Random Thoughts — MomStart

Guest Blogging, What’s your take?

November 2, 2010 By Momstart 11 Comments

I’m a little late with my Monday Mingle this week but here it is better late than never I say.

This week’s questions (submitted by Alexes from One Cluttered Brain):

1. What is your favorite way to spend your time during the day?
2. What do you think about guest posting on other people’s blogs? Have you ever done it before? Did you like it?
3. What is the craziest item in your purse??

Do you do guest blog posts?

(just a fair warning, this is a random blurb, with answers to all three questions mixed in)

Yes I do if I had more time. Guest blogging increases awareness of yourself. It gives you the chance to interact with a new reader set. Some people do it just for the page rank, but I only do it if I have time and I feel that I can write something that audience will benefit from. For you to have guest posts on your site it can give you more content. I don’t ever have issues coming up with content, I just have issues with having time to write it. From now until after Christmas, I’ll be lucky to get anything up that isn’t a review or giveaway. But I’m going to work really hard to keep it about our family. I was thinking of only doing giveaway posts during the weekend and having actual content up during the week. But I’d have to turn off the TV to do that. We just signed up for a Netflix account and all we’ve been doing for the last few weeks is watching Lost. I also was reading the Hunger Games. I read all three books in 2 weeks. I would have read it even faster but every night my husband would wake up in the middle of the night and remind me that I have to get up in the morning and told me to go to bed. I think that’s why I got sick, was because I was up every night reading. Oh that and the new dog that needs to go out all the time.

Anyways, I do like guest blogging and if you want to have a guest post on Mom Start. I’m always up for that. Just let me know.

Want to participate? Monday Mingle is a Meme over at Eighty MPH Mom. Go over to her site, find the questions, take a video of the answers and post them to share. Then visit everyone that linked up and have fun getting to know each other.

Filed Under: personal Tagged With: Guest blogging, guest post, Monday Mingle, monday moment, Random Thoughts, Random Tuesday

Girl Playing Dead Caught on Google Street View

August 14, 2010 By Momstart 5 Comments

My husband sent me this and it really disturbs me. The girl says she was playing a game with her friend but I still find the whole thing game or not to be very odd. Why would you be playing a game where you are just pretending to be dead? Maybe I’m just getting old and don’t remember what it was like to play with my friends.

Photo taken by Google Street View. See more details on Mail Online.

Of course, it also brings up the question of privacy, but for some reason that doesn’t bother me as much as the girl playing dead in the street. What do you think? What is creepier, the thought of losing your privacy to all of these cameras taking photos of our streets or a girl playing dead and caught on camera?

Filed Under: random Tagged With: Google Street View, Mail Online, Random Thoughts

A Peak at Last Week – Random Tuesday

April 6, 2010 By Momstart 6 Comments

Last week was quite a stressful week for me. Some of you that know me well or read my blog between the lines know that my husband had a Staff Infection and was hospitalized for three nights. Well, just last week, my daughter contracted it somehow and I have been a basket case worrying about her getting worse or someone else in the house catching it.

I wasn’t sleeping at night and every other night I had to take something to help my nerves so that I could get a good night’s sleep. I was supposed to meet with Simon Malls last week for Moms Night Out on May 6th and wasn’t able to do that until today. They seem pretty open to whatever way I want to contribute I just need to figure that out. Crazy!

Anyways, I took Zoe to the Doctor on Wednesday and we can never get in to see her regular doctor. The doctor I did see didn’t seem to think anything of the fact that Zoe had a staff infection. We just don’t understand why sometimes it’s like, no big deal and then when you’re in the hospital they quarantine you away from everyone. I had to take her back for a recheck on Friday to make sure the medicine is working. it’s working but I can’t wait until she is completely better because we have a bit of grumpiness with her and mommy while she is complaining.

