Mom to the Screaming Masses

The most amazing Real Simple Dinner

Friday night of the Blogher conference, I was a bit tired and grumpy.  The conference had ended and the cocktail party had started, and I wasn't finding any food.  As in, one lone guy passed me with a tray, and on the tray were tortilla chips topped with tuna, I think.  Yuck.  I found the bar and grabbed a drink and found some wild and crazy people to hang with, one of whom I didn't know AT ALL. (This factors in later, I promise.)

I was grumpy and tired because I hadn't slept well the night before - I was too nervous because of the whole speaking thing.  I had gotten up early and worked out, and then swam in the afternoon and walked the 1.5 or so miles to the conference.  So, combined with no food, I was out of sorts.  (I know, surprise, surprise.)  So when I realized I wasn't finding any food, I decided that I'd make it over to the dinner that Real Simple was hosting, a dinner that I'd been invited to with some other bloggers. My two erstwhile companions, having been invited themselves, joined me.  We all agreed that we'd go for a while, and I vowed that if it was no fun and the food wasn't worth it, I'd bow out.  I was hungry, damnit and wanted to eat.  And relax and have fun.

We went up to the dinner and were greeted by three employees of Real Simple, who were kind, gracious and funny.  There were two ladies there who offered to organize our pocketbooks, but since I didn't have one, they just gave me the pocketbook insert, which was really a black pocketbook all its own.  That was coolness number one.  We were given forms to fill out and directed to a table inside the formal dining area.  Because I am an idiot, I didn't read where the paper said to INTERVIEW someone, and instead answered my own questions.  A waiter came by, offering beef on a stick.  The most delicious, tender beef that one could have had.  Next came tuna sashimi, little grilled cheese sandwiches and small cups of tomato soup, quesidillas, and right behind us was the most gorgeous set up of cheeses and fruits.  Our small group quickly grew and grew, and we pulled cubes up to one table to fit everyone in.  It was like a grown up pajama party, and I had more fun there than I think is legal. 

Despite totally filling our bellies with appetizers, we were still given a dinner.  The most amazing dinner with salad and steak and salmon.  And what happens when you bring a beautiful plate of food out to bloggers?  Why, they record it to post on their blogs, of course.

(Somehow, someway, I WILL figure out how to make my pictures look better.)

Mothergoosemouse, Three Kid Circus and Not Calm.  Three insanely funny women that I am so honored to know.

Drowning in Kids, Daring Young Mom, and Kerflop - all who I want to be when I grow up.  Someday.

Oh My Stinkin' Heck - a wickedly funny woman who is more humorous than should be legal.  I didn't know her before this night, and I most certainly talked her ear off, but I now have a new idol and a new blog to add to the list.  It was a true testimony to me that last year I never would have held a conversation with her, being too intimidated and shy, but this year was so much better for me.

We ate until we were stuffed beyond our limits, and then they served dessert.  Tiny finger treats, coffee and teas.  We were all full and tired, but we knew there was a grand prize drawing for four hours with a Real Simple Organizer, live at YOUR own house.  So we waited and waited, all the while goofing around and impersonating friends and politicians.  And working on our posture.     

Finally, FINALLY, the winners of the home organization were called.

I won.

ME!  I WON!  Plus, they gave us goody bags, with the most recent issue of the magazine - darn it all, I read it on the plane - and a $25 gift card to iTunes.

I love Real Simple.  Already did, before this classy dinner, where I felt like I wasn't just a number but a true person, but this kind of cemented it.

Tired is the new me

Today is Sunday,  I think.  I'm so exhausted that I have literally lost all track of days and times, and the fact that for some reason, my computer never updated itself to Chicago time just made it that much worse.

And, um, I went to bed at 1:15 this morning, and for WHATEVER reason, I was wide awake at 6:15.  Ugh.

