The MOMentum of Motherhood:

Cara: Let them eat Cake

noreply@blogger.com (Cara ) — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 19:12:00 +0000

This past weekend Diva turned 22. I have no idea how that happened. She's feeling like 22 is old (hmmm...try almost 48 on for size sista!)

This was not a significant birthday like let's say 21 was last year. So she has a rockin' Spring Break planned that just happens to coincide with her birthday so this weekend was just family Cake.

I am not sure if "Cake" is a thing for all families. But it has been in mine for as long as I can remember and it even holds true for my closest friends who always were a part of my family cake and I theirs. We were just laughing remembering when, as teenagers I had to wait for my friend Mrs. B. (not Mrs. at the time) to go out, but first she had to have family cake then we could go.

I was hemming and hawing about having Cake for Diva this year to be honest. First off having kids living at college and having lives of their own makes everything a logistical nightmare now it seems. And I was thinking is 22 too old for Cake? If I invite the usual suspects are they going to think "Really?" But after talking over my issues with Mrs. B and "Frances" they made me realize I was being silly. And who the heck is too old for birthday cake?

"Cake" is nothing fancy but it's not just cake either. It could also mean pizza or whatever too. But Cake is really not about the cake as I just recently figured out.

Cake is about celebrating...again. Again with the same people that come every year to sit around the kitchen to chit chat and catch up for a little while. Cake is about making the effort on a cold Sunday night to go over and have a cup of coffee and be a part of each other's lives, and these days with everyone being so busy it gets hard. But you take the time. Even if you're going to be late or have to only stop in for a minute.

It's about reminiscing about the birth stories of the kids. Or telling them the funny things that happened when they were babies that they don't remember. We have a shared history. We are part of each other's stories. Everyone remembers when someone had to cover a certain little cousin's mouth so he wouldn't blow the birthday person's candles out every single time(at 16 he's outgrown that now thankfully).We have gone from 6ft long homemade ballerina cakes and goodies bags to low key homemade requested old favorites.

We have little girls that want to open their presents in front of everyone and big girls who gratefully accept their gifts and then open them later in private. Or older boys who are all about the green and will thankfully accept a little something in the envelope.

And it's not about the gifts either. It's about a room full of people that love you that took a little time to stop and celebrate you. Celebrate another year. Another year together. And I think if we don't stop and make time for the small things like the "insignificant number" birthday then things get lost.

Relationships get taken for granted, time goes by and you look up and can't get that time back.

I don't know where all the people in that room will be when Diva's birthday rolls around again next year. She may be off doing something fabulous for her birthday, and logistically maybe Cake won't be able to happen next year. But there will be another Cake for another someone eventually and we will make our best effort to be there. The little things are important, and I am grateful Cake made me remember that.

Cara: February Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Cara ) — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 00:18:00 +0000

Just popped on here as I make my shopping list for the week, to see if I felt like making something from our recipe list.

I am SO not in the mood to think about what to make for dinner this week. Winter blahs have officially kicked in I think. Even though I feel like having a brownie and a cup of coffee for dinner in my pjs in front of the TV...alas that's not going to cut it. But then I realized it's my turn to post a recipe for this month.

This is something I am making this week. It's a no meat kind of thing. We like it. By we, I mean me and the hubby. Shorty won't touch it with a ten foot pole. (Mushrooms? ew!!) But then I will have to think of something else to make for him that night...hence my annoyance with dinner making in general.

Anyway here's a spaghetti squash recipe. We eat it as the main dish with maybe salad on the side.

Spaghetti Sqash with Mushroom Ragu

1 large spaghetti squash, halved lengthwise

Salt and pepper

1 1/2 cups chicken stock

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 pound cremini mushrooms, chopped

2 tablespoons thyme, chopped

Salt and pepper

1 small carrot, finely chopped

1 small onion, finely chopped

2 large cloves garlic, chopped

2 rounded tablespoons tomato paste

1/2 cup dry sherry or Marsala (I used Marsala)

1 bay leaf

1 cup milk

Grated cheese (I used shredded Parmesan/Romano)

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Halve both squash and place the pieces cut side down on baking sheets. Roast 1 hour or until tender, turn cut side up and shred the squash into spaghetti-like strands with a fork; season with salt and pepper.

While the squash are roasting, in large pot, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and onions cook 15 minutes or so until tender. Add thyme, salt, pepper, carrot and garlic; cook to tender. Stir in tomato paste, add sherry or Marsala, bay leaf and stock until heated. Add milk, and simmer sauce to reduce over low heat for 30 minutes.

Top spaghetti squash with ragu and cheese and serve half a squash per portion.

Jenn - chicken soup

noreply@blogger.com (Cara ) — Sat, 03 Jan 2015 00:37:00 +0000

Happy New Year! I was supposed to put up a recipe for December but time has a way of running away from me lately and before I knew it, January was here. I hope you all had a terrific holiday season. Mine was hectic. Back-to-work for the first time in 12 years, it was hard juggling all the Christmas decorating, shopping and cooking, with work. I did it, it was exhausting and I am glad to be back to business as usual come Monday.

My son gave me a cold for Christmas - I spent last weekend in bed. I am still fighting it - but trying to keep it from spreading through the house. The best thing for a cold? Chicken Soup! Until a few years ago I bought my chicken soup. I thought it was too complicated to make, having never made it - but what did I know? Now each week I make a big batch, I pour it into a glass pitcher and keep it in the Frig. The kids help themselves throughout the week - it makes a great after school or pre-practice snack. Ballerina likes to put it in a to go cup and sip it on her way to school. I am fine with soup for breakfast - at least I know she is getting protein. So here is my Chicken soup recipe - very simple, very delicious and very economical. (For locals, I go to the market on Carlton - they almost always have cut up chickens and wings and if not, are more than happy to cut up for you)

1 cut-up chicken
4 chicken wings ( the wings are the secret - they make it richer)
1 large onion or 2 small - peeled and quartered
3 carrots - cut into large chunks
3 celery stalks - cut into large chunks
2 t fresh diced garlic
bunch of green onion whole (optional)
handful of sea salt to taste
pepper to taste

Put the chicken, onion, celery, garlic, carrots, salt, pepper and whole green onion in a pot and cover with water. Simmer for a minimum of 4 hours. After 2 hours, remove chicken breasts and set aside for use later. The rest of the meat I let boil away. Sometimes I will cook my soup overnight on a low setting - or sometimes just all day. You can't overcook it - it will just boil away - the longer it boils, the richer the broth gets - but you must keep adding water as it boils down. Skim the fat off the top of the soup as often as possible - but you can skip this step if cooking overnight because once the broth cools, all the fat is congealed at the top and you can remove then, Once the soup is cooked - you taste it and you like the flavor - strain the broth. I throw all the veggies away and just keep the broth. To make a hearty meal, I heat the broth in a pot and add diced carrots, celery, chicken and noodles. Having the broth in the frig is ideal for so many other meals - for every recipe that calls for broth, you can just pull out your pitcher. No need to buy canned or boxed broth. Enjoy!

