ML Interest Tag: perfection

Strike Up Family Fun at Atlanta’s Best Bowling Alleys

by Angelica Kajiwara

Vintage is the name of the game at these old-school Atlanta bowling alleys

Don’t get us wrong, winter in Atlanta is tons of fun. Who doesn’t love snow tubing and sledding when the snow flies. Or heading out for a day of skiing? There’s lots of love about the cooler months. But sometimes it doesn’t hurt to duck inside when the temperatures are still chilly. So we found all the indoor bowling fun you need to get out and have family fun together. There’s nothing quite like watching your child bowl their first strike at a bowling alley near Atlanta. So, pack up your family and head to these Atlanta bowling alleys to turn back the clock on entertainment. Each spot is family-friendly and goes beyond bowling with everything from laser tag to epic arcade games. Consider this the perfect rainy day line-up of family-friendly bowling alleys in the city.

1. Midtown Bowl

An Atlanta tradition since 1960, get your game on with 32 lanes at this classic Atlanta bowling alley. Stepping inside, you’re welcomed by the charm of a 1970’s colorful, retro-chic bowling alley with lane tables that sit up to six and a jukebox. Jukebox lessons with your kids are always fun since they’ve probably never tried one. 

Beyond Bowling: This vintage bowling alley focuses on the main event, but the food is an excellent distraction. For kids, they’ve got everything from fish sticks to corn dogs, and big kids will love the signature burgers. Check out the vegan and vegetarian menus, too. 

Insider Tip: Midtown Bowl is a cash-free business. 

1936 Piedmont Cir. N.E.
Atlanta
Online: midtownbowl.com

2. Main Event Atlanta

Get ready for an immersive bowling experience with the latest tech for the whole family to enjoy. Whether you need a kid-friendly lane with bumpers or a professional lane to show your stuff, Main Event Atlanta offers that and more. In addition, bowling birthday packages start at just $15.99 per person and give you your party space and an enthusiastic host to guide you through the best day of the year. 

Beyond Bowling: When everyone is ready for more, play adrenaline-pumping Virtual Reality or sign up for a multi-level area Laser Tag game. Then, grab your crew for a friendly game of pool, air hockey or one of the immersive Story Rooms. 

3101 Cobb Parkway S.E., Suite 104
Atlanta
Online: mainevent.com

3. The Painted Duck

Be sure to visit this Atlanta bowling alley that offers upscale bowling before 5 p.m. when kids are allowed. It is nothing short of amazing. Thankfully, each duckpin bowling alley and seating area is sparkling clean, and the tableside service makes bowling with kids much more manageable. You’ll get three rolls per turn with duckpins, and the smaller balls are great for little hands.   

Beyond Bowling: The Painted Duck has many fun games besides bowling, and the menu offers excellent food and cocktails far from typical bowling alley fare. The Duck Phat Fries and Duck Nuggets are the perfect options to start. Then, go all in and order the Whole Peking Duck. After dinner, take a walk around and pick one of the vintage games to play, like Horseshoes or Toad Hole. 

Insider Tip: You are limited to two lanes and two hours of bowling. Valet parking ($3 plus gratuity) is available onsite. 

976 Brady Ave.
Atlanta
Online: thepaintedduckatl.com

4. Round1 Bowling & Amusement

Head over to Cumberland Mall for bowling starting at $5 per person at Round1 Bowling & Amusement. You can bowl your new personal best and watch your crew jump up and down with excitement as they knock down pin after pin. 

Beyond Bowling: This bowling alley offers much more for the whole family. Try out your singing voice with karaoke, put on some VR goggles or watch your little ones climb to the ceiling in the Spo-Cha area, an indoor sports complex. There’s an arcade game around every corner and family-friendly food for your crew. 

Insider Tip: Check their website before you arrive, as they often run special promotions and giveaways. 

2860 Cumberland Mall Ste 1500
Atlanta
Online: round1usa.com

5. Stars and Strikes

You’ll want to plan an entire day here with bowling, laser tag, arcade games, a full menu, and more. And if your whole family is looking for a Friday evening activity, Stars and Strikes offers unlimited play for only $18.99 from 5 PM-close and half-price arcade play all day on Monday. Your kids will love it so much that you may end up planning your next birthday soiree here. They have premium bowling with advanced scoring for older kids and bumpers and ramps for younger party goers.

