Happy Valentine’s Day!
Linking up with Galit (These Little Waves) and Alison’s (Mama Wants This) monthly link up, Memories Captured.
The photo above was created using picnik.
Comfort & Joy
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Happy New Year!
Once upon a time…
There’s something magical about a beginning.
A fresh start.
A different approach.
A new way of looking at things.
A promise of things to come.
My Letters For Lucas tag line used to be: The best is yet to be and I still believe that. Wholeheartedly.
I don’t make New Year’s resolutions anymore, but I do several things each and every January 1 to get ready for the year ahead…. I start using a new tooth brush and new tube of mascara, I wash all my make up brushes, put a new box of Arm & Hammer baking soda in the refrigerator, mail our holiday thank you cards and fill out a new paper calendar (I’m old school that way).
This year, I want more of the same… to go a little easier on myself and those around me, breathe a little deeper, love a little stronger, hold on a little tighter, learn to live in the moment and drink more water.
I’m expecting BIG things from 2012, not withstanding a little work on my part.
I hope your New Year is off to a fabulous start and that everything you set out to do this year happens just the way it’s meant to.
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Reflections
The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection. – Thomas Paine
As I took down our Christmas decorations yesterday, I thought about my year. As always, it was full of ups and downs, sweet memories and milestones, moments I wish could have lasted forever and days that I would never want to relive. All I could think is I hope 2012 has more of the same. Well maybe a few more ups than downs.
One of the many reasons I love having a blog is the chronicling of my life, which in large part revolves around my sweet boy, Lucas. Letters For Lucas is a place where I can share my thoughts and receive an abundance of support, no matter what the subject matter.
My 2011 recap would not be complete without mentioning my weekly series, Letters For You, which I launched in September. I am so proud to host this series and I’m constantly overwhelmed by its warm response.
This year, I attended my first two blog conferences and was finally able to meet many of the women that have meant so much to me in the blogging world and am pleased to now call IRL (in real life) friends.
I enjoyed going back and re-reading my 2011 posts and had a lot of fun choosing these photos and my favorites, all that I feel sum up my year.
Click each photo to find my favorite Letters For Lucas post from that month.
Please enjoy and however you choose to ring in the new year, be blessed.
Linking up with some of my favorite bloggers and their awesome, I-wish-I-had- thought-of-that link ups:
Happy New Year, everyone!
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Memories
How far back do your memories go? Can you remember being two or three years old? Do you really remember or have you just studied photographs and heard the same stories over and over again?
I often wonder what Lucas will recall when he thinks back on his childhood.
Will he remember…
from time to time that his mom had black nail polish?
that every time a Dave Matthews Band song plays I ask him, “who sings this?” and giggle at his response?
that I’m always a couple minutes early to pick him up from preschool?
that I wear an “angel baby” necklace almost every day and my sister has a matching one?
how the song In My Life makes me cry because it reminds me of my father?
how his dad makes the majority of our meals because I’m a complete oaf in the kitchen?
how I may get so frustrated with him that I want to poke my eyes out with forks but the minute I am away from him I yearned to be near him again?
that in our house objects are not “it” but “he” and “she”?
that I’d be lost without my friends and the ones that have children I hope he grows up to be friends with too?
that his dad wakes up with him every morning so that they can spend a couple of hours together before he has to go to work?
Will he remember the Christmas morning we spent with his cousins, Annabelle and Francesca and the joy he exuded being chased around his aunt and uncle’s house, or…
“playing” the piano?
sitting in our laps to hear the book Purplicious three dozen times?
play dates with new friends with far cooler toys than his?
Visiting Nichole (In These Small Moments) and meeting her children, Katie and Matthew - December 23, 2011
meeting Fireman Steve and sitting in a fire truck?
Fireman Steve, Annabelle, Lucas and Francesca at the Moraga/Orinda Fire Station - December 26, 2011
Whatever Lucas recalls, I pray he remembers feeling special, adored and happy.
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Dear Santa
With only THREE shopping days until Christmas, I sure hope someone sees this in time…
Dear Santa,
I’ve been nice this year (well, I tried) and I’ve come up with a short list of five things I’d really like to find under the tree Saturday morning:
- Someone other than me to fill the Q-tip container.
