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A Mom's Year

Creating a comfortable life one moment at a time

February 10, 2012

DIY Literary Quote Mugs / Weekend Links

{ image found here; spotted here }

I am swooning over these DIY literary quote mugs by Sarah Fritzler. I’m a bookworm and a quote junkie, so these are just too good. My favorite is the set Sarah made for her parents. Her dad’s mug features his favorite quote, “Here’s looking at you, kid.” And her mom’s says “Kid.” How sweet is that?

Tim is coming home tonight after a 5-day business trip. He frequently takes 1- or 2-night trips, but this is the longest he’s been away in years. While he was gone I made a sad discovery: I complain a lot more when he’s around. Every day this week I got the kids where they needed to be and worked and did everything else I had to do with hardly any whining at all. So why can’t I be like that all the time?

I suppose it’s because when I know I’m the only parent on duty I suck things up better. If Tim’s here, I look for opportunities to slack off. And then wait for him pick up the slack. Doesn’t that sound awful? The other thing is that I ask the kids to help out more when Tim’s gone. And we eat more macaroni and cheese. Out of the box.

If I had time before his flight arrived, I’d make a mug for my long-suffering Mr. Darcy, fill it to the brim with his favorite Cadbury Mini Eggs, and give it to him with a big kiss. Just to let him know how much I missed him and appreciate all he does.

While I think about ways to become a better and less-complaining person, here are some fun links for you to enjoy:

  • Free Valentine printable cards that are also toys. Great for the younger set.
  • How to get scratch marks off your plates here.
  • DIY vintage suitcase charging station.
  • Gorgeous, inexpensive valentines you can print out right now.
  • Will this book really help my kids become better eaters? My fingers are crossed.
  • They claim this chicken stir-fry tastes as good as a Chinese restaurant’s.
  • Valentine’s Day in a box. Very cute.
  • Thinking of making these for breakfast on Valentine’s Day.

Do you have big plans for the weekend? I’m looking forward to a happy reunion, a “date” with Lexie tomorrow, and some skiing on Sunday. And lots of reading because we’re about one-third of the way through the school’s annual Reading Contest. Have a wonderful weekend and please come back next week for my report on our school’s big author visit and some more Oscar party ideas.

Filed Under: Cooking, Gifts, Holidays, Kid Activities, Traditions Shannon 5 Comments

February 10, 2012

Crafting Party / Valentine’s Day Edition

{ Treasure Jars. }

The girls and I recently attended a Valentine’s Day Crafting Party at our friends’ home. Our hostess and her three girls explained in the Evite invitation that they would have stations set up around the house where we could make Valentine-themed crafts. All we needed to bring was our creativity and an appetizer to share.

I was in charge of one of the stations and decided to make Treasure Jars, which would involve many of my current obsessions—jelly jars, red-and-white baker’s twine, and Dove chocolates. I had exactly 30 minutes on the day of the party to gather supplies, so I ran around Walmart tossing whatever seemed like it could work into the cart: jelly jars, paper doilies, pretty scrapbook paper, stickers, construction paper and a little heart-shaped punch to make confetti, fabric for the lids, chocolates, and candy conversation hearts. Whew!

[Read more…] about Crafting Party / Valentine’s Day Edition

Filed Under: Community, Gifts, Holidays, Kid Activities, Traditions Shannon 2 Comments

February 9, 2012

Social Media Explained / Three Ships Media

Have you seen the “Social Media Explained” white board? It made me laugh, and then I realized it actually helps! What was most interesting, though, was reading about how the team at Three Ships Media came up with this idea in the first place and their thoughts on what it feels like to go viral.

Do you use any or all of these social media tools? I dabble in a few, but that’s about it. (Foursquare? Don’t even know what that is.)

On a different note, I’m finally sitting down to watch this week’s episode of Downton Abbey. If I can stay awake. I spent the day subbing, which I love, but it wears me out. Teachers are rock stars.

Filed Under: Inspiration Shannon Leave a Comment

February 8, 2012

Oscars 2012 / Nominee-Inspired Party Menu

The 84th annual Academy Awards are taking place on Sunday, February 26th. If you’re hosting an Oscar party, attending one as a guest, or just staying home to watch in your pajamas, I came up with a list of nominee-inspired recipes to help you set a festive mood.

Gender Bender Cocktail for Albert Nobbs

Feta-Physical Dip for The Tree of Life

John Le Curry Cheddar Puffs for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Pasta with Rooney Mara-nara Sauce for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Cumin Out of the Closet Chili for Beginners

Prime Minister Rib Roast with Yorkshire Pudding for The Iron Lady

Black and White Cheesecake Squares for The Help

Brad Pitt-ed Date Balls for Moneyball

Tarty Maids of Honor for Bridesmaids

Ice Cream Bombe-Shell for My Weekend with Marilyn

I had way too much fun putting this list together, and I have a feeling my brain isn’t going to let up. Poor Tim. If you think of any other ideas, please share! There’s got to be a good one for the Muppets….

Filed Under: Cooking Shannon 3 Comments

February 7, 2012

Sanity Saver / Mind Jar

A while back I wrote about Mud-Mind, a concept that compares the mind to a jar full of water and dirt that, when shaken, gets filled with mud. That muddy mess represents your negative thinking, which gets muddier and muddier the more you “shake” the jar (i.e., rant, vent, argue, moan and groan). But if you stop shaking the jar, the dirt settles to the bottom and the water—your thoughts—once again become crystal clear.

I’m not exaggerating when I say that the concept of Mud-Mind, which I learned about from a friend who’s a family therapist, is one of the strongest tools in our marital kit. We still get mad and shake our jars at each other, but at the end of the day neither of us believes anything the other says when he or she’s in Mud-Mind. And we do try to keep our mouths shut when we know we’re in Mud-Mind. It’s much harder for me than Tim, let me tell you.

[Read more…] about Sanity Saver / Mind Jar

Filed Under: Inspiration Shannon 3 Comments

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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. ❤️

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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

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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 ❤️🔥🎉

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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. ❤️

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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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