In My Next Life

In my next life I will...

• study abroad during a semester in college
• intern at a major magazine in Manhattan during my summers in college
• not be so stressed the week of my wedding
• plan ahead so that I can stay home with my babies for at least the first year of their little lives
  
• get LASIK when I have the chance
• wait before buying a house that will require me to work full-time for the rest of my days
• not be a scaredy cat

The Daily Shoe

In honor of today's snow storm, I thought I'd pick some cute warm and fuzzy winter boots. Happy Sledding! The kiddies and I are off to hit the (front yard) slopes - in far less stylish footwear, mind you.

The Phone Call

I got The Phone Call today. You working mommies know the one. The Phone Call where your nanny excitedly notifies you of a milestone that your child reached while you were at work. Truth be told, I'm not even that salty about it because I'm so used to it happening. Still, it never feels good. But enough of the "woe is me" crap - L'il Buddy cut his first tooth! It never ceases to amaze how fast they grow. He started "pre"-crawling last week too. He'll be begging me to buy him every single toy from the Nickelodeon commercials before I know it.

The Daily Shoe

Lovely (affordable!) Metallic Flower Sandal from GAP.

Can you tell my mind is on summer?

My Aching Feet Are 56 Though

At her birthday lunch yesterday, my 41-year-old co-worker said that she's actually 27 in her head. I never really thought about it before, but honestly? In my head, I'm about 24. Ask my 3x preggars body though and it's an entirely different story. But really, I still identify with gals in their early twenties, and it doesn't seem like it was all that long ago.

How old are you in your head?

The Daily Shoe

Like candy on your feet. And honey, I've got a sweet tooth.

I'm Juggling, Baby

I got the sweetest email the other day from one of my aunts. She was giving me advice about balancing life as a working mother of three and said:

"It is about keeping the balls in the air and keeping a smile, one that comes from deep down. Enjoy the love around you, think ahead, and everything else will fall into place. Buy a new accessory from time to time and don’t fret. Manage the essentials, and let the rest go."

Her words were right on target, since I feel like I am always in the middle of my very own circus and my special talent is juggling. If you didn't know any better you might actually think that I was good at it. Ha! I've got tons of balls in the air, all able to come crashing down at any given moment. I've got the WORK ball (it's a heavy one) of trying to get here on time, have coherent conversations, produce decent work, pretend that I have energy and get out of here on time. I have the HOME ball (it's a slippery one) of trying to remember who needs to bring what to school for Show & Share on which day, making sure the leotards are washed in time for ballet class on Saturdays, cooking healthful meals, keeping track of what sleepers the baby has outgrown, trying to read bedtime stories nightly, squeezing in the needs of a patient and supportive husband, and the list goes on. And last (and lately the least) I've got the ME ball. I always have a lot going on: Moms Group; Church; PTA; Blogging; Side Businesses; Social Events; Exercise, Grooming, etc, etc.

It's a constant struggle to keep all of these balls in the air. Every now and then one of them falls, but, inevitably bounces back up and finds its way back into the rotation. I think that was a big part of my aunt's advice - to know that everything will fall into place as long as the really important things are taken care of. Lately, instead of living in a frenzied state and obsessing over the juggle, I've been trying to take a page from my aunt's book. Particularly the part about buying a new accessory from time to time. After all, it would be just plain rude to disobey my elders.