Learning To Juggle

In Her Shoes

noreply@blogger.com (Liz {Learning To Juggle}) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 12:13:00 +0000

This is my daughter Olivia

She turned two in December.

She is my princess, my baby girl. She is spunky and tough, and so full of joy and love it makes my heart burst every time I hear her laugh.

This is Belle

She turned two last summer.

She is full of spunk and life, she loves her pretty shoes and her Elmo doll. She has a strong spirit, and fills a room the moment she walks in. She is that little girl you remember well, even if you've met her for only a moment.

My sweet baby Olivia is currently running around with her Papa, she is probably tearing up the aisles of Target or playing at the play place at McDonalds.

Belle's day isn't going so well

Three days after Christmas Belle was admitted to Hasbro Children's Hospital
Three days after Christmas the doctors told Belle's parents Belle has Leukemia.

Every time I sit and play with Livvy, every time I fight with her tangled curly hair I think of Belle and I think of her mother Melissa.

I wonder how I would handle it if I were in her shoes. How would I step up? Would I manage, would I fall apart?

I wonder would anyone stand there with me? Would friends step up for me? Would I feel alone in my fight?

I am so happy to call myself a friend of Belle and Melissa, and proud to be a part of a wonderful group of bloggers who has stepped up to raise money and make sure they know they are not alone.

Starting tonight for 48 hours, members of the Rhody Bloggers for Good will be sitting on their backsides to raise money and show our support for Belle and her family. We are working together to lessen their burden, and, maybe just as important, let them know we are there.

If you are anywhere within driving distance of Warwick, RI please stop by La-Z-Boy stop in this weekend. All day Saturday and Sunday, during business hours, there will be activities, raffles, a bake sale, and even a yard sale.

If you can't make it there this weekend, but still want to support Belle's family consider popping onto the fundraising site and making a donation. Every little bit helps.

I don't know what I would do if I was in her shoes, if my baby was sick, but I would like to think that my family, my friends, and my community would stand there with me.

A Long Long Winter

noreply@blogger.com (Liz {Learning To Juggle}) — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 04:23:00 +0000

I feel like I'm waking from hibernation.
But it has been far from a long winters restful sleep.
Its like waking from the fog of too much to do
Finding myself in the midst of the chaos
And seeing it all for the first time in a long time.

All of a sudden it has hit me,
how much I need to do
how much I want to do
how much I've committed to do.

I've chosen a couple of days to stop
To try to quiet my mind
To focus on the necesarry.
There are so many things I want to rush to do
do quick, do now
so many things that will still be waiting for me
tomorrow
and so I'm taking a breath

I am quieting the voices of rush and hurry inside my mind
And doing the best to quiet the ones around me as well.

Dusting off my most personal space
stretching my fingers
trying to stretch my mind a bit too
and just taking it one step at a time again.

I felt the sun on my face as I drove yesterday
I felt the color seeping back into the world
I felt my energy returning.

For the first time in over a month I opened my blog
A fresh new post, a new page
And I felt the words flow.
At times it was cumbersome
The rhythm unsteady, clumsy
But they came nonetheless
And with them a release
An awakening.

Its About the Meal Not the Food

noreply@blogger.com (Liz {Learning To Juggle}) — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 03:16:00 +0000

I'm a little late posting this, but I wanted to give this topic the appropriate time I felt it deserved.

Our latest Mom Before Mom post from Carla at All of Me...Now:
What was your favorite home cooked meal as a kid? Did you help make it? How did it make you feel? Share the scents and sights and flavors.

The meal I remember most is honestly less about what we ate and more about who sat there.

It was the spring of my freshman year of school and I was already taking a semester off, reevaluating my school choice. I was living with my father in the little caretaker's apartment above the gymnasium at our church. It was a tiny little one bedroom space with a walk-in closet we converted into my purple bedroom. Within a mile from our home, our church, was a small conservative bible college/seminary. My father and I got to know some of these students very well as they would come to the church for work and eventually just for a home cooked meal and a chance to socialize off campus.

Every Sunday my father and I would cook a mammoth pasta dinner, complete with garlic bread and ice cream pie (his original desert creation that was like a little bit of heaven poured into a graham cracker crust). Shortly after church services were over, as we started the sauce heating and the water boiling, the regulars and sometimes some less familiar faces, would wander into our humble home.

The apartment would be warm, no matter what the temperature outside, the smell of garlic and sauce hung heavy in the air on the warmer days.There were far too many bodies for such a tiny space and we would eat at the small table, or while sitting on the couch or floor balancing our plates and cups on what little empty space we could find.. The food was good, it was always good, it was simple, traditional, well cooked, and always finished.

