Christmas has come and gone, and while most people are planning on taking down their trees in a few days, I plan on keeping mine up until at least the second week in January. Part of it is that I’m just lazy, and taking down a tree is not as fun as putting one up. But the bigger part is that one of the cheap joys in life is sitting in front of a lit tree and soaking in the memories that this time of year brings.

For me, those memories have become bittersweet after my sister died last year. The greatest memories that I think most of us have of this time of year are directly related to our childhood, and those memories always include our siblings. I miss my sister more than words can say, and it’s especially hard at Christmas when the only thing I want for Santa to bring my niece is her mother. Since I know that even Santa and his miraculous powers can’t bring my sister back, it’s become extremely important for me to make memories for not only my niece, but for all the children in my family. I don’t have children myself, so being able to do special things for the kids in my family brings me a joy that is unspeakable. That said, I thought I would share a few things to help you make memories of your own with the children in your life.

Sleepovers – What is more fun than that? I currently have five teenagers in my house who have been here for a couple days. They will be replaced later today by three 8-year-olds who will stay over. I still remember sleepovers from my childhood, and I often hear the kids talk about the fun times they have when they stayed over at Auntie’s house!

Arts & Crafts – A week before Christmas I had the kids in my family over to make gingerbread houses and ornaments. It’s become an annual tradition and the great thing is that those ornaments will be around when those kids have gone off to college. The ornament below is one that I made when I was about 9 or 10 in Girl Scouts and it’s the most treasured thing on my tree.

Snow – If you are lucky enough to have snow outside your window, what cheaper, more fun thing is there to do than play in the show. Kid always remember making snowmen, snow angels, and having snowball fights! Plus, knowing that there’s hot chocolate waiting inside once your face has pretty much frozen solid is a bonus. So stop worrying about getting snow in the house and get out there and have some fun!

Video Games – I love that there are so many family-friendly games out there now. As I write this, the kids are in the other room playing Just Dance 2. Get in the action and you’ll burn some calories as well. After dancing to “It’s Raining Men” I had to sit down and catch my breath!

Read – I know this isn’t always the most popular option for kids or busy adults, but I know that I still remember my parents reading to me as a child. Believe me, the books you read to your children today will become the ones they remember fondly as adults.

As you can see, there is nothing ground-breaking here. It’s all simple stuff that I think we just need a little reminder to do. I believe there is nothing more important as adults that we can do for children than to make memories for them.

Just my humble opinion…Pebbles

What do you do to make memories with your children, or the children in your life? What are the special memories that you have from your childhood? I would love for you to leave a comment to let me know and share with everyone else!

(Picture from The Ramiro & Pebbles Boat Cruise)

It was a big deal for me when I made this my profile picture on Facebook.  I’m one of those people who has a hard time putting their faults out there for the world to see.  People are very judgemental and can be vicious.  I was never willing to hold myself up to that type of scrutiny.  But then I took a good look at that picture and laughed.  And I knew that if anyone else saw it they would laugh too, so why not put it out there.  And you know what…people laughed!

I bring this up because a little while ago, I updated my FB status and I swear I must have hit refresh about 5 times in 5 minutes to see what people had to say about what I wrote!  After the 5th time hitting refresh, I sat back and thought “Why do you care so much about what other people have to say?”  It stopped me dead in my tracks and made me realize that to a certain extent, we all may be looking for self-esteem in other people through Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and other forms of social networking. 

I know it’s easy to say, “No, that’s not me.  I don’t care what people think about me!”  But think about this…How many times do YOU hit refresh after posting a status update? How many times to you check out your @replies on Twitter?  And how much thought do you put into the pictures you post online?  My guess is, a lot.  And believe me, I’m just as guilty as you are.  Remember, I’m the one who brought it up! 

Now that I’m aware of this, I’m going to make an effort to stop editing myself so much.  If I like a picture of myself, I’m going to post it and not care what other people think!  This picture was another one that I hesitated about putting up, but I love it because I laugh a lot, with my mouth wide open, and so what?

Oh, and if someone happens to make a comment about one of my pictures or updates that I don’t like, oh well.  I’m going to learn to not care so much what other people think, and care more about what I think!  

What about you?  Do you worry about the comments that people write about you?  Do you make sure you only post the most perfect pictures of yourself?  Does what you read about yourself on FB, Twitter, etc. make a difference in the way you feel about yourself?   Let me know by leaving a comment.

Just my humble opinion…Pebbles!

Camping with my niece

When are you most YOU?  In other words, when do you feel most like yourself?  I know it’s an odd question, but this weekend I feel like I got the answer to the question for the first time in my life.  My answer…when I’m camping.

