It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year....

I don't know about you, but I am definitely making my lists and I'm definitely checking them twice! This time of year always seems like such a whirlwind and I would love to just slow things down and enjoy these moments some more. I love, love, love this time of year....the holiday movies, holiday music, decorations and the overall feeling of warmth, joy and light. Makes you just wanna be with the ones you love...doesn't it? Hanukah has come and gone (wrapped up in the midst of Thanksgiving this year) and for our family it was an amazing weekend of family, togetherness, many celebrations (my father-in-law and nephew's birthdays) and lots of love. We hosted Thanksgiving at our house which was a huge success. I feel that the recipe for a fabulous holiday is keeping things simple, going back to the recipes that you know work and of course family teamwork...which fortunately for me, I had a lot of helping hands (thanks Mama)!

For those of you who are still doing your shopping, I'll give you my mini version of a holiday gift guide which include the top hits for my fam!

For the man in your life, you can't go wrong with a Patagonia vest...especially if they love hitting the slopes during these winter months. Greg loved his! 

Does it get any cuter than these glitter moccasin slippers from J Crew? Emma LOVED hers!

Jax's favorite gift this holiday season! If you have a 4 1/2 year old boy in your life who you love this is the gift to get! A double marshmallow shooter!

Zeke had 2 favorites...this amazing teepee from Land of Nod (one of my favorites) and his Mickey Mouse Clubhouse figurines...he is "Bapa"(his word for Mickey) obsessed!

Both my boys love, love, love this truck...

And finally, a gift I bought for myself...I just love it. Reminds me of my own strength, to be kind hearted and to listen to my voice within. (Purchased from a local boutique Curate in Millburn, NJ)

Which brings me to my next thought, which is resolutions. This blog began as part of a New Year's resolution I had for myself this year. It was almost a year ago that I finally had the courage to take this leap and write...to share myself with you. I will be honest and say I wish I shared more, wrote more, focused more...but hey, that's what this years resolutions are for! :) I was recently presented with an opportunity that made me think twice about my life, the path I'm on, the direction I want to go...and my wheels have been turning ever since. Life presents you with so many crossroads, some that make you act and some that just make you think. Either way, they are opportunities to stop and learn, change, grow...who you are and what you want. So I've been thinking....What do I want for myself as a wife? As a mother? As a friend? As a daughter? As an individual who is still learning about herself and discovering new things about who I am every day? I don't have all the answers just yet, but I do know that I am excited about the possibilities that lie ahead. I am grateful for the health and happiness that exists in my home. I am happy to be in this present moment, writing this blog, on this perfect snowy day when everything is covered in white. 

(An old pic but one of my faves...just pure happiness)

Time

I hate to sound like a broken record, but as I sit here to write this next entry I can't believe how much time has passed since my last one. Hence....the subject for today...TIME. As I look at the date of my last post I wonder why so much time has passed since I wrote and what has kept me from sitting at my keyboard? Since the start of the school year it feels like there just aren't enough hours in the day to do all the things I want to do. How do I create time for myself, give each of my three kids the time that they deserve, spend QT with Greg and find time to connect and bond with friends and family? Not to mention the every day "stuff" that has to get done in between! It's a major juggling act that I know we are all too familiar with, especially in the fast paced world we live in today. And as you all know, I am a girl who loves my sleep, so I definitely don't make up for lost time in the late night hours.  So how do you spend your time? Do you feel fulfilled at the end of the day? Do you create time for yourself? I'd love to hear....

I've also been thinking about time from a different perspective. We recently had family movie night and the kids chose to watch Parental Guidance. For those of you who haven't seen it, it's about grandparents who come to stay with their grandchildren while the parents get out of town for a much need getaway (ironically, the previous idea of time I just mentioned is also a theme of the movie). Anyway, without giving away too much of the movie, the grandparents that come to stay with them are the "other grandparents"...the grandparents that live far away and see their grandchildren once or twice a year. They happily agree to come stay with their grandchildren for a week with the hopes that they can create a deeper and more meaningful relationship with their grandchildren. This got me thinking...It's never too late to make a change in your life. I don't know about you, but I definitely feel like sometimes too much time has passed and it's too late....too late to start a new career...too late to send that thank you note I should have written three months ago....too late to possibly nurture a relationship that has been a certain way for as long as you can remember but you wish it could change. It's so reassuring to say to yourself..."It's never too late." I CAN, at the age of 35, decide to do something completely new with my life. I CAN still write that thank you note to Zoe's vet and oncologist thanking them for all the time and support they provided for our family as we went through the most challenging days with our beloved Zoe. I CAN always pick up the phone and call that friend that I haven't talked to in months, or maybe even a year, because life gets so busy, and say I miss you! How are you? Its' never too late.

