Random Tuesday Thoughts: Getting Old is Weird

Hey look my ghost post inspired a story on Mother's Click!

Getting older is weird. Yesterday I pulled out my second ever gray hair. I pulled it out and examined it. You know, to make sure it really was gray and not one of my highlights. It was actually a beautiful gleaming piece of silver hair. It's funny that I'm describing it so lovingly. Some people just have really beautiful silver hair. Not gray but silver or snow white. I worked in a nursing home for 7 years of my life and have seen some gorgeous "old lady" hair. I didn't feel the same way with my first gray hair. I think it was about a year ago. I saw it in the mirror while I was at work. I probably shed a single tear. I was 24- waaaay too early for gray! But I hear that's not the case. I'm just glad I hadn't sprouted another until just now.

It's also weird to see the guys you've known forever show signs of aging. Some of them have thinning hair. I caught myself looking at a man my age the other day. Just staring at what would soon be his bald spot. That must really suck. Women bald too, though its not as common as it is for men, I couldn't imagine waking up with piles of hair on my pillow.

Women sag and droop. We get sad and have to cover up our gray hair. What is it about men that makes them look so distinguished with gray hair? Is it our "natural" instict. That instinct that tells us to marry a man who can provide and take care of the family - back to the cavemen roots? The same roots that tell men to marry younger women. The instict that says "I need to reproduce and this young female can do it for me." Hmmm.... thoughts to ponder.

I took a social psychology class in college about 5 years ago. Strange that this is all just seeping out of my brain now.. What do you think?

Once in a Blue Moon by Eileen Goudge

When I hear "once in a blue moon" the first thing that comes to mind is that it sounds about how often I read a book. When I was asked by the One2One Network if I was interested in doing a book review I'll admit that yes, I was not interested. But, then I decided that I'd give it a shot. It would give me a reason to read.

A book has got to be good in order for me to finish it. I can just turn it off right in the middle of the story- never needing to know what happened at the end. This was not the case with Eileen Goudge's latest book Once in a Blue Moon. It's no wonder Goudge is a New York Times bestselling author. She reveals the story in such vivid detail that I feel as though I'm there. A big plus in my book!

Once in a Blue Moon is a story about two sisters, Kerrie Ann and Lindsay, who are separated when they were young. Thirty years later they are leading very different lives and are reunited when they need each other the most. Kerrie Ann is a down-on-her-luck kind of girl who can't seem to get the stars to align just right. It reminded me how lucky I am to have two sisters. A gift that is often taken for granted.

The story is told in such a voice that you feel like there's a part of you that can connect and empathize with both of the sisters. Though they lead very different lives than I have, I could see myself in each of them. Learn more about this next bestseller by Eileen Goudge on her website. You can even become a fan on Facebook!

'Tis the Season: Ghost Stories

You are all probably going to think I'm nuts for this post, but I just had to get it out there. It's kind of a long story so I'll try to keep it short and readable. Maybe it's just the "spirit" of the season, maybe I really am going crazy, or maybe this did really happen...

I'm sure I've mentioned that my younger sister is living with us now. She's helping out with Josh and helping pay some bills. Just a couple of my perks in our mutual arrangement. A couple months back, she went to her friend's house. When she came home she told me her friend had a ghost at her house. Without her friend even telling her, she knew. Then when she started asking questions, her friend said "yes, there's a ghost here." My sister was able to describe the ghost and everything.

A few weeks later, her friend came over. It was late and she only stayed for a bit. When she left I went up to bed. Things carried on as usual for the next couple days. Then I started getting this weird feeling. Like someone was there. I couldn't see them, but I could... it was weird.

This continued for about two weeks getting worse and worse. Or, maybe not worse, just more apparent. The ghost seemed to be a young man, late teens- early twenties. He wore dark pants and a dark colored (I think it was a shade of deep red) flannel or jacket. I mentioned this to my sister and she replied, "It's so funny that you say that because I've been experiencing the same thing!" The she continued to describe the same skinny young man I saw.

He'd just lurk out in the upstairs hallway. Not really causing any harm or "haunting" us. He'd just be there. Kind of like he was just checking us out, wanted to see what was going on. I never sensed it in any of the bedrooms. Just in the hall.

My mom came over today, and she said the SAME THING! Described it and all! Very creeeeepy! She said she thinks she brought it home with her, so I may not be seeing him lurking around anymore. Sorry!

Has this ever happened to you? Maybe I really am going nuts! It's a strange feeling. It wasn't threatening like Paranormal Activity or anything. More like, "I know you're there and I would like for you to go away and stop creeping me out."

What would you do if you saw a ghost?

Halloween Fun: Haunted Houses!

It's time for some Halloween fun! I just love this time of year- hay rides, mazes, pumpkin patches, costumes and of course haunted houses! There's a haunted house in New York City called Nightmare. It is NYC's largest haunted house, and for the first time they are doing a children's version of its famously scary haunted attraction.


KIDS DAY is a fun, friendly version of NIGHTMARE: VAMPIRES. No big “boos,” no scary monsters and LOTS of candy! It's set in the fictitious Museum of Vampyric Artifacts (MoVA), where you and your kids take a tour through a series of galleries that give an overview of vampires in history and the media, led by Count Dracula himself! When the Count's famous red velvet cupcake is stolen, all the exhibits come to life while you look for it. Don't worry, though, the kids are well protected: everyone will be given squirt guns full of magic water right at the beginning, and any monster they splash will immediately retreat. There will also be a short balloon animal show and candy will be given out in every room, so bring your trick or treat bags!

This sounds like SO MUCH FUN! It's appropriate for kids up to ten years old. I'm a Clevelander and WISH there was something like this in our area. New Yorkers - enjoy! If you take the kiddos, let me know how it goes!

Kids day is Saturday, October 24 from 10AM to 3PM. Tickets are $15.

To check it out and for more information, visit the Haunted House's website.

A Mish Mash Mad Mom

Some of you may remember this post, Too Many Hats, back from May. Obviously being a new mom and a twenty five year old recent college grad with a house and a family is tough. I've been going through my own personal stuff right now. The bad part about it is that it's been stuck in my head and I've been trying to figure it out without the support of my best friends, my rocks. My communication skills have been lacking over the past months. So bad that I've pretty much secluded myself by not feeling like talking on the phone, or even get out of the house.


I just feel trapped. I've been trying out how to not feel so trapped. I don't even know why I feel this way. Shutting myself in - no phone calls, no leaving the house - was the complete opposite way to deal with it. Little baby is growing up. He's not as "portable" as he used to be. I used to be able to toss him in the car and go. Let him sleep in the car seat. Not have to worry about him getting into much. That's not the case anymore. As he's gotten more mobile, I found myself becoming less mobile. I'm afraid to go anywhere when I get home from work because he needs to eat. He might be crabby the whole time. He might poop and I'd need to find somewhere to change him. I don't even go to the store because that means I'd have to bring him. I don't want to resent him, but I feel like I don't know how to balance all of this.

I need some bull shit in my life. Just good old fashioned bull shit. The kind of bull shit where I can sit around with my best friends and talk about what happened on Grey's. The kind of bull shit where I can take off the mommy hat for 30 minutes and just be myself. It's overwhelming to feel responsible for someone every single moment of every single day. I guess I've just been having trouble balancing the damanding feeling of motherhood with myself. The person who makes me, me. I feel like I've totally changed and might have had an identity chrisis.
And my blog! Ugh! I feel sooo guilty for not posting every other day like I had been! I just feel so lazy and have such a hard time getting my ideas out of my head. I hate it! I love blogging and I love my readers! I want you to stick around! Please don't let my lack of communication skills impede our bloggy love! ;)

I'm just learning that, as a mother, I will never have alone time ever again. Or at least not for another 18 years... My only alone time is in the car. When I'm driving to and from the sitter's. After that I have to entertain Josh for two hours before the hubby gets home. Then I have to entertain him.

I think I've finally figured it out. I've always been a person who things about the future and not about the now. Even when it comes to my future 45 minutes from now. I'm so busy thinking about everything else I have to do that I can't chill out for five minutes and call my best friend to tell her about the really embarrassing zit I have on my nose. I can't enjoy my son when I get home from work because I'm thinking about all the other work I have to do.

That's no way to live. I'm living in the now--- for the important "now" stuff. Save the future living for the actual future and not 45 minutes into the future.

