Los Porchs

When you're the couple among couple friends who are still trying to conceive your first, it's tough.  Having family that is anxious for a new baby is also difficult.  What most people don't realize though is that when this is the case, it's not the big events that make the struggle hurt more -- it's not birth announcements or showers or seeing more and more people having multiple children.  In fact, we're overjoyed at the blessings of our family and friends. It's the little things... those little one-liners that do the most damage.  Almost like baby-bullying.  Need a for instance?  Have a few!  Take 'em with you when you leave as well! When are you guys gonna have a kid? You're almost 30... Did you see so and so is having another? Don't you want children? You deserve to have children (huh?!) When I was your age, I already had 3 kids!  ((OMG don't EVEN get me started with this one)) These little nuggets are the worst.  They make me s

Perhaps I'm going about this "vacation" thing the wrong way.  I caught myself yesterday thinking that I really wanted to have something to "show" for the time spent at home, like I needed a receipt to prove I did something while I was off of work.  Then I started to think about all the times I've reminded those close to me, especially my work family, how important the process is rather than the product. Vacation should be more of a state of mind than a product.  Sure, I won't end my 2 weeks with a tan (though the Midwest has had stranger weather patterns) and maybe I won't write the next great American novel, but what's important is that I allow myself the time to decompress and find my inner peace.  I have a suspicion that my desk and inbox will look scary upon return and for me, it's most important that I be prepared to tackle the challenges with a more relaxed mind frame. So I guess I'm pretty lucky that I didn't get a single p

Mrs. Porch's Wish List of Shit to Accomplish (So poetic): I'll just go ahead and cross these off as I finish them... and if I know myself the way I think I do, I'll be adding things I accomplish that weren't on the list, just to be able to cross them off. Clean & organize the guest bedroom closet Organize the craft room Organize our closet Read an entire professional development book Make a dinner I find on Pinterest Complete a sewing project Complete any project Read [at least] one non-professional development book Spring clean this joint Finish my first NAEYC portfolio Let my mind wander

I've officially been on vacation for 2 hours and 15 minutes and already am drawing comparisons between my coffee cup & Essie nail polish (they're identical and I kind of love it).  Clearly, I need some bigger ideas of what makes a good staycation because the joy of having my morning coffee from a "real" mug as opposed to my customary travel mug is kind of weaning. They are almost a 100% match. Mint Candy Apple by Essie for curious minds. I already considered, now 2 hours and 18 minutes in, going into the office to see if I forgot to do anything.  Nothing would drive my team crazier faster than my popping in all week to check in on them so I'll just keep waiting for them to call or write or miss me... I assume this is what parenting feels like, no?  Whatever. In an effort to save my sanity as well as Porch's, perhaps I should construct a wish list of shit I'd like to accomplish while off of work for this 2 week window.   Side note:  I don