Hello, strangers…
Although I’ve still been active on Facebook and Twitter, I’ve been neglecting my dear blog for a few weeks. Just to catch you up, here’s a run down of what’s been going on here…
The day after Jake created a mural of submarines (penises) on the front door, we took off on an 11 day beach vacation. I’m fortunate enough to be able to do that because my parents have a place in Lewes, Delaware about 7 minutes from the actual beach.
We tried out some new fashions…
We had fun on the beach…
We played with ocean animals…
My husband and I were able to really relax on vacation *cough*
We had fun on the boardwalk…
We threw nutrition to the wind…
Did some family bonding…
…and took our sun protection very seriously.
The kids had a blast, and I’m more certain than ever that I belong at the beach year round (even though I only live an hour away right now). While I was away, I was so surprised to be listed as one of the 10 Funny (Mom) Blogs You Should Read Today posted on Babble.com by one of my own favorite funny bloggers, Jen from People I Want to Punch in the Throat. Check out her full list of funny (Mom) bloggers, and if you happen to be one of the few people who doesn’t read her blog, get.on.it.
Once we came back from vacation I had a garden full of vegetables which was awesome because then we had a heat wave and I’m pretty sure half of my plants are dead after a week of 100 degree weather. I managed to yield about 50 cucumbers and made some pickles:
Who says I’m not really domestic? This counts, right?
Then last week we kicked off birthday month with Cecilia turning three and Joey turning seven. With their birthdays three days apart the kids ate cake for a week, which unfortunately also coincided with the heat wave keeping the over sugared children indoors more than normal. There’s been extra mind-melting activities like TV and DVD’s along with extended playtime on the Wii (do your kids have Skylanders? Oh my God these boys are obsessed!). Joey has also recently taken to talking on the phone and I’m pretty sure he started a lovely rumor when he told one of his friends that “My Mom makes videos for the internet!” (By the way those movies are all here)
Cecilia giving me a lovely picture to remember her 3rd birthday
Oh, and I never thought anything would top the time I won free pork for a year, and then I won a case of Mad Housewife Wine with my photo on the label! Cross that one off my bucket list! How awesome is that?? I’ll post more when I receive it! If you haven’t tried Mad Housewife Wine yet, you’re missing out!
This week has been a little out of the ordinary too with a photo shoot for a magazine on Monday. If all goes according to plan I’ll have the details to share with you in a month or so, but there were a couple things I learned:
1. On a day when I need to be photographed the humidity will be at 100% (think rain forest).
2. I will be bloated and have my period…it will also include a nice pimple for good measure.
3. Even in a pretty red dress, I felt ridiculous. I am good at pictures that are supposed to be silly or funny, but serious or normal, is much harder than I thought.
Thankfully, the team that was there was wonderful and made me feel at ease, and I also had my hair and make up done which will hopefully help me pass as a normal suburban housewife. Shhhhhhh!
Oh, and I learned that with straight hair, most people, including friends and family don’t recognize me. After having it professionally straightened twice in three days, I was beginning to feel like my own evil twin…
And lastly, I received a question a couple days ago about my red dress…you know, this one:
Laundry never FELT so fabulous.
I got this dress on a cold, dismal January day and wearing it around the house totally uplifted me. I was still doing my ordinary things like laundry, making PB & J, and cleaning but I felt beautiful.
Fabulous.
Powerful.
At the end of April I wore the dress to the Real Charitable Housewives of Delaware’s Mom Prom, and although I had a really fun night, wearing the dress around the house was something that I’ll carry with me for a long time. It transformed my mood, it gave me a spark again just when I needed it most…
Anyway, I’m finished with the dress now. And thanks to Jenny Lawson, aka The Bloggess, and her brilliant idea, I’m posting it on her Traveling Red Dress Facebook page. It’s time to give this dress to someone else so they can feel as good as I did, and hopefully they will do the same when they’re done…so check out her Traveling Red Dress page where you can look for a dress, donate a dress to someone else, and just be part of an empowering, magical, movement that is sure to leave you feeling amazing.
Red dresses should be worn and shown off. They don’t belong tucked away in a closet….share the fabulousness & then pass it on!
My last spin in the dress before sending it to the cleaners so I can pass it on (minus the wine from Prom and the grass clippings):
Lawn mowing…like a boss.
Sorry this post is so long, I promise I’ll be better about posting more often. What have you all been up to? What have I missed? Leave me a comment! I’d love to hear from you!
I love that you’re donating the dress to the Traveling Red Dress. This got me verklempt.
