This post is for Vlog Talk. The prompt I chose was #3 Give Jillian Michaels a run for her money. What’s your best workout tip?
An Inherited Love
Home: the place where my husband and son are.
Both people bring so much comfort and joy to my life, but I am truly at my happiest in one of two other places; walking along the beach with the warm sun kissing my face, watching seagulls fly overhead, getting lost in my thoughts while at the same time completely clearing my mind. The salt air does wonders for my soul and the sound of the waves calm me.
My third favorite place to be, the place I find the most relaxing is a bookstore.
I miss the independent shops and the knowledgeable sales staff, the ones that actually read and can recommend something you’ve never heard of and fall completely in love with after the first chapter.
Books are magical; the way they feel and smell and line up against one another on shelves. I appreciate their ability to take our hand and transport us to another place and time.
Being in a bookstore is peaceful and I have spent hours walking up and down the aisles searching for inspiration, discovering it, exploring new topics, taking in the faint scent of print and coffee and relishing the quiet.
My love of bookstores, I inherited from my father. Sometimes he’d walk out of a one having spent hundreds of dollars and others, not one cent. The smile on his face was detectable either way.
Image courtesy of Pinterest. Click photo for source information.
This post was written for Write on Edge’s writing meme, RemembeRED. This week’s prompt: write about a (real) place that makes you feel peaceful. Where is your quiet place? What does it look like? What happens there? Word limit is 200. Constructive criticism is welcome.
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Kick Starting The Holiday
It’s already mid-November.
Thanksgiving is ONE WEEK FROM TODAY!!!
How did that happen?
Five weeks after that, it’s Christmas!!
Have you even thought about Christmas shopping? I haven’t! Not in the least bit.
My sister sent me her “wish list” the other night and asked me what I wanted. My first reaction? MORE TIME!
We all say it every year: “the holidays start earlier every year”, but I don’t know why we’re so surprised, we know it’s coming.
Red and green decorations started making their debut the day after Halloween.
We received our first holiday card BEFORE Halloween. Can you say anal? Truth be told, I’m more than a little jealous.
For the most part, I enjoy seeing festive decorations at the mall and the holiday merchandise at the super market and I don’t even mind hearing Christmas songs in doctors offices or elevators, but the pressure that comes with the decor and the music just makes me think about all the things I need to do to get ready for the holidays.
And then I get cranky.
I spent an hour on our holiday card yesterday and finally got so frustrated with trying to find the perfect photo and the right words, I had to give up and go for a walk instead. I don’t know about you, but a walk always helps me clear my head of all the junk rattling around.
Donned in tank top and cropped yoga pants (it’s still 70 degrees in Southern California in November), I listened to what will soon become one of my favorite holiday albums, Michael Bublé’s Christmas.
I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Bublé in concert and think he is just dreamy so I knew the album would deliver!
Bublé’s voice is smooth as silk as he belts out 14 traditional Christmas songs and one original that he and his piano player wrote called Cold December Night.
As I sang along to Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, all of a sudden I had visions of tree trimming and envelope addressing, present wrapping and multiple trips to Target on my mind. Listening to this album was exactly what I needed to kick start my holiday mood.
Click for track listing
In the spirit of the gift giving season and as a gentle reminder to truly enjoy the sights and sounds of the holidays instead of them driving you crazy with a “To Do” list a mile long, I would like to give away TWO copies of Michael Bublé’s Christmas CD.
All you have to do is leave a comment below telling me your favorite Christmas carol. Simple, right?
Two winners will be selected at random on Monday, November 28, 2012. Winners will be notified via e-mail and/or Twitter.
Happy holidays, everyone and good luck!
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Advice To New Mothers
I certainly do not claim to be an expert, in fact very far from it, but here are a few things I know for sure about motherhood:
1. No matter how many anti-bacterial products you use or times you wash your hands or your child’s hands throughout the day, children are a cesspool of germs and it won’t just feel like your family is sick all the time, you will be.
