Thank you Stefania/ City Mama and Jessica/ Sassafrass for initiating Project: Life Change!! I heart blogging and I heart you! For the past 11 and 1/2 months (I can't believe it has already been that long) I have been in the midst of my own Project Life Change. Now, thanks to you I have an official title for what I've been doing with the last year of my life. I'm very excited to join your fun-lovin' community of support as I continue to work at making life-changing progress.
Here are some of my own life changes. Some are bigger than others but all have been made to find the "balance" we all seek... to enjoy our families while keeping in touch with ourselves, our communities, and (for us SAHMs) our sanity by having contact with the "adult" world. TGFB! (Thank goodness for blogging!)
1) This all started with a difficult second pregnancy, 5 months of bedrest, and still my second daughter was born 5 and 1/2 weeks early - my little Sweet Pea. After realizing how lucky I was to have her (and my own life) after the premature delivery, I decided it was time to focus on family. So, I excused myself from the "professional" world to take care of Poppy (daughter number one) and Sweet Pea full-time. A real live SAHM. (God, that was scary!)
2) I sent a poem into cyberspace (as JB): After months of recuperating (with HUGE thanks to my mother-in-law who traveled from MI to Silicon Valley to help us for the first 7 weeks) I ran across a "makeover" contest on the Silicon Valley Moms Blog and created an extemporaneous poem about why I deserved a makeover.
3) I became a contributor to the Silicon Valley Moms Blog (pen name JB): While I didn't win the makeover contest, I was a finalist and got a free manicure where I met Beth and agreed to accept her invitation to blog. Thank you, Beth, for saving my sanity as a newly minted SAHM and connecting me to a great new network!
4) I made a new friend, and so did Poppy: Xiaolinmama was also a makeover finalist and we had a great time chatting while getting our manicures. In sum, we hit it off and she has been my inspiration for Life Change #5. You rock Sheila!
5) I started my own blog: Who knew that the poem I wrote on the fly would have opened these new doors for me. I now have a creative outlet, a place where my voice can be heard, and a new more intimate network where I can share my parenting challenges and successes with others who totally get it. As I commented when CityMama began her Project Life Change: "It really is true - when a door closes, a window opens. Welcome to the greatest opportunity - living your life with your beautiful family. Enjoy every moment! (& call me during the tough ones!)"
6) I have a maid service every other week: Yes, I admit I cannot "do it all" at home. I'm finding I do love to cook, I'm becoming obsessed with recipes, I don't mind doing dishes and laundry but I have never loved or been the best at the rest of the housework. (I told you they weren't all earth-shattering.)
7) I have entrepanurial thoughts almost daily: This may not sound like a Life Change but I try to give myself some time during each week to sort these out, bounce them off my sounding board (KB), and continue to work on the best ones - once in business, always in business I guess. As I continue to meet new people in the blogging world, it will be interesting to see what will develop on this level.
Again, thank you Stefania and Jessica! We Life Changers need all the freebies support we can get. Seriously, Sheila and I are working on a Mommy Martini & Manicure night out at Santana Row. Anyone else out there in too? If so, we could have something else in common on our Project Life Change list!
You can also find me at Silicon Valley Moms Blog as JB.
you know i'm in
Posted by: nicole | October 03, 2007 at 10:48 AM
You go Nicole! I can't wait to follow your changes!
Posted by: JB/Go-Go Mommy | October 03, 2007 at 11:15 PM
Wow. I am in awe of all you are doing for yourself. You go on with yer bad self, mama!
Posted by: Jessica Ashley (Sassafrass) | October 08, 2007 at 06:19 PM
Wow. I am in awe of all you are doing for yourself. You go on with yer bad self, mama!
Posted by: Jessica Ashley (Sassafrass) | October 08, 2007 at 06:19 PM
Wow. I am in awe of all you are doing for yourself. You go on with yer bad self, mama!
Posted by: Jessica Ashley (Sassafrass) | October 08, 2007 at 06:19 PM
Wow. I am in awe of all you are doing for yourself. You go on with yer bad self, mama!
Posted by: Jessica Ashley (Sassafrass) | October 08, 2007 at 06:19 PM
Aw shucks! You are too sweet. It really was MY lucky day to have had the chance to meet YOU! BTW- the blog is lookin' awesome. I need to work on mine desperately! Can' wait to do martinis.
Posted by: Sheila BD - xiaolinmama | October 09, 2007 at 09:56 AM