Saturday, December 23, 2017
It's About Making Memories and Creating Traditions
I was so tired but build up some energy to do sugar cookies with my girls. I made the dough with them and baked them and saved decorating for the next day. It was a mess and you wonder will the kids ever remember all this work you do with them? Then your oldest bites into a cookie and says "Awe there's my mommas sugar cookies. How I missed this taste" you can't help but feel a huge sense of accomplishment. I grabbed my daughter and kissed her up.
Here's the real deal. You try to keep the kids happy, build memories, while dough falls on the ground and the house is covered in flour. There is some yelling and tears and you say to yourself it's ok they are kids and your back aches and you wonder who even really enjoys these cookies besides yourself. But it's fun and Christmas music is playing in the background and you let your kids dump so many sprinkles on their cookies. So when my daughter came home with her dad the next day to pick up her sisters and bit into it and said that I almost cried. Cried from happiness that even if I am not perfect. Even if things are rough at times. It doesn't matter but I achieved my goal. My goal that I am building traditions and memories with my three kids that I cherish and adore and love me and I love them and it's so worth every mess. Every backache and every sprinkle and frosting covered on the counters. Mommy win for sure!
Friday, December 22, 2017
Massage...How Do YOU Relax
My sister treated me to a massage last weekend. We went together to Noelle's in Stamford and it was perfect. We went on a snowy Friday night and it was so peaceful. My body was in rough shape from
Doing wood and shoveling- yeah not sure what I was thinking- but after my massage the lady asked me what I do to relax. Hmmm I paused. I had no clue so I said meditate. She's like you have so many knots in your lower back and gave me some tips on how to help them. Honestly who REALLY relaxes? When my kids are with their dad I do stuff around the house. Catch up on my errands. I will admit I have been addicted to theHall Mark channel and love some silly Holiday Love Stories. But when I think of the word relaxing I picture reading a book on the beach with a cocktail in my hand and the sound of the waves crashing in the background- yeah I know amazing. But really how do YOU relax? Because we all need time and to do stuff to help heal our body and minds.
Gingerbread Houses...Do It Your Way
I will never forget a couple years ago a friend at a family party was doing crafts with the kids and said do it your way to the kids...that is so HARD for parents to sit back and watch your kids do crafts without jumping in and taking over.
So this week I went into my daughter's class and me and some other parents helped them make gingerbread houses. Oh man the stress level started to rise as the art lover in me tried to kick in and help and those words played in my head "Do it your way" as the kids houses started to collapse and slide down. I finally said to my daughter can I please help you. She laughed and let me so I attempted to save her house and make it look somewhat presentable. The funny thing is later this week I let my little ones make some at home and well I just sat back and said "do it your way"
Sometimes you have to just let things go and sit back and let them do things their own way.
Holiday Handprint Crafts
Super cute link of handprint crafts to make with your little ones. https://www.babble.com/crafts-activities/15-handprint-and-footprint-crafts-for-the-holidays/
Wednesday, December 20, 2017
Teacher Gifts
I always try to give the teachers something creative and appreciative. We don't realize it but most days they spend more time with our children than we do. They make a huge impact on their lives. They teach, encourage and really guide them through their education. I must say my daughters always had great teachers. Some were more out going than others but I was always pleased.
This year the head teachers are all getting white chocolate covered apples topped with a marshmallow from Stew Leonards. The pre k classes have about 4-5 aides and I ordered holiday donuts for each class. It's hard to budget, yet want to spread some love. But these apples actually are much bigger than this picture and are an amazing price. You don't have to go over board. But with buying for three head teachers, countless class aides, religion teachers, and chior teachers. The list just never ends. But you can set a budget and find great prices, while still making someone feel special.
Tuesday, December 19, 2017
Friday, December 15, 2017
Holiday Eating Humor...
Cold nights, hanging solo, holiday cheer and blues well all lead to one thing...eating. So thank you leggings for being good to me and allowing me to eat in sorrow or happiness and I promise you will
be put to rest after the holidays. But for now it's ok to find some comfort in food.
Thursday, December 14, 2017
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Save On Admission at Stepping Stones On Dec 16th & 17th
Beat the cold this weekend by coming over to Stepping Stones Museum in Norwalk. They are offering $3 off each ticket this weekend only. Be sure to check out their calendar so your little one can take a picture with Santa.
The Nutcracker At The Stamford Palace Theater
This weekend the Nutcracker will be playing at the Stamford Palace Theater. What a great way to get a jump start into the holiday spirit. Such talent and beautiful to watch the ballets take their art and talent to a different level. Learn More and purchase tickets here: https://shar.es/1MwLmK
Monday, December 11, 2017
Spread More Love...
