Promotion

Recall how I said, on yesterday's post, that I was dressed up for a special occasion?

It was for my sweet, hard-working husband. Yesterday, we woke up earlier than normal with a hustle fueling us we hadn't felt in a bit during our lazy summer mornings. We got dressed up in our not-quite-Sunday best, and with a decorated chocolate confection in tow, we visited his dusty woods-side office. Upon arriving, we were met with the many smiles from the men he works with, all there to celebrate his promotion to SFC (Sergeant First Class).

After a few introductions, the men gathered round an imaginary circle in the center of the room, while my kids collected in a bunch on a vacant desk, ready. There was a few jokes, of course, unfolded into the room to put everyone at ease for comfort's sake. My daughter wouldn't leave his side, a true daddy's girl, but suddenly her daddy's heels clicked together, his back stiff, as the men all stood fast. She paused at poking her daddy's uniform at his knee, now tightened and strong. She peered across the room, with stone-faced seriousness, as she paid special attention to the words read aloud, as he listened - tall, proud, at attention. Our children watched, my camera clicked, and my heart beating, soared with pride.

Attention to orders!

The Secretary of the Army has reposed special trust and confidence in the patriotism, valor, fidelity and professional excellence of Staff Sergeant Douglas.

In view of these qualities and his demonstrated leadership potential and dedicated service to the U.S. Army, he is, therefore, promoted to Sergeant First Class.

By Order of the Secretary of the Army

After excitability-inducing cake and a few spazzy-games of tag while the guys and I managed small talk, we toured my husband's office and left some time later, taking our newly-promoted soldier home, with starchy his new rank velcro-ed to his chest, a pep in his step, a grateful smile and a hard-earned pride with him.

Congratulations, babe!

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Diet-o-versary, Update and Pictures

Who knew that this week was a Diet-o-versary for me?? It's been four months since I began my weight loss journey. I realized today that, while I've been stuck in a little "plateau" for about a month or so, I have still lost inches and toned up considerably (but never measured to see, boo!). I took pictures today because I was dressed nicely for a special occasion this morning (more on that tomorrow) and asked my husband to snap a picture of me, "to compare."

This is what I saw. (I still can't believe it)


In four months time, I achieved going from 173 to 148. 25 lbs lost!

Before pictures

Today

I went from a size 12/14 to a size 8 (-ish ). From a size large to size mediums. Heck, even my shoe size dropped! (Not to mention my hair, too!)

Overall? I feel wonderful, and I actually love working out, I really do (I swear, I'm not lying)! Especially loving my EA Active and Wii Fit combined, always keeping me on my toes (literally)!

Thank you to Julie and to the other EA Active challengers, who inspired me to get the EA Active and try it (and love it)!

I also am grateful for the Shrinking Jeans ladies for all their help and motivation in helping get me over my plateau and fueling me, it was a great experience and I'm going to join them again for their next challenge! Want to join me, too?

I'm still looking for more weight loss friends - are you currently working out? Want someone to team up with that'll help keep you accountable (much like we did at Shrinking Jeans during the challenge)? Let me know so we can hook up and be work out buddies! Tell me what you're working out with, if you're dieting, what you're up to, I want to know, dish it all!

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Egg Sandwich Lovin'

With a family as big as ours, we can go through a dozen eggs in one meal. But I'm an advocate for hot breakfasts as much as possible, and while eggs are super-easy to prepare, it's a double-edged sword, because of the fact we have a big family, because it can cost us a lot (particularly since we eat only organic eggs).

My resolution to this egg debacle? Egg Sandwiches.

Simple. Easy. Enjoyable.


All you need for this breakfast-party is two toasted, buttered pieces of bread, one slice of cheese one scrambled egg (per person), and a good omelet pan to prepare the egg in (an omelet pan, by the way, is also called the small saute pan- should be 8 inches in diameter). Seasoning, too, if you're feeling fiesty.

While the toast is toasting, heat up that pan and make sure you've got it good and buttered, or sprayed (if you fancy that spray-stuff). Ensure the pan is good and hot, and pour on in the scrambled-egg-goodness, making sure it's completely even all the way across. Let it bubble.

Butter that toast when it comes out (your kids will thank you, trust me) and grab a spatula when it appears the egg is almost cooked on top, scoot the spatula underneath, and flip.

Yes, you're making a circle.
Yes, it will fit the bread, don't worry.

