I Get Bored Playing With My Kids

If you've had that thought, it probably also came with a rush a guilt. But just know you absolutely aren't alone in this. I've heard it said that the most difficult thing about being a stay-at-home mom is getting past the boredom. But we of course want to play with our kids, so here are some tips to help you stay present and enjoy the quality time with your kids.

Full Immersion

Sometimes the best solution is to dive in and fully become the character your child keeps asking you to do. If you gotta be a horse, might as well be the best freakin horse there is. What this does is changes the mental state. Instead of more interesting or more pressing thoughts jumping into your head, your mind will be too distracted by your masterful performance. This in turn will make you less anxious.

Breathe

We flood our minds with stressful adult thoughts all day. Instead of looking at it as playtime, think of it more as mediation. Focus on your breathing and your posture while you brush dollies hair and sip pretend tea. Clear your mind and relax all the stresses in your body.

Observe

Use this time to stare at your kid's face. Look at how much they've grown. How much they've learned. Try to remember what it was like when they first started playing. Contemplate the miracle that is them.

Ask Questions

Kids are so funny. We all know this. Take a moment to ask them some questions and see how they view the world. You'll definitely get a good laugh and they'll feel happy seeing that they're making you laugh.

Finally, cut yourself some slack. You don't have to feel guilty, we all get bored playing with our kids. Our fully grown brains just aren't stimulated by the play that they need for their brains. But it is important so try and make the best of it. Slow down and truly be in the moments with your kids.

Are Sprickets Poisonous

The short answer is no. In fact they won't even bite you. But that doesn't change the fact that sprickets, also known as camel crickets, are unbelievably creepy.

The biggest problem is they jump when startled and have little control over where they land, thus ending in them touching you and giving you the willies, which is not actual poison.

Are Sprickets Poisonous to Pets

If you have cats or dogs at home that have valiantly volunteered to destroy this creepy spider crickets, then by all means let them. I have not found any evidence to suggest that they are in any way poisonous to animals. In fact they are most likely a good source of nutrition for your pets (as disgusting as that sounds).

How to Get Rid of Sprickets

If your cats are lazy and you're fearful then you have my sympathies. But there is hope! I've actually already covered the topics of killing and preventing sprickets pretty intensely. Go here, here and here for more info.

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Weight Lifting in Wrestling Shoes

I used to be a wrestler and I've been weight training for a little over a year now. I recently discovered that some serious weight trainers lift wearing wrestling shoes. Why? Well it's important to know how I'm defining "serious weight trainers" in this article. Really, I'm just referring to those individual who aren't hitting the gym just to work on their biceps. I'm talking about the people who go in doing the old time strong training like squats and dead lifts. 

So why wrestling shoes? Well the simple reason is because of how minimal the sole is. When you lift it is important that you are stable under foot, but it's also important that you don't lose your arch and you can control the position of your ankles. Wrestling shoes make this really easy because it's pretty close to being barefoot. That natural feeling makes it easier to control your body.  In fact some lifters will go barefoot when doing a really heavy dead lift. That's how some of the old olympians did it in competition back in the day. 

Some athletic shoes attempt to give you a lot of cusion and even create a cushioned platform for your heal to rest on. This can create instability and make doing heavy lifts dangerous. 

Which Wrestling Shoe Is Best For Weight Training?

Not all wrestling shoes are created equal. I've worn some that were in fact a little unstable and caused some degree of pronation (that's when your foot rolls to one side a little putting more pressure on the sides then on the bottom… not good). You want to look for a wrestling shoe that allows your foot to lie flat and stable on the ground without losing your arch. Most should work pretty well. Adidas makes quality wrestling shoes and is my go to brand. Also be careful about the tread on the bottom. Some wrestling shoes have a tendency to be a little slippery. It's something you wouldn't notice on a wrestling mat, but can be pretty important when weight training. 

3 Ways to Kill Sprickets

They're tricky because they jump right before you get them. Below are some ways that work for me and believe me I have tons of experience! I'll keep this short in case you are involved in a battle right now.

