WW "Photographer Dance Pictures"

Hello! Happy Hump Day! I hope you are not sick of pictures of my daughter/dance pictures. But I've got two more. These are pictures that the photographer took of her. They do a really good job.

Which they look better in person, but my husband had to scan these for me. Which he then saved as a pdf file and I just spent the last hour figuring out how to convert them to a jpg file! I am good, but needless to say the quality is better in real life. If any of this makes sense xoxo (which they actually look pretty good here too!)

Ballet:

Hip Hop:

Bic Mark-It Permanent Markers - Cool project & $2 Coupon

I received some Bic Markers the other day.

They are a pack of Bic Mark-It permanent markers - pack of 36.

I also got a cool project to create. It is an herb garden kit. I decorated the herb containers using my new Bic Mark-It permanent markers.

My daughter helped me plant the herbs, by putting in the dirt, watering and planting the seeds. This was a really fun project we got to do. Now we have to see if our herbs will grow! We planted Arugula, Basil, Dill, Fennel, Mint & Oregano.

Visit my Pinterest Board I created showing all the pictures of our herb garden project.

For more information visit these links:

Bic Mark-It Website
Bic Mark-It Pinterest
Also Like Bic Mark It on Facebook - they seem to have a lot of giveaways there.

And for a $2.00 coupon for Bic Mark-It Visit Here.

Disclosure: I received Bic Mark-It permanent markers and some of the supplies for an herb garden through Smiley360. No other compensation was given and my opinions are my own. 

Giveaways Ending Soon

Hi, just a reminder - two of my giveaways are ending soon.

Need some labels for your child's summer camp experience? Then enter my Lovable Labels - Ultimate Camp Pack- Giveaway (5/18) Ends Tonight!

Also need some new sunglasses? Enter my Firmoo Sunglasses Giveaway - 7 winners (5/20)   Ends soon and low entries!

Multivitamin Nutrition: Salads, Supplements, and Summer

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Summer is the perfect time to take a look at your diet and make some positive changes. Since summer foods are typically lighter and contain fresh fruits and vegetables, take some time this spring to evaluate and set goals for the changes you’d like to make. Eating healthy will affect every part of your life and your kids’ lives -- it’s a foundational element to living the best life you can live. Train your kids to enjoy healthy foods while they’re still young. Creating a great salad doesn’t have to be difficult, just like getting the vitamins your body needs doesn’t need to be difficult.

 Multivitamins
 The easiest way to consistently give your body the nutrition it needs is to invest in some good, high-quality multivitamins and take them on a daily basis. Seven Seas offers great supplements that can help you achieve your goals. You’ll still want to be sure that the foods you are eating provide the vitamins your body needs, but it’s difficult to get all the nutrition your body needs only through eating. Taking a multivitamin may help increase your energy, productivity, and overall health.

Spinach Salads 
Spinach salads are fantastic, because spinach has high iron content, and this leafy green vegetable tastes great with a variety of toppings. Keep your salad simple, so the ingredients have a chance to sing. Lay out a bed of a few cups of raw spinach leaves, and drop cubes of a lean, white meat on top of it, such as chicken or turkey. If you’re a vegetarian, consider a tofu option instead. Add something that will give a bit of a crunchy texture, such as sunflower seeds, pecans, walnuts, or even wonton strips. If you’d like to give the salad a salty zing, add some bacon bits. A bit of crumbled cheese will finish it off, along with a light, vinaigrette dressing. Eat your salad with a whole wheat roll and a glass of your favorite white wine.

BBQ Salads
 If you’re looking for a heartier salad option that still offers the same nutritional elements, consider a BBQ chicken salad. You might even be able to get your husband to eat it. Black beans are a low-calorie, high-nutrient source of vitamins. Be sure to add some into your salad. Cold sweet corn gives the salad a sweet crunch. You can use any type of lettuce you’d like for this salad, but in order to ensure it has a high nutritional content, go for a lettuce that is dark green and not full of water. Add some sunflower seeds, a few tortilla strips, and either chicken or a cooked salmon filet to complete the salad. For dressing, choose an avocado vinaigrette and add a dab of barbeque sauce to finish it.

