The Big Day

Today is the big day! The launch of the newest episode of Mom's Homeroom. As I mentioned a few weeks back, I have been hired as a correspondent to give you updates as each episode is released. Last week I jumped the gun and gave you an overview of the interview with Claire, who is a OB/GYN and one of the Mom Experts. If you missed that post you can read all about her, our conversation and her tips for back to school preparation here. Although my son is still too young for school, I was certainly well informed about his nutrition when I spoke with Claire (in addition to being an ob/gyn she is also a nutrition expert).

Mom's Homeroom is a great resource for moms and I hope that you get a chance to check out this week's episode. Especially if you have a school aged child(ren). This week the focus is on "Back To School." Here in the South the kids are back in the saddle again next week and I am sure that parents around the country are all preparing for school which will be starting sometime over the next six weeks for everyone. I have been hearing all sorts of dialogue in the blogosphere, especially among moms sending kiddies to kindergerten! What a bittersweet occasion. No matter what age your child is you can find great back to school tips on Mom's Homeroom!

Next week The Motherhood will be hosting a live chat on August 6 at 1:00PM EST. I along with Jennifer of The Dirty Shirt will be discussing back to school tips and our experience at the shooting of Mom's Homeroom. If you are available, I hope you can join us.

PlayDoh? Oh no!

So there has been tons of talk about the swag at BlogHer09. Swag that was coveted (thank you Kodak for the video camera) and swag that women (and babies!) were almost trampled trying to get ( if you really NEED a vibrator that much people how about buying your own?). At one of the best parties I went to hosted by Lolita and sponsored by Whrrl and Baskin Robbins my girls StyleMom and VeepVeep coined the term SwagHags. Apparently great minds think alike because Lindsey of Suburban Turmoil (gorgeous lady) wrote an entire post about being a SwagHag.

The best swag in my opinion was the bagful of stuff for my son. During my tour of the expo room I picked up some PlayDoh for him. Initially I was hesitant but decided to bring some home. I remember my love for PlayDoh as a child - the smell alone is enough to make me smile. Did you know they have a perfume?

Although I thought Mekhi might be a bit young for PlayDoh, the packaging says it is appropriate for ages 2+ so I thought I'd pick some up for him and see if he enjoyed it. Well, let me tell you, Mekhi loves the stuff.




So much so that he decided to taste it. Yes, he ate it. I suppose the smell of the stuff must have been irresitable or something. At some point(that I am unable to identify because I was sitting right next to him) he decided to try this delectable confection (I am assuming this is what he was thinking) and I don't know what made me ask him if he ate the clay but when he answered affirmatively I had to see the evidence. And here it is for all to see.



I guess that means I won't be winning a "parent of the year" award anytime soon but since the stuff is non-toxic I continue to let him play with it. He enjoys it so much that I can't deny him fun because he ingested just a little. I have been watching him like a hawk since the incident and I think he has learned that PlayDoh just doesn't taste as good as it smells!

BlogHer '09 in photos

The title of this post is deceiving. These are just a few of the many photos I took at BlogHer. I am too tired to post them all. You can see more in my flickr stream (but not all because I still have uploading to do) by clicking here. BlogHer09 was a whirlwind, I didn't spend as much time with everyone as I wanted to, I only attended a few panels and by the end of the conference I was exhausted. Next year the conference is in New York. My home, my love, the parties, the people. And I won't be there. Not happening. No way. No how. Not because I don't want to be there but I have a prior commitment. Involving family. And well, family first and all that jazz.

That is enough about next year. The focus is here and now. I have stories to tell and they are forthcoming. The one with Katja is a doozey. More photos and more stories, soon come.

Melanie


Maria



The MamaPop party was the best dance party (this is a cake)!


CheeseburgHer Party


Katja and I have a story to tell. Lesbian Dad was all ears.


Marinka, and Stacey (she just had a baby, 3 weeks ago!)


Janine and Linda


Kim and Jennifer

For more Wordful Wednesday stop by Angie's 7 Clown Circus.