Zoe seems to be doing better but we had a lot of messes to clean up last week. My house is a disaster and when I had a conference call with KitchenAid the social media rep could tell that I sounded exhausted and I was terribly embarrassed. Since I’ve been so tired when I finally did make it to a MOMS Club event I picked up a cold. Now my head is spinning, and all I can think about is the schedule of posts I have to write up and my confusion as to where they all came from. I wanted a light month this month and all I have is a huge mess of posts to get through this week. Maybe I should just keep pushing them off and post them all on Saturday. That would be mean to the Sponsors huh?

You know who reads my blog, PR reps. Some of my most loyal readers are my PR peeps that give me all of these wonderful opportunities to write about. Thanks, but thanks to everyone who reads my rambling psycho babble too. I need a nap I am so tired and my head is really spinning and I feel like I’m underwater. The kids are going to get up from their naps soon. What just happened to that last hour. How in the world did it take me an hour to write this post. Grrr!.

Filed Under: personal Tagged With: random, Random Thoughts, Random Tuesday

Random Tuesday – Too Much is just Too Much

March 9, 2010 By Momstart 8 Comments

Sometimes too much of a good thing is just too much and less can be more. Just saying!

randomtuesday Random Tuesday Thoughts Im Talking A Lot Of Shit Today

Yesterday I started my attempt at posting all of my giveaways on one day and the rest of the week belongs to me an my blog. I’m not sure if it’s going to work. Because, it’s just too much. Some of the giveaways aren’t receiving any traffic and the others are getting it all. It’s like there is too much to choose from and everyone wants the same prize, There is no surprise that everyone wants the free batteries.

It’s going to take me forever to figure out how I want to do my blog, but that’s why it’s mine and I can do it how I want. Ugg, that’s all I ever talk about isn’t it. Mine mine mine!

I’m still fighting the potty training and thumb sucking. We’re starting to make progress but I feel like this is going to be a very long road. The dentist is going to yell at me next month because she’s still sucking on her thumb. Well, if you want kids to stop sucking why do you take the things that help us get them to stop off the market?

Sick again in this house, man, my husband looked like a train wreck yesterday and I was thinking poor man. Now, today it’s my turn. Oh, but it’s time for more medicine, I need to go take some before I feel like complete crap instead of just a little crap.

Tone, I’m starting to figure out what my readers are actually interested in, can you believe it took me almost a year an a half to understand metrics of my blog? Oh, you guys leave comments when I post pictures of my family or kids so that means so much to me. You leave comments when I ask you to pray and that makes me want to cry with surprise. When I write a post about feeling sorry for myself you either ignore it appropriately or you tell me not to be so hard on myself. I’m shocked when you know exactly what i need. Esp since there are so many of you that peek in on me and my life.

Dora is on today since I’m sick, she’s a great baby sitter. She even teaches the kids Spanish, my two year old speaks a little bit of Spanish. He speaks it better than I do, crazy little man of mine.

Ok, maybe my randomness is done, but if I don’t get it out, you’ll just see it in a review here or there. Which reminds me of all the work I need to get done. I need to start charging for posts again. And Juice Box Jungle, when are you going to pay me for February, and I mean that you forgot to send me a payment for the 90 days back which would be November’s payment. Hmm, maybe I should send you another e-mail.

La La La!!!

Filed Under: random Tagged With: random, Random Thoughts, Random Tuesday

Random Tuesday – Thumb sucking, more Potty Training, and no chocolate

March 2, 2010 By Momstart 7 Comments

I’m out of chocolate today, it’s more of a blessing than it is a curse at the moment. I’ve only maintained my weight loss because I can’t stop gorging on the chocolate goodness that was my life last week. My DH bought me Godiva and to top that off I made and ate a whole batch of brownies. Shame on me. The scale says the same thing, but I’d be interested to see what it says today since I ate one of those Angus burgers at McDonalds.

I’m in serious need of making a grocery list, and I have to use coupons. I think I haven’t clipped any coupons for two months now. Shame on me all that wasted money. I’m just out of the habit of matching sales, and my meal plan. If you’ve been looking at my meal plans they have been very boring and basic, just trying to get by without going shopping at all.

