Blogging Mama

Fragments on Friday: Music to make you smile

2012-01-27T06:00:00.000-05:00

It's Friday so that means it's time for another round of Friday Fragments. Woohoo! It's nice of Mrs. 4444 over at Half Past Kissin Time to host all of us crazies considering we can't even form coherent thoughts.

Let's jump right in!

On my awesome adoption group on Facebook, Taiwan R.O.C.k's, someone shared a link to traditional Chinese children's music. It is SO stinkin' cute. You should really check it out and tell me this video doesn't just make you smile!? We bought the album straight away and are loving it.

Adorable!

Believe it or not I'm still trying to read this book. Two years and counting. It's really, really good as I've said many times before. It's not even that it's a particularly long book being under 450 pages. Still, I can't seem to sit down and finish it.

I ordered a Panda Express Chinese New Year kit and it finally came this week. Basically it's a dvd with a long commercial for Panda Express, a couple activity worksheets and a ton of coupons that double as bookmarks with the Chinese zodiac on the back (I'm a Snake by the way). The biggest problem is I have about 30 (because they were meant for classroom teachers though anyone was allowed to order them). The nearest and ONLY Panda Express in Kentucky is in the student center at the University of Kentucky. In Louisville. So if anyone wants a free kids meal with the purchase of any 2-entree plate coupon, let me know!

We are getting Chinese food tonight. Long noodles for health, egg rolls for prosperity. Yum.

The other day I went to unbutton a brand new sweater from Land's End and the button snapped in half. Nice. Now I have to pay to return it. I really dislike that we don't have a Sears that has a Land's End. Actually, not that I ever shop at Sears but just having a Sears within an hour would work for me. Just so I could say I had one.

Since when did postage get so expensive?? Yeesh. I paid $9.50 to return something to LL Bean last week! It wasn't even in a box!

My kids and I have been watching 19 Kids and Counting on TLC. Have you ever watched it? It's really interesting, not just the aspect of managing that many kids, but seeing that the kids are all well-behaved, respectful kids. Totally blows my mind! Jim-Bob and Michelle are welcome to come parent for an afternoon at my house anytime!

I clean off my desk once a week because it gets so cluttered with junk. I organize and re-order, and within a day it's right back to being stuffed with books, and papers, and notebooks, random shirts, a sock monkey...make that two sock monkeys since Sprinkles brought in the one that used to be in the car. It's really getting kind of ridiculous.

I've also been watching Weeds. I know from 19 Kids and Counting to the very foul mouthed (yet very funny) Weeds. I'm interesting, I know. But I'd love it if Lionsgate Entertainment, who makes the DVD's would actually pay attention. Every SINGLE Season 4 dvd 2 is scratched. As in Does Not Work. I've gone through three purchases and returns because every single one has been damaged. Hello! You can't stack dvd's half on top of each other like this:

You can not tell me I am the only person on the planet who's having this problem. I've purchased from two different places thinking it was a fluke.

It's not.
Fix it.

Sprinkles got a new bed this weekend. She had been sleeping on the de-bunked bunk bed borrowed from Vanilla, but now everyone has their own beds and is very, very happy. The best part? It'll last her through college, yay! Which is one reason is if we are referred a child who still sleeps in a crib, I'm going with this one:

Gorgeous, Credit Here

It goes from crib, to toddler bed, to full size. One bed, 18 years. Perfecto.

This week I've put on quite a variety of dinners. In fact we've been around the world. Mexico, Sweden, Belgium, China (tonight) and tomorrow, Italy. Who says you need a passport?

Well, you really do, but this is a cheaper way to travel.

That's all the fragments for today. Stop by Mrs. 4444 and see who else is fragmenting at Half Past Kissin Time!

Happy Chinese New Year!

2012-01-24T08:29:00.000-05:00

I've seen it written several ways (and since we haven't exactly done any Chinese related heritage things with Sprinkles before, I wrote it in English) but no matter how you spell it, Happy Chinese New Year!

Image Credit

Sprinkles was all about pulling on her silks before bed the other night. Keep in mind we bought these for her when we got her at 15 months old, and because she's only barely doubled her gotcha day weight of 16 pounds, they still (mostly) fit her. We couldn't button the top but otherwise they are okay. Next year, new silks! We'll pick some up for the kids when we go to Taipei for New Cupcake. Vanilla of course want's nothing to do with silks, but we do have one for him too, in a very pretty blue (obviously now too small).

Image Credit

The pictures are awful because I took them with my phone, and yes, those are dino pajamas sticking out underneath. Next year, when we are living in Seattle, where there is actually not only a single other Chinese resident, but also a Chinatown and a CNY celebration, I promise...better pictures!

February 2008

Current

(same silks!)

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Review: Roam by Alan Lazar

2012-01-23T08:00:00.000-05:00

Roam by Alan Lazar is a heartwarming book about a dog finding himself wandering away from his beloved home and losing himself in the world. Told from the perspective of Nelson, a beagle/poodle mutt, we see what it feels like to be a dog from moments after birth until well into a dog's adult life.

When Nelson's cherished home begins to unravel, he finds himself wandering away and becoming lost in the outside world. We view the world from Nelson's perspective, the sights, the sounds and the smells, as he eventually finds his way back to his owner after eight long years. As the reader journeys with Nelson, you'll be rooting for him as he meets other animals and humans, and we learn just how much a dog really understands about the emotions of others.

In an unique twist, composer author Alan Lazar has included music to accompany Nelson's journey by placing Microsoft tags in the book. Seven musical pieces accompany the novel giving it special feel.

Roam is both a heartwarming and heartbreaking story told from the eyes of the curious, adventuring dog named Nelson. The book is available at major retailers and online.

I was provided with a copy of Roam to complete my review. the opinions expressed are my own.

Friday Fragments, greetings from the carwash

2012-01-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

It's one of the most celebrated days of the week - Friday - and you'll see while reading my fragments why I'm a firm believer in a recent study about the happiness that we tend to feel on Fridays. But first let's thank our lovely host Mrs. 4444 over at Half Past Kissin' Time for rounding up us kids and giving us somewhere to hang out every week.

These thoughts are partially brought to by AquaNotes, the shower time notepad. Yes, I have about 6 of these pads and I'm not afraid to use them. Don't we all get great ideas in the shower?

I'm drinking Green Mountain Half-Caff. It's not Half bad. It certainly keeps away the shakes! And it's really hard to type when you have the caffeine shakes.

I took Darth Vader through the carwash the other day, which really isn't much fun by yourself, but our carwash uses rainbow colored soap. I imagine if I'd been alive during the 60's, it would have a looked a lot like the rainbow colored soap outside my car windows.

Darth Vader's Darth Vader at the carwash:

I've been listening to Christina Perri lately. I don't know exactly why, she's got a catchy fun-sad vibe going on that I'm feeling fond of.

Did you know Vanilla's going to be ten in 11 days. T E N I know I keep doing the countdown, but it's really starting to freak me out. Double digits. There's no turning back from the double digits!

I was flipping channels the other week, or rather Papa Cupcake was, and I asked him to go back and record something. I finally got around to watching what we taped the other day. It's Oprah's new show on her network, OWN, Oprah's Next Chapter. It's actually really, really good. No audience, just interviews. So far I've watched Joel Osteen (which I'll get to in a minute) and Chris Christie.

I have to say for a republican, which I do not identify myself with, pretty much, ever, Chris Christie is a fascinating man. Very true to himself and I did like his points about teachers and salary. If you haven't seen it, I know it's being replayed this week. Try and catch it.

Okay, I made an allusion to this in the beginning of my post, so here it is. Have you read Every Day a Friday by Joel Osteen? Well, I've read the first chapter (so far, since you can get the first chapter free at Amazon.Com) and what I learned reading it last night, is this: you're in charge of making your day, every day, feel like a Friday. Mr . Osteen makes a very good point about how it's your choice to decide what mood you're going to be in. You can start your day bad and make it bad, or you can make every day feel like a Friday - which research has proven more people are happy on Fridays - the difference between good day and bad day is attitude. I said this recently on Twitter - Only you can decide if the glass is half full.

And that's true, really true. While I'm no stranger to having no idea what exactly I believe in terms of religion and this post where I tackled the God Question (I can see some of you going oh geez, she's talking about Joel Osteen of the megachurch!!) BUT! stay with me. As I mentioned, I watched his interview on OWN and then started tooling around on his website for Lakewood Church. I thought a lot of what he said on Oprah was good, great even. I watched his most recent sermon online and I found myself feeling good by the time it was over. He made some really good points about being happy with what you have, not striving for and blaming others what you don't have.

You're in charge of your own destiny.

Fascinating stuff. More on that in another post.

I created a link of all the posts I wasn't able to transfer over here during my 8 month sojourn as a self-hosted site because they were on a Wordpress format. You can read them by clicking the sidebar title "The Missing Posts of Blogs Past" You can pick Nov 2011-Feb 2011. Happy reading.

I love this chair.

Ballard Designs

I've thought since way back when Vanilla was a baby, almost ten years ago, that I'd love to do a room with a lime green/white/grey color scheme. Wouldn't this chair be perfect for that? Gorgeous.

I also love so many things from Room And Board I've pretty much pinned their entire catalog to my board on Pinterest. I especially love their dining room tables. Beautiful! I promised Papa Cupcake no more Ikea fall-apart-put-together projects. So he better reciprocate with some good stuff.

Like the stuff found in Room and Board! Woohoo!

I've become obsessed with house shopping. Woodinville is good. North Shore schools are good, Edmonds, Bothell, Kenmore. Day after day after day, sometimes (okay often) multiple searches a day. Like something new is going to magically appear in the ten minutes I wasn't online? However, now that we are through the holidays, listings are picking up. Though, then nature went and dumped snow on Seattle...

Sigh. The practical hands-on house shopping is still months away. In the meantime, I will continue my search from the wilds of central Kentucky.

I opened the mail yesterday and three wonderful things arrived. Our final, revised hardcopies of our homestudy (which our homestudy agency had forgotten to send to us...nice) and our USCIS I600A fingerprinting appointments! WOOHOO! for sure. February 13th we get to go to Louisville and get fingerprinted. Then all that's left is the magic APPROVED letter and we can officially bring a New Cupcake home.

On that front, our agency said they have a few toddlers who are having parental rights terminated so...since we discovered the homestudy hardcopy snafu and had two originals sent to them by our homestudy agency...it could be a VERY awesome February/March in this house, uh huh!

On the oh-so-crappy front, our homestudy agency's license apparently expired December 29, 2011. At least that's what it says on EVERY COPY of our homestudy (all five of them, I have two, USCIS has one, our adoption agency has two). Let's pray to the magic adoption Gods this is a typo. Either way they have to correct it ASAP or all that happy news up there is for nothing.

The glass is half full....the glass is half full...the glass is half full...

Okay, there's no where to go but to the happy place and be all-smiles after writing that. Today is a kick-butt Friday, go over to visit Mrs. 4444 and see what else there is to be happy about!

I'm kicking you to the curb

2012-01-19T06:00:00.000-05:00

Top 9 (9 because I couldn't think of 10) reasons I won't be renewing my smartphone contract

1. Smartphones have made me stupid. I've lost all ability to spell. All I have to do is get a few letters and autocorrect fills in the rest.

2. I waste more time looking at stuff I could really care less about simply because I can access the Internet (almost) anywhere.

3. I've gone from no glasses to truthfully needing to wear glasses full time. All thanks to staring at a tiny backlit glass screen.

4. I've lost the fine art of socializing and now have severe attention span disorder.

5. The second my kids get bored when out on errands they ask to play Angry Birds on my phone.

6. I don't have a clue what anyone's phone number is. Not that I actually ever use my smartphone to make phone calls.

7. I can always be reached. If I don't answer the phone, text me. If I don't answer the text, send an email.

8. The smartphone goes everywhere, obsessively. You know, just in case something interesting happens.

9. I spend way too much time glued to my smartphone instead of pursuing other leisure activities. Things that don't involve social networks, or looking things up on the Internet.

That's why I'm kicking you to the curb. Buh-bye!

Sign courtesy of @LeonardBrains

What's your top reason to get rid of your smartphone?

I'm (not) too sexy for blue sweats

2012-01-18T06:30:00.000-05:00

We all have them, that pair of pajamas that drive our spouse/boy/girlfriend/whoever crazy. In my life, it's my famous Blue Sweats. You see, I'm not a sweats person at all. I actually refuse to wear traditional sweat pants, preferring a more yogaesque pant. And I never, ever wear them outside the house (taking the dog outside in the backyard to pee does not count). In fact I won't even let my kids wear sweats outside the house, and I never buy them sweats either.

To me, sweats are lazy, and gross, and should not be worn in public. Ever. Especially with 'juicy' written on the butt.

My Blue Sweats are yoga pants from the Gap. I've had them for years. There's paint on the knee, and usually dog hair or paw prints. The butts a bit saggy, as are the knees, but for comfort the only thing that comes close are my sock monkey pajamas. Yes, I'm 34 and I own and wear Red Sock Monkey Pajamas. (as seen below)

My Blue Sweats are the height of sexy, and comfort, I know. I'm given the I-Like-What-I'm-Seeing look every time I pull on my Blue Sweats at the end of a long evening. Nothing says romantic like Blue Sweats.

Personally, I'm going for comfort and warmth when I sleep, I could seriously care less if they are particularly attractive. Attractive and scraps of lace are for newlyweds. I've been married almost 11 years, and I'm pretty sure the Blue Sweats (in a former incarnation) were around even before the honeymoon.

What you see is what you get. And that would be the comfort and warmth of my Blue Sweats. What outfit are you (not) too sexy for?

Review: Dr Spock's Baby and Child Care

2012-01-17T07:00:00.000-05:00

While I am currently a parent to two children, I am certainly no expert on childcare. If I have a question about caring for my child's fever, building proper nutrition, dealing with my son's love of video games or figuring out the best plan for a non-sleeping child, I know I can consult Dr. Spock's Baby and Child Care handbook. Their is a new edition out celebrating it's 65th Anniversary and has all the latest up-to-date information on modern issues facing parents today.

I know that if Sprinkles starts acting out when her new sibling arrives, I can find help in Dr. Spock's book. If Vanilla stages a pizza-only sit-in, I know I'll find helpful advice too. The best part is that the book has been updated. As the times have changed - video games or adhd anyone? - so has this book, keeping the information current and relevant to the issues we are all dealing with in 2012.

There's a reason Dr. Spock's Baby and Child Care is a number one book, he's an expert. Kid's don't come with instruction manuals, but with this book, I feel like I just might be able to access the cliff notes on my kids.

I received a copy of Dr. Spock's Baby and Child Care book in exchange for this review. All opinions are solely my own.

Well, this is awkward

2012-01-16T10:11:00.002-05:00

So, it seems that in order to keep getting the opportunity to review books and other sundry items, I can't be CupcakesNWhine.Com I have to remain TheBloggingMama.Com.

Sigh.

The annoying part is that I like doing the reviews. I make zilch money but I get some really awesome books. And we all know how I like books. Since I am in the middle of three book reviews, I kind of need to comply with this little hiccup. Apparently no one knows CupcakesNWhine.Com but since BMA has been around for years, even though we are missing the most current year since it was self-hosted (I will try to upload those post but because it wasn't a blogger format it's all cut-and-paste and I lose all the comments, so, not sure it's worth it), this is where things need to appear if I want to keep gettin' those books.

And because I love books, here we are. In my wisdom I deleted the Followers gadget that used to belong to this blog last year (when there were 186 of you crazy enough to follow me). There are three of you now (if I count myself, which I subscribed to my blog to test it was working and no matter how often I unsubscribe I still appear.) There is also a Networked Blogs Facebook button, my Twitter feed link can be found in the navi bar at the top of the page. Feed subscription button is in the sidebar and if you want to email me and tell me how much of a dork I am, feel free to click the email button, also found in the navi bar.

I look forward to your comments.

Review: Hartz Pets Angry Bird Toys

2011-12-02T10:05:00.000-05:00

If you've known me a for a few months you'll know I've got a new puppy. Meet Mocha Bean, an eight month old Mini-Daschund, that weighs in at a whopping 8.9 pounds. She seems innocent enough right? Well, we're about to find out.

I recently got an email asking if I'd like to review some dog toys from Hartz Pets. Free toys for the pup? Absolutely. What made it even more fun was that they were Angry Birds toys. Yes, even Angry Birds has gone to the dogs. Here's the collection that I was sent:

A big stuffed Red Bird, a small stuffed Yellow Bird, a rubber Pig, and an angry birds Red Bird/Green Pig frisbee, plus a bag to keep it all in. We nixed the stuffed toys right away. This is a dog with a track record of destroying four beds in a matter of hours or days. So no fluffy toys would last against her (plus they look too much like the kids own Angry Bird stuffed toys. We did like making the sounds go off though just to mess with the dog. The small Yellow Bird I'm playing to turn into a key chain of some sort, somehow.)

By far Mocha's favorite toy was the rubber Pig. She also loved the frisbee Bird/Pig toy. Lots of thrashing it from side-to-side and a little bit of tug-of-war with me. She thoroughly enjoys playing with toys but the Pig and Frisbee stood out as favorites.

The biggest problem is that she managed to destroy all of them within a matter of days. The evidence:

I am working on repairs to the frisbee because that one was so much fun for her. These are quality toys (I might be better about supervision with a new-ish puppy in the mix though) These are awesome toys and a lot of fun. If you are an Angry Birds addict, you know you're going to want to get these Angry Bird toys for your pet. Let them get in on the action. Hartz Pets Angry Bird toys are available at major retailers now! Put one in your pets stocking this year!

I was provided with these toys by Hartz Pets in order to complete my review. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

Review: Unquenchable by Natalie MacLean

2011-12-01T10:04:00.000-05:00

When I heard Natalie MacLean had released a new book, she of the famous title Red, White and Drunk All Over, I knew I wanted to read it. Unquenchable is the hilarious and informative result of years of research proving that bargain wines don't always have to leave you with a bargain taste. In the book, the author revives her gift of humorous storytelling (just wait until you meet Wolf Blass of Wolf Blass Winery in Australia, you won't soon forget him when you see him through the authors laughing eyes) with her gift for picking a good wine.

