How to Downsize a Roadtrip.

I'm about to take yet another road trip with the guys...and it's not around the corner. Nine hours. In a lovely new, but downsized vehicle. Between gas prices, environmental needs and the fact that I'll be down one passenger soon who is hopefully college bound, it was logical. However, not only will the kids not be separated by more than an arms' length but the available square footage for our (friendly term here) "belongings" is limiting. Well, it's actually ample for normal people. I guess my genetic quirks dictate that we're not your normal traveling family. I'm not really a pack rat, I just value the potential future use of an item that might need to sit pensively on the shelf for a year or six before being called back into active duty. I hate waste. My husband will buy something because he needs it, use it, save it a couple of months and throw it away, only to repurchase the same item again when needed. Just plain wasteful. "There are people in East Podunk that are pruning their shrubs by hand, don't throw away that electric trimmer!" So, when we travel, I kind of have the desire to carry everything I might possibly need at my fingertips. I have three kids, ya never know what might transpire. And trust me, with three boys there is a broad spectrum of possibility. That said, I'm thinking, how am I going to get all that stuff in that little "trunk" as it is fondly referred to? Well, I'm trying something new and radical! One thing I have learned is when we travel to our timeshare there is the opportunity to do laundry. Sacreligious when vacationing because, let's face it, it IS supposed to be a vacation; but if we pack three sets of clothing instead of seven, we carry half the load! Spending a few extra dollars on travel sized toiletries and medicinal aids consolidates the variety of toothpastes and pain relievers. Why can't everyone use the same brand of toothpaste, I ask? They will this week. Layering clothing is a great way to avoid taking bulky outerwear. Take a little longer to plan what you'll wear and make sure everything you take has multiple uses. Do I really need a separate pair of shoes for each outfit? Is anyone really looking at me anyway? Another thing I've decided we can live without is the vast DVD and CD selection. If I do my math correctly, nine hours of driving divided by two hour movies at the most will require four DVD's. Can one watch nine hours of consecutive movies? Doubt it. Choice is not an option. This also goes for books, snacks, magazines, sports cap collections, etc. I invested in a Kindle not long ago and I am carrying all my reading material in one book- sized object. I'm pretty proud of myself. My ipod can play through my car speakers so a case full of CD's is a waste of space, too. I will allow room for headphones since N.E.R.D. I can only listen to for so long. Or so short, really. We're going skiing, we don't need to take our skis and our snowboards. One or the other. We can rent the alternative if need be. We're going to a ski resort, their equipment is maintained and updated seasonally. We're good. Considering the time of year I'm gambling on some rain anyway so the time on the slopes will probably be limited so the percentile of usage is definitely decreasing. My cellphone has a pretty decent camera so I can take all my family photos with that and download and print them as if it were from my digital. Maybe I'll take a picture and post it next time of my efficiently packed vehicle and all the empty space I've saved for us. Maybe. Happy trails! Thanks for reading, Miriam

Spring Has Sprung...or Has It?

Well, I know by the date on the calendar that spring has arrived but you could fool me this morning when the thermometer read 29 and holding! In general, the number 29 makes me smile. I remember being 29; married that year, a new house...my entire life ahead of me! When we're talking temperatures and spring is the word, it doesn't do anything to my step except make me walk faster to get inside! I am hearing the chirping as I type, I do see the bulbs forcing their way through the remaining mulch, just peeking out to check to see if it's safe. I say, go back to bed for a few. While waiting for the mercury to rise...and just a tad, I do LOVE summer but really get a jolt from springtime, I am going to pump up my bike tires and dig out my riding apparel. Other things that we tend to do while welcoming spring and warmer weather is clear out the flower beds of debris. I don't know about where you are but the March winds have been whipping and my yard is full of oddities. G-2 bottles, deflated snow tubes, newspapers, all promptly delivered overnight via the March winds. It gets trapped in my fencing so it's becoming a daily chore to clear out the beds. While I'm there I'll grab a bagful of dead leaves and such too. Might speed things up for me in a few weeks when the mulch arrives. Al Fresco dining is my favorite and there's a short period of time when my husband will join me. It's now. Once it gets too hot for this non-southern boy (being a southern belle, I thrive on the heat!) he's A/C bound 24/7. It goes on in May and stays on through October if he has anything to say about it, and, of course, he does. So I spend much of my time when I'm home out on my back porch. I start my day with my coffee and paperwork there. I usually will have a friend or two stop by for a chat and a glass of wine and then dinner will be served to the family al fresco. Meet me there or dine alone inside, doesn't matter to me! Early morning walks are again a possibility as it's not quite so cold and dark. With longer daylight hours I've been seen out back tossing a baseball with my sons, and even finessing a lacrosse stick on occasion after dinner. Love the early evening outdoor family time and I miss that in the dead of winter. I think the dog feels it too! She's definitely got the same spring in her step and enjoys her more frequent walks. She has her own little cleanup efforts, retrieving any bones she's buried over the winter months. I'm thankful for that happening before the mulching, not after! So, take advantage of the calendars' proclamation, even if it means adding a layer and mittens. It won't be much longer before we're sitting poolside sipping cocktails and these next few weeks shouldn't be missed. Enjoy the bloomin' day! Miriam

