Apr9

73 DAYS: SUGAR DEMONS AWAKENED

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73 DAYS: SUGAR DEMONS AWAKENED
Sugar Demons Awakened {photo credit: Stéphane O via photopin cc}

Sugar Demons Awakened {photo credit: Stéphane O via photopin cc}

It was 73 days from those first, tough initial moments when I made the decision to change my eating habits to the day I left for Blissdom ’13. I knew it was going to be difficult being away from home, being away from my supports, and being away from my juicer and menu planning. I knew it yet I didn’t conceptualize just how powerful “those” foods, those sugars, those drinks would be to NOW eliminate again. Sigh… Yup, I went to Blissdom ’13 and learned so much but now I am treading deep, rough waters to get back to clean eating.

I ate lots and drank a lot of already eliminated foods and drinks while at Blissdom that I thought I no longer desired, wanted, needed. I haven’t had any craving or real desires for sugar or carbohydrates or sweets or alcohol but once IT was on my tongue, the sugar demons, rapidly re-appeared, stronger than ever. Poof! I felt awful, almost immediately, yet I continued to eat and eat. I didn’t go overboard with what I was eating but I did allow myself to venture into places I did not want to go. My stomach hurt. I had a dull headache. I was bloated. I was tired. I knew IT was all related to my food and drink choices. There’s no way around it for me. I know what works, and it includes unprocessed foods, little to no carbohydrates, tiny amounts of sugar, hardly any alcohol, no soda (I didn’t have any at Blissdom), and just an honest assessment of what I am eating and my hunger levels. Sounds easy? Well, it isn’t. I know you know, and I know too.

It’s been 14 days home with Blissdom ’13 one weekend and Easter ’13 on the other weekend. To say, these past two weeks have been an eating-bust is an understatement. I feel awful. Yup, I fully admit it. I have to start again but my refrigerator is still filled with unmentionables and things that need to go still. Sigh…

Restarting means a few things. First of all, I need to recreate my plan. The house needs to be purged of all taste-great-sugary-treats. Easter is over, and so is this binge. I know I can do it. I’ve done it already. I need to keep reminding myself of how awful I feel when these next few days are tough and my energy is low. Juicing, cooking, planning, and exercise are my weapons right now. I cannot let the sugar demons strangle me. I must push them aside with force, with determination, and with persistence.

As I learned at Blissdom ’13, FEAR does not need alter the direction of my journey. It will only motivate me to work smarter, to clearly define my goals, and to help sustain my motivation. I’m flying back to South Beach with my Breville Juicer in-hand and a borrowed Vitamix blender in the other as a way to help guide my journey back to healthy.

Which Direction Will I Follow? {photo credit: Conrad Kuiper via photopin cc}

Which Direction Will I Follow? {photo credit: Conrad Kuiper via photopin cc}

Apr3

BLISSDOM ’13: PART 2, THE HIGHLIGHTS

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BLISSDOM ’13: PART 2, THE HIGHLIGHTS

Here are my TOP 10 DAYS WITH US goes to BLISSDOM ’13 HIGHLIGHTS {in no particular order}. Let’s get to ‘em. Can I be frank? I have so much more to write and to say regarding my experiences at Blissdom but I’m not sure I’m ready to write a PART 3: SOME ADDITIONAL DETAILS. If you have any specific questions about Blissdom or my experiences, let me know. I would be happy to answer them directly.

1. To start this off, I remained true to myself, and my blog. Who you met at Blissdom is who I am IRL (I love this little acronym).

DAYS WITH US 2013 BLISSDOM PORTRAIT | SHOW OFF MY LASHES | COPYRIGHT DAYS WITH US
DAYS WITH US 2013 BLISSDOM PORTRAIT  | COPYRIGHT DAYS WITH US

2. Meeting Scott Stratten of unMarketing and taking a photograph with him was a huge, awesome, fantastic highlight for me. His keynote, his words, his recommendations, and his presentation style really captured my interest and curiosity. I will be reading his book real soon, and Tweeting about it {a lot}.

Blissdom 2013 | COPYRIGHT DAYS WITH US, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
BLISSDOM 2013 | COPYRIGHT DAYS WITH US, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

3. I am grateful for the uninterrupted time I had with my own friends (Hooray for the Boston Parent Bloggers!) as well as connecting with many wonderful bloggers, presenters, and brands (some of which I had rich dialogue and lovely conversations with throughout the weekend). It’s so refreshing to actually talk, and have real conversations with other adults. Loved these moments so much.

