Ah, Michigan...

So now that I've had this Ash Wednesday to get organized, I can tell you about our trip to the lovely and completely forgettable, Midland, Michigan.

No, I'm kidding. We really had a great time, it's just an odd vacation destination is all. But we went there to see my Grandfather and so he could these great-grandchildren of his. Jess did not disappoint and gave him one of her nonsensical diatribes across the breakfast table complete with hand gestures and finger-waving. 90 years separate those two, and I cannot help but dwell on all of the love and life in between.

Much to Sean's gastric chagrin, we began our Michigan vacation with a trip to Big Boy--that culinary wonder.



He does not care much for this pleasant peninsula classic, but as I bit into that Slim Jim combination, I was taken back to many a day of my youth, and I swear I could smell my Mom's Cachet perfume sitting next to me.

After, we finished the drive up to our luxurious accommodations--the Holiday Inn. Now you know that I am admitted hotel snob, but I have to tell you, I was impressed. Not so much with the paper thin bed sheets, but for the mere fact they had a game room, indoor play place, pool and racquet ball courts. We had some fun getting our back-to-basics freak on with pinball and Ms. Pacman.

That night, after a quick visit with Grandpa and a not so quick trip to 37 different stores in search of boots and mittens, it started to snow. And snow. And snow. It was beautiful.

By the time we woke up the next morning, there was about 6 inches of fresh snow on the ground, and still coming down.



My Dad and Mary Anne came up, and we spent two days playing inside and then out. We tried sledding for the first time,


catching snowflakes on our tongues and generally figuring out this whole snow thing. Colleen came up on Sunday and we did the whole thing all over again with her. It was big fun.

I think after the kids had 36 hours of snow the consensus was that it was a great natural phenomenon to visit, but we wouldn't want to live there.


We ended the long weekend being almost late for the return flight because we had to make a stop at Bronner's and turkey jerky.



I wish we were going back this weekend.

Make Your Dream Room Come True with Olympic Paint and Exterior Stains!

Maybe your dream home doesn't include 6 to a bathroom and avocado green couches and macramé, but everyone sure can have a bunch of fun coloring our individual castles. For two lucky readers who share their dream indoor and outdoor spaces, Olympic paint is going to help make that happen.

Simply leave a comment on SuburbanDiva.com, here, or TheMotherhood.com and you could be eligible to win enough paint or stain to transform a room in your house or an outdoor deck.

Leave those comments by midnight on Sunday, March 1, 2009 and we'll announce the two winners on Monday.

Use the tools on Olympic.com to help you get inspired. Paint a virtual room with different color combinations and find tips on how to make all of your painting projects look beautiful.

Let's hear all about your dream rooms.

With or without the Astroturf.

The Biannual Brady Bedroom Shift

I've been trying to take my decorating cues from Carol Brady.

Not necessarily the pane-less sliding glass doors or the orange Formica countertops, but I'd really like to be able to fit six kids in two bedrooms with a half a dozen single beds made perfectly everyday.

Actually, I'd settle for two kids in one bedroom and an Astroturf back lawn.

Because this weekend marks the biannual bedroom shift--that event in which I believe that I can successfully redecorate and transfer the kids' stuff from one room to another and somehow pick up 200 square feet and clutter-free dressers in the process. I have never been exactly successful with this pilgrimage, but we attempt it regularly nonetheless, much like playing the lottery or remembering my recyclable bags when I go to the grocery store.

To fit two kids in one multiple-age appropriate newly-decorated bedroom is no small task. We will make untold trips back and forth between the two rooms. Argue about paint color. Donate several dozen bags of outgrown clothing. Compromise on who gets the right side of the room and who the left. Conduct dicey negotiations on who gets the top bunk. And no doubt reinstate the "No food in bedrooms" rule after cleaning up a cereal-aisle's worth of Froot Loops under the bed.

But I do think ultimately it is a necessary exercise. Not only to redistribute the clothes in the drawers and the furniture impressions on the carpet, but it changes up the dynamics of the house a little and gives everyone a chance to stretch their quickly-growing limbs and even faster-growing imaginations without leaving town.

So unlike my Brady Bunch inspiration, hopefully, we'll be mixing it up a little more than Greg moving into the den or sharing the attic with Marcia.

Anyone know where Cousin Oliver slept?

Off to snowier pastures

I'm not quite packed yet, but bright and early tomorrow we're heading to Michigan for a long weekend of snow and family.

This also means I will have to board a plane with the whole crew, something that does not make me at all comfortable, but I hope to amply self-medicate on Dramamine to get me through.

Next week is going to be crazy fun and busy, and we'll have lots to discuss via blog, but for now my worthless, tired fingers will leave you with some green projects to keep you busy while I'm gone. I love the crayon thing.

What's playing?

You all owe me mad 21st century props.

I have seen two non-animated movies this week and it's only Tuesday. First, I saw "Juno" on Sunday, and while I know it isn't exactly a poppin' fresh new release, I did see it in the decade it was made so that's progress.

Second, I saw a movie in an actual theater tonight. And while it certainly wasn't the screenplay genius as Sunday's film, it did not star Woody or Buzz so I think "Mall Cop" counts in my thin cinematic resume.

Go me.

Our Valentine's Day

Last night we braved the 72 degree elements and Sean's aching mouth from oral surgery and headed downtown (Safety Harbor) to the Italian Festival.

Usually I love these Safety Harbor outings--it's a party-loving little town we live in, it seems we Safety Harborites loves us festivals for any occasion.

However I don't think this was 100% authentic Italian. Sure, there were green, red and white Mardi Gras beads as you walked in, but by the time we got down to the zeppoli booth, they were out. Of zeppoli, cannoli and wine.

I've never been to any establishment of Italian descent that ran out of food. Or wine.(?!)

Somehow the gyros and french fries that were aplenty just didn't seem as appetizing.

Winners

Okay you crazy readers, I've got the envelope right here to announce our Valentine's Day winners...

First, our generous friends at Hallmark are giving the five recordable cards to Jodi, Kathy T., Kirsten, Chris and Natalie. If you don't live within a 10 mile radius from my house, please email me your address and I'll send you some recordable love!

Next, chocolate...The See's Valentine's chocolate heart will go to Marcy S, from Michigan. Marcy, the entire divaverse is soooo jealous right now.

Happy Valentine's Day to all!

Chocolate....

How about some chocolate to go with those Valentine's? My favorite chocolate supplier has some Valentine's Day chocolates for you!

See's Candies is going to give one random reader a pound of their yummy goodness if I don't rifle through the box before we draw a winner on on Wednesday.



Divamail me or leave a comment and you'll be entered to win.

I heart you, See's.

