So what do you do to cope? I consulted 15 of my friends who ranged from new wives in their early 20s to young grandmothers still raising their teenagers. No matter the life situation of these wise women, certain tips kept coming up, and I'm here to share those with you.

Eat a sweet treat

Almost 1/3 of the women I spoke with recommended chocolate. With phenylethylamine, theobromine and caffeine, chocolate is a veritable cocktail of PMS relief. I'm not saying you should go overboard and eat your feelings all the time. I'm just suggesting that saving some sort of special treat (like a square of quality dark chocolate) for times when you really need a pick-me-up could help you to get your family through Aunt Flo's monthly visit.

Get plenty of sleep

I am one grumpy lady if I don't sleep for about nine hours almost every night. Sometimes life gets hectic and I put my beauty sleep on the back burner, but my husband and I have agreed that it is notOK for me to do that when I'm on my period. The waves of hormones plus the dark clouds of sleep deprivation make for a perfect storm of Crazy Wife. So, even though you might hate popping your kids in front of the TV or ditching them with a friend, clearing some space in your life for a nap might be the best thing you can do for them.

Exercise

I have one friend who swears by yoga as a way to relieve her menstruation symptoms. She says that the deep stretching helps with her cramps and certain poses even help with the PMS blues. While neither she nor I claim to be health experts, this sounds like it's worth a shot! Also, keep in mind that regular exercise throughout the month helps your body to stay healthy and balanced in general, which can also make your period a little easier to bear.

Find ways to connect with your spouse

While your honey may prefer to steer clear of you as much as possible, he can actually make a huge difference in your wellbeing. My husband is so sweet about letting me snuggle with him when I don't feel well, even if that means that the dishes don't get done for a while. We also try to have open conversations about our expectations for each other, even if it's admitting that I am going to be whiny for a few days and could really use his patience.

Supplements

I caution against choosing a supplement without professional guidance, but you may be surprised the things that end up helping you. One friend says that if she eats tofu throughout the month, her PMS symptoms are much less severe. Another says red raspberry capsules make her feel much better. Finding the right remedy may take a little experimenting, but if it makes a difference, your family will surely thank you.

Pain relievers

Acetaminophen and ibuprofen are such obvious choices that I sometimes overlook them. I'm always amazed, however, that I can banish the nightmarish cramps I get on day two with just a glass of water and a couple of pills. If you prefer to avoid medication and would still like to be functional, you might also consider a heated rice bag. Just pour white rice into a large sock, tie the top of the sock in a knot, and throw it in the microwave for a few minutes. Apply it to your abdomen, back or even to those tense shoulders. You'll feel much better soon.

And there you have it. Whether you turn to chocolate, exercise, or supplements, I hope you've found a few new ideas to help you take care of your family andyourself this month.

The post That time of the month: turning your period into just a comma appeared first on FamilyToday.

Even in a practically perfect marriage, spouses will occasionally disagree. This is completely normal, but sometimes the hardest part about a disagreement is feeling like it's really ended. Has he said everything he wanted to say? Is she really no longer upset? At times like these, the tension seems to hang in the air, and neither party knows what to do.

That's why I offer these ideas for diffusing tension in your home. By finding ways to reconnect, relax, and relate, your arguments can change from roadblocks to speed bumps as you simply move on. Here are some other ideas on how to resolve conflict in your marriage.

Turn on "your"� song and slow dance in the kitchen

Instead of getting overly discouraged or throwing a full-blown temper tantrum when tension doesn't disperse, turn on the song you danced to at your wedding. Pull your spouse into your arms and take those three-and-a-half minutes to just enjoy being close. Think of the happy moments that you associate with that song, or think of the wonderful things about your spouse that caused you to pick that song. I do this with my husband every month or so, and it can completely turn around a stressful day and make it into something lovely.

Get some exercise

It could be that your brain and body are craving some of the chemicals that you can from a rousing argument, but you can get those without hurting your spouse. By going for a run or jamming to some hardcore tunes, you get moving and then can wind down again in a healthy way.

Find something to laugh at

When my husband sees that I'm stressed or discouraged, he starts making silly faces. This always makes me laugh, even if it's reluctantly at first. It makes a world of difference to have fun together, and I am so grateful he knows that. If silly faces aren't your style, tell a ridiculous joke or playfully nuzzle your spouse's neck. With this tactic, make sure the conflict really is over, otherwise your spouse may feel that you don't take his or her feelings seriously.

