Goal #1 Get Up Earlier

I have always been a "Last Minute Lucy". It is a trait that I am not proud of, and it causes such unnecessary stress, but I try to do my best to arrive to places on time. This starts by getting up earlier.

I have not been a habitually late person, per se, but I have gripped up my steering wheel while driving because I was so worried about arriving late. I end up being all sweaty and stressed when a little planning ahead of time would prevent all of that.

I would love to be the kind of person who can sit in silence before an event or a commitment, but instead, I am running around looking for parking, grabbing clothes or packing lunches.

Now, I have a new position at my company that requires me to be at work an hour and a half earlier than I was before. It is a pretty prominent position, so I open up the doors and people would be waiting on me if I weren't there. This FORCES me to get up early.

Honestly, sure this helps, but I want to be a prepared person. Now don't get me wrong, Anal Annie is no better than Late Lucy, but I want to be the kind of woman who is a good steward of time. I have noticed that since I've had to get up earlier that I have been falling asleep around 9pm or so. That gives me a small window of time once I get off work to actually spend with my family (which is paramount in my mind).

Here is my schedule:

I wake up at 5am.

Shower and get dressed

Pack lunches and get breakfast together

Out the door by 6:45am

Arrive at work at 7:10am

Work from 7:30 to 4pm

Pick up kiddo at 4:30pm

Come home and make dinner, hang out with family, light cleaning (I follow flylady)

Hang out with hubby until around 8

By 8:30, especially in these cold, dark months, I start to yawn. Throw an errand or an event in there, and I am exhausted by the end of the day. I am going to be starting my winter semester for classes, so who knows how I am going to fit homework in this equation again. Where is exercise, other than chasing a toddler? Where is "me time"? Those are few and far between these days.

The few precious moments I have in the early morning, I want to spend talking to God. I want to connect with Him about my day, my family, my spirit, but at times, I find myself getting rushed into the day and then saying sporadic prayers or reading harried devotionals without really communing with the Lord. I again, don't want to be that kind of woman. How can I give when I am not full? How can I love when I don't know how to give it? I know this sounds like I'm rambling, and really. getting up earlier (when I am most alert and refreshed) is the time that I should devote to Christ. It is all connected in how I spend my day. Should I get up at 4:30? Who knows. I pray I have the discipline and desire to figure it out.

Lord, I cannot do life without you. Fill my cup. Make my priority and focus to be on You and not on my agenda and plans. Give me your peace and surround me with your love today, Lord.

The Lord surrounds His people both now and forevermore. PSALM 125:2

Pics and Pics Galore!

When Christmas pics go wrong! My husband, 1980 ish with his brothers

This blog is definitely not the type to promote much of anything other than out boring lives, but when I saw that we could get free photo cards if we linked to Shutterfly, I had to bite. WE always do photo cards every year, and I would go to the local Walgreens and use one of their templates after I took a shot of us. Normally, it's a family shot that is nice and safe. I think this year, since we have so much to celebrate, I'd love to do something a little less "christmas picy' and think outside the box.

At this point, I may just do a New Year's Card unless I can be creative and get some shots done tonite. Lord know Christmas pics won't go out in time! ;)

I still have to have someone take our pic this year, but if we were to pick I like:

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/cards-stationery/family-wall-red-christmas-card-5x7-flat?sortType=1&storeNode=93496

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/new-years-cards/purple-pop-art-new-years-card?sortType=1&storeNode=60791

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/new-years-cards/fanciful-flourishes-new-years-card?sortType=1&storeNode=60791

We are having a New Year's Party, and although I did an evite, it would be nice to include a mailed invitation. I like these:

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-cards/bubbles-and-cheers-christmas-invitation-4x5-flat?sortType=1&storeNode=93510

If we wanted to get all fancy and do the Mardi Gras Candlelight theme, I like these:

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-cards/elegant-flourish-noir-christmas-invitation-4x5-flat?sortType=1&storeNode=93510

And our daughter will be 4 in Feb, so we want to have a Camping Party and I LOVE THESE !

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/invitations/sweet-cupcake-birthday-invitation-5x7-flat?sortType=1&storeNode=60394

Even though this is labeled a boy invite, I like this one:

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/4x8-flat-photo-cards/silly-streak-chocolate-birthday-4x8-photo-card-4x8-photo?sortType=1&storeNode=60393

Now as I'm writing this, I'm getting excited about what our pics and cards will look like. Hey, I might even get them out before Christmas!

Who Came Up with Corn Rowing Anyway?

Goal: To Learn How to Corn Row My Daughter's Hair

There are some people who were just born knowing how to braid. I'm talking about long before the days of Bo Derek and '10' and well before Kizzie in Roots...I am not one of them. I used to watch my cousins and sisters braid and they could catch the tiniest hairs. I am convinced that braiding hair and the ability to jump double dutch (of each ability I have neither) go hand and hand.

Anyway, God blessed me with a little girl. I am so grateful for her, but Lord have mercy, I did not want my baby walking around looking like nobody loved her. I was able to do cute little styles as her hair grew over time:

Adorable Right?

