Speed Bumps for Bicycles

Road Blocks for Bicycles?
Winter may have Christmas and Summer may have beach vacations but Spring and Fall, they are the real winners in my book. These seasons are not known for extremes like freezing cold or blazing heat but rather great weather for being and playing outside. They are perfection. Cool breezes, warm sunshine, and endless amounts of daylight.
My family and I have been holed up playing Wii for three and a half long months, pretending to be playing tennis and volleyball for hours on end. That, thankfully, is now over.
It was officially warm this weekend. All week long we talked about our Saturday outing. We were loading up the bikes and picnic basket and spending a long day on the trails.
My eight year old got a big girl bike for Christmas and has been practicing hand braking, gears, and hills relentlessly in between snow storms. My husband also got a new bike for Christmas which meant that I no longer had to haul the bike trailer with our 6 and 2 year olds. WOO HOO! I was dreaming of how much more fun I was going to have without an extra 105 pounds connected to my rear wheel.
Spring is like a re-birth for us each year. We try to think of ways to beat the Winter doldrums and stay active in the cold, but ultimately get bored and lazy. Then the temp hits 65 and you cannot drag us back inside. Catch, soccer, bikes, grilling, or just reading a book on front porch. We become those active people you see in commercials selling McDonalds and Sun Block.
So like I said, we were excited. We talked about our little trip, bought snacks, went to bed early: the works. Saturday morning the girls and I get everything ready inside while my loving and patient husband spends over an hour trying to get the new bikes to fit properly on our old bike rack. Then we were off.
We have now spent approximately 3 hours talking about our trip and two hours loading up for it at this point in time.
We drove 30 minutes and spill out of the car in an excited burst. Walter unloads while I haul every one into the bathrooms to the chorus of , “ but I DON’T have to pee”. And yes, every single one of them peed. I get back and there are bikes laying everywhere (why don’t nice bikes come with kickstands but cheap bikes do? I don’t understand) and Walter is growling at the bike rack. The kids are bouncing around like automated pogo sticks making the situation more tense and then it happened. . . I tried to help.
Yup. Instead of following our tried and true routine of taking the kids down to the lake while Daddy wrestled with the technical stuff, I started to assemble the bike trailer. Guess how long it takes me to break a bike trailer? That is right, after 5 and half hours of bike ride preparation I broke the trailer in less than 45 seconds.
Walter then spent another thirty minutes trying to re-assembled the spring thingy that busted everywhere when I touched it, excersizing his right to free speech before spending another 20 minutes re-loading the bikes back onto the rack. So now we have worked 6 and a half hours and ridden 0 minutes.
We then took a very quiet (Walter’s right to free speech was overridden by Golden Rule #2, if you don’t have anything nice to say then say nothing at all)walk around the lake (which was lovely) and headed home.
All in all I have to say that although our day did not turn out anything like I had planned, I was very proud of our kids for bouncing back so easily and maintaining a good attitude through-out the whole ordeal and that was worth a lot in my book.
Next week is another Spring rite, The Cherry Blossom Festival, wish us luck.

The Forcast is SUNNY with a Chance of SHORTS! Get ready for them now!
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Volunteers Needed