Cara: Happy New Year ( a little early)

noreply@blogger.com (Cara ) — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 21:15:00 +0000

I am in love with this wine bottle I received as a gift from my pal Mother Earth!

See the name? Quite apropos for the new year.

(and it's my favorite white, which is that much better!)

Not quite the New Year yet I know. It's that in between time. The clean up from the
Christ-mess time...little by little. Everyone's loot is almost gone from under the tree. I am not in a hurry for it. I am not a fan of messes but Christmas aftermath doesn't bug me (much).

I like to look back on where I was at this time the year before. A nice thing about a blog is having things "documented" so to speak so you get to look back. Sometimes I laugh about things that were written. (sometimes I cringe and think "who the heck was the chick that wrote that??")

If I looked back on January posts from years ago (and it is years now...wow) when I wasn't as ~~old~~ wise I can see where I was setting myself up for failure. I had plans for rearranging my life both figuratively and literally. "Get my house completely organized." Yeah, still waiting for that to happen. "Lose all the weight I need to." Umm...anyway....you get the drift.

This year I reviewed my last New Year's "words of wisdom". For once I was pleasantly surprised. I think I actually accomplished most of what I wanted for myself in 2014. And it's not because I have suddenly become super woman and have my act together. I think it's because I went a little easy on myself. Plus I put my money where my mouth is and brought about a shift in myself (albeit a work in progress) in the way I look at or react to things/people/issues in my life. I am now a firm believer in you can't change things or people but you can change how you react/act.

I have given up trying so hard to hang on to relationships that are quite frankly too much work. Some I have put on the shelf never to be revisited or "worked on" again. That's not easy for me. That's not how I roll. I don't invest time in "disposable" relationships. But sometimes you need to take off the rose colored glasses and truly see someone for who they are. That's not always easy for me...even when Maya Angelou is in my ear saying " when someone shows you who they are, believe them". It's one of my favorite truisms just, ahem.. not always when it applies to my life.

There are some relationships though that are put on the back burner for one reason or another. I know they are there and either they or I don't want to deal with them now. I am still here, just not about giving them my energy now. After opening my eyes, there are many relationships old and new that want and deserve my energy.

I allowed new ideas, "Gifts of Imperfection" or what I thought was a silly "100 happy days"
and was quite changed with what I took away from it.

I have given myself a lot (well, it's all relative) passes this year. I have eased up on outside obligations without ~~much~~ guilt. I've focused on what's going on with my kids, not that I have been neglecting them, heaven forbid. But I am more focused on how different they all are what different things they need from me, even if what they need is not that much anymore, well not on a regular basis anyway. Focusing more on my marriage which is just fine thank you very much, but now that the daily craziness of having little kids is a thing of the past, there's more couple time. There are more opportunities for conversation without interruptions or short people tugging on my leg.

So of course I have some plans for the new year. That's what the clean slate is all about right? I haven't got any grand plans or resolutions (p-lease with those already). Maybe there will be some new ideas about being healthier as the 48th birthday that will arrive in 2015 is pinching me a little. There are definitely plans to make better use of the space in my house. (OK yes, that's organizing I know but it wouldn't be January without an organizing plan, c'mon!!)

I am looking forward to my clean slate. Looking forward to shaking things up along the way this year.

Wishing you a clean slate and oodles of chalk in cool colors to write all over it to your hearts content...or not.

Happy 2015!!!!

Recipe: November (Cara)

noreply@blogger.com (Cara ) — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 14:19:00 +0000

A few people have asked me lately to get some new recipes on the blog. Still after 1000+ (yikes!) post later it still catches me off guard when I realize people actually read the blog. (happy day!)

So let's ease back in with a recipe a month. Jenn can do December. (I have not even told her of my latest plan...surprise Ethel!)

Tuned in to Lidia (nice Italian lady) on Sunday morning. She was making this and it looked warm and yummy so I searched high and low for the recipe. I made it one rainy chilly night this past week. It was good, peasant food (like my mother-in-law likes to call stuff like this). It calls for ground turkey so it may be a good way to use up some leftover Thanksgiving turkey. I used ground chicken as I will be up my eyeballs in turkey this time tomorrow, and didn't want to make turkey anything this past week. Mangia!

Sformato di Verdure e Carne
Vegetable & Meat Casserole

from "Lidia's Commonsense Italian Cooking" by Lidia Matticchio Bastianich

*my two cents :)

Ingredients:
6		tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2		small onions, thinly sliced
1		pound zucchini, diced
2		teaspoons kosher salt
1 1/2		pounds ground turkey
2		*tablespoons tomato paste (I finally smarted up and bought it in a tube so I can keep some 'til next time)**
1 1/2		cups white wine
2		fresh bay leaves
1 3/4		*pounds russet potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced(1/4 inch thick or so)(I may use white or yukon next time so potatoes aren't as al dente)**
8		ounces low-moisture mozzarella, shredded
1		*cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano (I used parmesan that's what I had!)**
2		tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature Directions: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In a large skillet, heat 3 tablespoons of the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onions, and cook until slightly softened, about 3 minutes. Add the zucchini and 1 teaspoon of salt. Cook until the zucchini is tender, then remove vegetables to a plate with a slotted spoon. Add 1 tablespoon of the olive oil to the skillet. When the oil is hot, add the ground turkey. Cook and stir the turkey until it is crumbled and browned, about 4 minutes. Then clear a space in the pan and add the tomato paste. Let it toast for a minute,*(I love that "let it toast a minute"!!)then stir it into the turkey. Add the wine and bay leaves, bring to a simmer and cook until the wine is reduced and saucy, about 5 minutes. Stir in the onions and zucchini. Toss the potato slices with the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil and the remaining teaspoon of salt. In a medium bowl, toss together the two cheeses. To assemble, butter a large oval baking dish (4 quart size). Layer the potatoes in the bottom, and sprinkle with a third of the cheese. Layer all of the turkey mixture, then all of the remaining grated cheese. Cover with foil (making sure it doesn't touch the cheese), and bake on the bottom rack until bubbly around the edges, about 20-25 minutes. Uncover, and bake until the top is browned and crusty, about 15 minutes more *Serve with maybe a salad...everything's in the pot you really don't need much more

