New Years Irresolution

I have discovered, over and over, that it is important for me not to go above and beyond the things that make me, me.  Over the years, I've tried to change, but the results have not changed.

Once a year, I decide that I'm ready to be a real, responsible, healthy adult and it always ends terribly for me. But, I try anyway.  I sit myself down and tell myself how I'm going to do this.  Schedules are drafted.  Day-planners are purchased.  I stock up on fancy food because I'm planning on converting my entire family into healthier eating habits. I put away my daily yoga pants and pull out my nice jeans, skirts, heels and button down shirts. Yes, I prepare for my new life like some people prepare for the apocalypse.

The first day or two of my plans usually goes okay.

For a little while, I actually feel all grown-up and healthy!  I strut around with my ‘dressy’ clothes, looking everyone in the eye with that  glance that says "look at ME, I’m dressed up and responsible….just look at all my fancy groceries.”

At some point, I start feeling self-congratulatory.

This is a mistake.  

I begin to feel like I've accomplished my goals. I lose a few pounds, my nails are done, my hair is perfect, and I feel really good about myself. It's like I think a lifestyle change is something that can be earned like a trophy in one epic burst of effort and then coveted for the rest of my life.  

What usually ends up happening is that I completely wear myself out. Thinking that I've earned it, I give myself permission to slack off for a while. My fancy shoes, give m blisters (oh, how I miss my flip flops). I break out from wearing make-up everyday, and I get really tired of cooking every night!

Is it really that bad, if I wear my holed jeans while I run my errands? I’ll make sure to flat iron my hair and put on some lip gloss, this is acceptable, right? 

Well, I end up needing to take more recovery time than usual and this is when it all starts….

The longer I procrastinate, put on my yoga pants, and allow myself to drive thru Chic-fil-a for dinner, only leads to more and more irresolution.  

At some point in this endlessly spiraling disaster, I am forced to throw all of my energy into starting over again, just to dig myself out of the pit I've fallen into. The problem is that I start over, already burnt out from the last round. I won’t allow myself to fail. But,I do because it always ends the same way.  

And then I rebel.  

yummmm!

So, I’ve come to a new yearly resolution…..Do more of what makes me happy, fly by the seat of my pants, and laugh more! I’ll never fail at this one. 

Happy New Year, family and friends! 

Random Act of Kindness

This is a project that I wanted to start as a part of starting 2012 on the right track. A random act of kindness, a kind word, a small gesture, a thoughtful gift can really change someone’s day .My idea for week one is to pick up the tab for a stranger. I know sometimes it can be difficult to step out of your comfort zone so I thought I'd start off easy this week. While in line at Starbucks, I paid for the person behind me. Anyone can do this and you don't have to spend a lot. The person behind me pulled up beside me at the next intersection and saluted me with their Starbucks drink with a huge smile on his face. It made me feel good inside to make a difference in someone’s day.

TGIF

Every Friday, no matter how hectic or stressful the week has been, my family has a tradition to celebrate the weekend’s start. I crack open a bottle of wine and we all roll up our sleeves in the kitchen. Everyone likes homemade pizza: I make/buy fresh dough for the pizza crust, and my husband chops, sautés, and grates the toppings and, the kids have fun making their own special pizzas.
On good weeks I’d make home-made sauce and we have fresh mozzarella. But, over the last year it went from rolling dough to buying premade pizza dough to getting the entire pizza delivered, hot n’ ready. But, when we then sit down to eat, either at the dining table, or on the porch, it’s our family time that matters. So, none the less, our tradition is still alive. It’s a great start to the weekend.
This little tradition of ours isn’t complex or costly, and it takes no advanced planning. It's just something we all look forward to, and it’s become a little something that says “home” to us.

Time after time....

I have what I think could be considered an “obsessive personality.” I know it, I recognize it and….I it. It’s what brings out spontaneity in me, what drives me to push myself beyond the norm, it’s what gets me out of the rut that we all fall into. It’s why I started and continued house projects. It’s why I write and blog. It’s why I scrapbook. Why my house is so organized. And more importantly why I am the mother that I have become. Ever since having kids, I find time slips through my fingers faster than it ever did. 
I love and appreciate all the relationships in my life but I admit, I’m not always present to those around me. Maybe it’s part of my personality to ponder, reflect and contemplate about life. Sometimes I forget that everyday life has its own richness of taste, feel and touch. When I let myself be in touch with my kids, is when I see their imagination taking them to far-off places. They’re writing plays with their friends, talking with each other about what they’re wearing, how they’re getting to school, family vacations, and what spend their allowances on. Through plenty of trial and error, I discovered something to be managed through choosing the right priorities for myself and my family….TIME.

Time is such a valuable gift. What we do with it is a gift to those around us. When one parent works 12 hour shifts and each kid has their own activities, time together can be an issue. But, I have not let that be an excuse. I have to say that thru all these stressful months of nursing school, moving, and soccer schedules, we have managed to have dinner together every evening. I’m grateful for my family and for the time I can spend with our kids now when they’re still young. Like many wise women tell me, they’re this young only once. Treasure these moments.
 My family and spiritual life are my highest priorities. I still have dreams and aspirations, and sometimes they take me to far-off places, taking more time than I’d like. Thankfully, the people in my everyday life keep me grounded.

Snow worth it

Weird, unacceptable things have been happening around here as of late Monday evening. After the big ice storm, schools shut down for four days. By Friday at noon, I was getting a little stir crazy.

As I pondered thru the house I couldn’t come up with any good reasons to leave the house.

The refrigerator was full of enough groceries to last thru the weekend and the news keeps showing cars stranded on the side of the road but, I wanted to get out just for a moment. Just to get a change of scenery. But, still no good reason to leave the house until…..I went to make some coffee and noticed that I was out. Now, THAT is a good reason to get out.

So, instead of fighting the crowds at the grocery store for instant coffee grounds I decided to venture out for a venti anything. I was ready to drive up to a window and let someone wait on me for a change, especially a Starbucks!

But, when I finally made it there…..I was shocked to find that they were closed! And I could not believe it.

I sat there for a moment, wondering if I should attempt another Starbucks (there is one just down the road) but I decided not to. I almost hit the grocery store when I looked over and saw the really full parking lot. Nope, I don’t do busy grocery stores. It’s one of the few things have little patience for. Instead I just headed back home. Empty handed. BIG SIGH!

As I headed down the street (at 15 mph), I couldn’t help but notice how beautiful everything looked. The sparkling sheets of white snow and the laughter of kids sledding and playing in surrounding neighborhoods filled my view and I couldn’t help but smile, especially when I reached in my purse and found a package of Starbucks VIA instant coffee……ahhh, it what worth getting out.

they're falling all over

After a month in our neighborhood, we've come to the conclusion that you either have to learn to love the leaves each fall, or you'll go absolutely crazy trying to get rid of them. We live in an older neighborhood, with tons of mature trees all around us--a wonderful thing in the summer when you want to sit on your shaded front porch and sip lemonade, but not such a wonderful thing come this time of the year when you have to wade through piles of leaves to get to your front door.

All you have to do in our neighborhood to find the houses with kids is drive along the streets during November. The houses with kids in them always have front yards covered by the enormous eruptions of strangely shaped leaf piles that look like messy molehills. There might be an odd bicycle or scooter left in the middle of the leaves, or Ethan's soccer ball perched on the biggest pile and you can usually can find a rake or two somewhere in the mix.
When you have kids it's easy to make fun out of the leaves. We've learned to take a no stress approach, and while we'll rake and load the leaves to the curb, we've conditioned ourselves not to mind when five minutes later one child has scattered the same neat pile of leaves in every direction. And every time the front door opens and the wind blows in a stray handful of leaves across the wood floor in the entryway, I'll just go with the flow.
For now, though, we'll just let them fall, and fall, and fall.

Lucky Girl

I have been so fortunate with the friends (OK, take the time to gag and then move on). Really, truly, I am just so lucky. I was a bit nervous when we decided to stay here and not venture back to Florida. Especially because I had (have) such wonderful friends back home. Of course no one could replace any of those girls, but I wanted to have some additional girls up here. I’m a social person and need that outlet. Otherwise, you know . . . I might have that breakdown.

It’s hard to make friends when you’re a older and a stay at home mom. Where am I going to meet people? Well, through my children of course. Thank goodness my kids have such great taste in friends because it was through them that I made my friends. The parents of all the kids who hang out with my kids at school, in the neighborhood, at T ball, and soccer.

My friends are amazing women. So fun and thoughtful, smart and funny. In such a short time they have befriended me and my family in all manner of ways.

By helping me with my kids, drinking with me and giving me that much needed girl time.

Today we picked up the keys to our new house and met our neighbors across the street. I already know they’re going to be good friends. I cannot believe how lucky I am. It’s almost more happiness, friendship and love than one girl can stand!!

Must Not Stress

Today I was lost in thought about the hundred little things that had to be done before Monday!

The ever-growing list of "must do items" was overwhelming.

The laundry. It looks like a small bomb went off in the laundry room. The pantry is overflowing with all of my recent coupon deals and needs some serious organization, it's Labor Day weekend and I must get a list together for a BBQ we are going to, I have items waiting for me at the dry cleaners and I have two overdue movies from blockbuster that seriously need to be returned, and don't even get me started on the garage.

This year I volunteered to help out at the kids school, made myself available to work 2 days a week, and joined a mom group. It’s crazy, every time my iPhone goes ping ping new message I jump! ughhhh

As these thoughts seemed to take over when, I told myself to consider the things that I did today that really matter.

Today, I have a son that has developed a love for sports and always keeps me on my toes, a daughter who is adjusting very well to middle school and making tons of friends, another daughter who is almost out of her braces and a great asset to her soccer team and, a hot Starbucks in my hand and a new found addiction to Twitter.

Laundry, lists, party planning, PTA, will eventually get done. It always does.

So, tonight I will turn my phone off, make some hot chocolate and have a game of scrabble while my Hubby's is distracted by Football. I confess it is the only way I can beat him.

I must be getting old because this kind of day, it thrills me to no end.

For The Love of Shoes

I am completely addicted to clogs. I always have been. Since, I got my first pair, in tenth grade when I was about 16-years old. I’ll never forget those clogs: soft black leather with black wooden soles. I wore them with everything!!!

I’ve owned at least one pair of clogs at all times since that first pair, whether they were Dansko, Berkinstock, or Anywears (you have to remember I’m in the health care field so, comfort is a priority).

But my addiction has been taken to a new level… recently, while I was working, one of our doctors came in wearing her normal ‘surgical colored’ scrubs and as came around the nurses station my eyes were drawn to her green python Dansko clogs. They looked spunky and fun, and she said they made her feel happy! From that moment, my nicely broken in black Dansko’s seemed so dull and boring. Comfortable, yes. Fun, no.

I decided that I needed to go see what was available. So, my next trip to the mall including browsing Nordstrom to see what clogs they had. I found a pair (well, two) that I must have. I just must.

As I shop, I rationalize why I must have them. My feet feel great in them, this is a must. Fall is rolling around and the temperature will be dropping, and I must put my flip-flops away. I must have them!!!!…..in ‘leopard.’ With rolled-up jeans and a slouchy sweater? Yep, sheer perfection.
And the ones in ‘claret’ to wear during the colder winter months are fun and festive, this is a definite must have.
SOLD!
How cute, these will fit right in with my ever-growing clog collection.