Category Archives: Active Mom

Exercise is an essential part of total wellness. No matter your fitness level or area of interest, we’ve got it covered!

The Answer to Maternity Active Wear ~ Jakfish Eamon Hoodie Review and Giveaway

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JakfishStamp (2)It’s hard finding comfortable active wear when you’re pregnant. Sure, you could resort to wearing oversized shirts that don’t fit anywhere but over the growing bump or you could wear your regular clothes until they stretch no further and your belly pokes out from underneath your shirt every time you move. I’ll admit I’ve fallen victim to both fashion crimes in the past, but never again! Why? Because now I know that there is a company out there that makes active wear for pregnant women!

eamon_hoodie2_copyI was recently sent the Eamon Hoodie from Jakfish to review. I wasn’t sure what to expect at first and was pleasantly surprised when the package arrived. The Eamon Hoodie is made of a lightweight Polartec Power Stretch. It has a body hugging 4-way stretch that wicks away moisture, is highly breathable and is wind and abrasion resistant.

The hoodie is extremely comfortable. I have worn it both with and without other tops, and have been comfortable each and every time. I am currently 32 weeks pregnant and have a 17 month old as well, so it’s not often that I am sitting still. Despite the cold weather we have been having here in the Midwest, it’s also not often that I wear a long sleeved top. I’m always hot and it’s not uncommon to see me running around at home in a tank top. I feared that the Eamon hoodie would be too warm for me, but it wasn’t. In fact, I almost forgot that I was wearing something with long sleeves.

Some things that I love about the hoodie…
The side zips. They are so practical! I don’t need to open them all the way yet, but I have half zipped them to give me some more room to move. I love that the zippers stay in place. If I want it to be half zipped, it stays that way!
The hood. Let’s face it, it has been cold here in the Midwest and you need to have something on your head to stay warm. I’m not a big fan of wearing hats though, so the fitted hood works great for me!
It’s lightweight. You can wear it alone, with something underneath or something over it. I didn’t get sweaty or too hot, no matter how I wore it or what I did while wearing it.
It fit. Compared to some of the other options that are out, there it was nice to be able to wear a hoodie that didn’t expose parts of my belly when I lifted my arms and wasn’t so big that I felt like I was swimming in it. This top stretches and moves with me and I wasn’t constantly pulling and tugging on it like I do with some other tops that I have.

Overall, I am extremely happy with the hoodie. It’s great to wear no matter what you’re doing, whether that’s running around trying to catch up with a toddler, going for a walk outdoors or just taking it easy at home. Thank you to both MomActive and Jakfish the opportunity to do this review.

All Jakfish clothing is made in Vermont and is specifically designed to fit women throughout all the stages of pregnancy, while retaining all of the characteristics active people expect from performance clothing.  The clothing is made from Polartec® fabrics and in 2008, two Jakfish products won the Polartec APEX Award which is judged on innovation, design, style, workmanship, fit and functionality.

Enter to win a Jakfish Eamon Hoodie! Simply visit the Jakfish website and then come back here and let us know which item caught your eye!

Extra Entries: (leave a separate comment for each entry)

1. Subscribe to MomActive HERE

2. Fan MomActive on Facebook HERE

3. Tweet the following Tweet:

Pregnant? Enter to win the Eamon Hoodie from Jakfish @momactive http://bit.ly/clDTvv

or

I just entered to win a $106 Jakfish Eamon Hoodie from @momactive http://bit.ly/clDTvv


~Entries must be received by 12am EST March 12, 2010 ~

MomActive would like to thank Michaela of Mama Michie’s Musings for guest reviewing.  Michaela was compensated for this review via free product, the opinions stated above are hers based on her experience.  We wish her the best of health with her pregnancy!

Join me as I muse about my life as a wife, student and a SAHMama of a rambunctious toddler with another on the way. At Mama Michie’s Musings, you will find anything from teething to bugs, sleepless nights to stretch marks, reviews and giveaways and sometimes even more serious topics. It all depends on what’s on my mind and how much sleep I got the night before!

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Michele Obama Launches “Let’s Move” Initiative

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Michele Obama’s initiative to combat the childhood obesity epidemic launches today. The effort, pegged “Let’s Move“, will focus on “four key pillars”: Educating parents about nutrition and exercise, improving the quality of food in schools, making healthy foods more affordable and accessible for families and an increased focus on physical education.  Whether you agree on the extent to which she has used her own children in as an example or not, you have to admit that this is a good thing.  Our kids are growing up eating junk food, watching TV that encourages them to eat junk food , and they are also getting outside to play far less often than they did while you and I were growing up.  Drive down any street, anywhere in the country, and the number and variety of fast food joints, where half of the food options contain more fat and calories than most of us need in an entire day, is overwhelming.  I’m not a “Big Government” fan but I do think that convenience has become the norm and it will be interesting to see what impact this initiative will have.