In Unquenchable, the book provides plenty of facts and history about the wines covered. Everything from Australia's shiraz - which is also known as syrah, something even I didn't know - to Germany's Mosel Valley's charming Reisling. The author combines her love of wine with the knowledge we all need to be able to pick out the gems among the bargain basement wines. She dispels the myth that all bargain wines are merely undrinkable.

In my quest for a bargain, (because who doesn't love a bargain?), I was pleased to find Unquenchable was spot-on with recommending a good wine at a great price, with just the right dash of humor. Unquenchable is available at major retails now. Be sure to grab the book, a glass, and a great (bargain) bottle of wine!

You can also visit Natalie MacLean at her website for more information at: www.NatalieMacLean.com

*I was provided with a copy of Unquenchable in order to complete my review. The opinion expressed is solely my own.

Review: The Time In Between

2011-08-27T10:02:00.000-04:00

I've been (im)patiently waiting to review this wonderful book. I started reading it the moment it graced my doorstep several months ago but I've held off on writing the review until close to it's release. Because I didn't want to torture you by telling you how good it is and then you not being able to go out and buy it.

Well, the wait is over.

The Time In Between by Maria Duenas takes you back to an earlier era, one fraught with growing political tension and everyday lives of complicated people. The story is set in Mardid, Tetouan, and Lisbon before the Spanish Civil War and continues through the Second World War. The book takes you into the life of Sira Quiroga, a seamstress born into a poor life in Madrid-after being abandoned by her lover in Tangiers-she forges a new identity and becomes the most sought-after coutuiere in North Africa, catering to the idle rich and the wealthy wives of high ranking officials.

Sira dreams only of paying off her debts and rescuing her mother from war-torn Madrid, but soon finds herself embroiled in a world of spies and counterspies. Her profession puts her in a perfect position to garner classified intelligence...and then pass it along to the British Secret Service through a secret code embedded in the patterns of her haute couture designs.

What this book did was sweep me along with Sira as she meets the challenges of demanding clients, and gets captured in a world of intrigue and hidden motives. I couldn't put it down. It is beautifully written, the reader easily gets lost in the world Sira inhabits, standing alongside her as she faces down the police, and those who would kill her if they ever found out who she really was.

The Time In Between by Maria Duenas is available for pre-order now and available everywhere starting November 8th. Pick up a copy. You won't be disappointed!

I was provided with a copy of The Time In Between to complete my review. However, the opinions expressed are solely my own.

Review: Jungle Speed

2011-08-04T09:56:00.000-04:00

A package recently arrived on my doorstep, which is always exciting around here, and when I opened it up I found a game. It turns out it's not just any game though. It's called Jungle Speed and apparently it's the latest craze in Europe. Just how good could it be?

As it turns out, really good. And complicated. And I'm challenging 9 year old Thor to a rematch until I win this game. Even if it takes centuries. It's no fun losing out to your own kid. Every. Single. Time.

Here's how you play. If you've ever played Spoons you'll know a little bit about this game already. In the center of the playing area is the totem. This is the holy grail in the game of Jungle Speed. The deck of cards, with different symbols and colors, is evenly distributed to each player. Then you flip one card all at the same time facing your opponents. If the cards symbols match, you try to grab for the totem. The person who loses inherits the other players stack of turned-over cards. Sounds easy right?

But you haven't seen the symbols on the cards. They look a lot alike and there are special cards that make it so you are matching the color and not the symbol and it can change back again with the flip of a card. The first player to get rid of all their cards, wins.

Needless to say, I lost, a bit lacking in grace, to Thor. The game requires quick recognition and lightening reflexes. This is a fun, fast paced game that is entertaining to play. Jungle Speed is available online and in stores.

*I was provided with the game Jungle Speed for free in exchange for my review. The opinion expressed is solely my own.

Review: Zing Toys

2011-06-24T09:51:00.000-04:00

I've been waiting to write my review of the Zing Toys Z-Curve Bow and Zing-Shot Launcher because I was waiting for the opportunity to play with and test them. Since they are a bow and arrow and a slingshot, the optimal place would be an outdoor space. However, I live near Cincinnati and lately, we aren't exactly know for nice, non-rainy weather.So instead I let my inner child kids play with them in the basement. These toys are a lot lot LOT of fun. In case you've never seen them, they look like this:

Z-Curve Bow

The last time I fired a bow and arrow I was about 11 and I was at Camp Swayloken Camp Fire camp. I was a bit unsure how to hold the bow. Once I stared at the picture on the box for a few minutes, it was (literally) smooth sailing. I'm pretty sure I need another one of these because I really really don't want to share it with my kids. It's easy to use, easy to load and awhole lot of fun. Our favorite was the arrow (one of three that was included) that has a suction cup on the end. We made it stick to the wall and the kids thought that was just about the coolest thing they had ever seen. The arrows are made of SOFTEK foam so you can feel good about letting your kids play with them. They can fly up to 125 feet. (Ages 8 and up. Arrows should never be aimed at faces, eyes or people or animals.)

Zing-Shot Launcher

The second toy I got to play with was the Zing-Shot Launcher, essentially a slingshot. This one wasn't as user friendly (at least for me, though Thor figured it out eventually). When I did get the ball loaded and positioned to fire correctly, it did fly fairly far. This can launch one SOFTEX foam ball up to 45 feet. It is a bit more complicated but still a lot of fun.If you are looking for some fun outdoor entertainment this weekend, pick up a Zing Toy at your local retailer. And be on the lookout because you never know when I might be taking aim.

I was provided with one Z-Curve Bow and one Zing-Shot Launcher in order to complete my review. The opinion expressed is solely my own.

I need a worry box

2011-02-17T14:53:00.001-05:00

There has been a feeling of abject worry and helplessness floating around. In the past few days I've felt this way because I've been unable to help someone. It's very frustrating to sit on the side and worry and think and wonder. Are they sad? or angry? or frustrated? There is very little I can do but send up a prayer and even God knows I'm really not very good at that.

You see, I'm a worrier. I worry about everything and everyone. I can guarantee if I've ever claimed you as a friend and you are going through a rough time, I've worried for you. That leads to a lot of worry that really has no place to go and it sits inside me. You could think of me as a Worry Eater. If you have a worry, feed it to me and I'll take it up and stick inside and fester over it for days.

By all means, its not healthy in the slightest. I love it when I come across a blog that has a Confessions (such as over at Scary Mommy) and you can just dump all your troubles. It really does make you feel better when you regurgitate everything inside to someone else. Even if they have no idea what you're talking about.

I'm a night regurgitater. At night before I can fall asleep, I have to talk. This usually lasts ten to twenty minutes and generally the response from CP is snoring. It's okay, I don't mind it. It's not so much always about someone hearing and responding. Sometimes I just need to throw it out there and say it. Out loud.

I'm seriously considering buying a box that I can open up and spill all the worry into and the things in my head that keep me up at night. Then when I've gotten it all out, I could close the box, put it back on the shelf and wait until the next day I need it.

Are you a worrier? What do you do to release your troubles?

Dirty Talk

2011-02-09T09:09:00.001-05:00

Let's talk dirty. Cause this is something that's making me unbelievably crazy.

This is the detergent I use. Cheer Dye Free, Sensitive Skin detergent. (Come on, what did you really think I was going to talk about?) I've been using some form of Cheer forever because every other brand I've tried - Tide Free, Sun, Ultra, whatever else is out there - always makes my skin itch, gives me hives and bumps on my body.

It's highly attractive.

Lately though, even Cheer is causing me to be constantly scratching my back and arms and legs like a mad-woman. I can't stand it. I've switched out the soap I use in the shower, I've started wearing unscented lotion. I'm still itching!

The final conclusion I can make is that it's either my water (which is in all realm of reality probably the problem. Have you smelled the water that comes out of the tap in Kentucky? That's just nasty. I certainly don't drink it but unless I'm going to use bottled water to shower, it's going to have to touch my skin.)

Or the problem is my detergent.

So I'm asking, no begging all of you, to tell me what detergent you use. Does anyone have sensitive skin in your family? Should I go with a more organic/green choice? Will that make a difference?

HELP!

Out of the Box: Life, Fish, Books and Random

2011-02-06T16:35:00.001-05:00

In recent weeks I could name any number of things that have kept me out of the blog world. The following is very random but also very much the way my brain is working at present.

*Chick's fish took a turn for the worst when his fin fell off, thereby giving us the final reason to commit him to Fishy Heaven. He has since been replaced by Prince and Princess and a pink castle in the fishbowl.

*I've watched a million and one episodes of Angelina Ballerina (whom I am starting to loathe) and I feel like I've done nothing but dash from one sick child to another and back round again.

*I've also been working on adding a new section to the blog about cooking because I am obsessed with cooking and eating these days.

*Over the weekend CP and I pulled out some boxes from the basement in our never ending task to declutter, and I discovered my high school yearbooks. Egads. You gotta love the styles of the early 90's.

In these boxes I also found books, books and more books. You have to know me to know how much I love books. My fondest wish is to get trapped inside a bookstore overnight (or for days at a time is fine too). I love books. All kinds of books. Some of my favorites used to be listed in the sidebar, I might have to add them again. I'm currently reading How To Be Good; The Night Train To Lisbon (which I've been reading for upwards of a year, it's just kind of intense and taking me forever in stops and starts); War and Peace (which I promised myself a year ago I'd read in the span of a year. I'm on page 5...); Anna Karenina; My Life In France, The House of Mondavi and I just started Gone With The Wind.

Yes, I am reading them all at the same time. It's just the way I am. I once labeled myself as having book adhd and that is obviously still true.

There were also old cd's (and scarily cassette tapes!!) in the box. Sunset Boulevard; Ricky Martin; Les Miserables; and Jimmy Buffet. I guess my music tastes then and now are still eclectic. (For the record, I got rid of the Ricky Martin.) I found a disc labeled My Novel which I have yet to take a look at because I can't even imagine how old this must be. If there's one thing I do know it's that my writing only gets better with age and what's on that cd could be truly frightening.

But it has spurred to realize I've been neglecting writing in general. All the ideas are sitting up in my brain but I'm just not letting them out. So I've taken to scheduling my days. A literal blueprint to each day highlighted by hour on my beloved whiteboard. Thus far, I've managed to follow the schedule once out of a week's worth of trying but that is progress at least. A step in the right direction.

The other thing I'm looking forward to is Spring. As in warmer weather and no snow days and ice and dreary cloudy skies. I think is the real culprit in my lack of desire to actually do anything these days. It's too cold, and too depressing outside. I recently bought a print entitled House of Usher from Kevin of Irish Gumbo and Oncatography fame. I'm thinking it's time to put that photo front and center. It's an inspiring, lonely and intriguing picture. Inspiration was the reason I wanted to buy the picture in the first place. I stared at it and thought there was just something about it that made me want to write or create or do.

So I will.

Have you felt overwhelmed by life and the winter blues of late? Do you have anything that's inspiring you?

*If you haven't checked out Oncatography, Go! Do it! Now!

Random Tuesday Thoughts: About a boy named Thor

2011-02-01T03:24:00.000-05:00

Today is Thor's 9th birthday. It's also Random Tuesday Thoughts day with Keely. Link up at The UnMom and join the fun.

I decided today should be dedicated to Random Pictures about Thor. So let's start with my all time favorite picture:

This is Thor at age one. He looked like this in other incarnations: (Keep in mind I didn't have a digital camera when he was born, this was nine whole years ago, so pictures start at about 2 years old. These are up to 4 years old.)

Helping around the house (apparently keeping bike helmets in the kitchen is a learned behavior, his sister also does this...)

First day of preschool

Third birthday

Swinging

I don't know why I'm laughing either!

Listening to music

The BEACH!

Ah, trains

First Halloween at age 3

Cookies with mom

It's true. Mom CAN'T bake!

Why mom, why?

First ice cream cone at age 3

(he hated sweets until then!)

Um, the cat did it? We have a cat right?

Blue eyes, here I am.

Breakfast

Happy Birthday to the most beautiful sweet boy on the planet. I love you very much! (Tomorrow I may post even more pictures ages four through nine, though he's grown considerably camera shy as he's aged!)

I'm pretty sure they don't even know how to read

2011-01-27T14:46:00.000-05:00

In the last few months, I've gotten no more than four requests from CSN to host a giveaway or review on my blog. I'm pretty certain that if they read this great little section under the tab labeled Media Policythey would know, I don't do reviews unless you're a book publisher. Or you want to give me a car (partial to Mercedes and BMW but I'm not altogether picky). Or a free trip. But it would have to be a real trip not like the time I was offered a trip to South Carolina to write about the great state and I gave them my home address to recive the information and I never heard from them again...Actually that was probably a ploy to sign me up for spam. Then again that was a few addresses ago, so suckers! I move way to much for anyone too track me down.

This CSN thing is really bugging me. As I've told them several times, I am not going to now nor ever work with their company. There's a very specific reason why.

Last year I hosted a review/giveaway for them. I got my product (an automatic wine opener) and I picked a winner for the giveaway. I supplied the winners address and that was that. Or so I thought. When I emailed the winner to make sure they'd gotten the product, imagine my surprise to learn they never got it. Oversights do happen (apparently in my giveaways, they've happened twice, hence why I no longer do them!)

CSN never bothered to respond to my emails asking what had happened to the prize (and I immediately yanked the post when I didn't get any response). I was so mortified that this would be the impression the winner would have of me, I bought a wineopener myself (not from them!) and threw in a gift card in a vain hope that she wouldn't blackball me to everyone around. (She was sweet and understanding and thankfully didn't.)

If they would bother to read my blog, and the two emails I sent regarding the first two requests, they would know I have ZERO interest in ever hosting a single giveaway or review with them. My thinking pretty much goes like this, if you are going to offer a tit-for-tat then keep your end of the bargain. Don't ignore emails from bloggers with whom you've made a written agreement.

In the blog world it's pretty simple I think. Do what you promise. Cause us bloggers, we've got a really long memory and the power of the internet...

Have you ever been wholly disillusioned hosting a giveaway? What happened?

*If you've ever been a winner of one of my giveaways and didn't get your prize - tell me! I can't make it right if I don't know it happened!

Oh Chicago!

2011-01-21T09:52:00.000-05:00

This past weekend the family and I went to Chicago. Unfortunately, we had to drive. It was ~~hell~~ a rather interesting journey. None of us had ever been to Chicago other than the airport (well, other than the time I was flying with Thor, alone, to my parents house when he was 2, and we got stuck overnight, but that's a whole other story). So this was kind of exciting.

In case you didn't know, I love big cities. Like love love big cities. If I had my way, we'd live in New York city and my kids would be those city urchin kids who navigate the streets like its second nature.

We stayed at The James Chicago, a fantastic boutique type hotel on Rush Street. Modern, contemporary, cute. The staff was very friendly, the room a pretty decent size for a city and the beds were nice and plush. This would have been a great bonus if I hadn't been sleeping in the same bed with Chick who kicks and grinds her teeth at night *shudder. Anyway, I fell a smidge in love with Chicago last weekend. In all actuality, I fell head over heels in love with Chicago. Here are a few reasons why:

I know, it's just a bunch of buildings (sorry if the pictures aren't excellent, I took them from a trolley tour bus. It was effing cold in Chicago last weekend! But I still loved it.) I love architecture. I love buildings. Chicago is full of rich blends of architecture, old and new right next to each other. Mies van der Rohe, one of my very favorite architects, designed several residential bulidings on Lake Shore Drive. The buildings were very forward thinking for the time, made of glass and steel. To be right there next to them...well, for me that was pretty gosh dang fantastic.

The other thing I loved, besides enormous, fantastic breakfasts at both Yolk in Streeterville and Eggsperience; I highly recommend both places, we even went to Yolk twice. Their coffee was so good, I didn't even add sugar and the food...sigh, yum. I literally distracted myself from what I was saying by thinking about the food. What did I love besides the food and the buildings?

The people. I don't know if it's a midwest thing, or a Chicago thing, or even what exactly to say that explains it but, the city is just friendly. It's a very different feel than New York. New York is hectic, frenetic, crazy insane wonderful. There are people clogging every street and it beats a constant thrum all its own that can't be dupilicated.

Chicago is different. Maybe because we were there when it was 20 degrees (I really get why it's called the windy city now, really get it.) Maybe that kept people off the streets a bit. But everywhere we went, from the restaurants to the musuems to the bus to the train, people were just friendlier. People were more relaxed. Maybe it was me who was more relaxed, but I felt a big difference from being New York. The difference isn't good or bad...just different.

Children's Musuem Wet World Raincoats

Picture for memory purpose only, no, I am not going to be a Cubs fan!

We had a great time. The kids loved it (I even caught camera shy Thor digging the trolley tour which was 2.5 hours long). We went on the Chicago Trolley and Bus Tour experience (our driver/guide was so dang funny. I think his name was Yorn? York?). We went to the Musuem of Science and Industry, The Children's Musuem, Wrigley Field, Navy Pier and walked down the Magnificent Mile of Michigan Avenue.

I loved Chicago. Chicago loved me. I can't wait to go back.

What's your favorite place? Where have you been recently that left you feeling speechless?

Delurking day, the truth about adoption

2011-01-14T03:27:00.006-05:00

It is delurking day. The day where we come out of the internet’s shadows and comment on a blog we read but maybe never acknowledge. I don’t know if this post personifies that theme well, but I sat down at a blank screen and this is just what I wrote.

Chick at 5 months (before our referral)

If the world could look past the preconceived idea that love is instant when it comes to a child, if they could see all the pain and the suffering and confusion, in each persons eyes, the child and the parent, then maybe they wouldn’t be so quick to judge. If we could take an honest look at what adoption feels like, I think most people would be shocked. It is not an instantaneous love, a perfect joining of child and in my case mother. I didn’t look at her as she screamed and cried in my arms, straining for her nannies, her familiar bed, the only one she had ever known, and say I love you. I couldn’t comfort her in the weeks and months to come. The betrayal in her eyes as I held her down for the nurses while they repeatedly poked needles in her arms and x-rayed her liver. All so we could know that in the future she might have to go through it all again.

The nurse asked me to sing her favorite song. How would I know what that was? I wanted to say, I’ve known this child for two weeks, I know nothing about her, about what comforts her. I don’t know how to hold her hand or rub her head the way she wants me to. At fifteen months, she is a stranger to me and I to her.