Cara: Guest Blogger: Diva with life lessons sometimes learned the very hard way...

noreply@blogger.com (Cara ) — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 12:41:00 +0000

Haven't had a Guest Blogger in forever. (Says the one who hasn't been blogging faithfully as of late.) She and I seem to be on the same page this week so I asked if she wanted to write about it because like me, writing is healing for her. As a mom you want to take away any pain your child feels. It never ever stops. Even when they are real adults. And even as a real adult child when you're in pain you just want to come home. So even though her blog makes me sad, I am happy about two things. That she knows home is where her heart is and there she is safe and loved no matter, what no matter when even at 11:00 on a Sunday night. And that she gets it at 21 years old. Her mom is 47 and has just started to figure it all out. So some more points to ponder and reminders of how precious our time is.

Why do bad things happen to the most amazing people?

On Friday, as I curled my hair, and picked out my heels for a complimentary happy hour that I had won, only worried about the free drinks I was about to get for 2 hours, and forgetting the "stress" that was taking over my life with my senior year responsibilities dawning upon me, I turned my phone on silent to "get away from everyone" who apparently were too much for me handle when I had hair to curl, and jewelry to pick out.

In that time, I received 4 missed calls from my friend, half of the duo who have been my surrogate big sisters for the last 7 years, calling to tell me earth shattering news. Our other friend's brother had been in a car accident. Our other friend's brother was dead. If I could explain the blow that I felt in my chest when I heard those words, I would. But there is no way to articulate the pain I felt for my dear dear friend in that moment.

Things have been hectic in my life lately, decisions with men have left me sort of confused as to who I am and what I want. Senioritis has been the constant battle, and difficulties with friends have left me with anxiety that I never had to deal with previously. But there is one thing I know. I am lucky. I have family who is present and strong, and friends who are absolutely incredible people, the top of that list being my sweet friend who has been dealt this terrible, unfair, absolutely unfathomable challenge.

What do you say? What do you do? How do you help someone who has never ceased to be able to help you? Someone who has truly been a testament of Gods work on earth in your life. I can't even make sense of how if there is a higher power, he could let this happen to someone like her, to a family like hers, to a brother like hers.

It's been two whole days of contemplating this, and I can't even come up with a beginning of the answers to these questions, because I don't think there is one.

But I will get myself together, get on that train, and get home to my friend. To my town, who despite its disadvantages, loves and cherishes its people, and will come together tonight to mourn the loss of one of our own. One who graduated from our high school, rode his bike down to our beach, and ate at our diner. One who loved his family, his friends, and his fiancé. Who, despite his challenges, remained an incredible big brother to my friend, who beamed with pride at the person she is, and loved his little brother with all he had.

I'll hug my little brothers a little tighter when I see them, as its heart breaking to think of something ever taking them away from me. Unfathomable of thinking about going on with my life without them there. I'll appreciate my friend for the strong woman that she is, but console the grieving sister that she has been reduced to during this time.

I'll catch up with those we have lost touch with from our high school years, brought together by the love with have for this family, and for our darling friend.

I'll play my piano, and visit my church, hoping to find the strength in God and music, to give my friend what she cannot give herself right now.

And I'll appreciate my life, my family, my friends, and the fact that it can be taken away at any moment.

So why do bad things happen to the most amazing people? I still don't know, don't think I ever will. But my mother always tells me, everything happens for a reason. There has to be a silver lining to the pain people are forced to feel, the loss they have to carry. I can only hope that they find peace, and love in their lives until they can find that reason.

Cara: Laundry on my kitchen floor

noreply@blogger.com (Cara ) — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 11:55:00 +0000

Yeah there is. Laundry on my kitchen floor at 9:30 pm. Well I mean it's not like strewn all over the floor, but it's all there waiting to be folded in baskets. I intended on folding it after dinner. But I'm not. (such a rebel...I know, I know.) It will be there tomorrow unless someone else in this house folds it before morning(not gonna happen).

Besides the fact that I am just plain tired tonight, it's an example of where my mind is at...or going to now.

I am and always will be Type A personality with a side of OCD. But months of taking a step back, laying low and re-evaluating I am learning things like if the laundry is there in the quiet morning before men get up, after I have had a night's sleep, and a cup of coffee I can fold it then and the earth will not stop spinning.

Hubby made the "first fire" in the fireplace tonight. I like just sit around when the fire is on in the evenings. Too many of those evenings gone by I was scurrying around doing this and that before I would even consider slowing down and enjoying it. Too many nights I didn't sit on the couch with a cat on my lap watching something good on TV. Now that I think of it, too many nights I didn't sit around with an old dog's face in my lap and now she isn't here anymore. Was I thinking of that at this time last year? "Hey you better take a night off and go sit with that old dog 'cause she's probably not going to be here next year." Sadly no.

Point is, I am taking the time. I'm taking the time so slow down. It's not always easy, especially with a tween boy involved in 8 million things that keep us running. (and running)

I am s-l-o-w-l-y learning to say "no" and that being OK. (No is a sentence.) No to "obligations" which really aren't obligations, just at one time I thought I was obliged. But choosing what's important of my time and energy. Realizing I am not responsible for the happiness of everyone I know. I'm not. Letting go of those pressures to "do" and "be". Letting go of people who don't want or deserve my energy and suddenly realizing there were people standing in the wings waiting for me to remember they are still there and have been quietly waiting for me to realize that all along. It's amazing the things you discover when you stop long enough to see and listen.

But even as a family we are learning we need to take the time. Passing up some opportunities that seem great in lieu of not ruining our holidays with too much extra running and not enough just being. Recent "of age" children taking the opportunity for a family jaunt the night before Thanksgiving, forgoing what happens to be the THE party night of the year to do family stuff.

So I hope if I say no a lot more lately people won't think me rude. I need to say yes to the right things.

So yes to sitting by the fire after making hubby and I a cup of coffee. Yes, to that one-eyed cat who must suffocate me while I try to balance my lap top on my knees.

