Party Pooper...

Since I'm home sick with the-cold-that-won't-die, I got to watch the Today Show and they had a segment called "Kids' Parties are Out of Control." They had an "expert" on talking about how parents are going to far when throwing birthday parties for their kids and that the pressure parents are putting on each other [and their kids] is dangerous. Who knew there was an expert on this subject? Apparently there is a whole research group devoted to this phenomenon called Birthdays Without Pressure. On their website you can rate the "birthday party pressure" in your community and take a quiz to see how much pressure you're under about birthday parties.

Seriously?

If you ask me [and I am fully aware that you didn't] it's a parent's prerogative to throw their child whatever party they please. As long as the child enjoys him or herself, it's all good. But putting pressure on other parents, themselves and their kids for a BIRTHDAY PARTY is just ridiculous. And while shows like "My Super Sweet Sixteen" are completely feeding this nonsense, I think those shows are great because they expose the spoiled and bratty guests of honor throwing fits and walking around with an arrogant sense of entitlement -- that should be enough incentive to make you not want to throw your little princess a bithday bash that breaks the bank. So, if you're feeling stressed about planning your kid's party, please get a grip. I don't mean to sound harsh or anything, but aren't there much more important things to worry about?

Like say, making sure your little girls don't grow up to idolize clueless alcoholic teen stars like Lindsey Lohan. At least she checked herself into rehab yesterday.

I guess the party's over -- for her anyway.

Mamalaw # 11 - It takes a village

Yesterday DD had a case of diaper rash again (I think she's teething and everything's going crazy) and as I stood in line at CVS, I thought about my mama friends and how much I appreciate their suggestions on motherhood.

I'm learning that we should always lean on other mamas for help - even with the smallest things. Talking to other young mothers provides not only an outlet for those crazy stressful days, but an invaluable resource for those times that you just don't know what to do and your own mother has no suggestions.

Case in point, this photo is sort of an ad for "Triple Paste Ointment" but I'm using this image because there is NO way I would have ever known about this miracle product had I not relied on my other mama friends for insight on the most minute matters (e.g. diaper rash). I threw the question out to my friends (J. Fergie & J. Jones) and wisdom was revealed with regard to practices and procedures and even better...suggestions.

So, no question about motherhood/parenthood is too small to ask your mama friends, because there is NO way you could do it all by yourself and that's why we should always ask for help!

Comic Relief...

I got this joke in an email from my mom today...

Why Men are rarely published in Dear Abby

Dear Abby,

I've never written to you before, but I really need your advice on what could be a crucial decision. I've suspected for some time now that my wife has been cheating on me. The usual signs... phone rings but if I answer, the caller hangs up. My wife has been going out with the girls a lot recently although when I ask their names she always says, "Just some friends from work, you don't know them.

I always stay awake to look out for her taxi coming home, but she always walks down the drive. Anyway, I have never approached the subject with my wife. I think deep down I just didn't want to know the truth, but last night she went out again and I decided to really check on her.

I decided I was going to park my Harley Davidson next to the garage and then hide behind it so I could get a good view of the whole street when she came home.

It was at that moment, crouching behind my Harley, that I noticed that the valve covers on my engine seemed to be leaking a little oil.

Is this something I can fix myself or should I take it back to the dealer?

Works For Me Wednesday -- Laundry Tip

If you're like me and the laundry symbols on your clothing labels may as well be in Greek, then here's a quick tip: Print out a clothing care guide and tape it above (or next to) your washing machine for easy reference. I like mine. It makes me feel uber-competent [if only for a fleeting moment]. If you don't like the handy dandy hang card at the above link, you can get the chart below, here.

Not that this makes doing laundry any more exciting. Unless maybe you hang a Ziploc baggie of Jelly Bellys next to the clothing care guide. In fact, that might be the real tip.

For oodles more Works for Me Wednesday tips, visit Rocks In My Dryer.

Burning the Midnight Oil...