Has anyone ever felt this way? Mother or not... I think we all deal with "growing up" in different ways. It took me to produce another life for me to actually "grow up." haha. There could be a punch line in there, but I won't embarrass myself.

What do you think? Are you going through this too?

Bumper Cars

This week has been a very rainy week. It's rained all day for at least five days in a row. Luckily, the rain stopped so we could enjoy our weekend. I picked Joshua up at the sitter's house on Friday night. It was raining pretty heavy. Visibility was low and there was a good amount of water on the roads. We got into the car and started our trip home.

Nearing the highway, traffic started to slow. There were lots of people trying to get home and out of the rain. I was going down a slight hill and suddenly two cars in front of me stopped. This of course caused a chain reaction. I was about two houses away from the car immediately in front of me. I stepped on the break only to have them totally lock up. I slid... and slid... and slid. Realizing I only had about 10 more feet before I hit the car, I started looking for options- maybe I could swing into a driveway really quick - maybe I could find an opening on the other side of the road and avoid a collision. No chance, I was moving closer and closer. I laid on the horn when there were about eight feet between my car and her bumper.

SMASH! I watched my hood wrinkle up before my eyes. Both Josh and I were fine but it scared him of course. This is just what I need... Hands shaking, I rummaged through my glove compartment to frantically pull out my insurance cards.

I saw the woman get out of her car and take a look at her bumper. Scratches, only scratches. Ok, this won't be so bad... think again. After making sure everyone was ok, I turned to take a look at the damage. Since I had seen the hood of my car rise up in folds before my eyes, I knew it wouldn't be pretty. The front bumper is cracked in the middle making the sides stick out and hang as if I folded it in half. The hood wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. It's crinkled up and exposing part of the cars "guts" on the side, but still, not as bad. How could her car have sustained such a force coming at it while mine crinkled up like a piece of paper?

We went to the police station and made our statements. I got a ticket. The first time ever... I've never had any kind of traffic violation or anything. Now, I'm in the system. No longer off the grid... My insurance is pretty good. I knew that if I got into an accident I wouldn't have $500 to pay plus the ticket so I've been paying a little extra to keep my deductible down to $100. THANK GOD!

Luckily the woman whose car I hit was very nice. We took down eachother's information and called it a night. After she left, the policeman handed me that nasty pink piece of paper. Scribbled in carbon copy, the offense was marked "safe distance." In the eyes of the law, no matter what the circumstances, I was too close. I flipped it over to see what the damage would be to my checkbook. $200!!!

WHAT?! I can't pay that plus my deductible! I'm a 25 year old recent college grad with a house and a family. Holy crap! Then I learned that I could go to court. If I could prove the damages were taken care of and no one was badly injurred, I have a good shot. I'll take it! I'd rather go to court and try to reduce my out of pocket by being reduced to court costs only than not take the chance and be out the full $200.

I know it's just a little fender bender and lots of people go through this, but I feel like such a criminal. My name will be in the public database for the court system. I hate the thought of that! I can't believe I caused an accident before I even got a speeding ticket... 

*sigh* I'll fill you in after I make my first court appearance. Hopefully my defense attorney skills/grovelling are better than my driving skills.

Wordless Wednesday: Mommy's Little Helper

At 10 months old, he's such a good little helper already!

11 Month Recap

Josh is fast approaching the 11 month mark. Which means he's also fast approaching his first birthday!! I can't believe it. He's grown so fast. Everytime I look at him he's grown even more. This past weekend my husband's best friend got married. Josh was just starting to walk, 12 to maybe 14 steps in a row. He slept over my parents' house so Mommy and Daddy could have a few cocktails and not have to wake up at 6 am with a massive headache to mother/father a rambuncious baby. I picked him up from his overnight stay and he was full-blown walking. It's amazing how fast he learned that. He just turned 10 months when he decided it was time to take his first steps, now three weeks later, he's walking from room to room, sippy cup in hand.


He's getting his seventh tooth. That's really fun. He was just 4 months old when he started teething. Back then he was just crying his normal baby cry. Now that it's been a couple months since he cut a new tooth, this one's a doozy. He cries his little head off. Tears flowing, nose running. Poor guy. He whines when the pain isn't quite so severe. It's kinda cute actually.

