This Full House Archive

Tag: momblogs

  • Nearly Wordless Wednesday:
    The Dance

    Theresa 1964
    My mother's baby sister, Aunt Theresa (holding me) her friend (holding my brother) my dad, my mom and Nagy Mama late spring, 1964.

    Theresa Sassy'nit Up on the Dance Floor! 04/30/52 – 11/02/10

    My Aunt Theresa sass'nit up on the dance floor (with me) on my wedding day (August 25, 1990) whose last wish was to be buried in the same awesomely sassy dress, tomorrow. 

    Until we meet again…save me a dance, my sweet and awesomely sassy Keresztmama (Godmother, in Hungarian) you will be missed, never forgotten and forever loved for ALL your sassyness and more!!! 

    Forever yours, Sziszike.

    Friggin' Diabetes.

    Stopdiabetes

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

  • 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:

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  • Just Another Idiomatic Friday
    (Translates Very Well to Mondays)

    You rock, you rule We were all sitting at the dinner table (yes, at the same time, must have been a full moon, or something) don't ask me which day (I forget) when my oldest daughter (she's 16) lamented the fact that my youngest daughter (who is 9) isn't much of a girly girl, anymore.

    "My friends think it's cool I'm a tomboy!"

    This year.

    "Who am I going to dress up and put makeup on?"

    On the one hand, the thought of Holly playing with her baby sister, without having to be asked or paid…real money…is very cute.

    "But, mommy lets YOU wear makeup!?!?"

    On the other hand, idioms tend to annoy me and, well, they just don't make a lick of sense.

    [one beat, two beats]

    D'oh!

    However, it never dawned on me, until now, those funny little Hungarian sayings my grandmother would throw out, every now and again (especially, when my twin brother or I got into trouble) translated pretty well in English, too.

    For example:

    A szomszéd rétje mindig zöldebb: The neighbor's meadow is always greener (and, well, heck, it's hard not to be a little envious, when all you've got is, you know, grass!)

    Bagoly mondja verébnek, hogy nagyfejű: The owl tells the sparrow that it is big-headed (sort of like the pot calling the kettle black, stupid owl!)

    Csepp a tengerben: A drop in the sea (Especially, when you don't have a bucket, or your neighbor borrowed it and, you know, misplaced it in the frickin' meadow somewhere.)

    Egyik tizenkilenc, másik egy híján húsz: One of them is nineteen, the other one is less than twenty (Either way, equally bad when considering marriage or the price of eggs today!)

    Feldobja a bakancsot: Throw the boots up (When kicking the bucket seems futile…see above.)

    Hideg zuhany: Cold shower (which is pretty much international and doesn't count, unless you are nineteen, or twenty, I think.)

    Jobb félni, mint megijedni: Is it better to fear, than to get frightened (Not when you consider discretion is the better part of valor or your kid has a nasty case of the hiccups…for the last hour.)

    Könnyebb utolérni a hazugot, mint a sánta kutyát: It is easier to catch a liar than a lame dog (Yes, but it didn't help that my grandmother had very long legs and could run pretty gosh-darned fast…too…DAMMIT.)

    Mint elefánt a porcelánüzletben: Like an elephant in a china shop (Which is total bullcrap, considering that stuff seemed to break easily, just by my looking at it.  Wait a minute.  D'oh!  Never mind.)

    Aaaand, that's just half of the ones I can think of (because, I'm old) considering there are 36 letters in the Hungarian alphabet (you're welcome!) and I just remembered something else.

    I can't believe it's been 6 years, since she passed, this month (Happy Anniversary in Heaven, Nagy Mama!) and I am missing my grandmother, more than words can say, right now!

    Stupid idioms.

    © 2010 This Full House Blog / TFH Gone Shopping

  • Nearly Wordless Wednesday: Girls
    (All Growed-Up)

    Holly and Heather Easter 1996
    I was cleaning out their closet, the other day (which, admittedly, I don't do very often, because, it's REALLY scary in there) when I came across this picture aaaaand, I had a major heart squeeze, right there, in the middle of the sock basket.

    TFH Sisters
    Nope, don't know how THAT happened…either…but, it WAS a whole lot quicker than I thought.

    Stupid closet!!!

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

    © 2010 This Full House Blog / TFH Gone Shopping

     

  • Calling Out the Bully

    When I was going to school (you know, the days when television reminded parents what time it is and where their children are) there were four ways in which you dealt with bullies.

    1. Run away (real fast)
    2. Stand your ground (get your butt whipped)
    3. Tell a teacher (then run away, real fast)
    4. Don't bother going back to school.

    Point being, survival instincts kick in sometime around kindergarten graduation, as the proverbial lines are drawn and the definition of social order rapidly declines to a melee of rumors, innuendos and incoherent speculations.

    And that's just the parents!

    If I had a dollar for each time my kids (or I) have lost sleep worrying over some new abuse another kid supposedly discovered, well, we would have afforded to go to Disney, at least once, by now.

    Yeah, I've seen plenty of lockers pasted with "no bully zone" and "just say no to bullying" stickers on the dozen (or so) back-to-school nights my husband and I have attended, over the years and honestly, I still can't help but think…meh…why bother.

    If only it were that easy.

    "Well, I got shot today."

    Then, my son (he's 11) came home from school yesterday and, well, I had the same exact look on my face that you probably have, right now, trust me.

    He pulled his sleeve up, I saw the angry welt (like, maybe someone used a rubber band to fling something sharp, like a paper clip) and I don't remember much after that, really, besides drilling my poor son, like a suspect.

    Then, I sat down and wrote my first email to the principal and when I say first, I mean…ever.

