Yay, a flood!

When my hubby came home early from work I was pretty excited. 5 minutes later when I found out that the downstairs of our home was filled with 3 inches of water I was more grateful than excited!

This meant not only my husband’s workshop and our storage space but also my yoga studio and shop. A whole lot of water but I looked at it a little differently than most, I think. Winter 1999 there was a big fire in the apartment building I was living in, I lost almost all my possessions and I didn’t have renters insurance. Fortunately, I got all my pets out of the building. I was also homeless for 3 days afterwards and had no choice but to stay at a local strip club, the first night, where the strippers had rooms above the bar (yikes, I know!) and then the next 2 days with some relatives. I had no clothes except the pj’s I was wearing and ducky boots. I came to realize that even a bed is a luxury that I would never again take for granted.

So, when this flood happened (being the 2nd since we’ve lived in this home) it wasn't really a big deal and I thought, “wow, I could do some cleaning up, organizing and decluttering... AND I could have a SALE!” What a great opportunity.


That was last Wednesday and it looks great now! The workshop needed a good cleaning and my studio needing some decluttering. The sale went over well, offering a sale on everything in the studio including things that hadn’t been affected by water.


Maybe next year I’ll have a ‘no-flood’ sale!

Paying for your time

If you can’t seem to make time for yourself maybe you should consider paying for it occasionally. It doesn’t have to mean hours and hours away or hundreds of dollars either. Normally, I will take ½ hour at a very inexpensive salon about once a month or so for a pedicure. This pedicure normally doesn’t come with much of a foot massage but at least it’s time to just BE and in the end my toes look great. Not to mention it’s fast and I don’t need an appointment. Just fits my schedule.

Today, however, I’ve been saving a while and happen to have a 3 hour window to relax child-free. This time will be for the manicure and pedicure that I am getting at a special price, an express facial and the time it will take to drive there and back (had to be very close to home). So, a lot of things packed into that time but so worth it. Worth it for my sanity and to be the very best me.

Celebrating in advance

One night last week my family and I celebrated. We celebrated the possibilities. Possibilities of a new experience, a new ‘item’ in my husband’s ‘vibrational escrow’ (his manifestation bank account for the future).

He gets job offers quite frequently but lately they have hit closer to what he really wants for his life. The offer was, to start, $26/hr, full benefits and a living allowance for when he’s not close to home. That was the problem. The job would take him away from home (far away) for 8 days at a time. For now that is not right for him but the offers are getting closer and closer to what IS right for him and so we celebrated.

The Law of Attraction wants us to feel like we already have what we want. Wants us to feel the joy of already attaining it and not doubt that it’s coming. So we celebrated with lobster, with fresh halibut, a lovely salad, with a great desert and sparkling grape juice. Just like it already happened. Because it has….iIt’s there waiting. :-)


(c) kimbelangermills.com 2010

Fat Ass

Sunday I ran in a race. This was my 5th race of my 2 year running career and the kilometres go, in order, like this... 5k, 21k, 7.5k, 10k, 7.5k. This being the 2nd time I’ve done the 7.5k ‘Fat Ass Batawa Trail Run’ - I loved even more!

Here’s the link for the 1st time I did it HERE  and another link for the race HERE.
 
Last year, a month after running a ½ marathon, I was just under an hour. This year, with almost no outdoor running, my time was 1 hour, 2 minutes and 47 seconds. Not too shabby but if I had known how close the times were I might not have taken 2 snack breaks where I actually stood around looking at scenery and then to take the picture shown here of the finish line at the top of the ski hill.


This race is a lot of fun with coke and m&m’s offered mid-race and cookies and chilli at the end. The people are a lot of fun and the trails are actually chosen for the mud and danger being a priority! I did yoga twice after the race and had no sore muscles the next day. YAY! Good times, next year a must.


(c) kimbelangermills.com 2010

Power in doing nothing

Sickness. Where does it come from? Luck of the draw? I doubt it. I know someone who told me that she gets pneumonia every year. Every year!! To me that is a sign. A big sign that something needs to change. Eat better and do less. Sounds so simple doesn’t it? It should be but it’s not.



I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “we human be-ings not human do-ings”. Why do we keep doing, doing, doing? We feel pressured to not be seen as lazy or maybe we’re competitive and want to do more than the next guy... whatever the reason it’ll get you nowhere.

Do, do, do... just get ahead and then, wham! You get sick. I am not immune either. Relaxation is my passion but I still do too much for whatever reason. And, yes, I’m sick right now. It’s rare for me but I was just thinking the other day, ‘when is it MY turn for a break’ and then sickness hit. Almost a blessing I guess – only if I had a little more balance I could actually enjoy my nap this afternoon. There IS power in doing nothing, in relaxing and doing what gives you joy. Don’t let anyone (even yourself) tell you that you’re lazy when it’s balance you seek. That’s not lazy, it’s wise.

October 31st

My family celebrates Samhain on October 31st with a feast and gratitude, very much like Thanksgiving. We also light candles in honour of loved-ones passed.

Our daughter doesn’t really ‘get’ Halloween and doesn’t eat candy but for most there’s trick or treating... and that’s what I did growing up as well. I have magical memories of being in Cold Lake, Alberta, putting a costume on over top of my snow suit with a few feet of snow by now. Receiving free candy and being able to eat as much of it as I wanted... pure joy!

