Wii Love

It's not big news to most of you that my family has and looooooves the Nintendo Wii. After my first Ambassador post it seemed the entire world wanted to know if in fact the photos of our party were even real. Like anyone would make this up. Because of my Ambassadorship we get lots of great games to check out and with each one we've tried, there is someone in the house that takes a liking to it.

For our latest go round, we got to test drive the new Wii Boogie for The Parent Blogger Network and let me tell you, my daughter has been dancing and singing ever since. And she does not sing so, it's a pretty big deal. Her karaoke schedule has changed slightly since school has started but the last days of summer began with early morning Wii Boogie sessions. I'm not kidding. I have photos to prove it,



That's my 9-year-old in her PJs, bedhead and all, doing her thang at 8am.

I might not have been able to say that I'm all that hip to hearing pop music streaming through my house in the ungodly hours of the morning but when you're talking classics from The Jackson 5, it's not as bad as it seems.

Because I'm not too big a karaoke fan/choreographed dancer myself and my youngest would rather be knocking people out playing the Wii boxing game, my oldest plays solo unless my husband is in a mood and then he'll dig up some crazy 80's song and go nuts. It's happened.

Her friend did come over yesterday and they had quite a time of it. As his mother and I sat in another room catching up, we heard a pretty hilarious round of "a little bit of Carla in my life, a little bit of Monica by my side..." Not bad for a 10-year-old. Heck, not bad for a 40-year-old either.

From what the other moms are saying, Wii Boogie is a hit in other homes too. Read all about the dance antics at The Parent Blogger's Wii Boogie post.

An Evening Exchange

Tonight as we walked from the pizza place to the shoe store (you can't go shoe shopping on an empty stomach) I said to my daughters something about really needing them to behave while we were shopping to make the trip as quick and painless as possible. Then I felt the need to drag it out with how unnerving it is for me when they constantly fight, bicker, moan and complain and how they were really out of control earlier and that it's just not OK. I think my ending line was "You guys are just really making me crazy."

As per the usual, my youngest didn't skip a beat when she answered back, "Having kids is really hard Mom."

What can I say but she's a master of deductive reasoning?

Random Radiance

The fabulous Gabrielle at DesignMom is in the midst of a Random Givaway and she is offering up the most gorgeous jewelry. Remember this?

Yep, Blue Poppy Jewelry is up for grabs and all you have to do is go visit the post at DesignMom and comment to be in the drawing. Yay! You only ave until Sept 10th at midnight, so get to it.

Free Stuff

And the winners of the Word World drawing are...

Maile and Laura.

Congrats ladies! I'm sure your kids will dig the DVD.

And thanks everyone for your comments. The words your kids love melted my heart (except for the poop ones...those just made me laugh).

Word Up

It might be the season for getting back to school for the older set but if you've got younger kids you might instead be looking forward to a season of new tv shows. As in PBS perhaps? If you're looking forward to that kind of thing (I am, I am) then you'll be glad to hear that come September 3rd PBS is offering a new show for the younger set called Word World.

I got a DVD for my daughter to check out via The Parent Blogger Network and it's proved to be a big hit. My daughter has always been quite a little linguist so a show like Word World speaks volumes to her. She is barely four but seems mad at the world that she is not able to read yet, let alone write. To my delight, this show has been something that has actually helped her to get a few spelling words under her belt. Empowerment like that for a frustrated preschooler is worth it's weight in gold.

It's a clever show with smart animation and characters my daughter seems to really enjoy. And, I know it goes beyond mere entertainment which for me (and I'm sure most parents) makes it that much better.

If you'd like to win yourself a Word World DVD (with 2 episodes on it) for your child, just leave a message here and you'll be entered in a random drawing. There's just one thing...you need to post your child's favorite word in the post. Why? Why not? And if you want to up your chances of winning, go visit Picture This where I am offering the same give-away. You know you want to.

Word.

40 Things

Inspired by Janine's list at Destinations and in honor of my 4oth Birthday I have decided to attempt the 100 Things list. Remember that one?

I'm starting off with 40 (of course) and I'll eventually build on that.

Here goes-

I drink milk with dinner.

I read Oprah Magazine cover to cover.

I like doing crafts.

I have never lived anywhere outside of So Cal.

I’ve watched baby sea turtles hatch and make their way to the ocean.

I will always love the Grateful Dead.

I’ve broken 3 bones.

I was a cheerleader in High School.

I wish I could play the piano.

I don’t like lattes.

I still miss Sex and the City.

My first concert was to see Journey.

I put notes in my daughter’s lunch everyday.

I believe in magic.

I live for my 50mm compact micro lens.

I gave birth twice without an epidural.

I’ve been to Key West.

I actually like Chuck E. Cheeses.

I’ve shot too many weddings to count.

I’m a published author.

I don’t brush my hair.

I’ve been called a beer snob.

I’m a Nintendo Ambassador but I’m not a gamer.

I cry every time I read On The Day You Were Born to my kids.

I keep a stash of MnMs in my office closet.

I love my minivan.

I hate to mop.

I order oatmeal at restaurants.

Nature is my sanctuary.

My first car was a VW Bug.

I touched Justin Timberlake.*

I couldn’t live without my girlfriends.

I lost the diamond from my wedding ring and then found it.

I had a blood clot after the birth of my second child that went undetected for a week.

I wear slippers but not a robe.

I used to sing at open mic nights with a friend.

I like to watch golf on tv.

I traveled across country in a VW once when I was 5 and again when I was 25.

I eat ice cream almost every night.

I am 40.



*Just on his shoulder as I was trying to get by. And no, he didn’t touch me back.

The Count Down

Four Days Until Forty.

The necklace was an early birthday present from my sweet friend Jill (of the lovely blue poppy)

Scrumptious Spatulatta

A key ingredient to our summer this year has been my daughters love for cooking. Let’s just say she has definitely taken it up a notch. She scours the cabinets looking for what she needs to make whatever culinary concoction that strikes her fancy. Her approach is reminiscent of a scientist; experimenting, mixing, pouring, measuring, tasting (OK, you don’t taste your science projects but you get the idea).

On many a morning the first thing out of her mouth is something like “mom, do we have any cream of tartar?” For the record I do not share this love affair with cooking. It’s taken me most of my adult life to even find any satisfaction out of feeding my family a home cooked meal, even though (to my credit) I do it almost every night. I chalk it up to being creative in other ways and for this reason perhaps I don’t have enough juice left for the kitchen. All that said, I would never let my culinary malaise damper my daughters enthusiasm. Heck, if she can make the meals around here (and love it) then I can check it off my own list. See, I’ve got motives—can you blame me?

