Three Word Update
Refreshingly simple eating.
Baby allergies blow.
Mostly meeting deadlines.
Little batter up.
More of this.
Postpartum Barre accomplished.
Still haven’t run.
FitBIT the dust.
Spring weather love.
Whatcha lookin at?
Big Projects {wink, wink}
{I had to add the wink wink because surely you wouldn’t click on post lamely titled “projects” and coming up with something better is not on my brain’s morning agenda.}
I’m sure it comes as no surprise when I tell you we have a ton going on {mostly empty blog space, anyone?}. What with moving, working from home during the summer with a spunky three and a half year old, and sorting through all the boxes of stuff we’ve been living without for four months {do we really need 283 mason jars? (Don’t answer that)}, it’s been a tad chaotic to say the least. Good chaotic, but chaotic none the less.
Right now it feels like we have tons of projects going on – painting, floors, unpacking, decorating an entire house, work things, blah, blah, etc. Of course, through it all, there’s been one big project that I’ve failed to mention or even hint at, which makes all the other projects seem a bit more demanding and yet insignificant all at the same time.
If you follow me on Instagram or FB {which you should!}, you know what’s coming next:
We’re adding one more to our crew this winter {vague much?} and couldn’t be more excited!
More on all that later.
{All further updates will stay on tinysneakers in case you have no interest in babies.}
More is Better {+ $500 Giveaway!}
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Cottonelle.
I can think of a lot of things I’d like to have more of. Cookies. Dollar bills. Gluten-dairy-soy free foods. Time. Sunshine. Energy.
I say most of those things as I joke, but I’m not so un-serious about the time part. Time with my family to be specifically. Actually being a family, not doing 394 different things all at the same time. To spend the holidays soaking up the season, cherishing the twinkling Christmas lights and the smell of evergreen. Savoring each moment as my son experience’s the first Christmas where he’s aware something special is happening. To have my husband not traveling for work, missing bedtime stories and bath times. Wrapping presents for weeks. Burning frosted cranberry candles when it sun sets too early. A glass of wine at 5 when the kiddo’s asleep, sitting down to … nothing.
To revel in the moment of having nothing to do {what’s that?}. Not worry about cleaning up after a hurricane of a meal with toddler three times a day. Forget about the bills that need to be paid and paperwork I need to. Toss aside the research I need to do for an article and instead curl up with a good novel, drinking hot apple cider while the husband watches football.
Instead I’d like to spend that time watching my son’s face light up as he finds his stuffed elf hiding in a new place each morning. Laughing in awe as he counts all the snowmen on the Christmas tree and finds each ornament as we call them out. Big bird! Football! Rocking horse! Heart! Train! {He finds them all. I’m thinking about rearranging them and seeing what happens.}
Spending more moments watching him jump on my bed or in his crib and telling me what sounds all the different animals make. {Most of them roar, of course.}
If I had 25% more time to cram into the holiday season, it’d be right here in my living room, living for the moment. Having 25% more of whatever you desire this holiday season makes an impact. Be it time, money, peppermint bark, or toilet paper, more is better.
So in case what you desire more of this holiday season is in fact toilet paper {or money}, you’re in luck. Here’s a giveaway for a chance to win $500 from American Express DAILY between Dec 9 – 20h. And since more is better, the winner also gets $500 for a charity of their choice. Now that’s what the holidays are about.
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Cottonelle.
Choosing Traditions
You’d think after six years of marriage the husband and I would have this holiday traditions thing figured out.
Not so much.
For the first five years of marriage, it was just us. It didn’t really matter what we did. We mostly stuck with each of our “own” traditions when we were with our respective families; it made sense and it worked.
But now we have a little one to think about and the responsibility of the magic of Christmas falls on our shoulders. No pressure or anything.
Last year wasn’t a big deal. Our little guy wasn’t old enough to know anything was going on. He didn’t even get a kick out of tearing paper off of boxes.