After dinner was done, we would all help to clear the table, the floor, the couch, clean the pots and pans, refill our drinks, and talk. Some days it was conversation as simple at the latest movies that have come out or what news they had heard from their families at home as the regular 5 were from out of state. Other days we would have almost heated discussions, sparked by the verses shared or the topics discussed at church that morning.

More often than not I sat on the sideline, mostly watching and listening, only interjecting when I felt strongly about what I had to say. My father would act as mediator when there was a need, reminding them all that there may be different interpretations but we all agree on the same important core beliefs. The discussion was heated at times, but there was always respect.

Some days if the weather was nice, some of us would head outside, we would sit and read in the field, play a pick up game of soccer or touch football, or just wander in the sun. When the weather was less than welcoming we would head down to the gym and play pool or basket ball. Eventually we would all say good bye as they headed back to the evening service on campus and I got ready for evening service at my church.

This was such an important part of my life at that time, and in stark contrast to many of the other things I had going on. I found I would crave that weekly meal. A gathering of mind and spirit that gave me energy to charge ahead. I learned how to discuss and disagree with tact and respect.

This Sunday dinner of pasta and bread was not about the food that was shared but about the people who were fed there each week.

WW: Running Feet

noreply@blogger.com (Liz {Learning To Juggle}) — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 12:41:00 +0000

I have a serious love/hate relationship with running. Last night going through the pictures on my phone I realized one thing I do love is my post long run feet picture. (I tend to only take the picture on the weekends following a longer run) I've been doing this since I started training for my first half marathon last March. Hopefully I'll just keep adding to the collage!!

Getting in Shape with Fitness Videos from Gaiam TV

noreply@blogger.com (Liz {Learning To Juggle}) — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 03:51:00 +0000

I've always been a fairly active person, and while anyone who has been reading my blog recently knows I am into running right now (currently training to run my third half marathon in March), what most don't know is that I am also a HUGE fan of Yoga and the benefits a regular yoga practice provides for my over all well being.

I started my yoga practice at an amazing local studio, but when I wanted to expand my practice (but saved my pennies) I turned to yoga videos and DVDs, my favorite videos were all produced/distributed by Gaiam.

Fast forward three kids and I am sad to admit my yoga practice was one of those things I gave up. I miss it, I loved how lean my body became and how good I felt every time I spent my time in my favorite asanas.

Needless to say I was thrilled when Gaiam contacted me to review their new service GaiamTV. Gaiam TV is the first streaming fitness video subscription service designed to reach those interested in health and wellness, yoga, fitness videos and personal development. With over 2,000 titles, Gaiam TV is like Netflix for health, wellness, yoga and fitness lovers, delivering hundreds of hours of online yoga, Pilates and cardio workouts. Gaiam TV viewers can practice with top instructors like Seane Corn, Jillian Michaels, Mari Winsor, Kathryn Budig and my personal favorite, Rodney Yee.

As a mom of three kids with limited time to do anything for myself, the fact that GaiamTV is online, is accessible 24/7 and can be viewed through my laptop or smart phone gives me no excuses. Through their site they even give instructions on how to connect your laptop to your HD TV using an HDMI cable - giving you plenty of options to have a little me time after bed time, during naptime, or in those rare times the kids are occupied and not demanding anything (I've heard rumors that can happen occasionally)

Free to Try: Gaiam TV’s $9.95 per month subscription fee allows subscribers to stream unlimited content. The subscription to Gaiam TV is no strings attached; there is no commitment, and members can cancel at anytime. Gaiam TV is offering a free 10-day trial to all of my readers, visit http://bit.ly/GaiamTVActive for this offer.

**I have been compensated by Gaiam for my time on this post but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Yo Gabba Gabba LIVE!! HE STAYED AWAKE!!

noreply@blogger.com (Liz {Learning To Juggle}) — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 03:06:00 +0000

This past weekend I was fortunate enough to receive a pack of 5 tickets to see Yo Gabba Gabba! Live! Get the Sillies Out! at the Orpheum Theater in Boston. My original plan was to head up there with the family, but when the 6 year old (often acts like a 13 year old girl) baulked at the idea, I called up my friend (and the mother of Jack's best friend "Ben-ja-Ben") and made a playdate of it.

Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE!: Get the Sillies Out! marks the third tour for the successful Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE! concert series. The first tour, Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE!: There’s a Party in My City!, launched with a float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and a performance at the White House in 2010. Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE! 2010 tour played to sold out venues in 60 cities. Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE!: It’s Time to Dance! enjoyed repeat success in 2011, energizing audiences across North America at over 120 shows.

