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A Mom's Year

Creating a comfortable life one moment at a time

January 20, 2012

Valentine Snow Globes / Weekend Links

These Valentine Snow Globes from Dandee Designs are crazy cute. We’re long past the baby-food stage around here, so I’d need to borrow a baby to pull this off. Anyone have one they could spare? Or at least some empty jars?

The kids are off school today and while I’d planned to take them out to do something fun, the idea of staying in is appealing. Especially when it’s so frigidly cold outside, but so snug inside. My vanilla-scented IKEA candle is gently glowing on the table next to me. Vanilla-scented IKEA candles are my newest obsession. I stocked up on a bunch yesterday when I made an emergency run into IKEA for salmon. (I’m sure you’re much more organized and would have packed an appropriate 3-Day Facelift lunch to bring along for your day at the car repair shop. I was this close to eating at McDonald’s, but then I remembered that Scandinavians always have salmon around. And they did.)

On another note, you are the most sympathetic and empathetic people in the world. You have helped so much during this very sad time of losing our sweet Gunther. I’m still adjusting to life without him. In some ways it’s even harder now because the reality of him being gone is really sinking in. I used to love to come home, but now I dread the moment we pull down the drive or walk in the door and he’s not there. I miss tripping over him every time I get up. But I know this is part of life and it will get easier. Of course we get asked if we’re going to get another dog, and the answer is a resounding yes. Dog people have to have a dog. But not just yet.

So. Putting those feelings aside, here are some fun links for the weekend.

  • We’re getting ready for Chinese New Year around here. The Year of the Dragon! Check out these 8 ways to celebrate the new year.
  • This DIY dragon puppet is so cool, but these dragon masks would work, too.
  • Homemade Happy Meals.
  • DIY Lemon Sugar Scrub. I’ve been in love with lemons ever since my first pregnancy. I don’t know why.
  • Design Mom’s Mad-Libs Valentines were featured in Family Fun magazine. She has lots of other great Valentine ideas, too.
  • I’ve always wanted to make gnocchi. This Homemade Ricotta Gnocchi looks delicious and do-able.
  • And then how about Root Beer Float Snake Cake for dessert?
  • Cute and free print-out for Friendship Bracelet Valentines here.
  • I haven’t attempted knitting a sweater yet, but this Easy Baby Pullover is tempting.

Do you have big plans for the weekend? I get to go to book club, which is always a treat. This month’s book is Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese. Have you read it? Should be an interesting conversation. I hope you have a great weekend, and I hope you’ll come back next week because we’re busy putting together more Chinese New Year and Valentine ideas.

Filed Under: Gifts, Holidays, Inspiration, Kid Activities, Knitting Shannon 6 Comments

Reader Interactions

Valentine Fill-in-the-Blanks
What’s For You Won’t Pass You By

Comments

  1. Stephanie says

    January 21, 2012 at 1:32 am

    Glad to hear you’re feeling a bit brighter. Thank you for the reminder about Chinese New Year. I’d completely forgotten about it in the usual daily rush. We always do something to celebrate, and we have an excuse – actually two. Chris’s cousin is married to Liang, a Chinese doctor, and now Benj is learning Mandarin at Uni!

    Reply
  2. Shannon says

    January 22, 2012 at 9:18 pm

    I would love to hear how an Irish family celebrates Chinese New Year in France!

    Reply
  3. Marilyn says

    January 23, 2012 at 11:46 am

    Let me know if you get a chance to try the gnocchi. And apparently Cutting for Stone is the book club choice of the month. Talk among yourselves. 🙂 http://liveandlearn-tossandturn.blogspot.com/2012/01/cutting-for-stone-book-club-discussion.html

    Reply
  4. Stephanie says

    January 23, 2012 at 1:32 pm

    A few fireworks, and some Chinese food! Yum.

    Reply
  5. June at Live and Learn-Toss and Turn says

    January 23, 2012 at 6:57 pm

    Marilyn clued me in that you are reading Cutting for Stone this month. My club just read it. Everyone except one person liked it. The book is so rich that there were a lot of interesting discussions about the story and the book. Let me know what your club has to say about it.

    Also, 20 years ago my son made a Christmas snow globe like the Valentine one above. We still have it and it still works great. I recommend making it.

    Reply
  6. Shannon says

    January 24, 2012 at 9:29 pm

    June, we were pretty divided on Cutting for Stone–some people had a hard time getting into it, but others found it interesting (especially the descriptions of Ethiopia). But you’re right about it leading to great discussions.

    I love that you still have the snow globe 20 years later!

    Reply

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Welcome

Hello! My name is Shannon Taylor and I’m a mom of four, originally from Minnesota and now living in Maryland. I "published" my first newsletter when I was nine, and since then, I’ve written and edited for magazines, websites, and textbooks. I started this blog when my kids were small to reflect on life, share ideas, and preserve memories. Now that my children are grown, I continue to use this space to document meaningful moments and practical ideas.

If you're in the mood for a bit of Christmas cheer, you might enjoy THE ADVENT BOX, available wherever books are sold. You can click on the cover below to learn more.

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Pandas are back at the National Zoo! We were there within days of hearing the news. 😂 Bao Li and Qing Bao are enjoying the spruced-up panda home on the zoo`s Asian Trail.

We last saw the pandas during a trip to D.C. in May 2011. I`m not sure if it was Mei Xiang or Tian Tian who firmly kept their back to us, but it was pretty hilarious. (photo #7) Not only did we get to see those wonderful pandas, but we got to spend time with Alexandra`s godmother, Amy, who was on home leave from her job with the State Department. Amy`s a fellow Midwesterner I met when we were interns waaay back in the day. (We connected watching "Northern Exposure" at Thompson-Markward Hall, affectionately known as the Home for Wayward Women.)