I kid you not

Inspired by the theme, "Denim and Diamonds," Sean made his own outfit for the auction last night.




I know people will think that this is a sure sign that the retirement/hiatus project is taking a new and disturbing turn, but I think it's more that he's a Dad who loves his kids and has some more time to show it.

Strange Days Indeed

We're getting ready for our school's annual auction tonight.

Sean is bedazzling his jeans.

Will post pictures later.

(Keep entering the contest below!)

A Valentine's Giveawy from Hallmark

I blog. I Twitter. I am Linkdin and my Face is Booked. I shop, bank, connect, learn, and am entertained online. I can even write my own basic HTML code. Even though I don’t know what that stands for nor can I figure out the remote control, I am pretty technologically savvy comparatively speaking.

However, there are just some things that cannot be replaced by technology, and one of them is getting a good, old-fashioned card in the mail.

But maybe they are not so old-fashioned. Hallmark has introduced its new line of recordable greeting cards that allows the sender to record a 10 second message in their own voice that plays when the recipient opens their card. No plug-ins, no websites, no codes to enter to retrieve. It’s absolutely awesome.

For Valentine’s Day this year, my kids recorded a special holiday greeting to their great-grandparents. A simple message, but the fact that it was in their own sweet voices made it extra special. It’s something that can be played over and over again.

I can see this making any occasion that much more special--a thank you more thankful and Happy Birthday more sincere. At $6.99, it’s an affordable way to give a smile to your special someone.

I’ve got 5 of these cards to give away to YOU. Leave a comment that could be recorded into a 10 second Valentine’s wish, and you can win one of these fun cards.

Wish someone a Happy Valentine’s Day the new old-fashioned way.

I found the keyboard!

Today I'm going to rehab.

Doemstic rehab, that is.

After weeks of home renovations, parties, guests, crazy schedules and general insanity, this house is unfit for higher functioning humans.

Not dirty, just disorganized to a point of handicap. We have clean clothes, they are just not in the drawers. Today, I couldn't find M's school shoes and S. left his homework on the counter. J-Dog hasn't slept right in days. We just need to not only clean up, but clear out.

So I'm putting all of my other stuff on hold for the day and getting to work on the house.

Maybe I'll find some inspiration underneath the pile of towels.

Interview with a winner

Have you seen any of the wonderful Generation Huggies videos yet?

Amanda L, one of the winners from Florida, offers this piece of advice for new moms: “When you are a first time mom bringing home a newborn there will be good days/nights and bad. Just know that you are not alone! Everyone goes through hard times when you think you just can't do it, but you can and you will!”

Amanda is “a former teacher turned stay-at-home mom. I have a very active 2 year old little girl and I am currently 5 months pregnant with a boy!” She, along with 29 other moms from around the country will be featured in an upcoming national ad campaign for Huggies talking about their experiences as mothers.

So take a minute to watch, and think about your answer to that timeless question, What does motherhood mean to you?

Groundhog's Day

I am absolutely useless today.

I'm "Special to The Times"

It doesn't happen often, (okay, just one other time that I know of) but occasionally the print edition of the newspaper finds some of my work on the online side, and likes it enough to print it. Like today when they ran my Thom Filicia article on the front page of the Homes section.



The funny thing is, I never know when these occasions are. They just run a piece without a word and I get this nice little surprise when I read my horoscope or the latest local politician scandal.

I gotta tell you how much this warms this old heart of mine. I'm positively giddy.

Kicking off Super Bowl Weekend

I put in a solid 17 minutes of work today which includes 4 minutes of overtime, so I’m ready to start the Super weekend’s festivities.

While some of the fam actually have terribly-overpriced tickets for the game on Sunday, I am watching at home with my children, the Intern and mother in-law and anyone else who wants some empanadas and guacamole. And beer.

So tonight we'll kick things off by going to the NFL Experience and dining at the restaurant that serves hamburgers and cupcakes that I cannot remember the name of, but dream of its tasty offerings nightly. Cupcakes...

But in the mean time, I’m putting this out there: how about a little contest? Email me if you are interested in getting game squares (no cost) this Sunday, and I will email you back with your numbers. It will work like traditional squares, I'll draw the numbers randomly. We'll have prizes for each quarter plus a game winner. (And if anyone wants to donate some prizes, well, email that too.)

Happy Super Weekend!

Florida Winners in Generation Huggies

The Generation Huggies project that rolled into town a few months back has made its selections for the national ad campaign featuring real moms from across the country sharing their perspectives on motherhood.



Of the 30 winners, seven are from the Sunshine state! All of the winning entries can be seen on GenerationHuggies.com, but take special note of these Floridians:

~Amanda L.
~Carrie M.
~Jennifer E.
~LaTriece L.
~LeQuyen M.
~Maite C.
~Patricia G.

Among other candid perspective you’ll see real moms talk about what the definition of "me time" has become, what issues are forefront of our minds, and just what it is being a mom today.

I loved watching the videos individually, but I have to say that it was quite powerful to watch the entire mosaic of motherhood.

So check out all of the winners on GenerationHuggies.com, and thank you to all of the mothers who took part in this wonderful project.

Good thing we're redecorating...

The painters are here! The painters are here!

They are currently painting some bright mustard-yellow and cool brick over the red walls. Last night Moo told me he was happy we were painting.

"Why?" I asked, because I really liked the red.

"Because this room scares me at night. That's why I always run through it. It reminds of blood or something."

Dang, if that doesn't bring on the maternal guilt. Here I thought it kind of looked like a house of ill-repute in Amsterdam, but it turns out it is a house of ill-repute in Amityville.

Poor kid.

Can I do it?

I only have 3 days to do a complete top-to-bottom cleaning of the house in the midst of a remodel project, make appointments and take 2 kids to the doctor, complete the weekly assignments as well as update a gazillion websites, grocery shop, 2 basketball games, laundry, and set the Super Bowl plans.

That leaves precious little time to drive my husband crazy.

I better start now.

Writer's block

I'm stuck on this particular assignment--can't seem to generate anything about Barbie turning 50 except Haiku.

Barbie at fifty
40-20-32
Stretch Armstrong's Unknown.

Fine. I'll get back to work.

The old floor is out

I have forgotten how much I hate the home improvement process. I love the before and after, it's the during I could live without.

You'd think that the complete remodel of two rooms we barely use wouldn't be such a hassle, but when you have to move everything out of those rooms and a fine film of sawdust settles on everything else, the whole house is in complete chaos. It's throwing me all off balance.

Where's my BFF Thom and if you win the $25,000 RoomADayGiveaway would you spot me a grand so I could hire someone to finish this? Please???

1/20/09

I am happy and hopeful today, and if you need me I'll be watching television.

That is all.