I cannot say enough good things about the show - it was incredible!! It was a big risk for us to take 2 exciteable 4 year olds and my crazier than crazier Olivia, we knew there would be a walk through cold Boston involved, and we would have to deal with one child who falls asleep through everything and another who doesn't sit still....ever!!! It was all totally worth it!!

DJ Lance Rock and the cast did not disappoint. Jack and Benjamin danced and sang and hugged each other with excitement the entire time. Olivia spent a good deal of the show on my lap singing and clapping along as well. They played all the familiars (Hold Still....Wiggle, and There's a Party in my Tummy) and got everyone up and moving. The ultimate highlight was Biz Markie coming out, not only did he teach us all his Beat of the Day, but also brought a handful of little ones up on stage with him to learn and perform beats with him.

Yo Gabba Gabba! Live! Get the Sillies Out! was a wonderful kids show, geared towards toddlers and preschoolers, it was upbeat enough to keep all the adults interested, and to keep my ever tired Jack awake.

You can check out where Yo Gabba Gabba is playing next and see their complete tour schedule here: Yo Gabba Gabba Tour!

Thankful Thursday

noreply@blogger.com (Liz {Learning To Juggle}) — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 03:27:00 +0000

Its a little thing, to take a few moments every Thursday and count my blessings. In no time at all I can have a list that makes me smile.

Its a little thing, that makes a big impact on my day. So with my morning break and cup of coffee I'll gladly sit and reflect on all that I have to be grateful for.

A new car with heated seats - according to my car it was 3 degrees this morning, fortunately my bum never felt the impact of that as I sat warm and cozy on my drive to work

In 8 weeks Dan will be DONE with school. While he'll still have boards to study for and a little while before he can get a job, I don't care. The crazy days and night juggling his ever changing school schedule (and paying for it) will be over!!

Being able to witness an amazing community come together and support one of their own. My friend Melissa found out shortly after Christmas that her baby girl Belle (who is 2 1/2) had leukemia. This past Sunday I went to an amazing charity Strongman competition that was set up for the sole purpose of raising money to help Melissa, Belle, and their family through this difficult time. To say I was blown away would be an understatement. To watch these strong amazing athletes gather and lift very very heavy thing for this sweet little girl was inspiring.

An wonderful group of friends who share and support each other. Who come together when a friend (or her husband) are sick, who laugh and joke and encourage each other, and who listen when someone just needs an ear to vent to.

What are you thankful for this week?

What I Want You To Know

noreply@blogger.com (Liz {Learning To Juggle}) — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 04:08:00 +0000

To my dear sweet children,

I apologize now, the title of my letter may not be all that original, maybe it is, I feel like its not.

There are certain things that I have learned in my 35 years of life, hopefully I have a lot more to learn and as much as I can, for as long as I can I will do my best to share it all with you.

I know there will be times where you won't want to listen to me - I know there will be times where I will be *Mo-om* that you sigh with an eye-roll (I pray that these moments are few and far between, but with three kids set to be teenagers all at the same time I know the odds aren't in my favor). There is so much that I want to be sure you know I just hope you will someday read these letters to you. (yes there will be more than one....some day you will be old like me, maybe with kids of your own, and you'll understand)

First - please remember, in all things, be kind. No matter what be kind, you will never regret being kind, saying a kind word, sharing a smile, showing compassion. Trust me, there will be moments where this will be hard, very very hard. People aren't always nice, sometimes they can be down right mean, but no matter how mean they are you will not feel better being mean back, no one wins in these circumstances. Sometimes the person who we think deserves our hearts the least need it the most.

Second know the difference between being kind, and being a push over. Being kind does not mean you will just blankly agree to everything anyone says and do anything anyone asks. Being kind means opening dialogue when you disagree and accepting the fact that everyone deserves their opinion. Being kind means knowing how to say no with grace, its winning without pride, and losing with dignity.

A smile can go a long long way. Sometimes on our hardest days its easy to find fault in everyone around us, to be inpatient with each other. In these moments, when all you want to do is yell at the cashier who seems to be doing nothing but taking their time, dig down deep and smile. Remember they might be having a day just as bad as yours, a simple smile might be all they need to turn things around, even just for a brief moment. And you may be surprised with the result, maybe seeing a smile in return.

So that's it for tonight - three simple little rules for life (rules I swear I struggle with daily). I promise there will be more letters like this.

I love you my babies

And yes no matter how old you are or how much taller than me you become, you will always be my babies.