Parent Volunteers Needed:
As a Working Mother I tend to dread these notes; Parent Volunteers needed to assemble Easter Egg Baskets, Parents needed for only two hours on Wednesday at 10:00am to read with the kids, Parents needed to teach Vacation Bible School, Parents – Don’t forget your contracted 10 hours of school service are due at the end of the month. Parents, Parents, Parents. Yes, I own my own business and create my own hours. Yes, I have it better than most Working Moms. Yes, I love being a part of my kids daily lives. But NO! I cannot interrupt every single week to be in the classroom. I cannot be all things to all people and have to draw the line from time to time. Do you sense my frustration? Do you ever feel guilty when you just have to say no? or when you say yes too much and never have a moment to lay around the house and just . . . enjoy your family.
As I was sitting in a monthly parent meeting at my kids school last week something dawned on me. I spend somewhere between 5-10 hours a month (don’t judge, I know many of you do triple that) in my kids schools and church. I dedicate myself to these activities because I know they need support, because I am very grateful the role they play in my kids lives and want to support them, and because I feel that if I use a service that I should contribute to it. I don’t do the most or least but I do all that I can within the limits of what works for my family.
But then there was a big question. . .
Sure I know why I am doing this, sitting in a school room on a Tuesday night instead of being at home tucking in my kids, but do my kids? Sure, I know why I stress over selling candles and stuffing Easter Eggs, but do my children?
In fact, my kids know why they have to clean out the dishwasher and pick up their own clothes. They know why they have to pack their own lunches and remember their own book bags (and yes, no matter what is inside the book bag or they are serving for lunch I simply will not go back for it- this is one of those lines that must be drawn). They hear constantly how they have to be responsible for themselves and how they have to help out the family and be a part of running our house.
My question is do they know how to apply this lesson past our driveway? They hear about charity work. They sing songs at the Retirement Home once a year and bring a shoebox full of toys at Christmas. But what about responsibility at school?; at Church? At the park they love or Gymnastics class?
What if instead of PARENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED on every heading, we saw some PARENTS AND KIDS NEEDED: to clean the school yard, cut out crafts for VBS, and to make cookies for the Bake Sale. What if we let some kids sit in on these Parent Volunteer Committees and ask them to make copies for Teachers or even come in to their Siblings classes and read?
Letting the kids volunteer for the very places that serve their needs can really bring home the idea of community service. And, letting the kids serve alongside us make each task so much more fun!
So this Easter my eight year old help me stuff 100 Easter Eggs for church (at first she loved it, then she got bored, then she felt accomplishment at a task completed) and my 6 year is helping me prepare craft bags for VBS. I now look for ways to include my kids in my volunteering and am no longer dreading the next Parent Committee Meeting.
Somehow doing these things with the kids serves my motherly need to multi-task and really makes me feel they are learning a lesson that can take them somewhere in life and that serves my need to be the best parent I can be. So. . . PARENTS AND KIDS NEEDED to run your school, church, and park. They may be short but their hearts are mighty, you may be surprised by what they can do.

Spring pregnancy, fun and the outdoors...

There's no better time to be pregnant than during the spring. Of course I'm sure every pregnant person has their own point of view, but how could you not love coming out of hibernation and into the warm sun.

Ok, here's the real truth, being cooped up in your home all winter with a 3 year-old and a 1 year-old could drive any sane person nutty. Now take into the fact that I'm pregnant, ahhhhhh!!! Seriously though, getting outdoors, going to the park, flying kites, blowing bubbles and playing in the sandbox are only a small fraction of all the fun Spring brings. My family and I enjoy having friends over, grilling steaks and veggies all while the kiddos are running around thawing out from their winter hibernation.

Last weekend I did something new to ring in Spring. I planted flowers! This is big for me because I kill everything that lives in soil. Friends have given me plants before and I welcome them with a "thanks" and say a silent prayer for the poor little plant soul being placed in my hands. Finally my mother exclaimed that it was time for me, a grown woman, to understand the basics of caring for plants, so she got me an ivy to jump start my training. It sits right next to my kitchen sink so I'm reminded to water it when the soil is dry. I've done pretty good at the watering part and it actually started growing so large that my mom had to come over to prune it. Since I passed my first challenge it was now time to embark on my biggest plant challenge. Planting flowers outside! My mom accompanied me to our local home improvement store and the nice little gardening employee helped me make my plant selections. We came across a beautiful plant with the perfect little red flower. That was the flower I wanted, so the employee helped me load up my cart. He then proceeded to tell me that I'll need to make sure to "dead-head" them for their blooms to come back. Ummmm, excuse me?? First, if you expect me to have the time to go around and snip the heads off these poor little flowers AND even trust me with scissors around any type of plant, well that wouldn't work for me. So the perfect little red flower plants had to go back on the shelf. Finally I did find my perfect plant and it had bright, vibrant blooms. I don't have to do anything except water. I've got the water thing down so I know I can do my part in keeping these plants alive, of course if they die this will not be my fault! We loaded up my cart and my nerves cringed when I swiped my card for close to $100 for all the plants. It's like paying for dirt, it doesn't feel right... Anyway, my mom and I got home and unloaded all of my beautiful plants. I said a little prayer for them all and started planting them in their new home. I learned a lot from my mom that day. She's one of those women that knows how to do everything! I also learned that my 3 year-old and I found something new for us to look forward to when Spring rolls around. We enjoyed getting our hands dirty, playing with the water hose and then sitting and enjoying the beauty of our new little flower friends.



