The Shopping Mama

Mother’s Day 2012

by Kate on May 13th, 2012 | 5 Comments | Life

Today I re-read the beautiful essay on motherhood called Goodbye Dr. Spock by Anna Quindlen, I was struck by one passage in particular. (And, as it turns out, even though it was written years ago, the essay lends a great perspective to discussion of this week’s TIME Magazine cover.) Quindlen writes:

But the biggest mistake I made is the one that most of us make while [raising children]. I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of the three of them, sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages 6, 4 and 1. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less.

This is particularly meaningful to me today as I think about all that has happened in the past year. One year ago today:

My husband was deployed. Back “downrange” after a short R&R visit and an emergency Red Cross-sponsored visit when my dad transferred to hospice care.

My dad was five days away from dying.

We thought our family was complete. Max didn’t exist. Not even in my dreams.

July 2011

Life changes in the blink of an eye. Or takes on a direction you never imagined over the course of a year. If this year has taught me anything it’s that I need to do a better job of living in the moment. I need to treasure the doing and being with my family. Every moment. Every day. Because this? Now? Will be gone before I even know it.

Mother’s Day 2012

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Happy Mother’s Day, mamas.

We’re Moving

by Kate on May 11th, 2012 | 5 Comments | Life

We’re moving. Again. We knew it was coming as we were in Montgomery only for a year while my husband was attending a military school. (For the record, this makes our third move in three years.) Even though we knew it was coming, it’s taken me a while to wrap my head around the reality of where we’re going.

My husband and I spent countless hours speculating where we’d be headed this summer. We talked DC, Colorado, back to Florida, and Germany. And, still, when the official word came that we will be moving to Germany I was in shock. Total shock.

Initially I was really excited about returning to Germany. We lived there for several years and my son was born there. (For anyone familiar, we were stationed at Spangdahlem before and will be going to Ramstein Air Base this time.) I loved it when we were there, but the idea of moving with a 5 year old, 3 year old and infant is beyond intimidating. It’s just so.far.away. So far. As time has passed and the move has become more of a reality I’m getting increasingly sad (for lack of a better word).

Selfishly, I’m sad that I’ll miss out on many professional opportunities. I’ve already had to turn down my dream blog job, and I’ll miss countless trips, conferences and get togethers that are oh so important for networking. But, more importantly, I’m sad for my family. I’m sad my kids will be living an ocean and very expensive plane tickets away from their grandparents.

I am trying to be excited, but at the moment it’s really hard. I’m sure the moment we land in Germany I’ll be thrilled. It really is an amazing opportunity for my entire family and I can’t wait for our European adventures.

Max is Two Months Old

by Kate on May 2nd, 2012 | 5 Comments | Life

Little baby Max is two months old! It’s been a busy and eventful and crazy two months, that’s for sure. He is changing so much every single day and it’s so much fun to see him grow. A lot. He was my biggest baby at birth and I think he’s on track to be my biggest baby period.

Max started smiling a couple weeks ago and it is awesome. I can honestly say he saves his biggest smiles for his siblings, which is pretty amazing. He could watch them all day long. He also loves being naked and staring at the ceiling fan.

Of course, he still does his fair share of crying.

We are sad this year in Montgomery is nearing an end. It’s been wonderful having my husband home all the time, especially during the first months of Max’s life. He hasn’t missed a moment or milestone and, as a military family, that’s pretty remarkable. No doubt it will all change in a few months when we move so we’ll enjoy it while it lasts!

I got to spend some precious one-on-one time with Max a couple weeks ago when he and I flew to Ohio for my sister’s wedding. The wedding was awesome, small, intimate and in our dad‘s backyard. While I was sad my husband and the big kids weren’t there, it was really nice to have some time alone with my baby. And, Max earned his wings on AirTran at six weeks old – pretty wild!

Who Does Max Look Like?

