Game of "Thrones": A Young Prince Who Detests Potty Time

Here ye Here ye, I will be the first to admit that potty training is F***ING hard and I wouldn't even be that mad if my two unruly direwolves (ok...dogs) took the liberty of training Rylan to do his business on our tree out front. Unfortunately, society looks down on a feral child raised by wolves, and at some point in his life he does have to use a toilet (weddings, funerals, school days ending in Y), so we are pulling out all the stops with encouraging the little lord to ascend his porcelain throne.
This is not an isolated incident--I have on good authority that I was a bit of a wee beast to potty train as a child (who me?). My competitive spirit took over when a little girl 6 months younger than myself successfully used the potty and I was green with envy. Low and behold, a toilet trained star was born! Having a strong-willed toddler of my own (laws of the universe), I realized early on that every kiddo is different and that it's a grave injustice forcing them to take something on before they are ready (remember all those time-sensitive milestones that we have burned into our eyelids by the experts? Yea, those are pretty much crap). My little dude can recite every last Bubble Guppy in alphabetical order according to tail color, but has maintained a steadfast aversion to using his Paw Patrol potty seat for anything other than a floatation device in the bathtub.
We've tried reading books on the toilet every hour on the hour, wearing big boy underpants, fruit loop targets, letting him watch us go (we hear insurance covers therapy nowadays...), running around naked, training schedules, books about potty time, you name it. I've been vigilant to not let myself get frustrated--eventually everyone gets potty trained, right? And these are supposed to be the most fun times of our lives--I don't want it clouded by unnecessary worry. Kids do everything in their own time. The rate in which your child is potty trained is not a reflection of your parenting, good or bad.
With that being said, we wanted to make it as fun as possible for him! When we picked him up from school yesterday, we told him that we were going to the store to pick out special potty prizes for him. The look of excitement on his face when we pulled up to the Target dollar bins section was priceless! Since it's almost Valentine's Day, they had boxes with 16 little dinosaurs to be attached to Valentines for classmates which can now be 16 prizes for the basket! We found tiny superhero figurines, bouncy balls, Doc McStuffins bath stickums, cute stickers that I cut into strips, stamps and mini ink pads, light up bracelets, lollies, slinkies and more! We also found a motivational sign that says, "TODAY IS THE DAY!"

It's important to keep in mind that we only get this one lifetime with our kiddos. As parents, it's not our job to push our kids mercilessly into the harshness of the world, but to help them navigate different methods until they find the ones that work for them. Have fun with it! Giving a child the confidence and support to explore trial and error, fail a few times and then get back on the horse and try again is the best gift we can give them (although Target dollar bin trinkets are a close second). Nothing beats the look of pride on their faces when they finally master something that they've been working on for a long time! Parenting is not a race--you do not get special brownie points in mommy heaven for potty training your kid at 2 years old or getting them to eat all their veggies at every meal. A happy, healthy, loved child is our greatest contribution to this world because they will become happy, healthy, loving adults.
I hope everyone had a magical holiday weekend with your loved ones! Serendipity Mom has some amazing things in store for the New Year, including a sneak peek into the new graphics launch on my Etsy.com page, Serendipity Mom 2! Stay tuned for the next blog highlighting some of the most sought after designs for 2017!

10 Simple Truths to Cut the Stress Out of Life

Life undeniably has a way of becoming a whirlwind at times. Add a family and a full-time job into the mix, and you've got a EF-5 tornado on your hands! Some weeks, it seems like smooth sailing and you pride yourself on your ability to multi-task and kick butt at life; other days, it feels like being trapped under a waterfall, gasping for air. Because of life's marvelous curve balls that inevitably test our will, sometimes it's not a matter of eliminating all stress, but learning to manage it and prepare ourselves for the impending rough waters.

