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Welcome to our virtual house tour…

This is This Full House (the house) and yes, it really does have 7 rooms (not counting the bathrooms) no, I’m not complaining and YES…privacy is at a premium…feel free to take our virtual tour from 2011 and see for yourself!

So, there’s still time to grab a beverage, make a potty stop or perhaps a quick snack, if you would like. Okay…ready…GO!!

TFH VIRTUAL HOUSE TOUR 2011

RECAP: Dining room, kitchen, living room, laundry/play room, girls’ room, the boy’s room (not shown) and my room (also, not shown) equals 7 rooms (not including bathrooms) and NOT a lot of places for 6 people to hide, really.

But, we love it (sort of!) and, well, it’s our home.

DISCLOSURE: I am attempting to win the HGTV Dream Home for the Up-teenth time (DANGIT!) not that this will increase my chances of winning, or anything (see previous parenthisis) it’s just that it is sometimes hard for other folks to believe that…YES!…there really are 6 people, living in a 7 room house, which no way even resembles a McMansion aaaaand…YES!…in Jersey 🙂

Thanks for coming, don’t be a stranger and have a GREAT day!!!

© 2003 – 2020 This Full House Blog

May 6, 2009
Nearly Wordless Wednesday: One Size Fits All

Raising 4 children, I feel it safe to say that there are very few words in the English language (or, Hungarian for that matter) that a parent (like me) could ever get tired of hearing.

"I need a hug!"

Unless, they happen to be 4 words, used as a directive, that, as most things my children expect of me, require my complete and immediate attention in the most inopportune of times, too.

[drains pasta]

"Oh, just wait a second."

Some folks would perhaps believe it bad form of me to make the poor kid "wait" for his/her acknowledgment that, Mommy loves you, yes I know.

"I…need…a…hug!"

Or, perhaps it is only the "frazzled" and "wigged-out" part of me speaking and…cheese and rice…but, it's also the fact that I happen to hear it ALL THE TIME!

"I need a hug…I need a hug…I need a hug…I…NEED…A…HUG!!!"

It doesn't take long for things to get a little needy around here, you know?

"Mommy?"

Gosh, but these kids seem to come outta no where!

"WHAT NOW!?!"

What, would it matter if I told you that the kid sneaked up on me, made me jump out of my slippers and nearly burn all my chest hairs off? No? Oh, you don't have chest hairs? Me either. But, gosh-DARNIT if everything else on my body doesn't feel like it needs a date with the guys over at Jiffy Lube.

[bites lower lip]

"What do you need, Hopey?"

My youngest is 7, but — at that very moment — she had the look of a middle-aged woman.

"Nothin'…"

Serves me right, I know.

"But, I think YOU need a hug, right?"

Aaaand, with that, I dropped down [care…full…eee] on one knee, took my hug like a big girl and proved, once again, that it IS one of the few things in life that happens to fit just right!

"HEY MAH!"

SNAP!

"Gotcha!"

That's when my 13 year-old took that picture and…HAH!…made you look, I bet you thought it was the sound of my last nerve snapping, right? No? Me either. Because, I happened to break that a loooooong time ago, too!

Anyone else need a hug, they ARE free you now?

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

In Other News: Help me win a room makeover and I'll love you, forever — vote for us, here!

© 2009 This Full House – All Rights Reserved.

May 6, 2009
First Monday, Our Stinky House Contest and Mother’s Day, OH MY!

Welcome to the 1st Monday of the month and you know what that means, right?

[sound of crickets chirping]

Besides catching up on tons of laundry from last week, I've got this little column over at the Imperfect Parent — yeah, I don't know how that happened, either — and, this month, I'm opening up (for the first time) about how I Remember Mama, why I hate the dark, going down into basements, cleaning out closets, or how I try NOT to remember anything else before the age of 12.

Because, I am ALL about over-sharing.

[takes deep breath]

Speaking about dirty laundry, remember last week, when I admitted that, you know, my house stinks?

Well, I did it — no, not the stinky part — I entered the girls' room (all 3 of my daughters share a bedroom) into the My House Stinks Contest. Why? Well, did I mention that all 3 of my daughters share a bedroom? Yes. Okay, but did you know that the walls are purple? Okay. So, then you already know that it is DESPERATELY in need of a fresh coat of paint, or 2 dozen, right?

Help me win a room makeover and I'll love you, forever — vote for us, here!

