Hi, my name is Kerry Lynch! My husband, Chris and I met through friends during college (Chris graduated from Marquette University and myself from University of Iowa). Chris was never in a rush to get married, so I “patiently” stuck around for what seemed life forever 😉 He was transferred to Germany for work in...
Someone got her mocks last week and has been loving them every day since. Really, they are the perfect shoe for her just like I knew they would be. She still goes barefoot whenever she’s indoors because she uses her feet to eat/play/draw/do everything. But when we’re out and about she loves wearing her big...
Last week I talked about how I use my time and what I really want out of it. There are so many things that need to be on this list, for any fellow Mormons out there I’m always trying to improve in the area’s of scripture study, temple attendance and visiting teaching. None of those...
you go girl! Everyone feels fear but just grab that old brush and start.
I'm not a perfectionist and subscribe to the near enough is good enough theory. Stuff never works out exactly as I want but I kind of don't mind as long as it's done. My garden is a really good example of this. It doesn't look how I envisioned it, but it's mine and I want to make it work and it's practically one of my only creative outlets apart from cooking. And clothes. So I just keep going despite the fact that I garden in the Old Testament with plagues of locusts and similiar.
I've been thinking about your spending time post a lot.
It really resonated with me.
This has been on my mind, not painting as art necessarily, but in my case movie making, though I am not completely convinced it is my life's calling, as of now. How do you know when something is your life's calling? I have so many interests, and at times some stand out more than others. –MelReplyCancel
I just wanted you too know that I love your blog! I found it a few weeks ago after reading a sassy comment you left on CJane's blog during the whole wear your pants to church thing. Thanks for writing your blog and for doing the special needs spotlights. I am majoring in early intervention and love seeing the parents perspective!
-Lauren
http://dooneyandthegerm.blogspot.com/?m=1ReplyCancel
As you know every now and then there’s a little lapse in the special needs spotlight–no worries we’ll be back next week with a great one!–but in the meantime I usually try to find a suitable substitution, especially something in the world of special needs. I remember coming across this video last summer when I...
Always a little slow on the resolution uptake I’ve been thinking a lot more about goals lately, specifically about time. About the fact that we all have the same 24 hours in a day and am I really using the time I’ve been given wisely? No longer the frantic new mom with new baby just...
Sigh… I identify SO much with this. Since becoming a mom, time has become such a precious commodity. I'm trying to steer away from mindless activities (we cut cable and I only watch 2-3 shows online) and I'm trying to always have a project to work on in my little free time (photo books, writing, reading etc.) Facebook and Instagram are such time sucks but they are nice to stay connected during isolating times as a mom. I moved my Facebook app to the last page of my iPhone so I'm not as tempted to open it all the time. I'm also trying to read more substantive stuff. Articles that make me think.
In short, for not having a lot of time, I spend a lot of time thinking about how I spend my time. : ) ReplyCancel
Great post! I too can relate to this, I think we all can! And I also feel that my time is much more precious since becoming a mom, my son is two. My husband and I were married for 8 years before our son was born, and I really thought I was busy during those 8 years… I wasn't! 😉 I do try to spend my time wisely. I don't watch much tv at all… maybe an hour a week. And after struggling with infertility, I vowed when my son was born to be present in the time we have together. As a working mom, the time I do get to spend with my son, I want to be attentive, hear his thoughts, play, and have fun. I try to keep my cell phone at bay (its hard!) and I don't make calls or do chores until he is in bed. Which doesn't leave much time for much else personally. I do try to read every night, but would love to break out my study bible and dig deeper. I would love to keep up on my son's baby books and photo albums. I would love to crosstitch again! One of the things I am trying this year is no facebook/phone stuff in the evenings. So far that has helped… it is such a time suck!ReplyCancel
This may be my first comment, though I'm going to try to comment more…I realize just reading and not responding is a little too one-sided here and I apologize.
I also hear where you're coming from…so much to do and it feels like there isn't much time, though I've recently realized that sometimes when you don't have much "free" time you make better use of that time. I think back to when my kids were very little and I did so much (sewing projects mainly) as a way to show myself that I was doing things for ME. Now that I have slightly more time, I'm more inclined to just lay around and watch a show or surf the Internet. I would also like to return to a more product down time. We'll see!
I can relate I am a stay at home mom. I was really busy with little ones , now they are in school. I want more but I think I am afraid to change roles from full time mom to working outside the home. I still feel they need me and want to be there. ALso not sure what I can do that won't deplete me at the end of the day . I still am super busy as my kids have mandarin, spanish, cello, sports after school. I just feel "in between" life stages and I really don't like it!ReplyCancel
Great thoughts!
Sometimes I love me some down time. It doesn't really matter what it is, but I find that especially if I'm really busy, I need a day where I don't do anything.
