The Importance of Your Appearance at Home

The View From Childhood: The Importance of Your Appearance at Home

by Charlotte Siems

Girly. What does that word mean to you? Pink feather boas and flaming red high heels come to mind. Bling, sparkles and lace. Tea parties and coffee with girlfriends.

Somehow femininity has gotten a bad rap. Those who scoff and think it means weakness don’t understand the true strength of a woman who knows who she is and isn’t afraid to live it.

Busy women can get in a rut of “sensible” clothing and plain, serviceable shoes. Or worse yet, a daily uniform of t-shirt, jeans and flip flops. After all, we’re going to get fingerprinted with peanut butter and we’ve got that shower to scrub. Who cares what you wear at home, right?

Ahem. If your memorial service were held next week, what would be your family’s memories of you? What photos of you would show up in the slide show? “I remember Mom always wore that Eskimo Joe’s t-shirt and the jeans with the ripped back pocket.” (Sorry, I just attended a funeral and it got me to thinking).

What childhood impressions do you want to leave? It’s worth thinking about.

Do your young children know the swish of a skirt? Do they ever see you in a fresh color with pretty touches of lace? When you put on makeup and fix your hair do they ask where you’re going?

Yes, I know it’s not realistic to wear pearls and heels to do housework. But how about a cheerful apron and some earrings?

You are building memories every single day, memories for your marriage and your family. Those little touches do matter. For instance, fragrance: perfume, scented lotion, or clean soap smell. A pleasant whiff when Mom walks by. Our sense of smell is keenly tied to memory.

When’s the last time you bought something really girly? Something sparkly or lacy and definitely not practical. Whether you wear it in the kitchen or the bedroom, it might just put a spring in your step as you feel pretty and feminine.

Let’s get down to the nitty gritty. What condition are your underthings in? Cotton underwear with stretched out elastic strings hanging down, or smooth microfiber unmentionables in a delicious color? Undergarments that used to be white but are now a grayish unknown color or a peachy-pink lace-trimmed little something? Maybe no one but you and your husband see them, but uh, I rest my case.

Don’t underestimate the effect of your clothing and grooming on your day. On the days when you fix your hair, put on makeup and dress pretty, you feel better about yourself. You know you do.

Just a friendly little neighborhood reminder that your family is watching you. Make the view a little more pleasant.

“Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little things - I am tempted to think there are no little things.” ~ Bruce Barton

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This article was first published by This Lovely Place with Charlotte Siems. To receive Charlotte's "Secrets for Keeping Your Home Together When You Feel Like Your Life is Falling Apart," go to ThisLovelyPlace.com and claim your free guide NOW!

2011-2012 MOPS Year is about to BEGIN!!

Ladies! The 2011 year of MOPS will be starting Thursday, September 1st. Our monthly meetings are on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month. The meetings are from 9:00am - 11:30am and held in the main auditorium of Faith Community Church on Kettleman Lane (by Target).

You are invited to a fun filled year with other Moms in the Lodi area. We are all going through the same things you are going through. It's a time to get together with friends, rejuvenate, take advantage of free childcare for 2 and a half hours and relax!

The MOPS Book Club is also starting back up. The next Book Club meeting will be Monday, August 22nd at 7:00pm at Panera Bread. The meetings will be held at the same time, same place, on the 4th Monday of every month. Not a good reader? No problem. You can come to hear about the book that was read and sit and chat with the other moms. ALL Moms are welcome!

Mom's Night Out will also be kicking back into gear on the 4th Thursday night of every month. The next one will be on Thursday, September 22nd at 7:00pm at Panera Bread. Come and kick up your feet, eat some yummy carbs, or just enjoy a cup of coffee or tea and revel in a night of female adult conversation!

For more MOPS 'get together' information, log on to our meetup site: www.meetup.com/mopslodi

We hope to see you there!

Tea and Testimony April 21st, 2011

Our next MOPS meeting is on Thursday, April 21st. This meeting is a special meeting. It is our 'Tea and Testimony' meeting. It's when we all get dressed up in our Special Spring Attire (whatever that means to you, it doesn't have to be a dress or a skirt) and have a grown-up Tea Party!!

The MOPS leadership team will be providing the food and refreshments. The table leaders will have their tables all decorated pretty. It is a time of fun and reflection. Debbie Didreckson will be giving her testimony and there will be other speakers and topics to lift our spirits and fill our souls. You will NOT want to miss this meeting!

We look forward to seeing you there. May God bless you this week.

Early Literacy Links

As promised, the links for the Early Literacy talk that Lisa Hillstrom gave today at MOPS are below. Please leave us a comment if you have any additional questions!

Helpful Literacy Links:

http://www.readingrockets.org/article/37100
(environmental print)

http://www.readingrockets.org/shows/launching/toddling
(30min video)

http://bcove.me/5nzrez8u
(early reading video 4:58)

http://www.reading.org/Libraries/Parents/pb1070_ready.sflb.ashx
(early reading pamphlet)

http://www.reading.org/Libraries/Parents/pb1071_support.sflb.ashx
(supporting your beginning reader)

http://www.reading.org/Libraries/Parents/pb1072_activities.sflb.ashx
(writing)

http://www.reading.org/Libraries/Parents/pb1073_want.sflb.ashx
(what kids like to read)

http://www.brighthub.com/education/early-childhood/articles/107362.aspx
(Writing phases)

Here comes Peter Cottontail...and all the colds and flus to go with him

It's that time of year again. Cold and flu season. Well, let's be honest, if you have a preschooler, it's cold and flu season all year long! Am I right? It's allergy season as well. And did you know, your allergies can lead to a cold or virus? Allergies drain your immune system when your body is trying to fight off all the allergens. And a compromised immune system means we are more susceptible to germs. It's true! Here are a few tips on how to help cut down on the germ-fest.

