To live a well balanced, rewarding life of our dreams by day and sleep restfully at night.
The Mew Way: Not being bothered by much
Published April 14, 2013 | 
The Mew Way is all about not being bothered by much.
Aside from an empty food dish and dirty litter box, what is there in life to worry about?
When you are hungry, eat.
When you are sleepy, take a nap.
When you want attention, meow for it.
When you are lonely, seek out a warm comfy lap.
If your tail gets stepped on, squawk, and then get over it quickly.
Anything unpleasant gets forgiven and forgotten.
Pleasant purrfectly things are savored and appreciated.
Living this kind of life, The Mew Way, will guarantee you will not miss much sleep at night.
Right Mew?
Sweet Dreams!
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You know you really need some sleep when (yawn)….
Published April 7, 2013 | 
You know you really need some sleep when:
1. after pouring yourself a cup of coffee, you put the carafe in the refrigerator rather than the coffee maker.
2. everything makes you cry or
3. everything makes you laugh hysterically.
4. you barely recognize the reflection staring back at you in the mirror.
5. people take one look at you and they know they don’t want to mess with you.
6. you don’t care about what your hair looks like
7. you don’t want to deal with wearing contacts (your eyes are too bleary and irritated).
8. you look forever for the keys that are in your pocket and the glasses that are on top of your head.
9. you forget to feed your cat (the horror)!
Yep, you’re a wreck for sure. If this remotely sounds like you, it is time to:
1. brew up some sleepy time tea,
2. eat a light supper,
3. close up the computer,
4. turn the smartphone off,
5. take a hot lavender bath,
6. light a candle,
7. get in your comfortable pjs,
8. tell your family goodnight,
9. feed the cat so it won’t disturb you,
10. slip into bed and read a book. A book? yes, a book! (I caught you…put that phone away)!
11. Soon you will be ready to turn off the lights and sleep.
Tonight, you will sleep. The cares of the world do not pertain to you tonight.
This is your time to simply check out
and sleep.
Good night and sweet dreams.
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A Three Day Wedding Anniversary Adventure in Charleston
Published March 29, 2013 | 
A few days ago, we wrote about taking adventures…
I truly believe that adventure and trying new things is the spice of life. What adventures have you been on lately or plan on taking? Please feel free to share your adventures with us here at The Warm Milk Journal… (simply comment at the end of this post or you may share on our Facebook page too).
My husband and I just returned from a few days of adventure in lovely Charleston, South Carolina for our second wedding anniversary.
Did we have adventure? Yes!
Did we have romance? Yes!
Am I still glowing from this little get away? Most certainly, yes!
I wish to share with you just a few highlights of our Charleston adventure….
Day 1:
1. Discovering Pepper Palace on Market street. I thought my husband had died and gone to heaven. There’s like a thousand different hot sauces, barbeques sauces, mustards, salsas, and butters. What fun!
2. Tommy Condons: an Irish pub and restaurant where we enjoyed good beer and a real low country boil . Everyone was so nice in this place and we enjoyed watching the Florida Gators Basketball game (Florida beat Minnesota which was looking like quite a nail biter for a bit).
3. Strolling through magnificent Charleston Place filled with high end shops for fun window shopping and a lovely hotel. The Thoroughbred Club is a great place to stop, have a drink and tapas, and listening to the pianist… I have since learned that they offer a “high tea” in the afternoon but we missed that one (perhaps for the next visit).
Photo credit: Southernliving.com
Day 2:
1. Taking a cruise on the Charleston Harbor on The Carolina Belle. Captain Dave was funny and we learned a lot too. He informed us that he was willing to retrieve lost hats out on the water if our heads were still attached to them…
2. Afternoon coffee at Saffron Cafe and Bakery. This place was so incredible. Great coffee, mid-eastern foods, and the dessert showcase was such a feast (I gained a few pounds just by looking)! This place seriously made me wish I lived in Charleston.
3. Dinner at Mercato. We had one of the best Italian dinners ever! My husband is Italian and he had high praise for their lasagne (they evidently got the tomato sauce right). I was thankful to have a relaxing place to sit with my husband and sip on some wonderful wine (after a day of touring in unseasonably cold and windy weather).
Day 3:
1. Strolling Meeting Street and touring some of the beautiful homes. We just happened to be in town for Charleston’s Historical Foundation’s Festival of Houses and Gardens (which is still going on until April 20, 2013) These were private residential homes that the owners opened up to us (for a three hour window). It was awesome.