So I've been working hard for the last few months trying to get my business idea off the ground. After several road blocks, things are finally starting to come together. I've found my specialty fabric manufacturer and chosen my fabrics, I have a family friend working as my graphic artist to put together an image for the online boutique, I have a meeting with a seamstress at her design studio on Friday to discuss the sewing of the garment, and I've purchased my domain. Whew! A big thank you to everybody that's helped or encouraged me this far. With any luck, I hope to make the announcement that we are up and open by the springtime.

I'm so excited.

Side note on the Mama Code Post...

I came across this blog, FPMama, about a month ago and I think it is worth mentioning. The blog is written by an OB who tells the story of the mothers that she meets in her journey as their doctor. Of course all identities are kept confidential, but some of the stories are really gripping. Read the post on Scary Baby. Frightenting. Anyhow, as I read some of the posts, I could totally relate to some of the mothers. I had three complicated pregnancies and their stories brought back many memories.

MamaLaw #10 - Pay it Forward...Help another mama

Please don't take this post as a cop-out, I'm merely linking to Shannon's blog post because I really couldn't have said it any better than she did. Take a moment to read "The Momma Code" and you'll see what I mean!

Have you been the recipient or donor of a Momma favor? Do share!

*UPDATED* Menu Plan Monday

Evenin'!

I'm trying my first Menu Plan Monday post this week. I kind of do this on my own [in my head] anyway so it will help to organize my week if I actually put it in writing...Before I forget, I made the best Chicken/Veggie/Stuffing Casserole on Friday. Basically, you season chicken breasts and put them into a baking dish; then toss mixed veggies (I used the frozen ones in a bag) with chicken gravy from the can (surprisingly low fat!); Pour the veggie mixture over the chicken; top with Stove Top stuffing (mix the stuffing with water according to the directions first). Then bake! It was so easy and very yummy.

Ok, here is our menu for the week:

Monday: Pizza Hut (hey! I had the thin crust)
Tuesday: Lasagna Bake and Caesar Salad*
Wednesday: Turkey BLTs and Oven Fries
Thursday: Lite Chicken Pot Pie
Friday: Free for All for Hubby and Oldest -- it's Mama's Night Out!
Saturday: Hamburgers and Roasted Red Potatoes
Sunday: Leftovers or Out to Eat

Hmmm...this was harder than I thought!

For more Monday Menu Plans visit Organizing Junkie.

*Amazing. It's only Day 2 and already I've managed to screw up the menu plan. Mommy got held up at work by an annoying co-worker and then stuck in traffic on her way home from work and got home late so by the time that she got in the door her family was already eating leftover pizza, so no lasagna bake tonite. Yes, she is quite aware that cheese pizza contains 0% of a toddler's daily allowance of vegetables.

You Know You Have too Many Kids When.....

Okay, here's a cute one that I have been meaning to share since last week. So hubby and I were doing the bedtime rounds one school night. This means giving everyone a bath and then putting the two little ones to sleep. We normally stick all three in the tub and then go down the assembly line with scrubbing, brushing teeth, cleaning ears, etc. and then take them out one by one and swap them out. Well, our 5 year old sometimes likes to stay in a little longer and play in the tub. No problem, so long as he agrees to climb out himself and put on his PJs that are left right next to his towel and play quietly until it's time to read the book or go to bed. He's 5 so he's big enough to dry and dress himself. Anyhow, so I took Little Brother out, dressed him and then nursed him to sleep since he was exhausted and he didn't want to rejoin the group. So hubby took daughter out, dressed her, read her a book, etc. We both met downstairs about 20 minutes later. Hubby and I were lounging around enjoying the peace and quite and satisfication of being to enjoy the rest of the night for ourselves with all the kids asleep. Well, at 9:45, here comes Oldest, asking, "is someone going to get me dessert?" I look at hubby and he looks at me and we both say, "I thought you put him to sleep!" Apparently, we both assumed that the other checked in on Oldest to make sure he got himself dressed and then put him to bed at his usual time. Nope! Now it was way past his bedtime and it was a school night. Needless to say, he was exhausted the next day but he thought it was really cool that he got to stay up late on a school night.

Meatballs and All...

