Be Happy !

Nicole — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:07:19 +0000

“I’ve come to believe that seeking happiness
is not a frivolous pursuit.
It’s honorable and necessary.
And most people forget even to think about it.”

- Goldie Hawn

My Resolution: To Be Cool …

Nicole — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 23:36:21 +0000

It’s 2012.
We aren’t children anymore.
We are turning another year older in 2012 (God make it stop… I’m kidding!).
Are we cool…?
Does it matter…?
What does it mean to be cool?…

My New Year’s resolution is to be cool. I’m not giving anything up in 2012.
I am being cool this year.
Easier said than done? Maybe not…

I read an article awhile back that discussed coolness. George Clooney was mentioned.
He definitely seems cool.
But why?
The sly grin… the clothes… the trappings of stardom?
I don’t think so.
George Clooney seems to be ‘cool’ because he’s comfortable. He’s comfortable with himself, he’s comfortable with his life. Yes, one could say, ‘How could George Clooney not be comfortable?’ But money and especially fame, do not make you cool. What is cool, then?

Going back to that article – it was interesting… and long. Out of that whole article, 5 sentences stood out to me as a mother.

“Coolness is relaxation.” That may seem hard at first. But being relaxed doesn’t mean you aren’t busy. Being relaxed is merely taking things in stride. And moms are the best at this.

“Coolness is courage.” Coolness is taking a deep breathe and your son’s hand on the first day of kindergarten and telling him how much fun he’s going to have. Coolness is smiling at everyone on your way out, even though you already miss him a little.

“Coolness is knowing what’s going on.” Or coolness is at least knowing how to change a diaper, get little people dressed and fed, while trying to figure out what is going on.

“Coolness acknowledges the limits of life while affirming that life is worth living.” No one can be a parent and not be reminded everyday that life is worth living. And no one can be a parent and not be reminded everyday, especially during flu season and potty training that there are limits to life.

“Coolness is the freedom to be yourself.” How cool is it that we are older now… There is no cookie cutter for the perfect mom (trust me, I’ve looked). We are tall and short and blond and brunette. We laugh and cry and sometimes hit our heads against the wall (when no one is looking).

Coolness isn’t clothes. It doesn’t matter how much a pair of jeans cost, they’re really just jeans.  Coolness isn’t a purse or a particular diaper bag. Coolness is being a mom, and trying your best and being your best for your kids and yourself.  Coolness is understanding that you aren’t perfect and your kids aren’t perfect…  and when you’re tired at the end of the day and thinking, ‘What else do I have to do, what am I forgetting?’ you pick up your child and give them a hug.

That’s cool.

Moms are cool.

Period.

And The Wise Men Said…

Nicole — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:48:45 +0000

All is Calm,

All is Bright.

Sleep in Heavenly Peace…

Words To Live By…

Nicole — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 17:45:17 +0000

“One of the greatest discoveries a man makes,
one of his great surprises,
is to find he can do what he was afraid he couldn’t do.”

- Henry Ford

Did You Go Out Shopping On Black Friday ?

Nicole — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 23:48:36 +0000

Did you Go Out Shopping on Black Friday? I did. I went out on Black Friday for the 3rd Year In A Row, all thanks to my 1st Black Friday Experience a couple of years ago…

Here’s My Story About it …

Well, I finally did it. I went against years of eye rolling and head shaking… and I joined the shoppers in the early morning on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving.

I had previously sworn off Christmas shopping even on weekends- due to crowds. I had always shopped strictly on weekdays, when parking is easy and crowds are… nonexistent.

But the deals that were being advertised got me, and the desire to surprise my parents with a laptop computer this Christmas…

So there I was, dropped off on the sidewalk in front of Staples… at 7:45am.

(Please; I wouldn’t forgo regular sleep for shopping; 7:45 was early enough.)

I walked in. People were shopping, but it wasn’t crazy. I was told there was a ‘laptop area’, approached it, and within a few minutes I was being helped.

Every employee was really well informed, and helpful. The assistant manager who helped me with the laptop, also helped me find the 50%-off shredder I had seen in the paper (my gift to myself- I’ve always wanted a paper shredder for some reason AND I got it in ’sapphire’- gotta love Christmas shopping.)

Then, I got up to the cashier- with my crazy-discounted laptop, the discounted wireless mouse, and my 50%-off sapphire paper shredder- and the assistant manager starts in on what I think is going to be the ’strong sell’…

“Do you need a new printer to go with your laptop?”

