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Themed Weekend: Globe-Trotting Girl

January 22, 2010 By 9 Comments

holding a sleeping baby Themed Weekend: Globe Trotting GirlSomeday, I’m going to travel the world with my family. We’re going to go to Israel and Indonesia, New Zealand and New York, London and Little Rock.

But today…for now…we travel the world…through books and experiences and people. And we get away for an occasional weekend or week – exploring new sights, laughing with good friends.

That’s how it is when you have teeny tiny ones.

little girl with umbrella Themed Weekend: Globe Trotting GirlSo, yesterday we escaped for a quick trip to Phoenix. And, when we arrived, a tornado warning was issued. That kind of thing never happens in Arizona. But we’re all safe and sound now…and the sun is shining.

In pre-kid years, I went to Pakistan and Pittsburgh and Puerto Vallarta.

Today, I go to the park and the playground and the corner Walgreens for a pack of gum.

But if you think that means my life is predictable and humdrum, you are quite mistaken.

Just in the past 24 hours, for example, we picked lemons off a lemon tree and made homemade pizza and saw an incredible marching band that walked right by our dinner table (The band consisted of my 3-year-old and Christine‘s almost-2-year-old…they circled the table again and again, beating plastic bowling pins together and singing, “We’re in a marching band!”). I should have taken a picture, but I was having too much fun.

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Stay tuned for articles, product reviews, giveaways, and conversations about travel – at home, in our imaginations, and abroad.

As posts are published, I will add them to this post so that you can have a comprehensive spot to see my entire round-up.

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Themed Weekend: The Mother I Want to Be

January 15, 2010 By 27 Comments

mom and daughters Themed Weekend: The Mother I Want to BeIf you met me four years ago, you would have seen a curly-haired girl with green-ish eyes, a masters degree, and a mission to save the world.

I wore heels and matching business suits and red lipstick. I wrote proposals and spoke at trainings. I attended meetings with my Franklin Covey planner in-hand, jotting down notes and business ideas. I ate salads with coworkers…some quirky, some candid, some kind.

If you met me today, you would see a curly-haired girl with green-ish eyes, a masters degree, and a mission to save the world.

But now I wear blue jeans and t-shirts and…red lipstick. I write the ABCs and I speak at trainings (“Don’t forget to say please. No screaming at the top of your lungs at the dinner table. Etc.“). I attend VIP picnics and go on “pretend airplane rides” with my spiral-bound notebook in-hand, jotting down notes and business ideas. I eat noodles and mandarin oranges with two little girls who challenge me and make me laugh.

mother and daughters Themed Weekend: The Mother I Want to BeIt’s strange how motherhood changes you, brings out your worst and your best. I am so different now, yet also still the same.

This weekend, I’ll be sharing some of the qualities that I am striving toward as a mother. I often fall short of who I want to be, but I stand right back up again…and keep moving toward those ideals – allowing grace to give me the strength to try again.

YOUR TURN: What were you like pre-kids? How have you changed/stayed the same?

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Stay tuned for musings, giveaways, and conversation.

As posts are published, I will add them to this post so that you can have a comprehensive spot to see my entire round-up.

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Themed Weekend: Pregnancy, Birth, & Babies

December 19, 2009 By 20 Comments

womb4 300x200 Themed Weekend: Pregnancy, Birth, & BabiesI Wonder: Do women ever stop thinking about birth once they have experienced it?

I gave birth to my firstborn in 2006 and my second in 2009 – and both experiences have shaped me, defined me…in so many ways.

Almost every day, I think back to those days – remembering the excitement, the pain, the fear, the trust, and then…the overwhelming love, the magic of seeing a baby’s face for the very first time – MY baby. It’s really indescribable on so many levels. I feel at a loss for words even now because all of the adjectives that I want to use (magnificent, amazing, life-changing) don’t seem powerful enough.

This weekend, I return to those topics – the miracle of pregnancy, the beauty of birth, and the breathtaking sleeplessness of those early days. Won’t you join me for candid conversations, product reviews, giveaways, and more?

P.S. Here’s a little SHOUT-OUT to my pregnant readers + friends (Congratulations!): Kristen, Caryn, Arianne, Gabrielle, Beth, Jessica, Carrington, Autumn, Minette, Rhonda, and Danielle.

— AND to my friends with teeny tiny babes in the house (Congratulations to you too!): Emily, Lisa, Becca, and Betsy (my little sister).

YOUR TURN: Did I forget to mention you in my list? {I’m so sorry if I did!} Are you pregnant or do you have a bitty baby in the house?

* Image: baby @ 12 weeks, photograph by David Barlow, part of a collection of photos from In the Womb Book {published by National Geographic}

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Themed Weekend: Family Travels

December 4, 2009 By 15 Comments

3 300x241 Themed Weekend: Family TravelsI go back-and-forth about the worthwhileness of traveling with wee ones.

On the one hand, I think: traveling with babies and tots is just plain crazy. It requires an over-the-top amount of energy, planning, and patience…not to mention – STUFF. It involves strollers, car seats, teethers, toys, nursing covers, baby carriers, diapers, wipes, extra pairs of tiny underwear, lots of little onesies, and much, much more. Throw in sleepy kids, a few public tantrums, trying to get a car seat into a foreign car, and one or two “I need to go potty” quips in very inopportune locations – and any parent might decide that it’s much better, much more comfortable to be at home. Especially considering that your little ones won’t even remember the Statue of Liberty or the Grand Canyon or the Leaning Tower of Piza.

