This Full House Archive

Category: Because Nice Matters!

Less Cancer, More Birthdays!
Today is MY birthday (never mind, which one!) and, in celebration of the 17th Anniversary of my 29th birthday (there, I said it!) I have partnered with the American Cancer Society's Choose Campaign (unpaid) by hosting a special giveaway on my shopping blog (ditto) to
help shine the spotlight on a sobering statistic:

One in three women will get cancer in her lifetime.

Considering my twin brother, Steve (yes, his REAL name) has been battling cancer for a few years, now (AND WINNING!)
I am committed to finding and sharing ways in which women can lead a healthier lifestyle.

Especially, moms like me – I mean, we do tend to put our children's needs first, right?

So, in lieu of sending me birthday presents (ahem) I thought it would be nice to do something special, right here, on my blogger-with-children-who-does-not-blog-about-her-children-mostly-type-um-blog.

[sound of crickets chirping]

So, in honor of my older brother (by 3 minutes, still, older than me) Steve:
- For every comment I receive on this post (because, you know, some folks STILL read blogs) I will donate $1.00 of what I've saved through BlogHerAds, this year (up to $100) to the American Cancer Society.
[NOTE: I would be THRILLED with the usual 3 comments — thankyouverymuch — but, feel free to pass the word along; I am donating the whole shuh-bang, anyway!]

I will leave comments open for 1 week (because, I know that you are busy) and then post a copy of my donation receipt.

Why?

Because, it's My birthday, being nice matters and cancer sucks wet poodle (der!) oh, and Happy Birthday, mah bruh-thuh!

© 2010 This Full House Blog

UPDATED TO ADD: COPY OF DONATION RECEIPT IS HERE — THANK YOU!!!
May 28, 2010
You Say Garbage, I Say, “GAH-BIDGE!”

I just love garbage men. Okay, trash men. Wait, waste collectors? Oh, I know, sanitation engineers. Or, maybe they're refuse removal technicians?

Whatever.

My guys ALWAYS take a moment to place (not throw) my cans
back onto the sidewalk (not my next door neighbor's lawn) and move out
of the way, so that I can get passed them and into my driveway, on my
way home from dropping the kids at school.

Okay, let me repeat…THE GARBAGE TRUCK PULLS OVER TO ALLOW ME TO GET INTO MY DRIVEWAY…I love that!

The dude driving in the sparkly new Mercedes SUV, while STILL talking on his cellphone, this morning, not so much.

Or, maybe it was a Crossover (IDK) and he could have been just too busy discussing a very important business deal (I bet Donald Trump would pull over – if he drove his own car, I mean) either way, I guess expecting him to be nice would have been considered a luxury.

[slams on breaks]

"Move that piece of garbage!"

A few hours (not to mention, about a thousand expletives) later and I'm still at a loss as to what would provoke such an extremely well tailored young man to act like a snot-nosed little booger.

"UP YAWS, YUH BASSTED!!!"

MY trash guys, however, are like the cream in my McCafe and they obviously don't take very kindly to acts of random assness, either (thanks, Trash Guy!) and, well, I am very happy to report that chivalry is NOT dead!

"Yuh buhleeve that [expletive] guy?"

[cringe]

A little stinky…a bit crude, perhaps…but, then again, a little gah-bidge never hurt nobody, you know what I'm sayin?

"Man, he's got a potty mouth!"

[one beat, two beats]

"But, our garbage man is real nice…right mommy?"

There's a lesson in there, somewhere.

"He's a sanitation engineer, Sweetie."

Aaaaand, if you happen to find it, just throw it up on the curb, next to the cans, up there, okay?

[beep]

"UP YOURS!"

Since, I'm probably STILL trying to make a left turn!

"It's…UP YAWS…Sweetie!"

Aaaand, teaching my kids proper diction…Jersey style!

© 2010 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.

May 7, 2010
Just Don’t Call Me a Tech Blogger!
I break things (a lot) so, calling me a tech blogger would be bad (even my kids would back me up on this point) and I am certainly not the most connected or coolest mom and she's pretty much cornered the market on savvy (don't worry, they really do know their stuff) but, does it really matter what I blog about?