Our first hours together in Taipei

I had nine months to prepare for my son. We started our journey together from day one. From the first moment of life, we were in this thing together. We had time to learn about each other, how hot he liked his milk, what soothed him to sleep, how he seemed to love music straight from the start.

Pregnancy months and adoption months are very different. Adoption months are much longer than nine, my adoption pregnancy lasted sixteen months. I know I’d do it all over again to get the same little girl who’s laugh makes you smile and who’s hugs melt your heart. The process is painful and long and it seems never ending. After eight months of staring at her picture, watching her grow ever bigger before my eyes, first steps, first teeth, first laugh, first birthday…I almost did give up. Some people do. And I commend them for even having tried. Adoption can take even the strongest and turn them into a sleepless mess. You even start to hate the people whose names get called before yours. They got your referral or your travel call. They flew through the process while you remained stuck, stuffing down week after week of heartache every time someone cared enough to ask if there was any news. No, there’s no news.

Summer 2010

At a very precocious, bossy, charming four and half, I love my daughter. Even when she screams at me, and stomps her feet up the stairs, and yes, even when she slams the door to her room making me count to twenty, and then count to twenty again. I love her because we’ve had all this time together now, over three years to learn about each other. I know she loves spicy foods, can steal your entire bowl of rice before you can even blink, she loves dogs and wants to pet everyone she sees, and she dances and claims Supermassive Black Hole is her favorite song. And while she might not always be easy to understand, as her mother, I know every word she speaks because that’s just how it is with a mother and a daughter.

I wish so many other adoptive parents would share what it’s really like those first months, because for most of us, it is the same. It’s hard. It is not what you thought it was supposed to be. It is not the story so many tell of everything just being perfect from day one. If we could step back and say, here is the honest, hard, painful truth about what adopting a child is like, we’d be better prepared for it. It would not have changed my decision to adopt for a second. But maybe it would have helped me feel less like a failure, less like I was doing something wrong and more like what was happening was okay. In fact, it was normal.

If you know someone who’s adopting, thinking of adopting or has adopted, remember that not everything is always wonderful, even if they tell you it is. It is a long process to feeling that love…and the thing is, in the end, that really is okay.

If you thought this post was worthy of delurking I hope you'll leave a comment and let me know.

The Polly Pocket post you've been dying to read

2010-12-31T09:22:00.000-05:00

Chick acquired quite a collection of Polly Pockets for Christmas. Polly Pockets are great. They are portable, easy for little ones to dress, and best of all, their heads pop off. I give you photographic proof:

Who doesn't like a doll where you can pop the head on and off willy nilly? However, there are plusses and minuses to Polly Pockets. I'm going to start with the negative.

1. Polly Pockets House. Have you ever seen the dollhouse? It looks like this:

Here's the thing about the house, it's great. Lots of hours have been spent playing with it. But look at all the furniture (and that's not even all of it). I didn't buy extra furniture. It came with all that. How on earth can Polly live in a house so crowded with furniture? Simple answer; she can't. House: Fail.

2. Have you seen what the Polly Pocket multi doll/outfit packs look like? They look like this:

I'm sorry, I was almost embarrassed to buy my child this. I hid it in the bottom of the chart like some red faced teenager. Anyone else think they look eerily like condom wrappers? Or is it just me?

3. Now I know these are just toys, but dang it, Polly Pocket has a far better wardrobe than I do. Just look at all these choices:

And that's only the ones we currently own. I can't imagine how many other choices there are. The possibilities seem kind of endless.

All in all, Polly Pockets are fun and Chick loves them. I don't even mind playing with them as long as I get to change up their outfits and live vicariously through Polly. I've heard Polly has a camper. I'm pretty sure that'll be next on the wish list.

Did your kids get any fun toys for Christmas (or Hanukkah) that you can't help playing with?

*I've had (what feels like) the bubonic plague for over a week. I haven't been ignoring your blogs. I've got over a thousand posts in my reader. I thought that was kind of cool, it actually says 1000+ The kids are back to school on Monday. Hopefully I'll have a chance to catch back up.

Book Review: One Hundred Candles by Mara Purnhagen

2010-12-24T11:08:00.000-05:00

I recently had the opportunity to review the Young Adult novel, One Hundred Candles by Mara Purnhagen. The book will be released in February 2011 by Harlequin Teen. The story begins with a scene at an old asylum where the main character, Charlotte Silver, is helping her paranormal research parents find supernatural forces. It's not something she loves, just a fact of her life. What she encounters during that morning turns out to be unlike anything she's ever come across.

Calling itself simply The Watcher, this other world being begins to set his sights on Charlotte. Complicating her already complex life is the sudden interest of high school heartthrob, Harris Abbott, who's after more than just Charlotte. The story is filled with the typical angst of teenage romance while dealing with the more complex situation of her parents marriage slowly going to pieces. The question is how will Charlotte deal with her parents marriage, an over attentive boyfriend and a supernatural being out for her life?

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The plot is layered, turning each corner it kept me guessing as to what was really behind the relationship between Charlotte and Harris, who was planning the events foretold during the party where they lit the one hundred candles, and how everything would come together.

While the situation of being hunted by a supernatural being is perhaps unrealistic, the characters are believable and real and made me feel like just maybe such a thing could exist. The author creates a world most teenagers can relate to, the agony of first love, parental upset and everyday life.

This is the second book in the One Hundred Candles series featuring Charlotte Silver by Mara Purnhagen. You can find the first book, Past Midnight, at local retailers and online. For more information visit Harlequin Teen.

I was provided with a galley copy of this book through NetGalley to complete my review. The opinions expressed are mine and were in no way influenced by Harlequin Teen.

A little picture

2010-12-22T10:16:00.000-05:00

Santa came early this year and he brought me a little something called Photoshop Elements. I'm pretty sure I'm in love.

I'll be here playing with my 8214 photos. Send food and water; and occasionally coffee...

Parenting Tips and Tricks

2010-12-19T09:20:00.000-05:00

Lately I've been busy playing mom and I've learned some valuable tips in the past weeks. I thought I'd share them with all of you. (These are even helpful for dealing with co-workers or family members if you don't have children.)

1. Never color Snow White's dress blue when it is supposed to be yellow. You can have your Princess Coloring Page Privileges revoked like that.

2. Don't mistakenly introduce your child by the name you call them on your blog (or a nickname, that doesn't work out so well either.)

3. If your child has the flu, especially the stomach flu, and they have bunk beds, insist that they sleep on the bottom bunk. Just trust me on that. You don't even want to know how I know about that tip.

4. Incidentally, if your child vomits on a white stuffed lamb, front loading washing machines will work wonders on getting it out.

5. If your child is moody all day, never attempt to leave them with even a beloved babysitter. They will go bat sh*t crazy and scream at said babysitter, forcing you to stand next to them while they eat dinner. Then you'll end up putting them to bed yourself anyway before leaving for your night out.

6. Olive Garden will give you the remainder of your purchased bottle of wine if you can't finish it. So after you get home several hours later and your children are still awake, you can go ahead and drink the rest of said bottle in the comfort of your pjs.

7. Never take two children, 4 & 8, into the post office to mail a package the week before Christmas. You may not live through the experience.

8. Never promise a child anything unless you are prepared to go through with it. They will drive you bat sh*t crazy if you don't follow through.

I hope you found my tips and tricks helpful this holiday season. Do you have any you can add to my list? Feel free to share in the comments.

The generosity of others

2010-12-08T20:41:00.000-05:00

Recently I found out a little something about the spirit of the place I've been living for the past nine months. Having spent almost four years living overseas, living a bit of an unrealistic life, I haven't had a reason to know what the word 'recession' really means. Now, I know a bit more about what those words mean.

A friend was telling a story about a family she knew from her sons school. The family had recently seen unspeakable amounts of tragedy, three family members lost in the same month, one of them the father. As I heard more about this family, now with only a grief stricken mother and a sad and confused small child, I felt an ache begin to grow in my chest. This family of two struggles through the day, not just with grief, but with putting food on the table and finding a way to hopefully place even a single gift under the tree.

I stood in my fancy kitchen, in my house that's really far too big, glancing around at all the...stuff we have and it really hit me how lucky I am. I am lucky. I am blessed. We are not worrying how to afford to give our children gifts or about putting food on the table. I don't stay up at night wondering what to do when the last dollar is long gone.

I don't think 'let me give away everything I own to those less fortunate'. That's an unbalanced concept. But I do think I could give up that fancy coffee this week and eat dinner in one night instead of going out. I could give even that small amout of money I don't spend as a gift to a family that really needs it.

In the past five years, we've always lived somewhere safe and secure, somewhere warm and comfortable. It wasn't until this conversation that I finally understood what recession means, what unemployment means. When I think of these words, I now picture the faces of my friends, who themselves are facing hardship and have nothing more than a turkey dinner to offer, but do so willingly and happily in order to bring a smile to this small family's face.

This is Christmas spirit. This is the generosity of heart and of kindness. There are so many in this community that need a helping hand. Along with another friend, we plan to make sure this family can make a sad first Christmas without a loved one, just a little less painful. A warm dinner on the table, a few gifts under the tree, a warm coat in the extreme cold.

Take five minutes to look around your own home. Do you have something that could help another family? Can you spare even $5 to give a child a toy to unwrap? I encourage all of you to give what you can to a family in need this holiday season.

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Have you seen my tagline for the Laughing Cow BabyBel Original Cheese Contest? View it here http://www.thelaughingcow.com/friends-fans/snackjoy/ and vote for me!

The infamous quest for cupcakes

2010-12-06T08:59:00.000-05:00

I'm finally getting around to posting the full details of the great cupcake adventure. I thought I'd be venturing for cupcakes this weekend and was planning a double post. I realized that each cupcake meeting is actually worthy of it's own post. This is the inaugural meeting of the Cupcake Club.

The meeting took place at Sugar Cupcakery in Milford, Ohio. (On Twitter @SugarCupcakery) The shop is located on a quaint little Main Street.

The outside is almost as cute as the inside.

Of course the Cupcake Club isn't complete without a few members so I made these two ladies join me.

They are happy to be in the club. I recently added several more members as well for the next meeting. We haven't decided on a meeting place but as long as cupcakes are involved I'm pretty sure no one cares where we meet.

So that's the minutes of the first cupcakes club.....oh, you wanted cupcake pictures? How about these?

We got a mixture and tried the following flavors: Pumpkin Spice, Vanilla Bean, Sweet Potato, Banana, and Mocha. Oh my, they were good. All the cakes had excellent flavor but the ones that shined were Pumpkin Spice and Sweet Potato. Both cakes were similar but had distinct flavors (also one had a pistachio on top and one a candied almond, so you know, they were different).

The shop was great, the cupcakes good, and the Cupcake Club members a lot of fun. We spent hours chatting and eating. I definitely recommend heading to Sugar Cupcakery if you are ever traveling through Cincinnati!

Do you have a favorite shop that caters to your sweet tooth? How far are you willing to drive for cupcakes?

*The Sugar Cupcakery was featured on an episode of Cupcake Wars. You can read all about the shop on their website www.SugarCupcakery.com

In no way was I compensated for this post. I simply like cupcakes and have made it my mission to try as many as possible.

In which I feel guilty but can't do anything about it

2010-11-30T08:53:00.000-05:00

You may have noticed. In fact, I'm quite positive if you've read this blog for any length of time you'll have noticed, not much goes on over here these days. I had to dust off the cobwebs just to find the login for Blogger today. I am suffering from blog write-and-read itis.

It's not that I don't care. Alas, my friends, there are only so many hours in a day and most of my days are filled with thinking about this ---- and this -------. Very cryptic, I know. Unfortunately that's all you will get for some time about that.

Soon I will be talking about my newest love, CupCakes (and Gina, you're going to want to pay attention, I promise). I've been obsessed for some time with cupcakes. If you'll remember last year, I did a review (out of the goodness of my stomach) of Crumbs Bakery in New York (which can be found here). So, you can say this cupcake thing has gone for awhile now.

Recently, I made the trek to Milford, Ohio (with friends, because nothing is better than cupcakes than cupcakes with friends) to a small little cupcake shop called Sugar Cupcakery. It's the area's only organic cupcakery around. I'll be posting a review with pictures soon but let me just say, they were good, very good.

The next phase in my cupcake obsession has centered on a far away (from Cincinnati) bakery. Lily Lane Cakes is based in Washington DC but via that wonderful source of fun that is Twitter, I met Kathy who owns the shop. She has graciously offered to ship me cupcakes. Let's take a minute to revere her for that awesome decision.

In a few weeks I will have in my hot little hands, Lily Lane Cakes cupcakes. Oh. Yum. I must also visit her shop sometime in my lifetime so I can try the flavors that unfortunately don't ship well (darn it!). I'll be splitting the cakes with a friend and I will be sure to relay how the taste test goes. With pictures and details just so you will want to order your own cupcakes (cause you know I'm not sharing.)

That's what's buzzing these days in my world. What's going on in yours to keep you busy?

God Bless Ye Happy Turkey

2010-11-24T12:31:00.000-05:00

I've heard talk that tomorrow is Thanksgiving. That can only mean one thing around here...

It's time for Chinese food!

Yes, you read that correctly. Around here we order in Chinese. The trouble is that, here in Kentucky, the Chinese place is actually closed on Thanksgiving. Are you kidding me?

I had to resort to plan B, which is this:

Choice selections from the Kroger frozen food aisle. We do make some traditional items to go with our very untraditional Chinese meal though. I make my grandmothers stuffing and a green bean casserole. The fun part of Thanksgiving is that we are not traditional. I don't care for turkey (and the kids only eat it if you force them and add lots of ketchup) so inventing our own Thanksgiving meal suits me just fine.

Will you have a traditional Thanksgiving meal on Thursday? For my Canadian friends, what foods do you serve for your own country's Thanksgiving?

Safe travels everyone!

Random Tuesday Thoughts: Express Version

2010-11-22T23:18:00.000-05:00

It's this time

So go here The UnMom

We good? Okay. Then here we go.

In case you don't follow me on Twitter or you don't follow the greatest team of all, Joey Votto won the NL MVP award yesterday. So that made my Monday. In case you forgot who he was, see picture below:

I don't know why they are all butt shots...honestly.

Saturday we went to a German Christmas market. Or at least a Christmas market hosted by the German Society of Cincinnati. It was not exactly what I was expecting (hard to live up to experiencing the real thing for a few years I guess). They did however have reindeer:

Poor things. I wanted to open the pen and yell Be Free! Be Free!!

I also went to Hobby Lobby. Another reason I'm not allowed to ever go there:

And no, the letters were not originally that way when I walked down the aisle. And yes, peer pressure did make me do it.

I finished Christmas shopping for my kids! I know!! Yes, I did actually buy them presents all in one day, at one single store. I do work magic at least a couple times a year apparently. Black magic.

I've been completely neglecting my other blog about baseball and hockey.

It's not intentional. I've had kids and appointments and a houseguest and it's the holidays. Sue me.

Have you seen this? The Uncommon Goods catalog is all kinds of awesome. P.S. Santa I want some of those too!

That's it for the express edition of RTT. See Keely for more. If you're feeling lucky.

The Night of the Boogie

2010-11-19T16:02:00.000-05:00

Okay so after my last post, which was a week ago...actually older I think...(it's been kinda busy around the homestead) people now want details of the Boogie night. I am always happy to oblige you my dear readers. So prepare yourself for the journey, it is an interesting one.

The night started with me asking for fashion guru advice from Twitter. You guys are the best by the way! So here's picture one right before I left the house (iPhone 3's camera really does suck so sorry for the bad pic!)

It was voted that the orange animal tiger shirt was better for a 70's/80's dance club. The first stop on the adventure was our Host's house. It should first be noted I suppose that of the group of ten, we only knew two people, the ones who invited us. The rest of the group had known each other for about 10-20 years. Keep that in mind...

At the Host's house the party had already started. In the basement bar the margarita machine was doing it's thing (which, I don't drink margaritas, but I bet the thing would make awesome slushies. P.S. Santa I want one of those!) Behind the bar shots/drinks were being concocted. I didn't have anything. It should be noted that yes, I am a lightweight in the drink department. One drink I'm good. Two and you can pretty much count that in about an hour I'll be ready for bed. This was only 7:20 and the limo (yes there was a limo...) wasn't coming until nine.

There was a lot of frivolity and meeting new people and...apparently I was going to be the crack police that evening.

I know, crack police??!! Just what did I really do Saturday night?

I was in charge of making sure Drunk Girl's pants (which were small) didn't show her butt crack...and yes, that is really what she reminded me to do all night. Okaaay...

For the record tipsy people don't bother me. Which was a very good thing as it turned out.

The car arrived and the driver was nice enough to take all the kids (and I mean actual children of the people at the house) on a limo ride around the block. Considering what this guy went through that night with us, the dude was a saint! After the little weee!! trip for the kids we piled into the loooonnngggg limo and started the trek toward...

Boogie Nights.

It's a dance club at Hollywood Casino in Indiana about 30 minutes or so from us. Like any good fun group who has known each other for years, this group had some quirks. And one of them was named Chimmie. All night before we left I kept hearing them say we couldn't forget to get Chimmie.

Now that sounds like a person right? Nope. Meet Chimmie:

Yes, that is a infant CPR doll, and no, I have no idea why Chimmie always goes along of these people's group outings. He just does. (Chimmie even has his own Facebook page I'm told.) Chimmie made it up on stage at the club with the DJ and spun some tunes.

The club is actually pretty cool, if you are in your early 20's and enjoy that sort of thing. Being in my 30's? Eh, not so much it turns out but they do make a great vodka tonic! I got to see Michael Jackson, Madonna and Prince perform!

Here's proof of Prince anyway:

The Michael Jackson guy was probably the best of the performers. The club is interesting. I'm sure it's fun. But as I said, this mama doesn't dance unless she's had a lot to drink. One drink, no dancing. Sorry to disappoint but it was a one drink night for me. Other people did not go anywhere near one drink...so the night was cut short when the result was vomit on the club floor.

Lovely image right? I'm just glad I didn't actually see it. The ride back to the house was fun...

It was an interesting night but I learned, I'm not a party girl. It is just not who I am to go out to a club and drink. I'd much rather enjoy a night out that consists of a nice dinner with good friends and great conversation. Maybe a bottle of wine in the mix.