Needless to say that when the new Spatulatta Cookbook came in the mail, my daughter and I were equally thrilled and I am pleased to report that we are giving this kid’s cookbook two yummy thumbs up! The chefs that are featured in the book are the young, lovely and talented Liv and Belle (who are also the hostesses with the mostest at the website of the same Spatulatta name). My daughter appreciates that they are girls, just like her; playful, energetic, funny and real. I love that they are obviously and genuinely really into food and are passionate about getting other kids into it as well.

I will admit that my daughter has complained that, “eeew, Shepard’s Pie sounds disgusting” among a few other recipes she’s cringed at, but that make me give this cookbook even more credit. Unlike some other cookbooks for kids, the Spatulatta recipes go beyond the typical kid’s food (like peanut butter, plain noodles, or sweets). I am happy having my daughter look to these young foodies as role models that offer excellent resources (the book and the site) to encourage her love for cooking in a way that I really can’t. The fact that these girls provide real meals for their family proves that my daughter can do it too and that fuels her passion even more. And to my delight, her enthusiasm about working in the kitchen with is rubbing off (except maybe when she is begging me to try the new quick fudge recipe at 7:30 in the morning). Because of books and websites like Spatulatta, creating fun, festive and yummy meals together is becoming a family activity for us that nourishes body and soul. It doesn’t get more delicious than that.

The Good Morning Fairy

Is it just me or is there something magical about waking up to Tinkerbell flying through your kitchen?

Soul Sisters

Here's me with my heroes (blog and otherwise) in the photo booth at BlogHer 07. Jen Lemen and Myriam Joseph are just plain kick-ass women. It's as simple as that.

This shot has been posted especially for the Cool Mom Picks BlogHer 07 Scavenger Hunt.

Can You Feel the Love?

Melody over at Slurping Life (who for the record is one of my favorite virtual friends) is sharing lots of love with Parker (of Praying for Parker) and because of her example, so are a lot of other people in Blogville.

I urge you to go visit Love for Parker and be prepared to be inspired by a courageous little boy and his family! And take your checkbook.

Snappy Kids

Do you have a little shutterbug living under your roof? If the answer is a resounding yes, like it is at my house, come get the scoop on A Little Perspective, the Kid's Photo Contest I'm hosting over at Picture This with the help of my partners in contest crime Sheri of The Little Zygote that Could and Susan of The Snapshot Chronicles.

It's going to be lots of fun. I hope you join us as we learn a little something from our kids.

Noah and His Animals Pals

Considering there isn't a day that passes that at least a few members of our family are not engaged in playing a very important game of "animals"of one type or the next, when the chance arose to check out the latest Caboodle! Collectible Toy (of the animal kind),I knew my youngest would be all over it. I had a hunch too when I heard about Noah's Pals that my oldest might want in on the action. When the delivery came and we caught a glimpse of these wonderfully packaged hand painted animals (that come in pairs...hence the hint Noah) each couple in their own boxes, it was my oldest who indeed seemed most interested. Second to me that is.

The animals themselves are delightfully detailed and each one has it's own name. My favorite is the tiny and totally adorable Derek and Delilah Dove, Universal symbols of love and peace (you can't take the hippie out of the girl). The dove pair came with an ID card (like very nifty membership card) as does each of the Noah's Pals pair. The cards are full of educational info like the animals habitat, stats, scientific name, etc. My kids love that kind of thing. And what adds to the fun is that each card has an ID code that you can plug in online at the Noah's Pet's website so you can keep track of what you have collected and what's left to collect. That's one more feature I really like about them. And that they are toys that I feel good about giving. Collecting things is cool. It gives the toys more perceived value somehow and I think helps kids take batter care of them. Or is that just me?

And speaking of...if you think Noah's Pals are something your child would like to start collecting (like mine have) they are offering a discount when you buy the whole set now (think gifts worth giving for the next year--or two). Visit amazon.com for those details. And when you do collect them all, you get a prize. Not too shabby.

Read more about Noah's Pals and what other Parent Bloggers have to say about them at the Parent Bloggers Network.

Kaboom! Kaboom!

I am not a mom who takes pride in how clean her home is, just so you know. Yes, I try to have it look nice and tidy, but really clean? Um, not really. Unless we're having company over and then, I'll clean it. So, as soon as I heard that some cleaning product called Kaboom Neverscrub was up for review at The Parent Blogger Network, you had better believe I was trying it. Although, I was skeptical.

To my delight, I have literally only had to scrub my toilet twice since installing the little miracle cleaner over 2 months ago. I know it's called Neverscrub but when you live with 2 young children and a husband...well...things happen. I won't pretend I was 100% comfortable "installing" the little doohickey in the toilet at first. I was going to save the job for my hubby BUT I decided to be a real woman about it and empower myself (yes, conquering something as silly as this makes me feel empowered--say what you will) and it really was easy to do. My favorite part about Kaboom Neverscrub is the fresh scent it gives the bathroom after every flush. No, I'm not kidding. My office is right off the main bathroom of the house so I will tell you , I appreciate the fresh smell. I really do! And I only have to replace this baby every few months which is only makes me love Neverscrub more. I kinda thought the refills might be expensive but no way. Like 6 bucks a refill (they last 3 months). Hello clean toilets!!

I got a bottle of the Kaboom Shower, Tub & Tile cleaner too and find that equally as effective. Since I'm not hip on deep cleaning, we shower with water stains at our feet. I know. Eeew. SO, I thought "what better a test for this purple bottle of Kaboom than my shower floor." I tried it once, waited a few minutes and wiped it off. It lifted the stains a bit. But since they have been there since we moved in practically (which was over years ago--double eeew) I gave it one more spray and a little elbow grease (only a little) and KABOOM! It worked. My shower floor looks as good as new! And I wasn't all dizzy and sick from the toxic stench like those other miracle cleaners because there isn't one. Another big plus. In other words, I'm pretty much sold on Kaboom now and from what I've heard around The Parent Blogger Network reviews, you might be too.

Dream Weaving

My oldest daughter has always been an avid reader. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly she can devour the latest “chapter book” (that what kids call the books the graduate into after the early readers). And she’s big on books in a series. She goes from start to finish of each one and then begins a whole new group. It's awesome to watch her fly through the pages. I am impressed with her enthusiasm as I was never one of those loved to read kids. It was excruciating for me to sit still long enough to get through a chapter, let alone and entire chapter book. I’m not proud of that, and I do like to read more now but I will admit I still have some issues with sitting down for any extended period of time. But, this isn’t about me. Not today’s post anyway.

When The Parent Blogger Network put the call out to parents with kids in the tween category (9-12), I was thrilled to give my 5th grader a chance to crack Nick Ruth’s mysterious tale, The Dark Dreamweaver. This one in particular seemed right up her alley. With a name like that, any tween would be intrigued. And it’s the first offering of The Remin Chronicles which makes it that much more appealing. Anything with the word Chronicles sounds good to me. So, I was snagged on the title alone.

