Last week, Emmalynn’s teachers planned a Memorial Day program complete with songs, poems and red, white and blue attire. The kids were so cute. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house.
Thank you to all the service men and women who sacrificed so much to protect our freedom.
God Bless the USA!
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In recent months, there has been a resurgence on “war on women”. I’m not referring to the “war on women” that has been happening for centuries in the Middle East or the heinous atrocities happening to women in Africa or even the verbal attacks in the U.S. political arena. Instead, I’m referring to the age old war of working moms vs. stay at home moms and the other ugly battle, attachment parenting vs. traditional parenting. First, it was the ridiculous comments made by Hilary Rosen about Ann Romney. Then, there was an uproar in response to the Time magazine cover.
Why do we allow society or the media to flame these feuds?
If you work outside the home and still have the strength to raise a family, then you should be applauded. If your job is a full time mom trying to juggling it all without losing your mind or yourself trapped between a world of toddlerese and Lori Berkner, then your efforts should be applauded as well. Neither job is easy. Motherhood no matter how it’s dressed up, be it a corporate suit or yoga pants, requires sacrifice and that sacrifice should be praised not ridiculed.
And yet, somehow that sacrifice opens the door for ridicule or judgment rather than praise.
As moms, we make decisions every day about child-rearing with the sole purpose to do what’s best for our children. Therefore, how can any reasonable child-rearing choice be wrong? If you choose to breastfeed your child until school-age, who are we to judge? If you choose to bottle feed your baby over breastfeeding, who are we to judge? And if your child stays on the bottle, boob or binky until kindergarten, then that’s also a parenting choice and no one should judge.
No matter which avenue we choose to get there, we all want a stress-free existence with confident, well-adjusted children. Our ultimate goal is the same. So why not build a society that mirrors the one created when we cradle infants in our arms, be it on the breast or on a bottle?
Acceptance and support starts with each of us. As mothers, we need to stop criticizing each other and start supporting one another. We can’t allow magazine images and political sound bites to open the door to criticism and attacks.
Motherhood makes beautiful things. Society needs to stop turning into something ugly.
With yesterday being Mother’s Day, I felt compelled to share my thoughts about moms supporting other moms and what better way than incorporating it into a Music Monday post. What topics and tunes are moving you?
I’m still co-hosting with Xmas Dolly and her Monday’s Music Moves Me crew (Lorie, Stacy, Callie and Cathy), so link up and share.
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In case you hadn’t heard, I did not get selected for the NYC Marathon. The lottery is completely random and for that, it was it is. I’ll apply again next January and who knows?
I only need to apply one more year for a guaranteed spot in 2014. So, 2014 will be my year. I can feel it!
Someday, I’ll run the NYC marathon. I won’t give up.
I absolutely love the first single from Jason Mraz’s new album, Love is a Four Letter Word. Although I related “I Won’t Give Up” to my desire to run the NYC marathon, the song can be linked to so many other aspects of life, as Jason Mraz pointed out in a CNN interview.
I like to think of it in terms of my relationship with God, which is always a work in progress.
I won’t give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I’m giving you all my love
I’m still looking up
I’m still looking up
I won’t give up (No I’m not) on us (Giving up)
God knows i’m tough (I am tough), He knows (I am loved)
We got a lot (We’re alive) to learn (We are loved)
God knows we’re worth it (And we’re worth it)
I won’t give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I’m giving you all my love
I’m still looking up
The lyrics are so deep and powerful. The song hits a raw nerve with me and moves me to tears every time I hear it. I wonder if the rest of the album will have that same effect on me. I may need to keep a box of tissues close when I listen to it.
So, what do you think of Jason Mraz’s new single? Does it move you too?
For this week’s Music Monday, I’m co-hosting with Xmas Dolly and her Monday’s Music Moves Me crew: Lorie, Stacy, Callie and Cathy. These ladies are such wonderful, supportive people and I am THRILLED to be part of the MMMM team again for the next month. So, link up and join the fun!
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With the exception of the cold front that rolled in over the weekend, temperatures are on the rise which means my miles will be tapering down. As for races, I have a few more 5Ks and then one last longer distance (5 Miles for Moffitt) until the cooler weather returns this fall.
Since summer weather brings shorter distance races and triathlons, over the next few months I’ll be focusing on lots of cross-training (swimming, biking and strength training exercises) and speed work.
