Trying to Throw your Arms Around the World

I don't think it is ironic that when we pretend to be cave people, we say "ug ug." To me, an UG day=a day where the hair is absolutely rebellious, your clothes just don't look right, you feel a little chunky, and even with makeup on you look tired or unkept (cave woman at her finest.)

I think it is natural for women to be hard on themselves, especially when we are absolutely bombarded by a false impression of what we are "supposed" to look like. I admit that I have my UG days, especially after having 2 kids! Yet, I find myself feeling quite disappointed when I come across other women who are very beautiful and are completely dissatisfied and oblivious to how beautiful and special they are inside and out.

The statement "beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder" is quite powerful and thanks to the media and living in one of the most religious states for plastic surgery, it messes with my vision at times. There are days that I just need a different pair of prescriptive lenses/shades and other days where wish that I had a few extra to pass around. When I have days like this, the song Video by India Arie and Beautiful by Christina Aguilera are great for a little self esteem boost.

Over the past few months, I have been working on my perspective about different aspects of my life. When my "UG" thoughts have crept in, I change the perspective or environment specifically regarding the thought patterns surrounding it. I focus on the triggers and then change to find the beauty of what is going on at the exact current moment. (From breath, sounds, my kiddies, my anatomical and physiological things that work for me, and humorously my VS Very Sexy Bra (It does amazing things for the flat-chested)

In writing about this, I hope to encourage a positive self esteem for those around me. I figure the best way to do this is to encourage each other as mothers, sisters, and friends. If we get it right or learn a few secrets, then hopefully our new ideas and can be passed along to our kids (boys or girls), family members, friends, co-workers, or even a stranger we meet. I know I am not the only one that sees this as a problem. Dove has an entire campaign surrounding this exact issue in young children. You've probably seen some of their commercials in the past. Anyway, if you are having an UG day (and we all have them) I hope that you remember that you are so much more than how "you think/feel" you look today.

It is quite fitting that since Emma has loved ponies for so long that she would eventually demand side ponytails. Whether it is regular side pony, side braided, or side cornrow pony it definitely is a daily thing. I did eventually snap a picture of her wearing her flower headband and holding up her flower wand from her St. Patricks Day pre-school party. Isn't she adorable?!

Emma and Sophie both have gone to the best preschool ever! Rainbow Connection off of Highland Drive. I love their teaching philosophy and the way they allow them to explore and be a child of age 3 or 4. This is the same preschool I went to! I have such great memories and remember the warm loving feelings I had while going there. My kids feel it, too. The staff absolutely showers the kids with love and do more for them than teach letters, numbers, art, music, and reading skills. Today they are doing an easter egg hunt. Emma has talked about it since yesterday and leapt out of the car when I dropped her off. I am anxious to hear the details.

Last weekend the Coccimiglio family went to Princesses on Ice. What a show! It really requires its own post to do it justice. Yet, long story short...it was absolutely the greatest hour and a half you could spend with friends and girls ages 4 and 5 who are mesmerized with princesses. Even the adults couldn't contain the laughter when Flounder came out on skates!! From cast members leaping, flying, and swinging from the raftors to the fireworks, fire breathing dragon, and princess palooza, it was smashing! What is the latest thing that Emma wants from all of this? Of course, Ariel and her matching special pony.

So today the girls and I passed on the beer, corned beef, and cabbage, but we celebrated St. Patricks in our own way. I guess you could say we celebrated with a few leprechauns. I didn't think that I had a problem with these, but I do. Not because I purchase them. I don't. But my parents do and their cookie jar is always full of them. Whenever I am at their house and just want something sweet, I find myself wandering over to grab one. Did I say one? Remember my previous post about working out the kinks? I celebrated St. Patties with more than my fair share. New goal, "Just say No" to the cookie jar.

