My Motivation to Get Off the Couch

Lately, I've been feeling a little plump. Now that Jaxson is over 2 years old, I don't really have an excuse. My body image has never been tied to my weight or dress size, but rather how I feel. Lately, I'm not feeling like my usual self. I'm not sick or anything. Just feeling out of shape.

Early February, my girlfriends and I got together at least twice a week to work out using Nintendo's Wii Fit Plus game. It was a lot of fun. Some of these women I used to see regularly in my former moms group. Now that I'm no longer in the group, I don't see them as often. So our twice weekly workout date did double duty. We supported each other as we worked out together. My friend Rashida became our coach. As soon as we walked in her door, she had us do a short run.

After working out, we motivated each other on Twitter. We complained about how achy we felt (in a good way) and gave each other pep talks. We kept each other accountable. Our workout challenged was turning out way better than I expected. (Meaning that I was staying motivated. I'm not talking smack about my friends.)

Working out felt good. We all applauded each other for showing up. That's the most challenging part, right? I wasn't even offended when the Wii Fit age was 10 years older than my actual age. Working out with my girlfriends, inspired me to dust off my Wii Balance Board. The game informed me that it had been over a year since I used it. And I gained 10 pounds since the last time I used it. OUCH.

Talk about motivation! I started working out in the evenings. Hubby joined in and cheered me on. Wii Fit Plus made it fun. I'm not to shabby at hula hooping. In real life, I probably suck, but in the Wii world, I'm pretty awesome. I can mostly follow the step aerobics on beat. The game doesn't yell at me when I'm off rhythm. Ok, sometimes it does. The game doesn't make me feel nonathletic or uncoordinated. I was having fun.

Sometime during the last week of February, we finally decided to try out the yoga poses on Wii Fit Plus. I could send the immediate zen in the room. We were working our butts off trying to hold our warrior poses, but we felt good. All the deep inhaling and exhaling is exactly what we busy moms needed. Even the kids did the poses with us.

Our workout challenge was only meant to last a month. We've had so much fun that we're getting together again this week. I don't always want to drag myself and my toddler out to exercise, but having my friends to laugh and wobble with me makes it worth it.

No matter how long we end up working out together, I'm pledging to work out at least 45 minutes with my Wii Fit Plus at least 3 times a week. When I'm having a bad day or feel down, working out revives me. I feel so energized (and sweaty) afterwards. It's not about weight or clothing size for me. I want to be able to walk up several flights of stairs without becoming winded. I might not be an athlete but I'm pledging to get in shape! 

How do you stay motivated to stay active or work out?

As a Nintendo Ambassador, I was provided with Nintendo products for our February workout challenge. I was not required to blog about our workout challenge. I already owned a Wii and a balance board before I became an ambassador. I also purchased my personal copy of the Wii Fit Plus game for home use. This post contains affiliate links.

The NO Monster Has Arrived

I'm not sure when my sweet toddler turned into a crazy kid. Now he's gone from bossing me around to saying No! to everything I asked him to do. His defiance and need for independence is developmentally on track. It's just so frustrating! I'm trying to remember how I dealt with this stage with Sophia. That was many years ago.

I'm attempting to teach him the skill of picking up his toys. (Those Legos are like booby traps.) Every time he plays with them, he finds it necessary to dump the entire bin on the floor. The sound of Legos crashing on the floor makes me cringe in terror. Thankfully they're the larger, toddler sized Duplos.

I've tried asking nicely. Saying please even. He's good at saying please and giving me puppy dog eyes when he wants something. I guess I'm not as cute as he is. Please doesn't seem to work. I've tried threatening. Yes, I know it doesn't work, but I try anyway. I try to bargain with him. Depending on the bribe bargain, it works. But I don't want to make it a habit.

When will my No Monster go away and bring back my cute, sweet boy?

Soon, I hope.

Don't Forget to Splash in Life's Puddles

Usually on rainy days, like the one we had yesterday, I think, Great, now I'll be cooped inside all day with my rambunctious toddler. I know there's somewhere we can go where he can run off his energy, but (insert whine) it's raining!


As a child, I loved rainy days. Growing up in Louisiana, we had plenty of rainy days. I loved standing outside, feeling the drops of rain touch my skin. I would even spread out my arms and open my mouth, hoping for a taste of one little drop. Spinning around under a soothing rainfall made me immensely happy. Rain showers never last long in Louisiana. Sooner than you expect, the sun would pop out from behind the clouds to greet the newly formed rainbow. I would then hop barefoot in all the puddles on our paved driveway, splashing them as hard as I could.

When did I, when did we, lose that spontaneity and joy for life? I didn't worry about getting wet. It felt great. I didn't care that my mother would yell at me when I came in the house. All I knew was that I wanted, no needed to dance in the rain.

Nowadays, it's easy to let to-do lists, errands, and housework rule my thoughts. A rainy day means no sun, so no outdoor activities. Yesterday afternoon, as Jaxson and I walked to the bus stop to wait for his sister to return to us, he glanced at the puddles that the morning's rain had left in our path. I caught a gleam in his eyes. I knew exactly what he was thinking. He wanted to splash in those puddles.

I promised Jaxson he could jump into as many puddles as his heart's desire, but only after his sister came home. I'm still his mother and I didn't want him be wet in the cold while we waited for the school bus. Jaxson could barely contain his excitement. As soon as his sister stepped off the bus, he was ready! He chubby toddler hands pulled mine towards the nearest puddle.

We walked leisurely back to our apartment. Each puddle he spotted, no matter how small, gave him pure delight as he jumped and splashed. Once he was satisfied that he has splashed enough water around, he moved on to the next puddle. Even Sophia, who didn't want to go puddle hopping, couldn't resist. She joined him after the second or third puddle. Together the ran back and forth in a long stream-like puddle, laughing and screaming.

