Aloha Friday

Greetings and Happy Friday! Hope you have all had a wonderful week. We had a big storm come through last night and lost power for a couple of hours. I'm glad to have the A/C and internet back today :)

My question this week is: Growning up, in which activities did you excel? Sports, music, drama, dance? Did you belong to any groups or organizations?

I studied ballet for about 9 years and loved it. Unfortunately I have no photos left from that time and only a few old VHS tapes. Still, they're fun to watch. My kids have tried soccer and ballet so far. I think we're adding baseball this Fall. It's fun to see where their interests lie.

Thanks for visiting today! Your comments make my day :) Be sure to stop by An Island Life for more Aloha Friday fun. Have a fabulous weekend!

A Thousand Words Thursday

For more Thousand Words Thursday stop by Cheaper Than Therapy

Wordless Wednesday

The other night I went in to kiss my daughter goodnight and turn off her night light before I went to bed myself. This is what I found...sleeping beauty snoozing away, slumped over with her feet on the floor, lol.

Hey Mom, Got an Endless To Do List? A Guest Post By Lynn Banis

I was having lunch a few Fridays ago with a Mom friend. We were chatting about the personal and family activities for the upcoming week and she suddenly began to complain about her never ending To Do List. She said that she looks the list over every morning and targets the things she is going to do that day. At the end of the day she rolls what is left over to the next day's list. Consequently, she never gets the list cleaned up. Sound familiar?

I asked her to pick out the things she was going to do on Monday. Then I asked her to look at her Friday list and assign a priority of 1, 2 or 3 to each item with 1 being the highest priority. Then we looked at the 3s. I asked her if they really needed to be done - by her anyway. She said they really weren't very important but wanted to keep they because they were easy to do and she could knock them off in one day. I asked how long they had been on her list and she replied "Oh, some have been there for months." We talked about that and she decided that since she had not done them she could give them to someone else to do or just forget them. It turned out that she delegated two items, moved one to a 2 and crossed out the rest. Progress!

Next we looked at the 2s. She reviewed her list to make sure they were all 2s and found one she could cross out. Then we skipped to the 1s. She had a few on this list and felt they all needed to be completed within the next two weeks. I asked her to set target dates for completion next to each. Then she broke each into task steps and assigned them to a day leaving time for unscheduled issues and a little time to work on some 2s. We did the same with the 2s only spread them over a month. When we were done she created an updated list for Monday.

She called me that Sunday night as she was getting ready for the Monday routine and said she really felt relieved and excited about trying her new process. She will revisit her list each day as she had always done and will make adjustments as necessary but will try to be more realistic about how long things take and how far out she needs to schedule them.

It has been two weeks and she just called to say that it was working and working well. She thinks she is out from under her sense of overwhelm and has a plan she can work. Of course, unexpected tasks will show up but she now feels she can handle them and she knows how to get out of the minutia and into the important stuff. She even revamped the family calendar by prioritizing the activities each person does.

You are probably thinking that you have far too much on your plate for this to work for you. Just give it a try. Figure out what you don't have to do, what you can do 80% or 90% and then go after the big stuff. Stay away from the minutia - it eats your time up. Try it - what do you have to lose except a long list that goes on forever.

Lynn Banis, PhD, MCC

The High Performance Coach

Read more posts from the Hey Mom Series here, here and here. Moms work hard and deserve encouragement! Please share this post with other Moms you know.

Lynn is a Master Certified Coach with years of experiences helping moms through tough situations. She would love to answer your questions on a weekly basis. What are you struggling with? What questions do you have about getting through the day? Leave her a few comments with your questions and concerns and she will be happy to write about them in future posts. To find out more about Lynn and how she can help you live your passion, visit her at: www.discoverypointcoaching.com/blog

Quotable Sunday - Friends

In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit. ~Albert Schweitzer

Remember, we all stumble, every one of us. That's why it's a comfort to go hand in hand. ~Emily Kimbrough

Shared joy is a double joy; shared sorrow is half a sorrow. ~Swedish Proverb

A true friend never gets in your way unless you happen to be going down. ~Arnold Glasow

Your friend is that man who knows all about you, and still likes you. ~Elbert Hubbard

