“How much crap can you carry in your wallet?”
This is a question frequently asked by my husband when I peel out my wallet at the checkout counter.
“I can’t help that it all falls out. I have about a million of these reward cards, my credit cards, my license, my receipts, and my money?”
That is the point where he just gives me a very inquisitive look like I’m nuts.
Mom’s look for a deal and you can’t always get a deal if you don’t have your card. At CVS the other day I made a purchase and when I got my register tape it was a mile long and had some decent coupons. One of them was for 25% off my entire CVS purchase. Now that isn’t something you see every day.
When my friend Kristin from EverydaySolutions.com and I were together working on a book on how a mom can organize her life, I asked her for a parenting advice on this sensitive topic. THIS is the brilliant thing she recommended.
What you do is you go to keyringthing.com. They will ask you for all of your reward card numbers and then consolidate them on one card, generating a bar code for each store, 3 on one side and 3 on the other. The best thing about it is how people freak out when I use it at the checkout. Yesterday I went to Costco.
“May I see your card please?”
I took out my keyringthing.com card .
“I’m sorry I need your Costco card.”
“This is my Costco card. Just try scanning the bar.”
When they did and it worked, they began calling everyone over to show off my card. They had never seen anything like it.
“Where did you get this?” one girl asked.
“You mean you don’t have to carry 6 different cards in your wallet? You just use this one card?” another chimed in.
Yup. No more bulk in the bulkhead. Just one little card that takes the place of SIX.
Visit keyringthing.com put in your membership numbers for other stores i.e.: Costco, BJ’s, Grocery stores, Staples, etc. I think it’s $5.95 for each card and put in 31957 under promo. They will give you 10% off and it will be one step towards simplifying your life.
My dad and my mother in law are in town this week , and no we didn’t plan on the matching outfits. They were kind enough to fly in from Florida for my son’s communion. I love the visit. The thing is that my family is very social. Ok cut to the chase, I have been partying for a week. Every day is an outing, a lunch (as seen here), a pizza party, a dinner here and a drink there. I’m not used to this retired lifestyle. I think I may need a detox and a good nap. If this is any indication of what my retirement years will be, I better get my rest now.
My tip for when your retired parents come to visit is to :
#1) Drink lots of water ahead of visit
#2) Lose about 5 pounds before they arrive.
#3) Clear the calendar.
#4) Get lots of rest.
#5) Be ready to see who your parents used to be before they had you.
A day just for mothers is music to my ears. The sad thing is that Sunday is a day for me and when my family asks me what I want to do, I reply “I don’t know.” It’s too much pressure. My mind begins to spin and I start taking a mental tally in my head thinking about what my sons or daughters would enjoy.
When I lived abroad, one of the things that I missed the most was the every day outings with my mother. We could get lost for hours just poking around and having lunch. Every Saturday growing up would be our day to shop, hang out, cook together, or even just to clean.
Now that I am back , I try to find some time that I can share with mom. Impromptu I will call her and we will take off to Costco or for a bite for lunch. The other day we were on the South side of town and we looked at each other and announced almost in tandem
“Screw the diet, let’s go to Blackies for a hot dog.”
My car wheels squealed with delight as we made the left turn into the parking lot.
Inside, we sat at the old wooden bar. Exchanging glances, we knew the order;
3 hot dogs with their spicy relish
2 bags of chips
2 chocolate milks
We moseyed up to our stool, sat down, and waited in anticipation.
What hit me most that day was how much I cherished the little things we shared, Mom and I. There wasn’t extravagance in the outings but rather time together, trips to the market, and stops at the lunch counter.
Looking back, I realized why I couldn’t decide what I wanted to do for Mother’s day. I didn’t want to experience the extraordinary, I want to do ordinary things that make being with mom so special. Oh yeah, and maybe a nap.
Happy Mother’s Day to all my beautiful column readers.
Today my life is in limbo. My husband is deciding between two jobs, one which will take him across the country Monday through Friday, a hot smaller company that has tremendous potential. He would be running sales. The other is closer, much more stable, he would be running sales their as well. It is gambling for that big silicone valley payoff versus winning the race at a slow steady pace. I need slow and steady right now. There isn’t a price tag for having your husband closer to you.
Recently I came upon this great website www.finerminds.com for personal growth where they talk about great quotes, personal growth, and ways to transform your life. They didn’t pay me to mention them. I just happened across the site and when I find great things I like to share them. One of their columns was the Editor’s movie picks of top five movies that changed his life. Here were the ratings:
- The Matrix-a bit sci fi for me, however it is a movie starring Keanu Reeve about living the truth.
- Star Trek- An accurate description about how the Universe splits. NOt sure I am a Star Trek Fan. This one might be tough for me.
- Dead Poet Society-Definitely! I loved this movie. It was about seizing the day and embracing your life. I have a son who is 12 who I think will benefit from this movie. It really shows the difference between studying a text book and living through history.
- Waking Life-A movie about free will, our relationship with others, and the meaning of life. Available on You Tube.
- Sliding Doors-Watched it Sunday with my kids. A London woman’s love life and career both hinge, unknown to her, on whether or not she catches a train. We see it both ways, in parallel.It was about wondering what would have happened if I took this door instead of that one. This morning I woke up to one of my kids with a broken heart from a broken relationship and used it to show her the value of letting go and our inability to control our life. Thumbs Up!
I recommend using these picks for your family movie nights. They will not only entertain but be useful in teaching your kids invaluable life lessons. What are your favorite movie picks, movies that changed your life?
Tomorrow I am off for my second 40 hour session at Yoga Camp. The dichotomy is that I am off for a “peaceful retreat” with a fever, a child with a broken heart, a husband that was unexpectedly called to California for an interview, Junior prom, and a shower that I am cohosting on Friday night. Being a mother doesn’t stop. There are no time outs, breaks, vacation, or sick days. It is 24/7. My daughter looked at me today and said “Mom please don’t go.” I explained that I would be back tomorrow evening and that my mom would be here but somehow that wasn’t enough. They want to walk in the door with good smells coming from the kitchen and Jason Mraz music playing in the background. They want me there welcoming them with a big hug and kiss as they walk through the door. Once they put down their book bags, they sit at the kitchen island with their homework. For hours they do their work and chat with me, filling me in on their day and the events that have unfolded in their lives.
Someday, too soon, I will miss these days, being needed, being wanted, feeling loved. No matter how many mantras and yoga philosophies I study, that is the true meaning of peace.
My kids have 34 days left until school ends. I know this because I am a mom and I counted.
April break has been a parenting test run for the summer months and since Sunday I have not stopped. We might have gone away however the kids were told if they were to miss one practice or game they would be off their spring teams. I am not sure I am understanding this concept because when I think vacation, I think that I must do something radically different from my life so I can go back home and appreciate it. With all the carpooling, I am not feeling that this week is so radically different.
Here is a photo of a family vacation we took several years ago b.s. (before sports) that was different. We went to the Grand Canyon and looked at rocks for 7 days.
Here is another beautiful shot of all the rocks.
I think it was the smell from the buffalo
that made me miss home. It must have reminded me
of all the sneakers at my front door.
Once I had made the decision, it was all systems go for me. I was going to a yoga retreat to become a teacher, and I was going to love it even if I was in a tennis skirt and would be late.
The ride was beautiful. I went through farmland with cows in large red barns with windows that allowed you to see in from the road. There were vast fields of yellow and brown, which would yield corn for the animals. The road curved in and out of country towns, which were lined with antique shops, general stores and white steeple churches. This in itself was a breath of fresh air.
One of the best parts was that I was listening to a HOT book on tape “50 Shades of Grey” which to say the least kept me entertained. Besides, I WAS READING, doing something for me.
When I arrived, everyone was in a circle. They would wait for me to come in and introduce myself. I kicked off my shoes, yoga matt and water bottle in hand, and made my way toward the group. This would be easy; I would do my best and was sure I couldn’t be that far behind the group. We were all learners’ right?
“Hi.” I introduced myself.
“I’m Wendy and I’m late.”
The group laughed.
“My mission in this class is to touch my toes.”
The group laughed harder.
Ok they think I am joking, this could be a problem. I might have to go with this.
“Really, I am a writer and I want a chance to reach out and affect others beyond my writing, spread some humor. If I am lucky you will all be patient with my inability to see past my knees.”
I looked around and saw shaking heads and love that emanated from within the circle. I was glad I came.
“
I decided with my weak pelvic floor that maybe yoga wasn’t in my future. How would I teach a class when I couldn’t even contain a pocket of air?
“I’m not doing it.” I announced.
“It’s not practical and I am not leaving all of you for 5 days. Besides what will you do without me?”
Everyone was fine with it. They just wanted me happy.
The next morning I woke at 5:30 headed to gym. In the back of my mind, the yoga retreat went round and round.
What if I did it and loved it? If I don’t like it I don’t have to do it. Wendy get out of this house before it kills you. You know that you need to do something else with your life so you don’t feel like you’ve regressed. Run now while you have the chance.
In the middle of my curls, I put the weights down and announced that I had to go.
“Where are you going?” my workout out partner asked.
“I’m going home, getting my water bottle, and going to Massachusetts for a yoga workshop. I have to do it. My life depends on it.”
Just like that I decided to commute 2 hours each way that day, pay the $600 and give it a shot. Who knows becoming a Yogi might be in my future.