Turning the Page

Hallmark Channel has truly sucked me in when it comes to their sweet, romantic movies. Like I mentioned over the holidays, I love their countdown to Christmas, but my obsession has rolled into Winterfest. Take this past weekends Frozen in Love. It was darling! But I think what I loved most was the plot around the family owned bookstore. Which make me think of You've Got Mail. The movies don't have a plot in common, but it's the idea behind being a bookstore owner. Something I've wanted to be for years.

What is it about movies that romanticizes real life businesses or careers? They make them seem so obtainable. Successful even. That anyone could do it. And because of You've Got Mail, I decided that I wanted to own my own children's bookstore. I can see it. I've truly visualized that interior. Marketing ideas. Children's activities that would take place throughout the week and on weekends. Story hours for toddlers and older children. Discussions that could take place with those reading chapter books. And I can smell the pages of the books that we would offer. It's honestly a dream that I would love to make a reality.

Oh, and I even have the name. I'm always so hesitant to share such things because you may just see it in print six months from now. Not that anyone would truly steal an idea, but you never know right? Let's just say, it's the sweetest name and true perfection! What keeps me from taking the plunge? Conglomerates. Barnes and Noble. Amazon. Target and Walmart. All places selling books. All places that have a one stop shop approach. B&N offers books, CDs, DVDs, magazines, giftables, and coffee with the help of in store Starbucks cafes. Amazon, need I say more? And when you're shopping for groceries, household goods, and that cute camo sweatshirt you saw on your friend the other day, you might circle around to the entertainment section to pick up that best seller that's on your book club list. Or a baby gift. Why would you want to stop in that sweet little book store with it's distressed white bookcases lined with titles like The Pigeon Needs a Bath. Or Peppermints in the Parlor. Or any one of the Little Critter books and the antics of brother critter. But on the other hand, why wouldn't you want to stop in?

The little shop is filled with distressed white bookcases, small round table and chairs that are lined with dots of dried glue and specks of colorful glitter, and a reading nook for those that want to get lost on the prairies of Kansas with Laura Ingles and her family or to conjure up wizardry with the students of Hogwarts. Where said nook becomes a place where children participate in story hours that take them to far off places. Or simply allows them to interact with a fairytale. So many ways to help feed a child's imagination. At those round tables, children could get their hands dirty with craft activities stemmed from a recent story hour read or with upcoming holidays. Making sweet Valentine's for their parents, grandparents, or friend. Creating good luck charms on St. Patrick's Day. Maybe even learn a more hands on skill as they grow older with stencils or string art. The possibilities are endless. 

Finally, you take your parcels to the wrap station that is lined with fun pens and pencils, cute erasers, tiny notebooks for scribble or diaries for deep secrets, and little pieces of candy for that sweet tooth in everyone. A shopping experience that you can't get from a trip to larger bookstores or big bulk spaces. This shop would leave you feeling inspired, fulfilled, and coming back for more. This little bookstore specific to children. This little bookstore that evolved from a dream.

It's crazy that something like this would stem from a movie. From a plot. From a romanticized idea. Yet it's something I dream about. Something I would love to explore. Something I think is necessary among all the big businesses. A place that's small but mighty, but also stands out. Makes an impact. Leaves an impression. Because all of us are kids at heart. Because all of us just want to turn the page.

XO,

Andrea

Famous

What does it mean to be famous? Are the Kardashian's famous for being famous? Maybe. What about Bethany Mota the makeup guru and YouTube sensation? She was famous enough to get a spot on Dancing with the Stars! Where does fame come from? How does one get there? And what do you say when your six year old asks you if he's famous? You tell him, not yet, but you will be.

But aren't we all famous in our own right? Take my dad for instance. He's famous for his amazing sayings. Everyone is quoting them! Okay, not everyone, but everyone in our immediate circle quotes him from time to time. His most famous quote is "They call it work, 'cause f*ck was taken." Genius, right? And then there's "Champagne is perfume going in and sh*t coming out." You're quoting them right now, am I wrong?

My mom is famous for simply being her. Her applesauce cakes have put her on the map, literally. She only makes them at Christmas, as gifts for friends and family, and mails them all over the country. They look forward to it every year. She is famous in our house for getting the impossible stains out of any article of clothing. And, her southern cooking is out of this world. You definitely want to be in her circle.

