Write It Down

We all know the saying, “KiDs say the CuTeSt things.”  I’m sure you have favorite stories of words of wisdom that came from your own children, grandchildren, and nieces & nephews.  We swap these little stories with family, friends, and co-workers but do we ever take the time to jot down these little glimpses of ChiLdhOoD?

When my son was 2 and really started talking I bought a JoUrNaL where I could record the date, his age, and whatever it was that he said that made me SmiLe.  :)  My FaVoRiTe to date was April 27, 2010 when Nicholas was 2 ½ years old.  He had just thrown a spoon FuLL oF ChoCoLatE pUdDiNg across my kitchen.

Me– “Nicholas, Mommy is very upset with you.”

NiChOlAs– “No, I uSeT a you!”

There are lots of cute journals available to record these moments.  Even if you use a simple spiral notebook or loose-leaf paper…GeT sTaRtEd!  Childhood comes once in a lifetime and they won’t be calling m&m’s, “WeMeN-a-WeMs” when they’re going off to college!

~Jersey Girl~

Lost In Translation

Do you ever have one of those MoMenTs in an email conversation or text where you read the comment and your response is, “That was RUDE!  I can’t believe they said that!”

That is the unfortunate ConseQuenCe of written communication.  People don’t have the ability to interject tone or emphasis on particular words, and a lot of times, that tone or emphasis is the main form of communication.

Let’s analyze the question, “Are we having goulash again for supper tonight?”  If I’m a fan of goulash I will emphasize GoULaSh. “Are we having GoULaSh again for supper tonight?”   However if I loathe goulash I will emphasize AGAIN. “Are we having goulash AGAIN for supper tonight?”  (As a side note, this is how my husband would respond. Ha!)

We should all make a conscious effort to not overanalyze written communication.  We could totally MisinTerpRet what the writer was trying to say and generate some hard feelings for no good reason.

~Lara

{Biggest Bang For Your Buck} – Special K Sour Cream & Onion Crackers

Lara and I love SaLtY cHiPs and when it comes to getting the {BigGest BaNg For YoUr BuCk}, we think these guys (Special K Sour Cream and Onion Crackers) pack the biggest “PuNcH”!  If you like salty and “Sour Cream and Onion”, give them a try!!

Check out the nutitional information!!  There are a total of 27 SpeCial K crackers!!  You’ll definitely get your salty “FiX” here!

:)

Robynn~

{Yummy} Apple-Butter

Today I was HoPiNg to be in WeStOn, Missouri at their ApPLe CeLeBraTioN.  Weston is a quaint little pre-civil war town in the rolling hills of northwest Missouri with so much to offer.  I especially love their apple OrChArDs and PuMpKiN farms where you can pick your own apples and pumpkins.  The tractor-trailer ride to the pumpkin patch where my family visited had spectacular views of the RolliNg CoUnTry-SiDe!  

Lara and I had wanted to take our families and make a day of it, but due to other obligations we were unable to go.  So, instead, I am going to share with you a recipe I came up with InSpIrEd by one of my visits there:  ApPLe-BuTtEr.  It is so YuMmY and EaSy!!  Weston’s Apple Celebration also InSpIrEd me to make ApPLe DuMpLiNgS which are also YuMmY and oh, so PrEtTy, but that’s another post for another day!!

I usually like to get my apples for my Apple-Butter from a nearby orchard, but this year I was unable to do so.  Instead I bought them from the store.  Because I love GrAnNy SmItH apples, those are the ones I chose.  This is a great recipe to make on a Saturday when you’re home hanging out with the family watching football!

{YuMmY} Apple-Butter Ingredients

  • 12 big apples 
  • 2 cups sugar (use 1 cup if you want to cut out some sugar)
  • 1 Tablespoon Cinnamon
  • 1 stick butter  (you can omit this is you are wanting to cut down on fat)

Peel and core the apples and cut into small pieces.  Place in a CrOcKpOt. 

Add the rest of the ingredients. 

Place crockpot on high.  Stir occasionally.  In about 4-5 hours VoiLa!!

 

The apples will break down on their own as they cook.  When the Apple-Butter is finished I like to place them in jars, save one, and GiVe the rest away!!

:)

Robynn~

{Artist Alley} Love It!!

I recently picked up these BiRdS at my town’s fall festival a.k.a. {ArTiSt AllEy}.  I had been looking for birds for my mantle but just hadn’t been real ThRillEd with what I had seen.  Boy, am I so glad that I waited and found these guys.  I love it that they are so UniQuE, colorful (the ones I had been looking at were a metal, bronzy color) and that they were made by an ArEa ArTisT who I know!

