Nando Fragolino ...Strawberry Champagne

A girlfriend brought bottles of these to Cape Cod and lucky me she gave me whatever was left unopened. 

It’s sweet like Prosecco and bubbly. Perfectly served chilled with strawberries. Perfect summer chill beverage. 

“A delicious sparkling wine, with the fruity refreshing taste of berry flavors.”*

*https://winelibrary.com/wines/isabella/nando-fragolino-11966

Sounds Of Liberty Square August 8th

Learn more here: https://www.google.com/amp/s/patch.com/connecticut/norwalk/amp/cal/20190808/607876/sounds-of-liberty-square

Connecting With Them Over & Over Again

It’s not easy having a pre-teen. It’s hard to connect and relate at times. She’s my oldest but every time I look at her I see the 4 yr old that once was my best buddy. So she got her phone taken away and she said well what do I do with myself. 

She kind of had a point. We swam a couple of times and she didn’t want to read. We already ate and cleaned up. We did crafts earlier. So I suggest. Dance off. 

What? Yep let’s do a dance off. 

She got to pick the song and moves and well for over an hour we made up dance routines to her favorite songs. It actually was a lot of fun, even my little ones joined in and said wow mom you can dance. Yep. But really it’s not easy with electronics and mood swings and everyone having their own responsibilities in life to tend to. 

It’s about always trying to find a way to connect to them. Kids change. We change. We as parents have to get out of our comfort zones and connect with them. Over and over again. 

Feel Good Song: Best Of You

August 7th Stay The Course

You Need To Feel

I learned it’s ok to not always be strong. It’s ok to say it hurts my heart and soul. It’s ok to feel. You need to feel too!

Circle of Life

It’s the circle of life right? When it comes to a lot of things. Someone lost something while someone else gained it. One person loves while the other one hurts. It’s not karma. That’s different. This is something deeper. 

Let me explain. 

My family is in the car industry. Accidents mean business. Painful right. It’s not always. Sometimes it’s minor sometimes it’s major. It’s like everything in life. Someone lost a job and now someone is excited to fill that position.  

Some marriages or relationships ends and the other person gains freedom or to have a relationship with someone else. Pain for one. Happiness for another. 

It’s a cycle. A hard one to accept. Trust me. 

One person misses someone while the other person is out enjoying life and having fun. No it’s not fair but it is how it is. 

It’s in every decision we make at any given time. There are moments I think how will I get through some situations and it’s distractions. You have to distract yourself and then deal and heal but don’t react. 

You can’t react every time you miss someone or are hurt and afraid. You can discuss it but you can’t make impulsive decisions because then you have to deal with regret. No one wants regrets but people do need to realize that what you do to people has an impact on them. You can’t love someone and be ok hurting them. You can’t miss someone yet never try to be in their life. You can’t be sad and go around acting like you’re ok. 

How you handle it is up to you!

Turn It Around...Wait What?

I write about starting day right. Well the other morning I wake up with all good intentions. Then it happens...

I lost my nose ring. Not a big deal but annoying. I do have backups but still. 

I go outside to workout and painters came early so I had to let them in and go get more supplies. 

My girls came home early morning  and my oldest trips on way to my car and skins her knee. Back inside we go and late to camp.

My middle one needed a shirt for camp. I grabbed wrong one luckily her sisters tell me so I run back inside tear apart the drawers and my mom says oh that shirt and hands it to me. 

I try to be pleasant through this all. I really do, not easy but I do and maybe have said under my breathe WTF a couple of times. 

Then my Mom says well the worst has happened so now your day will be awesome. I said wait what? She replies yeah when you let day starts off wrong it usually ends right. I smiled and said ok now I feel better. 

I swear rest of my day was awesome!

Never doubt what can happen when you change your mindset. Bad moments don’t have to be bad days. Bad situations don’t have the last. It’s ok to turn it around mid day. Mid hour. 

Women Learn From One Another

You have to be role models. To help eachother know what they are capable of. Look out for one another and look up to one another. 

August 6th...Be Your Best Self

RIP Toni Morrison

Don’t Repeat Past Mistakes...

Everything is a learning process. Who knew love had to be. I thought when you loved someone it would

be enough. Yeah you can laugh now. I know so oblivious. 

I do know that every relationship I had I learned something, some I am still looking for the meaning.  

Feel Good Song: Rose of Sharon

It’s ok to risk love. It may hurt but it’s so magical 💗

It Just Takes Time & That’s Ok

Romanacci in Norwalk

What’s better than half price bottle of wine, pizza, burratta, crepes and good company? 

Nothing!

