Category: Uncategorized

  • Linky love bytes…

    Feel free to grab a beverage and visit with some of my favorite reads! Not for nuhthin, but g’head, I’ll wait and keep the porch light on for yuhs, just in case 🙂

    100 Routes Across America
    Made her snort soda outta her nose at an airport once.

    A Madison Mom
    She’s from Jersey, love huh.

    A Mommy Story
    She is one of the regulars.

    As Cape Cod Turns
    Mermaid sisters, separated at birth.

    Because I Said so
    I accidentally drowned her iPhone once, but she’s over it (I think!)

    Busy Mom
    Co-founder of SaveHer, NO CAPES!

    Complicated Mama
    Got us lost going to Girl Gone Travel‘s house, I think we know where Jimmy Hoffa’s buried!

    Deepest Worth
    She writes way gooder than me.

    Domestic Psychology
    Also, another one of the regulars.

    Enjoying This Life
    We’ll always have Madonna at the wax museum.

    From Tracie
    She has a real gift for writing, you’re welcome.

    Girl Gone Travel
    I’m living vicariously through Carol’s Instagram feed.

    Good Day, Regular People
    She’s funny, and pretty, and smart, and did I mention funny?!?

    Headless Mom
    She’s got teens, enough said!

    Houseful of Nicholes
    Girl can work a catwalk.

    Jenrab
    She knows how much I hate the dark and refused to allow me to sleep on the couch, by myself, once.

    Just Another Mom Blog
    Her rendition of “the Ellen dance” is the best, next to Momo‘s, EVUH!!!

    KateSpot
    A fellow #dork from way back when blogging was still in diapers.

    Life in the Bat Cave
    Also admits to being born and raised in Jersey, she’s super-awesome!

    Life with Roozle
    Got a little girl crush going on for Casey, she rules.

    Melisa (with one S!)
    We’ve slept together, quite a few times, fell down her stairs once and broke my toe, first time I’d ever broken a bone [knocking on wood until knuckles bleed].

    Mom to the Screaming Masses
    Yet another regular, her arms are absolutely AMAZING!

    MomAdvice
    She was my first blogger crush, she’s pretty famous now.

    Mommy Knows
    She’s got lens, and she knows how to use it.

    Mommy Needs Coffee
    Blessing hearts and taking names since 2003.

    Mommy Niri
    She’s wicked-smaht, for real.

    Momofali
    Wow, just wow.

    Moody Mama
    Love me some moody, long time.

    Mrs. Flinger
    Until recently, I thought it was her real name, because I’m quick like that.

    So Tabulous
    I mean wow, she’s got blue hair, bet she hasn’t heard THAT in a while.

    SoCal Mom
    We did Disney Land, together.

    Stop, Drop and Blog
    One hot momma, good thing she’s married to a fireman.

    Suburban Correspondent
    Kids, vomit and mice, it’s like we’re living in the same house!

    The Martha Project
    She’s real crafty, but a wee bit freakish about Halloween!

    The Next Kid Thing
    I kid you not, she knows a thing or two about kids!

    Thin Spiral Notebook
    It’s Tahr-ruh, dammit.

    Travels With Lizabeth
    If it wasn’t for her asking if I knew what a weblog was, you wouldn’t be here.

    Triple Venti
    He’s a little bit Starbucks, I run on DD; it’s okay, we hugged it out.

    Two Teens and Their Mama
    She’s a mom of boys AND brand new to blogging, welcome to the hood Lana!

    Blogging 101

    Crafters & DIY-ers

    Foodie Friends

    It Takes a Community

    News-worthy

    Techies

  • So, what’s with the Susie Homemaker thing?!?!?

    Cinderella's Castle

    Proof that I used to bake, for real:  my oldest daughters 3rd birthday Cinderella's castle cake, I'm just as surprised as you are!

    My husband came home last night to find a few disturbing signs:

    • Furniture and/or rooms moved around (again)
    • New doorknobs on the bathroom, the pantry (formerly known as the linen closet) and the girls' bedroom door
    • And me cooking; furiously whisking up a honey mustard glaze, with every other burner firing on the stove.

    In the past, this sort of behavior usually meant one of three things:  someone is sick, dying or having a baby.

    Although I have ZERO intentions of becoming "the oldest pregnant blogger" and shut your mouth for even thinking it [shiver] in this case, having experienced the other two (in just one weekend) I seem to have gone into some freaked-out and totally irrational form of nesting.

    Aaaaaand, if you've ever experienced any of those things (especially, at the same time) I feel it safe to say we ALL deal differently with suckage (of which, cancer sucks hairy donkey balls).

    Some folks scream, cry or beat the hell out of drywall, like it owes you money AND yes I have done ALL of those things.

    Because, IMHO, internalizing that shit is toxic.

    I also clean house (figuratively and literally) while simultaneously attempting to mentally and physically purge myself of…you know…suckage.

    Lately, however, I've been internalizing a lot of shit: which means the house is very, very clean AND organized.  

    Aaaaaand, while cleaning out the girls' closet (for the eleventy-hundrendth time) I found a couple of old photo albums, then I lost my shit.


    (more…)

  • When it Rains, It Pours and Other Stupidly Obvious Things

    You know that awesome feeling, when you've managed to handle some really difficult aspect of your life, sort of like mastering a jigsaw puzzle:  everything falls into place, without banging them with the side of your fist?  

    Yeah, this is NOT one of those times.

    Pouring in Jersey

    Cue vague-blogging:  dude, it's friggin' pouring, the lights are flickering and, well, Imma need BIGGER fists.

    What doesn't help:  when you've got friends and family going through some really difficult stuff (some requiring the use of both fists, at the same time, even) and, well, am I the only one about to go all…HULK SMASH!!!…and then want to try and fix, all the things?!?

    Guess what?!?  We cannot fix all the things, which is a BIG surprise to no one, except me, obviously.

    However, I can share a couple of OTHER stupidly obvious things (that perhaps make no sense to anyone, but me) which made at least one person in my family want to go all…HULK SMASH!!!…on my ass:

    • Me, after Garth (not his real name) wanting to know why I would walk from the pool, to the house, in wet feet, while holding 2 pairs of flip-flops: because they're dirty.
    • Me, after his trying to make sense of previous bullet: I just washed them in the pool.
    • Me, after his giving me a blank stare: the flips flops, I mean.
    • Me, after his wondering why I would worry about the flip-flops and not my feet: because they are not my flip-flops.
    • Me, after my daughters' realizing it was their flip-flops I was holding: you're welcome!

    Just think, that was one conversation and if you giggled or if the side of your mouth turned up, just a little: then my job here is done.

    Moral of the Story: we cannot fix, and sometimes it's even hard to understand, all the things and that's okay.

    However, if that doesn't work or the next time you have a similar…HULK SMASH!!!…moment,  just be really, really glad you are NOT living with me.

    [sound of circkets chirping]

    Oh, look…OVER THERE!!!…there's something really, really shiny in the water.

    [the sound of our bathroom door, SLAMMING]

    Stupid rain, dumbass bladder.

    © 2003 – 2013 This Full House

    With a fan page on Facebook and everything!  

  • Monstrous Giveaway & Blogger Sweepstakes – Official Rules

    (THIS FULL HOUSE MONSTROUS GIVEAWAY) BLOGGER SWEEPSTAKES

    OFFICIAL RULES

    NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT
    INCREASE YOUR

    CHANCES OF WINNING. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.

    1. HOW TO ENTER: The (THIS FULL HOUSE MONSTROUS GIVEAWAY)
    (“Sweepstakes”) is an online-only Sweepstakes. Sweepstakes begins at (10:00) (AM)
    (EST) on (07/08/13) and ends at 
    (10:00) (AM) (EST) on (7/15/13) (“Promotion Period”). To
    enter, go to (http://www.thisfullhouse.com
    and follow the online instructions to register and complete
    your entry. Registration is free. Once you 
    have completed your registration, click “submit” to enter
    the Sweepstakes.

