The Mama of Mojo

My newest guilty pleasure

noreply@blogger.com (MojoMama) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 07:50:00 +0000

I've signed up to be part of Shrinking Jeans's newest challenge, Shrink Yo'Self in 2012. (Click the button here on the left to find out more about it!) There's an assignment that comes with the challenge, and as I'm learning to become a dutiful student - thank you massively expensive college tuition - I shall accomplish aforementioned assignment.

The challenge lasts approximately eight weeks, until the 29th of February. In those eight weeks, I know that it's unrealistic of me to want to lose all 30-odd pounds that I'd like to drop, but I would like to exercise enough that I am in relatively decent shape. And by decent shape, I mean, I can exercise for a period of 30 minutes without feeling like dying. I want to be able to at least jog half a mile without feeling like my lungs are inching up my throat and on fire. I think, in eight weeks, I can acclimate my body to that. I hope.

As far as the entirety of 2012, I'd like to have lost those 30 lbs by the end of the year. I think that's realistic. Being that today is the first, and we're looking at 366 days this year, that's less than one pound every ten days. I think it can be done, if I stick to it. I want to get to the gym at least once a week. Part of my tax return, I plan to take $100 and invest in some training sessions with one of the trainers there. (4 sessions for $100 and get the 5th free.) I think by doing so, they can point me into a true direction, instead of the somewhat aimless efforts I've been making. I want to get out of the house more with my kids, get to the park at least once if not twice a week, and not just sit on a bench while they run around. I want to get out on my bike more often and try and get a good distance going on that.

I'd like to change my lifestyle to one where I'm not relying on comfort snacking to get me through a night of homework, or some boredom food to fill my hands while I watch one of my tv shows. I want to have water to be the first thing I automatically reach for when I think of being thirsty. If it takes 30 days to make a habit, I think, in 366 days, I can become good and set on drinking more water!

I have my friend Tammy to help me, and hold me accountable. She'll be going to the gym with me at least twice a month - though hopefully more! - so we can work out together and hold each other to our goals!

I have discovered a very awesome and quick snack. While unfortunately, it is not low in calories - the exact number of calories it has, I'm not sure, but I know that the orange juice alone in it has at least 300 calories - it is very quick, makes for a good breakfast or dinner/evening meal (or whatever), and is seriously delicious. I found it through another blogger - though I can't recall exactly who it was. It's a homemade Orange Juilius. To die for. Truly amazing. If you have one of those hand-blender type mixers - the one they have those infomercials for - one large cup is perfect to make these.

Homemade Orange Juilius
1/2 cup milk (whether you use 2%, 1%, skim, soy/etc... it's up to you.)
1/2 cup water
2 Tb sugar (I use sugar substitute to at least cut down somewhat)
1 tsp vanilla extract
4-5 ice cubes
6 oz orange juice concentrate

Stick it all in a blender and blend for about 5 minutes or until frothy. Makes 2 servings. (Though I always end up drinking the whole thing myself. Maybe that's something else I should work on. Break it up into two servings and give one to my son before he goes to school.)

Adding some romance to the wardrobe

noreply@blogger.com (MojoMama) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 01:09:00 +0000

(This post sponsored by EdenFantasys.)

I had a confessional the other day... I'll have another one now. I have a somewhat sizable collection of lingerie and corsets. Some of them fancier than others, but all of them amazing. (And my husband loves every one of them!)

I've tried to haul a few of my friends into various stores to find corsets of their own, but not everybody is comfortable going into sex shops in person! Yes, Victoria's Secret sells corsets, but my WORD, have you seen their prices? Even if it's cute, I don't want to have to take out a loan just for something a little sexy!

Enter: EdenFantasys. Say you want something a little naughty for a romantic night but don't have time to leave the home/office, or you have nobody to stay with the kids while you run out? Hop online and check out the sizable selection that EdenFantasys has to offer.