Although you will never see a Jack o' Lantern still on my porch after November 1st (seriously,I would get a rash), but this year you may not see every hall decked with boughs of holly the day after Thanksgiving either. I have that weekend with all my kiddies under one roof... and we are going to enjoy it.

Wishing you time. Use it wisely.

Cara: Done (?) with 100 Happy Days....

noreply@blogger.com (Cara ) — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 14:18:00 +0000

Whew...100 days. Cue happy dance...(I love that girl up there she makes me happy!!!) I made it through the 100 days. I will admit around day 60something I was thinking what the heck did I get myself into. But a challenge is a challenge and I asked for it.

I endured much teasing... "hey Cara are you happy today?" "how come you never made me your happy day?" "you don't seem too happy today what are you going to do now?" It's OK I dish it out on the regular so I can take it.

Some days it was real easy. The days I spent with my niece? Easy peasy. Days at the beach? Piece of cake. But some days it was harder. And thinking back those are the days that mattered the most in this silly thing.

I already know that happiness is a journey not a destination. I may not have known that years ago...when I thought, if I only I had this or that happened then I would be happy. But it doesn't work that way.

On the the days when you have that battle gear on it's not so easy to find or even think about being happy. But during this I would think "I am not in the mood to be happy today and now I have to post a dam picture." So even if I was cranky or I was in for a battle that day I would keep looking for something, anything that made me happy. And I would find it. It may have been a tomato in my garden, an old picture of a happy time whatever. It changed my mind set.

Now I am not about to say I am going to run around singing, throwing rose petals about because I am happy all the time, all day, everyday. That's not going to happen.

I don't have to post a picture now for the world to see but there's a shift that I can say now is a habit. Even on blah day when there's nothing exceptionally good or bad going on...I look for something or a few things even, that make me happy. It can run the gamut from holding a baby to loving my selection of funky reading glasses I have to wear now.

I am learning what's really important and taking a step away from things or people that just simply don't make me happy. We all deserve to be happy. We can surround ourselves with it if we chose to.

And that's it really. Happy is a choice. It may not be a choice that's easy when the difficult or sad things come your way which they will. But I can make a conscious choice to be happy...to seek it out. So that's what I learned from all this. I have a choice. I choose happy.

A friend gave me a plaque (cause I love words...just come sit in my kitchen some day there's plenty on the walls to read) that says "Be so happy that when others look at you they become happy too."

Easy to do all the time? Probably not...but it's worth a shot.

Go. Be Happy. :D

Jenn: Happy

noreply@blogger.com (Cara ) — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 12:51:00 +0000

If you had asked me a year ago what made me happy I would have told you the health of my family. If you had asked me what made me really happy - you know the kind - giggling, jumping for joy type of happy I may have said a new pair of boots or a great handbag, jeans that make me look skinny - you know the material things in life - I mean who doesn't love a great pair of jeans?

If you ask me today what makes me happy - I may tell you a new recipe, hearing my daughter laugh out loud or a chicken salad sandwich. It's definitely the little things these days.

In March my ballerina was diagnosed with Chronic Daily Migraines. She literally has a headache 24/7. She has sensitivity to light & sound & smells. She is constant pain. She is tired all the time. She doesn't sleep. It didn't start off as chronic but by the time we got a diagnosis thats where it was. She was home schooled for the spring semester. She gave up ballet. She spent most of the summer in bed or on the couch. We went from specialist to specialist and medication to medication - none of it helping much. Every day is a struggle for her. She is so unbelievably brave and stoic. She has returned to school and ballet and does what she can. She has missed a lot of school so far this year but she makes up all the work. She just keeps moving forward ready to try the next thing. She makes me proud - and she makes me believe that every day is a new day. I wake up hopeful each day that this will be the day she tells me her head has stopped hurting and I have my ballerina back. Hope is my happy these days. I feel helpless and sad and sorry that I can't take her pain away but I keep trying.

One of her doctors suggested she give up gluten to see if that helped. It didn't stop the migraines but now if she does eat something with gluten, the reaction is immediate. Her head explodes, her body wants to sleep, she feels worse than before she ate. She has a gluten intolerance. I have been learning to remake all my recipes to be gluten free - easier said than done. I didn't realize that flour is in basically everything I cook - from stews and soups to pasta & bread it's there. I am slowly remaking each of our favorite family recipes to be gluten free. Today I mastered chicken pot pie and that makes me happy! Here is the recipe:

2 t butter
4 chicken breasts - cooked and shredded
2 cups chicken stock
1 bag steam fresh corn (cooked)
1 bag steam fresh peas (cooked)
3/4 cup milk (I used lactose free)
3T corn starch
nutmeg
salt

In a large pot, melt the butter - add the chicken and sauté for a minute. Add peas & corn (& any other veggies you like - I used to add carrots until I realized everyone was picking them out!) Add chicken stock, a sprinkle of nutmeg & salt. Simmer for 5 minutes. Dissolve the corn starch in the milk and slowly add to the chicken mixture. Simmer until thickened. Serve over rice or with Gluten Free bisquick bisquits.

Cara:100 happy days #100happydays

noreply@blogger.com (Cara ) — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 15:16:00 +0000

Be happy for 100 days? Hmmm...impossible? Well maybe..but do I have to be happy for the entire 24 hours? I seem to find ideas like this (or do they find me??) just when I need to hear about them most. Sometimes the toxicity around you can really get to you and you need something to push you past it.

When I heard about this first I thought of someone dancing around for 24 hours acting/being happy...yeah that's not going to happen. After reading about this 100 day thing I realized it's about finding something to be happy about everyday take a picture and hashtag it on social media. And it's not about acting happy either. It's not about one-upping happiness to be more happy that the next guy. It's truly finding things to be happy about.

I am gung ho. I am down with the whole grateful thing. My favorite book ever "Simple Adundance" literally without sounding too weird, changed my life. But I am human, I get caught up in the noise and can go for days, weeks without remembering to be grateful each day. Until something kicks my ass and I remember... "oh yeah I am forgetting that...that's why I am off".

I am only on Day 6. Only 94 more days to go. It's going to bring me into late October if I stay on course. As with anything I am determined in the beginning and whether I make it through to the other side always remains to be seen.

It has made me slow down the past 6 days and look for reasons to be happy. One day was easier than the next perhaps, but the days that it's harder are the days that I think I need to do it even more. And so far the lazy days of summer have not brought me super duper amazing things to be happy about. But those don't happen everyday right? Then they wouldn't be super duper amazing. But there's lots of little things to be happy about. Truly, everyday. A few of mine were really simple like:

My silly one-eyed cat that is my shadow every morning as I take my coffee outside and check on my gardens

Or finding the first ripe tomato in the garden

Cats and tomatoes not super duper amazing right? I know. But in that moment, on that day it made me happy.

So here's to 100 happy days. #100happydays (100happydays.com)

Then maybe even 100 happy more.....

Cara: My Lucky Charm

noreply@blogger.com (Cara ) — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 13:33:00 +0000

Today is Friday the 13th. (cue scary music and hockey mask)

Today's one of my lucky days. It's my "baby's" birthday. He's 12 (when did THAT happen) but will always be the baby.

When I was pregnant with him people would (literally) say to me things like "You're crazy...you have a boy and a girl why would you want another one?" "This was an accident huh?" "Are you gonna find out the sex? You have one of each so who cares what this one is." Then when they found out I was going to pick Michael for a boy, I got "Oh don't do that Michaels are bad" "You will be sorry if you do that"

Anyone who knows me knows, that the more you tell me I shouldn't the more I want to. So I would tactfully (read...not) put them in their place. I could get away with my replies then because I was "hormonal".

The only person besides those closest to me who either didn't agree about bad Michaels or were smart enough to keep it to themselves, who said something nice was a nurse who came in to my hospital room in the middle of the night the day he was born.

It was about 3 a.m., the room was dark and quiet except for the TV. I was giving him a bottle ("you should breast feed=don't tell me what to do I this is my third kid give me a bottle"). I was thinking "OK St. Michael Archangel..boss of the angels...you better be on my side here and not let this kid be a maniac." Truly that's how me and St. Michael roll, I talk to him like that. Then she came in to check on us.

He was happily eating and sleeping at the same time. She asked what his name was and I thought here we go. I said "Michael and please don't tell me I shouldn't have named him that." She laughed. She said "People have been saying that to you huh?" I said "Yep!" She said "Let me tell you something... I am married to a Michael and my oldest son is a Michael. My husband is the best husband in the world..and my son is the light of my life. They drive me nuts sometimes but they love me like no other, they fill my heart everyday and my little Michael makes me proud to be his mom. So don't let anyone tell you otherwise. It take a special mom to be a Mike mom. You will see." And with that she left. I looked down at Michael he had stopped eating and his eyes were wide open. (I believe that's when the nosy busy-body character trait began) and I said "Did you hear that?" He blinked. I said to him "See I knew it!!" He closed his eyes and went back into eat/sleep mode. I never saw her again while I was in the hospital. I don't know her name. I asked about her but since I didn't have a name they weren't sure who I was talking about. So...nurse? Or nurse angel? I like to think the latter. So, today people may be worrying about walking under ladders or breaking mirrors. I know it's my lucky day.

This boy who snuck in under the wire of "OK we will give it a year and if we don't get pregnant then so be it", can be the bane of my existence and the joy of my life at the same time, brings light, laughter and noise into our home. He gave me one more shot at Santa, The Tooth Fairy, first day of school and hand print Valentines. He's brought the torture and fun of being "sports parents" into our life. (that is a good thing right??) He's happy, outgoing and smart. (a smart ass too if I am keeping it real) He is the "5" that makes us "The Fab 5".

He still thinks I am the best thing since sliced bread and remembers to tell me that often.

So happy birthday to my "Lucky Charm". Can't imagine my life without him. Lucky me.

Cara: A work in progress

noreply@blogger.com (Cara ) — Thu, 15 May 2014 01:20:00 +0000

This Sunday I celebrated my 22nd Mother's Day (how did THAT happen). Mother's Day, for me has changed over the years. It has gone from gifts and cards "from" the baby or kids that Dad had to buy, to Mother's Day Tea at preschool and handmade cards covered with splotchy paint hand prints, to "World's Greatest Mom" this and that bought at the school boutique, to thoughtful meaningful cards they bought themselves to this Mother's Day where I sat around most of the day being waited on by grown children.

I would have thought on that first Mother's Day when I was a 20something mom with a two month old baby, by my 22nd I would have it going on. I would know everything and mistakes would be a thing of the past. Not so much.

Mistakes are still made. "Should I let him do that or should I say no?" "Oh, that didn't work out too good maybe I shouldn't have."

I still worry. I don't want them driving at night upstate on winding roads at 12:00 a.m. I know he thinks he's big enough to stay home alone all the time, cook dinner and and have guests over (not happening), but I won't go too far once the sun goes down. I put one on ship to sail literally to the other side of the world (that one was HUGE...not sure if I will ever get over that)...what the HELL was I thinking??? Ugh.

The heartache never goes away. When they are done wrong or their heart is broken, mine goes to a million pieces. It's amazing how it puts itself back together and I even think it's gonna be less breakable next time. But it's not. No matter how old they are, if they are done wrong by someone that person better keep their neck from my reach because I will choke the ever loving life out of them. Hmm...sorry emotions running high today.

I want it to be easy dammit. I want them to sail through life (in my case literally and figuratively) without people hurting them, without being beaten down and disappointed. I know, I know not going to happen.

All I can do is guide. Even though I think in my heart of hearts I am doing the right thing, sometimes I think I don't know what the hell I am doing.

So this worry, heartache, joy, pride will go on forever. It will never get easier, but at the same time it will never fade. I am just as proud when I see my girl sing on stage with her college friends as I was when that 6th grader sang the National Anthem at school and I thought I would fall over and die from pride (and the knot in my stomach). I have to still push my shy, man-boy to step out of the box and realize his potential. I have to fight the fight for my tween, as he battles through the hard knocks growing up can give him, even though I have been there, done that twice, to honest I am too old for this shit. Even when I want to give up, (I am tired dammit) I can't. I have to pick him up, dust him off and help him learn from things that happen. I find that I am still learning too, surprised by people in good and bad ways.

Lots of times I tell him, that I am still trying to figure it out along with you. Why do people do what they do? Why isn't it fair? Why do I have to do the right thing when Tom,Dick and Harry don't? I wish I knew what the real answers were. But in the meantime I do the best I can every day. Some days are better than others. And on the days that aren't I get up the next morning and start all over again. (no wonder why I'm tired!!)

Grateful Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Cara ) — Sun, 04 May 2014 05:44:00 +0000

Feeling grateful...