4. The photography track was my absolute wheel-house. That’s where I felt I gained the most take-home skills. I could have listened to Anna Epps, Lucrecer Braxton, and Kristi Bonney for hours and hours and hours. Seriously, this was such a gift to do something I love with a whole bunch of people that also love it. I cannot say enough about the photography track. I’m so glad I brought my DSLR.

BLISSDOME PHOTO WALK 2013 DETAILS CLOSE UP | COPYRIGHT DAYS WITH US 2013

BLISSDOM PHOTOWALK 2013 | COPYRIGHT DAYS WITH US, ALL RIGHTS RESEERVED

5. Twitter {how I love thy}: Scott Stratten emphasized – “It’s a dialogue not a dictation.” Yes, yes, and yes. I’ve come along way with Twitter, and I’m proud to say, I’m commenting more, and it feels really good. I even tweeted American Airlines {post-Bliss} telling them I enjoyed the two movies they premiered on my flights to and from Texas. Moments later {and to my surprise}, bam: I received a really nice tweet from them. I guess I was testing the water to see IF they would actually respond, and they did. Haaa! Side note: Scott Stratten talked about soooo soooo soooo much more and I would have to write an entirely new post to gush over everything he said; however, you can learn more about the specifics of his keynote by reading Random Recycling’s post-Blissdom recap on all-things Scott Stratten.

6. I embraced the calm of Blissdom. I didn’t feel rushed. I wasn’t anxious or concerned about this and that. I knew I was taken care of, and watched over. If I needed something, I asked. The Community Leaders were present and helpful and wonderful. This is a great model, and it’s so appreciated. Yes, I would LOVE to be a Community Leader someday. I really would.

7. I sincerely LOVED meeting other “storytellers”. It’s nice to know what I’m doing on my own blog as an “emotional storyteller” is valued. I know the direction of my blog fits me, and that it can remain fluid and un-niched until I feel the need to change that focus or direction.

8. I was touched by how much the Bliss Chicks really care about this community. At first, I may have been a teeny-bit cynical; however, you can’t fake that type of emotion, kindness, and heartfelt sincerity. I do believe these connections will be with me for a long time. I’m not sure yet how it will all play out but I’m open and willing to foster these new relationships and networks. Being a part of Blissdom only supports the journey I am on as a blogger, as a parent, as a person, and as a learner of all things social media; therefore, I welcome it.

SEATTLE'S BEST BREAKFAST, BLISSDOM 2013

9. I’m still sorting out all the skill-based take aways for myself and DAYS WITH US. I know there is an action plan for me somewhere but I need more time for all this Bliss-stuff to sink in. For now, I will continue to work on my writing and photography. I will view myself as a writer {this is really hard for me to do = old baggage that needs to go, and yes, I’m working on it}. I will not allow fear to paralyze the direction of my success so I will continue to surround myself with like-minded, driven, creative people to help support my exciting journey forward. Go, go, go!

10. THANK YOU, Blissdom ’13 for allowing me the pleasure of experiencing the “magic” you often refer to. I cannot thank you enough for welcoming me into your heartfelt community. You’ve shown me how “nice” nice can be. You’ve embraced me, my blog, and all my questions. You’ve patiently helped build confidence to step outside of myself and get out of my own way. What you’ve done for me, for many of us, is unexplainable; however, it is felt. I look forward to remaining connected. Until we meet again…

NOTE: all DAYS WITH US photographs {from Blissdom, part 1 or part 2} were either taken with my Nikon D90 (18-200 mm) or with my beloved iPhone.

BLISSDOM DETAILS 2013 (2) | COPYRIGHT DAYS WITH US, ALL RIGHTS RESEERVED

Apr1

BLISSDOM ’13: PART 1, WHAT’S THE WORD

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BLISSDOM ’13: PART 1, WHAT’S THE WORD
Blissdom 2013 Details | COPYRIGHT DAYS WITH US, RIGHTS RESERVED 2013

Blissdom 2013 Details | COPYRIGHT DAYS WITH US, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2013

I’m home from Dallas where I attended my 1st Blissdom. My head is spinning with information that needs to be processed, pondered, prioritized, and put to work. “It was different than BlogHer’ 12” {and other blogging conferences I’ve attended} I explained to my husband. It was calmer; I was calmer. I did my homework, I tried to connect and network with other bloggers before heading to Texas. I learned from BlogHer, and I used that experience to prepare myself for Blissdom. It felt good to be prepared, emotionally ready for the experience, and more confident in my titles and roles as “blogger”, “writer”, and “seeker of information about blogging, marketing, branding, and all things social media.” It also didn’t hurt to be surrounded by wonderful and experienced blogger-friends that know and support me (thank you: Emily R.-Random Recycling, Lollie D.W.-The Fortuitous Housewife, Cynthia S.-Oh So Pinteresting, Jessica S.-Don’t Mind the Mess, Jodi G.-Mom’s Favorite Stuff and Family Travel Magazine, and Melanie F.-Melanie in the Middle and A Beautiful Bite.

