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Category Archives: Shameless

Feb 25 16 comments

Friends, Shameless

Bloggers for [really belated] Valentine

Last year, I featured some pretty fancy mustaches and explained how Scott and I don’t celebrate Valentines Day.

Secretly, I was bursting into a million little pieces because one year ago [Valentines Day] I calmly drove to Rite Aid, bought the cheapest pregnancy test I could find, strolled back to my car with a secret smile, returned home, and waited (alone with my heart palpitations) for Scott to get back. When he finally arrived about an hour later, he had tulips, and we had a plus sign. It was a year ago today that my suspicions were confirmed: Dee was on her way. This year, I get to wish a happy valentine’s day to my little valentine in person, and there ain’t nothing sweeter.

But every day is a love letter to my daughter. And there’s another special someone(s) who I’ve been meaning to tell how I feel.

It’s you, blogosphere.

I’ve been remiss. Awards have been awarded, friends have been friended, and I’m way overdue in paying it forward. Things could get mushy.

[I've checked around and it seems all of these blog award type things have the same set of rules: 1) link to the person that bestowed said award, 2) list seven [give or take]random factoids about yourself, and 3) Pass the award along to seven [give or take] deserving bloggers. Since I’m a) a slacker, and b) a rule breaker, I’m going to wrap them all up into one GIGANTIC post, and I’m pretty sure that by the end of it I’ll have met the requirements of each award, combined. Make sense? No? Just go with it. It IS awards season, after all.] Oh, and since I’m not really following the rules of any one in particular, I made you guys a super special badge to remind you that you are loved….should you desire to display it. Whatever. I’m breezy.

SO. In no particular order…here are a few of the bloggers (parenting and otherwise) who have supported/entertained/inspired me this past year.

Kenny @ SmonkYou: I first stumbled across SmonkYou via the TopBabyBlogs directory. Kenny’s often irreverent, always refreshing musings on fledgling parenthood are reason enough to run, not walk, over to SmonkYou (if you’re not already intrigued enough by the mere fact that he’s the lone daddy-blogger not afraid to roam amongst the buffet of hormones being served up by his mommy-blogging counterparts.) Add to that his incredible portfolio of creative work, and yeah…Kenny’s pretty darn cool.

Mandy @ HarpersHappenings: (with whom I’m having a torrid twitter affair…and I’m not the only one…she’s kind of slutty) Mom to the so-cute-you-could-eat-her-for-breakfast Harper pens a blog that is so chock full of charm and wonderfulness, and one I frequent regularly. If you don’t know Mandy, and her gorgeous little toddler, hop on over to Harpers Happenings and check her out.

Rebecca @ EllaMinnowPea: In addition to featuring tasty design treats (she’s an interior designer herself, and a damn good one if her blog is any indication) Rebecca also beautifully shares the joys, trials and tribulations of adopting their first child (and the home renovations in anticipation of said child’s arrival.)

Maegan @ …loveMaegan: Where would this list be without my awesome sister-in-law and blog guru Maegan? Her daily outfit posts are like window shopping at your desk, her brutal honesty is inspiring to read, and her open book policy (and DIY’s and How-To’s) on how she manages to look so.fucking.gorgeous all the time is a testament to just how cool she really is. Plus, her brother is really hot.

Chelsea @ ChelseaTalksSmack: Chelsea was the first to greet me when I joined 20-Something-Bloggers, and I’ve been hooked ever since. (So embarrassing, I know…it’s like falling in love with Tom from MySpace.) Of the bloggers listed here, Chelsea definitely gets the “living vicariously” award – she rants, raves, and regales, in one of the most addicting voices I’ve read in a long time.

Iva @ IvaMessy: Iva was one of my first regular commenters, and I’m so happy she was, because it led me to her blog, which is like a daily ray of sunshine. Her musings always make me smile, and I never know what I’ll discover amongst her eclectic posts.

Amelia @ BonAppentempt: Amelia and her hubby (and blog sidekick) Matt (sorry to call you a side-kick, Matt) not only make up the other half of our World-Famous Rock Band Coquesah (that’s pronounced caulk-saw) but also author this hilarious and endearing cooking blog, where they tackle one insanely complicated gourmet recipe after another. I’m just grateful I get to occasionally sample their successes. Also check out MADE by AMELIA, their too-cool line of hand-screened T-shirts.

