Happy Saturday Smackers!
Share a Spoon Theme - This Ain't the Shallow End of the Pool
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Happy Saturday Smackers!
Share a Spoon - Midnight Snackin' Grilled Cheese Please
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Share a Spoon
My 10 inspired by The Blogger formerly known as That One Mom
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
My great friend Kristin, the blogger formerly known as That One Mom has been on a roll this week. First, she came out of the closet. Changed her name on her blog and Twitter, when she decided to share her true authentic self with the rest of the world. I loved the post.
Then today, she posts her 10 Commandments of Kristin. Her basic rules of being Kristin. Fabulous post. If you haven't already, go read it here.
So....I am doing my own. Basically, these are a set of non-negotiable guidelines if you will to live by. Everyone has them, but, writing them down and really thinking about what makes the top ten is an exercise I think we can all benefit from.
Here's my list:
1. Love thy self. (You must love yourself before you can love others.)
2. When in doubt, opt for truth. (The truth will always set you free.)
3. Do it with passion or don't do it at all.
4. Don't sweat the small stuff. (The big stuff is never in short supply.)
5. Forgiveness begins with me.
6. Never go to bed angry.
7. Enjoy the moments. (They are gone too quickly, no time to lament what you didn't enjoy the first time around.)
8. Take time when you need it. (You are no good to yourself or others when you need a moment to breathe, grieve, cry, etc.)
9. Teach love, don't just preach it. (Actions speak louder than words!)
10. LAUGH. Laugh long. Laugh loud. Laugh often.
So...what are yours? Have you ever sat down and written them out for yourself?
Then today, she posts her 10 Commandments of Kristin. Her basic rules of being Kristin. Fabulous post. If you haven't already, go read it here.
So....I am doing my own. Basically, these are a set of non-negotiable guidelines if you will to live by. Everyone has them, but, writing them down and really thinking about what makes the top ten is an exercise I think we can all benefit from.
Here's my list:
1. Love thy self. (You must love yourself before you can love others.)
2. When in doubt, opt for truth. (The truth will always set you free.)
3. Do it with passion or don't do it at all.
4. Don't sweat the small stuff. (The big stuff is never in short supply.)
5. Forgiveness begins with me.
6. Never go to bed angry.
7. Enjoy the moments. (They are gone too quickly, no time to lament what you didn't enjoy the first time around.)
8. Take time when you need it. (You are no good to yourself or others when you need a moment to breathe, grieve, cry, etc.)
9. Teach love, don't just preach it. (Actions speak louder than words!)
10. LAUGH. Laugh long. Laugh loud. Laugh often.
So...what are yours? Have you ever sat down and written them out for yourself?
A Party fit for a Princess in a Pink Tutu
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
This past weekend we celebrated Belly's birthday. A fabulous Princess Castle Cake, a few gifts, family and friends, and great food. It was a smashing good time. I have pictures to prove it.
As I was thinking about how much my little princess enjoyed her party this evening, I kept remembering some things I read on blogs recently. Moms talking about molding their daughters into this, or into that. Carving their paths for them. I remembered reading a blog months ago where one mom talked about not allowing her daughter to have fairy tales of princesses and the like. Her daughter was going to be Chief Justice after all. Her daughter was 3.
I remembered how that blog struck me on that day. I thought perhaps I was just in a surly mood, that I was offended that she would deprive her daughter the imaginary places that I had played when I was little. I mean, I grew up soon enough and experienced what the world had to offer. Why was this mom so driven to make sure her daughter was everything she (the mother) wanted her daughter to be? Yet, so quick to stifle her daughter's little imagination to dream of things that were silly. Imagine if someone had stamped out JK Rowlings imagination.
I've also been stewing over so many of the posts I've read where moms are passing on their own demons to their daughters. WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU? I mean, we as women want to mold our daughters into what we think they should be? What we want them to be? Which obviously would be something more or different than we are, yet, in addition to driving them to this success, we are going to burden them with our demons? SERIOUSLY?
This bothers me. What's wrong with just nurturing our children, daughters and sons alike, to be who they are? Who they are supposed to become instead of what we think they should become. What we want them to become. They all come into this world with their own little personalities. Why is it so difficult to just embrace that personality? Help that little person grow into who they are in their heart.
There is enough sadness in this world. There is enough ugly in this world. There is damn sure too much hate in this world. Our babies will experience all of that way too soon for my liking and way too often as they grow up. It's much easier to take that sadness, hate and ugliness if you are happy. I want my boys and my daughter to be happy. Whatever it is they want to be, that thing that brings them joy, deep in their hearts, that's what I want for them.