For a long needed "miracle"

For the kindness of others

For our small town connection

For laughing until I cried

For hearing my ballerina laugh until she cried

Cara: Perfect Imperfection – "My Messy Beautiful Life..."

noreply@blogger.com (Cara ) — Wed, 09 Apr 2014 13:52:00 +0000

I heard lyrics in a song that said “perfect imperfections”. I had thought about that for days afterwards. I have been reading and thinking lately about our need for perfection. I know, and you know perfection is unattainable. But yet, we reach for it more times than not. Mostly though, all we are really doing is comparing ourselves. That can be just as big a “stealer of joy” as is striving for perfection.

It could be in the mirror in the morning as we get ready for the day, or the million times we compare ourselves, our “stuff”, to someone else’s during the day. If you decide to take notice how many times you do it, it will surprise you.

Last week, I walked into the supermarket on a rainy week day morning. I just needed a few things and well, I hadn't washed my hair that day. OK, actually it was day 3 of not washing my hair. My friends say they go that long and their hair looks fine. (Mine, I know does not, but if theirs does maybe mine can too. Comparing.) So, somewhat self-conscious of my ~~gross~~ unwashed hair I immediately spotted a woman who I knew looked worse than how I was feeling that morning (comparing). This immediately made me feel better, for the moment. When I got back from food shopping and although, after checking in the mirror, I guess I didn’t look as bad as the picture in my head, I washed my hair. Good for my friends if theirs looks great after three days. Mine does not. In the scheme of life does that matter? Umm….not so much.

That’s a goofy example of what I mean by comparing. I saw it in myself that day over and over and in other people too. It’s interesting to me how I can be easy with someone else who is comparing themselves but not as easy on myself.

Later that day (after I had washed my hair) as I got out of my car at religion class drop off, the woman parked next to me got out of her car the same time I did.

Her: ”I like white better.”

Me: “Huh?”

Her: “Your car…we have the same car, but I like it in white better.”

I immediately went into recovery mode.

Me: “Why? Yours is a great color I love that color! White does look dirtier faster…blah blah blah”

She could feel the love. She walked away happy.

So my question is, why can’t we do that to ourselves? Why couldn’t I just have said to myself “Your hair looks fine, no one knows you didn’t wash it today. And really, no one cares. Just go buy your stuff and go home already.” (OK maybe that’s not the most nurturing self-talk I guess I just have a tough love thing going on in my head!)

Perfectly imperfect. Imperfect perfection. I like it. There’s lots of stuff that needs improving, God knows. But there’s plenty that’s just fine (not perfect) the way they are. I can have a mouth like a truck driver, but I can keep a secret. I can barely sew a button, but I can decorate the sh#% (sorry, truck driver) out of a room. I can fly off the handle and go berserk when I feel there’s something terribly wrong going on, but I can apologize if I was wrong or get a grip on myself and be reasonable after I have had a chance to cool down.

This practice of going a little easier on myself and cutting myself some slack I thought was something I could decide to do and it would be so. But it’s not. It’s a constant work in progress. I am getting better at it, but I find myself sliding down that negative, perfection seeking spiral many times.

I am starting to try to think of how I would talk to my kids if they were feeling this way. Good grief…I would have my Supermom Cape on in a flash! I would tell them to go easy on themselves, it's not that important, how they do A,B & C so well and not to focus on D that maybe is not their best. So don’t I, don’t WE, deserve that talk as well? I think so. It’s hard. I know. But if I am going to put my money where my mouth is then I have to try. Listen, I have finally learned to take a compliment and not come back with some self-deprecating remark. I just say thank you. Baby steps.

MOMASTERY.COM

This essay and I are part of the Messy, Beautiful Warrior Project — To learn more and join us, CLICK HERE! And to learn about the New York Times Bestselling Memoir Carry On Warrior: The Power of Embracing Your Messy, Beautiful Life, just released in paperback, CLICK HERE!

Jenn: Test Away

noreply@blogger.com (Cara ) — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 12:40:00 +0000

This weeks trending topic on FB seems to be state testing. Who is in and who is out. I thought long and hard and weighed my options and talked to my husband before we made our decision. We didn't include our daughter in the discussion because we didn't base it on any anxiety or issues she might have. I never even considered refusing the test for my older children - state tests were something you took - no questions asked. They both scored 4's on every test so it did not effect them at all. No harm, no foul, test away.

Our decision for our youngest daughter was solely based on what will this test accomplish for my child? This test was not created with the child taking it in mind. This test was not created with the teachers administering it in mind. This test was created by a for-profit company without enough (or any) vetting by the educators in the trenches. Our teachers are our soldiers - they are the ones in the classroom day in and day out. They are the champions of our children - some are better than others - but they show up every day and deal with a nightmare we now call education. I am all for higher standards in the classroom. I am all for "critical thinking" but I am also "all for" my child. Asking her to take a test with a prediction that 60% of test takers will not meet standards, as in last years results, is not doing what is best for her. It is setting her up to fail. Asking her a question in which 2 or 3 of the answers are correct - but one is "more correct" is not doing what is best for her. It is setting her up to fail. My kids are lucky. They have fairly-well educated parents. We both went to good universities - so we should be able to help them. We can't. An ELA sample test was sent home the other day which brought my child to tears. It made my daughter feel bad and "dumb" which in turn made me feel bad too. It's not that it was too hard for her - it was the way it was written and the way the questions were asked. It was convoluted. It felt like you were being asked for answers that just weren't there. I read it with her, we broke it down, I taught her about inference and assumption and reading between the lines. She felt better and was able to complete the assignment. Not all kids have that at home. The math is a nightmare. I have learned to teach my child "my" way which is the "wrong" way and then back it out so we can fit it into the common core way and still get the same answer. My way takes 30 seconds - common core way takes 2 - 3 minutes. In a world where time is of the essence - whose way is right?

Last night in a long conversation with my 10th grader she told me all she wants to be a social studies teacher - but every single teacher she has or knows has told her NOT to do it. To STAY AWAY from education and from teaching that its just not worth it. That common core and state testing removes all the joy and creativity out of being a teacher. You are a robot in front of a classroom programed to spew out state mandates. If everyone is warning our children not to teach who will we end up with? Our schools are in crisis.

Standing up for your child is a parental right. It's not jumping on the bandwagon when it is a thought out process that reflects what your educational goals are for your child. Some parents may refuse for the wrong reasons and some may send their child in to take the test without knowing all the facts. We made what we feel is the right decision for our child. That's all anyone can do.