Happy St. Paddy's....Ya'll!

Erin go Braugh to all my Irish and not so Irish friends and readers! I do hope that you are taking some time today to wear a little green and act a little Irish, even if you're not. I'm not. I'm Italian, English and Scottish, so I pretend. My husband is half Italian and half Irish....I know, I know, a deadly combination...and therefore, my kids are too! We need to go all out for their benefit. I have such fond memories of putting aside all responsibilities and ignoring the phone...unless it was a last minute party invite...and heading out to whoop it up on behalf of St. Patrick. NYC was the only place to be and I've marched in a St. Patty's Day parade or two, whether I was invited or not. And me and my posse did the crawl from one Blarney Stone to the next until we couldn't crawl any longer. Always respectable and never out of order...well, rarely. Not to the degree of being crass or rude. We just had to make sure we had the requisite fun and share the spirit with those around us. Everyone was a buddy on St. Patty's Day. Maybe that's a little idea we should take with us each and every day, not just the sacred holiday of March 17th. Be a friend, wear a smile and open yourself up to new adventures. Live your life fully and with verve. If you can only afford to do it on St. Patty's because on all the other days of the year you need to be buttoned up, that'll work for now. Enjoy! Top o' the Mornin' to ya! "May those who love us, love us. And those that don't love us, May God turn their hearts; And if he doesn't turn their hearts, May he turn their ankles. So we'll know them by their limping!" Thanks for reading, Miriam

Did You Suffer DST Drag?

How did everyone adjust to the time change last Sunday morning? I understand from many that they are still dragging! Some suggestions for next time so that you continue to function at your optimum energy level follow. Try to plan ahead for this event as you do other calendar events. This might seem over the top but unless you travel coast to coast often and adjust well to time differences you probably are still feeling sluggish. Set your alarm clock 10 minutes earlier or later each day for a week, depending on whether it's fall or spring. Make sure you adhere to a regular bedtime the entire week before the change. Tend to your smoke detectors early because this is a chore that ties into daylight savings and will also remind you that you need to plan ahead for this calendar adjustment and be prepared. It doesn't have to make you late for work, church or an important meeting, it's not a good excuse anyway! We all know it's coming. Also, your workouts will suffer if you're low on energy! Get a grip and make sure you stick to it. It's also a good idea to take your kids along for the ride too...mine have been falling asleep on the bus this week...luckily they've all made it home! Make a mental note for October and see how it goes. Thanks for reading! Miriam

Momspace Magazine Feature Article

I am so happy to announce that the Philadelphia edition of the new Momspace Magazine is hot off the press! Look for my feature contributing article inside. I am thrilled to be a part of this great magazine! www.momspace.com! Please visit! You will find your free copy at various locations throughout your community or you may subscribe through the Momspace website. Thanks all! Miriam

If You Can't Roll With the Punches...Then Duck and Cover!

