Out of Balance

My life has been slightly out of balance for the last few weeks. It always amazes me how delicate the balance really is. It only takes a tremor in one area of our lives to slowly work its way through the rest of our life and suddenly WHAM you have no food in the house and 2 weeks worth of laundry to tackle.

It think if I were to pinpoint the tremor, it would be when our department had to start working short staffed. Everyone dug in and started working harder, more efficiently cutting breaks short, not out of office lunch trips for errands or just to go out for lunch. We pulled up our socks and tighten our belts.

I started doing the same thing at home striving to get out of the house a little earlier so I could get to work a little earlier hoping I could get one of two more things done to ease the increasing workload.

I started cutting corners at home, not taking the extra time to menu plan and plan my shopping trips. I stopped planning my spending. I started going to bed earlier because I knew I needed my rest to keep up with the demands I would face the next day.

Slowly but surely things started to build up or unravel or just plain implode.

I finally hit the wall when I realized the kids were eating fast food for the 3rd time this week and the baby spinach I had bought 2 weeks ago was rotten in the fridge.

I realized I had spent over double our plan for food and entertainment on snack food and fast food but didn't have any meat in the fridge of freezer to make a decent meal.

I realized I couldn't have made the meal if I did have the ingredients because I was running the edge, leaving work late enough that I hit traffic and wasn;t getting home until 5:30 and it would be 6:30 before we would eat. The night we weren't eating fast food we were eating peanut butter wraps and jelly sandwiches.

I skipped the kids bathes a few nights.

I stopped blogging, twittering, emailing and calling (my friends, my community)

I realized I didn't even care.

I was out of balance and as a result my family, my finances and my life was out of balance.

It all took less than a month.

What is sad is that even though I knew I was out of balance, I still didn't know how I was going to fix it.

I kept my monthly massage and reflexology appointments I even scheduled a facial, because intellectually I knew I need to take some time for me. But was I really getting any benefit from these appointments when I was constently worried about the back up building at home?

It has taken a mild illness of one of my kids for me to have to say NO to a few obligations, including working late, to be tethered to the house with my child for a few things to happen.

1) for me to work on getting caught up (laudry, menu planning, cooking, grocery shopping)
2) to realize that I can't wait until one of the kids gets sick to get caught up (I really don't want them to be sick)
3) start to formulate a plan on how to deal with this out of balance existence

Having to say NO to some obligations was the start and let me tell you that really hurt. These were long standing traditional events that I participate in every year. This HURT so bad that I want to make a plan to ensure I will never have to say NO to these types of events EVER Again.

Stay tuned to find out how I am formulating my plan to get back in balance.

Shannon

Happy Halloween!!!!!

Wishing everyone a safe and Happy Halloween!!! Life in balance... don't eat too much candy ;) LOL Easier said then done!!! Have a safe and happy evening everyone!!!

jenn and shann

Jeffery Gitomer in London a review.

Finally, I have two seconds to get my thoughts down on this trip.



We booked this trip MONTHS ago. We bought out tickets and dediced to book a hotel room and make it a little mommy get away in the middle of the week. Jeffery was to go on stage at 8AM and there is no way I would have been relaxed getting up at 5AM to drive to London.



At first we had planned to leave shortly after lunch on Wednesday afternoon to drive down and do some shopping go out for dinner, workout, hot tub and hang out. However, our MOM duties increasingly encroached on this time, between packing for my scrapbooking weekend, beavers for the boy and Jenn super hockey schedule we found ourselves leaving KW at 6:15PM. We quickly settled into driving and had a great chat on the way down to London. We located the hotel to spite some directionally challanging moments and unloaded the bags out of the car.



We settled into our room and decided to head down to the restaurant for dinner not wanting to venture out in the COLD. The restaurant had an hour wait so we decided to eat in the bar, which due to poor service was almost an hour wait as well. Mildly ticked with our service we headed up to hour rooms since it was almost 9PM!



Although the front desk had given us access codes for the internet they did not tell us what the name of the server was (we had naively assumed it would be called THIS HOTEL - CUSTOMER SERVER silly us. We had to call to find out the name of the server. Internet was sporadic at best we managed to do more twitter updates from our phones than from the actual internet. Most saying things like #hiltonepicfail



We finally gave up on the computers and settled into our fluffy beds and talked and giggled for a few hours before declaring we had better go to bed or we'll be so tired in the morning.



