“Gail Carson Levine is coming to Naperville,” my middle daughter Katherine said. “Can we go?” She’d read Ella Enchanted and The Princess Tales. I knew she liked Levine’s books, but when I saw the $25 ticket price, I flinched. It was too much, even with two autographed copies of Levine’s newest book and a chance…
Hopes
August Bucket List Life Dare: Seize the Summer Moment
It’s August. Our school district is clamoring for my attention again with registration forms in the mail and orientation reminders in my inbox. As much as I want to ignore it and pretend my mornings will forever be blissfully quiet with kids sleeping late, summer is winding down. School will be starting again. Soon. And…
New Monthly Blog Feature: The Bucket List Life Dare
It’s one thing to dream about and discuss our bucket lists. But we hit a whole new level of life experience when we take action, any action. Which is why I am introducing a new monthly feature here on my blog: the Bucket List Life Dare. This week my family celebrates two transitions: my middle…
Holiday Helps for Harried Moms
It’s the most exhausting time of year! For moms the duties of kid schlepping, meal cooking, and overall household management, are joined by holiday baking, gift buying, card sending, and party coordinating. Put it all together and you end up with many mothers who are barely surviving. I’m right there with them! Why does it end up…
The November List
I was talking last night with a longtime friend when she mentioned her “November List. “What’s your November List?” I asked. She explained that for years she has kept a list of things which would usually get done in December, but felt too much like chores and marred the month. She made a point of tackling…
Costumes, Bucket Lists & Your Future: A World of Pure Imagination
This week I am putting the finishing touches on my daughter’s Halloween costume. None too soon, I know! She is dressing as her favorite movie character: Arwen Undomiel from The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Can I say that I’m a bit jealous? I wouldn’t mind having my own elf princess costume (complete with pointy…
When Super Moms Make You Feel Small
[Editor’s Note: This post originally ran in 2013, and was well-received. I wanted to share it with you again to remind us all of the importance of being brave enough to be ourselves.] I’m waiting at a stoplight when I see one again: an oval sticker on the back of a minivan that reads “26.2”…
Anticipation: What’s Next for Moms Who Want to Live the Bucket List Life?
Two hundred fifty-two days until the end of school (give or take). Ninety-four days until Christmas. Ten days until I leave for a scrapbooking weekend. Five days until the weekend. Seven hours until we have an exciting arrival to our household. I admit it – I love counting down to special events. The buildup of…
Make a Wish: Setting One-Year Bucket List Intentions
Today is my birthday. As I do every year, I woke up this morning grateful to have reached another year. Especially since the odds had been against me for making it beyond the first few days of my life. I also woke up excited at the prospect of all I still hope to do in…
Together: How to Make Your Life List Happen
They say it takes a village to raise a child. Yet reality is that life as a mom can be lonely. We often spend our days with just little people, or when they head off to school, by ourselves. More than any other season of my life, I found that parenting has required me to…