I was a little shocked about his first observation and after thinking about . . . → Read More: Bloggy Identity Crisis Over Here!]]> The other day Hubby mentioned to me that he spent some time that morning reading my blog. After picking myself up from the floor that he even found it, I was interested to hear what he thought about the old Sandwich spot.

I was a little shocked about his first observation and after thinking about it for a while; I wondered if his perspective was correct.

Hubby explained that although our lives were constantly surrounded by the “Sandwich Generation” concept, he wondered if many people out in the blogosphere actually knew what the term meant.

That lead to a discussion that maybe the blog title “Simply Sandwich” may be too vague and folks may not visit because they think it is a recipe site. Yikes! I had not thought of that. Convinced that he did not understand my bloggy peeps, I continued on my merry way.

Within the week of our discussion, I encountered several comments referring to my sandwich making ability or lunchtime options.

Aaaaak! It is true! Folks are confused about my blog. So, I took a little poll on my Facebook Fan Page and guess what I found out? My question was:

“Hey friends, I need your help! Would you please fill out this quick poll?   Have you ever heard of the term “Sandwich Generation”?” The answers were:

Yes I have! = 59%

Nope = 38%

Possibly, don’t really remember. = 3%

*Gasp*

A major identity frenzy began and I even considered changing my blog name. Here are a few new blog name possibilities:

1. I Do Not Make Sandwiches.com
2. Sorry My Blog Name is Confusing.com
3. I Am Sandwiched In Between my Kids and Parents Still.com
4. Where Do I Fit In.com
5. Blogger Identity Crisis.com

Instead of re-creating the wheel I think it is time for me to do some internal soul searching about my blog niche, my writing and if I should continue with this endeavor.

Although I do love the connections that my little corner of the blogosphere created, I am not quite sure about keeping my spot around and think a break is in order to digest my thoughts a bit.

I want to thank all of my readers for your support and bloggy love over the past two years. It means the world to me! This is not goodbye, I still plan to visit your blogs because frankly, they really inspire me!

I wish you all a wonderful a blessed holiday season!

xoxo Paula

Photo credit: avlxyz

Today, . . . → Read More: The Dangers of Gobbling]]> It is Mama Monday again – the day when I get to nag encourage you to take better care of yourself so that you can take better care of the folks you love. This weekly post highlights diet, fitness or break time activities that you can begin on the first day of each week.

Today, my focus is a little bit different because I would like to share the benefits of slowing down your mealtime. Our busy schedules seem to run so tightly that sitting down and enjoying a food fare seems impossible. We often plow through a meal and do not even really taste the food we take the time to prepare.

There are many dangers to a speedy eating process session such as:

• Operation digestion. Our bodies are amazing machines and food digestion actually begins in our mouths. Saliva is the first part of the digestion process and when we wolf down our food, we skip right over the beginning phase of digestion. In addition, the motion of chewing signals the stomach to begin producing digestion enzymes.
• Tummy ache. Eating food at a fast rate causes extra air to be consumed and the result is extra gas, indigestion and general stomach discomfort.
• Fill it up. You can increase the feeling of fullness by taking the time to eat slowly. When you gobble your food quickly, your body does not recognize the food that enters the stomach so, padding a few minutes between bites will help the food travel to the tummy and you will feel satisfied sooner.
• Weight management. Research shows that it takes about twenty minutes for your brain to receive a tummy signal that you are full. When you become aware of the fullness factor, you will eat less food.

Knowing that a slower paced eating period has healthful advantages is one thing but actually establishing this habit is another. Here are a few tips to help you reduce your eating pace:

• Carve out 20-30 minutes for each meal this week.
• Stop multitasking during mealtime. Do not eat while driving, watching television or reading.
• Try to chew your food five times before swallowing.
• Savor each bite and appreciate the taste of your food.
• Sit down at a table for your feast.
• Create a pleasing eating environment with lighting, table decorations and conversation.
• After a few bites, put down your utensils to slow down your swallowing.
• Drink plenty of water during meals.

I hope this week you will focus on a more enjoyable and SLOW eating session!

xoxo Paula

What tricks do you use to keep the pace of eating down?

One thing I decided to do early on was to delegate lunchbox duty to my kiddos and . . . → Read More: My Lunch Box Survival Scheme]]> I know I have already told you that I was completely unprepared when I first became a Sandwich Mama. It took me a little while to develop simple systems and get into the swing of my new journey.

