Dear Heart

Dear Heart,
I know I should take better care of you.  Yes, you've been broken a few times but you've always mended quite nicely.  Your not as fragile as people would think.  You've certainly gotten quite a bit of exercise over the years and you've proven how strong you are with how much love you can carry.

Yet, I do neglect you at times-more than I should.  I know I don't eat as healthy as I should and that I don't exercise my body quite as much as is recommended.  I also know I hold a lot in and don't let out my anger and frustrations like I should.  Instead I carry it inside and I know that makes you sad.

I promise to work on it.

I want to be around for a very long time.  I want to watch my children graduate from high school and college, walk down the aisle on their wedding day, and be there when their babies are born. I also want to grow old at my husband's side.  I have a lot left to do.

Love,

Joy

_______________________________________________________

February is American Heart Month.  Today is National Wear Red Day to help spread the word about women and heart disease.  Heart disease and strokes are among the top three killers of women today.  According to the American Heart Association (and the American Stroke Association which is a division of the American Heart Association), there are seven steps to living better.  These steps include getting active, eating better, losing weight, controlling cholesterol, managing blood pressure,  reducing blood sugar, and stopping smoking. 

Visit Go Red For Women.org to learn what you can do to help spread the word and for more resources.

You can also get a red dress twibbon for your twitter avatar by visiting The Heart Truth.

Macy's is also having The All Red Sale from February 2-6.   Shoppers who wear red (or purchase a Red Dress Pin for a $2 donation to the American Heart Association) will get up to 20% off their purchases.

Show Yourself Some Mommy Love

We have a tendency as moms to make sure everyone else's needs are being met often in lieu of our own.  Making sure hubby has clean underwear (that is probably the only thing that is clean in the laundary room) and that the kids are fed a healthy breakfast (whether that is pancakes or Trix depending on what you can get your children to eat) often takes precedence over us taking more than five minutes to ourselves. 

Here are some ways to show yourself some mommy love:

1. Smell a favorite scent.  For some reason just the smell of my favorite perfume provides a lift.
2. Light a candle and sit and watch the flickering flame.  There is something soothing about just taking a few minutes to do nothing. It can be restorative.
3. Exercise.  It will get your adrenaline flowing.  Your muscles and heart will thank you.
4. Read a book.  Get lost in another world and forget about your to-to-list.  Okay, reading an entire book may not be realistic but read a magazine cover to cover in one sitting or even the newspaper.   If you have forgotten what that is like, your not alone.  Check out An Ode to the Lifestyle Section.
5. Take a nap.  Who couldn't use a midday snooze (especially if the kids are out for the count to).
6. Forget the laundry, the dusting, and the toilet bowl that needs to be scrubbed.  Strap the kiddos in the stroller and go window shopping.  Or, if your snowed in (like many of us this week), lock yourself in a room and go window shopping online.
7. Dress up in makeup and heels and treat yourself to lunch, even if it is at McDonald's with the kids.  At least you'll feel sexy sitting there in Playland and you'll be the best dressed momma there. 
8. Go for a drive.  I love to drive in the car even with the little ones in the backseat.  The monotony of driving seems to get my creative juices flowing.
9. Meet up with some friends.  There is nothing better than enjoying the company of other women.  It's even better if there is wine involved.  Again, if your snowed in you can conference your friends on the phone and chat or have your own little twitter party online.
10. Take five, or ten, or an hour to write on your blog.  It doesn't matter if your ranting, raving, or reassuring it is good therapy for whatever ails you.  Ask any mommy blogger.
11. If you enjoy crafts, take time to devote to your crafty side.  Finish that project that you put aside.  For me that would be my scrapbooking.
12. Do a puzzle or a crossword to exercise your mind. 
13. You pick a movie or your favorite tv show and sit through it uninterrupted.  Let your hubby watch the kids and be in charge of their nighttime routine.
14.Take a class.  Check out the offerings at the local Y, a nearby community center, or the local community college.  Broaden your horizons.

At least one of these things is guaranteed to take you to a happy place. Best of all, they are all free or relatively inexpensive ways to shower yourself with some "mommy love".

Happy Valentine's Day, Moms!

The Practical Mom Guide's List of Fourteen Romantic Movies

I love romantic movies and not just around Valentine's Day.  There is something reassuring about happily ever afters and the memories of those butterflies that accompany new love.  I do like dramas, shoot-em up's, and even sci-fi but I always navigate towards "chick flicks" as most men call them.

My husband hates chick flicks so I usually only rent them when he is away or going out for the evening.  I can usually guilt him into watching them if he's around but then as he says, he may watch it but he will not enjoy it quietly.  There are the eye rolls, grunting, and my favorite, the sarcastic "gee, that wasn't predictable" at the end.

I came up with a list of 14 of my all-time favorite romantic movies for Valentine's Day.

