Winter Vacation is officially over and Tyler has returned back to school. It has been a busy three weeks of holidays, family, friends, baking, and just plain tomfoolery in this house. As much as I am really big on having a schedule, I’m really going to miss having my big guy around screwing it up. There will be no more 8 am leisurely wake-ups (if such a thing is even possible with a  4 month old), hot lunches for two, mom can so-and-so come over, or alarms going off while I’m in the shower because somebody wants to hurry and get their … Continue reading

So apparently my Fairy Godmother post was a wee bit controversial or perhaps just misunderstood. The post  was supposed to be funny. Yes, funny in a sort of self-deprecating way but that’s just my style. Maybe it makes some people uncomfortable but maybe you aren’t my audience (just sayin’). Ultimately some of the reactions to the post brought up some strong feelings in me and the realization that the idea behind mommy blogging is not quite as mainstream as I thought. There are many reasons a mom might take to blogging but one of the most salient reasons is that blogging provides … Continue reading

Who doesn’t love a good old fashioned sloppy joe?  I grew up on their yummy tomato-ey ground beef goodness (remember when school cafeteria lunches were delicious? Or ground beef was cheap?). The most awesome part was the bread options: open face, sandwich-style, ghetto style on toast (’cause buns cost extra), chopped up with bread like warm panzanella (more like goulash, panzanella was definitely not in the 80′s housewife vernacular). The first time I resurrected the meal, I served it up to my family ghetto-style because we simply don’t need all of that bread or the inevitable bread pudding I would be forced … Continue reading

I admit it, I feel a twinge of envy when I see other moms looking cute while running their errands. You know which moms I’m talking about: designer jeans in a size much smaller than mine; cute, current-year, current-season tops straight out of a magazine; perfectly highlighted and coiffed hair; and a well-behaved baby or toddler to complete the look. I, on the other hand, look like a hag with my too-long straggly hair and faded clothes from 2008. Sometimes I may put in a slight effort and slap some make-up on and flat iron just the top layer of … Continue reading

Today my 8 year old son was given the opportunity of a lifetime: he went to and photographed the Rose Parade in Pasadena, CA! I have lived in California my whole life and have never actually been to the parade. My sister-in-law lives, as it turns out, 50 ft from the parade route on Colorado Blvd and invited Tyler to stay the night and see the parade the next day. They took a walk the night before and Tyler was able to capture the pre-parade excitement as people camped out to stake their claim on their seats for the parade. … Continue reading

It’s a beautiful day here in sunny Southern California (yes, even in January) so I decide to take Camden for a walk. I need to work off all of those holiday cookies and he needs to get outside once in awhile so away we go on our hilly trek. While on our walk I notice that if I head in certain directions the sun is directly on Cam’s face. Obviously I forgot a blanket so I do my best to keep the sun out of his face. He falls asleep anyway so I put it out of my mind and … Continue reading

The busy holiday season is now officially over but if youre like us, your school aged child is still on vacation. Three weeks is a long time to be away from the rigors and mental stimulation of school. If my 3rd grader had his way, the entire 3 weeks would be spent watching t.v. and playing video games with a few hours of Lego building thrown in. In my household, however, this will not fly. I am a firm believer in continuous education (just take a look-see at my student loan bill…oy!) and any kid of mine better prepare for … Continue reading

We didn’t do much to ring in the New Year. No fancy clothes, exotic locations, or parties for us. Just me in my jammies laying next to my sleeping husband who had to work the next day and our precious baby boy we have been waiting so long for. In short, it was my best NYE ever because I already have everything I have ever wished a New Year would bring. Hope yours was your best ever too! Pin it

New handbags…so 2006. This year my shiny new toy is this blog. Well, it’s a little more complicated than that. You see, like many of you, 2009 left me jobless and close to graduating with a very expensive and possibly useless MBA from a less than top tier school (ouch). Add that to an ADHD diagnosis, my son’s not mine, and the dubious distinction of living in the worst job market in the nation (Google Riverside County, CA) and I was up a certain infamous creek without the requisite paddle. It was at that time I decided to try my … Continue reading