2. You will go DAYS, especially in the beginning without sleep, a shower, a hot meal and/or make-up. There may even be days when you barely have a free moment to brush your teeth. This is just a phase and does pass.
3. It’s okay to mourn your old life and the days when it was just you and your husband; the days before diapers, Goodnight Moon, the Elmo theme song running through your head 24/7 and apple sauce stains on your shirt. It wasn’t that long ago and anyone that tells you that they can’t remember their life before their baby, is LYING!
4. I am convinced that no matter how sweet and innocent children seem on the outside, they are deviant and cunning on the inside. They may be new here, but they’ve got your number and know all the right buttons to push. Beware!!
5. Babysitters are worth every single penny because date nights and “me time” are absolutely essential to surviving motherhood. Having large quantities of wine on hand is good also.
6. Children are a lot more expensive than you budgeted for. A lot! They grow like weeds and get bored quickly, so the more comfortable you get with hand-me-down clothes and toys, the better.
7. You will lose the baby weight. It may take six months or three years, but you will and you can IF you put your mind to it.
8. You’ll hear it a million times and eventually repeat it, too: it goes by fast, so let the dishes sit and the laundry wait and enjoy the baby days, the milestones, sweet, tender moments and the magic.
9. Trust your instincts and listen to your gut, you know a lot more than you give yourself credit for.
10. As soon as your newborn enters the world and your eyes meet theirs, you will know true love and joy as you have never known it before. Here’s hoping you can recall that gaze at 3 o’clock in the morning when your tot throws up all over his bed and then yours and then his again. Yep, that was a very long night.
Linking up this week with Stasha’s Monday Listicles, a linky right up my alley! This week’s topic: 10 Tips For New Moms was chosen by Cookies Mom.
This post was originally written for Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop, 5.) Advice to new mothers (September 14, 2011).
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In Her Shoes
I’m a walker.
I’m a stroller pusher (although these days, Lucas would rather run up ahead).
I’m a comfort seeker.
I’m a park goer.
I’m a networker.
I’m a beach comber.
I’m a diva.
I’m a mom.
Linking up with Alicia’s Wordless Wednesdays.
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The Fine Art Of Relaxing
Never is it harder for me to relax than when someone asks me to.
I try. I really do, but it seems I wasn’t built with that gene.
A glass or two of wine certainly helps, as does a napping child, or a really great workout, but in large part I’m constantly in motion. I’d love to blame motherhood but the truth is, I’ve always been this way. I’m the most energetic person I know, a part from my son, of course.
I don’t know how to nap and hardly watch TV because I get too antsy. I piddle around the house late at night; organizing and reorganizing God knows what, making lists and perusing the Internet. Even writing, which has proven to be tremendously helpful, makes me anxious.
I’ve tried yoga and love it but find it difficult to stay focused and consistent with a practice. I’ve tried meditating, but always end up with a mind full of more things I think I need to do.
I drive myself nuts.
I drive my husband nuts.
I’m starting to see my wacky behavior in Lucas, which scares me. I’m hoping his intense energy level is due to his age, but he’s very very busy and thrives on moving from one activity to the next. The upside to teaching him how to relax is benefiting me as well.
I blame my father for my craziness. He was the same way, only worse! The man never sat down. With him, it was all about the next thing.
He hated dining out. As soon as the check arrived, he was reaching for his wallet and ready to head for the door. This was very frustrating growing up and even more so once I became an adult and wanted to have leisurely meals with him and talk about anything and everything.
Maybe with age or the strong urging of my mother, my father enjoyed collecting stamps and would spend hours cataloging his latest find. He would research the origin and delicately place his treasures in one of the dozens of binders that filled our entire guestroom closet. Those binders are full of the most exotic, colorful, beautiful stamps you have ever seen. Stamps he culled from all over the world. My father’s hobby helped calm him, helped him with the very fine art of relaxing.
Perhaps a mind numbing hobby would do the trick for me too?
