Gussied

I had a hard time getting ready for the Victorian Tea that hubby and I attended yesterday. Now when I put makeup on, I really feel like I'm over doing it. I've enjoyed seeing how comfortable you all have been sharing your clean faces in the Bloggers Without Makeup contest. I truly thought it would be really hard to get participants!

And you heard that right- hubby and I had to attend a Victorian Tea for a charity. I know- who goes to those things? Apparently people like us. For hubby's work.

And when he told me about it, at first I thought it was weird that he, being a man, would be going to such a thing. Isn't it usually just for women, in hats and gloves eating lemon bars? And what if they talk about women-stuff? You know, women stuff. He called to make sure and it turned out men were indeed allowed to attend.

So another dressed up occasion we were off to. It was a beautiful day. And the best part was my new shoes. You couldn't see them in our picture above and I can't not take a picture of these shoes. The dress may look familiar (an old DKNY Marshall's fave) but the shoes are new (and are of course from Marshall's.) Where else can you get a fabulous pair of Franco Sartos like these for $20?!

Beauty

Oh, the new look I have here and the new outlook I now have after seeing all you lovelies baring your unmade faces in the Bloggers Without Makeup contest this week! Join in if you haven't already, and please visit the participants to admire them and all of their natural beauty goodness!

So, what do you think, then, about permanent makeup?

There's a running joke in our family that my hubby grew up like the Cleavers from Leave It To Beaver and I grew up like the Connors from Roseanne. We tease each other about it often.

My mom emailed me that my Mommal (grandmother, age 70-something) is going to Chicago on Monday with the little girl that does her nails to get her eyebrows tattoo'ed for $100.

I tell hubby.

Me: Isn't that kinda expensive?
My brother: She better leave a nice tip!
Hubby (shaking head ): Your family...

Making Milk Public Controversy

I don't even know how to preface the article below... the writer's email is included as well as my response to him.

Making Milk Public Controversy
By: Charles Winokoor, business writer
04/27/2007

So there I was grocery shopping the other day when, just as I reached for a
quart of skim milk, I noticed the strangest thing.

Women - mothers, to be exact - began dropping to the floor and
breast-feeding their babies. Hurrying out of the dairy section, I found myself surrounded by pet supplies, but again was confronted with a surrealistic sight: Unsupervised
canines and tabbies relieving themselves willy nilly, and then sauntering
off to leave the mess for the night crew to clean up.

Get out now, I told myself, as the sweat trickled down my brow. And wouldn't you know it, just as I scurried past the Health & Beauty aisle I spied a group of men, shirts off, nonchalantly spraying and rolling their underarms with the deodorizer of their choice.
Decorum precludes me from detailing what I witnessed in the place where they sell the Charmin.

Knocking over a shopping cart with a child's seat, I ran into the parking lot and headed for my car to make a getaway. As I fumbled for my key, I realized it was too late; I was surrounded.
.........
.........
Waking up in bed, I took stock of my nightmare. What in the world had inspired my subconscious to unleash such nocturnal torment? Then it came to me. It was nothing more mysterious than this week's story about a Hingham mom who managed to cause a stir by breast-feeding her infant in the middle of a store.

Last Friday, Brockton cardiologist Dr. Melissa Tracy, while shopping in the South Hingham iParty store, dropped to the floor and began breast-feeding her ostensibly starving 2-month-old child.

"Rather than let him become hysterical, I sat down on the floor and breast-fed him," Tracy told the Boston Herald. What happened next, she said, caused her to feel humiliated. The store manager, a regular Darth Vader it seems, had the gall to admonish her. "He stood over me and said 'You can't do that here,' " she was quoted. "I've never felt that badly before."

Feeling emotionally scarred, Tracy did the honorable and proper thing: She ratted out the iParty blue meanie to his corporate superiors - who issued a knee-jerk, please-don't-hit-me mea culpa, faster than CBS Radio and MSNBC gave Don Imus the bum's rush.

