Working From Home With a Toddler
I’ve been working from home for a month now and I’m surprised at how much I enjoy it and how easy its been (totally just jinxed myself).
I’m not so naive to think that working from home is a cakewalk. There have definitely been challenging days, days when I didn’t get done what I needed or wanted to, days when I wanted to throw my computer at the wall and run screaming down the street.But those days haven’t clouded the good days or the joy I get from this additional time with my son.
I’m not sure I would have enjoyed working from home as much when he was an infant. I enjoy sharing my office with this toddler. He’s cute and funny and smart — I know, I’m totally bias — and I love just getting to know him more. I’m sure we’ll continue to have our workplace squabbles but we’re having a lot of fun, too.
Do you share your home office with a toddler? How’s it going?
Where Were You When-esday
Ever since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, I’ve been interested in the stories of shared experiences – how different people experience the same event. I was in New York City on that terrible day and witnessed some of the day’s events firsthand. Given my personal experience, I find it intriguing to hear how people who weren’t there experienced that day.
So, instead of recounting that event again, I’ve decided to mark the ninth anniversary with a month-long series on my blog dedicated to sharing my memories of significant events and inviting you to share yours as well.
However, in light of the hostage situation at the Discovery Channel headquarters today and out of respect for the people I know who were personally affected, I’m going to leave this post as merely an introduction to this series. I hope you’ll come back next Wednesday and share your story with me.
Revised Resolutions
I’ve been a blog slacker this week. Well, at my own blog, at least. I’ve been busy with the Maryland Life blog. Check out my latest post here. Vacation is my excuse, even though it was a short one, and work, too. We just sent the magazine off to the printer yesterday.
My blog slacking got me to thinking about my goals for this blog, which got me to thinking about my personal goals. I don’t usually make New Year’s Resolutions – I usually prefer to set yearly goals on my birthday – but this year I did. I made three New Year’s Resolutions and now I think it’s time to revisit them.
Run a 5K
I am not a runner. I’ve never been much of an athlete. But I signed up for Francie’s Family 5K in March anyway. I got three weeks into training and the blizzards hit. I ended up just walking that race. I tried again in April and, through a combination of running and walking, I completed the Cupcake 5K in just under 45 minutes. But I want to run a 5K in its entirety. I haven’t been running this summer because it’s just too hot. So, I found a race in the fall, on Thanksgiving to be exact, and I’m going to start training next month.
Pursue My Writing
This resolution probably wasn’t as specific as it should have been but so far I’m exceeding my own expectations. In January, I had no idea that I would launch my own blog in May and that I would actively start working on a novel again (more on that in the coming weeks). I still have a lot to do as far as the blog goes – I think we need a little one-on-one time to figure our relationship out – but I’m excited about it.
Get Organized
This one was more for work but also pertains to my home life. And to be honest, I don’t think I’m organized at either. I haven’t even made much of an attempt. I did have to do some organizing when I moved my office home but I haven’t unpacked the boxes from my office or my home (we moved to a new house this year too). I’m hoping I can tackle some of it this weekend, actually. I’m tired of all the cardboard and the unsettled feeling it gives me. Life often has other plans so I’ll just do what I can and may be set more specific goals when my birthday rolls around.
Did you make any New Year’s Resolutions this year? Have you kept them?
What Brings Me Joy
Seeing the world through bright, beautiful, hazel eyes.
Big smiles, silly giggles. Little voices, funny faces.
Hugs, kisses, snuggles. An angelic face fast asleep.
And holding his hand wherever we go.
These are just a few of the things that bring me joy. What brings you joy?
This post is part of SOYJOY‘s What brings you joy contest. Learn more here.
Me. Reinvented. My Yahoo! Shine Interview
While I was at BlogHer 2010, I participated in Yahoo! Shine’s “You. Reinvented” video campaign. I was incredibly nervous (I look like I’m going to lose my lunch at the beginning but at least my makeup looks good — their makeup artist did it.) The interviewer totally put me at ease, though, and the editor did an excellent job of cutting out my unscripted babble.
So, here I am. On camera (cringe). Reinvented. What do you think?
Follow @YahooShine on Twitter for more #reinvented videos or visit the Yahoo! Shine “You.Reinvented” page at http://shine.yahoo.com/event/youreinvented.
Allergy-Friendly Chocolate-Banana-Oat Cookies
I love to bake but it’s hard to do when dealing with food allergies.
How do you bake when you cannot use eggs?
I’ve never tried using an egg replacer; the idea just creeps me out. Instead, I’ve resorted to getting creative with oils, bananas and applesauce.
When my son was first diagnosed with food allergies – and it was my diet that I was concerned about because he was just nursing – I turned to the web to find an alternative baked good that would satisfy my sweet tooth. I found many recipes on About.com and Allrecipes.com. At the later, you can search by the ingredients you want to use and ingredients you don’t want to use. Love that!
I’ve had to adapt many recipes to suit my son’s particular allergies but those sites were a good place to start. Here’s a cookie recipe that I adapted from Allrecipes.com. The original recipe is Healthy Banana Cookies. I’m not sure how healthy my version is but my son loves them. Enjoy!
2-3 ripe bananas
2 cups of oats – I use the old-fashioned variety
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup of Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Peel and mash the bananas in a bowl. Then add the oats, oil, vanilla and chocolate chips. Mix well. Let sit for 15 minutes. (I have no idea why. This instruction is from the original recipe.). Roll a spoonful of the batter in your hands to form a ball and place on a foil-lined baking sheet. Stagger cookies. Bake for 20 minutes on the top rack. Less for the bottom rack. Makes approx. 2 dozen.
