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A New Kind Of New Year’s Eve
As New Year’s Eve rolls around, I’ve been thinking about New Year’s Eves of the past and how they’ve changed over the years, especially since I have become a parent. Last year’s evening was extra special. We didn’t do anything extraordinary. In fact, we didn’t really do much at all and even went to sleep well before the stroke of midnight. What made the night special, after 7 years of marriage to my wonderful Tom,…
First Night Away: German Christmas Markets
For our first overnight outing, we took our seven week old daughter, Peanut, to the Christmas market in Aachen, Germany. We always said that we are not going to be the parents that bend to our daughter’s every need, but who a re we kidding? We chose Aachen because it is the closest Christmas market to the Dutch border. Instead of taking a day trip by train to the markets like half of The Netherlands…
Leaving To Join The Amish
In my personal blog, I write a lot about my deep and longstanding love of The Gentle People, and brainstorm ways to live more deliberately with less “stuff”. I often dream of flinging aside my modern life with its email and closet full of clothing and running hither and yon, in favor of a sparse cabin in the woods with only a small stove, two dresses, and an outhouse in back (wait – scratch that…
Birthday Party Insanity
For the past twelve years I have made the bulk of my living by performing circus acts at events. I have seen it all – corporate luaus in Hawaii, urban space alien night club openings, Cirque du Soleil-theme fundraisers, but nothing – nothing– prepared us for the million dollar kids party market. Yup, you read that right. For the grand achievement of living another year, the Cherished Child is rewarded with a bounce house, clowns,…
The Highs And Lows Of Taking A Trip Without My Toddler
This past weekend I went to a reunion in San Francisco and it was my first time away from my husband and 2-year old son, The Littlest E. I was excited about visiting friends I hadn’t seen in many years and seeing my sister and nephew, as I was staying with them. I was also nervous about leaving my son for the weekend. I’ve traveled without my husband, but this time it was different. I’d…
Living In Harmony With Nature? We Can Do It…
I’m very inspired by the book I’m currently reading, “A Short History of Progress” by Ronald Wright, on the evolution of civilization. It’s an environmentally based look at the rise and fall of civilizations, from the early humans we loosely refer to as cave men, to modern society. According to Wright, ancient civilizations rose to greatness because of the vast natural resources available to them; and perished when they overused and exhausted these resources. And the…
Living La Dolce Vita When In Italy With Kids
My six year old, the self-admitted chocoholic, is coming off a serious bender. Our recent trip to Italy had us all indulging as never before (as one is surely prone to do while visiting that beautiful and bountiful country). The adults packed on serious pasta paunches, sipped chianti and nibbled proscuitto e melone. My sons sampled every flavor of gelato known to humankind and ate their way through countless jars of Nutella®. We have Nutella…
Prioritizing What Is Important
A large problem I have come up against again and again in life is that I have an infinite ability to “want” to do things. I can come up with ideas over and over and even flesh them out to the point they are ready to go. Where is the problem in this? The execution and time constraints of being an adult. When you are in middle and high school your free time can be…
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