#HeyTomCorbett, Save the Arts in Upper Darby

Way back in high school I was a band geek. I couldn't play to save my life but God bless Mr. Kariga (I'm sorry if I'm spelling his name wrong; I can't find my year book). He let me play the clarinet and the bass despite me not practicing, not really knowing how to play music, and always being a pain in the ass (me, really? I know you're shocked) and I was a part of something that was just really great. At the time I didn't appreciate what being in a extra curricular activity meant. It was a way to be legitimately excused from class, I got a cool band shirt and I learned how to play Axel F on the piano. In that part of my brain that imagined having a kid, I wanted my kid to have what I had and more.  I imagined The Bee much more musically talented (The Dad's family has legitimate talent) and the extras in school that I enjoyed would be there for my kid.

My niece is a student at Upper Darby and the arts (yes I use that term for a range of things) has been a blessing for her. She has been so involved and has blossomed into a young lady. Bleow is a video andf petiton and I beg you to tak e few minutes to watch the video and sign.


We need your help.
We need arts, music, phyisical fitness. We need those people who teach and take care of our children.
We need you.



















We are writing to you, mother to mother, parent to parent, to ask for your help.  You may be aware that in the Upper Darby School District, located just outside of Philadelphia, the administration has proposed cutting arts, music, library, and physical education at the elementary school level, and foreign language at the middle school level.   This is critical—the board will be voting on this budget by June 30th, and implementing in the upcoming school year if it passes.  Their budget proposal was formed in response to a funding crisis that is sweeping across the state of Pennsylvania.


Many people who are not directly affected think that this is not relevant to them, but we want you to know that if you believe in public education, it is critical that you pay attention. We plan to travel as a group to Harrisburg on June 6th and are collecting signatures on the attached petition.  Please take the time to go and sign it.  We need a total of 30,000 signatures and need your help! 
Thank you from the concerned parents at Save Upper Darby Arts (SUDA).


Sign the petition HERE (This is the most important action you can do right now and it takes less than 60 seconds-they need 14,000 more signatures!)  Then share it, ask your friends, husband, etc to sign too. 




Save Upper Darby Arts information and website can be found HERE

One More Page...Things That Go Bump in the Night

I've been totally lax with sharing the books that I've been reading on the blog. My apologies as I have finally been dipping into that pile of books that I got from PLA, the book buzz back in December and have been back to the Free Library of Philadelphia (I'm no longer a fugitive from the library!) and I have been reading, reading, reading!

That's a whole heap of books!

I think part of my reading binge is because in the next few weeks my time won't be my own. Summer Reading (dun, dun, dun!) is starting and I will be busy as all get out. (Visions of the library over run with kids...books everywhere...come back Rachee! Come back!) Plus I am going to Book Expo America and will be getting so many more books and well, I don't really have room for all of them and, well it's me so I was feeling a tad guilty at my book hoarding.


So since The Bee has been at her dad's and I've given up all pretense at cleaning my house or folding the laundry I've washed (or being social...I'm going through something and books are totes my escape). Instead I grabbed a couple of piles of books and have been picking up some of the books that I had picked up.


Here it goes:

Gone Girl by Jillian Flynn

From Kirkus:
“A perfect wife’s disappearance plunges her husband into a nightmare as it rips open ugly secrets about his marriage and, just maybe, his culpability in her death… One of those rare thrillers whose revelations actually intensify its suspense instead of dissipating it. The final pages are chilling.” —Kirkus (starred review)

I loved Gillian when she wrote for Entertainment Weekly and her first novel was a weird wild ride. Her newest book, Gone Girl, kept me guessing,. Each time I thought I had figured out what the characters were motivated by or where she was going with the book I was wrong and pleasantly had my mind blown.


It's hard to believe that people like Nick and Amy (the characters from the book) exist but Gillian fleshed them out and made me reexamine my relationships with everyone.




Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes

From The Guardian:
"From its uncompromising prologue – a young woman being bludgeoned to death in a ditch – Haynes's powerful account of domestic violence is disquieting, yet unsensationalist."
I've just started this book and already on edge. I'm breathless as I await the violence, the abuse and the damage that will happen to the obsession that is disguised as a relationship.

The Talk Show Murders by Al Roker and Dick Lochte
I've reads the first two Billy Blessing books and feel a bit obligated to read this one which is actually pretty decent. It's familiar enough without being (as) repetitive and it's kinda fun. I don't know all of the television mediums so I worry that Al and Dick may not have enough types of TV show types to go around for murdering.




I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga
From Jenn's Bookshelves:

Jazz isn’t your typical teenager. His father, Billy Dent, just happens to be an incarcerated serial killer, one of the most prolific killers of modern times. As a child, Jazz was immersed in his father’s sick obsession so now as a young adult, he’s desperate to prevent himself from becoming the man his father wants him to be. Every little urge has Jazz wondering if this is how his father started out, if they are the early warning signs of his evolution into a sociopath.

My list servs at work was all abuzz about this one but I found myself wanting this thing to be over. (Yes, yes I could put the book down but something compelled me). I don't know. The book just got on my nerves. Main character Jazz was so arrogant in knowing more than the cops that he broke basic lessons people watching Law & Order learn. This book was totally written for a teens and my adult brain couldn't turn off. 




What are you reading?
Double checking the locks,
-r

Home is Where the Mess is

So.
Lately I'm all about lists.
Lists to pull me out of that funk that I've been lingering in.
Lists to try and get stuff together as we hurtle towards summer and a little thing I call "Ahhhh!"
There is something so satisfying about a list. You can cross things off to show that it's done, it's (in theory) a way to keep things in order and lists always represnted something  that I was working towards.
Which is why I was stoked to see this blog meme/hop/tour (it's really is all of them!) hosted by Stasha, from The Good Life, and FINALLY be able to link up.

This week, Ten Words to Describe Home

1. Messy (As I type I'm pretending not to notice the three baskets of laundry I've been folding all day)
2. Yarn (I am ashamed to say that I have yarn everywhere)
3. Shoes (The Bee and I wear the same pairs of shoes daily yet they cover many more places  than they should)
4. Cat (Cause Lil is like the anti-Visa...everywhere I don't want her to be!)
5. Water Ice (We keep what seems to be an endless supply)
6. Comfortable (The couch has some awesome butt grooves)
7. Progressive (It's a work in progress as we STILL move in. Two years later.)
8. Freedom (I've lived with someone all of my life. This house is my first time living alone)
9. Loud (Neighbors, the prowling neighborhood cats, those motorbikes ripping back and forth through the street)
10. Loaded (We've got a lot of stuff. I need to work on that)

Source: etsy.com via Rachée on Pinterest

What words describe your home?

-r

They Like Me! Get the Skinny Scoop on Mommy Bloggers

I won't lie; when I was first notified that I was in the running for being one of the top mommy blogs for The Skinny Scoop I thought there was a mistake. But nope, there is lil ole me hanging in the list with some other bloggers that I read and follow!;
So, here is the beg time...can I get a vote please?

Need more info? Check it; the Skinny Scoop is a site that, well, gives you the skinny on the things you love. Make a list and see what other women are digging. Not sure where you fit in? Check out the lists created by other users. The site is free, easy to navigate and pretty cool.

C'mon; I know you're intrigued...it's LISTS!
Seriously, I'm asking for your votes and since you're there, check out the site.








r's note: No, I was not asked to write this; I am seriously asking for votes and suggest you make a list or two while you're there!

