Whoop-Powing The Chaos

I recently heard in a Positive Psychology course that there is no such thing as getting rid of a bad habit.  You simply have to replace it with another habit, hopefully a good one.   For most people, with the kids starting back to school, things get a look wack-a-doo in the morning routine.   A few years back, I decided to whoop-pow the chaos and make a change, a great change.  My goal was to encourage my kiddos to become independent children and get them doing what they need to do.  And selfishly, I wanted to have more a little more time to have a coffee and wrap my head around the day in order to make some whoopie!

This week, my kids come down from their rooms with their beds made, clothes on, and ready for breakfast.  I am not showing off!  Just want to share what I wish someone had shared with me when I was living in morning chaos.  You have to bribe these suckers!

First day of school cuties below!!!  Could they fit more in their backpacks?!

And so I give you a mommy's little helper in lieu of yelling and alcohol. It works-guaranteed!  Other mom friends have used this tool and love it. 

Reward/bribe the kids for doing what they need to do with a chart to get them into good habits. We started out calling it a superhero helper list and after good patterns were established, we changed it up to be a chore chart.  When my son was 5-6 years old, he got tickets.  Twenty tickets = an action figure he could "buy."  Over the years, the reward became allowance money for check marks, 25 cents per check.  Periodically, a raise is rewarded.  My daughter Gigi has always gotten allowance money because she is the second child and, well, second, third, fourth, fifth kids get things that the first never would. 

Examples of "charts" are to the left and if you want a copy, email me and I'll send them to you.   cyndy@whoopiequeen.com  You can customize them with pictures of whatever your little ones are into.  And as things become routine, you can get rid of them and add new "projects."

Now, I'm on a mission to get the kids to do laundry and cook a meal at least one night a week.  Alright, laundry may be too ambitious.  However, tonight David Dean is preparing nachos for dinner.  Here comes a chaotic kitchen!


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...Nachos were a hit!  David's dad showed him how to grill the steak and cut up all the toppings.  He said he liked the grill the best and wants to do hamburgers next week.  It's a little Daddy/David grill time.  Boys do love fire.  See, bribery works!

WHAT HAVE YOU FUN LATELY?

What have you FUN lately?  According to the CDC, 1 in 10 American adults report depression.  While children laugh 300 to 400 times in a day, adults laugh only 15 times. "The opposite of play is not work, it is depression."  Brian Sutton-Smith, Founder, National Institute for Play.   It is like we have forgotten to have fun. 

My grandfather, Robert Buddy Cecil, who just passed away to the great-recliner-in-a bass-boat-in-the-sky, was a master at the art of joyful merriment.  Even though he was born in one of the poorest places in America, Harlan County... Even though he was one of 17 siblings and was abandoned as a boy... Even though he was part of the Normandy Invasion in WWII and saw more death than anyone should ever have to see...   Even though all of those things happened to him, he was a man who could have been bitter but he never was.  He was awarded over 10 medals for his heroism in WWII.  He went on to work at GM and built a life with four sons, a 71 year marriage with my grandma "Helen Bessie", and he retired on a lake where he caught more bass than his big belly could hold.  More than anything, that papaw of mine was a character and was always telling jokes and stories.  He was jolly because he chose to be.  Being at his funeral last weekend made me realize how extremely lucky I am to have learned from him about how to be a funmaker!

How did he do it?  How does anyone do it?  How do you make whoopie fun when you feel life cheated you, you're stuck or tired or bored or not so happy?  There is a theory that motion creates emotion.  It's a choice. Joyfulness is unconditional commitment to be happy in the moment and to have fun despite life’s problems. Joyfulness is easily triggered by joyful activities like laughing, dancing, singing and playing. It is purely a physical phenomenon.  You FEEL it.   Happiness is a concept of the mind which can come or go.   However, having more fun in life, you will FEEL like life is more fun.  You have to make it to feel it.

I can help.  My Whoopie Queen Facebook page has something that will make you laugh every day.  https://www.facebook.com/WhoopieQueen  Follow me on the Twitter for ideas on making more fun in life - https://twitter.com/WhoopieQueen.   Watch my tour show in September.  Here's a sneak peak - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKxsK7-KwnI 

Private parties, corporate events, speaking engagments, here I come.  And, I'm planning a seminar on how to have more fun and less stress in life called Make Your Own Whoopie In The World.  