17 years ago today....

I think I read somewhere that the traditional gift for the 17th wedding anniversary is taking the kids to the mall so the husband can work on home improvements and then returning during football for a nice homecooked dinner and a rousing game of Blokus.

I'm nothing if not a traditionalist.

Happy Anniversary, honey.

Speaking of redecorating...

...I wonder if I'm eligible for that $25,000 Roomadaygiveaway makeover with my new BFF Thom Filicia, because methinks I might need it after this conversation with my husband this morning as he embarks on the next home improvement project--re-painting and laying new floors in the living room and dining room. Yes, we are replacing the bordello red...

Sean: I am going for small, attainable goals. Today, I'm just going to remove the baseboards in the dining room. (And make a huge mess, and then try to burn said baseboards in the fireplace causing toxic smoke and all the fire alarms to go off on the street.)

Me: Do you think we can be all finished by the Super Bowl before your parents come for their visit?

Sean: (Shrugging shoulders.) Why? What does it matter?

Me: (No words, just silent sobbing.)

Help me.

So I was chatting with my friend, Thom Filicia...

Sometimes when I browse through those glossy pages of design magazines, I think, sure they’re beautiful, but not exactly practical for a living, breathing family with a penchant for Italian food and Crayola products. Those white sofas and glass carpets wouldn’t last a minute in my house--or in anyone’s I know.

So when I got an opportunity to ask celebrity designer, Thom Filicia (Queer Eye for the Straight Guy and Dress My Nest) how to practically decorate a family home with kids, pets and husbands, he offered some very helpful advice.

His design philosophy begins with the concept that everyone’s “interior should tell your story.” Your home should reflect your personality and “what makes you unique and authentic.” So decorate with those family photographs and mementos from vacations, and anything else that makes you happy.




And what to do with all of those Legos? “Embrace the idea that kids are there,” he said. You’re going to have toys in your home--the key is organization.

~Look to Kindergarten classrooms for organization ideas. Teachers are masters of having to organize lots of different materials for many different kids.

~Use inexpensive bins and cubbies to keep the clutter under control.

~Make it fun--Make kids part of keeping their own space organized. Thom loves to use a stopwatch for a fast pick-up or to sort things by color in a matching game while picking up.

~No room should be “off-limits” to children, but do explain that certain rooms serve different purposes than others. The living room isn’t the best choice for coloring, but the playroom or kitchen table is.

~For kid’s rooms, he warns not to invest too much into trends or specific interests. Kids grow out of things faster than you think, and it may be Barney this year, but karate the next. Keep the backdrops neutral so the room can mature with the child.

And as we Mommas already know, frugality is going to be a top decorating trend of 2009. Thom assures us that’s a good thing. “Be honest with yourself about your budget and your goals.” He says we should definitely “reuse and repurpose what you already have.”


~Move things to different rooms to change the look.



~Add a coat of paint to older furniture or to make odd pieces coordinate.

~Shop at flea markets, Craigslist and tag sales, but also be on the lookout for really great bargains at traditional stores. You may be able to pick up a great deal on good quality pieces that will last for years.

~Don’t be afraid to “mix the timely with the timeless.”

And if you still need help? How about a $25,000 room makeover? After revealing his redesign of the dressing rooms on ABC’s, “The View” on Monday, Thom announced the Room-A-Day Giveaway sweepstakes to award 16 lucky winners $25,000 each for a room makeover sponsored by "The View" and Kimberly-Clark. Enter online daily through March 6, 2009 at RoomADayGiveaway.com or http://www.abc.com. Winners will be announced daily on “The View” beginning on February 2nd.

For more of Thom’s tips, pick up his new book, Thom Filcia Style, or check out his blog.


Maybe we’ll make it onto those glossy magazine pages yet.

(Photos Courtesy of Thom Filicia)

My husband went to Vegas and didn't even get me a lousy T-shirt

Yep, he tried to pass off these as "spa products."

Queer Eye for the Sleepy girl

After my last Christmas celebration with my fabulous ex-neighbor, I was going to come straight home and write all about my earlier interview with celebrity interior designer Thom Filicia and then pen a brilliant book review on Wally Lamb's latest 736+ page novel, and then start filling this blog with actual content, but I stayed up until 2 in the morning reading 700 of those pages to finish before deadline and then was back up again at 6 for the most jammed-packed day I've had in a while, and right now the blinking cursor on blank Word document is about the exhausting thing I can imagine.

So, tomorrow I promise to fill your life with design tips from a real expert and a couple of funny stories from the interview, as well as that book review which should be awesome. But for now, I'm crashing.

Night night.

What I do when he's not home

You know what I fantasize about while my husband is out of town?

Not that, you sicko. I fantasize about sleep, getting things done around the house, and writing. All unrealistic.

But last night I did manage to get more sleep than the night before, and I did write both assigned work and a couple o' pages of fiction, so I guess I'm living the dream a little.

Tomorrow's a killer day--I totally mis-scheduled and over-committed and I'm deeply in debt to a few friends who are going to bail me out--I promise something wonderful or alcoholic to you. But it's such a cool thing that I'll be doing from 1:30-2:30 EDT, that you'll all forgive me when you hear the big news. I swearz.

Please do not try this at home

Circus time!

Last night we went to the circus. And no, I don't mean our normal life circus. The bona fide, elephant-tromping, trapeze-spinning, $12 cotton candy vending, tiger pissing circus.

Shockingly, (or not) this is something we attend every year. Much because it was my husband's place of employment, but also because the kids really enjoy it. A-dog loves herself some animals.

We sat really close, which was cool, but at times too close perhaps. We saw (and smelled) a little more of the reality than the magic, and that was a little disappointing. But everyone still had a great time.





Sean is off "consulting" this weekend, so it's time for me to write in between chauffeuring. Might see if I can type a manuscript on my iPhone at red lights...

A late addition to my Resolutions list

I will never begin any formal piece of writing this year with the words, "In this economy..."

Seriously, we aren't even into the double-digits of days in 2009 and already I want to hurl myself from a building whenever I turn on the news.

But I floss everyday

It was the kids' first day back to school, and I celebrated by going to the dentist.

Now you know how much I hate going to the dentist. Hate. It. But I go to be a good example to my children, and to ensure that I will be able to eat peanuts when I'm 90. Today is supposed to be the 6 or 9 month cleaning, and oh yeah, we just want to replace one of your old childhood fillings with a new one. Not that it's broken or otherwise offensive except for the fact that it's silver and was put in during the Carter administration. But it's not bothering anyone since it is in the back of my mouth and he's the only one who can see it.

Anyway, I agree to replace it, because they start their fancy talk about bicuspids and fluoride and I get all confused and agree to needless medical treatments. And that makes me an idiot.

