Monday, January 10, 2011

play more

Resolution #15:
My 12 year old self would be quite disappointed if she could see future me... because sometimes I take life much too seriously. Last year, for my twenty ninth birthday, I received the following gifts from different members of my family and I'm not joking: Punky Brewster DVDs, a purple hula hoop and a vintage Minnie Mouse t-shirt. Coincidence? I don't think so. They were simple reminders that even though our lives are spotted with worry, stress, & lack of sleep don't let that turn us into a living Cruella Deville.
So, one of my resolutions is to play more.

Some ideas to consider while achieving this newly proclaimed mantra:
  • Walk lightly with a skip in your step, no slouching.
  • Kiss someone in the rain
  • Only eat mini marshmallows while throwing into air and catching them in your mouth
  • Roll down the car windows and sing "Nothing Compares To You" as loud as possible
  • Go bowling or roller skating
  • Leave love notes for people you adore
  • Never walk past a photo booth with out taking pictures
  • Be the one to plan a fun date or outing with friends
  • Build a fort every Friday
Okay, some of these are down-right unruly or verging on annoying but, hey, if it lifts your spirits and makes you smile then go for it.

I started off this resolution with building a fort. Once I finally got the fort figured out we had a fun time! Putting it together is definitely part of the play. First I tried hanging something from the ceiling: too heavy. Next I tried chairs: not cute. Then I found some pipe that I use for a tent: perfect.
If we are going to keep this up every Friday I definitely need to get this fort kit: Crazy forts. Just for the base pieces and use my own fabrics.
Lighting is also key to a great fort. (bulb string lights.)
Ta ta for now. Off to play.
I shared this resolution with Mandi over at her blog, and wanted to share it here too.
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44 comments:

  1. UnknownJanuary 10, 2011 at 10:07 AM

    I LOVE that cute fort! The lights and the garland make it perfect! :)

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  2. JulieJanuary 10, 2011 at 10:16 AM

    I can only imagine how busy you are with 3 girls to run after, BUT if you feel the urge to share more pictures of the nursery, I'm anxiously waiting!

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  3. UnknownJanuary 10, 2011 at 10:18 AM

    THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU
    for posting this! I have been Cruella for a couple of months and I totally needed that slap of reality that my kiddos are only going to be young for so long...let the stress go!
    Thanks Liz!!!

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  4. CamillaJanuary 10, 2011 at 10:26 AM

    Okay, I totally needed this today too! I have been having the same thoughts-that my younger self would be very disappointed in the way I am now. Thanks for the reminder to play, and thanks for your blog too. It is so inspiring.

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  5. Jill DaterJanuary 10, 2011 at 10:52 AM

    Over on my blog, I have a picture of my desk with a skirt that doubles as a fort for my children (and a place to hide craft supplies). Your blog post made me think about a strip of lights (don't they have tube lights that come in a cord?) might be a cool addition.

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  6. Carol W.January 10, 2011 at 10:53 AM

    This is one of my resolutions also! To play more, I tend to worry and do just the tasks needed done and forget about the rest.

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  7. Gabrielle WatsonJanuary 10, 2011 at 11:41 AM

    This is a great NY resolution. I should add it to my list :) For Christmas we got our daughter (she's almost 2) Punky Brewster on DVD, and well I think I've been enjoying more than she has. My hubby and I see that dang song all the time... "Every time I turn around" LOL. We're big dorks. I'm turning the big 2-5 this year, and well I want to be less seriously myself. I take myself way too seriously most of the time, and I need to be more lighthearted! TFS!
    -Gabi from Savannah, TX

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  8. lexsmamaJanuary 10, 2011 at 12:02 PM

    Great resolution! I guess we all need a little reminder sometimes not to be Cruellas. The garland, though. It's so cute! Did you make it?

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  9. thearthurzJanuary 10, 2011 at 12:20 PM

    Love the fort and the reminder to play more!! Definitely need to do more of that around here...a little too much Cruella last year! :)

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  10. LisaJanuary 10, 2011 at 1:19 PM

    i love this post so much because my word for this year is: PLAY :)

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  11. SunshineJanuary 10, 2011 at 1:21 PM

    Cute fort! We bought our oldest daughter Crazy Forts for Christmas. Not as wonderful as I thought it would be, but definitely worth it you are building one every Friday :) My kids love it, the sticks just don't stay in the balls very well, so it comes apart alot. Anyways, thanks for sharing!!

