Figments of a Mom

A new venture

2012-01-22T11:30:00.000-05:00

I have a secret project in the works, and I'm totally consumed with it. It's not going to save lives or make an environmental impact. It's more personal. I'm working on my photography portfolio in hopes to have an actual business. I would love to work as a photographer fulltime. My dream in college was to work for National Geographic as a photojournalist. I even applied to the Peace Corps in

Happy Birthday...to my house

2012-01-08T15:23:00.002-05:00

I love old houses. They have a lot of character and little details that many newer houses seem to be missing. And quirky things tend to happen on occasion... Out of the blue last week, little K asked if we could have a birthday party for the house. Sure, I said it's going to be 100 years old this year. That's definitely worth celebrating. I just need to find out what day it was completed.

Generations

2012-01-02T09:43:00.001-05:00

My grandmother, who just turned 89, has seven children, which currently includes six children in-law, 16 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. My grandfather just passed away recently. They were married for over 60 years. So for the first time, my grandmother is alone. Even though she has an extended legacy of family, she's alone, in a way. Her partner in life is gone.

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T22:33:00.000-05:00

Welcome 2012 and happy new year to everyone! I spent the evening and morning with friends, which was spontaneously extended into mid-afternoon with leftovers and several shakers of cosmopolitans - a perfect way to start the new year, albeit misleading since I will be starting Weight Watchers this week. My only "resolution". We managed to get the kids off the Wii and outdoors before the arctic

Where we found our Elf...

2011-12-27T07:58:00.003-05:00

I'm here to say, it's never too late to get your Elf.... My 9 year old started asking questions last year about the logistics of Santa. It's in her nature. So I made one last ditch effort and had our Elf delivered anonymously. Finding "Charlie" instantly became part of the morning routine. I wasn't sure E was buying into it until our friends' son threw Charlie to the ground, and I later found E

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-26T19:54:00.000-05:00

I am sooooo late getting out my cards - thankfully it's a full week of holiday celebrating. At least that's how I justify it. I think I'm just in denial that it's almost over. Christmas was upon me so fast, and the weather was warm, it took even longer to get mentally into it. Then once I was in the Christmas spirit, it was over! But, I'm still playing Christmas music, I'm keeping the

Making Salt Dough Ornaments

2011-12-10T07:57:00.001-05:00

I love ornaments. L.O.V.E. them. But I have rules when it comes to my ornaments. They must have some kind of meaning behind them. So this year I thought it would be fun and memorable to make our own ornaments from salt dough. Little K was pumped! She is my mess-maker after all, so mixing up a batch of salt dough was perfect for her. I'm picky about my dough however. I've made batches before

Tis the season

2011-12-08T22:55:00.003-05:00

For some randoms... Our Elf, Charlie, has finally arrived, anonymously. Better late than never. The girls are admittedly a little "creeped out" by him and the fact that he is watching them all the time. But, they are convinced that Santa must have sent him along. In fact, my 9-year-old was the first one to say that, so I'm thrilled I haven't lost her yet. I'm not so sure Charlie will be

Girls Getaway: St. Michaels, Md

2011-11-28T10:57:00.000-05:00

My latest girls getaway was to waterfront St. Michaels, MD with my mom and my sister, an annual weekend trip that usually brings us somewhere ultra-quaint with lots of boutique shopping. St. Michaels fit that bill perfectly. It's also an ideal spot for a couple's getaway with loads of romantic Victorian bed and breakfasts to stay in. We arrived on a Friday evening and checked into the

Review of Apothederm Firming Serum

2011-11-20T22:08:00.002-05:00

I have never been one for extraordinary skin care routines. I use a cleanser and a moisturizer, but that's about it. Until I turned 40 last month. The wrinkles are starting to take up a permanent and deeper residence on my face. No time like the present to adopt some preventative care. I was offered the opportunity to try a facial firming serum from Apothederm. A new company and product to

To St. Michaels, MD

2011-11-11T16:42:00.001-05:00

This weekend will be the fourth weekend in a row that I will be traveling -- one final girls weekend of the year with my mom and sister to St. Michaels, Maryland. While I'm looking forward to the weekend of sightseeing and bonding, I am anxious to have some extended time in my home--the clutter has reached monumental levels. I walk into Little K's room and my eyeballs vibrate from the mess. I

Wino Mommy

2011-11-11T10:26:00.004-05:00

It appears my children are more perceptive than I would like. Hence, a recent writing assignment using spelling words in a Halloween narrative. Evidence A: While the moms and I did walk around with a beverage as the kids treat-or-treated, I DID NOT get a refill along the way. It was offered, but I stopped AT ONE. Just to be clear. Also, do not assume her misuse of the word "drunk" should in

How do you deal with lying?