Dr. starts drilling away, and at first, I'm okay with it. This is part of being a grown-up--dealing with oral pain. I can do this. It hurts despite the Novocaine, but I persevere until he brings out the big guns. As in a big, loud, heaving jackhammer. He pulls this thing out and I immediately feel the plates in my head shift. A brain scan at that very moment would have registered a 6.8 on the Richter scale. I must have winced, or had a seizure, because Dr. said, "Oh, is that painful?"

"Not really painful, I'm just a little dizzy because I think my hypothalamus has dislodged."

I thought it was funny, but judging from his non reaction and his joyous return to the riveter, maybe for him not so much. I realize that perhaps 'hypothalamus' might sound curiously like, 'you're an ass' when your mouth is packed with gauze and you have no control over the left side of your face.

Six and a half hours later, he finishes replacing the perfectly fine filling, charges me $260 for the pleasure and I try to realign my eyesight enough to drive home.

At least I got a new toothbrush.

(And oh yeah, you are an ass.)

It's back to the post-holiday grind. Sigh.

If last month was "the most wonderful time of the year," then early January must be the worst. Because of all of my least favorite domestic chores of the year, today holds my most-despised.

It's time to de-holiday the house.

I hate this day. Un-decorating is so Scroogey. I feel like I'm taking a blow torch to Frosty. Or like I showed Rudolph his new 2009 Progress Energy rates.

It's just not nearly as much fun taking all of this down as it was putting it all up. A few weeks ago, the house smelled of gingerbread and cinnamon. Now it smells like sour eggnog and a fresh bottle of Dexatrim.

Perhaps the worst job of the many is the un-trimming of the tree. All of those ornaments that the kids helped put on the lowest boughs are now on the floor beneath an avalanche of dried needles. The scent of pine no longer hangs in the air as I pull off the half-dark lights from the petrified branches; the only things being released are allergens and cobwebs.

But I suppose like this stale popcorn garland, all good things must come to an end, and packing up the holidays is inevitable. One of the best tips I've picked up along the way was to write out a list of the items you need to restock and tape that list to the outside of one of boxes to avoid multiple last minute scrambles to the store next year before you unpack. Mine reads like a note to my future self:

Hey Gorgeous, nice sweater. You need:

1) 1 more strand of Christmas lights. (The one you had wouldn’t stop blinking so you threw it out before someone had a seizure.)

2) 1 pink Advent candle. (Post this on the Easter box because you’ll never find one in November.)

3) More ornament hooks. You’ve used every single one of the 50 you bought six years ago but keep thinking you have plenty. You are down to using paper clips on all of the glass bulbs.

4) Paper clips.

5) A sense of humor, a kind memory and perspective when you open this box. After weeks of non-stop partying, 38 trips to the attic with all of these bins, and glitter and pine needles in every orifice, you had precious little patience left to roll the light strands properly or separate the candles.

Have an eggnog, put on some Bing Crosby and enjoy it. You’ll understand this un-merry tone when the most wonderful time of the year ends all too quickly.

Did someone change the calendar page while I was gone?

I think every new year should begin from beside a hotel pool under sunny skies surrounded by good friends and cold drinks. Or, if that isn't on the agenda, then freezing your ass off at Disney World surrounded by 4 million strangers and the stench of gigantic turkey legs and churros.

Long lines notwithstanding, we had a wonderful New Year's and a perfect start to 2009. We are now home, and I am unpacking and reorganizing and trying to get back into reality even though I have absolutely no desire. There are more things that probably need to be shopped, washed or cleaned, but I don't much feel like it.

Happy New Year everyone.

What are you doing New Year's Eve?

Besides cutting back on my meat intake, I have very few resolutions this year. Actually, you can’t even call them “resolutions” since there is nothing to resolve--I’ve said the same exact thing for years. That novel will be finished in 2009, and preferably the first half of it. I’m a whole lot closer to that goal than I was a year ago, so there’s a big fat yippee skippee.

But when I look back at 2008, I can’t get all down on myself for the lack of more progress. (I did finish half+ of it which is no small feat.) I got the unexpected St. Pete Times gig which was too big of a dream to even make it to the original goals list. And there was a whole lot of other nice surprises along the way--Disney, Generation Huggies, even the local stuff. Jessie turned 1, Amy went to preschool, Matty delighted me every minute and Stevie became a teenager. The Intern moved in and became the Graduate. Sean worked so hard, but still managed to take us all on some great trips and poise us solidly for the next adventure. So I’m officially calling it--at 9:29 a.m. on December 31st--2008 was a pretty awesome year.

Welcome 2009...I have a feeling you're going to be a crazy one.

Could I have a side of steak with my steak?

I'm a little sluggish today. I think it has something to do with our dinner out last night.

Sean and I went to one of those Brazilian restaurants where all they serve is meat. You know the ones--it smells a little gamy, like maybe you stumbled into a duck blind rather than an upscale restaurant. You have a card next to your plate which you flip 'yay' or 'nay' depending on how much animal protein you can pile on your plate or if you suddenly start mooing.

Now you know me. I don't shy away from a nice filet medium-rare. I likes me some beef. But this was not good. While I appreciated the waiters in gauchos, I thought I'd lose an eye if I had one more skewer of roasting meat placed in front of me. I don't know if my colon will ever fully recover. I have grill marks on my own tongue. I can feel my appendix regenerating as we speak to digest all of the bones imploding in my stomach.

So tonight for dinner in order to restore digestive balance, we're either going to eat that "special" yogurt that Jamie Lee Curtis is always pushing rather ickily, or kelp.

Kelp it is then.

I'm up

Today I plan on shaking off this post-holiday lethargy. No, seriously. While Sean has been going to the gym and taking the kids on some wild field trip everyday, I've been unable to move from the couch or bed watching the Food Network. It's a little sad. I need to move my limbs and clean something.

If it is even just my limbs.

Cutting up boxes on Boxing Day

Post-Christmas post to post a hello.

Like you, we are all worn out with paper cuts from opening so many gifts. It was wonderful with lots and nothing going on. We had a fabulous meal with friends, and all fell asleep without doing the dishes. Just the way Christmas should be.

Sean took the girls to the zoo, and I just got finished mailing off $27,000 worth of rebates. Why can't they just give me the discount in the store where my very presence is proof of purchase rather than 17 copies of receipts and cutting labels from original boxes? Seriously, I could have saved 3 hours of my life today. I really want to get writing--jump start on assignments plus getting back to the novel since my only personal goal of 2009 is to finish it by my birthday. (Which I know is the exact same goal of 2008, but obviously I failed on that endeavor and now I save on stationary.)

