Full Circle

Did anyone else get excited as a kid about new notebooks and sharp pencils and pens that were a rainbow of colors when it was back to school time? As a child in the ‘80’s, that Trapper Keeper decorated with Lisa Frank stickers meant it was time for a fresh start, a new opportunity to share ideas and grow, to mingle with friends I hadn’t seen all summer. While I wasn’t always excited about the actual “school” part, going back to school was exciting. New, fresh and exciting.

I went digging back in my blog history and realized something.

Five years ago this coming Monday I gutted my initial attempts at making this space my own, and started fresh. I pulled out a new notebook, sharpened a couple pencils, and went at it.

The last year or so have been more like the end of the school year. The notebook is tattered and dog-eared. The pencils broken, erasers worn down to their metal sleeves, tearing the pages when I use them. The pens have long run out of ink.

It’s the end of July, and this space, where I’ve shared our stories, our photos, our dreams for the last 5 years? It’s seen me four times.

Four.

In all of 2014.

Part of me knows that I’m not here because I’m busy being HERE. I’ve lived more in the moment, enjoying things because I enjoy them, and not thinking so much about “Oh, this will make a GREAT post!” I’m grateful for that, I really am. But the other part of me is sad, because this is where I wanted to record those moments, to share them, to have them to remember, and I just haven’t done it.

They’re on my Facebook, my Instagram, I’ve tweeted a lot of it, but seriously? I shaved my head 12 weeks ago. More importantly, my ten year old daughter shaved hers. Together, we raised over $6,000 for pediatric cancer research. That’s not here.

We’ve travelled, explored, ridden rides, partied with friends, rescued small animals, had a ROCKIN’ 60th birthday party for my momma, just done all kinds of fun stuff. And it’s not here.

So, yet again, I’m going to try harder. The kids go back to school next week, and my schedule will, in theory, start to normalize again.

Because this is my space. And I love it. Time to dust it off and give it the experience it deserves.

Mario Marathon Time again!!

Our setup for MM7 – the feed is happening on a 32” TV, with chats and twitter on my laptop.

I’ve talked about Mario Marathon a zillion times, once here, again here, made some cookies here, and so on. (Search the blog for Mario Marathon to see the posts I’ve shared over the last 4 years!)

I’m sharing again.

The guys started their event on Friday, so at the time I’m writing this, they have been playing for 53 and a half hours. Unfortunately, last night, they endured a DDoS attack and were unable to properly process donations. As a result, they are behind pace.

Donations, you say? Yep. See, Mario Marathon is a volunteer run charity event. Exactly *ZERO* dollars of the money raised is used to cover the overhead for the organizers. They use their vacation time and personal funds to operate the event. All money raised goes directly to this amazing organization, Child’s Play Charity. Child’s Play uses the funds raised to fulfill wish lists from children’s hospitals around the world – games, books, movies and more. From the Child’s Play Charity site:

Since 2003, we’ve set up and organized Child’s Play, a game industry charity dedicated to improving the lives of children with toys and games in our network of over 70 hospitals worldwide. Over the years, you as a community have answered the call and come together to raise millions of dollars.

Child’s Play works in two ways. With the help of hospital staff, we set up gift wish lists full of video games, toys, books, and other fun stuff for kids. By clicking on a hospital location on our map, you can view that hospital’s wish list and send a gift.

Child’s Play also receives cash donations throughout the year. With those cash donations, we purchase new consoles, peripherals, games, and more for hospitals and therapy facilities. These donations allow for children to enjoy age-appropriate entertainment, interact with their peers, friends, and family, and can provide vital distraction from an otherwise generally unpleasant experience.

Before the start of the event this year, Mario Marathon was responsible for bringing in over $400,000 to Child’s Play. I’d love to see them cross over the $500,000 mark this year! I continue to be so grateful for healthy children, and fight hard for families who are not as fortunate.

Sun & Skin

A few years ago, I got a strange phone call from my stepmother.

