This Full House Archive

Tag: mombloggers

#Reverb10: Wisdom
Reverb 10 is an online initiative created by Gwen Bell to reflect on 2010, consider, you know, what's next and, through daily writing prompts, help folks (like me) share their story.

Since I am ALL about sharing (shuddup Garth, not your real name!) and my friend Shannon is doing it (although, the non-conformist in me can't promise to, you know, write daily) I've decided to give it a whirl.

Today's prompt: Wisdom — what was the wisest decision you made this year, and how did it play out?

Confession. Ready? I'm NOT very good with decisions (I know, act surprised anyway!)

Oh, I can decide on lots of stuff. Dozens of times. Every blessed gosh-darned day, even!

Nonsensical declarations, like:
- Sure, belly dancing sounds like fun, why not?
- NO, that does NOT mean you can get your belly button pierced!
- Yes, What's-her-Face can sleep over.
- NO, that does NOT mean you can have a party!
- Sure, a class trip to NYC sounds like fun, why not?
- NO, I am NOT available to chaperon, either!
- Yes, So-and-So may stay for dinner.
- NO, that does NOT mean you can get a gun!
Decision like that. Every. Blessed. Day. Just, you know, NOT for myself.

Last month, I decided NOT to ignore my health any longer and, without going into too much detail (you're welcome!) turns out it was the WISEST decision I've made in a very, very long time.

For myself!

Now, I can continue dispensing my supreme wisdom, where it is needed most (shuddup!)

"You signed me up for WHAT?!?"

Without having to worry about anything, you know, dropping off, or falling out!

"Oh, alright, as long as I can walk, because running STILL makes me pee, a little."

Sort of!

My OTHER Reverb 10 stories.

© 2003 – 2010 This Full House Blog / TFH Gone Shopping
December 10, 2010
#Reverb10: Party

Reverb 10 is an online initiative created by Gwen Bell to reflect on 2010, consider, you know, what's next and, through daily writing prompts, help folks (like me) share their story.

Since I am ALL about sharing (shuddup Garth, not your real name!) and my friend Shannon is doing it (although, the non-conformist in me can't promise to, you know, write daily) I've decided to give it a whirl.

Today's prompt: Party — what social gathering rocked your socks off in 2010? Describe the people, music, food, drink, clothes, shenanigans.

[photo credit: FireMom]

These days, my kids have cornered the market on party hopping (don't even get me started on sleepovers, or, more accurately, keep parents awake until 2:00 in the morningovers) unless, showcasing unbreakable cookware and food storage containers are involved.

Then, move over and pass the mojitos, my friend, I am SO there!

Once again, I had the EXTREME pleasure of meeting up with some really AWESOME friends at BlogHer in NYC, this year — fleeting moments of SQUEE! could be heard for miles, I'm sure — perhaps it should really be called MeetHer, HugHer and GoHomeWithHer!

Kicking back on a rooftop with BusyMom, Jenna, Melisa, Sue, Carmen, and picking soot out of each other's hair…now, that's MY idea of a party…YES, really!!!

SaveHer10

However, it is what happens AFTER the party — like, riding in an ambulance with BusyMom — that sometimes proves to be the MOST, you know, memorable.

I can't WAIT to see what happens, next year!

My OTHER Reverb 10 stories.

© 2003 – 2010 This Full House Blog / TFH Gone Shopping

December 9, 2010
#Reverb10: Beautifully Different

Reverb 10 is an online initiative created by Gwen Bell to reflect on 2010, consider, you know, what's next and, through daily writing prompts, help folks (like me) share their story.

Since I am ALL about sharing (shuddup Garth, not your real name!) and my friend Shannon is doing it (although, the non-conformist in me can't promise to, you know, write daily) I've decided to give it a whirl.

Today's prompt: Beautifully Different — Think about what makes you different and what you do that lights people up. Reflect on all the things that make you different – you’ll find they’re what make you beautiful.

I broke out the YouCam and snapped a picture, this morning (since, I showered and everything…you're welcome!!!)

Beautiful? I dunno. Different? Most definitely, from as far back as I can remember (oh, it's not THAT far, shuddup!)

I grew up speaking a different language, living on a street filled with nearly every ethnicity represented in the United Nations (today) and eating stuff that other folks would normally have trouble identifying (why, it's cow stomach soup, want some?)

Being different came, you know, naturally.

Beautiful? Hard for me to say. Different? Well, my right eye IS smaller than my left; my eyebrows are way too thick (imagine what they would look like if I did NOT tweeze them every dang-gone day!) oh, and my lips are a bit crooked (especially, when I smile)

UGH! Don't EVEN get me started on how LOOOOOONG it took me to grow into my nose (matches my crooked smile, perfectly) or, how the years are beginning to, you know, leave skid marks all over my face….DAMMIT!!!

[blows bangs out of left eye, scratches nose]

Then again, it's NOT the years, HONEY — it's the mileage!!!

I've worked REAL hard to earn ALL those pretty little lines up there (i.e. I'm a mom) AND my kids seem to like me, this way (sort of) especially, because my left eye is almost always BIGGER than my right in every picture….which, of course, means that, you know….I am smiling.

Different? Yeah, we're good and did I mention I'm raising REAL pretty kids who ARE proving to be waaaay smarter than me?

Good thing, too, seeing as I've pretty much proved to them that they won't be able to earn a college education on, you know, their mother's good looks, alone.

[snort]

Thank goodness no one's thought to start charging us moms (and dads) for heavy eye baggage…YET!!!

My OTHER Reverb 10 stories.

© 2003 – 2010 This Full House Blog / TFH Gone Shopping

December 8, 2010
#Reverb10: Make
Reverb 10 is an online initiative created by Gwen Bell to reflect on 2010, consider, you know, what's next and, through daily writing prompts, help folks (like me) share their story.

Since I am ALL about sharing (shuddup Garth, not your real name!) and my friend Shannon is doing it (although, the non-conformist in me can't promise to, you know, write daily) I've decided to give it a whirl.

Today's prompt: Make — what was the last thing you made? What materials did you use? Is there something you want to make, but you need to clear some time for it?

My youngest daughter (she's 9) and I recycled some old stuff to make this cute reindeer ornament for a Clever Girls Collective craft project last month!

We did A LOT of crafts when my kids were younger — give a kid a piece of paper, a crayon and a couple of glue sticks, well, you ARE the Queen (or King) of Distraction — especially, around the holidays.

As for things I want to make?

Well, we don't seem to have time to craft together as we used to (could be a bad, or good thing, depending on how you look at it) however, you are NEVER too old for paper chains and snowflakes, right?

Then, there are those pesky little home repair projects.

[blows bangs out of eyes]

Got a few minutes? There's a list. Somewhere. I just had it. I swear.

In all seriousness, Garth (not his real name) and I are hoping to make time to actually finish several projects we've started…um…a few years ago, or twenty, like:
- The kitchen: there's the ceiling (i.e. actually put one up, or just paint the damned drywall, already) and the cabinets (oh, they're up, just old) these really DO need our immediate attention!
- The bathroom: whose idea was it to wallpaper it, anyway? Oh wait, that would be me (shuddup Ty Pennington!)
- Our bedroom: see kitchen notes (minus cabinets.)
- Girls' bedroom: They're 17, 15 and almost 10, so the Barney colors have G2G (see bathroom notes!)
- Dining room: In a moment of, "Do'oh, I just can't take it anymore," my husband came home from work, one day, and found the fugly brown rug rolled up at the curb, years ago. I was surprised to find a beautiful hardwood floor underneath that is now SCREAMING for a new coat of varnish (seriously, I hear it whimpering in my sleep!)
- The livingroom: is in between the dining room and kitchen and, well, it would also be EXTREMELY jealous if we didn't, you know, pay its walls at least some attention, too.
- The boy's room: still needs a door, DAMMIT!
Hence, the reindeer gift tag addressed to, "Daddy!"

[sound of crickets]

No, it's NOT a door! Besides, Garth (not his real name) and I adopted the "no gifting each other" rule this year (stupid economy!) it is, however, a BIG bunch of good intentions all wrapped up with a pretty little bow and everything!

Shhhhh, don't tell him…okay?

My OTHER Reverb 10 stories.

© 2003 – 2010 This Full House Blog / TFH Gone Shopping
December 6, 2010
#Reverb10: Moment

Reverb 10 is an online initiative created by Gwen Bell to reflect on 2010, consider, you know, what's next and, through daily writing prompts, help folks (like me) share their story.

