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Winter survival, family style
| February 16, 2010 | |
| Phyllis McCarthy : Head Mommy Ego |
One lesson I have to learn over and over is that despite our best attempts at being healthy and living a well balanced lifestyle I’m not in complete control of everything all the time. Having children helped me learn that lesson once more last week. My oldest daughter, who rarely gets sick and when she does recovers quickly, got sick and didn’t bounce back so quickly. It stopped us in our tracks, kind of like the nine inches of snow that’s fallen from the sky in the last 24 hours.
Whether it’s because we don’t make optimal choices 100% of the time to keep the immune system at its best or because we keep going when should slow down sometimes it just happens, our body insists we put on the breaks and take care of ourselves. Not unlike being snowed in, literally!
I find this time of year is challenging for many of us. Whether we are still recovering from the holiday madness, suffering from lack of sunshine, snow days, sick days, bored kids, failed attempts at our best intentions for the New Year or anticipating tax time approaching, this time of year can be tough. Is anyone else ready for longer days and warmer temperatures along with sunshine? I know, I am, but it doesn’t appear Mother Nature is agreeing at the moment. Wouldn’t all this snow be better positioned in Vancouver?
So I will embrace this time of year (she chants over and over) and share with you just a few of our Winter Survival Strategies for 2010:
Find a local winter activity to enjoy –this year our family started skiing together and our first couple of times out has already proved successful which make us appreciate the extra inches of snow. Sledding in the backyard is good quick fun too.
REST –and lots of it. My husband can’t believe how early I can get the kids to bed and in doing so I’ve been enjoying a few extra hours myself. Enjoy the few extra weeks of early sunsets. Spring is coming.
Hot soup –there’s nothing better and when I make this tortilla soup, I can eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. For me it’s a welcome change from chicken noodle or chili. As always use the best quality ingredients possible.
(see page 2 for the full recipe)
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[4 Comments] [4 Comments]
I think this is the perfect time of year to crank some Bob Marley tunes in the house. Help me chase away the winter chills:)
GREAT idea, Jo. And know the soup can be modified easily if you don’t have all the ingredients exactly the way they are listed. I used vegetable broth instead of beef and strained tomatoes instead of tomato soup and no rotel (or green chilis) because I didn’t have any. The soup is almost gone it’s so good; in fact I think it was better with less spice (to share with the kids anyway). You can easily add corn and/or beans also to make it even more hearty.
That soup sounds so delicious! I am going to have to try it. I have taken to baking during all these snow days. Not such a good thing for the waist line! But the kids and hubby have been happy!
Having your husband pull you around in the snow with the 4 wheeler helps…and the dog likes it too! Weeee…