But my ultimate goal is to need less and less down time – no, down time is the wrong word. Less non-focused down time. I'm headed in the right direction, for sure, but still.ReplyCancel
I can really relate. Sometimes after a series of major life events, I become so used to the feeling of barely treading water, just struggling to survive and clinging to scraps of free time as if they were life rafts that I almost don't notice when the storm calms and I'm washed ashore. What to do with myself?
Lately, it's like re-discovering what it is that I truly enjoy. What makes me feel productive and creative. But I'm rusty at it, and it's tiring, and often the couch and an episode of Gilmore Girls wins out. My least favorite question in the evening is "what did you do today?"
But experience has taught me that I'll soon gain my footing. I'll become so used to the time available to be creative that the next crisis will knock me off my axis once more. 🙂ReplyCancel
Remember the bed my husband decided to make from scratch? It’s done! And it’s beautiful. You guys… that man is a magician. It is seriously amazing. I instagrammed a pic the other day, but I don’t want to do a full post on the bed until it’s actually in our bedroom with a new mattress (we...
Mattresses Memory Foam – Best Memory Foam Mattress – Sculpture Quilt Design – 20mm Memory Foam on a 12.5 gauge Orthopaedic Unit with a 9 gauge Frame – Soft Touch Knitted Fabric – Totally Hypoallergenic Fillings – 9” Deep Matt – – Stitched border – Suitable for Metal/Pine Bedstead. No Turn Mattress.
ReplyCancel
You guys I am SO, SO, SO excited… I’m going to Italy! It’s official. I booked my flight last week and I can’t wait. This will be my very first trip to Europe and I seriously can’t believe it. When one of my best girls first asked me about going to Italy this spring my...
Love Italy almost as much as my own children, JK. Seriously, It is amazing! I am an expat living in Saudi Arabia and it is usually just one plane ride away from Europe. Italy is my most favorite. Two years ago me and three friends took a mother daughter trip there. No husbands, although we kindly consented to let them pay for the trip. We mostly did Rome, but did rent a car and did the whole Twilight Saga excursion. The whole trip was amazing! Beautiful people inside and out. Left there having a major crush on anything Italian. Men, women, children, young, old and anything in between. Second favorite place on earth is Turkey. It is a must as well. Love your blog. You keep it real, telling the ups and downs of life. Love the honesty. We own a hose in Austin and will be coming home for repat the end of March. The inlaws live in San Antonio, maybe we will run into you out and about at the river walk. I have been following your blog for a couple years, not sure why I just now decided write you a dissertation. Have fun in Italy!ReplyCancel
OK pesto from Cinque Terre. Check. (I heard that's where pesto was invented). And Gelato…I will either find a way to bring it home with me, or eat it at every meal, every chance I get that I actually grow tired of it and never want any gelato ever again. Not possible I'm sure…but I'll give it a go!
ReplyCancel
We went to Italy a few years ago and the Cinque Terra is the BEST. It's like going back in time. You can hike between the towns and each one is a bit different. Make sure you visit the cemetary..very interesting! The train system in Italy is awesome so you shouldn't have any problem getting from place to place. Have a great time and soak it in! I would go back in an instant if given the chance!ReplyCancel
I LOVE Venice… there's an awesome tour you can take of St Marks where they go around and explain all the murals. It only runs in the summer so check if it's on when you go. We missed it once and caught it on another trip… fascinating. It all makes more sense when you understand the significance of what you're looking at. Also, get on a boat and go out to the islands – Murano for glass and Burano for lace. Takes ages but worth it!!ReplyCancel
My husband and I were in Italy (our first trip to Europe!) in October – the Cinque Terre is AMAZING! The towns are each very similar, but we were determined to see each of them… and we did! But, if you pick just one, you'll still get a great idea of all of them 🙂
Lucca was one of our VERY favorite towns. The history is really interesting. We rented bikes – you can ride around the town on the top of the old fortified wall… amazing!!!
I really enjoy your blog! Bless you and your beautiful girls!
My recommendation (from my 2 trips to Venice) is to GET LOST! 🙂 Avoid St Marks and the grand canal because it's incredibly fake…Disney World is more authentic, haha. It's scary at first because you worry that you'll really get lost, but if you wander just a few canals/blocks from the tourist spots? My gosh it's another world!…it was so stunning. You don't want to go all the way to Venice and not experience the hidden alleys and beauty. It's completely safe too…I wasn't scared once. 🙂 And you'll find your way back, no problem.ReplyCancel
The roads are like spaghetti noodles- very confusing in Italy 🙂 I recommend public transport for sure, or bikes or just walking. Like someone said, get lost. Its a tad scary at first, but if you have a street map eventually you will figure out where you are! In general things/places are hard to find. The house wine is all usually lovely and affordable when eating out. I also really liked the pizza with cream cheese if you get the chance! ReplyCancel
Florence! You cannot miss Florence! It's not far from Cinque Terra and it's not huge so you could do it in a day since you're short on time. I also recommend just one day in Venice – it's amazing and you're going to love it, but you can definitely see it in one day, especially if it means getting to see Florence. What a fun trip! I'm so excited for you!!ReplyCancel
I would recommend setting at least a full day aside for Cinque Terre. You can buy a walking pass for about 5 euros (it is considered a national park along the coastline trail) and walk from city to city. You can also buy a train pass for about 10 euros/day if you want to go a little faster. You can buy these passes at the info booths you will see as you arrive. The towns are all so close together, you will probably have time to stop in each cute little town. Bring your swimsuit…the beaches are great, the trail has parts you can venture off into the ocean, and the locals like to swim and hang out in a tiny little bay in Vernazza (Venazza also has some delicious pesto pizza). I love the middle towns of Cinque Terre the most. They are more like the "postcards" than the others.