Grab that slice of cheese you have handy, and lay it in the corner, there (it might stick out a little, but that's okay, it's all going to the same place). This is already ready to go by this time (yes, it's that quick)! Now fold it in half, so that the part with the cheese remains on the bottom, then again in half, with the cheese still on the bottom.

See? You've done it. Pick that bad boy up with the spatula, lay it luxuriously onto that wanton piece of toast, cover it with the other, and be ready to be hugged by your kidlets. Like, A LOT. ;)

For more Wednesday fun, visit Wordless Wednesday, 5MFM, MomDot, Ordinary and Awesome, Seven Clown Circus and We Are THAT Family.

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To Do Tuesday Week 25

If this is your first time reading and you're wondering what To-Do Tuesday is all about, click to check out the first post to find out more.

Last week's list = MEGA FAIL (as you may or may not already know). And here I only had one thing on my list, too, BlogHer. Since I didn't get to go, I didn't get to check off anything from my measly list last week. Hence why I had what I originally considered last week a bad week.

But you know what? It wasn't. My kids are doing better, now. And not going to BlogHer really is okay. There are bigger things to worry about, you know? I will get to meet all of you, my favorite bloggers and readers another time. Perhaps at the upcoming TypeAMom Conference? (Don't forget to check out how you can win a sponsorship to attend from the fabulous The Sister Project. The contest ends Friday.)

For this week's list, I'm back to my old, non-having-to-prepare-for-any-conferences self. But this week? I've got tons of things I want to do, to live life this week. How about you?

Get the heck out of town and go shopping and do fun stuff, or something. (Since we didn't go to Chicago)√
Play lots of games with the kids. √ (Determined to get Zelda for the Wii and school my children)
Begin preparations for school shopping (OMG 3 weeks!) √
Grocery shopping/coupons/list √√√
Water our new grass daily (that is, if rain doesn't do it for me) √
Post an upcoming giveaway or two
Post more Summer Boredom Busters & perhaps Back to School posts
Pool or sprinkler (or play in the rain, as it's been rainy lately) √
Take walks, if the weather permits √√
Bake a few yummy somethings, but HEALTHY (because, while chocolate cupcakes cure all, they're kinda not good for my waistline. Y'know?)
Staying on my diet all week long!* √√√√
Work out at least 30-60 minutes everyday!*√√√√

*I am noticing real changes in my body due to the EA Active. I feel stronger, I think I look stronger, too. Will have new "update" pictures soon to compare.

Today's motivation (a little slogan-borrowing a-la Nike) - just do it! Whatever it is you've been putting off doing, do it! If we learn nothing else from this situation with Stellan, it's that we need to get off our duffs and get in gear, time's a-wastin' and there may not be a tomorrow. Don't say "in a minute" for the rest of today to any of your children, just do it! Don't say "oh maybe later" to yourself because one more thing needs to be done, just do it! Don't put off that phone call to your best friend, or your mother, don't put off using that fancy china because no one 'important' is coming to dinner; break that shiny stuff for your important people in your house, even if it's just take out! Live today like it's your last. Just do it!

--

Would you like to join us this week for To-Do Tuesday? Start with just a few things. Don't over-do it your first couple of times. You'll grow to become a list-a-holic later, start small now, though, k?
Just so you know, you can join us at anytime, it doesn't have to be on Tuesdays - the list will go up every Tuesday for you to link to, but you can make your list and link to us at any point in the week!

Remember, with "To-Do Tuesday", we're attacking our to-do lists each week, blogging about our lists and what we've got going on, and sharing it with each other to help keep each other accountable. Everyone should come back here to link up in the Mister Linky as the central "To-Do Tuesday Hub" so we can visit who's participating and offer encouragement to each other throughout the week. Don't forget to add the "To-Do Tuesday" button to your post, linking back to this post!

Let's continue to cross items off our list as we go and help support each other in completing our lists! Don't forget my useful HTML tutorial on how to effectively "cross-out" or √ "check off" your items on your to-do list!

Joining us? We're using a new linky alternative called MckLinky! Please add your link below (to your To Do Tuesday post, and not the main page of your blog)

Participants for Week 25

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On Being Grateful, MckMama and Prayers for Stellan

Do you see this woman?
We are a lot alike, her and I, in our photograph-taking, baking, babywearing, attached-parenting ways (among others).

She, like me, stayed home from BlogHer.
She, like me, had a sick baby, keeping her from attending.