Perhaps something of a mesh and lace style is up your alley, this bustier by Coquette is both sexy and classy! And it's easy on your wallet! Ideal!

Maybe you're more interested in something skimpier and daring! Something more revealing for your romantic evening, try this alluring pairing also by Coquette.

Of course, it's entirely possible that you're thinking something more subtle and innocent. A beautifully colored gartered chemise is the perfect mix between saucy and sweet for a rose-petaled evening.

Personally, I'm rather partial to a happy medium, something both sweet and daring, with this beautiful babydoll that is the perfect mix of revealing and flirty. I think Mr Mojo would love to come home from work to see me cleaning kitchen in that fantastic little outfit!

What if corsets, bustiers, bra and panty sets, or babydolls aren't you thing? Maybe you should invest in a set of pasties and a skimpy thong! You can find those through EdenFantasys as well!

Whether you're looking for something romantic in the bedroom to wear, something to spice up your foreplay, or even some fun toys for something truly different, check out EdenFantasys's selection!!

Wednesday Weightloss Checkin

noreply@blogger.com (MojoMama) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 06:55:00 +0000

I'm seeing the inkling of success!! I had gained back up to 180-ish lbs during the school semester. (Yikes, I know!) When I weighed myself this morning, however, I've gotten back down to 174.6 lbs!! I don't want to get prematurely excited about that improvement and get lazy, but it's nice to see me going in the right direction!

I got to the gym this morning for a little bit. Though now, I'm questioning my previous basic strategy while I'm there after reading some in the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans Bootcamp. So I'm going to try some spurt-style exercise in the future. We'll see how that works. (Let's hope!)

The Sisterhood has a new challenge starting up on the first that I'm excited to be involved in. This will be my first challenge that I'll join in at the start. Also, there's another challenge I'm wanting to participate in as well. Part of me worries that I could be getting in over my head, with different challenges and a 17 credit semester at school and kids and and and.... but we'll see how it goes!

Post Christmas Confessional

noreply@blogger.com (MojoMama) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 04:40:00 +0000

I can't be the only one who maybe overdid it a bit this Christmas. I don't mean gift-wise... or going out... or anything like that. No, honey, that fudge was calling my name. And that caramel too. Then there was those chocolates that Mr. Mojo so thoughtfully bought for me...

On the plus side, I did cut way back on the amount I've been eating every day. Much less random grazing, small portions at meal times. And I've been drinking more water.

I've been a bit lazy in my exercises lately too. I can feel Bob's disappointment in me. I must remember to break out my Biggest Loser Kinect game here soon. I will be making a trip down to the gym tomorrow with a friend - assuming she doesn't bail on me - so that'll be good! I'll get some good trips around the circuit that way.

For Christmas, this mama got a jump rope and a pair of 3 lb weights, so that will give me a bit more here I can do at home besides my resistance band and exercise bike as well.

My dear friends and fellow bloggies, I am tired of being FAT! I'll be checking in on Wednesdays again with updates on how I'm doing exercise-wise and weigh ins. If you want more information and details, check out my Weightloss Wednesdays tab above!

(image source)

Baby it's cold outside...

noreply@blogger.com (MojoMama) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 19:30:00 +0000

It's a gorgeous, clear-skied day here! Simply stunning. The sun is shining bright. However, with cloudless sunny days here in our hometown, particularly in mid-late December, also comes cold. I went to the gym this morning with my friend, and when I came home around 10:30, it was still only about 19* F outside. Quite chilly.

But again... simply stunning. I got this picture of one of the branches of a tree in front of my house. The entire tree looks like this. Amazing. While I'm not a huge fan of the cold, I do love the effect it has on the trees like this. (This picture is totally unedited.)

Where you been??

noreply@blogger.com (MojoMama) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 06:21:00 +0000

Anybody still here?

*crickets*

Truly, I am one of the worst bloggers ever. Disappearing since mid/early September! Focusing on schoolwork, though, kept me busy!