Beyond Bowling: Everyone in your crew will find something to do at Round1 because they offer arcade games, ax throwing, laser tag, escapology and bumper cars. And remember to come hungry. The food is delicious, and the portions are enormous. 

Locations in Cumming, Dacula, Dallas, Stone Mountain & Sandy Springs.
Online: starsandstrikes.com

6. Bowlero Atlantic Station

These lanes are some of the coolest and most stunning in the game, featuring black lights, soft lounge seats, and HD video walls that play everything from live sports and music videos to classic family films. And that’s just the bowling alleys at Bowlero Atlantic Station. 

Beyond Bowling: When you want to try something different, head to the bright arcade area for some old and new school games. Load up the prepaid card and get ready to play. The menu offers a little of everything from mile high burgers to overflowing street tacos. 

Insider Tip: It’s best to visit this bowling alley before 3 PM.

261 19th St. N.W., Suite 1150
Atlanta
Online: bowlero.com

 

 

 

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Costco’s Shamrock Ravioli Is Back for St. Patrick’s Day

by Erica Loop

When it comes to St. Patrick’s Day foods, ravioli probably isn’t the first one that comes to mind. But at Costco, you can get this Italian fave-turned Irish treat in fabulously festive shamrock shapes!

This isn’t the first time the warehouse club has brought their loyal members holiday happiness in the form of pasta perfection. Costco celebrated Valentine’s Day with red heart-shaped ravioli and Halloween with bat-shaped pasta, too. Now Nuovo Pasta, the makers of creative carbs, is bringing us a five-cheese green shamrock St. Patrick’s Day treat.

So what can you expect from Nuovo’s shamrock-shaped ravioli? The pasta product includes imported Irish aged cheddar, shredded mozzarella, creamy white cheddar, velvet ricotta and parmesan cheese. Turn the pasta’s package over and you’ll find a special surprise—a recipe for an Irish vodka sauce.

In addition to the savory sauce recipe, we happen to love the fun green and white ravioli that we hope to all leprechauns will finally get our kids to eat an entire meal.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Camw5zuKxvE/

The St. Patrick’s day-themed pasta is available at Costco warehouses across the country in a two-pack of 16 oz. each for $9.99.

—Erica Loop & Karly Wood

All photos: Courtesy of Nuovo Pasta

 

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25 Quotes about Parenting That’ll Make Your Day

by Gabby Cullen

If there’s one thing we know about parenting, it’s that whether you’re up to your ears in potty training or if you’re trying to navigate the newly-developed attitudes of a tween, there’s hardly a dull moment. We also know that some days can leave you feeling like a super-parent while others can make you seriously doubt your decision to raise another human being. That’s why it’s important to know that you’re not alone. We gathered our favorite quotes for parents to help you keep your soul tank full. Keep reading to see them all, and don’t forget, it takes a village!

clean jokes for kids and funny dad jokes
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“I came to parenting the way most of us do—knowing nothing and trying to learn everything.” — Mayim Bialik

“Encourage and support your kids because children are apt to live up to what you believe of them.” — Lady Bird Johnson

“Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother.” —Oprah Winfrey

“Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do.” ―Benjamin Spock

“It is time for parents to teach young people that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength.” —Maya Angelou

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 “We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future,” —Franklin D. Roosevelt

“Children are educated by what the grown-up is and not by his talk.” —Carl Jung

"A mother's arms are more comforting than anyone else's."—Princess Diana 

"You don't take a class; you're thrown into motherhood and learn from experience.”—Jennie Finch 

“It is easier to build strong children than to “repair broken men.” —Frederick Douglass

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There is no such thing as a perfect parent. So just be a real one.” —Sue Atkins

“My parents are my backbone. Still are. They’re the only group that will support you if you score zero or you score 40.” —Kobe Bryant

“Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person’s character lies in their own hands.” —Anne Frank