“Thank you for teaching your kids to be so diligent about sunscreen.” 

I was a little perplexed at first, but she went on to explain about the week that they had taken our children to Florida, and how the kids were adamant about making sure they were lotioned up before leaving the hotel each day. Then she dropped this bomb on me:

“They found some spots on your dad. He goes in to have them removed tomorrow.”

My dad had skin cancer. Two different kinds, in fact, on two different spots of his body. My fair skinned, red headed father, whose coloring I have inherited, and passed on to my kids. He’s fine now, thank goodness, but will have to be carefully checked for the rest of his life.

My oldest is the most like me – we tend to burn easily, and our skin is crazy stupid sensitive, his even more than mine. The wrong laundry detergent, lotion or bug spray results in a horrid, itchy rash. Sunscreen? Same thing.

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to review a sunscreen, and we fell in LOVE with the brand. SmartShield is our go-to sun protection, and I have purchased several more bottles since that review. They’ve rolled out a new product, and asked me to give it a shot, and I couldn’t say yes fast enough!

Enter the SmartShield Rehydrating Face Cream with SPF 45. People, my face still struggles with 15 year old type issues. I break out, my skin tends to be oily, and heavy face creams? Oh my. So, this was going to be a big test! How would my face respond to a product that was first and foremost a sunscreen, but also was a moisturizer?

Beautifully.

No breakout. No rash. No greasy feel. It wore beautifully under my  makeup without causing running or caking.  My skin feels smooth and well hydrated, and I get the bonus of knowing it’s protected!

I’ve now been using it daily for a little over 2 weeks with the same results. I’ve worked in the yard, sweating it out, with no running of the product. I’ve not experienced any negative reaction, and I haven’t burned!

The cream is just that – it’s a creamier texture than I typically used as a moisturizer, but it doesn’t apply heavy. It goes on smoothly, and disappears instantly. It comes in an easy to use pump bottle, and 1-2 pumps is plenty to cover my face & neck, as well as the tops of my ears. It’s quickly becoming part of my morning routine, as sun protection should be!

Check out the SmartShield website for more details on this and their other products, including self-tanners, insect repellent products and more.

Disclosure: I was provided a bottle of SmartShield Rehydrating Face Cream with SPF 45 at no cost to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own. No other compensation was received in connection with this review.

#SuitYourself and #YouSuitMe

Body image is such a difficult, personal thing. Women verbalize it more, but men face challenges as well. To compound the issue, we tend tear others down, especially when safely behind a keyboard and screen name. Somewhere along the way, society taught us that we will feel better knowing that someone feels worse.

I have a daughter who I am trying my DAMNEDEST to bring up to be strong in her confidence of herself. Having been what could generously be described as small my whole life, I know the feelings that my long, lean daughter might face. It crushed me the other morning when she came bouncing in to tell me what she weighed, and was excited because she had gained 3 pounds. I never, ever want her weight to be a focal point for her!

Many of you, my friends, are also raising kids. Let's work on teaching them 2 things -

First – that they are beautifully and wonderfully made. What some might perceive as flaws are an element of their design.  We are not all supposed to be the same (wouldn’t THAT be boring!?) and that they are loved, supported and fantastic, just like they are.

Second – that others around us are also beautiful and wonderful. Do your kids hear you laughing about someone’s appearance? Or making snide comments? Do you spend more time tearing others down or building them up? How do you talk about YOURSELF? Are you constantly focusing on a bulge, a bumpy area or a jiggly spot? What could you be saying (or NOT saying) that reaffirms for your kids that we’re all beautiful in our own, unique ways?

We’re entering the time of year where we all show a little more skin. Shorts, tank tops, and of course the dreaded swim suit. Here’s where we have the chance to make a difference.

An Atlanta-based radio morning show, The Bert Show, is kicking off summer with their second year of empowerment. They are encouraging us all to take a swimsuit selfie and post it – Instagram, Facebook, whatever, but be BOLD in knowing that you’re powerful, beautiful and confident. The hashtag being used is #SuitYourself. Read more about it here, and see how things went last year!