No.

If I've learned anything, in my 7 years of blogging (besides, the fact it's not a good idea to change from a hosted blog site, to another, before backing up your archives, der!) the most important take away (ready?) is that the words I write (or, choose to publish) really don't matter, unless I've touched someone, in a positive, or negative way.

Hopefully, in a positive way, because, well, I don't know of anyone who blogs to feel bad about stuff, on purpose, nor would I want to.

Still. Should it make a difference, how I choose to approach (i.e. respond to) this whole mommyblogging business?

Pardon my Jersey, but abso-friggin-lutely!

In fact, last week, I was asked to speak on a panel of (along with the aforementioned cool, connected and savvy) moms who blog (because, not everyone necessarily wishes to be defined by the term mommyblogger) about working closely with brands (there, I said it!) and not just because I'm an expert, or anything (because, I'm not, der!) but, I feel, to provide a slightly different (i.e., seasoned) point of view, when addressing online mom-specific communities, as a whole.

"I blog because it makes me feel good."

Actually, the point I was trying to make (because, some of us write better than we speak, ahem) is really simple: I enjoy making other mothers feel good (seriously, if we don't lift each other up, who will?)

My mission is equally as simple: to help dismiss the idea that anything beginning with the word "mother," or ending in "hood" should be portrayed as nothing, if not perfect (especially, in the media) oh, and pardon me if my blog makes me feel a little better about myself, too.

[steps off soapbox]

I'm not the same person I was 7 years ago and I'm not saying blogging should be, either (times change, you know?) and I certainly don't want to sound like a purist, or preachy (do people really read blogs, anymore?) however, I have to agree with Busy Mom in thinking that perhaps we should all look a little inward, before responding to all the negativity surrounding moms online — or, simply reaffirm the fact that there is a community out there, for everyone, regardless of what type of blog you keep.

With that said, here's a headline you probably won't read anytime soon:

Moms aren't necessarily all about the blog bashing and the comment thrashing, or into the drama of virtual hair-pulling contests, either!

I mean, don't we see enough of that at PTA meetings, right?

[ducks to avoid flying fundraisers]

Me?

I will gladly reaffirm that:
1. I am a dork (but, I'm not stupid)
2. I will continue to share my stories (sorry, Mom)
3. Also, share cool stuff I find online and try not to break things (too much)
4. While, hopefully, continue to give back to my community, in a positive way (without being taken advantage of, by media folks who still just don't get it, der!)
5. Because, well, it's how I roll.
Unless, you think moms are stupid, or blogging about nice stuff is dumb, then it ALL doesn't really matter, anyway, right?

Well, then, there's always Engadget!

© 2010 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.
April 9, 2010
Viewing the World Through Frozen Side Mirrors

Most days, I wake up and, if my feet hit the floor and my head is still attached, then, it really doesn't take much to convince myself that, YES, half the battle is actually getting out of bed and HOORAH! but, it's gonna be a good day…DAMMIT!

Until, it's time to leave the house.

"Why IS it so hard to make a left turn!?!?"

Then, I remembered.

"Oh yeah, 'cawse I live in Jersey!"

Is it just me, along with perhaps the rest of the Eastern seaboard, STILL digging out of one of the snowiest winter's in, well, recorded history (yeah, I'm looking at you, Washington, D.C.) or, has Snowmageddon (or, as I've come to call it, Snowpocalypse) frozen everyone's nice buttons, shut?

(more…)

February 17, 2010
Yes I am Wearing Red for Women AND Men!!!

It is National Wear Red Day 2010 in support for the Go Red For Women movement.

Yes, I am wearing red. I happen to like the color (A LOT) but, it's a simple and powerful way to help raise awareness of heart disease and stroke.

But, what about men?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States:

"About every 25 seconds, an American will have a coronary event."

Aaaaand, I asked my kids to wear red (if they had something clean, I mean) NOT just because I happen to like the color (A LOT) either.