And yes, my son has Skylnders. Since his birthday, he now has 21 of those suckers and he doesn’t even need the Wii to be on to play with them. Do your boys have the Skylanders book? If not, bribe them with it – they will do ANYTHING to get their mitts on it. Anything.
This dress had to be passed on, Kim. It deserves to be worn and the magic to be passed on, not left hanging in the back of the closet. I’m sad to see it go, but I can’t wait to see where it ends up!
And Skylanders! Holy hell. My kids are addicted. The good thing is there are 9 million of them, most are under $10 and they are excellent bribes, I mean “rewards,” for great behavior. There is potential here.
We had some good times in Baltimore after the power went out. I wrote a story about it: http://dontforgettofeedthebaby.wordpress.com/2012/07/08/part-1-after-the-lights-went-out/ It’s a little long, but I’m wicked proud of it. Heads up — along with the usual snarky baby humor, there might be some undead.
I really hope it was restored quickly…I’m across the Chesapeake, and I know it was HOT after those storms blew through!
Love your vacation photos – it looks like the family had a good time.
I also have naturally curly hair, and despite my attempts at a Brazilian Blowout and Keratin Treatments (which did NOT take nearly enough curl out to be considered straightening treatments; more like less frizz – which is good too but not what they promise), when I straighten it with a flat iron, as I do in the winter fairly often, my own mother doesn’t even recognize me when I run into her at the store!
I haven;t tried the Brazilian Blowout for that same reason…I know it wouldn’t work! And this time of year I never have straight hair, with the humidity it’s not even worth trying.
I need that dress-so I can scoop the cat litter in it, make mac and cheese for the umpteenth time for my teenager, clean the pool because I don’t have a Brazilian pool boy, and drink wine! Headed to the beach next week to thrill al in my Miraclesuit…Love your post-need. more. thanks.
Everyone needs a red dress like this, I swear it. Even if you don’t think you need one, you do. It’s an amazing thing to feel fabulous for no reason.
Glad you and family got the chance to get away and enjoy the beach….we just got back from good ‘ol Rehoboth too (which we love! and I totally fell off the healthy eating wagon indulging in Nicola pizza & Kohr’s custard)….but, sadly, we brought back hand, foot and mouth virus from (I think..though, I am sure it could even be on a cart from Target) Funland with us. And it attacked our whole family. Mommy included. Fun times… Love your posts and on these long, hot, kid filled days…get excited to see a Domestic Diva post in my mailbox!
So sorry to hear you guys were sick….we actually caught that a few years ago, Memorial Day weekend, when I was pregnant with my daughter (and the boys were 3 and 1)…it was awful! Hope that you had a good time before that at least!
You are the most fabulous housewife of all time. And yes, pickles totally count as a domestic accomplishment! Congratulations on your wine bottle appearance. Thank you for your photos, humor and overall realistic attitude towards all things domestic. Cheers!
“My mom makes videos for the internet” – Love it!!!!
Kudos to you for taking some much needed vacation family time! I can’t wait for our vacation- I just wish it didn’t involve a million hours in the car driving cross country.
I adore your blog. I’m excited to hear about what’s coming up!!! Love love love love the photos – and the pickles! Your kids are adorable! Congrats on all of your successes! I can’t wait to read about more and more of them!!!!!!!! CONGRATS!!!!!
I love that straw hat! And I love the idea of wearing a sexy dress around the house. Also, yum pickles!
Looks like a fun trip. Everyone needs a break, but when does your come? And after reading your blog for some time now, I have decided to start my own. If you like take a look – http://worldoboys.blogspot.com
check it out, you were my inspiration!
LOL love the dress thing!!! Gosh I WISH I could fit into it! You look great.
Did you REALLY get ANY R & R with the kids along??? LOL I’m a gramma now and I find that whenever we do things with the grandkids- I think- HOW did I EVER survive raising kids?
Oh my yes, pickles count. Color me impressed. I tend to let my veggies wither on the vine. Or there was the day I picked eggplants, got distracted and left them in the sun to shrivel. i mourn those eggplants.
Your hair looked fabulous. You could totally blown it out yourself. I do, And how exciting about the magazine. Can’t wait to hear more about it. Ellen
Looks like you are having a fabulous July. Can’t wait to see the results of your photo shoot.
So I am slow getting around to reading this but I was cracking up as always
It reminded me of the fact that I have a fur coat that I use to wear to shovel snow in when we lived in Idaho. I would put on my fancy jewelry, throw the coat on and go out and my neighbor thought I was crazy. Thought I might as well wear something fabulous and try to forget the awful chore I was doing.