What helps you relax? If you have a child, how are you teaching them to relax? If you blog, besides writing, what are your other hobbies?
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Cravings
Since I was 17, I’ve lived in a perpetual state of missing someone or something.
Topping my list has always has been my parents.
At 17, I went to boarding school for my senior year of high school and never lived under the same roof as them again. I missed them (and my sister) tremendously, but relished in “being on my own” for the first time.
After high school, there was college and still many miles between me and my family. We would spend time together during the holidays and throughout the summer, but I never had enough time with them.
My parents died in 2007 and I think about them and wish they were here every single day. I doubt that longing will never go away.
I missed school after I graduated. Both high school and college. I enjoyed school. I was good at it, especially the social aspect. Go figure!
Even though she’s only an hour away, I miss my sister.
I miss friends that I wish lived next door, in particular my oldest and dearest, friend Sophie.
Lucas met Sophie in New Caledonia in April, 2010.
Since becoming a mother, my desires are simpler, in no particular order here’s what’s missing from my life these days:
1. Sleep. In particular, sleeping in.
2. Grab and gos. The ability to go anywhere without a huge production, whether that means, packing snacks, diapers, struggling to put on someone’s shoes or booking a sitter. I miss the days of just grabbing my purse and going.
3. Living guilt free. I’ve learned guilt comes with the mom territory in many forms and there is no escape…. am I spending enough time with him, is he watching too much TV, am I exposing him to the right activities for his age, how can I get more vegetables into his diet, etc., etc., etc.?
4. Watching TV. Whatever I want, whenever I want.
5. My own name. All I hear any more is “Mommy!”. And “no!”.
6. Did I mention sleep?
7. The sounds of silence. See #5.
8. Yoga. I am going to get back to a regular practice if it kills me. I joined a yoga studio four months ago and have only taken two classes.
9. Going to the bathroom. Alone.
10. Dinner. Easting at home is rushed, eating out is rushed. I miss long, leisurely dinners that were several courses long and lasted longer than an hour.
This post was inspired by Stasha’s Monday Listicles, a linky right up my alley! This week’s topic is 10 I Miss.
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A Strange Encounter
Happy Indpendence Day!
A few weeks ago, I bamboozled Lucas into going to the park by way of the bank, thus taking the very l o n g way to the park so that I could get in some exercise.
While we were standing in line at the bank, he started fussing. In other words, he was on to me and wanted nothing more than to get out of the stroller and create some sort of havoc. To calm him down and keep him put, I gave him my iPhone.
This practice is normally a last resort and used mostly at restaurants so that his dad and I can finish our meal in peace and down our adult beverages with a small amount of dignity.
I have several toddler friendly apps on my phone; Voice Cards, Talking Tom, Toddler Puzzle Shapes and ABC Train, just to name a few. I also have “emergency” episodes of Yo Gabba Gabba and Sesame Street and a playlist devoted to Lucas’ favorite tunes.
At any rate, he knows his way around an iPhone, without too much input or instruction from me. I don’t know how he knows, he just does, so I wasn’t too surprised when the middle aged gentleman in front of us asked me how old Lucas was. After I told him, he responded with shock and awe that someone so young could use the device so well. I laughed it off.
Lucas and I carried on a conversation about the shapes in the puzzle he was working on and I reiterated nine more times that we would eventually make it to the park when the man blurted out the most bizarre thing: “Daycare kid?”
I was a bit taken aback and it took me a good 30 seconds to reply, “No, I stay at home with him”, to which the man had nothing to say. No further insight into his strange question at all.
I’m still confused.
Up until now, I’ve been able to avoid any sort of Mommy vs. Mommy or Mommy vs. stranger who may or may not be a Mommy run-in, not that I would call this a run-in per say, but it was certainly one of the first out in public Mommy moments I’ve had that has stayed with me. I haven’t been able to shake this exchange for some reason. Why is that?