If you are looking for that “PeRfEcT sOmEtHiNg” for your space, consider choosing a local artist.  You may be able to find something unique and OriGiNaL!!

:)

Robynn~

Guilt Trip

We’ve been on a few trips in our life and we would have to say, this is the one we enjoy the least.  In fact, we don’t think we could use the word “enjoy” at all, because quite frankly guilt trips are down right TorMenTiNg.

In the last week we have been talking about this IsSuE not just with each other, but with other moms.

The discussion goes something like this, we feel GuiLtY because it seems that we are “riding” our kids non-stop, constantly having to correct them, instruct them, discipline them, etc.  When we look at our husbands who seem to just get to enjoy the kids, then comes the guilt.  “My husband gets to have all the fun.  I do all the correcting.  I’m not a good mom because I should be playing with my kids.  I feel like I am always nagging my kids.”

The truth is, as mom’s we all have DiFfeReNt GiFtS.  For some moms, playing with their kids may be what naturally flows out of them, for others, maybe it’s nurtuing.  Maybe you love cooking with your kids or reading to them.  Both of us are very loving with our kids.  We love to cuddle with them.  It’s what comes natural to us and as a result, it’s what we do the best at.  When they are sad, its mom they come running to.  However, instead of FoCuSinG on our strength as mother’s we focus on the area where we are lacking.  The result:  Guilt.  We know better, but we do it anyway.   Ugh!!

When we think back to our childhood neither of us remember our mom’s playing with us.  Ever.  However, we both have very FoNd MeMoRiEs of our moms.  They were a very safe place to land – LoViNg and wArm, SeCuRe and sAfE.

So if you’re feeling guilt, ask yourself if it is self-imposed.  Sure, there are times we know we should do better, but guilt goes so beyond this.

If you’re struggling with guilt, take a good look at why.  Is there a change you need to make?  If so, make the change, but then give yourself a break and enjoy your kids by focusing on the things that come NaTuRaL to you.

:)

~Robynn and Lara~

Check out a similar post by Lara called “Mommy Guilt” by clicking here.

INTRODUCING ROBYN CARUSO {JERSEY GIRL}

We would like to introduce to you, RoByN CaRuSo.  She has been a guest writer for us and starting TODAY, she will be a regular writer on the Suede Sofa.  We are excited about her joining our team!  Robyn will be writing on WeDneSdaYs and on the weekends from time to time.  Her posts will be signed “JeRsEy GirL”.  Here is her story:

Jersey Girl

Growing up in the suburbs in New Jersey I had three goals:

  1. Be a high school cHeErLeAdEr (as corny as that may sound)!
  2. Teach 1st grade
  3. Be a sTaY-aT-hOmE mOm

Although the road to success wasn’t easy (see my Suede Sofa I Am…A MOM…FINALLY post). Check, check, check…I did it!

So now what do you do when you are in your early 30’s, living your dream, but have no new goals in mind?  That’s just about when Lara and Robynn came into my life and got my CrEaTiVe wheels turning!

An avid EtSy shopper, I met Lara simply because I was constantly purchasing blocks from her Letter Block Shop.  Reading about her success was enough to jump start my own Etsy shop, RoByN’s NeSt.  I have always been crafty and opening up a small business has proven to be a rewarding experience in so many ways.

Next…in comes Suede Sofa.  My blogging began with my I Am post and shortly after Lara and Robynn asked me to be a guest writer.  My FriEndShip with Lara and Robynn is unique in that we’ve never met.  What’s stopping us?  How about the fact that there are five states between us! We’ve recently set a goal to somehow meet within the next FiVe YeArS; until then there’s always email, texting, and of course the Suede Sofa!

I currently live in VeRoNa, NeW JeRsEy a small suburb about fifteen miles outside of New York City with my husband Rob.  We have two children named Nicholas and Abby. Nicholas is ALL BOY and keeps me on my toes!  Abby is a GIRLY GIRL and oh do I love her to pieces!  Before having my children I was a first grade teacher for 8 years.  Sometimes I think teaching a classroom full of 1st graders may have been easier than being a stay-at-home mom; but I wouldn’t trade it for the WorLd!

Thank you for letting me share my life with all of you!

Visit my online shop www.etsy.com/shop/triobyn

~Jersey Girl~