We’re out of water, well, we’re out of bottled water. My husband loves using bottled water on the bus to work, he said that while I was gone he used my re-usable water bottles but now that I’m back home he’s not using them. Hmmm, I have enough to share I think, and it would be cheaper and nicer to the environment if he would just use a re-usable water bottle like me. Hmmm.

Thumb Sucking and potty training are my biggest challenges right now. My daughter is habitual at thumb sucking, and it’s not like a pacifier, I can’t just take it away, even though my uncle told me the best method would be just to break it. Then she wouldn’t be able to suck on it. Yeah, he did say that.

I post too much for such a small profile blog. No one can keep up with me and my crazy posts. Ugg, why do I do so much?

Self esteem is low this month, I’m worried about needing my anti-depressants again.

Potty Training was making me want to tear my hair out and I actually thought my husband didn’t think she was quite ready to do it, well on Saturday he suggested that I adjust the timer to go off at 30 minute intervals instead of 20 minute intervals, Two days in a row she did everything in her potty. I was so happy. Then on Monday, I had to take care of Miles and well, we didn’t do very good with potty training. She doesn’t want to go when we’re out in public? Not sure what to do? Do I need to take a portable potty?

I love you guys. Those of you that come and read, and I know you don’t always leave comments and that’s ok. I’m just glad you stopped by.

Filed Under: random Tagged With: potty training, random, Random Thoughts, Random Tuesday, Thumb Sucking

OMG It’s Tuesday, Here’s to being Random, Sleep Tips, #pottytraining and brownies

February 23, 2010 By Momstart 4 Comments

Today started off well for me. I did the laundry, I did the dishes, I had a clean house and baked a batch of brownies that now I’m addicted to eating all by myself. Oh how I love anything with chocolate, I never should have made the brownies. They are so good, Ghirardelli from Costco.

Then we preceded to potty training as we are trying to work on really hard this week and my daughter came up stairs and said I went poo poo. Oh man, I was in the process of taking off her Pull Ups and then I found that no she had not. So we went into the bathroom and she went on the potty. This was a wonderful day. She then went potty on the potty again, but then we had to accidents and needed new clothes. Then for the rest of the day any time I mentioned potty she threw a big huge fit. She was rolling around on the floor for 20 minutes. I know because I set the timer for when it was time to try to go pp again. You can watch the woes and joys of other mothers by following #pottytraining.

Do you ever think that the things we write about your children will come to haunt them when they go to school? I write a lot about my kids, but I try to only post happy photos. I’d hate to scare/embarrass my children too much, you know!

The bed company Select Comfort has been sending me sleep tips and I asked them if I could give one of their beds away. They were kind enough to say, well, your stats are good but not quite good enough. I’m actually missing a zero at the end of the amount of unique visitors they want a site to have every month. So instead of 25,000 they want 250,000. WOW, I’m out of their league but I’m going to pitch something to them anyways. The worst they can do is say no. I don’t hear no very often and I’ve always wondered why? I finally found a site where I can compare my stats to other sites and WOW, i’m in shock of where I’m standing. People do read me!!!

Wait, where are those sleep tips. Here they are:

Nine out of 10 couples do not agree on mattress firmness. In fact, men usually prefer a more firm mattress than women, which can lead to one very happy partner and one sleep deprived partner. Below is a way to overcome mattress firmness issues for a better night’s rest for you and your partner.

Mattress Firmness

According to Sleep Expert and Select Comfort’s Director of Sleep Innovation and Clinical Research, Pete Bils, your bed is the most important piece of furniture in the bedroom and has the greatest impact on the quality of sleep you get each night. If you prefer a softer mattress and your partner requires a firm mattress, consider a bed that allows each of you to choose your own firmness preference for your side of the bed.

