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Random Sundays: Quinoa Salad

I love a simple healthy delicious meal and that’s why I like this quinoa salad.  You just make a whole bunch and keep it in the fridge for when you’re feeling peckish.  And it’s so simple!

Cook quinoa: 2 parts water for every 1 part quinoa – bring to boil and simmer covered until water is gone.
 Let cool.
Then chop up a whole bunch of fresh parsley *I like to grab a huge couple of fistuls* , lots of cucumber *about half- 3/4 of a large one*, one tomatoe and one red pepper.  Mix it all in with the quinoa.  Then I pour in a crap load of good quality olive oil *tons and tons until it’s well saturated but not soupy* and the juice of a lemon *or two depending on how tangy you like it*.  Yum!

I don’t follow a recipe so much as put in as much as I want of each
thing depending on what I want that day – more cucumber, more red
pepper, etc, etc.

Saturday Smiles: Baby’s New Shoes

There’s a few things that made my week this week:

1. The new tablet I got – such a wonderful gift from my husband.
2.  The 10 year old port my friends got me as a belated birthday present – so yummy!
3.  The project I’m away doing, and they put me up in a fabulous hotel for it!
4. Getting to work with Monica on another Nadia Burkoff episode:

True Story:
Do you like Baby’s new shoes? *the one she’s wearing on her left foot above*
She certainly does.

Mamahood Exposed: Time Off

We can do it all right? We’re selfless, self-sacrificing saints who are always there and never need a break, right?  
*crickets*  
Am I right? 
*crickets*

There’s a certain piece of advice for mothers that I’ve always had a very hard time following. It’s crucial to a properly functioning household and without it, all will go berserk.

As mothers we must take time for ourselves.
Plain & simple, right?

For me, not so much. As of late I’ve been in this funk. Just going through the motions and doing my best to maintain my patience with a toddler who insists more and more on asserting her independence and doing things her way. (Hmmm… I wonder where she gets that stubbornness from?) I became increasingly more and more stressed until I just broke down.

 

I was picking up toys after I tried (and failed miserably for the 4th day in a row) to put Alea down for her nap and Cory got her down in ten minutes, maybe less. I just started crying and poured my heart out and let all my frustrations out while Cory listened on with wide eyes.

He replied with: “Maybe you should take next weekend off.”

And this is just proof how bad I needed it. I thought twice. I hesitated. It took just a little more convincing, but I agreed.

Even just having some mommy-time-off to look forward to can put a little more pep in your step. I’ve been doing a lot better this week just knowing that some me-time is on the horizon. I just have to make it through a couple more days and I can take a deep breath and regroup.

What will I be doing with this time off you ask? Staying at my mom’s. Sleeping in. Uninterrupted homework and blogging time. Reading. Meeting a friend for coffee and most importantly, enjoying the peace and quiet.

 
The moral of this (somewhat pathetic) tale is that as mama’s, we need to remember that in order to be there for our families, we need to be there for ourselves as well.

So, take some time away. Get your hair done, wander aimlessly around Target or take yourself out for a cup of coffee.

Take time to reflect on the wonderful mother you are and how much more you can be there for your family by giving yourself time to reboot. You won’t regret it!

Are you a Mama with a story to tell?
Email your submission to joanna.haughton@hotmail.com.

This Reverie

Sweater – Gap
Dress – Ruche
Tights – Hue
Boots – Locale

Ever find that some winter days just feel so quiet?  It’s not necessarily a tangible thing, more like a feeling hanging in the air, but it feels like the world hushes itself a touch, and a stillness abounds.  Some days I look outside my window and feel this global pause…until my baby girl’s excited babbles interrupt my reverie and bring a smile to my face.

Oh, and don’t forget to check out two spots from BevMo here, that I shot a while back. 

True Story:
Baby made her first sandwich.
Applesauce spread on a piece of toasted and buttered bread. 
By her proud reaction, I’m guessing it’s yummy. 

What Now?