But while my baby has kicked his virus to the curb and is feeling better, her baby isn't doing well at all. In fact, right now they're in the hospital, as they've been on and off his little baby life. Her baby, Stellan, has a heart problem that won't go away until he receives surgery - a surgery the doctors have said they don't want to give him until he's older, and he's not there yet. Right now he sits in a hospital room, being pumped full of meds to keep him alive, And they could use your help - your prayers, your thoughts, your positive energy.

In the meantime, I'm gonna stop feeling so stupidly sorry for myself for having missed this conference, and having missed seeing my bloggy friends, and start being thankful that my baby got better, and is healthy. I stayed home to tend to him, as Jennifer (MckMama) stayed home to tend to Stellan. Mine got better. Hers didn't.

Who the hell am I to be a whiny cranky woman about missing the conference? What is the matter with me? I should be down on my damned KNEES grateful my son is alright, breathing normally, as he is, with a heart beating normally, as it is, suckling from my breasts and happily making a mess in his high chair, painting baby food on himself, as he turns 10 months old today.

My baby dude

I should've been grateful for his giggles, and his babbles, grateful that my other, once-sick children are now alright, too. Grateful we were blessed with healing children. Instead, there I was, an ungrateful sourpuss all weekend who needed a good swift kick in the hind-side to see how amazingly idiotic and ungrateful I was being.

I can think of nothing else right now, no "crazy parenting" blog offerings for you, other than thoughts and prayers for Stellan and their family. Please help lift this momma up in their time of need, don't let her brave this alone.

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Holy Marilyn Monroe Hair!

Uh.. wow, so uhh, this wasn't exactly what I had in mind...

I feel so super-50's-mom/starlet, yet, my hair feels like I'm wearing a perma-helmet, or something. You should've seen me working out - it didn't move!!

I'm obviously gonna have to work harder on my hair game. I've obviously got no fricken clue what I'm doin'.. yikes!

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Me? Hairnet. You? Jealous.

Yup, totally rockin' the hair net and cloth rollers - playing with my new hair do and all. What else am I gonna do on a Saturday night? (Especially when half of my bloggy friends are partying it up at BlogHer without me..) {sobs}


Results to follow later - you won't want to miss it. (At least, I hope it comes out good..)

{gulp}

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Homemade Birthday Awesome

It's therapeutic to get your hands full of flour when you're feeling low, taking all of you tension out on some dough..

Creating a masterpiece for dinner...

Submerging yourself into thick, rich, organic chocolate cupcakes (with decadent homemade icing)...

Which were made for an important reason. A birthday. My daughter's 9th birthday, to be exact. Since we aren't traveling for her birthday (sniff), we went all out on the chocolate, as per her request (thank goodness, chocolate helps ease the ache of missing BlogHer).

And Baby Dude, since feeling better, got to partake in the chocolate-y goodness. His first time. Not sure he was a big fan, but it was fun to play with.

What's on the not-able-to-attend-BlogHer, celebrating-a-birthday agenda for today? Getting wet and Wii wars. And lots of photographic evidence of both.

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Just WHO Am I?

Hi, I'm Lisa!

I'm a nail biter. A health-nut, but I love me some hot wings and cake (not necessarily together, mind you). Looove to bake. I'm a romantic, but I love sports. I'm a writer (of course) but love to draw and paint, too. I have six kids and all most of my hair. Well, maybe not most of it, as I just cut it all off, practically.

I love organization and things in their place. I host a meme on Tuesdays that takes on our To-Do lists called (very appropriately) To Do Tuesday.

But mostly? I love to play with my kids, laugh, and take pictures. And work out (since losing weight and all, I have fun doing it!) And writing, did I mention writing?

What about you?

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Missing BlogHer

Last year, there was no question I couldn't attend - I was pregnant and we were PCSing (for non-military folk, it's when the Army moves you from one post to a new post). There was just no way I could even consider it, but I vowed that this year would be my year.

After traveling quite horribly at Christmas, I couldn't muster to purchase a Blissdom ticket and travel all over again that way. I missed out, greatly, which fueled my fire even further for attending BlogHer this weekend. Especially after attending the Disney Mom Bloggers Mixer in May, and meeting bloggy friends in real life. I could not wait to meet more.

It simply wasn't meant to be this year, either, despite my best attempts to get me there.

