The #momreality movement turns 6 this month! I know I've been remiss in posting the monthly #momreality roundups, to share how refreshing and real these moments of authentic motherhood on Instagram can be. I went back through the archives and saw I posted these celebratory roundup posts only 3 times last year and none in the last 10 months. So I sat down last night to find 3 posts to feature. I scrolled. And scrolled. 20 minutes later, I gave up, feeling unsettled. is authenticity just a buzzword now? Searching all the … [Read more...]
hold on to the details
As you practice finding your family stories around you, it's easy to focus on the big ones. The big lessons learned, the firsts and the lasts. Sometimes, however, the most important stories are none of those things. Yes, it's easier to share a story where I had a sudden realization of something about my kids, or something about myself. But when I scroll back through these photographs, when I re-read my words, I always find I'm most drawn to the simple scenes. The "how life really was" moments. It's all the little details that I've … [Read more...]
everyday
I present to you: a typical December school morning. To avoid the frantic rush of "Where are my shoes? Where is my coat?" I make them out on coat/shoes/backpack a good 10 minutes before we need to leave (because on any given morning we will use that entire 10 minutes finding these things)- and if they are quick enough, they can play the rest of the time. My coat is slung over the chair from the 6:20 bus stop run with my oldest (she doesn't like walking down in the dark and asks me to drive her each morning). School papers and mail are all over … [Read more...]
self-care is not sloth
I've been quiet. But that's nothing new- I haven't been blogging regularly here in what- a year? But it's been a different kind of quiet. You see, all of 2019 felt like a trainwreck. Business was booming, but I was unhappy. I was having health problems. My kids were having health problems. I was borrowing time from what should have been family time to get more things done- be all the things to all the people. Except I was failing miserably at the balancing act. I wasn't writing because there wasn't time, but I was also beating … [Read more...]
Give the Gift of Scouting
The countdown to Christmas is on and the stores are packed with people trying to find the perfect gift for the loved ones in their lives. The toy aisles especially are clogged up as parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles all try to find the right gift for that special kiddo. The same with the electronics department- people staring at video games and wondering if it's a good gift. Lately, I've been embracing experience gifts. Instead of one more THING to clutter up my house, experience gifts like memberships and trips make longer lasting … [Read more...]
Holiday Organization
This month, I asked Empowering Home Organization's Lisa Yingling to be my guest for the Small Business Spotlight. Lisa is a wonderful home organizer in Bel Air, MD. She is laid back, non-judgmental and extremely skilled with organization. I asked her to talk to us about some holiday organization tips, so check out the video below! I think my favorite tip is the one about scheduling, but remembering not to over schedule. I'm a chronic over scheduler, and it's the biggest cause of stress in my life. I'm definitely going to be putting … [Read more...]
meant to be
Some times, things were meant to be. At first glance, everything was going wrong for this portrait session in Harford County's iconic sunflower field. The family was caught in traffic making a long drive even worse. The kids were tired of being in the car, and the littlest fell asleep. (We all know how rough it can be waking up from an unexpected car nap!) The skies were gathering clouds as I was communicating with Mom- don't stress- I'm here- you get here when you get here. The humidity was oppressive. It was going from dark to darker … [Read more...]
Last Minute Gift Ideas for Moms and Teachers
May sneaks up on me, and before I know it I feel like I'm downing. Parents, I know I'm not alone on this. May and October and stressful months. My calendar- despite how color coded and organized I try to make it- is imploding and ready to just give up. So is my brain. Add in Mother's Day and Teacher Appreciation week and I feel like I'm dropping the ball left and right. It's not that I don't love our teachers- I do! They put up with so much crap and somehow manage to dish out so much love. But I can't ever get my act together in time to … [Read more...]
in the middle
I can choose to celebrate her independence, or I can fight against it. Miss Independent will NOT accept help to speed things along, no matter the situation. Running late for the bus? Getting in the car for scouts? The best I can hope for is "Just put your shoes on while I'm driving!" but even that backfires when she only brings one shoe and I don't realize until we've arrived at our destination. We've spent many an errand-running afternoon in preschool with a one-shoed child. I wasted a lot of time trying to fight her on this. We'd … [Read more...]
Celebrating new life
Maternity portraits are full of anticipation, joy, and wonder. Women celebrating their transition to mother, their changing shape, the strength it takes to create life within your own body, all with a beautiful series of photographs. It's important to take the time to rejoice in where you are right now- before the major life changes. (and during, and after) It's a gift to have these photos to look back on. I know personally, I love looking back at pregnant photos of myself- marveling at how huge I once was and looking at the big kid in front of … [Read more...]
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