For the past week, I have been spring cleaning, with some home renovations thrown in on the side for good measure. Let me tell you, nothing like a little spring cleaning to open your eyes to the fact that you are drowning in stuff. I am so frustrated with time spent moving stuff, assessing stuff, sorting stuff, cleaning stuff and packing stuff up for when I might need it, that I just want to take a match and gasoline to my stuff. Anyone else feel that way?
This morning I woke up to my husband saying, “Wow! Riots in London.”
“London, England?” I said.
Lent is here again and I usually don't give stuff up, mostly because I'm a major underachiever when it comes to resolutions and such. My kids, however, are towing the company line via their Catholic school and came home yesterday all eager to give stuff up. "Mommy, mommy, I'm giving up my DS, my computer time, make-up and I'm going to help you in the kitchen." Let's break this down sacrifice by sacrifice shall we?
Anyone know who I petition to have the definition of scum changed? Websters? Wikipedia? Anyone? The reason I ask, is that I think its due for an overhaul. Meet my reason.
I had the pleasure of visiting Savannah recently, and it was such an absolute delight that I thought I would share 5 things you should definitely not miss if you go. If you'd like more you can find a sample itinerary here for Day 1 and here for Day 2.
Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace
It is not like me to use "shock and awe" when writing a blog. I usually let my words speak for themselves. However, due to the seriousness of this topic, I have chosen to post a very graphic photo. If you are not comfortable with scenes of gore or are squeamish, please do not read any further. It is my hope that this image will jolt some people out of their stupor.
The way I figure it I have a mere 358 days left on this earth, give or take a day. This is the year after all, that the Mayans predicted the end of the earth. So while I’m not going to make any resolutions this year, I am going to live this last year of my life differently, because when you know the exact date of your death you suddenly have outstanding clarity.
For my final days, these are my intentions:
- Family first. Full stop.
Let’s face it, we all want to give our kids everything we can. But just because we can give our kids the world, does it mean we should? Who amongst us hasn’t dealt with his or her child begging for the next big thing in the store, only to watch them forget they have it the next day? How many moms throw their hands up in disgust when they hear their child say “I have nothing to play with,” knowing full well they have a room full of toys? How do we raise our children to be less materialistic and to be more grateful for what they have?
For many years I worked on the front lines in retail. For those who have never worked retail, let me tell you, it can be a hard job, particularly at Christmas. Christmas is when every single worker behind a cash wants to shout out at least once, “Take this job and shove it!” Why? Well, I recall doing split shifts, where I’d be scheduled 4 hours in the morning and then 4 hours at night. That was fun, splitting your day up like that. Then there were the long hours.
Before you watch this video, know that I’m better suited for print.
This wasn’t the first video by the way. I made another one that was 8 minutes long and was just me eating, and oohing and aaahing a lot. But I thought that was cruel of me, to show how much I was enjoying all the Sensations by Compliments goodies from Sobeys. It might have caused me to lose a few friends, considering I wasn’t sharing.
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Candace Derickx is a wife, mother, stepmother, volunteer, entrepreneur and recovering housewife. After years of judging mothers who worked outside the home and wondering how on earth they could send their kids to school with lunchables (gasp!), Candace’s June Cleaver ways recently got an ass kicking when this stay at home mother started her own business, Best Tools for Schools, and went back to work.
Now she’s trying to raise two little girls in a Bratz world, be a good stepmother to a teenage boy and keep her marriage strong while juggling work, home and life. Candace now believes popcorn is not a snack, it’s an entrée, clean clothes are a privilege, not a necessity and Martha Stewart will be dropping by at any moment to slap a condemned sign on her house
Join Candace each week as she blogs about the mayhem of returning to work and sometimes dropping the balls.
Follow Candace on Twitter: @SeeMummyJuggle
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