Confession: I'll Take my Juice To Go, Please.

     So we're rounding the corner of eight months into mommydom. As many of you with kids know, this is where this starts to get fun. Well yes, Haley is trying to crawl, and as of the other day, walk too. She tries to talk and make words, she said "Bob Bob" the other day when asked if she wanted to see SpongeBob, as well as tried to say "Yeah" in reply to me saying "oh yeah?" to her. Also, "Baba" is officially her first word. Cute? Of course.

     Let me get into the not-so-cute part of this new régime: the screaming in objection. Part of growing up is knowing what you want; I get that (really, I do.) But, and here's the big one, this screaming when she's not getting what she wants thing, well it just has to go. Now go ahead, veteran moms, laugh it up, but my sanity is on the line here, people!

     The other day, I decided I deserved a shower, I mean, I DID clean all day and yadda, yadda, yadda. So I continue on to put Haley's jumperoo is the doorway to the bathroom with a toy, cookie, and her apple juice a la Sippy cup (same as every other day I take a shower). Well as soon as I get in the shower, the screaming starts. So I poke my head out, and she laughs. OK, another disaster averted. No, no. The screaming continues the second I step back into the shower and am out of sight. Well, by now, I am thoroughly aggravated with the situation and decide that a shower doesn't take that long, and this is just one of those times where she'll just have to cry it out. Again, no.

     While in the shower, my wonderful daughter throws such a fit that she is screaming and crying, slumped over in her jumperoo, and looking rather pathetic. By now, I'm trying to rinse conditioner out of my hair and I hear her throw up. Yes, that's right, she threw such a fit that she made herself sick. I heard this and furiously get out of the shower, conditioner and everything, clean up her face, and offer some juice to my now, semi-calm kid. I offer juice again and again, and after being metaphorically told to shove it, in a fit of rage, I threw the juice cup into the other room, stomp to the kitchen covered in soap and my towel, try to make her a bottle only to see that there are no clean bottles, and no more filtered water. By this point, I call my aunt (conveniently right up the street) crying and yelling some incoherent rant about dirty bottles and filthy water and my soapy, wet, towel laden self in my kitchen. Luckily, she offered some reprieve.

     This, folks, was probably the first time in a long time that I really lost my cool with her, usually I have a lot more patience, I just really needed 10 minutes to take a shower (preferably in peace). Needless to say, moms, throwing juice is never the answer! Actually it adds to the chaos because now you have juice to clean up. THINK BEFORE YOU THROW!

     And that's about all I have to say for now. Happy momming!

The Intimate Side of Smithville, NJ

     Mike and I decided that since he was off and today is a beautiful day, we would pack Haley up and take a nice day trip to Smithville (only about 40 minutes from here). I knew that there were lots of nice shopes there and that the town was beautiful and historic, but I had no idea what sort of treasures were waiting in this quaint little town.

     Towards the end of the shopping area, tucked inside the "resturaunt district", is a shop called The Pink Corset, run by a wonderful woman named Pesia Romeo (you can read more about her and her shop here). Walking up to the store, I could see that this place had every woman in mind. Carrying a wide array of sizes (yes, even the odd ones), I never once felt discouraged while shopping here. Being shall I say, well endowed, I usually have a difficult time finding any sort of undergarment that fits me well and isn't black, tan, or white.

     Here are a few of the services and items offered at The Pink Corset:

• Proper fitting for bras (yes, my new bra fits better than any other!)
• Bridal make-overs (haven't tried it, but I would certainly trust Pesia, she hasn't steered me wrong!)
• Elle MacPherson bras and lingerie (I bought her cupcake bra!)
• Anita bras (very comfy, I own one already.)
• Bridal lingerie (hello honeymoon!)
• Nursing bras (helloooo mommies!!)
• Bras and lingerie in all sizes! (I mean all sizes, I'm a 36DD - 36E and I found more than one fitting, nice looking bra!)

     I highly reccommend this store to anyone, big or tall, large or small. Pesia will fit you properly and get you in the right direction, all while providing great customer service as well as a wonderful selection! Located right near the corner of Old New York Rd and Rte.9, near the Smithville Inn in Galloway Twp, NJ. (for a map, click here!)




This is Pesia Roman, owner: The Pink Corset

This is the shop located in Smithville

Unplugged.

