This Full House

Twilight Moms and the Dads who love them, or NOT.

I began my obsession with Twilight in the Summer of 2007, when my oldest daughter insisted that...YES...it would keep her interest and...OF COURSE...the genre would make an absolutely perfect fit into her summer reading list.

"It's a vampire love story!"

Uh-huh.

So, I read it first to make sure that it was really, you know, appropriate for teen readers and...WHAM...it truly was love at first bite.

[cringe]

Don't worry, Stephenie Meyer writes way gooder than me and has taken a story line that is not really that unique -- like, how love overcomes all obstacles, sort of -- but, presents it in a totally refreshing way.

I'm nearly finished reading the latest in the Twilight Saga, "Breaking Dawn" and my husband, Garth (not his real name) truly believes that at least one member of our family may very well be a vampire, or werewolf.

And it ain't isn't me, either!

[Warning:  this blog post has a pretty scary ending and is NOT recommended reading for the faint of heart - especially, if you are a Dad!]

Mommy's Little Eye Candy - Resurrected!

A few years ago -- long before Twitter and SEO's ruled the Internets -- someone came up with MILF and I thought...ICK!...and then I had this idea of hosting a weekly series of photos and blog posts targeted towards more frazzled-out and frustrated moms, like me.

Then, with just one click, I blew up my blog and lost 2 years of eye candy!

[bows head in a moment of silence]

I think it's about time we resurrect some good old-fashioned mommy porn of our own; hopefully, translating it as NOT having to feel guilty about wanting to stay in bed and pulling the covers over your head, or worry about how you should probably be doing something a little more, you know, constructive instead.

Like, food shopping, doing laundry, or something.

Riiiiight.

I don't think so!

In fact, Mommy's Little Eye Candy will make you LOVE Mondays...yeah, that's right...or, help you forget the worry and stress you feel about the rest of the week.

For a little while, at least.

[big toothy grin]

Ready for this week's Eye Candy?

National Women's History Museum Needs a Home!

From Hillary Clinton's run for the Presidency, the fierce beauty and strength of gold medal winners Nastia Liukin, Natalie Coughlin, to Darra Torres’ improbable 5th Olympic bid (at 41, she is one of the oldest female Olympians at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games) it's been a historic year for women!

To the media, I'm just another mom blogger -- serious issues, like politics, aren't supposed to interest me -- still, I can't help but wonder.

Why IS IT so hard to find a home in our nation's history for these American women?!?!?

What's Your Blog Readability?

[Edited to Add:  I borked-up my blog and accidentally disappeared comments - got 'em back again, but without blog links - because, I am A DORK!]

Why our visitors really do NOT require a high level of education to understand just what in the world I'm talking about, now?

More fun blog fodder, with my compliments, brought to you by a mommy blogger who's just dying to find yet ANOTHER reason to ignore the laundry!

You're welcome!

Oh, and check out my review for the Parent Bloggers Network - we're talking about White Trash Mom and YES, she knows it!

© 2008 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.

[Please, clean off a chair and stay a while - subscribe to email updates or the RSS feed or - if you really, really like me - visit with us, again and I'll love you forever!]

Wordless Wednesday: Follow Me

[Edited to Add: I borked-up my blog and accidentally disappeared comments - got 'em back again, but without blog links - because, I am A DORK!]

You don't know how you met me...you don't know why...you can't turn around and say good-bye...all you know is when I'm with you I make you free...I'm singing, follow me!

Check out the Official Wordless Wednesday HQ
Tag, you're it: Wordless Wednesday

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In Other News:

Review:  Wii Sports - Getting your kids and grandparents off the couch!

Kids:  Book Review - The Twilight Saga

© 2008 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.

[Please, clean off a chair and stay a while - subscribe to email updates or the RSS feed or - if you really, really like me - visit with us, again and I'll love you forever!]

Parenting Tip #19,201,733: When it comes to love, there is no language barrier - unless, you are family!

[Edited to Add: I borked-up my blog and accidentally disappeared ALL comments - sorry, if I lost yours - because, I am A DORK!]

This is the sign that welcomes visitors to my parents house, as it sits firmly planted in between the geranium beds, next to the bird feeders and right outside their front door.

On the surface, most people find its salutation agreeable and a few have made their inquiries as to where they, too, might find such an amusing lawn ornament.