- A guaranteed two hour nap from Lucas each and every afternoon, along with no hitting, throwing, splashing, biting or temper tantrum (especially in public or in front of his grandparents). Ever.
- I would also love it if Lucas could find a way not to wait until 30 seconds before we are about to walk out the door to poop.
- A car that never needs gas, a refrigerator that’s always full and an endless supply of paper towels.
- And last but not least, just once I’d like to go on a trip and not have a lotion, face wash or bubble bath leak in my toiletry bag.
Of course no Christmas wish list would be complete without wishing happiness, love and success to everyone in my life and peace on earth and goodwill toward men.
Okay, I lied, there are WAY more than five things I’d like this Christmas. Please see above about “trying” and have a little mercy.
Merry Christmas, Santa!
Love,
me
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A Video, Cookies & Winners
I’m sorry I haven’t posted in a few days, but like you I’ve been immersed in holiday goodness: baking, socializing, wrapping and enjoying the sights and sounds of this special time of year.
I’ve fallen so behind on reading my favorite blogs and e-mails, that I may just delete and start fresh January 1. That’s allowed, right?
Lucas and I are about to head to the Bay Area to spend Christmas with my husband’s family, but before we go, I just had to share this.
Lucas’ preschool class performed Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer last week and while he may have froze during the actual program, he knew every word and there has been a lot of practicing at home.
Here he is belting out the favorite holiday classic while enjoying a delicious chocolate chip cookie made by Jackie of With Just a Bit of Magic as part of Katie’s cookie swap.
For all of you that linked up your Santa photos, thank you! There were some darling photos this year.
Thank you also to Natalie (of Mommy of a Monster) for co-hosting this link up with me and to each one of our awesome sponsors!
Via random.org, here are our winners (hopefully you were each notified via Twitter):
Huggerz Kid Koozie
Amy of BabyBaby Lemon
Kimberly of Something Something
$20 Santa.com Gift Card
Jessica of My Time As Mom
$25 Raleigh Cake Pops
Sherri of Old Tweener
$50 Gift Card to One Hope Wine
Jamie of Roubinek Reality
Congratulations, everyone!!
Letters For You posts will resume on Wednesday, December 28.
Wishing you all a very merry Christmas and a safe holiday.
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Holiday Blues
Do you ever feel melancholy during the holidays?
Have you ever wondered how (or why) those around you are so merry and bright?
I do and periodically it makes me want to push cheerful types right into oncoming traffic.
I think it’s pretty common to get the blues this time of the year, or at least I hope so. Well, maybe not the pushing part.
There’s a lot of pressure that comes with the holiday season: over commercialization that begins the day after Halloween, finding the perfect gifts, figuring out to pay for them, taking the perfect photo for your family holiday card, getting them in the mail, decorating your home top to bottom, creating (or maintaining) all those warm and wonderful traditions, etc., etc., etc.
The holidays also mark the end of the year and maybe you haven’t accomplished all that you had hoped to and that’s a tough realization.
This time of the year is meant to be spent with your loved ones, but perhaps you live miles apart and can’t be together or they are no longer with us and the memory of them is easier to conjure.
Maybe there are other reasons that are contributing to your sadness; financial hardship, family feuds, frustrations at work, no job to speak of, it’s too cold, or no special “someone” in your life.
My losses and heartaches are no different than yours, but during this time of the year when To Do lists are long and patience is short, they are a little too close to the surface.
I know that this overwhelming feeling will soon pass and nothing will be sweeter than turning the page on the calendar to a fresh new year full of possibilities.
In the meantime, I am trying not to overindulge or run myself ragged, doing my best to keep up with my exercise routine and taking on each task one at a time. Trust me, I am NOT always this productive.
Whatever your woes, try to find something this holiday season to make you smile and press on. It’ll be over soon and you don’t want to miss it!
Would this help?
Do you experience holiday blues? How do you manage your stress level?
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My Day In Numbers
12 days until Christmas and like you, my holiday ‘To Do’ list is out of control!
Today was a very productive day….
