A Monday Morning for Mommy.

Shane is taking the day off today to go on his "Daddy Daughter Birthday Date" with Lydia. But that doesn't start until after nap time so... I am taking the entire morning off! Currently I'm sipping my Irish Creme Hot Chocolate with a little WiFi access. Next on my freedom tour is browsing some of the fabulous (and very stroller unfriendly) Chattanooga boutiques. I will make sure to post some of my finds. There are so many great Southern based lines just waiting to be discovered.

Speaking of great finds, if you would like me to consider reviewing your product email me at nataliessentiments@gmail.com. Over the next few months I will be having some themed weeks featuring great must haves. I am looking especially for "stylish mommy" gear, photography necessities, baby baubles, culinary essentials, Valentine Gifts & goodies and Easter lovelies. Oh, and things featuring my favorite color. If you don't know what that is, you must be new. But hurry on that last one because I have already found some incredible "yellows" and I only have room for one or two more. A week of "all things yellow" starts on January 24th.

Now I'm off. I've got to do some serious window shopping before my girl's lunch date. Love me a Monday.

photo source

Winner!

The randomly chosen winner of the Resolutions Giveaway is DaNae who said "I have an SLR but am just scratching the surface with all of the possibilities. Would love to win that." Congrats! Email me your address and I will send you the "Basic Book of Digital Photography".

Smitten

Isn't he just delicious? I am totally and complete entranced by this little boy. Even more over at my other blog.

I love my new camera.

In the rest of the world

I can't watch any more on Haiti today. I've been glued to the set whenever I get a moment. I just want to hold my children a little closer and be grateful they are safe. If you want to help, some great ideas here.

In other news, it has been over a month since Susan Powell went missing. I just can't stop thinking about where she could be. I went to high school with her husband, Josh Powell, and I don't want to believe he is capable of something so horrible as killing his wife. I didn't know him well at all, in fact I only remember having one real conversation with him. He was very very odd. On one of my Facebook threads, a friend of mine said "I was on the tennis team with him and he was definitely a weird dude....he's either totally the guy that could do this or weird enough that he actually took his kids camping. Unfortunately, my money's on the former." Still, to think someone who grew up just a few miles from my house doing something so horrible is heartbreaking.

I guess after we have donated what we can to aid the suffering around us, all we can do is pray. And cry. I really do need to stay away from the news for a bit. I've been doing a lot of crying in the last couple days.

"Wii" have a problem here.

My parents got us a Wii for Christmas. We were thrilled. Now I can set up Active for myself (instead of borrowing my friend's console) and Shane gets to play some games he has been interested in. He went right out and bought Mario Brothers. That's all fine and dandy. However, when I came into the room the other day to find this scene, I nearly had a panic attack. I want to severely limit my children's exposure to video games. Playing together as a family is one thing. Mindless starting at the screen for hours...that is sooooo not happening. At the same time, I don't want to nag my husband about his playing. He really only plays once every week or two and if anyone deserves a little decompression time, it's him. Still, when I heard Lydia running down the stairs yelling to Shane that she wanted to watch him "beat the ghost house on the wii game", I died a bit inside.

13 PEOPLE HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY:

Weeksie50 said...

lol- I have the same problem!I don't have kids.. but I am addicted.. I actually got up @ 3 in the morning.. to try again.. to get past that stinkin' 7th level.. Ugh!

JANUARY 15, 2010 1:23 PM 

Misty said...

This is so funny! I love, love, love the look on Collin's face! Priceless!

JANUARY 15, 2010 2:08 PM 

MamaOtwins+1 said...

We haven't had a game system in our house for this very reason! And I limit what the boys watch on TV. But I really do want a wii - maybe I can limit to only buying active games - for those cold and rainy days when no one goes outside.

JANUARY 15, 2010 2:10 PM 

Cynthia said...

We bought the Wii for christmas for a family gift and my Husband had to get Mario Kart too! He loves it and played it for about four days straight after we got it! lol He got it out of his system and only plays it with the kids now. We also got the Karaoke revolution that us girls love. It is good family fun. But we do restrict the time so that it does not become an obsession!