If that joy comes from becoming an artist, or musician, I am o.k. with that. It isn't always a lucrative choice. They struggle to make ends meet. However, they do what the love. What they are passionate about. What makes their hearts sing. Don't you wish your heart sang everyday because you were doing what brought you joy? Wouldn't you want that and more for your child?
Sometimes I think that it's easy to forget what makes us happy, isn't the same as what makes the next person happy. That's an especially hard concept to grasp when the next person is your child. We all tell our children they can be anything they want to be. Do we really mean that? Or is it just something we say?
The greatest gift my mother ever gave me was the gift of fearlessness. She gave me this inner strength to just be me. To love myself regardless of what others thought. To never fear being told "no." When I would struggle with trying out for something, or tackling my next accomplishment, she would always say..."What's the worst they can say? No or hell no, right?" And she was right. So what if someone says "No." What if they say "Yes!"? If you never try, you'll never know. Good Lord that woman was smart! Is smart. I didn't give her credit for that when I was ashithead teenager.
So...every day I try to encourage my children to be who they are. I love that Kenna has blossomed into her own woman. I love the fact that Kamden marches to the beat of his own drummer. I love that Kooper is exactly like BDC. A son truly could not be more like his father. I love that when my step-son Michael is here in my home, he feels comfortable to be himself and let his guard down. I am learning to love that Belly is stubborn, and strong willed. *ahem* I don't know where she gets that!
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| Every little girl needs a pretty pink tutu for her 1st Bday Party! |
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| She needs a Princess Castle Cake too! |
As I was thinking about how much my little princess enjoyed her party this evening, I kept remembering some things I read on blogs recently. Moms talking about molding their daughters into this, or into that. Carving their paths for them. I remembered reading a blog months ago where one mom talked about not allowing her daughter to have fairy tales of princesses and the like. Her daughter was going to be Chief Justice after all. Her daughter was 3.
I remembered how that blog struck me on that day. I thought perhaps I was just in a surly mood, that I was offended that she would deprive her daughter the imaginary places that I had played when I was little. I mean, I grew up soon enough and experienced what the world had to offer. Why was this mom so driven to make sure her daughter was everything she (the mother) wanted her daughter to be? Yet, so quick to stifle her daughter's little imagination to dream of things that were silly. Imagine if someone had stamped out JK Rowlings imagination.
I've also been stewing over so many of the posts I've read where moms are passing on their own demons to their daughters. WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU? I mean, we as women want to mold our daughters into what we think they should be? What we want them to be? Which obviously would be something more or different than we are, yet, in addition to driving them to this success, we are going to burden them with our demons? SERIOUSLY?
This bothers me. What's wrong with just nurturing our children, daughters and sons alike, to be who they are? Who they are supposed to become instead of what we think they should become. What we want them to become. They all come into this world with their own little personalities. Why is it so difficult to just embrace that personality? Help that little person grow into who they are in their heart.
There is enough sadness in this world. There is enough ugly in this world. There is damn sure too much hate in this world. Our babies will experience all of that way too soon for my liking and way too often as they grow up. It's much easier to take that sadness, hate and ugliness if you are happy. I want my boys and my daughter to be happy. Whatever it is they want to be, that thing that brings them joy, deep in their hearts, that's what I want for them.
If that joy comes from becoming an artist, or musician, I am o.k. with that. It isn't always a lucrative choice. They struggle to make ends meet. However, they do what the love. What they are passionate about. What makes their hearts sing. Don't you wish your heart sang everyday because you were doing what brought you joy? Wouldn't you want that and more for your child?
Sometimes I think that it's easy to forget what makes us happy, isn't the same as what makes the next person happy. That's an especially hard concept to grasp when the next person is your child. We all tell our children they can be anything they want to be. Do we really mean that? Or is it just something we say?
The greatest gift my mother ever gave me was the gift of fearlessness. She gave me this inner strength to just be me. To love myself regardless of what others thought. To never fear being told "no." When I would struggle with trying out for something, or tackling my next accomplishment, she would always say..."What's the worst they can say? No or hell no, right?" And she was right. So what if someone says "No." What if they say "Yes!"? If you never try, you'll never know. Good Lord that woman was smart! Is smart. I didn't give her credit for that when I was a
So...every day I try to encourage my children to be who they are. I love that Kenna has blossomed into her own woman. I love the fact that Kamden marches to the beat of his own drummer. I love that Kooper is exactly like BDC. A son truly could not be more like his father. I love that when my step-son Michael is here in my home, he feels comfortable to be himself and let his guard down. I am learning to love that Belly is stubborn, and strong willed. *ahem* I don't know where she gets that!
Share a Spoon - The Witching Hour
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Share a Spoon - Breakfast SoS
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Share a Spoon
Share a Spoon Theme - Breakfast
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Happy Saturday Smackers!
