Women Who Inspire Me

Today's post is to talk about someone who inspires me - but people make their marks on you in different ways, and it is hard to choose just one person.


I think the biggest inspiration comes from my mom. Especially since I'm basically becoming her, daily.

We are both emotional, and wear our hearts on our sleeve. We're quick to jump to protect and defend those who are important to us. We both tend to, well, yell. A lot. (I'm Italian. That's my story.) We're both oversensitive.


We both love to read, and if we have (haha) free time, can be found with our noses in a book. 


One clear memory of my mom is that she vacuumed. Every day. I mean, when I think back to my childhood, I remember my mom vacuuming, reading, or telling me to get my nose OUT of a book, and go outside and play.


She has a heart as big as Texas, and puts up with the receiving end of Dad's sense of humor, which I share, so I know how tough that can be.


Yesterday, I told my son "If you don't stop that fake crying, I'll give you something to really cry about" - a familiar comment, in spite of the fact that we were rarely spanked. We look alike.  We are two different people, but I wouldn't be who I am today if it wasn't for her support and love.


The second woman who has always been an inspiration to me is my Aunt Jeanne. She has FIVE boys. She is unflappable where I am an anxious mess. She is calm where I am Type A+. Nothing seems to faze her, and I long to have just one fraction of that kind of "go with the flow" attitude. She has a fantastic relationship with her boys, and her family is tight. She's pretty awesome.
'Nuf said.


And lastly is my cyber friend Jenny of JennyontheSpot.com. No, we haven't met face-to-face yet, but she is the cool Jenny that I always wanted to be. Despite being a glass half empty kind of gal, she hides it well. She is hilarious. She is brave. She is creative. She makes me laugh. And reading her blog, she inspires me to work harder at my own blog, do more creatively, push myself. I realize I'll never vlog because I'm not particularly photogenic and you can't use all those cool Beaute apps on video. Yet. 


Seriously, Jenny, I'm totally not stalking you. But I do heart you, girlfriend.




I'm participating in the SITS Back to Blogging Challenge and - yay! - this is Day Four. 

Wouldn't I love to have Thelma and Louise come live with me? I can dream, can't I? Thanks goes to the challenge sponsors: Standards of Excellence, Westar Kitchen and Bath, and Florida Builder Appliances.

I won't be living in the land of teeny washers forever, you know.

A Post Title I'm Really Proud of

Today is Day 3 of SITS "Back to Blogging Event", and today's assignment is to share a post whose title I'm really proud of. To be honest, my favorite title is still in the "Drafts Column" - which means I really, really need to get that bugger posted. It was a tough call. One of my favorite post titles was "Bunnycide", but the one I chose?

Motherhood is a Blessing. Right?

I love my kids. I really do.

But somedays (like every morning at 8am) they can drive me absolutely mad. Cuckoo.

Nutso.

And, really, when I say "they", I mean Pea. (I'm just trying to stay fair and not single one out, but I can't).

My daughter is a sight to behold in the mornings. Seriously, I contemplate giving HER some coffee to start her morning, because its just that bad.

Don't get me wrong - she is a lovely, happy little girl. I knwo this, because she can turn that temper OFF just as quickly as she turns it on, and then she is the sweetest thing outside of a candy store. Like a big, squishy, huggy lump of chocolate.

Mmmmm.....chocolate.....

Sorry. (Focus......)

So dealing with tantrums means striking a balance of trying not to lose my temper and instead see the humor in the situation - without laughing. Because that would make her go through the ceiling, and then she gets completely unmanageable!

You tell me how difficult this would be....

• when your daughter is biting her underpants (in hand, not while wearing them, although that would be even funnier) and then throwing them against the wall, while yelling "these are STUPID! Throw them AWAY"
• when she's lying naked in the middle of her hot pink furry area rug, rolling around yelling "I am NOT getting dwessed and I am NOT going to school"
• when she is sitting on the bottom step, arms crossed, bottom lip stuck out far enough to land a small bird on, one shoe on, one shoe against the opposite wall where she has thrown it after yelling "I'm NOT going to school"

The only reason I can keep from laughing is because I'm seriously pissed at the same time.

Since I know that the minute we pull into the car park by school, she'll be bouncing out of the car, yelling hello to her friends and screeching their names, and running into school, happpy to be there. I'm told that they see her as a happy, confident little girl - one who clearly knows her mind.

So I won't take it personally.

But, believe me, while I know that it is a blessing to have these two wonderful kids and get to experience everything through their eyes, there are days that it feels less like a blessing and more like penance, for every moment of grief we ever gave our parents.

And for that, Mom and Dad, I am truly, really sorry.

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This post in particular appeals to me because, really, it sums up WHY I blog - to capture moments of motherhood where, maybe not especially desirable, let me realize the beauty of my kids, their joy, their delight, their not-so-pretty moments....and to put it all in perspective.


'Cause, honestly, most days? I needs me some perspective.

I can't forget to give a shout-out to the sponsors of the "Back to Blogging" challenge, so go say "hi" to Standards of Excellence, Westar Kitchen and Bath, and Florida Builder Appliances.   

Revisiting a post I wish more people had read

In an attempt to jumpstart my blogging, I'm reposting a blog entry from March 2010....


Find a Happy Place, FINDAHAPPYPLACE!


