Eat Smart, Mama: How to Curb Stress & Increase Energy

By Peggy Kotsopoulos

May 15, 2019

Photo: Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash

Editor’s note: Any medical advice presented here is expressly the views of the writer and Red Tricycle cannot verify any claims made. Please consult with your healthcare provider about what works best for you.

Stress and energy are intertwined, the more relaxed you are, the more energized you’ll be. The reverse also holds true as stress is the biggest energy sucker. What you eat plays a profound way in how you feel. Here are a few food tips to help you curb stress and increase energy:

1. Drink Water

The most common cause of fatigue is dehydration! If there is not enough fluid in your body, blood volume can drop. As a result, your body (and heart) must work harder in order to supply your cells with oxygen and nutrients. And if your body is working so hard on the inside, what do you think happens to physical and mental energy levels? Poor hydration results in mental fogginess, poor short-term memory, dizziness and fatigue. As a rule of thumb: drink half your body weight in ounces in a day.

2. Nosh on B Vitamin-rich Foods

B vitamins are stress-busting nutrients—especially B6, B12, folic acid and niacinare essential in the production of neurotransmitters. But while B6 is the most important for busting stress and boosting energy, it’s also the first to be depleted in the presence of stress. A lack of B6 could lead to depression due to its inability to produce the feel-good neurotransmitter serotonin. And because B vitamins are water-soluble, they don’t hang around in your body very long—so it’s critical to ingest them throughout the day. Turn towards foods high in B vitamins such as fatty fish, red and green peppers, hazelnuts, raw cashews, spinach, bananas, potatoes and turnip greens.

3. Eat Your Greens

One of the key benefits of eating greens include their rich chlorophyll content. Chlorophyll increases the number of red blood cells in your body, which help deliver oxygen to your cells. The more oxygen to your cells means more nutrients will be absorbed resulting in more energy . Foods such as kale, collars, spinach, broccoli, sprouts and sea veggies are all loaded in this important nutrient. Plus, they are rich other key energy boosting nutrients, such as iron, b-vitamins and tyrosine. Amazing for boosting energy and health!

4. Add Adaptogens

Adaptogens are nutrients found in herbs that increase the body’s ability to resist and adapt to stress. They can help alleviate anxiety, stress and trauma by restoring the body’s natural balance and homeostasis. Believe it or not, the more relaxed you are the more energy you’ll have over the long haul. The inability to relax after a stressful day keeps cortisol (stress hormone) levels on overdrive. This prevents good quality sleep because it reduces REM sleep and increases fatigue. You might sleep eight hours a night but wake up still not feeling rested. If this is the case, it’s typically linked to excess cortisol. Supplementing with adaptogenic herbs like Maca, Relora or Ashwaghanda can help mitigate cortisol levels and boost energy. Or try a calming adaptogenic tea, such as Tulsi (aka Holy Basil) before bed to help you chill.

5. Complex Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates get a bad rap, but they can, in fact, help chill you out. Studies show that carbs can reduce stress levels, improve mental performance and help mitigate stress-induced depression. They increase serotonin levels in the brain, our feel-good neurotransmitter, and promote a feeling of calmness. However, the issue lies in the type of carbs consumed. Simple, refined carbs may make us feel better temporarily, but the effects are extremely short-lived. On the other hand, complex carbohydrates such as sweet potatoes, quinoa and oats are slow-releasing carbs that keep us more satiated and feeling less anxious for longer periods of time. Whole grains, such as quinoa and amaranth, and sweet potatoes are also rich in b-vitamins, which are essential to help convert the amino acids into neurotransmitters and help to reduce stress and supports the adrenal glands. The key is to ensure the carbs you are eating are packed with fiber and if possible, protein. However, if you are stressed and find yourself reaching for a bag of cookies, vs bowl of quinoa, choose a better for you option, like Lenny & Larry’s the Complete Crunchy Cookies that pack in fiber and protein.

