Friday's Fave #2

Friday - August 31, 2012

Friday's are for my favorite blogging things. This includes 1. my favorite blog this week, 2. my favorite post I read this week, 3. a feature from one of the Blog Hops I follow, 4. a description of one of the blogging directories I'm a part of and 5. a tip on one of the ad companies I use.

#1. My Favorite Blog

This week I have to give a huge thanks to Powered by Mom. She didn't hesitate to answer my questions. She was just so nice and helpful. This awesome mom does tons of great giveaways and gives some super tips on making mamas life a little easier.

#2. My Favorite Post

WHILE MAMA WAS IN THE BATHROOM (EPISODE 5)

By Parenting. Illustrated with Crappy Pictures

OMG Becky! If you want to laugh so hard your sides split, this is the place to be. This mom draws less than professional pictures of the everyday things that happen to her, being a mom of two young boys. Her pictures are priceless!

#3. Blog Hops & The Featured

I am always looking for new blog hops. So this week I found a pretty cute one yall! It's called Southern Mamas Blog Hop.The purpose of this blog hop is to connect with other Mamas (Pet Mamas are welcome too!) who have, ever secretly desired to, or are currently living on Southern soil. Not from the South, you say? No problem! We’d still love for you to join us. We’ll gladly adopt you and make you an honorary Southern Belle! So go grab yourself a glass of sweet tea and let’s party!! Too be a part of this blog hop you must follow the four hosts:

Megan   Sonja  Missi  Kimberly

#4. Blog Directory

Top Mommy Blog's is a blog directory just for mom blogs, powered by Blog Nation, who is pretty reputable. I like it because you have a profile telling a bit about you and what your blog, like most directories do. But what I really like about it, is that it shows your blog feed right on your profile, your twitter feed too and a profile pic of you blog. So people can see exactly what your blog is all about before they even visit your home page.

#5. Ad Company Feature

Amazon, I mean, need I say more. I love shopping on Amazon, so what could be better than advertising for them! Not to mention they make it soooooo easy! You can feature just a straight ad like the one above. Or you can feature a product you have used and recommend. Or a whole carousel of products you enjoy using, like the one over there on my right sidebar. You can also have a search bar, really the possibilities are endless!

 

Thanks for sharing another adventure with me!

Like it? Love it? Please share it!

Make Peace with Imperfection

Thursday - August 30, 2012 

Therapy is in session. One of the books I have read that is very amazing is "Don't Sweat The Small Stuff... and it's all small stuff" -By Richard Carlson

Many of you have probably seen, if not read this book as well. I know I've seen it in doctors offices, my acupuncturist office has it the lobby. There are countless tips on how to keep the little things from driving you crazy. Let's face it, as mothers, or just woman in general, we get caught up on dumb stuff we can't change, and then to make it worse, we'll just sit there being frozen and frustrated about it.

I'd like to share one of my favorite chapters with you, Chapter 2. Make peace with Imperfection. We were created to be perfect, so in this imperfect state how can we make peace, Richard helps us to understand.

2. Make Peace with Imperfection 

I've yet to meet an absolute perfectionist whose life was filled with inner peace. The need for perfection and the desire for inner tranquility conflict with each other. Whenever we are attached to having something a certain way, better than it already is, we are, almost by definition, engaged in a losing battle. Rather than being content and grateful for what we have, we are focused on what's wrong with something and our need to fix it. When we are zeroed in on what's wrong, it implies that we are dissatisfied, discontent.

  Whether it's related to ourselves--a disorganized closet, a scratch on the car, an imperfect accomplishment, a few pounds we would like to lose--or someone else's "imperfections"--the way someone looks, behaves, or lives their life--the very act of focusing on imperfection pulls us away from out goal of being kind and gentle. This strategy has nothing to do with ceasing to do your very best but with being overly attached and focused on what's wrong with life. It's about realizing that while there's always a better way to do something, this doesn't mean that you can't enjoy and appreciate the way things already are.

The solution here is to catch yourself when you fall into your habit of insisting that things should be other than they are. Gently remind yourself that life is okay the way it is, right now. In the absence of your judgment, everything would be fine. As you begin to eliminate your need for perfection in all areas of your life, you'll begin to discover the perfection in life itself.