I loved Florence…probably my favorite city in Italy (the market!, the architecture, the old men playing old fashioned games in the park, the view when you go really high and the overall feel. Oh, and the best gelato shop ever!)
If you have time in Cinque Terre, this osteria in Corniglia (one of the middle villages) is very, very good: Osteria a Cantina de Mananan (http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g187818-d1111530-Reviews-Osteria_a_Cantina_de_Mananan-Corniglia_Cinque_Terre_Italian_Riviera_Liguria.html).
In addition to pesto, Liguria is famous for salsa di noci, a sauce for pasta made from walnuts (so, so rich, but so good). It is often served with a vegetable and cheese filled pasta called pansotti.
Have fun, I visit my in-laws in Liguria often, but never seem to make it farther east than Genoa :-(.
Go to Florence! We loved it! Go see David. Oh my…amazing. The art of Florence is not overrated.
Get lost in Venice – the main stuff is kinda cheesy (in a fun/annoying way), but once you get further away from the main attractions, it's so beautiful and weird.
Cinque Terre!! LOVE! Stay as long as you can and eat – the food and beauty of CT is great.
Have fuuun!!
Also. I LOVELOVELOVE your new bed. Can B make one for us? Pretty please:):):)ReplyCancel
Italy is my absolute favorite and the Cinque Terre are stunning. My husband and I lived in Europe for a year right after we got married and did lots of travelling – a bit of an extended honeymoon if you will. Anyway, my one biggest suggestion that I CANNOT overemphasize is to get the Rick Steves travel books. I will never travel anywhere he's covered without his books. They are far and away the best. And he has free podcasts on his website that are really great too. Check it out!ReplyCancel
Hi Miggy! Near Venice you can find an unusual itinerary through the provinces of Bologna, Ferrara, Mantova, Modena, Reggio Emilia, Rovigo and the Park of Po Delta. A part of Italy where you can find UNESCO District (Quadrilatero dell’UNESCO).
Here https://www.facebook.com/RediscoverItaly some news, information, events but especially curiosity about life, tradition, gastronomy, personality, myths and legends about this area of Italy between the regions of Lombardy, Veneto and Emilia Romagna. A special attention to the whole beautiful architecture and landscapes so important to be recognized as World Heritage by UNESCO.
Have a nice travel! Welcome in Italy!ReplyCancel
Hey, I'm Amy!
I'm an author, artist, and disability advocate. I live with my handsome husband and three beautiful daughters in Cincinnati, Ohio.
categories
purchase when charley met emma
Let's be friends!
© 2025 This Little Miggy|ProPhoto Photography Website|Designed by Hirschi Creative
what a beautiful little girl. The last photo is gorgeous x
Beautiful post!! What a sweet girl! I have been reading your blog for quite some time, and in reading these spotlight stories, I seem lots of common themes. One thing that sticks out to me is when you about people approaching a child with special needs, is most people say they wish people would just ask questions, and I so want to do this when I see these beautiful children out and about. Especially now that my son is a little older, I want to be able to teach him that it's okay to ask questions, but I want to do it the right way. Do you have any suggestion/advice on how to ask questions to parents politely?
Hey Miss Miggy,
Thanks for giving me the opportunity to show off My Mary Cate 🙂
I love your reference to "Going on a Bear Hunt"…we read that every day and I have often thought the same thing.."gotta get through it", so you might as well get through it with alot of smiles, laughs and love, right?!?!
Give Lamp a hug from us…
xo
Mary Cate is a beautiful little girl and you, as her parents, seem just as wonderful. Thanks for sharing her with us.
SO glad to see MC here!
Miggy (I almost typed Miffy after watching 10 episodes of Miffy in a row with a sick 3 year-old). First of all, thank you for this very special "special needs spotlight" I was very intrigued because my daughter is also Mary Cate with a "c" which you don't see too often. Anyhow, I was inspired to start reading Kerry's blog; however, every time I go there, my computer freezes! I am not complaining or blaming Kerry, I just want her to know in case her blog has a virus or something (is that possible? I'm not sure I understand viruses of the computer kind). I tried on my work computer also, and the same thing happened.
Can you let her know? Thanks. And thank you for sharing the wonderful adventures of Lamp and Sparkles. It helps so much to know all the wonderful Moms out there.