Peggy Kotsopoulos

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

I'm the author of Kitchen Cures, a Nutritionist and Culinary Consultant focused on teaching real health through lifest‌yle and dietary choices that are easy and delicious! I'm dedicated to promoting long-term health and vitality. And I'm on a mission… to make REAL health mainstream!

Thoughts of a Motherless Mom on Mother’s Day

By Leigha Balchus

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

May 10, 2019

Photo: purchased via Lightstock

Thoughts of a Motherless Mom on Mother’s Day…

Superpowers:

Since you passed away, I’ve discovered I have a superpower, an ability that saves me when a sea of grief threatens to swallow me up whole. It’s simple, yet profound, like oxygen to lungs that burn for breath.

It was granted to me the day you died. And, although it never gets easy, it grows stronger with time and helps me survive in this world without you, when doing so feels impossible.

I have the power to shift, and I’ve mastered it…most days.

I can shift my mind to other things, my attention elsewhere. ANYWHERE. Except the thought that you’re gone, nowhere to be found on this earth. I’ll never hear your voice again or feel the warmth of your embrace this side of Heaven.

On any given normal day, I’m really good at shifting. But, on Mother’s Day, I find it nearly impossible. And, honestly, I dread it.

A Tsunami:

Reminders of you are EVERYWHERE. From the heart-wrenching, Mom commercials that leave me reeling, like this one from Gatorade a few years back, to the store ads and the card aisle…even strolling through HEB isn’t safe!!

I can’t escape the memories that flood my mind like a tsunami, emerging without warning, reminding me that no matter how hard I search for you, you’ll never be found. I’ll never buy another Mother’s Day card again.

HOW DO I DO THIS WITHOUT YOU?!!

Sadness engulfs me. I can hardly breathe as waves of grief crash relentlessly over me, knocking me down and sweeping me under again and again. Warm tears stream down my face.

Then suddenly I hear a voice in the distance….

“Mom, are you okay?”

…and in that moment I feel it. A shift. It’s happening.

A mother arises where a daughter once stood.

An Unexpected Rescue:

It turns out there’s a force even greater than the waves of grief that threaten to consume me right up. It’s the greatest superpower of all.

LOVE.

Love that comes from the ones who call ME Mom, who are here, right now, excited to celebrate with ME on Mother’s Day. As much as I long for days passed, I know what you’d say. It’s time to shift into the present, to soak up MY time of being celebrated as a mom and enjoy every minute of it before it’s gone. And, as always, you’d be right.

Waves calm. Deep breath. Now shift.

Although my soul will never stop aching to see you one last time or call you and hear your sweet voice, I will choose to take hold of this force that’s more powerful than grief. One you taught me well. I will choose to shift my gaze to what’s up ahead, rather than focusing on what’s behind. And, I will honor you by loving my children well.

So that one day, when it’s my turn to leave this earth behind, and they must face Mother’s Day without me, they will be able to shift, too. Not because they won’t miss me, but because they will have the very same power within them that I have today. A legacy of LOVE that you left behind. One that will be passed down for generations to come.

The love of a Mother is a powerful force to be reckoned with.

This post originally appeared on Midland Moms Blog.

Leigha Balchus

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Hi, I'm Leigha! I'm a mom of two who was raised by my grandparents. I'm a suvivor, an overcomer, and a chain breaker. I believe we all have the power within us to break free of our past and write a new story for our future. That's why I write.

The FDA Issues Warning to Parents: Teething Jewelry Isn’t Safe for Babies

by Erica LoopDecember 27, 2018

We’ve all been there—both as parents and personally (even if we don’t remember it): teething. The crying kiddo, the pain, and the fact that you’d do pretty much anything to stop the insanity. But what about those teething necklaces and bracelets your mom friends rave about? Well…about that.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently issued a statement recently issued a warning to parents and caregivers of young children about how teething jewelry—worn by your cranky baby or the caregiver—can actually be potentially dangerous.

Photo: Alex Smith via Pexels

How can parents soothe teething pain, anyway? Teething gels aren’t a great solution, either; the FDA notes that benzocaine-containing products (such as gels, sprays or ointments) can lead to a potentially life-threatening condition that reduces the red blood cells’ ability to carry oxygen.