Since I am ALL about sharing (shuddup Garth, not your real name!) and my friend Shannon is doing it (although, the non-conformist in me can't promise to, you know, write daily) I've decided to give it a whirl.

Today's prompt: Pick one moment during which you felt most alive this year. Describe it in vivid detail (texture, smells, voices, noises, colors).

Hope is a word that I use often and not just because it happens to be my youngest daughter's name (a.k.a. mommy's little ticket into heaven) but, after years of exhaustive study (i.e. stupid insomnia!) I've come to the conclusion that, for me, the benefits of remaining hopeful far outweigh the risks of considering an alternate ending.

Then, life throws a curve ball and knocks those rose-colored glasses right off of my face and, well, maybe if I had remembered to wear my crash helmet.

But, this is NOT about me.

It's about watching the people I love the most, get smacked in the soft-squishy areas, time and time again, where your body's immediate reaction is to double over and puke.

When the best I could do is, you know, hold the bucket.

Then again, I could think of worse things (which is what I was doing, considering our annual 4th of July picnic at Ft. Dix) then one of my kids (and, I can't tell you exactly who) pointed at the sky and, well, it took my breath away.

"Looks like fingers reaching out from heaven, doesn't it?"

Okay, but I was thinking more like strands of cotton candy.

"Thank you."

It was when my SIL poked me that I realized, you know, she wasn't talking to the sky.

"For what?"

Then again, she might as well have been.

"For just…you know…letting me be…right here…with you guys."

That's it? I mean, really, my SIL was the one who beat cancer, the BEE-YOTCH (cancer, not my SIL!) and all I did was, you know, hold her hand.

Still.

It was MY George Bailey moment and it's okay if you think it TOTALLY CORNY (my SIL would agree with you, btw) but, it felt REALLY good, you know?

Aaaand so, 2011, I remain, yours truly, a little corny and totally filled with hope, with perhaps just a dash of anxiety, for good measure.

My OTHER Reverb 10 stories.

© 2003 – 2010 This Full House Blog / TFH Gone Shopping

December 3, 2010
#Reverb10: One Word
Reverb 10 is an online initiative created by Gwen Bell to reflect on 2010, consider, you know, what's next and, through daily writing prompts, help folks (like me) share their story.

Since I am ALL about sharing (shuddup Garth, not your real name!) and my friend Shannon is doing it (although, the non-conformist in me can't promise to, you know, write daily) I've decided to give it a whirl.

Today's prompt: Encapsulate the year 2010 in one word. Explain why you’re choosing that word. Now, imagine it’s one year from today, what would you like the word to be that captures 2011 for you?

One word: Fail.
- I haven't been the best mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend…etc….
- I've lost my temper with my kids.
- Used my outside voice with my husband.
- Resented the fact, many, many times, that I wasn't born "a boy."
- After 7 years, questioned my blogging prowess more often than not.
A year from today? Acceptance.

I realized, loooooong ago, that I am NOT perfect, but my kids still seem to like me (sort of) and, hopefully, will continue to learn from my mistakes, while remembering all the fun we've had together, too.

Like, opening the advent calenders (one is filled with trinkets and the other chocolate) then, hunting for Heather's birthday present (when I finally remember to write the clues, at 2 o'clock in the morning, but who cares) or, looking for THAT stupid elf (see last parenthesis) and ending the day with a burping contest at the dinner table.

As for Garth (not his real name) I really am looking forward to celebrating our 22nd Christmas, together, quietly.

Continue to share with my blogging community (you're welcome) send "hand-written" Christmas cards (see last parenthesis) and apologize now for bad grammar and my terrible penmanship — especially, to those of you who have visited over the years and STILL like me (sort of) or, with names ending in "T" thru "Z!"

Imperfection? Yep, it's a good thing!

See, NOW aren't you glad that I promised to, you know, NOT do this…everyday?!?

© 2003 – 2010 This Full House Blog / TFH Gone Shopping
December 2, 2010
Wordless Wednesday:
Aaaand So It Begins
To Look a LOT Like Christmas!

The countdown (27 days until Heather's 15th birthday) officially begins…NOW!!!

