Where I come from…aka my parents family….we DO holidays.  In fact we love them.  Growing up with seven children and two adults who never grew up it was always someone’s favorite holiday.  My mom loved to decorate and my dad loves to celebrate  so no matter what we had Great Holidays!

Where my husband comes from….(his parents family)…they Don’t Do holidays. At least that is they don’t do them anymore, and haven’t for a while. I mean when you are okay to stay at home and not go see the big firework show for the Fourth of July you really Don’t Do holidays.

Well this always puts me in the fine predicament of finding that perfect balance! Of teaching my husband and son about the joys of a little holiday while hardly spending anything or over scheduling  anyone’s time.

This year in particular, as many of you might be feeling, it doesn’t make much sense to through a big Halloween bash. At least not for my family. Starting out we haven’t got much by way of the years which would mean acquiring all the decorations, food, and festivities necessary for a fun, goulish time! I talked with my mom and she is throwing a big schindig for all the neighbors….but after 29 years of having children in the house she has practically everything she needs already! (This is why it’s always a good idea to have friends at different stages in their lives…..everyone is rich in something after all!)

That doesn’t mean we cannot plan celebrations and have a great time.  Halloween doesn’t take much, as the holiday itself consists basically of a costume, bag and candy….but we can make it fun all week with just a little bit of planning.

First and most important the costume:  After years of dressing up I have come to three simple solutions to the costume problem:

#1 Decide Early and Be Happy: Don’t stress about having the perfect costume. You didn’t when you were young so don’t start now. If you want to be superman….and everyone else does to..So What!  By deciding early you can have all those little extras that make your super man super!

#2. Simple Can Be Fabulous: If you have followed my advice in #1 then this will be so much easier to follow. Generally everyone has “stuff” around the house that when put together can make a super costume! (Infact you can even start with this step) You never know what odd items will come in handy as you build your costume. This year for instance I used two of the most unlikely items around my house for costume accessories. A sippy cup lid became the perfect completion for my hubby’s coach costume headset. And an old pair of slippers cut apart and hot glued back together became the awesome set of shoulder pads for my 18 month old and his football outfit.

#3. While it may be inciting to have a different costume for each party you go to No One really cares.  I am absolutely serious about this. When I was in college and the HOWL was the ultimate rage of parties to be at for Halloween. I went with some friends one of which spent quite a bit of money creating the perfect AllyG costume.  Very Distinct, Original, and Unmistakable when I saw him grace the party the following year with a new girlfriend and a different group of friends I realized…NO One Cares!!! Where is the rule that says you have to come up with something new? Not saying you can’t, just saying you don’t have to the point is to dress up and have fun!

All in all we only spent $15 on three costumes this year (that’s $5 a costume, and trust me they won’t look like $5 costumes) So what’s the next big part of Halloween? The Pumpkins Of Course!!! Always one of my favorite parts. Carving a Jack-O-Lantern.

Growing up we all had our own pumpkin to carve, which we would pick out from the pumpkin patch at the local farm. Living in southern Florida we just don’t have that option….there went one fun activity…:( But you know it doesn’t really matter. In fact I only bought ONE pumpkin this year. We carved it today and had a blast.

My baby didn’t need his own. For as much as he likes to get dirty he was actually a little shy about sticking his hand in the pumpkin goo.  It was great for our relationship making it a team effort. The design we picked was quite challenging…yet we each took turns and are equally proud of our accomplishment.

So as for the rest of the week. We have a few simple, yet fun activities planned. Tomorrow is our church harvest party. The teenagers have set up games and fun for the little ones. We’ll all dress up and have a ball. Wednesday, I think we will roast marshmallows over the little pumpkin, and thursday or friday we’ll mix up some rice crispy treats and decorate with candy korn and m&m’s. Then come Halloween we will trick or treat and maybe watch a scary Supernatural!

It will all be over, we’ll have made a few memories, spent very little money, and I’ll post some more pictures here on the blog.

TTFN

Bridget

What’s in a name? As I try desperately to come up with a name for my soon to be daughter I realize just how much rides on a name. Often peoples first impression of you is impacted by what they read into your name as much as what they read into your appearance.

Names can give the sense of strength, charisma, intrique, coldness, or armth. Oft times people can perseave you as weak, boring, or a stick in the mud based on the rhythmic sound of your name.

With so many names in the world, giving your child a truely unique name that he/she can make or break is difficult if not improbable. Besides that so much more of the impression is based on the phonetic sound of the name more so than the name itself.

Much like, dressing oneself, or decorating a room whichever particular style you choose to go with, while it has its inherrient feel and look will come across succesful if the correct flow and togetherness is achieved.  Ie. Minimalist may not be your style but when looking at a perfectly balanced minimilast room everyone agrees it is a thing of beauty.

It is only when we try too hard and over indulge that we are left wanting. That being said here are my five top pics for names. Would love it if you would share your feedback.

