It’s been an emotional roller coaster, and I’m still recovering from the whiplash of the ups, downs, twists and turns.

The biggest news is that Bigger Picture Blogs is no longer.

The Thursday link-ups have ended and while we will still keep the Facebook page open, the actual blog is gone. My heart broke when I heard the news, because finding the Bigger Picture in everyday moments was like my religion. It was a way for me to stay grounded and not turn into angry, spazzy mom. I’m terrified that without my weekly reminder my children and husband might see more of her. However, I’m hopefully that I will be able to keep her at bay, because while the blog might be gone the friendships that it fostered will always remain.

Once I heard the news I did question “the meaning of it all”.

Like why should I keep blogging?

Have I already reached my peak?

Is this season of my life done?

Ironically, those close to me who always said “my plate was too full” told me not to give it up. So I’m still here typing away, and I’m now free to pursue some other blogging avenues. Like devoting more time and energy to my new gig over at the Iowa City Moms Blog. Finally find a focus for the ‘ol blog like fashion and triathlons. I also still have to share my story about E and mental illness, and how much children’s therapy is working for us. So, the stories it seems are still coming …

Speaking of stories, on Mother’s Day I was able to share my story of motherhood on the stage at the Eastern Iowa production of Listen to Your Mother. It was an experience I will remember FOREVER.

Every little detail is burned into my brain.

Like the fact that through a weird twist of fate I was able to share the stage with a sweet new friend, who eased my nerves.

How the feeling of my heart beating out of my chest and my wobbly legs immediately dissipated after I heard the audience laugh for the first time.

That she traveled miles to see me perform my piece.

The moment after the show, when people walked up to me and said they loved my piece and it inspired them.

My heart practically burst from my chest with gratitude, and I finally felt vindicated. After all the years of being told I wasn’t a writer, I was finally being recognized as one. It was like giving all the naysayers the middle finger … finally.

On the same day I shared my story, we celebrated Mother’s Day and the day I became a mother for the second time.

My little redhead turned three. There really are no words other than I can’t believe how fast time flies, and it’s not the terrible twos it’s the terrible threes. Gah…

As I remark on how quickly time flies I’m reminded that in three weeks school will be out for the summer, in one month I’ll race in my triathlon, a week later we will bring Creative Soul to Iowa City, we will be moving and then I’ll head to BlogHer.

This summer is going to fly by, but I will still have priceless Sound Bytes like these to help me cherish each moment.

3. E: “Mom are there teeth in my stomach?”
    ME: “No, E there are not teeth in your stomach.”
    E: “Then how does my food get all mushy and smooshy?”
    ME: “Because there’s acid in your stomach that makes it that way.”
    E: “Oh, that’s MUCH cooler than teeth.”

My only comment is a boy’s brain is a fabulous thing. WOW!!!

2. G: “Stay home day?”
   ME: {preparing for the meltdown} “No buddy it’s a school day”
      G: Cue meltdown

Yeah, buddy I feel the same way. Totally wish there were more Stay Home days in the week.

1. G: “Hair in your nose?” {then he proceeds to stick his finger up my nose} I have hair in nose too?”

Yep, you have hair in there too. Note to self to pluck nose hairs. UGH…

Well, there are this week’s Sound Bytes. What did you hear this week?

I’m patiently waiting for the work day to end, so I can enjoy some Stay Home days. We have another busy weekend on tap – spray tan party tonight, Brick in the morning, then a trip to the QC to shop the farmer’s market with Mimi, a date night to Star Trek and Little Red’s belated bday celebration on Sunday. Whew! I’m going to need more Stay Home days…

Have a GREAT weekend and cherish those Stay Home days.

The post A {Processing} Sound Bytes of the Week appeared first on Redhead Reverie.

Our flower power month is in full bloom and this week we are issuing 3 FLOWER POWER Missions for you. Some of these may be a little outside your comfort zone {I know they are for me}, but sometimes it’s fun to take fashion risks…sometimes.

So join me for our 3 FLOWER POWER MISSIONS

1. Pick a unique floral statement piece.

Floral blazers, shorts and crop pants are all hot this spring. It’s hard to look at a floral blazer and not think “grandma”, but the 2013 versions are hip and fun. Paired with neutral tops and bottoms, these blazers will make you bloom.

