Time Out for Theta Mom Thursday on Friday

So, at first I was thinking that I missed out on this months "Time out for Thetamom Thursday" (The last Thursday of each month where you are supposed to do something for an hour just for yourself - visit Thetamom.com for more info), when it occurred to me, I actually did do something for myself. Yes, I had missed my scheduled Thursday night workout, which is my time to rock it out like a maniac on the stairmaster, but what I did instead would ultimately give me back two hours on Friday.

Let me back up just a bit. We haven't really had anyone other than my husbands parents watch Kane for any extended amount of time. I have always been a little freaked out when it came to leaving him with a sitter. Even though we have had people refer sitters to us, for some reason they were always 12 or 13 year-olds. And that gave me hives just thinking about a 12 or 13 year-old watching my child. Now, I know there are very mature teenagers out there, but I just couldn't do it.

And so far, my husbands parents have been great. They love watching him and they have never let us down. But it has come to a point where I just feel bad asking them to watch him all the time. There have been many an event that we just end up not going to because I don't want to wear out my welcome with the grandparents. Plus, his parents are going on a very long trip next month, which would leave us housebound and unavailable for any non-kid friendly events until they returned. So I was thrilled when a friend of mine gave me the number of her very dependable, nursing school (I don't know why this makes me feel better but it does) student that has been watching her children for years now. It's funny, she wouldn't give up her number for fear that we would be competing for her time. But she finally took mercy on me and handed over the digits.

Flash forward to Thursday. Our potential new babysitter came over to meet Kane and see if the two of them would hit it off. I was a little nervous, even though my son hasn't shown much stranger anxiety and will pretty much party with anyone that looks his way - except the cable guy - he balled when the cable guy came over. But I guess that's okay since the cable company doesn't offer a babysitting service as part of their packages.

Well, they became (almost) instant BFFs! My son grabbed her hand and led her all around the house. Gave her his coveted golf club and knocked some balls back and forth with her. Score!!

So, for what should have been a little time out for me on Thursday, became a dry run for a two hour "getaway" for me and my husband on Friday night. Even tough I have to share my time out, I am very excited to finally try that new wine bar downtown!

BTW - My Betsey Johnson vest landed on my doorstep today! Can't wait to wear it tonight.

My daily fashion nosh

Now that I have taken on this temporary position as stay-at-home mom, I find it somewhat harder these days to get all dolled up just to run to the grocery store. And I know I look ridiculous trying to navigate the playground sand in 4-inch wedge heels. Still, I love fashion and I just like knowing that if I wanted to throw on something cute to go fetch a gallon of milk, I could.

But more than I love clothes, and shoes and accessories....I love getting them all on the cheap! With my clothing budget almost non-existent, I have fallen more and more in love with a few websites that not only let you in on the "secret society" of sample sales and discounts, but they send you daily emails letting you know about the latest price slash. This week I acquired this cute Betsey Johnson vest for 50% off.

Here are a few of those sites:

Shop it to me scours the Internet looking for the latest sale based on the preferences you set, and then sends you a nice little email alerting you to the new deals. Often times the items in these email sell out quick, so you have to act fast! I found that out over many a "hesitation" and then that cute Michael Kors wool coat for like 50 bucks is gone forever!

Gilt Group is like a virtual sample sale. They offer designer fashion for women, men, children and home at up to 70% off retail. No pushing and digging through boxes required.

Ideeli is another virtual sample sale. They offer designer accessories, apparel, home goods at up to 80% off. Whoo hoo!

And of course, If you sign up for one of these great daily fashion nosh's, you can invite friends to join with you and earn points and gift cards. Can it get any better? Okay maybe free stuff is better, but this isn't bad!

Do you have a site that you really love? Let me know!

Happy shopping.

Isn't it time to have another one?

Its funny, once you get married you are bombarded with the question of when you will have kids. Then, once you have a kid, you are bombarded with the question of "Isn't it time to have another one"? Seriously. Strangers ask me this question. Last weekend I was advised to have another child so that my life would be easier because the K man would have someone to play with. This was delivered to me by a single, never been married, never had a child, never experienced my life, 30
something guy.

I have come to the realization that its just not socially acceptable to have one child. It is also not socially acceptable to have 14 children, but then that's another story. No, from what I can tell the right number of children lies somewhere between 1 and 14.

The thing is I never thought I would have a child in the first place. But we decided to jump in and join the ranks of the tired, unshowered, what's that stain on my shirt?, I just want 15 minutes alone in the bathroom, brigade of parents. And I love my son. He is my world. But having a child later in life has its pros and, come to find out, a huge pile of stinky cons.

You see, my pregnancy was not the easiest. I mean it was in the beginning. No morning sickness, I felt great. I had read a bunch of books and wondered what these whining women were talking about. And then, as all overly cocky, super ego maniacs soon are knocked off of their pedestals, I was knocked off of mine. And hard.

It started with Sciatica. I couldn't sit, stand, or even exist in the world without the back pain.

Then, gestational diabetes. Which worked out great (always trying to find the bright side) because I no longer could eat like a rock star. This meant that I wouldn't gain so much weight, enabling me to fit back in my skinny jeans sooner. Yeah, right.

Then a pain so severe, it would stop me in my tracks and take my breath away, started to appear in my lower back. After months of this pain that was dismissed by my doctors as "just part of being pregnant", I was admitted to the hospital 10 days before my due date. The pain was so excruciating, all I could do was scream. There was no amount of drugs that I could be given that would make the pain go away. So I was given an epidural. An ultrasound determined it was most likely kidney stones. While in the hospital waiting for the stones to pass - since there is nothing more that can be done - the epidural slips. Another one is put in. This is done while I am in the most pain ever.

After 3 days of waiting, I was induced so I could get a CT scan to determine the cause of the pain. Labor lasts for what seemed like days, but after hours and hours of trying we are both just spent. My temperature is rising and Kane's heart rate is high. It is decided that we need an emergency c-section. Since I had a temperature of 100.6, Kane was born running hot as well and was whisked off to ICU. I am taken to recovery. After about an hour there, I am taken to have a CT scan to confirm the kidney stones. Bingo.

I don't even get to see my son until the next day. My husband has to bribe the ICU to wheel Kane down to me in his little incubator. I spend 3 more days in the hospital and finally go home after 8 days.

It has been a hard road back. My body has not fully recovered from everything. Truth be told. I don't want to go through it again. Call me weak. Call me what you want. I am thrilled with my one amazing little guy and feel very lucky to have him in our lives.

So, I have to let you know, strange lady in the grocery store that I don't know - who happened to stop and chat up my son, and call him a girl because yes, I do keep his hair long - No, I will not be having a little brother or sister for him.

The good, the bad and the (sock) monkey - Nina & Grapey Review and Give-a-way

*****THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED******

Over the holidays I was "turned on" (no, not like that) to a mom-owned business that I just fell in love with. Jannine Doto is the amazing talent behind Nina & Grapey - a collection of the cutest sock monkeys and monsters that you will ever see. I have no idea how this stay-at-home mom of two does it. I barely have time to put on something that doesn't require "matching" something with something else and brush my teeth. I love it when I can support awesome women who have a passion and can create a wonderful business from it.

There are many fabulous monkeys and monsters to choose from, but they can also be custom made to suit your particular need. For example, one of the little girls I gave them to loves princesses, bam! a princess monkey. The other one is a fashionista named Coco, so of course she had to have a girlie monkey in a mink stole.

I purchased 4, no wait, 5 (I got a little carried away) of these sock friends as gifts for a few little girls and boys and they LOVED them!

Currently you can find Nina & Grapey featured at Hissyfits boutique in Phoenix, AZ. If you would like to contact her, you can visit her website at www.ninaandgrapey.com or their Facebook page.

Or you can enter to win a one of Nina & Grapey's latest creations, pictured below:

Here's how you win it!

Do any one or combination of the below tasks for 1 entry each:

- Become a friend of Nina & Grapey on Facebook and leave a comment letting me know that you did along with your facebook name . No need to log in, you can use "anonymous" in the select profile if not a member. - 1 entry

- Vote for Tales from the sippy cup on Top Mommy Blogs (simply click on the button on the sidebar) and make sure you leave me a comment to tell me that you voted – 1 entry

- Tweet about the giveaway and leave me a comment to tell me that you tweeted – 1 entry daily

- Follow me through Google Connect (button on left side of the blog) – 1 entry

- Blog about this giveaway and include the URL – 5 entries

Of course there are rules:- Contest will close at 11:59 p.m. PST on Friday, February 12, 2010! Any entries after this time will be deleted.- Contest open to U.S. residents only. The winner will be chosen by using random.org. Winner must have valid email address will have 72 hours to respond to notification with shipping info. If no response, another winner will be chosen.

Good luck!

***** WE HAVE A WINNER. LUCKY #10 - PAMELA. AN EMAIL HAS BEEN SENT******

Thank you to everyone who participated.

Adventures in Poopville

I'm not exactly sure what happens at the magical age of 15 months. From what I can tell it's when your child develops his own sense of "being" and decides he can make choices of his own. For instance, if he doesn't want to wear his shoes and socks, he can just pull them off and drop them in different areas of the store I happen to be shopping in. Causing me to retrace my steps and crawl on the ground like a lunatic just to find both shoes and both socks.

And a big thanks to the kindly strangers that come up to me, point at my barefooted child and let me know that he has no shoes on. I know. They are in the basket underneath the stroller because by the 3rd time, I have given up trying to keep them on his feet. I realize its 52 degrees and raining outside, but those shoes are 25 bucks a pop and I'm not loosing them.

But the worst decision that my son has made, with his new found wisdom of 15 months, is that he doesn't want his diaper changed anymore. No, he would rather walk around with a wet and squishy thing hanging between his legs than be bothered with a poop removal. As if this event wasn't something I looked forward to everyday, it now comes with chasing and kicking and screaming. And that's just on my end.

Getting my son on the changing table requires a straight jacket and two buffed-out orderlies. Oh, and my favorite part is when I finally get the diaper off of him and he starts to arch his back and kick his feet. It's everything I can do not to end up with poop on my hands or have those little balls of love (when he is clearly refusing the fiber in his diet) roll onto the floor. URGH. The other day I had to change 6, yes, 6 poop-filled bundles of joy. Each with a fight between the two of us that would rival a round at the WWF.

Some people have suggested to me that this might be the time to take it to the next level and start trying to potty train. I am supposed to get him pull-ups instead of the super absorbent, space technology diapers and see if this makes a difference. Personally I think its a bit early, but my mother-in-law swears my husband was potty trained out of the womb, so maybe it's possible. Well, we bought a potty seat. Not sure I'm ready for the laundry pile the pull-ups will create for me. Let's see what happens.

How to get him to keep the shoes and socks on? Now, thats another question.

It's just what boys do

As I stand there in my kitchen, frozen with utter bewilderment, unable to comprehend what my husband is thinking, it hits me. I have two kids. One is 15 months. The other just happens to be 45.

My husband has my son sitting in the sink. He is playing with the blue brush that washes our dishes and scrubs the crud out of the very same sink he is sitting in. Why? Because, "He wanted up here" my husband says to me with glee. Seriously? Well, I want a tighter ass. When can I get that?

Recently my husband has taken on a style of parenting that I can only describe as "full-time weekend dad" syndrome. I don't know what happened, but when daddy's home it's party time. All lessons of proper behavior be damned. With no thought to the consequences that mom is going to have to deal with the next time he "wants up there." No. he won't be here when my son insists and throws a fit on the floor when "Mean Mommy" wont let him sit in the sink.

More often than not, I find myself yelling at my husband and giving him the raised eyebrow and wide-eyed look of "Oh my god, what are you doing?" only to have my husband look at me and say, "What? We're boys. This is what boys do." Yes, it just wouldn't be daddy time without a tour of inappropriate behavior.

A few weeks back my husband taught Kane how to spit over the side of a boat. Sure, there was no harm in spitting in the water, doing their "boy" things. Best intentions in mind, I'm sure. But then, flash forward to me in the grocery store, the little man sitting in the shopping cart spitting over the side and laughing. I look around hoping that no one is watching. Brilliant. Thanks dad.

I have to constantly tell Kane not to put his finger in whatever hole, crack or crevice he sees. Another fine teaching from dad. The explanation of this "boy" thing I can't even get into here, but I am sure it will someday warrant a call from his school, followed by a parent/teacher conference. And okay, it's kinda funny to hear my son say "boobs" as a result of my husband browsing the latest Victoria Secret catalog and pointing out the lovely ladies on each page. Not so funny when I'm out in public and my son points out the "Boobs" walking by.

And what can I look forward to in my future? Potty training - daddy style. Which I have already been informed, by said 45 year-old child, will require a far amount of public indecency. Great. As visions of my husband and son standing side by side peeing in the backyard swirl around in my head, I can only hope that doesn't translate into dropping his pants and peeing as we stand in line at Target.

Friday's Little Nugget from Kane's Dad

last week, I was inspired to dedicate Fridays to my husband, due to his entertaining and quite introspective little nuggets he has been lofting at me lately.

