Revolution (Resolution) - Mid Year Check In - Part 1

It's official...we're now more than half way into 2015.   It's time for me to check in (and own up) to how I'm doing on my resolutions so far.

Use my writing to help inspire more memories with Molly and Jack including monthly one on one "dates" with the minions
In late spring I had a great date day with Jack where he tried sushi for the very first time, we went to Woodbine Fantasy Fun Fair to check out the rides and we visited a friend's newborn baby (Jack is pretty crazy about babies).  Chris has taken each minion on a baseball game date, individually, where they both had a blast. I haven't managed another date with the kids in quite some time, but I am planning something with Molly later this month.  I have been able to use my writing to bond with the kids a lot this year, but with the weather being great, I must admit I've been spending more of my downtime enjoying the backyard or local parks with the kids instead of writing, and I'm enjoying every minute of it!

 Jackie Reaching for the stars.

Read More in 2015 (Goal of 30 books total), including at least 5 Classics that I've never read Before.

I've read 5 books since my last check in, including one classic.  Again, if anyone has any book recommendations I would love to hear them!

The Poisoners Handbook by Deborah Blum - A thrilling historical read about the first forensic scientists and their quest for truth among the world of arsenic, prohibition related poisonings because of home brewing and many brands of  suspicious deaths all set in New York City nearly a century ago. Probably the best read of the spring.

A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson - After I finished reading Wild, an acquaintance recommended I read a lighter take on a life changing journey into the deep dark woods. This book is about that friend you've been buddies with for as long as you can remember.  The one who is a giant f@&k up, but somehow charming enough that you can't help but forgive them, again and again.  Imagine being in your forties, twenty years after a disastrous backpacking trip to Europe and going with them on a hike of the Appalachian Trail. It's immediately apparent that documenting the antics makes for a far better story than living the actual experiences.  Bryson's long time frenemie Katz had me laughing out loud.  Bryson's dry wit and ability to make fun of himself was key to making this book work (one of his main reasons to tackle the trail was to "be manly" and "less of a cupcake").  I have added the book about the above-mentioned, ill advised trip to Europe, Neither Here Nor There to my reading list.

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven - Violet and Finch are the main characters in this charming, yet sad young adult novel.  This book breaks some wonderful boundaries and stereotypes about what it's like to live and love someone through sadness, depression, grief and fear.  A good tween introduction to tragic and relatable heroes.

I Regret Nothing by Jen Lancaster - Another entertaining series of essays by Lancaster narrating her journey to self-improvement, this time tackling her bucket list.  A good light read, but not her best work.  If you've never read her work before I recommend starting from the beginning with Bitter is the New Black before you read her later non-fiction.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey - A literary classic exploring an insiders view into psychosis.  I must admit that I kept wanting to love this book more then I did.  I think that this book, like my experience with Catcher in the Rye was read at the wrong time in my life and I didn't get as much out of it as I could have had I read it in my teens or twenties.

Get better at Promoting my Writing and get Published in Seven New Places This Year.
I had a second publication lead that never formulated in the spring and have had another one in the works over the past few weeks that I hope will materialize into something great.  Fingers crossed.  Beyond that I need to focus more effort and time promoting myself and my writing .  If anyone knows any websites, blogs or magazines where my writing would be a good fit, please let me know.


To view my full list of 2015 resolutions click here.  To see how I did earlier this year click here and here.

To see how I did with my 2014 resolutions (and more mini book reviews) click here.

To get access to the newest posts from Multiple Momstrosity and more on Facebook click here and follow today! 

The End of the Century - 2014 New Year Resolution Year End

In the beginning of 2014 I set out with a series of resolutions, now that the year is nearly over I thought I'd reflect on how I did.  To take a look at my official resolution list click here.

Photo from camping 2013 courtesy of A.W.

Here's my progress from the last bit of 2014.