In the morning we were up and ready to go, on our way downstairs shortly before 7:30am there was a light breakfast available and not enough COFFEE (my god!) I only took half a cup so the poor lady behind me would get half a cup as well.



Now imagine if you will appoximately 1000 people in a space able to accommodate oh maybe 500 can you say squishy. Finally the doors opened at 7:50 and we were able to go in and find a seat. There was seating for about 3-4000 and I swear to you by 8:15 it was FULL.



Jenn is friends with Jeffery's girlfriend Jessica so she went up to say hello. As you know he had a little gift for her from Jessica since she couldn't make this trip.



8AM Jeffery started. Now, I have seen Jeffery before I was able to see him in Toronto in January so I knew what to expect, there were a few new things but alot of it was the same. This was great! Not only did I get to hear the samething again but this time I was looking at it from a vantage point of how well have I done implementing the ideas he raised. I had a lot of fun talking with other people and getting their take or lack thereof of Jeffery's message.

His message is sales based as he is a Sales Guru, but you can take a lot of tips and incorporate them into your every day life too. I don't mean that you have to sell things either!

Number one rule in sales or life general: YOU ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON. We live in a world that it seems selfish to think this, but it is so true. From a mother's perspective if we don't take care of ourselves and remain healthy how can we help our loved ones?? You have to make some "me" time and not feel guilty about it. It is treated as awful or your looked down upon for taking time to yourself. Especially mothers. Its in grained in us to put our kids first, then husband, then us, maybe.

Number two is simply THINK! You truly become what you think about. You think positive thoughts you'll see more positive things around you. You think negative, you'll find the negative. Simple. Think you can and you will, think you can't and trust me, you won't!!!

Number three is OWN. As in own up and take responsibility. This can be in things that were said, done, at home, with friends at work. Whatever, stop passing the blame. The buck ends here.

Number four is BECOME. You don't get positive over night. It takes "daily" doses. Read positive things, surround yourself with positive people. Read, listen and practice daily!!! Even if its only 15mins! Do it!! Turn off the news. You don't need to watch it every single night! Or wake up 15mins earlier and start the day off right but reading or writing!

Number five is ATTITUDE! Attitude is everything! Make yours a YES! Attitude!


We of course learned a lot more then this, but like I said these are the ones that tie inot beuilding a balanced life!

shann

:)

It's kind of fun to do the impossible.
~Walt Disney

Seriously...what a great quote!!! So true! It is so much fun to do the impossible, prove people wrong! And you can do the impossible! Thoughts become your reality! Work, think, and stay positive!!! You can do it!

Dream Big

Everything starts as somebody's daydream ~ Larry Niven

Its no secret that I love quotes. I send them out every day to people, I read them, I say them out loud like affirmations. Love them! My friend Jessica gave me this book called Dream big starring Olivia.

It is a sweet little story of Olivia the pig and her dreams. Its art and motivational quotes together! A must read and its not just for kids! This needs to be in the adult library too!


I love it!

Thanks Jess.
j

I know...

We should be recapping are awesome experience in London at the Jeffrey Gitomer Workshop! It was amazing, but this weekend has been hectic for both of us. Shannon has been running a scrapbooking retreat weekend (she is a CM rep) and I've been in the rink from morning to night! A life in balance right? hehe

Instead we are changing gears for a day! The recap will come!!!

I wanted to talk about some health self help! As most of you know I am a reflexology practitioner! You can check out an interactive map for feet and hands here! Its a great way to learn some self help!

One of the best tools to help yourself is grabbing a golf or tennis ball and simply rolling it on the bottom of your foot. All the way from the heel to the tips of the toes. Sit down on a chair to do this (just to be safe). It will help promote your circulation and just feel relaxing.

If your sinus's are acting up, grab a pen and roll it between your finger tips. You will feel a "crunch" happening and that is your sinus reflexes! It does really help!

Lastly, if you have a headache. Press the "v" webbing between your thumb and forefinger. Press right back by the bone area in that web, pressing both top and bottom. Yes it will hurt. Hold for about 30 seconds, then moving to the other hand. This should help take the edge of your headache!

All these are cool little self help tips to help you become more in balance.

There will be more to come!

Learn to read your hand

More about reflexology

Fall

It feels like the perfect fall day out there! Sunny, crisp and just a gorgous day!!! We're back from our workshop... inspired and full of information to share!!!

Check this weekend! .... stay tuned!