We get asked all the time who Max looks like and he is truly a combination of both his brother and his sister. It’s pretty remarkable, really. There’s no doubt they’re all siblings!

Lots of our friends and family think he looks more like his big sister, but I think he looks a lot like his brother did when he was the same age. The boys don’t look the same now, but that doesn’t stop me from dressing them alike in Tea Collection. In this photo, I imagine Max is thinking, “Bro. Why are we matching? Seriously. How often is that crazy lady going to dress us alike and make us pose? This is ridic. I am too cool for this.”

Max at Two Months Old

Weight: 12.2 pounds

Length: Not sure will update tonight when I make him stretch to measure him, but he’s sleeping now and everyone knows you don’t wake a sleeping baby. Except my 3 year old who wakes him all.the.time. Update: about 24.5 inches long

New Trick: Smiling: Rolling from belly to back

Big Adventure: First airplane ride

Look back: Max at One Month

Family Getaway to Callaway Gardens

by Kate on April 6th, 2012 | 5 Comments | Life, On the Go

Last week both my husband and my children’s schools was on spring break. We couldn’t plan anything too elaborate because we have a month old but I was desperate to get out of the house. We decided to drive to Callaway Gardens in Georgia for a little two night getaway and it was just what we needed. We got out of the house, explored a new place, ate some good food and even met up with friends! Perfect little vacay, if you ask me.

We stayed in a two room cabin – I can’t imagine NOT having multiple rooms now that we have three kids. Max tested one of the bed when we arrived.

We did a lot of walking and exploring.

We met up with Shannon and her family. It was so great to see them again, and the kids had a blast.

The Butterfly Center was really cool and the kids are still talking about it.

The Azalea Bowl was my favorite – so pretty.

Our first trip as a family of five was a success!

My Daughter’s Room: A Year & A Move Later

by Shannon on February 21st, 2012 | 5 Comments | Children's Decor, Nurseries, Bedrooms & Playrooms

As part of The Shopping Mama’s annual “28 Days of Design” last year, I shared with readers pictures of preschool girl’s room in our Florida home. I made excuses for it saying that we tried to purchase furniture but the local store never delivered, we were moving in a matter of months, and we could not paint the walls of our rental. All that said, I now look at those photos and think how adorable her room was, despite these challenges.

Her Room Last Year

A year later, we have relocated to a new home that we purchased, therefore the walls are our canvas. We have had ample time to purchase furniture. There is no move imminent, but we are a military family, so we know this is not our permanent home and are working to make a room that preschool girl will love that won’t break the bank or be unattractive to future home buyers.

Her Room Now

Preschool girl loves her new room and wants to have this year’s birthday party not just in this house, but in her room. I made painting for her a priority and she chose a shade of light blue because it is the color of the sky where her favorite animals fly. Her favorite animal, of course, is “birds.” Yes, all birds, and she wants to paint them on the wall, hang them from the ceiling and get a few real ones just for good measure.

We’ve also made one small furniture purchase. I found an adorable four-drawer, solid wood bedside table painted with milk paint at a local antique store and snatched it up, just yesterday. I plan to contact this vendor to inquire about a full-size bed painted similarly. Fingers crossed that we get a real bed for preschool girl before she heads to college.

One of the major selling features for this home is the full wall of built-in cabinetry in this bedroom. With ample shelving for display and six deep drawers for toys, I had grand visions of an always neat room. It was a nice vision. The fact of the matter is that my kids play in their rooms and they most often look like this:

Reality

We have more plans for this room. Perhaps by the 2013 installment of “28 Days of Design” we’ll have a headboard and some birds?

What’s Your Most Meaningful Moment? #meaningfulbty

by Kate on February 13th, 2012 | 5 Comments | Life, Parenting

In theory I love the topic of this post. The idea of sharing my most meaningful moment from the last year. But, in reality, I have no idea how to possibly narrow down the last year to one defining moment. It was, quite possibly, the hardest, most eventful year of my life.

