Monthly Archives: August 2013

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote to Lindsey over at Circle Line Cruises and asked if she would be interested in collaborating on a Circle Line Cruise Giveaway. She said yes! The kids and I were excited!

Lindsey provided me with tickets to the Circle Line Radio Disney Cruise for Saturday August 10th, one of Circle Line’s many children’s oriented cruises.

In true Sarah Fader fashion, I was running late for the cruise, and we just made it as the ship was taking off from the dock! I quickly said hi to Lindsey and scurried onto the boat with my giant stroller

The kids and I were safely aboard and we set sail!

Once we got on board, there were many exciting activities for the kids to partake in. But first, Samara had to put her Sophia the First crown on:

I could hardly get it off of her. Even now that we’re back on land, she wants to wear it all the time.

There was a professional balloon artist aboard:

There was music and dancing featuring the Disney Junior Show theme songs! There was also a magician, who the kids could not get enough of!

And an amazing face painter!

These children (who are now art objects) let me take their picture after the final product!

There was an awesome announcer who narrated our journey.

We circled around Manhattan while the announcer told us about the history of the island with charisma and a few silly jokes. One of the highlights of the journey was when we saw the Statue of Liberty!

One day, I was looking at the Complete Works of Shakespeare that I’ve owned since my sophomore year of college. I kept getting this nagging feeling that I wanted to start Ari on Shakespeare, but I couldn’t decide what play to read first.

I’m an actress myself, and a graduate of Performing Arts High School (the Fame school) so Shakespeare has been an integral part of my life.

I remembered hearing an audio version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream when I was in the sixth grade. I’ve also seen multiple
productions of it, although I’ve never performed in one myself.

My recollection of Midsummer was that it was a fun light hearted play with mistaken identity and lovers getting mixed up. There are also fairies. Kids like fairies.

We started reading a scene a night. I stop during the scenes to explain what’s going on.

Today we read the scene where the players, Quince, Bottom and company are getting ready to perform Pyramus and Thisbe. Snug asks if he can play the lion because he’s afraid to have real lines and he can handle roaring.

I explained to Ari that Snug was going to be the lion and he laughed and said:
“I can roar too! Roar!”

We both laughed. I love a
five year-old’s perspective on Shakespeare.

I’m having fun remembering Midsummer as I reread it myself.

Would you read your kid Shakespeare?
What play would you start with?

Today I feel sad.

I decided to take a “not glamorous” picture of myself because I feel sad.

I look like a turtle in this picture. I’m okay with that.

I don’t feel depressed (as I have felt in the past) but just a little low.

I’m not going to go into the reasons I feel sad, because they’re irrelevant. I also have my period which (as you know) makes me feel less than great. 

I should feel happy, because Ari is cleaning the living room. But I’m sad

I accept the fact that I’m sad.

But I also want to do things to make myself feel “un-sad” or “better.”

Some of the things I do when I’m sad to make myself feel better are:
1. Eat chocolate.
2. Call a friend.
3. Look at pictures of cats online.
4. Watch a really funny movie.
5. Write a blog post about how I feel.
6. Do something productive like the dishes.
7. Think about people that are less fortunate than me and feel grateful that I have a home.
8. Hug my kids.
9. Pet my cats.
10. Draw a picture of a tree.
11. Paint a picture.
12. Punch a pillow.
13. Hug a pillow.
14. Hug a friend.
15. Go out for tea with a friend.
16. I sing!

What do you do to make yourself feel better when you’re sad?

Ari wrote a story yesterday. As the Native Americans did, he recited his story aloud. My mom was there to record it:

I felt it was important to document this momentous milestone (Ari’s first story) here. So without further ado, I present The Old Fireman:

The Old Fireman
By Ari

Once there was an old man. He wanted to turn into a fireman. But he couldn’t turn into a fireman, because he didn’t have magic. He visited the firefighters and he told the firefighters and he said:
“Can I be a firefighter?”

The fireman said “You can’t be a firefighter.” The fireman also said “you can only be a firefighter when it is Friday. But today is Monday.”

So the old man went back to his old house. It was a dark time. The man was sleeping. And then it was morning time. The old man went to the fire station again. The old man asked the firefighter if he could be a fireman today.
The fireman said “Yes, so put on your boots and put on your hat. There is an emergency!”

Then everyone in the city was sleeping.

The End.

Today I interviewed Andrew Mellen, professional organizer.

I met him at BlogHer13′ through Jason Mayo, who writes at Outnumbered.

Andrew and I met at Four and Twenty Blackbirds, one of the best pie places in the universe. Our goals were to do the interview about organization and then eat as much pie as humanly possible. We accomplished both goals.

Andrew talked about his organizational concept, the Organizational Triangle:
1. One home for everything - Everything in your house has a place it belongs.
2. Like with like - All cosmetics go in one box
3. Something in, something out - Do not bring something into your home unless you know what it is replacing and where it will live.

Want to know more? Watch my interview with Andrew below:

Enter to win a copy of Unstuff Your Life below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Andrew is running a series of back to school webinars! Get organized before your kids go back to school!  For more information, check out his site here. 

I’ve been trying to write every day. But today, I have no idea what to write about. So I’ll tell you a few random things I feel like sharing.

I can touch my tongue to my nose!

I have a lizard tongue!

Also I did all the dishes today! I’m so proud of myself.

My favorite color is green.

I’m allergic to cow’s milk, although I found that out recently.

Look I’m purple!

I’m good at a lot of things, but organization is not one of them. I am (however) good at editing things like term papers and college essays for other people.

Do you like pie?

I like pie sometimes. But I really like cake.

I like cats because they’re spiritual. I like dogs because they’re friendly.

I like you.

Until you’re mean, and then you’ll make me cry.

Bye!