Of Bird nests and kids: Life Lessons

Hello, Fashionable ones! :)

Happy New Year!  To think that I started this blog almost 7 years to the day - right before my precious second son- fondly referred to as 'Monkey boy' was born.

 How apt that this 'lesson' is brought to you courtesy of my smart, inquisitive, old soul little man.

I stumbled upon an empty, teeny tiny birds nest yesterday - it was upside down, on the lawn, in the frigid cold.  I decided to bring it in, certain Monkey Bou, my budding scientist and nature boy would be excited.  His response was a shrug, and when I asked why he wasn't more excited, he said, "I was- but the moment has passed." LOL!  I was taken aback but inspired a little. Milk the moment, for sure,  but it is also totally okay to let it go when 'the moment has passed' for you.  No need to drum up emotion for anything. He TOLD me!

Reactions from my other kids, equally as cute and totally reflective of their individual personalities:

Numero Uno son (9): "what if the mother comes back to look for the nest? I think you should have left it there.'

Principessa (4): "Aw. I feel sorry for the egg!"

Here is the nest- shot twice - once on island and the other on a white sheet of paoer for contrast.  And a third time with a filter.  Because, clearly, I have nothing better to do than take pictures of random nests.

Let it go, pp

A year ago (lazy blogger chronicles)

Wrote this post almost a year ago, but it is still so apt, and I think it is SO good, chicken soup for this mom's soul, if you will. Here goes:

It has been awhile, and I am sorry. Have been so busy living life that I forgot to blog about it. Okay, that's only partially true- there's been instagram and gratuitous likes from instant snaps that tell a story sans the words.  

But I always return to my first love, writing.  This will be short and sweet though, there is life to be lived. :)

So yesterday, while making a gingerbread house with the kids, there was a conversation about abilities or doing some kind of menial work- honestly, I forget right now but I pretty sure it had to do with fixing something.

Monkey boy, my middle son and maybe the most fascinating of my three kids says ' Mom is too beautiful to do that." I burst out laughing but my heart sang a little, I'll admit.  Kids are brutally honest and they say what they feel- it doesn't make it factual, but it is how they feel, for whatever that's worth to you.  And the Principessa chimed in, "Yes, mommy is sooooo beautiful!". And kissed me on my arm spontaneously. I think I physically started glowing at that point.  My eldest, and arguable my most critical child, in his eight year old wisdom said "Well..." and internally I groaned at the impending vibe kill, that I just knew was coming - "Mom is more beautiful than the average woman." Trifecta.  My soul was beaming-  not out of vanity, but just knowing the the three people I love probably the most in this world thought that of me.  I hope hubby was taking notes. :)

I woke up this morning, unruly hair and undereye circles down to my chin, but gosh darn, if I don't feel like Heidi Klum.  Beautiful.

Merry Christmas, pp

Kiwi Crate

This is not a sponsored post - but I will sing their praises for free.  With three kids, aged 4 through 9, it is a great thing when I can get a quality product that is delivered to my doorstep and actually delivers on what it promises!

First off, getting mail is a big thing for my kids- getting a package mailed to them made me mother of the year!  They come in sturdy, nice kiwi green boxes, addressed to the child ( or children) you specify- and get this, you can add on a sinling or sinlings for just $10 exyra.  Win-win!

Filled with lots of great activities and quality materials- Fiskar scissors! Elmer glue!  The photos below were from our June or July crate - the theme was campfires.  They got stuff to make a faux mini campfire, 'marshmellows' and drawstring bags.  They also had notepads and stickers for their scavenger hunt.  Fun, fun, fun!

Save 25% on your first crate with code CHOOSE. www.kiwicrate.com

With love,

Pp

Face Lift

I am back! Missed the whole of 2013 - well almost- and most of 2014.  But I am back, with a new look- not for me, silly; for this blog.  More about kids, books for kids, clothes for kids, kids shows- yes, full on 'mom blog'.  So here we go: a One Direction/Sesame Street video preview in honor of our 'relaunch' :

One Direction teaching viewers the meaning of the letter “U!” Check it out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Dwm7-aSpxs&list=UUoookXUzPciGrEZEXmh4Jjg

 

Missed you too, pp :)

The Challenge

52 week money challenge. Are you in? It is essentially a dollar to correspond to each week of the year. As in $1 for week of January 1st and $52 for week of December 31st- and by that last week, you have over $1300 of your own money, saved, stress free.

It is not too late either- we are only in the $14 week, so to catch up, all you need to put in is $76 or so. I know people who are doing this in reverse too, which is BRILLIANT- so they started with putting in $52 at week one, so that come Christmas time, when we are all chasing that paper- lol- all they have to put on is like $2. Oh- and you can't borrow from the money EVER. It doesn't exist until December 31st. Go on, I challenge you!

To all my ballin' pradists out there, you can double or even triple your weekly amount. Big things poppin'.

Wealth not riches,
Pp

A day late, but...

Nine years ago, yesterday, this happened. The renewal of our vows, in a beautiful, old quaint castle. It doesn't feel quite like nine years and three kids ago, and some days we both don't know if 'congratulations' or sympathies are in order, but it happened. And we are happy it did.

Happy Anniversary to us,

Pp

Focus

We choose what to focus on. In life, in blogging -wait- blogging IS life. :)
But seriously, I could choose to focus on the things that aren't going so well in my life, but like a skilled photographer ( not yet one), I crop a little, shoot at angles, blur, brighten and remove red eye, and violá! Focus chosen. Is it a form of denial? No, but it is a surefire way to remain sane. Have you ever hung around an incessant whiner or pessimist? I have. And I hated every minute. So focus I must. Click, whir, crop- instagrammed happiness. I find it in everything, and anything, if I look hard enough.

So when I somehow ended up with a spontaneous burst blood vessel in my eye on Friday, I refocused and did my hair. The eye was something that would pass in two weeks and over which I had no control. Funny thing is, people noticed my hair and my smile before they noticed my blood shot eye.

Except of course, Principessa.

Principessa: You scary, mama. Your eye red.

Prada Principal: I know, baby.

Principessa: You chubby.

Um... Principessa - one, Prada - zero

I won't let her break me. Focused.

Pp