As I expected my daughter jumped in as soon as she got a hold of the paperback, which proudly dons the “Mom’s Choice Award” seal on the front cover. I probed her as she read asking her about the story line, the characters, the main gist of this magical adventure chock full of wizardry, suspense, a little spook factor, and endearing players like David the main character who is a child living in the present day and the caterpillar wizard Houdin who although is little is in some “big trouble”. “It’s great mom, I love it, it’s cool,” She offers as she peeks her eyes up over the cover briefly, in more like a “leave me alone and let me read” tone than the book review I was hoping for. But, I think it speaks volumes (is that a pun or what?) when your kid doesn’t want to put the book down to chit-chat.

From what I can tell, The Dark Dreamweaver is a classic tale between good and evil, reality and fantasy, truth and imagination. What’s not to love? My daughter really enjoyed the book and is certainly looking forward to the next Chronicle (Book 2- The Breezes of Inspire—sweet title!). As a mom, what I appreciate most about The Dark Dreamweaver is that this “normal” kid David is challenged to dig deep, rely on his inner powers (courage, strength, determination, wisdom, imagination, and compassion) to help not only his caterpillar friend but the whole state of the world. And he travels into the unknown to do it. Totally awesome! And after doing what he set out to do, he gets plopped back into his regular life where he recognizes that he his indeed extraordinary. Isn’t that what every parent wants their child to know?


The Parent Blogger Network is giving away copies of both The Dark Dreamweaver and The Breezes of Inspire via a random drawing. All you have to do is comment on this post to be entered in the drawing. Free books for summer reading is good thing!

edited to add....
WHOOPS!!!
To enter the drawing you must comment at the post that is on the Parent Blogger Network. I realize my last paragraph explanation was misleading. So sorry!!

All Pharmacist, All the Time

I eagerly awaited my copy of The 24-Hour Pharmacist in anticipation for a reference book for all those crazy kid ailments that go bump in the night. See, when you have children, you just assume that everything ever written has a kid slant. I’m thinking, cool, I need another book for those sleepless nights of fevers and rashes. Was I surprised when I browsed the table of contents and saw chapters like, Overcoming Fatigue, Monthly Madness, and the most intriguing, …Really Icky, Weird Stuff. Forget the kids, this book was for ME! And in many cases felt like it was written directly to me which made me embrace it even more.

I dove headlong into the PMS (a la Monthly Madness) chapter first because well, it’s not surprise to anyone who knows me, I suffer from it (as does everyone that crosses my path) and to my delight, I took vigilant notes and have committed myself to the idea (not the asylum) of giving the advice of Suzy Cohen, Pharmacist Extraordinaire a go. I’ve got nothing to lose and something tells me, this gal knows what she is talking about. I was a little skeptical when she broke the explanations of our hormones down into American Idol terms but since I think I might be the only one on the planet who loathes the show, I’ll ignore it and admit that her pop culture comparisons did make me understand the relationships between all those crazy hormones a little bit better.

The 24-Hour Pharmacist is one of those books that you can’t help but want to read, even when the topics don’t really apply. It’s like you’re just dying to know what the real story is with this western medicine shtick we subscribe to and how someone who works in the industry is in her own way bucking the system. Or at least trying to tell the truth for goodness sakes. Suzy is my kind of girl.

If you are anything like me and you have been vowing for months to kick yourself in the ass and get a little healthier, you should pick up a copy of the book. If nothing else it sheds a whole lot of light and gives a boat load of practical info about some of the medical issues we grapple with everyday and offers ways to get a big healthy grip on them.

This review was written for The Parent Bloggers Network—who is always giving me something to talk about.

Fashion Statement

Sometimes it just has to be made.

Seeing Things

I've seen some fantastic photography lately. The fam and I got a chance to check out Illume before it left Huntington Beach. Wow. The incredible images themselves were only highlighted by the presentation of them glowing from these huge boxes on the beach. Really a sight to see.

And last night we went to an artist's reception for Andy Summers new book "I'll Be Watching You" at the Frank Picture Gallery in Santa Monica. I stood this close to Sting himself and he looked...um...hot. As I figured he would. I will comment however that I towered over him in my heels. No judgement, just observation. I took my camera in hopes to have something to post here but just felt wrong about shooting pix of him. That's just my "I hate to be gawking like everyone else" side. Anyway, If you get a chance to head to the gallery to see Andy's images (life with The Police circa 1980-1983) you should. He captured some incredible stuff.

Sweet Stuff

In honor of the birthday girl (this is me playing on your emotions), it would be much appreciated if you all poped over to Modern Mom and voted for her photo --Just scroll down to the photo on the contest page and click on it--in the Family Fun w/Fruity Cheerios Photo Contest. There's $500 at stake which sounds pretty delicious to me.

I mean, come on, how can anyone resist this sweet face?

Four Yesterday

My Cup Runneth Over

Guess where I was this fine evening?
Oh, nowhere too special. Just Anaheim...

photo of Teemu Selanne and The Cup by Jeff Golden/Getty Images

...witnessing NHL history!
The Ducks won the friggin' Stanley Cup BABY!!!

Needless to say, it rocked. Hard.

Yummy

Food Fight!

Twist and Shout

Remember this story? Well, it's that time again.

And I am really ready to party (no wisdom tooth issues). I will have my child in one arm and my camera in the other as I boogie down at Baby Loves Disco in Los Angeles. They are having the family extravaganza at a whole new venue this summer and it ought be to loads of fun.

I'm the official photog of the event this time around (scroll down and check me out on the blog--I'm an action hero!) so if you're able to make it look for the mom dancing circles around The Derby and shooting pix of all the fun. And just to refresh your memory, they serve grown up drinks. Yuuummm. Grown up drinks.

My Latest Favorite

Tapping Into the Source

Whenever I talk with a new mom I always offer the same advice; find support. Immediately. Although Motherhood is Universal, it can be unbearably isolating which is nothing you can fathom until you're in it and you convince yourself that you are the only one on this planet who has ever been up at 3 am with a inconsolable baby. I remember thoughts racing through my delirious mind about falling asleep standing up, being sure my friends with children never had it as hard as I did and wondering how it was I felt so alone. Sigh.

The only thing that got me through the first few months (OK, years) of Motherhood was my connection to my mommy friends. And even more specifically, the mommy friends that had children the same age as mine. Those kind of friends are essential to surviving. Sounds simple but it's not. At all. Unless you're one of the lucky few who's BFF had a baby at the same time as you did--green with envy--finding another mother who is in the trenches with you can sometimes seem impossible. Especially when you can barely button your blouse long enough to meet to mailman at the door. Since you're not getting out much in those first few months the Internet comes in mighty handy. No matter what time of day or night, no matter what subject you are struggling with, no matter if you've showered in the past week, there are community websites for parents at your fingertips. Bless you Internet.