Blissdom '13 Welcome SignGoing into Blissdom as a newbie, I watched, I listened, I networked, and I learned. I met a whole bunch of interesting people, some of which I spontaneous met during the Newbie Meet-and-Greet (Katie at deranchification and her sister Kim at Kimberlina.com were so wonderfully fantastic; loved meeting you ladies) while other encounters were mostly by chance with a few strategic introductions on my part. Being connected to the Blissdom Facebook groups were incredibly helpful both before, during, and now after Blissdom. Being able to say hello to someone because I recognized their face and blog name was comforting. Although I am an extrovert with some crossover as an introvert {at times}, it can be daunting to walk up to someone, I don’t know, to start a conversation. Yes, even for me. I found the Facebook group to be a nice, cozy little security blanket. It gave me an opportunity to connect with other blogs and brands; therefore, providing important conversational springboards.

Since this post has the potential to be extra-lengthy (okay, it IS lengthy), I am going to S-T-O-P here, and break my post into two parts. I’ll write more about a few of my Blissdom ’13 moments and highlights soon, y’all (I just love saying y’all to myself in my awesome Boston-accent). For now, I’ll leave you waiting and curious. 

Mar18

BLOCKS OF SHARING: a sibling story

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BLOCKS OF SHARING: a sibling story

This morning was a good one. Everyone was up early. Moods were bright and cheery. My littles were listening and following directions. Something was off but what was it? Our mornings are never this way so it was somewhat concerning to me. Did I promise an Oreo for breakfast or something more powerful? Hmmm… Let me think about this for a minute. No, nope I didn’t. By 7:05 am, I was dressed, my children were dressed, and we were all downstairs already eating breakfast. All of us. Sitting down. Eating. No pouting. No shouting. No throwing food. No demands for this or that. There was civility at the table. Seriously, what the heck is going on? Breakfast IS our best meal of the day but this is not normal for our household or family. We ate. We talked. There was singing. Book reading. It was something. Something I would like to repeat every day but I have a feeling this may be short-lived. Wishful thinking, right? It is amazing how quickly mealtime can actually be without the throwing, the no-no-no’s, the tantrums of any degree, the fussing, the getting up-and-down, the potty breaks, the spills, and the nonsense that is the usual scene around our table. See, I knew it {said emphatically}: a 4 year old and a 2 year old can do “this” meal-thing. It’s not an urban legend. Their civil, loving, funny, sharing behavior continued from the table to our family room. I didn’t want to interfere so after breakfast they went to play (since we were all up and ready to darn early) before preschool drop off {which never happens because we are always rushing out the door: “hurry, hurry, hurry”. Into the playroom they went, together. They decided on blocks. Secretly, I was thinking: “okay, here’s where the kindness ends and the throwing, fighting, frustration begins.” So, I watched. I listened. I waited. Guess what? None of that happened. They played TOGETHER. “What?” you say. Yes, they played together with words like: “thank you”, “that’s really nice”, “please”, and “I like it when you share with me?” Now, that’s basically from my 4 year old because my 2 year old isn’t that verbal yet. Holy moly, they DO listen to me, to us {even thought I feel like I’m so often just talking, redirecting, correcting and reminding to myself}. Stunned, I quickly grabbed my camera and waited. Watching from the kitchen not wanting to get too close, I photographed the moment you see below. Sunshine. Sharing. Blocks. And my babies, together. What a lovely moment, and I’m so glad I captured it through the lens.

