2012 Resolutions: Review

Better late than never, I thought I'd take a moment to review my 2012 resolutions. Last year is one of the first years I actually made several resolutions and overall, I'm happy with my success.

Initially I was going to go through each resolution one by one, but I even started to get bored with the post! Instead, I'll expand on my two most successful and enjoyable resolutions:

Do Creative Things

I feel really successful on this one! I completed several creative projects throughout the year and by letting myself splurge on the purchase of some washi tape, I've had fun doing little things that are creative as well. I can't paint or draw, but I do feel that I am a creative person and it's been a lot of fun to encourage that in myself!

Mail Birthday Cards

This was my most successful resolution to date! I have mailed dozens of birthday cards and birthday postcards over the year and the response has been wonderful! One friend mentioned that it was the only mailed card she received! A neighbor told me that the card made his week! Plus, I love an excuse to be on the look out for cute stationary! Decorating the envelopes with small pen flourishes or washi tape has also helps with #1! I must add a disclaimer, however, that I did miss a few entire months, so if you didn't receive a card (and are someone I know IRL!) please don't feel bad -- it was probably one of my off months!

I enjoyed these so much that I'm continuing those into 2013! Here's to creative things and birthday cards!



Original post by Smiling Mama. Thanks for reading!

New 'do!

I've had long hair my entire life. The two times I've had short hair are in 5th grade when I had a HORRENDOUS hair cut (ahem, mom!). Seriously, it may have scared me for life. And, at the start of this little 'ole blog when I donated many inches to Locks of Love.

But right after New Year's, I got it in my head that I wanted to go really short. I even considered a pixie cut. (Possibly inspired by this lovely lady?)

So last night, with celeb photo sample in hand, I went to my beloved stylist of a dozen years and she made it happen!

Before:

 

 After!

Despite the look in the photos, I didn't change the color at all; it's still my natural brown with a bit of auburn. When I was in the chair, I loved it. When I got home, I wasn't sure at all about it. But, today I think I'm falling in love with it (certainly the many awesome FB comments are helping that along!).

So maybe I'm now a short-haired lady?! Crazy!



Original post by Smiling Mama. Thanks for reading!

Thankful

In my on-going quest to Do Creative Things and in line with my love of mailing written correspondence, I was inspired by these beautiful Thanksgiving printables by Oana Befort on Sincerely, Kinsey which I first saw on How About Orange. (Whew! I think that credits everyone!)


I even used some scrapbook paper to make custom envelopes for them!

I only ended up actually writing and mailing three and I also hid a special one for Abel to find when he opened his laptop one day. It was a fun project and, although I have a million people that I'm grateful for, I was happy to send the three out that I did.

And, of course, you don't really need Thanksgiving to express gratitude so I'll keep the extra copies close by.

Dear Readers, I'm so thankful for you, too!



Original post by Smiling Mama. Thanks for reading!

Burns

On Friday, October 12, I decided to start a fitness routine and join several of my friends and neighbors at Planet Fitness 3x a week. They carpool over, leaving town at 5:15am. Upon arrival, one of the women leads strength training for 30 minutes and then everyone branches off to do their own cardio for another 30 minutes, getting everyone home by about 6:45.

Just in case you aren't aware, I am NOT a morning person! (NOT being an understatement!) But, I was committed because everything else was so perfect:

• I really, really needed to start an exercise program. 
• The gym is only $10 a month.
• I am totally unmotivated and uncommitted on my own (read: willing to hit snooze a dozen more times) so going with others provides the accountability I need.
• I have no idea what to do when I get to a gym, so having a leader design routines is perfect.

I started off on Monday, October 15, and felt GREAT.

Until later that afternoon, when I felt not-so-great. By 1pm I was running a fever! I headed home and to bed. And here's the crazy part: that fever ended up lasting -- on and off -- until Sunday, October 28! Worried after just four days, I went to the doctor on October 18. After blood and urine tests, the Dr. concluded that it was just a virus that needed to run its course. I started feeling better on Oct. 20 & 21 (partly, I believe, through force of will as we had a wedding to attend!). And then got worse and worse, with Sunday, Oct. 28th being the worst day.

