More Than Mommies

The Sunday Sip: Fill Up Your Cup with Lanthie at Life Cherries

2013-05-19T06:30:00.000-04:00

We are exhausted and on our way home from a full and fun weekend at Bloggy Boot Camp! Can't wait to dish with all of you!

But first, let's kick back with this week's Feature Sunday Sip Blogger:

Lanthie from Life Cherries

Somehow I've survived a weekend without my usual cup of home brewed Chai Tea. What are you drinking this morning?

I usually wake up at 4am every morning to a nice cup of tea – yeah you read the time right! I’m a workaholic.

Tell us a little more about YOU:

I have a rather unusual name. My real name is Iolanthe but people call me Lanthie. I run my own business in the entertainment technology field. I have been married for 25 years and am the mother of 4 amazing sons. So I have rather a full schedule. I started blogging in June 2011 as a personal dare and ended up taking it seriously. I refer to my blog as my personal shrink.

One of my first lessons about writing was how therapeutic it can be. When I was a little girl with hormones raging, my parents would send me to my room and tell me to write it out. I wrote a lot back then: seething journal entries, apology poems, letters of grievance. It was very helpful!

I have to hear more about your blog name. Why did you choose "Life Cherries”?

I attended a social media workshop back in June 2011 and there were 2 young mommy bloggers there. I had never considered blogging before and felt quite threatened by them actually. So I got home later that day and started a blog as a personal dare – just to prove that if they can do it, so can I. I remember sitting for ages on both blogger and wordpress comparing them and trying different names – all were taken. Eventually I ended up with a blog title of Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries. Found this to be a mouthful down the line and shortened it to Life Cherries.

Short and sweet and memorable! We love it. When we stop by, what is one post that you Don't want us to miss?

Oh wow, this is a difficult question. I write about so many different things. If I had to choose the one post that was extremely well received is my post titled LET’S Get It ON

I think your inspiration with this one, goes without saying. :)

You touched on why you started to blog, but tell us more--what do you expect from this wild ride?

I started my blog as a personal dare. To be honest I had no idea what I wanted to blog about. If I read my first post it is an absolute load of rubbish. I also found it difficult to place myself in a category and in fact still do. I didn’t want my blog to be about me being a mom – after 4 children, I have found myself without an identity and I wanted my blog to be about me. So over time it has very much become my autobiography in a way and my journey to rediscovering myself. I am hoping to attract a greater audience to my blog and I am slowly gaining popularity but must admit it is hard work.

The touchstone here at More Than Mommies is there is a person behind the mommy label. So please tell us, what makes you "More than a Mommy"?

I am a true Jack of All Trades. I have my own business dealing with Entertainment Technology but due to the financial crisis, I have had to take on other work. I now also run a niche IT company specializing in the Media and Broadcasting industry. I can literally do anything – I pick things up really easily and always love a challenge.

We loved getting to know more about you, Lanthie! Thanks for talking to us today! We will definitely be keeping up with your blog, visiting on Facebook and Tweeting with you and we invite our readers to do the same!

_________________________________________________________

Learn more about our Sunday Sip and how you and your blog can be featured with us!

Like what you see here? Have a suggestion for us? Tell us about it! We love hearing from our readers. To keep up with us, you can:

Subscribe to the blog via Bloglovin.

Like Us on Facebook.

Join our Community on G+

Send Janene an e-mail.

Send Christine an e-mail.

Kill two birds with one stone and e-mail both of us!

More Than Mommies Mixer - When the Cat's Away . . .

2013-05-16T19:30:00.000-04:00

Welcome Mice...er...Mixies!

Janene and I have our bags packed. Our airline tickets printed. Dramamine on board... who am I kidding? We plan to ease the transition from ground to air with a glass of wine! We are getting ready to experience our VERY FIRST Blog Conference: Bloggy Boot Camp in Charlotte, NC. *queue squeals of delight*

Goodness, I CANNOT wait to empty of the hotel mini-fridge of its $7 candy bars. I hope you are reading the sarcasm there.

We are tucking Stephanie from When Crazy Meets Exhaustion into one of our carry ons because she'll keep us laughing at ourselves and each other along the way--just kidding--she's paying her own way...but that can mean only one thing:

Meredith, YOU are revving up the party here at The Mixer. Can you handle it? Again, who am I kidding? OF COURSE She can! Plus she's got the help of some fabulous co-hostesses this week. And of course, we will be checking in throughout the weekend too.

You should follow us on Instagram so we can share our weekend with you!

Our Mixer is designed to help you check out and share Blogs, Facebook pages, Twitter Handles and Pinterest Boards oh and Google+ too! (If you haven't joined our G+ Community, we would LOVE to have you!!)

You can jump on all the Linkys or only the ones that you feel like doing this week. We will be here every OTHER week: so maybe you want to do your blog and Facebook this week, then hit up the Twitter Boards and Pinterest Boards the week after that. It's totally up to you!

Here are the "rules"

(Don't make us post bouncers at the door.)

Follow your Hostesses - Christine and Janene from More Than Mommies
Follow our Co-Hostess - Meredith from Mom of the Year
Follow the Life of The Party - Serena at Operation: Be His Mom- We will choose someone who signs up via Twitter on the Linky below to be our LOTP each week. We love to keep up with all of you on twitter--so tweet with our hashtag (#MTMmixer) so we can find you!

Follow our Mixologist - Deb from Urban Moo Cow - Every week we will choose one participant to get our party started at the #4 slot. All you have to do is link up under the first Linky (and follow the "rules") to be considered!

Follow the person directly BEFORE you on the hop!

Finally, we ask that you post one (or both) of our buttons in either a post or on your sidebar to let other people know where you are partying today!

If you happen to also be at #BBCCHAR this weekend, shout it out..We would love to meet you there!

Happy Mixing!

Link your Blogs up HERE:

Link your G+ Profiles HERE:

Link your Facebook Pages HERE:

Link your Twitter Handles HERE:

Link your Pinterest Boards HERE:

Finals Week vs. Motherhood

2013-05-15T18:04:00.003-04:00

Last night as I was drifting off to sleep my mind began to wander back...back to a time when rugrats weren't escaping their beds at ungodly hours; back to a time when bills to be paid was such a fuzzy concept that credit cards seemed like a swell idea; to a time when wing night at the local bar was at the top of my to do list.

Fourteen years ago, I could be found sitting in the "study lounge" at the end of the hallway with a book cracked under my nose and "sludge" running through my veins, (sludge = double strength coffee with a hot cocoa packet mixed in.) or in the computer lab (probably more likely) at 3a.m. shooting off one of 5 final papers.

FINALS WEEK: How does anyone survive that feverish and most dreaded week of weeks?

Then my mind wandered on...at it usually does as my day is winding down. I started thinking:

Frantic.

From class to class,

paper to paper,

keeping track of discs and notes and drafts--

and don't get me started on the amount of reading involved--

*Organization has never been my strong suit and as much as I tried not to procrastinate, I found myself doing it.

Nothing has changed much:

From activity to activity,

homework assignment to spelling review,

Keeping track of to do lists, and grocery lists, and where I set the keys--

And don't get me started on the amount of cleaning involved--

*See above

Lots of all nighters.

Except this time my bed is invaded by lonely and/or frightened little people that I made. I find myself with someone else's throw up on my clothes. Or someone got day and night confused just for the hell of it.

Half the time you aren't sure of the assignment.

"I forgot he likes half-inch margins and a twelve point font in Times New Roman" vs. "I forgot you don't like sauce on your spaghetti."

"When is this assignment due?" vs. "When is that permission slip due?"

"How many sources do I need for this paper?" vs. "How many times do I have to repeat myself?"

"What class is this again?" vs."Jord...Av...Oli...Chloe...What's your name again?"

You are eating whatever you can find.

Cold coffee and day old pizza? Don't mind if I do.

Goldfish cracker crumbs, and PB & J crust? Don't mind if I do.

Study groups form for support.

Thank goodness for the roommate with thorough notes--she never missed a day of class.

Thank goodness for the girlfriend always at the ready with an extra pull-up after the second public potty accident from the "she-WAS-potty-trained" toddler in a week.

Something else I remember from finals week? The unexpected care package showing up at my door: An encouraging letter from home, gas money, a can of coffee, new pens, a few floppy discs, vitamin C.

I'm thinking of every mom I know right now and how much each and every one of you deserve to have a surprise care package show up at your door--even if you bribe your kids with the contents to buy a little "me time" on the other side of the bathroom door.

Don't these Goodies Co. boxes look awesome?

They would make a perfect "I'm thinking of you," "you are awesome," "hang in there," "we are in this together," "you can do this" gift for any mom! I think I am going to pick a couple ladies in my life and surprise them! How about you?

Goodies Co. is SIMPLE to gift and is the perfect care package for moms (and grads, and dads, and moms-to-be, and grandparents--just sayin')!

*Thanks to Goodies Co. for sponsoring this post. They provided the idea for the awesome gift idea--but the thoughts and stories are my own!

Feeling Fly by the Fourth of July: Week Three Update--Coping With Stress #LinkUp #FlybyJuly

2013-05-14T21:30:00.000-04:00

I lost weight this week, but I am not sure how.

