Around this time of year it is common to see lots of tips for how to keep kids entertained, how to make sure their getting outside to play, and generally having a fun summer. That’s all well and good but what about mom? If the start of my summer is any indication I think MOM needs to carve out fun time or relaxation time even more. So far this summer I have been feeling like an unpaid babysitter. My kids all have friends over every day that want to be entertained, fed, and generally looked after while their parents work. When I protest about the extra cooking, cleaning, and even laundry (towels for after water play) that I have to do I get rolled eyes and talk of how mean I am being. In order to keep my cool and be able to handle all this extra work and stress, and yes other people’s kids stress me out, I need to make sure I am getting some me time each day and taking it easy. Here are some of my ideas:

1. A Rockin Summer Reading List – Our public library is promoting summer reading for kids right now but instead I am making my own reading list. I am stepping away from computer work and reading something fun and entertaining every day. I love to read but usually work comes first, but for the summer I think I need to make more time to read. I recently read Divergent, a dystopian novel that I loved. Also The Iron King and The Iron Daughter which are two books in a trilogy about mythical creatures and fey. Just started reading The Iron Queen last night. I also recommend The Hunger Games trilogy and Graceling. I love that I can read wherever my kids are too.

If you have any good books to recommend let me know in the comments so I can add them to my library reserve list!

2. Catch a solo movie – In the summer the theaters open early with showtimes at 10 or 11 AM. I will often go catch the early show by myself. Sometimes I might take my oldest boy too. That way I can see Pirates, and Thor, and X-Men.. all the latest summer movies (I am a huge movie buff) and get time away from the house and my duties. I save money by going before noon (for only $5), by using a rewards card that earns you free movies, and by buying theater gift cards at Giant Eagle to pay for my tickets. Each $50 gift card I buy earns me .20 cents off up to 30 gallons of gas. We get tons of free gas by using this little trick… buying gift certificates for all the places we shop.

3. Get a pedicure – If you keep it simple and just get a basic pedicure… aka massage, buffing, nail painting ect. you can minimize exposure to chemicals and still get pampered. Most places will even let you bring your own nail polish so you can buy polish without toxic chemicals and still have pretty toes. Most places also have massage chairs so you get a whole body massage and gorgeous piggies. It is a great way to spend and hour!

4. Go to the Gym – My husband and I have become gym junkies of late and when either of us has to miss our designated time it can throw off our mood off for days. We NEED that exercise and time away. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays I get up before anyone else is awake is sneak away for water aerobics, a bit of running on the treadmill, followed by strength training with weights. I come home feeling refreshed and energized. I think a big part of why so many kids in the house this week has stressed me is because I missed two workout days!

5. Cook Easy Foods – I have stopped cooking big evening meals for summer because I hate heating up the house and I don’t just don’t feel like spending so much time in the kitchen. This is the season for watermelon and green smoothies for dinner! Other ideas are finger sandwiches, fruit kabobs, veggie kabobs (grilled outside), granola cereal with almond milk, chocolate/veggie smoothies served in a bowl like ice cream, flax crackers and salsa, and lots of salad. Time to whip out the 365 salad recipe book.

6. Park Fun for Parents - If you take your kids to a public pool or water park make a deal with your spouse that you will trade off watching the kids and give each other 20-30 minutes alone a couple times throughout the day. That way Dad can watch the kids while they play in the baby pool or on the water slides and you can go get in the lazy river for awhile. Another idea might be to find a couple tweens/teens you trust and offer to buy their park admission passes in exchange for 2 hours of the day spent babysitting the kids while you and hubby enjoy the park alone.

7. Take a Walk – Sometimes a 15-20 minute walk around the block can be just what we need to get away for a moment. A few evenings ago I was getting peeved about how the neighbor kids were making a huge mess in our house so I decided to round up my kids only and take a walk. We walked about a mile away to get sno-cones at the corner store. We could have drove but I need that walk! Going it alone is also a nice way to get some alone time.

8. Get Gardening – Gardening really is therapy. I enjoy carving out time to water my garden in the evenings or early mornings and also water all my houseplants. There is something about seeing your plants thrive that makes you feel content and thriving yourself.

What do you do to relax and make time for yourself during the summer months?

In the book The Happiness Project (which I reviewed here) one of the steps the author takes in her own happiness project is to start a collection. She had always wanted to collect something ever since childhood but never did. She never had the elated feeling you get when you find something exquisite that will compliment your collection, or the joy of seeing your collection grow. After some deliberation she decided that it would make her happy to start a collection and she proceeded to collect bluebirds in many forms.

When I was reading it I could not help but remember what I used to collect as a child and into my early twenties… snow globes and shot glasses. I would collect them at truck stops, museums, flea markets, amusement parks, ect. Every year for Christmas we would go to Disneyland and my parents would buy me a special Disney themed one. But as I grew older I got tired of dusting them all the time and they just didn’t appeal to me as much so I gave my favorites (like the Disney Villains one) to my kids and then sold the rest at a garage sale.

Reading this book made me want to collect something else but the minimalist in me recoiled at the thought. Then I looked upwards in contemplation and saw something shiny and beautiful. I remembered that I already collect something, I just never thought about it as a collection. I collect crystals! And I collect prisms too. Hurray, I have a collection! ;)

Here are some of my favorites.. and yes they do make me happy just looking at them.

I have an old jewelry box on a bookshelf next to my computer desk and it houses most of my crystals… adventurine, quartz, citrine, lepidolite, moonstone, agate, amethyst, jasper, etc.

If you lift the tray they sit on you see a hidden section where I keep Chakra crystals, separated by each individual Chakra… or the seven power points in the human body that circulate energy or the life force also known as prana. These are some of my faves… blue lace agate, bloodstone, carnelian, lapis lazuli, snowflake obsidian, sodalite, leopard skin jasper, blue chalcedony…

Those are tucked away quite often but I have many that are out and about. A prism is what I saw that reminded me of the collection. I have some hanging in windows and others just laying around on surfaces. How can you not be happy when they cast their rainbows all over the room?

Also on my bookshelf I have a Feng Shui tree with tumbled clear quart crystals. I just love these little trees and would like to collect more of these specifically. I will be looking for them at yard sales and auctions this summer.

Closer to my work space is a flourite wand that is used for concentration and creative expression. I will often hold it when I am working on something important, writing, or I need creativity boost.

Here is a closer pic.. it is quite pretty. That is a rose quartz crystal next to it, which is good for emotional healing.

And on a decorative shelf to the side of my desk I have a little green adventurine crystal elephant hanging out. Elephants signify health and good luck and adventurine is for wealth and abundance. Each crystal has specific metaphysical properties so when I decided to add this little guy I knew immediately I wanted an elephant and that he needed to be carved out of adventurine. The rose quart above is just a tumbled stone but many have a heart shaped rose quart to signify that it helps with emotions and matters of the heart. In addition to selecting the ones I need or want carefully I also carry one in my pocket when I need a little something… be it confidence, healing, good concentration, or the ability to attract abundance.

I am going to psychic fair and metaphysical wellness seminar tomorrow. I wonder if I will find any new treasures to add to my collection…

What do YOU collect?

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{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. – Soulemama

Link to YOUR moment in the comments.

Happy B-Day to my little guy. He is 5!

{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you’re inspired to do the same, leave a link to your ‘moment’ in the comments for all to find and see. – Soulemama