Explore.

I have never done a word for the year before.

I often thought about it. Figured, what better way than to pick a word to focus on as I faced a brand new year? Different than resolutions. More flexible. More relaxed. Just one simple word.

But nope.

Never happened.

And then this year came along.

At the end of 2018 I found myself making plans for 2019.

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5 Products You Need in Your Holiday Kitchen

holiday food photo from pixabay

I know - Thanksgiving is only days away - I'm a little bit late with my suggestions.

But still.

You can order ingredients and home goods online, and, just as important - or maybe more so? Your favorite or coveted kitchen essentials. And you don't have to brave the stores as the holiday gets closer.

And, if you need to ignore me because I'm stressing you out? Save this post and consider it for your Christmas or Chanukah meal prep. Because there's always another holiday right around the corner!

The links provided in this piece are affiliate links - when you shop through them you'll help support my website and me - so I thank you in advance.

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Say Cheese.

I'm looking through pictures.

I take so many selfies.

You know it.

I know it.

Maybe that was part of the problem.

Who knows?

But I know I do. I do because if I don't - didn't - I was never on the other side of the camera.

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Mother's Day: To All The Moms

This week I'd like to share some notes on motherhood I've written. Some of these posts have been shared before on other websites. Links to those sites have been noted at the end of these posts. Some pieces have been shared here on my own blog, but are things I feel deserve another look. Some are just brand new shares on being a mom. Join me in celebrating mothers.

Source: pixabay... en/super-mami-mama-bebe-arms-happy-951190/

To all the moms out there. 

Happy Mother's Day.

To the new moms. The ones who are trying to decide if they're doing anything right.

We see you. Happy Mother's Day.

To the Mama-To-Be. Expecting her first. Second. Third. Whichever addition to your family this baby is - it does not matter. What a blessing. What joy.

We see you. Happy Mother's Day.

To the woman trying to become a mom. Aching. Yearning. Pulling out all the stops. 

We see you. Happy Mother's Day.

To the mother who returned home without her baby. A loss impossible to describe. But one you've been given no choice but to bear. 

We see you. Happy Mother's Day.

To the single mom, spending her first Mother's Day with her child. Alone. Thinking back to years gone by. You're recognized. Celebrated.

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Mother's Day: Your Diagnosis

This week I'd like to share some notes on motherhood I've written. Some of these posts have been shared before on other websites. Links to those sites have been noted at the end of these posts. Some pieces have been shared here on my own blog, but are things I feel deserve another look. Some are just brand new shares on being a mom. Join me in celebrating mothers. 

Source: pixabay... /en/company-mother-kids-2262548/

Listen, friends, my early motherhood months were no picnic. I was already on medication, though, thanks to my own experience and my doctors’ awareness. They were open and listened to me. They helped me find the support I needed – and for me that was in the form of meds.

I found online support within my local moms’ group. And I used to joke that I had “PPD-lite”—I even thought I made up the name PPA. I never knew it was a legitimate postpartum mental health diagnosis. Postpartum anxiety. It’s not just legitimate, it’s very real. Real in that it impacts so many mothers – all day, every day.

Remember, I’m a licensed clinical social worker. And I didn’t know that postpartum anxiety was actually a thing.

Whatever it is you’re experiencing? Whatever you’re feeling in these early postpartum days? It’s real.

You may think to yourself, well, I get out of bed, I take care of my baby, and I actually leave the house – so I can’t have postpartum depression, right?

Right. Or maybe not.

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Mother's Day: Celebrating You

This week I'd like to share some notes on motherhood I've written. Some of these posts have been shared before on other websites. Links to those sites have been noted at the end of these posts. Some pieces have been shared here on my own blog, but are things I feel deserve another look. Some are just brand new shares on being a mom. Join me in celebrating mothers. 

Hi there, sweet mama,

Happy Mother’s Day. 

Yes! I know. 

It’s Mother’s Day. 

And you’re a mom. Such a fun day to celebrate!

It’s a day celebrating you, and your mom before you, and her mom before her – a day for all moms and mother figures to be recognized for all the beautiful things they’ve done for their children.

But you – you, sweet mama – you’re trying to figure out how that’s possible. You’re trying to rationalize how the label of mother entitles you to receive accolades on this Hallmark holiday.

Because you might not feel like you deserve any.

You might feel like you’re a mom in title only. You might feel like you haven’t done anything but take on the role of robotically taking care of this little person who eats and sleeps, cries, poops, eats and sleeps some more.

