Joie de Vivre!

Well, the last time I checked my name was not: Maria Antonia Josepha Johanna. 


I don't have my own personal lady in waiting nor do I have the luxury of time or finances to go to the spa every day, all day. I totally should have been born in the 18th Century, but alas...I was not. 


I may not be Marie (phew...thankfully!) and I do not reside at Versailles, however, I am a woman. And I LOVE to be pampered. I'm always looking for affordable ways to achieve ultimate balance between mind, body and soul.  

And have I found not only one...but two that I adore!!

Once you use this sugar scrub...you'll be hooked! And it's E.A.S.Y. Try mixing different essential oils to customize your own unique flavors!

"Let them eat cake" scrub:
To make this delicious treat, you will need the following ingredients:

• 50% white cane sugar
• 50% oil such as vegetable, olive oil, almond oil, even avocado oil to moisten the sugar
• Small amounts of aloe vera gel, vitamin C crystals, or anything healing that dissolves in water
• 1 or 2 drops of essential oil such as lavendar and orange (if desired)
• Enough ground hibiscus powder for pink color (if desired)

1. Combine the ingredients in a bowl. 
2. Scoop some of the scrub onto your hand and massage gently onto your skin for a minute (the scrub will actually tighten onto your skin like a masque). 
3. Leave on for 3 to 4 minutes before rinsing.

Your skin will feel amazingly soft...like...silky and sweet as butter cream icing on velvet cake. 

If you don't like cake...try this other favorite: 

 "Go Bananas" Scrub:

This scrub will have you instantly swinging from the trees!

Whip these ingredients together and trust me...you'll be going bananas!

• 1 ripe banana
• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
• ¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract or your favorite essential oil (optional)

1. Mash ingredients together with a fork into a chunky paste. (Make sure to mash the banana into small pieces - don't puree or it will be too watery, but definitely mash those large pieces up! Or else the large banana chunks will slide off your skin onto the floor!) Do not overmix or it will become too watery. MomTown Tip: If you want a banana scrub for your face, reserve some of the banana and mash it separately without sugar.
2. In the shower, before turning the water on, slather the sugar mixture and gently massage over your body. For your face, gently massage plain banana there, avoiding the eye area.
3. Rinse off with warm water.

Garden of Eden Massssssssssage?

I get it. I do. 

Since the time of the Garden of Eden, Adam, Eve, the apple...snakes have gotten a bad wrap. And for most of us...that's quite alright. I see no use for creepy crawlie slithery things. However, apparently Ada Barak's farm in Northern Israel thinks quite the opposssssite. 

Deep tissue massage from poisonous snakes???? I don't think ssssss-oooooo. 

I assure you, if my father were reading this...he'd freak!! One...because there is a photo of a snake on my blog!! (We both detest snakes!) Two...that there's such a treatment that actually exists! People actually consider this a relaxation technique...and they PAY for it! 

I've heard of the healing properties of Sedona Red Clay, hot stone massage, body scrubs, Four-handed massage, and other various interesting treatments...but snakes?? For $70-$80, a handful of venomous snakes can creepy crawlie on your face and up your spine (hopefully not down your spine into the Nether region!). All I have to say is:  "Heeeeeeck no."  I first ran across the article on Care2.com while doing research on another topic, below is an excerpt. 

You read the detailssssss and decccccide. 

It sssssssssssssstopped me dead in my web tracks. Read below for the full description. I'll be right here...sssssssssssssssssssspeechless. 

"How far would you go for beauty and youthfulness? Is it worth smothering your face with bird poop or soaking your hair with bull semen? Travel along as we take you around the world to look at 10 of the most unique, bizarre, fun and strange spa treatments offered today.

Snakes that relieve tension
Just an hour north of Tel Aviv in Talmei Elazar, Israel, therapist Ada Barak offers a $70 spa treatment at her Carnivorous Plant Farm which uses six non-venomous California and Florida king snakes that slither up and down your back to help you relieve tension."  

To read the full article, click here. 

Everything Donna Makes Looks Amazing OnU.