Today's 'true story' stems from an invitation we received to partake in a little weekend get-together at a friend's house. Understandably, I was a little hesitant. Even though kids were welcome, the little 15 month-old track star that currently lives with us has become quite good at running circles around you as he "works" a room.

I reminded my husband of the Christmas party extravaganza we had attended. He had spent the whole night chasing Kane from room to room and didn't really get to enjoy himself much. My husband quickly informed me that it was okay and that he didn't mind chasing Kane all day. Why? Because, he said "I'll go so other people can to enjoy me".

No, not a bit narcissistic at all.

The Seven Wonders of Kane's Mom:

That awesome chick at Theta Mom (if you haven't been there - please go visit!) was gracious enough to tag me in her "seven". In turn, I was challenged to come up with seven things about myself that you don't already know and then tag seven others to do the same (if they so wish to accept the challenge).

Here are the seven wonders of Kane's Mom:

1. I grew up in Southern California and have never lived anywhere else. I have traveled a bit and love NYC, Chicago and other big cities, but I have never "rooted" anywhere else but SoCal. I hope that the opportunity will come my way someday. I would love to experience new things, cultures and climates. Even for just a month. But... then I guess that would just be a vacation.

2. About 5 months ago, I reluctantly left my position as a marketer for an Internet services company and became a SAHM. My company was going through a lot of turmoil and taking care of my son, who had already suffered through two bouts of pneumonia being in daycare, won out over the stress of trying to make it work during the company's management transition. I am currently (desperately) looking for another position.

3. I love Art and photography and often find myself feeling a bit jealous of some of these great photographer's out there...wishing I had half their talent. In an alternate universe I would be a professional photographer. These are some of my shots.

4. If you could custom order the man you would spend the rest of your life with, my husband would have met almost all of my criteria. He is an incredibly talented musician, creative, smart, compassionate, and an awesome dad. However, I wouldn't have ordered the part that doesn't think I am always right. I am very lucky to have such a great supporter while I transition into the next phase of my life.

Photo by Hannah Marie Photography

5. I know this seems to be a reoccurring theme, but seriously, I love reality TV. It's embarrassing to admit, but I watch some of the most ridiculous shows. I have found myself enthralled with an entire season of "Rock of Love", not wanting to miss a minute of the drunken cat fights between that tattooed girl and that other tattooed girl. I closely study the Housewives of OC, just so I can figure out what I am doing wrong. My current obsession is Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew. I cannot clearly describe the feeling this total train wreak of a show gives me. Something in between total nausea and heart palpitations.

6. I love Red wine and dark chocolate. If I can have them together, even better.

7. I am terrified that my BlueTooth is causing me brain damage.

Now here is where I "pay it forward" and tag 7 other bloggers. I know some of these will be duplicates to other's seven, but these are my favorite reads right now:

The Domestic Diva

Ex Hot Girl

Angry Julie Monday

Scary Mommy

The Mommyologist

Is there any mommy out there?

Mom 101

Oh Plah!™ - Review and Give-a-way

***This Giveaway is closed. Thanks to everyone who participated***

So a few months back I wrote this post about the Roundhouse Oh Plah! Teething Bracelet....and I loved it so much I thought a give-a-way was in order!

Okay, unless its something that I can cook up and serve, I really shouldn't be making any type of purchase these days. Since I belong to the unemployed group, frivolous spending should not be part of my vocabulary, but I just couldn't help myself when I stumbled over "The Roundhouse Oh Plah!™ Teething Bracelet". How cool is this?

Since my son has been having some trouble with the massive amount of teeth coming in all at once, I am willing to try just about anything.

If your babe is anything like mine, he doesn'twant to chomp on the rings and fish and other things designed for teething. No, he wants what he shouldn't be sinking his teeth into . Like my above mentioned leather cuffs and bracelets and watch bands. So this is great. He will think he is getting away with something!

French for "Here You Go!" Oh Plah!™ is a bracelet for mom that baby or child can safely play with as a toy or teether. Constructed of medical grade thermoplastic- non-toxic, bacteria resistant, and free of lead, latex, PVC, BPA and phthalates. And that's got to be better than a sweaty leather cuff right?

And for all you nursing mommies, the bracelet is also handy as a reminder to help you remember which side to start nursing with. Just switch wrists each time!

If you want to get one of these gems, here is their site: http://www.roundhousedc.com/ohplah_teething_bracelet.html

Or I will be giving a white Oh Plah! away to one lucky winner. Here's how you win it!

How do you win it?

Easy! Do any one or combination of the below tasks for 1 entry each:

- Visit roundhouse and leave a comment letting me know what you think about the bracelet. No need to log in, you can use "anonymous" in the select profile if not a member. - 1 entry

- Vote for Tales from the sippy cup on Top Mommy Blogs (simply click on the button on the sidebar) and make sure you leave me a comment to tell me that you voted – 1 entry

- Tweet about the giveaway and leave me a comment to tell me that you tweeted – 1 entry daily

- Follow me through Google Connect (button on left side of the blog) – 1 entry

- Blog about this giveaway and include the URL – 5 entries

Of course there are rules:

- Contest will close at 11:59 p.m. PST on Friday, January 29, 2010! Any entries after this time will be deleted.

- Contest open to U.S. residents only. The winner will be chosen by using random.org. Winner must have valid email address will have 72 hours to respond to notification with shipping info. If no response, another winner will be chosen.

Good luck!

Congratulations to our winner, Jenndiggy! An email has been sent. Thanks to everyone who participated!

Throwing up words

This month I was going the challenge myself with NaBloPoMo. Writing 31 posts in 31 days. I thought it would help me stretch myself and my creativity. Well, it's day 11 and I think I am ready to throw in the towel. I am finding that it has become a struggle to post something relevant everyday. And to borrow from Heather - an awesome inspiration from Thetamom - am I really "blogging with a purpose"? or am I just throwing up words just to get a post done?

I find myself doing more of the later. I started my blog as an outlet for the feelings and frustrations I was having as I went from professional marketing goddess to full-time mom. I thought that if I documented my journey it would somehow become therapeutic. And it has. But I still want to make sure that what I am writing is something of value. Both to me and to those that have graciously taken the time to read my ramblings. (Big thanks to everyone who have left me comments and words of support - I really appreciate it!)

So maybe when I am not such a newbie to the blogosphere, I'll try again. But for tonight, I think I am done with the NaBloPoMo.

Maybe in February when there are only 28 days to post!

Gifted Jam

I don't know if anyone else runs into this problem over the holidays, but I have numerous relatives (OK, maybe not numerous, but more than one) that like to give homemade jams as Christmas gifts. It's great, but the problem is, I end up with more jam than I know what to do with. I opened the refrigerator the other day and there were four jars of jam in there. Seriously, how much jam can one eat? Do we really need all this jam?

Until I figure that one out, I came up with this recipe. I calls for one entire jar of jam so all I have to do is make this three more times and I'm golden!

Plum Chicken

1 jar plum jam (or whatever gifted jam jar you may have on hand - orange or apricot also works well)

¼ cup orange juice

¼ cup soy sauce

1 cup chicken broth

salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 tbsp basil leaves

2 tbsp thyme

2 tbsp oregano

6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs

In a large skillet with high sides, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper liberally. When oil ripples, add chicken and brown it on both sides. Add soy sauce and stir 30 seconds, add broth, jam, orange juice and seasonings and reduce heat to medium-low to low. Place a lid on the pan and simmer 10 minutes.

Let stand a couple of minutes and serve over rice.

You can also cut up the chicken and serve in little Hawaiian roles.

Yum.

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House Keeping as an Olympic Sport

The one thing I have missed dearly over the past few months in my new role as stay-at-home mom, is our cleaning service. Without my second income coming in, our housekeepers soon became that square luxury we were trying to fit into a round budget. But I really miss them. Had I known what I know now, I would have watched them more carefully during that farewell cleaning. If I had, I might be able to even comprehend where to even start. Or how they never had to use three or four different appliances to get my floors clean. Currently, I use a Swiffer vacuum, a Shark vacuum and a mop and still cannot seem to get the floors as clean as they do.

I read an article that gave be the sage advice to "choose one day a week for my cleaning spree". Really? because I could, and do, clean all day - every day - and my house still looks like a pack of wild animals came barreling through it, while I sat on the couch with my feet up eating bon bons. Seriously.

Then throw in a 15 month old that wants to nothing more but to seek and destroy that pile of "stuff" I have just frantically swept together. He literally chases after me trying to step on or kick the piles. So now house cleaning has become more of Olympic sport. Or at the very least, one of those Japanese games shows. I can just see it. Some poor sucker dressed in sumo suit has to sweep up huge piles of gunk while wild jabbering toddlers come running after him in all directions. Hurry! Hurry! get that pile into the dust pan before he gets you!