Read More Stories to Molly and Jack
Reading becomes a bigger part of Molly and Jack's lives every day which both Chris and I find really exciting.  On weekend days when Jack wakes up earlier than Molly I find myself on the couch with him reading two or three books and taking our time examining little bits of the story and pictures together - it's some of the best one on one time I get with my Jackie Bear.  Each night we get to two or three stories and over the holidays, particularly since Jack's been feeling under the weather, we've had two or three story times a day.  Favourite books right now are Pinkalicious, The Pigeon Needs a Bath and The Duckling Gets a Cookie.

Read More Books For Me
I like to think that the looming December deadline for my Public Relations final thesis was the main culprit behind my lack of extracurricular reading the past few months, except I haven't picked up a book over the holidays either.  With the three (plus) books I read over the past few months I read 20 books this year doubling 2013's 10 which I consider a big win.  Here's what I read recently.

Jennifer, Gwyneth & Me: The Pursuit of Happiness One Celebrity at a Time by Rachel Bertsche - This is a one year journey of self-help where guinea pig Rachel takes on one celebrity at a time where she tries to be fit like Jennifer, a superstar supermom chef like Gwyneth and a stylish fashionista like Sarah-Jessica.  An interesting story with great narrative, but I would have really liked some pictures about the journey and some highlights of what she learned including what habits stuck post-project.

Fan Girl By Rainbow Rowell-  The Queen of Teen showcases a relationship of identical twins in their first year of college.  Moments of brilliance include incorporating an S.E. Hinton's Outsiders reference and some tender real moments between the main characters. It was a solid read, but the ending really felt like a non-ending to me and left me a little underwhelmed.

Adulting, How to become an Adult in 468 Easy(ish) Steps by Kelly Williams Brown  - A nice easy quick read with some items I already knew and forgot and some great tips on not sweating the small stuff, like "Will I care about this in six months, In a year".  I felt about ten years too old to have read this book, but enjoyed it all the same.

My Boyfriend Wrote a Book About Me by Hilary Winston - I really wanted to like this book, but after three solid attempts at it and it sitting in my purse for nearly two months I tapped out.  I just couldn't get into her writing style and expected a lot more humour in this than I got.


Have More Dates With Chris
We've managed a couple of dinners out over the past few months.  Something as simple as an hour or two at a record shop followed by a coffee shop or pub for some great conversation can reconnect us and remind me that we still like each other and why we're together.  It can be hard to remember these things when you're surrounded by two little ones all the time.

Book More "Me" Time
I have been good with getting more "me" time, but it's a tough balance when you also want time with your kids and your spouse.  This will continue to be a priority moving forward.  I have come to the realization that "me" time doesn't always have to occur at a yoga studio, coffee shop or spa, it can be as simple as trying out a new recipe and blasting Adele on a Thursday night, which is something I'm excited to focus on more next year.

I've begun the resolution list for 2015 and will share it in the next few days.  While there are going to be healthful items like "drink more water" I doubt I'll report on that publicly  In 2015 I plan to focus on promoting and publishing my writing elsewhere and putting myself out there.  I also want to use my writing as an inspiration to drive more memories and activities with my family.  This is the first year I've stayed connected with my resolved changes, even when I haven't been so successful and it was an awesome exercise.  What is the best resolution you ever had?  Do you have any planned for 2015?

To view my three month check in click here.

To view my six month check in click here\.

To view my nine month check in click here.

Nine - Resolution Check-In

Earlier this year I posted my New Year's Resolutions (nitty gritty details here).  I don't think I've ever followed resolutions this far into the year, but it's definitely kept me honest.   This is my third quarter Resolution Check In.

Molly in a reflective pose this summer.

Read More Books for Me
In 2013 I only read 10 books for pleasure.  So far this year I've read 17 books which, hopefully, will allow me to more than double last year's numbers.

Here's what I've read lately along with my summaries:


The Psychopath Test  by Jon Ronson - Ever wonder if someone you know with the "killer" instinct and no remorse is really a psychopath?  This is a highly addictive and entertaining read that talks about applying a checklist developed to track psychosis in everyone from convicted killers to Wall Street CEOs.

Scott Pilgram Volume 1 by Brian Lee O'Malley- The movie adaptation of Scott Pilgrim is quite similar to this book, so if you like the movie you'll probably like the book. Integration of Toronto culture into this comic zine is great.  Really quick read, but then again there are 6 volumes to the story.

Double Time by Jane Roper - As a parent of twins I enjoyed and could relate to this memoir.  I've had a number of multiple moms approach me about writing something about increased odds and effects of post-partem depression in mom's of multiples and I was hoping this book would bring me there.  I wanted a little more content on Roper's post-baby journey on her tendencies of depression that evolved into her story coping with twins and a diagnosis of bi-polar.

Coreography by Corey Feldman -  This book is kind of like a car crash...it's a depressing and sad look on what can happen to child stars and you can't help but rubberneck.  I had more sympathy for Feldman after reading the book, but was confused about his thanking his mom in his end notes despite a major theme in the book being how awful she was to him.  When I told a few people about the bio they forwarded me an article in Vice Magazine about his parties where guests can pay to hang out with Feldog...not quite the sympathetic picture he painted in his memoir.

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell - Think Office Space meets predictable romantic comedy. Even though I could guess what was going to happen next I liked the characters enough to want to find out more.  A solid debut novel.

After I do.  by Taylor Jenkins Reid - A very quick read in classic chic lit formula.  A lighthearted look at a couple who decide to take a year off from their marriage to find themselves separately before they decide whether or not they'll be together.

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell - Even better than Attachments, these characters are just so likeable you root for them.  Park would make both highschool and 36 year old me swoon.  This would make a great young adult book, some parts can seem a little unbelievable, but was such a can't put it down story that I didn't care.  I gunned through it in three days.

Darling You Can't Do Both by Janet Kestin & Nancy Vonk - This is a really inspiring book (which I imagine is akin to the next generation of Lean In - I should probably read that). It's about using your feminine instincts, breaking the rules, standing-up and not being afraid to ask for what you need to succeed in your career.  Pioneers of Dove's Real Beauty campaign tell their story honestly with BS Free advice that is peppered with humour and advice.

1982 - Jian Ghomeshi - It's 1982 and young Jian wants to be David Bowie...the only problem is he's 15 years old, Persian and lives in Thornhill.  His mom wants him to be more like his neighbour Chris who keeps an immaculate lawn for his parents and has a nice haircut, like Mark Hammill.  A great coming of age tale about new wave and trying to fit in, despite wanting to be different.  It was a bit of an A side story, but I enjoyed it all the same.  And Yes Jian Ghomeshi is the CBC personality who was also in Moxy Fruvous - I'm pretty sure this book came with a Canadian flag.


Have More Date Nights With Chris:
With summer going on we used a lot of vacation time to catch some matinee movies while the kids were in daycare and even fit in a fishing trip.  We still don't get to go out together on a "date" as much as I'd like, but this resolution has been a nice, motivational reminder.

Read more stories to Molly and Jack
We continue to manage to get in 1-3 stories most nights.  On weekends when one minion (usually Jack) is up earlier than the other I've read a story or two solo and take the time to ask questions about the story and the pictures.

Be Less Strict with Toddler TV Time
The kids are obsessed with the show Mickey Mouse Club House, which is great when Chris and I want to get house work done, but can get a little bit ridiculous.  If we get tantrums for turning something off after the allocated time (we try not to shut down in the middle of an episode) the program gets banned for a few days.  Interesting Note: Mickey Mouse Club House catchy tune "Hot Dog" is performed by 90s band They Might be Giants.

Book More Time For Me
I managed two brunches and two mani-pedis in the past three months.  I had booked a yoga workshop designed to stretch out common ailments of office workers only to have it cancelled the day of, which was pretty disappointing.  Sometimes going to the grocery store solo is all I need for a break or for Chris to watch the kids while I take a nap.


How did you do on your New Years Resolutions?  Do you have any book recommendations for me? What are you planning to change next year?

To read my three month check in and mini book reviews click here

To read my six month chick in and mini book reviews click here