It's #MondayListicles time again with NorthWest Mommy. This week's list topic, inspired by Jessica from My time as mom, is 10 THINGS I AM RUBBISH AT.
Yet another list I could write in my sleep.
Showing posts with label lists. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lists. Show all posts
Sunday, March 04, 2012
I have some mad skills.
These are not them.
Just a reminder, the Best of the Blogosphere linkup will be open until March 10th! Come link up your favourite post from February or a list of your favourite February posts!
It's #MondayListicles time again with NorthWest Mommy. This week's list topic, inspired by Jessica from My time as mom, is 10 THINGS I AM RUBBISH AT.
Yet another list I could write in my sleep.
It's #MondayListicles time again with NorthWest Mommy. This week's list topic, inspired by Jessica from My time as mom, is 10 THINGS I AM RUBBISH AT.
Yet another list I could write in my sleep.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Ten Things That Give Me Anxiety
Won't you join me for #MondayListicles with @NorthWestMommy?
It has come to my attention that not everyone knows what an earwig is. I didn't want to have to do this, but you leave me no choice. Gawd, I can't even look at them - hideous, angry little creatures:
This week, Ally from Two Normal Moms suggested we write a list of “10 things [we’d] like to see happen before [we] die”. Alternatively, she said we could write about “10 things that give [us] anxiety" but she figured none of us would admit to any. Well, I have news for you, Ally: It was hard to limit myself to just 10!
1. being late
2. public speaking of any kind (the reason why I have yet to Vlog)
3. clutter
4. figuring out what to wear to a special event
5. driving in a snowstorm
6. lunch
7. wrinkles (I really just meant the ones in clothes and sheets when I first wrote this, but, ya... those other ones too and the grey hairs that come with them)
8. earwigs <shudder>
9. deadlines
10. not having a computer to type my #MondayListicles on (mine is in Apple heaven - had to kick hubby off of his... which actually was kind of fun)EDITED TO ADD:
It has come to my attention that not everyone knows what an earwig is. I didn't want to have to do this, but you leave me no choice. Gawd, I can't even look at them - hideous, angry little creatures:
From Scienceblogs.com:
Earwig in a typical threatening posture
In the animal kingdom, organisms with pincers on their butts are classified in the phylum "evil"
Come on and join the fun:
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Well, I NEVER!
It's Monday and you know what that means: Time for #MondayListicles with @NorthWestMommy!
But first, a quick reminder:
One of the first things I did after having Jack was to call my sister and apologize for not recognizing what a colossal undertaking motherhood is.
As a kid, I frequently knew just what kind of mother I would be, as if simply willing it to be was enough.
Well, if I know anything at all now - debatable - it is this: You will be more sure of yourself as a parent before you have kids than after. Parenting is a humbling endeavour. That's a good thing. Most of us, before having kids, could have used a little humbling!
Before becoming a mom, you might have heard me say:
1. I'll never... have a child of my own. From the time I was 17 years old, I thought I would adopt if I ever decided to have children. My feeling was that there were so many children in the world already that needed parents. How idealistic I was back then! Not that my ideas were misguided or wrong, but I was putting the cart before the horse in a way. Once I met my now hubby, I wanted to have his child and no one else's. (Truthfully if resources were unlimited, I would adopt a bunch of kids too.)
2. I'll never.... rock my child to sleep. Okay, I'm not judging, but I didn't want to create a bad habit that I would later have to undo. I planned to help my child learn to get to sleep on his own in his own room in his own bed. What I didn't plan for was his having acid reflux - possibly because he was born a few weeks early - and the pain he would feel after every feed. So, I rocked him to sleep. In fact, he slept overnight in a swing for a couple of months until we got his medication figured out and the pain subsided. Poor little gaffer!
3. I'll never... be one of those parents that drives their kid around wasting time and fossil fuels just to get their child to go to sleep. Soon after becoming a parent I learned an important lesson: You do what you have to do. And everyone needs sleep above all else when there is a new baby in the house. Yes, I drove... and drove... and drove so that my baby could get some rest, while I continued to function in a state of hyper sleep deprivation, all with a smile on my face and an educational song on my lips! I'm still waiting for my medal.
4. I'll never... give my baby a soother. 'Cause, baby's teeth might come in funny, he might also suck his thumb, his language skills could be delayed, maybe he won't take a bottle or refuse to nurse, and those things are dirty, and, and, and.... and the world might suddenly hurl itself into the sun!!! Boy, did I worry before I became a mom, and then for a little while afterwards. Truly, as moms we will always worry some. But if my child would have taken a soother, I would have been all over it in those first few agonizing months. I spent a good hour one day trying to convince him it was the best thing since milk à la boob. No go.
5. I'll never... feed my kid junk. I try hard not to. I may create some kind of pathology within my child, truth be told, by being as strict as I am. But every now and then I have to let go of this. Kids are given treats, there's Hallowe'en, birthday parties... PLUS it's not like I never eat stuff that's not good for me, and we all know how effective the Don't do as I do, do as I say parenting technique is! It's about balance and moderation and I think we're doing okay there.
6. I'll never... bribe my child to do something. Oh, how naive I was to think I could go a lifetime - my son's - without ever bribing him. Bribes, rewards, consequences... all important tools in the parenting toolkit. My parenting expert friends might not agree, but here's my thinking: I'm not perfect, never will be, and if I work so hard that my child ends up being perfect how will I ever relate to him? And besides:
7. I'll never... buy brand name clothes. I'm a bit torn about this one. I have a thing about sporting brand name wear as a statement of status. As cute as kids can be all decked out in the latest fashion, I just don't want to send the wrong message to my kid or to anyone else. I want my kid to shine... not his clothes. I DO buy some brand name clothes though if the company is socially conscious, if the clothes are well made and reasonably priced, and especially if they are on sale. Mama loves a sale!
8. I'll never... use the TV as a babysitter. FAIL. It was two years, in fact, before Jack saw ANY television at all. BUT... eventually I got tired of having to wait until he took a nap or hubby got home just to take a shower. And then when naps were no more, well... TV time is now the only time that my son is quiet! He talks non-stop! Love him dearly, but my brain would explode if it weren't for Treehouse and CBC Kids.
9. I'll never... have a house full of primary coloured plastic toys. Ah, yes. Oblivion. Ignorance. Absolute bliss, isn't it? I actually believed that not only did I want to maintain my relatively mono-chromatic existence but that it would be possible. Well, that rule was broken before the little guy was even born, and now? Despite my attempts to house my son's many colourful toys in baskets and bins, they're everywhere! I've learned to embrace the fact that my house doesn't look like the cover of a magazine. My house looks lived in, and that's pretty comforting.
And finally,
10. I'll never... do that! We humans have a tendency to rate, rank and otherwise compare ourselves. We also come equipped with all sorts of values and beliefs (aka baggage) that direct our judgements of others. Even after becoming a parent, there is still a tendency to judge the actions of another parent against our own expectations of ourselves. I learned to do less of this as I discovered that there's just no way to know ahead of time what decisions will be the right ones for my family. And then I vowed to try never to judge another parent's actions without first understanding the circumstances, especially a parent with kids older than mine!
Great topic, Greta, and a good reminder that uttering the word "never" practically guarantees I will be eating my words one day soon!
Here's to the future and the inestimable ways in which I will be proven wrong... again!
But first, a quick reminder:
Bloggers, are you keeping track of your favourite posts? The Best of the Blogosphere link up returns January 28th through February 4th. I'm keeping track of my favourites in a post so I'll be ready to go on the 28th, and you can too. I'll hope you'll join me in celebrating our fellow bloggers and their hard work!Now back to this week's Listicle! This week's topic is brought to you by the lovely Greta of Not Enough Patience and Never Enough Jewelry:
"I'll Never...": The Top Ten Things You Said You Would NEVER Do And Have Caught Yourself Doing.Oh yes. Hindsight. Before actually experiencing a thing - puberty, adulthood, university, first job, and the mother of them all: motherhood - we know it all, don't we? We say things like, "When I'm a mother, I'll never do x." Unh huh. Just you wait future mama! Abolish the word 'never' from your vocab right now (and then prepare to hear it from your child ad nauseum around about the time s/he reaches age four).
One of the first things I did after having Jack was to call my sister and apologize for not recognizing what a colossal undertaking motherhood is.
As a kid, I frequently knew just what kind of mother I would be, as if simply willing it to be was enough.
Well, if I know anything at all now - debatable - it is this: You will be more sure of yourself as a parent before you have kids than after. Parenting is a humbling endeavour. That's a good thing. Most of us, before having kids, could have used a little humbling!
Before becoming a mom, you might have heard me say:
1. I'll never... have a child of my own. From the time I was 17 years old, I thought I would adopt if I ever decided to have children. My feeling was that there were so many children in the world already that needed parents. How idealistic I was back then! Not that my ideas were misguided or wrong, but I was putting the cart before the horse in a way. Once I met my now hubby, I wanted to have his child and no one else's. (Truthfully if resources were unlimited, I would adopt a bunch of kids too.)
2. I'll never.... rock my child to sleep. Okay, I'm not judging, but I didn't want to create a bad habit that I would later have to undo. I planned to help my child learn to get to sleep on his own in his own room in his own bed. What I didn't plan for was his having acid reflux - possibly because he was born a few weeks early - and the pain he would feel after every feed. So, I rocked him to sleep. In fact, he slept overnight in a swing for a couple of months until we got his medication figured out and the pain subsided. Poor little gaffer!
3. I'll never... be one of those parents that drives their kid around wasting time and fossil fuels just to get their child to go to sleep. Soon after becoming a parent I learned an important lesson: You do what you have to do. And everyone needs sleep above all else when there is a new baby in the house. Yes, I drove... and drove... and drove so that my baby could get some rest, while I continued to function in a state of hyper sleep deprivation, all with a smile on my face and an educational song on my lips! I'm still waiting for my medal.
4. I'll never... give my baby a soother. 'Cause, baby's teeth might come in funny, he might also suck his thumb, his language skills could be delayed, maybe he won't take a bottle or refuse to nurse, and those things are dirty, and, and, and.... and the world might suddenly hurl itself into the sun!!! Boy, did I worry before I became a mom, and then for a little while afterwards. Truly, as moms we will always worry some. But if my child would have taken a soother, I would have been all over it in those first few agonizing months. I spent a good hour one day trying to convince him it was the best thing since milk à la boob. No go.
5. I'll never... feed my kid junk. I try hard not to. I may create some kind of pathology within my child, truth be told, by being as strict as I am. But every now and then I have to let go of this. Kids are given treats, there's Hallowe'en, birthday parties... PLUS it's not like I never eat stuff that's not good for me, and we all know how effective the Don't do as I do, do as I say parenting technique is! It's about balance and moderation and I think we're doing okay there.
6. I'll never... bribe my child to do something. Oh, how naive I was to think I could go a lifetime - my son's - without ever bribing him. Bribes, rewards, consequences... all important tools in the parenting toolkit. My parenting expert friends might not agree, but here's my thinking: I'm not perfect, never will be, and if I work so hard that my child ends up being perfect how will I ever relate to him? And besides:
magnet displayed prominently on my fridge
7. I'll never... buy brand name clothes. I'm a bit torn about this one. I have a thing about sporting brand name wear as a statement of status. As cute as kids can be all decked out in the latest fashion, I just don't want to send the wrong message to my kid or to anyone else. I want my kid to shine... not his clothes. I DO buy some brand name clothes though if the company is socially conscious, if the clothes are well made and reasonably priced, and especially if they are on sale. Mama loves a sale!