What does your partner do that keeps you from getting a restful sleep? Please share it with us as a comment on Beds.com , on our Facebook page Sleep Number, or on Twitter @SleepGeekPete.

Remember:

Select Comfort’s Presidents Day Sale: Sale ends February 21, 2010. 50% coupon below for all who missed it. Look for more deals and coupons on beds.com, via the Sleep Number Facebook page, or on Twitter @SleepNumberSara.

Sleep Number “Winter 2010” Sweepstakes: Go to www.sleepnumber.com/winter and register for a chance to win a personalized bed package worth over $3,600. Sweepstakes ends Saturday, February 27, 2010.

I was not paid in any way to share that information with you, it was just part of my randomness today. Go Branding!

Filed Under: random Tagged With: Ghirardelli, giveaway, random, Random Thoughts, Random Tuesday, Sleep Comfort

Random Tuesday – In need of sleep, home, and community

February 8, 2010 By Momstart 8 Comments

Randomly Random every Monday night and its almost therapeutic.

randomtuesday Random Tuesday Thoughts Im Talking A Lot Of Shit Today

Just getting out those crazy ideas, like I’m so tired I think i could sleep standing except for the fact that my feet would fall out below me.

Both of my kids are eating too much and Grandma doesn’t care. It’s like, if only I could make her see that when we stay for two weeks the kids put on five pounds, it’s not a big deal for someone my size to put on weight light that but a 2 and 3 year old, it’s a huge difference in weight. Just don’t know what to do about it.

I’ve got to go pick some winners and hand out some prizes. I’ve been spending so much time trying to figure out what to do with my blog, niche, brand that I haven’t been responding to e-mails. But, I’m not home and products are stacking up with my husband anyways. I’m going to be in big trouble so I’m trying to just say nothing, but if it’s really interesting I’ll respond.

In a way, I can’t wait to get home. I’m in such need of my own bed, my husband and my kids in their own beds. My kids love their own rooms and own beds.

I’m addicted to fancast now that I found out about it on-line. I just love All My Children even though I know nothing about any of the characters anymore. WOW, it’s so different. But I can watch it on my computer so it’s perfect. I’ll figure it out soon enough.

Sleep, I wish I could catch up, stock up and then go without. Jennifer James at BlissDom said that she doesn’t sleep, that’s the only way she gets it all done. She is like the queen of community in my opinion. WOW, impressive.

I’ve been thinking about implementing a community on my site but not sure what to do. I was told I could just do a forum embedded in my site and others use The Blog Frog, but I just don’t know what I should do. What do you think?

So many ideas spinning around and no idea what to do or how to keep it all tame.

Filed Under: random Tagged With: random, Random Thoughts, Random Tuesday

Random Tuesday – My son, Texas, Weather, Flying and come link up!

February 1, 2010 By Momstart 10 Comments

I flew to Texas today with my children. I find that people are so very selfish. When getting on a plane, everyone is in such a hurry and then when putting their luggage away, good grief. Does anyone use the space under the seat in front of them. That’s actually my favorite place to put stuff because then it is so easy to access. I just pull it out and up.

I do have to commend the man sitting in front of my son though, there was no room and he was in his car seat so every time he moved he kicked the guys seat. How in the world he stayed calm and never once looked at me or my son is beyond me. I would have lost it or changed seats. The Flight attendant saw what was going on and offered the man a new seat.

This flight attendant was quite the flirt, Wow, I mean she was nice but she was over the top with every man on the plane, at least I had a reason to smile. She filled up my kids cups with water and maybe she was just a happy person.

I’m thinking about my wardrobe for BlissDom. I have no idea if my clothes or my ability to put my clothing together will be stylish but at least my hair is rockin. I love my new hair do. It’s the best decision I have made in a long time.

Why is it so cold in Texas right now. I was really hoping for some warmth and sunshine. I really need some warming in my hands and feet. I’m cold right now. And Oklahoma, i hear they are under buckets of snow, was planning on driving with my friend to Blissdom; I wonder if we’re even going to make it now.