I hope you enjoyed this little teaser of what the book has to offer. I have to work on this point everyday! And the more I let go the less stress I feel. It's amazing! If you would like to buy the book or other Don't Sweat it books from Richard Carlson, please check out the Amazon link below.

  

 

Thanks for sharing another adventure with me!

Like it? Love it? Please share it!

WW: Z-Z-O-O

Wednesday - August 29, 2012

 Family day at the LA Zoo! Or as the Dormouse calls it the Z-Z-O-O!!!

The Dormouse

The March Hare

The Mad Hatter

Dinah "the cat"

Beat the giant snake!

Daddy, I don't like it!

Thanks for sharing another adventure with me!

Like it? Love it? Please share it!

 

"Don't be sad."

Tuesday - August 28, 2012

The Dormouse-- My almost 3 year old daughter, who has a bigger personality than Reba, Jim Carry, and Bill Cosby combined, more energy than a spider monkey on Rockstar and is just so gorgeous she belongs on Tots & Tiara's (Ha ha NEVER!) She's little miss informative, is never quiet... not even in her sleep, and is so stinking smart, they'll have to start her in 4th grade when she goes to school. However, there are times when I wish I could monitor her thoughts, just peek into her little brain and see what in the world is going on in there! 

The other day I told her to go get shoes on. She started off in a t-shirt and capris on, but when I walked into her room she had a beanie, sweater, socks, thank goodness the shoes on, and mittens in her hand. Now this would have been ok had it not been 90 degrees outside! She said she was cold until we got into the car and proceeded to rip everything off!

Ready for summer weather?

 I've stopped fighting with her to stay in one outfit for the day. She plays in her room and changes 100 times. She's definitely a accessory and shoe girl, where she gets that from...  One day I was sitting at my computer and she came out in a Minnie Mouse play dress, a tutu under it, 2 purses, Cinderella play shoes and upside down sunglasses. She's just so stinking cute, and not just because I made her. She is however, a HUGE DIVA!

Dress up? Pssshh this is just how I dress!

Her newest thing is telling us she's sad. As sweet as this sounds, it's hard not to crack up hysterically when she does it. There is never really a rhyme or reason for being sad, she just sits down and says she's not moving because shes sad. Like when we were at the zoo. The Mad Hatter and I are walking together, letting her run in front of us. Suddenly she starts dropping behind us, then sits down on some seats. I keep walking, slow enough to hear what's happening, my hubs walks over to her. He says "What are you doing hunny, let's go see the otters!"

Dormouse, with hands under her chin and elbows on her knees, says "I'm sad daddy"

Mad Hatter looking at me puzzled, I'm shrugging my shoulders, with that "don't ask me" look on my face. He says "Why are you sad?

She doesn't move, just says "I'm very very sad daddy."

Mad Hatter is getting antsy now and says "Don't be sad, lets go see the otters."

Dormouse is frustrated now and throws her hands down in her lap and says in a little bit louder voice "I'm just sad daddy, ugh!" As she's shaking her head no, as in disbelief that he doesn't understand why she sad.

At this point I'm standing there laughing because no reason has been given and her little personality is just so funny to watch. My hubs, who has an incredible amount of patience is desperately trying to figure out why she's sad. So he says to her again "Hunny why are you sad?"

This time she looks up at him, jumps off the seat and runs over to me yelling "Mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy!" Grabs my hand and says "Let's go mommy." We walk off like nothing ever happen. I look back at my hubs, who's rubbing his head in confusion and slowly catching up to us, I flash him a silly smile and go we see the otters.


When you have kids you must except that not all things will be understood, it's a given they wont understand most things, but you must be prepared to define all logic!

Next Tuesday will be a segment I like to call "Moments of Madness with the March Hare". These are some of the random ramblings of my 10 year old son whom I refer to as the March Hare.

Thanks for sharing another adventure with me!

Like it? Love it? Please share it!