It's a Belly Party....
Friday, February 11, 2011
What a difference a year makes. Last year on this day my heart was so full I didn't think it could experience anything more without bursting from sheer joy. BDC and I welcomed our newest family member into the world and experienced emotions I didn't know were possible.
In one day we watched our daughter give birth. We became grandparents, and new parents all in one day and the emotions were....well there just really are no words. We have grown this last year in ways that have made us stronger, made us love deeper and given us the opportunity to embrace parenthood with more appreciation than I dreamed was possible.
If you are new here and don't know the story of Belly, please feel free to catch up here. We'll wait.
All caught up?
Today we're celebrating just how much joy you can experience in the blink of an eye. We aren't having a party until next weekend, as we've all been sick this week, including Belly, but nevertheless, today BDC and I have hearts full of joy and happiness.
I will post some pictures of her Princess Party after we shower her with Birthday wishes next weekend! Until then....HAPPY BIRTHDAY BELL!
In one day we watched our daughter give birth. We became grandparents, and new parents all in one day and the emotions were....well there just really are no words. We have grown this last year in ways that have made us stronger, made us love deeper and given us the opportunity to embrace parenthood with more appreciation than I dreamed was possible.
If you are new here and don't know the story of Belly, please feel free to catch up here. We'll wait.
All caught up?
Today we're celebrating just how much joy you can experience in the blink of an eye. We aren't having a party until next weekend, as we've all been sick this week, including Belly, but nevertheless, today BDC and I have hearts full of joy and happiness.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BELLY!
(In case you're wondering about the moniker Belly? I tend to give everyone I love nicknames. I started calling her Khylee Annie Belly pronounced with a very heavy Italian accent <think big Italian Chef> because her name is Khylee Anne. Belly just kind of stuck)
I will post some pictures of her Princess Party after we shower her with Birthday wishes next weekend! Until then....HAPPY BIRTHDAY BELL!
Share a Spoon - Hershey's Chocolate Truffles
Thursday, February 10, 2011
I love chocolate. I mean I really really luuuuuurrrrrve it! When I was little I wasn't the biggest fan. I'd have rather had any other candy or cheese. Don'e get me wrong, I liked it. However, it wasn't a must have. As an adult and after having children, my tastes have changed and chocolate is a love affair that rivals some of the greatest love affairs of all time.
I'm not just a fan of the milk chocolate variety either. I like semi-sweet, dark chocolate, white chocolate (even though technically that's not really chocolate). There's something almost healing and therapeutic about chocolate. The world can be turned upside down. The sky can be falling. You have the worst day ever and if someone hands you a piece of chocolate? For that moment...your taste buds smile and your heart skips a little beat, and all is right with the world. Even if just for a moment.
We've been down with the creepy crud this week so I haven't had the chance to do a step by step photo shoot with my truffles, but seriously, you can't mess these up. They are really really THAT easy.
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| Image provided via Google Images. |
Easy Truffles
2 bags Hershey's Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips
2 cups Heavy Whipping Cream
2 Tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 shot brewed espresso
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
In a medium sauce pan over medium low heat warm the two cup of heavy cream. Bring to a simmer. Do not boil.
Whisk in chocolate chips one bag at a time until smooth. Add butter and combine until chocolate is shiny and smooth.
Remove from heat. Add espresso and vanilla. Stir until combined.
Allow to cool and refrigerate for at least six hours. I do this overnight.
Use a small ice cream scoop, or teaspoon to make small balls. Roll into small balls and transfer to a sheet pan lined with wax paper.
(Note: This is a little bit of a messy job, but so fun and so worth it! Just wash up when you're done.)
Got a spare set of lungs? Anyone?
Monday, February 7, 2011
This is the current state of Casa di Romano. Thanks to someone who sent their child to school down with the sickness. Mini-me has infected BDC and me with razorbladelungitis.
Why do people send their children to school sick? Why do people go to work sick? Why do people go out in public sick period? I mean? Wouldn't we save the general public at large a whole lot of grief if we just stayed in doors until we were well?
I've also made a shocking discovery. Dimetapp? yeah..nothing more than purple Koolaid in a medicine bottle that is really overpriced! It's a pretty good scam they have running. Here's a tip....if it doesn't taste bad? It doesn't work. The worse the medicine tastes....the better it works!
So...I'm off to the store. Vitamin C, Thera-FLU and Robitussen here I come. What? I have to go out. I know what I said but how else are we going to get well?
Share a Spoon Theme - Will You Be Mine
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Theme Time
Share a Spoon - Super Grub Nachos
Thursday, February 3, 2011
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| Provided via Google Images. |
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