Strong-Willed Child – The Challenge (Wk 14)

Do you have one?  A StRoNg-WiLLeD ChiLd, that is.  I actually have two, but my youngest is the one with the strongest will.  You better believe that she can throw a full-fledged fit and scream at the top of her lungs for hours on end.  Literally.  I wonder how I ended up with not one, but two of these precious little darlings.  After all, I was the compliant child and what you sow you reap, right?

My response to this mayhem?  I refuse to be manhandled by a 3-year old.  So, BriNg iT DaRLiN’ because If wE tAnGo I promise you, I will always win.   I do tell her that frequently.  We even rehearse this dialog often:

MOM:  “Who is in charge?”

CHILD:  “You are.”

MOM:  “So, that means that who is NOT in charge?”

CHILD:  “We (her and her sister) are not in charge.”

Besides my children, there is another strong-willed child I have to deal with almost every day –  a.k.a. ME!!  It’s that undisciplined part of me that only wants convenience and comfort.  It willingly cooperates, but only if it doesn’t involve sacrifice and hardship of any kind.

This strong-willed child is my public enemy number one.  It is 99% of my problems.  It’s what stands between me and my goals.  It refuses to cooperate with my plans, wants its own way, and will throw a fit if it doesn’t get it.

How do I handle this strong-willed child?  The same way I handle my strong-willed 3-year old.  Sheer determination to be the LaSt oNe StAnDiNg.   Feelings, comfort, and convenience will have to take backseat, because I will win this one.  I promise.

~Robynn

In Need of Mending

Is there someone in your life that you’ve a falling out with? Haven’t talked to a friend in ages because your relationship ended out of the blue? You know who I’m talking about…the thought of this person is TuGGinG at your heart just thinking about it.

Over the last couple of years I have been very fortunate to meNd broKen relaTionsHips with individuals that I had once been very close with. Much to my surprise, when I finally contacted them, their reasoning for having a “falling out” was due to something completely different than my own. It was shocking that years had been wasted due to having hurt feelings for completely different reasons. If only we had talked about it sooner!

It takes a lot of CouRaGe and FaiTh to reach out and contact a loved one whom you are no longer close with. Sometimes it takes a long time for the hurt to heal, and even when you have forgiven, that doesn’t mean that they have. Regardless, life is tOo shoRt to not take a chance on a relationship that could be mended. Call them or write how you are feeling. Either way it should give YOU CLOSURE, and perhaps it will give you more than that…a renewed relationship! I’m so glad I have those people back in my life again.

~Lara

BBFYB: Avoiding Skin Cancer & Hearing Loss

With the FuN summer hOlidAy around the corner, get your biggest bang for your buck by packing along your sunscreen and earplugs.  Don’t underestimate the ImpAct of being in the sun for a picnic or surrounded by a few fireworks crackling in your ears. Someone once told me that any noise over 85 decibels causes hearing loss.  For example, a lawnmower makes noise at 90 decibels. Keep this in mind when the kids are outside or near other sounds at similar volumes. Prolonged exposure of the sun and noise can cause problems later in life and ProTectiNg yourself from these potential issues only takes a second!

Have a SAFE holiday!

~Lara

American Flag Cream Cheese Dessert

Here is a great recipe for 4tH oF JuLy festivities!! Not only does it celebrate our country’s independence, it is also easy to make, easy to serve, and fun to make with kids!!

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

Ingredients:

  • 1 package of shortbread cookies with pecans
  • 1 stick of butter
  • 2 1/2 packages of cream cheese (8 oz. each)
  • 1/2 cup of powdered sugar
  • 1 quart StrAwBeRriEs
  • 1 pint blueberries

Melt BuTtEr in a mixing bowl.

PlaCe cookies in a large ziplock bag.

CrUsH cookies with a rolling-pin.

 

Add cookie CrUmBs to butter and combine.

PrEsS cookie and butter mixture in a cookie sheet.  Bake for 5 minutes.  Cool and place in a freezer.  (Freezing the cookie crust will help in spreading the cream cheese.)

Add powdered SuGaR to softened cream cheese and combine.

 

Spread cream cheese mixture on cookie CrUsT.

 

Decorate as a FlAg with strawberries (or raspberries) and BLuBeRrieS!  Refrigerate or serve immediately. 

Happy Celebrating!!

Robynn~

Mommy Guilt

I have yet to talk to another Mom that doesn’t feel guilty about some area of MotHeRhooD.  Do you feel like you don’t spend enough time with your kids?  Aren’t as good of a Mom as the friend down the street? Feel bad that you overcooked dinner for the family?  Unfortunately, most Moms could make an infinite list of questions because we never FEEL like we’re good enough.

