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Take a sneak at our work “meeting” this past week……..
Hi Mama’s.
Kristen and I at Tin Parade often get asked by other mom’s, how we do it. We have met so many mothers who love the idea of starting a business and they aren’t sure how that fits into their every day life. Well first, it doesn’t fit into EVERY day life. There have been WEEKS actually that we find it hard to even return an email. For us, we decided at the beginning, and together, that the kids (the short people as I call them) come first. And second, its ever changing really. As their ages and schedules change, we change the time and way that we work. Right now, Kristen has one in elementary school, one in preschool and one at home. I have one in preschool and one at home. So…during preschool hours we many times have a “playdate” for the little ones…they don’t understand we are “working”…they are having a great time playing with each other's toys and we use the opportunity to get some things done together. I wouldn’t say it’s perfect…and some days it works better than other days…of course we need quiet time to work as well…we find 45 minutes to an hour and a half here and there throughout the week…during a nap…a few shared babysitting hours…in the evening…on the weekend when our husbands are home…and outside of that..we split tasks and responsibilities so that each of us can work at home in other found moments on our own. Some of our best “meetings” have been during our morning runs.
Above: Here is Kristen's old school (vintage?) Day-Runner...next toRyan'sBlackberry... Yes Kristen, the Day-Runner grew up! Notice the kids' breakfast?
Some business’s do require more focused time and you’ll have to weigh how much help you need…you may need a few hours of babysitting and you may need a full time nanny. Even then, how wonderful to get to be home with them. You may remember I have another business (Savoir Flair Weddings) and I do have a part time nanny for the time I put to that business as I need to be able to make quiet phone calls and such. It all depends on the kind of work you are doing…I guess what I’m saying is that it’s doable…it always is…you just have to FIND the way that it will work for you. And it IS worth it. It is rewarding to do something for yourself and it’s important. If you just start chipping away at your idea stolen moment by moment…it WILL take form and you’ll find your way…I really believe that….The hardest thing is to START. There’s never a better moment than the present. Go for it.
photo: Richard Shock/Getty Images
by Designing Moms Fitness Contributor : Jeremy of Twisted Twilight
Due to the more sedentary lifestyle we lead today, we have become more and more prone to injury and postural imbalances due to our lack of flexibility; long hours in the office sitting with legs bent and shoulders rounded over a keyboard are recipes for muscle tightness and dysfunctions to occur.
During movement, our muscles work in what are called synergistic groups; you can think of these groups as a first string, or main muscle, and a second string or the backup muscle that supports the main muscle. If these ‘groupings’ of muscles are inhibited by tightness, one group either has to work twice as hard or less efficient to complete the movement. Obviously our goal is total muscle balance so a stretching routine is important whether you need it for sports specific activities or if you need to just feel better throughout the day.
Much has been debated lately about the different types of stretching and when to do them. To clarify, there are two major types of stretching: static and dynamic. Most of us are more familiar with the former. Static stretching is finding the point of tension and holding it for 10-30 seconds. Although it’s often been taught as an injury prevention measure, static stretching prior to a workout might contribute to less efficient movement in preparation for that activity. When you stretch, it forces that muscle to relax temporarily making it weaker and causing a strength imbalance.
Static stretching also reduces blood flow to your muscles, decreasing activity to your central nervous system—which inhibits your brain’s ability to communicate with your muscles, decreasing your capacity to generate force. Bottom line: avoid static stretching prior to your workout or sports specific events. Save it for more non-athletic types of activities.
RULES FOR STATIC STRETCHING
When: Any time with the exception of before a workout. Static stretching after a workout is a good cool down and brings the muscle back to its normal length tension
Why: To improve general flexibility for everyday activities
How: Try to stretch twice a day, everyday for permanent lengthening of muscles. If you work in an office environment, it is doubly important for you to stretch multiple times everyday
Tools: AIS stretching rope, a towel or a foam roller are your best tools for getting those knots out
Dynamic stretching on the other hand is stretching the muscle in a repetition format at a controlled, slow tempo. I often give my clients this analogy: think of your muscle as a rubber band, take that rubber band and leave it in the icebox overnight. The next morning, take that rubber band and stretch it to the point of tension and hold. Doing this creates a higher percentage that it might snap. Now, everything being equal, take the same rubber band and in a slow and controlled manner, pull and relax. You may have already guessed that this will warm up that muscle by increasing blood flow making it more elastic, decreasing the chance of a pull or injury.
RULES FOR DYNAMIC STRETCHING
When: Before a workout or a physically strenuous activity
Why: To improve performance, increase blood flow to the muscle and reduce your risk of injury
How: Generally, I have my clients warm up on the rower, treadmill, etc…for several minutes, then they perform 4-8 dynamic stretches, 10 reps each stretch, covering all the major muscle groups and joint areas of the body.
Hours of Operation
Monday-Friday: 7:30 am to 6 pm
Saturday: 8 am to 6 pm
Sunday: Closed for private events
DIT Table: Monday-Saturday from 9am-5pm
Next up: architecture. I was itching to use my newly rediscovered glue gun, so I suggested we next use the sticks to build a house. He wanted to make sure it was a "pig house" not a dog house like the one he made at school earlier in the week. He told me where to put the sticks, straws, toothpicks and buttons (all purchased from DT) and I gladly obliged with glue gun in hand. Next he painted it, made some pigs out of playdo (not pictured) and we decided to glue the little goat down since that's his favorite animal at Little Farm.
Example #2: Wooden spoons
Every infant/toddler loves wooden spoons. They're fun to hold, can be used to whack stuff, and of course, fit perfectly in their little mouths. All favorite things for the under 2 set. I punched some holes in a shoe box and turned Simon's love of the wooden spoon into a Montessori-like game. He was very adept at getting the spoons into the holes, pulling them out, and starting all over again. I was just sorry that I only bought a set of three spoons and not more.
Next week we're going to decorate the shoebox to make it into a stage for the puppets. I've also got my eye on cork trivets, pink pearl erasers, and blue painter's tape at dollar time...who knows what we'll whip up next
