Love Scandanavia

A series of events have recently occured that spiked my obsession with Scandanavia. Lately I cannot get enough and find myself taking numerous virtual trips throughout the day. I started w/ dropping the Kruegers off at the airport for a trip to Norway & Sweden (back in May). Next were the movies based on the series by Stieg Larson (The Girl with the...). Now the holidays are here and I've learned that having children brings you that much closer to your heritage.

A family trip to visit our heritage is a near priority. I'd love to immerse ourselves in the simple culture and educate our children on that lifestyle.

Why not bring it home? The construction project is incomplete, but I'll be ready to revive our interiors when it is my turn. Above are just a few images that I've found. Like the images I'll go with a mix of trad and mod. Below is the Coral light fixture that I must have by David Trubridge.

Seatbelt?

Today I was sitting at my desk at work and thought to myself, "hmmm....I should buckle up." Not because I felt so busy that I needed grounding. But because my mind is so overwhelmed that I actually thought since I was sitting still I must be in my car.

Surroudings

I am a person strongly affected by surroundings. Surroundings are as much emotional as they are physical. I am suffocating myself by not completing my own residence. I need order, I need structure, I need a place for every little thing (including my sanity).

I am working hard at utilizing my creative brain, but find it challenging while at home. We have exposed window frames. We have no trim or moulding. We have no flooring in the upper level. We have exposed duct work in the basement. I feel incomplete and can't taste the creative juice while in my own sanctuary.

For now, I will use my imagination and pretend I am here:




Or here:



Or my absolute favorite:

Inspiration for the day.

I love how colorful the accessories are, executed with a balance of whites and neutrals.

Happy place.

Today I had an epiphany as my boys were playing in our in-home playground (supervised of course). I have been under a lot of stress for the last 13 months (wow that's a long time now that I add it up). And, I brought it on myself like every other over-stressed being.

We decided to add on 1200+ sq. ft. to our home and Chad is doing it all himself. I found out I was pregnant. We had many weddings to attend last year (two of which I was in....can you say dress alterations?). The twins turned 1. We ran a business, which includes payroll for our nanny, so lots of book-keeping. We have two large dogs that are very energetic and high maintenance. Chad lost his job. We had to lay Anya off (our nanny, so much a part of the family). My wagon was totalled. Our refrigerator broke down. Never-ending piles of laundry. Dust bunnies in every corner of EVERY room, oh and the sheet rock dust.

It doesn't matter what situation you find yourself in. It's how you handle it and if you are a capable problem-solver. Honestly, I was not that great of a problem solver. Luckily my best friend is a strong left-brainer (also w/ a strong right brain....so intelligent!) and she's taught me logical thinking.

What is it that really matters? Is it the messy house? Is it the unpaid bills? Well, cleaning the house has definitely fallen off my list. As far as the unpaid bills.....they all got paid, it was just a matter of shuffling things around.

So, in the last couple of months I have become a capable problem solver and have learned to simplify. We've narrowed everything down, we've prioritized and we have definitely cut the spending! It hit me like a ton of bricks today, and I'm not sure where how I forgot this favorite statement, "what good is life is you can't enjoy it?" I know I will look back and smile when I think of these years. I will probably want to re-live the simplicity of not having any money, but having an entire heart full of love and happiness, and a clear head.

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
-Dr. Seuss

I know he's quirky, but he has a valid point!

Wintours + Coddington

The other night I lost myself in "The September Issue." I was inspired by the two middle-aged women who were found at the peak of their careers. Anna Wintours, the editor-in-chief, and Grace Coddington, the creative director, are in head-over-heels fashion. They power Vogue. They are amazing and in my eyes, equally powerful. The two have climbed together for 20+ years. They are married to each other and to their tremendous jobs.

I couldn't help thinking about my dearest friend Andi. The two of us are so similar to Wintours and Coddington, except one of us is a little more career driven and could easily be the editor of such a high profile magazine.. I am as inspired by Andi as I am by The Editor. Andi is the most amazing woman that I know. She can juggle it all, and with immense grace. I aspire to be like her: intelligent, smart, fashionable, caring and genuine!

We have always had the dream of working together. In fact, we did work together when we were just teens. That is how we met. She was a bar-tender (she ran the show) and I was the waitress. Some day, we'll have the opportunity of having fun together at work. It'll happen...we've shared this dream for 12 years. The timing hasn't ever been right, but when it's right there will be a documentary on us and how we compare to Wintours + Coddington.

If it were the two of us sitting there at Fashion Week you might see another resemblance to the dynamic duo. Andi is polished, accesorized and always has great hair. Then there's me....the red head.

My heart melts when I think of Myles.

Blue Grass Morning

Morning is my favorite time of the day. It's my family reuniting after a night's slumber, gearing up before the day unfolds. This morning was particularly a great morning. I veered from our usual music selection, which is either The Current, a Metro Blend, or the Wunderground, and instead chose Blue Grass.

We had some delicious French Toast, which is one of Chad's two specialities (that and pancakes). Everyone was in a rather delightful mood....no tantrums, no screaming, noone throwing food or launching their sippy cups.

Chad turned to me and said, "I just had a really good memory of us." It's when we trekked out to Seattle in our RV. We stopped at a restaurant in Big Timber, Montana. We had a scrumptious dinner at this hotel, which specialized in local fare. I have no idea what the name of the restaurant is, but you can't miss it when you drive through Big Timber.

A chain of memories came about, one linking from the next. It was three years ago we lived in our RV and seems like a lifetime. We have so many fond memories from our experience and some days I miss the simplicity of life in an RV. Though the Big Green Rolling RV was the bane of my existence I will miss it and cherish the memories forever.

We often find ourselves linking moments with music. For example, life as a RVer and some down-home blue grass music.

