For the next little while before I go to the big BlogHer conference in CHICAGO next THURSDAY, I’m going to be up to my eyeballs in STUFF to do. I need a facial, and to lose AT LEAST 5 pounds (hence I threw out the peanut butter because I CANNOT BE TRUSTED around peanut butter), and to finally get new shoes, pick up my new Lululemon (yoga pants), wax my eyebrows, and, OH YEAH, organize bTrendie swag, tables, contests, etc., for three HUMUNGOUS parties — Room 704, The People Party, and Mamapop! — among other things.

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I can barely keep my head above water. And, probably the one thing that kept me remotely afloat, when 5pm rolled around today and urgent emails were piling in and Rascal woke up from his nap SHRIEKING, was my good friend (Toronto photographer extraordinaire) Shelagh Howard‘s timely tweet about working with kids around….

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It’s BRILLIANT. “Some days, you just have to PICK ONE.” My new motto.  Because some days you can’t possibly do it all. And, as Shelagh also likes to remind me (in her attempts to stop me from ripping my hair out some days): “Are your kids fed? Do they have shelter? Do they seem remotely neglected? Are they WITH YOU?”

Yes, they’re well-fed. They have a cozy bed to sleep in. They have toys galore. They have me WITH THEM — and we all know that’s the best because there’s NOTHING more AWESOME than tugging and whining at MAMAHHHH all day, especially when she’s working. THEY’RE. FINE.

I do try hard to balance it all or, rather, to choose KIDS over WORK. But, I love the idea of giving myself permission to CHOOSE WORK now and then. I mean, WHY NOT? And, why didn’t I think of that myself?!

Anyway, on days like today, when I HAVE to choose WORK, taking the kids to the toy store isn’t such a bad idea, is it? Until it’s bed time and the little Rascal starts shrieking (again) because he wants to SLEEP with his new firetruck (for ages 4 and up)….

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He’s all about the tantrums these days. This one was, OH, about the 20th of the day. NO JOKE. So, I deserve at least 10 tantrum photos and a good giggle for that.

And because he’s so damn cute, and because I’m choosing work in an exploitative mood, here are some more hysterical crying photos, which he and I will no doubt laugh at together when he’s older….

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Oy, I can’t take the cuteness that is THIS FUNNY, FUNNY CHILD.

HAIRCUT!!!!

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Of course, I comforted Rascal and suggested that he put his truck on the floor beside his crib. Which he did, and then went right to sleep!

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Good boy, Rascal. It’ll be right there for you in the morning….

Speaking of good boys. Check who waits by the window for me every day….

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Meenot…. I love this frikkin cat.

LOVE!

xo Haley-O

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