tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-583909479548207373Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:23:47 +0000pubic hairchildhoodMewalksjokessnow stormsuses for duct tapeschool projectscreepy menweekendssistersMowingmoviesbookshumiliationRocky Horror Picture Showdeathjealousyshoppingkids booksSportacusperiodsSomaliasummersick daysshow off momspetsdadsrecipesweddingskidsSlapout OklahomaromancehypochondriacweathersummertimereadingparenthoodMamawmean momssecretsbabysittingvaricose veinsmom's who brag about their kidssaturday night liveGodtruckslosing a fatherTipscatssporkslearning to spelllearning to walksuper spermpetting zooskids birthday partiespaying billsdeath. losing a parentschool volunteeringchurchmothers daytooth extractionfeeling unappreciatedsunshinelosing a motherthe fallyard workincontinencehome aloneconversations with kidsringsbloggingriding mowerslovepaintingstupidlosing a parentpregnancylandscapingmovinganimalstechnologyhot wingssleep habitswedding ringschristmasgrandmasutensilsvehiclessmart assSantawinning the lotteryProgresive InsuranceTropical Storm Hannaoral sexsick stomachmomprime time tvFacebookwhiningadoptionshoesunderwearOklahomamuffinsrhymingmealshappy birthdayrecyclingphotographysicknessbillsgivingsticky situationsparentingmusicBubbastay at home momchildenquestiontivostay-at-home mommaking better life choicesjudging othersrivalryfartsValentines daykids songsoutdoorssmokingmean old womengardeningvolunteeringmenMichael Jacksonwritingstupid questionsinternal dialoguemotherhoodpicturesillnessthings kids saysex bloopersfunnylotterytattoosterrible twosrelationshipsrock bandTwilightmommy warswhat kids sayhairhomeworking outlaundryfamilysportshusbandsreposts.mother's dayTVreviewsstinky feetsnow daysick kidsXM radiodogsautismNursery rhymesstay at home momsBirdieWorld Visionliving greenpoopgriefExercisecold weatherschoolmomsdeath of a petmourningloosing teethdietingProgressive Insuranceinjusticepitbullssick husbandsfamily timeteeth grindinglosing a petpaentingBearmonthly memocleaningkindergartenstomach acheslessonsteeth brushingorganizationbeing a womansinus infectionsmarriagemoodinesswinterpeeingrepostslearning to readolive oilsexmotherswhy I should be mother of the yearthe 80'ssneezingSteelersmonthly memo to kidsSpringmenstral cyclespaghetti squashorphanspillow talkfriendsThursdayswomenchildrenThings kids dosummer vacationplay on wordsvacationP.D.D. (nos)scaredsorenesspoliticsmonthly memosHowievideosSuperbowl XLIIIman coldtantrumsdaughtersperiodplayscapetelevisiontoyscraftstamponsallergieslyme diseasefoodschool closingsparenthooodpmsreligionpoetrypotty trainingquitting smokinglearnign from eldersthings that piss me offsnowSnapshotleavesmoney...totally tripping down the runway of motherhood.http://americasnexttopmommy.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (America's Next Top Mommy)Blogger532125TopMomhttp://feedburner.google.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-583909479548207373.post-2987575150526600513Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +00002012-02-02T07:50:25.480-05:00writingI've been inspired to start writing something.  It could be a book.  I'm rolling my eyes at myself for even typing that sentence because to me, it sounds so completely ridiculous. My saying that I'm ready to write a book is like my five year old walking up to me and declaring that she's been inspired to start investing in the stock market. Nevertheless, inspiration can often times induce http://americasnexttopmommy.blogspot.com/2012/02/delusional-inspiration.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (America's Next Top Mommy)6<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/iEBbd9hhFmQ6U9VCQiy_kGq8YMQ/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/iEBbd9hhFmQ6U9VCQiy_kGq8YMQ/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/iEBbd9hhFmQ6U9VCQiy_kGq8YMQ/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/iEBbd9hhFmQ6U9VCQiy_kGq8YMQ/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=KcaUS4k_w6A:0aCF41TxMEI:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=KcaUS4k_w6A:0aCF41TxMEI:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=KcaUS4k_w6A:0aCF41TxMEI:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=KcaUS4k_w6A:0aCF41TxMEI:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TopMom/~4/KcaUS4k_w6A" height="1" width="1"/>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-583909479548207373.post-5163912072752341560Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:35:00 +00002012-02-01T19:10:19.095-05:00sick daysparenthoodsicknessAs much as I would have liked to tell you that the illness that's been worming it's way through our house for the last three weeks has packed it's bags, slung them over it's shoulder and is hitch hiking somewhere down I 91 right now, that's unfortunately not the case. Instead, it found a nice cozy place in the corner of the house where it went into incubation and metamorphosed into some kind of http://americasnexttopmommy.blogspot.com/2012/02/weve-got-super-virus-on-our-hands.