Go do something else

Give your sweetheart a kiss and find a new project to get involved in. The after-fight tension is so consuming sometimes that it's hard to think of something to say to your spouse that is unrelated to the disagreement. Take this as a signal to get involved in something else for a little while, so that you can approach your spouse with a fresh perspective. Finding something else to do also helps you to have a little more emotional independence, giving you a little more maturity. That makes you an asset rather than a liability.

Do you ever have those days when you and your spouse just seem to be out of sync? It starts out with a normal disagreement, and then no matter how many times you say "I love you," everything you say seems to start another conflict. During these times, it's important to find ways to make a clear end to the conflict at hand. Add a little romance, get moving, crack a joke, or just find a distraction. No matter what you do, just remember that after the fight, your spouse is still yours, and that's pretty amazing.

The post When ‘kiss and make-up’ isn’t quite enough appeared first on FamilyToday.

This is difficult. I've made at least a few errors doing this. We've also managed to do some things really well, so I hope you will find this article useful as you learn from my mistakes and triumphs.

Keep in touch with your family

If you don't make it a point to know and love your family, how can your spouse? Make phone calls, send cards and visit as often as you possibly can. Technology allows families to stay in touch with ease, no matter how far apart they are.

My brother-in-law video-chats with his mom every Sunday. Much of their conversation revolves around the antics of my 2-year-old nephew, but then, my nephew is pretty much the center of my brother-in-law's life. It's only fitting that they talk about and enjoy him in these weekly chats.

Make it possible for your spouse to be in the same place as your parents and siblings

Every other year, we visit my parents for Christmas. This involves the expense of gas and food, the inconvenience of a 12-hour drive and some improvised sleeping arrangements once we get there. Despite these challenges, we go anyway. These trips allow my husband to share activities with my parents and younger brother. Shared activities are a meaningful source of bonding and, especially for men, are often more powerful than simply conversation.

When you visit your spouse's family, make sure to spend time doingthings with them. You may need to take some initiative and suggest activities, but chances are good that your in-laws will be happy to oblige. This could mean playing board games, going to a museum or even just watching a football game. With these kinds of intentional activities, you can go home with a better idea of the things you all like to do together. Shared activities also provide a context for getting to know who a person really is, even beyond simply his interests.

You can also go the extra step and make sure each spouse's parents are invited into your home as well. Seeing someone on his own turf can be a special way of getting to know who he really is, and opens up a lot of opportunities to come to know each family better.

Encourage conversation by pointing out commonalities

During a recent phone call to my dad, he told me about a new project he had started. "Oh wow,"� I told him, "that sounds like just the sort of thing my husband would find fascinating."� I followed that up by telling my husband about it, and suggested that he ask about it on our next visit. Fast forward to Christmas, and there they were, chatting happily while Dad introduced my husband to what he had done so far. I was ecstatic.

Even with shared experiences, sitting in the same room as your in-laws can be awfully intimidating. It's hard to know where to start a conversation that will be pleasant for both of you. That's one reason it's so essential to keep in touch with your own family. You know what they are up to and what matters to them, so then you can share it with your spouse.

Encourage your spouse to be himself or herself

As with any new relationship, it's easy to become anxious and uncomfortable with in-laws. However, my experience tells me that this most often creates obstacles to meaningful interaction. That's why I encourage my husband to just be himself on our visits. He brings a special dynamic to my parents' home just by being there - with his easygoing, intellectual nature - and we all love him for it. Before we visit, I remind him how much my parents like him and that they want to know him better. This puts him a little more at ease, which in turn opens him up to participating in conversations and activities that he might be too nervous to enjoy otherwise.

Share positive stories

To some degree, it's really nice to be able to vent to your spouse about your family. Your spouse is your family now, after all, and your spouse was actually your choice. This puts him or her in a uniquely intimate place in your life. On the other hand, that also means that your spouse wants to be closely connected to the people who are connected to you, like your family.

One frustrated afternoon, I'd been filling his ears with all the ways my crazy family has impacted my life negatively. Finally, my husband very sweetly turned to me and asked, "Will you tell me good things about your family?"� It was a cry for help. All he really wanted to do was support his wife and feel kindly toward his in-laws at the same time. His comment sobered me, and I spent the rest of the day recounting family traditions and acts of kindness from my delightful, maddening, normal family. This helped him to see why I adore them so much, even if they do make me crazy sometimes.

