Yoga is hard!

Ever since Little Man was about six months old, I've said that I need to start committing some time to be sacred to myself. You moms out there know what I'm talking about. We take care of everybody and everything else before we take care of ourselves. And, most days, there's little to no time left once everybody and everything else have been cared for.

There's a yoga studio in my town that I've heard great things about, and I've been saying for a while that I wanted to give it a try. For Mother's Day, hubby purchased me a five-class pass to give them a try. I know... such a sweetie!

I've done yoga before, but only in the form of DVDs in my basement, so I wasn't sure what to expect from a live class session. Here's what I learned...

Yoga is hard!

I attended a gentle beginners class, and I loved the gentle stretches, the calm of the space, and the opportunity to focus just on myself for a little while. But I really struggled with remembering to breathe, with controlling my breath, and with keeping my mind focused on the moment.

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I discovered that it's harder than I thought it would be to truly block out everything else and just focus on your body and your breath. I know now why it's called a yoga practice; it really does take dedicated attention and practice.

I also discovered that I felt lighter, calmer, and more focused the rest of that day. It was a refreshing feeling, and I want more of it.

I'm going to my second-ever yoga class tomorrow morning and I can't wait.

Do you practice yoga? What is your favorite practice? What are your best tips for blocking out the world and focusing on your breath?

Say Your Prayers

First, Happy Mothers Day to all the moms out there. Our job is always a hard and tiring one, and often feels thankless, but it's the best job out there by far.

The topic of today's post is prayer. My children are at an age where church is boring for them or, in the case

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of Little Boy, they don't even understand what's going on. So we do our best to educate our children in the principles of our faith through our day-to-day lives. We give to charity, we count our blessings, we try to do kind works.

One of things we're trying to be more consistent about is saying prayers at bedtime. I feel it brings a certain calmness and serenity to the bedtime routine and, I hope, reminds my children that we are always being cared for and that we should carry our faith with us at all times and everywhere.

Since my wee ones are a bit young to make up their own prayers, though Little Girl does on occasion, we've chosen a regular "night-night prayer" that we say together every night. Perhaps you know this one, as well.

Matthew, Mark, Luke and John

Bless this bed I lie upon

Four corners to my bed

Four angels 'round my head

One to watch

One to pray

And one to keep all harm away

What is your or your family's favorite bedtime (or other) prayer? How do you work instill your faith in your children?

Miracles Do Happen

I've been witness to at least one miracle in my life; last night, I watched another unfold. The escape of Amanda Berry and the rescue of Gina DeJesus and Michele Knight is a story that shines light on the goodness of people (like Charles Ramsey) and the greatness of God in keeping these women alive and healthy. Thousands of prayers were answered last night. And hope resurged for the countless others in our world whose children have been missing.

In the days and weeks to come, I have no doubt that horrific details will emerge about the experiences these three women went through in that house.

But today, I thank God for this piece of wonderful and uplifting news. I lift these women, their families, and the little girl that Amanda Berry bore during her captivity up in prayer.

I hugged my daughter a bit longer and a bit tighter this morning. (And my son, too.) The people in our lives are the most precious gifts we'll ever be given.

Drum roll please....

My newly re-named and re-focused blog is here! After much thought, I have finally arrived at a name that embodies what I'm hoping to do and share here. My primary focus in blogging to focus my own mind on the things most important to me to live a better life.

That's why I'm now blogging under the title: Living the "More" Life

The "more" life is about sharing with you my tips, ideas and thoughts on living a life with more joy, laughter, fun, compassion, love, organization, faith, and more time for the things and people we love most. I hope to also be able to share the tips, ideas and thoughts of others as well.

As a working mom, I all-too-often feel as if I'm living the "just getting by" life. I suspect you know what I mean. And how I feel. So let's commit today to more consciously striving to live the "more" life.

For me, tonight, that means more love, as I'm off to go tuck my Little Girl into bed.

Names are hard

When my I was pregnant with my daughter, we had her name picked out before we even knew whether we were having a boy or girl.

When I was pregnant with my son, we bickered and quarreled over names until about the 7 1/2 month mark.

There's so much in a name. It's a reflection of who we are, an embodiment of our souls and our spirits.

It's for these same reasons that I'm struggling to come up with a new name for my blog. The current name, Grab the Ring, just doesn't speak to me anymore. It's not a reflection of my purpose or my spirit. Problem is, all the names I'm coming up with that I feel do reflect my new focus and purpose are already taken. Grumble.

