The Small Is Beautiful Manifesto

26 November, 2007

We're Back!

Okay we are back from our New York trip all in one piece! We had a blast spending time with friends and family while enjoying the festivities of NYC and the Thanksgiving Holiday. I highly recommend seeing the Macy's Day Parade at least once in your lifetime and if you have small children to take, all the better. What a magical site to see their faces light up.

I will post more another night, but wanted to say we made it and we are blessed for having made this trip.

17 November, 2007

Glutton for Punishment?

Tomorrow, we depart for New York City. Actually, we will be in Long Beach, but close enough. We will spend time with friends & family for the Holiday week. Thursday, I have this crazy notion that we will brave the crowds and take the boys to see and be a part of the Macy's Day Parade! I know, "Are we crazy"?

Since I was a child, I have watched this parade, like many people. Now that I have a very close accommodation to Manhattan, I figured this would be a fun thing to do with the boys and make memories. This is after all, what I try to do, Make Memories. I want my boys to look back at their childhood with a warm heart and see that their parents loved them like crazy! I want them to see me as human but a little bit special, in that I gave them my best and they are better for it.

Lately, I have been challenging my own memories of my parents. I see many holes in the past and then some nice things as well. The holes of disappointment or lack of parenting are very big and it hurts to look back and recognize they are there. It also hurts to know that I really don't have a good relationship with my parents. There are so many issues in the way that I have no responsibility for and I need to just move forward.

It drives me to do better and be more for my children. I want to take dysfunction out of my family once and for all. It doesn't have to be crazy or insane or unhealthy. A family can be good, solid, fun and loving. This is my goal.

So, we will go and see what we can see and have memories of our adventure. I love my children like nothing else in this world and I love my husband for indulging the child he sees in me.

15 November, 2007

Decisions Keeping Me Awake

Yesterday I received a phone call regarding my resume out on Monster. Now, I uploaded my resume in August I believe. I haven't really thought of it since and didn't expect the phone call. The gist is that I am being pursued by an employer for a Recruiting Position. As this sounds good and possibly a bit flattering, I am not certain I like this idea of taking on a job. I have enjoyed being a mother, taking care of my boys, running them on errands and hearing their voices all times of the day. I enjoy having them jump into bed every morning for hugs and snuggles as we talk about our day. Taking on a job means that my morning routines among other routines are changed and do I really want to give that up?

Financially speaking, we really do need the money and I do crave some professional recognition. Maybe if the job was a bit more project oriented where I was not on the phone, I would be more excited, but right now, I am nervous as I don't know how it will change our lives. This is a big change and a huge adjustment to my children. I know they are flexible, but I will miss them and know in my heart it will be huge for me.

I am going forward with the process to see what it could be. It may turn out to be a dead end in terms of not enough compensation. It could also be a bad fit personality wise. But until I know all the terms, I will walk forward. It doesn't hurt to pursue the opportunity.

Meanwhile, I need to find a way to put these thoughts to bed, while I am trying to go to bed! Any suggestions beyond warm milk, hot shower, exhausting sex, yoga routines, meditation???

12 November, 2007

Iron Chef

Cleveland is on the National Map, thanks to Michael Symon. Yes, I am a foodie and love to enjoy good food. I remember watching the Original Iron Chef back in the late 90's with my then boyfriend, now husband. My Husband is a chef who worked for the Ritz Carlton among other fine establishments.

We used to watch the Iron Chef and enjoy the challenges and creations. Nice to have watched this show emerge onto the American market with its own flavors. How happy and nervous I was watching the outcome last night on the Food Network! (Kinda like watching the last 2 minutes of a Browns Game..., you know what I mean?)

What made this final battle even more interesting for our household is that my husband and I ate at both of the chefs' restaurants. My Hubbie actually met John Besh when we lived in New Orleans. As an added perk, Michael Symon's mother is a long time customer at my aunt's restaurant in the Cleveland area. With this connection, hubbie and I have both sat on a couple of occasions with Michael Symon while eating as his then Lola's.

Another added twist is that our first son was born in New Orleans and our second son was born in Cleveland. What a fun little oddity we had while watching this final show.

Of course all of this is great news for Cleveland, Ohio in terms of commerce. This city is a great city underneath all of the old money. Cleveland has a rich history, which unfortunately has been buried along with the old benefactors. What has inherited this city is a bunch of ungrateful, ignorants. They seem to be unable to bring the city to its original grandeur. There are many treasures here that go unnoticed; which is a shame. Do you know that Tiffany designed and built a chapel here? I struggle with being back "home", as I know the city could be great, but until the city understands that, it will never shine like it should. Sometimes it is easier to move on and find your niche somewhere fresh.

I don't know what the future holds for me, but I am truly grateful to Michael Symon and his culinary genius for working hard to be the next Iron Chef; among serving me some of my greatest meals in the past.

Bravo!

08 November, 2007

Being Authentic

I was reading an article in one of those free health and body magazines usually found near the exit of a healthy grocery store and was struck by the following line, "Stop making excuses to live the life you want to live and make the right choices even if they are hard", something to that effect. Recently, I have been challenged to redefine who and what I stand for. I try every day to incorporate healthy habits, from eating, purchasing, cleaning, exercise, parenting etc. It is hard to life the life you want to live when our society is not set up to support us. AT least not all places in the US are earth friendly. Additionally, our neighbors may look at us like we are freaks, or one of "those tree hugger types".

I find the greater challenge is within our friend and family circles. Do we have to accept a person's choice of poor health or guilty pleasure if we want them in our lives? I don't think we do. If you want to be a healthy person, it takes more than 75% healthy choices and the other 25% oh well. It takes 100% commitment to trying our best all the time and not making excuses when it suites us. This is not to say that 100% of the time we have to be perfect, but 100% of the time, we need to want better and at least try. Making the statement, "I only do it once in a while or most of the time I am okay", well even doing it once in a while means you haven't embraced the idea of what you are trying to accomplish.

Hmm, what does this mean for me? Well it means that 100% of the time, I think constantly about my choices and reflect on how I could have made better ones. I challenge myself to learn more and find the financial path to achieving those choices. It is a challenge, as I would love to have a completely organic wardrobe, but at this time, I have to go little by little, as I also don't want to be wasteful or irresponsible when I know my budget doesn't allow for any clothing, let alone organic clothing. I make do with what I have and try to recycle. The key word here is try....

TRY, TRY, TRY.... you must commit to a healthier life 100% of the time, in order to be authentic and taken seriously for who you are. At least this is my opinion.