4 months

It's taken me all day to write this, baby girl, because frankly you've been a bit of a beast. But oh, the ways you make up for it. Today you are 4 months. Only for 15 more minutes, then you will start 4 months and 1 day. I sit in bed, Daddy snoring next to me so loud I've had to wake him up several times, and I watch you finally sleep. You are worn out from your day; from teething, from your shots

Guilty pleasures

Confession: I LOVED the movie My Best Friend's Wedding. OK, I still love it. When it came out 13 years ago (OMG - could it really be THAT long ago?!) I was living in Boston with friends.  I had a George in my life.  I had just met my now-husband. I came across this today and it made me smile: I really needed that smile. What cheesy movies from 10+ years ago do you still love?

I saw this

It made me smile. I thought I'd share it with you. Enjoy! By the way, are we the only family never to have watched "The Sound of Music"?

google chrome puts a smile on my face

For the past week or so I have been having internet problems. We moved the computer. The signal is strong (portable by Bell) upstairs and the dlink router seems to working correctly. So why on heavens earth was I still having problems connecting to the Internet? I tried everything. I reset the modem, configured things properly. My laptop has 4GB of ram, 64bit, Windows 7 (maybe it's Windows

Her Mother’s Hope

Her Mother’s Hope (Marta’s Legacy) by Francine Rivers The first in an epic two-book saga by beloved author Francine Rivers, this sweeping story explores the complicated relationships between mothers and daughters over several generations. Near the turn of the 20th century, fiery Marta leaves Switzerland determined to find life on her own terms. Her journey [...]

Free downloadable colour sheets from Made By Joel

These days I’m so busy with work, I don’t have much time for my much loved little creative projects (sewing, baking, drawing).  But I love looking at craft and cooking blogs instead! Joel Henriques is a Portland-based artist who has two little kids and does the most amazing craft projects with them. Just have a look [...]

A Woman’s Prerogative (an Evolution of Birthing Attitudes)

Several people have asked why I am suddenly interested in natural childbirth after ten years and three labors that, while medicated and managed, turned out just fine. Actually, my mother specifically told my brother not to ask me about my birthing plans, but that could have been because we were in the middle of a [...]

I’ve been everywhere but here

It’s after one a.m. and I really wish I was in bed right now, but I’m not remotely tired.  My body thinks it’s midnight, which is about two hours earlier than I’ve been going to bed lately, so I’m kind-of screwed.  Especially since I can’t laze around in bed tomorrow morning until it’s time to [...]

Our 8 Year Anniversary!

Hubby and I have been married 8 years today!I have been waiting for today to tell this story. A few months ago Hubby and I were out on a "date night". We had gone out to dinner and then went to a dance club. We were hanging out, dancing and such. I had gone to the bathroom and woman who had been standing near us asked Hubby if we were in Hawaii on our honeymoon? Hubby told her no, we lived here an

Kung Fu Panda World

Today I took the kids to the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Columbus Circle, to a sneak peak of a new online gaming world centered around the places and characters from Kung Fu Panda, hosted by Isabel from Alpha Mom.  After grabbing a cupcake Jake headed straight for the game, and played [...]

Today is the day

This inspires meUh oh I screwed up ...does anyone still play screwup Tuesday ?I should have checked more carefully - having too many windows open at onceMultitasking #FAIL! (seriously this is the email reply I got back today)only 29mins to go but who is counting ...though 'POOH' has kept you quiet for last 20 mins ! ...what you fell asleep at 4.30pm !...What I learned on twitter this week in(read

Dillard’s Deal

I just got a tip on a Dillard’s Deal found in Crestview Hills, Kentucky!  You can call your local Dillard’s and see if the same deal is going on!   ALL Cabernet bras are on sale for $14.99 and if you try on a B.Tempt’d bra by Wacoal, you get a free Orly nail polish.   That sounds [...]

