Parenting Lasts Article

Happy Friday, Supermoms!  Given that mine started with a one-two punch from my darling children in the form of outfit-busting poops, puking, and the always timely tantrums, it is with a MUCH happier frame of mind that I share this article with you.  A girlfriend sent it out, and I clicked the link expecting a joke-filled, sarcastic read by yet another snarky parent writer.  What I found instead was an achingly true side of parenting that I think so many of us know in our hearts but don't often reflect on.  So, grab a Kleenex, and enjoy Parenting Lasts from the Huffington Post:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/devon-corneal/parenting-lasts_b_1874086.html

What did you think?  Isn't it amazing, the ties that bind us parents together no matter how different we seemingly are?

QuickByte Fridays--Jack Sh*t's Bad.Badder.Wortest

If you have never read Jack Sh*t, Gettin' Fit, you are missing out on a fun, honest, and serious look at going from being overweight to healthy from a guy who's been down the path himself. I love the new twists on posts and his deep and very rich sarcasm and snark! But, he touches on some really good points here. Enjoy!

http://jackfit.blogspot.com/2010/09/bad-badder-worstest.html

QuickByte Fridays--Just Joanna's Happy Not to be a Supermom

Ah, Friday! Sending you off to your weekend with some thoughts about the label "supermom", here is a thoughtful post by Joanna at Just Joanna's titled "3 Reasons I'm Happy I'm Not a Supermom". Why would I even share this? Am I trying to start a blogging war? Nope, not at all. I find people's interpretations of the term and what it means to be of interest. As much support as I've had, I've had pushback from other moms not liking what a "supermom" is...or, more to the point, what images the term "supermom" conjures up for them. I enjoy trying to bridge that gap, which sometimes falls on dead ears...but, whatevs!

So, anyway, read on for Joanna's take. Did you see what I saw? A mom that defines my idea of a "supermom in training", if not a full-blown "supermom". When I first started Project Supermom and laid out my definition of what that label meant to me, it looked an awful lot like what is discussed here!



http://www.justjoanna.com/2010/09/3-reasons-im-happy-im-not-super-mom.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+NowWithBaby+%28Now+With+Baby%29

QuickByte Fridays--Project-Look Good Naked's Taking Ownership

I love bloggers that can really put themselves out there, sharing personal details that I know I don't even share with my Mother! I think it is brave and opens the doors of communication for us ladies, since we tend to still steer clear of certain conversation topics like our weight and grosser bodily functions. Reading through mommy, life, health, diet, and weightloss blogs, I often find those women who spend one post bitching about how unfair it is to be overweight, while they turn around in the next one to showcase a family meal that they splurged on...pictures generally included and plenty of disclosure about how this is a RARE treat, eventhough it seems suspiciously just like the splurges they had the weekend before and a night the week before that and so on...that, to me, removes my doubts as to why they can't get to a healthy weight.

What Katy at Project-Look Good Naked has done with Taking Ownership given her thoughts on this and how she began to demand more from herself. Sharing TMI along the way, her honesty was refreshing!

http://projectlookgoodnaked.blogspot.com/2010/09/taking-ownership.html

QuickByte Fridays--Be Positive Mom's Before I Was a Mom

Ahhh, after a week of prepping the nursery, cleaning out more closets, digging out from under more snow, cleaning up after a potty-training toddler, doing a bazillion loads of laundry for baby and said toddler, trying not to catch this cold, staying caught up with the onslaught of work at my "real job", my head is literally SPINNING! I remember, when I used to be sooooo bored, just antsy for something to do to kill an afternoon. What happened to those days? Do you remember those days? When I think back about how far I've coming in earning my motherhood stripes, sometimes one agonizing moment at a time, I almost have to laugh...what other choice to we have, right?!! I think Be Postive Mom's post gives light to this very thing. Enjoy!

http://bepositivemom.com/2011/01/before-i-was-a-mom.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BePositiveMom+%28BE+POSITIVE+MOM%29