Worried that I wouldn't be able to get back to the Dr. for days after Hurricane Sandy hit, I went to an urgent care on the 28th. That Dr. confirmed the same thing: all test results look great, nothing else is wrong, just a very strange and long-lasting virus.

Finally Hurricane Sandy blew my virus away (I'm giving her credit anyway b/c of the two "free" days off work!) and I was back to normal by Oct. 30.

So now I'm back on the exercise bandwagon, and even though I'm tired and sore, I much prefer feeling my muscles burn rather than my forehead!

Oh, and can I please get the second half of October back??

{Props MUST be given to my fantastic husband who literally held the fort down for those two weeks, handling 95% of everything so I could rest. He's the best!!!}


Original post by Smiling Mama. Thanks for reading!

Rest in Peace, Sleep Sound, Rest in Peace

It it with great sadness that I bid farewell to my faithful sleeping companion of fifteen years. I've professed my love for this small machine before and am not at all exaggerating about the great sadness I felt on Tuesday night when I realized it was really dead. Truly, I feared I would be awake all night. But, alas, somehow I have managed to sleep for the past few nights, although I have been unable to actually discard my broken companion.

This guy helped me sleep through college dorm room antics, Vegas hotel room antics (sharing a room with far-too-many people!), the light stirrings of babies and toddlers, the snores of husbands, (er, husband!), and so much more.

He's traveled from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from north to south, in carry-ons and packed luggage. He's been dropped, knocked, perhaps even thrown (never by me, by a young not-to-be-named child), and finally--without warning--has ceased his soothing sounds.

Goodbye, Sleep Sound, goodbye.

{Your replacement will be ordered momentarily!}






Original post by Smiling Mama. Thanks for reading!

DIY Update

Last May I wrote about the DIY project in our dining room

Geesh, what a terrible picture! Sorry!

Since then, this frame has become one of my favorite things in the house. And, it gets a ton of compliments. I changed out the paperclips for teeny tiny clothespins and really enjoy updating the items on display.

I'm no good at keeping up with regular segments on this blog, but I thought it would be fun to photograph the frame every now and then to see how it changes.

Here's what it looks like today:

Top L to R:
An easy tissue paper flower
Wedding invitation
Beautiful handmade baby card that I recently re-discovered.
Wedding invitation
Back of an old Moo business card

Middle L to R:
Adorable photo of the boys from the Instax Mini I got Abel for Christmas (such a fun camera to have, BTW)
Photo booth photos of Abel and me from a wedding

Bottom L to R:
Original art by Nathaniel
Instax photo of Abel and me on NYE
Family photo from an incredible vista in Cameron County, PA -- we could see four different mountain ranges!




Original post by Smiling Mama. Thanks for reading!

Back to School Goodies

Eeek! Only two weeks until Lucas's first day of FIRST grade. I really can't believe it. As the PTA president (yep, second year in a row, what am I thinking??) (kidding!!) (kind of.), I wanted to include a little something in the teachers' welcome back bags. I'm not the craftiest person ever (plus we were talking 50 little somethings which really adds up quickly money-wise!) but I am pleased with this little goodies I whipped up. I obviously played off the Olympic theme with the gift tag and the baggie has a handful of assorted gold wrapped candies -- Rolo, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and Werther's hard candies. It's a small token but I think it will be appreciated.

Now....we just have to finish that school supply shopping list!
 
Original post by Smiling Mama. Thanks for reading!

Pro Parent Tip: Minimizing Splashes

I truly wish I could take credit for this awesome parent tip, but, alas, full credit goes to #1 Dada, Abel. Like his brother before him, Nathaniel loves, loves, loves the bath. And, of course, accompanying all that fun is a lot of splashing!

Now that he's old enough that we don't have to be right next to him the entire time, we close the liner, throw the curtain up over the top and let him splash away 'til his heart's content (or 'til his little piggies are prunes!). The closed liner stops 99% of the water from escaping the tub. It's brilliant!