Sexting

Friday night...kids away...Mr. and Mrs.4444 had the house to ourselves...Hours later, Kendall texts:"On our way home...put clothes on."My reply: "LOL! If you only knew!"She replied, "omg mom. Gag. You're too old."Hey, she asked for it! Besides, you're never too old to gross your kids out, right?

Yes, I know.

My header is broken. I’m working on it. Unfortunately life outside of this blog keeps getting in the way. In the meantime, go check out my new gig over at Savvy Source Las Vegas. And, yes, I know the image is stretched. I’m working on that one, too. So, while I’m working on these things and trying to keep my head [...]

ode to love

To the sustainable pressure that keeps my heart beating.to the kisses and hugsto my sweet cuddle bugsode to love.my keeper of heartsmy sweet sun in the skymy hello's not goodbyesode to love.the earth and its madnessto difference and hopeforgetting failures and learning to copeode to love.remembering there's goodnessand sadness will passto hoping my good memorieswill forever last.ode to love.

I’ll Leave The Light On.

Yes, I am still here, I haven’t fallen off the planet. In case anyone is wondering where I’ve been, other than random, frivilous jury trials, the streets of Los Angeles, or window seats in coach, I ...{If this post made you laugh, cry, or eat Cheez Its, click here: I’ll Leave The Light On. to go to the site and leave a comment! Don't be a stranger! ;)}

Blog ‘Spring Cleaning’ – Day Nine

Like many families, when we first got Internet at home, we did so via AOL. Remember those CDs they’d mail out all the time? Yeah, we fell for it. I’ve had the same AOL email address for 12 years now, though I changed service provider years ago. I only check it every once in a [...]

Well I Don't Know About You, But Right Now I am All Social Media'd Out

So how much social media is too much social media? How much social media-ing do you do? Where do you draw the line? When do you call it quits? Do you think blogging, two message boards, two e-mail addresses, Facebook and Twitter is too much? And then texting? And Blackberry Instant Messaging on top of that? Can I call a 'social media counselor' and have them consolidate all my social medias

D vs the Phone

  Poor D. Our family is tough on D. I am a klutz, our dog is full of excitement and Little G doesn’t know any better. In the last 7 months I think D has doubled over in pain at least once a month. And not just any pain… the pain. You know, the kind that leaves you wondering if we are going to have a second child. Thankfully most of these incidents have not been my fault…well, except for t

RTT: On Things that Suck Right Now

Somehow or other, I have gotten old. I didn't used to be this old.  I used to be YOUNG. But, now I am old and I have bunions. BUNIONS. My right foot is all kinds of deformed. I have the feet of a 90 year old woman. I am ready to order my Rascal. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* It has been raining here for days and days and days. I am pretty much over it.

PROMPTuesday #98: Lyrical

Today? Please write a poem. Free form. Except…I do require one word be included: Halcyon.   Do it for me?   Please post your submission in the comments OR post in your blog and leave a link to your blog in the comments.   First time to PROMPTuesday? Read a bit about it here. Want to see what’s been written in the [...]

The Society of Jesus: A Look at the University of San Francisco- Part 2

USF's defense of its "Catholic" identity continues with this description:“There are folks who are much more comfortable with the Church up on a mountain top with clear answers to clear questions, relatively unsullied by contact with the world,” said Charles Currie, S.J., president of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities, of which USF is a member. “Others are more comfortable with a

hydraSense Nasal Aspirator for babies works like a charm!

I absolutely hate it when my kids are sick, and with both PB who just turned four and Gamer who is turning eleven in school now, bringing home colds happens more often then either of them cleaning out their lunch kits when they get home.  The worst part-- everyone in the house gets the cold as well. But even worse than that is when a baby is sick.  They can't breath, nose is itchy and irritable

My little peanut

So, as I read blogs of other mom’s with young babies, I always see this “My son/daughter is in the 95th percentile!”. I never knew what that meant until I had L. He’s a peanut. He’s in the 25th percentile. Poor L, he’s already an underachiever, just like his Mommy. He’s perfectly healthy, just small. I know this. His [...]