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (America's Next Top Mommy)10<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/EivjzngcOu5SWQwYEyq4fJ0UymY/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/EivjzngcOu5SWQwYEyq4fJ0UymY/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/EivjzngcOu5SWQwYEyq4fJ0UymY/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/EivjzngcOu5SWQwYEyq4fJ0UymY/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=zFOaSYBxUXI:aMrOrQznw8w:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=zFOaSYBxUXI:aMrOrQznw8w:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=zFOaSYBxUXI:aMrOrQznw8w:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=zFOaSYBxUXI:aMrOrQznw8w:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TopMom/~4/zFOaSYBxUXI" height="1" width="1"/>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-583909479548207373.post-7730677514719387034Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +00002012-01-31T07:37:39.419-05:00motherhoodshow off momsmom's who brag about their kidsWe've all had a conversation with THAT mom at one time or another.  The one who can't talk to you like a normal human being because she's so busy telling you how talented and smart and perfect her child is and "don't you think he's amazing?" This is nothing new.  In every culture in the history of motherhood, there has been this problem.  If Eve had another woman to talk to she would have been http://americasnexttopmommy.blogspot.com/2012/01/show-off-moms.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (America's Next Top Mommy)3<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/4WzCH3l0XkIJodLmq2OnuKghbvs/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/4WzCH3l0XkIJodLmq2OnuKghbvs/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/4WzCH3l0XkIJodLmq2OnuKghbvs/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/4WzCH3l0XkIJodLmq2OnuKghbvs/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=6tVQXIGcJlE:D4oXLFB6MyM:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=6tVQXIGcJlE:D4oXLFB6MyM:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=6tVQXIGcJlE:D4oXLFB6MyM:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=6tVQXIGcJlE:D4oXLFB6MyM:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TopMom/~4/6tVQXIGcJlE" height="1" width="1"/>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-583909479548207373.post-416919000654865734Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +00002012-01-30T07:00:04.985-05:00school volunteeringfeeling unappreciatedbloggingI took on a volunteer position with one of my kids' schools this year and have been doing a pretty good job (if I say so myself). Then I got sick.  That was three weeks ago and I'm just now working on getting rid of my second (or is this one my third?) sickness.  I hesitate to say "cold" too loudly because if it hears me, it might come running and lick me on the mouth. Again. Needless to say, Ihttp://americasnexttopmommy.blogspot.com/2012/01/slacker.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (America's Next Top Mommy)6<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/BQ586ySHq9e5VmnwYRVpMrWO3N0/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/BQ586ySHq9e5VmnwYRVpMrWO3N0/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/BQ586ySHq9e5VmnwYRVpMrWO3N0/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/BQ586ySHq9e5VmnwYRVpMrWO3N0/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=ZyFz12UqJK4:SF8GtuO0eF4:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=ZyFz12UqJK4:SF8GtuO0eF4:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=ZyFz12UqJK4:SF8GtuO0eF4:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=ZyFz12UqJK4:SF8GtuO0eF4:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TopMom/~4/ZyFz12UqJK4" height="1" width="1"/>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-583909479548207373.post-1546523457927117642Sun, 29 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +00002012-01-29T07:00:02.946-05:00cleaningstay-at-home momOne of my most dreaded stay-at-home mom duties has to by far be the constant cleaning.  Not because I hate cleaning per se.  In fact, I'm kind of freakishly in love with it. I get a rush from organizing and I get tingling in my pants through that entire week of the year where I do my spring cleaning and the house is spotless from top to bottom. No, the problem that I have with cleaning is how http://americasnexttopmommy.blogspot.com/2012/01/commercial-cleaning.