Wouldn't ya know it...life got too busy to blog! Over the past year I've taken on more at work, taken to trying (and sometimes failing) to keep up with my very active toddler and trying to be more available to/on top of the teenager. But I found I was jack of all trades and master of none - isn't that the classic mom dilemma??
I need an outlet, like a blog, and a few more glasses of wine to help me keep it all together. Hoping my outlet gives you a few useful pieces of information to help you along in your busy life too :).
It'sABusyLife,
Danielle
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
New Year
The past 3 months have been the busiest of my life! Many many work dinners and events, social calls for me and the family, conducting a NYC high school search for our 13-yr old like it was college, rush to work, rush to daycare, rush home, rush rush rush!...all the while feeling overwhelmed and underperforming. Not a great place to be for an overachiever.
So - 2010 finds me and a bazillion other people on websites like facebook and 43Things starting off with resolutions and promises anew for a more peaceful and productive year!
Happiness for me starts with getting healthy, getting organized and getting happy!
To kick the year into gear:
‘Til next time,
It’s a BusyLife,
Danielle
So - 2010 finds me and a bazillion other people on websites like facebook and 43Things starting off with resolutions and promises anew for a more peaceful and productive year!
Happiness for me starts with getting healthy, getting organized and getting happy!
Get Healthy
Sleep
Our little guy just turned one year this month and has started waking at night again, so we are on Day 4 of sleep re-training for baby so we can all sleep.- Complete sleep re-training - December
- Buy supplies for bedroom partition - January
- Set date for assistance with installation - January
- Get to bed by 10:30pm at least three times per week
Nutrition
Healthy eating is the fuel needed to live a BusyLife, so it is no surprise that a malaise has settled over me at the same time as a decline in the healthy habits our family once enjoyed.To kick the year into gear:
- Appointment with family nutritionist - January
- Resolve to cook 5-6 days per week – schedule created
- Bring leftovers from said cooking nights for lunch (also saves $$!)
- Expose the kids (and adults) to more varied and healthy foods
- Take vitamins regularly
Exercise
Need more exercise in all our lives!- Appointment with trainer for new routine
- Qualified for NYC marathon in November 2010
- Schedule gym nights for both husband and me
- Get teenager to attend martial arts classes twice a week
- More playtime for baby outside of the apartment (Saturday classes, museums, playground)
Get Organized
I’m always happier when I feel like I’ve accomplished my goals. Whether those goals are big (career change, marathon, baby) or small (vacuum the rug, organize my purse, put away that pile of clothes in the corner), happiness for me begins with organization.- Chore list – no more guesswork or complaining, we all have a job to do and know when to do it
- Event list – all our outside activities are in one place so conflicts are to a minimum
- Goals list – posting a list of goals for the family in a prominent place (new apartment, healthy eating, more sleep)
Get Happy
Finally, a BusyLife is all about balance. Need a few little “me” moments to recharge and refresh so I am up for any challenge!- Yoga – make time for morning and evening practice everyday again
- Bath – amazing what a quiet soak with a book can do for the psyche
- Walk – make time to walk to work more
- Read – at least one non-work related book per month
- Visit – at least one get together with friends and family per month
- ReConnect – at least one date night per month
‘Til next time,
It’s a BusyLife,
Danielle
Friday, December 18, 2009
Healthcare should be like car insurance
Ok, I know I am way oversimplifying the matter, but I think healthcare reform has gotten so complex and so hotly debated, that some simplification might be in order.
Everyone who owns a car in this country, needs some form of insurance. It is regulated and varies from state to state, but is still a legal requirement to owning a car. People with more money pay up for better insurance with greater coverage. People with less money generally choose the bare minimum and if you are caught driving without insurance, you pay fines.
Why can't this model work for healthcare? It's not perfect, by any means, but it's comprehensive. It's not an entitlement, but it's comprehensive. Those with more money can afford better, those with less buy what they are able, and those without are fined because if they get into an accident without it they will be a burden on the system and that is discouraged.
