2014 Kia Soul Hamster Commercial and $25 iTunes Gift Card Giveaway!**CLOSED **CLOSED

**CLOSED Winner Posted Here**

Who all loves the hamsters in the Kia commercials?

We do!

They always crack us up.

And now Kia has come up with a brand new commercial featuring these awesome hamsters. Check it out:

Content and/or other value provided by our partner, Kia Motors

This commercial made my daughter laugh and laugh. Our favorite part was when the hamster waved his butt around before diving in the pool. Natalie wanted to watch that part over and over again.

"These hamsters are so funny!" she bellowed.

We also liked when they were all dressed up in tuxedos.

Bonus? If you like Lady Gaga, you can hear her sing her song "Applause" during the commercial. So you can laugh AND dance at the same time.

The commercial isn't JUST about the hamsters though. No, the commercial depicts the 2014 Kia Soul, expected Fall 2013. The car looks amazing and if we were rich, I'd buy one. Natalie would want to get one simply because she would assume the hamsters would come with it.


The Kia Social Club is offering a lucky reader a $25 gift card to iTunes. I know this can come in handy. I feel like I'm forever buying something from iTunes.


MANDATORY ENTRY: You MUST do this or else your entry will NOT be counted. Watch the commercial and tell me what your favorite part was.


Extra Entries:

--TWEET about your favorite part of the new Kia Soul commercial using #Hamsters and @Kia

--FOLLOW Kia on Twitter

--FOLLOW my blog



For each thing you do, please leave a separate comment.


I will pick a winner on September 7th.


Good luck!


DISCLAIMER: 2014 Soul! shown. Expected Fall 2013.

Singing The Homework Blues

“How do donkeys poop?” Natalie asked.

I rubbed my temples. Why was she making this difficult? Why? I had already found her underneath the table, playing silently with her Barbies. Then she had stuck the pencil above her upper lip, pretending it was a mustache.

All she had to do was her homework. One page where all she had to do was write numbers. What would it be like when she had complicated homework?

I had set her up at the dining room table and instructed her to do it. As mentioned above, she decided to play with her toys the second I left the room. When I chastised her, she acted as though she was doing her work but when I came back in, she was pretending she had a pencil mustache.

And now she was asking me about donkeys. And pooping.

Clearly I was going to have to sit with her. I instructed her to write the numbers. She did two and then went,

“My hand hurts.” She set the pencil down and flexed it.

“The sooner you finish, the sooner you can be done,” I said.

Natalie picked up her pencil. She poised it over the paper. Then she went, “So how do donkeys poop?”

“Like we do! From their butt!” I snapped. Yes, it was crass, but I just wanted her to be finished so I could watch E! news.

“Ha! You said butt!” Natalie wrote another number slowly. Incredibly slowly. You’d think that because she was writing at a snail’s pace that she’d have neat handwriting. No. She wrote the number 13 but the 3 was hovering away from the 1.

This is why I could never, ever homeschool. She doesn’t take me seriously. She takes Tom seriously. But Tom isn’t here.

“My toe looks weird.” Natalie had once again set her pencil down and was gazing at her feet.

“Could you please finish?” I asked, tapping her paper. At this rate, we’d be sitting here for hours.

Natalie picked up her pencil and began to write—and then there was a knock on the door. For the love of chocolate! I told Natalie to keep writing as I left to open the door.

Standing there was a kid trying to sell crap from that awful fundraiser I wrote about yesterday.

“Want some cookies?” he asked. He looked to be about 8 or 9.

“No, thank you,” I said kindly.

“COOKIES!” Natalie rushed over, pigtails flapping behind her. So much for her continuing to do her work. “I’d like some COOKIES!”

“We have Oreos,” I hissed at her. I was not going to pay the kid $15 for cookie dough.

“Hey, that boy is selling stuff. Don’t I need to sell stuff?” Natalie asked, concerned.

Ugh. I tossed all her stuff out when she forgot.

“Nope, you’re good.” I faced the boy again, who looked baffled. This could be because my daughter was standing in her Pinkie Pie underwear. She basically strips as soon as she comes home. “Thank you, but no cookies for us.” I shut the door before the boy could argue.

“I wanted cookies! I wanted to sell stuff,” Natalie whined.

“We aren’t supposed to sell stuff on base. It’s in the rules. That kid is breaking the rules. If we wanted to sell stuff we’d have to go off base into seedy neighborhoods,” I explained.

Natalie wrinkled her nose. “What does seedy neighborhoods mean?”

“It means someone would probably answer the door with a gun or a knife.”

Natalie’s eyes went wide. “Wow. That’s pretty rude!”

“Just finish your homework. Okay?” I said. I needed more Diet Coke.

It took one hour for her to complete one worksheet.

This is going to be a long, long year.

Things That Annoy Me Thursday: School Fundraisers

“And the man at the assembly said we could win prizes if we sold stuff,” Natalie said when I picked her up from school.

Crap.

I knew exactly what she was talking about: a school fundraiser.

I detest school fundraisers. Yes, I understand it helps schools raise money. But I would rather donate directly to them. And I do. We do NOT do fundraisers. Before you go, “But it could be a fantastic experience for your daughter!” because I just know some fundraiser enthusiasts are reading the post shaking their heads, know this: you cannot sell stuff on this military base. So if you wanted your little Betsy to sell her cookie dough, you’d have to take her off base OR a parent could take the order form to his or her work and he or she could guilt trip his or her colleagues into purchasing $15 cookie dough.

It seems a bit slimy for a guy to come into a school and tell kids to sell junk for his company. He got them all excited by saying they could ride a limo if they sold enough. Natalie was more interested in the cheap toys which I could just BUY HER.

Here’s Natalie flipping through the catalog:

As she did, she was like, “You have to sell this stuff to win this stuff!” as though she were selling Pampered Chef or something.

Thankfully, my daughter at times has the memory of a pea, so she promptly forgot and I promptly threw everything out.

Unfortunately, this didn’t mean I was done with the school fundraiser. No, I got knocks on the door from children who did not get the memo that selling was not allowed on base. Children who found it perfectly acceptable to pound on the door at 8 PM. Where were their parents? Why would they allow this? Did they sneak out?

You get the polite kids who kindly say thank you when you decline their pitch to buy their crap although most of the time, the kid just stands at the door blinking and mutters quietly, “Will you buy something?” Then you get the Donald Trump wannabees who are like, “I need you to buy something!” and when you say no thank you they’re like, “Well, I have to sell this stuff!”

No, Junior, you do not.

I seriously want to throw tomatoes at the kids who question an adult when they say no thank you. I’m polite; therefore you should be polite too. Go home.