I'm glad I went because it was an interesting night doing something I never do. But from now on when the dance club invites roll in, I'll be staying at home with a RedBox movie and some popcorn!

Do you hit the clubs? Or are you like me, preferring a quiet night in?

Let's go Boogie

2010-11-13T09:02:00.000-05:00

I was asked to go Boogie this evening. As in go to a dance club. This will either be the dumbest thing I've ever done, or the weirdest thing, or the most insane thing. I'm guessing a combo of all three. If you want Blogging Mama to dance, you are going to have to feed her copious amounts of alcohol. If you feed her copious amounts of alcohol you can be guaranteed she will dance.

So really, win-win either way!

Have I mentioned I haven't been in a dance club since my 21st birthday? Which as we all know was eons ago...

Considering I've been in bed no later than ten every night (last night the only exception at 10:30) I have no idea how I'm going to survive since we aren't even meeting until 8. Here's the fun part though. The club is a 70's club as in like that bell bottom free love type of thing. (That is the 70's right? Sorry I was born in the late 70's. Give me yuppie penny loafer 80's and then I'll know what to expect). I'm not planning to dress the part.

No way, no how. (Though I did receive some lovely suggestions. I don't even want to know how Tony knew that a mini-skirt, fishnets tights and big hair would be appropriate. What happens in your house, should stay in your house, alright?) Jeans, heels and an appropriate but un-generational black top will be just fine thanks.

It will be interesting.

When was the last time you shook your over-the-correct-age booty? Or are you smarter than me and do you stay home with your flannel pjs and a good book?

RTT: Late Edition

2010-11-09T15:27:00.001-05:00

It's Tuesday. I'm so late in RTT but who the heck cares right? Right.

So you know what to do. Click it.

What the heck Green Mountain Coffee? You send me a coupon for $3 off my favoritest drink in the world (Apple Cider) but it's never in stock! Coupon expires end of the month. You. Are. Killing. Me.

Have you tried MetroMint water? It's so good. Because I am so awesome and several RTT's ago mentioned that I wanted to try them, they sent me free samples. Seriously. That was awesome. I sampled four flavors, GoodBerryMint, Spearmint, Peppermint and ChocolateMint. My favorite was Peppermint followed by Spearmint. The ChocolateMint would be an excellent choice for those who want a little chocolate taste but not the calories. Because did I tell you? Zero Calories! Amazing amounts of wonderful. Pick it up and give it a try. It's incredible. If you can't find it at your local store you can go here: MetroMint Store Locator or buy it online. If you buy GoodBerryMint 10% of the proceeds are given back to the community to help feed the hungry. How awesome is that?

We got Direct TV today. In fact - it's being installed as I type. And yes, I really did change from our previous cable because I couldn't get any good hockey coverage. Honestly.

I got a great cd the other day at Target, Christmas Cheer by Straight No Chasers. It makes fun of traditional Christmas songs (somewhat) and also laments that even before Halloween has ended Christmas decorations are out. That's something I've been saying for years, thank you very much.

I got my Rosie Reds membership card today. Yea! For those not in the know, Rosie Reds is kind of like a philanthropic/social club for women who love the Reds. Yes, every road does lead back to baseball.

I signed up for NaNoWriMo. I've written exactly 34 words. Pfftt, maybe next year.

Wendy said the other day she was reading Wuthering Heights (which I only read for the first time last year). I pulled my copy out and am going to reread it. I actually loved it, dark and twisted book that it is.

I have coupons in my wallet but the problem is I never remember to use them. They aren't even the get $.30 off when you buy 5 of these kind of coupons either. They are the FREE ITEM type of coupons. Where I could just walk into the store and snatch the item from the shelf plunk down the coupon and walk out without taking out a penny. But I never remember to use them. Weird.

Have you seen the ads on my site in the right sidebar there? Go ahead and click em. Promise nothing's going to explode or anything.

What's Random about you today? Feel free to share it and then go see The UnMom.

It's 30 degrees and Autism sucks

2010-11-06T09:49:00.001-04:00

And oh my GOSH that's cold. There was a possibility of snow last night. Where am I, Washington? Eh. Thankfully no snow! Yea! I'm all about getting behind some pretty white stuff but does anyone remember what I survived last year?

Okay, go here and refresh your memory then....In case you don't wanna click here's the picture refresher:

Yes, that's my neighbors car....somewhere in that pile of unshoveled snow...

And that was only the FIRST storm thank you! Need I remind anyone that on the day my house in West Chester (PA) was packed up the moving truck never even made it down our street because there was too much snow. And that he got stuck across the street from our development in front of the train station just trying to turn around (police car, wrecker, backed up traffic; the works. We tipped him extra good for his troubles.) We drove from West Chester (PA) to Cincinnati in a blizzard. Oh, that was so much fun.

So, I am not kidding when I say, Let's Just Not Do That Again This Year.

This week I didn't blog. I barely returned blog visits. There are reasons why. I've been vocal about the unendingly complicated series of events that have to do with Thor and his aspergers. This week I took him (and Chick incidentally) to Children's Hospital in Cincinnati for what I thought was his actual autism evaluation. The one where they run tests that last hours (2-3 hours per test and he needs two done). It wasn't. I misunderstood.

This appointment was only for the initial meet the doctor and find out exactly what they should test him for. And by test I don't mean like medical with needles. It's all psychological and intelligence test type of things.

I love his doctor. If anyone needs a recommendation of an autism doctor in Cincinnati you should go see Dr. Zimmer. Hands down she made us feel so comfortable (including the staff who were absolutely fantastic) I know that she's going to do everything to help Thor.

The only problem is we have to wait until July 2011 to have the tests.

Yes, I did say July. Of next year. The July that is 9 months from now.

Nine. Months.

That's how long we have to wait to have the tests done because there is no earlier date available. I'm on the cancelation list. But let's be realistic. Who cancels an appointment like this? No one. I wouldn't cancel. Not when I have a chance to be seen at the Kelly O'Leary Center for Autism. (I did initially say it would be May, thats just the parental appointment to learn what they are going to do.)

So, we wait. And it kills me to know that's another year lost with no specified plan in place to help Thor. Sure, we have a 504 at school. But the school, to put it politely, sucks. They have no real interest in helping him since he's high functioning. Since he's extremely smart. I snarked on after the last 504 meeting (which I had to request!!) because it was so crappy. You don't need to hear it again.

But I am not okay with the way or non-way they are helping Thor. Not at all. I've looked at private school (which we can not afford), we've discussed moving to a better school district. We've even considered moving him to a school that only handles aspergers and high functioning children.

Anyone have $20,000 a year they can give me? Cause that's what theses school cost. For one little year.

So, if I don't come around to say hi in the coming week, this is why. I just am struggling to accept all the things that I can't change.

Random Tuesday Thoughts: TP and Dumb Neighbors

2010-11-02T05:12:00.002-04:00

Thank you to the person who said the thing about being weirded out by the end of the toilet paper roll. You know, when the paper's all kinda glued on? Now I'm skeeved out and developing a complex. So thanks!

As always go here

So, what the fruitcake shall we talk about today?

These two were in the house on Sunday. Cute no?

And here's the Chick at school. Wonder where she got the shopping at Kroger with a Starbucks thing from? Eh em.

They are learning about food and shopping. Guess who donated the Starbucks cups?? Don't tell me I don't contribute to my kids education!

There are further pictures of her and her friends making and buying UDF ice cream and Krispy Kreme donuts. Public schools are all about health, obviously.

Yesterday was the start of NaNoWriMo and as of this post, I've written zip for my word total. I'm going to be a late bloomer on this one I think.

Yesterday was a fun day. I had a doctors appointment and as part of the physical they asked me a series of questions. Including the classic Have you ever thought about killing anyone?

Let's see, there was this grey Tahoe that cut me off, so that's one. The kid at the grocery store who put my bread and a 5 lb bag of potatoes IN the same bag, that's two. Most of my neighbors for their lack of common sense (and seriously deficient taste in music), that's three.

I did answer correctly. I said no. Mostly because if I said yes I'd go (willingly) to the place with padded walls and silence because let's face it, everyone needs a break now and then right? But I think they would have confiscated my phone...so, had to go with no.

I am so boring.

I started reading the Scarlet Letter. I've never read it before. I'm not sure how far into it I am because I'm reading on the Kindle and their lack of page numbers makes me batty. But thus far, I think it's a war novel. Right??

How was your halloween? Everyone about done with candy yet? Let me tell you why we only gave out one piece of candy.

The neighbors, they of the famous block party, sent out an email to the HOA reminding everyone that they were having their annual candy table set up in their driveway. We were all encouraged to come over, drop off our bowl of candy and "hang out". Basically destroying all that is trick or treating. Because all of my neighbors are completely freakin' wacked, that's what they did.

We went to take our kids to ring doorbells and found only one in this huge neighborhood that had the lights on.

We had to pack up and drive ten minutes to the next town and some friends who live in a nice, normal, trick-or-treating neighborhood. Where my kids got their trick or treat on. If there weren't already three houses for sale on this street alone, this baby would be on the market.

My neighbors are just nutso.

It's the last day for my children's book giveaway, Gifts From the Heart by Victoria Osteen. You can go here to enter.

She's not nuts....she's um, Canadian. Head over to Keely at The UnMom. I might just have to move to Canada. Where people are normal.

A book I really want to share

2010-10-28T05:13:00.001-04:00

A few weeks ago I was asked to review a copy of the book Gifts From The Heart by Victoria Osteen. I had made the decision not to do reviews a few weeks previous to the offer. Because I was curious about the story, I decided to go ahead and review the book anyway. I am very glad I did.

The book is very heartfelt with it's tale of children who wish to honor a king but have no money for gifts. Instead the children decide to put on a show to celebrate the king. They learn that each one of them has a special talent even if it comes from within. I read the book with Chick and she loved the bright, colorful pictures and the rhyming of the story. The illustrations were playful and the prose was fun and creative.

We enjoyed reading this book together so much that I'm giving away one copy for you to read with your child! Here's what you can do to win a copy; simply leave me a comment and tell me who you would read this book with (or who you would give it to as a gift!)

The giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents and will run through next Tuesday, November 2. It will close at 11:59 pm eastern time.

Good luck!

You can keep that, thank you very much

2010-10-27T03:09:00.000-04:00

Yesterday about 11:45 something occurred that has never happened to me before. Out here in the wilds of Kentucky, they have tornados. Real ones. When I got up yesterday morning and checked into Twitter I saw lots of local-ish people talking and retweeting information about the warnings for tornados.

I went to meet a friend for coffee. I asked all kinds of questions about tornados and how I would know what to do and what to be aware of. It seemed unlikely that anything was really going to happen except wind. When I got home I put away all the chairs on the patio and put away the toys.

As soon as I took off my shoes the sirens started...

...and I started to shake. My hands were shaking, the windows were rattling with wind and I could not stop this feeling of panic that crept up from my toes.

In emergency situations you are never supposed to panic.

I couldn't help it. I sat in the stairwell to the basement clutching my phone while furiously chatting with a friend to keep myself sane. This tornado and the siren turned out to be not a whole lot of anything, at least for me. There were seven tornados reported in Kentucky though.

Chick's teacher called me as the second siren went off to let me know that they were keeping the kids at school (she was past her time to be home). For the first time in her twenty years of teaching they had to take the children into the basement for safety.

I am very glad that Chick's teacher is a communicator. She emails everyday and for her to be able to call me and tell me not to worry was such a wonderful thing. I am sure Thor was okay as well (he goes to a different school). I worried about him because when they did tornado drills last year he did not know what he was supposed to do and he'd told is teacher he was scared.

We have never lived anywhere where tornados are something we needed to be worried about. We've survived hurricanes coming up the Delaware River. Floyd brought immense rain. Hurricane Isabel (which to this day I still have the newspaper clippings from it) rocked our house and made me feel like the entire thing was going to blow over. 70 mph winds will do that. We lost power for twenty-four hours but things were pretty much undamaged.

I will take a hurricane any day of the week over a tornado. A hurricane I know is coming. I can plan, buy supplies and if necessary flee for safety in advance. The scariest thing for me about a tornado is having no idea it's coming, no way to get away from it, no idea where it will wreak havoc.

I know what happened yesterday wasn't really that big of a deal to most people here, but for me, as a first timer it scared me. I didn't react well at all to those sirens. It is something I'm going to have to deal with hearing in the years ahead though. I just hope I'll get used to it.

Have you ever been through a natural disaster or severe storm? Share your story in the comments.

RTT: Funny stuff I can't say any other day and still be coherent

2010-10-26T04:37:00.002-04:00

Won't you be...won't you be...won't you be my neighbor! Hi Neighbor.

I do it all in the name of Random. Get crazy. Go here:

So, the mail came yesterday and amongst seriously crappy bills and stuff was the latest REI catalog. I don't know why they sent me one. I haven't been to REI since like...1996? Anywho, cool stuff. I just really really want one of these:

A helmet camera. For snowboarding or skiing. Really, everyone just needs one of these babies.

My other favorite? It's this. Neve Sweater. I'm telling ya, I want one.

My favorite part of it is the way they are selling it. The description reads as follows: Inject some playfulness into her ski wardrobe.

What idiot would actually buy one of them as a gift? A breakup gift maybe...Is it just me though? I would seriously never be caught dead in that. Or alive actually.

Did you all know I'm a hockey fan? So now that baseball is over, you get to listen to me talk about the Flyers.

I left a comment the other day, um actually yesterday I think, about baseball and how people can be so mean and rude and down right nasty if you like an opposing team. The person didn't believe me when I said I was unfollowing people on Twitter because it'd gotten so bad. Not everyone is this way but some. I wrote a whole post about it over here, When Enough is Enough.

I haven't dropped my phone yet. It's something of a miracle. I did buy the Otter Box Commuter TL for it just in case. The second I do I'm splurging for the whole next case the Defender. The salesman threw his phone in a defender case across the store and it survived with nary a scratch or blip. That's really the sort of thing this Butterfingers Mama needs.

NaNoWriMo starts next Wednesday (in case you didn't know). I signed up this year (my third year). I did some initial plotting on my whiteboard today. There's a general feeling of excitement about this project. My previous one is shelved for the month because you have to start from scratch and it needs to be one of those Write for Quantity not Quality things. My other piece is definitely all about quality versus quantity right now. Either way I'm pretty sure I don't have time to do it, but I signed up anyway.

Last week I joined my fellow Reds fans and joined the Better Off Red BORFitClub. I started using the app MyFitnessPal. It's fantastic! you record what you eat and what exercise you do. It looks up how many calories you should eat daily. Then you can enter your food and it tells you how many calories you ate. (Even down to such exact choices as Starbucks Tall Latte Whole Milk - 180 calories or Stirfry Noodles, Teriyaki Yakisoba 210 calories). It's kind of awesome like that. Until today when I went to enter my Starbucks 'breakfast'. Did you know their Lemon Loaf (one freaking slice) is 490 calories??

Based on that info, if I ate the same amount of calories I did today (330 over my allotted daily total), I'd gain 5.5 lbs in five weeks. In other words; I have to make much better food choices. And exercise. I skipped my workout today because...even though the afternoon sucked, anything I can say is just an excuse.

By the way, any idea how to get kid pee out of a couch? You just let me know cause I'm looking for advice after yesterday.

I went to a Reds bowling party Saturday night. Go me! I didn't actually bowl but still I got out on a Saturday night. The proof. Me, Better Off Red's Jamie Ramsey and fellow Reds Fan, Cindy.

Halloween is in six days. I have neither bought my children's costumes nor carved a pumpkin or purchased halloween candy to pass out. I'm personally going to see just how close I can cut this one cause I like the little extra boost I get from anxiety.

That's all the Random I'm capable of today. If you need more be sure to go and visit Keely. She'll keep you entertained.

Two Points: Should kids have cell phones?

2010-10-25T02:45:00.016-04:00

Recently I had a discussion with two parents on Twitter about whether or not kids should have cell phones. Tony and Cindy both have excellent reasoning behind their opinions. They agreed to allow me to post their thoughts today. Weigh in and tell me what you think.

You can find Tony on Twitter @Tonester5 Tony is against giving kids cell phones. Here are his thoughts:

Let me start this out by saying, this is my own opinion and no one has to listen. I am against youths being given cell phones by their parents. I believe that any child younger than fifteen should not have a cell phone. Fifteen is when a child really becomes a young adult, not twelve, thirteen, or fourteen. I believe that the responsibility that goes along with a cell phone is much too great for a child. My main points are peer pressure, accountability, and honesty.

Just for a little background, I currently live with a domestic partner. Her name is Alicia, and she is a wonderful lady. We grew up together in the same town and know each others parents pretty well. So, we basically know how each other was raised and the strictness in our childhood. Alicia and her ex-husband have allowed there twelve year old son, Dylan, to have a cell. He is a very good boy, who hardly had a spec of problems with school or wrong crowds before getting a cell. Since acquiring the phone his behaviors have changed and more problems have started to arise from friends he is around.

Point number one and two deal with peer pressure and accountability. Now that Dylan has more availability and capability to chat/text, we see him less around the house. He is always asking to go somewhere with friends we may or may not have met. We check on him and require him to check in with us. There has been a few times he tells us he is one place, we go there, and he is somewhere else. There are also times he does not check in. The excuse is always; I was there but my friends asked me to go over here or I forgot. The latest problem is that he was pushed off the top of a fifteen foot playground slide and broke his right arm. The girl who pushed him is not someone we know and he has never brought this girl around to meet us. She refuses to come to our house now, since the incident occurred.

Point number three has to do with honesty of texts and use. I realize that a cell phone provider can put in place ways to stop photos, keep message records for parental review, limit internet use, and other similar hard stops. How do we, as parents, know if the kids are using a slang or code in certain texts to mean others things? Dylan’s mom and I check his phone regularly, there are some texts that we cannot decipher what the kids are actually saying. We have asked that this type of texting be stopped; from time to time we still see them.

I understand people want their children to have a way to contact them in case of trouble or emergency. I understand the availability of pay phones is very limited. That does not mean you give a “child” a cell phone and feel better about it. You communicate with your child, show them by example how to be a good person, and limit what you allow them to do until they are at an age that can deal with life’s harsh realities. Cell phones give children freedom to be less accountable for there actions and words.