So as I clean up 2008 to make room for 2009, I've got to announce our last two winners of the year:

See's Chocolate Gift certificate winner is Susan S. from Oldsmar, Florida and the HP Photosmart Wireless Printer goes to Sharon S. from Middleport, New York. Congratulations to the winners and a big thank you to all who entered. I hope the New Year brings many more contest opportunities.

Okay, I'm going back to work now. Or a nap.

What else?

Really, what more is there than to say, "Merry Christmas my friends"?

Merry Christmas my friends.

Ain't technology grand?

First and foremost, Merry Christmas to all! My favorite day has arrived, and shortly I will be signing off to bake something with the kiddos. But rest assured, we'll still have the computer on, because we will be watching this:



M. has been giving us updates all morning. It's the best.

But if I can pull him away long enough, he'll be picking our See's chocolate winner. And there's still time to enter the HP Printer contest...

Merry Christmas!

Top 10 signs it was a good party

1) When you get all of your ridiculously complicated party food assembled and placed in chafing dishes before the first guests arrive.


2)The weather is the perfect temperature that all of the doors in the house are open to allow the party to spill in and out and back again.



3) Your dog looks like this thoroughout the evening.



4) You have plenty of adult beverages.



5) No one eats this because of what you served above.



6) You have no idea who the people are in this picture.



7) You know these guests very well, and are so glad they came and celebrated this wonderful evening with you.



8) Your wine cellar is stocked to the brim, yet no one left thirsty.



9) No one was arrested, ended up in the pool, or threw up in my bushes.



10) 150 people doesn't seem like too many people to have in your house at once.



We are exhausted, but pleasantly so. This was one of those special evenings in which you are surrounded by so many wonderful friends, you can feel nothing but blessed. (and just a little buzzed.)

Thanks to all--we'll never forget it.

Why is my inbox not full?

Did I mention I was giving away a free HP wireless printer and a plethora of HP specialty paper in exchange for just a little holiday e-Cheer?

And yes, I should be setting up and cooking for the 150 people about to descend upon this house, but I need a little love and you need a little help with your printing needs.

It's like the gift of the Magi...or something.

Gifts for you, bangs for me

After filling 100 Chinese takeout boxes with sesame noodles and baking up 16 dozen mini Yorkshire puddings for the party-turned-out-of control-tomorrow, I'm ready to get a haircut.

No, of course that doesn't have anything to do with the other, but everything is answered in the order it was received this week.

While I'm deciding on bangs today (what do you think?) you can enter all of my contests and read all of my other posts, and if I survive the next 48 hours, we'll back here on Monday.

Happy weekend.

Day 3

Day three of retirement and I still had to go to the store myself to get the star anise.

Oh well, at least we're still both alive and only slightly scathed. (Like when he said, "I'm going to get this place so organized!)

No, really we've been too busy running around and working to get in one another's way yet. I've had to work a lot the past few days, and now that all of the assignments are in, I can focus on getting ready for the party and beyond.

No one say istmas-Cray or they get a star anise shoved up their stocking.

XO-
Me

P.S. I came here to post that Lisa C. of Clearwater was the winner of the Children's Place gift card, but you can still enter the See's Candy contest (see below) and next week the mack-daddy contest, which is all I can reveal at the moment.

Crunch Time

It’s crunch time.

Crunching nuts for the snicker noodles. Crunching the red tissue to wrap in gift bags. Crunching the pavement to finish the shopping. Crunching the keyboard to get everything written and turned in on time. Crunching the star anise for the marinated olives to serve on Friday (please don’t ask). Crunching time.

I won’t lie to you and tell you I’m at all comfortable with this. Even today--on a Monday--the day of false confidence, I still feel overwhelmed at the enormity of the tasks ahead this week. But somehow, task by task, item by item, marinated olive by mini Yorkshire pudding I will prevail with proper inspiration.

Chocolate.

I’ve got a box of See’s candies on the table, and every time I walk past it to change laundry loads, I stuff my mouth like the dining room table is a quickened conveyor belt and I am Lucy at the candy factory. (Don’t tell Ricky I want to be in the show!)

I imagine crunch time is not exclusive around here, so I’m sending you some chocolate inspiration, too. I’ve got a $25 gift cert certificate to See’s Candy to give away to one of my Ethel’s. You can use it for a chocolate gift to yourself, as business gifts or just apply it directly to your soul. It’s up to you.

Divamail me your favorite chocolate candy type--mine is the chocolate-covered cherry--and that’ll be enough to earn a spot in the Santa hat for a drawing next Monday, December 22.

So let’s redefine "crunch time" as a peanut-cluster chocolate candy this week, shall we?

It's an odd day

It's Sean's last day today.

?

Processing your order....

So I haven't been doing a whole lot of personal blogging lately because honestly, all I've been doing is writing, cleaning and partying and how many times can you write the words, "I've had so much filet mignon and red wine in the last 2 weeks that I'm posting in au jus ink?"

Yeah, not more than once.

So that's what's new: crazy. (Actually, there's nothing new there after all.) But this is Sean's last week of work and so there are many bittersweet celebrations and we haven't even got to next Saturday yet. And there's that whole Christmas thing to do do for 4 kids+intern which is a plethora of baking, shopping, wrapping, and preening. But you're doing the same thing right now and are only reading this while your last minute Amazon order processes, I get it.

And now mine is completed as well so I'll catch you later.

Great gift for boys

So Matty and I just did the coolest thing--Ridemakerz. Have you heard of it? It's from the folks who brought us Build-A-Bear, so it is that same concept applied to trickin' out some trucks.

Actually, it's even cooler because we just designed his whole Monster Truck online.

The "rides" start at $18, and you can go up from there with all the horns, lights and spinners you can think of. There are noises for revving the engine you can add, too. Pick your colors, tires (there's different treads!) and other really technical things about cars that boys really get excited over and Moms like me don't have a clue.

If you don't have a store near you, you can build everything online, and then within a few days, Ridemakerz ships you the parts per your specifications, and with a little help from Dad, you put it all together and you have a complete custom car.


Matty chose the Monster version (of course) and we added the remote control option for $30 extra. I thought he'd enjoy that more, but it's not required. After I got the right batteries, we were off and running and driving, and he loves his new ride. It lights up and makes all sorts of noise, and best of all, it's a one-of-a-kind Matty creation.

So if you are looking for a great boy gift, this is perfect. Even if you aren’t there to help with the selection, you can still send Ride Money that you can order online in any denomination.

So check out all of the great things on the site--no gas or license required!

A Toasty Treat from The Children's Place

If I had my way, we would all spend the month of December in our pajamas. There's just something about an oven filled with cookies, a fireplace filled with logs, and a tree filled with ornaments that begs for a warm pair of p.j's to be filled with little bodies.