Stress is caving in on me and I'm struggling to find a rhythm this week. I was doing so well, tracking everything I ate and making some time for workouts, and then it seemed, almost at once, my house became completely chaotic and messy and unorganized. My girls were not themselves, demanding attention, clawing each other, and shrieking at noise levels I imagine only rivaled by banshees. My husband was ready with a reality check (he is definitely my grounding force) and never one to mince words: What's going on around here? He asked, spying four loads of clean laundry heaped in piles in the laundry room. Eek. I let a few things slide over the last couple of weeks.

I can't do it all. No one can. At least the laundry was CLEAN! That's not to say I shouldn't be making time to work out and that I shouldn't be watching what I put in my mouth. But it's about striking a balance--

Look, it's right up there in our tagline. (I could go for a glass of wine right now.) So how to do it? Maybe following the Insanity program to a "T" isn't going to work for me right now, but on a slow day I could pop in a DVD for a 40 minute calorie blast. On busy days, time to squeeze in a quick walk (15 minutes or so) doesn't seem too daunting. Other days, lugging forty grocery bags (at the same time) up the front steps at my home is just going to have to do.

I do need to work on my stress eating though. I get to a point, when the stress level is high, that I just DON'T CARE. I stop thinking about it and I give in to whatever craving I'm having. I need to work on trying to be more conscious during levels of stress.

The good thing for me is that it is not my personality to be high strung. I don't often feel "stressed." But when I do, I need to get some tools in my arsenal to help me handle it a bit better.

So how do you deal with stress? And how are you doing with meeting your goals?

For those interested in the numbers, I lost .8 lbs this week bringing my total to 5.1:

Created by MyFitnessPal - Free Calorie Counter

LINK YOUR #FLYBYJULY UPDATE HERE!

Firehouse Subs - What I Learned and a Gift card Giveaway

2013-05-12T23:39:00.000-04:00

Last Wednesday I went on a Father/Daughter Date with my Dad.

Where did we go? What did we do?

Well - we traveled to Cranberry Twp. and met Robin Sorensen, co-founder of Firehouse Subs.

Christine and I were approached about a blogger event that they were having and she right away said, "Don't you or your family have firemen connections?" My dad has been a volunteer fireman for about 34 years . . . so, yes, we do!

Not that you have to be a fireman or even know one (but they are pretty great people) to enjoy Firehouse Subs. Self proclaimed "foodie", Robin Sorensen, and his brother, Chris, have done an excellent job including something for EVERYONE on their menu.

Let me just get into the "meat" - because I love those puns - of the post and tell you about the trip and how you can enter to win one of 2 prizes of $20 worth of gift cards to Firehouse Subs - since they decided to share the love with our readers.

Firehouse Subs was created by Chris and Robin Sorensen in 1994 in their hometown of Jacksonville, Florida. They are both former firefighters and their father is a retired fire captain.

Firehouse Subs has a mission statement:

"to carry on our commitment and passion for hearty and flavorful food, heartfelt service and public safety."

Robin talked about all of those topics on Wednesday when he sat down (well, we sat down) and gave us a little "insider info" on where Firehouse Subs came from and what sets them apart from *ahem* other Sub places.

Hearty and Flavorful Food:

I have to be honest . . . I probably know more about an authentic Italian Sub than Robin did when he set out to create one at his first Firehouse Sub location in Jacksonville, Florida. Now, after years and years of research, tasting and learning, he knows everything there is to know about how meat is processed, packaged, stored and most importantly suppose to taste on a quality Firehouse Sub sandwich.

We tasted 4 subs the night we visited and they were all EXCELLENT! Of course, we did have a favorite . . .

The first sub we tasted was their #1 seller - The Hook and Ladder

Smoked turkey breast, Virgina honey ham, and melty Monterey Jack cheese . . . it was delicious! I was really surprised by how you could taste the sweetness of the ham because of their signature "steaming" method of creating the subs . . . here watch this:

Hungry yet? Well, #2 on our list happened to be our favorite of the night . . . The New York Steamer!

#3 was the Italian . . . Salami, Pepperoni, Ham, Provolone and Italian dressing . . . with MAYO!!! Don't judge - it was awesome!

Last, but not least, was the Smokehouse Beef & Cheddar Brisket - hearing Robin talk about how much time and effort was put into creating this perfect BBQ sandwich convinced me that he was holding true to the "heartfelt and flavorful food" part of his mission statement.

Oh - and their Coke Freestyle Machine is AWESOME - 120 different drinks and they are all listed on the back of your cup!

Not only does Firehouse Subs make a mean sandwich but they are giving back to the community, too! They have a foundation that helps Emergency Service Centers that are in need of equipment or training . . . they also have been to disaster sites and helped to feed those in need. Robin talked a bit about his experiences after Katrina, Sandy and in Hati after the earthquake. You could tell that he was moved to help people who needed it.

So . . . we had a great time meeting Robin Sorensen and learning about what an awesome restaurant Firehouse Subs is along with it's interesting history.

Wanna go and have a Firehouse Sub on Robin and More Than Mommies? Here's your chance!

Enter below to win $20 worth of Firehouse Sub gift cards (courtesy of Firehouse Subs) - 2 prizes will be awarded! It's easy and I promise you will have a fantastic time!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Firehouse Subs sponsored a dinner which I attended and received a free meal, tee shirt and gift cards to give away to you - our readers. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any other way to write this post.

The Sunday Sip - Fill Your Cup with Jen at My Skewed View

2013-05-12T07:30:00.000-04:00

Happy Mother's Day all you More Than Mommies Readers!

It is, of course, a special day for all of us . . . even if the pampering *read - breakfast in bed* often results in a bit of extra work for us . . . like a trail of cereal to clean up and a pot of coffee to re-brew *how many scoops??* we love that our little ones are focusing on US today!

While you are enjoying some extra strong coffee this morning . . . also enjoy meeting this week's Sunday Sipper!

Jen from My Skewed View

What's in your cup this Mother's Day morning, Jen?

Tea, always tea. English Breakfast with lemon. NEVER without lemon!

How about an introduction for our readers?

I'm Jen formerly from Break the Parenting Mold and now from My Skewed View.

Break the Parenting Mold? That's an interesting name. How did you come up with that one?

Honestly the name grew out of my frustration with other parents. See question #5. I wanted parents to literally Break the Parenting Mold, the parent they "thought" they should be, the parent society was telling them to be.

Then you changed your name . . .

I changed my name from Break the Parenting Mold to My Skewed View by Jen Kehl because I realized I had moved beyond being a parenting blog and was featuring so much more of my own work. I have always wanted to blog about music and write some original fiction. As my son has gotten older and moved past many of his Sensory Challenges, the urgency to write about those things has gone. I still love to write about his antics and at least one post a week is still about what my son has destroyed/accomplished/said. I also want to continue to support readers who find me because of my posts on Sensory Processing Disorder. However, with this change, I feel freer to showcase my weekly feature, Twisted MixTape Tuesday where I create a 5 song mix based on a theme and ask my readers to join in. I am exploring my fiction writing by participating in a prompt called 100 word song, where I am writing a continuous piece of fiction in 100 word posts each week. I also blended my separate photography blog into this new blog in the form of a photography page.

The idea of My Skewed View came as I was brainstorming where I wanted my blog to go with a friend. I wanted to somehow convey how my brain works in a concise manner. I am definitely not a stereotypical anything. I am a homeschooling, ex-deadhead hippie, conservative, tattooed, God-Fearing, photographer who creates soundtracks in her mind for every moment in her day. I am also parenting a child with multiple special issues and a touch of pyromania. How else could you describe my View but as Skewed?

What is one post that you want everyone who comes to your blog to read and what was your inspiration for writing that post?

I recently wrote a post called Sensory Processing Disorder Can Be Funny Too, it is my way of reaching out to the people who maybe came to me because of my Sensory Processing Disorder posts, but have found a more humor based blog now. I wanted everyone to know that Sensory Processing Disorder does not have to be treated so dramatically, coming from a place of love and humor can give you a fresh perspective.

http://breaktheparentingmold.com/2013/03/12/sensory-processing-disorder-can-be-funny-too/

What was the reason you started to blog? Have you stayed true to your original vision since the beginning or have you changed along the way? Where do you see your blog going and growing to in the future?

My son suffers from sensory processing disorder, multiple food and environmental allergies, severe eczema, asthma and a tic disorder. I know it sounds like a lot, but we live a perfectly normal life. My tenaciousness when it came to educating myself about all of these things, and doing exactly what the doctors and therapists asked me to do, created a close relationship with his healthcare providers.

Because of this they often asked if they could have other parents call me. Some did, but some were too embarrassed to. I also had friends call me a lot when they realized they were dealing with one or more of these issues as well. This is where my frustration began, so many parents just could not see that it wasn't about them.

