PUT YOUR HOUSE IN ORDER - MANAGING YOUR WEIGHT

     There' a ton of stuff you can do as a momma that burns calories and helps keep you in shape! I'm actually benefiting from the daily explosion of Cheerios in my living room because vacuuming burns 238 calories an hour! Who knew? I just found this great website - caloriecount.com that lists all kinds of mommy activities and the corresponding calorie count burned. Plus, you can even see what kind of fast food you might eat that would require that many calories burned... not that I eat fast food. Ever.

     There's more to keeping the calories burning than just staying busy though. You have to eat... like constantly. It's what you eat though that helps you loose weight. When your body is fed every couple of hours, it keeps the furnace going (like an engine on a train), so your metabolism is and up and moving. I've heard this for years but I've always found it impossible to eat as many times as most experts advise, until recently that is. I'm sure you other moms out there are running to the fridge/pantry a million times a day getting juice, goldfish, water, more goldfish, and so on. This summer I started keeping a bag of baby carrots opened and right on the top shelf on the refrigerator door. Every time I open the fridge, I eat two carrots! It's keeping my energy going, keeping the hunger away, and it's helping me focus on work instead of feeling hungry and distracted.

     Now I'm not one for scales, they're just too moody for me. But I do pay attention to how my clothes fit and I can see a difference after a month of carrots and cleaning. So, if you are feeling the blah's about your looks and just can't seem to find the time or motivation to get to the gym, I encourage you to get your house in order and start cleaning! You and your house will be in shape in no time!

xoxo,
Rachel    
(Bonus! I just read that knitting/crocheting burns 103 calories an hour! Sweet!) 

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PUT YOUR HOUSE IN ORDER!

     School is just about to start and boy what a mess we've made around here this summer! A simple task like moving the computer to a different wall in the living room turned into a 5 hour task! I didn't realize how much stuff I had tucked away here and there. And of course, everything has to come out before you can organize. I call it making a mess to clean one up. At about 1 a.m. my living room looked like Hobby Lobby had thrown up all over the place. Where did I get all this yarn? Why do I have 6 pairs of scissors, and why can't I ever find one single pair when I need them? I also discovered that my sister in law is a stinkin' genius (shout out to Carla H.)! I've been stockpiling school supplies and it's been sorta crazy keeping everything from the little ones, until last night that is. My super smart SIL gave all of my girls a clear tub with a lid that she decorated with their names. And last night I found the perfect use for them... school supplies! Now each child has their own resource tub for the year. No more fighting or school supply jealousy. Thanks Carla!!!

     I also realized another very important thing when I woke up this morning... My life in general has become cluttered. So, I made two lists. The first list was all the projects around my house that require mommy hands (organizing shoes, backpacks, winter wardrobes, etc.). The second list was more abstract, an internal "To-Do" list. I'll be blogging about each item on this list in a new series I'm calling "Put Your House In Order." My first post is about taking care of yourself. (ha!) Sorry, I had to laugh. That seems like such an unrealistic topic for moms. But trust me, it's true and you are worth it. So check back tomorrow for more details!

XOXO,
Rachel

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