Yes I have a new blog design!
I am soooo excited! I needed a little organization in my life, and in my blog. At least the blog part is done now! Diana, at The Girl Creative, did an amazing job! I hope you all agree!
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Guest Post: Alissa from Mommy and Molly
I never thought starting a blog would become such an outlet for me. Or that I would meet so many great "mom blog" friends. I love that there are so many other moms out there that I can relate to, get ideas from and just vent to. One of my first friends, Alissa from Mommy and Molly, is one of the first girls I got to know. I met her on a mommy message board and it went from there. What amazes me about her is that she is such a go-getter. She is able to stay at home with her daughter, Molly, and also work from home. I thought it would be great if she posted about how she does it all, and thankfully she agreed to guest blog for me!
Without further adieu...please welcome Alissa, from the blog, Mommy and Molly:
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Without further adieu...please welcome Alissa, from the blog, Mommy and Molly:
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Time management is a skill that is necessary as a mother. It is also a skill I lack (along with money management, but that's a topic for another post).
I run two websites, my personal blog and the "D-List", both of which have become way more successful than I ever imagined they would be. A lot of people ask me how I find the time with an 8 month old and to be quite honest, it's not easy. Molly crawls (really fast, I refer to it as run crawling) and I am constantly chasing her when she is awake. The other day she learned how to open drawers and pull everything out of them, she also "cruises" which allows her to cause more trouble than I ever could have imagined.
As cliche as it sounds, I get my website work done when she is doing one of three things:
1. Sleeping (although she does not sleep all night yet, so I sometimes nap when she does)
2. Eating (I give her a biter biscuit and it keeps her entertained for twenty minutes)
3. Otherwise engaged in mischievous behavior (such as ripping a magazine to shreds) but not endangering herself (IE She's right in front of me)
Did I mention I am a single stay at home mom? So, I do everything by myself. Some days I don't even shower because I have a screaming child who does not want to be put down. I make lists of things that do not get done and I feel like sometimes I need a horse tranquilizer and a case of beer to get through my day (kidding).
The key to managing an online network and a maniac child is enjoying every second of it. I visit every blog that joins the D-List (319 members and counting!). I love meeting new mom bloggers and their children. I love finding blogs that make me laugh (my favorite humorous blog is: http://whisperingwriter.blogspot.com/). I also try to relate to what others write about and find things that can help me in my everyday life. I found an awesome craft blog the other day and I cannot wait to try some of the things she has made.
Another problem of mine is that I have a child that LOVES the laptop. She finds hitting the keys on the keyboard to be one of the most fascinating experiences ever. I try not to let her do it too often, as she has already pulled the space bar off a couple times. She has also jammed biscuit in my cd drive and pulled the closed laptop down on herself more times than I can count. I am hoping I can one day use her already advanced computer skills and put her to work for me. It's not child labor when it's your own child, right?
All kidding aside, I love what I do. I'm marketing my blogs and using technology in ways that I never have before, I am using my brain and my expensive MBA (that still is not paid for...I don't even want to think about it) to network and bond with people from all over the world. I may not make much of an income, but the friendships I have made are more valuable than gold.
To be able to stay at home with my daughter and have instant access to people who I can talk to about anything is a lifesaver for me. I love every single person I have met thus far and I cannot wait to add more people to my network .
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Back then...
I always tell my husband I wish I could have lived back in the "Olden Days". Back when things were simple and care free. No TV, computers, cell phones or air conditioner. Well last night I got a taste of living in the "Olden Days" as our air conditioner unit completely broke down.
I came home from work yesterday to find Lenny laying on his side panting with his water bottle tipped over. I at first thought I forgot to turn the air on, but it was running, ALL DAY. The temperature in our house read 89 degrees. After letting Lenny out for fresh air I realized the air was done.
We then spent the night walking around the neightborhood to get a relief from inside. Poor Jack slept in his diaper while I checked on him every hour it seemed to make sure he was still breathing.
After a night of being super cranky and sweaty my husband turns to me before bed and says, "You always wanted to live in the olden days, how do you like it?"
Not very much.
I came home from work yesterday to find Lenny laying on his side panting with his water bottle tipped over. I at first thought I forgot to turn the air on, but it was running, ALL DAY. The temperature in our house read 89 degrees. After letting Lenny out for fresh air I realized the air was done.
We then spent the night walking around the neightborhood to get a relief from inside. Poor Jack slept in his diaper while I checked on him every hour it seemed to make sure he was still breathing.
After a night of being super cranky and sweaty my husband turns to me before bed and says, "You always wanted to live in the olden days, how do you like it?"
Not very much.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Meetup Monday!