So yes, I hate school fundraisers. Most of America hates school fundraisers.

I’ll donate directly to the school.

I’ll buy the popcorn and pickles they offer.

I’ll volunteer.

That’s how I’ll make my contribution.

Sixth Grade Scares Me

All the kids looked so old. And they all seemed to be chomping on gum. A couple were staring at phones, their fingers flying against the screen.

I did not like it.

I preferred the elementary school where everyone still looked small and where there were cheerful posters on the walls with cartoon bees reminding everyone to “bee” kind. The posters on middle school walls talked about joining the cheer team. I missed the cartoon posters.

Tommy had his Open House at the middle school the other day and I got to see where all his classes were. They actually rang the bell and you got to move from class to class. I have not done this in years so when the bell went off, it sent me in a we-can’t-be-late-for-the-next-class frenzy.

By the fourth class, Natalie was beginning to look concerned. “Mommy,” she whispered. “There are no toys in any of these classrooms!”

“That’s because I’m growing up,” Tommy answered. “I’m a tween now.”

Ugh.

In sixth grade, he’s expected to write a monthly book report. This is going to be difficult, as Tommy hates to write and when he does, he’s like a man and is brief and to the point. “I liked it. It was good. I would read it again. The end.”

By the fifth class, Natalie was beginning to get agitated. “How many rooms do we have to visit? This is ridiculous!”

“This is my day,” Tommy responded primly.

When we were done seeing all the classrooms, Tommy wanted to show me how he could open his locker. He struggles with fine motor skills so it took him a few tries to figure it out. But I watched as he chewed on his lower lip and spun the lock around and then….

“I did it!” Tommy said triumphantly.

“Yay, Tommy!” Natalie stuck her head in the locker. “It smells in here. Where are all your things?”

It was completely empty because Tommy still doesn’t want to mess with it. He’s like me and HATES to be late so he’d rather go from class to class. So he lugs everything in his backpack.

I’m glad he’s doing well in middle school but it still petrifies me.

I still picture him like this:

Hey, It's Okay Tuesday!

I got this idea from Glamour magazine. They have a section called Hey, It’s Okay and will list a bunch of things to be okay about. You're welcome to join in and do something like this on your blog. Doesn't have to be on a Tuesday either. Just make sure you link up and that the post you link up is a Hey, It's Okay Post.

--------------

To not care that North West was finally revealed.


To worry about Natalie doing her homework. She’ll have homework Tuesdays and Thursdays. She can be incredibly stubborn about doing it. “But!” she’ll argue. “I was just in SCHOOL. Why am I doing more SCHOOL WORK?”


To not care that Ben Affleck will be Batman. I really don’t care about those movies. I’ll watch them, because my husband wants to, but I could care less who plays the man in black.


To have passed on watching the VMAs. I don’t get a lot of music of today. I don’t understand the dressing in odd outfits and making a spectacle. I just want to hear good music, I don’t need a huge production, unless of course I’m at a musical.


To also have not cared that NSYNC performed. I was never a fan. I liked some of their songs but I was never a teenager who screamed for boy bands.



To have a giveaway for a signed DVD of Standing Up here! It’s about kids who stand up to bullying.



To have found these at WalMart. Yum!

Screaming Children Are Not Tolerated

When we were at the beach, this sign was on the door of the restaurant we ate at.

I stared at Natalie, who sometimes behaves as though her volume toggle is stuck on high. What if we were kicked out? Would a waiter come over and whisper, “I apologize, but your child is noisy. You’ll have to leave.” They’d pack my food up at least, right?

“Remember,” I whispered to Natalie as we walked inside. “You have to be quiet.” I pressed a finger to my lips.

Now, I knew the restaurant was of the higher end. We eat there every summer. But usually it’s adults only with the kids being left at the condo. My cousins and I would go out one night, my parents, my aunt and uncle and grandma would go out another. This year not as many people could come to the beach so we all decided to go.

Meaning no child care.

I had been prepping Natalie for awhile.

“No shouting,” I had said. “Or else you’ll be arrested.”

I know.

I KNOW.

Shame on me and all of that. She should keep it down simply because I’m the parent and I asked her to. But Natalie doesn’t work that way.

“No yelling,” I warned another time. “Or else I have to give away all your Rapunzel toys.”

The sign on the restaurant door surprised me. That was new. It had not been there last year. This meant the restaurant meant business.

Please don’t let Natalie embarrass me, I kept thinking. Not in front of my family. Not in front of my 92-year-old grandma.

We settled down at a table. I stupidly asked the hostess for a kids menu.

“There is none,” she explained kindly.

Right. Of course.

I was informed that they did half portions on the spaghetti and other pasta dishes for the children.

Thunk, thunk, thunk.

That was Natalie tapping her spoon against her bread plate.

“No,” I said, sliding the plate away from her. “No, that’s noisy.” My eyes flicked around. Would a waiter emerge and remove us?

“Why did they fold the napkins like that? I’ve never seen a napkin in a shape before,” Tommy said, wrinkling his nose at the napkin in front of him. It was twisted in a fancy looking mountain.

“Some restaurants just do that,” I said. I sent a telepathic message to Tommy to please not fart. This was not the place to fart. Would we be removed for a fart?

Not only did I have to make sure my kids behaved, but I also had to remember not to put my elbows on the table and to sit like a lady. Or try to. I had to remember to chew with my mouth closed. I needed to stop reaching for the delicious bread that was set in the middle of the table because when I ate it, I resembled a zombie from The Walking Dead feasting on a dead carcass. I have manners. I just tend to forget them when I'm around food.

We ordered our food and I was pleased to see the kids were behaving. Natalie was amusing herself with the bread and Tommy was observing the world around him. Everything was going well! I was even able to enjoy some adult conversation. I was in the middle of listening to someone speak when I heard a clatter. It took me a few seconds to realize my daughter made the clatter because she had tipped over in her chair.

I don't...

I don't even know HOW it happened. I mean, the last time I observed her, she was rolling her bread into tiny balls. I don't know what occurred between that and falling off her chair.

I thought, oh no, are we going to be kicked out because my kid forgot how to sit? I helped her up--she did not cry, thank goodness, but she did look mortally offended.

"I don't know what happened. The chair is just mean," Natalie said with a frown.

That was the last catastrophe, I'm proud to say. My kids were well behaved. They did not need hand held entertainment to keep silent like the other kids at a table across the way. This is mainly because I do not like to share my phone. I do not have children's apps on there because it's MY PHONE. I don't want their sticky hands all over it. I would have handed it over as the last straw but thankfully I did not need to.

I remembered to chew with my mouth closed. I remembered to order dessert calmly and not shout out, "THE CHOCOLATE CAKE! Oh my heavens please give me the CHOCOLATE CAKE! My husband is deployed and I need the chocolate."

We did not get kicked out of the semi-fancy restaurant.

Parenting win.

Standing Up DVD Giveaway! **CLOSED

**CLOSED! Winner posted here**


I'm always worried that my kids will be bullied. There are a lot of mean children in the world who think it's okay to be cruel towards others. Since my son has Aspergers, I especially worry about him.

There's a new movie called Standing Up that is about bullying. Here is what is about from the e-mail I was sent:


Based on one of the most beloved Young Adult novels of all time and directed by the acclaimed D.J. Caruso, Standing Up follows two kids who get bullied by a vicious summer camp prank. Left together on an island, their adventure begins once they decide not to be victims and instead they Stand Up!

Standing Up is an adorable and heart-warming gem of a movie with an important anti-bullying message that’s suitable for the whole family! Get the DVD August 20!

What can be done to help the bullied “stand up” for themselves?

One of the best things we can do to understand the problem and discuss solutions is to be inspired. The movie “Standing Up” is THAT inspiration.



This definitely sounds like something that my kids and I need to watch.


Check out the widget to learn more about the movie. You can also take a quiz and find out if you stand up to bullies. You can also have your children take the Anti-Bullying pledge. (Some adults I've encountered should probably do it too..)





A lucky reader can win a DVD of Standing Up that is signed by the director D.J. Caruso!



Giveaway Rules:

--Must be 18 or older

--Must live in the US

--No PO Boxes


Mandatory Entry: Take the quiz and tell me your results!


Extra Entries:

--Tweet about the giveaway using #StandingUp



I'll pick a winner on September 1st.


Good luck!

Cardstore.Com Review!

I love getting cards.

It seems so many people just send e-mails, which is okay, but sometimes I want an actual card.

Cardstore.com offers so many choices. I especially loved their birthday card section. I've always enjoyed sending people birthday cards and I so love receiving them. I'm a fan of the funny ones.


I was able to pick out a card and I went with a photo anniversary one. I loved the personalized touch of photos. It was really easy to create. I simply clicked on where a photo could go and that was basically it. I was finished with my card in less than ten minutes. Simple.


This was the finished product:

The photos are really clear and I know they'll bring a smile to my husband's face.


This is the inside:

Our anniversary isn't until December, but I like to get started early.


I liked Cardstore.com because they can actually send the card for you. You just add the cost of a stamp at checkout and the card will be on its way to the recipient. You can even create cards and schedule when you want them sent. I love this, because sometimes my memory stinks so it's good to know that I'll already have a card ready to go in case I forget.


To learn more about Cardstore.com, LIKE their Facebook page.


You can also FOLLOW them on Twitter.


Now go send someone you love a card!



**I was given a free card to review. My opinions are my own**

Need Glasses? Check Out GlassesUSA.com!

Before I got Lasik, I wore glasses all the time. I had to, otherwise I'd walk into objects or people. My eyesight was horrible.

I was (and still am!) a fan of GlassesUSA.com because they had many styles of glasses. They have aviators, rimless, vintage....I personally love when I have different choices. I especially liked these Dolce and Gabbana glasses:

I was always a fan of the oval frames eyeglasses. I tended to wear those the most. My glasses were usually pretty thick considering my prescription was in the negatives. I'm not joking.

Thank goodness for all the prescription glasses that GlassesUsa.com carries. Without them, I would have looked quite scary indeed.

Even though I no longer have to wear regular glasses, I do like to wear sunglasses. There are also tons of fabulous choices of sunglasses, which makes me happy because I like to change up my look. It's incredibly easy to order glasses over at GlassesUSA.com so I will most likely be placing an order for some sunglasses soon.

Another thing I like about the site? Their Virtual Mirror Feature. If you're curious if a particular glasses style will look good on you, then the virtual mirror is right for you. All you have to do is upload a picture and then you can "try on" the different glasses. I absolutely love this because sometimes I might love a style but the style does NOT love me back.


Also, it might be called GlassesUSA but it has worldwide shipping so my international friends can shop! The customer service is also amazing so if you have any questions, someone will be happy to help. If you aren't pleased with your glasses for any reason, you can return them FREE. There is usually always a sale going on so be sure to check out the sales & coupons section. I love saving money. Readers of my blog can use the code Blog10 to save 10% of any order of prescription glasses.


To learn more about GlassesUSA, be sure to like their Facebook page and follow them on Twitter.


So be sure to check out GlassesUSA the next time you need a pair of glasses. Your wallet will thank you!

Reasons Mommy Drinks and Masterminds and Wingmen book winners!

I did a giveaway for the book Reasons Mommy Drinks by Lyranda Martin-Evans and Fiona Stevenson here.


I used random.org to pick a winner and it chose...


...number 8, which is Kenzie over at Life and Lemons!



Congrats!!


I also did a giveawy for the book Masterminds and Wingmen by Rosalind Wiseman here.


I used random.org to pick a winner and it chose...


....number 11, which is laura w.



Congrats!!


If you didn't win, I will have more giveaways in the future.

Not A Morning Person

Beep! Beep! Beep!

What the—shut up! Geez. Why in the world—oh. Crap. It’s 645. Guh. It’s still dark out. Who wants to get up when it’s still dark out?

Beep! Beep! Beep!

Amber, open your eyes, it’ll be okay. Open them, or else you’ll go back to sleep and you can’t go back to sleep because you have to get the kids ready for school..

My eyes flew open.

Kids. Go back to school. Alone time! Peace!

But ugh. Still too early. Why can’t school start at 10?

Beep! Beep! Beep!

I’m coming! Shut up!

I turned the alarm off and forced myself out of bed. I managed to get dressed, still with my eyes squished shut. I shuffled down to Tommy’s room and tumbled inside. He was still asleep, buried under the blankets. What I would give to still be buried under the blankets. Now, maybe some mothers go over and whisper kindly for their offspring to wake up. I sort of poked at him and went, “Grkljwer,” because it was too early for words to form.

“Huh?” Tommy pushed the covers off of him and jumped a bit when he saw me standing there with my hair all over the place and my eyes half shut.

“Gafdkljsf,” I said again. “Fslsadfkj.”

“Okay.” Tommy has known me long enough to understand what I refer to as “my morning tongue.”

I am not, not, NOT a morning person. I used to be able to wake up at 740. Now Tommy goes to middle school and his bus picks him up at 730 so my alarm sounds at 645. Yes, he’s 11, I could make him do all of this himself. But he’s also easily distracted so I could see him lose track of time while staring at Mario videos on YouTube. Then I’d have to drive him and quite honestly, I don’t want to deal with the car line.

Anyway, as Tommy got dressed, I prepared him breakfast: a bowl of Golden Grahams. I do not cook in the mornings. Who has the energy? Not me. I almost fell asleep as Tommy ate. My head was going down, down, down and it suddenly jerked upright.

“Who’s there?” I yelled.

Tommy blinked, his mouth full of cereal. “Uh. Me?”

On that first day, I wanted to take him to the bus stop to make sure he got on okay.

I took a picture of Tommy before he headed over to his bus. Natalie had to get in the picture too.

“He’s all grown up,” she sighed as Tommy walked away.

I wanted to shout at him that it would be okay, to not let anyone be mean to him but I kept my mouth shut. I did not want to embarrass him. But holy crap. MIDDLE SCHOOL! I hoped he would not get lost.

Then I got photos of Natalie:

I felt like she needed the sign since 90% of my Facebook feed had kids holding these fancy explanations written in chalk. “First Day Of Second Grade!” one boomed. “What I Want To Be When I Grow Up: A Mommy!” I do not have the patience to write in swirly, neat writing on a chalkboard. Hell, I barely had the energy to lift the camera up and take a picture. I was so tired.

So Natalie got that sign.

I walked Natalie to her classroom and she didn’t even care that I was leaving. She got comfortable real quick and told me goodbye. Twice, because I didn't get the message the first time. I was pleased that she didn’t have a fit and attach herself to my leg but at the same time I thought, “You won’t even miss me a smidge? Just a tiny bit? What about our boxed juice dates as we sat in front of the TV and watched Dr. Phil?"

The good news is, Tommy did NOT get lost. He seems to like middle school so far.

Natalie enjoys first grade, although she told me seriously as we ate dinner that night, “There is no magic carpet anymore. I miss the magic carpet! I had my own special spots and everything."

I'm just pleased that they like school.

I just really wish it began at a respectable hour. (10!)

Things That Annoy Me Thursday: Clear Stringy Things

“You have something….” the cashier at Target trailed off, motioning to her shoulder.

Huh?

And was it sad that the first thing I thought of was dandruff? It had been a few days since I last washed my hair. Was she pointing out my dandruff?

“Something is poking out of your shirt,” the cashier clarified kindly.

I looked over and sure enough, the stupid clear, elastic string that companies still insist on adding to some clothing was showing.

This thing:

I hate them! They always seem to pop out.

I get they are for hanging clothes up. But I just hang up my stuff the usual way: sticking hangars in the arm holes.

Go away, clear things! I just need to start cutting them out.

Does anyone actually use these?

Hey, It's Okay Tuesday!

I got this idea from Glamour magazine. They have a section called Hey, It’s Okay and will list a bunch of things to be okay about. You're welcome to join in and do something like this on your blog. Doesn't have to be on a Tuesday either. Just make sure you link up and that the post you link up is a Hey, It's Okay Post.

---------------

To be excited that they are making another Flowers In The Attic movie. The first one they made was awful.


To really wish Amanda and McCrae would be put up for nomination on Big Brother. Apparently they are pretty gross on the live feeds. I also am very distracted by Aaryn’s weird looking eyebrows.


To be a little freaked out over the new My Little Pony movie Equestria Dolls. The ponies turn into teens? I watched a little bit of it and then excused myself. Natalie, naturally, loves it though.


To not be a morning person so waking up early to get my kids ready for school is tough.


To be shocked when parents post that they make their kids actual breakfasts in the morning. My kids get cereal. I'm too tired to make bacon and eggs.


To be going to see We Are The Millers today with my friend Jennifer. I hear it’s funny! If anything, at least I get movie theater food.


To have two giveaways for books going on right now. You can win a copy of Reasons Mommy Drinks here and/or Masterminds and Wingmen here.

My Nervous First Grader

We were about to go in but then Natalie tugged on my arm. I could see the worry in her eyes so I bent down and asked what was wrong. She leaned over to me and cupped her hands around my ear.

“I’m nervous,” she whispered.

Oh.

We were about to go into the school and meet her first grade teacher. Natalie has always loved school but she also knows that first grade will be different. (And she was slightly nervous about heading to Kindergarten too. I told her when in doubt, be Bullwinkle like Joey taught Michelle on Full House. And yes, Michelle was teased for it but I still think it's a people pleaser...)

“It’ll be fine,” I promised. “First grade will be fun.” I tried to think back to my days as a first grader. All I could recall was pooping my pants in class. Not the best story.

Natalie took a deep breath. “Okay.”

I stood up and we walked to the area where it would tell us what teacher she would have. We found her name and by then Natalie was happy again because she had spotted some of her friends from Kindergarten.

We walked to her new classroom and met the teacher, who seemed friendly. Natalie decided to play shy and hid behind my leg. When the teacher walked away to greet another student, Natalie whispered, “Where are all the toys?”

There was only a small area where toys seemed to be.

“It’s first grade,” I reminded her. “You won’t get as many toys now.”

Natalie scowled. “No stations? No play house?”

I shook my head. “I’m afraid not.”

Natalie plopped down in a chair. “I’m sad.” She touched the desk in front of her. “What’s this for? No tables?”

“No. You have a desk now. Won’t that be fun?”

The look Natalie gave me showed that no, she did not think it would be fun.

Anyway, today is her first day of school. I’m thinking that even though it’ll be different, that she’ll still have fun.

After all, she still gets recess…

Masterminds and Wingmen by Rosalind Wiseman Book Review and Giveaway!***CLOSED

**CLOSED! Winner posted here**

I have a son going into sixth grade. Middle school.

It freaks me out. I'm not going to lie. I worry about him.

I was able to review a fantastic book called Masterminds and Wingmen: Helping Your Son Cope with Schoolyard Power, Locker-Room Tests, Girlfriends, and the New Rules of Boy World by Rosalind Wiseman. (If her name sounds familiar, it should. She also wrote Queen Bees & Wannabes which is what the movie Mean Girls was based on.)

Here is what the book is about from Amazon.com:

Here is a landmark book that reveals the way boys think and that shows parents, educators and coaches how to reach out and help boys overcome their most common yet difficult challenges -- by the bestselling author who changed our conception of adolescent girls.

Do you constantly struggle to pull information from your son, student, or athlete, only to encounter mumbling or evasive assurances such as “It’s nothing” or “I’m good?” Do you sense that the boy you care about is being bullied, but that he’ll do anything to avoid your “help?” Have you repeatedly reminded him that schoolwork and chores come before video games only to spy him reaching for the controller as soon as you leave the room? Have you watched with frustration as your boy flounders with girls?

Welcome to Boy World. It’s a place where asking for help or showing emotional pain often feels impossible. Where sports and video games can mean everything, but working hard in school frequently earns ridicule from “the guys” even as they ask to copy assignments. Where “masterminds” dominate and friends ruthlessly insult each other but can never object when someone steps over the line. Where hiding problems from adults is the ironclad rule because their involvement only makes situations worse.

Boy world is governed by social hierarchies and a powerful set of unwritten rules that have huge implications for your boy’s relationships, his interactions with you, and the man he’ll become. If you want what’s best for him, you need to know what these rules are and how to work with them effectively.

What you’ll find in Masterminds and Wingmen is critically important for every parent – or anyone who cares about boys – to know. Collaborating with a large team of middle- and high-school-age editors, Rosalind Wiseman has created an unprecedented guide to the life your boy is actually experiencing – his on-the-ground reality. Not only does Wiseman challenge you to examine your assumptions, she offers innovative coping strategies aimed at helping your boy develop a positive, authentic, and strong sense of self.



My Point Of View: The book gave me a lot of insight on how to help and talk to my son if he struggles. There were various chapters from subjects like video games and girls. The book even mentioned autism, which I enjoyed seeing as most of my readers know that my son has Aspergers. The book also let me know about issues that might pop up (as in, if my boy has a "sexist ass moment.")

Basically, if you have a son you should check out this book. It was incredibly beneficial for me to read and I imagine I'll be flipping through it a lot as my boy grows.


To learn more about the author Rosalind Wiseman, check out her site here.



I have a copy of Masterminds Wingmen to giveaway to a lucky reader!

(This book released September 10th if you want to be sure to have a copy. You can purchase it on Amazon.com here and from other fine book retailers.)


Giveaway Rules:

--Must be 18 or older

--Must live in the US or Canada


Mandatory Entry: LIKE Rosalind's Facebook page


Extra Entries:

--FOLLOW Rosalind Wiseman on Twitter


For each thing you do, please leave a separate comment.


I will run this contest until August 24th.


Good luck!




**I was given a free copy of the book to review. I was not paid. My opinions are my own.**

Bear Grylls Prize Pack Winner!

I did a giveaway for a Bear Grylls prize pack here.


I used random.org to pick a winner and it chose...


....number 2, which is BackOnLand!



Congrats!!



If you didn't win, I will have more giveaways in the future!

Inside Natalie's Closet: First Day Of School Outfit

My kids to back to school on Monday!

MONDAY!

I’ll miss them, don’t get me wrong, but I love being able to shop and clean in peace.

Natalie doesn’t know what she wants to wear on her first day so I took a couple of pictures to help her decide.

(Tommy was like, “I don’t know. I’ll just throw whatever on.” He did not want to participate in the photo shoot. I do promise that he’ll show up on his first day of sixth grade with CLEAN clothes at least.)


Anyway, here’s outfit number #1 from Gymboree. She said Maximus had to be involved or else he'd cry:

I made some farting noise and got her to smile:

The second outfit is from The Children's Place:

Yes, I like knee high socks but I don't think Natalie is tall enough. They tend to cover most of her leg PAST her knee.


"Mommy, take a picture of me with my head tilted back and my tongue out!"

"Um. Okay?"


"Mommy? Now take a picture of me backwards!"

"If you insist."

"I hope first grade is fun."


"I'm sure you'll do great."



Here's outfit #3. From Gymboree. Yes, it's one of my favorite stores.

Take a look at those knee high socks! Super cute critter socks!

"Mommy? There's a bug over there!"


I took care of it. And by taking care of it, I tossed my shoe at the thing and screeched.

"I don't think you got the bug, Mommy."


"Let's just...ignore it."


I ran into the side of the house to distract her.

"You're so silly, Mommy!"

"Thanks! I learned from the Adam Sandler movie Big Daddy that kids find it amusing when adults injure themselves."


"Mommy! Take another picture of me with my tongue out!"

"I think Gene Simmons would be impressed."

"Who is Gene Sibbons?"

"We'll talk about it in a couple of years. So. Do you know what you want to wear on your first day of school?"

"Everything!"





(And if you like her style, I'm listing some of Natalie's clothes on eBay here!)

Things That Annoy Me Thursday: Rushing Vs Not Rushing

So there’s this post going around about a woman who felt bad telling her daughter to hurry up. It’s on Huffington Post here.

I admit it, I was moved when reading it. I thought, “Oh wow, she’s RIGHT. I need to SLOW DOWN. I shouldn’t tell my kids to hurry up all the time. We need to LIVE.”

And then the next day I was like, “Hurry up!” because Natalie decided to sit down and stare at her knee as we walked back from the shoppette.

It was hot out.

She can look at her knee inside.

“I thought I saw a hair on my knee,” Natalie said, peering at it. “It was weird looking. What if it was a bug?”

Sweat dripped down my forehead. The shoppette isn’t far from our house. It’s probably like a 10 minute walk. 25, if you walk with Natalie.

According to the post, Natalie is a noticer, meaning she notices basically every damn thing in the world.

This is cute, don’t get me wrong, but it’s not so cute when it’s sweltering out and she’s looking at her KNEE.

I’m trying hard to bite my tongue when it comes to walking with Natalie. I don’t want her to feel rushed all the time. But I also have places to be, things to do. We can observe bugs and the wonders of the world together. But a knee? A KNEE?!

“Okay. All done,” I said to Natalie and scooped her up. I carried her all of two seconds. It was too hot so I set her back on the sidewalk. And then Natalie was like, “Oh! A bug.”

Crap. I did make a vow that I’d be patient when we looked at creatures of the world, did I not? So I forced a smile on my face and went, “It’s lovely,” even though it was not. It was one of those disgusting stink bugs.

“I wonder where it’s going,” Natalie said. “To her mommy?”

I was going to pass out if I didn’t get water soon. How much longer was she going to observe? How long was I supposed to stand there until I could tell her to move it along?

So I went, “Natalie. Let’s go inside and we can discuss various bugs there. We can look up YouTube videos.”

Look, I promise we can observe and notice things together when the temperature is comfortable.

Really, I promise.

Afraid of Heights. Went Parasailing Anyway.

I was a little nervous.

Was this a smart idea?

Maybe I shouldn’t have inhaled all that pasta for lunch.