        LOFT floral Blazer

I’ve already mentioned my confusion at floral bottoms, especially shorts. Something about wearing giant blooms on my back end makes me a little nervous, but I’m willing to try it once.

Target Floral Crop Pants

2. Pair florals with stripes?

As I Googled floral style this came up over and over again. Personally, I think it looks cute, but not sure at the ripe age of 39 I can pull it off. Plus my OCD personality has issues pairing opposing patterns. Hopefully I can accomplish this one.

Limited Dress

3. Floral Accessories.

Whether it’s floral shoes, a purse, jewelry or my favorite the floral head band I think this mission might be the easiest and my favorite. A little hint of flower power always brightens up a bland outfit. Although these shoes might be a little much for work…

Piperlime platform sandals

Are you ready to tackle your Flower Power missions? Remember to snap a photo and tag me {redheadreverie} or Melissa {pbinmyhair} in the photo and use #MSFILES. We will feature you in our Flower Power wrap up.

Ready. Set. BLOOM!!!

The post 3 Flower Power Missions: Mom Style Files {#MSFILES} appeared first on Redhead Reverie.

The post Mother’s Day Special: Little Voices #LTYM appeared first on Redhead Reverie.

“Hmm, what? I’m sorry?” I say sharply while wrangling my 2 year old and trying to pull the iPod out for the big boy.

“Your order?” she repeats.

Quickly I give her our order, but not quick enough. I saw the cute elderly woman eyeballing us and then it happened right as I was about to say “funny face pancake” she abruptly interrupts me, walks over to my youngest, caresses his head {which totally ticked him off} and starts reminiscing about how she had a great, great, great grandfather with red hair. “And oh, I’m sure he got his red hair from his mama.”

I wanted to say, “get her hands off my child and leave us to our funny-face pancake, and by the way I dye my hair.” Instead I smiled, nodded politely and said thank you.

After I tweeted this little scenario, a fellow redhead replied “You’d think a redhead was a bedazzled unicorn or something, people act like they’ve never seen one before.”

Yep, that’s it! I gave birth to a bedazzled unicorn, and while it’s special and beautiful it can be annoying and a little creepy.

Especially when the lady at the playground tells you that “It’s great to see a redhead after what I read on the internet.”

What?

What’s the Internet saying now?

Well, supposedly by the year 2060 redheads will be extinct. Back in 2007, the Oxford Hair Foundation reported that red hair was going to be extinct in 100 years. This finding is a bit suspect, as the Oxford Hair Foundation is funded by Proctor and Gamble, makers of red hair dye. Ummm, yeah…I think my little unicorn and his offspring are safe.

Upon searching the interwebs I found other interesting redhead theories…

Supposedly my little redhead could be the star of his own Twilight saga, as ancient Greeks believed that gingers turned into vampires after death.

G is a spitter, which could be explained by the fact that in Corsica, it’s common to turn your head and spit when a redhead walks by. He’s obviously retaliating.

Break out the broomstick because G could also be a witch, according to those crazy Europeans.

Studies show that redheads have a higher pain threshold, and can tolerate spicier foods. G does love a good salsa.

“While the rest of the human race are descended from monkeys, redheads are derived from cats.”  – Mark Twain. This could explain the special connection between our cat and “little red”.

Not only could G be a vampire, a witch and a cat he could also be one of the descendants of Atlantis.

Lots of redheads ruled the world like Queen Elizabeth, Thomas Jefferson, Mark Twain and Galileo to name a few. Looks like my little G, might be a natural born leader.

Of course he could also be a descendant of a giant. Really?

Many people feared redheads probably because they were either giants, vampires, witches or cats. I fear G only when he wants Target popcorn and he wants it NOW.

Even the Neanderthals were bedazzled unicorns, but I bet people didn’t just walk up and start touching their heads.

And of course no crazy conspiracy would be complete without a mention of the illuminate who want to create a super race with my son’s genes. Well, he is super, but he’s ours.

Oh, Internet you are so full of theories, conspiracies and maybe a smidge of truth. However, no matter what you read or rumors you hear, G is just my “little redhead” so please don’t touch his hair, or tell me stories about your great, great, great grandfather’s red hair or interrupt our family time, because want to eat our funny-face pancakes in peace.

A special thanks to Lyz Lenz whose fascination with the Illuminate and all things weird helped provide me with this plethora of ginger theories. Want to read more weirdness check her out over at Tru.TV and on her blog.