“Being a father is the single greatest feeling on Earth. Not including those wonderful years I spent without a child, of course.” —Ryan Reynolds

“There is no school equal to a decent home and no teacher equal to a virtuous parent.” —Mahatma Gandhi

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“The best way to keep children at home is to make the home atmosphere pleasant, and let the air out of the tires.” ―Dorothy Parker

“Before I got married I had six theories about raising children; now, I have six children and no theories.” ―John Wilmot

 Perfection doesn't exist, and I've found what makes children happy doesn't always prepare them to be courageous, engaged adults.”―Brené Brown

“Mother is a verb. It's something you do. Not just who you are.” ―Cheryl Lacey Donovan

"Childhood is fleeting, so let kids be kids and cherish the time you have together." —Abraham Lincoln

dad jokes for kids
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"There are two gifts we should give our children.  One is roots.  The other is wings."  —Unknown

"Motherhood has taught me the meaning of living in the moment and being at peace. Children don’t think about yesterday and they don’t think about tomorrow. They just exist in the moment." —Jesalyn Gilsig

"You will never look back on life and think, 'I spent too much time with my kids.'"  —Unknown

"If you want your children to turn out well, spend twice as much time with them, and half as much money." —Abigail Van Buren

"Do what you feel in your heart to be right. You’ll be criticized either way." —Eleanor Roosevelt

—Gabby Cullen

Feature image: Emma Bauso via Pexels

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Finding a Powerful Woman in the Mirror

By Angela Rainbolt

Why does being a woman have to be so complicated? I stood in front the mirror this morning in jeans and a bra, just staring.  This body of mine is just a body.  Over the course of the last couple of years, I have been trying to figure out how to give myself a pass for how I look, again. There has been unemployment (twice), moving (three times), changing jobs (three times), loss of my dad, the tail end of a bad marriage, a divorce, and a traumatic event.  I ate a lot of feelings.  But instead of focusing on the good, like the fact that my body is still capable of getting me anywhere I want to go without assistance, I make derogatory comments and hope people laugh with me. I’m so much more than my physical self yet I, as well as many other women, get caught up thinking about the body. We must find balance, but where is it?

Almost 13 years ago, I was 38 and was continuously telling myself that I didn’t want to turn 40 looking the way that I did. I was extremely overweight. I had some very bad habits. I made everyone around me think that I was okay with my weight. I used to talk about not having any health problems and I was going on dates, so men didn’t seem to mind. I don’t believe that anyone likes or enjoys being overweight. Anyone overweight that tells you that they are truly happy, are lying to you. I know because I was there, and I was one of those people lying to you. My inner dialogue was so much different.

Turning 40 wasn’t important enough, though, because 40 came and went and I still looked the same. Unfortunately, all I did was gain more weight after turning 40.  I stayed overweight and continued with conflicting internal and external dialogue through age 40, 41, and 42. 43 was the point when things started to change for me, physically. After a very emotional conversation with my parents in January of 2014, I started walking the next day and gave up eating sugar and a lot of things that would turn to sugar after eating them. It was somewhere between low carb and ketogenic.

Even after one hundred pounds of weight loss, I was still figuring out the mental part. A lot of people only think about the physical part of weight loss and don’t ever address the mental part. Aside from physical illnesses or certain medications, there millions of other reasons for weight gain and lack of ability to lose weight. We need to tackle the reasons why we gained weight and why we continue to hold on to the weight.

Are women ever truly happy with the body that reflects in the mirror? Honestly, no. After I lost my weight, I thought that I would never question my body again. I will admit that I questioned it far less than I had in previous years, but the questions were still there. The problem is that women do not ever look at their bodies through their own eyes. We look at our bodies through the eyes of media, through the eyes of men, through the eyes of other women, through the eyes of the 5th grade bullies, through the eyes of their love interest, etc. Women are consistently being set up to question themselves. Women are not allowed to be content with their own personal perfection.