A few weeks ago, I was enjoying a relaxing family vacation with my sweet son at the beach. Life couldn't have been more serene: we started our mornings off with sunrise yoga, took leisurely strolls along the shore collecting seashells, enjoyed daily arts & crafts and napped together every day. When we returned home to our usual routine, both Rylan and I were so out-of-whack with our schedules that it was causing him to feel frustrated and lash out and in turn, I wasn't able to process the effect that this normal toddler behavior was having on me amidst my mad scramble to catch up on my workload from my time away. We were both hitting a wall and I knew I had to do something quickly. I started putting my mindfulness reading into effect and came up with a simple list of guidelines to help combat some of the normal stressors that come with this beautiful gift called life.

1. Take time to do 15 minutes of yoga in the morning and 15 minutes at the end of the day to wind down. Not only does yoga stretch and work my muscles and limbs, but it gives me mental clarity and inner peace. 
2. Try to refrain from eating in the car. I used to always scarf down my breakfast in the car on the way to work but I realized that it only fueled that "go go go" mentality. Now I take time to sit down and eat, even if for only 5 minutes.
3. Take yourself out to eat on a lunch break at least once a week. Many of us (especially parents) never get a moment to ourselves to decompress. Give yourself that time to reflect and treat yourself, without the kids. 
4. Keep fresh flowers around the house. I cannot emphasize enough the wonders that a blooming bouquet on the kitchen table does for my soul.
5. Take a shower and wash your face before bedtime. Sometimes the days weigh so heavily on us, it's important to wash away the old day in preparation for the new.
6. Prep the night before. Whether it's packing kids lunches or ironing work clothes, the less you have to do in the morning, the less hectic your morning will be.
7. Enjoy family dinners! Not only will it give you something to look forward to all day, but it is quality family time and that is priceless!
8. Invest in a quality air purifier. Reactions to invisible allergens can cause mental fog and poor air intake (leading to fatigue). Air purifiers (including plants like ferns) will cleanse your living space in no time.
9. Limit your time on the scale. Nothing is worth the anxiety of constantly weighing yourself every morning. Go by how your body feels and how your clothes fit and check in on your weight once a week
10. Keep your sink free of dirty dishes! My anxiety levels sky rocket when I come home to a sink full of dishes or if that is the last thing I see before I go to bed. It's just one little thing to ease your mind.

I have also learned that sometimes anxiety can be caused by a deficiency of some sort. I started taking the non-essential amino acid called L-Tyrosine (supplement) and have felt my energy levels skyrocket, my anxiety levels plummet and I am hoping to boost my under-active thyroid as well! If you are feeling general lethargy and fatigue, check with your physician or naturopathic doctor to see what natural remedies would work best for you!

Looking for a Last Minute Getaway this Weekend? Follow your Spirit of Wanderlust to this Quaint Mountain Town

It’s the beginning of June and summer is upon us—that means time to plan the last minute getaways! For those of you who may be local to the PA, MD, NY, NJ area, I will be sharing my experiences in a scenic little mountain town called Hawley, PA. Hawley is located in the Northern part of the Pocono Mountains and boasts stunning views, a refurbished Silk Mill (which is now home to a bevy of eclectic little shops) and charming places to stay.

If you are whisking your kids away on an impromptu family vacation, there is no better place to awaken your children’s excitement than Woodloch Resort. Woodloch is a sprawling, all-inclusive,

family-friendly resort that is so large it should have its’ own zip code. As you pass through the impressive tree-lined entrance, you will see a variety of lodging options, on-campus restaurants, snowtubing hills, lakes, archery stations, playgrounds, indoor fun-rooms and your favorite TV characters nonchalantly strolling along the wooded paths (Sponge Bob, Scooby Doo, Cookie Monster, Dora the Explorer, etc.). 

