Playing the concentration game, on the fitness trail, while being bombed with acorns by militant squirrels, it's a gift. Balance. Either you have it, or you don't. Then again, maybe you're one of those people who, over the years, have taken one too many nose dives into the asphalt and learned to NOT over-complicate a situation by, you know, wearing shoes. [sound of crickets chirping] No? Okay. Perhaps you're one of THOSE people who stop, look back and are all like...WHOA!...did you see that?!? Then swear that it came straight out of the ground (whatever it was) grabbed you by... Read more →

Originally published for the Imperfect Parent September 11, 2008 -- republished here, as the reading of the names continue -- I will never forget... This time last year, my dear friend, Dana Tuske (who also is a columnist here at the Imperfect Parent) asked me if I would consider being one of her guest bloggers at The Dana Files and I was very honored by the compliment. Until, her next email and I scanned down until I found my name on the blogging schedule -- on September 11. Riiiiiight. I can’t believe that it’s been 7 years, but I remember... Read more →

Wake me up when Septemberrrrrr ends! I love the beach this time of year. The fresh, salty air is a bit chillier, which makes the water seem much, much warmer and, well, most of the Bennies (i.e., the cast of the Jersey Shore, mostly, ironically enough) have ALL gone home. "When was the last time we were at this beach, again?!?" I get it. I was young, once (shuddup!) and could NOT wait for Friday nights, in the summer, when we'd head down the Parkway to Seaside Heights and/or Wildwood Crest and sneak into bars study the bible, ALL weekend... Read more →

Taken with my cell phone. Imagine what I could do with a REAL camera? Yeah, I'm looking at you, Garth (not his real name!) Check out the Official Wordless Wednesday HQ Tag, you're it: Wordless Wednesday © 2010 This Full House Blog / This Full House Gone Shopping Read more →

This is what 6:15 a.m. looks like, in Jersey! The morning came quickly, as it usually does to a seasoned (i.e. perpetually perplexed and severely sleep-deprived) parent (like me) and, unlike most mornings, I let the dog out, while my husband started the coffee (bless his squishy heart) and we both continued to pretend like last night did NOT happen. "She's in tears." Long story, short (you're welcome) unlike her 3 siblings, today is the 1st day of school for my middle girl. "What DID you say to her?" Suffice it to say, I've earned yet ANOTHER ✔ mark in... Read more →

"Wait, let me take your picture!!!" My 11 year-old son (the ONLY boy in the house, btw) is smiling, but inside I know that he was all, like, JEEZ! "CRAP! Wait, it's too dark!" Frankly, the kid has lived with me long enough to know that, you know, it's just easier to pretend EVERYONE'S mother is a dork (like me) especially, on the first day of school. "Okay, now, smile!" DAMMIT! Hang on. Can I just, you know, UGH!!! Wait a minute. Is he? Nooooo. Who am I kidding? Maybe he was just wiping some leftover sleep from his eye.... Read more →

Doofus-Dawg on Watermelon I love my dog. Truly, I do. Most of the time. He is a rescue. They found him tied to a dumpster. I can only imagine his life, b.u. (before us) still, there ARE pretty good reasons why we also refer to Rudolph as Doofus-Dawg (a.k.a. Pinhead) and why my husband, Garth (not his real name) texted me, while I was having dinner with the kids at my folks' house, last night. "Wet sticky spot on living room rug, trail of dried juice on kitchen floor, watermellon gone, dish appears not to have broken, I'm not speaking... Read more →