Being a mother, especially Bunny's mother, is the ultimate blessing. You find your body is capable of incredible things; your mind, though dulled to orange pulp on occasion, is strong and unwavering in its focus on your little one's well-being; your heart is both open and full which is this incredible thing you only understand when you truly love someone. Being a mother has made me a more compassionate person, but it has also made me determined and fierce.
With that said, being a mom has its work- related pit falls. Last week I had a mountain of work to get done and wasn't able to accomplish anything. I started the week off with ANOTHER stomach bug; that's two in one winter if you're keeping track. Because I was a sick and a horrible mother for the first couple days of the week (thank God for tablets), Valen was cranky and horrible the next couple days of the week. Every product I ordered had an issue, and every planned period of work was either ruined because of that or because of a toddler meltdown. I wasn't at my best and so I started feeling really defeated. This is not a feeling I often get and when it happens I usually have an all-consuming sad day and then snap out of it.
Thankfully, as far as single-mom world goes, I am one of the lucky ones. I might be broke and spread-thin, but I have a huge network of support: an incredible family, wonderful friends, and I live where other people vacation. Life can be hard on everyone; it's our responsibility to wake up and smell the roses, because they are all around us.
My girlfriend dragged me out of the house this weekend, and I am so grateful she did. We took our kids to the Lowry Park Zoo and got to see some awesome animals, watch the girls while they played Ring Around the Rosie in line for the banana-car ride, and had a beer while we walked around in the Florida sun. She took me out on a hot date Saturday night, and we people watched while all of Tampa celebrated pirates for Gasparilla.
Having fun with my kid, but also getting out with other adults was exactly what I needed to snap out of my funk and gain a little perspective. Today is Monday, and I feel rejuvenated. I'm ready to problem solve, and make this week my b**ch. My sister, after throwing her back out, is up and shakin' a tail feather so you all might actually see some progress in her kitchen within the next couple of days. I re-ordered everything I need and hopefully actually get it this time around. I have a few exciting projects coming up and lots of kick-ass before and afters to show you in the coming days.
Thank you, all of you, for visiting this blog every week and your support. I am truly blessed and you all act as a constant reminder. Single-mommin' ain't easy, but nothing great ever is. I wouldn't trade my life for anything, and I thank all of you for making it possible! xoxo Alys If you liked this post, you'll like this one about finding balance, and this one about taking a mental health break. Don't forget to subscribe, share, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram <3
0 Comments
Hey, all!
I hope you're enjoying the weather where you are. It's currently 80 degrees and sunny here in Tampa, FL. That's a nice switcheroo from the six degree (yep, that's a temperature my southern friends), grey-skied Pennsylvania I left on Thursday. My nose is still producing an insane amount of boogers but I'm confident the vitamin D will fix me up in no time. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. So, last week I told you all about the dining room makeover I did at the Briggs' house in Milford, PA. Catch up on that one real quick if you missed it! I spent the better part of this weekend getting organized. When I first moved in to this apartment I had tons of downsizing to do. I'm still working on storage solutions for all of my stuff, Valen's toys, etc. to accommodate a smaller living space, but with my friend's help (thanks, Jamie!) and a lot less furniture I was able to get some toddler-uninterrupted organizing done in the garage. There are still chairs hanging from every wood beam in that space, but it's more project friendly now. WHICH MEANS... (Drum roll, please) I can now test out my Critter Siphon Gun on its first client project. For those of you who don't know what the heck that is, let me explain: It's an awesome paint sprayer attachment meant to work in conjunction with a compressor. After lots of DIY blog readin' I decided to try it out. It's a much more practical option for me than the expensive paint sprayers that require a lot of cleaning. Because I paint kitchen cabinets, furniture, doors, etc. I need something that is low maintenance and that sprays a very fine mist. These are quick painting projects and so laborious cleaning is not something I want to deal with; the Critter attaches to mason jars and you simply cap them when you need to switch from primer to paint, or from paint to top coat, or from one color to another, etc. You all know how I love spray paint, and so it will be nice to get spray paint results with any paint I want, and without my hands going numb from trigger pulling. I'll be posting a full review of the Critter Siphon Gun this week, when I've finished painting the chairs for my client. Now, for the chairs! You remember when I left for PA I wrote a post about that beautiful Pier One table I refinished? Well, to refresh your memory this is what it looked like: I love the way it turned out, and after moving in to their new home my clients decided they wanted to go in a different direction with color and fabric!
|
Details
AlyssaMama to a beautiful and hysterical toddler. Owner of Young, Wild and Thrifty. Archives
May 2018
Categories |