They could not or would not be the advocate their child needed them to be. They were so concerned with how the world viewed their child or them as a parent. They often blamed the child for his behavior, or refused to dig deeper when they were presented with a diagnosis. So I created this blog so that I could say what I really wanted to say, without having to confront them to their face. I created a business card, the therapists, doctors and my friends passed it around and people were able to come to me anonymously for help and information. It was really impossible to stay completely true to my original vision, because my son grew. We did all of the things we were supposed to do regarding the sensory issues and they got better (see the blog post). I still blog some about our struggles with allergies, but the thing is my son is quirky and hysterical, BECAUSE of all of these things, well and of course his God-given personality.

So I had to write about the funny stuff.

Also I just had to write. I have always wanted to be a writer,and it felt good to write. In the future I see myself continuing with the occasional anecdotes about my sons issues, but really he has become excellent fodder for humor. Also, I just want to write, and recently have been more open to just expressing myself. So I see my blog becoming more of a blog about me, which includes life with my son, and my husband. Who has ADD by the way, so he's good fodder too.

Finally, at More Than Mommies we know that being a Mommy is rewarding and exciting on its own, but we also know that there is more to every Mommy than her Mommy duties. So, what makes you "More than a Mommy"?

I love to write, of course. I love to read, a lot. I am always reading something. I got my degree in photography and truly love taking pictures. My blog is full of them, although they are not as artsy as they were in the olden days :-) I also love love love music. There is always music in my house, and almost always singing. I wish I could play guitar and be my own one man band....but since I can't my iPod is either sifting through the over 5000 songs I have, or now, Pandora has really become my go-to, because really? I can't even figure out what songs I want on my iPod anymore.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks, Jen! Hope you have a fantastic Mother's Day and thanks for chatting with us today!

You can follow Jen at her blog, on Facebook, Twitter, G+, Pinterest and Instagram . . . We do!

Girls Crochet Headbands #MTMSponsorLove

2013-05-10T08:01:00.001-04:00

How many of us "ooh!" and "aah!" over adorable newborn photo shoots, and pics of little girls in too-cute-to-handle hairbows and accessories? I know I'm not the only one! I wonder how many of those pictures feature products from Girls Crochet Headbands (GCH)? I'd wager a bet to say that all of the cutest ones do!

Source

For the girly-girl in all of us--GCH has us covered! I mean, they have our little pretty ones covered from head-to-toes with hair accessories, rompers, legwarmers, and shoes!

I'll let CEO, Mindy Phillips tell you a little about herself and her company (really, she says it best!):

I’m Mindy Philips, the CEO of the Girls Crochet Headbands, where I flee to indulge my love of fun and girly things. Like so many of you, I’m living the dream. I’m a wife, mom, business owner, taxi driver, short-order cook, problem solver and expert juggler. Sound familiar? If so, welcome to my Internet home away from home. If that also sounds familiar, clearly we have a lot in common!
I’m a fashion-addicted, accessories loving mom. I’m also passionate about the concept that looking great and having fun doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. That’s where Girls Crochet Headbands comes in. The accessories and outfits that we feature here are things my team and I have found or created that we genuinely love—and dress our kids in. And we strive to bring them to you at a price point that doesn’t break the bank.

I only wish I would have found GCH when my oldest was a babe--she is my lover of all things girl and I know she would have loved every frill! I bet your little princess will too!

Source

And thanks to GCH, all More Than Mommies Readers can take an additional 20% off their first order at the shop. Simply use Promo Code: MTM20 at checkout! Just in time for Mother's Day!

While you are visiting check out the GCH Blog, Like them on Facebook, and follow them on Twitter and Pinterest to keep up with their newest line, get outfit and accessory ideas, and be the first to know about sales and promotions!

If you would like to learn more about Sponsorship at More Than Mommies. Visit our Sponsor Shop! or e-mail us!

A&F, Are You Talkin' to Me? That's Right You're Not Talkin' to Me!

2013-05-08T09:53:00.001-04:00

The interwebs are tingling with talk about what Abercrombie & Fitch CEO has to say about his ideal clientele this morning. He's dug his own grave with this one and I won't mind throwing the first (or fiftieth) handful of dirt on him.

Source: The Fourth Circle of Hell

I'm no shopper, friends. I like to look nice in my clothes but I'm not shopping for the latest trends every weekend--or even every season for that matter. I can't remember the last time I set foot in Abercrombie. In fact, the last time I even thought about Abercrombie was when I had that LFO Song stuck in my head--1999 probably? So yeah, couldn't care less about the place--and it's apparent they were never marketing to this proud-bookish-nerd-girl anyway. I wish I could say they are losing a customer, but they didn't have one to begin with in me.

That being said, they won't be gaining any new customers from me, and I've got four little clothes horses coming up--clothes ponies, if you will. So nah-nee-nah-nee-poo-poo! Stick your head in doo doo, A&F. Stick your head in doo doo.

On a happier note, I wasn't going to write about Abercrombie today. I WAS going to wish one of my very best girlfriends a happy birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LU!

If it's been more than six months since you spent time with some of your best girl friends, then you are way overdue! Make it happen. We finally did last night. We filled our bellies and our souls with good food and laughter.

I need these moms in my life!

Last night, one of my gorgeous, smart friends was telling us a story about her smart, kind, 9-year-old daughter. At that age they are starting to learn the social ropes. What it means to be "in" and how being a follower looks ugly at times. How being "cool" sometimes means making others feel "less than." The story ended with her daughter stating emphatically, "I don't ever want to be a cool kid!" High five, mom! High five, Girly!

Be a beautiful person on the inside--it will shine through you and you will attract beautiful people to you. Mike Jeffries can keep the cool kids--I'll take the beautiful ones of every shape, shade, and size any day!

Feeling Fly by the Fourth of July: Week Two Update #FlyByJuly

2013-05-07T09:48:00.001-04:00

I can't believe week two is under our belts! (hopefully replacing those unwanted pounds) How's that stick-with-it-ness going for you?

The blog holding me accountable is helping! Even if no one is following along, it does help me to "be good" knowing that I am going to have to update my progress here.

My Tip for week two:

Find something, someone, to whom you are accountable. For me it's the blog and the fly girls joining me. For you it could be an exercise buddy, your mom, your hubs, even your kids (although their idea of support could mean sharing a chocolate chip cookie).

How did you do this week?

I lost another pound bringing my total to 4.3--on track with my goal.

Created by MyFitnessPal - Nutrition Facts For Foods

I am starting my second week of Insanity today and that has definitely helped with the water consumption, considering I can go through twenty ounces in one 40 minute workout.

A helpful side effect of working out so hard is that my appetite is slightly curbed. And the extra calorie burn allowed me to enjoy a cupcake and the taco bar that we had for my dad's birthday this weekend without totally wrecking things.

If you are thinking about joining us, what are you waiting for?? It isn't too late to start--it's NEVER too late. You can read about the challenge and then link up with us, so that I can follow you and cheer you on! And if you have an update for us--link up or chat with us in the comments!

How do you hold yourself accountable to reaching your diet and fitness goals each week, day, hour and minute? Yes, sometimes I have to take it one minute at a time, especially when the cravings kick in!

Are you starting to feel fly? Link up your update and let's talk progress in the comments!

Embarrassment is a Dish Best Served on a Birthday

2013-05-06T07:00:00.000-04:00

When Jerry and I celebrate our anniversary this coming June we will have been married for 9 years. We started dating in 1998. Which essentially means I've been making out with the same guy for the last 15 years. I'm not sure what surprises me more . . . that he still wants to make out with me or that we find time to make out every once in a while . . . yes, 4 kids means we know what we're doing but it also means we have less time to "do it" - if you can excuse the terrible pun there.

So, why am I talking about my husband and sex on a Monday?

Because, silly, it's his BIRTHDAY - and what better time to totally embarrass him, right?!?! (Even more embarrassment at the end - so keep reading!)

He may never forgive me for this picture . . .

To tell you the truth, my husband is pretty awesome.

Sure, he does things that annoy the crap out of me, like leaving the pots and pans to "soak" in the kitchen sink . . . aka leaving them until I need to use them and am forced to wash them myself or pretending to NOT hear the kids practically killing each other on Saturday mornings and forcing me to get up early and be referee AGAIN - but he almost always apologizes afterwards or soon afterwards . . I saw this on Facebook today and it totally reminded me of when I get mad at him:

I take my marriage for granted a lot of days. I expect Jerry to be there when I need him. I expect him to know that I love him. I expect him to do his share in parenting and in all the other stuff that we have to do as adults.

You know what? He rarely fails me. Sure, there have been occasions where he didn't use his assumed ability to read my mind and my expectations weren't met exactly the way I had hoped . . . but for the most part, Jerry knows what he has to do and he gets it done. My modest guy will actually say to me during times of crisis when he surprises me by pulling whatever it is that needs done off, "That's what I do . . . I make things happen."

Although patience is NOT his strong suit - I couldn't ask for a better father for my kids. He is exactly the kind of man that I want my sons to grow up to be. He is exactly the kind of man that I want my daughter to be lucky enough to find and spend the rest of her life with.

I'm sorry about the overly mushy post today . . . and for not sharing anything new and exciting with you. I had to write about the love of my life, though. We have been through so much together and he never ceases to amaze me . . . or get on my last nerve. I think the best part about "us" is that we both knew going into this that neither one of us is perfect but that we perfect for each other.

