Bristol Palin Survives DWTS and Brandy Goes Home

OK... I couldn't help but laugh my butt off when they announced that Brandy, and not Bristol, would be going home from Dancing With The Stars this week.  It's not that I have anything against Brandi.  Brandi was absolutely amazin on DWTS.  She is truly a gifted dancer.  The reason I laughed was because I knew it would make all the extreme lefters go crazy with their conspiracy theories about how the Tea Party was the reason Bristol Palin was being voted thru.  I seriously doubt that this is some right wing conspiracy to get Bristol voted thru.  As if there aren't more important issues going on in the world.

Rainy Day Fun

Stuck indoors with kids and no TV on a rainy day?

Some of the things we've done over the last three days...

• Draw a picture.
• Build a pillow fort.
• Make and play with playdoh.
• Take a (pretend) trip to space.
• Open your own restaurant or store (my son's idea).
• Read a book.
• Build a block city.
• Create a wooden railway.
• Make up silly stories.

What do you do with your kids on rainy days?

Take a Walk

"As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler; solitude will not be solitude, poverty will not be poverty, nor weakness weakness." ~ Henry David Thoreau

The less I own the less stress I feel. Six weeks ago I made the decision to get rid of my car. I don't live in a city with the greatest public transportation system, although it does have several different types available, but I have very rarely regretted the decision to sell the belonging which had been the biggest drain on my time.

In fact my life has been enriched in four very meaningful ways.

1.) I've gained a renewed appreciation of nature by walking everywhere I need to go.

2.) I've gained respect for my personal time because trips take so much planning and forethought I only spend my time going places I really want to end up at.

3.) I've gained time with my son. When we walk places together he gets to ask me questions about what he sees, tell me a story, or just sing me a song. There is no radio or traffic to distract us from each other.

4.) I've gained financial flexibility. I no longer need to work more to sustain an object that sits idle for 90% of my time. No taxes. No car washes. No trips to the mechanic. No registration fees. No gasoline. No insurance payments.

As a single parent I believe that the best way to spend more time with my child is to spend more time with my child. My journey reflects that priority. I hope that all of your lives reflect your priorities as well.

Namaste,

Ani