One week later, I'm happy to report that they're still alive and beautiful. Even if the flowers don't make it through my torcher, we will still look forward to Spring every year and all the activities it brings as well as our new adventure of planting the perfect flowers.

Happy Spring Everybody! Kendra Odum- VP of Research and Development

Fit for Spring

It is HERE! Alright, officially it is not here till the 20th and, actually, it doesn’t really feel like Spring outside right now. However, make no mistake, it is SPRING! March is coming in like a lion but in a few short weeks it will be out of here like a lamb and I am ready. I am no longer content to sit on my sofa all day wrapped in a Snuggie. I can feel the pull of the outdoors, bare legs, and flip flops.
I am always tempted at this time of year to panic. Oh No! Bathing Suit season is only months away. Oh No! My shorts shrunk in storage. My general routine is: First, to panic. Next, go on a diet that I can’t possibly maintain. And, finally, start an exersize regime that should only be attempted by a tri-athlete.
Not this year though! This year is different. I have learned my lesson. Panicking doesn’t solve anything, I cannot stay on any diet that does not allow a glass wine on girls’ night out and although I am fit, I am no tri-athlete. This year the key word is baby steps.
My first baby step is my diet. While I cannot deny myself a glass wine or a really good cheesecake, I can enjoy all the wonderful things Mother Nature gives us this time of year. Already my fridge has made a marked transformation from being filled with frozen dinners and comfort foods, to being stocked with fresh fruits and vegetables. This doesn’t feel like I am denying myself anything since I really did miss peaches this winter, and strawberries, and blueberries. . .

Step two is exercise. Instead of embarking on any routine (the word itself makes me bored before I begin) I am just going to do what comes naturally. A warm day calls my soul outdoors anyway: a walk with my family after dinner, a Saturday bike ride, and maybe even a hike to enjoy the gorgeous new palette of Spring.

The truth is change doesn’t come without action but this year I want my changes to stick. So I am making them one step at a time. Longer days and warm rays of sunshine are on their way. Old Man Winter is heading off to hibernate and Mother Nature is about to bless us with gorgeous new flora and fauna. So again, IT IS HERE! No panicking. Let’s Celebrate!

Spring Maternity Fashion Trends

I am more ready for spring than I have ever been, partially because that brings me closer to my due date and partially because I am looking forward to less clothing! With my first pregnancy, I was due in late January, which means I was at my biggest point during the winter months. With this pregnancy, I’m just the opposite, due in June and looking so forward to wearing all of those cute spring maternity clothes. My big dilemma now is that I have nothing to wear!
I have been doing some looking around and I’m so excited about some of the trends this year and terrified of just a few. I don’t know about any of the other pregnant women out there, but the thought of “short shorts” being in, yes even in maternity, is not going to happen. I have things showing up on my legs that I didn’t know were there. I am holding on tight to the hope that things will just go right back to normal once this baby is here. But in the meantime, I don’t want to scare anyone with the road maps and bumps! I’ve also seen some info on “jumpsuits” being in this year for maternity wear. What????? The number of times I have to frequent the restroom is reason enough to avoid this one, not to mention that jumpsuits do NOTHING for a growing mid section.