My son is really pushing all of my buttons lately. Love him so much and I do baby him, discipline is hard for me when it comes to him. I just want to cuddle him and tell him, it’s ok. Oh man, I’ve got to get some more back bone. I’m working on it, and made some progress this last week too, but now I’m in Texas and I forgot my naughty spot. Oops.

I’m thinking of changing my blog, but the changes will come with whatever I learn at my conference, if I make it. I need to go to bed. It’s got to be 10 here. After I finish this episode of DollHouse.

Filed Under: personal, random Tagged With: Random Thoughts

Random Tuesday What to do today, and what do you think of my new hair style?

January 26, 2010 By Momstart 16 Comments

I’m wondering if I should keep the kids home today because they are starting to get sick. It’s usually when kids are starting to get sick is when they are contagious so I’m wondering about getting a whole facility of kids full of sick today or not. We usually go to the Kirkland Community Center with our other friends on Tuesdays but I’m just not sure they can handle it today.

I’m going to be taking a nap as soon as the kids are done with breakfast and I need to take a shower. I’m yucky this morning. My hair is different.

On Saturday I spent the day getting my hair done. I cut it short and got some highlights and lowlights. I had blond and red put in my hair. The blond matches my daughter and the red matches my son. He has the brightest red hair I have ever seen. It’s beautiful.

Here is a picture of mine, what do you think?

Staying home brings up the question of what will I do instead? Play outside in the rain, or hopefully it will be sunny, and get some exercise. I’m in love with my Wii right now because it says I’m down to my pre-pregnancy weight and that I lost 3 lbs last week. It’s not possible that I lost that much weight, so I think it’s broken just a bit, scales are so inaccurate. Depends on water, clothing, and the amount of cookies currently in my tummy. I better at least get some exercise in.

I’m still waiting on my package for Blissdom, I’m very excited to be going on a trip. I’m a little nervous because of traveling with my kids. I’m taking them to Texas for free baby sitting and then driving with my best friend in the whole world to Blissdom. So my trip is going to be excellent in so many ways.

Oh and I need tips on how to get sponsorship to BlogHer2010. I purchased my tickets so now I need help paying for plane tickets and hotel. Anyone want to be my sponsor or give me tips?

Filed Under: random Tagged With: blissdom, random, Random Thoughts, Random Tuesday

Random Tuesday – Daily Trials.

January 18, 2010 By Momstart 13 Comments

So I just went to visit my blog and it says Error establishing connection to database. WHAT, where is my blog. I think my husband broke it. That’s why we create a test page and not mess with the main page.

I have such a headache I want to scream

I’ve been looking at Pre-Schools and can’t make up my mind, save money or stay closer to home. I think I want to just stay close to home, she’ll be close, I could walk is so close but there isn’t enough side walk so it’s not exactly safe. She’ll be close to her friends that will go to Kindergarten with her.

I’m not good at getting out of bed anymore. I just want to stay in bed and then when I do get out of bed I want to feed the kids and get in my chair and take a nap. This morning my daughter said, “I want to take a nap with you in your chair” when she was done with breakfast. I didn’t know if I should be happy or sad.

It was sunny today, made the kids take two walks and now I’m sitting here eating a ton of cookies, not helping my diet here. I have no will power. I’m the one that made the cookies. Good grief.

I’m trying to build up my comments by visiting other bloggers but it’s so hard to keep up once I get the number up a little. I need more time in the day, or maybe I should just quite entrecard. I think I have an addiction.

I have to get up in the morning because I have to start taking my husband to work again. I guess my recovery/vacation is now officially over. Back to a routine, so no more sleeping in my chair. I really need to take a shower too but I’d rather sleep. I guess I’ll take one tomorrow after breakfast. The kids can play in the bathroom. I love my new home.

Filed Under: random Tagged With: Poking around, Random Thoughts, Random Tuesday