You might feel afraid of holding your baby. You might flinch so hard when she cries. You might want to run away. You might toss and turn at night. You might want to lock yourself in the bathroom. You might turn the music on really loud so you can take a moment to catch your breath. And truth is, you might have to.

But you know what, mama? That’s okay. You can feel all of these things. You can do them. You’re allowed to take care of you, too.

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No Fuss Pumpkin-fest Party!

We love Halloween in our house. In fact, it's my favorite holiday. Plain and simple - pumpkins make me happy. They're fun to look at, fun to decorate with and - yes - fun to carve.

I had the amazing opportunity to work with Mr. Clean this October to host a Pumpkin Palooza party for our friends - and to have a little pumpkin fun ourselves while we were at it.

I decided before it was party time that my daughter and I would take a stab (pun intended!) at a few pumpkins on our own to see how they turned out - and to see how well Mr. Clean's Concentrated Multi-Surface Cleaner worked.

I spent some time using Mr. Clean around the house - but the real test would be how well the product worked post pumpkin mess and massacre.

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New York will always be home.

I was born there.

Raised there.

Went to school there.

Many schools.

Elementary. Junior High. High School.

College. Undergrad. Graduate school.

I worked. For years.

I interned.

I took continuing education classes.

American Sign Language.

Spanish.

I interviewed.

Found jobs.

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I have no post title.

I've tried to title this post like ten times.

Happiness.

What makes me happy?

Finding the positives.

Meh. They all kind of suck.

I figure y'all like me better if I'm honest and true to myself. So - I have no post title today. Have at it. If you have one? Send it my way. Maybe I'll change it to your idea. Maybe I'll reward you with never-ending gratitude. Or somethin'. *wink*

Seems these days that there is so much flying around Facebook that prompts me to write blog posts. I've been nominated a handful of times (okay, fine, maybe two?) to do the positivity challenge aka things I'm grateful for and although I have not written a blog post in - oh - say a week or so - I'm thinking about the things in my life I'm happy about.

I usually write things that make me pour my heart out in a way that covers sadness.

And these last few days I've been missing my dad like a son-of-a-gun, so a few happy thoughts thrown in would be for very good measure, I think. Don't you?

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Time apart.

For the first time in my daughter's entire life she has spent many many consecutive days away from us.

So many days that there have actually been days where I did not hear her voice.

And ALL the days that I have not seen her face.

It's really really strange.

Bizarre.

Panic-inducing.

The first day that I realized I had not spoken to her was really weird.

It was almost midnight and my heart exploded.

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School's (not quite) out for summer.

Summer is so beautiful around here. We get out on the lake a LOT and it's so much fun. Just the fresh air and the water and the sun shining, it's pretty great, honestly. It's a rough life when I think about it - the weekends - anyway. Wanna see?

Gorgeous, right?

I know - I know it is. And how I wish we could be out there all day every day. But summer isn't like that and my husband kind of has to work. I mean - he could skip out - but then we'd have a problem, I'm sure. Or maybe a few ...

But summer is awesome in so many ways. And kind of scary in others.

And so I can't decide if I'm more excited for school to be over than my daughter is ... but I do know that I just might be more terrified.

Here's a little bit about why:

Pro:

NO. MORE. HOMEWORK.

Hallelujah.

Con:

Nothing. I got nothing.

Pro:

Sleeping in!

Con:

Nope. None here, either. Though I probably won't sleep in all that much. We do have two dogs and all. I should probably help my husband with them in the mornings, right?

So, these two things seem pretty awesome, don't they? They totally would mean every and anything to any sane parent and should outweigh any not-so-great things we might have to deal with, sure. I mean - what IS my problem, you might ask. Stay with me. It's coming.

Pro:

No more creating enticing portable lunches!

Con:

EVERY.SINGLE.MEAL. Of the day. At home. And snacks.

Pro:

No more "required" reading.

Con:

Right now I've been asking her for about forty minutes to find a book and read it so she can do her homework assignment. Pick a book - ANY book.

She can't find one. In the possible hundreds of books she has in her room she wants to read Brown Bear, Brown Bear. Yes. I don't know why I have kept all the old books, either. They were sort of helpful when she first started really reading on her own. Gave her an accomplished feeling. And the nostalgia. That's there, too.

And fine. I'm a book addict. I just can't seem to give them away. So there. I said it.

