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Themed Weekend: Friends

September 18, 2009 By 22 Comments

Screen shot 2009 09 18 at 8.27.52 PM 218x300 Themed Weekend: FriendsThis is going to sound horrible, but…

do you ever feel too exhausted for friendship?

After loading the dishwasher, doing laundry, checking e-mail, reading stories, zooming around the house like an airplane, painting with water paints, rocking my baby, scheduling dentist appointments, making dinner, making business plans, and connecting with my husband…I just feel tired.

Happy, but tired.

I think about my friends all of the time. I wonder how Rhonda’s pregnancy is treating her, how Donita‘s running plan is going, and how Jenny‘s baby is. I think about Germaine and how much fun we have together, how we make each other laugh out loud and challenge each other to think. I think about Sandy and Ashley, Kristen and Darcie, Danielle and Christina, and my sisters. And so many others.

But it’s so hard to find the time (and energy) to maintain those friendships. Deep down, I mostly just hope and pray that we can all give each other a little grace in this season – this crazy season of wiping bottoms, singing the ABCs, nursing every few hours, getting out all of the toys and then picking them all up (all.day.long.). This is a short season.

For now, I can do little things, like:

  • invite you over for mac ‘n cheese, or
  • meet you for a 20-minute run, or
  • send you a greeting card, or
  • text message you to say hi

little sister sleeping september 2009 Themed Weekend: FriendsBut, beyond that, I’m pretty much maxed out. My schedule is full. My body is tired. And my babies are growing up. I don’t want to miss this.

But please know that I also miss you.

I just haven’t figured out how to do it all, be it all {If you know the secret, tell me quick}.

YOUR TURN: How often do you get together with your friends?

P.S. This weekend is all about friendship – connecting, entertaining, meeting and greeting. Stay tuned for product reviews, giveaways, and ideas. Won’t you join me?

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Themed Weekend: Babies Don’t Keep

September 11, 2009 By 25 Comments

highchair baby sister Themed Weekend: Babies Dont KeepMy baby is growing up. 6 months old already.

Today, we put her in her high chair for the first time. She sat up there and “talked” a little – and smiled a lot.

And there she was. Big as big. Her eyes sparkling, her gummy smile charming us, her hands patting excitedly on the table.

little sister and me september 2009 Themed Weekend: Babies Dont KeepMy heart did a little pitter-patter when I saw that, and then I looked over at her big sister – gangly and talkative and gregarious. And a little lump welled up in my throat. I just wanted to stop the clock right there, to hold on tight to this chaotic beauty, to the wonder of this moment.

Oh God, let me make the most of this. Don’t let them grow up too fast.

The below poem (by Ruth Hulbert Hamilton) has been all around the Internet and back again a million times, but I keep coming back to it. It speaks to me, calms me, reminds me that these “unproductive” days when “nothing” gets done…these are the days that matter most of all.

Mother, O Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing, make up the bed,
Sew on a button and butter the bread.

Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh, I’ve grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue,
Lullabye, rockabye, lullabye loo.
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo.

The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew
And out in the yard there’s a hullabaloo
But I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo
Look! Aren’t her eyes the most wonderful hue?
Lullabye, rockaby lullabye loo.

The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow
But children grow up as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.

Stay tuned for musings, product reviews, and giveaways specifically related to babies in the 6-12M age range. Won’t you join me?

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Themed Weekend: Money Matters

September 4, 2009 By 12 Comments

Picture 2 150x140 Themed Weekend: Money MattersI have heard that in most marriages one person is usually the “saver” and one person is usually the “spender.”

That is not the case in our marriage.

Actually, we sometimes joke that my husband is the “saver” and I am the “super saver.” We are both extremely “aware” of what we spend, how we spend it, and why we do what we do.

Most people would actually be very surprised if they found out exactly how much money we make because we are able to live quite well on just a little.

Stay tuned this weekend for tips, ideas, product reviews, and giveaways – all related to wise money management. I look forward to engaging in these conversations with you. I hope you’ll join in!

Image Credit: flickr, AMagill‘s photostream

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Themed Weekend: Faith

August 22, 2009 By 30 Comments

You may have noticed that I don’t write overtly about my faith on this blog.

That’s because I don’t wear my faith on my sleeve. Or on my t-shirt or bumper sticker, for that matter.

It’s not a part of my life. It IS my life.

It’s not something I say. Or something I do. It’s something I AM.

2871346522 b0b13cf1b5 300x253 Themed Weekend: FaithAnd what is my faith? What is my religion? Let’s see. If I could describe it in one word, it would be LOVE.

It’s feeding the poor and encouraging the hopeless and living beyond myself.

It’s caring for children and fighting against injustice and doing good.

It’s putting myself second and asking forgiveness and thinking about people more than things.

As I write this, I hesitate. Should I really post about this? Faith is, after all, kind of a touchy topic. It triggers emotion. So, I’ll preface this series by saying you might be a little uncomfortable, I might be a little uncomfortable. Not because I will be dissecting theology or anything like that, but because there is potential for misunderstandings. For example, if – in passing – I tell you I went to church this past Sunday, you might:

  • think to yourself, “I’m skeptical of organized religion. I wonder why she bothers to go.” OR
  • think about some bad experience at a church when you were young OR
  • wonder why I go to church on Sunday and not Saturday OR
  • smile because you’re part of a great church.

You see? Just by saying the word “church,” I am instantly vulnerable.

