Thanks to Sarah!

Thanks to Sarah for letting me feature her on Incredible Women this last week. It was a great interview.

The blog will be UNDER CONSTRUCTION tonight, and tomorrow we'll start a feature on Kristie Harker.

Incredible Woman #23 - Sarah @ Clover Lane. Friday's Questions

KARA: "What is your favorite childhood memory?"

SARAH: "My favorite childhood memory is really so simple and little. I have no idea why it stayed with me even! I picture it ALL the time though. It’s early, early morning and I have the whole wonderful day ahead of me. I am out in front of my house on a little brick path. I grew up in a house in the middle of a gorgeous meadow, surrounded by thick woods. Babbling brook, birds tweeting, leaves rustling. I have my favorite dress on…a lavender, flowered jumper with little white buttons on top. And I just feel this incredible JOY to start my day. Bursting from my chest. But also this feeling of utter peace. Peace and joy at the same time so strongly that I have remembered it forever!"

KARA: "Who played the most influential role in your childhood?"

SARAH: "Of course, my parents. My parents just raised us so simply and with such good values. They never ever got caught up in silly stuff. We had few toys, and played outside everyday…and we (I have 4 siblings) are all creative. We all love to read like crazy people. My mom had my dad build a reading nook for us when were little. She would take us to the library and we would get stacks and stacks of books…the limit every time!

I never heard my mom raise her voice. I remember ONE argument between them. It was over a bounced check. We were eating hot dogs. That’s how shocking it was to me…I remember the details. (I asked my mom about it a couple years ago and she remembers it too!)

I never ever remember my mom and dad complaining about anything ever. My mom cooked every meal, kept our home spotless and organized, we grew up on the tightest budget, my dad once worked 3 jobs…never, ever one complaint. They are both SO smart. Education was at the top of their list of importance."



KARA: "Will you tell us your beauty secrets? How do you stay healthy and happy? What is your guilty pleasure? What would you do if you had one day all to yourself?"

SARAH: "Beauty secrets? You’ve come to the wrong place, sweetheart! I wash my face before bed maybe once a month. I use moisturizer in the morning only because my face is so tight after showering that I can’t even smile. I buy all my makeup at the grocery store, and then hardly ever wear it. I DO highlight my hair once every 4-6 weeks, only because I have the worst possible hair anyone could ever have.

I HAVE found that these two very secretive things that no one talks about make me look better. Ready?

Exercise and eating healthy.

Crap, I know. I hardly ever do either so that’s why my skin is sallow and my body is flubby. But when I do both consistently, I like the way I look.

My guilty pleasure…a GIANT sized Hershey’s Symphony bar and a People magazine.

One day all to myself? I’d kick everyone out of the house and I’d stay home and scrub and purge from top to bottom like a crazy woman with the music blaring. Tons of black garbage bags (the purging part) and a pair of yellow dishwasher gloves (the cleaning part). I’m not kidding. Nothing makes me happier than a clean, uncluttered house."

I loved, loved, loved this interview. I hope you were able to enjoy the whole week - if you missed a day, go ahead and find Sarah's name on the "Previous Incredible Women" list, and read all about her. I'll leave the whole interview up throughout today and tomorrow. My sincere thanks to Sarah for allowing me to feature her this week. I enjoyed getting to know her so much. Her interview really got me thinking about different areas of my life, and what I can do to improve them."

Incredible Woman #23 - Sarah @ Clover Lane. Thursday's Questions

KARA: "I loved the story on your blog about how you found your house. What makes your house a home?"

SARAH: "For me, it’s all about attitude. If you hate your house, it will not be a home. Love it! Whatever or wherever it is. Keep it neat and clean and make it you. Be so proud of it no matter what size or style it is, or how it looks compared to your friends houses. This really is the secret. I think the homiest (is that a word?) houses are those where the owner didn’t go spend thousands of dollars on furnishings and fixtures. I have a neighbor 2 doors down who lives in a little Cape Cod with her husband and her daughter. They bought it as a fixer-upper. With a strict budget and her own taste, she has made that house into something so wonderful. So unique, warm and beautiful. I tell her every time I come over, “I just want to curl up on your sofa with a blanket and a book and take a nap.” I swear, it’s just this overwhelming feeling that comes over me when I walk into her entry way.

