I sure needed this today... do you?

I love when the universe reminds me there's something bigger and better and greater out there watching over me.

You see, today got off to a really rough start. Like, really rough. Like the kind where I got to work, closed my blinds and my office door and just cried for five minutes. I was feeling unhappy, unappreciated, and disengaged. In a nutshell, I was feeling very negatively about myself.

Then I checked my Reader feed and saw this waiting for me:

It was from a blog post by Goddess Leonie, who I've recently discovered and who has been helping me keep myself focused on the positive and all the wonderful gifts I have to offer to my family, friends, co-workers and the world.

I was most definitely feeling NOT AT ALL awesome this morning. But I'm feeling slightly more awesome now - all it took was the universe reminding me, via the Goddess community.

The blog post challenged me to list all the ways that I'm awesome. I only have time right now to list a few, but it's done wonders for my mood already. Here are some of the ways that I am awesome:

1. I always try my very hardest to be a kind, loving, and supportive momma, wife, daughter, and friend.
2. I love cooking for my family - the joy of pulling together separate ingredients into a delicious meal that nurtures my family.
3. I try every day to make sure I'm a better person today than I was yesterday.

I am awesome, even when I don't feel like I am. And you are awesome, too. WE ARE AWESOME. We just need reminding sometimes.

It's your turn now - list some of the ways that you are awesome. I promise your day will look brighter and your soul will feel lighter.

Make today a great day!

The Natives Are Restless

After a teaser week of gorgeous warm weather in March, we've returned to the gloomy, windy, and cold weather that is our usual early April staple. Even though the calendar says it's Spring, the rain and hail (yes, hail!) that we've received today says something completely different.

This recent cold snap has been very annoying to Little Girl, who appears to believe that the change in seasons from Winter to Spring should also mean an immediate shift in weather temperatures. She asks every day if she can wear short sleeves and shorts. She asks every day if she can go to the park. She asks every day to go outside and play. With Little Man being still so very little, I'm more reluctant than usual to go outside in 40-degree weather.

From Ubisoft

Fortunately, I think I'm stumbled upon the solution to my current problem. The Easter Bunny brought Little Girl her very own XBox 360 Kinect game called Just Dance 3. It's one of those "you are the controller games" where you dance to music - either trying to follow the computer's choreography or just free dancing however the music moves you.

Like so many wee ones, Little Girl loves to dance and move her body. We gave the game a spin for the first time last night and, ladies and gentlemen, WE HAVE A WINNER! She was laughing and squealing and moving her body. She and Hot Hubby danced together to three songs and, even though they were on the Easy level, both were pretty wiped out by the end of it. Little Girl was most excited that the game has Party Rock Anthem on it - that was the first song she wanted to dance to.

I wish I had snapped a picture of them - but Little Man was in a put-me-down-and-I'll-scream mood at that time. I'll just have to do a follow-up post!

So, even if you don't have a video game console, get through this current cold snap by cranking up the radio and shaking your booty!

What's your favorite indoor activity for the restless little natives?

Memories Are Made of This

It's Opening Day for major league baseball today. For the first time in many years, Hubby and I did not go to the Indians' Opening Day together. 


A sunny day for the return of baseball in Cleveland

 While I was disappointed not to share this day with my husband, I relinquished our tradition in order to make way for a new, and probably better, tradition. For today, Little Girl attended her first Opening Day.

We told her on Sunday that Daddy was going to share one of his favorite days of the year with her, and every day since then she'd been asking, "Is today Opening Day?" Her enthusiasm and excitement for this new experience reminded me of the joy that can - and should - be found in the everyday.

Each day this week, Little Girl's anticipation grew. Hubby and I were both eager to see her reaction when we reminded her this morning that today was finally the Big Day. Her grin could have lit Manhattan - she danced around her room chanting her excitement and then began digging excitedly in her dresser for her Shin Soo Choo t-shirt.
 As I completed my tasks at work this afternoon my thoughts often jumped a few miles west to downtown and Progressive Field. I wondered how Little Girl and Hubby were faring on their Daddy-Daughter Date. I wished I could see her face as she drank in the colors, sounds, and pageantry that are always part of this day at the ballpark. As I drove home from work I eagerly awaited hearing my daughter's impressions of the day. I cherished the moments as she told me all about what she saw and what she ate and then showed me the pink mini bat Daddy bought her as a souvenir.

Family traditions are important. We work to honor the traditions that have been passed down to us, but I believe firmly that the development of new traditions is also important. While the specific details of this day will likely fade as Little Girl grows older and attends more Opening Days, I have a strong suspicion that she will always remember her excitement at being asked to share one of her Daddy's "most favorite days" with him.

Were you at Opening Day today? What new family traditions will you start this year?