When I was a child there were no cell phones and if there was they cost way too much for a middle income family to afford. There was no GPS, no pagers, and most families only had one vehicle for transportation. Older children were expected to take care of the younger siblings. If you went somewhere you were where said you were. If you needed to check in with mom and dad, you either called from a friend’s house or you went home and checked in to let your parents know what you were doing. I’m not saying that I was an angel, because we all have our moments where we made bad decisions. The consequences of getting caught back then were far worse than they are today. I’m thirty nine, I believe I’m a good person and hope my values are being seen and learned by my children and my partners children. I would not be the person I am and have the value set that I do, if not for my parents requiring more of me, as a child, to be respectful, accountable, and honest in my daily affairs.

Cindy can be found on Twitter @Samlau53 She believes that a cell phone is right for her daughter. Here is her view:

Recently I had called our wireless provider to get my daughter's cellphone service cancelled as she had lost her phone last year and we were still paying for it. After much internal debate I decided to change her features but let her retain her service and replace her phone. After meeting with some controversy, I wanted to explain my reasoning.

My daughter is nearly 11 now. When she got her first phone she was 9 and I now realize that was probably too young. My daughter likes to push herself sometimes and will be in three after school activities this year, one will take up two nights, so four nights a week my husband and I need to pick her up after school. There has already been an occasion this year when she could have been picked up earlier but was too shy to ask to use the school phone and instead had to sit with her advisor for an extra half hour.

Also our street makes a circle and she likes to ride her bike around the block. She has my coordination, lord help her, and if she would wreck on the backside of the block, we wouldn't know as she has been taught not to approach a home unless she knows who lives there, unless an emergency. A few years ago she was rollerblading and had fallen in the street. A woman my daughter didn't know stopped to make sure she was okay and offered to give her a ride home. Thankfully my daughter declined and told us later but we had no idea until later. Had she had a phone then she could have said 'thank you but my parents will be here in a second'. She wasn't seriously hurt thank goodness just bumps and bruises.

Lastly my most valid reason, at least to me. My daughter doesn't look 10, poor thing developed a little faster than most kids her age. While we know and trust all of her friends' parents, you never know what goes on behind closed doors. I don't want her being stared at like she's a Thanksgiving turkey by someone's father or brother and she have to try to come up with a valid excuse to use their phone to call me. She's shy anyway and wouldn't be able to lie to them at least halfway convincingly, which isn't necessarily a bad thing under different circumstances.

With all that being said I think I have brought my daughter up to be responsible enough to use good judgement but there are circumstances beyond the usual 'but mom everyone has one' for a young girl to have a cellphone.

What do you think? What choice would you make for your children?

In the middle of the night, this is what I think

2010-10-21T01:28:00.001-04:00

Of late I've found my creativity is lacking. The freelance writing I've found, which is little, offers no value. The subject matter is of little consequence and my name isn't even a part what I've written. It suits me fine, I'd much rather not be linked to five hundred words about car insurance.

The second site that was recommended to me is more of the same, albeit at a slightly higher price. I have yet to 'order' a topic to write about. It doesn't interest me, even though I was initially excited.

The problem is, I don't want to merely regurgitate facts, I want to document an experience.

I wonder if this attitude stems from simply being a person who hungers to be more meaningful in what they write. Or is that I really just can't gather the energy to be bothered?

If I was smart, I'd take my chances and write the not even remotely interesting article, pocket my measly $15 and be on to the next one. But something stops me. Pride? Quite possible I suppose.

I've always believed if you're going to do something you should do it well. I would like to make that be something enjoyable. Possibly even something that counts.

Have you done anything worth enjoying lately?

I'm still waiting...

Random Tuesday Thoughts: She's a fighter

2010-10-19T08:28:00.000-04:00

It's time to rumble because it's Random Tuesday Thoughts day with The UnMom.

The girl looks like she's been in a prize fight...and lost. Bandaid hides the dent and scraped off skin achieved by smacking the sharp edge of the kitchen counter. Puffy eye from falling into the radiator at school. Sigh.

Please send bubble wrap...lot's of bubble wrap.

I got my latest issue of Bazaar magazine yesterday! So yes, more Fashion Victim posts are coming your way (You lucky lucky people.)

I was also having a great discussion yesterday with a couple people about whether or not kids (like 11 -15) should have cell phones. I think that's a whole post in itself but if you have an opinion leave it and it'll give me something meaty to include when I do talk about it.

I'm writing this on the fly while waiting for the school bus. Spelling errors are just going to have to be lived with.

My english skills have also fallen off the wagon. Sorry about that.

I've been told that if I go to FancyFlours.com I will want to bake. I've been promised.

According to this months Real Simple magazine, they've made a live-action 3-D version of the Nutcracker. Umm, okay. And they changed Clara's name to Mary. WHY? It's a ballet and Russian, Mary just doesn't seem to fit. I love the Nutcracker and used to go every year as a kid. I'm sorry, she's always going to be Clara and there's nothing that's going to change my mind about that.

Not even free chocolate.

Speaking of chocolate I joined up BORFitClub. It's like FightClub but without the hitting. And instead of whatever they do in fight club they do something else in FitClub. In FitClub we exercise and eat right and encourage other lazy souls to do the same. It's pretty cool. So far Day One was a success. I was aware of what I ate, made better food choices and did a workout video.

I'm pretty sure I now hate Jillian Michaels if me yelling at the TV while she made me do squats is any indication.

Just saying.

Do you decorate for holidays? Halloween? Thanksgiving? Christmas? Surely there's someone out there like me who just doesn't care if I still have snowmen placemat's in July and beach rocks and flowers in December. I am just not a seasonal decorator.

I've decided sleep is overrated.

But something that is worthwhile is this: RTT over at Keely's place. Go on over and feel like your life has a purpose.

Monday's Muse with Cinnamon and Honey: All the Above

2010-10-17T22:09:00.002-04:00

Today is Monday's Muse with Cinnamon and Honey. The day where Robin invites us to write about something that makes us feel inspired.

(Adding an intro and the button now because obviously you should never write a post when sleep deprived.)

All the Above by Maino featuring T Pain

My favorite lyrics:

It's easy to hate,
It's harder to love me
Ya'll don't understand,
Ya'll quickly to judge me
Put your foot in my Nikes,
Picture you livin' my life,
Picture you stuck in a cell,
Picture you wasting your life,
Picture you facing a charge,
Picture you beating the odds,
Picture you willing to bleed,
Picture you wearing the scar
Thank you for making me struggle,
Thank you for making me grind
I perfected my hustle,
Tell me the world ain't mine
You've been seein' me lately,
I'm a miracle baby

(lines edited out because of content)

Ain't you happy I made it?
That I'm making a statement?
Take a look and you can tell
That I'm destined for greatness

I much prefer this version of the song (for which I could not find a good video)

I first found this song because Ryan Hanigan from the Reds uses it as his walk up music. I think it's a great symbol of the Reds and the year they've had. They came from nothing and made it to greatness. I listen to this song if I need a little nudge to remember what is to start from the bottom and work your way to the top.

If you want to see more Monday's Muse go visit Robin at Cinnamon and Honey.

Friday Fragments with Half Past Kissin' Time

2010-10-15T08:45:00.000-04:00

Excellent idea from Half Past Kissin' Time

Thank you to Gina for participating in this event so I would know about it.

I'm in complete love with the Black Keys. Thanks to all my Reds Twitter peeps like pitcher Sam LeCure and Kalee Maloney (wife of the pitcher Matt Maloney) for talking about the Black Keys and the concert they went to. I can't get enough of them. Everlasting Love is the best song. Ever.

I found an ad in a magazine for MetroMint Water. Just sounds really good. Not sure why.

Intense Debate is eating comments so three from yesterday went missing and I don't know why. This is opposed to when ALL the comments from the whole blog went missing a few weeks back. It's resorted to blogger comments and ID is installed but apparently not functioning. I'd just like to scream and make it all go away.

I think Chick has an invisible friend like Soren Lorensen in Charlie and Lola. She keeps telling me to stop it but I swear, I'm not doing anything.

The book Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is this crazy bestseller. I can't get past page 26. Honestly I tried. It's freaking BORING. And hard to follow and I don't really care except everyone keeps telling me to get past chapter 3. Thats at page 68. Never going to happen.

I didn't sleep for 36 hours straight this week. I take absolutely no responsibility for anything I may have said during that time. Just saying.

At the end of the month I'm supposed to run in that charity race but my foot has put the stop to that. Now I don't know what to do about the money I've been asked to raise. If you still want to donate please go to the link for Run Like Hell in the sidebar and donate. I will still wear my cape that Friday and take pictures while I put my foot on ice and watch a movie.

My car now fits in the garage! Yea! I get nervous every time I pull in though. Just a helpful hint Drees Homes, you really should look at just how narrow those single garage doors are even though they look good. It's like fitting a hand in the opening of a soda bottle. Really hard to do.

If you have a Friday Fragment head over to Half Past Kissing Time and let it out! If my blog eats your comment then I'm sorry. Any that are emailed to me (like they are supposed to be) I will repost.

Facebook: Just how young is acceptable

2010-10-13T03:01:00.001-04:00

When I was in Idaho visiting family last week, my 10 year old nephew asked to be my Facebook friend.

Let me back up. For those here who are my friend on Facebook, you'll know I never use it. Like ever. The other night I posted baseball pictures because someone else had tagged me to see a baseball video (and I was actually in it, twice!) But before that I hadn't been there since...August maybe? I've just never found the value in Facebook that others have.

I've professed my conversion to Twitter and that's primarily where you can find me wasting time throughout the day. I've just never gotten into Facebook.

I was more than a little shocked to hear my nephew uses it. Admittedly, I haven't been to his page yet, but what would someone that young possibly post on there? I thought you had to be 13 to get on the site (and this is no knock against my sister. He has an older brother who does everything and has a cell phone. Once the first kid does something, fegettaboutit.)

It does lead me to wonder what the site can offer a young person. Wouldn't it be the perfect spot for creepy people to try to get at kids? Is Facebook more protected than other sites like My Space? I know you have to 'friend' someone on Facebook to see their information but it just seems scary to me that a child would be on the site.

Even someone like me can accidentally type in the wrong address in the web bar and bring up a whole lotta things they never planned to see. (Just FYI, Dick's Sporting Goods...not the address you'd think.) I guess I wonder how closely we should monitor our children's internet use. Obviously we need to approve of what sites they can go to. Thor is only allowed to go to the Chess Foundation website that was provided by his school. Even then, I type the address and never allow him to do it himself.

I don't know what to do when he wants a Facebook account. He doesn't know what it is currently but I'm sure that will be changing in the next few years. He certainly knows what Twitter is, not that I'd let him anywhere near it.

What age do you think is appropriate to let kids start wandering the internet? What sites do your kids use and do you monitor what they do there? Sound off in the comments.

*Some comments have gone missing. I don't know why but I'm working to fix it!

It's RTT without a whole lotta fat

2010-10-11T22:28:00.000-04:00

It's Tuesday which means it's been a week since I posted. I was on vacation. Eh. 764 blog feeds marked as read, sorry everyone. Not gonna happen. If something really cool happened in the last five days...email me!

Today you need to go here after you peruse these pictures (which after vacation is all I can manage. I'm still trying to deal with being here and not there.) Complain to her that I've got nothing for you but pictures.

The pictures below are what I commonly refer to as The Lake (Coeur D'Alene Lake in Idaho) where I pretty much spent the first 18 years of my summer life.

I have no idea exactly why this guy is here but...Lewis and Clark maybe?

I got to go watch my oldest nephew play youth football. Even though they ended up losing it was a lot of fun. But some of the parents...it was like being at a Phillies game.

If you need more you know who to click. Keely.

It's BYOB otherwise known as Random Tuesday Thoughts

2010-10-04T23:02:00.002-04:00

How's everybody on this fine Tuesday? Egads, I haven't written anywhere in a week. Very bad blogger am I. But I always like to chime in on Random Tuesday Thoughts day because it's my favoritest day of the week. For all the latest and greatest you need to go here and see Keely:

Or here: The UnMom.

Okay I have a question for Keely, the Questionable Advice page on your blog, does it pop up in the reader if you write on that page or is that one of those I have to keep checking back kinds of things? I love Questionable Advice. I don't want to miss out.

Would it even be Tuesday if I didn't say something about Twitter? Cause I usually do. Wow. In case you didn't know (cause you live under a rock and don't spend enough time on my blog where I haven't written lately...meh) the Cincinnati Reds are facing the Philadelphia Phillies in the first round of playoffs starting Wednesday. Let's just take a second to say OMG. Both my teams, against each other...I may just cry. The only way I can look at it is that at least someone will be moving on (hoping it's the Reds) How does Twitter play into this you ask? Well, I've never seen people smack each other down like Phillies and Reds fans. It's (mostly) in jest but some people...I hope I never meet you in a back alley. Just gonna say that and get it over with.

Chick told me she ate dirt at school yesterday. As a mother I'm so proud.

She is also in charge of the class pet (Tim the Turtle). If he goes missing...well, God bless the girl, she is cute. Even in Preschool Jailhouse Orange.

Leaving tomorrow...just in case I haven't mentioned it. Can't. Wait.

This does mean things here and here will be even more sporadic. Either I will have loads of time and catch up on the 500 plus blogs in my reader and possibly write something or you may just get pictures. Beautiful pictures of changing leaves and a river and a lake. And maybe my nephew kicking butt playing football. If his mom says it's cool that I post pictures here. He was less than 4 pounds when he was born and I think it's fantastic that he now plays football.

I mean wrap him in bubble wrap please, but as a teen I don't think he's going to let anyone do that.

I cleaned my office yesterday. How many times am I going to say that? But this time I actually took everything off my desk and truly started over. Wanna take bets on how much stuff that's not mine ends up there this week while I'm gone?

I've had several people offer to write over here. I can't even tell you how grateful and honored I am. Truly.

I checked out a book from the library called Tortilla Curtain. Again, a book that sold it on the title alone. And the cactus on the cover. It is fiction. I have no idea what it's about though...

I want to watch the Wizard of Oz. It all started with this post over at Better Off Red, the brainchild of one Jamie Ramsey, the Reds baseball media mogul. (something to that effect, he did give me a free, most awesome, BOR t-shirt.) (read the captions, get to the one with Joey Votto talking to Scott Rolen, it doesn't get better than that...oh wait it does...) Thanks to Cindy, without whom I will never look at the movie again without giggling and saying #BORgiggles. Best invention yet.

I want to have more Random but I don't know if it's in me today. I am knackered.

You'd think that my sleepy pills would help me out there. But nope, I feel just as tired lately as if I never slept at all.

I said two weeks ago that I velcro'd a monkey's butt. I really did. I velcro'd a sock monkey to the dashboard of my car. I didn't really think about it at the time and the car is a lease and they may not like a monkey's butt stuck on there. Things you think of after the fact.

That's got to be Random enough right? If it's not, go visit Keely. Go forth and be Random.

Even now words fail me

2010-10-02T15:18:00.000-04:00

You may be wondering why I am writing this post so late. So long after. I’ve been a Phillies fan for over a year now and a Reds for just one short season. I’ve been to Phillies games and I’ve posted about the excitement and the energy of being at a game and watching my team win. I usually can’t wait to talk about it.

Last night’s experience watching the Reds take the NL Central Championship is like nothing I can really describe. This is the main reason I didn’t do more than post pictures thus far. I had to have almost a full 24 hours to wrap my head around the experience before I could truly get down what last night was like.

If you’ve been around this blog or over at Blogging Mama, you know I love baseball. I love every bit and part and fact and even all the incessant stats that go along with it. Baseball is a religion. I’m not the person who originally wrote that but I believe it with all my heart.

Just like I believe the Reds can do anything.

The game started pretty much like most others for me. I arrived early (actually later than my usual, about six o’clock.) I wandered into the stadium and right away I felt it. The Magic was on the tip of everyone’s fingers. No one really dared to say the words out loud, Division Champions, to do so would jinx the entire thing. Baseball and it’s fans are nothing if not superstitious.

I made my way to the designated Moon Deck where I had planned to be a part of the Reds Tweet Up event (more info here). I sat watching the players warm up, the fans start to trickle in and that feeling of anxiety started. What if I witnessed something spectacular tonight? What if Reds fans finally got to see their team walk off as a victor?

That pulsing energy never really left and it only grew as the grounds crew finished their preparations and the players were announced. I found myself sitting next to several lovely ladies, and we chatted idly about the Reds. They were both longtime fans, I was the newbie. It didn’t matter much; we were all excited and slightly nervous for what was to come.

I have to pause because I can’t recall the words I want to use to describe the actual game. It was tough and a battle from the get-go. When Drew Stubbs (a player who deserves so much recognition in my eyes) made that heart stopping catch; I was right there, mere twenty feet away, if that. The crowd, myself included, went absolutely wild. We were celebrating not only a spectacular catch, but a moment that had Magic written all over it. If that ball had had a little more to it, maybe I wouldn’t be writing this today. Maybe I would still be writing about the hopeful win of the Reds.

The fans are amazing. Just as they grumble and gripe, those around me truly believed in the Magic of the Reds. Listening to the group of men behind me heckling, nothing made me smile more.

Almost nothing.

With the Reds down a run, then tied, everyone was on their feet screaming and yelling; I don’t know if my voice or my hands have recovered from all of that yet. I don’t even know if I truly can see Bruce stepping to the plate, it’s all so jumbled up in a blurry vision of…if I had to say anything it would be pride. I’m proud of the way the Reds battled for a good pitch staying alive and working so hard to get not only themselves but also their fans what they deserved; a Championship Title.

When that ball just kept going and going, myself like everyone around me and everyone in the stadium went crazy. Jumping. Screaming. Hugging. Absolute and total elation lifted the crowd as the fireworks went off and the Reds converged on the field in triumph. I can’t even write those words without getting chills.

It was such a moment in my early love of baseball, that I don’t think I will ever forget it. I’ll be telling my children about it for years. The celebration on the field went on long after I, reluctantly, had to leave for home. I wish I could have stayed. But I took that elated and energized feeling home with me and carried it long into the wee hours of the morning unable to sleep. Even today, I’m sitting in awe unable to process what I had the honor of being able to witness.

