Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Gymnasts, defying gravity

I pulled open the heavy glass door with gusto. Never nervous, never shy for this weekly session. My gymnastics class.

My grungy sneakers landed with a plop in the corner of the gym. I wiggled my toes to give them some air and hopped onto the blue mat floor with enough built-in spring to tease gravity just a little bit. We gathered together, pre-teen girls with giggles and chatter, ready to flip and spin until our foreheads glistened.

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Mommy & Me: Hats!

We had some time to spare between an early dinner and the Super Why Live show on Friday night, so we stopped in a new Golfsmith Xtreme store. We found a perfectly-sized pink putter and let Amelia try her hand at some golf. On our way out, she spotted a four-year-old fashionista's dream: a rack of big floppy hats.

Of course we tried them on!



Linking up to Mommy & Me Monday - get in front of the camera with your kiddos (or pets!) and come over and join us.

 
Hosted by Krystyn at Really, Are You Serious?

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Humongous golden trophy

I work outside the home a few hours per week and squeeze in the rest whenever I can, usually from the couch downstairs. So yes, I have a "job"; I am a working mama.

I also have this mothering job. The job that takes precedence in my life no matter what. The job that is physically and mentally demanding. The job that allows for no personal privacy whatsoever, but has the uncanny ability to create a most dreadful sense of isolation at the very same time. The job where my "boss" lives with me, eats with me, and goes on vacation with me. The job where I have absolutely no option to walk away or search the listings on Monster.com. I know I am in this career for the long haul.

Friday, July 27, 2012

Super Why: You've Got The Power! Tampa & Miami up next!

It's past her bedtime, but she cannot stop singing.

We saw Super Why Live tonight at the Cobb Energy Center in Atlanta.

It was a big hit! The Super Why friends embark on a singing, dancing, spelling adventure to answer the booming Super Computer question, "Who is the greatest super hero in the world?!".

Summertime gadgets @Brookstone (plus #giveaway)

Brookstone hosted a group of area bloggers the other night, for a hands-on experience with their latest and greatest gadgets. It was lovely to meet a few of my Georgia Social Media Moms in person (shout-out to Amy, Maria, Meghan, Amber, Bernetta, and others!) and I never pass up an opportunity for a chair, shoulder, and foot/calf massage! If only my home could be filled with Brookstone's massage gadgets... that would equal one happy mama!

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

#WW A bunch of hot air

I didn't have a post for Monday or today, so here is Wordless Wednesday - up a few hours early.






Saturday, July 21, 2012

A fear I cannot imagine

I try to conjure memories of my most frightened moments, but they do not materialize. Sure, I have been afraid. I was stuck in an elevator once as a kid, thinking for a moment that no one would find me. Years later, at a football game, older kids (whom we did not know) tried to take me and my friend somewhere. We kicked and ran. Most recently, I have felt fear when a driving mistake led to a man following me, close to my bumper, for over 20 minutes.

Friday, July 20, 2012

Home for mama

There is something about home. The one and only, original home - where I grew up.

I am lucky to still be able to go back to the place where it feels and smells just like I remember from childhood. A place where I can walk around with my eyes closed and not bump into anything. 

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

New! Follow by email

I added a follow by email option in the right sidebar. If you want new posts emailed directly to you, type your address in the box and click 'submit'.

Easy!

Thanks to my friend Natalie for suggesting it. I should have had this feature long ago!

#WW: When I am at work

I work at the office two days per week, for about 4 hours each time. I put in the rest of my hours whenever I can squeeze them in at home. If it were not for my smart phone, I probably would not know where to be at any given time. Thank goodness for the calendar function; balancing work and mommyhood is crazy at times!

It has been almost two years since Amelia completely gave up naps, but I sure miss that daily quiet time.

This is now my peaceful place: a few hours in the office.

This beautiful face makes me smile!

Media people receive toys - I love my guy from Monster.com

No idea why my wall is so GREEN!
I tried to make it happy with some homemade art.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

You are the best

Amelia and I will be spending a couple nights with my parents this week. Steve's work is very demanding, and his summer isn't quite as flexible as ours. So we will be without him for a few nights until he can come up to meet us.

Always a darling to share her sweetness, Amelia made sure her notes were on the fridge where he can see them each evening and in the early morning hours as he prepares for work.




Monday, July 16, 2012

An event dear to my heart - and my little girl's eyes

I recently met (virtually) some sweet women from Peeps Eyewear and LittleFourEyes.com. They introduced me to an upcoming event they are co-sponsoring called The Great Glasses Play Day. The event celebrates kids who wear glasses, but it also has an important goal that is at to my heart: to increase awareness of early childhood vision health.

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Disney Update: Weekend of 7/13

Greetings, Disney fans!
Did you hear about DIRECTV having to drop Viacom channels a few days ago? Many moms took to the Internet, lamenting the loss of Nick Jr. I know what it's like to have one go-to channel to please the little ones in our life. For us, it's Disney Junior.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Be Honest - and win something!