My last post reflected it was merely my toddler being sick. Unfortunately it got worse shortly thereafter. By 3am Wednesday morning, it also become my five-year-old, who was vomiting without a fever, and continued to throughout the day every time he attempted to put something in his belly. He slept on and off yesterday as mommy paced, unsettled, about leaving both of them. Fever medication helped my toddler, who threw up no more, but barely helped the roaring headache my five-year-old felt.

My husband came home at 3pm to encourage me further to go, that he could handle it. I knew he could handle it, of course, he is a wonderful father. It was so hard to consider leaving my two sick children behind (as well as my three well children, of course), all who were upset by my leaving, because I am their primary caretaker, the boo-boo kisser, the booger wiper. But I had to have faith that, even if I wasn't there, they would be okay. Their father would see to it.

After much agonizing, the decision was made, I was going to do it because it had been the plan all along. My husband was more than capable of handling this virus. This had been many months in the making. I swallowed the lump in my throat, knowing it would rear it's ugly head later by sobbing in the car at my departure, but I carried on, full speed ahead. In a fury of clothes, agendas, ziploc baggies and travel-sized toiletries, I began stuffing, folding, mashing and contorting my items into a suitcase for me and my baby dude.

Meanwhile there was the debate about how to get me to Houston, 3+ hours away, considering he could no longer drive me with sick kids in tow. So while I packed and stuffed and crammed parts of my life into a soft-shell suitcase, he unpacked, and unstuffed and uncrammed parts of his from his beater of a car, a stick shift, a black, peeling 99 Ford, to get me and the baby to the conference.

I zippered the last zipper, and piled it by the door. Bags were packed. Directions to the hotel printed. We were saying our goodbyes. Just as we put things into the car and were about to depart, I leaned in to get the baby from my husband that I felt it - he was hot- burning up hot. All this time I spent preparing, I never once met with his eyes to see they were glassy, and calling for me, much like his sister and brother did earlier. I knew it the second I saw him, he was also sick. I immediately scooped him up and laid him on the changing table, and, like his siblings, took his temperature. 102.

I looked at my husband. We both exhaled as though we were balloons deflating after a canceled birthday party. The air was let out of us simultaneously. All that work, the hustle and worry behind it all, gone with a beep of a thermometer that read 3 degrees too high.

There is no way I can attend the conference without my breastfeeding youngest, who I was to bring so that I could attend and he could still eat. Since he now had a 102 fever, there was no way I could fly with him sick, or attend sessions or parties, and risk getting him even further sick, it just wasn't even an option. This child hasn't ever even had a fever this high before.

Despite thinking we had the situation under control and solved, it appears fate was really the one in control of what I could and couldn't do. Next year will be my year, I guess.

Here I sit, bags still packed, ziploc baggies unearthed, delved into for this or that item needed, my laptop (obviously) unpacked, fever medication administered, coffee brewing, and a heavy but yet grateful heart. Heavy at missing the chance to connect and hang with my bloggy friends for a weekend, and to have to cancel these plans. Heavy because they weren't only my plans, but my family's as well, as it was their plan to join me at weekend's end after the conference ended to sight-see in Chicago and visit family in South Bend. Grateful because we were lucky to have been presented with his fever before we'd even left the house. Grateful it didn't happen when we were already away from home in Houston, or even worse, on the plane, or in Chicago.

It will be bittersweet unpacking later, just as it will be seeing any tweets about BlogHer or blog posts, knowing I have missed out on meeting my friends this time, again. Just as it was bittersweet in answering the door just now to receive my husband's replacement credit card he would've need for the trip. But I will do it with my head held high, knowing that I did the right thing.

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Am I Still Going to BlogHer?

See this ridiculously adorable face?

This beautiful, angelic face currently has a fever and threw up a little. On the eve of my departure to BlogHer. The night before we pack the kids up and drive three-and-a-half hours to Houston to drop me and baby dude off at a hotel outside the Houston airport, so I can depart early the next morning and make my flight to Chicago for the conference.

The. Night. Before.

How am I supposed to go, now? If she doesn't get better, I can't.

I don't even know what to feel right now, other than concern for her. As if I wasn't already having a hard enough time leaving my family for a couple days as it was, now this.

I'm a mess.

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Mini Van Rock Star

Today was quite a day of hustling, bucking, stuffing diapered butts into their car seats, in and out, cart pushing, wiggling in and out of a few last minute shirts in dressing rooms (let me tell you how much I am hating loving having to buy new clothes because all my others don't fit because I lost weight).