I guess that wasn't all that embarrassing. I'm feeling too lovey dovey to remember all the embarrassing things he's done . . . he did return videos that I rented at Blockbuster to Giant Eagle - not ONCE but TWICE . . . how's that?

Happy Birthday, Jerry! Thank you for always being there and for being amazing!

The Sunday Sip: Fill Up Your Cup With Kelly from My Twice Baked Potato

2013-05-05T07:30:00.000-04:00

I hope it's a sunny Sunday wherever you are.

Welcome to The Sunday Sip! Time to sit back and get to know another blogger Grab your cup and make a new friend.

First off we want to wish this week's blogger a happy blogiversary! Today marks one year of blogging for Kelly at My Twice Baked Potato--so we think it's awesome that she wanted to share her special day with all of us!

Let's get this party started! What that in your cup, Kelly? A celebratory drink of sorts??

If it is during the week, my favorite drink is a bit high-maintence. I love a 1/2 soy 1/2 nonfat caramel sauce latte. If it is during the weekend, I trade the caramel for Bailey's.

Well then, Bailey's = celebratory! Tell us a little more about yourself:

I would introduce myself as an elementary teacher (20+ years), mother, and blogger.

My Twice Baked Potato is such a unique name for your blog. How did you arrive at that title?

The way that I came up with "My Twice Baked Potato" was a friend of a friend had made reference to it as a play on "twice-exceptional" kids. It seemed to just fit! I get a lot of emails just about the name :)

Could you pick a favorite post? What is one that we should read when we visit?

I think the most important post to me was when I wrote "Am I A King?" It was inspired by a wonderful conversation and teaching moment that could have been passed up if I didn't listen to my son.

What brought you to blogging? And what's the reason you've stuck around? Happy Blogiversary, by the way!

The reason why I started the blog was that I wanted to share with others what I had learned (the hard way) about twice-exceptional children. Our family was struggling and everything that I found was so serious and clinical and I wanted to share in a different way. The whole good, bad, and ugly aspects of what was going on. Although I help others, the blog has really helped me with loyal readers and their support. I discovered a sense of community that I wasn't expecting! I would love to write a book about supporting twice-exceptional kids and their families.

Our final question, Kelly: What makes you "More than a Mommy"?

I am currently writing several different books. I am really enjoying writing and the feedback that I have received. Someday, I plan on being a writer that sometimes teaches instead of a teacher that sometimes writes. I believe this is my future :)

Thanks for marking your special occasion with us! We hope everyone will stop by to say "hello! and congrats on your first year of blogging."

You can also like Kelly's page on Facebook, and Tweet with her!

If it's your first time visiting, learn more about The Sunday Sip and how you can be featured, by completing this form.

And have an AMAZING Sunday!

More Than Mommies Mixer - Holy Cow it's MAY Edition

2013-05-02T19:30:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the More Than Mommies Mixer:

Can you BELIEVE it is already MAY??? How did THIS happen and how long do I have until I'm spending 24/7 with my CHILDREN???

We are also counting do to July and trying to feel FLY (maybe shed a few pounds, build a few muscles) by the time we reach it! Join us with our Get Fly by the Fourth of July Challenge! Both Christine and I LOST pounds this week - but you won't see too much celebrating here because we both know that they will sneak back a lot easier than they came off!

Enough about that . . . on to the Mixing!

Here are the "rules"

(Don't make us post bouncers at the door.)

Follow your Hostesses - Christine and Janene from More Than Mommies
Follow our Co-Hostess - Stephanie from When Crazy Meet Exhaustion
Follow the Life of The Party - Melissa at Home on Deranged - We will choose someone who signs up via Twitter on the Linky below to be our LOTP each week. We love to keep up with all of you on twitter--so tweet with our hashtag (#MTMmixer) so we can find you!

Follow our Mixologist - Jessica at School of Smock - Every week we will choose one participant to get our party started at the #4 slot. All you have to do is link up under the first Linky (and follow the "rules") to be considered!

Follow the person directly BEFORE you on the hop!

Finally, we ask that you post one (or both) of our buttons in either a post or on your sidebar to let other people know where you are partying today!

Link your Blogs up HERE:

Link your G+ Profiles HERE:

Link your Facebook Pages HERE:

Link your Twitter Handles HERE:

Link your Pinterest Boards HERE:

Feeling Fly by The Fourth of July: Week ONE Update #FlybyJuly

2013-05-01T07:00:00.000-04:00

So how did everyone do this first week?

I'm happy to report that I have had some success and I cannot wait to read about how your first week with the Feeling Fly by The Fourth of July Challenge went. So please don't forget to link up your post below or let us know your results in the comments.

Also, don't think that because we are already underway that you cannot be part of the fun! All it takes is a willingness to improve your health and fitness and a little commitment from you and we will welcome you with open arms. Read all about the challenge and then give it a go!

I thought I would recap my goals and let you know how I fared on starting to meet them:

My Goals for this Challenge:

Reduce my consumption of sugar and bread: Eat a balanced diet I think I did pretty well here, despite date night this week which had me eating out and indulging in a few mixed drinks. Keeping a food journal really helps!
Exercise at least four times a week for 30 minutes minimum (include both cardio and strength exercises) I started out slowly on this front this week. I tried to squeeze in a walk when I could. Instead of sitting on my butt while waiting for the girls to finish dance class, I hit the streets with my earbuds in and got caught up on a few podcasts I enjoy.
Lose 20 - 25 lbs at a rate of 2 lbs per week I'm on track here! Those following me on MyFitnessPal saw that I lost 3.3 lbs this week. Hopefully I can keep heading in the right direction.

Created by MyFitnessPal - Free Calorie Counter

Drink more water I wasn't keeping track before, but I do like water and will drink it when I'm thirsty. I'd still like to see myself drinking more than I did this past week. I'm trying to keep my glass full and in sight at all times!
Do not skip meals and healthy snacks. You don't have to tell me to eat. I knew that I wouldn't have a problem meeting this goal. :)
Get 7-8 hours of sleep per night. I'm also pretty lucky on the sleep front. I made a pact that I would go up to bed at the same time that my husband retires for the evening (10pm sharp!) He has to wake up VERY early. I do not. So as a by product, I always manage a solid 7-8 hours every night.

In other fitness related news, I've decided to give Insanity another go. I was working through the program last year at this time. I even blogged about my journey through Insanity (Part One and Part Two). I completed the program and had never felt stronger.

Let me remind everyone: if you don't use it, you lose it.

I took the fit test today and my results...well...let's just say it wasn't as bad as the first time, but it was a lot worse than where I ended. sad face.

I'm not sure I will really be able to commit to working out six days a week (thats how the Insanity program goes--one rest day), but something is better than nothing. I never did a workout that made me hurt so bad, yet feel so good. So, here we go again.

If you would like to join us, grab a button:

Please link your week one update post here AND/OR leave your MyFitnessPal Profile link--so that we can follow you!

Spring To-Do Lists

2013-04-29T08:00:00.000-04:00

In preschool we have been singing a song that goes something like this:

(sung to the tune of "Are You Sleeping?")

"It is Springtime,

It is Springtime.

Winter's Gone,

Winter's Gone.

Summertime is coming,

Summertime is coming.

It won't be long,

It won't be long!"

Well . . . it won't be long now. It's only 55 days until the official beginning of Summer (June 21st) but even LESS than that until the little rugrats will be home 24/7 for 3 joyous months.

Are you ready?

Even if you aren't . . . it is coming and it's important not to let Spring pass you by! So, I give to you a list (because I LOVE making lists) . . . a Spring To-Do list! Hope you can use it to help make your Springtime memorable as we prep for Summer!

Plant Something
Give your house a good cleaning - top to bottom
Declutter . . . we did a little of this already by doing our annual Winter/Summer clothes switch which both Christine and I just dread!

Take a walk with your camera in hand! (Spring is a great time to snap some pictures!)
Fly a kite
Order caterpillars and watch them turn into butterflies (So awesome for kids to watch this!)
Go to a baseball game (Major, Minor or *in our case* Coach Pitch!)
Have a garage sale - visit some garage sales
Pick or buy some fresh flowers to display in your house
Open the windows
Sit in the sun
Make Plans for Summer - check out how we did that last year with our Summer Bucket List!
Go to the zoo
Blow Bubbles
Write with Sidewalk Chalk or make Sidewalk Paint!
Do an outside photo shoot with your loved ones
Daydream
Drink a glass of wine under the stars wrapped in a blanket . . .

Not a huge list but hey - you only have 55 days left!

Get BUSY!!!

The Sunday Sip: Fill Your Cup with Erin at Searching for Sanity

2013-04-28T08:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome to another edition of The Sunday Sip!

This weekend we sit down with Erin at Searching for Sanity!

We have had FABULOUS weather this weekend . . . but there are scattered showers in the forecast here today. I'm hoping the are wrong but I can't complain too much. Saturday was full of outside fun around here! I can't help but smile a bit while I drink my coffee (Eight O'Clock coffee - KCup!)

