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#challengeaccepted. šŸ™Œ Thanks to @kaitesull, @je #challengeaccepted. šŸ™Œ Thanks to @kaitesull, @jeneckert4, and @stambroskymach for nominating me. You all radiate positivity, and I am better for knowing each of you! šŸ„° Have you been seeing a lot of black & white selfies of incredible women in your feed lately? Wondering what thatā€™s about? (I was! šŸ™‹ā€ā™€ļø) Itā€™s a Womenā€™s Empowerment Challenge. I donā€™t often participate in ā€œchallengesā€, but Iā€™m all for this one! If there is one thing I try to do through this platform, itā€™s to be encouraging. We women are way too hard on ourselves - we pour so much love and energy into our family and friends, always reassuring them that they are ā€œenoughā€. Why canā€™t we do that for ourselves? So with that, I want to tell you ladies reading this that you are AMAZING. Never doubt that everything that makes you YOU is just what this world needs. Embrace that. And keep building one another up. We are stronger together. Part of this challenge is to nominate some women privately (which I will do), but I also want to nominate EVERY SINGLE WOMAN READING THIS. I encourage you to dive in and be part of this movement - donā€™t ever wait to spread positivity. Share a picture of yourself with the hashtag #challengeaccepted and maybe a few words of encouragement - whatever that means to you. And please tag me if youā€™d like! If your account is public, I can share your post in my stories. I would love to spread the love among this community! We could certainly use more of that these days. ā¤ļø #womensupportingwomen #womenempowerment #strongertogether #womeninspiringwomen
A NEW POST IS ON THE BLOG! (Miracles do happen! šŸ˜¬) Click the link in my profile to find it. My oldest child is a rising high school senior. I canā€™t get her and the Class of 2021 out of my thoughts. I finally decided to write it all down. So to all you rising seniors - and your families - this post is for you. ā¤ļø Do you have a high school or college senior this year? What is the (tentative) plan where you live? I believe these kids can still have a good year! What if it proves to be invaluable to them in ways we never dreamed? āœØšŸŽ“ http://harvardhomemaker.com/dear-class-of-2021/
My 15-year-old daughter recently created this artw My 15-year-old daughter recently created this artwork. It was her way of speaking out about the racial injustice she sees in our world. After receiving an overwhelming response asking her if it would be possible to get prints/stickers/pins, etc. featuring this piece, she created a Redbubble webpage. She will donate all proceeds from any sales of this design to the Movement for Black Lives. You can find this artwork on many different products at her site here (or click the link in my profile): https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/50081501 I am so proud of my daughter for pouring her energy into this cause. While the youth of today are often criticized, I feel like in many ways they are the best of us ā€“ the most open-minded, optimistic, and inclusive. And I think they will lead the way to a better, more equal tomorrow. As I think about White privilege and what it has meant in my own life, my thoughts keep circling back to this: I have a child who has had her driverā€™s license for well over a year, and I have never once thought to talk to her about what she should do if she were ever pulled over by the police. I HAVE NEVER EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT THIS. Moms with Black children, however, have nightmares about such an encounter. Itā€™s talked about and pounded into their babiesā€™ heads long before they can even drive. (There is an emotional scene in the movie ā€œThe Hate U Giveā€ that illustrates this perfectly.) Finally, speaking of movies, I would recommend all those listed below. These movies have prompted good and much-needed discussion in our house in recent weeks. JUST MERCY THE HATE U GIVE HIDDEN FIGURES THE HELP GREEN BOOK As a family, we know we want to be allies to the Black community during this national reckoning over race. Knowing how to do that feels like the hard part, but I believe it begins with an open dialogue (especially within our own homes) and a desire to be part of the change.
They say a girl chooses to marry someone who is a They say a girl chooses to marry someone who is a lot like her dad. My own dad certainly set the bar high, and now so has this guy. We are some lucky ladies! Happy Fatherā€™s Day to the two very best men in our lives. We love you! ā¤ļø
Twenty years. That sure went fast! Even though we Twenty years. That sure went fast! Even though we didnā€™t celebrate quite as we had planned, it was still our most memorable anniversary yet. Our girls planned a surprise dinner for us - they shopped for all the groceries, cooked everything, and served us on our deck - complete with appetizers and dessert. Our four thoughtful girls are the best things that could have ever come from these two college sweethearts deciding to get hitched! ā¤ļø Thought Iā€™d share some of my favorite pictures with my favorite. šŸ„° Feeling so lucky and looking forward to the next 20 years and beyond!