“No.” I firmly, but nicely replied.

Then the cashier and assistant manager exchanged almost embarrassed looks…

And the cashier looked at me and said,

“They’re five dollars.”

What? What did she mean? I thought I heard her wrong… But it turned out that when you bought a laptop during ‘early bird’ hours on Black Friday, you could also get a new printer for $5, or a wireless, touchpad printer for $15.00.

… So I got the wireless touchpad printer for our computer room for fifteen dollars!!

My guys had decided against going to Dunkin’ Donuts and instead found a parking space right in front of the store, and walked in- just in time for us all to carry packages out to the car!

Success! For a moment, I thought I heard trumpets playing…

I was so inspired- I did something I wasn’t planning on doing. In fact, I never thought I’d do it-

I told my husband and my son to do some male bonding … and I WENT BACK OUT SHOPPING!

I went to Toys R US next-

It was busy, but so well organized! There were tons of helpful employees, the checkout was incredible, almost no wait- one line, specially made for Black Friday, and a guy pointing out clear cashiers… And last but not least- a young man whose sole job was passing out complimentary boxes of new 64 crayon sets!

I was having such a great time… I went to 4 more stores !!!!

I got some GREAT deals!

And people were nice, not crazy.

I think I just may do this again next year, I almost feel like the ‘Shopping Scrooge’ who has been enlightened, and now sees the error in their ‘previous shopping ways’…

Black Friday Shopping-

Another tradition has begun!

Thanksgiving is about giving thanks, so…

Nicole — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 23:34:45 +0000

Thank you for little hands and little toes,
Little fingerprints and a little nose.

Thank you for hair to comb and birthday parties to plan,
Mittens to lose and toy planes to land.

Thank you for family.
Thank you for friends.
Thank you for the autumn leaf colors and all the blends.

Thank you for life and imperfection.
Thank you for holiday candies and confection.

Thank you for little pajamas and toys about our house;
Thank you for laughter during the day and at night- Quiet as a mouse.

Thank you for reading books and a roof over our heads,
A Winnie-The-Pooh toothbrush and a big boy bed.

Thank you for smiles and giggles reigning,
And Thank you (finally) to an end of potty-training.

Thank you for jackets, but temperatures not too cold…
And Thank you for all the memories I’ll have,
Long after I’m old.

* I wrote this a few years ago,
that being said,
I am still very grateful for potty-training being a now distant, memory

I CAN Do THAT !

Nicole — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 01:45:51 +0000

Where do I fit exercising into my day?
I am not a runner, although I will run if I am being chased.

I actually don’t need to lose weight, I just want to tone up a little and be healthy. I’ve changed the way I cook over the past year for the better, making more vegetables and proteins, less carbohydrates.

So exercising has now made its way up my priority list.
But who has time to exercise?
I just got an email from my sister-in-law that said at the end of it, that she was going down to her basement gym to work out before her kids woke up- her email was sent at 6 am.

God bless her… but I am not that kinda’ gal.
I know I will never wake myself up at 6 am just to exercise.
And then I’m busy with my 7-year-old and the house,
and playdates and school,
and laundry, and building forts, and life.

Can I trick myself into exercising just a little at a time?
According to the Centers for Disease Control- the answer is,  ‘Yes I can’!

Exercising for 10 minutes, three times a day is as good for you as exercising for 30 minutes straight.
Huh? Really? I think… I can do that!

While my son was at school I took a break and walked to the bottom of our street and back- it took 10 minutes.  Our neighborhood park is a 10-minute walk away.  My son and I were at the mall so when we were finished buying him shoes, we did a lap around the mall (he loved it).  So… I think I can do this!

Wait- if I am walking, carrying groceries (weights) for 5 minutes-  does that count the same?

Always remember…

Nicole — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 17:58:44 +0000

“Success is a like wrestling a gorilla.
You don’t quit when you’re tired-
you quit when the gorilla is tired.”

- Robert Strauss

Only a Mother…

Nicole — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 15:48:41 +0000

I realize I have posted this quote before,
but I just have to post it again,
because I think being a mother may just be the
most important job and love,
in the world…

“A mother is a person
who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people,
promptly announces she never did care for pie.”

~Tenneva Jordan

That says it all really, doesn’t it?

Words From A Great Man…

Nicole — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 21:30:17 +0000

“Always bear in mind
that your own resolution
to succeed
is more important
than any other.”

- Abraham Lincoln