More about Attitude

The book and author that we were talking about, Jeffrey Gitomer, has a free webcast happening RIGHT NOW on the Success Magazine Blog! He is offering a great 10 week challenge on how to succeed in this economy. Even if you don't sign up for the rest the first lesson is all about his Yes! Attitude. How perfect!

By now you know we love this guy and feel that his message of attitude, gratitude and responsibility are very important. If you are feeling out of balanced, stressed about finances, relationships or your career, there is just something about this gentleman's charisma and passion that can get you motivated. He shoots from the hip, calls a spade a spade, and somehow helps you find the confidence to be able to say I CAN DEAL WITH THIS. The time is now!

We all need a little bit of that kind of mojo don't we. Its a great 10min video and/or read! Go check it out!!!

You can find it by going here to watch and read about it!

Tickets are still available to see Jeffery in London, Ontario this Thursday! We are going and would love to see some familiar faces there. www.buygitomer.com

Have a great day and remember this is a SHORT week!

:)

What are you thankful for?

What are you thankful for?

Lets start a list.... add to it in the comments.

• family
• health
• friends
• roof over our head
• food on the table
• for my kids love of sport
• my job
• this blog (and shannon!!!!)
• my love of cooking
• my love of scrapbooking
• traveling
• my blackberry (yeah i'm thankful for it!!!)
• the web (come on its cool...admit it)
• crisp fall air
• sunshine
• coffee
  

add to it what your thankful for!!!

Thankful...

That is the topic for this weekend.

For us here in Canada, this is our Thanksgiving weekend! We celebrate it with friends and family. It is a time to reflect and realize the abundance that we are so blessed to have around us! From food, shelter, material things to family and friends, we are truly so blessed. Its a time to give gratitude and love.

“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” — William Arthur Ward

“Give thanks for a little and you will find a lot.” — The Hausa of Nigeria

“God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say “thank you?” — William A. Ward

Some great quotes on being thankful!

What does thanksgiving mean to you? Is it a time to celebrate with family and friends for what you are truly thankful for? Is it just a time together? Do you take the time to realize how blessed we really all are?


I leave you with a poem that sums it all up!

Be Thankful

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire,
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don’t know something
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations
Because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge
Because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you’re tired and weary
Because it means you’ve made a difference.

It is easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are
also thankful for the setbacks.

GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles
and they can become your blessings.

Author Unknown

Grocery Shopping Bags

So let's talk about some of the things we do our use to "go green" or reduce our "carbon footprint"

By now I would assume that everyone has purchased one or two of your favorite grocery store "eco-bags". I am a Sobey's shopper myself so I have the bright green bags with large photos of Artichokes, blueberries and oranges on them. Not to discriminate I also have a couple from Zehr's, Chapters, my local butcher shop, drug stores and some that I have won as prizes.

But Shannon you ask, How many bags to you have? Too many! probably 20, that's just crazy talk. Unless you are Kate Gosselin shopping for a months worth of groceries you can't possibly need 20 bags!

The truth is...I can't remember to put them back in my car... and when I do, I have forgotten to take them into the store. Unbelievable. So with approximately 20 bags I have managed to mantain a routine of cycling them through the purchase, unpacking, storage and eventually ending up back in the car to get used at the grocery store again.

I do have shopping bag envy though..... and it looks like this.

Blue Avocado is probably the chicest, cutest supplier of eco friendly shopping bags. They have bags for everything, shopping, produce, insulated. EVERYTHING. And they fold up into a cute adorable pouch that can fit in your purse.

So if I'm on anyone's Christmas list this year. This is what you can get me.

How many grocery shopping bags do you have?

Shannon

:)

quote

Whether you think that you can, or that you can't, you are usually right.
~ Henry Ford


How true is that? Again it all goes back to attitude!!! We love quotes! All kinds of quotes and we send them out daily! If you would like to be added to our daily list, please either email us your address or leave a message in the comments! Nothing a like a little daily does of positivity directly to your in box every morning!

YES! Attitude Winner

For some reason I am technically inept and cannot get the print screen of the image to show so y'all will just have to trust me.The randomly generated choice of Random.org was Comment #8 submitted by MINDY.

MINDY send us your info at abalancedlifestyle@gmail.com and we will send you out your copy of Jeffery Gitomer's Little Gold Book of YES! Attitude.

Thank you so much everyone for all your inspiring comments about how you stay positive.