But I did lose 3.4lbs this week! Yee-haw!

my-calorie-counter.com    The webs free Exercise Journal

Because You Don't Really Need to Hear About Our Trip to IKEA...

I thought that instead I'd give you a review of my chick flick movie of the week: "Friends With Money" starring Jennifer Aniston. Last month I realized just how many movies I'd been missing since the baby invasion and decided to put a stop to the madness. So, I've been trying to catch up on my "girly" movies [usually when hubby is out with the boys or our doing sports league-y stuff] on a weekly basis.

The movie was decent. I didn't have high expectations because I hadn't heard much about it when it was actually in theatres but I liked the previews and I love anything with Joan Cusack. Basically, the movie was about Jennifer Aniston and her group of friends (all of whom are married except for her) and the crises they are going through at this stage in their lives. JA is working as a maid and gets flack from her girlfriends who are both wealthy. Of course having money doesn't mean you have it all, so her friends' marriages have their share of issues (one's husband is suspected to be gay; the other's is mean and self-absorbed) Frances McDormand steals the show as a high-end fashion designer who has a mini-emotional breakdown after she turns 43. One of JA's friends sets her up with a jerk who uses her for sex and money, but in the end, she ends up with a sweet guy whose house she cleaned and he ends up being an heir to millions.

All in all it was a cute movie but nothing to write home [ok, or maybe even a blog post] about.

Alright, if you must know, we spent 2 hours in IKEA and all we came out with was a stainless steel rack for the kitchen to house our Smithsonian-worthy collection of baby bottles, sippy cups, bottle brushes and other assorted novelties. But the swedish meatballs were fantastic. And no, not part of my diet plan.

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things I Need to Get Rid of in My Garage Yes, I realize I am one day late but it has been a hectic week! Here are 13 things I need to give away, throw away, or put in storage that are in my garage that currently consume an entire space and make it impossible to even get out of the other space. I have included a picture of the disaster zone for your viewing pleasure. 1…. Get rid of the infant car seat that is over 5 years old. It probably was recalled years ago, but we keep it "just in case" there is an emergency and someone has to leave the house with Little B. So far, there has only been one such incident and that was when hubby was home with all three and he needed to get them out of the house before they (read, he) went crazy. So he took them to Chic-Fil-A. 2. The bassinette I bought for daughter two years ago. It's pink and pretty and I finally took it out of our bedroom but I refuse to get rid of it. I have considered keeping it for daughter when she has children but I don't think it will hold up. It's nothing really fancy. Just a nice looking Graco bassinette. It's not meant to be saved for years and years. 3. My file boxes from when I left the firm. I have a nice office that I can put all this stuff away in, however, I just haven't had the energy to load up my car, and then unload, then unpack all of those files. 4. My maternity clothes. Clearly, I am not having any more kids. I'm hanging on to it for the next preggers person I know. 5. My African statutes that I bought while in the Domincan Republic about 8 years ago. I told myself I was going to sell them on Ebay, just never got around to it. 6. Artwork. See number 5 above. 7. Oldest's training bike with a popped chain. So far, no one has tried to fix it. In fact, Santa replaced it one year so now we have two training bikes. He has outgrown them both. I suppose I can save the good one for Little Brother. 8. Some of hubby's tools, especially the ones that he bought, never used, or couldn't figure out how to use. I'm sure there is enough money to send one of our kids to college if we sold even half of the tools. 9. Pool toys. Put them in storage! 10. Christmas decorations. This consumes at least 20 % of useful space. 11. Hubby's punching bag thing. Bought it for him Christmas 2001 per his request. He used it that day. Has never used it since! 12. Propane indoor grill that someone gave to us Christmas 2002. I think it was regifted to us because the propane tank that the manual said, was included, was in fact not included. The grill looks really nice. Just never got around to calling the manufacturer and ordering the replacement tank. 13. Last but not least, the Pack-n-Play, swing, and a bunch of other infant necessities that I'm saving for my brother and his wife who "one day" plan to have lots of babies. This could all be in storage. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. Jill http://live-your-live-and-smile.blogspot.com/ 2. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

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