Figments of a Mom

I might qualify for help from the Super Nanny

2012-02-09T11:21:00.000-05:00

My youngest daughter makes me insane. Her emotional outbursts bring out the worst in me. And my emotional outbursts don't scare her into listening. Which really makes for an entertaining scene. Of course, I want what every parent wants. I want my children to act like little adults and behave appropriately. How dare they act like, like...children! This morning was especially challenging - a

Portfolio building

2012-02-06T22:30:00.001-05:00

I have been more than a little distracted lately with the possibility of taking photography fulltime. Far off down the road but still, there's that glimmer... Every weekend I've had a least one portfolio-building photo session. I can happily say, I'm done and now taking "photos for commission". I'm working on my site, my marketing material and even keeping my eye on some photo retreats/workshops

A new venture

2012-01-22T11:30:00.000-05:00

I have a secret project in the works, and I'm totally consumed with it. It's not going to save lives or make an environmental impact. It's more personal. I'm working on my photography portfolio in hopes to have an actual business. I would love to work as a photographer fulltime. My dream in college was to work for National Geographic as a photojournalist. I even applied to the Peace Corps in

Happy Birthday...to my house

2012-01-08T15:23:00.002-05:00

I love old houses. They have a lot of character and little details that many newer houses seem to be missing. And quirky things tend to happen on occasion... Out of the blue last week, little K asked if we could have a birthday party for the house. Sure, I said it's going to be 100 years old this year. That's definitely worth celebrating. I just need to find out what day it was completed.

Generations

2012-01-02T09:43:00.001-05:00

My grandmother, who just turned 89, has seven children, which currently includes six children in-law, 16 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. My grandfather just passed away recently. They were married for over 60 years. So for the first time, my grandmother is alone. Even though she has an extended legacy of family, she's alone, in a way. Her partner in life is gone.

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T22:33:00.000-05:00

Welcome 2012 and happy new year to everyone! I spent the evening and morning with friends, which was spontaneously extended into mid-afternoon with leftovers and several shakers of cosmopolitans - a perfect way to start the new year, albeit misleading since I will be starting Weight Watchers this week. My only "resolution". We managed to get the kids off the Wii and outdoors before the arctic

Where we found our Elf...

2011-12-27T07:58:00.003-05:00

I'm here to say, it's never too late to get your Elf.... My 9 year old started asking questions last year about the logistics of Santa. It's in her nature. So I made one last ditch effort and had our Elf delivered anonymously. Finding "Charlie" instantly became part of the morning routine. I wasn't sure E was buying into it until our friends' son threw Charlie to the ground, and I later found E

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-26T19:54:00.000-05:00

I am sooooo late getting out my cards - thankfully it's a full week of holiday celebrating. At least that's how I justify it. I think I'm just in denial that it's almost over. Christmas was upon me so fast, and the weather was warm, it took even longer to get mentally into it. Then once I was in the Christmas spirit, it was over! But, I'm still playing Christmas music, I'm keeping the

Making Salt Dough Ornaments

2011-12-10T07:57:00.001-05:00

I love ornaments. L.O.V.E. them. But I have rules when it comes to my ornaments. They must have some kind of meaning behind them. So this year I thought it would be fun and memorable to make our own ornaments from salt dough. Little K was pumped! She is my mess-maker after all, so mixing up a batch of salt dough was perfect for her. I'm picky about my dough however. I've made batches before

Tis the season

2011-12-08T22:55:00.003-05:00

For some randoms... Our Elf, Charlie, has finally arrived, anonymously. Better late than never. The girls are admittedly a little "creeped out" by him and the fact that he is watching them all the time. But, they are convinced that Santa must have sent him along. In fact, my 9-year-old was the first one to say that, so I'm thrilled I haven't lost her yet. I'm not so sure Charlie will be

Girls Getaway: St. Michaels, Md

2011-11-28T10:57:00.000-05:00

My latest girls getaway was to waterfront St. Michaels, MD with my mom and my sister, an annual weekend trip that usually brings us somewhere ultra-quaint with lots of boutique shopping. St. Michaels fit that bill perfectly. It's also an ideal spot for a couple's getaway with loads of romantic Victorian bed and breakfasts to stay in. We arrived on a Friday evening and checked into the

Review of Apothederm Firming Serum

2011-11-20T22:08:00.002-05:00

I have never been one for extraordinary skin care routines. I use a cleanser and a moisturizer, but that's about it. Until I turned 40 last month. The wrinkles are starting to take up a permanent and deeper residence on my face. No time like the present to adopt some preventative care. I was offered the opportunity to try a facial firming serum from Apothederm. A new company and product to

