Hi, guys. I am moving myself on over to Blogger. There are a lot more options (to me) over there, and a lot more I can do with this blog. So, head on over there and check me out at
Confessions of a (Not So) Domestic Diva.
I’m not closing this blog down, and I’ll make sure I have all of my links posted to my new blog ASAP, so you all will still be a click away. If you have me on your blogroll, don’t worry about the update right away- I’m leaving this up for any traffic to see. 🙂
This was taken by Jim a few weeks ago, but I just now took a REALLY good look at it. Not only does she look sickened by the photographing attempts, but she is using her mom’s favorite sign. And nope, she wasn’t posed, she just does this occasionally. LOL!!
Up until this point, I have managed to sound like a fairly normal mom and housewife. I have let slip my passion for Oreo’s and all things chocolate. I have shared my tendency to hide said chocolate from my children (they don’t need the sugar high, believe me!). My “What I’m Up To” page boasts my love for Nora Roberts (cause she doesn’t write sex books with a little other stuff tossed in, she writes life stories with a little sex tossed in). We haven’t covered favorite shows, movies and music yet, but we will. Today, however, I leave my seemingly normal self behind and expose my dirtiest little secret. I have hinted at this previously, even warned. But now it will be fully exposed.
When I was nine, some twenty years ago (good God I’m honestly saying twenty years…) my mother gave me a cassette for Easter. (Repeat above, insert cassette.) On the cover was a blurry black and white of five young men. (Yes, this *is* where this post is going, read on at your own caution.) I had seen the video on MTV of these guys, and I admit (to my later shame and horror) that I was unimpressed. I had Kirk Cameron telling me to Just Say No at the time, and I was cool with that. The photo my mom took of me holding the tape showed me looking relatively bored, in my pink nightie. Needless to say, this photo became the first picture in a later scrapbook with the caption “The Beginning!!” in large, tweeny scrawl across the page. **sigh**
To go into complete detail, I’d have to give you a total breakdown of my childhood, and that’s something I’ve done and would rather not do again at this time. I’ll just say something clicked and I decided fairly quickly that Kirk could tell someone else what to say. 🙂 And then I went crazy, along with eighteen bazillion other girls.
When I say “crazy”, this is not a lighthearted term. The three large totes and one NKOTB trunk in storage speaks for itself. If it had the logo, or their faces, I had to have it. Being an only child and sheltered (suffocated) by my mother, I was… over indulged, shall we say. T-shirts, nightgowns, dolls… it was a never ending stream of these cuties. My room looked like the merchandising people came in and threw every single thing they made all over the place. I didn’t know what color my walls were for who knows how many years. And honestly, like a lot of other people say about things, these guys got me through. To this day, I can de-stress immediately by listening to their voices. It was a haven and escape having them to grow up with, and for that reason alone, my loyalty can remain. (We don’t need to talk about the fact that when I was ten, I planned my wedding to Joe- that’s just unnecessary. LOL) My friends still mention them, my husband still teases me. And I still smile like a kid in a candy store.
I was an oddball, and never quite fit. I had few friends, and wasn’t allowed to do a lot. So my fixation was something psychological, I’m sure. whatever it was, I loved them. Fiercely. I took a lot of shit about it, but I never wavered. And, to their credit, they were huge. They were compared to The Beatles, The Jackson Five. And rightly so. They had fans worldwide, and still do. They were a part of millions of girls lives growing up, and some grew out, some stuck right with them for the entire ride. And then they disappeared, walked away from it, and for me, the world was a little darker for awhile.
Fast forward fourteen years or so, to an adult woman with a husband, house and kids. I still listen to Joe’s music and have connected with other women who grew up listening and still do. I have watched these guys I grew up with in movies, on Broadway, and marveled at how they haven’t changed a bit, to me. They are old familiar friends. They are a hell of a lot of what is warm and safe and fun from a lot of my younger years. Now, recently the rumors started about a reunion, a comeback… I’m not quite sure what the actual deal is, if any. I was nonchalant, but curious. Wow that would be neat, was my main thought.
