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

Real Intimacy Has Nothing To Do With Sex

When you can open up and be truthful. When you can communicate without fighting. When you can be honest even if it’s something they don’t want to hear. Even when it’s silly or may sound dumb. When you find someone you can be you, real, open and safe with. That’s more intimate than anything else. That’s a deep true connection. It’s super sexy. It’s what everyone needs in a relationship. 

Come Here, Let Me Give You A Hug

❤️

August 3rd Trust The Process

Let’s Fast Forward Time

Wouldn’t it be great if we could fast forward time and see how things end up. Then we could enjoy the journey so much more. Then we wouldn’t keep holding on to people or situations. Hoping for the best but deep down knowing that you may be wasting your time. That all along it never was going to turn out the way you hoped or thought. 

How all along it never was going to be what you wanted or needed. Instead we just wait. Silly....we wait for things to go in our favor and well sometimes they don’t. 

I know I know I say enjoy the journey. Enjoy the process. Yes it’s true. But sometimes we can prevent our own pain and hurt. We just don’t because we think things will end up differently then they probably will. 

Just be ok with it. No matter what the outcome is. Trust your journey. Don’t wait but don’t chase either. 

Happy Saturday!

“You’re like a breath of fresh air.” I swear I was so set back and it was so sweet. It was the kindest thing my girlfriend said to me. She’s a very serious yet sarcastic funny girl I am always saying how much I appreciate our friendship. She’s helped me through some battles this year and we sometimes hang twice a week when I don’t have the kids. It’s just fun girl talk. Plus her humor is nothing like anyone I know. 

In life we hang on to each others words. Things said to us. How great if we can turn around and only hang onto the good stuff. Let go of the negative. Cleanse our minds of doubt and hurt. Open our hearts up. 

My friend yesterday told me “you appreciate the small joys in life I can learn from you.” I said I was happy we met and appreciated that. 

That’s all our goals right?  To learn from one another and teach one another things. To help eachother feel good. To point out positive stuff in them that they may not see themselves. 

This Type Of Life...

❤️

Why Laughing IS The Best Medicine

I did dinner the other night with a girlfriend. She’s so sarcastic. She’s the best. She starts off her story by saying I went to CVS the other day down street which by the way I am not allowed back in. 

Right there I just start to laugh. My stomach hurt from laughing so much from her story. Straight face and all. She is the best. 

I love to laugh. I mean who doesn’t? I also love certain people in my life because they do make me laugh so much. I love being in their company and their messages. I love their stories and humor. I love making people laugh. It’s like the kid in us comes out. 

Now what if I told you laughing relieves...Pain! Yep. Read this:

Why Laughter May Be the Best Pain Medicine

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-laughter-may-be-the-best-pain-medicine/

Notice When You’re Triggered & Say Something

You have to be comfortable enough to know your emotions. When your mood shifts. I was speaking to a friend. Awesome fun silly conversation and then bam. My friend said one thing and it triggered me. I felt it. My blood pressure rose, I felt sad, mad and instead of fighting I called it out. I said you triggered me. And they apologized. That’s it. No fighting no back and forth banter. It stopped and I went back to fun silly banter. 

Why is this important? Because people don’t know when you’re mad or why. We hold in a lot of crap, pain and then what happens? We become distant and angry. We hold a grudge. We have pain. We don’t heal. 

What if when someone does something we don’t like we call them out on it?

Hey that bothered me. Can we discuss it? Or hey that triggered me and I don’t like how that made me feel. Don’t be defensive when someone says that. Say ok no problem. 

Why haven’t we become intune with our feelings, needs and wants yet? That’s YOUR job to do for YOU!

Fork It Over Event September 26th

Learn more here: https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Save-the-Date---Sept-26---Fork-It-Over-.html?soid=1101689825741&aid=Vy7bHuqAogI

Happy Saturday...Be Free

All this and whatever else makes your soul happy. 

Barcelona in Norwalk

Waypointe is hopping! I love it. All the restaurants have a ton of outdoor seating. There’s such a big crowd. I guess I never realized it. I usually go during the week. It’s really developing into a fun area. 

When you’re out to dinner with girlfriends my favorite thing is to get a bunch of tapas. Barcelona is the perfect place for it. They have a ton and they are the perfect size to share. Not too small not too big, just enough to be filling. 

Their Patata Bravas are the best I have ever had. 

So tasty and crunchy. We could have ordered a second round. We also ordered their skirt steak, shistos peppers and seared scallops. 

Delicious. Fun. Awesome atmosphere outside. Being outside sipping on drinks. Eating tapas and laughing. 

For dessert we split then crepes for dessert and all of this for under $40 each with tip included. 

Yep a night out for under $40 is a big win!

Nobody’s Story Is Perfect...That’s Ok!

❤️

August 2nd Incredible Things Ahead