But, the joy doesn’t just stop with the children. Parents get to see the joy of their children’s faces and feel the magic in the air, just as it was years ago for them. People past the point of small children or just child-free adults get to join in the festivities as well. Decorations, handing out candy, going to or throwing parties... the magic of childhood lives on.

Schedule yourself in

Ever notice that you are go, go, go all week and look back and think... where was the ‘me’ time?? Have an adjenda/daily planner? (because everyone should) Open it right now. Check out the week ahead, find some blank space and circle it. Then write something in there. “Have tea ALONE” or “Take a bath” or “Go get a pedicure” and don’t let anyone else have that spot. That is YOUR spot.


So many of us are a slave to time and calendars. Make your adjenda work for YOU. YOU are the most important thing in that adjenda because if you take a back seat everyone else, in your life, are not as balanced as they could be either.

If you were a celebrity with a manager he/she would get fired real quick if you found that you were over-scheduled and stressed out all the time. Plan for you. And ENJOY a joyful life.

Promoting breastfeeding, locally

Every year the Quinte Breastfeeding Awareness Network holds a Breastfeeding Brunch. The first meeting I ever attended was just prior to their brunch and I was very pregnant ... over my EDD (estimated due date) actually so I didn’t make it to the brunch.



 



I DID attend the next year, however, and was pleasantly surprised to have won a door prize! This year was their 3rd annual brunch, my daughter was almost 3 years old and I, once again, won a door prize... AND... I am STILL breastfeeding!!

Willow and Marshall at 2010 Breastfeeding Brunch

Not everyone is lucky enough to have a midwife to assist in breastfeeding questions and challenges.  QBAN is a great group for promoting awareness and the importance of breastfeeding, locally.  Find them on Facebook HERE.  The Quinte Natural Moms Group is a also a great group of woman who accept and support the breastfeeding mom.  Find them on Facebook HERE or check the ‘free’ page of my website to find Mama Meet-Up events.

Running a 10k and a decision to make

Sunday I ran a 10k to help raise money for the Belleville hospital. Did you know that it’s the hospital’s responsibility to raise the money for their equipment? I didn’t. So, this was the Quinte Mall Rock and Roll Fun Run. A ‘fun run’ because it wasn’t timed and the ‘rock and roll’ part was exactly that... there was bands playing along the route. Fun eh?!

To start a race everyone gets a race kit. Companies sponsor races so we get some really neat stuff! This is my Forth race and this time I got a ball cap, a nice pen, a cool stapler among other things.


Unfortunately, my husband was on a month of midnights and school was cancelled for two weeks for my daughter. Therefore, little to no training and I found it a bit of a struggle.


Although I did finish this brings me to the decision. I am supposed to run a ½ marathon a week after this fun run. The fun run was 10k but the ½ is 21k!! Ugh, I am not feeling the joy in it. Last year I ran 8k at the ½ without stopping at all... this year I had to stop just after the 2.5k mark. So, I stressed about it for a while and then... decided to not do the ½, even though I paid for it. I am just not ready. And the joy is non-existent... and it’s all about the joy, right?


So, the day prior I’ll pick up my race kit, complete with t-shirt, and I’ll wear the t-shirt... in memory of the year that I was just too busy to prepare for the ½ marathon. Now, begins the preparation for the next race, the “Fat Ass Trail Run” in November! ;-)

Gluing it back together

My writing has been irregular lately... late or non-existent. I try to only write when feeling aligned so that should explain it in a nutshell. To further elaborate...

My husband, bless his hardworking soul, normally does 10+ hours a day, a minimum of 50 hours a week which is hard enough on our family... BUT for the past month he’s been on MIDNIGHTS! A friend recently commented that he should be careful not to get burnt out. HA! If not him then certainly ME!!

So, the second recent thing to ‘rock my world’ is that once a two afternoon a week break for me has been cancelled. My daughter goes to school those times and it’s been a HUGE blessing. But no more. Cancelled for at least two weeks.

Both those things are enough for me to handle... add anything else and I start to fall apart. A rainy day means the dogs can’t be outside which means they whine all day inside and keep the sleeping husband awake all day. The YMCA turns us away because their ‘Kids Kare’ is at capacity is now devastating news to top off the rest of it.

The solution is normally easy. Gratitude is the glue that holds it all together. However, it’s hard to think of what you are grateful for when you have someone talking non-stop in your ear way to loudly for a house that is supposed to be silent because the hard-working Daddy is trying to sleep.

Right now though, my daughter is in bed and I have 5 minutes alone - so NOW is the time.

I am grateful for....

~A husband who works hard and tells me he loves me every chance he gets
~A beautiful healthy daughter
~Very loving and affectionate pets
~My work
~A nice home
~More than one vehicle for each of us
~This will be the last week of midnights for my husband
~Healthy food in our refrigerator  

It’s that easy. All is well once again.

(c) 2007-2010 www.kimbelangermills.com All rights reserved.

Just say "NO!"

Maybe it’s because it’s my daughter’s 2nd day of school, maybe it’s because I’ve had some much-needed family time lately... I had an ‘aha’ moment today. I arrived home and was about to start making supper when I realized what a perfect day it’s been. In a nut-shell... no rushing.



