Category: TOVA’S MUCHNESS PIC OF THE DAY

Muchness meets photography- day 4!!!

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I know it may be hard to imagine, but I have absolutely no idea which challenge email is gonna pop into my inbox each morning.
So this morning I was actually dressed in my color before I read the challenge. Hot pink shirt, hot pink muchness band and my hot pink and orange shoes! (and my fancy checkerboard pants)

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Ya know, there was a time, pre-muchness- I’m pretty sure I didn’t even own a single piece of hot pink clothing. True story.
Other pink stuff:
Sparkly baby boots
Suitcase on the street
My kiddos hats
Sign in a shop window
Men’s underwear art on my wall
A soft n cozy blanket

REDO: My actual Muchness Meets Photography Challenge, Day 3

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I know… this mornings post was less than emotionally moving. I was feeling stressed about all I had to do today and the fact that I just wanted to make sure I did the days challenge.

Which is really good enough, but in the end, it wasn’t good enough. Because a couple of hours later, I actually did have a Muchness Moment and knew that was really the picture I needed to post.

Liat was overtired and having a meltdown. We were getting into the car and she just wasn’t having it. I tried the nice way, Elie tried the nice way, but ultimately, we just had to put her in, despite her protests. Molly sat next to her and tried calming her in that big sister way but it wasn’t working either… until she reached out and held her hand. And then Liat calmed down. And it melted my heart. One of the things I grieved after we lost the twins was the relationship that Molly would have had with her twin sisters. They would have been just 19 or 20 months apart in age. I thought that if I had another child, either it would be a boy or the age difference would be too great for them to be close friends.

I love to watch my girls together and I love to watch their relationship with each other grow. Sometimes, how they go to each other for hugs when they are mad at Mom and Dad, or Mom and Dad are mad at them, it’s just the sweetest thing ever.

Muchness Meets Photography! Day 1

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I SO need this challenge right now. Funny, Beryl and I created it for you- our readers, but I’ve been looking forward to it for weeks! So many people in the last 2 years have told me they want to do the Muchness Challenge but don’t have time. Turns out, I am one of those people. Ha. If I didn’t know how awesome this challenge is and how every time I do some version of it, I am elevated and revived, I’d probably not find the time either. But I also know it can be done in minutes a day.

Todays Challenge had me thinking very hard. It was our last day of vacation and I wasn’t home so I kept thinking how can I take a picture of a place where I spend a lot of time? But then, as I sat in the car and the kids and me and Elie sang the soundtrack of Annie  at the top of our lungs, I thought about how, even that, is a side effect of The Muchness. We never did that before. The car used to be a place we used to get from here to there. When I was alone it was a place I thought about my to-do list. A place I used to cry listening to lyrics of sad or sweet songs. As a family it was  place where we used to dread putting the kids for extended periods of time and even bought a CD player so they could keep themselves entertained. A place that involved the stress of getting the kids and all their stuff in the car, or the stress of getting it all out of the car.

So, as the weather got less hot and we rolled down the windows and sang our lil’ hearts out, I snapped this “before” pic… It’s not a true before since in it’s way it’s its own after, but I can’t wait to see the after in 30 days from now!!

I am so thankful to have every single one of the challengers on this journey. I built this site for you all to have a place to find your Muchness, but it’s really a selfish thing, because it helps me, helping you. 🙂

Just for fun, I added a video of my kid. Her favorite song from the whole movie.

[youtube_sc url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeiJOgg4vHo”]

Summer Muchness- The unexpected side effects.

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I feel like I haven’t posted here in so long. Whenever I go for a streak without posting I get all up in my head, wondering if it’s cuz I’m losing touch with The Muchness, but in reality, I’ve just been so busy! I have been meaning to share so many Muchness Moments that happened this summer but I can’t seem to find the time, between, ya know, MAKING Muchness Moments and um, sleeping. and also, my computer died. That was a drama. Now, it’s mostly all fixed. Mostly.

But anyway, I wanted to share with you two things that I did this summer in the name of Muchness. Things I pushed myself out of my comfort zone to do. Things I would NOT have done in years past. Behold- Two Muchness Highlights of my summer:

Me, jumping as high as I can at a trampoline Center.

What to me, is most compelling about this picture is what is NOT in the picture. That would be all the other moms, sitting on the benches with their shoes on checking their phones. Pre-muchness, ya know who would have been on the bench next to them? Yes! That’s right! Yours truly!

This next one is even better, because this is something I haven’t done since, um, Maybe sometime in the 1980’s. No Kidding.

Yes- That is a diving board, and yes, that is me jumping off of it.

