leave a stain on walls, windows or carpets -but in hair if it dries is hard to get out.  What’s the best part of this $2 tub of goo is the imagination it inspires.  We have made Flarp ropes, Flaperangs, Flarp Hats. We have had a Flarp fight. We have thown it on the ceiling to watch it peel off and fall down. We have wet it, froze it and warmed it between our hands. It’s been sat on and rolled by the dogs who sniffed but did not eat.

  We laughed and giggled and compared colors. I got pink. Zach green and Max blue.  There was no TV and nothing but a mom and two kids having a ball in the moment. What’s so funny as that the original intention of the product was to make stinky noises…and that was the least interest my kids had in the toy.  It comes in its own little jar and hasn’t dried out as far as I can tell but for a rainy day or a snowy day – or just to have a little fun I would highly recommend it.  And its a whole lot less expensive than the Wii.

  I hope you enjoy reading these blogs as much as I enjoy writing them.  If you have any questions about Motherhood Incorporated either as a client or as a mom looking for work, email me directly at sandra@motherhoodincorporated.com  or check us out at www.motherhoodincorporated.com and www.sandrabeck.com.

  Tags: 60 Day Self Care Challenge, Flap, fun things to do on a cold day, fun things to do on a hot day, motherhood incorporated, rainy day activities, Sandra Beck, snowy day activities

• 08Jan

  Day 4 60-Day Self Care Challenge by Sandra Beck, Motherhood Incorporated

  60 Day Self Care Challenge No Comments

  by Sandra Beck, Motherhood Incorporated

   

  

  My son Zach in the fields near my parent's home enjoying and learning the value of nature.

  I didn’t blog yesterday and I did go to the gym – yesterday I learned a lot about myself and lot about what I can do.  And what I do teaches and inspires others.

  I was getting the mail when out of my canyon limps a little fluffy white dog with a bloody eye and matted face.  It all but wobbled into my arms and I took it home.  No chip. No collar. No ID.  I planned to treat its wounds, bath and trim out the mats and sticks. I had the overwhelming feeling of – oh no – another mouth to feed. Another responsibility.

  Then I was thankful that I could help. At least temporarily. Even though it wasn’t self care and ultimately it would require more effort of me to find her a home or return her to the owner – doing something good for something that expected nothing feels pretty good…

  When I got her home, the kids came running over to help me with the little injured dog. As we took care of her, my older son talked about the story he had heard about the Good Samaritan.  That’s what we were.  That’s also how I ended up with 5 little dogs on my ranch.  We named her Buttercup because she looks like a little lamb…and we are going to try to find her a home.

  She is now deaf and blind on the side of her head injured by a dog, coyote or mountain lion.  Zach likes to cover her up with his blankie and say – there you go good doggie…now you are safe.  I was able to teach my kids about the value of living things, compassion, and the part of nature that makes brought Buttercup into our home.

  She doesn’t leave Zach’s side and that’s pretty gutsy for a dog to hang with a rambunctious three year old. Right now he’s t rying to get her to pay attention as he “reads” to her… I look at my little son and this broken dog  in the corner of my living room all content, happy, fed and safe and I feel good. Sure it’s more work for us…another mouth to feed, but at the end of the day it feels good to watch the compassion and care come from both of my active boys.

  I hope you enjoy reading these blogs as much as I enjoy writing them.  If you have any questions about Motherhood Incorporated either as a client or as a mom looking for work, email me directly at sandra@motherhoodincorporated.com  or check us out at www.motherhoodincorporated.com and www.sandrabeck.com.

  Tags: 60 Day Self Care Challenge, good samaritan, helping others, injured dog, lost dog, Sandra Beck, teaching children kindess and compassion

• 07Jan

  Me in 60 Days, Day 7 by Shannon Penrod, Motherhood Incorporated

  60 Day Self Care Challenge, Setting Goals, Shannon's Story No Comments

  By Shannon Penrod

  I am 7 Days into a 60 self care challenge and I can clearly see now how far off the rails this self care thing had gotten.  Whoa Nellie! I am shocked at how much harder this has been than I thought it would be!  I feel like I’m learning how to drive all over again.  I remember thinking I would never be able to drive and listen to the radio at the same time - there were so many things to keep track of.  And look at me now, I can drive while talking to a client on my blue tooth, answer my son’s questions and still navigate the world’s busiest highways.  So there is hope that I can manage to  feed my mental and spiritual health while keeping my legs clean shaven, my roots free of grey and my gluteus maximus moving to a cardio beat.  I’m not there yet, but it is only day 7!

  So far my big revelations are two fold:

    1) This is a much bigger mental challenge than it is a physical challenge.

  2) I waste a lot of time on things that are neither important to me, nor beneficial to me.

  Mentally, I have gotten used to putting my needs last or deleting them from the list altogether.  Nobody asked me to do this, I think it comes in package deal with pregnancy hormones.  The new baby comes and there are some new priorities, breastfeeding, changing diapers, preventing a busy toddler from licking their fingers and sticking them in an electrical outlet.  Those kinds of things can cut into a girl’s schedule.  They certainly cut in to mine.  And admittedly my motherhood path was eventually consumed with Autism and the need to do everything I could to get my child back.  Mentally I just need to get my head around the fact that my life is different now.  I’m still a mom, and I’m still working to do everything I can for my child but there really is time for me to have needs.

