The Shape of Things to Come

No that is not in reference to a baby growing in my belly.  I am not pregnant.  I am overflowing with things to tell you (I still haven't shown you all of the pictures from Lauren's Birthday party!) but I am trying to figure out what to do with this blog and my writing in general.  I have thoughts and plans that were supposed to be developed by now.  I want to write for real but I'm not brave enough to go out on that limb right now.

Last week, my friend Blogger.com hit me with a notice that I am over my limit on photos and I need to buy more storage?  That's why the post last week didn't have any pictures.  Grrr. 

Is someone trying to tell me something (drop an anvil on my head)?  The simple answer is yes, the longer answer is that I am in no mood to listen.  That's the honest truth, I don't want to walk down that path because it is scary. 

This feels like an indictment of my faith.  I don't want to be uncomfortable, I don't want to be vulnerable.  I want the safe bet, so I do nothing.

My life is full.  I want for nothing.  But there is something bigger I have been called to do.  I'm going to go try and figure it out. 

Lies....it's all lies!

The art of storytelling... that's what blogging is really all about.  Well, the art of storytelling meets a little whole lotta ego and a smidge of well-executed exaggeration.  That is blogging.  Did you know that some bloggers actually lie and steal content?  It's a thing. 

Sure, most bloggers edit their content to some extent.  Whether it is cropping the dirty dishes out of the "perfect house picture" or leaving out a part of the story.... we all edit, by virtue of not telling you about every little thing... we are editing.  And we only tell you about the shiny happy kid stories.  Since I just posted this post, I could make an argument that my kids may be happy but they are not shiny.  But sometimes, they may seem a little unbelievable....  Do you believe this picture?  ***Yes, I got a copy of Pioneer Woman Cooks. WOOHOO  A beautiful book, nothing like any other cookbook I own (and therefore fabulous)*** And yes, Patrick is studying the book.***

Do you believe that I had nothing to do with this picture except to pick up my Nikon and steal his moment?  Do you believe that he later commented that "She seems like a really nice lady and I was wrong to think she was Giada, she has red hair.  I think I am going to like her, let's make her food."


Do you believe that he begrudgingly handed my book back to me when I demanded it asked for it.  Do you believe that I didn't eat anything all week (save a handful of mixed nuts, a doughie, and half a carrot) in preparation for a weekend of PW Cookin'?  Ok, that last one is an exaggeration.  I'll stop with this: Let's make some prune cake!!!

What is this all about?  The story tells itself.... sometimes too well and you just have to let it.... sometimes you want to save face....
Which is why I owe you (my dedicated reader) the truth.  Remember that oh-so-truthful "my kids aren't perfect" blog post (the poop one, remember, I was just bragging about it)?  Well I am dizzy with editorial guilt.  The poop catastrophe was my fault.  I feel bad about it.  My child hadn't been napping and I just wanted to take a shower without wondering whether he was destroying my belongings or flooding the bathroom or roaming the streets.  So I locked his door (from the outside remember).... which I never do anymore.  And I treated myself to a nice, long, hot shower ( do I get points if I cleaned the shower while enjoying my nice, long, hot shower?  okay, I was cleaning it) so lovely and so not worth it in the long run.
BM stands for Bad Mommy.




THE UNEDITED TRUTH THAT IS ME (blogging penance).....  Mid work-out, puffs around the edges, crazy brows and my eyes accented by dark circles.  The good news for me is that I have a fancy mirror that makes me think I am skinny with perfect skin.  Then I take a picture of myself and ruin it... oh well.

Friday is Frugal if you get it for Free

This post was going to read: I've. Got. Nothing. Instead I'm going to get a free EA Sports Active for Wii Fit. Free=Frugal. Mudpies and Mary Janes are giving it away for free.

My mom got a Wii and a Balance Board for her 60th birthday in February. Judging from the records she has been setting on Wii Fit, she uses it quite a bit. While my parents are gone on vacation for three weeks, we're using the Wii. By we, I mean me and my Mii (the rest of the Miis seem to be napping). I get on the balance board almost every night. Since the tv in my workout room needs a converter box (or to get pitched out the window for a shiny new flat screen) the Precor hasn't had much play lately. Two more pounds to go and it is all thanks to the Wii.

I have to have this new toy.

Shoes and YOU

I knew Blog Stalking would eventually pay off! One of my Mommy Bloggers is having an awesome give-away. OhMommy over at Classy Chaos is having a contest for these sweet kicks and I need them BAD. If I win them I may have to make a special place in the closet so my other shoes don't get jealous. And the kicker? They are made by Crocs! YOU by crocs! Check it out. Who knew?

Now, what do I do to invest in myself? Okay, I'm not just saying this because you are reading it right now but this blog is the biggest thing I do to invest in myself. I mean sure I get my hair done, watch trashy tv, buy loads of clothes and accessories and luxuriate in the tub every now and again, but this blog is my big investment. Writing has always been my passion, my outlet, my thing. Before now I have never written anything that was so public. I don't know if you noticed but I really like it. And as I have said before it has changed my life and my perspective. Also, if you notice the blog labels count, the only things I like talking about more than me are Patrick and Keith. Keep an eye on "Food" creeping up in third place! But that's just me.

The Dorks and the Popular Girls

This blogging thing has become a surprisingly integral part of my life. I enjoy writing about our life but I also love all of the blogs I stalk on a regular basis. There are the Mommy Blogs (stories, rants and laughs about raising kids), Fashion Blogs (pictures of the latest handbags), Foodie Blogs (recipes and beautiful pictures of food), TV Blogs (running commentary on tv shows) and Decorating Blogs (beautiful homes with decorating tips).

The part of all of this that I find most fascinating is the peer culture that develops within these blogging communities. It is quite a bit like high school. Most of the bloggers stick to their own and you can see the influence they have on one another. I would call it peer pressure but I think it is actually peer influence. We gravitate to those that are like us or are the way we want to be.

Here is why I know that blogging has changed my perspective in so many ways. I discovered this blog Thrifty Chick several weeks ago. My sister also checked it out and we simultaneously committed to the same window covering project (this isn't unheard of, my sister and I tend to do a lot of things simultaneously). Here is where the dorkiness comes in. Somehow, Thrifty Chick found my sister's blog and actually commented on one of her posts. My sister immediately texted me. I immediately went to read the comment and texted back "Wow! Why do I feel like you just met a celebrity and not some mom with a blog? And why am I jealous."

I haven't jumped into the blogging social scene, I'm still lurking. I feel like the kid at school who watches the popular kids and imitates them. I suddenly want to paint everything black! I want to take my kids outside to explore the Fall colors (except it is still 88 degrees here and most of the trees are still green). I want to live life.

This type of imitation isn't the crazy pegged pants, high bangs imitation. This is the good for your soul imitation that challenges you to be a better human, wife, mother, sister, daughter, friend.

Since starting my own blog and reading a lot of Mommy Blogs I have slowed it down a lot. I know that I still work way too much and I forget to take time for myself but my baby steps have made a HUGE difference in my overall disposition. I will never have the kind of time required to take the blogging world by storm (or bake bread everyday), but I will keep blogging as long as it makes my husband laugh out loud.

And I am going to decorate my laundry room.... (Even the dorks need to have inside jokes)