Princess Ana

As you can see from this photo, my step daughter is a massive fan of Princess Ana from the hit movei Frozen. If you haven't already sat down with your little ones and watched the movie Frozen, I highly recommend it. Actually, even if you have no little ones, no free time, hate Disney movies, and are a middle aged man, I still recommend you find time to watch this movie. While I am not an avid movie critic, I am here to give you reasons why this one of a kind Disney movie is a must see:

1. First off, this movie is the highest grossing original animated film in history. That statistic in itself is a big enough reason to ask yourself "why not?"
2. You can become one of the massive group of viewers who have already partaken in the experience that is Frozen for less than $30 at your local Walmart
3. The Oscar winning song "Let it Go" is catchy even to the adult ears and it will have you singing along and replaying it in your head for weeks.
4. ( #spolieralert )For the fist time in Disney history, this movie shows the young girls around the world a different form of true love, one that doesn't involve the boy of their dreams but rather that of love for family. 
5. This movie is a depiction of the real strength behind a women and helps show us that we can be strong all on our own two feet. For example, who would have thought that in a Disney movie of all things, a girl would be punching the guy who broke her heart instead of crying over him?
6. And last but not least, the characters in this film will have you laughing for the entire length of the movie. They say laughing is good for the soul; along with that, a heart warming story line, and the life lessons it can teach our daughters, this film is, in my opinion of course, one of the best Disney has created in a long time.

As a parent of a young girl, I am always looking for ways to teach her the fundamentals of growing up strong, and independent. I want her to have confidence in herself and her abilities so when she is someday, in the same shoes I hold, balancing a checkbook, mortgage, child care, and a 40 hour work week, she will know she can do it. This movie may only be a small step in the right direction but it does make me a proud Disney supporter to see them creating something that is against the norm and has a women creating her own fairy tale ending. 

Health Tip Sunday

I was recently diagnosed with endometriosis -- a condition that affects my energy levels, my health, my mood, and can cause severe pains and fatigue that can sometimes affect my ability to get things done. Since I was diagnosed I have had to focus greatly on how I am treating my body in order to keep my endometriosis and its symptoms in check.

A lot of my own personal research has gone into how to create a healthier lifestyle for myself and my family and I am endlessly shocked at how much a healthy diet and moderate exercise can affect a person's every day and how it has personally helped me to maintain my busy schedule. In order to share my research and help others see the benefits of such a change, I will be using this weekly blog post as a means to share some tips and tricks and knowledge on a healthy lifestyle and why it is so important.

One of the most neglected health topics for young, trying to get too much done in too short of a time frame, adults is sleep. I am personally guilty of letting this one slip to the back burner and I make up for it with too many cups of coffee before 8am and an energy drink before that 2o'clock lag hits during my work day. 

The effects of a lack of sleep are endless but here is just a few.. 

• Weight -- Lack of sleep hurts your ability to metabolize food
• Skin -- Without sleep, your skin gets dehydrated, irritated (causes acne), and excessive wrinkles
• Heart -- Lack of sleep puts stress on your heart which causes high blood pressure and heart disease (even in young adults)

I went to many doctors for many years looking for answers to why I was always having so many health issues. When I finally met my current doctor and was diagnosed, I was told that sleep could actually relieve my pain naturally; I was far beyond skeptical.  However since then I have actually seen huge changes to my natural energy levels and the amount of pain I experience daily. I used to experience significant pain all of the time and even eating food was hard to do; now my pain is pretty sparse and it never affects my ability to keep up with my busy life.

I challenge everyone that reads this to try this theory out. Research this for yourself, create a "bedtime" and stick with it as best as you can, attempt to wake up at the same time every day to give your body a schedule, and cut back on caffeine, especially at night. I can guarantee the difference after just two weeks will be enough to make you a believer.

Defeating the Odds

This weekend I ran the Sunburst 5k with my grandmother and my mom. My grandmother is in her early 60's and was recently diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. When I was a kid I looked at my grandmother as some sort of super star. She used to tell me when I was little that a women never left her house without her hair done and her lipstick on and you were to always to act like a lady. I always thought that she told me these things so I didn't embarrass myself in public but now that I am older and I am watching her fight this horrible fight I take a new meaning to those words.

Cancer affects people in different ways but when I am with my grandma, I can hardly tell she is sick -- She actually seems more positive than she has ever been. She still spends an hour a day doing her hair and fixing her makeup, she did not leave the house without her lipstick even on the day of this run, and she is still spouting the same little lessons about how to act like a lady to me and everyone else. The difference now is that when I see her and listen to her I see all of that as strength; strength to wake up every day and keep smiling and putting on your makeup no matter how tough life gets. The strength to look at the obstacles life throws at you and push back harder than you ever thought you could.

My grandma failed gym class all through school and the most athletic she has ever been is gardening in her yard; This year my grandma received her first medal ever for an athletic event in her very first 5k and than went even further then that and beat that 5k time by 7 minutes this weekend. She ran these races because she said that now that she has cancer "why not start running?"

I used to look up to my grandma because she was the definition of beauty and poise and her generosity was endless. While these traits are still some of my favorites, now I look up to her as a symbol of unparalleled strength and courage. Even on my worse days when there is way too much to do and not enough hours and all I want to do is give up, I remember that simple life lesson she has been teaching me since I was old enough to hold the lipstick container; Keep your head high, put on your makeup, and smile.

That's my tip to all the women out there doing too much in too short of a day; don't forget to step back sometimes and remember the little things. We only get so many hours in the course of so many days in the course of one lifetime and if you spend every one of those hours stressing and worrying and over analyzing you will miss the small things that make the biggest difference. (Like watching a women in her 60's fighting a terminal cancer do a remarkable thing like take up running just because) So breath, put on your lipstick, keep your head high, and do something you never thought you could, because, "why not?"

About This Blog

The Balancing Act of a Young Parent

The New Norm

It used to be that the normal direction of life went in steps

• Graduate high school
• Go to college
• Meet the love of your life
• Graduate college
• Get married
• Buy a house
• Have a baby

That is not this generation, that isn't even my parents' generation; The "normal" has changed and with it so has the steps in which we take through life.

At 15, I met the love of my life at the high school I attended. That love of my life, named Scott, had a love of his own -- a very spunky 6 month old little girl named Lilian who completely stole my heart as soon as I met her. I graduated high school and went to college but left college to get married and become a step mom. Now, at 23, I have bought a house, begun a career as a lead teller at Key Bank, recently went back to school full time, and have managed to find time to co-parent a now 7 year old with a wonderful group of people. The world has changed and with it so have the people that live in it including myself.

 

My priorities are scrambled between good grades, good work ethic, and staying fit and healthy but I always find time to put all of that aside to enjoy my family and take a few minutes to enjoy what I have. I thank my lucky stars every night for what I have been given and even through trying to maintain a balance in this crazy thing we call life, I never forget what it means to life live to its fullest.

This blog is me giving the world a glimpse at that balancing act and how to cope with all of the new challenges the new generation faces. My hope is to give some insight, helpful suggestions, and fun stories and to maybe help someone else find a glimpse of solitude in an otherwise hectic way of life.