Your spouse may know they’re appreciated at work, but when was the last time you complimented them as a husband or wife? That’s what Valentine’s Day is all about… showing your spouse they’re special to you. Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to break the bank, either. After all, you can’t put a price on love. You have to give it freely. (more…)
Topic: ‘Holiday thoughts’
Money Won’t Buy You Love Even On Valentine’s Day
February 1st, 2010 by Kathi the Wingspouse
New Year New You
December 28th, 2009 by Kathi the wingspouse
Do you make New Year’s resolutions each year? Do you stick to your resolution, or give up after a short time? Each year during the first few weeks of January, tons of new people show up at the gym with stylish workout clothes and new shoes. The regulars have to change their routine to accommodate the lack of machines, but they don’t usually complain. They know that most of the new people will disappear by March… and they do. The “temps” haven’t made health a priority and may not be motivated by much more than a pant size.
Where do you fall in this picture? Do you make physical health a priority? Do you make it easy for you spouse to stay fit? Physical and mental health go hand in hand, espsecially if you live an executive lifestyle. Dinner parties and other social functions provide a constant temptation to eat the wrong foods, have a second or third drink, and promise to make it up later. Physical exercise is key in not only burns calories, but relieving stress. Eating the right foods provides energy for clear thought.
Take a look at your eating habits. Are you eating whole grains? Do you consciously prepare healthy meals or just eat whatever tastes good? Is your family eating different colors of fruits and vegables? What you eat really does make a difference in how you feel. Try putting out a bowl of fresh fruit that is washed and ready to bite into when a quick snack is needed. Don’t be afraid to microwave some fresh vegatables last minute-it’s a great way to cook them quickly and keep their beautiful color (if you don’t overcook them). Make some cookies with oatmeal or whole wheat flour, and avoid using prepared foods and mixes from the grocery store. If you want to make something chocolate, look for recipes that use cocoa powder, rather than baking squares or chips. These are all simple ways to improve your health with very little effort.
Did you know that regular exercise keeps your body looking and feeling younger? Make exercise a priority for everyone. Take time every day to do something, even if it’s just a few crunches in front of the tv. Evening walks can be a family affair that even the dog will enjoy. Encourage your children to participate in a sport and be supportive when your spouse sets time aside to work out. Exercise shouldn’t be a “vanity thing” but rather a part of your plan for the future. You may be busy, but not staying healthy may land you in bed where you won’t get anything done. Fifty is the new thirty. Don’t be afraid to act like it.
Here’s the biggest challenge.. break that nasty habit! If you’re a smoker, go to your doctor and find out what options you have. There are choices ranging from patches to antidepresents that work for many people. Do you drink more often than you should? Try counting your drinks to see just how much you really drink and consider cutting it out entirely if you have a problem. Maybe your bad habit is road rage, or some other response that shoots your blood pressure to an unhealthy level. Whatever it is, get rid of it. You’ll be better for it.
The new year is fast approaching. What is your plan for the future? There’s no time like the present to refocus your attention on good health and start working toward a healther tomorrow.
Recipe for Classy Cookies that Impress
December 16th, 2009 by Kathi the wingspouse
Everyone loves edible art. Painted cookies are right up there as one of my favorite goodies to bring to the office. The first time I proposed our family spend a day icing cookies, there were sighs and moans. Since when did boys like to decorate cookies? – Since I found this cool technique to really make it fun. In fact, just yesterday I invited another family over to decorate with us. My friend didn’t think her 15 year old son would be very excited about decorating, but he ended up making several to give to his girlfriend. Can you say “cool points?”
Don’t worry about having all kinds of special tools and ingredients. The only mildly unsual ingredient is powdered egg whites and once you find it, it stays good a long time. Believe it or not, I use plastic baggies to pipe the icing on. It’s fast, easy to handle, and I throw them away when I’m done.
Here’s the secret… Use the icing recipe below, because it has the right texture and dries hard enough to transport later.
Here’s the technique… Put some icing in a baggie and rubberband it shut. Snip off one tiny corner to use for piping. Do this for each color you’re using. Draw bullseyes on the cookie in different colors so they touch each other. Now drag a toothpick from the center of the cookie to one of the points. Repeat for each point until the cookie is symetrical. If you want a flower petal appearance, do the same thing but then drag the toothpick between the first set of lines but in the reverse direction (outside to center). Baggies and toothpicks also make it easy to drop dots or swirls of color on the snowflakes. Candied beads also dress up the cookies nicely. Since metallic beads are no longer considered safe to eat, I buy “naked” candies beads and roll them in cookie luster dust, purchased online.