Over the weekend I was on my annual family “Camp Semedo” camping trip that I started in 2003 with 1 cousin, 5 kids, 2 tents, a camping stove, and the great outdoors.  Seven years later, it’s now a huge family event that has made me the proud owner of 15 tents, 18 sleeping bags, 7 lanterns and 16 air mattresses. Oh, and there are now over 80 people who attend the 4-days and 3-nights of family fun!

On the third day of camping, I pulled my boyfriend aside and we went and sat in the field for a quiet moment and talked.  It was there, with no makeup on, in need of a shower, wearing the clothes I would never put on to go out in public in, that I realized I felt more like “me” than I ever have.  It wasn’t something I had thought about before, but in that moment, I just blurted it out, and something in me made sense.  I always knew I loved camping, but I never connected it with the way that it made me feel about myself.

Being outdoors, sleeping in a tent, having no concerns about what anyone thinks about my physical appearance, and feeling no judgement about who I am or what I’m doing.  For me, camping is a freeing experience.  Sure there are bugs, and you’re not going to eat a gourmet meal every night, but when you strip away all the things that you put on daily (both physically and mentally), you have the unique opportunity to get to the core of who you are.

I’m sure that some of you have made this revelation about yourselves a long time ago, and it may not be camping that did it for you, but for me it was a great moment.

So, can you answer the question…When are you most YOU?  Have you had that moment in your life when you feel like “wow, this is who I am!”  Was it one thing, or one place, or one experience that got you there?  Are you even there yet?  I would love to hear about it.  Make sure you leave me a comment!

As always…Just my humble opinion,

Pebbles

Facebook…”helps you share and connect with the people in your life.”  No doubt that is true.  I have connected with family, old friends, former classmates, and lots of other people I would otherwise never be in touch with.  Unfortunately, with the many positives of Facebook, come the annoying and often negative aspects of Facebook. I’m sure you have your own, but here are my…

14 Facebook Pet Peeves

1. TMI (Too Much Information) No one needs to hear about your bathroom habits, female problems, or details of your sex life.  Unless it’s really, really funny…and then it’s ok!

2.  People who “like” negative status updates So you “like” that I just had the worst day of my life at work today???  I think I may have to un-friend you.

3.  Couple Fights Bashing your man or woman on FB because you’re pissed at them only makes YOU look crazy!  And when you’re bashing each other on FB?  Spare the rest of us and just break up!

4.   “So in Love” Updates This is almost as bad at people who fight on FB.  If all of your updates are about how in love you are, who are you trying to convince, us or yourself?  We get it, you’re in love!

5.   Body Shots People who post half-naked pictures of themselves in certain poses are only fishing for compliments.  You know the difference between “I have my shirt off hanging with my friends at the beach,”  and “Look at me, I’ve been working out!”  You look like a douche!

6.   No Profile Picture It doesn’t really matter if it’s not a picture of you, just have a profile pic!  This  is just annoying!

7.   Duck Face/Kissy Face Ladies, this is NOT cute!  There is no woman who looks better doing this than just smiling.  Seriously, it only makes you look a little slutty.  You don’t want that do you?  Or do you?  And guys who do this…I have no words.

8.   Liking Your Own Status/Photo If you posted a status or a photo, you obviously like it.  No need to “like” it again!

9.  The Positive People I think it’s great when people post inspirational quotes and positive messages, but if that’s the ONLY thing you post, you come off as fake.  NO ONE is that positive all the time!

10.  The Hustlers You know who I’m talking about.  People who are SO busy ALL the time!  Yeah, you’re “on the grind” we get it.  In the words of Christian Bale…Oh, good for you!

11.  Avoiders Nothing is worse than people who won’t confront you about an issue they have with you in person, but will attack you on FB.  Really?  I just SAW you!

12.  Changing Relationship Status Too Much Please don’t change your relationship status until you actually make a decision.  Going from “in a relationship” to “single” to “it’s complicated” every time you get in a fight is ridiculous!  And is it ever really complicated?  You’re either with someone or you’re not.

13.  Tagging Me in Photos I’m Not In Just stop!  Enough said.

14.  Fighting Under Someone Else’s Status There’s nothing wrong with a little healthy discourse between friends.  But when it turns into a full-blown fight, it’s just wrong.  Take it to your own page!

Ahhhh, I feel so much better.   Guess I needed to get that off my chest!   So there are my 14 Facebook Pet Peeves.  Want to add a 15th?  I would love to hear it, so please leave me a comment below! What’s YOUR FB Pet Peeve?

Just my humble opinion,

Pebbles