Where is Summer?

This is what it looks like outside today.

And this is what we did inside.  We are Summer people by nature.  We love the sand and surf.  We love the islands, the beach music and the rum drinks...so we made some!  Aloha, ya'll!

We also bought some more track for our train set so W.A. and my Kentucky Gentleman could build a mega train station while Momma reads.

Cant wait for Summer!

Cheers!

W.A.'s Momma

All Women Are Beautiful

I have recently crawled out of my reading comfort zone of vampire chronicles and Southern ladies fluff stories.  Thanks to my neighbor, I have finally started reading something more educational.  My excuses were always that life is difficult enough sometimes, so I immerse myself in fiction.

My "life" couldn't be one millionth of a fraction of a percent as difficult as lives of women across the ocean in places in Africa and Asia.  I just finished reading Half The Sky by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn.  This book is a must read for every American woman.  It will open your eyes to things we take for granted regarding our reproductive systems and their healthcare.  It truly made me sadder and angrier and more motivated with the beginning of each new chapter.  Their is sadness in the stories of these women, but there is a beauty to their determination and perseverance.

Please, please, please buy this book or check it out at your local library.  If you are not a "reader", please take a few moments to check out this website: The Fistula Foundation, or see this movie: A Walk To Beautiful.

A small part of this book is actually about obstretric fistulas.  This was just one cause that grabbed my attention and "pulled at my heartstrings".  The overall message is that women need to help women all over the world with education and opportunities.  We abolished slavery, we can abolish gender inequality.

Cheers!

W.A's Momma

I think I am succeeding...

My little guy is the sweetest boy-gentleman so far.

He gets a toy taken away by another kid, cut in front of in line, pushed aside...he is okay.

He looks at me for guidance and I say..."you're okay.  you're the sweetest little guy I know."  And I give him the fattest kiss and tightest hug I can manage fo his pee wee size body.

Kids just do not share at this age.  Manners are not at the forefronts of their little minds.  One thing I know about my kid is that he isnt high strung or high stress because he shrugs off these little things.  He knows better.  He has that look in his eye that says, "I'll pick my battles." and "Dont sweat the small stuff".  At least I hope that is what he is thinking.

In the meantime, I'll reassure him he is choosing the right battles and not sweating the small stuff when another child pushes past him or takes his toy.  My Kentucky Gentleman and I will show him enough sharing, love, and kindness to teach him the basics.  He's been a perfect gentleman in my eyes.  He lets the girls go down the slide first, he looks people in the eye, and he will shake your hand if you're new to him.  So, I am succeeding at my job at raising my southern gentleman.  And he has a wonderful Daddy!

Cheers!

W.A.'S Momma

Activate: New Way of Life

It has been a few weeks since I have had anything meaningful (at least in my eyes) to write about.  Until now.

After seeing this http://www.chrisjordan.com/ about baby birds dying from consuming our plastic waste, I was horrified seeing these pictures.

I have also been inspired these last few months by two people I love very much.  My uber-compassionate cousin is spending six months in Haiti for humanitarian work.  My brilliant niece is spending part of her semester in the bahamas in a marine biology program.

I have never recycled, bought locally, or saved on energy.  I am disgusted with myself actually.  I cared, but I just ignored the problem.  With a new year looming ahead of me, I decided to pour myself into a new project and a new me.  New year, new attitude, right?

So I dug around in a box of books in my guest room and found this book I purchased a few years back.  Its called The Ten Minute Activist and is filled with great tips to start immersing yourself into Saving Our Planet.  I am not wasting one more second wasting!  I am not waiting around until Earth Day in April to start making changes in my life, and my son's life.  I want him to be a better human than I ever was.  Don't we all want that for our children?  So, Im sharing my latest book pick with all of my friends and family.

Thank you, Corinne and Nicole for inspiring me to change.  Thank you for inspiring me to teach my child the world needs all of us to change our wasteful, nasty habits so it remains beautiful for generations to come.

Cheers!

W.A.'s Momma