Favorite Things Friday: Week 2

friday favorite things | finding joy

Wow!  I am still excited from yesterday!  You all totally rock and it fills my heart and makes me happy! I am so happy that you all came over and checked out the new series that I am starting.  It is going to be wonderful-I just know it!

Today is Friday and Good Friday at that, so I hope those of you that are off today are enjoying the day with your families; whether it be outside (it is gorgeous here in the Midwest, FINALLY!) or if you are just relaxing inside.  I hope this Friday nicely rounds out your week and has you thinking about all of your favorite things that happened this week.

Here are some of mine:

Lazy snow day's with this little girl right here

Impromptu nap sessions in the kitchen with her "big girl blanket" and Ellie

Notes from my husband (that even include adding 'Tylenol' to the grocery list because I needed it and would have forgotten)


The 14 inches of snow melting


Finally getting to play outside and saying "Oooo weeeee!"

All of my reader's here

Also, there are just a couple of days left to vote on which entry I will be submitting to Yahoo! Contributor Network next!  Please go here to read all about that and cast your vote!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!  I will see you all back here on Monday for the first installment of The Month of 30!

Happy Easter!

Until next time,


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Announcing The Month of 30: From Child to Mother

Hello readers!  If you have been paying attention to Facebook the past day or so, you know that I am supposed to be announcing something BIG today. If you have no idea what is going on, click here to join our community so you can stay up-to-date on all the happening's with the blog.  It will be worth it!

So, without further adieu, I would like to announce a new series on the blog for the month of April!


Here's the deal:  I am turning 30 on April 18th. Yep, that's right.  30.  I am going to embrace it.  I am not "29 and holding" nor will I stop telling people my age nor will I run out to the nearest teenager store and start cramming my post child body into skinny jeans that I can't even get over my butt.  I will be 30.  It's a milestone.  It's important.  It means I have thirty years of life under my belt and damn it, some of those were some rough years.  It's time to celebrate them, embrace them, and live my next thirty years out loud!

I wanted to share with all of you where I have been, what I have accomplished, and what I have learned on my adventure to 30.  I want to erase the stigma of 30.  I have discovered that, especially in women, 30 causes them to freak out.  It's a number, girls.  It really is.  That's it.  When you turn thirty, it means you have survived thirty years of what life has thrown at you.  Pat yourself on the back, embrace it, celebrate it ; don't run and hide.  

Starting April 1st, my readers are going to start seeing me peel away layers of myself and displaying them on the blog, for all the world to see.  Don't get me wrong, I am a little nervous, but I am excited at the same time.  I am going to talk about things that I keep close to my chest because I want to revel in what I have accomplished, what I have learned, and enter 30 to learn new things, face new things, and live my life.

Here is the breakdown for the next month:



In addition to my lists, (which will be chock full of things that some may not even know or realize about me) there will be posts and photos chronicling my last thirty years.  I am also going to talk about my dreams for the future and the husband and I's one year wedding anniversary on April 14th. 

If you really want to know the person behind this blog, pay attention to Facebook as I will be announcing new posts to the blog, photos from the past, and giving you all kinds of information to make you say, "So that's why she is the way she is!" HA! 

Mark your calendar's for April 1st, set an alarm on your phone, write it on a Post-It Note and stick it on your fridge; whatever you have to do to remember to come here every week and read, do it!  It is going to be something spectacular, I assure you! 

I am very excited for our journey to start!  Have a great Thursday everyone!

Until next time,

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It's A Good Day

Happy Monday all!  Despite the fact that we got over a foot of snow in a 24 hour period yesterday/today, I am in a fantastic mood!  I have some awesome news to share with my readers!  Are you ready for this?  (Those of you that saw the link on Facebook, don't spoil the surprise!)

I received news last night that my blog post "Crying at the Kitchen Sink" was published on Yahoo! Contributor Network.  This makes three of my original works published to that website!  I. am. stoked!  It is wonderful for me to be able to get my words out into the world and have people see them. It is a dream of mine to be a published author and I am s l o w l y getting there. By having "Crying..." published in another forum of the world wide web gives me the confidence and the determination to keep going.