Chicago, Chicago

Last week I traveled to Chicago and simply put - it was nothing short of amazing. BlogHer09 and Chicago lived up to all of my expectations. My plan was to arrive early Wednesday morning so that I could lunch with a friend and then explore the city. I was eager with anticipation and only slept an hour Tuesday night. The rest of the time I wrote blog posts and finished off my to do list. I didn't want the guilt of neglecting my blog and other responsibilities hanging over my head during my time away.

Wednesday morning I finished my packing and woke my husband in preparation of my trip. He started talking about cut off times for checked luggage but I calmly asserted that we could only hope for the best and neither of us had the ability to turn back time so just ride it out. We arrived at the airport without incident, early enough for check-in and negotiating the maze of security was quick despite the long lines.

I purchased a book to read on the flight and once I boarded I sat down next to a chatty and nice gentleman. Our conversation was cut short because I promptly fell asleep. I don't even think I stayed awake for liftoff. I met my driver provided by Tide (thank you so very much) at the airport and we shared laughs on the ride to Chicago. We discussed race, listened to comedy and he give me tips and pointers about things to see in Chicago.

Upon arrival at the Sheraton I had to wait for my room and I passed the time by chatting with friends on Skype and facebook. More tips for exploring the city were given and I anticipated my adventure in the city. Within a half hour a room was prepared for me and although there was a minor snafu I was able to freshen up and ride to meet my friend Megan for deep dish Chicago style pizza.

We enjoyed chatting over delish pizza and after lunch was over I decided to venture over to the John Hancock building which was only a couple of blocks away. At the bass of the building I was treated to live Salsa music and a couple from the crowd decided to dance to the vibrant tunes.

I proceeded to the observation deck and the view was breathtaking.

My next stop was the visitor cente where I learned about a tour of the river and Lake Michigan. The cruise departed from the Wrigley building and I strolled down Michigan Avenue to get there. Michigan Avenue is reminiscent of 5th Avenue in NYC, I didn't spend much time shopping because I didn't want to miss the next cruise. I am a water baby and loved every minute of the tour. although I could have done without the sun beaming down on my head. Did you know that much of the beauty in Chicago lies in the architecture? Simply beautiful.

I am sure you are wondering about BlogHer and photos, I promise more is coming. As gregarious as I am I wanted to share the joy I feel when traveling solo. As much as I enjoy the company of others, I also cherish my alone time. This is the first of several posts about my trip and later today I will have photos to illustrate my story.

Thank You!

Today I am at BlogHer, the largest conference for women bloggers in the country. Over 1300 people are converging on Chicago for this conference. Last year at this time I was a brand spanking new blogger participating in "virtual" sessions with different women not attending the conference. I vowed that this year I would make it to the conference. Little did I know then that not only would I am I attending this year but I am also speaking. On the very first Mom Blogging Panel on the very first day. Today. Depending on when you are reading this it could be right now.

Am I nervous? A little but mostly I am excited. Excited to meet many of my blogging friends, to learn new info and of course to party. Today I want to thank the people that made it possible for me to attend my first (of many I hope) BlogHer - Walmart and the ElevenMoms program, the fabulous folks at Walt Disney - especially Leanne and Laura and Lolita Carrico. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Laughter

This post was inspired by a visit to my friend Cheryl's Blog about giggles. In her post she focused on the urge to laugh uncontrollably regardless of the appropriateness of the situation. The most memorable fit of giggles that I've had occurred shortly after I had a myomectomy (fibroid removal surgery). It was my first time having major surgery and the healing process was about six months. Think of it as the same surgery as a c-section without the joy of a baby.

Anyhow, when I was recovering I had to be careful when sneezing (holding a pillow to my stomach was advised) and was also told to refrain from laughter. You never think about how much work these activities put your abdominal muscles through until you are banned from doing them.