What she's failed to mention, either in print or on TV, is why she was so compelled to plop to the floor instead of walking to the ladies room. Would she have jeopardized her child's welfare, his very life, if she had simply made the effort? Or was she more interested in making a point about who she is and what she thinks she represents? During a TV interview, her husband said in his native Germany breast-feeding in public is an accepted practice and one that is "not vulgar."

Not vulgar for sure - but how about annoying? Not the act of breast-feeding, mind you, but the behavior of well-educated parents who want to impose their version of an enlightened society upon the rest of us, without regard to our sensibilities.

That sort of selfish, guerilla mentality is not just inconsiderate to those of us backward Americans who are not used to seeing babies suckling while we're shopping for party supplies or dog food, it's also unfair to the companies whose employees are only trying to do the right thing. Now, if any business - be it retail chain, a local independent store or a car dealership - announces a policy explicitly allowing open breast-feeding then that's their prerogative. But one also has to ponder how this type of adult-baby behavior will eventually affect the child.

No wonder there's a legion of kids nowadays who have grown up thinking they're extra-special, entitled and oh-so-superior; after all, it's been imbedded into their id since they were fed mother's milk. This whole silly episode reminds me, in a way, of the case of the "flying imams," six religious Muslims who were removed from a flight last November
after they insisted on standing up in the plane for evening prayers. They knew exactly what they were doing. They wanted publicity and they got it, in spades.

That's not to say the good doctor from Brockton intended, ahead of time, to use her breast-feeding as a publicity stunt to teach the rest of us a good lesson. From what I've read and heard, she comes across as a decent, sincere individual.

What I do suggest to her and other mothers who act rashly, and then condemn anyone who complains, is to grow up before your child does. And next time you go shopping with your infant in your arms, try bringing along a baby bottle.

Charles Winokoor is the business writer for the Taunton Daily Gazette.
cwinokoor@tauntongazette.com

Dear Mr. Winokoor,

Yesterday I was out an outdoor shopping mall with a friend and our two babies. They needed to nurse, so we found a nice shaded bench outside and sat down to nurse. We did not make a scene and we did not feel like we had to be on display for all to see that we were 'breastfeeding our babies because we have the right!' or because it's the best way to parent our babies. We were only thinking of our babies needs at that time. It in no way inconvenienced anyone else. Especially those that walked about with their shopping bags around us.

No way would I nurse my baby in a bathroom if I had a perfectly good bench, chair, or even a floor in a store. Check the ladies restroom next time YOU'RE at the grocery store and tell me if you see a nice bench or chair in there. And then, yuck- would you want to eat in there?

Why in the world should I bottle-feed my baby (requiring bottles, a breast pump, inconvenience) when I have (for free) two perfectly fine breasts to feed my child?

I think those that choose to be offended by a mother feeding her baby are doing just that: CHOOSING to be offended. You are trying to place the selfishness on the mother who probably has had little sleep and needs all the support she can get, Mr.!

Look At Me!

-Updated-
Yet another look we're working on! Bear with me as I get settled in!

While I’ve been getting a make-under with the Bloggers Without Makeup contest, my blog has been getting a make-over!

What do you think? Is it me?

Drea from Fina' Drea showered my blog with beautifully designed blessings… she is the sweetest most cutest little thing, I want to put her in my pocket. Not that she’s that tiny, but I just say that about people I like so much... like Yau-Man from this season’s Survivor. So adorable. I told hubby I would love to have a Yau-Man doll with his goofy body and big teeth… ok, so maybe I’m delirious from this new make-over.

I’ll go now… just be sure to stop by Drea’s and tell her how awesome she is and totally consider her if you need a bloggy make-over, too!

My Kid Is So Cute

The Bloggers Without Makeup contest is in full-swing! Look at all these beauties! And remember, if you just can't post a picture, you can still participate by mentioning the contest on your blog!

Now, back to my kid that is so cute...

So Gray can make some pretty cute animal sounds...

And here's a video of animals making people sounds...