"Doesn't Uncle Bradi have heart disease?"

No, but my twin brother is ALSO fighting something just as deadly.

"You mean, Farah Fawcett type of cancer?"

Kids today, you know, they talk AND they have a very keen sense of perception – especially, standing in the check out lane at the grocery store.

"No, sweetie, but he's fighting really hard, like your Papa, too."

My children are well aware of the terrible effects of heart disease,
with a bird's eye view from their stroller(s), while seeing my father
through one life-saving procedure after another.

Thanks to his doctors, surgeons and my mother's valiant attempts at
maintaining a healthy lifestyle, by keeping his diabetes in check, as
well, my father has been beating back the effects of heart disease for
quite a few years, now.

[knocking on wood until knuckles bleed]

So, yeah, I'm wearing red.

"Is your, or my heart bad, too?"

Aaaand, NOT because I think I'm someone special.

"No, I don't think so, sweetie."

But, my kids sure do.

"That's okay, I like red."

I know.

"It looks good on you!"

Yes, I am wearing red.

"Aaaand, I love my Papa!"

Especially, for him…too…GO RED!!!

© 2010 This Full House – All Rights Reserved.

February 5, 2010
Bloggers Unite for Haiti
In response to the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that rocked Haiti a week ago (today) BloggersUnite for Haiti is asking bloggers (like me) from around the world to share information about this disaster and how people around the world (like us) can provide aid to ongoing relief efforts.

Why?

Last Tuesday's earthquake has reduced large parts of the the country's capitol, Port Au Prince, to rubble and devastated their already poor infrastructure making the task of delivering aid extremely difficult.

Official estimates from the region say that approximately 3 million people have been affected by this disaster and that somewhere between 45,00 to 50,000 people are may have died as a result of the earthquake.

How can we help?

For example, websites and blogs can use this button to let others know how to support Doctors Without Borders work in Haiti and 60 other countries around the world. Here's the code:

<a
href="https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=197&hbc=1&source=ADQ1001E1D01"><img
src="http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/images/donate/button-emergency-relief-160.png"
alt="Support Doctors Without Borders in Haiti" border="none"
height="200" width="160" /></a>

Or, share this list of organizations helping with Haiti Relief:
Okay, why SHOULD we help, really?

Because, nice matters (no matter, how small the gesture) but, indifference to human tragedy (no matter, what part of the planet we live on) sucks wet poodle!

© 2010 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.
January 19, 2010
Suffering From a Bad Case of Mommyblogger Reflux

Yesterday, I had the extreme pleasure of attending PR University's audio conference "Pitching Mommy Bloggers" as a panelist, along with Liz, Christine and Renee (yeah, don't know how that happened either) and was pretty excited about it.

Until, I read Bad, Bad, Mommy Blogger Redux (written by fellow panelist Stephanie Azzarone) and, well, if you are a mom (like me) who happens to blog (no matter the reason) Stephanie is one of many public relations professionals, attempting to reach out to a community, filled with millions of diverse and colorful voices, along with about a billion misperceptions and contradictions enough to choke even the most experienced rocket scientist into smashing his slide rule against the wall, just to see if it would stick.

The only difference is, Stephanie is a mom and, well, she knows that, in my house, everything IS pretty much sticky, already and I'm okay with that.

Being called out as "review slinging money grubbers whose only concerns are freebies and paid for positive reviews of products," not so much!

(more…)

September 18, 2009
BlogHer IRL: Part Deux and Why I Should NOT Do This Sort of Thing for a Living

Morning yoga in Millenium Park, Chicago.

So, you're probably getting really, really tired reading about BlogHer 2009, right? Unless, you happen to be one of my IRL friends (who just recently have been "friend-ing me" on Facebook, like crazy, all of a sudden and are all like, "SO THIS IS WHERE YOU'VE BEEN HIDING," here, all the time) then, all this talk about blogging conferences, swag hags and stuff is going to sound really, really weird.