Upon check-in, the concierge gives you a colored rubber bracelet which will grant you access into any of their impressive facilities. You can choose from magic shows, indoor playgrounds, lakeside games, water parks, the list goes on and on. The bracelet will also make you an honored guest at one of their all-you-can-eat dinner services (they determine which dining hall you will attend based on the location of your lodging so that it doesn’t get too crowded). The dinners are themed so the characters will make a special appearance mid-way! Rylan’s favorite part of the dining experience was seeing “Bob Bob Pants” (Sponge Bob Square Pants) and eating 3 different kinds of dessert. If you partake in too many activities and would prefer to lounge in the comfort of your spacious guest room (many with lake-front balconies), Woodloch Resort has convenient store options that sell fresh cheese, upscale/healthy snacks, milk and other beverages and souvenirs. 

Every detail is covered at Woodloch and you won’t need to leave the campus for any reason. They even have convenient shuttles that come around every few minutes and take you to your desired location (trust me, the place is HUGE—there is no way it is entirely walkable). Not only do they have amazing amenities and cheerful concierge, but it is completely affordable! My mom, Rylan and I snagged a February special of a gorgeous guestroom for 2 nights, all-inclusive (dining as well) for around $160/night. This includes the kid-friendly activities! And for the exhausted adults who may need a minute to yourselves, Woodloch does offer a few nightlife options as well (though I’m sure you won’t get to see Sponge Bob). 

Hawley is not just a town with giddy children running amuck, though. Hawley is also home to the most charming, cozy Bed & Breakfast, the Settlers Inn. This little mountain inn is located on somewhat of a centralized, main road, but you still get the benefit of the breathtaking mountainous views, while having proximity to the Wine & Beverage store. In all honesty, with the Inn’s elegant and rustic breakfast, lunch and dinner menus, you may not need to venture out at all! 

Even the way the Settler’s Inn smells is beyond delightful. When you walk in the ornate front doors, you are greeted with the oaky musk of the grand fireplace and the sweet floral scent of the soaps in the gift shop (their heavenly hand soap smells like someone bottled clean mountain air and fresh flowers). On the left of you, their cozy Victorian dining room is bustling with relaxed guests and hospitable staff. Every table is full of house-made breads and butter florets, and decadently plated and inventive cuisine. My breakfast experience was pumpkin waffles with a blackberry reduction, topped with curried ricotta and candied nuts. It was a new level of ecstasy. My lunch rivaled my lavish breakfast with a simple shrimp flatbread topped with drizzled balsamic, heirloom tomatoes and artisan greens from their outdoor garden.

   The rooms embrace a vintage Arts & Crafts style décor and are adorned with luxurious sheets, fluffy down comforters and delicate artwork. The color schemes are tranquil and inviting, and the bathrooms are clean and airy with a lavish whirlpool tub, stand up shower and high-end soaps. Although the rooms sit atop the restaurant and main area downstairs, you can’t hear any of the background noise. 

Whether you are traveling with the whole family or looking for a romantic rendez-vous, Hawley has just the right amount of charm and clean mountain air to refresh your spirit. If you find yourself venturing up that way, feel free to contact me and I can give you some pointers on places to go for hikes, kayaking, dining, or shopping. Happy travels, friends!

Call of the Wild: Mourning the Majestic Harambe

If you have any access to internet or television, or are even within earshot of my passionate rants in the breakroom concerning this issue, I am positive you have heard about the tragic death of Harambe, the 17 year old Silverback gorilla at the Cincinnati Zoo. I know that the internet is ablaze with differing accounts of the incident and fired up advocates [for both Harambe's life and the child/family affected by this] are getting embroiled in this debate.

I am certainly not here to assert my fierce opinions (I have been consumed by this story since I first saw it all over my newsfeed Sunday morning) and I am not in the frame of mind to argue with the people saying, "What if it was your child?" This blog is about positivity and I can save my opinions to torture my coworkers with during my lunch break. Let's just take a minute to remember a gentle life that was lost. Rest in peace, handsome Harambe. You will forever stay in our hearts and minds. 