8. I'll never... use the TV as a babysitter. FAIL. It was two years, in fact, before Jack saw ANY television at all. BUT... eventually I got tired of having to wait until he took a nap or hubby got home just to take a shower. And then when naps were no more, well... TV time is now the only time that my son is quiet! He talks non-stop! Love him dearly, but my brain would explode if it weren't for Treehouse and CBC Kids.
9. I'll never... have a house full of primary coloured plastic toys. Ah, yes. Oblivion. Ignorance. Absolute bliss, isn't it? I actually believed that not only did I want to maintain my relatively mono-chromatic existence but that it would be possible. Well, that rule was broken before the little guy was even born, and now? Despite my attempts to house my son's many colourful toys in baskets and bins, they're everywhere! I've learned to embrace the fact that my house doesn't look like the cover of a magazine. My house looks lived in, and that's pretty comforting.
And finally,
10. I'll never... do that! We humans have a tendency to rate, rank and otherwise compare ourselves. We also come equipped with all sorts of values and beliefs (aka baggage) that direct our judgements of others. Even after becoming a parent, there is still a tendency to judge the actions of another parent against our own expectations of ourselves. I learned to do less of this as I discovered that there's just no way to know ahead of time what decisions will be the right ones for my family. And then I vowed to try never to judge another parent's actions without first understanding the circumstances, especially a parent with kids older than mine!
Great topic, Greta, and a good reminder that uttering the word "never" practically guarantees I will be eating my words one day soon!
Here's to the future and the inestimable ways in which I will be proven wrong... again!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I'm also linking up today with Just. Be. Enough. because letting go of too high expectations and laughing at our own inflexibility is part of motherhood!
Sunday, January 08, 2012
Work, work, work!
It's Monday Listicles time again with @NorthWestMommy.
This week Squashed Mom asked us to write about the Top Ten Strange (odd/unusual/funny/interesting) Jobs we have held in our lives. I don't know how interesting my previous jobs will be to others, but they have each, in their own unique ways, shaped who I am today.
1. I sold magazines - for one week! Worst. Job. Ever!
2. I worked at an auto glass company, answering phones and generally trying not to overhear what insurance rules were being broken by my sleezy boss.
3. I was a salad girl in two different restaurants. Actually had a lot of fun working in kitchens with some very quirky characters!
4. I was a hostess and later a head hostess. Oooh. Ahhh. I know!
5. I was waitress of both food and later cocktails. In that latter job position I referred to myself as a liquor prostitute, having had to dress up in a skirt and high heels to sell alcohol. Sometimes fun, most of the time just exhausting, but it paid some of my university bills... by which I mean it kept me in Mac 'n Cheese.
6. I worked for a fancy schmancy car credit company. Every time I told people who I worked for they would be totally impressed and ask if I drove one (mostly I said, No).
7. I greeted people at the university and told them where to go - right up my alley! :P
8. I worked as a peer counsellor at university. Great job. I love helping people. Can you tell by the fact that all of my jobs have been in the customer service industry?
9. I programmed computers and fixed them when they broke. Okay this one may not seem to be about customers, but it is. Everyone is your customer when you are in charge of the computers!
10. I'm a mom. Hardest job ever! Best. Job. Ever!
There you have it - my working life in a nutshell.
This week Squashed Mom asked us to write about the Top Ten Strange (odd/unusual/funny/interesting) Jobs we have held in our lives. I don't know how interesting my previous jobs will be to others, but they have each, in their own unique ways, shaped who I am today.
1. I sold magazines - for one week! Worst. Job. Ever!
2. I worked at an auto glass company, answering phones and generally trying not to overhear what insurance rules were being broken by my sleezy boss.
3. I was a salad girl in two different restaurants. Actually had a lot of fun working in kitchens with some very quirky characters!
4. I was a hostess and later a head hostess. Oooh. Ahhh. I know!
5. I was waitress of both food and later cocktails. In that latter job position I referred to myself as a liquor prostitute, having had to dress up in a skirt and high heels to sell alcohol. Sometimes fun, most of the time just exhausting, but it paid some of my university bills... by which I mean it kept me in Mac 'n Cheese.
6. I worked for a fancy schmancy car credit company. Every time I told people who I worked for they would be totally impressed and ask if I drove one (mostly I said, No).
7. I greeted people at the university and told them where to go - right up my alley! :P
8. I worked as a peer counsellor at university. Great job. I love helping people. Can you tell by the fact that all of my jobs have been in the customer service industry?
9. I programmed computers and fixed them when they broke. Okay this one may not seem to be about customers, but it is. Everyone is your customer when you are in charge of the computers!
10. I'm a mom. Hardest job ever! Best. Job. Ever!
There you have it - my working life in a nutshell.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Have a list of ten things?
Link it up!
Sunday, December 11, 2011
My Favourite Christmas Song Performances
It's Monday and time once again for #MondayListicles with North West Mommy.
Today's listicle topic was selected by Amanda, mom to the adorable and now famous Lilah. You can read all about today's topic at Lilahbility.
I'm going to take a few weeks off from the mommy blogging life to enjoy some quality time with my family. There will still be lots happening at Cookie's Book Club including giveaways-a-plenty and my favourite indie reads of the year.
If you haven't already, you may want to subscribe to the Cookie's Book Club RSS feed so you won't miss a thing!
Before I go, as hinted at in my last #MondayListicles post, I am going to share with you all...
My Ten Favourite Christmas Songs
(Sorry to be a rebel, Amanda. I owe you a festive beverage!)
These are, technically, my ten favourite Christmas song performances/arrangements. I chose these pieces based on fairly simple criteria. Each one makes me stop what I am doing. My breath slows. My heart flutters. Some make me want to sing along. Some make me want to dance. All of them make me want to close my eyes and savour the moment. I hope you enjoy them too!
10. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer ~ Jack Johnson
This man's voice is an elixir to any ailment. The arrangement is pure fun!
9. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/We Three Kings ~ The Bare Naked Ladies with Sarah McLaughlin
Another fun arrangement. And they're Canadian, eh?
(Sorry I couldn't find a more interesting video clip for this one. You should really be dancing and singing along anyway, not staring at your computer, so get on up!)
8. Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy ~ Tchaikovsky
I remember going to see The Nutcracker Suite with my mother. Very fond Christmas memories attached to this song.
7. Good King Wenceslas ~ The Skydiggers
Love this version by one of my favourite Toronto bands.
6. Winter Wonderland ~ Louis Armstrong
Ah, Louis. A beautiful spirit.
5. Sleigh Ride ~ The Glenn Miller Orchestra
SO love this song. This one is for my mom and dad. Miss you both.
4. White Christmas ~ Bing Crosby
Croon, Bing, croon while I swoon, Bing, swoon.
3. Greensleeves ~ The Vince Guaraldi Trio
Jazzy. Smooth. But not smooth jazz-y... if you know what I mean.
2. Silent Night ~ Mahalia Jackson
Powerful and heart-wrenchingly beautiful.
1. Ave Maria ~ Luciano Pavarotti
What can I say about this man with the voice of an angel? He is greatly missed.
BONUS: My husband's favourite Christmas arrangement is this Mulato Beat Remix version of Baby, It's Cold Outside with Louis Armstrong and Velma Middleton
The original is just as fun, though slower. You can hear the crowd laughing in the background of the track. Can you imagine having had a chance to see these two sing together?
Merry Christmas to you all. Thank-you for a wonderfully entertaining year, and for your support.
From my family to yours, may you have good health, the comforts of home and family and friends to wrap your arms around this holiday season!
Love,
Me
xo
Today's listicle topic was selected by Amanda, mom to the adorable and now famous Lilah. You can read all about today's topic at Lilahbility.
I'm going to take a few weeks off from the mommy blogging life to enjoy some quality time with my family. There will still be lots happening at Cookie's Book Club including giveaways-a-plenty and my favourite indie reads of the year.
If you haven't already, you may want to subscribe to the Cookie's Book Club RSS feed so you won't miss a thing!
Before I go, as hinted at in my last #MondayListicles post, I am going to share with you all...
My Ten Favourite Christmas Songs
(Sorry to be a rebel, Amanda. I owe you a festive beverage!)
These are, technically, my ten favourite Christmas song performances/arrangements. I chose these pieces based on fairly simple criteria. Each one makes me stop what I am doing. My breath slows. My heart flutters. Some make me want to sing along. Some make me want to dance. All of them make me want to close my eyes and savour the moment. I hope you enjoy them too!
10. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer ~ Jack Johnson
This man's voice is an elixir to any ailment. The arrangement is pure fun!
9. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/We Three Kings ~ The Bare Naked Ladies with Sarah McLaughlin
Another fun arrangement. And they're Canadian, eh?
(Sorry I couldn't find a more interesting video clip for this one. You should really be dancing and singing along anyway, not staring at your computer, so get on up!)
8. Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy ~ Tchaikovsky
I remember going to see The Nutcracker Suite with my mother. Very fond Christmas memories attached to this song.
7. Good King Wenceslas ~ The Skydiggers
Love this version by one of my favourite Toronto bands.
6. Winter Wonderland ~ Louis Armstrong
Ah, Louis. A beautiful spirit.
5. Sleigh Ride ~ The Glenn Miller Orchestra
SO love this song. This one is for my mom and dad. Miss you both.
4. White Christmas ~ Bing Crosby
Croon, Bing, croon while I swoon, Bing, swoon.
3. Greensleeves ~ The Vince Guaraldi Trio
Jazzy. Smooth. But not smooth jazz-y... if you know what I mean.
2. Silent Night ~ Mahalia Jackson
Powerful and heart-wrenchingly beautiful.
1. Ave Maria ~ Luciano Pavarotti
What can I say about this man with the voice of an angel? He is greatly missed.
BONUS: My husband's favourite Christmas arrangement is this Mulato Beat Remix version of Baby, It's Cold Outside with Louis Armstrong and Velma Middleton
The original is just as fun, though slower. You can hear the crowd laughing in the background of the track. Can you imagine having had a chance to see these two sing together?
Merry Christmas to you all. Thank-you for a wonderfully entertaining year, and for your support.
From my family to yours, may you have good health, the comforts of home and family and friends to wrap your arms around this holiday season!
Love,
Me
xo
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Sunday, December 04, 2011
My Christmas Wish List
By the way, if you're looking for another way to connect with me ('cause really, who can live with JUST Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest?), you can now find me on Google+:
It's Monday, and you know what that means!
This week, Stasha of #MondayListicles fame, has asked us for our Christmas wish list. This could be really fun!
First, to anyone reading this who might be in a position to buy me something for Christmas, please understand that I already love what you got me... or didn't get me... and I don't need even a single one of these things (except maybe the last two... or three). Everything I need, I already have. Love, Me.
And now to dream....
1) The perfect vacay, as recently described in The Perfect Vacay.
2) Time. Just time. Ideally, it will slow to an absolute crawl for at least a week or two.
3) Well, since I'm dreaming, I'd like lessons - lots of them: photography lessons, Spanish lessons, dance lessons, martial arts lessons, singing lessons and more guitar lessons.
4) Weekly massages. Drool.
5) Some kind of magical electronic planner that will organize my chaotic life. It wouldn't hurt if it also automagically answered the occasional email or tweet for me.
6) Books. I need more of these like a hole in the head, yet... I crave them. If I could just get a little more #2, oh, the reading I could do. (Hmm. That was very 'Dr. Seuss' of me.)
7) Music. I can never get enough of it either. Nothing helps time to slow like listening to a piece of really great music. (One of these weeks, I'm going to share my top ten Christmas songs!)