My house is a home because I make it one. I love that one day I will be 103, knitting in this very same corner. I love that my kids will come home to a place they have so many memories. I love that I have and will spend a heck of a lot of time loving this house…painting, sweeping, fixing, planting, patching, decorating."


KARA: "What is in the future for you? 10 years? 20 years?"

SARAH: "Oh geez. I wish I was 30 again. I’m really having a hard time letting my fertile years go. It’s heartbreaking to me. I know…I must move on. Thinking in ten years, I will have kids graduated from college!!!, my youngest in 5th grade…can I NOT think of it? I really like my life right now.

I have a short list of things I really really want to do: Go to Ireland and visit my brother and my sister-in-law, who I adore. Be somebody’s godmother. I don’t know why…I just really, really want to be some sweet child’s godmother. Go on a mission trip somewhere.

I remember struggling in my 20’s with this concept of everything just HAPPENING to me. I don’t know what I was going through…I just felt like I have never had control of my life. I fell hard in love…I got married…I got pregnant, and pregnant again…on and on. Did I make these choices consciously? I really thought hard about this…I saw others my age really “going for it”in terms of travel and career…having these BIG lives. But I came to the realization that I was SO lucky…I was given this wonderful life. My incredible husband, just placed right in front of me! I didn’t need to go searching. Finding the gift of motherhood early... easily given to me! It seems when I look back from now, at 40, I feel like I’ve walked this path with gifts strewn left and right, mine for the taking. Sometimes I’d open a gift and it wasn’t what I thought I wanted at the time…but it became one of my most important treasures. And so I don’t plan much now. I know my life will give me everything I want….and some things I don’t…and those will lead me to a place of growth and incredible joy."

If you'd like to see Sarah's house - it's beautiful, and homey - click on the link I provided above. Looking at those pictures, I can really see what she means about wanting to live there forever. This last year, we almost lost our home. I have to tell you, there was nothing so important to me as saving it. I had a hard time explaining that - we are running out of kids, they are growing up and leaving, and we don't really need a big house like we have anymore. Sarah hit the nail on the head when she said she wanted her home to be a place that her children came back to - that's me. I really want them to have a place that is HOME. I want my grandchildren to be able to go to grandma's house - and have that be the same place their parents grew up. Does that make sense? How about you? What makes your house a home?

(Sarah's blog has great posts about decorating, refinishing furniture, painting, etc. Visit if you'd like some ideas.)

Tomorrow is the last day of our interview with Sarah. Bummer. (I know... I wish I could interview her for longer!). Join us as we discuss her favorite childhood memory, and who played an important role in her childhood. Also, she'll share her beauty secrets with us! Don't miss it!

Incredible Woman #23 - Sarah @ Clover Lane. Wednesday's Questions

KARA: "What do you think it means to be successful in your life? Do you think you’ve had success?"

SARAH: "Success…I have to tell you I never think of it. It’s not a word I use often. Maybe that’s because by society’s standards, I have NOT achieved it. I think we would usually use that word to describe Hilary Clinton or Brittany Spears. When I read the Obit, I see some people who lived very full lives…the list of organizations their name was affiliated with is long. Accolades and awards are listed. And then I’ll skim down and see a sweet old lady named Gertrude and it’s a tiny paragraph. She left a loving husband of 70 years and 9 children and 40 grandchildren, and maybe there is nothing else to tell, but you better believe that this tiny little Gertie yielded more power and influence over the world by the standards and morals and common sense she nurtured in her life than anyone else on that page. I remember reading a beautifully written obituary…I wish so bad I had kept it…that told of this loving father…just a plumber maybe, a simple guy, whose children's memories of him were just so incredibly wonderful. You couldn’t read it without sobbing. (Nice way to start your morning.) Seriously…that is success to me."

KARA: "You are a talented photographer. Tell us a bit about that passion. What kinds of things do you like to photograph? I love the photos of kids on your blog. Give us some pointers on photographing children."

SARAH: "I don’t know about that talented part. I always consider a talent something that you have to work at hard. I hardly work at photography. I bought a good camera a year ago, took a little class, and then occasionally take some pictures. I really, really love images. I always have. Sometimes it’s a little competitive for me…if I see a blog with wonderful pictures, I think, “I can do that, too!” Something inside me just WANTS it. Just like blogging, I learn really slowly. I don’t have the time to immerse myself really, or jet off to expensive photography workshop weekends. I really only ever like to photograph people. Landscapes, sunsets, nature, buildings, SO boring to me. People…emotion, beauty, relationships…that’s what I love.

On photographing children…for my older kids I just boss them around, but show them how great they look in the pictures and that does it for them. A boost of confidence makes them relax and not feel pressured. With the little ones…you just have to be patient. You have to not force! That won’t work. Also the biggest secret is the angles….I LAY on the ground, contort my body in weird ways…you MUST look like a fool to get the good ones. You have to get down and dirty…literally.

The time of day makes a huge difference in how a picture looks. If you see an incredible picture...very dimensional with gorgeous light…it’s most certain it was taken in the morning or the evening. You want that sun on your SIDE, not on top of you or the subject."

I hope you're enjoying this interview as much as I am. I loved Sarah's answer about success. It's exactly how I feel - my children, my marriage - those are my most important accomplishments. I hope that my obit reads just like Gertrude's. (Although, Kara is not as cute of a name for an old lady as Gertrude!)

Tomorrow I'll ask Sarah about how she found her house (the story is on her blog - but don't go there until AFTER our interview tomorrow!), and also about what she thinks/hopes is in the future for her. Join us, won't you?

Incredible Woman #23 - Sarah @ Clover Lane. Tuesday's Questions

KARA: "What are the top 5 adventures you have had in your life?"

SARAH: "The farthest place I’ve been was Hawaii on my honeymoon. I wish I could say Ireland…I missed my brother’s wedding because I was due any day with my 4th child.

I chose my college because it was the only college with open admissions…I applied really late and had no where else to go. It was 2 hours from my hometown.

Once I was dragged to NYC when I was a nanny by a lady named Bunny and left in a hotel room (the Ritz of course!) with a 5 year old and had to order room service for every meal. Does that count?

In college, I visited my younger sister who went to George Washington University because she was so smart, and I packed 2 huge suitcases full of cute outfits for a short weekend, and had to drag them for miles through subways and across sidewalks and learned my lesson about packing lightly.

When I was in college, I had to work at a school…I picked an inner-city junior high. I loved it. The classroom scared the crap out me, yes, and I witnessed some really awful teachers, but it taught me SO much. I got to tutor one on one…I loved it. Kids are kids…it’s the adults that are always the problem.

That’s it for my adventures…not too fascinating, but maybe funny?"

KARA: "I love your blog. Tell us a little bit about blogging. What is your favorite blog post? How do you decide what to blog about? Do you enjoy comments on your posts?"

SARAH: "2 years ago I had no idea what a blog was. I was waiting in a pediatrician’s office and I was reading an article in one of those awful parenting magazines. One of the articles was smart and funny and down-to-earth. I loved it! It listed the author’s name and her blog. (Testosterhome). I wrote it down, (or maybe I secretly ripped out the page when the receptionist wasn’t looking?) and put it in my pocket. When I had a chance I read the blog and fell in love with the idea of recording your life. I thought, “I could do this!” Right at the top of Blogger, it’s says Create Blog. I hit the button and went through the steps. Keep in mind that MY MOTHER had taught me to email maybe just a year before that? Seriously…I was that computer illiterate. But I learned. It took me a long time…I discovered other blogs, and it was like this whole new secret underworld opened up. I love designing my blog, I love writing, I love putting up my photos. Yes, sometimes it feels a little like an obligation. But I have never ever been at a loss of what to write about. I could, honest to God, write all day long. I keep a little list of blog post ideas, just because I CAN’T write all day long.