2. Taking a horse carriage tour. My husband was skeptical at first, but our guide, Ben, was both intelligent and hysterical. Our horse, Loretta (which he called “Slowretta”) was precious. I learned so much about Charleston’s history and I got to relax and cuddle up next to my hubby as we slowly cruised through some extremely quaint alleys and streets in the Historical District.
3. Last, but not least was our anniversary dinner at Circa1886, which is a lovely restaurant set in the carriage house of The WentWorth Mansion. . So many little things made this a meal to remember. My husband even had antelope!(talk about adventure).
This is how they brought our dessert out along with some champagne!
After dinner, we strolled through the lobby of the magnificent lobby, and felt rich and satisfied…As we strolled outside to our car,the full moon shined upon us…
Did we have adventure? Yes! It wasn’t perfect… it was cold, our hotel room had some issues… but now we can both look back at this experience and laugh and smile. Adventure is great. Adventure shared with your best friend in the whole world and life partner is magnificent (I will sleep well for many nights to come as I warmly bask in the memory of this trip).
To many more adventures!
In Peace,
Debra
My hubby John ordering lunch at Blind Tiger Pub on Broad Street.
Debra at the Battery
One happy couple…
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Ten ways to guarantee a great day, The Mew Way
Published March 5, 2013 | 
To have a nice day, the Mew Way, one simply has to:
1. not be in a hurry to do anything
2. keep loved ones company when they are home
3. eat small meals frequently
4. stretch periodically, especially in a sunny spot by the window
5. meditate on the birds and natural wildlife outside
6. be content with what you have
7. never complain unless your food dish is empty or your tail gets stepped on.
8. invite love and affection by rolling on your back and looking adorable
9. nap throughout the day.
10. contribute to the household by helping mommy write and cook and helping daddy at the computer by sitting on important paperwork (out of sight, out of mind- no more stressed daddy)!
Thanks Mew.
Have a purrfectly wonderful day, everybody!
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Forgiveness, The Mew Way
Published February 19, 2013 | 
Forgiveness, The Mew Way is simply this:
1. If our tail gets stepped on, we squawk for a second and then immediately let it go (no lasting grudges or resentments need apply).
2. Look through the lens of unconditional love, always. The loved one who accidentally pushed me off the couch still loves me. No hurt intended.
3. Do not take anything personally. There are times when people want their newspapers without 20 pounds of black fur ball on them.
4. Do not get upset in the first place.
Thank you, Mew. That truly is it, isn’t it?
It is worth repeating:
Do not get upset in the first place.
Thank you, Dear friend, for your perpetual and universal wisdom. No wonder you are loved by people all around the world.
In peace,
Debra and Mew
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I have a pain in my neck! When pain causes insomnia.
Published February 15, 2013 | I have a pain in my neck. Yes, I really do. My young students have been a real handful lately but it’s not them. I’m not sure what I did. Perhaps I slept funny or pulled a muscle while at the gym. All I know is I have a very sharp pain on the right side of my neck that travels down to where my shoulder joins my neck and a little further down to my right shoulder blade as well.
I am not sharing this with you because I want you to feel sorry for me or to complain about it. The truth is, I haven’t slept well the last couple of nights because of this pain.
Here at the Warm Milk Journal we focus on the things that keep us centered and balanced by day so that we may sleep restfully at night. Good activities that we recommend are: exercise, writing in our journals, spending time outdoors, being loving towards ourselves and others, and nurturing our spiritual lives.
There are times, however, when we are sick or in pain. If physical conditions are keeping you awake at night you definitely want to see your doctor.
He or she might prescribe something to help with the pain and get you to sleep too. I personally am not taking medication for this pain (other than an ibuprofen). A muscle relaxer might be nice but I am weary of taking that kind of drug.
Besides taking medications that will help us sleep, what can we do when pain keeps us awake at night?
1. First, I recommend relaxing as much as possible about it. If we get ourselves hyped up and anxious about our pain, illness, and resulting insomnia, we will most certainly feel worst and lose even more sleep (been there, I KNOW).
2. Keep a healthy perspective: most ailments and physical conditions do not last forever. They will either run their course or you and your medical provider will get to the bottom of it and get you proper treatment.
3. If we lose a night or two of sleep, it is not the end of the world. The best thing we can do is relax and do our best during the day.
4. Be reminded of all the many blessings that we have so much of the time. Before a couple of nights ago, I did not realize how greatly blessed I was to have a pain-free neck. No kidding, right?
As much as possible, I wish us all a pain-free and restful night. If that is not possible at the moment, perhaps we can:
1. Relax
2. Take baths
3. Write
4. Escape into a good movie or reality tv show (my 15 year old daughter and I have a date with this week’s Bachelor (which we recorded) and Orville Redenbacher’s gourmet white corn blended with real butter. Oh Yeah! Who is Sean going to send home? (pain in the neck? what pain in the neck)?!