8) Snow. Yes, I'm the same girl who complains about being cold, but Christmas without snow is like PB without the J. All kinds of wrong.
9) Time with friends and family. For me, this is what Christmas is all about. Don't get me wrong, I love the excitement of opening gifts and having people open gifts from me, but the warmth provided by a house full of trusted companions, all in great spirits, can not be beat!
10) Finally, my greatest wish this season is that people take a moment to reflect on what's important, to commit acts of kindness, and to carry this goodwill long into the new year!
Oh, and I want more of these guys, who make me snort my tea they are so funny!
Having trouble viewing the video? Direct link: http://youtu.be/0AvzaGkekDE
--> More from the Bored Shorts crew.
It's Monday, and you know what that means!
This week, Stasha of #MondayListicles fame, has asked us for our Christmas wish list. This could be really fun!
First, to anyone reading this who might be in a position to buy me something for Christmas, please understand that I already love what you got me... or didn't get me... and I don't need even a single one of these things (except maybe the last two... or three). Everything I need, I already have. Love, Me.
And now to dream....
1) The perfect vacay, as recently described in The Perfect Vacay.
2) Time. Just time. Ideally, it will slow to an absolute crawl for at least a week or two.
3) Well, since I'm dreaming, I'd like lessons - lots of them: photography lessons, Spanish lessons, dance lessons, martial arts lessons, singing lessons and more guitar lessons.
4) Weekly massages. Drool.
5) Some kind of magical electronic planner that will organize my chaotic life. It wouldn't hurt if it also automagically answered the occasional email or tweet for me.
6) Books. I need more of these like a hole in the head, yet... I crave them. If I could just get a little more #2, oh, the reading I could do. (Hmm. That was very 'Dr. Seuss' of me.)
7) Music. I can never get enough of it either. Nothing helps time to slow like listening to a piece of really great music. (One of these weeks, I'm going to share my top ten Christmas songs!)
8) Snow. Yes, I'm the same girl who complains about being cold, but Christmas without snow is like PB without the J. All kinds of wrong.
9) Time with friends and family. For me, this is what Christmas is all about. Don't get me wrong, I love the excitement of opening gifts and having people open gifts from me, but the warmth provided by a house full of trusted companions, all in great spirits, can not be beat!
10) Finally, my greatest wish this season is that people take a moment to reflect on what's important, to commit acts of kindness, and to carry this goodwill long into the new year!
Oh, and I want more of these guys, who make me snort my tea they are so funny!
Having trouble viewing the video? Direct link: http://youtu.be/0AvzaGkekDE
--> More from the Bored Shorts crew.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Ten Reasons You Haven't Seen Much of Me Lately
It's time once again for Monday Listicles with NorthWest Mommy.
This week, the sweet and loveable Jennifer of Just Jennifer asks us to list 10 reasons why we do or do not want more children. While I hate to disappoint the sweet and loveable Jennifer, I can't come up with 10 reasons. There's just one that matters. We are very fortunate to have the beautiful family that we have. More kids are not part of our story. And besides, why mess with perfection?
Instead, I will list the 10 reasons I have not been around much this week (e.g. tweeting, linking and so on), in no sensical order.
1) Life has gotten ultra busy of late. Not that I was low-maintenance before, but since beginning this new detox/cleanse/self-torture regime, I have had to find a whack more time to look after my own needs. What's a whack, you ask? It's a butt-load. What's a butt-load, you ask? My son did, and here is what I told him. "Oh, did I say butt-load? Ha ha. That's funny. I meant to say boat-load. It's a LOT. As in, as much as you can fit in a boat!" I guess I managed my way out of that one. Then I wondered, why DO I use the phrase 'butt-load'? It's sounds pretty rude. But then I looked it up, and a 'butt' is a legitimate unit of measure equal to 126 gallons or two hogs heads. But I digress... significantly!
2) My son needs me. Sure he needs to learn independence, and no it's not necessary that I entertain him every minute of the day. Then again, he's only home with me like this for another year and a bit, so I'd like to be available as much as I can.
3) And besides, some of the stuff he's interested in now is pretty fun. We've been doing a lot of crafting, which I have missed terribly these last few busy years!
4) Snow! We have a whack of it. What's a whack, you ask? See #1. All of that shoveling, footprint making, snowball throwing, dressing in extra layers (and then undressing to go pee and pulling it all back on again) takes a butt-load of time. But we're having fun!
5) I've been trying to make more time for our little family in general. Little things like eating a leisurely breakfast together on a Saturday, instead of me wolfing down my food and then retiring to the computer to blog, sure go a long way to restore a sense of unity around here!
6) Jack had a VIP day at his preschool this past week. That meant I had the pleasure and priviledge of bringing a snack for 24 kids! Really, it's a pretty sweet deal. Lots of work the day before his VIP day, and then I get to kick back and let someone else feed my kid for the next 23 days. I also get to go and hang out at the school, see what my son is actually doing there, and laugh when he answers the teacher's question about the weather with, "Miss Laurie, you need to put the cap back on the marker or it will dry out!"
7) I'm trying to find new and exciting ways to meet the requirements of my ridiculously restricted diet. Okay, exciting is overly optimistic. I'm just happy if it tastes good and is not the same thing I have eaten for six days in a row. The good news is that I have discovered a number of recipes that are so tasty, I will fold them into my diet going forward.
8) I dyed my hair. I may be scraping the bottom of the barrel with #8, but I knew you'd all want to know. I'm now a brunette. In case that offends anyone, not to worry. I will, as is my natural tendency, become bored of this eventually and highlight my way back to blondness! Speaking of hair, I met a woman yesterday who claims to be on the same diet that I am. Not possible. She was far too jovial. Anyway, she said, "I feel so great! My hair and my skin look fabulous!" I said, flipping my hair back, "Ya, great hair, fabulous skin. Blah, blah, blah! Give me some cheesecake!" And then I laughed, as if kidding, and she laughed along with me. But I'm not. Kidding, that is. Sorry to digress... again.
9) How to say this delicately... You know how when your diet changes, other... er... bodily functions change too? Well, I have been spending a bit more time in that place where those things happen. Nuff said, I most desperately hope. I love that we moms can talk about ANYTHING. By the way, this list item was suggested by my loving husband. He's such a romantic.
10) Hubby bought The Bourne Trilogy on Blu-Ray, and I have to say, those are some mighty-fine flicks! That Matt Damon is one talented actor. That and a full PVR and you can see why I have no spare time. What time I do have beyond all of this goes to reading - it's an obsession - and maintaining my book blog. Speaking of which - sorry to both digress and shamelessly plug - be sure to check out Cookie's Book Club for my new interview with Donna Fasano. Donna is giving away three copies of her newest release, His Wife for a While!
This week, the sweet and loveable Jennifer of Just Jennifer asks us to list 10 reasons why we do or do not want more children. While I hate to disappoint the sweet and loveable Jennifer, I can't come up with 10 reasons. There's just one that matters. We are very fortunate to have the beautiful family that we have. More kids are not part of our story. And besides, why mess with perfection?
Instead, I will list the 10 reasons I have not been around much this week (e.g. tweeting, linking and so on), in no sensical order.
1) Life has gotten ultra busy of late. Not that I was low-maintenance before, but since beginning this new detox/cleanse/self-torture regime, I have had to find a whack more time to look after my own needs. What's a whack, you ask? It's a butt-load. What's a butt-load, you ask? My son did, and here is what I told him. "Oh, did I say butt-load? Ha ha. That's funny. I meant to say boat-load. It's a LOT. As in, as much as you can fit in a boat!" I guess I managed my way out of that one. Then I wondered, why DO I use the phrase 'butt-load'? It's sounds pretty rude. But then I looked it up, and a 'butt' is a legitimate unit of measure equal to 126 gallons or two hogs heads. But I digress... significantly!
2) My son needs me. Sure he needs to learn independence, and no it's not necessary that I entertain him every minute of the day. Then again, he's only home with me like this for another year and a bit, so I'd like to be available as much as I can.
3) And besides, some of the stuff he's interested in now is pretty fun. We've been doing a lot of crafting, which I have missed terribly these last few busy years!
4) Snow! We have a whack of it. What's a whack, you ask? See #1. All of that shoveling, footprint making, snowball throwing, dressing in extra layers (and then undressing to go pee and pulling it all back on again) takes a butt-load of time. But we're having fun!
5) I've been trying to make more time for our little family in general. Little things like eating a leisurely breakfast together on a Saturday, instead of me wolfing down my food and then retiring to the computer to blog, sure go a long way to restore a sense of unity around here!
6) Jack had a VIP day at his preschool this past week. That meant I had the pleasure and priviledge of bringing a snack for 24 kids! Really, it's a pretty sweet deal. Lots of work the day before his VIP day, and then I get to kick back and let someone else feed my kid for the next 23 days. I also get to go and hang out at the school, see what my son is actually doing there, and laugh when he answers the teacher's question about the weather with, "Miss Laurie, you need to put the cap back on the marker or it will dry out!"
7) I'm trying to find new and exciting ways to meet the requirements of my ridiculously restricted diet. Okay, exciting is overly optimistic. I'm just happy if it tastes good and is not the same thing I have eaten for six days in a row. The good news is that I have discovered a number of recipes that are so tasty, I will fold them into my diet going forward.
8) I dyed my hair. I may be scraping the bottom of the barrel with #8, but I knew you'd all want to know. I'm now a brunette. In case that offends anyone, not to worry. I will, as is my natural tendency, become bored of this eventually and highlight my way back to blondness! Speaking of hair, I met a woman yesterday who claims to be on the same diet that I am. Not possible. She was far too jovial. Anyway, she said, "I feel so great! My hair and my skin look fabulous!" I said, flipping my hair back, "Ya, great hair, fabulous skin. Blah, blah, blah! Give me some cheesecake!" And then I laughed, as if kidding, and she laughed along with me. But I'm not. Kidding, that is. Sorry to digress... again.
9) How to say this delicately... You know how when your diet changes, other... er... bodily functions change too? Well, I have been spending a bit more time in that place where those things happen. Nuff said, I most desperately hope. I love that we moms can talk about ANYTHING. By the way, this list item was suggested by my loving husband. He's such a romantic.
10) Hubby bought The Bourne Trilogy on Blu-Ray, and I have to say, those are some mighty-fine flicks! That Matt Damon is one talented actor. That and a full PVR and you can see why I have no spare time. What time I do have beyond all of this goes to reading - it's an obsession - and maintaining my book blog. Speaking of which - sorry to both digress and shamelessly plug - be sure to check out Cookie's Book Club for my new interview with Donna Fasano. Donna is giving away three copies of her newest release, His Wife for a While!
Monday, November 14, 2011
The Perfect Vacay
It's time again for Monday Listicles!
So, let's dream a little, shall we? Just a sec... Almost ready. Here we are! Margarita in hand, flip flops and body-flattering dress adorned, furnace blasting to create the illusion of summer, and... go!
Ten things that make a perfect vacation.
1. Time. My dream holidays is at least three weeks long - a month would be better. I leave my watch at home and let someone else take care of details like where I need to be and when I need to be there.
2. The Perfect Climate. It takes place somewhere warm (not too hot) and sunny with beautiful scenery. An ocean breeze wouldn't hurt.
3. Adventure! There are opportunities for horseback riding, hiking, biking, canoeing, sailing on a catamaran, snorkeling, exploring caves, zip-lining and the like.
4. Culture. I get to meet the locals and share in their customs, maybe learn a craft or a few new dance moves!
5. Family. My dream holiday involves my husband and my son and lots of fun too! I imagine wherever we go, we'd stop in at DisneyWorld for part of our tour.
