Kale, and other trends I just don't understand

 

Disclaimer: I am not a trend-setter, trend-follower, or trend-y.

My top spring must-haves?

• Propane in the grill - because, thank goodness, it is finally the time of year to make the husband cook. Not that I can't grill (girl power!), I just let him do it. Letting someone cook for me? Yeah, I am never going to complain about that. 
• Capri pants - no certain brand, just comfortable capris to keep me cooler than in jeans without subjecting innocent bystanders too much of my white, white legs before summertime.
• Prescription sunglasses - I'm a glasses wearer (ditched the contacts a few years ago to support my little girl in glasses) and I cannot survive the sunny days without my Rx shades. Spring means a lot of time outdoors!

I understand that many 30-something ladies may have a much more elaborate brand-name-filled list, possibly with a toolbox full of favorite beauty tools and some fabulous looking attire that costs more than most of my entire wardrobe. This working mama of two follows few trends on purpose. As an active social media user and consultant, however, I am online a lot. I see all the hashtags and pins and Instagrams of the latest and greatest whatevers out there.

Some of them, I understand. Like coffee, for instance. Moms like to talk about coffee on social media because (1) it is the fuel of life: we need it to survive our children and/or coworkers and whomever, whatever else is vying for attention, and (2) we want you to know just how tired we are. We drink the coffee to survive, and we talk about it to bond. Coffee is trendy. Wine too. Those, I understand. Pass the mugs and glasses, please. I'm all in.

But what about Kale?

Seriously, the barrage of "OMG, can't wait to have my kale salad" and "kale chips are the best snack ever!" posts on social media had me fooled. I began to think that, perhaps, someone finally found a green vegetable that tastes like a potato chip! I was ready to throw myself on that bandwagon.

It's all mine: An exercise in putting yourself first #moms

Here is an experiment for the moms out there. Take a moment to answer this question:

If you were given $1,000 to spend in one day, what would you buy?

Once you have answered the question for yourself, think about your answers. How many of you first thought to buy something for someone else? For your kids, perhaps? Maybe something for the husband or friends? Or maybe you thought of a fun way for the family to enjoy something together. I really wonder how many of you thought of at least one someone who isn't you. 

What my bum needs (oh my...) #LetsTalkBums

Lets face it, parents spend a ton of time wiping, patting, powdering, diapering, and talking about their children's backsides. We take care in selecting the best fitting diapers and the softest wipes.

As a final assignment for the Cottonelle "Let's Talk It Out" campaign, I am starting a conversation about what our grown-up bums need. Cleanliness and freshness - of course - but mine needs something else...

Maternity Underwear.

Yep... and I am not happy about it.  I didn't even think about this when I was pregnant six years ago. My body was younger and smaller, and other than switching to some comfy cottons, I didn't need much. This time around, at only 20 weeks, I am feeling puffy and uncomfortable with every move. As if belly pains and muscle aches weren't enough, I now get to pull my wedgies out of my bum every time I stand up or take a few steps. I have a feeling that baby number two is going to know a bigger Mommy than Amelia did! The spread is ON.

Sigh.

Well, at least there is really good news for my bum! Cottonelle's FreshCare wipes are soothing and soft, perfect for the cleanest clean. Paper alone can never win again! FreshCare wipes are available in stores now, and with a new sleek upright canister.

In the mood to talk about your bum? Visit Cottonelle on Facebook to "Talk it Out".

And here's Cherry one more time - let's see how her mission continues:

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This is a sponsored post in affiliation with Cottonelle. All opinions are 100% mine.

Cherry lands in the U.S. and she's on a mission to find out about your bum!

I shared the first video in this hilarious Cottonelle FreshCare wipes series with you last week, and now it's time to check in with Cherry to see what is happening in the U.S.! She did not even leave the airport before asking her hot and "dirty" questions...



Everyone must wipe, right? So let's talk about our bums! Have you ever used a bidet? I have seen them, but never tried. How do you get dry? It seems like wipes would be a much easier way to clean!

What do you think about this product? Would you use it? Or maybe you do already?  Let me know! Let's talk. Bring the conversation over to Facebook to chat with Cottonelle:  Facebook.com/Cottonelle

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I am a Cottonelle sponsored blogger and am being compensated for my time. However, all opinions are 100% mine.

I'm gonna be kind to my behind with Cottonelle

I was selected, along with several other bloggers, as a brand new Cottonelle Ambassador. I will bring you a series of posts over the next few weeks, where we can chat about ways to "be kind to our behinds".