Here’s the thing. I don’t want to fight. I grow weary of dogmatic rhetoric. I just want to say: “here’s my thoughts about church, God, religion, people, whatever” and then hear your thoughts. K? Just like we’re talking about anything else. Matter-of-factly. Respectfully. With laughter. Without big religious words that we don’t use in regular conversations (unless, of course, you do use those words in regular, everyday conversations).

So, that’s what this weekend is about. I’ll be writing about things that are somehow tied to religion or faith (which is a bit terrifying). Next weekend there will be more product reviews and giveaways as usual (I have a bunch of them planned). This weekend is more about musings. Let’s see how this goes…

P.S. I really don’t understand putting bumper stickers on cars. You put this one-liner message on your car that you can’t fully explain, but that requires explanation. Not to mention the damage you do to your car.

P.P.S. There is nothing wrong with bumper stickers. I just don’t understand them.

P.P.S. When I say that love is my religion, I am indeed referring to the love that is rooted in Jesus Christ.

P.P.P.S. Do you ever notice that it’s really hard to talk about religion without using a bunch of clauses and explanations and post-scripts?

* Image credit: Flickr, iFatma‘s photostream

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Themed Weekend: For Fit Mamas {and those that want to be}

August 14, 2009 By 19 Comments

themed weekend fitness Themed Weekend: For Fit Mamas {and those that want to be}Thanks to Jillian Michaels and the 30-day Shred, my almost-three-year-old daughter can now:

  • do jumping jacks
  • do push-ups
  • get into an “ab hold,” and
  • do a “superman”

And she uses all of that terminology too.

It is pretty much the cutest thing ever.

That is one of the many reasons that I choose – sometimes quite reluctantly – to make exercise a regular part of my life. Because I want my girls to see that it matters, that disciplining your body often helps you to discipline other areas of your life as well.

That is what this weekend is all about. Getting fit. Inspiring each other. Sharing our best exercise tips. Stay tuned for ideas, product reviews, and giveaways.

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Themed Weekend: Fashionista

August 7, 2009 By 22 Comments

If I were rich, I would shop at:

Picture 4 150x26 Themed Weekend: FashionistaPicture 31 Themed Weekend: Fashionista32915b5 Themed Weekend: Fashionista Picture 5 150x20 Themed Weekend: Fashionista Picture 11 Themed Weekend: Fashionista

And I’d buy great jeans from:

Picture 21 150x60 Themed Weekend: Fashionista Picture 7 138x150 Themed Weekend: Fashionista

Or maybe I wouldn’t.

Maybe, instead, I’d keep wearing the clothes that I have in my closet.

Because…I’d much rather buy a goat for an impoverished family or loan money to a budding entrepreneur on kiva.org than spend wads of cash at the nearest shopping mall.

Sometimes, I am tempted to just say “good riddance” to the whole notion of high-fashion and keeping up with trends. BUT then I remember that…(a) first impressions matter, (b) “looks” matter, and (c) it is unwise to mitigate the power of clothing and attractiveness in influencing our world.

So I try to look stylish without spending ridiculous quantities of money. After all, I want to LOOK like a person who is going to change the world (and people really do make “judgment calls” about your competence and character based on how you look).

That said, I don’t want to empty my wallet on things that don’t have any real significance.

It is my desire to live a “balanced life.”

In real time, this means:

  • spending MORE on high-quality pieces that are versatile and that will last a long time in my wardrobe.
  • hosting quarterly clothes swaps to give old clothing away and to replenish my closet.
  • watching for clothing sales online and in-stores.

This weekend, I’ll be sharing some of my recent fashion finds…and I’ll also give you an opportunity to win some apparel and shoes of your own. Stay tuned!

YOUR TURN: If you could shop for clothes anywhere, where would you go? How do you save money when it comes to buying clothes for yourself?

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Themed Weekend: Back-to-School

August 1, 2009 By 21 Comments

Our oldest will turn three in September. I can’t believe it.

She was here:

pregnant nine months Themed Weekend: Back to School

And then she was HERE:

newborn baby Themed Weekend: Back to School

And now she is all grown up:

you are my sunshine 2 Themed Weekend: Back to School

How did that happen?

Some people have asked whether we’ll send her to preschool.

The answer is “no.”

For starters, I can teach her all of the basics at home. She loves learning and has a natural curiosity that is absolutely charming.

She:

  • can sing her ABCs (she sometimes skips a letter or two, but she’s pretty close…)
  • recognizes all of the letters in the alphabet
  • knows all of her colors and shapes (except for octagon…we’re working on that)
  • Uses scissors and glue and crayons like an old pro
  • Uses big words like “actually” and “organize” and “Corduroy”

Secondarily, she gets plenty of social interaction “as is.” She is super close to her grandparents and she has friends galore to play with.

Finally – and perhaps most significantly – I’m not quite ready to let her go. Truth be told, I want her to be right here by my side. I want to be the one teaching her, laughing with her, influencing her heart and mind all day long. At least for now.

Besides, we like to be together. We like our days at home – me and her and her baby sis.

I know every family is different, every child is different, every situation is different – but that’s what we’re choosing (for now).

Needless to say, this weekend’s theme is a little funny since I’m not really the “expert” on back-to-school stuff. But I will share tips for teaching “littles” and relevant product reviews/giveaways as well. And maybe YOU can share some tips too since you might be more in-the-know about the topic…

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