However, it's not always easy to find a pair that isn't reminiscent of Ralphie from A Christmas Story--something my older boys are definitely not excited about.



So this year we compromised and found some at The Children's Place that we all love.


This is the pair my son is sporting right now. And because I want to see your family equally as adorable, I am giving away a $30 gift card to one lucky, jammie-loving reader courtesy of the generous folks of The Children's Place.




Be the 10th caller...no just kidding. Send me a divamail telling me how you love pajamas and I'll enter you in a random drawing to be drawn on Monday, December 15 to win the gift card.

Warm and snuggly holiday wishes to you!

(And you might want to stay tuned to this blog as well as SuburbanDiva.com for some more really awesome giveaways in the coming weeks. Just sayin'...)

An early gift

I've got an early gift for you....







I've got a great prize package from Paramount Home Entertainment that includes Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda, The Furious Five and Shrek the Halls (with a Shrek plush doll). Simply email me your interest and if I draw your name from the Santa hat, it’s all yours. Send by Monday, 12/8/08 to be eligible.

Oh yes, and even if you don't win this week (more giveaways through the holidays, I promise) you can pick up a holiday classic, Suburban Diva: From the Real Side of the Picket Fence, by yours truly for the bargain price of $15 which includes a personalized copy, gift-wrapping by a diva elf, and shipping anywhere you'd like. Divamail me the particulars and I'll get you laughing over Sean's Christmas light stories in no time...

Where'd I put the chafing dishes?

Now that Thanksgiving has passed, soccer is over (hockey, not quite), shopping has been started and I've pressed the first load of Mr. Rooney's shirts, I can now focus on the next big event--and no, it's not Christmas.

Sean's retirement party is quickly approaching, because only I would plan such a huge event four days before the year's biggest event to ensure that I will be committed to an insane asylum on December 26th. But when do I ever make things easy or pass up an opportunity to party and make mini beef wellingtons for 150?

But looking at the shopping list and sheer number of trips to retail outlets over the next 3 weeks--I may just be making fava bean canapes with a nice bottle of Chianti.

Please donate generously

Did anyone happen to catch 60 Minutes on Sunday night? Here's the clip if you didn't. Go ahead watch it. I'll wait.


Watch CBS Videos Online

Oops, sorry. You're done? I was just choking back some bile that came up after that shirt revelation.

Seriously, it's Andy-Freaking-Rooney for diddlydarnsakes. Give the man 78 cents to get a clean shirt everyday, CBS. Who is this guy's agent? He should be doing some damned laundry.

He's 89 years old on a bus to New Jersey with stale rolls in his pocket in 3 day old shirts.

I feel the need to start a petition or a foundation for aging humorists or something. I mean, seriously, if I am blogging at 90 will someone please please please come over and make sure I'm wearing clean clothes? Not that I wear them at 38, but I'm not on TV every Sunday night either.

If you'd like to donate, I'll accept some Tide or a Bounce sheet on Mr. Rooney's behalf.

Thank you for your support.

All sorts of media to describe the weekend

By some pre-Christmas miracle, I got a lot done this weekend. We got the house decorated (both inside and out), I cleaned and organized the toy pile, and grocery shopped. This landslide of accomplishments then led to getting the Christmas picture taken 2 weeks ahead of my usual schedule. It also meant I didn't have to Google, "Cute children in Christmas pajamas" and photo shop non-copyrighted photos to the family card this year. Yay me. Here's a preview:



And along with working, (something I notice I have to do everyday now--weird) I ordered the cards and even made a video card chronicling Sean's exploits outside.



You can make your own holiday card on Newbaby.com too. For free and they are giving away prizes for submissions, too....

Quiet Friday

It's not too black of a Friday when you don't go shopping...

In fact, it was a beige Friday because I made turkey soup from the leftovers. It was a red Friday in that I got a pedicure instead of having my toes stepped on by mobs of people at Target. It was a New Times Roman Friday if referring to the few upcoming holiday details I attended with email and phone calls. I made one online purchase (same price as the 4 a.m. special) this morning, but it definitely was not black.

In fact, I did precious little this Friday. I thought about doing a lot more, even mourned the day for my future self when I wake up on Monday cursing, "It's freaking December 1st??? WTF? Why didn't I do more when I had the chance?" But I still didn't do much to prevent the bleed today.

And I'm glad.

Tomorrow, we'll start decorating, get that Christmas photo taken and pick up a couple of gifts. Heck, I might even find the two that I hid 3 weeks ago that I can't find which is defeating the entire purpose of early shopping, but today, notsomuch.

And now, I'm off to bed early from all of this nothingness. It's amazing how tired that can make a person.

Thanksgiving table

I’m not even going to pretend for one minute that I came up with this craft idea on my own--I shamelessly robbed it from Scribbit whose pinecone turkeys look so much cuter than ours...



After we made these, I was reminded once again of one of my many maternal failures. Our turkeys look like Cabaret dancers. I was going to use them as place card holders on this really elegant table I had pictured in my mind, but now I’m thinking they’re only appropriate if I invited strippers and clowns for Thanksgiving dinner.



But because we have invested so much effort--we collected those pinecones in Georgia this weekend and I went to three different stores for feathers and pipe cleaners--we’re going to use them anyway. It was pretty fun, even for J because no glue was involved.

I will just remember for next year that perhaps I should leave the clever crafts to the pros and stick to what I’m good at...which I suppose would be just coming up with dirty turkey limericks.

Back to the kitchen with me.

Counting my blessings, 2008

I enjoy Thanksgiving much more than most holidays—a day that revolves around food and football, what’s not to love? But perhaps more than culinary appreciation, Thanksgiving by its very definition is a cynic’s day off. And frankly, full-time cynicism is an exhausting profession.

Last year I compiled my 2007 List of Things that I am Thankful For, and as I reviewed it this year, I realize very little has changed with the two exceptions that I would have made it longer and I would include the premature gratitude for winning that $30k from Huggies...

So I humbly present my list to you, and ask, what's on your list? Post here and we'll count our blessings together.

This year I’ve stopped at 101 for the sake of time. So in no particular order with the exception of number one...