On a side note, I have heard an outcry of people saying, "But what about all the other causes, why are we focusing on this?" No. Let yourself feel the passion from whatever you choose to advocate for and go with it, be the change in the world. Think of the awareness for endangered species (or whatever your cause may be) that your involvement can foster. It doesn't matter what your passion is focused on, but do something productive with it and change humanity! It is not our responsibility to compare causes and tragedies in the world, but to harness the fire inside of each of us to facilitate change, step by step. Positivity in the world does not happen overnight but HOORAY YOU for igniting the spark that just may be the first step. Even if I don't share the same beliefs, I still support your enthusiasm wholeheartedly. 

Post Memorial Day Weekend Woes? Beat the Burger Blues with a Tangy Watermelon Avocado Salad

It's Tuesday morning and barreling around the corner comes the emotional “hangover” that comes with the acceptance that you are going back to your routine life after a blissful 3-day Memorial Day Weekend…I was dropping my son off at school this morning and as he sat down at the little breakfast nook, he locked his fingers with mine and said, “Best friends, momm-ay.” I felt my eyes well up with tears knowing that our perfect time together of splashing in the pool, playing Bocce ball and making campfire cones was coming to an end (even though we just planned our weekend wilderness getaway to the Pocono Mountains for late June!).

We spent the weekend at my parents’ house, as their community has a luxurious pool, spa and ice cream bar (err…for the kids, right?). Rylan loved sampling all of our ice creams and playing in the fountain at the shallow end of the pool. In the evenings after we grilled our dinner, we took waffle cones and filled them with marshmallows, chocolates, berries and nuts; wrapped them in foil and tossed them on the grill for a few minutes—Campfire Cones! Be forewarned because the undercarriage of the cone is prone to getting charred—but if you keep a watchful eye on them, the combination is ooey gooey amazingness! I especially delighted in the melted dark chocolate with the blackberries.

The relentless May sun began to do quite a number on my delicate and newly homed peach verbenas and royal purple salvia buds. I ended up venturing to the garden market for the fourth time in a week, bright and early on the morning of Memorial Day in search of a leafy banana plant to shade my
parched plants. The fabulous attendant scoffed at the thought of the poor banana plant scorching in the sun, and sent me home with none other than my absolute favorite plant in the world—a tiny Meyer lemon tree. The Meyer lemon is a phenomenon from China, brought back by Frank Nicholas Meyer in the early 1900’s. It bears similarities to both a traditional lemon and a mandarin orange, and is sweeter and less tart than the lemons we find on the rim of our iced tea. They contribute to tangy cocktails and your mama’s lemon bars will pack a punch at the next Memorial Day BBQ if you use Meyer lemons! Stay tuned as my little tree begins to yield fruit, and we will get into all the joys of making Meyer lemon soaps and curds (and perhaps, a very berry Meyer lemon trifle as well)!

Speaking of tantalizing food—my, oh my were there some amazing dishes churned out this Memorial Day Weekend! My favorite epicurean delights were simple grilled basil & lime grilled shrimp kabob,

tangy strawberry and spinach salad with walnuts; and a mixture of diced watermelon, tomato, avocado, cucumber, balsamic vinaigrette and fresh herbs. 

For the Salad:
1 pack of grape tomatoes, in assorted colors, cut in half
1 small cucumber, peeled, seeded, and cut into 3/4-inch cubes
1 cup 3/4-inch-cubed red seedless watermelon chunks
1 avocado, halved, pitted, peeled, and cut into 3/4-inch cubes

For the Dressing:

1 tablespoon chopped mixed fresh herbs, in any combination: basil, tarragon, chives, cilantro, lemon thyme
1/4 teaspoon coriander seed
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons aged balsamic vinegar
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Assemble chopped ingredients in large bowl. In separate bowl, mix balsamic, olive oil, coriander seed, and herbs/seasonings and drizzle over the chopped ingredients and gently toss.

