A little inspiration

My children, music, and great writing are three things that inspire me on a daily basis. I would like to share a little bit of those inspirations with you! As you will see, some are intertwined. For instance, Lila's "songwriting" incorporates all three nicely...



Good music...like the stuff that gets under your skin in the best possible way and won't go away...is hard to find these days. It seems it's everywhere and nowhere at the same time. The brilliance of Mumford and Sons and The Civil Wars gets mere minutes at the VMA's or the Grammy's, if that. Even further still there are so many amazing artists under the surface that you don't hear on the radio and you really have to seek out. In the music tab above I finally posted new videos. Ironically, Gotye is all over the place. This video is mesmerizing to me. I watched it ten times in a row because that's what I do. I have used nap time to just dig and dig and dig for the good stuff because the Princess CD that is on repeat in my house and car, while beautiful, isn't really cutting it. Mommy is about to lie to her daughter and say we can't find the Princess CD today so that I can break out some good old fashioned brilliant music.

If you are wondering where I have been looking for the good stuff, there are a few spots. I found this little blog forever ago and then totally forgot about it. Again, that's what I do. I rediscovered not only her amazing idea and writing today, but her taste in music that often mirrors mine. I know it's not for everyone. If you aren't into the music you should at least check out her blog. She's pretty inspiring.

Then there's Black Cab Sessions. If you love live music this is quite the stroke of genius. Unfortunately, their USA cab sessions aren't viewable anywhere yet by actual Americans. At least not anywhere that I can find. They filmed in Athens, GA though which should let you know that they know what they're doing.

As far as writing goes, I have come across a few new mommy affirming reads that I think I was meant to find this week. Every day a good mommy should say to herself, "I am not supermom, nor should I try to be". If you need a little nudge that you are a rockstar mom, take a look...

The first is from this blog that I had never read before. Most good posts I find are through someone else on Facebook. This one made me laugh a little. I love me some Pinterest, but I have fallen victim to feeling not enough because of stupid things that don't get done and don't need to. Remember that lampshade I was going to make for Evie's room? After THREE attempts I trashed it and bought one on Ebay. It was incredibly liberating. Personal life lesson number 9, 347...stop believing that because you are creative you have to make everything.

The second was also posted on Facebook the other day. Thanks Lindi!

The Scary Mommy Manifesto

I shall maintain a sense of humor about all things motherhood, for without it, I recognize that I may end up institutionalized. Or, at the very least, completely miserable.

I shall not judge the mother in the grocery store who, upon entering, hits the candy aisle and doles out M&M’s to her screaming toddler. It is simply a survival mechanism.

I shall not compete with the mother who effortlessly bakes from scratch, purees her own baby food, or fashions breathtaking costumes from tissue paper. Motherhood is not a competition. The only ones who lose are the ones who race the fastest.

I shall shoot the parents of the screaming newborn on the airplane looks of compassion rather than resentment. I am fortunate to be able to ditch the kid upon landing. They, however, are not.

I shall never ask any woman whether she is, in fact, expecting. Ever.

I shall not question the mother who is wearing the same yoga pants, flip-flops, and T-shirt she wore to school pickup the day before. She has good reason.

I shall never claim to know everything about children other than my own (who still remain a mystery to me).

I shall hold the new babies belonging to friends and family, so they may shower and nap, which is all any new mother really wants.

I shall strive to pass down a healthy body image to my daughter. She deserves a mother who loves and respects herself; stretch marks, dimples, cellulite, and all.

I shall not preach the benefits of breast-feeding or circumcision or homeschooling or organic food or co-sleeping or crying it out to a fellow mother who has not asked my opinion. It’s none of my damn business.

I shall try my hardest to never say never, for I just may end up with a loud mouthed, bikini-clad, water gun–shooting toddler of my very own.

I shall remember that no mother is perfect and that my children will thrive because of, and sometimes even in spite of me.

From Confessions of a Scary Mommy: An Honest and Irreverent Look at Motherhood — The Good, The Bad, and The Scary by Jill Smokler.