The Difference it Makes

This is sponsored content from BlogHer and Crystal Light.

We are so dehydrated, it's not even funny.  Most people are not hydrated like they should be. If I were a plant, I would be incredibly....well, I would probably look like this:

Okay, so that's mostly dead.   No.  Let me rephrase.  That's ALL dead.   Since I don't get enough water, though, I SHOULD look like that.
All brown and crusty and weepy.    I can think I'm okay, but usually I'm not. 

When I realize I don't have enough water in my body, I notice that I am crabby and exhausted.  Being hydrated helps me  to be focused and to just be more pleasant all around.
 I need to keep water by my side wherever I go so that I can remember to keep drinking.  However, by the end of the day, I am usually bored of drinking water.  So I'm glad when I have Crystal Light or something besides a pop (or yet another glass/bottle of water) to drink.

Being hydrated makes a difference to keep me focused and kind.  I've got 4 little ones to take care of and need to be that if not more!

For more chances at the $100 Visa giveaway, check out the other reviews here.  You can check out more information about Crystal Light and check out the rules to the Crystal Light Giveaway.

To participate in my giveaway, please leave a comment here about your opinion about water and on my other Crystal Light posts.  No only that but you can tweet about my giveaway or blog about my giveaway,choose one or the other please .  If you do that for each of the previous posts, leave a comment for each on the correlating comments' pages to let me know.  Don't forget to leave your email address too so that you can be contacted about winning! 

 My giveaway closes on August 4, so make sure to enter!!!

Handling Stress as a Mom

This is sponsored content from BlogHer and Crystal Light.

I am a mom to a 5 year old who is very sensitive and tenderhearted.
I am a mom to a 3 year old who is very independent and opinionated.
I am a mom to a 2 year old who is very (and I mean EXTREMELY) ear piercingly screechy and unable to speak many words.
I am a mom to a 3 month old who just NEEDS me.

I am pulled in all directions: north, south, east, and west.  This is not to mention that my husband needs me, my house needs me, my job needs me, and my friends and extended family need me.  (I could go on, but I will spare you)

So are we talking about stress.
Stress? 
What stress?
Even if I am in the midst of denying it, I still need to do something with it.

Taking time for myself seems to be a luxury that I am not necessarily gauranteed.  Sometimes I read while I'm nursing my baby. Sometimes I exercise--with my baby strapped to me or by myself.  Sometimes I call my mom in the midst of the chaos.   Sometimes I pray and study my Bible.  Sometimes I load up all the kids for a play date with one of my best friends and her kids.  While the kids are playing, then we sneak an ice cream sundae or do a Crystal Light taste test; anything to make us giggle and relax.

I am learning that comfort foods do NOT help me to manage the stress.  In fact, they make me feel worse just by ingesting the extra calories.  So I find it much easier to handle stress if I'm eating healthy, staying hydrated,  and trying to exercise.  It doesn't take the stress away, but I can wrap my head around it and plan for it.

Check out other Crystal Light Reviewers to enter the giveaway 6 more times!  Check out the rules for the giveaways, too!   If you would like to learn more about Crystal Light, you can learn more here! 

To enter the $100 Visa card giveaway, with you email included, leave a comment about how you handle stress on this post and other comments on my other Crystal Light posts that you can find the links on my Crystal Light Homepage .