The conference was amazing this year and so much more enjoyable for me than last year.  I stayed at the W, which was a really urban and trendy place to stay.  I'm glad that I had my own room - The Hubster knows that I'm fussy picky annoying a person in need of my own space, and he insisted.  Go, him.  Especially when I checked in and realized that the bathroom had a big window, and it was covered with shutters that open and close.  Shutters, people.  I didn't take a picture and I should have.  Although this one is pretty good.

I loved meeting new people and seeing old friends.  The sessions were interesting, and since I went last year, I didn't feel so much pressure to see EVERYTHING and EVERYONE.  I left the conference midway during both days, and went back to the room. I went swimming, took a nap and generally just relaxed. 

The speaking went well.  Really well - I heard lots of nice things about our session.  (A funny story - I bought a brand new really cool outfit to wear when I spoke, and I got up Friday morning and went to work out.  I was so nervous when I got back to the room that I forgot about it and just threw on an outfit that was laying around.  When I went back to the room to change after swimming, I saw that outfit and slapped myself upside the head. So, if you were watching me speak, I really wanted to look much better!)  I really enjoyed meeting and working with Sheila and Christine.  Oh, and the schwag?  Totally amazing.  I've got gym bags, laptop bags, condom lollipops, light up rubber ducks, books, t shirts, notepads, cereal bars, and it goes on for miles.

Tomorrow I'm going to post the Mission, and then Tuesday, I'm going to let you know the super cool and AMAZING prize that I won at the Real Simple Dinner.  And Revolution Health deserves a post all it's own, and I posted over at The Elff Diet about meeting and lunching with Jillian Michaels from tv's The Biggest Loser.  I'll stick up some pictures later on in the week.

I'm reinterested in blogging and feel good about where I am right now.  What a great weekend. 

Blogher day one - continuously updated, I hope

I'm sitting in the conference room at the opening speech.  It's amazing to be here, with such a group of diverse, interesting women, all of whom are passionate about what they do. The Blogher act challenge for this year is to work on Health Care world wide.  That's something I can definitely sink my teeth into. 

I was able to work out this morning, which helped with my nerves tremendously.  Although, I'm still nervous and my stomach is jumping.  I speak in an hour.  Send good thoughts my way?

I hope to update this entry as the day goes by....

Ahhhh.  My session is over.  I made it through withut puking, which is so stunning that I can't ever believe it.  Everyone was very nice and welcoming, and it was super reassurring to see some friendly faces.

Lunch is great - I'm sitting at a table with other weight loss bloggers.  Angry Fat girl, Pasta Queen, diet girl and several others. It's really very illuminating and interesting.  Lunch was sponsored and consisted of barbecue, mesquite chicken, watermelon corn and bread.  I'm glad I brought some fruit and granola. ;)

Still to come this afternoon - Our Bodies, Ourselves and The State of the Momosphere.

BlogMe 2007 - what you should know in ten seconds or less

Eek.

Ten seconds or less?

That's tough.  But we were all asked by the gorgeous Mocha Momma and the stunningly beautiful and amazingly talented Lisa Stone to participate in a little get to know you before Blogher, and, so, here I am.  I'm frantically trying to think of something I can add to the list. 

I've had this blog for five years. 

I taught ballet for 15 years.

I share a birthday with Prince Charles.

I never leave home without my pink phone (hint for the scavenger hunt!) and my iPod and whatever book I am currently reading.

I love to bake, love to cook and can't make a pie crust for jack.

I love to sleep and can fall asleep anywhere in about a minute.

I spill stuff all over myself - coffee is tops on the list. 

I talk and talk and talk and secretly worry that I bore people.  I often say the wrong things and embarrass myself, and then spend hours and hours replaying what I've said.  Maybe even years.  And then I wonder why on earth they could want to talk to me...

Travel tips 101

So there's this trip I'm going on.  I'm leaving in a day or two.  I'm leaving a very large pitt bull in my house to watch over it, along with my brother in law Spike and his biker buddies, so, possible burgulars, BEGONE!

