NaBloPoMo

Done! – NaBloPoMo

Posted on December 10, 2015 Written by Tonya

So much for owing myself six more consecutive NaBloPoMo posts. Agh!! Well, I tried.

This time of the year is so rough with lengthy to do lists, shorten tempers and trying to squeeze it all in. Just this past week was crazy!

We got our tree, the boys went out of town while Lola and I stayed home and nursed colds, did a bunch on online holiday shopping, decorated the house and started our holiday cards, oh and my sister got engaged! More on that later….

At any rate, I consecutively wrote 17 posts in a row and a total of 23 for the month. This will be my last NaBloPoMo post.

Here’s what I’ve learned:

1. Editing photos, even if it’s just adding a watermark or resizing is a huge pain in the ass.

2. Participating in NaBloPoMo felt like homework every.single.day. and I decided I don’t appreciate writing under pressure.

3. I have plenty of content and ideas and don’t need prompts at this point in my life and I was thrilled to have cleared out my drafts folder.

4. NaBloPoMo kept me from watching hours of mindless TV. And reading. And I love reading. And TV.

5. This exercise encouraged me to let go of perfection and just write.

6. I’ve been blogging for over six years, but I’ve never blogged with any kind of regularity. I viewed this as a fun challenge, but decided I don’t want to be a full time blogger, I want to write bigger, more meaningful, meatier pieces and aim higher. I’ve been published a few places and I’m very proud of that and want to do more of that. Having said all that, however, I am motivated to keep adding to my blog when the mood strikes me. I like this space.

7. Writing begets writing. Even if it’s bad, I have to keep writing! I have to get it off my chest, out of my head and out here, there, anywhere for the sake of my own sanity.

Thank you for so much for reading my 7707 words and for the 50 comments.

23 days!! Yay me!!

Did you participate in NaBloPoMo, or NaNoWriMo? Did you finish? What have you learned from the challenge, whether you finished it or not?

Elf On The Shelf – NaBloPoMo

Posted on December 1, 2015 Written by Tonya

Before the Elf on the Shelf was available everywhere, including my grocery store, or you could buy clothes, accessories and pets for your Elf, I offered the tradition to Lucas.

He was 4 1/2 at the time and wanted no part of it. In fact, the idea scared the bejesus out of him.

The whole thing is kind of creepy.

Last year, he was ready; eager and enthusiastic to discover Frederic each and every morning.

So, I ~~scoured Pinterest~~ heeded the call and came up with 17 days (we were a week late to the party) worth of ideas.

Here are a few of my favorite:

Reading holiday books to friends.

Camping, complete with VW van.

Hanging out with matryoshka dolls.

Cheating at CandyLane.

Watching a movie on the iPad.

Looking at these photos, I fear I may have set the bar too high. I’m not feeling too creative this year.

Are you doing the Elf on the Shelf in your house? Have any ideas to share?

Bon Voyage – NaBloPoMo

Posted on November 30, 2015 Written by Tonya

My sister and I won’t be baking together this holiday season, she won’t be helping me with the children, shopping for and wrapping last minute presents or waking up at our house Christmas morning.

We won’t go to our annual Christmas Day movie after all the presents have been opened and displayed under the tree, we won’t be sharing pie for breakfast the day after and we won’t be exchanging gifts until New Year’s Eve.

For the first time in my son’s life (seven Christmases) and only the second in my own, since she was born, Leah will not be with us for Christmas.

My sister and her boyfriend, Aaron are going on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar (formally known as Burma). They leave December 10 and don’t return until December 29. I am over the moon excited for them, especially Aaron, who hasn’t done much traveling.

This trip will change them in ways they have yet to discover, strengthen them as a couple and give Leah an opportunity to visit a place where she spent much of her youth.

Leah lived in Burma for six years with our parents and graduated from the International School of Yangon in 2002. I had the opportunity to attend her high school graduation and visit this beautiful country for myself. I’m thrilled she’s going back, taking this adventure and pleased that she kept in touch with friends in Burma to visit while she and Aaron are there.

But.

I will miss her tremendously. My children will miss her too.

Christmas simply will not be the same without her.

I’ll be waiting for their safe return, can’t wait to hear all about their travels and look forward to ringing in the New Year with her and Aaron and his family.

Bon voyage, Leah and Aaron and hurry home!

Thanks & Giving – NaBloPoMo

Posted on November 26, 2015 Written by Tonya

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Be grateful.

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So Very Thankful – NaBloPoMo

Posted on November 25, 2015 Written by Tonya

It’s that time of year again, when we should express our gratitude for people and things a little more so than the rest of the year.