Picture me, plus five kidlets, navigating through clothing racks, make up counters (in search of a new eye brow pencil to replace my seemingly missing one) and attempting to not knock over displays of hair products at the PX (Post Exchange - on base department store for you non-military folk) with over-excitable children in tow.

Not a lot of fun, but there were moments of adorable-ness. "Ooh, mommy! You look so skinny in that shirt!"

"Thank you, honey! You are now my favorite."

I kid, of course. (Maybe) {giggle}

I score some choice clearance pieces, and suddenly my stomach gets into knots. (Have I mentioned I have a hernia? No? Well, I have a hernia. It needs to be operated on, and I'm a stubborn mule who won't because I'm afraid of the doctors here. So, there's that...) So there I am, cart full of things awaiting purchasing, and I'm doubled over in pain because I tweaked my stomach muscle. I'm barely able to navigate it to the registers, and I'm practicing my lamaze breathing, scaring people because, well, I've got no stomach, so why the hell am I huffing and puffing and looking like I want to eat someone, gripping the cart like I'm gonna Hulk out and smash things, y'know?

After scaring the daylights out of the local folk, I grip the cart just far enough to fling my purchases into the car, as my older children navigate the younger ones into their seats, and I barely get home to slide onto my couch, heating pad on my belly, trying not to hyperventilate.

After an hour or so, I realize, I forgot something. Not good, I'm on borrowed time, here, tomorrow is my last full day before we leave to Houston for my departure to BlogHer, my time is planned, I can't do this tomorrow.

I get up. I get on my shoes. I head to Walgreens at 9pm at night, because, well, the PX was now closed, and Walmart will be visited tomorrow, again, with all kids in tow, because I promised them (I know, kill me now. What did I promise, here? Why?) And did I mention, alone?

I'm alone, people. A-L-O-N-E. Hubby let me go by myself. Are ya feelin' me here? I've got shopping to do, and I barely know what to do with myself. I'm carrying a basket. I never carry the basket, it's always a kid, or my wallet while I wear the baby, or push a cart. I'm suddenly feeling all growed up and stuff (yes, spelled that way purposely) and lovin' my growed up time by myself. Alone.

I'm a big girl, now, didn't you know?

I pay the lady, who must've thought I was on something for smiling so wide at my ability to pull out the debit card without wrangling a kid out of the way to free an arm, and doing it in silence instead of encouraging a child to stop touching the candy, or something not theirs.

I left, smiling, after finding some choice travel-sized things, along with my forgotten purchase of hair spray, and head to the car, turn on the radio and a song comes on that I just start wailing on. WAILING on.

"If you want tooooo, I can save youuu. I can take you, awayyyy from heeeeere!"

At the top of my lungs.

"So lonelyyyy inside.. so busy ouuuuut there! And all you wanted was somebody who caaaaaaares"

I hit repeat, and sing it again. I hit repeat again, and sing it again, this time singing out loud while handing the ID dude my ID at the checkpoint. I swore he was gonna make me pull over the way he glared at me.

I kept singing, kept the window down during this awesome night, singing, happy, alone (did I mention alone) and down my street, singing at the top of my lungs, parking the car, sitting in the dark, still singing in my driveway, in the dark, eyes closed, singing like I'm the next big thing in concert.

"Please can you tell me, so I can finally see, where you go when you're gooooooone..."

The song ends. I take the CD out (to get it onto my computer, because that song rocks) and immediately in shutting off the car I realize, my window was still open the entire time. While I sang. At the top of my lungs. And my neighbors were outside, looking at me like I grew another head.

Um, yeah.

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To Do Tuesday Week 24

If this is your first time reading and you're wondering what To-Do Tuesday is all about, click to check out the first post to find out more.

I am besides myself preparing for BlogHer. I can't even formulate a proper list this week, because everything I'm doing right now is all for BlogHer, flying out, washing this, packing that, shopping because I can't find this, or that. But dear, oh dear, I can't wait!! I canNOT wait to hug and squish my bloggy friends!

To be honest, my to do list is enormous, and in an effort to not overwhelm you or bore you all with mundane details, because well, my list's freakin' me out. I won't lie. I'll make it short and sweet.

BLOGHER.