Oh, here's a bonus pro tip I can take credit for -- I often use this part of bath time to multitask and do some bathroom cleaning -- toilet, sink, etc. I'm in the room with him and interacting but still getting an unpleasant task completed.




Original post by Smiling Mama. Thanks for reading!

Mother's Day

I'm a day late and a dollar short (okay a few days late and lots of dollars short!) for Mother's Day. After a jam-packed Friday and Saturday celebrating our town's awesomeness, I was down for the count on Sunday (and Monday) with a terrible head-cold and wrenching cough.

Luckily, I had already given my own fabulous mom her gift (with four hearts, one for each grandson + the baby on the way!) and card when we saw her in person last weekend.

Anyway, today, after re-entering the land of the living, I thought I'd share my two most favorite Mother's Day posts from the interwebs. Enjoy!

First, Here's to Us from Scary Mommy (whose book I must purchase STAT!).

And, second, this fabulous video from The Mother Company via my friend Leticia.



Hope your Mother's Day was grand. Or, that at least that you got to talk a nap.



Original post by Smiling Mama. Thanks for reading!

Spotted

Spotted on Connecticut Avenue, Washington, DC, this week:

1. A man wearing boots with actual spurs. They jingled like chimes with each step.

2. A man who intentionally rammed his body into not one but two moving cars as he crossed two different intersections. I believe he was making a point to the cars that they were moving against the pedestrian right-of-way. It sounded like it hurt. I wonder if he does this every time he crosses the street.

3. A women who got off the metro, walked five city blocks, took the elevator to her office, walked down the hall, sat down at her desk and then realized that her shirt was inside out.*

4. This lovely street art.

*Why, yes, that was me. However did you guess?


Original post by Smiling Mama. Thanks for reading!

Treats

Recently I went through a tough week or two, mentally. I tried lots of little things to help get me out of my funk and yet it lingered and lingered. I rarely buy things for myself, rather my MO is to fill on-line shopping carts and then close the page. But, I was anticipating a nice paycheck from a tedious freelance gig and so gave myself permission to buy a few little treats.

The first treat I bought was stationary from Linda & Harriett, whose amazing sale I learned about on the Simple Song blog. For about $25 total, I got beautiful letterpress hedgehog note cards (click through to Simple Song and check out them out, top left!), lovely happy birthday note cards, an old calendar that had postcards on the bottom to cut off and an assortment of lovely mismatched pieces.

Receiving this bundle in the mail -- including two pink Linda & Harriett pencils as a bonus gift! -- brought me great joy; helped reinvigorate my New Year's resolution to mail birthday cards; and, brought joy to several lucky April-born card recipients!

Win! Win! Win!

(Sorry that it's a loss for you as the sale is over. Boo!)

I also allowed myself to purchase two long-pinned and long-desired items from the etsy shop YellowHeartArt:

Print from YellowHeartArt

Necklace from YellowHeartArt

These two gems are on their way right now and I can't wait to open the package! The print will go in our basement family room -- our main fort-making area -- and the necklace, of course, will go right around my neck!

Here's to small treats!


P.S. Abel and Lucas released the Praying Mantis babies in different sections of our yard on Monday morning before school. I continued to worry about them that night as the temperatures dropped so low. Hopefully they are okay. I think we'll go on a bug hunt this weekend to see if we can track any of them down!


Original post by Smiling Mama. Thanks for reading!

Mantis Nymphs

We awoke on Sunday morning to find that our mantises had hatched! Woo hoo! We all agreed immediately they are totally adorable and I have to admit that I became very attached, checking in on them numerous times throughout the day. They were jumping all around, having a blast!

Unfortunately for them, it was pouring down rain all day on Sunday and quite chilly. I was not going to release these precious babies into that terrible weather!

The small paper that came with them said to release them within 1-2 days, so I figured we had time to wait out the rain. But by Sunday night (and again first thing today when I checked on them) they were all still. I don't think they had died as the large majority were still clinging to the sides of our little bug tent. But, I am so nervous that they are dying.