Why couldn't this work for healthcare? Why is one side of the aisle trying to institutionalize healthcare while the other side wants the wild West? Let's just get this done people, because my premiums from my employer sponsored plan are up nearly 500% in the past decade and if I recall correctly, we haven't seen that kind of inflation in the general economy.
Til next time,
It's a BusyLife,
Danielle
Everyone who owns a car in this country, needs some form of insurance. It is regulated and varies from state to state, but is still a legal requirement to owning a car. People with more money pay up for better insurance with greater coverage. People with less money generally choose the bare minimum and if you are caught driving without insurance, you pay fines.
Why can't this model work for healthcare? It's not perfect, by any means, but it's comprehensive. It's not an entitlement, but it's comprehensive. Those with more money can afford better, those with less buy what they are able, and those without are fined because if they get into an accident without it they will be a burden on the system and that is discouraged.
Why couldn't this work for healthcare? Why is one side of the aisle trying to institutionalize healthcare while the other side wants the wild West? Let's just get this done people, because my premiums from my employer sponsored plan are up nearly 500% in the past decade and if I recall correctly, we haven't seen that kind of inflation in the general economy.
Til next time,
It's a BusyLife,
Danielle
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Some days just don't go your way
Ah, the beauty of a blog - someplace to vent! It's been one of those days, and it's only 10:26am, sigh. I'd like to think of myself as a positive individual, but I'm going to lay it all out there, if for no other reason, to feel like it took alot to get to me today!
- it's dreary
- woke up with a headache
- baby refused to nurse, started pulling at ear (maybe ear infection?)
- went back to sleep after some tylenol (thank you wonderful husband!), still woke with headache
- missed 8:30am race, but planned on 'virtual race' with nike+ ipod chip
- chip not working, blogs contradict each other and still not working!
- spent 1/2 hour searching for ipod armband to no avail (still no breakfast)
- baby would not go down for nap for 1/2 hour (I hope he's sleeping in there)
- now headache, hungry, grumpy, and no run to count toward marathon entry requirements
- baby sleeping through doctor's appt to see if he has ear infection (10:30)
- found out friends who came to visit got parking tix (sorry guys!)
Ugh, just one of those days and it's not even noon. Did get an email from a friend that is helping snap me out of it (thx Lynn!). It had this picture:
Uh...sorry, I know this was supposed to be cute, but just disturbing, no?
Anywhooo time to scrap it and find time for that book about how to find time :)....serenity now - ommmmmmmmm.
'til next time,
It's a BusyLife.
Danielle
Monday, September 21, 2009
Facebook down...now what?
Amazing how some aspects of modern life, non-existent until recently, can become integral to our daily routines. Obviously the internet is one (the vehicle to which I am communicating with you), mobile phones (I cannot even image being off the grid for more than a day anymore...more about this in a future post), and, of late, I am re-evaluating my connection to facebook.
Facebook is a phenomenal social networking tool. As previously posted, I LOVE being connected to far-flung family and friends. I make plans with those near and far, share video and pics of the kids and enjoy quips with all the people who enrich my world. So...it's down today - uh, now what?
can't get back to Mike & Cathy to find out when they're in town for dinner
can't shut down Sorority Life while I still have the conviction
can't post this note to most of my people, because I haven't yet created an alternate distribution
In summary...it's become one of my favorite communication tools that's becoming increasingly less reliable.
I've started to blog more to lure myself away from the pretty and distracting aspects of facebook, get back to more meaningful exchanges that involve more than 140 characters, and hopefully instill more discipline into my thoughts that have been very scattered and lack the depth and clarity they previously had.
Certainly not to be mistaken with quitting Facebook or going off the grid...but definitely food for thought as facebook works through their technical difficulties on the Monday am.
Til next time,
It's a BusyLife
- Danielle
Facebook is a phenomenal social networking tool. As previously posted, I LOVE being connected to far-flung family and friends. I make plans with those near and far, share video and pics of the kids and enjoy quips with all the people who enrich my world. So...it's down today - uh, now what?
In summary...it's become one of my favorite communication tools that's becoming increasingly less reliable.
I've started to blog more to lure myself away from the pretty and distracting aspects of facebook, get back to more meaningful exchanges that involve more than 140 characters, and hopefully instill more discipline into my thoughts that have been very scattered and lack the depth and clarity they previously had.
