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There’s a marathon being run here. It’s called Life. And I need to reevaluate some of my strategies.

It seems that as the first six weeks of school have passed me by, I find myself in need of reevaluation. What are my goals for our homeschool? What are my goals for writing? What are my goals for the household? What are my goals for ME?

Back in July, I mentioned that I was consulting those New Year’s goals I had created so many months ago. One of them read like this:

Get healthy – I’m long overdue for a physical, and I definitely need to get back to exercising and eating well. I get winded easily and want to make sure that it’s just laziness and not an underlying problem.

Late in the summer I started reading the French Lady’s books and thinking about how I could be taking better care of myself. I started an exercise program; I was eating better; I had an appointment scheduled for a complete physical.

Things were looking really good. I even lost five pounds!

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Thrown off my game

And then I had my physical and found out that all kinds of things were “wrong” with me, namely Vitamin D deficiency and anemia. I got on supplements right away. I had a mammogram.

Let’s move on with life now. ‘K?

But then …. the doctor said he wanted further testing to rule out colon cancer. I balked at the testing. And then he persisted. And then I had nightmares that I would leave behind a husband and six kids if I died. So I said okay.

I went off the iron supplements which made me feel terrible. Waaaah, waaaah, waaaah. I did the follow up testing which was not half as bad as I thought it would be.

After all my whining and follow up testing, I’m fine. I’m still deficient in iron and Vitamin D, but those are small potatoes. I’ve have found Perspective.

But, at the same time, I’ve also found those five pounds I lost.

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Time to get back on track!

Those worries and cares just knocked me off my game. And I just kind of drifted about, like a four year old chasing butterflies in the outfield.

Now that I’ve gotten a clean bill of health, and vacation (and gluttonous eating) are behind me, it’s time to set a course for healthier living through the upcoming holiday season.

Yes, I like to dream big, don’t I?

Here are my new and improved health goals:

 1. Exercise at least three times a week.

I know that exercise energizes me and helps give me that boost I need throughout the day. We own an exercise bike and a membership to the local Y. So, I have no excuse.

2. Watch my portions.

One of the big take-aways from the French Lady books was to eat until I’m satisfied, not until I’m so stuffed I can’t move. Ah yes, portion control. I’ve gotten a little lazy about that and just eaten until…. someone stopped me.

Hand in hand with portion control is making sure that what I’m eating is what I enjoy. If it’s mindless snacking, well, that doesn’t help me. No more BBQ potato chips!

3. Reevaluate my supplements.

Currently, I’m supposed to be taking iron and Vitamin D. I figure a good multi-vitamin would be good as well. But, not all supplements are created equal — in price or in quality. So I need to do a little research and find out what will give me the biggest bang for my buck.

4. Drink more water.

I know that I don’t drink as much as I should. And I have a sneaking suspicion that dehydration is one of the causes of my fatigue.

5. Get more rest.

During the summer I was really good about going to bed by 10 every night. I seem to be staying up later and later now. And it’s starting to catch up with me. My optimum bedtime routine is to turn off all electronics by 9:30 and read in bed until 10.

Are you ready to get back on track?

Parents Magazine is working with Aetna to help families get back on track with good health. Their site offers helpful tips, a web forum to interact with other users, and a number of surveys to help you gauge where you’re at.

This weekend, Parents.com Magazine is also offering one Life as MOM reader a “Back-to-School Wellness” package which includes a pedometer, a $100 Visa gift card, a $50 Staples gift card and an assortment of Yogi Tea.

What a fun package to inspire you and equip you to get your health goals in line with real life!

To Enter:

Leave a comment, telling us your favorite tip for living smart and healthy.

This giveaway will be open until Sunday, October 23, 2011 at 8 pm PST. Winner will be chosen at random and notified via email. Please respond within 48 hours to claim your prize. This giveaway is now closed. Congrats to the winner: Dazy0425@

Disclosure: I received a Back to School Wellness package.

Getting Back on Track (& A Giveaway from Parents Magazine) is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

This week is all about getting good habits going.

One fun habit is to plan regular family movie nights. We are big time movie fans around here. It’s one inexpensive way that our whole family can enjoy an experience together.

Since our kids range in age from 2 to 13, it’s sometimes a challenge to find things that everyone likes to do. Watching movies and eating the popcorn is somethings that spans quite a few ages.

