When I first started blogging I never knew how much pure joy I would receive from it. I also never realized how addictive it would be on so many levels. When I began to receive a few comments on my initial posts it was exciting to realize that someone actually read my blog and took the time to respond. As bloggers, we love comments because it’s validation that what we write has some kind of impact on others.

Needless to say I never imagined that blogging would be so time consuming and yet in the same breath, so rewarding. Through your own writing I feel as though I have “met” many of you. I have learned about your families, your children, your lives, as well as your hopes, dreams and aspirations because I read about it on your blogs. I know about your failures and fears because you share this as well. And when all is said and done this is the true essence of blogging, connecting with the very community that reads your blog.

Having said that, in the last few months my blog has grown immensely. I initially started out with a handful of readers and watched this blog grow more than I would have ever expected in such a short time. And for awhile, I was able to keep up with it all. I did a pretty damn good job visiting all of the blogs that paid a visit to mine, responded to a ton of comments daily, emailed bloggers, chatted at length on Facebook as well as on Twitter. But I have to be honest keeping up this pace amidst such blog growth has since become a challenge.

My bottom line is that my family comes first. My career (the one that puts food on the table) comes second. Without my job, I would not be able to stay at home with my kids. These two things will always come before this blog. I do most of my blogging in the early morning and in the evening when the kids are asleep. However, I found myself getting up earlier and earlier and staying up later and later and even began commenting on blogs during the day when my baby girl was napping just to “keep up.” Quite frankly, this began to stress me out.

I can’t worry anymore if I am unable to return a comment because the one thing I have learned throughout this blogging experience is that followers may come and go, but real readership – those who adore your blog and are at the core of your blog that return time and time again are not commenting on your blog just to seek a comment in return. They are connecting to your writing and they will continue to return time and time again because they love your blog. Period.

For a moment, think of a popular blogger who has a huge following. Do these bloggers return every single comment on every single post? No. Do they connect and support their readership and continue the dialogue in other ways? Absolutely, which is why these blogs continue to thrive. I’ve written about how the power of social media helps to truly establish these connections and I firmly believe in this approach.

So with the time I do carve out for blogging, I will continue to support my readership, but it may not necessarily always be a blog visit and I have learned to let this go. Support may be shown in various ways such as through a follow, blog subscription, the retweet of a tweet on Twitter, a Stumble of a post on Stumble Upon, communication through an email exchange or a chat on Facebook. I will continue to support and connect with my readers through these mediums and continue to use social media because the bottom line is I can’t do it all.

Which brings me to my final point about the recent launch of TMC. I am so proud to have created a platform to bring such a fantastic group of women together. Bloggers who are just starting out now have another place to call home and veteran bloggers just added another resource to their repertoire and it’s all about networking.

I have been asked, “How do you have the time to do this and how do you manage to do it all?” My answer is simple: TMC runs itself. This community is a space for bloggers. You are the ones visiting this space to get yourself out there to network. Think of it like this: I provided you the fabulous house to party in and filled it with amazing décor, cocktails, music, food, and peeps, but now it’s up to YOU whether or not you mingle, network and have fun. TMC has it all there and the more active you are in this community, the more you will get out of it. So aside from the initial set-up and commitment to feature fabulous TMC bloggers weekly, TMC basically runs on its own.

So if you ever find yourself seeking the balance of your own blogging mojo, here is my advice for what it’s worth: At any point you feel stressed out about any aspect of blogging, whether it’s the writing, commenting, promoting or networking, take a step back and reflect on your experience and make some changes that fit you and your life. If I continued at the speed I was traveling recently, I would have easily landed in bloggy burnout. I’ve come to terms with the whole comment thing and I’m ok with it. This experience has shown me that I am human, that there are only so many hours in the day and that I do actually live a life outside of this blog. I had to find a balance that worked for me and luckily, I did.

And in the end, those who really read and visit me will still love Theta Mom and continue to support me – whether I am able to comment on a post or not.

And I’m ok with that.