Mom Before Mom: Here in My Bedroom

noreply@blogger.com (Liz {Learning To Juggle}) — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 03:00:00 +0000

Funny how something as simple as a bedroom can make you feel secure or safe or comfortable

Funny how trying to remember and describe your childhood room can bring back all those feelings and more.

For me, my childhood room moved around quite a bit, its amazing how each change in room so clearly punctuated a different part or phase of my life.

My first room, shared with my brother, in our bunk beds. It was a true little kids room, with a tiny wooden table (on which my brother danced and subsequently broke his nose), hand made personal piggy banks for each of us, and a closet which when necessary turned into a time machine, rocket, or fort. I was 6 or so when that shared room became mine alone. I remember clearly my beautiful white canopy bed with the bright fabric, the matching desk and dresser, yellow paint and fun wall paper.

From there my room split into two, there was the shared room in the little one bedroom apartments that I lived in with my father and brother. Those living conditions weren't the most spacious, but we learned how to make do - and fit enough clothes for all of us in very very limited spaces. There is no tour of these rooms as they were simple little shared spaces with personal items from three different people squeezed in and around each one.

Around that time I also had a room at my mother's house - this was my largest room, and the one that I was able to personalize in my own taste the most. This was my room from the time I was 12 until I moved to college when I was 18. I covered the walls with posters from the classic movies that I loved. (Singing in the Rain, Wizard of OZ, and I remember my young cousin being terrified of my King Kong poster). The room was furnished with my mother's old white lacquer furniture with more than enough space for me. The key piece in this room was an old wooden desk that my parents had found, they stripped it and painted it for me shortly before my senior year of high school, they picked a bright cranberry pink with gold pulls, and I LOVED it!! My bed was a "huge" full sized bed, with a little bed side table on either side. I filled the drawers of those tables with books and journals and tapes.

During the same time frame I had moved into yet another 1 bedroom apartment with my father and my brother. This apartment was a little more fun than the previous ones though, being a part of my church's gym and right above the basket ball court. Living here was fun, we had a basket ball court, pool table, and rec room that was at our disposal. My church was my community and I was always there to be a part of it, I was a part of it. But to top it off, my father took the giant walk in closet in the tiny apartment, painted it purple and furnished it. There I had my very tiny very favorite little room. It was like a secret little nook built just for me. It was too narrow for traditional furniture so in addition to the simple metal framed twin bed, I had a wooden shelf made from an old wooden shipping crate and a tall narrow dresser purchased from a local consignment store (I still have this dresser, it sits in my closet now). My little room also had an amazing little sky light - I could crack it open in the summer and get fresh air, and lie under it and watch the stars.

For better or worse these were my rooms, there were a few of them, and there was something special about each one. I tried writing this post once already, infusing each different space with the emotions that each one brought, and the changes in life each one saw, but no one wants to read that much. Instead I've left you here with a little snapshot of a little bit of me.

YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE! GET THE SILLIES OUT!

noreply@blogger.com (Liz {Learning To Juggle}) — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 02:05:00 +0000

The sillies are crazy little creatures that live inside of us and need to be shaken out! DJ Lance Rock and everyone’s favorite cast of colorful characters are calling all fans to get ready to jump, shake and shimmy them out at the new live tour Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE!: Get the Sillies Out!. The Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE!: Get The Sillies Out! will visit more than 50 cities across the U.S. in 2013. Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE! is touring in support of their first national beverage launch, a new line of toys, a new line of kids sportswear and a DVD/ CD collectors edition.

Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE! is a state-of-the-art production and an interactive experience that offers audiences of all ages the opportunity to witness their favorite characters come to life when DJ Lance Rock and fans say the magic words, “Yo Gabba Gabba!”. Hip-hop legend Biz Markie will join the cast on stage for Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE!: Get the Sillies Out! with Biz’s Beat of the Day. The show will also feature Super Music Friends and Dancey Dance guest performances. Past Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE! guest performances have included Devenda Banhart, Cold War Kids, Matt Costa, Kid Koala, Moby, DMC (Run DMC), Shaggy, Snoop Dogg, Dave Grohl, Jon Heder, Talib Kweli, Mix Master Mike, Nicole Richie, Kid Sister, Keri Russell, Lou Diamond Phillips, Jason Reitman, Zac Brown and the Drive By Truckers and more, while Christina Aguilera, Jessica Alba, Jason Bateman, Travis Barker, Brendan Fraser, Heidi Klum, Chris Noth, Gwen Stefani, Brooke Shields, Dennis Quaid and others attended with their families.

