05.30.10

Just Because

I had a moment today.

A moment experienced in motherhood that brought me so much clarity.

We spent the day at my sister-in-laws. It was there that my son played with some of his baby cousins and not once did I have to raise my voice. Not once did I have to remind him to be careful with the little ones. Not once did I have to give him a warning for unacceptable behavior or the evil eye for playing too rough with the girls.

Not once.

Today was glorious. It was one of those days that make raising children look easy.

Today.

As music played softly in the background and a serene calm crept over all of us throughout the car ride home, I turned toward my son who was sitting quietly in the backseat looking out the window.

I asked, “So why were you such a good boy today?”

I continued to glance at his piercing blue eyes and with folded hands gently resting on his lap, little did I know his response was about to take my breath away…

Word so fleeting, but words I have managed to hold onto for the last four hours.

Words I have replayed in my mind over and over as I have revisited that moment in my head all evening long…

“Because I always want to make you happy mommy.”

Oh my little boy, if you only knew how happy you make me. More than you’ll ever know…

{ 98 Comments }
05.28.10

Featured TMC Blogger: Musings de Mommy

TMC welcomes Denise, author of the blog Musings de Mommy. I have to admit Denise is someone I actually found on Twitter. Earlier this year we started tweeting together and we immediately started to follow each other’s blogs. Let me tell you, this girl can write. If you are looking for some inspiration or just a good blog to read well-written posts every time you just found your match. Here is how Denise describes her blog in her own words:

“I’ve been writing for years. Yet it wasn’t until August 2008 that I created Musings de Mommy. There, I mused about my trials, my ups, my downs…my quest and yearnings for redefined, post-kid version of perfection.

Here’s the funny thing: when I started my trusty blog, I told exactly three people that it existed. (The same three people that, in the past, read my pieces the old-fashioned way, via email with attached Word documents.) Then I realized that I wanted more people to read, and wanted my words to resonate within someone else. So I started practicing…I actually forced myself to tell my friends about my blog. (Shortly after, because a friend told a friend about my blog, I received my first writing gig at a local parenting magazine. So worth it!)

About January of this year, I got antsy. I wanted to expand, especially since I’d comfortably settled into my own voice and style. I was ready to start exploring and participating in the blogging community. That’s when I ‘met’ Heather, the dynamic Theta Mom. Hers was a critical alliance early in my public blogging debut because of her tenacity, entrepreneurial spirit and creativity. I learned a lot of blog-world ropes from her just by watching her do her Theta Mom thing.

Holy WOW Batman. I now wish I’d joined this amazing blogging world earlier. Now that I’m here, I’m energized, pushed, comforted and joyed to be surrounded by such an endearing, supportive, inquisitive, empowering group.

Musings de Mommy May 2010? I still muse about motherhood. But I’ve expanded my repertoire and allow many muses to guide and inspire…my life, my meanderings, my questions, my challenges and simple victories. I’d love to ‘meet’ you…please come visit!”

Be sure to show some love on the blog and follow her on Twitter!

New to TMC? Join us! We LOVE new members!

{ 30 Comments }
05.27.10

I Met Him in a Hoboken Bar

I want to preface this post by saying thank you. Thank you to those of you who left such amazing comments on my recent personal post. This was a big risk for me but your overwhelming response and support made me realize it was a chance worth taking. Having said that, I’m sharing another part of me. Another risk? Maybe. But I’m willing to take that chance again…

St. Patrick’s Day weekend.

1999.

I was seeing a guy who was considerably older than me. At the time I was 23 and he was 40. He was very attractive, seasoned, intriguing and I liked it. Dating him was exciting and in some ways mysterious, especially for a young woman my age. One of my girlfriends was visiting me from college that weekend so I was going to meet up with this guy and some of his friends in Hoboken, NJ {which is a great town located right over the river from NYC}.

About an hour before we were supposed to leave my phone rang. It was the very attractive, seasoned 40 year-old…

He told me he was really sorry but he wouldn’t be able to get together that night. One of his buddies got some last minute tickets to go see the Knicks play at Madison Square Garden. And he decided to go.

Yes, I was totally getting ditched for a Knicks game.

“But maybe we could possibly meet for drinks in the city afterwards?” Ummmm, thanks but no thanks.

After I hung up I must admit I was upset and disappointed, considering I was really starting to like this guy. It changed my whole mood and I almost didn’t even want to go out at all that night. But after a pep-talk and a few phone calls to rally some more troops, my girlfriend convinced me to have fun and make a night out of it in Hoboken without him.

So there I was in the middle of this bar – rockin’ some tall black boots, a black mini-skirt and a green St. Patrick’s Day hat. I was doing my thing on the dance floor when all of a sudden I saw him. No, not the 40 year-old but someone I instantly connected with.

He was magnetic.

I know what you’re thinking – how could you possibly “connect” with someone in the middle of a smoke-filled bar with music blasting and wall-to-wall people everywhere? Honestly, to this very day it’s hard for me to put into words.

When our eyes met it’s like the music faded, the smoke cleared and he was the only one I saw in that bar just like slow motion right out of a movie scene. This is the kind of stuff you only read about and it was happening to me. As cliche as this sounds, it really was love at first sight.

But there was no way in hell I was going up to him so I did the only thing I knew a girl could do. I continued to do my thing on the dance floor hoping and waiting for him to come over and talk to me. So after about ten minutes of these flirty looks going back and forth, Mr. McDreamy pulled some courage together and finally approached me. He stood in the middle of the dance floor and grabbed my hand, looked me straight in the eyes, leaned over and asked “What’s your name?”

What’s Your Name? – The line that would ultimately lead him to the altar, a home and two beautiful children.

What’s Your Name? – Three words that would begin a romance and a magical journey of a life we would build together.

What’s Your Name? – The phrase that has since changed my life. His life. Our lives.

What’s Your Name? – The question I answered and the rest really? Is history.

Yes, I met my husband in a bar and I thank my lucky stars that the Knicks played some basketball that night. Because of a mere NBA game, my journey ended with one man and truly began with another.

And it all started with three words in a Hoboken bar.

{ 116 Comments }
05.25.10

This is Me: A Personal Post

I’m beginning to think that after last week it can only go up from here. It started with my epic parent fail and the drama of being THAT mom. I was just trying to keep it real as any Theta Mom would but when I blogged about the truth of performing reviews and giveaways, I sensed that I was in some serious need for some positive vibes on the blog.

I was thinking about a previous post about what makes bloggers REALLY follow a blog. What I found interesting is that the bloggers who commented actually admitted to following a blog because the person behind the blog is someone they could actually picture themselves being friends with in real life; a blogger who they connect with which may even override amazing content alone.

I was inspired by this discussion so I’ve decided to publish a post just. about. me. Something I rarely do but hoping you take this as an opportunity to get to know me a little better all in an effort to establish a further connection with you – the BEST readers on the planet.

So here we go ladies, in no particular order:

I am dreamer and a realist depending on the situation.

I love to write.

I am an over-analyzer especially if I can’t make an immediate decision.

I adore make-up and my must haves are some foundation, black mascara and a slammin’ good lipstick.

I am petrified of bees.

I love vanilla ice-cream.

I have one (in particular) wonderfully written children’s manuscript just waiting to be published. I am still holding out for that big break and I won’t stop until I am officially a published children’s book author.

I grew up at The Jersey Shore but my Jersey Shore is nothing like that portrayed on MTV.

The ocean is one of my favorite “places” in the world.

I met my husband in a bar. (I think that deserves its own post so, to be continued…)

I attended graduate school in NYC, an unforgettable experience and impressionable time in my life.

I have two beautiful children.

I love to dance.

I took a pottery class and used to belong to a book club before I had kids. I was an avid reader and now? I read blogs…

I used to work out like a fanatic and now I am just trying to lose some of this “baby” weight. The operative word here is *trying*

My home used to be spotless…and then I had kids.

I never knew how much the Earth would shift when I became a mother.

I am currently a WAHM making this all work, every day.

I know who I am.

I know what I stand for.

I know what I want out of life.

I have high expectations and I am inspired by driven people.

I don’t tolerate negativity.

I admire women at the forefront of chasing after a dream.

I continue to dream big dreams and I encourage my children to dream big dreams…

I am strong-willed and full of conviction.

I am passionate, determined and hard working. I have an amazing work ethic and I have my parents to thank for that.