6. Food! As source of pleasure, rather than anguish. I don't want to prepare it. Not one meal. I don't want to think about it. I don't even want to make choices about it. My perfect vacation would involve simply showing up and being served something fabulous, whenever I happen to be hungry.
7. Peace. There's an absence of whaaaan! I love my kid - don't get me wrong - but the perfect' vacation would contain NO WHINING. And significantly fewer why questions. And no toys to put away or leave aching scars in the middle of my feet when I step on them. Which brings me to #8
8. Sloth. There is no cleaning of any kind - not the bathroom, not the kitchen, not the clothes, not the kid, not the cat, and definitely not the back of my car.
9. R & R. There is plenty of opportunity to rest, to read, to snap some killer photos and to write.
10. Pampering. Lastly, my dream vacation includes frequent visits to the spa - massages, facials, pedicures, manicures. Ahhhh.
Ah, lovely. I love sightseeing, and I'm surprised not to see more of it in my list, but I guess that's just where I'm at. This tired mama needs the sounds, sights and smells of a tranquil beach!
What do you need to have the perfect vacay?
Before I get to my post, if you haven't already done so, be sure to enter my advance giveaway for a copy of EC Stilson's new book, The Golden Sky, being released November 18th! Click here for details.The lovely and talented Hopes of Staying Afloat was asked to select this week's Monday Listicles topic, and it's a good one! We're talking vacations today, and I couldn't be happier. I'd much rather think about travelling to some place other than here with snow on the way. Don't get me wrong, winter has a lot to offer, but I'd still sacrifice a large part of it for the chance to go someplace where I don't have to don a parka and chip my way out of my house with an ice scraper.
So, let's dream a little, shall we? Just a sec... Almost ready. Here we are! Margarita in hand, flip flops and body-flattering dress adorned, furnace blasting to create the illusion of summer, and... go!
Ten things that make a perfect vacation.
1. Time. My dream holidays is at least three weeks long - a month would be better. I leave my watch at home and let someone else take care of details like where I need to be and when I need to be there.
2. The Perfect Climate. It takes place somewhere warm (not too hot) and sunny with beautiful scenery. An ocean breeze wouldn't hurt.
3. Adventure! There are opportunities for horseback riding, hiking, biking, canoeing, sailing on a catamaran, snorkeling, exploring caves, zip-lining and the like.
4. Culture. I get to meet the locals and share in their customs, maybe learn a craft or a few new dance moves!
5. Family. My dream holiday involves my husband and my son and lots of fun too! I imagine wherever we go, we'd stop in at DisneyWorld for part of our tour.
6. Food! As source of pleasure, rather than anguish. I don't want to prepare it. Not one meal. I don't want to think about it. I don't even want to make choices about it. My perfect vacation would involve simply showing up and being served something fabulous, whenever I happen to be hungry.
7. Peace. There's an absence of whaaaan! I love my kid - don't get me wrong - but the perfect' vacation would contain NO WHINING. And significantly fewer why questions. And no toys to put away or leave aching scars in the middle of my feet when I step on them. Which brings me to #8
8. Sloth. There is no cleaning of any kind - not the bathroom, not the kitchen, not the clothes, not the kid, not the cat, and definitely not the back of my car.
9. R & R. There is plenty of opportunity to rest, to read, to snap some killer photos and to write.
10. Pampering. Lastly, my dream vacation includes frequent visits to the spa - massages, facials, pedicures, manicures. Ahhhh.
Ah, lovely. I love sightseeing, and I'm surprised not to see more of it in my list, but I guess that's just where I'm at. This tired mama needs the sounds, sights and smells of a tranquil beach!
What do you need to have the perfect vacay?
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Sunday, November 06, 2011
The High School Me
This week, the Lovelinks crew selected a fun (read: embarrassing) topic for Monday Listicles. This week's lists is all about our HIGH SCHOOL YEARS.
Ladies, you asked for photos, but, see, that's sort of like asking someone to unearth a fossil on short notice. Yes... I'm THAT old. Okay, not THAT old, but old enough that all high school photos were taken on film that is likely in the bottom of some dusty box in an attic somewhere.
However, I did take pictures of some pictures I found in a photo album in my closet. I really had to dig. You're welcome. Please keep the laughing to a minimum.
1) There's just no point talking about high school without talking about hair. As I look through these photos, I see that I could just as easily have called this post Ode to My 80s Hair. Good friends from that time will tell you that I spent an irritating amount of time coiffing. Impressive, no? Note also the HUGE shoulder pads. With this hair and those shoulder pads, I was well protected from any kind of assault. With the added fog of hairspray that followed me wherever I went, it's a surprise anyone wanted to come near me.
2) Second only to the hair was the makeup application. Very important. Very precise. Very heavy, compared to my now five-minute-make-me-look-less-dead standard. NO WAY would I leave the house without full makeup back then.
3) Most of these pictures are from the latter part of my high school days. I may have been slightly more focused on spending time with friends than studying. Uh-oh. Is that a glass of wine in my hands? (I looked quite mature for 17, no?) Check out the earrings.
4) Good Lord, what am I wearing? Anyone remember what these pants are called? Balloon pants seems to work. Teal shirt. Salmon pants. Wide white belt. Tres chic, n'est-ce pas? Bonus points to anyone who knows where I am in this picture.
5) Graduation. Poufy dress? Check. Corsage? Check. Going nowhere, big hair? Check. Heavy blue eyeshadow? But, of course!
6) Ahh. My relaxed style. I wore a lot of oversized garments back then. I'm not really sure what that was all about. But it seems I was OK with it.
7) Uh... I'm not really sure I can explain this one. Let's see. Oh, yes. This should clarify. Alcohol was involved. Note the waist-high jeans. HAWT! NOT! And, of course, the billowy shirt.
8) Homemade bridesmaid dress? What could be lovelier? Okay, it's certainly not any worse than some others I donned - I was especially happy to wear this one to my sister's wedding. Happy day! Could the sleeves on this dress BE any bigger? (Channeling my inner Chandler there.)
9) I was pretty goofy. Despite the fact that my homelife was crumbling to bits, I had a lot of fun in those days. This picture makes me look sort of psychotic though - the knife in my hand doesn't help.
10) Now THIS hair is spectacular. A lot of hours spent with a curling iron in my hand in the high school days. Oh, to have that time back! This whole look with the big shirt, big earrings and funky ski glasses really does wonders for my image.
It's unfortunate (or not) that I didn't find a photo with my hair in a scrunchie. Gawd awful invention, that.
I haven't looked at these photos in such a long time. All I can think looking at this series of images is, Wow! Is that really me? It's like we live many mini lives, isn't it? Reinventing ourselves decade after decade.
It's going to be fun to see what the next decade brings. We've already seen the comeback of wide belts, leggings, rompers and jumpsuits. Someone please tell me we'll never see scrunchies, shoulder pads or 80s hair again! Please?
For more on high school in the 80s, check out this post by Ally of Two Normal Moms. Can SO relate to everything she shared.
Ladies, you asked for photos, but, see, that's sort of like asking someone to unearth a fossil on short notice. Yes... I'm THAT old. Okay, not THAT old, but old enough that all high school photos were taken on film that is likely in the bottom of some dusty box in an attic somewhere.
However, I did take pictures of some pictures I found in a photo album in my closet. I really had to dig. You're welcome. Please keep the laughing to a minimum.
1) There's just no point talking about high school without talking about hair. As I look through these photos, I see that I could just as easily have called this post Ode to My 80s Hair. Good friends from that time will tell you that I spent an irritating amount of time coiffing. Impressive, no? Note also the HUGE shoulder pads. With this hair and those shoulder pads, I was well protected from any kind of assault. With the added fog of hairspray that followed me wherever I went, it's a surprise anyone wanted to come near me.
2) Second only to the hair was the makeup application. Very important. Very precise. Very heavy, compared to my now five-minute-make-me-look-less-dead standard. NO WAY would I leave the house without full makeup back then.
3) Most of these pictures are from the latter part of my high school days. I may have been slightly more focused on spending time with friends than studying. Uh-oh. Is that a glass of wine in my hands? (I looked quite mature for 17, no?) Check out the earrings.
4) Good Lord, what am I wearing? Anyone remember what these pants are called? Balloon pants seems to work. Teal shirt. Salmon pants. Wide white belt. Tres chic, n'est-ce pas? Bonus points to anyone who knows where I am in this picture.
5) Graduation. Poufy dress? Check. Corsage? Check. Going nowhere, big hair? Check. Heavy blue eyeshadow? But, of course!
6) Ahh. My relaxed style. I wore a lot of oversized garments back then. I'm not really sure what that was all about. But it seems I was OK with it.
7) Uh... I'm not really sure I can explain this one. Let's see. Oh, yes. This should clarify. Alcohol was involved. Note the waist-high jeans. HAWT! NOT! And, of course, the billowy shirt.
8) Homemade bridesmaid dress? What could be lovelier? Okay, it's certainly not any worse than some others I donned - I was especially happy to wear this one to my sister's wedding. Happy day! Could the sleeves on this dress BE any bigger? (Channeling my inner Chandler there.)
9) I was pretty goofy. Despite the fact that my homelife was crumbling to bits, I had a lot of fun in those days. This picture makes me look sort of psychotic though - the knife in my hand doesn't help.
10) Now THIS hair is spectacular. A lot of hours spent with a curling iron in my hand in the high school days. Oh, to have that time back! This whole look with the big shirt, big earrings and funky ski glasses really does wonders for my image.
It's unfortunate (or not) that I didn't find a photo with my hair in a scrunchie. Gawd awful invention, that.
BONUS photo) As I was perusing my photo album, I came across this photo. My parents separated but were still alive when I was in high school. Here I am with dad - a fellow goofball when he wanted to be. Miss him. And my mama. Much.
I haven't looked at these photos in such a long time. All I can think looking at this series of images is, Wow! Is that really me? It's like we live many mini lives, isn't it? Reinventing ourselves decade after decade.
It's going to be fun to see what the next decade brings. We've already seen the comeback of wide belts, leggings, rompers and jumpsuits. Someone please tell me we'll never see scrunchies, shoulder pads or 80s hair again! Please?
For more on high school in the 80s, check out this post by Ally of Two Normal Moms. Can SO relate to everything she shared.
Thursday, November 03, 2011
Winter's Silver Lining
It's been an interesting week. Hard to believe it's Thursday already. The Jackster started acting like a boy with a cold on the weekend, and by Monday was coughing up a storm. We spent the day at home - mommy was starting to feel not so hot herself - but we did make it out for some trick-or-treating. We weren't going to miss out on ALL of the fun. Since then we've pretty much been in quarantine.
I guess it's that time of year again - cold season. It has me feeling nostalgic for the previous less infectious seasons of fall and summer. Winter is on the horizon. Snow is in the forecast. It would be easy to be glum. BUT, I have decided that, since it would serve little purpose to be gloomy about the colder weather, darker days and stuffy, coughy, watery-eyed weeks to come, I will instead look on the bright side.
There is plenty to enjoy about winter, if we choose to see it.
What I Love About Winter
Please share your pros with me - I can use all of the silver lining I can get as the winter months drag on.... and on..... and... sigh. I'd better read this list again.
I'm linking up - ultra late - with Stasha of NorthWest Mommy for Monday Listicles (I think there are at least 10 things here), and with Rach of Life Ever Since for Life's Lessons.
I guess it's that time of year again - cold season. It has me feeling nostalgic for the previous less infectious seasons of fall and summer. Winter is on the horizon. Snow is in the forecast. It would be easy to be glum. BUT, I have decided that, since it would serve little purpose to be gloomy about the colder weather, darker days and stuffy, coughy, watery-eyed weeks to come, I will instead look on the bright side.
There is plenty to enjoy about winter, if we choose to see it.
What I Love About Winter
Fires in fireplaces and in firepits by a frozen lake.
Skating on that frozen lake.
Pretty snow-capped trees.
Reflections of street lights on crisp white snow.
Hot cups of cocoa. Big wooly mitts.
Roasting marshmallows to distract ourselves from the chattering of our teeth.
Cozy hand-knit sweaters and hats. Pretty scarves.
Never having to decide what shoes to wear - it's boots season! Now, which boots to wear?
Christmas lights on houses and trees.
Pretty pine boughs and wreaths.
Heaps of fresh snow piled on shrubs and trees.
The dampening of sound.
The crunch of snow beneath our feet.
Snowshoes - what a fun way to travel!
Giggling children with rosy cheeks.
SNOWBALL FIGHTS!!!
Sharing a warm drink with friends.
Extra snuggly hugs.
Darkness warmed by yellow lights.
Hibernating family-style, with cozy blankets, sugary treats and a feel-good flick.
TOBOGGANING! Wheeee!
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Please share your pros with me - I can use all of the silver lining I can get as the winter months drag on.... and on..... and... sigh. I'd better read this list again.
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I'm linking up - ultra late - with Stasha of NorthWest Mommy for Monday Listicles (I think there are at least 10 things here), and with Rach of Life Ever Since for Life's Lessons.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Ten Tips for New Moms
It's Monday again, and you know what that means! Time to link up with NorthWest Mommy for Monday Listicles. If you're not addicted already, check out the Monday Listicles movement. Get a writing prompt each week and treat it however you like. Couldn't be more fun!
It's a particularly exciting link up for me today, because I got to choose this week's topic: Ten Tips for New Moms! In case you missed it, you can read all about my rationale for choosing this topic in my post from last week, Guilty Pleasures. (Thanks to Jacqui of Chicktuition for suggesting last week's topic.)
I'm also linking up with Love Links. Join the community and meet some new blogging friends. Link up your favourite post from the week. If you like my post, you can visit Love Links to vote for me.
Before I get to my listicle for this week, have you heard the news? Since you all know and love Stasha B, I thought you'd want to be in on it. Stasha recently ran a contest to give away one of her limited edition, signed prints as a thank-you to her fans for encouraging her to launch her new photography business. We all know how talented she is and we're all very excited that she's finally taken the plunge! Well, guess who won the contest? Yup. ME!!!! Take a look at what I won!
Thanks so much, Stasha! It's a stunning photo and it's going to look fantastic on my wall. Visit Stasha's new website, Stasha B. Photography to check out her latest creations.
Now on to this week's Listicle.
I expected this post to be a funny, lighthearted look at motherhood, rather than the more serious and emotional piece it turned out to be. I have many crazy anecdotes from my own mishaps as a new mother that I thought I might share, but for whatever reason, this post just didn't go that way. I'll save those stories for another time: perhaps a post entitled, My Ten Biggest F*Ups Since Becoming a Mom. How will I limit myself to just ten?
Ten Tips for New Moms
1) Labour and Delivery. Let's start at the beginning shall we? You're pregnant. You're full of joy and the promise of a perfect life with your perfect new family. You and hubby have worked out the perfect birthing plan, attended Lamaze classes so you will know how to breathe through the pain, and packed your bag with all of the comforts you will need for your transition from this stage to the next beautiful stage of your transformation into motherhood.
Here's the thing. Things never go according to plan. Plans are great - guidelines - wish lists, is really what they are. You will be disappointed if you expect things to go entirely the way you want them to. Hope for the best, but be prepared for alternatives. One way or another, the baby will come out, and that is all that will matter in the end. When you hold that little bundle in your arms, the unimportant details of how he or she arrived will melt away.
My experience: The breathing lessons were completely useless as I went from no contractions to contractions 2 minutes apart, instantly. I brought a bag to the hospital packed full of things to aid in my "comfort" during labour and delivery, but never used any of it. When we arrived at the hospital we left the bag in the car and once in labour I couldn't let go of my husband's arms long enough for him to go and get it. The only thing I desperately needed from that bag was an elastic band to keep my sweaty hair out of my face! I resisted the drugs, as per "the plan" but just barely and mostly due to circumstance (I couldn't stand the nitrous oxide, I kept telling the epidural guys to "Go away! Wait come back! Nevermind, go away!" and the baby came really quickly). In the end, all that matters is the beautiful boy I now have in my life.
2) Nursing. So you want to nurse your baby exclusively, for at least four years? That is a respectable goal, to be sure. Mine was to nurse exclusively for 2 years. But, once again, life has a way of messing with our plans. Accept ahead of time that there are certain things that are beyond your control. Despite your best efforts, nursing may be difficult for you as it is for many, if not all, moms at least some of the time. This is NOT cause for shame. It is NORMAL. We are told that breastfeeding is the most natural thing we can do as women, so we expect it to just work. In reality, breastfeeding is HARD WORK! We are told all sorts of things about how and when we should nurse our babies, how and when to introduce a bottle, if ever. Wait and see. Breathe. Listen to your heart. Do what feels right to you and what works for the unique pairing of mother and child.
My experience: I wanted to nurse exclusively and did, for fourteen months. It nearly killed me. My son had acid reflux and nursed every 1-2 hours (which meant that I slept never more than one hour at a time) until we finally sorted out what was wrong and got him on the right medication - 5 months later. I listened to advice to not give him a bottle for 6 weeks to avoid so-called "nipple confusion". After that, my son would not take a bottle. No confusion, but still no rest for mom! If I had a second, I swore, he would have one bottle a day right from the start so that someone else could feed the baby and I could have a rest. I had many other nursing struggles along the way and almost quit several times. I finally stopped nursing when it seemed that Jack was less dependent on it, and when my body told me it had had enough. I'm glad that I had the opportunity to nurse my child, but would never suggest that there is a right way to do so or even that nursing is necessary. Yes, it has benefits, but probably way more important is a healthy, happy and connected mom.
3) Sleep. Ugh. We parents torment ourselves for years over the quality of our children's sleep. Scheduled naps and bed times. Sleep training: 'cry-it-out' methods have us alternately feeling we are giving our children the gift of a lifetime of healthy sleep habits and crying our eyes out thinking we are the cruelest parents ever. Try not to lose your mind. Try not to hate your partner, if you have one to deal with, when he or she unwittingly undermines your sleep plan. Be patient with him or her - they are learning too. Stay strong. Be persistent, but be forgiving with yourself and your child. Whatever sleep goals make sense to you, trust your judgement, give them a try. Don't be too hard on yourself if it's not easy or if you decide it's not working and you need a new plan. There is never anything wrong with changing course. In fact, as true as it may seem to you that change is the only constant, you've never experienced how true this is until becoming a mother. Get ready to go with the flow!
My experience: I am not a good sleeper. This obviously affected my decisions with respect to setting up my son's sleep habits. His first five months (with acid reflux and trouble sleeping) had an affect as well. It was important to me that he learn to sleep on his own. Ideally, he would also be able to sleep through noise. We were, despite teasing and, in some cases, judgement from others, very strict with Jack's bed time. Unlike other parents who kept their kids up until midnight so that they could attend weddings and other events, we put Jack to bed at the same time every night without exception. We felt that sleep was that important. We used a cry-it-out method as it was needed, a few times over the course of his first 3 years. It always worked pretty well. It was always very hard to do. Our son is a pretty good sleeper. We're not as strict anymore on very special occasions, but if he's late to bed it's only by an hour or two. We don't feel that he has missed out on anything as a result.
Sleep is another topic that could fill several posts. Whatever sleep problems you run into, know that there is a solution. There is a way to correct anything that goes wrong. Stay educated about sleep concerns and you'll be just fine.
4) Food. Double ugh! You will spend a ridiculous amount of your time preparing food and then shoveling it into the garbage when your baby, and then child, refuses to eat it. It will make you cry at least once. Breathe. This too shall pass. Not slowly, but it will. Over the years, if you are patient, your child will learn to enjoy what food is put in front of him or her. Resist the urge to be a short order cook! Resist the urge to feel you are a failure because your child will not eat broccoli. Your baby will eat if hungry and will, over the course of the week, if you are serving a variety of healthy foods, get all the nutrients he or she needs. This is your new mantra - repeat after me: I, as a parent, decide when and what my child will eat. My child decides if and how much he or she will eat.
My experience: I made all of my baby's first foods from scratch. I recognize this is not for everyone, especially moms who head back to work or have multiple kids or multiple demands on their time. It was, for me, relatively easy and made me feel good about controlling the type and quality of food my child was getting, I used good quality, organic food and still, I think, saved money. As time went on, I tried to expose my child to a variety of foods and flavours. I still try to use good quality food at home an to buy little or no processed food. This is a topic that I could dedicate several posts to. Tomorrow I will discuss a tiny aspect of the problem of getting kids to eat what's good for them.
5) Milestones. Milestones are both joyous to behold and the source of much anxiety for many parents. Know this, new mama. When your doctor tells you that your baby is just fine, it's really true. Your little Joey may not be crawling yet while many of his peers are. He may not be the crawling type. He may just stand up and walk one day. Sally may not be able to colour between the lines until she is five or six. You know what? That's okay! Every child develops differently. Each one has different interests. Encourage your child's interests. Gently help them to experience new things and learn new skills. Recognize your child's efforts and be proud of her accomplishments. Resist the temptation to compare your child to others her age.
My experience: I have been in situations, even with beloved family members, where when speaking about one of my child's interests (for example, noting that my son loves activity books as he plows through one at a family dinner), I have had to endure lectures about what my child should and shouldn't be doing, what appropriate development and learning is for his age, and so on. Someone might simply note something my child is doing and talk about how their child/neice/grandchild/etc can do that only better. I have seen moms shrink in size as some other mom bragged about their child in a way meant to make other children seem slow to develop. Moms, I implore you. Be proud of your children AND other children too. They are all beautiful creatures who will, if we get out of their way, grow up to be brilliant at any number of things they choose.
6) School. As your child gets a little older, you'll face such important questions as, Should I enroll my child in Gymboree? Should he go to preschool? Which one? What about language? Does my child need to be in french or spanish immersion? Most moms agree some form of socialization is good for kids. Yours might get it at home. As to which school, which subjects and what's important for your child to be exposed to? That's a very personal choice. Respect your choices. Trust your instincts about what's best for your child and be okay with it. It absolutely does not matter what anyone else does. Period.
My experience: I did the Gymboree thing for a while, and took Jack to some programs at our local rec centre. It kept him active and that was necessary for his sanity and mine. As an only child, I think he benefited from being around other kids. He is now in preschool. One that he loves to attend. One that embraces play. It didn't matter to me to have him in the best preschool to prepare him scholastically for kindergarten and beyond. I'm still debating which school he will go to, but my priorities at this age will lean more toward where he will be happiest (things like being close to home and friends will be factors) rather than where he will get the best education. A good public school will likely be good enough. (As an aside, this is a difficult decision where I live as we have a ridiculous number of choices when it comes to type of school.)
