That's right, I Am On Team Awesome Mom Now!

I admit it, I have a wild child toddler. He is constantly trying to climb up the furniture, or push toys that he can climb on over to the counters to reach even higher, or worse climb on. He loves to push EVERY button he encounters (including mine), play in the cat's water, and is obsessed with putting things in the cat's litter box. Sometimes he tries to throw toys at the cat, or yell at me when I yell at him, and sometimes even tries to pinch me. For the longest time I tried the constant No's! and hand swats, and put him in his room for time outs. I was a tyrant of a mother and I hated it.  Well, not any more! I have finally realized that most of this is normal, and the only way I will survive parenting is to relax and have patience. I have turned to a new style of parenting and it is working great.  I choose my battles, rationally discuss why he should not do something, and for all the rest, I accept the things I cannot change, and change the shit I can.

I am here to tell you, having a toddler like mine is not easy. I say like mine, because I have a few girlfriends with toddlers the same age as Ollie, both boy and girl who are vastly different.  Well, there is this one girl who tries to one up Ollie all of the time in the wild child category, and there is another girl who is not so wild, but she is too smart for her mom's own good, and is giving her a whole different kind of hell. Then there are three boys who are SO different, that I am amazed they are only weeks apart. For each of us, our battles are different, but I don't care who you are, if you have a toddler you have battles.  So, I thought I would share how I have stopped saying NO! four-zillion times a day!

The Little Green Pouch…#AWESOMENESS (Review & #Giveaway!)

AHHHH. MY. GOOOOOODNESS!! I am about to gush all over a product today that may be called "little," but I am here to tell you it is a BIG parenting game-changer! My friends, I present to you, The Little Green Pouch!

I was sick over the weekend. Aka. The cat was away, so the mice went NUTS!

I am a fever away from dying.  Ok, so maybe I am exaggerating a little bit.

But. Only. A. Little. Bit.

Socially Unacceptable Sunday-The Best of the Best This Past Week.

For your viewing pleasure, here are my favorite Social Media Moments from around the web this past week.

My Favorite Tweets…

Yours too?

Well that's good to know… Women still wear stockings?

Yeah!  What he said!

Damn! Why didn't I think of that?!

10 Badass Things I Am Thankful For

Tis the season to be thankful, so I thought I would share a few of the things I am thankful for. Since my son, husband, family, pets, health, their health, the roof over our heads, the food in our bellies, and the fresh clean air we breathe are a given that I am so very thankful for, I am not going to bore you with a list of them, rather I am going to share with you things I am thankful for that make life extra especially badass. Here are my, Top 10 Badass Things I Am Thankful For.

And you thought your days in seedy toilets were over...

Potty Training--The Double Edged sword…

So your kid wants to pee in the toilet.  What could be more awesome than moving away from diapers and into big kid status!  I mean, this milestone is so exciting there is a dance made up for it-- The Pee-Pee dance. A kid in a TV commercial even got a parade for using the potty, and every parent related.  I admit it, I cannot freaking wait until the day my kid rips his diaper off and craps in the toilet. Hell yeah I will do a dance!

So, what's the double edge sword you ask?  Please view exhibit A:

A toddler did that.
(Photo Credit: Scene from the movie Trainspotting)

OK, so maybe a toddler didn't do that, but it's possible. How? Because the minute potty training begins, you may very well have to visit every toilet you pass. Yes, even, The Worst Toilet in Scotland… And unless you are prepared, things could get very messy. Allow me to explain.

Sunday Book Review -- Family Wakes Us Up- A Mindful Journey to Becoming a Parent

Today's book review is a first of its kind, it's about a book that is not yet published.  Whaaaaaa?  You say?  Yes, I am reviewing an unpublished book for a couple of very good reasons.

1. The story is positively beautiful
2. Will be a game-changer for expectant dads… moms too!

Laugh Out Loud Thanksgiving Humor #HILARIOUS!

With the wonderful annual displays of family dysfunction and heated football rivalries exactly one week away, I think it is time to go ahead and start busting out the jokes! 

Picture Perfect Thanksgiving Dishes, With a Twist! (Recipes Included!)

When it comes to Turkey I am a traditional girl, I love my turkey brined overnight then roasted all day, however, when it comes to sides, I like the traditional dishes too… but with a twist! Think horseradish and double cheddar mashed potatoes, or cranberries with orange-zest and jalapeños…

 I thought I would share some of my favorite recipes I have come across this year, and a couple of faves from years past… (to get the recipe for any of the following dishes click the Dish's title link and a new window will open up!)

Without further ado… Picture Perfect Traditional Thanksgiving Dishes, With a Twist! 

10 Mistakes Rookie Moms Make

As a mom with a near two-year-old toddler man-child, I think it is safe to say that my rookie 'new' mom season is coming to a close.  Now, I am well aware that in a way I will always be a rookie with my first born, since every day, stage and milestone is new for both of us, however, I feel it is my duty to share the top 10 mistakes I, and fellow rookie moms, made during our first year in the mama NBA. 

Without further ado… 10 Mistakes Rookie Moms Make

Creating Family Friendly Holiday Traditions.

I love family. I love the Holidays. I love traditions. And more than anything, I love all three of them celebrated together. Yes. I may have a hugely dysfunctional family at times, and even want to rip my sister and brother's heads off by the end of a long Thanksgiving together, but never in the world would I want to trade that for anything. I love my family dysfunction. It makes us, US! I also love the fact that now that I have my own little family, we can create our own traditions, in addition to the ones we already have with our extended families.

Even though my son will be celebrating his second round of holidays this year, FTD and I have not yet set any traditions in motion.  Mostly because last year the man-child was too young to take part in most of the holiday traditions. This year, all of that will change! He is a big (almost 2-year-old!) boy, and will love taking part in all of the fun traditions during the Holidays. Most of all, I want to create holiday traditions that we set in stone now, so that my child(ren) will look forward to them each year, no matter how old they get. Like my favorite tradition with my mother is when every year on Christmas eve, since I can remember, my mom bakes a huge batch of sugar cookies that my siblings and I decorate for Santa, and now with our own children as well.  I look forward to this tradition more than any of the others.  I want to create something that wonderful for my own family.  I am just not sure what.  In fact, I want to create something for every holiday!

November is National Caregiver Month! Who do you want to thank? #ThanksProject

This is a sponsored post from One2OneNetwork. All opinions are my own.


Today, I am partnering with the AARP and the Ad Council to promote the #ThanksProject, and to tell stories about the amazing caregivers in my life, the care that I have given, and to share my thanks for all of the (42 million+) caregivers in the world. <Chills> What an honor!!! 

When I was recently asked if I had any experience with caregiving, either giving or receiving care, I thought sure, I am thirty-five years old, I have many many experiences with both, and now that I am a mother, I am a full-time caregiver for my son. Then, the more I thought about my experiences with either giving or receiving care, the more I realized that caregiving, in one form or another, has always been a huge part of my life. Allow me to indulge you…

The story begins the second I was born. Picture it: Miami, 1978, a warm day in May... 

Just kidding. 

Or not.