    All entries become the property of (This Full House)
    (“Sponsor”) and will not be returned. Limit one (1) entry per email address, per day. In the event of a dispute
    regarding entries, any entries will be 
    deemed to have been submitted by the Authorized Account
    Holder of the email address submitted at 
    the time of entry, provided that person meets all
    eligibility requirements set forth in these Official 
    Rules. “Authorized Account Holder” means the natural person
    who is assigned to an email address by 
    an Internet access provider, online service provider, or
    other organization that is responsible for 
    assigning e-mail addresses for the domain associated with
    the submitted e-mail address. Entrants 
    may not participate with multiple e-mail addresses, nor may
    entrants use any device or artifice to enter 
    multiple times per day or as multiple entrants. Any entrant
    who attempts to enter with multiple e-mail 
    addresses, under multiple identities or uses any other
    device or artifice to enter multiple times per day 
    will be disqualified from participation in the Sweepstakes
    and all entries submitted by that entrant will 
    be void. Only fully completed entries are eligible. Proof of
    submission will not be deemed to be proof 
    of receipt by Sponsor. Sponsor is not responsible for any
    change of mailing address, email address, 
    and/or telephone number of entrants.

    2. ELIGIBILITY: Open to legal residents of the fifty (50)
    United States and District of Columbia who are 18 years of age or older at time of entry. Employees of
    (This Full House), its affiliates, subsidiaries, 
    advertising and promotion agencies and their immediate
    family members and/or those living in the 
    same household of each are not eligible to participate.

    3. RANDOM DRAWING: Winners will be selected in a random
    drawing on or about (July 15, 2013) from among all eligible entries received by Sponsor or its
    designee, the judges in this Sweepstakes, whose 
    decisions are final and binding. Winners will be notified by
    phone, mail and/or email at Sponsor’s 
    discretion.

    4. PRIZE PACK/APPROXIMATE RETAIL VALUES (ARV)/ODDS:

    -Three [3] Prize Packs including:

    – [3] movie tickets to see Monsters’ University at a
    participating theater (ARV of each: $12)

    – [1] $200 “Monster Cash” to be awarded in the form of a
    gift card. Gift card terms and conditions apply.

    Odds of winning depend on total number of eligible entries
    received. Unclaimed prizes will not be awarded. All applicable federal, state, and local taxes on
    prizes are the sole responsibility of the prize 
    winners. Limit one (1) prize per person.

    5. GENERAL: If prize notification or prize is returned as
    non-deliverable, prize may be forfeited and an alternate winner may be selected. No correspondence will be
    acknowledged. No cash equivalents, 
    substitutions or transfer of prize permitted except that
    Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize 
    of equal or greater value in the event that an offered prize
    is unavailable. Subject to all federal, state 
    and local laws/regulations. Neither Sponsor, its
    subsidiaries, affiliates, advertising, promotion 
    agencies nor their employees will have any liability
    whatsoever for any injuries, losses or damages of 
    any kind caused by any prize or resulting from acceptance,
    possession, use and/or misuse of any 
    prize or participation in the Sweepstakes or any
    prize-related activities. Acceptance of a prize shall be 
    construed as and signify the winner’s agreement and consent
    that Sponsor may use the winner’s 
    name, voice, likeness and/or prize information, without
    limitation, for promotional purposes without 
    further consideration, review, approval or payment, where
    allowed by law. Winner acknowledges that 
    neither Sponsor nor its agents have made nor are in any
    manner responsible or liable for any 
    warranty, representation or guarantee, express or implied,
    in fact or in law, relative to any prize, 
    including, but not limited to, its quality, mechanical
    condition or fitness for a particular purpose. Any 
    and all warranties and/or guarantees on a prize, if any, are
    subject to the manufacturers’ terms 
    therefore and winner agrees to look solely to such
    manufacturers for any such warranty and/or 
    guarantee. By participating in this promotion, entrants
    agree to be bound by the Official Rules and the 
    decisions of the judges, which are final and binding in all
    respects. Sponsor not responsible for any 
    typographical or other error in the printing of the offer or
    in administration of the Sweepstakes.