I couldn’t help but laugh when reading the following excerpt from ABCnews.com:

To help parents, the first lady said she’s working with the Food and Drug Administration and major food manufacturers and retailers to make it easier for parents to identify healthier foods by placing nutrition labeling on the front of the package.

Did we not have that earlier last year with the Smart Choices Campaign, in which Froot Loops donned the fabulously attractive and trendy green Smart Choices check mark?  I wrote several fiery posts here and on momactive.com blasting the program and the greedy scoundrels behind it.  If you missed it you can read about it right HERE and HERE. The quacks behind this ridiculous marketing effort have since stopped labeling foods with the Smart Choices check mark because the guidelines were so laughable that the FDA announced that it was looking into the “scientific criteria” used to designate foods that manufacturers who participated (read PAID) to take part in the labeling program.  The uproar surrounding the whole thing created a massive PR disaster for all involved and served as a lesson putting the big corporations on notice that consumers aren’t as stupid as they’d like to think we are.  I would love to hear what Michele Obama thought about Smart Choices.

What Michele Obama is trying to do isn’t exactly new.  I grew up with the Kennedy era President’s Council on Physical Fitness (which was actually just a renaming of the President’s Council on Youth Fitness started by Eisenhowerin 1956).  Remember the test?  The one where you have to try to touch your toes and where they measure your arm fat with the calipers?  I remember very clearly that I outran every boy in my class but I didn’t like the arm fat thing…  In any case, “Let’s Move” is similar to past government efforts, but perhaps the effort to increase nutritional education and improve the availability and cost of healthier foods will achieve a reduction in our country’s obesity rates.  Those of you that watch the show on MomTv will remember our discussion last week about a study that showed people responded more positively, and as a result purchased a greater amount of healthier foods more often, when given access to a reduction in the cost of healthy food choices in addition to nutrition education, versus those who only received the nutritional information.

Will “Lets Move” make a difference?  Let’s us know what you think!

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Measuring Weight Loss Success

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weight measureMany of us chose to work out to lose weight as our New Year’s  Resolution. However, that darn scale is not moving in the direction we want it to… don’t let the scale win over. There are more ways to measure success that we can use to our advantage.

First, let’s use that tape measure. Sometimes, we’ll start losing inches before that number on the scale starts moving in the right direction. Keep track of those problem areas and enjoy those losses. In my case, hips and thighs are measurements I always track.

Another way to measure success is by measuring body fat percentage. There are numerous websites, like this one,  that help you calculate your body fat. Now, there are many ways to get to this number and many variables to make it change at any given minute. However, keeping track of body fat percentage can be rewarding.  As with that number on the scale, all I look for from this number is a downward trend.

Last but not least, take pictures. You decide who sees it.  Every week or month – you decide the frequency – I take pictures, front, side, back. Seeing your body change can be a great motivator to continue to exercise.

No matter what measuring tool you use keep your resolutions and goals in mind and keep plugging along.

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Top 5 Reasons to Exercise

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  1. Walking has been shown to boost immunity in fact lower the number of sick days, this was reported this week by The Appalachian State university. Walking 45 minutes 5 days a week was all it took for the effect.
  2. It decreases your risk of cancer, a study done in 2560 Finnish men followed for 16 years found that men who were moderately active for 30 min a day had 50% less chance of developing cancer.
  3. It helps you get a better nights sleep and evidence shows that good sleep is vital for maintaining a healthy weight.
  4. It helps keep blood sugars in check, in fact if you have type 2 diabetes exercise is a wonderful tool to keep your blood sugars under control.
  5. Its fun and can be a great family activity, playing tennis together, going to the pool, skiiing, dancing around the house!

