Category: So, You From Joisey?

  • Curse While You’re Thinking
    It Saves Time (In Jersey, Anyway!)

    Queen-latifah-covers-parade-01
    Queen Latifah (love her!) gives a really great interview in Parade Magazine, this week:

    "There's something about growing up in New Jersey that prepares you for whatever you might encounter around the world. We're not afraid to go places."

    Having lived in Jersey, all my life, I feel it safe to say, "What she said!!!"

    Contrary to what many other people may think (about people from Jersey) specifically, about moms like me…ahem…we really do know how to use our words and, although we tend to speak with our hands, some of us more than others…ahem…Jersey Girls know how to use their inside voices, too.

    [sound of crickets, chirping]

    Unless, you've had someone home, sick, since Christmas Eve and then get dumped on by 3 feet of snow (a.k.a. Snowmaggedon) causing you to convince a typically understanding 15 year-old (note: she was the one sick on Christmas) that…YES!!!…celebrating unbirthdays is waaaay cool (IS SO!) oh, and that shopping for last minute New Year's Eve snackage is awesome AND fun (see previous parenthesis) then, some unfortunate a$$hat decides to take your parking space.

    [inhales]

    You know, the one you've been patiently waiting on for the last eleventy hours.

    "ARE YOU FRICKIN' KIDDING ME!"

    [puts car in park, rolls up sleeves, swallows gum]

    "What are *bleep*ing blind, can't you see me *bleep*ing waiting ovuh-heh?"

    [inhales]

    "Yah, well, a very Happy *Bleep*ing New Year, to you, too, you morrrrrrr-RON!"

    Aaaand, this is about the time I remembered that, you know, my 15 year-old was still in the car and, judging by the look on her face, I just earned myself another Checkmark reason why I won't be accepting Mother of the Year, again, or anytime soon, for that matter.

    [rolls window down]

    "Yeah, what SHE said!"

    Then again, looking on the bright side, my kids are getting older and, well, worst case, they won't be afraid to call out bad behavior when the see it.

    [rolls window up]

    "Um…what the heck is an A$$hat?"

    Aaaand they seem to be able to show much more restraint than, you know, their mother, already.

    "Someone who says or does something, stupid, without thinking."

    On the other hand, the lesson would have been MUCH MORE effective if, you know, I had thought to roll the window down…first.

    "Can I say it?"

    [one beat, two beats]

    "Only if someone really, really deserves it!"

    So, Happy New Year, everyone…except you.

    [rolls down window]

    "You stupid, parking-space-stealing, a$$hat!"

    What she said!

    © 2003 – 2011 This FULL House Blog / This FULL House (Re)Views

  • Random Acts of Zhu for the Holidays: New Jersey & Zhu, Happy Together!

    It's been a crazy, busy year — even Santa doubts my being able to finish EVERYTHING on  MY to do list in time for eggnog o'clock — then, my youngest daughter (she's 9) asked if she could practice her writing skills and wrote a wonderful post about Christmas.

    It made me realize just how GROWN UP she's getting and, sadly, Kris Kringle won't be needing my services, for much longer, after all.

    [pout]

    Good thing Hope and I got the chance to play Santa, this week!

    I am very proud to be one of bloggers chosen to participate in Cepia LLC's Random Acts of Zhu holiday giving program.

    Each of us were given 104 Zhu Zhu Pets to donate to the charity of our choice, with no compensation OR strings attached.

    Why?

    104 Zhu Zhu Pets in the House

    Hope and I were THRILLED with the prospect of being able to help families in need and perhaps make another child's holiday a little brighter, too!

    Hope Donates Zhu Zhu to Toy Drive
    Our first stop was the Herb Young Annual Toy Drive held at Hope's elementary school where we donated 7 boxes (56 Zhu Zhu pets) to the children at Spring House in Eatontown, NJ:

    "We provide services to break the barriers of homelessness and reinforce self-dignity, independence and self-awareness for women with children."

    The toys will be distributed to the families staying at Spring House, tomorrow, Christmas Eve!

    Hope at K Hovnonian Children's Hospital at Jersey Shore Medical Center
    Next stop, Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune, NJthey took GREAT care of my middle girl two Christmases ago (okay, me, too!) — we made an appointment to deliver the remaining 6 boxes of Zhu Zhu pets, after school on Tuesday.