Ta da! ;)

Today's motivation - in the midst of all the chaos, don't forget to BREATHE! Do you know that the word "aerobic" really means "requiring air"? It's why trainers are always trying to get you to breathe a certain way while working out. Focusing on breathing while going about your day and you'll notice a little more pep in your step and hey, perhaps a few more calories burned off, too!

--

Would you like to join us this week for To-Do Tuesday? Start with just a few things. Don't over-do it your first couple of times. You'll grow to become a list-a-holic later, start small now, though, k?
Just so you know, you can join us at anytime, it doesn't have to be on Tuesdays - the list will go up every Tuesday for you to link to, but you can make your list and link to us at any point in the week!

Remember, with "To-Do Tuesday", we're attacking our to-do lists each week, blogging about our lists and what we've got going on, and sharing it with each other to help keep each other accountable. Everyone should come back here to link up in the Mister Linky as the central "To-Do Tuesday Hub" so we can visit who's participating and offer encouragement to each other throughout the week. Don't forget to add the "To-Do Tuesday" button to your post, linking back to this post!

Let's continue to cross items off our list as we go and help support each other in completing our lists! Don't forget my useful HTML tutorial on how to effectively "cross-out" or √ "check off" your items on your to-do list!

Joining us? We're using a new linky alternative called MckLinky! Please add your link below (to your To Do Tuesday post, and not the main page of your blog)

Participants for Week 24

Never miss a post! Subscribe here for all kinds of crazy parenting fun!

Someone's Not Allowed to Have Pens Anymore

I hear giggling, squeaking and general little-person excitement coming from the other room. My children are howling, toys rattling, playing ensuing, laughing and carrying on like best friends reminiscing over time past, when my fearless crawler scoots around the corner into my sight.

And then I see it. He's been marked.


What the !? Is this some poor excuse for a mustache, or something?


I'll give you two guesses who did this. (And I don't think you're gonna need both of 'em.)

She's lucky she's cute, I tell ya. Thank goodness it wasn't the red Sharpie again...

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Being A Sister

It's the whispery giggles in her ear hushing secrets from your lips. It's clown-like makeovers with mom's make-up with punishments for dessert. It's holding hands while looking both ways, and hair-pulling braids, with pin-curl pig tails and arguments over "her side" and "my side" of the room. It's tear-stained faces while you watch them place the ring on your new family member and feeling an ache in your stomach from hundreds of miles away as she is pushing out your nephew.

It's a closeness you share, blood or no, in which you feel as though you're one, despite differences, despite adversity - a connection, a bond.

I've been blogging a bit now, and I can honestly say blogging has shown me new "sisters" in the universe, ones I can also confide in, learn from, many of whom I feel are like an extended branch of my family. I have witnessed amazing strength and calls-to-action in support of other bloggers in need, banding together, sister-to-sister, and it's been my pleasure to be a part of it all then, and continue to be a part of it now.

Do you feel the same way about the women you've met blogging? What about your family, are you a sister to another sister, or maybe a brother, or did you inherit your siblings through marriage? Are you a mother raising sisters, or does your mother have them? Perhaps you have a close friend who's always been there that you consider your sister? What exactly does being a sister mean to you?

Think about that for a second. G'head, I'll wait.

...

Done? Good. Having given it some thought, if you can blog your answer to:

"You know you’re a sister when…?"

..in 500 words or less (with or without images), you could win a full-scholarship to attend the upcoming TypeAMom blogging conference in Asheville, N.C. in September, care of The Sister Project and Type-A Mom.

Have you heard of The Sister Project before? If you haven't, I urge you, please go on over and pay these lovely ladies a visit. There is such a life force over there that, even being a writer, I cannot put into words what reading them does to me. You must see it and read it for yourself.

I have been blessed with the opportunity to celebrate sisterhood with the lovely ladies at The Sister Project. Their sole purpose is to honor any-and-all-things sister. Blogging together at the TSP has made real life sisters Margaret and Marion as-close-as sisters to their writers, Paige and Anastasia, and they feel always room for more sisterly fun to their party. I'm so happy to join their little sisterly soiree.

By partnering with their new sister-inductee, Kelby Carr and the Type-A Mom network, they've provided a full scholarship for me and my two new digital sisters, Mishelle from Secret Agent Mama and Christine from The Savvy Plant, to attend the Type-A Mom Conference in September. They're looking for a fourth to join us, who will be chosen based upon their entry into the the Sisterhood contest on Type-A Mom.