It's still only in the low 40s this morning. But, Abel and Lucas are going to release them before school. I'll tell you, these little mantises have been on my mind all morning! I hope the release goes okay, that they find food and aren't washed away by the rain or frozen by the cold.

Would it be appropriate to note that I have never, ever owned a pet?

Updates to come, friends!

Original post by Smiling Mama. Thanks for reading!

Even Mantis has those...thingies*

Inspired by Morning Light Mama I purchased this live Praying Mantis egg case from Insect Lore. It arrived last week and we're anxiously awaiting the hatching of 75-200 Praying Mantis larvae!

We'll release them into the back yard, where, if they find enough food to eat, they should happily stay for the summer. They're considered voracious eaters and so I'm hoping they gobble up all the bugs in the back yard--especially the horrible mosquitoes! But mostly, I am really hoping to encounter a 5" mantis in a few months. You may think I'm strange but I think they are incredibly stately and elegant!

*Bonus points if you leave a comment with the movie that's from!



Original post by Smiling Mama. Thanks for reading!

You Are Welcome

In case you didn't realize it, the ONLY thing standing between the DC region and a March snowstorm (or heck, any snowstorm at all this winter!) was the fact that these boots have been sitting in the shoe tray next to our front door since December. You are welcome!

I thought about putting them away about 100 times this winter but always hesitated out of the certainty that as soon as they were put away it would snow.

I finally put them away last night.

So if we get a freak April snow, you'll know why.


Original post by Smiling Mama. Thanks for reading!

Getting Unblocked

Friends,

It's been two and a half months since I've written here or anywhere. I've been blocked, stuck, choked, or any other synonym for being unable to write. Not for lack of topics. No, the topics are everywhere.

At first, I was waiting to get my act together with photos to document my darling Nathaniel's 2nd birthday.

And then Susan died.

And how could I write about anything else before I wrote about that?

I couldn't. And I didn't.

But last Sunday Lucas opened a toy and it gave me the inspiration to write again.

And so I wrote about getting outdoors with your kids, about our favorite spot in DC and about a silly and vain topic.

I wrote in those other places and soon I will write here. I'll write about Susan and write the post the future Nathaniel deserves for his birthday.

And I'll write and I'll write because I need -- really, really need -- to write.


Original post by Smiling Mama. Thanks for reading!

Resolutions

I'm reading The Happiness Project and am inspired to write some actual New Year's Resolutions for the first time in...years. Here they are -- written out and public to keep me accountable.

 

Original post by Smiling Mama. Thanks for reading!

Gift Wrap

One of my favorite parts of Christmas is wrapping presents. When I was in high school, I often wrapped all the gifts for the family (except those for me, of course!). BC (before children) I would spend a day in my jammies, watching Little Women, sipping hot cocoa and wrapping, wrapping, wrapping. I often wished I had more gifts to wrap! (Luckily Abel enjoys and is an excellent wrapper as well. When we were newly married he even happily humored my Little Women tradition!)

I am particularly pleased with the "look" I've come up with this year for our gifts. When Abel's company shut down, he snagged a HUGE roll of Kraft paper from the mail room. I've used it for a million things already and have barely made a dent in its size. I'm starting to suspect it might be a lifetime's worth of paper! I decided to use that as my wrapping and ordered these simple but beautiful silver and gold rolls of twine from KnotAndBow.

Alas, with my crazy boys, I no longer have the luxury of spending hours wrapping so I have to squeeze it in when I can. The top photo is a sample of a few gifts I finished last night. I added a sprig of holly to the gift for Lucas's teacher.



Original post by Smiling Mama. Thanks for reading!

Thankful

 

Free printable from here.

Life is challenging and busy and hectic these days. And I'm often wishing for more time, especially with my wonderful boys. But I am so grateful for our family -- for Nathaniel, who can now say, "Mommy" and calls for me often. For Lucas who is so full of hugs and kisses and always wants one more, just one more, one last hug, okay this is the last one, but mama, one more hug and kiss! And for Abel who is my biggest fan and who is an amazing father. These days are hard and long for him, too, but our sons are so lucky to have such a great dad who takes care of their needs and makes time for fun adventures.