Hand Sanitizer - This is an easy option for when you are out and about and your little one has touched every surface possible. It's easier than having to find a bathroom to wash hands. Be sure to have plenty of this on you at all times. Remember to use it or have them wash their hands BEFORE eating and/or touching food. For the adventurous, I have posted a Homemade Sanitizer recipe at the bottom of this post.

Don't let them touch your face with dirty hands - It may sound like common sense, but our little ones touch our face all the time and we don't even think about it. Little Johnny touches your eyebrows and asks, "What is that?". Little Suzy grabs you by both of your cheeks and gets right in your face for that melt-your-heart, "I wuv you Mommy!". Be mindful of where they have been and when was the last time they were de-germed. Most of the germs which enter our body, do so through our eyes, nose or mouth. So to help keep a healthy Mommy...keep those little fingers away from your face as much as possible when they are dirty.

Eat a balanced diet - I know, I know...this is not the easiest thing to do. We are mother's of PRESCHOOLERS, are we not? We are lucky to remember to eat lunch! However, the better your nutrition level in the meals or snacks you do ingest, the better off your immune system will be. Your immune system is the back-up plan when the germs have entered your system, despite your best efforts. With a weak back-up plan...the ship is going down! Mommy will be ill in no time. So keep up the fresh fruits and veggies!

Wipe down those doorknobs and light switches regularly - Just another one of those fun little chores we mom's get to endure. But it will pay off it you keep it up. Let's face it, these are the surfaces most touched by everyone in the house and the surfaces cleaned the least. It's tedious, but it is not time consuming. Just a quick swipe will do wonders for the germ level in your home.

We at Lodi MOPS would like to wish you a happy and healthy Spring 2011!!


Homemade Hand Sanitizer Recipe

You will need the following:
* 1/3 cup of Aloe Vera gel (you can get this at most health food stores or at Wal-Greens, Walmart or Target)
* 2/3 cup of 99% rubbing alcohol
* 8-10 drops of essential oil (lavender, grapefruit, rosemary and tea tree oil have antibacterial properties)


* One small mixing bowl
* Spoon for stirring
* Small bottle with your choice of lid or you can recycle your old hand sanitizer container (you can buy the little plastic ones at Walmart or Target)
* Funnel

Mix all ingredients into your bowl and stir together well. Funnel into your bottle dispenser.

Done!!

Welcome!!

Hello ladies and welcome to the new and improved Lodi MOPS Blog!! I am so glad you stopped by. We are very excited about the new blog and it's multiple possibilities. Thanks to your input, we will have a multitude of topics we will be able to cover in hopes to keep you all interested and coming back for more!!

This first blog will be about some upcoming MOPS Events and a couple of 'Spring Cleaning' tips because, yep, it's that time of year!

April 18th - MOPS Book Club
Our MOPS chapter has a monthly book club which meets on the 3rd Monday night of each month at 7:00pm at Panera Bread on Lower Sac in Lodi. Any and all Moms are encouraged to come! You can eat dinner at the restaurant, just partake in some tea or coffee with a pastry or simply come for the fellowship with other Moms!! It's an open invitation. You may come and go as you please. We would LOVE to see you there!

April 21st - Tea and Testimony
Tea and Testimony happens during our regularly scheduled MOPS meeting. We all get to dress up in our new Spring gear and have a grown-up tea party! For this meeting, we will not need to bring any food. The MOPS leadership team will be providing the tea, other refreshments, brunch and dessert! It's sure to be DELICIOUS! Debbie Didreckson will be giving her testimony and there will be a couple other speakers as well to fill our minds and soothe our souls. We are so excited! We hope to see you there!

Spring Cleaning Tips and Tricks:

1. Keep it simple. Don't overwhelm yourself by thinking you have to clean your entire house in a day. Take it one room at a time.

2. Open up the windows and/or play some music. There is not much more likely to get us up and moving than some fresh air and good music! It lightens the spirit and makes your task seem not quite so daunting! (Especially in the bathrooms when cleaning with bleach or ammonia, an open window will help save brain cells!)

3. Start at the top and work your way down. There is little more frustrating that having cleaned an entire room only to notice the cobwebs or dust build up on the light fixture or ceiling fan. Once you knock down the nastiness, now you have to vacuum or sweep again!

4. Keep a damp rag with you at all times. When you see that dirty hand print on the door trim or that sticky something-or-other on the light switch, you will be prepared! The fewer trips you have to make to the pantry for cleaning supplies, the easier your task will ultimately be.

4. Leave a nice scent in the finished rooms. You can make a simple air freshener right in your own home. Use a small spray bottle and fill with 1 part water, 1 part rubbing alcohol (to help it evaporate faster) and a couple drops of your favorite essential oil. When you have completed a room, spray a little in the air to put the finishing touches on your hard work!!

Please be sure to stop by again soon for our next post! We hope you have a great week!