Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day With Jennifer Garner {and a Movie Giveaway!}

We all have those days. The ones we want to just put to sleep. The ones filled with alligator tears, with unimaginable mishaps, with impossibilities that make us feel like the universe is conspiring against us! 

Here are a few snippets from some of mine.

On the left, meet Maia and Jones circa 2007. They hid in the bookshelf. My pregnant self fell asleep on the clock and couldn't find them anywhere. We missed their big sister's piano lesson, burned dinner and were a puddle of tears by the time daddy got home. . . . but hey, we have a really adorable picture now.

On the right? These are my little sweeties in 2010. Daddy was out of town and mommy decided to take on big projects in the apartment. This was after our third trip to Home Depot to buy supplies to repair my "improvements." I thought buying a plant would make me feel better- instead it made us a pariah to all cab drivers and we waited here, hungry (albeit together) for nearly an hour while a street parade barred us from public transportation. Fun times.

This right here? This was our best attempt at taking a Christmas card photo back in 2009. Family closeness right there guys. I have no words. . . 

Perhaps that is why we resonated with this movie so so much! We all adore one another around here, but we struggle to walk through those days where everything seems like its against us. It was charming to see another family who love one another and are for one another experience a level of crazy all of us can understand. We laughed out loud....a lot.

After the screening, we had the joy of getting to talk to Jennifer Garner about life, motherhood and making movies. She is so delightful and was laser focused on making the kids in the room feel special. Her wise words on how to make it through a bad day? Be okay with feeling lots of things at once. Its ok to feel sad about moving on from something you loved, and also be excited about what is new.

And that messy tension is what makes movies like this full of such beauty. Our own bad days always hold hope all swirled together with the mess- and sometimes we can't see the grace, or beauty or hilarity in those moments until we look back on them later. 

Clinging to grace and a little laughter today too sweet friends,

xx

Kristen

Have a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day story to share? Snap a picture of your craziness and sound off on Instagram with the hashtag #verybadday for a chance to win tickets to see the Alexander movie opening day! The winners will be chosen at random and contacted on Instagram. ***THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED***

Winter Workout Playlist

New Resolutions

A new year often brings a new incentive to get fit, get moving, and get healthy. My own fitness goals are near the top of my list for 2014. After over two years of facing big physical challenges and illness, I have never been so excited about my recovery and I can honestly say for the first time in my life- I love to get moving! For my own routine, I mix in yoga, a variety of workout videos at home, and for cardio I love to bike the loop in Central Park. This winter I'm learning to love running, but it takes some serious discipline to get out in the cold and go for it. Can anyone relate? If you're like me, slowly stepping back after injury into this world of exercise or maybe making your first small steps toward a healthier life, I think we need eachother. You need to know this new discipline can actually be really fun and life-giving and that you are not alone. You might even need some tools to help you enjoy fitness along the way (I know I do!)

Motivation to Move

My playlist was my game-changer.  I can start pumping this mix when I'm getting ready to go or when I'm feeling sluggish and not sure about following through with the time I've set aside for a workout. This music is a total kick-back to my 16 year old self, full of old favorites (Marky Mark, anyone!?) and some new classics. I have amended all the versions shared below to be profanity free, but its not super tame (sorry mom!) 

I hope that it can be a fun addition to help get you moving with me in the New Year! Share your journey with me on Instagram or twitter by tagging @kristenkill or using the hashtag #getitdone I would be so very honored to cheer you on and celebrate your success with you in 2014!

Just click the links to the whole playlist or individual songs below

Build- A-Bear Comes to FAO Schwarz!

Last Friday, my darling girl and I were able to take a tour and fully experience the grand opening of the Build- A- Bear Workshop inside of the iconic FAO Schwarz toy store here in Manhattan. The ribbon cutting event benefitted the Madison Square Boys and Girls Club and as their chairman shared about his heart for them, the faces of these children, able to walk through the new store and take a special bear home, simply lit up! It doesn't get much better than seeing a roomful of adult volunteers and parents speak encouragement into children's lives and share the experience of creating a special bear along side them. 