I can feel it in the air. Summer is almost here. That makes my Mondays a little less awful. I also only have a few week of school until summer break which can't come soon enough. Which brings us to Meetup Mondays:
***The rules are simple!
1. Add a link to your main blog (or most current post)
2. Leave a comment on the blog above your name in the list.
3. Visit as many blogs as you can and leave comments and follow if you like.
What made your weekend great? What are you looking forward to now that summer is approaching? I'd love to hear from you!
So grab my button, grab a coffe and enjoy Meetup Monday!
***The rules are simple!
1. Add a link to your main blog (or most current post)
2. Leave a comment on the blog above your name in the list.
3. Visit as many blogs as you can and leave comments and follow if you like.
What made your weekend great? What are you looking forward to now that summer is approaching? I'd love to hear from you!
So grab my button, grab a coffe and enjoy Meetup Monday!
Tourist for a day.
I love Chicago.
I sometimes say that I want to move, that I want to get away from the city and move somewhere small; where everyone knows everyone. But then I have a day like today and I take it back. I LOVE this city. I love the people, the hustle and bustle. I love the sports, food, archetecture. I love everything about it. And everytime I leave this city, I miss it like crazy.
Today we went on the Chicago sightseeing tour with my family. To celebrate my mom's birthday. It was 80 degrees and sunny. And it was a great day.
After the tour we went to eat at Navy Pier. It was packed!
I can't wait for summer to begin.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
A little motivation please...
I've been very bad. And maybe you all can help me.
A few weeks ago I posted about the Couch to 5K. I owned this thing before having Jack. Running was so easy for me and I would run 5 days a week. Five mile runs were a regular thing. Now I am lucky if I get there once or twice a week. I don't want to make excuses, but life has gotten in the way.
I am tired. Exhausted. I am up at 5, work all day, and then after cleaning, cooking and putting Jack to bed, the last thing I want to do is work out. I have been attempting the Couch to 5K again yet it has not been going so well because I am not working out as much. When I do make it to the gym I start thinking about all other things I should be doing and sometimes end of leaving half way through out my workout.
I know once summer break is here I will have a lot more time to do this program but for now I need some motivation, and maybe some organization in my life.
What do you do to stay motivated? How do you fit everything in, and make time for you? Although I am back to my pre-baby weight my body is definitely not the same. I just want to tone up, to feel good.
Please help me out!!! : )
P.S. For those of you that are looking for an awesome running program this one is it. It's a great way for those non-runners to ease their way into becoming a running fool!
A few weeks ago I posted about the Couch to 5K. I owned this thing before having Jack. Running was so easy for me and I would run 5 days a week. Five mile runs were a regular thing. Now I am lucky if I get there once or twice a week. I don't want to make excuses, but life has gotten in the way.
I am tired. Exhausted. I am up at 5, work all day, and then after cleaning, cooking and putting Jack to bed, the last thing I want to do is work out. I have been attempting the Couch to 5K again yet it has not been going so well because I am not working out as much. When I do make it to the gym I start thinking about all other things I should be doing and sometimes end of leaving half way through out my workout.
I know once summer break is here I will have a lot more time to do this program but for now I need some motivation, and maybe some organization in my life.
What do you do to stay motivated? How do you fit everything in, and make time for you? Although I am back to my pre-baby weight my body is definitely not the same. I just want to tone up, to feel good.
Please help me out!!! : )
P.S. For those of you that are looking for an awesome running program this one is it. It's a great way for those non-runners to ease their way into becoming a running fool!
Friday, May 21, 2010
Welcome New Friends
If you are visiting from New Friend Friday, Welcome! To everyone else, I hope you have a great Friday and an awesome weekend!
And They're Off!
I have never been a very competitive person. I like winning-sure, but I am also a very good loser. I have recently realized that I have been automatically entered into a new competition. The "mom competition".
I have found that being a new mom and having other mom friends is a little like being in high school again. The comparisons start early: Bumper or no bumper; formula vs. breastfeeding; organic fabrics vs. regular; making your own baby food vs. buying jarred…the list seems neverending. Once the baby is born, it’s milestones this, milestones that! I never knew I could be so obsessed with when someone would decide it was time to sit or sleep through the night or eat solid food!
I heard about this competition and told myself, "I will never let myself get worked up about this type of thing, I will raise my baby the way I find right." I'm finding now this is one tough competition to escape. With all of the mom blogs, message boards, Facebook, etc, it's difficult not to be bombarded with every little detail of other's lives. It's hard not to read about other babies achievements or about their parent's opinions on parenting.
It's hard not to brag. They are our children, they do amazing things. It's a pretty great feeling to have when you child discovers or accomplishes something new. But at times I find myself comparing Jack to what other babies his age are doing.