Finally, don't forget that Saturday night we turn back the clocks one hour!

Girl Power

Have you missed me?! I took a majorly long hiatus from writing (which I'm not happy to say) but I'm back and ready to write, think, share and write some more. The summer was filled with some great times and some sad ones, lots of outdoor fun, spending quality time with family and friends, and ended with me celebrating my 35th birthday. For those of you who don't know, I'm big on birthdays...and not just my own...my hubby, my kids, family, and friends. I think everyone deserves to be celebrated in a major way on the day that you came into this world. Greg hates that I do this, but every year on my birthday AND his, I think about who sent birthday wishes our way. With so many different forms of communication now, you can receive a message via Facebook, text message, email, or the good old fashioned phone call. Do you prefer one over the other? What makes you feel good? Or do you not care at all? I'm one for the old fashioned phone call, but that's me!

On that note, I purchased a birthday gift for myself that left me feeling like I made a small difference in someone else's life. While reading one of my favorite blogs, I came across an amazing organization/company called fashionABLE. Their mission is to "create sustainable business for Africans so they are not dependent upon charity, but instead earn the dignity of a job. We offer opportunity to everyone, with a primary focus on empowering women. When we invest in a woman, statistics demonstrate that she has a life-changing impact on her family and community...and herself." Truly, what cold be better than making a purchase that has this great of an impact on someone else's life?

These women in Ethiopia create beautiful scarves and leather goods (I purchased the clutch) that allow them to feel needed, important and productive in a community where they used to experience far less rewarding means of providing for their families. I was so taken by their stories, by this mission, that I had to be a small part of it. I investigated the website further to find there are ways to volunteer or work for this organization that could allow for much greater involvement in creating change. But for now, I'll use my clutch and be reminded of how grateful I am to be a woman who has choices, a woman who has a home and a family, a woman who feels empowered to have my voice be heard. I am also sharing it with you in hopes that you too will make a purchase or share this with a friend so that more opportunities are created for these courageous women in Africa who are dreaming big!

Zoe

Only one day after I posted my last blog we said goodbye to our sweet Zoe...not only our dog of nine years, but a beloved family member. Greg and I got Zoe only 2 months after we were married. She made us a family on that day. After a long three month battle with cancer, it was time. As a pet owner, you always know that the day may probably arrive when you are forced to make an impossible decision that is gut wrenching and brutal, yet yours to make nonetheless. No matter the circumstances, saying goodbye is painfully hard. I will spare you the sad and heartbreaking details of that moment, but instead take this time to reflect on the amazing dog that she was and how much she added to our life as the Thomases family....

Zoe, I will always remember....

• Daddy and I picked you even though you weren't the puppy that the breeders picked for us to have. The moment we saw you watching over Jett, the tiny black lab runt of the litter, we knew you were special....and what a delicious puppy face you had!
  
• I played Norah Jones on repeat for you at night in those beginning days of being home and sleeping in your crate. I thought it was soothing :)
• Like our three kids, even you had a "mimi"...except yours was a lamb!
• In your puppy days of living in NYC we would take you to Central Park every weekend where you would run free and explore the biggest park the city had to offer
• Coming home one day to a room full of feathers! We had recently let you out of your crate during the day and you just loved eating pillows and down comforters 
• How you slept at the foot of our bed on your special blanket
• How people were always drawn to you cause of your sweet, gentle disposition and friendly, loving face...who could resist those butter ears?
• Afternoons in the dog run across from our apartment on Riverside Drive and 73rd Street and long walks along the Hudson River...you loved being a city dog
• Meeting Morgan (your BFF)...because of you we were introduced to friends that we now consider family...and they loved you just as much as we did
• Your favorite foods were apples with peanut butter and parmesan cheese
• Being greeted at the door with a wagging tail...but you were always especially excited when daddy came home at the end of the day
• The connection you made between Emma and I the day we brought her home from the hospital was a moment I will never forget...you just got it...and eventually for the boys too
  
