Bedtime Breakdown

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So my daughter realized a movie which she has been wanting to see was coming on this evening on the Disney Channel at 8 p.m. and ending at 10 p.m. Her bedtime is 8:30. She jumps off the sofa, does a happy dance, and assumes the rest of the evening is planned. THAT is when I step in. I, using my nice Mommy voice, explain to her, "Honey, that movie comes on 30 minutes before your bedtime and isn't over until 10 which is too late. You're gonna have to watch it some other time." Cue the atomic bombs and screeches that make nails on a chalkboard sound like a lullaby. Saylor immediately goes into high-pitched whinny begging mode, followed by pouting mode, followed by negotiating mode, followed by tears. I go from nice Mommy voice to Supreme Ruler Voice. She argues, "But, I've NEVER seen it and I reallllllllllly wanna see it." Me, with an edge to my voice probably due to the fact that I am now talking through clenched teeth, "I know. But not tonight. It's a school night." She then proceeds to offer me her weekly allowance of $4 in exchange for staying up late. I stand firm and once again get labeled as the "Mean Mom". Thanks Disney channel for advertising movies to air on a school night just before bedtime. Is this where the magic begins?

Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten
S.W.A.K.

{ 25 Days of Christmas---Day 19 }

Who cares if the snow was man made. Who cares if it was blown over the kids via a snow machine. To my daughter it is SNOW---pure, simple, magical.

Merry 19th Day of Christmas to you.

Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.



Fairy Gifts

My daughter, the Queen of Fairies and Mermaids, left this little gift, which she made, for her little fairy friend named Faye. Faye and Saylor have been friends for a few years now. I have never seen Faye except maybe once out of the corner of my eye. My daughter, on the otherhand, is the lucky one when it comes to spotting Faye and other fairies.

Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.

Window Sill Sprouts

I love these early years in which my daughter brings home seeds, soil, little cups, and lots of hope as she places her seedlings on the window sill. The waiting game begins as she waits-waits-and waits for a bit of greenery to peak through the soil.---and each day, I secretly beg the little seeds to open for my daughter's sake as well as curse them when they do not open. Luckily, these little seedlings are cooperating. Each time she waters them, she over does it and each time I have to remind her that too much water can be a bad thing. It is the same lesson each and every time. I know one day she will understand it and grow beautiful things in her own yard. But, that day can come slowly.

Ocean's Playmate

My daughter is the ocean's playmate. I love how a day at the beach can renew my belief that children are indeed capable of having fun without 21st century gadgets---where a piece of drift wood and the ocean are all it takes to enter a world of make-believe. 

Conductor of the Mermaid Symphony

---Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.

Creative Flow

Creative Flow, as most artists know, can either pour forth or slow to a trickle. I find that I am most artistic when my creative flow runs at a steady stream. Staying tapped into that flow is the obstacle. Getting older has taught me to be more sensitive to what inspires my creative whimsy and equally what drains it. I grew up with a very creative mother. I danced my entire life which was one source of creative energy. Before moving to Florida, I owned a dance school in which I taught others how to express themselves creatively through movement. I have been guilty of letting everyday life get the best of me and robbing me of my creative energy. Reflections of childhood always get the creativity flowing. I grew up with the sound of my mom's sewing machine humming at the table, a steady supply of hot glue sticks, and many weekends alongside my mom at the fabric store. If my mom wanted something and couldn't find it, she'd simply make it. I grew up with creative sources through the women who influenced me and the diversity of a big city exploding with museums, art festivals, quilt shops, and bakeries galore. But now, I am almost fine tuned into what specifically gets my creativity flowing; first and mostly, the BEACH. The beach is a sure fire way to get me going----Maybe it is the mental escape, the rush to the senses that leaves me feeling refreshed and focused. Secondly, childhood memories, a charming boutique, vintage craft books, and my daughter....always my daughter. She is my sweet curly-headed muse. This summer, I plan to let the creativity flow even if it means letting the laundry pile up or the shelves grow a bit dusty. I am putting the artist and the writer within me first!

----Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.

Cella's Cherry Cordials and Childhood Memories

Anytime I come across Cella's Cherry Cordials, I am transported back to childhood and going places with my Mom. She would pull over at any one of the familiar gas stations along our typical route to the mall, school, friend's houses, etc. and fill the tank. I was familiar enough with the handful of gas stations to know that I could count on seeing a box of individually wrapped Cella's chocolate cherry cordials next to the register. They usually sold at the time for under .25 cents. I thought that they were such fancy candies and loved the shimmery red foil wrapping paper of each little cordial. My mom ALWAYS bought me two when she paid for the gas. We'd walk back to the car, my mom would turn up the radio(chances are we were listening to Ann Murray, John Denver, or Air Supply) and we'd pull away from the gas station and get back on the road. I would sit in happy contentment as I unwrapped this little chocolate delight (I am sure a few of the little red wrappers could be found on the floor of the car). Even to this day I still eat them just like I did as a child; Unwrap, toss the wrapper to the car floor, turn the cordial upside down and bite off the end to create a "cup". After eating the little chocolaty end, I would sip the sweet syrup from the cup and then eat the cherry. Then finally, I'd eat the "chocolate cup". No sooner would I be done with that one when I'd be unwrapping the second one. I don't often see Cella's Cordials for sale anymore...especially the individually wrapped cordials. But when I come across a box on a store shelf, I ALWAYS buy it and stick it far back in the fridge (I luv the hard crispness of refrigerated chocolate candy). I eat them without urgency and enjoy the childhood memories each one holds of days when my mom and I were driving around the big city of Houston, Texas. Today, I share them with my daughter and wonder what memories of simple pleasures she will remember about our time together.

-----Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.

Count Down til Summer

We are counting down the days until Summer Vacation. It is officially the last week of school for my daughter. I am looking forward to lazier days and not having to keep such a tight schedule or bedtime routine. I am ready to be done packing the lunches, ironing the uniforms, and checking the homework. Nevertheless, as things like this sometime go, it is also bittersweet that this is the last week in which

 I will be the mother of a

2nd grader.

In the blink of an eye, it will be time to shop for school supplies for

 my 3rd grader.

With that in mind, I hope the days move slowly this Summer.

I know my daughter will have a wonderful time enjoying her last week of school with anticipation for Summer to begin!

photos are from here.