What about you, Erin? What are you enjoying a cup of this morning?

This early in the morning it has to be coffee. Super strong and super sweet just like me. I always say I like my coffee like I like my men, boiling hot and in a cup.

Hmmm . . . man in a cup - if I wasn't contstantly exposed to 3 year olds I could probably come up with something raunchy to say about that . . . but all I can think of is that line in Wall-E when they talk about the "septtuwacentnnial Cupcake in a cup" . . . having kids warps your mind, huh?

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Hi I'm Erin, single mum extraordinaire and the brains behind the blog Searching for Sanity. When I'm not glued to the computer trying to come up with another blog post, I'm glued to my little girl Miss K, usually because she's covered in any number of sticky substances.

Unidentified sticky substances? Yeah . . . we have those here, too. I usually grab a wipe (or 4) and clean it up. I may take a whiff if I'm feeling adventurous . . . but usually I'm not that curious.

Searching for Sanity - seems like something so many of us are doing these days. I'm curious about how that became the name of your blog.

Picking the name of this blog was one of the hardest decisions once I decided to go ahead and create one. Then I decided if this blog was really going to document my travels trying to learn to be a mum, then it had to reflect exactly how crazy every mum feels sometimes, and so Searching for Sanity was born. I don't think any mum ever really finds her sanity once she has kids, and I am certainly no exception. If anything, the older Miss K gets, the crazier life around here gets.

You expect things to calm down once your children get older. . . at least I did. I figured that I would get a routine and be able to get my life in order. Never happens. I've almost given up . . . I may attempt a search for my sanity down the line but I've given up on expecting things to NOT be crazy!

Do you have any favorite posts that you would like our readers to head to when they visit today?

One of my favorite posts is 100 things I want my daughter to know. (http://singlemumplusone.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/100-things-i-want-my-daughter-to-know.html) I think that was the point where I realized that my job as Miss K's mum was going to stretch much further than teaching her to walk and talk, and I have some very important lessons I have to teach her before she grows up. I figured if I wrote them down here I could go back and remember them any time I wanted, plus I thought other parents might like to see it too. But for anyone not looking for a blog on parenting, Attack of the chair killing bottom is a pretty good read too. (http://singlemumplusone.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/attack-of-chair-killing-bottom.html)

I know a lot of blogs start from having a story to tell. What's the story behind how you started your blog?

An old friend of mine started a blog to document the time before he got married to his now wife, and I saw that and thought I can do that too. Initially the blog was just something I shared with Miss K's dad, I figured I could use it to pass on information to him about his daughter without actually having to speak to him, But one day I realized that I was getting readers from all over the world and I stopped writing just for him, and started writing for everyone. I've tried different things over the past year to try and grow the blog, but I always return to the old way fast, I like telling rambling stories and anecdotes, so that is easier for me to write. I would love for my readers to communicate with me more, as they are such a quiet bunch of people, and I always love hearing if my stories have touched someone, I hope to have a larger audience one day, and I'm still determined that this blog is going to be my ticket on to the Ellen DeGeneres Show, but I've still not figured out how to make that happen.

Finally, the big question! What makes you "More Than A Mommy"?

I love my crafts. I always have at least one scrapbooking layout and one knitting project on the go, I love getting out in the garden and pulling out all the weeds that have grown seemingly overnight, and because I come from such a large family (I am one of six kids) there is always someone coming over for a coffee, or someone inviting us over for a coffee, so I spend lots of time drinking coffee and talking too. (Seriously, I could teach a class in talking and drinking coffee) And I am also studying part time to become a bookkeeper too, because one day Miss K is going to come to me and ask for an iPhone 20, and I would love to be able to afford to give her one, so I have to start saving soon.

We had a wonderful time getting to know you, Erin! We are thrilled to now count you among our fabulous Sunday Sip Bloggers. We will be following along with you via Your Blog, Facebook,and Twitter and we invite our readers to do the same!

__________________________________________________

If you would like to learn more about The Sunday Sip and how YOU can be featured here visit our Sunday Sip Page and then complete our form and we will be in touch!

April Sponsor Spotlight: Part Two #MTMSponsorLove

2013-04-26T09:52:00.000-04:00

Welcome to our second Sponsor Spotlight for April! We are so blessed to have some amazing blogs and businesses gracing our sidebar this month. It really has been lots of fun getting to know them throughout the month and I'm sure you will soon see (if you haven't already) why they fit so nicely with the More Than Mommies theme of Family, Life, Love and Balance!

First up is Wonder MOMents. This is the blog for a great company called Cutie Pie Clothes. Leah and Rebekah are the moms behind the blog

Everyday they bring us "wonder moments" that help us indulge in the mess and beauty of motherhood. You can find tips and tricks for looking and being your best, daily. These moms really get it! This is your one-stop-shop for an awesome online retail experience for babies, toddlers, and kids--but you can also find some cute stuff for yourself! Look at the bags we found--love the cool patterns:

Ladies Black Handbag $30

Ladies Blue Paisley Canvas Tote $25

Ladies Navy Weekender Tote $24

Next we'd like to introduce you to Leslie at The Memory Nest--a blog for scrapbook lovers, crafters, and cardmakers.

If you want to get your creative on, then Leslie is your girl. You can always find inspiration on her blog: From Craft Challenges to Link Ups that allow you to show off your finished projects. She also carries a great line of products that will help get those creative juices flowing!

Visit her shop to see her monthly specials and stock up on your washi tape (among other things!)

There is little time left to enter the Method sweepstakes to win a year of free Laundry supplies. Today is the last day! I am still adoring my bottle of Method Fresh air:

I was so pleasantly surprised that an eco-friendly product could get my clothes just as clean as my old brand. There are tons of things to love about the product: smaller packaging, easy-to-use pump--so you always get the right amount of detergent in the wash, plant-based formula, free and clear and hypoallergenic. The one thing that has made me a method laundry customer for life? The fact that it smells SO GOOD! Don't miss your chance to win a year's supply-- Right now is the time!

Finally, for the past few weeks we have come at you with a series of posts on bullying: I wrote one, Janene wrote one, our good pal Stephanie wrote one. Bullying in some way, shape, or form has affected all of us. Enough is enough! If you haven't signed the pledge to take a stand--what are you waiting for? Please help us reach our goal of gathering 315 pledges to take a stand against bullying. We've made it easy and included the pledge below! Thank you for your support!

If you haven't signed it yet, we would appreciate you taking the minute it takes to add your name and email address.

Thank you for taking a stand!

Before I leave you, I wanted to give you a sneak peek at what is coming up--Janene and I are signing up for a Craftsy online class! I think we are going to try the one for creating a container garden. We will be letting you know what we think. In the meantime, you can check them out yourself:

They've got classes for everything from sewing and knitting, to photography, to gardening. D-I-Y NOT?

Visit some of our wonderful sponsors this month and let them know that More Than Mommies sent you!

*It can be assumed that More Than Mommies has been compensated with product or money (in some cases both) to let you know about these blogs and products. Rest assured that Janene and I carefully consider the brands and products that we work with to be sure that they fit with our theme of celebrating family, life, love and balamce. We have loved them--and we hope you will too!

Learn more about Sponsorship at More Than Mommies HERE.

Another Type of Bully

2013-04-25T07:30:00.000-04:00

I remember my first computer . . . it looked something like this:

I can't really remember what we used it for but I do know that Facebook was a long way off at that time . . . in fact, it was WELL before MySpace - and that's saying something!

I consider myself pretty computer savvy and up on social media. I have to say, though, that there are downsides to social media and our friend, Stephanie, from When Crazy Meets Exhaustion, talks about one of them in her guest post today:

Sticks and Stones May Break My

Bones, but Words Will Kill Me

By Stephanie Jankowski

2011:

Boy liked girl.

Girl didn’t return his feelings.

Boy went to his basement and shot himself in the face with his best friend as a horrified witness.

Our small town was stunned. Teachers and classmates described the boy as popular, kind, a class clown type.

Why would he do this?

Not long after the boy’s suicide, we learned that the girl on whom he had pinned his heart had been barraging him with hateful text messages like Just kill yourself. She updated her Facebook statuses to humiliate him. Taunt him.

1993:

A few weeks before middle school began, her best friends called her on the phone to “break up” with her. She was told, “You’re too much like a mother! We want to have fun and you’re holding us back!”

Just like that, she was alone.

She started a new school with zero friends.

She cried for weeks finding solace only in writing. Sitting on her roof, she wrote poetry by moonlight. The quiet nighttime skies provided a blanket of security that she desperately needed at that delicate time in her life.

Today she is an English teacher, mother of two, and a writer who wants you to understand how social media can be used as a weapon.

Had Facebook existed in 1993, I don’t know that I would be here today. Between off-the-charts hormones and emotional mood swings, I didn’t need one more thing to contend with, let alone an avalanche of hate and constant reminders that I wasn’t wanted.

Social networking has eliminated the necessity and sometimes the desire for face-to-face interaction.

Do social media outlets beget an emotionally unavailable generation?

Are today’s kids so detached and uncompassionate because they hide behind iPhones and computer screens?

