When you’re a parent with young children, long days make for early bedtimes. My hubby and I are usually so exhausted by 8 o’clock so we each pour a glass of wine and head to bed to indulge in some good TV. Television has come such a long way in the past few years. Shows are even better than movies and it’s reflected in the clever writing and amazing actors that play each character (sorry, Scandal did NOT make the list). I won’t lie, I am a bit of a TV junkie and Netflix is my drug of choice. It’s just such a great way to unwind every night. Here is what you should be watching next:
How To Survive Motherhood
“Motherhood. Powered by love. Fuelled by coffee. Sustained by wine.”
How do you keep your sanity in motherhood? It is a topic that I personally struggle with on a day-to-day basis. Some days are great, while others, I feel like pulling my hair out. I just need a BREAK! I asked my friends on Facebook to help me with this one and I was overwhelmed by all the comments that I received (thank you!!). Let’s be honest, most mothers run the household. It just wouldn’t work without us! We keep track of absolutely everything, it’s like we have a giant daily schedule stapled to our foreheads. But how much time do we actually take for ourselves? Those minutes of “me time” are like gold to moms, so I’ve put together a checklist of ten things that you can do for yourself each week.
Your Summer Book Reading List
Hell on Wheels
Let me first say that there is nothing like being a part of the magic of show business…
Summer Drink Recipe: Elderflower Gin & Tonic
I first tried this drink at my book club last month and I was immediately hooked. It was like nothing I’d tasted before but I couldn’t put my finger on what it was. The secret ingredient: St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur. It has a distinct sweet smell very similar to lychee, but it is made from elderflower: a small, white starry flower that blooms through the spring and summer. You can find it at almost any liquor store but be prepared to spend a little extra on this special bottle.
Why Going Back to Work Made Me a Better Mother
I’m a thirty-something mom of two little boys and I live a three and a half hour plane ride from the nearest family. Starting a family was something that both my husband and I really wanted. I knew it was going to be tough, being without grandparents to help but I didn’t care, I wanted babies. I would stay at home and raise them, like my mom did, and he would go to work everyday to provide for us. The plan was in place. And after three pregnancies and the birth of two beautiful boys, our family was complete.
And I was happy. I loved (and still do!) being home and being a mother. It’s the hardest and most rewarding “job” there is in life. But what maybe I wasn’t so prepared for was how mentally and physically exhausted I would be some days. A cup or two of coffee in my favourite mug from The Top Knot Boutique and a glass of wine were things I looked forward to every single day.
After awhile, something started creeping in: resentment. I would watch my husband every morning: wake up well rested, get dressed up in a nice suit, take his travel mug of hot coffee and head with purpose to the office. He’d come home at 6:00 (or later) every night telling me of the nice lunch he’d had at a restaurant downtown or the beer he’d shared after work. All the adult things he got to partake in. Then there was me: feeling like if I had to deal with one more tantrum, change one more diaper, do one more load of laundry, or empty the dishwasher one more time, I was going to go outside onto the front porch and scream.
A Letter from My Mom on Mother’s Day
It got me thinking about the contents of my home. If my home was on fire, and I could save one thing, what would it be? What’s something that no amount of money could replace? After only a moment’s thought I decided it would be a letter from my mother…