https://soundcloud.com/sophia-venturo/stay-with-me-by-sam-smith
Now that my daughter is back from her study abroad she is back in front of the microphone, much to the delight of her friends and ours also! Here is the sweet voice of (in our biased opinion) the talented Sophia and her new accompanist Tyler performing the cover of Sam Smiths ‘Stay with Me’.
I hope you enjoy!
Being a parent means sometimes you learn amazing lessons from your children.
I have been sporadic posting lately, because I have been spending more time reading. Good, Old Fashioned book reading for pleasure. Despite the break from letting time sucking TV and news consume my life, I still find myself falling in to the trap of modern technology and culture: Texting, instead of calling. Texting, instead of face to face meeting and chatting. Looking at my phone in the midst of conversation. Checking social media, full of people I have never met, instead of meeting with those I do know.
I am guilty of ‘looking down’, and based on what I see around me, I’m not the only one.
My oldest recently returned from study abroad in Europe. We made the decision in advance to only use Wi-Fi when available to communicate, meaning her phone was pretty much useless. She was therefore ‘liberated’ from the tether of her phone, and came home with a whole new perspective, and priorities. Arriving home, we find her no longer dependent upon a phone with 3G and a data plan, along with access to technology to socialize or communicate. She quite often leaves it at home. It is refreshing in this day and age of ‘everything technology’.
Did she spend her time in Europe looking at an illuminated screen?
No, she did not. And she came home RICH in memories and experiences.
Does she spend her time now, looking down?
No, she does not. And she seems all the more happy for it.
So watch this video, and take a lesson from a 21 year old. I did, and I’m not ashamed to admit it.
Sometimes, the best tips and tricks are the low tech solutions to a problem.
Todays tip addresses the conundrum of drying out the insides of boots effectively and efficiently.
This technique can be used to dry spring rain boots as well as winter boots as shown, or even wet dress/tennis shoes.
You can invest in an expensive boot dryer, or if you are frugal like me, find a chopstick, jam it gently in your heating vent, then stack the boot over the top. If your vent is a bit too wide for the chopstick, wrapped a rubber band over the bottom. The rubber will widen the base and is pliable enough to allow it to be securely wedged in the vent opening.
If the weather is too warm for your thermostat to kick the heat on, just run the fan. Not only will the air in your home get circulated, efficiently distributing your air around and evening out the temperature of your home, but it will gently dry your boots/shoes overnight.
April showers brings May flowers. While we wait for the May flowers to finally show up, at least you can keep your feet dry!
Rockin the Mom Role 