7) Bad behaviour. Along with socialization, and simply being a toddler or preschooler, comes bad behaviour: defiance, hitting, kicking, name-calling, screaming, whining, running away, not listening, not cooperating... the list has the potential to go on and on. Please don't be too hard on yourself when your perfect angel starts to do bad things. It does not make her a bad kid. It does not make you a bad parent. Into each life a little poop must fall, and as the parent of a toddler or preschooler you will shovel your fair share. Just clean it up and get some good advice on how to avoid stepping in any more of it.
My experience: You may have heard me mention my willful child in the past. I don't know where he gets it from (ahem), but it's a challenge to deal with. Just when I have one problem sorted a new one rears it's ugly head. It's tiring. I knew it would be this way too. I remember him kicking the bejeebers out of me in utero and thinking, This kid is going to be trouble. But I also knew that meant he would be a critical thinker, and that if I could just keep calm and support him he'd do really well in life. I knew it would be tough, and I quickly learned it would be tougher to do on my own. Which brings me to my next two tips...
8) Get educated! Knowledge is power. When you are feeling overwhelmed, remember that whatever you are experiencing many women before you have also experienced. Take advantage of courses offered to new moms. Many may be offered for free through your health region. Check out the multitude of books available through your library on a range of topics related to bringing up baby: some of the ones we just talked about, such as sleep and feeding. Subscribe to newsletters that offer tips and information about child development, where to get help when you need it, recipes, local family-friendly resources and events... whatever will make your life easier! Motherhood will be your hardest and most rewarding job ever. Don't be afraid to use the training manuals!
My experience: I met a group of moms when Jack was 3 1/2 months old through my local health region. We attended a course together that offered advice to new moms on all things related to keeping baby healthy. This combined with an information booklet offered by my health region were valuable resources for me. I also subscribed to babycenter.com for tips on supporting my child's development. If free information and advice was made available to me, I took it! I didn't necessarily follow everything I read or was told, but I made sure I had plenty of information to make informed decisions.
9) Get help! There is no shame in it. In fact, it's one of the smartest things you can do. Find someone in your life, a group of new moms or an organization you trust and use them! Ask them for help, and offer your help whenever you can. As a new mom you will see that one of your best resources is the huge network of fabulous moms out there, both the ones with kids your age and the ones who have been where you are about to go. Don't be afraid to make new connections. Many of these moms will become life-long friends.
My experience: Remember that group of moms I mentioned, the ones I met when Jack was just a tiny babe? We're still very good friends. We all met for weekly playgroups for several years. We still manage a few playgroup get-togethers, though our children are moving in different directions now. Somehow we manage to find time for each other still. We have each been powerful resources for one another. Simply knowing there were others close by that were going through the same things I was going through gave me a great deal of strength to survive some very tough days.
I've mentioned a company called Parenting Power on my blog before. These professionals have offered me invaluable advice when I needed it most. Very empowering. It helps to put the problem in perspective, remove blame from the situation, and quickly move to a workable solution. If you can find an organization like this one in your area, I say, Take advantage of it! Motherhood is at the same time highly rewarding and potentially very stressful. Anything that helps to tip the balance toward the benefits of the rewards and away from the stress of the trials is an investment well made, in my opinion.
10) My final tip to you, new mom, is to love yourself. You will spend most of your time worrying if you are doing the right thing, caring for your family and doing the best you can to care for yourself so that you can continue to care for your family. YOU ARE what they need. YOU ARE who they love. No matter your state. No matter your ability. No matter that all you have to offer your child today is celery and a hunk of cheese. Tomorrow is another day. Do the best you can with what you have today. You love your family. YOU ARE part of that family. Love yourself.
Please know that there is no right way to raise a child. There is only what feels right to you. Educate yourself, yes. Seek advice from friends who have been there, YES! Then, decide what is best for your family.
Be okay.
Everything will be okay.
xo
Me
It's a particularly exciting link up for me today, because I got to choose this week's topic: Ten Tips for New Moms! In case you missed it, you can read all about my rationale for choosing this topic in my post from last week, Guilty Pleasures. (Thanks to Jacqui of Chicktuition for suggesting last week's topic.)
I'm also linking up with Love Links. Join the community and meet some new blogging friends. Link up your favourite post from the week. If you like my post, you can visit Love Links to vote for me.
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Before I get to my listicle for this week, have you heard the news? Since you all know and love Stasha B, I thought you'd want to be in on it. Stasha recently ran a contest to give away one of her limited edition, signed prints as a thank-you to her fans for encouraging her to launch her new photography business. We all know how talented she is and we're all very excited that she's finally taken the plunge! Well, guess who won the contest? Yup. ME!!!! Take a look at what I won!
Thanks so much, Stasha! It's a stunning photo and it's going to look fantastic on my wall. Visit Stasha's new website, Stasha B. Photography to check out her latest creations.
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Now on to this week's Listicle.
I expected this post to be a funny, lighthearted look at motherhood, rather than the more serious and emotional piece it turned out to be. I have many crazy anecdotes from my own mishaps as a new mother that I thought I might share, but for whatever reason, this post just didn't go that way. I'll save those stories for another time: perhaps a post entitled, My Ten Biggest F*Ups Since Becoming a Mom. How will I limit myself to just ten?
Ten Tips for New Moms
1) Labour and Delivery. Let's start at the beginning shall we? You're pregnant. You're full of joy and the promise of a perfect life with your perfect new family. You and hubby have worked out the perfect birthing plan, attended Lamaze classes so you will know how to breathe through the pain, and packed your bag with all of the comforts you will need for your transition from this stage to the next beautiful stage of your transformation into motherhood.
Here's the thing. Things never go according to plan. Plans are great - guidelines - wish lists, is really what they are. You will be disappointed if you expect things to go entirely the way you want them to. Hope for the best, but be prepared for alternatives. One way or another, the baby will come out, and that is all that will matter in the end. When you hold that little bundle in your arms, the unimportant details of how he or she arrived will melt away.
My experience: The breathing lessons were completely useless as I went from no contractions to contractions 2 minutes apart, instantly. I brought a bag to the hospital packed full of things to aid in my "comfort" during labour and delivery, but never used any of it. When we arrived at the hospital we left the bag in the car and once in labour I couldn't let go of my husband's arms long enough for him to go and get it. The only thing I desperately needed from that bag was an elastic band to keep my sweaty hair out of my face! I resisted the drugs, as per "the plan" but just barely and mostly due to circumstance (I couldn't stand the nitrous oxide, I kept telling the epidural guys to "Go away! Wait come back! Nevermind, go away!" and the baby came really quickly). In the end, all that matters is the beautiful boy I now have in my life.
2) Nursing. So you want to nurse your baby exclusively, for at least four years? That is a respectable goal, to be sure. Mine was to nurse exclusively for 2 years. But, once again, life has a way of messing with our plans. Accept ahead of time that there are certain things that are beyond your control. Despite your best efforts, nursing may be difficult for you as it is for many, if not all, moms at least some of the time. This is NOT cause for shame. It is NORMAL. We are told that breastfeeding is the most natural thing we can do as women, so we expect it to just work. In reality, breastfeeding is HARD WORK! We are told all sorts of things about how and when we should nurse our babies, how and when to introduce a bottle, if ever. Wait and see. Breathe. Listen to your heart. Do what feels right to you and what works for the unique pairing of mother and child.
My experience: I wanted to nurse exclusively and did, for fourteen months. It nearly killed me. My son had acid reflux and nursed every 1-2 hours (which meant that I slept never more than one hour at a time) until we finally sorted out what was wrong and got him on the right medication - 5 months later. I listened to advice to not give him a bottle for 6 weeks to avoid so-called "nipple confusion". After that, my son would not take a bottle. No confusion, but still no rest for mom! If I had a second, I swore, he would have one bottle a day right from the start so that someone else could feed the baby and I could have a rest. I had many other nursing struggles along the way and almost quit several times. I finally stopped nursing when it seemed that Jack was less dependent on it, and when my body told me it had had enough. I'm glad that I had the opportunity to nurse my child, but would never suggest that there is a right way to do so or even that nursing is necessary. Yes, it has benefits, but probably way more important is a healthy, happy and connected mom.
3) Sleep. Ugh. We parents torment ourselves for years over the quality of our children's sleep. Scheduled naps and bed times. Sleep training: 'cry-it-out' methods have us alternately feeling we are giving our children the gift of a lifetime of healthy sleep habits and crying our eyes out thinking we are the cruelest parents ever. Try not to lose your mind. Try not to hate your partner, if you have one to deal with, when he or she unwittingly undermines your sleep plan. Be patient with him or her - they are learning too. Stay strong. Be persistent, but be forgiving with yourself and your child. Whatever sleep goals make sense to you, trust your judgement, give them a try. Don't be too hard on yourself if it's not easy or if you decide it's not working and you need a new plan. There is never anything wrong with changing course. In fact, as true as it may seem to you that change is the only constant, you've never experienced how true this is until becoming a mother. Get ready to go with the flow!
My experience: I am not a good sleeper. This obviously affected my decisions with respect to setting up my son's sleep habits. His first five months (with acid reflux and trouble sleeping) had an affect as well. It was important to me that he learn to sleep on his own. Ideally, he would also be able to sleep through noise. We were, despite teasing and, in some cases, judgement from others, very strict with Jack's bed time. Unlike other parents who kept their kids up until midnight so that they could attend weddings and other events, we put Jack to bed at the same time every night without exception. We felt that sleep was that important. We used a cry-it-out method as it was needed, a few times over the course of his first 3 years. It always worked pretty well. It was always very hard to do. Our son is a pretty good sleeper. We're not as strict anymore on very special occasions, but if he's late to bed it's only by an hour or two. We don't feel that he has missed out on anything as a result.
Sleep is another topic that could fill several posts. Whatever sleep problems you run into, know that there is a solution. There is a way to correct anything that goes wrong. Stay educated about sleep concerns and you'll be just fine.
4) Food. Double ugh! You will spend a ridiculous amount of your time preparing food and then shoveling it into the garbage when your baby, and then child, refuses to eat it. It will make you cry at least once. Breathe. This too shall pass. Not slowly, but it will. Over the years, if you are patient, your child will learn to enjoy what food is put in front of him or her. Resist the urge to be a short order cook! Resist the urge to feel you are a failure because your child will not eat broccoli. Your baby will eat if hungry and will, over the course of the week, if you are serving a variety of healthy foods, get all the nutrients he or she needs. This is your new mantra - repeat after me: I, as a parent, decide when and what my child will eat. My child decides if and how much he or she will eat.
My experience: I made all of my baby's first foods from scratch. I recognize this is not for everyone, especially moms who head back to work or have multiple kids or multiple demands on their time. It was, for me, relatively easy and made me feel good about controlling the type and quality of food my child was getting, I used good quality, organic food and still, I think, saved money. As time went on, I tried to expose my child to a variety of foods and flavours. I still try to use good quality food at home an to buy little or no processed food. This is a topic that I could dedicate several posts to. Tomorrow I will discuss a tiny aspect of the problem of getting kids to eat what's good for them.
5) Milestones. Milestones are both joyous to behold and the source of much anxiety for many parents. Know this, new mama. When your doctor tells you that your baby is just fine, it's really true. Your little Joey may not be crawling yet while many of his peers are. He may not be the crawling type. He may just stand up and walk one day. Sally may not be able to colour between the lines until she is five or six. You know what? That's okay! Every child develops differently. Each one has different interests. Encourage your child's interests. Gently help them to experience new things and learn new skills. Recognize your child's efforts and be proud of her accomplishments. Resist the temptation to compare your child to others her age.