Maybe my standards have been too high, in the past, for some areas and not high enough in others. I expected that the house was cleaned (including the bathroom) three times per week, garbage gathered and outside twice a week, work and gym time 3 days a week...bla bla bla. Other things then suffered. It was a constant battle to try to have more ME time, time alone, meditation time, yoga time, time to try to quiet my mind. I would be tense that the house wasn’t clean enough for me, that I didn’t get enough time for this, that and the other thing. Tense, annoyed, frustrated, lacking joy. Generally lacking balance.


So, here’s where the ‘aha’ moment came in. I noticed how happy I’ve been the past few days. My living room has filthy carpets but I’m relaxed. I’ve only been working 2 days per week but I feel joyful. I’ve been late with my writing but feeling aligned. Why not lower my standards on cleaning and raise my standards on my happiness?! A house can be super-duper clean but if you are tense and angry with loved ones what’s the point?! All that really matters is that YOU are happy.

How have I been affected by this newest ‘aha’ moment? If the house gets cleaned, great, if not... oh well. Same as my writing. Who do I have to answer to if my blog gets out on Tuesdays instead of Mondays? Nobody. It’s really a relief! No pressure. What if I did have someone to answer to? My first priority is to be happy and after that, as long as I do my best, that is their problem! Happiness really IS a personal choice. Choose what you love first. Personally, I love relaxation. No more taking on too much. New motto... “just say no”!!

(c) 2007-2010 www.kimbelangermills.com All rights reserved.

'Back' to school

It’s my daughter’s first time in school. Yikes! She’s almost 3 and so smart and busy as I am sure anyone with kids can understand. I try to keep on top of things with activities but she has become so self-confident and independent over the past 6 months that we thought school was the best option. We are so lucky to have a Montessori school 5 minutes from our home so it works out perfectly... for me and her. She will stay at this school until she is ready for grade 1.



I am going to keep a list of suggestions or ideas from her teacher as to what we can do to encourage learning. Also, a list of things to promote balance for her in reading, sports, learning about new places... maybe there will be another Facebook group in my future, who knows.


Within this year she will celebrate her 3rd birthday, see new places such as the Peterborough Petro glyphs, restart gymnastics, start soccer, hopefully learn to swim, learn her abc’s and numbers....


Are there any recommendations out there? Places to see in Ontario? Books that are a must-read for a 3-year old? Links? I will post many of the recommendations to the Facebook group “Quinte Natural Moms Group” to start and see where it leads. Or, feel free to join and add your own favourites.


I hope your summer was grand and those with kids have a very happy and productive school year!


Be Blessed,


Kim


(c) 2007-2010 www.kimbelangermills.com All rights reserved.

Friendships - coming and going

Nothing is forever. Friends come and go as needed, where you or they, are in life. Family is sometimes like that as well. Oh sure, a friend or family member might stick with you your entire life but the relationship evolves or changes as you both do. As you both grow. Maybe there are some people who don’t grow and then their relationships are always the same. Although, I don’t think I know anyone like that... maybe because I am so interested in growth and only attract others interested in growth.



I’ve had friendships dissolve, only to rekindle later in life. I believe we were on too different a path, but the Universe brings us together again when we are on a similar path. Personally, I am a low maintenance, positive, independent person and since like attracts like... that’s what I attract. Be the best ‘you’ you can be and you will attract similar people. Remember that: "like attracts like".


But, what if someone shuns your friendship or love seemingly suddenly – whether it be a friend or family member? Maybe you don’t even know why.... but who cares?! Who’s business is it anyway who someone else’s friends are? Of course, you will feel something. A loss. Confusion maybe? Let yourself feel it and then let it pass, knowing that another person... a more like-minded person will appear in your life. You don’t have to have bad feelings towards the other person, just let it go. Not thinking in a ‘lack-full’ way - hoarding every person you ever come into contact with - but in a way of abundance and fluidity. Abundance doesn’t mean you never let things go but that you are certain that when one leaves another will surely find itself to you and you will attract more positivity and lightness to your life. ♥


(c) 2007-2010 www.kimbelangermills.com All rights reserved.

An adventure to remember

We had the weekend planned out but when we didn’t receive desired weather we decided to go with the flow of things... a day of paddling turned into a day of gardening and yard work with a short walk in the woods. It’s a good thing we were prepared to just go with the flow because that’s not exactly how it went!


My husband, 2 year-old and I went to the Bleasdell Boulder for a short walk in the woods. It being close to our home we thought the trip would be barely noticeable in our day but I would still get my ‘nature connection’. The trail expanded.... and someone forgot to update the trail markers, it seems. Combine that with an adventurous husband who doesn’t like to actually stay ON the trails... what we thought would be a 20 minute walk turned into a 2.5 hour hike... did I mention our 2 year-old? She did very well as her daddy only had to carry her about 1/3 of the way.

What an adventure it was! I, of course, only got a few mosquito bites and our daughter fell on the gravel trail a few times so got scraped up knees and hands (no tears though). My husband, on the other hand, decided (without telling me) that it was a good idea to try running down a 15 foot embankment while holding our daughter. The rocks under his feet thought it NOT a good idea and sent him sliding down on his butt with a bruise for his troubles and some scrapes and a tear in his new North Face shorts. I guess that’s what he gets for not consulting me (hehe).