    6. INTERNET: Sponsor is not responsible for lost, late,
    mutilated or illegible entries nor for electronic transmission errors resulting in omission, interruption,
    deletion, defect, delay in operations or 
    transmission, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to
    or alterations of entry materials, or for 
    technical, network, telephone equipment, electronic,
    computer, hardware or software malfunctions or 
    limitations of any kind, or inaccurate transmissions of or
    failure to receive entry information by Sponsor 
    or presenter on account of technical problems or traffic
    congestion on the Internet or at any website or 
    any combination thereof. If for any reason the Internet
    portion of the program is not capable of running 
    as planned, including infection by computer virus, bugs,
    tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, 
    technical failures, or any other causes beyond the control
    of the Sponsor which corrupt or affect the 
    administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper
    conduct of this Sweepstakes, the Sponsor 
    reserves the right at its sole discretion, to disqualify any
    individual who tampers with the entry process, 
    and to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Internet
    portion of the Sweepstakes and select the 
    winners by random drawing from among all eligible entries
    received from all methods combined up to the 
    point of the action taken by the Sponsor. Caution: Any
    attempt by any person to deliberately damage 
    any website or undermine the legitimate operation of the
    game is a violation of criminal and civil laws 
    and should such an attempt be made, Sponsor reserves the
    right to seek damages from any such 
    person to the fullest extent of the law.

    7. For names of winners, send a self-addressed, stamped
    envelope by (August 31, 2013) to: (THIS FULL HOUSE MONSTROUS GIVEAWAY), Attn: Winner’s List, PO Box 7999,
    Kalamazoo, MI 49003-7999. 
    Winner’s list to be available after (August 1, 3013).

    8. SPONSOR: (THIS FULL HOUSE).

  • Disclosure information and partnership guidelines…

    I am committed to helping my online friends feel as comfortable as possible:  by fully disclosing any paid parternships and/or long-term relationships with brands when helping spread the word on campaigns my family and I feel very passionate about, within the first paragraph of that particular blog post, which will then publish on ad-free pages labeled:  Reviews & Partnerships.

    Unnamed (1)I appreciate each and every one of our readers and would not treat our blog visitors any differently than I would talking about stuff at our kitchen table over a good cup of coffee, or cawfee…if you’re from Jersey.

    AAAAND, THEN THERE’S THE REALLY IMPORTANT STUFF TO REMEMBER WHEN VISITING WITH US:

    Any and all information posted is done so to the best of my ability and experience with the product(s) and or services I am writing about.

    Any and all information should be confirmed directly with the manufacturer or service provider.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider.

    This Full House does NOT sell or rent the email addresses of any This Full House newsletter or RSS subscriber to any third party, period.

    HERE ARE A FEW VERY EASY THINGS TO REMEMBER, WHEN CONSIDERING WORKING WITH THIS FULL HOUSE:

    • All queries should be sent via email to:  lizthisfullhouse[at]gmail[dot]com
    • Upon receipt of your email, we will notify you within 2-3 business days of our interest in working campaigns that we belive to be a good fit for our family.
    • There are no charges or fees associated with our review process:  All reviews are separate from any paid advertising or affiliate programs on this site and I will always disclose any relationship(s) with any (and all) of my sponsors.

    In the meantime, I’m looking forward to the possibility of working with you 🙂

    EMAIL:  lizthisfullhouse@gmail.com

  • This Full House Reviews

    Hiya!  You’re looking for my review blog, right?!?  