JANUARY 15, 2010 3:21 PM 

Canadiachik said...

Ah Natalie, I feel your distress! My husband too is a childhood nintendo-lover and I have been where you are now (actually, he also bought mario brothers this Christmas too, "for the kids"! I always stressed when a new game or system came along, worrying that our couple and family time would dissipate into mindless screen watching *ugh!* I now realize that my hub's playing comes and goes in phases, and like you, I think he is due his nostalgic down-time. We've had the wii for a few years now and it is the best system we've had by far. I don't even mind joining in every now and thenand we've had some fun family time together with it. I do have a rules I stick to strictly: no 1st person shooter games allowed, no kid gaming on weeknights, and chores/clean-up have to be done before playing. My kids aren't allowed to play for longer than an hour at a time - after that they get grouchy! Mostly I insist that Brian take the kids outside before or after playing to make up for their screen-time. I must say, everyone is good at sticking to the rules...and I get A LOT of homework/cleaning/good behavior mileage out of my 7 year old when 15 minutes of wii is his reward. Well worth it for me! I laughed at the picture of Collin watching so intently - each of my kids have been there!

JANUARY 15, 2010 3:28 PM 

Stacy said...

LOL I feel for ya, I really do! My kids never stood a chance with their Daddy. My hubby plays every game known to man, just about, and is particularly hooked on World of Warcraft. Since he heads up a guild in it, he's on it ALL THE TIME. The look on Shane's face is all too familiar to me...

JANUARY 15, 2010 3:45 PM 

Dionna said...

That is a darling picture. I can almost feel what you must have felt upon initial arrival into that room! I feel the same way as you about video games. My daughter saved up her babysitting money and got a wii. We've actually enjoyed doing it as a family and it does get you off the couch (well - except the Mario game. :) Now I have a wii fit. Okay - so I'm corrupted a little.

JANUARY 15, 2010 4:09 PM 

Lianna Knight said...

That pictures is PRICELESS!!! :)

JANUARY 15, 2010 5:58 PM 

Are You Serious! said...

♥ It's such a cute picture though!

JANUARY 15, 2010 6:22 PM 

Anonymous said...

What an adorable picture. I especially like the way Shane had Collin secured in place with his leg. Glad you are all enjoying the gift. All things in moderation.Love you Mom

JANUARY 16, 2010 2:33 AM 

Jessie said...

I battle this also. I got hubs a Wii for Father's Day b/c he was forever talking about wanting one. We maybe played it 3 times before Christmas. He surprised our family with a Just Dance game Christmas morning and the girls want to play it all the time now. I have limited them to only 2 times a week and only as a family. My goal is to maintain moderation :)

JANUARY 16, 2010 9:57 AM 

The Pampered Mom said...

I couldn't agree with you more about video games. The same thing happened but at my in-laws house ... they bought it and want the kids to come over in play ... ugh, I actually am just getting upset talking about it! :)

JANUARY 16, 2010 6:14 PM 

Sara Clifton said...

Yes, staring at a screen for too long can really fry your brain....I feel my eyes burning out now. Uggggggghhhh. Zooooombieeee girl... :)

JANUARY 16, 2010 10:04 PM 

Opening the time capsule

When I was 13, my church group put together time capsules. We were asked to fill them with things that were meaningful, and we would open them the day before our wedding day. Soon after I turned 14 my family moved into a new house. When I got engaged I searched for my time capsule everywhere I could think of, but it seemed that it was lost in the move.

A couple months ago my mom called telling me she was cleaning out a cabinet in the laundry room and low and behold she found the capsule! She brought it to me to open this Christmas. (I got engaged over 9 years ago. How long has it been since you cleaned out that cabinet mom?)

My 13 year old self decided to fill a can with childhood memories. 19 years later, it was the perfect Christmas gift. (Emma, there was an awesome poem from you in there. All about when we pretended to be princesses in the field between our houses. I will send it to you.)