If you can’t use a gel or cream, what can you use? It’s this very question that leads plenty of parents to teething jewelry. Often marketed as a safe, “natural” alternative to other products, these items look like necklaces or bracelets are typically made from amber, marble, silicone or wood.

Following reports of serious injuries and tragically, strangulation deaths, the FDA now cautions parents to avoid teething jewelry altogether. If you think that adult supervision will reduce the risks, think again. According to the FDA, a seven-month-old infant choked on a wooden beaded teething bracelet—while under parental supervision. Luckily, the child was okay following a trip to the hospital.

Teething necklaces can lead to choking, strangulation, according to a new @US_FDA warning. https://t.co/YOotYY0KIV pic.twitter.com/UCzSYXyeHe

— AAP News (@AAPNews) December 20, 2018

The new warning from the FDA stresses using alternatives to soothe teething pain—and of course, avoiding teething jewelry. Instead, gently massage your baby’s gums with clean fingers. The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that you can give your kiddo a firm rubber teething ring (but not the frozen kind). Always inspect the teething ring for damage and supervise your child while they’re gumming it.

—Erica Loop

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My Tricks for Sneaking Iron-Rich Food into Your Kids’ Diet

By Joan Lowell

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

September 7, 2017

photo: My Fit Station

Didn’t it used to be that kids got enough iron (not to mention other vitamins) in their diet? What are we doing wrong today that so many kids (and adults) are anemic or nearly so? The most common cause of anemia, or low-iron in the blood, is nutritional. Simply stated, the person is not eating enough iron-rich foods in their daily diet to provide what the body needs. The body uses iron to help make red blood cells, which carry oxygen-rich blood to all parts of the body. With too little iron, the body cannot make new red blood cells and in turn, begins to suffocate from the inside without sufficient levels of oxygen.

Although it can recycle iron from old red blood cells, the body requires even more red blood cells during periods of growth. This means that children need lots of iron in their diets. Children ages 9-24 months are most likely to test anemic, frequently due to dietary deficiency. Babies who drink breast milk need less iron because it is absorbed better when iron is ingested with breast milk. Babies who drink iron-fortified formula usually get enough iron, too. Children who transition to cow’s milk before their first birthday may be anemic. Not only does cow’s milk contain less iron, it actually makes it harder for the body to absorb iron from other foods

Thankfully, milk is not the only source of iron. Even kids who drink a lot of milk may become anemic unless enough iron is eaten from food sources. What foods are iron-rich and which ones are just okay? Of course, meats provide the most iron, but I will share several non-meat options to feed your vegetarian kids, too.

Super Sources of Iron

Liver, of calf, chicken or beef – I don’t love the taste of liver, so I cook the liver from my chicken and chop it into my stuffing or make a broth with it. Liver is known as nature’s multivitamin, even though it is not as popular as it once was, in my mother’s day.

Other organ meats, like heart, tongue, kidney and tripe – Okay, I don’t expect you to go making tripe soup tonight, but the heart and tongue can be tasty and easily hidden. Actually, cow’s tongue is quite delicious. More likely, you might brown organ meat and grind into a recipe or use to create intensely-flavored and highly-nutritious broths.

Oysters, clams and other shellfish – I am from the Ocean State, so ocean-fresh seafood can be obtained nearly year-round, but even canned clams make a tasty chowder or sauce for linguine. If your little one detects the chewy beasts, use a grinder or food processor!

Blackstrap molasses – Make a batch of grandma’s old-fashioned hermits (with raisins) or ginger snaps and watch their iron levels rise! In fact, any recipe that calls for brown sugar can use the same amount of molasses (make sure the jar says blackstrap).

Cereals which have been fortified to the 100% level of the US Recommended Daily Allowance – Read the label! Only cereals whose Iron row indicate 100, like Total and Product 19) are in this category.