References:

  1. http://www.chowandchatter.com/2009/07/your-daily-workout-can-decrease-your.html
  2. http://edition.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/diet.fitness/06/20/hb.exercise.benefits/index.html
  3. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704350304574638331243027174.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLENexttoWhatsNewsThird
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EA Sports Active More Workouts with Michele McGraw

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Our guest author today is official EA Sport Active Six Week Challenger, Michele McGraw.  Many of our readers have expressed interest in taking on the EA Sports Active More Workouts Six Week Challenge so we decided to start an official MomActive challenge beginning this MONDAY January 11th.  If you are interested in participating with us email info@momactive.com.  You can find Michele at ScrapsofMyGeekLife.com and @ScrappinMichele on Twitter. Michele will be our coach and share some of the awesome tips she learned while in HOLLYWOOD with EA Sports Active this weekend!


blogher_smile_300In the last few years, I have struggled with trying to live a healthy lifestyle for me and for my family. I can convince myself of the benefits of working out and eating healthy, but it’s much more difficult to convince my family (especially my kids) that eating healthy foods and working out is a lot more fun that eating candy and playing video games.

When I saw that EA SPORTS was coming out with an interactive fitness product for the Wii, I jumped on it. I hoped I could convince my family to use the Wii. I purchased EA SPORTS Active Personal Trainer the day it came out and put it in the Wii when the kids got home from school. I didn’t ask them to play, I just worked out and slowly one by one (I have four), they came in to see why Mom was jumping around so much. They all wanted to play along and fought over who gets to play next. That was my strategy for getting my family hooked and it worked.

I completed the 30 day workout and lost 6 pounds and 6 inches, but more importantly, I continued to workout because it was fun. And I noticed a few other benefits:

  • More energy throughout my day.
  • I wanted to eat healthier because I felt better.
  • I looked forward to my workouts instead of dreading them.
  • My kids began to ask me lots of questions about healthy foods. Which foods are healthy? Which foods are not good for you?

The best benefit for me was running a 5k with my family this past October. We participated in the EA SPORTS Active 5K challenge after training and using the program set up by EA SPORTS Active. My 10 and 13 year old kids ran the entire 5k with me during a very cold, windy and (pouring) rainy morning.

When the 5k was over, my 13 year old said to me, “When do we start training for next year?”

I knew then that I had succeeded in showing my kids that living a healthy lifestyle can be fun. I felt such pride in my family for such a great accomplishment. I wanted to share that with others which is why I wanted to be an EA SPORTS Active 6 Week Challenger.

One of my biggest hurdles every year is Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve. Every year I easily gain up to 10 pounds. The food is abundant and delicious and my time is scarce and chaotic.

This past holiday season, I am proud to say that because of the 6 week challenge in the EA Sports Active More Workouts, I lost 6 lbs and 5.5 inches. I still was able to enjoy my holiday meals, some cookies, holiday parties, a trip away with my husband and because I continued to workout with the EA Sports Active, I managed to lose weight. I did not feel deprived at all instead I feel really proud.

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Goals vs Resolutions

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It’s January again, which means that everyone is talking about making New Year’s resolutions. Some of the most common resolutions are to lose weight, stop smoking, and make more money. While there’s lots of talk about achieving these goals, there’s less talk about how or what’s important about achieving them.

In my opinion, using the term resolution has a negative connotation since many of us abandon our New Year’s resolutions by February anyhow. I refer to my resolutions as goals, but I also take it one step further and redefine what that means.

Redefining Goals: What’s Really Important?
Ask yourself this question: What’s most important? Reaching the finish line or learning something from the journey?

Sometimes we get so caught up in the need to achieve our goals that we lose our focus or even ourselves along the way. Sure, being successful at something or being able to cross a goal off your list feels great, but sometimes what we learn from the process is more valuable. For instance, my goal of shedding those stubborn 15 pounds of leftover baby weight initially became a goal because I wanted to feel good about myself again. But as I’ve been working towards that, I’ve realized that even if I don’t get to that magic number, I’ve still achieved something. Becoming healthier and being a role model for my children, and even my husband, is equally, if not more important than looking great.

How Do We Achieve Our Goals?
The best way to achieve our goals is to start them when we feel motivated…NOW! Don’t wait until a future date to begin working towards something because the more we put something off, the less we feel motivated. And motivation is extremely important because it’s what keeps us focused on our goals. Without motivation, excuses start to creep in and before you know it, you’ve decided that your goals are no longer important.

Another key to achieving goals is to constantly reassess them. When you revisit your goals regularly, you may realize that you need to alter or make them more realistic. There’s nothing wrong with tweaking goals along the way, especially if it will help you achieve them.

You can read more of my thoughts about redefining resolutions on my blog,  The (Un)Experienced Mom.