I want this blog to be about all my different journeys - as a parent, as a spouse, as a spiritual person, as a woman, as a writer, as a creative, etc. Maybe I'm thinking about it too much.

How did you come up with the name of your blog?

Every Day in May Challenge

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My friend Elisha recently wrote about her decision to tackle the Every Day in May Challenge. In a nutshell, the Every Day in May challenge is built around the premise that habits take approximately four weeks of consistent application to build or break and become, more or less, a permanent part of your life.

I love it when I read something that moves me and encourages me to think. I have lots of habits that I would like to build - personal development habits, healthy eating habits, exercise habits, crafty habits, etc. But what should be the ONE habit that I should focus on in May?

Ever since having Little Man, I've been struggling to incorporate physical activity into my day. And since I sit at a desk all day at work, this also means that I'm struggling to lose the rest of my baby weight. I still have 15 pounds of baby weight, plus the 30-ish pounds I was already overweight to begin with. And, with summer approaching, I want to get out and do more with my children and husband.


After reading Elisha's post a couple of times and thinking for a few days about something that would be realistic and reasonable for me to commit to every day, I've finally settled on something that I think will help me address several of the things I'd like to see change in my life.

Every Day in May, I commit to walking 5,000 steps.

I know, I know. The experts recommend 10,000. But I just don't think I can commit to that every day.

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I sit at a desk all day at work, remember? 5,000 is smaller; it's a more comfortable starting point. I'm going clip on my pedometer and make sure it reads at least 5,000 before my head hits the pillow each night.

The most obvious benefit is that this goal will get me moving more frequently. But I'm hoping it will also help me improve other areas of my life as well.

When I'm feeling tired or unfocused at work, I'll go take a walk around the block. That'll give me another couple hundred steps and hopefully make me more productive at work.

After dinner, my whole family can go play in the yard, take a bike ride, or walk to the park. More steps and more time together as a family.

I'm excited for this challenge.

If you could change one thing in May, what would it be? Will you join me in this Every Day in May Challenge?

If you choose to join in, please also join the Facebook group for some support and accountability. And, of course, I'll be checking in here with my progress.

I'm Back!

As I wrote in my last post from oh-so-long-ago, I'd made the freeing decision of being okay with the

Like a phoenix, from the ashes I rise! (Artwork credit)

realization that the time was not right for me yet to start my own business venture. At the time, I intended to keep writing here about other things. But I found that, in accepting the freedom to walk away from my business plan, I also accepted the freedom to focus only on myself and my family for a while. And it's a good thing I did. I've needed this time; adjusting to life as a family of four has been a much bigger task than I expected.

But I've been reading a lot lately, both blogs and books, and I find myself with twitching fingers and an active mind with things to say. This isn't the first time this has happened in the last year, but I've kept myself from blogging out of a concern that my random thoughts and posts would cause my blog to have an "inconsistent voice". (Apparently, one thing I've read too much of is advice about how to be a "successful blogger".)

But I need an outlet for my voice, a place to share my thoughts and ideas and to engage in discussion and dialogue with others. So here I am again, in my little corner of the blogosphere, to share my thoughts, dreams, ideas, and opinions.

I don't really know what I'll be blogging about, but it's sure to contain a fair amount of thought and reflection on parenting while being a working mom, the journey to a healthy lifestyle and finding inner peace with my body image, the road to financial freedom and independence, pursuing my creative dreams and goals, and whatever else strikes my fancy.

To that end, I've also decided that "Grabbing the Brass Ring" is not reflective of my new purpose for being here. I welcome any and all suggestions for a new name for my blog. And I promise that I'll see you all again, sooner rather than later!

A Freeing Decision... and Some Changes

I created this blog with the intention of using it to chronicle my efforts at starting a business this year. I've read books, written plans, and am currently taking an amazing Business e-Course through which I've learned SO much and met so many amazing women with beautiful businesses and ideas.

But the most recent lesson I've learned was the most surprising. It was also the most freeing.

Lesson Learned

I learned that I don't want to run a business right now.

"What's that?" you say? You read that right. I don't want to run a business right now.

It came to me last night as I was talking to my mom about how I needed to be working on my website and about how I should be putting together a marketing plan. That little clever voice in my soul asked me why I wasn't more excited about doing these things; why they felt like chores. And the answer, when I stopped and sat still and listened?

Because it isn't the right time right now, dear heart.

