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Browse published articles attributed to Hannah Keeley, with full-archive search.
There you are, wearing that same old baggy t-shirt and sweatpants. You didn't have time for a shower (again!) and those flip-flops you put on are revealing some toes that are in dire need of a pedicure. But, you're a mom! You don't have time for frivolous things like pedicures, pretty clothes, or a shower! You're too busy running after kids, cleaning up messes, and making meals. Get over it!
I found myself doing the unthinkable the other day. I got out of the shower, looked at the clothes I had laid out for myself the night before, and then went straight for a sweatsuit. Fortunately, my oldest daughter, Kelsey, came in when I was getting dressed. "No, Mama," she said. "You are not going to go 'sweatsuit' on me."
If you're not living out of your comfort zone once in a while, then you're not really living. The "uncomfortable zone" is where all the success stories are written. The comfort zone feels good; the uncomfortable zone feels like sliding downhill on sandpaper naked. It's rough, raw, and gritty, but it's the only path that will get you where you want to go in life.
Is your marriage staler than a Moon Pie at the discount bakery outlet? I hear you, Mama. If you're staring at that man scratching his bee-hind and flipping through the TV stations and longing for your knight in shining armor, then you better think again. That IS your knight in shining armour. It's just up to you to shine up his armor and put him back on his horse. You can do it, Mama, and here's how: 1. Do a system overhaul.r
No matter how much effort you put into your life, you will never be truly fulfilled until you pour yourself out into the lives of others. Need is everywhere, and true greatness occurs when you are able to give of yourself. It may sound odd, but one way to make sure that your needs are continually being met its to continually try to meet the needs of others. It's so much easier to lift yourself up if you are focused on lifting up others in the process.
I was once a prisoner of perfection. If I couldn't mop the entire kitchen floor perfectly, I wouldn't do it at all. If I couldn't declutter my entire closet, I wouldn't clear out anything. See, here's the deal with perfection. Some people may look at a cluttered, messy home and think, 'well, this person is definitely NOT a perfectionist.' But, that's not the way it works. The perfectionism is exactly WHY the home is so messy. A mom doesn't have enough uninterrupted time to do projects to a perfect standard. And for perfectionists, "good enough" just won't cut it. It's got to be perfect.
Within the past fifty years, motherhood has gone from exaltation to embarrassment. Instead of being proud to claim motherhood as a career, we cower in the corner and mumble out a feeble, "I'm JUST a mom!" Just a mom? Give me a break! This entire mentality wasn't even present in our culture until recently. The media is a powerful force! It can discredit motherhood with its lies and we just gulp them up like hot doughnuts. So, what lies are you living?
You've heard the saying "Many hands make light work." But many hands also make the work a lot more fun. Moms constantly have projects up their sleeves. A good way to foster friendships and get your work done at the same time is to include your friends in some of your projects. You will all reap the benefits of quality time together and successful work accomplished. And if you have kids of the same age, they can enjoy a playdate as well. Here are some ideas to get you started:
It doesn't take a weekend retreat or months of therapy to get organized. And contrary to popular belief, being organized is not a genetic trait that you may or may not have inherited. Anyone and everyone can be organized. But all great organization begins with three big questions. 1. What ACTIVITY goes on here?
I am so sick of the perfect body image. I mean, what's "perfect" anyway? Magazines are photoshopped. Television has flattering lighting. Even that perfect mom you see at the pool probably could list off twenty things she hates about her body. In short, there is no perfect. But you can develop a perfectly healthy approach to your body--in three simple steps.
People always ask me how I get so much work done. Well, I've given all the typical answers that I thought worked. Things like: "I prioritize and do the most important things." "There are more things that I do NOT do." "I don't get a lot of sleep." "I just use my time very wisely." Finally, after i had gone for a walk with a pair of mismatched socks and folded up a fitted sheet in a big, fat wad before sticking it in the linen closet, I realized what the secret of success really is-- It's got to be SLOPPY!
You've probably heard it a thousand times--"dig yourself out of debt!" The only problem is that no one tells you what to use! Well, after suffering through debilitating debt, I can tell you that words and advice are never enough. There are plenty of people doling out financial advice today, but I have a feeling they are doing so from a deep, leather chair in a nice, comfortable office, not from a laptop stuck in a playroom with dolls, UNO cards, and Hess trucks strewn all over the floor.
Whether you’re still digging yourself out of snow or you’re ready to step into a swimsuit, there’s no doubt about it. Spring is here! So toss those drab sweaters in the back of your closet and throw some spring into your style. So what if you’re just driving carpool or folding laundry? Dressing ...
I've heard it said more times tha I can count about how trying and difficult raising a teenager can be. Now with three (almost four) teenagers in my home, I can tell you that it is, indeed, difficult. But then again, raising kids as a profession was never an easy thing to do. We're not moms because it's easy. We're moms because it's challenging and we are the best ones for the job. But no matter how difficult the task, I would never do anything else. I love being a mom!
When the weather warms up, my dog Oscar wants nothing more to run outside and play right alongside the kids. As a matter of fact, I do believe he thinks he’s one of them! But as fun as it is to romp outside with your furry friends, every season brings its fair share of problems. This spring, ...
You can transform your world when you transform your vocabulary. Whether you realize it or not, the words you say carry a lot of weight. Begin to consider your words carefully before you utter them. Start minimizing your negative comments and maximizing your positive ones. Once, I felt very ill. Evidently, I was battling some kind of bug that was going around. But I would never say that I was sick. To me, "sick" carried too many negative connotations.
There's no doubt about it, the fall brings a flurry of activity into our homes. There's sports practices and games, clubs, school, and handfuls of other things going on. Although we love it, we can get a little overwhelmed if our homes can't keep up with our lifestyles. This is a great season to make your kitchen more user-friendly. Here are some things I incorporate into my kitchen to keep up with my crazy life, so I thought you may want to try some out for yours: