Living the Dream

I just got back from Whitehall Family campmeeting, an event I have been attending in August since about age six. I missed a few years here and there for a birth of a child (definitely was not there in 1984 when Jeremy was born on July 31), but for the most part, Whitehall has been a staple of my summer schedule.

Whitehall is always a family reunion of sorts for us, as we have relatives come from Florida, Texas, New Jersey and Virginia to attend. There are always "annual events" we count on for entertainment during this special week.

One of them we established seven or eight years ago: The Cousin's Breakfast. It really should be named "The Girls Cousin Breakfast" because we don't include the guys.

This gives us a chance to catch up with our female cousins and have girltalk. We usually only see each other this one time a year so there is a lot to share.

One of my cousins, Cyndi, is a cool mom of 4 beautiful children, 3 boys and a girl. She is wild and crazy! She doesn't let anything hold her back from having a good time. Residing in New Jersey, she often packs up the kids in her mega SUV and heads to the beach for the day when it's warm.

One such summer day a few years back she had done just that, along with another mom and her 3 kids. These two women had both left corporate America to become full-time moms. As the moms packed up the 7 kids and all their gear into the vehicle after a fun day at the beach, both women were exhausted. Wet bathing suits covered the floor mats; a boogie board hung out the back tailgate; sand was everywhere throughout the auto; and all the kids were a little cranky. That's when these two moms looked at each other and said "we must laugh or we will cry". Their talk on the drive home was that "they wouldn't have it any other way".....they had traded in corporate 9-5 for Mommy 24/7. And they loved it; they were "living the dream".

Thus began "Living the Dream Chix".....a company these two smart, talented women started that produces t shirts with characters of a fair-haired mom in various "mom" scenarios: doing a mountain of laundry with a kid hanging from the laundry basket; trying to wash a sky-high pile of dishes with a tot underfoot; or, as they were that day, driving home from the beach with a boogie board hanging out the back of the SUV.

These t shirts have gained popularity as Kate on "Jon and Kate plus Eight" wears them on the tv show!

Recently they signed with a national licensing company who is going to expand this brand by making mugs, calendars and notecards with the mom "Living the Dream". Cyndi and partner have been asked to create a few more characters, with a frumpy brunette mom and a hip African American mom.

Her stories of combining motherhood with this at-home business were enthralling. You can check out her merchandise on the web site http://www.ltdchix.com/. My cousin is actually pictured in various t shirts on the site. She's the blonde with the longer hair. You Go Cyndi! You've made us proud!