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (America's Next Top Mommy)1<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/E9ecEePAthcutR0JoOEt-6N0z-A/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/E9ecEePAthcutR0JoOEt-6N0z-A/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/E9ecEePAthcutR0JoOEt-6N0z-A/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/E9ecEePAthcutR0JoOEt-6N0z-A/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=q_ebg3Zb9G8:Cv2xPilgiN4:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=q_ebg3Zb9G8:Cv2xPilgiN4:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=q_ebg3Zb9G8:Cv2xPilgiN4:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=q_ebg3Zb9G8:Cv2xPilgiN4:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TopMom/~4/q_ebg3Zb9G8" height="1" width="1"/>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-583909479548207373.post-3702832778601758962Sat, 28 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +00002012-01-28T13:25:00.677-05:00parentinglearnign from eldersIt’s taken me many years but I’m finally maturing enough to where I'm starting to re-define the meaning of the word "cool." “Cool” used to be the most liked, the most popular, the most awesome.  It used to be the person with the most friends, the one who everyone wanted to be like. Just saying the word "cool" conjures up images of someone in a leather jacket with a cigarette hanging out of his http://americasnexttopmommy.blogspot.com/2012/01/re-defining-cool.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (America's Next Top Mommy)3<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/izTNY84YLF04IN66GmV-r04AZ50/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/izTNY84YLF04IN66GmV-r04AZ50/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/izTNY84YLF04IN66GmV-r04AZ50/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/izTNY84YLF04IN66GmV-r04AZ50/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=zyuBVodjsmQ:FJAdwsvgWvA:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=zyuBVodjsmQ:FJAdwsvgWvA:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=zyuBVodjsmQ:FJAdwsvgWvA:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=zyuBVodjsmQ:FJAdwsvgWvA:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TopMom/~4/zyuBVodjsmQ" height="1" width="1"/>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-583909479548207373.post-932144288771472223Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:52:00 +00002012-01-27T11:18:31.301-05:00Progressive InsuranceSnapshotSo, this morning I got an email from an editor from a local town who has been featuring my posts on Patch.com and he says he's sorry for not sending this to me sooner but that he received an email from a public relations manager for Progressive Insurance in New York City who had been trying to reach me but was unable to find my contact information. She was emailing about a blog I had written http://americasnexttopmommy.blogspot.com/2012/01/correction-progressive-cannot-tell-what.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (America's Next Top Mommy)3<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/TlA0G0obyoc6tL27-SWSisw7lgU/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/TlA0G0obyoc6tL27-SWSisw7lgU/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/TlA0G0obyoc6tL27-SWSisw7lgU/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/TlA0G0obyoc6tL27-SWSisw7lgU/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=qOQTGsGqQXo:wD6TPMTXLG0:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=qOQTGsGqQXo:wD6TPMTXLG0:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=qOQTGsGqQXo:wD6TPMTXLG0:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=qOQTGsGqQXo:wD6TPMTXLG0:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TopMom/~4/qOQTGsGqQXo" height="1" width="1"/>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-583909479548207373.post-1201743865587660281Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +00002012-01-27T08:33:23.023-05:00parentingdaughters"When I was little", has become such a great conversation opener for me and my 9 year old.  Most recently its been about her struggles in math class.  I was really bad at math as a kid.  Oh who am I kidding, I still really suck at math. And apparently the apple doesn't fall far from the tree! I told her stories of math tests I took that were so bad, the teacher sent them home to have them signedhttp://americasnexttopmommy.blogspot.com/2012/01/when-mom-isnt-perfect.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (America's Next Top Mommy)4<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/MAFITl13-RKcGKPpkcqCrBxyCJw/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/MAFITl13-RKcGKPpkcqCrBxyCJw/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/MAFITl13-RKcGKPpkcqCrBxyCJw/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/MAFITl13-RKcGKPpkcqCrBxyCJw/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=-44N_ZwPpfU:yVyacXSeBmI:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=-44N_ZwPpfU:yVyacXSeBmI:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=-44N_ZwPpfU:yVyacXSeBmI:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=-44N_ZwPpfU:yVyacXSeBmI:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TopMom/~4/-44N_ZwPpfU" height="1" width="1"/>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-583909479548207373.post-5329740561004087554Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +00002012-01-26T09:37:21.162-05:00movingbloggingAs I was driving home today and crested the hill immediately before the turn to my street, it dawned on me how many times I have made this turn and how familiar it has become. We've lived in our house for almost eight years now and my body has almost completely memorized the trip and the angle at which our minivan ascends the hill, so much so that it will instinctively brace itself in http://americasnexttopmommy.blogspot.com/2012/01/should-we-stay-or-should-we-go.