Twilight Zone

So usually when I feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone its cause everything seems to be going wrong around me.  This time, not so much.  It seems like the stars are lined up and things are going right.

My oldest daughter, who has hit the tween mood swings, has been very happy this week (except for Monday when she declared she didn't understand boys - that is a whole other topic!!).  Since then, she has been bubbly and giddy - even telling me that she loved the pink and black dress I picked out for her to wear to her sister's first communion.  This from the kid who banned pink and dresses from her wardrobe for the past few years!

My youngest seems to be on cloud nine too.  She got chosen to read during a school mass, and things have been going smoothly with her friends.  Usually there is at least one drama in the school yard per week.  This week, nada.

And to top it all off, my girls have been getting along.  Like giggling and cuddling getting along.  They are usually in some form of back and forth of "she's bugging me" or "stop it", but this week has been all roses on that front.  I'm not complaining - I love not having to pull out my scolding voice.

I'm not naive enough to think it will last forever...at some point the moods and drama will come out, and they will again get on each other's nerves.  Until then, I will smile when I hear them consipiring to scare their dad, or when they come to see us with a dance routine they have put together.  I'll giggle when they giggle.  I'll remember to tell them how happy it makes me to see them happy.  I'll enjoy every minute of it.

Now that I've probably jinxed it, I think I'll go see what they're doing.  It seems pretty quiet at the moment - and that is usually a sign that they are conspiring on something.  I will revel in the fact that they are working together and leave it at that :-)

Update:  just an update on my exam from my last post.  I passed the first part, now on to the second part.  Will post results of that one when I get there!

Do as I say...

I'm sure we can all complete the phrase "Do as I say, not as I do".  I always hated that saying.  Should we not be modelling behaviour we want others (i.e. our children) to copy?  I always thought the lesson should be "you are permitted to copy what I do"...of course then I had children and, although I really try, sometimes I want them to forget when I start to rant or lose my cool.

Forward to today.  I have an exam next week (first step to a new job), and have squirreled myself away in my office trying to prep for it.  My daughter even said to me that "preparation is the key to getting a good result" - something I've been trying to teach her this year when she complains she does not want to study for a test cause she knows it all.  I was all ready to practice what I have been preaching.

Ya right...

So what am I doing when I should be preparing - I'm writing a blog post - after I visited Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.  Oof...thankfully my girls are downstairs and cannot witness my procrastination.  They can't see that I am not following my own advice.  And I can stay the sage mamma for a little while longer.

Off to get back to prepping...after I go make a tea :-)

Ooh look...shiny!

So I've already shared how I am *slightly* addicted to craft paper.  While I have tried to cut down on the amount of pretty paper I buy, it is very hard.

Time for another vice - I am entranced by anything that is sparkly that I can wear around my neck, on my wrist or on my fingers.  I think I'm like alot of women who giggle everytime they see pretty jewellry.  I ooh and ahh (and truth be told covet slightly) when I see friends wearing pretty pieces.

I recently discovered Stell & Dot pieces.  My first thought was "how the heck did I not know about this stuff before" quickly followed by "good thing I didn't know about this stuff before"!  Their pieces seem to be popping up all over the place, and I've invested in a few things that I love.

They have been stored in their plastic bags, and sit prettily on my vanity table waiting to be worn.  With any luck, I will be able to convince my hubby to take me places I can wear them.  Who am I kidding...I can wear them anywhere - feeling fabulous is an "anyday and every day" kinda thing!

Writer's block

So I really have tried to sit and write posts a few times in February, but nothing comes out.  While I'm out living my busy life, I often get these awesome ideas of what to write about, but as soon as I sit down in front of the computer screed, nada.  Zilch.  Complete blank.

That's never happened to me.  Usually I can count on being able to bang out any type of writing I need.  It's an odd feeling for sure.  Like this morning.  My intention was to write about my recent trip to New Orleans, and the importance of couple get-aways sans kids.  I got one sentence down and then...nothing.  I'm hoping it passes quickly - I'm not liking the block.

With any luck I'll be back on track shortly - and I'm thinking I need to carry around a pen and paper so when I have the awesome ideas on the go I can jot them down!

January gave me whiplash!