I had an unbelievable childhood – we didn’t have much money, but I was loved more than you could ever imagine. I am trying to replicate my childhood experience with my own children – and I’ll consider myself lucky if I can be even half of a parent that my own parents were to me.

I am learning from my mistakes and becoming a better mother in the process.

This blog has taught me more about myself and the sisterhood of motherhood.

This blog has become a platform to share my ideas and aspirations that I never even knew existed. I never knew how much I would love this blog and the ability to share my voice…

I am a Theta Mom – and I couldn’t be happier that you are here with me.

{ 136 Comments }
05.23.10

LeapFrog Digital Camera Review and Giveaway

***This contest is now closed. Congratulations Cindy! An email has been sent.***

Sakar is an electronics manufacturer that has been in business for over 30 years. They offer everything in electronics from kids to adult products. This company has showrooms and distribution centers worldwide and is a leader in technology trends since they are the #1 supplier to mass retailers. Sakar is clearly at the forefront of offering great products to consumers at affordable prices. Sakar contacted me to the review LeapFrog’s Digital Camera. As a Theta Mom who fully endorses LeapFrog products and having a four-year old son who fell in love with the Leapster2 {you can read that review here} I knew the Click n’ Create LeapFrog Digital Camera would be a great fit!

The LeapFrog Digital Camera comes with interactive software created by award-winning developers. It’s a 2.1 megapixel camera with a 1.5” preview screen that takes up to 100 photos with Built-In Memory. It also has a Built-In Flash and is specially designed for the hands of children. Once uploaded, kids can edit their photos like a real professional by adding text and using drawing tools! You can easily print and share these photos, too but what’s more is that there are interactive games included right in the software. This encourages children to create stories and use memory books to feature their photos. The camera is designed for children ages 4-8 and is certainly one of my son’s new favorite things.

LeapFrog does an amazing job of providing fun, educational toys that truly integrate learning. When my son plays on a LeapFrog product, he is learning while having fun and the digital camera is no exception. Although my son loves clicking the camera to take his “perfect” photos, he really enjoys being a master of editing them and playing around with the features. The games are an added bonus and like the Leapster2, the camera is another handheld device that certainly keeps his attention. In fact, iParentingMediaAwards gave the LeapFrog Digital Camera an award for its outstanding capabilities which you can check out here.

You can purchase The LeapFrog Digital Camera for $49.99 here or you can enter to win because Sakar is giving one lucky Theta Mom reader the chance to win a Leafrog Digital Camera!

How to Enter The LeapFrog Digital Camera Giveaway:

****Required Entry: Follow my blog publicly and tell me you are. ****

**Extra Entries: (You must leave a separate entry for each extra entry to count and extra entries won’t count unless the required entry is done)


1. Follow Theta Mom on Twitter here and leave me your twitter name. (1 entry)

2. Become a “Like” of Theta Mom on Facebook here and leave me your FB name. (1 entry)

3. Subscribe to Theta Mom via email. You must activate the subscription for this entry to count. (2 entries)

4. Subscribe to Theta Mom any other way. (1 entry)

5. Grab one of my cute buttons and add it to your website. (2 entries per button)

6. Click to vote for me at Top Mommy Blogs. Just click the banner on the right side bar and tell me you clicked. (1 entry per click-can click up to 3x)

7. Join my BlogFrog Community here and leave me your BlogFrog profile name. (1 entry)

8. Tweet this giveaway! Just copy/paste the following: LeapFrog Giveaway! Enter to win a #LeapFrog Digital Camera #giveaway @ThetaMom http://bit.ly/ajsBMK Please RT (1 entry per daily tweet)

9. Post about this giveaway on your blog and link back to me. Leave me your link to show the post. (2 entries)

10. Add Theta Mom to your blogroll. (2 entries)

Giveaway Rules:

This giveaway is open to US residents only. It begins on May 23, 2010 and will end on June 3, 2010 at 8 pm. One winner with a valid entry will be selected at random using random.org. The winner will be announced and must respond with a current email address within 48 hours to claim. Otherwise, another eligible entry will be chosen. Enter as many extra entries as you would like Theta Moms and good luck!

I was provided a LeapFrog Digital Camera from Sakar, Inc. I was not compensated for this review. These are my own honest opinions and my son’s experience with the product.

{ 581 Comments }
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