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (America's Next Top Mommy)3<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/GJBOeXo8rlXinejWkYAmJY_c1vg/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/GJBOeXo8rlXinejWkYAmJY_c1vg/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/GJBOeXo8rlXinejWkYAmJY_c1vg/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/GJBOeXo8rlXinejWkYAmJY_c1vg/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=98UBu5g6u9s:h7SeY3WmMBI:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=98UBu5g6u9s:h7SeY3WmMBI:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=98UBu5g6u9s:h7SeY3WmMBI:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=98UBu5g6u9s:h7SeY3WmMBI:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TopMom/~4/98UBu5g6u9s" height="1" width="1"/>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-583909479548207373.post-2066381807841486372Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +00002012-01-25T07:50:54.398-05:00man coldmenhusbandsA nasty sickness has been worming it's way through our family, taking us out one by one like some kind of stealthy, paid-for-hire assassin. I was first. Then my oldest daughter got and it and this weekend my husband got it.  It is a nasty cold but not just any cold, a MAN COLD! A man cold is similar (on paper) to your run of the mill woman cold, except that in real life it's much more dramatic http://americasnexttopmommy.blogspot.com/2012/01/dreaded-man-cold.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (America's Next Top Mommy)3<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/jF8GONzrbx_SuLBXWGymTxqUawc/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/jF8GONzrbx_SuLBXWGymTxqUawc/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/jF8GONzrbx_SuLBXWGymTxqUawc/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/jF8GONzrbx_SuLBXWGymTxqUawc/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=qfEa7-Lh9vE:mLWbDlyPucg:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=qfEa7-Lh9vE:mLWbDlyPucg:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=qfEa7-Lh9vE:mLWbDlyPucg:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=qfEa7-Lh9vE:mLWbDlyPucg:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TopMom/~4/qfEa7-Lh9vE" height="1" width="1"/>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-583909479548207373.post-630437357884914383Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:47:00 +00002012-01-24T08:06:07.942-05:00churchbloggingI used to go to a church where every Sunday, an old man would corner me with his wheel chair, frown at me and say, “WHY DIDN’T YOU BRING YOUR HUSBAND?  WHERE IS HE?”  It always made me feel like I was in trouble and pretty ashamed of myself for it, like I had just been pulled over for driving without my license.  How could I have left the house without him? I should have never taken him out of myhttp://americasnexttopmommy.blogspot.com/2012/01/weve-missed-you-at-church.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (America's Next Top Mommy)6<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/hnG7scSngmgWj6cQ3bJ_-_ghNu0/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/hnG7scSngmgWj6cQ3bJ_-_ghNu0/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/hnG7scSngmgWj6cQ3bJ_-_ghNu0/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/hnG7scSngmgWj6cQ3bJ_-_ghNu0/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=h36hu9JMYaU:rnZ43ZJh-Nc:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=h36hu9JMYaU:rnZ43ZJh-Nc:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=h36hu9JMYaU:rnZ43ZJh-Nc:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=h36hu9JMYaU:rnZ43ZJh-Nc:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TopMom/~4/h36hu9JMYaU" height="1" width="1"/>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-583909479548207373.post-3171032691728267011Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +00002012-01-23T07:00:08.692-05:00parentingIn order to keep putting one foot in front of the other with any degree of sanity, I have to believe that there is a special place in heaven for mothers with children in the process of learning how to play the recorder. The round-the-clock practice sessions (I heard her playing this morning in her room- AT FIVE IN THE MORNING!) The monotonous song choices! If I have to listen to the first 5 http://americasnexttopmommy.blogspot.com/2012/01/special-place-in-heaven.