The Bright Side

Would you rather drive 16 hours to Hilton Head by yourself (as far as only adult) with a 5 and 3 year old OR stand in front of your full length mirror trying on bathing suits in March as you look outside at the delicate, pristine snowflaskes gently hit the ground? Neither, aw come on, where is your sense of adventure? Ok, ok, flip a coin, not sure what to choose? I will try to look on the bright side of both.

1. I am going on Spring Break! Maybe that statement doesn't carry the same allure as it may have back in the college days. Ahh, I still remember my friend Shannon and I hopping in the car with no plan, no reservations and drove 24 hours straight through to Florida. Upon arrival we drove up and down the strip to find any hotel that had the florescent glow of Vacancy. This time, I am driving 16 hours on the open road with my new partners in crime, Kate and Emma, we are all super excited and it will be great memory-making! I do have a few tricks up my sleeve just to make sure the ride goes as smoothly as, well, any 16 hour car ride with two kids under 6 can.
Here is my travel tip.

• I have prepared goody bags to give to the girls each hour of the trip. Nothing elaborate, however just enough to keep them excited as each hour approches and keep them occupied as each minute passes. For example one hour they will get gold fish and silly putty (they have never used Silly Putty before)

2. Bright side of trying on bathing suits as it is 19 degress and snowing outside? For this one I had to dig a little deeper to find that bright side. This is what I came up with.

• I am going on Spring break people. I will be out of the snow and 19 degree weather soon! So keeping my mind occupied with that thought will keep my mind off the realization that I am wearing a bikini right now. Well not literally right now as I am typing-that would be weird. But  the fact that it is never fun trying on bathing suits.

Hope everyone looks on the bright side each day!!

…C

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Boo, I am in a rut. Unfortunately this is not a rut of late; this seems to be a rut that started since (whisper) I became a mom. Why the whisper? It is NOT in any way, shape or form that I regret becoming a mom. I wanted to be a mom, I LOVE my kids, and they are my life. But maybe that is a little teeny, tiny bit of the problem. They are my life. Don’t take that the wrong way. I hope that I can better explain myself. Let me give you a little back story.

Here is the cliff notes version of my life

Act 1 - Start Here

I grew up in a loving household with supportive parents. I enjoyed school, had success in sports, took the smart kid classes and had (still have) great friends. My dad was my #1 fan; there was no shortage of praise from him. He and my mom thought I could conquer the world and accomplish anything I set my mind to. And I thought it too!!

Act 2 - Next Step

College was no different. Played sports, more great friends, I had a coveted bartending job at a campus hot spot and I held leadership positions at my college. Back then I often saw myself holding a leadership position in my future, I enjoyed assuming that role. I imagined somewhere on the local level such as local politician-mayor of the town in which I lived.

Act 3 - Here I exist

I am not sure what happened, or how my vision for myself changed. Fast-forward to present day, married with two children. Again, don't get me wrong, I enjoy my life. However I pretty much struggle daily with feelings of inadequacy. I feel as though I am not doing enough, being enough, making the impact I thought I would.

Each Friday I go to dinner with my dad and I have had this conversation with him. What is my identity? What am I destined to do/achieve/accomplish? How am I going to change the world or my little part of the world? He feels terrible hearing me say this and he replies that I am doing a wonderful job raising two sweet, kind little girls and that should be my focus at this time. Which ok, fine but there is enough time to do that and make a larger impact beyond just my family. I tell my students don't just exist within these four walls. Be bigger, be more, do more than just exist. However I feel that is what I am doing, just existing. I have used being a mom as an excuse to have no time to do anything else. I feel that I have not focused in on any one thing to be great at any one thing. Since becoming a mom five years ago, I feel as though I have lost part of my own identity, I have put myself into a little box labeled "mom".

Act 4 – So Now What?

I recently gave the eulogy at my friend's father’s funeral. In all honesty the passing of one life makes you think about your own. Unfortunately at this point I feel I have not been the person I want to be, made the impact that I want to make, that I thought I would be making in life. I wake each day waiting for a sign, waiting for something to hit me, getting that Aha moment.

So now what? Time to re-focus and lay out some plans for my life and start being the person I desire and envisioned so long ago. Stop using the excuse that I am too busy. Because you know what, everyone is busy. I need to make time for the things I am passionate about again and show my daughters how to be the best version of themselves that they can be.  Teach them by modeling for them how to make a difference and support things they believe in, chase their dreams, achieve their goals, and have passions. Be leaders, do not just exist.

Ok, therapy session over. Today’s take away, don’t just exist. Don’t let yourself be defined by one label.

…C

Several ways to...wear a brooch

Do you have a piece of jewelry that was passed down from a grandmother or great aunt? And has that said piece been sitting lonely in your jewelry box because you could not part with it for sentimental reasons? Or have you been given a gift by a friend or loved one but never knew how to use it? Today I am talking brooches. Time to look in the waaay back of your jewelry box and bring out some of those things that you have not worn. Let them see daylight.

 

Here I show several ways to wear a brooch.

Here I add it to a hat.

Here I had a 6 strand necklace and offset the brooch to add a little something extra.

Added to this pashmina to keep it secure and keep warm.

Hide the plain button on the back of this backless dress.

Finally same dress but added it to a fabric belt on the front.

The possibilities are endless.

…C