How do you want to be celebrated on Mother’s Day?

May 7, 2011 By 4 Comments

The celebration of Motherhood, for me, is wrapped up in the tiny details – it is in the dandelions clutched in tiny fists, presented to me as Royal flowers, it is the unexpected, “Mommy?….  I love you.” from the quiet of the backseat of the car… it is the smile I can’t hide when one of the small people holds the door open for someone or says, ‘thank you’ without a prompt….  It is in hearing the small dude say he can’t wait to be at the same school as his sister so he can hug her at recess or the small girl congratulate her brother on a school project.  Individually, these moments are but grains of sand gathering on the shore of my life as a mother…  but collected?

They mean I am doing something right.

And THAT is worth celebrating.

In the sea of guilt that threatens, some days, to take me down, it matters to me to know there are moments, there are glimpses and golden reminders.

I know, for some mothers – being celebrated on Mother’s Day means a ‘day off’ – heading to the spa, a massage, a pedicure, no laundry…..  and for others, it means to be surrounded by family.  It seems to me that both age and the length of time you have been a mother factor in to your preferences here.  As a brand new mom – you are enamored by all things motherhood…. You wouldn’t dream of spending your first Mother’s Day without the being who made you so….  When you are in the throes of the crazy – the taxi driving, the soccer games, the PTA, the homework, the 9 year old or teen angst – you can’t seem to help but scream for the Calgon but as your children begin to develop a sense of their own lives….  Distancing themselves naturally, you long to grab them by the shoulder and pull them back.

I know, if it was up to my mom – we would be with her from sunrise to sunset.  But I have friends who would be happy with breakfast in bed and a day off.

For me….  I think I fall somewhere in the middle.  Now, don’t go accusing me of being wishy-washy.  I want to spend time with my small people.  I want to be surrounded by everything that reminds me of the joy of being a mom – I want to be hugged a million times – I want smiles and little-bitty hands curled in mine – I want eyes that look at me – still somehow sure I have the answers. – I want my children to get along…. AND I don’t want to do the laundry or make dinner.

So there.

Who’s with me?  How would you like to be celebrated on Mother’s Day?

This Mother’s Day conversation is sponsored by a company I love (and use!) Tiny Prints.  I love that they have given me some beautiful things to think about as Mother’s Day approaches.  All of their Mother’s day cards(and Father’s day cards too!) are fully customizable and can be sent straight to the recipient. You can even schedule the cards to be sent ahead of time too.

 

Filed Under: A little piece of Heaven, Featured Content, Recent Posts Tagged With: , , , ,

A Preview – Why I’m in Hawaii with P&G and the NFL

January 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment

This is the beginning of what is going to be a spectacular week here in Hawaii with Procter & Gamble and the NFL.  I wanted to give you a little preview of what I will be doing and why I’m here….

We are heading to the Playground build this morning – and will have more video this evening.  (I’ve been told I’ll be chatting with reigning Super Bowl MVP, Drew Brees….  I’m a little excited.)

For more information on P&G’s commitment to Child Wellness, visit Take it to the House.

This post is part of a series from my time in Oahu covering the ProBowl and Community Blitz for P&G. I was compensated for my work, however all thoughts, opinions and experiences are mine alone.
Filed Under: A little piece of Heaven, Extraordinary, Featured Videos, Recent Posts Tagged With: , , , , ,

Happy Birthday Mum….

January 13, 2011 By 4 Comments

For as long as I’ve known her – that would be my whole life in case you were wondering – she has been my rock. Just the sound of her voice is enough to make me melt into a puddle of little-girl-ness.

I’m lucky.  My mom has been around every single day of my almost 38 years.

And today, after 21,900 glorious days on earth, she turns 60.

Doesn’t she look fabulous?

I’ve spent a lifetime rolling my eyes while she giggles, “noooo, that’s not my sister….”

I’ve spent a lifetime proud of her inner beauty, her quiet strength, her ability to put herself last and her family first.  From her, I have learned what it is to be a mother – the joy that comes in being present.  I learned that it is more important to ‘just be’ ….  I’ve learned how to listen and how to love.  She is the epitome of self-sacrifice and loyalty.

All she ever wanted to be was a Mom….and now, as a ‘Nana’ – she is the ‘get-down-on-your-knees-and-play’ type.  My small people don’t quite know how good they’ve got it.  But they will.  I will make sure of it.

Today, I would like to say Thank You, for the miracle of my Mother….  for the lessons she has taught, for the unconditional love she continues to give and the example of both grace and inner and outer beauty she is to me – every single day.

Happy Birthday, Mum….