Almost exactly one year ago to the day, my dad was diagnosed with leukemia. Three and a half months later he passed away. Those moments were clearly full of meaning and emotion and changed my family forever.

The last year was also full of joyful moments. My husband returned from his extended deployment. Simply seeing the looks of joy on my children’s faces when they saw him is enough to leave a lasting impression on me for some time.

And, then, of course, there’s the surprise news we received last July when I learned I was pregnant. Pregnant! Baby number 3. That moment certainly left an impression (and a big belly) on me. Welcoming a new member to our family will no doubt change me forever. I like to think it’s a nice balance to the way my year began.

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Banana Republic: Giving Back to Military

by Kate on January 19th, 2012 | 5 Comments | Shopping

Banana Republic is stepping up to give back to military personnel and their families in a big way. The company says, “You went beyond the call of duty. Now it’s our duty to give you a stylish new start.” Banana Republic has put together interview and resume tips, top picks for interview styles and is offering a generous discount to make dressing the part more affordable.

“Our Duty to You”

Banana Republic is committed to helping people achieve in the important moments in their lives. As part of that mission, we are honored to support our military personnel as they return home from their time abroad and transition back to civilian life.

If you’re a military service member (active or veteran, returning and home-based), or a member of a military family, take advantage of special savings, styling advice, and interview and resume tips we’ve put together to help you achieve your next goals in life.

Special Shopping Event

One of the most unique aspects of the program is special shopping events in select stores around the country. Military and family can get style, interview and resume tips in person tomorrow January 20. Check the Banana Republic page for information on which store are offering this program.

Shop! January 19 through the 22, active duty military, veterans and military family members can receive 50% off three regular priced items in Banana Republic stores. Check out Banana Republic’s interview, resume and style tips. Banana Republic’s Facebook page also has information and a place where you can send a Thank You note to troops.

UPDATE: Banana Republic has extended a military discount through the end of the year! Military service members (retired and active duty) and their families can save 15% off full priced items on purchases in store through December 31, 2012.

Thank you, Banana Republic!

American Widow Project

by Kate on December 13th, 2011 | 5 Comments | Shopping, Ten Dollar Tuesday

For the second year in a row we are dedicating every week between Thanksgiving and Christmas we are spotlighting a worthy charity through a Ten Dollar Tuesday post. What does this have to do with $10, you ask? Everything. If 10 readers of The Shopping Mama give $10, that’s a $100 donation. That more of us that give, the more impact we can have. $10 can add up quickly and be incredibly meaningful to a charity and the families they benefit.

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The American Widow Project was founded by Taryn Davis in 2007 after her husband was killed by a roadside bomb while serving in Iraq. She sought out support from widows and found few resources or support groups for women her own age, war widows of our generation. She created the American Widow Project “a non-profit organization dedicated to the new generation of those who have lost the heroes of yesterday, today and tomorrow, with an emphasis on healing through sharing stories, tears and laughter.”

Since 2001, over 6,200 U.S. service members have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Around half of these service members were married, leaving an estimated 3,000 military widows across our country. While the service member’s sacrifice is acknowledged, many simply forget or fail to recognize the sacrifice of the spouse who is now left a widow of war. Oftentimes the invisible wounds of military widows are disregarded due to age or a simple lack of knowledge and understanding.

The American Widow Project provides online resources and support as well as AWP Get-Aways where women bond with others in a similar situation. Learn more from Taryn in the L’Oreal Women of Worth video below.

Obviously this is an organization that hits close to home. Three of us who write on this blog are military spouses. Two of our spouses returned from extended deployments this summer and Malia’s husband is currently deployed. (Yes, he deployed shortly after baby Kate was born.) We are thankful for the safety of our spouses, but not everyone is so lucky. I made my donation in memory of an F-16 pilot who died over the summer and left behind a wife and infant daughter.

Donate! Give today to the American Widows Project.