New Blog

Hey! If you are wondering where I am… I have a new website!

Noggin’ Toppers has served me well these 2 years, but alas, the time has come to move on to bigger things.

Come join me on the ongoing journey of creative parenting at my new Blog.

Click on the link to visit me there!

www.falafelandthebee.com

Handling Disappointment

I have seen many people handle their children’s disappointment in many different ways. From slapping them on the back and saying “Them’s the breaks” to Hugging and crying along with them.

I think I am somewhere in the middle. I find myself watching my children grow and learn, and most of the time it is very painful, sometimes joyful. But the real lessons seem to come from disappointment. I want to just give them perspective without diminishing or dismissing their feelings. It is a tall order, really. I think this to be a very difficult task to do without being callous or preachy.

Our oldest entered a writing contest a local author was having. Every time she has entered any kind of contest I see her build up her hopes. I know she is in for a very far fall if she doesn’t win. In her eyes, she’s already won. I try to shine the light on the positive experience and the fact that usually hundreds of people have entered as well, without squashing her spirit and hope. It is a fine line, and I am not so comfortable on the tightrope.

She wrote a very good story. She didn’t win.

I saw the tears she was holding back. I heard her voice quiver when saying how great it was that one of our friend’s won. (BTW~we are so genuinely happy and excited for her! Congratulations, friend!).

In the car, on the way home, she asked me if it would be alright to cry, because she didn’t want to be a bad sport.

Of course it is OK.

I also said that she is at a crossroads right now. One of many many to come. She has a descision to make. Will she enter another contest and try again, or give up? Will this experience sour her for future endeavors?

She answered, “Oh I’ll enter another contest!“.

Good.

That’s all I could do. And I gave her a cookie~ cause they help.

How do you handle your child’s disappointment?

Ribbon on a Stick

Last Saturday at the Farmer’s Market, my youngest had a few dollars she wanted to spend. Her older sister (who loves to spend money) took her around to pick something out. They came back with a ribbon on a stick. Seriously. It was $3.00.

Her Papa and I look at each other and he says “Really? It’s a ribbon on a stick“.

Our little girl’s face was all lit up as she held it high, proudly, and replied,

“I love it”.

And she does.

And her friend does too.

They played with it all day.

Who would have thought that a ribbon on a stick would bring so much joy?

I suppose the guy selling said ribbon on a stick.

Brilliant.

Up in the Air

Sometimes it is good to get off the ground.

Break Fast

Breakfast is typically a large meal at our home. You will often find eggs, bacon, sausage, oatmeal, toast (GF or not), or fruit on our table…and often all of the above.

Our oldest daughter can make her own breakfast now, which gives her a feeling of being grown-up and us~ more sleep (with a 5:30 AM wake up for her, I appreciate being able to sleep).

If our youngest gets up with her, she is kind enough to offer to make her breakfast too. So nice.

Today, I have no idea what got into either one of them, but on the menu was:

Nacho chips with melted cheese

Cuccumbers

Grapefruit

Buttered Udi’s GF bread with mini M&M’s on top

?????????????????

And they LOVED every bit of it.

Not what I would choose. I suppose, occasionally, that is the price of some small independence.

I can live with that.

What’s on your table this morning?

Finding My Zen

Today is the day my 4 year old gets sedated for her MRI. All week long I have tried to find my calm. My Zen. Breathing is good. Cookies help.

A long time favorite book of ours is Zen Shorts by Jon Muth. It is filled with stories that really make us think and put things into perspective.

Yesterday, I heard a variation of one of the stories being told on the radio. It was the Scottish version (instead of Japanese). Amazing how universal some lessons are.

A Farmer and his son work their rocky land with one possession, their horse.

One day, while plowing the fields, the horse steps onto a beehive. The son runs  in one direction, and the horse breaks free of the plow and runs away.

The son goes to the Father and says “This is very Bad Luck”. The Father simply looks at the son and says “Maybe”.

The next day the horse returns with another larger horse. The son is overjoyed. He turns to his Father and says “This is very Good Luck!”. The Father says “Maybe”.

The next day while trying to tame the wild horse, the son gets thrown off and breaks his leg. The son said to his Father “Oh this is very bad luck”. The Father says “Maybe”.

The next day an army officer tries to draft the young son into a war, but leaves disappointed after he sees the boy incapacitated.