Note: you might want to experiment with the ratio of oats to chocolate chips. The Enjoy Life chocolate chips are much smaller than your average full-of-milk chocolate chips.
I’ve also thought about using craisins instead because my son also loves those but c’mon. Doesn’t chocolate make everything better?
Eat. Pray…My A-Ha Moment
No, Eat. Pray. Love. did not change my life. That’s not what this post is about. Nor is it really about the book or the movie, although, I did read it and do play on seeing it.
And this post isn’t about Elizabeth Gilbert either. Well, not exactly. She does, however, play a significant role in the moment that I keep referring to as my A-Ha moment (although, I don’t know if it’s quite up to Oprah’s definition).
Last spring, I attended a local literary event featuring Elizabeth Gilbert. This annual event spotlights a published writer in an effort to increase literacy in the county. I’m all for that!
Elizabeth Gilbert. Taken with my cell phone camera, hence the poor quality of the image.
As I sat in the audience listening to her talk about why she writes, I began to wonder why I wasn’t writing. If this is my passion, why am I not doing it? My husband’s been asking me the same question for years and my answer has always been: I just don’t have the time.
Right there, right then, in that moment, I decided it was time. Time to make my writing a priority. Time to start pursuing my passion. Time to make my dreams a reality.
And so this blog was born.
I wouldn’t say I have Elizabeth Gilbert to thank for that because the idea was already in the making. But she did inspire me to take action and for that I’m grateful.
BTW, I was totally enamored with her. Like I wanted to go up to her afterwards, invite her to lunch and become her best friend. But I didn’t. Because that’s weird and kind-of stalkerish. I’m content just being a fan (and not a crazy one) and being inspired by good writers pursuing this shared passion.
So, what inspires you? What passions are you pursuing?
BlogHer10 from my Newbie Perspective
I’ve been struggling to find the words to describe my experience at BlogHer 2010; I think because it did not live up to my expectations. Because I let all the pre-BlogHer hype go to my head, it was never going to be as fabulous as I dreamed.
I was expecting sessions so jammed packed with information that I wouldn’t be able to take notes fast enough. Not so. The sessions were very informal and not very informative and it turns out most BlogHer attendees skip them anyway.
I was expecting lots of fabulous, swanky parties. I did attend one that I’m embarrassed to say I twitter stalked my way into but for the most part the parties were invitation-only or had a mile-long waitlist.
And I was expecting this experience to launch my newbie blog into the blogosphere. But, in a sea of 2400 bloggers, that was never going to happen and I was naïve to think so.
Here’s what I wasn’t expecting:
I didn’t expect to get along so well with the women I roomed with at the Hilton. Why? Because I didn’t know them at all before the conference. AT ALL! I kind of knew Cara but only from Twitter; I met C.Mom at the train station on the way to New York; and I met Cynthia when she checked into the room. We had a great time as roomies and I really hope we’ll keep in touch post-BlogHer.
I didn’t expect to network as well as I did. I met so many talented writers and bloggers. Some by design – like writers Jennifer Margulis and Stacy Morrison – and others by chance – like MaggieDammit in the elevator and Deb Ng at the lunch table. I was a little star struck when I met each one of them (and a little conference scatterbrained as well) but they were all very gracious. Again, I hope these brief encounters inspire connections that last well beyond the conference.
And I didn’t expect to break out of my shell the way that I did. I’m shy and quiet and terrible at small talk. But I didn’t let these shortcomings stop me from making the most of this experience. I introduced myself to the bloggers and brands that I wanted to talk to. I even participated in the Yahoo Shine You Reinvented on camera interview. EEK!
There were many great moments during the conference, many memories made, many lessons learned. But hands down, the most significant for me was sitting in the audience during the Community Voices Keynote, listening to other bloggers – other writers – read their posts and being reminded why I was there and why I started on this wild journey to begin with. I am a writer and I have voice that wants to be heard. One day I’d like to be standing on that stage, to be recognized for my talents and celebrated by my peers, and to inspire my audience with my words. My BlogHer experience may not have been what I expected but it was definitely worthwhile.
BlogHer!
When this post is published, I will be at BlogHer 2010 in New York City!
I am so excited!
The last few months of blogging have been a whirlwind and I’ve totally fallen in love with it. I’m looking forward to the conference like a child looks forward to Christmas.
I promise to write a post all about it but for now I have sessions to attend, an Expo Hall jammed packed with sponsors to meet, parties to enjoy, old friends to see and new friends to make.
Carnival Time!
One of my fondest childhood memories is of going to the annual summer carnival.
I remember that it was held in a great, big field before that field was transformed into a shopping center. Then it was moved to a field closer to the fire department. When that happened, it felt like the carnival got smaller, but it could have been my childhood impression.
I’ve always loved that every town in the county where I’m from hosts a summer carnival. Some are bigger than others but they all happen during different weeks so that you could visit them all.
This year, I took my son to my hometown carnival. He loved the merry-go-round but that was it. Then, we took him to the carnival in our new hometown. I was so taken by the difference between the two. Ours is a little more kid-friendly and less expensive. He loved the swings – you know the ones that go around in a circle – the cars, and the bounce house.
What I loved was that we could walk to the carnival from our house and the nostalgia I felt for summers past.
I can’t wait for all the summer carnivals to come!
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