Paige One writes about a variety of topics, from fashion to fitness – to even health!

Disclosure: sponsored post from Paige One. See my Disclosure Policy.

WW "Dance Recital - Spread Your Wings"

From Monday through Saturday, last week my daughter and I were very busy with the dance recital. Practices Mon-Wed., then the dress rehearsal on Thurs., then Fri-Sat was the recital.

Needless to say, after all that we were both exhausted. But the recital was really great, and my daughter did fantastic in it!

The main Title of the recital was "Spread Your Wings." And she did that. It seems 8 yrs of dance is finally paying off. (ha-ha)

Backstage before ballet (which is actually in a classroom at the high school)

before Hip/Hop:

At home after 1st show with bouquet of roses:

After 2nd show with brother:

With Dad:

All 3 together:

Ginkgo Biloba and Other Natural Defenses for the Symptoms of Depression

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Depression can be scary for both you and your family, but it’s difficult to heal. Everyone experiences depression differently, based on their unique brain chemistry, past, and personality. Sometimes prescription medication, therapy, natural remedies, or all three are the right answer. If you struggle with depression or are supporting someone who does, talk to your doctor or therapist about solutions that might be right. No one should have to live under the shadow of depression. If you’re looking for natural remedies, here are a few great ones that have helped many people manage the symptoms.

Ginkgo Biloba 
Nature’s Best offers ginkgo biloba supplements that have been shown in many case studies to improve blood flow to the brain. It can also help reduce stressinduced brain damage. Ginkgo biloba can be taken as a beverage or in capsules, and studies suggest that taking 40 to 80 mg three times a day can relieve symptoms of depression. Ask your doctor to find out what dosage is right for you.The antidepressant qualities of ginkgo biloba have been studied since it was noted that when people with insufficient blood flow to the brain used ginkgo biloba, their mood also improved.

Routine 
Be gentle with yourself, but know when to also set some structure for yourself. When you’re depressed, one day can melt into another, and before you know it, your life will feel much more out-of-control than it actually is. Having a routine, even if it’s as simple as showering each morning, blow-drying your hair, and preparing a refreshing breakfast, will help you maintain a sense of accomplishment or control when other important things in your life feel overwhelming or off. It may be easy to let daily tasks slide -- they may not seem as important as the feelings or grief you’re experiencing. Humans need a sense of order and accomplishment to feel alive, so even if you only fold a few shirts or wipe down a counter, be sure to do things that help maintain a sense of order in your life.

Exercise 
Going for a 30-minute walk every day will help you gain perspective and increase brain activity. You don’t have to push yourself hard -- and if you’d rather not be surrounded by strangers, take a quiet neighborhood walk rather than going to the gym or another highly populated area. If you’d rather have a peaceful setting, walk with a close friend or spouse at dusk when the world feels more peaceful. Nighttime is also a great time to walk with a friend if you are in a safe area. Give yourself the space and distance you need for a time, but don’t compromise your own health and your need to be part of community and the world. Isolation may feel like it’s the best therapy for depression, but it’s really not.

Paige One writes about a variety of topics, from fashion to fitness – to even health!

Disclosure: The above is a sponsored guest post. 