In Peace (and hopefully pain-free soon)!
Debra
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How To Get a Good Night Sleep With a Teenager Living Under Your Roof
Published January 29, 2013 | 
To all of the parents who lose sleep because of the behavior of their teenagers or simply worrying about them…
I offer ten ways to get a good night sleep (despite) having a teenager or teenagers living under your roof.
1. If you are lucky, you were tough on them when they were younger. If you were a softie, now is the your last chance to toughen up. Set up clear boundaries and expectations with them about everything NOW.
2. When they need to talk, listen to them (without judgment).
3. Choose your battles: does it really matter if they choose to wear a tee-shirt and shorts in cold weather?(If they do get uncomfortable or come down with the cold or flu perhaps they will learn from the choices they made).
4. Sit down and have dinner most nights with your kids. Talk. Listen. Eat. Good stuff. Important!
5. Do the above without the smartphones and iPods
6. Get to know their friends.
7. Be clear on when it is to be quiet time in the house (i.e. no laundry, tv, or loud music) after a certain agreed upon time.
8. Find and use your leverage. What does your teen really care about? Use that to your advantage. You are the adult. You are in control. Do not be manipulated. They won’t admit it, but teens feel secure when we are firmly in charge.
9. Love them. If you have to, look in their faces and see the darling babies that they once were… (they’re still there)!
10. Above all else: DO NOT STALK OR TAG OR POST ANYTHING ON THEIR FACEBOOK WALL (that is, if you are lucky enough to have been befriended by them in the first place).
Best of luck. Much love. This too shall pass!
In peace,
Debra
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Posted in anxiety, Blogging, Family life, Humor, insomnia, Parenthood, worry | 
dealing with teenagers, getting sleep as a parent, parenthood | 
Leave a commentFollow these twelve Mew Way principles and you will never be sleep deprived again!
Published January 17, 2013 | 
When is the best time to sleep? I posed this question to my sweetest muse, Mew… and he pondered the question at great length.
This is what he came up with (if we truly want to live life The Mew Way we had better pay attention now…)
The best times in the world to sleep are:
1. When the family is watching a movie after dinner. The living room is dark (except for a soothing glow from the television). There is a comfy couch and many more comfy laps to sink into…
2. After breakfast.
3. After lunch.
4. After dinner.
5. After a late night snack.
6. After doing the look out the window at back patio critter meditation.
7. During mommy’s blogging time.
8. During mommy’s coffee and newspaper time.
9. After a good stretch.
10. After a stressful event (such as when a door is slammed too loud or strange people come into the house).
11. At night, after living a full and rich Mew Way life (plenty of naps, eating, observing human life indoors and nature outdoors…)
12. If feeling sleep deprived after applying these eleven rules, then apply the final twelfth rule:
sleeping anytime is the perfect time to sleep!
Thank you, Mew!
This is Mew’s brother Patches, demonstrating the perfectly timed nap.
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Ten Ways to bring in the New Year, The Mew Way
Published December 31, 2012 | My sweet cat is a simple, peaceful, and loving creature. Once in a while he inspires a post here at The Warm Milk Journal.
Why not New Year’s Eve?
How does Mew go about letting go of the old year and welcoming the new one?
Hmmm….. What do you say Mew?
Here are ten ways to bring in the new year, The Mew Way:
1. Whenever possible, be near loved ones.
2. Even better, be on a warm lap.
3. Listen to soothing music, and wag your tail to the rhythm and melody.
4. Enjoy fresh seafood from the local fishing village nearby (Mayport, Florida in Mew’s case).
5. Play
6. Nap
7. Hide when the fireworks go off at midnight.
8. When all quiets down, come out to the comfort of loving arms and a
9. Warm bed
10. Have sweet dreams tonight and each night of 2013.
Happy New Year!
Much love and peace to all of you.
Debra and John DiPietro thank you for visiting us here at The Warm Milk Journal!
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All I Want For Christmas is a Good Night Sleep
Published December 25, 2012 | All I Want For Christmas is a Good Night Sleep (Sung to the tune of All I Want
for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth)
Photo credit: ehow.com
Everybody stops and stares at me
Those two baggy eyes as you can see
I don’t know just who to blame for this catastrophe!
But my one wish on Christmas is as plain as it can be!
All I want for Christmas
Is a good night sleep,
A good night sleep,
Yes, a good night sleep!
Gee, if I could only
Get a good night sleep,
Then I could cheerily wish you
“Merry Christmas”!
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