What if I got sick?

What if the line broke and I went tumbling to my death? Wasn’t there a scene in a movie when the boat guy was eaten and the people parasailing went crashing into the water? I mean, yes, I think that was a Jurassic Park movie, but still…

I chewed on one of my nails. I could do this. Teenagers were currently parasailing. If they could do it, so could I.

One of the owners of the boat came over and began attaching the harness to me. This was it. No backing out now.

I was at the beach and decided to go parasailing with my cousin. It was a spur of the moment thing. Maybe I should have thought things through. But no, if I did that then I might have decided NOT to parasail. And I needed some adventure in my life.

The teenagers were coming down. At least this parasailing experience wouldn’t include being dunked in the water. I could not be dunked in the water. I panic when I go under water.

“It’s almost your turn!” the boat worker said, giving me a thumbs up.

“I need to pee,” I answered.

Well, no, I kept that to myself. I probably didn’t need to pee. I just get that sensation when I’m nervous.

The teenagers were on the boat now gushing about their experience.

“It was fun!” they both said, giggling.

Well, teenagers think listening to Justin Bieber or One Direction is fun so their idea of fun could be completely different than mine.

I took a deep breath as the boat worker led us to the area where he’d be hooking us up to. I was tandem parasailing with my cousin so at least I wouldn’t be alone. I gripped the bar and waited.

“Here we go,” the worker said and suddenly we were being lifted into the air.

“You can let go!” the worker said to me.

I was gripping the sides tightly. I cautiously let go and…oh, I was okay. I just hung there.

“This isn’t bad,” I told my cousin.

And it really wasn’t. Yes, I’m afraid of heights but we weren’t up terribly high. Plus the boat wasn’t going too quickly so my stomach didn’t flop around. It was pleasant.

When it was time to be reeled in, it wasn’t frightening either. They had one of those crank systems so we were brought down slowly.

I would go parasailing again.

I recommend it. Even if you are afraid of heights.

Hey, It's Okay Tuesday!

I got this idea from Glamour magazine. They have a section called Hey, It’s Okay and will list a bunch of things to be okay about. You're welcome to join in and do something like this on your blog. Doesn't have to be on a Tuesday either. Just make sure you link up and that the post you link up is a Hey, It's Okay Post.

--------------------

To have listed some of my daughter’s clothes on eBay here. I have a size 3, 4s, and 5s. I will ship overseas if I "know" you.


To be a little in disbelief that at this time next week, my kids will be in SCHOOL.


To love the new owl line over on Gymboree.com. I'm trying to behave but it's tough.


To be bummed that the show The Borgias was canceled. I’m watching the final season now since the DVDs are on Netflix. If you’ve never seen it, you should. Very intriguing.


To have also enjoyed The White Queen. It’s a series that just started on Starz. You can check out the first episode on YouTube.


To think it's cool that my son wants to be Revolutionary Soldier for Halloween.


To have a giveaway for a Bear Grylls prize pack here.


To love this picture of my daughter at the beach:

You Don't Mess With A Man's Truck

I turned the key and...a horrible clicking sound occurred and...nothing.

“Shit!” I said and tried again. Same thing. “Double shit!”

I had broken my husband’s truck.

His precious truck that I promised to take care of when he was deployed.

And now it wouldn’t start.

I tried again.

Nothing.

“Please, please, please,” I pleaded. “Please.”

Still nothing.

I don’t speak truck. I didn’t know what was wrong, though I had an idea. The battery was probably dead. See, I don’t drive trucks. Big vehicles frighten me. I’d hit people and things in big vehicles. I know my limits. It’s why I have a small car. I thought I would be okay with simply starting Tom’s truck once a week. But no. I was mistaken.

“By the powers invested in me, I command you to start,” I tried one last time.

Nothing.

Stupid truck.

I jumped out of it and started muttering to myself like a lunatic. I talk to myself when I’m stressed. While I was doing this a man walked past with his dog. I suppose I looked crazed because he went, “Can I help with something?”

“Oh. The truck won’t start. My husband is deployed and I think I broke it.”

He sucked in his breath. “You don’t want to mess with a man’s truck.”

I KNOW! I didn’t MEAN to mess with a man’s truck. It was supposed to stay happy and content, dammit.

I had to tell Tom. I suppose I could have kept quiet because how would he know? But I cannot lie to my husband. Plus, he asks me weekly how his truck is doing as though it were another one of his children.

So I told him the truth.

“You broke my truck!” he said. His tone was joking, but I could see the worry in his eyes.

“I didn’t!” I promised. “I’ll fix it. Somehow.” I contemplated flashing my breasts at him to distract him.

I asked the neighbor to jump it and still nothing. The clicking noise continued. Why wouldn’t it just START? Why must vehicles be so complicated?

I always seem to have issues with them when Tom goes.

When he was in Korea, my car liked to die on me. But I could have it jumped and it would come back to me.

The truck refused. It was like it was saying, “I’m off on vacation. Peace.”

Then Tom began saying, “I’ll just get a new truck.”

We cannot afford a new truck! I know he practically drools all over himself when he sees a newer model but no, no, and no. If I were Tom Cruise I would have presented him with a brand new one complete with one of those gigantic red bows on the top. As it is, I am (basically) sane and not Tom Cruise so I had to figure out a way to fix his current (all paid for) truck.

I had a friend’s husband come and take the battery out. I figured I could take it to a car place and have it checked. So I did that. Truck batteries, by the way, are heavy. I struggled carrying it in. The second I got through the doors a man rushed over to help because I suppose it looked like I could keel over any moment and knock over the display of oil. He took the battery and hooked it up to see if it was dead.

“Uh,” he said after a few minutes. “It’s dead. It’s not coming back.”

“RIP,” I joked and he blinked at me.

I picked out a new battery, paid for that, and the man kindly took it out to my car for me.

Then I had the friend’s husband come back to the house and replace the battery. After he finished with that he told me to start the truck.

“Please,” I mumbled as I climbed into the driver’s seat. “Start.” I turned the key and…VAROOM VAROOM…the truck was back!

“Oh, you stubborn witch,” I said softly. Of course the truck is a woman.

So basically I learned that vehicles must be driven. My friend has already offered to drive the stupid thing around the neighborhood. I’ll also continue to start it every couple of days. If all goes well, Tom should be home in two months.

I can keep it alive for two months, right?

$50 Shabby Apple Gift Card Winner!

I did a giveaway for a $50 Shabby Apple gift card here.


I used random.org to pick a winner and it chose...


...number 12, which is Sam M.



Congrats!



If you didn't win, I'll have future giveaways.