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (America's Next Top Mommy)4<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/FfPsvKsKxcOmbX9B9PDxIHcRISE/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/FfPsvKsKxcOmbX9B9PDxIHcRISE/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/FfPsvKsKxcOmbX9B9PDxIHcRISE/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/FfPsvKsKxcOmbX9B9PDxIHcRISE/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=GfXIyYUz9-g:yCi3SAlBLo0:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=GfXIyYUz9-g:yCi3SAlBLo0:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=GfXIyYUz9-g:yCi3SAlBLo0:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=GfXIyYUz9-g:yCi3SAlBLo0:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TopMom/~4/GfXIyYUz9-g" height="1" width="1"/>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-583909479548207373.post-10279816597736732Sun, 22 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +00002012-01-22T09:43:23.709-05:00bloggingI just typed a word into my blog in the hopes that spell check would recognize it and correct if for me so I could slap my forehead and say, "OH, that's right.  THAT'S the way you spell it.  I can never remember.  Thank God for spell-check.  It's a life-saver and it saves me all the time and effort I would have to put into looking up the word online."  This was when I thought that spell check washttp://americasnexttopmommy.blogspot.com/2012/01/damn-you-spell-check.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (America's Next Top Mommy)3<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/Uq3qtmVBrewh8FlV7eFBbQoM9SA/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/Uq3qtmVBrewh8FlV7eFBbQoM9SA/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/Uq3qtmVBrewh8FlV7eFBbQoM9SA/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/Uq3qtmVBrewh8FlV7eFBbQoM9SA/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=LZovUJEx9Gw:dcLbQ9QDTro:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=LZovUJEx9Gw:dcLbQ9QDTro:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=LZovUJEx9Gw:dcLbQ9QDTro:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=LZovUJEx9Gw:dcLbQ9QDTro:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TopMom/~4/LZovUJEx9Gw" height="1" width="1"/>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-583909479548207373.post-6277859328907236609Sat, 21 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +00002012-01-21T15:14:31.677-05:00bloggingfoodI got an email from my editor at Patch.com yesterday entitled "the blog that won't die."  She was letting me know that she was going to feature it front page because of both the massive amounts of hits it has received and the strange turn in conversation it had spurred. You see, what started out as a thoughtful and reflective piece about family heritage, took a detour into a history lesson that http://americasnexttopmommy.blogspot.com/2012/01/polite-intelligent-conversation.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (America's Next Top Mommy)2<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/BuJC-8CuoT8IEtUmwAe3LPgoCuQ/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/BuJC-8CuoT8IEtUmwAe3LPgoCuQ/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/BuJC-8CuoT8IEtUmwAe3LPgoCuQ/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/BuJC-8CuoT8IEtUmwAe3LPgoCuQ/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=d-RkHawFSXk:oZY5tvNGe-Q:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=d-RkHawFSXk:oZY5tvNGe-Q:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=d-RkHawFSXk:oZY5tvNGe-Q:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=d-RkHawFSXk:oZY5tvNGe-Q:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TopMom/~4/d-RkHawFSXk" height="1" width="1"/>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-583909479548207373.post-6867198956000751742Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:01:00 +00002012-01-20T08:01:01.839-05:00marriageThe hubs and I have had a rough couple of days.  I will spare you the details but I'm sure you'll get the jist if I say that we sometimes struggle with balance.  Him time, me time, kid time, couple time, cleaning time, working time, down time. When you become parents, it all becomes very complicated. And exhausting.  Anyway, tensions were high and I was frustrated; the kind of frustrated where http://americasnexttopmommy.blogspot.com/2012/01/going-to-bed-angry.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (America's Next Top Mommy)4<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/iVFkHBsZacJoIBmg6VdufMWR8ks/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/iVFkHBsZacJoIBmg6VdufMWR8ks/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/iVFkHBsZacJoIBmg6VdufMWR8ks/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/iVFkHBsZacJoIBmg6VdufMWR8ks/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=_sGOWXtaZoM:G3F6RI4XEGo:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=_sGOWXtaZoM:G3F6RI4XEGo:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=_sGOWXtaZoM:G3F6RI4XEGo:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=_sGOWXtaZoM:G3F6RI4XEGo:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TopMom/~4/_sGOWXtaZoM" height="1" width="1"/>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-583909479548207373.post-8193148626471443192Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:57:00 +00002012-01-19T12:01:05.016-05:00motherhoodpaentingstay at home moms   1.   