I travel quite a bit.  Well, maybe not QUITE a bit, but a few times a year, and I think I've gotten fairly good.  I was wondering, though, what are your best tips to share?

I will never travel without the following:

• snack to eat on the plane - I can't stand the food on the plane, and it costs a FORTUNE to eat in the airport.
• Empty water bottle, to refill after I pass through security.
• stain stick for my clothes - I am the queen of spilling stuff on my shirts.
• all shampoos/soaps/makeups/etc packed into ziploc baggies.  I've had more clothing ruined in the suitcase than I care to count.
• tweezers.
• Tylenol PM.  I never sleep as well away as I do at home.
• a few things to munch on during the trip - small ziplocs of homemade granola, larabars, fruit.

What are your best travel tips?

(I'm also currently in the midst of my pre trip freakout, where I try to leave EVERYTHING done before I take off.  Laundry is completed, dishes done up to this minute, emails answered, extra food cooked and extra milk bought and extra bread made.  I've read to my kids more and tried to be extra kind - all the while I'm partying inside.)

Classy panties, lady

I have this skirt.  I've had it since before I lost THE WEIGHT. 

It's from Jjill.  It's long and black and has inserts at the bottoms, so it flares into a tulip shape.  The fabric is some of that wonderful stuff that you can wad up, throw into a corner and sleep on, and when you unroll it, it's perfect.

I've had the skirt taken in twice.  It's still too big.  Currently, I wear it pinned on both sides.

I know, I KNOW, I should just go get another skirt, but they don't make it anymore and it is so comfy and it goes with everything.  I can wear it in the winter with boots and the summer with heels.  I have a jacket that goes with it, and a few camisole tops to wear under the jacket, as well as pants that coordinate - I can't wear those anymore.  They are just way too big.  I'd take both the skirt and pants to the tailor, but my favorite tailor moved and I tried another, and the jeans that I brought her ended up all wrong, and, oh, it's been a mess.

Sunday, we decided to go to early Mass - 7 a.m.  We were all groggy.  Wait, strike that - The Hubster goes to that Mass every week, along with the three oldest, so they were used to it.  I most emphatically was not used to it, and neither were my youngest three.  We sat and stood as directed, and then it came time to kneel.  I knelt along with the other worshippers, and rested my head in my hands, trying desperately not to doze off.  Bang, it was time to stand up, and I pulled my feet under me in preparation to rise.

When I stood, my skirt, which had gotten trapped between my foot and my shoe, slid down.  To rest just below my butt cheeks.

When I told this story to my girlfriend, she said, "Well, at least you had on your slip."  Um, no, I didn't.  I'm thankful at least I had on my panties.    And that it was so early that most everyone was asleep. 

Mission Monday: it's medical

Hi there.  How's it going for you? 

Can you believe it's another Monday already?  Me neither.  Now I KNOW I'm getting old...

Your Mission for this week is to clean. 

Oh, quit it.  Stop groaning.  It's not a large job, not like cleaning out your car from a few weeks ago.  This week, let's take a look at the medicine cabinet.  I actually have a closet in the hall, and that's where we keep the meds.  I have several plastic buckets on the shelves, and they are labeled, "Asthma", "Cough and Cold", "Bandages", "Pain Relief and Thermometers", and then there are two that are just miscellaneous.  I spent about an hour in there today, cleaning each bucket out.

Hmm, why did we have tylenol with codeine from 2002?  And three different bottles of eardrops from Emma's surgery, four years ago?  And WHY, oh WHY, are there 48,372 empty band-aid wrappers, and only two penny size bandaids in the bucket?

Toss the expired Dimetapp, the 90% empty pain relievers, and the infant nasal syringes you last used on your now high school aged child. 

I have a prize to give away with this one, and it's a beaut.