#SOCSunday: Making a List

Source: bing.com via Marisa on Pinterest

I haven't really participated in Fadra's Stream of Consciousness Sunday for a while. I hadn't really had the time; I was dealing with sick family members, not feeling totally myself, and quite honestly, just didn't feel like it. This weekend has been the first weekend in which there are no obligations, no kid and no plans. As I found myself aimlessly wandering not sure what to do with all of this free time I started to feel overwhelmed. I have plenty I *could* be doing but as I looked upon the piles of laundry to be folded, the dishes to be washed, the weeds to be pulled I found myself getting that sinking feeling that comes with that overwhelming feeling of helplessness. Putzing around on Twitter I came across Fadra's prompt and felt the urge to type. 


Once again I thinnk we are connected. Once again this is totally taking more than five minutes and I find myself wanting to share this answer to the prompt below:


Today’s Writing Prompt: What feels overwhelming to you right now and how are you coping?


I watched Friends with Money last night and found myself hating all of the characters but sorta relationg a bit to the Frances McDormand character, Jane. Oh Jane is just miserable and spreading her bile around her. Jane is angry, oh so angry and she can't even express why she feels this way. Nothing makes her see how this behavior is affecting her life, not even when she literally breaks her nose walking into a plate glass door does she get it. 


When her husband, Aaron, asks her what the problem is this exchange happens:
From Friends with Money (2006)
Jane: I'm just tired. 
Aaron: Of what? 
Jane: I just, guess I feel there's no more wondering what's it gonna be like. 
Aaron: Like what's gonna be like? 
Jane: My fabulous life.




I guess I'm feeling a tad like Jane, without  the so angry I walk into the door bit. I'm just tired and feeling overwhelmed by everything. The piles of laundry that seem to multiply (my God how does one woman and one girl child produce so much laundry?).  The dishes (see above but substitute dishes for laundry). Work, Mom, The Bee. I'm just freakin' done.


I know when I get like this I tend to lash out...my body is taking the brunt of my grumpiness. I binge, I deny, I feel bad.   My mental well being is affected...I avoid (sorry A and S for not making it over this weekend), I hide and it seems dark and brutal and hopeless. I feel sluggish, like I have lead weights around my leg and I'm in a pool and even the smallest acts feel like a major thing.


Since I have been blogging and sorta putting all of my business out there for y'all to read, I feel embarrassed to be writing about feeling overwhelmed. Again. Looking through my archives I have previously written about being overwhelmed and junk and well, who wants to read this old chestnut again? I can't lie; I'm down and well, y'all are gonna just have to bare with me while I work through it. 


I made a list of everything that has been bothering me, some huge, some not so big, some that only mean something to me. It helps to see them on paper because, while numerous, the somethings can get out of my head and when I do something with them I can then cross them off and that little act really means a lot. 

The leaden feeling still looms and it may be a few more days until I feel more like myself but its ok. I don't enjoy feeling like this but since I know that I'm feeling the way that I feel I rationalize that its not all bad. There will be a way from under the water and a way to lighten where I am but for now I have my list and that's good enough for now.






This was my Stream of Consciousness Sunday post. It’s five-ish minutes of your time and a brain dump. Want to try it? Here are the rules…

• Set a timer and write for 5 minutes. 
• Write an intro to the post if you want but don’t edit the post. No proofreading or spellchecking. This is writing in the raw. (See above)
• Publish it somewhere. Anywhere. The back door to your blog if you want. But make it accessible.
• Add the Stream of Consciousness Sunday badge to your post.
• Link up your post on Fadra's site.
• Visit your fellow bloggers and show some love.

The Little Blue Dress

Last week I went to a party for one of the social media groups I belong to. I was excited about the party, looking forward to hanging out "in real life" with folks I mostly interact with online. All day I made sure to stay on schedule so I wouldn't have an excuse not to make it to the party. I had an outfit planned and was feeling on cloud nine...until I actually got home and started to dress. I was totally having an "I hate me moment" and almost stayed home. Almost until I remembered "The Buffy Blue Dress"



I borrowed a dress from my sister a few months ago as we headed for some dressy thing or another and it has just found its way into my closet. It's been my go to and I just decided to go with it. After the reaction I got from wearing this dress I decided that it was time for me to stop hiding and feeling bad about the way I looked, do something about it and not have myself feel that way again.