I forgot to put the dryer sheets in with load #98765432 so Hal went to work wearing clothes that were smothering him like a hungry anaconda. 2.  I re-washed the clean dishes in the dishwasher. Again.  3.  I left a blanket on the clothes line.  And since it rained (last week) it finally got so heavy that it ripped the clothes line out of the house. Winning.  4.  I forgot that I let thehttp://americasnexttopmommy.blogspot.com/2012/01/stay-at-home-mom-mistakes-ive-made.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (America's Next Top Mommy)4<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/HUwE9oGqaRww3KfbunNdiECyj14/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/HUwE9oGqaRww3KfbunNdiECyj14/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/HUwE9oGqaRww3KfbunNdiECyj14/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/HUwE9oGqaRww3KfbunNdiECyj14/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=5CDDCfnOIZA:quV8bEDlv8k:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=5CDDCfnOIZA:quV8bEDlv8k:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=5CDDCfnOIZA:quV8bEDlv8k:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=5CDDCfnOIZA:quV8bEDlv8k:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TopMom/~4/5CDDCfnOIZA" height="1" width="1"/>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-583909479548207373.post-5445086151589134444Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:18:00 +00002012-01-19T11:04:49.563-05:00underwearbloggingRecently, I've been using something called Google Analytics.   I'm determined to write more consistently here on ANTM and google analytics helps me keep track of things. I know I've been really 'laxed over the last couple of years.  I didn't contribute nearly as much as the first three years.  We shall henceforth refer to these years as my "dry period." It's not that I've been completely dry.  http://americasnexttopmommy.blogspot.com/2012/01/back-in-big-wayunderwear.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (America's Next Top Mommy)2<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/w7LgaZ-rcorrdVrL5HacuR_Xsfc/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/w7LgaZ-rcorrdVrL5HacuR_Xsfc/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/w7LgaZ-rcorrdVrL5HacuR_Xsfc/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/w7LgaZ-rcorrdVrL5HacuR_Xsfc/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=Dqi21V2-Aqs:k6656LeBpn0:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=Dqi21V2-Aqs:k6656LeBpn0:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=Dqi21V2-Aqs:k6656LeBpn0:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=Dqi21V2-Aqs:k6656LeBpn0:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TopMom/~4/Dqi21V2-Aqs" height="1" width="1"/>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-583909479548207373.post-2023861755467225982Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +00002012-01-19T11:05:21.523-05:00sick kidsparentingI sent my oldest to school today without taking her temperature.  I should have checked because she's been sick lately but it didn't even occur to me. They had a 2 hour delay this morning on account of the snow and seeing as how she got to sleep in and seemed to feel very well I sent her in only to have the school nurse call me an hour later.  She was in the office with a fever and most likely http://americasnexttopmommy.blogspot.com/2012/01/mom-of-year.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (America's Next Top Mommy)0<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/SclIkxi-_VsqtuBMVmAkVJwJJv4/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/SclIkxi-_VsqtuBMVmAkVJwJJv4/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/SclIkxi-_VsqtuBMVmAkVJwJJv4/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/SclIkxi-_VsqtuBMVmAkVJwJJv4/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=XHpA8hM0M4U:gS_FA9H1ByU:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=XHpA8hM0M4U:gS_FA9H1ByU:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=XHpA8hM0M4U:gS_FA9H1ByU:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=XHpA8hM0M4U:gS_FA9H1ByU:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TopMom/~4/XHpA8hM0M4U" height="1" width="1"/>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-583909479548207373.post-5439199340485845403Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +00002012-01-19T11:05:57.503-05:00reviewsProgresive InsurancebloggingHave you guys seen these commercials for Progressive Snapshot? It's essentially a device that you plug into your car that monitors things like the time of day you're driving, how far you're driving and your VIN (vehicle identification number). Progressive basically monitors your driving for 30 days and can offer you a discount of up to 30% based on your good driving.  