My husband is famous for his quick wit. He kills us on a daily basis with puns, one liners, and jokes that he constantly pulls out of his arsenal. And his most famous with McKinley for his ability to create voices, and mimic others, when playing. Gotta love a man with such talents.

As for me, I'm not certain I'm famous for much. I am famous in this house for having the ability to fall asleep before my head hits the pillow, a talent Joel wishes he possessed. I can cook up the best summer tan, something that some close friends envy. And according to McKinley, I make the best cookies ever! Now that's something to be famous for, right?

But in all seriousness, what does it mean to be famous? And, does anyone really sign up for fame? McKinley has mentioned several times over the past couple of weeks that he wants to be famous. And, that he's already famous at school for his trains. And where would he even come up with wanting to be famous? It's not something we talk about around here. I've always thought I wanted to be famous, but now that I'm older, my desire for fame has changed. And not in the way one would expect. I would love to be famous but only for the following reasons:

1) I want to be famous enough so I can be a contestant on Dancing with the Stars! The more I watch the show, the more I want to be a part of it. I love to dance and the ballroom appeals to me. A friend and I took ballroom dancing several years ago and I had a blast. It was amazing to learn something new and put my old training to the test. Being a past ballerina, I have years of ballet technique under my belt, but that style of dance is so different than ballroom. It was wonderful to experience something like that!

2) I want to be famous enough to have a cameo appearance on Hallmark Channel's Home and Family! I want to have a segment along side all of my favorites and put my own spin on things. I would love to have a styling segment with Lawrence! I think we could be the next styling duo! I would love to craft with Ken and Paige and learn from the best. And then there's Orly. I'm not cool enough to be next to her, have you seen her personal style, but I would love to DIY some super cute fashion pieces with her. It would be a dream! 

3) My wants and needs of fame are simple and easy. I want to have enough money for my family to live comfortably. To have the ability to buy a new home that's a tad larger so we all have our own space, but to still be small enough that we are close in proximity. Does that even make sense? Oh, and I would love to have a two car garage so that we both can take advantage of covered parking! Wait! I also want a closet all my own. And a crafting room. Okay, and to possibly have a second home, a small condo, on the beach somewhere. Vacations would be so much easier!

Now, what do I do to obtain this kind of fame? And when I say fame, I mean, how to check off all of these items on my list! Do I become the next YouTube sensation, or do I leave that for McKinley who is well on his way with all the videos he's making on my phone? Do I become the next blogging sensation? If so, I really need to amp up my readers! Do I become famous for being famous? I guess the options are endless!

And as for you, my sweet baby boy, let's find something for you to be famous for, even if it's just right here in your very own home. However, shoot for the moon and stars! I'm right here with you and will support you along the way. Let's just find something you can do that allows you to grow your talents for good and so you can be a well rounded kid. Which are anyway, so see, you are famous!

XO,

Andrea

Something Other Than Who You Are

Let me see a show of hands. How many of you want to be something other than what you already are? Are you raising your hand? I'm raising mine high! But I haven't a clue what it is that I want to be. Well, actually that's a lie. I want to be a lot of things, and maybe that's my problem. I'm not focused, goaled, or motivated. Or, maybe I am all of those things and just too confused on what to actually do.

Last night I couldn't sleep. And when I say I couldn't sleep, I woke up at 1:30, found myself tossing for about 15 minutes, and decided to get up so I didn't wake up my husband. I poured myself a glass of apple juice and made my way down to the couch for a little DVR time. Last night was the 10th anniversary of the airing of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, so I settled in for a some fun and tons of laughs. This is my Housewives guilty pleasure and I'm not at all shy about sharing my love for the show. And I don't care who mocks me. We all have those shows that we watch and you know which one is yours.

But whenever I watch the show, I always wonder what it would be like to go from being nobody to somebody. Sure, their dad was Robert Kardashian, but they weren't really known as a family. Sure they had money, but not like the money they have today. They simply had a crazy family and someone told them they should take it live. And they did. And they built an empire from it. My dad always says they are famous for being famous, and that's not a lie, but they have done more with their lives than just the show. And to be honest, they are just so much fun to watch! Some episodes I find myself laughing out loud, alone, and it's all the therapy I need.