2011-11-03T07:41:00.001-04:00

Ever since the girls were old enough to talk we've been telling them they won't get in trouble for telling the truth. But lying? Not tolerable. Lately, however, little K has resorted to lying. And I mean lying right to my face when the evidence is in my hand. Apparently, I'm making one of the first mistakes when it comes to encouraging honesty: Don't ask the question when you already know the

Meet an real astronaut at the Please Touch Museum

2011-11-02T07:37:00.006-04:00

If you are looking for something to do with your little ones, especially as the weather gets colder, the Please Touch Museum has Astronaut Chris Ferguson, a Philadelphia native, visiting at 1 pm on Monday, November 7th to meet your children and read the book “There’s No Place Like Space!” in the museum's Space Station area. After the Story Time, Astronaut Ferguson will move to the area

Girls Getaway: Newport, Rhode Island

2011-11-01T12:12:00.003-04:00

It may not be the first place you think of when planning a girls getaway. It may not even be on your list of places to go at all. But it was on mine, and when flights to Providence dropped to $99 round trip, I figured now was as good a time as any. And because the 40th birthday celebrating was still in full swing. A 6:30 am flight means you have to be up at 4 am, but it also means you have a

One Day on Earth - Will You Be There?

2011-10-31T14:19:00.000-04:00

We are so engrossed in our own world that we forget other things are happening to other people at the same time other places in the world. Right now, you're sitting there reading this blog, but where one baby is being born, another is dying; where a child learns in school, another is looking for food; where one person is losing a job, another is being hired; where one couple is buying a house,

Annual Pumpkin Carving

2011-10-24T22:02:00.000-04:00

It's that time of year - time to make the jack o'lanterns! I have learned through experience it's best to do this as close to Halloween as possible. Otherwise, the squirrels have a feast and the jack o'lanterns become mutated beyond recognition. Little K likes to pick the largest possible pumpkin, this one weighing in at 23 lbs. Fortunately, and surprisingly, it was not 23 pounds of guts and

Underestimating time

2011-10-24T12:48:00.003-04:00

I've been enlightened from events this past weekend to a pattern in my behavior that I'm sure isn't news to anyone that knows me...I am a master at underestimating the amount of time it takes to do anything. This is a problem when I plan to do many things in one day. For instance, this past weekend with the hubs out of town I planned to make pumpkin spice muffins with cream cheese icing (YUM!),

Wordless Wednesday--You think you got your hands full?

2011-10-12T11:42:00.000-04:00

My sweet neighbor let me come over and photograph her and her new twin girls...

The 40th Birthday

2011-10-05T10:57:00.048-04:00

Yesterday was the day. The 40th birthday had finally arrived. The dreaded and much anticipated milestone. 40? *cringe* I may have survived the day, but the number still hurts. I surprised myself when I woke up without the anticipated heavy fog of dread. I felt okay! Excited in fact, to take on the day. Of course, that could have had something to do with the fact that my loving husband bought me

Only celebrate the milestones...

2011-10-03T12:18:00.000-04:00

Someone sent this to me today. Funny perspective on what birthdays are worthy of celebrating.

How I'm planning to spend my 40th birthday

2011-09-30T15:00:00.003-04:00

A few months ago, I had an epiphany walking to work: I must get a tattoo to mark my 40th birthday. Never in my life have I wanted a tattoo. I love tattoos on other people, there just hasn't been anything I loved so much so that I needed to permanently imprint it on my body. Until now. Yes, this is what I'm doing. And I'm excited. Then earlier this week, another idea hit me out the blue. Go to

Are you accomplished?

2011-09-30T10:23:00.001-04:00

The other night I was at a happy hour with some co-workers I recently started working with. It was so nice to be out with new people - I laughed so hard my cheeks hurt. But, as I was whining about my impending doom, one woman just a few years younger than me couldn't believe I was so devastated about my milestone birthday. She said, "But you're married and have kids. You're accomplished!" What?

40 is not the new 30

2011-09-28T12:12:00.001-04:00

I'm living the last six days of my 30s. I'm not doing anything special. And I'm not checking off the remnants of a "Before I Turn 40" bucket list. That would only depress me even further. Quite frankly, the anticipation of turning f-o-r-t-y is making me a little crazy. I just want to get it over with. It doesn't help, of course, that my husband is making a point to verbally count down the days

Why I suck as a mom

2011-09-20T14:31:00.000-04:00

I throw tantrums. It doesn't happen often but when it does, I scream and yell and make myself nearly hoarse. I am not proud of my weakness. I didn't even realize I was capable of such anger until I had children. When they push and push and push, I can't hold it in. Ninety-nine percent of the time it's directed at little K. She knows exactly how to piss me off, and she doesn't know when to

photo challenge / a touch of sun

2011-09-19T14:25:00.000-04:00

It's been a while since I've entered any photo challenges. But when "A Touch of Sun" came up as the challenge at I Heart Faces, I immediately thought of this photo taken in early August in Sea Isle City. It was a spontaneous "photo shoot" of sorts; and I think it's hilarious how my shy 9-year-old turned on the modeling charm in a snap! I suppose she's a little used to me with a camera attached

Postponed -- Tech talk today - live chat!

2011-09-19T11:35:00.001-04:00

I just received an email that this chat was postponed due to scheduling conflicts... Verizon Wireless is hosting a live chat today at noon EST. Harry Martin, Director of Advanced Technologies for Verizon Wireless, will be answering your questions and leading this conversation. Topics include the best apps for managing your family's hectic schedule, maintaining safety for your kids and account

Live Chat - Apps to help manage busy back-to-school schedules, and more

2011-09-17T09:55:00.001-04:00

I've never done anything like this. In fact, I'm not even sure how they found me because I have so few readers. Although I'm sure I'm not the only blog this is being hosted on, I'm panicking that no one will show! So, please please please come check this chat out on Monday and I promise to pay you back in wine. Because that's how I'll be drowning my sorrows if this is a dud. Here are the

Wanna adopt a 7 year old?

2011-09-17T09:08:00.001-04:00

My seven-year-old daughter is Mercurial. The capital M is intentional because she personifies the word. In one moment she can be happy go lucky, in the next she can be throwing a tantrum that puts most 3-year-olds to shame. The other morning after she was asked twice to turn off the TV and get dressed for school, she threw one of these tantrums. This is not uncommon. She doesn't like being told

Irritable Male Syndrome

2011-09-13T11:44:00.000-04:00

I love my husband. He's a great dad and our girls adore him. He brings home flowers every week. He voluntarily runs errands. He does laundry. He's a true partner, and he puts up with me, which is pretty easy by the way. But this post isn't about how blissful our life is together. Because it isn't. And, in my opinion, it never will be. We're each slightly volatile. Plus, he's an only child and

Barbie Hell and Therapy

2011-09-07T11:31:00.000-04:00

About once a month I attend therapy. It's free and I don't have to leave my house. It's the best therapy I've ever had, and I highly recommend it. I pick up a trash bag and purge the playroom.* If I find a random toy piece and can't figure out to which game it belongs, and the nearest child can't figure it out either? In the trash bag it goes. It is the most cleansing experience EVER. And if

After the Hurricane

2011-09-04T23:02:00.001-04:00

As predicted, Hurricane Irene for us in the 'burbs was a let down. I realize for others it lived up to the media hype. But, for us, outside of Philly, ALL MEDIA HYPE. Thankfully, we never lost electricity and we had no water in the basement. The only damage was a two day loss from our Dewey Beach trip. Dewey Beach is two blocks wide. Ocean on one side. Bay on the other. I figured it was entirely

Hurricane Irene, not at the shore

2011-08-27T20:51:00.000-04:00

At this very moment, Hurricane Irene is hitting Virginia as I sit just outside Philly in the near western suburbs. We have electricity. We have rain. We have a little bit of wind. As with blizzard warnings, I am not one to run to the store and stock up on two weeks worth of supplies and equipment. Mainly because I don't live in a RURAL area. And with the oncoming hurricane, I equally did not

Is it blogger's anxiety, or life anxiety?

2011-08-23T10:25:00.000-04:00

I have blogger's anxiety. Or writer's block. Or an inability to link two sentences together with any real meaning. Whatever it is, it has paralyzed me from writing the way I prefer to, openly and without refrain. I blame this on the fact that many people I know read my blog... family, friends, neighbors...so I've become self-conscious about what I write and share. I suppose you could also chalk

Back to School Printable

2011-08-18T22:24:00.000-04:00

I feel like this summer barely got going and now it's nearly over. We still have one more beach trip to make to top it off. Although I love getting new school supplies, I still get that slightly nauseated feeling when the first day nears. I've seen some back-to-school printables cropping up here and there, but I thought these were cute enough to share from Silver Box Creative Studio. Who

I ♥ Photography

2011-08-11T12:30:00.001-04:00

I love taking photos - especially candids of children and people. Once upon a time, I wanted to work for National Geographic: traveling, taking photos and writing. My dream job. I think being a wartime photojournalist would be amazingly exciting too. Call me crazy, but something tells me that won't be happening at this stage of my life. Often at birthday parties and get togethers, I spend more

Blogging from the Beach

2011-07-30T08:00:00.003-04:00

This morning, the hubs, the girls and I are on our way to the sandy shores of Sea Isle City in New Jersey, along with my entire family on my father's side: 2 grandparents; 2 parents; 2 sisters; 1 brother-in-law; 1 niece; 1 nephew; 13 aunts and uncles; 14 first cousins with various girlfriends and boyfriends; and 4 second cousins. There will be much to blog about. I promise.