Schwinn Windwood Women's Cruiser Bike Giveaway

 Here is a cool giveaway for you guys. It opens tonight at midnight (5/15) so please be sure to stop by later to enter this. And enter it often. Please read details below, and enter via Rafflecopter.

starts tonight 5/15 12:01 am ends 5/30 12:59 pm

 

open to USA only

Sponsored by: Mom Blog Society | She Informed | My Dairy Free Gluten Free Life | Frantic Mommy

Co-Hosted by: Jackie's Reviews | Geeky Gamer Mom | Swank Savings

The classic Schwinn Windwood women's 26-Inch cruiser evokes the simple style and grace of traditional bicycles, making it a great choice for cruising to the store, the beach, or around town. Designed for easy, relaxed riding, the Windwood boasts a sturdy steel frame with a low stand-over height, making it easy to get on and off the bike. The rustproof 26-hole alloy rims and rear coaster brakes, meanwhile, allow you to stop on a dime. And riders will love the classic chrome fenders and rear storage rack. Other details include a comfortable wide-spring saddle, a single-speed design, pneumatic tires, and curved back handlebars.

About Schwinn
Founded in 1895, Schwinn is an American icon that's long been synonymous with quality and innovation. The company has built some of the best-known and best-loved bikes of multiple generations, including the Aerocycle, Paramount, Phantom, Varsity, Sting-Ray, Krate, and Homegrown. Today, Schwinn continues to innovate with such releases as the redesigned Sting-Ray, Rocket mountain bikes, and Fastback road bikes. With a continued dedication to quality forever synonymous with the Schwinn name, America's most famous bicycle brand looks forward to providing another century of innovation, freedom, and performance to people of all ages.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I am not receiving any compensation for this post. Just a link to one of my social media sites, to share this RC giveaway. Sponsors are responsible for awarding and picking prize winners.

Stay Stress Free – Learn to Breathe Correctly and Focus on Your Breath

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Sometimes when you are in a stressful situation and you try to tell yourself to

take deep breaths it may be easier said than done. You don’t want to get anxious

from concentrating on your breathing too much, but you do want to focus on your

breathing enough to calm yourself down and realize that the stressful situation

will pass or there is nothing you can do about it at the moment. As a mother

your children will make you very frustrated at times, so it’s up to you on how you

handle it. Breathing correctly, exercising, and taking your vitamins on a daily

basis play a big part in staying stress free, because after you implement certain

techniques your stress level will go down and the smile on your face will return.

Are You Breathing Correctly?

You may have never taken the time to ask yourself if you’re breathing correctly,

because breathing is just as easy as walking (it’s just something that you do

without thinking about). However, there is a certain way to breathe when you are

in a high stress situation. First figure out where your breath is coming from. To

do this place one hand on your belly and the other on your chest. Singers are

trained to sing from their diaphragm, but in reality that’s also where you should

be focused on breathing from too, especially if you get anxious or stressed out in

intense situations. Inhale, allow your belly to come out, and exhale and the belly

will go back in. It’s okay to let your belly stick out during this exercise – only you

will know what you’re doing to help you relax. Focus on this technique until you

get it down; it will help you breathe correctly!

Learning to breathe this way will help you not only use your diaphragm if you’re

a singer, but it will help you focus on your breathing if you’re a busy mother too.

Being mindful of your breathing will help you focus on the flow of your breath

(yoga is a good place to do this too!) and will also hopefully allow you to meditate

and feel less focused on the stressful situation at hand. Give it a try and watch

the world around you quiet down. Soon enough you’ll be a breathing pro.

Maintain a Healthy Regimen

Having a healthy regimen is easier said than done, but staying healthy also

affects your stress level. If you’re eating the correct foods, taking the right

vitamins and exercising daily, this will also help you manage your stress.

Visit here at Sidepon.com to find Puritan’s Pride coupons so that you can stock up

your vitamins if you haven’t been taking any recently.

You can also practice your breathing during great fitness classes such as Yoga,

Pilates, and other classes that help you focus on your breathing. It’s okay to

take a break from being a stay-at-home mom and its okay to take a break after

working all day! Whatever the case may be, stick to a schedule that helps you

stay sane and soon enough you’ll be able to cope with most of the uncomfortable

or stressful situations that come your way with ease.

Sierra occasionally suffers from anxiety but thanks to breathing techniques and

the proper diet has learned how to manage her stress level. Learn more about

Sierra at her Ocean Dreams blog.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored guest post.