Why am I showing you this stuff? Because pre-muchness, there was no muchy little elf sitting on my shoulder, whispering in my ear “Go on, do it! Who cares what those other people think? Who cares that only teenage boys are jumping off the diving board? Who cares that all the other moms are sitting around the edge hanging their feet in the pool? Who cares if water shoots up your nose and the water is cold and you flop on your ass? Go for it! I dare you! Be Muchtastic!”…. but that is what The Muchness has brought to my life. I’ve spent the summer pushing myself to enjoy the days. I’ll admit there were some that overwhelmed me, and I even spent a bit of this summer wearing unmuchy flats… But overall, the side effects of The Muchness were really visible in my days. As we head into the Muchness meets photography Challenge I am excited not only to share it wuth others but also to participate myself. I want to get back to blogging my Muchness Moments, Daily. Because when I look, I see them, and when I see them, they multiply… I’m thinking next year? Parasailing. Ha!

 

MUCHNESS pic of the day!

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Been a while since I posted a good ol’ MUCHNESS pic of the day!!
Today I was informed that nobody could catch a glimpse if my dress and NOT have it brighten their day. Just in case they were correct, I figured I’d share my dress! Hope it brightens your day!!

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Are you wearing something muchy today to brighten YOUR day?? Please please pretty please share!! You know I just love that stuff!!!

What’s the bright spot in YOUR day?

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This morning on the elevator heading up to my office, a woman was just going gaga over my shoes. She said “oh, I just love them! And look at me, in my black flats… You make me wanna go out and get some happy shoes…” I told her my goal in life is to make everyone feel that way. 🙂 as she got off she said “thank you so much! Those shoes are the bright spot in my day!” — which, of course, is the bright spot in MY day! Oh, I how love The Muchness…”

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—Please tell!!! What is the bright spot in your day today? Sharing it will make it a REAL MUCHNESS moment!!!

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Tova’s Bschool Muchness Challenge- Day 3….and 4

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B-school is 4 days in and already it’s kicking my butt.

Yesterday, as part of a Bschool assignment, I created a survey that I was supposed to send to 20 people who know me. If you know me and haven’t filled it out, GO HERE AND DO IT!! (Even if you don’t know me well, or know me well, but only online, You can fill it out too! I appreciate all feedback!!)

To tide you over, here’s a an amazing quote by Danielle LePorta, writer of The Fire Starter Sessions, written by me, Muchness Style!!

Tova’s B-School Muchness Challenge!! Day 1!!! – I’m on a roll!!!

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When you find what you are passionate about, the only sane thing to do is grab that thing by the horns and hold on as tight as you can and let it take you where it needs to go. 

I have found my passion. 

It is The Muchness. 

What started as a fluke, soon turned into a healing tool, a thing that changed me. defined me, opened my eyes and my world to so many amazing people on so many journeys. For a year or more I have questioned what this ‘project’ is that I am building. Is it a hobby? A part-time unpaid job? A way to stay in touch with My Muchness? Yes, Yes and Yes. 

The fact is, I can’t not do this. There is nothing I have ever done in my life that combined all my talents and skills and passions and love of glitter better than this ‘project’ I’ve stumbled into. Helping people re-find their joy and re-find their identities after it’s been ripped away from them, either by specific circumstances or just by life in general, fills me with a sense of purpose that gives clarity and meaning to my own grief and suffering. 

And the time has come to stop tip-toeing around this ‘project’ – wondering what it is and what it could be. The time has come to put on my big-girl panties, let go of my fear, and announce that THIS, this ‘project’ is no longer just a project. It is everything. I want to put my whole heart and soul into this. When I say I really do want to fill the world with Muchness, I mean it. And I plan to make it happen. One sparkly, shiny sequin at a time. 

So, I am now a card carrying member of Marie Forleo‘s RHH B-school. That’s business school for women who want to make a difference and change the world.

I qualify.

I also paid for the privilege. 😉

Today was Day 1. And this is my many many pages of homework spitting out of the printer.

The Muchness IS My Muchness and documenting, even in a small way, one moment of B-school inspiration every day is going to keep me engaged and working towards my dream. Every time someone emails me a picture of their muchy turqoise and silver nailpolish and says this helped them pull their way out of an otherwise crappy day, I know I am on the right path.

Please cheer me on. I have a feeling this class is seriously gonna kick my ass. (in a good way.)

***Edited to add- I reread this and just want to clarify- I still totally have my day job… But unless I start finding positivity and creativity there like I used to feel, I honestly don’t know how long I will be able to sustain it. Very scary. But I can’t live my life ruled by fear. Not anymore.