Dear Carley,
Hiya! I am thrilled to introduce you to the very first issue of Mothercraft Monthly: A Great Mom's Guide to Living Better. Thanks for being patient with me...I really wanted to create something that would make you laugh, think, and live well. In the monthly newsletters to follow, you'll find Life Strategies to optimize your day-to-day, stories that we all can relate to, and hand-picked products that I think are invaluable for moms (or, as my husband likes to say, 'mom-tastic!') At Mothercraft, we believe that with the right tools and support, moms can have great relationships (with their kids and grown-ups), effectively govern their families and lead the lives of their dreams.
Please feel free to forward this newsletter to anyone who you might think would benefit from reading it (there's an easy link at the bottom of this email). And email me anytime to let me know how I can make the newsletter even better, or add things you want to see. I would love to hear from you!
Welcome to the 'Craft!
Carley Knobloch
Certified Life Coach and
Founder of Mothercraft
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BLOCK PARTY
A Winning Strategy for Getting Stuff Done
The mail consumes your kitchen counters. There are months worth of pictures trapped in your digital camera. The bills are scarily close to overdue and the laundry pile is monstrous (not to mention pretty stinky). Each day begins with the intention to take care of some of these issues, yet the magnitude of each task sends us running to the mall or shoving things under the rug. It's too overwhelming to start, so we don't start at all. At the end of the day, we have heaps of guilt about not "getting stuff done" (as well as a fresh pile of catalogs and coupons to sort through). I'm sure your familiar with the script. Mine sounds something like, Why are these simple things so hard for you? You're at home all day staring at this stuff and nothing happens! What kind of example are you setting for your children? What's your problem, anyway?
The problem is, your kids keep you in perpetual motion. You're constantly on the go, whether your shuttling your kids to swim lessons or just chasing a sticky toddler around the ottoman in a rousing game of "Where's The Rest of Your Popsicle?". So finding a quiet, uninterrupted stretch of time in which you can really calm your mind, focus on a task, and see it through to completion is kind of a joke. Unless you've got the latest Harry Potter video & a mound of snacks in cartoon-adorned packages, those nagging to-dos will have to wait until after bedtime (assuming you've not fallen asleep face down in one of the kid's beds during storytime, as I often do).
A good friend and organization guru once gave me a tip that has worked wonders for my guilt over not keeping up with domestic tasks. Here's an idea that works with- not against- your fragmented time schedule: Tackle things in Blocks. Give yourself permission to work on something for a designated time period... and that's it. For example, you decide to work on straightening the playroom for 10 minutes. And when those 10 minutes are up, you're done. Move on. No matter if the playroom isn't completely immaculate, that's what tomorrow is for.
As a Life Coach, I'm always talking to my clients about setting goals that are accomplishable. That's why I find this technique brilliant. You give yourself a small, achievable task that isn't focused on completion, but on forward motion. Finishing the 10 minute interval means you feel good about accomplishing what you set out to do, and you can make room for really enjoying the rest of the day. There's an added bonus too: success and accomplishment inspire more action. So your little 10-minute interval begets more 10 minute intervals, and pretty soon you've got a handle on what once seemed to tower over you. And hey, why not further incentivize with little rewards along the way (after three blocks, I go get my favorite latte... extra foam!)
One of my favorite Chinese proverbs is: "Be not afraid of going slowly, be only afraid of standing still." In my life, I use this to remind myself that as long as I'm moving forward, I'm making progress, and not to be concerned with how quickly things are happening. So next time you're staring blankly at a wayward pantry or a mound of mismatched socks, tackle them in small time blocks. Not only will you get stuff done, but you'll make more room in your life for the fun stuff (like finding the sugary remains of a popsicle behind your piano).
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MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE
Drink Safely.
 As if moms didn't have enough to worry about, it now seems that the seemingly innocuous sippy cup is the latest threat to our children. Studies increasingly show that harmful chemicals leach out of sippy cups into your kids' drinks, especially when the containers are heated or exposed to acidic liquids ("Hey kids, drink your apple juice and industrial compounds!"). The ubiquitous water bottle is a lame alternative as well, clogging up landfills and using a staggering 47 million gallons of oil to produce the bottles that Americans drink each year.
Take a planet-friendly step forward and make the change to an ultra-stylish reusable bottle. This one from SIGG boasts a non-toxic liner that is resistant to fruit acids (no tinny aftertaste) and it's tested to prove 0.00% leaching. It's lightweight, virtually unbreakable and comes in different sizes and fun designs for eco-friendly toddlers and teens alike.
Oh, and it's 100% recyclable, though for the hefty price of $18.95 per bottle, I don't think you'll be chucking it in the blue bin anytime soon.
Available at Reusablebags.com.
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THINGS I LOVE
Williams Sonoma Makes Cooking with Kids a Breeze
 Moms of the world rejoice! You now have the perfect excuse to delegate dinner prep to your kids, and they might even want to oblige! Thanks to this new set of kitchen tools designed especially for them.
The $36 set from Williams-Sonoma is proportioned for little hands and built with safety in mind. It includes a silicone spatula and balloon whisk (heat-resistant and friendly to your non-stick), as well as a grater that makes easy work of getting the parmesan ready for spaghetti night. That means if your kids want clouds of extra cheese, you can hand them their grater and remind them that it's no longer your department. Molto Bene.
Now, if only Williams-Sonoma would make mini vaccum cleaners and tiny toilet bowl scrubbers...
Available at Williams-Sonoma.com.
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Carley Knobloch is the founder of Mothercraft, a life coaching company that specializes in helping mothers build truly amazing lives and families. She is a certified life coach, author, workshop leader, business consultant and busy work-at-home mother.
Carley specializes in parenting skills, home organization, meal planning and wellness coaching. She believes that every mom has the keys to the life and family of her dreams, and through her successful life coaching practice she helps them build the confidence they need to make lasting lifestyle changes. Whether it's a working mom who seeks balance between career and parenthood, or a stay-at-home mom who has lost her sense of self, she uses a proven process of prioritizing and self-discovery to help them find success on their own terms.
To learn more about one-on-one life coaching sessions or fun group workshops, contact Mothercraft at 310-650-8944, or by email. Your enlightening first session with Mom Coach Carley Knobloch will focus on all major areas of your life and provide a vision of your fullest potential, both as a mom and as a person.
Coaching can be conducted in person in the Los Angeles area, or over the telephone, so no client is too far away.
Contact Carley
or
Visit The Mothercraft Website!
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