Heaven knows I set out with the best intentions. I am an extremely organized person. Not only in my profession of choice but in my day to day life with my ruckus of a family which consists of three very active boys. No longer little ones, their hectic schedules keep me on my toes. I saw the four day holiday weekend staring me down and I went into defense mode to prepare. It's usually a revolving door at my house with friends, pizza deliveries, texting and phone arrangements going full tilt. I don't mind it really; the kids are great to have around, we do laugh alot. There's also alot of begging, bartering and bribery and it does get old. Son No. 1 was preparing for his departure for an out of town trip for the long weekend so I was envisioning what one in my position might call a mini vacation...or at least a short respite from the teen angst. Prepared as I was with the weekend itinerary you could have bowled me over when I woke Friday morning at 6am, the usual time my alarm clock so gently stirs me from my sleep to a ruder than rude awakening of a different sort. Distant sounds of a child vomiting echoed. This would be son No. 3. OMG! My plans! My lovely weekend plans! Fear not, I hit the ground running...both literally and figuratively. Nothing can stopped me, I'm determined more than ever to have that weekend respite. I'll handle this! We'll get this over with and life will go on as planned. We'll stop that this minute! Ok, well, maybe I can't make that happen...we need to be in close proximity to a bathroom, and since I don't drive an RV Plan B has to be put into effect. Actually, I had it all figured out and there wasn't a Plan B in the works. Time to adapt one! I guilted my husband into returning to the house with some paperwork...well, the guilt was self-imposed by him, really, I just pleaded my case, you know, that marriage contract has some clauses! My other options just didn't pan out. Go Figure. Son No. 1 was promptly delivered to the train station. By the time I returned home things had settled down with No. 3. Thank you, Lord! A quiet night was had by all..until the morning when I was chauffeuring my Dad to the airport...and thank goodness for cellphones, I think...I got the call that my Mom In Law was being rushed to the hospital. (Another victim of the stomach bug...Norwalk virus I believe is the austere name of choice). I had to deposit Dad curbside and since we can't stop our vehicles he did pretty well disembarking in motion! I tossed him his golf bag, blew him a kiss and played beat the clock to retrieve sons 2 and 3 from band practice. Well, now, it finally dawns on me...Monster Truck Rally at 2:00. WHAT?? Will my husband be back from the hospital in time to take the boys to the final last hurrah performance for Grave Digger? Or, dare I utter...will I be joining them? No. I draw the line. I prefer spa retreats, jewelry parties, makeovers and such. I do BMX and dirtbike shows, Xgames, skateboarding with BAM, and sporting event after sporting event, I don't do Monster Trucks! Or do I? My horoscope for today actually read, "The universe is requiring a little more of you right now. Making an effort to go the extra mile to make other people happy will also increase personal contentment." I got told. I can't let these two down, they have on their Grave Digger hats that they bought when we were making tracks to the Outer Banks last summer and came across Grave Diggers' garage, complete with the infamous Monster Truck parked out front so unobtrusively. How could we not turn back for a look see and souvenir purchase? Who knows when we might attend a rally and need the official garb! I guess it's now or never. This was when I realized that the best layed plans are meant to be broken. My obsessive organizing can only go so far. Life will make of itself what it wants and you'd best be ready to be flexible. And hey, isn't being flexible the key to being organized? To be able to take a situation that's planned out to the nines, thought out, documented, laminated and stamped; well, things change. All the time. And sometimes change is good. I know Obama likes that line, I suppose he's right. With earplugs and earmuffs in tow I did my best impression of a Red Necked Mamma. No offense here, folks, I did live in North Carolina for about a decade, I've got it in my blood. It was kind of crazy fun because nothing can top the looks on my boys' faces when Grave Digger went airborne and I captured it for eternity on my camera phone. Try to be as prepared and organized as you can be at all times. It does make life flow more easily and best yet, it helps you to realize when it's time to just throw in the towel on the itinerary because you can. You will shift back to where you left off in due time. In the meantime, relax...enjoy the ride! But it'll get bumpy!

Michelle Obama-mania!

I will say that I've read commentary upon commentary regarding Mrs. Obama's wardrobe choices on Inauguration day and I really don't know why everyone feels so entitled to critique. Why does she have to live up to any one's particular standard? Why does she have to outdo Jackie O to make people happy? Why can't she be who she is? I know there are inflamed people because she didn't choose pieces designed by an African American. She did choose her inaugural ensemble from a female designer and her gown for the balls from a 20-something minority male. Doesn't that count for something, folks? Doesn't the fact that she looked comfortable, poised and confident in her own skin say something? Was I loving the fabric of the Toledo piece? Maybe not so much but the look worked. The color was fresh and well intended. The J. Crew green gloves are just like mine in my closet! The Jimmy Choo's, perfect! I loved the casual air the cashmere and jacket tie imparted. Personally, I'm glad to see she wasn't ensconced in a full mink walking down Pennsylvania Avenue...what a field day that would have caused. The one shoulder Wu gown was fresh, clean and I think probably a good example of her personality shining through. Let's all embrace the youth and confidence that Mrs. Obama exuded that historical day to America. I hear tell that she is the Presidents' rock, so if she is solid in who she is, there's a good chance he is too! Leave the microscopes home please, paparazzi and style critiques and let the woman be who she is, we can judge her on that with good intention.