Perfection related to anything is relative. What this means is that we all believe that “perfect” is something different. My point of perfection might be complete crap to someone else. The part that makes this so ridiculous is that I believe we all know this, yet we still set similar goals of perfection. The idea of perfection is something that all people need to let go of. The reason I say this is simple. We never reach the point of perfection in our own minds, let alone what anyone else thinks about what we are trying to accomplish. I’m sure you have heard the phrase, “you are your own worst critic.” It’s true and that is why we never reach what we believe is our personal perfection. We sabotage ourselves by believing that we have never quite gotten to perfection, when our lives, our bodies, our love lives, our whatever, is just where they are supposed to be. Instead of worrying about perfection, we need to start trusting ourselves more. We need to be dialed in to feelings of greatness. If it feels great, then it probably is. Take weight loss for instance. You have a goal to weigh 125 pounds and you have worked incredibly hard to get there. You changed your eating habits. You exercise regularly. You feel more amazing than you have in years, but you have been sitting at 128 pounds for months. And? What makes 125 more perfect than 128 pounds…absolutely nothing!  Everything is telling you that 128 is the sweet spot, so what’s the harm in listening to the universe and nothing else?

 

I am a single mom of three beautiful daughters ages 29, 20, and 15.  At 50, I am recently divorced and making a career change.  I'm trying to put my BA and my MA to use finally!  My life hasn't always been easy but I feel good about the future!

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This Creepy-Cute Zombie Unicorn Cake Is Halloween Goals

by Karly Wood

What do you get when you combine a magical unicorn with a creepy zombie? Halloween perfection.

Baskin-Robbins is dressing up its fan fave unicorn cake for the spooky season. The Zombie Unicorn Cake is ghoulish sight, complete with gooey “blood.”

photo: Courtesy of Baskin-Robbins

Sink your fangs into this devilish dessert that is made with a crushed OREO coated sugar cone horn, drippy “blood” and an OREO “dirt” speckled base. The best part? You can pick your own Baskin-Robbins flavor to appease your lil’ zombies.

The Zombie Unicorn Cake is available for a limited time at Baskin-Robbins this season.

––Karly Wood

 

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Perfect Parenting Is Being Able to Forgive

By Angela Rainbolt

Have you forgiven yourself? Yes, you read that correctly. Have you forgiven yourself? We are human beings, and we make mistakes. Somehow or another, parent status is synonymous with perfection. We expect it from others, especially now in the digital age, and we expect it from ourselves. We portray images online and cry in private. I am just 13 days away from entering my 30th year of parenting and I can tell you that perfect is not how I would describe those years. They were perfectly broken. They were perfectly difficult. They were perfectly dysfunctional. I think you are starting to understand.

My oldest daughter, who will be 29 in a couple of weeks, has chosen to not talk to me or her sisters for a year and a half now. Mental health issues have been a steady theme in our lives. By the time I found out that I was pregnant with her, I had thought about suicide more times than I care to count, had taken drugs, had drank until I puked, had stayed out all night, had slept with too many guys, flunked out of my freshman year of college, and the list of poor choices goes on. I was looking for validation. I needed someone to make me feel like I was okay. I needed to feel like my presence mattered. I thought having my daughter would change things. I thought that she would give me everything I was looking for. I was scared as hell, but in my young mind I couldn’t come to any other decision but to continue with the pregnancy. 

They say that hindsight is 20/20 but even now I don’t think I know what the right choice was. Perhaps keeping her helped me stay away from some damaging behaviors but not all of them. I continued to use alcohol for many years. I went out at nights trying to find fun and excitement. I had men in and out of my life. I failed at getting my college degree. I quit jobs when things got hard or I didn’t know how to resolve issues. I have thought about the alternatives. But there is not another person that could love her more than I did and do. However, I was broken. Right now, I am, at best, refurbished.

I think about those years more than you could even imagine that I do. I could never find peace and admonished myself many nights in the dark when I was trying to sleep. Once my daughter became an adult, she seemed to get more adjusted as time went on. She was finding her stride and told me thank you many times. I mentioned several times that I was happy that she still loved me. I would tell her this because it was truly how I felt, and I knew that if she could still love me after everything I put her through that maybe I could find a way to forgive myself. In the last few years, I started to allow myself to heal and forgive myself for everything: the poor choices, the yelling, the lack of guidance, the physical punishments, etc. Everything changed this year when you spoke about your recent diagnoses. That telephone conversation brought everything back and the doubt and self-punishment crept back in. This was closely followed by another conversation where you asked me questions that I knew would come someday. Questions that could have been asked a dozen times over the last ten years. 