Friends are family you choose for yourself. ~Author Unknown

The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart. ~Elisabeth Foley

A friend is the only person you will let into the house when you are Turning Out Drawers. ~Pam Brown

Constant use will not wear ragged the fabric of friendship. ~Dorothy Parker

A friend knows the song in my heart and sings it to me when my memory fails. ~Donna Roberts

Friends are those rare people who ask how you are and then wait for the answer. ~Author Unknown

A friend is the one who comes in when the whole world has gone out. ~Grace Pulpit

Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for a while, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never, ever the same. ~Flavia Weedn, Forever, © Flavia.com

Sometimes our hearts get tangled
And our souls a little off-kilter
Friends and family can set us right
And help guide us back to the light.
~Sera Christann

The best kind of friend is the one you could sit on a porch with, never saying a word, and walk away feeling like that was the best conversation you've had. ~Author Unknown

The language of friendship is not words but meanings. ~Henry David Thoreau

A true friend is one who thinks you are a good egg even if you are half-cracked. ~Author Unknown

A good friend is a connection to life - a tie to the past, a road to the future, the key to sanity in a totally insane world. ~Lois Wyse

There is one friend in the life of each of us who seems not a separate person, however dear and beloved, but an expansion, an interpretation, of one's self, the very meaning of one's soul. ~Edith Wharton

For More Quotable Fun visit LT at A Day With Two.

Aloha Friday

Aloha friends! It's that time again already...where did the week go? I'm 36 weeks pregnant today...and tired, and feeling like Large Marge! Off to an OB check up this AM so I'll keep it short and sweet ;)

My question this week: If you have kids, did you give them family names or just choose names you liked? If you don't have kids, how was your own name chosen?

Thanks for visiting today! Your comments make my day :) Be sure to stop by An Island Life for more Aloha Friday fun!

A Thousand Words Thursday - Summer Rain Storm

For more Thousand Words Thursday stop by Cheaper Than Therapy

Wordless Wednesday - Swamp Monster

Thanks for stopping by today! Your comments make my day. Happy Wordless Wednesday to all :)

Winner of the Redbook Magazine Subscription Giveaway

Congratulations to blueviolet, who won my Redbook Magazine Subscription Giveaway. Thanks to all who entered! Stay tuned for more upcoming giveaways...

blueviolet said...

I'm a facebook fan!
July 14, 2010 2:38 PM

Hey Mom, Tell Your Inner Critic To Pipe Down - A Guest Post By Lynn Banis

Are you tired of that incessant voice inside your head telling you that you don't do anything right, you are a bad mom, you can't cook, etc., etc., etc.? It is downright mean sometimes isn't it? You really don't have to listen to it all of the time. I know it is constant but there are some ways you can calm it down and move happily on with your life.

We all have an inner critic, gremlin - whatever you want to call it. I have named mine Kreachur. It's only job is to make you feel bad about yourself. Sometimes we may think it is trying to protect us but really it is trying to keep us from living a happy life. It is very clever. It puts ideas in our heads and then when someone says that same thing to us we think - "Oh, that's right. I am _________!" Or how about when it tells you that you are a bad cook and then you burn something for dinner? Right away you think "Darn, I am a bad cook." That isn't good for your self-esteem but it happens all of the time. Chances are you are not a bad cook or any of the things your inner critic says you are.

How do you get it to quiet down? You can't get rid of it - it is always going to be there but you can quiet it down. First let's really look at your inner critic. What does it look like? Mine is skinny with a hugh head and big mouth full of pointy teeth. It's tongue is always wagging as it yaps about this and that. Draw a picture of yours. Now give it a name. Some of the names my clients have used are Boss, Mother-in-law, General, Mother, Master and Blabber Mouth. You could have fun letting your kids draw one too just dont' let them believe a monster lives in your head and tells you terrible things!

Now that you have a picture and a name for your inner critic it is time to do something about it. Instead of listening intently, arguing or feeling bad about what your critic says just notice. You might think, "Hmmm, that's interesting" and let it go. Your critic will want to argue but don't go there. Just let it be. You might think of how funny it looks and call it by name but then imagine it slinking away to go hide under a rock or something. Each time you hear it in your head repeat the process. Pretty soon it will become routine to ignore it as it slinks away.