His little teeth are doing their jobs. He is totally over baby food. (Thank God) He eats what the family eats for dinner which is SO much easier! I make sure he gets all of his fruits and veggies, grains and protiens. He actually wants to start using the spoon himself. He gets it, puts it in his mouth the right way, but just can't figure out how to get the food on there. Is there a tutorial or something for that??

He learns more and more everyday. It's so fun to watch. He's so smart. He puts all of his toys in their place. Blocks go in the dumptruck so he can dump them. He throws his stuffed animals from the crib into the laundry basket and all the other toys go on the floor. I think it's because whenever he has a diaper explosion, that's where Daddy and I toss them. So cute!

I love being his mommy. It's so weird to see my little baby turn into a toddler. He is looking more and more like a little boy and less like a baby. He walked into the dining room today carrying his sippy and crying for mama. Makes me smile :)

Mini Chill Product Review

When I was approached by the makers of Mini Chill™ to review this product, I was more than skeptical. My skeptiscim was the perfect opportunity for me to provide a transparent and honest review, so I said "why not?!"  My husband is the king of energy drinks and I just like to stick to good old fashioned coffee. Energy drinks have nothing but junk in them. They provide a short burst of energy, then the guilt of consuming all of those empty calories and sugar. I'm not an afternoon coffee drinker. The caffiene is just too much and keeps me up until the wee hours of the morning making the next day even harder.

Mini Chill™ is a relaxation beverage which contains materials found in nature known to reduce stress, relieve anxiety and support a restful sleep. Mini Chill™ offers a way to reduce everyday anxiety and stress without interfering with a productive schedule. This little pick-me-up's four primary ingredients are natural, not chemical. Even better!

The first thing I have to rave about this product is that it actually does what it's supposed to do! The Mini Chill really is a "mini chill." It's a small 2 ounce pick-me-up that lasts all day long. And I really mean from the moment I drink it around 2:30, when the day starts dragging, until I go to bed around 11 pm. If you know anything about me, or have read my blog, you know I'm a chronic complainer of being "so tired!" When I drink the Mini Chill™ I don't even realize there's a change. It just happens. I'm suddenly able to focus without being stressed or distracted.

Another thing that really bothers me about the typical energy drink is that they just taste bad! The Mini Chill™ is so good! It's light and fruity and doesn't leave a chalky after-taste. You can drink it right out of the bottle with no refridgeration. Perfect for keeping in my desk drawer!

Whether it's at home, on the town, or during work everyone needs a chill. This is my new secret weapon! I keep a stash at work for that time of day when things seem to be dragging along and piling up. Sip on my Mini Chill™ and I'm good! You NEED to try this! I am very anti-energy drink and this is the right answer! The 2oz. "shots" retail for about $2.99 each and are available where ever you usually buy those 5 Hour Energy drinks.

To learn more about this amazing fast-acting and loooong-lasting mood and focus enhancing elixir, visit http://minichill.com/ or follow them on Twitter @MiniChill!

Wordless Wednesday:

Today's Wordless Wednesday is brought ot you by Awkward Family Photos. Go ahead, laugh!!!!!

Random Tuesday Thoughts

Well today's random thoughts were mysteriously deleted from my "to edit" list... nice...

My little baby was actually crying for Mama from his bed yesterday morning. It was the cutest thing ever. Then on the way home from the sitter last night, I saw him from the rearview mirror waving his hand at me and saying "haaaaaa." It was SO cute! I love it! It's those little things that happen everyday that make me love being a mom. Everything he does. It's just so cool to watch him learn.

My little man is a little monkey. He's so strong for 10 months. He's walking. Not too steadily yet, but he can get in a good 12 - 14 steps before he needs to sit down (or tumble down). This is another reason he needs to wear a helmet. It used to be that he was just so wild that he'd fling himself into the side of the changing table or hard spot of the couch (I still don't know how he managed to do that). A helmet with a faceguard.

He was walking at my in-laws' house today and was making it quite far, so I just let him go. And of course he stopped in the doorway and fell at just the right angle to knock his noggin on the side of the door frame. He had a line shapped goose egg that turned black and blue. Luckily his bangs covered it up and you couldn't really see it after the swelling went down.