So, how do I wish I was something different than what I currently am? Well, I guess I wish I was doing something different with my life. Or, that I was in a different phase of my life. It's not that I don't want to be a wife and a mother. I want to be those things and so much more! Do I want to be famous, no? Would I like the bank account, yes! I've always said that I would like to be famous enough that I reap the financial benefits, but not famous enough that I'm recognized when I'm out in public. Best of both worlds, right? But I don't feel like I have the talents to really make it in any of the areas of life I want to pursue. 

For instance, I would love to be a part of the family of Hallmark Channel's Home and Family, but have you seen how talented those people are? I could never live up. Their DIY experts are just that, experts! And so creative. When you think you are super creative, watch them. You find out quickly that you aren't! Orly Shani is my spirit animal when it comes to all things fashion and she can turn anything into something else. I'm constantly trying to recreate some of the pieces she makes! Ken Wingard has some amazing things he's created. I love his ability to take a wooden palette from a grocery store and turn it into a Christmas tree for your front porch! Again, things I would never think to make. They put me to shame. 

I wish I was successful store front owner. I would love to own my own shop of any kind! Yes, my mom and I have our little booth down in Louisburg, but I would love to have a freestanding business. Ever since You've Got Mail, I've wanted a children's bookstore. I know what I would name it, what books (old and new) we would have in stock, what cute kid friendly activities we would offer, and other sweet ideas. It would be a dream. But on the flip side, I would love to have a boutique. But not just any boutique. I can't share all of my ideas on that one because someone would definitely steal it. I have big dreams for that one! I also think it would be so cool to have an antique/general store. A place where you find incredibly cool furniture and the household goods to go along with it. And to take that one step further, I want to be a home stager. My mom and I had a couple of jobs last year and they were a success. We worked with a realtor friend, who had complete faith in our venture, and he sold those properties quickly! We like to think it was our vision and maybe it was. But we ran out of storage for all of our homewares, so we had to "close up shop". Doesn't mean we won't open it again someday! My dreams are big......and super expensive.

Oh, and here's another one. I want to be an author! I want to write a children's book, a cocktail book, a teenmance book, and a book about everything I've learned about life up until now. I feel like I have some knowledge I need to pass on! What kinds of things, you ask? Well, how to not get caught by an RA when you're in the boys dorm past curfew. How to quickly use the restroom at crowded events when there are thousands of women standing in line for a stall. How to pour a foam-less head of beer and how to get rid of said foam when not poured correctly. Very knowledgeable things! However, I'm not really a writer. But do I have to be? My dad certainly didn't I think I was in high school and college, but I've archived all the lessons he's taught me over the years, and I've tried to apply them to the blog. Is it working? 

I wish I was smart enough to make these things happen. Smart in that I had the business sense to put the plans in motion. To create a plan of action and have someone say "Yes, this is a wonderful business idea. Yes, I think it would sell. Yes, we want to be a part of it." I wish I was organized enough to make it all happen. Again, I was putting a plan of action together in my restlessness last night and I think that I need to be way more detailed in my every day life. I need to write something down for every single day of the week in my calendar and follow it to the letter! And I need to focus on each one individually, and equally, in order to make it happen! Or, I need to narrow my focus and just pick one or two. Okay, we know that's never going to happen! So, I just need to focus on each one equally in order to make it happen. And, put it out in the universe.

So what can I do right now in order to make myself feel like I'm a success at one of these enormous life goals? Well, I chatted with my mom just this morning, and I'm going to put my home staging business to the test inside my very own. I'm getting creative with the space I have and I'm going to readjust my original home vision into the modern day vision I have created in my mind. I'm going to focus on my cocktail book by continuing to create my masterpiece drinks and then watch it all unfold as I create the space I want for a lovely coffee table book. And, I'm going to find a way to be as creative in my own crafts as the experts on Home and Family are with theirs. I can do this! I am creative. I mean, look at all the lists I've created....see what I did there....in order to become the person I think that I am. Or the person I can become.

What are you going to do?

XO,

Andrea

An Overactive Child

I've said before that for me and McKinley, our active days are our most successful days. And when I say that I mean on the days that we are out of the house, doing fun things around the city, and being active, they keep us from arguing, him getting bored, which why we tend to argue in the first place. With summer coming, my husband fears that we will argue more and be in a sour place by the time he comes home. And on some days, that might happen. But I don't suspect it will happen every day!