My favorite blog post is titled “What Not To Regret”. I have gotten a lot of feedback on that post, about it changing some mom’s lives, the way they think about their importance to their little ones and their families.

Comments…comments are funny. I used to be so happy when I got one or two, and now that I get more I still do read every single one of them…maybe not right away, sometimes it takes me days, and I’m sure I miss some. I have made some great friends across the continent and I love that. I also have gotten some mean ones…I don’t write only to please everyone. I feel strongly that it is my blog and if you think I’m a jerk, why torture yourself with ME everyday? Blogging is really putting yourself out there…I realize that for sure. I try to be true to myself and hope that someone, anyone, can relate. I find myself getting braver because I think there are so many things that we THINK but are too afraid to say."

Join us tomorrow - Sarah will talk a little bit about success, and we'll learn about her photography!

Incredible Woman #23 - Sarah@Clover Lane. Monday's Questions

This week I'd like to introduce Sarah, who is the owner of the blog, Clover Lane. I found this blog quite awhile ago, and I've always wanted to get to know Sarah. I love her posts, and I like that she is such a devoted mom. I like her views and ideas. Almost every post she does on her blog resonates with me. When I emailed her and asked to feature her, she graciously said yes. So, here we go...

KARA: "Describe yourself. What makes you an Incredible Woman?"

SARAH: "I have a hard time with describing myself as an incredible woman…I’m just a mom with 5 kids who thinks way too much about too many things. I love to read.. I love to stay home. I love projects. I love babies. I love to write. Sometimes I love to take photographs."

KARA: "Tell us about your family. What one word describes each member of your family? What is one thing that each of your children have taught you?"

SARAH: "My husband Jeff and I have been married for 16 years. We think alike, but are opposites. Does that even make sense? He is so good with people…extremely extroverted and friendly. I am introverted and not very social. He drags me out a couple times a year. He is terrible at doing projects. I thrive on it. He is also hilariously funny and weird. People often ask me, “How do you live with this guy at home?” He makes everyone laugh…from his co-workers to the lady at Drug Mart to the waitress at the pizza joint.

I can’t do the one word thing…that’s so hard! I feel like my kids have so many layers. What one excels at, is another’s struggle. I guess my job is to guide them into using their strength’s, and accepting and knowing their weakness’s. We all have them!

I do think my kids are kind to others. And that’s SO important to me. My sister works with some of the most desperate children…those that can’t even be placed in foster homes. She brought a little boy home for Thanksgiving…he had nowhere to go. He spent the day with us. Afterward, my sister came up and said, “Your kids are the nicest kids ever.” And I could have burst out crying because that’s what I’m working so hard for.

The things my kids have taught me…

Isaac has taught me that sometimes our demands and expectations and ways to gauge success of a child are absolutely superficial. We put more importance on a test grade, then we do on how a person treats others…kindness, generosity, love, acceptance are more important qualities in a teenager than what they got on their SAT. He’s made me really think of the foolishness of the world, and get to the good stuff.

Abbey has taught me that daughters adore their mothers and watch every single thing we do. She has made me put my game face on.

Matthew has taught me to slow down. That kid is centered and has one good head on his shoulders.

Andrew has taught me that I can indeed, survive on a few hours of sleep for weeks and weeks on end. He had terrible terrible all day colic for months…the hardest days of my life, but I learned that I have the endurance of a pack mule. If I survived that, I can survive anything.

Patrick has taught me to love myself more….we are the spitting image of each other and when I glance at his face I see mine…which is totally new for me. He has also taught me that time flies and we have no way of stopping it."

Join us tomorrow for 2 more questions/answers - you'll want to stick around this whole week! I really love this interview!