tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13595861Tue, 06 May 2008 15:26:27 +0000http://www.stuntmom.com/StuntMomBlogger237125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13595861.post-8289333906543212330Wed, 23 Apr 2008 10:09:00 +00002008-04-23T06:22:12.278-04:00And I'm feeling so overwhelmed! I managed to talk the kids out of an organized party by instead doing something special on their day. My oldest daughter is taking a friend to a pottery painting place for the afternoon and for some reason I thought this was going to be easier. But instead I realized I didn't talk her out of anything. We still need to make the cake design of her choice, let's not http://www.stuntmom.com/2008/04/birthday-season-at-our-house.htmlStuntMomtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13595861.post-1015228559312595339Wed, 23 Apr 2008 10:00:00 +00002008-04-23T06:08:56.059-04:00Whenever I'm contemplating working vs. staying at home I often seek the Internet. (Yes, I question it often) Here is a great website to offer insight on life as a stay at home mom. It was cancer that made her take a step back and realize her meaning in life. Wendy, the blogging woman wrote an article about taking your kids to work day as a stay at home mom, and won the contest- pretty cool.http://www.stuntmom.com/2008/04/blog-to-inspire.htmlStuntMomtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13595861.post-4305814002195860155Sun, 06 Apr 2008 00:29:00 +00002008-04-05T20:56:31.093-04:00I imagine I've run my readers away by not having a post in weeks, so be it. I'm going to write anyway since I'm finally feeling a reason to write. I've been a single parent for the last week, husband traveling, saving money for the company by spending the weekend in Europe... Not a problem, I can handle it. I used to stay at home full time without help, I know I can handle a few weeks without http://www.stuntmom.com/2008/04/reason-to-blog.htmlStuntMomtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13595861.post-6103616611056730591Thu, 06 Mar 2008 18:01:00 +00002008-03-06T13:09:10.125-05:00We get tons of pre-approved credit notices and refinancing options in our daily mail. This company number provides all of your credit info to the companies that send out the junk mail. Not only is it good to do to ward off identity theft, but we can save a tree at the same time. Call this number 1-888-567-8688 to put a stop to the mailings. They ask for your social security number and birth http://www.stuntmom.com/2008/03/another-junk-mail-opt-out.htmlStuntMomtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13595861.post-8744607330365612050Sat, 16 Feb 2008 21:05:00 +00002008-02-16T18:14:18.664-05:00A friend sent me this article. If you have ever spent an afternoon watching the lunch crowd and seeing the garbage generated one would easily jump on board for the waste free lunches. It's shocking how much garbage one small school creates at lunch with milk cartons, "lunchables", pudding cups, need I continue? It's a challenge since it's so easy to assemble lunches with prepackaged foods, http://www.stuntmom.com/2008/02/saving-earth-one-mom-at-time.htmlStuntMomtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13595861.post-1812842680589290189Sat, 09 Feb 2008 15:43:00 +00002008-02-09T11:46:04.528-05:00My husband got hooked on this food tracking website a few months ago and it started getting on my nerves as of late. Right after eating every meal- at least at home, he spends time on the laptop (yes, our piece of junk Dell Alienware laptop) entering what he ate, and getting a "BLI Index" score. It's been a great thing in our house since the site has been teaching him about what foods are bad, http://www.stuntmom.com/2008/02/we-are-eating-healthy-around-this-house.htmlStuntMomtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13595861.post-7130049588916825112Wed, 06 Feb 2008 13:56:00 +00002008-02-16T18:21:41.889-05:00So it's proven, we are more forgetful now that we have given birth. This article helped me feel better about my lack of memory that is so obviously tarnished. Not that I'm claiming to have ever remembered anyone's phone number or name. http://www.stuntmom.com/2008/02/pregnant-and-forgetful.htmlStuntMomtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13595861.post-8833237018593306630Sun, 27 Jan 2008 02:04:00 +00002008-01-26T21:49:31.272-05:00My husband is out of town for a fun filled three day weekend with the guys, so today, Saturday seemed to be an incredibly long day. He took the minivan with him so I can't legally drive the kids anywhere since the three car seats don't fit in the car. We are stuck in the cabin. It's a day where three o'clock comes around, naps are over and you can't believe it's more than three hours until http://www.stuntmom.com/2008/01/leave-hammers-outside.htmlStuntMomtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13595861.post-7821854465736410126Sat, 26 Jan 2008 03:01:00 +00002008-01-25T22:48:28.291-05:00Rather than smashing my new Virgin Mobil phone with a sledge hammer, I figured I would vent my frustrations over the Internet instead. Less clean up, less violent. Oddly enough I have found the need to vent about technology once again. The issue this round is not my crappy Alienware laptop, but my great money saving plan of switching cell phones. My contract with Verizon expired a few years ago http://www.stuntmom.com/2008/01/this-is-not-technology-website-really.htmlStuntMomtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13595861.post-6591102384493247897Sun, 13 Jan 2008 19:22:00 +00002008-01-13T14:31:25.760-05:00Speaking of Laptops- Don't buy a Dell Alienware Laptop Readers and friends, thanks for your comments and concerns. It seems like this has become a hot topic around our circle of friends so I thought I would do a quick recap of the situation. We never did hear back from Dell once we sent our original invoice out. We figured since the laptop was old- now three years, which my hubby is in the http://www.stuntmom.com/2008/01/follow-up-to-dell-alienware-laptop-post.htmlStuntMomtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13595861.post-2402431845179850326Sat, 12 Jan 2008 17:39:00 +00002008-01-13T14:44:37.141-05:00I wanted to follow up with the great success I've had from Catalogue Choice the website that automatically cancels your unwanted subscriptions to mail order catalogues. So far I have cancelled 23 different catalogues and they still keep coming. Now that I have a bookmark on my computer, I instantly check to see if it's on my cancelled list. The pottery barn seems to be holding on the longest, buthttp://www.stuntmom.com/2008/01/less-junk-mail.htmlStuntMomtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13595861.post-485059283459197394Thu, 03 Jan 2008 01:14:00 +00002008-01-02T20:34:19.332-05:00I had a birthday a few weeks ago and my two oldest daughters were very excited about the idea of buying me a gift. I insisted that I would love just a painting or something else that they could make, but they had visions of spending some time with Daddy taking them shopping with the purpose being my birthday. So the big day came and they were besides themselves with excitement. From the moment http://www.stuntmom.com/2008/01/such-sweet-gift.htmlStuntMomtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13595861.post-7643760928853448167Mon, 31 Dec 2007 20:29:00 +00002007-12-31T15:43:09.217-05:00For some reason the holidays kept us in the house so much more than we are used to. Whether it was having family over or just getting stuff done around here, we found ourselves constantly in the cabin, which created some miserable kids and adults too. Today I broke out of the mold. I left a half undecorated tree and boxes of Christmas stuff that needed to go back to the attic in the entryway and http://www.stuntmom.com/2007/12/winter-dip-in-pool.htmlStuntMomtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13595861.post-7246933268059244675Mon, 17 Dec 2007 03:08:00 +00002007-12-16T22:23:32.133-05:00Ah, my dream has finally become a reality. A few weeks ago I got a flier on my front door for fresh organic produce delivery and thought, hey, it's finally happening. Cincinnati is catching on to the importance of organic produce. The beauty of delivery is that it is the luck of the draw, and I love that surprise. I joined a produce co-op last spring/summer/fall and not only did I cook more, I http://www.stuntmom.com/2007/12/door-to-door-organics.htmlStuntMomtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13595861.post-2749386201237921680Mon, 17 Dec 2007 02:04:00 +00002007-12-16T22:03:34.078-05:00I hate my Alienware laptop. I know harsh words for a semi-lover of computers but it's true. I feel like it's my mission in life to stop at least one person from making such a crazy purchase. My husband bought it a few years back claiming to love the slim size. Sure I think it was more of a marketing job well done, since it's a computer geared toward gamers- did I forget to tell you my hubby is a http://www.stuntmom.com/2007/12/speaking-of-laptops-dont-buy-dell.htmlStuntMomtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13595861.post-1845541156717660456Thu, 13 Dec 2007 02:45:00 +00002007-12-12T21:53:49.967-05:00 My husband has a passion for computers, some might say an obsession. So it's no wonder friends might ask me if I think kids need a laptop. Do they "need" one. No, of course not, but would it be nice if they didn't break yours as they are fighting over who gets to play next? Here is his suggestion for the season. It's great, buy one, and they give you one to give away- yes it's a tax deduction. http://www.stuntmom.com/2007/12/laptop-for-kids.htmlStuntMomtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13595861.post-6017955404097174539Thu, 06 Dec 2007 17:47:00 +00002007-12-06T13:08:15.961-05:00Ah, the endless question. At 2:00 today I'm meeting with a friend that is looking to sign a year contract to go back to work but is in a state of panic over it. She has the same dilemma that filters through so many of our heads. She said she went back into her old office last week to pick up a few things and felt so energized by the office that she said she had a really hard time not signing the http://www.stuntmom.com/2007/12/should-you-work-or-stay-home.htmlStuntMomtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13595861.post-3091746296302509783Tue, 20 Nov 2007 09:40:00 +00002007-11-20T04:47:57.199-05:00 Don't ask me how, but this sweet little 100 pound baby became ours yesterday. No, we weren't in the market for a full grown bullmastif, or a dog at all for that matter, but we are happy to have Max join our household. Three dogs, three kids..... and for those wondering, Max is a birthday gift to my husband. Not that I would call him a dog lover, or even a dog liker, but the girls and I thought http://www.stuntmom.com/2007/11/meet-max.htmlStuntMomtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13595861.post-2004208216568767648Tue, 13 Nov 2007 20:25:00 +00002007-11-13T15:35:51.496-05:00I just can't get over the volume of catalogs we receive. Karen's article inspired me to go back through and cancel all of the junk I currently get. Here's what was in the recycle bin for the last two weeks: Tiffany & Co. L.L Bean Bed Bath and Beyond Wine Country Gift Baskets Sears Vista Print Oriental Trading Company Eastbay Pottery Barn Anthropologie Red Envelope Pottery barn Baby Company Kids http://www.stuntmom.com/2007/11/junk-mail.htmlStuntMomtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13595861.post-38112650549420059Fri, 09 Nov 2007 02:15:00 +00002007-11-08T21:17:00.951-05:00From Zen, meditations on being a mother, Roni Jay Sourcebooks, Inc., Naperville, IL: MAGIC Henry Ford said, “Whether you believe you can or whether you believe you can’t, you’re absolutely right.” The ability to believe in the improbable is a talent for life. If we don’t believe in magic when we are children, we have no hope of believing in it as adults. One of the greatest gifts a mother (or http://www.stuntmom.com/2007/11/magic.htmlmarshkntag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13595861.post-7555737814835032611Wed, 07 Nov 2007 17:50:00 +00002007-11-07T13:11:06.245-05:00I was talking to my mail man yesterday and congratulating him on getting through all the political mailers that had been adding to his load (something we had discussed a few days prior). He said that the political mailers were nothing compared to the rise in catalogs that he expected would continue through this holiday season. I mentioned that I had signed up for Catalog Choice, an amazing http://www.stuntmom.com/2007/11/catalog-choice.htmlmarshkntag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13595861.post-2875209162599894727Fri, 26 Oct 2007 17:29:00 +00002007-10-26T13:56:02.912-04:00It's Sunday morning, 10:30ish, I'm without a shower, teeth are brushed, my hair is pulled back in a headband in a semi effort to look like I can be seen to let the dogs out, but nothing more. I'm doing a month's worth of ironing, the kids are dressed but hair isn't brushed, not sure if their teeth are either. Clothes are spread all over the house as I'm working to finally pack away the summer http://www.stuntmom.com/2007/10/forget-it.htmlStuntMomtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13595861.post-8975823717530073122Fri, 05 Oct 2007 00:46:00 +00002007-10-05T14:13:28.302-04:00The first month of school came and went and I had no idea how my daughter was spending her time. She would get off of the school bus and I would have a pile of questions waiting for her only to be followed with a one word answer. I was feeling lost. My oldest child has a life of her own and doesn't want me to be part of it, I thought this only happened in the teen years. I tried a few things. http://www.stuntmom.com/2007/10/getting-your-kindergardener-to-talk.htmlStuntMomtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13595861.post-6808883714930191842Tue, 02 Oct 2007 00:33:00 +00002007-10-01T20:45:27.415-04:00My husband pointed out this weekend and I have thought about endlessly ever since, that it really isn't the fact that I'm working that has lifted my cloudy fog, it's change. I am a change addict, if I can be bold enough to self diagnose my problem. Work provided so much change for me over the years. I would work a year and a half to two years in one position, then they would give me a new job, http://www.stuntmom.com/2007/10/maybe-it.htmlStuntMomtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13595861.post-6511465781680893576Thu, 27 Sep 2007 00:07:00 +00002007-09-26T20:19:57.050-04:00My friend Sally sent me the link to this website. The woman was interviewed on the lap top lunch website (see stuntmom laptop lunch article may 15, 2007) I'm going to commit to changing all of my lightbulbs by the end of the month. 10 First Steps for Sustaining the Planet- You can help stop global warming. 1. Change a light. If every household in America changed out just 5 light bulbs to http://www.stuntmom.com/2007/09/ecomom-alliance.htmlStuntMom