Missing the Chaos, What I Know For Sure & #iPPP

Last weekend, I had more alone time.  A whole 24 hours this time.  And this time, I didn't go out dancing or drink too much or toss and turn.  No, this time I was quiet and thoughtful and got so. much. sleep.  

Tim took the kids to his parents' cottage early Saturday morning.  I waved good-bye from the front porch and then got back in bed, for hours.  I drank coffee and watched an Arrested Development marathon.  It was pretty f-ing wonderful.

 I watched 238 episodes in a row in preparation for the new Netflix season, which I'm only a few episodes into and not thrilled with.
Have you watched the new season?  What do you think?

 I didn't talk to anyone except my puppy Cosi.  She and I kind of bonded, which quite frankly after a few rough months together, it was needed.

I fought the urge to call friends and family I haven't spoken to in forever.  I enjoyed not talking, teaching, answering questions, asking questions, saying the right thing or saying the wrong thing.

I walked down the street to get lunch.  It was so strange to go at my own pace.  No hurrying.  

Just one foot in front of the other, breathe deeply, smile at strangers passing by, nod to the biker, notice landscaping I haven't seen before, appreciate the sun on my face...nothing but sidewalk ahead.  

The restaurant I went to was closed which would've been a big deal if I had four kids tagging along possibly throwing fits.  But not the new well-rested, Zen me.  I walked home enjoying my sunny sidewalk and went with restaurant plan b.  

I got on my bike, the bike with the kid trailer, the empty kid trailer.  I rode through the park to the sandwich shop.  

Then I secured my glorious sandwich in the trailer and headed home.  Several people attending a Memorial Day Weekend festival in the park peeked into the trailer somewhat surprised to see a sandwich and not a cute baby.  I rode on proudly, got back home, got back in bed and ate my lunch.

It was all good.  But ultimately, I missed the noise.  I missed the chaos.  I missed my kids.

Don't I look calm?  This is moments before the family returned, I know I won't look this calm until the next time I'm alone and that's okay.

Being alone is good therapy for sure.  But my life is all crazy and loud and full of answering questions and asking questions.  Time is going to go fast, hell it already has, and before I know it, my kids will be graduating and moving on and that will be good, but it will be quieter.  My time alone made me love my time surrounded by my chaotic, loud, family, I know that for sure (this week).

Here's what else I know (this 

week):

• Helpers are awesome.  Wade is at that fun age when he thinks cleaning is fun and wants to "help" with every chore.

• I hate bathing suit shopping.  I am heading to the store this weekend and I dread it.  I just dread it.   Here's a post from Buzzfeed that gives 12 good reasons why we should all be wearing 1960s bathing suits and asks "what is so goddamn wrong with wearing a one-piece?"

source: buzzfeed.com

• Looking glamorous can be dangerous.  In this week's vlog I attempt at applying false eyelashes almost results in me losing my vision in one eye.  In case you missed it, check it out.

Please subscribe to my YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/jumpingwithmyfingers.  

I'm trying to get 100 subscribers by August 1.  

Help me reach my lofty goal.

• Nothing wrong with the 90s.  The past couple weeks I've written a lot about the 1980s here and here and here.  But the 90s had it going on too.  Here's my summer jam from my single post college days, La Bouche anyone?

Oh wait, what about Heavy D's Now That We Found Love?  I'm going way back and I love it.  Totally doing more posts on the 90s.  "Keep it funky."

• The baby of the family, Wade, is a good sport.  And he just rolls with it.  You want to paint nails and play dress up? He's game.  You want to play hockey? He's game.  He's a cool kid that baby Wade (who's not really a baby, but a baby to me).

• There's no shame in flossing. Do you have a Floss Face?  If not, get one and take a picture and you could win an iPad.  For real.  And head on over to this post and comment to win a six-pack of dental floss, which doesn't sound like a lot, but dude it's quality floss, the good stuff.  Click here and may the floss be with you.

What do you know for sure (this week)? C'mon, we're friends, share what you know. Have a good back story? Tell me about it. Leave a comment here or on the Facebook page.

  Please come play with me on Instagram @jumpingwithmyfingerscrossed.

I'm linking up today with my good buddy Greta from  Gfunkified.com and Sarah at SundaySpill.com for the #iPPP link up.  They host a link up where they encourage people to share "your funny, your yummy, your heartfelt, your favorite photos of the week" from our phones.  Check them out.