At what point do things become so difficult?

Yesterday we enjoyed the afternoon at Lynnhurst Park. The weather was beautiful and the kids and parents were on a high. I stood in the middle of the playground holding Myles (two weeks old) and keeping my eye on Max, while Chad chased the fearless Aidan. Max approached a teeter-totter, which was occupied by a mother and her 5 year old son (Her husband was on the bench checking his blackberry. I later learned that he is employed at Target). The two of them were having a riot "accelerating" as he called it. As Max got closer the Mom slowed down and explained to her son how she didn't want to scare him. I was w/in 10 feet and kept calling for Max, but he wasn't responding. The 5 year old suddenly said, "just come over here and get him already!"

His Mother and I shared a glance of both awe and envy. Kids are so pure and simple, along with brutally honest.

That night I was thinking of the wise 5 year old on the teeter-totter and I tried to pin-point when life becomes so difficult. Is it when you leave the house for the first day of school, when you get your license, when you become 18 and move away from home? Or does it stem from day 1, when you become a sponge?

Life needn't be so complicated. Thank you to the 5 year old at the park! My new goal is to keep it simple and I'll start by not over-analyzing matters (ironic, I know).

We've been adjusting to our new life for two weeks now. It gets easier day by day. Still a lot of work, but you won't hear me complaining. This is how it is, this is how what we wanted, this is what we love.

In the midst of the "organized" chaos I found a quiet moment w/ Myles. I actually find many quiet moments w/ him since in our family we decided to divide and conquer. Chad cares for the twins, while I care for the newborn. Split down the middle until I'm fully recovered and don't have any restrictions.

During that quiet moment I found myself singing to Myles. Actually singing! It was my version of Your Song by Sir Elton John. When I realized what I was doing I enjoyed it even more. Because I have to analyze everything, and yes I waited until this moment had passed, I started thinking about mothering the twins when they were his age. I couldn't pinpoint a quiet moment with them, where I was leisurely singing to them. I sang to them, but in a different tone. It was to either cheer them up, or get them to fall back asleep. It was a song of survival and hope. Sink or swim.

I equally love my three sons and I am eternally thankful. I am also thankful that I've been blessed with one baby this time!

mbp

3.13.10

One of the best days of my life. A new creation made by man and woman....Myles Beck Peterson. Perfectly healthy, perfectly happy!

I have to admit, I was worried about having enough love for one more son. But that doubt disappeared the moment I heard him cry. My heart swelled like a balloon and tears of joy streamed from my face. Then I saw him and my heart melted. I am fulfilled and complete. I have so much love for him and a very strong bond.

I am already dreading the day I have to drop him off at college.

All my love sweet Myles!

Easy or Wrong?

I asked Chad if he wanted to play Scrabble tonight. He was interested, then asked how are we going to play. Meaning, are we going to play the old-school way on our turn-table scrabble board, or are we going to play electronically? He said, "if we play electronically we don't have to tally our score."

Done.

Sometimes in life you need to take the easy route, which isn't my strength at all. But it feels good and I now understand that it's okay to take that route. I'm sure I'll face similar situations throughout parenthood. Like tomorrow, when I face the twins and Little Einstein. It's okay Becky....you can put your feet up for 25 minutes while they are educated by electronics.

Winter Beauty

How can you look at this and not be dazzled. Winter is beautiful, especially when glistened by a new layer of snow. Sure it may be cold, but that's what wool is for. Bundle up, get out and enjoy the fresh air. Let it cleanse your system that tends to be dusty due to cabin fever. And, for God's sake, if you don't like winter move away from MN. Don't complain about it!

Moomah, MooMe

I first heard of a play-cafe a couple of years ago while watching the Travel Channel. A play-cafe is a place for both adults and children. They have designated areas of supervised play while adults can escape, under the same roof. Often times it's a coffee bar, tea room or cafe.

The Travel Channel was featuring a place in San Francisco, which when featured was called Tumble & Tea, but has recently been changed to Sadie Days Cafe: http://www.sadiedeyscafe.com/.

I immediately started researching local play cafes and came across nothing. I had ideas and visions in my head, but did not pursue anything as I was heading my career at Target.com, which is where I thought I wanted to be. After weeks, maybe even days, of the cube farm I suffered. I felt like a robot, I felt less than individual, I felt lifeless. I did find time and a bit of motivation to research owning a small business, but didn't have the funds to back it up.

To preface, I was given the gift of Cookies magazine when I was expecting the twins. I fell in love with this magazine b/c it was everything I wanted. To be a young, dedicated, creative Mom with a sense of taste and style. Unfortunately the magazine folded due to the crashing economy and the last subscription would be out in November 2009. My subscription was up in October and I spaced buying a copy from the newsstand. In January of 2010 I came across a copy of the last issue in my Doctor's office (waiting to be examined for baby #3). I secretly placed the copy under my left arm and departed the building, feeling like a child at Christmas time.

There on the counter sat my prize possession for days as it's hard to find some free time in between working and running a household. The night before I read the issue we fell asleep to Jon Stewart on the Daily Show (entertaining for both Chad and I). One of the featured working Moms was Tracey Stewart, who is married to Jon. First I was intrigued by the coincidence and secondly I was intrigued by the content. Tracey recently opened a play-cafe in Tribeca called MooMah: http://www.moomah.com/. The space was breath-taking, the activities were amusing and the menu looked delicious, as well as family friendly. Exactly how I had pictured my own Play-Cafe!

Minneapolis is consistently ranked one of the top cities to raise a family. The city is full of young, vibrant families that yearn for outings any time of the year, especially during those winter months that tend to be long and dreary. If there was a place like this in my neighborhood I would be sure to visit it frequently.

I am trying to convince myself that I could run a small business, along with a young family of 3 boys under the age of 18 months.