That's right. I do still dream of making a living helping others while being my own boss. But that time isn't now.

Staying True

Like many women, I tend to stress. And lately I've been stressing about money. After Little Man's birth, I took the maximum maternity leave allowed by my employer and then I took the maximum part-time transition period allowed by my employer. I cherished this time with Little Man, but it was taxing on our finances and savings account. Which led me stress about needing to make more money.

Enter the business plan. And here's the interesting thing. That created a vicious cycle. I was stressed about money so I decided I needed to make more money by starting up my business. But then I was stressing about needing to work on my business after a long day of work and caring for my children and family. To get rid of my stress I was creating a different kind of stress.

Realizing that cycle was a revelation. And choosing to say "not right now" to my business? That was the lightest I've felt in ages.

Freedom!

Here's the truth of the matter. I'm at a point in my life that I'll never get back. Little Girl starts kindergarten this fall. Little Man just turned seven months old and is doing new things almost every day. These are days that will never come again. And I want to be able to truly savor them. I want to be happy and engaged and fully present in these amazing moments.

The Lord has richly blessed me in the ways that truly matter. Sure, I'll still be stressed about money for the time being. But it's all about perspective. Yes, I have more debt than I'd like, but we can still pay our mortgage and bills and put food on the table. We are richly blessed. My business idea will still be there when I'm ready to work on it and have it be fun and fulfilling rather than another source of stress.

What's Next Here?

I'm still going to blog here. This decision-making process has reminded me that I'm still more Type A than I would like - a bit too much of a control freak and a bit too much of a stress bunny. Life should be a celebration of joy and the blessings we receive. I lose focus on that more often than I should.

I'm still pursuing that brass ring, but what that ring is has changed. Now it's a life of joy and gratitude. And that's what I'll be blogging about now. I'll be sharing the things that make me happy, positive and uplifting stories, and my efforts at letting go and finding my more carefree soul. I hope you'll stick around for the ride!

Have You Filled Your Bucket Today?

Out of the blue at dinner tonight, Little Girl declared that my mother and I needed to smile at each other so we could be "bucket fillers" instead of "bucket dippers".

"What do you mean, sweetie?" I asked her.


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In the manner of 5-year-olds, her explanation was lengthy and a bit scattered, but the gist of it was that we need to do things for ourselves and for each other that "fill our bucket" and we need to make sure that we aren't stealing from other people's buckets by being mean to them, otherwise known as being a "bucket dipper". It seems there is a book at her school about this very thing that she read the other day. Clearly, it made an impact.

And she made an impact on me tonight. Her talk of bucket fillers and dippers reminded me of what got me excited about the idea of running my own business in the first place. I enjoy my full-time job and I'm good at it, but it doesn't fill my bucket. What percentage of my bucket is filled by my job all to often is countered by the "dips" from my bucket that happen when my job leaves me too little time or energy for my super-charged (and favorite) bucket filler: my family.

While Little Girl was reading her Bucket Book, I've been reading a book of my own about making the most out of the eight hours a day that we're not at work or sleeping. (And, yes, I do recognize the irony of spending those eight hours reading a book about how to maximize those eight hours.)

I want to use those other eight hours to make my bucket overflow. I want to receive the spiritual uplift I get from using my talents to help fill the buckets of those around me. THIS is what has kept me in the constant refrain of "I want my own business" for the past three or four years. I have talents and gifts to share and I've learned over time that my bucket runneth over when I help others' buckets runneth over.

When I have those moments of self-doubt, those moments of fear - fear of failure, fear of success - this is what I shall return to. My business dreams, and the people I'll help when those dreams are realized, are what will fill my bucket.

What fills your bucket?

Big wild scary wonderful dreams

For too long I've let my job title define me. "I can't run a crafting or freelance business or write a children's book because I'm a career counselor, not an author or an entrepreneur." Why can't I be all those things? With only one shot at this life, why shouldn't I pursue everything that interests and excites me? 

That question is what sparked me to start this blog in the first place; this was to be my "home base" for starting my entrepreneurial dreams and sharing all the fears, challenges, and (hopefully) successes that go with it. Instead I've used it as my home base to talk about everything but that. And that's okay. I've been writing about things that excite me and that I love and want to share.

What hasn't been okay is that I've also been writing about those things as an excuse not to take that terrifying first leap into the business of my dreams. No longer. This post is my announcement to the world that I will shortly be making my business dreams a reality.