Pro:

More time together. I'm really honestly looking forward to this. I am. I miss her in the not-quite-fall when school starts around here. I do. It's a tug at the heartstrings when she starts her next grade. And so I'm happy to have time together - where we can do whatever and have fun.

Con:

SO much time together. She's bored. She's hungry. She wants me to play tea party with water in little ceramic cups that taste awful and Nerds in a small cup for snack. Nerds from like two Halloweens ago, I'm pretty sure. I'm not always up for tea party, man. I'm just not.

Am I an awful mom for saying so? Nah. Just keepin' it real.

Saying these things doesn't make me a mean mom or a bad one. It doesn't mean I don't love my child. It *might* mean that I enjoy some quiet time where there isn't noise surrounding me or balloons being tossed about. Seriously, who invented balloons, people? Because I need to have a word with him. Yeah - I feel that it's a him. I just know it. Grrrr.

This summer my daughter will be spending some time away from me. I'm honestly terrified of that upcoming experience so I have decided not to talk about it at all right now. I'm sure it will be fine, but hush. Don't ask and let's just pretend I didn't say anything, okay?

She'll also be headed to day camp for a week. Maybe a second week, because I think with all of the time we have "free" I might just want to sign her up so she has more fun. Maybe. Possibly. We'll see.

Some might say I should consider year-round school. Nah. Not feelin' it. I'm a traditional calendar kinda' mom.

Even if it means I may have to talk to my doctor about upping my medication a little.

You probably laughed there. I did, too. And yet there's always some truth in jest, isn't there? Just a little?

I'm linking up with Shell over at Things I Can't Say today. Her Pour Your Heart Out post this week is pretty much the opposite of what I just wrote here, and I think that's interesting. Maybe it is entirely about the ages. Maybe it's because she has three and her kids can entertain one another? Maybe it's because I don't drive and that totally cramps my "entertain my kid" style?

And to wrap up my night, and my post, I've included my latest Instagram share.

Me.

Hours after this post first began.

After dinner - sort of.

After a small break - sort of.

And not quite completely after homework.

It was still going on when I took this selfie. STILL. GOING. ON.

So. Yeah. This is mommy's homework face.

Maybe summer won't be so bad after all ...

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Motherhood is ...

There are so many words I could fit into this post. The one that has been swirling around my head for days. I have thoughts and feelings and well, it's possible that this post has been swirling around for longer. Maybe years, but more likely many months. Seven, to be exact.

Because seven months ago my family experienced the worst day of all of our lives.

Worst of ever.

And those of you who know me know it's when we lost my father.

And those of you who don't, especially, you know it now.

And that day. Those days. Seven months ago? Those days my mother's world completely changed. Forever.

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It's Christmastime.

Christmas time?

Christmastime?

Spellcheck isn't saying that there are requirements for two words there, but it's seemingly odd to have it that way. I don't know what it is, technically. But hey, whatever works.

Merry Christmas to you and yours.

You know, if you know me by now, that I'm Jewish. I didn't celebrate Christmas with my family growing up. Extended family, for sure. But immediate? Nope.

And yet.

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Dusting off the shelves.

Hello ... hello ...

Echo ... echo ...

Hey, all. What's happening?

I've got to dust off the shelves in here and touch base with my peeps. I've been mia and mostly "official" when posting.

I took an incredible vacation with some friends last week. Friends from college. The ones I talk about in my 40 WHILE I'm 40 list of to-do-s.

It was on my list and I DID IT.

I went away for the annual Girls' Getaway. This was year #9. I've made it to three. That's not a good ratio of weekends away, is it? I made it to the first one. And then the last one I had been to was four years ago.

I hadn't seen some of the people I love the most in this world for FOUR YEARS. What the what? That's like an entire presidency.

This was the view on Friday. Beach view. Umbrellas and beautiful water.

We rented umbrellas and chairs, too. It reminded me that I'm no spring chicken anymore. I prefer a nice lounge to laying on a towel in the sand. My friend went off to pick up towels for us, too. It's worth it to spend an extra $20 and NOT stick to the chairs, right? Sometimes you just have to stop counting your pennies.

And then the next day we did the rooftop pool. Ahh. Heaven. Here's me. Chillin'. Catchin' some rays. Enjoying the quiet. Breathing the ocean air.