Remember, your inner critic is your own worst enemy. It's only job is to make you unhappy. Don't let it. You are in charge. If you are having trouble doing this you might consider getting a coach to help you through the process. Be sure you screen coaches to be sure you hire one who is well trained and has good credentials. Get the best - you deserve it.

Lynn Banis, PhD, MCC

The High Performance Coach

Read more posts from the Hey Mom Series here and here. Moms work hard and deserve encouragement! Please share this post with other Moms you know.

Lynn is a Master Certified Coach with years of experiences helping moms through tough situations. She would love to answer your questions on a weekly basis. What are you struggling with? What questions do you have about getting through the day? Leave her a few comments with your questions and concerns and she will be happy to write about them in future posts. To find out more about Lynn and how she can help you live your passion, visit her at: www.discoverypointcoaching.com/blog

Quotable Sunday - Summer

I walk without flinching through the burning cathedral of the summer. My bank of wild grass is majestic and full of music. It is a fire that solitude presses against my lips. ~Violette Leduc, Mad in Pursuit

Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it. ~Russel Baker

A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and the lawn mower is broken. ~James Dent

Oh, the summer night
Has a smile of light
And she sits on a sapphire throne.
~Barry Cornwall

Heat, ma'am! it was so dreadful here, that I found there was nothing left for it but to take off my flesh and sit in my bones. ~Sydney Smith, Lady Holland's Memoir

Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time. ~John Lubbock

Love is to the heart what the summer is to the farmer's year - it brings to harvest all the loveliest flowers of the soul. ~Author Unknown

Then followed that beautiful season... Summer....
Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape
Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood.
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Summer is the time when one sheds one's tensions with one's clothes, and the right kind of day is jeweled balm for the battered spirit. A few of those days and you can become drunk with the belief that all's right with the world. ~Ada Louise Huxtable

For More Quotable Fun visit LT at A Day With Two.

Aloha Friday

Hey there friends. Happy Friday :) Hope you've had a great week! It's Friday, so we're adopting An Island Life and asking just one simple question:

Can you believe summer is about half over already?! What is something that you really want to do before Fall arrives?


My answer: Visit the beach a few more times. It's only about a 30 minute drive, but we've only been once this year.

Psst...Don't forget to enter my giveaway for a subscription to Redbook Magazine!

A Thousand Words Thursday

Last week we took a trek down by the Chesapeake Bay to watch Daddy "do jumps from his helicopter." Yes, he jumps out of a perfectly good helicopter on purpose. It's just part of his job.  Unfortunately, I didn't get close enough to get any really clear shots of the action, but if you squint a little and watch the first video, you'll see him plop out into the water. In the second video he gets hoisted back up.  Fortunately Daddy is wise enough to know that a full dry suit is necessary to keep the jelly fish from stinging. Some of his buddies...not so lucky.





For more Thousand Words Thursday stop by Cheaper Than Therapy

Recipe: Grilled Banana Split Sundae with Bittersweet Chocolate Ganache

With kids running around and a dinner to prepare what Mom would say “NO” to a quick, healthy way to put flavorful foods on the table without resorting to frozen pizza or chicken nuggets? Grilling provides a fast, easy and low calorie solution with minimal ingredients but tons of FLAVOR! America’s leading female grilling expert Elizabeth Karmel knows this well, the successful Southern Belle shares the wealth in her FREE Girls’ Guide to Grilling available at www.stfsavortheflavor.com.

Below is an example of a recipe from the guide. It is a delicious and healthy dessert that the whole family will love. So throw away those cookies and pints of ice cream, and “wow” your husband and kids with this fantastic grilling recipe.