Sunday Grateful

noreply@blogger.com (Cara ) — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 00:07:00 +0000

Jenn

Mangos

Dancing

Bad photos

Old friends

New friends

Peer Pressure

Cara (a little late on Monday...)
*
Son who looks out for his mom
*
innappropriate inside jokes
*
seeing people for who they are really are

Jenn: Gratitude

noreply@blogger.com (Cara ) — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 18:53:00 +0000

Gratitude seems to be the new buzz word. I had been thinking about it a lot lately - after I happened to stop on a certain televangelists sermon. He was preaching about believing in the goodness of God and embracing the attitude of "all is well." I have been trying to keep each and every day in the "all is well" category. My sons fender bender - all is well. Not getting that job - all is well. The mess my kids keep making - all is well. The art of positive thinking - and I believe it needs to be elevated to an art form - can be a challenge for most of us. We are assaulted by so much negativity on a day-to-day basis that it seeps into our consciousness and takes over. As women we beat ourselves up for never being good enough - good enough wife or mother or cook - whatever that thing we feel the need to improve upon - darkens our thoughts with what ifs and not enoughs.

I mentioned the tv preacher to Cara and by some strange coincidence, she had seen the same sermon. We are not people who sit around watching TV preachers - not that there is anything wrong with that - but speaking for myself - it's not something I do. But as I was channel surfing, something about this man made me stop and listen. Something about what he was saying made me want to embrace his positive outlook - to truly believe that all is well. It reminded me of "the secret" - that good things happen to people who put good out in to the world - or you get what you give type of deal.

Last nights Oscars seemed to carry the air of gratitude. Jared Leto (Loved him in my so called life), Matthew and Lupita all spoke of gratitude - to God, to their families, to their dreams. It seemed to be a resonating theme. I am guessing that when you win an award that validates what you do for a living, that is a big ego boost - but these actors seemed to humbled and grateful and maybe even a little surprised.

Life doesn't have to be complicated - sometimes I think I make it more so than it has to be. I expect things from others that maybe they are just incapable of giving. So my new mantra - everyday - sometimes in multiples - is all is well. I need to accept the everyday - be grateful to be alive - try to see the best in people and hopefully the world will return the sentiment. I am letting go of the negativity and the negative people that go with it. Good vibrations people - good vibrations. All is well.

Grateful on Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Cara ) — Sun, 02 Mar 2014 14:47:00 +0000

Jenn

safety of my children

laughter

Positive thoughts

Grateful on Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Cara ) — Sun, 23 Feb 2014 20:04:00 +0000

Cara:

A little more time

impromptu walk in the middle of the day

winter sunshine

tomatoes

Cara: If I like it then I better put a pin on it.....

noreply@blogger.com (Cara ) — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 14:54:00 +0000

It's true. I have a problem. I knew this when I realized as I told my friend Mother Earth, that I have 43 boards and 2,372 (holy crap) pins...she said I have 20. (red flag!)

This Pinterest creator saw me coming a mile away. I will admit I wasn't on it from the get go. At the time I was still cutting lots of stuff outta magazines and keeping them in a folder and another friend said, "you should see a thing called Pinterest you would love it". Right on, sista. That was the beginning of the end.

Pinterest does not take much effort..there's no folders, scissors or mess involved. I usually pin when I am watching TV or if I am particularly looking for something like a recipe. So I guess they add up when you are mindlessly pinning recipes, crafts and funny stuff like this:

I pinned it.

But it truly is right up my alley. If I go on my iPad and it's gone or they got rid of it I will probably live after a deep mourning period. So I probably make mention a lot about Pinterest and stuff I have gotten from there. A clue would be when I make something new, and someone undoubtedly says "Whatcha get this off of Pinterest?" (smart-asses) Sometimes I pin stuff think it's cool and it ends up being dumb yet it still does not deter me.

And the fact that I can make virtual bulletin boards is a beautiful thing. 'Cause honestly someday my dream is to have a home office big enough to have a huge gilded framed bulletin board on the wall. Something like this but MUCH bigger.

Dream big. I know.

In keeping with what always seems to be our winter theme I saw this on Pinterest as I created my 42nd board "Organizing" and I decided it was for me.

I had been using the one binder with folders for everything for awhile now. It worked OK for me. Except "people" would remove their folders...and then I had a gigantic binder and folders everywhere taking up prime real estate on a shelf in the kitchen. And I for some reason made some dumb folders that I never used. So I did this with my own "themed" (this isnt my pic) binders. Yes it takes up room. But I am on my home office quest and this will fit just fine on a shelf in there next to my gilded bulletin board. So once I get my hole puncher and shelves and other office like things that are in one end of the house to the other(thank goodness for the wireless printer!!) it should work out lovely. I mean right after I made them I easily found Shorty's copy of his "immunization-records-that-I-needed-for-summer-camp-that-I-have-to -think-about-in-a-snowstorm-and-that-annoys-the-hell-outta -me", without having to dig through files for it.

I made these bread sticks the other day when my bff's came over for lunch...

One wanted me to post the recipe so here it is hot off my "Pinned it Did It" board. (did I mention that I love arranging my boards and organizing them so I can find what I pinned easier when I go back to look for it? (sick,sick,sick)

So if you are not into pinning then check back here from time to time I may have pinned something for you. ;)

You're welcome.

Jenn: Chicken Soup

noreply@blogger.com (Cara ) — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 15:41:00 +0000

This week I watched my sister-in-law bury her father. He wasn't someone I knew well. I knew him well enough to say he was a lovely man who emigrated to this country 40+ years ago in search of something better. I think he found it. Because he had the courage to flee adversity, his daughter is part of our family - and so by extension - is he. His death caused me to reflect on the many friends, relatives and others who have passed this year. There have been quite a few.

Death is only hard on those who are left behind - or so that is my spiritual belief - that death releases us into a new existence that is better than any we have ever known. That we are reunited with those gone before us as we wait for loved ones who will eventually join us.

Wakes are something that make me very uncomfortable. The thought of all those people - or maybe only a few - milling about and discussing my demise - that's not a comforting thought at all. Looking at me all made up and stretched out on satin and commenting on how well and natural I look - yeah well, that's not for me.