Watching them made my heart deliciously full and happy. If only I could have bottled their laughter. I'm glad I stopped to smell the remnants of the morning's downpour. The rain gave me a gift yesterday. It reminded me that it's fun to get wet. Splashing in muddy puddles reminds us that we're still alive and grounded to nature.

Metaphorically, the rain and puddles remind me that some days might seem gloomy and cold at first. I have to look past the cold and wet to find laughter and love. Often that's hard to do when I'm feeling angry or down or under appreciated. There's always a puddle somewhere to splash.

Next time, I'm getting my feet wet too.

Celebrate Dr. Seuss's Birthday with PBS's Cat in the Hat-a-thon (Plus Giveaway)

Last year for Dr. Seuss's birthday, I made green eggs and ham for breakfast. Since we've read Green Eggs and Ham numerous times, I was proud that I remembered to commemorate Dr. Seuss's birthday. Sophia refused to eat the green eggs. Thank goodness I didn't try to make green ham. I had to make "regular" eggs so she would eat her breakfast.

This March 2, we're celebrating Dr. Seuss's birthday with less, er, food coloring. We're making popcorn and hanging out on the couch for PBS Kids' Cat in the Hat-a-thon. For two hours, we can watch back to back episodes of The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That, including two new episodes: Seasons and When I Grow Up/Doing Things Differently.  (Check your local listings for times.) Maybe I should make green popcorn this year.

The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That has quickly become one of Sophia's favorite PBS shows. She loves anything science related. In each episode The Cat in the Hat takes Sally and Nick on an adventure to get an up close view of ants, tree roots or silkworms. Of course Thing 1 and Thing 2 are there to cause mischief. The show also features a girl who loves science, something that isn't always common in kids' shows. After we watch the shows, Sophia can go online to learn more science by playing The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That games.

In conjunction with the celebration, the  PBS KIDS Shop will also launch a Birthday Party Builder Tool on March 1. From tableware and party banners to clothing and gifts, the Party Builder offers customized recommendations based on the number of guests and exclusive, personalized products. It's a birthday party in a box with your kids' favorite PBS Kids characters.

Since it's a birthday celebration, we need gifts! Thanks to PBS, Random House, and NCircle Entertainment, I have two The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That bundles to giveaway! Each bundle includes a The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That DVD and book plus a $25 gift certificate to the PBS Shop!

To enter the giveaway, leave comment telling me what your favorite (or your kids') Dr. Seuss book or story is.

For an extra entry, share in the comments what your favorite adult show is on PBS. If you couldn't tell, I was totally sucked into Downtown Abbey recently. 

Giveaway ends March 11 at 9PM Eastern time. Only US addresses are eligible. Winner will be contacted by email and must respond within 48 hours or another winner will be chosen. I'm Not the Nanny is not responsible for items lost or delayed shipping.

I'm proud to share that I'm a member of PBS Kids VIP, along with some other fabulous bloggers. Our family is a big PBS Kids fan (and Downton Abbey for me) so I'm happy to keep you updated with the latest PBS Kids news. Our family received a screener of the new episodes as well as bundle similar to the giveaway ones. 

I'm Ready to Declutter and Create My Goddess Haven!

Our winter has been so mild, I've been thinking about spring cleaning. Ok, that's a lie. I'm feeling a bit crazy with all the clutter around my apartment. So I start going into shit-flinging monkey mode. As in throwing stuff away or into boxes for the thrift store. I go on a decluttering binge but then get worn out.

A couple of weeks ago, I purged a bunch of dishes, mugs and random kitchen gadgets. That was mainly because I scored a new set of dishes on clearance at Target. After I did that, I got tired of constantly picking up the same pile of kids books over and over. The two small shelves in our living contains a bunch of board books I purchased when Sophia was a baby. She's outgrown most of them and Jaxson has no interest in them. The least I can do is donated them to my local library. They can sell them and put the money to good use.

Every evening after the kids are in bed, I try to decompress before I head to my desk to work for the evening. Except I have a hard time relaxing because of all the clutter that's strewn on our living room floor. Since we have a small apartment, the living is also the kids playroom. I pick up the same Legos at least twice a day. Toys all the floor, couch, under the couch. I usually ignore it because I'm not supposed to spend my relaxation time cleaning, right?

We just have too much stuff. The more stuff we have, the more maintenance it needs. I have a weakness for books. Hubby brings home half broken gadgets from work. Sophia wants to save every since worksheet she brings home from school. Jaxson likes to collect rocks and sticks. As much as I tel him that the sticks have to stay outside, some always make it inside. I'm ready to make some new habits. I'm ready for a change.

This time around, I need a more methodical approach. Room by room or something. I'm not sure. I need a game plan, some encouragement. That's why I'm signed up for the Creating Your Goddess Haven e-course. Here's the official blurb about the e-course:

A six-week adventure for when you’re wanting & needing & craving a space that is a true haven for your the Goddess in You! You’ll use space clearing techniques to make your space’s energy sparkle. You’ll learn how to divinely declutter. You’ll dive into inspired interior design. You’ll be empowered with all of the wisdom, tools & techniques you need to make your space feel & look amazing to you. And you’ll end up with a home that is a sanctuary just for you.

I'm ready to declutter for real. Not just a little bit here and there when I get frustrated. The Creating Your Goddess Haven e-course runs for 6 weeks, but it's self-paced. So it's up to you if you want to follow the weekly format. The next course starts in two days, March 1st.

I need some accountability, so I'm going to share with you each how the course is going for me. Won't you join me?

Do you have any decluttering tips?

I'm an official Goddess Ambassador because I love sharing Goddess Leonie's goodies. I'm a member of the Goddess Circle and paid for the membership myself. Links to the ecourses are affiliate links.