Necklace – c/o Scarlet Samples
Sweater – Esprit
Top – Costa Blanca
Dress – Ruche
Socks & Tights – F21
Boots – Locale
I love that I got to spend the whole day with Andrew for Valentine’s Day – thanks to some very obliging Gandparents of course!  We had a great time going out to lunch, dessert, playing board games, doing some shopping, etc, etc.  It was also nice to get a whole day out without a little baby with us, but at one point we just sat down in the middle of mall not knowing what to do with ourselves.  We have not had free time for so long that once we had it we had no idea how to fill it.  It was quite funny, we just looked at each other wondering, “What now?”  
On another note, this dress is far too loose on me to know what to do with, so I’m tackling the challenge of turning it into a proper fitting skirt. Oh boy!  I’m nervous, but hey I’ve gotta try right?
True Story:
After bath time, my little babe decides to climb onto her toilet seat…naked.  
Sit there for fifteen minutes…naked. 
Grunt a little and talk a lot….naked. 
Eventually I took her off, but she wanted to stay….naked.

That’s Love

Hair bow – Etsy
Necklace & Earrings – F21
Ring – Lulus
Top – Ruche
Corduroys – Le Chateau
Boots – Feet First
I wish I had something profound to say to you on this Valentine’s Day.  Something about the power and magic of love, but I don’t.  Love is not that which we find in romantic comedies.  It doesn’t end when the two people get together, it starts.  What the movies don’t show you is the hard work that goes into sustaining a relationship for the long term.  They don’t show the loyalty and faith that couples have in one another when they stay with each other through trying and difficult times.  That’s love.  
That, and a man who cooks for you, of course.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
True Story:
Baby looks at me, shakes her head, wags her finger and says, “No.”  
I wonder where she learned that from?
Don’t answer that.

Mamahood Exposed: To Laugh

Sometimes we take our role as Mamas very seriously, and sometimes you just gotta throw your hands in the air and say, “To heck with it!”

Hey there, I’m Beth and I blog at Through the Eyes of the Mrs.  I’m a mother to three ages five, three and two.  You could say I’m a pretty busy person. I try to do it all and usually have a breakdown once a month. You know how it is? We are expected to be super hero’s.  It’s tough to meet every one’s expectations.
So today instead of telling you how I do it all.  I’m going to let you see how imperfect I am and let you know it’s okay.  We are our biggest critics and sometimes we need to give ourselves a break.We can’t always do it all and it’s okay to laugh at ourselves.
 Did someone say Cheerios? Whoops I think she got carried away.  All the while I’m desperately trying to finish the dishes.  What are you going to do?  
Call the dog and grab the vacuum.

Yes he wore two different colored flip flops.  Even though I say I have eyes everywhere we both know that isn’t true.  Let me tell you about another shoe story in the summer.  We had a busy day and last minute decided to go and grab dinner.  We arrived at the restaurant and realized our oldest wasn’t wearing shoes.  
Yes, these are the things that happen to me.

 Brianna with her worm friend.  She held onto him while spending an afternoon outside.  Sadly this is the only picture we have of her with her wormy.  Right after I took this she decided to eat him.  Now what kind of mother allows her daughter to eat a worm?  I will tell you… A speechless one!
Who dressed this poor boy for preschool?  Well his entire class realized he was a size 5/6.
I felt terrible but at least he was wearing underwear.  
Of course he didn’t care, not one bit.  Harmless mistakes happen. 

I’ve decided I should never walk out of a room.  The kids covered our golden in their macaroni and cheese.  The sad part was she was trying desperately to have a bite.  
Needless to say she needed a bath.

I guess I shouldn’t have left the butter on the counter after breakfast. Note to self, a two year old will wash their hair with butter.  It is the worst to try to get out of their hair.  Especially if it hadn’t been brushed yet.  
Guard your butter!
If you spend a lot of time on a cake just spare yourself the trouble.  Give them a piece!
Never say “don’t touch the cake it’s for after dinner.”
Do yourselves a favor and listen to this important message.
Just buy stock in Kleenex already.
I’m sure this is a regular occurrence in every house with toddlers.
Now most of these are cell phone pictures but you get the idea.
We have to laugh and quit being so tough on ourselves.  No one is perfect and mothers have a tough job.  Face it we are all pretty amazing!

Are you a Mama with a story to tell? 
Send in your submission to joanna.haughton@hotmail.com.