Certainly not to be mistaken with quitting Facebook or going off the grid...but definitely food for thought as facebook works through their technical difficulties on the Monday am.
Til next time,
It's a BusyLife
- Danielle
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Facebook is wonderful...Facebook is evil
I've been conflicted of late about my relationship with/relationships via facebook.
Wonderful
On the one hand, facebook is wonderful! I have reconnected with long-lost friends, kept up with those wide and far, and am able to keep family up-to-date like no other tool has allowed. Family, especially grandparents, get almost daily photo and video of the kids. I've been part of some great debates with family and friends. On a good day I can share my happiness. On a bad day I have garnered great support.
Last month I posted a comment of how I had returned to a vegan diet (for the record: I'm flexi-vegan i.e. vegan until some good meat dish lures me out of retirement for a few meals), and this was met by a wonderfully thoughtful and interesting response from a woman I'd met via my husband (our husbands are long time friends). She sent me a message of her own thoughts on food philosophy and her successes with changing diets as well as providing hearty encouragement (thanks Cathy)! Also as a result of this one post, a very thoughtful co-worker lent me some fab cookbooks (Liza, I PROMISE they will come back to you so so soon! Making mushroom fajitas tonight!). So...facebook is a great social networking tool that can be a positive addition to some already great relationships in one's life. As a bonus, my Scrabble/Wordscraper skills have improved - I'll take my turn after work Mehala!
Evil
On the other hand, facebook is an evil time-consuming vacuum to whom many hours have been wasted away playing supposedly social games (how "social" can sorority life be if most of your sisters are strangers and you can attack and slap people?), endless quizzes (do I really need to know that much about the 80s?) and all kinds of gift engines flying around (sorry...no more sweets for me please). I adore the people with whom I play these games, but I feel like I need to get off this crazy ride! It's difficult enough getting over "mommy brain" as my son just reached 9-months old, but with ever less time available to get things done, the high quality activities in life seem to get missed...reading, writing, sleeping.
Therefore, I am committing anew to wean off the less value-added aspects of facebook (I'll miss all my fellow farmers!) and keep active with the truly great things Facebook has to offer!
'til another time,
Danielle
Wonderful
On the one hand, facebook is wonderful! I have reconnected with long-lost friends, kept up with those wide and far, and am able to keep family up-to-date like no other tool has allowed. Family, especially grandparents, get almost daily photo and video of the kids. I've been part of some great debates with family and friends. On a good day I can share my happiness. On a bad day I have garnered great support.
Last month I posted a comment of how I had returned to a vegan diet (for the record: I'm flexi-vegan i.e. vegan until some good meat dish lures me out of retirement for a few meals), and this was met by a wonderfully thoughtful and interesting response from a woman I'd met via my husband (our husbands are long time friends). She sent me a message of her own thoughts on food philosophy and her successes with changing diets as well as providing hearty encouragement (thanks Cathy)! Also as a result of this one post, a very thoughtful co-worker lent me some fab cookbooks (Liza, I PROMISE they will come back to you so so soon! Making mushroom fajitas tonight!). So...facebook is a great social networking tool that can be a positive addition to some already great relationships in one's life. As a bonus, my Scrabble/Wordscraper skills have improved - I'll take my turn after work Mehala!
Evil
On the other hand, facebook is an evil time-consuming vacuum to whom many hours have been wasted away playing supposedly social games (how "social" can sorority life be if most of your sisters are strangers and you can attack and slap people?), endless quizzes (do I really need to know that much about the 80s?) and all kinds of gift engines flying around (sorry...no more sweets for me please). I adore the people with whom I play these games, but I feel like I need to get off this crazy ride! It's difficult enough getting over "mommy brain" as my son just reached 9-months old, but with ever less time available to get things done, the high quality activities in life seem to get missed...reading, writing, sleeping.
Therefore, I am committing anew to wean off the less value-added aspects of facebook (I'll miss all my fellow farmers!) and keep active with the truly great things Facebook has to offer!
'til another time,
Danielle
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