Yeah, it’s time to pump it.
On the subject of speed work, Ricole Runs and Run DMT will be hosting a new linky party every Tuesday called Track Tuesday. We’re hoping a weekly blog hop and little peer pressure will keep us motivated to do weekly sprints. I definitely need to focus on speed and I could use some virtual running partners encouraging me to stay focused. If you’re a runner, I hope you join us tomorrow for Track Tuesday.
And there’s one more thing for me to be pumped about! The lottery for the NYC Marathon will happen this Wednesday at noon and I will be watching the tweets and the live streaming selection process with bated breath. You can watch it live too at http://www.nyrr.org/media-room/nyrr-tv.
God, I hope I make it. I’ve got my fingers, toes and laces crossed that I make it this year. Wish me luck and link up and share what music is moving you this week.
Visit Xmas Dolly , Hairbows & Guitar Picks and Jade Louise Designs for more Music Monday fun.
In support of Purple Day (March 26), Kirsten and I have planned another purple picnic for our girls. For the special occasion, I’m busy preparing a purple pasta salad and baking purple cupcakes and any other purple provisions I can think of for our little picnic.
The purpose behind Purple Day and our pint-size purple picnic is to spread epilepsy awareness.
*Purple Day Picnic 2011*
Did you know that “epilepsy affects over 50 million people worldwide or approximately 1 in 100 people? That’s more than multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy and Parkinson’s disease combined.” (Statistic borrowed from purpleday.org.)
My niece, Meghan, is one of the people affected by epilepsy.
In a few weeks, our entire extended family will participate in the Hare Racing Experience to benefit epilepsy awareness. We’ll wear matching purple shirts and represent ourselves as Team Meggers in Meghan’s honor.
We gladly give our support and hearts to each of the causes because someone we love needs a cure.
*Purple ribbon photo by Kirsten*
Please consider wearing purple today to help spread epilepsy awareness.
Have a purple song or photo to share? Join our Music Monday Purple Day Blog Hop. Link up and share. Linky will stay open until Sunday, April 1.
Additional facts about epilepsy from PurpleDay.org:
Some common triggers include:
Forgetting to take prescribed seizure medication
Lack of sleep
Missing meals
Stress, excitement, emotional upset
Menstrual cycle / hormonal changes
Illness or fever
Low seizure medication levels
Medications other than prescribed seizure medication
Flickering lights of computers, television, videos, etc., and sometimes even bright sunlight
Excessive alcohol consumption and subsequent withdrawal
Street drugs
I am ridiculously excited about St. Patrick’s Day falling on a Saturday this year because there’s no work or after school activities to get in the way of our Irish beer consumption. Although my girls and I do have a 5K race in the morning, it won’t be long before I’m finishing off a green beer after crossing the finish line.
Before we head out that evening, Allan and I will line our bellies with some Guinness corned beef and potatoes and then get onto to the drinking. It won’t be too long before we look like this.
I’ll probably wear the same green top I always wear, but I love this shirt from Urban Outfitters.
I’m thinking about buying a green hair wig too just to change it up this year and go out full on green style.
What are your plans for St. Patrick’s Day? Will you be going out in style?
Last Saturday, I ran along with nearly 5,000 people in the Gasparilla 15K, including my friend Maribel who ran her very first race ever.
However, the heat was so unbearable that I walked a lot of the course. Although I hoped to finish around 1:30, it just wasn’t going to happen. Oh well. There’s always another race to prove myself and what I can do.
In the meantime, I need to train in the heat to prepare my body for unexpected heat waves, especially since I have two more races this month.
What doesn’t’ kill you only makes you stronger.
(Stay tuned for a full Gasparilla recap!)
For this week’s Music Monday, I’m co-hosting with Xmas Dolly and her Monday’s Music Moves Me crew: Lorie, Stacy, Callie and Cathy. These ladies are such wonderful, supportive people and I am THRILLED to be part of this with them! So, link up and join the fun!
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On Saturday, my girls ran the Gasparilla Junior race.
Yesterday, I ran the Disney Princess Half Marathon.
Then in a couple weeks on St. Patrick’s Day, the girls and I will run the Spring Sprint 5K.
It sure does feel like we run the world.
Yep, me and my girls, we run this mother.
For this week’s Music Monday, I’m co-hosting with Xmas Dolly and her Monday’s Music Moves Me crew: Lorie, Stacy, Callie and Cathy. These ladies are such wonderful, supportive people and I am THRILLED to be part of this with them! So, link up and join the fun!