Our daughter was fine and from then on in the day asked him repeatedly if they were going to be sliding down any more hills later. Being so young, she probably won’t remember this adventure for long. Fortunately, we took pictures with our Blackberries. A magical day frozen in time....the embankment, the plants and flowers, beautiful trees, an old truck in the middle of the woods, the laughter, the carrying, the hand-holding, the critters, new bridges over tiny little bodies of water... the love. ♥ ♥ ♥

(c) 2007-2010 www.kimbelangermills.com All rights reserved.

Stress? It's your choice

Stress is a big topic yet I remain positive, for the most part, not because I don’t have stress but because of how I decide to live my life. One of my favourite affirmations (by ME) is, “I am always aligned and balanced because that’s what I choose”.



Here’s my list of ways to remain positive each day, despite regular ‘stressors’.


Journal


Use essential oils (on self and around the house and car)


Take time to read, for pleasure


Reiki


Yoga


Meditate


Breathe deeply


Run


Work out at the gym


Be out in nature


What about you? Do you have a ‘list’? I would love to read it! phdirector@gmail.com


Be blessed,


Kim






(c) 2007-2010 www.kimbelangermills.com All rights reserved.

An Inspired Life

I’ve been asked so many times how I turned out so well considering what I grew up with... It’s a way of life, for sure, and I give the credit to journaling. But then a whole lot of other things happened within the span of three years that I am quite certain would have any ‘normal’ person going to a counsellor or taking medication.....



From 2003 until 2006 I was bombarded with ‘things’. I don’t think I had learned about the Law of Attraction back then but, boy, was I attracting craziness. Here’s the list: my dad died, I got married (not a ‘good’ thing), got separated/divorced, began a new relationship, got laid off from my job, my mom died, started school, relocated homes, had to take care of my mom’s arrangements and will, got engaged, got pregnant, had a miscarriage, my dog of 13 years died.

I am certainly not complaining, my life is pretty amazing! My point in telling all of that is to show what a person can work through when they have the right tools. Of course, if I had known and been practising the Law of Attraction I am quite sure I could have avoided a few of those things but what kept me from running, screaming to the nearest doctor for meds? Reiki, meditation and my journal.

If you really think that it’s a bunch of fluff just take a look at me. Here’s the proof. I’ve known people to have two of those things happen be enough to get drugs to help them cope, and then it just made things worse.

What about yoga, you ask? Back then, I wasn’t a yoga teacher - but yoga, to me, is a form of meditation and if I was to go through any ‘craziness’ at this point in my life I would definitely incorporate yoga! Just another great ‘tool’ to living an inspired life.


(c) 2007-2010 www.kimbelangermills.com All rights reserved.

Thinking backwards

Have you ever thought that you would like to have or do something but put it out of your mind because you don’t know how to go about it? You’ve got to ‘think backwards’.


First, whether it is having more money, starting a business, finding love, whatever... you have to figure out your intention. I would like to... be a writer, for example. If that is your goal you set the intent and then think of a process, starting small and staying positive. What would it feel like? To start small maybe start blogging or send out a newsletter. Set the intention of what you would like your message to be. Remember that you have the freedom to change your mind at any time.

What about having more money? Setting that as an intention, first. Be open and positive! You can have more money if you spend less, right? Record everything you spend. Label each thing as ‘A’, ‘B’, or ‘C’. A being most important such as mortgage and food and C being least important. Cut from C wherever possible... maybe put your satellite on hold for the summer or cut out a few little extras. Saving money is still having more money.

Want more joy in your life? Make that your intent and then think in small steps. What do you like? Eating ice cream while walking by the water? Do it, maybe as a treat to yourself on Friday nights after a long week of work. Do you like an extremely clean house? Set aside $60 a week to have someone come in and clean once a week. Maybe while you eat your ice cream while walking by the water. Hehe...

It’s all about the intention for the end result. If it still boggles you then set the intention and let it go. The answers will come. You will attract it if you stay positive about it. Don’t stress, obsess or depreciate the situation (as opposed to appreciate).

How will you ‘think backwards’?

(c) 2010 www.kimbelangermills.com All rights reserved.

Gossip

Absolutely everyone is entitled to their opinion and everyone has their own from their own perspective. Someone else's thoughts/feeling/opinions are really none of your business just as yours are not their business. As far as who is 'right'....




"Everyone thinks they're right. So, the question isn't who's right or who's wrong. The question is, who is most in alignment with their Source? And who is the most allowing? And whose life is really going the best, most of the time?" ~Abraham



There is really no 'victims' so one cannot be a 'victim of gossip'. You could CHOOSE to see as the gossip as a blessing. A unique chance to learn about what type of person you are. Now, that is truly an aligned way to live....



Be blessed. ♥

Moms with Tots Yoga

I started out with Mom & Baby Yoga, when my own baby was young enough to be my ‘model’. When she was almost a year old and able to go without breast milk for a couple of hours I included teaching Prenatal Yoga.


Suddenly, my daughter was a toddler and I wasn’t sure what to do with her so that she could come to class but not be bored. I really wanted to do yoga and see other moms of toddlers. So, I tried a class where the toddlers were doing yoga, since my daughter love doing yoga “like momma”. I had them crawling on the floor hissing like a snake and growing tall like a tree reaching out towards the sun. That’s when I found out that when toddlers were together they want to play together and explore, not do yoga.


