The 10 Minute Post, with links ...

I have the timer set, because if the boys don’t finish cleaning up their room and I don’t finish blogging, the world will collapse.  Well, not quite, but if we don’t get outside again, now that it’s finally sunny like they promised it would be, we’ll kick ourselves for not enjoying a spring day stuck in the middle of February!  You know?  Make hay while the sun shines, or something like that.

A few links to share that have been back-burnered but are no less wonderful. 

When You’re a Planner and Your Friend Isn’t: You know how it goes, you’re either the planner or the loosey-goosey one, and the two just don’t mesh too well …

Flawed and Fleeting: DaMomma hits another one out of the park.  “It is flawed and fleeting, and sometimes it is work to love it. And maybe in the work of loving it is the greatness.”  True words, dammoma, true words.

Close Encounter with a Stranger : Minnesota Matron made me cry, it’s touching and heartwrenching. 

Had any close encounters with a stranger yourself?  Mine yesterday wasn’t tragic, and only qualifies as close if you count being squished together in the subway … I wore my toe shoes thanks to the warmer weather, and had a man tell me with a chuckle that the sight of my shoes had made his entire day.  Glad to help :).

Time’s up, so I have to go.  Sorry posting’s been light, but I’ve had a rough few days and am just surfacing.  Breakdowns in the middle of the night are tiring, ya know?  Makes it hard to keep up with real life, let alone my online one.

Off to the park, have a great weekend!

Cheers,

SaneMom

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A few links for your enjoyment, I know it’s a busy time of year but it’s good to find some downtime and just chill, right? 

• Mompetition, who I just discovered and love, has a great Interview with Mary @ Pajamas and Coffee video short that hits at, of course, Mompetition … 
• Single Dad Laughing (another new find) has the most powerful post on self-image I’ve seen in a long time … please take a few minutes (and perhaps a drink) to read through Worthless Women, and the Men who Make Them.  There’s also the companion piece, Worthless Men and the Women Who Make Them, to get the other side of the coin.  Great stuff. 
• On Bullies : No, You Can’t Punch My Kid … a great post from NaturalAsPossibleMom on BlogHer.  Have you had to deal with bullying?  Love to hear other takes on it.

Have a great weekend!

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I’ll be running in shoes like these … gives new meaning to “getting cold feet” at this time of year!I’ve been getting more and more preoccupied this week, thanks to my marathon this weekend, and the need to get myself properly rested, fed, and relaxed.  I’m not doing too well in any of those catgories, and taking the boys to the expo today was a test of endurance in itself!  They did get to have some fun, but spent most of the time getting squashed in the crowds, or being told to “grab my hand!” over and over again :).  Glad that part is over at least.  I’ll let you know how it went on Monday … prayers and speedy thoughts appreciated!

Here are just a few links I loved from the last week … I didn’t spend all that much time online for once.

• Karen over at chookooloonks often muses on the beauty of diversity, and specifically own your beauty: imperfection, perception, and why there are no flaws.  if you don’t feel gorgeous every day, then read it. please. spied thanks to Kizz.
• The Safe List, and Why You’re Not On It by DaMomma.  This one intrigued me, as it’s not the way I personally parent but I totally get and respect it … love to know your thoughts!
• Because it’s that time of year, check out How to Roast Pumpkin Seeds from How To Cook Like Your Grandmother, always a great source for practical how-to’s and traditional recipes.  They are truly yummy. 

That’s all she wrote, happy weekend!

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… on Saturday instead :).  A few fab links this week, truly … please take a sec and check one or two out.  Some wise words and great mom=moments. 

• Kelly Corrigan, word-crafter extraordinaire, reads a brief clip from her new book Lift.  “…about my mother, my daughter, my younger self and my current self. Bet you can relate.”  I sure did, and I don’t even have daughters … take 3 minutes to laugh and be understood.
• Mrs G at Derfwad Manor hits it out of the park with a story about Lady Daze and Pam, I laughed till I cried and then had to share my own embarrassing story about bodily functions gone wrong … check it out.  
• The Shape of a Mother is the greatest thing … REAL images of REAL moms that haven’t been retouched in any way.  The truth, thank you very much, about what babies do to our bodies … and how beautiful they still are. 
• On a very related note, see Own Your Own Beauty for a horrific example of what media-perfected body images do to young girls … something we can fight against.

Have a great weekend! 