Good Sources of Iron

Beef, veal and ham and to a lesser degree, chicken, lamb and fish, even eggs and egg yolks – Very good sources of Iron and more kid-friendly than the better sources above. These can be ground to disguise them or served more traditionally, depending on your family preference.

40% Bran Flakes – I love these, but…if your kids are like mine, they won’t have it. Crush up bran flakes and use them to coat oven-fried chicken, or top your favorite casserole with crushed bran flakes instead of breadcrumbs. Follow your favorite overnight-oats recipe and substitute bran flakes (if you don’t want them to get too mushy, add the bran flakes in the morning or right before you stir and eat). Other cereals provide much less, even though their label may say Fortified with Vitamins. Cereals with values of 45, like Kix and Cream of Wheat, are better than ones with values closer to 25, like Cheerios. If feeding a baby cereal, make sure it says iron-fortified on the box.

Beans – Black beans, Garbanzo beans and Pinto beans are top of the list for being iron-rich. Get these first, then reach for the others. Maybe make chili with the top three and add one can of their other favorite bean (if that exists).

Last Resorts to Feed Them Iron

Other beans – Navy, kidney, soy, lentils, split peas, and yes, even green beans have iron.

Enriched products – Bread, macaroni and rice may be tasty options, but too much will add to your waistline.

Greens – Spinach and asparagus are best, but broccoli and green peas are okay too.

Other vegetables and fruits – Bake your potatoes with the skin on, serve healthy snacks like carrots, raisins, prunes, strawberries, dried apricots, apples, oranges, bananas, avacado and even peanut butter.

Nuts and seeds – Sunflower seeds and walnuts make easy, portable snacks that have at least some benefit more than munching on chips or crackers full of salt and sugar.

Enlist the help of your family to sneak something into every meal. Have your after-school childcare provide items off this list. Remember though, when choosing these “Last Resorts” that having less iron means eating more of these to get the same benefit you would by eating from the Super or Good list. There’s my advice. Now go shopping and don’t tell the kids!

_____________

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Joan Lowell

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Go Au Pair representative, cultural childcare advocate, Mom to six great kids, I earned my BS at RI College and MEd at Providence College. My hats: educator, tutor and writer of local blog for Go Au Pair families and Au Pairs. Baking, gardening, reading and relaxing on the porch are hobbies.

Get It While It’s Hot: Facts & Myths About Heat

by Amber GuetebierMarch 21, 2016

National #HeatAwarenessDay isn’t just about keepin’ it cool: turn up the temperature on today’s topic with these truths and lies about heat science. Read on for hot tips.

photo: Jayphen via flickr

Heat vs Temp
Hot and cold are thrown about as handy adjectives from early vocab days, and although used interchangeably to describe both heat and temperature, they aren’t the same thing. Help the kiddos understand with these basic (sciency-based) definitions: Heat is stored energy inside something and temperature is how hot or cold something is. And just because an object measures a certain temp., that doesn’t tell us how much heat energy it’s storing.

Heat Lightning
Thunder without lightning? Heat lightning has a rep for occurring sans thunderstorm. It usually takes place on warm, humid nights and appears like faint flashes in the sky. But where’s the thunder? It’s there. It’s just too far away for you to hear it, making this a myth that heat lightening doesn’t have accompanying thunder. But if a thunderclap occurs on the prairie with no one around to hear it…

Feel the Burn
Did you know that people who eat spicy foods together are more likely to bond? A medical study shows that “shared pain” helps team bonding. They compared the results of a group who ate a very spicy pepper together prior to a game with a team who didn’t eat said insanely hot pepper. Turns out the spicy peeps were way more motivated to work as a group and help each other out. The same concept can apply to running a race or even group fitness classes: knowing you aren’t alone through “the burn” can keep your head in the game.

