Archive for Life
The Power of Nothing
Posted by: | CommentsAwhile back I received a stunning invitation – attend a weekend retreat for mothers, for absolutely free. The idea was wonderful and the price was unbeatable! Was there a catch? No. Really. I mean it. The wonderful woman who created the idea, Elaine St. Marie, and the women who helped her pull it off, especially Marianne MacKenzie, simply did it because they felt it was the right thing to do.
So as they set to work, they found a retreat center willing to donate the space. They did the food shopping, AND the cooking and cleaning. The mothers invited to the retreat couldn’t help themselves and the very first night asked how they could help contribute – either with money or labor. Everyone was so grateful for this peaceful, loving space that was created that they just couldn’t help but want to help.
At the end, the costs were covered, even though the organizers had planned to pay for any remaining expenses out of their own pockets. More importantly, each mother went home relaxed and rejuvenated, a bit more in touch with her “inner Goddess”. In a time of such scarcity and constant talk of recession and job loss, it was truly amazing to see what bounty we have when a community comes together and shares from the heart. Thank you, Elaine, Marianne, and all the other retreat volunteers for a weekend I will always remember!
“What’s for Dinner?” is really a question of organization
Posted by: | CommentsThe following is from guest blogger, Angela Ploetz, organizer extraordinairre and owner of the her firm, The Posh Space - Productive Office, Stylish Home. Any tips that can save me from making multiple trips to the grocery store in one week and I’m all ears (eyes!). Thanks, Angela!
Meal Planning Makes Life Simple
Monday marks the start of a new week and with it comes the infamous question “what’s for dinner tonight”? Planning dinner on the spot can be stressful and can result in a lot of time back and forth to the grocery store. So what can you do to save time, sanity, and keep from making so many unnecessary trips?
Start by creating a list of all the meals that you know how to prepare or prepare on a regular basis. Having a go to list of everything that you know how to cook is a great way to spark your memory when you have no idea what to make. A good place to start is to divide the list into categories like: chicken, beef, turkey, fish, vegetarian, and side dishes.
Keep the list in the kitchen in a handy location. On Saturday or Sunday before you do your weekly shopping go through the list and decide what you will have for each day that week. Write it down so you don’t forget. Trust me; I’ve made that mistake before! Then make your shopping list checking the recipes so you don’t miss any ingredients and you’re off to the store!
Just remember there may be some ingredients that will not hold until the end of the week so you may have to make a list of items to purchase later in the week.
Already knowing what to make for dinner each night can help reduce your stress at dinner time and help make your night run smoothly. I’m getting more relaxed just thinking about it!
Mom-tears spring from all sources, but always based in love
Posted by: | CommentsI had an interesting set of experiences yesterday. I had to take 1.5 yr old my son to the doctor’s to get a blood culture. They pricked him three times and couldn’t get any blood. He was screaming as I laid across him, trying to keep his small body still enough on the examining table so they could put the needles in safely. We tried for at least 20 mins. He was shocked by the pain, and also by the fact that I was letting this happen to him. Once that was done, the nurses then gave him an antibiotic shot that they told me was very painful. The poor little guy slept for almost four hours after the ordeal.
I wanted to cry, too. On the third prick, I got tears in my eyes, but I knew I had to keep it together for my son. Later that day I was in the grocery store and some child, probably around three, was having a whale of a tantrum in the check out line. His mother was desparately trying to calm him, even as he started to hit her. I’m sure it seemed to her that the whole store could hear him. Finally, her eyes started to well up, too – clearly out of frustration, feeling overwhelmed, probably exhausted, and who knows what else was going on in her life.
I wanted so badly to help her but didn’t know what I could do. The grocery bagger helped her out to her car, and the cashier gave her a hug. I whispered to her that it would be alright at she walked by, but I think I just embarrassed her more. I really felt for her and got a little teary-eyed myself. Maybe it was just the day, but I really think all of us mothers are pulling for each other and fully empathize when we see another sister struggling.
It made me think about how much we love our babies and how we cry when they’re hurt, we cry when they frustrate us, and we cry when they shower us with unconditional love – from the scribbled drawing to the hug around our necks. What a wild ride this is!