Do you drive a lot? Do you http://americasnexttopmommy.blogspot.com/2012/01/progressive-its-where-your-privacy-goes.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (America's Next Top Mommy)0<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/MLn_p7lD_KMOWZfupy8mRcIrAvc/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/MLn_p7lD_KMOWZfupy8mRcIrAvc/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/MLn_p7lD_KMOWZfupy8mRcIrAvc/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/MLn_p7lD_KMOWZfupy8mRcIrAvc/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=fMRqZv29nFQ:MFQc6qtNins:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=fMRqZv29nFQ:MFQc6qtNins:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=fMRqZv29nFQ:MFQc6qtNins:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=fMRqZv29nFQ:MFQc6qtNins:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TopMom/~4/fMRqZv29nFQ" height="1" width="1"/>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-583909479548207373.post-325218575009483956Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:18:00 +00002012-01-16T19:42:05.173-05:00bloggingWe're taking the kids to New Haven today for a Martin Luther King Jr. festival.  They're reading kid's stories, will feature live music and also an African dance troop. That will come on the heels of our making them watch a King documentary.  Giving that many facts to small children is mostly futile because while they act as little sponges and absorb everything, it's usually all jumbled up in a http://americasnexttopmommy.blogspot.com/2012/01/teachingn-our-kids-about-martin-luther.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (America's Next Top Mommy)2<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/AW0a7NtOqXB-5bVMN6W6GYBBjJU/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/AW0a7NtOqXB-5bVMN6W6GYBBjJU/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/AW0a7NtOqXB-5bVMN6W6GYBBjJU/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/AW0a7NtOqXB-5bVMN6W6GYBBjJU/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=xakBE_mXKYY:B_zAMiTIdrw:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=xakBE_mXKYY:B_zAMiTIdrw:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=xakBE_mXKYY:B_zAMiTIdrw:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=xakBE_mXKYY:B_zAMiTIdrw:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TopMom/~4/xakBE_mXKYY" height="1" width="1"/>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-583909479548207373.post-334576875154739383Sun, 15 Jan 2012 15:16:00 +00002012-01-15T10:16:00.114-05:00bloggingWell, it's the the middle of January now and I still haven't taken the Christmas tree down.  The rest of the house was cleared of Christmas clutter by January 2nd but that tree? Man, I just can't find the energy to rip that shit down. It's like the holidays sucked out every single ounce of energy I had in me.  The last two ounces of it were used to eat the last of the chocolate Santas and now http://americasnexttopmommy.blogspot.com/2012/01/christmas-style.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (America's Next Top Mommy)0<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/z7O2D4SK6cZrRQEnY6eA75ctpBs/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/z7O2D4SK6cZrRQEnY6eA75ctpBs/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/z7O2D4SK6cZrRQEnY6eA75ctpBs/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/z7O2D4SK6cZrRQEnY6eA75ctpBs/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=oNPuppojYuc:dm0Bt80rWqc:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=oNPuppojYuc:dm0Bt80rWqc:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=oNPuppojYuc:dm0Bt80rWqc:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=oNPuppojYuc:dm0Bt80rWqc:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TopMom/~4/oNPuppojYuc" height="1" width="1"/>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-583909479548207373.post-6507278237466991853Sat, 14 Jan 2012 21:39:00 +00002012-01-15T12:14:47.809-05:00bloggingHave you ever sneezed or coughed so hard that even though you had just peed and your bladder was completely empty, the force is so strong that you still pee yourself? And you're completely embarrassed but scrounge up enough dignity to gracefully excuse yourself from the room only to find that you've peed through your pants! Then you have to take a shower and change like a two year old...or a 92http://americasnexttopmommy.blogspot.com/2012/01/without-dignity.