So incredibly giddy. My favorite artist, Donna Silvestri, is going to be in the 'hood this evening. If you've never seen her pieces...you're missing out on the opportunity to own some of the most incredible Eco-chic handcrafted pieces.

So...stop reading my blog and check out her goods! Tell her I sent ya. Happy Shopping!

http://www.onujewelry.com/

Truly Blessed

Ever wonder what a typical day is like for a single mom?

Here's just a little sliver of one of the evenings I happened to be taking the girls shoe shopping. I'll slowly reveal it to you in bite-sized pieces. On this particular day, the evening started off like this:

1. Pumping gas (ugh, I HATE this chore), turn radio on for girls to listen to Princess CD. Jump back into the car, put car in gear, realize that it's not actually on, put back in Park. Try to start...nothing. Weird car issue which resulted in having my battery die. Fortunately, kind passerby offers to jump the car. Back on the road in 15.

2. Evening traffic on East bound route...huh?? 2.5 yo growing ever so restless in her carseat. Quieted possible outbreak with a pack of craisins from the bottom of the diaper bag. Arrive to mall much later than anticipated.

3. Arrive at mall to only find that I have 1 (yes, 1) pull up and the pack of wipes are frozen into a solid brick - no joke (they were in the car overnight). Say quick prayer for short trip. Load up stroller, enter mall looking like a small Gypsy caravan.

4. Trip to the mall for shoes (the girls, not me - unfortunately) ;)

5. Already frustrated that girls sizes aren't available. (Gggrrr) Only shoes left that fit my oldest are the Juicy Couture. No thank you, not spending $90 for ballerina flats...THAT she hates.

**asked if she needed a potty break.

6. My two year old finds a pair of rainboots. Yeah! They fit. (but we are shopping for shoes not boots)

7. Total melt down when Hello Kitty boots are removed, followed by immediate purchase of HK boots.

**asked if she needs a potty break.

8. Shoe shopping at Nordstrom took much longer than anticipated then add in 2.5 yo 5 minute meltdown puts us promptly into dinner time.

9. Off to Chickfila for quick meal (no time for Cheesecake Factory or Benihana with looming bedtime)

**asked if she needs a potty break.

10. Score 1 for Mom! Make your own valentine station with glitter galore and the Chickfila cow makes a debut.

11. Take girls to bathroom, place screaming toddler on potty, score! Houston we have a peepee!!

12. Desanitize entire family unit...off to try another shoe department again.

13. Score 2 for Mom! Cute patent leather flats with "sassy buckle" (her words not mine) and happy smiles for "big girl shoes".

14. As promised, play time in crazy play area in mall. (dreading the 2.5 yo departure)

15. 5 minute warning, followed by 2 minute warning, coral girls, shoes on, balloons in hand, turn focus toward new HK boots...no screams, no tears...piece a cake! Score 3 for Mom!

16. My oldest is holding hands with her baby sister as she walks next to the stroller, sharing her new Webkinz cat "Mouser" (name courtesy of Laurien!). Deep sigh...aaaaaahhhh, these are the moments, right?

And it ended like this:

Leaving Nordstrom's as Ray Lamontagne's "You are the Best Thing" is pumped throughout the store...baby girl is softly dozing off in the stroller, my daughter and I are walking hand in hand and she looks up at me and says, "Mommy, this is your favorite song isn't it?" to which I reply, "Yep, don't you like it, too?" She replies, "Yeah, it's my fav too." We groove together in the aisle as we put our coats and hats on, then she looks at me and says, "YOU're the best thing, Momma." To which I replied, "No Sweet Pea, YOU're the best thing."

Totally melts my heart, makes me weepy, and soooooo thankful God gave me 2 positively precious baby girls.

I am truly blessed.

Aaaaannnnnd...they're off!

Today's Picks: "The favorite for today is Mind that Mommy at 6-1, and the long shot Kitty Kaiti Mind Your Manners (7-1). But everyone is talking about the newcomer Pink Filly. "

And they are lining up at the posts...