As you know from reading the blog, we are all over the city on fun adventures. We hit the zoo, Deanna Rose, World's of Fun, Union Station/Crown Center, and on rainy days the mall or aquarium. We haven't done as many things lately, school has been in full gear since post Spring Break, and the poor kid has had a bout with the flu and a horrible virus that landed us in the ER last week. But, all that's about to change on May 19th. The last day of school is fastly approaching and I'm thinking ahead about all the fun things we're going to do to celebrate summer!

However, I'm also worried about him being the over active child. You know the one. They have soccer, baseball, swimming, and piano. They have practice or games almost daily, leaving very little time to be a kid. I don't want that for McKinley. As of now, he's involved in baseball. Practice is every Friday, with games every Sunday, and it will be over in early June. He's also involved in a weekly combo dance class, but we've missed a month of class, so I'm not sure it's worth going back. Up next will be swimming lessons. Two weeks of daily dips in the pool that will bring tears and hopeful joy. And there's the possibility of another dance class, but that's up the air as of now. Oh, and there's a possible basketball camp. He's very interested in basketball and I would love for him to get involved. So now we're up to three activities and that doesn't include the fun stuff I have planned. And we haven't even included vacations? When is it too much? When is he going to just be McKinley?

At this point, something has to give, in my opinion. Swimming is a non-negotiable, so that's stays on the summer agenda. Like I said, baseball is over in early June, so that's not an issue. What I guess we need to decide is if he wants to continue dancing or if he would like to take the summer off and try a different sport. I definitely don't want him overextended. I want him to be a kid, enjoy his summer break, and play from time to time. I mean, he's six. His summers will be completely full of other responsibilities before we know it. 

What do you do to combat the over active child or is yours one of them? How much is too much? When do kids just get to be kids? This past Kindergarten year has been eye opening in the fact that our expectations of children is incredible. I wasn't expecting it!! And I'm not talking about my expectations. I'm talking about the educational system. I personally need a break and I know McKinley does! It's time to turn off our brains and just be!  

I would love to hear your thoughts so let's chat!!

XO,

Andrea

Having it All

There is a stigma around women that we have to prove that we can have it all. Successful jobs, being the perfect mother, a supportive spouse, a size four, and dinner on the table by a certain time every night. And there's also the new "I woke up like this" motto. A flawless, makeup applied face with perfect hair that is completely unattainable. And we all know it.

And there are those women out there who seemingly have it all. I'm surrounding by them. They have successful careers. Children who are pristine. Immaculate homes that appear to be cleaned on a daily basis. Perfectly balanced meals that are on the table by the same time every night. And they wake up every morning refreshed, renewed, and ready to do it all again. That my friends, is not not how this woman lives her life.

There was a time that I was a full-time employee, starting at the age of 23. I moved to the big city, Kansas City, and began a career in retail. I then moved to a corporate job that I had for almost 15 years. I bought shoes that I didn't need. Wore all the latest trends. Made dinner every night with the assist of my husband. Went on super fun trips. I had it all! Or so I thought. Then I had a baby. That changed it all.

And what really changed it all was when I lost my job in a massive layoff in 2014. It was then that I decided I was ready for new career. The career of being a stay at home mom (SAHM). I wanted to spend all of my time with my child that I was only seeing for a few hours each night and full time on the weekends over the last three years. Going on adventures. Cuddling on the couch during the day. Taking naps when needed or wanted. All while being the perfect spouse by having dinner on the table, clothes washed and put away, and living out the life I had wanted since the birth of my son. I thought then I would have it all. And I do. But it comes at an expense. 

What's the expense you ask? Well, I don't buy shoes that I don't need. Actually, I don't buy shoes at all anymore. I don't wear all the latest trends. I have a few trendy pieces that I pair with boyfriend jeans in the fall and winter, and with shorts in the spring and summer. I make dinner every other night, focusing on meals that make leftovers so that I'm not spending every single night in the kitchen. And the only trips we take these days are to the grocery store, to my parents house, and occasionally to the river for long weekends or a week in the summer. But I have to remind myself that this is what I wanted. I wanted to be home, and because of that, we don't have the extra income that we use to and we make our fun on a budget.

I have other friends who stay at home, or work side jobs to help with additional income, but I also see them lamenting about the struggles of doing so. And I'm not taking anything away from those rantings, but you have to remind yourself that this what you wanted. This is what you thought having it all would be like and you can't go back on that when it's hard. Sure, I get mired down by the photos on Instagram of the latest trip someone took or the fancy car that someone just purchased. I see cute friends all dolled up, with freshly washed hair, and made up faces that glow from restful nights sleep or daily workouts. And I admit, part of me envies their lives. But, then I look in my rear view mirror and see that sweet boys face on our way to school, I realize I'm right where I should be. 

