2010 August | Theta Mom®

08.20.10

Featured TMC Blogger: Kludgy Mom

TMC welcomes Gigi, author of the blog Kludgy Mom. I met Gigi from this very community and I have seen her blog go through many fantastic transformations over the last few months. She moved to WordPress, updated her blog design and even changed her domain name! In doing so, she is now in a really great space and ready to share it with you! I also love her definition of a “Kludgy Mom.” Gigi is such a supportive blogger and has been an avid Theta Mom reader since the launch of TMC.

Meet Gigi and this is how she describes her blog in her own words:

“I used to work in high tech marketing. There’s a term in tech called kludge – which is an inelegant solution to a problem – basically, a patched-together fix. When I started blogging, “kludge” kept popping into my head: it applies to parenting, too! A *kludgy mom* (clue-gee mom) is a mom who uses clumsy or inelegant, yet effective, solutions to household and parenting problems. A kludgy mom practices the art of embracing a life lived haphazardly. A kludgy mom doesn’t follow a project plan. A kludgy mom makes things up as she goes along. A kludgy mom is not perfect, nor elegant, and often screws up. But somehow, it all works. I’m a kludgy mom. Maybe you are too.

I’m also a recovering lawyer, fumbling foodie, SAHM and displaced Californian now mired in the suburbs of Austin, TX. I have two kids, Boy Wonder, age 7, and Little CEO, age 5. My stories are heavy on the snark with a little bit of sap thrown in for good measure. I’m not afraid to talk about the elephant in the room. I try to make my blog a place where people can feel like they’re having cocktails with a good friend. No judgments, but no holds barred. I hope you’ll come and join me!”

Be sure to check out the blog and follow her on Twitter!

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

*Instead of leaving a comment here, please show some love directly on the blog of the Featured TMC Blogger. Have a fabulous weekend ladies!!!

{ Comments Closed }

08.18.10

More Rocks in My Jellies

When I first began my blog I wrote a post about some of the fears I experienced once I became a mother. I made this revelation as I gave birth; the things I used to worry about growing up as a child myself could never pale in comparison to those I would feel as a mother.

I wrote that post almost exactly one year ago (to the date) and now that my children are a year older I notice my fears or worries continue to change. Yes, I still fear that my kids may choke on a hotdog or that they could potentially drown in a pool. I fear that they will feel unbearable pain if they fall and hurt themselves and the list goes on…

But as the new school year quickly draws near, I now have a new set of Theta Mom worries that are beginning to show their face.

My son has a severe nut allergy and I worry about how it will go at pre-school as he sits at the “allergy” table. Last year, he sat with one other child and it seemed to be fine (as he did not feel isolated or alone) but will this year go just as well? Will he have another successful year and will he mesh well with his new teacher?

My daughter on the other hand will be turning two and this will be her very first experience out of the home. She will be attending a toddler program two mornings a week and I do worry about this very first experience for her. Will she cry? Will she not care? Will she do well and work well with the teachers and the other kids?

As much as these worries and fears sometimes encompass my entire being, I try to settle in and focus on what I can do as a mother to ensure my kids feel good about these “new” experiences. It’s sort of like entering the unknown for all of us and these are the times no matter how you slice it can be a little scary.

As a little girl I used to worry about rocks getting stuck in my jelly shoes. At that time, that was my biggest concern in life…

Once again, somehow rocks in my jellies just don’t quite make the list anymore.

Do you worry about the new school year approaching? How do you settle your own fears and how does this translate to your kids?

{ 73 Comments }

08.17.10

Storkie Express Review and Giveaway

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

Storkie Express has been in business for twenty years and this company is dedicated to fulfilling all of your printing needs. The Storkie team is truly committed to providing customer satisfaction through quality production and outstanding service while maintaining affordable prices. They also pride themselves on creating an easy to navigate website to easily place orders as they make this process seamless from start to finish. I reviewed 20 custom birthday invitations (which I cannot display here since it contains my personal information). However, take a look at some of the gorgeous designs offered by Storkie Express:

What impressed me most about this company was the complete customer service and how easy it was to place my order. I was able to customize my invitation (including font style, size and specific wording) directly on the invitation. I was also able to easily upload my own photos and revise the card flawlessly to my own personal style. The processing portion of my order was just a few clicks away and my cards arrived to my home very quickly! I was also fully satisfied with the fantastic quality of the printing and the images of my chosen photographs on the cards. Overall, it was a great experience to work with Storkie and I would highly recommend them for any of your printing needs!