Blair @ TheHeirToBlair: Blair was one of the first people in the e-mom-community to make me feel welcome. We went through our entire pregnancies together – albeit 3000 miles apart – she’s the full time working Mama to a dashing little man named Harrison who is a mere week younger than Dee. B’s southern hospitality transcends the fiberoptics, and her ability to connect with her readers is truly inspiring.

Brooke @ OofaLuffaLe: Like Iva, Brooke stumbled over here early on via Maegan, and won me over with her style before I ever visited her blog by introducing me to the [insanely cute baby boutique] Black Wagon. Her blog is uplifting, her writing is unique and endearing, and her sense of style (not to mention the gorgeous photos she takes to exhibit it) get me every time I visit.

Jenna @ BloggedBliss: Her tagline of “Marriage. Motherhood. Sarcasm” pretty much says it all – Mrs.Jenna is funny as hell, her wit, snark, and eye for design (not to mention how pretty her new layout is) makes me squirm with jealousy.

Rachelle (and Co) @ SaucyLittleDish: Led by Rachelle, the “Dishes” trot out delicious recipe after delicious recipe with mouth watering pictures to match. From beauty writers to culinary professionals, math teachers and movie executives, these ladies are always an entertaining read.

And on the off chance you haven’t read her:

Stephanie @ TheNieNieDialogues and Nie&You: I found Nie’s blog through my very own sidebar when BlogHer named her BlogHer of the week. Stephanie is the kind of mother I strive to be. Through her beautiful prose and the intimate family photos she shares, her readers are treated to a look at the fantasy childhood she and her handsome and chivalrous husband Mr. Nielson have created for their brood of four (and hopefully counting) in Utah. Stephanie is a fighter and a survivor, and her positivity makes me want to stop and look for the joy in the small moments of my own life. On Nie&You – Stephanie and her dear friend Katja (who lives in Germany) post stunning daily pictures, inspired by the blog turned book “3191 – A Year of Mornings.”

And now, a THANK YOU to the Bloggers who have showed me some love this year:

Mesina @ Artistically Nuts: I met Mesina through SITS (if you haven’t visited them, you should) and she gave me my first award ever – the Fabulous Blog Award, AND the “I Think You Are An Awesome Girl” Award. I love me some Mesina. On more than one occasion during my torturous pregnancy she’d leave a comment or two that would kinda make my day. And she’s incredibly brave – she’s currently pregnant with baby #4!

Cassie @ My Three Ring Circus gave me the Kreativ Blogger Award back in October, right after Dee was born. She’s an adorable military wife and Mom of three – check her out!

Ashleigh @ Momma Maven in the Making : Ashleigh’s a work-at-home Colorado Mamaprenuer – in addition to blogging, she’s also the talented designer behind Bella B Maternity.

Eliza @ Postcards From Parenthood: Cute Midwestern Mama Eliza also sprinkled me with The Sunshine Award. Her sweet comments made me blush, and her little girl Teva is a stunner!

Jeni @ Crafty Girl Blog: Jeni also nominated me for the Sunshine Award. She has a site full of some really great DIY’s complete with step by step instructions. Pay her a visit!

Jessi @ Better Late than Never: Jessi’s comments are always lovely, and none more than the one she left saying she’d given me the Happy 101 Award. She’s going back to school for Dance with no previous training, and I love reading about her adventures.

Tanja @ Lucky Canuck: Tania gave me the One Lovely Blog award. She runs a ton of great giveaways on her site, with SIX going right now!

The ‘Saurs @ Pregosaur: These lovely ladies (who also gave The818 the One Lovely Blog Award) are ALL pregnant/TTC/recently delivered. There are quite a few, with new ‘Saurs rotating in as the littlesaurs are hatched. I’m too tired to count the current tally, but every single one of them is loveable.

And another quick shout out to Rebecca @ EllaMinnowPea who gave me the Fabulous Blog Award back in September, and Mandy @ HarpersHappenings who just laid the Beautiful Blogger Award on me last week!

Okay, here’s the part where I cross my fingers that I didn’t leave anyone off this list [and if you gave me something and I didn't say thank you please feel free to leave a hate comment so I can properly do so.]