     Ok, Ok, so I haven't posted anything in a while. Well, I have half an excuse. My charger for my laptop died and left me stranded in my house (now, plus 1 dog) computerless. Well, while leaving the bagel place after breakfast the other day, Mike turns to me and says "let's go buy a computer.", and with that we were off to Best Buy. Like, that was all there was to it? Really? Ok, I guess. So, we get this nice desktop at a good price, come home, I set it up, and we were good to go. Well my mother in law (to be) has been visiting for a few days and the computer lives in my guest room now, so you can guess how that went. Other than that, I have been putzing around and not really sitting on here too much, therefore, not writing anything. This, I'm sure, will change of course, once my replacement laptop charger comes in the mail and my computer in the living room (where I park my big behind) is running again. So there.

     So, I have been begging Mike to let me join a gym. His side of the $150.00 fence is that he doesn't really think I'll use it. He's probably right, but I would never tell him that. Well in lieu of the gym membership, he bought me a stair stepper/core worker-outer (I don't really know what it's called), and the thing came with 2 and 3 pound weights. Well, I actually started using it, and this thing's great! Since I started using it, I can really see results. It seems like working out is, well working out, much better for me than dieting. I don't do well with portion control (I love me some food!).

     Also, since it actually went over 50 degrees today, I took my little one for a nice walk... which ended up to be 2.6 miles. Yeah, apparently, I'm a worse judge of distance than I realized. But, I do have to say that I felt great by the time I got home. I am certainly suggsting to anyone who is on a weight loss kick like me to get either a gym membership or some sort of exercise machine like I did. Check out Overstock, that's where we got mine. The thing itself was only $80.00 and their shipping is always $2.95, no matter what you order.

     Anyway, that's really all I have to say right now, I think the couch is calling my name. It about that time where I relax with my 8,000 HBO channels and whatever else I get from Comcast and maybe catch a few zzz's until Mike gets home from work (I always have been a fan of pre-bedtime naps). Until next time! 

I Used to Skinny Dip, Now I Chunky Dunk.

     Love the title, I saw that on a bumper sticker or a t-shirt or something once. Anyway, I have decided to kick this extra mommy belly I still have hangin' round (yes, I meant to put it that way). I figured, already having to be on a high protien, low carb diet when I was pregnant (I had Gestational Diabetes), it shouldn't be too difficult to give it a whack again.

     My Goal here is to lost 25 pounds, how hard could that be? Fameous last words, I know. I would really like to be down to about 125 by the time the wedding comes around, so I figure I have TONS of time before that happens.

     I am encouraging any new moms (and those veterans out there, too!) to go on this little adventure in weight-loss with me. I will be updating with some (hopefully) encouraging words as they come around. Anyone who would like to join me is encouraged to as well.

     Tonight's dinner: Lemon Chicken on my George Foreman and some Tabouli! Yum, yum.

(thanks ottiesdesigns.com!)

On Mark Harmon and Keeping Busy.

     Well, I know I haven't written anything lately, but you'll have to excuse me, I've been a little busy lately. Responsibility, woman! Yeah, yeah, I know. But here's what's been going on:

     Tax return came back (hello car shopping!), and bills have to be paid. That's one day right there. I was feeling poopy. Yeah, and I know that's a lame excuse, but to be honest, I slept a lot. I can go on about some other stuff that not even I care about, or I can get to the real time-eater here: I got ENGAGED! Yep, I did. We went to Atlantic City (Always Turned On) for dinner, left with 600 dollars I won at the three card poker table and an engagement ring! It was a good night.

     Anyway, Now that that has been said (I'm expecting congratulations, by the way... yeah, I'm that kinda person), I'm moving onto my topic of the day: Mark Harmon. No, I'm not kidding.

     Who hasn't seen NCIS? I don't think there's anyone out there who hasn't. Whether you are young or old, a fan or not, you know who Mark Harmon is: Gibbs. Younger kids out there who know the show can respect Gibbs for who he is, but it's the older ladies and gent's out there (maybe more the ladies than the gent's) who can respect Mark Harmon for who he is.

     Perhaps it's just me, I'm only 21, but I don't really know Mark Harmon before he was Gibbs, so I set out on a mission; BOY was I surprised at what I found. Here's a few things I didn't know (thanks to IMDB):

* Sister Kristen Harmon (on Biggest Loser) is (now ex) wife of Ricky Nelson making

   Mark the uncle of Matthew and Gunner (of Nelson) and of actress Tracy Nelson.