ā€œI am a strong woman because a strong woman rais ā€œI am a strong woman because a strong woman raised me.ā€ This lady right here is one tough cookie. When I was a kid, I remember her hitting homeruns over the fence and throwing the ball home from left field. Once a summer (but only once) she would jump in the lake in northern Minnesota when the water finally got warm enough and slalom ski, cutting back and forth across the wake. Sometimes she would go doubles with my brother, and they would zigzag under one anotherā€™s ski ropes. I thought she was the coolest mom around, and I wanted to be just like her. Fast forward a few years, and sheā€™s no longer water skiing or tearing up the softball field at 71. But sheā€™s still the strongest woman I know. Along with being diabetic, she has cleared more medical hurdles than I can count at this point. Most notably, she received a liver transplant 11 years ago that saved her life. She got so sick so fast that she shot to #1 on the transplant list out of 17,000. She is a walking miracle. We ladies are a feisty bunch. We are raised by strong women, and we become strong women. And then we raise more strong women. Happy Motherā€™s Day to all the women of the world - we truly are the ones who make it go ā€˜round. šŸ‘ŠšŸ»ā¤ļø If youā€™ve never read my momā€™s survivor story, you can find it by clicking the link in my profile. Itā€™s like something out of a movie. Love you, Mom. Happy Motherā€™s Day to the strongest woman I know. šŸ˜˜ P.S. How about that wallpaper in the second picture? 1970s, you were the best. http://harvardhomemaker.com/donate-life-liver-transplant-saved-my-moms-life/
QuarantEaster 2020. šŸ° The one where we changed QuarantEaster 2020. šŸ° The one where we changed into nice clothes for 30 minutes and then back into sweats again - and watched hours of old family videos while laughing our butts off. šŸ¤£ Grateful for a different kind of Easter this year. Sending love and good wishes from Pittsburgh! šŸ’• How did you celebrate? Hope you found some #silverlinings too!
Yesterday was apparently #nationaldaughtersday - t Yesterday was apparently #nationaldaughtersday - that sounds like every day in our house! During our summer travels, we heard a lot of ā€œall girls?ā€ comments - just as we always do when we travel or are among strangers. I donā€™t mind those comments one bit, but I do mind the remarks that somehow suggest that we must be disappointed with the way our family turned out because we donā€™t have a boy in the mix. Itā€™s even more annoying when people make those comments right in front of our girls - as if they arenā€™t enough.ā € .ā € Let me tell you, there is nothing missing in our family. NOTHING. And these four girls are MORE THAN ENOUGH. They are EVERYTHING. They are OUR everything. . So to all the girls out there - no matter what your family looks like, never doubt that you are EXACTLY what your family needed. šŸ’— I know we wouldnā€™t change anything for the world. #kidjackpot #daughtersarethebest
Back to school! šŸŽ Grades 11, 9, 7, and 2. Where Back to school! šŸŽ Grades 11, 9, 7, and 2. Where did my babies go?! Swipe for the first day of school in 2012. My 7th grader was just starting kindergarten back then, and a new chapter was beginning where I only had my little sidekick with me at all times. (That was the time in my life when everyone was like, ā€œAre you CRAZY?! Youā€™re almost FREE, and youā€™re having another BABY?!ā€ šŸ˜‚) ā € .ā € Usually I am SO READY for my kids to go back to school (thereā€™s no shame in that, moms. Weā€™ve all been there.) But this year feels different for me. Maybe summer felt shorter because my kids are increasingly independent. My oldest can drive (hallelujah!), and even my youngest can do things like make her own lunch. I donā€™t need to be ā€œonā€ every minute of the summer anymore, tending to their every need. (Moms of Littles, I hope youā€™re hanging in there! It gets easier, I promise.)ā € .ā € So now, here we are. In only two short years the ā€œattritionā€ of our family will begin and daily life as we know it will take a huge shift. And itā€™s tugging at my heart more and more.ā € .ā € Around this time each year, I reread a post that I wrote a while back. The words feel more meaningful every time. ā € .ā € I can feel it happening... but no longer is it just my oldest who seems to be slipping away ā€“ itā€™s all of them. (Well, maybe three of the four. šŸ˜‰)ā € .ā € Click the link in my profile or follow the link down below to read the post (and grab some tissues šŸ˜¢). How are you doing on your end? Ready for school to start this year or not quite yet? I hope itā€™s a happy, healthy year for everyone! And to all the teachers and staff who play such impactful roles in our childrenā€™s lives: THANK YOU! ā¤ļøā € .ā € http://harvardhomemaker.com/i-can-feel-it-happening/ .
