When Parents Text Too Much Is Utterly Hysterical

What I Can Tell You: 
This was the perfect book for me this past month. It was perfect because my life was split in a million different directions and most of them involved something to do with work of some kind. I was either running my company, working for 1 of my 4 clients, running a community web page and Facebook page, writing, editing, tweeting, Facebooking, cleaning, shopping, cooking, parenting, etc. If I wasn't doing one of these things, I was taking the kids to the beach or sleeping. So needless to say, diving into a novel wasn't something I could fit into my life.  

When Parents Text was perfect because it is little segments of texts people have received from their parents all broken down into categories like; Noobs (parents first attempts at texting) questions, pix, mealtimes, etc. 

It was a funny read and often often left me laughing out loud or LOL (little old lady) as one mom thought in the book. My poor husband  was interrupted often while watching TV so I could read him something that I just had to share. 

Because the book made up of brief texts, this was the first summer I could read at the beach. I am a hover mom and keeping a trained eye on the kids is a priority. I took this book out each beach visit and read because you could read in snippets and for this nervous Nellie Mom, that means everything. 

I have so many favorites but here are just a few:

Mom: I didn't know you had the twitter! Me too! I'm only friends with Elizabeth Hasselbeck and The Pioneer Woman. Want to be friends?

Mom: Just wondering as to your whereabouts..please check one of the following boxes.
Dead in a ditch
Alive in a ditch with broken fingers
Jail
Mars
Thanks, your roommates

Dad: :I)}
Me: What???
Dad: Me with a beard, I'm smiling.

Mom: Your dentist died. No appt next week. I'll find you a new one. I learned how to make bread.

Dad: I need you to text me
Me: ?
Dad: I'm bored. Sitting on the toilet waiting for the person next to me to leave so that I can release my bowels. What did you have for breakfast?

And, it goes on and on like that. There are 200 texts, nicely organized and ready to make you laugh.

Zhu Zhu Puppies Are Our Newest Favorite Toys

We are big Zhu Zhu Pet Fans, especially Goddess. She loves her amazing collection of Hamsters and now she has a new love. The Zhu Zhu Puppies collection which she has been seeing commercials and begging for made a stop at our house in the form of a Pup, an outfit and a accessory.

It was torture for her to wait for me to take a photo of the three boxes for this post. A whole day she would come over and ask, "did you take the picture for your blog yet?" The very next day, I allowed her to open the boxes and she couldn't have been happier. My 6  year old sat on the floor and put the Puppy Car and Meter together, dressed her puppy and attached it to the Zhu Zhu Pets Princess Castle and Ice Cream Shop.  This is something I really appreciate. Thanks Zhu Zhu for making all the pieces attach. It is nice to be able to expand on the line without having to purchased each line separately. The Zhu Zhu Pets and the Zhu Zhu Puppies, played very nice together in the car, ice cream shop and Princess Castle.

The Puppy is definitely her favorite Zhu Zhu and I can't say I blame her. While the hamsters all look the same other than color and style, the puppies, like real ones have their very own personality and it shows all over their sweet faces. Just look at that face!

We really love the puppy and she is asking for more. These are definitely going on her Christmas list. Who could resist this sweet, little pup and look at those wings. Her costume has little wings on the back which had Goddess squealing, "isn't she cute?" over and over.

Thanks to Zhu Zhu Pets and Mom Select, I have been given permission to host a Giveaway on my blog.

The Beach Is Full Of Amazing Things

It's not the beautiful beach, the calming water, the sunset or the rainbows in her ears. It is the inner light that shines from her whenever she is around.

Sweet Shots

My daughter and niece together really make me smile. They are so cute and similar. Watching the comfort they have with each other even though they only see each other once or twice a year makes me feel good. Before my daughter, my niece was my baby. I used to take her to my house to spend the summer. She has a very special soul and a huge heart. I adore her to pieces. Hopefully we see her more this year but at least we had three days with her and that was worth so much!

Pointing and Spotting

I took Goddess and my niece out on a "photo shoot". I love taking pictures of people and capturing interaction between them. They were so sweet together. My niece has two little sisters so you would think she has little or no time for her baby cousin but being the special soul she is...she is makes Goddess feel very special.

While watching them, I spotted them pointing at something. It was so cute that they were doing it together, I had to grab the shot. Then I spanned to see what it was....

Jumping For Joy!

This weekend I took Goddess and my first Goddess, my niece Sam on a photo shoot. It was so much fun watching them interact. Here are some of my favorite shots. They were jumping of the bench at a gazebo, having a blast and laughing. It was a great time. Sam was my first "daughter" she used to spend weeks with me in the summer before I had my own children. I love watching her interact with my kids. They adore her.

Konsyl For Healthy Digestive Health & My Health

What I Can Tell You:
After my hospital stay and eventually surgery last year, taking care of my intestine is something I now know to be extremely important but I also know if it isn't easy to do, or doesn't taste good, you won't do it. Usually I balance all meals with a nice dose of fiber. Beside it being good for you, the body needs it in order for things to move smoothly. Since my surgery, I have realized that my intestine will never be the same. I know when something is passing through that area and have many different twinges and the occasional discomfort. Most of this may have to do with a protruding intestine which decided to pop out last month. Staying on top of my fiber game has become a full time job. Pushing the intestine back is is also a full time job.

When I first started the Konsyl I only used water and the orange flavor balance one. You can take it three times a day. Simply take a teaspoon, put it in the Konsyl shaker cup and shake. The first day, I wasn't loving the grainy texture but by the end of the second day, I didn't mind it. Eventually I started mixing the the original and Balance by using a half of each on a teaspoon and mixing with orange juice or apple juice. Honestly, it isn't bad. I did have some gas pains one day but don't contribute this to the Konsyl. There are many things that cause me discomfort when it comes to my intestines. I don't treat them very well all the time. These pains sidelined me for 24 hours but eventually they were gone and all was well. It took me a day to go back to the Konsyl but haven't had those pains again.

I Spy With My Little Eye, Red, Red and More Red

So much red at the Renaissance Faire last week, I have to spread them out over the next few weeks. Here are just a few.

Cousins

The Hat Prop

My niece was over for a few days and since I had taken pictures of the kids wearing my summer hat, I just had to use it on her during our photo shoot! I love that they all wore the hat this summer.Thinking of getting this done for my wall.

Teacher Letters Received. Hold On Folks, It's Going To Be A Bumpy Ride

This week we received packages from the school for each kid containing letters from their new teachers. While Handsome already knew who his teacher would be this year (IEP Meetings), Goddess has no idea and it was going to be a surprise for me as well.

She has a lot of work to do this year to be ready for 2nd grade and we both wanted her to have a certain teacher. Handsome's Kindergarten teacher is now teaching 1st grade and Goddess was praying for her.

Their packages came in, I gave them each their own to open. Handsome ripped his open and sat down to read his letter from his teacher and all the forms, I will have to sit and fill out. Goddess, took her envelope and repeated as she opened, "please be Ms. Quick. please be Ms. Quick." She handed me the letter and just before I read it, I told her don't be upset if it isn't her. It wasn't! She wanted nothing to do with hearing who it was. She covered her ears refusing to hear anything. I am hoping some of her friends will be in her class. So far, only one other person we know will be there. She is completely disinterested in talking about school. Hopefully she will love her new teacher and all will be well, but I am ready for a fight on the first day of school.  Wish me well.

Did you find out who your child is getting yet?

How Do You Teach Good Sportsmanship

Teaching children to be good winners is as important as teaching them to be good losers! With that said, I have two questions, how do you teach them to do their best even if that means not always winning? And, how do you teach them to be good winners and supportive instead of their own cheerleaders when they win?

My son loves his Wii. He lives for the moments he can play and would play all day if I allowed it. Teaching him to share his games, be supportive and not yell at others while he plays against them has been an uphill battle.

Since he plays so often, he is very good at the game. He often shouts at others who are slower at getting the game or God forbid they are better than him and beat him, there will be tears! When he wins, he laughs and calls others loser. It has been awful to listen to because while I think within a family, this kind of teasing and ribbing could be good fun, it can hurt feelings, especially with a peer. So, teaching him to win and lose nicely has become a full time job.

Any suggestions, on how to teach good sportmanship?

I believe there should be no trash talk but I am not sure how to handle when it happens.

We would prefer if our son spoke kinder to people.

We believe in setting by example so encourage "nice" talk but feel we are micro managing our son's conversation.

If any one has any suggestions on how to foster good sportsmanship, I would love
to hear about it.

Color Carnival #104

Hello everyone,

I am wondering if anyone wants to take over Color Carnival. Currently, my life since April has been super busy. After my surgery last year and recovery time I started a social media company. I now have four full time clients, Maria's Space and all that goes along with that and a community web page where I am reporter, journalist, photographer, editor, writer, interviewer. and whatever goes along
with running an online "newspaper". Plus, the kids are home from school.

Over the past four weeks I have been thinking how sad the meme has gotten and want to see it bloom again. I have been a terrible host and think it would be better suited in someone else's hands.