Hot Head
Putting on a hat when it’s chilly out just makes sense, but is it because you lose body heat from your head? Maybe you even remember your mom or dad (and yes, you’ve said it to your own kids) telling you that you lose 40% of your body heat through your noggin. Well that old adage is based on a somewhat vague study done in the 1950s: the US military tested volunteers wearing Arctic gear in cold conditions. Because the only part of their body left uncovered was their head, the study estimated that nearly half the body’s heat was lost through the head. But according to Rachel Vreeman and Aaron Carroll, pediatricians from Indiana University in Indianapolis, this percentage is just a myth. If it were true, you’d be just as cold without a hat as you would without pants! You could do the same experiment wearing just swim trunks and lose only about 10% of body heat from your head. Still, a hat keeps the snow off and is the perfect solution to bad hair days: so if you want to keep this myth going, we’re not judging.

Bam!
Wait, something can just burst into flames, seemingly without cause? Well, technically yes. Plain ol’ combustion occurs when something is heated on purpose to the point of catching fire (charcoal, meet lighter). Spontaneous combustion is caused by spontaneous heating, which means something increases in heat without being heated on purpose. When many substances break down, they go through slow oxidation: the process of becoming chemically combined with oxygen. This releases heat. If the heat becomes trapped, it can lead to combustion without a direct flame. Things like oily rags and fertilizers can experience this. As for spontaneous human combustion? Rest well, because it’s pretty much a myth, though their may be a scientific explanation for some cases.

Got a cool heat myth or truth to share? Put it in the comments below!

—Amber Guetebier

6 Things That Prove D.C. Kids are a Bunch of Bookworms

by Meghan Yudes MeyersSeptember 1, 2015

September ushers in National Literacy Month, and the DMV is teeming with book-centric celebrations and activities. From a Library of Congress sponsored festival to a pint-sized play village inspired by classic children’s tales here are the best places to foster a love of hard covers (and paperbacks!).

Photo: The Library of Congress via Facebook

#1 National Book Festival
The basics in life: food, shelter, oxygen… and books! Thomas Jefferson proclaimed, “I can’t live without books!” and hence a theme was born for the 15th annual festival hosted by the Library of Congress. This year’s event (which is free and open to the public) will be held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, with more than 175 authors doing readings, signings (or both).

When: Saturday, September 5 from 10 am to 10 pm.
Walter E. Washington Convention Center
801 Mt Vernon Pl., NW
888-714-4696
Online: loc.gov

#2 The Young Readers Center at The Library of Congress
Nearly one-third of all books that have been published in the United States can be found on the shelves of this library; with so many choices its easy to find a worthy read to cozy up with. The books at the The Young Readers Center are non-circulating meaning you can’t check them out, but you can read them—on repeat if you please—onsite. Every Friday (except holidays), the Center hosts story time for infants and toddlers at 10:30 am. Free admission stickers are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 10 am.

When: Every Friday (except holidays) at 10:30 am; free passes distributed at 10 am.
Thomas Jefferson Building, Room LJ G29 (ground floor)
10 First St., SE
202-707-1950
Online: read.gov

Photo: Baltimore County Public Library via Facebook

#3 Storyville
If reading a book can spark a child’s imagination, just imagine what a book-themed play place could do! This interactive learning center is geared toward children five and under.
With developmentally appropriate books and activities, Storyville fosters literacy and school readiness skills. And it’s just a really cool hangout.

When: Mon-Thu, 9 am-9 pm; Fri and Sat, 9 am-5:30 pm; Sun, 1 pm-5 pm
Baltimore County Public Library (Rosedale and Woodlawn branches)
6105 Kenwood Ave. (Rosedale, Md) and 1811 Woodlawn Dr. (Woodlawn, Md)
410-887-1165 (Rosedale); 410-887-1336 (Woodlawn)
Online: bcpl.info

#4 Books for America
There’s no better way to celebrate reading than to add a new book to your bookshelf. The library is nice, but sometimes you want to own a tome you’ll cherish for years to come. This bookstore, nicknamed “Bookstore with a Purpose,” also serves as the non-profit organization’s headquarters. You and your family will find an assortment of books at bargain-basement prices and the best part is, 100% of your purchase will benefit the organization’s book distribution programs. And if your littlest has a library gathering dust, this bookstore cheerfully accepts donated books.