More about Attitude

I know, I know, we talk a lot about attitude don’t we! Well it is because its one of the most important choices we have in our life. There are a number of things that are out of our control, but our attitude is not one of them. We have FREE choice on how we deal with our attitude. We choose to have a good or not. Yes I realize when we are grumpy and it feels like everything is going wrong around us it is easy to just say "screw it", but again that is our choice to think that way.

I know as I type this I’m waiting for someone to show up. A good friend I’m meeting up with. She is late at the moment and I could get all pissed off that she is late (it is one of my pet peeves), but instead I choose a different attitude. I grabbed my laptop and I’m working on this blog post.

Ever heard that saying, “it is all in the attitude”? Well they are absolutely right. Attitude is everything. Good or bad, the choice is yours, but it is everything. It is your outlook on life. We can get mad when we are sitting in bumper to bumper traffic or chose to use that time to listen something on the CD, or be thankful we’re not in the accident ahead of us, count our blessings, that sort of thing.

Have you noticed that when you are around someone with a pleasant attitude, yours can change that way and vice versa, if you with someone that is very negative you can change that way or you feel drained, tired and irritated.

You choose in every situation how your attitude is going to be. Even when someone is making you angry you can choose to have a good attitude and trust me I KNOW that is not easy, but it can be done.

A friend asked me recently how do you get to a point where you are so positive on most things. Truth is I'm not always, but I have a GREAT network of support around me that I text, blackberry, email, call whatever when I'm feeling negative. They know how to get me back and I do the same for them. I have to admit its been years in working towards trying to keep a positive attitude and I know there is always room for improvement. One of the biggest things that has helped me on this journey is reading books on positive attitudes! When I say reading them, I mean every day!! That said don't forget to go our book review post here and enter to win a copy of Jeffrey's Yes!Attitude. You have till tomorrow to enter!!!! In the coming posts we will talk about how to get your attitude on the right track, but reading all kinds of books on the subject is a great way to start!

Sunday quote...

There's nothing more important in life,
than the people you meet along the way.

I was sent that quote a while back and its so true. :) Another post on attitude coming your way tonight! Stay tuned.

More Positive Attitude

I came here today to right a more comprehensive review of this book and how it has changed my life. However, when I started going through the book to pull out some of my favorite parts, I for the life of me could not choose.

So being the Type A person that I am I created a criteria for choosing the things I liked most. I decided that if the page was folded down or the corner was clean tore off that would be a good place to start.

53 pages! to choose from, still too many parameters. So this time I decided to chuck the Type A approach and just write from my heart.

I have always been a pretty positive person. I have had many challenges in my life, some I have created and some blessed upon me by others. It is now that I am able to view these as opportunities vs getting down and depressed about the amount of CRAP I have to deal with.

Jenn had received this book from a dear friend. She blogged about it and I read the blog post about it. I headed out that day for lunch and thought I would check at Chapters to see if they had it. They did. I started reading it right there in the store. An hour later I realized I was still reading and now late for work. I scurried back to work and placed the book on my desk. For a few weeks it traveled back and forth with me to and from work. Finally I decided it was so valuable in both places I bought a second copy.

This book is about seeing my life as MY choice, MY responsibility.

One of my most favorite parts is in Chapter 5 in this chapter he talks about problems and how to work with them. "Start thinking by reading and writing. Everyone has problems, issues, challenges, and drama in their lives. The difference between positive resolve and negative resolve is the thought process that goes into figuring out the solution."

How many of us can say they spent as much time thinking about the possible solutions as we do complaining or worrying about the problem, issues, what have you.

This concept changed my life and how I view everything. I was there already, but this book helped cement this solution oriented living in my consciousness. I have the power.

This summer and fall as our family has seen several changes in our therapy care partners and school education partners for our son with Cerebral Palsy, it would be easy to be upset by the changes to rail against them. To beg and plead with the "powers that be" not to change things -- We have had too much change. To demand that others figure out away to continue with status quo.

Instead, we are choosing to view this as an opportunity to learn to survive change, deal with change and adapt with change. After all is this not a powerful gift to our son who will surely experience changes in his care providers for the rest of his life.

There are few things I know for certain in this life, but I do know everything will CHANGE.

You can wallow around and have yourself a pity party forever, or you can get with the program and be active in creating desirable solutions.

Don't forget to leave your comment on our book review post to receive a copy of this powerful book.

Be the Change you want to see - Shannon