In many cases, like this young boy’s, students cannot escape the brutality that used to be confined to school yards and empty hallways. It’s no secret that bullying has increased tenfold because of 24/7 access to sites such as Facebook and Twitter; all you have to do is Google “social networking and suicide” to see the heartbreaking evidence.

Bullying can be physical, emotional, and electronic.

Don’t underestimate the damage words can do. While I would like to believe that those who spew such vileness from their Facebook and Twitter accounts do not truly grasp the enormity of their words, repeated incidents speak to the contrary.

Has social media really numbed so many to the human experience?

Does the ability to have a conversation without ever having actually spoken a word make it easier to hate?

Empty desks in schools across the country would say yes.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Isn't Stephanie AWESOME? Those mean girls - which is the only way to describe them on a somewhat family friendly blog - don't know what they are missing! You can read more from Stephanie on her blog, When Crazy Meets Exhaustion, her Facebook, Twitter and G+ page!

We would love for you to take a stand against bullying with us. Stephanie actually approached us with this article because we have been actively trying to get people to sign this pledge:

If you haven't signed it yet, we would appreciate you taking the minute it takes to add your name and email address.

Thank you for taking a stand!

*We would like to thank Take Part for helping to sponsor this post.

Feeling Fly By The Fourth of July: Fit Challenge

2013-04-24T09:14:00.000-04:00

Does anyone else feel like we've just come out of the longest Winter ever?

I feel like I have been stuck inside my house like a hibernating bear for the last five months! Except I'm not rolling out of my hole in the ground twenty-five pounds lighter. Just the opposite, my friends.

Lately, I've been feeling so sluggish: Eating everything in sight and feeling depressed whenever I pull on a pair of jeans.

A blogging friend of mine, +Janine Huldie mentioned a weight loss challenge that is well underway at Raising Reagan--Slim by Summer. I checked it out, but I feel a little behind the eight ball as the challenge is already fourteen weeks underway.

BUT, I do love the idea of gathering a support network around oneself to motivate and keep us accountable. I know a few ladies in my neighborhood are also waking from their Winter slumber and wanting to shake off a few pounds before it comes time to beach ourselves at the local pool (hopefully looking less like whales than the last sentence implies).

I am following some of my motivated friends via MyFitnessPal--an online diet and exercise journal. It is very user friendly and connects you to friends on their own fitness journey. It's free to join. You can sign up on the computer or download the app and log in with Facebook.

I'm starting my own challenge:

Grab this button to use in your update posts or to display in your sidebar.

I would be thrilled if you all would join me so that we can support each other!

Follow me at MyFitnessPal .* My user name is cmhutch. I will follow you back. Janene is also on myfitnesspal--although as of this moment she has no idea that I am issuing this challenge! (Hehe)

Each week I will check in with you here and let you know about my progress and then you will have the opportunity to link up a post about your progress. If you don't have a blog you can post your progress here in the comments. I am hoping that we can all motivate and cheer each other on as we get fit and reach our goals!

For this first week, Please let us know your fitness/weightloss goals for the next 2+ months and why you have decided to join us on the Feeling Fly by The Fourth of July: Fitness Challenge. Come back and link up your post with us here (we will leave the linky open for a while!) so that we can follow along with you. Use our comments section if you don't have your own blog!

My Goals for this Challenge:

Reduce my consumption of sugar and bread: Eat a balanced diet
Exercise at least four times a week for 30 minutes minimum (include both cardio and strength exercises)
Lose 20 - 25 lbs at a rate of 2 lbs per week
Drink more water
Do not skip meals and healthy snacks
Get 7-8 hours of sleep per night

We all know that a big part of being More than a Mommy is taking the time to care for ourselves. Being aware of what we put into our body and making time for exercise is one of the ways that we can be our best.

I can't wait to join you all! Good luck!

*This post and Challenge are not sponsored/compensated in any way by MyFitnessPal. I simply love the app for helping to keep me on track and I thought you would like it too!

Link your post about joining this challenge and naming your goals!

The Sunday Sip: Fill Up Your Cup with Vicky at The Pursuit of Normal

2013-04-21T07:30:00.000-04:00

We are still gathering pledges for Take Part's Anti Bullying campaign! Please help us reach and exceed our personal goal of gathering 315 pledges by visiting Courage is a Scary Thing and signing the anti-bullying pledge at the top of the post. Please share that post with your friends and help us take a stand!

(sponsored by Take Part)

Welcome to The Sunday Sip!

Let's sit down with Vicky at The Pursuit of Normal and get this gab fest started!

I'm a tea drinker, so I have my steamy mug of Chai at my side, but how about you,Vicky? What's in your cup?

I have a Keurig that I adore. It has been the subject of many posts- one may consider that the sign of an addiction. I consider it a strong sense of brand loyalty. I'm not picky about what type of coffee I drink because I think the Keurig is a miracle product and makes all coffee fab! For Christmas a friend got me 3 cases of K-cups. Yes, 3 cases. That's 288 K-Cups. I'm going to have a baby and name him after this friend. Currently I'm drinking Starbucks blonde with a splash of Coffee-mate Natural Bliss, vanilla.

If we met you at a blog conference, how would you introduce yourself?

Hmm... My name is Vicky Willenberg. I currently work as the social media manager for a small executive career management and recruiting firm call TurningPoint Executive Search. I've been writing my blog for almost 4 years: The Pursuit of Normal. I've been married for almost 14 years and have two boys- 9 and 6.5

Is there a story behind your blog name? Why did you choose “The Pursuit of Normal”?

I wish there was some cool story behind my blog title. The truth is, the minute I even considered writing a blog the name popped in my head and stuck ever since. I guess it stems from the fact that I always fear that I'm "not normal" and I'm the only one feeling something or wrestling with an issue.

That's one of the wonderful things about blogging, that sense that you are not alone and finding your tribe! Is there a place you would like our readers to start when they visit your blog--tell us, what's a must read?

I guess one post I'd like everyone to read is one I wrote recently: "Raise Your Hand if You're Mediocre." I guess I find it so interesting that we are all striving so hard to never be below average and always be above average. But in all honesty, most of us fall somewhere in the middle- average. Being average is such a bad thing these days but in our pursuit to be best and above average, we forget that being average is just fine. It means we've done better than below average, right?

Absolutely, Vicky. I think you hit on something many of us struggle with--the feeling that if we aren't great at everything we aren't good at all. Can you share a little about your blog journey? What made you decide to start your blog and how have you grown over the years?

Like most women/moms I started by blog to stay sane. I loved working as a middle school teacher and was blessed to be able to work part time through the first 4 years of my motherhood. Eventually I became a stay at home mom and I slowly started to go crazy to be honest. I was lonely and isolated and bored and lost my identity. And this motherhood thing was way harder than I had expected.

My vision or intent was simply to say the things that most women didn't say/admit. I knew they felt it though because when I said it they all said, "Me too!" It's like we all needed permission to admit it.

I once read that programs like AA are successful because one person's willingness to share their story gives others the permission to do the same. So, I figured since I have a tendency to overshare anyway, why not put it out there and let other moms feel comfortable doing the same.

My blog has most definitely changed over the years. It's inevitable because I have changed. I am not the same woman, wife, mother I was when I began. No one stays the same and if I want to keep my blog authentic, I have to let it change organically. That's not easy to do, to be honest. I've struggled with it recently because I feel like my "readers" no matter how many or how few, have known me as a certain type of writer. I feel a certain amount of loyalty to them. But, I can't write for them only.

I write for me. And I am ever-changing. I also have to understand that just like not all blogs are for me, my blog won't be for everyone. Many people won't feel as I do, live as I do or even be in the season of life that I am. I need to be OK with that.

A sage view, I'd say Vicky. One last question for you--what makes you "More than a Mommy"?

What makes me more than a mom? Good question. A year ago I wouldn't have had an answer because I felt like I was so much "theirs" and so little "mine." Now, however, I can happily say I am growing into the adult me. I am a project manager by nature. I love to tackle projects, break them down and attack them. I have taken my blog to a new level in the last few months- it's my new project. Being a blogger and social media guru (or trying to be) has helped me to develop as a writer. So, the short answer, I'm "More than a Mommy" because I am a writer. And I love it.

Thank you for sitting down with us today! We are thrilled to count you among our fabulous Sunday Sip Bloggers. We will be following along with you via Your Blog, Facebook, and Twitter and we invite our readers to do the same!

__________________________________________________

If you would like to learn more about The Sunday Sip and how YOU can be featured here visit our Sunday Sip Page and then complete our form and we will be in touch!

Enjoy your Sunday!

More than Mommies Mixer . . . Coming at ya! #MTMMixer

2013-04-18T19:30:00.000-04:00

Welcome to another week of the More Than Mommies Mixer!

It's been a SUPER busy week for me and I'm looking forward to catching up a little this weekend! I'm especially looking forward to visiting some of my favorite blogs and giving them some comment love!

Here's what you missed this week:

Christine and I are working with Take Part to help take a stand against bullying!
Here is

Christine's post . . . and here is mine. We would love for you to sign the pledge and take a stand with us!

