Little Elm

pure joy

Being a mom of two has brought me to the edges and beyond of pure bliss and complete and utter exhaustion.  Hanging out with my little elm outside today with the sun peeking at us between the branches, made if feel like one of the pure bliss days.  The joy this girl has within her and can bring me is beyond what my heart can hold sometimes.  So I'll extend it to you as well.  The last picture of me is Elm's first photography work.  She was so excited to give it a try.

Pure Joy

What a beauty!

My little dancer

What a silly bum!

Elm's first photography work

firsts

My little man had his first solo buggy ride sitting up today! You can't see it but his lovely hand me down shirt from his little buddy D says, That's how I roll, with a picture of a buggy on it.  So cute!  He seems to like the new view.

unique beauty tips

Recipe for a perfect hair day:

Pour 1/2 cup of white vinegar over your hair while in the shower, let it sit for about 30 seconds or so, rinse it out and then proceed to shampoo and condition as normal.

My mom did this to our hair as kids every once in a while and I guess it just strips off all the shampoo and junk and leaves you with soft, shiney, wonderful hair. 

What is your unique beauty trick / tip?

little miss devious

Little elm's mind is working in overdrive lately.

She has the bad habit lately of pulling at her hangnails and picking at them and then they hurt and bleed.  I have been telling her the reasons why she should stop and that it will stop hurting if she stops picking at them. 

Two of her responses:

~we pulled into the garage and I always ask her if she wanted me to get her out of the car first or peekay.  this time she said, "him first so that you won't see me picking my nails".  Ugh!

~we were driving and I looked back at her and she said, "turn around and drive momma so you won't see me picking." 

We are in so much trouble!

34.

34 at 34 inspired by mytopography

*happy bday to me*

1.take a trip with elm 2. not let work stress come home with me 3. do yoga at least 10 times 4. re-read romeo and juliet 5. make a chore wheel 6. develop more pictures of elm and fill the albums 7. establish an at least monthly date night with jay 8. figure out a better breakfast 9. submit one story/column to a magazine and see what happens 10. go to guelph 11. go to hamilton 12. bring elm to breakfast with her grandpa ron 13. bake cookies with elm 14. volunteer at least 5 times 15. take time to listen to 'this american life' with jay more 16. have lunch with my dad 17. move 18. start something new 19. make something 20. perfect a chicken pot pie recipe 21. see my nieces and nephew more 22. build an meditation altar 23. build or buy a blog banner 24. buy a piece of art 25. camp at algonquin with elm 26. buy & eat more local food 27. advise one small business 28. become a regular at the library 29. support another mom returning to work after a maternity leave 30. become an active listener again 31. play videos and show pictures of jeanne to elm more often 32. donate to 'honour your hero' to thank dr. wallace for jay's brain surgery 33. plan a weekend away with friends 34. get a family photo done

what goals do you have for yourself this year?

words of wisdom

 

savour...or savor as she wrote it.  my favourite blogger yet again had words that hit home with me in her latest post. she, talking about savouring each moment as a family of three as they count down the days until their new baby arrives, in turn reminding me to savour each moment of these final weeks of my maternity leave.  i certainly am feeling very present in each moment with my little elm as the days count down to us having a very different life.

what is it that you are savouring right now?

affair in red square

today i feel like driving in a covertible on the mountainside roads of spain, wind whipping in my hair, listening to this song, sun soaked dust flying about behind me.  it is amazing what a little red nail polish can do for your psyche. try it and you'll see!

 

 

things i'm looking forward to..

 

..slow dancing with my husband on sunday

..watching my friend maria walk down the aisle and start the next stage of her life

..celebrating a new life at my friend lisa's baby shower

..learning how to greek dance on friday night

..getting a long overdue pedicure

..playing in a pile of leaves with elm

..finally making the trip out to an apple orchard or colasanti's with erin, little e and elm.

..going on a shopping spree for fall work clothes (hello banana!)

..seeing our old play group reunited at the joint birthday/ costume party at the end of the month

balancing act

                         all that yoga we have taken is finally paying off - ha ha

This month, my last month off, is feeling like a bit of balancing act.  Lots to do and lots of emotions to deal with.  Hopefully, I"ll come here more to help me get through it.  Elm's adjusting to her daycare visits and life is in full swing.  Wedding this weekend, baby shower the next...lots of joy coming up!

what i'd like to be doing on a beautiful day like today

Half Moon Bay, CA

"Reconnecting diners to the land and the origins of their food...Outstanding in the Field is a roving culinary adventure"  They even come to St. Catherines...but it is sold out this year.  Check it out!

Outstanding In The Field