Way behind the scenes.

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Creativity begins with an idea, a spark that ignites the imagination.

3 AM Thoughts and love

 
 
 

That spark usually ignites between 1-3:00 in the morning. It’s okay though. I have a notebook on my side table. A phone to record notes, ideas, miscellaneous thoughts that. just seem too good to forget once I finally reach REM.

You know anything can really be the catalyst that leads to the madness which in turn becomes a magical finished product. I’m usually pretty pleased.

I’m excited to share my world with you all through all of the seasons, holidays, milestones and more that we all love.

Get to know me, my squiggle personality and my life as a Creative..

Be back soon!

Leave the boxes blank. It's okay.

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I’m riding the TGV through the French Countryside to Lyon. It’s a 2 hour ride. A great time for me reflect on the past few days in Paris, pretty much alone.

Every night, I have written out a schedule of what I will do the next day. Not once have I actually followed that schedule and I’m totally okay with that. At home we have schedules to make sure we follow other schedules. It was today that I slowed down, threw my cheat sheet away and just let the day lead me.

My body wandered from city to city and my mind followed suit. I felt an ease. I felt lighter. I felt like me avant beaucoup de schedules. I turned down random streets and found views that took my breath away, window displays that made me want to jump in there and join the mannequins. I entered buildings to be surprised by levels of nothing but shopping goodness. I walked by a mirror and realized I had found the most important thing. Me.

There I was.

Of course when there’s 5 people involved, schedules are a bit necessary. I had a thought while watching so many people stop at the flower stands to buy or admire all of the colors and textures. I’m certain their minds wandered through every flower and the stresses of their schedules took a huge step back. Think about it. Even a 10 minute break in the pantry provides a bit of sanity some days. Add in chocolate or a pack of fruit snacks and it’s next level.

Maybe we pack so much in our schedules because if we have idle time we think we are wasting the day. We tell our selves that there is always something we can be doing. I’m sure that’s true, but it’s not healthy for any of us. Maybe we need to reconsider some of the things we squeeze in those little boxes on the calendar and when we see empty space just let it be.

I will be accessing our schedules at some point when I get home with the whole family. I will find time for myself and my family to just take a look at the flowers.

*pictured: no flowers at all. I was watching and experiencing.

Your daily word limit has maxed out kid...

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Does anyone have that one kid that can talk? When I say talk, I mean from the moment they wake up to the moment they fall asleep, they just talk? Disrespects the shit out of any type of quiet?

I read an article on LinkedIn that addressed the 7,000+ words a day that we speak and how to make these words count. It was a really great article for business however, the article made me think about the video below.

All I can think about was how Charleigh made all the words of 3 versions of Boom Chicka Boom count. She hit every single one of the tips in the article. All as I drove an hour and a half (3 hours round trip ) to pick up a birthday gift.

Here they are:

1. Emphasize at least one word in each sentence. Orrrrrr all of them. Do you.

2. Enunciate every word when you speak. ( She’s made amazing progress with her speech thanks to AmericanPediatrics and WCPSS)

3. Pause occasionally. Add cute pose.

4. No clarifying statements. Nope, No clarification or explanation. Nothing.

5. Stand when you talk.(Trust me, she felt like she was flying).

She knew what she was doing and made all of her words count. Her words made her smile, made her just live in the moment, made her belly laugh as I am now. Don’t ever stop shining Charleigh Parker.

*I loved our duet of Cheerleader!! Grand Finale

~love, Mommy

*edited to add we are in a drive thru

https://www.linkedin.com/.../you-speak-at-least-7-000...

Inhale, Exhale, Repeat

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I wouldn’t trade our Air BnB adventures for anything in the world. The curiosity, the adventurous look in their eyes, the chance to be free and experience so much that the world gives us. There is so much to say about watching your children just enjoying life.

As a parent, watching the world through their eyes resets me. It wakes up a part of me that sometimes finds itself smothered by the everyday hustle and bustle. A part that sometimes is forgotten.

I pray that they are always open to an adventure, including my amazing husband, and that they learn about the peace and calmness that the world gives everyday.

Today we all played in the river until the rain began to drop. It dropped harder and harder and it felt amazing. We laughed so hard as we became soaking wet and we helped each other get back to the cabin.

I watched Johana, once again, effortlessly put herself in the role of a leader for her sisters making sure they were okay and checking to see if they needed any help.

“Girls, go to the side and the rocks are not as slippery”.

I watched Charleigh give all of her heart to keep going even when she fell and hurt herself. She still pulled it together and made it all the way back. She does not give up. She may scream and she may get pissed, but it just ignites the next level for her.

I witness the trust Maddie has in her sisters and the admiration in her eyes when she watches them. I watched the drive and motivation build up until she let go of my hand and said “I got it Mommy”. Every few steps she turned around and said “You okay mommy?” Better than you could ever imagine child.

I saw my husband breathe. No emails, no texts. His shoulders were lower and relaxed. His smile never left his face and his laugh echoed every single laugh of the girls. His blue eyes were not glazed over from staring at a screen. They once again matched the sky and were full of wonder. There’s my guy.

My heart is full, but even more importantly, I am whole. I am calm and I’m in my element that lowers the anxiety. That allows me to feel my feelings and hear my thoughts. That allows me to inhale slowly and deeply and reset.

Creekside Cabin
Old Fort, North Carolina

Everyone has Rough Days…even Charleigh

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Charleigh is ALWAYS in such a happy mood. The child is all sunshine, glitter and rainbows from the minute her feet hit the floor in the morning. So when she is not in a happy mood we all get completely thrown off. It’s not very often that we see this cute little pout.

It started this morning when we were all cleaning up and I asked her what she was doing spinning in circles and she said, “You didn’t tell me what to do. I don’t know what to do?” True. I didn’t give you any kind of direction. My bad kid.

Tears. So many tears. I had no clue that finding out that Disney World isn’t free could cause so many tears. I tried to explain and I tried to console her. Joey gave her two old Disney passes and told her they were gift cards to get in Disney. Well played Johana.

Then it was the swimsuit and sunscreen meltdown which had a pretty swift recovery until you were running to come show me your new swimsuit and you hit your face on the wall. Ice. Hugs and Kisses, a little arnica gel and a nice size bruise on your cheek. It’s a rough day.

“No one ever wants to do what Charleigh wants to do”

Charleigh

 

Finally outside! Splash pad, buckets and sunshine. Didn’t quite do it for you so here you are back in the house followed by two other little girls who have almost reached their point and your Daddy too.

The eye rolls. So many eye rolls. The prettiest brown eyes wide with wonder and understanding and a grumpiness she just can’t shake. We all have these days.

Dinner. Grilled hotdogs. Everyone agreed at 4 o’clock. 6:30 pm and Charleigh is eating spaghetti and sauce for dinner. We eat our hotdogs and Charleigh eats every last bite of her spaghetti and sauce. Total Daddy save. I can’t take any credit for this one.

Bedtime. I really thought they were going to love the book, “Oops I Farted”, but not Charleigh Parker. Nope. Covered her ears and all. She had picked out a book and I didn’t realize it. I didn’t ask.

Tonight, John tells me that during her bath, Charleigh said, “ no one ever wants to do what Charleigh wants to do”. Ding. Ding. We are so sorry kiddo. Wish you would have told us around 8am, but we hear you and we will do much better. Promise.

Love you Charleigh Bar,

Mommy