I don't look bad, felt great and had a good time.

Thanks Little Blue dress!

Photo via Pam, the Unconventional Librarian

#vlogmom, These Three Things

Hi all! This week's #vlogmom topic comes from Megan at Sweet Sadie Marie. Megan asked, "Share 3 items from your junk drawer or car console." And since I missed last week's prompt I added it to this week's video.

Please to enjoy...These three things, a #vlogmom video.

But They All Walk to Kindergarten

It may come as a shock (probably not) that I used to be "That Parent". You know the one, always making their kid perform (Me: "Show Grandma how you can count to ten in Spanish!") or always shopping at some store, online or brick and mortar, for that thing that promised to have your kid reading by age 2 or promising an Einstein in preschool (I think Zany Brainy would have stayed in business if I had known about it when I was still pregnant).

Oh yes, I was that person and not fun to be around. I was preachy, carting around my "helpful" baby/toddler guides to note and check that The Bee was hitting all of the milestones as she should. When she didn't quite make the mark I would frustrate me, her and anyone around as I worried about why she wasn't where the book suggested she be at that age. I felt it was my mission to inform, and nag, my fellow parents to do all of the things that I was doing. Because, of course, I had to be right. Looking back there were major other things going on - marriage falling apart, me depressed, attempting and failing (again) in school and trying to be super mom. Instead of addressing any of these problems I focused all I had on The Bee.

With regret I think that I missed so much of The Bee's toddler days; it's a bit a of a blur. There were times when I resented the role as mom but felt it my duty to push on and do what "I needed to do to make her succeed." No one forced me to act this way; I just thought that my kid and I needed to be more. During this time, my sister had just had her second kid, my nephew who is 17 months younger than The Bee. Buffy seemed to enjoy her role as mom without the maniacal bend to making her kid the smartest.

A couple of things happened that made me stop what I was doing. First there was the one time The Bee and I were doing some manic library reading, and a librarian I was friendly with asked me if I were busy. Glancing at the pile of books I had beside me, I was annoyed at her interruption but managed to listen to her spiel for a library program called Books Aloud. Although the Books Aloud program was really geared towards teachers, I was able to attend since she knew me to be a frequent flyer of libraries as well as invested in early childhood education for my kid. This caused me to meet Carla, the person who inspired me to look at the library as more than a place to park it during the day and as a possible career. Carla was a blessing. She encouraged me to read to The Bee but to also spend time with her, to relax, to enjoy being her mother. It was difficult. I had to push my child because, well who else could be trusted to make her smart! But what Carla spurred me to do may have been the best of all...enjoy The Bee.

Second: Buffy, who shoots straight from the hip and takes no prisoners, let me have it in that Buffy way she has. As she and I, along with our gaggle of kids, were headed to some edutainment thing at a library one day, I rushed her as I hurried to get to the event on time. Once we arrived, Buffy stood next the car and lit a cigarette, looked me in the eye and told me that I needed to stop making her feel guilty about what she was or wasn't doing with her kids. She inhaled and told me to knock it off, that the kids were fine and then she asked them what they wanted to do. They answered something about a park and water ice and I felt shocked that they didn't want to spend the afternoon in the library with me. She told me they would meet me in an hour and they all headed off.  Sitting in the program that afternoon I felt ashamed, embarrassed, angry and silly.Perhaps there was more than one way to be a mother and perhaps the Rachee way isn't always the right way.

When The Bee finally started preschool she did fine. She was happy, she excelled and I relaxed. She may not have been reading at four but she was happy to show me her drawn pictures of princesses and cakes. She is a smart, clever, intelligent, good kid and one less book or flashcard didn't harm her or damage her.

It helped make me a better mom.