Next weekend my family and I will be headed up to Boston to see YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE! GET THE SILLIES OUT! at the Orpheum Theater. I am excited to take the kids - we took Olivia to Disney on Ice recently, but she really had no clue what was going on. However I know she will be so excited at this show!! Yo Gabba Gabba is the only show right now that keeps her still, to seem them live will blow her little 2 year old mind!!!

Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE!: Get the Sillies Out! will have two performances at the Orpheum Theatre in Boston on Saturday, Jan. 26th (2pm and 5pm). CLICK HERE for ticket information for the shows. Tickets start at $23.50. VIP Party packages are available as well which include a ticket in the first 15 Rows, a pass to "Get the Sillies Out" in the private VIP room featuring a super fun party with the Gabba Gang (costumed characters) and more. Children under 1 year old do not require a paid ticket to sit on a parent's lap.

For a complete list of tour dates, cities and show times, and a preview of the show, visit www.yogabbagabbalive.com

*I received compensation for the post in the form of tickets for my family to attend the show.

WW: First Adventure of the Year

noreply@blogger.com (Liz {Learning To Juggle}) — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 12:00:00 +0000

When its 55 degrees in January in RI you just can't stay inside, no matter how muddy it may be.

So we packed up our little family and headed to our favorite little spot

Audobon!

Learning about song birds

Checking out the fishies

Observation deck at the water

Daddy's little girl

Jack was so proud of the treasure he found

We absolutely LOVE the Audobon Society - its one of the few places where we have purchased a family membership, and use it constantly!! If you have never checked them out you should, the have fun educational programs and summer camps for the kids.

*This post is in no way sponsored or endorsed by The Audobon Society, I just love them that much I have to share!!*

Mom Before Mom: What's My Name Again

noreply@blogger.com (Liz {Learning To Juggle}) — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 05:08:00 +0000

My friend Carla is hosting this amazing link-up - encouraging us to do something that many of us don't take time to do, write about ourselves, about who we are, and who we were before we became "Mom".

1/12 How did you get your name? Did you always love it? Have you ever wanted to change it?

My full name is really nothing fancy. For both my brother and I my parents turned to the Bible, he is Nathan, I am Elizabeth.

I don't have a middle name, neither does my brother or most of my cousins on my father's side, or my father or any of my uncles. I guess we were too awesome to have more than one name, making it easier for us if we had Madonna like aspirations. (sidenote: None of us have Madonna like aspirations, in fact our singing at my grandfather's burial was so ear splitting that it reduced us all to goofy giggles and even louder singing....don't worry my grandfather would have liked that!!)

I never loved it, never hated it, in my tiny private school I was always the only Elizabeth (or "Liz" or "Lizzy") in my class. The only other "Lizzy" I knew was several years younger than I was so sharing a name with her had no affect on me. My name wasn't unique, nor was it too common, at least not until I got to high school, at which point in a class of around 200 there were 6 of us. Honestly even then I really didn't mind and that only lasted the 3 years at that school.

As for my middle name, or lack there of, I LOVED it. I was never embarrassed by some family name or having people try to nickname me by it - I was (almost) always just Liz. My dear friend in high school gave me a middle name for a year, she decided it should be "Solveig" (Norwegian for sun I think) I was ok with that.

Now I had no problem with my name, never cared that anyone call me anything different. I had special nicknames within my family (Peanut, Little Bit) and I enjoyed those as well. My father once told me he originally wanted to call me "Lia" but my mother convinced him otherwise, part of me wondered if a different name would have made me a different me, but I was content with what I had and never dwelled on it too much.

Now to be honest with you, there are a fair number of people that never knew me as Liz, Lizzy, or even Elizabeth. When I moved to college my brother gave me a necklace, simple black leather necklace with the letters Z-E-K-E on in in large black and white ceramic block shaped beads. It was a joke between us, and his name for me when he went to college (2 years ahead of me). When I walked into my first day of freshman orientation, with not one familiar face in the crowd, I wore my necklace as a sort of security blanket, it made me still feel safe and connected to home. One of the first people I met at school, a sweet blonde haired soccer player who would become one of my dearest friends while I was there, decided that "Zeke" was far more interesting than Liz, and fit me better. He made sure as we met new people and roamed the campus that everyone called me by my new name and I went with it. (Do you know how many people I met with a dog or a cat or even an uncle named Zeke? It almost felt more common than Liz).

It was years before anyone other family and old friends would really start calling me Liz again, and there is a small handful of friends who still call me "Zeke". I vividly remember the first time my now husband, then boyfriend called me Liz, it felt strange at first, but more intimate and special, like we had known each other our whole lives.

So that's it, that's my name, who knew describing Elizabeth-no-middle-name could take such a long post?!