I've been to Atlantic City before. I've dipped my toes into that water. But it had been a while. Coming back, post-Sandy, it felt nice. Nice to support New Jersey. Nice to leave a little bit of my money behind. *I'm no big gambler, but I tossed a few bucks into the slots. How can you go to AC and NOT? *Remember, penny counting? Not an option. I did it, but I tried not to. Being a grown-up has its advantages. And disadvantages.

We walked the Boardwalk. Bought some salt-water taffy. Ate some. Walked a few miles before breakfast one morning. Who WERE those people? Not the people from 20-something years ago, fo' sho'. We broke a sweat and enjoyed it.

We ate vegetable omelettes and french toast. Turkey bacon and iced coffee. We were grown-ups. Moms and not. We swam in our tankinis, one-pieces and bikinis. With SPFs of 15, 30, 40, 50 and 100. Yes. 100. We wore floppy hats, baseball caps and hid under umbrellas.

We danced like we were teenagers again. Each one of us in our early 40s.

We listened, laughed and reminisced to music of the 70s, 80s (all before we knew one another) and flashed back into the 90s - picturing those many nights on the dance floor.

We laughed, remembered, cried and let it all out.

We spent our days and nights with those who knew us best.

Eventually it had to end. We did have to say goodbye. But it didn't matter. It didn't hurt. We knew.

We KNOW.

We'll find our way back to one another again in a year or so. Or for some it might take longer, but that won't matter. Because we know.

We know that no matter how many days, weeks, months, years it takes we will reconnect and maintain the connection we've always had.

Having friends like these. Friends who never judge. Never make you feel insecure. Never make you feel anything but loved? These friends? All you need. For all your days.

So we said goodbye to Atlantic City. But we said hello to new memories. And a reminder of a whole lot of love.

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The Internet is interesting.

So I'm watching all the people talking about all the conferences.

And it's interesting to me.

I'll tell you why.

Last year I went to BlogHer in New York City.

As you all know, New York is my home. I had to go home. And with the conference being there I was excited about the possibilities.

Post-conference I was a little let down. Don't get me wrong, I loved some parts of it.

Like the people. The people you connect with at blogging conferences are incredible. Last year at BlogHer I found myself meeting people I'd been speaking with online for some time. I found my friends. It made me happy.

I connected with some of my favorite people in the world. Some new friends, some not-as-new, and some that felt like home.

So this year BlogHer is in Chicago. Y'all know I live in NC. Chicago isn't quite a hop and a skip from here. So I won't be going. And I'm okay with that. And then I see some of my peeps talking about it and I feel a twang (yes, a twang - it's not quite a pang, as I'm still okay with not going, but it's there, so twang it is.) of sadness. Not envy, really, more like, dang, I wish I was able to see this person and meet that person and actually spend some quality time with so-and-so after meeting at Bloggy Boot Camp in Charlotte this past May.

And here I am, tossing around links and making it seem like I'm the conference goer. I'm the one who knows what conferences are like. But seriously, people? I'm just me. I'm just a person, a blogger, who goes when I can go and is excited about going for whatever reasons make it important to me.

BlogHer is huge. It was a little too huge for me last year because I went in with the mindset of a Type-A Parent Conference. I expected to sail around and in and out of sessions and learn and meet people and damn, it was huge. So I know many people got what they expected out of it, and I know many people were underwhelmed, or overwhelmed. And the team at BlogHer busts their humps in a huge way to get this thing going. And damn, if they don't do a kick-ass job with it. But you have to remember it might not be for you.

It's okay if you're going and you're feeling afraid. Nervous. Anxious.

You wouldn't be human if you weren't.

But I see so many people apologizing for feeling a little scared. And so many people telling them it will be fine. Myself often included sometimes. And I apologize for that. Because it WILL be fine and you WILL "survive," for lack of a less dramatic word. But it might be a lot for you to handle. You might want to go for a walk alone. Or hide out in your hotel room for a few hours to decompress.

Or you might want to skip a certain part of the Expo Hall because it's freakin' huge.

And that's okay.

You don't HAVE to do it all. You don't have to want to, even.

Just go. Be you. If you were brave enough to purchase a ticket you obviously want to be there. Enjoy it. Don't stress. And don't let yourself be disappointed. I did that a little bit and was cranky with myself for it. But I also did that for a bit at Type-A last year because after my first year it was in a different place and I was not sure what the other differences were but it felt different and I was trying to find my way. (Can I say different one more time?)

