Staying Fit...When You Have a Million Other Things to do

A Queen Bee is expected to do everything well...and to look good doing it. Health and fitness are critical to a Queen Bee in order to maintain her hectic schedule and fabulous lifestyle, but sometimes it seems IMPOSSIBLE to fit it all in. Lucky for you, productivity and multi-tasking are my specialties. Now we have already talked about the yoga class that I take, which doubles as quality family time. I have recently joined the parent team at my daughter's cheerleading gym. I usually don't have time to sit around and chat with the other moms, so this experience gives me the opportunity to get to know them and establish some networks. A Queen Bee's job is never done!

Initially, I was very skeptical about the idea of a "parent cheer team". I figured they wore matching outfits and really didn't do anything. I went to the first session really just to feel it out to see if there was anything I could get out of it...my time is much too precious to waste. Being that I was still sore enough to take ibuprofen 4 days later, I can tell you that it is a serious work out and it was fun. Plus, I don't know if you know about the "wonderful world of competitive cheerleading", but competitions usually last all.day.long. and most of the time is spent waiting - so it is definitely a plus to be among friends. Also, Sprite can come to practice with me and hang out with her team mates and work on her skills. We are all about killing as many birds as possible...with as few stones as possible.

Another option that a Queen Bee has when trying to optimize her work-out time within her existing schedule, is to organize people to work-out at her place of employment. We hired a personal trainer to come and torture a group of us right after work. We also walk together at lunch time, when weather permits. There are also tons of exercises you can do at your desk. Some can even be modified and done in the car during those long commutes - and long commutes are not recommended Queen Bees, but we'll talk more about that later. If you have the time, of course...

Commitment

So although my new year has gotten off to an excellent start, my resolution, (and I only have one...albeit a major and perhaps impossible one) has not. First, it looked like my usually meticulous planning was a little off . Second, I could not resist the opportunity to participate the parent team at Sprite's cheerleading gym (More on this later, but as in summary, it is about getting in shape and having fun and I am SORE)...which is going to cost me a little bit of money outside of my current discretionary budget of nil. Third, my cellphone which was the perfect tool for a super productive, multi-tasking Queen Bee such as myself, met an untimely demise, forcing me to buy a new one which may not be quite as fabulous, but was much less expensive...and it came in my favorite color. Last, but not the least of my temptations (though this is the one I will actually be able to resist...I believe) I received a phone call today from my salesgirl at Gucci regarding a little sling bag I inquired about...before the new year...before these self-imposed spending limitations...letting me know that the bag was in and she would be happy to hold it for me if I wanted her to...No thank you dear. Those funds are now committed elsewhere...let's see how long it takes before somebody has to commit me!

Creative Crisis

I'd like to think that I am a very creative person, and although I enjoy my job (especially the pay:) ) it seems to me that I should be doing something different. I have and have had a few creative side hustles that I have loved, that haven't been quite as lucrative as what I do now. Now every Queen Bee knows that it is more important to be content with yourself than to have a big paycheck (well, that's what I hear anyway), but the truth is I am not unhappy, I am just not as happy as I think I would be if I was using the right side of my brain a little more. I know that a Queen Bee such as myself can chart her own destiny based on her interest and even though it comes with risks, it would work out in the end...I guess I am not sure that it would work out before my home was foreclosed or my car was repossessed...which is why, for now, I have chosen to stay in my current profession and entertain my creative flights of fancy on a part-time basis.

BUT, a Queen Bee learns from her mistakes and the mistakes of others. My parents discouraged me from focusing on my creative interests - in the end, my master's degree is not really related to my bachelor's degree and my specialist's degree is only vaguely related to my master's degree - and I am still searching to find out what I am really meant to do. We will make sure that Sprite and Danger Boy are exposed to many different opportunities so they can figure out what things interest them most, and then we will support (hopefully not financially for too long into their adult lives) them to make sure that they can turn their interest into profitable careers. After all, who is going to take care of us when we are old (but you know Superwomen are never old, whatever their age may be)

Busy Bees

Every Queen Bee knows, our status was not achieved solely by doing well in most aspects of our multi-faceted lives, it is mainly achieved by making it look effortless! We understand that our children are a direct reflection on us and are evidence that we either are on top of everything, OR that we are not doing as well as we think we are. Queen Bees are expected to have well maintained, well behaved, intelligent and entertaining children. While it does take a lot of time and energy to ensure the kids are well behaved and intelligent (and entertaining...well, they either have it or they don't), it should not take a great deal of time OR financial resources to make sure that your children are well dressed based on their own individual style. Take Sprite for instance. She attends a public school that requires her to wear a uniform, but my Sprite is no one's conformist. She individualizes her attire and always stands out cutely with bright and colorful tights, cute shoes and coordinating sweaters. She has her mother's impeccable taste. Little Miss Matched is an awesome resource for unique tights that are sure to make your Tiny Little Bee stand out in a crowd. Here are a couple of my favorite styles AND they don't break the bank!