Your spouse will become part of your family and you his. It's important to feel comfortable together. Some of the most useful things are simply being in the same place, sharing a meal or a football game or just a conversation. As you help your spouse to be more comfortable with your parents and siblings, his or her love for them will come naturally. The same is true for you and your in-laws. Get started today.

The post Tips to help spouses feel at home with in-laws appeared first on FamilyToday.

Try something new every month

One of the biggest problems with New Year's resolutions is that a year is way too long. So what about a month? Choose to try something new this month, and each month that follows. Even if you only manage two weeks every month, or seven months out of the year, you tried, and that counts for something.

You could ride your bike to work, try rock climbing for the first time or ask your eye doctor for sample contacts. The point here is to step outside of your comfort zone and into a place where previously unknown things become possible. Who knows? Maybe at the end of the year, you'll be trying something reallyoutlandish, like skipping ice cream and eating applesauce, instead.

Your children will benefit from this project. After all, childhood is all about discovery. By continuing to discover new things, you make that a natural and beloved part of your home. You give your children the courage to try new things, along with happy memories of the crazy, fun things they did with you.

Choose a theme word for this year

Short, sweet and to the point, choosing one word to live by this year moves you in a positive direction without cluttering your life. One year, I chose the word "alacrity,"� which means "cheerful willingness." To me, it meant being eager to fully engage, to be completely involved in my experiences and the people around me. It was a beautiful thing that left me feeling loved, inspired and enthusiastic.

Whatever your word might be, you can also get creative in how you incorporate it into your life. Make it your desktop, make a collage, say it 10 times to yourself before you go to bed, or do whatever it takes to help keep it on your mind. Your children can join in by learning a new vocabulary word and then making an art or craft project that revolves around it. Then, hang it on your fridge to help each of you remember your word. With words like "alacrity,"� "steadfast,"� "shine,"� or "peacefully"� woven throughout your life, this year is bound to be better than the last.

Start a savings account

If the last two ideas were a little too cheesy for your tastes, then this idea is for you. Take a good long look at your budget and cut back, just a couple of dollars, on things that you don't technically need. Then, take those couple of dollars and put them aside. You can tuck them into a subset of your savings account, put them in a jar, or mail them to a trustworthy friend.

Then, pick out something amazing that you've always wanted to do, but never had the funds. Maybe that's visiting your aunt in Spain, going to the concert of the year for your favorite band, or buying every kind of pen the local office supplies store sells so you can figure out which one really is your favorite. Whatever your dream, let it inspire you to spend a little less here and there so you can make your dream a reality. You might not have enough money for it at the end of the year, but you will be significantly closer than you are today. Isn't that encouraging all by itself?

The other plus side to this idea is that you are practicing taking your dreams seriously. No one else may approve of your addiction to office supplies, but you don't need their approval. You have a dream and a plan and a passion that you refuse to ignore. I honor you for that, and your children will too.

Clean out a closet

I like this goal because it's on such a small scale. One closet amidst a year of potential change doesn't seem like much, but it's an improvement you can make here. Now. Today. If you've been dying to clean it out for ages, you'll be glad you did. An alternative to this could be simply getting ahead on your household chores or errands. Do you think cooking meals is a huge pain? Make freezer meals. Does filing taxes make you want to move to the moon? File them now so you're not ripping your hair out in April.

Whichever way you do it, the point here is that you can set aside a little time today to make next week, next month or even next season a little less stressful. That makes you a more serene, cheerful person in the long run, and you'll be amazed how much your family benefits from that.

Call me a hipster, but I didn't bother setting New Year's resolutions this year. I find them overwhelming, unrealistic, and more a source of guilt than improvement. If this sounds familiar, hopefully, these ideas are a breath of fresh air. Even if you don't set formal "New Year's resolutions", the beginning of a new year can be a step toward a new life and a new you.

The post Resolution rebellion: Put a fresh spin on goals and improvement appeared first on FamilyToday.

Introversion can be a challenging trait to bring into a marriage. After all, marriage is a relationship. And relationships revolve around interaction, teamwork and socializing. My husband and I have successfully navigated my affinity for alone time in many ways throughout our marriage. I hope the following tips will help you find success in your marriage, too.