    I’ve decided to consolidate ALL of my writing to ThisFullHouse.com.

    So, does that mean no more review blog?  

    Maintaining 2 blogs is a challenge; especially, since the stories I share(d) here on my main blog and on my review blog have always been…and continue to be…EXACTLY the same…because I’m quick like that!

    Okay, but is This Full House still working with brands?

    YES!!! Entering my 10th year of blogging, I have decided to focus ALL of my writing back here to my main blog (ThisFullHouse.com) as an attempt to keep my space in the blogging world as simple and cohesive as possible.

    My disclosure policy, on the other hand, has NOT changed!

    I am committed to helping my online friends feel as comfortable as possible:  by fully disclosing any paid partnerships and/or long-term relationships with brands when helping spread the word on campaigns my family and I feel very passionate about, within the first paragraph of that particular blog post, which will then publish on ad-free pages labeled:  Reviews & Partnerships.

    We believe in allowing our online friends the chance to choose whether or not to engage in any particular conversation:  because we roll like that, since 2003.

    Feel free to click on this link to visit our past writing projects and campaigns featured on This Full House Reviews, when you have time…of course!!!

    Oh, and feel free to visit our Disclosure and Review Guidelines…when you have time…of course…we’ll go ahead and keep the porch light on for ya’, just in case 🙂

    © 2003 – 2013 This Full House

    New and improved with a fan page on Facebook and everything!

  • Some of Them Are Revisiting Their Childhood, Already?

    Hope revisiting her childhood

    She insisted on going "back to childhood" because, you know, it was sooooooo long ago (snort!)

    The kids are on their spring break from school, which is sort of funny considering it snowed, this week and, well, now that they're older (me too, dammit!) let's just say I'm sort of cursing myself for ever having uttered the word:  staycation.

    Excuse me while I start shaking my virtual cane, but spring break used to be SO MUCH easier…when they were way younger.

    Give me clear skies, a full tank of gas, an empty playground and we could go for hours without even one mention of So-and-So's family ski weekend or What's-his-Face vacationing in Disney…again.

    "Where are we going?"

    Yesterday, we were reminded…once again…that the sky is actually more blue-ish than gray-ish.

    "I don't know, we'll see."

    After I fill the car up with gas, of course.

    "You guys go ahead, without me."

    Long story, short (seriously, with teenagers, a person could go on and on, you're welcome!) my 19 yo got called into work (earlier than scheduled) and if you have teens (most especially, teen girls) or have ever had to wait on one of them (see previous parenthesis), then you know:  going out in public takes a bit of an effort and my 17 yo was just not feeling it. 

    Aaaaaaand then, like a cement block to the head, it hit me:  our days, of spending any length of time together as a family, are truly numbered.

    My heart may or may not have squished, just a little.

    "Okay, so where do YOU guys want to go?"

    I watched my 14 yo and 11 yo look at each other through the rear view mirror and I knew, right then and there, they were pretty much onto me.

    "How about the battlefield?"

    Where other families escape to warmer climates on spring break, my kids enjoy revisiting areas known for their history of colonial skirmishes…here in Jersey…where it's still sort of cold, in March.

    "Mom, STOP!!!!!"

    Aaaaaand, scaring me half-to-death.

    I used to worry about my kids climbing too high, now I can't help but feel as if my youngest has grown out of her shoes…way too fast. 

    Glen and I are frickin' cold

    "Smile, it's frickin' cold out here, already!" she said through clenched teeth.

    On the other hand, the fact that my son still allows me to be seen with him, out in public and everything, and then share it on Instagram…priceless.


    Monopoly World of Warcraft style

    It was left up to a vote:  World of Warcraft or Dr. Who edition of Monopoly (raises hand) I lost 🙁

    Aaaaaand, then there are those rare nights, when we can ALL sit for hours and be happy to be able to just laugh with each other; usually at my expense, but I'm okay with it.