1. My family
2. Presidential term limits
3. Amy’s doctors
4. The First Amendment
5. Faith
6. Windows
7. The unexplained
8. Old friends
9. New friends
10. Future friends
11. October 30, 1990
12. Kathy Butler
13. Saturdays
14. Hope
15. A big boy that stills thinks he’s smaller
16. A little boy who thinks he’s a whole lot bigger
17. Paris Hilton’s dimming spotlight
18. A tall eggnog latte
19. Home
20. Sunsets on the Gulf
21. Baby perfume
22. Buying only one size diaper at the store
23. For what I already have
24. A good book
25. Opportunity
26. My iPhone
27. Tasha
28. Spontaneity
29. Sangria
30. Truffle oil
31. Satellite radio
32. Surprises
33. Sacraments
34. A good pair of jeans
35. Fresh flowers
36. Having my hands full
37. Real butter and whole milk
38. Sand between my toes
39. Spring
40. Mascara
41. Fresh herbs in place of dried
42. That I didn’t get that tattoo
43. Christmas
44. Beating the spread
45. A sense of humor
46. A sense of perspective
47. Belly laughs
48. Liking the same music as my kids
49. A full tank of gas (but not the price tag)
50. Vacuum marks in the carpet
51. Lingering meals
52. With delicious conversation
53. The first day of the season you get to wear a sweater
54. Down comforters
55. Homemade anything
56. Hockey
57. My jobs
58. Road trips
59. Wifedom
60. Good health
61. Family traditions
62. Karma
63. Date night
64. A messy desk
65. Followed by a clean one
66. Lindsay Lohan off of the roadways
67. Footy pajamas
68. Online shopping
69. Sunshine sneezes
70. Did I mention the eggnog lattes?
71. The Sunday paper
72. When spammers and telemarketers get prosecuted
73. Dreary Russian novels
74. Proper grammar
75. TiVo
76. Grandparents
77. Birthday candle wishes
78. Christmas cards
79. Close parking spotsValet parking
80. Something simmering on the stove
81. Motherhood
82. Doing my best
83. New car smell
84. Thoughts.
85. Jokes
86. Everyone reading this
87. Parties for no reason
88. Dressing up
89. Bedtime stories
90. Being in love…still
91. Generosity
92. Thanksgiving
93. Lumps in my throat
94. Sleeping through the night
95. Recycling
96. Digging in
97. Not having to translate Amyspeak because it is obvious!
98. Birthday lunches with the girls
99. Baby slobber
100. Puppy slobber
101. That this list is so easy


Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

(This post is on the front page over on TheMotherhood.com!)

Sort of here

Although we're home, I don't really feel all here.

Mainly because we're all not.

I think I left A's blanket at the hotel.

Please, don't. I await a phone call saying they've found it amongst the discarded blankets of the little double bed Frick, Frack, Freak and I shared every night. They have my credit card number to FedEx it as soon as it is found--which will be a miracle in itself if the description of "a child's pink blanket" can reasonably apply to the thing that A-Dog carries around everywhere. Hopefully, Housekeeping has not mistaken it for a spool of dirty yarn from a seconds store. Or a bag lady's knitting basket. Or Barney's lower intestine and colon. Or what a muppet threw up after a night of binge drinking.

Oh, I'm in trouble.

No, really, I'm leaving in just a second

As I am over-packing to leave within the hour, I must keep reminding myself that not only do they probably have stores in the greater Atlanta metropolitan area, but that I am only going to be there for 48 hours.

And I'm leaving Sean and the Intern to hold down this fort, so they could probably wash the coffee pot themselves.

On second, better go get the sponge.

I should really get packing

I’m sitting here ticking off all of the things I need to do tomorrow. I’m taking the kiddos on one of our whirlwind road trips to Atlanta for the weekend because a.) we haven’t done one since August and I don’t want them to get used to having feeling in their legs for 12 hour stretches, b) because my grandparents (their great-grandparents) just spent 3 days trying to buy the correct brand of milk and cereal that although I have told them specifically at least a dozen times this week alone, they will not have purchased the right one, which doesn’t even matter because the kids don’t eat much anyway, but I can’t leave food there out of a guilt reflex so powerful and strong dating back to infancy that I will end up eating 17 bowls of generic Cocoa Pebbles in 2 days, and c) because it’s Thanksgiving and at 38 years old I’m thankful to have grandparents that can, and do, buy the wrong cereal for my children.

So after conferences at 7:30 am, a hair appointment immediately following (want to look closer to 38 than 88), last minute shopping, packing, house-prep, column publication and miscellaneous Traceying; we should be ready to go.

But here’s a couple of pictures and a link to my Thanksgiving column so you don’t miss us too much.

Shopping for days at the 1 Day Sale

For the last two days, I have made several stops at Macy's 1 Day sale. (I know, I did the math too, but fashion need not make sense, people.) I have returned for the final time this afternoon with a good chunk of a first effort at the Christmas shopping. Early and on sale with coupons. Coupons which always seem to shock and awe the salespeople who have worked at the store that issued said coupon for 80 years.

I also had to stock up on long pants. Temperatures dropped below 70 this week which caused a wave of sweater-wearing Floridians to run for the stores for the once a year we wear such longish, woolish clothing. Hate it. But I suppose it is necessary since the kids and I will be traveling to that great northern city of Atlanta this weekend, and if my Grandma sees them without socks she'll disown me and then I'll never hear any good cat stories again.

Hence, Macy's.

But this is more shopping than I've done in years, so I'm worn out and must tend to other non-retail things this afternoon. I'm off to GenerationHuggies.com for the last 2 days of voting for the national ad campaign of Mom videos. Please vote for your favorites.

And you don't even need a coupon...

Newbaby stuff and other news from the blogosphere

You wouldn't know it from the workday I just put in, but I'm sick. I finally dragged my infected head to the Stat Med yesterday (yes, I know, but who has time to make an appointment with a real doctor when you are going to Disney and attending multiple parties??) and got a chest Xray and about 17 prescriptions to heal with uber cold that has resided inside my nasal cavity and general torso for the better part of the autumn. So I hope I'm finally on the mend.

But in addition to laundry, grocery shopping, cleaning, making doctor's appointments and food preparation, I managed to write two posts for the Times, including this one on the Motrin/Babywearing controversy that consumed all of Twitter and the blogosphere this weekend.

You're sure to hear more about it, but if you want a gentle post about the babywearing Mom's POV, read my friend, Stephanie, from Adventures in Babywearing. I met her on our Disney trip and she's a beautiful person. I think she sums it up rather well.

Speaking of Newbaby.com, we're hosting some big holiday fun over there. We're gathering Mom's holiday video cards to share with the blogosphere. Submit yours by December 15, 2008 to be eligible for fabulous gifts during prime gift-giving season. If you can get it in before December 1st, then we will include a portion of your video to add to our Mom's Unite for Peace project, which is a video collage of our Mom wishes for the New Year. Please take a minute in front of the webcam with a Santa hat to take part of this festive project. You can embed your card on your own site or email it to your family friends for the most unique card they'll receive this season!

And that's about it for this manic Monday, off to pass out on that freaky decongestant they gave me.

