What would I do without the Internet?

Just read this amazing article on Blogher, Balancing on the Limbs of the Working Mother Issue, she summed up what it took me months to accept and stand up for….

I am lucky enough to have been to France 3 times with plans to eventually visit again.  In the meantime, I am LOVING Design Mom and her year-long adventure of living in France. 

Pudge is on Odeedoh Apartment Therapy

I am a big Apartment Therapy fan and am especially fond of their children's site, Odeedoh.  I love the tours of children's room, but really enjoy reading the Happy Birthday Wishes.  I kept telling myself, one day, I will be able to wish my own child Happy Birthday on Odeedoh.  Well that day has finally come.  Although I submitted Pudge's Birthday Wish in May, she was just selected and is gracing the pages of Ohdeedoh today.  So happy to wish her happy birthday and also happy to realize that voicing a wish is the first step in making it come true.

Check it out at http://www.ohdeedoh.com/ohdeedoh/happy-birthday/happy-birthday-haven-149585

Procrastination

I should do laundry, I should clean, I should make lunch for tomorrow, did I mention I really should clean... but instead:

• Design Mom | http://www.designmom.com/
• The Art of Non-Conformity | http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/
• Every Day Treats | http://www.everydaytreats.com/
• Morgue File | http://www.morguefile.com/
• Young House Love | http://www.younghouselove.com/

Appreciating the View

Snapped during a walk on the beach, with Haven of course.  Although it would be lovely to have a view of the water from my window, as long as I can see the water everyday I am happy.

Totem Animals and Signs From Above

If I believed in such things as totem animals and signs from above, I would swear that whenever I am on the right path I see a hummingbird.

Today, taking Pudge for a stroll in the park, I listened to the breeze and the birds, marveled at all the green, sneaked peeks of the water and thanked every higher power I could think of for the little girl I get to share it all with.

Pudge drifted off to sleep and I just walked until I could see no one and the only man-made sound I heard were the wheels of the stroller. 

I just kept thinking that despite the current challenges and problems in my life, things will get better and I can choose to live the life I want. And then as if to say “that’s it keep going”, was a hummingbird….

The Glass Ceiling

Visited the Tacoma Museum of Glass over the weekend, http://www.museumofglass.org/.  The colors were amazing.

My New Favorite Blog

Ever have one of those days where every message or sign you see is speaking directly to you.  I feel that way every time I read this blog.

Marc and Angel Hack Life: Practical Tips for Productive Living
http://www.marcandangel.com/

I reread some of these post over and over again, when I need a little kick in the pants. Feeling a little blue or unfulfilled?  Check out

20 Things Life is Too Short To Tolerate
http://www.marcandangel.com/2011/05/01/20-things-life-is-too-short-to-tolerate/

10 Surefire Ways To Live Below Your Full Potential
http://www.marcandangel.com/2011/01/24/10-surefire-ways-to-live-below-your-full-potential/

10 Commandments for a Good Life
http://www.marcandangel.com/2011/04/04/10-commandments-for-a-good-life/

I have been very unfocused lately and many of their post have been helpful in lighting my way.

Wise Words

Loving this quote I saw at Da*Xing:

Life Isn’t About Finding Yourself.  Life Is About Creating Yourself. Unknown

Stress x 10

The bad weather, absence of sleep and lack of exercise have amplified the stress in my life.  It can be hard to even breath when you feel squeezed from all sides, but breathing can be the most important thing you do in a stressful situation.  So I am taking some deep breaths.

I have also been trying some positive visualization as an alternative to my normal disaster forecasting.  At the moment, my favorite visualization exercise is to imagine your life (the one you are striving for) as a magazine spread.  Glossy happy photos, neat rows of text describing how capable, brilliant, brave, successful  you are (insert your favorite adjective) and a giant drop quote summing it all up.

The magazine spread I keep imagining is pretty elaborate, but looks a tiny bit like this...(below).  The main gist is that finally I have the spark I needed to move on, work through and start being who I want to be... It might seem silly, but this and a little breathing is helping me to stay positive and not give in to doubt and worry...