To St. Michaels, MD

2011-11-11T16:42:00.001-05:00

This weekend will be the fourth weekend in a row that I will be traveling -- one final girls weekend of the year with my mom and sister to St. Michaels, Maryland. While I'm looking forward to the weekend of sightseeing and bonding, I am anxious to have some extended time in my home--the clutter has reached monumental levels. I walk into Little K's room and my eyeballs vibrate from the mess. I

Wino Mommy

2011-11-11T10:26:00.004-05:00

It appears my children are more perceptive than I would like. Hence, a recent writing assignment using spelling words in a Halloween narrative. Evidence A: While the moms and I did walk around with a beverage as the kids treat-or-treated, I DID NOT get a refill along the way. It was offered, but I stopped AT ONE. Just to be clear. Also, do not assume her misuse of the word "drunk" should in

How do you deal with lying?

2011-11-03T07:41:00.001-04:00

Ever since the girls were old enough to talk we've been telling them they won't get in trouble for telling the truth. But lying? Not tolerable. Lately, however, little K has resorted to lying. And I mean lying right to my face when the evidence is in my hand. Apparently, I'm making one of the first mistakes when it comes to encouraging honesty: Don't ask the question when you already know the

Meet an real astronaut at the Please Touch Museum

2011-11-02T07:37:00.006-04:00

If you are looking for something to do with your little ones, especially as the weather gets colder, the Please Touch Museum has Astronaut Chris Ferguson, a Philadelphia native, visiting at 1 pm on Monday, November 7th to meet your children and read the book “There’s No Place Like Space!” in the museum's Space Station area. After the Story Time, Astronaut Ferguson will move to the area

Girls Getaway: Newport, Rhode Island

2011-11-01T12:12:00.003-04:00

It may not be the first place you think of when planning a girls getaway. It may not even be on your list of places to go at all. But it was on mine, and when flights to Providence dropped to $99 round trip, I figured now was as good a time as any. And because the 40th birthday celebrating was still in full swing. A 6:30 am flight means you have to be up at 4 am, but it also means you have a

One Day on Earth - Will You Be There?

2011-10-31T14:19:00.000-04:00

We are so engrossed in our own world that we forget other things are happening to other people at the same time other places in the world. Right now, you're sitting there reading this blog, but where one baby is being born, another is dying; where a child learns in school, another is looking for food; where one person is losing a job, another is being hired; where one couple is buying a house,

Annual Pumpkin Carving

2011-10-24T22:02:00.000-04:00

It's that time of year - time to make the jack o'lanterns! I have learned through experience it's best to do this as close to Halloween as possible. Otherwise, the squirrels have a feast and the jack o'lanterns become mutated beyond recognition. Little K likes to pick the largest possible pumpkin, this one weighing in at 23 lbs. Fortunately, and surprisingly, it was not 23 pounds of guts and

Underestimating time

2011-10-24T12:48:00.003-04:00

I've been enlightened from events this past weekend to a pattern in my behavior that I'm sure isn't news to anyone that knows me...I am a master at underestimating the amount of time it takes to do anything. This is a problem when I plan to do many things in one day. For instance, this past weekend with the hubs out of town I planned to make pumpkin spice muffins with cream cheese icing (YUM!),

Wordless Wednesday--You think you got your hands full?

2011-10-12T11:42:00.000-04:00

My sweet neighbor let me come over and photograph her and her new twin girls...

The 40th Birthday

2011-10-05T10:57:00.048-04:00

Yesterday was the day. The 40th birthday had finally arrived. The dreaded and much anticipated milestone. 40? *cringe* I may have survived the day, but the number still hurts. I surprised myself when I woke up without the anticipated heavy fog of dread. I felt okay! Excited in fact, to take on the day. Of course, that could have had something to do with the fact that my loving husband bought me

Only celebrate the milestones...

2011-10-03T12:18:00.000-04:00

Someone sent this to me today. Funny perspective on what birthdays are worthy of celebrating.

How I'm planning to spend my 40th birthday

2011-09-30T15:00:00.003-04:00

A few months ago, I had an epiphany walking to work: I must get a tattoo to mark my 40th birthday. Never in my life have I wanted a tattoo. I love tattoos on other people, there just hasn't been anything I loved so much so that I needed to permanently imprint it on my body. Until now. Yes, this is what I'm doing. And I'm excited. Then earlier this week, another idea hit me out the blue. Go to

Are you accomplished?

2011-09-30T10:23:00.001-04:00

The other night I was at a happy hour with some co-workers I recently started working with. It was so nice to be out with new people - I laughed so hard my cheeks hurt. But, as I was whining about my impending doom, one woman just a few years younger than me couldn't believe I was so devastated about my milestone birthday. She said, "But you're married and have kids. You're accomplished!" What?