And then I got home and reflected and damn, if I didn't have an amazing time and meet some incredible people. So, yeah. Go with it. Get out of your own head. It'll be fine.

Make it what you want it to be.

Be nervous. Stressed. Anxious. But let that go when you walk up to someone you know you know and say, OMG! HEY! It's YOU!! It's ME!! And HUG. Because you'll probably be shocked at how many people you hug that weekend.

As for me? I'll be in Atlantic City with my college peeps. Catching up on years of girls' weekends I've missed. And I couldn't be happier about it.

Though I will miss meeting some of you. But hey, there's always Type-A ...

* This post is not in any way affiliated officially with either BlogHer, Bloggy Boot Camp or Type-A Parent Conference. I am simply using my own experiences to reflect on my thoughts with respect to conferences in general for bloggers. 

** I wrote this post yesterday (Thurs) but did not hit publish as I had a book review scheduled. It appears that at this time of the year there are LOADS of people posting about the conference of conferences and the like. I don't want to seem bandwagon-y, I just wanted to say what I wanted to say. If you know me, you know that and are cool with it. If you don't, no worries, it's all good. 

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Parenting is hard, yo.

Parenting is hard, yo.

Sometimes you find yourself bending over backwards to entertain, to keep them busy, to bring the fun and joy into it all.

And some days they listen. And do. And say 'Mommy, I love you,' from the back of the car and you smile and feel blessed. 

And some nights they cry out for you, and they have a fever and you worry and they need you and so you stay. 

All night. Sleeping or not, by their side. 

Glasses on. Pillows missing. An instant crick in your neck.

Choppy night but you wouldn't be anywhere else. 

And then they are better. Thank goodness.

And you take them to see the fireworks because they really want to go. They've been waiting for days. Weeks, even.

And the next day you go to the movies. And the baseball game. And eat popcorn and cotton candy and custard.

All the things you probably shouldn't give in on but you do.

And the day after that you make plans. And she shows she doesn't know how to listen. And you're done. 

And it sucks. 

So very much.

Because it's a really long weekend and you have plans. You want to go out on the water, take her fishing and ride the waves. You want to do all these things and more. 

But you're spent. You're exhausted. You're tired and you don't understand why she switches from on to off and off to on and never gives you warning. Or maybe you just missed it. The warning. There has to be one, right?

Because she's six. And you say that you expect this, and yet you expect more from a six-year-old, and yet you don't, right? I mean, what should you expect?

Sigh.

And you find yourself near tears because you just don't know. 

And then you feel guilty because you wonder if this is your fault.

Because she is only six, after all. 

And so you question whether you were too quick to react. Too overloaded. Maybe it was your husband. Maybe it was you. Maybe it was the two of you combined. 

Maybe it really was her. 

And so you come home, and you wait. You issue her instructions. Directions. Hopes she can follow and you can still have your plans later today. 

Because it sucks when you have to reprimand your kid and then you lose out, too. 

You're home and you're reading or writing when you'd rather be out on the water yourselves. 

But you can't. 

And so there you are. 

Grumbling. Stressing. Thinking. Holding back tears and making sure they don't fall. 

You don't need to be crying. You're okay. You will be fine. 

You all will. The three of you.

It just takes time. 

There will be bumps and bruises and bumbles along the way. 

But you'll expect them now. And even if you don't, you'll get through them. Past them. Over them. 

Parenting's hard, yo. 

But you can do it. 

And you will. 

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Sharing captured moments.

I've decided to link up with Monday Listicles again today. This week's list covers your favorite pictures that you've taken, which, if you know me, I'm a picture-taking addict!



Some of my favorite shots taken over the past few months. You may have seen some them before, but bear with me. My kid is kinda' cute.

I'm going to give you seven. Because I'm lazy. And because I tend to share loads of the same kinds of pics and figure next week's theme is summer. And with summer comes loads of outside pictures. And so I'll probably want to save a few boating shots for then, and well, did I mention I'm a little lazy right now?

Anyway, here you have them!

See the arrow above? It's a squirrel! 

My sneakers. Obviously. Post Dirty Girl Mud Run. Less obvious. 

Also? One of my bucket list items! 

BOOM!

Pre-Color Mania run with the kiddo. Looking extra adorable with my bandana on her head. 

The beautiful lake. Sun captured off of the water. Love this shot. 

Queen of the world. 

Wind in her hair - focus - straight ahead!

                                          Me and my girl. Wind-blown. Sun-kissed. Happy. 

