Upcoming Giveaway-- Win a Hide and Seek Placemat

Dinner time is a big deal around our house.   Hubby, Kai, and I like to take our time with dinner and make it a ritual.  In the new year, we are looking to upgrade to more modern dining room furniture and make our dinners even more creative.  Our wish list includes a dinner bell,cool placemats, and reupholstered chairs.

In the upcoming giveaway next Wednesday, January 12,  you'll have the chance to score the Twist Hide and Seek Placemat from CSN Stores.  Hint:  Begin thinking about your favorite winter time recipe.  More details to come next week. 

Hide and Seek Placemat

New Chapter: Part Time Housewife and Writing Again

I've been tied up transitioning into my new life for the past couple of weeks.  With the support of my husband and money saved,  I'm taking a three month break from work.  Well I did officially leave my job with hopes to pursue something more challenging and fulfilling in the times ahead.  Timing was good to continue work on a book and also to help Kai transition to preschool.  He's two and a half and so curious about the world.  I didn't want to spend another 8 hour day at my desk wishing I was spending more time with him.  He starts preschool next week and I'm looking forward to picking him and hearing about what's he learned.

On the creative side, I can pick up a project that has been near and dear to my heart for a few years.  Today is the first official day of my time off and I wanted to share it with the world. To help me get back into the writing groove, I picked up Writing Alone and With Others by Pat Schneider.  It was an accidental find at the library but it has been exactly what I needed to pick up my pen again. For days I was struck by fear that I made a mistake until I read this passage:

Writing is talking.  It is hunkering down around the cave fire at night and telling about the day.  And however it is disguised, fear is close to the center of the stories we will want to tell...At times, fear keeps us from writing at all, or keeps us from writing as truly, clearly, and brilliantly as we might.  Fear has good reason; understanding it can make all the difference.     - Pat Schneider

I'll get back to the work world soon enough and will work until my mid sixties.  I'm allowing myself this gift of time to enjoy two of my favorite things: family and writing.

my inspiration

Here I go plunging back into my writing...wish me luck.  Happy new year!

Alameda Gem: Poppy Red

karim @ poppy red

I have a weak spot for delicate and pretty flowers.  Months ago as I walked down Park St., I discovered a flower stand that looked like something from a Parisian street.  Violet and ruby colored flowers were tucked in vintage bottles with handwritten price tags. That was the first time I met Karim who was reading a book and trying to keep warm while selling her items outside

Lauren’s Closet, a neighborhood clothing store. Back then, Karim had no more than a dozen arrangements that sold for less than ten dollars.  It's obvious that Karim is not a florist, but an artist.

Over the months, I couldn’t help but gift friends and family with Karim's creations. Each person is always delighted to receive a bundle of flowers that were arranged with lots of love and care. With the holidays coming up, I wouldn’t look anywhere else for your floral needs. Even sweeter, you can choose a poem and card with any purchase at Poppy Red.

 

daily arrangements

Toy Review & Giveaway: Edushape Blocks

If you'd like your own set of Edushape blocks, a free set goes to a lucky winner. Leave a comment or send it to writetoly@gmail.com by Christmas and tell us about the most memorable holiday gift you received as a child. If your story pulls on our heartstrings, we'll send you a new set.

This review is made possible by Toys and Games Online.

When Kai saw the bag filled with colorful blocks, he ditched the ornament he was playing with. Kai took each foam block out one by one and spread them across the floor. He wasn't quite sure what to do at first. I showed him him to layer each one on top of the other and he caught on quickly. Here are a couple of things we built together:








Each of these structures, he knocked down and may have been disappointed that there was no crashing sound like with wooden blocks.

Initial Playing Time: 8:45 AM-8:53AM

Before his afternoon nap, he picked up one of the larger red pieces with a groove in the middle. It became his telephone in which he conducted in baby language for another ten minutes. Ahh...double usage.

As far as the playing time, there are very few toys that hold his interest beyond ten minutes. These blocks seem to be a solid and safe addition. I do think as Kai becomes older, he may become more creative with them.

Overall rating: b+

If you'd like your own set of Edushape blocks, a free set goes to a lucky winner. Leave a comment or send it to writetoly@gmail.com by Christmas and tell us about the most memorable holiday gift you received as a child. If your story pulls on our heartstrings, we'll send you a new set.

To discover more toys, checkout online toys.

Lots of people ask where I create our family avatars.
If you don't mind all the annoying up selling, Vistaprint.com offers excellent prices on cards and allows you to create custom cartoons of yourself. You can pick the face shape, skin tone, and hairstyle. It's fun for the whole family!

Ritual

My daily ritual

Morning- Palmers Cocoa Butter for Stretchmarks
Myth maybe? It's worth a try.
Oakland or Berkeley Grocery Outlet--$2.99

After Work- Aside from walking a portion of the lake, I recommend the pre-natal yoga deck. It's easy to take anywhere.
$9.95--Almost any book store.








Evening- A bubble bath with fresh lavender lit by Pacifica Soy
Lead Free Candles. Buy at Elephant Pharm. Favorite scent:
Vietnamese Ylang Ylang. Votive in decorative glass $4.95.
http://www.pacificacandles.com/soy.asp

Night- Mama Bee (burt's bee line) belly butter
$12.99 at Long's Drugs or Elephant Pharm.