Last week he had a bruise on his nose for a while. He was smart enough to pull down the mobile above his crib and take it apart. Like a little engineer he dismantled each peace and wove the part holding the animals at me like a victory flag when I walked into the room.

He's such a little stinker...

Pooping with the Door Open

Now did that headline get your attention or what?! ;) I don't know what it is about men that make them so comfortable with everything. For instance, pooping with the bathroom door open. That's so gross. Why do men do this? I know it may not be everyman but there sure are a lot that have no problem letting all hang out after the novelty of newly-wedded bliss has worn off.

I read an interesting article on CNN about what we do in front of our partners. There's a certain guard let down after being in a relationship so long. You think, "hey, we're married, or we've been together forever. Why not let one rip?" I don't really have a problem with dirty habbits as long as I don't have to be a witness to them.

Spitting - particularly lugies. That's disgusting. Over the years I've told my husband how the sound of this makes my want to hurl all over him and never kiss him again. So he stopped doing it in front of me.

Passing gas is another. Hey, I'll admit it, there are certain times of the month or during pregnancy when women have toxic ass. It's normal but as women we usually don't just let 'em rip so proudly (at least I don't) as men do. The worst is how the stink usually comes out at night. Then you have to lay in bed and marinate in it. EW!

And finally, pooping with the door open. That's gross. I'll put up with the occassional lugie and nasty fart, but please for the love of God shut the door! I love you and there's no fart or poop sound in the world that would stop me from loving you but... do you really think I'm so excited to hear every bodily function up close and personal that I just can't wait to jump in bed with you? NO!

I need your take on this ladies. Am I the only one who thinks this is an absolute turn off? I'm comfortable but not enough to even pee with the door open. We've been together 7 years and my husband told me I'm going to have to poop in front of him eventually so "get used to it." NO! I don't wanna!

Don't Take Rides From Strangers

Earlier this summer my husband and I took the little guy to the annual Corn Festival in his home town. (insert Yee-Haw here) The opening night finishes with a fireworks display. Everyone from the town comes to the park for this event - young and old. We parked the car abou 10 houses down from the "party house" which is at the corner of the street where the park is.

After the grand finale fireworks were finished, we waited a bit so the floods of people could get out. If we left in too much of a hurry we'd surely be sitting at the stoplight (or cop that was directing traffic) for a good twenty minutes. After the rush, we walked down to the car. There were only a handful of cars left. Everyone got into their cars and zoomed off. Since we had to pack everything up and get the baby all situated, we took a little longer than others. That was when I noticed a little boy wondering around. He looked like he was about ten years old and looked lost. He politely came up to my husband and asked if he could use his phone. Of course! We continued getting loaded up.

A few minutes passed and the little boy still hadn't gotten ahold of anyone. He seemed like he didn't know what to do. We finished getting situated, then asked the young man if he had a ride home. It was 11:30 at night. It was dark. There wasn't anyone around. He said yes, please and off we went.

What was this kid thinking?!!? Hadn't he learned not to take anything from strangers - rides included?? Luckily my husband and I aren't murders, rapists or child molesters. But what if we were? He didn't know where we could have taken him. First of all, why did this kid's friends leave him at the fair? Friendship 101- never leave a straggler! Buddy system people! I know it may have potentially been very creepy of me to ask this kid if he needed a ride, but I wanted to make sure no other creepjob picked him up. I wish I could have had a word with his mother.

If we didn't give him a ride, what would he have done? Didn't have a phone, his friends had left him... what are the options? Always have a plan! When I was growing up, we didn't have cell phones (wow, that's strange). My parents and I made up a code word and the only people allowed to drive us home had to know the code word. I still remember it to this day. It's the most ridiculous word and no one would ever guess it. I guess I would have walked home, but if it was too far, then I'd go back into the fair and look for an authority figure there. Given the fact that this fair has a beer tent, I'm sure there were plenty of cops willing to give this young man a ride home.

We dropped the boy not too far away from the fair. It was, however, quite a walking distance for a ten year old at 11:30 at night. He went to his friend's house. Will his mother ever know he took a ride from a stranger? Probably not. Hopefully he won't find himself in that type of situation again. Who knows, the next couple that offers him a ride might have a window-less astro van filled with "candy."