Friday Funday

Tonight my family and I are jamming to the tunes and doing a soul train line. We are getting our workout on and having a great time. As I get ready to boogie on down the line have a great Friday bloggers!!!

Wednesday's Princess Pamper Principle

As busy business owners, employees, wives, mothers, "go-to girls", daughters, sisters, friends, super women, we often forget to take time out for ourselves to relax, de-stress, and rebuild. This week's Pamper Principle focuses on a list of things that I enjoy doing to unwind and some relaxation techniques to try in your quest to de-stress.

My favorite things to unwind:
1. Reading a frivolous chicklit book
2. Listening to jazz, classical or "quiet storm" music
3. Knitting
4. Taking a long walk
5. Soaking in a luxurious bubble bath in a candle lit bathroom
6. Baking
7. Watching romantic comedies
8. Taking a nap
9. Going to the lake
10. Going window shopping


Relaxation Techniques-St. Joseph's University Counseling and Personal Development Center

Whole Body Tension

Tense everything in your whole body; stay with that tension, and hold it as long as you can without feeling pain. Slowly release the tension and very gradually feel it leave your body. Repeat three times.

Visual Imagery

Open your imagination and focus on your breathing. As your breathing becomes calm and regular, imagine that the air comes to you as a cloud - it fills you and goes out. You may imagine the cloud to be a particular color.

Eye Fixation

With your head level and your body relaxed, pick a spot to focus on (eyes are open at this point). When ready, count five breaths backward. With each breath allow your eyes to close gradually. When you get to number one, your eyes will be closed. Focus on the feelings of relaxation.

Counting Ten Breaths Backwards

Allow yourself to feel passive and indifferent, counting each breath slowly from ten to one. With each count, allow yourself to feel heavier and more relaxed. With each exhale, allow the tension to leave your body.

Shoulder Shrug

Try to raise your shoulders up to your eyes. Hold for the count of four. Now drop your shoulders back to a normal position. Repeat three times.

Shoulder Rotation

Rotate your shoulders back, down and around, first one way, then the other. Do one shoulder, then the other. Now do both at the same time. Note: This is also good for back, arms, and neck.

Cat Stretch

Stand - feet slightly apart. Take a deep breath as you stretch arms over head. Slowly exhale as you lean forward, bringing arm and head down. Do slowly and gently five times.

Now take two of these and get a good nights rest Superwomen!

Friday Funday

I love board games! As an only child I didn't get to play often, but now that I have three tadpoles this is going to be a tradition in our family. So tonight Friday Funday is Board game night. We are going to make home style popcorn. NOT THAT MICROWAVE Stuff. Below is a video from youtube that I used for popping instructions:


Since I have tadpoles from 2 to 9 we will play a variety of games. Starting with a Barrell of Monkeys for Tadpole # 3.

Next we will play Hulk Operation which is Tadpole #2's choice.

Monopoly Jr. is the last game we will play if the time permits. Tadpole #1 loves the regular version of Monopoly but the other Tadpoles don't have the attention span. So this is a great compromise for everyone. Well gotta run, the boys are waiting and the pop corn in popping! Have a great Friday.

Wednesday's Princess Pamper Principle

I can't imagine anything more wonderful than a book in my lap and my feet soaking in some soapy, bubbly warm water. Last Mother's Day, the Frog and the Tadpoles gave me a foot spa.

For a mom who is on the go all the time, child this is the next best thing to CHOCOLATE!

So this week's pamper principle is dedicated to luxurious home pedicures.


What You Need:

* Polish Remover & Cotton Pads
* Nail Clippers & File
* Nail/Cuticle Nipper
* Cuticle Pusher
* Pumice Stone & Exfoliating Scrub
* Moisturizer
* Nail Polish

For a French Pedicure::

1. Cut your nails straight and smooth them out with a nail file. The square nail with a rounded edge is perfect for a French pedicure.

2. Be sure to remove your old polish with a nail polish remover, and not acetone.

3. Soak your feet in a tub of warm water to which you can add bath salts, sweet almond oil or olive oil. Consider adding Epsom salts to clean and disinfect your feet. Add aromatic oils for soothing and a relaxing if you want a true spa feel. I recommend soaking for at least 20 mins or more just because it feels so good!

4. Use a foot scrubber or a pumice stone to exfoliate and remove dead skin from the heel. Add a dollop of exfoliating scrub on to the scrubber or pumice stone and it will help soften as well as exfoliate.

5. Clean and push back the cuticles with a cuticle oil or cream.

6. Dry your feet and apply a moisturizing cream. Massage your feet and calves while doing so for a relaxing effect. Do not forget to rub between toes and on the toenails as well.

7. Remove all traces of oil or cream before you start applying nail polish. Use a toe separator for easy application.

8. Apply a sheer pink, natural or peach nail varnish on the entire nail. This is the first step of the French pedicure.

9. I would recommend purchasing a French pedicure kit, this will come with nail guides, which can be put on the nail for easy application. Stick it on along the natural nail line.

10. Paint the exposed nail tip with a matte white nail polish. Do not worry about going over the edge; this can be cleaned at the end by dipping a Q-tip in nail polish remover.

11. After the nail polish has dried completely, remove the nail guide.

12. Seal the nail color with a clear topcoat.

Now you are ready to go-go again on your beautiful soothed feet!

Friday Funday

Getting ready for the middle tadpole's birthday tomorrow. He is excited. We don't do big parties - just a family thing. It's less stressful and we can really let it be the birthday person's day. So for him, I am playing his favorite song- Let's Groove, planning his favorite food- spaghetti and spinach,and purchasing a vanilla cake for him.

Tonight's Friday Funday will be to play Wii- Bowling with the tadpoles.


Hope everyone has a fun friday!

Wednesday's Princess Pamper Principle

I love the way my hands look right after I have a manicure! However, with little tadpoles my hands stay in some sort of detergent which wrecks a manicure quickly. So I wanted to do something at home that I can maintain with out a large outlay of cash every week. So this week's Princess Pampering session will focus on home made manicures:

Necessary Equipment
* A mid-sized bowl
* Cotton balls or pads
* Cuticle (a.k.a. orange) stick
* Cuticle cream
* Hand cream
* Nail clippers
* Nail file
* Nail polish: base, color, top coat
* Nail polish remover
* Paper Towel
* Soap
* Towel
* Warm water

Basic Steps
1. Use clippers and a nail file to shape nails. When you file, don't saw back and forth -- it can weaken nails. Instead, start at one edge and move across the top in one fluid motion. I found that if you soak your hand in warm water and a little Palmolive liquid detergent, it really makes the cuticles soft. Soak your hands in the liquid for at least 5 minutes.

2. Dry your hands with a clean towel, then place a paper towel on your table and rest them on top of it.

3. Put a dot each of cuticle cream or sweet almond oil and rub it in. Cuticle cutting is a no-no -- it can lead to infection. Instead, use a cuticle stick to gently push back cuticles.

4. When you're finished, rinse yours hands in the warm soapy water and pat dry, then apply a moisturizing hand cream. Let it absorb for about five minutes before wiping away the excess. Then swipe each nail with a cotton ball soaked in polish remover to get rid of cream on the nail so polish can adhere.

5. Apply a base coat to each nail and let it dry for at least two minutes.

6. Then paint two coats of nail color, waiting one full minute between coats. You should be able to cover each nail with three strokes -- one on each side, one down the middle. If you get polish on the skin, don't worry; just wait until everything is dry and use a Q-tip dipped in nail polish remover to remove the excess.

7. When the polish has dried, apply a top coat.

Below is also a video describing a home manicure.



Take some time to enjoy and pamper yourself with a manicure today!