Hey, I'm still working on these goals!

I have been wondering for almost 20 years where this lovely antique silver frame went. (Gift from my grandma.) The photo is my parents engagement photo.

My cabbage patch doll birth certificate!

So many memories.

Seems my sister Abby has always been an artist. :) Are those her boobs hanging down or her puffy sleeves?

Hey. I see a resemblance here to another adorable little girl I know.

Looks like I always wanted to be a mommy.

While I was opening this, I thought of a great tradition I want to start. Every New Years Day, have the kids write a letter to their future self. I would save the letters for them. Shane and I could also add a letter every year as well. Could be a great family activity and a priceless future gift to our children.

***

Note: One of my very favorite Etsy Shops is having a great benefit. For the next three days, Allora Handmade is donating its 100% of their proceeds to Autism Speaks. Also, every $10 spent earns you an entry for a $40 gift certificate to Allora Handmade. Spread the word! It's a great cause.

17 PEOPLE HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY:

Miss Carey @----'---------- said...

I love that! Right now I am a 26 going on 27-year old single. I think that making a time capsule to be opened someday when I'm married would be very special. How do I make one? Looks like a coffee can to me. Thanks :)

JANUARY 13, 2010 10:23 AM 

Green Acres in the City said...

How wonderful!

JANUARY 13, 2010 10:42 AM 

Dave and Abby said...

Obviously they are sleeves! I didn't know what boobs were, yet.

JANUARY 13, 2010 11:19 AM 

MamaOtwins+1 said...

That would be a great tradition to start. I am going to have the boys do it for their birthdays!

JANUARY 13, 2010 11:52 AM 

bumblebeebags said...

My sons teachers have them write a letter listing their goals for the next year. I love looking back and reading them. My 10 year olds goal at 8 was to tackle more people in football. He had to put down how he would accomplish this and he wrote "find people to tackle" I still get a kick out of it everytime I read it!

JANUARY 13, 2010 12:01 PM 

Emily Taylor said...

Hey, where is the my antique frame. I've been missing mine too.

JANUARY 13, 2010 1:07 PM 

Natalie Jane said...

I bet Molly stole it.

JANUARY 13, 2010 1:22 PM 

Sarah said...

Thats so neat! i love the letter to your future children! ♥

JANUARY 13, 2010 4:45 PM 

Life With the Crazies said...

This is one of the coolest things I've ever seen... How special to be able to look at it after all these years. A group of my friends made a Y2K time capsule New Year's Eve 1999, with marriage predictions and so forth, but somehow has been misplaced and not one of us remembers where we put it. This gives me hope of someday finding it!

JANUARY 13, 2010 7:40 PM 

Whimsical Creations said...

Such wonderful memories in that capsule.

JANUARY 13, 2010 9:33 PM 

Artsy-Craftsy Merchant said...

Loved the time capsule! and all its treasures!

JANUARY 13, 2010 10:26 PM 

Brittany said...

I love what was in your time capsule. The note to your future children made me tear up a bit. BTW love the pic of you with your kiddos on your header... so darling! Lydias hair is beautiful! Just like her mommy's.

JANUARY 13, 2010 11:54 PM 

Teresa @ Grammy Girlfriend said...

That is so neat....Thanks for sharing...

JANUARY 14, 2010 12:18 AM 

Are You Serious! said...

♥ How fun!!!! :)

JANUARY 14, 2010 5:50 PM 

Kandi said...

That is great that your Mom found your time capsule! Every year on my kids birthday myself, my husband and my mom (my dad has passed) write them a letter to be opened when they are much older. I also like to include a few things they made as well. Kandi www.thebabysbundle.com

JANUARY 14, 2010 11:21 PM 

by Ashley Guinto said...

SO COOL!! I'm going to make my kids do this.

JANUARY 17, 2010 12:48 AM 

Melanie Anne said...

What a fun gift to yourself!! I love you idea too!

JANUARY 20, 2010 8:26 AM