Saturday Smiles: Yogurt Face

It’s been one hard week.  I’ve been sick as a dog.  I actually had to miss an event I’ve been really looking forward to because of it.  Poo!  Anyway, it hasn’t been all bad.  Here’s what’s brought a smile to my face this week:

1. Mint tea to soothe the savage throat.
2. Husband giving much needed comfort when you’re sick.
3. My little purple yogurt face!
4. All the amazing people who’ve voted for me on Circle of Moms!  Keep it up, once a day please.  Just click on the icon and find ModaMama then vote!  It’s that easy. 
Your support means so much to me!

Mamahood Exposed: Hearts Outside Ourselves

This beautiful poetic piece from Melissa of Mama STYLE shows exactly the pain and joy all Mamas feel, all the time.
 
Mama hood…if there was ever a ‘hood I wanted to be in, it was
that one.  In the mama hood, with my
little bebe in one arm, and his/her daddy in the other.  We tried.  We were successful.  We grew
that baby from pea to pumpkin and when the clock struck 16:16 on December 21st,
2009 my little pea entered the whole and my heart shattered in a million
pieces. 
An emotional explosion occurred, and through my morphine
high, I tried to gather up the pieces of my heart: joy, worry, pain, pride,
hesitation…everything. I tried to stuff it all back in where it was safe…to
where I wouldn’t have to worry; to worry about this life…this sweet little soul
who was now mine forever.  As day grew
into night, and the hospital filled with dim grey light, and no one was around
but our little family, I knew it wasn’t possible. My heart would never, could
never, be the same.  My heart does not
beat for me anymore, it beats for him. 
At times the emotions were choking, I thought I was
prepared…I wasn’t.  I wanted more time,
I was overwhelmed.  Regretful that our
lives were now rushing on and slowing down wasn’t possible.  I wanted time to stand still…I pictured
myself in a room, frozen, with little balls floating around me, the pieces of
my shattered heart. I wanted so badly to capture them and make peace with every
one of them.  I wanted to make sure that
I was going to make this journey in the ‘hood. 
I wanted relief, safety, hope…it didn’t happen. Well, not all at
once.  Physically, I made it through;
while my vision clouded in an emotional fog. 
Slowly, while they didn’t make back into my heart, they exist along with
me, surrounding me, letting me know that things will be okay.  The jagged shock of it all slowly began grounding
down into softness, allowing me to breathe, to live and accept that I can, and
will, do this.  My life would never be
the same I can’t go back. I won’t go back. Our life, our future…now that the
fog has lifted; it’s bright and sunny out there.
Like two tectonic plates, my life was shifted.  It was sudden and I had no idea, zero
preparation for that emotional attack, and I know that I never, ever, want to
be in that state of mind again.  But as
I watch my sweet boy grow, I’m grateful for every tear that I spilled…every
question I had…grateful because without it all, I wouldn’t have him.  It was my path that led to a mountain and
I’m proud to be at the other side.

The quote isn’t the happiest…but it’s one of the
truest I’ve read.  “Through the
blur, I wondered if I was alone or if other parents felt the same way I did –
that everything involving our children was painful in some way. The emotions,
whether they were joy, sorrow, love or pride, were so deep and sharp that in
the end they left you raw, exposed and yes, in pain. The human heart was not
designed to beat outside the human body and yet, each child represented just
that – a parent’s heart bared, beating forever outside its chest.” (Debra
Ginsberg)

Are you a Mama with  a story to tell?  
Send in your submission to joanna.haughton@hotmail.com. 

Ride Your Wild Horses

Sweater – Gap
Top – hand me down
Hair Bow – Ruche
Tights & Earrings – F21
Shoes – Payless
Dress – Ruche *sold out* 
Get it at Threadcase in Red and at ShopSosie in Black.
Every time I wear a horse print, so really this dress because it’s the only horse print I own thus far, my mind starts playing U2’s “Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses.” It’s amazing how music, like scent, can just stay in your brain and spring to the forefront with just the right trigger.  It’s like a tangible road mark for memories and feelings.  Some music and some scents just take you to a different place and time… whether you want to go there or not.

True Story:
We’re all dressed for a walk and we turn to ask Baby if she wants to go.
*she usually loves to go* 
She grabs a book, sits down in a corner, and shakes her head, “No.”  
Then smiles a, “Nope, not happening” smile.
Got a mind of her own that one.
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