*Thank you to TakePart for sponsoring today's discussion.*

We also aired a few dirty secrets . . . Christine's mostly laundry related (read about it here - or at least go watch the adorable video of her little gals) and mine more . . . well . . . kind of a little overshare over at When Crazy Meets Exhaustion . . . (read it here).

Now . . . on with the show!

Here are the "rules"

(Don't make us post bouncers at the door.)

Follow your Hostesses - Christine and Janene from More Than Mommies

Follow our Co-Hostess - Meredith at The Mom of the Year

Follow the Life of The Party - Paula at Call Me PMC - We will choose someone who signs up via Twitter on the Linky below to be our LOTP each week. We love to keep up with all of you on twitter--so tweet with our hashtag (#MTMmixer) so we can find you!

Follow our Mixologist - Mel at My Imperfect Life - Every week we will choose one participant to get our party started at the #4 slot. All you have to do is link up under the first Linky (and follow the "rules") to be considered!

Follow the person directly BEFORE you on the hop!

Finally, we ask that you post one (or both) of our buttons in either a post or on your sidebar to let other people know where you are partying today!

Link Blogs Here:

Link G+ Profiles Here:

Link FB Pages Here:

Link Twitter Handles Here:

Link Pinterest Pages Here:

My Dirty Little Secret: Coming Clean with Method #Sweepstakes

2013-04-17T09:12:00.002-04:00

Enter to win a one year's supply of method laundry detergent right here!

method is sponsoring this post and provided us with a bottle of method laundry detergent to try--They provided the cleaner and the means for discussion, but opinions, stories, and the "dirty little secrets" are mine. It's time to come clean:

Dirty Secret #1: I hated the way my clothes and towels used to smell.

For the last nine years I have been using "free and clear" laundry detergents. My husband has sensitive skin and when I had my babies I knew that they could inherit his sensitivity, besides the fact that baby skin is just more delicate. So I made the switch.

I used to get a secret joy when I opened the dryer: warm towels, breathing in the fresh clean scent--it is the zen moment in the tedious chore of laundry cleaning. But since I began using "free and clear" I have been free and clear of the zen moment of laundry scented bliss.

And my towels held on to a not so nice, musty, funky smell--even straight from the wash!

I tried method's fresh air scent. As soon as I took the wrapper off the cap, I immediately unbottled the laundry scented bliss. Nine years is a long time to live in the unscented/funky-scented world of "free and clear."

method is "free and clear" and completely hypoallergenic.

Yet somehow, their plant-based formula is infused with the perfect laundry scent!

Dirty Secret #2: I've been overdosing, and it's making me spin.

I'm convinced that the washing machine companies are in cahoots with the laundry detergent people:

How do they sell more washing machines? Overdose and overload the machines so that they break down faster. It isn't hard to overdose your machine when you can't see the fill line on those cups even in full light. I know I have been dosing my laundry incorrectly for at least nine years

(I've had to replace a washing machine in that time.)

I always thought it was worse to have too little detergent in the machine--the clothes wouldn't come clean. But did you know that overdosing causes more problems for your machine?

Overdosing can create excess suds, which results in:
Residue on clothes
Odor in washing machine because of residues trapped in washer
Wet loads of laundry that haven’t been properly drained as extreme suds can slow spinning cycle down
Leaking, particularly in front load washers
Longer washing cycles as the washer automatically adds extra rinses and pauses to break down suds
Less water savings as more water is used to rinse the load if excess suds are detected
Wear and tear on the washing machine’s pump and motor because the suds act like a brake

I'll admit it. I've had to run the spin cycle twice on most of my loads because the machine never seemed to spin them dry enough. But method has totally revolutionized laundry dosing. JUST FOUR PUMPS. No measuring.

It's so easy a five year old can handle it!

See how I got my two littlest ones involved!

(please pardon my editing skills!)

50 loads worth of method laundry detergent comes in a bottle smaller than the smallest concentrated detergents that do a little more than half as many loads! No more heavy bottles, an easy to use fool-proof dosing pump, designed so that you can get every drop out of the bottle...Perhaps the kids can take over the laundry chore sooner than expected!

Dirty Secret #3: The neighbors are talking.

Now that I have been using method laundry detergent for a couple of weeks, I can say that it has the same cleaning power of my other detergent. But it has my old detergent beat on so many levels, I won't ever go back!

Here's the kicker for me:

Yesterday was a DMSD (definitely MUST shower day). Busy moms, tell me you've had one this last week. In fact, I stayed in the yoga pants and t-shirt I slept in for most of the day. Right before I had to get the older girls off the bus, I ran up and changed into a clean shirt and jeans. While we were standing at the busstop, one of my neighbors was standing slightly downwind. Uh oh. I shifted my weight a bit nervously as a gentle spring breeze blew past me.

"Mmmmm...what's that smell?," My neighbor asked, stepping closer to me. I stepped away ever so slightly. "You smell like summertime!," She smiled.

Ah... I breathed a sigh of relief and I came clean--it was my freshly laundered clothes!

Thank you method!

Janene has her own dirty little secret to "over share" today. She's guest posting today at When Crazy Meets Exhaustion. (I'm giggling, just thinking about it.) It's good stuff, so get over there quick!

Right-after-you-enter-the-sweepstakes-quick.

Courage is a Scary Thing

2013-04-15T07:30:00.000-04:00

Christine talked about a situation where her daughter was being bullied last week. We have been plugging the heck out of this anti- bullying campaign that we would love for you to join - it's simple . . . take the pledge and take a stand!

That's me and my little sister, Nicole. I've complained about her more times than I can count. We disagree . . . a lot. We don't see eye to eye . . . often. Our parenting styles are different . . . on quite a few occasions.

I can say all of that because she is MY sister. You? All you can say is how cute she is in that picture and what an amazing woman she has become because if you say anything bad about my sister, I will let you know that you made a mistake.

I've been defending my sister for a while now. In fact, the first time I stood up to a bully was for my sister and NOT for me. Maybe it's the weird and overpowering maternal instinct that I've ALWAYS had . . . or maybe it's just because she is my sister . . . but I remember it so vividly that I still get butterflies in my stomach when I talk about it.

We looked more like this - when the incident happened:

Neither one of us looked very "tough" and we weren't. I was a bigger wimp than my sister (still am BTW). She was a bit of a tomboy, hence the haircut, and I was, if you asked my father at least, a Prima Donna.

When I was in 6th grade and Nicole was in 4th grade there was one 8th grader who EVERYONE was afraid of . . . even the 8th grade boys. No one messed with her because she was MEAN. Not only was she mean but this chick was BIG. I'm not exaggerating because I was so much smaller then . . . she was probably the BIGGEST 8th grader I've EVER seen. (Okay, maybe I am exaggerating . . . but it doesn't feel like it).

Her name was Heather. I remember her last name but I'm not going to give it to you for fear she will see it on FB or something and come find me and pound me into the ground. That's the kind of fear this bully put into all of us. That's the kind of fear that I had to overcome in order to be courageous and braver than I thought I could be and stand up against her when she had my sister backed into a corner.

I remember the name calling. She had a group of about 4 or 5 behind her and she was just calling my sister every name you could think of . . . she was shaking her finger and getting closer. All of my sister's friends were frozen with fear. I was walking around the corner . . . really not knowing what I was getting into. I had my best friend with me and when we saw what was happening we both froze, too. But not for long. I saw the look on my sister's face and I knew I had to do something. I had to make it stop because that was MY sister.

I'm not really sure where the courage came from . . . I know that I grabbed my friend's hand for support and we marched over together. She stood behind me but I knew she was there.

"Hey, Heather!" Oh God. I'm going to puke!
"Hey, Heather!" Am I screaming? I feel like I'm shouting! Could I be
whispering?

"LEAVE MY SISTER ALONE!" That got her attention.

"What did you say?"

"I said, leave my sister alone." I saw Nicole take off with her friends and knew they were safe.

"That's what I thought you said." Her attention was on me now. Shit. I knew that this was going to happen. This was why I was so scared. This is why I didn't want to do this. Shit.

"You should really try to find someone your own size to pick on . . . but I understand how difficult that must be for you."

Now I'm REALLY going to puke.

I twirled around and my BFF and I walked down the hill hand in hand. I'm pretty sure there were tears streaming down my face and that I was hyperventilating . . . but I never let Heather see that.

My sister treated me like a celebrity when we got home. She was NEVER that nice to me before . . . come to think of it, I'm not sure she's been that nice to me SINCE!

You know what happened the next day? Nothing. You know what happened the day after that? Nothing. For the rest of the year, Heather, didn't bother me or my sister. In fact, I don't remember her bothering anyone else.

The second to last day of school for 8th graders rolled around and none of us were really upset to see them go. I remember being in the girls' room that day and about 4 of them walked in. Of course, Heather was one of them. I felt my pulse get a little faster and my palms get a little sweaty. She smiled at me. I smiled back and went on my way.

I know that sounds like some kind of "Happily Ever After" version of a bullying story. They don't all end that way. Some of them have bad endings . . . tragic endings . . . devastating endings.