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The Truth About Spinning Class

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If you ask me what workout I prefer to do, the answer is hands down spinning. If you had asked me this same question 10 years ago, there is no way I would have given that answer. My mom started spinning when it first came out in the 90′s, and when I joined her for class one Saturday in high school, I walked away from it swearing I’d never go to one again! To me, it was such hard work that it almost felt like a form of torture. But for some reason while in college, I decided to give it another try…and I fell in love with it.

I decided to write about spinning because there seems to be such a stigma attached to it. When I tell people I am a spinner, I hear comments like, “Are you crazy?! Spinning is hard!” and “There’s no way you could get me to a spin class.” These were the very comments I used to make before I knew the truth about spinning. I recently talked with a friend of mine who is a Les Mills and Schwinn certified spin instructor and asked her to answer questions about the class. I will of course give you my thoughts on the topic, but also wanted to give you facts about this amazing workout.

1. What are your recommendations for people who are intimidated to get into spin? Should they just attend a class, or even 1/2 a class to see what it’s like? What kinds of expectations should they have for their first time?
My recommendation is to just do it. It seems intimidating with the dimmed lights and the intensity, but I always tell someone just to get through their first class and take it at their own level. A good instructor will ALWAYS give lower intensity options so that a participant can scale it back until they are ready. It is your workout and as an instructor, we are there to motivate and moderate a class. We cannot control how hard you actually workout.

2. How long do you think it takes the average person to learn to like spin?
The average person should see and feel a difference after 5 classes. I always tell participants not to give up after their first attempt as it always seems the toughest after the first class. Within 5 classes, I guarantee the participant will even see a difference in their fitness level. Just stick with it!

3. Why is spin such a great workout?
Spinning involves heart rate training. A good instructor will lead a class by bringing their heart rate up to 90% of their maximum and not allowing it to drop below 70%. What does this mean? Anaerobic exercise + ideal fat burning = success!

4. Do you have to be a super-athlete to do spin classes?
As mentioned before, a good instructor will give options to the participants. You do not have to be a super-athlete to do a spin class, but if you commit to the work out, you will make yourself into an elite athlete.

5. What about the myth that spin bulks up your calves?
This is a myth. Not even strength or mountain climb types of rides will “bulk” you up. And there is no such thing as spot training [training one area of your body]. If anything, a spin class gives you a full body workout: drop your heels and you get your hamstrings; load your quads by doing a standing attack or climb; in the saddle work will lean out your legs. You are burning up to 700 calories in one hour of training. You will definitely NOT bulk up!

6. Any other tips for women who want to get into spin but are reluctant or scared, or any info on spin in general?

  • If you intend on participating in more than 2 spin classes a week, take a yoga/stretch/pilates class as well. The reason is that our hip flexors tend to tighten and you may get some injuries.
  • Hydrate throughout your ride which will prevent cramping and lactic acid build up in your legs.
  • Eat protein 30 minutes post workout, which will help with muscle recovery.
  • Wear proper attire; loose clothing is not recommended on a bike. If you intend on doing more than 2 classes per week, invest in bike shorts with padding and spin shoes. Spin shoes make all the difference in your workout and you will definitely feel the difference in your ride.
  • It’s a great prenatal and postnatal workout; ask your instructor for modified moves.
  • You can train your heart to work for you. Get a heart rate monitor. It’s a great investment (used not only for spin but for all activities – weights, aerobic classes, running).
  • Clear your mind! Focus on the ride and your goals. Every breath you take, you’re getting in shape, so just breathe.
I absolutely love spinning. When I am on the bike, I feel more relaxed than I do all week and at times can even zone out completely. It energizes me, pushes me to reach my highest potential, and still manages to challenge me to give that little bit extra I didn’t think I had left to give. After my first son was born, spin helped me lose those annoying 15 extra pounds very quickly while reshaping my body at the same time. If I could find the time to spin more than 2x/week, I would because it’s beneficial not only for my body, but also my mind and spirit.
Obviously not everyone will enjoy spinning, but for those of you who would like to try it, I hope this article has helped inspire you to attend a class. Yes, it’s hard work. Yes, you can feel intimidated by all of the spinning terminology and positions used on the bike. But my advice is to introduce yourself to the instructor when you walk into the class so that they can help you acclimate yourself to spinning slowly and comfortably. Take it at your own pace and don’t feel you have to compete with the more experienced participants; this will only leave you disappointed and convinced spinning is too hard. Even if you stay in the saddle (i.e. on the seat) the entire ride, you’re one step closer to becoming a spinner. And besides, who ever said exercise should be easy?
I would love to hear your thoughts on or experiences with spinning!
And don’t forget to stop by my blog, The (Un)Experienced Mom, to read more of my musings on motherhood and life.
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Defining Moments

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869211_swimmerScenario one: You don’t have time to work out.