After the ribbon was cut, it was our turn to see this new store for ourselves! This Build-A- Bear workshop is the first of its kind in digital innovation. Always big on the experience and memories made by guests within the Workshop itself, Build-A-Bear has implemented features throughout the store that bring this brand into a new era of technology, but will feel right at home to kids growing up in the age of the ipad.

The first step is to pick which animal you'd like to take home. Right now, there are heaps of options that celebrate the holidays, from Santa, to Rudolph and Frosty, as well as the traditional bears, bunnies and monkeys.

Next, children select a heart and add in all sorts of lovely qualities like, they'd like to embody their new friend. Our monkey happens to be happy, playful and sporty. There was also a station to add in sounds or even recorded messages. 

I'm sharing the rest of the story over at The New York Mom today. Join me there by clicking over?

Trick-or- Treat For UNICEF and Disney's Laura Marano!

Halloween has got to be one of my very favorite holidays- especially in New York. Its always been a sweet time for our family to connect with neighbors while we walk together or share cider, love on kids that otherwise wouldn't likely knock on our door, and ooh and ahh at the creativity of kiddos walking past us on the street. In New York, there seem to be block parties everywhere, streets where neighborhood associations have blocked off traffic so kids can walk safely... and these groups go ALL OUT to make it a great adventure for kids. I found myself overwhelmed by the gift they gave our kids this year- one group of guys dressed as mad scientists had even set up a table with glowing "potions" and slime for the kids to play with and they looked truly delighted by the experience! Other folks had decorated the fronts of brownstones to the hilt...it all made for such a fun night! 

This year, was also special because we were Trick- or- Treating with a cause! We were so honored to get to kick off the celebration with a focus on helping under priveleged children alongside one of our favorite Disney stars- Laura Marano! We joined The Moms and other bloggers at Dylan's Candy Bar in NYC to teach our children about how they can be empowered to help other kids on Halloween by raising funds for UNICEF's programs that provide clean water, nutrition, immunizations and education to children around the world. I was so moved by the message UNICEF shared and loved watching my own children come alive to the reality that they had the ability to do something to help others in a simple way. To learn more about UNICEF's programs and how you can get involved, click on the logo below and join us! Hope you had a great Halloweenie!

xx

Kristen

A Fall Get Away - A Seasonal Anchor of Renewal

Oh Autumn, you used to be my very favorite. Inviting me in to snuggle with books under blankets and hot tea in hand, putting your wild colors on display, and your wind whisping through my hair sometimes made me feel like a movie star. I craved your fresh start feeling and your new school supplies and was so so thankful that you made it ok to eat pumpkin and cinnamon and apples at every meal. I thought I would love and adore you all my days, truly. But, Autumn, we've suffered a break-up and I don't know that I ever even let you in on the fact.

Something slowly started to change as my children grew older, September wasn't just about the gorgeous temperatures or Harvest abundance, but became more about kissing summer's saltiness and sunshine goodbye. It meant welcoming a rhythm of routine and, maybe even more painful...responsibilities. There's never truly any vacation for mothers, but sipping an iced toddy every afternoon while the babes splashed in the pool sure felt nice, and even, dare I say...free? 

I'm open to reconsidering our relationship, but Autumn, could you just please go out of your way to wow me this year? This girls needs some Fall glory something fierce if its ever going to be the same. 

Love, Kristen (the one in New York, on the Upper West Side...near the park, so (ahem) extra folliage effort by the resevoir would be so appreciated)

All jesting aside, the reality is that my aversion to fall runs deep. As of late, it has been the harbinger of grief in my life. One of the reasons I haven't blogged much in a year is because when death is all that is happening in your life, you just question how much of it to share with readers who want to hear about homeschooling and the joys of raising a crew of kids. I wondered if the bitterness I was fighting fiercely would fade as my words hit the page, if joy would shine through, if truth would prevail, or if you would all see straight through to my heart- for real- and bitter would be what I passed on. 