Alarm clock: Beep Beep Beeeeeep. 6:15...the gates open..."Aaaaand they're off!"

"It's Mind that Mommy off to a strong start, pulling away from the pack with 3 healthy breakfasts while doling out morning snugs and kisses, 3 beds made, 2 dogs fed, scratches and walked, 1 round of StarWars Legos..."

"Pink Filly starts to make a move on the inside as Mind that Mommy has trouble with the bean grinder..." 1 pot of coffee, 1 cup of pink tea (guess who that's for?!), 1 load of dishes,

"And at the break it's Kitty Kaiti Mind Your Manners and Pink Filly, but here comes Mind that Mommy..." 3 coordinating outfits and 3 pair of shoes (may seem like a no brainer to you...but hello...we are girls. Do you know how many clothes we have to choose from? And shoes?? They are only 3 and 6 but they have a sepearate closet just for shoes!),  3 hair styles, 

" Pink Filly is really giving Mind that Mommy a run for her money, Folks!"

1 load of laundry, 3 sets of teeth brushed and flossed, "The Pink Filly is in a dead heat with last year's winner."

1 baby doll dressed in coordinating outfit, 1 pink poodle (aka. Pinky Frenchy) leashed and in her posh puppy bed, 2 lunches packed (crust trimmed sandwich and quartered into perfect squares, canteloupe specifically cut into perfect squares, wheat thins upon request...because well, they are perfect squares - can you guess what the new shape of the week is at school?!),

"And down the stretch they come!" 2 backpacks ready and waiting by the door, extra outfit and panties for school (had to repack backpack because she noticed the extra panties did not -indeed- match the outfit...who's child is this?), "Kitty Kaiti Mind Your Manners is all acey deucey with lacing her Nikes at the front door..."

"Now it's Mind that Mommy out in front!!! Send out a search party for the rest of the field!! This old Mare has it by a long shot!" 1 gym bag packed with after work run essentials, car unlocked..."Coming down the back stretch now it's Pink Filly out in front, no it's Mind that Mommy "And here comes the Closer "Kitty Kaiti Mind Your Manners" to steal the lead! Folks...it's going to be a photo finish!"

Rain rain go away...

For those of you who had a fabulous Wednesday last week, you have me to thank. Because at precisely 8:23 a.m., the vortex of bad luck descended upon my morning. 

Shortly prior to 8:ish, my daughter opened the front door, then realized she forgot something upstairs. So she did what all great little kids do...she left the door open. Which on any given day, this isn't that huge of a deal. However, my Houdini-esque Scottie decided to perform his famous disappearing act. When no one was looking, he slipped out the front door. Lunchboxes in hand, pigtails neatly positioned, makeup freshly applied, coffee mug in hand, briefcase, handbag...smiles on everyones faces...this was going to be a great day, despite the rain! 

As I was about to issue the morning dog treat, I noticed Houdini was no where to be found. Which is odd because in addition to Houdini-like personality traits, he also from time to time likes to watch FoodNetwork and channel Dom DeLuise...and munch on gourmet dog treats. He *never* misses morning roll call and puppy treats! So where is he?? Then, out of the corner of my eye, from the foyer, I see it. The vast space between the door and the door jam. (Queue up view from Discovery's window as it orbits earth...this is how wide and vast that space felt at the time.)

Did I mention it was raining. Not just a nice summer morning rain...no, more like, "Call me Noah and here, grab a hammer and start helping me build the ark!" kind of rain. Decisions, decisions...Do I take the girls with me and all three of us get drenched? (Helllllllll NO! Three new outfits, three new hair styles. Think Think Think.)

Okay, put on new Disney DVD, pass out dry cereal mix, peppered with Craisins, mini marshmallows, and goldfish. No time to grab umbrella or raincoat. (Or a leash - more on that in a moment!)

Bailey?? Pupppppppy??? Bailey??! Bailey??!!! BAILEY!!!! (Where is that dog?!) 