It was a stressful class, for me anyway, wanting everyone – toddlers and moms alike – to benefit from the class but feeling stressed and pressured instead of relaxed and joyful. That’s when I got the idea of ‘Moms WITH Tots Yoga’ instead of ‘Mom AND Tot Yoga’. Still not as relaxing as I would have hoped but in other areas more beneficial than I even imagined!


Moms with Tots Yoga is a class where moms get to meet and support each other, stretch and feel safe and secure about their tot playing close by. A mom can feel good about her child joining her in the yoga class, cuddling, nursing or even having a snack. What I love most about the class is watching my daughter, Willow, talk to another mom while someone else’s tot is crawling up on me and smiling into my face while I am in a yoga position. The confidence and trust my daughter has developed from me taking her to my classes has grown in leaps and bounds like no other experience has taught her. As a parent, this is pure bliss.


Click HERE to learn more about Moms with Tots Yoga.


(c) 2010 www.kimbelangermills.com All rights reserved.

Summer –Pleasure or Pressure? Make it more positive!

Summer is a great time for relaxation. But, if you have kids who are usually in school and now off and with YOU full time you may be feeling the pressure. Pressure to make it fun for everyone... everyone except yourself.


Although my daughter isn’t in school just yet our trips to our vacation spot isn’t as relaxing as it could be if we had more space. The constant chatter of a two-year-old; the constant whining or barking of our two dogs, at an out of the norm place for them; add hubby to the mix and... well... I would rather be at home, frankly. Two minutes of alone time is better than none at all!


Be sure to have down time, even when vacationing. Not doing, just being. You need to turn your brain off which doesn’t mean sleeping. You will sleep better if you take that ‘no-brainer’ time.


Take a walk alone, do yoga alone, sit and just breathe – alone..... quiet your brain no matter where you are. Many times you’ll need to schedule it but just be sure that your partner and/or children are aware that you need it and intend to take that time. If YOU forget about YOU then chances are that so will everybody else.


Have a great summer, everyone!


Blessings,


Kim
(c) 2010 www.kimbelangermills.com All rights reserved.

1st generation for positive school experience

My husband and I HATED school, as did my parents and their parents. It wasn’t just being cooped up indoors for too many hours or the subjects but bullying and violence between the students as well as between students and teachers.



My dad always told me if I wanted to go to college or university he would pay for it. No worries. Ya, right! Why would I want to further my torture? Not only did I HATE grade school and high school but it was part of my father’s abuse, too. Yelling, belittling.... why put myself through that for another 3 or 4 years?!


So, I took a break and after a few years decided to try college. Friends seemed to like it and I wasn’t living at home anymore, so why not? Although I didn’t finish the first time I went (I’ve since gone to college another 2 times) I loved the experience! It really showed me what I was missing all those years where other kids didn’t have abuse involved. I saw respect between students and teachers and among themselves. It was awesome! I could see that if I had gone to different grade or high schools, or maybe at a different time, that showed mutual respect and lacked violence that I may have liked it and continued to college or university right away. Maybe.


Regardless of what happened with past generations, we have a daughter now and I won’t have years of her life wasted on fear, depression and negativity because she doesn’t like what her life is all about. School is such a big part of a child’s life.


The first change (from how I was raised) was taking her to my yoga classes so she could see babies, toddlers and other moms. She loves it and tries to talk the other mom’s ears off. Another was taking her to quick ‘sitter’ sessions at the local YMCA where she was only there an hour or two and speaking of the Y... we put her in gymnastics there as well. Now, she feels accepted, like she belongs and has a group of people that she likes, feels safe with and can look up to. More things my husband and past generations didn’t have.


Now, for the school. We are blessed to have a Montessori school about 5 minutes away from our home. At this school there will be less students per teacher for individual attention and nothing but the upmost respect. Never any yelling or belittling and fortunately it will be in a home-setting so our daughter won’t feel overwhelmed. There will be music, lots of outdoor time and learning made simple.  We visited there last Thursday and not only did our daughter love it and not want to come home but my husband loved it, too! I already knew I would like it as I had heard so many positive things about the place.


So, the ground-work has been laid. My husband and I will keep a positive attitude about it and I will volunteer when there are class trips. We’ll try to incorporate some things that she does at school into our home as well so she can do well and feel good about learning. Life is all about being positive and attracting more positivity and love to your life, I believe. What a great way to live and I'm proud to be raising another deliberate creator!
(c) 2010 www.kimbelangermills.com All rights reserved.

Positivity Prevails

You don’t realize how positive you are until you see the contrast of someone negative in your experience. I am a child of chronically negative parents and a ‘recovering’ chronically negative person, myself. I didn’t realize how truly positive that I have become until recently when I was exposed to some ‘Negative Nellies’. Now, I think I would say that I am more of a chronically positive person and it feels great!







Everything is habit. There is the habit of looking for things to help you to feel great and there’s the habit of looking on the ‘bright side’ and there’s the habit of just smiling and shrugging when those around you seem negative and complain.






I’m not saying to never be negative or down, that would just be fake. Just don’t stay there! You have a choice. It’s not about other people, it’s about YOU. YOU are your business and others are their own business. It feels great to be more on the positive side... light, airy, free.






The choice is yours. Choose and see how it affects everything in your experience. Feel free to let me know how it ‘feeeeels’.....






Blessings,


Kim.






(c) 2010 www.kimbelangermills.com All rights reserved.