 

"Blocks of Sharing: a sibling story", COPYRIGHT | DAYS WITH US, dayswithus.com

“Blocks of Sharing: a sibling story”, COPYRIGHT | DAYS WITH US, dayswithus.com

Mar6

SOMEDAY: a book inspiring tears

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SOMEDAY: a book inspiring tears
COPYRIGHT | DAYSWITHUS.COM

Someday and Little Boy Books, Authors Alison McGhee and Peter H. Reynolds, COPYRIGHT | DAYSWITHUS.COM (March 2013)

Do you know the children’s book: SOMEDAY and LITTLE BOY written by Alison McGhee and Peter H. Reynolds (yes, the same Peter H. Reynolds from The Blue Bunny Bookstore)? If you don’t know these books, then you should immediately Google them for more information, head over to your local library to borrow a copy, or order one or both of them. I’m serious. I love these children’s books; however, I am focusing specifically on SOMEDAY for this post because it is the one I read most often. The story is short but elegantly written, incredibly powerful, and heartfelt from beginning to end. The illustrations are beautiful. The words are sentimental. The imagery forces beautifully rich and vivid thoughts as I reminisce about my children’s birth and their first moments in my arms and how quickly four years and two years have passed. The pages of SOMEDAY come alive as they also welcome memories of milestones achieved as well as future endeavors I may dream about for my little loves. Closing my eyes, I acknowledge the presence of time and its quickness. My littles are growing and changing in rapid succession yet I desperately grasp the clock handles not wanting another minute to pass.

From the first introductory read four years ago, to the moment I read it last night, the same teary reaction confronts my shaky voice. Time-after-time, the reaction remains the same. My daughter curiously looks at me, tears rolling down my face, and quietly inquires about “why I am sad?” My response, consistent and clear, remains “I am not sad. I am happy.” I slowly and gently explain my tears are a reaction of a heart bursting with love for her, her brother, and our family. My inclination is that she does not understand the juxtaposition of tears with simultaneous happiness but I am working on bridging that connection every single time I read the book. It’s funny, my baby girl will select this book over-and-over again and for awhile I was thinking, “No, I won’t tear up this time because I just read it last night” but guess what, I do (over and over again).

Why does this book drive me to my emotional knees with every turned page? My stomach clenched, I try to choke back my emotions, but the words, the images, and the sentiments immediately tug on my ever-present, soft, sentimental side. The story depicts a mother’s dream for her child and the evolution of a parent and child’s life-cycle. The book’s sweet statements remind me of how my own children will grow, explore, mature and become more and more independent as they start discovering and creating their own lives and pathways. I can’t even type those words without chocking up. As a mother of a 4 and a 2 year old, sometimes the days are desperately long and so-so challenging; however, this book highlights just how rapidly life’s moments will disappear becoming only memories of the heart and mind. I swear, this is why I blog. I want to remember the tiniest of details both in how beautifully wonderful it is to be a parent as well as how tough it is and how days can feel so lonely, isolating, and long. Parenting is hard, very-very hard but I would not exchange it for anything in the world. My husband and I struggled and struggled to get pregnant so I am abundantly aware of what my children mean to me, to us {to read more about our infertility journey, you may want to read the post: FINDING THE WORDS, dated 05/02/2012}.

The book SOMEDAY written by Alison McGhee and Peter H. Reynolds is a gem of a story. It should be on your child’s bookshelf. It is a timeless piece and important reminder to stay present in whatever moment you are in with your child and your family. Time only moves forward and fast. I do not want to look back longingly wishing I had spent more time creating memories. I read this book fully aware that the story speaks to me as a mother and emotional spirit. I wish my daughter could articulate why she also loves it so much. She’s picking SOMEDAY from a diverse collection of children’s books on her bookshelf for some reason. Until I have more information from her 4 year old perspective, I will assume she enjoys the words and illustrations along with my reaction and our snugly conversation about the special relationship between a daughter and her mother.

Am I the only one with this emotional attachment to this beautifully written book? I refuse to believe so?  What is your favorite children’s book, and why? We love, love, love books in our home and I’m always looking for recommendations to add to our collection as I continue to build a literature rich environment for my children.

COPYRIGHT | Property of DAYS WITH US at dayswithus.com

Someday and Little Boy Books, Authors Alison McGhee and Peter H. Reynolds, COPYRIGHT | DAYSWITHUS.COM (March 2013)

Feb23

JUICING: for the love of it

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JUICING: for the love of it
Raw Green Juice, copyright DAYS WITH US (www.dayswithus.com)

Raw Green Juice, copyright DAYS WITH US (www.dayswithus.com)

It’s been 48 days since I began my journey to South Beach. Yep, 48 days without carbohydrates, without coffee, without alcohol, and without desserts. I’ve lost pounds. I lost inches. I feel great. I gained a sense of food-control that was beyond my initial expectations. I’ve changed by body, my mind, and my belief in myself. Hooray!

