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Anne Rice, Backstreet Boys, blog awards, blogging, breast pump, Jason Derulo, kids, Mayfair Witches, naptime is the new happy hour, Online Communities, tea light ceremonies, thankful, The Chainsmokers, work-life balance
I debated skipping the Ten Things of Thankful Hop this week because life has been a bit hectic and I could use the time to catch up on other things.
But that just felt WRONG.
So here I am.
I’ve officially jumped on this bandwagon and NEED my thankful.
Lizzi – I’m converted. And I’m convinced it does help me see life more half-full than I might otherwise. So thank you.
With that said, it’s been a long week so let’s get right to it:
Number 10
I’m thankful for friends and fun on the Internet. Earlier this year I did a large awards post and was thrilled at how well received it was. This week Brenda from Friendly Fairy Tales did her wonderful acceptance post as part of the celebration of her one-year blogaversary. If you haven’t visited her blog you should. Fabulous stories, pictures and poetry. As a mother of two girls, I can say I’ve found much inspiration there for imaginary fun with my eldest. Then, I was honoured to discover that I was nominated for a Liebster by Twinkle Toes and Ninja Boy. I won’t commit to a timelines, but I will certainly respond. Among other things, her questions are pretty awesome! And last but in no way least, a shout out to Beth in all her epicness. Her comments on my blog brighten my day. We’ve bonded over hockey, and I promised her a virtual tea light ceremony in honour of awesome blog friendships. Twinkle Toes and Brenda – please also grab a candle.
Given that googling “tea light ceremony pictures” sent me to about a bazillion wedding photos, for the record, I was thinking more sorority ceremonies … I think these ones work.
Number 9
I’m thankful for men who dance. I remember that they exist. For the record, I don’t specifically know any anymore (I am surrounded by men who don’t dance), but as I was surfing I came across this video to teach guys how to dance.
I would presume this would be to help them pick up women in clubs. Given I have fond memories of a guy who once wowed me by accurately doing the dance to Backstreet Boys “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” I’d like to confirm that knowing how to dance is an effective strategy.
Anyway, I’m thankful for this video – I like the song and it came on the radio as I was driving home from an evening my husband and I got to spend out with friends on Friday. He couldn’t understand why I liked it and I was trying to explain the eternal appeal of a nice traditional bump and grind. We were at a light and I started dancing about in my seat. Suffice to say the driver in the next car was amused. But really? The song is catchy!
And while we’re on the subject of dance music and the mysteries of courtship rituals, this video makes me thankful I am happily married and never had to date in the Facebook/Instagram era. I recall the whole process being exhausting enough without adding social media stress into the mix.
Number 8
I’m thankful for Anne Rice and the comfort of re-reading much-loved books. I started re-reading “The Witching Hour” again yesterday. It’s a book I must have read well over 10 times by now. Really, I’m at the stage where I can remember certain phrases when I hit them in the text. But after a long week, the comfort of re-reading something I love and knowing I will enjoy it is really almost like spending time with an old friend. I’m also thankful here for the Internet. I had this random thought that it would be neat if someone did a quiz to help you determine which Mayfair Witch you are. Well, you guessed it: someone has. Apparently I’m Julien. Not sure what it says about me that I end up as the only male witch in the bunch. But I’ll take Julien.
This is my print of the book. But mine looks far more tattered. Some of the front is taped and stapled together, and the inside picture flap with the house has been missing for years….
Number 7
I’m thankful I could help a friend out this week by loaning her my (no longer in use) breast pump. My kids never latched, but I wanted to breastfeed and had no supply issues, so I bought a good quality double electric breast pump for that life stage. It served me well but has been sitting gathering dust for about the last year. My sister-in-law has dibs on it shortly as they are expecting. Anyway, I have a friend who is back at work and so weaning slightly, but still pumping at work. Her pump broke. Anyone who has been in this situation can appreciate how that lack of suck, well, sucks. So I loaned her mine earlier this week, got to catch up for a bit with her after I explained how the contraption worked, and then saw her husband when we were out on Friday and he reported back that it’s working awesome, her supply is back up and now maybe she’ll keep going a bit longer. So I’m feeling all maternally virtuous.