Knowing it’s all about NOW

I probably have this realization a few times per year... and then it starts to slip away and the ‘aha’ moment hits me again. All that really matters is NOW. I’m not talking about the past as in a month, a year or even ten years ago. Your last breath no longer matters. It’s all about this one. I know it, but it’s easy to forget.







I think maybe the future matters more than the past. Not much more but it does. I don’t take a whole lot of stock it – only to think of, right now, what I want for the future. Keeping in mind that things can, and most likely will, change.






Being joyful in the now but having desires for the future... I would love to take an Alaskan cruise and also to see the East Coast, someday, far in the future. For right now, though, I am happy with the way life is headed. Very happy. Are you? Change is only a breath way... or a thought.

What are your thoughts?  You can comment here or email me.. phdirector (at) gmail.com


(c) 2010 www.kimbelangermills.com All rights reserved.

The Terrible Two’s –Really?

When my daughter, Willow, turned two I thought that maybe not every child went through ‘terrible two’s’ but then she got closer to two and a half and I believed it! I heard a lot of, “I don’t want to!” “I don’t have to!” “NO!”... along with grabbing things from me, kicking, screaming, and hitting I chalked it up to boredom and kept her so busy some days that she fell asleep at night before the end of two songs on the radio. Still, most days I was exhausted from the constant battles and putting too much effort into what I got done each day.. Not very joyful but I kept telling myself that it was just a phase.

Then, on a list/organizing website I noticed lists for toddlers’ responsibilities and a ‘caught ‘ya being good’ list so I’ve been trying it now for about a week and I think it’s working!!



On the list are things such as: puts own toys/books away; helps momma with chores; eats well; puts own pull-up in garbage; gets herself dressed; helps bath herself. She is so proud when we go to the fridge to put a checkmark on the list and add up the checks at the end of the day. Positive reinforcement... an amazingly fun and easy solution!

(c) 2010 www.kimbelangermills.com All rights reserved.

R & R anyone?

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: if you’ve ever seen the movie ‘Marley and Me’ then you know all about our dogs. Unruly, high maintenance but very cute and sweet at the same time. Add a toddler to the mix and I had an idea of how our first camping trip in over 3 years would go but being a `glass is half full` kind of gal I hoped for the best... a relaxing, stress-free high inspirational weekend. What I got was a lot of the expected but still some inspiration.



It took me three days of buying things for our new trailer to organize us, the dollar store was a big help. The one thing hubby and I couldn’t seem to get was a 30 amp plug for him to re-do the 15 amp plug that the previous owners put on the 30 amp cord for the 30 amp trailer – a fire hazard. An RV centre and two Canadian Tires didn’t have it which meant no power for the trailer. Also, when we got there the o-ring for the tap to the trailer was no good so this meant we had to go outside each time we needed to use the water to turn it on and off again. The bathroom was good to go, though, so I was happy as a clam about that. That’s all I was really worried about.



My husband works a minimum of 50 hours a week so having the trailer to prepare and move was stressing him out. He was an, um, ‘unhappy camper’ to say the least from Saturday morning until we got home Sunday morning. Which means that I was less than happy, too. Probably the majority of the weekend’s problem right there. The drive there and back was the most joyful part of the trip, for me, since we took separate vehicles.



Our daughter, Willow, was pretty good for us but the dogs... well, I laugh about it now but was mortified at the time... Willow went to sleep with only about 20 minutes of nursing since she was so exhausted and the dogs the same. It was our lab, Winnie, who decided to sleep on her bed for the first time. Our spaniel chose to sleep on our queen-sized bed. Perfect. We actually thought we might get a good nights sleep!



Here’s where the chaos begins. About 2:30 AM I heard the tag jingle on his collar as our lab shook and then our daughter saying, “NOOO” (she must have gotten stepped on or licked) and then, “Mommy I want you” she cried. With no power for the trailer it was pitch black in there. So, I brought her to our room thinking she would nurse and go back to sleep..... oh no. The lab followed, of course. Think about what a lab’s tail looks like – long and strong. It can clear a table. He’s a happy boy and was even happier at the prospect of getting into bed with all of us. The silence of the trailer park was defining but the sound of his tail banging on the metal screen door at 2:30 was enough to wake the dead!! Not just once or a few times but I had to leap out of bed to grab his tail repeatedly and every time I let go it happened again... the panelled walls too.

Winnie

Queen bed, yes, but space for two adults, a toddler, a spaniel and a lab – NO. Not to mention hubby was STILL not too happy. So, my day began then. I took everyone to the kitchen to let hubby sleep.

Willow's first sleeping bag

I did mention inspiration, didn’t I? Seeing how happy Willow was running around the campsite, playing in the dirt, with the pine tree on our site and with her new sleeping bag; reading to her from my Harry Potter book at 3:00 am via flashlight and the beautiful view on the drive home of the rock, trees and deer made it all worth it and hopeful to do it again - with better results.

The way home

(c) 2010 www.kimbelangermills.com All rights reserved.

We've come a long way, baby!

I only camped once when I was a kid. My Dad was NOT a camper but more of a hotel type person. It wasn’t until I was an adult that I started going, first with my cousin and then with boyfriends, sometimes in the back of a covered truck and sometimes in a tent. When married to my ex-husband I used to go with his parents, sleeping in a tent (by this time I had my own) and with my two small dogs while they were in a small house trailer. I always wanted one like theirs’, it seemed like an apartment on wheels.