One woman can make a difference but together we ca One woman can make a difference but together we can ROCK THE WORLD.ā € āš”ļøā € Ladies, this is our time. When we stick together and support one another, anything is possible. Iā€™m inspired each and every day by the women in my life - and that includes YOU.ā € šŸ‘­ā € How have you gotten through a challenging time in your life? Or - whatā€™s something you have done that youā€™re proud of? If youā€™re comfortable, please share below. We all have a story (or ten) to tell, and by sharing, we find that weā€™re not alone - and our experiences can inspire others along the way, too... You can find a piece of my own story over at @thewomenweknow - itā€™s one of my favorite accounts to follow... #womensupportingwomenā € ā¤ļøā € The world is at our fingertips, ladies. Together, we are truly UNSTOPPABLE. #internationalwomensday #iwd2019
This is me and my forever Valentine. We had just g This is me and my forever Valentine. We had just gotten engaged on this balcony in Grand Cayman - I was 23, and he was 24. We were full of hopes and dreams back then.ā € šŸ˜ā € Fast forward 20 years, and we finally got back to Grand Cayman - this time with our four daughters in tow. (Swipe left for the ā€œnowā€ shot). We have always wanted to show them the beautiful island where we decided to start our life together. ā € šŸ’•ā € While on our trip, we told them so many stories about our days as a young couple. They love to hear about that time in our lives, and they always giggle at the thought of us back then (ā€œDad read the same page in his book for two straight hours because he was so nervous as he thought about proposing later that night...ā€)ā € ā˜ŗļøā € Sometimes itā€™s good to revisit those early days - even if just in our minds. Itā€™s important to remind ourselves of why we chose that person in the first place. Like many couples our age, my husband and I are like ships passing in the night these days as we keep up with kids who are all going in different directions. Itā€™s so easy to fall into a rhythm of just being parents and forgetting to focus on who we are as a couple.ā € šŸ‘«ā € As we reflected on our hopes and dreams back then, I canā€™t say it all turned out just as we had imagined. There have been twists and turns and ups and downs, but I know we would both write the exact same story because it has gotten us to where we are now - and with these four beautiful daughters to show for it. ā € ā¤ļøā € If itā€™s been a while since youā€™ve taken your own stroll down Memory Lane, maybe itā€™s time! Valentineā€™s Day might be the perfect day for that. ā € šŸ˜‰ā € For those who are married, when/where did you get engaged? Iā€™d love to know a little about your own story!ā € šŸ’ā € Happy Valentineā€™s Day, everyone! ā € šŸ’Œā €
I love Christmas. You know what I also love? When I love Christmas. You know what I also love? When Christmas is over.ā € šŸŽ„ā € This is my first post in over a month. Honestly, once the holidays came and went, I just had to sort of shut things down for a bit. I couldnā€™t share. I couldnā€™t write. I couldnā€™t say anything that would be of value to you or to anyone. I just felt drained. ā € šŸ˜–ā € With that said, December is also my favorite time of year. It really is. But afterward I usually feel the need to pull back for a while - to get organized, to live more simply, and to make MYSELF a priority again. ā € šŸ™‹ā€ā™€ļøā € So here we are, five weeks later. Among other things, Iā€™m feeling good about the decluttering thatā€™s been happening over here. Iā€™m sleeping more. Iā€™m on my phone less (I set a social media limit for myself - those apps actually lock me out once my time is up.) And Iā€™m feeling energized once again!ā € šŸƒšŸ»ā€ā™€ļøā € Sometimes hitting the ā€œresetā€ button is just what we need. For me, that meant turning inward for a while. I hope you give yourself permission to do the same thing occasionally. If life is feeling like itā€™s swallowing you up, ask yourself - what can I change? How can I regain some balance?ā € āœØā € What changes have you made recently? Do you often feel the need to hit ā€œresetā€ after the holidays, too? ā¤ļø
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