If you want to read more stories of other bloggers and their names, or if you want to join us head on over to my amazing friend's blog All of Me and check out the linky there!!

WW: Snow Day & A New Toy

noreply@blogger.com (Liz {Learning To Juggle}) — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 03:03:00 +0000

I got a fun new toy for Christmas (thanks Mommy!!)

Sorry can't take a pic of the lens with the lens, its a bit blurry. 35mm 1.8 with VR!!

I explored what it could do a bit with the kids new Legos

(love the clarity, and playing with the depth of field)

Then played a bit with it in the snow.

I still have a long long way to go, but I am in LOVE already!!

2012 A Year in Review

noreply@blogger.com (Liz {Learning To Juggle}) — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 03:43:00 +0000

I haven't posted in over a month, maybe this is a cop out....I'm ok with that.

January

An unseasonably warm day and a family hike at a newly found park.

February

A fun guinea pig exhibit at the Museum of Science

March

Jack and his best bud "Ben-ja-ben" celebrating Jack's 4th

April

Ready to head out to the field with her brothers.

May

Collecting candy at the Memorial Day Parade

June

This is what we call trusting your big brother's aim!

July

KICK!!!

August

Happy first day of school!!!!

September

Hi.

October

Another warm day another fun park.

November

Creepy bunny - thankfully he is now safely in the hands of my friends baby and can no longer stare at me

December

SNOW!!

Joy to the World

noreply@blogger.com (Liz {Learning To Juggle}) — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 15:47:00 +0000

December has to be one of my favorite months of the year. While I'm not really a fan of the cold, I do love the beauty of fresh snow and the novelty of it in early winter (don't ask me how I feel about it in March!!). I've always looked forward to the special time of rest between Christmas and New Years, when you start winding down, go to the last few parties, and ring out the year and welcome the new beginning that the new year brings with it.

But mostly I love this season of joy. Where we celebrate the life and birth of Christ, the hope he brought to all of us. A season (if you look past the materialistic side of things) where we find joy in being with our loved ones, in decorating trees, and houses, and mantles. A season of hot chocolate and cookie baking, of Chalie Brown and even the Grinch.

This year I am going to make sure that I really find and embrace the Joy of the season. Last month was a month for giving thanks, a time to feel grateful for what blessing we have. I am challenging myself to make this month a month of Joy, to not just give thanks for my blessing but to find joy in them. And even find a way to give Joy to others.

I am challenging myself to every single morning start my day with a song and a heart of joy, even on the bad days, on the wrong-side-of-the-bed-my-kids-didn't-sleep-days, I am challenging myself to find J.O.Y.

Will you join me in this challenge? Will you find Joy with me this season?

{this is not an assignment or a task mind you, there is no requirement or request to post, blog, tweet, or Facebook daily, unless you want to}

And if this sounds a bit familiar, this is a theme that runs through my life frequently see my Seek Joy from earlier this year :)

Chuggington Icy Escapades GIVEAWAY

noreply@blogger.com (Liz {Learning To Juggle}) — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 05:00:00 +0000

We are HUGE Chuggington fans in this house, as I have mentioned before. Just in time for the holidays I was given the chance to review their latest DVD "Icy Escapades".

If you aren't familiar with the show, Chuggington is a beautifully animated fun show aimed towards children ages 2-7, which just about encompasses my three kids. We love watching this show together and I love knowing that each episode is not only entertaining buy also educational.

In this traintastic new collection of winter adventures, the crew takes to the tracks as snow and ice cover Chuggington. When the rails become frozen, it’s up to Wilson, Koko and Brewster to keep the town moving and save the day. With help from their fellow Chuggers, the trainees learn how to make brr-ave rescue missions, dig their way out of snow drifts and even take to the skies when the wintery winds lift Hodge from the rails! Young viewers will share in all the winter-focused fun, while they learn important lessons about teamwork and problem-solving in the DVD’s six seasonal standout episodes, including “Chilly Chuggers,” “Snowstruck Wilson,” “Wilson’s Icy Escapade,” “Heave-Ho Harrison,” “Hodge Sails Away” and “Rolling Reporter Wilson.”

This newest DVD is available in stores now and would make a great gift for the little one this year.