What I am looking forward to in this year’s trends are the colors, mainly pastels and sugar candy shades, i.e. pink, lavender, yellow. Lucky for me I have unlimited access to all natural spray tanning…which pairs up really well with these colors! I am also really excited about the light and flirty materials this year, silk and satin with lots of frills and ruffles. Floor length dresses are also back this year, yeah! I have already purchased a few and with this winter drawing out, I’ve had to try them on several times to make sure they’ll still work. Hurry spring, hurry!! I am so over the stretchy work out pants and sweatshirts…especially because I am a working mom that needs to look presentable. I have one or two “staple” outfits that have worked for my important days, but even those are getting a little shorter and tighter…yikes! Here in Georgia we got just a glimpse of what spring is going to be like, if it would ever get here. We had a beautiful 70 degree day and there I was trying on my sundresses again, just hoping it was here to stay this time. Unfortunately I woke up to 40 degrees again today and realized those cute and flowy outfits may sit on the shelf a few more weeks. I’m also noticing that fitted is definitely in this spring, fitted and fun tees, fitted busy fabrics, off the shoulder fitted shimmery shirts. Lots of fun stuff and many ways to show off that baby bump.
So come on spring…I’m ready and my tight winter wardrobe is ready for a break.

Krista Bixler- President of Golden Sol www.goldensoltan.com

Spring Fashion Trends for 2010

I know that we have snow flurries still falling but trust me. . . Spring is almost here! I can feel the sunshine on my bare shoulders as I write this.

Once I started daydreaming about Spring,sun,and warmth I couldn't stop. I took a look at my closet with the knee high boots I couldn't wait to put on few shorts months ago, my long sweaters, and skinny jeans and I suddenly was tired of them all. I am ready for light flowing fabrics, showing my toes, and layering tees and tanks instead of scarves and jackets. So I went a step farther and took a look at what fashion trends are heading our way for Spring 2010. There is some good, some frightening for a mother of three like myself, and some that I can't wait to get my hands on. . . Here is what I found:

The Good. . .

The palette for spring is light, romantic, although somewhat reserved it is a welcome change from the bold jeweled tones of last year that not all of us can really pull off and can easily look cheap on the low end of clothing lines. This palette reflects the state of the economy as well the mood of the people;soft nuetral tones with a romantic vision of time past. So for me this is good, maybe not wow-me-fantastic, but certainly not bad.



Now for the bad. . .
Short, shorts are back. I don't mean the finger tip length, or even what I would consider a fairly short short. I mean SHORT, non-existent, shorts. You may think, "is that a bathing suit?", but no, they are shorts. They are everywhere. Tan legs go a long way with this look but cant take a Mother of Three all the way. Even if I do work out four times a week and lay of the cupcakes this is just not going to work. They are super cute on the right figure but having two daughters keep me from loving them all the way. We will just have to see as this plays out. I was so happy when bermuda shorts came into fashion I have the distinct feeling that this year they will be labeled mom-shorts and I will be hopelessly dated.

A saving grace? If you have a good figure, want to embrace this trend, but dont want to bare your backside, try an up-to-there split. Long dress with eye raising split that show off the front of your legs (which look infinately better than backs of my legs) are also in high demand this year.



Finally, what I can't wait to get my hands on!

The boyfriend blazer, feathered headbands, and all natural makeup. Love, Love, and Love. I am so glad the boyfriend blazer is stickng with us this Spring. This great relaxed jacket completes so many outfits. It adds sophistication without stuffiness and really helps bridge the gap between warm days and cool nights (that is the Mother in me talking).


The feathered headband. This is a little out there for mom in me but soooo cute. I especially love it with short hair. A great way to add a little fun and youth to a evening outfit.



The No-Make-up, Make-up Look. LOVE this. Celebrate the natural beauty that comes with Spring. I am not advocating not wearing make-up but rather keeping it light, soft, and romantic. LOVE THIS LOOK!


Most importantly, have fun! It is Spring after all.

Thank you fashionsing.com for the photos.