Monthly Archives: August 2011

T – 5 days, 20 hours……

Posted in Fun times, Life Lessons, Time Management, Work Mom Balance by

….And just like that, summer vacation is quickly coming to an end (not that I am counting down).  In just five short days, the early morning routines and abundant after school activities will resume.  My oldest began showing signs of excitement as her teacher assignment letter arrived in mail.  I must admit, I too was excited and took part in the flurry of parent excitement via Facebook postings of who received whom.  My youngest, who misses the kindergarten cut off by just a few painful days, is excited to return to his school as the oldest child on the roster. 

Back-to-School supplies have been selected and purchased; outfits for the big day have been narrowed down to, “three maybe four because of the weather“, says my 7-year old fashionista; AND the summer reading list assignment is complete.   It seems there is nothing left to do but relish in the excitement of the most wonderful time of the year.  Go ahead and click on the link :-)

This week, we say goodbye to summer vacation by squeezing in a few more glorious days at the Jersey Shore.  Our beach chairs are still sandy.  Our sunscreen cans full.  The cars are loaded and with the windows rolled down we are ready to soak in the salt water air and warm sun. Summer is not over.  Jersey Shore, here we come.

Scare IT off!

Posted in Health, Life Lessons, Time Management, Work Mom Balance by

In a week where the earth shook and the winds and waters held us captive, I managed to lose that one last darn pound that evaded me.  I was shocked to step on the scale this morning to see the last pound in my original goal lost. 

Bye-Bye Irene

I spent most of Thursday, Friday and Saturday cooking and spent most of Saturday, Sunday AND Monday eating.  Perhaps it was the sheer terror we experienced in hunkering down in the basement as the Weather Channel tornado and hurricane alarms sounded (they really should distinguish their alert alarms) or the hours spent carrying all items outside to inside and then carrying them back outside post storm that helped scare off that last pound.  Regardless, I start Week 10, twenty pounds lighter than I was on July 5th.

Season Changer

Posted in Health, Life Lessons, Time Management, Work Mom Balance by

Going on Week 8, and with just four weeks left to the 12-Week Challenge, it seems I am stuck.  I am stuck just shy of one pound from my original goal of loosing twenty pounds.  I feel frustrated and yet exhilarated to be so close to my goal. 

As I snapped this photo this morning, I thought what better way to blast past my original goal than to change it.  So as of today, my new goal is to lose another 20 pounds.  This should put me in the 136 to 140 weight range (which shockingly is still heavy for my 5 foot almost 3 inches frame).  With the crisp autumn weather teasing us at nightfall, I can almost taste all my favorite comfort foods.  Having this lofty goal will (I hope) keep me dedicated to all I have accomplished. 

I now lift my eight ounce bottle of water to toast my new goal and to the next twelve weeks.  Who’s with me?

 

Tell Me About College

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I can recall my very first day of college like it was yesterday.  Teary-eyed, my parents hugged me tight and sadly pulled away from my dorm.  I admit, I was melancholy about leaving home, but the excitement of what lied ahead was intoxicating.  I will never forget the look on my younger brother’s face as he sat alone in the backseat of my parent’s car – 15% sadness (will miss her taking me to all the senior parties), 55% happiness (finally get some peace and quiet), 30% resentment (with her gone, they’ll focus ALL their attention to me).  The next four years were everything I thought they would be and more.  To say I enjoyed college would be an understatement.  It was life changing.

Fast forward to present day.  “Mommy, tell me what it’s like to live at college”, asks my inquisitive 7-year old daughter.  Oh @#$%!….my exact thoughts.

I did not anticipate this question for quite some time and certainly was not ready to answer this question honestly.  For several years, my daughter indicated she was NEVER leaving home.  She was content with being driven to college and she and her future husband would be living in our home.  “Mommy, I will always stay with you”.

Having asked this question in the car with very limited distractions, I could not escape answering my daughter.  With hesitation, I recalled my first day of college.  Somewhere between explaining how my roommate and I decorated our room to the use of the communal bathrooms and living space, I saw her bright green eyes sparkle with glee.  I knew at this moment, her original intentions of staying home with me forever was slipping away.

“Mommy, I think I am going to live at college – or well, at least try it.”

And so it begins.  May I look back to this moment ten years from now and recall that exact look in her eye when she first saw all the opportunity that lies ahead.  May I take the coming years to do my best to teach, to prepare and to remember that it will be ok to let her go.

As my daughter contemplated who her roommate would be and what she would “be”, my almost five-year old son chimed in,

“Can you sleep in my room with me at night, Mommy when I go to sleep away school?”

“Yes I will,” I answered.

I dedicate this post to a very special mom and her very special daughter who are BOTH embarking on this very special journey.  Love you both!

Where are the Flashlights?

Posted in General Info, Work Mom Balance by

A storm is brewing outside.  Torrential rain, gusty winds and booming thunder.  The lights are flickering and the television reception scattered.   My instincts tell me that I need to locate our flashlights and have them at the ready should we need them.  However, my instincts did not get the memo that with two children in the house, the chance we have working flashlights is close to zilch. In fact, I know that every flashlight we own is currently switched to the “ON” position and sitting dead at the bottom of the children’s toy baskets.  All the money we spend on fancy toys and yet it’s the $5 Home Depot flashlight that is played with the most. Another crack of thunder vibrates through the house.   Remind me to never buy another toy again.