Okay, here’s where it’s going to get mushy:

When I made a New Years Resolution way back on January 1st 2009 to post something to this blog every day, I had no idea the weird and wonderful community I would soon find myself welcomed into. I failed at that New Years resolution – I only posted about 279 days last year – but what I did do was so much better than that. I’ve gotten to know myself as a writer, I’ve shed tears for people I’ve never met, I’ve laughed ’til I gave myself braxton hicks, and had the opportunity to discover some very cool and talented people that I might never have known existed.

But when I started this blog, I have to admit, I never ever in a million years ever imagined that I would be typing these next words:

I JUST BOUGHT MY TICKET TO BLOGHER ‘10.

I’m going to a blogging conference. Me. At a conference. (A conference that I’m fully prepared for my real life friends to mock me for.) And I couldn’t be more excited. Thanks to everyone who helped/is helping to make it possible (and especially to my cousin Joan who is going to run Dee duty so I can enjoy the conference!) My girl and I are coming to NY!

And also, Happy [belated] Valentines Day

Jan 27 12 comments

Baby Fever, Future Therapy Bills, Shameless, The Trivial

“The Husband Stitch”

Well, Hello. Today I’m guest blogging over at the illustrious Heir to Blair. Don’t know Blair? (SNORT. OF COURSE YOU DO.) She’s a lovely Southern gal with a taste for profanity, who’s a dynamo in both the kitchen and the sack, so y’know, your basic nightmare. (Okay, so I’m speculating about the sack part…and the kitchen part too, since she lives on the other side of the country, but she posts mouth-watering recipes and has a handsome husband, so you do the math.)

Anyway, if you’ve never read Blair, you really should. Like, NOW. (But come back, okay?)

And if you’re one of Blair’s readers, then WELCOME! I hope you’ll settle in with a good snack and get to know The818:

GROWING A HUMAN: All posts about my pregnancy. Witness my transformation from regular twenty-something to chubby curmudgeon.

DIY STUFF: Posts in which I mostly take credit for my husband’s talent and creativity. Like Delilah’s hacked Ikea crib (which was named one of the Top Ten Reader Projects of 2009 by OhDeeDoh, did you see?!) Or my cubicle built entirely from Expedit Shelving. There’s more, too. Click HERE.

BRIDAL HAS-BEEN: Posts in which I talk about weddings. Mine, and other peoples. There are pictures. LOTS of pictures.

What else do you want to read about? Bikini Waxing in Pregnancy? Which family member had a wardrobe malfunction doing the Hora at My Bat-Mitzvah? Why Bret Michaels is a Grade-A-Mega-Douche? (Like you don’t already know…) There’s a whole list of categories to be explored up and to the right.

Oh, and: Follow me on Twitter! Or Google Friend Conn ect! Or just plain’ old SUBSCRI BE! AND FOR THE LOVE OF GOD LEAVE A COMMENT!

(I hope I’m not coming off too needy. I’m really not like that, I swear.)

* * *

“THE HUSBAND STITCH.”

[REPOSTED FROM THEHEIRTOBLAIR]

When Blair told me my guest blogging stint would be a free-for-all (read: no assigned topic) my mind instantly started to sizzle with possibility. My immediate reaction was to seize the opportunity to talk smack about all of the people in my life who I can’t talk smack about on my own blog because they read it…But I thought that might be in poor taste and Blair’s a classy gal. [Editors Note: Just kidding. I would totally never talk smack about any of you guys.]

So instead I’m going to talk about when my vagina became a war zone. Enjoy.

