Tag Archives: Mom

Things That Make You Go Hmmmmm…

Posted on by
3

Working in my office yesterday I needed to get some information for an announcement I was drafting up.  Instead of emailing a colleague for the info, I got up from my desk and walked over to her office to see if she had what I needed.   As much as I enjoy the ease and convenience of email, I like being able to walk down the hall to someone’s office and take part in some real human interaction.

whyisitI knocked on her door and she invited me to sit down in her office.  We’ve known each other for years and we’re pretty friendly.  After a few minutes of ‘what’s going on in your life’ chit chat she asked “What can I help you with?”  and for the life of me I couldn’t remember why I had come down to her office.

Continue reading →

Minnie & Daisy BFF Book & Magazine Review + Giveaway!

Posted on by
19

Cuddling up with a good book has always been one my favorite things to do.  I love escaping into the worlds and lives of the people, either real or fictitious, that I’m reading about.   It doesn’t matter if it’s a book that I’m reading myself or one that I’m reading aloud to my kidlets –I start imagining myself as the person in the story and even start reading in their “voice,” which brings much delight to my kids! I ’m thrilled that they also enjoy books and listening to stories.

My kindergartener son recently discovered the many literary and gross delights of Captain Underpants.  It’s different from any of the other books I’ve read to them before because it is a novel, with chapters and multiple volumes.  So far we’ve read through six of the ten books in the series.  Now while my three and half-year old daughter has listened attentively to these books, “Tra La La!,” she did asked me to find a book “just like that,” but for girls.

So we tried out Disney Publishing’s new chapter book series and magazine featuring Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck.

MinnieDaisyBFFReview+Giveaway1

Continue reading →

Squawk, Paper, Scissors…Crafting With Kids

Posted on by
9

“I’m bored!”  “There’s nothing to do!” It’s the two phrases every parent dreads hearing from their children. If I left it up to my kidlets to choose what to do, they’d pick watching cartoons and playing video games (at least my son) all day, every day. As much as I love the boob tube, I don’t want them to turn into couch potatoes so I’m always trying to come up with fun activities that we can do together.

THM-BirdhousesA lot of times that means doing crafts, playing games or working on some other type of project. Doing activities are a great way for us to spend time together, talk about life and create fun and happy memories as a family….at least that’s what I’ve heard and ironically, seen on TV (hey, wasn’t I trying to get my kids away from that evil box in the first place?).

Continue reading →

What Moms Really Want For Mother’s Day

Posted on by
22

Mother’s Day is this Sunday, May 12, so don’t screw it up!  Just joking, just please make sure to give dear old mom a phone a call to share a “thanks for having and raising me right kind of moment.”sparkle - http://www.sparklee.comI’m not particularly picky when it comes to Mother’s Day gifts.  I mean, who doesn’t like to get something wrapped up all pretty with a surprise inside?  Sure, around the Christmas holiday or my birthday I give The Hubs some suggestions in case any family member should ask what they should get me, but I very rarely hate what I get (though a few times I’ve had a good chuckle about items I’ve received!). 

Continue reading →

Kitchen Fantasies

Posted on by
1

I’m one of those people who actually get excited when I see a home improvement catalog or home design magazine in my mailbox.   It’s a guilty pleasure for me — after the kidlets are in bed, I’ll grab an iced tea and relax on the couch leafing through those publications and fantasize about all the amazing home improvements I’d make!

homeimprovement-IKEAMy first project would definitely be our kitchen.  I love to cook and it really is the heart of our home – but it is way out of date and needs a total re-do.  I have tons of kitchen gadgets (my current favs are my OXO mandolin and Cuisinart electric knife) and I never seem to have enough storage or counter space for everything.

Continue reading →

Old School Blogging – Marriage, Babies & Bliss Edition

Posted on by
6

At 3 pm today, spring break officially started in my house and I’ve got 10 full days of family fun ahead!  We’ve got playdtes, outdoor activities, movie marathons and even an amazing trip on the agenda!  Even The Harried Mom is taking a spring break of sorts – this week we’re loading up on reviews and giveaways of “fun things to do with kids!”

However, I’m going to start this break off by kickin’ it back old school and joining in again with a new installment of “Old School Blogging.” I really enjoy these posts because they are so entertaining read and I always learn something new about my favorite bloggers!

Continue reading →

Tired of the Mommy Wars? Take The Pledge To Empower All Moms

Posted on by
9

Everyday moms all around the world are under tremendous pressure to make “perfect” parenting decisions, only to find themselves judged by others, especially other moms!  It’s no secret that I think the mommy wars are totally ridiculous (you can read about it here).

As a parent, there are dozens of tough decisions you have to make for your family — from going back to work or not to whether you’ll breastfeed or formula feed your baby and to how your children will be educated and disciplined –  and there is no one right answer.  No mom (or dad for that matter) should be criticized for the decisions they make.  The right answer for any parent is to choose what is right and what works for their own family.

Continue reading →

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Present “Built To Amaze!” – Show Review

Posted on by
1

One of my most vivid memories of high school English, particularly my junior and senior years, is not the teacher or books/plays I read, but a brightly color brochure that hung on the classroom’s front bulletin board.   When someone would forget their homework or answer a question incorrectly, this teacher would point to the brochure and tell us that if we didn’t shape up, the only institute of higher learning we’d be accepted into would be Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College!

Despite my teacher’s attempt to dissuade us, in class I often daydreamed of what it would be like to actually run away and join the circus.  It would be adventurous – working closely with wild animals and dancing high above the crowds on the high-wire without a safety net!  It would also be exotic – performing under the big top and traveling the world, a different city every week!   As much as this life seemed appealing to me, reality set in and I realized that I am in no way a “performer” and would be much better off as a career gal and mom!

Well, I got to be that daydreaming circus girl once again this past weekend when the entire family went to see Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey presents “Built To Amaze!” at the new beautiful Barclays Center in downtown Brooklyn, which is running there now through April 1.

Circus1

Photo courtesy of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey

Continue reading →

There Are No More Babies in My House

Posted on by
23

We recently bought my three-and-half year old daughter two new car seats.   We took out the bulky and difficult (but super safe) five-point harness contraptions and replaced them with the more stylish one-click seatbelt booster seats in each of our family’s cars.

        nomorebabies1           nomorebabies2

Bye-bye bland five-point harness (left) and “hello” to a more stylish booster seat (son’s green seat on left, daughter’s new pink chair on right)

Swapping out those seats was not only a rite of passage for my daughter, moving to a “big girl” chair – but also for The Hubs and me.  Those seats were the last bits of baby gear in our home and I’ve come to the realization that there are no more babies in my house.  No more cribs, pack ‘n plays, strollers, high chairs, sippy cups and potty chairs in this household!

Continue reading →

Get Hopping! Fun & Easy Easter Egg Bunny/Chick Garland Kid Craft

Posted on by
11

After having so much fun last week making Leprechaun traps with the kidlets, I’ve been bitten by the crafting bug!   With Easter coming up, the entire family got hopping this weekend with a fun and easy “strings of spring” craft project.  We created garlands made of colorful plastic eggs that we turned into a variety of bunnies and chicks.

easter6The kidlets were good to make two of these guys each before they lost interest. My son even made one that he said was his interpretation of an Angry Bird.  While they went off to the family room to watch the adventures of “Captain Sindbad,” The Hubs and I went wild and came up some creative and wacky bunnies and chicks!

easter5easter2easter3

Continue reading →