My Halloween Evolution

I can’t believe that this week is Halloween.

I mean, we’re ready.

We have our costumes.

I present to you: our first family photo of all us dressed up for Halloween.
Harrington is the Mad Hatter to Marie's Madeline Hatter.
I am Chewbacca to Thomas's Storm Trooper.

And all of our candy

Shhh. It's my secret hiding place.
No one thinks to look behind my workout clothes.
The irony of my hiding place is not lost on me.

But I usually have a post ready for Halloween.

Since I have been really focusing my writing time on my book, I do not have a post ready.

So I thought I would share the evolution of how I went from really having a strong dislike towards Halloween to embracing it.

I really hated Halloween at this point.  I had a baby and preschooler.  It just seemed like a lotof work. 

Seriously, a lot of work. 

I didn’t even blog about Halloween in 2011 and 2012.

But then I started to find my jam when Thomas’s love of Halloween became so contagious I started to find joy in this holiday. 

And in 2014, this newfound enthusiasm inspired me to even do some Halloween art therapy. 

I even was excited to go to an adult Halloween party, which I had never been to. I also took the opportunity to show Marie that you do not need to dress up as a sexy version of anything. 

This year, I was super excited to decorate this year, and we might even add some new activities to this holiday.

I have officially found my Halloween jam, and I am guessing this is what the Grinch felt like when his heart grew three sizes on Christmas.

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Since I am committing more time to writing my book, my blog might not be as active.

I have a newsletter that I will start sending in October.  You can sign up here.

You can always find me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter.  I would love to connect with you there, too!

What I’m Reading: Wild by Cheryl Strayed

 Since both kids have been in school all day, I have rediscovered my love for reading. I have read over six books since September.  I have not done that since Marie was born nine years ago.

I forgot how therapeutic it is to become totally absorbed in someone else’s story.  I love the feeling of being transported to a new place and seeing life from someone else’s viewpoint, yet finding myself at the same time.

I’m really drawn to books about self-discovery right now.  For me, having kids has really forced me to figure out who I am and what I stand for.

That is why I love Wild. She was out there alone on the Pacific Crest Trail, mostly in silence to figure out who she really was.

 Away from her circumstances.

 Away from her vices. 

Away from her sadness.

With the beautiful and challenging backdrop of the Pacific Crest Trail, Cheryl was able to take an honest look at her life, the good and the bad, and make sense of it so she could move on.  I loved reading about how she was able to think critically about her family and come to a place of understanding.  I think my favorite part of the book (without giving away too much) is when she had an opportunity to repeat a recurring mistake and instead of feeling right, she felt empty. 

Through her physical journey, she was able to make her way back to her true self, evolved by transitions and revelations.

I don't think it is currently in my life plan to hike the PCT alone, but I do think that I am in a transition of sorts. I am learning that it takes more courage to be honest with myself as opposed to a muted version that is more concerned with pleasing others.

I am making peace with things that didn't go so well in my life, and celebrating the things that did.

I am working on accepting other people's shortcomings, especially my own. 

Did you read Wild? What did you think?