If you want some great cookie dough recipes, email me. I have a nice sugar cookie, chocolate almond cookie, or spiced gingerbread cookie recipe I’ll send you.
Cookie Icing Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 16-oz bag powdered sugar
- 3 Tbsp meringue powder (or powdered egg whites)
- paste food colorings (to make vivid colors)
- 1 tsp flavored extract (lemon, almond, buttercream, orange, vanilla, etc)
Directions:
Mix at low speed, powdered sugar, meringue powder, and 1/3 cup warm water until mixture is stiff and knife comes out clean, about 7 minutes. Now add extract and enough water so that the icing briefly holds its shape but then blends back in. Mix well. This extra water thins the icing so the colors can bleed on the cookie.
Divide the icing into separate baggies and then tint each frosting bag with food colorings or pastes as desired (pastes will give you more vivid colors). I always buy the primary paste colors and mix everything else. Those colors enable you to mix everything from Christmas colors to the 70’s style flower child orange-great for flowers.
Christmas Gift Ideas for Executives
December 11th, 2009 by Kathi the wingspouse
If your spouse is like mine, you have a hard time knowing what to buy. My spouse is always buying whatever he needs, even if it’s close to a holiday! One year, I tried to be creative and bought him a nose hair trimmer… that didn’t go over too well. So in an effort to save you similar embarrassment, here are some of my top picks for gifts. I’m providing links to buy it (and yes, I make a few cents on every purchase) so you don’t have to look all over trying to figure out what I’m talking about. All of these items are in our home, so I’m speaking form personal experience.
If your spouse keeps track of business reimbursements…
NeatReceipts by Neat Company is awesome. It is a scanner and software combination that scans in receipts and magically creates a spreadsheet from the receipt information. There is a portable version (that’s my pick), and there is a desktop version if your spouse needs to scan fast and furious. My husband usedto be really bad about turning in receipts on time. Now he just scans them every evening from the hotel, home, or on the plane. I asked for one myself, now that I’m starting my wingspouse business.
NeatReceipts Mobile Scanner and Digital Filing System
If your spouse sells products or services…
This book, good in a room by Stephanie Palmer, is a great read. Stephanie teaches how to figure out what a client wants so you can sell your product with that in mind. This book is good advice for selling anything, like a proposal, a request for funding, or even yourself.
Good in a Room: How to Sell Yourself (and Your Ideas) and Win Over Any Audience
If your spouse is overwhelmed with work…
Margin: The Overload Syndrome by Richard Swenson, MD is a wonderful book to motivate a person to pay attention to emotional and physical health, as well as time and finances. He guides the overloaded person through making a plan to take back control.
The Overload Syndrome: Learning to Live Within Your Limits
If your spouse travels internationally…
A passport portfolio would come in handy. Make sure it is leather (so it holds up) and has several slots for passports and credit cards. An outside pocket for tickets is especially handy. My husband was reluctant to use his at first because he thought it was one step closer to carrying a purse (yes, I bought him a man bag one year). However, once he started using it he couldn’t do without it. Even when our family travels internationally, he takes it and stores all of our passports in one place. I couldn’t find the one he has online, but this one looks similar (it’s sold out, but at least you know what it looks like.
There’s also one that is “data safe.” It’s much more expensive, but apparently important to some people.
DataSafe® RFID Shielding Security Wallet, Passport & Travel Wallet
If your spouse is starting a business…
Art of the Start by Guy Kawasaki is an old-time classic and a must read. This book really walked you through figuring out what your business is and how you want to proceed.
The Art of the Start: The Time-Tested, Battle-Hardened Guide for Anyone Starting Anything
Be Thankful You’re Not a Turkey
November 25th, 2009 by Kathi the wingspouse
As your sitting down to your Thanksgiving dinner this week, don’t forget to truly be thankful. Whether you make $10,000, $100,000 or $1,000,000 each year, you are blessed because of your freedom. Those who do not have freedom to worship, vote, or even express themselves would give every penny they have in exchange for freedom.
This holiday season, take a look at who you are according to your spending habits. If your records were made public, would you be ashamed? Enjoying the benefits of your hard work is not shameful, so don’t misunderstand. But are you paying as much attention to the needs of your community as you pay to your car? or boat? or wine selections?
Don’t be a turkey and forget to be thankful before you gobble up that delicious meal!
