Tonight! A Bumpin' Baby Shower!

Come celebrate 'All About the Bump Month' with local bloggers Whitney Wingerd, Julie Pron & Kelly Whalen! 'All About the Bump Month' is a celebration of all things baby and pregnancy! Whether you're expecting, a new mom or would just love to win these amazing prizes for a mom to be we hope you'll join us for this fun night out!


Prizes include: a Graco SnugRide infant seat, a Phil & Ted's stroller courtesy of Zulily.com, a Joovy baby chair, a gorgeous Mamaroo, Britax "Carry On" baby carrier, and so much more! Each attendee will also receive a swag bag with goodies to take home!

All money generated from the sales of raffle tickets ($1 per ticket) will be donated to local charity, Home of the Sparrow. Tickets will be available at the event for $1 each or 15 tickets for $10.

Kildare's will be serving some munchies, and 1/2 priced drinks and apps including a special mocktail for our expecting moms in attendance.
 

For more information and to register, please visit: http://bumpinbabyshowerchesco.eventbrite.com/

52 Weeks: Organize your Mind

Bonnie at House of Grace had a post about a book called, “Organize Now!” by Jennifer Ford Berry.  It sounded like it would be helpful so I picked it up.  I’m hoping it will help me with my goals of sticking to the 52 Weeks of Organizing Challenge.

This week’s goals:

- Get a minimum of 7 hours of sleep

            This is a tough one for me.  I tend to stay up late doing things, since the kids don’t go to bed early.  Since I work all day, it’s really the only time I have to get stuff done.  The problem is I know I need at least 7 hours – more like 9.  I NEVER get that though.  My goal for this week will be to get to bed by 11pm each night.

- Jot a short to do list

            I do keep a running to do list in a small notebook in my purse.  Great for when I’m out or at work.  The problem is once I’m home it stays in my purse.  I’ll have to work on getting it out and checking it once I’m home for the night.

- Schedule a 2 minute break 2-3 times a day to spend time alone and just be.

            “Just be”.  Time Alone.  I think I like the sound of that.  ;-)

- Set goals and then break them into doable daily To Do’s

            This seems like it might make it a little less overwhelming to get things done.  I’m going to work on doing things this way rather than the big goal all at once.

Local Event: Back to School Craft Event This Thursday

Musings of a Housewife and Bloomingdales are hosting a Back to School Craft Event for moms and kids. There will be mini-makeovers, crafts for the kids and more.

Thursday, August 26th, from 10 to noon

{Click to see invitation bigger}

More info here:

http://www.musingsofahousewife.com/2010/08/bloomingdales-and-musings-of-a-housewife-present.html

If I Could Do It Over Again...

Kat over on Mama's Losin' It is doing a writer's workshop.  One of the prompts was "If you could do it over again..."   This one got me thinking.  Of course, that's what it was meant to do.  I know it's cliche, but for the most part I wouldn't do it over again.  I would leave everything the way that it was since everything I've done so far has made me the person I am today.  That's what I'm supposed to say, right?

There are some things I might possibly have done a little differently.

I would have been nicer to my sister when we were kids.

I would have gone to class in high school instead of skipping.

I would have taken that high school photography class a little more seriously.

I would have studied more, and been a better student.  Not to say I was a bad student, I just could have been a much better student.  I could have been honor roll material.  At the time I didn't want to apply myself, I was lazy.

I would have gone on a date with that dorky boy in college that I was too embarrassed to talk to in public.  Sometimes dorky boys end up as rich men. 

I would have moved to NYC for a few years after college.  My roommate and I talked about it constantly, but never made it a reality.

I might even have done a semester abroad.  I hear so many stories from people that did and what a great experience they had.

I would have taken that college photography class a little more seriously.

I would have majored in photography/design.

I would have gone to visit my great grandmom that Friday night instead of putting it off until another day.  There wasn't another day for her.

I would have had a big red bouquet on my wedding day, instead of the bouquet of white roses that I thought I wanted.

I would have done everything I could have to put us in a position financially to allow me to stay home with my children.  At the same time, I would still want to send my kids to the school they are in now.  They are learning far more than I could ever have taught them myself.

I might have given one of said kids a different name.  Maybe even the (wrong) name I called her by no less then 5 times in her first 3 months of life.

All of those aside, there are things I wouldn't change for the world.  I love my life and all the things that have made me the person I am today.  I love my husband, my children, my family and the people in my life and if changing something way back when, would mean life didn't lead me to them then I wouldn't change a thing.

A Few New Faves

I've been participating in the SITS and Problogger Summer Challenge - 31 Days to Build a Better Blog (31DBBB) and it has lead to me finding a bunch of new blogs to read.  The support, the writing and the blogs in this challenge are phenomenal.  I want to share some of the new blogs I found this week, that I have added to my reader.  I'm not sure that all of them are participating in the challenge.  I just know that I found them, I like them, so I'm passing them on to you (in no particular order)

• A Beautiful Mess is one of my new favorite photograpy/life blogs.  Of course, I love Alicia's beautiful photographs, but it's not all about the photographs.  She's witty, informative and fun!  She also hosts a fun Wordless Wednesday link up.

• MultipleMama is another blog I've only just discovered.  I like her style of writing.   Her post titled Ten Reasons You Know You are a MOM made me giggle.  I related to far too many of those, and I don't even have multiples.

• Life Without Pink is on my list for a few reasons.  I can't imagine living in a world so full of testosterone.  I imagine it must be tough for my husband to live life without blue.  I guess I am biased, but I like that she's local to me.  I love finding local bloggers and websites.

• One Day I Will is written by Megan.  She's young, she's fun, she's got a cute little blog.  Need I say more?

• How to Homemaker has some great tips, information, lists, basically anything to do with home and family.  I've already added some things to my To Do List because of posts on her site.

Those are just a few of the many new sites I've added to my reader this week.  Hope you find the time to stop by and visit them too.

Meet & Greet Monday

Come meet some new bloggers!

I'm Hopping

I decided to participate in a few blog hops today.  If you are looking for some new reading material, please check out the following hops: