The ToiBocks Blog

Archive for May, 2009

I like to do whatever I can to help my kids school, so when we had a silent auction for a fundraising dance that I was organizing, of course I donated a ToiBocks!

The silent auction organizers put the ToiBocks together with a pretty beaded necklace and the bidding began. The top winner is a mom from my kid’s school. I ran into her the following week and said “So, how do you like your ToiBocks?” She has a few kids, all elementary school age and younger.

“I LOVE it,” she says “I’ve been trying to find a way to keep my little one out of my jewelry,”

They’re all princesses you know.

“and this turned out to be perfect. They haven’t even tried to get into it and wouldn’t be able to if they did. What a great idea. Where are you selling them?”

Enter the crossing the line moment for me LOL. I came up with the idea for ToiBocks because I wanted a place to hide my toys from my kids, guests and nanny. My partner Trish joined the team because she has five boys and well, there is no privacy when you have 5 boys! My partner Heather has a lot of company and wanted some place safe to keep cash, etc from all the people trooping in and out of her house. So usually, when I talk about ToiBocks, it’s because I love it for hiding my toys in… and because I handle the sales for the company I typically seek out stores that sell adult items…

“Oh, you can find them at the Hidden Chateau in West Hills across from the Post Office (which is a beautifully put together home goods boutique), but mostly,” I leaned in and whispered, “I’m selling them to adult novelty stores like The Pleasure Chest.”

Fortunately, she laughed. Some people look at me funny when I say that, as if there’s something wrong with people who shop in stores like that…

“THAT is a great idea!” she said enthusiastically.

“I know.” I replied.

To me, and I suppose I’m biased, ToiBocks is the ultimate discreet storage device for any one to own, male or female. I mean really, who doesn’t have “something” that they want to keep private? Be it something you don’t want to have to explain to the person who found it, something you would be mortified if someone found it, or just something that you’d rather wasn’t pinched out of your room… everybody has something that makes that list.

Anywho… fast forward to the Friday following the dance where I’m manning the recycling table at my kid’s school (we turn in the recycling and donate the funds to the PTA) and up comes the husband of the lady who won the auction.

“Hi!” I say “You’re so-and-so. Your wife won my ToiBocks at the silent auction.”

He looks at me like a deer caught in the headlights and says “Yeah, but she didn’t know what it was for when she bought it.”

“It’s just a jewelry box.” I said with a wink and a grin and hoped that he didn’t make her put it in the garage now that he “knows what it’s for.” Good thing I didn’t mention that we’re in smoke shops too

From The Secret, Daily Teachings, I have two I’d like to share:

• There are two kinds of people: Those who say, “I will believe it when I see it.” And those who say, “To see it, I know I must believe it.”

• When you exist in the beautiful state of gratitude, you become a person who only wants to give. You become so grateful that it takes over your life, and you can’t find enough opportunities in a day to give. You give joy, you give love, you give money, you give appreciation, you give compliments, and you give kindness. You give the best of yourself in your job, in your relationships, and to strangers. You will know when you have really found true gratitude, because you will become a giver.  One who is truly grateful cannot be anything else.
  

When you think about it… it really is no secret. Striving to be the best you that you can be on a daily basis should be the way that we all live, no?  I’m grateful for all of you who chose to subscribe to my blog and for those of you who read it, even if you don’t subscribe…  Most of all, I’m grateful that I get to wake up every day and be me!

Being the mother of a 3 year old is interesting.  He gives me plenty of funny things to share with my friends.  As I write this he’s interrupting my typing so I can blow bubbles.  The highlight of his day, other than chasing our Chihuahua, which he calls a chewy wa wa.

Up until a few days ago when it was time to take a nap, all I had to say was “it’s time to have a pillow,” and he would close the game he was playing on line, turn off the monitor and look for his “tinkies” (Nick has two blankies, aka “tinkies” one is an actual blanket and the other is a pillow case from my bed) and come willingly to listen once again to Green Eggs and Ham.  This day, however, was not the case and all that was about to change.  He was having fun and did not want to go take a nap.  I decided to capture it on video, it went something like this:

“Come on Nick, it’s time to have a pillow.”

“No pillow, I’m MAD.”

“You’re mad because you have to have a pillow?”

“No pillow, I’m MAD.” (It’s hard for me at this point not to laugh because he’s communicating so well and his little voice goes really high when he says mad).

“OK, Nick, I understand that you’re mad but come on anyway, it’s time to have a pillow.”

“No come on, I’m MAD.”

This went on for about 3.5 minutes, all captured on video, with him throwing his tinkies and even pretending to hit me, with me laughing under my breath the entire time about how this once willing little angel is trying to exert his limited authority.  I suppose I contributed to the break down because we were an hour past naptime and he was on his “second wind” but, I had things to do   Needless to say, with a major pout, he passed out within 10 minutes and slept for an hour.

It’s amazing how powerful it is to admit, “I’m mad.”  I don’t need you to do anything about it, to understand it, or to try and solve my problem… I just need to be mad for a bit.  My friend Wendy said it best the other day, “people who think they should be happy ALL the time are really limiting their lives.”  There are a range of emotions that come with being human and if you don’t experience them… you’re missing out.  So, it’s OK to be stressed, mad, disappointed, concerned, jealous, etc. as long as you don’t let those emotions run your life.  Acknowledge them, work through them and move past them… in good time.

Emotions are healthy.  Unlike hiding a toy, jewelry or cash, emotions are not something you should be embarrassed about with your kids.  You need to be able to explain to them what they’re feeling and how to work through it…

So the end of my conversation with Nick went something like this.  “I understand that you’re mad Nicky and that’s OK, but you still have to have a pillow.” To which he replied, “no pillow… I’m MAD.” Getting nowhere I opted for, “I hear you that you are mad, but guess what, you need to pick up your tinkies and get into that bed right now.”  For effect, I blocked his retreat and kept walking until he was forced up onto the bed.  The video running the entire time, I said “Say good nonny momma.”  Even though his speach was affected by the pacifier and the attitude, he complied.  “Say I love you mommy.”  Even mad, he still said it… and followed up with a big hug.

I suppose I’m luckier than most because even temper tantrums are manageable in my house when you belong to the Church of Common Sense or perhaps it is because I belong that they are manageable…  either way, I’ve got three great little people that I’m grooming to change the world and so far, they’re doing a great job!

From The Secret Daily Teachings…

When things change in our life, often we have resistance to the change. But if you understand the structure of the Universe, life, and creation, then you will understand that life is change, and nothing ever stands still. Everything is energy, and energy is in continual motion and change.  If energy stood still, you would be gone, and there would be no life.

Change is always happening for the good of you and for everyone.  It is the evolution of life.

I had my littlest baby in the grocery store and they made an annoucement for someone to pick up a line on the loud speaker.  Nicholas looked up and said “No thank you!”  I still giggle about it.

A friend of mine recently told me about a thing she does with her kids called “Therapy Thursday” where you have an open conversation with your kids about whatever might be bothering them.  I assumed that I would get “I have too much homework or you still owe me my allowance” but what I found out instead is that one of the girl’s in my daughters class has been playing Texas hold-em with a few of the boys in the class at lunch time.  I wasn’t really comfortable with the whole “poker at school” thing but someone else says “well they’re not playing for real money.”  Anywho so I find out on Sunday that you can get in deep doo-doo at school for playing cards, regardless if there’s money involved.  I was able to talk to the mom (who is a friend) and let her know before her daughter got caught and possibly expelled.  So, I think Therapy Thursday is a good idea and thank you Kerry for sharing it with me.

Our school is facing some serious budget issues and I was the *ahem* lucky person asked to chair our Spring Dance fundraiser.  Lots of my friends stepped forward to help and I can say now that it was a huge success with several thousands of dollars raised by donated silent auction items.  I am, however, incredibly relieved that it’s OVER with!!

Enter Big Sunday. Our girl scout troop (243) went to Valley Beth Shalom and read two books that were recorded onto CD to be taken to Children’s Hospital for sick kids to listen to!  How cool is that?

Today’s “Secret Daily Calendar” says:

The law of attraction is the most wonderful law.  It is steadfast, and gives every single person what they are predominantly focusing on. You are no exception to the law, and it is yours to use in whatever way you want.

The law cannot fail.  We just have to learn to use it correctly.

May 5th is actually a quote from Budda (c 563 – c 483 BC)

“We are what we think.  All that we are arises with our thoughts.  With our thoughts, we make our world.”

“As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” One of my personal favorites.

Received a power point set to music about how when we are little girls we see ourselves as a princess, then at 14 we get into bad body image and it carries over until our 50s when we feel confident about ourselves again…

I’m glad to admit that I was 20 years ahead of the curve on that one. Really need to thank my husband for that. He was so happy with me the way that I was that it was easier for me to realize that I was happy with me the way that I was/am.  Now I’m so happy with myself I don’t care what he thinks LOL.

Teach your daughters by example!  Are you a little heavy? Not as “tight” as you used to be? Hair turning a little gray? Pimply?  WHO CARES!!!  You are beautiful just because you ARE, you exist!  Doesn’t really matter what you see in the mirror because it’s YOU that people love, not what you look like.  Not happy with who you are? I wasn’t in my twenties. Then someone said “Act like the person you want to be… and eventually you’ll be that person.”  I took it to heart.  I got there in my early thirties and never looked back!!  Work on your daughters (and sons) to feel that way.  To know that no matter what they look like on the outside THEY are beautiful (handsome) to you and should be to themselves.

All my best to you and yours!

Dawn