1. Set aside time for your spouse to be a homebody

A little alone time is simply more important to your spouse's well-being than social interaction. That means you may be sitting on the couch watching a movie more often than you thought you were going to. Just keep in mind that she's watching it with you, which means that you have been invited into her private bubble. From an introvert, that's a lot of love.

2. Be willing to cancel plans and create alternatives

Let's say you and your spouse have plans to go to a party after work. You're both excited about it, although you expect your spouse to talk to only one or two close friends while you circle the room. Now let's say he has several unexpected meetings come up at work, leaving him feeling totally drained. A party can be really exhausting and even kind of paralyzing at that point. Adapting your plans accordingly will help your spouse feel loved and cared for.

3. Ask questions

Because introverts find social situations less appealing than extroverts, they may have a hard time communicating their needs simply because they don't have as much practice. That's why it's important to ask questions if you want information. It's also important because they may not realize that you want to know what they think since generally they keep their thoughts private (in part because they have so many of them.)

4. Entertain yourself

If you expect your introverted sweetheart to be engaged with you all the time, you're going to be disappointed, not to mention lonesome. Schedule some time to hang out with friends if your social needs are not being met, or at the very least find something to do that makes you excited. That way, when your spouse is ready to interact, you will have something fun to tell her about. Just for the record, interrupting alone time for a quick hug and kiss is perfectly acceptable.

5. Let them socialize on their own terms

For me, this means that I enjoy socializing in my own home. This way, I have control over when the gathering starts and ends. I also get to be the one choosing the activity. For example, I sometimes choose a rather involved board game because it mitigates the need for conversation while still allowing everyone to interact. Socializing in my own home also allows me to find something inconspicuous to do while my husband continues conversing. This saves me from sitting in someone else's house, awkwardly wishing I had a book and a quiet room somewhere.

Keep in mind, your spouse may have exactly the opposite feelings. Maybe she would prefer to go out so that the safe, private space of your home remains uncompromised. The point is that your spouse needs to have a say in how he interacts with friends. This preserves it as an enjoyable, positive experience rather than a tiring, or even toxic one.

Although these ideas are bound to be helpful to your spouse, the most important thing you can do for him or her (and for your marriage!) is not to take it personally. I speak from experience when I say that many introverts would love to offer their company and good cheer whenever it's called for, but it's simply not going to happen. However, as you are understanding of your sweetheart's need for alone time, solicit his or her input, and remain cheerful yourself, you will create an environment where your introvert can reach out to others, especially you.

The post 5 tips for being married to an introvert appeared first on FamilyToday.

Does breakfast have the blahs? Does your first meal of the day need a little freshness? Do you need a pick-up for your morning portions? Don't worry. You're in the right place.

The following breakfast ideas are versatile, each one lending itself to a few changes that make it seem like a completely different meal. That means you don't have to go shopping for a million different ingredients or wrack your brain for something more interesting than you made yesterday. Just give it a different spin, and watch your family ask for it, again.

Mix-and-match smoothies

Pull out your blender and open up your fridge; it's time to make a smoothie. Your imagination is (almost) the only limit when it comes to tasty combinations for your smoothie. You can opt for classics, like banana and strawberry blends. You can also get a little more adventurous and concoct something with ginger or cucumber. You can even include some kale or spinach for extra nutrients with almost no effect on the flavor. Greens do change the color, but you can disguise that easily with some dark berries, or make it seem intentional with a coordinating flavor like mint, honeydew, or sour apple. Your kids will never know the difference.

The Internet is replete with recipes for healthy, flavorful smoothies. Frankly, I prefer to follow a recipe rather than making up my own. I like to let someone else play with the best proportions for the maximum flavor, since my own versions are never quite as good.

Unique ingredients at the breakfast table

A friend recently recommended tomato cheese toast. As the name implies, you put a slice of bread under the broiler with slices of tomatoes and cheese on top. She says it's also done with avocados. As for me, I want to try it with both.

One of my personal favorites, however, is sweet potato hash. Cut them to your shape and size of choice, sauté them to tenderness in olive oil or coconut oil, then cook an egg in it. It's especially divine if the yolk is a little runny, although I do offer the typical warning that undercooked eggs do have some health risks. Notwithstanding, this is one of my husband's favorite breakfasts, and the sweet potato makes the house smell divine.