I'm tossing out the beliefs that I have to have it all figured out before "going public". Instead, I'm going to learn on the job, just like I have when I've been working for someone else.

I'm tossing out the beliefs that I have to be recognized as an expert by somebody else before anybody will want to hire me. Instead, I have faith and confidence in my talents and abilities. I know my strengths and I know where I have lots more to learn.

I have gifts to share and a desire to help others and a dream of making a better life for myself, my family, and those I work with. 

So, while I will still continue to blog about Northeast Ohio, suggestions for family fun, and other things of interest to me, you'll also start to see more about my efforts to make my business dreams a reality! It's going to be an exciting ride and I can't wait to share it all with all of you!


(P.S. If you're curious about what has helped me muster the conviction to stop procrastinating and just get myself out there already, I encourage you to check out Leonie Dawson and wonderful circles of women she has helped to form over at the Goddess Guidebook Circle. I'm only one week into her Business Goddess e-Course, but it has already helped me to see that my ideas aren't crazy and to let go of that feeling that everything has to be perfect before I can send it out into the world.)

Sharing Memorial Day with Your Children

This is Memorial Day weekend here in the United States. All around us are signs that summer is approaching - the weather is getting warmer, barbecues are out, farmers markets are open, and the Cleveland Indians are in first place. In recent years it seems as if Memorial Day has more and more just come to signal "the unofficial start of summer" (as one newscaster stated recently) and an opportunity to snag some great deals at your favorite stores.


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 But Memorial Day is about so much more than that. Perhaps I feel it more keenly because I grew up on military installations around the world. I am the daughter, granddaughter, niece, and cousin of career Air Force veterans and an active duty Army soldier. It was easy to understand the meaning of Memorial Day when you were surrounded by the day-to-day activities of protecting and defending our country.

Now that I'm a full-fledged "civvie" (aka civilian), I ask myself each year how I can properly teach Little Girl about the importance of Memorial Day. I want her to understand the role our military personnel have played over the years in helping to ensure the freedoms she enjoys as an American citizen are always hers to enjoy.

The concepts of Memorial Day are often challenging for young children to understand. "Freedom" and the benefits that go with it are very abstract ideas and the concept of death can be very scary to some kids. If you have a young child like me, perhaps these tips and ideas will help you introduce Memoral Day and its significance to your little American:

• Ask your child. Start by asking what she thinks Memorial Day is. Some schools teach about the day, so asking what your child already knows will help you decide where to take the conversation.
• Have a short vocabulary lesson. Talk about what it means to remember something or someone. Explain that when we remember someone in a specific way, like with a picture or a story or a gravestone, we are memorializing them and that's where the term Memorial Day comes from.
• Put out the flag. Let your child help you put your flag out on Memorial Day. Talk with him about the meanings of our flag and the things that it symbolizes.
• Read a book. There have been lots of books written about Memorial Day and about soldiers and other military members. Head to your local library and find one or two age-appropriate ones that can help tell the story of our country and our military to your wee one. Sit together to read and discuss the story.
• Cemetery walk. If you think it's appropriate for your child's age and personality, take a family trip to a nearby cemetery. If possible, make it a military cemetery. The visual of the flags, flowers, and other decorations will help make the abstract idea of Memorial Day more concrete in your little one's mind.
• Hit the parade. If there's a parade in your neighborhood and your child handles crowds well, grab the folding chairs and snag your spot on the parade route. The activity will be exciting for your child and you'll have the opportunity to talk to them about all the various symbols of our country that will show up as the parade passes.

There are also lots of resources on the internet to help you explain Memorial Day to your children, including coloring pages, puzzles, crafts and activities, poems, and more. (These links all came from the same website, but a search for "teaching kids Memorial Day" yields a lengthy list of other resources as well.)

What will you be doing to teach your child the importance of Memorial Day?

Great New Foodie Destination: Hodge's Downtown Cleveland

Last night was Hot Hubby's 35th birthday and to celebrate I took him to dinner at Hodge's Downtown Cleveland. This new restaurant, founded and run by food truck pioneer and proud Cleveland native Chris Hodgson, opened a couple of months ago. For the past two years, Hodgson has been feeding us on the streets from his trucks, Dim and Den Sum and Hodge Podge. Now he has a permanent location from which to serve his upscale takes on classic comfort foods.

And he does not disappoint.