    Long story, short (you're welcome!) his response, less than 5 minutes later, made me feel better about my decision to NOT worry about sounding like "that mom" (for once) or, whether OTHER parents will think that my kid is a wimp (or, not) and just focus on helping my son, you know, do the right thing.

    Call out the bully (in this case, the bullies) make the kid take responsibility for his/her actions (not the parents) and, maybe, just maybe, we can ALL get a little more sleep, for once.

    (P.S. My son met with his principal, by himself, today and, although he admits to feeling "sad about telling on someone," more than I am worried about the other kids seeking retribution, I'm glad that the lines of communication are now, you know, open.)

    (P.P.S. Being verbally harassed on the bus, daily, is typical 7th and 8th grader shenanigans pulled on incoming 6th graders.  Yeah, I get it.  Don't touch my kid.)

    (P.P.P.S. My son's middle school is creating a special number kids can text, when they observe bullying, that goes right to the principal — what a great idea, right?)

    © 2010 This Full House Blog / TFH Gone Shopping

     

  • 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

  • Worming HIS Way Into Motherhood

    Having been my children's primary care provider (i.e. Mom) for the last 17 years (I know, I'm old, SHUDDUP!) I look forward to impromptu school holidays, like Columbus Day, when I don't have to cook, clean or do anything special (like, cook or clean) normally associated with celebrating more traditional gift-giving and feasting-type holidays.

    I kind of get excited when my husband, Garth (not his real name) happens to have the day off, too!

    Still.

    Working from home does have its disadvantages.

    "When is So-and-So and What's Her Name coming over, again?"

    We're helping a couple of friends out by sitting their kids, today (what's two more, right?) and by we…of course…I mean, Garth (not his real name!)

    "I'm going to make a worm box!"

    Aaaaand, I have to be honest, I am feeling a little threatened at the moment.

    "Cool, can we help!"

    Honestly, a worm box?

    Worm box closed

    So, I went outside (seeing as I showered, got dressed and everything) to take a look at this fantastical worm box.

    Worm box open

    Aaaaand, not ONLY is it a fantastical way to get kids outside (so, mommy can get a jump start on a couple of writing projects this week) not to mention, actually convincing them that something low-tech, like digging for worms is, you know, fun (their names are Jeffrey, Skittles and Bob) but, Garth (not his real name) got a chance to demonstrate his multi-tasking skills, by cleaning out my shredder, too.

    DAMMIT!

    "Do you need any clean clothes for your trip, tomorrow?"

    Aaaand, I'm okay with that AND totally crushing on my husband's feminine side…today!

    (Disclosure:  Garth (not his real name) just reminded me that my son and his friend wanted nothing to do with the outdoors and now they are ALL folding socks.)

    Boys, however, ARE stewpid!

    (Disclosure:  I was able to convince the boys that…yeah…they REALLY would probably rather be outside, too.)

    I win!

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

  • Owning My Words and Radical Thinking Since 2003

    There are days when the words come easy.  Thoughts and images flash before my eyes in rapid succession, gaining speed as inspiration begins to flow down to my fingertips.

    Then, the sentences begin to run on and on, reluctantly separated by a few commas and semi-colons, throw in a couple of parenthesis (for good measure) and, well, it doesn't take long for even me to realize that, you know, I am NOT the greatest writer in the world.

    Far from it.

    Still, I keep writing; putting a face to my thoughts, searching for peace of mind, a quiet escape, or seeking comfort in the slightest hints of validation and (in some cases) sharing the best part of me that very few people get a chance to see, IRL.

    Today is not one of those days.

    You see, integrity was a part of my vocabulary (limited as it may seem) long before it was cool.

    Thoughts of "owning ones words" and allowing for "open-ended discussions" are not progressively new ideas to me, or the community I've come to admire and adore (I LOVE YOU, MAN!)

    Owning up to our imperfections and learning from one's mistakes, however, has turned some of us into quite the radical thinkers.

    This week, in particular, is a harsh reminder of the price that some of us are UNWILLING expected to pay, in the name of the collective right and higher thinking.

    I've spoken to way too many friends, who (like me) are questioning their place in this big, green (blue, purple, red, whatever) blog world of ours, for quite a while now and, after nearly driving my family deaf, thinking out loud about it (seriously, they're like SHUDDUP!) I've come to a decision.

    SHUDDUP and blog, already.

    No matter what side of the fence you're on, or whether you admit to liking Diet Pepsi (for me, it's Diet Coke!!!) or how many dramas play out (frankly, I'm not naive enough to think that this will be the last) one thing remains true.

    The power of the blogging community should not be dismissed, nor should it be taken advantage of either!

    1Imperfect and as uneducated as it may be (disclosure:  no, I do not have a college degree) I still believe in this bright, bold and sassy community of moms (and dads) who blog and view this unfortunate turn of events as simply just another step in learning to use our blogging powers for good, in a totally informed and responsible way.

    The alternative?  Use it as an opportunity to tear some poor schmuck a new one, online for all to see, or delete them from our feed readers, entirely, for not knowing any better…than you.

    Then again, I'm just another mommyblogger (an old one, at that, I know, SHUDDUP!) and I'm probably wrong, anyway, right?

    1Last Disclosure:  My entire blogging platform is and always has been based on putting a face to imperfection.  So, I feel it safe to say that…YES…I am a professional!

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

  • I See a Gray Hair
    And I Want to Dye it Black!


    Liz channeling Joan Jett
    So, I did — aaaaand chopped it ALL off, too — 'cawse, us forty-something-or-another moms are edgy and totally reckless like that.

    AM SO!

    LINKY LOVE BYTES:

    Check out the Official Wordless Wednesday HQ

    Wordless Wednesday on 5 Minutes for Mom

    Tag,
    you're it:  

    © 2010 This
    Full House Blog     / This Full House 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:

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