The Vintage Pearl began in 2007 starting out as a small business. However, when you discover and wear a piece of jewelry from The Vintage Pearl, you will immediately understand why this business has grown immensely over the last three years. The Vintage Pearl only uses the finest materials to complete their designs. Every piece is made entirely from sterling silver. You will find this throughout the chains, rings, and other designs offered unless it is noted in the description of the piece on the website. I reviewed the Square Names on a Chain:

I was immediately in love with the way in which this design captures my children’s names with a delicate pearl hanging in the middle. The two sterling silver squares are tightly secured and dangle from a beautiful 18 inch sterling silver ball chain that fits perfectly around my neck. It’s the kind of jewelry that is special, one that I will cherish forever. It’s also the kind of jewelry that becomes a keepsake because it is personalized. Especially as a Theta Mom, I love wearing this necklace. Pleae note, I would share a photo of my actual necklace but I do not publicly share the names of my children, so I am using the photo taken directly from The Vintage Pearl site. You can find out all the details for the square names on a chain here.

Be sure to check out their full website, as they offer everything from keepsakes to gorgeous bracelets. You can also follow The Vintage Pearl on the blog and follow on Twitter.

You can purchase the Square Names on a Chain (2 squares) for $45 here  or you can enter to win because The Vintage Pearl is giving one lucky Theta Mom reader to chance to shop with a $50 gift certificate! How awesome is that?

How to Enter The Vintage Pearl 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 Fan 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. Tweet this giveaway! Just copy/paste the following:
Great #giveaway for jewelry @TheVintagePearl Enter to win a $50 gift certificate to The Vintage Pearl @ThetaMom  http://is.gd/9YcL7 Please RT  (1 entry per daily tweet)

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

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

Giveaway Rules:

This giveaway is open to US residents only. It begins on March 8, 2010 and will end on March 21, 2010 at 9 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 ‘Square Names on a Chain’ necklace with two squares from The Vintage Pearl. I was not compensated for this review. These are my own honest opinions and experience with the product.

While driving in the car with my four year-old son the other day I had an eye-opening conversation. Out of nowhere he said to me, “Mommy, I miss Nana. Why did she have to go to heaven? When will I see her again?”

It wasn’t until I realized that we were passing the cemetery on the way to school as he was pointing out the window and remembering. He recollected everything about the day we buried her like it was yesterday and he was only three at the time. He remembered the music at the church, the tears at the service and the flowers throughout the burial. I was so taken back at his ability to articulate so many details from that day.

We briefly talked about Nana and heaven, and since he had so many clear memories of this I decided to ask him about some other moments we have shared as a family, more of happier times by trying to make the conversation a bit lighter (especially right before dropping him off at school). I said to him, “Remember before the weather got cooler, Daddy and I took you to the zoo and you got to see all the animals?”

“No.”

“You don’t remember walking through the gates to see the pigs, alligators and even a snake?”

“No. When did we go there?”

I couldn’t believe it. I continued, “You seriously don’t remember our trip to the zoo? It wasn’t even that long ago!”

“No, I don’t.”

“Well then, what do you remember?”

“I remember that you yelled at me last night because I didn’t eat my dinner.”

The car slowly came to a halt and my heart sank. My son, the child who remembers every vivid detail of my Nana’s passing – the same child who has not one memory of the happy trip to the zoo, DOES indeed remember the tone of my voice that evening and that I was angry with him.

Parent FAIL.

Obviously, this is not what I want my child to remember. I have no control on what my son does and does not remember. However, I am choosing to forget the moment in which I yelled at him the night before while losing my patience; for snapping, barking, and bickering over a silly plate of uneaten food.

Is this what I want my child to reflect on as he thinks of his own childhood? The moments that I have been a mother low on patience with a voice that sometimes reflects resentment, stress and sheer tiredness?

No, which is why I am grateful I do get another chance to make this right. I am given a new day to try harder, learn from my mistakes and ultimately, become a better mother in the process.

Because my son certainly deserves it and so do I, even in the midst of a pile of ketchup and uneaten chicken fingers.

It is with great honor that I officially welcome you to Theta Mom Community, a space that encourages social networking and fosters the support of bloggers through a community all its own. TMC, the cornerstone that brings bloggers together and reinforces the idea that successful blogging is based on a solid foundation of a supportive network.