Payless Shoe Source is also an excellent resource for the fashionable child who doesn't have a hefty allowance. These shoes get a gold star in my book:

Yoga: The Ultimate Way to De-Bug

Realizing that being a Queen Bee comes with a great deal more stress than say, being a mere mortal, I have aggressively endeavored to find effective relaxation activities. Not that being here with you is not relaxing, but still. I attempted to follow a pre-natal yoga DVD while pregnant with Danger Boy, but did not trust that I was doing all the little moves correctly, PLUS - like all good Queen Bees, I know my weaknesses - and unsupervised follow-through on a non-essential task is one them (one reason why yours truly avoids online classes like the plague) SO, I gave that up and after the baby, started looking for a class. Being that my schedule and life are extremely hectic, I was looking for classes at a specific time in specific locations that would minimize their impact on my current commitments. Alas, I could not find a one - which turned out to be a good thing, considering that we are cutting down our expenses...and yoga isn't exactly priced for a dollar menunaire...

Anyway, genius that I am, I decided to look into classes at our YMCA, where we are members (D'OH) and OF COURSE they have yoga several times a week and it is included in our monthly fee. PLUS it is conveniently scheduled after work and allows for Etch and I to take the class while the kids are in Child-Watch (which they love, and I'm not making this up so it fits conveniently in my life) and then we swim as a family (which the children also love). So here are the specific benefits that this Urban Superwoman receives from her yoga class:

1. Yoga really does help you relax: I use the breathing (and some of the stretching) exercises throughout the day when I feel the need to drop-kick someone in their head...this is an urge that comes frequently...I'm working on it.


2. This arrangement encourages family time: First mommy and daddy are together and then we are together with the kids. None of us are fighting and at the end of the day, we feel awesome as a family. (Awwwwwh)


3. I have increased flexibility: Especially in my hips, which has been extremely helpful in mommy and daddy's other pastime...


4. I have awesome posture: Ask anybody.


5. It falls nicely in with our 2008 financial goals: It is not an expense over those which we already felt were high priorities, so it works out nicely.

Yoga is the truth, or it is for me but the real truth is, every Queen Bee needs to make sure that she takes care of herself, along with everything else she has to do. We have to stay in tip-top physical, mental and spiritual shape. The colony can't save itself you know!

Multi-tasking: The Key to the Crown and Scepter

The ability to multi-task is definitely key to maintaining my status as a Queen Bee. Throughout my day at work, I manage to fulfill my job responsibilities, while:

• Keeping updated on the world by listening to NPR on my computer, thereby insuring that I am able to speak intelligently about current events;
• Keep track of my 3 email accounts - so I don't miss any great gossip, or last minute meetings, or long lost friends;
• Blog - which helps clear the cobwebs and get thoughts somewhere other than the cramped space in my head;
• Telephone calls and texting - to manage my family's affairs and keep in touch with those unfettered by cubicles
• Browsing the internet - this is how I used to shop, but is also how I schedule my sessions at Dream Dinners, keep our accounts current (virtually all our bills are paid electronically), and find out about up and coming trends.

Some environments are more suited for multi-tasking than others. For instance, Fellow Queen Bees, when you have small children, it is much more difficult to do ANY and EVERYTHING while you are also supposed to be paying attention to them. Children and their bones can be very unforgiving. Husbands are also notoriously opinionated about how you spend your time while with them...that is, when they are not busy themselves...then it really doesn't matter what you're doing as long as you aren't bothering them.

Furthermore Queen Bees, some tasks are better left for home. Just today I had to call someone in the office for printing emails from her daughters which showed them scantily clad in bikinis remarking on the size of each other's "boobs" and whether they were proportional to the size of their brains. I politely asked her to refrain from printing that sort of thing at work...on a shared printer no less...Based on the pallor of her face as she left my office, I am sure it won't be a problem in the future. Last, but not least, internet firewalls at work have often prevented me from clearing certain tasks off my "to-do" list. Some of these tasks have to be stopped all together because I can't do them at work, and they require too much attention to do at home. Sometimes, knowing when to say "no" is a Super power unto itself...

This could be harder than I thought

This whole "year of austerity" thing is not as easy as it initially seemed. Things I did not properly take into consideration: Sprite's gymnastics and cheerleading expenses - although I calculated her tuition, I did not include additional fees and competition admission for us - this stuff gets pretty expensive; Hair appointments - I seriously considered shaving my head to cut down on our monthly expenses...it wouldn't be the first time...; Groceries - I did include some flexibility for groceries and gas, but hardly the $300 that I spent at Sam's Club today...at least that should last us for a while...But should I have forgone the crab legs and shrimp? Should I have skipped the cupcakes and rice krispy treats for Sprite's lunch? Or the convenience of frozen pizza? How far are we taking this thing?

On another note Friday we were invited to take the kids on a Saturday outing with some friends, luckily we had a funeral to attend and were able to beg off, but that outing is exactly the type of thing the adults in our house are avoiding - Do we force our children into this vow as well? Today we were invited to go to the movies. After great deliberation, I decided that we wouldn't go. I felt kind of bad, but at least we're not getting the cable cut off, or cancelling our gym membership (our kids love to swim) or our membership to the zoo. I figure we already pay for a lot of activities - for the most part, we won't be participating in events beyond that. Is that cruel and unusual punishment? Today's kids are too spoiled anyway (me obviously trying to convince myself)

Anyway, after closer inspection of the books, I found ways for us to get through the grocery/ hair debacle without too much effect on our bottom line. I am totally committed to us reaching our savings goal this year...by any means necessary.