The Movies

And we’ve found a lot of family films that interest the whole range of our clan, from toddler to teen to old fogey, we all like these:

• Despicable Me
• Toy Story 3
• The Incredibles
• Ratatouille
• The Lord of the Rings
• The Chronicles of Narnia

The Munchies

Popcorn is a given during our movie nights. While I prefer air popped corn dripping with butter, the kids go for the microwave kind. But really, no one will ever really turn down popcorn. And one of our favorite brands is Orville Redenbacher.

Today’s giveaway is a supply of Orville Redenbacher popcorn as well as vintage style popcorn boxes to serve it out of. One reader will be chosen.

The unique thing about the microwave popcorn packs is that they will have RedBox codes good for free rentals. Check your stores to see if they are carrying Orville Redenbacher popcorn in these specially marked packages. You could score a movie night in one fell swoop.

Simply leave a comment, telling us your favorite family movie.

One comment will be randomly selected and the reader notified via email. Comments will be open until Sunday, January 16, 8 pm, PST. Winner will have 48 hours to respond in order to claim the kit.

This giveaway is now closed. Congrats to the winner: meganfroehlich@

Disclosure: I received a Family Movie Night kit as well.

For more inspiration, check out Get a Good Habit Going.

Plan a Family Movie Night is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

THAT is my fourth baby. And now he is six. I am stunned. Where did the days go?

This week is all about getting good habits going.

A good habit to cultivate is to enjoy these passing moments. Because today, as the old woman in the grocery store, I tell ya, “The days go by so fast.”

I must confess, though, I have struggled with it more than a few times — just today. At this writing all eight of us are sick with raging head colds. I am tired in all ways — even my nose is tired {as she blows it for the five millionth time in a day}

As such I have not enjoyed passing moments. My girls wanted to help make dinner. But, I was too crabby to want or accept their help. They wanted noodles before the meal was complete. They wanted more noodles before I’d even taken a bite. They wanted dessert before I’d finished my meal.

Such is life with preschoolers.

While my boys don’t need as much help at dinnertime, my girls do. And I want to feel different than I do. I want to enjoy these moments before they are gone. I want to take a deep breath and not sweat the small stuff.

After dinner the girls got baths, something my boys no longer need my help for. My two-year old suffered through a despised hair washing. Business as usual.

Embrace the unique

But, then afterward I did something that I never did with the girls. Nor with the boys either. I used the blow dryer on their hair. It took me back to Saturday nights when my mom would wash my hair, then comb, and blow it dry.

It was a unique moment with my girls, a new experience in my “life as MOM.”

How do we enjoy each of these days, each of these seasons? I think we have a choice: to wish for the future or embrace the unique of today.

How are you enjoying the season you’re in now?

Enjoy Each Season of Childhood is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

This week is all about getting good habits going.

Many of us are trying to eat better. And while eating habits get a little lax near the holidays, it seems January gives us a renewed sense of battling back the excess sugar and fake foods that have infiltrated our homes.

Last year I read In Defense of Food and its message really spoke to me: Eat Food. Not too much. Mostly plants. So much of that book resonated with me and had me yearning for the way I imagined my Gramma John cooked back on the farm in the 30s and 40s.

While our family still eats our fair share of processed foods, it got me thinking about ways that I could take baby steps toward upping our intake of veggies and increasing the amount of “real food” we were eating. I tried out a CSA, started making my own instant oatmeal packets, started baking our own granola bars, and even eliminated visits to certain fast food restaurants.

I still have a lot of room to grow in this area, but I’m encouraged by the progress we’ve made as a family in eating better.

Real Food Basics

If you’re wondering what it is to eat “real food,” then you’re going to want to check out Real Food Basics by Katie Tietje, aka Modern Alternative Mama.

5 LifeasMOM readers will each receive a copy of the ebook, Real Food Basics.

The book is just what its title purports, a basic guide to real foods. If you don’t want to wait to win it, you can use the coupon code LIFE25 to get 25% off your purchase of the book.

I’ve read some of the longer, more detailed tomes on topics such as sprouting, fermentation, and healthy fats and those contain a lot of information to swallon. This book condenses the basics in an easy to use format.

To win a copy of the book, leave a comment telling us one of your food goals for the year.

Five winners will be randomly selected and notified by email. Comments will be accepted until Sunday, January 16th, 8 pm PST.

This giveaway is now closed. Congrats to the winners: jchrapcyn@, jc.misc@, perkk2@, brittanynoodles@, jennywhetten@

Disclosure: I received a copy of Real Food Basic for review.

For more inspiration, check out Get a Good Habit Going.