It is impossible for us to do better until we know better. It really wasn’t until a few years ago that my mind started to get better. I took control of my depression and anxiety. I started walking every day and allowing myself to get in my thoughts and resolve how I felt about my life. I started to lose weight and gain a smile. I started to get more active in my community. I joined the booster club associated with my daughter’s basketball team, made friends, and eventually started to feel like a good person. This was a stark difference to all the parenting years beforehand. I was never involved. I didn’t go to school events and, most of the time, would try to talk my kids out of taking part in things that would require me doing so. My oldest daughter had ADHD and that, combined with my own mental health issues, just made it nearly impossible for me to be an active parent. I was always exhausted, sad, and angry.

And part of the process of knowing better and moving forward is the process of forgiveness. Forgiveness is a process and is never over. We will, most likely, need to continue forgiving ourselves for years to come. I know that I am. Allow yourself to go down the road of forgiveness and you will find yourself in the glorious world of the chaotic perfection that is parenting. I ask you again, have you forgiven yourself? 

I am a single mom of three beautiful daughters ages 29, 20, and 15.  At 50, I am recently divorced and making a career change.  I'm trying to put my BA and my MA to use finally!  My life hasn't always been easy but I feel good about the future!

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Candid Confessions of a Pinterest-Challenged Mom

By Nina Meehan

I have a theory that cupcakes are a form of feminine oppression. No joke. Allow me to explain.

Your cupcakes for the second grade class are due to the teacher Monday at 8 a.m. sharp. You remember on Sunday around 5 p.m.. You freeze — and then visions from Pinterest begin to dance in your head. You know what I mean: the perfect cupcakes, the ones with the frosting piped on and the delicately drizzled decorations…

For those of you who spark joy from Pinterest-perfect cupcakes and can pull it off, I applaud you. I know you are out there. But for those of us mere mortal moms, I say… free yourselves! You see, to my way of thinking, Pinterest-perfect cupcakes lack an essential ingredient. They’re missing the OOPS.

Oops cupcakes have uneven, spattered batter and frosting that was smooshed on with a dinner knife and probably have a few finger pokes around the outside edges. Maybe a few even landed on the floor (frosting side down, naturally). Oops cupcakes are a form of freedom—freedom from a world where the image of perfection doesn’t allow for the beauty that is a mistake. Beauty that comes naturally and unintentionally. Beauty that comes from an oops.

In my work as the founder of Bay Area Children’s Theatre and mom of three (2, 6 and 9), I have found that creativity thrives when kids (and parents) are allowed the freedom to learn and discover on their own. Yes, they need adult guidance, but they also deserve an opportunity to make a mess and make a giant mistake.

“Living in the Oops” is accepting that if our job as parents is to train these small people to one day leap into life as fully formed adults, we must not only allow for mistakes, we must model mistakes and CELEBRATE mistakes.

In a theatre class, kids are asked to embark on a rehearsal experience where mistakes are a natural part of the process. No child will remember every dance step, every word of the song and the blocking all at the same moment. They have to learn each of those elements incrementally and as they are learning, mistakes are expected. What a powerful learning tool!

The permission to make repeated mistakes allows them to move towards proficiency.

At my house, we don’t usually have anything that resembles perfect. My boys like to cook dinner on their own occasionally. I assure you, these dinners are not pinned by anyone on Pinterest, but nonetheless, those two serve their scrambled eggs and over-steamed broccoli beaming with pride. My toddler is pretty sure that frosting is actually a versatile art supply.

And, right now, the infamous California missions school project has taken over an entire room of my house with LEGOs. My nine-year old has no idea how to build a LEGO model of a mission, but he’s going to try, and I applaud his can-do approach. There will be mistakes, there will be frustration, but he will persevere and I’m not going to tell him to clean up the LEGOS—even if I step on them with bare feet in the middle of the night.