    Jara Ferrante, Elizabeth and Hope behind the Zhu Zhu Pets

    We were greeted by Jara Ferrante, a Child Life Specialist and her Assistant, Elizabeth (nice name, btw, heh!) two SUPER friendly ladies with an AWESOME sense of humor (see picture above) who make it their business to help even their littlest visitors at K. Hovnanian Children's Hospital feel warm and welcome.

    Jara and Hope

    Hope was THRILLED to learn that the Zhu Zhu pets will be put into the "magic closet," so, whenever there's a birthday, or a child is having a particularly difficult time adjusting to their journey, they will be gift wrapped and, hopefully, help the children left in their care feel right at home.

    I know, Hope did!

    Thank you SO MUCH, Jara, for allowing us to bring some of that warm and fuzzy feeling home with us, along with Hope's new bff, Hopscotch (she's Dr. Bernard's bouncy buddy) too!!!

    Special thanks to Cepia LLC for allowing my family to help spread a little holiday cheer, this year!

    Why?

    Because, nice matters and being able to give a little back to our community, via This Full House of sticky floors and crunchy socks, feels REAL GOSH-DARNED GOOD, too!

    LINKY LOVE BYTES:

    Jersey Shore University Medical Center's Website

    K. Hovnanian Children's Hospital Social Media Center

    K. Hovnanian Children's Hospital on Facebook

    K. Hovnanian Children's Hospital on Twitter

    Happy Holidays, everyone!!!

    (Cross-posted to my review blog)

    © 2003 – 2010 This FULL House (Re)Views / This FULL House Blahg'd 

    Disclosure: No payment, or product was received for this post or for my participation in this program.

  • Blogging Out Hunger II
    Time For ANOTHER Virtual Bitch-Slap!!!

    Check Out Hunger
    On December 8, 2009, a call was put out as New Jersey Bloggers banded together for the Blogging Out Hunger Campaign to help spread the word about The Community Food Bank of New Jersey and their desperate need of donations.

    By December 15th, 122 bloggers banned together and joined the blog burst in the fight against hunger spearheaded by my friend Deb Smith, Founder and Exectuive Editor of JerseyBites.com.

    To help celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Check-Out Hunger Campaign (which by the way was founded in New Jersey) I am honored to join my friend Deb in participating in Blogging Out Hunger Returns!

    Why?

    Sadly, my family is no stranger to hunger and I believe using our blogging powers for good are what bloggers (like me) do best! 

    Even if you're NOT from Jersey — there's a way you (yes, YOU!) can help give hunger the virtual bitch-slap it deserves:

    (more…)

  • Wordless Wednesday:
    A-Maize-ing

    Hopey Corn Maze 2010 No, you are most certainly NOT almost as tall as the corn…DAMMIT?!?

    Taken with my cell phone.  Imagine what I could do with a REAL camera?  Yeah, I'm looking at you, Garth (not his real name!)

    Check out the Official Wordless Wednesday HQ
    Tag, you're it:   

    © 2010 This Full House Blog / This Full House Gone Shopping

  • It’s the Goodish Pumpkin
    Charlie Brown!
    (The Un-cut Version!)

    TFH Kids Corn Maze 2010Corn, maze, maize, whateverrrrr.

    As a mom, celebrating her 16th Halloween (I'm old, I know, shuddup!) I feel it safe to say that, no matter how grown you think your kids are (yes, mine are probably more-oldish than yours) the great pumpkin hunt is ALWAYS an adventure.

    Feets Don't Fail Me NowFeets, don't fail me now!

    So, yesterday, after hosting a yummy Sunday brunch for a couple of my besties (seriously, you SHOULD be my friend) I asked the kids if they'd like to get their pumpkin hunt in early (i.e. before Halloween!!!)

    This year, however, we opted into taking "the scary" hayride (as opposed to "the friendly" and less, you know, scenes from Disturbia version of Halloween celebrations) and, well, I don't expect my 11 year-old son will get a good night sleep, for a while.

    "I…DO…NOT…LIKE…THIS…HAY…RIDE!!!"

    Not until after Christmas, anyways.

    Finger
    Tried to get a picture, so I could show my son, later (since, he spent most of the ride with his face buried in my left shoulder) then someone SCREAMED and all I got was my finger!

    Honestly, the worse I was expecting was for some dude to jump out in a gorilla suit, maybe a couple of scream experts, a few bloodied teens all hopped up on testosterone, a month's serving of candy corn, or something.

    "Rum-bum-bum-bum-zzzzooom-zzzzooom-zzzzoom!"

    Okay, so the chainsaw-wielding clown AND machette-swinging zombies DID freak us out, a little (alright, A LOT) but, I tried to remember that the ride was supposed to be, you know, scary!

    Unlike, some poor girl's parents (I'm guessing she was about my son's age) who went all buh-liss-tick AND I mean in a totally stop-this-ride-I-wanna-go-home sort of way, too!!!

    "SCRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMMM!!!!"

    Nah, her parents probably won't get any sleep…either…not for the rest of the year, anyways!

    Pumpkin Guts 2010 Pumpkin guts, it's what's for dinner!

    A few more minutes, and a WHOLE LOT of convincing that the chainsaw-wielding clown would NOT be waiting around the corner, later in the corn maze (I HOPE!) we picked our pumpkins and went home…to cut them (Jersey style) and then dig their guts out…with a spoon!

    Holly's Pumpkin 2010 Holly carved her own pumpkin, this year (sniff!) his name is Pip (via Great Expectations!)

    Heather's Pumpkin 2010

    As did Heather (sob!) his name is Fester (like the wound, not the Adams Family…ICK!)

    Hope's Pumpkin 2010

    I helped Hope with hers (YAY!) his name is Professor Zumie (like, the store she wishes I'd let her shop in!)

    TFH Pumpkins All in a Row

    Ghoulishy, scary, in a cute sort of way, these pumpkins really ARE the best this house has ever seen!

    Great Pumpkin 2010
    But, wait, there's more (you're welcome!) the family pumpkin!  You know, the one that I get to cut (because, I'm the mom!) His name is Mr. Bill!

    What about Glen?  Oh, he finally admitted to having a good-ish time (DAMMIT!) aaaand his pumpkin is up there, sitting right next to mine.

    "I christen thee…The Pumpkin Who Shall Not Be Named!"

    The un-cut version, of course — eat that Charlie, Brown!

    © 2010 This Full House Blog / TFH Gone Shopping

  • 7 Truths About 7 Bloggers, Maybe

    VersatileBloggerAward
    Having recently entered my 8th year of blogging (I know, I'm old, shuddup!) I feel it safe to say that…why, YES!…I am very, very versatile (AM SO!) and not because my friend Mrs. Schmitty said so, either.

    [throws check in the mail]

    Coming up with new, light-hearted and entertaining stuff to write about is hard (I know, sorta hurts to read, too — sheesh, but Monday's a ROUGH crowd!) keeping in mind that not EVERYONE who stops by here is necessarily interested in reading about non-controversial stuff (I know, act surprised, anyway) or, the fact that it just so happens my blog is ranked #1 on Google for, "it's your birthday make a mess" is even harder (yes, it's a word!)

    Still, there are those who would beg to differ (I'm not quite sure what is wrong with them, either) and I am very, very, honored to be able to call them…my friends!

    No payment, necessary.

    So, yah, I am very pleased to accept The Versatile Blogger Award (thank you and please don't cash that check until Friday, okay Mrs. Schmitty?) and now I'm supposed to tell you 7 truths about myself and then pay my award forward to 7 bloggers.

    [the sound of many doors, SLAMMING!]

    Are they gone yet?

    [phew]

    Good.  Aaaand, if you're STILL here, well, just know that there is a special place in heaven (or, a close facsimile thereof) for those who indulge professional dorks, like me.

    So, for your reading pleasure, 7 Truths About 7 Bloggers…Maybe:

    (more…)

  • So, This Housewife Answers the Door
    (Dude, stop me if you’ve already heard this one!)

    I.M.N. Ass

    I know, I know, I said it…housewife…it's a bad word…however, rather than get into a debate on whether stay-at-home mom is any better (honestly, I really don't give two bon-bons about labels) say what you want, just, don't call me desperate.

    Unless, we're all out of coffee AND milk [shiver] or, the microwave explodes AND takes the toaster with it.

    What?  It can happen, trust me.

    Aaaaanyway, I work from home…BAH!…there I go again…okay, so, like do working moms stop working, you know, once they get home from work?  

    Color me confused (preferably, in a soft and slightly muted tone, like, heather gray) but, I thought we were ALL passed the, I know you are, but what am I, sort of thing.

    Until, yesterday.

    (more…)

  • Bringing the Dumb

    Ihavedumb

    Would you believe, I was a REAL "Boy, she has it ALL together" type mom?  Once.  YES, I WAS, DAMMIT!   You wouldn't know it now [blows bangs out of eyes] but, I even used to bake my kids homemade birthday cakes.