On our way to school we listen to the radio, Mix 93.3 in fact, and every day the morning show has a theme. Monday's it's all about why you love your life. Tuesday's, what you're thankful for that day. Wednesday's, you can whine about anything you want, as long as it's casual. And Thursday's is all about asking the Magic 8 Ball app your most pressing questions. And every day, McKinley follows along. What does he love most about his life? That trains exist. What is he most thankful for? That Granddaddy introduced him to model trains. What can he whine about? Well, almost anything on any given day. And on Thursday's, he just likes to emulate the voice of the Magic 8 Ball app. He's favorite catch phrase, "Outlook hazy. Try again." And I wouldn't know any of this if I was behind a computer, in a cubicle, working a 9-5 job. I would be missing out on all the conversations that take place in my 2011 CRV. All of those little moments in life that matter. And I would have missed out on this precious moment today!

While eating his breakfast this morning, and because he's eating school lunch this afternoon, I had some downtime to read a little in my book for book club this Sunday. McKinley wanted to know if it was a chapter book. What chapter I was on. And told me I needed to do some reading to get it finished. Wise words, dear boy. When we got in the car, and as we backed out of the driveway, he asked me what happened at book club. I told him that we generally each lunch together, ask the questions we found online, and we all discuss the book as we interpreted it. I explained that this was the best part of reading and discussing a book. That we all read the same words, but we all read it differently, and it's fun to hear how others viewed the characters and situations that took place, as they're generally different than your own. Did I mention that McKinley wrote a book yesterday? Yes, he wrote about Ghost Ships and he took it to school with him today. He read it to himself in the car and told me that his book club was going to discuss it at their next meeting. In the school parking lot, I asked him to read it to me. I caught it on camera because it was too precious not to. And I'm sharing it with you. A glimpse into my life as a SAHM. And this is why I think, or should I say I know, that I have it all!

XO,

Andrea

Trophies and Ribbons

I am not a mom who believes that everyone should get a trophy. Not everyone deserves a trophy or a ribbon. Do you know how you earn a trophy or a ribbon? You work hard and win. That's how you earn a trophy. There is only one World Series Champion, only one NCAA Men's Basketball Champion, only one Super Bowl Champion. See a pattern here?  So why do we insist that children get a trophy just for participating? We are giving our children a false impression that there is no need to work hard because you get a trophy no matter what. We are setting our children up for instant failure!  

The first year McKinley "earned" a trophy was in 2015 and I was still a little leery of giving it to him. They didn't even get it from their coach. Their last game was rained out, and as a result, the parents had to go and pick them up. Not really a way to receive it, right? So Joel brings it home, McKinley takes one look at it and says, "I thought it would be bigger." A little ungrateful and yet another reason kids don't need a participant trophy. They don't even respect it. In 2016, we missed the last game, for a reason I can't even remember, and we never received McKinley's trophy and he never even asked about it. Best thing that ever happened! 

We haven't really had to worry about the trophy/ribbon issue since last summer, that is until McKinley decided he wanted to sign up for the district tournament stacking challenge last Thursday. They learned about stacking in PE this month, and when the flyer came home, McKinley told me he really wanted to participate. He thought it was fun and wanted to try. How could I say no? I'm not going to tell my child he can't do something, even if he had just learned how. I want him to know he can do anything. But at the same time, I was so nervous for him because he wasn't skilled at stacking. And we didn't have cups. And I didn't even know you could buy cups! Lots to learn about stacking.

So when Thursday rolled around, McKinley started to grow nervous. He even went so far as to tell me he didn't want to go because he was so worried about all the people that would be looking at him. I told him that there was no reason to be worried and that no one was really going to be watching because they would be so busy watching their own children. Still, the nerves were evident that night as he clung to me and never let me leave his side. He practiced and I was shocked at watching him do his thing. He wasn't super fast, but he was patient and in the zone as he stacked and un-stacked his cups. So awesome to watch your kid work at something they have set their minds to, right?