You can shop the array of beautiful Birth Announcements, Baby Shower Invitations, Birthday Invitations and it’s not too early to think about Christmas Cards either! There are so many adorable designs to choose from! You can also find Storkie on Facebook and follow on Twitter!

The Giveaway:

Storkie Express is offering one lucky Theta Mom reader a $50 gift certificate to shop at Storkie and what’s even better is I made this so easy for you to enter! Simply leave a comment telling me how you would spend the $50 by visiting Storkie and be sure to follow my blog publicly and tell me you are.

Want an extra entry? Copy and tweet the following as often as you like: Leave a comment @ThetaMom to win $50 to shop @Storkie #giveaway http://bit.ly/atIsz3 Please RT

*This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only and will end on August 26th. One winner will be selected at random using random.org and will be contacted via email. I was provided 20 custom ordered Birthday Invitations from Storkie Express. I was not compensated for this review. These are my own, honest opinions about the product which are reflective of my experience.

{ 73 Comments }

08.15.10

Life BC and Some Much Needed QT

This past weekend I was reminded of life BC (before children). My hubs and I went away on a mini-vacay without the kids. And yes, this precious time spent alone without the kids was nothing short of pure bliss. In fact, BC and this past weekend looked something like this:

Going out without the need to plan for the entire evening because it was just us
We did whatever we wanted whenever we wanted
No worries about the kids because this wasn’t about the kids, it was about us
Having an awesome conversation uninterrupted
Laughing and smiling and connecting like we did BC
Sleeping in past 6 am
Spending quality time together, alone

During our escape I posed for a moment with this man,

And spent some quality time with my man

My advice to anyone on how to maintain a successful marriage? Get some time alone away from the kids.

It’s a great reminder of why you created that beautiful family in the first place.

{ 67 Comments }

08.11.10

Meet Rocket

This is Rocket, my son’s absolute favorite thing in the entire world since my mom bought it for him a few years ago. Ever since he saw the show he had to have a “Little Einstein” rocket of his own. Once it landed in his hands life has never been the same.

My son recently spent the night at my parents’ house. We packed the car and returned home and as we were getting ready for bed I had that epic parent fail feeling – this was going to be of nuclear meltdown proportion on so many levels because we forgot Rocket at my parents’ house and they live over an hour away.

I didn’t know how I was going to break the news to my son. What was I going to say? How would he take it? I braced myself for buckets of tears, tons of whining and just lots of sheer sadness…

We reached his bedroom and I pulled the covers back as he began to climb into bed. His eyes soon wandered around his room looking aimlessly for his beloved Rocket.

I took a breath.

I took another breath.

Before I could even begin to soothe him with some mothering words in a gentle voice he said quite calmly, “Mommy. You know what? We forgot Rocket at Grammie’s house.”

I took yet another deep breath. “I know sweetheart, and I know you must feel sad right now, but…”

He interrupted me. “It’s ok Mommy. I don’t need him tonight anyway.”

I stood there motionless.

“I’m turning five soon you know. I am a big boy like Daddy says.” And with that he kissed my cheek, pulled the covers over his body and said goodnight.

And that was it, like he never even needed Rocket.

I was stunned and selfishly (I know this may sound crazy) somewhat disappointed. I was waiting to be THAT mom to give him the hugs he needed and to make him feel all better. I was prepared to ease his pain and calm him down. I anticipated a real heartfelt conversation as I wiped the tears away but instead, I left his room thinking that his toddler days will soon be over – and I have no idea where the hell the last five years went.

You could say I was the one with the nuclear meltdown that night.

Because I miss Rocket.

{ 86 Comments }