My daughter was about twenty minutes old. The euphoria of childbirth was starting to wear off – along with my epidural – and the reality of having had a small human stroll out of my nether regions was starting to set in. I remember the exact moment that I became aware that there were two people still elbow deep in my uterus. I was trying to listen to the nurses taking Dee’s measurements across the room when I heard my OB say “And this is what I call the ‘HUSBAND STITCH”. I snapped to attention. It wasn’t lost on the Doc. I’m pretty sure she winked at me. (See, the thing about teaching hospitals is, the Attending physicians are always doing that pesky teaching thing which means they’re narrating their every move. Trust me when I tell you that listening to someone describe in graphic detail the repairs they’re making to the extensive damage to your vagina that you DID NOT SEE COMING, AND REALLY WISH SOMEONE HAD WARNED YOU ABOUT is pretty much the last thing on earth you would ever want to do.) Anyway – there I was, 20 minutes post-delivery, still spread eagle in the stirrups with Doctor FrankenGyn, the resident on duty, and a couple of L&D nurses holding a quilting circle at my cervix, and I couldn’t help but think to myself how nonchalant these ladies were being about the whole thing. I mean I knew there would be stitches, but HELLO? THAT’S MY VAGINA YOU’VE BEEN DEMONSTRATING THE CROSS STITCH ON FOR THE LAST TWENTY MINUTES.

Note to Doctor: I really don’t appreciate flippancy when it comes to the state of my lady flower. When I ask you if it’s really bad? I could do without the chuckle and the jokes about vaginal rejuvenation, THANKYOUVERYMUCH.

People are always giving you the same mundane advice when it comes to childbirth. “Breath deeply.” “Give the nurses chocolate.” But no one ever warns you about the important stuff. Like that while childbirth is totally natural and beautiful and all of those things? That doesn’t mean your va-jay-jay is getting out unscathed. And that adorable bouncing baby you just birthed? Isn’t the only one who’s coming home in diapers.

[Please note: Obviously the above photo has nothing to do with the subject matter in this post. It's just Delilah saying "Hi."]

Dec 21 2 comments

Raves, Reviews, and Giveaways, Shameless, Stuff I Would Buy if I Could

Procrastinators Rejoice.

If you didn’t already know this about me, I’m a big time procrastinator (um, hello birth story? …unless of course you are a present or potential employer, in which case I have the work ethic of an Ox.) Anyway – with the arrival of Sweet Dee and you know, other stuff, I never got around to ordering those birth announcement/holiday cards that I had been swearing up and down since JUNE that we would do this year. Lucky for me, I have friends in high places, and they’ve come to save the (holi)day.

Remember when I posted about this new [amazing] service called PaperlessPost.com? Well, the lovely Ashley at Paperless Post got in touch just in time for the Holidays to offer readers of The818 a nice little incentive to join up, if you haven’t already. (Consider that my thinly veiled disclosure.) So, click HERE, or on the invitation above to be taken to an exclusive link for readers of The818.com (a.k.a. the Holiday Procrastination Station) and earn 35 free stamps just for signing up! These bad boys are fully customizable, user friendly, and so darn pretty that when your friends and family open them, they’ll think this was your brilliant Holiday Greeting plan all along**! (Well, except for my friends and family, because they read this blog.) 35 FREE STAMPS!!! GO GET ‘EM!

**Even if you’re not a procrastinator like me, what’s better than being able to send out invitations and announcements that are easy on eyes and the environment?

Oct 13 23 comments

Baby Fever, Shameless

Shameless.

So, as you may have guessed, I haven’t quite returned to the land of the living yet – having a 5 day old is pretty exhausting, but I’m loving every minute of it (well, except the part where it feels like someone drove a Mack Truck through my lady business. Seriously.) Anyway – I just found out that The818.com is a finalist in TheBump.com’s Mommy Blog Awards for Best Pregnancy Blog. The grand prize is amazing, and if we win our category, and D and I would love to win! So if you want to make a tired new Mama happy, click the badge (or HERE) to vote for The818, and check out the other great blogs the Bump is featuring (including my favorite Daddy Blogger Kenny @ Smonk You, and my friend Blair, who is tweeting her labor as I type.)

Scott and I have been overwhelmed by the insane generosity of our family and friends who are making this as easy on us two fumbling fools blindly trying to figure out this parenthood thing as we could have ever hoped. We’re both bursting at the seams, and it’s so nice to have gotten so many warm welcomes and well wishes for our little girl. Having survived our first three nights at home (just barely) I’m now braving day one by myself with the poop monster (she’s sleeping on me as I type one handed, I’m not neglecting her, I promise!)

To bribe you to vote for The818 (and hopefully spread the word via the social media of your choice) here are some pictures of Sweet D during her first days. More to follow (Scott’s taken over 600 already, so we’re still sorting through) and as soon as I can sit in a chair long enough to type out my birth story, I’ll be posting it!