This post is inspired by the novel Julia's Child by Sarah Pinneo. Worried about what her kids eat, Julia Bailey starts a prepared organic toddler meals business. With names like Gentil Lentil, can Julia balance work and family and still save the world? Join From Left to Write on May 24 as we discuss Julia's Child. As a member, I received a copy of the book for review purposes.

Work slays

In which the freaks come out in the afternoon.

The theme for the teen Summer Reading Program is "Own the Night" and my co-worker Abbe came up with the great idea of promoting our reading program to area schools...us dressed as zombies! We asked our friend, make up artist and hooper extraordinaire, Sarah Jordan to make this  make us up and here goes.
Sarah does amazing, QUICK work!

If you like Sarah's work, e-mail her at sarahmaccarelli@gmail.com.

Before
Let me say that I love my smile here

After.
Zombie Rachee would totally have pens and pencils in her hair.

Sarah did an amazing job! I went from Rachee, library chick to Brainfed Rachee, Abbe is Abbe Cadaver and here is our amazing video.





I also read (one of) my favorite alphabet books. The Absolutely Awful Alphabet, full of juicy vocabulary!



Sarah is returning to the library this summer for a Zombie makeover of our teens and tweens. If you like what you see, join us on June 18th!
-r

Friday Favorites: Queen of Disco

In which I don platforms and sequins out! I'm traveling back in time!

When I saw the first tweets and Facebook posts about Donna Summer dying, I ignored them. Twitter and Facebook are always "killing" someone and I thought this was another case of a celebrity death hoax. When it was confirmed I felt a little sad. I used to love me some Donna Summer. My sister and I would argue over who was better; she liked Natalie Cole (Forreals) and I was all about Donna.

We used to play that record over and over singing Bad Girls and Hot Stuff, we made a dance to Dim All the Lights (it started slow and moved on to a fast funky boogie) and well it wasn't until I was older that I realized that this album was about, uh, ladies of the night.

The cop *should* have been a giveaway.
Duh!

My Favorites:


Hot Stuff.
Well, I love Hot Stuff for a variety of reasons. When Pop was a kid she would sing Hot Stuff, baby the Seedlings, thinking she was singing about her daycare which was called The Seedlings.
Hot Stuff was also featured in The Full Monty which was the first movie I ever saw the always fabulous Tom Livingston.
Below is a trailer for the movie featuring Hot, hot, hot, hot...stuuuuff!








She Works Hard for the Money
My former brother in law would always say "A job ain't nothing but work" and there are days that this rings true. Working, taking care of kids, your house, your other family oh yeah and yourself...Bah!Getting up early, staying up late. I remember my mom crying when she first heard this song. I didn't get it then but heaven knows I get it now!








Unconditional Love
This was a new sound for Donna and I just dug it. Buffy and I were at camp when this song came out and my mom wrote me a letter telling me that she had bought this album. Of course a Fagg Sister dance resulted.








State of Independence.

Yes, I do know how I survive
Yes, I do why I´m alive
To love and be with you
Day by day by day by day

During a particularly angsty time I may or may not have sang this to a guy I was dating. It has a different meaning now that I learn Donna was celebrating being born again and the love she was expressing was for HIM and not any ole him.
Don't judge me.







Last Dance
Cause it sounds a tad melancholy and regretful.
Last Dance, Last Chance for love... but then it turns hopeful and well that last dance doesn't seem so bad at all.









MacArthur Park
My aunt used to play (and play) and play this song over and over. My sister and I used to cry because someone left a cake out in the rain. Knowing my people they probably told us it was a real cake and we probably wanted a slice. I like cake.









I Feel Love
I know this song seems a bit risque but really, this is the perfect song for stretching. No euphemisms. Just laid back enough to quiet your mind and long enough to relax.








RIP Queen of Disco

Foodler: Making Delivery and Take Out a Breeze

Or Thursday nights just got easier.


I've never really verbalized it but here goes: I dislike calling for food deliveries. 
There, I said it.
I love eating, I love the convenience of having someone else cook for me but that bit in between (the ordering and junk) I can't stand it. I will cop to some user (mine) error but there are times when I call and make special requests and the meal is delayed due to the requests not being included, a misinterpretation of a food thing or just something that's off.


When fellow blogger, Jo-Lynne S, asked me to review Foodler I was sold on the idea of online ordering. 


From their website:

What is Foodler?

Foodler makes online ordering of take-out and delivery food from local restaurants quick and easy!

Our fast-growing network of online restaurants in Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago,Dallas, Denver, Miami, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Washingtonoffers a wide selection of menus and cuisines. From popular Chinese, Italian, American, and Mexican menus to exotic Thai, Spanish, and Brazilian - it can all be found on Foodler. Of course, we also have a large selection of everyone's favorite sub and pizza restaurants.

To access our database of menus, simply enter your location on the Foodler home pageand we'll present you with a list of all the restaurants that offer delivery and take-out meals to your area. You can browse the complete menus of those restaurants, click on your selections, and send your order directly to the restaurant. It's that simple!

Foodler Gives You:

• Easy, intuitive, and free online ordering from restaurant menus. Read what others have said.
• Complete listings of restaurants that offer delivery and take-out in your area.
• Accurate prices, restaurant savings, and online coupons.
• A variety of menus including Chinese, Italian, Pizza, Mexican, Japanese, and Thai.
• Exclusive restaurant ratings and satisfaction indexes.

Last week The Bee and I tried out Foodler and, without gushing, we give it a thumbs up. Registration was easy and for our honest review we were given a small stipend in "Foodler" bucks to use as we wished. Foodler bucks are like a sort of gift certificate good for ordering from the site. We reviewed the variety of restaurants and chose to order in Chinese from a restaurant we've passed but have never ordered. The menu was easy to access and select from with options for special requests. 

As we ordered we were able to keep track of our spending with a helpful running tab in a box on the side listing the order. Delivery costs and taxes were included to avoid any unnecessary surprises at the end of the order. There is also an estimated delivery time available so that we knew when to expect our food. The site also shows discounts and specials from the different restaurants and the discount or special that will help save the most money is selected for you as you order. 

The only nitpicky thing I can offer is that not all restaurants in the area are listed. This may just be a perfect way to get out of your restaurant rut (like me) and try something new. 

I enjoyed my experience and will alternate Foodler listed restaurants with my normal haunts. The prices are similar and I've just found out that there are restaurants near my college gig available for delivered orders! This means no more long hungry shifts or junk food runs.

Take out or delivery is so simple! Plug in your information on Foodler.com and see what's available.

Getting ready for dinner,

-r

r's note: I was given 20 dollars in Foodler bucks to try out Foodler. ALl opinions are my own

On the Hooks: I Got Yarn!

In which I channel Bart Simpson, brag a little lot and get ready to hook.


My poor family. For the last two weeks I was channeling my inner Bart Simpson*:

But instead of a spy camera, I was waiting for the yarn I won during a giveaway on the blog Crochet Concupiscense. It was Kathryn's birthday and she was giving out the motherload of goodies. During the contest I drooled over the pictures of what I was to win. After I won (yay me!) I squealed and squeed over the excitement that the e-mail notification of my win gave me. Then I waited. Kathryn was kind enough to e-mail updates about mailing the yarn but that didn't stop me from random stops home, eye balling every package delivered to the house or randomly calling home to see if "anything came in the mail for me" or checking Kathryn's site to look at the giveaway and make plans about a possible yarn thing.

Last night as The Bee and I were picking up items at the market, Mom called me to inform me that there was a package for me and it was heavy. Could it be my haul...? It was!

I tore through the box, excited about what I would find. There were the balls of yarns, magazines, hooks, everything as pictured. Kathryn also enclosed a handwritten note congratulating me on my win and loads of books with ideas for me to use.