Eggs a million ways

Speaking of eggs, there are about a million different ways to do them. Have vegetables hanging out in your fridge? Make an omelet. Need something speedy in the morning? Hard-boil them ahead of time. Want something a little fancier? Make quiche. Craving something classic? Scrambled with cheddar cheese is always a winner. You can also make toast, which opens up more options. Even better, combine the egg with the bread before you cook it, and make French toast. Eggs are incredibly versatile; don't underestimate them. The punch of protein is also a nice way to ward off late-morning hunger.

Hot cereal of every kind

Oatmeal is a classic breakfast that has any number of options. One mom I know boils water, adds oats and mix-ins, covers the pot, and after a minute turns off the stove and walks away for a half-hour. It's the same concept of a slow-cooker, but much faster. This gives you the option to spend 30 minutes helping children get ready for school without the risk of burning the oatmeal or letting the water boil over. More to the point, you can add whatever kind of mix-ins you want to the oatmeal, especially fruit, nuts, and spices. Mix and match the ingredients you add in, and suddenly you've got an entirely different meal.

Other kinds of hot cereal bring even more variety to the equation. Grits, creamed wheat, bulgur or even quinoa can provide many of the same filling, whole-grain benefits as oatmeal. You can also make it custard style. Add a couple of tablespoons of the cereal to cool milk and bring it to just boiling, then temper an egg by adding a spoonful of the hot cereal to the mixed egg. Then add the egg mixture to the rest of the hot cereal. The added fat and protein makes this an extra filling option for those of us who have a hard time waiting until lunch.

Now that you've got a few basic ideas to start with, namely smoothies, eggs, hot cereal and a few unique dishes just for fun, customize them to fit your tastes and needs. With very little work, breakfast is a snap and way more interesting than cold cereal and toast.

The post No-brainer solutions to banish boring breakfasts [VIDEO] appeared first on FamilyToday.

Now that the holidays have ended, does life seem drab? Do you miss all of that warm-hearted time with your children and spouse? You can continue to spend quality time with your family even now that the holidays are over. Read on to get ideas on how to keep the holiday spirit alive in your home and heart all through the year.

Continue celebrating

Just because Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day are over, it doesn't mean we have run out of things to be excited about. You can explore celebrations in new cultures and create new traditions of your own.

For example, my husband and I decided after our second Christmas together that we are going to celebrate Epiphany, or the coming of the three gift-bearing wise men to Christ. This is a popular celebration in Spanish-speaking communities, and given my husband's fluency in Spanish, it seemed like an obvious choice. We make a variety of Mexican food, eat traditional desserts, exchange gifts, and invite our friends over and refuse to take down our Christmas decorations until after Jan. 6.

Maybe your family can make a big deal out of Chinese New Year, President's Day or Black History Month. Whatever you choose, these celebrations give you something else to look forward to as well as quality family time. That's worth celebrating all by itself if you ask me!

Do service

Many people celebrate Christmas by serving others. For some, that means singing carols in nursing homes. For others, it means helping to serve dinner at a homeless shelter. I've always thought that train of thought was a little flawed, however. Just because it's January doesn't mean that loneliness, hunger and the need for generosity goes away. So hang on to the good feelings that holiday service projects give you by offering your time and attention year-round.

My husband and I have talked about making one date night a week into aservice night, even if it just means that we babysit for a friend. We hope that by making service a part of our family culture now, it will become a part of our future children's characters later.

Make goals

Resolutions are a buzzword at this time of year, but how often do we get the entire family involved? If you're reading this article, chances are that you would love for your family to make a point of spending time together. You might consider instituting family game night, exercising together or even starting a DIY project as a team.

My husband and I both love to read, but we realized we were not doing it as much as we wanted to. That's why we made it a goal to turn on an audiobook every Saturday night. An audiobook allows us to cuddle or wash the dishes, depending on our needs. It's a very easy way to share the same book, which allows for interesting conversations later. It also means that as we are flexible about our book choices, we develop a taste for books we wouldn't have thought to read on our own.

Even if you don't choose reading, you can choose a specific, realistic goal that accomplishes the same thing: regular togetherness. This togetherness is one of the sweetest, most rewarding parts of the holiday season and an important way to bring the good cheer of togetherness into your home all through the year.

Keep the holiday spirit alive all through the year as you celebrate the joy of being with family, trying new things, giving to others and becoming a little better every day. Let this holiday season be a starting off point for renewed commitment to your loved ones. After all, you get a new Christmas every year, but you only get one family.

The post Keeping the holiday spirit alive in our homes and hearts appeared first on FamilyToday.