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Every time Selena Gomez and the Scene’s song plays on the radio, my kids yell and beg from the back of the mini-van for me to turn it up. It’s a cute song, so I don’t mind. Like an 80s throwback, it’s got a good beat and it’s easy to dance to you. Even the video is an 80s throwback.
And much like the bubble pop music of the 80s, this song will get stuck in my head for days. At least the lyrics are sweet so I don’t mind when they keep re-peat-peat-peat-peat-peat-petaing in my head (except when that part plays over and over in my head).
It’s been said and done
Every beautiful thought’s been already sung
And I guess right now here’s another one
So your melody will play on and on, with the best of ‘em
You are beautiful, like a dream come alive, incredible
A centerfold miracle, lyrical
You’ve saved my life again
And I want you to know babyI, I love you like a love song, baby
I, I love you like a love song, baby
I, I love you like a love song, babyAnd I keep hitting re-peat-peat-peat-peat-peat-peat
I, I love you like a love song, baby
I, I love you like a love song, baby
I, I love you like a love song, babyAnd I keep hitting re-peat-peat-peat-peat-peat-peat
Constantly, boy you played through my mind like a symphony
There’s no way to describe what you do to me
You just do to me, what you do
And it feels like I’ve been rescued
I’ve been set free
I am hypnotized by your destiny
You are magical, lyrical, beautiful
You are… And I want you to know babyI, I love you like a love song, baby
I, I love you like a love song, baby
I, I love you like a love song, babyAnd I keep hitting re-peat-peat-peat-peat-peat-peat
I, I love you like a love song, baby
I, I love you like a love song, baby
I, I love you like a love song, babyAnd I keep hitting re-peat-peat-peat-peat-peat-peat
No one compares
You stand alone, to every record I own
Music to my heart that’s what you are
A song that goes on and onI, I love you like a love song, baby
I, I love you like a love song, baby
I, I love you like a love song, babyAnd I keep hitting re-peat-peat-peat-peat-peat-peat
I, I love you like a love song, baby
I, I love you like a love song, baby
I, I love you like a love song, babyI love you…like a love song…
When I really listened to the lyrics, I realized the song could be so much better than a bubble-gum pop hit. If someone slowed it down and sang a more soulful version of it with just an acoustic guitar, you would then hear the beauty in the love song.
Surely, someone has figured that one out already. I couldn’t be the only one. (Nope, I’m not and don’t call me Shirley.)
Although the volume of the video is very low, Dena’s version is definitely worth listening to, so crank it up.
I even found a tutorial guitar lesson, which I was sure to pass along to my guitar playing hubby. Maybe he’ll serenade me for Valentine’s Day.
For that, I’ll love him like a love song and I’ll keep hitting re-peat-peat-peat-peat-peat-peat.
Visit Xmas Dolly and Hairbows & Guitar Picks for more Music Monday fun.
Ten days after my wisdom teeth were extracted, I’m still experiencing pain because my bottom left steenky hole is giving me trouble. I can control the pain with 800 mg ibuprofen, but sometimes at night the pain is so intense, I need to take vicodin.
Besides the pain, I’m still on a soft foods diet which is so annoying and almost as painful. Even soft foods like toast, oatmeal or bananas get trapped in my steeky holes which causes me pain and then I’d rather not eat it. So, that leaves me slurping up soup and wishing for chicken wings.
Speaking of chicken wings and other deliciousness, I’ve been torturing myself with food porn on Pinterest. When I first created my recipe board, it was titled, “Eat, Drink and be Merry”, but when I was laid up in bed due to my wisdom teeth, I decided to change the name to “Food, Glorious Food”. Everything I came across looked so good. I can’t wait to be off this soft diet to sink my teeth into those dishes. It’s sad how much I miss real food and beer.
But now think I should change my Pinterest recipe board title to “Food Porn”, due to the primeval sounds I make looking at each photo and recipe. “Ooooooo. Oh wow. What I could do with that.”
So thanks to my stinky holes, I’m a bit impotent in the kitchen these days, but once these pits heal, I’ll be doing the dirty deed again. For now, I’ll just keep drooling over my Pinterest food porn and all the food, glorious food.
Visit Xmas Dolly and Hairbows & Guitar Picks for more Music Monday fun.