But this Autumn? Its business as usual. I could barely remember what that felt like until my husband whisked us away to the pumpkin patch last weekend. I drank it in. The beauty and memories and Apple Cider doughnuts? They redeemed as season I had begun to dread. Until the last few years, every October of my life has been about taking in fall colors: thermoses of cocoa packed, sweaters on, cameras ready and sweet oohs and ahhs from all of us. Its a steady force to celebrate the changing of seasons the same way time and time again throughout your childhood- and the passing on of the tradition? It makes it all the sweeter.

Maybe that's all it takes? Just jumping in again and committing to make a memory worth keeping together? To steal away with those we love and shout a giant "whoo-hoo!!" from our car windows as we let the road take us away? To welcome our children into the midst of a great adventure- even if the reward is simple? Oh that my heart would remember that its not always about where we travel, but the thing is just to...move.

So how will you cast an anchor to welcome Fall? What are some of your favorite traditions from your childhood that you want to pass on to your own babes?

 

On Creating Sacred Space

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 In my adult life I have lived in three different countries and the Pacific Islands. I’ve settled into eleven different homes in my thirteen years of marriage.  (Really. Eleven!) After all the moves, all the starting over and after being the “new girl” again and again, I’ve come to to long for places that are familiar, that anchor me in time and space, places that nurture a sense of safety and stability. I’ve come to long for home  in the deepest parts of my heart with an ache I can only just begin to describe with words.

When our family moved from Germany to the United States, my husband and I found ourselves back in our hometown, rather penniless and rather tired… and right in the middle of the dry season. The caramel yellow of the hills and the constant dust seemed to echo a fatigue that matched our own. We had lived in a 12th century hunting castle in Bavaria, steeped in rich community on a missionary base, and I found myself often longing for the green of the hills that surrounded our small village, for the food and shared tables and quiet of the country. Among the strip malls and billboards of the western United States, I craved the sights of old architecture: churches and buildings lovingly updated and restored through the centuries, looking forward, but not quite letting go of the past. My oldest was just two years old at the time and in my days of caring for her and entrenched in the mundane tasks of setting up a new home that I wasn’t very fond of, I sensed a growing discontent with my surroundings, with relationships, with our pauper circumstances- it all felt so bland and gray a little hopeless.

My daughter and I had visited all the libraries, parks, pools and riverbanks I could remember from my own childhood and on a lark, I decided to do a bit of exploring.  I was on a quest, really, willing myself to find something that would stir excitement.  We found ourselves at a small French bakery I’d enjoyed visiting in high school. Appropriately named The Anjou for its location nestled in the heart of a beautiful pear orchard, the scene was idyllic!  The bakery had transformed an old barn into a haven, with a front porch lavished in flower pots and the sweet smell of fruit ripening in the orchard to engulf our senses.  I was captivated by the simple beauty of the place as we savored butter croissants and patted the head of the resident old lab, Fritz.

At that very moment, something awakened in my heart. I became aware of the lime green patio furniture and the contrast it brought out in the grooves of the old slab floor, my baby girl’s dimpled hands seemed softer than ever as she held on to me, and her laughter was infectious as she played with the dog that was bigger than she was. The sun in our eyes lit up that space and I drank in every single drop. I felt at home, not in memory or association, but in a sentimental feeling, in the connection that was knit between the beauty of this bakery and my own personality. 

This physical place had an unspoken ability to nourish my soul and fill it with beauty and light at a time when everything else felt as dry as the hills. 

Just being there felt right, and for the first time in weeks, I saw my life through a lens of beauty and hope, instead of dust . . . . .Read the rest HERE

Ode To Summer

My personal Ode to Summer has been to be fully present and offline as much as possible- friends, it was pure joy. We frolicked and camped and ate too many roasted marshmallows, hiked the mountains of the Pacific Northwest and played at the beach in Connecticut. We were in a wedding and were able to be there for the birth of our new nephew and had many lazy days in between just enjoying life together as a family.

Maybe just as important as a summer bucket list, might be the Labor Day celebration of all that we explored, experience and enjoyed together as a family. I thought I'd take you on the journey with us in this gallery. Happy End of Summer everyone! 

xx

Kristen

July Nature Notebook

Download the July Nature Notebook

Hello friends! I can not even believe its time for another installment of the Nature Notebook! This month's download is inspired by my favorite Hermit Crab, Pagoo! Whether or not you head to the seaside this season, I hope you can capture a bit of the wonder of fresh breezes and summer sun from your own corner of the world. 