Grilled Banana Split Sundae with
Homemade Bittersweet Chocolate Ganache

Serves 4
GRILLING METHOD: Direct/Low Heat
4 firm, but ripe, bananas, unpeeled
1 tablespoon white sugar
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon untoasted walnut or other nut oil, plus more if needed
8 small scoops best-quality vanilla ice cream
½ cup coarsely chopped pecans or walnuts, toasted
1 cup chocolate ganache, below
Best quality vanilla ice cream (or favorite flavor)
Whipped cream, optional
Chopped toasted pecans or walnuts
Maraschino cherries, optional

Slice bananas in half lengthwise and crosswise so each banana yields four pieces. DO NOT remove peel. Set aside. Mix sugar and cinnamon and set aside. Brush bananas lightly with oil. Sprinkle cinnamon-sugar on cut sides of bananas. Let bananas sit for 5 minutes.

Place bananas cut-side down on a clean cooking grate over Direct Low heat. Cook for 2 minutes or until grill marks appear. Using a pair of long-handled tongs, turn over and let cook 5 more minutes or until the skin pulls away from the banana.

Arrange 2 banana halves without skins on each serving plate. Top each serving with 2 scoops of ice cream. Ladle ¼ cup of hot fudge over each sundae. Sprinkle each with 1 tablespoon of chopped nuts, whipped cream and place a cherry on top. Serve immediately.

Note: You can follow the method for grilling the bananas and use any fruit. Rings of pineapple, stone fruits (peaches, plums, apricots) with the pit removed, apples and pears are perfectly suited to the grill.

Chocolate Ganache
Serves 8
6 ounces 70% bittersweet chocolate, preferably Sharffen Berger®
cup heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons liqueur (such as Kalhua, Frangelico; Dark Rum or Bourbon)
½ teaspoon vanilla extract


Make the Ganache up to 2 days in advance. Chop chocolate bar into bite-size pieces or measure chips. Heat cream to almost boiling, add sugar and stir to combine. Remove from heat and pour over chocolate pieces. Whisk vigorously until melted, and cream is completely incorporated. Add liqueur and vanilla, stirring constantly until mixture is cool the touch. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside or refrigerate.


Note: If refrigerated, it will need to be brought to room temperature and warmed before serving.

Karmel reveals fabulous grilling tips and her best grilling recipes, each perfectly paired with a full-flavored, delicious St. Francis wine to reward a long day of soccer practice and ballet rehearsal. And once you’ve opened that bottle of wine and put the kids to bed, why not up the ante for a chance to win a trip to Sonoma?

Elizabeth Karmel and St. Francis winery are challenging multitasking Mommies to TURN UP THE HEAT by submitting a 3-minute or less video of you grilling your boldest and most flavorful recipe paired with a St. Francis wine. The winner will receive a VIP trip for two to Sonoma to meet with St. Francis’ winemaker and most of all, time away from home to relax! Contest ends on August 31st, visit www.stfsavortheflavor.com to enter.

Wordful Wednesday

This is a photo I took last week down by the bay. It didn't seem all that dramatic until I clicked the "enhance" button in iphoto. I was amazed by how it came out. So peaceful and beautiful...that's how I'm hoping this day will be...since it's my birthday :)
Thanks for stopping by today and leaving me comments. They make my day :)
Be sure to link up your WW Posts! And take a minute to enter my birthday giveaway for a year's subscription to Redbook Magazine. 

Redbook Magazine Subscription Giveaway!

Hey, hey it's my birthday! I've decided to host a little giveaway as a party favor. I'm giving away a 12 month subscription to Redbook Magazine to one of my subscribers. Woot! I love Redbook for all of the great beauty advice, recipes, home decor tips and articles for moms! Plus, they host some awesome giveaways and what girl doesn't love that?

To enter is simple:
Subscribe to my blog and leave a comment with your subscriber's email address. (You must confirm your subscription). If you already subscribe, just leave a comment so I know you want to be entered.


For an extra entry do any of the following:
Comment on this post and leave a comment here letting me know you did

Add my button to your blog or add me to your blog roll 

Follow me publicly in google

Become a Fan of Serendipity is Sweet on Facebook

Follow me on twitter and tweet this giveaway link (please leave a link to your tweet in your comment, 1 per day)

Fave me on technorati

Be sure to leave a comment for each entry and a valid email address. Open to U.S. residents. Winner will be chosen by random integer selection. The winner will have 48 hours to claim the prize or a new winner will be chosen. Contest will close on July 20th, 2010 at 12:00 AM EST. Good Luck!!!