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  12. brittanyJanuary 10, 2011 at 2:00 PM

    This is such a great resolution! With my two-year-old, I've felt myself becoming more Cruella Devillish...

    I think I'll try to convince my husband to let us build a fort for family night tonight!

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  13. Griffin and GretchenJanuary 10, 2011 at 2:32 PM

    that is an AWESOME fort and an AWESOME resolution.

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  14. UnknownJanuary 10, 2011 at 2:37 PM

    Love the fort idea - HATE Crazy Forts!! The sticks don't stay in the balls, even the lightest sheet makes the fort fall down, and you spend all your time building/rebuilding the fort and NO time actually PLAYING in it. Which is kind of the point of fort building! Don't waste your money on it!
    I wish I had a better alternative to suggest but we usually end up using chairs, blankets and sofa cushions.

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  15. UnknownJanuary 10, 2011 at 2:39 PM

    I totally love the idea of playing more, but with two completely destructive boys it takes on a new meaning! Clean up afterward is a complete downer...

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  16. LisJanuary 10, 2011 at 2:41 PM

    I LOVE this!! This goes perfectly with my word for the year, which is "INTENTIONAL"!! You are soooo right. We used to always build tents out of sheets and houses out of old boxes, I really need to get back to that frame of mind and stop being so "boring" ;) I am really grateful for this time with my kiddos (i have 4) and I want to make the very best of it! Thanks for sharing Lizzy;)

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  17. PamelaMJanuary 10, 2011 at 2:49 PM

    Great post.

    We bought crazy forts for our daughter for Christmas and she loves it. I would really recommend buying 2 of them if more than 1 person will be playing in it.

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  18. JennCJanuary 10, 2011 at 3:21 PM

    I loved building forts as a kid. My favorite was using the sofa cushions :D

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  19. Nancy WyattJanuary 10, 2011 at 3:30 PM

    What fun! I remember building many forts when I was around 7/8 great memories! Hugs from conroe, TX!

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  20. TiffanyJanuary 10, 2011 at 3:36 PM

    Love forts with the kids! Especially Madi. It is her favorite thing to do with her daddy. What a great kit! And a great resolution!

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  21. maureendbJanuary 10, 2011 at 5:05 PM

    Definitely agree. I can really let my OCD of neatness get the best of me. Although I did let my daughter keep her fort in her room up for 2 weeks. I do see that she needs some lights now.

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  22. UnknownJanuary 10, 2011 at 5:47 PM

    I absolutely LOVE this resolution. I just might need to add it to my own list. And the fort - adorable! thanks!

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  23. MelanieJanuary 10, 2011 at 5:55 PM

    I think that that is a great way to think about life. Wait until you are (almost) 43. You really forget sometimes how to have fun. Cute cute tent.

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  24. summerJanuary 10, 2011 at 7:26 PM

    What an awesome and fun resolution! I love love love forts and squealed when I saw that that was part of accomplishing your resolution. I suggest building one for you and the Mr. too, best Valentine's Day ever. Fort in the living room, bed underneath, breakfast for dinner (in bed) and When Harry Met Sally. I may need to start a Fort Friday myself ;)

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  25. Hidden SistersJanuary 10, 2011 at 8:25 PM

    Love your list. Mini-marshmallows,skating, photobooths and fort building. Such a good reminder to have some fun!

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  26. Jo-AnJanuary 10, 2011 at 9:04 PM

    My kids build their forts using the couch, cushions and their bedding on Saturdays. I loved making forts when I was younger too; and I agree with you...I need to play more like I used to with the kids.

    Love your list!

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  27. CateJanuary 10, 2011 at 9:44 PM

    I can't seem to find a link for it anywhere on the internet, but Martha Stewart Kids magazine had the CUTEST little fort (called "patchwork playhouse") in her Holiday 2001 issue of Martha Stewart Kids.

