Disclosure: with many thanks to the American Cancer Society for sponsoring and compensating my writing about ways in which we can help give cancer the virtual bitchslap it deserves! I love this picture of my twin brother and me: it was our birthday (yesterday!) and this is where I would joke about our age, insisting that we were actually celebrating another anniversary of our 29th birthday. I've never been very comfortable with numbers, most especially when used as the "only" tool in defining a person's worth, but today I am putting all thoughts of vanity aside and outing myself: I've had the privilege of celebrating 49 birthdays with my brother, Steve: and I have pledged to do my best in helping to make sure more folks get the chance to do the same, by helping to give cancer the virtual bitchslap it deserves! The American Cancer Society is celebrating their... Read more →

Confession: I am a DIY fan girl (not to mention, pretty gosh-darned fond of acronyms) and I may or may not have openly admitted to having a slight crush on Mike Holmes. By openly, I mean blogged about my crushing on Mike Holmes, maybe more than once. Aaaaaaaand, by slight I mean, just short of tackling the poor man in public and demanding that he sign my good knee. Which, these days, would not ONLY get me arrested (rightfully so, because, you can't just go tackling people in public, especially strangers who make a lot more money than you do, seriously), but then I'd have to convince my husband...my back DID SO give out, I just couldn't get off of the man...aaaaaaaand...try explaining THAT to the nightly news. Aaaaanyway, what were we talking about? [blows bangs out of eyes, look at ALL that dust on the television] Oh yeah, sorry... Read more →

Some parenting-type experts will agree: most teens have no idea how to have real conversations, because they are too busy texting on their cell phones. I am NOT one of these parenting-type experts: in fact, I really do wonder if any of them...you know...actually live with teens and I'm just going to embrace this moment (sorry, I'm a hugger) and share a little parenting-type secret with you, okay? Wait. For. It. Teens do NOT talk: sometimes, even when they are spoken to, and I most humbly suggest that you just go ahead and not expect any serious eye contact, anytime soon, either -- it'll be easier that way, trust me. However, most parents also own cell phones and, well, messing with your teens just got better. For example-type purposes: my oldest daughter went out with a bunch of girlfriends to celebrate one of their birthdays, after work. No biggie, right?... Read more →

Working in social media, I get to watch a lot of "how to" videos (YES, it's a job!) and I have learned some really interesting stuff along the way: like, how some parenting sites can make raising teens (and tweens) sound sooooooo...I don't know...wash, rinse and repeat. So, I was undermining my teens' privacy the other day and started thinking to myself; you know, maybe it would be a whole lot easier if someone showed me what NOT to do...and...HEY!!!!...wait a minute...I can do that!!! So, I present to you, the second in a series of "how NOT to" vlogs. A few post-production notes: I am, and have NEVER even claimed to be, in no way, shape or form a parenting expert...clearly. If, however, by posting these silly little videos, I can make you feel even just a little better about your parenting skills, then my job here is done.... Read more →

Our youngest daughter is turning 12, next month -- pausing to allow for the "OH, BUT HOW?!?" and the "MY BAYBEEEEEE?!?" to come through, okay, I'm good now, thanks!!! -- and, as fourth in line, MY BAYBEEEEEE (whoops, that one slipped right through, sorry!) she's learned to sit back and observe, as her older siblings get grounded for one reason (or twenty), so that she knows EXACTLY what she can or cannot get away with. Aaaaaand, she will test us...in theory...just in case. I'm just beginning to get used to her turning eleventeen Long story, short: not only have we deluded ourselves into believing that this kid would most likely be the easiest one to raise, we NEVER had a chance. Oh, but she's soooooooo cute, right?!? YES!!! Also, to her advantage, she's smart and presents a list of reasons why she should be allowed to [enter whatever it is... Read more →

You like? I made this life list, myself, with many thanks to the American Cancer Society for sponsoring and compensating my writing about ways in which we can help give cancer the virtual bitchslap it deserves! The American Cancer Society is celebrating their 100th birthday this month (5/22/13) and, in honor of the many brave battles being fought (and/or lost) by way too many of my family and friends, I have the extreme privilege of partnering with the ACS in helping to amplify their most recent effort in helping us to celebrate MORE of life's special moments, like: More proud accomplishments: seriously, why does this one have to be so gosh-darned difficult for some of us?!? Brag on yourself, your kids, your friends, your dog, the cat, whatever or whoever makes you happy...g'head, I dare you...life is too short to not partake in a little tribulation, right?!? More dreams come... Read more →

Not unlike most days, her morning does not start out very well: in fact, she cannot remember the last time she did not have to holler at someone: GET UP!!! GET READY!!! HURRY UP!!! ARE YOU ABSOLUTELY SURE YOU HAVE EVERYTHING?!? DON'T FORGET YOUR LUNCH!!! YOU'RE GOING TO MISS THE BUS (AGAIN!) WAIT, SO WHOSE BACKPACK IS THIS?!? Then her phone will ring; she immediately recognizes the number and begins to feel the first pangs of regret when wondering, "What now?!?" Another migraine; she will listen and then she will silently nod her head, as the nurse asks for a verbal approval, knowing very well that she did so send in the paperwork, twice before, because all she ever wants is for the pain to stop. She hangs up the phone and mentally begins to plot out her day, which may or may not include a 90 minute drive to... Read more →