Gluten-free may be in our future...

2011-07-29T13:45:00.000-04:00

Little K was diagnosed with Vitiligo when she was three years old. Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease that causes depigmentation in patches of skin. Most people know it as what Michael Jackson had. And there isn't a "cure". Fortunately, most spots are on her torso and legs and aren't really noticeable in the winter or spring. And she actually doesn't mind them. They make her special. It's the best

Thrifty Thursday

2011-07-28T10:00:00.001-04:00

As I mentioned before, I'm addicted to the Craiglist Mobile app which lets you scroll through pictures without having to click through the links first. On a daily basis, I find things I must have. Unfortunately, I had to pass on the rug, for now. And the mirror. I'm crossing my fingers that they are still there when I build my thrift fund back up. But I wanted to share with you my latest

I got hit by a car and lived to nearly get hit again...

2011-07-27T11:11:00.000-04:00

Today, I proved that no, it is not possible for a person to get hit by a car TWICE in one lifetime. But thankfully, my lifetime is not over. So unfortunately, there's still a possibility. Because this morning, I narrowly escaped certain death. Or at least a maiming. Most likely, some serious bruises. On my walk to the train every morning, I often see people run red lights. Fortunately, I

She called 911 and lived to tell about it.

2011-07-25T15:43:00.002-04:00

This weekend many exciting things happened, including an unexpected visit from a police officer thanks to little K's prank phone call to 911. Little K and a friend were playing with Barbies in the guest room (where there is, of course, a tempting phone) with the door shut. While her friend's mom and I were standing in the hallway contemplating the placement of some furniture, the girls came

How to go thrifting

2011-07-22T08:00:00.004-04:00

Nothing gets me up bright and early on a Saturday morning like a good yard sale. You never know what you're going to find. It's such an adventure. Of course, you're going to find plenty of junk, but the key to successful thrifting is to look for the hidden potential. The first thing you need to know -- get to the sales early. Serious yard sale shoppers pounce the exact moment the owners are

To tattoo, or not to tattoo

2011-07-21T08:30:00.030-04:00

I turn 40 this year. In 75 days. Most days, I forget that fact. But, when it suddenly dawns on me that my birthday is approaching, something feels wrong. I'm simply not that old. When I was younger, I always wanted to be older. It was cool to be older. You had more freedom. And now, I've finally reached the midway point. I want to be younger. Even though my friends (who are all turning 40

Enter, the personal trainer...

2011-07-20T09:55:00.002-04:00

My inconsistent workouts, my penchant for large doses of wine and all things sweet, my chair-bound fulltime job has led to this conclusion, as voiced by my ever-so-loving-and-thoughtful husband, "What you're doing is not working." Fortunately, he refrained from the disdainful head-to-toe once over as he said it. At least while I was looking. Time to call in the professionals. As in, someone

One Year With the Puppybaby

2011-07-12T10:39:00.000-04:00

It is nearly one year since we brought Chase home. And if you've been reading my blog since then, you may remember that I was not in favor of getting a dog. In fact, I was pretty adament about why it was a bad idea for our family, and for me. Selfishly, I didn't want something else to take care of. But how could we refuse the girls the experience of having a puppy? E had been asking for one for

Let's go thrifting

2011-07-07T22:38:00.001-04:00

On July 9th, the I Love Thrifting event will unite thrifting fans across the country as we take to the local thrift shops in search of treasures. While I haven't sent for my I <3 Thrifting t-shirt, or organized anything formal, I am looking for some shopping buddies. Here is my loose agenda: Bryn Mawr Hospital Thrift Shop at 9:30 804 County Line Road Bryn Mawr Browse Around Thrift Shop at

Pinterest is an obsession

2011-07-07T17:15:00.000-04:00

My internet addiction gets worse every day. I find new websites to distract me more and more from life. I seriously think it's becoming a problem. At work, I'm able to concentrate for a very short amount of time, only to jump back on the internet to see what I missed. My latest obsession is Pinterest. When you see photos of anything you can "pin" them to your boards for sharing and

How to Make Mini Hamburger Cookies

2011-07-03T10:29:00.002-04:00

I made these for a birthday party this weekend and they were a huge hit. All the moms wanted to know how to make them, thinking they were so complicated. But I'm here to let you know...they're not! All you need: Buns: Mini Nilla Wafers Ketchup & Mustard: Red & Yellow Icing Lettuce: Shredded coconut colored green (I put the coconut in a ziplock with about 10 drops of green food coloring and

We're gonna get blood work, it's gonna be a good day...

