My Phrase

I don't adapt well to change. I am a creature of habit. Behaviors have been built into me over 36.5 years, and I often think I don't have the mental, emotional, and/or physical wherewithal to undo the less savory ones.

Think positive. Nope, that one never sticks. Nor does believe in yourself or any of that other stuff. It's just easier for me to kind of prod along as is because changing that mindset requires so much deliberate modification. Think "swimming against the current."

But today I did something that just may have made a difference. I don't know why. Maybe I've just decided to let it help. I'm not going to spend time questioning the whys.

I'm impatient with myself. Very, very impatient. It's all or nothing. I need to do it perfectly and I need to do it perfectly right bloody now. If not, I feel like a failure and my frustration goes through the roof. Tiring.

So today, you know what I did? I found an ordinary yellow post-it note and I wrote on it:

Rome wasn't built in a day.

I posted it to the bottom of my monitor. Every time I can't get a sentence right, I read it. Every time I get overwhelmed with what there is to do, I read it. And I've been reading it all day, and it has calmed me each time. All I know is that I believe every word of that, and I am trusting in the power of that little note.

I hope you find your phrase today and let it bring you to somewhere good.

Three "Bests" Ain't Bad!

I was just reading one of the working mom blogs I follow, and they had a cool map detailing the best cities for working mothers for various attributes (employment rates, cost of housing, etc.). Some pertain to all mothers in general, not just working moms. I'm proud to say Baltimore made three lists:


1. Baltimore ranks number 8 in the top 10 highest incomes for working moms.

2. Baltimore ranks number 5 in best pediatricians (I love you, Dr. Caterina!!)

3. Baltimore ranks number 8 in best childcare (I love you KinderCare!!)


I was pretty impressed!

It's a Love/Hate Thing

I currently hate...

Sinus infections and related antibiotics and steroid regimens, being tailgated every single night driving home from work/daycare, special trips made to the Red Canoe for chai latte and they are out of chia latte...twice, missing the morning train by one minute and having to wait around for the next one (thus being late for work), when Au Bon Pain is out of Nantucket Nectars Orange Mango, having to physically drag my screaming child out of daycare and then listening to her scream her head off for "Daddy! Daddy!" the whole way home (while being tailgated; see above), waking up every night at 3 am and not being able to get back to sleep.

My current loves...

Onion dill bagels from Au Bon Pain, the fabulous female side of my office, the hilarious male end of the office, the latest ruffles trend in clothing, watching Claire crack an egg into a bowl better than anyone I've ever seen, my new Watson Twins CD, the entirety of the Crewcuts catalog, this week's weather, winning a fantastic perfect mint condition denim jacket for Claire on ebay last week, Claire's purple graffiti Sketchers, thinking about how peaceful my new pale blue bedroom will look, thinking about what a great Saturday I'm going to have with two super cool chicks, and the best of all...

listening to my beautiful angel sing "Are You SLeeping Brother John" as I turned out the light tonight at bedtime...never sang that to her, but have it on a CD in the car and I imagine she sings it at daycare. It was the most precious thing, and I've been smiling ever since :-)

The loves so greatly outweigh the hates. And that makes me so happy that all the hates start dropping from my mind...goodnight and hope your list of loves is neverending.

It's 3 am and I Must Be Lonely...

No, not really. Sorry, Rob Thomas.

However, it is, in fact, 3:56 am and I have a screaming headache. I never seem to be able to escape the weekend without one, and this one showed up late Sunday evening. Oh well, I just took some Advil and I'm sure it will help.

Took Claire to Great Kids Village in Columbia on Saturday. She had an absolute blast until it was time to go home. Then she had an absolute fit..lol. Later that evening, her personal superhero showed up, aka Daddy. The plan was to stay over and take her with him Sunday morning. However, he decided to take her back that night because I had no water that day. Yep, big water main break in the area that no one could find until later in the afternoon, so I was without water from 6:30 am to 6:00 pm. Not fun! I am so thankful I have it now! When you lose something like your electricity or water, it is only then you realize how very much you depend on it.

The move is fast approaching and I need to get it in gear. Since the last post, I did pick up the bar stools and also bought the comforter and throw pillows. I have (no big surprise) changed my vision about the play room slightly, which involves less painting, so that's a good thing. My hope is that Claire's dad and I can move as much as we physically can ourselves, with the help of his work van, and that would leave only the big items for when I can get more help.

I plan to return to my sister blog, Style Times Two, very soon. That one takes a little more work because I go searching for fashion and then start saving the pics, all of which is a little cumbersome on the computer I'm currently using. But I have many wonderful things I've been lusting after, and my daughter is a veritable fashionista, so I look forward to sharing my inspirations for anyone who has the interest...or who is bored enough lol.

OK, probably should try to rest a bit more since work comes a'callin at 8:30. Off to bed to dream of fresh starts and serene surroundings.

Add This to Stuff I Love

Prints by Brainiac the art of Matte Stephens on etsy.

Lovey love love them.