Simple Enough.
Oh we're getting fancy!
Classic Chic!

As it grew, as creative as I tried to get, I quickly began to realize my limitations.

PoppaWheel loved to see it in a fro. Problem was is the detangling process afterwards.

I mean the heck with it, I could just throw a hat on the child's head!

But wait, I may know how to do a zig zag part! Advanced braid-dom huh?
I hear the secret to a good braider is a good part-er.

There goes that ubiquitous fro again. Love the look. Hate the screams from combing it.

The girl rocked puffs for long you'd thought we had stock in Stay Puft lol

Au NaturaleMommaWheel got smart and paid someone to braid it.
Highly technical skill. Note the precision by which the child can golf now that her hair is laid tight!

At present day, our girl has been rocking two strand twist or some variation thereof. I also have not been able to master the twistout.

I have learned which products work for the girl's hair. I use good, organic ingredients that keep her scalp healthy and don't harm her in any way. I kicked it old school with Bergamont. I've been through Carol's Daughter, Kinky Curly, etc, but my favorite has been Moroccan Oil. It has a nice smell and it really defines her curls and gives it a nice shine. I am still on the hunt for a good detangler. I tried Taliah Waajid by the recommendation of a mom who is a self-taught corn-rower, and it's ok, but I guess I am looking for that magic product that whilest it detangles it will infuse me with the sublime ability to corn row like the masters. Aint happening!

So, being the loving, resourceful momma that I am, I took to the internets for some advice. I started out a You Tube looking at videos of how to do my baby's hair. Here are some that I tried:

• Beads Braids and Beyond is my top fave. (Started off watching her on You Tube, then subscribed to the blog via Google Reader) This is a Canadian mom who is just gorgeous and her kiddo has a great head of hair. Because there is so much of it, it gives me hope that I too can tackle detangling the BabyWheel's head.

She has me wanting to try Bee Mine products.

She even has a corn row tutorial that I have yet to try. I WILL! :)

Corn Rowing for Beginners

I was then touched by the story of a white mom who adopted her girls from Haiti and learned to care for their hair:

Braids Beads and Truth

I also love how much this momma loves her girls and cares for their hair:

Family Going Natural

I have also learned that black hair is beautiful. I mean, I've been an owner of said hair for 35 years and I've always known it, but the media would have us to believe that blond str8 hair flowing down your back is the only thing of beauty. I take it as my personal responsibility to to advocate for my daughter and help her express her outer beauty by combing her hair and styling it the best it can look. I know, I know, you're ready to play this song:

I Am Not My Hair

In all seriousness, we are about to move to suburbia where our baby may be the only brown one in the bunch in many scenarios. Different is not bad. Different is well, different. So when she hops in the pool and her hair changes texture or she can't be Cher for dress up day without a wig, I want her to feel confident. She is not her hair. She is BabyWheel.

The Little Checklist that Could

Here is an update to my summer post on the plans I had. It has been a whirlwind! Selling our home and purchasing a new one should have been the only 2 items on my list because it took up most of our time!

From purging to staging to showings we are POOPED!

Now interestingly enough, just because an item is crossed off doesn’t mean that I’ve “arrived”. It just mean that I attempted to accomplish that goal. We still have not found a church home, but we made a commitment to attend more and get to know the people around.

I am stealing this post from my cousin, Funkidivagirl.

1. Get up earlier (I planned on it, but did not consistently do it)

2. Listen more intently. Less talking (This will probably always be on my list)

3. Pray daily and not just for others and their problems (I leaned more toward praying for my own problems)

4. Go to church more and develop more intimate relationships with those that God has allowed in my path

5. Drive down the Blue Mountain Parkway (We ended up taking the most direct route)

6. Learn how to preserve peaches or strawberries (see point #1 about moving J

7. Drink green smoothies daily (does weekly count?)

8. Stop at one of the islands along the coast of SC or GA (Didn’t make it there this year)

9. Snorkel for the first time (I REALLY wanted to, but didn’t have the time)

10. Rent a bike and ride on the beach

11. Go to a winery (Got the BEST Southern Belle Wine from SC Wineries

12. Learn how to corn row my daughter’s hair (The neverending story that are my stubby fingers)

13. Go on a date with my husband at least 6 times alone this summer (see point #1. Ok, so we went out ALONE maybe 4 times)

14. Go to Dominican Republic for my 35^th birthday (No comment)

15. Make popsicles like King of Pops (Still going to do this one)

16. Focus on strength training (Gotta re-up my membership to the gym)

17. Take several water aerobics classes (see point #16)

18. Go to hooping class (see points 16 and 17 lol

19. Sell our house

20. Move into our new house

21. Teach my daughter how to play go fish and old maid

22. Take a cooking class with my husband (see point #13)

23. Take a train or bus ride up to Boston (Still want to)

24. Find things to do in the city related to music and GO (met Eric Benet. Now that was FUN!)

25. Go to Summer Solstice Celebration at Kimmel Center (Ended up leaving too late)

26. Take more pictures and learn more about my camera

27. Clean up my desk at work

28. Complain less and be more grateful

29. Take my vitamins daily

30.Slow down ( I will always be a fast tail girl)