The No Look, No Touch Way

We'll start with my favorite method. You won't have to directly kill the cave cricket with this helpful tool: The Roach Motel. That's the brand I used and it worked great for me. They love the glue smell on the inside and are attracted to the dark space. I had a huge infestation and I put a bunch of these around the house (corners, behind toilets, laundry room etc.) and it only took about 2 weeks before I was completely rid of sprickets. 

Distance Killing

Pick up a powerful spider/roach spray. They shoot pretty far so you can maintain a safe distance. They work relatively fast. But fair warning, it isn't instantaneous. And before the spricket is dead it will jump around like crazy! Gives me the chills just writing this.

Weird Method that Works Great

So the problem with sprickets is they always see you coming. Throwing a book, using a newspaper or coming at it with a paper towel (for the insanely brave only) are extremely difficult because they jump. And the worst part about jumping is they have no control and often bump into you. They can't hurt you, but who cares they are disgusting!

during a particular dangerous encounter with an army of sprickets I found the the best close-quarter combat weapon was actually a child's golf club (my apologizes to my nephew Gavin). The kind that is made of plastic. I believe it was a driver. I think they work so well because they strike fast before the cave cricket has a chance to jump. 

Good luck and fight well!

Where are the Cicadas?

So you haven't seen any cicadas. Was it the extra rain? The unseasonable cool weather? Well it was actually none of the above. In fact the Cicadas did arrive as expected. 

Some people thought the weather may have delayed the cicadas, but according Professor Mike Raupp, an entomologist at the University of Maryland if you haven't seen any by now, you probably won't unless you take a road trip. But even then time is running out. 

They did come, but not in all the areas where experts were expecting the cicadas to show up. The thing about Cicadas is they don't travel very far, so if they didn't pop up in your neighborhood, it's not likely you would have seen them. 

So why didn't we see them in our areas?

Well there are some theories, but nothing concrete. Some experts say it was the rain and low temperatures. Others say it was an increase in development. When trees are removed, so is the cicada's food source. 

Well after it's all said and done, if you haven't seen the full force of Brood II, you most likely won't. Personally, I would say you were lucky. That's how I feel anyway. I wasn't looking forward to crushing cicada stuff under my shoes. But I will admit there is a part of me that's disappointed. A little left out. But I'll be ok :)

Here are some resources from the web if you wanna read more about where the cicadas are:

• http://www.nbcnews.com/science/dont-see-lots-cicadas-yet-dont-be-surprised-6C10232677
• http://cnnradio.cnn.com/2013/06/05/where-are-the-cicadas-already/
• http://www.ydr.com/local/ci_23477603/so-where-are-cicadas-63
• http://news.msn.com/science-technology/where-have-all-the-cicadas-gone

Preventing Sprickets From Getting Into Your Home

Hey, do you know what would be worse than a huge creepy spider?

One that would uncontrollably jump at your face anytime you were near it and is a thousand times harder to kill

     ....enter the spricket...


Spricket: A most disgusting mix between a spider and a cricket.

If you're reading this I probably don't have to tell you how disgusting these creatures are. I've spent a lot of time thinking about these camel crickets and have had more than enough experience killing them. I recently posted about ridding your home of these jumping terrors. But I thought it would be nice to prevent them all together so here are 3 tips for doing just that.

Tip 1: Stay Dry

Sprickets love dark moist areas. They are also referred to as "Cave Crickets" because that is their preferred habitat. So if you have a basement that has a tendency to get damp, you can bet you'll have some unwelcome guests. Invest in a dehumidifier and dry out the damp areas in your home.

Tip 2: Stay Clean

The problem with these bugs is they can pretty much eat anything. Especially if its deteriorating. They love carpet fibers and dry rot. Keeping your house in order will help keep the sprickets away. Sweep entry ways regularly, clean up your yard and repair any rotting wood.

Tip 3: Stay Away

Keeping away from marshy areas is always a good idea if you can help it. The disaster I encountered was due in large part to the fact that there was a stream and heavily wooded area behind my house. It was pretty much an ideal location for camel spiders. Granted, you can't always avoid this type of location, but doing the other tips should help a lot.

And if after following my guidelines here you still encounter a spricket infestation, you can always use my secret weapon the "Roach Motel"... Seriously! This brand works fantastic. It attracts them because it is dark and they can smell the glue which they apparently find delicious.