I have you, my readers, to thank. When I see that things I have written here have actually been read, it makes my heart happy.  You are helping me fulfill a dream of mine and, in turn, I hope that I am touching you in some way.  All I have ever wanted was to impact people with my words.  I hope I do that, I think I do that.  Even if it is just a handful of you, I am making a difference, and that is what this blog is all about.  Words and ideas can change the world, ya know? :)

So, with all of that being said, I need ya'll's (Ha, yea, I just did that!) help!  I want to submit something else, but I am having a hard time deciding which post I should submit.  This is where you come in! I need a little bit of your time and your input.  You up for it?  Okay, good.  Here we go!

At the bottom of this post (under my signature) you will find a poll.  All I need you to do is click on the button next to which post you think I should submit next.  Easy peasy, right?  If you haven't read some of the posts that are listed, there are links below the poll for you to click on and go read or re-fresh your memories.  Sound good?  Great!

Once again, A BIG THANK YOU! to all of you who come by and read my pondering's.  You all are so wonderful!  :)  Okay, now, let's see what the next one is going to be!

Until next time,





Links to Blog Posts

Favorite Things Friday

friday favorite things | finding joy

I am going to try something new here on the blog as a way to keep me writing and as a way for me to focus after those sometimes long weeks of being a SAHM.  I want to thank Rachel over at Finding Joy for inviting all of us to partake in this great idea!

Here are some of my favorite things from this week: 

playing
I love watching L play
with things that are new to her.


baby/toddler bonds
Cousins are the best, don't ya know?
L loves her new cousin J.
Here she is "rocking" J.


giggles
She loves to laugh.
I couldn't help but capture this moment.


reading
Mommy reading time is the best.


writing
I love to write.
I love even more that you all find
what I have to say valid
and can even laugh along with me
when I am having a rough day.


Have a great weekend everyone!
Until next time,




Denim Dilemma

*sigh*

I hate jeans.

There.  I said it.

I never used to.  I used to love getting into my closet on my days off when I didn't have classes or work, pulling on my favorite pair of broken in jeans, and going about my day.  I welcomed them much more than any yoga pant I owned.  They just looked good.  They said, "I am comfortable, relaxed, yet stylish today.  Here I am world!  Let's go!"

That was before I had the bay-bay.

This morning I got up, showered, and went to the bedroom to put clothes on.  *sigh*  This is where my self-esteem usually plummets.  It's 8:30 in the morning and my self-esteem is usually trashed before breakfast.  Awesome.  So, there I stand in my bathrobe in front of my closet and even though I know this is going to suck, I do it anyway.

I reach for my jeans.

Now, let me help you understand something.

I don't have any jeans that fit right.  None.  I own four pairs of jeans and a pair of jeggings.  I also own a pair of yoga pants and three pairs of "comfy pants" as I call them.  Normally, I put on the comfy pants or the yoga pants, but we had to go to Target today so, since I was leaving the house, I reached for the jeans.

One pair of jeans is a size too small.  Those are my "some day" jeans.  I hang onto them because they are fairly new, but I can't get them over my ass.  My jeggings are a size too big so I am constantly yanking those up to save everyone from seeing my tramp stamp. (Oh yea, I have one.) I have two other pairs of jeans that are identical except for the wash.  One is light, one is dark.  The only places those fit correctly are in length.  They are tight on my hips and too big in the waist.  So, I am constantly yanking those up too.  They also cause my underwear to crawl down my butt and...yea, it is really just a hot mess being me most days.

I step into the dark wash-perfect-length-make-my-underwear-fall-down-my-butt jeans and then I do the crab walk to get them over my booty, up my hips, take a deep breath, and button them.  There.  They are on.

I look in the mirror and this is what I think of:



I grab a t-shirt to cover the busted can of biscuits and realize I have broken a sweat getting jeans on.

Damn it.

I spend most of the morning yanking my jeans up over my ass and then doing the lovely yank-them-up-one-more-time dance as I get out of the car in the parking lot of Target.  I get L in the cart, do another yank, and off we go into the store.  We do our shopping with Mommy stopping several times throughout our trip to do a sneak yank in various empty aisles (I bet the loss prevention worker at Target loved watching that on camera.) and I finally snap.

I march us over to the women's section and begin the hunt for the perfect pair of jeans.  I am begging in my brain, "Please Target, oh please save me from this dilemma.  Please let me find a good pair of jeans that are just perfect everywhere, like they used to be, when I was younger/thinner."