Bring the experience you’ve had as a sister (in any form) and the connection you feel to life to fuel your answer to this question.

Answer this question and post your entry on your own blog, and include a link to the official entry form page on Type-A Mom as well as The Sister Project. Use the form on Type-A Mom once your blog entry is posted, linking to your entry, so we, the judges, will see it. If you don't enter your information on that form, you aren't officially entered!

Deadline: 6 PM EST Friday, July 31. Winners to be announced August 15.

For more information about the contest, see The Sister Project post or the official post on Type-A Mom to enter.

Good luck, my fellow bloggy sisters (some of you I get to meet for the first time next week). I look forward to reading your entries!

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Kids Strange Sleeping Positions, Take Two

My children have a talent for falling asleep wherever and whenever, in the oddest of positions, there's no denying that fact. (Recall my ninja-like skills, because my children. fall. asleep. everywhere)

My youngest? He was seemingly well on his way to being inducted into that super-secret Sleep-However Academy™ after his Disney nap. Now he's an official card-carrying member. Check it:

He is so my son. As a child, I was such a huge fan of sleeping with one arm off the bed, drooping down the right side. (Oh, and if you're concerned that he couldn't breathe with his baby head smooshed up against the rail, I ensured you with photographic proof below he was fine. Doesn't hurt that it was an awesomely cute shot, too)

Yup. Drool and all. Thank goodness for microfiber!

Here are a few additional funny sleepy poses I've taken as-of-late. My toddler, so worn out from a day of swimming:


And my five-year-old who is infamous for his sleeping positions. Here, he's sleeping on the couch, seemingly standing up.

I imagine this will make for some interested blog fodder next week at BlogHer - who knows how my youngest is gonna conk out there...

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Infant Dress Up

Stuff like this should be illegal.


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Win a Poken! - (ended)

Once upon a time there was a mom, who would open up her wallet, scouring around in there for hopefully for a pen and scrap of paper to write on. An occasion would arise, needing to jot down a phone number, email, or website onto some random something to hand to a fellow mommy, parent, or person-of-interest needing it.

Lemme tell ya, those times suck, I won't lie.

Do you know how hard that is to do with a baby in your arms, a whiny two-year-old wanting to eat her shoe, with your sons fighting, your 8-year-old tattle tale-ing, and your teenager too teenager-y to help?

Some could use their cell phone to enter that contact, but for me that requires a couple too many hands that are usually busy corralling kids. There's a new sheriff in town, moderating the contact info in these here parts, and helping me immensely.

Picture this ... (by the way, "person-of-interest" will be called POI for the sake of this post):

POI: "Well, we've got to get going. We should get together sometime!"
Me: "Absolutely, we had fun! Let's exchange information!"
POI: Scrambling for a pen and paper, "Sure!"
Me: I whip out my keys, ready to high-five the POI.
POI: "Wha.. what is heck is that?
Me: "My Poken."
POI: "Your what? Where's your pen? Why don't you look harried like me, trying to manipulate your information down onto an awkward piece of paper like me? Why do you have that smug grin on your face, so together and collected, why do I feel so hectic and unorganized? WHY GOD WHY!?"

Okay, so maybe it doesn't go like that. But in theory, it could, (except I don't have it altogether in the least). Anything to help me keep it together I definitely will try. So when I was offered to give this Poken thing with a funny name a go-at-it, I wondered, could it really be this easy?

Oh yes!

It works like an electronic business card, storing all of my important information on it. It took no time to set up, at all. You manage to put all of your information on it by plugging in the Poken into a USB port.

Once stored, if you want to trade your info with someone, all you do is match up the hands, like a "high five" and wa-la! If a green light comes on, the information was successfully traded, just like that! Go home, plug your Poken in, and there's your friends information - Name, Address, Telephone, Email, Websites, Facebook, Twitter, Myspace - you name it! Cool huh?

I bet, if you are going to BlogHer, you're thinking this is like a dream come true with all those contacts you'll be making, huh? How will you keep track of everyone?
Want it?
Want to buy a Poken? Save 20% by using the coupon code "BlogHer2009". Not to mention FREE SHIPPING on orders over $35! (You can even sign up to be an affiliate of PokenZoo as well!)

Win it! - CLOSED
Here's your chance to win one of the adorable Pokens for you! (see what I mean by little? That's in comparison to a gift card!)

