#AskAwayFriday - It Summer With The Mad Mommy

What is #AskAwayFriday?

#AskAwayFriday was created by the amazing Penny from Real Housewife of Caroline County, as a way to connect with other bloggers with a great Q & A session of 10 questions and 10 answers, between two bloggers!

This is a wonderful opportunity to get to know others while allowing others to get to know you and of course there is also the added bonus of making great friends along the way. Participating in #AskAwayFriday each week is also a great way to build your blogging community.

Drop by and welcome our fabulous #AAF hosts:

Tamara from Tamara Like Camera,
Tiffany from Mrs. Tee Love Life Laughter,
Christy from Uplifting Families,
Stacey from This Momma’s Ramblings
and Echo from Domain of the Mad Mommy

I am back and hoping to do Ask Away Friday regularly again. This week my buddy is Echo AKA the Mad Mommy

She is a busy homeschooling mother of two and like myself, Echo lost her mind when she had children. I’m still looking for mine! This week we are diving into summer! Yes, summer my favorite but yet not so favorite time of year. It’s the time when us moms go even more crazy from spending all day with our children instead of just the morning and night. It’s when one bottle of wine just isn’t enough. But as we count down the days until our little yo yo’s go back to school, we are creating memories. Memories of swimming in the lake or pool, watching soccer or little league games, picking strawberries, going for nature walks, camping or just sitting outside catching lightning bugs. Yes, it’s summer time, the grandest time of year. The Talbert Zoo has been having one crazy summer already.

1. Summer is in the air! What is your favorite thing about summer?

My favorite thing about summer is the warmer temperatures. Out here in Chicago the temperature gets into the 90’s with 70% humidity in the height of summer. I love the heat. I love running when it is hot outside, I love sitting in the sun, sipping on ice cold water or my favorite summer drink…you’ll have to wait until the last question for that reveal. I only run my air conditioner at night when we sleep, because I love the heat.

2. How do you keep your kids busy when they are out of school?

We have a behavior chart which has everything that I want them to do in a given day, chores etc. Every Friday we go to the library and I encourage them to read every day. We also go on long walks or run/walks when the weather is nice. And my kids are involved in programs at our local behavioral therapy clinic. We go there for appointments and groups four days a week. We are also very involved in our church. I play my flute on Sunday and my oldest sings. In July my four younger kids are attending a week long Bible school camp at our church. When the weather gets hot I set the kiddie pool up or we visit the local splash pad. We are constantly doing something.

3. Is harder to maintain time for yourself?

Yes. I’ve cut my blogging schedule back from 5-6 hours a day during the school year to 2 hours 2-3 days a week, because I don’t have as much free time in the summer. I am fitting in my daily workouts, though. But, between carting my kids to their appointments and my oldest to work and back, I only have a couple of hours a day to myself, which is usually spent praying, eating, running, showering or using the restroom.

4. You are into health and having a healthy-self. What is your #1 self-health tip?

Only one? Make sure you take time for yourself every day. For me it’s when I go for a run, or pray (which I also do daily), and playing my flute. Those are my special times when I am taking care of me. Make sure you have “me-time.”

5. How do you keep yourself healthy?

I could dedicate 600 words or more to this answer but I will try my best to make it brief. First and foremost it is important to take care of your spirit. For me it is my daily prayers. Sometimes I am able to read the bible and say a rosary, but when I don’t have that much free time I just talk to the Lord before I fall asleep at night.

Second, I take care of my body. I make sure I maintain a proper nutritional balance and stay away from sugary empty calorie foods. Because I work out nearly every single day I eat a high protein diet and try not to consume too many carbs. I make an exception for Holidays, Birthdays, and other special occasions. My husband and I are always looking for different healthy recipes to try, By showing a good example for our children they are learning to love nutritious foods.

I work out nearly every single day. My health and fitness hero is Jillian Michaels my dream would be to meet her someday. She always says that in order to burn fat you must combine cardio with weight training and abdominal training. So that is what I do. I run or go for long walks 2-3 days a week. Then I work out with my weights and do abdominal exercises about 2 days a week. I try to rest one day a week. When I am really busy this ends up being 2 days.

6. Do you like to go to a gym or do you workout at home?

Chris works out at the gym but I prefer to work out at home. I don’t like having to drive somewhere to workout or having to pay to workout. I have my own equipment and I can work out when I have the time, on my own schedule. Another bonus from working out at home is I don’t have to get a babysitter.

7. If you could have any job in the world, what would it be?

This is a tough one. I don’t really know. I love what I do. I love writing, I love working with brands on social media campaigns and I love being around my kids. I’ve always thought about taking my career to the next level, if and when I have the time. I’ve dreamed of turning The Healthy Moms Magazine into a real print magazine or taking Healthy Moms Social / Media to a point where I manage one large social media campaign a week. But I just don’t have the time for that. I also want to publish my book, which has been put on the back burner right now. I have goals and dreams and don’t think I would want any other job than what I already have.

8. Speaking of the world, if you could live ANYWHERE in the world, where would you live and why?

This is another tough one. I love our country. The United States is the greatest country in the whole world and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. Our Republic has lasted over 200 years and nobody has as much freedoms as we do. You don’t have to have a college degree to earn a million dollars. All you need is an idea and a garage.

9. Any big plans for the summer?

We purchased a home and are moving! It’s only a mile away and our lease here isn’t up until August 1, so we have nearly all summer to move. Chris’ family lives in Sacramento, CA so we are piling the Talbert Zoo into our mini van and driving out there for the Fourth of July. We are going to have a busy, summer.

10. Summer Favorites:

Summer drink: Mojito

Summer meal: Anything Chris grills.

Summer outfit: Sundresses or workout shorts and tank tops.

Summer activity: running and long leisurely walks.

Summer hairstyle: ponytail. My hair gets frizzy in the humidity and it is long nearly halfway down my back, so if I don’t straighten it then I have to put it up in a ponytail.

Summer treat: Fresh picked strawberries. We visited a local farm this morning and picked some.

Make sure you drop by The Mad Mommy to read her answers to my questions. I had a fun swap! Care to swap with me next week? Drop me an e mail at [email protected]. I am looking to fill my calendar.