I start looking at the jeans.  I become overwhelmed.  I know I need mid-rise (and probably Spanx at this point in my life, but that is another blog post.) and I need a short length, but I don't want skinny jeans, or do I?  Can I?  Should I just stick with my bootleg?  Should I do a trouser jean?  I had a pair of those once, I liked those....I look at L, I look at the jeans, I look at the fitting room, I look back at L.  It then hits me:  I can't try on jeans with a toddler.  Am I crazy? The last time I tried clothes on when she was with me ended in Cheerios all over Kohls' fitting room floor and a super angry baby, complete with carrying her out of the store like an infant and her beating the crap out of Mommy for all the world (or at least that part of the world) to see.

I sigh.  Forget it.

"Let's just go home, L."

We go home.

So, here I sit, unsure of what to do.  I am still wearing the jeans from this morning.  Why?  Because I hate that my husband always sees me in yoga pants or comfy pants.  I am trying to retain some of my self-respect and dignity while my jeans are showing otherwise.  I'm trying, and honestly, I feel like I'm failing.  My jeans are winning this battle.  I am uncomfortable as hell and they are crawling down my backside, laughing at me.

I just can't get this right, no matter what brand I buy, what rise I buy, what length I buy-it doesn't work.  Nothing does.

The only thing I haven't tried is spending more on my jeans.  I usually buy from Old Navy or Kohl's.  I have one pair from Kohl's.  They are the Apt. 9 brand and, when they fit, they make my ass look good, but I can't find another pair like them, anywhere, in a bigger size.  That sucks.  I have determined that I will never buy Old Navy ever again because they don't hold up like they used to and their pockets sit weird on my butt.  I mean, I know I have larger butt than I used to, but Old Navy, ya don't need to help me advertise it.

So, what is this Mom to do?

I am tired of having my self-esteem wrecked at 8:30 in the morning.

I am tired of living in comfy pants.

I am tired of this even being an issue.

This Mom will take any and all advice given into consideration.  I am not kidding.  Someone please help me! Please help me take back the control over my jeans!

Until next time,









Chocolate Pudding Fixes Everything

Well folks, here it is!  It's Friday!  We have (almost) made it through another week!

I had every intention of posting yesterday, but then decided not to.  Eric actually took his day off yesterday, so we had family day and hung out around here.  It was nice and much needed.  I didn't do anything in the way of housework so I am catching up on all of it today before our crazy, busy weekend starts. 

L and I kicked off the weekend with having her Spring picture's taken today.  She has the cutest Easter dress, little white shoes, and an adorable hat (that she picked out herself).  So, we got dressed up this morning and made our way to the nearest portrait studio to welcome Spring.

And then all hell broke loose.

L did not want her picture's taken today.  At all.  Not one bit.  It didn't matter how goofy the photographer and I acted, she just wanted to cry, scream, clutch Ellie (her lovey), and look at me as if to say, "Why do you make me do these things you horrible woman!?"

(Oh because, dear child, when I gave birth to you, they made me sign a contract at the hospital stating and promising that I would always make you do things you hated.)  <----That's sarcasm in case some of you don't know me in real life. :)

So, we got one good pose, which is totally enough for me.  I just hated putting her through all of that for one picture. I'm sure it won't be the last time she freaks out on me in a portrait studio.

She was mad at me the whole ride home.  Wouldn't smile at me, wouldn't answer my questions with her new found head nod's; she just stared out the window, clutching Ellie.  I cracked the sunroof thinking she would like the wind blowing through her hair...nothing.

Nice.

My 20 month old is brooding like a teenager.

*sigh*
So, you know what I did to get into her good grace's again?


I fed my child chocolate pudding with her lunch.

I let her get super, duper messy.  I let her wipe her hands through her hair, all over her face, the table, the chair...everywhere.

I just let her go.

For anyone that knows me, knows that I have let go a lot since she was born.  I was a clean freak before she was born.  Bad.  Everything in it's place, turned the right way, etc.  Bad.  I drove people crazy.  I know I did. 

I just ate my own lunch and let her go.  

She was having a blast.

She needed to feel like a 20 month old again and in control of her own existence.

L is a lot like me.  

When I feel like something is out of my control or I am being made to do things that I don't want to do (and, yes, even at almost 30, this still happens) I get mad.  I brood.  I may even cry.  

The only thing that makes me feel better is by doing something I want to do, to take back control of my existence.

My daughter just needed the same thing.

I would never deny her that.  Ever.  Within reason.  

What about you?  

Do you feel like your life, or a part of it, is out of control?  Do you feel like you are dictated by some one or some thing?