TMC would not be possible without your support. I can’t thank each of you enough for welcoming me into your life these last eight months. I look forward to continuing the journey with you because it has only just begun.

*Enter Theta Mom Community on the navigation bar or just click here.

Milkdot is lead by founder and creative director, Janet Cho who is also a mother of one. As a parent with an extensive background in design, Janet was on a quest to create safe, functional and reusable products that mirror a clean and modern design. Moreover, she wanted to ensure that she was producing a product that would provide parents the assurance that what they were purchasing was absolutely safe.

Taken directly from the Milkdot website Janet explains, “Like many parents, I had vaguely heard of PVC but never really knew what it was. Disturbingly, PVC (polyvinyl chloride) also known as the “poison plastic” is still used in many products. And in lunch bags, specifically, it can be found in the lining (which can have direct contact with food) and it is often used as a coating on polyester or nylon fabrics for durability. PVC is extremely harmful to our health and the environment, releasing poisonous chemicals linked to cancer and birth defects. Every Milkdot product goes through complete testing for lead and is lead-safe, PVC-free and BPA-free.” I have to say as a Theta Mom, this gives me the peace of mind that when I use a Milkdot product, I know it is one of the safest on the market. I reviewed the Stoh Lunch Tote in pink:

It is such a modern and stylish lunch bag that is also fully functional. There are so many times I am in need of a lunch tote with some kind of lining inside to keep juice, milk and other drinks and food cold. This tote is perfect for me when I take the kids out for a full day or even if it’s just for a few hours. All necessary food and drinks are kept cool and organized in mesh pockets inside the tote and extra snacks fit perfectly in the little compartment at the back of the bag. I think my favorite design element of this tote is the magnetic closure at the top which keeps the handles together. The Stoh Tote by Milkdot is so chic and would also be perfect for a new mom that needs to keep formula cool, a busy working mom that wants fashion and functionality when carrying a lunch to work, or the busy stay-at-home mom that packs this tote for a day with the kids. The tote also comes in blue and would be perfect for children as well. You can get the full details of this tote here.

You can become a fan of Milkdot on Facebook here and follow Milkdot on Twitter here. You can purchase the Milkdot Stoh Lunch tote for $25 here or you can enter to win because Milkdot is giving one lucky Theta Mom reader a Stoh Tote!

How to Enter The Milkdot 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 Fan 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. Tweet this giveaway! Just copy/paste the following: Great #giveaway for any busy mom! Enter to win a Stoh Tote from Milkdot @ThetaMom http://bit.ly/c8QRZd Please RT (1 entry per daily tweet)

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

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

Giveaway Rules:

This giveaway is open to US residents only. It begins on February 28, 2010 and will end on March 11, 2010 at 9 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 stoh lunch tote in pink from Milkdot. I was not compensated for this review. These are my own honest opinions and experience with the product.

Ok, so I have some news.

I’ve had this idea in my head for awhile and I’m finally going to put it into motion. I’ve been hard at work planning, organizing and pulling this project together which I will officially kick off here at Theta Mom next week.

And I can’t wait for you to be a part of it.

Many of you know I made the move to WordPress a few months ago. I consider myself an intelligent woman but when it comes to web design and code, I am for a lack of better words, pretty lame. There were a few ideas I had for my blog in reference to this soon-to-be-project-launch, but I was having a hard time navigating through the world of WordPress and making it a reality. That’s when I reached out to Lauren from Restored316 Designs, the incredible designer who performed my WP migration. Without hesitation, this amazing talent took the time to show me the many things I needed to do in order to successfully make this thing come to life.

Saying that I would highly recommend Lauren is an understatement. She is one of the most talented, creative, supportive and professional designers I know. If you are even thinking about a WordPress migration or a custom design, you need to go check out her full website. She even has the most fantastic pre-made templates. I can’t thank Lauren enough for the assistance and endless support she’s provided me since I made the move. I would be lost without her guidance and she’s certainly earned my respect and deserves this recognition right now. Be sure to follow her on Twitter and tell her I sent you. Honestly, I can’t thank her enough…

The other designer I would like to highlight is Lindsey from Sour Apple Studio. Lindsey is the brilliant mind behind the original Theta Mom blog design when I was on the Blogger platform. She is also the one responsible for creating my amazing header and coordinating buttons that have become synonymous with the Theta Mom name. She performs full web design as well and just added WordPress to her resume. She is simply another amazing talent that I am so proud to say that I work with. With this latest project of mine, I think I drove her pretty crazy but after a bunch of proofs she helped me to reach my vision. So if you are looking for another fabulous designer, be sure to check her out!