After a long morning (yes, already) with my daughter Sybil...erm...Pea (I mean, is it really possible for someone to wake up whining? Apparently so, and it morphed into a 45 minute tantrum, at which point I just threw some cheerios at her and stuffed her in the car to go to school.....)

Aaand, I'm rambling. It happens. Stay with me....

After a stressful morning with my darling, darling now 4 year old, coffee in hand, I latched on to my bloggy pal Jenny from Jenny on the Spot's post "Ooooh! A List! A List of Happy Things" because I needed a laugh. (And its just too early for vodka.)

I love that flattery took up three spots on her list. Nothing wrong with confidence shots. And sublety. So what the heck - I need to change my frame of mind, so here is my totally random list of 10 things that make me happy.

1. My kids. They rock. They crack me up.

2. Alternately, dropping my kids off at school. (Is that wrong?)

3. The Hubs. He's smart, sweet, sexy. I love how his entire body turns red when he laughs (although, it is a bit startling in a "hey, are you ok?" kind of way.) He puts up with me, my blogging, and my weird hours. It works.

4. Chocolate. Especially warm, melty chocolate that cries out for a big glass of milk.

5. This Movie:Its corny, its sweet, and it has classic lines that stick in your head - like the "chick" version of "Monty Python and the Holy Grail". Or "Spaceballs".

6. Sitting at the beach. Can you be unhappy with sand between your toes and the hot sun on your face?

(ok, so maybe this wasn't the best photo choice.)

7. A Starbucks skinny vanilla latte. Ok, but if we are talking SERIOUSLY happy, a peppermint mocha, with whip. Oh yeah, I walk on the wild side.

8. Curling up with a good book. Especially when all my housework is done. (Isn't it awfully convenient that I live in the "town of books?")

9. Date night: I get to enjoy a good meal with my husband, but without having to cook or clean up myself, and I get to have an uninterrupted conversation, too. If I'm lucky, we might even see a show or a movie. (gasp)

10. Miniature golf. How can you NOT have fun playing miniature golf - a family tradition when we go to the beach. Especially watching your 3-year-old play.

11. Chocolate.

Yes, I know I said a list of ten, but chocolate makes me so happy it needs to be here twice. There is no such thing as too much chocolate.

Wanna play? Make your list on Facebook or on your blog, and let me know so I can read it, too.

I needs all the happy I can gets today.

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I wish more people had read this post because it sums up quite a bit about me, and its a good example of my voice - sarcasm, humor, whatever you want to call it.  It also reminds me of one of the reasons that I blog - it helps me keep life in perspective. Sometimes, on the worst of days, recounting our misadventures helps me to see the brighter side - and this was a day I really needed to see the brighter side.

This post is in conjunction day 2 of SITS' "Back to Blogging" challenge...not only am I getting back on track, but this event is sponsored by Standards of Excellence, Westar Kitchen and Bath, and Florida Builders Applicances, who are offering the chance to win a gorgeous Electrolux Washer/Dryer set!

Revisiting My Very First Post

Summer is over, school is in full swing, and now is the perfect time for me to take part in SITS "Back to Blogging" event! I've been a little a lot ok, completely undisciplined with my blogging of late...and, thanks to sponsors Standards of Excellence, Westar Kitchen and Bath, and Florida Builders Applicances, I could also win Thelma and Louise (a rockin' Electrolux washer/dryer set) for the US house. But really, its all about the blog.

So today's challenge was to repost my very first post. I was a bit nervous, as its been over two years now, and I couldn't actually remember my first post..... but here it is:

My delightful son Sam was born in March 2004, less than a month after I quit my job of 7 years in preparation of staying at home with my soon-to-be-born daughter or son. This little guy rocked my world more than I ever could have imagined. I went from client relations for a fund manager to trucks, Thomas the Tank Engine, and countless readings of "Where the Wild Things Are".

Once assured that Sam would not be wearing a Don King-like do forever (easing concerns that we wouldn't be condemning him - or a sibling - to permanent franken-doo) and hearing the tick-tock of the biological clock, we took another gamble on the wheel-o-fertility and tried for #2.

In March 2006, Madeleine (or Maddie-girl, as Sam calls her), joined the wild rumpus. My giggly girl, Sam's own personal Mini-Me with a pert little nose and an even better 'do, completed our little family. (Mostly because I'm just too damn tired to even contemplate being preggo at 40.)

Both babes were brought into the world with the assistance of my wonderful hubby of 5 years, Pete. Pete is funny, loving, outgoing, stubborn, focused - and has passed all these traits, as far as we can tell, onto Sam, and as we are quickly learning, Maddie. And I love them all!

We've been posting pictures on BabyJellyBeans.com since Sam was born, but it doesn't provide much of a creative outlet for me nor a true glimpse of our daily lives - which is what I want to record for us. If you enjoy it too, then all the better!

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What I love about this post? I love that it shows my voice - which, I must admit, has been inconsistent of late. I'm also glad that it is a true "first post". And look at how cute my babies are!

I've also realized that I need to revisit my older posts every now and again; I came across one that whined commented on Boo's tantrums regarding shoes - he was 4 at the time, and guess what - Miss Pea is having the EXACT same tantrums now. He's outgrown them, and so I have faith that Miss Pea will too.

Its all been a big adventure - and while I'm struggling to maintain the quality of the posts and not turn it too much into a travelogue, I'm really anxious to get back on track. As I'm in the process of revamping my blog, this challenge is kismet!