One of those days.. in a good way!

This time of year, wet and cold is the basic forecast we have in the Pacific Northwest. The meteorologist try to make it sound interesting using such phrases as  mist, mixed precipitation, light drizzle, balmy, light breeze and my favorite, sun breaks.  They all say the same thing, wet and cold.  My first winter here, I heard a forecast that said rain expected through March. This is really the Seattle winter forecast in a nutshell.

So, despite the "balmy mixed precipitation", today I bundled up Pudge and made my way to the Starbucks on the waterfront not too far from our house.  I had a grande nonfat iced mocha with a single shot of decaf, 2 pumps of chocolate and low ice (this is my drink of choice and yes, I am one of those people) and Pudge had a bottle.  I sat her in my lap and we looked out the window and chatted about the view.   (I chatted, she babbled and people starred).  It was really rather nice and I was enjoying myself immensely when out of nowhere, the most amazing thing happened... the sun came out.  (Seattle, winter... trust me sun is a big deal). So we started our day with coffee, a bottle and a walk along the beach. What could be better?
Okay maybe some heat :-)   

So good you want to lick the screen...

Lactation Cookies

I am a huge fan of food blogs. Actually, I like food books, food magazines and just food in general.  When my daily fare starts to look a little sad, I frequently turn to the web for inspiration. 1.) Because cupcake closeups look so good on my big screen and 2.) Because looking up a recipe at work really isn't goofing off. (I mean a girl has to eat and the grocery store is on the way home )


Lately I noticed my selection of food blogs had gotten a little stale, so I did some updating.  I wiped everything off my list except my favorites, 

• Cook and Eat
• Delicious Days
• Pinch My Salt

To those, I added my new favorites, 

• Cooking Light (not a blog, but great recipes)
• Honest Fare (the Pumpkin Pie Smoothie won me over)

My favorite recipe of 2010 was actually medicinal.  The Lactation Cookie Recipe was circulated all over the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit when Pudge was in the hospital.  Made with flax seed, oatmeal and brewer's yeast, the cookie is said to aid in lactation and help boost your milk supply. A medicinal cookie that helps me feed my little baby... sign me up.  Nowadays, Pudge is doing great, but I still love these cookies.  Aside from the health benefits nothing is funnier than handing someone a cookie and casually mentioning they are lactation cookies (preferably when they have a nice mouthful).  One gentleman at the hospital was concerned that having eaten a cookie he might start lactating.."um no!"  So if you are feeling wicked, or could actually benefit from the healthy ingredients, by all means give them a try. 

Vacation Day...

Had the day off today and spent it monkeying around with Pudge.

First Craft of the Season

I have always been a big fan of mobiles and opted for a blank DIY mobile for Pudge's room, so we could change the theme each season.  We had fall leaves up for a long time and I have been meaning to adapt an idea I saw at a Amuse, local stamp shop.  With a little tweaking I was able to create a little brown girl mobile, complete with afro puffs. 

2010: A Year in Review

2010 was a year that went by so fast, I can scarcely believe that it is over.  I started the year pregnant, ended the year with a new baby girl and along the way lost my grandmother, grew closer to my late mother  and opened up to possibilities I am just starting to comprehend.

Most of my biggest changes and events are related to our beautiful 7 month old daughter, aka Pudge. I can honestly say I have learned more about life in the past 7 months than I have learned in my entire 41 years.

Starting with....

1) The love and happiness I thought I had lost with the death of my mother, has always been with me and was just waiting for someone to help bring it back to the surface.

2) When you treat your body with kindness, love, good food and exercise it can produce results you never dreamed possible. (Pregnancy food aversions allowed me to stop eating sweets for 7 months and a desire for a healthy pregnancy turned me on to healthy eating.  The result I lost more than 20 pounds while pregnant and nourished the most amazing little being.

3) We really do create our own realities.  And now that I understand this, I intend to get out my purple crayon and draw the most awesome reality I can imagine.

