by Whitney
I know. I know! I know exactly how headlines are written to lure readers in. Anything with numbers that promises to be a solution. I’m talking about stuff that would be on a magazine cover, like 11 Baby-Friendly Vacation Ideas or 13 Sex Secrets You’ve Never Heard Of, and yet, I was suckered by a headline today. Can I even admit what it is I clicked on? I don’t know. I’m actually turning red right now.
Ok, I’ll say it. It was
Thirteen Ways To Lose a Pound A Week
As a feminist, this embarrasses me, and as a generally smart person, I wonder, what could I possibly read that I don’t already know? Exercise? Drink more water? Yes, I know I know. And in my current case, how about “Be patient!” as I am only 12 weeks post-partum. But I guess we are always looking for magical solutions, so we buy the magazines or click the links.
Anyhow, I thought that the post was well done and loved the mantra “Park on Mars” to remind us to park our cars far far away to increase the length of our walk to our destination. And, I don’t feel bad sharing a tip that helps you get more exercise, because exercise is good for your general health, not just about your looks. We should all try to park on Mars.
Ok, now you probably want to read the other twelve tips, right? I knew it! Go ahead.
by Heather
It is flipping hard to get into a new routine. Especially with a little person in your life with their own needs, schedules, and unpredictability. I can recommend the four-week challenge to get yourself on track. Here are a few times I’ve tried it with mixed success:
- Prenatal yoga with a toddler in tow. Each time we went, I’d get pulled out because Holden was crying. Every time but once. Still worth trying.
- Six O’Clock Scramble. I made dinner from this cookbook for an entire month as an exercise in getting dinner on the table. It worked great, so why am I back to struggling.
- Flossing. Is it normal or tragic to admit that I have to force myself to floss? Little goals and publicly outing myself helps.
- Exercise… ok, that’s still coming soon!
Make the arrangements necessary to do what you keep thinking you ought to do. Try your new thing out for a while and refine your plan along the way. Report back to us!
What do you want to do today?
Related activities and posts:
>> Observe Fearless Fridays.
>> My adventures in flossing
>> Let someone else plan your meals
by Whitney
You parents of newborns: Well, it’s likely you’ll do nothing on Halloween. But you’re missing your last chance to have an adult-style Halloween. If your baby has no dramatic bedtime ritual, beyond you swaddling him up and shushing until you pass out, then why not do what YOU like to do.
Of course you want your baby to be adorable in a witty costume, but who has the mental energy right now? (I don’t.) Use one of my three newborn Halloween costume suggestions:
1- An iPod. Wear this onesie. Done.
2- An organic vegetable. These soft cotton baby bags are not the 3D polyester costumes you see in the catalogs for babies. They are actually really cozy pjs from GreenBabies. We have the carrot version. If you’re ambitions, use a brown sharpie to draw some horizontal lines to indicate further that it’s a carrot. Matching hat optional.
3- A grown up. Dress baby in any ridiculously adult clothes you have. (We had a sports coat in size 3-6). Accessorize baby with a mustache, cell phone, car keys, or laptop computer made out of cardboard.
For those who are not in so much of a newborn haze, read our Halloween suggestions from last year:
- Activity #447: Keep Halloween costume for baby low-key
- Activity #448: Use baby as a prop in your Halloween costume