With the recent bomb attempt at Port Authority in New York this morning you can't help but wish for all the hate in the world to come to an end. Innocent people traveling to work had to have such a horrible experience because someone had hate in them. It's awful to think someone could hurt people they don't even know or have a direct reason to. Gratefully the situation didn't cause more harm but with the holidays coming the last thing anyone needs is fear in getting to work. We all must try to spread as much love as possible especially to our children and peers. My wish is that we all can live in peace without fearing being around people or hurt by people who are filled with so much anger.
*Image Source: Google
Sunday, December 10, 2017
All Children Learn Their Own Way
My three children are completely different. They play different. They learn different. As a parent it is kindof hard to grasp. We teach them all the same and expect same results. Well my third totally had me changing up gears. My two older ones LOVED doing flash cards and by three they knew all the shapes, colors, letters, and numbers. Now my youngest is extremely smart. She also is a big jokester. She also hates flash cards. Everytime I pull them out she asks to do something else. So finally I decided to teach her, HER way. I lined the cards on the ground and instead of lifting up cards asking what it was I asked her to give me the"yellow oval" and "green circle".
This helped me know what shapes and colors she knew. She loved this. I then asked her what letter the colors started with. Having kids isn't easy. Having three is hard. I always wished I could clone myself into three. Give them undivided attention but I can't. So instead I need to take some time and learn what each kid needs in their own way to make them happy and make learning be fun.
Pumpkins...Who Has Pumpkins...
I saw this and could so relate. Everytime I drove out of my driveway I got a glance of the pumpkins still on my stairs. Yes I know it's December but I am always running in and out I didn't mean to keep my pumpkins on my stairs, meanwhile the reflection of my Christmas tree can be seen from my window. Reality is I don't have any Christmas lights up and everytime I had intentions to put them up my ex insisted he would do it for the kids and well it still hasn't happened. But with that being said I did toss the pumpkins finally before the snow had a chance to cover them up and I am glad I did or else they would have stayed there until Spring.
Parenting ...It's About Teamwork From Both Parties
My daughter was so excited to go to see Pentatonix. Her father wanted to go too so my parents got an extra ticket for him. I knew it would be fine going together because it was for my daughter. We ended up staying the night due to bad weather and the focus was just on making my daughter happy. Now our divorce wasn't due to cheating it was due to two people knowing that their journey together was over. The goal is to now be a team. A parenting team. To be able to not fight for 24 hours in each other's presence is a huge win for us. We are going to need to be a team forever for our kids. And what a great gift to be able to do it in Peace. I have come to terms knowing our marriage is over and also came to terms that our actions affect our kids. To be able to work together to make this transition easy on the kids actually makes it easy on us.
You have to realize that when your journey with someone is over it doesn't mean this person can't still be in your life. My ex will always be my children's father and by me letting go of the hurt and anger I am allowing peace between us. By taking the lessons I learned about me and my marriage is allowing that journey to turn into something else. A journey of teamwork so our girls live a life that is happiest for them. This isn't easy and takes both parties involved to understand the purpose of the new journey and accept it. I have accepted the death of my marriage but also welcome the rebirth of a new relationship as being a parenting team.
As I mentioned before "Thank You For Your Journey " you have to own up to your part in something failing. You have to forgive the other person and yourself.
Saturday, December 9, 2017
Joy Of Giving and Getting...But Where Do You Put It All
There's nothing more magical than seeing your kids happy on Christmas. You plan and purchase with the mindset that it's towards their happiness but once the holidays are over and the magic of Christmas is gone the reality of all the gifts received makes you want to lose your mind! I could empty their playroom and day after Christmas it will be filled again and it can be super stressful. It's a beautiful thing, you're grateful that people made your kids happy but reality is they don't need all the stuff they get and I too am to blame for contributing to my own holiday spot finder, where to put it all madness.
Friday, December 8, 2017
Taking It Back To My Happy Place: The 80's
Lately I have been LOVING some music from the 80's. The more I thought about it the more it makes sense. I am reconnecting with times in my life that made me happy. I was born and brought up in the 80's. Most of my childhood was great. I picture rocking out to these tunes and not having a care in the world. Just being happy,that's a huge goal for me, regardless of how hard divorce is and the roller coaster ride it is. I need to embrace the "little things" that makes me happy.
Wednesday, December 6, 2017
Tuesday, December 5, 2017
It's Beginning To Smell A lot Like Christmas...