______________________________

When I won the sk*rt contest, one of the prizes was a free t-shirt from ProMom Couture.    I'd like to give the choice of any shirt to one of my readers.  All you have to do is leave a comment on this post between 9:30 p.m. EST Sunday and 12 midnight EST Monday.  I'll pick a winner at random and tell you how to receive your pick. 

Now, clean out those medicine cabinets!  And, if you are so inclined, come visit me over at The Elff Diet - I'm pretty lonely over there.

Taking the time to listen

Today The Hubster called me from work.  He'd forgotten his office keys and, while he could get into his office, he couldn't leave, and so could I please bring them to him?  Yes, certainly.  Oh, and please bring a salad, two protein bars and two 20 pound weights, so he can work out in his spare time?

Oh, yes, that's just what I wanted to do with my morning.

But I packed up and left.  I decided to make it a good thing and do a few errands on the way, and while I was driving, I called my mom to see if she felt like coming over and visiting with her grandkids.  So I could go shopping, of course.  Yay me, she agreed, and so I planned my shopping trip while driving.  I'd look for dresses, I decided, and maybe some new shoes.   I plotted all the way to his job.

Climbing out of my car, I slung the weights over my elbows and trudged into his office.  He was suitably happy and thankful to see me, and we chatted for a minute about my upcoming day.  "Oh!" he said.  "I forgot - I have a customer who wants to meet you.  You two have a lot in common.  She's the woman I told you about - the 70 year old who is caring for her 90 year old father?  She's across in the lounge.  Why don't you go see her?"

Ugh.  I hate it when he does this.  Hate meeting new people and having to strike up a conversation.  I especially hate it when he thinks that he knows what I've got in common with someone else, ESPECIALLY someone fourty years my senior.  I had places to go and clothes to buy.  Even if she had taken Kung Fu.

(I may or may not have mentioned in the past that The Hubster wasn't completely on board with me taking capoeira classes.  He only reluctantly came around when #1 he found out his older sister had taken karate years ago and #2 when he came to watch a class and realized it wasn't a bunch of guys hitting on me, but honest to God hard work.  This factors into this conversation.)

Hypothetically speaking

If you were to see someone do something that you thought could hinder the safety of a child, what would you do?

What if the something you saw scared you badly?  And it was unlike anything you'd ever seen in all your years as a parent?

What is your responsibilty? 

And if you would do nothing, why? 

But what if you were wrong, or got into trouble, or were considered to be making a mountain out of a molehill? 

How far should you take it?

This is all hypothetical, of course.  I'm just curious. 

____________________

New post up over at Scrutiny By The Masses, detailing a really cool kids toy.

So, ah, hmmmmm

I've had a very interesting couple of days here. 

I've gotten the opportunity to do some shopping this week.  And shopping is fun to do now, not a drudge as it used to be. 

I also cleaned my closet and dresser today, and got rid of anything that didn't fit or wasn't flattering.  See, I've been stashing away my fat clothes, holding onto them just in case.  And then it hit me.  There IS no just in case scenario here.  A Lifestyle change is a lifestyle change, not a lifestyle maybe.  And so I really went to town on the clothes.  When I was finished, I had five bags of stuff to donate and a mostly empty closet, and the freedom to go buy some replacement clothing.

The strange part was when I went to buy some new stuff.  I have a dysmorphic image of myself.  At store after store, I took clothing to try on, only to have to re dress and return it to the rack, and move down a few sizes.  The clothes look smaller, but in my mind, I still look the same.  I don't know if that will ever change.  I find myself asking The Hubster, "Is she my size?  What about her?" pointing to women we pass.  He finally asked me to show him what I thought I looked like, and I picked someone who was my old size.  He didn't get it, and I can't explain it. 

I've begun to pack for Blogher.  I find, though, that I'm short a casual, sundress type thing.  Can you recommend something?  I'm, I think, a size 4 or 6 now - at least that's what I was trying on this week.  I'd like something casual that I can wear with sandals. Oh!  I also need casual sandals, the kind you can wear with lots of stuff.

Help me, oh Internets.