2011-06-27T16:45:00.001-04:00

Because of little K’s autoimmune diseases—hypothyroidism and vitiligo, I am constantly wondering if certain behavior is normal 7-year-old stuff or a health problem. She has always been emotional and sensitive, and she definitely doesn’t live to eat. Often I have to remind her to have a snack or eat more at mealtime in order to avoid a low blood sugar episode. We’ve had a fair share of those.

Letting them go

2011-06-24T23:42:00.001-04:00

My oldest is newly 9 years old. She's going into 4th grade in the Fall. Something about the jump from 3rd to 4th is significant. I don't know what it is, but there's a big difference, and everyone else I've talked to with kids at this age feels the same way. Hello, parents out there with kids older than mine, where is the heads up?! This realization brings new responsibilities for her, and less

Life Lesson: Nature is not a vacation

2011-06-24T10:48:00.000-04:00

Rain. On a mountain vacation? Time to pack the bags and get the hell out. A few things were wrong with this trip. 1. There was no one around. As in, nearly deserted. This apparently is a weekend place. 2. We did not have a boat. You can't go to a lake without a boat. Ever. 3. We don't fish. And what else is there to do if you don't fish, don't have a boat and no one is around? You can,

Zoos & Deep Fried in the mountains

2011-06-23T08:00:00.005-04:00

It's our third day in the Lake Wallenpaupack area and we are besieged with rain. As this trip has become a comparison to our usual beach vacation, I feel that a rain day at the beach is acceptable...a perfect excuse to hit the movie theater. However, here, in the mountains, when the movie theater is 51 minutes away according to Google, it's just not an option. Let me emphasize that...the nearest

We are alone in the mountains

2011-06-22T08:00:00.013-04:00

As the vacation experiment continues, our feelings haven't changed. We are not mountain people. Plus, we are left wondering, where the hell are all the tourists? We are the only ones here... I'm sure some of you would think having a lake to yourself would be pretty relaxing. No annoying people anywhere in sight. While, yes, this is heaven. It is a little weird to be the only ones on the beach

We are not mountain people...

2011-06-21T10:41:00.000-04:00

...As said by my husband no less than 24 hours after arriving in the Poconos and at Lake Wallenpaupack. The previous four years, as soon as the girls were done with school, we packed up the car and headed straight for Ocean City, NJ. As soon as we spotted water, we rolled down the windows to smell the sea air. Most mornings, we'd run to Browns for hot donuts, then linger on the beach late into

Welcome to Summer

2011-06-16T16:04:00.001-04:00

The last two weeks of school have been busy with plays and poetry readings, and a years worth of paperwork, artwork and workbooks, even pencil nubs with no erasers arriving home on a daily basis. But today was the offical last day for the girls. The last day of first grade, and the last day of third. Little k exclaimed that she wanted to stay in first grade forever. Imagine if the world operated

What's happened?

2011-06-09T10:05:00.000-04:00

+ For the last two months, I have hit a record low on the number of posts I've written. I started a few, but could never find the energy or the inspiration to finish them. It's bothers me, the fact that I've had this blog for so many years, and now it's just adrift. The problem is I've completely lost sight of the point of social media - at least as far as my blog is concerned - it serves no

Inspired by...free download for Mother's Day

2011-05-08T10:48:00.000-04:00

Sometimes we can find inspiration in the simplest things. I have found it in these Subway Art prints. So I decided to make this 8x10 print for you for Mother's Day. I'm putting it right into a white frame and gifting to all my favorite mamas! Enjoy for your special people too. Download it here.

Do you do playdates?

2011-05-04T15:11:00.000-04:00

Normally, I love playdates. But our last one? I found a fresh snipped piece of hair on a pair of kids' scissors. I know that sounds a little psycho. But I just happened to be making these gift baskets and there it was, a clip of hair on the cellophane. After questioning my newly minted 7-year-old, she confessed "the truth" that her "friend" chased her around the playroom with scissors, than "

The girls getaway to the Bahamas

2011-04-28T23:26:00.000-04:00

I'm not sure if you notice but, I've been absent from my blog. I've been so busy at work that by the time I get home I'm simply drained. I haven't even ventured out enough to have anything exciting to talk about. However....that is about to change. In a mere 5 hours, I will be getting up to get out of town. It's a celebration weekend. My 20th anniversary of Girls Weekends - the first weekend in

Family Road Trip to D.C.