    I'll just keep on shaking my virtual cane…like a boss 🙂

    © 2003 – 2013 This Full House 

  • A Girls Night, Inside Out!

    We attended a family get-together a few years ago, to commemorate the passing of Garth’s (not his real name) Uncle, and — although we very rarely get the chance to visit with Buzz and Lucy — we saw it as an opportunity to introduce our kids to another branch of their family.

    All in all, considering the circumstances and even though I managed to back our minivan into a decorative boulder (I swear, the size of my youngest, dammit!)  it turned out to be a really lovely late-summer day and we were all a little sad to go.

    Until, my Cousin-in-Law insisted that we come back for Christmas (yes, even AFTER my breaking their driveway!) and, well, one or more of us may or may not have volunteered to help clean up and perhaps stay…you know…until then, or maybe even for forever.

    Her home is a beauty to behold and I say that without a speck of jealousy.

    Envy, YES!    Still, for as expansive as the house really is (their wine cellar is bigger than my bedroom, no joke!) warmth and joy, not to mention their ability to make family and friends feel very, very special, emit from every square inch of their home.

    Cousins Weekend Table

    All this for a girls night in, see what I mean?!?

    My sister-in-law and I were invited back up for a girls-night-in, last weekend.  We had a really great time, got our toes done, did a little window-shopping afterward, got into our pajamas (guess whose idea THAT was, go ahead, I’ll wait) and then we ALL settled in for the night with two of my MOST favorite things:  tapas and wine.

    Later, we retreated into her gourmet kitchen, making sure to keep as far away from the pretties and breakables as possible (okay, mostly me) and then we whipped up Aunt Lucy’s recipe for homemade cauliflower mac and cheese.

    Aaaaaand, I was feeling all sorts of warm and cozy, until…rumble…gurgle…blurp…OH NO!!!

    “Excuse me, but I’m going to have to say goodnight.”

    [eyes go wide]

    “I seemed to have hit a wall.” 

    However, I managed to make it upstairs, before my insides decided to turn our girls-night-in…inside out.

    I was sick for the rest of the night and you would NEVER have known it (I mean, seriously, you can hear the dog pass gas from the other side of our house) until the next morning.

    Even longer story, short (you’re welcome) my Cousin-in-Law was all sorts of gracious, feeding me antacids and pain-relievers for breakfast, helping me feel less and less like a dork by the minute, and even invited me back for another sleepover.

    “Why don’t you bring the kids, next time, too.”

    Because, you know, they have a much pickier pallet and maybe then I would think twice before over-indulging…like a dumbass.

    Note to Self:  Never…EVER…mix goat cheese, cauliflower and smoked artichoke hearts with Pinot Grigio.

    Well, at least I did NOT break anything…right?!?

    [sound of crickets, chirping]

    Stupid smoked artichoke hearts, dumbass Pinot Grigio.

    © 2003 – 2013 This Full House

  • 19 Years of Motherhood And Still Not Doing It Right

    Holly and What is Left of Athena

    11-12-12: Holly and what's left of Winterstorm Athena.

    My oldest turned 19, last week <—– seeing that in writing makes the fact that I am now a mother of a 19 year old all the more WHAT DO YOU MEAN I AM A MOTHER OF A 19 YEAR OLD <—– seeing that in UPPERCASE pretty much sums up what I feel about THAT, in a nutshell.

    (more…)

  • Happy Thanksgiving, or a reasonable facsimile thereof!

    Halloween 2012

    If it weren't for Hurricane Sandy, our Halloween decorations would STILL be up…DAMMIT!

    Just so you know, I am also a featured blogger for Hallmark (yeah, I don't HOW that happened either) and just wanted to let you know that I've got a freshly-brewed blog post up today over on Gone Shopping about  how celebrating Christmas in July may not be such a bad idea, afterall.  

    Feel free to stop on by and check it out…when you have time…of course!

    © 2003 – 2012 This Full House