Filed Under: A little piece of Heaven, Extraordinary, Featured Content, Recent Posts Tagged With: , , , ,

Holiday Deserts – White Chocolate Cupcake Wreath

December 23, 2010 By Leave a Comment

So, my mom – who is 27 times more talented in the kitchen than I am…..  sent me a picture of one of her latest holiday creations…

And naturally, I just had to share it with you….

Feeling bold?  Here’s how to make this White Chocolate Cupcake Wreath:

Cupcakes:

Use regular cake mix (preferably not one with pudding or angel food).  Cupcake needs to firm to hold decorations.
Instead of water (usually 1 1/4 C) add 1 cup of buttermilk, then the vegetable oil and the 4 eggs (even if it call for 3)
Mix as usual
Pour half into a zip lock bag, snip one corner and and fill the 12 SILVER cup cake holders 2/3 full
(make the rest into cupcakes for the family or another wreath!)
Leaves
2 bunches of fresh mint, preferably with large leaves
line 2 cookie sheets with wax paper.
pick the mint leaves from the stems. Wash and pat dry on paper towels ( I waited until they were completely dry)
1 bag white chocolate chips – place in medium mixing bowl and microwave until smooth (about 1 min)
Using a small clean brush (or your finger tip) coat the top side of each leaf with a fairly thick, even layer of chocolate & put them on the cookie sheets chocolate side up. You can let the leaf curl a little to make it more natural but not too much or the leaf is too hard to remove.  Place leaves in the refrigerator until set, about 5 – 10 minutes.
Carefully remove the leaves from the hardened chocolate.  They come off surprisingly easily, but use a toothpick or tweezers to remove any small pieces of mint that may remain.  The leaves can be made up to 5 days in advance, covered and kept in a cool dry place.
1 container of vanilla frosting - ice each cupcake and I sprinkled them with red decorating sprinkles for a little more color.
Place the cupcakes close together in a circle.  Press the chocolate leaves into  the cupcakes, ‘ oriented in one direction, to cover the cupcakes.  Put drops of icing randomly on the leaves and attach red candies (the recipe calls for red candy coated milk chocolate balls, but I bought some Dots and just used the red ones)
Add a festive bow and you are done!
Well, done Mum!!  Enjoy friends…
Filed Under: A little piece of Heaven, Featured Content, Recent Posts, Recipes Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

A Very Merry Unbirthday to my Small Dude

December 2, 2010 By 13 Comments

I got dressed up to head out for the evening.  When I walked into the room, he tilted his blond head and eyed me critically….  mentally assessing me.  After a good ‘up-and-down’….  he announced, “Mommy, you look bee-yooo-ti-FULL.”

And I melted.

My sweet boy.

My sweet, small dude.

The one who still holds my hand.

And still snuggles.

The one who demands I stop working for Eskimo kisses.

The one who begs to dance with me.

The one who won’t get out of the car for school without kissing me good-bye.

The one who’s blond hair,  blue eyes and zest for life make him irresistible.

The one who can recite Bible verses better than many adults I know and is prone to slow-poking this way through the house when we need to leave.

The one who can’t make it through a day without a spontaneous, “Mommy?  (yes, buddy)  I love you.”

The one who, today, is celebrating yet another un-birthday.  But today is a special, un-birthday – his HALF un-birthday.  Four and a HALF years old.

Four and a HALF years ago, I laughed this small guy into the world. ( I really did) And he has delighted me every second since then.

I blame him for the laugh lines around my eyes.  And the tummy ache from giggling.

He’s so intent on being a BIG KID.  I dread the day one of these un-birthdays makes him too big to hold my hand. Too big for Eskimo kisses. Too big for the spontaneous love.

So, for now….  I will take this unbirthday to revel in the PURE BOY JOY that is my small dude.

Wishing him a VERY HAPPY UNBIRTHDAY!

Filed Under: A little piece of Heaven, Extraordinary, Featured Content, Good thing he's cute, Gratitude, Recent Posts Tagged With: , , ,

Creating an Alliance…. Building a Tribe

November 16, 2010 By 19 Comments

She said, “Sometimes I feel scattered, running in too many directions.  Sometimes I feel lost entirely.”

And they said, “We understand.”

She said, “I wish I was funny.”

And they said, “We think you are.”

She said, “The worst part is when you feel alone, and you FORGET what you have accomplished and you feel as though you are drowning under the weight of what you haven’t done….”

And they said, “We do that too.”

She said, ” I know what I really, really want to do….deep down in my soul.”

And they said, “How can we help?”

She took a deep breath and looked from one beautiful face to another.  She thought she knew why she had flown 21-hundred miles from St. Louis to Los Angeles….  why she had driven an additional few hours up the coast and was now seated in this….  this yurt….  surrounded by these brilliant women.