The restaurant itself has a comfortable, masculine-country feel to it, with simple decorating, beautiful old-wood paneling, and perhaps the most comfortable armchair-like seats I've ever sat in at a restaurant. We sat in the smaller upstairs dining area, which afforded us a nice view of the large bar area while distancing us enough from the noise of the bar that we could actually carry on a conversation without needing to raise our voices. I really appreciated that.

Our dinner started with a gratis amuse bouche from the chef of tater tots with a parmesan & bacon topping served with creme fraiche dipping sauce. We munched on those while perusing the varied dinner menu and trying to decide what we wanted to try. We decided to start with the Hodge's Honey Ribs. These were perfectly cooked - the meat fell right off the bone, the outside had a nice crisp to it and the inside was tender, juicy, and deliciously flavorful. The honey mustard glaze provided a sharp yet sweet tang and accompanying sherry slaw was well-balanced complement.

For dinner, Hot Hubby ordered the "Unfried" Chicken and I opted for the French Onion Ravioli. We were also treated to a skillet of cornbread to accompany our meal. I adore cornbread, and this was some of the best I've ever had. This is when we discovered that the value for the price at Hodge's is better than expected. The "Unfried" Chicken was a half-chicken, beautifully roasted and perfectly cooked. Like the ribs, it was falling off the bone and incredibly juicy. The accompanying macaroni & cheese was served in a cast iron dish and was also very tasty.

My French Onion Ravioli was, not exaggerating, the best thing I have eaten in a very long time. Describing it as ravioli with a French Onion Soup sauce is too simplistic. The homemade ravioli were stuffed with ricotta and gruyere, which provided a smooth flavor and texture to balance the tang of the French Onion reduction. It was seriously so delicious. I can see myself being hard pressed to try new things the next time we visit because I'll want to eat this again and again.

We ended our meal with a brownie sundae topped with Mitchell's Hodge Podge ice cream. The brownie was crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside, and we joked that Hodge's sister Catie had to have a hand in the ice cream recipe as it was chock full of the puppy chow that she sold like hot cakes on The Great Food Truck Race.

We got a laugh when our bill was delivered to us on a tray in a red envelope printed with "THE DAMAGE" in silver letters. And while the bill wasn't cheap (we'd also each had a cocktail), the value was excellent. Portion sizes were large, and we appreciate that most of the food served is locally sourced. All in all, we're already looking forward to our next visit.

Blessings of Family

My apologies for my extended absences of late. I've been taking a bit of a hiatus from regular updates because my mom is visiting from out of town.

You see, I'm a Northeast Ohio transplant. I came here for college, but had no family or other close ties to the state. My father was active duty military my entire childhood and, when he retired, my parents moved to the Puget Sound area of Washington. It's a gorgeous place to visit, but it means that I generally don't see my parents very often.


Momma w/Little Man



But my mom is retired now, which means that she now has the time to enjoy extended stays with us. Since Little Man was born, this has been a wonderful blessing. She came out before he was born to help us get ready and to be with Little Girl when Hot Hubby and I had to go to the hospital for Little Man's arrival. She stayed for some of my maternity leave before heading home.

And now she's back to help watch Little Man during the days when I'm at work. This is a tremendous blessing because infant child care is absurdly expensive! Plus, this is precious time for her, too, getting to know her grandchildren better.

My momma is one of my best friends, so I'm soaking up as much time with her as I can. This means, unfortunately, that I'm not updating as frequently. But don't despair - I'm still planning posts and do intend to update, just probably only every couple of weeks for the next two months. You all understand, right?

In the spirit of welcoming out-of-towners to our fabulous city, what sights do you think I should take my mom to see?

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?

The Hardest Part? Getting Started

I've been a bit neglectful of this blog lately. My apologies. Unfortunately, the primary reason for that is that I've also been a bit neglectful of my goals and ambitions lately.

At the beginning of the year, I had a burst of energy and creativity. I came up with a name for my business, pattern ideas for my first products, even catchy names for a couple of the products.  I talked a lot about my goals and I even wrote them down.

Then time passed....

A few weeks ago, I had another burst of energy and creativity. I ordered labels for my products, set up an account on Etsy, created my Facebook page.

I think about it every day. I've written out so many things - ideas, pattern dimensions, marketing goals.

But I'm struggling with that next step. Part of it is a balance issue. I know I've chosen a difficult time to try and add a new endeavor to my plate. I work a full-time job, I'm a wife, a mother to a busy five-year-old and a nursing four-month-old. By the time I get everybody to bed at night, prepare bottles and bags for the next day, I'm wiped. (I feel asleep on the couch at 9:30 last night.)