When the new husband came along (and some inheritance) I bought my first trailer. It was a really nice tent trailer with a pop out on the side. It was beautiful, for a tent trailer, but a whole lot of work for my husband! We used it only one summer before my daughter was born. With a Cocker Spaniel and a Lab it was even more work... not to mention we were afraid that one of the dogs would go through the screen if we left them inside at all.

We really love camping but not so much the work so we up-scaled this year. I sold my beloved tent trailer, with all the memories of camping: a couple of days after a miscarriage, with my beloved terrier (Candy), later our Lab (Winchester) when he was just a pup, pregnant with our daughter (Willow) and even getting thrown out of a site, being told we were too noisy! I sold it for $3200.00 and took that money to pay for another trailer and a seasonal campground for this year.

Then, came the big task of finding the ‘right’ trailer for our family. We looked at a few not-so-gently loved and some neglected beyond repair. Finally, we went to Carl Cox in Belleville. On his website we saw one that was $5900.00 that was such a nice trailer and perfect for us but with the $3200 we got for the ‘old’ trailer it certainly wouldn’t cover the new one and then where would we put it if we couldn’t pay for the seasonal site? So, I didn’t understand why hubby (Chris) wanted to go look there. I felt that it was a big tease with all those beautiful trailers we couldn’t afford but when we got to his first lot there was one marked ‘$3500 – as is’ but looked worth so much more than that. It was a steal at that price, still, not affordable for us so we went home. I thought about it all night, kicking myself for not talking to the owner and offering... something. What does an offer cost me? Even if we had to take a bit out of our savings to buy it, it would be worth the investment.

So, the next day we went back in hopes that he was hanging around his garage since he was closed, which was located between his business and his home. He was. He was playing poker with some friends, actually, so I guess I interrupted his game. He was going from the business back to the garage when I asked the big question, “what would you take for the trailer marked $3500 in the other lot?” He said, “$3500 if that’s what’s marked!” Ugh, that was no good for us. “Too bad, I have $2000 CASH in the car, right now.” He told me he would be right back so I felt hopeful. A few minutes later he yelled out the business door... “give me $2300 and it’s yours” WOO HOO!! I couldn’t believe my luck! We later found out that this trailer marked $3500 on the window was the one that he had on his website for $5900!

A couple of people, older men who have done a lot of trailer camping in their lives, both told us that it was worth at least $6000 and we got a steal of a deal but when we got it home we realized it for ourselves. Nothing was wrong with it at all! Being marked ‘as is’ usually means that something is wrong with it so I expected the air conditioning, at the very least, to not work.

It’s a beautiful trailer! At the front is the living room, with a pull out couch to make a bed, then is the kitchen with a fridge, stove and table which also makes a bed. The bathroom is next complete with sink, toilet and shower... I’m not even sure they ever used them since there’s no mildew or signs of water. Last is the bedroom with tons of closet and drawer space and a queen sized bed. Aaaah... we’ll be camping in style! I’ve come a long way from tent camping with the ex-in-laws to this beautiful 29 foot cottage on wheels...

(c) 2010 www.kimbelangermills.com  All rights reserved.

The first eBook experience

Well, it took a year of my life to complete my first eBook, but “Prenatal Yoga for Body, Mind and Spirit” is finally ‘out there’.


I took my yoga teacher training almost completely pregnant for that entire year and had to do my own research on what to do or not to do. I had to research the modifications for someone pregnant so not to hurt myself or my baby. This kicked off the desire to write my own eBook for others who are pregnant.

From 2008-2010 experience was gained from teaching Prenatal Yoga and the last year of teaching it I was writing, I had a photographer come to my home to take pictures of most of the poses, and did research on my ‘team’. Besides a photographer, I have a business coach and an editor.

A pretty good accomplishment for anyone, really, however for someone with a toddler and no child-care, a pretty HUGE accomplishment, I believe! Yes, I certainly have a little extra pride knowing that I accomplished my goal with a child in her bed, early mornings, most of my writing time. Hopefully, this first eBook will act as a template for the second eBook... “Mom & Baby / Postnatal Yoga for Body, Mind and Spirit”.

(c) 2010 www.kimbelangermills.com All rights reserved.

Mother's Day 2010

Yesterday was Mother’s Day. We celebrated it the whole weekend but more-so on Saturday. We decided to NOT have the usual great weekend we normally have but make it equally great, just different, by going to Peterborough. For shopping and looking.



I recently told my husband of my wishes to sell our tent trailer and buy something we can take to a seasonal campground and leave there. It would be more of a cottage for us. A place that our daughter and I can go when Daddy is working or a place that we can just pick up and go to when we want to just get away. Even in the winter.


So, on the way to and from Peterborough we looked for trailers for sale, we looked for campgrounds with seasonal sites and we talked about what would be the best of both to find. Once there we shopped at Costco and talked about how nice it would be to be closer, maybe a campground between our home and Costco, for easier access. We also had dinner at the Red Lobster, which would definitely be another perk of living closer to Peterborough.

“Who fed me from her gentle breast

And hushed me in her arms to rest,

And on my cheek sweet kisses prest?