I love these girls. We always have a blast when we are together. I must admit the truffle mushroom pizza and strawberry Nutella Crepe was delicious. Night out with the girls for $25 each. 

Yep...I know. Crazy!

http://romanacci.com/

I Don’t Feel The Same Way As You Do About It & That’s Ok!

We were early for camp so I took a detour and stopped by a dock with boats. We pulled up and I was alone with my oldest. She asked what we were doing and I said let’s go for a little walk near the water before camp. She refused at first. I began to take the walk alone. 

I wasn’t mad. I love being by the water. She caught up and said I don’t want to be here.

All I could think was I know these pre teen years will be hard but I am determined to make the best of it. 

I asked her to look around, all I see are boats mom, I asked her to breathe in the air, it stinks mom, I asked her to feel the air, she said she’s going back to the car. I began to laugh. 

She finally said I don’t see and feel what you do mom. This isn’t my happy place. 

Ok fine I said. I get it but you don’t have to ruin the experience for me. This is my happy place and I was trying to do something out of routine. 

She apologized. After I asked her to suggest her happy place so we could go the next time. 

Can you believe she actually held my hand in the car the whole ride to camp after this. 

I rubbed her hand and smiled. 

I don’t want her to have the same happy places as me. I actually liked she communicated it with me verse just standing there annoyed. I told her we don’t have to like the same things and she agreed. 

I think that’s the problem in life. With marriages and relationships and having kids. We want everyone to do and like what we do and like. Well it’s not that way. 

You have to be ok with that. Doesn’t mean you have to stop doing those things. Just means know your audience. Now I know if we have extra time I won’t take her to a dock or beach. 

Now she knows when she doesn’t like something she can communicate it with me and it won’t be a fight. 

It’s about creates a safe place to be open about how you feel and what you need and like etc...I have a lot to learn still in life in general but I began to realize when I process and truly listen verse reacting you get better results.

Cucumber Water: Oh Yum!

When we were away in Pennsylvania the hotel had a huge container of cucumber water. My 6 yr old couldn’t get enough of it. 

So I notice a ton of cucumbers in the fridge that have been picked from the garden and decided to surprise her. I called her into the kitchen and told her to look in the fridge. She noticed the jug of cucumber water and says “Oh Yum Mom” then she asks “What are cucumbers good for?”

Well let’s look it up. So I found this article. 

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/7-health-benefits-of-cucumber#section2

The best part about flavoring water with veggies and fruits is that you’re not realizing your added benefits to your body while providing a healthy treat. Sometimes water isn’t enough. This helps add flavoring without the guilt. 

Feeling Down...Try Doing One Of These

You Don’t Have To Be Aggressive To Be Heard

Never underestimate the power of someone based on how they react or how vocal they are. 

Sometimes the calmest people are the stronger ones and loud aggressive people are weak. They tend to put up a tough image to protect themselves. They degrade people so they can be heard and have power over you. They are actually extremely insecure in themselves. The ones who remain silent processes everything around them at all times. They don’t tend to fly off the handle. They tend to choose their arguments based on the importance of them. 

Wake Up, Accept What Is & Shine

Certain things in life you just can’t be mad at. You have to say today will be a good day no matter what else lingers behind in your heart and mind has to be still. 

So do it. 

Wake up, Accept what is & Shine!

I believe in you and that whatever you go through in life is for the ultimate good. What may hurt now will make sense later. Trust it. 

Enjoy The Present

Forgive, Heal & Let Go

Forgiving doesn’t mean what they did was ok. It doesn’t mean it won’t hurt. It doesn’t mean you accept what they did. Forgiving means they no longer have power over you.  

Let go to grow. Move past the pain and hurt to be a better, stronger person. 

Don’t let them have control. You have control over yourself. No one else does. No one else ever should. 

Did You Know...Copper Cups

You’ve Come A Long Way

Did You Know Male Vs Female Brain

Bigger doesn’t always mean better. 

Apologizing & Appreciating

Feel Good Song: Never Give Up

August 5th Live Up To Your Full Potential

Monday Motivation: If It’s Meant To Be

Did You Know: Shoes Matter...A lot

Picture It...

Wisdom Is Earned...

After everything you have been through wisdom is earned. 

Feel Good Song: Crossroads

I Appreciate You...And You...And You too!

Amen. A simple yet great thing to hear and say. When was the last time you told someone you appreciated them? When was the last time someone said they appreciated you?

I appreciate you!

Be Whatever You Want To Be

💗

Feel Good Song: Rescue Me

You Don’t Have Control Over Cards Dealt To You...

We may have set backs. We may question certain events in our life. Or we can take the challenge and say I got this!