My experience: I have been in situations, even with beloved family members, where when speaking about one of my child's interests (for example, noting that my son loves activity books as he plows through one at a family dinner), I have had to endure lectures about what my child should and shouldn't be doing, what appropriate development and learning is for his age, and so on. Someone might simply note something my child is doing and talk about how their child/neice/grandchild/etc can do that only better. I have seen moms shrink in size as some other mom bragged about their child in a way meant to make other children seem slow to develop. Moms, I implore you. Be proud of your children AND other children too. They are all beautiful creatures who will, if we get out of their way, grow up to be brilliant at any number of things they choose.
6) School. As your child gets a little older, you'll face such important questions as, Should I enroll my child in Gymboree? Should he go to preschool? Which one? What about language? Does my child need to be in french or spanish immersion? Most moms agree some form of socialization is good for kids. Yours might get it at home. As to which school, which subjects and what's important for your child to be exposed to? That's a very personal choice. Respect your choices. Trust your instincts about what's best for your child and be okay with it. It absolutely does not matter what anyone else does. Period.
My experience: I did the Gymboree thing for a while, and took Jack to some programs at our local rec centre. It kept him active and that was necessary for his sanity and mine. As an only child, I think he benefited from being around other kids. He is now in preschool. One that he loves to attend. One that embraces play. It didn't matter to me to have him in the best preschool to prepare him scholastically for kindergarten and beyond. I'm still debating which school he will go to, but my priorities at this age will lean more toward where he will be happiest (things like being close to home and friends will be factors) rather than where he will get the best education. A good public school will likely be good enough. (As an aside, this is a difficult decision where I live as we have a ridiculous number of choices when it comes to type of school.)
7) Bad behaviour. Along with socialization, and simply being a toddler or preschooler, comes bad behaviour: defiance, hitting, kicking, name-calling, screaming, whining, running away, not listening, not cooperating... the list has the potential to go on and on. Please don't be too hard on yourself when your perfect angel starts to do bad things. It does not make her a bad kid. It does not make you a bad parent. Into each life a little poop must fall, and as the parent of a toddler or preschooler you will shovel your fair share. Just clean it up and get some good advice on how to avoid stepping in any more of it.
My experience: You may have heard me mention my willful child in the past. I don't know where he gets it from (ahem), but it's a challenge to deal with. Just when I have one problem sorted a new one rears it's ugly head. It's tiring. I knew it would be this way too. I remember him kicking the bejeebers out of me in utero and thinking, This kid is going to be trouble. But I also knew that meant he would be a critical thinker, and that if I could just keep calm and support him he'd do really well in life. I knew it would be tough, and I quickly learned it would be tougher to do on my own. Which brings me to my next two tips...
8) Get educated! Knowledge is power. When you are feeling overwhelmed, remember that whatever you are experiencing many women before you have also experienced. Take advantage of courses offered to new moms. Many may be offered for free through your health region. Check out the multitude of books available through your library on a range of topics related to bringing up baby: some of the ones we just talked about, such as sleep and feeding. Subscribe to newsletters that offer tips and information about child development, where to get help when you need it, recipes, local family-friendly resources and events... whatever will make your life easier! Motherhood will be your hardest and most rewarding job ever. Don't be afraid to use the training manuals!
My experience: I met a group of moms when Jack was 3 1/2 months old through my local health region. We attended a course together that offered advice to new moms on all things related to keeping baby healthy. This combined with an information booklet offered by my health region were valuable resources for me. I also subscribed to babycenter.com for tips on supporting my child's development. If free information and advice was made available to me, I took it! I didn't necessarily follow everything I read or was told, but I made sure I had plenty of information to make informed decisions.
9) Get help! There is no shame in it. In fact, it's one of the smartest things you can do. Find someone in your life, a group of new moms or an organization you trust and use them! Ask them for help, and offer your help whenever you can. As a new mom you will see that one of your best resources is the huge network of fabulous moms out there, both the ones with kids your age and the ones who have been where you are about to go. Don't be afraid to make new connections. Many of these moms will become life-long friends.
My experience: Remember that group of moms I mentioned, the ones I met when Jack was just a tiny babe? We're still very good friends. We all met for weekly playgroups for several years. We still manage a few playgroup get-togethers, though our children are moving in different directions now. Somehow we manage to find time for each other still. We have each been powerful resources for one another. Simply knowing there were others close by that were going through the same things I was going through gave me a great deal of strength to survive some very tough days.
I've mentioned a company called Parenting Power on my blog before. These professionals have offered me invaluable advice when I needed it most. Very empowering. It helps to put the problem in perspective, remove blame from the situation, and quickly move to a workable solution. If you can find an organization like this one in your area, I say, Take advantage of it! Motherhood is at the same time highly rewarding and potentially very stressful. Anything that helps to tip the balance toward the benefits of the rewards and away from the stress of the trials is an investment well made, in my opinion.
10) My final tip to you, new mom, is to love yourself. You will spend most of your time worrying if you are doing the right thing, caring for your family and doing the best you can to care for yourself so that you can continue to care for your family. YOU ARE what they need. YOU ARE who they love. No matter your state. No matter your ability. No matter that all you have to offer your child today is celery and a hunk of cheese. Tomorrow is another day. Do the best you can with what you have today. You love your family. YOU ARE part of that family. Love yourself.
Please know that there is no right way to raise a child. There is only what feels right to you. Educate yourself, yes. Seek advice from friends who have been there, YES! Then, decide what is best for your family.
Be okay.
Everything will be okay.
xo
Me
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Guilty Pleasures
It's Monday Listicle time again with NorthWest Mommy.
Before we get to this week's listicle, I have the pleasure of announcing next week's listicle topic. I feel like I won a pageant or something! Hon? Where's my tiara? Ah, there we go.
My sister thinks you should all write a list of Ten Reasons you Want to be Scottish - we Scots apparently think quite highly of ourselves - but I fear that would alienate a few non-Scots. So... we'll go with my second-best idea which is Ten Tips for New Moms.
Before we get to this week's listicle, I have the pleasure of announcing next week's listicle topic. I feel like I won a pageant or something! Hon? Where's my tiara? Ah, there we go.
My sister thinks you should all write a list of Ten Reasons you Want to be Scottish - we Scots apparently think quite highly of ourselves - but I fear that would alienate a few non-Scots. So... we'll go with my second-best idea which is Ten Tips for New Moms.
Sunday, October 09, 2011
Happy Thanksgiving:
Ten Things I am Grateful For
This is the day that I have, for several weeks now, dedicated to participating in North West Mommy's Monday Listicles meme. This Monday is no different in that sense, but, with sincere apologies to one of my favourite funny blogging moms, Ado of the Momalog, who chose this week's listicle topic, I am going to veer off topic for the first time... but for a very good reason.
It's Thanksgiving Day here in Canada, and I want to take the time to give thanks for my many blessings.
Do check out Ado's topic for this week's listicle, because it's a fun one: it's your chance to list ten things about your family tree. Dig out the skeletons and share some funny family stories. Then link up!
Ten Things I am Grateful For
Family. On Thanksgiving Day, we gather with our families to celebrate and enjoy the bounty of the season. I am extremely fortunate to have a number of people in my life that, were they not family members, I would happily call friends. My husband, my son, my sister, my brothers, and my mom and dad though they are no longer with us, are all in my thoughts today. Thanks to my husband in particular for being my best friend and a loving, compassionate father to our son.
Friends. Just as many of my family members are also good friends, my many good friends are like family to me. I consider myself to be very fortunate indeed to have the friends that I do. They are supportive and fun. A toast to all of you today!
Music. I hadn't intended on writing this list in any particular order after the first two, but it makes sense that music is near the top of the list. Music is almost as necessary to me as air. I'm a bit of an aficionado, but it's not because I endeavour to be one. Music just enters my body and stays there. I have so many song lyrics and melodies swimming around in my head there really isn't room for much of anything else. I'd rather go to a concert, almost any kind, than a movie (not that I don't love my movies)! If there is no music playing, I'm usually tempted to sing. My husband, my son and I all have this love of music in common.
My Kindle. Yes it's true I love my Kindle (ILMK). This seems a strange thing to be grateful for, but it has afforded me the opportunity to read 40+ books already this year, whereas last year I probably read something like 10 DTBs (dead-tree books), if that. It also inspired the launch of Cookie's Book Club which has been really fun to write content for. That in turn has put me into contact with some fabulous writers, who have also turned out to be very interesting, charming, witty and generous people. All kinds of good, from a little device.
My view. I love my home, and especially the view from my back deck. I am SO very fortunate that I get to see this view every day. It changes with the seasons and Mother Nature's moods. I never tire of the big sky, long view and the majestic Rocky Mountains.
Nature. One of the reasons that I love my home and it's view is that I love nature. The sights, sounds and smells of it replenish my sometimes weary soul. Life is busy... and noisy. Escaping with my family to the mountains or even the river near our house is a luxury I hope never to take for granted.
Good food. I'm grateful that I have a husband who enjoys cooking. I have grand ideas. I'm great at meal planning. But when it comes to execution, I sometimes get distracted by the multitude of other things I have going on. Hubby slides in and saves the day by cooking it all up to perfection! We have enjoyed homemade pizzas on the BBQ that are to die for! When I am inspired to cook, I can go a little crazy, for example making an entire Indian feast from scratch, but oh my, is it good! I love eating out. I love eating in. Breakfast served in my hotel room. Brunch at the local diner. Romantic picnic lunches and delicious sausage on a bun from the street vendor. Elegant dinners at the finest restaurants, and pot luck meals with friends. I love the experience of eating. I love good food!
My health. I've mentioned my health before. There are some challenges there, but I am grateful, truly, for the good health and good days that I enjoy. Each new day is a gift, with the potential to be great. I am blessed to have options with respect to health care, supportive friends and family, and to lead this wonderfully, full life!
This blog. This blog has been a real growth experience for me, and a whole lot of fun. It's, at times, the best kind of therapy. It allows me to do a little light writing, share some of my ideas, and connect with like-minded friends.
...which brings me to the tenth thing I am most grateful for...
You! To those of you who read my blog, leave me thoughtful comments, and just generally offer your support, I say thank-you! Without that support, I would feel a bit like I am talking to a room full of empty chairs. Your feedback is MUCH appreciated and so helpful!
Happy Thanksgiving to all of my Canadian friends! I hope you are able to spend some time in the company of your loved ones today. Enjoy your turkey/ham/tofurkey dinners! I most definitely will enjoy mine... especially the pumpkin pie!
It's Thanksgiving Day here in Canada, and I want to take the time to give thanks for my many blessings.
Do check out Ado's topic for this week's listicle, because it's a fun one: it's your chance to list ten things about your family tree. Dig out the skeletons and share some funny family stories. Then link up!
Ten Things I am Grateful For
Family. On Thanksgiving Day, we gather with our families to celebrate and enjoy the bounty of the season. I am extremely fortunate to have a number of people in my life that, were they not family members, I would happily call friends. My husband, my son, my sister, my brothers, and my mom and dad though they are no longer with us, are all in my thoughts today. Thanks to my husband in particular for being my best friend and a loving, compassionate father to our son.
Friends. Just as many of my family members are also good friends, my many good friends are like family to me. I consider myself to be very fortunate indeed to have the friends that I do. They are supportive and fun. A toast to all of you today!
Music. I hadn't intended on writing this list in any particular order after the first two, but it makes sense that music is near the top of the list. Music is almost as necessary to me as air. I'm a bit of an aficionado, but it's not because I endeavour to be one. Music just enters my body and stays there. I have so many song lyrics and melodies swimming around in my head there really isn't room for much of anything else. I'd rather go to a concert, almost any kind, than a movie (not that I don't love my movies)! If there is no music playing, I'm usually tempted to sing. My husband, my son and I all have this love of music in common.