Having said that, I am still in the midst of ironing out a few more details before my big idea “goes live” next week. I hope you are ready to kick off this launch with me as I am both excited and looking forward to your support! For newbie and veteran bloggers alike, there will be a little something for everyone.

It’s all about community and I’m so glad you are a part of it because I can’t wait to share this idea with you! Are you as excited as I am?

I want to make this clear that this was NOT a sponsored post. I was not compensated in any way from Restored 316 Designs or Sour Apple Studio. I just adore these two designers and wanted to share my honest opinions and experience because they both deserve to be recognized. They are both extremely talented women who always make me look good.

Time Out for Theta Mom Thursday is back and I am hosting this party once a month! For those of you visiting for the first time, the goal is to grab one hour of time within one month to do whatever you want…without the kids. It’s such an amazing proposition, I know! On the last Thursday of each month, post how you spent your time out (add my button from the right side bar or link to me) and be sure to stop here to link up and meet other Theta Moms to see how they spent their time out!

This month was busier than ever, especially with Valentine’s Day and my birthday. So my hubs asked me where I wanted to go for a night out to celebrate. You may think that I wanted to go to some romantic little spot with a bottle of wine, but what I had in mind turned out to be even better than that. All I wanted to do was kick back over a few beers with some extra greasy appetizers in a nice bar with my man.

And that’s just what we did. Alone. Uninterrupted every five seconds.

It was wonderful.

We grabbed two stools at the end of the bar and caught some of the Olympics on the big screen. We talked, we laughed, and talked some more. We were there for a few hours and it was such a blast. These are the times I remember spending together before we had kids with not a worry in the world. It was so nice to do nothing but share some smiles and laughter over a few drinks.

It was a perfect time out for this Theta Mom and fabulous way to celebrate my birthday this month!

Now I can’t wait to read your blogs! How did you spend your one hour this month? If you are participating in Theta Mom Thursday, link up and share your time out and be sure to visit some other Theta Moms as well!

I am the Guest Blogger over at Kelly’s blog today – I am dishing a few secrets and talking all things bloggy, so I would love for you to check it out and chat with me over there!

And don’t forget tomorrow is Time Out for Theta Mom Thursday! If you are new to Theta Mom Thursday, be sure to read all of the details here and I would love for you to join us. I’m totally looking forward to seeing what you all have been up to!

***This contest is now closed, thanks to all who entered. Congratulations Kmama! An email has been sent.***

BUILT is a company that produces everything in protective neoprene fabric from bottle and camera accessories to lunch bags and kitchen accessories to laptop sleeves, bags and everything in between! This company believes that form is just as important to function and their slogan, “love your stuff” fits this philosophy perfectly. BUILT products include fun designs and colors to make life more interesting. So whether you are eating, playing or working, a BUILT product will certainly have what you need.

As a blogger, my laptop is a huge part of my life. And as a writer, it’s my salvation. Especially when I travel (even if it’s only to Grandma’s house) I need to know my laptop is protected, safe and secure. I reviewed the 14’-15’ BUILT Cargo Laptop Sleeve in fiery orange. This sleeve has three exterior pockets to store all of my necessary accessories and they don’t scratch my laptop since they are stored in their own compartments. You can get the full details of this product here.

The neoprene fabric is soft and durable. My laptop slides in and out of this sleeve so easily. It has a full zipper running along the top and the three pockets on the front of this design are perfect for my mouse and other accessories. The Laptop Sleeve is available in many colors and sizes. BUILT even offers different sleeves for MAC and PC users, so you can immediately identify with what you need. Be sure to check out their full website for all things BUILT here and Become a Fan of BUILT on Facebook here.