1. Kiara Icelyn Short

2. Scarlett Elizabeth Short

3. Tessa Elayne Short

4. Lillian Drue Short

5. Shelby Isabell Short

Thanks I really appreciate any thoughts. Now for my friends seeking salvation read Chapter 9 in 2 Nephi. Ponder it. For it is in the pondering that you are able to apply it to your life.

TTFN

Bridget

You cannot deny that those are two very important parts of everyone’s life, and yet the Bible of Life itself seemed not to contain them. Boy was I wrong! Scripture is written so that by and through the spirit one may learn when he/she is ready. This is written in the scriptures very plainly! And funny it should be, but now that I am ready I see just how plain and clear the pathway to temporal success is laid out in the first chapters of Nephi. I emplore you to read them again. I will not quote just now as there are other pressing concerns on my mind that you may find more immediate benefits from, however know that I testify that if you seek the answeres dilligently in the scriptures you will find!

So what more pressing matters could I possibly have than making money or getting dates? Well luckily I solved the latter some time ago and now have the added pressures of a husband, toddler, and baby on the way! This is the far greater challenge than just getting dates. Infact the greatest challenge involved with family is what to do with it.

I know and understand greatly the importance of family activities. Getting together, staying together, playing together…it is what brings us closer to one another and creates those lasting bonds. What I never anticipated was how much more difficult it had become over the years since I was a child (and not too long ago). With video games, tv, and overtime zapping precious hours away from our family it is eminent that we put on our creative caps and come up with things to do together daily.

As a newlywed, I thought at least eating together would be easy. That was always something my family did no matter what. Well little did I know people grow up in different types of homes. My husband who eats three times as fast as I do, consistently finishes his meals, clears his plate and leaves to do whatever it is he does. It seemed that the only quality conversation time we got over a meal was if it was eaten out.

As our budget cannot cover eating out every single night, not to mention with a baby eating out became less and less of a conversational haven. I have been forced to come up with more and more creative activities for our family. Now while I consider myself a very creative individual this becomes increasingly difficult when you need to do it every day!

Now add the challenge of a rambunctious 18 month old and the activities have to go beyond sitting down and watching some television program together. So for all you young families out there I have had some small successes this weekend that may help shake things up a bit for you and create real bonding time and variety in your otherwise consistent lives.

Thursday, after going to the pond twice on an attempt to feed the ducks I finally got an insight of inspiration of what to do for my son that would help him experience life, not bore me, and not include watching cartoons! I logged on to BabyLovesDisco.com I downloaded there disco mix and had a mini private dance party with my son. It was a blast! We got out the Gymboree bubbles (they last the longest) blew them around the room and boggied down. He was entertained for an entire hour! I got a little needed pregnancy exercise and when my husband walked in on us he had the biggest smile on his face and joined right in! What a change from coming home and sitting infront of the tv/computer! That was wonderful.

I wanted to continue to have learning and growing opportunities for my son and my family throughout the weekend, this is not easy. And yes I was still irritated when my husband would rather play 4 hours of HON on the computer than be creative and help me come up with something to do. However, when I convinced him that going to the park to find the ducks would be fun he agreed. Of course the weather was hot as it always is here in southern florida, but not too hot. We were able to enjoy eachothers company and feed the ducks!

My boy at 18 months can almost say every animal he might see in the park down here, rabbits, fish, butterfly, but his favorite is ducks! How awesome it is to see the effects of effort. Not only did the outing effect my son, but I overheard my husband telling some friends at church on Sunday how wonderful his trip to the park was and how much he enjoyed watching his son play at the park. What wonderful results!

If you can’t tell I was happy! The challenge continues… Although I have found some helpful aids. Check it out if you would like. http://www.lds.org/library/display/0,4945,31-1-15-12,00.html

Also please do post a comment if you have any great spontanious daily family activities I can implement. I will be sure to let you know which ones work wonders!

TTFN

Bridget

The problems usually don’t hit you at the start. In fact they usually come in stages. A very difficult goal of my life I accomplished recently was competing in a Triathlon. I had no illusions of grandeur and new I would not be competitively ranked. But starting off I could not even swim so just completing it would be my goal 1.

Set up was easy. I found a great group of girls with the same goal and willing to support each other, no matter our current fitness level or skill level. They started training before me since I had just had my first child and needed to wait six weeks to heal.

Six weeks behind and absolutely no swimming skills. I jumped in the water with my friends and began training. It was difficult at first. I felt so far behind as they worked on increasing laps and I worked on putting my face in the water.

We rode our bikes and ran occasionally. Swimming every day I just knew I would reach my goal 1. That’s when reality set in. It was 2 weeks away and going to be a 400 meter open swim and I hadn’t even put together a lap without stopping.

My heart sunk as I felt I had already failed in completing my goal. The crazy thing was my friend and fellow athlete  Cece kept encouraging me and telling me I could do it! For some reason I believed her. I guess it was faith, her ingenious safety rashgaurd, or perhaps my own inner determination.