Heart pounding as I neared the main street. (Oh please, please dear God. Don't let him be in harms way. Did I mention that this particular pup is my 2 year old's FAVORITE puppy??) Now throughly drenched and getting a bit frantic. Last clean outfit from drycleaners is now completely wet, possibly ruined. No sight of fluffy black scottie checking his "messages" at the fire hydrant or leaving messages on the hydrangea bushes near his hottie cocker spaniel girlfriend's place. 

Running back across the street to check on the girls. (Where's that dog? What am I going to wear now? I wonder if my 2 year old has colored on the sofa?) As I round the corner, I start thinking of Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's...Cat! Cat? Ooooh, Cat. (Where is that crazy dog?) Just at the precise moment I start to think, "Ehh, this might not be a bad thing if he doesn't turn up. He's the one with the little bladder who is always waking me at 4:30am (yes people, that's AM!) to go outside," there he is. Standing on the corner, tail wagging, completely drenched and lovin' it! Phew, boy. Stinky wet dog smell. This is the precise moment I realized I didn't have his leash.  So drenched mommy picks up one drenched scottie who apparently decided to use an entire bottle of "Eau de Stinky Dog" parfum. Oh, another shower for Mom coming up! 

I return victorious with one wet dog. Feeling rather proud and expecting an exceptional homecoming for lost puppy dog and victorious mommy who found him! Walking up the stairs, carrying wet scottie number 1...scottie number 2 gives him this side glance - from his fluffy doggy pillow - as if to say, "A for Effort buddy!"


Showered, restyled hair, reapplied makeup, realized that all other presentable clothing options were probably hanging neatly in section 340 of my drycleaner's storefront. All pressed and crisp, ready to return home. Dang! What's a girl to do?! 


Lunchboxes, hairbows, pigtails, pretend cats, pretend dogs, "B", Silly Bands checked at the foyer...okay, ready to leave. 


Dropped the girls at their school, strange looks from other working Mommies, as they eyed my jean shorts, lovely fashionable top, paired with stylish grey sexy heels. I forgot to change my shoes! Oh well, Rockin it Mommy Style! (My West coast mommy counterparts would be so proud!)


"Kiss Kiss. Adorele mas que sol!" Followed by a mad dash out the door. (I never thought my SUV wheels would squeal like that!)


Quick retrieval from dry cleaners and then I realize that I should have changed at the actual dry cleaners. Now headed home and still trying to learn the back roads of my new town, driving exceptionally slow for upcoming left turn, when out of no where...a black cat darts across the road. (Seriously...I mean, really?) I was driving *just* slow enough to graze the cat. There was no thump thump, and thank God my Cat Lovin' 5.5 year old daughter wasn't in the car! 


Stopped...Prayed...Looked...Phew! No cat speedbumps. (I did see him running off into the woods.)


And it's only half past 10 o'clock.


It's going to be a good, good day!

PlayDoh. The Portal to the Past

My daughters love to play PlayDoh. We have every accoutremen known in the PlayDoh world, and they break out and utilize every single piece. As anyone who knows me well will attest...I love creativity. So I love to sit with them and watch their little fingers manipulate the clay and transform gigantic blobs of homemade dough into tiny sea creatures, ghosts and halloween cats, easter eggs and even giant boulders for their 4x4 trucks to scale. It always amazes me how much energy my 2 year old uses when rolling out PlayDoh. I wonder if Michael Angelo used this much energy painting the Sistine Chapel?

Recently while kneading the dough and transforming it into a giant pineapple for our Bikin Bottom town, that familiar PlayDoh smell washed over me and transported me back to elementary school when friends were eating Elmer's Paste and a little boy stuck a piece of "Hot Tamale" candy up his nose (simply because he 'could'), and the smell of Mrs. McDonald's Chanel No 5 filled the entire 2nd floor.