I told my children this week that whether I live another 50 years or 5 days, I don't want a wake. I want to be whisked directly to church. A few prayers, a nice homily, bury or cremate me - their choice and then throw a lovely party at the house in memory of me. Serve some champagne, get a little sloppy - have a good time. Give a toast to me and instead of remarking how good I look all laid out - talk about the happy times - the good memories and the funny stories and how much they loved my Chicken Soup.

Cara: Limbo

noreply@blogger.com (Cara ) — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 12:30:00 +0000

Oh God! No not that kind of limbo. The could get ugly...sheesh. Sit. Apparently I had a lot to say.

I mean, the the limbo of what comes with what I like to call "being a certain age". I hesitated to write about this because sometimes I just don't like to put myself out there. Jenn and I talk about that a lot. Sometimes there are things that are "really wanting" us to write about them, but we just don't because we don't want to put ourselves out there. Writing a blog sometimes is hard. "Well who the hell is telling you to write one then?" Exactly. It's a ~~burden~~ ~~chore~~ ~~task~~ I don't know what to call it...we have brought upon ourselves. Mostly though it's good, fun, even cathartic sometimes.

So being on the "other side" of 45, two kids out of the house (kinda), in college and one left who although is only 11, is pretty independent (as much as an 11 year old can be) and self sufficient, leaves me kinda in limbo.

I mean I am not foot loose and fancy free by no means. I still have one child who doesn't drive yet and is very busy so there's that. And he still needs me to feed him, help with homework and police his middle school hormonal issues and the need to test me.

(...and Holy Moly is that another post ALTOGETHER).

But I am finding a lot more time on my hands, which is mostly pretty awesome. I can go do my thing during the day without that pressure of having to get home exactly one minute before the bus arrives. Number 3 is either staying after school, walking home and stopping at Starbucks for a latte with his buddies (I'm serious, they are like 40 year old men sometimes) or he lets himself in for the 10 minute gap where maybe I am not home yet.

Some of my Limbo Mom friends are getting jobs. That's good for them. Me not so much. It's not a laziness thing (I am MANY things but not THAT). I just don't want to do something to take up my time, I want to do something with my time. (Hello? Lightbulb moment...I like that...see? Writing does that for me sometimes.)

Please don't tell me to volunteer. Have you heard me mention PTA? Yeah. I'm good. I am still Presidenting for now. But I am starting to feel like my time is done there. (Not only because my peer Presidents are now people who have infants and graduated from HS 20 years after I did...for real.) My whole heart is not in it so much anymore. I still feel it's important but I am of the mindset that you do it-wholeheartedly- all or nothing-and leave it better that you found it-and know when it's time to move on. (I am loving my new favorite word "wholeheartedly" as I read my latest self help book)

So there in lies my limbo. I am thinking that a lot of 40somethings have some kind of limbo they face. I am really hoping there's no limbo in the 50's or 60's phase...I am seriously hoping to have it figured out by then, thank you. (I will right??) Whether it's an empty(ish) nest, kids growing into young adults testing their wings, divorce, thinking of going back into the work force, making that move that really could upset the apple cart...a myriad of things I am sure, I think they all could relate.

It all snuck up on me. One day I was trying to get something, anything, done before the baby woke up from his nap to helping him pick out a Christmas gift for his girl(that is a) friend. That's marvelous for him and his siblings as they move along through their life changing and going through the things that they do as they grow...as they should. And as for me? I just don't know. Keeping house (ick I hate that saying why did I choose that???) and PTAing used to be enough for me. Starting to thinking maybe not so much anymore. As I have been thinking a lot about this lately. I may have even tried "blaming" someone else for these latest issues. Who then said, "Maybe it's you and you need to figure out yourself." Ouch.

I had even decided to pay a visit to church last week, not having been the best church-goer of late, if I am being honest. I can give you a million reasons all of them lame. I am not going to make excuses for that, it is what it is. One of my ~~excuses~~ reasons is that I get nothing out of what the priests in my parish say. Maybe it's me, maybe my mind wanders but I just don't.

And no I dont want to try a new religion or a new church. This has it's ebb and flow for me as do most things. But that Sunday, I was hoping to spin the presiding priest wheel as it were, and get the new guy. Bingo. Well, he spoke and it was like he was talking to me. (cue angelic choir) Amongst the other good things he said (to a completely engaged audience may I add) was that do you feel stuck in your life? Are you at a place where you feel you need to jump start things but just don't know what to do or who to ask? (Umm..."are YOU talkin' to Me?")

Then he said, "When someone says they love you from the bottom of their heart that means their love is so deep, so heavy it sinks to the bottom of their heart. When you ask for help…when you ask God for help, His love is so big it sinks into the bottom of your heart and pushes all the things you need help with, need direction with, that all the things that have been weighing heavy in your heart, up to the top. Then you can feel it, recognize it and deal with it and be helped through it. The worst place to be is a place where you think everything is fine…”just the way I like it"…"I am not going to deal with anything uncomfortable because I don’t need to" "everything is fine the way it is. Just the way I like it.” Or is it???

Now depending on where "you're at" you can substitute Spirit, Universe or whatever for God I suppose. But it made me think. Been thinking about it for a week, so much I guess I just feel like I should share it, put it out there and it will be what it will be.

Just has had me thinking. Trying to figure it all out like everyone else I suppose.

Grateful on Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Cara ) — Sun, 02 Feb 2014 13:00:00 +0000

Cara:

Football=Family,Friends, Fun and Food

Ladies who lunch

Boys who make a winter mess of my floors

Jenn:

connections

Zumba

a 50 degree day

ladies who make me laugh

Grateful on Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Cara ) — Sun, 26 Jan 2014 19:47:00 +0000

Cara:
*

"Listened" and went where I was

supposed to be...and happy I did

*
Books
*
The easiness of old friends
*
People who shake up the apple cart

Grateful Sunday...

noreply@blogger.com (Cara ) — Sun, 19 Jan 2014 13:40:00 +0000

Grateful on Sunday...

I like to do this on Sunday. It forces me to slow down for a minute and reflect on the week. And especially if it's been a particularly crappy week (this week wasn't one of those thankfully!) it makes me remember that even in the ickiest of weeks there's always something to be grateful for.

Cara:
A Sunday with no place I have to be
(I have to be forgetting something)
**
A week of getting things done
**
Great new recipes
**
Book club

Jenn:
A stay-at-home Sunday too! Love it!
**
A ballerina who is realizing her dreams
**
Coming up with some new dreams of my own
**
Figuring out my new computer
**
Chocolate Mints