The neighbors all come by and say “What good Luck”. The son turns to them and replies “Maybe”.

The whole point of this tale is that Bad Luck and Good Luck are intermingled. You never know what is around the corner.

I have tried to remind myself of this story and really just go with it.Take things as they come.

As I watched my youngest get anesthesia, cry in pain, and fall asleep rather violently, I wept uncontrollably. All bets were off. That’s my baby. Calm? What’s that?

It is really hard to remember to breathe in the heat of the moment. It is hard to be brave when you see your child so vulnerable.

I am writing this from the waiting room. I have found my calm again.

I am breathing. And eating cookies.
You never know what could be around the corner.

Market Day Thanks

The oddest question today: “Do you sell Beer Can Cozies?“.

It was at 8:00 AM.

The best thing to happen today: Lots of people ate bagels.

Thanks to everyone who came down to eat some and to those who constantly support us.

To Market To Market

We will be at the Kingston Farmer’s Market tomorrow with our Bagels.

Much sleep needs to be had…so I leave you with this image that sums it all up.

Hope to see you there tomorrow!

Busy as a Bee

I have been so incredibly busy as of late. Between being one car down, and the  Farmer’s market season beginning, and dealing with our little one’s testing, and developing new products as well as a new website, *inhales deeply*

I have been in constant motion.

I thought I would share a bit of what I am up to with all of you.

Making tags with my new name!

Making Accessories!

Making More Accessories!

Making Kids’ Place settings!

*please notice all of the Exclamation points as I am very excited about all of it!*

Making cool things for our Garden!

If you’d like to make your own “Tipsy Pots” there is a great tutorial over at Gardens and Crafts.

Well, that is all I can show you today because the most important of all of these things that I do, is Sleep… And I must go do that now!

What have you been up to?

Dream Tutu

I am adding new products to my booth at the Farmer’s Market this year (and my new website-coming soon), as well as changing my name. This Dream Tutu is a sneak peek of what I will have!

If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments~or write me an email.

I can’t wait to do more of these!

Mother Appreciation Day

I will refrain from using too many words, and use my images to tell you of our day.

I hope your day was as full as mine.

Full of activity, full of sun, full of love.

Bagels and Flower Fairies

We had a jam~packed day of selling bagels at the Kingston Farmer’s Market and going to a Flower Fairy party. Here are some images from our spectacular day with Market folk, Fairy Folk, and friends.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to our Fantastic Day!

Tulle to Whirl

The Farmer’s Market season has begun, and I have been thinking of revamping the products I sell. With that in mind, I have been playing with dress-up items.

Today I gave a Tulle Ballerina/Fairy/Princess Skirt a whirl (so to speak).

I think it whirled well.

This weekend we may be at the Farmer’s Market with our Bagels if all of the permits go through in time. *crosses fingers*

I’ll keep you all informed.

Hope to see you down there!

Can I Tell You a Story?

This is what I heard tonight as I was helping my 10 year old with homework and trying to get my 4 year old’s teeth brushed and cleaning up from dinner. All.At.Once.

With a paper in her hand, my 4 year old says “Can I tell you a story?“.

Um, well, OK. Why not?

This is what she “wrote”.

A bloody lip feels better with medicine for lips.

Happy is good.

Sad, Not so much.

Whatever I was doing before was forgotten momentarily as I entered the mind of this little person. My older daughter burst into a fit of laughter and I sat there happily perplexed.

I have no idea how she arrives at what she says because there doesn’t seem to be a logical trail that I can follow. Maybe that is why I think it is worth remembering. This is a time in her life that is not supposed to always make sense and be relevant. It is a time for creative impulses and frivolity. A time to tell stories. A simple time where Happy is Good. Sad~not so much.

A magical time indeed.

Taking it on the Road

We have our very own variety show here. Who would have thought my children would be so…eccentric. Ha!

Presenting::

Dr. Terminus, the traveling quack (we are going through a Pete’s Dragon phase at our house).

“I’m a Bull! I’m a Bull!”

No further explanation necessary.

This is a normal day at our house. I’m thinking we could take it on the road. Would people pay to see the Jim Dale impersonator and a 4 year old bull?

On another note, I finished putting together the Tote bag for my Mom with the Batik fabrics the kids made.

I think she will love this. It came out really great! Hey, maybe I can contribute entertainment as well…

So, look for our traveling circus/sewing show. Coming to a town near you!