On the other hand, I think: traveling with babies and tots is all kinds of fun. After all, what better time to just get out and go than when parents are young and adventurous? Sure, adding little ones into any travel itinerary is bound to add a little (or a lot of) extra stress, but it also adds laughter and magic. It’s kind of nice to get away from the “day-to-day” of macaroni & cheese and naptimes and mopping the floor in favor of something magnificent, something new. And even if they won’t remember it, YOU will. You’ll remember nursing on top of the Eiffel Tower or holding a tiny hand as you take in the grandeur of Yosemite or hearing a little voice sing “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” as you paddle through Venice. You’ll remember it all – with precision and nostalgia and joy. And there’s a good chance that the trying moments will fade to a beautiful blur over time. If you do remember them, you’ll remember them with laughter and reminisce at the sweetness of those precious times.

YOUR TURN: If you currently have a baby or a child under age six, do you travel often? Why or why not? If you have older children, did you travel when they were young? If yes, are you glad that you did? If no, do you wish you had?

This weekend is about traveling (more specifically, traveling with tots in tow). As usual, there will be tips, product reviews, giveaways, and photos. Stay tuned.

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Themed Weekend: Ho-Ho-Holidays

November 28, 2009 By 27 Comments

Isn’t it strange how holidays often end up being the most stressful time of year? We worry about what to wear and how to wear it, what to eat and how to cook it. We hustle and bustle and get to places late. We get a little snappier rather than happier.

{Oh, wait. Maybe that’s just us.}

thanksgiving craft turkey with feathers Themed Weekend: Ho Ho HolidaysTake Thanksgiving morning, for example. We were rushing around. I was attempting to make sweet potato casserole (for the first time in my life); Tim was attempting to get ready for his upcoming dirt biking trip to the dunes. Our 8-month-old decided she wanted to be part of the action and cried a most sorrowful cry if we put her down for even half a millisecond so one of us was incapacitated the whole morning.

Tim was a little upset because “we” had to make sweet potatoes, stating quite crossly that he wouldn’t bring anything at all if it were up to him. I was upset because I was making the potatoes singlehandedly, plus I got a little bit defensive and pointed out that I *always* have to be the one to pack “THE BAG” for the our girls too. You know the one – with diapers, wipes, extra clothes, etc. Not exaggerating about that.

an hour late for thanksgiving Themed Weekend: Ho Ho HolidaysFinally, after much pomp and circumstance, we got in the car in a huff and arrived at his parents an hour late for breakfast. Yes, an HOUR. Embarrassing.

It was our fault. We should’ve woken up early. We should’ve made the potatoes the night before. We should’ve planned ahead. we shoulda, shoulda, shoulda.

All of the grumpiness made us both wish we could just cancel the festivities, order a pizza, and stay home instead.

But then we arrived and everyone was gracious. My mother-in-law had made my favorite Whole Wheat Cinnamon Rolls. My father-in-law made me a mug of coffee with whipped cream and chocolate syrup. And my 3-year-old quite sweetly announced, “Sorry we’re late!” without any prompting. And I realized that I have it good. Really, Really, Really Good.

old hands young hands Themed Weekend: Ho Ho Holidays 3 years old thanksgiving 2009 Themed Weekend: Ho Ho Holidays

Oh, and – for the record – the sweet potatoes were delicious. I couldn’t help but notice that my non-sweet-potato-eating husband put a mound on his plate and gladly ate the whole thing.

YOUR TURN: How was your Thanksgiving? Were you snappy or happy?

***This weekend is entitled Ho-Ho-Holidays because it’s all about prepping for Christmas. I am also happy to say that I am going to continue to play Santa this weekend – I have lots of fun giveaways and gift ideas to come.

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Themed Weekend: Photography

November 6, 2009 By 37 Comments

I get about 1 good picture for every 10 that I take.

3 years old november 2009 Themed Weekend: Photography

My ratio is high because my models are so strikingly beautiful.

8 months old november 2009 Themed Weekend: Photography 3 years old november 2009 2 Themed Weekend: Photography

That said, my pictures don’t always turn out how I envision because…

  1. My house is not at all conducive to picture-taking.
  2. My backyard is teensy-tiny and kinda blah.
  3. I am almost always holding a baby while taking pictures.
  4. I’ve never read my camera’s manual.

I may not be able to immediately change the first three (and, really, I don’t want to change #3 because…seriously…who would want to put down a baby who is that cute?), but I can change the fourth. This weekend, I determine to read my camera’s manual. It’s been on my to-do list for the longest time, but now I’m going to make it a reality.

Because ::

  • I want to take spectacular, frame-worthy pictures.
  • I am fascinated by the art of photography.

I know I will never be able to fully capture my girls’ tenacious spirits, sparkling personalities, and hauntingly beautiful eyes in pictures…but I’d like to try.

3 years old november 2009 3 Themed Weekend: Photography 8 months old almost1 Themed Weekend: Photography

Stay tuned for photography-related articles, product reviews, and giveaways.

YOUR TURN: Have you read your camera’s manual?

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