Why?

Because

Because

I AM

In other words, I’m mom enough because I exist.

Regardless of whether you like or approve of what I do or don’t do.

Now let’s stop bashing . . . → Read More: I’m Mom Enough]]> Regardless of what you think of me, I know I am Mom enough.

Why?

Because

Because

I AM

In other words, I’m mom enough because I exist.

Regardless of whether you like or approve of what I do or don’t do.

Now let’s stop bashing each other, shall we?

Thanks to my clever friends at Philly Social Media Moms (PSMM) I stay busy saving the planet and making wonderfully supportive friends.  Did . . . → Read More: Books, Shopping, and Parties – #PSMM Style]]> You may wonder what PammyPam does when she’s not ranting here on this blog.  It’s simple, I’m either working, partying, shopping, drinking coffee, selling books, reading books, saving the world, attending a workshop, etc.

Thanks to my clever friends at Philly Social Media Moms (PSMM) I stay busy saving the planet and making wonderfully supportive friends.  Did I mention I was a model? What? You didn’t hear (rolling eyes)? That, my friends is another story.  Anyway, back to saving the planet.

I’d like to tell you a little story.

One day in a kingdom far far away called Conshohocken, the beautiful and lovely Joey Fortman of Real Mom Media invited PSMM to attend a party with free grub nibbles from Pizzeria DiMeo’s  and wine! Since no one can say no to Joey’s whimpers requests, several of us social media courtiers rode in our chariots and arrived in the quaint hamlet of Conshocken at the shoppe called Free  Reign Boutique.  Inside Free Reign Boutique, the courtiers were greeted by a handsome young squire  and the lovely shoppekeeper who were pleased to share their boutique and the lovely trinkets and baubles within.

Once inside the shoppe the social media mavens chatted, oohed and ahhed at the unique baubles, nibbled on appetizers, and shopped for never before seen items.

Fair PammyPam gleefully discovered a bottle of Poo Pourri, which makes the toidy free from noxious odors!

Other lovelies purchased jewelry, children’s books, handbags, foundation garments, and all manner of shiny trinkets.

The young squire slayed the dangerous fire breathing dragon and the lovely young social media courtesans ascended their magic chariots and departed the magical world of Conshohocken bidding the sweet Joey Fortman and BenFM adieu.  They dreamt of properly fitting Coobies and vowed to return to the lovely boutique in the future.   And they all lived happily ever after, the end.

photo courtesy Free Reign Boutique

We’d like to thank Free Reign Boutique, Joey Fortman, and BenFM  for showing us a lovely time!

Here’s a cute little clutch for day I considered . . . → Read More: Who me, fashion?]]> It’s been a minute since I’ve written about fashion, and now that it’s busy season I’m going to all kinds of partays and things and generally being drunk dressed nice. Here’s a peek into some of the things I’ve been wearing or shopping with or shopping for lately.

Here’s a cute little clutch for day I considered buying.

i love the bow, but i’m not much of a bow-ey gal.

Here’s what i bought:

i like it. Splash a color and all…

Here’s me and #1 son at a very beautiful and shi shi apartment on Rittenhouse Square

Turns out it was cold that day and the lovely short sleeved peach sweater i bought for this function would not work. So back to black.

Then came the real problem the next day (cue scary music)…

Here’s a pic of me and The Man at the bar mitzvah.  Outdoor tent and it’s chilly outside so the outfit i had planed totally wouldnt work. Turns out? Black is good. With a splash of color.

Then, I went to a function with my fun Philly Social Media Ladies and the great and lovely Joey Fortman.  We had a fun time at Free Reign Boutique sampling yummies and buying things First World people often buy: tchokes and bras. But good bras they are!

The stuff i’m holding there? Poo Purrie. Its for the loo…

And finally, TOMORROW is my first modeling gig ever. EVAH!

I’ll be stumbling strutting the runway for the Mainline Parent’s Mom Night Out event.  Wish me luck, I’ll made up and dressed up and trussed up in beautiful clothes!

I do hope I don’t trip and fall.

Think Jerry Lewis in heels. For them that are too young for Jerry Lewis, think Jim Carrey in braces and heels.

Lots of falling but fun!

Here’s a video I made just for you!

Don’t forget to rock the vote!

p.s. bring ID

Tweet . . . → Read More: Rock the Vote!]]> Today in Pennsylvania it’s a primary election day.

Here’s a video I made just for you!

Don’t forget to rock the vote!

p.s. bring ID

If you wonder why there are fewer and fewer good teachers in PA, look around.  The certified teachers in PA have:

And early this spring he told me that we were through. To be sure, he gave me some warning that we were over. Told me to come get some whenever I wanted; Which I did, but on April 19th he was kicking me to . . . → Read More: Why did Picnik dump me?]]> I’ve been having a relationship with Picnik since 2010.

And early this spring he told me that we were through. To be sure, he gave me some warning that we were over. Told me to come get some whenever I wanted; Which I did, but on April 19th he was kicking me to the curb. For good. No more freebies. No more early morning quickies or late night playdates.

Picnik was dumping me and moving on.

I may have been dumped by Picnik, but we did have some good times together.  Wanna see?

Here’s a pic of my beloved cur, Bailey.  Isn’t he a sweetie?

And here’s a pic of #1 son. I was mourning the loss of this toddler as he graduated high school.  so i’m sensitive, do me something.

and a pic of me with a championship trophy that i almost touched (the man wouldn’t let me) at the Philadelphia Dog Show.  Hey look! I’m not wearing brown!!!

Goodbye Picnik, thanks for the lovin, schmoopie, I’ll remember you fondly.

Hey Johnny D (wink wink)!

My beautiful Pumpkin will be ogled by . . . → Read More: What can I do? I’m just one person #TrayvonMartin]]> I’m a mother. I’m a mother of two children. I’m a mother of two African America children.  I’m a mother of a young Black man and a young Black woman, neither of whom will get a fair shake at anything in this world because of the color of their skin.

My beautiful Pumpkin will be ogled by men who objectify women like the ones they see in music videos.  The thought makes me sick.

My handsome #1 son will be profiled and watched and called names and mistreated and mishandled. The thought makes me sick.

But what can I do, I’m just one person?

I can get angry. I can cry.  I can turn off the news. I can educate my children on how to behave in public.

But none of that is enough if one of them happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time;

photo courtesy A Million Hoodies for Travyvon Martin Facebook page

Just like young Trayvon Martin.

And now his mother is without a son. And I can’t even begin to imagine how that feels.

Nothing I do will bring back that child.

But, I can speak up against hate crimes so no other mother has to endure the pain and loss that Trayvon Martin’s mother did.

I can blog.  I can Tweet. I can join groups on Facebook.I can update my Facebook status. I can wear a hoodie. I can march.

And I can vote.

I can vote for public servants who believe like I believe: that human life is valuable, no matter the color (ethnicity, orientation, belief, gender, etc).

That’s what I can do.

What can you do?

We celebrate many holidays in our house.  Any chance to eat sweets and drink wine is right up my alley. Today we celebrate Passover and Good Friday.  I rarely make sweets mostly because I stink at baking.  . . . → Read More: Matzo Crack for Passover]]> Please forgive me for not posting this yesterday.  I was too drunk to post The day got away from me!

We celebrate many holidays in our house.  Any chance to eat sweets and drink wine is right up my alley. Today we celebrate Passover and Good Friday.  I rarely make sweets mostly because I stink at baking.  But I found a recipe that is so STINKING easy even I can’t screw it up!

It’s called Matzo Toffee Brittle.  It goes by many other names, but from now on shall be called Matzo Crack because once you taste it, you can’t get enough of it; like crack.  I’ve never had crack, but whatever, right? I found this recipe on Pinterest and several other locations: The Smitten Kitchen, David Leibovitz, and Sassy Radish.

I’ll post my how to do here because I want to show how really super easy it is. I’m taking it to the seder tonight. I’m not sure it’ll last that long.

First the ingredients:

* A box of Matzos.  I used whole wheat but you could use plain.

* butter. I used about three half sticks (pre cut) but I think you could get by with less

* semi sweet chocolate chips

* sliced almonds (i crushed them)

* approx 1 cup brown sugar (I used light brown sugar cuz that’s what I had on hand)

* sea salt (I used Kosher salt because that’s what I already had on hand). Ignore the vanilla extract. The recipe totally doesn’t need it.

Tools:

* parchment paper

* Aluminum foil

* large cookie sheet

* pot

* heat resistant spreader/spatula

Super stinking easy directions:

1. Heat oven to 275

2. cover cookie sheet with  aluminum foil first, covering up over the edges.

3.  place a layer of parchment paper over that aluminum foil. Makes clean up EASY PEASY!

4. place matzo on cookie sheet. break up pieces to fill up whole tray.

5. heat butter and brown sugar in a pot on low stirring constantly until brown sugar melts (i literally just dumped them both in)

6.  when melted and bubbling (not burnt) turn off pot and pour over the matzos

7. spread the toffee to cover all of the matzo. be quick because it cools quickly!

8.  put in oven and bake for 15 minutes or until toffee bubbles (do not burn)!

9.  Take out of oven, sprinkle the chocolate chips over the toffee. let sit for 5 minutes or so.

10.  When chips have melted, spread and cover the matzos.

11. go ahead and totally lick the spatula. you know you want to!

12.  sprinkle with almonds (or your fave nut). I crushed my almonds in the bag with a jar just to make more of them.

You should prolly use more almonds than i did. it looks bare.

13.  sprinkle generously (yes, YES!) with the sea salt.

14.  For best results, cover lightly, put in refrigerator for two hours to cool. For funnest results, eat a bunch of it warm outta the oven (swoon!).

15.  Keep away from cat. Everyone will come running when they smell the delish. Fight them off.

16.  When cool, break into smallish pieces.  Store covered for about a week (so the recipe says).

Enjoy!

yum!

I am happy to report that the fam raved about my dessert. I finally found a dessert I’m good at making!

I also made a vegan version, substituting margarine with olive oil for butter.

want some?

I am Trayvon Martin’s mother.  I am sad.  I am angry.  I am confused.  I don’t know what to do.  I feel helpless and not in control.  Listening to the news and reading the Twitter feeds and Facebook comments helps me know that I am not . . . → Read More: I am Trayvon Martin’s Mother]]>

photo courtesy A Million Hoodies for Travyvon Martin Facebook page

I am Trayvon Martin’s mother.  I am sad.  I am angry.  I am confused.  I don’t know what to do.  I feel helpless and not in control.  Listening to the news and reading the Twitter feeds and Facebook comments helps me know that I am not the only person who feels like Trayvon Martin’s mother.  This tragic case is one that everyone can support.  Why? Because Trayvon was a child when he died. Correction, when he was murdered.  And as a parent, more specifically, as a mother, it hurts to think of a mother who has learned that her child has died. Died and now must be buried.  I always tell my own kids that parents should not have to bury their children.   When a mother aches for the loss of her child, we ALL ache.  Dads too, I’m sure of it.

Regardless of your color or your economic situation, bringing up a baby is a happy time.  You protect them from germs; you make sure anyone who holds them supports their delicate little necks.  You revel at the firs time they smile at you.  You take pictures at milestones; you read their favorite story over and over and over (and over) again.  You are proud.  You are a parent.  You are in control of your child’s life and you relish that opportunity to provide for that child and keep them safe.

But the world is unkind to children.  Children are kidnapped, raped, and killed daily and there’s nothing you can do about it but hug your little one tighter at bedtime and hope the family of the victim gets some kind of comfort somewhere.  And you never think it will happen to you.  Unfortunately, the odds are against you if you are a Black male living in the South wearing a hoodie.

Do you teach your sweet little one to say thank you when they are given something? Yes. Do you teach your baby about stranger danger? Of course you do.  Do you teach your child that being a young Black male in America puts you at odds with everyone? Of course you don’t.  And why not?  Because you mistakenly assume that if your child is polite and looks both ways before crossing the street that he is safe from harm.  And you know what? You are wrong.

It is a shame that in 2012 with all the technological advances in the world and everything else that is glorious about modern day, it is still a crime to be a young Black male in America and there is nothing you can do about it.

But still, you persist.

You talk to your sons and tell them that they have to accept that the world is unfair to them. Life will be more difficult for them than for their sisters or their White counterparts.

You tell your sons that they have to be nicer, dress better (no saggy pants), be smarter, keep your anger in check, and be better at everything else to be successful.

You tell your sons that no matter how much fame and glory they obtain (even Presidency!) they will still just be a Black boy to some folks.

So, aside from teaching them about stranger danger, you have to teach them how to be on guard every single day of their lives.  People will be afraid of him if the two of you are walking down the same side of the street and may cross over to the other side avoid him.

You teach your sons to pick their battles, and while its important not to be a doormat and get walked on, it’s more important to come home each day: alive and in one piece.  Check your ego at the door, you tell them.  Mommy just wants you safe.

And then?  You watch them walk out the door and hope they will be ok; and you’re pretty sure they will because you’ve equipped them with the skills they need, right?

Only you didn’t think about that damn hoodie he was wearing and how it might cause a problem.  It’s just a sweatshirt; all the kids wear them.

And now? You’ve lost your child because it was nighttime and he was Black and he was wearing a hoodie and happened to be on the outskirts of a community patrolled by racists on the hunt for a prowler.

That prowler was your son, walking home from the store and on the phone with his girlfriend and he was afraid.  Afraid for his life. And you weren’t there to make it all better, like mommies are supposed to do.  And now you hurt.

And now I hurt too because I am a mother and my heart aches for Trayvon Martin’s mother.

I am Trayvon Martin’s mother.  I am sad.  I am angry.  I am confused.  I don’t know what to do.  I feel helpless and not in control.