I'm so sorry for neglecting you my bloggy loves!! I know there is no real excuse for my slacking!

For now, all I can really do is just get back into my blogging to try and make it up to you!!

(I love you! I do!)

Starting off... I would love to show off a lovely table setting that I got my hands on! We have a group on Facebook, a shop and swap for local people here to sell and trade their things, and one of the lovely ladies that I actually know from church posted an adorable placemat/napkin/napkin ring set for four places, only $10! I had to have it!

Forgive our haphazard set of chairs for our table. Turns out, even real wood furniture from Walmart is just as reliable as everything else. Five of our six chairs are broken. I do plan to try and fix most of the others (one or two are beyond fixing), but for now, we just mix and match other chairs from around the house.

Each set comes with a placemat and matching napkin and napkin ring. Truly, I adore these! Too cute! I'm only bummed that I didn't get them sooner so that I could enjoy them longer before I take down all of my Christmas decor!!

On another topic, classes start back up for me January 9th, and I'll be taking 17 credits this time instead of the 12 I was taking before. There will be considerably more homework for me, but I hope to still be able to get over here as often as I can to be a better blogger!

And also, I'm going to get my weightloss thing started up again. Each Wednesday, I'm going to post an update - and I'd like to do a vlog from time-to-time as well, if I can - while I try to lose about 30-35 lbs. All that weight I'd lost before? Yeah... umm... I lost it... but it found me again. And then a few pounds. Whoops. Here's to better luck next time around? I hope y'all will stick around for it with me!

Kindergarten Starts

noreply@blogger.com (MojoMama) — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 21:15:00 +0000

Turbo started kindergarten this last week. It's been a bumpy ride.

We started out, the week before, with a surprisingly successful IEP meeting - I find myself truly enjoying the interaction of the principal, she actually cares! - and setting things up for him to start out at school.

The bus garage arrnaged to pick him up in their special needs bus at 8:20 - nevermind that school starts at 8:25, and it's a 20 minute ride to the school - which they did the first day of school.

Upon picking Turbo up at 11:15, I was informed by his aide - and she's a whole other story, *grr* - that the bus driver was the same that he had from last year, and she'd taken him to the wrong school. I assumed that it was the school he attended last year, which is only about a mile away, and I wasn't really concerned about that, it's just a quick ride back.

That evening, I got a call from the bus garage to change the pick up time, and inform me that yes, he had been taken to the wrong school, but it was not the one I had thought, but one across town, ten miles away. Taken, and dropped off. The school took about an hour to determine that Turbo was not registered there, then called the bus garage and had them come and get him, and take him to the correct school.

In the end, it turns out that we actually live in the zone for the school he was taken to, and not the school he's been registered at. I was told by the school district that he was to attend one, and not the other. Fortunately, they are letting us keep him at the school I registered him, since we have everything set up there.

I'm not sure if I'm frustrated at further evidence of disorganization within the school district, or relieved that at least someone is aware of my frustration and is doing something to help that actually is helpful, unlike the concerns we've had in the past.

How's your school year going so far with your kids?

Perspective

noreply@blogger.com (MojoMama) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 21:44:00 +0000

A week into my classes, the first time back in eight years, and oy, I'm exhausted! Mentally, physically...

And I'm baffled. So many teenagers, taking themselves so seriously! Was I really that bad at that age? Insane.

It's interesting the difference in perspective this time around. Last time, when I didn't like my English teacher, I would have dropped the class and moved on. This time, I'm not particularly fond of my teacher, but I deal with it. Don't say a word, stay in back, and suffer through his class until I'm done. I have a much different way of realizing the important things, and the inevitable.

I'm glad I did things this way, going back as an older woman, a bit wiser this time around. While I wish I had been wiser while I was younger, and could very easily be done with my degree by now... this is the way it is, and I'm glad I'm going back.