5 Ways You Can Live More Freely in the Land of Oops

1. Celebrate mistakes . Make a silly dance, turn on music, throw confetti every time a mistake is made.

2. Tolerate a level of chaos that’s right for you. When kids create, they make messes, and messes allow for the “Oops” to thrive.

3. Remember small eyes are watching . If you make a mistake, respond with laughter and positivity.

4. Create with what you have, not with what you think you need. If your kids want to build, leftover cardboard and masking tape are just as exciting as the fancy building kit

5. Share your own “Oops” stories with your kids. The best bedtime story is a true story from your childhood. Last night, I told my gang about the time that I ignored my mom, jumped on the bed anyway, and it fell through the floor. OOPS! Trust me, that story got some good laughs! (And I will never, ever have to tell my kids not to jump on the bed.)

So, back to those cupcakes. Sure, I like beautiful, perfect cupcakes. I struggle because I sometimes think of my whole life as an analogy around The Perfect Cupcake. I’m supposed to be the perfect mom, the perfect artist, the perfect boss.

The reality is, the more I strive for perfection, the more I struggle.

So, let’s revel in the sprinkles that end up on the floor, relish the blob-like sugar decorations that are supposed to be snowflakes and release ourselves from Pinterest-perfect cupcake oppression.

When we let in the Oops and celebrate the mistakes, that’s when we leap.

Nina Meehan is CEO and Founder Bay Area Children's Theatre and the host of the Creative Parenting Podcast. An internationally recognized expert in youth development through the arts, Nina nurtures innovation by fostering creative thinking. She is mom to Toby (13), Robby (10) and Meadow (5).  

   

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4 Ways to Have Fun Before the Summer is Over

By Deanna Pope-Toth

Summer is not over ‘til it’s over, baby.

Right now is about the time when you have started to be inundated with advertisements and articles about back to school. And almost every kid cringes when they hear the words, “back to school.” With this reminder glaring at us in almost every direction, part of you might be a little relieved that you don’t have to keep entertaining kids! 

If these last weeks of summer seem to be dragging on as the boredom has struck (and when it strikes, it strikes hard!), here’s a little list to give you some oomph before kids get on the school bus.  

1. Book a last-minute camping trip.  

What a great way to enjoy the outdoors! Plan a short weekend getaway to a campsite to jam in some extra fun summer memories. Here are some of the things you’ll need. Don’t stress! Enjoy a sporadic trip to the good outdoors. 

2. It’s not too late for a bonfire. 

What kid doesn’t love roasting marshmallows or making s’ mores? Would you dare try to mix up the delicious perfection of the s’ more? Here’s a list of 15 OTHER ways to create delicious s’mores. Go ahead and give them a try! 

3. Make an outdoor movie theatre.

Because nothing says summer entertainment like “an outdoor movie.” Butter-up some popcorn, fill a cooler, bring out your TV,  extension cord, DVD player, blankets, a comfy blanket (the more the merrier!), and some family and friends. 

4. Plan a last-minute party. 

If you’re feeling like you just haven’t been able to see everyone, and your kids, too, then don’t despair and plan a party. Take a minute and plug a date into your calendar to invite some friends over. If you want to impress your guests, plan a refreshing mocktail, and some easy-apps.

Hopefully, with some proper encouragement and inspiration, you can pack the rest of your summer days with memories and kick boredom goodbye! Summers are short with our kids, and it’s easy to spend the latter days of summer longing for school to start. But why not create all the memories we possibly can?

Hi, I'm Deanna. Mom and step-parent and I'm dedicated to positively contributing to the parenting community! 

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My Son Is Teaching Me to Love My Flaws

By Jaime Ramos

Photo: Jaime Ramos Via johnnysspiri

I use the word “obsessed” a lot, especially when it comes to my five-year-old autistic son, Johnny. He really gets into certain toys, songs, and shows. It annoys my husband that I use the word so much. “He’s not obsessed, he just likes it” and to his credit, the interest comes and goes often even though he does fixate for a short time. 