Then it was time to compete. He didn't know about the stop watch aspect, and some really sweet older boys showed him how it worked. He only needed to be shown once. He had this! And then it was his turn. Three tries to get your best time and boy did he concentrate! And they weren't great times, but that's not what mattered. He had fun, he worked hard, and he accomplished his goal of competing. And that's how you earn a trophy or ribbon. 

 

During the ribbon ceremony, they had all six and under contestants come up on stage. There were 15 participants and only 12 ribbons. Each child did earn a participant ribbon, but only 12 children received ribbons for their best times. McKinley was not one of them. As he came off stage to join us, there were tears. They didn't roll down his face, and he didn't cry in front of the crowd, but I saw those crocodile size tears and I knew. I knew that he was sad because he didn't get a ribbon and he asked why. And I simply said, because their times were better than yours. And that's the truth. I'm not going to lie to him. I told him that he if wanted a ribbon like theirs, he needed to practice and then came back next year and earn one! And that's all he needed. The tears were gone.

Later that night as I tucked him in, he asked me if his ribbon meant anything. I told him that it did. It meant that he tried. That he had the courage to sign up, being the only student from his Kindergarten class, and do something he had never done before. That he had enough confidence in himself to compete among others that have been stacking for awhile. And that most importantly, he had fun. Because if you can't have fun, why do it?

So we are planning to purchase cups so he can continue to practice. Who knows if this will be a real thing for him in the future, but he is going to know that we fully support him in anything he wants to do. And, that we are going to help him become the best he can be, because he's going to earn that trophy or ribbon with hard work and practice. Always practice!

XO,
Andrea

Appropriate Dress Code

There are a lot of opinions going around regarding the recent headlines about a United flight asking a 10 year old girl to change out of her leggings because it didn't meet their dress code standards. And if you only read the headline, you might shake your head and ask what does it matter if the girl was wearing leggings. Everyone wears leggings. But if you actually read the article, it states that the girl was flying on a travelers pass, and per company policy, when using the traveler's pass you must adhere to the company's dress code. And I see absolutely nothing wrong with United's decision. 

When blogging under Style My Way, I wrote about airline travel attire and how I used to be required to wear dresses and other Sunday best clothing. No one flew in their pajamas or yoga pants. Flyers took travel seriously, as a privilege, and dressed the part. Today, it looks like most travelers literally rolled out of bed and wore what they put on the night before. And I for one find it incredibly disrespectful for other patrons and the airline staff. You couldn't find a descent pair of jeans and nice shirt somewhere in your closet? I'm sure you wouldn't wear this while out on the town. Why wear it in on a plane? As you can see from the photos below, this is how our family dresses when we travel. My sons first flight consisted of jeans, a button down, and sweater vest. His second was also jeans, button down, and nice pull over. 

After arriving in Veags, my husband and I hit the strip in exactly what we wore on the flight out. 

With the exception of the shorts, my husband changed upon arrival, we hit the streets of NY in what we wore on the flight. 

And I don't just stop at airlines. Whenever we are on the go around town, McKinley is always in what I call dressy casual. At the zoo, Deanna Rose Farmstead, the mall, or at the park, he is always in something cute. And I'm not the only one who takes pains to dress their child up on a daily basis. I have two girlfriends who's daughters are darling on a daily basis! Don't believe me? Head over to Bun In My Oven for evidence! Those girls are the best dressed girls I've seen in ages, aside from my other girlfriends daughters!

For me, it's a respect thing. I have far too much respect for my city, the patrons, the establishments we visit, and the school we attend to have my child show up in nothing but his finest. Sure, there are times when he's in cotton shorts and a t-shirt, but that's usually when playing in our own backyard. Even when heading to our local park, he's pretty darn dapper! 

I started a styling series at the beginning of Kindergarten called Dressing McKinley, but with winter and heavy coats, I wasn't able to capture as many daily looks as I would like. I hope to continue the series now that spring and summer are on the horizon. But, I was able to snap a few photos before heading out this morning of just how I dress my son for school. That's right! He's in a pinstripe button down, half-zip Polo pullover, jeans, and my all time favorite Stride Rite shoes!

And for the record, another girlfriend's son dresses up for school daily and even goes so far as to sport a sweater vest every Wednesday! I love that I'm not the only one out there!

Keep up the good work mamas! Dress those kiddos up and don't apologize for it! Our kids are dressed to impress!

XO,

Andrea

How to Let it Go!