Number 6
I’m thankful for puddles. We had a thaw last weekend and my girls had a blast on Saturday and Sunday puddle jumping everywhere we went. It was such a nice reminder of the joy in simple activities.
Number 5
I’m thankful – like most weeks – for my mother. She babysat for us on Friday night so my husband and I could go out. When we got back, she then hung out with me for, I’m thinking about another two hours, while we chatted, drank wine, I vented, and I generally came down from a busy week all ’round. I love that I’ve hit this stage with my mother. I hope I get there with my daughters as well when they grow up.
Number 4
I’m thankful for new challenges at work. It was a good week – a busy week – but a good one.
Number 3
I’m thankful for having taken the time last year to print out large amounts of my digital photos of the kids and putt them in albums. My kids ADORE looking at these and it keeps them occupied forever. My oldest likes looking at herself “when she was a baby” and my youngest loves flipping the pages and pointing to people she knows and squealing excitedly. Sometimes she gets the name if she can say it (eg: Mommy! Daddy! Gran!) Other times she just points and chatters happily like she’s telling you some involved tale. Alternatively, I can leave her browsing happily on the couch while I do housework. It’s awesome.
Number 2
I’m thankful for sleep. My husband watched the kids this afternoon and I took a four-hour nap. It was heaven. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Naptime is the new happy hour.
Number 1
I keep meaning to post this one and it always skips my mind. I’m thankful for “crib catch” with my youngest. Actually, I’m thankful for our entire bedtime routine. Once books are read and teeth are brushed, we grab her bunny and her lamb; I put the mobile on; and we snuggle dance to a few lullabies. She puts her head on my shoulder and I can feel her whole body relax. It’s hands down one of my favourite moments of the day. Then, I put her in the crib and tuck her in. She will then stick her hand out between the different sections of the crib for me to grab. We do it about 4-10 times depending on the night. Silly game – but it’s a nice last bit of contact as she goes to sleep.
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So there’s my thankful for this week! Until next time!
Baby Gates Down 
Ahhhhhhhh so glad you’re hooked. You’re totally welcome.
Love your lists. They’re always so sumptuous. I particularly like the old and much loved book and the tea light ceremony. Not so much with you on the puddles and dampness, but I suppose at least it’s warmer!
Bring on the springtime!
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Given how freezing our winter has been, puddles are welcome as they are the first hint that we might be ending this whole polar vortex crazy winter soon. But I can appreciate a British disdain for damp 😉
And I’ll take sumptuous! Thanks!
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Warning: blonde chic about to e–x-p-l-o-d-e with excitement!!!!
I GOT MY OWN TEA LIGHT CEREMONY!!!! *squeeeeeee* You know what? That’s as cool as a HAT TRICK!!!! WOOOP!!!!! You’re so awesomel. I can’t believe you actually did it. *grins SO big*
ANNE RICE. <<<< *Bows down to the Queen*
Congrats on your award! How fun is that? You SO deserve it! And YES to sleep and nights out with the hubs. We need that, right?
I'm a huge fan of rain. (not the flood sort, but the lovely sort) and we used to play a game after rain where the boys would get there rubber boots on and we'd go puddle jumping. I'm saying all this in past tense cuz we haven't done it in a while. Now that they're a bit older, they're busy with their electronic devises and don't want to go puddle jumping with mom. pffft. I am some great photos from it though.
BUMP, HUMP, AND GRIND. So fun, and yes, the power and awesomeness of that is underglorified. Until today. When you paid homage to it LIKE A BOSS.
Selfie vid was hysterical! Fun TToT! So glad you didn't skip it.
I would totally take a high stick penalty for you. 🙂
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Glad you liked the tea lights! I do keep my promises 🙂 As for the Selfie vid – they djs on the local radio station were talking about it and played a clip of the song during one of my drives in earlier this week. Honestly, at first I looked it up because it reminded me of the beginning of Baby Got Back…
And see – comments like these? Thems the reason for tea light ceremonies 🙂 Awesome.
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Louise – my hand to god, as I’m watching the selfie vid my husband walked over and we joked at how it was just like the beginning of baby got back!!!! Great minds….
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Haha! Yes indeed….
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I’m happy to take a candle, and join a girl-party. Liked your music. I miss going dancing. 🙂
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Yeah – I think aside from weddings, my dancing days are pretty much behind me. About three years ago we planned a girls night out to specifically go dancing. I had to buy a whole new outfit because I had nothing to wear. It was a fun evening – but I certainly felt a bit … past it.
There are rare nights out where it spontaneously happens – that is, when I’m not out with the above mentioned people who don’t dance… 😦
So there it is. If we ever meet – red wine and dancing!
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I have a friend I used to go dancing with who still goes, but she has to organize a girls weekend to Vegas, and that’s too pricy for me. I haven’t been since I was pregnant with my eldest. And my body may well be past it. LOL I do dance in my kitchen, but mum’s the word!
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She “has to” organize dancing in Vegas? See, this is where I wonder as a woman of … slightly more mature age. There must be somewhere other than a wedding or a gay club (that’s my other recent memory option – and even that was almost 3-years-ago) where I can dance.
That said, I too am now a chronic kitchen dancer. I also do “dance parties” with my girls, which is fun. They aren’t too picky about the music yet, so I can still play DJ…. 😉
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Oh, we had a dance party, too. My daughter picked out my dress. LOL It was hilarious, I loved it. Thanks for reminding me.
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Okay that’s awesome. My 4-year-old also has dance party “rules”. Generally, we all have to wear a dress. Sometimes I can get away with just wearing heels (she has little play heels I found for her) but usually she calls me out on that slovenly laziness…A lady should make an effort, after all. Disney be teaching her well….
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We don’t wear heels, we dance barefoot, but we have the moves! LOL
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That’s quieter. Well done. The mom in me bows to the mom in you….
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LOL Less stress on the toes. Definitely dark chocolate and red wine, one of these days!
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I don’t think watching a guy do an entire choreographed dance at a club would attract me. Unless it was, say, Justin Timberlake. And I, too, am delighted that I don’t have to date in this social media age!
A 4 hour nap? Holy smokes, how did you ever get to sleep that night?
Love the bedtime routine you have with your daughter. My son had to have three songs sung every night when he went to bed. He chose, and ‘You Are My Sunshine’ was always one of them.
And, oh, the breast pump! Makes my boobies hurt squinch up a little, just remembering, and I DON’T EVEN HAVE THE SAME BOOBIES ANYMORE!
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First off – even with a 4-hour nap yesterday, I slept AWESOME last night. Sleep is something there is currently never really enough of in my life, so I takes it when I can gets it.
As for dancing men? Different strokes for different folks. I always liked to dance – so I appreciated the effort to do the same.
LOVE that you sang with your son for bed. We do lots of singing, but it’s just never factored into bedtime routines over here. You Are My Sunshine is a beautiful choice 🙂
As for the boobie comment – I think that made my night! Anyone whose been there just NEVER forgets that pain/pressure… My friend started explaining how she was trying to express to relieve the pain, and how it made a mess, and, yeah, been there, here’s my pump and hugs.
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I haven’t read an Anne Rice book since college! While she is a great writer, I’m getting old and fuddy duddy and get creeped out by it anymore. A shame, I know.
It is so nice to finally become friends with your mother. So much more fun than the teen/mom relationship. 🙂
You are nicer than me with your kids photos. i have albums for each of my kids, but they aren’t allowed to touch them until their doctor appointment at their 5 year shots. I bring an album, and we look at it while the nurse gives the shots. It’s worked like a charm. Even now that my older kids are teens, I rarely let them go through the photos. It’s the one thing that is just too precious to me to let them pull them out and make a mess of them. When they are adults, maybe I’ll give them up. 🙂
Glad you got hooked and chose to join us again!
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Your photo comment intrigued me. Mainly because it’s one of those small examples of people just doing things differently. First, I LOVE what you did with the “special event” idea around your photos – and I agree that they are really precious.
But on my end? I thought I was being pretty proper and fancy sticking them in albums. My parents had SHOE BOX of all the photos, still in the packs back from the shop, that I use to spend hours looking at, combing through, and getting my sticky fingers all over, when I was little. I remember loving the experience, so a little part inside me melts when my girls get all excited to see photos, but I do stay pretty firm about not pulling the photos out. I figure if the albums get ripped (a distinct possibility) or if in the “binder albums” pages fall out and then go in out of order, I can always fix them up. I think my main “memories are forever” paranoia moment was in the realization that my entire world existed digitally and if my computer or IPhone crashed I’d lose a good couple years of kiddie photos.
That said – I need to go “hit print” again soon!
As for “becoming friends with your mom” hear hear! It was an interesting moment when I really realized it had “hit” and we were 🙂
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Never heard of a tea light ceremony, I’ve got to look it up. I love me some sleep too! I was up late after date night, so it was nice to take a 3 hour nap while DH watched the baby. Thanks for the Selfie video. Quirky! Have a good week.
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Almost wondering if I imagined it – but I was a sorority girl (briefly) once and there were (almost) definitely candles at induction. In any event, I know I’m pulling this from the recesses of my memory somewhere!
Moving on – yes, naps be God and happy you enjoyed the video (which is still making me laugh).
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It is indeed good to post anyway on those weeks you’re feeling like skipping.
I loved The Witching Hour and its sequels – one of the best series I’ve ever read. Scary as hell, but great.
Puddles – and jumping in them – are lovely. My daughter and I love to do that, too.
Have a great week!
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Yay to puddle jumping and the Mayfair Witches! In equal measure.
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The Witching Hour definitely freaked me out… Great read though I have to remind myself that I have to expect to be scared… how dopey is that? That Selfie thing… so funny actually but what is it with women and the duck lips?
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Funny – I think I love the Witching Hour more for the whole historical build up than for the actual scary outcomes. And now, honestly, I read through to the end of the “history bit” and then just stop because I know it all goes kinda badly from the moment she gives birth.
As for duck lips I got nothin’ other than I think it’s suppose to be “cute kissy face”. My husband and I actually talked about the whole “selfie” thing after I posted the video. Between the two of us we have one that we remember that we took of ourselves while dating. I don’t remember any from university years – it really is a different world in that respect from when I was younger….
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I am happy to hear that you are hooked on the gratitude train because I love reading your posts. Good to know you’ll be sticking around 🙂 Sweet little candle ceremony for our girl, Beth. She is fantastic six ways to Sunday, isn’t she? I haven’t read an Anne Rice book in ages. I may have to add that one to my list.
Crib Catch sounds perfect. This bedtime routine you have with your baby sounds so wonderful. I miss those sweet snuggles!
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OMG I love love love Anne Rice. The Witching Hour is one of my all time favorites of hers. Also I love your bedtime with your daughter. You’re so blessed that she has already gotten the significance and the beauty of the routine. Holding her hand our for yours is beyond priceless and I so remember the days when my son melted onto my chest. He still does, sometimes, but when they are babies, it’s jus well, a moment to cherish forever and always. Love, too, that you were able to help a friend out with your pump. I still have mine here and am not sure what to do with it as I know I’d have liked to not pay for it. Maybe I should just donate it. Happy week, friend.
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I was a huge Anne Rice fan from mid-high school through most of my 20s. I read her first for all the vampire stuff, but I think this book is my all time favourite (I have to admit I’m a bit fuzzy on how the trilogy ends – it’s really just THIS book that I love – I adore the whole “History of the Mayfair Witches” portion – I LOVE how she wrote it.