Happy July! And thanks so much for being here.

On Nature Study {With June Printables!}

Download the June Nature Notebook

One of my favorite things about where we live in New York City is that we are right near Central Park.  Whenever I long for the mountains of Washington or worry that my own children aren't going to have the romping outdoors kind of upbringing that I did, we can walk across the street and envelop ourselves under the treetops, dip our toes in the pond, search for worms or lady bugs, and generally get pretty dirty. Nothing feels quite as 'normal' to me as being outside.

There is something so beautiful about spending time out of doors together as a family, our imaginations seem to take off and we each, in our own way, feel so connected to God and all He has created for us to enjoy- The Earth is full of His glory and we are able to experience him in a different way, see his handiwork, and praise him anew.  

I have always loved studying and exploring nature with my children, but as wonderful as it is, I think it can be a little mysterious to most moms! In our family, we spend an afternoon a week outdoors with notebooks, watercolors or colored pencils, a field guide, our magnifying glass and a big blanket as our home base. The children all collect treasures that I keep near me in a small basket. They take turns exploring our surroundings and drawing the landscape at large, or perhaps a particular plant or animal, rock or shell. We look up what they have discovered in our field guide (We use The Handbook of Nature Study- my favorite!) and learn about the name of our finds and some tidbit about it. 

Sometimes we go looking for something in particular that we are studying- trees and roots or wildflowers, birds or a type of rock. The wonder of it all really lies in the adventuring together and the beauty of discovery.

Summer is a great time of year to get outside with your own crew! To encourage you, I've put together a Nature Notebook for you full of printables to help you explore. It includes: 

-Journaling pages and questions to ask about your surroundings

-A June Calendar with beautiful cut-outs to track the weather

-Graphics to study the parts of a flower

-A poem for June, and a place for your child to collect June adjectives and create a poem of their very own.

You can view and download the entire Nature Notebook as a free PDF by clicking the link below: 

Happy June friends! 

June Nature Notebook

Something Beautiful Born of Something Buried

I buried my blog.  

Something in me has been stirring for a good long while- rumbling in my belly : A vision of rest. For the parched, for the weary, for my sisters who feel alone, for the ones who feel the squeeze of motherhood, the disillusion of a life that doesn't look quite like they thought it might, or maybe, like me, the hectic pace of a large city. We need water. We need a thirst quenched deep, and a tall glass just won't do. 

I buried my blog for a while to let my thoughts swirl and while it was underground I thought about just letting it go to seed- I thought about how I really want to spend my days, carry out my minutes, fill my home and I said out loud no less than a few times that I was done with this business of sharing my heart  with you all. I just craved quiet. 

And somehow in the interlude, in the place where my cries met God's beauty, he whispered that you just might need some quiet too. The very thing I was to create was the kind of place I desperately long for: a place where we can gather beauty together, where we can find safety to pause and inspire, to foster eyes that see the light... to remember who we truly are.

Kick your feet up and catch your breath. You are welcome here.

Here's a bit more about what I'm up to : About

Having a Ball- Cinderella on Broadway

Oh how I love a good fairytale! The girls and I had the chance to attend Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella on Broadway last week and had a ball! (Pun absolutely intended). I wasn’t really sure what to expect, since I’m mostly familiar with Disney’s animated version- and I always wonder what kind of effects will be brought to life on stage!

The show opened with a battle scene that was incredible and drew my girls in right away. It was certainly appealing to little boys in the audience as well, which I’m sure consoled all their mothers who had set them up to come to a Princess show. If you are a boy mom, your guys will love it, straight out of the gate!

The storyline had some serious heart: after being away at University, the Kindom’s Prince returns, naive to the plight of the poor in his kingdom. Cinderella not only delivers the plot we expect to see one stage (glass slipper, fairy godmother and happily ever after included) but also reveals a girl who has compassion on those who are undervalued or marginalized, as she is such, and who wants to lend her voice to restore the Kingdom’s kinder days. This Cinderella is not a passive princess, but a girl of action, using her charm to help her fellow villagers.