Photo Books: Now More Simple Than Before

As a scrapbooking junkie, I’ve tried many different products over the last ten years, from traditional to digital and everything in between. When I was offered the opportunity to try the new American Greetings PhotoWorks Studio Books I was very excited.  I love digital scrapbooking, but I’m not a fan of using software that needs to [...]

The Good Ones Get Ignored

So you may remember me talking about how Giorgia was getting bullied at school. While it has quietened down a fair bit, there have still be some name calling and them trying to intimidate her by walking behind her and taunting on the way home…even if Bill or one of our teenagers are walking [...]

clumsy, messy me

Why is it that I am more clumsy and messy while pregnant?  How is it that I managed to get peanut butter on my t-shirt yesterday morning?  Or Hadley's dinner of pasta and marinara on one of the few nicer shirts that span my girth?  Oh, and how did I manage to cook this beautiful pot roast with fresh vegetables and dump all of the left overs on the floor last night?What is it that happens to us pre

Old Navy Coupon Code – 20% OFF

We’ve noticed that Old Navy is a favorite of our readers and we share the sentiment! I appreciate that Old Navy allows me to try out the latest trends without investing a ton of cash and also provides plenty of affordable and stylish options for my kids. 2 days only – Get 20% off Any Oldnavy.com purchase. Enter ONGET20* at checkout. Offers ends 3/17.

Sweet Begging Eyes

Now how can I say "no" to that little face? Actually, it's surprisingly easy.  You see she is no where near as quiet in real life.  If all I saw were still shots of my kids, I would be convinced that the world would be handed to them on a platter.  Those little mouths betray their sweet eyes and pouty lips.  You could almost give in to any request if not for the sounds they emi

Go Ahead--- Crawl Under the Tunnel

Monday nights are usually when I do devotional time time with the older kids. And what is devotional time you might ask? Well usually it always includes reading something from the bible and usually a book that I find interesting that I think the kids will enjoy and be inspired by. Then we will often times talk about how things are going, what we learned from the book, and discuss issues any of

The Mama Bear is Coming Out

Today I took my son to school.  He goes to afternoon Kindergarten.  I was standing there waiting for the kids to line up and the teacher to let them when I saw a kid from my son's class smack my son across the face.  I was floored.  What pissed me off more was the fact that the woman that was outside watching the kids that are in Kindergarten Crew (a babysitting service for wor

Do you know if your child is suffering from anxiety or depression?

Jeff is the star player on his high school baseball team. He feels that he must win at any cost and believes that this is what his coach and his parents expect of him. Jeff is fifteen years old and he smokes marijuana. Julie worries that something bad is going to happen to her mother, [...]

Cancer is the biggest ***** I know. And I know a lot of *****.

The single thing I love the most about blogging is one day you're paying tribute to your mother on her birthday and the next you're vlogging some sort of weird Peep porn you just invented. No two posts are ever...

no pins required winner

Congrats To Mommy Monkey who won the $30 No Pins Required G/C!

Wake County School Board Has Me Fired Up...and Worried

Our school board has bullied, bushwhacked, and axed a wedge clear through the county, and it reeks of party line politics. I'm up in arms, fancying myself an activist these days. Read on to see what has me so irate. Here's a hint: Diversity isn't just about color.

Mom Tip Tuesday. Birthday Parties for Preschoolers

First ever Mom Tip Tuesday so I thought I’d do it right and officially introduce you to Dumb Mom! I used to write a blog/column/random gathering of meaningless words on the site of my local newspaper. It was called Maybe Mommy’s a Dummy (detect a theme yet?). Part of that column was Dumb Mom’s Guide to the Universe. Dumb Mom is an expert on nothing who knows pretty much everything. She is o

Lent - Day 23

A sleeping baby...

Got Me Some Goodies Today!

