Up All Night

It took me a while to figure out if I liked this show or not. I was so excited for it to start up and when I finally saw it, I was mildly disappointed, however it has really started to grow on me. I love that everyone in this show is really quirky, and Maya Rudolph is one of my favorite actresses. I love that it shows the difference in perspectives of two best friends, that are in two totally different places in their own lives, still holding onto their friendship. I also am obsessed with stay at home dads. I think it is such a noble thing for a woman to take off work to raise her children (especially in those first 5 years) and I just love when a man steps up to the plate. Because while I believe a woman can do anything, I believe that parenting is a lot harder than people give stay at home moms credit for... and Men who can do it, I salute them.

because i said so

every mom has their own style...

trick or treat

If I were to dress up this year, this would be my costume.

divorce

No one wants to talk about it. I am included in that group. However I have come upon the subject multiple times with friends and in classes over the last few weeks and I am just going to speak my opinion. I understand that sometimes it needs to happen, I wish it didn't but that is not my business to be in people's drama. Here is my problem- STOP TAKING YOUR DRAMA OUT ON YOUR KIDS. If you and your spouse have children, whether you do purposefully or they were a surprise, they are both of yours, take responsibility for them, and respect them. If you need to argue with your ex, do not do it in front of your kids. Do not turn your kids against their other parent. Focus your energy on being happy with your new lifestyle and not on the anger from the marriage. Try to keep your kids in a stable place, if possible keep them in the same schools and neighborhoods so their life doesn't turn completely upside down. Love them unconditionally. I do not know much about divorce, I have taken a course on it and I just feel so badly for the children.

the nightmare before christmas

Halloween is less than a week away and I am already on the bus to Christmas morning. Less than 2 months. I wrapped my first Christmas present today and I am just so excited to finish my shopping and wrap more gifts and see the joy on peoples faces as they open them.

never say never

Most of the time, New years is a big time for people to attempt make changes. Go to the gym. Be more productive. Contact Old friends. Whatever their "resolutions" may be. This year, I may be a bit late, or a bit early depending on how you look at it, but at least I'm there. School has been overwhelming so while I may have cut a few things out of my life, I have also added going to the gym to release stress, and give me more energy. I will never be someone who enjoys going to the gym, but I have noticed lately so many changes, that I definitely enjoy how it makes me feel. To go along with these new things it has been really interesting because a friend sent me a video of a man who was told he would never walk after a severe car accident and he never gave up and he did. I had a guest speaker in my class who has autism, and he was so inspirational. He did not have language skills until he was seven years old, and now at 23 he has graduated college, has his masters, and is applying to law schools. I also had a speaker recently whose daughter has cystic fibrosis and she has survived twenty years and counting past the time the doctors gave her. These people all have such strong family support and great parents to help them on their paths. It is so important for parents to believe in their children, and their dreams. "The only thing that is impossible is impossibility"- Phineas & Ferb I am so grateful for my life, and my health, and I would never compare my life to these people who have overcame such things. However, thanks to them I have some inspiration. If they can never give up on these great things in life, the things that I want that seem so little in a spectrum compared to their situations, must be just around the corner.

Laundry

I do not know a single person who likes doing laundry. I personally would pick any other household or even garden before volunteering to do laundry. It is very annoying because although you can do other things while it is actually washing & drying it is still a royal pain. Especially folding and hanging up clothes and putting them away when you are done. I am very excited because in a few weeks I get to take down my bin of winter sweaters and jackets and exchange them in my closet with my summer dresses. While some of these sweaters will not be as cute or in style as they were last year I always keep them for at least a year, just to be sure!

When the seasons change it is a good time to clean out your dirty laundry, and your childrens as well. Have them try on their clothes and see what still fits, what is getting raggy, and what is just out of style. Make a keep pile, a possible sell pile if you are into that, and a give away pile. It can be fun for them to get out clothes from the previous year that they loved and look forward to giving away, and you can even make a reward system, for a certain amount of clothes given away, they can get one new item.