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: Wordless Wednesday

© 2003 – 2010 This Full House Blog / This Full House Gone Shopping

December 1, 2010
7 Years of a Mom Blog Series:
Minor Distractions – Part II

I'm heading into the hospital…erm…having my engine steam cleaned, later this week and meeting with my Gynecol…MECHANIC!…to discuss biopsy…I mean…PERFORMANCE EFFICIENCY DIAGNOSTICS…but, I'll find out more about that, later.

[UPDATE: Diagnostics came back negative and that is SUCH A GOOD THING, REALLY! So, putting my chasis into the shop for fine tuning was a GO for this Wednesday!!!]

What?

Yeah. I'm old. Still. Trust me when I tell you…it's NOT the years honey…it's the mileage…and I've got something REAL special, just for you (yes, YOU!) while I'm gone.

[reaches deep into pockets]

WAIT! Don't go, I promise, it's nothing tooooo graphic or gross (this time) but, kind of, sort of fun actually.

You see, my oldest was reading this year's birthday post (7th one I've written, as a matter of fact) and she dug up some old…VINTAGE!…blog posts from way back in 2003.

You know, when social media meant you were THRILLED just to make it onto someone's blogroll?!?

Ahem.

So, begins the 7 Years of a Mom Blog — a series of republished blog posts I wrote EXACTLY 7 years ago, today.

Keeping score: we had 3 cats, no doofus, kids were 10, 7, 4 and 2 at the time.

7 years ago today: My husband Garth (not his real name) actually considered leaving his wife (that would be me!) ENJOY!!!

(more…)

November 19, 2010
7 Years of a Mom Blog Series:
I Can’t Sleep

I'm heading into the hospital…erm…having my engine steam cleaned, later this week and meeting with my Gynecol…MECHANIC!…to discuss biopsy…I mean…PERFORMANCE EFFICIENCY DIAGNOSTICS…but, I'll find out more about that, later.

[UPDATE: Diagnostics came back negative and that is SUCH A GOOD THING, REALLY! So, putting my chasis into the shop for fine tuning is a GO for today!!!]

What?

Yeah. I'm old. Still. Trust me when I tell you…it's NOT the years honey…it's the mileage…and I've got something REAL special, just for you (yes, YOU!) while I'm gone.

[reaches deep into pockets]

WAIT! Don't go, I promise, it's nothing tooooo graphic or gross (this time) but, kind of, sort of fun actually.

You see, my oldest was reading this year's birthday post (7th one I've written, as a matter of fact) and she dug up some old…VINTAGE!…blog posts from way back in 2003.

You know, when social media meant you were THRILLED just to make it onto someone's blogroll?!?

Ahem.

So, begins the 7 Years of a Mom Blog series of republished blog posts I wrote EXACTLY 7 years ago, today.

Keeping score: we had 3 cats, no doofus, kids were 10, 7, 4 and 2 at the time.

7 years ago today: a blog post written while under the influence of a sleeping aide induced fog…ENJOY!!!

(more…)

November 17, 2010
7 Years of a Mom Blog:
I Had a Dream

I'm heading into the hospital…erm…having my engine steam cleaned, later this week and meeting with my Gynecol…MECHANIC!…to discuss biopsy…I mean…PERFORMANCE EFFICIENCY DIAGNOSTICS…but, I'll find out more about that, later today.

[11/16: UPDATED TO ADD: Diagnostics came back negative and that is SUCH A GOOD THING, REALLY! So, putting my chasis into the shop for fine tuning is a GO for this Wednesday!!!]

What?

Yeah. I'm old. Still. Trust me when I tell you…it's NOT the years honey…it's the mileage…and I've got something REAL special, just for you (yes, YOU!) while I'm gone.

[reaches deep into pockets]

WAIT! Don't go, I promise, it's nothing tooooo graphic or gross (this time) but, kind of, sort of fun actually.

You see, my oldest was reading this year's birthday post (7th one I've written, as a matter of fact) and she dug up some old…VINTAGE!…blog posts from way back in 2003.

You know, when social media meant you were THRILLED just to make it onto someone's blogroll?!?

Ahem.

So, begins the 7 Years of a Mom Blog — a series of republished blog posts I wrote EXACTLY 7 years ago, today.

Keeping score: we had 3 cats, no doofus, kids were 10, 7, 4 and 2 at the time.

7 years ago today, I had a dream: warning, there is mention of cabana boys, strapless French bikinis and puke may or may not have been involved…ENJOY!!!

(more…)

November 15, 2010