So, what does Mother's Day have to do with all this? Absolutely, nothing. Besides the fact that it's this weekend and, you know, I'll be too busy running around wishing everyone else a "Happy Mother's Day" to celebrate, my own!

[heavy sigh]

Feeling sorry for me, yet?

[sound of crickets chirping]

Okay, I'll shuddup, now GO VOTE!!!

© 2009 This Full House – All Rights Reserved.

May 4, 2009
My House Stinks, How About Yours?

[EDITED TO ADD: IT'S OFFICIAL, WE'VE ENTERED THE MY HOUSE STINKS CONTEST – VOTE FOR US AND I'LL LOVE YOU FOREVER, I SWEAR!]

I don't know about you, but there isn't a day that goes by when I'm NOT saying stuff, like, "Ewww," or "Wait, my sock is stuck to the floor," and the ever-popular "What's that smell!?!?"

Oh, you don't…uh-huh…well, you must not have kids then.

Anyhow, so, I get this email yesterday from James of Dutch Boy's "Team Stinky" (I kid you NOT!) wondering, "Do you have the ugliest, stinkiest room in America?" And I'm all, like…wow, he must read my blog and…um…let me think.

With three girls, sharing one bedroom…oh, boy…uh, SHYAH, I've got proof that theirs is stinkafiably (yes, it's a word!) the fugliest room in our house and totally submitting it as an entry into the My House Stinks contest!

Why?

First place wins $5,000 and 50 gallons of paint; 2nd prize gets $2,500
and 25 gallons of paint and 3rd prize is still worth $1,000 and 10
gallons of Refresh.

The girls are getting new bedroom furniture, today (thank you, Mama and Papa) and, in my mind, I had already committed most of yesterday to getting their room into shape (I know, ironic, isn't it?) just in time, really, lest the shiny new white furniture be spat out, like holy water, from the mouth hell.

So, I sent a note to Twitter (in case, you know, I went missing, or something) and headed in, sans shower and donning my protective mommy gear.

WARNING: ENTER WITH CAUTION – THE USE OF PROTECTIVE GEAR IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED – GET READY TO BE AMAZED!

(more…)

May 1, 2009
Open House Blog Tour – 14th Showing

My husband, Garth (not his real name) and I love attending open houses
– especially, if it's a home that we've admired, or wondered…you
know…what the heck is going on in there?

Welcome to the Open House Blog Tour where everyone (and anyone) is free to come and leave links (PG-13, please) telling us about your individual blogging events, fundraisers, giveaways, book tours, contests, or if you have a burning blog post and just need a shout out, go for it…I'm listening!

I mean, who couldn't use a little linky love? Make sure you leave a link in the Mr. Linky fields below along with a short description of the event. Okay, I'll start:

And if you forget…don't worry…it'll be here, every Thursday…linked permanently in my archives here and on my review blog (two linkies for the price of one entry) so, if you happen to stop by
whenever, just go ahead and leave your link…oh, and let me know where
I can mail the check!

Feel free to share – here's the button and the code to use:

<a href="http://www.thisfullhouse.com/reviews/open-house-blog-tour/"><img
src="http://www.thisfullhouse.com/design/open-house-blog-tour-badge.jpg">

ALREADY SHOWING: OPEN HOUSE BLOG TOURS

Happy blog hunting!

© 2009 This Full House – All Rights Reserved.

April 30, 2009
Nearly Wordless Wednesday: The Girl Formerly Known as Mini-Me

Me at 6 years old with my dad.

Hope [formerly known as Mini-Me) celebrates American Indian Day 2006 in Kindergarten.

My parents insist that my youngest daughter also acts…EXACTLY…like I did, at her age. You know, like, how the girl just can't seem to slow down, or focus on doing one thing, without running off into a million different directions, at once!

"It's like watching you, all over again."

And, if you were to ask my husband, Garth [not his real name] his thoughts on raising Hope [formerly known as Mini-Me] the youngest of our 4 rugrats, recently turned kidlet; should be easy, right?

"My only goal in life is to reach 50, before she, you know, kills me!"

She's almost 8 now, 6 years since I first started blogging, but I find myself writing less and less about my Mini-me…I mean, Hope…because, you know, she CAN read now.

"She's mommy's little ticket into heaven!"

My mother just sits and grins and tries to convince me not to worry about the future, like, when Hope becomes a teenager…[cringe]…too much.

"You can always send her over to our house."

Yeah, my parents spoil their grandchildren (terribly) so, it's very difficult for me to convince my children that these are NOT the same people I grew up with, but my father is quick to add that having grandchildren is a blessing.

