Inspiration

The intent of starting The Novice Mom was to document my journey of being a stay-at-home mom and budding entrepreneur. My road to being an entrepreneur has been a slow one, but I'm still on it nonetheless! It's been over two years since I started Peekaboo Picks and next week I will be launching my latest project, Rain or Shine Finds. Rain or Shine Finds will be a trend-spotting site just like Peekaboo but will feature only local (Pacific Northwest) companies. I am beyond excited about it!
I'm thinking of this as the next step on my path to becoming an entrepreneur. I have the vision, it's just a matter of time. As many of you know, I have a real passion for the mom/baby/maternity world and have enjoyed getting to know so many inspirational moms who have started their own businesses. One being the fabulous Shelly from Plein de Vie. I'm hoping the launch of Rain or Shine Finds will connect me with even more cool local entrepreneurs.



I recently found this inspirational video and thought I would share. I love it! Here's to remembering the kid in me and pursuing my dreams!

10-10-10

My resolution for 2009 is to simplify my life. I'm trying to go "back to basics" in all aspects of my life. From the time I spend with my family, to my health and fitness, to Peekaboo Picks. I believe that extraordinary things can come from living a simple life.

My crave for simplicity is perhaps what drew me to 10-10-10, a new book by Suzy Welch. The name Suzy Welch might ring a bell for some of you, she is a regular contributor to O Magazine. Having lived a very busy life herself as an author, commentator and business journalist (not to mention MOM to 4 kids ages 14-19!) Suzy dishes up some simple advice for dealing with life's more difficult decisions.

The 10-10-10 concept is basically a way to think through the consequences of your decisions in a 10 minute, 10 month, 10 year time frame. This thought process can be applied to any decision you have to make, whether it be about love, work, family or anything else life might throw at you. How simple! How smart!

I will admit, I tuned out some of the chapters and stories shared in 10-10-10 that didn't really apply to me...at this point in my life. Instead, I focused on the chapters in the book about parenting and career decisions, things I deal with every day.

While I have chosen to be a stay-at-home mom for the time being, it wasn't an easy decision for me to make. It would have been so helpful to have used 10-10-10 to guide me through my thought process. Now that I'm focused on building a career from home, I will continue to use the 10-10-10 concept as I strive to find balance between having a successful career and raising my family with the values that are important to me.

What I love about Suzy's writing is that she offers her readers a tool (10-10-10) that doesn't frame things in black and white. It's an individual's values that will guide them through the 10-10-10 process, meaning results will be as different as people are. So even though staying at home with my children might be the right decision for me, it isn't the right decision for every parent. She even jokes about the ongoing "mommy wars" which we all know is a battle that will never be won! Using 10-10-10 can free you from guilt and any insecurities you might feel about your decision; something I think ANY mom could use!

I would definitely recommend this book to my fellow novice moms. It's a quick read and will leave you thinking more clearly about your life. You can read more about the book on Suzy's website: www.suzywelch101010.com

Plans to Go Public

Slowly but surely I have started sharing The Novice Mom with family and friends. But for the most part I have kept this here blog under wraps. "Why?" you ask with unyielding interest (haha) Well, to tell ya the truth, I wanted a space all my own. I know, that sounds silly (that's what a blog IS), but with my other blog turned website/magazine becoming more and more a public commodity (which is fabulous, don't get me wrong) I wanted to get back to ME. Not that I don't love Peekaboo - and do infuse much of my personal opinion into the content - but it's just not the same as having a personal blog. So I guess this is mine. My personal space all about me! Have you stopped reading yet?

Since our family blog has evolved into Thomas Family TV, I'll also be posting some family moments here.

But really, The Novice Mom is just my way of keeping tabs on myself. To keep me accountable to all of the dreams and desires I have inside of me. My way of not forgetting, but rather vocalizing, the goals I have for myself and for my family.

I do have plans to "go public" with The Novice Mom at some point, which perhaps is why I've been posting more regularly so there will be more content to filter through when I decide to bear my soul to the world.

As for now, for the very few who are reading, I hope you are enjoying learning more about this novice mama.

Design on the Mind

I've always loved design but lately I've been really obsessing about it. I've been reading lots of blogs and getting super inspired! So I've made a few resolutions for 2009...


1. Learn how to sew. I'm yearning to make drapes, duvet covers, and throw pillows from vintage fabrics. I want to sew Ireland little dresses and make monster dolls for Aiden. So step one, learn how to sew. (image via www.prettylittlethings.typepad.com)



2. Start shopping thrift stores and flea markets for furniture and decor. Our house has such charm and whimsy - I don't want to fill it up with Ikea! I'm craving mid-century modern mixed with vintage. Classic pieces with a modern twist. Pops of color in funky accessories. Time to get shopping! (image via www.mycakies.blogspot.com)



3. Create a space just for me. I need an office in our house, somewhere I can go to feel creative. I'm thinking something like this. (image via www.droozstudio.blogspot.com)



4. Learn photography! I probably should have listed this as number one since this is my number one resolution for 2009. I'm hoping 2009 will bring a camera and some photography classes. (image via www.shannonsewell.com - one of my favorite photographers and such an inspiration!)