When: Monday, Friday, Saturday 10 am -6 pm; Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 10 am -9 pm; Sunday 11 am – 5 pm
Books for America
1417 22nd Street NW
202-835-2665
Online: booksforamerica.org

Photo: East of the River Book Festival via Facebook

#5 East of the River Book Festival
Founded by “A is for Anacostia” author Courtney Davis, this festival celebrates writers who are independently published or hail from small presses. Explore culturally diverse books at this free community event.

When: Saturday, September 12 from 11 am to 3 pm
Anacostia Arts Center
1231 Good Hope Rd., SE
202-997-4441
Online: eastoftheriverbookfestival.com

#6 National Portrait Gallery
On select Saturdays and Sundays throughout the year, the National Portrait Gallery hosts “Portrait Story Days.” Young visitors and their families are invited to gather for a reading from a select book that depicts the life of a famous person from history. After story time, participants are encouraged to create a piece of art influenced by the tale. Bonus: there is no fee to participate.

When: Select Saturdays and Sundays (check the calendar for upcoming dates)
National Portrait Gallery
8th St., NW and F St., NW
202-633-8300
Online: npg.si.edu

What’s your kids favorite books/reading related activitiy to do.

—Meghan Meyers

15 Blasts From Your Past That Your Kids Will Never Know

by Jo AaronAugust 21, 2014

Ready to feel kind of old? Your kids don’t even know what Atari means. But they also don’t know the joy of entering three letters into a high score. Check out 15 blasts from your past that your kids will never understand…

A world without Starbucks on every corner
Believe it or not, there was a time in history known as BS—Before Starbucks. If you wanted your coffee to go, you actually had to make it at home and, gasp, take your mug with you. It was a simpler time, but certainly not as spill-proof or convenient.

Photo credit: Piutus via Flickr Creative Commons

Playing hours of Atari
After years of pumping coins into games in the arcade, the good folks at Atari answered video gamers’ early 80’s prayers with a console that plugged right into the family TV. To this day, many still attribute their fine motor skills to hundreds of hours logged with Ms. Pacman and Space Invaders.

Photo: Bill Bradford via Flickr Creative Commons

The Walkman
With the headphones on, mom and dad couldn’t hear just how loud Debbie Gibson was belting Only In My Dreams, so everyone was happy. Sure, the Walkman was a little too heavy to be clipped to the waistband of Umbro shorts, but losing our pants seemed like a small price to pay for loud music no one else could hear.

Photo credit: free photos & art via Flickr Creative Commons

Make mix tapes for everyone you know
Need to apologize to a friend? Make a mix tape. Not sure what to get your sister for her birthday? Make a mix tape. Hours were spent by the radio, holding the tape recorder up to the speaker so you could hit record the second the DJ finished his intro so you didn’t get his voice on your tape.

Photo credit: wetwebwork via Flickr Creative Commons

Using a phone book
We let our fingers do the walking thousands of times way back when, but phone books were so heavy, even we can admit we prefer Google to ever having to haul those things out again. However, despite their weight, we still spent time looking up our names each year the new White Pages came out because it made us feel famous.

Photo credit: Selmer van Alten via Flickr Creative Commons

Renting VHS movies at video stores
Long before Netflix, video rental stores ruled weekend plans. Back then you had to wait forever for movies to come out on VHS tape. Everyone got killed with rewinding or over-due fees but it was worth it. After all, who in their right mind would give back Back to the Future after only 2 nights?

Photo credit: Mariela M. via Flickr Creative Commons

Watching TV without remotes
Try telling your kids that we didn’t grow up with hundreds of TV channels, that there were no kid-specific TV channels, and that there definitely were not kid-specific TV channels that aired 24-hours in case you were sick in the middle of the night. Then explain how we didn’t have remotes to fast forward through commercials or record episodes because for a long time we didn’t even have remotes. Be prepared to watch their little minds be blown!