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Three-day weekends are a fantastic opportunity to spend rare quality time with your loved ones while enjoying outdoor fun in the sun, but it's also a great time to really, truly feel the gratitude in the depths of our souls toward those who have suffered for us to have those freedoms (and those who continue to sacrifice so that we can maintain our privileges). Carve out time to reflect on where you are in this moment, hopefully with food on your tables and joy in your hearts, and know that you are so very loved--and return that infinite love to others. They say the truest concept of "enlightenment" is to be able to look up at the sky and want nothing more from life than to be where you are; to feel the absence of desire or suffering. Let's all strive to feel a fraction of that calm and content, and project our positivity onto those around us. You are enough.

Parenting on a Budget? How to Make a Magical Space to Call Their Own on a Dime!

There is a garden in every childhood, an enchanted place where colors are brighter, the air softer, and the morning more fragrant than ever again. 

~Elizabeth Lawrence

Between the morning rush to get dressed and out the door by 6:30; the chaotic dinners that feel like Hell’s Kitchen with a 2-year old Gordon Ramsey; a million post-it notes around the house reminding you to wash their naptime blanket for school over the weekend, only to forget it on Monday; the doctor’s appointments, the vet appointments, the potty training, the school cupcake baking, the laundry folding, the work traveling, the snack packing, the activity chauffeuring….between all that scheduled craziness that has become our norm, when do we find the time to make those Instagram-worthy memories with your children? You make the time.

Every child should be granted the opportunity to have a carefree childhood filled with magic and wonder. We know this going into our role as parents, and are hit with the gravity of that promise from the minute we hold that innocent being in our arms for the first time. 

Rylan and I live a simplistic lifestyle, in a cozy farm-style townhouse in modest rural suburbia, with our two sweet dogs. The most magical part of Rylan’s week is hearing the familiar lullaby of the ice cream man’s truck chugging around the corner. His eyes light up like Christmas lights and he exclaims, “ICE TWEAM MAN!” over and over. His excitement is infectious, and I can feel my heart fill up with warm enthusiasm as he skips and hops around the yard yelling, “HOORAY!”

One day, we were driving to Rylan’s grandparents’ house and I happened to spot a little dual-sided shelf on the side of the road with a “FREE” sign taped onto it. I pulled the car over and snatched it up, with no idea what I could possibly use it for. When we got home that day, I took it out to the back deck where all my flowers and potting supplies were. Rylan eagerly picked up a garden trowel and a tin can of pansies and put them on the front ledge of the little shelf. A lightbulb went off in my head and I realized that this little shelf would be the perfect potting station for him and his newfound passion for horticulture. He takes such pride in arranging his shovels on the little ledge and watering his flowers now!

Ever since Rylan was a baby, we have nurtured his love for books (my mother is a retired elementary school librarian so that was no surprise). I wanted to make a cozy reading nook for him in his room, away from the chaos of the house—a place of his very own where he could immerse himself in fairytales and lands of dinosaurs. I ordered a kids tipi off of Amazon (can be upwards of $100, but they really can be used for years as your child grows) and slid his old crib mattress in there as a little couch. Rylan loves lounging in his little tipi, playing with toys or pulling out books. It was one of the best investments I ever made for his imagination.


Even though my background is in the Culinary Arts and I am always finding myself in the kitchen cooking, when I was a child I did not know the slightest thing about preparing food. Even my American Girls cookbook could not help my peanut butter cookies fromturning into molten pools on the baking sheet. Rylan is in the stage of his childhood where he is craving the ability to do things independently (with supervision, of course). He finds himself feeling frustrated watching me cook in the kitchen because he wants to be the one stirring the sauce or checking on the cakes. I started brainstorming ways that he would be able to help prepare his dinners without having to cut things or be exposed to direct heat. I tested an idea of using an unplugged crockpot and letting him add his ingredients one by one to make a slow-cooker chili for his grandparents. He had the time of his life plopping in meatballs and using the wooden spoon to stir his concoction! A few weeks later he asked to help me bake cookies. I pulled out our toaster oven (not preheated), and used the little baking tray. I formed the balls of dough and Rylan rolled them in sugar and assembled them on the tray. I took over putting the tray in the toaster oven and setting the temperature, but it was the perfect little size for him to be able to see through the glass without endangering himself near a huge oven.