True measure of an man

 Monday - August 27, 2012

"Keep in mind that the true measure of an
individual is how he treats a person
who can do him absolutely no good."
By Ann Landers

 
I like this saying because there is no greater joy to be experienced, then giving to someone who can not repay you. I remember one time a homeless lady was sitting outside my favorite burrito place. She asked me for money to buy a burrito as I walked in. I always have the biggest fear the homeless people aren't really homeless, or that they fake being homeless just to use being poor as a way to live under the radar of the government. Anyway instead of giving her money, I told her I would buy her a burrito. She looked very surprised and agreed to whatever I was eating. I bought it and had my son hand it to her, while I was standing next to him of course, the smile that appeared on this womans face showed such deep appreciation for that $3.00 burrito. My son also gained from that experience as well, in learning to help people (truly) in need. If you ever had a "Good Samaritan" act, please share! It will make yours and the other readers day that much better to see the world still had good people!Thanks for sharing another adventure with me!

Like it? Love it? Please share it!

Veggie Slicer

Sunday - August 26, 2012 

Today I wrote a review on a handy little veggie slicer. If you love veggies but hate cutting them, then you need to take a look at this product! It's an inexpensive way to make life easier in the kitchen. As mom's time seems to always be working against us, this tool cuts (literally) the time in half for dicing up veggies. Not to mention makes those perfect little slices effortlessly! 

To see the full review go to Progressive Slicer.

Thanks for sharing another adventure with me!

Like it? Love it? Please share it!

eCards

Saturday - August 25, 2012 

I don't know about you guys but I have seen some pretty dang funny eCards. So today I am going to post some of the funniest ones I've got!

Thanks for sharing another adventure with me!

Like it? Love it? Please share it!

Friday's Fave #1

Friday - August 24, 2012 

Friday's are for my favorite blogging things. This includes 1. my favorite blog this week, 2. my favorite post I read this week, 3. a feature from one of the Blog Hops I follow, 4. a description of one of the blogging directories I'm a part of and 5. a tip on one of the ad companies I use.

#1. My Favorite Blog

It only seems logical to launch this segment with the blog that inspired me to start blogging in the first place The Divine Secerts of a Domestic Diva. She's witty, hysterical and full of useless informational videos! When I read her blogs I'm usually laughing so hard both ends are leaking, that's right my eyes are watering and my panties are just a little bit wet from pee. She puts into perspective just how crazy being a mother and house wife can be at time all with such flair you think your reading a script for a sitcom. I hope you enjoy reading her stuff as much as I do!

 

 #2. My Favorite Post 

 

Sucker Punched

Now we switch to a much more serious note. Daddy Doin' Work wrote a real heart wrencher, entitled Sucker Punched. He writes about his very personal ordeal with his wife being on the verge of a possible miscarriage. Having just suffered from a miscarriage myself just three months ago, I can relate so closely to what they are going through. Hearing from mans point of view really made the tears swell, sometimes men put on such super hero strength to keep the rest of the family strong, we forget they have emotions too. Life is so precious and seeing his complete positivity through this, really shows what a strong man he is and how incredibly lucky a woman MDW is. My prayers are with them.

 #3. Blog Hops & The Featured

 

TGIF Blog Hop is one of the best blog hops I'm activily apart of. It's hosted by Funny Postpartum Lady, Overworked Supermom, and You Know It Happens At Your House Too! It's a great way to gain new followers and bring more traffic to your blog. It's also a great way to meet other bloggers and get great tips, ideas, and read cool blog posts. Head over to any of the above named host to get full details on how to sign up!

TGIF Blog Hop Feature this week is:
Red Vines and Red Wine

#4. Blog Directory

 

 

Picket Fence Blog is a pretty cool directory because it puts you the readers in charge of who gets to be featured most! If you like reading my blog please click the picture above, by doing so you cast a vote that helps push me to the top. If you see this picture on other blogs vote for them too! There is no limit on how many blogs you can vote for, you just can't vote for the same blog more than once a day. All your doing is helping spread the word about a blog you enjoy reading. If you have a blog and want to get on board the picture above will take you where you need to go, signing up is simple and free!

 

 #5. Ad Company Feature  

This week I'm really loving LinkShare. Why do I like them so much? Well, if your trying to make any amount of income with your blog, they make it super easy! Not only do they give you an incentive to have people sign up under you with their company, signing up is free and easy! They also make it easy  to find just about any brand or company you want to advertise for. They have thousands of companies using them that want to pay you to place their ads on your blog. Just like the ads you see at the bottom of all my post. Those are all companies I got approved to advertise for, through LinkShare!

 

 

 

 

Thanks for sharing another adventure with me!

Like it? Love it? Please share it!