Please welcome Tonya from Whoopsidaisy!

My name is Tonya and I am a SAHM of four.

This is my go-to line of introduction when I’m asked to tell a little about myself.   Case in point is a writing group I recently joined.  As I looked into the circle of unfamiliar faces, these were my exact words. 

After the meeting I pondered why I didn’t say “My name is Tonya, and I am writing a novel” or “My name is Tonya and I love the outdoors.”

Now that my children are growing older, (my youngest is three, oldest is 14), I’m finding an intense need to carve out more time for myself, more time to just be Tonya. 

But who is Tonya without her children?

I’ve come to realize that my children are perfect to hide behind at times when I’m feeling insecure.  Have to go to a large gathering?  Take the kids along!  They can look cute and provide endless conversation starters.  My 20^th high school reunion?  Buy a ticket, plan to go, and then chicken out at the last minute, using the kids as an excuse.

This is NOT a good thing.  It keeps me from taking risks, using my children as shields to block uncomfortable feelings. 

So what am I doing about this?  I’m taking more “me” time.  Not an easy for me for a multitude of reasons, but mostly because I don’t want to burden anyone – it was our decision to have four children, so I had better just buck up and deal with it, damnit!

However, to quote an overused phrase, it takes a village.  We live such separated lives.  Families all over the country, if not the globe.  Mothers working full-time, part-time, all-the-time.  We may know our neighbors only by the occasional wave or polite “How are you?”

Where is our village?  we may ask ourselves.  Although it is difficult, find that village we must.  Even if it takes us into unfamiliar territory. 

For me, blogging is becoming part of my village.  Frankly, I was a wreck about blogging at first.  Who are these strangers who would want to read about me?  Why do they care?  Is blogging yet another form of navel-gazing in our it’s-all-about-me, Paris Hilton, reality television immersed society?

Well, blogging IS NOT that.  It’s about connection.  Connection to others in our fractured world.

So who am I?  I am Tonya.   Blogger.  Writer.  Lover of the Outdoors.  AND mother of four.

Please welcome Lindsey from Adventures of a Mom of 2!

Hi everyone! I'm Lindsey, I write over at Adventures of a Mom of 2. I'm married to a Marine going on 5 years and mom of a wild 3 year old and one of the world's cutest (I may be a little biased) 18 month old! Enough about me and on to the show!

While Laura is on the road she asked for a few guest bloggers and I happily asked her if she would let me & guess what?!?! She said YES! I am honored to share a few of {my favorite things}. I have an obsession with Pinterest. If you haven't checked it, beware it's addicting!

Without further delay, here are some of my {favorite things}:

{I need this for my entry way. This one of my favorite sayings.}

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 {Custom-colored-chalkboard paint is on my list of DIY projects.}

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 {This traveling car roll - perfect for my matchbox-car loving 3 year old.}

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 {DIY kitchen sink - this is on my hubby's todo list when he returns.
I spy the perfect place to use my colored chalk DIY!}

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{This image makes me tear up every.single.time I see it.}
{source unknown}

 

{This is my Fall dream outfit.}

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Thanks for reading my {list of favorites}. Please stop by and say hi!

Please welcome the Annoyed Army Wife!

As L. prepares to move cross country to El Paso I’m happy to stand in and keep you all occupied.  First, here’s an intro for those of you who do not know me; I’m the annoyed army wife married to OccDoc, an Army doctor recently returned from a deployment in Afghanistan.  As I like to say ‘I support the troops, just not always the one I’m married to.’  Anyway, we’ve done our fair share of moving.  We left our home, Chicago, and headed south to San Antonio for a year, then a couple years in Maryland, then a year in hell/middle of nowhere, a couple years in Salt Lake City, and now we’re back pretty close to the middle of nowhere.

Most of our moves we have movers come and pick up our crap, then OccDoc and I load all of our pets in the car and hit the road.  We always beat the movers to our new home and begin cleaning like fools often working late into the night to ensure our house has a beautiful sheen to it before we start dragging all of our dirty crap inside.  There’s a moment of every move that I wish I could bottle.  It’s right after we’ve cleaned everything, so the air still smells like lemon pledge, pinesol, and febreeze.  Our sleeping bags are laid out in the living room as our indoor camp site with a few candles burning as a makeshift fire.  The dogs are asleep.  The house is completely silent without a glaring TV or ipod playing.  And it’s just me and OccDoc.  We take a deep breath, hold each other’s hands, and imagine the possibilities.  It’s that particular moment I love so much.  Just for that particular moment we are so alive with hope and anticipation of this new adventure we almost forget the fact that the next day we have to figure out what the movers broke.  Just kidding, L, they haven't broken much!

I know moving blows big time, but there is always a bright side. What’s your favorite part of a move?

Please welcome Ashley from Ramblings & Photos!

The past few days, I've had Maroon 5's new song, "Move Like Jagger" playing in my head. Since it's my turn to take over Laura's blog...rather than trying to turn off the music in my head, I think I'll just roll with it. Besides, Laura, Sammy and Captain Husband will need some jams for their move to El Paso.

Anyways...as many of you know, my husband and I recently invited our niece to stay with us for the weekend. While she was here, I tried my best to enjoy our time together and not shove a camera in her face. But let's be honest...I'm a photographer. So, at some point, whether she liked it or not, a camera was going to turn on her. Luckily for me, not only did I capture some really sweet moments, but I also managed to pick up some sweet dance moves. Luckily for you, I'm in a sharing mood.

Without further ado, Alyssa and I give you...THE SPRINKLER:






1. Put your left hand over your left ear.

2. Extend your right arm.

3. Purse your lips together (look at Alyssa).

4. Tick your right arm towards the left side of your body...just like a sprinkler head.

5. Switch arms (right hand over right ear, left arm extended) and repeat.









Now, in my pictures, Alyssa is sitting down. However, these dance moves can also be done standing up. You can even add in a hip swing or march. Just have fun with it!

With that said, I think my time is up (or rather, my brain has dumped all it has to offer for one silly post). If you or your children happen to practice these dance moves, I think it'd be awesome if you took pictures (or video) and posted them on your blog for all to see. You can even post a link in the comments on this post...just an idea. And to Laura, I hope you and your family arrive to El Paso in one piece.

Please welcome Clara from Maeve's Mama: Thoughts on Motherhood!

Hi there, awesome readers of L-Cubed!  I feel lucky to be able to share a guest post to help out Laura while she's en route to Texas.  I was pondering what to write about, particularly what Laura and I have in common.  I am not a military wife, and my daughter is just a few months older than Sammy.  But what we have in common is a love of antiques, or in my case, antique books.

I love antique books, most especially versions of books I love.  My biggest collection of antique books is my copies of Hamlet - the oldest was printed in 1898, and the latest was 1960, but they are all so beautiful and close to my heart.

The gem of my collection, and the only one that is actually worth more than I paid for it, is "Stories from Chaucer Told to the Children", a very lucky find in an Oxfam bookstore in Oxford, England.  It was published in 1914, and according to the name plate, it was awarded to a child named Olive for her pressed flower collection.

(Love the Art Deco look)

It's a funny idea, telling Chaucer's tales to children, most of Chaucer is bawdy enough to make a bartender blush, but these stories are carefully chosen and gently retold.  The treasures of this book are the breathtaking illustrations, done in watercolor by Heath Robinson, in a lovely Art Deco style. 

(All the women look very deferential)

My daughter will get to enjoy some of these books when she is old enough to take care of delicate things... right now that feels like roughly twenty years away.  But these precious tomes will wait on my shelf till she is ready, or I am.