QuickByte Fridays--Fit & Healthy Mommy's Vegan Cleanse

Today's featured supermom is a fellow P90X friend, Debi Mikolowsky, whom I met through my postings for Project Supermom on the Facebook P90X page...an incredibly supportive group of people, I might add! Anyway, Debi kicked off 2011 with a self-imposed vegan cleanse for 30-days. Now, I have been curious about cleanses for awhile, but I haven't actually partaken in one. Some of the reasons that I have not is that I'm not sure I'm fully educated on what cleanse to try, I'm not sure about the sustainability or long-term benefits of cleansing, I don't feel that some are safe, and I did not feel comfortable upending my eating habits while working out at such an intense level. Obviously, once I became pregnant, a cleanse was out of the question, in my mind.

I have closely watched what Debi has done, what she eats, how she has felt, and will be curious as to the overall verdict. What has interested me so much about her cleanse is that she could use "real foods", instead of having to order powders or shakes or bars. Having won my weightloss battle using nothing but stuff I could buy off the shelves of my two nearest grocery stores, I take issue with signing up for programs or systems that send me what I am supposed to eat. Firstly, there is the outlay of cost. Next is having to manage the supply and reordering and such. Lastly, there is the longevity of staying on top of a program, especially one that requires me to send off for my supplies. I think, for me and my hubby, once it becomes work, I get VERY easily derailed!

Anyway, I have really enjoyed her honest take on her experience, and it has given me some food for thought...pun probably intended! So, give her blog a read and share your thoughts on cleanses. Next week, let's talk more about the veganism aspect that she chose, too!

http://fitnhealthymommy.blogspot.com/

QuickByte Fridays--Tip Junkie's Jar Gifts

Well, I'm off for a week of cruising the Caribbean and getting a much needed break from reality! To keep yourself busy and for some great ideas on easy gifts, check out Tip Junkie's link to creating homemade jar gifts. Have a great week...bon voyage!

http://www.tipjunkie.com/jar-homemade-gifts/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TipJunkie+%28Tip+Junkie+-+Creative+Inspiration%29

QuickByte Fridays--Colorado Country Christmas

Okay, I know this post won't apply to all of you, but I wanted to feature a fun way to kick-off the holiday shopping season by featuring a post from a local blogging friend, Angie at Garza Clan, for Colorado Country Christmas. What better way to get into the spirit than by hitting this massive shopping extravaganza! And, what a great trial run for Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which are just around the corner. Feel left out? Search in your area for upcoming arts and crafts fairs...'tis the season!

http://mtnbuddies.blogspot.com/2010/11/colorado-country-christmas.html

QuickByte Fridays--A World's Worst Mom's Halloween

Ah, there is almost nothing better than a Friday that kicks off a holiday weekend! This Halloween is especially significant as it marks my son's very first year of trick-or-treating, and I am practically giddy in anticipation of seeing what he does, when he discovers it's candy that he gets...he currently thinks trick-or-treating means he gets yet another pumpkin!
Anyway, in celebration of one of my most favorite holidays, I give you World's Worst Mom's Halloween Survival Guide, a special treat. Happy Halloween, all you supermoms out there!

http://www.worldsworstmoms.com/2010/10/worlds-worst-moms-halloween-survival.html

QuickByte Fridays--Oprah's Acts of Kindness

http://www.oprah.com/spirit/35-Little-Acts-of-Kindness/1

We spend so much time wondering about what's wrong around us in this world. What if we spent more time trying to make it better? Kindness doesn't take much of an effort, but do you ever notice how rudeness and negativity seem to just drain you? Do you have a random act to share?