OK...anyone else look at their calendar this week and realize that we're in February already?  What the heck happened to January?  I feel like I missed the whole thing!

Oh well...even though I feel like I ran out of days, we did do some celebrating.  January is a big birthday month for us.  My father-in-law, my husband and my (not so little anymore) nephew all have January birthdates.  I usually host a birthday dinner for hubby and my nephew.  As the number in our family grows, the smaller my house feels when we all get together.  Tons of fun nonetheless!

What else?  Parent Council meetings resumed, got to spend a fun evening scrapbooking with some amazing ladies, kids activities were back in full swing...oh and we had a couple of days with kids down for the count with tummy issues.  A pretty normal January!

OMG I almost forgot!  Hubby and I booked a "just me and him" vacation for end of February.  We're headed to New Orleans!  Truth be told, I was ogling somewhere more south with a beach, but New Orleans has always been on our bucket list so we are super-stoked!  I can't wait to see the sites - and have a conversation with my honey that is not interrupted a thousand times by the chirping of little ones LOL  We'll miss the kiddies, but they are in good hands while we are gone.

As for how I'm doing with  my "word of the year", it's amazing what a difference committing to a word can make.  I find myself thinking "be content" when things get crazy.  Don't get me wrong...still plenty of "are you kidding me?" moments.  But I come out on the other side of those with a smile on my face...most days.

And my word is...

I've seen more and more recently where, instead of making a New Year's Resolution, people are choosing a word that they will live by for the year.  I've seen some good ones - simplify being one I almost stole!  I thought what a great idea...so started my journey.

I've been thinking (and agonizing a little bit) about what word I would choose to define my 2013.  Really?  One word that would help me model what I wanted the year to be...that's pretty stressful!  Especially when I've already ruled out patience as a contender.  Not to say I don't need to find some, but I'm pretty sure it would be an epic failure of an experiment if I picked that one (case in point:  I've lost my patience with my girls already and we are January 3rd).

So with that one out, I wanted to pick one that would be significant - one that when I thought about it I would remember why I picked it.  One that I could incorporate in some artwork for my walls this year.  So here goes...drumroll please...my word is content.

Content.

The verb and the adjective.  I want to strive this year to feel content; to remember that I live a content life.  Don't get me wrong - there are days that are quite hellish.  Days where I'm pretty sure I will not make it to bed time.  Days where I literally just have to go into a quiet room and get my bearings. 

The thing with knowing that the crappy days exist is that they make me realize that there are really good days too.  Days where I look around and think "Wow...life is pretty good these days".  I'm thinking the key for making this my year of "content" is remembering that the off days shouldn't be the defining moments in my story - that privilege should be saved for the moments that make me giggle or that make my heart swell.  And as long as I can remember that, I think it will be a pretty good year.

So here goes nothing...let's see how the experiment unfolds.  Out with the resolution, in with the word to define my 2013 - content.

Happy New Year!

So 2013 is finally here.  Wish I could say we rung it in with a bang, but truth be told we were all fast asleep by midnight at our house.  We had some good food and a few cocktails with family, but we were all zonked by 10.  So I tucked the girls in and told them I would see them next year.

A new year for me means that I'm looking for my next creative outlet to try.  Usually by New Years Eve I've figured out what I'm going to tackle in the upcoming year, but this year I'm having a hard time deciding.  I may try knitting or crocheting again, or I may tackle sewing.  Or I may  just try a variance on scrapbooking - something like mixed media. 

I decided to give myself a couple of weeks to think about it...can someone please ask me at the end of January what I'm trying so I don't forget to decide?? LOL

As for resolutions, I don't really make them anymore.  I did read on a blog recently that an alternative is picking a word to live by this year.  I think I really like this idea, but I have to seriously consider what that word would be.  I could try "patience" but I have a feeling that I would fail at that one - and who likes to set themselves up to fail??  I'm considering "content" - it would be nice to strive to really feel contentment on a daily basis.  I usually get so caught up in all the things I have to do that I forget to sit back and enjoy what I have.  I'm going to mull it over, but its a strong contender.

Wishing everyone a happy, productive 2013.  I hope whatever you strive for you can tick off as "done" by this time next year!