Hot baths do warrant a word of caution before we continue. Check the temperature carefully. While we say “hot bath” the water would feel better if it was warm to the touch but not scalding. It is hard to relax when you are sustaining third-degree burns.

Also, if you suffer from any condition where hot baths are contraindicated, don’t attempt them. This goes for pregnancy as well as if you have circulatory issues. You don’t want to faint and fall as you get out of the tub, because this can cause serious injury.

With that said, let’s return to the benefits of a hot bath. It is not just the water alone but what you add to it that can help with such conditions as:

* Anxiety and stress
* Colds and sinus issues
* Sore, aching muscles
* Dry, itchy skin

The steam coming off of the water acts like a humidifier. If you close your bathroom door and let the room fill up with steam as you run the bath, you are on your way to a soothing experience.

For stress and anxiety there are certain herbs that have been used for centuries as calming agents. Take lavender, for example. It is known to soothe the mind and in turn, relieve stress in the body. Using lavender oils and bath salts in your water will help your stress to ebb away. Your problems won’t disappear but you will be better able to handle them once you have had a chance to clear your mind and relax your body.

Eucalyptus will often help with a pesky cold. Again, the humidifier effect of the water and the eucalyptus can help to open nasal passages for freer breathing.

Your body can build up toxins from simple daily life. Soaking in a bath with Epsom salts can help to leech these toxins out of your system. Hot water helps to dilate blood vessels for better blood flow and lowers blood pressure. Muscles benefit from this because they are able to relax which aids in recovery from soreness.

Using bath oils helps to moisturize your skin. In the winter, this is especially important as skin tends to be on the dry side. If you have dry skin, you won’t need to soak as long in the water, but soothing oils will nourish your skin as you bathe.

Are you ready to soak those cares away? A hot bath may be just what the doctor ordered. Besides the candles and soft music, try a few bath salts, scented oils and herbs to heal whatever ails you.

Some claim 9/9/09 is special.  If you’re like me – well, I guess it is.

Today I turn 39!

I’m wondering if maybe I should go to Vegas or something!

Happy Birthday to all the rest of you with your birthday on this beautiful 9/9/09!

But since I’m not getting any younger, now is the time for me to – - not T R Y to lose weight – but to actually lose weight.

I will be blogging on my weight loss experience on Momprovement’s sister site Health Smart Mom.

I’ve decided to join Weight Watchers®, for my weight loss journey. Not only is it reasonably priced, it still lets me eat what I want (just not as much as I normaly would!) and with the Weight Watchers®  at work and Weight Watchers®, Online I’ve found it is a great way to get to know my co-workers better as well as utilize all the online tools and support.

My first official “weigh-in” will be Tuesday, September 1st – but I attended a courtesy meeting on the 25th and had a “courtesy” weigh in. I started out at 197 earlier this month, by my “courtsey” weigh-in I was 192.2. My ultimate goal is 130.

I will give periodic updates here, but again for the play by play visit Health Smart Mom.

 To join me and do Weight Watchers®, Online , click here.
So what are your weight loss goals?

Ah, those four simple words could have saved me a serious mom-mistake yesterday.

My 9 year old daughter and I were at WalMart yesterday getting some organizational supplies for our new house.  As we were walking down one of the aisles, she asks “Mom, what is a stipper?”.  I pause, then, thinking that she had somehow heard about Miley Cyrus’ little pole dance from some friends of hers, I say “well, dear, a stripper is a girl who takes off her clothes for money.”

To which her reply is “ewww, gross, mom – no that’s not what I meant – this aisle here says it has paint and strippers.

Yikes, wrong answer! Let’s see if I can save this.

 ”Okay, well, ignore what I just said.  That kind of stipper is a chemical that takes paint off of things.  Sorry about that.”

To which she replies – “gee mom, I think when I’m grown up and my kid asks me  a question, I’ll ask what they mean before I give them an answer like that.”

I really blew it on this one.  Here I was afraid that my 9 year old had been exposed to the worldly things, only to find out that she was perfectly safe until I opened my mouth!

And for a limited time, if you enter the coupon code “CAROLINA” then you can save an additional $7.50 off of an order of $15 or more. 

For those that prefer minerals – their minerals are running around $5 for foundation at the time of this article. 

For an additional 15% off of the minerals, use the banner below.  I will report back when I get my makeup and let you know what I think!