Capture the Everyday: A Pretty Landscape

noreply@blogger.com (MojoMama) — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 22:28:00 +0000

This week's prompt was to post a picture of a pretty landscape. I debated between taking a new picture, or finding a picture I've taken in the past, and decided on the latter.

This picture was taken when Bug was a couple of weeks old, and Mr Mojo wanted to go to the beach. So, we packed up the boys and went down to the beach and Turbo and Mr Mojo ran down and played in the water and on the sane (they aren't in the photo), and I sat up on the sidewalk with Bug in his stroller and took pictures of the surroundings.

This picture is actually of the Coeur d Alene Resort. At the time, it was just down the road from our house, but since we've moved, it's a bit further away, and getting down there to see it now is more exciting than it was before.

To the right in the photo is the boardwalk and marina. They have the world's longest floating boardwalk. My fear of water - coupled with my inability to swim - keeps me from going out on it except on very special occasions, but it is lovely, and the Christmas display that they do every year is really amazing.

I like... Umm, what?

noreply@blogger.com (MojoMama) — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 23:49:00 +0000

I've never been a big nursery rhyme type person. I don't sing a whole lot of those cute little songs. I believe my mom did with me, but I never really have. I don't know if that makes me a bad mom or not, but for whatever reason, I've never really done it.

At a playgroup with Bug today, they were handing out these cute little booklets with nursery rhymes and cute little songs and were encouraging us to sing or read them to our children.

I flipped through the nursery rhyme book, not really recognizing many of them, but a few looked familiar. And then one, near the back, caught my eye.

If you have a dirty mind... or are easily offended... or both (and what a dark world you must live in, if this is the case), this may not be a good poem for you to read.

I like little pussy,
Her coat is so warm,
And if I don't hurt her
She'll do me no harm.

So I do not pull her tail
Or drive her away
But pussy and I
Very gently play.

I'm sure... when the poem was written... slang was very different, and this had a whole different meaning. However... these days, there are people like me out there that read these pamphlets, and the poems take on very different meanings. Every. Word.

I'm sure the pamphlet was put together by very well-meaning older ladies who didn't really realize the implications of what it was that they were adding.

Come on, tell me I was not the only one who thought "OH MY." Tell me, if you had read that without my commentary first, you would have jumped to the very same conclusion.

Collecting Brownie Points

noreply@blogger.com (MojoMama) — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 15:38:00 +0000

Call me crazy... but I've been trying to work up a number of brownie points with Mr Mojo in preparation in the event that I become a crazy irritable woman once classes start, out of stress and pressure. (Because that'll be the reason, yup. I only occasionally never PMS.)

In my efforts for these extra bonus points, I've done several of his chores, I've washed his car, I've made biscuits and gravy for breakfast (which required waking up at the crack of dawn before 9am and making gravy from scratch out of a mix packet), put together French toast for dinner and breakfast four and five times in the past couple of weeks... There is massive efforts involved here, people!

Okay, so maybe brownie points really aren't that difficult to acquire... but these are all several things that I haven't done much before. And Mr Mojo is appreciating it!! Let's hope that they last, because I don't know what kind of mess I'm going to be come finals week!!

It's really amazing sometimes, how little effort is required to earn bonus points with your loved ones. So often, we don't realize how simple it can be, and we don't often put forth what little effort is needed, because we just assume that it's going to take so much time or energy.

I was thinking about it myself, to really earn special points with me, it's really just the little things! So little effort, and I could be ecstatic. And it so often baffles me when Mr Mojo doesn't try to do so. Again, he assumes that it's more complicated than it really is.

In my efforts these past couple of weeks, I've realized that I've been in error, and that I really can do those things that make my husband feel more appreciated and loved without putting myself out, and even with massive amounts of homework and kids crawling all over me while I walk across the house.

I challenge you, my lovely readers (however many or few you might be), to find out what little things you can do for your loved one, whether it be your spouse, your child, your significant other, or whoever you have close to your heart.... and doing just one... or two. Find out how easy it is, and see what the response is. I'd love to hear about it!!