I want to go one step further. I want to follow that hashtag, and comment on as many of those folks as I can, sharing something I LOVE about each person’s picture. I encourage you to do the same – if not as part of the #SuitYourself campaign, just make it a practice to compliment someone every single day. You will feel far better knowing that you’ve made someone smile than you ever would tearing someone down.

I’m going to add my own hashtag to the mix here, and comment with #YouSuitMe – because you do. You are who you are, and you should ROCK that confidence!

So – #SuitYourself (link to your photo in the comments for me!) and tell others #YouSuitMe!

Cheers!

It’s about that time again! Tax season is officially knocking on my door.

This year is already different, as some staffing changes have meant some shifts in responsibilities. We’re adjusting and adapting, but it’s different. Knew it would be, but until you’re really in it, it’s always hard to know for sure.

I’m feeling really glad still that I decided to take the semester off from school – I think it just would be too much. I’m starting to feel like I’m actually finally recovering a little bit from the overwhelming fall that I had. I’m afraid that if I tried to take on a couple of classes during this tax season, I’d likely push myself right over the proverbial edge!

I’ve been doing some reading, and will have a couple of book reviews up soon.

I’m not one who typically does New Years Resolutions, but I’m trying hard to make me a focus this year. I spent a great deal of 2013 feeling spread very thin. I took on a LOT, even for me, and I felt it. I was tired – exhausted really, a lot of the time. I didn’t do as well as I should have with some of my course work, missing a couple of (very minor) deadlines, which was out of character for me. I accomplished a lot, but did so at the expense of time with my family, and taking care of myself. SO. I have decided that I really have to do a better job of focusing on myself and the relationships that I treasure. One of the first things I’m doing is making it a point to drink more water. I’m going to just take each thing a step at a time and work on little habits to make me a better Megan!

Oh!! I nearly forgot! Last spring I told you guys about Jeep participating in a St. Baldrick’s Event – this year it will be the ladies’ turn!! My daughter and I will be shaving our heads for pediatric cancer research in May!! You can scope out some of the details here, and I’ll be updating on the blog as well.

Happy New Year, Momsensers – here’s to 2014 being our best year ever!

Awkward Conversation…

So, hey.

It’s not even tax season, and I’ve been REALLY not good at this for a little bit.

Even this feels sort of … awkward. Like when you run into that old friend or co-worker somewhere, and you’re standing there smiling like an idiot, and it’s all “Hey! How are you!” and they’re all “Great! How have you been!” and you’re all “Fantastic!” and it just… stops there.

That’s been the biggest part of why I’ve not been here. I’m just in this place right now where I feel like there isn’t really anything to say. Which is silly, because honestly? The last several months have been full of events and activities. We’ve had holidays and birthdays and deaths and …

and there should be something in all that to say.

but there isn’t.

              somehow, the words just aren’t there.

 

I think, if you all are willing to bear with me through it, I’m going to just keep showing up and writing, even if it’s not really anything special. Because eventually? The words will come back. And I’d like to be ready for them.

About loss...

The thing is, when you lose someone, it's hard to know what's next. You enter a season of unknown, a season where the slightest thing will make you cry, and things that are not remotely funny make you laugh. You are so twisted around emotionally, you find yourself lost.

I fill my time with "busy" - busy with the kids, busy with homework, busy with work, or making food that no one feels up to eating. Because busy means I'm not thinking. Not thinking means I'm not feeling. It means I can just shut it all off for a while.

But when the busy stops? That's when it gets hard. That's when the hurt comes. When the tears flow. When you find yourself hiding in the bathroom so the kids don't see you cry. You find yourself searching for something else to be the busy again so that the hurt goes away, or at least is buried deeply enough that you don't have to pay attention to it.

I'm looking forward to the angry part.

I handle angry much better than sad.

For today?

I'll stay busy.