Or try loading the dishes into the dishwasher. The moment Kane hears the racks slide out with that superhuman hearing of his, he comes running in to "help". Which would be great if helping meant loading the dishes in. Instead, its one dish in - three dishes out. So doing the dishes becomes a race to see how fast I can get all the dishes in with the least amount of reloading.

Organization? Forget it. I can't even keep items in the refrigerator in the same order from day to day. My husband opens the refrigerator and just shakes his head at the mess in there. And if things are not in the same place as they were the last time he looked for them, then they just must not exist. Putting things back into the fridge has also become a challenge of speed and agility. I am only allowed a few seconds to throw something in before little hands are clamoring for anything and everything within his reach. So wherever it lands, that's where it now goes. I have gotten good. Shaving countless seconds off my time with every meal. However, the other day Kane somehow outsmarted me and managed to retrieve the ketchup bottle without my knowledge. I found it in his toy box in the living room. Who knows how long that had been there or when he had pulled that superhero move on me.

I really do miss my housekeepers.

I wonder if they miss me.

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Don't forget to vote for me at Top Mommy Blogs! Thanks!

Nuggets of wisdom from Kane's dad

It's Friday and I decided since my husband has been on such a role lately with his one-liners, I would start using Fridays as a springboard to share his deep introspective wisdom with the world. As I am sure he would agree, this often Zen-like insight should not be wasted on me alone. So, until the stream of wisdom runs dry, I'll reserve Friday as a place to post these little gems.

So, we are sitting here, finally decompressing from the craziness with a little reality TV, when the new Carl's Jr. commercial pops on. The one featuring Kim Kardashian in the bathtub eating a salad. As and ex-marketing pro, I get it, I understand the target demographic here: Men. No woman is going to be convinced that eating salad in the tub is a good idea. Unless you are a mom and, actually, now that I think about it, eating a salad in the tub would kill two birds and I am always looking for ways to multi-task.

Anyway, I glanced over to my husband and asked him if that commercial made him want to run out and buy a salad. His response? "No, it makes me want to go hang out at Carl's to see if there are any hot chicks buying salads". because clearly that's were all the hot chicks go to buy salads.

Happy Friday.

Day One

I know it's pretty clieche to be all hoped up on this whole "New Year, New You" phenomenon that takes place every time the calendar flips, but I really want to jump on the bandwagon.

The problem is, I'm just not feeling it. No matter how many articles I read or how many P90X infomercials I sit through where I am promised I will "go from flab to fit in just 90 days"! I just can't get into it. I start out pretty well. I usually last about two weeks and then something happens and I slip back into the anti-motivated mode.

I have been struggling with my post pregnancy weight for some time now. My son is almost 15 months old and I haven't dropped a single pound of the 20 extra pounds I received as a parting gift when I left the hospital. A few posts back I wrote that I finally broke down and threw away all of my maternity jeans. Just to replace them with a few depressing pairs of size 13 jeans. Six sizes bigger than I was before! I know " its just a number" and "it really should be all about my health and how I feel", but come on, who are we kidding? I really want to look good in my jeans, and in return, I will feel better. That alone should motivate me, because I hate getting dressed.

And I have such an obsessive nature that you would think that I would not only get on that damn bandwagon, but push my way to the front and start leading the band.

But today I read an article that had an overwhelming echo of what my doctor had already told me. According to a Harvard Study women who weighed the same at age 55 as they did at age 18 were 82 percent less likely to develop chronic illness or disease, including cancer, diabetes and heart disease , than those who put on 22 pounds or more. Well, I don't think I'm going to get back into my high school jeans any time soon (even though the 80's acid wash is making a comeback...again) but with multiple cancers and diabetes running ramped in my family, I think its time I start singing the "New Year, New Me" tune. And at the top of my lungs.

But I need back up singers. I would really like to know what keeps everyone motivated. No matter what the goal is (losing weight, building a successful business, etc.) because for some reason I just can't shake what keeps derailing me from my goal.

So once again, today is day one.

Looking forward to tomorrow

I really wanted to write something good today. But I am struggling. Today was not a good day.

I had a pounding headache that just would not subside as a result from one too many "girls night out" glasses of Cabernet. I knew I should have stopped at that second glass. Or even the third. But to my surprise, my mommy "frenemies" egged me on stating that since I wasn't driving and didn't have to "work" in the morning, why not have another? These working mommies must not understand that a hangover and a one-year old just don't make very good playmates.