So, one evening I was watching The Surreal Life while talking to my husband (then boyfriend) on the phone. I think I was home from the hospital for three days and we were living in different states. He came to help me during my recovery the following week but checked on me during the day by phone until his visit. As I gave him an update about my progress, I saw mini-me on the Surreal Life getting totally wasted. Imagine a little person falling over drunk, I found it sad really and not very comical.

That is until he decided to "be free." His housemates helped him to bed but he decided to remove all of his clothing to retire. At one point he decided he had to go to the bathroom, he mounted his electric scooter in search of the bathroom, apparently in his drunken state he got lost because he commenced to peeing in the corner. A Naked. Little. Person. Peeing. In. The. Corner.

I LOST IT.

Remember, I was recouping from surgery and told not to laugh. I laughed so hard that tears were coming down my face because of the pain. My husband told me to turn off the tv which I did but that certainly did not cure my giggles. In my mind all I could see was mini-me peeing in the corner.

I walked into my bedroom for a change of scenery but that didnt' work either. I stopped laughing momentarily until my husband told me I sounded like a hyenna and off to the races, my giggling started again. Long after we got off the phone and late into the night any thoughts of mini-me made me laugh hysterically.

Painful, yes. But completely and totally worth it. Here is a video of a talkshow host who is laughing inappropriately but he can't help it. Some say this video is fake others say it is real and he lost his position after the taping. Whatever the case, it is hilarious! Thanks Cheryl.

If I Hadn't Seen It.......

Have you ever had one of the moments when you ask yourself "Am I seeing what I think I am seeing?" A moment when something is in your line of sight that unless you had a picture to prove it people are unlikely to believe you? No? Well, I have. On Sunday I was driving on the highway with my mother and as I glanced at the car ahead of me I could not believe my eyes. I asked my mother to look and confirm that what I suspected was hanging from the back of the car was indeed what I thought and not a figment of my imagination.

And with four little letters she reached the same conclusion as me (click the photo for a closer peek).

They say a picture says one thousand words. I think this one says one million.
(By the way, I do not advise taking photos while driving but I had to snap this one.)

ETA: Apparently the photo quality is so poor that people are having difficulty seeing that a pair of b*lls are hanging from the back of the car. I have never seen anything like this before in my life. Have you?

For more photos (although, I doubt quite so colorful) check out Angie's 7 Clown Circus, 5 minutes for Mom and Go Graham Go.

*****************************************************************************************

If you eyes aren't burned out be sure to check out my review of Smooshies -

Revealing.....

One of the things that I enjoy most about blogging is the diversity of writers. Whatever your personal interest, you can find a blogger writing about the topic. My blog is primarily a personal blog discussing all aspects of my life from cooking (rarely) to my son and causes that I believe in. I am categorized as a "Mommy Blogger" and the definition fits but on a daily basis you will not find updates about my son. One of aspects of my life that I do not frequently discuss is my race and/or culture. Of course, being an African American is a defining aspect of my identity but I do not feel a necessity to write about it here on a daily basis. There are some days - like yesterday - when the national news just pushes me to the edge and I question are we living in 2009 or 1959?

With the advent of President Obama we are "supposedly" living in a post-racial society. While I think that the election of President Obama was a wonderful moment in history I was never under the misconception that his election indicated that America is a post racial society. This summer we have seen black and brown children kicked out of a pool in Philadelphia; Henry Lewis Gates, a professor at Harvard, was arrested in his own home for disorderly conduct and there have been numerous instances on twitter (an exchange between Kristie Alley and Harry Allen, as well a debate about one users name @knitterplease) and a CNN article about "Saving Black Marriages". You may or may not be aware of these issues but as a black woman in America I can't help but notice - often I shake my head, grumble under my breath and perhaps engage in debate without including my readers.

I do think that these issues are important, worthy of exposure and engaging dialogue from the perspective of mothers. You might be thinking why? Why is it necessary to do this? And I answer by saying sometimes I just want to go to a place where I can exhale, vent and receive feedback from other women that have life experience similar to me and honestly I don't want to change the direction of this blog. Therefore, after long consideration, I along with my friend Kristina decided to start a blog together called Moms of Hue.