For me it was, and has, been an honor to share in the Reds 2010 season. I am a fan. And I believe in Magic.

Originally published at The (Virgin's) Guide To Baseball

I'm an idiot with an iPhone

2010-09-29T09:53:00.002-04:00

Apparently, obviously, I have no clue how to work my new phone. Like, really no clue. I had no idea WHY I wasn't getting emails unless I clicked the little "Mailbox" button.

Venture to Settings, Mail....ah. It was on manual check for email. Well who the heck set the default to MANUALLY check email? Does anyone actually ever choose that setting voluntarily?

Umm, no. Hello, last time I checked it's the 21st Century and we all pretty much can't live without email and instant gratification once we hit the age of 9 (I'm giving Thor an extra year here.)

Can we not even go to the place where the iPhone manual is an absolute joke?

Look Apple, I luv ya. I big ole freaking HEART you. I love my Mac, my iPod I couldn't live a day without but really, let's make a manual that actually has information inside it. Not pictures and a a two sentence ditty about a function I already know how to use.

You wouldn't believe how long it took me to find the iPod on the thing. (I know, not one of my better days...)

Don't even get me started about AT&T not having coverage at Great American Ball Park. You know the little TweetUp event I was at Tuesday night when the Reds clinched the NLC Championship? That little event with like 400 people?

It's not much of an event when you a) have no coverage and b) can't access Twitter because you have no coverage. Not much of a TweetUp MeetUp when you can't read where everyone is. Apparently there was a whole Pre-Game meet and greet someplace with name tags and everything and because I had no coverage I missed the whole freaking thing.

Meh. (thank you Captain Dumbass for introducing me to that expression. It's my most overused. And I love it.)

I did sit next to the nicest Tweep. I know she was a RedsTweetUp person because at the end of the night she gave me her name tag as an exchange of Who Am I? (rub salt in the wound a little more cause I didn't get a name tag! I didn't get to the event!)

So I am bummed that I was too much of an idiot to verify all the details before I left the house. I didn't figure that I would not have any coverage at GABP (hey, if T-Mobile and blackberry can do it with gusto, why not AT&T??)

Honestly. I hope AT&T stops by and Apple for that matter because I'm sure I would love my phone even more if I could understand how the whole thing works.

Meh.

What have you gotten recently that made no sense to you? Have you ever flipped out because you didn't have network coverage somewhere?

Pictures and details of last nights Reds victory and in the post below or link is here. I'm in a double post kind of mood...

I can only say THIS

2010-09-28T23:52:00.000-04:00

I was there. This hasn't happened in a decade. The Reds are going to the playoffs as the NL Central Champions.

Most awesome night of my life. Nuff said.

What did YOU do last night?

Random Tuesday Thoughts: It's all about hair, food and ho-ho's

2010-09-28T03:43:00.004-04:00

Come one and come all! It's Random Tuesday Thoughts time. Link up at Keely's.

So as always there's a million and one things sitting in the reader and I'm avoiding reading writing blogs like the plague. It only reminds me I haven't done crap-ola with my own work in forever. And that I really really need to get it in gear, finish editing, keep writing and get this WORK out the door.

Bleh.

I don't feel like it. Right now I'm all caught up in schtuff and baseball and hockey season is here and....the excuses keep on coming. I also got this on Saturday:

But I got the 3GS cause I really didn't like the way the 4 felt in my hand. I like the rounded versus the squareness of it. Plus it was a hundred bucks cheaper. I'm cheap. I admit it.

It's not helping me do anything but waste time on Twitter, which I didn't really need help with anyway. It did come in handy when I went to get a haircut yesterday. I could read the news while I was waiting. Total time saver.

I went with brown lowlights instead of the blondish highlights I had previously. Umm, I'm really not so sure about that. For a very low maintenance person like me, this may have been a big mistake. (And for the record, wth is the difference between lowlights and highlights, other than the PRICE? This is only the third time I've had the whole haircolor in a salon thing done. I'm so virgin at it. I'm all "Whatever YOU think is fine!")

Of late I'm really into comfort food. I made ratatouille Monday. I may make goulash tomorrow and the day after may just call for chili and I'm pretty sure a dose of blue cheese mac n'cheese should be in there somewhere. All I want to do, apparently, is eat.

It was 90 on Friday and yesterday it was 52. Could you please make up your mind already Miss Weather?

I reloaded my Starbucks card. Oh yeah, stupid move. Now I have even more incentive to drive to Starbucks. Did you know they also have an iPhone app for Starbucks? I mean really, do I need to make pretend drinks on my phone? (apparently yes, because I downloaded the app and made myself a drink. It did not however magically appear at my side.)

Speaking of magic, who else is EXCITED about the next Harry Potter movie? Huh huh??? The wait will do me in and it's only about 6 weeks till it gets here.

I'm going to the Reds game tonight for the first ever RedsTweetUp. A gathering of other geeky minded Reds baseball freaks like me who all Tweet about baseball. They even sold special tickets so we can all sit together in the same section. Hmm, now that I think about it, it's a bit weird. I guess they don't want us mixing with the regular folk. (All in all, probably a smart idea...) Either I'll be watching the Division Champion Reds plays the lowly Houston Astros or I'll be watching the Hopefully Division Champion Reds take the title. (~~Cardinals have to lose Monday night for Reds to clinch or the Reds have to win the game against the Astros. Since I write these posts in advance I don't know which it is yet.)~~ I will be watching the Reds play FOR the title.

Phillies win 4th straight NL East Division Title. Oh Yea.

You think I bore you with baseball?

Hockey season has started. Just wait. Go Flyers!

I have a bunch of interesting/thought provoking/brain numbing newspaper/magazine articles in my "To Do/Ideas" bin on my desk. Maybe I'll get to one of them this week and give you all something worthy of reading.

Recent conversation on Twitter between me and another mom:

@mayaREguru Ho-Ho's. It's what's for dinner. Bought them for the kids but they're mine now! Muhaha
@BlogMamaAndrea Don't mess with a mama and her ho-ho's. That didn't sound right did it?
@mayaREguru no not right but totally awesome!

It didn't come out correctly then or now, did it?

Chick was whining about not getting a third snack so I sent her upstairs to play. After crying and then singing she is now silent. Either she's up to something or she fell asleep. Proving once again if I ignore her long enough, she will leave me alone.

Until next time, be fearless and go see Keely. I hear she doubles as a Super Ninja Warrior. That may be just rumor but...I wouldn't turn your back on her if you know what I mean.

Doctors lie. Oh, my aching foot.

2010-09-24T03:49:00.001-04:00

I had surgery on my heel once upon a time. I really didn't blog way back when I had this going on. The blog was a brand new baby (and my baby was still nearly a baby back then at 4). It did throw some serious incovinece into my lfe. It was lots of fun having my parents and MIL take it in turns to have to babysit not only my kid but me. Because I a) Couldn't drive since it was my right foot. b) Couldn't stand on my foot for three weeks (and longer till I could drive) c) Couldn't navigate stairs to save a dang with crutches.

I did however devise a fairly awesome system of getting from the kitchen around the island and into the breakfast room with a cup of coffee (having lots of counters really saved me.) I am proud to say I only fell twice with the crutches and both times involved stairs, so that really can't be helped. I was the model patient. I didn't stick hangers down my cast. Or pencils. Or rulers. Oh, be sure, I thought about it. A lot. When you get an itch inside a cast, you'll claw it off with your bare hands if properly motivated. I was never that motivated.

So why was I in a cast for three weeks and a walking boot for three more (which also included being in the boot while on a house hunting trip in Germany)?

I had a cyst inside my heel. All I know is that it was painful, and annoying, and made me tell my kid more often than not that mama's boo-boo foot hurt and I could not chase him around the yard. The doctor said in order to remove it (which may or may not solve the problem) he would cut into the area right beneath my ankle bone and drill a hole into my heel and take it out. Sounds awesome, huh?

So I did it. I underwent the knife-o-la two days after Christmas circa 2005. It only took about an hour I think and was an outpatient thing. I was resting happily drugged up in my own bed by mid-afternoon. By the next day I was struggling to wait out the every six hours for pain pills. I really don't know what I was thinking. Honestly and truly, I've never had pain like that before (and I've given birth...).

Eventually pain subsided and it became just annoyingly numb but I was told it would go away with time along with the swelling and the scar.

Fast forward five and a half years.

I'm typing this while wearing shoes. In the house. A no-no. But because said foot hurts so freaking bad I'm forced into trying to offer it some support. Which doesn't really work but makes me feel like I am doing something to solve the problem. The scar has finally faded into something I'm not embarrassed by. (A bright red welt across your foot looks awesome with heels a cocktail dress, just FYI.) The pain is back and the foot still has numbness around the surgery scar. I know that is not a normal thing. The pain is miserable. It feels like someone is drilling inside your heel 24/7. Even when you're resting the foot, it still hurts. I have a 5k to run in a month, I don't have time for this.

The pain and actual cyst were things I knew might come back. It's the numbness that really ticks me off. There's no quicker way to send me flying across a room than for the kids to hit just that spot on my foot. I don't even touch that spot on my foot. If you hit it just right it'll send shock waves up my leg. Shock waves of pain.

I'm no MD but I'm pretty sure that's not supposed to still be happening.

The big problem is what do I do now? The pain is back and worse than ever. But I don't think another surgery is gong to fix it. It took three x-rays, wearing a walking boot, a cat scan and a contrast mri to even figure out what was wrong with my foot the first time. And that wasn't a 'fix-all'. I don't know what to do now. I can't afford to be laid up without the ability to drive for another six weeks (if not longer) unable to care for my kids or take care of things around the house.

Give me your opinions. What would you do? Suck up the pain and keep going? Or go back to the doctor and listen to their (sage) advice, even if it means another surgery?

In the blink of a webpage it all went poof

2010-09-23T11:11:00.000-04:00

Someone recently told me "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." Wise words. Wise words. Apparently, I'm not very good at a lot of things and now we can also add listening to the list.

Because it wasn't broke and I *fixed* it anyway.

Do you like the new look on the blog? Me too. It came with a pretty Tough To Swallow price though. You see, when I spent an afternoon recently playing with the header, mixing up the background and reorganizing all the widgets, something went kafooey. It wasn't until this morning that I noticed exactly what went kafooey.

Every blog comment since 3/26/10 went kafooey. As in vanished. Disappeared. Never to be heard from or seen again kafooey. I have a lot of words for that, none of which would be proper to say on this here blog.

Due to this I decided I should start drinking heavily.

If I move to Singapore, take in fifty stray dogs or get the coveted iPhone, you can be sure of one thing:

I'm never changing this blog again!

Take pity on me. Leave a comment.

Random Tuesday Thoughts: I velcro'd a Monkey's Butt

2010-09-21T03:20:00.001-04:00

It's Random Tuesday. If you don't know what it is, you've been living under a rock, go see the fearless leader, she's our SuperHero...don't know many more ways I can say so just Click It. The UnMom.

Last week the family and I went to a Reds game. Before the game one of the pitchers, Bronson Arroyo, was sitting outside with a guy playing guitar...giving a free concert. Arroyo can totally sing. I ordered his cd and it came in the mail. Completely love at first ears. I kid not. Go to his site and listen for free, then buy it! Not bad for someone who also kicks butt at pitching!

I got to test out Junior's Cheesecake thanks to 1-800-Flowers a few weeks ago. Oh so yummy! It was delicious and didn't last long around here. If you have a need to order something yummy for friends, family or yourself you should definitely go to 1-800-Flowers and look up getting a Junior's Cheesecake; it's heaven in a box!

This falls under the category of something you might like, so I'm sticking into Random Tuesdays to spread the word. It's tomorrow!!

Designers Stewart+Brown Talk Eco Fashion 9/22: “Wicked Fresh! Wednesdays” Live Video Chat Series Finale

Participate in the LIVE online Q&A with Karen Stewart and Howard Brown and Get a Chance to Win One of Two $250 Stewart+Brown Gift Cards

When: Wednesday, September 22, 2010 – 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. PST / 8:00 p.m.to 9:00 p.m. EST

Where: Hosted on Tom’s of Maine Facebook page -www.facebook.com/TomsofMaine – via the Live Chat tab

What: Tom’s of Maine “Wicked Fresh! Wednesdays” live video chat series with Karen Stewart and Howard Brown, founders and designers of the pioneering sustainable clothing line Stewart+Brown. Get the insider fashion scoop about their fall fashion tips, balancing entrepreneurism with family, how they source their fabrics and much more.

I checked out a book from the library called "Get A Life That Doesn't Suck" by Michelle DeAngelis. It has a picture of a straw stabbed into a lemon. Don't know what the books even really about other than not having a sucky life. Cover totally sold it though.

One thing I hate about the local library is when they say they have a book online, but when you get there...it's nowhere to be found. Always happens.

Every night about 5 I get all dizzy (I don't know what that's about but I'm sure not enjoying it). On Sunday Chick was playing with my hair while I was sitting on the floor. I actually had to lay down. She put a pillow under my head, covered me with a blanket and gave me her pink fluffy dog to sleep with. Then she brought me a lollipop. This kid rocks.

I literally velcro'd a monkey's butt yesterday.

Have you listened to any good music lately? I'm currently in love with Sara Barielles's new cd, Lifehouse, Matt Hires and the soundtrack to The Last Kiss. Other popular iPod pop ups are On the Rocks (All the Above), Jurassic 5 (with Dave Matthews - Work It Out) and The Band Perry (If I Die Young). What are you listening to? (I haven't played Pearl's iPod Predict's The Weekend shuffle in awhile. I may have to do that this week.)

Thor got himself three minutes of fame on Friday. You can see it over here: Better Off Red. (He'd be thrilled if you clicked through!!) FunkBlast.

Again, I'm already all randomed out. I have to stop trying to write these in advance, late at night, while watching baseball. On that note, I don't know what I'm going to do when the season ends. Take up basket weaving? Oi.

If you want even more Random go see Keely at The UnMom.

Let's get sleepy

2010-09-20T03:35:00.000-04:00

I've made no secret of my inability to sleep lately, either here or on Twitter. For the record this is nothing new for me. I've been afflicted with sleep problems since I was a teenager (and probably long before that). One thing people don't tend to know about me is that I hate taking medicines of any kind. It's not a huge surprise then that I've waited eighteen years to finally see a doctor about my sleep issues. I mean, it could have cleared up on it's own...just give it time.

I started with some sleep med that is the generic for Ambien. Two weeks of good, then less good sleep. By the time the last week of the pills had arrived I was waking in the middle of the night, occasionally unable to fall back asleep. A sleep med is not supposed to allow you to do that. You should sleep and sleep all night. I contacted my doctor and she decided we needed to get all up in sleeps face and gave me Ambien CR. The ongoing ordeal with the insurance company to pay for said medication is a whole other post in itself.

But here's what's happened in the four nights I've taken this new Go to Sleep and Stay Asleep medicine.

Nights one and two were fine. I fell asleep very quick after taking it and stayed asleep. Let me back up a second and say I read every single word on the Caution sheet. From the top of the fine print to the bottom of the fine print. Some of the cautions and warnings included the following:

Some patients taking this medicine have performed certain activities (eg sleep-driving, making and eating food, making phone calls, having s*x) while they were not fully awake.

I'm sorry but that is the funniest caution I've ever heard of. And, I didn't believe it either.

Until night number three with Ambien CR. I awoke about three am, confused, thinking I had not yet fallen asleep, and seeing the world like I was looking through a kaleidoscope.

I have never taken any kind of drugs other than those prescribed, but if that in the middle of the night experience was anything like dropping acid...I kinda get why people do it. Stupid and dumb but woah, it was...trippy. (pun intended)

Let me say that I am not eager to repeat the experience, just that it was kind of wild. I did fall back asleep again within minutes. Thankfully, when I awoke in the middle of night four, no flying unicorns or dancing rainbows were involved. But it does make me pause and wonder why after only two days the magic Sleep all night pill isn't working. Am I really that resistant to it? Me who hates even taking Tylenol?

It's distressing to know that the sleep that people talk about getting may never be something I'm going to experience again. Who knows though? After all, it's only been 18 years...there is hope.

Do you sleep at night? What do you do to catch some zzz's?

Another Fashion Victim Recap

2010-09-17T09:04:00.001-04:00

Awhile ago, quite by accident, I wrote about products I saw in magazines that were highly over priced for what they were. Anyone remember the $249 ion hair dryer? And the dress with $9,000 feathers? After that one post, another magazine came in the mail and I again felt compelled to impart my wisdom on the ridiculousness within it's pages.

Well, it's time for another edition, this time inspired by the Wall Street Journal, that serious work of all papers.

Serious except when toting a $1,295 shirt on the front page of the Personal Journal page. The shirt is from Donna Karan Internationals new Look 6 collection, a whimsical tuxedo-esque shirt with a plunging neckline, long cuffs and frilly ruffles.

For that price it also better babysit my kids, cook dinner, fold the laundry and send me on a tropical vacation. Three out of four, that's all I ask. The price quoted is not the runway price, that's flat out retail price if you were to walk into Saks Fifth Avenue or Neiman Marcus and gobble it up. Let's face it we all have that kind of change for a white shirt don't we?

I admit, I like clothes like any woman does. And I like nice clothes. While my closet may be littered with tops from Michael Kors and a couple cocktail dresses from White House | Black Market, there's plenty of Target mixed right in. I appreciate a good bargain on my designer-ish clothes, never, ever pay full price and only buy those that will last me many seasons (in other words no feathers).

There are even more ridiculously priced products out there though and let's get right to pinpointing them.

Up first is a very Is it a slip, is it a dress, who on earth put that together? dress (?) I don't know exactly. You be the judge of what it is.

From Vogue's Spetember issue, Givenchy dress p. 641, $4,770 Feel the bargain love.

The next one, I really can not figure out. The campaign itself was kinda cute, Monsters Inc themed. I like that movie. But why you would ever wear these furry blue mittens is completely beyond me.

(so you can blend in with Cookie Monster??)