The goal was to learn…

to grow…

to stretch…

wasn’t it?

She was feeling rather Eat, Pray, Love-ish….

Maybe this trip to Ojai wasn’t about the goal after all, but the journey.

She had come ready to think, to prepare….to return to her own corner of the Internet and implement what she had learned…  But instead she contemplated, she ruminated, she devoured the  conversation, the exchanges, the friendships.

She had come ready to talk ‘giving back’ through blogging with two incredible women who live goodness and change and was instead inspired by the collective love that a group of brilliant minds can generate.

She sat outside by herself at one point, the creek a soundtrack to the experience….  trying to understand what was happening.  (She talks to herself a lot)

And she realized.

This.

Is a Tribe.

And this tribe of 31 women? Said nary a negative word over the course of 72 hours.  There was never a mention of what they didn’t like in this space – only what they love.  And who they love.  And why they love.

And from love is born a willingness to support.

And a desire to witness success.

And from love, support, and success, my friends….  you have yourselves a TRIBE.

And it is for this journey, this circle of support, that she traveled to Ojai.

A million thank yous to the women who made Ojai the magical experience that it was….  thank you to Leane, Jessica, Andrea and Cyn for taking the risk – to Moji and Paper Culture for understanding what we were trying to accomplish, to Lisa for the visible reminder of that magic that I have on my key chain every day and to each of the amazing women who created each moment of that journey with me.

I am extremely grateful.

Filed Under: A little piece of Heaven, Featured Content, Gratitude, Recent Posts Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Breathing + Centering = Balance

October 4, 2010 By 12 Comments

Picture me as a great big ball of energy…..when I head to a conference, I think it seeps from my pores.  I’m smiling, I’m nervous, I’m jumpy….I can’t wait to pounce, to bounce, to hug, to jump, and to LEARN.

I figure, on some level, every person there is smarter than me….everyone has something to teach me.

But something about TypeAMom was different.

Because I am different.

It wasn’t until I was there…..Until I hugged…Until I laughed…until I LISTENED that I started to figure out just WHAT is different.

I am off-balance.

It is as though I am wearing one super high heel and one flip flop.  Like being on the high end of a see-saw and waiting for the other person to push off.  Or get off.

But I realized something. Something about that very see-saw.

It shouldn’t be about someone else pushing off or getting off. My balance should be all about me.

Right?

At TypeAMom, I realized I had forgotten how to breathe.  I have been doing and doing and doing.  I have been dog-paddling my way through my days – just keeping my snout above water but not making great strides. I have been making lists and managing life.  I have been doing laundry and making dinner, I have been handling carpools, packing and unpacking for trips, writing posts and editing videos.  I have been drowning under the weight of a full inbox, stressing about deadlines I should be able to control, saying ‘yes’ when I should be saying ‘no’, losing sight of my goals, passing over my passions and forgetting to breathe. Even as I sit here writing I find myself holding my breath.  The very notion of sharing this with you makes my lungs feel tight.

You know who I am?  I’m the girl who, from the outside, appears fine…..her kitchen counters are clean, no dishes in the sink, no clutter on the bed side table but DAMN don’t look under the bed or in the kitchen drawers.

Underneath it all, I’m cluttered and chaotic.  I’ve just been getting by.

And really?  Really?  It isn’t good enough.

When was the last time you took a deep breath?

Do it with me.  Right now.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I can thank my friend Ria for reminding me to fill my lungs. Not only does she talk me down when I’m walking a tight-rope of mental chaos, but there is something in her demeanor that makes me pause, that stops the clock and says, “Danielle, it’s time….breathe.” I hope you met her last weekend or had the chance to hear her during her ‘How to Lose the Mommy Guilt‘ session.

I can also thank this group of amazing women for surrounding me with goodness – for helping me let my hair down, inspiring me to make faces, to JUMP and to ride the elephant (I’m talking to you, Alli).  Because every moment I spent with them helped me to center, reminded me of what is important in my daily life, in this crazy work life and in the ‘me’ I am choosing to be.

I am better for having them around.

I knew I would learn.  I knew incredibly intelligent, remarkably creative and inspiring women would get my work juices flowing.

But I didn’t realize it would be the heart, the soul, the love, the laughter, the beauty, the joy and all of the new and wonderful friends that would make me feel right about my place in the world again.

Thank you, friends……for teaching me to breathe again.

Today, my tightrope feels a bit wider, my dog paddling feels a bit stronger and I’m clearing some of the chaos.

(and thank you, to my friend Alli.…for taking these pictures and letting me swipe them….)

Filed Under: A little piece of Heaven, Extraordinary, Featured Content, Inspire Tagged With: , , , ,
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