Kathryn wrote a book that she shared with me!

Look at all of this fiber goodness

Caught in the act!

Tonight I am going to get down and crafty. I am so, oh so excited!

More later after I figure what I make first!

-r

Aside: I totes miss old Simpsons. 

Monday Musings: DNS

Source: believe-toachieve.tumblr.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

I didn't run.

I wish I could tell a funny story, a tragic thing, but nope. Sunday while all of my friends were lining up to make the trek down Broad Street, I was sitting on my coach watching an episode of Law & Order (a lady with great looking locs "did it").

There is a part of me so ashamed and embarrassed. I publicly declared my intent to run, started training and I let well, I let me get in my own way. I employed the usual bag of tricks: I stopped training, "forgot" my track stuff, just didn't have time (or didn't make time). Heck, I even forgot the hours of the Expo and didn't make it down to pick up my race package. Every excuse in the book and here I am still not any closer to getting my butt off of the couch.

There is also a part of me that feels kind of relived. I wasn't anywhere near ready to run, wog or walk and now that it's over I feel a huge weight released. I don't want to waste money but I don't want to go through that anxiety again.

Sigh.

Squeezing into my clothes each day, looking at the me on camera and feeling out of breath during my regular work day I know that there is something I need to do. I could certainly write a book about what I want to do. Doing it? It's so much easier to chill on a couch and eat a bag of something than to actually hit the track.

Watching The Bee train for track I realize what a mixed bag of messages I must be sending to her. I encourage her to train when she's "not feeling like it", to try the new events when she thinks it's "not for her" and to listen to her coach about the foods she eats. I talk to her about track and her running and she, in that sweet way she has, always tells me to do what I can and that maybe this week is not my week.

I love her so much! (even when she is driving me nuts with being a hormonal pretween)

I avoided Facebook and Twitter most of the day after the race. I knew that my friends would post all of their happy news and all I wanted to do was crawl in a hole and hide. I called Effin Guy so that I could whine and have a pity party (because really, who wants to have a pity party alone?) and he listened and told me to remember the feeling I was having so that the next time I would know how I didn't want to feel.

So catch me out there getting my huff on Memorial Day. I am a celebrity walker (tee hee) and plan to get up and at 'er.

So I won't have to feel the way I did yesterday.

-r

PS: I was also feeling some type of way because the race day swag looked pretty awesome. Yes. I went there.

#VlogMom: Sanity by hook, book or Tyra

Happy Thursday Friends!

Today I'm participating once again in #VlogMom and today we are talking what keeps us sane! The prompt was suggested by Desiree from StressFreeBaby.com
Check it!

r's note: My editing software is acting a bit wacky! Please excuse the low sound quality.
Now, please to enjoy.





Join in on the conversation!
Leave your sanity savers in the comments or share a link to your blog.
Don't forget to follow us on Twitter using the hastag #vlogmom




Happily hooking - no NOT that kind,
-r

#VlogMom: What *THEY* Didn't Tell You About Being a Mom

Hi All!
I am pleased to be a part of Vlog Mom, an amazing group of women who, well, vlog!
Today I share the three things no one told me about motherhood (shakes fist).
If you have one to add join the conversation here in the comments or follow us on Twitter using the hashtag: #vlogmom

Thoughtful Tuesdays: Ten Mo' Things You Will Now Know About Me

Or...Mo' Better Rachée. (I really wanted to use that title)

So.
A fellow blogger, Liz, wrote a post sharing ten things we didn't know about her. After giggling through her post I totes agreed with ANOTHER blogger, Hillary, when she suggested we do a ten things link up. Then Liz said we would and I got kinda nervous because I think I've told y'all everything there was to know about me. Sorta cause there are some things that I am STILL not ready to share.