The one thing—not even my husband can den—is that Johnny is obsessed with my stomach. The kid loves it. It can drive me insane, but something about it fascinates and comforts him. Sometimes it is in a silly, squishing my flab, way; other times it is him resting his usually restless head on it, or hiding his face in it when he is anxious or nervous in public.

I’m sure it stems from the hours of skin to skin as a baby, the comfort of laying on mommy as a toddler, and all the encouragement to touch and love on it when it held his little sister. 

The older he gets the more we work on the appropriateness of it. He’s still little, but attempting to lift up my shirt at home or grab my tummy in public isn’t going to work. He has to learn to respect my space and body. The moment I lie down when he’s around he goes straight for it. You will hear “no belly” often, in our home.

The thing is, sometimes I look at my belly in the mirror after the shower and think I feel ashamed of it. My 30’s belly is much different than the almost flat stomach from my 20’s. My workouts come and go, as do my healthy eating habits. I try but I’m also a tired and exhausted mom who has been through many ups and downs. 

So, I won’t lie, he’s not catching rock hard abs there, It’s surely a comfortable and soft pillow. 

The neat thing is he doesn’t see it as fat, or unhealthy, or shame, he simply sees it as mom, comfort, and safety.

No judgment, just love. 

My son loves a part of me that I find hard to, and that changes the way I see it. Don’t worry I’m not using it as an excuse to stay unhealthy or out of shape, but it is a reminder of my son’s beautiful, unconditional acceptance and love.

So when I stand in the mirror looking at that belly, I can say it’s the way it is because I carried two beautiful children in it and because I’m a special needs mom who has had some really hard days. It’s not perfect because there is not time for perfection in my life right now, maybe there never will be. But I am doing my best and that’s okay. 

I’m loved and accepted no matter what, by my son.

Johnny is different. The amazing thing about him is that he does not judge. He doesn’t look for the flaws in others or make fun of others, instead, he seeks. Seeks what makes him happy, and what he loves. 

There is something undeniably beautiful in that and I’m grateful for that unconditional love and for someone who truly loves my flaws.

This post originally appeared on Johnnysspirit.com.

Jaime Ramos, is a mom from Colorado. She's married to Isaac and has two kids, Amelie and Jesse. Jesse, her Johnny, is on the Autism Spectrum. She went to school to be a filmmaker, but now spends her days mainly as a stay at home mom.

 

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These Are the Top 10 Cold Stone Creamery Flavors of the Year

by Erica Loop

Valentine’s Day is the most loving of all holidays. In celebration of the mass amounts of amore on this special day, Cold Stone Creamery is releasing its top 10 list of most-loved ice cream flavors in 2020.

Using online ordering data, Cold Stone Creamery put together a comprehensive list of the top 10 single flavor picks, the most popular signature Creations, the most ordered Mix-Ins and the top ice cream cakes. The list ranges from traditional faves to candy-like concoctions.

photo courtesy of PR Newsfoto/ Cold Stone Creamery 

Cold Stone Creamery’s top 10 flavors ice cream enthusiasts loved in 2020 include (in order of popularity):

  1. Cake Batter
  2. Chocolate
  3. French Vanilla
  4. Sweet Cream
  5. Cheesecake
  6. Coffee
  7. Strawberry
  8. Mint
  9. Classic Cookie Dough
  10. Cotton Candy

The most popular Cold Stone Creamery signature Creations include Birthday Cake Remix, Chocolate Devotion, Peanut Butter Cup Perfection, Founder’s Favorite, and Coffee Lovers Only. Brownies were the number one Mix-In. The other winning picks include OREO cookies, cookie dough, caramel and fudge. Cookies & Creamery and Tall, Dark & Delicious were the two top ice cream cakes.

Sara Schmillen, vice president of marketing at Kahala Brands, parent company of Cold Stone Creamery, said in a press release, “We know there are all kinds of love—familial, friendship, romantic, self-love… And to celebrate all that love, we’re sharing a list of most-loved ice cream flavors with our guests this Valentine’s Day.” Schmillen added, “No matter what type of love you’re celebrating this Valentine’s Day, we hope to continue bringing people together over our sweet treats.”

Visit Cold Stone Creamery’s website here for online ordering info.

—Erica Loop

 

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