(image source)

Yeah, he didn't hear that from me...

noreply@blogger.com (MojoMama) — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 04:26:00 +0000

Tonight Mr Mojo and I decided to go on a date together. I was really crabby this afternoon and took it out on him, so as an apology, I called my MIL and asked her to take the kids for an hour so that Mr Mojo and I could go out and relax for a little bit.

After dinner, we got the kids cleaned up, and were out the door, and took the kids to my MIL's house. As per the usual, Mr Mojo got out to take the kids up to the door. My SIL - she's 10-years-old - came outside to meet the kids like she usually does.

As Turbo walks up to the door, ever so sweetly, he announces clearly and in a voice that carries only as a child's would (when you don't want it to), "MY MOM ISN'T COMING INSIDE BECAUSE YOUR MOM DOESN'T LIKE HER."

I heard it coming out, but before I could interrupt and stop him, it was all out, and I'm sitting in the car, shocked, laughing, and not really knowing what to say.

Honestly, I don't know what's worse: my son announcing that to the neighborhood, or my 10-year-old SIL agreeing with him.

I suppose I should be grateful that he was pinning the dislike on her. It could have been "because my mom doesn't like your mom". There's a silver lining in there somewhere.

Stream of Consciousness Sunday - 8/9/11

noreply@blogger.com (MojoMama) — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 16:01:00 +0000

The theme this week, ladies and gentlemen: Back to School. For me!!

You know, I never really know what I'm going to write about when I sit down to do these SOC posts. And unfortunately, they almost always turn out negative. I don't want to do a negative post today! I want to do something upbeat... or something.

I'm starting school in two weeks from tomorrow, for the first time in over eight years. Am I nervous? You bet your sparkly pink tutu I'm nervous. I was a huge screwup the first time, skipping classes for the boyfriend of the time (oh hindsight, thou art a cruel thing), neglecting to get my homework done, etc. Oh, it was bad. I finished out with a .54 GPA. I'm so proud. (*ahem*)

I've concocted a plan to try and improve my GPA from before, since it will affect my GPA now, by taking one class at a time from my last attempt at school, and retake them over the semesters, and improve my grade. The better grade will override the bad one. My goal in the end of all of this is to graduate with cords at the very least, which requires a 3.5 GPA. I never got any sort of academic honors before, so that is my goal. I just really hope I can do it.

This time around, instead of majoring in music like I did last time, I'm majoring in Communicative Arts, with an emphasis on American Sign Language, with the intent to become a Sign Language Interpreter. I think it's my calling in life -- and I finally found it!

This semester, my first class that I'm retaking is my English 101 class - how convenient that it's required for this degree as well! - as well as my ASL class, Self Defense, Psychology 101, and Culture of Greece. (The Culture of Greece is a humanities class. And I may potentially drop the Psych class until next semester, just to lighten the load. 15 credits is a lot for my first time back. 12 might be more manageable.)

Capture the Everyday: Shot of Your Computer Screen

noreply@blogger.com (MojoMama) — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 20:41:00 +0000

I know I say this almost every time I finally get a chance to post this meme, but it's one of my favorites! I actually mean to do it every week, but life catches up with me, and it never gets done. But this week, I have GOT it!

This week, we were challenged to post up a screenshot of our computer screen. My screen isn't nearly as busy as Adventuroos, and I think hers was busier looking because it's a Mac. (Their "task bar" or whatever that bottom thing is... it's odd. I have a very difficult time getting used to it, myself, when I am on a Mac, which is not often.)

So mine, pretty basic. My everyday screen, and how it tends to look, most of the time.

Yeah, I'm kinda a fan of the pink. Though, honestly, on the TweetDeck, it was one of the less glaringly harsh colors. 200 points if your Twitter account is one of the ones on the screen in that screenshot. Bwahaha.

Post a picture of a screenshot of your computer on your blog, and link it in the comments, I'd love to see! (Call me nosy like that.)