Get Real: Bloggers Without Makeup

This contest has ended! See the winners here. Please feel free to still add your photo to the Mr. Linky if you'd like!

I wanted to have a contest to give away some of the free stuff I've gotten lately in the mail and from my Google day...

After seeing People Magazine's Beautiful People issue featuring some of our favorite Stars Without Makeup, I thought wouldn't it be bold to do the same. Bloggers Without Makeup. Let's see how many of you are brave enough!

Most days if I'm just staying in the house, I wear minimal makeup. I have been known to go to the grocery store without makeup on occasion, and sometimes even Target! But I do still consider my concealer, eye liner, & mascara as necessities in life!

But for this contest, I'll reveal myself before concealer, before photoshop, (like you've never used the blemish editor or cropped a bit of your arm in a photo?) little freckles, bags, & all. Now I'm encouraging you to do the same- it's ok if you style your hair or not- just don't wear any makeup. If you even want to do a black & white photo or get creative, that's ok, too.

And if you just aren't comfortable posting a picture, you can still enter by posting about the contest and linking back to it here.

Just be sure to post the link to your contest in the Mr. Linky below, and leave a comment to let me know you're baring all with me!

On Monday May 7th at 9 AM* (Central), I'll randomly pick TWO winners from the Linky List to receive a fun prize package... and as I keep receiving things in the mail (people send me free stuff from time to time!) I'll keep adding to the prizes. If you'd like to donate prizes to the contest, let me know and I'll post about it here...

So let us see you get real!

*Updated to add- I had to extend the contest a few days. I just have more prizes on their way and would love to put them in the cool Google swag tote bags I have to give away. I might even use this weekend to find more surprises to put in there... Click here for a little info about the prizes so far!

They're Fruity And They're Good

Still more contests going on! I know I still have to post about the next one I'm planning, and I think it's going to be very interesting & fun. If you have any prizes you'd like to donate for the contest, let me know.

In the meantime I wanted to let you know about another contest happening with Fruity Cheerios & Modern Mom. They are co-sponsoring a nation-wide contest for families. Parents with their kids can submit Fruity Cheerios-themed pictures or videos for a chance to win $500. Raise your hand if you'd like an extra $500! You know I'll be entering!

So yeah, I know, although Fruity Cheerios do have 25% less sugar than the leading fruit-flavored cereal, moms like me usually aren't buying that either. BUT, I do have to say they are quite fruity and quite good. They remind me of something from my childhood- can't quite place it, and I've enjoyed having the box in my house this week...

Google & Me: The Story

A couple months ago I got an email from my dear blogging friend Jaymi aka FlipFlop Mamma telling me how I might get a call from someone at Google to go to some thing about moms in Chicago. She had been contacted and wouldn't be able to go, but recommended me. Ok, how nice is that?

Sure enough I got a phone call from the nicest gal ever at Google asking a bunch of questions and wanting to know if I could be a part of a special panel of moms at an upcoming presentation. Of course! It's Google! Sign me up!

I had really been excited about it and was kept in contact with Jen (the nicest gal ever at Google)- she would keep me updated on what kind of questions we'd be asked, what to expect, etc. Over 140 rsvp's had come in for the event including big name brands, PR people, marketing people, etc. There were 3 other Mommy bloggers on the panel and two other moms that don't have blogs but who also consider the Internet as a big part of their life.

Last week as the big day was approaching, I had a lot to think about. Mainly- what was I going to wear? Seriously. I asked Jen what we should wear and she said most would be in business casual or suits. Oh, so usual mom attire of a cute shirt (with or without snot stain on the shoulder) and jeans was probably not appropriate. I wasn't going to wear a dress or be too dressed up, and still wanted to look like a mom to represent myself as a mom, but not look so much like a mom that I looked too much like a mom. Get that? Anyway, I went shopping at- where else?- Marshall's. Turns out there were some business-suited people, but also many in the "Google casual" wear that could be jeans and a nice shirt. So a mom like me would fit right in... oh, and I still wore my Crocs!