And then it got me wondering in this day and age with our 3 year olds playing computer games, our five year olds playing Mario Kart instead of actually going outside and riding a go-kart. What kind of smells will evoke precious childhood memories for the next generation? Will the poisonous rays emitted by their handheld PDA transport them back to the days of Nintendo DS, LeapFrog, and Wii? It really started to bother me, and then in an instant, my 2 year old picked up a giant blob of PlayDoh and held it to her tiny face and inhaled. She smiled at me from across the table and said, "Mmmmmhhhm. I love PayDoh." With those simple three words, my heart melted. It made me realize that it's not the gadget or the latest and greatest children band...it's the time we spend with our children, passing along those childhood traditions. 

And then I knew despite the latest and greatest technology, my girls childhood would be full of happy memories evoked by the sweet, warm smell of homemade PlayDoh.

Strength & Courage

It takes strength to be firm.
It takes courage to be gentle.

It takes strength to stand guard.
It takes courage to let down your guard.

It takes strength to conquer.
It takes courage to surrender.

It takes strength to be certain.
It takes courage to have doubt.

It takes strength to fit in.
It takes courage to stand out.

It takes strength to feel a friend’s pain.
It takes courage to feel your own pain.

It takes strength to hide your own pains.
It takes courage to show them.

It takes strength to endure abuse.
It takes courage to stop it.

It takes strength to stand alone.
It takes courage to lean on another.

It takes strength to love.
It takes courage to be loved.

It takes strength to survive.
It takes courage to live.

~ Author Unknown

Forget Punxsutawney Phil...

...when you see the Girl Scouts setting-up camp outside the local markets and canvasing your neighborhood, you know Spring is just around the corner. Yeah! Bring on the Samoas, Thin Mints, and the treadmill!

Sleeping Single...well almost.

When you go through a year of emotional ups and downs you can expect Insomnia to move in like an unexpected uninvited relative. Ding-dong. Hello! Insomnia is here!

It's crazy when you are going through a divorce as a single mom because when you close your eyes at night, your mind kicks into overdrive. Emails unanswered, unpaid bills, attorney fees, custody issues, all swirl in my head. It's like watching a hurricane off the east coast on Doplar radar. It swirls and turns and gains strength as it gets closer to shore.

I wasn't always this way. For the previous 30 plus years of my life I was a sound sleeper. My family even jokes about one time when my mom was rushed to the hospital, I slept through the entire episode. Including the gurney being pulled right past my bedroom door! But I was 7 years old and had not a single worry in the world. I slept like a baby.

Fast forward a few decades and as a newly married woman I continued to sleep amazingly well. Regardless of the newlywed festivities that happened earlier on in the night I was never a "spooner". I always chose to sleep on my left side, hands folded as if praying and tucked under my left cheek (the one on my face, not the "other" cheek). My bedroom was always a safe haven. A retreat from the world. I built our newlywed bed like an old Italian lady would make a pan of lasagna. So no surprise when I crafted the bedding from the best linens, these cheeks (now we're talking about the other cheeks) rested on a top of the line pillow top mattress covered in Egyptian Cotton of the highest count, and topped off with a premium goose down comforter. Fast forward again to the arrival of our first daughter and say bye bye to the luxury bed linens. Once you see baby puke on your precious luxury linens, it's just not the same.

Being 5'11" and married at the time to a 6'2" man, we were perfectly comfortable with a Queen sized bed. Add a exceptionally tall toddler in the mix and we quickly decided to move up to the King size mattress. Aaahhh, sweet sweet sleep space. There was nothing like it. (Although I've heard that a King size mattress is the death of a marriage - we'll chat about that later).

Now that I have this lovely mattress all to myself it has once again returned to my oasis. I won't lie, there are times when I feel as if I'm sleeping in some place as vast as the Sahara and long for a confined space and my mind wanders back to the newlywed days of snuggling in the tiny Queen size bed. However, I've come to realize that I'd rather have those happy memories to keep me warm in a gigantic King size bed than have that same someone here in bed with me and feel I'm on an expedition in Anartica.

