From the monthly archives:
I’m still trying to get over all the food I ate over the weekend plus yesterday’s 5 1/2 hour solo drive from Detroit to Chicago with a two-year-old. But I did manage to eek out a post for my Work It! Mom blog in the interim. More good stuff to come. Like photos from Self-Made Mom’s mom’s (!??) pantry.
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I’ve felt, over the last 5 months or so, that I’ve lost my blogging mojo. Since I left my job, I’ve been wondering just exactly what to write about. When I was working and writing, I felt comradery and sympathy from all working moms. I honestly never got into blogging for the community aspect, really. I started my blog because I like to write my random thoughts and wanted a place to document such experiences as this and this. I’ve met some terrific working mom friends along the way, and I cherish our relationships.
But now that I’m not working any longer, I’ve felt more comfortable with my “real life” friends, but less so with my online counterparts. Perhaps it’s that I no longer feel so alone and don’t have the same worries anymore. Whatever the case, I’ve been a little down about the blog when I really should be celebrating my self-imposed exile into SAHM-land.Â
This week, however, my hope has been renewed. It’s amazing what wine and good food will do to one’s mood. This week, I had the opportunity to attend a dinner and panel discussion put on by the amazing Maria Bailey. I dined in style (amidst freaky murals) with amazing women like Emily, Bridget, Steph, and Amy. I observed a terrific panel discussion (amidst babysitting for the cutest little peanut ever!) where smart women gave hope to continuing a productive dialogue between marketers and bloggers. I lunched with a new friend, who I know I’ll be sharing many more lunches with. And I went home yesterday afternoon thinking that I now know why many mommy bloggers savor their friendships of those they meet online. It’s not just because they can compliment you in person on your fabulous new diaper bag (thanks, Emily), but it’s because you all have a bond that goes deeper than just a playdate in the park.
We all put ourselves out there into the vast unknown of the world wide web hoping to be found. And yesterday I achieved that. I really felt like I finally belonged. Now I just have to figure out a way to get my sorry a** to BlogHer to see the rest of you all. Any ideas?
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I’ve barely left the house all weekend what with a feverish son and Twittering to be done (how do you people get anything done with all that Twittering!?). I wouldn’t actually have written the word boredom in the title of this post if my husband hadn’t threatened to throw my BlackBerry in Lake Michigan (threatened again, that is), from all that Twittering. So less than 24 hours after I turned on the “mobile device updates” I had to shut it off. I can’t keep up with y’all. Sorry. So then I was bored. Well not bad bored, but bored as in I’d had enough of reading the book “Trucks” and I wished I could have snuck in a Tweet or check my e-mails bored.
But then I remember I have such a fun start to my week. Some really awesome bloggers and moms extraordinaire are coming to town for a panel discussion and I’m just glad to be in the audience to listen to all the wisdom. (And have a fun girls’ (and toddler and baby) lunch!)  I’ll be sure to post all the details as soon as I can translate them from my notes to the internet. Then again, my husband won’t be with me so I might just sneak in a text or two to that very addictive place.
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I finally decide to go and re-activate my dormant Twitter account (Thanks Amy for the nudge! I know I said I was anti-Twitter, but I did sign up awhile ago), sign in, and see that I somehow have 23 friend requests that probably have been sitting there for internet eternity. Sorry guys (and gals).
Not only am I follying on Facebook, but totally tanking on Twitter. And I’m still in disbelief that there are more than 2 people out there who care that I went to Panera for lunch. (Oh wait, I’m supposed to Twitter that, right?)
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After I succumbed to the purchase of an overpriced plastic funhouse for my two-year-old, I never thought I’d get roped into any other toddler money-making schemes for at least another two six months. I’ve already spent an exorbitant amount of money on sippy cups, and purchased a bike trailer for my husband’s bike that has been used all of one time (more on that another time.) I’ve babyproofed our patio, redone my pantry and am gearing up for the eventual move of my son into a big boy room. What’s left to be spent on with the summer not even officially here?
Sesame Street Live, of course.
I am among the unitiated when it comes to kiddie events. But when I saw that Elmo was rolling into town and tickets were being offered up free of charge, I could hardly deny the little prince a trip to everyone’s favorite neighborhood.  As much as I hate to admit it, I was quite excited for our first live children’s production.
The trip out to the theater was out of a bad sitcom plot. Family plans for bad traffic on Chicago’s notoriously crowded highway. Trip takes 15 minutes with 45 minutes to kill before the production. Family parks in lot alongside what appears to be the remnants of a minivan dealership. Cliche photo captions ensue.
Death to the minivan.
A shoulder ride into the theater lobby took up all of 5 minutes. Luckilly I wasn’t alone in the thrills of kiddie shows.
Gratuitous father/ son bonding photo. I’m sure the elder wishes he was at a baseball game instead.
But once inside, the sunny days swept the grey skies away. I saw the lit up Sesame Street vending table money-suck and I was instantly hooked. We were going to see Big Bird!
I didn’t ask the poor dude in the photo selling inflatable Elmos if I could take his photo. Whoops!
And once the show started, forget about it. We were all hooked. It was a well-thought-out, splashy, flashy but not trashy hour-and-a-half of sheer neon joy. My husband liked it so much he even got our kid one of those inflatable Elmos that poor dude was selling. For $10 a pop.  A rookie mistake, in my opinion.Â
A sea of glowing rookie mistakes.
And even though my son bawled his eyes out at the popping balloons at the end of the show, he truly enjoyed himself. And the Elmo balloon. Funny thing is, that $10 balloon is still alive and kicking well after the show has ended. Like three days later. And it provides countless minutes of endless entertainment, which I am eternally grateful for.
The Elmo balloon – the gift that keeps on giving.
And giving.
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I know Monday morning sounds so much better, but I didn’t have time to post some of my favorite links on the web until now. Following is a list of some good Monday afternoon reads. Â
Tags: Mom Select, kirtsy, Maria Bailey, PR spammers , Chicago Moms Blog
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