To enter:

• Head on over to the PokenZoo website, and tell me, what is your favorite character? (for 1 entry)
• FollowPokenZoo on Twitter and Facebook. (1 entry each)
  
• Subscribe and/or follow my blog, and/or follow me on Twitter. I'mCrazyAdventures (1 entry for each, and if you already do for any of them already, it counts!**)
• Share this post via blog, email, Facebook, Stumble, Kirtsy, Digg this post! (1 entry each 'share')
  
• Tweet this post on Twitter! Be sure to link me to your tweet! (1 entry per tweet - unlimited entries available!)

**It 'pays' to stay connected to me and my blog, as it earns you automatic entries into all of my contests! (Plus, you'll want to hang out with me - I like to bake, I'll bake you something and we'll chat over coffee, how's that sound?) {giggle}

Open to US entrants only. Winner will be chosen using Random.org. Contest ends Monday, July 20th, at 10pm CST.

PLEASE NOTE: Do not worry about whether this will arrive on time if you're attending BlogHer. I can either get it to you myself at the event, or I can have it left for you in your name at the hotel when you arrive!

*EDIT* Annnnd the winner is...
#46 who was (after 2 comments were removed, as being mine and a friend @ Uprinting who wasn't entering)...

icefairy 1 day ago

Fan on Facebook (Bing Y)

The Ice Fairy from http://icefairystreasurechest.blogspot.com !! Congratulations!!

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Ants Bite the Big One

If you were on Twitter last night, you might've seen my spazzy tweet regarding my poor toddler.
Yes, I said 100s. (We were actually told later 150+)

She was out in our back yard, doing what she always does, inspecting life, squatting, spying, checking things out. For all we know, she could've been deciding to poop right that second, we'll never know. What we did know is that, whatever she was originally doing caused her to seemingly sit in a big, angry ant pile. Her shrieks told the tale immediately. Her ankles, thighs, then hands, all swarmed with ants biting at her.

The above is the inside of her left thigh, after the meds. Her ankles are much much worse. C-O-V-E-R-E-D.

The scariest part about it was how fast it blew up, and how one bite's swelling connected with others, and she was just one big swollen bite on her legs, it was that bad. And the hives, OHMYGOD the hives were EVERYWHERE!! She sneezed, and sneezed, and kept digging at her scalp. It seemed, despite not being bit 100% on her body, whatever wasn't bit became covered by horrible hives. Her eyes were bloodshot and also itchy, it was like the venom from the ants just invaded her body and made her skin crawl with itchiness. She just kept digging into her ears, like they were in there too (and I was SO scared) and the second she said her mouth hurt (we thought swelling of her throat/tongue, or worse, they went in there, too) out the door he went with her, rushing her to the ER.

Leaving me behind.

I am not good being the one staying behind. At all. I'm the worrier to begin with. I can't sit idly by, patiently waiting for news. It was TORTURE! I went immediately into panic mode. I sobbed. I called my mother. I sobbed some more. I went on a cleaning frenzy (I'm lucky anything got done the way I was shaking). I threw up. I called him maniacally to find out if there were any updates. Mostly, I was a friggin' nervous wreck.

(By the way, thanks to all of you who prayed and kept us in your thoughts. I appreciate it so so much!)

And to you ants that decided to feast on my daughter yesterday, despite the fact that we stomped on, squished and smacked you all off my daughter, your days are numbered, should you have survived our thrashing. We're so onto you like white on rice, it ain't even funny. Pack your little ant-bags, now, 'cuz I'm going to take a lot of pleasure seeing your demise tomorrow. {cue Wicked Witch of the West evil theme music}

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I Cut My Hair (Again). And It's Short(er).

Yup, I went and got it fixed. And found the greatest hair-stylist. I big puffy heart her so much! I want to put her in my pocket and carry her with me every post we ever get moved to, thankyouverymuch Hair Gods for allowing me to find her! AND they do pedicures there. AND they have a massage therapist there. (I'm feeling light-headed from this fabulous turn of events. Oh wait, it's just less hair on my head.)

{giggle*snort}

So, would you like to see what I did now? Or should I say, what the new, very nice, not-so-botched-hair-happy stylist did to my stressed tresses?? Lookie!


Do you not agree with me, that this is MUCH MUCH better? Cuz I think so. Totally!

For more Wednesday fun, visit Wordless Wednesday, 5MFM, MomDot, Ordinary and Awesome, Seven Clown Circus.

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