As for babies melting into you – oh yeah. I remember it with my eldest too – and the moment when I realized she was too big to do it anymore. It’ll be double bittersweet when I hit the moment with this one because it will truly be over 😦
As for pumps – I’m happy mine found a home. If you don’t know someone who needs one I think donating it is a great idea.
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Beautiful list this week – I can identify with so many of these too. Just snuggled and sang songs to my son before sleep and it’s such a great time of day after work stress is put away for the evening too. We usually do My Favourite Things and What a Wonderful World. I love the crib catch idea.
I seriously haven’t printed any photos for us since baby was born…only for grandparents. Another good reason to make an album or five.
Keep doing these lists – I love to read them!
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I printed my photos mainly because I had a huge freak out when I thought I’d lost a bunch of my digital photos (I ultimately got them recovered). It really hammered home that I should have hard copies of my memories. That the kids get a kick out of the albums is just an added bonus.
Love your song choices – I don’t really sing them to sleep – but if I did, those would be great choices 🙂
As for doing the lists – maybe you should join us next week and do your own?….
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Ahhh losing all the photos is my worst nightmare! Really good reason to print ’em. I keep thinking I’ll do a fancy photo book, but I’m probably too lazy and will slot them into albums…Thank goodness you got them recovered!
Maybe I will join next week. I’ll starting thinking now!
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Haha re: fancy albums – I still have a collection of prints and stuff to “make my own wedding album”. We’ll have been married 6 years in October. I finally just put all the normal sized wedding prints in a album and Done!
As for Ten Things of Thankful – it would be great it you join! I was a bit skeptical at first – but I find it a nice way to reflect on the good things from the week. And it’s an amazing community of bloggers.
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Oooh my gosh, okay, I started reading this post about 20 minutes ago and was totally obliterate by that selfie video. I heard that song on the radio a week or so ago and I was PRAYING that it was some sort of local spoof or joke/that I was hallucinated. But no. It’s a real thing. <– this was exactly the sort of comment I was going to leave but then that damn video totally crashed my entire laptop. Like… smoke was basically coming out of it and it was like "WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?!" I ended up having to shut the whole thing down and restart it. What's worse is that now my brain is all "let me take a selfie."
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Well! If ever we needed proof positive of selfie evil I think we have it, yes?
I didn’t mean to make your computer go boom. So sorry. I will internalize that blame and shame and get back to you. Mmmkay?
Funny thing? I posted this before reading your INCREDIBLY HILARIOUS selfie guest blog post. Which I think I liked, meant to comment on, and then got pulled away by something(s).
But really. I think it’s #selfie intervention time. My real world job teaches me that it is important to choose the appropriate lever to effect change eg: education campaign; voluntary codes; regulation or legislation. I’m not sure that we can legislate “please stop embarrassing yourself online” but maybe we start with ISPs (or Instagram) prompting before publishing with a “Seriously? You sure you wanna do that? The Internet is forever.” prompt?
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Haha! Okay, no internalizing of blame and shame, that whole sentence made my insides sad! And secondly– you’re a genius. There really ought to be a “Seriously? Are you sure?” prompt that pops up before sharing.
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Didn’t mean to make you sad – inside or out. I’d like to contribute to happy Aussa. Re: blame and shame, sorry. I’ve been ruminating on the phrase (and practice) elsewhere in my life at the moment (as in a “why do people do this to each other” sort of vein).
As for the “are you sure” prompt – glad you’re on board! Now you can just use those magic hacker skills and Poof! Make. It. So.
My work here is done.
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Thank you for allowing us into your life. And for reminding me about the need to be grateful, I may need to begin participating in this link-up, it’s (you’re) fabulous!
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I love this comment – thanks for the kind words! As for the hop – I certainly encourage you to link-up – they are a great group of bloggers!
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