Hookey is fun

I've had a shower this morning and feel much better. One must wash off the unique perfume of amusement park--that captivating fragrance of sweat, wet metal, and onion rings--before moving on with real life.

Yesterday was a blast. Fun to be with Colleen and her beautiful children, if only for 10 hours in line for Dumbo. I'll take it. The particular irony of this is that as we were gathering any of the 8 children between us to buy an ice cream or souvenir, I had a deja vu. It was only 2 decades ago when we used to work side by side selling overpriced concert swag to people just like us once upon a time. Ah, how things change.



Weekend plans? Oh, the usual, 3 parties, 2 hockey games, 2 oil changes and about 4 gallons of milk. There's a pattern to my life at least...

Playing hookey

Okay, so I'm trying to calm all of the monkey's down for bed.

I stupidly told them more than 30 seconds before we were going to leave that we were skipping school tomorrow and going to Disney World instead. Rookie mistake.

Why am I being such a nice reckless and irresponsible mother? Because my pal from Michigan is down here with her family in the land of Mouse and I miss her and these kind of days are needed every once in a while so you don't lose your mind.

BUT..I deserve it because I've written my fingers off this week and I need to look at something other than this computer screen for a few hours.

I'll eat a Mickey churro for you.

Well, hello Tuesday

I took a Benedryl last night to help me through my night time congestion that the kids have been so generous in sharing, and I woke up this morning feeling like someone had forced me to sleep against my will. Heavy-limbed this morning, and not particularly rested.

But I had to get up and out early this morning so the doctor could tell me that J. has a double ear infection. Of course she does.

After a month hiatus, I am covering the meeting tonight. The good news is that means tonight is Tuesday, and I am going to try to steal an hour beforehand to shop for, (dare I say it aloud?) Istmas-Chray. I am determined not to pay full price for any item this year. I'll let you know how that goes...

I also need warmer clothes for J. because the closest thing she has to pants looks like this, and I can't help but think of Madonna in the "Papa Don't Preach" video every time I see her in it.





Either that or baby prison.

No more whine, please

I just realized I had taken a leave of absence from the blogoshere without even asking anyone to water the plants or take in the mail. How rude of me. I didn't even get you a lousy T-shirt.

So just to get everyone up to speed in the last 4 days I've:

1) Not fixed the school system.

2) Drank a lot of wine for the benefit of the school system.

3) Drank a lot of wine for the city of Safety Harbor.

4) Completed 3 student projects for the school system.

5) Won these from school system:



So as you can see, I've been busy. And drunk. No, I'm kidding of course. Only slightly tipsy but with a killer headache. Here's to a new week. (No wine, please.)

A New Day

First off, let me just express how happy I am today. With the total absence of smugness, and only with genuine and sincere happiness and pride, I feel a big wave of good Karma spreading. I haven't felt that in many years, and I know I'm not alone in that feeling no matter who you voted for. Time to unite and fix our country together.

And on a more personal front, we begin a new chapter around here today as well. Sean has officially announced his resignation from the Lightning effective next month.

We don't know where that next opportunity will be yet, but I know it will be the right thing for our family. I am so proud of what he's done here, so only good things come after something this special. He is going to take Christmas off, and then drive me crazy for a week before he gets tired of changing light bulbs and diapers and considers our next adventure. He jokes that Suburban Diva will be the new breadwinner, but for the $4.05 I bring in monthly, it's going to be pretty crappy bread.

Send him an email if you want. You know he's going to want to hear from someone other than me yelling for him to refill my martini glass all day long...

Just hoping it ends soon

Like many of you, I've been looking forward to this day for a very looooong time. I feel like I'm well-informed, confidant in my choice, and somewhat excited to have been active in this election.

But last night I got a wake-up call to the ugly side of this process, that has me nauseated today rather than excited.

I am used to political disagreements. In fact, I honor that as part of the democratic process. We should always have an open forum for disagreements and different points of view. That part is healthy. But last night and continuing today, I find that open mindedness is really not widely practiced around my particular neighborhood. There are some that not only thing I'm wrong (which is their right) but told my child that I'm doing something criminal and morally unforgiveable because I'm voting for the Democratic candidate for President.

It is absolutely the lowest form of voter intimidation I've personally ever experienced, and all the wind has been taken out of my sails as I struggle to maintain my composure after having my child be subject to bullying because of who his mother is voting for. My heart is breaking right now knowing that I live in a place of such reckless intolerance--to me, but moreover, to children. I am an adult, I can handle differing opinions and even respect them, but it's hard today knowing I can't trust people in my community to do the same.

My wonderfully smart, gifted potically sensitive boy said he was going to vote for Mickey Mouse in his school mock election so he didn't get in trouble.

I have never heard anything so horribly sad in my entire life.

I Vote for Election Day!

Today, it’s all about the election for me. Preparing for tomorrow when we can end this campaign season and can shelve phrases like, "I approve of this message," "Change the Maverick," and lipstick on anything.

Because no matter who wins, the campaign has to be over, and we have to move on. We need to stop talking, and start doing. And I need to seriously get a life far away from election coverage.

So tomorrow is a historic day on that front. I am dedicating the day to the act of voting, blogging about voting, and then standing sentry at my television set as I watch the returns come in whilst eating hot dogs and apple pie. I think I will pair a nice merlot with patriotism...Hopefully, by the end of the evening--fingers and chads crossed--we will have a new president, Congress, and new local landscape.

I will be participating in the Motherhood’s Mom’s Call in the Vote. I’ll be reporting from my polling place, and I urge you to do the same! This is a big deal, as the BBC reports here. Sign up today, and call in tomorrow. Let America know what your experience is, your thoughts, what you observe. I think that it is so important that we Moms are active and vocal in elections for the sake of our own little future voters. So, please participate and I’ll post updates tomorrow!

And this post from my dear friend Zen, and his early voting experience over the weekend seriously made my heart swell.

Go Vote!

Happy Birthday, Stevie!

It's official--I am old. Because I am now a mother to a bona-fide teenager. Stevie turned 13 today, and I must tell you, this isn't an easy one.

I don't know exactly why this one's just a little harder than most, but it is. He's such a young man now, and I wonder, how did that happen? Wasn't I just giving him a bottle yesterday or taking him to his first day of preschool? Oy, I know this makes me sound like one of those crazy mothers that I swore I would never become--the ones who fail to rejoice the lives of their children because they are too busy mourning the past milestones and ordinary passage of time--but I can't help it today.

I'm so very proud of him already, but also for the person he will become.

Bah, enough. I am tired--there were 7 of those newly-minted teens here last night who didn't sleep or let us, and I've picked up that nasty cold that everyone's been sharing so generously, so I must be extra mushy today.

But here's a picture of my two older men...