5. Bake. Okay, so this doesn't have a whole lot to do with design, but I'm considering it part of my 2009 creative makeover. I'm not much of a cook, and probably never will be. But I do enjoy baking and who couldn't use a few more cupcakes in their life, right? (image via www.bakerella.com)

6. Share. I'm hoping to share my design journey here on The Novice Mom through my words and lots and lots of photos! I'm so excited, aren't you?!

Dedicated to the Cause

Yikes, guess I'm not as great at blogging as one would think! Jason gets on me all the time that I don't update our family blog, and I feel bad about that. I need to update more often, take more pictures, and be better about documenting this very special time in my life. But here's the honest truth. In the last couple of weeks I have finally come to terms with the fact that I'm a stay-at-home mom. I'm a SAHM...who would have guessed?! I've been fighting that title for so long, that it feels strange to finally embrace it.

But I am embracing it. Because the truth is, as much as I want to be a WAHM (work-at-home mom) I've got to get this mom thing down first. So here's the deal. I've been shutting down the computer more, doing the dishes everyday, and keeping my house somewhat (gasp) clean and orderly. I make Aiden breakfast. We've been practicing his numbers more and watching television less. I'm thinking about cooking and contemplating a weekly meal plan. Heck, I'm even going to my first Carnation Mom's Night Out this week...I must be a SAHM!

And you know what, it feels good. I actually really enjoy being a mother. Not that I haven't always enjoyed being a mother, but I'm almost to the point where it's enough...almost.

Really, I've just enjoyed being in the moment more with my family. And I am SO SO SO excited for the things we have coming up in the near future.

I've been able to take a step back from everything...all of my lofty ideas...and have realized that I just want to be the best mother and wife that I can be. And as for my career aspirations? Well, that's a whole other blog post altogether.

So good things are happening with the Thomas fam. Most importantly, love is overflowing in our little house...

but no more babies...

for now. :)

Where are you going with this?

My mind is a constant mosh pit of ideas. Running an online magazine and being so wrapped up in the whole mom entrepreneur world, I'm constantly thinking up business ideas, marketing concepts, and plans to take over the world. Okay, maybe not the world. But seriously, despite having the occasional mommy brain, it seems my mind is generally set to overdrive. I truly wish I could just be content with where I'm at now and focus on the task at hand. And in someways, I've come to that conclusion. I've decided that instead of investing my time in thinking up all these new ideas, I just need to focus on what I've started. To improve upon and take advantage of the amazing opportunities my life has afforded me so far.

So here's where I'm going with all of this. I've scrapped other goals to focus on my online magazine and attempt to make it profitable. The point now is to establish myself in the "mom" industry and then, when my kids have grown a bit, perhaps once they're both in school, I will actually have the time and resources to pursue some of these other goals.

For now, my number one priority is raising my two beautiful children. I love being able to stay home with my kids, even if it means giving up other luxuries. As everyone knows, being a mom is a full time job. And though pursuing my career goals excites me, I'm not sure I'm ready to take on the overtime.

Delusions of Grandeur

If you were a fly on my wall, watching me change diaper after diaper in yesterday's sweats, you would hardly believe this novice mom suffers from delusions of grandeur. As you buzz around my house, you're amazed at the amount of dirty laundry littered from one room to another and you can't quite get over the distinctive smell of poop. You notice the stack of bills on the dining room table, catching a glimpse of a red overdue stamp. "How," you wonder, "could this scattered mom think she's anything more than a harried housewife?"

I may have delusions but I'm certainly not delusional. I know my life is messy right now, wrapped up in the well being of my two babies. I know the reality of this post baby belly, pit stained, under showered mama being anything beyond a stay at home mom in Small Town, America might seem far fetched. So I suppose this is where the delusion comes in. Because even though it might not seem too fabulous from the point of view of a fly, I'm convinced my life is meant to be, and will be, hailed as fabulous from moms across the globe.

If we believe in ourselves enough, can our dreams become our reality? Does vocalizing our dreams bring them any closer to becoming true? I'd like to think so.

My dream is to achieve success and recognition for my work. To pave a new path for mothers who desperately desire to stay home with their children, while earning money and a sense of career accomplishment at the same time. My dream is to be the spokesperson for this new approach to motherhood, after all, I will have written the book - The Novice Mom.

I envision myself venturing out on an extensive press circuit, my entire family in tow. My publisher signing me to a four book deal. Months of every year spent in Maui, working from my laptop, with clients none the wiser that I'm sipping on a Mai Tai, poolside.

But mostly, I envision my life a lot like how it is now. At home, with my children, and yes, even some days in my sweats (though hopefully sans the post baby bod). I might be delusional, thinking this way of life could be passed off as fabulous. But if that's the case, I'd rather be labeled naive then believe my life is anything less.