The Whoopie Hotline is 917)714-0694 or email me at cyndy@whoopiequeen.com.

Now go out there and make your own whoopie in the world,
Cyndy The Whoopie Queen

31 Ways to Romance Your Lover

August is National Romance Month.  Never fear, The Whoopie Queen is here with ideas to make the last month of summer juicy like a watermelon.   

Romance is a verb - "to woo."   A few years back I was talking with a friend about how much effort a relationship requires.  She replied, "Yeah, but what's the alternative?!"  That is when it hit me.  Before I married Dan, we had a LOVE AFFAIR.  The alternative is terrible if we stop "wooing."  People settle into the doldrums of marriage.  Marriage is an "institution" and you know what happens to the people in institutions?  They are drugged and die slowly.  Instead, I suggest that couples be lovers.  They feel alive.  Lovers don't take each other for granted.  They appreciate each other.  They don't keep score.  They do things to keep interest peaked.  They flirt.  They text.  They call.  They write each other sexy notes.  They make plans to spend time together (especially without kids).  They hold a special place of honor for each ohter.  They get naked.  They have sex.   Yes, let's be lovers! 

So in honor of a steamy, sizzling, August Romance, I give you 31 Ways to Romance Your Lover this month:

1. Go to a photo booth and take make-out pics.
2. Book a sitter for a Saturday mid-day, have her get kids out of house and have afternoon delight.
3. Go for a walk in the park while eating popsicles.
4. Make a playlist for your lover.
5. Leave post-it love notes all over the inside of your lover's car.
6. Drive-in movie on back porch w/brown-sugar popcorn and flick on the ipad.
7. Send a whoopie gram to work - favorite candy bar with sexy note in briefcase.
8. Write each other Mad Libs Notes.  http://www.thedatingdivas.com/wp-content/uploads/Sarina-Madlibs-MadAboutYouANDMadlyInLove.pdf
9. Drive separately & pick each other up at a bar. 
10. Make Your Lover's Favorite Ice Cream w/vanilla in the freezer & favorite candy bars on the ready.
11. Hold hands on a beach walk and talk about your fav beach trips. 
12. Leave a love note on the mirror, written with a Sharpie. It washes off.
13. Find a funny, laugh out loud card and mail it to your lover's office.
14. Make breakfast in bed FOR DINNER.
15. Walk arm-n-arm at a haunted location in your town.  In Georgetown, I want to visit The Exorcist steps. 
16. Make a list of reasons why you are grateful to be with your lover.  
17. Learn about the opposite sex and tell your lover about it.  http://www.medicinenet.com/18_secrets_men_want_you_to_know_pictures_slideshow/article.htm
18. Say to your lover when you awake in the morning:  "What can I do for you today that will make your life easier and less stressful?"  Then do it.
19. Flirt with your lover in an unusual place...in a store checkout line, while making dinner, while doing yard work...
20. Flash your lover.
21. Go through pics of your past together while listening to music.
22. Surprise your lover.
23. Dance together.  Salsa.  Swing.  Tango.
24. Send a sext message.  Just do it!
25. Ok, if you can't sext, send your lover a romantic line of poetry.  For a little help on the poem front:  http://ingenira.hubpages.com/hub/Romantic-Love-Quotes-for-Valentines-Day AND http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-love-poems.php.
26. Pour a glass of wine and take a stroll together through your neighborhood after dinner.
27. Grab some flesh.  A pat.  A squeeze.       
28. Shower together.
29. Have a secret phrase to tell you're lover he/she is hot, like “Are we due for an oil change?” No will know what it means but you.  (That's not our phrase!)
30. Go and kiss under the stars.
31. Make a love montage of couple pictures and frame it.

For more ideas:
http://www.thegloss.com/2008/04/28/fashion/101-romantic-things-to-do-with-your-partner/ 

http://www.wifemomsuperwoman.com/2012/10/01/30-non-cheesy-date-night-ideas/