OR WIN A COPY here using the Rafflecoptor widget below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Even Mommy Needs Her Juice

noreply@blogger.com (Liz {Learning To Juggle}) — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Livvy has her "juice"

The boys have their juice

My hubby has his "juice"

Finally Mommy has her "juice"

"MommyJuice was founded and is owned by a mom. Being a Mom is a constant juggling act. Whether it’s play dates and homework, diapers and burp cloths, or finding that perfect balance between work and home, moms everywhere deserve a break. So tuck your kids into bed, sit down and have a glass of MommyJuice. We make a MommyJuice Red Wine (39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc 3% Grenache, 2% Syrah, 2% Zinfandel, 1% Carignan, 0.5% Cinsaut, 0.5% Malbec) and a MommyJuice White Wine (100% Monterey County Chardonnay). Both wines retail for $10 bottle."

I was given the opportunity to try out a bottle of both the red and white, and what a great review opportunity it was. With their wonderful screw caps this tired Mommy was happy not to have to fiddle with the corkscrew after a long day of work.

Much to my surprise, being more a fan of white wines usually, I thoroughly enjoyed the red wine after a particularly hard day of work and a night of crazy bedtime madness. In addition to a great glass enjoyed, both wines added wonderful flavor to a couple of my favorite recipes, the white especially adding great flavor to my favorite Chicken Wild Rice and Mushroom soup recipe. (I entirely believe in cooking only with wine that I would drink.)

You can buy Mommy Juice online by either the bottle ($10) or the case ($120 and free shipping) OR, even better, and just in time for the holiday craziness...

WIN a $30 gift certificate (delivered via email, enough for 2 bottles of wine) for any item that you would like from Mommy Juice. Giveaway ends Monday December 3rd at 11:59 pm.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hexbugs Warriors: Review

noreply@blogger.com (Liz {Learning To Juggle}) — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Earlier this month my boys and I had the opportunity to review the great new HEXBUG® Warriors Battling Robots and we all LOVED them!! We were already big fans of the original Hexbugs so I knew before they even arrived that we would have fun with these!!

Warriors are the battling robots that you customize for competition! These battery powered robots have intelligent battle sensors inside that register damage as the fight rages on. Each HEXBUG Warrior comes with configurable armor and weapons that when collected with other Warriors can be changed into hundreds of combinations. With four teams to choose from and over twenty Warriors to collect the possibilities are endless!

The boys had fun battling their bugs, and swapping out the weapons on each one. The fun part of the Hexbug Warriors is that you can watch them battle and see as they lose their energy as their little lights go from green to orange to red.

We received the Battle Arena, which comes with the arena as well as two bugs to battle, and I fully intend on getting them the larger Battle Stadium for Christmas along with a couple more Hexbug Warriors. One thing I really love about these sets is that they are expandable and the boys can use the pieces from their Arena and build onto the Stadium.

The HEXBUG Warriors line are available to buy now online here or at stores like Target.

Disclaimer: I received the HEXBUG Warriors Battle Arena with two HEXBUG Warriors Battle Robots free for my review, all opinions are my own.

Your Santa Story GIVEAWAY

noreply@blogger.com (Liz {Learning To Juggle}) — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Thanksgiving is upon us, and now is the time to start planning for a fun and exciting Christmas.

This year I was given the chance to review and share with you a great new product called Your Santa Story.

Your Santa Story is a personalized DVD featuring an authentic Santa, complete with red suite, white beard and reindeer, talking about the unique details of your family through customized scripts that you
upload on their website. Santa talks to each child in the family by name, telling stories like:
• School and sports accomplishments, awards, good grades, even showing good effort in a difficult school subject;
• Getting along with siblings;
• A good job doing chores;
• Milestones and celebrations throughout the year;
• The one last, special present still left to find in the house after all the presents have been opened.

Santa can even talk about the family pets, how he loved the cookies and carrots left out for him and his reindeer, and how he came down the chimney or through the front door. One of the favorite parts of
Santa’s message can be the location of one last present, hidden in the house with the location disclosed by Santa.

I am so excited to share with my kids on Christmas morning the magic of Santa and let them believe for that much longer.

Watch the video below to see a small clip of what you can expect.

You can order Your Santa Story online now, but quantities are limited so don’t wait. You can get your family’s Your Santa Story for only $29.95 (+ $5.99 shipping) at YourSantaStory.com- a small price to pay for Christmas memories that will last a lifetime.

WIN ONE:
Your Santa Story has generously offered one lucky Learning to Juggle reader their very own personalized Your Santa Story!
Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget at the bottom of this post:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary Your Santa Story DVD for review, but as always my opinions are my own

Free For All Friday: RI Beaches

noreply@blogger.com (Liz {Learning To Juggle}) — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 12:54:00 +0000

My fellow Rhody Bloggers and I decided to set aside today to share our favorite beach memories.

I love my little state, and I love our little bits of heaven squeezed in every where they can be. One of my favorite beaches we just call the baby beach, it has no amenities, no lifeguards and no waves, in short there is nothing fancy about this little patch of sand and rock at all.

