Strong Mom Party of One, Please

daboys

I am often outnumbered, in fact, I am always outnumbered. I am the sole female living in a house full of boys. Not that this is anything new to me. I grew up with a brother, had all boy cousins and lived in a neighborhood full of boys. Ironically, girls are a foreign entity to me.

But being a Mom to boys is not always easy. My vision of motherhood is often challenged and is nothing like what I envisioned as a young girl. Being a Mom to boys has its own crazy unwritten rule book. Rule Number One: There are no rules. There isn’t much of a learning curve either. You leave the hospital with this bundle of boyhood and hit the ground running. Will you stumble? Yes. Fall flat on your face? Oh yeah. Love them unconditionally even though they drive you to the brink of insanity? Absolutely!

Here is what I have learned so far:

  • The seat is never down. Never. Dreams of it ever being down again have long been flushed away.
  • Body functions are funny. If it comes out of the body – it’s humorous. Most days it is downright hilarious. It’s even funnier when it is inappropriately timed or in a public forum.
  • Duct tape becomes your best friend and a necessity. It can fix toys, accessorize swords and guarantees that your child’s diaper stays on through the night.
  • Your vision of you house smelling sweet and welcoming is replaced by outdoor musk and stinky socks.
  • This vision takes a cruel turn for the worse when your child enters tweendom and discovers Axe. *save me*
  • Your purse becomes a safe haven for random Legos, action figures, gum wrappers, special rocks they had to keep, athletic cups and anything else they deem worthy of keeping but not important enough to carry themselves. This by the way applies to everything they own.
  • You cute sassy purse turns into a huge canvas Mom bag.
  • You will have an in-depth knowledge of Star Wars, bugs, football statistics and all the noises you can make with various body parts.
  • You will learn that boys have invisible dirt magnets under their nails and no matter how often you wash and scrub them, they will be black again in minutes.
  • Your husband, sensing the testosterone filled house, will embrace his inner 12 year old and teach and/or encourage many of the above mentioned behaviors.
  • You will have bad days. Days when you will yell, say not nice things, things you regret. You will be tired, angry and frustrated. They will still love you.
  • Your boys will see you at your worst and still think you are beautiful and when you put on a dress they will say, “WOW Momma, you look pretty!”
  • It will be the best and most rewarding job you will ever have!
  •  Take the StrongMoms Empowerment Pledge

    ** I am participating in a blog campaign with One2One Network. I have not received any payment. All opinions, pieces of wisdom and parental transgressions are my own. **

Thrill Seeker

Ask, and it shall be given you; Seek and you shall find…

A new year is always full of new beginnings, endless possibilities and the sense that we can ultimately, once again, start anew. It is a refreshing, yet daunting feeling, especially if you were less than satisfied with the previous year.

As a way to focus myself, since I am not one for New Year’s resolutions, I choose a word for the year. It is not a new thing and I have done it for the past two years. In fact, it has become a sort of cult. Ok, maybe not that extreme but that makes you want to join in doesn’t it?

So as I pondered my word from last year, thinking about how I used it to change me, I wondered where I should go with this new word. I have spent a lot of time pondering, gnawing it over, listening, but most of all – waiting. Waiting for when I got ‘that‘ feeling that THIS is what I need to work on, this is where I need to focus. And then it hit me, like it has every time before… BAM!

SEEK

It’s definitions scream to me:

  • to go in search or quest of: to seek the truth.
  • to try to find or discover by searching or questioning.
  • to try to obtain.
  • to try or attempt.
  • to go to: to seek a place to rest.
  • to ask for; request.
  • to explore.

What will I find if I truly seek what is out there for me. While the thought is frightening (what if I don’t like what I find), it also invigorates me. So with that, my journey has begun. I have no idea where this word journey will take me this year but here’s hoping for a wild ride!

Embracing your curl

Kat_solo I was born with curly hair. Wild, curly and unruly hair. While many looked at it with envy, I secretly longed for what I didn’t have – tame, lovable, easy to manage hair. Now, don’t get me wrong, I do love my curls – when they behave. But if you have curly hair you know that ‘curly’ and ‘behave’ NEVER go hand in hand and are never mentioned in unison. Ever. Sigh.

During my youth this was a problem because, well, back then there just wasn’t product for those of us graced with curls. Hairspray…. yes. Styling product to tame down the crazy rat’s nest on my head – no.

But now there are products galore for us curly headed divas. Products that work and products that we need for survival. Okay, maybe a bit dramatic but if you have to try and tame an unruly head of curls on a daily basis you would feel my pain.

Fekkai offers a line of products that will help you define, control and celebrate your curls. Sweet! This curly headed lassie says “Bring it!!”

luscios_curls_collections_with_vid

PERFECTLY LUSCIOUS CURLS™

The Perfectly Luscious Curls Collection is specially designed for women with natural waves and curls. The collection features advanced technology to accentuate ringlets with shine while controlling the ever annoying frizz. It is made with a special combination of grape seed extract and Moroccan rose, leaving your hair healthy and shiny. No more frizzy heads of out of control curls – win!

Of course, it is the holiday season which means everyone is in the giving spirit. Well Fekkai is no dofferent.  Fekkai is offering you 10% off your total order and a complimentary exclusive holiday headband with $50 purchase (while supplies last) Promo Code: HEADBAND. All you need to do is head over to Fekkai, pick out the product best suited for your hair and enter the Promo Code. Then you will be ready to hit the holidays with fabulous hair, a cute headband and a good dose of holiday cheer. Now that my friends is a win, win.

** This post is sponsored by BlogHer & P&G**

So Much To Be Thankful For

This lassie has much to be thankful for and I am grateful for the abundance of blessings God has provided me. Most of all, this car full of chaos!

From my family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving!!

Hold On to Your Rabbit’s Foot – We’re Cerlebrating 13!

Once upon a time there was a girl, let’s call her lassie

She was dreaming of a lad who could be a bit sassy

She always drifted towards those spunky wild ones

For they of course, knew how to have the most fun!

And then one day HE came into her sight

This skater punk surfer suited her just right

He told her “The seat to the left is for you”

And from that night their true love grew

They went to their homeland once they were married

And over the threshold he graciously carried

Soon they doubled their numbers and doubled the love

Each little lad was truly, a blessing from above

They have seized the ups, they have tackled the downs

They have mastered the giggles and conquered the frowns

They fill their house with love and joy

For that is the life when you live life with boys!

And while some say the luck of thirteen is not good

I’ll grab my rabbit’s foot and knock on wood.

Happy thirteenth anniversary to my best friend and partner in crime. I am forever grateful for your love and friendship and ability to tolerate all the craziness that embodies me. I love you WAMHAS!!

Barren

This lassie’s brain is barren, blank, depleted, fallow and unproductive. I have sat down to write over and over, only to produce a whole lot of nothing. Some days I may get some random gibberish. Others I stare at the blank page, trying not to be intimidated by it’s blankness. But more importantly, I am tired. I need a break. I need to re-find my love of writing so it is not a chore. I’m not worried as this is cyclical for me. I often find myself living in ebbs and tides. Often, I struggle writing when there is just too much swirling around in my head. Right now there is a lot swirling. But soon the movement will calm and the words will come. Till then, enjoy the heat of the desert.

Encircling Change

Today I flipped the last page of an overly long chapter of my life. I am happy, elated and ready to move on. Of course, to celebrate I laced up my shoes and ran my heart out! Thanks Hubby <3

Run baby run
Don’t ever look back.
They’ll tear you apart
If you give them the chance.

Mirror Mirror On The Wall

What do you get when you combine six girlfriends,

A bunch of yummy food,

An array of fun activities and prizes,

And spa product?


You get a Mirror Mirror movie preview spa night with the girls! Talk about a dream girls’ night! Nothing but good time, friends,food and a great movie. We started the evening with a few cocktails and a beautiful try of cheese, fruit and crackers while we all chatted and got got up on life events. The it was on to the movie and spa portion.

We sat down to watch Mirror Mirror while giving our tootsies some well deserved TLC.  If only I could enjoy a pedi foot massage while watching a movie every night! Hey, a girl can dream right?