This is the Day to Do Something

I pledge to do my part. I did not vote for Mr. Obama, soon to be President Obama in a matter of a couple of hours. I see his vision and in my heart hope that we can all come together as a country and pledge to do our part. I pledge to be a better mother, better teacher to my children and a better wife. I pledge to take the time to listen. I pledge to be better at recycling and even more ecoconscious and remind my children to do the same. I pledge to be more active in my community and when I am called to vote I will learn the facts and cast an informed vote to help bring about the change I want to see. I can't wait to see what the next couple of years bring for us all. Here are a few things that you can look into to do your part. * Go to: usa.service.org to learn what you can do to be of service to your community. * Visit www.mlk365.us to continue the goal of service every day not just on Martin Luther King Day. * Take the Presidential Pledge for change with Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher. Visit www.myspace.com/presidentialpledge and join the rest of our country in striving to help make the change. One man cannot make the change, but he can inspire all of us to do something towards that goal. I am inspired and excited for our future! God Bless America! Miriam

Time to Trim!

Well, there's nothing left to do now but to get busy. The wreath has been tossed, the last cookie has thankfully been eaten so let's regroup. I'm seeing the belts tightening and it's not necessarily due to the holiday treats! It's a pivotal economic time and while we are going to watch an historical event take place on the 20th, I dare say, it's not going to cause things to balance out over night. There are a few things we can do, in the meantime, to work towards getting things in control at home and in our wallets. The holiday splurges will trickle in and need to be addressed. Better to deal with the credit card balance now then later after excessive interest has accumulated. Some things will naturally be slowing down so use this time to pay down the bills and save what you can. Little things at home that help save ready cash for this purpose is to lower the thermostat when you go to work and at night while sleeping. If you don't mind, keep it a tad lower all day and wear a fuzzy fleece pullover, just for a month. See what you can do to drop the heating bills. Along those lines if you leave a room, turn off any unneeded lighting. Teach this to the kids anyway, it's a good habit to follow. Are you paying for a cable service you don't use? Can you discontinue your monthly trips to the wine shop or buy a bottle or two instead of a case? How about the newspaper subscription? Are you reading it every day? Can you read online? Same with a few of your magazines. Wash your clothes in cold water unless extremely soiled. Grocery stores are sending lots of email deals and coupons, so shop smart! Don't take the kids, if you can help it! They'll tend to add another $25-30 to your final bill with things you don't remember placing in your cart! At least mine always managed to do just this when younger! Plan a night out...in! Dig out some board games, some great DVD's you haven't watched in a while or borrow from a neighbor. Open a cookbook and pick a quick and easy family friendly meal, like Sloppy Joe's or a pot pie and have a family candlelit dinner in the dining room. Let one family member serve each course and imagine you're at a fabulous French restaurant. Retire to the family room for popcorn and movies. Dim the lights and grab a blanket. Far more relaxing than the theater and certainly more cost effective. I challenge you to find some creative and effective ways to save a bit and get expenses back on track sooner than you think. Send me some of your own ideas for trimming down, it's interesting to see what priorities aren't maybe so important, isn't it? Good luck, Miriam

Happy 2009! Let's Get Organized!

Happy New Year one and all! I wish you all a prosperous new year filled with all good things! May your days be organized, stress free and simply beautiful! Here's to a new year filled with new ideas, new plans, gatherings with friends and new memories made! Let's get creative at home and organized in our day to day. I am looking forward to a 2009 filled with many new projects for my clients, new and old. I will continue to provide useful thoughts and ideas to you through this blog, my newsletter and my columns, both online and through the Daily Local News. Come along with me! Find some Equilibrium for yourself in '09! Miriam