We as parents are doing the absolute best that we can at any given point in time. It’s so easy to compare ourselves to other parents who can afford the elaborate vacations and houses full of electronics, and that is amazing that they are able to have those luxuries! But for a lot of us, dusting off the old camping tent and swimming in the lake may be the yearly family vacation. My fondest memories in life were made around a campfire, with the stars shining through holes in the sky, listening to the chorus of bugs and birds and running water. (That doesn’t mean that our family vacations to Disney World as a child weren’t the most amazing thing ever!!!!) The trick is not in how much money you spend or what you are doing, but in how you personally can find the magic and wonderment in every little thing. If we keep waiting for huge things to happen to make our lives memorable, we will be waiting forever. The beauty is in those little moments, some that happen every day, some that may be out of the ordinary. I will never stop trying to make Rylan’s life as special as possible.

Inexpensive Summer Ideas for Toddlers:

1. Wood Pallet Garden

2. Outdoor Potting Area

3. Plant flowers in old plastic dump trucks and boats (drill draining hole)

4. Reading Nook (use a tent, tipi or blanket fort, string lights, pillows, etc)

5. Outdoor fort for space under the deck (plant shrubs as a border/fence and fill area with sand, toys, small hammock)

6. Learn to cook using unplugged crockpot/toaster oven (parental supervision)

7. Hang a plastic shoe rack inside a pantry door to organize daily snacks, so toddlers can pick out what they’d like to eat

8. Fill an old picnic basket with plastic foods, blanket and camping plates

9. Go camping in the backyard/deck

10. Write a few different day-trip scenarios on popsicle sticks or glue a picture at one end of each and let toddler choose where they’d like to go on their adventure day!

11. Find a local festival (Harry Potter festival, Fairy Festival, etc.) and go to your local thrift store and you and your toddler put together an awesome costume to help their imagination come to life!

12. Let your toddler pretend to be a photographer and learn to capture all those magical moments by giving them an old camera

Bring the Childhood Magic Back into Weekend Mornings

My favorite thing to do on a Saturday morning is to wake up with the sunrise and take my toddler to the neighborhood diner in his pajamas. I live for the smell of freshly brewed coffee wafting into the booths, and the way the intricately iced cakes rotate in the carousel as little ones crowd around it, noses pressed against the glass. As I sit cuddled up with my son next to me, I watch all the different stories unfold around me—young kids voraciously feasting before a big soccer game; loving grandparents treating their grandkids to a special meal; single parents who have their little ones for their custodial weekend; shy young couples on their first breakfast date together getting to know each other over French toast; college students sleepily refueling after an all-too-familiar all-nighter.

The best part about Saturday mornings at the diner is the squeal of excitement escaping my son when his Mickey Mouse pancake is put in front of him. Seeing the elation in his eyes sparked the idea that I could create that glimmer of magic in our own home every Saturday morning with breakfast food that depicted his favorite stories and characters. For the past couple of months, every weekend morning when my baby starts to stir, his sandy-colored hair disheveled from his adventures in dreamland, I ask him what he wants for breakfast. Without fail, he exclaims emphatically with his eyes still closed…”Pancakes!”

Thus my affinity for whimsical pancake art was born! I love using cuts of fresh, colorful fruit; multicolored chocolate chips; and a questionably steady hand while pouring the batter into funky shapes in the hot, buttered pan. The hard part is not dreaming up concepts, but keeping sticky little fingers from grabbing a strawberry nose in the process!

If you want a great way to bond with your kids, treat your significant other to a piece of culinary art, or just reliving your own favorite childhood wonders, see what you can come up with this Saturday morning.