But I also can't help but wonder if part of the struggle I have in taking that next step with my business is nervousness about putting myself out there. Once I put all this time and energy and love into bringing my creative vision to reality, will anybody even like or want it?

I won't let that nervousness stop me, of course. I believe in my idea. I want to see it come to life. I will see it come to life.

What's that saying? "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

What project, dream, or goal have you found challenging to get started on? What motivated you to take that first step?

Gratitude Every Day

I recently started a new family tradition that I'm hoping will keep us all focused on the positive in a life that can get very hectic and stressful. Every night, at dinner, we each share one thing that we're grateful for that day.

I have a very annoying habit of letting the stresses of work, managing a family, and trying to start a business get to me and affect my mood. This isn't fair to me or to my family so I've been working hard to keep myself focused on habits and thoughts that are motivating and uplifting. This is one way to do that while, hopefully, also teaching Little Girl about the importance of being humble and grateful about the blessings in our lives.

I think my Little Girl might be teaching me a few things, though. Last night, Hot Hubby was grateful for the beautiful weather we've been having and I was grateful that Little Girl is feeling better (she's getting over an ear infection).

What was Little Girl grateful for? She was grateful for God. Why? Because, she so wisely pointed out, without God she wouldn't be able to be grateful for the sunshine, the animals, her My Little Ponies, her baby brother, or any of the other things she loves because they wouldn't exist.

Yep, I've got a pretty clever girl on my hands?

As the seasons change and many of us prepare to celebrate the Easter holiday, what are you grateful for?

The End of Brittanica...

...on the bookshelf, at least.

The publisher of Encyclopaedia Brittanica announced today that, after 244 years (244!!!), it will no longer publish a print edition of the reference source.

While this is not particularly surprising in this digital age, it's also sad. I have fond childhood memories of discovering lots of things about the world in the pages of the Brittanica in my school and community libraries. In school, the Brittanica was always my first stop when given a paper to write or a project to complete.

As a parent, though, I'm also sad because I'm left wondering how my daughter will learn how to conduct research. Sure, there's the internet with its Wikipedias, blogs, and websites for everything under the sun. But there's something to holding a book in your hands, turning the pages, holding something concrete.

As you read this, you might be thinking, "Wow, this woman is a nerd." Yes, yes, I am. Though, truthfully, I prefer the term geek. I love reading. I love learning new things. I love holding a book in my hands.

But there's also importance to understanding the elements of research - reliable sources vs unreliable; primary vs secondary. Can that be taught when the internet is the only resource left available in the public schools? I guess I'll find out as my daughter enters school in the fall (not that kindergarters do much research).

The irony of this news being released today is that Little Girl and I were talking tonight about the new things she learned at her pre-K program today. She was telling me about the killdeer and how it builds its nests on the ground. I asked her why it didn't build its nests in a tree and she told me she didn't know. My response? We'll look it up in the encyclopedia when we go to the library this weekend.

I guess we still can. For now.

Will You Be Voting Today?

It's election day in Ohio and several other states today. Will you be voting?

This blog is not a political blog and will never be a political blog. But I decided I had to blog about the election today in the hopes of catching some of you fellow Lake County, Ohio, residents - specifically those of you in the Willoughby-Eastlake School District.

There's a super-important levy issue on the ballot today for Willoughby-Eastlake voters. Please vote in favor of it. Our school district needs the money. Our district has long operated on a very lean budget. The poor economy coupled with rapid increases in unfunded federal mandates have put our district in a bad spot. They need this levy. Cuts will be coming whether this levy passes or not. Many argue that the quality of a Willoughby-Eastlake education will be impacted whether the levy passes or not.

But if this levy doesn't pass, our children and your neighbors' children will be the ones who will, in the end, pay the price. Sure, they'll still get an education, but it will be without the benefit of free access to team sports, without robust arts programs, in classes with higher student-to-teacher ratios, and more. And perhaps most concerning to me - kindergarten will now carry a price tag of $2900 for the year. This early childhood education is a critical foundation to future student success and there are many in our district for whom $2900 is unaffordable.

So, that's my plea. I don't care what politician you're voting for today or in November. But I do hope you'll get out and support our schools.

And you have now read a post that is the closest I'll ever get to talking politics on this blog. Now, go get out and vote!