What I have realized now is that there is no 1st, 2nd or 3rd place in this "competition". Being first doesn't matter. Babies are just like us; little people with different strengths and weaknesses. We all get to the finish line, some of us just take a different path to get there.
I have found that being a new mom and having other mom friends is a little like being in high school again. The comparisons start early: Bumper or no bumper; formula vs. breastfeeding; organic fabrics vs. regular; making your own baby food vs. buying jarred…the list seems neverending. Once the baby is born, it’s milestones this, milestones that! I never knew I could be so obsessed with when someone would decide it was time to sit or sleep through the night or eat solid food!
I heard about this competition and told myself, "I will never let myself get worked up about this type of thing, I will raise my baby the way I find right." I'm finding now this is one tough competition to escape. With all of the mom blogs, message boards, Facebook, etc, it's difficult not to be bombarded with every little detail of other's lives. It's hard not to read about other babies achievements or about their parent's opinions on parenting.
It's hard not to brag. They are our children, they do amazing things. It's a pretty great feeling to have when you child discovers or accomplishes something new. But at times I find myself comparing Jack to what other babies his age are doing.
What I have realized now is that there is no 1st, 2nd or 3rd place in this "competition". Being first doesn't matter. Babies are just like us; little people with different strengths and weaknesses. We all get to the finish line, some of us just take a different path to get there.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Giveaway: Moody Mamas New Line at Target!
Seriously, how cute are these outfits!!!
In honor of their capsule collection with Target, Moody Mamas is offering one lucky winner a darling rhinestone studded "It's a Boy" or "It's a Girl" tank valued at $39 from Moody Mamas.
This would make a great gift or you can keep it for yourself! They are also giving all of my readers a discount code (MMDiscount) to receive 30% off on their site. In order to win the stylish tank, please enter the contest below:
Giveaway Guidelines:
Visit the Moody Mamas Target collection and leave a comment here on two or three of your favorite pieces. This is a mandatory first entry. After completing this mandatory first entry method, you can gain additional entries by doing any or all of the following (but be sure to leave a separate comment for each thing you do):
Follow Moody Mamas on Twitter
Fan Moody Mamas on Facebook
Become a follower of my blog (if you are just let me know!)
This contest will end May 27th at 11:59pm and the winner will be choosen via random.org. Good Luck!
Monday, May 17, 2010
Better late than never...
I never took Jack's 6 month pictures. I had them taken professionally (they will be posted soon!), but not with his month stickers on him. He turns 7 months old Friday. I figured better late than never right? Every time I take pictures of him he looks more and more like a little man to me than my baby. Which makes me extremely sad.
Yes I know there are great times to come and I will love all the ages to come, but I just want to freeze this age. I love this age. I love that since he learned to clap, that is ALL he wants to do. I love how when I pick him up after work he gets so excited he looks like he will explode. I love how he cuddles me, how the smallest, simplest things make him laugh like crazy, and I LOVE that amazing smile he has when I go into his room in the mornings.
I love six months.
Meetup Monday
Another Monday. This one is hard. I had a wedding last night which means, I had a few cocktails and stayed up way to late. Getting up at 5am was extremely painful this morning. Hopefully this linky will make things a little easier.
***The rules are simple:
1. Add a link to your main blog (or most current post)
2. Leave a comment on the blog above your name in the list.
3. Visit as many blogs as you can and leave comments and follow if you like.
And I would love it if you would grab my "Meetup Monday" button on the sidebar, hopefully it is working this week.
Coffee and non-coffee lovers welcome! Read some new blogs, and hopefully meet some great new people!
***The rules are simple:
1. Add a link to your main blog (or most current post)
2. Leave a comment on the blog above your name in the list.
3. Visit as many blogs as you can and leave comments and follow if you like.
And I would love it if you would grab my "Meetup Monday" button on the sidebar, hopefully it is working this week.
Coffee and non-coffee lovers welcome! Read some new blogs, and hopefully meet some great new people!
D-List Blog Party 2010!
Welcome to my blog! I always love the chance to meet new people and visit new blogs!
I am a 30 something special education teacher in Chicago. I have been married to the greatest man for 3 years. I have two boys. Jack is 7 months old (almost!) and Lenny is our 2 year old yorkie.
I started my blog to chronicle my days as a working mom, and it has turned into so much more. I love meeting new people, sharing my ideas and stories, and hearing yours. I also am trying to figure out my new camera and LOVE taking pictures of Jack.
Thank you for stopping by! Take a look around and I would love to hear from you. I also have a blog "party". Join me every monday at Meetup Monday, and you'll be introduced to some great new blogs and hopefully get some great new followers.
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