I had a wonderful drive into the city. I must admit it was really nice to be alone in my car, all by myself, driving along, alone (did I say that already?) I got there a little early and was just so glad I wasn't late. I found the building, gave my name and who I was meeting, and then was escorted up to the Google office. Upon exiting the elevator I felt like I was entering FAO Shwartz and not a business office! There were lava lamps and colorful exercise balls everywhere. And everything was Google-colored. You know, white, blue, red, yellow. Fun.

First I had to sign into a computer and a name tag was printed out for me. Then I met Jen and went into the "green room" for us moms. They had lunch for us while we talked over what we'd be doing that day.

Here is probably my favorite part of the day: Jen tells me she read on my blog that I was vegan, so she googled for vegan Chicago pizza and found me the most heavenly vegan veggie deep-dish Chicago-style pizza! I am still dreaming about it. I wish I would have taken a picture... What an awesome first impression, Google!!

Over lunch, all the moms arrived. We chatted and got to know each other and I just felt at home. Everyone there at Google was so nice. Nicer than nice.

Pretty soon we were heading in to take our seats for the presentation. There were a couple slide shows and speakers before our part at the end (us moms were the 'carrot' to the audience and we were saved for last.) The speakers and presentations were so interesting - mainly accentuating how important opinions of moms as consumers are, and what we're talking about, what's important to us, and what role the Internet and technology plays in our lives and also how it works for us as moms. To see it all in more detail, you can check it out here. One of the moms there was Sara from Self-Made Mom and she live-blogged during the day. She also posted about our whole Google experience way better than I am trying to do right now.

Soon it was our turn to go up front- microphones and all- and answer questions like How Does The Internet Fit In To Your Daily Life, How Do You Find Time To Blog (My answer: My husband has his Xbox and I have my blog for therapy) and How Has The Internet Played A Role In Various Ways? We talked about how we used the Internet during pregnancy, caring for newborns & toddlers, shopping, communicating with other moms, meal planning & recipes... pretty much everything!

MJ from I Want A Little Sugar In My Bowl was hilarious and pretty much talked about breastfeeding the whole time. Of course I loved that! Sara from Self-Made Mom was really cool and had a neat perspective as a working mom. Amy from LadyBug Picnic had a lot to say about life always online with her little girl. The two other moms that didn't have blogs were so personable and fun- Madeleine was a sweetheart and Jessica has teen boys and was just downright entertaining.

When our panel was finished, questions were fielded from the audience. Representatives from big name brands like Kelloggs, Kraft, and Proctor & Gamble, and marketing research companies asked questions like How Can Companies Market Their Products To Us? and What Do You Blog About?

One person asked if we spend any time researching little purchases like laundry detergent or breakfast cereal, to which I answered those are the things we spend most of our time researching! Moms of today are reading labels and want what is best for their kids and good for the environment, and we're researching products online before we head to the store with two toddlers and a baby!

After the last question was taken, we all went into a different room where we could each stand by a computer station and talk to the audience members as they came by. I was at the YouTube station and really ended up showing videos of my kids, and before long had people just looking at my blog. Hubby had made me some cute little business cards to pass out and I had many people asking for them. I hope to start getting some emails about my ideas and free products in the mail! I love telling my ideas and getting free stuff!

I left my computer station briefly to go take pictures with the other moms and when I came back I found one of the Google guys looking at my blog post of my mom in her swimsuit!! Everyone there was a hoot. Did I just say hoot? Yeah, I guess I did.

The whole day really went by very quickly and before I knew it I'd been away almost 7 hours from home (the longest I've ever been away from Gray in his 18 months of life!) I checked my cell phone periodically and there were no messages all day! Here is when I started to wonder if they even missed me!

When the event was winding down, the moms started saying their goodbyes and the Google people assured us we'd done a great job. Jen and Denise (another way cool and super nice vegan Google gal) expressed that they'd love to have us come back to do more Mom Panel things for them. There's also a possibility they'll help me go to BlogHer this summer! We all got some nice Google swag as we left and a generous compensation for our participation in the panel. Google is just as how you'd imagine it!