With all these changes in my food choices and eating habits, I’ve found something that I only knew a little bit about before now, and that is juicing. Do you juice? How did you learn about it? When did you start juicing? This past Christmas, my husband gave me a Breville Juicer. I was excited to receive the juicer; however, I was a bit hesitant that I may not like the actual juice. It took me a few weeks to open the box because I didn’t want to take on something new while I was detoxing from sugar and carbohydrates. Once the most difficult part of the South Beach Diet was under control and I began to lose weight, I decided it was time to give this juicing-thing a good old fashion try. I read the included Breville manual and started searching for juicing recipes everywhere I could. I was pleasantly surprised by all the wonderful resources that were available to me especially the on-line resource: The Healthy Blender Recipes. I read and read, collected a bunch of healthy juice recipes, and then headed over to our local grocery store. Once the produce I needed was in hand, I headed home to begin my experimentation.

The very first healthy green juice I ventured to try included: kale, spinach, romaine lettuce, apple, lime, ginger, and broccoli. To my surprise, it was and continues to be delicious and one of my favorite combinations. I do not strain or add water to my juice. I drink it straight up or over ice. I love, love, love it. I do limit myself to one of these juices a day because of the natural sugar in the apple. Do you know that an apple contains about 23 grams of sugar? Can this actually be possible? Are there any nutritionists out there willing to comment on this and set me straight about whether or not I should actually be juicing if I am trying to limit my sugar intake? Anyone? The reason I looked up the sugar content of fruits and vegetables was because I was having an emotional reaction to some of the juice combinations I have been drinking. I explained it to my husband as having the same feeling I used to have when devouring a hot-fudge sundae with Death By Chocolate and Peppermint Stick ice-cream {this is my favorite ice-cream treat}. I would drink the juice, feel elated, and then not want to finish because I didn’t want to see the bottom of the glass. Am I crazy? Can anyone understand what I am describing? When I told my hubby about my experience, he said frankly, “it’s because of all the sugar in the juice”. I tried to debunk his statement but then he researched it and quickly deduced that his reasoning was correct. I guess I knew there WAS natural sugar in apples and fruits in general but I didn’t realize how much. Knowing there are 23 grams of sugar in one apple bums me out a bit because I love juicing but I am now more particular about what combination I use for each recipe.

So, what does this all mean for me? Since I’m feeling so good and continue to lose weight, I am going to stay the course of the South Beach Diet, and continue reading labels, eating as a way to fuel my body, cooking healthy meals for my family and for myself, and I am going to keeping juicing. With that said, I am reading more and more about juicing and have added the following resources to my library: Heinerman’s Encyclopedia of Healing Juices (written by John Heinerman), The Healthy Green Drink Diet (written by Jason Manheim), and The Juicing Bible (written by Pat Crocker). What are your juicing go-to resources?

I’ve learned a lot about myself since starting my journey on the South Beach Diet as well as introducing juicing into my life. I know there will be ups-and-downs as that’s just life. I’ve clearly connected my mood with how well I’ve eaten throughout the day. The food-switch has been flicked. I am not just a believer in these food-decisions anymore but I am actually doing it for myself and for my family. My journey continues with these little changes that have helped me kick the sugar demons out of my life. What are you doing to stay healthy in 2013?

Raw Glorious Greens Cleansing Juice | copyright DAYS WITH US (www.dayswithus.com)

Raw Glorious Greens Cleansing Juice | copyright DAYS WITH US (www.dayswithus.com)

Feb12

SOMETHING ON HER MIND

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SOMETHING ON HER MIND

My husband was traveling for business last week. He arrived home Thursday evening during bedtime, and this was the night my sweet little girl shared some insightful feelings. I was hurrying to put the kids to bed because I desperately wanted to spend time with my husband after what felt like eternity of being apart {okay, it was only 5 days}. The kids could feel my speedy delivery of baths, brushing, and books. I wanted them to go to sleep so he and I could regroup and reconnect. My kiddos do not like to rush, ever. This can’t be typical to just my family but they can move so darn slowly when rapid-pace is required. Anyway, I realized I was rushing with growing repercussions so I decided to slow everything down.