I know it's hard to focus on the mittens with all the other stuff but that's what I'm trying to do. J. Mendel blue-fox mittens $680 Vogue Sept. p. 682

The next one I do feel somewhat bad making fun of. The coat's designer, Alexander McQueen committed suicide last year. A very tragic way to end what was apparently an unhappy life. The clothes do however speak to the 70's, a trend I can not and will not EvAh get behind. Plaid+Polyester=Hideous

McQ by Alexander McQueen jacket, $845 and Organic by John Patrick trousers, $485. Blech.

Maybe you regularly dress like this, maybe you don't. But I can't see the bargain or the value in any of these pieces, not at those prices. (And some of them not at any price...) One of the funnier items is the Yves St. Laurent iPad case (not pictured)....for $795. If I'm not mistaken (always a possibility) isn't the iPad like $495? That would make the case more expensive than the product it protects. So, do you buy a case to protect the case that protects the product? (We're moving into ridiculous territory here.)

Until the next Fashion Report, as always let me hear your own ridiculous bargain item stories. I love a good laugh every now and then.

From now on this is the way it's going to be

2010-09-15T12:19:00.001-04:00

I've realized as I said earlier in the week that plugging products is not my forte. I'm not particularly enjoying writing reviews for pretty much nothing in return except the occasional product. While free stuff is nice...it's not been worth losing followers and comments over it. Reviewing free stuff: That's not what My Blog is for.

So, from now on, this is how it's going to be...

Picture credit here

If you have a product that you think my readers would like, that's great. I'm more than happy to offer you ad space on my blog for proper payment (blog layout restructuring coming up after the weekend). But I'm done giving away my time and thoughts for free. If you want to pay me with actual crisp dollar bills (twenties preferred but fifties work too) then send me an email and we can talk.

If not, then I'm not interested in giving people something for nothing. I value me a lot more than that. A lot of this has come about after reading several posts from, ironically, dad bloggers. Apparently they get asked to hawk free stuff too. You can find those posts here DadsHouseBlog and Clark Kent's Lunchbox.

They are not the only bloggers to have blogged on the subject. Nor should they be the last. I'm done selling my blog soul for nothing. If there is one thing I have learned besides that, it's that companies should never underestimate the power of a blogger.

Haven't they heard?

We're taking over the world.

*No offense intended to those who DO have promotions/giveaways on thier blogs. It's just not me.

Review: Scotch Brite Greener Clean Sponges

2010-09-15T03:18:00.001-04:00

One of the mnay booths I had a chance to visit at BlogHer included Scotch Brite. The booths do tend to blend together after two days of non-stop swaggalicious fun but Scotch Brite stood out in my mind for several reasons.

One, they asked us for our best eco-friendly household cleaning tips and recorded them. That's win-win because half the best ideas for keeping things clean come from other people. If you want to see some of the videos from the event you can go to this link Scotch Brite BlogHer. Let me know which tip you found most helpful!

The second reason Scotch Brite stood out in my mind was the incedible Greener Clean Biodegradable Expanding Soft Sponge. Don't know what I mean? I filmed it for that exact reason.

I really loved watching it expand. It was just like watching Sea Monkeys. Even better the sponge was fantastic for cleaning my dirty sink. In fact I haven't decided which product from Scotch Brite I like the best; the natural fiber Non-Scratch Scour Pads,non-scratch Scrub Sponge, or the Absorbent Sponge. I love that they are natural fiber and eco-friendly. Scotch Brite is making a difference by using natural and recycled materials and you can too! Remember to go eco-friendly bring your own grocery bags to the store, recycle trash items like cans, glass and plastic bottles and cardboard. Every little bit can make a big impact!

What tips do you have for recycling and cleaning that you would like to share? Leave them here!

It's Random Tuesday Thoughts Day Sing A Ma Jig

2010-09-14T09:03:00.001-04:00

And I don't have a post pre-prepared like usual. Weird I know! I'm in baseball mode so no one here wants to hear about that. So instead I invite you all to go see Keely at The UnMom. She keeps me on my Random Toes and NOW she also gives unsolicited advice. Pretty awesome huh? Anyway, the badge of love and lets get moving:

So all I've been reading about in every magazine (Philadelphia, Bloomberg, WSJ) is how colleges rank and who they accept and yada yada yada. And then they get to the tuition....and here's where I die a slow effin painful death. Let's just say Thor's a genuis so he's set for scholarships. Chick, sweetie, you better work on your golf skills hun, cause that's how we are getting you kids to college.

My previous college, the then Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science (now Philadelphia University) charges $38, 302 a year. And that's one of the cheap schools! Haverford tops out at $52, 606 You'd be tickled pink to know U Penn only charges you $47, 638.

Scholarships kids, scholarships.

I don't want to think about college for them, I have enough trouble figuring out paying for me.

I keep promising the Sing-A-Ma-Jig I got at BlogHer so here you go:

You want one don't you?

I hired a babysitter for Chick tomorrow so I can take Thor to the baseball game. I don't know who's more excited, me or him. We haven't done a Mom and Son thing in forever.

Does anyone know how to transfer itunes from side of a Mac to the other? All the music is kept on CP's side and you would think I could access it from my side but no. I can't. Makes me insane.

I slept last night. For those of you who follow my Twitter stream you'll know what a big deal this is. SeVen Hours SEVEN HOURS. Granted it took a prescribed pill to get me there but Seven Hours. Felt like heaven with a pillow.

There are groceries to buy and things to umm, do so go see Keely and get your Random on. Every Tuesday, rain shine sleet or hail (even when she's on vacation!). The UnMom. Be like Nike and just do it.

Softlips Review and Giveaway

2010-09-14T03:46:00.003-04:00

The arrival of fall means a lot of things, changing colors on trees, cooler weather and an influx of dry lips! But with Softlips you don't have to worry; they've got you covered! I love Softlips products and was a fan even before I got my review pack. If you search my house you'll find Softlips everywhere! Here are the main reasons I'm falling in love with the new Softlips PURE line.

Softlips PURE 100% Natural lip care products, which includes tinted lip balms, glosses, an exfoliating lip polish and a moisturizing lip butter, all of which are free from preservatives, phthalates, sulfates, parabens, mineral oil, and gluten, and not tested on animals.

With all the extra things that go into products these days, it's nice to know I'm not adding even more just by protecting my lips from the elements. I have a hard time now figuring out which one to wear because I'm in love with all of them. Softlips PURE comes in a variety of flavors and tints including Shell Pink, Natural Honesty, Coral Charm and one of my favorites, the Lip Polish in Organic Coconut and Sugar. My lips feel all shiny and soft after I use the Lip Polish!

Softlips and I want you to experience the new PURE line too! You can win a great prize pack of PURE products. Here's what you need to do: (one entry per item)

1. Leave a comment on my blog
2. Follow me on Twitter @BlogMamaAndrea
3. Follow my blog

The giveaway is open only to US readers and ends Tuesday, September 21 at 11:59 PM Eastern. Good luck! (CLOSED)

Winner is: Lucky number 13 - Katie!

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:13Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Fan flops and flips

2010-09-12T18:18:00.000-04:00

Bear with me if you will because this isn't specifically all about baseball. It's about fans in general. The situation has to do with baseball fans but I think it can go across all sports and all fandom.

Reds fans are twitchy. They lose one game and it's all doom and gloom. The sky is falling. They might as well turn off the field lights. Forever. One pitcher throws an admittedly bad few innings (and blames no one but himself by the way) and already the "fans" are calling for them to be traded into oblivion.

To which I can only say...

What's up with that?

Have you ever been a Phillies fan? Have you ever seen how horrible they can be? Do you think Phillies fans wench and moan? Absolutely. They do it with amazing style. In fact, I don't know another sport that has as awesome of a Wench and Moan fan base than Philly sports.

But at the end of the conversation there is always the phrase "We'll get them the next game!" Because Phillies fans are true fans. That's what fans do. They step up and say yeah, they were crap this game but we still love them.

I haven't really seen a Reds fan yet that does this. Do I think the recent meltdown in the 9th when we needed one single strike to win the game was cool? (Not only did we not get a strike, the Pirates drove in three runs...to win.)

I did not think that was cool. In fact, it greatly sucked. Am I still believing in my team?

Absolutely. Because I am a fan. My job is to support the team and that even means supporting them when they don't win a game. How else can we expect them to climb out of the hole and perform if they don't get any fan support?

Just as you need run support and field support you also need fan support. I'm not on a 'bandwagon' for the Reds. If you're on a wagon, you can always fall off.

I am a Reds fan. Win or lose.

What team do you support? Do you know people who have this kind of attitude (about anything)?

Not enough to be one cohesive thought...

2010-09-09T07:35:00.000-04:00

Next month I'll be jetting off to Idaho to see my parents and my sister and her family. I saw my parents this summer in Kentucky but I haven't seen my sister in nearly two years. That's definitely far too long but with life being what it is...it's not easy (nor inexpensive) to travel these days. Everyone's schedules are so complicated.

This will be a solo trip for me and it is reminiscent of my trip a year and half ago to Idaho. When my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer I flew from my then-home in Germany to Idaho for a week. Not long ago I underwent my first mammogram because of my elevated risk of breast cancer. I'm still waiting for the results but I have no (real) reason to believe they won't turn out to be just fine. But thinking about all of that...I miss my mommy.

Let me pull out my woobie and start sucking my thumb...

Recently, I read this post over here at DadsHouse about blogging and PR. What is my blog worth? You'll have noticed that of late I've been doing a lot more giveaway's and reviews (ever since that expedition to BlogHer). It's both a blessing and a curse. I'm getting some free stuff...but what am I really selling?

It's not the products I'm questioning but rather what is the purpose of my blog? Am I writing to review products and promote the economy? (Lure you into buying...stuff.) Or is this blog really about writing for me?

I would have say this blog is for me and not about pimping out products. Plenty of blogs do both successfully but I don't think I've become one of them. I have wondered if the somewhat sudden downturn in comments and visits has to do with all the promotions I've been doing on my blog. Should this be a promotions free zone? I do have a specific reviews blog and ~~usually mostly~~ sometimes I remember to move the review posts there after a certain time period. I've been slack of late on that.

If I made my blog and my reviews separate would that make you more likely to tune in here?

Of course there's that other blog I write. And despite my desire to make that into something, I will continue to write it because it makes me happy. If people also want to read it, then all the better. If some company or team wants me to represent them and send me to games and stuff, you can click the Email tab and send me your request. *wishful thinking*

I read about being a virtual assistant the other day over here at Chris Brogan's site (the post is really about finding work and thanks to CK Lunchbox for the link). Wouldn't that be a nice job? I'd love to be a virtual assistant. If you know someone who needs one, Email Me!

Chick and were watching Thomas The Magic Railroad (Alec Baldwin and Thomas the Train, ugh!) and I couldn't help wondering what image we are projecting to our kids. In the opening five minutes you have this picture perfect Main Street with a juggler in a phone booth and a little boy walking down the street carrying a fish bowl. Yes, those things can be seen everyday in my own XYZ town. *sarcasm* I get that it's a movie, and an older one, but what ever happened to at least trying to be realistic? Imagine being a kid and seeing this as what life should be like and then finding out It's.So.Not.

Talk about disappointment.

So this post is one uncohesive jumbled thought. The pictures have zilch to do with anything, I just needed something to break up the topics and *** seemed far too ordinary for me.

What's jumbled about in your head these days? Should this be a review/giveaway free zone? And how funny is that last picture? (That was a Tweet on the official St. Louis Cardinals Twitter account. A mistake and one that no longer exists but soooo funny!)

Let's get healthy! Cystex and Pedia Lax Gummies Review

2010-09-09T03:30:00.000-04:00

Recently I had the chance to review two great products, Cystex Liquid Cranberry Complex and Pedia Lax Fiber Gummies for children. Since both products deal with health I'm putting them together in one easy to find post!

At first I was a little skeptical of trying the Cystex Liquid Cranberry Complex. I like cranberries but in such a concentrated liquid form...I wasn't so sure about the taste. Good news, it tasted fine and it turns out it's even better for you. Cystex is gives you the benefit of drinking eight glasses of cranberry juice in just one tablespoon. Did you know drinking cranberry juice can help reduce your chances of getting an urinary tract infection? Now I don't have to chug back eight glasses of juice to have the same results! The complex can even be added to a hot or cold drink if you prefer a more mild flavor. The complex is a blend that also contains D-mannose (from cranberries), bromelain (from pineapple), inulin (a prebiotic) and vitamin C; which all add up to good health. The Cystex Liquid Cranberry Complex is available at drugstores and retailers nationwide.

Pedia Lax Fiber Gummies for ages 2-11 are a relief to every parent who's ever had kids who are super picky eaters! My kids are among those super picky eaters. Now I don't have to worry if they're getting enough of what they should be thanks to Pedia Lax Fiber Gummies which supply them with 6 grams of fiber. Simply taking 3 gummies a day ensures that they are getting enough fiber in their diets to stay healthy. And they taste great too! They are sugar free and provide the equivalent of 21 spears of asparagus. Nothing like eating your veggies when they taste and look like gummy bears! Pedia Lax Fiber Gummies are available nationwide at retailers like Target and Walgreens.

Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies “Keep Kids Moving” Sweepstakes

Exercise, along with a balanced diet, helps provide the foundation for a healthy, active lifestyle for every child. August 27, 2010 through November 30, 2010, visit www.fibergummies.com to enter the Pedia-Lax^® Fiber Gummies “Keep Kids Moving” sweepstakes for a chance to win one of six prize packages, including a $1,200 gift certificate to the online bike store www.Bikes4Families.com , Nintendo Wii’s and other great games/activities!

You’ll find more details and official rules at the Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies Web site.

What do you do to keep you and your body healthy?

This is what it's really like

2010-09-08T04:50:00.019-04:00

Awhile back I had the opportunity to interview a sports beat writer from Philadelphia, Kevin McAlpin. It was great. He was really nice (and didn't laugh in my virtual face when I asked silly questions). But I need all of you to click over to The (Virgin's) Guide to Baseball and leave some comment love. Please. He's a real writer and a really nice guy and I don't want to look like a schmuck if no one comments. So comment. Tell your friends to comment. The best thing is that it is not all baseball talk. It is about what it's like to have writing about a sports team be your job. While this writer doesn't travel with the Phillies...a whole slew of them do. 162 games a year, 90 or so on the road...just imagine.

PLEASE! Go and read! (shameless begging...I'll mention you in my will...etc.)

So, yesterday while I was making dinner, the doorbell rang. Thor told me it was E from down the street. I told him he could answer the door (you can't see the front door from the kitchen). I thought she was asking him to play.

How naive am I?

She was soliciting donations for the school walk-a-thon (for which Thor will solicit a $35 check from me with a grumble and a shake on Friday morning.) Most - okay - everyone had donated five bucks. Eh, I'll give her five bucks. I wrote my name on the form, wrote down five bucks...

...then asked the dumbest question in the world. Do you need the money now?

Of course she does...

What do I have in my wallet? $20's. Of course I only have $20's for the first time in the history of history.

When I handed her ~~greedy little paws~~ the $20 she said "Sw-eeet!" Yeah, I'd say that too if I just handed over $20 that had no intention of ever going near a child's hands. Sigh.

This means I'm up a tree because now ALL the kids are going to come knocking looking for their $20. They're going to expect giant sized candybars at Halloween too aren't they??

The only consolation I'm taking from this is that the next person she goes to will see that the City-Snob-Who-Never-Goes-Outside gave more than any of the rest of the neighborhood! HA!

Not my proudest moment but I'll take it anyway...

Have you ever accidentally given far more than you intended to? Please tell me about it and make me feel better! (And go over and leave a comment over here too!)

Random Tuesday Thoughts: One Dead Fish

2010-09-07T04:31:00.005-04:00

It's Random Tuesday Thoughts time! Join Keely at The UnMom for lots of Random Tuesday Fun.

My teams lost yesterday. That kinda stinks. I had this to say via Twitter:

BlogMamaAndrea Me: "Those boys need a spanking!" CP: "And you're more than willing to give them one?" Me: "Yes!!" #reds 4 #rockies 5 in the 5th

about 4 hours ago via web

Yep, and that would have worked too.

I read this article in Philadelphia Magazine by Richard Rys last week and was completely sickened by what's happened to Old City. Old City used to be where I went in college for First Friday's (art gallery showings the first Friday of every month) and then Italian food. It's supposedly becoming the Jersey Shore of Philadelphia. One restaurant owner was quoted as saying she couldn't tell the regular people from the hookers. That's really, really sad.

The best line from the Green Zone with Matt Damon:

How do we know we're not walking into an ambush?
We don't. Put your F-in game face on.

I feel the same way every time I go to Walmart.

Thor's beta fish died last night. I'm amazed it survived that long. It had been with us since May? June? I thought he might get upset but his only words were "Well, it only had a 14 day guarantee mom." Right you are my son, right you are.

I found a library receipt from 8/06/05 in one of my books. I've saved it (consciously). It was the first time I read the first Harry Potter book.

I've also kept my traffic ticket from the Polizei. I have no idea exactly why. Fond memory maybe? Eh.

As always, it's also Tuesday's Terms.

That's all the Random I have time for. If you like Random then head over to see Keely at The UnMom for more.

Have you checked your breasts lately?

2010-09-03T03:35:00.002-04:00

Normally the topic today wouldn't be one I would really get down and dirty about on my blog. But this is important enough to warrant some In Your Face Talk. Breasts As some of you who have been reading me for awhile know, a year and a half ago my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. That ugly freaking C. After radiation, she's fine (and I'm praying will continue to be fine.)

But because of the "First Degree Family Member" designation, it was recommended that I have a mammogram before the usual 40 year old mark that is recommended. I'm only 33.

I'm unique though. Rare numbers just love me. When Thor was born I was (unknown to me because I was - literally - comatose) diagnosed with placenta acreta. I actually met someone at BlogHer who not only knew what that is but had it too. This condition (essentially the placenta becomes a tumor and you hemorrhage) only happens to 1% of women...and those women are usually over 40 and have had more than one pregnancy.

I was 24 and on my very first pregnancy. Basically, I had to have a hysterectomy in order to save my life.

Back to breast cancer. Because of my other rarity, my GP said my lifetime number for breast cancer jumped from the average woman's 3% to 17%. SevenTeen Percent lifetime chance of breast cancer. It doesn't seem like a lot in the realm of 100% but it's a significant amount over the normal 3%.

And I am anything but normal as most people know...