I made it home in record time- I am still amazed that I didn't have one bit of traffic on the way! And when I got home, I expected Gray to go straight for my you-know-whats (for which he fondly now calls "Boo") but instead he wanted to show me how he and his big brothers were playing with their light sabers and then he was off playing with them. He didn't even want to nurse until after dinner, much later to my surprise! And maybe I stuck out my bottom lip once or twice at the fact that no one seemed to miss me...

So, there you have it. Now for your patience I feel like I should have a contest to give away some of my free Google stuff... I'll think of something and post about that tomorrow!! And of course I'm going to think of how I can thank Jaymi for passing this opportunity along to me as well. I promise to at least knit her baby a sweater (and I do think she'll be having a boy, but will wait just in case!)

Be sure to check out the other moms to read about their take on the Google Day and tune in tomorrow for fun contest information!! Whee!!!

Thank you to Amy for the pics!

Wordless Wednesday: Me & Google

As soon as I get a chance I'll tell you all about it...

And She's Off

I am off today to do something very bloggy and very exciting! You'll just have to wait until I get back so I can tell you all about it... Hubby has even taken the day off to stay home with all three boys! Hopefully I'll come back with some prizes to give away, too! Stay tuned!

In the meantime, have you clicked on that fun In The Motherhood banner above? Or watched the video here? This week you're asked to share your funniest Mother's Day. The winning story will be used in the first episode premiering May 11. My kids keep me well-stocked with great stories & material! Motherhood is the best...




-Steph

P.S. Check out my nomination for Best Parenting Blog in the Blogger's Choice Awards. Of course I'm honored to be nominated! Thank you Jess!!

Still Spinning... and lots of pictures

Remember when you went to an amusement park riding roller coasters all day and then when you got home that night, when you closed your eyes, you felt like you were still riding the roller coasters, stomach dropping and head speeding and all?

That's me. Right now. And I didn't ride any roller coasters or go to any amusement park. It was just that busy of a weekend... but when I close my eyes, whoa... I'm still spinning!

Friday was such a busy errand day to prepare for an even busier Saturday. Then Friday afternoon Ashlee & I were off to visit with our blogging friends Lisa & Cara- meeting up for the first time! It was a blast and I only wish we had more time to visit, but you know how it is with toddlers! Here's pics of Gray, Xavier, Cricket, & Emma playing at the park.

And a photo (at least we tried) of all of us (left-right is Ashlee w/Xav, Cara w/Cricket, Lisa w/Emma, and Me w/Gray- you can see I'm trying to tell him a picture is taking place!)





Saturday morning was busy from the moment I woke up. We had a lunch interview at Noah's favorite sandwich shop- our local newspaper is doing an article about Noah being off his special diet now and our upcoming Epilepsy Walk (Go Buddy Bears!) Then immediately after that we had more errands to do, then Noah and I went to one of his classmate's birthday party at a cool fun center where Noah won 172 tickets with which he picked two pair of vampire teeth and bags of fruit snacks for his brothers.


Right after the party we were off to get ready for a ball (like a dance-type black tie ball) that Jeff and I had to attend. The boys were off to Grandpa & Grandma's and were rushing off to our date- it was great! Here's us looking quite snazzy... me in my fabulous dress from Marshall's -$29.99, painful high heels- borrowed, and my vintage-y clearance jewelry from Tar-jay... I loved my outfit! And I must say we were one of the finest couples of the ball!




Sunday was church then an Earth Day celebration at the park then sandal shopping for all three boys. At the Earth Day event Gray fell in love with Smokey the Bear. It was an instant attraction and a difficult separation... then off to shopping where sandals were found, and I even liked them (I am kid-shoe-picky), and they were on sale.




As the night comes to an end, I am trying to stop from spinning. It was good times, yes. I just might sit outside for a spell and do nothing. I heart quiet moments and the slow life.