However, I submit that we deprive our families of exceptional bonding experiences if we do not reveal our struggles. Here, I list three ways you can use difficult times to build family relationships.

1. Example

Our character shines brightest when we are going through hard times. When we respond to difficulties with courage and humility, we act as examples. We are never the only person of our acquaintance who is struggling. Moreover, it could be that hearing you are having a hard time, and somehow finding a way to cope, is the very thing your spouse or child needs. Being that example strengthens your love because you are giving something, and it strengthens his or her love for you as you fill a need for someone to follow.

My mom is an amazing example to me. Despite addiction, mental illness, and poor influences, she has found her way back to faith in God and a lifestyle that aligns with her beliefs. If I didn't know how much she had struggled to make it to this point, her current successes wouldn't be as inspiring as they are. She helps me to believe that people can truly change for the better no matter how impossible that seems, at the time. I love her more for being someone I want to emulate.

2. Empathy

On a recent visit to see my parents, my dad and I were having a long chat, like we often do, and somehow the topic turned to our health. I blurted out, "I've put on 30 pounds since I got married. Do you have any idea how awful that is to me?"� As soon as I said it, I wanted to take it back. I had mentioned my concerns to another family member, and she had minimized my feelings and made the conversation about her. Not wanting that, I prepared myself to change the subject quickly.

But Dad just nodded. "Yeah, I do."�

I was floored. I realized he didknow how frustrating that must be for me, and his simple statement of empathy made me feel so much better. It reminded me that I can count on him to be understanding and kind in the face of my heartbreaks and worries. It was a relationship-building experience, and I was so glad I had shared.

You can have a similar kind of experience when you are open about your troubles. Being authentic invites your family members to be authentic, too. There is healing in sharing. You can encourage your children to talk to each other about hard times in school, for example, or confess to your spouse that your aunt's death is having a greater effect on you than you had anticipated. Children may need guidance on exchanging empathy, and your spouse may need some warning that all you want is to share your feelings. But bonds form in these moments of help and validation. When someone asks you for advice or empathy, it is a huge compliment. They trust you based on how you live your life.

3. Identity

A recent Facebook status of mine reads, "Putting my family stubbornness to work! Where there's a will, there's a way!"� Every family has weaknesses that seem to be common to everyone in it. Similarly, we can also develop our identity through the family strengths that we share. When you share that you are having a hard time, you not only provide an example and an opportunity to empathize, but you bolster the idea that you, your children, and your spouse are the kind of people who endure. You are the sort of people who are generous even when life makes it difficult. When you are open about your hard times, you may discover just how much you have in common with your family. Together, you can find strength and meaning in your shared challenges.

Communicating with your loved ones about your hardships, rather than trying to keep it to yourself, strengthens your family relationships. By being real with your family members, you help to develop your family identity as people who stand together and can rely on each other, despite whatever your weaknesses and hard times may be.

The post Using hardship to bring your family closer appeared first on FamilyToday.

Everyone knows that exercise is good for you. You're stronger, you get toned and you even get to enjoy all of the happiness-inducing brain chemicals. But sometimes those reasons aren't quite enough. For people looking to build character and strengthen family, not just build and strengthen muscles, regular exercise can seem like one more demand on their time. As a matter of fact, they sometimes feel guilty for taking that time away from their families and homes.

I'm here to tell you that there are benefits to getting fit beyond endorphins and endurance. Regular exercise can shape your whole life, even including your character, for the better. As you consider your New Year's health goals, keep the following thoughts in mind.

1. Exercise gets you in the mindset to do other things regularly

If you exercise every day, it becomes a trigger for other behaviors, especially if you do the same thing every day after exercise. As for me, I exercise at 9 a.m., then come home and write at least 1,000 words. This usually takes me until 11 or 11:30, so I am ready to build a yummy, healthy lunch. Exercise can set your whole day on the right track as it initiates a chain reaction of good choices. Here are some ideas to get you motivated to exercise.

2. Regular exercise builds confidence

I'm not just talking about confidence in regard to your physical appearance and stamina, although it certainly does help. I'm talking about being a more confident person in general by doing something about the problems you face. Maybe you have a hard time making good habits. Can you imagine how empowering it would feel to make exercise a normal part of your life? Knowing we are taking responsibility for our health can be so good in so many ways. We are becoming better, more energetic parents. We set good examples for our children. We even stop pouting to our spouses so much.