One new site that caters to moms and is open 24/7 is called Mamasource. Because MotherTalk is on the blog tour train again, I hopped aboard as I so often do, this time because my little sister is due with her first baby in August and I thought it's be cool to test out the mom-community website waters for her. I know what to look for, what is helpful, what you need and what you don't and because I know how badly she's going to need support and connectedness, I want to get her all set up. Don't mean to scare you sissy but, um...it can be scary.

Back to Mamasource. From the get go you can pop over and look for answers to questions on a variety of topics that you'll really need as a new mom (from baby's health, to your health, etc). But, what I think is really nice about this site is that you won't outgrow it because as your parenting needs/questions/concerns change and grow, so do the resources found at Mamasource. Once you're out of newborn hell (sorry, does that offend anyone?) you've got solid foods to talk about, and then potty training, oh goodness, then preschools, activities, sports, orthodontists, college...OK, maybe not college, but you get the picture. Mamasource not only offers the request and response approach (where you ask a question and you get some answers) but they offer a whole other dimension of stuff that's local to you (stores, restaurants, parks, doctors, etc). As in, what gems can be found in your own neighborhood. That's sweet. And it means that you find other moms in your community (not half way across the country) that will tell you where to take your baby to get their first hair cut, or what swim school worked for them, or where to get the best cup of coffee. Coffee? I'm giddy just thinking about it.

For moms that really want to tap into a fantastic resource and actually get the chance to communicate with other moms in their area (yes, you can even plan to meet for that awesome cup of coffee) Mamasource is a perfect place to frequent and as the site's community grows, it's only going to get better.

Hear that little sister? You might not get any sleep come August, but at least you'll be connected.

Please Join Me

I will be sharing tips and tricks on how to take better pictures of your children at an evening event at the fab So Cal bookstore The First Page in Newport Beach. I will also be offering ideas (easy and inexpensive--time wise and money wise) on documenting life with children. I said easy and I mean it. And let me assure you that there will be NO GUILT involved. You can hold me to that!

I hope you can come for some information and inspiration on this 'adult only' night out. Yay! And please feel free to invite your mommy friends!

Wednesday, May 23rd

6:30-8pm

The First Page

2818 San Miguel
Newport Hills, CA
949) 644-5437

Space is limited so please call to reserve a seat. $10 per person. Drinks and hors d'oeuvres will be served. If you need more info please email maypapers at yahoo dot com.

A Mother's Question

What Makes You a Mother?

I answered that here but I think this says it all.

No matter how you answer that question (and by all means feel free to do so and join the Blog Blast) I wish you the Happiest of Mother's Days.

Fearless Friday

Fear is one of those topics that stirs up all sorts of emotions in people. I personally, have a love-hate relationship with Fear but have learned to revere its power to stop even the bravest of us dead in our tracks. We’ve all been paralyzed by Fear sometime in our lives and although it’s a universal experience, there is really no way to compare our Fear to that of another. Not unlike grief, we all have to process our fears in our own way; choose to face them or not, choose to run away or walk on. And although here is no such thing as the absence of it, there are some instances where we act boldly in it’s presence.

In a perfect world, I would just ignore Fear and forge through the fires of life, coming out the other side better for it. It’s a valiant effort and yet, I have found myself afraid of things as predicatable as beginning something new, leaving something behind, following my heart, saying no, saying yes, and of taking even the tiniest of risks. I have found myself debilitated by Fear; unable to make a decision, call the shots, or take the leap. I have given myself too much time to think and have let the voices of doubt drown out the whisperings of my heart. I have even surrendered to my fret and worry and have let Fear keep me from the things I desire. So, how can I expect to ignore something that has become commonplace in my life? I can’t. But I can carry on despite the Fear and do my darnedest to walk, step by step. Some steps bold and others not so bold but they are steps, none the less.

One might think that if we let the little things scare us, the big things would be that much more devastating. But, the truth is, when things have gotten really, truly and terrible scary, I have acted with more fearlessness than I ever could have imagined possible. In fact, I have become the most fierce when I have felt the most intense Fear. It has happens when my children’s well being is at risk or when something I deeply care about is threatened or attacked. I believe it’s a superhuman ability that can overtake us when we are triggered. We’ve seen it when an otherwise normal person lifts a car off of a loved one, when someone puts themselves in terrible danger because someone else needs their help, or when a mother sacrifices her own life for that of her children. It happens everyday. People do extraordinary things in the face of real Fear and it must seem to an observer that these people must be fearless. But, that’s impossible. It isn’t human nature to put ourselves in harms way. However, it is our nature to protect what matters and take care of what we love, at any cost.

I have seen an extraordinary, seemingly fearless woman in myself. I certainly don’t see her every day and I have no idea when she might reveal herself again but I know she’s there, lying idle within me. I know that in times of great Fear, she will appear as she has before, never failing me when I need her most. I don’t use her wisdom and as much as I could and have thought that perhaps I should invite her out more often; welcome her into my daily life, allow her to come play and help with the more minor decisions. It would probably help matters. But for now, I just nod and say “Namaste” to my Fearless Self. She’s impenetrable, focused, determined, clear headed, and impossibly strong.

It was a warm summer morning and my husband, 18 month old daughter and I were on our way to the beach. Radio on, windows down and the scent of sunscreen spoke of our perfectly planned day at the beach. But within minutes of being on the road, my daughter almost lost consciousness. My husband spotted her in the rear view mirror and raised his voice to me, “Something’s wrong! What’s wrong with the baby?” In one moment everything had changed. My husband raced off the freeway and the whole way to the emergency room I was beckoning my daughter to stay awake and as her head bobbed, barely able to speak, she kept whimpering, “Mama? Mama?” in her tender baby voice. As I sat in the backseat with her, the extraordinary woman came for me. She remained calm and steady, when I was at my breaking point. I felt for a few moments that I might lose my daughter.

It was a “freak accident” that a small piece of rust lodged itself into my daughter’s eye and it had sent her body into shock. She became lucid once we got to the hospital and the urgency and gravity of the situation let up a little. If wasn’t a matter of life or death but there was still reason for worry. After hours and hours of waiting, and talking to specialists and finally going through the removal process of the foreign object while my baby was strapped down to a board and a dental drill was used to extract the rust, I continued to be a vision of fearlessness. I stayed strong, focused and vigilant in my efforts to be sure my daughter was taken care of. It was my intention to keep my baby as calm as possible so the doctor could remove the fleck without surgery or doing harm to her eye. He had commented to me that my ability to keep her settled and relaxed was what we had going for us. When the nurse attempted to escort me out of the hospital room for the procedure, I made eye contact with the doctor and he commanded “Let her stay. This one is a good one.” Indeed, she was the best one. She was my Fearless Self. And she stayed with me for the remainder of that long day and into the night when I finally put my precious girl to sleep (thankfully in her own bed and not at the hospital). It was only then did my stoic Fearless Self let go as I fell into my husbands arms and wept.