Roundup ... the Monday edition

The weekend got away from me again, with company and ever-more-insane runs (I have a marathon in 7 weeks, eek!!) along with looming deadlines on several big projects.  Not to mention we leave in less than a week for 10 days in FL to set up for and participate in a big family wedding … if I dare share pictures afterwards you’ll begin to understand why 10 days are involved :). 

There were some great links and reads and conversations around the web in the last few days though, and I want to get them out to you before another week rolls around. 

• Barb Cooper over at the ever-lovely blog So The Thing Is had a great post last week called South Meets North? about the subject of leaving your kids home alone.  GREAT topic, and one I’d love to hijack one of these days :).  Read on and weigh in …
• Another great topic courtesy of Derfwad Manor and Mr. G this time … “Do you think it’s possible for anyone to ever really know someone?  I mean, really know them?“  Husband and I have talked about this before, and it’s really good to reflect on when it comes to relationships.  
• Picklebums asks about kid nicknames … do you have any that stuck? A fun read …
• Minnesota Matron blogged about a day in her life, and it made me feel tired and grateful for the small measures of sanity in mine … parenting is just plain crazy at times!

Enjoy, and please visit and comment if you can!

Friday Roundup

A few gems from this week, enjoy and have a great weekend!

• If you’re not familiar with Hyperbole and a Half, you’re in for a riot … the illustrations make me howl, and she’s so dead-on in her observations!   Check out The Four Levels of Social Entrapment for starters … 
• This clip on Dolphin Bubbles was v. cool to watch, and the kids loved it too … not sure what it says about the boredom of animals in captivity, but I love that they’re so playful!
• Erin wrote a post about Operation Beautiful, and I think it’s such a great idea! A post-it note a day keeps the blues at bay … spread random reminders that we’re all beautiful :). 

Friday Roundup

I’ve come across some great stuff in the last couple of weeks, and as I didn’t do a roundup last week, here’s a bigger list than normal.

• 47 Things to do Before My Kids Hate Me … from Julie Power via Moms to Work, and inspired by running up against the teenage sneer.  47 things she wants to make sure she gets in before they’re too old, a great list to remind me to slow down and enjoy!
• The How To Series from Marta Writes … simple, clear, and suck-you-in-because-it-looks-so-easy kind of stuff.  Most of them are uber practical, like How to Thrift Shop, and How to Host a Children’s Birthday Party. 
• Soda Pop from Not Dabbling in Normal … home-made soda anyone?  I love soda but rarely buy the Cokes of the world thanks to the sugar/caffeine issues.  We love kombucha, and this looks like a great addition/companion to that.  Summer’s not over yet! 
• Briar Haven, Part I - The Demon Lives at 7 … DaMomma hits it out of the park, again, with a gut-wrenching look at her life-changing experiences at age 7.  This hit so close to home with me, as my demons show up promptly at the same age, and are still haunting me.  Be sure to read the follow-ups, it’s a beautiful story.
• A Little BPA Along with Your Change? … Yet another source of BPA is now coming to light, and it’s definitely worth becoming aware of, no need to get any more exposure to it than necessary. 
• Parenting on Empty from Picklebums … We have ALL been there, many times, and she gives some helpful ideas at the bottom.  Read it BEFORE you’re on empty the next time!  I should have read it just about every day this week …
• What? We Can’t Say Vagina? … Lissa Rankin via Owning Pink, and some grat thoughts on the banning of the word vagina in tampon commercials. Make sure to watch the UbyKotex commercial at the bottom, I found it hilarious!
• Where I’m From, a poem by George Ella Lyon … This will likely reappear as a blog post/question soon, but it’s too good not to share here.  Sweet ending to a crazy week.  

Have a great weekend!  I’ll send out a newsletter on Monday before I hit the road.  Packing tips anyone?!

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Tidbits from my week, some observed, some linked … enjoy and have a great weekend!