I’ve never been one of the fans who wanted a reunion, really. They are adults, with their own lives and families, much like all us crazy gals now are. I never understood the crazed way people still got over old groups reuniting, doing shows, etc. Yesterday, I stumbled upon their official website however, and there is a teaser of a new song. Again, “well, that’s neat, let’s check it out.” I popped on my headphones, since Jim was sleeping (along with his writing, he works a 40 hour 3rd shift job, so I can stay home with my babies) and decided to listen. And I went crazy. Again.
I lost all adult reasoning as I attempted to freak out silently. I cried a little. LOL Memories ran through my head like crazy and it was the strangest thing, hearing them now. My children wandered in and stood watching me for who knows how long, waving my arms in excitement and mouthing “ohmygodomygod”. They sound the same, almost. But they still mesh. And it still clicks. And a twelve year old girl came alive in a 29 year old body and felt that freedom again.
I, of course, showed it to the kids. Miss Lyss was excited. “I am so happy for you,” she said seriously. “But, aren’t they old??” **sigh** Jake was a little puzzled. “Is that Dad?” **snickers** No, my dear, but my taste has always leaned to the blue eyed ones…. and let’s not ask Dad if that’s him, mmmkay???
So, there it is, my dirty little secret. I was a Blockhead. Guess “am” would be a better term. If that makes me a weirdo, geek, dork, what have you, so be it. I’m not alone, believe me! LOL I like to think it gives me some quirkiness, and makes me fun. Or strange, take your pick. 😉 But to have that huge chunk of my life revisited is something I look forward to…. and I promise, honey, I won’t put their posters on the bedroom walls!
Another email sent these tips my way, and there are a couple that have worked for me. The Dawn for fleas and the Bounce for fresh smelling- these also work on cats, but I only recommend bathing the cat if you are absolutely desperate, the cat is filthy, or allergic to flea collars or the other types of flea meds. If you must bathe your cat, be prepared for serious skin injury, and possible loss of eyes or limbs! LOL
Eliminate ear mites. All it takes is a few drops of Wesson corn oil in your cat’s ear…Massage it in, then clean with a cotton ball. Repeat daily for 3 days. The oil soothes the cat’s skin, smothers the mites, and accelerates healing.
Kills fleas instantly…Dawn dish washing liquid does the trick. Add a few drops to your dog’s bath and shampoo the animal thoroughly. Rinse well to avoid skin irritations. Good-bye fleas.
Rainy day cure for dog odor ..Next time your dog comes in from the rain, simply wipe down the animal with Bounce or any dryer sheet, instantly making your dog smell springtime fresh.
Did You Know that drinking two glasses of Gatorade can relieve headache pain almost immediately– without the unpleasant side effects caused by traditional “pain relievers.”
Did you know that Colgate toothpaste makes an excellent salve for burns.
Before you head to the drugstore for a high-priced inhaler filled with mysterious chemicals, try chewing on a couple of curiously strong Altoids peppermints. They’ll clear up your stuffed nose.
Achy muscles from a bout of the flu? Mix 1 Tablespoon of horseradish in 1 cup of olive oil. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes, then apply it as a massage oil, for instant relief for aching muscles.
Sore throat? Just mix 1/4 cup of vinegar with 1/4 cup of honey and take 1 tablespoon six times a day. The vinegar kills the bacteria.
Cure urinary tract infections with Alka-Seltzer. Just dissolve two tablets in a glass of water and drink it at the onset of the symptoms. Alka-Seltzer begins eliminating urinary tract infections almost instantly– even though the product was never been advertised for this use.
Honey remedy for skin blemishes .. Cover the blemish with a dab of honey and place a Band-Aid over it. Honey kills the bacteria, keeps the skin sterile, and speeds healing. Works overnight.
Listerine therapy for toenail fungus. Get rid of unsightly toenail fungus by soaking your toes in Listerine mouthwash. The powerful antiseptic leaves your toenails looking healthy again.
Easy eyeglass protection… To prevent the screws in eyeglasses from loosening, apply a small drop of Maybelline Crystal Clear nail polish to the threads of the screws before tightening them.
Cleaning liquid that doubles as bug killer … If menacing bees, wasps, hornets, or yellow jackets get in your home and you can’t find the insecticide, try a spray of Formula 409. Insects drop to the ground instantly.