And as you could imagine, no extended period of wine consumption goes unpunished. Yes, I received my due lashings today including a poop fest, being puked on and an emergency trip to the pediatrician.

Today I wanted change my title from "mommy" to Vice President of Poop Removal. I swear, between the two dogs and Kane, I must have disposed of ten pounds of poop. And just as I thought I was done with that glamorous job, Kane spontaneously puked his goldfish crackers all over me and the floor. Then insisted on walking through it while I am on my hands and knees cleaning it up.

If this was not enough, not an hour later, Kane decided to practice his stunt double moves again and took a header off the couch. He landed on his face and blood spewed from his nose and lip. I panicked as his lip seemed to be wedged between his front teeth and started to swell under his nose. I scooped him up and rushed him to the doctor. I may have over reacted. By the time we got into the office, the screams and tears had subsided and the mischievous little monster had once again emerged, running around laughing and giggling, getting into everything in the doctors office. Not to mention my pediatrician had said something to the fact that this was nothing and "just wait until something really bad happens."

I'm not looking forward to that day.

Today was not a good day. But as I get ready to put it to bed, I am thankful that Kane is alright. My headache is now gone (pushed out by an adrenaline rush) and tomorrow is a new day.

Last night, a sound so jarring and unexpected, pierced through the quiet and relaxing moment my husband and I had just started enjoying. It was the house alarm. Screaming like a police cruiser had just rolled up right into our bedroom.

We both just sat there and looked at each other. Neither one of us truly knowing what to do. Could this really be it? Could this be the moment that the $99.95 a month for someone in Omaha Nebraska to monitor our comings and goings would really pay off? Was there someone trying to get in?

I have to tell you, if this was a dry run for what was really going to happen in the case of an intruder....the outcome was quite comical. My husband and I both jumped out of bed, both waiting for the other to make a move. It was like someone had pushed the "slow motion button". Who was going to be first out the door? Well, it was me. I ran straight to Kane as quickly as possible so he didn't freak out at the blaring siren that was alerting us to the intrusion. Hoping that, as I held him and tried to comfort him, that my husband would take care of whatever prowler, confused neighbor coming home from the office holiday party, or animal that had tried to come in.

Turns out, it was a false alarm.

So today I find myself waiting around in the classic 4-hour window for someone to come out and check the system. And of course, the technician shows up at the last hour. Just as Kane finally lays down to take his nap. Knowing that this guy is going to have to test the alarm and make a bunch of noise, I am understandably irritated. But, the tech is very nice and expresses to me that he has little ones at home and understands how precious nap time is to getting things done. He assures me he will do everything he can to be quiet and muffle the beeps and sirens as best he can. Great, I think. Awesome.

But then he starts talking to me.

So instead of catching up on at least one episode of "The Housewives" that has been sitting on my DVR for weeks or picking up all the crap Kane has flung all over the floor, I'm standing here nodding my head politely as this guy chats me up. All the while dropping the line again to me "I know how precious this time is".

I think I close up the conversation pretty well and walk away. I start to type a few emails. But he's still talking to me, only now he is asking me to go tell him what the keypad is saying when he opens each door and window. Are you kidding me? When did I suddenly dawn a grey jumpsuit that said "assistant to the alarm technician guy" on it? Okay, I go ahead and do it since I think to myself, maybe that will get him out of here faster if I help.

Back to my emails. Now he is standing behind me, asking me to fill out the little pull-out "cheat sheet" since my writing is probably better than his. So here I am filling out this sheet, as he reads off to me which zone number equates to which door or window or other piece of equipment. Doesn't he understand how precious this time is? He goes on about testing the alarm, setting off numerous beeps and sirens. I peek in on Kane. He remains sleeping. Sigh of relief.

Finally, the guy finishes up his job, after what seems like 3 hours but turns out to only be 55 minutes. Between the numerous trips to the truck - in which I have to let him out the locked gate each time, the bathroom trip (yes, he used our bathroom), the running around opening and shutting doors and windows as his assistant, I'm exhausted. I rush him out the door as quickly as possible, grab my laptop and a Diet Coke, and sit down. Finally a moment to myself.

The second my butt hit the seat, I hear Kane start to jabber from the other room. Just my luck.

Thanks alarm technician guy for spending that precious time with me today.