It's just the simple things

noreply@blogger.com (MojoMama) — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 05:15:00 +0000

Growing up as a kid, we were never allowed to run through mud puddles. That was just absolutely NOT okay. So I never did. I never questioned it, and I never did it.

Until recently.

My son Turbo and I were at my friend Gwen's house, he was playing with her son, and it came time for us to leave. It was about 10 at night, it was getting dark, and the park across the street from her house was being watered by the automatic sprinklers. The sprinkler directly across from her driveway was broken, and flooding fairly impressively into the grass and into the street around it.

Turbo was tired, and I was kind of tired too, but I was suddenly inspired. It had to be done!

I pulled him with me, we left our socks and shoes in the van, rolled up our pantlegs, and ran through the flooded puddles, laughing and squealing. We splashed each other, we jumped up and down, and we ran back and forth through the puddles and sprinklers.

By the time we got home, we were still quite soaked. As we drove up, I told him, "Now, don't tell dad, cuz I'll get into trouble!" I knew I wouldn't really get into trouble, but it's always more exciting for Turbo when he thinks he's got dirt on me like that.

As we get inside, Mr Mojo looks at us and asks why we're all wet. Turbo turns to him and announces, "We did NOT run through puddles, Dad! We did NOT splash each other, and we did NOT run through the sprinklers!" And then he went to brush his teeth.

That's our story, and we're stickin' to it.

image source

Day 1 - Junk Drawer

noreply@blogger.com (MojoMama) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 22:59:00 +0000

While randomly surfing through various blogs, I came upon A Bowl Full of Lemons 21 Day Organizing Challenge. Being that school starts for me a month from tomorrow, I think it would be nice to do some organizing and get the house set up nicely before school starts. Organization is good, right?

So we start with Day 1, the junk drawer. Now, I don't have a junk drawer here in this house, what with so few drawers here, so the top of our fridge tends to become the "junk drawer", where we shove our random things, batteries, etc. So that's what I'm going to work on today!

After I took everything down, I was surprised by how dirty the top of my fridge was!! It took me three different Clorox wipes to get it all up! Gross.

I don't have any of the organization containers that she was talking about -- note to self: grab some of those soon! -- but on top of my fridge, it wasn't hugely necessary just yet. I just put all the medicines in a box except for the two that Turbo and Bug take each night. Once we pick up some more coffee for Mr Mojo, it'll go up there too, but for now, there's plenty of space for it to sit now!

I threw out a bunch of stuff that was up there that I'm just not going to use. Old fliers, old candy that I had put up there to keep away from small fingers, and just weren't going to get eaten.

I didn't sort through the medicines really, just put them in the box. I'll go through them on the medicine storage day (which is later down the challenge).

I challenge you to participate in the challenge too, if you can!! I'd love to hear how your progress is going!

Weightloss Wednesday - July 13, '11

noreply@blogger.com (MojoMama) — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 22:56:00 +0000

Wow... did you guys know that this was still around? I know I'd forgotten...

I'm embarrassed to admit that I'd fallen off the bandwagon, and even gained back what I had lost. I'm in no small way upset about this, but it really is my own fault.

I'm getting back on the bandwagon now though. I'm sitting with about 30 lbs to go for my weightloss goal (why yes, that IS five pounds more than what I had originally wanted to lose, because I'm about five pounds heavier than when I started this to begin with!).

I revamped my Tumblr account for me to post my daily progress with foods that I ate and exercises that I'll be doing through to my goal. If you want to follow along, it's Weightloss in the Dojo.

I'm starting school in the fall - a little over a month away! - and dang it, I want to feel better getting into it! I know the odds of me losing all 30 lbs by then is not in my favor, but I want to start my way there.

My current weight is: 174.2 lbs
My current body fat %-age is: 35.5%

My goal is 145 lbs.