My Kindle. Yes it's true I love my Kindle (ILMK). This seems a strange thing to be grateful for, but it has afforded me the opportunity to read 40+ books already this year, whereas last year I probably read something like 10 DTBs (dead-tree books), if that. It also inspired the launch of Cookie's Book Club which has been really fun to write content for. That in turn has put me into contact with some fabulous writers, who have also turned out to be very interesting, charming, witty and generous people. All kinds of good, from a little device.
My view. I love my home, and especially the view from my back deck. I am SO very fortunate that I get to see this view every day. It changes with the seasons and Mother Nature's moods. I never tire of the big sky, long view and the majestic Rocky Mountains.
Nature. One of the reasons that I love my home and it's view is that I love nature. The sights, sounds and smells of it replenish my sometimes weary soul. Life is busy... and noisy. Escaping with my family to the mountains or even the river near our house is a luxury I hope never to take for granted.
Good food. I'm grateful that I have a husband who enjoys cooking. I have grand ideas. I'm great at meal planning. But when it comes to execution, I sometimes get distracted by the multitude of other things I have going on. Hubby slides in and saves the day by cooking it all up to perfection! We have enjoyed homemade pizzas on the BBQ that are to die for! When I am inspired to cook, I can go a little crazy, for example making an entire Indian feast from scratch, but oh my, is it good! I love eating out. I love eating in. Breakfast served in my hotel room. Brunch at the local diner. Romantic picnic lunches and delicious sausage on a bun from the street vendor. Elegant dinners at the finest restaurants, and pot luck meals with friends. I love the experience of eating. I love good food!
My health. I've mentioned my health before. There are some challenges there, but I am grateful, truly, for the good health and good days that I enjoy. Each new day is a gift, with the potential to be great. I am blessed to have options with respect to health care, supportive friends and family, and to lead this wonderfully, full life!
This blog. This blog has been a real growth experience for me, and a whole lot of fun. It's, at times, the best kind of therapy. It allows me to do a little light writing, share some of my ideas, and connect with like-minded friends.
...which brings me to the tenth thing I am most grateful for...
You! To those of you who read my blog, leave me thoughtful comments, and just generally offer your support, I say thank-you! Without that support, I would feel a bit like I am talking to a room full of empty chairs. Your feedback is MUCH appreciated and so helpful!
Happy Thanksgiving to all of my Canadian friends! I hope you are able to spend some time in the company of your loved ones today. Enjoy your turkey/ham/tofurkey dinners! I most definitely will enjoy mine... especially the pumpkin pie!
Sunday, October 02, 2011
Ten Things Quotable
Today I'll share ten of my favourite quotes. These quotes all have something in common: they lift me up. Some of them make me laugh. Others help me to appreciate what I have. Most of them inspire me to rise above life's challenges and to live a fuller life.
Have a list of ten things quotable that you'd like to share? Link it up!
Fall down seven times, get up eight. ~ Japanese Proverb
A very simple idea, with great power. It's true that each time we fall we rise again. Whenever I face a challenge in life, I remind myself that inevitably I will land on my feet. With this awareness there is no need to be afraid, no need for doubt.
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx
Why do I love this quote? Maybe it's because I love to read. Maybe it's because Groucho Marx was such a wit. This quote always makes me laugh, and to me laughter is life's elixir.
We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand. ~ Randy Pausch, The Last Lecture
Randy Pausch knew he was dying of pancreatic cancer, incidentally the same cancer that took my dad's life, when he delivered his now famous last lecture at Carnegie Mellon University. Even when facing death, Randy was optimistic as he spoke to his students of the lessons he had learned and how anyone can achieve their dreams. This statement helps me to remember that though there are many things over which I have no control, I can control my reaction to these things. I am never a victim. I have the power to create the life that I choose.
Note: I think this idea was originally coined by Josh Billings as, "Life consists not in holding good cards but in playing those you hold well."
"I love deadlines. I love the wooshing sound they make as they fly by." ~ Douglas Adams
Douglas Adams is another funny, funny man. The reason this quote is always in my back pocket is to remind me that highly successful people have trouble meeting deadlines too. It's not just me. And in the end, being on time is not really the sexiest thing to be remembered for. Woosh!
"If you're not having problems, you are missing an opportunity for growth." ~ Unknown
It's another simple but profound idea. We need to be able to laugh at ourselves and our predicaments (we mommy bloggers have this one figured out)! Once again, it's about recognizing when we have no control over the situation, but much control over the outcome. Without challenges, life would be dull. It would be predictable, true, but very, very dull. Embrace the challenges. Rise above them and have a story to tell!
"That which does not kill us makes us stronger" ~ Friedrich Nietzsche
Nitezsche was a bit of a tortured nut job, but he sometimes made good sense. As a child, I used this phrase very frequently, and it has certainly held true. The more we challenge ourselves, or face head-on the challenges that come our way, and succeed, the more our confidence grows. When we believe in ourselves, there's nothing we can't handle.
"I've traveled a long way and some of the roads weren't paved." ~ Will Rogers
In keeping with the previous quote is this one. When I read it I think of an old woman with many stories to tell, some of them easily legible in the lines on her face. Better a long and bumpy road than the same old familiar stretch of smoothly paved highway. At the end of my life I want to be able to say that I saw things, that I was adventurous. Perhaps you will be able to tell by the lines on my face.
One day an old Native American grandfather was talking to his grandson. He said, "There are two wolves fighting inside all of us - the wolf of fear and hate, and the wolf of love and peace." The grandson listened, then looked up at his grandfather and asked, "Which one will win?" The grandfather replied, "The one we feed."
A great story that reminds me how my every thought and action affects my inner state, as well as the universe in general. Whatever I put out there, will come back to me. A simple change in attitude can immediately change the course of events.
"Consistency is the last resort of the unimaginative." ~ Oscar Wilde
This quote makes me feel better about an aspect of myself that might otherwise be seen as a negative. I'm not good with routine. I'm not interested in doing things the same way time and again. I am interested in innovation, problem solving, thinking outside the box. I'm definitely a dreamer, and you can bet I'll be encouraging my son to exercise his imagination.
“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” ~ Maria Robinson
Again I am reminded that no matter what has come to pass, be it yesterday, years before or just moments ago, anything else can still happen. It only takes a small action to invoke a change. A simple change in attitude might even do it. No matter what IS, there is no telling what might BE. Nothing in the past determines the future.
And here's a bonus eleventh quote from a book I will be reviewing on Cookie's Book Club this month:
In Bull Canyon by Lin Pardey, Lin wonders how a person builds something as big as a boat and calls it “a really daunting task”. Her partner Larry, the boat builder, offers this insight:
“You don’t build a boat, Lin....You build a keel timber. When that’s finished, you build a stem. Think of each piece as a separate goal in itself and watch the pieces fit together until you have a complete boat. That way you can enjoy each step and celebrate each triumph without getting overwhelmed.”
I love this! I may just have it printed on a wall plaque. This is a great analogy for all of us in the building of our own “boat”, even if we don't yet have one to build or recognize what our "boat" is. It remind us to celebrate our small successes, as they are part of the bigger whole.
Have a list of ten things quotable that you'd like to share? Link it up!
Fall down seven times, get up eight. ~ Japanese Proverb
A very simple idea, with great power. It's true that each time we fall we rise again. Whenever I face a challenge in life, I remind myself that inevitably I will land on my feet. With this awareness there is no need to be afraid, no need for doubt.
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx
Why do I love this quote? Maybe it's because I love to read. Maybe it's because Groucho Marx was such a wit. This quote always makes me laugh, and to me laughter is life's elixir.
We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand. ~ Randy Pausch, The Last Lecture
Randy Pausch knew he was dying of pancreatic cancer, incidentally the same cancer that took my dad's life, when he delivered his now famous last lecture at Carnegie Mellon University. Even when facing death, Randy was optimistic as he spoke to his students of the lessons he had learned and how anyone can achieve their dreams. This statement helps me to remember that though there are many things over which I have no control, I can control my reaction to these things. I am never a victim. I have the power to create the life that I choose.
Note: I think this idea was originally coined by Josh Billings as, "Life consists not in holding good cards but in playing those you hold well."
"I love deadlines. I love the wooshing sound they make as they fly by." ~ Douglas Adams
Douglas Adams is another funny, funny man. The reason this quote is always in my back pocket is to remind me that highly successful people have trouble meeting deadlines too. It's not just me. And in the end, being on time is not really the sexiest thing to be remembered for. Woosh!
"If you're not having problems, you are missing an opportunity for growth." ~ Unknown
It's another simple but profound idea. We need to be able to laugh at ourselves and our predicaments (we mommy bloggers have this one figured out)! Once again, it's about recognizing when we have no control over the situation, but much control over the outcome. Without challenges, life would be dull. It would be predictable, true, but very, very dull. Embrace the challenges. Rise above them and have a story to tell!
"That which does not kill us makes us stronger" ~ Friedrich Nietzsche
Nitezsche was a bit of a tortured nut job, but he sometimes made good sense. As a child, I used this phrase very frequently, and it has certainly held true. The more we challenge ourselves, or face head-on the challenges that come our way, and succeed, the more our confidence grows. When we believe in ourselves, there's nothing we can't handle.
"I've traveled a long way and some of the roads weren't paved." ~ Will Rogers
In keeping with the previous quote is this one. When I read it I think of an old woman with many stories to tell, some of them easily legible in the lines on her face. Better a long and bumpy road than the same old familiar stretch of smoothly paved highway. At the end of my life I want to be able to say that I saw things, that I was adventurous. Perhaps you will be able to tell by the lines on my face.
One day an old Native American grandfather was talking to his grandson. He said, "There are two wolves fighting inside all of us - the wolf of fear and hate, and the wolf of love and peace." The grandson listened, then looked up at his grandfather and asked, "Which one will win?" The grandfather replied, "The one we feed."
A great story that reminds me how my every thought and action affects my inner state, as well as the universe in general. Whatever I put out there, will come back to me. A simple change in attitude can immediately change the course of events.
"Consistency is the last resort of the unimaginative." ~ Oscar Wilde
This quote makes me feel better about an aspect of myself that might otherwise be seen as a negative. I'm not good with routine. I'm not interested in doing things the same way time and again. I am interested in innovation, problem solving, thinking outside the box. I'm definitely a dreamer, and you can bet I'll be encouraging my son to exercise his imagination.
“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” ~ Maria Robinson
Again I am reminded that no matter what has come to pass, be it yesterday, years before or just moments ago, anything else can still happen. It only takes a small action to invoke a change. A simple change in attitude might even do it. No matter what IS, there is no telling what might BE. Nothing in the past determines the future.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
And here's a bonus eleventh quote from a book I will be reviewing on Cookie's Book Club this month:
In Bull Canyon by Lin Pardey, Lin wonders how a person builds something as big as a boat and calls it “a really daunting task”. Her partner Larry, the boat builder, offers this insight:
“You don’t build a boat, Lin....You build a keel timber. When that’s finished, you build a stem. Think of each piece as a separate goal in itself and watch the pieces fit together until you have a complete boat. That way you can enjoy each step and celebrate each triumph without getting overwhelmed.”
I love this! I may just have it printed on a wall plaque. This is a great analogy for all of us in the building of our own “boat”, even if we don't yet have one to build or recognize what our "boat" is. It remind us to celebrate our small successes, as they are part of the bigger whole.
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A special thank-you to my friend RDS, a constant source of inspiration.
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