Sunday December 11: A Mormon Shoutout

Since I started sharing my posts, I've had several questions about how I got the idea or what prompted me to do this blog: it was the Mormons.

What with Mitt Romney, Sister Wives and Big Love, Mormons are having a kind of cultural moment (even if the last two play on complete stereotypes).

For the record, let me say I have nothing for or against the faith (although calling yourself Latter Day Saints does seem just bit hubristic) but still, I'm equal opportunity on this one.

I'll also confess that my personal experience with Mormons has been limited. The closest was a non-fling with Mormon Surfer Man one summer, a very long time ago.  It ended after just 10 days when it became clear that my idea of a summer fling (drinks on patios and um, the actual fling part) sadly did not mesh with his tamer interests.

But the Mormons get marketing (does anyone else remember those commercials from Saturday morning cartoons?) and as I dicovered they apparently also get blogging.

I'm a Salon subscriber and one day this article pops up in my Inbox with the blurb: "I'm a young, feminist, atheist, who can't bake a cupcake. Why am I addicted to the shiny happy lives of these women?"  Curious, I start reading.

Until then, I've never heard of the apparently flourishing world of "Mormon hipster mommy blogs", so I click on a couple of the links.  The blogs are mostly about the wonders of being a mother, their amazing husbands and a sort of hyper rosy perspective on daily domestic and family life.  But with amazing layouts and fantastic pictures.

I hate crafts and am not that interested in babies I don't know, but like the author Emily Matchar, I become strangely if mildly hooked.  After reading gruesome headlines and violent stories in the paper (I know, I need to stop looking at the Daily Mail) I find I'm drawn back to the soothing vibes of blogs like Nat the Fat Rat, Nie Nie Dialogues   Rockstar Diaries and CJane,EnjoyIt. 

Regardless of the religious angle (and the right wing politics!), the Salon article nails the appeal, which is  "...the basic message expressed in these blogs - that family is wonderful, life is meant to be enjoyed, [and that we should] celebrate the small things..."

And so, it inspired me to try and blog about the little things in my own life, which I tend to rush over or quickly forget.

Except that to be honest, I'm not sure how successful I've actually been.  As I've discovered, I'm still me just on a blog and so I write about an assortment of other stuff, which may or may not involve my kids or things I'm grateful for.  And I'm pretty sure I lack a rosy glow of optimism in my writing. Plus, I remain fairly hopeless about pictures.  Maybe next time the missionaries ring my doorbell, I can ask for some tips..../rs

Thursday October 27: Hungry

This is week three of my attempt at the one day fast. 

Although strictly speaking, what I'm doing is probably not considered fasting. 

I'm not eating food but I am drinking smoothies and fresh juices like these. 

And of course I'm still having coffee, and yes a Red Bull and you know what - its still so hard. 

Every time I've done it, I end up like this, anxiously waiting until 12 when I can finally eat something. 

And daydreaming about what it will be - a bowl of Just Right with Golden Grahams? A grilled cheese sand-which? A couple of pancakes? 

So why am I doing it?  Partly, because giving your body a break from food for a at least 24 hours seems like a good thing, but also, for a selfish reason.  Anthony Robbins talks about how people need to start from a place of abundance - this can be hard to do when you're surrounded by the more you feel you need to get or earn.  One day of denying yourself some food and you realize just how abundant you really are. 

20 more minutes to go....

Thursday September 22: Less Sleep, More Zen?

For the past two months, or maybe more, I have trying to make myself get up at 5:30 am.

The extra oh, two hours a day of child free work time, would have a huge impact on what I can get done, and when. Plus, an early start apparently means a more productive rest of your day.

But so far, I haven't managed more than two days in a row at all.

What's strange is that in the past, I used to do this.  For writing my first book, to make sure I went to hot yoga before work so what's wrong now??

Anyway, I just discovered this site, so maybe I'll try some of the tips....

Today I:

• Loved my jivamukti class, live music, chanting, I think its the best part of my week. I also discovered a 6:30 am class not far from the house, can I do it?
• Was oddly excited by the spur of the moment $65.00 H&M outfit I bought this afternoon and wore to curriculum night at the school today (see below for the picture); 
• Enjoyed some post yoga birchermusli from Movinpick - I love this stuff. 

I was devastated to read this story about the death of this poor little boy.  Sometimes it seems like every cliche about the cruelty of the world, the potential heartbreak of being a parent or just being here on earth seems so true its overwhelming. And calls into question, why we do most of what we do in the wake of it all, if that makes any sense. 

Ps. just as I typed that sentence my 5 y/o (who isn't yet asleep) came to give me a hug. Which somehow makes it all more emotional.