Although my daughter came out of that situation unscarred, those hours left an indelible mark on me. Reflecting on the events of that day and other instances equally as intense in my life, I know now that it wasn’t my fearlessness that overtook me, it was my Fear. It proves that when Fear is that palpable, existing in every fiber of our being, we can become superhuman to overcome it. I think that is amazing and if I dare say it, fearless.

****

It's Fearless Friday at MotherTalk. If you haven't already, I urge you to go read what other women had to say on the subject. It's awe inspiring.

Cute Alert

When you see beautiful hand made gifts like these, you just have to order something!

And when you see a baby photo like this one, you just have to giggle and then pass it on.

I mean, I just couldn't resist. Can you blame me?

Contests, Photos & Prizes, Oh My!

I'm hosting a photo contest over at Picture This for the next 2 weeks. Come on by and have some good clean fun with us.

Peace Offering

A tiny and simple bouquet offered to me by my oldest daughter. Just as an "I love you".

If the whole world were made up of people like her, we would be a world of peace indeed.

-mamasayom

When Mothers Talk

The Mother Talk Salon I hosted the other night was beyond fabulous, just as I had known it would be. I'm not sure you can go wrong when you bring a group of vibrant women together (namely mothers) and throw in some good eats (appetizers and such a la myself and my daughter the sous chef) and drinks (as in alcoholic) and a cozy living room (aaah, I love when my living room is full of friends). I mean, seriously, it was like a little bit of heaven.

I remember the first email I sent Miriam and Andi (the amazing women behind Mother Talk) as a desperate plea to get a Salon planned in LA. Little did I know that I would be lucky enough to have not only host one in my own home, but to have not one, but two incredible authors to lead the evening of compelling conversation. Everyone that was here truly enjoyed themselves. I know it to be true because since the event on Saturday night, I have been fielding phone calls and emails from grateful moms who keep reiterating heartfelt sentiments about how stimulating it was to get together and talk about the Universal State of Motherhood...good, bad, and otherwise.

The evening began with snacking (thank you Isabel at Alpha Mom for being kind enough to sponsor the event for us) and casual introductions that led to us gathering around as Brett Paesel began to read a piece called from the delightfully witty Mommies Who Drink during which on more than one occasion, had the whole room laughing out loud. When Brett was through, and before she could even answer the questions we were all dying to know like, what led her to write the book, how did she get the deal, and what was her life like before children (you know the important stuff), the whole room was engaging in conversation which I think could have gone on for days.

But, alas, it was time for Erika Schickel to share something from her refreshingly poignant and clever book You're Not the Boss of Me. Although apparently she had planned on reading a different piece, the dynamic of the group led her to recite the last story of the book called Sisters. A tapestry of words, rich in color and texture that brilliantly stitched together her daily observations of her own daughters with reflections of her own upbringing and memories of life with her sisters. For those of you who know me, my daughters and my whole family of women, you can imagine how much a story like hers hit home. Waaah. This then began round two of mom talk and as our thoughts swirled and we spoke our minds the time passed far too quickly. It was a perfect evening.

Would I host another Mother Talk Salon? You bet I would. And something tells me it's just a matter of time.

Consider Yourself...

informed, invited and tagged.

Carry on.

Good Days

The other day, out of the clear blue, I hear a tender little voice sigh and say, "Mama, I love you in my whole life." The sound of those words in that voice instantly took my breath away. "You do?" I answered. And after a moment she said, "Yah. I love you in my whole heart too."

I'd say things are finally looking up.

March Madness (aka The Month of The Domino Effect)

3/1 - 3/5 - I threw my back out something terrible and was totally out of commission.

3/6 - Finally able to walk again and had mommy friends and a brood of 3-year-olds over to welcome an out of town guest. Friend's child threw up at the party. The real fun begins here as does the Domino Effect.

3/7 - Another mommy friend and her daughter got the bug.

3/8 - 3/11 - My youngest got it. And this is when I miss my big mommy-only overnight outing to Santa Barbabra.

3/11 - 3/12 - I got it. Bad. And this is where I miss most of my sisters wedding, barely hanging on for the ceremony and leaving before the reception.

3/13 - My oldest got it/has it. And a phone call from my mother confirmed she's down too.

And now, after two full weeks of total chaos, it's official, things (as in almost everything internet) are falling through the cracks. If you are one of them...please forgive me if I have been unresponsive. I will be picking up the pieces of March for a while, I'm sure. And do I even have to say that I am petrified of what tomorrow might hold.

Well Well Well

My daughters aren't all that messy. I mean, I guess it's nothing that really is an issue with us. I will admit that my youngest daughter often resembles a street urchin but more than anything else, it's her bedhead that dictates that. Oh, and her clothing. And that fact that she goes barefoot almost all the time. Um, OK, well, so like I said, my kids aren't all that messy so I haven't carried wipes around with us for quite some time. Many of my friends with preschool aged children still tote around the wipes for anything and everything. But, not us. I will admit that I have some antibacterial something or other in my side pocket of my car door but that's only used once in a while. Like when my kids remind me that they've been playing all day at school and are about to dig in to some greasy french fries. Oh, OK then, better sanitize! Greasy fries are one thing, germy greasy fries, not so much.

I didn't really realize it but letting my kids eat germs must have been a thing I once took pride in. Weird, I know. But, once when we were out with the kids getting ice cream, my girl friend asked to borrow a Wipe. I smugly replied, ""my kids don't need them." We exchanged a glance back and forth not exactly sure what to say next. She finally rolled her eyes at me and we both cracked up. Fast forward to Clean Well entering the picture about 6 months later. I am a changed woman. I am Wipe Mom, super clean, super eco, super proud. Thanks Clean Well for showing me the err of my ways!

Clean Well is a new hand-sanitizing product that comes not only in a Wipe but also in this svelte and sexy little spray bottle that feels good in your hands. And I'm not even talking about the spray itself yet! I'm here to tell you, I can't hardly resist me some good packaging. So, yes, the spray. Light and lovely. Easy to pump and it dries quickly and leaves your hands feeling normal again in seconds. Not sticky or gooey or smelling of menthol (like the mystery product from my car that I finally threw out). Ick. I will admit that Clean Well had my interest piqued the minute I experienced the website (even before I got the product to try) . I was not only impressed by the visual vibe (what can I say, that stuff sells me) but also the entire idea behind the newest, freshest product on the market. When the goods arrived, they did not disappoint. I'll put it this way, one of the mini spray bottles was stolen from me, by my daughter, who keeps it in the front pocket of her lunch cooler. She has become Sanitizer Girl and all the kids gather round for a super squirt before lunch. When the kids want to use it, it's a gooood thing.