Topping my list of course are; the 35 years I had with my parents, Todd, Lucas, Lola, my sister, my friends, Dave Matthews, books, reliable WiFi, my health, having a job I love and these 15 or so simple joys:

1. Name a color you are thankful for. Blue. All shades, from Robin’s Egg, Slate and Turquoise to Navy, Midnight and Cornflower. I love blue.

2. Something your spouse does that you are thankful for. Without fail he gets up each morning with our children.

3. Something your kids do that you are thankful for. I love it when they get along, play or read side by side and laugh together.

4. A food you are thankful for. Mexican. I swear I could live off of chips, salsa and guacamole. And the spicier the better!

5. What recent good news are you thankful for? As a former sun worshiper, I had two moles removed recently resulting in 10 stitches and a nasty infection from the bandages, but the negative skin cancer result was totally worth it!

6. Name a drink you are thankful for. I couldn’t just pick one so in no particular order; water, Diet Coke, Chai tea lattes, Tequila and wine.

7. Name a restaurant you are thankful for. Jan’s Health Bar. It’s within walking distance of my house, has the best smoothies and salads and chicken salad worth dying for!

8. Talk about an animal you are thankful for. I guess dogs, although my own gets on my every last nerve!

9. Name a beauty product you are thankful for. I discovered two this year that I love; Lancôme Hypnôse Doll Lashes and Nerium Night Cream.

10. Name a cleaning product you are thankful for. Clorox Disinfecting Wipes. I should owe stock. Seriously.

11. What social media platform are you thankful for? Facebook, but Instagram is a strong second. Both are such amazing ways to stay connected and showcase your photography and true works of art, your children.

12. Tell us why you are thankful for the last person who texted you. Nichole, for so many reasons. She’s kind and generous and the love she has for her children and all the small moments that make life so joyful is an inspiration.

13. Name a candy you are thankful for. I’m not a big candy person, but right now I am loving Trader Joe’s Ts & Js Sour Gummies.

14. Name an app on your phone that you are thankful for. Voxer!

15. What are you looking forward to that you are thankful for? Christmastime. It truly is the most magical time of the year!

What are you thankful for?

This post was written for Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop, Prompt 2. Answer the So Very Thankful tag questions.

Home – NaBloPoMo

Posted on November 24, 2015 Written by Tonya

I have had 30 different homes.

I’ve lived with my mom and dad, my sister, dogs, cats, fish, roommates that became friends, boyfriends that became husbands, husbands that became fathers and two adorable children.

It doesn’t matter how many addresses I’ve had, they say home is where the heart is and they’re right.

Home is also where I can drink cereal milk straight from the bowl, remove my bra, pile my hair in a messy bun on top of my head, stay in jammies all day on Sunday’s and collapse into a bed where I know I’ll get a good night sleep.

Home is where every sound is familiar and comforting; my husband’s keys in the front door, Lola talking quietly in her crib, airplanes flying overhead starting at 7AM.

Home is shelter, a safe haven and a soft place to land, relax, live, eat, laugh and enjoy a glass of Cabernet.

I asked Lucas what home meant to him and he said, “my blanket, my room, and the people in it.” Perfect.

Today is the second anniversary of our family living in our current home, a house we patiently waited to be built. Lucas and I drove by it so many times leading up to our move-in date and just stared, both of us imagining our lives within its walls and under its roof. I took pictures of the progress and we talked about the life we’d make here.

Our house. October 24, 2013. One month before we moved in.

Our house on October 24, 2013, one month before we moved in.

Two years and so many memories.

Our home today, November 24, 2015.

I love my house but it’s the people I share it with that make it my home.

Dorothy was spot-on: There’s no place like it. As we journey through life―dodging the occasional wicked witch―it’s comforting to know that a cozy bed, loving arms, and perhaps even a Munchkin or two await, just across the threshold. – Real Simple

New York State Of Mind – NaBloPoMo

Posted on November 23, 2015 Written by Tonya

New York was amazing.

New York is amazing! So much energy and life and lights and sights and sounds.

I hate to admit I was apprehensive about going.

I’ve never been away from my children for that long (four days!) and never that far! I was worried about the state of world affairs, especially after the terrorist attacks in Paris and spent the whole weekend leading up to our flight talking myself into the trip and then out of it again. I thought at the very least, Todd and I should travel separately. I was a basket case.

But then my wise friend Nichole, who knew what I was going through, sent me this quote the day before our trip and it solidified my decision:

There is a saying in Tibetan, ‘Tragedy should be utilized as a source of strength.’ No matter what sort of difficulties, how painful experience is, if we lose our hope, that’s our real disaster. – Dalai Lama XIV

I’m glad we went.

It was good to get away, spend time reconnecting with my husband and nice to savor meals, sleep in and have no agenda, no where we had to be. Plus, New York is gorgeous this time of year!

We spent an entire day in Central Park and I took hundreds of photographs. These are some of my favorite.