    You pretty much sew up panels and slip them on doweling and then have wooden blocks with holes drilled into them for the doweling and fit them all together. So you can pick any fabric you like and have cute fabrics and solid colours. And the dowels can be cut longer and shorter so you can make windows and door to crawl through. If you want me to take a photo of the playhouse in the magazine I can. It's really cute. :)

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  28. leniJanuary 10, 2011 at 9:55 PM

    building a fort is the best 2011 resolution i've seen yet!

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  29. KirstenJanuary 10, 2011 at 10:57 PM

    I've been off the blog train for a bit, but coming back and this post and it's timing - perfect! Happy fort building - definitely a highlight of my childhood and my kids (we have the crazy forts)

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  30. LaraJanuary 11, 2011 at 5:06 AM

    awesome resolutions!! We as moms especially need to remember to make time to play. The dishes will be there, the laundry will wait, but our kids grow so fast. Trust me, my oldest daughter was just a baby like yesterday, now she's 18!!! It goes by way too fast. Enjoy!!! PS LOVE the idea of rolling the car window down and singing "Nothing Compares To You" on the top of your lungs!!!!

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  31. DanyJanuary 11, 2011 at 7:20 AM

    I LOVE the Crazy Fort Kits!

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  32. Karen WilliamsJanuary 11, 2011 at 8:11 AM

    I made my daughter a little cottage that fits over our dining table- that way I don't need equipment plus I need to keep the table tidy

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  33. Charin AdamsJanuary 11, 2011 at 12:24 PM

    Play more is one of my resolutions too!
    :)
    http://charinkellie.blogspot.com/2011/01/twenty-eleven.html#comments

    thanks for sharing, and I love that cute fort :)

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  34. [Stacia]January 11, 2011 at 4:26 PM

    Well now I feel 'not cute' since we ALWAYS use chairs to build our forts. But since I only have boys so far I guess it's ok, right? :)

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  35. LatriceJanuary 11, 2011 at 11:32 PM

    This post is right up my alley Liz! I've been so consumed with doing adult things and worried about stuff that I forget to play sometimes.

    Thanks for the reminder...and yes the fort building is awesome. We actually got a tent for Annastasia today. She loved it!

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  36. Karen WilliamsJanuary 12, 2011 at 8:03 AM

    This is the cottage I made for my daughter

    http://icouldbescrapbookinginstead.blogspot.com/2011/01/one-for-lizzy.html

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  37. Yari RosadoJanuary 12, 2011 at 8:19 AM

    Thank you for the recomendation. I like it and is very important for our kids. Is a good start for the new year.
    Thanks Lizzy

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  38. MarshaJanuary 12, 2011 at 9:12 PM

    I used to make forts when I was growing up, too. I always had a fort for watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. I used an old bedspread and a card table--perfect!!

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  39. Stacy W.January 13, 2011 at 6:32 AM

    A mom of two boys...we love forts in our house too! PVC pipes from Menards with T's and elbows work great too! Just throw some flat sheets over them and you're done. I like the string of lights in your fort...will definetly be trying that one.

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  40. Sasha FarinaJanuary 13, 2011 at 6:39 AM

    i'm coming over to play!

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  41. LyonsDenLifeJanuary 13, 2011 at 3:13 PM

    My 7 year old niece likes crazy forts - but I found for my toddler it's not worth the money. It comes apart way to easily and you have to rebuild it every 2 minutes :)

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  42. BridgetJanuary 15, 2011 at 9:05 PM

    adorable.

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  43. JannaJanuary 18, 2011 at 9:16 PM

    Love this post! I have 2 boys who love forts too.

    Can't remember where I saw this idea, but you can take a large flat sheet and sew pockets in strategic locations that fit over the backs of dining room chairs to make a fort between them. The pockets go on the outside of the fort, and you need at least 4 chairs, in 2 rows with the backs facing each other.

    Also, there is an etsy site that sells felt houses (she has many different kinds) that you throw over a card table, sort of like a table cloth, and the fort is underneath. I made one for my boys, and they love it. We used one of those stick on LED lights stuck on the underside of the card table as a mini-overhead light for them.

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  44. JulieJanuary 21, 2011 at 9:54 AM

    Crazy Forts is awesome! It does not fall apart if you face the balls the way it says to in the instructions. I do, as someone else said, recommend you buy more than one set so more than one person can fit inside.

    Thanks for the inspiration, I think everyone needs to play more.

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