2011-04-18T09:07:00.001-04:00

The girls are on Spring Break this week and while we originally thought we'd travel to Disney, the expense of traveling during a holiday and the fact that half the U.S. could be there was a bit of a deterrent. So, we're heading to Washington D.C. Yeah. I feel the same way. It's not quite the same. To make matters worse, I grew up outside D.C. I've seen it. Done it. Not looking forward to it. I

Celebrating...

2011-04-11T10:00:00.000-04:00

Finally, I managed to pull off a semblance of the kind of party I've been aspiring to. The old-fashioned bowling alley wasn't exactly the backdrop I imagined, but whatever.... Essentially, I designed stuff! And made cupcakes in between. I am lucky enough to work with a bunch of designers so I got a quick lesson on the basics of Illustrator. This was enough to allow me to design favor bags,

Birthdays

2011-04-10T12:27:00.003-04:00

It's party time! I have been busy all weekend getting ready for little K's bowling party this afternoon. I decided to use my limited knowledge of Illustrator and design the favor bags, water bottle labels and cupcake toppers. Thank God my good friend Betty Crocker was around to help me whip up two batches of cupcakes in between cutting everything out. More photos of everything tonight, and a

Say yes to PARTY!

2011-04-01T08:59:00.000-04:00

I am not usually one to turn down a party. Sooooo..... From April 1st through the 8th is the Ultimate Blog Party hosted by 5 Minutes for Mom. It's a great way find new blogs and win amazing prizes. Check it out if this is the first time you've heard of it. When I looked back into my archives to see my previous UBP post, I was surprised to realize this will be my 4th time attending! So, for

Friday photos with my iPhone: Train Walk

2011-04-01T08:00:00.003-04:00

I have been commuting via train for almost 3 years. I thought I would hate being on a schedule, not being able to leave exactly when I wanted. But I love it. I can read. I can relax. I have a built in excuse to hightail it out of boring ass meetings. The only thing I don't really care for is the underground walk from my office to the station. I only reserve this path for nasty weather above

I'm hitting the wall...

2011-03-31T12:43:00.002-04:00

A couple things I'd like to note: I turn a ripe, round number later this year and suddenly it seems, or as my wonderfully supportive and loving husband has been so quick to point out, I'm falling apart. My hip and knees are stiff if I sit too long; I have some kind of undiagnosable affliction that may or may not be allergies (the dog??); I can't lose weight as easily as I used to; and I'm

They're not as old as we may think they are...

2011-03-30T08:00:00.007-04:00

My youngest is nearly 7. In fact, her birthday is just a few weeks away. While we contemplated her party (even though she’s been talking about it before her 6th birthday party ended), I was faced with a dilemma. Little K does not like to stop what she’s doing to go to the bathroom. And because of this, she has occasional accidents. I recognize even the slightest pee-pee dance move. So when I

Attention Sick People

2011-03-29T10:31:00.001-04:00

I really don’t get sick often. *knocking on wood* But when I have gotten sick, I always felt guilty for calling out from work - like they wouldn’t believe me or something. When I would call, I would make sure it was first thing in the morning with my froggy sleep voice. Fortunately, nowadays, email suffices for calling out, which makes taking a sick day easier. Even still, I’ve been tempted to

Why I Shouldn't Entertain

2011-03-25T08:30:00.039-04:00

I love entertaining. My psychiatrist friend has analyzed this to mean that I like to be in control. This could very well be true. It's also because I’m comfortable in my house, I can’t sit still, and I like to know everyone at the party. Mostly, I like hanging out with my friends. It's also because I have grandiose ideas of what my party will be like: I'm inspired by sites like Hostess with

Don't Get Too Comfortable

2011-03-24T11:11:00.000-04:00

When you get caught up in the routine of life and work, it’s easy to lose perspective on what to be grateful for. During the downward spiral of the economy over the last two years, I’ve been fortunate enough to keep my job in advertising, a high risk industry in a normal economy. And the hubs has survived through an acquisition, after waiting in limbo for nearly a year. But last week, my agency

Guilt will make you do things...

2011-03-14T14:17:00.000-04:00

Guilt. Mother's Guilt. It makes us go against our instincts. It makes us concede. Sometimes it makes us regret. It also makes our children happy. The Philadelphia St. Patrick's Day Parade was the source of my latest guilt. E started taking Irish dancing lessons in November ... by accident. Ever since, I've been waiting for the moment when she bores of it. Especially the days when the the

I was separated from my phone and lived to tell about it

2011-03-11T16:27:00.001-05:00

I rushed out of work early to make little K's dance-recital-of-sorts. It wasn't until I was high-tailing it through the train station and dodging slow-walkers when it dawned on me. My phone is still on my desk. The warning sirens in my head started blaring and a sudden pang of panic shot through me as I searched and searched and searched through my bag, certain I must have thrown it in. How could

Wordless Wednesday - Tubby Time

2011-03-08T22:23:00.002-05:00

Visit some other great Wordless (and Wordful) Wednesday bloggers:

I went to a meditation class and all I got was ...