First, check out BlogHer IRL – Part One
(if, you'd like) because, I posted some really pretty pictures of my
time in Chicago. Also, it will bring my IRL friends up to speed on why I go to
these type of things and, well, to be real honest with you, my hair
looks really, really good, too.

[stretch]

Then, go over and read some thoughts on BlogHer'09 from one of the founders, because she is way smarter than me.

My take?

Blogging, like yoga, is an exercise in patience and self-awareness — it helps to keep an open mind and listen to your body; especially, when it starts hollering stuff like:

"This so does NOT feel good, right now!"

So, there's this thing about the PR Blackout Challenge and Blog With Integrity (pretty badge on left) but, go figure, it took a work-at-home dad to reaffirm the fact that I also Blog for Peace not Swag (even prettier badge on right) still, everyone seems to be getting all sorts of mad and confused.

"STOPIT!"

Yeah, I don't get this whole mom bloggers…marketing executives…and pr people…OH MY…they ARE the devil…sort of thing, either.

No one has ever, never, twisted my arm to write about anything I did NOT want to, seriously and, as long as I have access to a "delete" or "edit" button, I'm good.

Frankly, I don't want my IRL friends to get the wrong idea. This, right here, is not what I do for a living. This is where I go (oh, and here too) for the last 6 years, to write. For me. So, hopefully, one day, my kids realize that, you know, mommy had her own set of issues to deal with, too.

Then, I lost about 2 years worth of writing — because, I'm talented like that — moving from here, to here, to here (see, broken links, no content, gone, fuhcotta) and then, I parked my butt right back here and became a dot com.

Weird, right?

Anyway, I started getting to know all sorts of really cool people online (old school blogging at it's very best) and then the kids started growing up and, you know, still needed me to teach them stuff (parenting doesn't stop after full-day kindergarten, btw) and I found myself turning to my internet friends, more and more, since I was pretty much guaranteed at least a hundred different opinions, on everything from parenting while under the influence of children and just where in the heck DO all those missing socks go, anyways?

Um, okay, sorry, I lose track sometimes…um…okay, so then I started another blog to help families (like mine) figure out stuff, like just what in the heck all those cryptic game rating symbols really mean and my kids love to tell their friends stuff, like:

"My mom is a blogger, we were in a commercial and SHE got to meet Jack Sparrow!"

That's where things get a little weirder — okay, I did NOT actually get to meet Johnny Depp, just his stunt double — people seemed to actually really want hear what I had to say about stuff, like blogging about the type of socks we buy, much to the amazement of my family and IRL friends…me, too.

Why?

Well, if you saw a dinosaur, say walking down 5th Avenue in NYC, wouldn't you want to know what it was doing there, let alone, how in the heck it managed to survive, this long, in the first place!?!?

Okay, so that pretty much explains why I don't do this for a living, right?

Still, there are folks out there (something like 6 bazillion, at last count, I think) who believe that there MUST BE other reasons, more sinister and a lot more annoying (if you could imagine) than being a mom (like me) blogging about stuff, other than rainbows, glitter glue and poopie diapers.

I mean, FTC forbid someone (like me) would actually have something to say, with nothing up my sleeve, other than good intentions, no matter how much free stuff people seem to keep wanting to throw at me, or how long it takes, you know, for me to keep saying it.

[wrapping it up, now]

Hopefully, this is nothing that my friends and readers don't already know. I live to write (not host giveaways) however, giving back to the community, online and IRL…well, it's how we roll:

"This Full House you just raised $5,000 for the Ronald McDonald House, what are you going to do now?"

Waiting to see how long it takes for folks like the Wall Street Journal to pick up on the fact that there are moms who are actually trying to do some really good things with their blogs.

Not going to hold my breath, for too long, though.

My biggest regret?

Not hugging Mir (Woulda Coulda Shoulda) IRL, when I had the chance, DAMMIT!

Edited to Add: Received an email from a reader (thank you for taking the time, June!) and I hope that you did not misunderstand my rant for anything other than asking traditional media to consider that there are plenty of reasons why (other than getting stuff) that people (especially, moms like me) blog and, yes, I really do think that kindness is very much underrated these days.