In slowing down, my daughter and I snuggled in her bed. We hugged. We talked for a few minutes. Our nightly routine and pace were back on track; we were calm, we were relaxed, and things were flowing much, much better. Yawning, I knew we were nearing sleep. The lights were off. I was ready to leave but remembered that I didn’t ask my beautiful little Love Bug my usual question before slumber. I stopped, whispered my question into the air expecting her to say nothing ending with a good-night kiss; however, she responded emotionally and angrily. Lights back on.

The question I ask my baby girl every single night is whether or not she has anything to say or talk with me about before going to sleep {my basic question: “is there anything on your mind that you wanted to talk with me about that you haven’t yet today?”}. I’ve been doing this for a long, long time and we tend to have some sweet, lovely conversations about this and that each night before bed. It is a way for us to always verbally connect post-book, pre-lights out. Well, that night she was upset, really bothered by something but what. I had a feeling something was on her mind but I thought it was because I was rushing. It wasn’t. I’m glad I asked. The moments following the inquiry, my 4 year old daughter firmly articulated that she was “angry that Daddy came home, interrupted bedtime, and slightly raised his voice at her for not listening.” She was teary. She was mad. She wanted to talk.

She and I talk a lot about feelings and giving those feelings words, colors, stories. That night, she gave her feelings real words, and I was immensely proud of how she handled her feelings. We were able to talk about it, right-there-and-then. I asked if she wanted to get out of bed and tell Daddy how she was feeling. She agreed {I was thrilled and impressed she wanted to process her feelings}. Together, we marched into my son’s room, where he was reading a book to our son. She gently walked up to him, and said she had something to tell him. Stepping besides him, head close to his shoulder, she told him how she felt {I am angry, I am sad} and she was even able to express why she felt the way she did. He responded beautifully {yup, I was teary observing this from the doorway}. He apologized. They hugged and good-night kisses were doubled up. She skipped away from him saying “I love you, Daddy. Good-night.”

Grabbing my hand, she was ready to for bed. Before the lights went out, I checked in with her one more time about how she felt post-disclosure. She uttered with a smile on her face, “I’m so proud of me. I told Daddy how I felt!” Yes! I asked if she felt better; her response was “yes, much-much better.” This was sweet music to my ears. I was engulfed in tears. I kissed her good-night. I shared my happiness and pride with her choices. I reiterated the importance of being honest with her feelings and encouraged her to always find ways to communicate those feelings in a courteous and kind yet consistently honest voice.

Parenting is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my whole life {no joke} but moments like these flood my heart with happiness and pull on every single emotional fiber in my being. I love my children so much and you just can’t make this stuff up. This is real life, and these are truly honest moments never to be forgotten. Love Bug, Daddy and I are so proud of you. Keep talking. Keep sharing. We will always help you find the words even if you don’t know them yet. Trust your feelings. They will always guide your actions and pave the way for the direction you want to head. We are listening, baby girl, and always will be.

Morning light on her face. COPYRIGHT www.dayswithus.com.

Feb10

THE BLIZZARD OF 2013

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THE BLIZZARD OF 2013

Guess what? We had a blizzard this past weekend, and it was lovingly referred to as: BLIZZARD NEMO {snow began falling on Friday, February 8, 2013}. We accumulated about 27 inches of snow not counting the enormous snow drifts in our yard and driveway. Do I love the snow? Not really. However, I have to admit that while walking with the kids post-blizzard, it was spectacular. The white, untouched snow against the bright blue sky took me by surprise regarding its beauty. I loved it and tried to take in all the sights and sounds as we walked and sledded together as a family. I often go outside without the proper gear so I tend get cold quickly. Yesterday and today, I dressed appropriately and found myself actually enjoying the snow, the cold, and my tranquil surroundings. Of special note: this weekend, our neighborhood came out and helped one another shovel, clear each others cars off, and do whatever needed to get done. I’m not surprised by how helpful everyone was during the aftermath of the blizzard; however, it reminded me of my childhood neighborhood (yes, I am having a moment of glorious reflection). I’ll never forget how my parents and their friends, our neighbors, would gather outside with shovels in hand, ready to work together for the benefit of our neighborhood. It was a time in my life that always stands out as a good way to live my life. Be helpful. Don’t ask just do. Always find a way to be a helper. Yup, it’s a great way to live one’s life. Our parents and the neighbors’ modeled behavior they wanted all of us children to exhibit {this was a long, long time ago}. Ah, another “Nikki moment” where an experience {this weekend’s blizzard} influenced a memory of something special to me {childhood snowy days back at home}. Thank you Blizzard Nemo for the jaunt down a snowy yet lovely memory lane.

