Vis-a-Vis

Being Crafty

I am Michelle, the amateur blogger (so bare with me please, I welcome any advice or feedback).

So on with the “I am’s”….I am in my 30’s (yikes). I am a wife and a stay-at-home mother of twin girls. I am a pet lover. I have a mini-schnauzer named Nolan (my husband named him after his idol Nolan Ryan). If it weren’t for my husband (who is not such a pet lover) I would own lots and lots of other critters. When I am not running after two toddlers, a dog or a husband, I am usually cooking, cleaning, reading, daydreaming, reminiscing or procrastinating.

One of my main goals through this blog is to share with friends and family the perpetual growth and development of my daughters. Another goal is to find inspiration and support throughout my journey of self-exploration.

I want to stop procrastinating, be more organized and happier. I want to shed my self-esteem issues and negative body image. Most of all I do NOT want to pass my issues on to my girls. I want to take control of my life. I want to be healthier and exercise more. I want to be more “green”. I want to be the best wife and mother I can be for my husband and children.

I totally believe in karma. I am spiritual. I am neurotic. I am caring, understanding and genuinely nice but also cynical. I treasure honesty, family and friends. I love all seasons, but fall is my favorite. I love to travel (when I get the opportunity). I love photographs. I believe laughter, music and carbohydrates are the best medicines. I am emotionally driven.

I am from a very small town with a lower economic background.

I am a licensed massage therapist with a specialty in Sports Massage Therapy. I went to massage school at the Florida School of Massage and it was one of the best experiences of my life. I first wanted to be a writer and an actress, then a photographer…by twelfth grade I made up my mind I wanted to be an attorney, which regressed to a Paralegal. One of my favorite movie quotes is from “Something to Talk About”…. I was “bred to keep my expectations low”.

I first experienced working for money when I was about nine years old. The Florida Times Union was walking distance from my house and a neighbor/friend, who was not much older than I was at the time, brought me to work with her at the newspaper distribution center. We would literally clean for quarters. I spent my money on the most delicious meatball subs I ever tasted. From there I worked at a horse stable doing pony rides, washing, feeding and general care of horses. I spent most of my time during the pony rides feeling very uncomfortable to be around “rich” people, rather than enjoying the faces of little children riding ponies. During high school I worked for Little Caesar’s Pizza, then for a uniform factory, folding towels and switching out clothes hangers before moving onto my “career” as a Paralegal. I worked in a law firm for thirteen years, then decided I wanted to do massage. After massage school I rented space from a Chiropractor and opened my own business. I also worked two days a week for a physical therapist. Shortly thereafter, my husband and I decided it was the right time to start a family. We were very lucky that it only took one try to get pregnant. I found out at six weeks of pregnancy that we were expecting twins. It was a total surprise. We quickly embraced the idea of having twins and continue to hold close the two little girls who have stolen our hearts.

I want to be a good mother. I want my girls to know and value friendship, family and community without compromising self. I want them to be confident, with a touch of humility. I want them to know how to trust, with a touch of suspect. I want them to have strong convictions, with just the right amount of laissez-faire. I want them to know, feel, touch, smell, and see love, kindness and beauty with an infinitesimal amount of harshness to stay grounded. I want them to treasure honesty, education and earth.

Nothing in the world could have prepared me to be a mother. It is the most challenging and rewarding experience of my life.

I am happy that you are here to join me in the experience.