And, I'm thankful, too, for this outlet -- to write and share with you, dear readers.

Wishing you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with yummy food and surrounded by loved ones.

xoxo


Original post by Smiling Mama. Thanks for reading!

Superpowers

Last night Lucas and I made a quick little fire in our fire pit to roast a s'more each before bedtime and then we hung out by the fire for a bit to ensure it was out before we went back inside. After we gobbled up our s'mores, he used his amazing imagination to start a game -- I was the captain of the ship and he was my first mate, all kinds of fish started attacking and he speared them with his bamboo. At one point a whole school of piranhas attacked and Lucas started telling me about his super power: his brain can divide into 1,000 Lucas's to make a Lucas army.

I tried to play along and said I'd make a Mama army, too. He came over, really close to my face and said, "Silly, Mama, that isn't your superpower."

"What is?" I asked.

"Sweetness and kindness and putting people on the naughty step when they do bad things."

Being able to divide into 1,000 me's would be pretty useful, but I'll happily take those three instead.

 
Original post by Smiling Mama. Thanks for reading!

The universe is telling me to get a Wii!

I'm not even kidding.

So several months ago, I got an e-mail with the opportunity to host a Wii Play Motion party. So fun, right? The only problem was that we don't own a Wii. No worries, they said, can you borrow one? Of course!

I decided it would be selfish super-fun to make it a ladies-only night. I mean you know that if the guys and kids were there the moms and ladies would get NO playing time. Am I right?

Nintendo and their pals at Brand About Town sent me two HUGE boxes which were, essentially, a party in a box. Seriously. The only thing I had to do was use the generous Cold Stone gift certificate to actually go purchase the ice cream.

(Don't you just love my table scape above? I was so proud of it!)

Oh? A close up? Here you go!

Yes, the jars came pre-labeled. And yes, I saved them for a future party.

Man, those sundae's were delish! But, of course the most fun was an evening with some of my favorite ladies and having a TON of fun playing with the new Wii Play Motion!

And did I mention the favors? Everyone went home with an ice cream bowl and scoop and one lucky lady went home with a copy of Wii Play Motion and a controller!

 
My generous fist-pumping friend, D., let us keep the Wii for an extra week or so and Lucas, Abel and I LOVED playing. I may or may not still be obsessing about Pose Mii Plus. (Not surprising since Tetras is my first and true Nintendo love!) Oh, and ladies, Abel and Lucas figured out Skip Skimmer in about 2 seconds -- it is super fun!

So after a few fun nights of gaming with our 5 year old, Abel and I started to think that maybe a Wii should play promently on our Christmas List this year.

But, wait! The story doesn't end there!

Fast forward a few weeks to Blogalicious (totally. amazing. more coming soon!) and WHOOOO gets her card drawn to be part of the Sears & KMart Winter Wonderland Dirty Santa gift exchange?

MEEEEE!!!!! (And 24 other lovely ladies!)

I know my good friend Thien-Kim at I'm Not the Nanny won't mind me stealing this pic. That's the awesome Lindsay Maines of Rock and Roll Mama but I'm on the floor on Lindsay's left.

Man, they had some amazing gifts. And you know how this game goes -- you can pick a gift from under the tree or steal from someone else. You know the moment one of the bloggers ahead of me opened up a Wii that I was intent on stealing it. But, alas, I got caught in the 3 steals max rule and lost it. However, I did score a Wii Fit Plus!

So, let's add this up: I now own a Wii Motion Plus game, 3 Wii motion remotes and a Wii Fit Plus. What's missing? An actual Wii!

Yeah, it's on the top of our list!


Of course the disclaimers: Nintendo supplied me with the game and remotes and sundae fixings and ice cream gift card (whew!) but all opinions are my own and those of the fun ladies at my party. I paid for Blogalicious with my own dime(s) and had a grand time and totally lucked out on getting to play in the Dirty Santa game (THANK YOU to the MANY bloggers who dropped your cards but weren't "present to win" as they say). No compensation was provided for this post.


Original post by Smiling Mama. Thanks for reading!