Smart splinter remover. Just pour a drop of Elmer’s Glue-All over the splinter, let dry, and peel the dried glue off the skin. The splinter sticks to the dried glue.
Hunt’s tomato paste boil cure ..cover the boil with Hunt’s tomato paste as a compress. The acids from the tomatoes soothe the pain and bring the boil to a head.
Balm for broken blisters… To disinfect a broken blister, dab on a few drops of Listerine. a powerful antiseptic.
Vinegar to heal bruises … Soak a cotton ball in white vinegar and apply it to the bruise for 1 hour. The vinegar reduces the blueness and speeds up the healing process.
Quaker Oats for fast pain relief… It’s not for breakfast any more! Mix 2 cups of Quaker Oats and 1 cup of water in a bowl and warm in the microwave for 1 minute, cool slightly, and apply the mixture to your hands for soothing relief from arthritis pain.
*** If anyone has tried any of these, other than the two I mentioned above, let me know! Any other helpful hints, add them to the comments section. ***
Sometimes I have a really hard time coming up with a subject line. Is it just me, or does anyone else ever sit and wonder just what to put in that space? It isn’t as if I ever talk about just one subject- I am usually all over the place with my posts, so one subject line seems, at times, too little. It’s usually a little of the kids, some of the outside world, maybe a chocolate fetish… it’s a mixed bag. So, if my subject lines are a little weird sometimes, that’s why.
I have been avoiding the news for the last week or so. Even my two favorites, The View, and Today, have been carefully picked through. Why? Because sometimes, enough is enough and it’s time to let go and move on. There comes a point where things become more and more an invasion of others’ private moments and less the general public’s business or concern. Yes, I’m talking about the death of Heath Ledger. It’s a sad, tragic and shocking event, but enough is enough. As a parent, I feel for his child and for his own parents. As a person, I find it sad and upsetting when one loses their life so soon. But I do not feel that anyone’s passing needs to be speculated on in as many ways, for as many days, as this has been. It is none of our business what he did or didn’t have in his apartment, whether he was fully clothed, naked, or upside down on a trapeze. It simply doesn’t matter. A young man is dead, a child without a father. Why does his name need to be smeared, or semi smeared, so gleefully? That sort of thing just blows my mind. Let’s just leave it at this- he was a talented guy, a doting father, and a son and brother to people who loved him. His passing is tragic and my heart goes out to his loved ones at this time. I pray they can find the peace to grieve, and that Heath himself will rest peacefully.
Moving on. I got to go shopping yesterday. For the whole day. Without the children. My best and oldest girl friend and I headed off for some kid free shopping and it was a blissful day. No one was crying, fighting, clamoring or running around like a maniac. We got coffee, strolled around, had a nice lunch… it was so something I needed, and she did too. It wasn’t even the shopping, or spending money (all I got myself was a hoodie jacket) it was having some girl time without little ones. Even though at least 75% of the conversation was about the kids. That is a total Mom thing and can’t be escaped!
But, it was nice to sit back and have some time off from being Mom. We do need it once in awhile, and it sent me home relaxed, happy to see the kids and spend time with them. I was less impatient and harried, you know? Your mind gets so wrapped around laundry, homework, diapers, dinner, etc., that it’s harder and harder to actually enjoy them as much as you can when you have that break and come back to it. Cause sometimes you have to be more than Mom, more than the butt wiper. Sometimes it’s nice to just be YOU, with a good friend and some laughs. And that’s ok. It’s hard not to feel guilty for needing those breaks, but no one is SuperWoman. A recharge is totally acceptable, and if anyone says otherwise, tell them to kiss your happy, relaxed ass. What good is Mommy when she’s yanking her hair out from rushing around all the time?
My motto is simple- a happier Mom makes a happier family as a whole. And that goes for Dad, too. The happier one is in their own existence, the less resentment and all that other negative stuff there is floating around. Happiness bleeds over from you into other areas- same as anger, stress, etc. So why not accentuate the positives?
A Mommy Mission for you- call up a friend and get out of the house, sans kids. For an hour, or two. Go for coffee, go to lunch. Go for a stroll through a mall or something. Just to catch a breath. It can make a world of difference!
Confessions of a (Not So )Domestic Diva 
What You’re Saying Is…