One thing I decided to do early on was to delegate lunchbox duty to my kiddos and let them assemble their own lunches for school. This gave me a little extra time in the morning to move my day along, otherwise known as, fix my face and hair so I did not scare the other parents at the drop off lane.

The first thing I did was to designate areas in the cupboards and refrigerator for lunch items. My favorite technique for this job was to “get on my knees”. This was not to beg for mercy, but to see the shelves and the fridge from their point of view!

I then prepared the lunch items such as bags of carrots, pretzels, trail mix and grapes. I stocked up on sandwich ingredients, individual fruit cups, granola bars, applesauce, fruit juice, water and milk and put them on the lower shelves. I also made sure that the lunch boxes and bags had a defined “home” so they could grab their containers.

The grand finale in my scheme was to design a lunch box planner to guide the kids on making their own lunches. I created a table with lunch items, placed it in a plastic page protector and taped it to the inside of the pantry. Check out the sample below:

You can create a planner like this one and simply fill in your own lunch ideas in each of the appropriate rows. Just make sure you have most of the ingredients on hand in order to assemble the lunches.

I hope this makes your mornings a little smoother and gives you a little extra time to fix your face and hair!

Are you the lunchmaker in your home or do your kids assemble their midday meal? 

Photo credit: Rubbermaid Products

I discussed with him the old saying that “a watch pot never boils.”  Inside I was shaking . . . → Read More: My Pot Never Stops Boiling!]]> I remember when my son was about 11 years old and he was anxiously awaiting a “growth-spurt”. He would jump out of bed on warm summer mornings and was sure that he tacked on an inch or so overnight.

I discussed with him the old saying that “a watch pot never boils.”  Inside I was shaking my head because it seems that my “watch pot” never stops boiling!

I contemplated why my pot is not filled with calm, still water. I pictured in my mind a pot filled with crisp, cool water and then the thought occurred to me; I am constantly turning my burner up to HIGH!

I am not intentionally doing it but, every time I accept a new task or make a new promise to someone, my flame gets higher and higher. Am I alone here? Why do we do this to ourselves?

Consider this:

• Pressure Cooker. We create a lot of our own stress with our desires to get every little thing in order for each person in our home. Accepting the fact that we cannot be everything to everybody will help to soften our expectations of perfection. We are designed to thrive and not just exist on the planet so try to lower some of the standards of having a perfectly clean house, schedule, children, parents, etc. to reduce our self-created pressure.
• We act like an island. In many homes, Mom is the coordinator of most activities, commitments and events. She researches the interests, assists with homework, transports family members to ten thousand activities and much more. It is critical that some of the workload is delegated to others to offset some of the daily stress. Maybe your spouse can drop off the kids at school on the way to work. Consider networking with neighborhood moms for carpooling or babysitting co-op duties. If you oversee parent care, you can check into senior programs that they may be interested in to give you a little break in the action. Teach yourself to say “YES” if someone offers support or assistance. You cannot do this alone!
• We are over-scheduled. On a regular day, life runs on full speed. Adding work outside the home or elder care into the mix is a recipe for disaster if we are already feeling stressed out from our regular, everyday tasks. Try to consider what everyday commitments can be pared down from your lives. It is okay to make selective choices today that will support your family and bring them together. Try limiting family members’ activities to no more than two per week, including Mom and Dad.
• Just Say No. When you sign up for extra responsibilities, it adds stress to the entire household because someone may have to fill in the gaps if you are unavailable. Give yourself permission and learn to say, “No, thank you” when approached about a new responsibility. Consider what other tasks your family members will have to take on if you are involved in extra obligations.

Friends, I resisted my own advice for a long time. I thought I would be considered a huge failure because I could not handle the task of running my home. I would really like to encourage you to learn from my mistakes! Go easy on yourself and accept that you are one person with a heavy load. I am here to tell you that it is not impossible!

What can you do today to change your patterns?

Photo Credit: Sterlic

I know I am on the late freight with this but if you have time on your side, I would love it if you would pop over to 5 Minutes for Mom! My Tackle It Tuesday project will help you for all of your every day celebrations as well as the upcoming holidays! . . . → Read More: A Gift Station Creation]]>

I know I am on the late freight with this but if you have time on your side, I would love it if you would pop over to 5 Minutes for Mom! My Tackle It Tuesday project will help you for all of your every day celebrations as well as the upcoming holidays!

See you there – Paula