31. Visit the co-op more (I did it once)

32. Eat more green leafy veggies ( gotta commit to this for life)

33. Go to the farmer’s market (this one too)

Now, here is my new and improved list for the next quarter or so:

1. Get up earlier

2. Listen more intently. Less talking

3. Pray daily and not just for others and their problems

4. Drive down the Blue Mountain Parkway

5. Learn how to preserve peaches or strawberries

6. Drink green smoothies daily

7. Stop at one of the islands along the coast of SC or GA

8. Snorkel for the first time

9. Learn how to corn row my daughter’s hair

10. Go on a date with my husband at least 6 times alone this summer

11. Make popsicles like King of Pops

12. Focus on strength training

13. Take several water aerobics classes

14. Go to hooping

15. Take a cooking class with my husband

16. Take a train or bus ride up to Boston

17. Find things to do in the city related to music and GO

18. Slow down

19. Visit the co-op more

20. Eat more green leafy veggies

21. Go to the farmer’s market

22. Decorate our new home one room at a time

23. Plan a garden

24. Finish at least 10 books

25. Blog More (because I am on FB, I need to blog on purpose)

26. Purposefully menu plan

27. Learn how to dress

28. Plan a fabulous housewarming party

29. Participate more in the photobugs challenges

30. Save at least 1k

31. Plan for Christmas shopping

32. Learn how to use coupons and other online specials

33. Have a couples night monthly

34.Be more crafty (sewing, creating home décor items)

35. Keep in touch with family more

33 Things I'd Love to Do This Summer

I am stealing this post from my cousin, Funkydivagirl.

1. Get up earlier

2. Listen more intently. Less talking

3. Pray daily and not just for others and their problems

4. Go to church more and develop more intimate relationships with those that God has allowed in my path

5. Drive down the Blue Mountain Parkway

6. Learn how to preserve peaches or strawberries

7. Drink green smoothies daily

8. Stop at one of the islands along the coast of SC or GA

9. Snorkel for the first time

10. Rent a bike and ride on the beach

11. Go to a winery

12. Learn how to corn row my daughter’s hair

13. Go on a date with my husband at least 6 times alone this summer

14. Go to Dominican Republic for my 35^th birthday

15. Make popsicles like King of Pops

16. Focus on strength training

17. Take several water aerobics classes

18. Go to hooping

19. Sell our house

20. Move into our new house

21. Teach my daughter how to play go fish and old maid

22. Take a cooking class with my husband

23. Take a train or bus ride up to Boston

24. Find things to do in the city related to music and GO

25. Go to Summer Solstice Celebration at Kimmel Center

26. Take more pictures and learn more about my camera

27. Clean up my desk at work

28. Complain less and be more grateful

29. Take my vitamins daily

30.Slow down

31. Visit the co-op more

32. Eat more green leafy veggies

33. Go to the farmer’s market

BabyWheel, She Flips, She Turns

I promised myself that I was not going to be the kind of mom who has my child's day filled by the time she was 5. A kid has to have time to be a kid. No schedules, no running around, etc. There was one thing that I knew the girl would love to do....and that's FLIP AROUND! Or so I thought!

The local recreation center offered gymnastics or little kid tumbling for several weeks in Feb-April, so we jumped at the chance to do it.

BabyWheel decided that she liked to tumble--fair enough, but she refused to get on the trampoline. She said it was too scary. I think it was because there were too many kids on there at one time. If there is one thing about my child that I've learned over the past few years, it's that she does play well with others, but it has to be on her terms. She can't be forced into fun or coerced into clowning. It has to be her way or the highway.

Imagine the glee when I saw my little toddler walking into her first organized class. It was too cool. Too bad she had other plans. I do have pics to prove it, but that comes later. Back to the whole activity and kids thing...

The one thing I want to pass along to my daughter from a mother's perspective is a love for God and how much He loves her right back. I try to show that in the grace I show her when she cuts the fool and is just being, well...3. I show her how much Mommy loves Daddy by cooking for him after a long day of work Or surprising him with a fun birthday night away for the two of us. Activities are all well and good, and the memories from the fun we have will be lasting, but it is her character that counts, godly character that exudes God's hand in her life. A tumble or two here and there is fun, but what we do for Christ will last.

Here are some pics to prove no children were harmed in the typing of this message :)

--MommaWheel

The Consummate Homemaker

I wish I were. :)

During the blizzard(s) of 2010 here in Philly, I took a liking to cooking and baking. I had the time to actually not just be all Rachel Ray in the kitchen and grab the EVOO on the run, but really talk to Alayna about what I was cooking and laugh and joke around.

Since the snow came around Valentine's Day this year, and I had already planned on making gifts for work, I was excited to know that I could really take my time and also enlist the assistance of my culinary genius, daughter, BabyWheel.

We decided to make these.

Then we started by getting the dough ready:

Then we got the templates together for the cute little boxes. They said, "a little pie for the apple of my eye".

Then we filled the dough with apple pie.

Last, we pulled them out of the oven. YUMMY!