Moms of Hue is the place where you can read all about the unique experience of women of color raising children. We are a group of women from all walks of life, presenting our unique views on motherhood from the women of color perspective. We are mothers of color with a lot to say. I invite you to take a trip over to Moms of Hue and read the commentary by the fabulous group of writers we have assembled. Our writers are Latina, African American, Indian, single, married, raising bi-racial children, in a word - diverse. Join me in this new endeavor, I am sure it will be enlightening for all of us.

Expert Advice for Moms

Remember a few weeks ago when I had the fabulous opportunity to visit the set of Mom's Homeroom? The highlight of my trip was chatting with each of the fabulous Mom experts on an individual basis. Each week I will be sharing with you information about each Mom and a little insight into the latest episode. Today I will focus on the conversation I had with Claire. She is a mother of two, a member of the American Society for Nutrition, and a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist, who runs a practice concentrated on preventative and wellness medicine. Claire is familiar with the constant struggle to balance career and family, and she hopes to share her experiences so others can find balance in their life.

Claire is vivacious and friendly. Her smile is infectious and she is so easy going I felt like I was speaking with one of my long time girlfriends. During our conversation we talked about a myriad of things including her thoughts about the Diva Cup (yes, I went there but I thought it was appropriate given she is an OB/GYN). She was fascinated that such a thing existed and provided me with information about our menstrual cycles that was very enlightening (did you know that some of the menstrual blood goes back up into your uterus?). Clearly, we were comfortable together, the picture below tells the story.



Our "interview" began with a discussion about nutrition and children. Claire highlighted the importance of breakfast because it truly is the most important meal of the day. Children that do not have breakfast on a daily basis frequently lack focus and energy, which often has a negative impact on their performance. Good nutrition partnered with exercise helps keep kids healthy. Unfortunately many schools have eliminated physical education from the curriculum. Partner the sedentary lifestyle of video games and long hours of television watching, children are on the road to obesity. Claire suggested that parents not only encourage children to get outside and moving but to participate in physical activity with their children. Bike riding, rollerskating, swimming and even games of tag are exercises that can be easily incorporated into our daily schedules to promote an active lifestyle.

Personally, I have been concerned about my son's proclivity to be a picky eater. Claire advised me that young children may need to be introduced to foods several times before they eat it and/or determine if it is something they enjoy. Although I keep this in mind when Mekhi was a baby, hearing it repeated alleviated my fears about his eating habits. Claire also noted that children are like mini-adults, provide them with balanced meals and on some days they may eat everything and on others not so much. As long as they are getting all of their nutritional needs met over the course of the week there is little cause to be concerned. This was truly music to my ears.

Finally, we discussed the topic of this week's episode of Mom's Homeroom - Back To School. After a long summer, returning to the routine of early mornings and a school schedule can be challenging for both children and parents. Claire starts preparing her children two weeks in advance for early rising and suggests all parents do the same. She sends her kids to bed earlier and wakes them earlier on a gradual basis during the two week period prior to school starting. On the first day of school the children are ready to go because the transition has been seamless.

Claire provided tips that can be useful for all parents. Talking with her was truly enlightening and there are three other expert Mom's with information to share. For more recommendations check out the "Back To School" episode of Mom's Homeroom airing on July 30th.

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star!

My son loves the camera.....hmm, I wonder where he gets it from? Anyhow, since my(his) iPhone review was such a hit, I think he deserves some airtime. Without further ado, here is Mekhi serenading you with Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star!

****************

If you are like me and don't enjoy doing laundry, check out my review of Tide Stain Release and Bounce Dryer Bar. Click Here.