Let's face it, moms are rarely together in the same room without eventually discussing poop.

"Baby hasn't pooped in days!"
"What does green poop mean; should I be worried?"
"You should have seen the diaper explosion we had the other day!"

Ha - you get the idea. But do you know what we don't often talk about? Our own adult potty needs. I have always known Cottonelle to be a super soft, high quality toilet paper brand, and I very often purchase it for the family. But what about wipes? We don't use dry paper on our little ones' bums, why is it that we don't treat our own posteriors as kindly?

Funny lady Cherry Healy asked the same thing - and she's on a mission to find out more!


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I was selected as a paid Cottonelle Ambassador, however, all opinions are 100% mine. 

Parenting: the real truth

I cannot shout "amen!" loud enough to this one. I saw it first on Facebook, and shared. But it is too perfect not to share further!

To Parents of Small Children: Let Me Be the One Who Says It Out Loud

(I don't steal content, so click to read)

Thank you, smart father for saying what we all know and feel!

Happy early Mother's Day to all the tired mamas out there.

Knock on my door...

(A bit busy this week... enjoy this one from my archives!)
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If you knock on my door unexpectedly, I cannot promise you will see this family's best. Sweatshirts, no makeup, and toussled hair from playtime would be more likely.

If you come inside, I cannot promise you won't step on stray toys.

Too hard to let go

When we are in the "ups", the little things shape our world.
Smiles. Crayon drawings. Laughter. Music.

When we are in the "downs", the fog rolls in to cloud our minds and stifle our hearts.
What ifs. Worries. Guilt.

Only parents can understand the power of parental guilt, the heart-squeezing fear of doing something utterly wrong. When rational thought attempts to break through the clouds to let in some light, the guilt can smack it back with tremendous force. I believe there is no greater power on the face of this earth.

The day after...

Pain. Helplessness. Impatience.

That’s my day today. I am heartbroken when I look at my innocent little girl. Her face is puffy, blood pools in her eyes, and she is looking at her world with one eye shut. She had eye muscle surgery yesterday. Our choice. We did this to her.

We knew this would happen the first few days. We were informed over and over again that he brain needed time to adjust to the eyes’ new placement, that she may be cross-eyed with double vision. My rational side is taking this experience one day at a time, fully understanding that what we see today is not what we may see one week from now.

But my emotional side, my protective mommy side, is on the verge of complete meltdown. Her condition was very mild. Only close family observed her eye movement. No teachers, friends, or neighbors even noticed. But she began to tell me that her “eye wouldn’t stay still”, that she wanted it to be fixed. So we moved forward, put on our brave faces, and sent her into surgery.

And now that she looks worse than ever? The dark intruder, guilt, is hitting us hard.

What did we do?

Did we break our only child?

We were pressured into a quick choice?

Did we make a huge mistake?

I have had plenty of experiences with mommy guilt. But this one beats them all. I need the rational side to speak a little louder today. To tell me it’s going to be okay. To remind me that come Monday or Tuesday, she will be greeting me (and only one of me) in the morning with both eyes wide and a smile across her sweet, soft face. To tell me that Daddy and I did the right thing. To tell me she isn’t mad at us.

I know these things… truly, I do. But it still hurts. A lot.

When small things become big doubts

Linking up to All Things Fadra's Stream of Consciousness Sunday again - it's been entirely too long since I last participated (See this is not goodbye from May). #SOC Sunday is the busy blogger's best friend. Write for five minutes only. No editing or stressing over word choice. Spill the thoughts on the screen, and that's it!

Just the kind of post I needed this evening.

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When small things become big doubts

My child is tall for her 3 1/2 years, but she's still small to me. She still needs help reaching parts of the counter top. She calls for help when washing her hands in the kitchen sink. She still rejoices in simple things like, "Mommy! I wrote a number five!".

It baffles my brain, however, that a small child can become such a big struggle for me. She is mostly well-behaved and of course, a complete angel for anyone other than Mom and Dad. But when she chooses to assert her independence at a most inopportune time? When she is hyper to the point of making me want to tear my hair out? This little girl starts creating major doubts in my mind.

Things for which I have no patience...

Being Amelia's Mommy is amazing. I love that kid with all my heart. She makes me laugh and amazes me with how quick she learns new tricks. I would never give up this job for anything in the entire world... I love being Mommy... blah, blah, blah... yes, we know.

BUT...

There are a few things that drive me completely insane. Instances where I would prefer to run out of the house screaming even though I'd be completely embarrassed if the neighbors saw what I was wearing.

I have absolutely no patience for...

Car-load dawdling. If I let her, this child would take 15 minutes to get herself seated in the car. Even - no, especially - if it is blazing hot outside, pouring down rain, or if another driver is waiting with their turn signal on, hoping to take our parking space. She climbs across the car to investigate a crumb on the floor, looks for a book underneath the driver's seat, takes her shoes off, wants a drink of water when her cup is in the front seat cupholder, "accidentally" slips and falls on the floor when trying to get in her car seat.... I am over it.

Bedtime stalling. Can anyone tell me why children do not crave bedtime like their mommies do? Do you know what I would give for someone to force me to lay down for a nap? Or to rub my back for a couple minutes, instructing me to sleep?!? We have a difficult time deciphering if she is truly scared or just playing her masterful game of stalling, but our bedtime routine is short on cute, sweet, and cuddly these days.  I am beyond over it.

Bingo boredom. We own two preschool-friendly games that are actually enjoyable. But Little Einstein's bingo? Drives me bonkers. I feel like a drill sergeant barking orders instead of a friendly playmate. For some reason, she begs to play this game, but cannot hold her attention on it for more than 6 seconds at a time. Playing this game sounds like this:
"Okay, Amelia, spin. Amelia? Your turn to spin."  
"Blue Leo. Amelia? Blue Leo. Do you have any Blue Leos? Put the pieces on the Blue Leo. Amelia... put the pieces on. On Blue Leo. Yes, there."
(Mommy spins a Green Annie.)
"Amelia, I got Green Annie. Amelia? Amelia! Green Annie. Do you have any Green Annies? Amelia? Amelia? Green Annie. Put the pieces on Green Annie. No, that's Purple June. It's Green Annie...."
Seriously! Yet, she loves this game. She won't let me put it away before we've filled our bingo cards. I now know where the old bingo ladies at the civic center get their gray hair... they must have practiced the game with my child. I am really, really, over it.


Don't make let feel all alone here.

Tell me, when are you completely drained of patience?

The clingy kid

Alright people, I am ready to make a confession.

I do not like to play.

I get painfully bored playing preschool games. I do not enjoy sitting on the floor. I can only change the 3" tall princesses' clothes so many times before I have a pounding headache. Play-Doh? Just makes me antsy about the mess.

I do not like to play.
Gasp! What a horrible mom.

I guess I should say, I do not like to play, but I do it anyway.

I am a busy work-from-home mom. I work for an advertising agency. I also blog, tweet, take care of the house, do laundry, run errands, and cook meals. I also take time out each day to play with Amelia.

Granted, it may not be for long. 30-45 minutes of undivided attention from me makes her day. I find a way to stop what I am doing and let her take the reins. During this time, she directs our play. Sometimes, if my schedule looks clear, we go out to a playground or indoor play center. I encourage her to venture out, to have confidence playing alone. I will also find moments to join her. To interact. To cheer her on as she climbs a tower or chase her as she runs and giggles. I admit, I do not love it. But the joy on her face breaks down my walls and forces a smile. Those moments are priceless.

Eight or nine times out of ten, do you know what happens?

Fessing up - join in!

5 things I am willing to admit:

1. If we've met only 1 or 2 times, it's very likely I do not remember your name. I have a bad habit of forgetting people's names. It usually takes meeting you 3 times before I'll remember for good. I apologize.

2. I use my car horn on a near-daily basis. If you drive terribly, do not GO when the light turns green, or play with your phone while in motion, my car horn and I will let you know what we think. If you end up driving into my neighborhood and - surprise - I know you, I will then be mortified.

3. My career dreams and goals change monthly. Just when I've invented the perfect job for me, I get bored with my idea and think about it all over again. It's a good thing my current gig fits me well - I can take my time choosing a dream.

4. I do not like playing at home. Her games bore me. And sitting on the floor causes back aches. I do, however, love outdoor play. But it must be below 80 degrees. With low humidity. I sweat entirely too much.

5. I still don't have a grasp on this mommy thing. Every time I think I figured it all out, she hits me with something new. I am perpetually confused!

Name one thing you are willing to admit about yourself.

Leave a comment to get it off your chest!