Here are a few wintery photographs from this weekend’s blizzard {all taken on my iPhone}. I hope everyone is safe and warm as we head into another wintery week. What did you do to pass the time this weekend?

 

Snowy Details | Blizzard Nemo 2013 {copyright dayswithus.com}

Snowy Details | Blizzard Nemo 2013 {copyright dayswithus.com}

 

Feb10

ONE YEAR OF BLOGGING

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ONE YEAR OF BLOGGING
Where it all begins: an idea.

It all begins with an idea (photo credit: Kristina B via photopin cc).

One year ago today {February 10th, 2012}, I began blogging. Can you believe it? It’s been a full year. That’s pretty darn cool. For those of you who don’t know me personally, it’s important to understand that for years and years, I sought to be private, unknown, not involved in whatever I thought social media to be during a time when I knew nothing about it. Before understanding anything about social media, I turned my back on it and away from such enlightenment. I was not going to change, or advance with the times, or get involved with any of it {silly me}. Why did I feel this way? I am not even sure anymore but I know it had so much to do with privacy, my privacy. I guess I didn’t want to change the way I connected with people mixed with an unwavering fear of breaking down my well hidden and sought after desire for privacy. I held strong to the old-fashioned way of things, and that was that {way back when}. I was so wrong. I readily admit, I was off the mark, incorrect, and I understand now that I was most definitely missing out.

One year ago today, I took a chance. I am so glad I did. I really, really am {hooray!}.

The past year has been one exceptional and experiential journey (for me, me, me). Before diving into this world, I knew little to nothing about blogs or blogging or social media or never mind anything regarding blogging conferences, branding, PR, SEO’s and an infinite amount of other things relating to social media and marketing. How could I know nothing about blogging? Where the heck have I been the past decade or longer? I blame no one for my past ignorance; however, I am grateful to so many for showing and teaching and encouraging me to learn more, to read more, to ask questions, and to take action by getting involved.

My blog has been through three transitions during the past year. Initially, it had two different names before DAYS WITH US was founded and created. I began on Blogger.com, moved to WordPress.com (did you know there is a huge difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org? No, I didn’t either but now I do), and currently I have a self-hosted blog through HostGator.com. It took a lot of convincing, tutorials, and many, many hours of asking and re-doing, and dealing with my own frustrations because of limited knowledge and technical inabilities. The learning curve was steep for me {very, very steep} but I did it. I needed to frequently remind myself I could actually do this blogging-thing in conjunction with heartfelt encouragement from three very special friends and blogging buddies: (Emily R. from Random Recycling, Lollie W. from The Fortuitous Housewife, and Amanda L. from The Lily Pad). They helped me break through a few self-imposed and strongly held limitations about myself as a blogger and writer. We braved a couple of conferences together (thank you: Blog Better Boston, BlogHer ’12, and Springboard), and supported each other in wherever we were in our blogging journeys. Each of us brought something to the table; our conversations were {and continue to be} always lively, productive, educational, and fun. They helped me start and continue to encourage growth (and readership) especially when stumbling, struggling, sinking, or searching (thank you, ladies!). Their encouragement and support {along with the wonderfully strong, supportive voices of so many others} allowed me to start, to change, to embrace the challenges, and to write from my emotion which occupies such a sacred space in my life and how it relates to who I am as a woman, a wife, a mother, a storyteller, and so many other facets contributing to who I am.

When reflecting upon the last twelve months as a blogger, I am proud of DAYS WITH US and my writing. I’ve enjoyed sharing my thoughts, feelings, and experiences through storytelling. The best part of blogging, and there so many amazing components, is realizing something I wrote was actually read by another person. Maybe I have low expectations for my blog but this is exhilarating to me. To bring this one step further, I truly understand why bloggers promote the importance of commenting and sharing other people’s blogs. There is a camaraderie that happens for both the writer and the commenter. I am honored when someone takes the time to thoughtfully comment on my blog; it means a lot to me {thank you!}. Commenting more on other people’s blogs has become habit now and I often will take the time to like, to share, to comment, and to congratulate. It feels good. I know it is appreciated, and it is often reciprocated {thank you!}.

Happy, Happy One Year Bloggiversary to DAYS WITH US! Let the next 12 months be filled with more achieved blogging goals, increased readership, and continued emotional storytelling. Three cheers to being 1! Hip, hip, hooray.

One candle; celebration a year of blogging.

One candle; celebration a year of blogging (photo credit: rottnapples via photopin cc).