Security slippers

I have always had weird things happen to me. Bizarre - no way I am telling the truth things happen.

As a child I had pets that did weird things. I had fish that jumped out of the tank "on purpose". Seriously, I would come home and notice that "goldie" was missing only to find him like a piece of fish jerky stuck to the back of the dresser. After numerous trips to the pet store and goldie 1 through 5, my mom finally put an end to the fish tank.

I had a bird that barked even though we didn't even own a dog.

I mysteriously fell off my bike while riding and woke up 2 days later with no idea what had happened.

I'm telling you, if something weird was going happen, it would happen to me. If some weirdo decided they wanted to discuss their fears and phobias with a complete stranger one day, it would be my door they knocked on. And they have.

So its not at all that strange to me to discover what my son has decided would be his security blanket. Though its not exactly a blanket at all. No, its a slipper. A fuzzy blue, rubber on the bottom, size 5, slipper.

He insists on carrying this one slipper around with him all the time. He will take one of his slippers off and walk around with just the one slipper on. He won't go to sleep until we give him his blanket and one slipper. It's the funniest thing I have seen (so far - I am sure there are weirder things on the horizon), which makes me a little nervous for future obsessions.

What's next?

Shutting down Christmas

Today we shut down Christmas. We like to keep up the lights and the tree with all their festivity and merriment until after the New Year. Pushing out the holidays and the open invitation to drink a bottle of champagne at the drop of a hat as long as we can. But today, we shut it down.

Down came the unapologetically fake white Christmas tree with the black and white photos in place of ornaments (needing to be Kane-friendly this year). Down came the giant silver letters above the kitchen window that spelled out: "Cool Yule". Out went the stack of holiday wishes plastered with the smiling faces of our friends, family and the occasional canine or feline surrogate.

We packed up every bulb, every light and stocking.

What was once thriving and glistening holiday cheer is now tucked away tightly in green plastic bins awaiting its rebirth 330 days from now.

The only reminder of the season of overindulgence is the cupboard full of chocolate, popcornopolis, and various other gift basket adornments stuffed into every possible space. All of which will be finding themselves new homes to invade so that I am not tempted to live only on Diet Coke and carmel corn for the next 2 weeks.

It's bittersweet to have to shut it down. The holidays seem to come and go so quickly. And before you know it, its a new year. Taking down the tree and all the decorations to me is like that final goodbye to last year. With a snap of the lid on that old green bin, there is no turning back. There is no denying it now. A new year has started. Ready or not.

I'm excited for the upcoming year. New prospects, new adventures and experiences. So, I look at 2010 and say "bring it on!" This is going to be the best year yet.

Life lessons from daddy

I realized that not only is creating 31 posts in 31 days going to challenge my creativity, my literary stamina, and my sheer will to make it happen, but this months topic, "best", is going to force me to find something positive in each day. Which for me is going to be the bigger challenge.

I wouldn't say that I am exactly negative. Although, my husband would probably beg to differ. I would much rather admit to being a bit cynical at times... or just what I like to call a "realist".

But today, I didn't have such a problem finding something positive.

This evening, we went to visit some friends to see their amazing new house on the harbor. My husband immediately took my son down to walk around on the boat that was docked out in front of the house. Kane had never been on a boat before and thought this was pretty cool. And of course, it wouldn't be "daddy time" without a tour of inappropriate behaviour. I stood over the railing watching as my husband proceeded to teach my son how to spit over the side of the boat into the water. And as any inquisitive mind would, Kane thought this was absolutely hilarious and the more he laughed hysterically, the more my husband spit. classic. It was one of the best moments to watch over my two guys out there on the boat doing their "boy" things.

Just another bad habit mom will have to break. That one and putting his finger in every hole he sees...more on that one later.

Mimosas, Snuggles and Fenway Park

Today was the best New Years day I have had in a long, long time. We started out at 9AM with mimosas and home-made cinnamon rolls (not too good for reducing the "rolls" under my shirt, but I had no choice, my mother-in-law "made" me eat them). Then after we were all full, fat and happy, we retired to the comfort of a nice fire and a cozy lazy boy. My son snuggled up in my lap and fell asleep as the puck dropped and the 2010 Winter Classic commenced at Fenway Park.

In that moment, listening to my son breath in and out, the crowd howl as the Bruins battled the Flyers, watching the fire swirl and pop and having my glass refilled without prompting, there was no where else in the world I wanted to be.

2010 is starting out pretty good I would say.