I’ve heard all my life how important it is to set goals, to make them measurable, attainable, and write them down.  And I’ve done just that and had pretty good success.

Then I got to thinking – I’ve never actually done that as a mom – I mean what are my goals as a mom – and how can I measure that.  Sure – some – like making sure my kids know they are loved aren’t that wasy to measure (or are they – I guess I coudl just ask!!)  But surely if I put as much time and energy into my mom goals as I do my other goals   – well  – I don’t know what would happen.

So I’ve been sporadicaly posting to boards and such that very question – What are your goals as a mom?

I’ll post later on the results of that – but feel free to put in the comments below what your goals as a mom are!

If you have ever experienced either situation, you need to change the way you respond to your inner dialogue.  Instead of obeying your negative commands, you can use positive self-talk to counter the negativity and overcome nearly all anxious thoughts.

Setting Goals and Sticking to Them with Positive Self-Talk

Are you initially filled with excitement when you first set goals for yourself? Are these thoughts then followed by self-doubt and self-defeating thoughts that stop you in your tracks before you even get started?

It can be difficult to make the most of your life when you are constantly talking yourself out of being a success.  It can be frustrating and discouraging to have these thoughts constantly plaguing you. Many of us, in fact, don’t even realize we have them! All we know is that we don’t have the confidence to stick to our plans and reach our goals.

But there’s another way!

Positive self-talk is an effective way to set goals and ensure that you stick to them, even if you have never been able to do this before.  The way this works is that you decide what goal is important to you, and then you plan the logistics of how you are going to attain this goal.  When self-doubt starts kicking in, you will respond with affirmations that prove your success without surrendering to the negative pressure. Since you’re reading this article, it’s clear that you’re no quitter and you’re certainly not a failure, so start believing in yourself!

Re-Programming Your Mind

Affirmations are essentially positive statements that re-program your mind for the positive. The moment you have a self-defeating thought you’d be able to counter the negative with a motivating statement. An example of a positive affirmation is: “I am worthy of great success,” or “I see myself in the winner’s circle.”  What this does is replace negativity with thoughts that will help you move toward your goals instead of further away from them.

Positive self-talk is easier to implement than you might think. You may not be aware of the severity of the negative dialogue currently within your mind. However, once you begin with positive self-talk, you will suddenly realize that you are self-sabotaging the goals you set for yourself from the minute that you make them. This process can open your eyes to exactly how much this inner conversation has been interfering with your life. You’ll feel hopeful that you can now set goals and surpass them.

Through positive self-talk you will be able easily set long and short-term goals for yourself. And when you use affirmations, you’ll have accessible tools to help you push yourself further than ever before. Learning to quiet negativity with positive thoughts is a great move toward setting and attaining future goals with ease.

If I steer my vessel in the wrong direction, I can find a map and chart out a new course.  Stopping is not an option. I will find my way as long as I keep my eyes on the prize.

Success is a journey, not a destination. That is why I strive to make each step count. A positive attitude helps me move forward and, even when I am unsure of where I am, I am not lost. Instead, I choose to become a trailblazer. The generation coming behind me will have access to another route thanks to my resolve to stay the course and forge a new path.

When I come to a fork in the road I trust my intuition to guide me. Being spontaneous in this way helps me release my inner self and experience success in a new way.  Spontaneity gives me freedom.

Missing a turn causes me no panic because I know that I have countless options; I am not limited to only one way. A wrong turn may lead me to find a new way. The opportunity to explore the unknown excites me.

Although it feels daring to get off the fast-paced highway of life and take the scenic route, detours can be worthwhile because they lead me to discover the beautiful things in life that I otherwise may have missed. The road less traveled is filled with the most stunning sights.

Flexibility allows me to prosper despite failure. Being flexible gives me the strength to keep going when I would rather stop.

Self-Reflection Questions:

1. What do I do when I reach a dead end?
2. How might I become less rigid and more flexible?
3. What changes can I make to ensure that I enjoy the journey just as much as the end reward?

Well, today is the first day on my journey to be a better mom! Well, actually, every day is the first day on my journey, because it seems like no matter how much I think I know about being a good mom, I learn something new everyday!

Join me on this blog and together we will:

• Be better organized in our homes
• Get healthier (for me that means lose weight, exercise more, and drink more water!)
• Spend more quality time with our families
• Spend more quality time with ourselves
• Make the world a better place
• And more!