finding fun in a pretty and new way!

We found a new way to have fun recently! We love to support local. Fun and local go hand in hand around here. Taking a class from time to time is just the trick. Erica's Board Creations has been bringing in people to teach classes and we jumped on a cupcake decorating class. 

You pay online, show up, learn, and enjoy. We got to keep all the decorating tips and connectors for the piping bags. We decorated 6 cupcakes and got to take them home. Lots of hints and tips,  demonstrations, and laughter. I must say that mixing our own frosting colors was quite relaxing and we enjoyed seeing all the bright colors. 

So what did we learn? We learned different frosting techniques. We learned what different tips can do. We learned the easiest way to fill a piping bag. We learned that I have VERY unsteady hands when I dropped TWO different cupcakes frosting side down... after freshly decorating them. I never knew you could tear up over cupcakes!

There goes my future career as a surgeon. All my Grey's Anatomy dreams gone. :) The nice thing about this day was that me AND my lovely daughter learned that perfection is in the eye of the beholder. Just because it doesn't look like the demo doesn't mean it isn't right. When we messed up or didn't get it right, we scraped the frosting off and started again. 

So now we have some great life lessons to embrace. And all because we wanted to spend some mother-daughter time and try something new. Here is a list of life lessons translated from a cupcake decorating class to motovate you.

1. Just scrape it off and try again if it isn't right. 

2. Use a steady hand. 

3. Be patient.

4. Always carry lots of hand sanitizer.

5. Feel free to stop and eat the frosting off the spoon when you get frustrated, but don't mix up the spoons!

Being creative

Anyone that knows me knows my love of crafting. I can't help it. It soothes me. Yesterday we decided to have some downtime, so we got on YouTube and did some drawing classes. We used Mo Willems and ArtHub to learn how to draw piggy and a pizza man. It was a nice break from curriculum and the news. 

We agreed to put this is in our regular rotation of fun, artsy crafts. After two years of only asking for science kits and art supplies for gifts, we are prepared. We are ready for any art or science task thrown at us! I hesitate to incorporate MORE screen time, but this is meaningful and more interactive verses zoning out to a movie. 

Today's crafts include making hearts to put in the windows. Apparently people are doing this to stand united and spread the love (from a safe 6 foot distance). We will also create driveway sidewalk chalk art for #815. The plan is to stay crafty so we stay distracted. We can stay united and show solidarity from the safety and comfort of our homes :)

The guilt is real...

I have a job. I like my job. I like to think I am good at my job. Then I come home and my job switches to "mom". And that job pays in hugs, smooches, snuggles and happiness. The pay is different. The hours are longer. The struggles are more challenging. The laughter is pure. The memories are endless. I work both jobs to the best of my ability. 

Sometimes my day job trumps my mom job and that breaks my heart, but my daughter knows this is our plan and we are on the same team so we work together to make the plan work. I never bring stuff home so that when I am home my mom life trumps everything else. 

Today I was unable to get to her school party. I signed up to donate the pretty decorated plates and helped fill out all the Valentines for her class. We don't really celebrate this particular holiday, but to a 9 year old, this is a big deal. I was able to get to her school right as the party ended. 

I ran through her school like a bat out of hell right as she was cleaning off her desk. She hugged me so long and so tight that I almost cried. I said hello to all the littles and helped clean up, made conversation, and took it all in. I helped get her ready for her next class and waved her off. 

15 minutes is what I gave. I felt guilty until I saw the smile on her face. I gave what I could and she accepted it willingly with love, a huge hug, and a tiny little smile. I stopped feeling guilty for a whopping 10 minutes to realize it really is all the little things. And this little thing was big for me and big for her. I showed up. That's it. That's all. No card. No gift. No bravado. 

That's all that counts. And I am okay with that. This mom thing is hard! I never thought a class party would make me reconsider my life choices, but it did. Stay strong moms! It's all about being present, being flexible, and being willing.