Tag: 2010

Welcome to February

February 2010 wall calendar ~ happy valentine's day ~

Welcome to February!

Well, not quite I suppose — depending on when you read this.

But a few things to look forward to this month:

  • It’s Black History Month & the DCCCD African American Read-In
  • My sister Kara turns 25
  • Valentines Day
  • I turn 31
  • We’re scheduled to close on our new house in Forney at the end of the month…. YIKES! We still need a solid contract on our house!!!!

And a few things to look back on — aka the top posts from January 2010.

Honorable mention:
Top songs of 2009 – This was actually one of the top 5 viewed posts for the month, but it didn’t make the official list since I wrote it on Dec. 29, 2009 — it’s sooo last year 🙂

Did you miss any of those? Were there other favorites that didn’t make the list?

What would you like to see more of?

Here’s to more great conversations in 2010!

Monday morning briefs

Time for an update on all things around Casa de Blundell. It’s been a while since I did one of these and there’s lots going on — so this might be a bit longer than a typical brief…

Needless to say, there’s lots of goodness going on and lots of…. well….. waiting.
Continue reading Monday morning briefs

Living simply in 2010

“Live simply so that others may simply live”
– Gandhi

As the new year begins, many of us have made resolutions to simplify our lives in various ways. Perhaps eating out less, starting a garden, cutting back on cable, reading more books from the local library (as opposed to purchasing them)… etc. etc.

So what are you doing to simplify your life in 2010? And how is it going so far?

The dream of what’s next

I have a pretty good feeling this year (maybe even this month) will bring about some exciting changes around Casa de Blundell.

And with those dreams of what’s to come (foster care, hopefully selling our house) I don’t want to rush into the year without setting some basic goals for 2010.

I want to be sure that 2010 is less about me — and more about others — but at the same time, leaving room for my own development to ensure I don’t burn out by July.
Continue reading The dream of what’s next

Resolve to be a better parent in 2010

Matthew and his new train set

Yes, it sounds a little funny for me to resolve to do that – I’m not exactly a parent yet.

But as things keep progressing along in our foster care process (we had our home study yesterday – WOOT WOOT!) I’m definitely paying closer attention to foster/adoption/parenting issues and ideas.

Lifehack.org has offered up a great list of 10 things children want from their parents.

You see, every Mother’s Day I would ask my students to give me advice on being a mother. They were to think about things their mother or guardian did for or with them that made them feel happy or loved… Year after year, in every country I taught, and in every type of demographic, the students were saying the same things and had the same message: It’s the small things that their mothers did that meant the most and that they remembered.

Here’s the list:

  • Come into my bedroom at night, tuck me in and sing me a song. Also tell me stories about when you were little.
  • Give me hugs and kisses and sit and talk with me privately.
  • Spend quality time just with me, not with my brothers and sisters around.
  • Give me nutritious food so I can grow up healthy.
  • At dinner talk about what we could do together on the weekend.
  • At night talk to me about about anything; love, school, family etc.
  • Let me play outside a lot.
  • Cuddle under a blanket and watch our favorite TV show together.
  • Discipline me. It makes me feel like you care.
  • Leave special messages in my desk or lunch bag.

I think my sisters and I would both say that one of the most memorable things our dad did while growing up was rocking us to sleep singing various hymns. And mom was always great at writing us little notes – especially on holidays and birthdays in our lunches or with breakfast. She always had a way of making little holidays special.

So what advice do you have for a “soon to be parent”? What little things do you remember your parents doing that made a big impact on you?

What are your New Year’s Eve plans?

New Year’s Eve is just days away.

And with the possible threat of a snow storm on it’s way into town, we definitely don’t want a repeat of Christmas Eve (an hour and half drive from Garland to Red Oak in the freezing snow and rain).

So, as of now I think we’ll be sticking around the house, probably loading up on a couple Red Box/iTunes movies and enjoying a quiet evening to ourselves.

What about you? What are your plans for New Year’s Eve?