Eat More Real Food is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

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This week is all about getting good habits going. And one good habit to institute if you haven’t already is being prepared in the event of car trouble. We’ve all had those mishaps when our wheels let us down. I know we have.

Oh yes, yes, we have.

There was the time when we blew out the engine on the Questa Grade. Oh — and how ’bout the day that the radiator started spewing hot green fluid at me when a hose burst. And when FishPapa came to rescue me, his truck broke down?

And then there was that time when the deer ran into the old pickup.

Yes, we’ve had our share of roadside mishaps. Thankfully, no one has ever been seriously injured. Well, except that deer.

And, thankfully, we’ve always had good insurance — and a handy tow truck — when we needed it.

Be Prepared

While we can’t completely control everything that happens to us on the road — even brand new cars break down — there are some things that we can do to be a little more prepared.

You might consider keeping the following in your vehicle “just in case.”

• a cell phone and car charger or phone card to use at a pay phone
• change for parking meter or parking garage
• chains, if you live in areas that get heavy snow and icy conditions
• a roadside emergency kit that contains jumper cables, flares, a flashlight, and gloves
• non-perishable snacks and bottled water
• an empty gas can

But “stuff” isn’t all we need.

I confess to not really soaking up Coach Crummett’s lectures in Driver’s Ed. And I’ve been happy to shrug at not knowing how to change a tire. What’s Auto Club for, after all?

Over the years, however, I’ve learned that a little street smarts come in handy when you decide to hit the open road.

State Farm has launched a new Auto Learning Center to help you know what you need to know about car insurance, preventing accidents, and how to deal with all kinds of roadside issues. You can even take a quiz to test your Auto Insurance IQ.

Be Prepared on the Road

State Farm is also providing a Road Safety Kits for one LifeasMOM reader this week.

Valued at $155, the gift set includes:

• Garmin Nuvi 1300 4.3″ GPS Navigator – $120
• State Farm-Branded Roadside Emergency Kit – $35 Kit includes: 12 ft, heavy duty jumper cables, 300psi air compressor with accessories, 12 ft nylon tow strap, flashlight with batteries, 2-in-1 screwdriver, slip joint pliers, industrial cutter, and work gloves, all in a rugged carrying case with reflective taping and handle.

Would you like a Road Safety Kit?

Simply leave a comment, sharing your most recent car trouble woe.

One comment will be randomly selected and the reader notified via email. Comments will be open until Sunday, January 16, 8 pm, PST. Winner will have 48 hours to respond in order to claim the kit.

This giveaway is now closed. Congrats to the winner: katie_e_quinn@

Disclosure: I received a Road Safety kit as well.

For more inspiration, check out Get a Good Habit Going.

Be Prepared on the Road is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

This week is all about getting good habits going.

A good habit to cultivate in your home is to record precious memories you experience as a family.

As mothers we are often the keepers of the memories. Yes, I know there are some husbands who are amazing photographers and family histographers. But, in many families, this is Mom’s thing.

And that’s okay.

However, I was stunned by the response to my scrapbooking question last week. So many of us want to preserve these precious memories, but are behind the times, in more ways than one.

This year I’ve made it one of my goals to do something with all our great photos — and also take more photos of my kids than I do groceries and food. Just saying.

So far, I’ve ordered a mini desk calendar and a small photo book with photos from last year and I put together a video of last year to surprise my family with. Neither was difficult and both were fun to do.

Here are some easy ways that you can record sweet memories with your family.

Order flip books and small pocket calendars

My husband was really surprised when he found this little brag book in his stocking. A few flips of the pages and we are transported back to September when we took our first real vacation.

You can easily prepare small photo books on websites like Kodak Gallery and Shutterfly. Both websites are very user friendly and you can often find great deals to get money off your order or even get a free book.

Make a family wall calendar

My sister Janel has instituted a way to capture her family’s days as well as her children’s artwork in one spot. She created a large, monthly wall calendar for her girls to decorate. Not only does it provide colorful decor, but it’s also a great command center for their days. Janel even created a pdf so you could do this yourself with your kids.

Create a family video

Making a slideshow set to music really is not difficult and it provides an easy, fun way to walk down Memory Lane. Most of us already have plenty of digital photos at our disposal. And the last two computers I’ve owned both came preloaded with software to make a video and burn it to a DVD. If I can do it, you can. Promise.

This video is an excerpt of the one I made for our family for New Year’s. The entire video was a compilation of our year’s photographs, set to music. I used Microsoft Live Movie Maker which is free to download. I didn’t read the directions — because I don’t read directions — much to my husband’s chagrin, and I figured it out pretty easily. So, you can, too.

Frame your children’s artwork

Enjoy the art that your kids create! You probably have plenty of drawings and paintings to choose from. Frame them and hang them where you can see and enjoy them. I have one from years ago that FishBoy13, then 7 made. I display it at Christmas time and smile about how he labored over getting the drawing just right.

The Happy Housewife picks up inexpensive frames at IKEA. Kimberly made one whole wall magnetic. Pam stapled artwork to the garage wall. Kristen created her kids’ art gallery in an alcove by her entryway. And Meredith totally rocked it when she gave her daughter paint and an old framed canvas to beautify.

Update family photo albums

To Scrapbook or Not To Scrapbook? That was the question. And your answers proved that there are plenty of options out there. You guys told me about a ton of things I did not know existed!

What did I decide? Well, my position at the moment is that in July (after my cookbook is written), I will put together real paper and photo baby books for the two FishChicks, through Year Two, using some streamlined methods and templates. For the rest of us, I will put together albums through digital sites like Kodak or Shutterfly and try to get our family albums caught up.

Hang framed photos

You can easily and quickly brighten up the rooms of your home by adding framed pictures of the people you love. Photos are easy to order online; you can even get the prints shipped directly to your home. Frames at IKEA or Walmart are not all that costly.

Sure, you could pay for professional framing, but if that is cost-prohibitive, don’t sweat it. Just get the pics out of the drawer, box, or hard drive and onto your walls.

I have a ton of framed photos in a box in the garage. I even have a beautiful canvas that I won in a contest — sitting on the floor of my office, leaning against a wall. Time to get these babies hung!

What do YOU do to record sweet family memories?

For more inspiration, check out other Good Habits to Get Going.

6 Easy Ways to Record Sweet Family Memories is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

This week is all about getting good habits going.

We can enter the new year with such good intentions, but it’s sometimes hard to follow through with those goals. It’s good to sit back and think and plan what we can do to carry those intentions to fruition.

One good habit that is essential to your health and your “life as MOM” is to eat breakfast every day. You know the story, you’ve heard it since you were a kid….

Breakfast is the Most Important Meal of the Day

Not only does breakfast provide calories and energy for the day ahead, but it can also be a very tasty way to spend your morning.

Oftentimes, however, we think that we don’t have time to eat breakfast or our mornings are so scattered, we just don’t make eating a good meal a priority.

Yet, eating a morning meal is not just good for you — it’s good for your kids! So model good eating habits and start breaking that fast each day.

Here are some ways to make breakfast an easy part of your morning:

Make use of your freezer

You’d be surprised at how many breakfast foods do well in the freezer. Egg dishes, cinnamon rolls, and even smoothies can be prepared ahead of time and stashed in the freezer.

Just pull a few key items out the night before and allow them to thaw or rise in the refrigerator. They’ll be ready to bake or serve first thing in the morning.

Enjoy dairy and fresh fruit

Some of my favorite breakfasts consist of fresh fruit and either cottage cheese or yogurt. The dairy products provide the calcium and protein while the fruit adds a juicy sweetness — and makes it a little more fun.

Set it up the night before

Lay out bowls and spoons and boxed cereal or oatmeal before you go to bed at night. Mix up an egg dish to stash in the fridge. Assemble your smoothie ingredients in the blender bowl and slip in on the refrigerator shelf.

By setting things up before you go to bed, you’ve saved yourself some critical steps in the morning. And less work when you’re bleary eyed is more likely to lead to good eating.

Eat Oatmeal

Oatmeal is said to be a great source of fiber. Experience tells me it’s a great stick-to-your-ribs kind of breakfast. Provided that it’s not mushy, I love oatmeal, especially with cream, nuts, dried fruit, and a little brown sugar. Yum!

I often make instant oatmeal packets for my kids which they devour in short order. I prefer cook-on-the-stove oatmeal, so when I mix up a pot, I often let them shake on a few sprinkles in stead of sugar. They think the colored sprinkles are way cool and it helps them enjoy a good breakfast in a fun way.

Win some Coach’s Oats

Coach’s Oats has provided me with oats to share with my readers. I first heard about Coach’s Oats from my father-in-law when he came to stay at our house for a couple weeks last winter. He made a special trip to Costco since he had left his own supply at home.

He is a huge fan of these steel-cut oats, as is his son, and his grandsons.