But I realized that reality was what I made it. There are no predetermined rules that say if you cannot swim a lap today, you won’t be able to swim 8 next week. So I pressed on. The crazy part…exactly two days before the meet I connected 8 laps 400meters! I was ecstatic! My progress was tremendous. I knew I could do the triathlon! This goal of life was on its way to being completed.

Saturday was race day! Nervous were running up and down my spine. I kept looking at that water. A battle of fear great fear, and determination was raging inside my head.

The time for my heat came and about 50 twenty something’s headed out into the murky lake. We had to tread water for about 3 minutes before the whistle blew. At this moment the war cries of fear were monstrously loud in my head. There was lake grass everywhere and I was having a hard time staying afloat. Not to mention every time I found a clear spot five other competitive girls were vying for it.

I looked back at the ground with longing eyes….but I had come so far to quit now. You know I just might have, but luckily the whistle blew and it was swim or be trampled. I wasn’t confident enough in my ability to start strong with the front of the pack and tried to ease my way to the back. That was actually increasingly difficult. Nonetheless I pressed onward.

Keep on swimming, keep on swimming…..keep on swimming I said to myself and you know that first orange buoy marking 1/3 of the swim was soon in front of me. (This is where short term….very short term goals are initiated!) I can do this I thought and began towards buoy #2. I was finally regaining my confidence just meters from buoy #2 when suddenly there was a mass of hard core 30 something men right on top of me! I went under. I was about to panic when that spirit inside me.

That human spirit inside us all spoke, “you can do it! you are more than half way just give it your all!” I kicked it in. I could swim! No one could tell me I couldn’t or make me not. I began swimming right alongside those superior male athletes and to my surprise ran into the back foot of one as I began to over take him.

This startled me and knocked me out of my groove. I went under again and this time when I came up I was right next to the safety canoe.  She could pluck me out of this chaos and save me. “Are you alright,” she asked? “Do you want out?”

I looked at here in disbelief. Here was my chance at not drowning, and yet what she was really offering me was failure! After all I hadn’t even pulled my safety guard.

“No I am fine,” I said with assurance I didn’t even know I had. I completed that leg of the triathlon. Swam to the end. Dragging my tired body up onto my feet and towards my bike.  After all I wasn’t done; far from it!…

I will continue with my story tomorrow, I just want you to take this time and this day to think about your goals of life…Are you facing demons as you reach out to achieve them? Is the Demon yourself? Some outside unaccounted for factor like lake grass? Or all those around you who’s competitive drive might be pushing you under?

I will admit while I am well practiced in setting and achieving goals this one was definitely the hardest. My very life was on the line literally. And I was scared for it. It is because of this that I am so capable of relating to struggles with any goal and love to help people overcome them.

So leave a comment, send me an email. And I will see you tomorrow with leg 2 of my triathlon goal!

Like choosing the steepest and smoothest cliff face when there is a happy little trail 10 feet away! That is my kind of challenge! Even more so, however, is the challenges of the mind. The ones that can have many many answers and it is up to you to concoct a creative solution!

Ah yes love those challenges! For instance and example I do a bit of Private Engagement Ring Design. Many of my friends wanted something special and unique to them, but were afraid if they designed it themselves it would either look unoriginal, or gaudy and messy. A challenge I was glad to take them up on!

And a challenge it was, straight from the very beginning my friend Liz had mentioned in passing one day that it would be really awesome if she could find a diamond ring that was like a Mobius Strip.  How funny I remember making paper mobius’s at church and trying to figure it out…at the time we deemed it probably wouldn’t look very pretty.

Well several months later when her Boyfriend came to me wanting to surprise propose to her with a ring that would be just her I took the challenge seriously!  Much tougher than I thought. Seriously 5 pages of sketch book thumbnails.  Just when I had finally settled on a design I had an aha moment “The ants”

The saying goes with mobius strips is that if an ant walked along the edge he would end up walking on both the top and bottom edge without ever leaving the edge.  What if instead of a sent trail that ant left a Diamond trail…..

It was beautiful.  (sorry I don’t have a picture.) So much so that I have since had 5 others designed and made! Each a challenge worthy of the end product!

Check out the one I did for a total geek engineer (that’s not offensive to him) It’s based on a capacitor but I had to make it dainty enough for his tiny fairy princess like wife!

Please respect the rights of the owner and do not have this ring or one similar reproduced or designed without permission.

Share your Creative Challenges below. Or just challenges! Recently I wondered what it would be like if a creative person like myself took on a boring job like Network Marketing.  I’m still working through my thumbnails, but when it hits I think it will be no less successful.

This challenge is weird, because the thumbnails must go live and be picked apart in public…before refined. That’s crazy. You can tell me what you think of my latest thumbnail...

When we work hard and play harder the line between the two becomes oh so fuzzy. That's my little bro doing what he does best!