• Being real is scary and makes me feel vulnerable, but utterly necessary and I need to do it more often.
• This powerful post on motherhood and identity on Her Bad Mother’s Basement comes from the other side of the fence in terms of kids and identity, and I found it a fascinating read.  I don’t relate personally, but utterly respect her position.  
• As I walked down the sidewalk yesterday afternoon, with both kids in tow and likely a longsuffering expression on my face, a couple and their two kids passed me going the other direction.  The father had just had some sort of a confrontation with the girl, and as we passed each other, he turned to me and said “This parenting thing is HARD!”.  I was jolted into agreeing wholeheartedly, and went on my way feeling a bit less frustrated with my day, and little less alone.
• How I spent five hours of my life on one pretnatal check up, thanks to Bethany Actually.  We’ve all had days like this …

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Happy Friday all, hope your week has been a good one?  I’ve found a few gems this week, check ‘em out and stay cool …

• ThredUp is a gently-used clothing exchange, and though I haven’t tried it myself their interface looks super easy to use, and if you’ve got a pile to swap give it a try!  Most of my kid’s clothes are beyond ‘gently used’ by the time they’re done with them :).
• Cassie Boorn is hosting something cool : 20-something Self-Letters.  The idea is you write a letter to yourself, at age 20.  There are some great ones to read on there already.  I think I need to do it myself, and if I do I’ll try to get up the nerve to post it here!  Thx to Wedje for the tip. 
• The EWG’s Shoppers Guide to Pesticides is super handy and a great idea … a list of the best/worst foods when it comes to pesticide residues.  Avoid the Dirty Dozen if you can’t buy organic or unsprayed, and choose the Clean 15 instead.  Take a look and grab the printable too, I was surprised by what I saw!

Catch you Monday!

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It’s the 4th of July weekend, and I’m betting most of my U.S. moms are in the thick of either travel, plotting parties/outings, or looking forward to a bit more down time than normal.  Happy Indepencence Day!  I’ll be taking monday off in honor of it all, and will catch up again on Tuesday.  Before I go, some great finds from the week, and thanks as always for coming along for the ride!

• Last minute picnic food needed?  Recipzaar always has some great themed ideas … 
• The Thinking Mother weighs in on material possessions, and how an excess of them makes us feel … “I can’t feel the joy of what we ARE doing if I look around and see all that we’re NOT doing or all the resources that at present are “going to waste”.”  So true!
• Hyperbole and a Half is too funny for words and a fab illustrator.  This one’s on responsibilities and productivity, my life in a nutshell.  Must read when you need a sanity check, and howl to your heart’s content.  Spied via SAJ. 
• Speaking of SAJ, a warning on the dangers anthropomorphizing food … another grin-worthy post. 

Have a fab weekend, and may it be restful enough and long enough to find a quiet corner to yourself!

XO,

Sanemom

Friday Roundup

Happy Friday all, may yours be sweet.  A few links to start your weekend …

• Don’t forget to answer the question of the week, and see if your inbox needs a little corraling …
• Enter Family.com’s Canyon Ranch getaway sweepstakes for you and a friend, what’s not to love?!  Thanks to CindyD for the tip … I know I could use a getaway for sure.
• Secrets … a powerful post on the WC about the side effects of keeping secrets, and what shame can do to a child … how do you make sure your kids trust you enough to tell you everything?
• OMSH’s Sage Advice on Sibling Rivalry … It’s not a recent post, but it’s so good I wanted to share it for those of you raising siblings … trying, isn’t it? Mine actually have been getting along better since I pulled D out of school. I think it’s simply due to spending a lot more time together, and they’re learning to both work things out, and to press each others’ buttons more efficiently.  There are always two sides, aren’t there?

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I was sick most of the week, and spent minimal time online, but here are a few things I ran across and enjoyed …

• Happy Birthday Mom (by The Other Laura via the WC) … “THIS is normal”  Read it moms, and feel the truth.  So well said!
• A friend turned me on to Grooveshark just today, and so far I love it!  It’s an online choose-your-own radio station where you put in some songs you like and it suggests others … not a new concept but I love not having to pick a playlist!  Great background noise if you want some. 
• Homeschool Freebie of the Day is just that, and I’m loving some of the things I’m finding!  Great ebooks, .mp3s, etc for your kids … some just plain entertaining, some directly educational.  I just subscribe in my feedreader and check to see if it’s something I want every few days.  Most of the content is older, some of it really old, and I love seeing the vintage illustrations. The audio files are great alternative entertainment too.
• One more homeschooling thing, which PW profiled today so I’ll let her talk about it … The Story of the World books, they really are fabulous!  I”m loving just picking them up and reading a chapter, and if you keep books in your bathroom??  Great addition to that pile :). 

Have a great weekend!  We’re hoping to do a mini stoop sale and lemonade stand if the weather holds, I’ll let you know how it goes.