• Pulling into the driveway and seeing your little face in the window cause you were laying on the couch that you weren't supposed to be on...but all bets were off when we left the house :)
• How your head popped up in the car the minute we pulled onto the street of our lake house....your favorite place on earth
• You could spend all day launching off the dock after balls and sticks at the lake...it was your favorite place...those nights we had to work hard to wake you and bring you to bed cause you were so exhausted from a full day of swimming...you especially loved spending time with Uncle Danny while he pet you until all the hair you had to shed was on the floor...he gave you so much love
• Fire Island...you loved jumping after daddy in the pool when he dove in....you loved swimming in the ocean and was crazy for us to keep throwing in sticks for you to get...you loved riding the waves even thought it scared me...when you came out of the ocean you buried your face in the sand to get the water out of your ears and nose...how you howled like a coyote every time the sirens went off in town...how you loved the ferry ride and found your seat on the bench with your head hanging over the side in the breeze (this is one of my final memories of your sweet face)
• How you made me feel safe in our home...you were the ultimate protector
• When we put the kids to bed at night you made the rounds with us...moving from room to room while we read each one of them books and said goodnight
• How I bought lots of rugs because of you :)
• How you loved the snow!
• How you had many collars and leashes...daddy always thought I was crazy but what can I say, a girl needs new accessories....they definitely got to know us at Canine Ranch
• You never touched anything that belonged to the kids...ever.
• How you were there by my side in one of the worst/sad moments of my life...you knew something wasn't right and you were there to make sure I'd be okay
• How you loved our hikes in the reservation...you would run just far enough ahead to feel free but also be able to see all of us in the distance
• How I had to coax you up the stairs at night if daddy wasn't home cause you wanted to wait for him
• How you howled in your sleep!
• I loved kissing you right between your eyes and always thinking you smelled like popcorn
• Your presence...it was beautiful and strong and loving and true

Zo Zo...you were truly one of a kind. There could never be another like you. We miss you every day.

Sleeping with your "mimi"

The feather storm i came home to one day

Loving EJT

Watching over her in the bath

Reading Zoe stories

Lounging in Fire Island

Still hungry

Zoe & Morgan BFF

Swimming at the lake

Fire Island ferry ride

Greg and Zoe walking the beach

Loving life with E on the beach

Zoe love

Can you throw the stick already?

Off We Go!

On the ferry!

We are about to embark on our annual summer vacation beach week to Fire Island. My very sweet father-in-law is generous enough to hand over the house to Greg and I for five blissful days with our brood of five! If you've never been to Fire Island, let me just give you a glimpse of this special place. About an hour and a half drive from our home in NJ, we arrive to Bay Shore (Long Island) and hop on the ferry that brings us over to the island. The moment you step foot on that ferry and the breeze is in your face, you are on vacation! You arrive on the other side to an island that you navigate only by foot or by bike. For those who are residents of the island, you can purchase a wagon which transports your many bags from the ferry to your home (no need to lug a million things with your own two hands!) The basic attire there is bathing suits, flip flops, shorts and sweats. No need to ever dress up which I particularly love. We spend our days hanging by the pool, digging in the sand, riding the waves, bike rides to town for ice cream and ultimately grilling at home and hitting the hay! I have to give a shout out to the one and only Seaview Market, our "go to" spot for getting anything and everything you could possibly need! This intimate market is a family run business that provides not only amazing products but welcoming smiles every time you are there (which for us is several times a day!). My personal faves include fresh donuts in the morning, iced coffee, fresh fish, deli sandwiches and  their macaroni salad. Everything is always delicious and I am constantly in awe at the number of products they manage to keep in this one, tiny market.

Wagon post

The beach!

Yum! Treats from Seaview Market

Pics from Summer 2012...can't wait to make new memories!

Total bliss

Zoe in her element with E!

Happiness

Fire Island walks on daddy's shoulders

The ultimate scooter boy!

Ice cream love

Our annual wagon pic from 2012

What's better than a rainbow?

But the biggest challenge for summer getaways (which lucky for us is every week) is always packing. What do I really need? Did I forget something important? What's the weather gonna be like? How many pairs of shoes are really necessary? I recently stumbled upon a couple of products that make traveling a bit easier and stress-free....

• Anything that keeps me organized, I love! Stumbled across this amazing travel checklist in J. Crew (created for them by a company called Knock Knock). Got one for myself and plan to use it this trip!
• Came across these travel cases for kids....very tempted...might have to try one! 
• I am totally obsessed with my new water bottle by bkr! Definitely pricey, but worth it! Something about drinking out of a glass bottle....I also love that they invest a portion of their proceeds to initiatives that combat the global water crisis, empower tomorrow's leaders, and help in the fight against cancer. So you get a great product and are helping the world at the same time! :) 
• If you have kids then you definitely have to pack lots of snacks for any car ride longer than ten minutes! Lunch skins sandwich and snack bags are the thing for on-the-go snacking! Love, love, love them.