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Dirt & Noise

A blog by a left leaning mom of 2 boys

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holidays

Immigrant Christmas Spirit

Ilinap · December 24, 2022 ·

I remember the mauve-ish pink knee socks for me and the white tube socks for my brother. We didn’t have stockings so my mother went to our dresser drawers and pulled out those socks. I recall feeling a bit off that we now had socks with no match. Even as a child, I was a … [Read more...] about Immigrant Christmas Spirit

Tags: America, Christmas, family, holidays, immigrant, parenting

My Thanksgiving Wish. Again.

Ilinap · November 22, 2022 ·

The more things change, the more they stay the same. I wrote an essay about this  concept as a writing prompt in high school, and the sentiment pops into my head every so often. Today is one of those days.  This is becoming a tradition, I guess. I originally wrote this in … [Read more...] about My Thanksgiving Wish. Again.

Tags: children, family, holiday, holidays, hope, joy, motherhood, sons, thankful, Thanksgiving, values

Dimmed Spirits

Ilinap · December 22, 2021 ·

This year, my Christmas spirit has a flavor peppered with longing, fatigue, and melancholy. Gone is the typical sweetness of the season. Rather than anticipation, I feel dread. A cloud of worry casts its shadow overhead. Actually, it’s more of an all-consuming fog. Time is fluid. … [Read more...] about Dimmed Spirits

Tags: Christmas, covid, covid-19, family, health, holidays, motherhood, pandemic, time

Giving Simple Thanks

Ilinap · November 26, 2020 ·

These are hands down my favorite holiday decorations. Who knew toilet paper rolls, paper plates, construction paper, and glitter would bring me such joy? Bird said he was thankful for a ball, our cat, Mom, TV, and toys. Deal was thankful for orange pumpkins, friends, toys, Beary … [Read more...] about Giving Simple Thanks

Tags: 2020, family, friendship, holidays, thankful, Thanksgiving, values

On Being a Guest

Ilinap · November 26, 2019 ·

I grew up in a family that entertained a lot. There was always a random assortment of cheerful people hanging around on weekends and holidays. Somehow my mother always whipped up delicious snacks from what seemed like empty cupboards that held a handful of Brazil nuts languishing … [Read more...] about On Being a Guest

Tags: family, friends, holidays, thankful, Thanksgiving

Grateful for You

Ilinap · November 22, 2018 ·

Every night before we eat dinner, we hold hands and share something we are thankful for from our day. There are no rules, except we can't be grateful for material things. Mostly the boys are thankful for doing well on a test or having a day off from school. Mac Daddy and I work a … [Read more...] about Grateful for You

Tags: family, food, gratitude, holidays, thankful

Fight on The Fourth of July

Ilinap · July 4, 2018 ·

I don’t take my United States citizenship for granted because my family chose to be American; we weren’t born to it. As we do every year, we went to the North Carolina state Capitol to watch newly minted United States citizens sworn in. Today we celebrated 27 new citizens, … [Read more...] about Fight on The Fourth of July

Tags: America, community, holidays, responsibility, values

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Writer. Marketer. Energizer.



Progressive, mom, writer, reader, traveler. Believe in good manners, home cooking, spending $ on experiences, not things, Oxford comma. ENFJ.

There are certain shades of limelight that can wreck a girl's complexion. - Holly Golightly
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