Happy Mother’s Day
May 10th, 2009 by Kathi the Wingspouse
So today is Mother’s Day. I wonder if other mothers have wonderful sons like mine. I was told to leave the kitchen while they prepare my lunch. It smells wonderful… I hope that’s the grill I’m smelling.
My boys are always doing things for me. Last month my youngest made surprise brownies. I was surpised to discover sugar in the potatoes… silverware drawer… and in the microwave. The brownies were delicious.
My oldest is a good cook, too. He made a wonderful salmon loaf a few years ago. He was so proud of his recipe, he has continued to tweek it to make it better. Who would have known a little oil in the pan could make such a difference.
My middle son is more of a thinker. He is always thinking of things his brother could be doing. He’s so thoughtful. So today, when he said he wanted to cook a meal, I was really impressed. Before I knew it, all three sons along with my husband, were in the kitchen making me this lunch. I can’t imagine what they have in store for me this Mother’s Day. I’m so lucky. It’s good to be me.
I wanted to take a picture to share with you, but I couldn’t get them all to stand still. I found this video that reminds me of them. Thought you would enjoy…
Extra Special Gift Ideas for Mother’s Day
May 7th, 2009 by Kathi the Wingspouse
Mother’s day is just around the corner. Families everywhere will get dressed up to go out to eat – that’s what most people do. Doesn’t your wife deserve something more? If you were to ask your wife (and maybe even your mother) what she wants most, her answer would likely be time: time with you, time to get other things done, time to enjoy something without cutting it short. Keeping this in mind, I’ve put together some gift suggestions that will give your wife (and maybe even your mother) the gift of time.
If the woman in your life doesn’t get much time with you, then consider a date night as a gift. Buy tickets to something she will enjoy, find a museum where she can walk hand-in-hand, or schedule a couple’s massage – it doesn’t matter. Just be sure to arrange for suitable childcare if you have children at home. If you’re on a tight budget, team up with a friend. Ask him to take your children on your date night in return for taking his on another night. Then you can have quiet time at home without interruption or expense. Schedule the date night for some time other than Mother’s day, so your children don’t miss out on participating in the day, and so she sees you planned ahead. A woman wants to feel important enough to get on your calendar, so protect the date no matter what. When your date night arrives, give her a night of your full attention. Reminisce about your dating days. Tell her she’s still beautiful, and don’t forget to put your phone on vibrate. You may not be able to turn it off, but you don’t have to allow an audible beep remind her of your other obligations that night.
Does the woman in your life have trouble keeping up with all her meetings, events, school events, etc? A blackberry or some other electronic toy might be the answer. A blackberry enables her to schedule appointments on the spot, check current obligations, look up directions, respond to emails, and much more. If you give this gift, go the extra mile by taking pictures of yourself and other family members, so they are already there when she receives the gift. Install any software that comes with it, if possible, and download her calendar ahead of time. Don’t forget to contact your carrier and request unlimited minutes and internet, so you don’t rack up extra minute charges every time she turns it on. Also, talk with your secretary about including your wife on any appointment notifications so your calendar is available to her. Women value communication and a blackberry provides better communication of everyone’s activities so she can be efficient.
Would the woman in your life hate to have a housecleaner come to the house because she would spend the day cleaning first? Then a concierge (hourly personal assistant) might be the perfect answer. A concierge can pick up her dry cleaning, research daycares, price caterers for a charity event, make a grocery run, and much more. This gift enables her to selectively choose the tasks she hands over to someone else, and gives her the most relief to her schedule. Some personal assistants require a minimum dollar amount and may provide a certificate or voucher that you can present to your wife. If the service provider doesn’t normally provide one, either create a certificate yourself or hire the personal assistant to do it for you!
If you would like to do all these things and just don’t have the money, give her a promise. Promise to do something that is important to her. Remember that a promise is your word to act on or refrain from something. Not doing what you promise is like taking back the blackberry or concert tickets you just wrapped up and gave her. This gift has the highest price tag and the best return on investment. Your promise might be to record every check and withdrawal you make (if you haven’t been doing so), or to put your dirty clothes into the laundry basket (if you’ve been a slob), or to help clear the table (if you have had an eat-and-run habit). You know the sore spots in your marriage, so choose wisely. If you feel you aren’t able to make a daily investment in a promise, promise something you can save for and then every holiday present her with a bouquet of flowers made out of dollar bills. Have a vase ready to begin collecting the flowers and explain to her that as the bouquet grows you both are one step closer to the goal (a vacation, a car, vacation, baby…). Here is a “guy” video on how to make a flower out of three one-dollar bills.
Do you have suggestions for Father’s Day? I’d like to hear from you.