This oatmeal is steel-cut rather than rolled and then toasted, giving it body and texture that you don’t see in regular oats. It cooks quickly, but it doesn’t get soggy. Definitely a winner in my book.

This week five LifeasMOM readers will get the chance to test out Coach’s Oats for themselves.

To Participate:

Leave a comment telling us your favorite way to serve breakfast. I will randomly choose five readers to each receive a large bag of Coach’s Oats. Recipients will be notified via email. Remember, you must respond within 48 hours to claim your coupon.

Comments on this post will be open until Sunday, January 16 at 8 pm, PST.

This giveaway is now closed. Congrats to the winners,

chayo.ramirez@shmilgah@kyleandbridget@bluehydrangea@copterwife@

Disclosure: Coach’s Oats is an advertising sponsor for the Get a Good Habit Going series.

For more inspiration, check out other Good Habits to Get Going.

Eat Breakfast Each Day is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

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Each month I’ve had such fun offering specially themed series. They’ve included giveaways and inspiring ideas to make “life as MOM” a little more enjoyable. I’m pleased to be able to offer another series next week!

Get a Good Habit Going

This week will include daily giveaways as well as all kinds of good ideas to help your life as MOM. And this month is a great time to get a good habit going.

The new year is an ideal time to “reset your system.” It may sound cliche, but it’s nice to get a fresh start! I love having a do-over.

• Maybe you want to quit worrying, be happier, or eat better.

• Maybe you want to start exercising, be better prepared for emergencies or save money.

• Maybe you just want to rest more.

Whatever good habit you’d like to start in yourself, there’s no better time than next week! So tune in and maybe even bookmark this post as I’ll be updating it with giveaways and ideas as the week progresses.

Or if it’s easier, subscribe to LifeasMOM via email and get a daily digest of what’s going on.

Any which way, I hope we can encourage one another to “get a good habit going.”

Some Good Habits to Get Going

• Be Like the Flowers of the Field — Don’t Worry

• Enjoy the Benefits of a Pantry Challenge

• Booking It – Join the Club (& a Giveaway)

• Eat Breakfast Every Day (& a Giveaway)

• Record Sweet Family Memories

• Get a Little Green (& a Giveaway)

• Make a Household Notebook

• Be Prepared on the Road (& a Giveaway)

• Eat More Veggies

• Eat More Real Food (A Giveaway)

• What’s Your Bad Money Habit?

• Enjoy Each Season of Childhood

• Love that Exersaucer (& a Giveaway from Evenflo)

• Plan a Family Movie Night

:: This series is brought you, in part, by Coach’s Oats. Coach’s Oats has reinvented oatmeal and can reinvent your breakfast. It provides steel cut texture and taste without the wait.

Get a Good Habit Going! is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

November is a favorite month around here. Not only do we celebrate the last two birthdays of the year, but the feast to beat all feasts occurs at the end of the month. My little gluttons gourmands adore Thanksgiving when we bring out all our favorite once-a-year treats.

And although, Nanna’s Toffee Dream is certainly worth fighting for, it’s a little heavy on the sugar. This year I’m hoping to strike a happy balance between preparing the special dishes we enjoy at the holiday time as well as avoiding excess. In the immortal words of Ma Ingalls, “Enough is as good as a feast.”

That’s why I’m so excited to be a part of the “Have a Healthy Holiday” series starting on the 15th of this month. I’ll be partnering with some great bloggers and good friends to bring you healthier holiday recipes this year, giving you what you need to create “nutritious and delicious” from appetizers to desserts. These girls are keeping me and my food goals in check.

So, join me and Good Life Eats, The Thrifty Mama, Balancing Beauty and Bedlam, Saving Naturally, Surviving the Stores, and The Five Dollar Dinner Mom as we cook up all kinds of good eats this month.

What’s YOUR plan for good eating this year?

Is a Healthy Holiday Feast Possible? is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

Life is full of ups and downs. Like a roller coaster, there will always be a turn we don’t expect, a sudden drop, an exhilarating high. For kids, it’s helpful when Mom and Dad work to make things move on an even keel. Consistency is a key to making that happen.

Despite my best intentions, I don’t do this as well as I would like. I’m constantly looking for ways to simplify our life and to make systems that help our home run more smoothly.

Jamie at Steady Mom has been running a series, interviewing different moms and collecting ideas for how we can all maintain a sense of equilibrium — for ourselves as well as for our children.

Today’s my day to be interviewed. Pop over and see what we do, quite imperfectly, to keep things steady at our house.

Keeping Things Steady is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.