August Challenges

How did it get to be August. 7 months of 2016 down 5 to go. One of my challenges has always been my desire to be a regular excersizer because I know how good it makes me feel but I have a very hard time actually doing it.

August challenge - walk every day. I'll track how I've done by posting here.

So I walked the dog last night. August 2nd done.

Now to get some walking in today ...

The Legend of the Mix Tape

The Goldbergs on ABC is, IMO, one of the best shows out there right now. The episode where Adam, the main character, makes his girlfriend a mix tape to express his love for her is touching and just so classic.

Lucky me, I was the recipient of a mix tape from the love of my life. When it was presented to me I didn't yet know he was the love of my life but I do now. 1995 seems like yesterday and forever ago all at the same time.

In 1995 I was a single mom juggling work, my little one and trying to have a little fun here and there. Enter Sean English. We met in a bar, I gave him my work phone number (that's what you did in those days, what if he was a stalker? I didn't want him to have my home number!).
The day he called I was not at work and he thought I was blowing him off. It was a nice surprise to get back to work and have a message from him.

After a few dates he came to pick me up at work and take me to lunch. He brought with him the mix tape. And some flowers, but what I most remember is the mix tape.

Song list:

Here's Where The Story Ends - The Sundays

Close To Me - The Cure

Dreams - The Cranberries

Here Comes My Girl - Tom Petty

Possession - Sarah Mclachlan

What's The Matter Here - 10,000 Maniacs

She's Got A Way - Billy Joel

Losing My Religion - R.E.M.

I Don't Want To Miss A Thing - Aerosmith

Shiny Happy People - R.E.M.

Sunday Bloody Sunday - U2

Take It Easy On Yourself - Eion Woods

Dreams - Fleetwood Mac

Happy Anniversary!

Here's my song for you - https://youtu.be/4BQMkg5T9U8

 June 14th 1997

2016

Our 3

Who Am I to Give Parenting Advice?

I have some for you, advice that is. It's about an app that parents should be aware of. But first, who am I to give advice or evaluate what kids are doing and comment on it?

3 kids ranging in age from 25 down to 13 give me a lot of years parenting kids at all ages and stages.
I have some claims to fame; my children have never had lice while in my care (knock on wood). I say "while in my care" because while my oldest was studying abroad she got lice on a trip to Morocco. She was over 18 and out of the country so you can't hang that one on me. The time her daycare had to shut down because the lice was so bad? She never got it!
So far (knock on wood again) all of the scrapes my kids have gotten themselves in to have been fairly minor. With 25 years under my belt and having parented both boys and girls I have gained some knowledge and some insights in to the whole parenting thing.

I now have one more claim to fame; a blog post of mine was published on Blogher, an online publication. I have a by line!
 Are your kids active online? What do you think of some of the new apps out there?

Here's the post, let me know what you think.

Screenshot from musical.ly 

 blogher.com/musically-good-bad-and-acne

Can a Planner Bring the Change You are Seeking? If it's the Right One It Can!

Isn't it pretty?

I am a lucky mom. I have been wanting a Passion Planner for a while now and just had not pulled the trigger on buying one for myself. When my thoughtful daughter asked what I wanted for Mother's Day I quickly replied that the ONLY thing I really wanted was the limited edition, teal blue, large, undated Passion Planner.
Because this planner I coveted is from a young company that got started via a Kickstarter campaign it took some time for it to arrive (just got it yesterday) and was in a hand addressed Fedex package.
I knew it was a young company but did not realize how young.  As a limited edition it is also hand numbered inside.
I got 2376 / 15000

Not your usual planner

The difference between this planner and others I have used in the past, both paper and online, is that it has built in goal setting, project planning and room for both personal and professional undertakings.  There is also space to journal. There are so many things we all want to fit in to an hour, a day, a month, a year and a lifetime and this cool little book can help you with that. It is extremely positive. There is a place next to each weeks calendar to write down "Good Things That Happened". 

Are you someone who has a hard time prioritizing? Each weeks scheduler has space for your personal to-do list and your work to-do list. It further breaks the to-do's down by Top Priority, Priority and Errands with check boxes next to each. 

I've got some big professional goals and the goal of working on a healthier me. 

What are you working on these days? Do you have tools you love? I'd love to hear about them in the comments.

All my best, Wendy

"Failing to plan is planning to fail." - Benjamin Franklin

Another Friday the 13th - Are You Afraid?

Friday the 13th has a bad reputation and for today I looked for something to be grateful for. These flowers will do the trick.

Beautiful, bright and in my kitchen. Lucky me!

Have a great day everyone and count your blessings.

I have not posted about any challenges lately. I am waiting (not so patiently) for a new planner to arrive. It's called a Passion Planner and I asked for it for Mother's Day.

Check them out here www.passionplanner.com

The entrepreneur who created these amazing planners got it going with a Kickstarter campaign.

I can share that the theme for my next challenge will be health based and that my new phrase to describe what I am doing is 'Playing Big' which is the title of a book I am loving 'Playing Big' by Tara Mohr.

My best, Wendy

MicroblogMonday Oh The Places You'll Go

I have so many favorite books from when my kids were little and I would read to them. One of my all time favorites is the classic by Dr Suess - Oh The Places You'll Go

The possibilities in life are endless and the message in the book is fun and inspiring.

I asked my kids what their favs were from growing up and here's what they said:
#1 Child - The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstien
#2 Child - Green Eggs and Ham by Dr Suess
#3 Child - Love You Forever by Robert Munsch

What are your favorite children's books?

MicroblogMonday - My post did not resonate. I thought it was good!

Capturing vacation on my camera.

On this MicroblogMonday I am going to share a little twinge I felt last week. My blog post did not seem to resonate with people or generate much interest. Oh well. I thought it was good! No comments and just a few likes. We really do let our feelings hinge on online comments and likes. My April social media diet has curbed some of that in me but it still stung a little that it did not seem like many people noticed or read my recent post on Blogher. I posted it on all my social sites and it still did not get much traction. I was even worried that some of the content might offend. Nothing to worry about there. It would have to be read to offend.

The good thing is, I learned a lot from the research I did to write the post. That in itself is the reward. I am much more in tune to the pressures kids are facing these days and how social media plays in to those pressures. It's still scary but I am more educated.

Check the post in question out if you'd like to, here's the link -

sheknows.com//my-teen-said-i-was-on-social-media-too-much