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Mother’s Day reflections

May 11, 2012 By

So many things changed when I became a mother. My carefree attitude and perfectionistic ways were forced out the window and replaced with so much more – more than I could have ever imagined, hoped or dreamt of. Things that offer substance and reason. Like these little ones…

Becoming a mom to these three amazing children is what I was meant to do. They have made me who I am and continue to teach me new things along the way.

It’s not always the best or easiest job but I’m thankful and proud to have it. This Mother’s Day I’m embracing my mom “status” and reflecting back to my childhood.

  • When I was six, the smell of Water Babies sunscreen meant we were headed to the beach.
  • The thought of taking my three kids to the beach makes me break out in a cold sweat.
  • When I was nine, the green tint in my hair reminded me of the hours spent in our pool.
  • I wish we had a pool (but mostly because my kids have so much energy).
  • Before I had children, I would see a toddler melting down and secretly judge the mother.
  • My toddler melts down and I secretly laugh at him.
  • I had a vision of how I would parent my children.
  • I’ve learned that things don’t always turn out the way you want them to.
  • When I moved out on my own for the first time, all my dishes matched perfectly and my kitchen was always clean.
  • I prefer to use plastic dishes, my counter tops are sticky and my fridge is covered in to-do lists from last month and scribbles from a lost Sharpie.
  • Before kids I said I would never work just to pay for daycare.
  • Now I’m working to pay for my children to go to school and I can’t wait for my youngest to start going a few mornings a week.
  • I used to pull my car over when I heard sirens in the distance.
  • The sound of an ambulance makes my heart skip a beat – I worry about my children even if they are sitting right next to me.
  • I’ll never forget when my mom told me the story about how she lost me.
  • The sight of a specific red shirt gives me the chills as I think about how I lost my toddler for 20 minutes (he was wearing that shirt).
  • Movies used to make me cry.
  • When my kids do something cute, I cry.
  • I loved giving my mom the “biggest hug ever” while sitting on her lap.
  • I love it when my kids give me the “biggest hug ever” while sitting on my lap.
  • I still give my mom the “biggest hug ever”… And try to sit on her lap.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the wonderful moms out there!

Filed Under: Mom Stuff, Parenting Tagged With: Leave a Comment

Mommy Fitness Tips: Water

May 10, 2012 By

I’m just going to throw this out there: I often forget to drink water! There are many days when I look up at the clock and notice that it’s 2pm – and the only liquids I’ve had all day… Coffee.

Not good.

I spend so much of my day both consciously and sub-consciously thinking about what goes into my kid’s bodies, but I don’t think the same way for myself.

That is changing and here’s how I’m making the change.

When to drink extra water

  • It’s never a bad thing to load up on water, but it’s even more important to drink more water when you’re exercising, breastfeeding or feeling under the weather.

Creative ways to drink more water

  • I get bored with water way too easily. But I have noticed that when I add fresh fruit to my water or mix in some of my kid’s Amazing Grass, I drink water like it’s going out of style.

Make your water easily accessible

  • While on walks and while running errands, I make sure my Bevi Buddy is always attached to my stroller. I’m much more likely to drink water when it’s in view and in reach.
  • I now keep a case of water bottles in the garage because sometimes it’s just easier to grab one that’s ready to go instead of trying to find my reusable water bottle (that my toddler has hidden) and then clean it (because there’s a 90 percent chance it’s dirty) – when we were supposed to be at the school five minutes ago.
  • While at home, I carry a reusable water bottle with me all over the house. Mine has a lockable lid, which helps to keep my anxiety level down (as it sits next to my computer at this very moment) and allows me to feel comfortable taking it around the house with a toddler trailing my every step. (Yes it’s only water, but after cleaning up 10 cups of spilled water, I’m over it.)

What are your water tips?

 

Filed Under: Mommy Fitness Tips Tagged With: 2 Comments

Mommy Time: Make the time to decorate your own room

May 9, 2012 By

I know I’ve said it before and I’ll continue to say it, but only because it’s so true…

As moms, we often put ourselves and our needs behind the needs of our children – and all the other demands in our lives.

Case in point…

master-bedroom-redo

BEFORE

For years I’ve dreamt of creating my perfect bedroom – my sanctuary, my space. And for years it sat half finished. Because it was always just “thrown together”, I was constantly thinking of things I wanted to do to it – sometimes wanting to start from scratch out of sheer frustration or lack of motivation.

Pinterest actually triggered the project. (By the way, my husband does not like Pinterest).

But I on the other hand… I love it. I put together a few boards on Pinterest – one for bedroom ideas and inspiration and one to visualize my pieces together. And because I have more time (and patience) for window shopping online than traipsing around a toddler, it was a perfect way to research what I needed.

I used a lot of what we already had pieced together as our base knowing I wouldn’t be able to actually start from scratch.

  • Step one was painting the room. We took a weekend (actually it only took one day) and got it done.
  • Then I pulled the trigger on one purchase at a time – in my attempts to avoid the evil eye from my husband.