Scenario two: You miraculously find the time. But you have no energy whatsoever. Because let’s face it, you’re being pulled in a thousand directions between your kids, sick husband, extended family visiting, the shopping, the cooking, the baking, the sewing blankets until 1 in the morning only to get up at 5:30 in the morning to stand in line at Toys R Us for a Zhu Zhu Pet. (Oh wait. That last part was me?)

So what’s a supermom or superdad to do?

Make the time. Go anyway. Because there are defining moments in your life just waiting to be had.

For me, some of the best workouts are the ones I didn’t even want to do in the first place. The ones I wasn’t in the mood for. The ones that I may or may not have worn two different sneakers to by accident. (Yes, I’ve done it. I almost left the gym when I realized the embarrassment of having two different shoes on, but I stayed anyway and had an incredible workout. I knew my feet felt funny in the car for some reason!)

Last week, I needed to swim. I am doing a triathlon in the spring and even though my “training” hasn’t officially begun yet, I still have to get in my workouts. But I had a raging headache. I was tired. I was so NOT in the mood.

I got into the locker room, I put on my bathing suit, wrapped my towel around me, grabbed my cap and goggles and schlepped out to the pool.

I sat on the poolside with my feet in the water for about 20 minutes. Just staring off into space. I wanted to decompress for a minute. I wanted to will my headache away.

I was alone. I watched the jets push water up and swirl around the surface of the pool and I watched the reflection of the trees outside the window dance on top of the water.

I breathed deeply. I kicked my feet around a little, letting my feet get used to the temperature.

One of the trainers walked in through the pool area twice. I must have looked silly staring off into space but I didn’t care. I was in my own head.

For a few minutes I began to think about the length of the pool and how many lengths of it would take me the distance in the ocean that I would eventually be traveling.

I pictured myself and then I pictured lining up each lap into one long straight line. Dozens of pools one after another.

I pictured myself a few months ago struggling just to swim a few laps. Now I can swim at least 30 and feel like I can keep going.

I emptied my mind, put on my cap and goggles and got into the water and began to swim. My head felt better. I was calm.

A few laps in, that fire started to grow. My strokes got longer and faster, and my breathing changed. Up until then, I was normally breathing out under water gradually. Instead, I spent a few laps completely clearing my lungs under water and making room for even more air when I came up for a breath and my swimming got faster.

I was starting to build momentum and it was becoming a pain to have to stop at the lap and turn around. I began to get excited at the thought of building momentum on the swim, because that meant I would be able to swim in the open water faster than I would with all these stops. I could feel my body pushing through the water with momentum, with actual force behind me while my arms pulled me through the water. For the first time ever, I felt the energy of my body’s physics.

And to think, I almost poo-pooed this workout. I almost scrapped it on account of my day, my head and my body.

I did it anyway and it ended up being a “breakthrough” workout. One where I completely changed how I did things and made myself better.

The journey through healthy living and weight-loss is full of breakthroughs and defining moments. And for me, this was  just one of them. No, not every workout will carry a defining moment. But if you don’t go, you’ll never know what you missed.

The workouts I scrap? I now wonder what could have been.

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Bag Some Biceps

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No time to exercise? That excuse is gone forever with SqueezeItIn.com – the website that teaches you to “let life be your workout!” cardio-2Founders Jenny Hein and Brigette Polmar are trying to change the way you think about fitness and challenging you to Squeeze It In with clever and effective exercises you can fit into your daily routine. We’ll be posting regular tips from SqueezeItIn.com, like this one that will have you looking forward to putting away the dishes.

From Jenny & Brigette – The SqueezeItIn.com Girls:

This exercise is so easy, effective, and popular, we made it our logo! Why stop to lift weights when you’re already lifting groceries? This multitasker puts great arms in the bag!

Bag Some Biceps - Lowered

Holding one grocery bag in each hand (choose bags that are roughly of equal weight and aren’t too heavy, approximately 5 – 10 pounds each to start) begin with arms down at your sides and palms facing upward grasping the handles.  Bend elbows and lifts bags to your shoulders, while keeping elbows tightly to your sides.  Slowly return to the starting position.  Lift both bags at once or alternate, lifting one bag at a time.  Continue for two sets of twelve.