Pat Yourself On The Back Day

Sometimes I think Moms get the short end of the stick. We are expected to always be "on" and very rarely have a day off. Keeping up with the kids, work, and the house can all be overwhelming. Yet, we keep pushing on amidst the mounting piles of laundry, the disorganized workspace, the clean clothes that remain unfolded and certainly not put away (perhaps I am only speaking for myself here but feel free to insert your own "issues"). We moms do it all or at least try to. And you know what? We have a thankless job. A "thank you" for the work that we do is seldom heard. This is to be expected I guess. Perhaps gifts on Mother's Day make up for the rest of the year. I don't know.

What I do know is that even if we are not thanked for the work that we do - there is always a way for us to love and acknowledge ourselves. However, so many mothers I know feel guilty for taking me time or have a difficult time accepting a compliment when it comes their way. Other Moms are recognized for accomplishments but brush them under the table for fear of offending others. I have fallen guilty of this myself. And today I want to declare "Pat Yourself on the Back" Day! How you celebrate is up to you. I am going to simply bask in being named Woman of the Month on "I Complete Me" Then I will take a visit to Maximum Potential and enjoy being bestowed the title "incredible woman." Perhaps next I will mosey on over to the Kellogg's Snackpicks site where I am a featured Mom Blogger. As I sit here at my disorganized desk with my unfolded laundry and my never ending to-do list, I am taking a day to stop stressing and simply enjoy being the beautiful, fabulous me.

I recommend you do the same. If you don't see yourself as the beautiful and fabulous person that you are, no one else will. We all deserve a day to say to ourselves "job well done." Why not make that day today?

Meet the newest addition to the family

Or perhaps I should say additions. This is my new Frigidaire gas range and microwave. Back in May I mentioned that I was chosen to be a Frigidaire Test Drive mom. I expected to have a new dishwasher installed but the machines are still in production. I could have waited for the machine but I was given the option to "test drive" another appliance. Honestly, I am happy about this turn of events because I've been in dire need of a new range. My old one is only two years old but it is problematic because it is not self-cleaning. Subsequently, the front of the oven gets extraordinarily hot when I am cooking.

Not great when you have a toddler running around.

This new range has all the bells and whistles I could ever ask for and the men that installed it were surprised at some of the things that the range is equipped with. I have to say my favorite feature is the middle eye. The fifth burner is going to come in handy; the range came with a griddle and lookie, lookie, no need to pull out the cast iron pan to make pancakes.




I still have to read the manuals for my range and microwave but so far I am extremely pleased with them.

For more Wordful Wednesday visit Angie's Seven Clown Circus.

Just One of Those Days....

It seems like Murphy's Law is in effect this morning. Despite my numerous complaints, once again I was awakened from my slumber by the sounds of my husband preparing for work. Although it doesn't happen frequently, when I am an early riser I do my best to be as quiet as possible. Too bad that same courtesy is not extended to me.

My son woke up bright and early (see above). I was happy that he requested the potty but he really just wanted to play with it (we have a musical pottty, please take my advice and stick to just the basic, bare bone potty) and screamed bloody murder when I turned it off. He also was alarmingly shrill when his father left for work. I was able to distract him with photos of chicks but he would not let me rest until I turned on the bedroom light (for reasons unknown to me).

On a business note, I have been progressing very nicely (or so I thought). However, this morning when I went to open my account I was told that my LLC application was flawed/deficient. Huh? I called the government office that deals with such things and was on hold for far too long. I had to depart the bank and make the call at home. After about 20 minutes of hold time it all boils down to I need a new name. Although the entity that had my name has been disolved it has not been five years and too bad for me, I need a new name.

Murphy's Law I tell you. There are still 14 hours left in this day, I am hopeful that things can only get better.......

Mom's Homeroom

(l-r) Claire, Alba, Jennifer,Victoria, me, Jillian

Mom's Homeroom is an online resource for Moms by Moms to help your child succeed in school. I am working with The Motherhood as a correspondent to report on the weekly episodes. Check in on my blog, The Motherhood and The Dirty Shirt for updates. Last week, Jennifer (author of The Dirty Shirt) and I had the opportunity to get a "behind the scenes" look during the taping of Mom's Homeroom. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet all of the expert moms: Alba, Claire, Jillian and Victoria. They are experts in their respective fields - homeschooling, gynecology, psychiatry and teacher of the year and they are moms too! I love the diversity of the group. These women were truly wonderful and provided many insights that I will be utilizing in my home. I will be sharing the knowledge I gained in the interviews with you on a weekly basis starting next week. In the meantime, here are a few photos from the trip.

