Happy Halloween!

I love watching my girls enjoy Halloween. This year Brooke was a puppy and Maya was Hermione Granger from Harry Potter. Their cousin, Liam, was Marty McFly from Back to the Future. Of course, the after trick or treating activity was sorting the candy and then bartering. Ahh....brings back memories!!

Happy Halloween!

I LOVE these kids!!

Hay House Radio

Here is a link to a great website to go to for positive thinking and inspiration: Hay House Radio

I turned on the news this morning and there was story after story of negativity. It made me realize how much I want to hear positive stories upon waking. Hay House Radio is a great place to gift yourself with words of inspiration instead of doom. I look forward to making it a part of my daily routine.

Unless Someone Like You....

I LOVE this quote from Dr. Seuss:

"Unless someone like you cares an awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not."

An inspirational weekend--10/26/13 and 10/27/13

Yesterday and today, I was in NYC attending the Louise Hay "I Can Do It" conference. The speakers were absolutely inspiring. Conference Speakers and Topics

There are so many stories that touched my heart:

1) A mother of one of the children killed in Newtown, Connecticut who instead of dwelling in the darkness of her pain, decided to create an organization called "Choose Love" that teaches children how to change their thoughts to more positive and loving ones.

2) A man who took the pain of his grandfather's abuse and father's suicide and transformed it into a commitment to treat others with radical kindness.

3) Wayne Dyer's personal story about curing himself of debilitating neck pain by recognizing that the pain was pointing to a greater truth

4) Louise Hay's beautiful presence at 87 years old......active, loving, feisty, wise

I could go on and on and I am sure that I will as the weeks go by and a new piece of what I learned this weekend is evidenced in my life. I am committing now to:

1) Writing a children's book with Maya
2) Re-starting a spiritual parenting circle
3) Offering workshops for parents starting in January
4) Speaking to myself with kindness
5) Becoming aware of old scripts/patterns that no longer serve me

Fall Festival

So happy to be a part of such a fun and supportive community. Our Fall Festival went beautifully because everyone did what they needed to do and did it with love and a smile on their face. So grateful to the parents who helped as well. Going to bed feeling content on a job well done!

Daring Greatly

I am very excited to start a new book "Daring Greatly" by Brene Brown. Just received it in the mail today. The byline is "How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead." Will be posting favorite quotes as I go!

Acupuncture

I went to acupuncture for the first time in a VERY LONG time. It was wonderful. I feel incredibly relaxed and mellow and calm. Hoping to hold onto this feeling for awhile.......

A Chill in the Air

I love the season of fall. I love the chill of the air and nights spent snuggling under a blanket.  I love the metaphorical connection to letting go of that which is no longer serving to make way for something new.

Lots of things to let go of this year....enjoying the joy and freedom that comes with it!

A Message to All Teachers and Students

I saw this in the morning and it brought tears to my eyes......

Kid President's Message to Teachers and Students

Two Days Worth of Kitchen Work

New Fridge

New Range and Hood

New Dishwasher

And they all work!!!!!!

We can see our fireplace!!

Our shelves are decorated and not crammed with stuff!

I am so loving our kitchen. A few more details (backsplash, another coat of paint, some stools, and cabinet hardware) and we are DONE! Kudos to our main guy, Paul, for everything.

Harriet's Happiest Halloween

Went to a wonderful dance/play at Harford Community College with a cute puppy, scary zombie, and Hermione Granger (without her robe). Loved the dancing and the creative costuming. Makes me feel like taking dance lessons again!!

Debris Hut

I love that my girls are working on creating a debris hut as a part of their study of early man. They have been spending their recess time this week working together with their partners to gather branches from the playground area and assemble them into huts. Their excitement is contagious!

Here is a picture of Maya with two of her classmates.....almost done!

Extra Time

I love that I received the gift of some extra time when a previous commitment for tonight was cancelled.  I used that time to hang with my girls....eating out for dinner and shopping for some birthday presents. A much needed, slower paced evening!

Gratitude

I am grateful for it all!

Pictures!

So excited for the progress of my kitchen! Here are some pictures that show how things are 

shaping up.........

Wine Barrel Table Designed by Tony

Call It Complete

I love those days when things are completed. Today, we completed painting our kitchen....baseboards, trim, and walls. Maya and Brooke completed paintings for their playroom (we bought the canvases in the summer!). I completed my detox. Tony completed setting up our new TV. And I am going to complete my day with a hot tea and a good book before bed!

Countertops Are In!

Yesterday, the countertops were delivered and installed. They look beautiful! Pictures to follow tomorrow. Can't wait to get our kitchen up and running!

Forever Friends

So very grateful to have spent time tonight with our good friends: Heather, Jimmy, Brendan, and Timothy. It is something special to have friendships that are so full of ease and that stand the test of time. We are so lucky!

Moved By Music

Today I was reminded how music can move us and reconnect us to our soul. The head of The Oneness School in Chevy Chase, Andrew Kutt, came to our school today to teach us some songs and give us some new ideas for storytelling, circle time, and art. 

I loved his "zen" energy and the ease in which he led us in song. Definitely made an impact on me!

New Baby in the Family

I am so excited to be an aunt again! My brother and sister-in-law, who live in Kansas, are having a baby boy in February. I only wished they lived closer!

P&W Nail Spa

Tonight I want to acknowledge the owner of the P&W Nail Spa in Perry Hall (I regret that I didn't get his name!). I have been wanting to get a pedicure for about a week now and saw my chance tonight. I was running very late due to a doctor's appointment and dropping the girls off at soccer practice. I didn't get to the store until 6:45pm. They were not busy (no other customers) and looked like they were about to close early.

I asked if they were closing and the owner said that they were about to, but I was welcome to come in and get my pedicure. He was pleasant during the pedicure and didn't rush a bit. The pedicure includes a leg and foot massage and the chair that I was sitting in had a massage pad on it so my back got a massage too. Needless to say, I was in heaven!

I am grateful for the chance to "treat" myself and for the kindness shown to me tonight.

P&W Nail Spa

Happy Anniversary!

Today is Tony and my anniversary......13 years married and 18 1/2 years together. I love that our relationship has grown deeper with each passing year. He is an amazingly fun person and a wonderful father to Maya and Brooke. Here's to many more years together!!!

Helping at a Friend's Race

Today Tony, Maya, Brooke, and I volunteered to help our friend, Jason, at a race that he coordinated. The proceeds of the race go to families of fallen police officers. It was a beautiful day and I am feeling inspired to get back into my running flow!!

Blue Steel Stampede

Kid President

Just came across this guy on Facebook. I love this little boy's energy and personality!! 

What Moms Need to Know According to Kid President

Grandparents' Day at School

Today was Grandparents' Day at school. I simply LOVE the children's excitement in sharing their school and their work with their grandparents. And to see the love and pride on the grandparents' faces is priceless. One of my favorite days of the year!!

Finally a Run

I finally put my running shoes on and went for a short run tonight. It felt good to get moving again! 

Dr. Emily Telfair

I just got home from attending a gathering led by Dr. Telfair relating to food, health, and children. She is an amazingly kind and knowledgeable woman and I learned lots of great tips for staying healthy over the fall/winter season as well as some good ideas on moving my girls towards eating a larger variety of foods. So excited for my kitchen to be done so we can cook in style!!

Cutest tree ever

This is the door to my classroom. The leaves are the handprints of my students, my co-teacher, and I. 

I am so lucky to be working with some really awesome kids!