The other evening when the kids and I went to grab a pizza with the fore mentioned friend of mine and her daughter, she made commented at the end of the meal that she didn't have a Wipe. And then her eyes met mine and we locked gazes and squinted at each other in kind of a Jerry and Newman moment. "Ah ha! But I do," and out came the big guns...my Clean Well Wipes. As I held up the individually wrapped Wipe she gasped, "What it this adorable thing?" snatched it out of my hands, proceeded to tear it open, inhale the lemony fresh scent, unfold the very large Wipe and breathed, "Mmmmm, yummy, where can I get some of these?" So, now, you have proof that this stuff is awesome. Not just from me, but from one of the original Wipe Moms and that's sayin' something.

If you want to know what's in this uber sanitizer and how it works (all-natural, safe for baby, alcohol-free, etc, etc) you can read all about it on the site because it's all there in gorgeous green and white. If you want to know how it is, up close and personal, then you probably can tell by now, I'm into it.



This review was brought to you by The Parent Bloggers Network.

Prince Charming

Since my little sister is getting married in March and my step-brother is getting married in May there has been a lot of talk about weddings around here.

Today in the car, out of the blue my youngest daughter sighs, "I want to get married."
"You do?" I ask, "Well, you can get married when you grow up. Who do you want to marry?"
"Daddy" she replied dreamily.
"What else do you want to do when you grow up?" thinking this was a good time to sneak a peek into her head.
"Be a doctor" she says.
"Great," I say, "And anything else?"
"Ride my big bike" she says and rolls her eyes as if she's tired of me probing.
I summarize, "So, you want to marry Daddy, be a doctor and ride your big bike when you grow up."
Pause.
She sighs again and tilts her head against the car seat, "Daddy is sooooooo handsome."

And although I wholeheartedly agree, I'm now convinced she's seen one too many Princess movies.

What's in a Photoblog?

I was recently asked if I consider any of my blogs (and you know I have many) to be photoblogs. Ahem, well, I'm not exactly sure. I write a lot about photography and post photos too at Picture This so yes, I think I would say that makes it a photoblog. Or does it? I can't really say one way or another.

Does a true photoblog have to showcase only photographic images without words, explanations or "how-to" tips? I do have one of those photoblogs that floats around in the background behind my busier blogs; understated and pale due to my neglect and lack of blog traffic. I love it but I don't post to it much these days. It seems that I have gotten caught up by adding words to everything I do. I have a website that speaks to passers-by in a visual language but I do long to continue this non-verbal communication in other ways.

So, now this question I'm pondering has given me a little nudge. A reminder that I love images without words. I so enjoy observing a single photograph and allowing for my own translation of that image pour over me; to stir and be stirred, to share the way I see things, or to see another perspective, to have thoughts and feelings pulse through me from an intimate visual experience between myself and a photograph.

So why don't I just get over there and post more?

OK. I will.

(thanks sissy for the reminder)

The Ultimate Compliment

nominee banner
Originally uploaded by mmeclark.

Wow.
My little ol' blog Mother May I was nominated by someone whom I greatly admire for "The Happiest Blog" at the Share the Love Blog Awards hosted by One Woman's World.

I am in the company of some incredible bloggers over there so I'm all a flutter with just seeing my blog listed with theirs. Sigh.

Go check it out and vote for your favs. I did.

What's in a Line?

A few months ago a dear friend came over to take some photos of me. She is embarking on her new career in photography and since I'm kinda narcissistic and like the way others see me through the lens (huh?) I urged her to use me as a model. Actually, that's not the way it happened exactly. She was in need of a little practice, and some input, and I was in need of recent "blog profile" photos of myself. But I still like getting my photo taken in my own weird little way.

Come to find out, she wanted to be sure to capture my wrinkles. Um, I'm sorry, my what? Oh boy. This might not be as fun as I thought. Or maybe it would be. Truth is, I'm not really all that worried about my age or the aging process thus far for that matter. Some friends I know whisper about botox and their sagging, sucked dry breasts and that flappy skin on the back of their arms. Me? Nah. It is what it is. So, I figured I'd let her just shoot away, unflattering side light and all. And I did. And you know what, I like the photos. Yep. So I'm calling in a victory. It might not mean anything to anyone else but to me, it means that I'm OK looking at my own (40- year-old, this year) face which I think is a pretty good thing.

At first glance this shot is fun and so very me, but after I really looked at it, I saw the lines, the wrinkles around my eyes. Wow. That's a lot of lines. It's surreal catching a glance of yourself aging. Because like Shari MacDonald Strong said in her wonderful story Love-40, "I didn't know I was aging, exactly." So when one day you see yourself and you can trace the last few years of motherhood, of work, of love, of joy, of time carved in lines around your eyes, it can be shocking. But, it's also wonderful, if you let it be.

Babyproofing Your Marriage Blog Book Tour

I first heard about the new book Babyproofing Your Marriage from Kristen. Apparently, she got an unannounced copy of the book in the mail and figured she had been targeted as someone who really needed some help in the marriage department. Let’s just say she is always very candid about the ups and downs of her relationship with her husband at Motherhood Uncensored. About a week later, I got the book in the mail and thought, “Now wait a minute, I don’t talk about my marriage on my blog. Why did I get the book?” and immediately hid it in the closet for fear that my husband would think I was seeking help to improve our marriage, God forbid. Yes, I was worried about what he might think seeing marital book on the nightstand, as ridiculous as that might sound. And then, Mother Talk asked if I wanted to review the book. Oh boy.

I was on the fence about even reading it because my husband and I are no longer in the “baby phase” of life anymore so I figured it wasn’t applicable. That was, until I starting reading the thing. And then I was like, “DANG! This is one hell of an important book!” and have not been able to put it down.

So, what exactly are the three very sage mothers (Stacie Cockrell, Cathy O’Neill, and Julia Stone) behind this Babyproofing book on to? What do they know that we don’t? Well, it’s not so much what they know, it’s that they had the gumption to really look at it for what it is; a universal marital dilemma and they tackled it head (and heart) on. Bravo ladies!

But, what’s the point of reading about something we are living? If we are already well aware that our lives as we knew them have unraveled since we’ve had kids and our marriages are well, a mere shadow of what they used to be? How about for validation? It’s absolutely imperative for us to recognize that what is discussed in this book are not “just our own marriage” issues. In fact, every couple that has kids goes through this stuff in one form or another and for the most part, argues about the exact same things. I swear, as I was reading the many spot on quotes included in the book feeling like I was reading exact conversations my husband and I have had over the course of the past 9 years, since our fist daughter was born. Word for word. I’m serious. And even now, as my kids are 3 and 9, we still drag these same gripes around with us day after day. Sure, life has gotten a easier with a little more sleep (now that our babies are no longer babies) and a few good parenting years under our belts but even still, the fundamental beefs we have had with one another since we had the babies, are still pretty much the same today, and thankfully are exactly what are dissected in this book.

