The Emergence of the ‘Tude.

February 24th, 2010 by j

The other day I was taking Muffin out of his car seat and out of nowhere he says, “I am sooooo not taking you to dinner.” What?! First of all, we’d already had dinner and second of all…WHAT?! He said it all diva-like too! He’s not even 3 yet! This comes on the heels of the previous night, when at dinner out of nowhere he blurts out, “Whatever J. Whatever.” OMG! I am pretty sure I don’t talk like this, but there’s nothing like a preschooler parrot to knock you down a few notches.

Photo of sweet Muffin cuddles to offset the story of ‘tude. Thank goodness he’s such a sweet cuddle muffin.

Share This:
  • Print
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Blogplay
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter

Arms by Robert Mondavi, Butt by Nutella.

February 23rd, 2010 by j

Woman with yellow measure tape a over white ba...

I like wine and I like chocolate. I also like to be able to fit into my clothes. What’s a girl to do?! Well, I’ve heard that keeping a food intake journal can help. If I have to admit to eating it by writing it down, I’m far less slightly less likely to put that tablespoon of nutella in my mouth. So, I recently went on a mission to find a good calorie counter website and came across MyPlate by LiveStrong. It’s awesome! The basic membership is free and includes access to their calorie counter and you can even keep an account that will track your weight loss, both in pounds and inches. It will also track your workouts and calories burned, and also provides a nifty pie chart of your daily intake of carbs, protein and fat. Now, only if it had a built in lie detector.

Share This:
  • Print
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Blogplay
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter

Muffin won a photoshoot!

February 23rd, 2010 by j

Okay, so it was 20 months ago but I’m still so thrilled. The photos came out absolutely fabulous. Jaime Pustizzi, owner of Classy Kids Photography, is such a talented photographer. Our little Muffin has a lot of energy and I was shocked that she was able to get such good shots of him. I really want to do another session with her to get some updated photos now that we have added Madam Poopsalot to our family.

Here are a few of my favorites.

Wow, looking at these really makes me realize how much my little boy has grown up. He’ll be 3 years old next week! He’ll always be my sweet baby boy no matter how old he is.

Share This:
  • Print
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Blogplay
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter

Kiss More. Touch More. Hug More.

February 22nd, 2010 by j

Close-up of a beautiful young woman puckering ...

Kiss more, touch more, hug more is the Happiness Challenge for this week. This is my kind of challenge! Way better than getting through that 3 foot (now 1 foot) stack of magazines beside my bed. This challenge sounds easy. Though…is it? I am now thinking of when I last kissed Dr. CutiePants and I’m ashamed to admit that it was yesterday sometime around 6:30pm. That’s a whole 21 hours ago and we’ve only been apart for the last 7 of those! Shameful. Time to go get my smooch on.

Share This:
  • Print
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Blogplay
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter

Win a Limited Edition Petunia Pickle Bottom Backpack!

February 22nd, 2010 by j

To celebrate their 10 year anniversary, the good people at Petunia Pickle Bottom are giving away a Limited Edition Petunia Pickle Bottom Backpack. Enter here. This is not your mother’s diaper bag. These bags are chic and functional.

Share This:
  • Print
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Blogplay
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter

And Now for Something Fairly Embarrassing.

February 20th, 2010 by j

This post is not illustrated for reasons that will soon become clear.

At some point after Muffin was born in 2007, a dime-sized nipple-colored spot on my breast just to the right of my areola appeared. No, I haven’t grown a third nipple. It actually doesn’t look bad cosmetically but I was worried that it might be something nefarious, so I made an appointment with the dermatologist to have it looked at. That was about 18 months ago. The dermatologist didn’t know what it was but said he wanted to watch it and asked me to come back in 3 months. Yeah, sure, you just want another look at my boobies a la “they’re real and they’re spectacular”. Ha! Kidding, of course. As some of you know post-lactation boobies deflate and need some time to fluff back up and I was in the “pre-fluff” stage. Anyways, I went back 3 months later and he still couldn’t tell me what it was but since it hadn’t grown or changed and it didn’t look like skin cancer to him he said to not worry about it but to come back if it did end up changing at all. That was 15 months ago. I wasn’t really satisfied and felt he was more of a cosmetic dermatologist with all his fancy lasers for all the Carmel Valley and Del Mar Yummy Mummy’s around here. Also, in the weeks since Madam Poopsalot was born I noticed a definite color and texture change. So, I got myself in to see a different dermatologist (we’ll call him Dr. S) about a month ago and unfortunately he wants to biopsy. He says it’s likely not skin cancer but he can’t be sure. Also it’s grown since the last dermatologist took a look at it…though much to my delight, so have my ta-tas as they are in nursing mode. He agreed to let me wait a couple of months before preforming the biopsy since I won’t be allowed to breast feed on that side for 10 days after the procedure. I am still debating whether or not to have it done since I am worried about it permanently interfering with breastfeeding and Madam Poopsalot is only 3 months old. I’ll let you know the outcome. Anyways, to the embarrassing part. The dermatologist says he would like to take a photo for his files and so he brings out his camera and holds it about 6 inches from my boob. All of a sudden I feel that familiar sensation and know I’m about to let-down. It’s nursing time for Madam Poopsalot and apparently my mammary glands can tell time (it’s the only thing punctual about me since becoming a mom of two). So, as I’m about to let out a warning cry, the floodgates open and out shoots an impressive spray and gets poor Dr. S’s camera. Oh yeah, it’s true. I wanted to crawl under a rock.