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Seven. It's coming.

I'm all over the map this morning.

Probably because my daughter woke up before I did. Before my husband did.

And last night when I told him I was going to wake her up earlier this AM to help her get to bed earlier I did not mean QUITE THIS EARLY.

I actually meant like right now early. (He's been gone over an hour. She was up before us both, playing in our room and traumatizing one of the dogs as she played with one of the cats. Oy.)

I've put a laundry in. Need to unload the dishwasher. And refill it again. Do these things EVER find themselves empty? No? No. I didn't think so.

So my daughter finished Kindergarten a few weeks ago. I'm not sure why I write it with a capital K. I just do. It's amazing that one year of school is down. It's amazing that her next birthday (granted, it's not until February, but still ...) she will turn seven.

Seven!

I got my ears pierced when I was seven. I've always said that *maybe* that would be a good time for her to get hers done, too.

But then when seven shows up - peeking through the windows and knocking down doors? - WHAT?

Where did my baby go?

I'm not truly feeling crazy with emotion about the end of K. Maybe because they didn't have a graduation or a stepping up ceremony or anything like that?

They did have a small K field day. Which is not to be confused with their full school field day(s). We (the husband and I) went to that for a few hours. The K-specific one. It was interesting. Confusing. And fun for the kids.

I'm not sure why I'm stuck in K mode right now. My mentality should have wrapped that up already, no? I've actually recapped it twice. I've stocked up on wine for the summer. And I've recapped with Kindergarten survival stories. And we're good. It's all good.

And the summer lays straight ahead. We're already off to a great start. Several boat rides under our belts, AND we got her her first belt! It's pretty and sparkly and she loves it. Me? I loathe belts. But she's excited, so I am, too. I went up a size. Or a something. So she would have it for a while. Why is it that moms hope they'll have things for years and yet we know they're going to grow bored or frustrated or not in the mood for it in the coming years anyway and we just say, it's okay, we want it to last? I'm not the only one who says/thinks stuff like that, right?

I feel like I'm not done with this post. I have so much more to say today, and yet my mind is either two steps behind me, or maybe ahead? I'm already writing something else. Already looking for words. Beauty. Emotions. Thoughts. Dreams.

My heart carries so much. Carries hers deep within itself.

I'm trying really hard to be a great mom this summer. I'm lacking in so many things. I'm not driving yet and the guilt is heavy on my soul. It's only the second week. There is so much more time ahead. So many plans. So much to do. To see. To be.

And I feel stuck already. Trying to hold onto the summer of six.

Because seven.

Seven.

It's coming.

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The best things in life are ...

I've decided to hang out with Stasha today for Monday Listicles.

I've been slack in posting the last few days or so - or more. I had a lot of post ideas and just didn't have the motivation to sit my arse down and write.

So today, seeing this prompt? Perfect.

Ten things in your life that you love that are free. Hmmn. Sounds sketchy, right? Nothing's for nothing in this world. Or so it seems. But I take this as a challenge! I have to find something ... or ten things!


* VOLUNTEERING
Giving of yourself to help others can be completely free. You don't have to donate money. Or items. You can donate time and find that it is one of the best experiences of giving you'll ever have in your life.

* FRIENDSHIPS
Friendships get harder when you get older. But they don't have to cost you a penny. You can take a walk together. Talk on the phone. Write letters. Emails. Text messages. Connect somehow. However you need to. Friends will be there for you. Without any money changing hands. Old friends. New friends. It's the ship that never sails.

* BLOGGING
Sure, many of us pay for our domain. We spend money on much-needed blog conferences. We go back again and again. We have to, how else will we meet some of our amazing bloggy friends in real life? Face-to-face connections! They completely rock and we don't care about the money so much when we're there. Although we'd like to save some money before we go ... but I tangented big time there.

Blogging, totally free. Sure, you need a laptop or computer of some sort. But you can pop onto Blogger or Wordpress and set yourself up and just start writing.

Just wait and see the world that opens up for you then. Incredible. Amazing. Powerful. Blogging. Just do it.

* EMOTIONS
Sure sometimes being weighed down by your emotions seems to suck the life right outta you. You feel like THAT girl, and it sucks. But it's okay. Emotions make us who we are. A good cry? Cathartic. A pee-your-pants kind of laugh? Required more often than we get to experience them, I'm sure. For sure I could live without some of the anxiety I experience. Anxiety is a bitch, after all. But check it ... I write about my emotions a lot. I share them, share me - my raw emotional self -  with you all. Y'all. hee hee. And it's okay. I know it's who I am, and I feel it makes me more human to share them, and to FEEL them. So just do.

