The Toy Box Years: Taking a break

The Creators of the Toy Box Years

The creators of the Toy Box Years are my two beautiful daughters and wonderful, handsome soldier husband.

"Nani" (our oldest) is a 11 year old 6th grader who loves Taylor Swift, ballet, books, fashion designing and sewing. Ask her what she wants to be when she grows up and it changes daily to anything from "an artist" to "a teacher" to "a singer/dancer". Nani is also currently fighting a battle against brain cancer -- recently diagnosed in June 2016.

"Nudgie" (our youngest) is a very smiley, very happy, very giggly, very spirited 8 year old 3rd Grader who's favorite toys are anything that gives mommy an anxiety attack - ladders, stepstools, the climbing wall at the playground. Like her sister, she has a love of reading and coloring, loves gymnastics and still provides mommy lots of snuggle time!

"My Marine" is my high school sweetheart. We've been married over 20 years and met when we were 17. (You do the math....) His favorite toys are Blackhawk helicopters, the lawnmower, our steam cleaner, and microbrew beer bottles. My husband is also my hero in that he proudly serves his country as a Blackhawk crew chief (hence his favorite toy!). And need I say that there is nothing hotter than my man in uniform!

All About Me......

Once upon a time I had a career and worked in the corporate world. Once upon a time, I dreamed about leaving that all behind to follow my true calling -- being a wife and mommy.

The first part of my calling was fulfilled in 1995 when I married my Marine (now soldier) and my love. Little did I know that being a military wife would change me in so many ways and that because of that, I would have an extended family all over the world from Japan, to California, to North Carolina.

The second part of my calling took a little doing, but I finally achieved that dream in 2004 with the birth of our first child, followed 4 years later by her baby sister.

So now, when someone asks me what I do for a living - I simply smile and say proudly that I'm following my calling - I'm a mommy and a wife -- and I couldn't be HAPPIER -- I'm living in the Toy Box Years!!

I've been overwhelmed lately. So what else is new. But as a result, I've had to let some things go. Oh no, it's not my blog. I could never give this up. You'd have to pry the keyboard from my cold dead body before I'd give up blogging.

No, I've decided to put doing any product reviews, book reviews, and giveaways on hold for awhile. At least until after the 1st of the year - possibly longer.

I found that I was stressing so much over meeting deadlines for reviews. My giveaways have low entries. (This last one was embarrassing....) With putting so much time and effort into reading books, testing products, putting together giveaways, I've lost the real reason why I blog in the first place -- because I love to write. I've also lost my love of reading.

I've been in such a "read and review" mode, that the enjoyment just wasn't there any more. Any book that I pick up to read for pleasure has been quickly put down because 1) it doesn't hold my interest, or 2) I find myself reading it so quickly that I'm not savoring the joy of reading.

I still have a few outstanding committments that I willl fulfill over the next month or so, but I will not be actively seeking reviews and giveaways. If I post a book review, it will be because I want to share about the book - good or bad.

I want to get back to the enjoyment of writing -- writing about silly stuff with my family or goofy thoughts that pop into my mind or just the plain old day to day routine of being a mom and wife.

Boring? Maybe..... But it's what brings me happiness and balance.