What’s Mirror Mirror you ask? Mirror Mirror is a fresh and funny retelling of the classic Snow White legend. One of the world’s most beloved fairy tales takes a hilarious turn in this fresh, exciting film starring Oscar® Winner Julia Roberts.  After she spends all her money, an evil enchantress queen (Roberts) schemes to marry a handsome, wealthy prince (The Social Network’s Armie Hammer). There’s just one problem – he’s in love with a beautiful princess, Snow White (Lily Collins, The Blind Side). So, the sinister queen banishes Snow White from her own kingdom! Now, joined by seven rebellious dwarves, Snow White launches an epic battle of good vs. snarky in this funny, magical movie that the whole family will love.

To say we had a great time would be an understatement! Everyone enjoyed the movie and couldn’t wait for it to come out so they could share this new fairytale with their families. I love that it is a movie that we can watch as a family!

 

Looking for some quick and easy beauty tips you can try at home?

 

**For a quick and easy way to brighten your smile, mash a few strawberries in a bowl and add ½ teaspoon of baking soda. Coat teeth with the mix and leave for five minutes. The malic acid acts as an astringent and removes stains. Be wise not too use too often (an evil queen trait) because regular use could damage your tooth enamel. Brush again with normal toothpaste to remove the mix. Happy smiles!

**Green tea contains antioxidants and placing a damp green tea under each eye can sooth tired eyes and reduce bags and dark circles. Adding cucumber slices or grated potatoes over closed eyes will also reduce puffy-looking skin. Leave it on for about 10 minutes and poof, magically, clear and whiter eyes!

Now get on out there, grab some girlfriends and a copy of Mirror Mirror. I can’t think of a better girls’ night out!

** I received a copy of this movie and other products as compensation for this post, though all the fun, opinions and spa happiness was entirely my own.

Two By Two

The power of two. Such a strong connotation attached to such a small number. Yet with two, so many thing are possible. Sure, would you rather be chased by two bears or 16? While my gut instinct would be to pick none, I would  much rather try and outrun two than 16. (just sayin)

But two also provides some amazing possibilities.

Marriage. Basic I know, but marriage requires two. Less than that and it never works. Two people madly in love, best friends wanting nothing more than to spend the rest of their life together – that is marriage.

Kids. I got two of them. Two amazing boys that are truly a blessing from God. I am thankful for them every day – even when they are bickering, fighting and leaving their dirty socks all over the house.  Ok, maybe not then, but I do love them lots!

Photo courtesy of Mishelle Lane

Partners in Crime. You know them. Friends who would help you move a body. Friends who you can laugh with till your sides ache with pain. Friends who you can attack with a Buddha statue and they still love you the next day. Not that I would ever attack a friend with a Buddha statue!

Feet. They take you where you want to go. I love the fact that mine allow me to run, wear killer heels, adorn its nails with crazy nail polish and kick a soccer ball. I have a particularly fond attraction to mine. They are cute. Nuff said.

What does the number two mean to you?

This post is in response to Bigger Picture’s prompt: The number 2. WHAT inspires YOU about the number 2? Gained knowledge? Gained community? Gained friendships? One is a lonely number, but you add one more- It is a gift.

Not Dreading This Bucket List Item

sassy irish lassieAnd this little dread went to market. And this little dread stayed home. This little dread said “Another one checked off my bucket list!!” What?! Your dreads don’t talk to you??

It has been a few months of check marks for this lassie. Last month I learned to surf (squeee) and this month I finally sucked up my fear and got dreads. My 7 y/o first response? “WOW Momma!!  You look so different but WAY more beautiful!” And for that I gave him an ice cream cone. Hey, this Momma is not beyond bribery for compliments, though I know my little monkey meant it with the most sincerity.

Hubby on the other hand is beyond smitten with it. He keeps asking me why I didn’t do it years ago. Secretly, I am asking myself the same question.

So now I am just waiting the mandatory period for them to get settled. Did I mention that I hate waiting. Yeah, I do. Wonder what number I will cross off next. Any suggestions??