Honeybee Mama
02/02/12Exploring Extracurriculars - GymnasticsOne of the areas of motherhood I'm really enjoying as my children get older is exploring their interests and talents through extracurricular activities. It is so much fun to watch them learn, grow, and be challenged in ways that truly expand their horizons. It can be difficult to decide where to start, and how to invest. While we don't want to force kids to commit to activities they don't love, we also want to teach them about committment, hard work, and finishing what they start. We also don't want to spend lots of money on gear for an activity they may not stick with! So, it can be a guessing game as well as a treasure hunt! I shared last fall about finding a great dance class for our little bees, and so far it's been a great fit for them. We tried a... |
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01/30/12Mama Monday - Doulas and EpiduralsAs a Birth Doula, I have encountered many questions about whether or not a woman should hire a doula to support her in her birth if she plans to receive an epidural analgesia for pain relief. This is a very good question, and I'd like to offer some information that might help you make that decision if you're wondering the same thing! The first thing to remember is that a doula's job is to offer physical, emotional and informational support to a woman before, during, and just after birth. Every woman giving birth needs support and encouragement, regardless of her location (home, hospital or birth center), or choices of pain relief during childbirth. Many make an incorrect assumption that doulas only serve women seeking natural and unmedicated births; in fact, doulas... |
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01/27/12Spreading Some Small Business LoveSo, I've been planning all kinds of fun activities to do with the kids to share some great ideas for fun things to do around Tulsa, and as fate would have it, things haven't gone as planned! One of my little guys was sent home with a terrible cough yesterday morning, so I had to cancel a play date I'd planned with a few other moms at Bouncy Barn's new location in Broken Arrow. Don't worry, it's been rescheduled for next Monday, so you can look forward to my review! With sick man in tow, I needed to get a few errands done, and since I was in the neighborhood I thought I'd stop by Sage Culinary Studio to check out hours and get some info on classes. It's something I've wanted to do with the kids and knew it would be a... |
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01/23/12Mama Monday - Exercise in PregnancyHappy Mama Monday, friends! Today I'm writing about a subject that is very important to any expectant mama: Exercise! Many expectant mothers have questions about exercise, often a result of fear. It is understandable and expected that a woman would want to protect her growing baby, and as a result women often fear harming their baby with the strenuous, jumpy, or jerky movements associated with exercise. Add to that fear the intense fatigue that accompanies pregnancy, and the notion of exercise can quickly fall by the wayside! Always, always consult your physician first, but generally, if you are experiencing a normal pregnancy without any high risk factors, you should be able to engage in low impact activities to stay healthy and prepare for birth. Here's the deal:... |
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01/18/12Bowling at School Spirit NightI love our kids' school and the School Spirit Night opportunities they provide. Every few weeks, the school cooperates with a local business so that a percentage of the proceeds from that evening go back to your school. Not only is it a great way to support local businesses and your school, but it's an opportunity for the kids to get to see their friends outside of school, and for us to get to know other families! Last week, Spirit Night was at one of our favorite places for bowling, Broken Arrow Lanes, at 101st and Elm. They had special pricing for games as well as a family meal deal for pizza and soda. The little bees were so excited and begging me to go. That's an easy yes right there! First, we had to get our shoes. A friend once told me she and her friends... |
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01/16/12Celebrating a KingDr. Martin Luther King Jr. that is. This morning, after taking the kids for donuts, we got into a discussion in the car about today being Martin Luther King Jr. Day. I explained to the littles that there was a time in our country when people were separated by the color of their skin, and not all little girls and boys were allowed to go to the same schools and play with each other. I told them that Dr. King was a pastor and loved God and loved people and stood up for what he believed was right. That he told everyone that God made everyone the same and loved us all, and gave a speech about how he had a dream that we could all live together and be friends. I hadn't planned on attending the MLK Day parade downtown until my five year old asked a few minutes later,... |
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01/12/12Home Depot's Free Kids WorkshopYears ago, a good friend of mine told me about the Free Kids Workshops held at Home Depot. This friend was definitely the resource of all resources. She was a coupon and sale queen, home schooler, and knew all the places in town for a great kid outing. She always seemed to know what was going on, an how to get a good deal on it. Oh Sara, you're such an inspiration! Since then, in the back of my mind I keep thinking to myself that I ought to find out more about this kids workshop and check it out. Last Friday night, it occurred to me that we didn't have any Saturday plans, and I thought I'd get online and see if I could find anything out. I was literally in bed, and grabbed my phone (thank goodness for smart phones!) and got on Home Depot's website. Sure enough,... |
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01/09/12Mama Monday - My Journey of HealthCall it a resolution if you want to, I call it time. It's just time. For a change. I realized as the new year rolled around that I've been on a yo-yo with my diet, health and weight my entire adult life. Since college, I've gained and lost weight, gone on "health kicks" and given up so I could "just enjoy what I ate." I've joined and dropped Weight Watchers twice, started and stopped South Beach Diet twice, counted calories, become a health club addict, trained for a marathon (and gave up), run two Tulsa Runs, one Rt. 66 Half Marathon, and successfully packed on 20 lbs in a decade. Twenty pounds. To be clear, I don't think I look bad (in clothes anyway); in fact, I look very normal and average. Sadly, though, average in our... |
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01/06/12Osaka - A Special Birthday DinnerWhat do you do for an eleven year old's birthday? Nothing really seemed to fit the bill when we tried to figure out how to celebrate, even when we asked Carter. Bowling? Nah. Movies? Not really. He's kind of over the whole Incredible Pizza thing too, though that's always a favorite with the family. Then, something hit me. Maybe it's not an activity we need, but dinner that's also entertainment! As far as I knew, none of our kids had even been to a hibachi grill, or Japanese steakhouse, so I suggested Osaka to Marc. He thought the idea was brilliant, so we made reservations! Last night, when we arrived and sat at our table, Marc gave the kids a reminder rundown of the rules when we're at a restaurant. I just love looking at pics of our... |
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01/06/12Kuts 4 KidsAnyone else have trouble finding a great place to get your kids' haircuts? Now that I think about it, I guess I've never actually TRIED all that hard to find a great place because life is always so busy! I always end up going to the nearest walk-in quickie cut place, and end up unhappy with what they do to my kids' locks, as well as heated with frustration from having to keep my kids from climbing the walls while waiting! A couple of my friends have raved about Kuts 4 Kids near 81st and Lewis, so I was more than willing to try it out. We showed up around 4pm on a Wednesday afternoon, and I was not the only one with the brilliant idea; the waiting area was filled with kids and parents, so the waiting list was considerable. No one seemed to mind... Posted at 12:25 PM | Permalink | Comments: 2 |
Having always said that life shouldn't get in the way of living, Missy strives to find adventure with her children even when things get hairy. Missy and her husband, Marc, have four children. With busy schedules and a small business to run, Missy is not lacking for things to occupy her time. She understands the challenges of being a single parent and is learning to be a stepmom. A Tulsa native, this mama loves exploring fun activities locally and shares her experiences with you in her blog. Upfront and honest, she doesn't pull any punches about meltdowns in the mall or potty accidents at public events. She carries her unique perspective into every challenge she encounters, sharing insights with her readers along the way.