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (America's Next Top Mommy)0<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/ruLiOHMvr7LMQX41inXMl_nNUN8/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/ruLiOHMvr7LMQX41inXMl_nNUN8/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/ruLiOHMvr7LMQX41inXMl_nNUN8/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/ruLiOHMvr7LMQX41inXMl_nNUN8/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=oXyl9kPoEhM:2uiOon_Li1g:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=oXyl9kPoEhM:2uiOon_Li1g:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=oXyl9kPoEhM:2uiOon_Li1g:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=oXyl9kPoEhM:2uiOon_Li1g:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TopMom/~4/oXyl9kPoEhM" height="1" width="1"/>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-583909479548207373.post-1886486508993873347Sat, 14 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +00002012-01-14T09:00:10.882-05:00petsIf you are the proud human of a cat then chances are you’ve experienced any one of the myriad of strange, sometimes downright bizarre behaviors that cats can exhibit. Case in Point: This morning I woke up to a gutted mouse on my back deck.  And when I opened the back door my cat purred and copying the moves of one of the “Price Is Right” models, moved her paw around the dead mouse in orderhttp://americasnexttopmommy.blogspot.com/2012/01/cat-behaviors-explained.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (America's Next Top Mommy)0<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/87AgrscpHIJ8G3plwoVBWXSqhBg/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/87AgrscpHIJ8G3plwoVBWXSqhBg/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/87AgrscpHIJ8G3plwoVBWXSqhBg/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/87AgrscpHIJ8G3plwoVBWXSqhBg/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=RKfuV_6wX0U:O-9yyjEZqBA:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=RKfuV_6wX0U:O-9yyjEZqBA:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=RKfuV_6wX0U:O-9yyjEZqBA:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=RKfuV_6wX0U:O-9yyjEZqBA:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TopMom/~4/RKfuV_6wX0U" height="1" width="1"/>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-583909479548207373.post-6400916544627728032Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +00002012-01-13T08:38:02.695-05:00bloggingI saw this SNL skit weeks ago and it made me pee myself a little bit.  I completely forgot except for now, every time I see a Tempurpedic Mattress commercial, which seems to be like very 5 minutes, I'm reminded of this skit and my mind  falls right into the gutter. And I shouldn't be the only one with my mind in the gutter.  It's so much better to share the gutter with friends so I'm going to http://americasnexttopmommy.blogspot.com/2012/01/kemper-pedic-bed.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (America's Next Top Mommy)0<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/5me1PL1RFrXqD-60OgTRNYOohR0/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/5me1PL1RFrXqD-60OgTRNYOohR0/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/5me1PL1RFrXqD-60OgTRNYOohR0/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/5me1PL1RFrXqD-60OgTRNYOohR0/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=W88JV5iEuQ4:U5-n39gRcbs:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=W88JV5iEuQ4:U5-n39gRcbs:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=W88JV5iEuQ4:U5-n39gRcbs:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=W88JV5iEuQ4:U5-n39gRcbs:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TopMom/~4/W88JV5iEuQ4" height="1" width="1"/>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-583909479548207373.post-3128846856075594952Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:58:00 +00002012-01-12T12:58:36.552-05:00parentingI've got some kind of virus in my throat. Or so I've self-diagnosed based on the people around me who seem to have the same symptoms and were Nancy enough to go to the doctor over a little sore throat. Not me.  I can tough it out *wince*.  Nah,  from what I hear, our symptoms seem the same and their docs said that it's a virus that's just carousel-ing it's way around town. But all is not lost http://americasnexttopmommy.blogspot.com/2012/01/very-quiet-evening.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (America's Next Top Mommy)0<p><a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/1putdMwhWjGv_XBEVc0iPMYC8so/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/1putdMwhWjGv_XBEVc0iPMYC8so/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a><br/> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/1putdMwhWjGv_XBEVc0iPMYC8so/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~a/1putdMwhWjGv_XBEVc0iPMYC8so/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=wmSLPOaLhOc:FveAg_u1yIQ:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=wmSLPOaLhOc:FveAg_u1yIQ:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=wmSLPOaLhOc:FveAg_u1yIQ:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?a=wmSLPOaLhOc:FveAg_u1yIQ:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TopMom?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TopMom/~4/wmSLPOaLhOc" height="1" width="1"/>