So, here are ten more (semi superfluous) things about me. (Originally I couldn't think of ten and only had nine but then I thought of ten but y'all best know that this was really tough because a few weeks ago I shared a five things about me video on my about me page. (Go view it now. It's at the bottom of the page. I'll wait.)

Anywhoodle:

1. When I was a kid I wanted to grow up to have six kids. Among the names I had chosen for those poor unfortunate souls:
Emilee Diamond
Unique Zenith
Tiger Lily Rose
Benjamin Maximilian
Harrison Jefferson.
What was I on? I mean, wanting six kids and all!

2. Liz wrote about the no swimsuit period...I had a no outside in the summer period. For a good two years I had this weird thing where I wouldn't go outside during the summer. It was, wait for it, me thinking I was fat. Looking back, while yes, there were some mushy parts that shook a little more when I walked it is nothing like the disaster that is my body today. This is not a self deprecating thing but I am mushy in lots of places. Thar I blow!

3. I hate, absolutely HATE my middle name. I didn't tell my ex husband until about a year or so in and Effin Guy still doesn't know it (maybe he does and just can't remember it).

4. I used to have a crush on Gopher from Love Boat.  And the Fonz (God Help Me). And Theo from the Cosby Show. Of course Gopher looks like this, Fonzie looks like this and Theo looks like a really good friend of mine so it's kind of icky but back in the day....(starry moony eyes).

5. I hate gardening. I *think* I should garden because I have a piece of a patch of something in front of my house but yeah. It looks a hot mess and I'm not entirely upset about the prospect of paving it over and having a patio. That I probably won't use because then I'll be all complaining about not having a garden. (I know, right?)

Don't you wish your girlfriend was hot like me?

6. I rocked a Jheri Curl well into my second year of college (the first time around I mean). And no, you couldn't tell me anything honey! My hair may have been dripping and disgusting but it was bouncing and kinda behaving and I could put it in a ponytail.

7. In spite of being a reasonably intelligent woman, there is a (huge) part of me that thinks that The Planet of the Apes movies and The Matrix movies are based in some fact and are glimpses into the future. Seriously, yo! People think it's cute to put monkeys, apes, gibbons, whatever in clothes and teach them sign language. Keep playing and you'll wind up like Maurice Evans.  Also, why are we so dependent on machines? I do worship at the alter of Apple, and Sony and HP and am just as guilty but say what you will about the Wachowski bothers; those dues know some things. I saw The Animatrix. That robot went nuts and killed that family. Then they all went nuts and took over. HmmmMmmmm.
Think about it.

8. I hate being the fat twin. My poor sister carried this title for a good bit of our lives and now that I am taking a walk in her shoes it sucks monkey balls. I think being described as "a little chubbier" is quite sh*tty and to the person who thinks that is an appropriate description...tighten your weave.
Also, sorry Buffy for not telling people to F*ck Off when they would describe you as "having a fuller face."

9. As a kid I was attacked by a dog and as an adult I don't like dog slobber so I always tell people I'm afraid of dogs. Dumb to pull a Tina Cohen-Cheng but why do dogs think it's OK to lick you in the face, mouth and just violate the personal space rules? No thank you Fluffy. Stay out of my crotch.

10. I think about religion from time to time but really don't want to be "that woman" heading to church, fat, single, dragging her kid along. Me wearing some ill fitting dress or suit sporting elephant ankles cause I've stuffed my feet into some high heeled shoes that I have no business wearing and really don't match my outfit and my poor kid having to serve in some type of youth ministry. I don't want to hear the "I told you so's" from some of the Super-Christian-Bible-Thumping-Holy-Rolling-Churchier folk I know and honestly, I just don't want to make that commitment. I know when the rapture comes I'll be among the ones left behind but right now if it comes on a Sunday I'll be sleeping in. (That has got to be the most blasphemous thing I've written!)

With that, that's ten mo' about me. What about you?
What do I need to know? Share in the comments or link up with Liz!

-r