QuickByte Fridays--The Girlz Korner's Lingerie How-To

TGIF! Check out the link from The Girlz Korner, about getting your sexy back with lingerie. As a girl that tends to look at lingerie with a practical eye (it's expensive, my butt will be hanging out the back, it'll ride up, when I'm sleeping, I'll be cold, and so on), this read has me reconsidering! Being that Hubby and I are celebrating our 5th wedding anniversary today, and he's rarely ever seen me show up to bed in much else than pj pants and tanks, I may have some new ideas on what to wear to the celebration. Have a great weekend, everyone!

http://cynthiahelwig.blogspot.com/2010/10/how-to-get-your-sexy-back-with-lingerie.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheGirlzKorner+%28The+Girlz+Korner%29

QuickByte Fridays--The Busy Baby Mama's Meaning of Mom

http://www.thebusybabymama.com/2010/09/what-does-it-mean-to-be-mom.html

Happy Friday, everyone! Well, we made it through another week...this one passing surprisingly quick for me...being stretched to the max in four different directions will do that to you. Nothing a good laugh, or in the case of today's featured QuickByte link, or a few moments of peeling giggles can't solve! The Busy Baby Mama's What Does It Mean to Be A Mom post details many of the unique experiences we encounter, as mothers. Collectively, these truths make for a fun, reflective read on earning our stripes, in this world of motherhood. I hope this read brightens your day, too. Have a wonderful weekend!

QuickByte Fridays--Foodie Mommie's Roasted Garbanzo Beans

Hello, my lovelies! Okay, so I guess I really slacked off this week, since I missed my mid-week post and am still piggybacking off other bloggers for today's post. What can I say? In my other life, I am implementing a new system that will help our office go more paperless and be more e-flexible in how we do business. Yes, trees everywhere just breathed a deep sigh of relief! Anyway, it has been keeping me majorly distracted, to say the least.

I'm not really into beans. I don't like their texture too much or their taste. I can handle them in small quantities, but I think they detract from the meal, if there's too many. That being said, they are very good for you. When I saw the Foodie Mommie's recipe for Roasted Garbanzo Beans, which I otherwise can't stand in any other form than as hummus, I told myself that this was a chance to give them another whirl, since I do want do add more beans to our diet.

The recipe can't get much easier than this! I was nervous, but they were tasty little treats that lasted not very long at all, in our home of bean-haters. It was nice to have a nibble to set out that was healthy, had a nice flavor but was not blatantly sweet or salty. Enjoy!

http://foodymommy.blogspot.com/2010/06/roasted-garbanzo-beans.html

QuickByte Fridays--Jack Sht's Fraternity Rules

Since Project Supermom works for herself, she has instituted a new rule...EVERY weekend will be 3-days long and will start on Fridays! Yay!! So, in honor of this, Project Supermom will let her other blogging friends do all the work for her, so that you fans and readers still get some good food for thought to kick-off your weekend.

To start QuickByte Fridays, Project Supermom is pleased to share Fraternity Rules, from Jack Sht, Gettin Fit. Jack Sht shares tips and thoughts, gleaned from his own weight loss journey. What we love about him is the very blatant, sarcastic, humorous, and creative ways he shares his ideas. One of the most fun and unique posts of his is attached. Enjoy, my lovelies, and have a wonderful weekend!

http://jackfit.blogspot.com/2010/09/faternity-rules.html

Paying Homage to the Girls

Heading to California for the week, the land of surf, sun, sand. I'd be remiss in not mentioning that it is a land known for something else, too...beautiful, bodacious women...the famous California girls! California has brought us gorgeous faces but has also introduced us to some of the most celebrated sets of bosoms in history! Think of the famous cleavage and curves shown off by Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield, Playboy Playmates and centerfolds. Of recent note is the one and only Pamela Anderson, whose ample, surgically-enhanced ta-tas launched into stardom on TV, video, and in print. But us moms know that there is another side to our bust lines...the business side! In light of my trip and in tribute to this most lovely lady part and its transition in and out of "work mode", I thought I'd share An Anatomical Love Letter, by Samantha at The Lamay Bakery. Enjoy and have a great week!

http://thelamaybakery.blogspot.com/2010/07/anatomical-love-letter.html