I walk into the grocery store and smell cinnamon. Calming, heavenly and I look
for where this smell is coming from and it actually was scented pine cones. I put the bag in my carriage and contemplate buying them. Even though it gave me a scent of comfort and holiday spirit and actually was just $5. So I go to register and decide to buy then and then somehow got $5 off my bill so they really were free. I put them around the house and instantly it was like a big, warm, holiday hug. I know sounds so silly but when you are alone and down and tell yourself enjoy the simple things in life well that's what you do. You find happiness in little things and little gestures. Little pleasures like cinnamon scented pine cones can make your whole day better! Be sure to go buy some.
Feel Good Holiday Song: Christmas Canon -Trans-Siberian Orchestra (Full )
My all time favorite Christmas song! Amazing how magical this is. Even when you're not in the holiday spirit it's hard to not listen to Christmas songs. It's good for the soul.
Cranberry Walnut Bread: Sono Bakery CT
A friend of mine brought me a loaf of bread from
Sono Bakery and it's beyond amazing. Little does she know I almost ate the whole thing myself...not in one day of course. I ate it with butter. I ate it with cream cheese. It has this holiday flair to it and goes perfect with coffee.
Monday, December 4, 2017
Ugly Sweater Party a Saltwater in Sono CT
I love these type of events. So fun! Saltwater Restaurant & Bar in Sono will
Be hosting an Ugly Sweater Party on Saturday, December 16th. In the spirit of the holidays, a portion of the proceeds will go to Love ALL Project
Come On Down To Dry Dock Bar & Grille
They have the BEST Burgers and Brussel sprouts. Come
out and eat for a cause!
Sunday, December 3, 2017
Beginning To Look A lot Like Christmas
We decorated the tree tonight. The girls did an amazing job. They after decorated the little tree in their bedroom. Honestly didn't even have a desire to put a tree up but now the house is so
cozy and the girls totally melt my heart and their happiness makes me happy and is all I
really care about these days. For them to be happy. Isn't that the goal?! Don't let your blues bring you down this holiday season. See beauty in everything you can.
Thank You For The Journey: I Now Set You Free
Things don't just happen. It's a part of our journey. The problem we have is we hold on to it thinking there may be more and we also hurt ourselves by holding on to the person, situation, guilt and pain. One thing I learned about "soul searching" is to set things free.
*picture source Instagram
By setting things, people, your guilt, your pain, free you have acknowledged the journey is over. That you forgive yourself. You forgive that person. I did it last night before bed. I dug deep and let it all resurface and starting to forgive myself, forgive those who I hurt and hurt me, I then said thank you for the journey, I know set you free. I pictured the people walking away. Now it takes some practice and you have to be truly ready to do the forgiving to feel better and realize you too need to apologize. I had to forgive myself. I had to forgive the people who hurt me and I had to acknowledge I am not perfect and have a part in the role of everything that happens or had happened. It felt amazing. It's going to make you cry, feel pain and then joy.
After I went to wash my face for bed and poured my cleanser in my hand and literary said oh my god out loud. I have this thing with hearts appearing and lately it happens a lot. I laughed and smiled and thanked the universe.
You should try this. Try setting all that hurt in you free. It may take a couple of times. But after you do you feel amazing. Our journey is written out for us but we also have the will to make it as great or as bad as we like.
Saturday, December 2, 2017
Feel Good Song: The Prayer: Celine Dion ft Andrea Bocelli
There's so many times we get stuck in situations we try to run from. Most of the times it's issues within ourselves. We try to find someone to help bring out the best of us and try to stay in situations we think will one day change. But they don't always. Sometimes relationship need to end, for good. Regardless how hard it is to be alone. It's better to be alone then in the wrong situation. I feel this song is meant for us all lost in our journey. Stuck in relationships and situations that we can't seem to get out of or that don't bring out the best of us. People don't always change. But you can change. It takes work but in time you can be in a happy environment and if not you can at least be happy with yourself. You can't keep running back to a situation you think will get better when they end up staying the same or even get worse. Being alone is hard but not as hard as being in a situation that doesn't make you happy or can never make you fully happy. It's a disservice to the person you are with and yourself to stay where you shouldn't be.
Greenwich Reindeer Holiday Stroll
Checked this out today and so fun. They hand out cookies and coffee coupons, there are food trucks. We even got a glass of prosecco at Stuart Weitzman. Stopped in Le Pain Quotidien Bakery for a free coffee we got from coupon and picked up an amazing cheese almond danish. There are carolers and a live navity scene. It's going on tomorrow too. Learn More Here: http://www.greenwichreindeerfestival.com/assets/files/2017-tmk-holiday-brochure-final.pdf
Holiday Lights Stamford CT
Who says lights are just for kids? Tonight checked out 65 Lewelynn Drive in Stamford with my sister. It was so magical. Ironically I used to go here when I was younger and was nice
to see this again. Be sure to go, with or without the kids. We all could use some holiday cheer!
Friday, December 1, 2017
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