Now, as a single mom, at any given time during the night, my bedroom turns into the Pacific Ocean. The TV - blaring from the sitting room like a distress call from a ship about to sink. My bed - a life raft with three "survivors" sleeping as if being tossed about by the sea during a 100 year storm. My nightstand - an island peppered with wreckage from the day: a handful of Little Pets, sippy cups, animal crackers, or my latest read, earrings, my cat, a tiara, my iPhone and Starburst wrappers from my midnight pantry raid.

Let's not kid ourselves - I love sleep, I wasn't designed to run on only 3 hours of sleep. This is not my first choice. I'd much rather be in a luscious Ambien induced sleep in a dark bedroom, with a Do Not Disturb sign on my door, and promptly awake to breakfast in bed as my maid opens the lush velvet drapes to allow the sunshine to pour into my room as I welcome a new day. But the citizens of MomTown aren't always that cooperative.

This is my crazy season of life and I love it. I have to admit I love sleep, but I love this more. Although being kicked in the back or slapped by a flying preschooler's hand in the middle of REM is not ideal, but in the magical morning hours I love waking up with 10 precious little toes in my face. Or feeling the gentle pat of my 5 year old's little hand on my face each morning as she says, "I love you Mommy...you're my bestest friend. I love you more than sunshine." For this...these moments are what make my room a retreat from the world. No matter what the craziness of the day brings, there's always my safe haven.

One Mommy, One Preschooler, One Toddler, you do the math!

As I weed my way through being newly single, I find an obstacle at every corner. But I have an amazing family who pitches in where ever they can as well as a great support group of girlfriends who have been there and done that (and have the t-shirt). This is my life line. Those who truly know you and understand you...these are the people you cherish for eternity. The home front is one of the most difficult tasks to maneuver.

I am learning to juggle the house (all 7000 square feet of it), the basic maintenance, the laundry, the housekeeping, the grocery shopping, the snow shoveling (ugh), the two dogs and cat (oh and the siamese fighter fish!), volunteering at my daughter's preschool, and the list goes on. (Oh and did I mention: the house is currently on the market, so it has to stay in tip top shape in case any prospective buyers pop by unannounced. Which we all know Realtors LOVE to do that to sellers!) And add to the pile, teaching my preschooler to read and do basic addition.

The most challenging times though are the evenings. When everyone is tired and hungry (including myself) and there I find myself, just me...no calvary to walk through the door at 7 o'clock and pat you on the back and tell you what a great job you're doing and to lend a set of hands to help with dinner or homework or simply to pour me a glass of Cabernet. Nope, it's just me. Una Madre. During the crazy dinner frenzy last night as my toddler was redecorating my kitchen with PlayDoh and my Preschooler was trying to get Polly's plastic capris on (really, Mattel, you had to make plastic pants?) I started to feel a bit overwhelmed and just took a deep breath. Exhaled and said, "One mommy, only two hands, and two kiddos...please be patient, Love." And she stood there - all 3' 11" of her beautiful self - and said, "Mommy, if I give you my two hands then we'll have four!" Tears welled up in my eyes, and I thought, I love this child (Well, actually to be honest...first I thought, she's starting to get addition!! She does listen to me! Yeah!), this wise little girl at the age of 5 gets that even she has to pitch in and help as best as she can.

So I had her jump right in there and help with making dinner and then she thought it was so fun that we talked about other chores she could do around the house to help out. I love it! Not only because now I have a little helper, but I could see the satisfaction in her eyes and the smile placed on her face from the sense of accomplishment. Who knew folding laundry and doing Toilet Paper duty could build self-esteem?

I know as a mom of a preschooler I'm always amazed and intrigued at what she can actually do compared to what I thought she could do. So here's a few cool sites for getting your little ones involved in the day to day living. Enjoy! And feel free to post your own tips on how you get your little ones to help around the house.

Lotsofkids.com (Great lists broken down into various age ranges!)

12 Chore Chart Tips for Success

The Box System, Flower Pot System, Over the door organizer, just to name a few! (Love this article! And my 5 year old is having fun making her own cards from photos in magazines or ads and glueing them to the 3x5 cards. It's a win-win!)

"Ctrl+Alt Parenting" Check out this fabulous Virtual Nanny game!