missing you.

I just got back from a fun weekend of visiting family... and I have so many posts I want to share with you... 

but today I feel a little blue... 

my heart feels a little empty without these two... 

I miss my sisters. 

I miss my mom.

Why do we have to live so far apart?

besitos, 

xo

It's Offical...

It is official... my blog layout is done. Ta Da... and I love it! Jenna not only was so awesome to work with- but she did a fabulous job! Check out her design work here! You don't know how excited I am...it's like Christmas...

Why the new blog? Because it's about time.  I am now looking through a new lens... a new chapter in my life that began the day I had my little boy over a year and a half ago. All of sudden all the things I knew as a counselor specializing in children and parenting seemed to blur together. All of a sudden, I looked at parents that sat before me in session in such a different light. My hat is off to you.

So now no excuses... it is now time... time to consolidate my blogs and make my life easier. Time to get... eh hem... people who want to read and follow me through this journey...I know it is not much yet...but just wait. 

Top ten reasons you should follow this blog:

1. To get ideas and tips on how to encourage healthy mental health in our children.

2. So I have at least one other follower besides my mom (love you mom)

3. To have access to all my favorite parenting resources

4. To be inspired on how to find humor and playfulness in parenting

5. To take the Dandelion Wish Challenge 

6. To link and share ideas you have done- I always want to see what others are doing!

8. To laugh at comical stories  (you'll see that counselors don't always know what they are talking about)

9. To view my world through my photographs

10. and most importantly to WIN KILLER GIVEAWAYS. 

In order to most fully appreciate the wish in a dandelion- we must acknowledge the weed as well.  Welcome to Weeds to Wishes.

xoxo, 

Rain Rain

WEED of the day: Being rained on.

WISH of the day: Being rained on.

my day went something like this...

oh rain...pulled out the rain boots...

walked to a local ice cream shop...two please...

sat on the porch and waited for the rain...

  

covered ourselves with ice cream...

ice cream and rain in the summer...

best day ever.

Stay tuned to part two of this adventure... to be continued.
Notice some changes to the blog?  It's currently getting a makeover by the lovely and talented Jenna with q.a. design. Can't wait!

My Weed and Wish...

Dear Mr. Flu bug, 

Why do you have to come to our home on such a fabulous summer weekend?? Don't you know we had plans...picnics in the park, ice cream shops, and music concerts? 

WEED for the day: Yucky flu bug: wanting so badly to throw up but not being able to, feeling like I was going to pass out every time I stood up, and being sooooo tired that I slept a whole afternoon away.

WISH for the day: Feeling well enough to venture out to the music concert in the park anyways and feeling well enough to do the "running man" in a crowd of people for old times sake. 

It was a good day.

Sometimes we just need a FUN DAY.

Since children process their emotions through play- there can be all sorts of emotions that arise. Every now and again during my play dates (counseling sessions) with kids there reaches a point where they feel emotional and may cry. Furthermore, if they are a kiddo who is shy from showing emotions- then it can embarrassing, scary, uncomfortable, and/or vulnerable.


So, to off set that- I offer "fun passes" that they can hand to me on a day where they are not in the mood to go to that emotional place. No talk of serious stuff or activities that illicit emotional responses (pinky swear)- just  45 minutes where a kid can escape from their life stressors and just be a kid in a fun an safe environment. Doesn't that sound nice? 


 I think we all could use a fun day. 


Idea: Try handing out "fun passes" as rewards.

Side Walk Chalk

Monday afternoons are sluggish days for me... mostly because it's the day I am a counselor for part of the day and a mommy for the rest.  Today when I got home I was half tempted to turn on the "tv nanny" and curl up on the couch and take a little mommy nap.... But the summer is only here to stay for a few more months. So, I thought we'd go outside and cross something off our summer list. With not a lot of time to plan something extravagant today- we spent the afternoon creating art on our sidewalk. It was energizing! Summer is not Summer with out sidewalk chalk. 

 Ideas for chalk:

-Hangman

-Pictionary

-See who can wash away their drawing the fastest with a squirt gun

-Dip them in water to make chalk paste

-Write out a secret and spray it away with the hose

-Create a Mandala 
-Trace your body, hand or foot
-Write a love note for someone to find

xx- Cristi

Weeds to Wishes...

P.S. The other day I was explaining my blog to a friend and I explained "It's like weeds to wishes" and it hit me- that is it! That is how I want to live my life each and every day. I can choose to see a field of weeds or a field full of possibilities and wishes. I just have to take the time to stop and blow on a dandelion every once in awhile to find the magic in these weeds. 

So there you have it...I have decided to change the URL and title of my blog (before I get more into it) and the new name is Weeds to Wishes and you will always be able to find me  at www.weedstowishes.com. 

(Changes will take effect starting tomorrow: Saturday the 24th of June)

A little about me.

My loves:

My husband, my son,  mint oreos, snuggles, date nights, McCall Idaho, baking cookies (it’s really all about the cookie dough), smell of summer, ski hill, sun kissed cheeks, laughing so hard it makes my eyes water, my sisters, trampolines, fresh cut flowers, soft fuzzy socks, photography, sand, the sound of the ocean, pedicures (I don’t get enough of them), my art journal, Bisquick Pancakes, El Guapo (our rescue dog), writing with a sharp pencil, yoga, rain boots, buffalo chicken strips, red balloons, fresh mangoes (spelling with or without an e?) and peaches straight from the tree, the color aqua, smell of sunblock, Cheese Cake Factory, and home made bread and jam (wish I could say that it comes from my kitchen...most likely not though)

Happy Friday!

xx- Cristi

The Dandelion Wish

This is the actual dandelion I picked.

I am sitting with my laptop typing softly  (my son is still asleep) as I ponder the month of May and the celebration of mothers… It has been just under a year and a half since I became a Mother. And needless to say, the definition of that word has humbled me far more than any other titles I have or will ever have.

I feel as my life began the day my son was born. Unfortunately,  my love for this little boy doesn’t always guarantee days of blissful moments. Some days I have superhero mom powers and I have a fabulous fun day with my son- no distractions or time constraints... I love those days. But sadly other days...well let’s just say I feel more like the villain then the superhero. Usually these days are filled with house chores, meals to cook, task list to check off, church callings to attend, work to do, and other random mundane things I fill the day with. *Sigh*

Today, after spending the entire morning yesterday cleaning the kitchen and realizing the day was passing us by, I decided we needed to go for a walk. So we did. As we approached a patch of dandelions, I was unable to resist-  I picked one and I took a deep breath and blew. Watching the little dandelion seeds float across the sky, I decided to make a dandelion wish.

My wish is to be able to look back on each day and be able to say, "We had a lot of fun today."

So, I begin this blog today as a way to share my journey of The Dandelion Wish I made. I hope to inspire other moms, dads, grandparents, sister, brothers, aunts, and uncles to take the time and to wish one a dandelion and bring fun and play back into parenting and adulthood while savoring each and every moment along the way.

So, enjoy.

xx- Cristi

Share with us your dandelion wish