Photo credit: John Thornton / foistclub via Flickr Creative Commons

The family video camera
Can you imagine bringing one of those vintage video cameras with you on your next family trip? Your kids: Seriously dad. What is that? It’s almost the same size as me! And why the heck are you carrying it on your shoulder? Doesn’t that hurt? You look like a network TV cameraman. Can you even upload it to Facebook? Can’t you just use your iPhone to record video like everyone else? Jeez.

Photo credit: Melissa Doroquez via Flickr Creative Commons

Dialing a rotary phone
How anyone used these things before the invention of the no-chip manicure is beyond us. It would take at least 5-minutes to dial 9-1-1 and making an international call had to be a total nightmare. Tell your kids this is a phone and we’re pretty sure you’re going to get an eye-roll and a giggle that says, “Come on mom, do you think I’m dumb? You can’t even text on that!”

Photo credit: Nick Doty via Flickr Creative Commons

Saving everything to a floppy disk
Floppy disks were once such a hot commodity, Farmer Ted was willing to bet scoring on them. Um, Sixteen Candles anyone?! Despite the wussy name, they did rule the digital age, however these days, floppys are about as useful to technology as kids are to cleaning up the house.

Photo credit: Gunnar Grimnes via Flickr Creative Commons

Looking up homework in encyclopedias
No, kids, we said encyclopedia. It’s where Wikipedia got the name, however the idea is the same. Right, the same except that we had to haul 100 pounds of encyclopedia books home in our backpacks from the library to write one report because each book was a different letter of the alphabet. Forget old age. Could the encyclopedia be the reason for our aching back?

Photo credit: Stewart Butterfield via Flickr Creative Commons

Balancing a checkbook…
Few things could stress us out like balancing a checkbook. It was the hardest math we ever had to do. No matter how often we tracked our spending, we always forgot a charge or missed a few dollars. Whatever the reason, it was never balanced and totally traumatizing, so these days we consider online banking one a basic necessity, like oxygen or water.

Photo credit: RikkisRefuge Other via Flickr Creative Commons

Developing film
Raise your hand if you ever accidentally printed the wrong roll of film because you couldn’t remember which photos were on which roll? Who knew that someday we’d actually be able to see photos before we paid to print them? Not to sound old, but kids today do know how good they have it…

Photo credit: Andrew Hitchcock via Flickr Creative Commons

Doggy daycare, pooch hotels, or anything of the pampering canine nature…
We loved our pets too, but the popularity of the pampering the pooch is definitely more of a 2000 and something than a 80’s or 90’s gig. Instead of putting them up at the Petnnisula or ritzy cage-free farms, we had kennels. Yep, we just called them kennels. And while our dogs never had a berry-fresh facial, they still came home tails wagging.

Photo by Christal Yuen

Coming up with a perfect outgoing answering machine message
Like a Facebook status, the answering machine message was basically one’s calling card. Personalizing a pop song to say we were out doing something much better than sitting home screening calls or pretending to answer the phone and then letting the caller know they had been pranked by the machine were two totally awesome burns!

Photo credit: Norbert Schnitzler

What else should we add to this list?

— Jo Aaron

The Mother Lode: Spa Pampering Made for Moms

by Phebe WahlMarch 27, 2014

For most moms, a hot shower or moment in the bathroom sans small folk is as close as it gets to “spa” time. Why not treat the special mom in your life (even if that is yourself!) to a peaceful spa experience to relax and recharge. Just in time for Mother’s Day, we rounded up packages worthy of pampering the hardest working mamas in Hotlanta. No need to drop subtle hints, just forward this post to your loved ones. You’re just trying to lend a helping hand. Because that’s what moms do.

Remede Spa
Located on the 6^th floor of the St. Regsis Hotel in Atlanta, the Remede Spa offers services based on the Remede skincare line. Believing that each body is unique, they pride themselves on being very customizable. In fact, at the Remede Spa no massage or facial is ever the same. Get the queen treatment with one of their many spa packages. The Pampered Mother package includes a customized facial, manicure and pedicure for $280. Don’t forget to show up at least 30 minutes before your appointment time to get the total experience.