If you do, go do something for you this weekend.  Whatever makes you feel your best, whatever makes you happy, go do it.  Stop living in the cycle, stop living under people's thumbs, stop living for other people.

Live for you.

And hey, if it's chocolate pudding that will make you feel better, L can attest that it works. :)

Have a great weekend all!

Until next time,















The A to Z of Now

Last week, Shawn from Awesomely Awake posted an A to Z Now list and when I read it, I thought it was a pretty good idea.  She borrowed the idea and then encouraged all of her reader's to make their own list.  I think it is a good way to center ourselves in our busy, day-to-day lives.  So, without further adieu, here is my  A to Z Now list:

April. Next month is going to be a lovely, exciting month on the blog and in our home.  I am really looking forward to all that next month holds.

Balancing. Even though I am a SAHM, there is a lot to do in a day around here.  One child, three cat's, a husband, and me.  It can get a little crazy sometimes.  I am really trying to work on balancing everything in this house with my own needs.  It is a struggle, but I am getting there.

Coloring. L has found a new love for coloring and that makes this Mommy's heart super happy.

Diet. I am holding on very tightly to my "No snacking at night" rule.  I have failed a few times, but I keep trying!

Energy.  I have felt so depleted lately.

February.  Thank goodness that month is over.  That was a trying month with all the sickness that went through this house.

Grace. I am learning how to express it and be a pillar of it.  Grace is hard sometimes.

Hair.  I miss my long hair.  I wish it would hurry up and grow back.

Inspired. This was also what Shawn had listed on her list.  However, I am started to feel more inspired daily now that I am writing more.  I have started to really see things again, which is always lovely.

Junk.  Our garage is ridiculous, seriously.  It needs an overhaul.  Soon.

Keys.  Okay, so, we have a car that doesn't require the key be placed in the ignition to start the car.  The key just has to be present in the vehicle.  I know this.  I have known this for months.  I do it all the time.  Except for today, when I had a frantic search in my pockets for the car keys to start the car.  (As in, put the key in the ignition and start the car.) I was freaking out thinking I was going to have to take L back out of the car, go back into Target, report lost keys, and then call my husband to come get L and her dumb Mom for loosing the keys to the car.  Until I saw the ignition button and those nice words, "Push to Start."  *sigh*  Thank you, Nissan.  How many heart attacks have you given people this year?

Losing it.  Yup, Mommy loses her mind daily.  It's okay.  We just go on about our business like nothing ever happened.

March.  I love March.  It is the start of a new season, new growth, new projects, new fashion, new....everything.  I love March.

No.  I am learning to say this more.  I am also dealing with L doing it.  She has mastered the head nod and the head shake, ladies and gentlemen.  It's all downhill from here. LOL!

Optometrist.  Mommy needs an eye exam and new glasses.

Peace.  Yea, stole this one too, but we all need peace.  Peace within, peace from the outside world, peace at night when the baby is sleeping.....Peace.  Good word.  Good idea.

Quiet.  It is true what they say:  If your toddler is quiet, you better go check on them.  You may find a whole box of wipes in the toilet like I did! Or, hey, you may even find a stuffed Simon from The Chipmunks head first in the toilet with the lid closed like Daddy did!

Restore.  Restore myself, restore order in our home.

Silly.  L is silly.  She encourages Mommy and Daddy to be silly, too.  Everyone wins!  We all need to be silly once in a while, don't you agree?

Tea.  I love my herbal tea.  Oh, how I love it.

Up.  I think one day, when the weather is warmer, L and I are going to go outside in the backyard, lay on a blanket, and look at the sky.  It has been a long time since I have viewed the world from the ground.

View.  I need to pick up a camera again and start changing my view of the world.

Writing.  I love that I am doing this more.  I am feeling myself start to center again after taking a really long hiatus.  I missed writing.  I missed being able to understand what I am thinking through my writing.  I have a disconnect between my thoughts and my mouth sometimes.  It is better for me to write them down.  Always has been, always will be.

Xylophone.  L has a toy one that she bangs on a lot during the day.  She get's very excited that it makes noise.  She also loves her drum. LOL!

Year.  The husband and I will have been married for a year next month!

Zoo. I can't wait to take L to the zoo soon! It will be her first trip!  

And there you have it!  I encourage you all to write your own list, too.  I feel better after doing this.  It helps me to be present in the here and now and not think about all the other things that need to be done around here.

Until next time,



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