2011-03-08T10:09:00.003-05:00

I have been wanting to learn how to meditate for a while. I need peace in my mind. Like world peace. Plus, it will help me deal with annoying people. Annoying people really stress me out. I waste way too much energy on annoying people. I've heard somewhere that you can't change people. You have to change yourself instead - or something like that. So, me and meditation. We'll see. A local

A dessert recipe that will knock their socks off

2011-03-07T08:00:00.006-05:00

I don't usually share recipes here for two reasons. 1. That's just not the kind of blog I am. 2. I don't usually have a recipe worth sharing. Except for today. This dessert recipe is so simple to make, yet it will knock the socks off your guests. They will think you fretted and sweated over it. The first time I made it, I was shocked at how much everyone raved about it. Espresso Chocolate

Handmade business card follow up

2011-03-06T10:36:00.000-05:00

So as usual, I ran out of time to handcraft my business cards for the Girls Lunch Out event. I really wanted a card to impress. This was my inspiration: Mint Design Blog Since I didn't have time to run to the store for the patterned tape, I figured I would just print the pattern on the cards. Except that I really don't know how to use Illustrator or InDesign. And I had no time left to

Friday Photos from my iPhone

2011-03-04T09:31:00.000-05:00

I am overly addicted to using my iPhone. In fact, for picture taking I almost prefer using it over my regular camera - with all the photo editing apps out there you can have so much fun. My latest addiction is Instagram. It's like Twitter except with photos. It's not perfect, but you can comment and "like" photos. If you have a stream of great photographers it can be very inspiring. In any case,

Calling Cards

2011-03-02T11:24:00.000-05:00

Before I went to my first blog conference, I read that I would need business cards. Lots of business cards. Well that's strange, I thought. My blog is just a hobby. I'm not doing reviews or selling anything. I'm not even sure how seriously I take my blog. Business cards? That I have to pay money for? No way. At the last minute, however, I caved. I didn't want to spend a lot of money - I mean I

Why you should ask nicely and always say thank you

2011-02-25T14:21:00.001-05:00

And I'm not talking about kids here. That's right, adults are the guilty party. Politeness has gone out the window, like a chewed up piece of gum. I’ve been getting frequent phone calls lately from a friend ranting about her inconsiderate and manipulative in-laws who feel an extraordinary amount of entitlement to her hospitality. They have this, "What's your's is mine" attitude. And I don't

Wordless Wednesday - Girls Dinner

2011-02-16T11:30:00.000-05:00

Everyone should have them...

Advocate or tattler, which one are you?

2011-02-12T12:44:00.002-05:00

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Let the Bathroom Wars Begin

2011-02-10T17:36:00.004-05:00

As it stands right now, we essentially have one full bathroom in our house. A family bathroom, dare I say? With two young children, this really hasn’t been an issue. They bathe when we bathe them. Thankfully, there are other semi-functioning bathrooms to use, which come in handy when the hubs decides to hole himself up in one of them with the newspaper. However, the full bathroom, as of late,

I'd be happy to watch your children...

2011-02-09T11:20:00.000-05:00

Just as long as they stay out of my way. Just kidding! I watched my niece and nephew Saturday night for my sister. It's been a while since I've been responsible for an 18-month-old, and changing diapers! It wasn't a big deal except that you can't take your eyes off them for one second. Once I got back in that mode, it was easy. Especially when he found the dog crate entertaining. ;-)

Kids Crafts for Valentine's Day

2011-02-08T10:35:00.003-05:00

I have never been a big fan of purchased Valentine cards for kids to exchange. I prefer to torture myself and make them by hand. So, if you're like me, and are eschewing the store-bought Valentines, here are some projects we've made in the past. Melted Hearts--my favorite! The finished product and instructions are in this post. Little K will be making these this year with pencils in the middle.

I wonder what else could I be doing...

2011-02-07T08:00:00.004-05:00

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I never aspired to be a mother...

2011-02-05T10:18:00.002-05:00

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My first ever feature!

2011-01-28T07:00:00.004-05:00

I am very excited today for two reasons. 1. I’m being featured over at Theta Mom! 2. I have something to post about! I have to tell you, when I met Heather from Theta Mom at a blog conference in Philadelphia back in September, not only was she the one single person who knew “Figments of a Mom”, it was like meeting up with a long lost friend. We instantly hit it off and I’m very much looking

Focus on the positive

2011-01-27T07:00:00.021-05:00

I heard something the other that inspired me. Focus on the positive. I know it's no life-changing realization, but it just stuck with me. Don't spend time or energy on the negative and focus on the positive. For example, instead of focusing on the annoying moodiness of your significant other, focus on how great he is with the kids. I'm sure there are many others I could bore you with, but you

Why good neighbors are important...