I addressed, stamped and mailed 100 holiday cards,
visited 6 stores, including Starbucks for a much needed extra dose of liquid energy,
baked 7 dozen cookies (sugar, chocolate chip oatmeal and peanut butter) with the help of a pint-sized sous chef,
did 5 loads of laundry (sadly, underwear still needs to be washed even though it’s the holiday season),
managed to find an hour to walk 4 miles,
listened to 3 hours of Christmas music,
savored 2 glasses of well-deserved wine,
gave 1 time out,
and ate countless cookies.
Turns out the problem with baking seven dozen cookies is that Lucas had two and was over it. I’m still eating them!
Good thing I am giving the rest away as gifts.
I hope your holiday prep is going well and that the sous chef in your life makes you smile as much as mine.
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Santa Photos 2011 Link Up: The Prizes!
Have you linked up to our Santa Photos 2011 yet? No? Well, you should!
Natalie of Mommy of a Monster and I are hosting and we’re giving away prizes too. Lots of prizes…
I’m not really in the giveaway game, so I relied on Natalie and her awesome connections to secure these great gifts:
Huggerz by Kidzies
Your kids will love these koozies for their sippy cups and water bottles! You will love that you can identify which sippy cup belongs to who simply by looking at their Huggerz. Natalie’s children LOVE theirs, and if you want to know more about them, she did a review over at SmartMomPicks.com.
Kidzies was nice enough to offer us three! You can choose from a wide variety of Huggerz and your children will think it’s so cool to have one on their cups!
Follow Kidzies on Twitter and Kidzies on Facebook…and right now, if you go to the Kidzies Web site and buy five Huggerz you can get one FREE through December 31, 2011! What a great gift idea for all the children on your list.
Santa.com
A $20 gift card to Santa.com? Yes please! Spend it however you’d like by going to Santa.com and selecting any retailer(s) where you want to use your Santa.com Gift Card dollars!
Gift Cards can be used at multiple retailers, can be redeemed for cash or donated to charity! Plus, a portion of Santa.com Gift Card sales goes to their non-profit partner, World of Children. Help Santa make the world a better place by doing good and giving well.
But that’s not all you can do at Santa.com… your children can create wish lists and receive a personalized letter from Santa, and more!
Follow Santa on Facebook and follow Santa.com on Twitter to see what Santa’s up to throughout the holiday season.
Raleigh Cake Pops
Cake pops are all the rage right now because they are so freaking delicious! How does a $25 gift code to Raleigh Cake Pops sound?!
Raleigh Cake Pops offers custom cake pops, cake pop gift sets, and gourmet gift pops. They are kind enough to let us give away $25 to their site and you can pick the product you want (excluding tax and shipping).
Follow Raleigh Cake Pops on Facebook and Raleigh Cake Pops on Twitter, too!
ONEHOPE Wine
Our grand prize give away is a $50 gift card to ONEHOPE wine! Not only does ONEHOPE offer a great selection of wines, they also believe in giving back and have made it part of who they are. If you aren’t familiar with ONEHOPE, head over to Have Wine, Will Drink for an overview of their mission and to find out why we love them so much.
We are also a huge fans of Hope at Home, ONEHOPE’s private wine tasting program that allows individuals the opportunity to fundraise and spread awareness for a cause of their choice.
Their blog is full of fun recipes, tips, and crafts dedicated to what we all love: wine. And while you’re there, check out Hope at Home’s Give the Gift of Hope This Holiday.
The gift package includes 12 gift bags and tags and one case of wine. You can either pick one varietal or select your own mixed case. Shipping is included, as well. The price of the package is $240…that’s 12 gifts for $20 a gift! You also get to give a charity of your choice 10% of the purchase price. It’s a win/win for everybody!
Please follow ONEHOPE wine on Facebook and ONEHOPE Wine on Twitter, and also Hope at Home on Twitter.
We only have 11 entries so far and lots of prizes, so your chances of winning are really good!
Click here to enter your link and be sure to visit others.
We’re picking random winners, so it doesn’t matter how “good” or “bad” your pictures are. Grab the button (the code is on my sidebar) and link up a post of you, your kids, or your pet on the big guy’s lap.
We can’t wait to see your pictures!
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