First- congratulations to our Tennis Racquet giveaway winner; Debra Moffitt!

And now I want to share one of  those heart wrenching mommy moments you know the kind that kind of shake you in your boots- and make you take stock of the present and remind you that in an instant- EVERYTHING can change.

 A woman I know who is really more of an acquaintance than a friend- you know the kind of person- who you see every so often at your kid's school event or at a community function and you politely say hi- how are you... not really waiting around long enough to hear what the person has to say.

Well this woman, who is in her early thirties and has two kids under the age of six-, was just diagnosed with ovarian cancer. I saw her at a party this past weekend- and while she appeared slightly thinner than I’ve seen her she also seemed filled with an energetic zest... almost as if she was emanating a glow- a positive field force that I had never sensed from her. I walked over to say my usual hi/goodbye- and found myself- engaging in a conversation with her- and amazed at her optimistic and hopeful demeanor.

Of course I don't think cancer is an automatic death sentence- although there are certain cancers that are more aggressive than others- no matter how hard you fight to treat them- and unfortunately ovarian cancers falls under that latter category. But seeing her at this party- , rather than shying away form the public spotlight- , smiling, and gregariously, whooping it up and making jokes- especially at the fact that my four year-old son- was terrorizing her six year-old daughter- and kept bopping her in the head with his balloon- really forced me to examine and reevaluate all the preconceived notions I've had about cancer and the ability to really live in and cherish the resent moment.

I’m so completely in awe of Dana, one of the real moms on this site who bravely talks about her struggle to beat breast cancer- and I think back to all the time I've spent worrying about petty non-essential things like; how dusty my counters are and telling my son that I can't watch him do a dance because I've got to wash the dishes- when it's those very moments that I should be making time for. While my friend probably can't find enough time within each day to soak up all the moments, minutes, seconds and hours with her kids- just being there  with them- holding their hand, coloring doing puzzles, teaching them.and perhaps is wistful about how many of those opportunities she may have passed up... and now starring cancer in the face, with a future that's uncertain, may wish she could turn back time and get all those moments back...

So I'm hugging my kids a little tighter and trying, despite my obsession with keeping my home clean- to say- FORGET you; dishes, laundry, phone calls, and yes even my career can take a bit of a back seat to my kids- who are growing up faster than I ever thought possible. I'm also trying to remember that there are no guarantees that time will be plenty and that our lives cannot be changed in an instant. So fellow mamas LOVE your kids- smother them with kisses- and try to get in as many precious moments as you can... of course in between reading this blog!

And in the spirit of appreciating our kids, nurturing our relationships and because I’m simply feeling especially magnanimous-keep reading for a pretty great giveaway from ECOBAGS®, The Original Reusable Bag Company™.  

Can you think of anything worse than a roomful of grade-school children hyped up on cake and sweets? Fun, right? And yet, so many moms send in birthday cupcakes and treats, never considering what's being said in the teacher's lounge afterwards.

There are plenty of ways to celebrate your child's birthday at school without inducing a massive sugar rush (times 22). And yes, your child and his friends can still enjoy themselves -- and even eat yummy foods. A few ideas:

Pizza party!

For the same price as those cupcakes, you can get a couple of pies and deliver a free lunch to the whole class. The kids -- and their parents! -- will love you, and you'll earn high marks from the teacher, too. For a festive feel, add some balloons and a classroom gift -- one or two books for the class library or a game for indoor recess days is a nice choice.