But we love it - you can walk out 10-15 feet and still just be waist deep, the kids are hardly every further than arms length away, its free to park and it is almost always mostly just other families with other young kids there with you.

There is always some treasure to find in the water and among the rocks

Every time we go we have a wonderful time, whether we stay for the day or just for a couple hours (which is more likely for us)

This is just one little beach in a state full of them - be sure to check out the other lovely ladies of Rhode Island and their favorite beach moments.

Thankful Thursday

noreply@blogger.com (Liz {Learning To Juggle}) — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 03:03:00 +0000

It's a post of thanks for a day of thanks in this month of thanks.

In no particular order I am thankful for....

~ friends who let me watch them shop while I chatter away and buy nothing at fun events like the Nordstrom Rack sneak peak last night. (And who forgive me for laughing at their pajama selections)

~ Family who step up and help out on snowy days when I need them

~ A wonderful home daycare for my little two, where I never doubt that they are well loved and being cared for as I want. To have someone who I trust completely with these two precious lives.

~ A sweet and sensitive first grader who tears up at the thought of Mommy not being at a school event, and also at the happy end of Nanny McPhee.

~ That I have an amazing range of friends, from all walks, religions, etc who respect me and who I respect, such that we can see past any different opinions we may have and enjoy each other for the beautiful people we all are.

~ Friends that indulge me (and dare I say understand me) as I get all fired up offline about something silly someone else posted online, and then laugh it off with me.

~ My warm down comforter and hot cup of tea on the first icky snowy night of the winter.

WW: Faces of Jack

noreply@blogger.com (Liz {Learning To Juggle}) — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 01:38:00 +0000

The quiet one

My sweet middle child

Some don't get you

but Mommy does

quiet at times, but not sad or shy

ready for a bit of adventure

a bit of play

and a lot of silly.

My sweet pensive little man

You have moods to rival your Mommy's

but you will always be

my sweet Jackie boy.

No Words

noreply@blogger.com (Liz {Learning To Juggle}) — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 04:11:00 +0000

On a night when no words come to me
few words just not many
As we prepare to vote tomorrow
I don't talk politics
I sit here and struggle with my decision to write daily
well except for yesterday obviously
Am I trying to force myself to be something I am not
or am I excusing myself from even trying.
I struggle with myself
and not just my blogging self
I struggle with my identity
am I who I want to be.
I am thinking myself into a corner
and then thinking in circles inside that corner.
I'm on the eve of big decisions
I don't just mean the political ones
So tonight I will just sleep on it
and have no words for much of anything.

Saturday's Top Five Laughs

noreply@blogger.com (Liz {Learning To Juggle}) — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 20:55:00 +0000

Recently I won tickets to go see "Elf" at our local theater (the play not the movie), we are headed to see it tomorrow night with the boys.

This sparked the always fun discussion of places where Jack has slept....so in honor of our family night out and as a little chuckle for me today I give to you the

Top Five Places Jack Has Fallen Asleep

5. The dinner table - I guess my dinner was not exciting enough for his highly refined palet (a true insult considering this is also the child who eats frozen waffles....still frozen)

4. The Audobon Society - it was raptor weekend - the event of the year at one of our favorite family outing locations - there were big birds, owls flying, games, crafts, and a sleeping 4 year old in my arms

3. Gazillion Bubbles show - this was a live performance iwth at bubble artist - seriously....it was ok - thankfully the tickets were a gift from a friend, Jack slept for a good half hour

2. Disney on Ice - what's more exciting than Mickey and Minnie on skates? a nap.

1. The circus...who falls alseep at the circus?! Jack does

Honorable Mention: The couch - not so funny, unless you consider he was eating a popsicle at the time and every time he started to doze off he would smack himself in the face with said popsicle.

PSF: Audobon Society

noreply@blogger.com (Liz {Learning To Juggle}) — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 03:46:00 +0000

Last year we discovered, and fell in love with, The Audobon Society of RI.

We discovered their free Saturdays every month,

their cute little museum show casing local wetland and marine wildlife,

their weekly crafts,

easy little hiking path,

scavenger hunts and season events.

We love it so much that we have become members so that now, whenever we have a spare hour or two we head on over to see what they have going on.

If you are a local RI'er (or south eastern MA for that matter) you definitely need to make a point to check out the Audobon Society in Bristol (and their other locations) seriously a great day out!!

Its the first time in a long long time I've decided to play along with the lovely ladies who host Photo Story Fridays, I've missed this weekly Meme!!

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli