Little Pockets of Bliss

The Single Mom's Guide to Finding Joy in Every Day Life

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50 Random Things About Me

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Just for fun, here’s a list of 50 Random Things About Me!

  1. I’ve never met a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup I didn’t like.
  2. Mr. Dressup picked me (wearing my blue dress) out of the audience to sit on a handkerchief in an envelope, and it magically turned blue (I still have that envelope).
  3. I’m allergic to cows and kapok.
  4. I was a Junior Naturalist, and co-starred in a local tv documentary about Laurel Creek.
  5. A school picture photographer called me Mrs. Beasley.
  6. My first job was cook at a Fish ‘n Chip restaurant when I was 14.
  7. When I was in 5th grade, I broke my 5th metatarsal playing ball hockey at recess.
  8. I’ve worn glasses since I was 3 years old.
  9. I was bilingual in English and French when I graduated high school.  (Now, not so much).
  10. I was once a pea pod in an ice-skating showcase.
  11. I have a thing about spelling and grammar.  I may or may not judge prospective suitors this way.
  12. Laughter is the most important quality I want in a relationship.
  13. My favourite drink is margaritas, but I can’t drink tequila straight.
  14. I held the high score on Galaga for an entire summer at HavSumFun Trailer Park (my boys don’t believe me).
  15. I once baked, and individually wrapped, 1500 chocolate chip cookies as a campaign ploy while running for high school president. I didn’t win.
  16. I have 5 tattoos.
  17. My family used to own a Hallmark store.
  18. I think there’s nothing sexier than Javier Bardem saying “Darling”.
  19. Colin Farrell has been my #1 celebrity crush since the early 2000’s.
  20. I’ve been snorkelling with manta rays, at night.
  21. I have a degree in Psychology.
  22. I’d rather be barefoot all the time (this is a problem in Canada).
  23. I once starred as Aunt Polly in the musical The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
  24. My first post-university job was answering an 800-number for road conditions in the BC interior.
  25. I’ve swam in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
  26. I have a thing for beautiful children’s books and used to work in a children’s book store called Through The Looking Glass.
  27. Although I hail from Blackberry’s hometown, I am now an Apple girl all the way.
  28. I once walked 60km over 2 days in Toronto.
  29. I once started a business selling decorative rubber stamps at home parties.
  30. I was once part of a scientific study about chocolate addiction.
  31. I was the only female Dungeon Master in 7th grade.
  32. I am a Scorpio through and through.
  33. I was meant to live near the water (currently not there, but one day!)
  34. My mom is my best friend.
  35. I love sushi and pad thai.
  36. I hate fruit.
  37. Fall is my favourite season.
  38. I hate winter.
  39. I am a procrastinator.
  40. I used to be a travel agent specializing in Disney vacations.
  41. Tinkerbell and Stitch are my favourite Disney characters.
  42. I use exclamation points (and parentheses) far too often in my writing!!!
  43. I met my ex-husband on a radio call-in show called “Blind Date-o-rama”.  That should have been a sign.
  44. I cry at movies, commercials and watching the Olympics.
  45. I now live about a 5 minute drive from where I grew up.
  46. My boys go (or will go) to the same middle school I went to.
  47. I saw the Lord of the Rings trilogy movies on opening night (8 1/2 months pregnant for The Two Towers).
  48. I hail from the MacKinnon clan, makers of Drambuie (which I do drink straight).
  49. I took my high school English credits (except grade 9) in summer school the year before, because I was a keener.
  50. I would love to travel the world and blog about it!

The Days Are Long But The Years Are Short – How Time Changes As Parents

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This post contains affiliate links, meaning if you click through and decide to purchase, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you! I only post links to products I myself have used and would recommend to others.  Thank you!

Time Flies By So Fast

A little thing happened at the bowling alley last night.  (Like the beginning of all good stories…Lol!)  There was a crossover of life stages that caught me by surprise, but also brought a smile to my face (and a little tear to my eye too).

A gathering of work colleagues at our local KingPin Bowl Lounge, to celebrate a birthday.  I said I would drop in, as it was near to the airport, where my oldest attends Air Cadets.  (Have I mentioned that I am currently in the stage of parenthood known as “taxi driver”? Those of you in this stage too are nodding your heads in understanding and solidarity).

I also had my youngest son with me.  It’s the first time in a long time I’ve felt comfortable that he would behave in public without embarrassment (and he acted like a complete gentleman…proud mama moment!)

“Little Boy” Time

One of our co-workers, who is currently on mat leave, was there with baby boy in tow. I immediately scooped up the little guy (because I am magnetically attracted to the wee little ones it seems, and…baby!).  There I was with a 4 month old in my arms, watching my 10 year old shaking hands around the table like a little man.

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Must Have Supplies For Creative Journaling

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For The Love Of Writing

Since I was a child, I have always been writing.  Stories, poems, thoughts and secrets written in a diary.  I loved English class, book reports, essays, creative writing projects.  But oddly enough, it was only in the last few years that I have called myself a writer.  I haven’t published a book, never submitted to a writing contest, and until this blog, didn’t publicly post online (under my own name at least…but that’s another story).

But I have volumes of writing dating back decades.  And still to this day I write in a journal, almost daily.  It is part of my self-care routine, how I cope with stress, and how I untangle the “knots” in my life. (You can read more about my other strategies for managing stress here).  When I fall out of habit, I notice.  My thoughts are more scattered, I don’t deal as well with frustration, and am more prone to turn to negative ways of coping (like a full-on, total carb-fest!)

Journaling isn’t difficult to do.  You only need a few basic supplies like pen and paper.  But I have found that kicking it up a notch, gathering supplies together, putting in some thought to the process, gives it a bit more meaning, thus making it more likely to become habit.  There are no rules, no templates to follow.  Don’t concern yourself with spelling and grammar (unless you’re a bit obsessed about that, like me…).  Make it as short as a few sentences, or as long as a few pages, whatever feels right in the moment.

Here is a list of my list of Must Have Supplies for Creative Journaling……

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How To Manage Electronics Time For Kids

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This post contains affiliate links, meaning if you click through and decide to purchase, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you! I only post links to products I myself have used and would recommend to others.  Thank you!

Are your kids spending way too much electronics time?  Always in front of a screen, be it a video game, tablet, phone or tv?  Do you struggle with finding the balance between entertainment and education?  And when you finally take the devices away, do you get temper tantrums and meltdowns?

Me too.  It’s not easy, and it’s something our family still struggles with.  But I have made some small changes that are slowly adding up to create different habits and outcomes.  Some days it still feels like one step forward, two steps back.  But I’m confident that if we keep at it, we’ll reach a balance that we can all live with.

As a single mom, electronics time from a young age is the only way I keep up with everything.  Putting on an episode of Blue’s Clues or Thomas the Tank Engine (I’m dating myself here, aren’t I…) gave me 20 minutes to fold a load of laundry, or start dinner.  A Disney/Pixar movie, with my toddler planted firmly between my curled up legs and the back of the couch could equal a much needed nap for me, especially after nightshift.

Too Much Is Not A Good Thing

I am well aware of the dangers of too much electronics time.  I’m living it.  My youngest could definitely be considered “addicted” to video games.  If he is not squarely policed, he will play incessantly.  He’ll forget to eat, sacrifice sleep, and get so wound up and aggressive that he becomes completely unmanageable.

Yes, I am partly to blame.  I said yes to the hand-me-down iPads that both boys were given.  I bought the video game console. And the second one when the first was considered too “childish” (Come on Mom, nobody plays Wii, it’s gotta be PS4 or Xbox!) It was me that purchased the video games, and agreed when others gifted more games.  And yes, I downloaded Pokemon Go on my phone (and have been known to play it on occasion when the 10 year old is not around, don’t judge me…).

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What’s In My Earbuds – Perfect Podcast Picks

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Podcasts are a relatively new-to-me addition to my entertainment line-up.  Music, movies, books and magazines have always been staples my whole life.  But podcasts are only something I discovered and really got into in the last few years.  I first starting listening at home, while housecleaning or making dinner.  However, lately with driving and dropping the boys here and there all over the place for their activities (I am squarely in the “chauffeur” era of motherhood…sigh!), podcasts are definitely keeping me company in the car!  I love the Bluetooth!

Before I get into which podcasts I love, I should mention my favourite podcast app!  I started with the standard podcast app that came with my iPhone. This worked fine, and I really didn’t know any different.  However, a few months ago I discovered the Overcast app, and I am IN LOVE!!  I can create customized playlists, and speed up or slow down the playback.

Serial and Undisclosed

My first podcast experience definitely spoiled me, and set the bar high for podcasts in general.  Serial, an award-winning true crime podcast that became a cultural phenomenon, instantly hooked me, and I found myself immersed in the Season 1 real-life story that is still unfolding today.  An offshoot podcast, Undisclosed, delves further into this same story of Adnan Sayed, from a more legal standpoint, analyzing both the Serial podcast and new evidence uncovered….

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