Babyproofing Your Marriage tackles all the issues; the myth of the highly sought after, pretty much unattainable ‘equal partnership’ marriage, sex (and the lack thereof) and everything that goes along with that (which is, um, a lot), and the rest of the brutal truth about what having a children really does to your relationship. And believe you me, it’s not always pretty.

But above and beyond validation, the book gives you hope. I mean, once it’s all broken down, it’s not all that difficult really (if we can pry our resentments from our weathered and weary parent paws). The key is to for once, really start to recognize what our partners are going through. Sure, we moms might feel beaten down and taken for granted but so do our spouses. Both of us are feeling the exact same way (light bulbs going off?) with just a few variations as to 'the what and the whys’ (like hard wiring for example). This book takes it all apart and lays it out in the language that all parents can grasp and then starts to rebuild it as we begin to let ourselves feel the other person’s pain. It’s the first big step and this empathy alone can begin the shift toward a better relationship. Hooray!

What I think is the most refreshing part of the book is that both parties are equally represented. And this is why it is so important for our husbands to read the book (this issue noted in my conclusion). They'll be ecstatic to know they are in no way getting all the blame in this book. For as much as their manly tendencies are exposed (and sometimes constructively criticized), so are our pity parties (we all have them), constant comparisons -aka score keeping (‘I do 10 things to every one thing he does’), and over-protective, gate keeping attitudes (‘surely you aren’t taking the baby out dressed in that’) of which we have all been guilty. In Babyproofing both us moms and the dads are called to the table, held accountable for the mess our marriages are in, and everyone is offered very valuable help and very doable methods that can be used to improve our relationships tremendously. For God sakes, there are even mock scripts we can use if we flounder and lists of ways to make the opposite sex feel appreciated. Hello. Easy peasy. And the added bonus is that although these can be some heavy issues, the tone of the book is light, the writers are funny, and the language is appropriate. Like the F word. Tossing that one in at the right moment gave me the feeling that I’m among friends, having this discussion in my living room, with other normal parents, that are earnest because they too struggle with the same crap in their own marriages. It’s refreshing and enjoyable reading.

And if for some reason you are still even thinking for one single minute that you don’t need to read this book, I urge you to think again. However, be warned, this book is clearly written to both halves of the whole here. Which means, and I reiterate here, when you do get the book and read it, there is this one hurdle that might prove a difficult leap—getting your husband to read it too. I know first hand that that is waaaay easier said than done as I have yet to get a “yes dear, I will read the book” from my man but I won’t give up trying and hope you won’t either.



For more info on Babyproofing Your Marriage - How to Laugh More, Argue Less, and Communicate Better as Your Family Grows by Stacie Cockrell, Cathy O’Neill, and Julia Stone visit the website.


Catch the authors live on The Today Show on NBC...today.

And Now, Part 2

After our excursion at Baby Loves Disco, my husband was very excited to take the girls and I to the world renown Pink's for hot dogs. And not just any hot dogs. These are hot dogs to the stars. Naturally, after an afternoon of dancing and the fact that we aren't cruising around Hollywood that often these days, we happily obliged.

I learned a few things that late afternoon that I'd like to pass on, just in case you're headed for Hollywood anytime soon.

Don't go to Pink's if you don't have the time (or the patience) to wait in line for at least 20 minutes or in our case, 50. For. A. Hot. Dog.

Don't got to Pink's in the middle of a So Cal cold snap. Keep in mind that you are outside, on a street corner as you wait in line.

Don't go to Pink's with children that have danced for hours and are over-tired, hungry and very, very cold (because they just might just have to wait in line for 50 minutes in the bitter cold).

Don't go to Pink's if you think for one moment you'd have the good fortune of actually landing a table inside of their tiny indoor

dining room because chances are you'll have to sit outside.

Don't go to Pink's if you just got a wisdom tooth pulled as you just might, in trying to cram a hot dog down your throat, tear your stitches and injure your so that you won't be able to eat anything but soup for the next 48 hours.

Don't go to Pink's if you don't have your camera because you wouldn't ever want to forget a family outing like this.

Baby Loves Disco - Part 1

And so does Mama, Daddy, and Big Sister!

Saturday was the highly anticipated Baby Loves Disco "family dance party" at The Knitting Factory in Hollywood. Yes, Hollywood! There is no messing around when it comes to the very cool, ultra hip Baby Loves Disco Events. They are held in big cities, at REAL clubs. You know, night clubs. Remember those places you used to go to dance, drink, hang out, have fun pre- children? I know, it's a little cloudy but am I ringing any bells here?

If I told you that you could now go to these same clubs and do these same things with your whole family (babies and all) would you believe me? Well, it may sound too good to be true but it's not. Of course, there area few modifications. Like when you attend a Baby Loves Disco event, snacks are provided, for freeeeee. And we're not talking crappy snacks, we're talking fruit platters, sandwiches, cupcakes, and a plethora of other kid friendly munchies. Oh, and juice boxes. But, you'd better believe they sell drinks (REAL drinks) for the parents. Mmm mmmm. One more reason to go. And the free stuff doesn't end there. We got these unbearably cute BabyLegs legwarmers that, I swear if they came in my size I would totally wear, among other cool schwag.

My whole family attended the shindig as did a few friends and we all loved it. LOVED. IT. There was of course the dance floor, with a disco ball. And bubbles that dropped from the sky. And balloons, hula hoops, music makers, and more play things to keep even the busiest toddlers entertained. The music was in fact good. And spun by a real DJ. And it was loud enough and dark enough to make it cool but not too loud nor too dark. Which was a HUGE relief. So, don't worry if you think your wee ones might get too stimulated. From one over-protective mom to another, it's cool. And besdies, when it is time to take a break for a while, there is a designated Chill Out area where there were rugs laid out, pillows galore, books, games, and all sorts of things to wind your tiny dancers down.



For the rest of my photo set, go to my Flickr page.

My daughters are already picking out their disco duds for the next LA event which is set for February 10th. I'm sure even more than my words, the photos of the day speak of what a fun experience it was shakin' our groove thangs at Baby Loves Disco LA. I urge you to check out their site to see if there is one being hosted in your town. If you're lucky, there's at least one in 'Road Trip' distance.


This review was brought to you by The Parent Bloggers Network.

For a different Baby Loves Disco review from another Parent Blogger (like myself), go read what Kari had to say about her journey into the city as she and her family 'got down' at the San Francisco event. Go Kari, Go Kari!

Christmas List Recap

A recent photo gadget obsession drove me to write a HotSpot feature for Alpha Mom last month which some of you already know. But, I felt I needed to clarify (since everyone keeps asking) that no, I did not get a darling little lensbaby for Christmas. I got something even better.