The view from the camera.


Claire, Jennifer and me deep in discussion.


The monitors are catching all of the action.




Yolanda the make-up artist was hilarious! She wasn't responsible for my makeup but when she came on set she had to powder my face because according to her "Mami! You are shining like a lightbulb!"



Isn't Victoria lovely? This single mom of four is teacher of the year and full of great information.


Mom's Homeroom is truly a wonderful resource, check it out I am sure you will be as impressed as I am!

My BlogHer Attire

I cannot believe BlogHer 09 is less than 2 weeks away. I remember reading all of the reports last year of people anticipating the conference and knew I wanted to attend this year. I am very excited about meeting the people behind the blogs that I have enjoyed reading over the last year. As people prepare for the conference there is talk of fashion. Yes, fashion, the dilemma of what to wear to a conference attended by at least 1000 women.

I am lucky enough to have Lane Bryant as a sponsor for one of my outfits. I wasn't very original and picked a look right out of the catalogue but it is so nice, even after spending a day trying out outfits handpicked for me I still decided on this one:

I am not sure if this will be too much but I am considering this shoe - what do you think? Zebra or simple black?

I am also wearing some nice accessories from Lane Bryant- black earrings and a necklace. I have to give a big thank you to Lane Bryant! If you are going to BlogHer be on the lookout for the rest of Lane Bryant girls who will be rocking styles courtesy of our sponsor:

Taste Like Crazy
VDog
Hope4Peyton
Immoral Matriarch
City Mama
Angie
Secret Agent Mama
Christina
Kaiser Mommy

My iPhone, my new BFF!

Rock, Skate, Roll Bounce

When I was growing up rolling skating was the big rage. I am talking about the days before in-line skates - four wheels and a stopper in the front, were the best you could do back then. I even had a pair without a break, my friends chided me about them but they worked and when we skated around our neighborhood I kept up with the best of them. I shot the duck, rolled backwards and front, that was the way to have fun in the late 70s.

Skating remained popular in the early 80s and a roller rink called Laces opened up 5 miles from my town. The rink was extremely popular and was frequented by people from all over the metropolitan New York area. My mother would drop me and my friends off for a night of entertainment - her only requirement was that I wait outside for her by 11:30pm. Of course, this meant missing the last half hour of the session when the music would reach its peak but despite all of my protestation my mom rarely let me stay until midnight. But from 8:30 until 11:29 (yes I cut it that close) I would rock, skate, roll and bounce to my hearts delight!

Bounce, Rock, Skate, Roll - Vaughan Mason and Crew

Rollerskating was good clean fun, we'd skate with partners, backwards and the middle of the rink was reserved for folks doing extra special tricks. I loved feeling the breeze as speed skaters passed me by and also lived for being scooped up by a confident skater who could lead while we danced around the rink. My memories are filled with the sounds of "Rock, Skate, Roll, Bounce" a song that is a skating anthem of the time period.

At Laces not only did we skate but dancing, especially breakdancing was an added attraction. Well known breakers like Crazy Legs from the Rock Steady Crew in the Bronx would come to Long Island to show their skills. I was thrilled to be in the midst of skating and dancing; two of my favorite things in the entire world were perfectly paired at Laces.

Laces was a staple in my social calendar (who am I kidding, it WAS my only true social activity) from the time I was 13 - 18. Fun times. I don't think rollerskating is nearly as popular now but I hope to introduce it to my son when he is old enough. It is excellent exercise ( have you skated recently?) and fun.

In memory of the old days I give you Rollerbabies! I saw this video, cracked up and remembered my youth.