2011-01-24T09:52:00.000-05:00

I realize this is a pretty obvious statement, but ... Recently, I was reminded why it's important to have good relationships with neighbors...at least with the ones that are capable (read my shared driveway saga?) of having a good relationship. We have a few elderly neighbors. You know, the ones that have been in the same home for 40 years and know all the people that previously lived in your

Hello? Can anyone hear me?

2011-01-23T21:41:00.000-05:00

There are some days--scratch that, many days, that I feel alone in Twitterverse, like I'm just talking to myself. Tap, tap, tap. Anyone? Anyone? Maybe the fact that I am feast or famine with it all has something to do with it. I can go days (weeks) without blogging or tweeting a word. I'm just blank. I have nothing to offer. Then, for no reason at all, I'm all over it. I'm there, lurking.

The hilarity of PhotoBooth

2011-01-22T23:19:00.000-05:00

I have never had my very own brand spanking new computer. Not ever. My personal computers have always been hand-me-downs from the hubs who retired them from work. And they were never really mine. The hubs would use them. The kids would use them. There was so much junk on the computer I'm shocked they didn't just implode. Although, they nearly have. Recently, the Low Space warning started

Why shared driveways should be deal killers...

2011-01-12T12:58:00.004-05:00

Have you heard about my shared driveway saga? No? Then, to fully appreciate this post you must get caught up. As the media hyped the oncoming storm, I envisioned myself (well, really, the hubs) shoveling out from under the storm, with no real help from my next door neighbors. I mean, why would this snow storm be any different? I noticed the glow of reverse lights as my neighbor arrived home

Why I will never do another blog hop again...

2011-01-08T10:46:00.001-05:00

There are so many great blogs out there. And unfortunately, even more worthless ones. How do you weed through the crap? The other day, I decided to join in on a new blog hop. I sincerely wanted to find some new, quality blog reads. But all I found were a bunch of bloggers only interested in following me so I would follow them back. Maybe I'm a blog snob, but I want people to follow me because

Social Parade

2011-01-06T21:14:00.000-05:00

I'm not one for following blogs simply to have them follow me back. I want people to follow me because they enjoy reading what I have to write about. I mean, I don't follow a blog unless I enjoy the content. But I love finding new blogs and for that reason alone I'm joining in on this week's Social Parade. Plus I want to show off my new blog design! New bumblebee in progress. If you're

Going to bed early doesn't help

2011-01-06T11:53:00.001-05:00

I have made the conscious decision to go to bed early - as in, before 10:30. The iPhone-out-of-my-hands, lights-out kind of go to bed. Not a New Year's Resolution per se, but if I am going to get up at the ass crack of dawn to work out, this simply must happen. This may not sound like a big deal to you. But to me it means less downtime after work and after the girls go to bed. That is a huge deal

Halfway there

2011-01-04T22:40:00.002-05:00

I thought after taking a short break from my blog that I would come back with a load of inspired post ideas and a renewed energy to write. I even had a fresh look whipped up hoping to breathe life back into it, and into me. I have post ideas, just no motivation to write them. After 12 days off from work over the holidays, there's no reason to feel unmotivated. But I do. My break wasn’t entirely

In limbo...

2011-01-01T14:58:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year, friends. I hope this new year brings good memories, fun times and lots of love and happiness. And if you're using this new year to make some changes, I wish you luck. I will be right there with you. I am making some changes to this blog with a new design and more substantial (read: less shallow) content. In the meantime, while my new design is finalized, I wait in limbo... Check

Pause...

2010-12-08T14:54:00.000-05:00

I have said this many times before, there is just not enough time. I realize it is 8 days into December and I have yet to post something. Anything! Not that the handful of you who read my blog are very concerned. No news is good news, right? I have been so busy at work that by the time I get home I have no energy to stare at the computer another minute longer. And believe it or not, I have about

To send or not send the holiday card

2010-11-27T09:01:00.002-05:00

Now that Thanksgiving is over, I usually start contemplating my holiday card. I assess my most recent pool of photos. I explore the myriad of card designs. And check my address book. Am I missing anyone? Except that any photo I’d choose has been seen by most people I'm connected to online, which means I’d have to spend time dressing up the girls, which they aren’t interested in, and take a

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-25T11:50:00.000-05:00

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday filled with family and friends and good food.

The Thanksgiving Spirit

2010-11-19T12:09:00.000-05:00

In lieu of the soon-to-arrive Thanksgiving holiday, here is a little inspiration. It's so hard not to be inspired by Amy Atlas. And you're welcome.