I heart my husband.

A New Year, A New Perspective

Me- "Honey, your shoes are on backwards."

My youngest- "Not when I do this."

Here's to doing it your own way in 2007.

Holidays

wishing you peace, hope, wonder, light, love and joy

collage created at www.tabblo.com

A Savvy Mother Talk Book Tour

Many of you already know that I am the mother of two bright and beautiful daughters. God knows I post enough photos of them around here to make it pretty obvious. So, what does having daughters mean to me? It means a lot but what first comes to mind is my wish to raise them to be strong, independent, empowered women all the while trying my darnedest not to saddle them with my own baggage (namely, the female kind). So far, so good, I guess. But my oldest is headed for Tweenville and that means it's only going to get harder for me to navigate the precarious mother/daughter waters.

Long ago, back before we even had kids, my husband insisted that I bow out of The Sex Talk if ever that time came. He was certain that it would be futile for me to try to hide my uptightness about all things below the belt and figured he’d be the better speaker of the house. I didn’t take offense to it because I knew he was right. But time has passed and I better understand some of my issues and have faced them over the years. And now, in the blink of an eye, I am dealing with a nine-year-old daughter and on a daily basis am deciding how and when to interject the tid-bits of girl info as she needs it. Considering I never even called a vagina by it’s proper name until she was like 5, it’s been a slow road. Regardless a few set backs, over the last few years, I have decidedly been much more forthright with her, sharing the details of my own cycle in ways that have seemed to comfortably open the lines of communication. Whew. I figure if I can keep it going, then the talk won’t necessarily have to be such a big talk but more of an extension of the things we’ve already been sharing (she says with fingers crossed).

Lucky for me, before things have gotten hairy (that might be a pun if you really think about it- so try not to think about it), a book like Toni Weschler's Cycle Savvy came along. I was thrilled when the call went out from Mother Talk to review the new book geared toward girls 14 and older. "Ah ha," I thought, "I’ve got a few years until then and I have time to arm myself with the info in this book so I’ll be really ready!" I figured from the title and the fab graphics that it’d be a perfect book to read and entrust my daughter with when the time comes. I started with the “note to moms” which is obviously a disclaimer for what was about to be discussed in the book and it managed to put me at ease right away. And then I really began. When I got to page 8 it was all I could do not to slam the book shut. Oh my God, I am not ready for this. See, page 8 is a graphic line drawing of the female genitalia, spread eagle, labeled and plain as day. Breathe Tracey, breathe. And then, through one squinted eye, I studied the drawing a little more closely. My eyes opened. Aaaah, so that’s where that is. Oooo, that’s what that’s called.

I found I was able to gather my thoughts and talk myself off the cliffs of Mt. Prude. And what happened next was remarkable. I began reading Cycle Savvy as a curious teen. Apparently, in many ways I am. I won't pretend ladies, there is stuff in this book that I didn't know. I haven’t read Toni’s first, wildly popular book Taking Charge of Your Fertility. Yet. Is it that obvious? Anyway, Toni’s approach is one of respect, knowledge, understanding and humor. I love her voice and to my astonishment I felt very comfortable reading about all the female stuff that might normally make me squirm especially in the context of knowing my daughter will be reading it one day. We’re not just talking periods here. Toni covers or perhaps better said uncovers topics like cervical fluid, ovulation, fertility, the ‘first time’ (gulp), birth control, and STDs to name a few. At great length and in detail I might add. Yep. It’s all in there and more.

So then I pondered her words and her straight-forward approach as a mother of a one-day teen and wanted to embrace her. She spoke in the language that I want to speak with my daughter; confident, kind, funny, and trusting. With teens, it’s not only what you say, it’s how you say it. And Toni has got it going on. She’s not trying to be one of the teens she’s targeting. Thank God. She’s just trying to be someone they will listen to, which is no easy task. She casts no judgment and offers clear, concise information that not only sheds light on the mysteries of the female body but empowers young women by entrusting them with the info they will need to make smart choices for themselves in life. As in every facet of life, not just in sex (although that is covered so well, I might have to memorize it and recite it when the time comes). Rest assured taking charge of your fertility isn’t easy at any age. If you consider doing so is like cracking the code to your whole personal make up it’s no wonder it takes some doing. But Toni offers the tools girls, ahem, women need to do just that, if and when they are ready to listen to and take charge of their bodies. It got me all fired up, I can tell you that much, and that’s a start.

Cycle Savvy is a book designed to help teen girls demystify their “awesome and amazing” bodies (gotta love those adjectives!) and in turn honor themselves and through it all offers the universal messages that many moms strive to instill in their daughters. One of the highlights for me is when the author describes “the four little words that can change your life.” She continues, “Commit them to memory, make them your mantra, own them. They will serve you again and again. Knowledge: Good. Ignorance: Bad.” That single message alone makes the book worth reading. I can guarantee that Cycle Savvy will be right here on my shelf (once I’ve read through it a few more times) waiting to be used for it’s highest good; to help me, help my daughter understand her own unique and miraculous body as she grows into the amazing young woman I see glimpses of even today.

****
Just added-
I am giving away a free copy of Cycle Savvy- The Smart Teen's Guide to the Mysteries of Her Body. It'll be a random drawing taken from all the people who comment on this post. Thanks and good luck!

Picture Perfect

The phrase "a picture is worth a thousand words" has never been more true.

http://news.yahoo.com/photo/061208/ids_photos_wl/r470729295.jpg

It All Adds Up

Back to the giving...because that's what this season is all about.

Minti is giving a dollar to the Starlight Starbright Foundation with each new member that registers over there. Wow. Talk about generous. That's going to add up to lots of dollars! And I can't think of a better place to give that kind of money to. OMG. It's a really awesome foundation.

So, if you're not a Minti Member yet, it's the perfect time to get over there and sign up. There's a button over in my trusty sidebar. And be sure to stop over to my home page there and say howdy.

Notes to Myself

Remember to love no matter what.
Remember to give to those who are in need.
Remember to ask for help when you are in need.
Remember that no matter how bad it is, it could be worse.
Remember that you are not alone (even when it feels like you are).
Remember that whatever it is, it's usually not worth the stress.
Remember to breathe.
Remember to be kind.
Remember to laugh.
Remember to keep your perspective.
Remember to pick your battles.
Remember your priorities.
Remember to give yourself extra time.
Remember to say "I Love You".
Remember to take the high road.
Remember to look up at the sky sometimes.
Remember to look for beauty because it's there.
Remember that playing is not optional.
Remember dreams can come true (but you have to dream first).
Remember that one day you will miss the chaos of mothering young children.
Remember to write it down because you won't remember if you don't.
Remember you can never ever take too many pictures.



Mama Says Om (remember)