HomeGoods proved to be dangerous, but in a good way. I knew that if I found something at HomeGoods, I had to snatch it up or it could be gone the next day. That was not a one-purchase-at-a-time deal. I did get the evil eye… A few times.

I also looked for things I had to have and then searched for something similar to help keep costs down. I was able to find my reading chair, pedestal table and lamp bases at Target and Target online.

I tried to go a different route with window panels for the small windows but quickly found that nothing compared to the Pottery Barn panels I already had for the large windows. Those were the last purchase. The evil eye then became the look of death, but that’s okay because it’s finished and I finally have the room of my dreams.

AFTER

AFTER

AFTER

From HomeGoods:

  • Flower canvas prints
  • Woven nesting boxes*
  • Manzanita wooden branch
  • Round wooden mirror above the bed
  • Turned wood pillar holders*
  • Grey vase*
  • Grey picture frame*

From Target:

  • Reading chair
  • Pedestal table
  • Lamp bases
  • Window hardware over the small windows
  • Three large frames on the wall
  • Gallery frame on the nightstand*

From Pottery Barn:

  • Dupioni silk panels in Clay for the large windows*
  • Dupioni silk panels in Clay for the small windows
  • Burlap lampshades
  • Floor mirror*
  • Window hardware over the big windows*
  • Metal rings for hanging the window panels*
  • Decorative shell ball*
  • Bed*
  • Bedding*
  • Nightstands*

*Things we already had

Links are in my Master Bedroom Pinterest board.

Filed Under: Decorating, DIY, Mom Stuff Tagged With: , 4 Comments

How to find the perfect gift for another mom on Mother’s Day

May 8, 2012 By

Do I love shopping? Trick question.
Do I love shopping for other people more than I do myself? Actually yes, I do.

I love the thrill and the challenge of finding the perfect gift for the special people in my life. I love seeing a person’s reaction to a well-thought-out gift – something meant just for them. I tend to go big for birthday parties, birthday gifts, holidays and sometimes just because. So when BABYBJÖRN wanted to know what I would pick for another mom’s Mother’s Day gift, the mission began.

My mission: Pick a special “someone” (another mom and blogger) and find the perfect Mother’s Day gift for her.

I started with her blog – I can’t tell you who because the gift hasn’t arrived on her doorstep just yet and it’s a surprise. Luckily I have been following her for quite some time now so I had a slight advantage.

Then I went to Pinterest. You can learn a lot about a person by their Pinterest page. Especially if they have a board called “My Wish List” or “Things I Must Get” or “I Love This!!!!!!”

Then I went to Facebook. I wasn’t Facebook stalking, just private messaging her husband to find out what size shoe she wears. It helps when the husband is awesome and plays along.

And finally, I went shopping! I used my new knowledge to search hundreds of websites (maybe not that many, but close) trying to find not one but two amazing gifts. Sure I could spend it all in one place but what fun would that be? I had my heart set on a certain accessory from a very well known place (I promise I’ll spill the beans after she opens her gift) because I knew how stylish and functional it was and I knew it was so her. Then, from a Pin on Pinterest I found the second item. Except that store doesn’t allow you to purchase things online, so I called my local stores and BABYBJÖRN called their stores only to find out this place doesn’t even carry the item yet – it’s that new!

Just as I was about to scrap it all and start over, I found something similar to my original plan. It was love… and then pure joy because I knew I picked things she will love (well, hopefully) and things she will get to enjoy – things that will make her feel good and look good.

Being a mom myself, I often usually always feel good when I look good. But knowing we are loved and thought of is all it takes… And it doesn’t hurt when we get something we can hang in our closets.

Secret Mother’s Day Mission accomplished.

Stay tuned for the update…

 

Photo credit: Lemonade Makin Mama on Etsy
 
Disclosure: BabyBjorn provided the funds for the gifts because they wanted to see what real moms wanted for Mother’s Day and what they picked for each other!

Filed Under: Holidays, Mom Stuff Tagged With: Leave a Comment

DIY Teacher Appreciation Day gift

May 7, 2012 By

It’s that time of year again… Teacher Appreciation Week! There are only so many coffee mugs, plaques with happy-faced red apples and “A+” notepads a teacher could need or want, so I prefer to make something special with my kids each year. This is one of my favorites — and it’s really easy to do!

This makes a great teacher gift for under $20!

Materials:

  • One pot
  • A package of seeds with dirt in a cute bag
  • A few feet of ribbon
  • Brown tissue paper
  • Green tissue paper shreds (you can also tear pieces off of green tissue paper) to represent grass
  • One green candle
  • Paper or a thank you card

Tip: Get an unfinished clay pot and have your children paint it to add color and to personalize it for the teacher!

Directions:

  1. Crumple a few pieces of brown tissue paper and place them inside the pot.
  2. Scatter the green tissue paper pieces over the brown tissue paper.
  3. Place the seeds and dirt package inside the pot.
  4. Place the candle in the pot.
  5. Tie a ribbon around the pot.
  6. Write in a card (or make your own):

Dear (teacher’s name), Thank you for helping me GROW and SHINE! Love, (child’s name)

 

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