This year? It’s going to be wonderful madness. But that also means it’s time to start our own little family’s traditions. While he may not remember every detail just quite yet, we will and it just feels like the right time to start.
I asked my friends and scoured the internet for other people’s traditions. Here are my favorite holiday traditions I found. I really like the “want, need, wear, read” idea along with
After writing that post I stumbled across another one I like – crepe-paper your kids’ doors so they have to bust out of their rooms. {I guess that slows them down at least another 30 seconds before they wake you up?}
Starting new traditions is no big deal. It’s when our traditions conflict with each other that it’s tough. Our biggest stumbling block is the husband’s “Santa” present was left unopened under the tree so it’s the first thing you see when you get up. Mine were always wrapped and kind of went for a “save the best for last” kind of thing.
My stocking was always left at the foot of my bed with things mostly wrapped, whereas the husbands was hanging on the mantle half-wrapped and half-unwrapped.
Sooo I don’t know what we’ll do yet… KB’s present might be a little awkward to wrap which isn’t good for my vote of wrapped Santa gifts. {I’m not even sure about the whole Santa thing anyways but that’s a different story.}
What are your favorite holiday traditions?
I Love Technologyyyy
{Name that movie and be my bestie.}
As summer winds down and the school year is getting ready to start, I’ve been feeling awfully guilty about my decision to send Kabes to preschool 4 days a week instead of 2 like most of our friends. This afternoon I was reminded why I made that decision. I’d hung up our wet towels from the pool and had just opened my computer to start working when I heard the telltale scream of nap that was over.
20 minutes.
all day.
husband gone for extended time.
work to do. lunch to eat. showers to take. house to clean. WORK TO DO.
And then I realize what I just said: I’d just hung up our towels from the pool. The pool. In the middle of a weekday. As I climbed the stairs to get my cranky, tired-but-won’t-sleep-more-baby, I think for the 1,000th time how lucky I am to be able to spend my days with him AND work.
I’ve said repeatedly how grateful I am to live in the 21st century and that statement holds even more truth now that I’m a parent. My mom never could have been at home and worked at the same time. I’m a part of the first generation that even has to consider “opting in”- there was never even a choice before.
Ironically, since I’m known for my ability to magically break anything electronic, I owe my gratitude to technology. On any given day I interact with no less than 5 amazing creations: my smartphone, a tablet, my laptop. A dishwasher that I can set to clean my dishes while I’m asleep. A dryer that will periodically fluff my clothes so they don’t get wrinkled while I forget I’m in the middle of a load of laundry. THE INTERNET. WiFi. Public places that have free WiFi. A video monitor that lets me watch my little guy sleep when he finally goes down peacefully for the night.
These crazy once-sci-fi-sounding things let me work from home, raise my child, and not feel alone while I do it. Have you ever worked from home? It’s totally awesome. For a week. Then it’s lonely, isolating, monotonous. Most of the time my entire socialization for the day comes from someone under the age of 2. But with Twitter, Facebook, and group texting, I’m able to connect with my friends at any moment of any given day. If I have a question I can ask people on Twitter {which will likely elicit a better response than said toddler}. I can plan a play date with mommy friends without having to scream over the raucousness of a 19 month old. I can keep up with friends from college in between writing for work. I’m currently looking at a thread of over 250 messages in a group convo on fb messenger with friends that span at least 5 states. I can go to the grocery store in the middle of the day when it’s not crowded and I can see my friends without having to wait until the babe is asleep. My family 2 states away can see our daily adventures on Instagram and witness how fast my little guy is growing. My son can Skype with his dad while he’s away for work, and I can spend time with my husband when he’s not traveling and working remotely from home.
So when I think about it I’m pretty ok with 4 days of school. It’ll let me dedicate time solely to work instead of having to balance running around typing on my tablet while playing choo choo trains and chasing deflating balloons around the yard. Perhaps, if I stay on top of things, it will even let me do something for myself. Me. Just me. {Whatever the heck that means?!}
How has technology changed or shaped your life? How do you use it to connect with friends, family, coworkers…?
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