"They are our little tickets into heaven."

[blank stare]

Hey…wait a minute…pshaw…d'oh, nevermind.

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

© 2009 This Full House – All Rights Reserved.

April 29, 2009
Looking For Some Hot Fun in the Summertime, Then You Must NOT Be From Jersey!

I got the call around 8 p.m. Saturday night, while I was saying goodbye to my in-laws and thanking them for bringing my husband, Garth [not his real name] into the 21st century, by giving him a cool new mp3 player for his birthday (me next, okay?) and it is perhaps one of the most dreaded phone call (besides, you know, the school nurse, of course) that THIS Jersey mom hates, anyways.

"Wanna go on the hook?"

[blank stare]

(more…)

April 27, 2009
Silly Mom, Of Course You Can Trick a Rabbit!

I know, I know, Easter's been over for like, what, weeks now, right? Except, of course, if you're Orthodox. Then, it's only been a couple of days.

Still.

It's the same thing, every year. My husband Garth (not his real name) shakes down the Easter Bunny and makes gosh-darned sure that our kids find plenty of chocolate eggs, jelly beans and enough gooey marshmallow treats in their baskets to make any dentist, or orthodontist salivate their way to the bank.

My job? Remind the big dumb bunny that…HELLO!…2 out of 4 kids have already been recommended for braces…but, did he listen?

Of course not, which is why the Easter candy STILL sits on top of my fridge…taunting me…every day.

Pssst...

What?

Look at me.

No.

C'mon, looooook…at…me.

NO!

It's been weeks, you know?

Has it?

Eat me.

Excuse me?

EAT ME!

You're being ridiculous, so just stop it, already.

C'mon, just one teeny, weeny, little nibble?

No, thank you.

If you do, then I…I…I won't bother you, anymore.

Really?

Really.

Promise?

Promise.

Okay, just a teeny, weeny, little nibble.

[heavy sigh]

Then, my husband went to work. Then end.

Whuh-the-whuh?

Silly rabbit, did you REALLY think I was talking to you?!?!?!?

[GULP!]

What? Like, you never gave in for goodness sake. Anyway, tomorrow IS Garth's (not his real name) birthday and we've got family coming over and, well, you know.

[yawns]

Bon Appetit, my love!

© 2009 This Full House – All Rights Reserved.

April 24, 2009
Potentional FTC Regulations on Mom Bloggers: Are you kidding me?

You've heard about this, right? Just so you know, I found this really cool video over at Role Mommy's place — because, you know, we mom blogger types talk and like to share stuff online — take a look at Classy Mommy on Fox & Friends as she discusses the potential FTC regulations on mom bloggers:

Bang on, right?

My take on the government regulating mom/review blogs, like mine:

I've NEVER claimed myself to be an expert of anything other than being able to listen to several conversations, at once.

I'm just a mom, who happens to enjoy writing about stuff that my family likes, or hasn't broken (yet) and sharing MY OPINIONS on stuff that perhaps makes life a little easier for families (like mine) makes me feel good…period.

Next, the government will be telling us how and where to spend our money…oh, wait…nevermind.

[Cross-posted at my review blog, because I happen to have one of those…too]

© 2009 This Full House – All Rights Reserved.

April 23, 2009
Open House Blog Tour – 13th Showing

My husband, Garth (not his real name) and I love attending open houses
– especially, if it's a home that we've admired, or wondered…you
know…what the heck is going on in there?

Welcome to the Open House Blog Tour where everyone (and anyone) is free to come and leave links (PG-13, please) telling us about your individual blogging events, fundraisers, giveaways, book tours, contests, or if you have a burning blog post and just need a shout out, go for it…I'm listening!

I mean, who couldn't use a little linky love? Okay, I'll start:

Make sure you leave a link in the Mr. Linky fields below along with a short description of
the event.

And if you forget…don't worry…it'll be here, every Thursday…linked permanently in my archives here and on my review blog (two linkies for the price of one entry) so, if you happen to stop by
whenever, just go ahead and leave your link…oh, and let me know where
I can mail the check!

Feel free to share – here's the button and the code to use:

<a href="http://www.thisfullhouse.com/"><img
src="http://www.thisfullhouse.com/badges/this-full-house-open-house-blog-tour-150.png">

ALREADY SHOWING: OPEN HOUSE BLOG TOURS

Happy blog hunting!

© 2009 This Full House – All Rights Reserved.

April 23, 2009