Central Park – November 17, 2015

Located near Central Park West between 71st and 74th Streets, Strawberry Fields is a 2.5 acre area of Central Park that pays tribute to the late Beatle, John Lennon, singer, songwriter, musician and peace activist. John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono lived in the Dakota Apartments adjacently located to this area of the park. It was here, walking into his home, on December 8, 1980, that John Lennon was murdered and shot dead.

Bethesda Fountain rises high above Bethesda Terrace, looking over the hundreds of visitors that come every day to enjoy the view of the lake and relax at the “heart” of the Central Park. The sculpture that tops it, Angel of Waters, was designed by Emma Stebbins in 1873 and is one of the most recognizable icons in the entire park.

I also got to meet one of my favorite bloggers, Kirsten of The Kir Corner and not that I am surprised, but she is just as lovely in person as she is online!

This powerful and bold word for anybody living in the 21st century is on the corner of 53rd Street and 7th Avenue. This Robert Indiana piece is just as important and powerful as “LOVE” (which is close by on 55th Street and 6th Ave).

I suck.

I really tried to post every day of this month, but with travel and packing, unpacking and packing again (we leave for San Francisco tomorrow), plus laundry, having Lucas home and everything else in between, it didn’t work out.

Oh well.

This will be my 19th post of the month.

And I’ve missed three days so far. Sigh.

It’s Not Our Anniversary – NaBloPoMo

Posted on November 20, 2015 Written by Tonya

It’s not our anniversary.

It’s not his birthday.

It’s not Valentine’s Day.

It’s not Father’s Day.

It’s not a day of any sort of significance.

And those are exactly the days when I love and appreciate him the most.

Well, it is Friday and I did just get to spend four full days alone with him.

I don’t tell my husband enough how much every little thing he does to keep our family together matters, how grateful I am for him and how much I love him.

Todd works hard, he’s an amazing father, supportive husband and tolerates all my bullshit.

Why I will never know.

New York – November 17, 2015

I love his dry sense of humor, the random Tuesday he picks up dinner, the way he loves our dog as if he was a third child, they way he wakes up each morning with Lucas to play, his obsession for shoes and jackets and the way he supports me, listens intently and always has my back.

He’s also kind and witty, very charming and devastatingly handsome.

I’m blessed.

My Second Child

Even More Things I Know For Sure – NaBloPoMo

Posted on November 17, 2015 Written by Tonya

Turns out at 43 I know some stuff.

Not a lot of stuff but enough.

I’ve shared before: 13 Things I Know For Sure and 13 More Things I Know For Sure.

For those of your keeping track, I’m up to 39 things I know for sure, as in without a doubt, I’d bet my next paycheck on it certainty.

Here again, is a list of 13 more things I know for for

1. People drive through our neighborhood too fast.

2. People drive too fast in general. Last May I got a speeding ticket, my first in years and I paid dearly for it. I’ve tried to slow ever since.

3. There are few things like reveling in the fact that all the laundry is done. I live for those five minutes each week!

4. All neighborhoods should have sidewalks.

5. Any time I step foot in Target I will spend $100.00. Even if I just go for one or two items. I know I’m not alone in this phenomenon.

6. Any time I step foot in a store that has carts and I think that basket will do I’m wrong!

7. If you give a child a napkin and they will find anything else inappropriate to use instead.

8. Inevitably a playdate will fall on the day after the housekeeper has come.

9. 5 to 7 days after we’ve been at a bounce house (or any public venue) birthday party, Lucas’s nose will start running like a faucet and within 48 hours his sister’s will too. But I will will be the one down for the count for at least two days! Good times.

10. As soon as the dishwasher in my house is emptied, it’s full again.

11. Lucas will try a new food at someone else’s house and love it, but the minute I serve it to him in our home, he won’t eat it.

12. My children truly have no idea how much they are loved. There is just no way.

13. Every day brings a chance to start over, a clean slate, a new beginning. And thank God for it!

What do you know for sure?

My Daughter – NaBloPoMo

Posted on November 16, 2015 Written by Tonya

My daughter.

She’s feisty and fun and full of sunshine.

This girl smiles all the time.

And her smile is infectious. I hope she always has that ability, the world could use more friendly faces.

I can’t believe she’ll be two soon. Why does childhood go by so fast?

My brave, strong, fearless daughter.

She loves being read to, going for walks around the block, blowing dandelions, jumping on the trampoline with her brother and doing “homework” each school night right by his side.

Watching the two of them together makes my heart swell. Knowing they will always be there for one another is the best feeling a mother can have.

We fought so hard for this little girl. But that’s just a faded memory now.

We needed her and she was meant to be ours.

Our family was perfect before and now it’s complete.

My daughter.

Elf On The Shelf – NaBloPoMo

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