Address: 88 West Paces Ferry Rd.
Phone: 404-563-7680
Online: Remedespa.com

bliss
With a downtown and midtown location bliss is super convenient. Make sure to check out the brownie bar while you’re there! Bliss offers some amazing spa packages for deserving mamas:

Mother ‘Glows’ Best—Triple Oxygen Facial, Blissage 75, Hot Milk and Almond Pedicure, Hot Cream Manicure, $336

New Kid on the Block—Rookie Mom Rubdown, Oxygen Blast, Hot Cream Manicure, $236

‘Bump’ for Joy—Great Expectations Massage, Cold Feet Pedicure, $192

Master of the House—Youth as we Know it Facial, The Upper Hand Manicure, Blissage 75, $332

‘Mom and Me’—2 Hot Cream Manicures, 2 Hot Milk & Almond Pedicures, $144

Address: 45 Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd.
Phone: 404-582-5776
Online: bliss.com

Spa Sydell
Started in Georgia in 1982, Spa Sydell now has six great locations in the metro area. They have a fab menu of services… perfect for a relaxing spa experience. For Mother’s Day, Spa Sydell has 8 Mommy specific spa packages to choose from:

Mom on the Go—Sydell Facial, Hand Paraffin Dip, 60-minute Swedish Massage, $100

Mom’s Deluxe Day—60-minute Swedish Massage, Mineral Mud Wrap, Sydell Signature Facial, Manicure, Signature Pedicure, Gourmet Lunch, $440

Mom’s Time Out—60-minute Swedish Massage, Sydell Facial, $180

Mommy and Me—Manicure for two, Spa Pedicure for two, $160

Mommy-To-Be—90-minute Prenatal Massage, $125

Sexy Mom—Hand sprayed Airbrush Tan, Brazilian Wax, Manicure, $155

Venus Freeze Mommy Makeover—Venus Freeze Cellulite Reduction, $300

Phone: 404-255-7727
Online: spasydell.com

Spa at Chateau Elan
If you’re looking for a close to home spa getaway Chateau Elan is the place! You can stay overnight or for just the day. You choose! Enjoy some me time, invite your friends or your hubby along. Try a Spa Day Journey which includes complimentary access to all spa facilities. They have many great options to choose from. Make sure you stick around for afternoon tea which is served from 4PM-5:30PM. Here are a few Mom specific Spa Day Journeys:

Mother & Daughter—2 Chateau Essential Massages, 2 Chateau Essential Facials, 2 Chateau Spa Pedicures, 2 Gourmet Spa Lunches, $575

Mums Make My Day—Chateau Essential Facial, Chateau Essential Massage, Cabernet Hot Stone Pedicure, Champagne & Chocolate Caviar Manicure, Dozen Roses, Spa Logo Robe, Gourmet Spa Lunch, $450

Chateau Essential—Chateau Essential, Chateau Essential Massage, Gourmet Spa Lunch, $230

Address: Haven Harbor Dr., Braselton
Phone: 678-425-6064
Online: chateauelan.com

Renew Day Spa
With an over 5,000 square foot facility Renew Day Spa has a lot to offer. Winner in many of the Best of Citysearch Atlanta’s day spa categories, it’s an amazing pick for some much needed mommy time. Relax with one of these great Mother’s Day Packages:

Mother’s Day Massage/Facial Series—Buy 5 get 10% off on either a Classic massage or Classic Facial, $360

Roses For “The Best” Mom Ever—Rose Aromatherapy Massage, Rose Specialty/Upgraded Facial, $180

Address: 4347 Shallowford Rd., Marietta
Phone: 770-998-8592
Online: renewdayspa.com

What’s on your wish list for Mother’s Day this year? Share with us below!

—Jessica Obenschain

Photos courtesy of Georgia Peanut Commission, Ines Hegedus-Garcia, Dennis Wong and by Sakurako Kitsa on Flickr via Creative Commons and The Spa at Chateau Elan via Facebook

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