Treat Yourself To A Big Girl Slumber Party

I didn't have time in January to tell you about my first every Big Girl Slumber Party.  It will certainly not be the last.

I wanted to do something special for myself to celebrate my birthday.  I thought about going away on a retreat, but I had yoga teacher training that weekend, and I'm not always the best company for myself.  I thought that I really wanted to surround myself with some dear and irreverent women who know me and love me.

Here's what I did:

~I sent out an email.  {I thought they might think I was insane, but they do know me. . .}  The response was overwhelmingly positive.

~I started to plan like crazy, and then I changed my mind.  I just wanted to hang out with these peeps and soak in all the good feminine energy.

~The house was tidy, but not really clean.

~I had a large collection of nibbly food, but nothing fancy

~People came from near and far--literally from the house next door to a couple hours on the highway.

~People brought more food and wine and breakfast for the next morning.

~Sam went to bed at about 9 p.m., and we just sat around and talked for hours.

~I always have loads of art supplies and what not, but it was the talking that was so precious

~The next morning we had waffles and coffee.  We talked more.  I gave little good favors--including the hats we are all wearing in t, and people started to pack up and leave.

~These women are so amazing that they did stuff like wash the dishes!!!

If you want to do something very special for yourself and/or friends, a big girl slumber party might just be the ticket!

I Recommend Tell Tale

I love an inexpensive resource that has amazing power for people of many ages in a variety of situations.  I just discovered such a game a few months ago.

This game is Tell Tale, and it's from the company Blue Orange Games.  It's a great story telling game that fosters creativity, thinking, and self expression.  It's a deck of 60 2 sided round cards with simple pictures on each side.  It's about $12.

My son, who just turned 4, loves this game.  My 4th graders love this game.  There are many, many ways to play.  For my son, we give him 4 cards, and he makes up a story.  It's so stinking cute, I don't know if I should laugh or cry.

At school I have the whole class stand in a circle, and we just keep adding to a big story.  Sometimes I pass out cards to everyone, and sometimes we just pass the whole deck to one person at a time, who takes the card on top and adds to the story.  (Honestly, at first I could not believe how bad they were at this game, but they quickly improved.)  It's a great oral writing experience.

I'd like to think that in my little corner of the world I'm keeping the art of storytelling alive!

Super Gentle Yoga Coming To My House

I have a special invitation I want to extend to all women who live within driving distance of my house.

I'm starting a super gentle yoga class at my house on Sunday evenings, 6 -7 p.m., beginning March 3.

Just Breathing, Stretching, and Relaxing.  

A One Hour Sabbath of Self Care.

I would be so honored if you would join me.  We are going to practicing treating ourselves with tender loving kindness.  I think it's going to be extraordinary.  Email me if you need more info.

In November I started a yoga teacher training program.  We are half way in, and I am truly being transformed by the experience.  I'm being stretched and healed--physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  I want to share the bliss!  {There is no charge, as I am still in training.}  

Cherish the Moments

I've been really quiet around here.  My plate has been crazy full in unexpected ways.  I feel like I'm getting back into the swing of things--not the same old, same old--but some really new and beautiful stuff full of light and life and creativity and hope.  (If you're a teacher hoping for some everyday ordinary inspirations, it's coming!)

One of the best things I've gotten to do is cherish lots of moments with this little cutie pie!  I think he looks so sweet and earnest in this photo.  (Don't be fooled!)

We went on an impromptu outing to the Akron Zoo on an unseasonably warm day in January.  He loves these penguin figures and always runs right up to them.  He also loves the penguins there and still talks about feeding them last year with his Daddy.  This was just about 10 days before he turned 4.  Can you believe he's four years old?  (More about the robot party(ies) soon, too!)

He is growing and changing so much everyday.  Honestly, I don't want to be so busy that I miss it.  I want to cherish every single moment.  I want to learn to cherish the dark and light in equal measure.  I want to to cherish hope and despair, beauty and mundane, difficult and gentle.  I'm trying to breathe it in--deep into my soul.

What have you been up to for the past few months?