Hey Mom, Need a Holiday? A Guest Post By Lynn Banis

Moms, do you ever get a day or even a couple of hours off? No wonder you feel tired and overwhelmed sometimes. If you work for a business you probably get two days off that work but you still have the house and family to care for. How can you give yourself a break?


Here are two ideas that might work for you:
1. Take a mental holiday or
2. Treat yourself as a Queen Day


Sound silly? Not really, these are two legitimate ways to get some rest, relaxation and refreshment during your busy days.


1. Take a mental holiday. What is the most relaxing, refreshing place in the world for you? For me it is the beach. When I take a mental holiday I imagine I am at the beach. I try to imagine everything – the feel of the hot sand under my feet, the warm rays of the sun, the soft air caressing my skin, the sound of the waves crashing on the shore, the sound of the seagulls screaming for attention, the smell of the salt air, the joyful sound of kids and families having fun, the smells of a picnic lunch… I really get into it. Then I begin to relax knowing I am in my safe and peaceful place. I can stay there as long as I want – a few minutes to hours – re-experiencing what it is like and how refreshing it is. When I need to come back to reality I do so slowly, bringing with me the relaxation and serenity I feel when I am really at the beach. Try it – it is amazing what a little imaging can do for you!


2. Treat yourself as Queen for a Day, or hour, or as long as you can. Think about how you treat your guests. Do you treat yourself that way? Probably not. Take the time to do some of the little things you do for guests for yourself. Use the good coffee cups, take a long hot bath, put on make-up and perfume even though you are not going anywhere but the grocery store. Treat yourself like a Queen. Do Queen-like things with the kids too. Have a tea party with tea and scones (or something else yummy). Let them play along with you. They will enjoy it and you might even get them to wait on you for a change!


Use your imagination to let yourself have a bit of a respite. It is not only great for you but it also shows your family that you model taking good care of yourself. That is an important lesson for everyone to learn.


I wonder what you do already to give yourself a break. Please leave some comments so we can compile a list of ideas for other busy moms. Have fun and thanks for your ideas!

Lynn is a Master Certified Coach with years of experiences helping moms through tough situations. She would love to answer your questions on a weekly basis. What are you struggling with? What questions do you have about getting through the day? Leave her a few comments with your questions and concerns and she will be happy to write about them in future posts. To find out more about Lynn and how she can help you live your passion, visit her at: www.discoverypointcoaching.com/blog

Quotable Sunday - Truths

Tell a man there are 300 billion stars in the universe and he'll believe you. Tell him a bench has wet paint on it and he'll have to touch it to be sure. ~Murphy's Law

If there is something you must do and you cannot do it, you cannot do anything else. ~Mignon McLaughlin, The Neurotic's Notebook, 1960

The odds of going to the store for a loaf of bread and coming out with only a loaf of bread are three billion to one. ~Erma Bombeck

I tell you this, and I tell you plain:
What you have done, you will do again;
You will bite your tongue, careful or not,
Upon the already-bitten spot.
~Mignon McLaughlin, The Neurotic's Notebook, 1960

As soon as you sit down to a cup of hot coffee, your boss will ask you to do something which will last until the coffee is cold. ~Author Unknown

A bargain is something you can't use at a price you can't resist. ~Franklin P. Jones

It's always been and always will be the same in the world: The horse does the work and the coachman is tipped. ~Author Unknown

An unwatched pot boils immediately. ~H.F. Ellis

If you wonder where your child left his roller skates, try walking around the house in the dark. ~Leopold Fechtner

Anything you lose automatically doubles in value. ~Mignon McLaughlin, The Second Neurotic's Notebook, 1966

Everything is funny as long as it is happening to somebody else. ~Will Rogers

When the plane you are on is late, the plane you want to transfer to is on time. ~Author Unknown

How is it that one match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box of matches to start a campfire? ~Christy Whitehead

Never do anything that you wouldn't want to explain to the paramedics. ~Author Unknown

Shin: a device for finding furniture in the dark. ~Author Unknown

Why do they put the Gideon Bibles only in the bedrooms, where it's usually too late, and not in the barroom downstairs? ~Christopher Morley, Contribution to a Contribution

It is often easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission. ~Grace Hopper

The man who says he is willing to meet you halfway is usually a poor judge of distance. ~Author Unknown

If you wish to forget anything on the spot, make a note that this thing is to be remembered. ~Edgar Allan Poe

People who snore always fall asleep first. ~Author Unknown

The easiest way to find something lost around the house is to buy a replacement. ~Author Unknown
For More Quotable Fun visit LT at A Day With Two.