With motherhood comes loads of emotions I never anticipated. Guilt being the number one! But what I've discovered as of late is frustration! I can go days, maybe even weeks without it, but then it washes over me out of the blue! And then I seem to carry it for days on end.

I wish I could be the kind of mama, or woman for that matter, that just lets things go. But I'm not and that's one of my many faults. I've had conversations with other friends who just let things roll right off their backs and they seem to have a life that's so easy breezy. Carefree. Laid back. How awesome would that feeling be? Instead, I carry this weight of disappointment, frustration, and sometimes anger and I don't like it.

I experienced it just this morning! Last night was trash night. My husband collected all the trash from around the house, mainly just bathroom trashcans, and dumped them in the kitchen one. Nothing new there. Now, I was out last night at a PTA meeting so I wasn't home to witness this act, but I know the drill. So you can understand my frustration when I went to throw something away this morning and there was NO trash bag in the trashcan. Why? Why I ask you was there no trash bag in the trashcan? You take a bag out, you put a bag back in, right? And let me tell you, this isn't the first time it's happened! Instead of just replacing the liner with a new bag and moving on, I was completely frustrated at the fact that there wasn't a trash bag in the can! I was angry about it. Fuming the entire time I made breakfast and packed McKinley's lunch. That was a full 20 minutes that I allowed myself to not just move on and find something happier to celebrate.

Just yesterday I lamented to my mom that I feel so under appreciated for my efforts around the house. I have found that Monday's are my straightening/cleaning the living room day. My son has a pretty nice playroom in the basement, but for whatever reason he chooses to bring up toys and play in the living room. It's not much roomier up there. There's more furniture and breakable things that we're constantly pointing out. "What your head on the dining room table." "Please don't kick that over. It will break." Things that you don't utter in the playroom because it's specific to him! Anyway, you should have seen my living room. The same living room I had just straightened not five days ago. It became a working farm. Tractors every where. Pens of animals scattered around the room. A hayride that carried people from one end of the farm to the other. And I love hearing him play. I love listening to him create this working farm and all the sites and sounds that go with it. What I don't love is that it never makes its way back to the playroom at the end of the day, let alone at the end of the weekend. And it didn't stop there. There was a crane, rocks, workmen, and construction signs shoved along side the couch, out of the way of the farm. There was a keyboard in the middle of the room where McKinley played us some tunes on Sunday morning. A keyboard that my husband stated he would take back down later that afternoon. Nope, it was still there come Monday morning and guess who cleaned it all up! That's right, and I fumed the entire time. Again, instead of just letting it go and focusing on how clean the room would be in the end, how much fun McKinley had had playing in the room while we roamed in and out, and the crazy music that came out of the keyboard, I focused on the fact that it was all in there in the first place and that I was the one to pick it all up. AGAIN! 

When reading about what causes frustration and how to deal with it, this statement rang out. "You will need to learn to distinguish between what you hope will happen, what will probably happen, and what actually happened." Well, this makes tons of sense and something I need to repeat to myself often! I hoped that the living room would have been picked up before we all went to bed on Sunday morning, but I knew that wouldn't happen. Had I been home last, I would have seen that I would probably end up putting the trash bag in the trashcan. And I totally know what's going to happen. I'm going to have to clean up the mess and put the trash bag in the trashcan. And instead of fretting about it, mumbling under my breath while I do it, just do it and move on! Day to day life isn't perfect. You have to expect the unexpected and sometimes that's not having a trash bag in the trashcan. Move on!

Am I going to say anything to anyone about it? No. What's the point? I don't know what happened here last night while I wasn't home. Things between McKinley and Joel could have been strained. A temper tantrum could have presented itself and Joel just never got back to the kitchen to replace the bag. Or he took the trash out, finished cleaning up the kitchen from dinner, prepped his lunch for the next day, and simply didn't even think about the trashcan. What I can positively focus on is that the living room is still clean, the playroom is free of toys all of the floor (after cleaning it up for about an hour yesterday as well), and that I can relax this morning while writing this post and sipping on coffee. And taking a deep breath in and letting the frustration go. It didn't go me any good to get so worked up, right? 

What do you do to combat frustration? Do you get frustrated? Are you one of those mama's that can just let things go? If so, share with us how you do it. Any tips or tricks for those of us who just can't seem to grasp the concept? I could really use your help!!

XO,

Andrea