My Mother.” ~Ann Taylor

Well, we didn’t find a trailer or a campground but good times were had by all on Saturday. Sunday, we thought we would have a leisurely day of going to the gym and cleaning up our tent trailer to prepare to sell, but it ended up not to leisurely. I was inspired to put the ad on Kijiji early, just to get the views started on the site. Wow, what a response! Almost 100 views in about 8 hours. After about 4 hours we got an email, the family came to look, agreed to buy it and are coming today to pay. I think I’m still in shock that it went so quickly. Not to mention sad. This trailer was our first and we camped in it with my little dog, Candy, before she died and then again with our Lab when he was just a puppy. We camped in it just after I had a miscarriage and when I was pregnant with our daughter. It was our first time at Algonquin. It will definitely be missed!

Mother’s Day 2010 will certainly be memorable. It was the beginning of memories to come, of more camping and outdoor fun. It was memories of the end of a time, of the past of good times and sunshine.

2008 Camping at Prince Edward County

Coco and Winchester shown with trailer

“You don't really understand human nature unless you know why a child on a merry-go-round will wave at his parents every time around - and why his parents will always wave back.” ~William D. Tammeus

I hope everyone had a great Mother’s Day. Full of love and memories. As always, feel free to share.

 (c) 2010 www.kimbelangermills.com All rights reserved.

Back to Reiki

I took a break from Reiki for a while. Life just got too busy with my business and being a wife and mother. I also have been focusing on exercise lately, so Reiki has taken a backseat. I used to do it every morning for my own daily spiritual practise. It’s been missed.


I gave my first full Reiki session, in about a year, just recently. Just the mere thoughts of doing again was enough to re-awaken the energy. My hands felt very warm, tingly and like the energy was going to burst from them. That is, until I did a mini-treatment on my husband, then it subsided.


My client lay on the massage table, fully clothed, and I moved my hands in the positions either on or just above her body. A cleansing sweep was done near the end and lots of grounding. Nothing unusual happened during the treatment of the client....afterwards, though, was pretty amazing... for me, anyway. My hands felt unusually soft after the treatment and I became unusually ‘sensitive’... more vibrationally ‘aware’. I felt that my aura was brighter and I craved the closeness of my daughter, our pets and plant life. I felt more calm and in the moment.


My feelings are that I will do more Reiki this year than ever, although I am totally unsure of how that will happen with very limited childcare and time. No matter though, I just know I will attract it.

Learn more about Reiki with Kim or email for your own Reiki appointment: phdirector@gmail.com


(c) 2010 www.kimbelangermills.com All rights reserved.

Swing anyone?

From the time I was about two or three years old until I was nine I lived in Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada – on an Air Force base. This was the best place in the world for a child to grow up as far as I am concerned. Maybe it was just because we lived only three doors down from the school grounds entrance and our backyard backed onto the school property or maybe it was because I had lots of friends around me who also loved to be outside. Being an Air Force base, at this time, it was a very safe place to live. Whatever the reason, I absolutely LOVED it!


I spent most of my life outside in those days and try to do the same now... even in winter I try to find as much to do outside as possible. There’s a book by Richard Louv called “Last child in the woods” where he talks about his belief in the issue of nature-deficit disorder. I haven’t read it yet but it’s high on my list of books to read next!

I definitely want my daughter to spend as much time outside as she can get. We have a 3 seasons room, which is a screened in area of our neck, with a roof. We can be out there rain or shine. As of the fall, we also have a completely fenced-in backyard. I really wanted a swing set for her, just like I had in the ‘good old days’ and as of yesterday she has one!

It was almost ritualistic the way that it went up, with the five of us out there... Willow, my husband and our two dogs. I tried to help my husband, grouping like things together, keeping Willow and the dogs out of the small pieces and letting the dogs chew up the big cardboard box that it came in. There was even a bon fire to burn the box when we were done... another one of my favourite things to do! I’m hoping that this ritual will be a sign of all the amazing fun to take place in our backyard for years to come.

(c) 2010 www.kimbelangermills.com All rights reserved.

Stressed?

Given my profession, I’m often asked what to do about stress. My #1 answer? Breathe! When you are feeling stressed about something you automatically tense up, breathing becomes shallow. My favourite breathing exercise is called the ‘3 Part Breath’ and for good reason... you breathe in 3 parts.

Sitting or laying comfortably place your left hand on your stomach and right hand on your chest. As you inhale your abdomen and then solar plexus and then chest rise. As you exhale they each fall in reverse. Chest, solar plexus, abdomen.


Another exercise is to make a tight fist as you inhale... exhale, release the fist


Here’s some yoga poses to try, while wearing comfortable clothes.


Child Pose: from your hands and knees, with your knees together, sit back on your heels. Bring your chest to your thighs and forehead to the mat. Your arms are along your sides, with palms up. Relax and breathe deeply through your nose.

Rag Doll Pose: while standing, take a step to the side to stand in a wide stance. Inhale your arms up, exhale hinging forward at the waist. Hang. Relax. You could grab the insides of each arm and rock back and forth. Be sure you head is hanging loosely. Breathe.


Here’s something to think about... think of what the lack would be that you are focusing on... lack of time? ... lack of money...? I believe that is what stress is all about – lack. Focus on your abundance instead! The abundance of love around you! The abundance of beauty around you!


Be blessed,


Kim


(c) 2010 www.kimbelangermills.com All rights reserved.