___

On an unrelated note I’m hosting a Minted giveaway for $75 credit toward announcements, invites, artwork, journals and more! CLICK HERE to enter and you could announce the birth of your little bedazzled unicorn in style.

The post My Perspective: I Gave Birth to a Bedazzled Unicorn appeared first on Redhead Reverie.

Summer is the prime time for life to happen, and thanks to the unique stationary and cards from Minted you can announce your life events in style.

Weddings.

Graduations

Babies

For the past four years we’ve used Minted for our Christmas cards so it seems natural as we embark on our next life celebration that we will use them again.

This time to announce our BIG MOVE.

On the Move

The Big Move

Tear Sheet Moving

I’m a graphic designer, and I could easily design our own moving cards, but I need to save my sanity for packing up my family and setting up a new home. So I’ll let Minted to do the work for me. They offer so many options when it comes to font, style, and layout that I can still channel my inner designer.

Oh, and because my address labels need to be as unique as my announcements I’ll be ordering some skinny wrap labels with OUR NEW ADDRESS. Woot! Woot!

Are you ready to celebrate?

The folks at Minted are offering my readers $75 toward ANYTHING on their site, so you can announce your life celebration, in your own unique way.

Just enter the Rafflecopter below. The giveaway will end on the BEST Day ever Sunday, MOTHER’S DAY.

The Nitty Gritty: I received credit at Minted in exchange for writing this post. However, all the thoughts and opinions are my own.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post Celebrating Life with Minted {#Giveaway} appeared first on Redhead Reverie.

With all the rain we’ve had this past month {and some snow} the grass is green and flowers are blooming. Spring is FINALLY here and what better way to celebrate spring than with some flower power.

I love wearing floral, it just says “happy”, but sometimes I have problems accessorizing such busy patterns or trying to coordinate pieces without look too, planned.

New trends like floral shorts and shoes make my head spin.

1. Sam & Libby Kelly Wedge Sandal by Target

2. Floral Camp Shirt by Old Navy

3. Vintage floral dress by Revival

4. Floral Spritz Print Shorts by LOFT

For this month’s mission we will incorporate some flower power into our wardrobe and maybe just maybe, figure out this whole floral short phenomenon.

Make sure to snap a photo of  your flower power outfit and post it on Instagram and tag it with #MSFILES.

The post Flower Power: Mom Style Files #MSFILES appeared first on Redhead Reverie.

I don’t want to go.

I don’t want to wear the tight lung crushing swimsuit.

I don’t want to let my body fall into the chilly water.

But I do.

Once I’m in, the water takes my breath away and for a moment I need to catch my bearings, struggling, TREADING WATER before finally finding the strokes and the rhythm.

Each time I fall into the water, gasping for breath I remember the quote from Life of Pi “Water won’t kill you, but panic will.”

I’ve been treading water lately, since the accident. Trying to take stock of life and contemplating the meaning of it all. I may have given the wrong impression I may have “faked it” too long.

See, when you suffer from depression it doesn’t just go away it lays dormant {just like the eating disorder} until something triggers it. All it takes is a minor wrinkle in an already over-stretched schedule to throw it off kilter and to make me feel like the bottom has dropped out and I’m drowning. I’m treading water with all my might, and the panic seeps in and I’m left gasping for breath.

When this happens I search for life-preservers, friends and family for help, but like today in the pool as I stood there coughing up water, there was no one there. I was alone. I’m not sure where to turn, my compass is gone and I’m left alone in the water just like Pi and Richard Parker on that boat.

But…they persevered and so will I. Panic will not overtake me and will continue to tread the waters of life. So I kept swimming today, my training schedule as my guide.

Stroke.

Breathe.

Stroke.

Breathe.

Stroke.

BREATHE…out goes the panic and in comes peace.

Peace brings hugs, and friendly text messages and IMs of “I love you.” It comes in blog comments and Facebook likes and it comes in Sound Bytes like these…

3. “I believe since it is rainy outside I’ll wear the nylon pants since they are perfect for repelling water.”

Keep in mind it was a six year old that said this, and in the most matter-of-fact type voice. HILARIOUS … maybe you had to be there. Just imagine a mini-Sheldon from Big Bang Theory saying it…see HILARIOUS.

2. Cue 4 am crying toddler.

Cue tired mom who knows she needs to get up in an hour.