Be sure to put "Visit the Pandas" on your itinerary when you come stay with us in Baltimore. ❤️

10 0
Open post by shannontaylorwrites with ID 18295977556171943
Pandas are back at the National Zoo! We were there within days of hearing the news. 😂 Bao Li and Qing Bao are enjoying the spruced-up panda home on the zoo's Asian Trail. 

We last saw the pandas during a trip to D.C. in May 2011. I'm not sure if it was Mei Xiang or Tian Tian who firmly kept their back to us, but it was pretty hilarious. (photo #7) Not only did we get to see those wonderful pandas, but we got to spend time with Alexandra's godmother, Amy, who was on home leave from her job with the State Department. Amy's a fellow Midwesterner I met when we were interns waaay back in the day. (We connected watching "Northern Exposure" at Thompson-Markward Hall, affectionately known as the Home for Wayward Women.)

Be sure to put "Visit the Pandas" on your itinerary when you come stay with us in Baltimore. ❤️

My mom practiced, practiced, practiced and got to sing at Carnegie Hall for the premiere of "A Vision Unfolding" by Minnesota composer Kyle Pederson. A truly beautiful, uplifting work. I hadn`t been to Carnegie Hall before, so to visit for the first time to watch my mom perform was really wonderful.

Before the concert, we met Mom and her fellow choir member, Kathy, at Patsy`s, just down the block. The traditional Italian food was perfect on a chilly, rainy day—and it was fun to see photos of the celebrities who`ve dined there over the years, from Rihanna to Frank Sinatra (the restaurant`s claim to fame is that it was his favorite).

Mom, Tim, and Will hadn`t been to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum yet, so we headed to lower Manhattan after the concert. As we walked silently through the exhibits, trying to take it all in, I was struck by the distance between the concert, "A Vision of Light," and the grief and darkness around us. I thought of the words Mr. Pederson shared in the playbill, "It is my hope that we lean into the invitation that the choir offers—that each of us might reach out beyond our comfort zone and seek to build bridges of care and connection, finding a better way of being in community." And that’s what art does—it offers light when and where we need it most.

📷: Distinguished Concerts International New York

34 9
Open post by shannontaylorwrites with ID 18047049827096632
My mom practiced, practiced, practiced and got to sing at Carnegie Hall for the premiere of "A Vision Unfolding" by Minnesota composer Kyle Pederson. A truly beautiful, uplifting work. I hadn't been to Carnegie Hall before, so to visit for the first time to watch my mom perform was really wonderful.

Before the concert, we met Mom and her fellow choir member, Kathy, at Patsy's, just down the block. The traditional Italian food was perfect on a chilly, rainy day—and it was fun to see photos of the celebrities who've dined there over the years, from Rihanna to Frank Sinatra (the restaurant's claim to fame is that it was his favorite). 

Mom, Tim, and Will hadn't been to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum yet, so we headed to lower Manhattan after the concert. As we walked silently through the exhibits, trying to take it all in, I was struck by the distance between the concert, "A Vision of Light," and the grief and darkness around us. I thought of the words Mr. Pederson shared in the playbill, "It is my hope that we lean into the invitation that the choir offers—that each of us might reach out beyond our comfort zone and seek to build bridges of care and connection, finding a better way of being in community." And that’s what art does—it offers light when and where we need it most.

📷: Distinguished Concerts International New York

Is there a more endorphin-pumping experience than working out to `80s music? I don`t think so! Thank you to @natalie_dancebody and @mindi_dancebody for a truly joyful workout this morning. So much fun to dance along with two songs the Dancing Mamas tapped to back in the day at our kids` recitals: "Footloose" and "Beat It"! I hope you do this again, @dancebody ❤️🔥🎉

30 2
Open post by shannontaylorwrites with ID 18107239066486783
Is there a more endorphin-pumping experience than working out to '80s music? I don't think so! Thank you to @natalie_dancebody and @mindi_dancebody for a truly joyful workout this morning. So much fun to dance along with two songs the Dancing Mamas tapped to back in the day at our kids' recitals: "Footloose" and "Beat It"! I hope you do this again, @dancebody ❤️🔥🎉

Happy Valentine’s Day! I approach holiday greetings with more caution than I used to because I know these occasions can be painful for people who’ve lost someone. Which is pretty much everyone, especially when you get to be my age.

This day might not be the same as it was, but I hope you still have a valentine, whether it’s a romantic partner or a friend or a much-loved pet. Or yourself. We make good valentines because we know our favorite chocolate and what books we want.

I’ll always hang the Hearts on a String for any kid who’s home on Valentine’s Day, except not this year because the puppy would tear them to bits.

What a great Valentine’s message. 😅 Well. I do hope you have some treats today and you know I’m thinking of you fondly. ❤️

14 1
Open post by shannontaylorwrites with ID 18049981502173328
Happy Valentine’s Day! I approach holiday greetings with more caution than I used to because I know these occasions can be painful for people who’ve lost someone. Which is pretty much everyone, especially when you get to be my age. 

This day might not be the same as it was, but I hope you still have a valentine, whether it’s a romantic partner or a friend or a much-loved pet. Or yourself. We make good valentines because we know our favorite chocolate and what books we want.

I’ll always hang the Hearts on a String for any kid who’s home on Valentine’s Day, except not this year because the puppy would tear them to bits. 

What a great Valentine’s message. 😅 Well. I do hope you have some treats today and you know I’m thinking of you fondly. ❤️
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