I really enjoy holidays and today I just busted up when I picked up Sophie from school. She skipped out in her green sandals and green shirt giving the details of all the kids that got pinched, who shouldn't have gotten pinched, and those that got pinched 10 times. She was very interested in the whole thing. Next, I picked up Emma and she came prancing out all decked in her irish party wear she made at school. I wish I had my camera. The paper glitter flower bandana and a glitter wand was priceless. Hillarious. The flower was enormous.
Later in the afternoon, the girls practiced throwing rubber balls at me while I attempted to work. Obviously, I was really productive at that time. So I put the laptop down and we had an all out throw ball / dodge ball fight and practiced our hoopin skills in our enchanted princess castle pop-up tent. Of course the girls only want "Who let the dogs out" or "See You Again" playing in the background. Today, Mylie Cyrus won with a whopping 14 in a row before I couldn't take it anymore. Sophie also perfected her Dance Dance Revolution skills, which needs to be recorded. She is workin' out to Bobby Brown "Every Little Step I Take" these days. Remember them runnin' man days? Ha ha funny. Perhaps you can mix a little runnin' man in with any irish jig on the schedule for the day. Happy St. Patties.

So I think I have adjusted to daylight savings and appreciate the rewards of it. I am over the "I have to get up early" bad attitude and very happy for the warmer brighter days of Spring. Today, I took the girls to the park. We had so much fun and I just can't believe how big they are getting. I have also been able to get out and enjoy the lighter evenings with some short runs. The nice weather motivates me to stay active and grab the "good" stuff to eat. I am (once again) on another kick of the "fresh" tomato, mozzarella cheese, basil combination topped with "freshly" ground pepper and drizzled with balsamic vinegar (instead of oil.) Doesn't it sound "refreshing?" Emma makes regular requests for this. Woooow!Sometimes I just might be borderline OCD with it. What quick healthy treat do you like to eat?

As I stated earlier, my exercise frequency has a direct relationship with me wanting to eat more healthy. Therefore, if I am plumping up you obviously know what is going on, eh? Lets just say that I am in the process of working out some of the kinks right now. Capish?

I stumbled upon this fun clip a few weeks ago. I enjoy watching talented dancers and this couple is a hysterical. The choreography is engaging and the guy makes a quadruple inside turn look effortless! They have so much fun performing and the ending alone is one of the best I've seen.
Sheesh I would love to do something like this someday.. Should I dye my hair platinum blonde and wear a peach outfit with a slit down the belly too? Oh great, I think I have to work on my splits, now... oh yeah, and my back bends, oh and my cartwheels, oh and black girl "attitude" neck moves... oh and have my girls spin me in an office chair so I can remember what it feels like to turn that fast!! How lovely...I just might barf doing all that!

This groovy dance is performed by the cousins Benji Schwimmer & Heidi Groskreutz at the US Open Swing Competition in 2005. I really love it after about a minute in. The music and choreography changes to James Brown and takes it up to a completely different level. They have some awesome moves. So while you eat your healthy snack, check this video out and "Get up offa that thang and dance till you feel better."

Daylight savings in the spring shouldn't bother me much since I consider myself a morning person. I would be lying if I said it didn't. Once I am used to the schedule I am fine, but about this time every spring (the night before) I end up saying to myself that it is lame. LAME!

What I find so odd about daylight savings is that I can go on vacation and avoid any irritations about time changes. Yet, spring daylight savings always gets under my skin. Anyway, I am grumbling about it and will get over it by Monday. In the meantime,grumble grumble... early to bed and even earlier to rise. Enjoy the shorter day tomorrow. Longer days of sun on the way.

P.S. I AM happy the night before daylight savings in the fall.

This post is dedicated to all the mothers out there that can relate. So, my girls have this thing they like to do before they take a bath. Once they are down to their skivvies, they run around the house and race. They first start out with running around the house to be funny and then it goes litterally to the mark, set, GO. What makes this so funny? I seriously don't know...but I just end up laughing hysterically over it. So for all those mothers who have children (large or small) that like to run around in the buff and can't keep themselves from laughing... I am laughing with you. From little tots running away during a diaper change to our large friends who streak and can't quite make it across the football field... I shake my head and giggle. Obviously no picture is attached.