I currently have one going right here for a Bear Grylls prize pack.

My (Gulp) Sixth Grader...

“I’m just worried that it’ll change him! Harden him!” I admitted hysterically to my husband as we Skyped.

“Amber, he’s going to 6th grade, not prison,” he reminded me calmly. He was not worried at all. He was not concerned that his first born was headed into MIDDLE SCHOOL.

“Boys get facial hair in middle school,” I hissed. “Facial. Hair.”

Tom blinked. “It happens.”

I chewed on my lower lip. “I’m not ready. He’s not ready. He’s my baby.”

“He needs to grow up,” Tom cut in, unmoved.

Well, what did he know?

I took Tommy to his 6th grade orientation on Wednesday. Before we walked into the building I stopped and tugged on my son’s hand. “This is it,” I said. “This is a new beginning.”

Tommy cocked his head to the side, baffled. “Huh?”

Okay, maybe I was the only one concerned, although I knew Tommy was a little nervous. This would be the first year where he’d have multiple classes. A locker.

We had to wait in line to show proof of residence. As we waited, a part of me wanted to gather Tommy in my arms. He seemed too young for this. Wasn’t he just born yesterday? Why was everyone suddenly looking so…grown up? But I could not hug him. Not in public, anyway.

I filled out some paperwork and then Tommy was given his schedule.

HIS SCHEDULE.

Gone are the days when he’d sit in one classroom. In 4th and 5th grade he just went into one other across the hall. This was different. These classrooms were all over. I know he tends to panic if he’s running late. Suppose he melted down as he rushed to his next class?

All the teachers were in the school so we were able to meet them. I also let Tommy lead the way to his classrooms. Lucky for him, all his rooms are in one area the first quarter. It could be different for future quarters though.

I’m beginning to panic just thinking about it. MY BOY!

Tommy was polite. He stuck out his hand and said, “Nice to meet you,” to each of his new teachers.

“Will you take care of my boy?” I wanted to ask each one of them. But I swallowed it back.

“Tommy, your new school is big and weird,” Natalie observed as we went to Tommy’s third period class. THIRD PERIOD. He has SIX classes.

Tommy’s new third period (!) teacher beamed and went, “Is this your sister?” after Tommy shook his hand.

“Yes. Sometimes she bothers me. At least she’ll be in a different school now.”

I didn’t even fully think about that. But yes, it’s true. I’ll have kids in different schools. Sometimes when I’d go into the elementary school I’d think, “Maybe I’ll get a glimpse of both my children.” Now it’ll only be one or the other, depending on what school I go to.

I wanted to burst into tears. But I couldn’t. I wanted my husband. I could have leaned on him for support. He would have held me close and been like, “Calm down, Amber. You still have Minnie Mae.” I mean. Natalie. Sorry. The scene from Anne of Avonlea had popped in my head—I thought of Diana’s mom crying because Diana was getting married—and the great aunt said boldly, “Calm down, you still have Minnie Mae.”

I still had six-year-old Natalie who still resembled a little girl and who still spoke in her adorable chipmunk voice that would eventually fade as Tommy’s had done. I miss his chipmunk voice, guys.

It felt surreal as we went on the middle school tour. I was in disbelief that this time had come. Where had my little boy gone? Suddenly I was thrust in a world of multiple classes and kids who were obsessed with cell phones. Some girls already had BREASTS.

I didn’t feel ready. It felt too soon.

But it’s happening. My boy is growing up. There will be struggles as he manages the multiple classes. There might even be tears as he struggles with his locker. He has never been strong with fine motor skills. But I have faith that he’ll succeed. We’ll get through this.

Good luck with middle school, Tommy.

Things That Annoy Me Thursday: Children With Phones

“Any questions?”

“Yes! If I get an alert during class, can I check my phone?” a blond girl asked. And she was being serious.

I almost fell over.

The man smiled and said, “Phones will have to be turned off during class or they will be confiscated.”

“Who has phones?” I whispered to no one. At that same moment, a boy pulled out a phone from his pocket and started poking at it. And it wasn’t a crappy phone either. It was an iPhone. The newest model, from the looks of it.

Why would an 11-year-old have an iPhone 5? We were at my son’s 6th grade orientation on the school tour and I was baffled.

“Can I text during lunch?” the same girl asked hopefully.

“Yes, but again, it has to be turned off before class,” the man explained.

I didn’t realize I was gaping until the girl’s mother frowned at me. Oh. Oops. Look away, Amber. Don’t be creepy.

But really.

These were 11 year olds. Why were they so concerned about phones? When I was 11, I was concerned about the newest Barbie doll and what was going on in the world of Full House and Growing Pains. I get that times have changed but honestly. Phones. For sixth graders. I couldn’t wrap my mind around it.

I mean, yes, I get it when people have them for emergency purposes. But some children seem to be addicted to them. See: blond 11 year old. That just seems all sorts of wrong to me. Who is she talking to? What is she talking about?

Maybe I don’t get it because my son is somewhat anti-social. He’s asked for a phone, but only because the kids around him have one, I’m sure. When he asked for a phone, I laughed and told him I was fine without a phone and if he any issues, he could go to the main office and ask to call me from there. It’s what I did and I don’t feel scarred.

Phones. For kids.

It’s an odd world we live in.

Get Out Alive with Bear Grylls Giveaway!**CLOSED

**CLOSED!! Winner posted here**


I don't think I could survive if I was tossed out in the middle of no where.

I could try to remember what Bear Grylls taught me in his show but I'd probably forget. I WOULD remember how he drank his own pee in one episode though...I suppose if I was DYING of thirst I could....or not.



Bear Grylls has a show out on NBC on Mondays at 7/8C called Get Out Alive.

Here is what is about via the e-mail that I was sent:

In #GetOutAlive, 10 teams of 2 compete to survive in the beautiful New Zealand wilderness with Bear Grylls as their guide. The teams are faced with various survival tasks as they battle the terrain, mountains, gorges, glaciers, rainforests, rivers and rapids. Each week, one team is eliminated, and the last remaining duo will win $500,000!


I don't think I could do the show. For starters, I need my daily Diet Coke. Also, I'm awful if I don't get 8 hours of sleep.

The season finale of Get Out Alive airs August 26th. I'll be tuning in for sure.


Check out the widget to watch entertaining GIFs from the show and find out if YOU would get out alive from the quiz. (I would not.)







A lucky reader can win an Official Get Out Alive Prize which is:

.. An official Bear Grylls Survival Bracelet from Gerber! Taking advantage of Gerber's decades of experience and Bear Grylls' adventure knowledge, this survival bracelet's design provides 12 feet of high-strength paracord to help you work your way out of a difficult situation. Weighing less than an ounce, it has an easy, one-hand size adjustment and an integrated whistle.





I want one! Just in case. Or, you know, I'd pass it onto my husband who probably COULD survive.



Giveaway Rules:

--Must be 18 or older

--Must live in the US

--NO PO Boxes


Mandatory Entry: Tell me if you could Get Out Alive.


Extra Entries:

--Take the quiz and tell me your results

--Tell me what your favorite GIF was

--Tweet about the contest or the show with #GetOutAlive


Make sure you watch Get Out Alive on Monday nights on NBC at 7/8c.


I'll run the contest until August 17th. Good luck!

Hey, It's Okay Tuesday!

I got this idea from Glamour magazine. They have a section called Hey, It’s Okay and will list a bunch of things to be okay about. You're welcome to join in and do something like this on your blog. Doesn't have to be on a Tuesday either. Just make sure you link up and that the post you link up is a Hey, It's Okay Post.

---------------

To have gone parasailing while at the beach. I'll blog about it soon.


To not appreciate it when people talk loudly as they walk down the halls of a hotel or condo when it's past 11 pm. It's just rude and you're probably disturbing people in rooms.


To have not been watching any TV since I've been here so I have no idea what's going on in the Big Brother house.


To love being able to see family members. It's a mini family reunion on my side.


To not be able to spend hours and hours at the beach. It's too hot. We usually stay an hour or so and then return to the cool room.


To be returning home tomorrow. I imagine our cat will be happy. I hope he has not barfed on our furniture. He tends to do that when he's upset.


To have eaten honeydew wrapped in prosciutto and loved it. Try it if you haven't already.


To love the HEB stores in Texas. I always have to stop in at least once when we're here. They have so much awesome stuff.

I Cannot Co-Sleep

I opened my eyes and jumped.

Natalie was right in front of my face. I could see her outline in the darkness and was not amused.

"I scared you, Mommy," she said cheerfully. "I got right in front of you."

"I see that. It's not a wise thing for you to do," I explained. My reflex might have been to punch. I do not deal well with sudden happenings.

Of course, the fact that she was in my room was a sudden happening.

We are at the beach and stay at a rented condo. The kids have their own room and I have another. But Natalie kept torturing Tommy the first night: jumping on him, tugging on his feet, asking a million questions. It got to the point where he was in tears. He knows he cannot strike his sister so all he can do is sit and take it while frustration builds. So I removed Natalie and put her in with me, since Tom isn't here. (She was insulted that I took her away. "Tommy will miss me!" she insisted. "No I won't! Not at all," Tommy promptly responded.)

I do not co-sleep.

I have never co-slept.

I don't look down on those who co-sleep but it is not, will not, ever be for me.

This was reiterated when I plucked Natalie down on the bed. Now, there were two twin beds in the room so we weren't sharing a bed at least. But she was still in my space. I'm of the firm belief that children belong in their own rooms. The evening is when I get MY time. Downtime. Kid free time.

Natalie was not making my life easy.

She tried to frighten me.

She began asking questions.

"What is your favorite My Little Pony? Mine is Rainbow Dash. Or maybe Pinkie Pie. Who is your favorite Disney princess? Mine is Rapunzel but I do like them all. Why do you have hair on your toes? That's gross. Why can't you swim very well? I thought adults were supposed to know how to swim."

And on. And on. And on.

At this point it was 11. My daughter is a night owl. I normally don't mind because she's in HER room entertaining herself.

"It's bedtime," I reminded her for what seemed like the millionth time. "We can talk in the morning."

"You won't though. You say you need time to wake up," Natalie pouted.

"I'll tell you when it's a proper time to converse, I promise."

Silence.

I thought, "Yes, she's asleep!"

Then, "Mommy? Sometimes kids fart at school."

"It's BEDTIME!"

I shut my eyes. I was about to drift off and then....*shuffle shuffle shuffle* Natalie couldn't get comfortable on her bed. And it squeaked. So I'd hear, "Eeee eeee eee," and I think she figured this out too because she kept making the bed "talk."

"Natalie! Please hold still," I begged. "I'm very tired."

Silence.

"Eeee. Eee. Eee."

I seriously was close to depositing her out in the hall. I could throw out some blankets and pillows and lie and say it was a privilege to sleep in the hall. But no, that would be mean, wouldn't it? Still. She wasn't BEING QUIET.

It was probably around midnight when Natalie went still. The good news is that because she stays up so late, she sleeps in until 930-10. Yes, I will have to correct her sleep when school begins but during the summer I'm pretty lax.

We leave the beach tomorrow. By then I'll have shared my room for 5 days.

I am very much looking forward to having my own room and my own bed again.

Co-sleeping.

It's not for me.

A Date With My Son

I have dates with my children.

I think it’s important to take them out one at a time so they are able to get my full focus. I can imagine it’s hard for Tommy to be heard at times with a sister like Natalie.

So I make sure to take him out, just the two of us.

When we were at Disney World, I left Natalie with her Grandma and took my boy to Downtown Disney.

We had lunch at Wolfgang Pucks. The food is amazing and yes, you can use your meal plan.

“It sure is quieter without Natalie,” he observed.

Very true.

We did some shopping afterwards. He doesn’t mind shopping. Well, to a point. If I start to take too long, he will begin to sigh. He’ll keep quiet but I can see his lips start to tighten. He’s better than his father. Tom will be like, “Why are we looking at shoes? We don’t need shoes!” or, “Why are we down the candy aisle?”

My son loves Nintendo and there was a little area set up.

You could play the new Wii U, which he loved.

“Sorry,” I said. “It’s $350 and we’ve all grown accustomed to eating and if we get that, we won’t be able to for a very long time.”

We ended up having a great time.

(And Natalie did end up getting to experience Downtown Disney at another time. She was picked to do some Irish dancing!)

Things That Annoy Me Thursday: No Helmets

It never fails.

Whenever I go somewhere, I always see a motorcyclist without his or her helmet.

I don’t understand why.

Do they not care what will happen if they get injured?

To me it’s like they’re saying, “Hey, I don’t care if my brains get splattered all over the road.”

I really don’t get it.

Military members MUST wear helmets and protective gear.

I wish ALL motorcyclists would follow the rule. They might think they will never get hurt but one never knows. A car could accidentally smack into them and then what? They could lose control and roll across the street.

If you know a motorcyclist or are one, please wear your helmet. It might be drastically hot outside. It might not look cool to you. But it’ll probably save your life.