I saw a news report the other day that talked about a survey that found that summertime is a more stressful time for families than any other time of the year.  I am fortunate to have flexibility with my business in the summer to pick my own hours.  It makes sense that parents have a hard time juggling all of their kids activities and time off when they have to work full time.  Add on to that, planning vacations and the extra money involved with having kids home, it does sound like major stress.  I am on a stress busting mission this summer.  I ended my school year very burnt out - to the point where I was struggling with focusing on a book long enough to read a couple of paragraphs.  I also understand how people in their adult years begin to wonder if they have attention deficit disorder!  A benefit of summertime is the ability to eat healthy local foods from gardens and the farmer's market.  It you find yourself overstressed, there are natural options that can make a difference.  For some people, they may be lacking in a certain nutrient, such as magnesium.  Others need to find time to exercise in order to burn off the cortisol in the system that the stress causes.  In Minnesota, we want to be able to enjoy our fleeting summers, so take the time to take care of yourself!

I apologize for my lengthy absence from updating this site.  I am going to work on changing the format of my blogs to give quick tips for improving health, saving money and simplifying.  Quick tip of the day - use mason jars to store bulk food items.  I use post it note tape to label the jars (it comes off easily) with a date if it is a perishable item.  They are an inexpensive, glass storage (better than plastic to avoid chemicals) option that I think looks really cool, too!

Also - an update - we are in the process of selling our home.  We found a house on the Sauk Rapids side of the river, only about five minutes from here.  I have a room I will set up as my office.  I am hoping with this move, I will be able to do more with my business and expand some of my options.  We are super excited about this change, and are patiently awaiting the sale of our house. 

Happy Father's Day!