This week has been completely insane for me, trying to run two businesses, momming, and preparing for my very first Macaroni Kid Chicopee-Holyoke event at this year's National Night Out in Chicopee. I was extremely nervous, maybe even a bit terrified at first, but with things finally starting to come together, I am really excited to have a table at this event. You can find all the DETAILS for this year's National Night Out event on our Macaroni Kid Chicopee-Holyoke events calendar. So how do I manage to keep it all together, well I don't always completely, but there are a few things that I do make sure to do to at least try to stay stress free.
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2. Get In the Pictures This is especially true for all you mommas out there. Pictures are my go to for happy memories and joy. I just love when I can go back and see old photos of all the things my family and I have done together and even pictures of how far I have come. There was a time where I realized that many of the pictures were just of the places we had gone or of my children. Now I make sure to get into the pictures with them because one day my children and grandchildren are going to look back at these memories and cherish getting to see me again. Besides, taking silly selfies is just as fun as looking at memories of them. | "Do not take life too seriously, you will not get out of it alive" ~Elbert Hubbard~  |
 | 3. Eat the Cookies This may seem counter-productive to #1, however, stressing over not being able to eat a cookie is worse for you than actually eating the cookie. I never restrict myself from what I truly want. I eat the cake on my kids birthdays; I go out for ice cream; I indulge in a glass of wine or adult beverage; and yes, I even have a cookie from time to time. Health isn't just about exercise and nutrition but about overall well-being which means indulging in the good things in life. It all comes down to moderation and healthy swaps. So if you can eat just one Oreo or just have a small piece of cake and go right back to living a healthy lifestyle, than do it. I like to promote a 90/10 clean eating lifestyle which means 90% of the time I eat clean healthy foods and indulge in treats 10% of the time. If you struggle with not being able to eat just one, go for a healthier treat like these Sinless Chocolate Chip Cookies. |
4. Take Vacations Vacations are a must. I plan at least one with the family and one with just the hubby and I. I work really hard knowing I have a vacation to look forward to. It is the motivation behind most of what I do. This doesn't mean you have to spend all this money or take all this time off from your job. When my three youngest children were really little, we were living on one income. You can imagine, raising a family of 7 on one income doesn't leave much money or even time for vacations. But even with little money, we still took time off from work to just be together. Sometimes there were staycations where we just had movie and game nights every night, and sometimes the husband and I went to the hotel up the street just for a night away. Regardless of the amount of time or money invested, a vacation is time away to forget responsibilities, put the work emails on hold and just relax. |  |
"In every walk in with nature one receives far more than he seeks" John Muir  | 5. Take Time to Smell the Flowers This one came to me during the pandemic. Prior to the pandemic, I was working two jobs and running kids to extra curricular activities every day of the week. There were many weeks in a row that I didn't even get a day off. Yes, I was still taking my vacations, but I didn't take the time to be present. When everything shut down last year and I had no where to go, I found myself spending lots of time just sitting on my front porch listening to the sounds of nature and looking up a the stars. This new found love of nature brought me to so many new adventures including hikes, the White Mountains, waterfalls and admiring every tree and bird I see. Not only have I started to admire and cherish my time with nature, but I make it a necessity for both myself and my children. Life is so short and I make sure to be present every day, even if it's just watching my kids play outside the window for a few minutes each day. |
Life can be tough, especially when you are juggling work life, children, a home and so many other responsibilities. But what is all the craziness for if we can't take the time to enjoy it. Some other things I do to relieve the pressure: gratitude journaling, dancing in the kitchen, laughter, date nights with the husband and hanging out with my best friends. While these things don't happen every day, they are a huge part of my life and I credit them to keeping me sane in this extremely organized chaos that I have created for us. I hope that you will make time for many of these things in your life!
Hi, I'm Carrie. I have been with my husband Matt for over 10 years and we have 5 children and a fur baby. I'm originally from Chicopee and although I have moved around a few times in my life, we have been living in our home in Aldenville for 9 years now. My family and I love our neighborhood and enjoy connecting with others. When I am not homeschooling our 4 youngest children, writing for Macaroni Kid Chicopee-Holyoke and running my Fit Moms Fit Families business, I enjoy hiking, exercising, reading, traveling, hanging out with friends, and listening to music.  |