Decision is yours!!

Let’s Start Over...

Kids can really test you. They test your patience. They test what you will tolerate. I have learned that they aren’t intune with their emotions like adults. Even though adults still have a lot of learning to do. 

I try not to yell. I try to remain calm and even put myself in their shoes. 

I started to change my approach. When they are rude and not polite or aggressive I say stop. I ask them to walk out of the room and walk back in. Let’s start over. 

I swear they change. That quick 10 seconds of calmness has them rethink and re approach the situation differently. 

Adults we should do this too. Instead of fighting  Say let’s start over. Walk out of the room and walk back in. 

Some examples are when they come over and say mom get me water. I say please re approach me. They then say mom can I please have a water. Sure babe no problem. 

We need to be intune with our demands, our discussions how we feel what makes us mad what we need and aren’t getting. The list goes on. Instead of barking orders or demands or being aggressive start over. Walk out of the room and start over. 

Feel Good Song: Round & Round

Retail Therapy Humor...

Happy Sunday...Don’t Be Sad

Feel Good Song: Doubt

The Connections You Deserve

Be Patient...Things Take Time

I Welcome This With Open Arms

Not Every Relationship or Marriage Lasts Forever

“Most relationships do not ‘fail’ they merely reach their natural conclusion - our problems arise from expecting them to go on forever.” Book Relationship Manifesto 

Just Go With It...Sort Of

No one knows what they are doing. No one has things figured out. 

Do you feel better now?

We’re All Here To Learn & Teach

One Step At A Time

💗

What Are You Made Of...

You Need Healing...Don’t We All

I previous wrote about the healing stones I purchased when I was away. So the other day I had my mom hold each one to see where she felt the most energy. Was crazy that she felt some stones get warm. 

I again did it and amethyst gave off the most energy to me. I need...Healing. Calm thoughts. More peace. 

Sounds about right. I really have come a long way with processing with triggers. I won’t lie I still try not to react. Thinking ok that sucks but why does it bother me. Why do I allow it to be a part of me. Why do I allow it to affect me. 

It’s really about within. Self love. Are you worthy of love? Also past experiences. Is any love ok love? Is not being alone better even though these people aren’t emotionally available so you’re really alone anyway. 

It’s a cycle. Healing...I think we all need it. We all need some good healthy healing.

Here’s the next step...we have to only allow people in our life who will contribute to our healing not cause more pain. See what I did there?!

That’s a huge misguided truth. We need to make sure new people or people around us don’t cause pain because then we will healing from one thing while creating more pain from another that requires more healing. 

Can’t this whole process be less complicated. Can’t people come in with open arms to love and have fun and be good for you and to you and you do the same? 

If only it were that simple! I wouldn’t have to write so much. 

Sometimes You Cause Your Own Pain

It’s a learning process right. Fate. Destiny and sometimes it’s YOU. You not reading through the lines. You making poor decisions. You not following your intuition. 

Yeah we need to own our own life. Our own truth and failure. Our own decisions. They are ours. No one is to blame but us. 

So shake it off and restart. Regroup. Focus on what each lessons taught you and then say ok next journey I will be and do better. I will know better. 

Be A Happy Soul...Even When Things Get Tough

I Get It Mom...I Understand Now

The other day I wrote about my oldest always helping out friends when she’s at camp field trips. I love her kind soul. She’s always been a giving person. People like her naturally are like that. It’s somewhat taught but mostly part of them and their character. I hate to stop her or tell her not to do it but it’s my job as a parent to set some boundaries. 

So she came up to me today and said next week will be another field trip and she asked for $40. Sure I replied but let me know what you plan on doing with the money. She responded she would first grab lunch and a drink and for me not to pack her lunch. The rest she will use for games. I said what about your friends. She said no this time I will only help if they ask or really need something. 

I said I want you to understand that if they are short a dollar it’s ok to give it to them. It they need an extra token or ticket it’s ok to give it to them. But don’t feel responsible for them. It’s not your role. You aren’t obligated to pay for their food or anything they need. 

She understood. 

Now there’s a part of parenting where a fine line can be drawn. You have to really process how to respond to situations. You don’t want to teach your kids to not be helpful or compassionate. You don’t want them to be greedy or selfish. But they need to respect the value of a dollar and good karma. You also don’t want them to be a pushover. The go to for paying for everything just to make friends happy. Helping those in need when they need it is a given. Always try to. Even if someone is being bullied or picked on I always say you must tell a teacher and stick up for anyone being put down. You must help when you can or where needed but not volunteering to always help without them asking or needing it. 

Trust the Journey

One Day You’ll Be Just Right For Someone