* LOVE
Sure. Love is an emotion. I guess. Kinda'. Sorta. But it's free. All that talk about money can't buy you love? It's true. I promise. I hope you find it and feel it if you haven't yet. But before you say you haven't, look towards your family and friends. And remember you have. Love. It's the real deal.

* SUPPORT
Whether I need it or know someone who does. Offering a few words of kindness, love and support? Can make or break someone's day. JUST DO IT. *Why is that my theme today? Hmmn. I might have to change the title of this post! Thanks, Nike, don't be mad at me, okay?*

* EXERCISE
Uhoh. Just do it? Again.

Oops.

Seriously. I've felt SO crappy the last few days. And so this AM I realized why. I haven't been out there moving. MOVING. You don't need a fancy gym membership or fancy work out clothes. Just get out there, lace up your kicks and walk. Run. Do whatever you have to to get yourself moving. It's totally FREE. And good for you. Better than good. Get on out there, girlfriend. Or boyfriend. No boys comment in my 'hood, though. Am I too girly? Real men should be comfortable with my pink background, right? There I go again. Chatting away about whatever!

MOVE IT! MOVE IT! Find the colorful moments in your world and take them on whole-heartedly!

Sigh. I'm kind of stuck at seven.

Oh, wait!

* DREAMS
Don't ever stop at where you are. Keep on dreaming. You can always find something else to do. Something to make you happy. Even if you ARE happy now - keep dreaming. Make a life list. A bucket list. Whatever you want to call it. And then get out there. Start checking things off!

* MEMORIES
Those life list moments? Remember them. Always. Where you've been. What you've done. If you're like me you have loads and loads of pictures. Remember when we used to actually print out pictures? Yeah - those! Do you have 900 photo albums tucked into the corner of your guest bedroom? I do. Yep. For sure. Your memories are your own, and they will remind you of what you can do moving forward. Hold onto them and pull them out now and then. The pictures are wonderful, but your mind is like a diary, blog, photo album, journal, etc. all rolled into one!

Okay, I've got ten.

* NATURE
It's freaking beautiful, people. I mean, look ...

And there you have it.

The best things in life really ARE free.

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Sharing Moments of Motherhood.

I've never created a linky before. Not on my own. I've participated in them, but this is different. 

Maybe I'll like it so much I'll do these kinds of posts frequently? And people will link up and share their own Moments of Motherhood (MOM) with me?

A girl can dream.

And I dream of one day having a space where many moms come to talk about what's on their minds.

Kinda' sorta' not exactly.

At least once in a while.

So here's my shot at just that. An intro to what I'd like to share with you about motherhood.

Or something.



Motherhood is hard. Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise.

We all have those AHA! moments throughout when we're saying, holy cow, we really ARE a mom. Or whoa, did I just SAY that to my kid? I'm turning into my own mom!

Whether it's the stereotypical "Because I said so!" response to our little ones (and who among us has NEVER EVER used that? - Really? Surely you jest!) or the random, "Please stop chasing the dog," Motherhood has us saying and doing the strangest things.

Will you join me today and share some of yours?

YOU KNOW YOU'RE A MOM WHEN ...

* You find yourself sneaking chocolate and eating it while hiding IN the kitchen so nobody will ask you for any.

* And sometimes you do the same thing with actual meals, because your favorite sandwich will instantly turn into what they want, even AFTER you've offered to make them one - been turned down - and then made them something totally different

* The only place you can get some peace and quiet is in your bathroom. And even that is rare.

* You've contemplated actually changing your name TO Mom. Because nobody regularly calls you anything else.

* You find yourself waking up at odd hours, finding yourself snuggled up under the covers in your kid's bed!

* You've been pawed at, snotted on, sneezed on and rubbed up against, and it's only noon.

* The last time you took a shower you stayed in there forever because you kinda' sorta fell asleep.

* You took up running - just to get some you-time!

* And lastly, you find yourself using the term "go potty" when you're out with your friends. Yes. The grown-up ones. And the kids are at home. Say wha?

If you'd like to join me (and I'd love it if you would!) please consider sharing your own post and linking up with me below. Make a momma happy and remind her (okay, yes, ME!) that she isn't alone!

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