I began exercising regularly after some loving encouragement from my husband. Rather than just telling me to stop making discouraged remarks about my appearance, he helped me understand that it was OK to spend time on me, including exercising. As a result, some days that means that we eat leftovers for dinner, again, but I am a much happier wife.

3. Exercise can build relationships

If you exercise with a group, you become cheerleaders for each other. You also provide extra accountability. Your exercise routine becomes a springboard for other conversations and other ways to spend time together. I recently started going to an informal Zumba class with some women who are of the same faith, but attend a different congregation. Without attending this class with them, I never would have seen them frequently enough to develop any sort of relationship. Now we trade jokes, empathy and encouragement like old friends. I draw emotional and mental strength from the camaraderie. The developing physical strength is just a perk.

4. Exercise provides a handy reality check

Sometimes we feel like we can do it all. Or worse, we feel like we have to do it all, and can't. Exercise, in all its sweaty, short-of-breath glory, helps us maintain our grip on how things really are. We can't do everything, nor should we expect that of ourselves. The effort is the important part, and it's only over time that effort pays off. That makes exercise the perfect way to maintain a little healthy humility.

If the increase of energy, strength, and stamina isn't enough to get you to start exercising, we hope you will consider the other benefits, as well. Regular exercise can help make your whole day more productive and invigorating. Maybe you could actually get all of those errands done that you said you were going to do. It can also make you more confident and more connected to the people around you.

Exercise can help you to be more connected to reality, too. You could be one of those moms that is content with her life as it is. You know, the mom with the messy house andthe sincere smile. Your family will benefit from your good physical health, but especially all the other kinds of good health, too. So, for their sake and yours, get moving today.

The post Another kind of stretching: 4 non-physical benefits of exercise appeared first on FamilyToday.

Because frozen vegetables can be really gross. Ask any one of your kids and they will probably say the same thing. Kids are stereotypically known to hate vegetables, and if you're anything like me, you'd rather bolster their nutrition than feed into their aversion.

That's why I started a campaign to figure out the secrets to making frozen vegetables yummy while still a fast, healthy addition to any meal. I've made some impressive progress, so I'm here to share it with you.

Be careful how you cook them

Overcooking is the number one killer of frozen vegetable appeal. No one wants to eat mush no matter how you season it or how well it goes with the rest of your meal. When I make frozen vegetables, I avoid boiling them since so many of the nutrients end up in the water, and it's so easy to overcook them. Instead, try steaming them in the microwave or sautéing them on the stove.

I'm too cheap to buy the steamer bags, but using a dish with a loose-fitting lid and a couple of tablespoons of water works great. I also always set the microwave for a little less time than I think the vegetables will take. This way, if they are done sooner than I expect, I haven't already overcooked them.

You can also sauté frozen vegetables. I've found that preheating a splash of oil to a little above medium, then adding the vegetables helps them keep their texture. If you add the vegetables to a cold pan and then heat it up, it slowly thaws them before they start cooking. That's just asking for gross vegetables.

I also avoid mixed vegetables, since I find the different sizes and density of the vegetable chunks mean that they will cook at different rates. If my end goal is a mix of vegetables, such as a stir fry, I just add the vegetables one at a time, starting with the one that will take the longest to cook. Broccoli stems, for instance, take much longer to cook than other types of vegetables.

Season them. Always

I almost always start with a baseline seasoning of salt, pepper, and a smidgen of butter or olive oil. Beyond that, consider the flavor of your vegetable and the rest of your meal. Peas with coriander are a surprising, sweet sort of vegetable dish that has been a big hit at my house, especially with Asian dishes.

It's also important to think about the tastes of the people for whom you are cooking. I enjoy green beans tossed in Italian dressing, for example, but since my husband isn't a big fan of vinegar, we don't do this often. If you have kiddos who struggle to eat their vegetables, a little cheese on broccoli or cauliflower can go a long way. For more sophisticated palates, consider a more complex combination like spicy, sweet, sour. Speaking of sour, lemon juice and garlic complement many vegetables beautifully. I find the salt, pepper, and butter especially important with that seasoning choice.

We all know that frozen vegetables are quick and easy. But did you know they can be yummy, too? With these tips, you'll be able to both cook and season them to perfection, contributing to your family's nutrition without contributing to your stress. Take that, weekday meals! Vegetables are making a comeback.

The post Jazzing up frozen vegetables appeared first on FamilyToday.