What did he mean by “daycare kid”?
What do you think? I would love to get your take.
P.S. If you have a favorite toddler app, please let me know!
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Mindful Eating
I love food!
I love chips and salsa (the spicier the better), deep dish pepperoni pizza, big fat juicy cheeseburgers with all the fixings and a side of French fries, chocolate chip ice cream, sandwiches never without a bag of potato chips nearby, several glasses of wine at the end of my evenings and at least two Diet Cokes a day.
I didn’t eat poorly every day and when I did, I’d pay for it at the gym, on long walks to and from parks or by depriving myself for days following.
That was then and this is now.
I don’t think about food the same way any more.
It’s been one week since my husband I started the 3-day Ritual Cleanse and all everyone seems to want to know is how much weight we lost.
We didn’t do the juice diet to lose weight, but I did drop three pounds, all of which, I’m sure I have gained back because it was probably just water weight.
More important than the weight loss, I feel good and I did throughout the entire three days of the cleanse. Well, except for a minor headache at the beginning of Day 2, but it was nothing a little green tea couldn’t cure.
Day 1 was just odd. Drinking only juice and peeing A LOT and by bedtime, I was really hungry, but I pressed on…
Day 2 was my best day, I had tons of energy and felt absolutely amazing. Not having that bloated or tired or run down feeling was new to me and I liked it and wanted more of it!
Day 3 went very well too, but I was starting to get nervous about eating “real” food again the following day and didn’t want the goodness I was doing for my body to stop after I had used so much will power to stick to this three day detox.
Day 3 also prompted a lot of conversation about the way we eat as a family and different choices we wanted to make to our diet going forward. I still haven’t had a Diet Coke and don’t know when or if I will. I’m reading more labels at the super market and trying to buy only fresh organic produce and products.
My husband and I are already talking about doing the cleanse again this Spring. Believe me, if I can do it, so can you!!
If you are interested in doing something wonderful for your body in order to reset it and make more mindful eating choices, I highly suggest Ritual Cleanse.
If you have any questions about my experience or want to read more about why we did the cleanse and my half way point, here are two previous posts: Time To Detoxand Ritual Cleanse – Half Way Point and I can always be reached at smadaaynot@yahoo.com.
Thank you, Ritual Cleanse!
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Ritual Cleanse – Half Way Point
It took every ounce of willpower that I had this morning not to head straight for IHOP. I woke up ready to eat like a horse and had a nasty headache. Instead of a full stack of pancakes with a side order of bacon and a large Diet Coke, I drank another Ritual Cleanse juice and went on a 6.50 mile walk!
It’s the end of Day 2 of my juice detox and I feel fantastic! I’m serious. Maybe it’s because I’m a big believer in the power of positive thinking, or maybe, just maybe, this stuff really works.
I feel energized and focused and I’m loving the juices…. There are six different flavors per day made with fresh, organic, nutritious and delicious fruits, vegetables and spices: pomegranate, coconut water, spinach, kale, celery, cucumber, ginger, lemon, apple, cashews, agave, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla and more!
It’s hard to believe I haven’t had anything to eat since Tuesday night and while there have been some very tempting moments, I have not cheated once! This is huge considering there are toddler snacks all over my house and I’m feeding my son three meals a day. Macaroni and cheese never looked so good.
I knew going without caffeine/my beloved Diet Coke was going to be the hardest part for me so I kept waiting for the headache. When I finally woke up with it, I thought I wouldn’t be able to make it through the day, but as soon as I drank some green tea, I instantly felt better. I doubt I’ll ever be able to give up my Diet Coke addiction, but I am certainly going to cut WAY back!
Not feeling full and bloated has been great too.
Since all I’m doing is drinking juice and lots of water, I’m peeing a lot more than usual. I had to stop twice on my walk.
And, I know this will sound strange, but I missing chewing, so I’ve had two pieces of SUGAR FREE gum, for what it’s worth.
Yay me! One more day to go….