I’ve had my eye on these two books for a while now – ProBlogger: Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six Figure Income by Darren Rowse and Chris Garrett and No One Cares What You Had for Lunch: 100 Ideas for Your Blog by Margaret Mason. While a six figure income from my blog [...]

Mega Mystery Stride Gum FREE Sample

Become a fan of Stride Gum on Facebook, and then click on the gum pack on the Mega Mystery tab to score a FREE Mega Mystery Stride Gum FREE sample! Share this post: Related posts:Ritz Munchables FREE Sample For Fans New Pampers With Dry Max FREE Sample Vaska Laundry Detergent FREE Sample Purex 3-In-1 Laundry Sheets FREE Sample Mega Mystery Stride [...]

Princess and The Frog for as low as $5.99 after coupons and rebates!

The Princess and the Frog will be released tomorrow on Tuesday, March 16th.   I took Peyton to see The Princess and The Frog and he loved it!  So of course I am planning to buy it as soon as it is released.  If you too are planning to get it you will want to take [...]

I'm Rich!!!

I have a love/hate relationship with my email. For some reason, I can never seem to get my box to under 50 or so. I hate that. I try and try, but for every email I read, it seems like two more come in. I love the fan mail, the questions and comments from readers, and the people who write to share their stories with me. I even love getting offers from companies to check out their latest products an

I wasn't gonna....but I got to

I mean talk about the NYT article about how "horrible us mommy bloggers are".No, I will not link to it cause it is a bunch of crap. Seriously a ridiculous amount of poop in that article and I am against having poop on my blog!Um, hello can we say: Rude?!Who are you to judge, oh woman who is a mommy blogger?I seriously thinks that she just feels bad about....no I'm not gonna go there cause I w

Original and Couture Cinch: Must-Have For New Moms

The Original Cinch, from Charlene Williams by Anew is an adjustable post-partum binder crafted to motivate new moms to get back to their healthy shapes with a single wrap. A rumored celebrity favorite, the Cinch is selling off shelves at Harrods in London and is the only adjustable tummy wrap on the market that offers 360 degrees of support, focusing on slimming and shaping the stomach and ab

Tuesday's Treasures (Giveaway Linky for 3/16-3/23)

Shaking in my Skivvies

If you have a blog, have read a blog, have heard of blogging, or know how to spell the word "blog", you've probably heard about and maybe even read that snarky little exercise in condescension published by the New York Times. I was going to talk a little bit about that, but I wouldn't want anyone to mistake me for a New York Times reader (because, hello, I'm a member of the RNC. What would Newt

9 Funky Events Worth Seeing in England

Think England and chances are your first thoughts are of the Queen or the staid palace Guards, not people celebrating garlic, eating nettles, carrying coal or wrestling with their toes.

Northern Michigan: Family Fun in the Snow

Skiing tends to be a conceptual thing in the Midwest. What we think of as ski mountains are nothing more than molehills to families who ski in the west.

Alive

I finished repainting the stripes. They look fabulous! Like, fabulously fabulous. I am so happy with the outcome. I will post some pictures when I have an opportunity to take some shots. SOON! I swear! Last week I was practically on my death bed. Monday, my first day off in ages, I woke up with what felt like shards of glass piercing my esophagus. I thought it was due to heavy snoring since»

Buffoonery. I Mean MORE Buffoonery. (And Something Serious)

Last Saturday I went to a blogging get-together called Momz Share, put together by the fabulous Jennifer and the amazing Dipaola Momma. It was wonderful and I got to chat with some amazing local bloggers. But that's really not why you come here—to read a list of links of the wonderful women writing out there. What you come here for (or at least part of the reason) is for some good, solid Stimey bu

When It Rains, It Pours

Oh that post title would be hilarious if only the situation weren't so sad.On Saturday night, not 3 days after writing this post, I was enjoying a fantastic evening at Momz Share (more on that soon), when I got a text from my sister who had so graciously agreed to babysit for me while Hubby was out of town. The text read something like this: "Emergency! The basement is badly flooded."Ok, so that'