© 2009 This Full House – All Rights Reserved.

July 31, 2009
Mom Bloggers, Old School Blogging, Memes and Zombie Chickens
Yes, it's that time of year — what, is it almost BlogHer…again? — all snarkiness aside, mostly, there's already been lots of drama, filling up my Twitter stream, enough to choke a chicken. Not that I ever would…choke a chicken, I mean…still, I think that this would be good time, as any, to bring back an old school blogging tradition.

The dreaded blog meme.

[pronounced "meem" like in the word "dream," for you young whippersnappers]

It's sort of like a chain letter, only, less annoying – especially, if it says something nice about, you know, somebody else – and I remember the days when the blog meme was just a really cool way to pass along some linky love.

You see, I'm late. [eyes go wide] NO! Not that late! [knocking on wood until knuckles bleed] I mean, earlier this month, Lisa [a.k.a. Lisa Wants the Floor] said some really nice things about me. Like, I made her stomach hurt (??) or, something like that and then she gave me something called the Zombie Chicken award!

[scratches head]

I think it's contagious. Now I have to give it to someone else. Well, because It's a rule:

THE ZOMBIE CHICKEN AWARD

"The blogger who receives this award believes in the Tao of the zombie chicken – excellence, grace and persistence in all situations, even in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. These amazing bloggers regularly produce content so remarkable that their readers would brave a raving pack of zombie chickens just to be able to read their inspiring words. As a recipient of this world-renowned award, you now have the task of passing it on to at least 5 other worthy bloggers. Do not risk the wrath of the zombie chickens by choosing unwisely or not choosing at all…"

See, I really don't have any choice in the matter, so here it goes:
1. Busy Mom (http://www.busymom.net) One word: Trendsetter – she was a busy before it was cool – the mother of all bloggers, figuratively speaking, of course, because, she's not THAT old, really.
2. Suburban Scrawl (http://www.suburbanscrawl.blogspot.com) Two words: Mommy Porn – this woman hooks me up with my fake celebrity boyfriends – go get you some.
3. Mommy Needs Coffee (http://www.mommyneedscoffee.com) Three words: She Talks Funny – writes pretty gosh-darned good, too.
4. The Bean Blog (http://www.thebeanblog.com/) Four words: She's Got Five Kids – and she's still lives to write about – 'nuf said.
5. The Mommy Blog (http://www.themommyblog.net) Five words: Been Reading Her Long Time – she's smart and funny as hell…if there was a hell…and it was funny…I mean – you should be, too.
Thank you for all of your inspiration, for knowing that I am a dork, but liking me, anyway (I think) and in true Golden Girl fashion, thank you for being a friend.

Pass it along, or play along, if you wish. My job is done, here. Frankly, I don't need no wrath from no zombie chickens!

In Other News: I admit it, my house stinks, how about yours? Right. But, help me win a room makeover and I'll love you, forever — vote for us, here!

© 2009 This Full House – All Rights Reserved.
May 22, 2009
For the Love of Maddie Spohrs

Heather and Mike Spohrs' (a.k.a.The Spohrs are Multiplying) gorgeous little Maddie passed away unexpectedly on April 7, 2009 after being admitted to the hospital for respiratory problems.

No, I don't know Heather or Mike (personally) still, as a parent, I can't help but feel connected to them. I know that they must be absolutely heartbroken at the loss of their precious Maddie.

It's like my friend Mrs. Flinger says:

If the sheer power of twitter and internet could heal broken hearts and
bring Maddie back, she would be here as strong as Wonder Woman.

I feel sick at the thought of their loss and I can't imagine the pain that Maddie's parents are going through…right now…but, I can sure help.

Sadly, it won't bring their little Maddie back — DAYUM, that is SO unfair and NOT right — but, with help from friends like Meghan (a.k.a. A Mom Two Boys) sure, I am more than willing to share their story.

For the love their precious little Maddie.

Please give.

© 2009 This Full House – All Rights Reserved.

April 9, 2009