Capture the Everyday: Celebrating Freedom

noreply@blogger.com (MojoMama) — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 17:35:00 +0000

At another edition of Capture the Everyday, this week, we are Celebrating Freedom! We had a small celebration this year, spending it with friends at their house, having a barbecue, and watching the contraband fireworks being set off around the neighborhood. Bug had a particularly good time playing with their hose!!

Under Construction

noreply@blogger.com (MojoMama) — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 05:59:00 +0000

Please don't mind the dust around here!! We're updating and tinkering and playing around with coding!! But never fear, the blog is still here!! Feel free to read through the posts, leave comments, etc!! It's just the layout that's a work in progress!!

Helping Spread the Love

noreply@blogger.com (MojoMama) — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 00:12:00 +0000

Since I posted the Capture the Everyday post with my nightstand, I've gotten several questions about a couple of the items that I had on my nightstand. Most particularly, The Cube, and my JimmyJane massage candle. Both of which, I acquired through Eden Fantasys, a classy and comprehensive adult products site.

I have gotten several things over the last year or two from Eden Fantasys, in a variety of genres, but a couple of my favorite products are the two in question.

First, The Cube, by Divine Toys, is a great and discrete way to hide your contraception, while still having it in plain view on your nightstand or in your drawer. Nothing is worse than reaching for it, and it being so thoroughly hidden that the mood is killed before you finally get your hands on the dang things again!! The Cube also comes in a red faux croc style skin on top as well, just in case purple isn't your forte.

And then we have the Afterglow Aromatherapy candle by Jimmyjane. I'm a total lover of scented candles in every way, and this one is a particular favorite of mine. Made of solidified massage oils, you light the candle for about half an hour for the full top to melt across the surface, and then using the brush provided, or the convenient corners to pour it onto your partner and use as a great way to enhance not only the smell but the feel of a luxurious massage. Whether your evening turns to something a little more intimate or not, you know that your massage will be enjoyable and comfortable.

I'd love to answer any further questions anybody might have beyond what I've covered!! Don't be afraid to ask!

Disclosure: I received a gift card in compensation for post and links in my blog from Eden Fantasys. I do not work for, nor have ever worked for, Eden Fantasys.

Happy freakin Fourth!!

noreply@blogger.com (MojoMama) — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 17:49:00 +0000

(source)

It's the 4th of July!! However you plan to spend your day, be it at a parade, at the park, at the beach, barbecuing, or even just sitting at home, enjoying a day off work, I hope it's awesome and wonderful and that you enjoy every minute of it!!

We're going to be spending the day at Gwen's house with her family, having a barbecue and watching fireworks that her neighbors set off - they go all out, illegal-style - and eating pie!

Be safe, don't burn or blow anybody's appendages!! (Those are important, you know.) And I'll see you on the other side!

Stream of Consciousness Sunday - July 3

noreply@blogger.com (MojoMama) — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 00:21:00 +0000

I was going to open this up as a regular post, but I decided to just jump right into it.
Lately, my mother in law has been calling us fairly regularly, wanting us to store things for her. My brother in law is living at home, and is on probation (for various offenses, oy vey), and as such, cannot have "weapons or alcohol" in the home. So the first call was just to store her "booze" that she didn't realize she had. (Those are her words.) I was thinking one, maybe two bottles, easily stored on top of a closet or something behind the scarves and whatnot.
Was it one or two bottles?? Oh nay nay! It was five - which I condensed down to four - CASES of alcohol in a variety of choices: beer, hard alcohol, wine, etc... Fan-friggin-tastic. Awesome. That is so... GRRR.
AND, to make it even better, the next morning, the social worker from the state was coming by - they're checking up on me to make sure I'm holding everything together - and all this alcohol was sitting out on the table. Thanks to my dear friend Gwen coming by at midnight, when I realized how bad it would look, to help me haul all of the alcohol to my husband's trunk. Seriously, she rocks my socks.
THEN, the next day, she - my MIL, not Gwen - calls my husband and asks if she can now store her "weapons" at my house. Weapons, being a VERY large box full of bows, arrows, knives, swords, etc. Cuz yes, she apparently has a lot of those laying around. So now that large box is on top of my bookshelves in my living room, out of reach of little fingers.
And now... NOW... I get a call from Mr. Mojo, telling me that she has called yet AGAIN, with another box of booze -- was she opening a liquor store or something?!?! -- that she needs to store as well. So now I guess we're storing MORE alcohol. Color me not happy.
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Why yes, I do realize that I have the option of saying no. However, apparently, I am a massive doormat, and my husband is vetoing my no with a resounding, "Yes, mother, we can do that for you." *sigh*
What would you do in this situation?