So yesterday I had my very first mammogram. I feel like I should get a gold star sticker or something. An I Loved My Boobies Today! sticker or something. Really, wouldn't those be an awesome campaign tool? The event itself was under twennty minutes (if even that!!) and yes, it was uncomfortable in the they-pinch-and-squish-your-girlies kind of way. But it was nothing that I couldn't handle. The tech fully explained everything to me and I felt completely comfortable with what she was about to do. As comfortable as anyone can be when they are have undressed at 8:45 in the morning and haven't been allowed deoderant, perfume or any kind of scented lotion...nothing makes a person more aware of how they smell (or don't smell) than that.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month of course but there is no reason why YOU shouldn't get checked out now. When October comes wouldn't it better to say that you've already had your mammogram?

I dare all of you to get your mammogram, find out your number and be aware. For those innocent males who read this post today, encourage the women in your life to be checked. Aunt's, mothers, sisters, wives and friends! Save your life! Get checked! Now!

Let's be British: If you heard it for long enough you'd do it to.

2010-09-02T04:17:00.003-04:00

I was recently told that my speech is very British in style, which did not come as much of a shock to me. I spent 3.5 years living in a place where all I heard was a) German or b) Germans speaking in British English (and yes American English and British English are amazingly...different.)

So why wouldn't I pick up some quirks?

For example, I say 'quite' quite a lot actually. I also say 'actually' ala Bridget Jones a lot too. My speech lilts up at the end of sentences on occasion and I am fond of using traditional old fashioned British words. If you let yourself, you could learn to like the way I speak.

My accent is another source of humor for some people.

I'm from the West Coast. I really can't help it if I say ru-oof for roof and lie-berry for library or that I used to say pop instead of soda. Other amusing terms include Eye-talian (which I make a concious effort not to do, fyi). Really, let's pick apart little ole me and make fun (obviously people have nothing better to do.)

Now my accent also includes a distinctive Southern twang on occasion since moo-ving to Ken-tuck-ee. Add in that I speak really fast with a Philly accent on top of it too. I'm officially coining my accent as British-Valley-Girl-East-Coast-Southern. No wonder I never got feedback from that Australian accent finder thing I did last year.

I'm simply unique.

Do you have an accent? Do other people think you have one? What words do you say that earn you amused looks?

Hillshire Farms! Go Meat!! Review and Giveaway

2010-09-01T04:18:00.001-04:00

Mmm. Meat. Who doesn't love meat? I love Hillshire Farms meat. When I was offered the chance to review some great lunch meats from Hillshire Farms, I jumped at the chance. Since both of my kids are back in school (and I want to avoid the unhealthy school-offered options) a great sandwich is the way to go. I found myself salivating over the options at the grocery store.

Smoked Chicken Breast? Brown Sugar Ham?

I got both and invented my own sandwich which definitely tickled my tummy! For my first sandwich I compiled all my ingredients on the counter: Hillshire Farms Brown Sugar Ham, 100% whole wheat bread, Colby jack cheese and, an unusual touch, buttermilk ranch dressing. I don't do boring sandwiches.

Sandwich two was just as yummy and here's the photo evidence:

Pictured: Hillshire Farms Smoked Chicken Breast lunch meat, whole wheat bread, provolone cheese and warmed sweet bbq sauce. I actually had to make another sandwich when it came time to write this post because I just didn't feel the first picture was quite good enough....

Hillshire Farms also provided me with LunchTime Tips! and at first I thought how hard could it really be to make a sandwich? As it turned out I learned quite a bit about things that had never occurred to me before. I'm going to share my favorite informational facts and tips from Hillshire Farms on making lunch the best it can be!

o Our premium quality lunch meat is made with no by-products or artificial flavors

I didn't know that! But in my house that is one quality I strive for because my kids have special dietary needs!

• Hillshire Farm is offered in a double-sealed, re-sealable tub that is designed to lock in freshness and great taste. No package keeps lunch meat fresher, longer

Another awesome feature! I love the tub! I wash them out and then use them for Barbie clothes or crayons. That's helping the earth too. (If I could, my only complaint is that the meat is all folded up inside the container. It's probably just my OCD tendency but I hate that the meat rips apart when you try to take some out. But it still tastes fantastic!)

Freshness Tips:

• To keep sandwiches crispy and delicious, place a single layer of premium quality lunch meat on each slice of bread, then spreading the condiments on those. The meat creates a barrier between the bread and the rest of the ingredients.

• The Fresh Squad suggests insulated lunch bags as the best choice for school lunches. Some insulated lunch bags are equipped with freezer packs. If not, try freezing juice boxes or reusable bottled waters instead of adding freezer packs. The boxes or bottles will thaw to provide a refreshing beverage and keep the sandwich fresh.

• Be sure to choose the right bread for your sandwich. Keep in mind that the more moisture in the fillings, the drier and denser the bread should be. Breads with thick crusts work perfectly, or swap your regular bread for flour tortillas, bagels, English muffins or pitas. Grill or toast the bread to add crunch and flavor.

I love these ideas. And Hillshire Frams wants to give you the chance to put these tips to use with their lunch meats! Here's what I'm giving away courtesy of Hillshire Farms:

TEN Coupons for a free product from Hillshire Farms (set amount per coupon)

I'm going to pick three lucky readers to win coupons for Free Meat! The grand prize winner will receive FIVE coupons, second place winner will receive THREE coupons and third place winner will receive TWO coupons! All winners will be drawn at random.

Here's how you can enter: (one entry per item)

1. Leave a comment on my blog. Tell me what you love about Hillshire Farms or give me a lunch tip of your own!
2. Follow me on Twitter @BlogMamaAndrea
3. Follow me here at Blogging Mama

The contest runs from now until Tuesday September 7, 2010 at 11:59 eastern and is valid for residents of the US only.

Good luck everyone and Goooo MEAT!

Random Tuesday Thoughts, in which I send adult text to my niece

2010-08-31T03:01:00.000-04:00

Yep, it's Random Tuesday Thoughts time and that means we all need to thank our Super Hero Leader, Keely over at The UnMom for creating an event that shall live a lot longer than we do.

On to the random-dumb-hilarious things I've done this week...

Last night, after dinner, I was sitting at the table, enjoying an adult beverage, when I got a text. First thought Casey!! (Cause, seriously I Do Not Text. Except with Casey, cause she's special.) But I saw it was my sister with whom I've texted a few times. Innocent enough (to start) it goes like this:

Sis: What are you doing girly (not out of line for my sis to say)

Me: Having a beer and getting ready to bathe the chick. Trust me alcohol is required.
Me: What r u up to?

Sis: Lol McK (niece) was trying 2 text my sil A and she was like oh my gosh i accidentally did aunt andrea! then she says "did u know she drinks beer?

(I was mortified I just sent that type of text to my 8 year old niece, on a Sunday, when neither of her parents drink, and they were probably still in their church clothes)

Me: Oh my!! Guard ur phone woman!!!

Good news is niece couldn't stop giggling about the whole thing. Not sure I can either.

I met up with some new people this weekend for general entertainment and frivolity. I'm pretty sure I repeated the same phrase three times in five minutes and came off sounding like a complete moron (in other words, I was myself...) I'm really not that inept at conversation. I swear.

So! @JamieBlog on Twitter is having this awesome contest on his website Better Off Red. You have a chance to win an autographed poster of Joey Votto from his recent Sports Illustrated cover. Hello! I want that. I wonder if the fact that I sat at Mr. Votto's table for dinner in July will get me any extra bonus points...(In case you forgot, here's the photographic evidence of said dinner.)

Anyway, to win, you need to recreate Joey's image on the cover. It's not as easy as you think. Cause really, how can you top the original picture?

Looking for Tuesday's Terms? They are here.

Yesterday I endured the heck that is the after-school car line at SM Elementary because Thor had a doctor's appointment. If he took the bus home we wouldn't have made it on time. Next time I'd rather be late than repeat that form of hell...Now I know why they discourage you from picking your kids up from school.

I have four books I'm in the process reading (HP Deathly Hallows, Anna Karenina, All Quiet on the Western Front and some e-book I don't even remember the name of it's so boring) and yet I can't seem to motivate myself to get through any of them. With the exception of the ebook I've read them all previously. I've been reading a chapter of each every couple of days. It's my own version of Book Readers ADD.

I've had a single small package of plain M&M's on my desk for about two weeks. Still haven't finished them yet. I eat three or four everyday and that's it. Now if they were Peanut Butter M&M's or Peanut; I wouldn't be blogging about it because they would already be long gone. (FYI, eating an M&M then randomly eating dried cranberries a few minutes later - things that don't go together.)

If you didn't get enough Random from me, then you can head over to The UnMom and read all the other Random that's going on around the world today.

If you have a Random Affliction, feel free to leave it in the comments.

Even if you don't like it, click anyway...

2010-08-30T11:27:00.000-04:00

Today is the first official post over at my baseball blog The (Virgin's) Guide To Baseball.

If you could be so kind as to click the link? You don't even have to make a baseball comment. In fact, you don't even have to like baseball. You just need to comment and tell me this isn't insane (or tell me it is insane. Really, I'm not picky.)

If you want to win a free Invisicase Surround Mattress Protector then you can enter here: Giveaway! Only Two Days left!

Today is also day one of training for Cincinnati's Run Like Hell Charity 5k. If I don't die in the process, I'll be back for tomorrow's Random Tuesday Thoughts.

Double Post Friday

2010-08-27T10:53:00.001-04:00

This week I got my copy of Cincinnati Magazine. As I've said before, it's no Philadelphia Magazine but it's not so bad either. Within the pages I came across a section about charity races. If you remember way back to when I was living in Germany I took up running. Or tried to at any rate. You'll also note that since we've moved to Kentucky I've only managed to run a few times. Mostly because everywhere I go I see hills. Lots and lots of hills.

This mama don't do hills.

I also have suddenly developed a highly unattractive look when running hills. Think bright red sweaty face. I never had this problem in Germany where I used to run along the Rhine river. Not saying I looked like a freakin supermodel but I didn't have red-face-itits. So it has to be the hills. That's my conclusion anyway.

Back to the magazine. There's a charity run benefiting Cystic Fibrosis and it has to be taking place in the coolest place ever.

A cemetery. Why I find that to be such a great place to run is beyond me, but I'm so in. It's called the Run Like Hell 5K. I'm going to do it. That means I have to start training at some point to be able to make it the entire 5K because did I mention...

there are hills. Lot's and lot's of hills. And did I mention you have to wear a costume??? And it starts at 7:30 PM?? In a cemetery??

It's gonna be awesome (and scary as hell...hehe) But I am determined to see this through. It's for a good cause and it might get my butt in shape (figuratively and literally I suppose.) I'm toying with the idea of offering up a chance for a yummy prize if you make a donation on my behalf to support me and the cause. (Details to come on that.)

Either way, encourage me readers! I'm going to need it to not only survive the running part but also the creepy cemetery part. If you are in the Cincinnati area on Friday October 29 come by and show your support or better yet run with me!

*I'm taking suggestions for costumes as well!!

It's Friday!

2010-08-27T06:00:00.002-04:00

It's Friday. It sure took it's sweet time getting here but it has finally arrived. Since it is Friday, that means it's also Shoe Friday over at Jodifur and my shoes have the privelege of being a part of today's celebration. If you don't know what Shoe Friday is you really need to pop over and check it out.

This is the dress I wore with the featured shoes. It was for the BlogHer Gala Dinner Thingy. Which means, since we didn't actually do much more than dress up, go downstairs and decide the whole thing was really lame...I wore it for like ten minutes? Fifteen?

Still awesome dress and fab shoes. (Dress from White House Black Market and shoes from Nordstrom rack)

Trust me when I say the dress is actually much better than it looks in this crappy picture. I was far too lazy to walk downstairs and get a proper camera. And you know, not do it at ten o'clock at night when the light completely sucks.

Have you ever gotten snazzy for a party and then not actually attended it in favor of something better?

(In my case something better was the girls and I in Times Square and drinks at Connelly's Bar. Much more fun than being social with strangers.)

Got Bed Bugs? Invisicase Surround Protector Giveaway!

2010-08-26T03:28:00.000-04:00

Bedbugs. How many times have you said Goodnight, sleep tight, don't let the bedbugs bite! and thought nothing of it but a silly old rhyme? Well...it could be more true than you think! I'm especially horrified to hear that Ohio (just ten minutes from me...) has the worst bedbug problem in the US. ACK!

There is good news though! You can protect your mattress and yourself from bedbugs with Invisicase Surround Protector! A few things to think about:

What’s inside your mattress?

Consider this…

400 – Number of offspring that a
single female bedbug can produce

10 – Number of minutes a bedbug
typically spends drinking a human's
blood, usually as the victim sleeps

1 yr – How long a bedbug can survive
with out without eating

How worried are you now about your mattress? (I'm pretty grossed out actually...)

But you don't have to worry too much because I'm giving away an Invisicase to one lucky reader! Here are some great things about the Invisicase:

With a mattress protector like the Invisicase Surround Protector, bedbugs can’t find their way into your mattress. Invisicase also repels body fluids and moisture and allows vapors to easily breathe through the protector. The Invisicase is breathable, waterproof, hygienic, machine washable (bonus!!) and simple to slip on and off with a three sided zip closure.

Here's how you can enter to win your own Invisicase: (each item allows one entry)

Follow Blogging Mama
Follow me on Twitter @BlogMamaAndrea
Tweet about my giveaway
Simply comment!

The giveaway runs from today until September 1 at 11:59 pm eastern. Good luck!

The giveaway is open to US residents only.

*I was given the opportunity to provide the Invisicase to one reader free of charge in exchange for this post.

Random Tuesday Thoughts: The posts don't write themselves...

2010-08-24T03:30:00.007-04:00

...unless they do. This weeks Random Tuesday Thoughts is proudly brought to you by Me and Keely at The UnMom (her idea but she let's me play along...)

This is where I would normally stick the Fugly buton we all know and love but...Keely recently relocated her blog to a new host and well...I can't load the page. Dang nabit. So just envision the Fugly button people, okay?

Did you know I can now claim that I met The Keely? Cause I totally can (hello BlohHer 2010). And I'm pretty sure she only told me once to stop stalking her (she was talking to someone else that second time. I'm nearly positive of that...)

See? Real live proof -

She totally wants to be BFF's. I'm thinking about it...

I've become like a crack addict and I've launched myself at Twitter full press (@BlogMamaAndrea if you're not already following!!) Really, still don't get the reason why (except to follow baseball) and yet I am on there All. The. Time. What gives with that?

Baseball. Yep, I'm addicted to that too. I'm writing up that little baseball blog Robin is forcing me into (thanks!) and hopefully it'll be ready for Monday. Monday's are going to be Mascot Monday's over at The (Virgin's) Guide To Baseball. Catchy name, eh? Thought of it myself and everything... Will you be reading it? Let me know.

Last week I told you about needing to take Thor for more concise testing for his ASD. I called the Children's Hospital for an appointment. They directed me to a separate ASD center. Which directed me to get a referral from my pediatrician. And then call back for an appointment. I'll take Pass the Patient for a $1,000 Alex!

I haven't watched the evening news (local or national) in a long time. I always get my news online. Does anyone even watch the news anymore?? That Couric lady still hacking it up?

If you consistently eat Grands biscuits with lavender honey you will gain three pounds in a week (especially if you add real butter.) I don't know this for fact or anything...I'm just saying. Could happen.

I'm loving unemployment. Too bad it's not loving me back. Maybe I'm just unemployable? If I fill out one more application just so it can get tossed in the trash...

Have you been Coxed? (Kudos to Gina for making it into Urban Dictionary!!)

If you use Twitter, do you look for people to follow? I don't search for people (unless I'm reading your blog and you have a link for Twitter, then I usually follow you). I'm just curious if I'm the only one who simply lets other people do all the work...

What would you doo-oo for a Klondike bar? If it meant I never had to watch that commercial again, I'd buy every damn Klondike bar on the planet.

I wanted to put up a video of my Fisher-Price Sing-A-Ma-Jig but my Flip camera broke. Thankfully since it was still under warranty Flip is sending me a new one. For that they rock. They don't rock so much for their CS making me feel like a COMPLETE FREAKIN' MORON when I was on the phone. I really didn't need your help to feel stupid, just so you know.

Oh, I feel so good now that a dribble of the Random has escaped! If you want to get your Random on head over to Keely's to link it up! Tell her that her BFF sent ya.

(Watch her site will be down and I'll have composed this entire post for nothing...)

Beating the dead horse (yes, even more baseball...)

2010-08-22T20:51:00.002-04:00

So is it a great time to be a baseball fan or what? Especially if you're a Phillies fan or a Reds fan.

But what if you're both??!!

The Phillies took care of the Nationals today 6 - zilcho. They're hitting their groove only a couple of games back from first in the National League.

They have this guy as a fan:

And they have the Phanatic. Who wouldn't want to get shaggalicious with the Phanatic?!? (yes I'm claiming shaggalicious as a new word...)

Just look at that yummy green goodness...

Phanatic doing Lady Gaga's Bad Romance was quite stirring too. OMG click the link. I can't embed the video cause it's from MLB but just do it. Prepare to laugh.

One of the statues of Phanatic placed around Philadelphia this summer

I know my recent top defection to the Reds caused some upset in the house but really, look at the Reds. Are they on a tear or what? Huh? Swept the Diamondbacks, took 2 out of 3 from the Dodgers and now onward to take care of Giants. And they are Gonna Take Care of Bizz-ness.

Their mascot hasn't got anything on the Phanatic of course (Mr. Redlegs, please someone enlighten me about why they call the Reds redlegs??) But when youre winning the way the Reds are, who cares what your mascot looks like right?

Reds are 3.5 games over the Cardinals (whom I refer to as the Kentucky Fried Cardinals, hehe) and sitting in the sweet spot of FIRST place in the Central.

Really, how can you not love baseball right now? I'll see you Saturday at Great American Ballpark where the Reds are gonna trounce some baby bears...(that would be the Cubs for the rest of you).

*I promise I'm going to try to stop talking baseball here but if or rather when my teams make the playoffs, just grin and bear it people! I did think of making Baseball for Women site but it seems someone already has.

**Okay since Robin going to MAKE ME I'm making a baseball blog geared for women. Would you read it? Let me know!