Maia and I snapping a photo at Intermission

Although the musical had substance, it was really just a whole lot of fun! This is a show that is unpredictable and entertaining for all ages! Certainly not a kids only show, parents will join their children in amazement for the on stage costume transformations and flying fairy god-mother, giggle quite a bit and likely tap their feet to tunes like “Possible” (my crew are still singing!)

I don’t know why I am always so surprised by the caliber of Broadway shows, but I continue to be stunned.  With a stream of Broadway revivals, somehow this show has really hit the mark.  The story really would have appealed to Jones just as much as it did the girls, with no lack of gusto from the male cast members. The show has struck a great balance between being light and fun, but also not quite as fluffy princess as I was expecting. Cinderella felt fresh, colorful, sharp and clever.

Meeting the Cast after the show- such a treat!We had a chance to meet the cast after the show as they fielded questions from bloggers and their children. They were so great with the kids, many of whom could not differentiate between their real lives and their characters. My favorite interaction was with a young girl who wanted to talk to the actress playing Cinderella’s stepmother about her bullying behavior- she wanted to be certain she was truly sorry! Precious.

The cast seemed to have a sweet comraderie together in real life- and they love their characters. I think their passion and warmth translate to the entire show- they really are enjoying themselves every night! You don’t want to miss them in action- definitely add Cinderella to your theatre must see if you live in or are traveling to New York. You can purchase tickets here.

Hope With Feathers was not compensated for this post, but did receive tickets to the show. As always, all opinions are my own. Thanks to The Moms for inviting us to join you!!

Childhood Nostalgia, Sparkles, Plaids and a Great Cause {Annie on Broadway!}

Growing up in a small town and not being one to excel in athletics (ahem), I fell in love with the theatre at a young age. There was just nothing like being backstage, butterflies all swirly in your stomach, mom, dad and grandparents waiting to see you on stage- so many hours of commraderie and silliness and really hard work coming together to tell a story for the packed house.

I was a newly minted eight year old when I sang and danced in the chorus for my first show- Annie. I knew every line, loved every minute and day-dreamed of New York in the 30s. My own kids have of course seen the movie (Singing It’s a Hard Knock Life is pretty much how they make through chore time!), but I never dreamed they’d be able to see it live on Broadway! 

What a treat when I learned it was being revived and that we were invited to see it in preview by our friends, The Moms. It was magical. My children loved seeing the story they knew so well brought to life in front of them- the scenes of New York, particularly, were excellent and a wonderful display for the coming holidays. We likely won’t make the Rockettes show this year, but felt that we’d been able to celebrate just the same with the festive atmosphere Annie provided.

My whole family agreed that Ms. Hannegan is still our favorite character (so full of life and sass!)- but the dog who played “Sandy” came in a close second! The show did run a bit long, so for very young children who would certainly love the show too, a matinee might be a good option unless you can sleep in the next day! There aren’t a lot of surprises or new twists, but for parents wanting to share the magic of a show they loved as children with their own kids, Annie is a must see. 

We were also so thrilled to be able to partner with The Children’s Place who were so kind to deck out the kids in some of their great new holiday fashions (think sparkles and plaids!) for the show!! It was all to bring attention to a cause The Children’s Place, The Moms and Annie on Broadway are investing in: The Pajama Program, an initiative to support and provide pajamas to underpriveldged children in our city. Theatre go-ers can take part in this program as well by bringing new pajamas with them to the show and using the drop off box in the lobby. What better way to respond to the “Annie’s” in our own city that to help them feel warm and cozy at bedtime this holiday?  All the information about the Pajama Program, Annie on Broadway and the newest holiday line from The Children’s Place can be seen in the reel above (including cameos by my own fab- four!)

Disclaimer:I was not paid for this post, however I was provided with tickets to Annie for review purposes and outfits for each of my children compliments of The Children’s Place. As always, all opinions are my own.