You can purchase the BUILT Cargo Laptop Sleeve for $40.00 here or you can enter to win because BUILT is giving one lucky Theta Mom reader his/her very own Cargo Laptop Sleeve!!!

How to Enter The BUILT 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 Fan 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. Tweet this giveaway! Just copy/paste the following: Great #giveaway for bloggers! Enter to win a Cargo Laptop Sleeve from BUILT @ThetaMom  http://tinyurl.com/ydhnxs3 Please RT (1 entry per daily tweet)

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

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

 Giveaway Rules:

This giveaway is open to US residents only. It begins on February 22, 2010 and will end on March 4, 2010 at 9 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 BUILT Cargo Laptop Sleeve in fiery orange. I was not compensated for this review. These are my own honest opinions and experience with the product.

I packed a diaper bag for my baby girl with some wipes, a bottle, and the usual business for a check-up at the pediatrician’s office for a routine visit. It was supposed to be a routine visit. Little did I know I would soon be handed a script to get x-rays.

STAT.

In somewhat of a panic, I grabbed my daughter and rushed off to see the Radiologist. Entering the doorway with my extra large diaper bag, hat, gloves and the whole bit, I finally reached the counter with the weight of my daughter in my arms. A woman sat behind the counter peering beneath her dark charcoal frames while waiting for me to provide opening remarks. I began, “Hi. I’m here to get x-rays for my daughter.”

In a snarky tone she asked, “Do you have an appointment?”

“No, I just came from the pediatrician’s office and they told me you make room for emergency situations and she is to be seen today.”

While snapping the end of a pen cap and tilting her head to the side she responded with, “We don’t accept walk-ins.”

Getting a bit annoyed I answered, “Ok, well maybe you would like to give them a call since I just came from there and that’s what I was told. My daughter needs to be seen…TODAY.”

Snarky woman pushed her arms away from the desk and rolled her chair backwards over to reach the phone. After a brief chat with the pediatrician’s office, she got up from her chair and collected some papers. Without a word, she grudgingly provided the necessary paperwork for me to fill out. Apparently, my daughter was going to be seen.

Already upset from not knowing what was going on with my daughter’s health, snarky woman’s attitude was the last thing I felt like dealing with. I took the paperwork, my anxious daughter and the 20 pounds of gear I had on and found a seat in the waiting room full of adults.

I quickly realized there weren’t any children’s books lying on the table. The walls were not painted a cheerful blue, red and yellow and there was not a toy to be found in that space. Anywhere. This was going to be a very long afternoon.

After sitting my daughter on my lap as I tried to get situated to begin the paperwork, sheer panic suddenly struck me. Considering this was what I thought to be a quick visit with the pediatrician at an office we knew very well, I was obviously not prepared. My daughter already drank her bottle and I did not have a lunch packed for her. To make things worse, there was not one small toy to be found in my bag.

So without toys in the office or substantial food in my bag, what’s a Theta Mom to do? When Miss Fussypants decided to cry out of boredom and hunger, I would have nothing to give her. And in an office full of adults, this certainly was not a pleasant situation. Luckily, through one more desperate attempt to find something in that bag, I located some Puffs. I broke them out as soon as my daughter became restless. Within moments of cracking open the Puffs, snarky woman stood up from behind the counter, opened the sliding glass window and popped her annoying head out.

“Excuse me…” she said as she glared directly at me. Pointing to a semi-ripped piece of paper hanging outside the glass window she added, “There’s no food or drink permitted.”

I couldn’t believe it. She was serious.

And I was seriously done.

I added, “Well basically, you have two options. You can either listen to my baby girl scream loud and uncontrollably for the next hour and watch me go insane OR we can all have peace and quiet while a few Puffs decorate the carpet. Take your pick.”

She didn’t move for a moment. I don’t think she expected me to react to her snarky behavior. That response immediately kept her quiet as she slowly closed the glass window.

And for the record, I chose the latter.

Indefinitely.

***And I know many of my bloggy friends would want to know the outcome of my daughter upon reading this post. She is doing well. It’s just so amazing to me how others seem to forget what it’s like to have children.