  Finding the time has been a revelation.  I always say that I have no time.  There’s no time.  Oh, if only there were more time.  I have a friend that always reminds me that I have the exact number of hours everyday that Mother Theresa had.  No pressure! 

  I’ve started to look at how I spend my time and to quantify it – is this important?  Is it beneficial to me?  It has really been an eye opener.  Watching Glee, not really important in the scheme of world peace, but it is beneficial to me, I am a happier person after watching Glee.  Taking ten minutes to watch a report on Kate Gosselin’s new make over, neither important nor beneficial!  Reading to my son every night, important and beneficial.  I don’t want to be on my death bed wishing for all of the minutes I spent on stupid and inane things so I am attempting to at least be conscious of how I choose to spend my time.

  In other news, my husband and I have been doing the money mantra for two days and already it is working, more on this later.  It’s going to be an interesting 60 days!

  Tags: Autism Recovery, Glee, Kate Gosselin, Mother Theresa, motherhood incorporated, Self Care Challenge, Shannon Penrod, Time Management

• 07Jan

  Motherhood Incorporated Helps the Search for Incredible People by Sandra Beck, Motherhood Incorporated

  Tips and Tricks No Comments

   

  

  Amazing Egg Dish - Egg Parm

  SEARCH FOR INCREDIBLE PEOPLE

  One Incredible Person Will Get a Chance to Appear in the Incredible Edible Egg™ Ad Campaign

  Are you incredible? Do you have a unique talent that exhibits extraordinary body and mind skills? Have you done something incredible for your community? America’s egg farmers want to know if you have what it takes to be the next Incredible Person! Past Incredible People include stunt woman Luci Romberg and world champion sport stacker Luke Myers. And, like Luci and Luke, the next incredible person will have a chance to appear in an incredible edible egg™ advertisement showing how eggs provide the mind and body energy to be incredible any day of the week.

  America’s egg farmers want to hear your story. Visit www.IncredibleEgg.org to upload a video of you or your child’s extraordinary physical and mental energy skills. The winner will:

  • Have a chance to appear in an incredible edible egg advertisement
  • Receive a year’s supply of eggs
  • Select a local food bank to receive 10,000 eggs from America’s egg farmers

  Five random entries will win hand-held video cameras. Finally, for every video uploaded, America’s egg farmers will match every uploaded video with one egg to Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger relief organization. All incredible stories must be submitted by Friday, February 19, 2010.

  Eat Incredible!
  If you want your family to be incredible, they need to eat incredible − starting at breakfast. “Research shows that there are important cognitive benefits of eating breakfast, especially for children,” said Bridget Swinney, Registered Dietitian, Baby Bites author and mother of two. “For 70 calories and 14 cents apiece, eggs are a great choice for breakfast because the high-quality protein in eggs provides steady and sustained energy, helping kids and adults be incredible all day long.”

  Swinney recommends feeding your family a high-quality protein breakfast, like eggs, since they’re affordable, easy-to-prepare and a great way to start the day off right. Try these recipes:

  • Spinach, Ham and Cheese Omelet ($1.20/serving)
  • Coffee Cup Scramble ($0.45/serving)

  For more egg recipes to increase mind and body energy, and additional information on the search for incredible people, visit www.IncredibleEgg.org.

  Tags: coffee cup scramble recipe, egg farmer, Incredible Edible Egg, IncredibleEgg.org, spinach ham and cheese omelet recipe

• 07Jan

  To Preschool or Not to Preschool –That is the Question by Sandra Beck, Motherhood Incorporated

  Being a Mom, Children, Denise's Story, Education and Mom's, Family Support, Grandma's, Household, Juggling Motherhood, Keeping Kids Busy, Kids & Crafts, Modern Motherhood, Organization, Setting Goals, Working Mothers, busy moms, family and mother issues No Comments

  By Sandra Beck, Motherhood Incorporated

                                                                     

  I have had many mothers ask me if they should send their children to preschool and if so, when?   Preschool is a big step in any child’s life. It provides not only a basis for elementary education, more importantly, it provides socialization skills that a child can use throughout life.  By learning to interact with others in a protected environment, they learn how to share, how to be more accepting of others, and how to be a part of a group.   They start to learn self-control.  They also get a chance to make new friends, how great is that! 

  So, when is a good time to think about sending your child to preschool?  It will vary from child to child.  There may also be age or behavior constraints at your local preschool such as your child must be of a certain age (some preschools won’t take a child under 3) or they have to be potty trained.  Other preschools will take children who aren’t potty trained. Check with your local preschool.  Your child will often give you clues that they are ready for preschool.  If they have an older sibling they will tell you outright they want to go to school too when they are ready.  They may show you that they can write (this is usually a set of scribbles somewhat resembling letters) and tell you they want to learn how to read their bedtime stories.

  Preschool builds a great foundation for future education.  It starts building your child’s desire to learn more about the world around them.  So, if you are considering sending your toddler to preschool, do your research and then do it.

  I hope you enjoy reading these blogs as much as I enjoy writing them.  If you have any questions about Motherhood Incorporated either as a client or as a mom looking for work, email me directly at sandra@motherhoodincorporated.com  or check us out at www.motherhoodincorporated.com and www.sandrabeck.com.

  Tags: education, elementary education, motherhood incorporated, preschool, preschool education, preschool teachers., Sandra Beck

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