4) Life is all about how we view it... Everything I thought was an obligation, is really a privilege or something to be grateful for....  (EXAMPLE: I miss my mother by I am so lucky to have had her as my mom.  I dislike leaving my daughter to go to work, but I am so grateful to have a good job with health insurance. I miss sleeping through the night, but getting up to nurse and change my daughter is an honor I would not trade for anything...)

5) My daughter laughs when she sneezes... somewhere in this simple silly action is the secret to a happy life.

So bring it on 2011... I have no idea where I am going, but for the first time I know:

• EVERYTHING is possible
• Love instead of sorrow for those I have lost
• Sometimes happiness is messy, sticky and smells like baby vomit, but every moment of it should be savored and enjoyed!
• Being kind to yourself is the first step to being kind to others
• Now is more important than the past or the future
• Life is good and I am truly blessed

I wish all of you a Happy New Year, may it be filled with Love, Happiness, Joy and Endless Possibilities.

Sorry for the long absence

Sorry for the long absence, getting accustomed to the realities of a new baby and a full time job. Little Haven is doing great and her mommy (love saying that) is learning to embrace the moment and do what she can.

The New Catalog...

Has anyone else seen the RL Gang from Ralph Lauren? An animated children's story that doubles as a catalog. Brilliant!!!!! I love the concept.. and I think I may need to buy a tweed hat with a pheasant feather for Haven.
Check it out..

Last night's 4 am finds...

New mothers don't sleep, they nap. Thank goodness for YouTube and Hulu at least we have something to laugh at come 4am when the little one decides she would much rather play with your fingers than sleep.

House Lust: Key West Cottage

This is the cutest little beach cottage.  It needs some work, but this house just screams potential.  There are three identical cottages that share a pool.  I would buy all three and go for the compound experience.  I would gut the interior and use lots of beach colors.  There would have to be some serious pink and of course one of these.

Fantasy Shopping Challenge # 1: A week at a summer rental

Fantasy Shopping Challenge #1: A week at a summer rental

You are planning to spend your week long vacation in August by renting a ________(apartment, cabin, cottage, boat, other) at ____________(coast, lake, beach, city). Your budget is $1200 for the entire week and if you have money left over you should add something fun or include an activity to enjoy on your vacation. (If you need to fly or take the train to your destination assume you are paying for it with frequently flyer miles and it is not part of your budget )You need to find your rental by July 31st .

Fantasy Shopping the Game

Fantasy Shopping the Game

My mother introduced me to shopping as a sport. She referred to it as sale-ing and we went at least once or twice a week. In the summers we “saled” at yard and estate sales, keeping to a fairly modest budget and capping it off with brunch or lunch. During the rest of the year we "saled" at stores like Bloomingdale’s Filenes Basement, Bonwit Tellers and Lowman’s; frequenting off season sales, discount rooms, coupons and clearance racks. My mother was a master at sale-ing and could easily turn $20 into an outfit. When money was tight we went fantasy shopping. We would invent an event such as a wedding or party and go shopping for a dress. We would recreate a fictional family or lifestyle and search open house to find the perfect home. These little games allowed us to enjoy the thrill of the hunt, without spending any money and this is really what fantasy shopping is all about.

After my mom passed away, I began to play my own version of fantasy shopping on the internet. I would give myself a scenario, a budget and a deadline and start shopping. The average games take less than an hour or about the amount of time in my lunch break. And with the Internet I could shop for virtually anything.

Examples:

• $450k | a loft style apartment in Chicago to serve as a home base for my new career as a content consultant for the Oprah magazine
• $100 | an outfit to wear to the book signing for my first novel
• $10k | a vintage car on EBay to cruise around town for the summer
• $50 | a birthday gift my mom would have given me
• $1 million Euro | a vacation home in Aix en Provence

Half the fun of shopping is bonding with friends, so I have decided to share my little game in the hopes anyone else wants to play.
So here it is…Fantasy Shopping Challenge #1