Jan28

CINNAMON AND EXHAUST: a smelly story

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CINNAMON AND EXHAUST: a smelly story
photo credit: madlyinlovewithlife via photopin cc

photo credit: madlyinlovewithlife via photopin cc

As many of you know, I’ve been working steadily on getting the sugar-monster off my shoulders and getting myself back into shape. Now it’s Day 22 (on the South Beach Diet), and I’m feeling great and doing so much better than anticipated. I’ve already completed 3 weeks on the strictest part of the South Beach Diet, and I began Phase 2 today. I continue to feel encouraged, empowered, and proud of myself. Three weeks, whoo hooo {can you believe it?}. Equipped with these new and practiced tools and strategies, I went about my day as usual. It was Saturday, so I did what I always do on Saturday mornings; I went to an early morning spin class. I came home. I stretched. I ate properly. I showered. We all got ready for the day which included a quick browsing trip to IKEA in search of some new office furniture and organizational ideas.

My husband and I knew before heading out that we were taking a risk going to IKEA on a Saturday with our kids. Our equation goes a little something like this:  young children + IKEA on a Saturday = {insert any concerning thoughts here}. For us, we were planning for meltdowns, tantrums, frustration of not wanting to either stay in the stroller or walk with us in an orderly and calm way; however, we were mostly concerned with the craziness associated with the “I want this or that!” syndrome. We both agreed that if any of this happened, we would pack up and leave immediately. We had a plan and a whole bunch of bribery {I mean, books, toys, food, games, etc.} in our diaper bag to distract them.

We arrived to IKEA early, early and the parking lot was already filled with way too many cars. Sighing, we pushed forward with our plan. Everyone was feeling energized and happy, so we went entered the big IKEA box. 

photo credit: slimmer_jimmer via photopin cc

photo credit: slimmer_jimmer via photopin cc

We walked around. Little He in the stroller, and Little She walking. We were fine. Searching for the area we wanted, Little She found these free plastic tape-measures, pencils and paper. She wanted to shop. Okay, here we go. To our surprise, she walked around with us; measuring almost everything she passed asking us for the item number. We had so much fun giving her numbers at random and she quickly tried to write the numbers down. She was basically just scribbling but it was hilarious how meticulous she was about repeating the numbers back to us. She was correct almost every single time. People around us were smiling and laughing at us because she was often off to the side measuring her “must haves” and then asking for the item number. It was too funny.

IKEA in-and-of-itself was a wonderful place for my children to explore, to measure, and to learn about numbers. We even found a few items we liked and are currently working on a plan for our space. It wasn’t until we were getting ready to leave that it all fell apart.

Approaching the elevators which will bring us towards the exit, I could smell various food items as we were walking past the café. I was starting to get hungry but nothing too troublesome. Downstairs we went. Heading this way and that way towards the exit, I halt, frozen in the moment. Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath in. I must have turned white, glassy eyed. Little She excitedly asked, “what’s wrong, Mommy!” Rick turned quickly to look at me. Patiently, he said “are you okay?” I took a moment not wanting to speak. Inhaling again, deeply. “Do you smell that?” I asked. What? I said more urgently, “do you smell that?” My husband laughed. The cinnamon buns? “Yes-yes-yes” I say. I am emotionally overcome and distraught with the deliciousness of those darn cinnamon buns. I WANT ONE! Seriously. I wanted one, two, three, four. Yup, I would have taken down man, woman or child if one had passed me by. I cannot explain what actually happen but I had a visceral reaction to the smell of the cinnamon bun. I could feel the sugar on my tongue. I could taste it without actually tasting it. Is this crazy? Has this ever happened to you?

I needed to get the heck out of there immediately before I succumbed to the smell of those {stuttering} sugary, cinnamon, sweet-tasting buns. Rick could see the panic on my face. He knew restraints might be needed. We rapidly exited IKEA through doors taking us to the covered parking lot. Ah, the sweet, sugary smells of those cinnamon buns were immediately crushed by the stench of exhaust from a nearby dieseling car. The mixture of the two scents in my nose was confusing and therefore the sugar demons dissipated without further incident. No cinnamon buns, husbands, children or bystanders were hurt by my thoughts or actions.

Thank goodness for the almonds I had stuffed in my pockets. Once safely in the car, I took a deep, cleansing breath and realized I cannot go to IKEA by myself anytime soon.

photo credit: Thomas Hawk via photopin cc

photo credit: Thomas Hawk via photopin cc

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