I'll be your Honeybee...

noreply@blogger.com (MojoMama) — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 20:21:00 +0000

Why hello there! Don't you look lovely today?? It's so nice to see you, it's been longer than I had hoped, but I'm here, and I'm thrilled!

Now, I'm sure may of you have read Jenny On the Spot (and if you haven't, YOU MUST remedy this!), and her awesome vlogs, and she has a new series called "Put Jenny On the Spot", and most recently, she was asked about flowers, and what one she would be, should she be a flower. And because ~~I'm a lemming~~ I actually have an answer to that question, I decided to record a video response of my own!

This, that, and a little bit more

noreply@blogger.com (MojoMama) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 04:34:00 +0000

All this time, I've been waiting for a new charger cord to arrive for my laptop, and it's finally here, I now have access to my baby again, and I'm back on my blog! And not a moment too soon, as we're 1 day away from my blogoversary! Insanity.

Ideally, as the summer gets started, and things start to settle down, I'll be able to get back into a normal posting routine. Turbo starts therapies at a new agency here in a couple of weeks, going through a summer camp there with lots of developmental therapy. Then he goes into kindergarten!

Bug turns two next Friday - the 17th - and has also been going through the testing process for Autism, just having the ADOS done today. ((Interesting fact, you have a 1 in 110 chance of having a child born with Autism. If you have one with Autism already, the chances that your next child born has it goes up to 1 in 5.)) He hasn't made much progress with his speech therapist, but at least he looks cute while he goes about it.

I'm frustrated with the turn of events with Turbo's school, it seems like they fight me every turn we make -- mostly just his most recent preschool teacher, but she won't be involved in our processes anymore -- so I'm hoping once this latest report -- his diagnoses have increased to Aspergers, ADHD, and Sensory Processing Disorder -- will get to the hands of the district psychologist, and she'll step up and we can get the IEP edited accordingly.

For now, I'm going to relax here in my recliner, veg out to some Numb3rs on Netflix, and enjoy.

Book love

noreply@blogger.com (MojoMama) — Sat, 14 May 2011 22:55:00 +0000

Believe it or not, we're still alive over here in the Dojo!! So much has been going on, we've been kept pretty busy! I wouldn't have enough space in a blog post to share everything that's happened lately.

Lately, we've been rediscovering our library cards! Lots of reading all over the place!

In doing so, I've discovered some really great kids books that we've all really come to enjoy, and I just HAD to share a few with all of you so that you could check them out at your local library to read with YOUR kids!

Llama Llama Red Pajama has been one of our favorites for a little while. So much so that we ended up getting a copy of our own, because it was just simply NOT acceptable to return it to the library. My kids love it when I do the voices and really get into the whole character of it. I can even quote almost the whole book from heart.

This book is so sweet. Leonardo really is a terrible monster. He's just not plain scary. But he comes up with a plan to scare the TUNA SALAD out of someone. It's a very simple book, but makes my boys both laugh like crazy the whole way through it. It's so cute. (The book, and the laughter.)

This is actually one book in a series of books, but this one happens to be my favorite. The illustrations are totally adorable, and the rhythm and rhyme is sweet as well. My boys love all the books in the series. It's all very well done.

What are some books that you and your kids love to read together that you'd recommend? We're always looking for new titles and recommendations!