VARIATIONS:
Lower Slower: Lift bags as above, but lower bags SLOWLY to a 3-count of SQUEEZE-IT-IN.

Partial Curl: (See photo.) Start with arms at your sides and raise bags only halfway until arms are bent at a 90-degree angle. Slowly lower back to starting position.

Bag Some Biceps - PartialBag Some Biceps - RaisedHammer Curls:  Change hand position and hold bags with palms facing inward as if holding a hammer.  Raise and lower bags with palms facing inward and thumbs pointing at shoulders.

cardio-2Cardio: Every good workout must include cardio. Click here to see examples of our easy, do-anywhere cardio moves.

Visit SqueezeItIn.com every week for new exercise videos and nutrition tips.
Just Released: The SqueezeItIn.com Workout DVD, featuring an exclusive 30-minute workout along with dozens of SqueezeItIn.com moves you can use throughout your busy day.
Jenny Hein and Brigette Polmar co-founded SqueezeItIn.com as a wellness solution to help busy people find time to exercise, improve their lives, and “let life be their workout!”

Please Note: You should consult your physician before starting this or any exercise program.

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The Power of a Smile

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1207721_happyThis weekend my mother and I went to afternoon tea.

We skipped the holiday hustle and bustle and we went to a little tea room that made us feel as if we were a world away. It was painted on the inside as an English garden, complete with sky, clouds, and a gazebo where my mother and I sat. We had a nice view of a painted pasture. All we needed was a little wind and maybe a bird and we would have, indeed, thought we were outside.

For a couple of hours, we reconnected. We did what we do best: we talked. And talked. And we talked some more. And we took down two pots of Cherry Caramel tea.

We closed the place down.

The owners, who were a mother and a daughter just a little older than us, began to clean up. The daughter waited on us and I hadn’t seen her mother until she came out and started to take the linens off the tables.

She was a short, petite woman with shoulder-length brown, wavy hair. Her face was drawn and hardened and with her olive skin, appeared statuesque. At first, she intimidated me. She didn’t look happy as she went about her work, clearing tables and folding linens, and I found myself sitting at my table watching her, wishing I knew what her day was like.

My mother and I have always dreamed of owning a tea room together, of coming in early in the morning and turning on the radio in the kitchen, singing and dancing while we baked away and talked about new recipes and what my crazy toddlers were up to. I envied this woman for making our dream come true with her daughter.

I continued to watch her going from table to table with a stoic expression and then she turned toward me and our eyes met.

She smiled at me as if she recognized me even though I knew she really didn’t and I smiled back.

What struck me most was how, with one smile, her entire face had changed. She had softened. With one smile, she was unlike anything I had thought while I watched her work. With one smile, her entire personality on the outside was entirely transformed. With one smile, my perception of her had changed, and so too, had the mood of the room. It was no longer cold and intimidating. It, like her face, became soft and welcoming and comfortable. I felt ashamed for thinking what I had thought about her and I was so pleasantly surprised inside to see such a wonderful, glowing, happy mother smiling back at me. She told me her entire life’s story with just one smile.

How interesting that an entire climate could change with one smile. How the outcome of an entire experience or entire day can change with just one smile.

How one little tiny expression can say so much.

How often we go about our day to day, stuck in our own minds, our own worlds, our own agendas, without acknowledging the people around us all doing the same. Serious, solemn expressions and looks of concern on the outside, which may not even be what’s going on in the inside at all!

There is just something wonderful about a smile. How it literally, physically, softens someone’s face and makes it just so beautiful. How it can take years off a person’s face and how layers of troubles and worry and concern can just melt away with a smile. How a smile can make a person who seems so unapproachable and “Closed for Business”, so open.

I realized from her smile that I forget to do it myself. All the time. Especially during the holiday season when I’m supposed to be the cheeriest, and instead I find myself stuck in the house with two sick children, behind in my cleaning, shopping, exercising and everything else in my life and so overwhelmed that I don’t even remember, let alone make the time, to smile.

One simple little gesture that can lift the moods of my children, my husband, even the sales clerk who refuses to double check a price for me. And more importantly, myself.

Even if, like me, you can’t keep up with the holidays, you worry about being able to afford all the gifts and the bills, you worry about the health of your families and you find yourself overwhelmed, try to remember to do one small thing. Smile. It doesn’t cost a thing and for even just a moment, a smile makes everything okay. It can change someone’s day, someone’s week, or someone’s life. Maybe even your own. And it’s so worth it.

For the first time this weekend, I was lucky enough to witness it. The power of just one smile.

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