Stopping all bullies would be AWESOME! However, I'm not sure it's the most realistic thing that we can do. What we can do is teach OUR children not to bully. We can teach OUR children to stick together and take a stand against kids who are bullies. We can teach OUR children how to deal with them and hopefully . . . hopefully . . . they will also have a "Happily Ever After" to their stories.

The Sunday Sip: Fill Your Cup with Stephanie at When Crazy Meets Exhaustion

2013-04-14T07:30:00.000-04:00

If you haven't been around all week . . . we would love for you to head on over to our post: Bullies Don't Look Like Monsters and sign our anti-bullying pledge

. . . it's a great cause that Christine and I are thrilled to be taking part in! (sponsored by Take Part)

I am SO SO SO excited to share this week's Sunday Sipper with you all!

Not only is she an awesome blogger and a REAL LIFE friend of Christine's (they are neighbors!) but she is going to be joining us as we head to our FIRST blog conference next month! (Psst - if you are headed to Bloggy Bootcamp we would love to hear from you so we can make some plans to meet up there!)

Without further ado . . . I give you Stephanie at When Crazy Meets Exhaustion!

I've had an EXTREMELY long week - so, it's Coffee for me this morning! What about you?

Coffee. Or milk.

I'm so bad with drinking milk. I know I should drink more than the little "squirt" I put in my coffee but this morning . . . that's the extent of it.

We know you are amazing and awesome but how would you describe yourself to our readers? Who is Stephanie?

OH WOW! Don't all moms wear twenty proverbial hats? This is hard, but...

"Stephanie, loves her family, eats too much chocolate, drinks just enough wine, advocates for the world of education, and tries like crazy to write as much as she can."

Just enough wine? How is that measured exactly because I always tend to drink just a little bit too much wine these days.

I can relate to feeling crazy and feeling exhausted - I'm sure that we all can now and then. How did you decide to marry the two feelings into your blog title? What made you give it the name "When Crazy Meets Exhaustion"?

I'm totally OCD about this kind of thing because it feels so permanent, ya know? Shoulda seen me trying to name my KIDS! Yoi. But strangely enough, the title WhenCrazyMeetsExhaustion came easily. I was in the throes of adjusting to being a family of four as Ella was still a pretty new addition and some days I felt like I was losing my ever-loving mind. That made me crazy. And man, was I exhausted. I opted to run the words together as one (whencrazymeetsexhaustion) because that kind of jumbled chaos represented me then...and still does! Turns out the word "sex" is in there which leads some to believe that I'm a bit spicy. I am not. Joke's on them.

Oh I don't know . . . from what I've read you seem to have a bit of a spicy side!

Speaking of reading . . . what's the one post that you would like our readers to check out when they head over to your blog today?

Well, WordPress Freshly Pressed a post about finding the perfect boot which was a metaphor for feeling comfortable in our own skin, but I thought it made me sound like a whiner! I think I would choose a post called P.C. (http://whencrazymeetsexhaustion.com/pc/). It's not the usual Craziness that my readers have come to appreciate, but it's honest. It's me.

Tell us . . . why did you start blogging? Has it been everything you dreamed it would be and where do you see it going in the future?

I started blogging because I needed an outlet, much like other Parent bloggers out there. But I knew I didn't want to back myself into a corner and lead readers to believe the only thing they would read from me would be Mommy rants. I mean, there are plenty of those, but my original vision was just to explode on the page, and I feel like I'm still doing that. I would love, LOVE to take my blog to the next level and gain some fancy sponsors and maybe earn a paycheck doing what I do and--*crosses fingers*--be a published author!! I've shared my crazy on Scary Mommy, Mamapedia, and am a regular contributor to the Chicago-based parenting site Families in the Loop, and those are things I never would have imagined possible. I have a growing audience of fantastic, loyal readers and Facebook fans and I am forever grateful for these ladies and gents.

Alright . . . spill it, what make you More than a Mommy?

I will always be a passionate advocate for education. I'm not in a physical classroom right now (I teach online, from home), but I'm always in teacher-mode. I'm all about girl power. I love Tina Fey because she epitomizes a strong, smart, funny woman who is NOT afraid to befriend the "competition." Life is too short to step on each other, ladies; let's help one another to our feet. So, once the education crisis is solved and women rule the world, I would love one gigantic nap.

Stephanie is AWESOME and we know that you would LOVE her, too! You can visit her blog--please let her know that we sent you! Like her Facebook Page, Follow her on Twitter Add her to your G+ circles or check out her Pinterest Boards.

If you are interested in seeing who else has been featured on The Sunday Sip at More Than Mommies then stick around for a bit. If you'd like to be featured yourself, we would love to have you. Just fill out our form and we will be in touch.

Have an amazing week everyone!

April: Sponsor Spotlight #MTMSponsorLove

2013-04-12T10:04:00.001-04:00

Since we rolled out our new blog design a few weeks ago, Janene and I have been very busy talking, planning, and dreaming about our blog.

We have recently teamed up with Take Part to stand against bullying. You can read about it here--but please sign this pledge if you haven't already and share our post with your friends. It takes less than 60 seconds to lend your support to this worthwhile cause!

Among other things, (we will share in good time, I promise) we have revamped our Sponsor Shop. We love connecting with all of you and sharing your blogs and/or business with our readers. After some consideration, the changes we've made there better reflect our commitment to building a positive relationship with the blogs and businesses that say "yes" to supporting More Than Mommies. If you are ready to say "yes" then go ahead and visit our Sponsor Shop and find a space that suits you!

Our blog wouldn't be what it is without all of you. Your comments, suggestions, support, and your friendship in the bloggy world, and in the real world, mean so much to us.

That's why we like to take time out during the month to shine a spotlight on our fabulous

First up, is Kat from No Holding Back. We recently featured Kat, on our Sunday Sip and we were thrilled to get to know her better. Kat is bringing awareness to TTTS (Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome). She is also bringing people together who have experienced this harrowing diagnosis to share stories, find comfort, and support one another. That's not all, Kat has a beautiful family and she wants to share life and love for them while honoring her daughter in heaven. What can you expect when you visit No Holding Back? Sincerity, Honesty, a Mom who, like all of us, is trying her best to make the most of motherhood. She's also a mom with sadness behind her eyes. She knows the pain of one of the greatest losses of life and she shares that with all of us--so that we will remember, find a friend for support, reach out to a friend in need of support. Here's where you can find Kat: Facebook, Twitter, G+, Pinterest and Instagram.

Next, Jen at Break The Parenting Mold.

Her blog title says it all. She is a self-professed contradiction of sorts. You only have to read her "about me" to see what she means. She is doing things her way and embracing her contradictions to find a balance in her parenting style. She has an amazing son and she shares his story on the blog. She has something to say about Infertility and Adoption, Allergies, and Sensory Processing Disorder. If it looks like a mixed bag--maybe it is--but it's the stuff that has her finding her own way and breaking the mold. She brings us along for the ride with lots of encouragement to be unafraid to do things our own way. Every Mom is different, every child is different. Jen helps us to see that it is perfectly acceptable to make our own rules! Want to hang out with Jen? Here's where you can connect with her: Facebook, Twitter, G+, Pinterest, and Instagram.

ShareASale connects bloggers with affiliate sponsors. How does it work?

It's a win-win for merchants and bloggers alike when it come to monetization (making money!) Merchants let shareasale.com find sales and leads for you. Only pay when it works! And bloggers have complete control over the merchants they work with, and how they promote them. Join shareasale.com, Earn Cash! It couldn't be simpler.

Share life's moments in minutes with Smilebox!

You can turn your photos and videos into one-of-a-kind creations in minutes with Smilebox. There is so much you can do: Create a custom Facebook cover collage. Send FREE e-cards for all occasions. Make cute popcorn cones FREE for a special movie night:

A custom slideshow with video, photos and music sounds perfect for your upcoming graduate, birthday girl and boy, or anniversary couple--you can even share via Facebook and Email for free! Not to mention digital scrapbooking with over 100 creative layouts for all occasions. Check them out today and get started sharing life's moments with Smilebox!

We are loving our sponsors this month--and we hope that you do too!

*This post contains affiliate links--but we wouldn't share if we didn't love 'em ourselves!

Me...Mom of The Year? Why, Thank You!

2013-04-10T07:39:00.002-04:00

Hi all!

Wednesdays are the days you usually hear from me, but I came at you yesterday with a very simple, yet important request: That you stand up with More Than Mommies, sign and share TakePart's Anti-Bullying Pledge*. If you haven't had a chance to sign the pledge, please take a minute to do so now:

Instead of another full blown post, I'm going to send you over to see Meredith at The Mom of the Year, where I am being featured as today's Mom of the Year! Just click on my new trophy and it will take you to my post:

If you are a first time visitor from the Mom of The Year, welcome to our humble abode! Please feel free to have a look around--check out our favorite posts in the side bar. Take a look at our Sunday Sip Features. Put the More Than Mommies Mixer on your link up list. Read with us. And you can find us on your favorite Social Media Sites too!

Have Fun!

*TakePart has offered compensation to help spread the word about their anti-bullying campaign. However, the stories shared are ours and we would have shared them with you for free anyway! :)