    "That was the doctor's office."

    Now, they consider themselves very lucky if I remember their birthdays…at all.

    "She says we are WAY over due on our well visits."

    I was supposed to take them in August.  It's STILL September, right?

    "Fine."

    So, I added, "call pediatrician," to the monstrosity that is my to-do list; nevermind, try to find an empty space on the calendar.

    What?  Yours, too?

    [shakes head]

    Aaaand, it's only September, right?

    "I left you a note on your laptop."

    Now, I have to write stuff on 2 calendars and then punch it into my cell phone, just in case, you know, I forget to look at the calendar.

    "And I sent you a text." 

    10 years from now, however, my children will undoubtedly remember their mother as being a discombobulated mess.

    "Thank you."

    What they fail to see, however (along with the wet towels left to ferment along the bathroom hallway) is, in my discombobulatedness (yes, it's a word!) I have played an important role in teaching them good organizational skills.

    "Um…where is my cell phone?"

    Aaaand, keeping them motivated in practicing those skills.

    "It's probably in your car, Mommy."

    Probably.  Since, I spend most of the time, sitting in it, or driving it (mostly, sitting) especially, this time of year.

    "I left you a note…too…bye…LOVE YOU!"

    My 9 year-old, being the youngest of 4, is also advanced proficient in self-preservation and, after almost 10 years (or more, I forget) of fighting our way in and out of carpool lanes (i.e. they ARE the devil) the kid's got the stop, drop and ROLL thing down to a science!

    "I love…"

    Too late.  She was out of the car and passed the bus lane.  3 seconds more and I could have saved the kid a couple hundred bucks worth of therapy.

    "She NEVER could say I love you!" 

    [heavy sigh]

    Then, I found her note.

    Love Note

    Aaaand, well, you know.  Yes, my brain is mush.  But, I kind of, sort of, love the fact that my kids leave me little love notes…just like the ones I used to send…in their lunch bags.

    Until, I read the second one.

    Love Note 2
    Apparently, she really, really, really, really, really, really wants to be able to use the gift card…she got for her birthday…way back…in June.

    It is STILL September, right?

    [shrugs]

    So, along with the fact that the gift card is good until June of 2012 (thankyouverymuch!) I added a little note of my own.

    "I love you too, sweetie and good luck getting your card back!"

    [eyes go wide]

    What?  So, I'm a discombobulated mess (DAMMIT!) but, I am NOT stoo-pid, you know?

    © 2010 This
    Full House Blog
    / This Full House Gone Shopping

  • Barefoot Parenting
    (Pants ARE optional!)

    Finding Balance Playing the concentration game, on the fitness trail, while being bombed with acorns by militant squirrels, it's a gift.

    Balance.  Either you have it, or you don't.  Then again, maybe you're one of those people who, over the years, have taken one too many nose dives into the asphalt and learned to NOT over-complicate a situation by, you know, wearing shoes.

    [sound of crickets chirping]

    Roots 2
    No?  Okay. Perhaps you're one of THOSE people who stop, look back and are all like…WHOA!…did you see that?!?  Then swear that it came straight out of the ground (whatever it was) grabbed you by the ankles and, you know, face meets asphalt, the end.

    [cricket]

    Allllllrighty then.

    "Shouldn't you be wearing shoes?!?"

    Roots

    Me?  I used to wear heels.  Until, I had kids.  Now, I have enough trouble strutting my stuff on the sidewalk (without falling down) or, maybe it's my bohemian roots, beginning show (among other, more grayish ones, I mean) and perhaps, I should just change my name to Agador Spartucus.

    "Shoes make me fall down!"

    Dual-survival
    Who knows?  Since turning 40-something-or-another (closer to another, if you must know, DAMMIT!) maybe, I'm just getting back in tune with the earth (ahem!) like that hippie dude on Dual Survival and his…um…friend…who sort of remind me of an old married couple (cough!) with kids (cough, cough!) but, DAYUM if they don't make for entertaining television.

    Balance Act
    Hey.  Hang on.  There's a novel idea.  Perhaps I should start evangelizing the benefits of "barefoot parenting!"

    Dual Fitness

    You know, I can be the minimalist and primitive skills expert, trained in counterbalanced living and suburban preparedness…like, yes, she's texting (AGAIN!) but, they ARE outside and what if one of them breaks an arm, or something, right?

     

    Pull Your Pants Up
    With 17 years of combined tween and teenage survival experience…like, yes, he's wearing low rise, skinny-something-or-another…but…um…at least, he's NOT playing a video game, right?

    Pull Your Pants Up, DAMMIT!!!

    Balance.  It's ALL a matter of perspective.  Sure, I can insist he pull his pants up (DAMMIT!) then again, this picture wouldn't be half as funny and, more importantly, just fade into yet another missed opportunity in increasing my "Break curfew again, bub and I'll show your girlfriend," arsenal, to boot!

    "Um, mom?"

    Maybe THEN the Discovery Channel will give me my OWN show!

    "Mom?"

    Aaaand, I will FINALLY get to go to an island!

    "Mommy?"

    Where no one cares who you are (or, aren't) where you are from (originally) and that you weigh more than what's on your driver's license (ahem) or, that you've worn white (AFTER Labor Day) with pink underwear (cough) and forgot to shave your legs, AGAIN!

    "Mom?"

    Oh, but there IS a bed (dogless, catless, hairless and MATCHING pillows) a VERY large bathroom (with a double sink) with room service (a sun-kissed-20-something-or-another with, dark eyes and a wicked tan) giving you undivided attention and an endless supply of fruity cocktails…FOR FREE!

    "Mommy?"

    Aaaand maybe then (and ONLY then) will the tired, frustrated and gravity-challenged parents of the world (like me) truly unite and achieve GREATNESS!!!

    "Mooooommeeeee!"

    [blink, blink]

    "It's okay that you're driving in your pajamas, right?"

    Momma's in Pajamas Again!

    Except on Mondays, then ALL bets are off, DAMMIT!!!

    © 2010 This
    Full House Blog
    / This Full House Gone Shopping

  • Children of the REAL Jersey Shore
    (Now with MORE zeppoles!)

    Septemberrrr Wake me up when Septemberrrrrr ends!

    I love the beach this time of year.  The fresh, salty air is a bit chillier, which makes the water seem much, much warmer and, well, most of the Bennies (i.e., the cast of the Jersey Shore, mostly, ironically enough) have ALL gone home.

    "When was the last time we were at this beach, again?!?"

    I get it.  I was young, once (shuddup!) and could NOT wait for Friday nights, in the summer, when we'd head down the Parkway to Seaside Heights and/or Wildwood Crest and sneak into bars study the bible, ALL weekend long!

    "I remember, Momma, it was when we showed Dana the ocean!"

    I'd forgotten.  Yeah, it really was the day we introduced my bloggy friend Dana to the oceanshe's from Wisconsin!

    "Has it been THAT long?!?"

    Sadly, my kids have outgrown Jenkinson's Boardwalk.

    Jenkinson's 1999 Glen's 1st trip to the boardwalk — Jenkinson's 1999

    It really is just the right size for little ones; ALL tuckered out by nap time (me, too) and we'd be loooong gone by the time the Jersey Shore night life, you know, woke up. 

    "I thought that ride was SO MUCH bigger!"


    Holly and Heather Jenkinson's 1999
    Then, before you know it, YOUR kids meet the maximum 48 inches to ride and, well, you know, you can't go back.

    "Can we get zeppoles?!?"

    Yesterday, however, was a GREAT day to get out (considering, September also translates to, "school holiday," in Jersey!) and housewife is such an oxymoron, dontchathink?

    Zeppoles
    Mmmmm….the view inside a big bag of zeppoles (pronounced as zep-poh-leez) or, fried dough, drowning in powdered sugar, if you're NOT from Jersey.

    "Noooo, I want funnel cake!!!"

    Funnel Cake
    Mmmmm…of course…(or, auf-cawse, if you're from Jersey) there's ALWAYS room for funnel cake!!!

    "Wanna eat it on the beach?!?"

    Pt. Pleasant Beach
    Bet you did NOT know we had palm trees, or blue skies, here in Jersey, right?  Are they real?  You know, I really don't know.

    "This was really an AWESOME day, Momma!"

    What we DO know is that there's SO MUCH more to Jersey than what some reality t.v. shows would care to admit, sort of.

    "Too bad you ran outta money for the rides!"

    Of course, it most likely will not be the one that my kids remember but, let's NOT go there…just yet…m'kay!?!?

    © 2010 This
    Full House Blog
    / This Full House Gone Shopping