Whether you are a Mom or not, we all know what guilt feels like.  Guilt is usually caused by ComParinG ourselves to someone else.  Comparisons are PointLess because every person’s situation is different.  Remember that YOU are a good Mom because YOU are doing the best that YOU can for your situation.  I sometimes feel guilt for not sending my daughter to preschool, but I know that I will ReGrEt not spending that last year at home with her.  People assume that I don’t spend time with my kids because I have a home business, but they don’t know I get up early so I can get most of my stuff done before they get out of bed.  I know the reasons why I do what I do and when I start to feel guilty I have to quickly remind myself that this is the best thing for MY situation.

I know this post won’t cure your Mommy guilt indefinitely, but as a Mom I know how important it is to be reminded to not be so hard on myself.  Stop comparing yourself to other Moms and focus on the things you do well. Ask yourself this:  If I wasn’t aware of what others were doing, would I feel guilty about______?  Do things that your heart naturally tells you to do. No one knows your situation better than YOU so stop letting others control how you feel.

~Lara

Sweet Spot – The Challenge (Wk 13)

I think I need to back up.  We are on Week 13 of “The Challenge” where we are encouraging you to go for your dreams.  But I know people my age and older who say, “Hey, hold on.  I don’t know what my DrEaM is or where to even begin looking for my PurPoSe.”

If that describes you or even if you want to fine tune your dream consider this:

Your purpose is where your PaSsioN (heart’s desire) and your TaLenTs meet.  In what area do you have high marks in both the passion category and the talent category?  Maybe you don’t know the answer to this question.  It may be that you have not yet discovered your talent, or your passion for that matter.  However, when you do find them you have hit Bull’S-eYe.  This is your “SwEeT sPoT”.  For the next few weeks Suede Sofa is going to focus on finding your “sweet spot” a.k.a. your purpose.   

Until next time ponder this question:  Do you know your “sweet spot”?

Robynn~

Guest Feature: Homemade American Flag

Check out a DIY project from one of our readers, Robyn Caruso from New Jersey!

For years I’ve wanted to make my OwN American Flag out of a fence, but always pushed it to the end of my to do list. Robynn recently posted her inspiration for making an American Flag and that was all it took to get me going. With my little ones birthdays both approaching this summer, I am feeling the need to “fReeZe” time and just take in every minute of them being little. My idea for my flag included their little HanDprinTs so that in years to come we can look back and remember how special this time was. Next came a trip to Home Depot where I convinced the lumber crew to cut down a broken fence that originally cost $24 into the size that I wanted. I walked out of the store sMiliNg ear to ear after they rang it up for $4.04! I guess it’s not every day they have a mommy on a crafting kick with 2 toddlers throwing fishies out of a double stroller in the lumber department! I got home and went through my stash of paint and got to work.

Picture #1 – My son Nicholas helping me sand all of the edges.
Picture #2 – Nicholas concentrating on painting the field of blue.
Picture #3 – I used painters tape to keep the colors from running together and then imprinted Nicholas handprints on the first and third rows of blue.
Picture #4 – Mommy and Nicholas.
Picture #5 – Abby gets her turn on the second and fourth rows of blue. 
Picture #6 – Painting the year, kid’s names, and ages on the back of the flag.
 
Picture #7 – After the names were finished I sprayed the front and back of the flag with an indoor/outdoor sealer and was ready to tie the rope through the metal screw eyes that I screwed into the top of the flag.
Picture #8 – My finished keepsake flag!
Thank you Robyn for sharing this with all our friends on the SuedeSofa!!
~Lara & Robynn

If You Feel It Say It

How often have you thought of something NiCe about someone but didn’t tell them?  Maybe you ran into an old friend and you thought how GrEaT they looked, but failed to mention it…or perhaps someone said something nice about your spouse but you didn’t take the time to pass the CoMpLiMenT on to your loved one.

Many times we don’t stop to share a GOOD WORD because there wasn’t that right “break” in the conversation to bring it up, or maybe we fear the situation could get awkward.

The thing you have to remember is how GREAT you feel when someone says something nice about YOU!  Doesn’t that just make your day?  If a customer emails me saying how much they LOVE their blocks or a person mentions my new outfit, I have a JuMp in my step the rest of the day!  How would you like to have that same effect on someone else?  If you feel it, say it!  Don’t let another opportunity pass you by!

~Lara