* He worked as a carpenter before he "hit it big".

* He once risked his life saving two teenagers.

* Mark Harmon was named People Magazine's Sexiest Man alive in 1986.

     Now, I had to see this one for myself. Anyone who has seen NCIS and knows the character Gibbs, surely cannot imagine such things! I cannot imagine young Gibbs, so again, I set out on a mission, and again, I was blown away. Here's what I found:

    

   connect.in.com                      people.com       

        

  

      ioffer.com                             manolomen.com

     Right about now, you're either drooling, laughing, or gasping (or maybe all three). I just figured I would share some of the insight I gained all thanks to Google and IMDB. Click here for more info on Mark Harmon at the Internet Movie Database (imdb).

     Until next time folks, happy hunting and happy momming!

The Great Meatloaf Massacre

     Well, normally Mike has been working 3pm-12am shifts, which leaves me by myself for dinner (dinner, admittedly, has been left overs and Chinese food). Yesterday, however, he worked 6am- 3pm (bad for him, great for me). Because I was SO happy to have him home for dinner, I decided to make us a nice big home cooked meal consisting of meatloaf, mashed potatoes, gravy, and a nice salad. Go me.

     So, I'm mixing this meat concoction with the herbs and the eggs and the parmesan cheese and whatnot and by the time I'm done, I'm thinking to myself "Geez, this meatloaf seems a little wet... and I definitely thought I had more meat than this... Oh well." NOT. Let me tell you something, when things look a little askew, sit back and ask yourself... "wtf?", because I can guarantee there's a good chance you're right.

     All observations aside, I make my meatloaf and potatoes and gravy and the little happy salad and plop it (and myself) at the table and we begin our dinnertime festivities. Potatoes are, well, potatoes, and the gravy is... brown, but good, and the salad was to die for; the meatloaf was... well just okay. The whole time I'm (unsuccessfully) trying to figure out what's up with this loaf and then like a voice from God himself, I hear the following question from across the table:

"How much breadcrumb did you put in here? Because I think you should have added more."

     DAMN! I forgot the breadcrumbs! You're kidding, right? No. So for dinner last night, I made my love a giant hamburger (with a delicious parmesan crust... WASTE), some potatoes (with gravy) and a yummy salad. Good thing for the gravy, not that the meatloaf tasted bad, mind you, but it certainly added some much needed moisture to my baked, seasoned, parmesan crusted..... sigh... hamburger.
     Well, that was my story for the day (and everyone else's, because you KNOW I had to share). So I urge you to share with me your mean-time mess-ups (it will make me feel less stupid.), since we All have 'em. Get in touch with your inner spaz... go on ahead now... don't be shy!

     Until next time, folks!

TGI....T?

     Thats right, people, it's Thursday! Time to celebrate! Why Thursday? Well because everyone celebrates Friday. Thursday, perhaps one of the most unrecognized days of the week, deserves just a little commemoration. For those of you out there thinking "What gives? TGIF... F... Friday!" Well yes, Friday does mark the beginning of the long awaited weekend, but Thursday offers that little light at the end of the tunnel. (One more day then we're off!)


     Realistically, Thursday is the last day to really get things done at work or at home. Nothing gets done on Friday. As a matter of fact, Friday ought to be renamed "water-coolerday", since the normal Friday workday consists of cleaning the week's coffee mugs,planning out the work-free weekend, and a TON of chit-chat. Sure, some last minute e-mails are hastely typed and sent, and some quick phone call are made (before 3:00pm, of course). But for the Stay at Home Mom, Fridays are usually pretty useless. Calls made to public buildings are never answered during nap-time, and office workers are usually too busy trying to make an early escape to really provide the help needed.

     So here's to Thursday! Get out your phone book, make your calls, feed your kids, and be thankful there's only one more day left of the week!

     Celebrate this Thursday with my a nice, deserved, glass of the Wine of the Week:

Luna di Luna Pinot Grigio/Pinot Bianco

A bright and versatile wine with a savory side that’s always the life of the party. With floral scents and a crisp finish, this blend of Pinot Grigio and Pinot Bianco is a unique alternative to the usual white wine. (about $9.00 - $10.00)

     Happy Thursday everyone! Enjoy the weekend, enjoy Sunday (Valentine's Day), enojy life, and expecially enjoy with wine!