My List of the Top 14 Romantic Movies

1)Sabrina

2)When Harry Met Sally

3)Runaway Bride

4)You've Got Mail

5)The Notebook

6)The Wedding Planner 

7)Hitch

8)Timeline 

9)My Big Fat Greek Wedding

10)Something's Gotta Give

11)Bridget Jones Diary

12)Must Love Dogs

13)The Ugly Truth

14)America's Sweethearts

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Sex and the City, and Maid in Manhattan are some of my other favorites.  I love Renee Zellweger, Jennifer Lopez, Julia Roberts, and John Cusack.  I plan on renting Roman Holiday this weekend.  I have never seen it and since I love old movies this will be perfect for the holiday weekend.

Another movie I want to see is The Back-up Plan which comes out in theaters on April  23rd.  It stars Jennifer Lopez and Alex O'Loughlin (the sexy guy from August Rush). According to the website, it "is a comedy that explores dating, love, marriage, and family 'in reverse'".  I think it looks like a hilarious romantic comedy.  I am not going to give anything away.

To check out the trailer and find out for yourself what this movie is about, click here.  If you like what you see, you can follow The Back-up Plan on Facebook and Twitter to stay up-to-date on news about the movie.

Psst...take your girlfriends to see this one for a girl's night out and let the boys stay at home with the wee ones!!

Spreading the Love: One Person at a Time

Have you ever been inspired by a book you read?  Since I love to read, it is no suprise that I have been inspired to spread a little neighborly love-not only with my neighbors but with friends and family.

Recently I finished Angel Lane by Sheila Roberts.  In the book, three ladies decide to do random acts of kindness in their community and they urge other members of the community to get involved.  They learned a lot about themselves in the process.  One of the woman used a jar of goodies that she gave away as one of her acts of kindness.

Since it's almost Valentine's Day, I filled two jars with chocolate and plan on giving them to people with a little note about passing the jar on to others and ideas for how to fill it. They can be filled with candy, cookies, homemade soup, cookie ingredients, makings for a craft, or any other creative ideas the giver can come up with. I chose chocolate because we are supposed to be getting a snow storm tonight and I know being snowed in with chocolate is always a good thing.

It is always nice to get an unexpected pick-me-up.    You never know what is going on in the lives of people you meet so this may be just the thing to turn their day around. You can deliver them anonymously or hand deliver them.  You can choose neighbors, strangers, acquaintances, co-workers, fellow church members, or even friends.


Anyone else interested in spreading some cheer?  What are some random acts of kindness that you have done or plan to do?

This post is linked up at The Girl Next Door's "Feel Good Friday".

Cool & Charitable Valentines for Kids

Etsy and CoolMomPicks.com recently had a contest for artists to design color-your-own Valentine's Day cards for kids.  You can now download the 12 black and white printable cards of the winners for your little ones to color. These fun prints will make great valentines for your children's friends.

All proceeds ($3.99 through paypal) will go to the Children's Heart Foundation.  The CHF provides support to little ones (and their families) who have been impacted by congenital heart defects, which is the number one form of birth defects in our country.  As the mom of a little girl who had a coarctation of her aorta and needed heart surgery at four months of age, I can tell you that this is a great cause!  January 2nd marked the 2-year anniversary of her heart surgery and she is a normal, healthy child today.

Tomorrow (February 5th) is National Go Red Day.  Ladies, show your support in the fight against heart disease!  For more information, visit Go Red For Women.

20 Ways to Say I Love You Without Spending a Penny

Valentine's Day is right around the corner.  Do you break a sweat just thinking about it?  Are you one of those people who hits the flower shop or candy aisle on the 14th?  Do you try to outdo yourself year after year with gifts from the mall?  Step back.  Here are some free and sentimental ways to tell your sweetie that you love them without spending anything (just your time). 

1.   Make them breakfast in bed even if it is just a bowl of cereal.

2.   Write "I love you" on the bathroom mirror while they are in the shower.

3.   Put notes inside your loved ones clothing drawers or the pocket of their coat.

4.   Make your loved one lunch to take to work.

5.   Warm up their car for them and put a CD in that you made of their favorite songs.

6.   If they listen to a favorite radio program, call and dedicate a song to them.

7.   Say goodbye and hello with a kiss and help them with their coat.

8.   Send them a text message during the day saying that your are thinking about them.

9.   Go for a walk together even if it is just around the neighborhood.

10. Picnic in front of the fireplace or a candlelit dinner after the kids have gone to bed.

11. Watch a movie together with some homemade goodies to munch on.

12. Make a list of all the qualities that you love about them and share them.

13. Go through pictures of the life you have together.

14. Doing something creative: a piece of art, a song, a photo, a poem, or a letter.

15. Give your loved one a foot massage or a back rub (or guys-paint her toe nails).

16. Make up coupons that your loved one can redeem for dinners, alone time, massages, etc.

17. Make them a homemade card (no cheating and buying a store-bought one).

18. Find something from them that has sentimental value to you and pull it out and show it to them and explain why.  Maybe it is something they made for you or even something they bought.  For me it is the first piece of jewelry my husband picked out for me.  He always had help picking things out. Reminisce together.

19. Say I love you and look into their eyes when you say it.

These are just simple ways to say "I love you" and I love the time we spend together.  What are some of your favorite (and free) ways that you show your loved one how much you care?

Oh and I didn't forget #20.

20. Dedicate your blog post to your sweetie.  (I love you cute boy!)