Oh yeah, and come follow me on Twitter @AngelaYBlood, subscribe to my MomPulse YouTube channel here and follow my Pinterest boards here.

Flossing

We were all crammed into the elegant, but smallish, office looking at molds of teeth. X-rays of teeth.  Pictures of teeth.   The orthodontist was giving me information about my oldest son's overbite and told me one side of his teeth lined up, but uh-oh the other side didn't.  How is that even possible?  I listened carefully.  But all the technical bite information and the cost breakdown was making my mind a little foggy and my heart a little jumpy.  It was all kinds of overwhelming.  

It felt like it was just a few years ago, it was me in Dr. Seabold's chair praying that it would be the day my braces came off.  How could it have been almost 22 years ago? 

Hello awkward.
What would I say to my 16-year-old self? Wear your retainer!
And floss. 

My teeth were a mess growing up.  A bad car accident and not wearing a seat belt left me with a broken jaw at age 5 and very complicated bite issues for the next 12 years.  The day I got my braces off is in the top ten days of my life.  I felt free---free from feeling insecure about my crooked teeth and hideous bite, free from getting food caught in my braces.  It was a good day.  I felt almost glamorous with my new straight, white teeth, like a girl in a toothpaste commercial.  I smiled for a week straight, which is a big deal for a teenager. 

But just like a teenage girl, I was a little too into other teenage girl stuff (like watching 90210 and writing in my diary) to take care of my teeth.  Wear my retainer? Um, no thank you.  Floss? Didn't I already mention 90210 was on?

The years went by fast and honestly my teeth habits didn't really get any better.  I would floss right before my dentist appointment, if I remembered to make an appointment.  Not until the last few years, not until I began teaching my own children to brush and floss and take care of their teeth, did I start paying attention to my own.  Yes, not being a hypocrite is a very important chapter in the parenting manual.  Be an example, a role model, it reads. So, I started brushing better and flossing more.

The last time I was at the dentist they talked to me about my gums receding.  They told me it's irreversible and usually related to age.  "Are you telling me I'm long in the tooth?," I asked after rinsing my mouth.  "Like the phrase that means you're old?"

Being "long in the tooth" means I must have gained some wisdom along the way.  Like the importance of taking care of my teeth.  Like knowing when a floss is really, really good.  

I've actually become a bit of a floss and tooth paste expert or connoisseur if you will. That is why I jumped at the opportunity to share information about the hands-down best floss out there--Oral-B® Glide.  Their tag line should be "this floss will make you happy" because it just does. 

This isn't your mom's flimsy, skinny little floss.  Oral-B® Glide is serious floss that makes you feel like you are really making a difference every time you use it.  It has been clinically proven to help reverse gingivitis.  It also protects against cavities and bad breath.

Sitting with my four children looking at all the teeth brought it all back.  The years I wished I'd flossed and brushed better and worn my retainer.  My kids were wide-eyed and mesmerized with the teeth molds and the fancy braces.  

"Any questions?" the orthodontist asked.

"No, I can't think of any right now," I said my mind racing.

"Yes, in the back," he replied, pointing behind me.

Apparently, my daughter had a question.  She had her hand raised high up in the air waiting patiently to be called on.  

"So, does he need braces or what?" she wanted a bottom line for her brother.

Bottom line is yes, he needs braces and we need to figure out how to pay for it.  Bottom line is that when you know better, you do better.  Bottom line is taking care of your teeth is important.

And here's the thing about taking care of teeth and flossing in particular, you can do it anywhere.  There's no shame in flossing.  Do it in your car, in your back yard, at the restaurant (preferably in the restroom, but whatever).  With each floss you are taking care of yourself.  You are a role model. 

Share your Floss Face pictures here  bit.ly/FlossFace

Oral-B® is hosting a Floss Face Contest.  Take a picture of yourself flossing (I dare you to take the picture at the restaurant) and post it here bit.ly/FlossFace.  Every first time entrant will receive a tote bag with Glide products (while supplies last) and every two weeks from now until July 7th, someone will win an iPad.

To get YOU started I'm giving away one package of six Oral-B® Glide flosses. Leave a comment here or on my Facebook page and a winner will be randomly chosen in one week from today.

Now go take care of your teeth. May the floss be with you. Ugh, sorry, I had to it was right there and too good. 

I participated in this sponsored campaign for One2One Network. I received monetary compensation and product to facilitate my post, but all opinions stated are my own.