Aloha Friday

Hey there friends. Happy Friday :) Hope you've had a great week! It's Friday, so we're adopting An Island Life and asking just one simple question:

What blog, aside from your own, do you visit most often? If you visit several a day, then which is at the top of your list?

Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment. Have a wonderful weekend!

How is Your Life Better Than Ever? Dove and TwitterMoms Want to Know

"TwitterMoms and Dove® gofresh™ are teaming up to bring you a fun new blogging program! If you haven't heard, Dove® gofresh™ just got a boost of NutriumMoisture™. The folks at Dove® feel this has taken Dove® gofresh™ from good to great. That made us wonder, what in your life has gone from good to great... what in your life is better than ever? We want to celebrate how your life has evolved. Look at where you are now, compared to your life in the past. Taking time to stop, reflect and be thankful is always so refreshing!"

I read about this contest and thought: what a great idea to slow down and reflect on the things in life that are better then ever. With all the news of the down-turned economy, job losses, oil spills, and tragedies, it's easy to buy into the doom and gloom. But, the truth is, we have a lot of control over how rich our lives are. Remember, the best things in life are free!

As I reflect on the last several years of my life, I can see how much richer I am. Sure we need a bigger house, as we're welcoming baby 4 into this little 3 bedroom ranch; and we really need a new car for daddy, who sweats in the heat wave every day on his way to and from work with no A/C! But, in the grand scheme of things, those are small worries. First off, we're all healthy and well, which is a huge blessing. And beyond that, I know that we are blessed to have each other and be able to spend so much quality time together.

Years ago, when I was a single working girl in an ad firm, life was great when I could hit the mall and score a new pair of shoes, or have a big night out with the girls. I eventually found Mr. Right, and when I was a newlywed having my first baby, I had planned on going back to work after 6 weeks. We had hoped to find a nice house and keep up with the Jones's, designer shoes and all.

I had little idea of how my world would change so quickly. As it turned out, I became a stay at home mom and later a homeschooler. Being able to watch my kids grow and learn...and to grow with them every day, has been such an amazing adventure. I never would have imagined all of the joys and trials, the exhaustion and inspiration, or the lessons and rewards that this journey would offer. And I do it all, happily, in my store brand flip flops.

Today I am so much more responsible, grateful, patient and wise than I was all those years ago as a young working single girl who lived for happy hour. Sure, I have some great memories of good times with friends and professional accolades, but they pale in comparison to the fulfillment and wealth of love I experience now. Life is so much better than I could have imagined. Better than ever!

So, what about you? What in your life is better than ever? Stop by TwitterMoms to link up your posts on the topic, or visit Dove's Facebook page to share your stories and photos.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Dove® gofresh™ blogging program, making me eligible to get a $25 gift card and some product. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

A Thousand Words Thursday

Watching the fireworks on the 4th.

For more Thousand Words Thursday stop by Cheaper Than Therapy

4th of July Fun

We avoided the beach on the 4th, not wanting to deal with all the tourists, traffic, lack of parking and jelly fish. Instead we opted for a dip in the pool and a backyard bbq. It was a beautiful day, though a little warm. By evening it had cooled nicely and we enjoyed a slight breeze by the river in Olde Towne as we settled in with friends to watch the fire works display. The best part, for me, was watching the expressions on the kids' faces. Our almost 3 year old was especially awed by the spectacle. It was great fun to watch his glee, since last year he was so scared of the noise that I had to leave with him to find a quiet indoor spot. Now that he's a "bid boy" he was all smiles.

So, what was the best part of your holiday weekend?

Stop by 5 Minutes for Mom and check out their 4th of July link up.