In April, I introduced you to the Purex Let's Be Honest campaign, featuring Second City Comedian Molly Erdman. Throughout the campaign, Purex gave away full-year supplies of Purex detergent! How's that for money savings, coupon moms?

Sharp of mind

I am sharp of mind, yet tender of heart.
I wonder if I am the "me" I am supposed to be?
I hear questions,
I see confidence,
I want to exceed life's boundaries.
I am sharp of mind, yet tender of heart.

I pretend I can soar,
I feel fire from the sun,
I touch clouds, yet my feet remain planted.
I worry that I'm trapped in "the box",
I cry for the spark of surprise.
I am sharp of mind, yet tender of heart.

I understand when I fall a step short,
I say, I am my own life designer.
I dream I am more,
I try to share joy,
I hope to touch the world.
I am sharp of mind, yet tender of heart.

I am my own.
And I share that with you.
 
   
- - -
I loved (and obviously chose) this Mama Kat prompt this week: "Create your own I Am poem using this template."  


Mama’s Losin’ It

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

#WW: Hooray for ME time

Ahhhhh, my favorite salon to get my nails done.

Love, love this chair

Welcoming lobby

Fresh fruit during my pampering

Little piggies getting painted

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

I can't coupon

My other sister-in-law, the middle child of Steve's family, is a coupon diva. She is a shopper to the core, and couponing came into her life as a job from the heavens. She stays at home raising three children - one about to turn 16, the other 12, and one age 8. She discovered couponing about one year ago, and she has mastered it.

Couponing, real couponing, takes a lot of time and effort. It requires extra patience on the side - and a lot of printer ink. I watched my sister-in-law while she was with us this week - she found sale items, opened her trusty coupon binder, and swiftly matched up deal after deal. We scoured the grocery aisles for the low-cost treasures, did a whole lot of math in our heads, and proceeded to the check out counter.

Monday, July 9, 2012

In a given moment

We are moms. Packers of the lunches, teachers of the minds, drivers of the children. We are all-powerful, right? It would be nice to think so.

My family knows all too well that anything can happen in a given moment. One glance away can mean a fall. One normal, innocent step can turn into trauma. Paralysis. Life-altering moments are not picky; they strike children, mothers, fathers, grandparents, sisters, and brothers. All races. All body types. Any level of education. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that we have a one in five chance of becoming disabled in our lifetime. For some, this is an “old age thing”. But for others, the hand of fate barges in when no one was ready.

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Mommy & Me: Farms & Mtns

Cousin giggles and smiles, family games and evening chats. That's what our July 4th week was made of! I'm not sure I am ready for Monday to come around again. It has been nice to have a break from reality, close to home.

Wednesday the 4th, we drove up to North Carolina to my mother-in-law's mountain home. We picked berries and wildflowers, took an evening stroll, visited the old barn, and even made a new animal friend. Peaceful and lovely - and cooler temperatures than what we had here!

Mommy & Amelia - I love this girl!






Mommy and Me Monday at Really, Are You Serious?
Hosted by Krystyn at Really, Are You Serious?

Saturday, July 7, 2012

Disney Update: Weekend of 7/6

I have two really fun updates this week!

Have you seen Brave yet? We have now seen it - twice!

Did you know that Disney Pixar hides the famous Toy Story Pizza Planet truck in their movies? I tried to find it the second time we saw Brave, but I was too engrossed in the story to look close enough. Thankfully, I got these photos from Disney's team. Below are the two hidden gems you will find in Brave. Not only the Pizza Planet truck, but Sully from Monsters, Inc. also!

Friday, July 6, 2012

#ATL Attraction: Legoland Discovery

We had a full house and blazing temperatures this week. We wanted to do something special, preferably something the three of us "locals" had not done before. So we planned our visit to Legoland Discovery Center, located inside Phipps Plaza.

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

WW: Flip Flop

The floor space near the door this week. Full house! (And loving it)


Happy Independence Day!
I hope you are enjoying a fun summer day.




Monday, July 2, 2012

Mommy & Me: Keeping Cool

When the car tells you it's THIS hot outside...


indoor activities are a necessity.

We took Amelia and her cousins to Brunswick Zone XL for some bowling and playtime. I didn't play, but took a moment for a "Mommy & Me" photo to share!

(Excuse the low-light iPhone quality... cute, anyway!)



Happy July 4th week to all!


***By the way, bowling centers all around the area have Students Bowl Free all summer long! One game per day, must pay for shoes. Coupons are even able to be shared. Look on bowling websites for details. We had four kids bowling for only $16. Then, of course, we ended up spending $12 on games.

Mommy and Me Monday at Really, Are You Serious?
Hosted by Krystyn at Really, Are You Serious?

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Cousins

My home is happily full again this summer. A family of five has joined our family of three for a week of childhood exuberance, giggles, and adventure.
Despite age gaps (cousins are age 8, 12, and 15), they entertain each other from morning to night. They have patience with four-year-old bossiness and teach her lots of new tricks. When the cousns are around, Amelia exudes a confidence I do not always see.
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