frankie says RELAX

When the DEMANDS aren't drowning me - I revel in the fact that I AM more RELAXED in the big picture the more (children) I have to tend to.

But I have been collecting skin abrasions on the hands (holiday production, paperwork) and face (grabby baby, sleepless nights). According to Louise Hay cuts represent over-emphasis on self-imposed rules without ample reward; the fingers are all about the details and near the nose confirms irritation from others’ actions or obsessing over the calendar. Touché.

Peekaboo

Headed through the mountains for a ski weekend and WOOSH hit the eye of a storm. Standstill for hours in a heated car, encircled by blizzard, with four sleeping children plus one large pooch in the back. Are finally able to pull off, U turn and creep treacherously home. No longer on a jubilant trip, BUT, no one knows we are in town. Multitudes of RSVPs have been previously kindly declined. SO play sweet HOOKIE for the entire weekend !!!!!! Two days of sleep, snow play, veg-ing out and cooking-in during the fanciest most frenetic time of the year !!!!!! Ah sweet indulgent naughty bliss. 

Dream Life Love Menu

 

Dégustation de vie des rèves . Enjoy in any order everyday.

Leap of faith

- Café con leche. Café con whipped cream, café con hot chocolate…‘light’ azúcar, but always dulce.

- Gingerbread. This year it’s all about the gingerbread decorating party. 

- Sparkle suits and sets. Twinkle, twinkle, shimmer, flicker and shine.

It’s just incredible all of the elements that must come together - and do - to make air travel possible. Nothing short of a miracle. So when someone sits bedside you, sniffling and shoving, embrace the suck* and remain in awe that you are traversing this snow globe.

*Navy SEALs say pray for ‘suck’, it makes you better.

 

Helpful Elfin

Helpful Elfin -

Stands with feet planted firmly on the earth
Dons clogs
Knits wool 

Knows green is the color of love
Eats snow

Encourages others to eat snow 

Meets children at eye level

Bakes 

Slurps soup and stew 

Sleeps a little extra

Collects fun socks

Smells of mint 

Drinks coffee in her hot cocoa

Makes light work engaging head, heart and hands 

More French than Festive

What would a French woman do ??

 

A course correction can be mapped. Such is life when lived in the now. We plan and plan and plan, but just plan to stay on your toes. 

A much awaited trip has landed on a dastardly inconvenient moon phase, rolling out the holidays with red glitter and candy cane carpets may no longer feel right, and nestling in to disentangle one’s home, rather than run amok in a merry frenzy, could be an imperative. 

Lay it down

THEME Themis - goddess of law and justice “that which is laid down or established”

Numerous trips, imminent holidayS and a berserk number of school proceedings, ceremonies, volunteer opportunities… 

Waldorf education has a classic and constant natural, beautiful inherent theme and feel. I adore coloring within those traditional lines. The more confining the constraints, the more the creativity pours. 

Outside of establishments, though, the choices are maddeningly infinite.

So fix yourself upon a THEME

EG these weeks for me : 
“Sweater Weather - Eastcoaster style” for Cleveland with family
“Romantic, Intimate - Lingerie” for 40th Birthday
“Helpful Elfin” for everyday style & overall mood
“What would a French woman do?” for a couples jaunt to isle St Maarten
“Hershey’s Kiss” in the advent calendar 
“Vintage Niwot” for Christmas
“Fuck it” for family photo, it might just not happen this year ;)

The tighter the theme the better. Don’t you just love a party where the hostess takes you on a very specific journey? And expects you you to show-up primed for said experience! 

Shortie from Scottie

 

It’s that wonderful time of the year !! Shortbread from Scotland. 

Kids love to use it as their cut-out and embellish cookie dough; so easy to mix up we do it nearly every weekend of the season. 

It’s really not very boring

 Forty - fancy party !

“It’s really not very boring,” my Parisian Aunt says she dreams to travel Stateside as to witness our daily (family life) happenings for herself.

A decidedly undaily occurrence - a meaningful affair with Very Important People !!!

 

Regent

Snowboard break from Monarch duties 

To do today :

- Run household 

- Run land

- Symbolize identity, unity and pride 

- Maintain stability and continuity 

- Officially recognize success and excellence 

- Support the ideal of voluntary service

- Engage in politics and ceremony 

- Act as intercessor (wherever needed)

- Use diplomacy and tactical finesse 

- Patroness art and education 

- Innovate culture

- Supervise staff

- Model piety and chastity

- Produce male heir 

- Secure husband’s hold

- Hit the slopes

Know no bounds

Shapeless, limitless light. 

At a recent introduction to Compassionate Communication (also known as NVC, Nonviolent Communication), questions kept arising regarding boundaries. Each time the speaker politely tried to steer us clear of drawing lines explaining that compassion arises when border delineations dissolve. The questioners would have none of it “surely I MUST have LIMITS as to how much I’m willing to take…” The speaker listened compassionately.

Chatter around boundaries entered my field in the following days and I so enjoyed being equipped with this fresh take on the topic. NO BOUNDARIES ! It also reminded me of my dear Yoga School - Kripalu Yoga - where our fantastic teacher said the best way to describe Kripalu Yoga, and therefore the essence of teaching we would impart thereafter, was COMPASSIONATE.  

100’s of elves

How many elves to bring into the workshop ?? Of course there is no right answer !!

“Two is twenty”; you hear the sayings - expect each additional family member to increase the whole lot exponentially. 

Here is a real-life EG from our family:

0 children - mom cleans small apartment solo.

1 child - cleaner comes 1x every 2 weeks in streamlined new home.

2 children - mom begs cleaner to come 1x per week. Cleaner cannot. OK.

3 children - new cleaner hired, comes 1x per week.

4 children - cleaner comes 2x per week at much higher rate. Extra help is hired. She comes the other 3 days for laundry, kitchen and everything else on ‘the list’. That’s 5 days of housekeepers. 

🫣