Looking a little deeper, and having spent the better part of the summer visiting with my family, one might perhaps understand the truth that lies underneath its whimsical tone.

Especially, since I was the one who bought it for them.

Back-to-School Picks & Giveaway 2008

Seriously -- mine STILL have a few more weeks to go -- but, isn't it time we ALL started thinking about kicking our kids...ahem...back-to-school!?!?

Having 4 kids, attending 4 different schools this year (yes, in the same town) my husband, Garth (not his real name) and I try really hard to pick and choose our children's back-to-school supplies very, very carefully!

It doesn't always work.  Sometimes, we score...big time.

Like now (during the week of August 25th and September 1st) I've got lots of great stuff to share with you.  These picks, as always, are advertorial free.  No one is paying me, to talk about their product.  It's just some really nice stuff that I thought you guys would like, too.

Oh, did I mention the really cool prizes and awesome giveaways!?!?

[big-toothy grin]

Click here and I'll show you!

Blog the Recession Month - Helping my fellow bloggers out, one click at a time!

[8/15/08 Edited to Add: I borked-up my blog and accidentally disappeared ALL comments - sorry, if I lost yours - because, I am A DORK!]

I was so busy trying to squeeze every bit of low-tech fun out of summer that I possibly could, while staying away from using the car, too much and trying NOT to drive my kids, too hard (or, anywhere for that matter) I almost missed this one!

Did you know it's Blog the Recession Month?

Wordless Wednesday: Ant Zinnia

Gosh, but this picture almost sort of makes me wish I liked ants...ALMOST!

Check out the Official Wordless Wednesday HQ
Tag, you're it: Wordless Wednesday

More photos from our home garden:  Through a Child's Eyes

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In Other News:

This Full House Reviews:  Hanes Kids - Back to School and Wedgie-Free!

© 2008 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.

[Please, clean off a chair and stay a while - subscribe to email updates or the RSS feed or - if you really, really like me - visit with us, again and I'll love you forever!]

Through a Child's Eyes in Shades of Yellow and Orange

[8/15/08 Edited to Add: I borked-up my blog and accidentally disappeared ALL comments - sorry, if I lost yours - because, I am A DORK!]

Having lived in New Jersey my whole life, I always imagined summer as a gift and one that should be unwrapped very, very, slowly.

Then, I grew up.

In my column over at the Imperfect Parent (I know, publishers Prescott and Jessica are being VERY generous) I talk a little about how our summers have taken on a kaleidoscopic effect that, more often than not, tends to leave me and the kids feeling a little, you know, dizzy.

Busy one minute, colorless the next and then there are those moments - you know, the kid-friendly kind of spontaneous we parents have learned to expect - that slowly begin to unfold and reveal their beauty, which simply leave me wordless.

Yesterday, after spending waaaaaay too much time cleaning out the garage,  I grabbed the camera and asked my youngest daughter (she's 7) to join me for a little private time (because, it WAS her turn) as we both welcomed the Dog Days of Summer through a child's eyes - in shades of yellow and orange.

When you're a Mommyblogger, you're never really alone.

[8/15/08 Edited to Add: I borked-up my blog and accidentally disappeared ALL comments - sorry, if I lost yours - because, I am A DORK!]

In support of Lisa, via Jealithe!

"OMG, Lisa's got Cancer!"

It was very early in the morning (NOT my favorite time) and I was checking Twitter (because, I am a DORK) to see who else was, you know, awake and followed a link left by The Bloggess.

My husband, Garth (not his real name) handed me my morning coffee.

"Who?"

[covering mouth]

"Um...Midwestern Mommy...a mommyblogger."

No, not really.

BlogHer 2008 - The Big Link

[8/15/08 Edited to Add: I borked-up my blog and accidentally disappeared ALL comments - sorry, if I lost yours - because, I am A DORK!]

By the time you read this, the kids and I will be knee-deep in raspberries, sweating our collective asses off and dodging yellow jackets (stupid bees) in some God-forsaken field in New Jersey.

Sounds like fun - it was my Aunt's idea, she's Hungarian, you know - wanna come?

That's okay.  I understand.  But, just when you thought it was safe (damn, I can't believe she's still talking about this) I give you fifty-four-eleventy-or-so reasons why I'm SO GLAD that I decided to (and everyone else, should) go to BlogHer.