“Water.”

Hands over water.

“Paci.”

Searches all over the room in the dark, and eventually finds one behind the bed. By now almost fully awake.

“Ucky nose.”

Gets Kleenex … now fully awake, and annoyed. Pats child on head and goes to leave.

“Mama hug and kiss.”

Cue heart melting.

1. “Mom I love you to all the galaxies and back.”

WOW! Now that is love.

As I ease into the rough waters of the weekend and upcoming week I will remember NOT to panic and to swim instead of treading water.

The post A {Treading Water} Sound Bytes of the Week appeared first on Redhead Reverie.

Instantly I brace myself for his toddler explosion. It’s become the norm lately these little bursts of emotion each time we must change our direction or the task at hand. On one hand I grow frustrated with these outbursts and on the other I can totally relate.

I have issues with change myself and on occasion have been known to throw toddler temper tantrums. It’s really not so much the change itself as the FEAR of the unknown that it brings along with it. Sometimes change can be good like a promotion and sometimes it’s a necessity like changing your undies.

Lately though, in the unsteady waters of my life, change has been met with resistance, and panic.

Then today like a sign from the heavens came this blog post from Ann Voscamp, “Four Steps to Take When You’re Not Ready for Change”.

I digested her words, let them sit warm in my belly and as that warmth entered my heart I finally found peace with the changes life is throwing in my direction. Children growing older, moving from the home where we started our family and just letting my plate be empty.

For life needs to move forward, and things just can’t stay the same, because seriously that would be boring. That I and I really don’t want my boys living in my house FOREVER…

So I need to embrace change and …

“Don’t grieve that it’s gone, wonder that it was.

Laugh that you lived and dance that you dared.

Inhale that it happened — and it was grace.”

Change is a matter of perception and reaction. If I perceive it as a negative my reaction will be negative, but if I see the positive and embrace the change – hold it close to my heart and LIVE in the moment I will see just how good it can be.

Because situations and landscapes may change but the memories, the moments and connections will still remain for they are everlasting.

The post Embracing Change appeared first on Redhead Reverie.

But on that day when my training schedule said run, I couldn’t wait to go. I’d been cooped up too long, and I was just tired of listening to the kids bicker, looking at the dirty cluttered house. It all just made me want to run away.

So, I laced up my shoes grabbed my iPod and RAN…out the door. Eat my dust!

The music in my ears was so loud it drowned out everything, the birds, the barking dogs, and the hectic hustle and bustle of life. It was just me letting go.

My breath became heavy and sweat poured from my brow, I wasn’t sure I could go on.

Then I saw it.

Like a beacon urging me on; messages written to other runners on the trail.

“Keep smiling.”

“You’re a winner.”

“Courage.”

“You can do it.”

And I knew I could … so I kept running.

And running.

Eventually, my direction turned and instead of running away from home I was running toward it. When I walked in the door sweaty and weary, their little voices welcomed my return.

“How was your run,” my husband asked.

“It was good, really good,” I said “But I’m glad to be home.”

The post Scenes from My Life ~ Running appeared first on Redhead Reverie.

Can you believe that April is almost over?

It’s hard to believe. Especially since it was only last week that it snowed, and now it’s 80 degrees. Oh, Mother Nature how you toy with us.

So, how did you do with this month’s Step into Spring mission?

Did you wear a cute jacket to guard against the morning chill?

Did you sing an ode to the trusty cardigan?

Were you able to wear some of your spring favorites?

I did today

Here are some of our moms who shared their Step into Spring Fashions with us on Instagram.

Meet my office mate and fitness fashionista Casey from CSWfitYoga. She takes fitness clothing on the road with your non-typical yoga pants and this adorable cardigan from Yogi Clothing. It looks so comfy, and was perfect for the cool, rainy day we had that week.

Sara from the Iowa City Moms Blog found the adorable jacket at a garage sale of all places. So cute and such a great color to help greet spring.

And of course our very own Melissa in her cute flare sleeve jacket.

Would you like to be featured for next month’s Mom Style Files? See that little envelope in the header, click it and email me! We’d LOVE to feature you. What do you think our May mission will be? I’ll give you a hint “April showers bring May _____ . ”

The post April Wrap Up Featuring YOU! – Mom Style Files #MSFILES appeared first on Redhead Reverie.