Share This:
  • Print
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Blogplay
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter

Sadly, This Isn’t the Result of Being a Frazzled Mom of Two.

February 20th, 2010 by j

Now, busy and/or frazzled moms can take heart. Those tragic non-outfits we throw on and hair that goes unbrushed just so we can get out the door somewhat on time is now considered high-fashion and Bloomingdale’s runway worthy. Nicole Richie recently debuted her Winter Kate Spring Collection and her choice of outfit to introduce the line was…unfortunate. Proof that anyone can be considered a “fashionista”! Well, I guess I’ll stop here…because, you know, if you can’t say anything nice…

Share This:
  • Print
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Blogplay
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter

Chipmunking Broccoli. Preschooler Party Trick.

February 19th, 2010 by j

Closeup picture of an Eastern Chipmunk on a rock

I recently discovered Muffin has acquired a new talent. In order to get him to eat his veggies, I often have to resort to bribery. Lately, ice cream is the bribe du jour. So, during dinner the other night, in order to get him to eat his broccoli I told him that he could have some ice cream if he finished all of his broccoli. After the plate was cleaned of the green stuff, I gave him a small portion of ice cream, which he savored. He took about 20 minutes to eat 4 tablespoons! When he was done with his ice cream, I noticed that he was still chewing on something. It was some of his broccoli! My crazy child was chipmunking his damn broccoli the entire 20 minutes he was savoring his ice cream! Now, that’s a talent I can respect!

Share This:
  • Print
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Blogplay
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter

Like a great deal? Check out Groupon.

February 19th, 2010 by j

I recently discovered Groupon.com, which is a site featuring deep discounts on fun things to do, good restaurants, and services in different cities. The discounts are generally quite huge (recent deals have included, $49 for 6 Pilates Reformer classes (reg $180), $50 for a photo shoot with a professional photographer (reg $500), or for those of us who want to go bare we can buy 3 laser hair removal sessions for $149, original value of $465!). How can they offer such deep discounts? “Collective Buying Power”, hence Groupon. Geddit?

If you like the day’s deal, just click on the “Buy” button! All offers end at midnight unless a limited number are available. If enough people sign up to buy the Groupon, the deal is on! If not enough people want in on the bargain, no one gets it – but no one is charged. Sometimes you’ll see a side offer available. Sporting events and theatre tickets might be featured as side offers.

Check it out. Sign up and get some great deals!

Share This:
  • Print
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Blogplay
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter

SAHM doesn’t stand for Stay-At-Home-Martyr.

February 18th, 2010 by j

Often it can be a short trip from Mom to Martyr. I truly believe that in order for me to be a good mom, wife and friend, I need to take care of myself. I liken it to the concept of putting your own oxygen mask on first before helping your kids with theirs in the event of an aircraft depressurization. If you don’t get your oxygen mask on first, you can’t help them with theirs. So, what is the oxygen mask of mommy’s daily life?

1) Take care of your body.
2) Take care of your mind.
3) Give yourself permission to say no.
4) Appreciate yourself.
5) Don’t take your children too seriously.

I struggle with #5. When Muffin has a two year old tantrum or acts out with his friends, I take it personally. I feel whenever he has bad behavior, it’s always my fault because I haven’t done a good enough job or something. I need to not internalize it like that. He’s two! He’s going to act out and he’s not going to be perfectly behaved all the time.

Good wives and mothers have their own needs and interests and seek their own fulfillment. Of course, there isn’t always time to satisfy your own needs or interests! Sometimes you have to beg, borrow and steal that time. Since Madam Poopsalot was born, I have had an internal battle with myself three mornings a week to drag my tired carcass out of bed and hit spin class. The baby has woken me up several times during the night and I just want to sleep! But I also want my body back! And the gym makes my mind feel good once the workout is over. I come home to my kids and I’m a better mommy to them because I’ve been good to myself.

Share This:
  • Print
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Blogplay
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter